bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Kayak Boy: an entrepreneurial venture in a blue ocean industry
Authors: Fernandez Cledwyn , Boppolige Anand Archana 
Published: March 2024

Learning outcomes
After completion of the case study, the students will learn about the blue ocean strategies that are adopted by entrepreneurs when they are entering into a new business territory and be able to perform an industry analysis and understand the competitive advantage that a firm possesses in a new market using Porter’s five forces framework.

Case overview/synopsis
This case study is about Sushant, an entrepreneur, who started his entrepreneurial venture in water sports tourism along the coastlines of India. His core business was into offering kayaking and camping activities. However, he planned to scale up his business by expanding its geographical reach. To fulfill this, he was also planning to manufacture his own kayaks, which would increase economies of scale in the long run. This case study investigates the dilemma of whether he should first increase his service offerings before expanding geographically or focus on geographical expansion and then increase service offerings.

Complexity academic level
This case is designed to be taught at the post-graduate level (Master of Business Administration) for an entrepreneurship course.

Supplementary materials
Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code
CSS3: Entrepreneurship.
Self-leadership: a value-added strategy for human resource development
Authors: Kim Kyung Nam , Wang Jia , Williams Peter 
Published: March 2024

Purpose
In a rapidly shifting market, organizations seek more diverse and innovative employee development interventions. Yet, these initiatives may have limited impact without employees’ engagement. This conceptual paper aims to propose self-leadership as a value-added strategy for promoting both individual and organizational development.

Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a conceptual analysis with three case examples. The cases were purposefully selected, aiming to comprehend how the concept of self-leadership has been applied within organizations and to identify real-life examples where self-leadership has been adopted as an organizational strategy.

Findings
This study demonstrates that self-leadership plays a significant role in facilitating human resource development (HRD) initiatives. Specifically, the authors illustrate how self-leadership interventions in companies empower individuals to take charge of their development, aligning personal and organizational goals. When effectively applied, self-leadership strategies positively impact HRD practices in the areas of training and development, organization development and career development, yielding benefits for both employees and employers.

Originality/value
This study addresses knowledge gaps in the emerging field of self-leadership in HRD by providing three companies’ examples of how self-leadership can add value to HRD. The findings offer unique insights into the synergy between self-leadership and HRD, benefiting academics interested in this line of inquiry and HRD practitioners seeking innovative approaches to employee and organizational development.
Stylish virtual tour: exploring fashion’s influence on attitude and satisfaction in VR tourism
Authors: Elmashhara Maher Georges , Blazquez Marta , Julião Jorge 
Published: March 2024

Purpose
This study aims to investigate the influence of different virtual fashion styles on attitude and satisfaction within virtual reality (VR) tourism experiences. The investigation considers the mediating effect of perceived attractiveness, popularity, novelty and weirdness, as well as the moderating role of self-congruence with avatar clothing and the desire for unique products.

Design/methodology/approach
This research uses a quantitative experimental approach. Initially, a three-step pilot study (N = 201) was conducted to select avatar fashion styles for the main investigation. In the primary study, participants (N = 326) engaged with one out of four fashion style conditions to select attire for their avatars and then completed a self-administered survey. Data analysis involved paired-sample t-tests, multivariate analysis of variance and Hayes’ PROCESS Models.

Findings
The results show that presenting fantasy avatar fashion styles leads to a decrease in perceived attractiveness and popularity, while concurrently increasing perceptions of novelty and weirdness which in turn exert a negative influence on attitude and satisfaction with the virtual fitting room (VFR). However, these relationships change when considering the moderating role of self-congruence with avatar clothing and the desire for unique products.

Practical implications
VR tourism experience providers and designers can use research findings to bolster positive attitude and enhance satisfaction with VFR; an important first step that strongly affects the rest of the VR tourist journey.

