bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A tragedy of intersectionality: a study of Fauzia Rafique's Skeena
Authors: Bhola Mehak
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The papers explores the emergence of an ideological consolidation amidst the theory of intersectionality put forth by Crenshaw and Mohanty's transnational feminist thought vis-à-vis the thematic concerns of Punjabi immigrant fiction.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper attempts to follow a qualitative approach in terms of uncovering the various facets of Punjabi Diasporic Fiction vis-à-vis reflecting how intersectionality defines the diasporic condition of third-world immigrant women through contextualizing Fauzia Rafique's text, Skeena.

Findings

The performed study depicts the intellectual consonance between Crenshaw and Mohanty's theories and how immigrant literature aids Crenshaw and Mohanty's hypothesis into praxis.

Research limitations/implications

The research majorly focuses upon the works of the Punjabi diaspora and studies the diaspora's implications while analyzing how the diaspora contributes in rupturing contemporary hegemonic structures.

Originality/value

The paper has been originally drafted through the honest research performed by the author.
NEET in Turkey: a typology including jobless youths, parental education and employment status as determinants
Authors: Yi̇ği̇t Büşra , Çakmak B. Yasin , Çakmak Eyüp Ensar
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to improve understanding of the role of the family as NEET determinants in a country with free education in a Mediterranean or Southern European welfare state, so that the authors can contribute to policy recommendations and offer suggestions for future studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used TurkStat (2021) household workforce statistics microdata (TurkStat permit number 10484) for multinomial logistic regression. These microdata are the most detailed data representation of all households in Turkey in 2021, representing all household members (n = 635.159) and young people aged 15–24 years (n = 88.974) in Turkey. Of the data on youth, those not in education or employment constituted the NEET sample (n = 21,729). The authors also used the 2014–2020 household workforce statistics microdata (TurkStat permit number 3188) to explain the proportional changes between the status of NEETs in past years and today.

Findings

The age factor (20–24) and long-term unemployment in men and marital status (for married and divorced) in women are of critical importance for the risk of being NEET. Compulsory education is the most influential factor in reducing the risk of NEET for both genders. The estimations of logistic regression models showed significantly that the increase in the education level of parents decreased the probability of NEET in the household. In particular, the gains of mothers after compulsory education (university, postgraduate education) increased the probability of young people in the household being NEET compared to the education levels of fathers.

Originality/value

The authors make two contributions with this study. First, the authors discuss current microdata and NEET determinants in Turkey, which is the subject of limited research and has one of the highest rates of NEET in the 15–29-years age category (28.7%) in the OECD (2021). Second, the authors are the first to examine parental education or employment for NEETs in Turkey. Findings from the study allow comparison of Turkey and southern European welfare regime countries and fill the gap in the literature on NEET and parent relationship in Turkey with a strong and up-to-date dataset.
Determining the predictors of wine purchase intention through the use of meta-analysis
Authors: Rinck Kristen
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Wine consumer behavior has long been a topic of discussion among scholars and industry professionals aiming to understand the underlying predictors of key behavioral outcomes. To help explain wine consumer behavior, concepts such as involvement, expertise, loyalty, satisfaction and perceived risk are often examined. The overarching objective of this study is to determine the relationship between these predictors and their impact on wine purchase intention utilizing a meta-analytical structural equation modeling (MASEM) technique.

Design/methodology/approach

As MASEM provides substantive evidence regarding the relationships between theoretical constructs through the combination of multiple studies, the researchers’ aim is to make definitive statements about the predictors of purchase intention.

Findings

Findings revealed several relationships that support previous research but also identified relationships that contradict previous literature. This study contributes valuable insights into consumer behavior that wine brands can utilize to improve their marketing efforts.

Practical implications

Wine marketers with a greater understanding of the stronger predictors of purchase intention should be able to create marketing plans that drive wine sales.

Originality/value

Despite the abundance of research that has utilized these theoretical constructs to demonstrate their propensity for determining behavioral outcomes such as purchase intention, no previous attempts have synthesized this body of literature through the use of meta-analysis.
Narratives of survival: how entrepreneurial families narrate their longevity
Authors: Boyd Britta , Nagel Lina , Schneider Shiva Maria , Kleve Heiko , Rüsen Tom
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The question of crisis resistance and resilience of long-lived family businesses became particularly volatile with the beginning of the Corona crisis. In this context the project “Narratives of Survival” was launched focusing on the prevailing narratives to find out how crisis situations have been dealt with and narrated by long-lived German family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on narrative interviews, the empirical study of transgenerational entrepreneurship was first approached in an open-ended manner. The interview guideline addresses different types of crises and asks about resources, insights, regulations and explanations for the longevity of the family businesses.

Findings

In the qualitative content analysis, 12 guiding narratives were pointed out, providing information about the self-narratives of these entrepreneurial families which revolve around the three themes of self-image, familiarity and strategy.

