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Looking back at 50 years of Journal of Consumer Research methods and interviewing some of the field's most respected methodologists, this article seeks to craft a core set of best practices for scholars in consumer research. From perennial issues like conceptual validity to emerging issues like data integrity and replicability, the advice offered by our experts can help scholars improve the way they approach their research questions, provide empirical evidence that instills confidence, use new tools to make research more inclusive or descriptive of the "real world," and seek to become thought leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of consumer scholarship must move beyond a mere counting of the number of "A"s on a researcher's CV to include at least some measure of impact. To facilitate a broader assessment of scholarship in consumer research, we provide detailed statistics on the productivity and citation impact of the field's 340 main gatekeepers: the editors, associate editors, and editorial board members of the Journal of Consumer Research and the Journal of Consumer Psychology. In addition, we introduce a new metric, called the p -index, which can be interpreted as an indicator of a researcher's propensity for thought leadership. Using this metric, we show that productivity and thought leadership do not necessarily go hand in hand in consumer research and that a combination of the two is a good predictor of the level of esteem that consumer scholars enjoy among their peers and of the receipt of major career awards. Our analyses provide greater transparency into how productivity, citation impact, and propensity for thought leadership are currently distributed among prominent consumer scholars. Furthermore, the detailed descriptive statistics reported can serve as useful benchmarks against which other consumer researchers' records may be meaningfully compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research studies the impact of articles appearing in the top four journals for consumer research— JCR , JMR , JM , and JCP— by examining factors that influence scholarly, public, and practical impact. This conceptually distinguishes between "incongruent novelty" (novelty arising from incongruity between an article and other existing articles) and "recombinant novelty" (novelty based on drawing from more disparate references). Incongruent novelty is decomposed into two components: (1) topic incongruity—incongruity between an article's topic and other existing topics at the time and (2) article incongruity—incongruity between an article and other existing articles on the same primary topic. By integrating topic modeling and word embedding to measure these constructs, we demonstrate varying impacts of types of novelty on three types of impact. Overall, our findings illustrate that topic and article incongruity have effects above and beyond recombinant novelty. For both scholarly and public impact, our results suggest that moderately high topic incongruity has the largest influence, suggesting that researchers should address novel topics. Additionally, scholarly citations are positively affected by lower and higher (vs. moderate) levels of article incongruity, suggesting that researchers either engage in programmatic research or add a new approach to the existing research on a topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations (UN) developed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a "blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet." This initiative raises the question: how has the Journal of Consumer Research (JCR) shed light on the SDGs? This research analyzes 50 years of consumer research through the lens of the SDG and makes four contributions. First, the authors provide a content analysis of articles in JCR and how it relates to the SDGs over time; they also analyze the Journal of Consumer Psychology (JCP) and Journal of Public Policy & Marketing (JPP&M) with regard to the SDGs. Second, this research reveals where JCR has made progress and achieved impact (via Altmetric) but also identifies gaps in the literature. Thus, the analyses shed light on what research in JCR , JCP , and JPP&M understands (and does not understand) about consumer behavior and points the way to future SDG-oriented research. Finally, based on insights from interviews with thought leaders, sociology of science, UN data dashboards, and an exploratory survey in three countries (the U.S. France, and Singapore), the authors provide recommendations on how the field can (better) incorporate the SDGs in research, teaching, and service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study documented three domains of journal research quality using metrics from six major publishers and two major database services for a large sample of kinesiology-related journals: Rigor/soundness, usage, and prestige. All journal metrics were highly skewed and variable. Median acceptance rates and initial review time were consistent with rigorous peer-review. Four variables were strongly interrelated (0.849 < r < 0.963) and indicate typical usage of 1 to 3 citations for articles in these journals. The 5-year Eigenfactor Score had a relatively weaker association (0.510 < r < 0.758) with the usage metrics, supporting it as an estimate of the prestige afforded these kinesiology journals in Scopus instead of usage. Care must be taken to interpret multiple journal metrics; taking into account the skew, large variability, and