bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prioritizing personality diversity: a commitment and performance based perspective
Authors: Garg Neha , Anand Payal , Vakeel Khadija Ali
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Using the affect theory of social exchange, this study investigates the mediating role of students' affective commitment between their personality traits (extraversion and agreeableness) and academic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employs mixed-method study, that is exploratory text analysis using 123 responses followed by a survey of 300 responses among the management students to test the proposed model.

Findings

Results reveal a direct positive association of extraversion and agreeableness with students' affective commitment towards their academic institution. Additionally, negative indirect effects of affective commitment were found between the two personality traits and academic performance.

Originality/value

The study highlights both positive and negative outcomes of so-called favorable personality types of extraversion and agreeableness, thereby, building a prima facie case for promoting personality diversity in management institutions.
Environmental values and education in Spanish universities: a questionnaire validation
Authors: Margaça Clara , Sánchez-García José Carlos , Hernández Sánchez Brizeida , Mangas Susana Lucas
Published: July 2023

Purpose

To protect the environment and society, research on responsible behavior and personal values has increased. Values have been identified as important for understanding and predicting environmental preservation behaviors. The purpose of this study is to analyze the validity and reliability of the Environmental Portrait Value Questionnaire in the Spanish context.

Design/methodology/approach

The new version of this questionnaire was administered to 742 university students (46.4% male and 53.6% female) from 16 regions in Spain.

Findings

The results of adapting and testing the instrument’s psychometric properties were consistent with accepted criteria for validity and reliability. Therefore, this updated and contextualized instrument has the potential to contribute to academic advances in the sense of expanding the empirical practice of studying environmental values. Fifteen items from the original version were retained, grouped into four factors as in the original version: Altruistic – five items; Egoistic – four items; Biospheric – three items; and Hedonic – three items. The final version showed adequate fit indices and reliability measures.

Originality/value

This instrument is a powerful resource for the Spanish academic community because using this application it will be possible to assess the degree of commitment of young adults to the goals of sustainability and environmental protection.
The context and concept of higher education for sustainable development: the case of Nepal
Authors: Adhikari Dev Raj , Shrestha Prakash
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyze the context and concept of higher education for sustainable development (HESD) in Nepalese higher educational institutions (HEIs).

Design/methodology/approach

The research gathers facts and information both from primary and secondary sources. Five open-ended questions were developed to interview university high-ranking officials, such as VCs, registrars, deans and the chief of the planning division.

Findings

The inclusion of 17 sustainable development goals in the country’s Fifteenth Plan, national policy documents, and the University Grants Commission-led higher education reform programme provides sufficient context for HESD. In the absence of HESD literacy and a persuasive strategy, university leadership is less active in lobbying for SDG 4.7 with the government and funding agencies, university faculties and trade unions. In fact, both insights and initiatives to conceptualize HESD are lacking.

Research limitations/implications

This study’s setting is distinct and the interpretation of the HESD concept is based on a small sample size. Thus, the generalization of its findings is intrinsically limited in the context of a country in the geographic region. However, the findings of this research provide practical insights to implement HESD in Nepalese HEIs.

Practical implications

This study is intended to inform and prepare the Nepalese academic community, urging HEIs to implement HESD with a well-defined plan of action. It contributes to the literature by considering how the current context and concept of HESD suites to promote sustainability in Nepalese HEIs, transforming the traditional academic structure and making academic leaders aware that HESD is only a means to an end.

Originality/value

This research is Nepal’s first study of its type with a broad understanding of the context and concept of HESD. It also provides information for HEI leaders on how to initiate the HESD acceleration process.
Finite element analysis of stress field and fatigue life prediction of notched specimens under multiaxial load
Authors: Pan Xuemei , Liu Jianhui , Li Youtang , Hua Feilong , Chen Xiaochuang , Zhang Zhen
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The stress state near the notch affects fatigue damage directly, but quantifying the stress field is difficult. The purpose of this study is to provide a mathematical description method of the stress field near the notch to achieve a reliable assessment of the fatigue life of notched specimens.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the stress distribution of notched specimens of different materials and shapes under different stress levels is investigated, and a method for calculating the stress gradient impact factor is presented. Then, the newly defined stress gradient impact factor is used to describe the stress field near the notch, and an expression for the stress at any point along a specified path is developed. Furthermore, by combining the mathematical expressions for the stress field near the notch, a multiaxial fatigue life prediction model for notched shaft specimens is established based on the damage mechanics theory and closed solution method.

