bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Between the lines: linking carbon management to carbon accounting actions in the pursuit of corporate decarbonization
Authors: Johnson Matthew Phillip , Strobel Jakob , Trencher Gregory 
Published: December 2024

PurposeTo achieve net-zero by mid-century consistent with the Paris Agreement, companies must urgently formulate and implement decarbonization actions. While previous research has categorized numerous carbon management and carbon accounting actions, these domains have often been studied in isolation. We classify carbon management actions into four categories (inaction, ineffective, supportive and effective) and connect them to carbon accounting actions in a subsequent step, revealing four archetypical patterns of corporate decarbonization responses. The primary aim of this empirical study is to comprehensively assess how companies implement carbon management and carbon accounting actions in parallel and build an understanding of the various factors affecting each other, and how these domains affect carbon performance altogether.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a maximum diverse sampling approach to assess carbon management actions in 22 international companies and link them to carbon accounting actions. Data sources included interviews with sustainability managers, field notes from a joint meeting and sustainability reports. The heterogeneous sample aimed for maximum diversity, covering various sectors and headquarters locations, yet all companies have communicated a commitment to reducing carbon emissions. A qualitative content analysis was used to find connections between carbon management actions and carbon accounting actions, resulting in four archetypical patterns.FindingsThe study identifies a range of carbon management actions, from inaction to effective action, and corresponding carbon accounting actions for monitoring, disclosure, and internal information use. Effective carbon management actions correlate with comprehensive carbon accounting actions, while ineffective management shows limited use of these actions. Based on these findings, we examine links between carbon management and carbon accounting and identify four archetypical patterns of corporate decarbonization responses.Originality/valueThis study examines the interconnectedness of carbon management and carbon accounting, identifying archetypical patterns that explain their effectiveness in reducing corporate carbon emissions. It provides a framework for analyzing companies’ carbon management and highlights the essential role of carbon accounting in monitoring, disclosing and internal data use. Said framework and conclusions can guide future research and management.
Predicting wholesale edible oil prices through Gaussian process regressions tuned with Bayesian optimization and cross-validation
Authors: Jin Bingzi , Xu Xiaojie 
Published: December 2024

PurposeDeveloping price forecasts for various agricultural commodities has long been a significant undertaking for a variety of agricultural market players. The weekly wholesale price of edible oil in the Chinese market over a ten-year period, from January 1, 2010 to January 3, 2020, is the forecasting issue we explore.Design/methodology/approachUsing Bayesian optimisations and cross-validation, we study Gaussian process (GP) regressions for our forecasting needs.FindingsThe produced models delivered precise price predictions for the one-year period between January 4, 2019 and January 3, 2020, with an out-of-sample relative root mean square error of 5.0812%, a root mean square error (RMSEA) of 4.7324 and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.9382.Originality/valueThe projection’s output may be utilised as stand-alone technical predictions or in combination with other projections for policy research that involves making assessment.
English education in a globalized world: uncovering new themes and research gaps for the 21st century
Authors: Oweis Thelal 
Published: December 2024

Purpose
This study aims to explore the intersection of English and education through a systematic review of academic literature. It focuses on identifying key research themes and future research areas, particularly in sustainable teaching and learning practices within the field of English education.

Design/methodology/approach
This study analyzed 84 papers published between May 2000 and May 2024 using a bibliometric approach. Keyword co-occurrence analysis was used to identify clusters of research themes. These clusters helped in categorizing research areas and provided a systematic overview of the current literature in English education.

Findings
This study identified four distinct research clusters that represent core themes in English education research. These themes informed the development of a research agenda focusing on areas that require further exploration, particularly in sustainable teaching and learning practices. This study also examined the theoretical and practical implications of these themes.

Practical implications
The findings provide educators and policymakers with a framework to prioritize research efforts, allocate resources and develop strategies to enhance sustainable teaching and learning practices in English education.

Social implications
By emphasizing the importance of sustainability in teaching and learning, this study promotes educational practices that contribute to long-term improvements in both student outcomes and teacher development. It identifies opportunities for sustainable growth in English education that benefit diverse learners.

Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to apply a bibliometric approach to systematically review the intersection of English and education. By identifying core research clusters and creating a research agenda, this study contributes new insights into sustainable practices in English education.
Does national intellectual capital matter for productivity? International evidence
Authors: Tran Ngoc Phu , Huynh Quoc Vu , Vo Duc Hong 
Published: December 2024

PurposeIn the context of the contemporary globalized environment and the rapid progression of Industry 4.0, the existing literature suggests that national intellectual capital does play a significant role in shaping diverse economic metrics. However, the connection between national intellectual capital and total factor productivity (TFP) has been largely overlooked. This paper examines the effect of national intellectual capital on productivity across 84 countries, encompassing diverse income levels, human development index (HDI) levels and continents.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilizes dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), two-stage least squares (2SLS), generalized method of moments (GMM) and pooled mean group (PMG) estimation techniques on a sample of 84 economies from 2000 to 2019.FindingsThe results reveal a significant effect of national intellectual capital on productivity. Countries with robust intellectual capital exhibit enhanced productivity and, by extension, sustainable economic growth. The findings are nuanced, illustrating varied impacts across low, middle and high-income countries and offering insights into tailored strategies for each income group. Nations with lower HDI levels derive significant benefits from investments in intellectual capital, whereas higher HDI countries experience lower returns in productivity gains from additional intellectual capital investments. Interestingly, Latin America exhibits a paradoxical negative effect of national intellectual capital on TFP.Practical implicationsThis paper makes a significant contribution to the literature by extending the discourse on intellectual capital to the national level, an area that has been relatively underexplored. The comparative analysis across income groups, human development index levels and continents enriches the understanding of the multifaceted impacts of intellectual capital on productivity. These insights are valuable for policymakers, researchers and international development agencies, providing a comprehensive perspective on how intellectual capital influences productivity in diverse economic and developmental contexts.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first empirical study to investigate the impact of national intellectual capital on productivity across 84 countries, considering diverse income levels, HDI levels and continents.
Banks in the MENA region: struggling to keep their cool in a hot climate
Authors: Shah Syed Faisal , Mehmood Waqas , Albaity Mohamed 
Published: December 2024

