bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of a prognostic nomogram including inflammatory indicators for overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients treated primarily with surgery or loco-regional therapy: A single-center retrospective study
Authors: Wang Xin , Xu Jing , Jia Zhenya , Sun Guoping
Published: December 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most prevalent malignant tumors, but the current staging system has limited efficacy in predicting HCC prognosis. The authors sought to develop and validate a nomogram model for predicting overall survival (OS) in HCC patients primarily undergoing surgery or loco-regional therapy. Patients diagnosed with HCC from January 2017 to June 2023 were enrolled in the study. The data were randomly split into a training cohort and a validation cohort. Utilizing univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, independent risk factors for OS were identified, and a nomogram model was constructed to predict patient survival. Therapy, body mass index, portal vein tumor thrombus, leukocyte, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio, monocyte to lymphocyte ratio, and prognostic nutritional index were used to build the nomogram for OS. The nomogram demonstrated strong predictive ability, with high C-index values (0.745 for the training cohort and 0.650 for the validation cohort). ROC curves, calibration plots, and DCA curves all indicated satisfactory performance of the nomogram. Kaplan–Meier curve analysis showed a significant difference in prognosis between patients in the low- and high- risk groups. This nomogram provides precise survival predictions for HCC patients and helps identify individuals with varying prognostic risks, emphasizing the need for individualized follow-up and treatment plans.
National Preceptor Competency Consensus Study
Authors: Ulrich Beth , Harper Mary G. , Maloney Patsy , Warren Joan Insalaco , Whiteside Dawn , MacDonald Ryan
Published: December 2024

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop a consensus model of required preceptor competencies to inform preceptor selection, development, support, and assessment.

BACKGROUND

The preceptor role is complex and multifaceted, requiring knowledge and skills beyond the typical RN role; however, no nationally developed standards for preceptor competencies exist.

METHODS

A mixed-method approach (national survey of preceptors, electronic Delphi, expert panel) was used to develop consensus on required preceptor competencies.

RESULTS

This study identified and validated definitions for the preceptor role domains (role model, teacher/coach, facilitator, protector, socialization agent, leader/influencer, and evaluator), essential attributes for preceptors, core competencies spanning all role domains, and competencies in each role domain—components that together form the preceptor competency model.

CONCLUSION

The evidence provided from this study delineates the complexity of the preceptor role and provides a consensus model of preceptor competence that can be used to select, develop, assess, evaluate, and support preceptors.
The role of older antibiotics in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections: current perspectives
Authors: Allaw Fatima , Dagher Maya , Kanj Souha S.
Published: December 2024

Purpose of review

The aim is to discuss the evidence and recent literature on the role of older antibiotics in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs).

Recent findings

The choice of therapy for SSTIs is complicated in view of the rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the availability of new antibiotics. SSTIs are predominantly caused by Staphylococcus aureus and beta-hemolytic streptococci, but other organisms can be involved in patients with comorbidities or post trauma. Treatment options are dictated by the accessibility and cost of newer antibiotics in resource-constrained settings. ‘Old antibiotics’ including β-lactams, doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), clindamycin, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin remain good choices in treating SSTIs. They offer affordable options for outpatient settings. Only few randomized trials have addressed the role of the old agents in SSTIs treatment. Studies suggest that these agents remain effective for empirical and targeted therapy based on the epidemiological context. Ongoing surveillance and clinical trials are needed to assess the role of these agents and to integrate them into modern SSTIs management, supporting sustainable treatment models in both high-income and low-income settings.

Older antibiotics can be effectively used in treating SSTIs, provided their use is guided by current epidemiological data or culture and susceptibility results.
Management of patients with advanced prostate cancer: Report of the Taiwan Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2022
Authors: Hung Sheng-Chun , Lin Yi-Sheng , Chang Yen-Hwa , Pu Yeong-Shiau , Wu Tony Tong-Lin , Wu Wen-Jeng , Pang See-Tong , Ou Yen-Chuan
Published: December 2024

