Funding Information Research Articles

Journalism Versus Churnalism: How News Factors in Press Releases Affect Journalistic Processing of Ocean Plastic Research in Newspapers Globally

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the impact of news factors in press releases sent from scientific organizations on the representation of ocean plastic research in newspapers. We tracked 84 press releases discussing peer-reviewed ocean plastic studies, published between 2017 and 2021 on EurekAlert! and identified their presence in 495 English-language newspapers worldwide. Text comparison showed that press releases contribute highly to the construction of newspaper articles, with copied text segments in over half of the articles. News factors highlighting the prestige of the scientific study, like research published in high-impact journals or conducted by elite researchers were indicators of high newspaper coverage, as were the news factors bad news, magnitude, and social/economic relevance. Scientific press releases usually provide essential details about research, such as sample characteristics, research sites, and methods. However, funding information and research limitations were only marginally present. This study showed that providing research details does not reduce newsworthiness, instead sometimes even increasing it. Providing research details in press releases can influence journalists’ understanding and evaluation of the scientific study and thereby their decision to report. Hence, to assess the newsworthiness of scientific research, we propose that news factor analysis should include research details.

Evaluating Compliance of Randomized Controlled Trial Abstracts in Plastic Surgery Journals with CONSORT Guidelines Using GPT-4 AI

Background: The quality of reporting in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is crucial for accurate interpretation and synthesis of evidence. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines provide a standardized framework for reporting RCT abstracts. This study aimed to evaluate the adherence of RCT abstracts published in three major plastic surgery journals to the CONSORT tool guideline for reporting abstracts, utilizing Generative Pre-trained Transformer 4 artificial intelligence (GPT-4 AI) technology. Methods: Abstracts of RCTs published between 2010 and 2023 were collected. The GPT-4 AI model was utilized to assess the abstracts based on the CONSORT criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to report the compliance scores and identify areas where abstracts lacked compliance. Results: Of the initially identified 500 abstracts, a total of 371 RCT abstracts met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The mean CONSORT score was 10.05 (±2.22), with a median score of 10.72. Specific areas where abstracts lacked compliance included trial design (39.6%), participant details (28.8%), intervention descriptions (15.6%), randomization process (25.3%), and the number of participants analyzed (33.4%). Trial registration (18.3%) and funding information (15.1%) were also frequently missing. Conclusions: Our study’s innovative use of the GPT-4 AI model for analysis demonstrated the potential of AI technology in streamlining and enhancing the evaluation of research compliance. We advocate for heightened awareness and more rigorous application of CONSORT guidelines among authors, reviewers, and journal editors. Emphasizing the role of AI technology in the evaluative process can further improve the reporting quality of future RCTs in plastic surgery, contributing to more reliable and transparent research in the field.

Funding priorities and health outcomes in Danish medical research

External research funding is an essential component of the infrastructure of modern, academic research. Priorities in funding decisions drive what knowledge is generated, and how scientists’ careers are shaped. For health research, it can ultimately have implications for health outcomes. The aim of this paper is to illustrate how funding information can be used to track priorities in health research, linking them to disease burdens and research outputs. Furthermore, funding concentrations are analysed from both researcher and disease perspectives, to estimate the influence of personal Matthew-effects on the distribution of health research funding. Denmark is used as the case, including funding information from all major public and private research foundations in the period 2004–2016. Grant information is linked to research outputs and disability-adjusted life-years (DALY rates), for 34,160 publications linked to 2630 grants, receiving DKK 4.8 billion in funding. Data show poor correlation between funding priorities, research activity and disease burdens, with several diseases receiving disproportionate amounts of funding. A research opportunity index is calculated to identify diseases with the highest potential for future investments from a burden-centred point of view. Funding is highly concentrated, both on people and on specific diseases. High funding concentrations on researchers can be a driving factor behind the observed funding-to-burden imbalances, and may risk knowledge stagnation through monopolisation of the market place of ideas. Results indicate that funders of clinical and translational research, as well as some types of biomedical research, need to supplement traditional considerations of scientific excellence with measures of societal challenges and relevance.

