bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HRD interventions, learning agility and organizational innovation: a PLS-SEM modelling approach
Authors: Tripathi Aastha , Dhir Swati
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to focus on assessing the influence of human resource development (HRD) interventions and learning agility (LA) on organizational innovation (OI).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the social exchange theory, the theoretical research model was developed in this study. This study used cross-sectional data to test the research hypotheses. In addition, partial least square structured equation modelling was used to analyse 413 sample responses from Indian managerial professionals.

Findings

The findings suggest that HRD interventions and LA have an effect on OI. Additionally, age as a control factor also influences OI.

Practical implications

The study’s findings show that an organization must use HRD interventions effectively to improve innovation. Additionally, learning agile employees also helps in bringing innovation to an organization.

Originality/value

This study is one of its kind in exploring LA for OI by using the existing LA scale. Further, this study is a significant contribution to the existing literature by using HRD interventions, LA and OI in an extensive research model.
Problematic product management: the case of flibanserin to address women’s hypoactive sexual desire disorder
Authors: Friedmann Enav
Published: March 2022

Purpose

A Viagra-inspired drug, flibanserin, was marketed to treat women’s hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). This paper aims to explore the value orientation of flibanserin as a treatment for female’s HSDD among different consumer segments.

Design/methodology/approach

Two surveys were run in the UK (Study 1, n = 223) and Israel (Study 2, n = 233), in which partnered heterosexual adults evaluated the value of the drug before and after being exposed to information on its side effects. Then, using content analysis of 36 online reviews among women who had tried the drug, the reported effectiveness and side effects were explored.

Findings

HSDD prevalence in both studies was about 50% (Study 1) and 66% (Study 2) (no gender differences in evaluations). All segments gave the drug less than neutral or negative value orientation ratings. Women did not relate low sexual desire to low levels of sexual thoughts that would increase flibanserin’s value orientation; however, men did. Information about flibanserin and its side effects decreased its value orientation for women, especially those with HSDD. The content analysis of user’s reviews showed most women reported side effects, said it was not effective and gave it a poor rating.

Research limitations/implications

The results reveal the strategic problems in the marketing of the drug, both in its value orientation before and especially after exposure to information.

Originality/value

This research points to the necessity of evaluating the value orientation of flibanserin before marketing and satisfying the core expectations from the product (effectiveness and limited aversive side effects) among women with HSDD.
Performance management trends–reflections on the redesigns big companies have been doing lately
Authors: Schrøder-Hansen Katrine , Hansen Allan
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Since several high-profile companies announced that they were radically redesigning their performance management systems and processes (PMSPs), commentators and scholars argue that these changes represent a trend that many companies are following, and even more are considering pursuing. The present paper aims to provide an overview of these redesigns and their rationales from the companies' point of view and theoretically reflect on their organisational value.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on a review of articles from journals, professional magazines and the business press that describe how nine high-profile companies from the debate changed their PMSP design.

Findings

The PMSP redesigns are directed towards what in the literature has been referred to as people PMSPs. The authors identify five organisational challenges to which the people PMSPs are exposed and specify the design elements that the companies have changed to meet these challenges. Finally, the authors outline a set of theoretical propositions that demonstrate some of the trade-offs involved with the redesigns.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to researchers and practitioners by providing more insight into why and how companies have redesigned their people PMSPs. Answers to these questions are vital in understanding the trends and redesigns that practitioners are currently considering. Furthermore, since the empirical research of the effects of these redesigns is still limited, we outline a set of theory-based propositions helpful for future empirical investigations.
League of Legends or World of Warcraft? The effect of political ideology on consumers game choice
Authors: Ho Cony M.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The majority of research to date has focused on how to leverage the effectiveness of in-game marketing campaigns. However, the author’s understanding of how to segment consumers for game consumption is limited. This research aims to focus on how consumers’ political ideology could influence consumers’ game choices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used one state-level Google trend data and two experiments to show the effect of political ideology on consumers’ game choice.

Findings

This study found that liberals prefer non-persistent world games and conservatives prefer persistent world games. These effects occur because consumers’ political ideology alters their motivation to search for new opportunities, and this motivation, in turn, determines their choices. Finally, this study demonstrates the moderating role of brand familiarity in the effect of political ideology on game choice.

Research limitations/implications

This study offers a new angle for game and marketing research about how consumers’ beliefs such as political ideology can change consumers' thoughts and preferences about games.

Practical implications

This study offers new insight into the gaming industry and marketers. They can use political ideology as a new and effective way to segment consumers.