confounding factors such as journal size and subject. Differences across quality domains, metrics, and bias from numerous contextual factors refute the insidious misuse of any single journal metric as quality indictor for ranking journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonprofit organizations often position their charitable efforts as fulfilling the immediate needs of those who are disadvantaged (termed "immediate aid appeals"). This study explores an alternative positioning strategy focused on the use of autonomous aid appeals, which promote the use of donated funds to facilitate the eventual self-sufficiency of those in need. Seven studies show that people are more likely to donate to a charity that uses autonomous aid appeals than immediate aid appeals. The authors generalize this effect to various contexts and examine it with actual donation behavior. They find that managerially relevant boundary conditions support a serial mediation model first through perceptions of impact and then by feelings of hope for the recipient's future. To support the proposed framework, they conduct mediation analyses and two process-by-moderation studies. The findings have practical implications for charities and their promotional messaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personality has a long, if somewhat checkered history in the sport psychology literature, but insight into its use in contemporary applied practice is more limited. This study investigated contemporary sport psychology consultants' perceptions of using personality assessment. Ten participants (four female and six male; mean 14 years' applied experience), all Health and Care Professions Council–registered and accredited by either the British Psychological Society or British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, were purposefully sampled and interviewed. An inductive thematic analysis was then performed. Five themes were identified: effective practice, perceived impact, societal movements, organizational experience, and innovation. Findings deliver an original insight into the perceptions of practitioners around personality assessment in sport, illustrating a movement from prediction to development in the field and providing novel examples of bespoke, individualized tool application. Broad training and career experiences will help practitioners fully appreciate these potential opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mystical-like states of consciousness may arise through means such as psychedelic substances, but may also occur unexpectedly during near-death experiences (NDEs). So far, research studies comparing experiences induced by serotonergic psychedelics and NDEs, along with their enduring effects, have employed between-subject designs, limiting direct comparisons. We present results from an online survey exploring the phenomenology, attribution of reality, psychological insights, and enduring effects of NDEs and psychedelic experiences (PEs) in individuals who have experienced both at some point during their lifetime. We used frequentist and Bayesian analyses to determine significant differences and overlaps (evidence for null hypotheses) between the two. Thirty-one adults reported having experienced both an NDE (i.e. NDE-C scale total score ≥27/80) and a PE (intake of lysergic acid diethylamide, psilocybin/mushrooms, ayahuasca, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, or mescaline). Results revealed areas of overlap between both experiences for phenomenology, attribution of reality, psychological insights, and enduring effects. A finer-grained analysis of the phenomenology revealed a significant overlap in mystical-like effects, while low-level phenomena (sensory effects) were significantly different, with NDEs displaying higher scores of disembodiment and PEs higher scores of visual imagery. This suggests psychedelics as a useful model for studying mystical-like effects induced by NDEs, while highlighting distinctions in sensory experiences.

AbstractThis scoping review explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with communication, behavioral, and social theories to enhance health behavior interventions. A systematic search of articles published through February 2024, following PRISMA guidelines, identified 28 relevant studies from 13,723 screened. These studies, conducted across various countries, addressed health issues such as smoking cessation, musculoskeletal injuries, diabetes, chronic diseases and mental health using AI-driven tools like chatbots and apps. Despite AI’s potential, a gap exists in aligning technical advancements with theoretical frameworks. The proposed AI Impact Communications Model (AI-ICM) aims to bridge this gap, offering a road map for future research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A comprehensive understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood nutrition is crucial for devising effective mitigation strategies. However, existing knowledge regarding the pandemic's effect on childhood nutritional status remains limited. Furthermore, research focusing on young children aged 0–3 years is scarce. Methods: Leveraging the outbreak that originated in Wuhan in Dec 2019, the epicenter of China's first and largest outbreak, and national survey and statistical yearbook data, this study conducted a natural experimental analysis with the consideration of geographical exposure, temporal exposure and survey cohort effects to investigate the pandemic's impacts on