The landscape for advanced prostate cancer has significantly evolved over the past decade. However, there remains a notable lack of robust evidence across various facets of clinical practice. The Taiwan Urological Association organized the 2022 Taiwan Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (TAPCCC) to address specific topics designed to augment existing guidelines. The TAPCCC 2022 questionnaire was designed based on the Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference 2022 held by the Advanced Prostate Cancer Society and tailored to regional characteristics and medical practice in Taiwan. The questionnaire involved 7 areas of advanced prostate cancer: high-risk and locally advanced prostate cancer, biochemical recurrence, management of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, management of nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, importance of lifestyle and prevention of complications in advanced prostate cancer, management of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and oligometastatic and oligoprogressive prostate cancer. The panel experts voted anonymously on 93 predefined questions before and after the conference following a modified Delphi process. A consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement of answer options and strong consensus was defined as ≥90% agreement of answer options. A total of 61 Taiwanese panel experts were involved. Of the 93 questions asked, 40 (43.0%) achieved consensus and 14 (15.1%) reached a strong consensus. In addition, 18 questions (19.4%) demonstrated a ≥75% agreement while combining answer options. The voting results were presented alongside the most recent guidelines and evidence found in the literature, a detailed report of which is included in Supplementary Materials, http://links.lww.com/URSC/A51. In conclusion, the TAPCCC 2022 successfully identified salient issues, and the consensus answer options arising from the conference merit thorough evaluation for integration into clinical practice. The voting results offer guidance for clinicians navigating the management of advanced prostate cancer, particularly in situations where there is a paucity of robust evidence.
Predictive value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for clinically significant prostate cancer
Authors: Ren Jhuang Siang , Hong Jian-Hua , Huang Chao-Yuan , Liu Shih-Ping , Chow Po-Ming , Jeff Chueh Shih-Chieh , Chen Chung-Hsin , Pu Yeong-Shiau
Published: December 2024

Purpose:

The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), one of the inflammatory markers, can be calculated simply from peripheral blood samples. In this study, the role of NLR in predicting significant prostate cancer (sPC) before prostate biopsy was investigated.

Materials and methods:

Patients who underwent prostate biopsy between 2017 and 2022 at the National Taiwan University Hospital were enrolled prospectively. NLR was calculated before the biopsy. sPC was defined as an unfavorable-intermediate or higher risk of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network risk classification.

Results:

Among 484 enrolled patients, 164 sPC (33.9%) and 320 benign/insignificant prostate cancer (isPC; 66.1%) patients were diagnosed. The sPC group was older and had a higher prostate-specific antigen (PSA), smaller prostate volume, higher PSA density, more advanced clinical T stage, and more family history of prostate cancer than the benign/isPC group. There was no difference in neutrophil count (P = 0.929), lymphocyte count (P = 0.927), or NLR (P = 0.931) between groups. NLR failed to predict sPC in univariable (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93–1.12; P = 0.7) and multivariable (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.79–1.12; P = 0.506) logistic regression models, respectively. The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve in the model consisted of age, PSA, prostate volume, T stage, and family history of prostate cancer was 0.882 (95% CI, 0.849–0.914). There was no statistical difference when the model included NLR (P = 0.625).

Conclusion:

NLR did not differ between sPC and benign/isPC groups. NLR cannot predict sPC successfully before prostate biopsy.
Reducing field emission in superconducting cavities with ozone
Authors: Ruber Roger
Published: December 2024

Contaminations on the active surface of high-power microwave resonators, such as radio-frequency accelerator cavities, can greatly enlarge electron field emission and reduce their performance. In this work, we demonstrate the use of ozone to clean the surface of niobium superconducting radio-frequency cavities resulting in reduced field emission and enhanced accelerating gradient before onset of field emission. We report results from processing four cavities.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Novel knotted non-Abelian gauge fields
Authors: Nastase Horatiu , Sonnenschein Jacob
Published: December 2024

In analogy to null electromagnetic fields we define null Yang-Mills (YM) fields. We show that the null non-Abelian SU(N) gauge fields admit a set of 2N2 conserved “helicities.” We derive null YM solutions that carry finite helicities by uplifting the Abelian Hopfion solution and their generalizations. Another method that we implement is to deform YM solutions which do not carry helicities into ones that have nontrivial helicities. A nontrivial non-Abelian solution with helicities is found as a wave of infinite energy. We also discuss non-Abelian generalizations of the Bateman parameterization for null Abelian gauge fields.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Magnetization fluctuations and magnetic after-effect probed via the anomalous Hall effect
Authors: Nabben Nadine , Sala Giacomo , Nowak Ulrich , Krüger Matthias , Goennenwein Sebastian T. B.
Published: December 2024

