bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A privacy-preserving federated learning architecture implementing data ownership and portability on edge end-points
Authors: Mpofu Patience , Kembo Solomon Hopewell , Chimbwanda Marlvern , Jacques Saulo , Chitiyo Nevil , Zvarevashe Kudakwashe
Published: April 2023

Purpose

In response to food supply constraints resulting from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions, in the year 2020, the project developed automated household Aquaponics units to guarantee food self-sufficiency. However, the automated aquaponics solution did not fully comply with data privacy and portability best practices to protect the data of household owners. The purpose of this study is to develop a data privacy and portability layer on top of the previously developed automated Aquaponics units.

Design/methodology/approach

Design Science Research (DSR) is the research method implemented in this study.

Findings

General Data Protection and Privacy Regulations (GDPR)-inspired principles empowering data subjects including data minimisation, purpose limitation, storage limitation as well as integrity and confidentiality can be implemented in a federated learning (FL) architecture using Pinecone Matrix home servers and edge devices.

Research limitations/implications

The literature reviewed for this study demonstrates that the GDPR right to data portability can have a positive impact on data protection by giving individuals more control over their own data. This is achieved by allowing data subjects to obtain their personal information from a data controller in a format that makes it simple to reuse it in another context and to transmit this information freely to any other data controller of their choice. Data portability is not strictly governed or enforced by data protection laws in the developing world, such as Zimbabwe's Data Protection Act of 2021.

Practical implications

Privacy requirements can be implemented in end-point technology such as smartphones, microcontrollers and single board computer clusters enabling data subjects to be incentivised whilst unlocking the value of their own data in the process fostering competition among data controllers and processors.

Originality/value

The use of end-to-end encryption with Matrix Pinecone on edge endpoints and fog servers, as well as the practical implementation of data portability, are currently not adequately covered in the literature. The study acts as a springboard for a future conversation on the topic.
Study of jet tabs in 2D convergent–divergent nozzle for thrust vectoring in aerial vehicles
Authors: Jyothy V.M. , John Wessley G. Jims
Published: April 2023

Purpose

In this study, 2D density-based SST K-turbulence model with compressibility effect is used to observe the flow separation and shock wave interactions of the flow. The wall static pressure and Mach number differences are also evaluated. This study aims to discuss the aforementioned objectives

Design/methodology/approach

This study outlines the evaluation of the performance of a 2D convergent–divergent nozzle with various triangular jet tab configurations that can be used for effective thrust vectoring of aerial vehicles.

Findings

From the study, it is seen that the shadow effect induced by the tab with a height of 30% produces higher oblique wave deflection and higher thrust deflection at the exit nozzle. The numerical calculation concluded that thrust vector efficiency of 30% jet tab is, 0.46%. In the case of 10% jet tab height the thrust vector efficiency is higher, i.e. 1.647%.

Research limitations/implications

2D study.

Practical implications

The optimization will open up a new focus in TVC that can be implemented for effective attitude control in aircrafts.

Social implications

Used in future aircrafts.

Originality/value

The influence of shadowing ratio with different tab heights at different Mach numbers has not been reported in the previous studies. Few of the studies on jet tab are focused on the acoustic studies and not pertaining to the aerodynamic aspects. The multi jet configuration, the combination of location, shapes and other parametric analysis have not been covered in the previous studied.
Adoption of online crowdsourced logistics during the pandemic: a consumer-based approach
Authors: Koh Le Yi , Peh Ying Sien , Wang Xueqin , Yuen Kum Fai
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a brand-new phenomenon in customer consumption patterns. This resulted from heightened health awareness brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic. There is a dearth of appropriate health psychology perspectives in the existing study examining the effect of COVID-19 on consumers’ use of crowdsourced logistics (CL) platforms. In order to provide unique and thorough insights into how consumer health concerns can affect consumers’ subjective views and their decisions to use CL, this study combines the health belief model and the technology acceptance model.

Design/methodology/approach

Five hundred valid responses from an online survey that was created and administered in Singapore were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings show that all of the suggested constructs have a favourable influence on consumers’ intentions to use CL. The suggested model also demonstrates high explanatory power, with perceived usefulness serving as the primary driver, followed by perceived ease of use and self-efficacy.

Originality/value

The study advances previous academic research on CL and offers guidance to CL companies and lawmakers for promoting sustainable and secured last-mile delivery.
The role of vicarious learning strategies in shaping consumers' uncertainty: the case of live-streaming shopping
Authors: Men Jinqi , Zheng Xiabing , Davison Robert M.
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This article seeks to understand how live-streaming technology (i.e. interactivity and effective use of live-streaming shopping’s information presentation tool) impacts consumers’ credibility perception regarding live streamers.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors empirically examined their hypotheses with data (n = 405) collected from a survey of consumers who engage in live-streaming shopping.