Assessing transparency practices in dental randomized controlled trials

BackgroundTo evaluate transparency practices in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in dentistry.MethodsThis meta-research study included RCTs in dentistry regardless of topic, methods, or level of detail reported. Only studies in English were considered. We searched PubMed for RCTs in dentistry published in English from December 31, 2016, to December 31, 2021. The screening was performed in duplicate, and data extracted included journal and author details, dental specialty, protocol registration, data and code sharing, conflict of interest declaration, and funding information. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed. We generated maps illustrating the reporting of transparency items by country of the corresponding author and a heat table reflecting reporting levels by dental specialty.ResultsA total of 844 RCTs were included. Only 12.86% of studies reported any information about data and code sharing. Protocol registration was reported for 50.36% of RCTs. Conflict of interest (83.41%) and funding (71.68%) declarations were present in most studies. Conflicts of interest and funding were consistently reported regardless of country or specialty, while data and code sharing had a low level of reporting across specialties, as well as low dissemination across the world. Protocol registration exhibited considerable variability.ConclusionsConsidering the importance of RCTs for evidence-based dentistry, it is crucial that everyone who participates in the scientific production and dissemination process actively and consistently promotes adherence to transparent scientific standards, particularly registration of protocols, and sharing of data and code.

Foreign bank branch participation and U.S. syndicated loan contract design

I examine whether and how foreign bank branch participation in U.S. loan syndicates influences loan contract design. I predict that foreign bank branches’ dollar funding liquidity risk and information frictions increase renegotiation costs and affect loan contract design. I find that loan contracts with greater foreign bank branch participation include fewer flexibility-reducing covenants, such as capital expenditure and balance sheet covenants, that restrict borrowers from making positive net present value investments. I document similar results using matched sample and plausibly exogenous variation in foreign bank branch participation. Additionally, loan contracts with greater foreign bank branch participation are more likely to feature split control rights, which give banks in revolving lines of credit the exclusive right to renegotiate. In contrast, foreign bank branches are more likely to be included in covenant-lite term loans. Overall, I show that foreign bank branch participation affects U.S. syndicated loan contract design through renegotiation costs.

Evidence mapping of traditional Chinese medicine intervention in diabetic retinopathy

This study aims to assess the quality of evidence for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy with traditional Chinese medicine based on the systematic reviews/Meta-analyses of relevant studies. CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, and Cochrane Library were searched for the systematic reviews/Meta-analyses of traditional Chinese medicine interventions in diabetic retinopathy published from the inception to November 2023. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2(AMSTAR2) scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. An evidence map was built to present the information on intervention measures, the number of studies included in the systematic reviews/Meta-analyses, research conclusions, and methodological quality assessment results. A total of 51 studies were included. Traditional Chinese medicine interventions accounted for a large proportion of the intervention measures, followed by Chinese patent medicines. The treatment methods mainly included tonifying deficiency, activating blood, and resolving stasis. According to the AMSTAR2 scale assessment results, the descriptions of funding information for included studies, lists of excluded articles, and preliminary research protocols were particularly lacking. The evidence map showed that 48, 2, and 1 studies concluded with beneficial effects, possible beneficial effects, and unclear effects, respectively. On the whole, traditional Chinese medicine demonstrated definite efficacy in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, while the evidence pre-sents moderate to low quality. It is suggested that higher-quality studies remain to be carried out to provide more evidence.

Texas

The paper provides a brief overview of funding information in Texas EC-12 public schools.

A Systematic Review of English as a Medium of Instruction Policy in the Arab World

Language of instruction policy plays a major role in the success of education, impacting stakeholders from different backgrounds, such as instructors, students, parents, and government officials. This article presents an analysis of English as a medium of instruction (EMI) research conducted in Arab world (AW) countries since the year 2000. A keyword search of the Scopus database returned 101 articles, 52 of which were removed using identified selection criteria. This left 49 articles analysed in terms of authorship, funding information, research instruments, contexts, publication year and place, citations, and key findings. The results were as follows: Although AW researchers have examined EMI policy in greater detail during the last five years, several AW contexts remain unexplored. Author affiliations were linked to the locations of funding organisations. Neither K-12 nor graduate EMI provision has been investigated fully. While EMI is a successful top-down policy well-suited to AW demographics, it is viewed negatively by most students, possibly because programmes are not designed well and instructors are insufficiently prepared to teach EMI programmes effectively. Although EMI’s one-size-fits-all approach is common in many AW institutions, educational levels and academic disciplines impact the success of EMI policy. I argue that AW and international researchers must collaborate to gain a wider understanding of AW contexts, and that research must strive to include other stakeholders, such as employers and parents.

