bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intellectual capital management as a catalyst for organizational agility and performance in post-COVID-19 Romanian SMEs
Authors: Stratone Madalina-Elena , Vatamanescu Elena-Madalina
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The study seeks to investigate the impact of intellectual capital (IC) management on the performance and agility of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Romania, with a particular focus on the post-COVID-19 recovery period. By examining the roles of human, structural and relational capital, the study sets out to provide insights into how SMEs can build resilience against future socioeconomic disruptions and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research method was employed, utilizing a questionnaire distributed to 121 managers from Romanian SMEs. The collected data was analyzed using SmartPLS 4 software to test hypotheses regarding the role of intellectual capital management in enhancing organizational agility and performance.

Findings

IC, especially human capital, substantially influences organizational agility and performance in SMEs. Findings confirm that adapting to a dynamic work environment requires that SMEs invest in employee development, foster strong internal and external relationships, and embrace new technologies. Furthermore, building an adaptive organizational culture open to change and learning is essential for sustaining long-term competitive advantage in an unpredictable market.

Research limitations/implications

The study advances theoretical and practical recommendations for academics, managers and policymakers on leveraging IC to enhance organizational agility and performance, offering a roadmap for organizations navigating systemic crises. The main limitation is the context-driven focus of the research on Romanian SMEs.

Practical implications

Switching to the practical implications, this research offers managers of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Romania insightful knowledge about how to strategically manage IC to improve organizational agility and performance and illustrates the need for the SMEs to invest in the human capital, to adapt quickly to the market changes and to invest their resources in integrating new technologies, alongside with building strong relationships (both inside and outside the organization) and to cultivate an adaptive organizational culture that is open to change and to learn.

Social implications

This study provides guidance to the Romanian managers in finding the key to success, by ensuring competitiveness in the nowadays dynamic market, foster innovation and boost the agility and the performance of the organization.

Originality/value

The research is the first one to address the strategic importance of IC management in Romanian SMEs with a view to attaining agility and performance in turbulent times.
A systematic review and bibliometric analysis on sustainable mutual funds
Authors: Jindal Lagan
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to comprehensively examine sustainable mutual funds (SMFs) research by conducting a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of articles spanning 33 years from 1991 to 2023. This review seeks to uncover the principal contributors and the structural framework of knowledge within the realm of business, finance and management research concerning SMFs.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the “Scientific Procedures and Rationales for Systematic Literature Reviews (SPAR-4-SLR)” methodology, the author selected 597 documents for the analysis and collected the bibliographic information from the Scopus database. The author uses RStudio and VOSviewer software to address five research questions.

Findings

The findings indicate a notable expansion in research concerning SMFs within high-quality journals over the last 33 years. The review illuminates the principal contributors in SMFs research by using performance analysis based on journal, article, author, country and institution criteria. By using science mapping techniques, the author identifies five prevailing themes and outlines future research prospects in the domain of SMFs.

Practical implications

This review paper can serve as a roadmap for future researchers, aiding them in discerning the trending research topics within this domain.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study that comprehensively provides an overview of different variants, diverse strands and research hotspots of SMFs literature. The study offers insight into the evolution of SMFs, showcasing their progression from a segmented market to a prominently specialized domain in the contemporary landscape.
Islamic marketing perspective on familial consumer practices: an integrated ethnographic approach and a reflective account of challenges and agility amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Saadeldin Mostafa Mahmoud Kamel
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to propose an integrated ethnographic approach (IEA) to explore familial consumption practices from an Islamic marketing perspective. It also offers a critical reflection on the advantages of ethnographic approaches and provides guidance for future researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

This ethnographic study explores the consumption practices of eight families. Through interviews, observations and documentation, the study chronicles and analyses day-to-day activities to examine how consumption practices among followers of a certain religion are influenced by their religious beliefs.

Findings

Ethnographies are applicable for studying sensitive topics such as religious adherence and its influence on consumption choices. Their flexibility provides researchers with the agility to continue the study despite unexpected circumstances, such as pandemics. Through this approach, the researcher was able to discover the struggles of family members between balancing their religious practices with their consumption experiences.

Practical implications

The implications of this study suggest that researchers immerse themselves in participants’ worlds if they want to generate insights about sensitive topics. The procedures explained in this study could guide future researchers.

Originality/value

This study had the privilege of adapting an IEA during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed the author to obtain novel insights in such unusual circumstances and to discover the agility of ethnographic methodology in exploring religion and consumption.
Driving SDGs contribution: governance impact in state-owned vs. private companies’ CSR reporting
Authors: Ligorio Lorenzo , Venturelli Andrea , Caputo Fabio
Published: December 2024

Purpose

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are tools in the hands of governments for the pursuit of their political agendas. This feature is driving accounting scholars’ attention to SOEs’ relationship with the United Nations Agenda 2030. However, few contributions in literature have approached the topic. This study aims at understanding which determinants impact the contribution of SOEs to Agenda 2030.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyse SOEs’ contribution to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) through their disclosures, this study adopted a panel data analysis to explore two levels of drivers impacting SOEs practices. Furthermore, to highlight SOEs’ differences from private sector entities, this study used a comparative approach.