Findings

The results demonstrate that vicarious learning strategies (both coactive and independent) can shape consumers’ benefit perceptions (i.e. virtual presence and psychological proximity), and further have a positive effect on consumers’ personal value (i.e. perceived live streamer credibility). Furthermore, the consumers’ perception of the live streamers’ credibility positively affects their purchase intention and ultimately influences their purchase behavior.

Originality/value

Building on the vicarious learning theory and means-end chain (MEC) model, this study investigates the mechanism of the IT features of live-streaming shopping in reducing consumers’ uncertainty about live streamers. This study reveals the value of vicarious learning experiences in reducing consumers’ uncertainty and further enhancing their purchase behavior.
Factors influencing the intensity of market participation of coffee processors in Uganda
Authors: Phiona Natuha , Ambrose Aheisibwe Rwaheru
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the level of market participation of coffee processors and the factors that influence their intensity of market participation for processed coffee in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper studies dry processing of coffee using survey data from purposively selected sample of 120 coffee processors in Uganda. The study utilizes descriptive analysis and Tobit regression approach.

Findings

This paper finds the level of participation of coffee processors in the sale of processed coffee at 77.8 percent in Uganda. The findings demonstrate that the intensity of market participation of coffee processors is positively and significantly influenced by Kiboko sales revenue, location, experience of the processor, number of visits by Uganda Coffee Development Authority and processor mill capacity. However, credit access and non-farm income negatively and significantly deterred their intensity of market participation.

Research limitations/implications

The paper shows that there is more potential for coffee processors to increase their intensity of market participation given their current capacity for coffee processing. Therefore, insights on production efficiency and market orientation in coffee value chains would be an issue for future studies.

Social implications

The study has a direct implication on the economy through supportive institutions and increased investment in the value addition of coffee to meet the increasing regional and global demand for processed coffee.

Originality/value

This paper bridges the gap in literature on commercialization of coffee processing, allows to determine processors' level of market participation and with application of Tobit regression approach to quantify the effects of the factors that influence the intensity of market participation in coffee value chains in Uganda.
Vision-guided robotic automation of vat polymerization additive manufacturing production: design, calibration and verification
Authors: Yang Wenzhen , Crone Johan K. , Lønkjær Claus R. , Ribo Macarena Mendez , Shan Shuo , Frumosu Flavia Dalia , Papageorgiou Dimitrios , Liu Yu , Nalpantidis Lazaros , Zhang Yang
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to present a vision-guided robotic system design for application in vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing (AM), enabling vat photopolymerization AM hybrid with injection molding process.

Design/methodology/approach

In the system, a robot equipped with a camera and a custom-made gripper as well as driven by a visual servoing (VS) controller is expected to perceive objective, handle variation, connect multi-process steps in soft tooling process and realize automation of vat photopolymerization AM. Meanwhile, the vat photopolymerization AM printer is customized in both hardware and software to interact with the robotic system.

Findings

By ArUco marker-based vision-guided robotic system, the printing platform can be manipulated in arbitrary initial position quickly and robustly, which constitutes the first step in exploring automation of vat photopolymerization AM hybrid with soft tooling process.

Originality/value

The vision-guided robotic system monitors and controls vat photopolymerization AM process, which has potential for vat photopolymerization AM hybrid with other mass production methods, for instance, injection molding.
Board gender diversity and sustainability reporting quality: a generalized ordered logit approach
Authors: Singhania Shubham , Singh Jagvinder , Aggrawal Deepti , Rana Sudhir
Published: April 2023

Purpose

With growing environmental and social issues worldwide, sustainability disclosures and reporting have become a focal point of discussion. This study aims to investigate the role played by gender diversity in sustainability disclosures in the context of India, over a period of eight years.

Design/methodology/approach

The study devises a unique sustainability reporting quality index and employs the generalized ordered logit model, which ensures that results are parsimonious even if the assumptions under a logit model are violated.

Findings

The results suggest that with an increase in the percentage of women directors and the number of independent women directors on board, the sustainability reporting quality is likely to improve.

Practical implications

The results of the study shall play a significant role for the corporate houses established in India, as it encourages them to modify their directors' selection process and ensure that women are able to break the “glass ceiling” to reach the upper echelon in the firms.