Findings

The stress gradient factor for notched specimens with higher stress concentration factors (V60-notch, V90-notch) varies to a certain extent when the external load and material change, but for notched specimens with relatively lower stress concentration factors (C-notch, U-notch, stepped shaft), the stress gradient factor hardly varies with the change in load and material, indicating that the shape of the notch has a greater influence on the stress gradient. It is also found that the effect of size on the stress gradient factor is not obvious for notched specimens with different shapes, there is an obvious positive correlation between the normal stress gradient factor and the normal stress concentration factor compared with the relationship between the shear stress gradient factor and the stress concentration factor. Moreover, the predicted results of the proposed model are in better agreement with the experimental results of five kinds of materials compared with the FS model, the SWT model, and the Manson–Coffin equation.

Originality/value

In this paper, a new stress gradient factor is defined based on the stress distribution of a smooth specimen. Then, a mathematical description of the stress field near the notch is provided, which contains the nominal stress, notch size, and stress concentration factor which is calculated by the finite element method (FEM). In addition, a multiaxial fatigue life prediction model for shaft specimens with different notch shapes is established with the newly established expressions based on the theory of damage mechanics and the closed solution method.
A method for the estimation of oil film parameters in an asymmetric rotor-bearing system
Authors: Chen Yinsi , Liu Yi , Li Yuan , Liu Heng
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Asymmetric rotating machinery supported by oil film bearings is relatively common in practical applications. The purpose of this study is to propose a method for estimating the oil film parameters of the bearings in an asymmetric rotor-bearing system.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed method requires the finite element model and translational displacement responses at the center of mass and bearings locations to form a regression equation to estimate the unknown parameters. Due to the transverse stiffness of the asymmetric rotor is not symmetrical, the analysis and parameter estimation procedures are performed in a rotating coordinate. Numerical simulations were carried out to illustrate the vibration characteristics of the asymmetric rotor system. The proposed method is applied to the simulated responses to estimate the assumed oil film parameters. The influence of the estimated parameter deviations on the rotor dynamic characteristics is discussed.

Findings

The vibration characteristics of asymmetric rotors are different from those of symmetrical rotors. The bearing parameters estimated by the proposed method are close to the assumed values, within a maximum error of 9%. The deviations of the estimated parameters have little effect on the vibration characteristic of the rotor system.

Originality/value

The proposed method does not require changing the rotational speed or applying additional excitation force to the rotor, which is suitable for the field test.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2023-0111/
Modeling higher education institutional choice drivers: a pre- and in-pandemic study of business schools in India
Authors: Venkatesh Umashankar , Mathew Jones , Ojha Ravindra , Agarwal Alpana
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The decision to select one amongst many choices of higher education institutions (HEIs) is a complex process. At a theory-building level, this study investigates the determinants of students' decisions as they consider investing in a long-term credence service higher education (HE) contract in pre- and in-pandemic and the implications for education managers. The second aspect is how disruptive global events influence such choice-making.

Design/methodology/approach

The study hypothesized that there would be significant differences in the driving factors and their weight in students' decisions seeking admission into B-schools (Business schools). Structural equation modeling (SEM) and t-test validate the determinants and test hypothesized differences.

Findings

Results reveal that core faculty quality, industry exposure, institutional brand name, placement offered, return on investment and specializations offered are the preferred choice criteria. The results reveal that choice criteria in the pre-and in-pandemic differ significantly.

Originality/value

The application of the SEM approach on a large primary database of students during the pre and in-pandemic periods to understand the changes in the choice of B-school for admission is the original aspect of the paper. Insights from the four hypotheses which got rejected provide value to stakeholders. As the pandemic is rearing its head once again across the globe, this study would be able to inform admissions managers on how to navigate for admissions success.
Mechanisms for robotic process automation implementation in organizations: a systematic literature review
Authors: Crisan Emil Lucian , Chis Diana Maria , Bodea Eniko Elisabeta , Buchmann Robert
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper reviews existing research to understand when, how and with what results robotic process automation (RPA) is implemented by organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have identified 84 sources across eight databases and have analyzed them through the lens of a context–intervention–mechanism–outcomes framework (CIMO). The CIMO analysis maps the contextual drivers, intervention approaches and value related outcomes associated with RPA implementation.

Findings

The result of the analysis is the identification of four mechanisms explaining the approach organizations take to implement RPA: digitizing business processes, performing knowledge work together with humans, replacing outsourcing with RPA robots and developing a new business model. Therefore, in this paper, in order to reduce RPA literature fragmentation, the authors take into account the digital transformation (DT) perspective, by considering RPA as one example of digital technology.

