Comparative Research Research Articles

Chromosome-level assembly and evolution analysis of the Trichosanthes truncata genome

Trichosanthes truncata C. B. Clarke, an important medicinal plant, is a dioecious plant belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. This study presents a chromosomal-level reference genome assembly for T. truncata. Through the integration of PacBio high-fidelity sequencing and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture technology, a final genome sequence of 637.41 Mb was assembled, with an N50 of 57.24 Mb and consisting of 11 pseudochromosomes. Additionally, 97.21 Mb of repetitive sequences and 36,172 protein-coding genes were annotated. This high-quality genome assembly is of utmost significance for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds. Furthermore, this study provided valuable insights into plant comparative genomics research.

Thermal Treatment Effects on Structure and Mechanical Properties of Polybutylene Terephthalate and Epoxy Resin Composites Reinforced with Glass Fiber.

In this study, two types of composites, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and epoxy resin (ER), reinforced with 20% of glass fiber (GF) are used as the comparative research objects. Their mechanical properties after thermal aging at 85~145 °C are evaluated by tensile strength and fracture morphology analysis. The results show that the composites have similar aging laws. The tensile strength of GF/PBT and GF/ER decrease gradually with the increase of aging temperature, while their elastic moduli are independent of the thermal treatment temperature. Scanning electron microscopy study of the fracture surface shows that separation of glass fiber from PBT and ER matrix becomes more obvious at higher aging temperature. The fibers on the matrix surface appear clear and smooth, and the whole pulled out GFs can be observed. As a main mechanical strength degradation mechanism, the deterioration of interface adhesion between the matrix and GF is discussed. A large difference in coefficients of thermal expansion of the matrix and GF is a main factor of the mechanical degradation.

The Limits to Food and Beverage Industry Influence over Fiscal and Regulatory Policy in Latin America.

Little is known about the political, institutional, and social contexts contributing to a decline in food and beverage industry power and influence over fiscal (soda taxes) and regulatory (sales/advertising restrictions and food labels) policy. This article addresses this issue by exploring why Mexico and Chile eventually saw such a decline in the food and beverage industry's influence whereas Brazil was not as successful. I argue that in Mexico and Chile, these outcomes are explained by shifts in presidential, congressional, and bureaucratic interests in pursuing policies that went against industry preferences. This article took a qualitative methodological approach to comparative historical research. Policymakers' interest in pursuing stronger food and beverage regulations were shaped by economic and public health concerns, new electoral contexts, epidemiological information, and normative beliefs. In Mexico, the infiltration of nutrition researchers within government facilitated this process. In contrast, Brazil's government was divided about pursuing regulatory policies, with presidents favoring partnerships with industry to implement a popular anti-hunger program; industry's power endured there with limited progress in policy reforms. Governments can eventually overcome industry power and policy influence, but it depends on a whole government commitment to reform.

Etnolingwistyka historyczna – Słownik mitologii polskiej Jana Karłowicza

The article discusses the ethnolinguistic aspect of the work of Jan Karłowicz. Karłowicz is known primarily as an editor and author of three dictionaries and editor of the monthly Wisła. Karłowicz’s strictly ethnolinguistic work is Słownik mitologii polskiej [Dictionary of Polish Mythology], discovered in 2017, which belongs to historical ethnolinguistics. The author relies largely on: 1) cultural relics; 2) the belief that rural communities are a more primitive evolutionary stage in the development of a nation than the nobility and bourgeoisie; 3) comparative research aimed at identifying what is ancient in Polish mythology; 4) an understanding of the term mythology that is different from its contemporary meaning. The aim of such research is to show the complexity of the Polish view of the world and of humans against the general Slavic and even much broader background.

