bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oneiros: The Sports Club: navigating the growth path
Authors: Sonani Kaushik , Jain Prateek , Rishi Bikramjit
Published: November 2024

Learning outcomes

After completion of the case study, the students will be able to analyze the challenges and opportunities associated with business expansion in any business, assess the significance of leveraging existing strengths versus exploring new markets for organizational growth, evaluate the implications of regional consolidation versus national expansion strategies, develop strategic thinking and decision-making skills in a competitive business landscape and understand the nuances of market dynamics, brand recognition and operational challenges in diverse geographical regions.

Case overview/synopsis

Oneiros – The Sports Club stood poised at a pivotal juncture, grappling with a strategic quandary that encapsulates the divergent visions of its leadership. The narrative unfolded in Surat, a vibrant city in the state of Gujarat where contrasting viewpoints champion the familiar stability of local success against the lure of uncharted state and national territories. Ms Hemali Shah advocated for consolidating the club’s triumphs in Gujarat, emphasizing on the parameters of brand loyalty and operational mastery. In stark contrast, Mr Robin Patel envisioned a bold expansion strategy across the state, aiming for brand recognition and a paradigm shift to regional prominence. Caught amidst these competing visions, Mr Sumit Lathia who was aspiring for the club’s national presence navigated the complexities of market dynamics and business model, oscillating between preserving familiarity and embracing the allure of ambition. This case study highlights the nuanced strategic dilemmas faced by Oneiros, offering a captivating exploration of growth strategies in a competitive landscape. With insights from various perspectives within the organization, this case study navigates the complexities of growth, market dynamics and the balance between familiarity and ambition. This case study offers valuable insights and practical applications for students pursuing regular Master of Business Administration (MBA) and executive MBA programs, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate studies in entrepreneurship and strategic management. By examining the strategic decisions and operational challenges faced by Lathia and Oneiros – The Sports Club, students can gain a deeper understanding of key concepts such as public–private partnerships, market expansion strategies, customer segmentation and revenue diversification.

Complexity academic level

This case study is positioned within the decision-making or business development modules of the curriculum. It serves as a platform to apply theoretical concepts of strategic decision-making, market analysis and growth strategies to a real-world scenario. This case study prompts students to critically evaluate expansion dilemmas and devise strategic solutions.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

Strategy.
The effect of energy poverty on gender inequality in Southern Asian countries
Authors: Bellepea Nathan Y. , Türüç Fatma
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between gender inequality and energy poverty in Southeast Asian countries from 2000 to 2020. The study aims to assess the long-term impact of gender inequality on energy poverty by considering factors such as per capita gross domestic production (GDP), population growth and gross capital formation. By analyzing these variables, the research seeks to shed light on the disproportionate burden women face in energy-poor regions and to provide insights into how addressing energy poverty can promote gender equality and sustainable development in the region.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a dynamic generalized method of moments (GMM) model to analyze the long-term cointegration between gender inequality and energy poverty in Southeast Asian countries. The data, sourced from World Data Indicators, spans from 2000 to 2020, including variables such as GDP, population growth and gross capital formation. Proxy measures for energy poverty and gender inequality were developed using access to electricity, clean cooking technologies and female employment statistics. Stationarity tests and cointegration analyses were conducted to ensure the validity of the results, confirming the relationships among the variables for the region studied.

Findings

The study finds a significant positive relationship between gender inequality and energy poverty in Southeast Asian countries. Higher levels of gender inequality are associated with increased energy poverty, with women disproportionately affected due to reliance on traditional cooking methods. The dynamic GMM model confirms this long-term cointegration, showing that economic growth initially increases energy poverty but reduces it as nations invest in sustainable energy. Population growth has a negative association with energy poverty, suggesting that development and infrastructure improvements mitigate its effects. These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive energy policies in the region.

Originality/value

This study offers a novel contribution by empirically examining the long-term relationship between gender inequality and energy poverty in Southeast Asian countries, an underexplored area in existing literature. Using a dynamic GMM approach, it highlights the disproportionate burden women face due to energy poverty, particularly through traditional cooking methods. The research provides valuable insights into how addressing energy poverty can promote gender equality, offering practical policy recommendations for sustainable development. Its findings serve as a foundation for policymakers to craft gender-sensitive energy interventions that enhance both social equity and economic growth in developing regions.
Reconceptualizing supply chain flows (SCFLOWS)
Authors: Ashraf Muhammad Hasan , Yalcin Mehmet G. , Hos Rabia
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Despite being a fundamental concept, the field of supply chain management (SCM) exhibits a significant lack of consensus regarding the definition of supply chain flows (SCFLOWS). Additionally, there has been an over-reliance on three flows – material, information and finance – while various other flows crucial to SCM performance have been overlooked. Hence, the purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to explore the multi-dimensional nature of SCFLOWS and (2) to identify additional flows beyond the commonly acknowledged ones that are vital for SCM performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs various qualitative methods as part of the abduction process. The methods include in-depth interviews with logistics professionals, a Delphi study involving SCM scholars and a focus group comprising airline industry practitioners.