Taking advantage of the anomalous Hall effect, we electrically probe low-frequency magnetization fluctuations at room temperature in a thin ferromagnetic Pt/Co/AlOx layer stack with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. We observe a strong enhancement of the Hall voltage fluctuations within the hysteretic region of the magnetization loop. Analyzing both the temporal evolution of the anomalous Hall voltage and its frequency-dependent noise power density, we identify two types of magnetic noise: abrupt changes in the magnetic domain configuration, evident as Barkhausen-like steps in the Hall voltage time trace, yield a noise power density spectrum scaling with frequency as 1/fβ with β≈2.0. In contrast, quasistationary magnetization configurations are connected with a magnetic noise power density with an exponent β≈1.0. The observation of Barkhausen steps and relaxation effects shows that the magnetic system is in a nonstationary state in the hysteresis region, such that the fluctuation-dissipation theorem cannot be expected to hold. However, the time-dependent change in the Hall voltage for constant magnetic field strength resembles the integrated noise power.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Utilising copper tailings as a sustainable alternative to conventional structural filling materials: LCA analysis
Authors: Choudhary Kailash , Gill Gourav , Sangwa Narpat Ram , Sarna Bhavesh
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Mine tailings are solid waste left after extracting the valuable fraction of the ore. This study reviewed the possibility of using copper-tailing waste to develop building foundations and compared its environmental implications with conventional sand foundations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study first discusses the state-of-the-art use of copper tailings in various industries through a literature review. The study then uses the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to quantify and compare the environmental impacts generated by the conventional sand and tailing foundations for buildings by considering a 1 × 1 m foundation area. The study also assessed the environmental impacts of a real copper mine case of the Khetri Copper Complex in the state of Rajasthan, India, and conducted a sensitivity analysis to show the impact of transportation distance on environmental impacts using the Monte Carlo simulation technique.

Findings

The study results indicate that the building foundation developed using copper-tailing waste is environmentally beneficial compared to a sand foundation. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that the transportation of tailings reduces the environmental benefits if transported over long distances; however, the utilisation is helpful for environmental sustainability. We further discussed the managerial and social implications of the results.

Originality/value

This study is a novel contribution highlighting the sequestration potential of copper tailing waste utilisation using midpoint and endpoint environmental impact categories.
Green building adoption in Qatar: PLS-SEM-based analysis of drivers and barriers
Authors: Ahmad Tayyab , Gunduz Murat , Madkoor Ahmad
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The study is about conducting a quantitative inquiry of the drivers that facilitate and barriers that hinder the adoption of Green Buildings (GBs) in Qatar. This will help pave the ground for increased GB development in Qatar.

Design/methodology/approach

Using previously published studies, 21 barriers and 14 drivers related to GB development are identified. Based on the findings of a questionnaire survey involving 102 construction industry experts, the significance of GB drivers and barriers in the case of Qatar is determined. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis is conducted to determine the significance of relationships of drivers and barriers for GB adoption in Qatar. While conducting PLS-SEM analysis, drivers and barriers have been aggregated and subsequently analyzed across 4 and 5 constructs, respectively.

Findings

While all the driver constructs are interrelated, only drivers related to economic and cost benefits have a significant relationship with GB adoption. Also, in case of barriers, only the barriers related to fear of extra expense and additional work have a significant relationship with GB adoption.

Research limitations/implications

Based on the relationships of drivers and barriers identified, recommendations are provided for increased uptake of GBs in Qatar. The study findings will enable decision-makers to ease the process as well as initiate policymaking for increased GB adoption. Theoretically, the findings of this study will contribute to the growing knowledge of GB projects.

Originality/value

GB development is highly contextual in terms of the region of development. In-depth studies on GB drivers and barriers have been missing for Qatar and this gap is filled by this study.
Exploring management strategies to optimise corporate value
Authors: Ramírez-Orellana Alicia , Giralt-Escobar Silvia , Blanco-González-Tejero Cristina
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper explores effective management strategies to optimise corporate value in the pharmaceutical industry. It uses key variables such as research and development (R&D), board gender diversity, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the dynamic and multifaceted nature of corporate innovation and its impact on performance, 53 pharmaceutical companies were examined using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). This methodology enabled exploration of causal and predictive relationships in corporate value and management.

Findings

Greater investment in R&D drives innovation and future growth. Despite the short-term financial impact, R&D investment reflects a strategic emphasis on long-term growth and sustainability in the pharmaceutical industry. Management effectiveness mediates the effects of gender diversity on increasing corporate value. The ESG score is the least relevant variable for assessing the value of pharmaceutical companies. It contributes to improving management practices but is not fully considered in the overall corporate value of a company taking into account the selected database.

Practical implications

Pharmaceutical companies can use these findings to adjust and optimise their investment in R&D. They can thus direct their strategies towards more ethical and sustainable practices, thereby enhancing effectiveness and competitiveness. The combination of these elements provides an opportunity to develop integrated management strategies.

Originality/value

This research explores innovative strategies to enhance corporate value, emphasising the pivotal role of R&D and ESG factors. It reveals the intricacies of the pharmaceutical landscape and provides solutions for organisational strategy.
Homogenization methods for thermal study of support structure in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) – application to process numerical modeling
Authors: Zhang Yancheng , Behlal Hugo , Gandin Charles-André , Senninger Oriane , Guillemot Gildas , Bellet Michel
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to report on a homogenized model for the anisotropic thermal conductivity of support structures constructed by the laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process, and its application to the numerical simulation of the L-PBF process.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering both analytical and numerical approaches, the model is developed across a temperature interval encompassing the entire L-PBF process. Subsequently, the homogenized material properties are incorporated into a thermal finite element model (FEM) of the L-PBF process to consider the effects of the support structures, taking into account their anisotropic properties.

