bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical utility of the 4S-AF scheme in predicting recurrence of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency catheter ablation
Authors: Cui Naiyuan , Li Haiwei , Sun Weiping , Wang Zefeng , Yuan Zhongyu , Zhu Botao , Liu Yutong , Liu Huanfu , Wu Yongquan , Zhang Xiaoping 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe 4S-AF scheme, consisting of four domains related to atrial fibrillation (AF) [stroke risk (St), symptoms (Sy), severity of AF burden (Sb), and substrate (Su)], represents a novel approach for the structural characterization of AF. We aimed to assess the clinical utility of the scheme in predicting AF recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).MethodsWe prospectively enrolled 345 consecutive patients with AF who underwent initial RFCA between January 2019 and December 2019. The 4S-AF scheme score was calculated and used to characterize AF. The primary outcome assessed was AF recurrence after RFCA, defined as any documented atrial tachyarrhythmia episode lasting at least 30 seconds.ResultsOf 345 patients [age 61 (IQR: 53-68) years, 34.2% female, 70.7% paroxysmal AF] were analyzed. The median duration of AF history was 12 (IQR: 3-36) months, and the median number of comorbidities was 2 (IQR: 1-3), and 157 (45.5%) patients had left atrial enlargement. During a median follow-up period of 28 (IQR: 13-37) months, AF recurrence occurred in 34.4% of patients. Both 4S-AF scheme score (HR 1.38, 95% CI: 1.19–1.59, P<0.001) and 2S-AF scheme by eliminating the Sy and St domains (HR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.33–1.89, P<0.001) were independent predictors of AF recurrence after RFCA. For each domain, we found that the independent predictors were Sb (HR 1.84, 95% CI: 1.25–2.72, P=0.002) and Su (HR 1.71, 95% CI: 1.36–2.14, P<0.001). Furthermore, 4S-AF scheme score (AUC 65.2%, 95% CI: 59.3–71.1) and 2S-AF scheme score (AUC 66.2%, 95% CI: 60.2–had a modest ability to predict AF recurrence after RFCA.ConclusionsThe novel 4S-AF scheme is feasible for evaluating and characterizing AF patients who undergo RFCA and aids us in identifying patients with a high risk of AF recurrence after RFCA.CLINICAL PERSPECTIVEWhat Is New?The 4S-AF scheme can be used to characterize and assess patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who will undergo radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).A higher 4S-AF scheme score and 2S-AF scheme score modified by eliminating the Sy and St domains of the 4S-AF scheme score were significantly associated with an elevated atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence rate after RFCA.Severity of AF burden (Sb) and substrate (Su) domain scores were independently associated with AF recurrence outcomes after RFCA.4S-AF scheme score and 2S-AF scheme score had modest predictive capability for AF recurrence.What Are the Clinical Implications?AF is a common cardiac arrhythmia and recurrence rates of AF after RFCA are substantial.Using the 4S-AF scheme to characterize AF may aid in identifying high-risk patients who need to receive RFCA in terms of AF recurrence.Compared to existing risk stratification methods, such as HATCH and CHA2DS2-VASc score, 4S-AF scheme score and 2S-AF scheme score had better clinical predictive capability of AF recurrence.
Bird brains fit the bill: morphological diversification and the evolution of avian brain size
Authors: Song Zitan , Drobniak Szymon M , Liu Yang , van Schaik Carel P , Griesser Michael 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBrain size varies greatly across and even within lineages. Attempts to explain this variation have mostly focused on the role of specific cognitive demands in the social or ecological domain. However, their predictive power is modest, whereas the effects of additional functions, especially sensory information processing and motor control, on brain size remain underexplored. Here, using phylogenetic comparative models, we show that the socio-cognitive and eco-cognitive demands do not have direct links to relative brain size (that is the residual from a regression against body mass) once morphological features are taken into account. Thus, specific cognitive abilities linked to social life or ecology play a much smaller role in brain size evolution than generally assumed. Instead, parental provisioning, generation length, and especially eye size and beak and leg morphology have a strong direct link to relative brain size. Phylogenetic lability analyses suggest that morphological diversification preceded changes in the rate of brain size evolution and greater visual input, and thus that morphological diversification opened up specialized niches where efficient foraging could produce energy surpluses. Increases in brain size provided general behavioural flexibility, which improved survival by reducing interspecific competition and predation, and was made possible by intense parental provisioning. Indeed, comparative analyses in a subset of species show that thicker beaks are associated with larger size of brain regions involved in behavioural flexibility (telencephalon, pallium). Thus, morphological evolution had a key role in niche diversification, which subsequently may have facilitated the evolution of general cognitive flexibility.
The role of communications on the relationship between feelings for and intention to visit a country with ongoing conflicts
Authors: Campo Sara , Fuchs Galia , Álvarez Maria D. 
Published: July 2024

Purpose
This study aims to investigate how feelings for a country influence visitation to conflict-ridden destinations. It also examines the moderating effect of communications – news about terror or pictures of the place’s attractions – and whether the pictures counteract the damaging news.