Findings

Seven SCFLOWS dimensions are identified and presented as SCFLOWS framework. Also, two additional flows, i.e. human and capital equipment, are proposed as vital to SCM performance.

Originality/value

This is the first study to introduce SCFLOWS framework to achieve consensus in the field. By introducing two additional flows, it proposes extending the SCFLOWS boundary to include various flows overlooked previously but pertinent to SCM performance. The SCFLOWS framework serves as a systematic guide to validate additional flows and represents an important step towards building SCM theory.
Revisiting tokenism: impact of gender diversity on corporate social performance of Indian companies
Authors: Kaur Amanpreet , Joshi Mahesh , Sharma Sharad , Singh Gagandeep
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between corporate governance, in particular board diversity, and corporate social performance (CSP) amongst the top 500 listed companies in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from the top 500 listed Indian companies constituting the BSE500 index for a five-year period from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2019 are used to test the impact of the proportion of women directors, proportion of women independent directors, female CEOs and other corporate governance variables on CSP.

Findings

The results of panel regression analysis suggest that firms characterised by high proportions of women directors, independent women directors or a female CEO spend more on corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Furthermore, CEO duality, board size and board independence are positively related to social performance. These findings are of relevance to the policymakers and board of directors who are engaged in meeting corporate governance requirements.

Practical implications

This is one of the initial studies to document the impact of executive-level female representation on CSP following India's 2013 regulations on mandatory women representation on boards and CSR expenditure. The study reveals that greater gender diversity on corporate boards significantly boosts CSP, offering strategic advantages in governance and CSR. The study offers practical benefits for various stakeholders including corporate regulators, policymakers and corporate managers.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the corporate governance and CSR literature by showing that good governance practices and high women representation on boards promote social performance. Our study is one of the preliminary efforts to document the level and impact of female representation at the executive level on CSP after the regulation of minimum women representation on corporate boards and mandatory CSR expenditure requirement introduced in India in 2013.
Integrative public leadership: a systematic review
Authors: Parkkinen Jonne
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Public leadership literature has recognised the need for specific integrative leadership style in boundary-crossing collaborations, and it has been proposed as a new umbrella term for describing such leadership in boundary-crossing settings. The article reviews the research literature on integrative leadership and describes and analyses its contents by answering the following question: What are the characteristics of integrative public leadership?

Design/methodology/approach

To review the integrative leadership literature, a systematic literature review was conducted. The databases and search services included Web of Science, Andor provided by Tampere University, Scopus, Emerald, Business Source Ultimate (Ebsco) and ScienceDirect (Elsevier). The search terms were accordingly chosen as integrative leadership, integrative public leadership and public integrative leadership. From the hundreds of search hits 25 research articles were selected in the reviewing process to be further analysed through qualitative content analysis. Crosby and Bryson’s (2010) framework for understanding leadership and the creation and maintenance of cross-sector collaborations was used as a starting point for the categorisation.

Findings

The article presents an improved integrative leadership framework that helps to identify the factors shaping integrative leadership and visualises better the interconnection of structures, processes and participants, through which leadership is enacted in the collaborative network.

Originality/value

The article extends the knowledge on integrative public leadership and helps to direct future research.
Oleylamine-grafted carbon nanoparticles as the friction-reducing and anti-wear additives of aviation lubricating oils
Authors: Liu Xiang , Cheng Xinghai , Feng Pengyu , Li Jing , Tang Zhongping , Wang Jiangbing , Chen Yonggang , Zhu Hongjie , Wan Hengcheng , Zhang Lei
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to try to develop new, environmentally friendly and efficient lubricating additives; study the compatibility of carbon-based additives with different base oils [Polyalphaolefin (PAO)-3, PAO-20 and NPE-2]; and explore the lubrication mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

Oleylamine modified carbon nanoparticles (CNPs-OA) were prepared and the dispersion stability of CNPs-OA in PAO-3, PAO-20 and NPE-2 base oils was investigated by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Universal Mechanical Tester (UMT) platform was used to carry out experiments on the effects of different additive concentrations on the lubricating properties of base oil.

Findings

The mean friction coefficient of PAO-3, PAO-20 and NPE-2 reduced by 32.8%, 10.1% and 11.4% when the adding concentration of CNPs-OA was 1.5, 2.0 and 0.5 Wt.%, respectively. Generally, The CNPs-OA exhibited the best friction-reducing and anti-wear performance in PAO-3.