varying nutritional indicators of infants and toddlers aged 0–36 months. A comprehensive set of sensitivity analyses, robustness checks and falsification tests were conducted. The potential heterogeneities across socioeconomic and age groups were also examined. Results: The pandemic was robustly predictive of a higher weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) and length/height-for-age z-score (HAZ), and a lower likelihood of underweight. The effects of the pandemic on increasing WAZ and reducing underweight were more pronounced among children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds or aged 0–12 months. Additionally, the increasing HAZ was primarily among children from households with lower family income. Moreover, the pandemic was negatively linked to the body mass index (BMI)-for-age z-score (BAZ) of children residing in more developed cities, and positively linked to overweight/obesity among children aged 13–24 months. Conclusions: This study adds to a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood nutrition. Notably, the findings highlight that weight gain attributable to the pandemic was predominantly among vulnerable children from disadvantaged backgrounds and younger age groups, who were already at a higher risk of overweight/obesity before the pandemic. Consequently, our findings imply the necessity of greater caution to the widened gap in childhood malnutrition post-pandemic. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of implementing adaptable strategies with the consideration of social justice to safeguard all children's right to optimal growth from exogenous shocks and to achieve the children-related SDGs by 2030. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragment-induced penetrating injuries pose a significant threat in modern combat. Explosions from explosive devices generate metallic fragments that can lethally penetrate various body regions, with the head being particularly most vulnerable to fatality in terms of penetration. Hence, understanding the head's response to fragment impact is crucial. To this end, this study investigated the ballistic response of an anatomically accurate anthropometric head surrogate to fragment impact. The head surrogate comprised simulants for the three major layers of the head (skin, skull, and brain). Using a pneumatic gas gun, we impacted chisel-nosed fragment simulating projectiles (FSPs) of 1.10-g and 2.79-g on the head surrogate. We analyzed the ballistic response of the head surrogate in terms of ballistic limit velocities (V50), energy densities (E50/A), and failure mechanisms in each layer. The results indicated sensitivity to the FSP size. The 1.10-g FSP had a ∼41% higher V50 and a ∼63% higher E50/A compared to the 2.79-g FSP. Additionally, each head surrogate layer exhibited distinct failure mechanisms. The skin simulant failed due to a combination of shearing and elastic hole enlargement, forming a cavity smaller than the size of the FSP. The skull simulant fractured, creating a cavity at the entry point matching the FSP size. The brain simulant failure involved shearing of the cavity and penetration of fractured skull fragments. We also observed no significant difference in response when introducing a flexible neck attachment on which the head surrogate was mounted. Furthermore, comparisons of an anthropometric (close-shape) head surrogate with a simplified open-shaped head surrogate revealed the minimal influence of the head curvature on the response due to the localized nature of fragment penetration. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the head surrogate's mechanical response to fragment impact. The insights from this work hold significant value in the assessment of penetrating head injury, especially against small fragments. The results can be applied in modern warhead design and forensic investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent gravitational wave (GW) observations include possible detections of black hole—neutron star binary mergers. As with binary black hole mergers, numerical simulations help characterize the sources. For binary systems with neutron star components, the simulations help to predict the imprint of tidal deformations and disruptions on the GW signals. In a previous study, we investigated how the mass of the black hole has an impact on the disruption of the neutron star and, as a consequence, on the shape of the GWs emitted. We extend these results to study the effects of varying the compactness of the neutron star. We consider neutron star compactness in the 0.113–0.2 range for binaries with mass ratios of 3 and 5. As the compactness and the mass ratio increase, the binary system behaves during the late inspiral and merger more like a black hole binary. For the cases with the least compact neutron star, the GWs emitted, in terms of mismatches, are the most distinguishable from those by a binary black hole. The disruption of the star significantly suppresses the kicks on the final black hole. The disruption also affects, although not dramatically, the spin of the final black hole. Lastly, for neutron stars with low compactness, the quasi-normal ringing of the black hole after the merger does not show a clean quasi-normal ringing because of the late accretion of debris from the neutron star. