bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of corporate diversity training from the trainers' perspective: results of a qualitative study in Germany
Authors: Rybnikova Irma , Weigel Annkathrin
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Organizational diversity training is designed to enhance employees' skills and competencies regarding diversity and its management. The question of its effectiveness, and the conditions under which it thrives, remains a matter of debate. Unlike previous studies that have predominantly focused on the perspective of training participants, this study shifts the lens to the viewpoints of diversity training providers in Germany – a country where the formal requirement for diversity management was implemented relatively recently. The primary objective is to ascertain the critical factors influencing training effectiveness from the providers' perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This research draws upon case studies based on document analysis and qualitative interviews with diversity training providers across Germany.

Findings

The investigation reveals that the effectiveness of diversity training, as perceived by providers, hinges on several key factors: the organizational environment (including the widespread recognition of diversity issues and the presence of an organizational diversity framework), the attributes of diversity trainers (notably their personal familiarity with diversity) and the setting and design of the training (such as venue, duration and a blend of instructional approaches). A notable barrier to achieving effective training outcomes is the lack of supportive conditions within client companies, exemplified by limited training budgets, which impedes the accurate assessment of training effectiveness.

Originality/value

This study marks a novel contribution to the field by explicitly focusing on the perspective of diversity training providers in Germany. It provides new insights into the importance of the organizational context surrounding diversity education within the private sector.
Prediction of students’ performance in online learning using supervised machine learning
Authors: Khor Ean Teng , Darshan Dave
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study leverages social network analysis (SNA) to visualise the way students interacted with online resources and uses the data obtained from SNA as features for supervised machine learning algorithms to predict whether a student will successfully complete a course.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploration and visualisation of the data were first carried out to gain a better understanding of the students, the course(s) each student was enrolled in and each course’s virtual learning resources. Following this, the construction of the social network graphs was performed to depict how each student behaved online before the degree centralities were computed for each of the nodes in a social network graph. Data pre-processing to assign labels based on the final result a student obtained in a course was then performed before we trained and tested models to predict which students did or did not graduate.

Findings

The study’s findings demonstrate that the constructed predictive model has good performance, as shown by the accuracy, precision, recall and f-measure metrics. The outcomes also showed that students’ use of online resources is a crucial element that influences how well they perform in their academics.

Originality/value

The similarity index is as low as 9%.
Navigating the challenges of AI-enabled circular economy in the food and beverage sector: strategies for sustainable transformation
Authors: Ajmera Deval , Kharub Manjeet , Krishna Aparna , Gupta Himanshu
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The pressing issues of climate change and environmental degradation call for a reevaluation of how we approach economic activities. Both leaders and corporations are now shifting their focus, toward adopting practices and embracing the concept of circular economy (CE). Within this context, the Food and Beverage (F&B) sector, which significantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, holds the potential for undergoing transformations. This study aims to explore the role that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can play in facilitating the adoption of CE principles, within the F&B sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employs the Best Worst Method, a technique in multi-criteria decision-making. It focuses on identifying and ranking the challenges in implementing AI-driven CE in the F&B sector, with expert insights enhancing the ranking’s credibility and precision.

Findings

The study reveals and prioritizes barriers to AI-supported CE in the F&B sector and offers actionable insights. It also outlines strategies to overcome these barriers, providing a targeted roadmap for businesses seeking sustainable practices.

Social implications

This research is socially significant as it supports the F&B industry’s shift to sustainable practices. It identifies key barriers and solutions, contributing to global climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

Originality/value

The research addresses a gap in literature at the intersection of AI and CE in the F&B sector. It introduces a system to rank challenges and strategies, offering distinct insights for academia and industry stakeholders.
Approaches to education for sustainability leadership development in higher education: an international comparative study in the Asia Pacific region
Authors: Ghasemy Majid , Elwood James A. , Scott Geoffrey
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to focus on key approaches to education for sustainability (EfS) leadership development in the context of Malaysian and Japanese universities. The authors identify key indicators of effective EfS leadership development approaches using both descriptive and inferential analyses, identify and compare the preferred leadership learning methods of academics and examine the impact of marital status, country of residence and administrative position on the three EfS leadership development approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is quantitative in approach and survey in design. Data were collected from 664 academics and analysed using the efficient partial least squares (PLSe2) methodology. To provide higher education researchers with more analytical insights, the authors re-estimated the models based on the maximum likelihood methodology and compared the results across the two methods.