Social implications

The study gives an insight into the role played by women directors in sustainability reporting quality aspect, and therefore, the regulatory bodies, as well as policymakers of the Indian economy, shall formulate such regulations which can advance the presence of women on the board and in the decision-making process.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to investigate the relationship between gender diversity and sustainability reporting quality using the generalized ordered logit model which is an improvement over the previously used techniques. Moreover, the unique cultural and institutional setting offered by India, which is an emerging economy, provides a fertile ground for understanding the role of women leaders in the workforce.
Risk state evaluation model for China's food import using G1-LS and variable weight SPA based on bottom-line thinking
Authors: Li Ping , Chang Zhipeng , Chen Wenhe
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To maintain the bottom line of food import risk in China, this paper proposes a novel risk state evaluation model based on bottom-line thinking after analyzing the decision-making ideas embedded in the bottom-line thinking method.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the order relation analysis method (G1 method) and Laplacian score (LS) are applied to calculate the constant weights of indexes. Then, the worst-case scenario of food import risk can be estimated to strive for the best result, so the penalty state variable weight function is introduced to obtain variable weights of indexes. Finally, the study measures the risk state of China's food import from the overall situation using the set pair analysis (SPA) method and identifies the key factors affecting food import risk.

Findings

The risk states of food supply in eight countries are in the state of average potential and partial back potential as a whole. The results indicate that China's food import risks are at medium and upper-medium risk levels in most years, fluctuating slightly from 2010 to 2020. In addition, some factors are diagnosed as the primary control objects for holding the bottom line of food import risk in China, including food output level, food export capacity, bilateral relationship and political risk.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a novel risk state evaluation model following bottom-line thinking for food import risk in China. Besides, SPA is first applied to the risk evaluation of food import, expanding the application field of the SPA method.
Identifying key leadership competencies for digital transformation: evidence from a cross-sectoral Delphi study of global managers
Authors: Philip Jestine , Gilli Katharina , Knappstein Michael
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Even with the recognized impact organizational leaders have on the outcome of digital transformation (DT), a comprehensive scholarly understanding of the competencies that leaders must possess to lead a DT to success is lacking.

Design/methodology/approach

To derive and list the competencies considered by experts as necessary for managing DT, the authors recruited 18 international senior managers with relevant experience and applied the Delphi method to survey the managers. Upon the completion of three survey rounds and the authors modifying the response list until consensus was reached, 39 items were shortlisted as constituting key competencies for managing DT. Furthermore, the authors engaged in inductive theorizing to derive propositional statements using these findings.

Findings

The practitioners agreed on visionary thinking, agility, understanding the value of data, data-driven decision-making, knowledge of strategy and accepting change as the most important requirements for managing DT. Through inductive theorizing, the authors further derived that the seven discovered clusters fell into two broader competencies – behavioral and strategic – and that each behavioral competency would have varying importance depending on the country and industry that the organization operates in.

Research limitations/implications

As is typical for Delphi studies that involve multiple survey rounds, the study participant response rate was moderate. The implications of this study, in finding that a variety of leadership competencies are needed to ensure successful DT, validate prior research that people, not technology, drive DT.

Practical implications

This study helps mitigate assumptions that successful DT processes are only possible by hiring technological experts, as doing so highlights the importance of behavioral leadership competencies.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first to interlink digital leadership with DT by inductively theorizing behavioral and strategic competencies. The authors also establish that contexts are vital in determining which aspects of leadership competencies are deemed most important in driving DT.
Overall justice and emotion regulation: combining surface acting with unfairness talk for greater satisfaction and less exhaustion
Authors: Haynie Jeffrey Joseph , Fuller Bryan , Martin Christopher L. , Story Joe
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study examined the dual roles of supervisor-directed surface acting (SDSA) and unfairness talk emerging from low overall justice judgments and the impact of these variables on subordinates' job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion.

Design/methodology/approach

Working professionals (n = 203) were sampled from online panel services in a time-separated data collection design.

Findings

SDSA was found to mediate the relationships of overall justice with emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. Additionally, unfairness talk reduced the debilitating effect of SDSA on emotional exhaustion, not job satisfaction.

Practical implications

The paper highlights the importance of supervisors understanding the problematic nature of ongoing interactions with subordinates after unjust events occur.

Originality/value

This study helps to better explain why overall justice assessments influence subordinates' job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion. Additionally, the findings show that unfairness talk may not be as detrimental as suggested in recent studies, and it acts as a coping mechanism when contending with high SDSA, especially when emotional exhaustion is considered.
How entrepreneurship drives life satisfaction among people with intellectual disabilities (PwID): a mixed-method approach
Authors: Barba-Sánchez Virginia , Salinero Yolanda , Jiménez Estévez Pedro , Ruiz-Palomino Pablo
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The high and persistent unemployment rates of people with intellectual disabilities (PwID) reveal the wide gap that still remains to be bridged. Entrepreneurship combinedly with a high enterprising tendency could improve PwID's life satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method approach was used, based on questionnaires and structured face-to-face interviews on 37 PwID who had recently become entrepreneurs. Data were firstly quantitatively analyzed using partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), and qualitative data were used to enable robust findings.