Findings

The simulation results of the L-PBF process indicate that the support structures act as a thermal barrier, retaining more heat in part compared to direct printing on the substrate. The implementation of homogeneous thermal conductivity in the L-PBF process simulation demonstrates its efficiency and potential application to better control heat transfer during part construction.

Originality/value

The homogenized anisotropic thermal conductivity of a support structure has been characterized by both analytical and numerical approaches. Such homogenized anisotropic tensor was implemented in L-PBF numerical simulation. This showed a strong influence of the supports on the temperature distribution and evolution.
Resilience as a shield: self-efficacy and well-being in the face of exploitative leadership
Authors: Elahi Natasha Saman , Rasheed Muhammad Athar , Jamshed Samia , Bajwa Sami Ullah
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Employees' well-being has emerged as a critical issue in the software industry. Therefore, our study examines the detrimental effect of exploitative leadership on subjective well-being directly and through self-efficacy. We also investigate the buffering effect of resilience on this relationship using the conversation of resources (COR).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 585 software industry professionals via two-way self-administered questionnaires. The proposed hypotheses were tested using Process Model 5.

Findings

Our study confirms the negative effect of exploitative leadership on subjective well-being, both directly and indirectly via self-efficacy. Furthermore, the findings indicate that resilience reduces the negative effect of exploitative leadership on subjective well-being.

Research limitations/implications

Our study contributes to the existing literature on exploitative leadership by demonstrating its detrimental effects on employee’s subjective well-being. It also provides a more nuanced understanding of the unexplored relationship between exploitative leadership and subjective well-being by explaining the mediating role of self-efficacy and the moderating role of resilience.

Practical implications

Policymakers and human resource practitioners may design training and development programs to promote morality and ethical behaviors. This will enhance employees' subjective well-being, aligning with SDG 3’s goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

Originality/value

Our study provides a novel perspective by expanding the nomological network of exploitative leadership to include lower self-efficacy and subjective well-being. It also extends our understating of how resilient employees sustain their well-being under exploitative leadership.
Mapping publications by sustainable development goal at the faculty level to highlight inter-faculty collaborations
Authors: Demaine Jeffrey , Bhatia Yash , Whalen Kate
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires partnerships across nations, sectors and stakeholders. In academia, interdisciplinary research can help to address complex challenges related to the Goals. This paper aims to offer a structured approach to identifying current and potential research collaborations across faculties at a Canadian university.

Design/methodology/approach

Publications from the Dimensions database that had been assigned to an SDG category were matched against publications indexed by the university’s Research Information Management System (RIMS). The resulting matches were then sorted and tabulated by Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification research category and by the faculty affiliation of the authors. Potential interdisciplinary research collaborations are then identified by matching authors from different faculties who both have publications within the same research category.

Findings

Findings demonstrate that institutions can apply this methodology to track SDG-related publications, to analyse current interdisciplinary publications and to identify potential interdisciplinary collaborations. Since 2018, 95% of McMaster University’s SDG-related publications are authored by a researcher or researchers from a single faculty, and 5% are authored by researchers from two or more faculties. The interdisciplinary research collaborations were found to have a lower average citation impact and alternative metric scores than those publications with authors from a single faculty. Using a test case, 28 researchers from two faculties were identified as having common research interests with the potential to collaborate on a specific sustainability-related topic. Leveraging this methodology and an institution’s RIMS system provides university leaders with insight to track progress and plan research activities across the institution.

Originality/value

The analysis methods followed in this study highlight the importance of interdisciplinary research collaborations and may be valuable to institutions wanting to benchmark their own SDG efforts. Moreover, a simple methodology is presented for re-combining the data on prior collaborations to identify opportunities for new collaborations between faculties. This process combines the power of data processing with the user’s contextual insights to uncover novel pairings of faculty members whose research is aligned.
Research on the wheel wear prediction of heavy-haul freight wagon based on the roller rig test and line test
Authors: Zhang Liangwei , Qi Yayun
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To reduce the wheel maintenance costs caused by wheel wear and to transition from traditional periodic maintenance to condition-based maintenance for railway freight wagons, it is necessary to investigate the prediction of wheel wear and understand the evolution rule of wheel profile wear.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper established a wheel wear prediction model for railway freight wagons based on Archard’s wear theory and proposed a prediction method that combines vehicle system dynamic, interpolation iteration and intelligent simulation. The wear coefficients in the model were obtained through wheel wear tests by using the roller rig. The model’s effectiveness was further verified through line testing and simulation models, and the corrected wear coefficient can be used for wear prediction of heavy-haul freight wagons in China.