Findings

The inferential results underscored the significance of four EfS leadership learning methods, namely, “Involvement in professional leadership groups or associations, including those concerned with EfS”, “Being involved in a formal mentoring/coaching program”, “Completing formal leadership programs provided by my institution” and “Participating in higher education leadership seminars”. Additionally, the authors noted a significant impact of country of residence on the three approaches to EfS leadership development. Furthermore, although marital status emerged as a predictor for self-managed learning and formal leadership development (with little practical relevance), administrative position did not exhibit any influence on the three approaches.

Practical implications

In addition to the theoretical and methodological implications drawn from the findings, the authors emphasize a number of practical implications, namely, exploring the applicability of the results to other East Asian countries, the adaptation of current higher education leadership development programmes focused on the key challenges faced by successful leaders in similar roles, and the consideration of a range of independent variables including marital status, administrative position and country of residence in the formulation of policies related to EfS leadership development.

Originality/value

This study represents an inaugural international comparative analysis that specifically examines EfS leadership learning methods. The investigation uses the research approach and conceptual framework used in the international Turnaround Leadership for Sustainability in Higher Education initiative and uses the PLSe2 methodology to inferentially pinpoint key learning methods and test the formulated hypotheses.
PR capacity on corporate boards: claiming the CSR and ESG responsibility?
Authors: Penning Timothy
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The modern corporation is evaluated by many measures that go beyond profit, which was the emphasis for years previously. Today’s corporation is weighed against expectations of many stakeholders, including not just customers but employees, investors, the government and even the public at large with no discernible financial or other tie to a company. As such, corporate boards necessarily must be concerned with more than financial performance, including corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the increasing emphasis on environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics. Given that public relations scholars and practitioners have long been concerned with stakeholder relationships, social responsibility and other non-financial indicators, it would make sense that public relations has a more obvious presence on corporate boards.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examined the 25 companies in the Fortune Modern Board 25 to determine how many board members had a background or expertise in public relations that would contribute to the leadership necessary for the concerns of the modern corporation, and whether the boards had a committee designated to public relations or related functions.

Findings

Results show that there are few corporate boards that have public relations represented prominently in either their members or committees. The same is true for executive leadership teams. Public relations or communications executives do appear to play some role in ESG, CSR and DEI reporting, but often there are staff members with those specific titles and roles.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to 25 corporations on a Forbes list that ranked them as best in communicating ESG, CSR and DEI. The method examined publicly available literature which was revealing to the research questions, but more could be learned by interview or survey with CCOs.

Practical implications

The study shows the current presence of public relations capacity in terms of members of corporate boards, corporate committees and among the C-suite is not significant. Also, rather than PR as a function owning modern concerns of DEI, ESG and CSR, there are professionals with specific expertise in those areas who are responsible for those corporate issues.

Social implications

Corporate social responsibility (CSR), ESG (environmental, social, governance) and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) have recently been stressed as important for corporations to measure and report. The role of the public relations profession in managing and/or communicating in these areas is important to consider in terms of public expectations and satisfaction of communication on these subjects.

Originality/value

This paper is unique in integrating public relations theory and practice with board theory and the current management concerns with ESG, CSR and DEI. Little if any previous research has considered which professions are in charge of communicating on these concerns.
Rural entrepreneurship and inequality: exploring trends in emerging economies through the lens of Lebanon
Authors: Baalbaki Chadi , El Khoury Aliaa
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Limited research exists on the role of information access as a key success factor for rural entrepreneurs. The purpose of this study is to examine the importance of information access, among other inequality forms, in shaping entrepreneurial outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a qualitative, inductive research methodology. They conducted interviews with rural entrepreneurs and gained insights into the role of information access and basic tangible resources in shaping their ventures.

Findings

The authors identified two critical factors that impact rural entrepreneurs: inequalities in access to information and basic tangible resources. They found that inequalities in rural entrepreneurship are often interrelated, rather than isolated. The authors demonstrated that the relationship between entrepreneurship and inequality is not solely characterized by a positive or negative correlation but is a dynamic interplay where certain inequality forms may create barriers to opportunities for some individuals while creating opportunities for others.

Practical implications

The authors uncovered key barriers in rural entrepreneurship and constructed a roadmap to effectively address these challenges, providing valuable insights to policymakers and support initiatives and enabling the target of high-impact resources. This research supports efforts to provide rural entrepreneurs with equal opportunities to grow and succeed.