Originality/value

The agglomeration phenomenon of carbon nanoparticles as lubricating additive was improved by surface modification, and the lubricating effect of carbon nanoparticles in three synthetic aviation lubricating base oils was compared.
Managing the tensions between tradition and innovation in family firms
Authors: Gil Miguel , Thor Kajsa , Gemheden Adam
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study explores the relationship between innovation and tradition in family firms. By examining how these firms manage the potential tension between these two elements, the study aims to understand better how innovation and tradition coexist and support long-term survival across generations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has a constructivist standpoint and follows a qualitative methodology. By conducting a comparative case study, the data are collected from semi-structured interviews with 10 participants in 4 case companies located in Sweden. The data are analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

This study found that managing the tension between innovation and tradition is carried out through four mechanisms: forward thinking through heritage, paradoxical thinking, operational control and governance. Moreover, the study further shows the great importance of the concept of intergenerational learning in family firms in managing tension.

Originality/value

The findings from this study contribute to the existing literature in family firms concerning managing tradition and innovation by providing a novel conceptualisation of the mechanisms embedded in this process. Moreover, the article proposes a grounded model, which could be used in research and practice when dealing with similar issues.
A text analytics study on the alignment of an Indonesian Muslim community’s municipal corporation policy with Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Hudaefi Fahmi Ali
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study analyses the supervision policy of Municipal Corporations (MCs) in the Indonesian Muslim community regarding its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Design/methodology/approach

As a single case study, purposive sampling was adopted to select a municipal corporation policy issued by Ciamis Regency, West Java, Indonesia. A novel mixed methods approach, combining computer analytics and human intelligence, was introduced to perform text analytics.

Findings

Text mining identified the most frequently occurring words — e.g., ‘perumda’ (municipal corporation), ‘daerah’ (regional), ‘pengawas’ (supervisor), ‘peraturan’ (regulation) — from the sample but found no single word indicating business alignment with SDGs. Further qualitative inductive analysis was conducted, revealing the critical role of MCs’ supervisory boards in business planning, execution, and reporting to align the MC businesses with local SDG initiatives.

Originality/value

Aligning MC business activities with local SDG actions is entirely within the authority of supervisory boards which demands transformational leadership. This research pioneered an innovative blend of computer-assisted techniques and human reasoning to investigate the supervision policies of MCs concerning local SDG actions, with evidence from a Muslim community in Indonesia.
Internal physiological drivers of leaf development in trees: Understanding the relationship between non‐structural carbohydrates and leaf phenology
Authors: Luo Yunpeng , Zohner Constantin , Crowther Thomas W. , Feng Jianlan , Hoch Günter , Li Peng , Richardson Andrew D. , Vitasse Yann , Gessler Arthur
Published: November 2024

Plant phenology is crucial for understanding plant growth and climate feedback. It affects canopy structure, surface albedo, and carbon and water fluxes. While the influence of environmental factors on phenology is well‐documented, the role of plant intrinsic factors, particularly internal physiological processes and their interaction with external conditions, has received less attention.

Non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC), which include sugars and starch essential for growth, metabolism and osmotic regulation, serve as indicators of carbon availability in plants. NSC levels reflect the carbon balance between photosynthesis (source activity) and the demands of growth and respiration (sink activity), making them key physiological traits that potentially influence phenology during critical periods such as spring leaf‐out and autumn leaf senescence. However, the connections between NSC concentrations in various organs and phenological events are poorly understood.

This review synthesizes current research on the relationship between leaf phenology and NSC dynamics. We qualitatively delineate seasonal NSC variations in deciduous and evergreen trees and propose testable hypotheses about how NSC may interact with phenological stages such as bud break and leaf senescence. We also discuss how seasonal variations in NSC levels, align with existing conceptual models of carbon allocation.

Accurate characterization and simulation of NSC dynamics are crucial and should be incorporated into carbon allocation models. By comparing and reviewing the development of carbon allocation models, we highlight the shortcomings in current methodologies and recommend directions to address these gaps in future research.

Understanding the relationship between NSC, source–sink relationships, and leaf phenology poses challenges due to the difficulty of characterizing NSC dynamics with high temporal resolution. We advocate for a multi‐scale approach that combines various methods, which include deepening our mechanistic understanding through manipulative experiments, integrating carbon sink and source data from multiple observational networks with carbon allocation models to better characterize the NSC dynamics, and quantifying the spatial pattern and temporal trends of the NSC‐phenology relationship using remote sensing and modelling. This will enhance our comprehension of how NSC dynamics impact leaf phenology across different scales and environments.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Food packaging technology considerations for designers: Attending to food, consumer, manufacturer, and environmental issues
Authors: Turan Deniz , Keukens Barbera M. , Schifferstein Hendrik N. J.
Published: November 2024

Food packaging is essential for preserving food safety and quality while also addressing environmental concerns. Designers are at the forefront of developing packaging solutions that not only meet functional requirements but also align with evolving consumer preferences and sustainability concerns. To inform designers, this paper discusses fundamental principles of food packaging technology, encompassing aspects such as food preservation, distribution, marketing, usability, and disposal. It provides examples of innovations in active and smart packaging, nanotechnology, material biodegradability, and recyclability, as well as strategies to reduce packaging waste. By providing future food packaging designers with this essential knowledge and these insights, we hope to encourage them to contribute to future innovations that meet the needs of consumers and the environment.
Mapping migrants’ narratives: A qual‐GIS approach to Cairns’ urban liveability
Authors: Dadpour Rana , Law Lisa , Osbaldiston Nick
Published: November 2024