Findings

The wheel wear prediction showed that the results of the wheel wear prediction model by adopting the wear coefficients obtained from the roller rig tests are close to the actual wheel wear, with the difference of the maximum in wear depth at the nominal rolling circle being within 7%.

Originality/value

This paper proposed a method that can establish a database of wheel wear coefficients for predicting wheel wear of railway freight wagons under similar operating conditions. The revised wear coefficient can be used for wear prediction of heavy-haul freight wagons in China.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-09-2024-0329/
The road to mobile-advertising success: a strategic approach to influence consumer attitude
Authors: Kalantarzadeh Tezerjany Seyedeh Fatemeh , Mason Cordelia
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The primary aim of this study is to thoroughly investigate strategic approaches that influence consumer attitudes, contributing to the attainment of success in mobile advertising campaigns.

Design/methodology/approach

The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) is utilised as a significant and fundamental theory, imparting valuable insights into the field of mobile advertising. Probability sampling, specifically the simple random sampling technique is employed by the study to gather data from a representative sample of mobile users in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A conceptual model is constructed based on data collected through an online survey involving 350 respondents, which underwent rigorous empirical analysis using SPSS and AMOS software.

Findings

The results largely support the proposed hypotheses, affirming the relationships between the variables. However, the hypotheses regarding the impact of irritation on consumer attitudes and purchase behaviour are not supported.

Practical implications

This study suggests that Malaysian marketers and advertisers ought to judiciously employ specific design principles to proficiently captivate their target audience in mobile advertising endeavours. They should devote their efforts to the meticulous development and tailoring of mobile advertising strategies, with the explicit aim of enhancing the positive influence of consumer attitudes and improving the effectiveness of mobile advertising success.

Originality/value

Mobile communications have become essential instruments for mobile marketers, seeking to understand customer attitudes and behaviours to enhance advertising acceptance and alleviate negative consumer sentiments.
Evaluating the impact of reciprocal teaching embedded within a Web 2.0 tool upon fifth-grade students’ reading during integrated readers’ workshop at a Professional Development School
Authors: Jones Aisja , Hardie Suzy
Published: December 2024

Purpose

For this study, 12 fifth-grade students read expository text, employed reciprocal teaching strategies, collaborated face to face online using a Web 2.0 tool during the reading workshop. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of reciprocal teaching embedded in the Wakelet Curation Tool, a Web 2.0 tool, on fifth-grade students’ reading for comprehension, reading attitudes and perceptions of the innovation in an integrated reading class at an urban characteristic (Milner et al., 2018) Professional Development School (PDS) (National Association for Professional Development Schools, 2021) site.

Design/methodology/approach

This action research followed a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Two quantitative data collection instruments were used. Inferential and descriptive statistical tests were run to analyze quantitative data.

Findings

Findings showed the posttest scores for the Comprehension Content Knowledge test were not significantly higher than the pretest scores, but there was an increase from pre- to posttest. ERAS scores showed there was not an increase from pre- to postsurvey. In addition to quantitative data, qualitative data were collected and analyzed using inductive analysis. Four individual semi-structured interviews yielded the qualitative data for this study. Four themes were identified over the course of two coding cycles: (1) contributions of fifth-grade students’ perceptions about the innovation, (2) affective contributions, (3) reading achievement and (4) suggestions for future use. The data suggested participants acquired content-specific knowledge and strategies for monitoring and assessing their comprehension.

Originality/value

The information in this article explains the steps that the Outstanding Dissertation Award winner completed in order to apply for the PDS award. The article describes the action research that was conducted with fifth grade students to see how reciprocal teaching embedded within Wakelet Curation Tool impacted their reading comprehension.
The dual faces of social media: connectivity and fraud in the digital age
Authors: Cook Jack , Cook Jared Scott
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to explore fraud’s pervasive nature and social media’s critical role in modern forensic investigations. As fraudsters increasingly exploit social media, investigators must continuously educate themselves on emerging means of effectively identifying, collecting and analyzing social media data. This paper highlights the role of social media in detecting and preventing fraud by providing digital evidence. It outlines the forensic process – evidence identification, collection and examination – and emphasizes using commercial and open-source tools to gather, analyze and secure evidence. The research contributes insights into the evolving fraud detection techniques using social media.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a narrative review (Sylvester et al., 2013).

