Critical Gaps Research Articles

Comprehensive analysis of environmental exposure to hazardous trace elements and lung function: a national cross-sectional study

BackgroundThere is growing interest in the joint effects of hazardous trace elements (HTEs) on lung function deficits, but the data are limited. This is a critical research gap given increased...

The translation of childhood trauma—Taking the English and Chinese translation of Michikusa as an example

Michikusa (1915) is an autobiographical novel penned by the renowned Japanese writer, Natsume Sōseki. Researchers typically employ it to probe the intricate interplay between the author/protagonist's evolution and the historical milieu of Meiji-era Japan. Scholars such as Chiaki Ishihara have advocated for a new avenue of inquiry, advocating the application of psychoanalytic perspectives in exploring Natsume Sōseki's corpus. Surprisingly, this direction remains relatively uncharted, with the scholarly realm notably lacking discussions on its Chinese and English translations through the lens of literary criticism. This article undertakes an in-depth investigation into the translation of Michikusa's portrayal of childhood trauma into English and Chinese, facilitated by the construction of a comprehensive trilingual corpus. Employing a psychoanalytic framework for interpretation, it discerns that the childhood scenes play a foundational role in shaping the protagonist's post-traumatic personality facets, significantly influencing his relationships with his immediate and extended family. The findings underscore a critical gap: despite the pivotal nature of childhood trauma scenes, the conflict, sorrow, and torment within the source texts are often inadequately conveyed. Translations frequently involve undue omissions, adaptations, or distortions, thereby potentially obstructing the target audience's accurate comprehension and interpretation. Furthermore, this study establishes that a nuanced understanding of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) studies equips translators to convey trauma with greater fidelity. This contribution to literary criticism holds promise for enhancing existing translations, providing a nuanced perspective on the significance of accurately representing trauma in literary works.

Iron-Catalyzed Allylic C(sp3)-H Silylation: Spin-Crossover-Efficiency-Determined Chemoselectivity.

The nuanced role of spin effects remains a critical gap in designing proficient open-shell catalysts. This study elucidates an iron-catalyzed allylic C(sp3)-H silylation/alkyne hydrosilylation reaction, in which the spin state of the open-shell iron catalyst dictates the reaction kinetics and pathway. Specifically, spin crossover led to alkyne hydrosilylation, whereas spin conservation resulted in a novel allylic C(sp3)-H silylation reaction. This chemoselectivity, governed by the spin-crossover efficiency, reveals an unexpected dimension in spin effects and a first in the realm of transition-metal-catalyzed in situ silylation of allylic C(sp3)-H bonds, which had been previously inhibited by the heightened reactivity of alkenes in hydrosilylation reactions. Furthermore, this spin crossover can either accelerate or hinder the reaction at different stages within a single catalytic reaction, a phenomenon scarcely documented. Moreover, we identify a substrate-assisted C-H activation mechanism, a departure from known ligand-assisted processes, offering a fresh perspective on C-H activation strategies.

An Executive Summary of the National Trauma Research Action Plan (NTRAP).

The National Trauma Research Action Plan (NTRAP) project successfully engaged multidisciplinary experts to define opportunities to advance trauma research and has fulfilled the recommendations related to trauma research from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) report. These panels identified more than 4,800 gaps in our knowledge regarding injury prevention and the optimal care of injured patients and laid out a priority framework and tools to support researchers to advance this field. Trauma research funding agencies and researchers can use this executive summary and supporting manuscripts to strategically address and close the highest priority research gaps. Given that this is the most significant public health threat facing our children, young adults, and military service personnel, we must do better in prioritizing these research projects for funding and providing grant support to advance this work. Through the Coalition for National Trauma Research (CNTR), the trauma community is committed to a coordinated, collaborative approach to address these critical knowledge gaps and ultimately reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality faced by our patients.