Originality/value

This study provides information about the secrets of longevity of four very old family firms. The narratives revealed that strengthening the identity of the entrepreneurial family and employees of the family business as well as generating a shared reality, supports constructive handling of challenges and crises. This study contributes to theory by answering calls for narrative analysis in family firms and to practice by showing what younger companies can learn from long-lived family businesses.
Middle-leaders' transformational leadership: big five traits and teacher commitment
Authors: Zadok Ayala , Benoliel Pascale
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The present study aimed to investigate whether the sub-dimensions of transformational leadership are differently influenced by middle-leaders’ personality traits from the Big Five typology, namely, extraversion, conscientiousness, openness to experience, agreeableness, and neuroticism, and whether the sub-dimensions of transformational leadership influence teachers' professional and organizational commitment differentially.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from two sources: 114 middle-leaders and 282 teachers randomly chosen from elementary schools in Israel. Hierarchical regression analyses and structural equation modelling were used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

First, the findings indicated that the teachers perceived their middle-leaders as transformational leaders without distinguishing between the sub-dimensions. Second, transformational leadership was positively correlated to teachers' professional and organizational commitment. Finally, positive relationships were found between the middle-leaders personality traits of agreeableness and openness to experience and teachers’ commitment. The study findings point to two paths to facilitate teachers' professional and organizational commitment, either through the middle-leaders transformational leadership or their personality.

Originality/value

Although recent research has shown that leaders' personal traits are critical components in leading a team effectively and promoting employee behaviors, few studies in the educational context have focused on the differential impact of the Big Five typology on middle-leaders’ tendency toward the sub-dimensions of transformational leadership (TL) and its implications for teachers' commitment. By integrating research from both educational and non-educational literature, the goal of the present study, then, is to address these important yet relatively unstudied issues.
Balance on tightrope: the role of co-opetition relationship in coupling open innovation
Authors: Zhao Jie
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Through empirical research, this study aims to explore the role of competition and cooperation in coupling open innovation (OI).

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the hierarchical regression analysis method was used to test each hypothesis.

Findings

Cooperation has an inverted U-shaped moderating effect between coupling OI and innovation performance. Competition negatively moderates the relationship between inbound-oriented coupling OI and innovation performance, and has an inverted U-shaped moderating effect between outbound-oriented coupling OI and innovation performance. When competition and cooperation coexist, competition will passivate the moderating effect of cooperation between inbound-oriented coupling OI and innovation performance, and sharpen the moderating effect of cooperation between outbound-oriented coupling OI and innovation performance.

Originality/value

The role of competition and cooperation on different types of coupled innovation is studied for the first time. This research greatly enriches the theory of the effect of innovation network on innovation performance.
Business models for logistics service providers in industrial additive manufacturing supply chains
Authors: Friedrich Anne , Lange Anne , Elbert Ralf
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study identifies and characterizes configurations of generic business models for logistics service providers (LSPs) in the context of industrial additive manufacturing (AM). A literature-based framework of the AM service supply chain (SC) is developed to embed the generic configurations in their SC context.

Design/methodology/approach

Following an exploratory research design, 17 interviews were conducted with LSPs, LSPs' potential partners and customers for industrial AM services.

Findings

Six generic configurations are identified, the LSP as a Manufacturer, Landlord, Logistician, Connector, Agent and Consultant. The authors outline how these configurations differ in the required locations, partners and targeted customer segments.

Practical implications

The current discussion of reshoring and shorter, decentralized AM SCs confronts LSPs with novel challenges. This study offers guidance for managers of LSPs for designing business models for industrial AM and raises awareness for LSPs' resource and SC implications.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the scarce literature on AM business models for LSPs with in-depth empirical insights. Based on the six identified configurations, this study sets the ground for theorizing about the business models, in particular, the value creation, value proposition and mechanisms for value capture of the business models. In addition, this study suggests how the generic configurations fit the features of specific types of LSPs.
A conceptual framework on finding the nexus between sustainability and desired outcomes for smart cities – the moderating role of green leadership
Authors: Amoako George Kofi , Obuobisa-Darko Theresa , Dartey-Baah Kwasi , Sedalo Genevieve
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the nexus between sustainability and desired outcomes for smart cities. The main focus is on how green leadership influences the relationship between smart and sustainable activities and stakeholder management.

Design/methodology/approach

The work is essentially a non-empirical review of the literature to develop a conceptual model to be tested in a subsequent study.

Findings

The findings indicate that smart cities and their sustainability activities can drive desired outcomes through green leadership. Also, green leadership has an indirect relationship with the desired outcomes of smart cities; hence, managers in the tourism and hospitality industries should cultivate their green leadership style to assist smart cities in accomplishing their goals.