Originality/value
This study contributes to tourism research by exploring the intersection of immersive technologies and virtual fashion. It emphasizes the enhancement of critical touchpoints like the VFR, moving beyond a sole focus on VR adoption, to improve the overall virtual tourist experience.
Design and implementation of an AI-controlled spraying drone for agricultural applications using advanced image preprocessing techniques
Authors: Akdoğan Cemalettin , Özer Tolga , Oğuz Yüksel 
Published: March 2024

Purpose
Nowadays, food problems are likely to arise because of the increasing global population and decreasing arable land. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the yield of agricultural products. Pesticides can be used to improve agricultural land products. This study aims to make the spraying of cherry trees more effective and efficient with the designed artificial intelligence (AI)-based agricultural unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Design/methodology/approach
Two approaches have been adopted for the AI-based detection of cherry trees: In approach 1, YOLOv5, YOLOv7 and YOLOv8 models are trained with 70, 100 and 150 epochs. In Approach 2, a new method is proposed to improve the performance metrics obtained in Approach 1. Gaussian, wavelet transform (WT) and Histogram Equalization (HE) preprocessing techniques were applied to the generated data set in Approach 2. The best-performing models in Approach 1 and Approach 2 were used in the real-time test application with the developed agricultural UAV.

Findings
In Approach 1, the best F1 score was 98% in 100 epochs with the YOLOv5s model. In Approach 2, the best F1 score and mAP values were obtained as 98.6% and 98.9% in 150 epochs, with the YOLOv5m model with an improvement of 0.6% in the F1 score. In real-time tests, the AI-based spraying drone system detected and sprayed cherry trees with an accuracy of 66% in Approach 1 and 77% in Approach 2. It was revealed that the use of pesticides could be reduced by 53% and the energy consumption of the spraying system by 47%.

Originality/value
An original data set was created by designing an agricultural drone to detect and spray cherry trees using AI. YOLOv5, YOLOv7 and YOLOv8 models were used to detect and classify cherry trees. The results of the performance metrics of the models are compared. In Approach 2, a method including HE, Gaussian and WT is proposed, and the performance metrics are improved. The effect of the proposed method in a real-time experimental application is thoroughly analyzed.
Immune interactions and heterogeneity in transmission drives the pathogen‐mediated invasion of grey squirrels in the UK
Authors: Howell E. , White A. , Lurz P. W. W. , Boots M. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Mathematical models highlighted the importance of pathogen‐mediated invasion, with the replacement of red squirrels by squirrelpox virus (SQPV) carrying grey squirrels in the UK, a well‐known example.

In this study, we combine new epidemiological models, with a range of infection characteristics, with recent longitudinal field and experimental studies on the SQPV dynamics in red and grey squirrel populations to better infer the mechanistic basis of the disease interaction.

A key finding is that a model with either partial immunity or waning immunity and reinfection, where individuals become seropositive on the second exposure to infection, that up to now has been shown in experimental data only, can capture the key aspects of the field study observations.

By fitting to SQPV epidemic observations in isolated red squirrel populations, we can infer that SQPV transmission between red squirrels is significantly (4×) higher than the transmission between grey squirrels and as a result our model shows that disease‐mediated replacement of red squirrels by greys is considerably more rapid than replacement in the absence of SQPV.

Our findings recover the key results of the previous model studies, which highlights the value of simple strategic models that are appropriate when there are limited data, but also emphasise the likely complexity of immune interactions in wildlife disease and how models can help infer disease processes from field data.
A cohort profile of children and adolescents who had a suicide‐related contact with police or paramedics in Queensland (Australia)
Authors: Wittenhagen Lisa , Hielscher Emily , Meurk Carla S , Scott James G , Steele Megan L , Bosley Emma , Watson Shelby , Heffernan Ed 
Published: March 2024

AbstractObjectiveSuicide is a leading cause of death in children and adolescents worldwide and a major public health concern. While suicidal behaviours place a significant demand on mental health and emergency services, data regarding suicide‐related contacts with police and paramedics are an underutilised resource. The aim of the present study was to identify the demographic profile of young individuals (aged 5–17) and had a suicide‐related contact with police or paramedics in Queensland (Australia).MethodsThe present study utilised a population‐wide linked dataset, including data from police and paramedics and health administrative data, between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2018.ResultsThe identified cohort of 7929 children had a median age of 15 years and mainly comprised females (63.2%). Over the study period, 64 children died, most by suicide (76.6%). Less than a third of the cohort were responsible for almost two‐thirds of the total number of contacts with police or paramedics.ConclusionFindings provide a comprehensive profile of children and adolescents in suicidal crisis and highlight the substantial number of interactions that occur with police and paramedics. Due to the way the linked dataset was constructed, it must be assumed that the number of young persons in suicidal crisis is higher. Findings highlight the value of considering pre‐hospital alternatives to presenting to emergency departments (EDs) for this cohort, to reduce impost on EDs and improve outcomes. Further examination of re‐presentations by young persons is warranted to inform prevention and intervention strategies.
Using kin discrimination to construct synthetic microbial communities of Bacillus subtilis strains impacts the growth of black soldier fly larvae
Authors: Zhao Jun‐Hui , Cheng Ping , Wang Yi , Yan Xun , Xu Zhi‐Min , Peng Dong‐Hai , Yu Guo‐Hui , Shao Ming‐Wei 
Published: March 2024