Application of co-crystallization method for the production of ammonium perchlorate/ammonium nitrate oxidizer for solid rocket propellants

Efforts in the quest for greener alternatives to ammonium perchlorate (AP) as a solid rocket propellant oxidizer have intensified due to the associated health and environmental concerns. AP exceptional performance in propulsion is accompagnied by its environmental concerns, necessitating the exploration of greener alternatives. Ammonium nitrate (AN) has emerged as a promising substitute, offering cleaner combustion products and cost-effectiveness. AN-based propellants face challenges such as hygroscopicity and structural instability. This study aims to reconcile the latter challenges by employing a co-crystallization process that embodies a synergistic association of AP and AN, culminating in a novel molecule that harmonizes their distinct advantages and mitigates their individual shortcomings. Optimizing the solvent/antisolvent co-crystallization process through a variation of the antisolvent temperature Ta and antisolvent-to-solvent ratio Ra/s allows to assess their impact on the co-crystallization process of AP and AN and to attain the desired and optimal co-crystal formation conditions. Various characterization techniques were applied to gain deep insights into the co-crystal formation mechanism, its thermal behavior, morphological and structural features together with its thermal decomposition kinetics. Maintaining a low Ta and a high Ra/s (Ta = 15 °C, Ra/s = 11) yielded the design of AP/AN that demonstrates typical indications of the cocrystal formation. The AP/AN cocrystal formation elevated the decomposition temperature by about 18 °C compared to the physical mixture. Furthermore, the combination of AP and AN demonstrates a non-negligible decrease in the HTD temperature compared to that of pure AP by about 110 °C. The kinetic study demonstrated a 50 kJ/mol increase in the activation energy of the AP/AN cocrystal compared to that of the physical mixture. The present research addresses the critical gap in the literature by investigating the co-crystallization of AP and AN that not only improves the safety and environmental impact of solid propellants but also enhances their overall performance and stability.

Abstract 631: Functional genetics of APR-246 rescuable TP53 mutants

Abstract TP53, often referred to as the guardian of the genome, encodes for the p53 tumor suppressor protein, and is one of the most frequently mutated genes in human cancers. Some cancer sub-types, such as non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and high grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), have high TP53 mutation rates reaching up to 56% and 96%, respectively. Given its multi-faceted role in human cancers, there have been several emerging therapeutic approaches targeting mutant p53. APR-246 is a small molecule drug currently in clinical trials for the functional rescue of p53 missense mutants, the most common type of p53 mutant protein, across various cancer types. APR-246 is proposed to bind mutant p53 and promote thermodynamic stabilization of the protein allowing it to regain wild-type-like conformation and consequentially regain WT-like functionality. However, there has yet to be a functional genomic screening of p53 mutants to systematically catalog which mutants are rescuable by APR-246. To address this critical gap, we have performed functional genetic screenings using a TP53 mutagenesis library. This pooled lentiviral library contains ~8,000 amino acid variants, spanning the entirety of the TP53 gene. Following stable transduction of this library into p53-null NSCLC and HGSOC cell lines, we performed functional screenings against sublethal doses of APR-246. Next-generation sequencing of the untreated and treated cell population allows for comparison of variant representation and determination of APR-246-sensitivity of p53 mutants. Preliminary statistical analysis of our screens has identified a pool of 117 “hit” mutants which are significantly depleted following treatment, indicative of APR-246-sensitivity. Two of these mutants, C242F and G266V, are non-functional, damaging mutations which occur in patients. Identifying p53 mutants that can be rescued by APR-246 will help identify which patients may benefit most from treatment with the drug. Citation Format: Anais Saunders, Caili Tong, Anthony N. Karnezis, Gary S. Leiserowitz, Jeremy R. Chein. Functional genetics of APR-246 rescuable TP53 mutants [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 631.

Optimising project outcomes in complex environments: empirical insights on agile practices and stakeholder dynamics

PurposeThis study delves into the dynamics between Agile Response to Change (AR), Adaptive Scoping (AS), Stakeholder Engagement (SE) and Project Performance (PP), with a special focus on the moderating influence of Project Complexity (PC). The research, grounded in a thorough literature review, identifies critical gaps in these areas and examines the extent to which PC moderates the effects of AR, AS and SE on PP, offering new perspectives for managing complex projects.Design/methodology/approachThe research develops a conceptual model based on a critical analysis of existing literature. A comprehensive questionnaire was designed, incorporating 28 items to measure AR, AS, SE, PP and PC. Data was collected from 136 project managers across various industries, and the responses were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to explore the complex interplay between these variables.FindingsThe analysis revealed that internal AR (ARint) significantly enhances both quantitative (PPqt) and qualitative aspects of PP (PPql). AS and SE were found to positively influence PPql, but their impact on PPqt was not significant. Interestingly, PC was observed to negatively moderate the relationship between ARint and PPql, while its moderating effect on the relationship between ARint and PPql was not significant. The study also notes that PC does not significantly alter the positive correlations between AS, SE and PPql.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by elucidating the relationships between ARint, AS, SE and different dimensions of PP. It uniquely explores the role of PC as a moderating variable in these relationships, offering valuable insights for practitioners and researchers in the field of complex project management.

Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing in Young Children With Childhood Apraxia of Speech: A Multiple Single-Case Design.

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a multivariate motor speech disorder that requires a motor-based intervention approach. There is limited treatment research on young children with CAS, reflecting a critical gap in the literature given that features of CAS are often in full expression early in development. Dynamic Temporal and Tactile Cueing (DTTC) is a treatment approach designed for children with severe CAS, yet the use of DTTC with children younger than 3 years of age has not been examined. A multiple single-case design was employed to examine the use of DTTC in seven children with CAS (aged 2.5-5 years) over the course of 6 weeks of intervention. Changes in word accuracy were measured in treated words from baseline to posttreatment and from baseline to maintenance (6 weeks posttreatment). Generalization of word accuracy changes to matched untreated words was also examined. A linear mixed-effects model was used to estimate the change in word accuracy for treated and untreated words across all children from baseline to posttreatment and to maintenance. A quasi-Poisson regression model was used to estimate mean change and calculate effect sizes for treated and untreated words. Group-level analyses revealed significant changes in word accuracy for treated and untreated words at posttreatment and maintenance. At the child level, six of seven children displayed medium-to-large effect sizes where word accuracy increased in an average of 3.4/5 words across all children. Each child displayed some degree of generalization to untreated targets, specifically for words with the same syllable shape as the treated words. These results demonstrate that DTTC can yield positive change in some young children with CAS. Key differences in each child's performance are highlighted.

Where believer, seller, and beneficiary come together: A typology of eco‐innovators

AbstractIn response to escalating environmental concerns and the imperative for sustainable development, corporations have turned to eco‐innovation (EI) to enhance competitiveness and reduce ecological footprints. This study scrutinizes 17 European Commission EI‐awarded companies from 1990 to 2021, uncovering pivotal dimensions and archetypes that drive successful EI implementation. Internal drivers, including management commitment and agile work structures, are paramount for “Believers” who champion sustainability as a core value. “Sellers” strategically respond to market demands, while “Beneficiaries” follow regulatory mandates. The academic implications are profound, providing a robust foundation for future research. This typology contributes to the discourse surrounding EI development and diffusion while offering corporate managers tangible guidance for tailored EI strategies. It illuminates how distinct motives lead to nuanced combinations of internal and external drivers. This empirical study fills a critical research gap, providing best‐practice insights for companies seeking to integrate EI effectively.

Environmental Governance and Gender Inclusivity: Analyzing the Interplay of PM2.5 and Women’s Representation in Political Leadership in the European Union

This research addresses a critical gap in the literature by establishing a direct correlation between particle pollution from fine particulates (PM2.5) and women’s political participation. It offers a nuanced understanding of gender dynamics in governance and their impact on environmental outcomes. Focusing on 27 European Union (EU) countries from 2013 to 2021, econometric techniques unveil common trends, underscoring cross-sectional dependence. This study reveals distinct gender behaviors in combating pollution, with women in parliaments and regional assemblies notably contributing to pollutant reduction. However, the negative impact of women’s engagement in politics on PM2.5 intensifies the lower part of the representation hierarchy. Policymakers are urged to create conditions fostering women’s political participation, advocating for gender quotas to address underrepresentation. The research emphasizes the interconnectedness of gender, politics, and environmental issues, urging heightened awareness among policymakers. Limitations include a confined scope and duration, requiring cross-validation beyond the EU. Future research pathways involve exploring the intricate connections between gender, politics, and environmental initiatives, seeking thresholds for impactful women’s representation. In contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this study aligns with SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals).

A comparative analysis of Spanish Clinical encoder-based models on NER and classification tasks.