Findings

Social media can aid fraud investigations by revealing suspect behaviors (witness tampering in The Prosecutor v. Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo), networks (Operation Firewall) and communications, offering real-time data, and providing evidence of fraudulent activities through messages, connections and posts (US v. Brooklyn Men). An extensive review of commercial forensic software packages highlights their utility in preserving and verifying social media data’s authenticity for legal proceedings. In addition, the paper discusses open-source tools like HTTrack and TweetBeaver.

Research limitations/implications

An extensive review of commercial forensic software packages highlights their utility in preserving and verifying social media data’s authenticity for legal proceedings. In addition, the paper discusses open-source tools like HTTrack and TweetBeaver. Future research directions discussed include the development of advanced SOCMINT tools, AI and machine learning integration and examining how social media policy changes impact forensic investigations.

Practical implications

The social media forensic analysis procedure includes these steps: forensic investigator orientation, fraud identification, due diligence search, collection and preservation of social media data, technical search and forensic analysis. The paper also addresses the challenge posed by increasing awareness among criminals, who may alter their online behaviors to evade detection.

Originality/value

All content in this paper is original in its creation.
Modification of mechanical and microstructural characteristics into Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy by thermal treatment
Authors: Dewangan Saurabh , Singh Divjyot , Agarwal Ayush
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the titanium alloy under heat treated condition. Titanium alloy heat treatment, particularly Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy, has been an important field of study due to its wide variety of uses in the aerospace, automotive, and biomedical sectors. The mechanical characteristics of titanium alloys are heavily influenced by their microstructure. Cold‐rolled Ti‐alloys have strong bending and tensile strength due to extensive β‐phase precipitation on the α matrix. However, various heat treatment (HT) methods can affect the mechanical characteristics. The current study seeks to investigate the effects of various heat treatment procedures on the microstructural and mechanical changes of Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy, in order to achieve an optimal balance of strength, hardness, and ductility for a variety of real-world applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Three plates of Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy were heated above the β‐transus temperature for a certain period and then cooled via furnace, air, and sand. One extra plate was kept in ‘untreated’ condition and given name ‘as received’ plate. The three heat treated plates were evaluated and compared with ‘as received’ plate based on tensile strength, bending strength, hardness, and microstructural changes.

Findings

A considerable change in orientation of α and β was noted through optical microscopy upon heat treatment. The mechanical testing revealed that all the cooling methods adopted in the study have reduced the UTS and increased the YS of the plates. The ductility of the alloy was primarily enhanced by 'air cooling' and 'sand cooling' methods.

Originality/value

Notably, the hardness test findings indicated a significant drop in hardness for the ‘sand‐cooled’ sample. Furthermore, the ‘air cooled’ sample showed the maximum hardness due to the production of acicular α regions.
New Campylobacter Lineages in New Zealand Freshwater: Pathogenesis and Public Health Implications
Authors: Cookson Adrian L. , Burgess Sara , Midwinter Anne C. , Marshall Jonathan C. , Moinet Marie , Rogers Lynn , Fayaz Ahmed , Biggs Patrick J. , Brightwell Gale
Published: December 2024

This study investigated the diversity of thermophilic Campylobacter species isolated from three New Zealand freshwater catchments affected by pastoral and urban activities. Utilising matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionisation‐time of flight and whole genome sequence analysis, the study identified Campylobacter jejuni (n = 46, 46.0%), C. coli (n = 39, 39%), C. lari (n = 4, 4.0%), and two novel Campylobacter species lineages (n = 11, 11%). Core genome sequence analysis provided evidence of prolonged persistence or continuous faecal shedding of closely related strains. The C. jejuni isolates displayed distinct sequence types (STs) associated with human, ruminant, and environmental sources, whereas the C. coli STs included waterborne ST3302 and ST7774. Recombination events affecting loci implicated in human pathogenesis and environmental persistence were observed, particularly in the cdtABC operon (encoding the cytolethal distending toxin) of non‐human C. jejuni STs. A low diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes (aadE‐Cc in C. coli), with genotype/phenotype concordance for tetracycline resistance (tetO) in three ST177 isolates, was noted. The data suggest the existence of two types of naturalised waterborne Campylobacter: environmentally persistent strains originating from waterbirds and new environmental species not linked to human campylobacteriosis. Identifying and understanding naturalised Campylobacter species is crucial for accurate waterborne public health risk assessments and the effective allocation of resources for water quality management.
Lessons Learned in an Australian Flood‐Affected Hospital's Evacuation and Field Hospital Setup: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Naru Faran Shoaib , Churruca Kate , Long Janet C. , Sarkies Mitchell , Braithwaite Jeffrey
Published: December 2024

