bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do tax burdens and currency outside banks drive economic development? Empirics from Ghana
Authors: Amoh John Kwaku , Ofori-Boateng Kenneth , Nsor-Ambala Randolph , Anarfo Ebenezer Bugri 
Published: December 2023

PurposeSome African policymakers have turned their attention towards electronic transaction levy (e-levy) to maximise tax revenues in recent years due to the inability to meet revenue targets. However, some argue that the implementation of an e-levy will increase the tax burden (TB) and the currency outside banks (COB). Primarily, this paper examined the effects of the TB and COB on economic development as well as the impact of institutional quality on moderating the nexus.Design/methodology/approachThis paper used structural equation modelling (SEM) and maximum likelihood (ML) estimation techniques on quarterised data from 1996 to 2020.FindingsThe results show that the TB negatively impacts gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and urbanisation but positively affects the Economic Freedom of the World Index (EFWI). The COB impacts EFWI, GDP per capita and urbanisation positively. Institutional quality moderates the TB and the COB, establishing positive relationships with the economic development indicators.Practical implicationsThe findings strongly imply that the arguments that TB and COB are catalysts for tax evasion and corruption lack substantial empirical evidence.Originality/valueThe examination of the econometric impact of the COB on economic development is one of the first studies in the field. The paper recommends that to drive economic development and accelerate sustainable development goals (SDGs) achievement, tax revenues should be channelled into the productive sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
Towards sustainable development: antecedents of green entrepreneurship intention among tourism and hospitality students in Egypt
Authors: Al-Azab Mahmoud Ramadan , Zaki Heba Salah 
Published: December 2023

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the antecedents of green entrepreneurship intention (GEI) amongst tourism and hospitality higher education students and further explores the effect of green entrepreneurship intention on sustainable development (SD). It also investigates the mediating role of GEI in the relationship between the antecedents of GEI and SD in students' future tasks in tourism and hospitality.Design/methodology/approachPartial least squares structural equation modeling was used to analyze data collected via an online questionnaire from 970 tourism and hospitality universities' students in Egypt, either undergraduate or postgraduate.FindingsThe results show that green entrepreneurship intention is positively affected by attitude, subjective norms, environmental education, risk aversion, self-efficacy and environmental values. The results also revealed that green entrepreneurship intention is a significant driver for sustainable development. Moreover, the findings revealed that GEI mediates the link between the antecedents of GEI and SD.Practical implicationsThe results offer highly persuasive insights that may be used to promote GEI and SD among tourism and hospitality students. The effectiveness of GEI in achieving SD will motivate government and educational institutions to develop GEI for university students. This study will assist policymakers in developing a novel strategy, providing a contribution to the green behavior literature in an emerging context.Originality/valueThe field of the green entrepreneur is uncharted and still in its infancy. As a result, further research is needed in the literature to better understand green entrepreneurship intention. Enhancing tourism and hospitality students' green entrepreneurial intentions will help the economy expand sustainably in the future because they are the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. The findings hold important implications for both the research community and tourism education and business management.
Transnational higher education cultures and generative AI: a nominal group study for policy development in English medium instruction
Authors: Bannister Peter , Alcalde Peñalver Elena , Santamaría Urbieta Alexandra 
Published: December 2023

Purpose
This purpose of this paper is to report on the development of an evidence-informed framework created to facilitate the formulation of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) academic integrity policy responses for English medium instruction (EMI) higher education, responding to both the bespoke challenges for the sector and longstanding calls to define and disseminate quality implementation good practice.

Design/methodology/approach
A virtual nominal group technique engaged experts (n = 14) in idea generation, refinement and consensus building across asynchronous and synchronous stages. The resulting qualitative and quantitative data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics, respectively.

Findings
The GenAI Academic Integrity Policy Development Blueprint for EMI Tertiary Education is not a definitive mandate but represents a roadmap of inquiry for reflective deliberation as institutions chart their own courses in this complex terrain.

Research limitations/implications
If repeated with varying expert panellists, findings may vary to a certain extent; thus, further research with a wider range of stakeholders may be necessary for additional validation.

Practical implications
While grounded within the theoretical underpinnings of the field, the tool holds practical utility for stakeholders to develop bespoke policies and critically re-examine existing frameworks.

Social implications
As texts produced by students using English as an additional language are at risk of being wrongly accused of GenAI-assisted plagiarism, owing to the limited efficacy of text classifiers such as Turnitin, the policy recommendations encapsulated in the blueprint aim to reduce potential bias and unfair treatment of students.