PurposeThis study examines the impact of climate change vulnerability, fintech and investor sentiment on bank performance in the MENA region.Design/methodology/approachThe two-step Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator was employed to investigate 166 listed banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, covering the last decade.FindingsThe study revealed mixed findings about climate change vulnerability. The study identified that factors such as capacity, habitat, infrastructure, sensitivity and vulnerability had a beneficial impact on the banks' buy and hold stock returns in the MENA area. Nevertheless, it was demonstrated that exposure, ecosystems, food, health, and vulnerability had an inverse impact on these returns. Remarkably, the fintech index negatively affects the long-term stock performance of banks in the MENA region.Research limitations/implicationsPolicymakers should focus on enhancing infrastructure and boosting banks’ capacity to manage and adapt to climate-related risks.Originality/valueThe novelty of this study is that it explored the impacts of climate change vulnerability, fintech and investor sentiment on banks’ buy-and-hold stock returns in the MENA region. Notably, this research employs a unique model that has not been previously examined.
Lactic acid bacteria: A sustainable solution against phytopathogenic agents
Authors: Saragoça Andreia , Canha Henrique , Varanda Carla M. R. , Materatski Patrick , Cordeiro Ana Isabel , Gama José 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBiological control agents (BCAs) are beneficial living organisms used in plant protection to control pathogens sustainably. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have gained attention in biopesticides due to their safety as recognized by the Food and Drug Administration. These bacteria possess antifungal properties, demonstrating inhibitory effects through nutrient competition or the production of antimicrobial metabolites. Numerous Lactobacillus species have shown the ability to inhibit pathogenic microorganisms, primarily through acid production. The organic acids secreted by LAB reduce the pH of the medium, creating a hostile environment for microorganisms. These organic acids are a primary inhibition mechanism of LAB. This article reviews several studies on LAB as BCAs, focusing on their inhibition modes. Additionally, it discusses the limitations and future challenges of using LAB to control phytopathogens for sustainable agriculture.
Young adult impaired driving behaviors and perceived norms of driving under the influence of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use
Authors: Hultgren Brittney A. , Delawalla Miranda L. M. , Szydlowski Victoria , Guttmannova Katarina , Cadigan Jennifer M. , Kilmer Jason R. , Lee Christine M. , Larimer Mary E. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundImpaired driving behaviors among young adults who are under the influence of simultaneous alcohol and marijuana/cannabis (SAM) use are associated with increased risks of motor vehicle accidents and resulting increased injury and mortality. Exploration of associations with descriptive and injunctive norms may have prevention implications.MethodsYoung adults (aged 18–25; N = 1941) in the 2019 cohort of the Washington Young Adult Health Survey comprised study participants. Associations between descriptive norms (estimates of other's frequency of driving under the influence of SAM [DUI‐SAM] and riding with a SAM impaired driver [RWI‐SAM]), injunctive norms (perceived approval or disapproval of DUI‐SAM and RWI‐SAM for young adults in their community), and past month DUI and RWI behaviors were assessed with logistic regression models, adjusting for covariates and applying post‐stratification weights.ResultsDUI‐SAM was reported by 2.7% and almost double (5.3%) reported RWI‐SAM at least once in the past month. Almost half of the participants believed the average young adults in Washington State engaged in DUI‐SAM (49.8%) and RWI‐SAM (48.7%) at least once a month in the past year (i.e., descriptive norms). The majority reported DUI‐SAM (68.8%) and RWI‐SAM (67.6%) to be totally unacceptable for young adults in their community (i.e., injunctive norms). In models adjusting for covariates including SAM use frequency and corresponding injunctive norms, descriptive norms were not associated with DUI, but were positively associated with RWI‐SAM. However, after controlling for SAM use frequency and descriptive norms, higher perceived approval (i.e., injunctive norms) was significantly associated with increased odds of all DUI and RWI behaviors.ConclusionsInjunctive norms for SAM impaired driving behaviors may be a promising intervention focus for DUI and RWI behaviors. Future research is needed to replicate these findings to determine if development and evaluation of individual and community‐based interventions focused on changing normative beliefs are warranted.
Effects of a novel GABA‐B positive allosteric modulator, ASP8062, on alcohol cue‐elicited craving and naturalistic alcohol consumption in a multisite randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Schacht Joseph P. , Ray Lara A. , Miranda Robert , Falk Daniel E. , Ryan Megan L. , Sakai Joseph T. , Miotto Karen , Chun Thomas , Scott Charles , Ransom Janet , Alsharif Nour , Ito Mototsugu , Litten Raye Z. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe γ‐aminobutyric acid‐B (GABAB) receptor is a promising target for the development of new medications to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD). The GABAB agonist baclofen has been reported to reduce alcohol consumption but is associated with some undesirable side effects, including sedation. ASP8062 is a novel compound that acts as a positive allosteric modulator at the GABAB receptor and may be more tolerable than baclofen. This proof‐of‐concept human laboratory clinical trial evaluated the safety profile of ASP8062 and tested its effects on cue‐elicited alcohol craving and alcohol use among treatment‐seeking individuals with AUD.MethodsThis double‐blind, randomized, multisite trial tested the effect of ASP8062 (25 mg once daily), relative to placebo, on alcohol cue‐elicited craving in a laboratory setting and alcohol consumption, craving, mood, sleep, cigarette smoking, and alcohol‐related consequences in the natural environment over a 6‐week treatment period. Participants were 60 individuals (26 females and 34 males) with moderate or severe AUD.ResultsASP8062, relative to placebo, was well tolerated, and there were no adverse events (AEs) that significantly differed between treatment groups. Most AEs were mild/moderate, and there were no serious AEs among individuals treated with ASP8062. However, ASP8062 did not attenuate alcohol cue‐elicited craving compared with placebo. Moreover, exploratory analyses indicated that ASP8062, relative to placebo, did not significantly affect alcohol consumption, naturalistic alcohol craving, mood, sleep, cigarette smoking, or alcohol‐related negative consequences during the 6‐week treatment period.ConclusionsAlthough ASP8062 was well tolerated with no serious AEs, the novel compound did not significantly dampen alcohol cue‐elicited craving or improve other AUD‐related outcome measures. These data indicate positive allosteric modulation of the GABAB receptor at the dose evaluated here may not blunt alcohol cue‐elicited craving, and preliminary drinking outcome data suggest it may not be an efficacious treatment strategy for AUD.
Invasion of the four kingdoms: the parasite journey across plant and non‐plant hosts
Authors: Perlin Michael H. , Poulin Robert , de Bekker Charissa 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTParasites have a rich and long natural history among biological entities, and it has been suggested that parasites are one of the most significant factors in the evolution of their hosts. However, it has been emphasized less frequently how co‐evolution has undoubtedly also shaped the paths of parasites. It may seem safe to assume that specific differences among the array of potential hosts for particular parasites have restricted and diversified their evolutionary pathways and strategies for survival. Nevertheless, if one looks closely enough at host and parasite, one finds commonalities, both in terms of host defences and parasite strategies to out‐manoeuvre them. While such analyses have been the source of numerous reviews, they are generally limited to interactions between, at most, one kingdom of parasite with two kingdoms of host (e.g. similarities in animal and plant host responses against fungi). With the aim of extending this view, we herein critically evaluate the similarities and differences across all four eukaryotic host kingdoms (plants, animals, fungi, and protists) and their parasites. In doing so, we show that hosts tend to share common strategies for defence, including both physical and behavioural barriers, and highly evolved immune responses, in particular innate immunity. Parasites have, similarly, evolved convergent strategies to counter these defences, including mechanisms of active penetration, and evading the host's innate and/or adaptive immune responses. Moreover, just as hosts have evolved behaviours to avoid parasites, many parasites have adaptations to manipulate host phenotype, physiologically, reproductively, and in terms of behaviour. Many of these strategies overlap in the host and parasite, even across wide phylogenetic expanses. That said, specific differences in host physiology and immune responses often necessitate different adaptations for parasites exploiting fundamentally different hosts. Taken together, this review facilitates hypothesis‐driven investigations of parasite–host interactions that transcend the traditional kingdom‐based research fields.
A Novel Homozygous Synonymous Variant in CCDC134 as a Cause of Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type XXII
Authors: Ning Haiping , Liang Cuili , Mei Huifen , Yuan Dejian , Wei Xiaobao , Huang Xiao , Tan Dongdong , Tan Jianqiang 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTOsteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a heterogeneous group of rare, inherited connective tissue disorders. It includes over 20 defined subtypes, each of which is associated with distinct causative genes that are listed in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database. Type XXII OI (OI 22) is caused by a homozygous variant in the coiled‐coil domain containing 134 (CCDC134) gene, which is located on chromosome 22q13. OI, which is associated with CCDC134, is extremely rare with only five cases reported worldwide. All known cases involve the c.2 T > C (p. Met1Thr) homozygous missense variant in the CCDC134 gene. We present the case of a 13‐year‐old Chinese girl with non‐union fracture, short stature and specific radiographic findings, which include scoliosis, pelvic tilt, thin clavicles, ribs, and limbs. Whole exome sequencing revealed a novel, homozygous c.492G > C (p. Leu164=) variation in the CCDC134 gene. RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) analysis identified this variant as an abnormal splicing variant that causes the deletion of Exon 5, which result in the observed disease phenotype. This case demonstrates the clinical phenotype of OI 22 associated with the c.492G > C (p. Leu164=) novel synonymous variation in the coding region of the CCDC134 gene in a female patient. This is the first reported case of OI 22 in the Chinese population, the sixth reported worldwide and the fourth reported genotype for diseases associated with a CCDC134 variant. It also enriches the global clinical phenotype spectrum of OI 22 patients.
Effect of carrot intake on glucose tolerance, microbiota, and gene expression in a type 2 diabetes mouse model
Authors: Kobaek‐Larsen Morten , Maschek Sina , Kolstrup Stefanie Hansborg , Højlund Kurt , Nielsen Dennis Sandris , Hansen Axel Kornerup , Christensen Lars Porskjær 
Published: December 2024