Research limitations/implications

This research is conceptual, and the proposed model will need to be evaluated to be more valid. Furthermore, the model is restricted to the tourist and hospitality industry, limiting the generalization and application of the findings to that area. Furthermore, because sustainability activities and smart city leadership differ by region or country, the proposed model will be suitable for more developed economies with more developed sustainability policies.

Practical implications

This paper makes a novel theoretical contribution by using stakeholder management as a mediating variable and green leadership as a moderating variable concurrently.

Originality/value

This model suggests that smart and sustainability activities of cities can lead to desired outcomes for smart cities through effective stakeholder management and green leadership.
Goodwill or just for show? The effects of different corporate social justice statements and the role of perceived authenticity
Authors: Xu Hao , Chang Bugil
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Companies' voices on social justice issues, such as racial justice, gender equality and LGBTQ rights, have become increasingly prevalent. To contribute to current knowledge around corporate communication on social justice, this study aims to understand the differential effects of three types of corporate social justice statements – symbolic statements, substantive statements on external actions and substantive statements on internal actions.

Design/methodology/approach

A between-subjects experiment was conducted (N = 502), with different types of statements as the independent variable and corporate reputation and perceived corporate relationship-building efforts as outcomes. The three dimensions of perceived authenticity (i.e. perceived benevolence, transparency and commitment) were included as parallel mediators.

Findings

This study found that compared to symbolic statements, substantive statements on external or internal actions generated higher perceived authenticity on at least one of the three dimensions, which in turn, led to a more positive corporate reputation and perceived relationship-building efforts. Substantive statements on external actions and on internal actions also had differential indirect effects on the outcomes through different dimensions of perceived authenticity. Partisanship did not have a moderating effect on the mediating effects of perceived authenticity.

Practical implications

This study highlights the importance of authenticity in corporate social justice communication and reveals practical implications about how businesses should communicate with publics when engaging in social justice issues.

Originality/value

This study is among the earliest efforts to examine the effects of different corporate social justice statements. It contributes to the existing literature by demonstrating the impacts of perceived authenticity on publics' evaluation of companies and opens up an avenue for future research to further examine various authenticity dimensions.
Using nano clay and graphite as low-cost, sustainable adsorbents to remove dye toxins from waste water
Authors: Elshemy Nagla , Mashaly Hamada , Elhadad Shimaa
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to observe the coloring efficacy of graphite (G) and nano bentonite clay (BCNPs) on the adsorption of Basic Blue 5 dye from residual dye bath solution.

Design/methodology/approach

Some factors that affected the adsorption processes were examined and found to have significant impacts on the adsorption capacity such as the initial concentration of G and/or BCNPs (Co: 40–2,320 mg/L), adsorbent bath pH (4–9), shaking time (30–150 min.) and initial dye concentration (40–200 mg/L). The adsorption mechanism of dye by using G and/or BCNPs was studied using two different models (first-pseudo order and second-pseudo order diffusion models). The equilibrium adsorption data for the dye understudy was analyzed by using four different models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin modle and Dubinin–Radushkevich) models.

Findings

It has been found that the adsorption kinetics follow rather a pseudo-first-order kinetic model with a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.99117 for G and 0.98665 for BCNPs. The results indicate that the Freundlich model provides the best correlation for G with capacities q_max = 2.33116535 mg/g and R2 = 0.99588, while the Langmuir model provides the best correlation for BCNPs with R2 = 0.99074. The adsorbent elaborated from BCNPs was found to be efficient and suitable for removing basic dyes rather than G from aqueous solutions due to its availability, good adsorption capability, as well as low-cost preparation.

Research limitations/implications

There is no research limitation for this work. Basic Blue 5 dye graphite (G) and nano bentonite clay (BCNPs) were used.

Practical implications

This work has practical applications for the textile industry. It is concluded that using graphite and nano bentonite clay can be a possible alternative to adsorb residual dye from dye bath solution and can make the process greener.

Social implications

Socially, it has a good impact on the ecosystem and global community because the residual dye does not contain any carcinogenic materials.

Originality/value

The work is original and contains value-added products for the textile industry and other confederate fields.
Board attributes and corporate social responsibility disclosure quality based on information typology
Authors: Ramdhony Dineshwar , Omran Mohamed , Hussainey Khaled
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to answer whether board attributes affect corporate social responsibility disclosure quality (CSRDQ) and whether these findings are sensitive to CSRDQ measurement.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the content analysis method to measure CSRDQ in annual report narratives of 41 Mauritian-listed companies for 2008–2019. System-generalized method of moments is used to test research hypotheses.

Findings

The analysis shows that board attributes affect CSRDQ. It also shows that the impact of CSRDQ is sensitive to CSRDQ measurement.

Practical implications

This study informs stakeholders on the drivers of CSRDQ. Mauritius authorities could revise the corporate governance code to enhance CSRDQ, and the Stock Exchange of Mauritius could also provide regulations/guidance to listed companies to improve their CSRDQ.