Findings

The entrepreneurial tendency of PwID who had recently become entrepreneurs was found to be a positive to their life quality (LQ), job satisfaction and life satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

This study revealed that entrepreneurship among PwID who had high enterprising tendency enhances their LQ, job satisfaction and life satisfaction. However, further research could evaluate whether becoming an entrepreneur is in itself enough to change PwID's life to better, such that a comparison could be done between PwID who become entrepreneurs and PwID who have a salaried job.

Practical implications

New aspects in the design of public social policies to improve PwID's life satisfaction are suggested. These include the facilitation of both entrepreneurship and enterprising tendency for PwID to enhance their life satisfaction.

Originality/value

There are very few occasions in which PwID set up businesses. This is one of the first studies to analyze the benefit of entrepreneurship and enterprising tendency on the LQ, the satisfaction at work and the life satisfaction of PwID.
An innovative methodology for the assessment of the social discount rate: an application to the European states for ensuring the goals of equitable growth
Authors: Tajani Francesco , Anelli Debora , Di Liddo Felicia , Morano Pierluigi
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The European Commission has established the reference value of the social discount rate (SDR) to be used in the cost-benefit analysis according to the subdivision of the states relating to the beneficiaries of the Cohesion Fund. This criterion does not allow to adequately consider the economic, social and environmental conditions of each European states for ensuring an equitable and inclusive growth. The aimof the work is to provide an innovative methodology for assessing the “adjusted” SDR according to the socioeconomic and environmental conditions that differently affect the sustainable development of each European state.

Design/methodology/approach

Through the implementation of a methodological approach that consists of ordered and sequential phases and the synergic adoption of the Multi-Criteria Techniques with the Data Envelopment Analysis, a corrective coefficient of the SDR established by the European Commission is determined.

Findings

The results obtained for the 27 European states highlight how the different conditions of each of them could affect the correct choice of the SDR to be used in the Cost-Benefit Analysis.

Originality/value

The proposed research represents a useful reference for identifying national reference SDR values for each European state, consistent with its specificities and with the goals of inclusive growth of the countries and of social and territorial cohesion. Furthermore, the traceability of the methodology in its phases will allow to adapt the SDR to sudden events or exogenous shocks.
Build resilient enterprises with resilient people: the case of ASK Consulting
Authors: Leary Nkosi , Perkins Lorry , Thakkar Umang , Gimpel Gregory
Published: April 2023

Purpose

While strong risk management and contingency planning are important for building capabilities useful for quick adaptation to foreseeable disruptions, they may not be useful for preparing for black swan-type events or situations that lack sufficient precedent to understand how they impact businesses. The key to creating a resilient organization relies most on resilient human capital, who are capable of withering whatever changes Chance may throw at them and the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

Using company data and semi-structured interviews, this paper presents the case study of ASK Consulting, a medium-size entrepreneurial enterprise that learned that human resources are the cornerstone of a resilient organization.

Findings

Resilient people exhibit three common traits: discipline, open-mindedness to change, and a sense of service to the team rather than themselves. Insights about these traits can be elicited by asking prospective employees three questions during their interview.

Practical implications

This case provides an illustrative case study and straightforward guidance for identifying whether a job candidate has the traits of a resilient person.

Originality/value

Much of the research into organizational resilience focuses on scenario planning, contingencies, and building organizational capabilities. This provides a much more straightforward and actionable approach that focuses on only one type of resource and is not contingent on the availability of slack time and money to implement.
The impact of digitalization on marketing activities in manufacturing companies
Authors: Conti Emanuela , Camillo Furio , Pencarelli Tonino
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to present an empirical study that examines the impact of digitalization on informative, strategic and operational marketing activities in manufacturing companies from the entrepreneurial perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A research project was carried out in 205 Italian manufacturing companies by using the questionnaire method. An exploratory research study was conducted with hierarchical cluster analysis.

Findings

The analysis shows the existence of seven clusters of manufacturing companies that differ by the impact of digitalization on marketing activities from the entrepreneurial perspective. Two clusters have a high positive impact of digitalization, primarily on informative and strategic marketing activities. Two clusters are characterized by a low positive impact of digitalization and three clusters perform an intermediate level of digitalization. Furthermore, these groups of clusters differ in terms of the influence of digitalization on customer value.

Research limitations/implications

The small size of the sample and the geographic origin of the companies imply limited generalizability; further research on the topic is thus recommended.

Practical implications

The study suggests that companies should digitalize many key marketing activities to increase marketing effectiveness and customer value. To achieve high levels of digitalization and thus increase their competitiveness, manufacturing companies should consider the importance of relevant technologies and skills.