The differential impact of evidence types in policy decisions: comparing evidence priorities in employment and education ministries

ABSTRACT Evidence-based policy-making has received increasing attention among governments in recent decades. However, comparative research examining patterns of evidence impact and administrative priorities for different forms of evidence remains scarce. In response, this article investigates the impact of different evidence types in two Danish ministries – the Ministry of Employment and the Ministry of Children and Education – characterized by similar analytical capacities but different strategies and criteria for prioritizing and using evidence. Applying a novel document matching method to analyze 1159 research publications and policy decisions from 2015–2021 about Danish active labor market policies and public school policies, the article shows how causal effect evidence has to a greater extent influenced policy decisions in the Ministry of Employment than in the Ministry of Children and Education. The article proposes that the observed variation between the policy domains can be attributed to ministerial evidence strategies, shaping administrative perceptions of the relevance and usefulness of different types of evidence. Based on the results, the article discusses the implications of prioritizing particular evidence types in ministries, considering variations between study designs and their appropriateness for different policy needs and purposes.

Corporate culture's influence on the transparency of financial reporting in Iran: an in-depth analysis of readability and tone

PurposeThis study investigates the influence of corporate culture on financial reporting transparency within Iranian firms.Design/methodology/approachLeveraging a dataset of 1,480 firm-year observations from the Tehran Stock Exchange spanning from 2013 to 2022, the study employs text mining to quantify linguistic features of corporate culture and transparency, specifically readability and tone, within annual financial statements and Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) reports.FindingsOur results confirm a positive and significant relationship between corporate culture and financial reporting transparency. The distinct dimensions of corporate culture — Creativity, Competition, Control, and Collaboration — each uniquely enhance financial transparency. Robustness tests including firm fixed-effects, entropy balancing, Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) validate the profound influence of corporate culture on transparency. Additionally, our analysis shows that corporate culture significantly affects the disclosure of business, operational, and financial risks, with varying impacts across risk categories. Cross-sectional analysis further reveals how the impact of corporate culture on transparency varies significantly across different industries and firm sizes.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s scope, while focused on Iran, opens avenues for comparative research in different cultural and regulatory environments. Its reliance on text mining could be complemented by qualitative methods to capture more nuanced linguistic subtleties.Practical implicationsFindings underscore the strategic importance of cultivating a transparent corporate culture for enhancing financial reporting practices and stakeholder trust, particularly in emerging economies with similar dynamics to Iran.Originality/valueThis research is pioneering in its quantitative analysis of the textual features of corporate culture and its impact on transparency within Iranian corporate reports, integrating foundational theoretical perspectives with empirical evidence.

Supporting New Teachers. The Finnish and Israeli Mentoring Models

In this article, we will have a closer look at two models of teacher mentoring, which for many years have been successfully operating in two culturally different countries: Finland and Israel. Following the methodology of comparative research according to Raymond Boudon, I will identify and briefly characterise the main social mechanisms, which lie behind the particular approach to mentoring in the two analysed models: Self-Determination Theory and Work Motivation (Israel) and Peer Group Mentoring (Finland), including the axiological-rational prerequisites for their application.

A comparative evaluation of the leadership development needs of basic school leaders in the 4.0 era

School leadership development (SLP) in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4.0) is a crucial aspect of preparing basic school leaders to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid technological advancements and changes in the modern world. The 4.0 is characterized by the fusion of digital, physical, and biological technologies, which profoundly impact various aspects of society, including education. Thus, this study examined basic school leaders’ development needs in 4.0 in Nigeria and South Africa. A comparative research approach of survey design was adopted with the aid of a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (mean score) and an independent t-test were used to analyze the collected data. Results indicated that basic school leaders in South Africa fared better than their counterparts from Nigeria regarding their 4.0 knowledge. However, no significant difference was found in 4.0 leadership skills. Leaders from both nations indicated the need for development programs in technological applications to enhance competency to perform their administrative tasks. In theory, the study addresses African schools’ 4.0 leadership needs. To lead education into the future, each nation must also understand the specific 4.0 leadership skills its school leaders will need. In light of the study’s findings, policymakers should consider what gaps need to be filled to equip their basic school leaders with Education 4.0 skills.