Originality/value
The novel blueprint represents a step towards bridging concerning gaps in policy responses worldwide and aims to spark discussion and further much-needed scholarly exploration to this end.
Investigating the factors affecting the acceptance of blockchain in telemedicine through an integrated model approach
Authors: Shaukat Fatima , Shafiq Muhammad , Hussain Atif 
Published: December 2023

Purpose
As a little research has been conducted to understand the factors influencing users’ intentions to adopt blockchain-based telemedicine (BBT), it is important to investigate BBT acceptance as incorporation of blockchain technology can solve telemedicine-related issues. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing behavioral intentions (BI) to adopt BBT.

Design/methodology/approach
An integrated model comprising the constructs taken from technology–organization–environment framework, technology acceptance model, unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and theory of planned behavior based on their relevance to the context and the objectives of the study has been used for this research. A quantitative approach has been used to test the hypotheses, for which the data was collected from 324 respondents through a self-administered questionnaire. Partial least squares structural equation modeling has been used to test the hypotheses.

Findings
The results of the study show that relative advantage, perceived usefulness, trust and perceived ease of use have a significant impact on BI to adopt BBT, whereas regulatory support, subjective norms and facilitating conditions do not have any significant impact on the same.

Research limitations/implications
As the concept of BCT in Pakistan is at its nascent stage and literature regarding this technology’s adoption is also limited, researchers and scholars can apply it to several other fields in Pakistan. For example, this study can be extended to explore the factors influencing blockchain adoption in areas such as education, logistics, transportation, finances and management. This research only considers the direct effects of constructs on BI to adopt BBT and does not consider any mediation and moderations constructs. Future researchers can also study the influence of mediation and moderation constructs on BI to adopt BCT.

Originality/value
Although studies on the acceptance of telemedicine exist, there is a gap concerning the acceptance of BBT, which the current study helps to bridge. From a practical standpoint, the current study makes a highly valuable contribution toward understanding acceptance factors for BBT projects, leading to help policymakers devise policies to promote telemedicine.
Size‐dependent clonal reproduction and sex allocation in the monoecious Begonia emeiensis
Authors: Wang Lei , Wu Bi‐Xian , Xia Nan , Wang Hao , Cao Guo‐Xing 
Published: December 2023