The carbon footprint of health care delivery in Western Australia's public health system

Health systems have a dual imperative to take action on climate change. First, they must develop climate resilient health services in response to the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on health. Second, they must reduce their own carbon footprint since health systems are a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. An environmentally-extended multi-region input-output analysis was carried out, incorporating National Accounts data for Australia and annual expenditure data from WA Health for financial year 2019-20. Expenditure data were categorised to one of 344 economic sectors and by location of the provider of goods or services purchased. WA Health contributes 8% of WA's total carbon footprint, driven by expenditure on chemicals (23.8% of total), transport (20.2% of total), and electricity supply (19.7% of total). These 3 sectors represent 63.7% of WA Health's carbon footprint, but only 10.8% of its total expenditure. Reducing emissions related to health service provision in WA will require a holistic approach that leverages carbon footprinting insights and integrates them into organisational decision-making across all health programs. The high carbon-intensity of the transport and chemicals sectors supports previous research calling for a reduction in unnecessary pathology testing and the transition to delivery of non-urgent health care via sustainable models of telehealth. The impact of WA's size and location presents challenges, with a predominantly non-renewable energy supply and reliance on transport and supply chains from other states adding significantly to emissions. The study received funding from the Australian Research Council, The University of Sydney, and the WA Department of Health. The full list of funding information can be found in Acknowledgements.

Exploring the demand for elective egg freezing: A laboratory experiment

We conducted a proof-of-concept analysis to demonstrate that government funding decisions can be studied within a lab experiment: We explore the effects of government funding levels, information level, and various participant characteristics on the demand for elective egg freezing (EEF) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), two types of fertility treatment, and determine price and income elasticities of demand within an incentive-compatible experiment.We recruited 217 female participants without children aged 20–29 years. Participants were assigned to one of three between-subjects experimental treatments that varied income endowment and information provided. Additionally, the experiment consisted of 3 within-subjects conditions corresponding to different levels of government funding for IVF and EEF with 2 decision periods (‘planning period’ and ‘family-formation period’) and participants had to indicate their treatment choice aiming to achieve a live birth.The demand for EEF and IVF were shown to be price-inelastic. We found that the increase in the price for EEF and IVF through restrictions in government funding significantly reduced demand for such treatments. However, demand did not significantly change with income level, suggesting a high value associated with fertility treatment.Overall, our study shows that government funding decisions for medical interventions can be explored within an experimental setting.

Digitalisation On Automotive Supply Chain for Climate Competitiveness: A Systematic Bibliometric Analysis

The automotive industry, a cornerstone of global manufacturing, is undergoing a profound transformation driven by digitalization. This research paper explores the impact of digitalization on the automotive supply chain and its role in enhancing climate competitiveness. As the industry strives to meet stringent environmental standards and consumer demands for sustainability, leveraging digital technologies becomes imperative. We use R Studio software to perform bibliometric analysis in this study. Our initial repository for data came from the Scopus database. Following a keyword search and before applying the limited criteria, we were able to find 3202 papers. We then started integrating the limited criteria, which included the following: stream: Business Management & Accounting, source type: Journal, no author, duplicate titles, and language: English. After applying these criteria, we were able to find 935 papers. We selected citations, bibliographical data, abstracts and keywords, funding information, and other data before exporting our database from Scopus.

Blood Pressure and Central Arterial Stiffness before and after a 161-km Ultra-Endurance Race