Findings

Results revealed how hybrid and private environments are differently impacting the contribution to the SDGs. Moreover, it emerged how hybridity through board characteristics impacts SOE disclosure quality.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to empirically test how corporate governance characteristics influence SDGs’ contribution via sustainability reporting in SOEs.
BCL6 Promotes Transcription of GPR61 to Suppress IL‐1β‐Induced Osteoarthritis Progression in C28/I2 Cells
Authors: Zeng Guangxuan , Xu Yizhou , Li Zhengnan , Deng Gang
Published: December 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease and its pathogenic mechanism remains to be ensured. This study focused on the regulatory relation between B‐cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) and G‐protein‐coupled receptor 61 (GPR61) underlying IL‐1β in OA. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were performed for mRNA and protein detection. Oxidative injury was assessed by reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) via kits. Fe2+ level was measured via an iron assay kit. Relation analysis between BCL6 and GPR61 was implemented employing ChIP assay and dual‐luciferase reporter assay. GPR61 was downregulated in OA samples and IL‐1β‐induced C28/I2 cells. IL‐1β‐induced cell inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis were all returned by overexpression of GPR61. BCL6 downregulation was detected in OA patients and IL‐1β‐exposed C28/I2 cells. BCL6 could promote the transcription of GPR61. BCL6 suppressed IL‐1β‐induced OA progression by upregulating GPR61. The BCL6/GPR61 axis activated the PKA/CREB pathway in IL‐1β‐treated C28/I2 cells. The above results suggested that BCL6 mitigated OA progression induced by IL‐1β by enhancing transcription of GPR61. BCL6/GPR61/PKA/CREB axis may be considered as a novel regulatory mechanism in OA, and BCL6 has the potential to act as a novel target for OA.
Recreational Facilities as Reservoirs for Multidrug‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Weikel Chase A. , Pisciotta John M.
Published: December 2024

Antibiotic‐resistant pathogens in public settings present a growing risk to human health. Staphylococcus aureus often asymptomatically colonizes human skin, while virulent strains cause soft tissue infections, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and are associated with cystic fibrosis. Here we investigated the presence and distribution of multidrug‐resistant S. aureus on exercise equipment in university recreation facilities. Equipment sampled included barbells (n = 10), dumbbell handles (n = 15), kettle bell handles (n = 5), ellipticals (n = 5), treadmills (n = 5), cable attachments (n = 5). Mannitol salt agar, CHROMagar‐MRSA, Gram staining and latex agglutination testing were useds to isolate and identify S. aureus, including methicillin‐resistant S. aureus. Kirby‐Bauer disc‐diffusion assay was utilized to determine antibiotic susceptibility profiles. Results show 42% of 456 S. aureus isolates from 45 different equipment surfaces were ampicillin resistant. Of 60 representative ampicillin‐resistant isolates, 92% were resistant to additional antibiotics with the majority resistant to erythromycin (40%) and sulfisoxazole (75%). Multidrug resistance to three or more drugs was observed in 73% of the ampicillin‐resistant subpopulation. These results indicate recreational facilities may serve as reservoirs for multi‐drug resistant S. aureus including methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and regular disinfection of equipment is warranted for safeguarding public health.
Exploring Forced Removals and Dispossession in the Dukuduku Forest, KwaZulu Natal, before and after 1994
Authors: NYATHI PATRICK A.
Published: December 2024

Government‐sanctioned forced removals are a continuous theme in contemporary South Africa. This article examines four major phases of forced removals in the Dukuduku state forest – located in the Mtubatuba Municipality in northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa – beginning in the 1930s. It places particular focus on the last phase of removals in the 1980s and 1990s, during the significant political period in South Africa in which there were talks between the liberation movements and the Nationalist government about transitioning to the new political dispensation. Land restitution efforts following the 1994 elections are explored, detailing the state's approach to addressing historical injustices related to land issues. The findings reveal that resistance was fuelled by conservationist imperatives that prioritised nature over human habitation and demonstrate that the policies of both apartheid and post‐apartheid governments have contributed to the destruction of a significant portion of this unique indigenous forest over the past five decades. The article advocates for a balanced land management approach that respects historical land claims and prioritises local needs alongside environmental preservation efforts.
Integrated movement models for individual tracking and species distribution data
Authors: Buderman Frances E. , Hanks Ephraim M. , Ruiz‐Gutierrez Viviana , Shull Michael , Murphy Robert K. , Miller David A. W.
Published: December 2024

While the quantity, quality, and variety of movement data has increased, methods that jointly allow for population‐ and species‐level movement parameters to be estimated are still needed. We present a formal data integration approach to combine individual‐level movement and population‐level distribution data. We show how formal data integration can be used to improve precision of individual and population‐level movement parameters and allow additional population‐level metrics (e.g., connectivity) to be formally quantified.