Mismatches in Health: A Global Analysis of Discrepancies Between Self-Reported and Tested Mobility and Cognition

The health of individuals is frequently assessed based on self-reported information derived from surveys. However, self-reports are often inconsistent with their tested equivalents, indicating measurement issues. While discrepancies between self-reported and tested health indicators have been investigated for high-income countries in Europe, little comparative research has been conducted involving other low-income regions. This paper analyses discrepancies between self-reported and tested health limitations across 25 countries from six world regions with different income-levels, cultural backgrounds, institutional settings, and epidemiological trajectories. Using harmonised data from the Gateway to Global Aging, we match self-reported mobility and cognition with their tested equivalent to assess discrepancies at the individual level. Our results suggest that the consistency between these measures is strongly correlated with the Human Development Index, with lower scores of development showing higher discrepancies. Examining patterns by age reveals that self-reports do not accurately reflect the deterioration of health associated with aging – tested health exhibits a pronounced age gradient, whereas self-reported health varies little over the life course, particularly self-reported memory. We find no persistent gender differences in consistency. These discrepancies cast doubt on the reliability of mobility and cognitive self-reports, especially when comparing health across nations with differing development levels. * This article belongs to a special issue on “Levels and Trends of Health Expectancy: Understanding its Measurement and Estimation Sensitivity”.

Dynamic inconsistency in great apes

When presented with the option of either an immediate benefit or a larger, later reward, we may behave impatiently by choosing instant gratification. Nonetheless, when we can make the same decision ahead of time and plan for the future, we tend to make more patient choices. Here, we explored whether great apes share this core feature of human decision-making, often referred to as dynamic inconsistency. We found that orangutans, bonobos, and gorillas tended to act impatiently and with considerable variability between individuals when choosing between an immediate reward and a larger-later reward, which is a commonly employed testing method in the field. However, with the inclusion of a front-end delay for both alternatives, their decisions became more patient and homogeneous. These results show that great apes are dynamically inconsistent. They also suggest that, when choosing between future outcomes, they are more patient than previously reported. We advocate for the inclusion of diverse time ranges in comparative research, especially considering the intertwinement of intertemporal choices and future-oriented behavior.

The Catalytic Role of Soft Cities in Urban Development Systems

In the context of Industry 4.0, the development of cities worldwide has shifted from large-scale industrialization towards intelligent and sustainable growth. Contemporary urban researchers classify urban systems into three categories: hard cities, soft cities, and resilient cities. Hard cities refer to the physical framework and infrastructure of urban spaces, while soft cities embrace the art ,cultural, civilized, aesthetic, and humanistic aspects of urban life. Resilient cities, on the other hand, embody the plasticity necessary for sustainable development. This paper will utilize case study methodology and comparative research to analyze the positive effects and catalytic impact of the development of soft urban systems on hard cities and resilient cities.

M Score Performance Measure for Islamic Banks in Malaysia and Indonesia

Performance measurement is vital to examine the performance of any institution. Due to the different nature of business operations, processes, and activities in Islamic banks, they have to be measured by a more focused instrument to reflect the Shariah compliance parts and their business nature compared to the conventional banks. Hence, M Score which has been developed by Abdul Rahim, Abdul Rahman and Syed AlHabshi (2016) has been adopted in this study. The findings from the computation will indicate which country gains the higher M Score in performance, and this can be used as a benchmarking exercise. This research aims to analyse and compare the M Score performance of Islamic banks in Malaysia and Indonesia. The content analysis via Annual Reports of Islamic banks has been used for this study. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling. The research was conducted on Islamic banks in Malaysia and Indonesia over a period of two years, from 2020-2021. This comparative research is expected to be an evaluation tool for Malaysian Islamic banks, helping them improve their performance to catch up with their counterparts in Indonesia. Thus, the purpose of this research proposal is to analyse and compare the effect of the soundness of Islamic banks based on the M Score performance of Islamic banks in Malaysia and Indonesia. The results of this study indicate that Islamic banks in Indonesia have a higher M Score ranking than those in Malaysia. There are significant differences in the performance of Islamic banks based on the Need Fulfilment and Equitable Distribution (NFED), Economic Growth (EG), and Economic Stability (ES) in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Where projects and non-projects coexist in the core challenges for frontline managers