Practical implications

This study sensitize organizational adopters to the different mechanisms they can deploy to conduct RPA implementations to achieve different desired outcomes in response to different drivers. Moreover, having a clear picture of the key enablers and associated barriers to the realization of these alternative paths serve as a useful map to guide the implementation process.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to DT research by conceptualizing these mechanisms through which organizations deploy automation tools—such as RPA.
Unravelling the enablers of Industry 4.0 in Indian automobile industry amid COVID-19: an integrated TISM and fuzzy MICMAC approach
Authors: Gouda Gopal Krushna , Tiwari Binita
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to identify the key enablers for the adoption of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) in the automobile industry of India, which has been severely impacted by COVID-19. Adopting I4.0 will provide organizations greater flexibility and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature review and experts’ opinions, 21 enablers were identified. Further, contextual relationships among the identified factors and a hierarchical digraph was developed by using the total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) technique. Finally, fuzzy cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis was conducted to classify the enablers into different categories based on their dependence and driving power.

Findings

The results indicate that top management support, clarity on government policy, strategic vision on I4.0 and development of new industrial policy are the most influential factors, with the highest driving power placed at the bottom of the TISM hierarchical model. Furthermore, agile workforce, smart HR practices and IT standardization and security are identified as linkage enablers with the most driving and dependency power.

Practical implications

The hierarchical TISM model and fuzzy MICMAC approach provide a comprehensive understanding of the I4.0 implementation process through a visual, logical structure to the managers. It will help the researchers and practitioners understand the contextual relationship among various enablers in fostering the I4.0 adoption process and digital reorganization in the automobile industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

This study provides a holistic TISM hierarchical framework on I4.0 adoption that will elevate the next maturity level of innovation adoption and may act as a blueprint for automobile industries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
No concept is an island: conceptualising (in) the industrial network approach
Authors: Dubois Anna , Hedvall Klas , Sundquist Viktoria
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to inquire into how conceptualising is done in the industrial network approach (INA).

Design/methodology/approach

The description and analysis of conceptualising is based on key INA references and an example illustrating the characteristics of conceptualising in individual studies.

Findings

The paper concludes that there is an open and interactive way of conceptualising in the INA. The empirical and theoretical grounding achieved through combining concepts in individual empirical studies interplays with conceptual development in the research community over time.

Research limitations/implications

Three paradoxes are suggested for further discussion of conceptualising as a key element in theorising in the INA community.

Originality/value

By explicating how INA researchers engage in conceptualising both in individual empirical studies and as a community, the authors identify characteristics similar to the empirical phenomena in focus of the research: interaction, combining and heterogeneity of concepts.
A world of snares: geopolitics and the global corporation
Authors: Hirsch Peter Buell
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the unique confluence of forces impacting global corporations in an era of geopolitical turmoil and the resources needed to respond to them.

Design/methodology/approach

This viewpoint looks at contemporary accounts of trends in natural resources, renewable energy, US–China conflict and technology innovation to assess the new risks posed to global corporations.

Findings

To manage risk in this new era of geopolitical turmoil, global corporations will need to become significantly better resources in expertise relating to technical areas such as mining, AI, trade and renewable energy.

Originality/value

While the forces described have been discussed before, the author believes that, to the best of his knowledge, this is the first attempt to assess their impact from the perspective of corporate reputation risk.
Does XBRL adoption eliminate misclassification of income statement items?
Authors: Sanad Zakeya
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The financial world of today is evolving at a rate that can be challenging to keep up with and comprehend due to developments in information and communication technology. When compared to a conventional disclosure, the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), which was named one of the top ten accounting technologies, has a clear advantage in reducing information asymmetry by providing interactive data disclosure. This study aims to examine whether forcing companies to adopt XBRL would cause them to prefer misclassifying income statement items as an alternative to more risky earnings management methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The study sample includes nonfinancial UAE companies listed on Dubai Financial Market and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange from 2012 to 2019. Fixed effect and system General Method of Moments regressions were used to analyze the study data.

Findings

The study found that XBRL reporting resulted in lowering the quality of financial reporting as companies have a higher tendency to misclassify income statement items as earnings management mechanism.

Practical implications

The findings of this research can be used by stakeholders and practitioners in the UAE to better understand whether the use of XBRL is linked to the engagement of financial reporting manipulative practices. The findings of this study also inform policymakers and regulators about the consequences of companies formally adopting digital disclosure language in an effort to improve the quality of their reporting. Besides, the results offer guidance to regulators considering imposing XBRL usage regulations.