Originality/value

This research significantly contributes to the field by examining the complexities of entrepreneurship in emerging economies, with a particular focus on rural areas. The authors introduced a comprehensive conceptual model linking inequality and entrepreneurship, explored the challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs and offered strategic policy recommendations for development initiatives.
Implementation and sustainability of student peer-led physical activity programs in a school community
Authors: Lockyer Peggy , Le Fevre Deidre , Vickers Mark
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study sets out to investigate the elements of the collaborative culture required for the successful implementation and sustainability of programs in schools. It draws on a case study of a student peer-led physical activity (PA) program implemented within the complex and dynamic environment of school communities in New Zealand. The article outlines four key components needed to effectively implement and impact long term sustainability of a program within the school context.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative case study examines the implementation of a new peer-led PA program introduced across eight New Zealand schools. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with senior leaders, teachers and parents and analyzed through a complexity theory lens.

Findings

Effective and sustainable program implementation requires a strategic, collaborative approach through actively engaging with and resourcing four key interacting components: student choice, voice and agency; collective responsibility; shared understanding of purpose; and curriculum coherence.

Originality/value

This research offers a pragmatic approach to developing collaborative school communities that can effectively implement change by highlighting key areas of focus that policymaker, school leaders and program designers can plan for.
Domestic violence against women during COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors among Bench Sheko zone, southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Mesafint Gebremeskel , Shifera Nigusie , Sayih Alemayehu
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Domestic violence is an intimate relationship that causes physical, sexual or mental suffering. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has had a ruinous effect globally, particularly in increasing the rate of domestic violence. Thus, this study aims to assess the prevalence of domestic violence against women during the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on Bench Sheko Zone residents from May to June 2021. Participants in the study were selected by multistage sampling technique. The collected data were coded, entered into EpiData 3.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 20. Bi-variable and multiple logistic regression analysis models were fitted. Odds ratio was used at a 95% confidence level, and P-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.

Findings

A total of 1,512 eligible women participated, with a 98.3% response rate. The proportion of domestic violence against women was 42.5%. The prevalence of psychological violence was 30.4%, followed by physical violence at 20.2% and sexual violence accounted for 9.6%. Variables, such as rural residency, women with no formal education, partner who had no formal education, women with monthly income of less than 25,00 Ethiopian birr and partner who was current substance user, were found to be associated with domestic violence against women.

Practical implications

Domestic violence against women is still an important public health problem in Ethiopia. Special attention should be paid to identified predictors to reduce domestic violence beyond designing prevention and control strategies along with coronavirus pandemic intervention plan.

Originality/value

The findings of this study show domestic violence against women is still an important public health problem in Ethiopia. Special attention should be paid to identified predictors to reduce domestic violence beyond designing prevention and control strategies, along with the coronavirus pandemic intervention plan.
Economic freedom and banks' risk-taking in Japan: a tale of two sides
Authors: Abbas Faisal , Ali Shoaib , Suleman Muhammad Tahir
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study examined how economic freedom and its related components, such as open markets, regulatory efficiency, rule of law and the size of government, affect bank risk behavior, focusing on the Japanese context.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a two-step GMM framework on the annual data of Japanese banks ranging from 2005 to 2020 to empirically test the hypotheses. Furthermore, we also use the ordinary least square method to ensure the robustness of our mainline findings.

Findings

The finding suggests that economic freedom increases the banks' risk-taking, thus making them fragile. The results also highlight that out of the four main subcomponents of economic freedom, regulatory efficiency and government size increase bank risk-taking, while the rule of law and open markets decrease banks' risk-taking. Additionally, we examine how the banks' specific characteristics affect the results by creating a subsample based on capitalization and liquidity ratios. Overall, the results are consistent with the baseline findings. Moreover, the results are robust to alternative proxy measures of risk.

Practical implications

The study's findings have several implications for regulators and policymakers. The results suggest that regulators and policymakers should reconsider their strategies for economic freedom to ensure that they promote stability in the banking system and reduce banks' risk-taking inclinations.

Originality/value

Although previous studies have examined the impact of economic freedom on bank stability and risk-taking, this study is the first to do so in the Japanese context, contributing to the literature by providing new insights and empirical evidence.
Benefits realization in digital transformation: the translation from policy to practice in health care
Authors: Isik Leman , Nilsson Christina , Magnusson Johan , Koutsikouri Dina
Published: April 2024

Purpose

While digital transformation holds immense promise, organizations often fail to realize its benefits. This study aims to address how policies for digital transformation benefits realization are translated into practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply a qualitative, comparative case study of two large, public-sector health care organizations in Sweden. Through document and interview data, the authors analyze the process of translation.

Findings

The study finds that practice variation is primarily caused by two types of decoupling: policy-practice and means-ends. Contrary to previous studies, coercion in policy compliance is not found to decrease practice variation.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations primarily stem from the empirical selection of two large public health-care organizations in Sweden, affecting the study’s generalizability. Reducing practice variation is more effectively achieved through goal alignment than coercion, leading to implications for the design of governance and control.