PurposeThere are different organizational contexts for projects. Here, the focus is on a balanced co-existence organization (BCO) where core activities combine project-based and non-project based work, a context that differs from both project-based organizations (PBOs) and project-supported organizations (PSOs). Through differentiating between the role of resource and project manager, and encompassing a specific combination of projects and ongoing, recurrent work, the authors extend the understanding of frontline managers and HRM in project settings.Design/methodology/approachThis is a case study of a 1000+ department in a Norwegian firm with 38 interviews with the use of qualitative analysis.FindingsThe empirical study of one case of BCO reveals a HRM system with four different constellations of front line managers, each with their own perceived advantages and challenges. Based on the findings here, we have drawn implications for research on the BCO category, as well as comparative research on the three different contexts for projects. Issues that would benefit from comparative studies of polyadic HRM include constellations of front line manager roles, tensions involving projects, mechanisms for allocation of human resources, as well as the sources and mechanisms of stability and change.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are limited to one organization.Practical implicationsThis study provides a potential for further research on HRM issues in the BCO category.Originality/valueThe analysis develops the BCO category and introduces a category of three organizational contexts for projects. We provide better understanding of the three types and its HRM challenges.

Walking the line of the double bind: A cross-country comparison on women and men politicians’ self-presentations on social media

Abstract Political leaders play a crucial role in shaping societal perceptions and citizens’ expectations of gender roles. Through their self-presentation on social media, political leaders have the power to either reinforce or challenge existing gender stereotypes, thereby influencing how citizens perceive and interpret gender norms. However, research on how women and men politicians present themselves on social media is scarce. This comparative study contributes to remedying this research gap by content analysing the official Facebook and Instagram pages of 18 political leaders during the 2021 national election campaigns in Germany and Norway. In contrast to earlier research on gendered presentations of politicians in the news, we did not find strong evidence of gendered self-presentations in either country, neither in terms of personalisation nor in terms of gender issue ownership. This could be because gender roles in Germany and Norway have become more fluid, or because the successful politicians we have analysed have been successful due to their ability to “walk the double bind” of needing to conform to both masculine and feminine gender expectations. Our study calls for more comparative research into this field, including studies of lower profile politicians and politicians in countries with lower degrees of gender equality.

장애 및 장애위험 영유아 관련 연구동향 분석: 학술지 수록 선행연구의 통합적 탐색

The purpose of this study is to analyze domestic research trends related to infants and toddlers with disabilities and at risk of disabilities, and to explore the research contents of previous studies and suggest future directions for research on infants and toddlers with disabilities and at risk of disabilities based on the results. To this end, a total of 108 papers published in domestic academic journals from 2019 to 2023 were selected and analyzed, and the overall research trends and research contents of previous studies were specifically examined. As a result of the study, the research on infants and toddlers with disabilities and at risk of disabilities was conducted the most in 2022 and has been conducted steadily until recently. Second, the research topic was found to be the most research on factors for support measures for infants and toddlers with disabilities and at risk of disabilities. Third, the research subjects were mostly studies targeting school staff, and among them, studies targeting teachers were the main focus. Fourth, the research method was literature research, followed by quantitative research and qualitative research. In order to explore the research contents of previous studies, quantitative and qualitative research were first examined. In survey research, teacher factor research was conducted the most, in experimental research, intervention program factor research was conducted more, and in comparative research, parent factor research was conducted more. In qualitative research, interview research, research content, support measure factors were conducted the most. As a result of measuring previous research by dividing it into research factors, research subjects, and research methods by year, research on support measure factors was conducted the most in 2020, and research was conducted at a consistently high frequency until 2023. Research subjects on teachers and staff increased by year, and in terms of research methods, the frequency of qualitative research was gradually increasing. Based on these research results, the direction of future research on infants and toddlers with disabilities and at risk of disabilities was discussed.