Originality/value

Limited number of studies have tested the association between XBRL mandatory adoption and misclassification of income statement items as an earnings management tool in the Gulf Cooperation Council region.
The organisation of paediatric hospital-at-home care: a multi-country comparative study
Authors: Lefèvre Mélanie , Detollenaere Jens , Zeevaert Renate , Van de Voorde Carine
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Many countries have developed hospital-at-home (HAH) models to bring hospital services closer to home. Although some countries already have a long tradition of HAH for adults, paediatric HAH has been developed more recently. Specificities of paediatric care make it difficult to directly extend an adult HAH model to the paediatric population. The objective of this study is to compare the organisation of paediatric HAH in four countries: France, Australia (states of Victoria and New South Wales), the Netherlands and Belgium. Ultimately, lessons can be drawn for further development in the countries analysed and/or for implementation in other countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Legal documents and other grey literature were analysed to describe the legal context for the provision of paediatric HAH in the selected countries. In addition, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants from paediatric HAH organisations in these countries, addressing the following topics: historical background, legal framework, functioning of HAH models, workforce, number of services, profile of children, type of care activities, funding, coordination with other providers and quality of care. Results were reviewed by a content expert from the respective country.

Findings

Organisational differences were highlighted in terms of coordinating actor (hospital or home nursing care services), decision-making process, range of clinical conditions treated, territorial organisation, qualifications and expertise of the team members, medical expertise, financing, responsibilities, etc.

Originality/value

There is no single preferred model for the provision of HAH care for children. There is a large variety in almost all aspects of organisation. There are, however, also some common characteristics across the different models. Notably, paediatric expertise of nurses within the HAH team was considered indispensable in all programmes.
CEO greed and corporate tax avoidance
Authors: Xu Le
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Research on the organizational ramifications of chief executive officer (CEO) greed remains scarce. This study intends to fill this gap by examining the impact of CEO greed on an important yet risky corporate strategy, corporate tax avoidance (CTA). Drawing on upper echelons theory, the authors argue that greedier CEOs tend to engage in more CTA. The relationship is weaker when CEOs experienced economic recessions in their early career and stronger when CEOs are endowed with equity ownership of their respective firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test the hypotheses with data from US public firms from 1997 to 2008 and employ the ordinary least square regression analysis to analyze the hypothesized relationships. The authors also test the robustness of the results by performing the two-stage least square regression and propensity score matching analyses.

Findings

The findings lend broad support to all the hypotheses. The authors find that greedier CEOs tend to engage in more CTA by paying lower corporate taxes. The impact of greed on CTA is attenuated when CEOs are recession CEOs and is exacerbated when CEOs own large numbers of firm shares.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the upper echelons research by investigating a novel executive personal characteristic, greed, and its negative impact on an important organizational outcome. This paper also contributes to the growing tax research that recognizes the important role executives play in shaping corporate tax strategies.
A political Esperanto, or false friends? Left and right in different political contexts
Authors: LINDQVIST JESPER , DORNSCHNEIDER‐ELKINK JOHAN A.
Published: July 2023

The simplification of the political landscape in terms of ‘left’ and ‘right’ is common across most democracies, if not most of the world. This would suggest that the terminology has a shared core meaning in different political contexts. While no such stable element has been established in the political science literature, various potential dividing lines that may form the core meaning have been proposed. This paper is the most extensive comparative study to our knowledge that evaluates these proposals by studying responses to open‐ended survey questions on what voters associate with the terms ‘left’ and ‘right’. Data from eight different democratic political contexts are analysed using quantitative text analysis methods. The results demonstrate varied support for the different explanations. Evidence is found in all contexts for the hypothesis that acceptance of inequality divides left‐ from right‐wing politics. That the left‐right dimension is a divide between those for and against government intervention in the economy, or between those for change and against change, is mostly congruent with our findings. We find less evidence that either secular/religious divisions, or different conceptions of equality, consistently differentiate left from right. Our findings point towards the existence of a context‐independent underlying dimension of left‐right competition.
Vitamin E supplementation in the treatment on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Evidence from an umbrella review of meta‐analysis on randomized controlled trials
Authors: Wang Ming Yue , Prabahar Kousalya , Găman Mihnea‐Alexandru , Zhang Jin Lin
Published: July 2023

Objective

We conducted this umbrella review of meta‐analysis on randomized controlled trials to clarify the effects of vitamin E administration on alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT), degrees of steatosis and fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods

PubMed, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched to identify pertinent articles published up to June 2023. To calculate the overall effect size (ES) and confidence intervals (CI), random‐effects model was used.