We describe three components needed for an Integrated Movement Model (IMM): a model for individual movement, a model for among‐individual heterogeneity, and a model to quantify changes in species distribution. We outline a general IMM framework and develop and apply a specific stochastic differential equation model to a case study of telemetry and species distribution data for golden eagles in western North American during spring migration.

We estimate eagle movements during spring migration from data collected between 2011 and 2019. Individual heterogeneity in migration behaviour was modelled for two subpopulations, individuals that make significant northward migrations and those that remained in the southern Rocky Mountain region through the summer. As is the case with most tracking studies, the sample population of individual telemetered birds is not representative of the population and underrepresents the proportion of long‐distance migrants in the population. The IMM was able to provide a more biological accurate subpopulation structure using joint estimation. In addition, the integrated approach (a) improves accuracy of other estimated movement parameters, (b) allows us to estimate the proportion of migratory and non‐migratory birds in a given location and time, and (c) estimate future spatiotemporal distributions of birds given a wintering location, which provide estimates of seasonal connectivity and migratory routes.

We demonstrate how IMMs can be successfully used to address the challenge of estimating accurate population‐level movement parameters. Our approach can be generalized to a broad range of available movement models and data types, allowing us to significantly improve our knowledge of migration ecology across taxonomic groups, and address population and continental level information needs for conservation and management.
Establishment and application of murine models of alcoholic liver disease: A narrative review
Authors: Liu Mengsi , Zhou Mingying , Ren Xueyi , Xie Yandi
Published: December 2024

In recent years, there have been significant advances in pathological research on alcoholic liver disease (ALD), with suitable animal models making a significant contribution. However, the currently established animal ALD models still have some significant drawbacks, especially the inability to induce the entire human ALD lineage, which may be related to physiological differences between animals and humans. This review comprehensively summarized the most widely used experimental models of ALD, including voluntary drinking, Lieber–DeCarli, Meadows–Cook, Tsukamoto–French, NIAAA, and the “second hit” model. “Second hit” refers to an additional factor that damages the liver. There are various “second hit” models that fall into two main categories: particular diets and drugs. These models can either simulate human drinking patterns more accurately or produce varying degrees of ALD without significantly increasing animal mortality. We introduced the established method of the original models, discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the existing models from the aspects of operability and practicality, and provided existing improvement methods, hoping to provide a reference for future researchers.
Enhancing Dermatological Practice Through Photography: Essential Techniques and Tools
Authors: Dixit Ishana , Dawes‐Higgs Elizabeth
Published: December 2024

Clinical photography plays a crucial role in dermatology by aiding in diagnosis, monitoring treatment progress and providing valuable visual documentation for research and patient education. This article outlines key photographic techniques, equipment options and best practices tailored for dermatologists to improve clinical outcomes through high‐quality imagery.
Inhibition of phosphodiesterases 1 and 4 prevents myofibroblast transformation in Peyronie's disease
Authors: Harding Sophie L. , Ilg Marcus M. , Bustin Stephen A. , Ralph David J. , Cellek Selim
Published: December 2024

Objectives

To investigate which phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoforms are expressed in fibroblasts isolated from the tunica albuginea (TA) of patients with Peyronie's disease (PD), and to measure the potency of PDE inhibitors in preventing transformation of these fibroblasts to profibrotic myofibroblasts.

Materials and Methods

Fibroblasts isolated from the TA of men undergoing surgery for correction of PD curvature were transformed to myofibroblasts using transforming growth factor beta‐1. The expression of 21 PDE isoforms was investigated using quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction and protein analysis, as were the effects of various PDE inhibitors on prevention of myofibroblast transformation. Intracellular cAMP and cGMP in the presence of PDE inhibitors were quantified using cGMP/cAMP enzyme‐linked immunosorbant assay assays.

Results

We found that PDE1A, 1C, 4, 5A, 7B and 8B were expressed at mRNA and protein levels. Selective inhibitors of these enzymes prevented myofibroblast transformation in a concentration‐dependent manner, with PDE1 inhibitor ITI‐214 and PDE4 inhibitors roflumilast and roflumilast N‐oxide showing greatest potency. ITI‐214 and roflumilast N‐oxide increased intracellular cAMP, but not cGMP, in a concentration‐dependent manner.