AbstractSize‐dependent clonal and sexual reproduction has been studied in many species. However, very few attempts have investigated size‐dependent resource allocation among clonal reproduction, female function, and male function within a species. Moreover, how clonal reproduction and sexual reproduction interact to influence size‐dependent sex allocation has not been explored. In this study, we investigated the size dependency of clonal reproduction and sex allocation and how clonal reproduction and sexual reproduction interact to influence size‐dependent female function, male function, and sex allocation in the monoecious Begonia emeiensis. Individuals with no reproduction, reproducing clonally through bulbils, reproducing sexually through flowers, and reproducing through both bulbils and flowers differed significantly from each other in terms of size (leaf area), suggesting a threshold size for clonal versus sexual reproduction. Bulbil number per individual increased with size regardless of flower production. In contrast, the relationship between size and female and male flower production per individual was influenced by bulbil production; both female and male flower numbers per individual increased with size at a slower rate for individuals reproducing clonally and sexually than for those reproducing only sexually. The ratio of female to male flowers per individual increased with size independent of bulbil production. Our study shows that the size dependency of clonal reproduction was unlikely to be influenced by sexual reproduction; however, the size dependency of female and male function was influenced by clonal reproduction.
Estimating abundance of a small population of Bryde's whales: a comparison between aerial surveys and boat‐based platforms of opportunity
Authors: Hamilton O. N. P. , Fewster R. M. , Low P. , Johnson F. , Lea C. , Stockin K. A. , van der Linde K. , Constantine R. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAccurate abundance estimates are essential for the development of effective conservation management strategies, yet they are difficult to produce for small populations that are elusive and sparsely distributed throughout their range. For such populations it is challenging to collect a representative dataset sufficient for robust estimation of detectability and abundance. Over a one‐year study, we used two methods to estimate abundance of a Nationally Critical, widely dispersed Bryde's whale population in the Hauraki Gulf, Aotearoa/New Zealand; (i) distance sampling from systematic line‐transect aerial surveys (n = 22 surveys, 9,944 km, total sightings 21–24 whales), and (ii) mark‐recapture (MR) using photo‐identification images collected from a platform‐of‐opportunity and small‐boat surveys (218 sampling occasions, 27 whales). From the aerial surveys, we estimated an average of 15 whales (95% CI = 6, 30; CV = 37%) at the sea‐surface at any time. For the boat‐based surveys, we developed a custom MR model to address seasonal and individual heterogeneity in capture probabilities and obtained an estimate of 72 distinct whales (95% CI = 38, 106; CV = 24%) in the population. These two approaches provide different perspectives on the abundance and dynamics of Bryde's whales. The aerial surveys estimate the average number of individuals present at any one time, whereas the MR model estimates the total number of animals that used the Gulf during the study. Although neither sampling method is optimal for estimating the abundance of this small, dispersed population, the use of two complementary approaches informs conservation managers about patterns of abundance and distribution over different temporal and spatial scales. It is common to have limited resources for marine research where model assumptions cannot be met. Here, we highlight pragmatic strategies showing how models can be customized to the population of interest to assist with monitoring species of conservation concern.
Delaying a prescribed burn to scale up the restoration of alien‐invaded Lowland Sand Fynbos in South Africa
Authors: Ngwenya Duduzile K. , Holmes Patricia M. , Geerts Sjirk , Esler Karen J. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractFire‐adapted species invading fire‐prone ecosystems in Mediterranean climate regions are difficult to control because they are equally responsive to restoration treatments. We assessed the efficacy of delaying a prescribed burn to promote the recruitment of native species in a Lowland Sand Fynbos ecosystem invaded by alienAcacia saligna. Acacia stands were felled and fallowed for 2 years before burning the slash and sowing pre‐treated fynbos seeds. We hypothesized that sowing pre‐treated fynbos seeds after fallowing cleared areas before burning would improve the regeneration of native species. Fallowing cleared areas would reduce the density of acacia seeds and post‐fire acacia recruitment while allowing felled acacia biomass to dry and decay over time leading to improved prescribed burn properties. Sowing pre‐treated fynbos seeds improved the recovery of native cover but had little effect on the recovery of native species diversity after 2 years. Although the rapid recruitment of annual native species did not affect acacia density, it might have contributed to reduced post‐fire acacia cover and allowed the native perennial species to establish. After 2 years of fallowing cleared areas, the density of acacia seeds and post‐fire acacia recruitment was reduced by ≈50% and 80% respectively. Although too dense to be outcompeted by recruited native species alone, this reduced acacia recruitment helped to decrease and delay the need for follow‐up acacia clearing as it was where burning occurred soon after felling acacia stands. The recruited native species managed to establish before the acacia emergents were removed unlike where burning occurs soon after felling and where native species were outcompeted resulting in the need for follow‐up sowing. In conclusion, building resilience against acacia resurgence by increasing the pool of sown species to recover a good cover of native species in combination with the timely removal of acacia recruits can help to scale up restoration.
Microfluidics: The future of sperm selection in assisted reproduction
Authors: Jahangiri Ali Reza , Ziarati Niloofar , Dadkhah Ehsan , Bucak Mustafa Numan , Rahimizadeh Pegah , Shahverdi Abdolhossein , Sadighi Gilani Mohammad Ali , Topraggaleh Tohid Rezaei 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundObtaining functional sperm cells is the first step to treat infertility. With the ever‐increasing trend in male infertility, clinicians require access to effective solutions that are able to single out the most viable spermatozoa, which would max out the chance for a successful pregnancy. The new generation techniques for sperm selection involve microfluidics, which offers laminar flow and low Reynolds number within the platforms can provide unprecedented opportunities for sperm selection. Previous studies showed that microfluidic platforms can provide a novel approach to this challenge and since then researchers across the globe have attacked this problem from multiple angles.ObjectiveIn this review, we seek to provide a much‐needed bridge between the technical and medical aspects of microfluidic sperm selection. Here, we provide an up‐to‐date list on microfluidic sperm selection procedures and its application in assisted reproductive technology laboratories.Search methodA literature search was performed in Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus to select papers reporting microfluidic sperm selection using the keywords: microfluidic sperm selection, self‐motility, non‐motile sperm selection, boundary following, rheotaxis, chemotaxis, and thermotaxis. Papers published before March 31, 2023 were selected.OutcomesOur results show that most studies have used motility‐based properties for sperm selection. However, microfluidic platforms are ripe for making use of other properties such as chemotaxis and especially rheotaxis. We have identified that low throughput is one of the major hurdles to current microfluidic sperm selection chips, which can be solved via parallelization.ConclusionFuture work needs to be performed on numerical simulation of the microfluidics chip prior to fabrication as well as relevant clinical assessment after the selection procedure. This would require a close collaboration and understanding among engineers, biologists, and medical professionals. It is interesting that in spite of two decades of microfluidics sperm selection, numerical simulation and clinical studies are lagging behind. It is expected that microfluidic sperm selection platforms will play a major role in the development of fully integrated start‐to‐finish assisted reproductive technology systems.
Positive end‐expiratory pressure and surfactant administration mode influence function in ex‐vivo premature sheep lungs
Authors: Pasteka Richard , Hufnagl Lisa , Forjan Mathias , Berger Angelika , Werther Tobias , Wagner Michael 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAimRespiratory distress syndrome often necessitates endotracheal surfactant administration in extremely preterm infants. Our study aimed to explore a multi‐modal simulation tool for investigating treatment strategies in ex vivo sheep lungs during spontaneous breathing.MethodsAn electromechanical lung simulator (xPULM) mimicking spontaneous breathing was coupled with a non‐aerated premature sheep lung, replicating a premature respiratory system. Changes in tidal volume for different positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels prior to and after either bolus or nebulised surfactant administration were compared.ResultsIn two preterm sheep lungs, we observed a progressive decline in tidal volume with increasing PEEP levels prior to surfactant delivery from 0.30 ± 0.01 mL at zero PEEP to 0.04 ± 0.01 mL at 15 cmH2O PEEP. Our measurements showed that both bolus (p < 0.05) and nebulised (p < 0.05) surfactant administration resulted in a significant increase in tidal volume, with no significant difference (p = 0.71) between the two methods.ConclusionThe experimental setup demonstrated the feasibility of xPULM for investigating the effectiveness of different PEEP levels and modes of surfactant administration with respect to tidal volume in premature sheep lungs. The lack of adequate lung water resorption in our model warrants further investigations.
Using spectral diversity and heterogeneity measures to map habitat mosaics: An example from the Classical Karst
Authors: Pafumi Emilia , Petruzzellis Francesco , Castello Miris , Altobelli Alfredo , Maccherini Simona , Rocchini Duccio , Bacaro Giovanni 
Published: December 2023