This study introduces a novel approach to urban liveability research by combining interviews with participatory mapping techniques. More specifically, the research integrates concepts from geographic information systems (GISs) with episodic narrative interviews to develop a qualitative GIS (qual‐GIS) methodology to map and interpret the spatial experiences of recent migrants to Cairns. This qual‐GIS approach involves participants annotating amenity maps with personal narratives, effectively geolocating subjective experiences, and providing visual representations of liveability insights. During mapping sessions, participants identified and highlighted significant locations by annotating maps with pens and sticky notes to express their spatial stories and place attachments. Analysis of annotated maps in ArcGIS enabled the juxtaposition of qualitative insights with quantitative data, offering a rich, spatially informed understanding of liveability in place. The maps transcended their function as mere analytical instruments or memory aides, and the activity evolved into a platform for migrants to articulate experiences of, and emotional ties to the city. This approach enhances understandings of urban liveability from first‐hand experiences and establishes qual‐GIS approaches as valuable tools in urban and regional policy and research.
mignette: An R package for creating and visualizing migratory network models
Authors: DeSaix Matthew G. , Bossu Christen M. , Hagelin Julie C. , Harrigan Ryan J. , Saracco James F. , Somveille Marius , Taylor Caz M. , Ruegg Kristen C.
Published: November 2024

A prominent challenge for managing migratory species is the development of conservation plans that accommodate spatiotemporally varying distributions throughout the year. Migratory networks are spatially‐explicit models that incorporate migratory assignment and seasonal abundance data to define patterns of connectivity between stages of the annual cycle. These models are particularly useful for widespread application because different types of migratory data can be used to quantify individual and population‐level movement across the annual cycle of migratory species. While there are clear benefits of combining migratory assignment and abundance data for the development of conservation strategies, there is a concurrent need for corresponding user‐friendly software to facilitate the integration of these data for conservation.

Here, we present mignette (migratory network tools ensemble), an R package for developing migratory network models to estimate network connectivity among migratory populations. We demonstrate the functionality of mignette with three empirical examples that highlight the use of different types of tracking data for migratory assignment.

mignette facilitates the modelling of migratory networks by providing R functions to: (1) define breeding and nonbreeding nodes, (2) assemble abundance and assignment data and (3) model the migratory network. Additionally, mignette provides R functions to visualize modelled migratory networks.

With increasing availability of migratory assignment and abundance data, mignette represents a valuable tool for developing effective conservation strategies for migratory species.
Documentation of incidentally noted hepatic steatosis to emergency department patients: A retrospective study
Authors: Kontrick Amy V. , Alinger Joshua B. , Goins Emily C. , Mollo Alessia F. , Cruz Daniel S. , McCarthy Danielle M.
Published: November 2024

Background

Hepatic steatosis is a common incidental finding on emergency department (ED) imaging studies, occurring in up to 10% of studies, and carries significant long‐term morbidity. Frequently considered an unimportant finding, it is unknown how often ED patients are informed of hepatic steatosis. Our objective was to examine hepatic steatosis inclusion in ED discharge materials.

Methods

Data from discharged patients at an urban academic ED (>90,000 visits) with abdominal imaging (computed tomography or ultrasound) from 2019 to 2022 were screened. Patients with radiology reports documenting hepatic steatosis were included. Two trained data abstractors analyzed discharge materials and coded disclosure of steatosis (present/absent). Data abstraction also noted how the finding was included (e.g., follow‐up instructions, provision of radiology report). Factors associated with patient disclosure were examined through regression models including age, race, ethnicity, insurance, number of imaging studies during encounter, type of imaging study, and inclusion of hepatic steatosis in the impression section of radiology report.

Results

Of 10,677 radiology reports, 1209 (11.3%) had documented hepatic steatosis. The mean (±SD) age was 47.1 (±14.1) years; 56.4% were female, 53.5% were White, and 30.7% Hispanic. Only 173 of 1209 patients (14.3%) received any discharge documentation of hepatic steatosis. In 65% of cases where disclosure occurred, the imaging report was pasted verbatim into discharge material. There were no significant differences in discharge documentation by demographic groups. Mention within the radiology report impression (rather than the report body alone) occurred in 73.8% of records and was the strongest predictor of disclosure to patients (adjusted odds ratio 2.18, 95% confidence interval 1.39–3.54).

Conclusions

Despite the high prevalence of hepatic steatosis in radiology reports, rates of documentation in patient‐facing discharge materials are notably low, exposing a possible communication failure with consequences for diagnosis.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease increases predisposition to severe COVID‐19: Insights from integrated Mendelian randomization and genetic analysis
Authors: Pan Jingjing , Li Jianhua
Published: November 2024

Objective

This study aims to investigate the potential causal relationship, shared genomic loci, as well as potential molecular pathways and tissue‐specific expression patterns between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the risk of hospitalized/severe 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID‐19).