Social implications

These findings offer important insights into the ubiquitous nature of games in consumers’ everyday lives by detailing how political ideology influences game choice.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to study how an important industry such as gaming can be effectively segmented through an important factor such as political ideology.
Analysing the interactions of sustainability practices and financial performance on business-to-business buying behaviour in Indian manufacturing industry: a graph-theoretic approach
Authors: Saxena Mohit , Seth Nitin
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to develop a framework for the action hierarchy of sustainability practices and financial performance and their optimal combination for supplier evaluation and selection in business-to-business (B2B) for the Indian manufacturing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the extensive literature review followed by comprehensive interviews conducted using the Delphi methodology with professionals, this study attempts to represent the interactions of the sustainability practices and financial performance factors on B2B buying behaviour using a graph-theoretic approach.

Findings

The contribution of environmental, social, economic and financial performance to B2B buying behaviour is obtained quantitatively in the context of the Indian manufacturing industry.

Research limitations/implications

This study considers inputs from the Indian manufacturing industry, which may vary significantly based on the type of industry and geographical locations.

Practical implications

This study provides a direction to prioritize their supplier evaluation and selection criteria for sustainability practices and financial performance with quantifiable rationale.

Originality/value

The study seeks to encourage manufacturing industries to plan their actions by quantifying the intangibles through a systematic approach.
Firms’ commitment to Halal standard practices in the food sector: impact of knowledge and attitude
Authors: Md Nawi Nurul Hudani , Megat Ahmad Puteri Hayati , Ibrahim Habibie , Mohd Suki Norazah
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of knowledge and attitude on firms’ commitment to Halal standard practices in a developing nation’s food sector. Additionally, the moderating effect of gender on this association is explored.

Design/methodology/approach

The partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique is used to analyse the results of a self-administered questionnaire completed by 200 internal Halal executive officers of multinational corporations and small and medium enterprises in a developing nation’s food sector.

Findings

The empirical findings reflect the significant role of attitude in influencing firms’ commitment to Halal standard compliance in the food sector and thereby contribute towards improving organisational performance. In more detail, male respondents were more likely than female respondents to have a favourable attitude toward Halal standards in the food industry. Additionally, a positive attitude can influence how employees are judged on their adherence to Halal standard processes. This encouraging outcome is the result of joint efforts by all government agencies, statutory bodies and private organisations involved in Halal practices.

Practical implications

Halal food producers should engender greater commitment to Halal standard practices within the buyer–supplier relationship due to the crucial nature of Halal concerns in food production. They should place a premium on strategic planning to safeguard the integrity of Halal food for consumption.

Originality/value

This study considerably advances the existing body of knowledge by applying the consumer decision model to explain the relationships between knowledge, attitude and firms’ commitment to Halal standard practices in the food industry of a developing nation, with gender serving as a moderating variable. The empirical findings addressed the research gap by offering noteworthy insight into a subject that has received minimal attention in prior studies.
Calmness instead of panicking: a reverse strategy to fight a crocodile attack using downside risk
Authors: Ayub Usman , Noreen Umara , Qaddus Uzma , Shafique Attayah , Jadoon Imran Abbas
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Heuristics are a less complex and more understandable way to a more straightforward, astute and brisk basic decision-making strategy. The purpose of this study is the development of a rule of thumb called the “Crocodile rule” based on downside risk.

Design/methodology/approach

The crocodile rule is developed and tested in two steps by using data in the form of stock portfolios of the Pakistan Stock Exchange from January 2000 to November 2017. In the first phase of the study, researchers have forecasted the probabilities, while in the second phase, the researchers have used these probabilities to test the crocodile rule.

Findings

The findings show the acceptance of the null hypothesis, forecasting error for all categories of stocks for the first phase. The results also show that the minimum recovery chance is 58%, and the maximum recovery chance is 81% with an overall average of 69% chance of recovery. All recovery probabilities are above 50% for all portfolios; this is particularly impressive for a volatile market like Pakistan.

Research limitations/implications

The study also proposes another performance measure such as “value-at-risk” and compare it with present results to yield better outcomes. Furthermore, other categories of stock like profitability and growth can be tested as well.

Practical implications

The practical application of this rule is a choice between a “Buy-and-hold” strategy and showing myopic behavior as another extreme.

Originality/value

This pioneering research focuses on the development of the “Crocodile rule” by using the lower partial moments as a proxy of downside risk. This research adds value to the existing literature on performance measures. Furthermore, it also highlights and indicates which strategy should be used by the investors in case of falling trends in the market.
Stigma and insensitive communication in mental illness discourse as experienced by adolescents in Polokwane, South Africa: a Foucauldian lens
Authors: Riba Molefeng Isaac , Saunderson Ian Peter
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss stigma and insensitive communication surrounding mental illness discourse amongst adolescents in the Polokwane Local Municipality against the background of a Foucauldian lens.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature reviewed included a discussion of perspectives on stigma and insensitive communication, contextualisation of the dual health–belief system in South Africa and the Foucauldian governmentality theoretical perspective. The methodology was based on a Foucauldian orientation and Geertz’ interpretivism. The methods followed to analyse the discourse were Foucauldian discourse analysis (FDA), coupled with Geertz' “thick description.” The data were collected from six focus group discussions, which consisted of a total of 36 informants.