Conclusions

This is the first demonstration of the expression of PDE1, 7 and 8 isoforms, and the function of PDE1 and PDE4 in human TA fibroblasts. The ability of inhibitors of these enzymes to prevent myofibroblast transformation suggests that such inhibitors can be developed to treat acute PD.
From missing data to informative GPA predictions: Navigating selection process beliefs with the partial identifiability approach
Authors: Alarcón‐Bustamante Eduardo , González Jorge , Torres Irribarra David , San Martín Ernesto
Published: December 2024

The extent to which college admissions test scores can forecast college grade point average (GPA) is often evaluated in predictive validity studies using regression analyses. A problem in college admissions processes is that we observe test scores for all the applicants; however, we cannot observe the GPA of applicants who were not selected. The standard solution to tackle this problem has relied upon strong assumptions to identify the exact value of the regression function in the presence of missing data. In this paper, we present an alternative approach based on the theory of partial identifiability that considers a variety of milder assumptions to learn about the regression function. Using a university admissions dataset we illustrate how results can vary as a function of the assumptions that one is willing to make about the selection process.
PPE shortages and healthcare workers' mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Canada
Authors: Amoak Daniel , Dhillon Satveer , Batung Evans , Antabe Roger , Sano Yujiro
Published: December 2024

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical among healthcare professionals, considering that it serves as the first line of defense against infectious diseases and hazards in the healthcare environment. Therefore, the shortage of PPE during the COVID‐19 pandemic exposed a unique vulnerability within the healthcare system, heightening the risk of infection among healthcare professionals. Despite this evidence, few studies have explored whether this negative impact of PPE scarcity extends to mental health among healthcare professionals in Canada. Using the Survey on Healthcare Workers' Experiences During the Pandemic conducted by Statistics Canada (n = 12,246), the current study aims to address this void by exploring the association between PPE shortages and two indicators of mental health—depression and general anxiety disorder. We found that 18% and 26% of healthcare professionals reported depression and general anxiety disorder, respectively. Results from logistic regression analyses indicate that healthcare professionals who faced at least one PPE restriction were more likely to report general anxiety disorder. Additionally, professionals who experienced four or more restrictions were more likely to report depression (OR = 1.28, p<0.01), compared to those who did not experience any restriction. Based on these findings, we discuss whether the stress and anxiety resulting from inadequate protection during the pandemic may point to the importance of understanding the broader implications of PPE shortages on the mental well‐being of healthcare professionals. The current study highlighted that it is essential to craft evidence‐based policies that not only prioritize the physical safety of healthcare professionals but also their mental well‐being, ultimately strengthening the healthcare system's response to crises.
From “Listening” to Collaborative Policymaking: Encouraging Government Engagement with Civil Society
Authors: Francoli Mary
Published: December 2024

The digital age has helped to create an environment where civic engagement could flourish. The quality and quantity of data have increased and new mechanisms for engagement make it simpler than ever before. Despite this, civic engagement activities often resemble exercises in listening more than active two‐way dialogue. With the Government of Canada as its focus, this article asks what changes need to be made to improve civic engagement—to make it more interactive and iterative—so that its potential as an element of good governance can be better realized? Drawing on contemporary examples of engagement related to transparency, it is argued that improvements need to focus on increasing institutionalization of engagement, improving the visibility of engagement opportunities, and building and sustaining relationships and trust with citizens.
Digital equity in a crowded tool space: Navigating opportunities and challenges for equitable implementation of conservation technologies
Authors: Tabor Karyn M. , Stavros Natasha , Biehler Dawn , Castillo‐Villamor Liliana C. , Mahmoudi Dillon , Moreno Amado Luis Mario , Holland Margaret B.
Published: December 2024

We call on conservation funders, technology developers, and practitioners to explore how digital technologies can transform conservation practice. Actors supporting, developing, and funding digital technologies for conservation must address digital inequity and reduce the societal risks of digital technologies that may undermine conservation goals. We highlight the challenges in leveraging digital conservation technologies and recommend approaches to increase access to digital technologies for uptake by diverse users while supporting equitable participation from diverse user communities to shape digital technologies and their applications. Improving access to and use of tools may be achieved through strategic funding for digital design that recognizes and supports local solutions and diverse practices and perspectives. With increasing digital access, funders must also emphasize adherence to safeguards and protocols to reduce risks associated with digital technologies. By adopting more ethical methodologies related to digital technologies, we not only enhance global sustainability but also foster collaborative relationships with communities, recognizing the intrinsic value of their expertise in conservation initiatives and jointly safeguarding the environment to ensure the well‐being of all. Encouraging more equitable approaches to conservation technologies underpins global priorities for sustainable development by centering and supporting the communities most directly involved in conservation action.
Researchers' degrees of flexibility: Revisiting COVID‐19 policy evaluations
Authors: Weill Joakim A. , Stigler Matthieu , Deschenes Olivier , Springborn Michael R.
Published: December 2024