Originality/value

This study brings new insights by viewing CSRDQ based on verifiability, as verifiable CSR reporting improves the fairness of information disclosed by management.
Mastering the skills of Construction 4.0: a review of the literature using science mapping
Authors: Siriwardhana Senuri , Moehler Robert
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Skills development among construction stakeholders has become an increasingly urgent necessity for the successful implementation of Construction 4.0 in recent years. There is a lack of comprehensive analysis on the domain of Construction 4.0 implementation, with a focus on skills development. This study aims to address this gap through the use of the science mapping approach to show the gaps of research domain and propose future directions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a three-step holistic review approach, comprising bibliometric review, scientometric analysis, and qualitative discussion, to obtain a comprehensive overview of research in the field of Construction 4.0 skills development. f on a total of 57 articles published in three databases, the influential sources, keywords, scholars, and articles in the domain were analysed. A follow-up discussion aimed to identify main-stream research topics, research gaps, and future research directions.

Findings

Findings discovered that the topics were concerned about Construction 4.0 whilst skills development aspect was lacking in creation of policies, frameworks, strategies in different contexts. The study revealed research gaps such as presence of skills gaps and shortages in some countries, the lack of frameworks and roadmaps for successful Construction 4.0 implementation, and the lack of readiness assessments from professional, company and industry viewpoints.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the knowledge in the domain of Construction 4.0 and the contribution of skills development for its implementation and a comprehensive overview with research gaps and future research directions in the domain.
COVID-19, stability and regulation: evidence from Indonesian banks
Authors: Pamungkas Putra , Arifin Taufiq , Trinugroho Irwan , Lau Evan , Sergi Bruno S.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of credit relaxation policy during the COVID-19 pandemic and its efficacy as a countercyclical policy on bank risk and stability.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 39 listed Indonesian banks, the authors investigate the effect of credit relaxation policy on banks’ risk and stability. Data were retrieved from Eikon DataStream from monthly financial statements from June 2019 to December 2020. The authors use panel data analysis with a fixed-effect estimator to estimate the model.

Findings

The authors find that the credit relaxation policy affects banks’ stability. The authors also find no significant relationship between the policy and bank risk measured by non-performing loans. The authors also find that the policy mainly affects small banks and both state-owned and private banks.

Originality/value

This research has some policy implications that issuing prompt regulations to respond to urgent situations is needed and is very important to face crisis conditions and reduce the negative impact of such crises.
Moxibustion ameliorates cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury by regulating ferroptosis in rats
Authors: Zhang JingRuo , Cai Wa , Wei Xifang , Shi Yanbo , Zhang Kun , Hu Chen , Wan Jie , Luo Kaitao , Shen Weidong
Published: July 2023

Moxibustion is an effective treatment for the clinical management of acute cerebral infarction. However, its exact mechanism of action is still not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of moxibustion on cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury (CIRI) in rats. Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) was used to construct a CIRI rat model, all animals were randomly divided into four groups including sham operation group, MCAO/R group (MCAO/R), moxibustion therapy + MCAO/R (Moxi) and ferrostatin‐1 + MCAO/R (Fer‐1) group. In the Moxi group, moxibustion treatment was initiated 24 h after modeling, once a day for 30 mins each time for 7 days. Moreover, the Fer‐1 group received intraperitoneal injections of Fer‐1 12 h after modeling, once a day for a total of 7 days. The results showed that moxibustion could reduce nerve function damage and neuronal death. Additionally, moxibustion could reduce the production of lipid peroxides such as lipid peroxide, malondialchehyche and ACSL4 to regulate lipid metabolism, promote the production of glutathione and glutathione peroxidase 4 and reduce the expression of hepcidin by inhibiting the production of inflammatory factor interleukin‐6, therefore, downregulating the expression of SLC40A1, reducing the iron level in the cerebral cortex, reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and inhibiting ferroptosis. Based on our studies, it can be concluded that moxibustion has the ability to inhibit ferroptosis of nerve cells post CIRI and plays a protective role in the brain. This protective role can be attributed to the regulation of iron metabolism of nerve cells, reduction of iron deposition in the hippocampus and lowering the level of lipid peroxidation.
Influence of meteorological factors on the quantitative following relationship between Empoasca onukii Matsuda (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) and its natural enemies in tea plantations
Authors: Chen Shiyan , Cheng Honghao , Wu Xiaomeng , Xu Yue , Zou Yunding , Cheng Xian , Bi Shoudong
Published: July 2023