Originality/value

By focussing on the impact of digitalization on informative, strategic and operational marketing, which has not yet been empirically investigated, the present study reveals many new elements concerning the marketing process in the digital era from the entrepreneur's point of view.
Use of the BACtrack Skyn alcohol biosensor: Practical applications for data collection and analysis
Authors: Gunn Rachel L. , Merrill Jennifer E. , Haines Anne M. , Fernandez Mary Ellen , Souza Timothy , Berey Benjamin L. , Leeman Robert F. , Wang Yan , Barnett Nancy P.
Published: April 2023

Aims

Alcohol biosensors, including the BACtrack Skyn, provide an objective and passive method of continuously assessing alcohol consumption in the natural environment. Despite the many strengths of the Skyn, six key challenges in the collection and processing of data include (1) identifying consumed alcohol; (2) identifying environmental alcohol; (3) identifying and determining the source of missing or invalid data; (4) achieving high participant adherence; (5) integrating Skyn and self‐report data; and (6) implications for statistical inference. In this report we outline these challenges, provide recommendations to address them and identify future needs.

Design and settings

Procedures from several laboratory and field‐based pilot studies are presented to demonstrate practical recommendations for Skyn use. Data from a pilot study including a 7‐day ecological momentary assessment period are also presented to evaluate effects of environmental alcohol on BACtrack Skyn readings.

Conclusions

To address challenges in the collection and processing of data from the BACtrack Skyn alcohol biosensor, researchers should identify goals in advance of data collection to anticipate the processing necessary to interpret Skyn data. The Transdermal Alcohol Sensor Data Macro (TASMAC) version 2.0 software can help to process data rapidly; identify drinking events, missing data and environmental alcohol; and integrate the sensor with self‐report data. Thorough participant orientation and regular contact in field studies can reduce missing data and enhance adherence. Many recommended methods for Skyn use are applicable to other alcohol sensors and wearable devices.
Comparison of natural and artificial root caries lesions using microcomputed tomography and microhardness test
Authors: Tsuda Y , Palamara JEA , Hardiman R , Tagami J , Burrow MF
Published: April 2023

Background

This study compared natural root caries lesions with artificial root caries lesions prepared with one of the two demineralising solutions.

Methods

Twelve natural root caries lesions on upper incisors and 24 artificial root lesions were prepared on sound root surfaces using 50 mM acetic acid, 1.5 mM CaCl2, 0.9 mM KH2PO4 at pH 5.0 or 80 mL/L Noverite K‐702 polyacrylate solution, 500 mg/L hydroxyapatite, 0.1 mol/L lactic acid at pH 4.8 (n = 12/group) for 96 hours. Lesions were scanned using micro‐CT. Inciso‐gingival oriented images were analysed and mineral density calculated at 7.5 μm increments from the surface to 225‐μm deep. Sectioned lesions were analysed by Knoop microhardness up to 250 μm from the lesion surface. Data were analysed by the Dunn's test with Bonferroni correction.

Results

Natural and artificial lesion mean mineral densities were not statistically different (P > 0.05). Mineral density from the surface to 75 μm was greater in natural lesions and from 150 to 225 μm was greater in artificial lesions (P < 0.05). Microhardness values were statistically higher in artificial lesions (P < 0.05); no difference was found among artificial lesions produced by the two solutions (P > 0.05). Mineral density and microhardness of natural and artificial root caries are different from each other. A greater mineralized surface layer existed on natural lesions.
Bark beetle and woodborer responses to stand thinning and prescribed fire in northeastern US coastal and inland pitch pine barrens
Authors: Dodds Kevin J. , Cancelliere Jessica , DiGirolomo Marc F.
Published: April 2023

Southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, has expanded its range further into the northeastern United States. This expansion threatens rare and ecologically valuable interior and coastal pitch pine barrens.

Pitch pine barrens restoration and southern pine beetle infestation suppression often involve leaving downed dead wood that saproxylic insects can exploit.

Semiochemical‐baited traps were used to investigate the response of bark beetles and woodborers to restoration treatments at Rocky Point State Forest and the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, examples of coastal and interior pitch pine forests, respectively.

A total of 29,598 saproxylic insects from 116 species of bark beetles and woodborers were captured at Rocky Point State Forest, while 23,117 individuals from 67 species were captured at Albany Pine Bush Preserve.

Ips spp. were abundant at both sites with 28%–47% and 42%–74% of total collections at Rocky Point State Forest and Albany Pine Bush Preserve, respectively.