AbstractUsing synthetic microbial communities to promote host growth is an effective approach. However, the construction of such communities lacks theoretical guidance. Kin discrimination is an effective means by which strains can recognize themselves from non‐self, and construct competitive microbial communities to produce more secondary metabolites. However, the construction of cooperative communities benefits from the widespread use of beneficial microorganisms. We used kin discrimination to construct synthetic communities (SCs) comprising 13 Bacillus subtilis strains from the surface and gut of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae. We assessed larval growth promotion in a pigeon manure system and found that the synthetic community comprising 4 strains (SC 4) had the most profound effect. Genomic analyses of these 4 strains revealed that their complementary functional genes underpinned the robust functionality of the cooperative synthetic community, highlighting the importance of strain diversity. After analyzing the bacterial composition of BSF larvae and the pigeon manure substrate, we observed that SC 4 altered the bacterial abundance in both the larval gut and pigeon manure. This also influenced microbial metabolic functions and co‐occurrence network complexity. Kin discrimination facilitates the rapid construction of synthetic communities. The positive effects of SC 4 on larval weight gain resulted from the functional redundancy and complementarity among the strains. Furthermore, SC 4 may enhance larval growth by inducing shifts in the bacterial composition of the larval gut and pigeon manure. This elucidated how the SC promoted larval growth by regulating bacterial composition and provided theoretical guidance for the construction of SCs.
Enhanced chaotrope tolerance and (S)‐2‐hydroxypropiophenone production by recombinant Pseudomonas putida engineered with Pprl from Deinococcus radiodurans
Authors: Kordesedehi Reihaneh , Shahpiri Azar , Asadollahi Mohammad Ali , Biria Davoud , Nikel Pablo Iván 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPseudomonas putida is a soil bacterium with multiple uses in fermentation and biotransformation processes. P. putida ATCC 12633 can biotransform benzaldehyde and other aldehydes into valuable α‐hydroxyketones, such as (S)‐2‐hydroxypropiophenone. However, poor tolerance of this strain toward chaotropic aldehydes hampers efficient biotransformation processes. To circumvent this problem, we expressed the gene encoding the global regulator PprI from Deinococcus radiodurans, an inducer of pleiotropic proteins promoting DNA repair, in P. putida. Fine‐tuned gene expression was achieved using an expression plasmid under the control of the LacIQ/Ptrc system, and the cross‐protective role of PprI was assessed against multiple stress treatments. Moreover, the stress‐tolerant P. putida strain was tested for 2‐hydroxypropiophenone production using whole resting cells in the presence of relevant aldehyde substrates. P. putida cells harbouring the global transcriptional regulator exhibited high tolerance toward benzaldehyde, acetaldehyde, ethanol, butanol, NaCl, H2O2 and thermal stress, thereby reflecting the multistress protection profile conferred by PprI. Additionally, the engineered cells converted aldehydes to 2‐hydroxypropiophenone more efficiently than the parental P. putida strain. 2‐Hydroxypropiophenone concentration reached 1.6 g L−1 upon a 3‐h incubation under optimized conditions, at a cell concentration of 0.033 g wet cell weight mL−1 in the presence of 20 mM benzaldehyde and 600 mM acetaldehyde. Product yield and productivity were 0.74 g 2‐HPP g−1 benzaldehyde and 0.089 g 2‐HPP g cell dry weight−1 h−1, respectively, 35% higher than the control experiments. Taken together, these results demonstrate that introducing PprI from D. radiodurans enhances chaotrope tolerance and 2‐HPP production in P. putida ATCC 12633.
Meta‐analysis: Incidence of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with Fontan palliation
Authors: Hitawala Asif A. , Gopalakrishna Harish , Mironova Maria , Livinski Alicia A. , Wright Elizabeth C. , Downing Tacy , Ito Seiji , Fisher Stacy D. , Cedars Ari M. , John Anitha S. , Heller Theo 
Published: March 2024