Practical implications

Policymakers should, instead of focusing on control-related compliance, work to align organizational objectives and policies to decrease practice variation for successful benefits realization.

Social implications

The study contributes to better benefits realization of digital transformation initiatives in health care. As such, the authors contribute to a better functioning and more transformative health care in times of increased demand and decreased supply of health-care services.

Originality/value

The study challenges conventional wisdom by identifying that coercion is less effective than goal alignment in reducing practice variation, thereby enhancing the understanding of policy implementation dynamics in health-care settings.
The world from the perspective of digital nomads: exploring sentiments in destination reviews
Authors: Özgen Çiğdemli Aslı Özge , Yayla Şeyda , Çiğdemli Bülent Semih
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the emotional landscapes and spatial preferences of digital nomads, focusing on how sentiments expressed in destination reviews influence their mobility and destination choices.

Design/methodology/approach

Employing a lexicon-based sentiment analysis of social media comments and reviews, alongside advanced geographical information systems (GIS) mapping techniques, the study analyzes the emotional tones that digital nomads associate with various destinations worldwide.

Findings

The analysis reveals significant patterns of emotional sentiments, with trust and joy being predominant in preferred destinations. Spatial patterns identified through GIS mapping highlight the global distribution of these sentiments, underscoring the importance of emotional well-being in destination choice.

Practical implications

Insights from this study offer valuable guidance for Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) in strategic planning, enhancing destination appeal through targeted marketing strategies that resonate with the emotional preferences of digital nomads.

Originality/value

This research introduces a novel approach by integrating sentiment analysis with GIS to map the emotional and spatial dynamics of digital nomadism, contributing a new perspective to the literature on tourism and mobility.
Tackling barriers to (beneficial) housing mobility
Authors: Barker Andrew , Korczak‐Krzeczowski Aaron
Published: April 2024

Housing mobility can provide welfare benefits to households who move to more suitable housing, while also enabling productivity gains through better matching of skills to jobs. Compared with other developed countries, Australians regularly move home, but rarely do so for work. Tenure security for private renters is low and in stark contrast to the United States, Australian renters are more likely to be forced to move by their landlord than choose to move for work. Reforms are recommended to level the playing field, by removing landlords' capacity to evict tenants without due cause and enabling greater entry of institutional investors into the housing market. Opportunities to reduce barriers to moving for owner–occupiers are identified: stamp duties could be replaced with less distortionary forms of taxation and exclusion of the family home in pension asset testing should be reviewed, as this exclusion discourages downsizing where doing so would reduce pension income.
SOCIOSPATIAL FORMATION OF MIDDLE‐CLASS DISTINCTION: The Educated Middle Classes in Neo‐urban India
Authors: Singh Smriti
Published: April 2024

In this article I examine the simultaneous expansion of urban sprawl and influx of middle‐class migrants in the context of Gurugram, India, to highlight how physical and social space plays an integral role in shaping class distinction among the migrant middle classes. I make a case for social class, generally, and migrant middle classes in neo‐urban contexts, specifically, to be understood as a sociospatial category. My arguments build primarily on Bourdieu's argument that both physical and social space operates on similar principles of reciprocal externality of positions in the context of social class distinction. I highlight how the migrant middle classes formulate and consolidate their social class distinction against competing claims over sociospatial dominance of the local ancestral agrarian community in neo‐urban Gurugram, India. My findings highlight how existing local sociopolitical fractures interact with global capitalist circuits of capital to shape the sociospatial context in which social class distinction is formulated. The article allows for grounding theorizations of social class to accommodate local sociopolitical and sociospatial dynamics.
Impact of breeding system transition on camel milk caseins
Authors: Medjour Abdelhak , Petre Brînduşa Alina , Hammadi Mohamed , Salhi Imed , Dbara Mohamed , Hamidechi Mohamed Abdelhafid
Published: April 2024

To enhance camel milk production, some breeders have transitioned from extensive to semi‐intensive breeding systems. This study investigates the effects of this transition on casein fractions by analyzing milk samples of targeted breeding. Various parameters, such as pH, Dornic acidity, dry matter, ash, total proteins, whey proteins, and caseins, were examined. The results revealed that semi‐intensive camel milk exhibited increased acidity and lower mineral content, while demonstrating significant elevations in total proteins, whey proteins, and particularly caseins. Transition to semi‐intensive system increased κ, β, and αs1‐caseins levels by 0.44, 4.85, and 1.81 g/L, respectively, as observed after FPLC, SDS‐PAGE, and MALDI‐ToF characterization.
When do voters reveal candidate gender preferences? Evidence from individual‐level ballot data
Authors: BELSCHNER JANA , IBENSKAS RAIMONDAS , WEILER FLORIAN
Published: April 2024