The staff of an Australian hospital faced significant challenges in evacuating the whole hospital due to unprecedented flooding. A retrospective study of those challenges and consequent adaptations was conducted to capture lessons for better preparedness. Semi‐structured interviews with seven clinicians and nurse managers in critical roles during the evacuation were conducted. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted in NVivo 14 to capture the themes emerging from the interview transcripts. Communication disruption, lack of knowledge of evacuation plan, staff shortage due to floods, crowd control of numerous volunteers, difficulties with ambulance service and insufficient information on field hospital's site and requirements, were the major challenges that the flood‐affected hospital's staff faced during evacuation. The staff improvised by conducting a reverse triage of patients that were tracked throughout evacuation. Additional adaptations included usage of private cars, buses and maxi taxis to transport equipment, medication and supplies. Despite being rare, whole hospital evacuations cannot be ruled out at a time when climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of disasters. This research identifies lessons to enhance disaster preparedness for potential hospital evacuations.
A preliminary exploration of the synergistic preservation effect of electrostatic field and superchilling on muscle foods: Mechanisms, influencing factors, applications, and challenges
Authors: Ma Zhiming , Zhang Yuxin , Pu Aofei , Tian Jing , Yang Zhongshuai , Feng Yuqin , Zhang Yuanlv , Liu Guishan
Published: December 2024

Muscle foods that are highly perishable require effective preservation technologies to maintain their quality and extend their shelf life. Electrostatic field (EF) treatment, superchilling (SC), and their combined technologies have received attention for their effectiveness in improving muscle food quality. However, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of their mechanism and combined effects on muscle foods has limited their application. Therefore, the review began with a discussion of the mechanisms, influencing factors, and equipment development underlying EF treatment and SC of muscle foods. It then reviewed the research progress made to date and highlighted the effects of these technologies on various quality attributes, such as texture, color, and nutritional value. Additionally, the review explored the potential synergistic effects of combining these technologies and discussed how they could complement each other to achieve superior preservation outcomes. The EF significantly improves muscle food quality by inhibiting ice crystal growth, blunting enzyme activity, causing microbial electroporation, and generating ozone. SC technology utilizes low temperatures to form an ice crystal shell, effectively inhibiting the reproduction of microorganisms and passivating the activity of enzymes, thereby extending the shelf life. The combination of the two, through the dual inhibition of bacteria and enzymes and the regulation of ice crystals, can build an excellent preservation system to bring a better preservation effect for muscle foods. Future research should prioritize safety issues, equipment cost, and process optimization while exploring innovative applications. This will provide theoretical and technical support for the progress of muscle food preservation technology.
Clinical Trial: Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Oesophageal Delivery System for Topical Corticosteroids Versus Placebo in the Treatment of Eosinophilic Oesophagitis
Authors: Lucendo Alfredo J. , Nantes‐Castillejo Óscar , Straumann Alex , Biedermann Luc , Bredenoord Albert J. , Guagnozzi Danila , Blas‐Jhon Leonardo , Wiechowska‐Kozlowska Anna , Weidlich Simon , von Arnim Ulrike , Santander‐Vaquero Cecilio , Perelló Antonia , Pérez‐Martínez Isabel , Barrio Jesús , Vieth Michael , Gouya Ghazaleh , Dellon Evan S.
Published: December 2024

Background

EsoCap is a thin mucoadhesive film designed to target the oesophageal mucosa. The device loaded with mometasone furoate (ESO‐101) is under investigation for the treatment of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE).

Aims

To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ESO‐101 in patients with active EoE.

Methods

We conducted a randomised, placebo‐controlled, phase 2, proof‐of‐concept trial at 14 European sites in adults with EoE. Participants received placebo, uncoated EsoCap (n = 15), or EsoCap loaded with 800 μg of mometasone furoate (n = 28) once daily during 28 days. The primary outcome was the absolute change in the peak eosinophil count; secondary outcomes were histologic, clinical and endoscopic measures.

Results

Treatment with ESO‐101 resulted in reduction (mean ± SD) of 49.1 ± 88.4 eosinophils/high‐power field from baseline, compared with 6.6 ± 65.1 with placebo (p = 0.03). With ESO‐101, 48% and 44% of patients achieved < 15 and < 6 eosinophils/high‐power field, respectively; these were 0% with placebo. EoE Endoscopic Reference Score reduced significantly in patients treated with ESO‐101. In contrast, dysphagia and odynophagia severity decreased similarly in both groups. There were no serious treatment‐emergent adverse events. Mean serum cortisol did not change significantly throughout the trial. Notably, no oropharyngeal or oesophageal candidiasis was documented. The device was well tolerated.