SummaryBackground and AimsThe Fontan palliation is the final stage of surgery for many children born with univentricular physiology. Almost all Fontan patients develop liver fibrosis which may eventually lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These are important causes of morbidity and mortality in these patients. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess the incidence of cirrhosis and HCC in Fontan patients and stratify it based on time since surgery.MethodsA literature search of seven databases identified 1158 records. Studies reporting the number of cirrhosis and HCC cases in Fontan patients and time since Fontan surgery were included. In the cirrhosis cohort, we included only those studies where all patients underwent liver biopsy.ResultsA total of 23 studies were included: 12 and 13 studies in the cirrhosis and HCC cohorts, respectively, with two studies included in both cohorts. The incidence of cirrhosis was 0.97 per 100 patient‐years (95% CI 0.57–1.63), with the incidence and cumulative incidence ≥20 years post Fontan surgery being 1.61 per 100 patient‐years (95% CI 1.24–2.08) and 32.2% (95% CI 25.8%–39.4%), respectively. The incidence of HCC was 0.12 per 100 patient‐years (95% CI 0.07–0.21), with the incidence and cumulative incidence ≥20 years post Fontan surgery being 0.20 per 100 patient‐years (95% CI 0.12–0.35) and 3.9% (95% CI 2.2%–6.8%), respectively. Only about 70% of patients with HCC (20/28) had underlying cirrhosis.ConclusionThe incidence of cirrhosis and HCC increases over time, especially at ≥20 years post Fontan surgery. Studies are needed to further identify at‐risk patients in order to streamline surveillance for these highly morbid conditions.
Poor accuracy and sustainability of the first‐step FIB4 EASL pathway for stratifying steatotic liver disease risk in the general population
Authors: De Vincentis Antonio , Tavaglione Federica , Namba Shinichi , Kanai Masahiro , Okada Yukinori , Kamatani Yoichiro , Maurotti Samantha , Pedone Claudio , Antonelli Incalzi Raffaele , Valenti Luca , Romeo Stefano , Vespasiani‐Gentilucci Umberto 
Published: March 2024