Does candidate gender matter for vote choice? Whereas experimental research suggests an average preference for female candidates, observational studies tend to find null effects. In this note, we address the recent debate on how to measure voter preferences on the aggregate and the individual level. We argue that candidate gender preferences exist, but that whether and when they are revealed varies between and within voters. Drawing on an observational design and using data from over 500,000 individual ballots in Lithuanian elections, we employ multilevel regression and exponential random graph models to show how voters' candidate gender preferences are distributed across the electorate and how they vary in size and direction. We find that about half of all voters prefer either male or female candidates. Whereas preference for male candidates tends to be revealed in the first and second preference votes, preference for female candidates is first revealed in lower preference votes. Our results help explain contradictory findings in the literature and illustrate how observational data and methods can be used to assess voter preferences within electorates.
Digital opportunities for the distribution of index‐based microinsurance: Evidence from a discrete choice experiment in Mali
Authors: Kirchner Ella , Musshoff Oliver
Published: April 2024

Index‐based microinsurance is a promising risk management tool for smallholder farmers. Recently, several mobile‐delivered insurance schemes have entered the market. Depending on the degree of digitisation of the product, farmers can learn about the insurance, register, pay premiums and receive payouts via a mobile phone. As cell phone usage and network coverage constantly increase, digitally enabled insurance distribution may overcome previous barriers for insurance adoption. Still, farmers' preferences for these products remain largely unknown. We address this knowledge gap by means of a discrete choice experiment applied to 499 maize farmers in Mali. The experiment presents an easy‐to‐understand multi‐peril crop insurance linked to a greenness index. It focuses on attributes related to the distribution channel and product design. Using mixed logit models, we find that the insurance attributes enabled by mobile‐delivery are attractive to farmers. Product bundles that include mobile‐delivered weather information and agricultural advice in addition to the insurance policy or credit access increase the likelihood of farmers taking out insurance. Similarly, recommendations from fellow farmers increase interest in the insurance product. The results are highly relevant for future product improvements that are needed to increase adoption rates and ultimately realise the loss‐hedging potential of microinsurance.
The α subunit of AMP‐activated protein kinase is critical for the metabolic success and tachyzoite proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Yang Xuke , Yang Jichao , Lyu Mengyu , Li Yaqiong , Liu Anqi , Shen Bang
Published: April 2024

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite infecting humans and nearly all warm‐blooded animals. Successful parasitism in diverse hosts at various developmental stages requires the parasites to fine tune their metabolism according to environmental cues and the parasite's needs. By manipulating the β and γ subunits, we have previously shown that AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) has critical roles in regulating the metabolic and developmental programmes. However, the biological functions of the α catalytic subunit have not been established. T. gondii encodes a canonical AMPKα, as well as a KIN kinase whose kinase domain has high sequence similarities to those of classic AMPKα proteins. Here, we found that TgKIN is dispensable for tachyzoite growth, whereas TgAMPKα is essential. Depletion of TgAMPKα expression resulted in decreased ATP levels and reduced metabolic flux in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, confirming that TgAMPK is involved in metabolic regulation and energy homeostasis in the parasite. Sequential truncations at the C‐terminus found an α‐helix that is key for the function of TgAMPKα. The amino acid sequences of this α‐helix are not conserved among various AMPKα proteins, likely because it is involved in interactions with TgAMPKβ, which only have limited sequence similarities to AMPKβ in other eukaryotes. The essential role of the less conserved C‐terminus of TgAMPKα provides opportunities for parasite specific drug designs targeting TgAMPKα.
Adolescent alcohol use is associated with differences in the diversity and composition of the oral microbiome
Authors: Browning Brittney D. , Kirkland Anna E. , Green Rejoyce , Liu Helen , Glover Janiece S. , Ticer Taylor D. , Engevik Mindy A. , Alekseyenko Alexander V. , Ferguson Pamela L. , Tomko Rachel L. , Squeglia Lindsay M.
Published: April 2024

Background

Adolescence is a sensitive stage of oral microbial development that often coincides with the initiation and escalation of alcohol use. Thus, adolescents may be particularly susceptible to alcohol‐induced alterations in the oral microbiome, though minimal research has been done in this area. Understanding the connection between the oral microbiome and alcohol use during adolescence is important to understand fully the biological consequences of alcohol use to mitigate potential adverse outcomes.