Design/methodology/approach
This study examines the influence that feelings for a country have on visitation intentions, via the destination’s perceived risk and overall image. Furthermore, an experimental design is used to test the moderating influence of two communications stimuli. The sample consists of 309 individuals from the USA who were randomly exposed to various stimuli.

Findings
The findings confirm that feelings for the country shape risk perceptions, overall destination image and visitation intentions. Communications moderate the influence of these emotions. In addition, pictures of the destination’s attractions mitigate the adverse effect of negative news.

Research limitations/implications
The investigation focuses on Turkey, a popular tourist destination, despite being subject to biases due to its geopolitical situation and ongoing armed conflict. The findings suggest that conflict-ridden destination managers should understand and use emotions, distinguishing between country and destination, while emphasizing the place’s attractions with visual communications to counter negative country reports.

Originality/value
This research contributes a comprehensive model that explains the impact that feelings for a country have on visitation decisions, highlighting the mediating role of risk perceptions and destination image. Furthermore, the study underlines the moderating role of communications, both positive and negative, that shape the effect of the emotions on the studied variables.
Medical tourist perceptions of hospitality across cultures
Authors: Ghaderi Zahed , King Brian Edward Melville , Makian Sarasadat 
Published: July 2024

Purpose
This study aims to explore how the treatment, well-being and satisfaction of health tourists are affected by what is characterized as the hospitality culture of health care.

Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative research design focusing on in-depth semi-structured interviews was conducted with 28 Omani health tourists who visited Iran and received health-care services. Data were analyzed thematically using ATLAS.ti software.

Findings
The results revealed that a caring health professional is essential for patient healing and well-being. Cultural congruence is enhanced through effective communication between patients and health-care service providers. Additionally, a hospitality-certified workforce is essential for customer satisfaction and overall well-being. Finally, a hospitality-style approach and home-like atmosphere improve patient rehabilitation and performance.

Research limitations/implications
The study’s exclusive focus on Omani health tourists necessitates caution in generalizing findings. Future research could encompass more diverse populations and inclusive samples to broaden applicability.

Practical implications
The study highlights the key role of hospitality culture in the health-care sector, emphasizing the significance of building a culturally sensitive and hospitable environment to improve patient satisfaction and overall well-being. This includes the creation of welcoming environments and customized health-care experiences congruent with patients’ cultural values and beliefs.

Originality/value
The study emphasizes the crucial role of hospitality culture in health tourism and the potential to create a culture of care and respect in health-care settings, addressing patients’ holistic needs beyond physical amenities and enriching the patient experience. It also applies Leininger’s Culture Care Theory to hospitality, providing a novel viewpoint on culturally congruent, safe and meaningful care for health tourists.
Inclusive innovations in services: leveraging digital technologies for inclusive innovations in healthcare services
Authors: Varadarajan Rajan 
Published: July 2024

Purpose
This paper aims to provide insights into the potential of digital technologies-based innovations for more inclusive healthcare by alleviating the affordability, accessibility and availability barriers to utilization of healthcare services. Also, it aims to provide insights into the potential of digital technologies-based innovations for more inclusive services, broadly.

Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual framework is inductively developed by analyzing real-world examples of digital technologies-based innovations for more inclusive healthcare through the lenses of economics of information in digital form and certain characteristics of services.

Findings
Concurrent implementation of digital technologies-based healthcare innovations with innovations and/or modifications in service processes can enable greater inclusivity by alleviating the affordability, accessibility and availability barriers to utilization of healthcare services.

Research limitations/implications
Issues relating to inequities in healthcare, as a social problem, are the focus of research at multiple levels (e.g. global, national, regional and local) in several academic disciplines. In relation to the scope of the problems and challenges pertaining to providing quality healthcare to the unserved and underserved segments of society, worldwide, the contribution of the proposed framework to practice is modest. However, by highlighting the promise and potential of digital technologies-based innovations as solutions for alleviating barriers to affordability, accessibility and availability of healthcare services during various stages (prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment follow-up) with illustrative vignettes and developing a framework, the article offers insights for future research. For instance, in reference to mission-driven social enterprises that operate in the product-market space for inclusive innovations under resource constraints, a resourcefulness-based view of the social enterprise constitutes a potential avenue for theory development and research.