Results

Six meta‐analyses were included in the umbrella review. By pooling ES based on the random‐effects model, we found that vitamin E supplementation significantly decreased ALT (ES −6.47, 95% CI −11.73 to −1.22, P = 0.01), AST (ES −5.35, 95% CI −9.78 to −0.93, P = 0.01), degrees of fibrosis (ES −0.24, 95% CI −0.36 to −0.12, P < 0.001) and steatosis (ES −0.67, 95% CI −0.88 to −0.45, P < 0.001) in NAFLD patients, but had no effect on GGT. In the subgroup analyses, we detected that fibrosis scores notably decreased when vitamin E dosage was >600 IU/day (ES −0.25, 95% CI −0.41 to −0.10, P = 0.002) and when the treatment duration was ≥12 months (ES −0.24, 95% CI −0.37 to −0.12, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Vitamin E administration improves ALT, AST, fibrosis, and steatosis in NAFLD subjects. Fibrosis scores were significantly reduced when vitamin E dosage exceeded 600 IU/day or with a treatment duration of at least 12 months.
Early emergency department experience with 7‐day extended‐release injectable buprenorphine for opioid use disorder
Authors: D'Onofrio Gail , Perrone Jeanmarie , Hawk Kathryn F. , Cowan Ethan , McCormack Ryan , Coupet Edouard , Owens Patricia H. , Martel Shara H. , Huntley Kristen , Walsh Sharon L. , Lofwall Michelle R. , Herring Andrew ,   the ED‐INNOVATION Investigators
Published: July 2023

As the opioid overdose epidemic escalates, there is an urgent need for treatment innovations to address both patient and clinician barriers when initiating buprenorphine in the emergency department (ED). These include insurance status, logistical challenges such as the ability to fill a prescription and transportation, concerns regarding diversion, and availability of urgent referral sites. Extended‐release buprenorphine (XR‐BUP) preparations such as a new 7‐day injectable could potentially solve some of these issues. We describe the pharmacokinetics of a new 7‐day XR‐BUP formulation and the feasibility of its use in the ED setting. We report our early experiences with this medication (investigational drug CAM2038), in the context of an ongoing clinical trial entitled Emergency Department‐Initiated BUP VAlidaTION (ED INNOVATION), to inform emergency clinicians as they consider incorporating this medication into their practice. The medication was approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2018 and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2023 for those 18 years or older for the treatment of moderate to severe opioid use disorder (OUD). We report our experience with approximately 800 ED patients with OUD who received the 7‐day XR‐BUP preparation in the ED between June 2020 and July 2023.
Evaluating the effect of calcium, magnesium and sodium supplementation of Merino ewes on their lambs' growth
Authors: Ataollahi F , McGrath S , Friend M , Dutton G , Peters A , Bhanugopan M
Published: July 2023

Our study aimed to investigate responses to supplementation of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) to lactating ewes and lambs grazing barley forage from lamb marking to weaning. A 10‐ha paddock sown to barley was subdivided into eight plots as four replicates of two treatments. Merino ewes (n = 104) with lambs at foot were stratified to the eight plots (13 ewes and 21 lambs/plot) based on number of lambs (twin or single) and ewes' weight. Supplemented groups had access to mineral supplements (30 g/ewe/day) supplying 12 g/ewe/day ground limestone, 12 g/ewe/day Causmag® and 6 g/ewe/day coarse salt in a ratio of 2: 2: 1 by weight (as fed) from day 0 (a day before lamb marking) after sample collection. Control groups were not supplemented with minerals. Blood, milk and urine samples from ewes and blood from lambs were collected at different time points, namely, a day prior to lamb marking (day 0), 14 days after the commencement of study (day 14), and 28 days after the commencement of study (day 28). Weight of the lambs was also recorded at each time point. We found that the concentration of the forage minerals (Ca, Mg and potassium (K)) was lower on day 28 than on day 0 (P < 0.025). Liveweight gain was greater in the first 14 days compared with the second weight gain period (P < 0.001). The interaction of time and treatment was significant for liveweight (P < 0.001). Due to the improvement in weight gain of supplemented lambs, we recommend that mineral supplementation during late lactation is beneficial considering the low cost of minerals, even though the mineral content of the forage was not deficient.
Odontoma and other congenital dental anomalies: Implications for forensic identification
Authors: Chitara Nandini , Rani Deepika , Kanchan Tanuj , Krishan Kewal
Published: July 2023