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generic sentences (e.g., "Dogs bark") express generalizations about groups or individuals. Accounting for the meaning of generic sentences has been proven challenging, and there is still a very lively debate about which factors matter for whether or not we a willing to endorse a particular generic sentence. In this paper we study the effect of impact on the assertability of generic sentences, where impact refers to the dangerousity of the property the generic is ascribing to a group or individual. We run three preregistered experiments, testing assertability and endorsement of novel generic sentences with visual and textual stimuli. Employing Bayesian statistics we found that impact influences the assertability, and endorsement, of generic statements. However, we observed that the size of the effect impact value may have been previously overestimated by theoretical and experimental works alike. We also run an additional descriptive survey testing standard examples from the linguistic literature and found that at least for some of the examples endorsement appears to be lower than assumed. We end with exploring possible explanations for our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assesses how access to climate services influences cropping decisions and, subsequently, household food security. Employing a cross-sectional research design, the study surveyed a total of 217 smallholder crop farmers selected through a multistage sampling approach. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, and both descriptive statistics and a propensity score matching (PSM) model were employed for data analysis. Household food security was assessed using households' dietary diversity. The study's findings highlight that 69% of the surveyed farmers had access to weather forecasts, while only 24% had access to seasonal forecasts. Consequently, farmers with access to climate services exhibited changes in their farming decisions, including daily farming activities, planting timing, crop selection, and land preparation. Notably, approximately 35% of the respondents were identified as food insecure. The application of the propensity score matching model revealed that access to climate services had a statistically significant positive impact on farmers' decision-making processes and household food security. These results underscore the potential of climate services to enhance farmers' decision-making capabilities and, subsequently, improve household food security. Considering these findings, it is recommended that efforts to expand access to climate services among smallholder farmers in South Africa should be intensified. This can be achieved by developing and disseminating more accessible and tailored climate information, including seasonal forecasts. In addition, initiatives should ensure that climate services are integrated into agricultural extension services and support systems to equip farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grasslands and shrub areas of the Patagonian steppe are the most frequent habitat for the "Near Threatened" armadillo, known as pichi (Zaedyus pichiy). Dense exotic conifer plantations are replacing the steppe in Argentinean northern Patagonia. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of conifer afforestation on the occurrence and food availability in a Z. pichiy population in north-western Patagonia. Fifteen sites in the native steppe and 50 in exotic pine plantations were sampled. We recorded the number of signs of pichi's presence and the diversity of invertebrates. Signs of Z. pichiy presence decreased in pine afforestation compared to the native steppe. Additionally, we found a decrease in the abundance, richness, diversity, and biomass of arthropods in pine plantations. Therefore, the presence of pine plantations in the steppe reduces the main food items of Z. pichiy and also eliminates the native steppe vegetation structure that provides preferred places to dig burrows. Pine monocultures do not provide a suitable habitat for Z. pichiy and may exacerbate the degradation of an already disturbed environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subcritical damage in sandwich panels refers to damage that occurs in the skins or core of the panel due to loading below the ultimate strength of the materials, and it can reduce the strength and durability of sandwich panels, leading to premature and unpredicted failure. In this work, a computational tool was developed for designing sandwich structures and optimizing their subcritical impact response. The model was validated experimentally on sandwich panels comprising an aluminium honeycomb core with carbon fiber reinforced epoxy skins. The study investigates subcritical damage in aluminium honeycomb and CFRP sandwich panels through mechanical experiments and finite element simulations. A novel computational tool was developed to optimize the impact response of these structures. Experimental validation was performed using standardized tests, and numerical simulations were conducted using Abaqus. Key findings indicate that the developed tool accurately predicts damage and stiffness reduction, offering significant potential for optimizing sandwich panel designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research focuses on the role of "official accounts" on WeChat, designed for the dissemination of textual content in the Chinese language. Currently, it is the main channel for information dissemination in that language. The objective is to investigate changes in this function between 2020 and 2023, and their impact on the mode of production and dissemination of content. To achieve this goal, a qualitative comparative