Methods

Saliva samples were collected from adolescents aged 17–19 who used alcohol heavily (n = 21, 52.4% female) and those who did not use alcohol or any other substances (n = 18, 44.4% female). We utilized 16S rRNA sequencing to examine differences in microbial diversity and composition between the groups.

Results

For alpha diversity, evenness was significantly lower in the drinking group than the control group as indicated by Pielou's evenness, Shannon, and Simpson indices. There were no statistically significant findings for beta diversity. Differential abundance analyses revealed higher abundances of Rothia and Corynebacterium in the alcohol‐using group using both centered‐log‐ratio and relative abundance normalization. These genera are known for their high capacity to convert alcohol into acetaldehyde, a toxic metabolite reported to play a role in the neurobiological effects of alcohol. An unclassified Clostridia UCG‐014, Streptobacillus, Comamonas, unclassified Lachnospiraceae, and Parvimonas were also identified as significantly different between groups when using only one of the normalization techniques.

Conclusions

This is the first study designed specifically to compare the oral microbiome of adolescents who use alcohol with that of control participants. Our findings reveal distinct alcohol‐related differences in microbial composition and taxon abundance, emphasizing the importance of understanding the impact on the oral microbiome of alcohol use during adolescence. Because the oral microbiome is malleable, this study provides foundational work for future prevention and intervention studies.
Changes in ovarian tissue structure and distribution of oestrogen receptors in Huanghuai goats at different ages
Authors: Zhang Wenjing , Wang Laixiang , Hu Bo , Jin Mengmeng , Zhou Jinxing
Published: April 2024

To observe developmental changes in the ovarian tissue structure and distribution characteristics of oestrogen receptors (ERs) in the ovaries of Huanghuai goats at different ages, we selected healthy Huanghuai goats ewes and divided them into five groups (i.e. 3‐, 30‐, 60‐, 90‐ and 120‐day‐old groups), with 10 animals in each group. The serum was separated after blood collection through the jugular vein, and the contents of oestrogen (E) and progesterone (P) in the serum of Huanghuai goats at each age were determined. Three goats were randomly selected from each group and sacrificed after anaesthesia, and the ovarian tissue was quickly obtained and placed in 4% paraformaldehyde fixative to prepare the tissue sections. Using HE, oestrogen receptors were immunohistochemically stained and observed. These results showed many primordial follicles and occasional secondary follicles in the ovaries of 3‐day‐old Huanghuai goats. Ovarian reticular structures were observed in 30‐day‐old ovarian medulla, with occasional near‐mature growing follicles. Mature follicles and corpus luteum were occasionally detected in 60‐day‐old ovarian cortex. The 90–120‐day‐old ovarian cortices contained growing and mature follicles, and the number of mature follicles and corpora lutea increased, implying a significant luteal involution period. The E and P contents in the 120‐day‐old group were significantly higher than those in the 3‐, 30‐, 60‐ and 90‐day‐old groups. The levels of ERα and ERβ in the 3‐ and 30‐day‐old groups were mainly distributed in the granulosa cells of ovarian reproductive epithelial cells, primordial follicles, atretic follicles, and primary and secondary follicles. The ERα and ERβ levels of the 60‐, 90‐ and 120‐day‐old groups were also distributed in the granulosa cells and luteal cells of mature follicles, especially in the 120‐day‐old endometrial cells of mature follicles, where ERβ was distributed significantly. The overall expression of ERβ in the ovary was higher than that of ERα. The results of this study provide basic data on the ovarian development and the specific expression of ERs and PRs in the ovaries of Huanghuai white goats, which play an important role in ovarian development and precocity.
Analysis of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death from prospective, randomized clinical trials of acalabrutinib
Authors: Sharman Jeff P. , Ghia Paolo , Miranda Paulo , Bajwa Naghmana , Rule Simon , Shaw Bob , Seymour John F.
Published: April 2024

This analysis investigated the incidence of sudden deaths (SDs) and non‐fatal and fatal ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in five acalabrutinib clinical trials. In total, 1299 patients received acalabrutinib (exposure, 4568.4 patient‐years). Sixteen (1.2%) patients experienced SD or VA (event rate, 0.350/100 patient‐years). Non‐fatal VAs occurred in 11 (0.8%) patients, nine (0.7%) of whom had premature ventricular contractions only. SD and fatal VAs occurred in five (0.4%) patients (event rate, 0.109/100 patient‐years; median time to event: 46.2 months). SDs and VAs with acalabrutinib occurred at low rates, and there are insufficient data to point to an increased risk of SD or VA with acalabrutinib.
Strawberry guava invasion of a Hawaiian rainforest: Changing population patterns
Authors: Denslow Julie S. , Johnson M. Tracy , Chaney Nancy L. , Farrer Emily C. , Horvitz Carol C. , Nussbaum Erin R. , Uowolo Amanda L.
Published: April 2024