Methods

We employed linkage disequilibrium score regression and bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore potential genetic associations between GERD (N = 602,604) and hospitalized COVID‐19 (N = 2095,324) as well as severe COVID‐19 (N = 1086,211). Additionally, shared genomic loci were extracted from common pivotal regions, further confirmed through corresponding colocalization analyses. GERD‐driven molecular pathway network was constructed using extensive literature data mining to understand the molecular‐level impacts of GERD on COVID‐19.

Results

Our results revealed a significant positive genetic correlation between GERD and both hospitalized (rg  =  0.418) and severe COVID‐19 (rg  =  0.314). Furthermore, the MR analysis demonstrated a unidirectional causal effect of genetic predisposition to GERD on COVID‐19 outcomes, including hospitalized COVID‐19 (odds ratio [OR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–1.44, p = 9.17e − 12) and severe COVID‐19 (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.18–1.37, p = 1.20e − 05). Additionally, GERD and both COVID‐19 conditions shared one genomic locus with lead‐SNPs rs1011407 and rs1123573, corresponding to the transcription factor BCL11A. Colocalization analysis further demonstrated a significant positive correlation between genome‐wide association study and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) abnormalities, including rs1011407 (eQTL_p = 2.35e − 07) and rs1123573 (eQTL_p = 2.74e − 05). Molecular pathway analysis indicated that GERD might promote the progression of COVID‐19 by inducting immune‐activated and inflammation‐related pathways.

Conclusion

These findings confirm that genetically determined GERD may increase the susceptibility to hospitalized/severe COVID‐19. The shared genetic loci and the potential molecular pathways offer valuable insights into causal connections between GERD and COVID‐19.
Psychological well‐being of women with uterine infertility before considering uterus transplantation as a treatment option
Authors: Pittman Jana , Gerstl Brigitte , Walch Anna , Lotz Mianna , Deans Rebecca , Morrison Natalie
Published: November 2024

Background

While uterus transplantation offers a promising treatment option for women with uterine factor infertility (UFI), the potential for graft failure and lack of organ availability could have subsequent psychological repercussions for women. Exploring baseline psychological well‐being for women with UFI who could become uterine transplant recipients is essential to identify specific psychological challenges to be considered prior to transplantation. UFI can be congenital uterine absence, namely Mayer‐Rokitansky‐Küster‐Hauser syndrome (MRKH), or acquired uterine absence (hysterectomy).

Objective

To analyse baseline psychological well‐being among women with UFI.

Design and setting

A survey including demographic data and two internationally validated psychological questionnaires, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS‐21),13 and Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL), was disseminated to women with UFI. Data from these instruments was compared between groups and then to data that uses these tools in the general infertility population.

Results/outcomes

The study included 39 women (mean age 29.54 years). Higher scores for moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were reported for the entire UFI cohort. More women with congenital UFI showed ‘severe’ symptoms for depression/anxiety, compared to women with acquired UFI. Women with acquired UFI showed poorer FertiQoL scores compared to both women with congenital UFI and to the general infertility population scores in previously published data.

Conclusion

Clinicians should consider accessing increased psychological support for women with UFI when discussing fertility options including uterine transplant, and they may need to tailor this support depending on whether the patient has congenital or acquired UFI.
Embodied Thermal Insecurity and Counter‐Hegemonic Heat Mapping
Authors: Tschakert Petra , Karthikeyan Krishna
Published: November 2024

Lived experiences with urban heat are often rendered invisible, shrouded under the cloak of neoliberal resilience discourse and sanitised heat mapping and messaging. This is particularly tragic for disadvantaged at‐risk populations in white, settler colonial contexts where heat tolerance is worn as a badge of honour. Here, drawing upon semi‐structured interviews and focus group discussions in Perth, Western Australia, and with feminist emphasis on the embodied, the everyday, and bodily difference, we illustrate how corporeal thermal insecurities among rough sleepers, people with disabilities, and across intersectional disenfranchisement immobilise and dehumanise. By employing the logic of structures of violence to thermal suffering, we reveal how housing and energy precarity exacerbate entrenched racism and normalised discrimination. Our aim is to expand current debates on heat action plans (HAPs) and cool refuges by examining what “better weathering” could mean in practice, via the materialities of heated urban bodies (HUBs) and to demonstrate how such counter‐hegemonic heat mapping serves as a corporeal critique of the neoliberal resilient subject.
Subjective well‐being of children with special educational needs: Longitudinal predictors using machine learning
Authors: Tan Amanda Swee‐Ching , Ali Farhan , Poon Kenneth K.
Published: November 2024