AbstractQuestionsCan we map complex habitat mosaics from remote‐sensing data? In doing this, are measures of spectral heterogeneity useful to improve image classification performance? Which measures are the most important? How can multitemporal data be integrated in a robust framework?LocationClassical Karst (NE Italy).MethodsFirst, a habitat map was produced from field surveys. Then, a collection of 12 monthly Sentinel‐2 images was retrieved. Vegetation and spectral heterogeneity (SH) indices were computed and aggregated in four combinations: (1) monthly layers of vegetation and SH indices; (2) seasonal layers of vegetation and SH indices; (3) yearly layers of SH indices computed across the months; and (4) yearly layers of SH indices computed across the seasons. For each combination, a Random Forest classification was performed, first with the complete set of input layers and then with a subset obtained by recursive feature elimination. Training and validation points were independently extracted from field data.ResultsThe maximum overall accuracy (0.72) was achieved by using seasonally aggregated vegetation and SH indices, after the number of vegetation types was reduced by aggregation from 26 to 11. The use of SH measures significantly increased the overall accuracy of the classification. The spectral β‐diversity was the most important variable in most cases, while the spectral α‐diversity and Rao's Q had a low relative importance, possibly because some habitat patches were small compared to the window used to compute the indices.ConclusionsThe results are promising and suggest that image classification frameworks could benefit from the inclusion of SH measures, rarely included before. Habitat mapping in complex landscapes can thus be improved in a cost‐ and time‐effective way, suitable for monitoring applications.
Am I a good person? Academic correlates of explicit and implicit self‐esteem during early childhood
Authors: Cvencek Dario , Brečić Ružica , Sanders Elizabeth A. , Gaćeša Dora , Skala David , Meltzoff Andrew N. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractImplicit and explicit self‐esteem are not commonly measured in the same children. Using a cross‐sectional design, data from 354 Croatian children (184 girls) in Grade 1 (Mage = 7.55 years) and Grade 5 (Mage = 11.58 years) were collected in Spring 2019. All children completed explicit and implicit self‐esteem measures; math and language grades were obtained. For the explicit measure, older children showed lower self‐esteem than younger children, and girls showed lower self‐esteem than boys. For the implicit measure, there were no age effects, and girls showed higher self‐esteem than boys. Although both types of self‐esteem were positively associated with academic achievement, implicit self‐esteem was associated more strongly with language than with math achievement. Discussion is provided about why self‐esteem relates to academic achievement during childhood.