BACKGROUND: Competing in ultra-endurance running events (>42.2 km) is a tremendous physiological stressor. Training for and competing in these events may be detrimental to cardiovascular (CV) health. However, previous findings on acute changes in key CV health measures like blood pressure (BP) and central arterial stiffness after a race remain equivocal. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the acute CV response to an ultra-endurance race. We hypothesized that BP would decrease while central arterial stiffness would increase following the race. Methods: We measured supine BP with an automated brachial cuff and carotid-to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV - index of central arterial stiffness) with applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor XCEL, AtCor Medical) among 41 finishers (9F/32M; Age: 44 ± 10 years; BMI: 22.7 ± 1.8 kg/m2) of the 2023 161-km Western States Endurance Run (WSER). Measures were taken 1–3 days before (pre) and ≤1 hour after race completion (post). We present data as mean ± SD after confirming normality using Shapiro-Wilk tests (α ≥ 0.05). We assessed differences between pre- and post- systolic BP (SBP), mean BP (MBP), diastolic BP (DBP), cfPWV, and cfPWV normalized to MBP using paired, two-tailed t-tests (α < 0.05). The magnitude of the difference between time points was represented as Cohen’s d ( d) effect sizes. Results: After the race, there was a significant decrease in SBP (129 ± 9 vs. 122 ± 10 mmHg, P < 0.001, d = 0.78), MBP (94 ± 7 vs. 89 ± 10 mmHg, P < 0.001, d = 0.58), and DBP (77 ± 7 vs. 74 ± 8, P = 0.02, d = 0.38) but no change in cfPWV (6.4 ± 1.0 vs. 6.2 ± 0.8 m/s, P = 0.10, d = 0.26) or cfPWV normalized to MBP (0.07 ± 0.01 vs. 0.07 ± 0.01 (m/s)/mmHg, P = 0.83, d = 0.00). CONCLUSION: We found that systolic, mean, and diastolic pressure were all lower after the 161-km WSER, but cfPWV did not change. These findings suggest that running a 161-km ultra-marathon race acutely lowers BP but does not affect central arterial stiffness. Further research is needed to understand the effect of chronic ultra-endurance training and competition on cardiovascular health. FUNDING INFORMATION: Western States Endurance Run Medical Research Program (GJG), National Institutes of Health K01HL160772 (JCW), American Heart Association 23CDA1037938 (JCW). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Postmenopausal Women with Obesity have Reduced Leg Endothelial Function and Exercise Vasodilatory Capacity

Background: Obesity (OB) is highly prevalent in postmenopausal women; particularly increased abdominal visceral adipose tissue contributes to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. The endothelium plays an important role on blood flow (BF) and pressure control at rest and during exercise. However, it is unknown how different body mass index (BMI) categories influence upper and lower limb endothelial function and BF responses to exercise in postmenopausal women. Purpose: The purpose was to examine upper and lower limb endothelial function at rest and BF regulation during low-intensity exercises in OB, overweight (OW), and lean (LN) postmenopausal women. We hypothesized that endothelial function and BF responses to submaximal exercise in both limbs will be attenuated in OB compared to the OW and LN groups. Methods: Women were classified as OB (30.0-39.9 kg/m2; n = 13), OW (25.0-29.9 kg/m2; n = 15), and LN (18.5-24.9 kg/m2; n = 11) by BMI. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial (BA-FMD) and superficial femoral arteries (FA-FMD) were measured using ultrasound. BF and vascular conductance (VC) in the brachial (BA-BF and BA-VC) and femoral (FA-BF and FA-VC) arteries were measured during separate 3-stage incremental rhythmic handgrip and plantarflexion exercises (PFE) at 5, 15, and 30 % of maximal strength and calculated 1-repetition max (1RM), respectively. Results: No differences in BA-FMD were observed among the groups. FA-FMD was significantly lower in OB (2.6 ± 1.4%) compared to OW (4.3 ± 1.9%) and LN (4.2 ± 0.7%) groups (P < 0.05). Increases in FA-BF (OB: 462 ± 229 vs. OW: 616 ± 173 vs. LN: 640 ± 141 mL/min; P < 0.001) and FA-VC (OB: 410 ± 176 vs. OW: 585 ± 155 vs LN: 623 ± 153 mL/min*100mmHg; P < 0.001) were attenuated during PFE at 30% of 1RM in OB compared to OW and LN. Upper-body exercise vasodilation was not attenuated by OB. FA-BF and FA-VC during PFE at 30% of 1RM were correlated with FA-FMD (FA-BF: r = 0.423, P = 0.007, FA-VC: r = 0.367, P = 0.021) and BMI (FA-BF: r = -.386, P = 0.015, FA-VC: r = -.456, P = 0.004). Conclusion: Postmenopausal women with OB have blunted leg endothelial function and exercise vasodilator function during submaximal dynamic plantarflexion exercise compared to LN and OW. These findings suggest that OB may contribute to reduce leg endothelial function, and vasodilator function during exercise in postmenopausal women. No support of funding information to disclose. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Abstract 2228: Long-term trajectories of functional disability in older adults with cancer