Practical implications
Given the conceptual nature of the article, the implications for practice are limited to cognitive implications. Action implications (instrumental implications or implications for practice) are outside of the scope of the article.

Social implications
Innovations that are economically viable, environmentally sustainable and socially impactful is one of the important issues of our times.

Originality/value
The proposed framework provides insights into the potential of digital technologies-based innovations for more inclusive healthcare by alleviating the affordability, accessibility and availability barriers in the context of emerging and less developed country markets and base of the pyramid segments of society in these markets.
Climate change and income inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): effects and transmission channels
Authors: Ewolo Bitoto Fabrice , Nchinda Mbognou Cerapis , Amougou Manga Romuald Justin 
Published: July 2024

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess the direct effect of climate change on income inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the channels through which it spreads.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 38 countries, the authors specify and estimate a panel data model using the generalized least squares method over the period 1991–2020. Robustness is achieved through the generalized moment method-system.

Findings
The results show that an increase in vulnerability to climate change is positively and significantly associated with an increase in income inequality. The results also show that the effects of climate change are mediated by gross domestic product/capita, population and agriculture at the 15%, 17% and 24% thresholds, respectively.

Research limitations/implications
The authors suggest the implementation of inclusive development policies consistent with climate mitigation and adaptation objectives; the creation of financial spaces from various sources to finance the social security of the most vulnerable; and the strengthening of agricultural resilience to climate-related adverse events, including financing for greenhouse agriculture.

Originality/value
On the positive side, it contributes to the literature on the analysis of the direct and indirect effects (transmission channels) of climate change on income inequality in SSA. Methodologically, the study goes beyond previous work as it adopts a stepwise methodology, dealing with the endogeneity issue. At the logical level, it offers some non-exhaustive suggestions of potentially interesting economic policies to guide policymakers in their common commitment to “reduce income inequality” (Sustainable Development Goal 10, target 10.1).
Repertory grid technique and Honey’s content analysis: a methodological application to advance qualitative research in OSCM
Authors: Martins Ricardo , Siegler Janaina , Freitas Jonathan Simões , Santos Laysse Fernanda Macêdo dos , Barroso Marina Bastos Carvalhais , Macedo Roberta de Cássia 
Published: July 2024

PurposeThis paper aims to explain and demonstrate how the Repertory Grid Technique (RGT) and Honey’s Content Analysis (HCA) can make new contributions to the field of Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM). The proposition involves integrating these complementary analyses to fortify the rigor of qualitative research and establish robust data analysis protocols to identify the main attributes of interviewees regarding a phenomenon while understanding in their perspective how these attributes impact the desired analysis outcome.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses examples with rich empirical data from 40 interviewees across two organizations. The examples use a protocol that allows the grouping of meanings from different knowledgeable individuals and capturing relevant constructs related to an outcome.FindingsThe combination of RGT and HCA permits researchers to effectively identify and analyze the constructs individuals and groups utilize to comprehend the subject matter under investigation. Consequently, these techniques present a structured means to conduct grounded theory investigations and interpretive research, thereby enabling the iterative development of the preliminary conceptual models necessary for OSCM field advancement.Originality/valueWe present two examples in which the protocol is applied to the field of OSCM. These examples illustrate that the techniques provide valuable opportunities for OSCM research, particularly for addressing the limitations related to sample size. Ultimately, RGT and HCA complement quantitative methodologies by uncovering nuanced variations and micro-foundations within firm- and network-level phenomena, offering insights essential for advancing our understanding of OSCM dynamics in specific contexts.
Design and application of bidirectional soft actuator with multiangle chambers
Authors: Wen Yehao , Chen Chang , Lyu Zhengnan , Liang Yuandong , Zhang Zhongyu 
Published: July 2024

Purpose
This study aims to introduce a novel bidirectional soft actuator as an enhancement to conventional pneumatic network actuators. This improvement involves integrating air chambers positioned at specific angles to improve stability, adaptability and grasping efficiency in various environments.

Design/methodology/approach
The design approach incorporates air chambers positioned at a 45° angle relative to the horizontal direction at the actuator's terminus, along with additional chambers at a 90° angle. Mathematical models are developed for longitudinal and transverse bending, as well as for obliquely connected cavities, based on the assumption of piecewise constant curvature. Analyses are conducted on output forces, bending characteristics and end contact areas for both transverse and longitudinal ends.