methodology has been used, comparing the services in the function as it was before 2020 and its current state in 2023. Specifically, innovations are classified into three aspects: content format, interaction, and text indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ileus is a common complication of major abdominal surgery, including colorectal resection. The present study aimed to assess the predictors of ileus after laparoscopic right colectomy for colon cancer. Methods: This study was a retrospective case-control analysis of a prospective IRB-approved database of patients who underwent laparoscopic right colectomy at the Department of Colorectal Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida. Patients who developed ileus after right colectomy were compared to patients without ileus to determine the risk factors of ileus. Results: The present study included 270 patients with a mean age of 68.7 years. Thirty-six patients (13.3%) experienced ileus after laparoscopic right colectomy. The median duration of ileus was 6 days. Factors associated with ileus were age (71.6 vs 68.2 years, P = .158), emergency colectomy (11.1% vs 3.9%, P = .082), extended hemicolectomy (19.4% vs 6.8%, P = .021), green gastrointestinal anastomosis (GIA) 4.8mm staple height cartridge (19% vs 8.1%, P = .114), and longer operative time (177.9 vs 160.4 minutes, P = .157). The only independent predictor of ileus was extended colectomy (OR: 16.7, P = .003). Conclusions: Increased age, emergency surgery, green GIA cartridge, and longer operative times were associated with ileus, yet the only independent predictor of ileus was extended right hemicolectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review article examines the recent (i.e., since the late-1990s) research on deathbed visions (DBVs). The reviewed material includes the features of DBV experiences, terminology and definitional issues in the literature, and prevalence reports of DBVs by family members/caregivers of dying persons, healthcare professionals, terminally ill patients, hospice palliative care volunteers, and nursing home staff. The impact of DBVs on dying persons, why deathbed visitors appear, and possible explanations for DBVs are also considered. The lessons learned from the literature review include the following: DBVs are common experiences that cannot be easily explained, and they typically have positive impacts on dying persons, not the least of which is lessening the fear of death. The literature review also highlights the need for training and education about DBVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new viscous damping factor is proposed. • A new viscous impact model is proposed. • The proposed viscous contact model is the most accurate impact model. • The new viscous contact model is proved by the experimental data. The accurate calculation of energy dissipation during impact plays a decisive role in the prediction of the motion status after impact and the maximum contact force. However, how to precisely depict the energy loss and simplify the contact evaluation process meanwhile is an intractable issue. This investigation aims at analyzing the capacity of accurately evaluating the dissipated energy during impact based on the viscous damping factor contingent on frequency dependency and developing a new viscous damping factor by integrating the relative impact velocity from the linearized underdamped vibration system associated with the energy conservation during impact. Two pivotal dissipative coefficients are introduced into the damping force terms in the elastoplastic and plastic contact phases for the sake of compensating the derivation error of the new viscous damping factor. A new contact model with a viscous damper is proposed based on the Hertz contact theory and dimension analysis approach in conjunction with the linearized elastoplastic stiffness from the ML model. A comparative analysis between the novel contact model and the available contact models with viscous damping factors is conducted using an external impact scenario involving two spheres, which proves that the proposed contact model is the most precise viscous contact model in calculating the loss energy during impact. Finally, the slider-crank mechanism with clearance and horizontal granular chain are considered as the numerical example to illustrate the correctness of the new viscous contact model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no doubt that the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) strikes the world with unparalleled disruption in economic and business activities. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have dealt a serious blow to businesses, households, individuals, and revenue generation by governments across the globe with Nigeria being no exception. As a result, Nigeria introduced certain tax measures through the Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill 2020 to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on taxpayers but these measures are inadequate and in some ways impracticable. The measure includes a temporary relief to companies and individuals to alleviate the adverse financial consequences of a slowdown in economic activities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article argues that it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically reduced business activities and the Bill does nothing to reduce or remove the existing tax burden but simply postpones the same to a later date. This negates