Ips grandicollis did not respond to treatments at either site. However, Ips pini was found in higher numbers in thinned blocks in Rocky Point State Forest.
Eco‐innovation and environmental performance: Insights from Spanish wine companies
Authors: Carchano Marcos , Carrasco Inmaculada , González Ángela
Published: April 2023

This paper investigates the linkages between pressure from stakeholders, eco‐innovation and environmental performance considering the moderating role of being a cooperative. Using survey data from 239 Spanish companies we developed a model of structural equations to verify the relationship between the variables. We show that the implementation of eco‐innovations, driven by pressure from internal stakeholders, leads to better environmental performance. In addition, our results strengthen previous empirical evidence about the compromise of cooperatives with the community, workers, and the environment: they are influenced by both internal and external stakeholders in the implementation of eco‐innovations, while limited liability companies are influenced only by internal stakeholders.
The quest to cultivate an ecocritical awareness in educational technology scholarship: A question of disciplinary focus in the age of environmental crisis
Authors: Werse Nicholas R.
Published: April 2023

Although many academic disciplines are now experiencing a process of “greening” as scholars seek to cultivate an ecocritical awareness within disciplinary scholarship, Neil Selwyn notes that such ecocritical concerns rarely feature in the field of educational technology. In this paper, I bring Selwyn's call for ecocritical awareness in the field of educational technology into conversation with emerging scholarly discussions in the fields of ecojustice ethics, ecojustice education, and information and communications technology sustainability. In so doing, I expand the existing conversation about the environmental impact of educational technology consumption to argue that the process of cultivating an ecocritical awareness in the field of educational technology requires refining the discipline's focus to include the full lifespan of educational technology devices and the global inequities that feature during the production and disposal of these devices.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic

Despite substantive scholarship recognizing the environmental impact of the globalized digital technology supply chain, the field of educational technology has minimally considered the ecojustice implications of the material nature of educational technology devices when examining the environmental impact of these devices.

What this paper adds

In this paper, I argue that the reason why the field of educational technology has overlooked the environmental impact of device production and disposal is because of its almost exclusive focus on device use. I argue that cultivating an ecocritical awareness in the field of educational technology requires the discipline to expand its focus beyond device use in two ways: (a) to include device production and disposal and (b) to consider the global injustices that occur in these parts of the digital technology life cycle. As such, I build upon Selwyn and others to argue for the cultivation of ecojustice concerns in emerging conversations about ethics in the field of educational technology.

Implications for practice and/or policy

The process of cultivating ecocritical awareness within the field of educational technology requires expanding the scope and focus of the discipline beyond device use to include device production and disposal. The planned obsolescence behind these devices maximizes the environmental harm at these stages and the global injustices associated with them. Educators and educational leaders seeking to employ educational technology in ethical and environmentally sustainable ways must consider these implications from the global digital technology supply chain.
The experiences and the meaning of using MyTime in the preschool context from the perspective of children in need of special support, 5–6 years of age
Authors: Ahlström Sara Wallin , Almqvist Lena , Janeslätt Gunnel , Gustavsson Catharina , Harder Maria
Published: April 2023

Background

Children in need of special support often display delays in time processing ability, affecting everyday functioning. MyTime is an intervention programme for systematic training of time processing ability. To support preschool children's development of time processing ability and everyday functioning, it is necessary to include their perspectives of the MyTime intervention programme. A previous study shows that MyTime is feasible with children in the preschool setting and shows positive effects on time processing ability for older children in special schools. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge regarding how preschool children experience the intervention programme and how they understand its meaning. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and the meaning of using MyTime from the perspective of children with informal needs of special support (INS) 5–6 years of age in the preschool context.

Methods

To explore the children's perspectives, video‐recorded interviews with 21 children were analysed hermeneutically. To facilitate the interview situation with the children in need of special support, the Talking Mats© was used. Both body and spoken languages were analysed.

Results

The results reveal children as active participants, willing to share their experiences of using the MyTime intervention in the preschool context. The conceptualization of the children's experiences and expressions uncovers their meaning of using the MyTime intervention as to know and to understand time by doing.

Conclusions

When children are given the opportunity to use concrete tools to understand and measure time, they experience themselves as active participants involved and engaged in the intervention. They reveal meaningful experiences to be able to manage time that facilitate their everyday functioning and participation in the preschool context.
Prognostic factors and a dynamic model on cancer‐specific survival for T1aN0M0 glottic cancer: A population‐based analysis and clinical validation
Authors: Huang Guan‐Jiang , Chen Ming
Published: April 2023

Objectives

The survival rate varies tremendously in T1aN0M0 glottic cancer patients, which may be associated with the difference on patients' characters, such as age, treatment, and marital status. The objective of this study is to identify the vital factors and construct a dynamic prognostic model for predicting the cancer‐specific survival (CSS) of patients with T1aN0M0 glottic cancer.

Design, Setting, and Participants

The data of T1aN0M0 glottic cancer patients were extracted retrospectively from the SEER database between 2004 and 2015, which were randomly divided into the training dataset (70%) and the validation dataset (30%). The training cohort was used to identify independent prognostic factors and build the prognostic nomogram. While the validation cohort was used to validate the applicability of the newly constructed model.