Our aim was to study the close relationship between the number of Empoasca onukii and its natural enemies in tea plantations to provide a scientific basis for the control of E. onukii. The relationship between the number of E. onukii and its main natural enemies in tea plantations in Hefei, China, were compared by gray relational analysis, and then the relationships between seven meteorological factors and the populations of E. onukii were analyzed by the method of path analysis. The results showed that among the top six natural enemies most closely related to the population of E. onukii, two natural enemies were the same in the three years of study and four natural enemies were the same in any two years of the study, and that the natural enemy species closely related to the population of E. onukii varied greatly among years. The direct effect of monthly average relative humidity was the greatest effect in 2020 and the direct effect of monthly average temperature was the greatest effect in 2021, with both being negative in terms of their effect on the population size of E. onukii. The direct effect of the number of days of rainfall was the greatest effect in both 2021 and 2022, and the indirect effect of monthly sunshine hours through rainfall days was the greatest effect on the population of E. onukii. The highest temperatures in early and mid‐August 2022 were higher than in previous years, which had an impact on the growth and development of subsequent E. onukii.
Minimum data elements for the Australian Particle Therapy Clinical Quality Registry
Authors: Hwang Eunji , Gorayski Peter , Thwaites David , Le Hien , Skelton Kelly , Loong Jeffrey Tuan Kit , Langendijk Hans , Smith Ed , Yock Torunn I , Ahern Verity
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Construction of the first Australian particle therapy (PT) centre is underway. Establishment of a national registry, to be known as the Australian Particle Therapy Clinical Quality Registry (ASPIRE), has been identified as a mandatory requirement for PT treatment to be reimbursed by the Australian Medicare Benefits Schedule. This study aimed to determine a consensus set of Minimum Data Elements (MDEs) for ASPIRE.

Methods

A modified Delphi and expert consensus process was completed. Stage 1 compiled currently operational English‐language international PT registries. Stage 2 listed the MDEs included in each of these four registries. Those included in three or four registries were automatically included as a potential MDE for ASPIRE. Stage 3 interrogated the remaining data items, and involved three rounds – an online survey to a panel of experts, followed by a live poll session of PT‐interested participants, and finally a virtual discussion forum of the original expert panel.

Results

One hundred and twenty‐three different MDEs were identified across the four international registries. The multi‐staged Delphi and expert consensus process resulted in a total of 27 essential MDEs for ASPIRE; 14 patient factors, four tumour factors and nine treatment factors.

Conclusions

The MDEs provide the core mandatory data items for the national PT registry. Registry data collection for PT is paramount in the ongoing global effort to accumulate more robust clinical evidence regarding PT patient and tumour outcomes, quantifying the magnitude of clinical benefit and justifying the relatively higher costs of PT investment.
Diagnostic utility of allergy tests to predict baked egg and lightly cooked egg allergies compared to double‐blind placebo‐controlled food challenges
Authors: Krawiec Marta , Radulovic Suzana , Foong Ru‐Xin , Marques‐Mejias Andreina , Bartha Irene , Kwok Matthew , Jama Zainab , Harrison Faye , Ricci Cristian , Lack Gideon , Du Toit George , Santos Alexandra F.
Published: July 2023

Background

Double‐blind placebo‐controlled food challenges (DBPCFC) are the gold‐standard to diagnose food allergy. However, they can cause allergic reactions of unpredictable severity. We assessed accuracy of current and new diagnostic tests compared to DBPCFC to baked egg (BE) and to lightly cooked egg (LCE).

Methods

Children aged 6 months to 15 years were assessed for possible egg allergy as part of the BAT2 study (NCT03309488). They underwent clinical assessment, skin prick test (SPT), specific IgE (sIgE) and basophil activation test (BAT). The results of the tests were compared with DBPCFC outcomes to both BE and LCE.

Results

A total of 150 children underwent DBPCFC to BE, 60 (40%) reacted to and 85 (57%) tolerated BE and 5 (3%) had inconclusive oral food challenges (OFC). Seventy‐seven children tolerant to BE had DBPCFC to LCE and 16 reacted. The test within each modality with the best diagnostic performance for BE allergy was as follows: SPT to egg white (EW) (AUC = 0.726), sIgE to EW (AUC = 0.776) and BAT to egg (AUC = 0.783). BAT (AUC = 0.867) was the best test in the younger than 2 years age group. Applying 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity cut‐offs, followed by OFC, resulted in 100% diagnostic accuracy. BAT enabled the greatest reduction in OFC (41%). Using sIgE followed by BAT allowed to reduce the number of BATs performed by about 30% without significantly increasing the number of OFC.