Empirical research involves multiple, seemingly‐minor choices that can substantially impact a study's findings. While acknowledged, the importance of these “degrees of flexibility” on published estimates is not well understood. We examine the considerable literature focused on the impacts of early COVID‐19 policies on social distancing to assess the role of researchers' degrees of flexibility on the estimated effects of mobility‐reducing policies. We find that estimates reported in previous studies are not robust to minor changes in typically‐unexplored dimensions of the degree of flexibility space, and usual robustness tests systematically fail to detect these issues.
Dynamic norms and organ donation
Authors: Zang Ruqian , Li Jianbiao , Niu Xiaofei
Published: December 2024

We conduct three experiments with over 1600 subjects to examine the impact of dynamic norms on organ donation. We find that dynamic norms (low‐prevalence behaviors framed as increasing in popularity over time) significantly increase organ donor registration, and that this effect is mainly driven by dynamic trends (prevalence of behaviors with a growth trend). The positive effect of dynamic trends on organ donor registration is better than that of combined norms (low‐descriptive but high‐injunctive behaviors). The underlying mechanism may be future norm perceptions and moral emotions (elevation). Our paper presents a novel and effective strategy to increase organ donation.
A guide to RNA structure analysis and RNA‐targeting methods
Authors: Aguilar Rodrigo , Mardones Constanza , Moreno Adrian A. , Cepeda‐Plaza Marjorie
Published: December 2024

RNAs are increasingly recognized as promising therapeutic targets, susceptible to modulation by strategies that include targeting with small molecules, antisense oligonucleotides, deoxyribozymes (DNAzymes), or CRISPR/Cas13. However, while drug development for proteins follows well‐established paths for rational design based on the accurate knowledge of their three‐dimensional structure, RNA‐targeting strategies are challenging since comprehensive RNA structures are yet scarce and challenging to acquire. Numerous methods have been developed to elucidate the secondary and three‐dimensional structure of RNAs, including X‐ray crystallography, cryo‐electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, SHAPE, DMS, and bioinformatic methods, yet they have often revealed flexible transcripts and co‐existing populations rather than single‐defined structures. Thus, researchers aiming to target RNAs face a critical decision: whether to acquire the detailed structure of transcripts in advance or to adopt phenotypic screens or sequence‐based approaches that are independent of the structure. Still, even in strategies that seem to rely only on the nucleotide sequence (like the design of antisense oligonucleotides), researchers may need information about the accessibility of the compounds to the folded RNA molecule. In this concise guide, we provide an overview for researchers interested in targeting RNAs: We start by revisiting current methodologies for defining secondary or three‐dimensional RNA structure and then we explore RNA‐targeting strategies that may or may not require an in‐depth knowledge of RNA structure. We envision that complementary approaches may expedite the development of RNA‐targeting molecules to combat disease.
SignatureFinder enables sequence mining to identify cobalamin‐dependent photoreceptor proteins
Authors: Yu Yuqi , Jeffreys Laura N. , Poddar Harshwardhan , Hill Adam , Johannissen Linus , Dai Fanzhuo , Sakuma Michiyo , Leys David , Heyes Derren J. , Zhang Shaowei , Scrutton Nigel S.
Published: December 2024

Photoreceptors control cellular processes in response to light. Most photoreceptors sense blue or red light, but the recent discovery of the cobalamin‐dependent photoreceptor, CarH, has expanded the wavelength range of photoreception to other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum to include the green light region. Further identification of cobalamin‐dependent green light‐sensitive photoreceptors has been hampered owing to poor annotation of the light responsiveness of cobalamin‐binding domains (CBDs) in public databases. Here we report a computational workflow, SignatureFinder, that uses a combination of sequence and structural analyses to identify new light‐responsive CBD‐containing proteins. The light response of exemplar proteins containing the proposed signature were confirmed experimentally. A structural analysis of these new photoreceptors, including the crystal structure of a new CBD domain, highlights how the signature elements interact with the cobalamin chromophore to sense light. Database mining of 128 000 CBD‐containing sequences using the identified signature revealed more diverse CBD‐containing photoreceptors, thereby expanding the family of green‐light photoreceptors. A SignatureFinder web server is available (https://enzymeevolver.com) for wider applications, including the identification of signature sequences of other biological ligands of interest.
Unpacking the Antecedents of Boredom and Its Impact on University Learners’ Engagement in Languages Other Than English: A Qualitative Study in the Distance Online Learning Context
Authors: Zhao Xian , Wang Danping
Published: December 2024