Main Outcome Measures

The model was evaluated with the discrimination, the calibration, and the clinical benefit. The external data collecting from a medical center were used to validate the performance of the prognostic model.

Results

Totally, 3286 eligible patients in the data of the SEER database and 139 eligible patients in our external clinical cohort were finally identified. 5 independent prognostic factors (age, marital status, Grade, primary site surgery, and chemotherapy) were identified and applied to develop the dynamic prognostic tool. C‐indexes, receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses proved that the prognostic nomogram showed excellent predictive accuracy, ability, and prognostic value. Using internal and external cohorts, the validation of the model also proved its reliability.

Conclusion

Prognostic factors for T1aN0M0 glottic cancer were identified. The novel web‐based prognostic prediction tool may be beneficial in clinical decision‐making and has value in risk stratification, personalized treatment, and clinical trial design.
The detrimental consequences of two consecutive disasters impacting cytopathology in Ukraine: COVID followed by the war
Authors: Sulaieva Oksana , Dudin Oleksandr , Botsun Pavlina , Pischanska Svitlana , Karpachova Valentina , Omelianenko Iryna , Burkatska Mariia , Panko Ihor , Meged Tetyana , Solodka Yaroslava , Haidamak Olena , Prokopenko Tetiana , Morozov Bogdan , Rybalchenko Taras , Dzerzhinsky Mykola , Falalyeyeva Tetyana , Kobyliak Nazarii
Published: April 2023

The Covid‐19 pandemic and ongoing war in Ukraine caused unprecedented disruption in healthcare, including cytopathology activities. This paper elucidates the effect of two consecutive disasters—the COVID‐19 pandemic followed by the war—on cytopathology practice in Ukraine through a single‐centre retrospective study. Total testing volumes, geographic distribution, and indicators of laboratory operations were assessed during three periods of 3 months each: the first 3 months of the acute phase of the war (March‐May 2022, period 1); summer (June‐August 2022, period 2); and the fall (September‐November 2022, period 3, associated with massive attacks on the energy infrastructure in Ukraine). These data were compared with the corresponding periods in 2020, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and in 2021, the post‐lockdown period. The ongoing war in Ukraine has caused a dramatic disruption in routine health maintenance and cytological practice. A net decline in both PAP testing and non‐gynaecological pathology was associated with a geographic redistribution of cytopathological testing, and an increase in the rate of abnormal sample reporting. Despite these challenges, cytopathology practice in Ukraine demonstrates resilience, allowing for maintaining the healthcare system and addressing the needs of the civil population during the war. The ongoing war in Ukraine heavily affected cytological practice. The decline in PAP testing during the early period of the war was associated with an increase in the abnormal sample rate. Further study of the war's impact on the cervical pathology rate and the health of the population in the next decades is needed.
Neutrophilic dermatoses – Pathomechanistic concepts and therapeutic developments
Authors: Bonnekoh Hanna , Erpenbeck Luise
Published: April 2023

Neutrophilic dermatoses are a group of clinically heterogeneous diseases characterized by infiltration of neutrophils in the affected tissue. Skin symptoms comprise a spectrum of wheals, papules, plaques, pustules, nodules and ulcerations often in combination with systemic symptoms. Although the pathogenesis of these diseases has not yet been elucidated in depth, broad pathophysiological and clinical overlaps exist with autoinflammatory syndromes. Additionally, recent years have shown the relevance of the signaling pathways of TNF‐α, IL‐1, IL‐12/23 and IL‐17 in neutrophilic dermatoses. In this review, we present four selected neutrophilic dermatoses, namely pyoderma gangraenosum, Sweet syndrome, generalized pustular psoriasis and Schnitzler syndrome, discuss pathophysiological aspects and specifically address novel therapeutic options derived from the most recent pathophysiological findings.
Neutrophile Dermatosen – Pathomechanistische Konzepte und therapeutische Entwicklungen
Authors: Bonnekoh Hanna , Erpenbeck Luise
Published: April 2023