Правовое регулирование возмещения вреда, причиненного преступлением в энергетической сфере

The article considers the issues of sufficiency of legal protection of the fuel and energy complex. Based on the method of comparative legal research and analysis of statistical information using formal logic, it was concluded that it is necessary to develop institutional foundations for compensation for harm from criminal acts to certain energy objects. It is proposed to single out the fuel and energy complex as a separate object of criminal law protection; clarify the procedural form of compensation for harm in the commission of crimes in the field of energy; at the local level, build and revise internal legal models in accordance with the risks of each individual company.

The Intra-articular Tendinous Graft Diameter of 10-mm Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Autografts in Adolescent Patients: An MRI Analysis of 100 Patients.

Bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft size may be one modifiable predictor of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction postoperative success, as smaller graft diameter has been associated with higher rates of rupture requiring revision. However, measuring the true intra-articular tendinous graft diameter of the soft tissue portion of a BPTB graft with standard intraoperative methods is difficult while keeping the graft intact. The purpose of the study was to use 3-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements to determine the cross-sectional area of the soft tissue, tendinous portion of a standard BPTB autograft with 10-mm diameter bone plugs, and, by calculation, the collagen graft size (ie, graft diameter), as would typically be reported in ACL reconstruction studies that consider soft tissue graft size. It was hypothesized that the calculated collagen graft diameter of 10-mm BPTB autografts would be significantly smaller than 10 mm. Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. A total of 100 patients (10 girls and 10 boys at each age from 13 to 17 years) who underwent a knee MRI at a single academic orthopaedic center without documented extensor mechanism pathology were identified. The central 10-mm width of the patellar tendon that would be harvested for BPTB autograft was measured. The region of interest area tool was then used to measure the cross-sectional area of a 10-mm BPTB graft with subsequent soft tissue autograft diameter calculation. The mean calculated tendinous graft diameter of a 10 mm-wide BPTB graft was 6.3 ± 0.5 mm and was significantly smaller than a 10-mm reference (P≤ .001). There was no significant association between age and cross-sectional area or graft diameter. Modern 3-dimensional imaging-based measurement techniques demonstrated that the true intra-articular tendinous soft tissue portion of 10-mm BPTB autografts shows substantial variation and is significantly smaller in diameter than the tunnels typically reamed to accommodate the bone plug portions of these grafts. Moreover, as graft size is a predictor of rupture rate, preoperative MRI-based evaluation may be an important tool when considering BPTB autograft for ACL reconstruction. Future comparative clinical research utilizing graft size as a study variable should consider quantifying and utilizing the diameter of the soft tissue component of BPTB autografts.

Socio-Spatial Analysis of Indigenous Cultural Tourism Sites: A Comparative Study of Kampoeng Wisata Cinangneng, Bogor, Indonesia and Tam-Awan Village, Baguio City, Philippines

Abstract The diversified image and expanded settings of tourism in cultural landscapes pose an interesting challenge in preserving their tangible and intangible aspects and strengthening their relationships and representations. The study focuses on the comparative socio-spatial analysis of two mountainous cultural tourism sites — Kampoeng Wisata Cinangneng in Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia, and Tam-Awan Village in Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines — with the local cultures of Sundanese and Ifugao, respectively. The study aims to understand the local cultures of Sundanese and Ifugao through their cultural activities present, to identify the natural and human-made landscape assets and their organization that reflect their cultures, and to study how these landscape assets are used by tourists. The research utilizes a descriptive qualitative approach and a comparative case study research design model through participatory observation, digital mapping, and thematic analysis. Data are translated on how each culture’s social structures are represented through the physical elements and how users act on it as representations of the culture, in return. Data shows differences in the sites’ socio-spatiality and representations. Cinangneng provides first-hand teaching and demonstration in the guided and controlled tours, while Tam-Awan offers a more flexible and self-directed learning through visual aids. The major physical difference of the sites are the topography and slopes, affecting the location of the built up structures and the pedestrian movement around them, creating Cinangneng’s passive and controlled experience and Tam-Awan’s active user experience. Understanding the socio-spatial relationships of these sites can help tourism policymakers, planners, managers, and other related stakeholders in recognizing cultural landscapes, their elements and spatial organization, and their representations in the evolving values of different cultures, especially in the Southeast Asian region.