Abstract Background: Older individuals with cancer history have lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cognitive impairment is associated with lower functioning in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL). However, little is known about long-term IADL and ADL trajectories among individuals with cancer, hindering understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms between cancer and AD. We investigated the long-term functional disability trajectories of adults with cancer, comparing them with similarly aged individuals without a cancer diagnosis. Methods: Our study included 16,006 individuals aged 50 and older without a cancer history at baseline from the Health and Retirement Study. Biennial assessments were conducted from 1998 to 2020, including self-reported cancer status, IADL, and ADL. Linear probability models with repeated measures were used to assess IADL and ADL independence probabilities, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic covariates. Results: Among 16,006 participants (mean [SD] baseline age, 66.1 [9.9] years; 9,169 [57.3%] female), 3,723 (23.3%) reported a cancer diagnosis during follow-up. Before cancer diagnosis, individuals who later developed cancer had a higher probability of IADL independence and experienced a slower decline in independence compared to their similarly aged counterparts who remained cancer-free. Probability of IADL independence was 0.05 lower immediately after cancer diagnosis compared to the pre-cancer phase, followed by accelerated independence losses relative to the pre-cancer period. After diagnosis, the rate of decline in probability of IADL independence remained slower for individuals with cancer than their cancer-free counterparts, but differences in the rate of decline were smaller than prior to cancer diagnosis. Similar trends were observed for ADL independence. Conclusions: We observed a decline in both IADL and ADL independence around the time of cancer diagnosis, possibly attributed to treatments. Overall, individuals with cancer experienced a more gradual loss in functional independence compared to individuals who remained cancer-free, consistent with the documented inverse association between cancer and AD. Funding information: The current research was supported by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health (T32CA009142), T32 Training Grants from the NCI/NIH, and the National Institute on Aging (RF1AG059872). Citation Format: Gina E. Nam, Elizabeth Rose Mayeda, Zuo-Feng Zhang. Long-term trajectories of functional disability in older adults with cancer [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 2228.

Abstract 1280: Role of the tumor microbiome in the lung adenocarcinoma immune microenvironment through multi meta-omics analysis

Abstract Lung cancer is the leading cause of death by cancer worldwide. The tumor microbiome has shed light on its role, influence, and modulation in cancer immunosurveillance, where the tumor-bacterial component emerges as a potential mediator for the antitumoral-immune response. Nevertheless, the complexities and functional mechanisms underlying this interaction remain elusive. Here, we outline how the tumor microbiota can impact the host´s immune response to lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We explored the microbiome within LUAD tumors and non-tumoral adjacent tissues (NAT) from Chilean patients. We used 10 paired (LUAD and NAT) fresh-frozen samples, 20 exclusively tumor fresh-frozen samples, and 40 exclusively tumor formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we assessed revealed variations in alpha diversity, with an intra-tumoral microbiome enriched in Gammaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria, particularly genera Pseudomonas and Corynebacterium in undifferentiated LUAD samples. Notably, a consistent depletion of Verrucomicrobiota with genus Akkermansia was evident in samples where cell differentiation was lost. Metaproteomics analysis revealed bacteria-associated peptides from Pseudomonas and Streptomyces enriched in the tumor, linked to Major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters and Glutathione S-transferase N-terminal domain-containing protein, both associated with transport activity and negatively correlated with cancer. The bacterial metabolic analysis uncovered 10 enriched microbial-associated metabolites in the tumor, highlighting adenosine and inosine, two known inducers of immunosuppression on T-cells in the tumor microenvironment. Host proteomics gene-ontology analysis highlighted an enrichment of proteins in the Interferon pathways. Concurrently, a downregulation of proteins like T-cell surface-glycoprotein CD8 and HLA-class I histocompatibility antigen was observed, linked to MHC protein complex binding function, and associated with immune evasion through diminished antigen presentation. Furthermore, upregulated proteins such as macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) and eIF-2-alpha kinase GCN2, known to stimulate cell proliferation, were identified. In summary, our multi-omics and bioinformatic analyses unveil a distinct intra-tumoral microbiome and microbe-derived metabolites could induce immune suppression, altering the metabolic profile in the LUAD tumor microenvironment and collectively contribute to tumor progression. Funding information: This work was supported by FONDECYT1231629 and ANID-Subdirección de capital humano/Doctorado Nacional/2023/21231386. Citation Format: Ivania Valdés, Alberto Martin, Eduardo Martínez, Daniel Carvajal Hausdorf, Erick Riquelme. Role of the tumor microbiome in the lung adenocarcinoma immune microenvironment through multi meta-omics analysis [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 1280.