Although psychological factors such as emotion and engagement have gained increasing attention for their role in language learning success, a substantial gap remains in understanding the sources of boredom and its impact on learners’ engagement, whether behavioural, affective or cognitive, in languages other than English (LOTE). This study employs questionnaires and semi‐structured interviews to examine the cause‐and‐effect relationships between antecedents, boredom and engagement in a distance online learning context among university Chinese as a second language (CSL) teachers and learners (N = 17) from China. The findings suggest that (1) boredom is primarily a student‐oriented construct influenced by physical fatigue and academic regression. Teacher‐related factors, such as a slow and predictable teaching pace, dull classroom design, lack of questioning, explanations and untimely feedback, also contribute to boredom, along with learning tasks (e.g., repetitive, mechanical and over‐challenging tasks), and internet‐related issues. Boredom is notably more present in listening courses rather than in integrated Chinese courses. (2) Boredom primarily affected learners’ behavioural engagement (e.g., distraction, sleepiness, mind‐wandering, and task abandonment) and subsequently impaired their cognitive (e.g., concentration, comprehension) and emotional (e.g., anxiety, anger) layers. This study elucidated the intricate interconnections between layers within engagement and beyond, and the interrelationships among a list of factors across conative (engagement, effort and motivation), affective (boredom, anxiety and anger) and cognitive (concentration, comprehension and reasoning) dimensions in a domain‐specific and skill‐specific manner. In closing, pedagogical implications for both educators and learners are discussed to reduce boredom and enhance learners’ classroom engagement, ultimately improving learning outcomes and the overall language learning experience.
Unraveling of product information with discrete prices
Authors: Woo Hee Yeul
Published: December 2024

In a market with discrete prices, the seller provides verifiable information to buyers with privately known tastes, possibly horizontally differentiated. We present a necessary and sufficient condition, called the unraveling criteria, to achieve effective unraveling at every prudent rationalizable outcome, which extends pairwise monotonicity in a more general framework. The unraveling criteria are satisfied if we can rank seller types from the ones with the highest to the ones with the lowest sales at every price, reminiscent of vertical differentiation. We observe that cautiousness, embodied in prudent rationalizability, plays a specific role in achieving effective unraveling.
The Role of Cultural Safety Within a Human Rights‐Based Approach to Improve Indigenous Peoples’ Health: A Scoping Review
Authors: Palu Mele Lua , Wenham Kathryn , Shagar Pravina
Published: December 2024

Aim

To examine the role of cultural safety within a human rights‐based approach to improving the health of Indigenous Peoples.

Design

Guided by Askey and O'Malley's scoping review framework, the literature was examined on cultural safety and prioritised Indigenous voices to inform culturally safe practices. Relevant literature from 2009 to 2021 was included.

Data Sources

Databases included CINAHL, PubMed, Informit and the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet.

Review Methods

Search terms included ‘Indigenous Peoples’, ‘cultural safety’ and ‘human rights’ within the context of health in Australia, Aotearoa and Canada.

Results

The database searches yielded 147 abstracts. After screening, 39 studies were included in the review, describing four overarching themes on the connection between cultural safety and the right to health.

Conclusions

Despite cultural safety being linked to key elements of the right to health, such as availability, accessibility, and culturally acceptable resources and services, there is still paucity in research on cultural safety within a human rights framework. Evidence supports cultural safety to decolonise practices, embrace Indigenous knowledge and challenge racism. Linking cultural safety to key elements of the right to health compels nations that have ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to embed cultural safety to fulfil their legal obligation to address health equity according to International Human Rights Law. This study is the first to add a human rights lens on cultural safety.

Impact

The findings underscore the need for clear and explicit linkage between cultural safety and the right to health. This will prompt greater accountability for healthcare institutions and providers and governments to create a more culturally safe healthcare system and to recognise that cultural safety is not optional but an inherent part of the right to health.

No Patient or Public Contribution

Cultural safety, decolonisation, health equity, human rights, Indigenous, nursing, racism.
Machine Learning‐Driven Identification of Distinct Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Phenotypes: A Cluster Analysis of DECAAF II
Authors: Noujaim Charbel , Feng Han , Bidaoui Ghassan , Huang Chao , Younes Hadi , Assaf Ala , Mekhael Mario , Chouman Nour , Lim Chanho , Donnellan Eoin , Shamaileh Ghaith , El Hajjar Abdel Hadi , Nelson Daniel , Dhore Aneesh , Li Dan , Marrouche Nassir , Kreidieh Omar
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation yields sub‐optimal success rates partly due to the considerable heterogeneity within the patient population. Identifying distinct patient phenotypes based on post‐ablation prognosis could improve patient selection for additional therapies and optimize treatment strategies.

Methods

We studied all patients who underwent catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation in the DECAAF II trial. Out of 44 participating centers, 25% were randomly chosen as a validation set. A Gradient Boosting Method determined essential features for arrhythmia recurrence prediction and the number of clusters was determined according to the average silhouette width. K‐medoids cluster analysis identified subgroups based on these features, and Kaplan–Meier curves were further compared among different clusters.