A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study of Vaginal Microbiota and Spontaneous Abortion at a Tertiary Care Hospital in North Karnataka, India

ObjectiveTo compare the vaginal microbiome in women who have undergone spontaneous abortion with a gestational age of less than 20 weeks to that of women who have a continued pregnancy of the same gestational age. DesignCross-sectional comparative research design. SettingThe study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital of North Karnataka, India. In this rural area, many women lack awareness of prenatal care and women’s health information. Given rising rates of spontaneous abortion, studying the impact of the vaginal microbiome on pregnancy outcomes is crucial for raising local awareness. ParticipantsTwo hundred women; 100 experienced spontaneous abortion within 20 weeks’ gestation, and 100 maintained pregnancy with the same gestational age. MeasuresVaginal swab was used to detect participants’ vaginal microbiota. DNA was extracted from the vaginal samples; the 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing method was used to identify the organisms present. ResultsA pathogen detection rate of 13.15% (n = 200 women) was found in vaginal cultures. The percentages of bacterial detection in women who had spontaneous abortion and those whose pregnancies continued were 19.9% and 7.9%, respectively (p < .05). Compared to women who sustained their pregnancy, women who experienced spontaneous abortion had five common species: Escherichia coli (48%), Enterococcus faecalis (28%), Enterococcus faecium (12%), Pseudomonas fluorescens (7%), and Pseudomonas cedrina (5%); the most prevalent species among those with sustained pregnancy were Lactobacillus iners (58%), Lactobacillus crispatus (32 %), and E. coli (10%; p < .05). ConclusionThe vaginal microbiomes of women with spontaneous abortion were more varied and irregularly distributed with bacteria. The bacteria identified could affect a woman’s pregnancy outcome and perhaps be associated with spontaneous abortion. It is vital for nurses to provide education to women who are in the fertile period regarding prenatal screening, sexually transmitted infections, and perineal care.

The Statistical Fragility of Lateral Extra-articular Tenodesis Research: A Systematic Review.

A P value of <.05 is often used to denote statistical significance; however, in many scenarios, this threshold is vulnerable to a small number of outcome reversals. This study joins a body of studies within the orthopaedic literature that evaluate the statistical fragility of existing research via metrics such as fragility index (FI) and fragility quotient (FQ). The purpose of this study was to investigate the statistical fragility of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative studies on the topic, given the resurgent interest in lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) to augment primary or revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). It was hypothesized that the outcomes reported in these studies would be statistically fragile. Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4. Comparative studies and RCTs regarding LET as an adjunct procedure to ACLR published between 2000 and 2022 were analyzed. Descriptive characteristics, dichotomous outcomes, and continuous outcomes were extracted. The FI and continuous FI (CFI) were calculated by the number of event reversals to change significance; the FQ and continuous FQ (CFQ) were calculated to normalize the fragility metrics per sample size. Of 455 studies screened, 29 studies were included (9 RCTs, 20 comparative); 79.3% of included studies were published after 2020. A total of 48 dichotomous and 265 continuous outcomes were analyzed. The median FI was 9.0 (IQR, 7.0-13.3), with FQ of 0.1 (IQR, 0.04-0.17); the median CFI was 7.8 (IQR, 4.2-19.6), with CFQ of 0.12 (IQR, 0.08-0.19). The FQ and CFQ for studies on LET with revision ACLR were larger (0.117 and 0.113, respectively) than those focused on primary ACLR (0.042 and 0.095, respectively). Studies focused on LET with primary ACLR were more fragile than those on LET with revision, which suggests that further research on the indications for LET with primary ACLR is necessary. Future orthopaedic comparative research should include fragility metrics alongside traditional P values.