Strawberry guava (waiawī, Psidium cattleyanum Sabine, Myrtaceae) is a small tree invasive on oceanic islands where it may alter forest ecosystem processes and community structure. To better understand the dynamics of its invasion in Hawaiian rainforests in anticipation of the release of a biocontrol agent, we measured growth and abundance of vertical stems ≥0.5 cm DBH for 16 years (2005–2020) in Metrosideros‐Cibotium rainforest on windward Hawai'i Island. Specifically, we compared the growth and abundance of both shoots (originating from seed or from the root mat) and sprouts (originating above ground from established stems) in four replicate study sites. Mean stem density increased from 9562 stems/ha in 2005 to 26,595 stems/ha in 2020, the majority of which were stems <2 cm DBH. Early in the invasion, both density and per capita recruitment of shoots was greater than that of sprouts, but as overall stem density increased, sprout abundance and recruitment came to surpass that of shoots. Relative growth rates among small stems <2 cm DBH declined over time for both shoots and sprouts, but relative growth rates of sprouts were consistently greater than that of shoots after the first 3 years. The capacity of strawberry guava to recruit from both shoots and sprouts facilitates its invasion of rainforest, its persistence in the forest understory, and its response to canopy opening. Strawberry guava thus poses a considerable risk of stand replacement for Hawaiian rainforests. Stand management will require perpetual efforts to control both seed production and sprouting.
Editorial perspective: Transforming child and adolescent mental health services and systems (CAMHSS) around the globe – the importance of diversity, inclusion and equity in CAMHSS research
Authors: de Vries Petrus J.
Published: April 2024

Children and adolescents around the globe have mental health and neurodevelopmental needs. However, no country or region of the world has found good solutions to meet these needs, which are often long‐term and complex. Most child and adolescent mental health research comes from high‐income, mostly English‐speaking, contexts even though 95% of the world's children and adolescents live in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC), where there is vast cultural, linguistic, and socio‐economic diversity, with limited services and systems for child and adolescent mental health (CAMH). There is therefore both a ‘knowledge gap’ (more than 90% of all research represents less than 10% of the global population) and an ‘identification and treatment gap’ (fewer than 1 in 10 children in LMIC ever receive a diagnosis or any kind of treatment). The purpose of this editorial perspective was to consider the challenges of diversity, inclusion and equity in CAMH research around the globe, and to present some practical things we can all do to close these gaps and transform the global CAMH research agenda.
Neural Semantic Surface Maps
Authors: Morreale Luca , Aigerman Noam , Kim Vladimir G. , Mitra Niloy J.
Published: April 2024

We present an automated technique for computing a map between two genus‐zero shapes, which matches semantically corresponding regions to one another. Lack of annotated data prohibits direct inference of 3D semantic priors; instead, current state‐of‐the‐art methods predominantly optimize geometric properties or require varying amounts of manual annotation. To overcome the lack of annotated training data, we distill semantic matches from pre‐trained vision models: our method renders the pair of untextured 3D shapes from multiple viewpoints; the resulting renders are then fed into an off‐the‐shelf image‐matching strategy that leverages a pre‐trained visual model to produce feature points. This yields semantic correspondences, which are projected back to the 3D shapes, producing a raw matching that is inaccurate and inconsistent across different viewpoints. These correspondences are refined and distilled into an inter‐surface map by a dedicated optimization scheme, which promotes bijectivity and continuity of the output map. We illustrate that our approach can generate semantic surface‐to‐surface maps, eliminating manual annotations or any 3D training data requirement. Furthermore, it proves effective in scenarios with high semantic complexity, where objects are non‐isometrically related, as well as in situations where they are nearly isometric.
Sentiment and attitudes toward offsetting and the biodiversity market in online media articles
Authors: Theis Sebastian
Published: April 2024