Conclusions

The best diagnostic test was BAT to egg in terms of diagnostic accuracy and reduction in number of OFC. Using sIgE to EW followed by BAT required fewer BATs with sustained OFC reduction and diagnostic accuracy.
A 10‐year experience in testicular tissue cryopreservation for boys under 18 years of age: What can be learned from 350 cases?
Authors: Barraud‐Lange Virginie , Boissel Nicolas , Gille Anne‐Sophie , Jean Camille , Sitbon Leslie , Schubert Benoit , Yakouben Karima , Fahd Mony , Peycelon Matthieu , Paye‐Jaouen Annabel , Chalas Céline , Vanhaesebrouck Alexis , Doz François , Surun Aurore , Lemelle Lauriane , Sarnacki Sabine , Neven Bénédicte , Philippe‐Chomette Pascale , Dufour Christelle , Rigaud Charlotte , Leverger Guy , Tabone Marie‐Dominique , Irtan Sabine , Pondarée Corinne , Lezeau Harry , Lenaour Gilles , Sibony Mathilde , Comperat Eva , Brocheriou Isabelle , Wolf Jean Philippe , Dalle Jean‐Hugue , Poirot Catherine
Published: July 2023

Background

A growing number of centers worldwide are preserving testicular tissue (TT) of young boys at risk of fertility loss to preserve their fertility. Data in this regard are scarce and experience sharing is essential to the optimization of the process.

Objectives

This report of our 10‐year activity of pediatric fertility preservation (FP) has the objective to (1) improve knowledge regarding the feasibility, acceptability, safety, and potential usefulness of the procedure; (2) analyze the impact of chemotherapy on spermatogonia in the cryopreserved TT.

Materials and methods

For this retrospective study of data prospectively recorded, we included all boys under 18 years of age referred to the FP consultation of our academic network between October 2009 and December 2019. Characteristics of patients and cryopreservation of testicular tissue (CTT) were extracted from the clinical database. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess factors associated with the risk of absence of spermatogonia in the TT.

Results

Three hundred and sixty‐nine patients (7.2 years; 0.5–17.0) were referred to the FP consultation for malignant (70%) or non‐malignant (30%) disease, of whom 88% were candidates for CTT, after a previous chemotherapy exposure (78%). The rate of recorded immediate adverse events was 3.5%, with painful episodes dominating. Spermatogonia were detected in the majority of TTs: 91.1% of those exposed to chemotherapy and 92.3% of those not exposed (p = 0.962). In multivariate analysis, the risk of absence of spermatogonia was almost three‐fold higher in boys > 10 years of age ([OR] 2.74, 95% CI 1.09–7.26, p = 0.035) and four‐fold higher in boys exposed to alkylating agents prior to CTT ([OR] 4.09, 95% CI 1.32–17.94, p = 0.028).

Discussion/conclusion

This large series of pediatric FP shows that this procedure is well accepted, feasible, and safe in the short term, strengthening its place in the clinical care pathway of young patients requiring a highly gonadotoxic treatment. Our results demonstrate that CTT post‐chemotherapy does not impair the chance to preserve spermatogonia in the TT except when the treatment includes alkylating agents. More data on post‐CTT follow‐up are still required to ensure the long‐term safety and usefulness of the procedure.
Effects of foraging tunnels created by plateau zokors on plant above‐ground biomass and species richness of graminoids and forbs in alpine grasslands
Authors: Yang Huan , Duan Yuan‐Yuan , Li Jie , Wang Qian , Guo Zheng‐Gang
Published: July 2023

Question

Foraging‐tunnel disturbances created by herbivorous mammals can influence the above‐ground plant biomass of grassland communities. The plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) was considered a focal animal for investigating the effect of foraging‐tunnel disturbances created by herbivorous mammals on the above‐ground biomass and species richness of graminoids and forbs. Here, we ask how foraging‐tunnel disturbances created by plateau zokors influences above‐ground plant biomass and species richness of graminoids and forbs in alpine grasslands.

Location

The study was conducted at three sites of alpine grasslands in the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau, China.

Methods

In this study, all vascular plants were divided into graminoids and forbs, and 30 paired quadrats were randomly selected from each site. In total, 90 tunnel quadrats and 90 non‐tunnel quadrats were surveyed and sampled.

Results

This study showed that foraging‐tunnel disturbances decreased the plant species richness of the grassland community and forbs by 16.5% and 17.7% respectively, whereas the response of graminoid species richness to foraging‐tunnel disturbance was different among the three sites, in which foraging‐tunnel disturbance decreased the graminoid species richness at Maqu and Xiahe sites and had no impact on the graminoid species richness at Tianzhu site. Regarding forbs, some legumes identified in the non‐tunnel quadrats were not observed in the tunnel quadrats. The foraging‐tunnel disturbances resulted in an above‐ground plant biomass decrease of 21.9% in the grassland community, 27.3% in forbs, and 17.2% in graminoids respectively. The percentage of graminoids in the above‐ground plant biomass increased from 50.4% in non‐tunnel quadrats to 55.5% in tunnel quadrats, a relative increase of 10.1% from the initial percentage.