Findings

The findings indicated the dominance of the biomedicine discourse, neoliberal rationalisations for self-care and the policy of deinstitutionalisation.

Practical implications

The implications for practice using an FDA approach combined with an interpretivist stance exposes the actions, institutions, possibilities for action whilst understanding core beliefs in a complex dual health and religious belief setting. The addition of Geertz’s interpretivism adds a cultural flare and insight, which adds to the depth of the analysis.

Originality/value

The complexity of beliefs, experiences and health choices calls for culturally sensitive discourse about mental illness and also highlights how discourse about individual conduct and self-care is embedded in the discourse used by adolescents.
Development of an approach to incorporate proportional hazard modelling into a risk-based inspection methodology
Authors: Lelo Nzita Alain , Stephan Heyns P. , Wannenburg Johann
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Industry decision makers often rely on a risk-based approach to perform inspection and maintenance planning. According to the Risk-Based Inspection and Maintenance Procedure project for the European industry, risk has two main components: probability of failure (PoF) and consequence of failure (CoF). As one of these risk drivers, a more accurate estimation of the PoF will contribute to a more accurate risk assessment. Current methods to estimate the PoF are either time-based or founded on expert judgement. This paper suggests an approach that incorporates the proportional hazards model (PHM), which is a statistical procedure to estimate the risk of failure for a component subject to condition monitoring, into the risk-based inspection (RBI) methodology, so that the PoF estimation is enhanced to optimize inspection policies.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the overall goal of this paper, a case study applying the PHM to determine the PoF for the real-time condition data component is discussed. Due to a lack of published data for risk assessment at this stage of the research, the case study considered here uses failure data obtained from the simple but readily available Intelligent Maintenance Systems bearing data, to illustrate the methodology.

Findings

The benefit of incorporating PHM into the RBI approach is that PHM uses real-time condition data, allowing dynamic decision-making on inspection and maintenance planning. An additional advantage of the PHM is that where traditional techniques might not give an accurate estimation of the remaining useful life to plan inspection, the PHM method has the ability to consider the condition as well as the age of the component.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is proposing the development of an approach to incorporate the PHM into an RBI methodology using bearing data to illustrate the methodology. The CoF estimation is not addressed in this paper.

Originality/value

This paper presents the benefits related to the use of PHM as an approach to optimize the PoF estimation, which drives to the optimal risk assessment, in comparison to the time-based approach.
Maximising access to reading intervention: comparing small group and one‐to‐one protocols of Reading Rescue
Authors: Miles Katharine Pace , McFadden Karen E. , Colenbrander Danielle , Ehri Linnea C.
Published: March 2022

Reading Rescue (Reading Rescue), a research and evidence‐based programme for struggling readers (Ehri et al., 2007; Miles et al., 2018), was developed by an academic in response to the cost and lack of explicit letter, phonemic awareness and phonics instruction in Reading Recovery. Reading Rescue represents a pathway from research to practice. An academic advisor works closely with the nonacademic partner that trains school staff to deliver the programme in order to maintain alignment of the curriculum with research from the reading science field. In this study, the academic and nonacademic partner evaluated the effectiveness of small‐group delivery of Reading Rescue, which has previously only been evaluated in a one‐to‐one delivery mode. This study therefore provides an illustration of how academics and practitioners can work together to achieve practical outcomes. This study compared the performance of two cohorts (N = 146; 104) of randomly assigned first‐graders who received 50 sessions of Reading Rescue in a one‐to‐one or a small group setting compared with a control group. Results showed that intervention groups outperformed the control group (for most associations, p < .05) and performed similarly to each other (for most associations, p > .05), suggesting the small group protocol is as effective as one‐to‐one, enabling the programme to serve substantially more students. Discussion focuses on the importance of collaboration between academics and practitioners in expanding the reach of evidence‐based programmes. The collaboration in this study serves as a model for how academics, and practitioners can join forces and leverage their expertise to reach more students.
Clinical‐pathological features in placentas of pregnancies with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and adverse outcome: case series with and without congenital transmission
Authors: Zaigham Mehreen , Gisselsson David , Sand Anna , Wikström Anna‐Karin , von Wowern Emma , Schwartz David A. , Iorizzo Linda , Nelander Maria , Blomberg Marie , Papadogiannakis Nikos , Holmström Sandra , Leijonhfvud Åsa , Sengpiel Verena
Published: March 2022

Objective

To correlate clinical outcomes to pathology in SARS‐CoV‐2 infected placentas in stillborn and live‐born infants presenting with fetal distress.