Children with special educational needs (SEN) are a diverse group facing numerous challenges related to well‐being and mental health. Understanding the predictors of well‐being in this population requires the incorporation of diverse factors along with approaches that can uncover complexity in how these factors work together to influence well‐being. We longitudinally predicted subjective well‐being in a group of children with diverse special educational needs (N = 499; M = 8.4 ± 0.9 years). Thirty‐two variables ‐ ranging from demographics to various categories of life experiences ‐ were used as predictors for both nonlinear machine learning and classical linear classifiers. Nonlinear machine learning classifiers exhibited much performance in predicting subjective well‐being (F1 score = 0.72 to 0.84) compared to traditional linear classifiers. Overall, across all children, prior subjective well‐being, numeracy, literacy skills, and interpersonal dimensions played important roles. However, clustering further identified four distinct clusters sharing important predictors: a ‘socializer’ cluster dominated by interpersonal functioning predictors, an ‘analyzer’ cluster emphasizing academic skills predictors, and two clusters with more diverse sets of important predictors. Our research highlights the multiple pathways toward well‐being in children with SEN as uncovered by machine learning, with implications for understanding and supporting their well‐being.
Real‐Time Assessment of H. pylori Infection to Guide Molecular Antibiotic Resistance Testing: A Combined Endoscopy‐Gastric Juice Analysis Approach
Authors: Vasapolli Riccardo , Ailloud Florent , Spießberger Beate , Malfertheiner Peter , Suerbaum Sebastian , Schulz Christian
Published: November 2024

Background

Helicobacter pylori antibiotic resistance is the most relevant cause of treatment failure. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) allows for selecting the appropriate eradication regimen.

Aims

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of gastric aspirate‐based genotypic AST (G‐AST) for detecting clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistance compared with conventional phenotypic AST (P‐AST).

Methods

We recruited 461 consecutive patients scheduled for endoscopy. H. pylori was detected intraprocedurally using Endofaster, a novel method combining endoscopy with gastric juice analysis. For H. pylori‐positive patients, we collected gastric aspirates and biopsies. G‐AST was performed using DNA extracted from aspirates, with Sanger sequencing to detect polymorphisms in the 23S rRNA and gyrA genes associated, respectively, with resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones. P‐AST was performed on H. pylori isolated from biopsies using ETEST.

Results

One hundred and seventy‐eight (40.4%) patients tested positive for H. pylori during endoscopy. Paired gastric biopsies and aspirates were available from 152 H. pylori‐positive patients. By P‐AST, resistance rates were 15.1% (23/152) for clarithromycin and 18.4% (28/152) for levofloxacin. G‐AST showed a high level of agreement with P‐AST for clarithromycin (kappa 0.86) and levofloxacin (kappa 0.81) resistance and diagnostic accuracy of 97% and 95%, respectively.

Conclusions

The novel method combining endoscopy with immediate intraprocedural gastric juice analysis for the detection of H. pylori, followed by AST in case of a positive finding, is valid and practical for tailoring eradication regimens for H. pylori infection. Genotypic AST from gastric aspirates is highly accurate for detecting clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistances.
Comparative gut microbiome research through the lens of ecology: theoretical considerations and best practices
Authors: Degregori Samuel , Wang Xiaolin , Kommala Akhil , Schulhof Noah , Moradi Sadaf , MacDonald Allison , Eblen Kaitlin , Jukovich Sophia , Smith Emma , Kelleher Emily , Suzuki Kota , Hall Zoey , Knight Rob , Amato Katherine Ryan
Published: November 2024

Comparative approaches in animal gut microbiome research have revealed patterns of phylosymbiosis, dietary and physiological convergences, and environment–host interactions. However, most large‐scale comparative studies, especially those that are highly cited, have focused on mammals, and efforts to integrate comparative approaches with existing ecological frameworks are lacking. While mammals serve as useful model organisms, developing generalised principles of how animal gut microbiomes are shaped and how these microbiomes interact bidirectionally with host ecology and evolution requires a more complete sampling of the animal kingdom. Here, we provide an overview of what past comparative studies have taught us about the gut microbiome, and how community ecology theory may help resolve certain contradictions in comparative gut microbiome research. We explore whether certain hypotheses are supported across clades, and how the disproportionate focus on mammals has introduced potential bias into gut microbiome theory. We then introduce a methodological solution by which public gut microbiome data of understudied hosts can be compiled and analysed in a comparative context. Our aggregation and analysis of 179 studies shows that generating data sets with rich host diversity is possible with public data and that key gut microbes associated with mammals are widespread across the animal kingdom. We also show the effects that sample size and taxonomic rank have on comparative gut microbiome studies and that results of multivariate analyses can vary significantly with these two parameters. While challenges remain in developing a universal model of the animal gut microbiome, we show that existing ecological frameworks can help bring us one step closer to integrating the gut microbiome into animal ecology and evolution.
Archaeocytes in sponges: simple cells of complicated fate
Authors: Ereskovsky Alexander , Melnikov Nikolai P. , Lavrov Andrey
Published: November 2024