Results

Among 815 patients, 570 served as a training set and 245 as a validation set. Using the training set, the GBM model achieved an AUC of 0.874. K‐medoids cluster analysis used LA volume, BMI, baseline fibrosis, and age, resulting in two clusters. Cluster 1 patients were older, had higher baseline fibrosis, higher BMI, and greater LA volume compared to Cluster 2. Atrial arrhythmia recurrence rates were significantly higher in Cluster 1 (51.7% vs. 35.0%, p = 0.0002), and survival analysis showed a significant difference in primary recurrence outcomes (HR = 1.71, p < 0.0001). The validation set confirmed these findings.

Conclusion

Utilizing machine learning, we identified a high‐risk cluster for procedural failure in catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation within the DECAAF II trial population. The primary differentiating factors of this high‐risk cluster include older age, high left atrial fibrosis, elevated BMI, and increased left atrial volume.
An Investigation of the Barriers to Care of Adult Patients With a Tracheostomy in Intensive Care Units and General Wards: Secondary Analysis of Qualitative Interview Data
Authors: Akroute A. , Fredriksen S. T. D. , Hovland A. , Brinchmann B. S.
Published: December 2024

Aims and Objectives

To investigate the barriers experienced by intensive care nurses and registered nurses and to provide optimal nursing for adult patients with a temporary tracheostomy in intensive care and general wards.

Background

Tracheostomy is widely used in intensive care units, around 20% of intensive care unit patients undergo tracheostomy insertions and expect high quality of care. Caring for patients with a tracheostomy is complex and challenging task. An investigation of barriers to care for adult patients with a temporary tracheostomy in a hospital setting is essential to ensure that these patients receive the highest quality of care and to identify areas for improvement.

Design

This paper applied secondary analysis to data from two qualitative studies, including narrative interviews and maximum variation sampling.

Methods

Secondary analysis of primary qualitative datasets is appropriate when the analysis extends rather than exceeds the primary. The analysis was based on interview data collected from six intensive care nurses and six registered nurses from two university teaching hospitals in Norway. The interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed. The data was analysed using the qualitative analysis suggested by Graneheim and Lundman. This study adhered to the consolidated criteria for reporting in a qualitative research (COREQ) checklist.

Results

Four main themes were identified as barriers to care for adult patients with a temporary tracheostomy in the hospital: encountering ambivalence, inadequate staffing levels, lack of patient continuity of care and lack of systematic follow‐up.

Conclusions

Understanding barriers to care is crucial for hospitals and healthcare organisations to develop targeted interventions and educational programs to address these barriers and improve the care provided to adult patients with tracheostomies in hospital settings.
Intermediary Leverage Shocks and Funding Conditions
Authors: FONTAINE JEAN‐SÉBASTIEN , GARCIA RENÉ , GUNGOR SERMIN
Published: December 2024

The aggregate leverage of broker‐dealers responds to demand and supply disturbances that have opposite effects on financial markets. Specifically, leverage supply shocks that relax broker‐dealers' funding constraints increase leverage, liquidity, and returns and carry a positive price of risk, while leverage demand shocks also increase leverage but reduce liquidity and returns and carry a negative price of risk. Disentangling demand‐ and supply‐like shocks resolves existing puzzles around the price of leverage risk and yields consistent evidence across many markets of a central role for intermediation frictions and dealers' aggregate leverage in asset pricing.
C‐reactive protein diagnostic value for bacterial infections in the paediatric emergency department setting
Authors: Adam Iben Hamad , Kestenbom Inbal , Shmueli Moshe , Hassan Lior , Lendner Idan , Ben‐Shimol Shalom
Published: December 2024

Aim

C‐reactive protein (CRP) is commonly used to assess the probability of bacterial infection and the need for empiric antibiotic treatment. We assessed the relationship between CRP levels and bacterial infection in the paediatric emergency room (PER) setting.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study. Relative risks (RRs) were calculated for the relation between CRP levels and various demographic, clinical and diagnosis parameters. Additionally, the sensitivity and specificity of different CRP levels (2, 5, 7 and 10 mg/dL) for bacterial infection diagnosis was calculated.

Results

Overall, 13 092 cases were recorded. Fever, leucocytosis, hospitalisation and bacterial infection diagnosis were associated with elevated CRP levels, while lower CRP levels were associated with young age. Gender, ethnicity, hypoxemia and neutrophilia were not associated with CRP levels. The sensitivity of CRP ≥2 mg/dl for bacterial disease was 65%–70%, declining to <50% in CRP ≥5 mg/dL. The specificity of CRP ≥2 mg/dL for bacterial disease was ~60%, increasing to >80% in CRP ≥5 mg/dL.