Design

Retrospective, observational.

Setting

Nationwide.

Population

Five stillborn and nine live‐born infants from 13 pregnant women infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 seeking care at seven different maternity units in Sweden.

Methods

Clinical outcomes and placental pathology were studied in 14 cases (one twin pregnancy) of maternal SARS‐CoV‐2 infection with impaired fetal outcome. Outcomes were correlated to placental pathology in order to investigate the impact of virus‐related pathology on the villous capillary endothelium, trophoblast and other cells.

Main outcome measures

Maternal and fetal clinical outcomes and placental pathology in stillborn and live‐born infants.

Results

Reduced fetal movements were reported (77%) and time from onset of maternal COVID‐19 symptoms to signs of fetal distress among live‐born infants was 6 (3–12) days and to diagnosis of stillbirth 11 (2–25) days. Two of the live‐born infants died during the postnatal period. Signs of fetal distress led to emergency caesarean section in all live‐born infants with umbilical cord blood gases and low Apgar scores confirming intrauterine hypoxia. Five stillborn and one live‐born neonate had confirmed congenital transmission. Massive perivillous fibrinoid deposition, intervillositis and trophoblast necrosis were associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 placental infection and congenital transmission.

Conclusions

SARS‐CoV‐2 can cause rapid placental dysfunction with subsequent acute fetal hypoxia leading to intrauterine fetal compromise. Associated placental pathology included massive perivillous fibrinoid deposition, intervillositis and trophoblast degeneration.
Key stakeholder perspectives on the use of research about supported employment for racially and ethnically diverse patients with mental illness in the United States
Authors: Zhen‐Duan Jenny , Chary Anita , NeMoyer Amanda , Fukuda Marie , Markle Sheri Lapatin , Hoyos Mercedes , Zhang Liao , Fuentes Larimar , Pérez Gilberto , Chambers Valeria , Rosenthal Jill , Mention Najeia , Alegría Margarita
Published: March 2022

Objective

To explore how stakeholders responded to research evidence regarding supported employment (e.g., vocational rehabilitation), and ways evidence could be incorporated into policy and action.

Data sources

Qualitative data were collected from three stakeholder groups—people with lived experience of mental health challenges, community health advocates, and state health policy makers.

Study design

This study consisted of two sequential steps. First, three focus groups were conducted after presenting stakeholder groups (inclusive of 22 participants) with simulation data showing that improvement in employment status had a stronger impact on mental health than improvement in education or income for racially/ethnically diverse groups. Second, with guidance from focus group findings, researchers conducted additional in‐depth interviews (n = 19) to gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges related to incorporating these findings into policy and practice.

Data collection/extraction methods

Focus groups and in‐depth interviews were conducted, audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.

Principal findings

People with lived experience described the positive effect of employment in their own life while highlighting the need to increase workplace accommodations and social supports for those with mental health challenges. Across stakeholder groups, participants emphasized the need for linguistic and cultural competence to promote equity in delivery of supported employment programs. Stakeholders also underscored that centralizing existing resources and using evidence‐based approaches are crucial for successful implementation.

Conclusion

Implementing effective supported employment programs should focus on meeting the specific needs of target individuals, as many of those needs are not considered in current employment‐related programming. Collecting information from diverse users of research demonstrates what other aspects of supported employment are required for the likelihood of successful uptake. Implementation and dissemination efforts need to fortify collaborations and knowledge transfer between stakeholders to optimize supported employment and mental health resources.
Addressing health care needs of Colorado immigrants using a community power building approach
Authors: Albright Karen , de Jesus Diaz Perez Maria , Trujillo Theresa , Beascochea Yesenia , Sammen Joe
Published: March 2022

Objective

To assess and address through policy change the health‐care needs of immigrant populations in Colorado.

Data Sources

Primary data were collected in two Colorado communities from June 2019 through December 2020.

Study Design

This work utilized a mixed‐method, community power building approach to determine and meet health‐care needs of immigrants, a marginalized population of mixed documentation status. Findings were then used to inform Emergency Medicaid (EM) expansion in Colorado.

Data Collection

In‐depth interviews were conducted in Spanish, English, and Somali with 47 immigrants in rural Morgan County in June–September 2019; findings were presented to the community for feedback in January–February 2020. In March–December 2020, 330 interviews were conducted in Spanish and English with 208 unique individuals in Morgan and Pueblo Counties by local community grassroots leaders via four rounds of a novel phone tree outreach method. Interviewees were identified through snowball sampling and direct outreach among individuals seeking immediate relief (i.e., food assistance).