section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as amended which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. This raises a critical question as to whether revenue generation by the Nigerian government is more important than preventing hardships and reducing the burden of Nigerian taxpayers whose welfare the government has sworn to protect through the Constitution. The implication is that the Nigerian government needs to revise its tax regime encompassing incentives such as tax credits, write-offs, and tax holidays in a bid to provide adequate relief to the taxpayers pending the eradication of the pandemic and a return to economic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing urbanization and growing urban population present significant challenges for urban water resources. Inadequate management has led to a decline in water quality and a mismatch between the availability and usage of city water resources. In this period of significant growth, improving urban water efficiency and reinforcing water resource protection are especially important. Leadership is essential in developing and carrying out urban water resource policies. This research investigates how leadership influences the operational efficiency of water resources protection policies. The study seeks to fill the gap in understanding the relationship between leadership, member trust, and policy effectiveness in water resource management by constructing a theoretical model and conducting empirical analysis through questionnaire surveys. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable insights into the significance of leadership in driving improvements in water conservation policies. By establishing a link between leadership, member trust, and operational efficiency, the research contributes to both theoretical knowledge and practical implications for enhancing water resource management strategies. Recommendations for Resource Managers: In this big development background, it is particularly important to improve urban water efficiency and strengthen water resources protection.Leadership, as a key factor in the formulation and implementation of urban water resources policy, also plays an important role.Based on this, this paper studies the impact of leadership on the operational efficiency of water resources policies by proposing hypotheses, conducting questionnaire surveys, analyzing data, and verifying construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stakeholders and researchers in higher education have long debated the consequences of English-medium instruction (EMI); a key assumption of EMI is that student's academic learning through English should be at least as good as learning through their first language (usually the national language). This study addressed the following question: "What is the impact from English-medium instruction on students' academic performance in an online learning environment?" "Academic performance" was measured in two ways: number of correctly answered test questions and through-put/drop-out rate. The study adopted an experimental design involving a large group (n = 2,263) randomized control study in a programming course. Student participants were randomly allocated to an English-medium version of the course (the intervention group) or a Swedish-medium version of the course (the control group). The findings were that students enrolled on the English-medium version of the course answered statistically significantly fewer test questions correctly; the EMI students also dropped out from the course to a statistically significantly higher degree compared to students enrolled on the Swedish version of the course. The conclusion of this study is thus that EMI may, under certain circumstances, have negative consequences for students' academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various fields, including research and higher education. Thanks to its innovative applications, it has changed traditional teaching methods. This article aims to explore the impact of AI on these domains in Moroccan universities, focusing on its transformative influence, benefits, challenges, and future prospects. By analyzing current literature, case studies, and expert opinions, we elucidate how AI has enhanced research methodologies, empowered educators and students, and fostered innovation in academia. In addition, we discuss ethical considerations and potential concerns associated with the increasing integration of AI. Finally, we highlight the future prospects and opportunities offered by AI for research and higher education in Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the impacts of single-species invasions on resident communities have been widely studied, the ecological effects of co-invasion (simultaneous invasion by multiple alien species) remain largely unexplored. In this study, using an analytical framework, we investigate the individual and combined effects of two global plant invaders (Leucanthemum vulgare and Lupinus polyphyllus) on the aboveground vegetation (plant richness, diversity and biomass) and belowground soil variables (pH, salinity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, organic carbon [OC], phosphorous, and potassium) of grassland communities in the Himalaya. We studied these ecological variables in comparable plots under the following four scenarios: both invaders absent (i.e. uninvaded), either of the two invaders present (i.e. single species invasion), and both invaders present (i.e., co-invasion). Our results