SummaryBackground and AimsThe European Association for the Study of the Liver introduced a clinical pathway (EASL CP) for screening significant/advanced fibrosis in people at risk of steatotic liver disease (SLD). We assessed the performance of the first‐step FIB4 EASL CP in the general population across different SLD risk groups (MASLD, Met‐ALD and ALD) and various age classes.MethodsWe analysed a total of 3372 individuals at risk of SLD from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES17‐18), projected to 152.3 million U.S. adults, 300,329 from the UK Biobank (UKBB) and 57,644 from the Biobank Japan (BBJ). We assessed liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥8 kPa and liver‐related events occurring within 3 and 10 years (3/10 year‐LREs) as outcomes. We defined MASLD, MetALD, and ALD according to recent international recommendations.ResultsFIB4 sensitivity for LSM ≥ 8 kPa was low (27.7%), but it ranged approximately 80%‐90% for 3‐year LREs. Using FIB4, 22%–57% of subjects across the three cohorts were identified as candidates for vibration‐controlled transient elastography (VCTE), which was mostly avoidable (positive predictive value of FIB4 ≥ 1.3 for LSM ≥ 8 kPa ranging 9.5%–13% across different SLD categories). Sensitivity for LSM ≥ 8 kPa and LREs increased with increasing alcohol intake (ALD>MetALD>MASLD) and age classes. For individuals aged ≥65 years, using the recommended age‐adjusted FIB4 cut‐off (≥2) substantially reduced sensitivity for LSM ≥ 8 kPa and LREs.ConclusionsThe first‐step FIB4 EASL CP is poorly accurate and feasible for individuals at risk of SLD in the general population. It is crucial to enhance the screening strategy with a first‐step approach able to reduce unnecessary VCTEs and optimise their yield.
Tumor suppressive role of the epigenetic master regulator BRD3 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Hashimoto Masahiro , Masuda Takaaki , Nakano Yusuke , Tobo Taro , Saito Hideyuki , Koike Kensuke , Takahashi Junichi , Abe Tadashi , Ando Yuki , Ozato Yuki , Hosoda Kiyotaka , Higuchi Satoshi , Hisamatsu Yuichi , Toshima Takeo , Yonemura Yusuke , Hata Tsuyoshi , Uemura Mamoru , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Doki Yuichiro , Mori Masaki , Mimori Koshi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family proteins are epigenetic master regulators of gene expression via recognition of acetylated histones and recruitment of transcription factors and co‐activators to chromatin. Hence, BET family proteins have emerged as promising therapeutic targets in cancer. In this study, we examined the functional role of bromodomain containing 3 (BRD3), a BET family protein, in colorectal cancer (CRC). In vitro and vivo analyses using BRD3‐knockdown or BRD3‐overexpressing CRC cells showed that BRD3 suppressed tumor growth and cell cycle G1/S transition and induced p21 expression. Clinical analysis of CRC datasets from our hospital or The Cancer Genome Atlas revealed that BET family genes, including BRD3, were overexpressed in tumor tissues. In immunohistochemical analyses, BRD3 was observed mainly in the nucleus of CRC cells. According to single‐cell RNA sequencing in untreated CRC tissues, BRD3 was highly expressed in malignant epithelial cells, and cell cycle checkpoint‐related pathways were enriched in the epithelial cells with high BRD3 expression. Spatial transcriptomic and single‐cell RNA sequencing analyses of CRC tissues showed that BRD3 expression was positively associated with high p21 expression. Furthermore, overexpression of BRD3 combined with knockdown of, a driver gene in the BRD family, showed strong inhibition of CRC cells in vitro. In conclusion, we demonstrated a novel tumor suppressive role of BRD3 that inhibits tumor growth by cell cycle inhibition in part via induction of p21 expression. BRD3 activation might be a novel therapeutic approach for CRC.
Autologous HSCT with novel agent‐based induction and consolidation followed by lenalidomide maintenance for untreated multiple myeloma
Authors: Mori Yasuo , Takizawa Jun , Katsuoka Yuna , Takezako Naoki , Nagafuji Koji , Handa Hiroshi , Kuroda Junya , Sunami Kazutaka , Kamimura Tomohiko , Ogawa Ryosuke , Kikushige Yoshikane , Harada Mine , Akashi Koichi , Miyamoto Toshihiro ,   The Japan Study Group for Cell Therapy and Transplantation
Published: March 2024

AbstractTriplet regimen comprising proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and dexamethasone (DEX) is a recommended induction/consolidation therapy for multiple myeloma (MM) patients eligible for transplant. In this Japanese phase II study conducted from 2017 to 2019, newly diagnosed MM patients aged 20–65 received four induction cycles with bortezomib (Bor), lenalidomide (Len), and DEX (VRD), followed by Bor and high‐dose melphalan with autologous stem cell rescue. Subsequently, they underwent four consolidation cycles with carfilzomib, Len, and DEX (KRD), followed by Len maintenance until disease progression. A total of 141 patients were analyzed. In an intent‐to‐treat population, the complete or better response post induction was 19.9%, rising to 39.7%, 58.9%, and 62.4% after transplant, consolidation, and 1‐year maintenance, respectively. With a median follow‐up of 38 months, the 3‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) rate was 83.5% and the 3‐year overall survival rate was 92.5%. Severe adverse events (≥grade 3) occurred in ~30% of patients; however, there was no treatment‐related mortality. These findings clearly showed the tolerability and effectiveness of this protocol. Nevertheless, patients with high‐risk cytogenetics showed a trend toward lower 3‐year PFS than those without (77.8% vs. 89.4%, p = 0.051), and ultra‐high‐risk cytogenetics (≥2 high‐risk cytogenetics) had an even worse prognosis, with 61.2% 3‐year PFS. To overcome this situation, a more potent treatment strategy incorporating novel agents such as the CD38‐antibody should be assessed in future studies.