Findings
The proposed soft actuator surpasses traditional pneumatic network actuators in gripping area due to the inclusion of a diagonal air cavity and a transverse pneumatic network structure at the terminus. As a result, it provides torsion and gripping force in both directions. Testing on a dedicated platform with two variants of grippers demonstrates superior gripping force capability and performance in complex environments.

Practical implications
Through the design of multiangle chambers, the soft actuator exhibits diverse driving angles and morphological variations, offering innovative design perspectives for industrial grasping.

Social implications
The design of multiangle chambers facilitates personalized configurations of soft actuators by researchers, enabling tailored angles for specific interaction environments to achieve desired functionalities. This approach offers novel insights into soft actuator design, addressing more prevalent industrial grasping challenges.

Originality/value
This study introduces a novel soft actuator design that significantly enhances gripping capabilities in comparison to conventional pneumatic network actuators. The incorporation of specific air chamber configurations and mathematical modeling provides valuable insights for the development of adaptable and efficient robotic grippers for industrial and household applications.
The dynamic interplay of Shariah compliance rank and financial performance: nonfinancial listed firms in Saudi Arabia as a testing ground
Authors: Boulanouar Zakaria , Grassa Rihab , Alqahtani Faisal 
Published: July 2024

Purpose
This paper aims to assess the rank of Shariah compliance (SC) and its impact on the financial performance of non-financial companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange. It seeks to understand the relationship between adherence to Shariah principles and the financial success of these companies, providing insights into the importance of SC in the Saudi Arabian context.

Design/methodology/approach
The study adopts a quantitative research approach, using financial and SC data from non-financial companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange. SC is measured using the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions standards. Financial performance is evaluated using various financial indicators, including return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and return on investments (ROI). Statistical analysis, including regression analysis, is conducted to examine the relationship between SC and financial performance.

Findings
The findings indicate a positive association between SC and financial performance in non-financial companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange. Companies with higher ranks of SC demonstrate superior financial performance, as evidenced by higher ROA, ROE and ROI. This suggests that adhering to Shariah principles can contribute to improved financial outcomes for companies operating in the Saudi Arabian market.

Practical implications
The study highlights the practical implications of maintaining SC for non-financial companies in Saudi Arabia. It emphasizes the importance of aligning business practices with Shariah principles to enhance financial performance. The findings suggest that companies can benefit from implementing Shariah-compliant strategies and practices, potentially attracting investors and improving their overall competitiveness in the market.

Social implications
The social implications of SC in the Saudi Arabian context are significant. Adhering to Shariah principles not only ensures compliance with religious and cultural norms but also promotes ethical and responsible business behaviour. Companies that prioritize SC contribute to the development of a socially responsible and sustainable business environment.

Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first investigation into the impact of SC rank on financial performance. By examining non-financial companies listed on the Saudi market, it contributes significantly to existing literature by providing empirical evidence supporting a positive correlation between SC rank and financial outcomes. The findings offer valuable insights for companies, investors and policymakers in Saudi Arabia, enhancing their understanding of the unique dynamics between SC rank and financial performance. This research enriches the body of knowledge in Islamic finance and business, making a notable contribution to the field and opening avenues for further exploration.
CSR reporting practices of Islamic and conventional banks based on ownership differences
Authors: Rouf Md. Abdur , Hossan Md. Alamgir , Kabir A.N.M. Jahangir 
Published: July 2024

Purpose
This study aims to provide a thorough knowledge of the context and degree of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting in the annual reports of Islamic and mainstream banks in Bangladesh and to investigate whether ownership and the level of CSR reporting are connected.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses the content analysis method to examine 150 annual reports from the 30 listed banking companies as its sample. The data are fitted to an ordinary least square regression model to determine the impact of independent factors on the overall CSR reporting score.

Findings
The study’s findings show that, on average, Islamic and conventional banks (ICBs) in Bangladesh disclose CSR data at rates of 46.27% and 43.44%, respectively, ranging from 14.15% to 76.32%. Furthermore, according to the study, ICBs’ public share ownership and CSR reporting showed a significant relationship. Conversely, institutional share ownership and foreign share ownership have been found to have no significant relationship with CSR reporting in conventional banks, but institutional share ownership has been found to have a significant relationship with the CSR reporting in Islamic banks.

Social implications
The research is expected to obtain the most accurate situation of Bangladeshi ICBs’ CSR reporting. To formulate regulations in this regard, governmental and other regulatory authorities can also obtain comprehensive information on CSR reporting procedures.

Originality/value
The paper contributes to the CSR works, as it presents empirical evidence of the effects of ownership distribution on the CSR reporting of ICBs in developing countries such as Bangladesh.