This comparative analysis aims to assess the efficacy of encoder Language Models for clinical tasks in the Spanish language. The primary goal is to identify the most effective resources within this context. This study highlights a critical gap in NLP resources for the Spanish language, particularly in the clinical sector. Given the vast number of Spanish speakers globally and the increasing reliance on electronic health records, developing effective Spanish language models is crucial for both clinical research and healthcare delivery. Our work underscores the urgent need for specialized encoder models in Spanish that can handle clinical data with high accuracy, thus paving the way for advancements in healthcare services and biomedical research for Spanish-speaking populations. We examined 17 distinct corpora with a focus on clinical tasks. Our evaluation centered on Spanish Language Models and Spanish Clinical Language models (both encoder-based). To ascertain performance, we meticulously benchmarked these models across a curated subset of the corpora. This extensive study involved fine-tuning over 3000 models. Our analysis revealed that the best models are not clinical models, but general-purpose models. Also, the biggest models are not always the best ones. The best-performing model, RigoBERTa 2, obtained an average F1 score of 0.880 across all tasks. Our study demonstrates the advantages of dedicated encoder-based Spanish Clinical Language models over generative models. However, the scarcity of diverse corpora, mostly focused on NER tasks, underscores the need for further research. The limited availability of high-performing models emphasizes the urgency for development in this area. Through systematic evaluation, we identified the current landscape of encoder Language Models for clinical tasks in the Spanish language. While challenges remain, the availability of curated corpora and models offers a foundation for advancing Spanish Clinical Language models. Future efforts in refining these models are essential to elevate their effectiveness in clinical NLP.

The Status of Implementation Research in Exit and Post-Exit Human Trafficking Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT Conservative estimates place the number of individuals affected by human trafficking in the sub-Saharan African region at close to nine million. While there has been growing attention paid to innovative prevalence estimation approaches, and development of evidence-based interventions in the region, literature examining how these interventions are adapted, implemented, and delivered across multiple sectors, populations, and geo-political settings remains nascent at best. This critical gap in implementation research stymies the scale-up of effective anti-trafficking approaches. The central aim of this scoping review is to contribute to the anti-trafficking knowledge base by describing the current state of implementation research in this region based on 12 identified peer-reviewed human trafficking studies in sub-Saharan Africa. While none of the retrieved studies focuses solely on the implementation of a human trafficking intervention, the studies identified and discussed the acceptability and cost impacts of their implementation efforts. We conclude that advancing trafficking knowledge and praxis would require the synergistic and concurrent pursuit of both implementation and intervention strategies.

A Novel Multifunctional Material for Constructing 3D Multi‐Response Structures Using Programmable Two‐Photon Laser Fabrication

AbstractTwo‐photon polymerization direct laser writing (TPP‐DLW) technology has gained much popularity due to its precision and flexibility in creating intricate 3D micro/nano‐scale devices and machines. While TPP‐DLW enables complex 3D micro/nano patterning, developing multifunctional materials tailored for this process remains a challenge, limiting sophisticated micro/nano device performance. This work addresses key barriers by introducing a novel multifunctional network polymer with specifically designed for TPP‐DLW. The material integrates tailored functional groups allowing submicron 3D spatial arrangement under laser control. Remarkably, it demonstrates tunable pH response, programmed fluorescence, and dynamic reconfiguration upon optical illumination. By leveraging TPP‐DLW's programmability, reconfigurable encrypted microstructures are achieved, representing a new precision multifunctional material printing paradigm beyond single property systems. The synthesized material with its responsive properties, combined with digital fabrication control, fills critical gaps in developing smart, adaptive micro/nano systems. Potential applications requiring exquisite 3D control and multi‐tasking, such as biomedical sensors, micromachines and optics could see transformative advancement. Fundamentally, this integrated materials‐processing approach broadens micro/nano manufacturing design space and functional versatility.

Higher interleukin-6 is associated with greater momentary social connection in close relationships in daily life

Recent evidence has documented associations between higher levels of inflammation and social approach behaviors toward close others in laboratory-based tasks. Yet it is unknown if this translates to interactions with close others in daily life. Given that momentary experiences of social connection have both relational and health consequences, this is a critical gap in our knowledge. To address the association between inflammation and momentary social connection experiences in close relationships, 55 participants provided blood samples on two consecutive days, which were assayed for circulating levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6). After providing the first blood sample, participants received the annual influenza vaccine as a mild inflammatory challenge. Participants also reported on cognitive, affective, and behavioral indicators of social connection with a specific close other multiple times across the two study days. Results indicated that levels of IL-6 were positively associated with temporally-proximal indicators of momentary social connection with a close other. Specifically, higher levels of IL-6 were associated with greater feelings of comfort from the close other, greater desire to be near them, and higher reported relationship quality. Greater IL-6 reactivity to the vaccine was only associated with increased reported relationship quality. These data add to the existing literature suggesting that higher levels of IL-6 may motivate social approach toward a close other, extending evidence to now include momentary social connection experiences in daily life.