Neutrophile Dermatosen sind eine Gruppe von klinisch heterogenen Erkrankungen, die durch eine Infiltration von Neutrophilen im betroffenen Gewebe gekennzeichnet sind. Die Hautsymptome umfassen ein Spektrum von Quaddeln, Papeln, Plaques, Pusteln, Knoten und Ulzerationen, oft in Kombination mit systemischen Symptomen. Obwohl die Pathogenese dieser Krankheiten noch nicht vollständig geklärt ist, gibt es breite pathophysiologische und klinische Überschneidungen mit autoinflammatorischen Syndromen. Darüber hinaus haben die letzten Jahre die Bedeutung der Signalwege von TNF‐α, IL‐1, IL‐12/23 und IL‐17 bei neutrophilen Dermatosen gezeigt. In dieser Übersichtsarbeit stellen wir vier ausgewählte neutrophile Dermatosen vor, namentlich das Pyoderma gangraenosum, das Sweet‐Syndrom, die generalisierte pustulöse Psoriasis und das Schnitzler‐Syndrom. Wir erörtern pathophysiologische Aspekte und gehen speziell auf neue therapeutische Optionen ein, die sich aus den aktuellen pathophysiologischen Erkenntnissen ergeben.
Endoscopic ultrasound‐based application system for predicting endoscopic resection‐related outcomes and diagnosing subepithelial lesions: Multicenter prospective study
Authors: Chen Xinyu , Zhou Jiawei , Wang Peizhu , Wang Peng , Wang Limei , Mu Linjun , Lang Cuicui , Mu Ying , Wang Xiaohong , Shang Ruilian , Li Qun , Lv Hongna , Wu Kangkang , Shi Ning , Jia Xingfang , Lai Yonghang , Zhang Yiyan , Li Zhen , Zhong Ning
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Subepithelial lesions (SELs) are associated with various endoscopic resection (ER) outcomes and diagnostic challenges. We aimed to establish a tool for predicting ER‐related outcomes and diagnosing SELs and to investigate the predictive value of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).

Methods

Phase 1 (system development) was performed in a retrospective cohort (n = 837) who underwent EUS before ER for SELs at eight hospitals. Prediction models for five key outcomes were developed using logistic regression. Models with satisfactory internal validation performance were included in a mobile application system, SEL endoscopic resection predictor (SELERP). In Phase 2, the models were externally validated in a prospective cohort of 200 patients.

Results

An SELERP was developed using EUS characteristics, which included 10 models for five key outcomes: post‐ER ulcer management, short procedure time, long hospital stay, high medication costs, and diagnosis of SELs. In Phase 1, 10 models were derived and validated (C‐statistics, 0.67–0.99; calibration‐in‐the‐large, −0.14–0.10; calibration slopes, 0.92–1.08). In Phase 2, the derived risk prediction models showed convincing discrimination (C‐statistics, 0.64–0.73) and calibration (calibration‐in‐the‐large, −0.02–0.05; calibration slopes, 1.01–1.09) in the prospective cohort. The sensitivities and specificities of the five diagnostic models were 68.3–95.7% and 64.1–83.3%, respectively.

Conclusion

We developed and prospectively validated an application system for the prediction of ER outcomes and diagnosis of SELs, which could aid clinical decision‐making and facilitate patient–physician consultation. EUS features significantly contributed to the prediction.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2000040118).
The “make or break” impact of family dynamics on psychological outcomes in focal epilepsy
Authors: Rayner Genevieve , Pieters Jessamae , Broomfield Grace , Eyres Jacquie , Schipp Jasmine , Wilson Sarah J.
Published: April 2023

Objective

Living with epilepsy can shape the dynamics of the whole family unit. The first objective of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of our purpose‐built online family mapping tool: “Living with Epilepsy.” Our second objective was to identify distinct patterns of emotional closeness between family members (family typologies), and to explore (1) whether family typologies are shaped by epilepsy‐related factors, and (2) which typologies confer optimal psychological outcomes to people with epilepsy.

Methods

Ninety‐one adults with chronic epilepsy and their caregivers (n = 56) participated and 70 similarly aged healthy controls and 36 caregiver controls (N = 253). Purpose‐built software assessed a range of epilepsy‐specific psychosocial issues, including family mapping. Questionnaires validated for epilepsy evaluated mood and quality of life (QOL).

Results

The reliability and validity of the family mapping tool was established. Family maps revealed three typologies varying in emotional closeness, each with distinct patterns of healthy vs maladaptive family behavior: Extremely Close (32%), Close (54%), and Fractured (14%). There was no difference in the frequency of typology between epilepsy and control families (p > .05). Within the epilepsy cohort, however, patients with seizure onset in childhood largely belonged to the extreme typologies: Extremely Close (47%) or Fractured (42%). In comparison, those with adolescent or adult onset commonly belonged to the moderate typology: Close (53%). People with epilepsy from Extremely Close families reported significantly higher QOL (p = .013) and lower mood symptoms (p = .008) relative to other typologies; no such association was found for controls or caregivers (p > .05).

Significance

These findings suggest that adults whose epilepsy commenced in childhood are likely to have extreme family dynamics characterized by either being brought closer together or driven apart. Extremely close families appear highly adaptive for people with epilepsy, bringing benefits for mood and QOL not seen in their caregivers or controls. The results provide strong empirical support for the value of an emotionally supportive family when living with epilepsy and suggest that fostering healthy connections within epilepsy families can optimize long‐term patient well‐being.