AbstractType 2 diabetes (T2D) pathophysiology involves insulin resistance (IR) and inadequate insulin secretion. Current T2D management includes dietary adjustments and/or oral medications such as thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Carrots have shown to contain bioactive acetylenic oxylipins that are partial agonists of the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (Pparg) that mimic the antidiabetic effect of TZDs without any adverse effects. TZDs exert hypoglycemic effects through activation of Pparg and through the regulation of the gut microbiota (GM) producing short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which impact glucose and energy homeostasis, promote intestinal gluconeogenesis, and influence insulin signaling pathways. This study investigated the metabolic effects of carrot intake in a T2D mouse model, elucidating underlying mechanisms. Mice were fed a low‐fat diet (LFD), high‐fat diet (HFD), or adjusted HFD supplemented with 10% carrot powder for 16 weeks. Oral glucose tolerance tests were conducted at weeks 0 and 16. Fecal, cecum, and colon samples, as well as tissue samples, were collected at week 16 during the autopsy. Results showed improved oral glucose tolerance in the HFD carrot group compared to HFD alone after 16 weeks. GM analysis demonstrated increased diversity and compositional changes in the cecum of mice fed HFD with carrot relative to HFD. These findings suggest the potential effect of carrots in T2D management, possibly through modulation of GM. Gene expression analysis revealed no significant alterations in adipose or muscle tissue between diet groups. Further research into carrot‐derived bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action is warranted for developing effective dietary strategies against T2D.
A Geostatistical Approach to Estimate South Atlantic Swordfish Abundance From Commercial Catch Data
Authors: Rodrigues Silvaneide Luzinete , Andrade Humber Agrelli 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTWe estimated relative abundance of South Atlantic Swordfish (Xiphias gladius), a highly migratory marine species, from commercial fishing data using a three‐step analysis protocol. First, we modeled catch rate based on variables affecting the catch rate to rule out effects of catchability‐related factors. Next, we analyzed residuals to identify autocorrelation. Last, we used an area‐weighed recursive algorithm that considered spatial autocorrelation for each year within the analysis period. Commercial South Atlantic swordfish catch data from the Brazilian pelagic longline fleet were analyzed. Swordfish accounted for the highest spatial dependence in distance in 2005 (456 km), 2008 (111 km), 2012 (80 km), and 2014 (443 km), as well as for the lowest in 2011 and 2013 (average = 15.45 km). A downward trend in swordfish abundance between 2010 and 2017 was detected several years earlier than conventional standardized indices, so our proposed index is an alternative, and potentially more accurate, index of swordfish population dynamics in the South Atlantic. Our findings highlight the need to integrate multiple approaches into assessments of the abundance of marine species.