Ethnic and Geographic Disparities in Helicobacter pylori Infection: Unraveling the Complexities of Gastric Cancer Prevalence

This literature review delves into the complex relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer, focusing on ethnic and geographic disparities. It examines the varying prevalence of H. pylori across different regions and ethnic groups, the pathogenicity of different bacterial strains, and the influence of genetic, dietary, and socio-economic factors on gastric cancer incidence. The review identifies critical research gaps and underscores the need for an integrated approach to understand these disparities better and develop targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

A carbon neutral supply chain management by considering emission-risk minimization and green purchasing through optimal decision-making

This study addresses critical gaps in supply chain management (SCM) by integrating emission-risk minimization (ERM), green purchasing (GP), and profit maximization (PM). The research focuses on the optimal behaviors of manufacturers, agents, and retailers within the SCM framework to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CO2e). This study considers Guangdong province, China, a region facing challenges in optimizing energy systems and meeting CO2e reduction targets. Simulation-based optimization techniques within mathematical models are employed. A design of experiment (DOE) method was used to explore the dynamics of key variables in the SCM environment. Results reveal optimal behaviors for manufacturers, agents, and retailers, demonstrating the ideal values for profit and pricing decisions. Manufacturers optimize production quantity, achieving CO2e reduction and PM through ERM. Agents exhibit a strong commitment to GP practices, enhancing PM and carbon-neutral goals. Retailers get more PM than manufacturers and agents, contributing to a clean environment. Interestingly, retailers make contributions to the clean environment without considering ERM and GP in SCM. The study contributes novel insights by addressing the identified gap in SCM research, emphasizing the joint consideration of ERM, GP, and PM. This research assists manufacturers, agents, and retailers in terms of PM for economic objectives. It cleans the environment through carbon-neutral SCM in society.

Disparities Research for Pelvic Floor Disorders: A Systematic Review and Critique of Literature.

Understanding the status of pelvic floor disorder (PFD) disparities research will allow the opportunity to advance future pelvic floor equity efforts. The aims of the study were to (1) characterize the landscape of PFD disparities literature using the 3 phases of disparities research framework, (2) describe the characteristics of PFD disparities studies, and (3) identify critical knowledge gaps. We performed a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications addressing disparities in PFDs among U.S. populations from PubMed, Embase, Scopus, or the Cochrane Database indexed between 1997 and 2022. Using the triphasic framework for advancing health disparities research by Kilbourne et al (Am J Public Health. 2006;96(12):2113-21), we categorized the included studies into the detecting phase (identifies and measures disparities in historically marginalized populations), understanding phase (establishes disparity determinants), or reducing phase (conducts interventions to alleviate inequities). All screening, coding, and quality reviews were independently performed by at least 2 authors. We used descriptive analysis and the χ2 test for comparisons. The initial search identified 10,178 studies, of which 123 were included. Of the included studies, 98 (79.7%), 22 (17.9%), and 3 (2.4%) studies were detecting, understanding, and reducing phase research, respectively. The most common disparity category investigated was race and ethnicity (104 studies), and one third of these studies attributed drivers of racial and ethnic differences to structural influences. Publications of detecting phase studies outpaced the growth of understanding and reducing phase research. Most PFD disparities research focused on identifying historically marginalized populations with inadequate progression to understanding and reducing phases. We recommend progressing PFD disparities research beyond the detecting phase to advance health equity in PFD care.

Comparative effectiveness research trial for antidepressant incomplete and non-responders with treatment resistant depression (ASCERTAIN-TRD) a randomized clinical trial.