Conclusions

ESO‐101 was superior to placebo in reducing oesophageal eosinophilia. The device was safe and well tolerated in adults with EoE, supporting the continued development of ESO‐101 for the treatment of EoE (Trials.gov No.: NCT04849390; Eu‐CT No.: 2020–000082‐16).
Cognitive offloading bias in primary and secondary school students and its relationship with metacognitive monitoring
Authors: Sun Jiayue , Wang Yanan , Hu Zunyun , Liu Yan , Sun Yan
Published: December 2024

Individuals often use external aids to assist with information storage, a process known as cognitive offloading. Prior research has indicated that adults sometimes fail to utilize internal and external cognitive resources judiciously, resulting in cognitive offloading bias, which is often linked to metacognition. However, it remains experimentally unverified whether primary and secondary school students exhibit cognitive offloading bias and how this relates to metacognition. This study aimed to address these gaps. In Experiment 1, we examined cognitive offloading bias in primary and secondary school students (aged 7–15 years) using a word‐pair memory task. The results revealed that primary school students tended to rely excessively on internal memory in comparison to the optimal strategy, while secondary school students leaned towards an overreliance on external reminders. In Experiment 2, we incorporated metacognitive judgements to explore the relationship between metacognition and cognitive offloading bias. Results indicated that the cognitive offloading bias observed in primary school students was linked to the accuracy of their metacognitive monitoring.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Four Decades of Shareholder Activism Research
Authors: Katelouzou Dionysia , Ren Yanqiu , Sagarra Marti
Published: December 2024

Research Questions/Issue

In this bibliometric review of shareholder activism literature spanning 1983–2021, we pursue two objectives. Firstly, we investigate the degree of interdisciplinarity in the field, and second, we scrutinize publication trends, foundational knowledge, core topics, and emerging thematic trends, exploring the trajectory of shareholder activism research over time and providing a roadmap for future scholars.

Research Findings/Insights

Systematic analysis of 1055 scholarly works reveals significant growth and a trend toward interdisciplinarity, though disciplinary silos persist. Shareholder activism is evolving beyond traditional, firm‐level financial motivations to include sustainability‐oriented goals, blending environmental, and social objectives with corporate governance concerns and financial interests. This shift signals broader engagement by diverse activist actors, strategies, and motivations, with a heightened emphasis on the long‐term impact of shareholder activism. To capture this complexity, we advocate for research that emphasizes the intricate interrelationships among actors, objectives, strategies and outcomes, encouraging a redefinition of theoretical and methodological approaches.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

Our analysis underscores the need for greater interdisciplinary engagement in shareholder activism research and highlights an expanding scope of topics, regions and theories. With growing scholarly interest in sustainability‐oriented shareholder activism, jurisdictional nuances, and the emergence of new activist actors like index funds and individual investors, we anticipate continued theoretical and methodological diversity.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

Policymakers and practitioners should adopt a holistic approach to shareholder activism, considering the multifaceted actors, objectives, and strategies involved. Evaluations of activist outcomes should account for both financial and non‐financial impacts at the firm‐, market‐, and macro‐levels.
Conditional Overexpression of Net1 Enhances the Trans‐Differentiation of Lgr5+ Progenitors into Hair Cells in the Neonatal Mouse Cochlea
Authors: Lin Yanqin , Zhang Qiuyue , Tong Wei , Wang Yintao , Wu Leilei , Xiao Hairong , Tang Xujun , Dai Mingchen , Ye Zixuan , Chai Renjie , Zhang Shasha
Published: December 2024

Sensorineural hearing loss is mainly caused by damage to hair cells (HC), which cannot be regenerated spontaneously in adult mammals once damaged. Cochlear Lgr5+ progenitors are characterised by HC regeneration capacity in neonatal mice, and we previously screened several new genes that might induce HC regeneration from Lgr5+ progenitors. Net1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is one of the screened new genes and is particularly active in cancer cells and is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. Here, to explore in vivo roles of Net1 in HC regeneration, Net1loxp/loxp mice were constructed and crossed with Lgr5CreER/+ mice to conditionally overexpress (cOE) Net1 in cochlear Lgr5+ progenitors. We observed a large number of ectopic HCs in Lgr5CreER/+Net1loxp/loxp mouse cochlea, which showed a dose‐dependent effect. Moreover, the EdU assay was unable to detect any EdU+/Sox2+ supporting cells, while lineage tracing showed significantly more regenerated tdTomato+ HCs in Lgr5CreER/+Net1loxp/loxptdTomato mice, which indicated that Net1 cOE enhanced HC regeneration by inducing the direct trans‐differentiation of Lgr5+ progenitors rather than mitotic HC regeneration. Additionally, qPCR results showed that the transcription factors related to HC regeneration, including Atoh1, Gfi1 and Pou4f3, were significantly upregulated and are probably the mechanism behind the HC regeneration induced by Net1. In conclusion, our study provides new evidence for the role of Net1 in enhancing HC regeneration in the neonatal mouse cochlea.