Conclusions

These results indicate that the foraging‐tunnel disturbances seemed to improve the forage availability for livestock in tunnel quadrats due to a higher relative proportion of graminoids in the grassland plant community, despite a decrease in graminoid biomass. However, the tunnels not only decreased the above‐ground plant biomass and species richness of forbs, but also might have a negative impact on soil nitrogen input because of the absence of some legumes. The findings of this study suggest that reseeding some legumes is an effective approach to maintaining plant diversity and soil fertility, which can compensate for the negative effect of foraging‐tunnel disturbance on alpine grasslands.
Personal values, consumer identities, and attitudes toward electric cars among Egyptian consumers
Authors: Yacout Omneya M.
Published: July 2023

Marketing scholars have extensively examined the role of altruistic and ecological personal values and pro‐environmental identity in ethical consumption decisions. Conversely, the role of egoistic personal values and other identities has received scant attention from researchers. This research examines the role of altruistic, egoistic, and ecological personal values in triggering two types of identities: pro‐environmental and car‐authority. The effects of values and identities on personal norms and attitudes toward electric cars were also examined. A sample of Egyptian consumers responded to an electronic survey, and collected data were analyzed using SEM. The findings generally support the VIP framework, where biospheric values significantly affect pro‐environmental identity, and pro‐environmental identity affects personal norms. Furthermore, personal norms affected attitudes positively. A different path was obtained which starts with biospheric and altruistic values affecting car authority positively and negatively, respectively. Car authority identity was found to affect attitudes directly, although this is accepted at lower confidence levels. A discussion of research findings, implications, and research limitations were also presented.
The heterogeneous crustal architecture of the Falkland Plateau Basin
Authors: Stanca Roxana M. , Hodgson David M. , McCarthy Dave J. , Mortimer Estelle J.
Published: July 2023

Continental break‐up can be oftentimes associated with intracontinental wrenching that can lead to the generation of transform margins and transform marginal plateaus. The wrenching phase can be accompanied by complicated processes, which result in heterogeneous structural and crustal architectures. This makes understanding the evolution of such tectonic settings challenging. The Falkland Plateau is an example of a transform marginal plateau where regional wrenching accompanied the incipient stages of Gondwanan continental break‐up to result in a mosaic of crustal types underlying its largest basin: the Falkland Plateau Basin (FPB). The uncertainties in crustal boundaries have led to several models for the evolution of the plateau, which hinder the development of a reliable plate reconstruction of Southern Gondwana. We integrate seismic reflection, gravity and magnetic data to propose an updated crustal architecture of the FPB. The results show that extended continental crust underlies the basin in the west and north. The eastern and central parts consist of a juxtaposition of intruded and underplated continental crust which transitions southwards to a thick oceanic domain. The basin is crosscut by three main NE–SW trending shear zones which facilitated the development of the contrasting crustal and structural domains interpreted across the plateau. This integrated reassessment of the FPB provides new insights into the tectonic evolution of the plateau, the deformation associated with wrenching and transform margin formation and our understanding of the tectono‐stratigraphic evolution of such areas.
Links between parent–child conversations about emotions and changes in children's emotion knowledge across early childhood
Authors: Reschke Peter J. , Clifford Brandon N. , Brown Mindy , Siufanua Matthew , Graver Haley , Cooper Alexandra M. , Porter Chris L. , Stockdale Laura A. , Coyne Sarah M.
Published: July 2023

This study examined different sources of emotion socialization. Children (N = 256, 115 girls, 129 boys, 12 child gender not reported) and parents (62% White, 9% Black, 19% Hispanic, 3% Asian American, and 7% “Other”) were recruited from Denver, Colorado. In waves 1 (Mage = 2.45 years, SD = 0.26) and 2 (Mage = 3.51 years, SD = 0.26), parents and children discussed wordless images of children experiencing an emotion (e.g., sad after dropping ice cream). Children's emotion knowledge was assessed at waves 2 and 3 (Mage = 4.48 years, SD = 0.26). Structural equation modeling found concurrent and prospective relations between parents' questions, parents' emotion talk, children's emotion talk, and children's emotion knowledge, highlighting the multidimensional nature of early emotion socialization.
Modeling Structure‐Building in the Brain With CCG Parsing and Large Language Models
Authors: Stanojević Miloš , Brennan Jonathan R. , Dunagan Donald , Steedman Mark , Hale John T.
Published: July 2023