Principal Findings

Interviewees reported numerous barriers to health‐care access, including discrimination and limited service hours and transportation options. Data also revealed a clear health insurance coverage gap among undocumented immigrants. These data were then presented to Colorado's Department of Health‐Care Policy and Financing, ultimately contributing to securing EM expansion to this population to include COVID treatment, including respiratory therapies and outpatient follow‐up appointments. Data‐informed continued implementation advocacy to ensure the effectiveness of EM program expansion.

Conclusions

Immigrants are particularly marginalized by the health‐care system. Rapid data collection grounded in a community power‐building approach produced data that directly informed state policy and an increased power base. This approach enables direct connection to immediate “downstream” needs in communities while simultaneously building collective systemic “upstream” analysis and capacity of community members and laying pathways to translation and implementation of research into policy.
From patient outcomes to system change: Evaluating the impact of VHA's implementation of the Whole Health System of Care
Authors: Bokhour Barbara G. , Hyde Justeen , Kligler Benjamin , Gelman Hannah , Gaj Lauren , Barker Anna M. , Douglas Jamie , DeFaccio Rian , Taylor Stephanie L. , Zeliadt Steven B.
Published: March 2022

Objective

To describe how a partnered evaluation of the Whole Health (WH) system of care—comprised of the WH pathway, clinical care, and well‐being programs—produced patient outcomes findings, which informed Veterans Health Administration (VA) policy and system change.

Data Sources

Electronic health records (EHR)‐based cohort of 1,368,413 patients and a longitudinal survey of Veterans receiving care at 18 WH pilot medical centers.

Study Design

In partnership with VA operations, we focused the evaluation on the impact of WH services utilization on Veterans' (1) use of opioids and (2) care experiences, care engagement, and well‐being. Outcomes were compared between Veterans who did and did not use WH services identified from the EHR.

Data Collection

Pharmacy records and WH service data were obtained from the VA EHR, including WH coaching, peer‐led groups, personal health planning, and complementary, integrative health therapies. We surveyed veterans at baseline and 6 months to measure patient‐reported outcomes.

Principal Findings

Opioid use decreased 23% (31.5–6.5) to 38% (60.3–14.4) among WH users depending on level of WH use compared to a secular 11% (12.0–9.9) decrease among Veterans using Conventional Care. Compared to Conventional Care users, WH users reported greater improvements in perceptions of care (SMD = 0.138), engagement in health care (SMD = 0.118) and self‐care (SMD = 0.1), life meaning and purpose (SMD = 0.152), pain (SMD = 0.025), and perceived stress (SMD = 0.191).

Conclusions

Evidence developed through this partnership yielded key VA policy changes to increase Veteran access to WH services. Findings formed the foundation of a congressionally mandated report in response to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, highlighting the value of WH and complementary, integrative health and well‐being programs for Veterans with pain. Findings subsequently informed issuance of an Executive Decision Memo mandating the integration of WH into mental health and primary care across VA, now one lane of modernization for VA.
Aligning quality improvement efforts and policy goals in a national integrated health system
Authors: Braganza Melissa Z. , Pearson Elsa , Avila Cecille Joan , Zlowe Dave , Øvretveit John , Kilbourne Amy M.
Published: March 2022

Objective

To describe the design and impact of a systematic, enterprise‐wide process for engaging US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) leadership in prioritizing scarce implementation and evaluation resources.

Data Sources

From 2017 to 2021, the VA Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) identified priorities from local, regional, and national leaders through qualitative discussions and a national survey and tracked impacts via reports generated from competitively funded initiatives addressing these priorities.

Study Design

Guided by the Learning Health System framework and QUERI Implementation Roadmap, QUERI engaged stakeholders to nominate and rank‐order priorities, peer‐reviewed and funded initiatives to scale up and spread evidence‐based practices (EBPs) using theory‐based implementation strategies, and evaluated the impact of these initiatives using the QUERI Impact Framework.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

QUERI collected priority nominations through qualitative discussions and a web‐based survey, and live voting was used to rank‐order priorities. QUERI‐funded teams regularly submitted progress reports describing the key activities, findings, and impacts of the quality improvement (QI) initiatives using a standardized form created in the VA Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap).

Principal Findings

QUERI launched five QI initiatives to address priorities selected by VA leadership. In partnership with 28 health system leaders, these initiatives are implementing 10 EBPs across 53 sites, supporting 1055 VA employees in delivering evidence‐based care. The success of these initiatives led to an expansion of QUERI's process to address 2021 VA leadership priorities: virtual care, health disparities, delayed or suppressed care due to COVID‐19, employee burnout, long‐term and home care options, and quality and cost of community care.