Archaeocytes are considered a key cell type in sponges (Porifera). They are believed to be multifunctional cells performing various functions, from nutrient digestion to acting as adult stem cells (ASCs). Thus, archaeocytes are mentioned in discussions on various aspects of sponge biology. As presumed ASCs of an early‐diverged animal taxon, archaeocytes are of great fundamental interest for further progress in understanding tissue functioning in metazoans. However, the term ‘archaeocyte’ is rather ambiguous in its usage and understanding, and debates surrounding archaeocytes have persisted for over a century, reflecting the ongoing complexity of understanding their nature. This article presents a comprehensive revision of the archaeocyte concept, including both its historical development and biological features (i.e. taxonomic distribution, characteristics, and functions). The term ‘archaeocyte’ and its central aspects were introduced as early as the end of the 19th century based on data mainly from demosponges. Remarkably, despite the general lack of comparative and non‐histological data, these early studies already regarded archaeocytes as the ASCs of sponges. These early views were readily inherited by subsequent studies, often without proper verification, shaping views on many aspects of sponge biology for more than a century.

Taking into account all available data, we propose considering the archaeocytes as a cell type specific to the class Demospongiae. Clear homologues of archaeocytes are absent in other sponge classes. In demosponges, the term ‘archaeocytes’ refers to mesohyl cells that have an amoeboid shape, nucleolated nuclei, and non‐specific inclusions in the cytoplasm. The absence of specific traits makes the archaeocytes a loosely defined and probably heterogeneous cell population, rendering the exhaustive characterisation of the ‘true’ archaeocyte population impossible. At the same time, the molecular characterisation of archaeocytes is only beginning to develop. Stemness and almost unlimited potency have always been at the core of the traditional archaeocyte concept. However, currently, the most consistent data on archaeocyte stem cell function come only from developing gemmules of freshwater sponges. For tissues of adult demosponges, the data favour a two‐component stem cell system, in which archaeocytes may cooperate with another stem cell population, choanocytes. Simultaneously, cells with archaeocyte morphology function as macrophages in demosponges, participating in the food digestion cycle and immune defence. Such cells should be denoted with the more neutral term ‘nucleolar amoebocytes’, as the term ‘archaeocyte’ not only describes the morphology of a cell but also introduces the proposition of its stem nature. Thus, the future usage of the term ‘archaeocyte’ should be limited to cases where a cell is shown or at least presumed to be a stem cell.
Long‐Term Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Hydrophilic Implants: A 10‐Year Study in a Specialist Private Practice
Authors: Roccuzzo Andrea , Thomann Isabel , Wyss Amanda , Schütz Silvio , Zumstein Thomas , Sculean Anton , Salvi Giovanni E. , Imber Jean‐Claude , Stähli Alexandra
Published: November 2024

Aim

To report the 10‐year clinical and radiographic outcomes of implants placed in grafted (GBR) and non‐grafted (no‐GBR) sites in a Swiss specialist private practice using hydrophilic implants with a low surface roughness flange.

Methods

Fifty consecutively enrolled patients received 159 hydrophilic implants with a low surface roughness flange. A first re‐evaluation was performed 1 year after delivery of restoration (T1). An additional examination was performed at the 10‐year follow‐up (T2) including the assessment of clinical (i.e., periodontal/peri‐implant pockets probing depths (PPD) (mm), full‐mouth bleeding score (%), implant survival rate, mid‐buccal keratinized mucosa (KM) width in mm, and peri‐implant phenotype), and radiographic (i.e., marginal bone level change [ΔMBL]) outcomes. Biological, mechanical and technical complications were also recorded.

Results

Out of the initial cohort, 22 patients (9/40.9% male and 13/59% female) and 63 implants (47 with GBR, 16 without GBR), could be re‐examined at T2. Overall, ΔMBL (T2‐T1) was −0.56 ± 0.96 mm. In the GBR group, ΔMBL were significantly higher at the distal sites compared to the no‐GBR group (−0.75 ± 1.17 mm vs. −0.12 ± 1.29 mm, p = 0.045), however, in the GBR group MBL started at a higher level at T1 but were similar with the no‐GBR group at T2. Implant survival was 100% with only very few technical complications (6.3%). Mean PPD amounted to 3.84 ± 1.00 mm with significantly higher values in the GBR group (3.98 ± 1.08 mm vs. 3.45 ± 0.60 mm; p = 0.016). Nineteen implants (30.1%) were diagnosed with peri‐implant health while 44 (69.9%) presented with peri‐implant mucositis.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this study, favorable clinical and radiographic conditions were recorded around hydrophilic implants with a low surface roughness flange placed in pristine and augmented bone after 10 years in function.
Effects of snake fungal disease (ophidiomycosis) on the skin microbiome across two major experimental scales
Authors: Romer Alexander S. , Grisnik Matthew , Dallas Jason W. , Sutton William , Murray Christopher M. , Hardman Rebecca H. , Blanchard Tom , Hanscom Ryan J. , Clark Rulon W. , Godwin Cody , Alexander N. Reed , Moe Kylie C. , Cobb Vincent A. , Eaker Jesse , Colvin Rob , Thames Dustin , Ogle Chris , Campbell Josh , Frost Carlin , Brubaker Rachel L. , Snyder Shawn D. , Rurik Alexander J. , Cummins Chloe E. , Ludwig David W. , Phillips Joshua L. , Walker Donald M.
Published: November 2024