Conclusions

CRP levels of ≥5 mg/dl high specificity for bacterial disease, allow for its use as an indicator to start empiric antibiotic treatment, while the low sensitivity of various CRP levels probably excludes the possibility of withholding empiric antibiotic treatment, based only on CRP level.
How socioeconomic and structural barriers influence dental care among transgender people
Authors: Clermont Donald , Nieto Valerie , Alpert Elizabeth , Yao Elvin , Cothron Annaliese
Published: December 2024

Background

While recent US policies restrict access to healthcare and resulting health disparities among the transgender community, little is known about oral health access and utilization among this population. This study assessed self‐reported access to dental care among transgender adults living in the United States.

Method

The study sample included 1,284,526 observations representing a weighted population of 290,000,163 from Behavioral Risk Factor and Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) datasets. Transgender identity was dichotomized and tested for association with having a dental visit in the past year. Pearson chi‐square statistics were computed for associations and multivariate logistic regression assessed the odds of seeing a dentist in the last year.

Results

Nearly all socioeconomic and healthcare access covariates were associated with transgender identity. A significantly smaller proportion of transgender respondents reported established employment graduating high school, income over $50,000, non‐Hispanic White racial and ethnic identities, and a past‐year medical checkup (all p < 0.01). In all three models and across all analyses, transgender respondents had significantly lower odds of having seen a dentist in the past year, compared to cisgender people.

Conclusions

To date, no research, aside from the present study, has assessed connections between transgender identity and oral healthcare access. The results of this analysis are consistent with other healthcare disparities that transgender people experience in that a smaller proportion of transgender respondents saw a dentist in the last year compared to cisgender respondents. Implications for establishing a foundation in future research to explore oral health access, utilization, and policy recommendations are discussed.
Drift in small populations predicts mate availability and the breakdown of self‐incompatibility in a clonal polyploid
Authors: Cisternas‐Fuentes Anita , Forehand Cameron , Morris Kate , Busch Jeremiah W. , Koski Matthew H.
Published: December 2024

Mate limitation in small populations can reduce reproductive fitness, hinder population growth, and increase extinction risk. Mate limitation is exacerbated in self‐incompatible (SI) taxa, where shared S‐alleles further restrict mating. Theory suggests genetic drift as a predictor of mate limitation and the breakdown of SI systems. We tested this prediction by evaluating mate availability and S‐allele number in populations of a tetraploid herb with gametophytic SI (GSI) spanning a range of effective population sizes.

We performed controlled crosses in 13 populations of Argentina anserina to quantify mate availability and S‐allele diversity, which were compared with simulations of tetraploid populations with GSI. We further evaluated mechanisms at the pollen–pistil interface contributing to outcross failure and leakiness in self‐recognition.

Mate availability declined in small populations, and closely fit tetraploid GSI population genetic models where maternal plants receive pollen with diverse S‐alleles generated through tetrasomic inheritance. The failure to arrest self‐pollen in the style was common in some populations. Specifically, leaky SI was more common in small populations with low mate availability, where it explained higher seed production in natural populations.

The restriction of leaky self‐recognition to the smallest populations is consistent with mate limitation as a pressure driving the breakdown of self‐incompatibility.
Unique bibenzyl cannabinoids in the liverwort Radula marginata: parallels with Cannabis chemistry
Authors: Andre Christelle M. , Sansom Catherine E. , Plunkett Blue J. , Hamiaux Cyril , Massey Lenhy , Chan Andrew , Caddie Manu , Espley Richard V. , Perry Nigel B.
Published: December 2024

The potential of cannabinoids to address public health challenges has stimulated exploration into alternative sources and production technologies. Radula marginata, an endemic Aotearoa/New Zealand liverwort, produces the bibenzyl cannabinoid perrottetinene (PET), analogous to Cannabis psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Structural differences between PET and THC could alter therapeutic interactions and mitigate adverse side effects.

To understand the cannabinoid production potential of R. marginata, we analyzed 75 collections from three locations across several seasons, collaborating with kaitiaki Māori (indigenous guardians). Metabolic plasticity of the phytocannabinoids and plant growth was assessed under controlled growth conditions, and in in vitro culture.

Perrottetinene diol (trans‐PTD), analogous to cannabidiol (trans‐CBD), and its acid precursor (PTDA), were identified and fully characterized from nature for the first time. Bibenzyl‐4‐geranyl (BB4G), analogous to cannabigerol (CBG), and its corresponding acid (BB4GA), were also isolated. Radula marginata showed chemotypes dominated by PET, PTD, or BB4G, in striking analogy to the main Cannabis chemotypes. These site‐selective chemotypes persisted after growth under artificial lighting and in in vitro progeny, suggesting genetic control.

These results expand phytocannabinoid knowledge through the discovery of PTD analogous to CBD. They add a new dimension to liverwort cannabinoids and suggest convergent evolution of biosynthesis in two distant plant lineages.