Conclusions

QUERI, a unique program embedded in a national integrated health system, deployed a novel approach to inform policy making and enhance the real‐world impact of research through prioritization of limited resources, rigorous peer‐review, and assessment of impacts on the health system, employees, and Veterans.
Plan quality in radiotherapy treatment planning – Review of the factors and challenges
Authors: Hansen Christian Rønn , Hussein Mohammad , Bernchou Uffe , Zukauskaite Ruta , Thwaites David
Published: March 2022

A high‐quality treatment plan aims to best achieve the clinical prescription, balancing high target dose to maximise tumour control against sufficiently low organ‐at‐risk dose for acceptably low toxicity. Treatment planning (TP) includes multiple steps from simulation/imaging and segmentation to technical plan production and reporting. Consistent quality across this process requires close collaboration and communication between clinical and technical experts, to clearly understand clinical requirements and priorities and also practical uncertainties, limitations and compromises. TP quality depends on many aspects, starting from commissioning and quality management of the treatment planning system (TPS), including its measured input data and detailed understanding of TPS models and limitations. It requires rigorous quality assurance of the whole planning process and it links to plan deliverability, assessable by measurement‐based verification. This review highlights some factors influencing plan quality, for consideration for optimal plan construction and hence optimal outcomes for each patient. It also indicates some challenges, sources of difference and current developments. The topics considered include: the evolution of TP techniques; dose prescription issues; tools and methods to evaluate plan quality; and some aspects of practical TP. The understanding of what constitutes a high‐quality treatment plan continues to evolve with new techniques, delivery methods and related evidence‐based science. This review summarises the current position, noting developments in the concept and the need for further robust tools to help achieve it.
Sexual minority disparities in opioid and benzodiazepine misuse among adults with opioid use disorder
Authors: Struble Cara A. , Thomas Kathryn , Stenersen Madeline R. , Moore Kelly E. , Burke Catherine , Pittman Brian , McKee Sherry A.
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives

Sexual minority individuals demonstrate disparate rates of substance use. Research suggests that bisexual women are vulnerable to substance use disorders when compared to other sexual minority groups. This study explored differences in prevalence of past‐year alcohol use disorder (AUD) with and without concurrent past‐year opioid and/or benzodiazepine misuse.

Methods

The present study utilized responses from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) public dataset between the years 2015–2019 (N = 16,002) to examine the association between sexual orientation and concurrent misuse of opioids and/or benzodiazepines among individuals with past‐year AUD, stratified by sex.

Results

Bisexual females demonstrated higher rates of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use compared to all other groups. Although there was no association between sexual orientation and concurrent substance use patterns among males, female respondents with past‐year AUD endorsing past‐year misuse of opioids and benzodiazepines, both alone and in combination, were more likely to be bisexual compared to heterosexual. Lesbians were less likely to endorse concurrent misuse of opioids and benzodiazepines compared to bisexual females.

Discussion and Conclusions

In a national sample, bisexual females demonstrated higher odds of risky concurrent substance use patterns. Identifying sexual minority individuals who exhibit elevated risk of co‐occurring alcohol, opioid, and/or benzodiazepine misuse is an important step to targeted prevention efforts and allocation of resources to combat rising overdose deaths.

Scientific Significance

For the first time, this study explored risky concurrent alcohol, opioid, and benzodiazepine misuse patterns among individuals of different sexual orientations.
KIT D816V is dimerization‐independent and activates downstream pathways frequently perturbed in mastocytosis
Authors: Rajan Vinothkumar , Prykhozhij Sergey V. , Pandey Aditya , Cohen Alejandro M. , Rainey Jan K. , Berman Jason N.
Published: March 2022

KIT, a type III tyrosine kinase receptor, plays a crucial role in haematopoietic development. The KIT receptor forms a dimer after ligand binding; this activates tyrosine kinase activity leading to downstream signal transduction. The D816V KIT mutation is extensively implicated in haematological malignancies, including mastocytosis and leukaemia. KIT D816V is constitutively active, but the molecular nuances that lead to constitutive tyrosine kinase activity are unclear. For the first time, we present experimental evidence that the KIT D816V mutant does not dimerize like KIT wild type. We further show evidence of decreased stabilization of the tyrosine kinase domain in the KIT D816V mutant, a phenomenon that might contribute to its constitutive activity. Since the mechanism of KIT D816V activation varies from that of the wild type, we explored downstream signal transduction events and found that even though KIT D816V targets similar signalling moieties, the signalling is amplified in the mutant compared to stem cell factor‐activated wild type receptor. Uniquely, KIT D816V induces infection‐related pathways and the spliceosome pathway, providing alternate options for selective as well as combinatorial therapeutic targeting.
Anticancer effect of locally applicable aptamer‐conjugated gemcitabine‐loaded atelocollagen patch in pancreatic cancer patient–derived xenograft models
Authors: Hong Seung Soo , Lee Sena , Lee Sung Hwan , Kim Seonhowa , Kim Doyoung , Park Hanseul , Lee Jongook , Lee Jung Hwan , Kang Chang Moo
Published: March 2022