Forensic odontology plays a crucial role in establishing the identity in mass disasters and criminal cases with high accuracy. Dental anomalies and features help in such situations. Congenital and developmental dental anomalies can be easily documented to establish distinctive and individualistic characteristics of an individual. The location, number of teeth involved, and the type of anomaly vary between individuals. Similarly, dental malformations also assist greatly in the identification process. Many types of dental anomalies have been studied in the past for their individualistic characteristics in forensic examinations. One such dental anomaly is odontoma, which is a benign odontogenic malformation. This malformation may also help in the identification of the deceased, when recorded and examined accurately. An odontome is a malformed teeth‐like structures consisting of enamel, dentin, and pulpal tissue, formed due to the growth of completely differentiated epithelial and mesenchymal cells. If antemortem (AM) dental records incorporate information regarding odontomes and other dental anomalies, including in radiographs, orthopantomograms or microradiographs, positive identification may be established by comparison of these records with postmortem (PM) records. In the present communication, a rare case of compound composite odontoma in the anterior mandible with multiple denticles has been discussed with a brief overview of congenital and developmental dental anomalies. The authors emphasize the importance of such rare dental anomalies and malformations which may be used for identifying the deceased in mass disasters and forensic identification.
Principles for climate resilience are prevalent in marine protected area management plans
Authors: Lopazanski Cori , Foshay Bergen , Couture Jessica L. , Wagner Daniel , Hannah Lee , Pidgeon Emily , Bradley Darcy
Published: July 2023

Climate change is threatening marine systems, and its widespread and dynamic effects are creating challenges for designing and managing marine protected areas (MPAs). The majority of recommendations for climate‐resilient MPAs focus on enhancing ecological resilience to disturbance and updating management strategies to respond as changes occur. Here, we assess how existing recommendations for climate resilience are applied in real‐world MPA management, using criteria from five key management components: objectives, assessments, design, monitoring, and management. Our review evaluates 172 management plans for 555 MPAs across 52 countries and written in nine languages. We find that MPA management plans contain many underlying scientific and management principles for promoting resilience to climate change, even when “climate change” or related terms are not specifically included: plans include long‐term objectives (93.6%), threat‐reduction strategies (99.4%), monitoring programs (97.7%), and adaptive management (93%). However, there is substantial variation in the degree to which plans explicitly incorporate climate change into their strategies, from not mentioning it at all (21.5%) to developing detailed climate change‐specific action plans (20.9%), with most somewhere in between. In addition to identifying common gaps across management plans, we also provide practical examples of activities MPA managers are undertaking to address climate change.
Enriching qualitative alcohol and other drug research by engaging lived experience peer researchers in a dual‐interview approach: A case study
Authors: Berg Amelia , Francia Leanne , Lam Tina , Morgan Kirsty , Lubman Dan I. , Nielsen Suzanne
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Engaging people with lived experience of alcohol and other drug use as peer researchers in qualitative research is becoming more common. However, there are differing opinions on how to best engage and support peer researchers.

Case Presentation

Through this case study the researchers aimed to illustrate the potential benefits of a peer/academic researcher dual‐interview approach as a qualitative method in research. In the study, a peer researcher who had lived experience of alcohol and other drug use collaborated with an academic researcher who had qualitative expertise. Semi‐structured interviews (N = 22) were undertaken with men and women with lived experience of alcohol and other drug harms (n = 14) and healthcare staff (n = 8) from alcohol and other drug, and broader healthcare services.

Discussion and Conclusions

The research team contend that in a dual‐interview approach, rather than peer/academic researchers being binary opposites, there exists a continuum along which peer and academic researchers travel back and forth; that supports recognition of similarities and differences; and deepens mutual respect. Engaging peer researchers also represents an opportunity for meaningful capability building, with the ultimate and important goal of having peer researchers drive their own research agendas, and move from supporting to leading alcohol and other drug‐related research.
The performance of plasma phosphorylated tau231 in detecting Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Xu Chang , Zhao Li , Dong Chunbo
Published: July 2023

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) phosphorylated tau231 (P‐tau231) is associated with neuropathological outcomes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The invasive access of cerebrospinal fluid has greatly stimulated interest in the identification of blood‐based P‐tau231, and the recent advent of single‐molecule array assay for the quantification of plasma P‐tau231 may provide a turning point to evaluate the usefulness of P‐tau231 as an AD‐related biomarker. Yet, in the plasma P‐tau231 literature, findings with regard to its diagnostic utility have been inconsistent, and thus, we aimed to statistically investigate the potential of plasma P‐tau231 in the context of AD via meta‐analysis. Publications on plasma P‐tau231 were systematically retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane library and Web of Science databases. A total of 10 studies covering 2007 participants were included, and we conducted random‐effect or fixed‐effect meta‐analysis, sensitivity analysis and publication bias analysis using the STATA SE 14.0 software. According to our quantitative integration, plasma P‐tau231 increased from cognitively unimpaired (CU) populations to mild cognitive impairment to AD and showed significant changes in pairwise comparisons of AD, mild cognitive impairment and CU. Plasma P‐tau231 level was significantly higher in CU controls with positive amyloid‐β (Aβ) status compared with Aβ‐negative CU group. Additionally, the excellent diagnostic accuracy of plasma P‐tau231 for asymptomatic Aβ pathology was verified by the pooled value of area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (standard mean difference [95% confidence interval]: .75 [.69, .81], P < 0.00001). Overall, the increased plasma P‐tau231 concentrations were found in relation to the early development and progression of AD.
Political directors and company performance: An empirical investigation of industry‐level and country‐level moderating effects
Authors: Zattoni Alessandro , Bozzolan Saverio , di Donato Francesca
Published: July 2023