Biodiversity offsetting, a conservation approach to offset loss of habitat and ecosystem services, has been widely accepted and implemented in different legislative frameworks around the globe. I assigned sentiment scores (from −3 [very negative] to +3 [very positive]) to online news articles to examine public sentiment toward offsetting. I identified 86 pertinent articles published from 2013 to 2023 by web scraping online media outlets through keywords. I examined article content based on topics commonly associated in scientific literature with offsetting, such as risks or financial aspects. Most articles were from Australia (44%), 16% were from the United Kingdom, and 5% were from Colombia and Madagascar. Three distinct groups covered finances (n = 47), species, and social impacts of offsetting (n = 23) and offsetting frameworks (n = 16). Articles covering monetary and finance aspects had a lower predicted sentiment score (−0.72, 95% CI −0.98 to −0.47) than articles that covered new, alternative offsetting forms (−0.15, 95% CI −0.46 to 0.17), such as mitigation banking and credits. In articles focused on charismatic species and loss of livelihood, offsetting risk and social issues were associated with low sentiment scores (<−0.85). Sentiment scores were high for articles on offsetting at a multicountry or global scale (0.47, 95% CI −0.06 to 0.99), and scores were the lowest in Australia (−1.03, 95% CI −1.36 to −0.70). Public sentiment based on media articles was generally negative toward offsetting, and many of the ecological and methodological issues and risks were reflected in the articles, but mitigation measures as a prerequisite to offsetting were mentioned in only 18% of all articles. With the seemingly high public interest in conservation and hence offsetting, it will be imperative to expand the current breadth of information about offsetting that is being communicated or made available to the public.
Clinical assessment of momelotinib drug–drug interactions via CYP3A metabolism and transporters
Authors: Ho Yu Liu , Gorycki Pete , Ferron‐Brady Geraldine , Martin Paul , Vlasakakis Georgios
Published: April 2024

Momelotinib—approved for treatment of myelofibrosis in adults with anemia—and its major active metabolite, M21, were assessed as drug–drug interaction (DDI) victims with a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 inhibitor (multiple‐dose ritonavir), an organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) 1B1/1B3 inhibitor (single‐dose rifampin), and a strong CYP3A4 inducer (multiple‐dose rifampin). Momelotinib DDI perpetrator potential (multiple‐dose) was evaluated with CYP3A4 and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) substrates (midazolam and rosuvastatin, respectively). DDI was assessed from changes in maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), area under the concentration–time curve (AUC), time to reach Cmax, and half‐life. The increase in momelotinib (23% Cmax, 14% AUC) or M21 (30% Cmax, 24% AUC) exposure with ritonavir coadministration was not clinically relevant. A moderate increase in momelotinib (40% Cmax, 57% AUC) and minimal change in M21 was observed with single‐dose rifampin. A moderate decrease in momelotinib (29% Cmax, 46% AUC) and increase in M21 (31% Cmax, 15% AUC) were observed with multiple‐dose rifampin compared with single‐dose rifampin. Due to potentially counteracting effects of OATP1B1/1B3 inhibition and CYP3A4 induction, multiple‐dose rifampin did not significantly change momelotinib pharmacokinetics compared with momelotinib alone (Cmax no change, 15% AUC decrease). Momelotinib did not alter the pharmacokinetics of midazolam (8% Cmax, 16% AUC decreases) or 1′‐hydroxymidazolam (14% Cmax, 16% AUC decreases) but increased rosuvastatin Cmax by 220% and AUC by 170%. Safety findings were mild in this short‐term study in healthy volunteers. This analysis suggests that momelotinib interactions with OATP1B1/1B3 inhibitors and BCRP substrates may warrant monitoring for adverse reactions or dose adjustments.
Assembly of continuous high‐resolution draft genome sequence of Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus using long‐read sequencing
Authors: Komoto Tetsushi , Ikeo Kazuho , Yaguchi Shunsuke , Yamamoto Takashi , Sakamoto Naoaki , Awazu Akinori
Published: April 2024

The update of the draft genome assembly of sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, which is widely studied in East Asia as a model organism of early development, was performed using Oxford nanopore long‐read sequencing. The updated assembly provided ~600‐Mb genome sequences divided into 2,163 contigs with N50 = 516 kb. BUSCO completeness score and transcriptome model mapping ratio (TMMR) of the present assembly were obtained as 96.5% and 77.8%, respectively. These results were more continuous with higher resolution than those by the previous version of H. pulcherrimus draft genome, HpulGenome_v1, where the number of scaffolds = 16,251 with a total of ~100 Mb, N50 = 143 kb, BUSCO completeness score = 86.1%, and TMMR = 55.4%. The obtained genome contained 36,055 gene models that were consistent with those in other echinoderms. Additionally, two tandem repeat sequences of early histone gene locus containing 47 copies and 34 copies of all histone genes, and 185 of the homologous sequences of the interspecifically conserved region of the Ars insulator, ArsInsC, were obtained. These results provide further advance for genome‐wide research of development, gene regulation, and intranuclear structural dynamics of multicellular organisms using H. pulcherrimus.