show invasion effects vary with the invasion scenarios and the studied variables. The single species invasion plots had lower mean plant richness and diversity but higher mean soil OC than the uninvaded plots. The co-invasion plots had significantly increased mean plant biomass and soil OC, but had a non-significant effect on plant richness and diversity compared to the uninvaded plots. The overall combined effect of species' co-invasion was additive in nature, but the effect varied significantly with choice of the response variable. We found synergistic effects of co-invasion on species richness and diversity, antagonistic effects on soil pH, and additive effects on the remaining response variables when compared with the predicted additive effect of the two invaders. Our findings suggest that further spread of L. polyphyllus will impact the resident plant community more severely when co-invading with L. vulgare than when invading alone, thereby lending support to the invasional meltdown hypothesis. Nevertheless, antagonistic and additive impacts for soil pH and other response variables respectively hint towards other alternate mechanisms at play. Overall, our study showcases a proof-of-concept to empirically estimate the additive, antagonistic and synergistic impacts of plant co-invasions, and also provides a model for designing co-invasion studies on other taxa/systems/scales elsewhere. Finally, based on the insights gained from this study, we highlight priority areas of future research in species' co-invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19 pandemic has created many challenges for the modern and interconnected world we live in. Global supply chains (GSCs), which until this outbreak, had shown a certain level of responsiveness and reliability in responding to disruptions, were subject to a great test of their resilience. Adopting a qualitative research approach and carrying out in‐depth interviews with several different companies, it is shown that COVID‐19 has caused substantial harm to a variety of industries worldwide, compromising all nodes of their supply chain, from raw material assurance to the delivery of finished goods to consumers. Consequently, the disruption propagation was both from upstream and downstream of the value chain. The results also revealed some mitigation measures adopted and the intention to implement future ones to deal with consequences of potential future disruptions. Aiming to investigate if the pandemic crisis was intensifying deglobalization trends, the study also researched the relationship between supply chain disruptions and their impact on global trade. The analysis pointed to a deacceleration of international trade during the first months of the disease, mainly due to the closure of borders, but after this period, global dynamics started to be re‐established, suggesting that there is not an intensification of deglobalization trends. The study is considered relevant to the literature, as it brings more evidence and diversified viewpoints from various interviewees and industries in a recovering phase of COVID‐19 impacts, as well as to GSCs' decision‐makers since it brings about some managerial insights to better navigate through crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this essay, we question evaluative practices concerning 'scientific excellence' as solely captured in so-called 'A journals', because they can entail a disconnection between the measure and its contents. Where this occurs, we start writing for our own immediate 'survival' and long-term social standing among our peers. Along the way, however, there is a risk that we lose sight of what 'meaningful' research can feel and look like. While research must be reliable or trustworthy, we advocate the use of complementary evaluative practices that involve learned societies, along with employee or employer-focused organisations and their assessment of the meaningfulness of published research in their respective contexts. Our proposal (a) encourages diverse forms of research contribution, (b) enables researchers to develop a collaborative approach that supports engagement and dialogue between researchers and the appropriate audiences for their work and (3) ensures that the impact of research can be developed more intentionally after publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until 2021, studies of scientific disciplines took as their object of study papers published in journals from certain subject categories. This paper is one of the firsts to analyse research into journalism in Spain using the Clarivate InCites analytics platform algorithm that groups papers together according to their citation relations (Citation Topics, CT) rather than by the category of the journals themselves. A unique universe was obtained made up of 63,694 items on the Web of Science, this being the global output of the CT 'Journalism' (1980–2022, both included). Spain is the world's third producer by number of items (4635), but only seventh in citations (and has the lowest proportion of citations per paper, 7.151). Most of the papers (34.01%) are published in Q3 (unlike the rest of the countries analysed, which publish more in Q1 and Q2) and in national journals (61%, even more than the US or the UK, 52% and 47%, respectively), edited by small, non-commercial publishers. Only 40.6% of the items are in the WoS Flagship citation index databases (SCIE, SSCI and AHCI). Most Spanish journals publish national research in proportions around 80%. Spanish research tends to collaborate internationally to a lesser extent (16.5%) than the other European countries analysed, and no significant change has been apparent over the last years. Spanish research into journalism is very productive but has little international presence, obtains few citations per paper, and shows no clear signs of progress towards greater international collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microlearning, an emerging educational approach, has gained increasing attention across various fields in recent years, leading to extensive scientific literature. However, it remains underexplored in terms of a comprehensive quantitative analysis, posing challenges for researchers in tracking the overall development of specific themes. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the evolving landscape of microlearning publications from 2007 to 2023 extracted from Scopus database while employing VOSviewer, Biblioshiny, and ATLAS.ti. Leveraging quantitative and qualitative approaches, the analysis encompasses 256 documents from 206 sources, identifying key trends and themes prevalent in the selected publications. The findings revealed a 19.37% annual growth, highlighting the rising prominence of microlearning research. In addition, the findings uncovered influential articles, prolific authors, the most productive institutions, and countries, primary sources, and distinct subject areas. In terms of trending themes, the findings indicated that most studies focused on four primary areas within microlearning – (1) design and tools, (2) efficacy and impact, (3) implementation and utilization, and (4) advantages and disadvantages. These findings offer vauable insights into the trajectory of microlearning research and suggest promising directions for future scholarly inquiry in this rapidly developing field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Idiopathic epilepsy (IE) is a common chronic neurological disorder in dogs. Breed specific knowledge on semiology, age of onset (AoO), seizure frequency, response to treatment, and Quality of Life (QoL) scores for both dog and owner are important. The Labradoodle is originally a cross between the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle. The aim of this study was to describe in detail the epilepsy, that is recognized in this designer breed. Method: An online survey was distributed through several platforms to owners of Labradoodles. Only Labradoodles, either registered as such or bred as a Labradoodle were included. To classify the Labradoodles in a TIER level of confidence the criteria of the International Veterinary Task Force were used. Results: Forty labradoodles were included. Thirty-three Labradoodles were classified as IE or suspected IE cases and appeared to have an AoO of 2.3 ± 1.3 years, and a seizure frequency of 5.4 ± 6.5 seizures/year (range 0--25). Seven dogs were classified as EUC, two dogs started before 6 months of age, and five dogs had their first seizures at 8.4 ± 1.2 years of age. The seizure frequency for all EUC dogs was 5.0 ± 3.0 seizures/year (range 0--11). Stress, for both the (suspected) IE and EUC cases, was the most frequently reported seizure precipitating factor (95% of the dogs). AoO and seizure frequency did not seem to be influenced by type of housing, type of owner, or the dog's character as interpreted by the owner. Cluster seizures (CS) were seen in 33% and status epilepticus (SE) in 10% of the included Labradoodles. Many dogs did not need treatment (38%) or only one anti-seizure medication (43%), in which case they tended to respond favorably to treatment. QoL scores were high for both dog (8.3 ± 1.8) and owner (7.3 ± 2.2). Discussion: Compared to the progenitor breeds, epilepsy of Labradoodles is phenotypically like that of the Standard Poodle, except for the existence CS and SE in the Labradoodle. The epilepsy seen in this designer breed has a favorable outcome compared to several other breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusion Operating rooms generate 1.8 million tons of waste annually, or 20%‒30% of the total healthcare waste in the United States. Our objective was to perform a life cycle assessment (LCA) for endoscopic sinus surgeries (ESSs) in order to analyze its environmental impact.A comprehensive LCA of ESS was performed considering energy, climate, and water use impacts associated with the materials and processes used. It focuses on the ESS performed at a large tertiary academic hospital and then extends the impacts to consider annual US surgeries. The assessment considers end‐of‐life waste management at both landfills and incinerators.Single‐use instrument production constitutes 89%‒96% of the total impacts throughout the life cycle of an ESS. Waste‐to‐energy incineration is shown to be a preferred end‐of‐life destination, as it recovers much of the input production energy of plastic items, ultimately reducing the input to 36%, although this is done at the expense of higher greenhouse gas emissions. For multi‐use items, decontamination dominates environmental impact (>99% of totals), but consideration of reusable items reduces overall energy consumption and global warming potential (GWP) by 25%‒33%.Single‐use items dominate the total environmental impact of ESS. While multi‐use items require additional decontamination over their lifetimes, results show that their incorporation reduces energy consumption and GWP by 25%‒33%, demonstrating the clear environmental benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]