We investigated the anticancer effect of the aptamer‐conjugated gemcitabine‐loaded atelocollagen patch in a pancreatic cancer patient–derived xenograft (PDX) model to propose a future potential adjuvant surgical strategy during curative pancreatic resection for pancreatic cancer. A pancreatic cancer PDX model was established. Animals were grouped randomly into a no‐treatment control group; treatment group treated with intraperitoneal gemcitabine injection (IP‐GEM) or aptamer‐conjugated gemcitabine (APT:GEM); and transplant with three kinds of patches: atelocollagen‐aptamer‐gemcitabine (patch I), atelocollagen‐inactive aptamer‐gemcitabine (patch II), and atelocollagen‐gemcitabine (patch III). Tumor volumes and response were evaluated based on histological analysis by H&E staining and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed. Anticancer therapy–related toxicity was evaluated by hematologic findings. The patch I group showed the most significant reduction of tumor growth rate, compared with the no‐treatment group (p < 0.05). However, other treatment groups were not found to show significant reduction in tumor growth rate (0.05 < p < 0.1). There was no microscopic evidence suggesting potential toxicity, such as inflammation, nor necrotic changes in liver, lung, kidney, and spleen tissue. In addition, no leukopenia, anemia, or neutropenia was observed in the patch I group. This implantable aptamer‐drug conjugate system is thought to be a new surgical strategy to augment the oncologic significance of margin‐negative resection in treating pancreatic cancer in near future.
Parents' priorities and preferences for treatment of children with ADHD: Qualitative inquiry in the MADDY study
Authors: Lu Stacy V. , Leung Brenda M. Y. , Bruton Alisha M. , Millington Elizabeth , alexander e. , Camden Kelsey , Hatsu Irene , Johnstone Jeanette M. , Arnold L. Eugene
Published: March 2022

Background

Parents' lived experiences of having a child with ADHD may shape their decision making regarding ADHD treatment options for their child. The aim of this study was to explore parents' experiences of living with a child with ADHD in the family and how their experiences influence their perspectives on treatment preferences and priorities.

Methods

A phenomenological qualitative design was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with parents of children with ADHD who were enrolled in a multisite randomized controlled trial. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and transcripts at each site were double coded. Initial codes were derived directly from the text. Qualitative data were analysed with an inductive approach.

Results

Twenty‐three parents were interviewed: eight from Alberta, Canada; eight from Portland, Oregon, USA; and seven from Columbus, Ohio, USA. Among the parents, 69% were married, 86% completed college education and 52% reported household income over $80,000. Among the children, the mean age was 9.6 years (SD = 1.8 years), 78% were boys and 48% were never medicated for their ADHD. Two major themes emerged from the analysis. Theme 1 was ‘impact of ADHD on families within and outside the home’ with the following subthemes: ‘reconfiguring the home life’, ‘trial‐and‐error of accommodations at school’ and ‘responding to social pressures to fit in’. Theme 2 was ‘enabling appropriate and accessible treatments for families’ with the following subthemes: ‘finding the “right fit” with professionals and treatments’ and ‘factors influencing inequitable access to treatments’.

Conclusions

Parents described shared experiences and identified similar barriers, preferences and priorities for ADHD treatments regardless of demographic differences by site. Families desired access to family‐centred, multimodal approaches to ADHD treatment. Further research is needed to identify the specific structural changes to healthcare, services and policies that will better support this approach.
Teaching humanitarian logistics with the Disaster Response Game
Authors: Klein Michael G. , Jackson Peter L. , Mazereeuw Miho
Published: March 2022

Effective disaster response requires time‐critical decisions to get personnel and supplies to the right places as quickly as possible. Such operations are complicated by the need for coordination among multiple stakeholders. In this teaching brief, we describe a serious online game for humanitarian logistics courses called the “Disaster Response Game.” The game provides students with context, challenges, and command seat experience with simulated life‐and‐death consequences. Our development effort includes the creation of a flexible digital platform for delivering game‐style simulations for undergraduate and graduate education as well as response training within large enterprises. The system has instructional design interfaces for creating a wide range of disaster scenarios including, but not limited to, earthquakes, floods, pandemics, storms, and wildfires. As proof of concept, we built a tropical cyclone scenario and tested the corresponding multiplayer Disaster Response Game with students and subject matter experts. Students found it valuable to be assigned different roles that required collaboration, found the experience to be realistic, and were motivated to minimize casualties as best as they could with available resources. Subject matter experts also found the game to be sound in its instructional design. We seek a community of interested instructors to help develop more scenarios.
Mortality and regeneration of elms in primeval stands of Białowieża National Park, Poland
Authors: Czeszczewik Dorota , Kosiński Ziemowit , Kubicka Katarzyna , Puła Wioleta , Walankiewicz Wiesław
Published: March 2022