Emerging infectious diseases are increasingly recognized as a significant threat to global biodiversity conservation. Elucidating the relationship between pathogens and the host microbiome could lead to novel approaches for mitigating disease impacts. Pathogens can alter the host microbiome by inducing dysbiosis, an ecological state characterized by a reduction in bacterial alpha diversity, an increase in pathobionts, or a shift in beta diversity. We used the snake fungal disease (SFD; ophidiomycosis), system to examine how an emerging pathogen may induce dysbiosis across two experimental scales. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction, bacterial amplicon sequencing, and a deep learning neural network to characterize the skin microbiome of free‐ranging snakes across a broad phylogenetic and spatial extent. Habitat suitability models were used to find variables associated with fungal presence on the landscape. We also conducted a laboratory study of northern watersnakes to examine temporal changes in the skin microbiome following inoculation with Ophidiomyces ophidiicola. Patterns characteristic of dysbiosis were found at both scales, as were nonlinear changes in alpha and alterations in beta diversity, although structural‐level and dispersion changes differed between field and laboratory contexts. The neural network was far more accurate (99.8% positive predictive value [PPV]) in predicting disease state than other analytic techniques (36.4% PPV). The genus Pseudomonas was characteristic of disease‐negative microbiomes, whereas, positive snakes were characterized by the pathobionts Chryseobacterium, Paracoccus, and Sphingobacterium. Geographic regions suitable for O. ophidiicola had high pathogen loads (>0.66 maximum sensitivity + specificity). We found that pathogen‐induced dysbiosis of the microbiome followed predictable trends, that disease state could be classified with neural network analyses, and that habitat suitability models predicted habitat for the SFD pathogen.
Increased cardiovascular risk in people with LADA in comparison to type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes: Findings from the DPV registry in Germany and Austria
Authors: Golomb Rosa C. , Tittel Sascha R. , Welters Alena , Karges Wolfram , Meyhöfer Svenja , Hummel Michael , Mader Julia K. , Kämmer Jörg‐C , Schloot Nanette C. , Holl Reinhard W.
Published: November 2024

Introduction

We aimed to characterise and compare individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D), latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), in a real‐world setting.

Methods

Anthropometric and clinical data from 36 959 people with diabetes diagnosed at age 30–70 years enrolled in the prospective diabetes patients follow‐up (DPV) registry from 1995 to 2022 were analysed cross‐sectionally at diagnosis and follow‐up (≥6 months after diagnosis). LADA was defined as clinical diagnosis of T2D, positivity of ≥1 islet autoantibody and an insulin‐free interval of ≥6 months upon diabetes diagnosis.

Results

At diagnosis, age, body mass index, waist circumference, C‐peptide and HbA1c in people with LADA (n = 747) fell in between individuals with T1D (n = 940) and T2D (n = 35 272) (all p‐values < 0.01). At follow‐up, after adjusting for age, sex and diabetes duration, the prevalence of dyslipidemia and hypertension was the highest in people with LADA (90.6%, 77.7%) compared to people with T2D (81.8%, 60.4%) and T1D (75.7%, 39.7%) (p < 0.01). The prevalence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) was higher in LADA (44.2%), than in T1D (19.9%) (p < 0.01). The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was higher in individuals with LADA (55.1%) than in T2D (43.9%) and T1D (42.1%) (p < 0.05). Coverage of treatment for hypertension and dyslipidemia were 22.4% and 15.0% in T1D, 63.0% and 36.6% in LADA and 29.4% and 18.2% in T2D.

Conclusion

People with LADA had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension) and cardiovascular complications (DKD and peripheral neuropathy), suggesting that people with LADA are at need for improved recognition and care.
Morphology and Function Assessment of Left Atrial Appendage in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Liu Ruizhong , Li Ying
Published: November 2024

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is among the most prevalent forms of clinically significant arrhythmia, and stroke incidence is among the most serious AF‐related complications, causing high rates of morbidity and mortality among affected patients. The European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend a thromboembolic event risk assessment based on the CHA2DS2‐VASC score. However, stroke also occurs in some patients with a low CHA2DS2‐VASC score. Therefore, it is necessary to improve thromboembolic risk stratification in AF patients. The left atrial appendage (LAA) is considered to be the most frequent site of thrombus formation. Approximately 47% of thrombi in valvular AF and 91% of thrombi in nonvalvular AF are localized in the LAA. Therefore, identification or exclusion of LAA thrombi is critical in many clinical situations. It is essential to assess LAA morphology and function using imaging modalities (particularly echocardiography) before, during, and after interventional procedures such as AF ablation and LAA occlusion. This review article describes the anatomical, physiological, and LAA assessment in daily practice.