The existing empirical evidence on the political directors' impact on company performance is mixed and inconclusive, suggesting that this relationship is more complex than initially hypothesised and requires further investigation. This study enhances our knowledge by exploring both political directors' direct effects and the role of moderating contextual variables. Precisely, building on resource dependence and contingency theory, we argue that political directors can positively affect company performance and that this relationship may be moderated by industry regulation and national financial systems. We tested our hypotheses using a longitudinal sample of large European listed companies. Our results highlight that political directors have a detrimental effect on firm performance, while industry regulation and credit‐based financial systems positively moderate this baseline relationship. As such, our findings expand the use of resource dependence theory and provide a more contextual understanding of the impact of political directors on firm performance.
Obstacles to collective action during a crisis: A meta‐organizational perspective
Authors: Hartwell Christopher A. , Lawton Thomas C. , Tingbani Ishmael
Published: July 2023

Meta‐organizations form to advance collective action. But collective action can be more difficult to coordinate for meta‐organizations comprising governmental agencies or sovereign states, with system‐level objectives often conflicting. These challenges can be more binding during a crisis, where the responses called for are outside of the original reason for the meta‐organization's existence. We advance a framework for conceptualizing meta‐organizations that focuses on both internal attributes and external perceptions and suggests how each may help or hinder meta‐organization influence during a crisis. Using as a case study the response of the European Union (EU) to COVID‐19 and, specifically, to air travel restrictions at the outbreak of the pandemic, we show how meta‐organizations can have difficulties in responding expeditiously to crises, particularly when encountering contradictory system‐level goals. We argue that meta‐organizations must plan for crises during less turbulent times, developing the processes that contribute to the gradual creation of new system‐level goals.
Effect of limonene associated with bioactive glass‐ceramic on dentin/adhesive interface
Authors: Garcia Pinto Arthur Henrique , Geng‐Vivanco Rocio , Pires‐de‐Souza Fernanda de Carvalho Panzeri
Published: July 2023

This study evaluated the effect of pretreatment with limonene and/or biosilicate on the bond strength of a universal adhesive system in self‐etch mode to dentin. Occlusal cavities were prepared in 80 human molars and the teeth were randomly allocated to one of four groups (n = 20), according to the pretreatment regimens applied before the adhesive. The pretreatments were (i) Control, no pretreatment, (ii) LIM, 0.5% limonene; (iii) Bio, 10% biosilicate; and (iv) LIMBio, LIM + Bio. After adhesive application and restoration, the specimens were sectioned into sticks, separated, and stored in distilled water at 37°C for 24 h or 6 months. Microtensile bond strength test was carried out and measurements were compared across pretreatment groups and storage times. Fracture patterns and adhesive interfaces were observed. Loss of dry mass was calculated (n = 10). There was no statistically significant difference in the bond strength between the groups and the most prevalent fracture pattern was the non‐adhesive. LIM and LIMBio resulted in more open dentinal tubules. LIM and Bio, whether separate or combined, showed particles of those substances, which decreased in size and number after 6 months. All groups lost mass weight after treatment, with no statistically significant differences between them. Limonene and biosilicate pretreatment did not affect the bond strength to dentin of the universal adhesive system, but resulted in more non‐adhesive fractures, even after 6 months.
Tyrosine kinase alterations in colorectal cancer with emphasis on the distinct clinicopathological characteristics
Authors: Okano Soh , Yamashiro Yuya , Onagi Hiroko , Sasa Keita , Hayashi Takuo , Takahashi Makoto , Sugimoto Kiichi , Sakamoto Kazuhiro , Yao Takashi , Saito Tsuyoshi
Published: July 2023

Aims

Tyrosine kinase (TK) alterations, such as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion, neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) fusion, c‐ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) fusion and mesenchymal–epithelial transition factor (MET) exon 14 skipping, have been reported in colorectal cancers (CRC). We have previously reported CRCs with NTRK fusion among our cohort. However, their clinicopathological features have not been fully elucidated.