To model behavioral and neural correlates of language comprehension in naturalistic environments, researchers have turned to broad‐coverage tools from natural‐language processing and machine learning. Where syntactic structure is explicitly modeled, prior work has relied predominantly on context‐free grammars (CFGs), yet such formalisms are not sufficiently expressive for human languages. Combinatory categorial grammars (CCGs) are sufficiently expressive directly compositional models of grammar with flexible constituency that affords incremental interpretation. In this work, we evaluate whether a more expressive CCG provides a better model than a CFG for human neural signals collected with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while participants listen to an audiobook story. We further test between variants of CCG that differ in how they handle optional adjuncts. These evaluations are carried out against a baseline that includes estimates of next‐word predictability from a transformer neural network language model. Such a comparison reveals unique contributions of CCG structure‐building predominantly in the left posterior temporal lobe: CCG‐derived measures offer a superior fit to neural signals compared to those derived from a CFG. These effects are spatially distinct from bilateral superior temporal effects that are unique to predictability. Neural effects for structure‐building are thus separable from predictability during naturalistic listening, and those effects are best characterized by a grammar whose expressive power is motivated on independent linguistic grounds.
Incidence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in obese patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction treated with sacubitril/valsartan
Authors: Abumayyaleh Mohammad , Demmer Jonathan , Krack Carina , Pilsinger Christina , El‐Battrawy Ibrahim , Aweimer Assem , Lang Siegfried , Mügge Andreas , Akin Ibrahim
Published: July 2023

Aim

To compare clinical outcomes among patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) according to body mass index (BMI) after initiating treatment with an angiotensin‐receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI).

Methods

We gathered data from 2016 to 2020 at the University Medical Center Mannheim; 208 consecutive patients were divided into two groups according to BMI (< 30 kg/m2; n = 116, ≥ 30 kg/m2; n = 92). Clinical outcomes, including mortality rate, all‐cause hospitalizations and congestion, were systematically analysed.

Results

At the 12‐month follow‐up, the mortality rate was similar in both groups (7.9% in BMI < 30 kg/m2 vs. 5.6% in BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2; P = .76). All‐cause hospitalization before ARNI treatment was comparable in both groups (63.8% in BMI < 30 kg/m2 vs. 57.6% in BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2; P = .69). After ARNI treatment, the hospitalization rate was also comparable in both groups at the 12‐month follow‐up (52.2% in BMI < 30 kg/m2 vs. 53.7% in BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2; P = .73). Obese patients experienced more congestion compared with non‐obese patients at follow‐up, without statistical significance (6.8% in BMI < 30 kg/m2 vs. 15.5% in BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2; P = .11). Median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improved in both groups, but significantly more in non‐obese compared with obese patients at the 12‐month follow‐up (from 26% [3%‐45%] [min.‐max.] vs. 29% [10%‐45%] [min.‐max.] [P = .56] to 35.5% [15%‐59%] [min.‐max.] vs. 30% [13%‐50%] [min.‐max.] [P = .03], respectively). The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF), non‐sustained (ns) and sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) was less in non‐obese than in obese patients after initiation of sacubitril/valsartan at the 12‐month follow‐up (AF: 43.5% vs. 53.7%; P = .20; nsVT: 9.8% vs. 28.4%; P = .01; VT: 14.1% vs. 17.9%; P = .52; VF: 7.6% vs. 13.4%; P = .23).

Conclusions

The incidence of congestion in obese patients was higher compared with non‐obese patients. LVEF improved significantly more in non‐obese compared with obese HFrEF patients. Furthermore, AF and the ventricular tachyarrhythmia rate were revealed more in obesity compared with those without obesity at the 12‐month follow‐up.
Proteomic profile of the acquired enamel pellicle of children with early childhood caries and caries‐free children
Authors: Oliveira Bethania Paludo , Buzalaf Marília Afonso Rabelo , Silva Natália Caldeira , Ventura Talita Mendes Oliveira , Toniolo Júlia , Rodrigues Jonas Almeida
Published: July 2023

Acquired enamel pellicle plays an important role in the pathogenesis of early childhood caries (ECC), working as a protective interface between the tooth and the oral cavity. The aim of this cross‐sectional in vivo proteomic study was to compare the acquired enamel pellicle protein profile of 3–5‐year‐old children with ECC (n = 10) and caries‐free children (n = 10). Acquired enamel pellicle samples were collected and processed for proteomic analysis (nLC‐ESI‐MS/MS). In total, 241 proteins were identified. Basic salivary proline‐rich protein 1 and 2, Cystatin‐B, and SA were found only in the caries free group. When comparing caries free and ECC groups, lower protein levels were found in the caries free group for hemoglobin subunit beta, delta, epsilon, gamma‐2, globin domain‐containing protein and gamma‐1, neutrophil defensin 3, serum albumin, protein S100‐A8, and S100‐A9. The proteins histatin‐1, statherin, salivary acidic proline‐rich phosphoprotein ½, proline‐rich protein 4, submaxillary gland androgen‐regulated protein 3B, alpha‐amylase 1 and 2B were found at higher levels in the caries free group. The exclusive and the proteins found at higher levels in the caries free group might have protective functions that play a role in the prevention of caries, besides providing important insights to be evaluated in future studies for the possible development of new therapeutic strategies for ECC.