The outbreaks of Dutch elm disease (DED) in the 20th century have led to a drastic decrease in the population of elms (Ulmus spp.), across Europe and North America. This study aimed to assess the overall health status of elms in the Białowieża National Park (BNP), Poland. Elms, predominantly wych elm Ulmus glabra, constitute only a small proportion of all trees present in the BNP. The diameter at breast height (DBH) of all living and standing dead elms within 22 sample plots in 1997, 2003, 2009 and 2015 was measured. A significant decrease in the population of living elms was observed between 1997 and 2009, but their number stabilized in 2015. The most significant differences were noticed for trees having DBH of 1–40 cm, while noticeable differences were not observed in the thicker trees between study periods. No differences were noted in the number of dead elms between the investigated periods. Moreover, no substantial differences in the basal area of live and dead trees were established. The tree‐size distribution trajectories for live trees were unimodal and moderately positively skewed in all the study periods, with fewer juveniles compared to adults. Although these findings provide evidence for a decline in the population with the progress of years, our observations did not confirm this trend. A remarkable increase in the proportion of the youngest elms was observed in 2015, which suggests the regeneration of wych elms in BNP. Homogenization of tree‐size distribution in different sample plots between 1997 and 2015 indicates that the mortality and growth rates of trees varied locally. Our results demonstrated that DED adversely affected the elm population in BNP at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. However, it is unlikely that this disease would lead to the extinction of elms in this area.
Phylogeographic analysis of Ligidium japonicum (Isopoda: Ligiidae) and its allied species reveals high biodiversity and genetic differentiation in the Kanto region, Japan
Authors: Yoshino Hiroki , Kubota Kohei
Published: March 2022

Research of the diversity and evolutionary history of Japanese soil invertebrates is scarce. Molecular data analysis can help to elucidate species classifications and evolutionary processes. We analyzed the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear 28S rDNA genes and the morphology of the male pleopod 2 endopod of Ligidium japonicum and its allied species from 67 sites in Hokkaido, Honshu and Shikoku, where only L. japonicum is thought to occur. We found males of the L. japonicum complex with a pleopod 2 endopod morphology matching that of the L. japonicum syntype specimens, except for the number of denticles at the inner margin. There were also more than five species that differed morphologically from the L. japonicum complex, and most of these species had allopatric distributions despite the absence of obvious barriers. A time‐calibrated molecular phylogeny implied that the L. japonicum complex of the Kanto region first differentiated allopatrically in the mountains; this was followed by independent dispersal of three lineages to the Kanto Plain and Boso Peninsula, where secondary contact occurred. Two of the three sympatrically distributed L. japonicum complex lineages had a significant difference in the number of denticles at the inner margin of male pleopod 2 endopods. This variation implies the presence of cryptic species within the L. japonicum complex.
RETRACTED: Auxiliary cognition system‐based management strategy optimization of supply chain of new energy in oil–gas enterprises
Authors: Sun Qian , He Sha
Published: March 2022

The work focuses on the optimization of management strategies of energy supply chain in oil–gas enterprises to find out the optimal management strategy and overcome the fragility of the traditional energy supply system. Back propagation neural network (BPNN) is applied to energy supply predicting and energy security early warning in oil–gas enterprises, and the security early warning system is designed based on the auxiliary cognitive system. The security early warning system is used to predict the peak value of oil and gas supply, and then the detection performances and the data security transmission performances of different models are compared and analysed. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation model for security management of oil–gas supply chain based on the neural network is established. It is found that compared with convolutional neural network (CNNs), the improved BPNN model algorithm proposed shows increased accuracy by 5.4%, reduced model training time and test time, and improved accuracy and recall rate. The accuracy, recall rate, and F1 value of the proposed model are 88.48%, 75.88%, and 96.21%, respectively, which were obviously higher than those of the CNN. It suggests that the improved security management model of oil–gas supply chain shows better recognition and prediction accuracy. Based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis results, the optimization suggestions for management strategies in oil–gas enterprises are put forward, which is of strategic significance for improving the security of oil–gas supply.
The power of the market over government officials: Evidence from an anticorruption campaign in China
Authors: Xu Nianhang , Li Nian , Xie Rongrong , Chan Kam C.
Published: March 2022

Exploiting a recent anticorruption campaign in China, an event that incentivizes government officials to hide negative news from central inspection teams (CITs), we study whether market participants can counter that. We find that firm‐level information embedded in stock price actually increases during CIT visits, especially in regions with poor legal environments, stronger social connection, or state‐owned firms. Further, media coverage, analyst coverage, and corporate site visits by external stakeholders increase during the CIT visits. Collectively, our findings indicate that the market defeats local government officials’ attempt to hide firm‐specific news.