Methods and results

Tissue microarray (TMA)‐based immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on 951 CRC lesions from 944 patients. IHC was evaluated as positive or negative for ALK and ROS1 and 0 to 3+ for c‐MET. For ALK and ROS1 IHC‐positive cases, RNA‐based imbalanced gene expression assays, Archer FusionPlex assays and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) followed by Sanger sequencing were performed. For c‐MET IHC 3+ cases, RT‐PCR followed by Sanger sequencing were performed. ALK IHC was positive in three cases (0.2%) and all showed imbalanced ALK gene expression. The following ALK fusions were confirmed: EML4 (exon 21)::ALK (exon 20), EML4 (exon 6)::ALK (exon 19) and HMBOX1 (exon 6)::ALK (exon 20). Two showed microsatellite instability‐high/mismatch repair (MMR)‐deficient, and all were located in the right colon. ROS1 IHC was positive in one case; however, imbalanced expression and ROS1 fusion was negative. Forty‐two cases (4.4%) showed c‐MET IHC3+. MET exon 14 skipping was confirmed in nine cases. All cases were microsatellite stable/MMR‐proficient, and eight were located in the left colon and rectum.

Conclusions

CRCs with these TK alterations had distinct clinicopathological features. Together with our previous study, 15 cases (1.6%) harboured targetable TK alterations (three NTRK fusion, three ALK fusion, nine MET exon 14 skipping).
FEN1 inhibitor SC13 promotes CAR‐T cells infiltration into solid tumours through cGAS–STING signalling pathway
Authors: Dong Yunfei , Wang Yuanyuan , Yin Xuechen , Zhu Hongqiao , Liu Lingjie , Zhang Miaomiao , Chen Jiannan , Wang Aying , Huang Tinghui , Hu Jianhua , Liang Junqing , Guo Zhigang , He Lingfeng
Published: July 2023

It is well known that chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell immunotherapy (CAR‐T‐cell immunotherapy) has excellent therapeutic effect in haematological tumours, but it still faces great challenges in solid tumours, including inefficient T‐cell tumour infiltration and poor functional persistence. Flap structure‐specific endonuclease 1 (FEN1), highly expressed in a variety of cancer cells, plays an important role in both DNA replication and repair. Previous studies have reported that FEN1 inhibition is an effective strategy for cancer treatment. Therefore, we hypothesized whether FEN1 inhibitors combined with CAR‐T‐cell immunotherapy would have a stronger killing effect on solid tumours. The results showed that low dose of FEN1 inhibitors SC13 could induce an increase of double‐stranded broken DNA (dsDNA) in the cytoplasm. Cytosolic dsDNA can activate the cyclic GMP–AMP synthase–stimulator of interferon gene signalling pathway and increase the secretion of chemokines. In vivo, under the action of FEN1 inhibitor SC13, more chemokines were produced at solid tumour sites, which promoted the infiltration of CAR‐T cells and improved anti‐tumour immunity. These findings suggest that FEN1 inhibitors could enable CAR‐T cells to overcome poor T‐cell infiltration and improve the treatment of solid tumours.
A mixed‐method systematic literature review of health literacy interventions for people with disabilities
Authors: Nam Hye Jin , Lee Sujin , Park Han Nah , Kim Bohye , Yoon Ju Young
Published: July 2023

Aims

To identify the components and characteristics of health literacy interventions for people with disabilities and to explore the outcomes in terms of health literacy competencies.

Design

A mixed‐method systematic literature review.

Review Methods

The search results were reported based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis. The quality appraisal was guided by the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The contents of each intervention were mapped to the health literacy intervention model and the outcomes were annotated using the integrated model of health literacy.

Data Sources

The literature search was conducted using several electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane library and PsycINFO in December 2022.

Results

Ten studies were selected for this systematic literature review. Seven studies were quantitative, two were qualitative and one was a mixed‐methods study. The four components of the health literacy interventions included empowering individuals with low‐health literacy (n = 10), strengthening individuals' social support system (n = 3), improving communication with health professionals (n = 1) and reducing barriers to access health systems (n = 3). No intervention addressed improving health professionals' health literacy competencies. Health literacy competencies identified as outcomes in the studies included access (n = 1), understand (n = 7), appraise (n = 1) and apply (n = 9) the health information.

Conclusions

The significant findings of this systematic literature review provide baseline data and evidence for developing health literacy interventions for people with disabilities. However, this review demonstrates that only a handful of intervention studies have addressed the low‐health literacy of people with disabilities. Further and more rigorous interventions addressing health literacy for people with diverse disabilities are warranted.

Impact

This review provides insights into how health literacy interventions can be tailored to the type of disability. Further, efforts should be expanded to comprehensively promote all the four core competencies of health literacy to reduce health disparities for individuals living with disabilities.

No Patient or Public Contribution

Systematic literature review.