Further research is needed to help improve both the standard of care and the outcome for patients with treatment-resistant depression. A particularly critical evidence gap exists with respect to whether pharmacological or non-pharmacological augmentation is superior to antidepressant switch, or vice-versa. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of augmentation with aripiprazole or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation versus switching to the antidepressant venlafaxine XR (or duloxetine for those not eligible to receive venlafaxine) for treatment-resistant depression. In this multi-site, 8-week, randomized, open-label study, 278 subjects (196 females and 82 males, mean age 45.6 years (SD 15.3)) with treatment-resistant depression were assigned in a 1:1:1 fashion to treatment with either of these three interventions; 235 subjects completed the study. 260 randomized subjects with at least one post-baseline Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating (MADRS) assessment were included in the analysis. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (score change (standard error (se)) = -17.39 (1.3) (p = 0.015) but not aripiprazole augmentation (score change (se) = -14.9 (1.1) (p = 0.069) was superior to switch (score change (se) = -13.22 (1.1)) on the MADRS. Aripiprazole (mean change (se) = -37.79 (2.9) (p = 0.003) but not repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation augmentation (mean change (se) = -42.96 (3.6) (p = 0.031) was superior to switch (mean change (se) = -34.45 (3.0)) on the symptoms of depression questionnaire. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation augmentation was shown to be more effective than switching antidepressants in treatment-resistant depression on the study primary measure. In light of these findings, clinicians should consider repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation augmentation early-on for treatment-resistant depression.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02977299.

Linking ecosystem multifunctionality to microbial community features in rivers along a latitudinal gradient.

Microorganisms regulate numerous ecosystem functions and show considerable differences along a latitudinal gradient. Although studies have revealed the latitudinal patterns of microbial community structure and single ecosystem function, the latitudinal patterns of ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) and how microbial communities affect EMF along a latitudinal gradient remain unclear. Here, we collected channel sediments, riparian rhizosphere soils, and riparian bulk soils from 30 rivers across China and calculated EMF using 18 variables related to nitrogen cycling, nutrient pool, plant productivity, and water quality. We also determined microbial diversity (taxonomic and functional) and microbial network complexity using metagenomic sequencing. The results showed that EMF significantly decreased with increasing latitude in riparian rhizosphere and bulk soils but not in channel sediments. Microbial taxonomic and functional richness (observed species) in channel sediments were significantly higher in the low-latitude group than in the high-latitude group. However, microbial co-occurrence networks were more complex in the high-latitude group compared with the low-latitude group. Abiotic factors, primarily geographic and climatic factors, contributed more to EMF than microbial diversity and network complexity parameters in which only betweenness centralization had a significant relationship with EMF. Together, this study provides insight into the latitudinal pattern of EMF in rivers and highlights the importance of large-scale factors in explaining such latitudinal patterns.IMPORTANCEEcosystem multifunctionality (EMF) is the capacity of an ecosystem to provide multiple functions simultaneously. Microorganisms, as dominant drivers of belowground processes, have a profound effect on ecosystem functions. Although studies have revealed the latitudinal patterns of microbial community structure and single ecosystem function, the latitudinal patterns of EMF and how microbial communities affect EMF along a latitudinal gradient remain unclear. We collected channel sediments, riparian rhizosphere soils, and riparian bulk soils from 30 rivers along a latitudinal gradient across China and calculated EMF using 18 variables related to nitrogen cycling, nutrient pool, plant productivity, and water quality. This study fills a critical knowledge gap regarding the latitudinal patterns and drivers of EMF in river ecosystems and gives new insights into how microbial diversity and network complexity affect EMF from a metagenomic perspective.

A Conceptual Analysis of Green Human Resource Management, Green Organizational Culture, and Employee Green Behavior towards Environmental Performance

This research addresses a critical gap in the existing literature on green human resource management (GHRM) practices and their influence on a firm's environmental performance. While scholars have demonstrated the positive correlation between GHRM practices and environmental outcomes, there remains a dearth of studies explicating the mediating roles played by green organizational culture and employee green behavior in this relationship. By proposing a comprehensive conceptualization of environmental performance, this study aims to unravel the intricate mechanisms through which GHRM practices exert their impact. The framework introduced not only bridges the existing gap in GHRM literature but also serves as a foundation for understanding the interconnected dynamics between GHRM, green organizational culture, employee behavior, and environmental performance. This conceptual research offers valuable insights that extend beyond theoretical considerations, providing practical implications for fostering sustainable practices, particularly in the context of emerging economies. It aligns economic goals with environmental objectives, thereby contributing to a holistic understanding of the interplay between human resource practices and environmental sustainability.