Assessing methodological quality in dental education research using MERSQI: Analysis of publications from two journals.

The Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI) has been used frequently to assess the methodological quality of medical education but not for dental education. The present study aimed to assess the methodological quality using MERSQI scores of articles published in the Journal of Dental Education (JDE) and the European Journal of Dental Education (EJDE). A cross-sectional assessment of the quality of manuscripts published in 2012, 2017, and 2022 JDE and EJDE was conducted. MERSQI data, numbers of authors, first and corresponding author degrees, geographic origins, and funding information were also extracted for each included study. Descriptive and analytical statistics were conducted, and significance level was set at α<0.05. Four hundred ninety-five articles met the inclusion criteria. The most common study design was a single-group cross-sectional or single-group posttest and conducted in one institution for all studied years. In all journals and years, studies were assessed mainly by participants. The study outcome was mostly satisfaction, attitudes, perceptions, opinions, and general facts. The total mean MERSQI score for each journal and year varied. Year and geographic origin significantly affected the total MERSQI score. Papers originating from Asia had the highest score, followed by South America, Europe, North America, Oceania, and Africa. MERSQI score is applicable to the assessment of the methodological quality of dental educational research. The MERSQI score for most of the domains was similar for both journals. The MERSQI score was affected by publication years and geographic origins.

Measuring the social impact of funded research over nonfunded: a case study of BRICS

PurposeThe study showcases the social impact (online attention) of funded research compared to nonfunded for the BRICS nations. The key themes achieving online attention across the funded and nonfunded publications have also been identified.Design/methodology/approachA total of 1,507,931 articles published across the BRICS nations for a period of three (03) years were downloaded from the Clarivate Analytics' InCites database of Web of Science (WoS). “Funding Acknowledgement Analysis (FAA)” was used to identify the funded and nonfunded publications. The altmetric score of the top highly cited (1%) publications was gauged from the largest altmetric data provider, “Altmetric.com”, using the DOI of each publication. One-way ANOVA test was used to know the impact of funding on the mentions (altmetrics) across different data sources covered by Altmetric.com. The highly predominant keywords (hotspots) have been mapped using bibliometric software, “VOSviewer”.FindingsThe mentions across all the altmetric sources for funded research are higher compared to nonfunded research for all nations. It indicates the altmetric advantage for funded research, as funded publications are more discussed, tweeted, shared and have more readers and citations; thus, acquiring more social impact/online attention compared to nonfunded publications. The difference in means for funded and nonfunded publications varies across various altmetric sources and nations. Further, the authors’ keyword analysis reveals the prominence of the respective nation names in publications of the BRICS.Research limitations/implicationsThe study showcases the utility of indexing the funding information and whether research funding increases social impact return (online attention). It presents altmetrics as an important impact assessment and evaluation framework indicator, adding one more dimension to the research performance. The linking of funding information with the altmetric score can be used to assess the online attention and multi-flavoured impact of a particular funding programme and source/agency of a nation so that necessary strategies would be framed to improve the reach and impact of funded research. It identifies countries that achieve significant online attention for their funded publications compared to nonfunded ones, along with the key themes that can be utilised to frame research and investment plans.Originality/valueThe study represents the social impact of funded research compared to nonfunded across the BRICS nations.

Progress in neurorehabilitation research and the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China from 2010 to 2022.

The National Natural Science Foundation of China is one of the major funding agencies for neurorehabilitation research in China. This study reviews the frontier directions and achievements in the field of neurorehabilitation in China and worldwide. We used data from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database to analyze the publications and data provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China to analyze funding information. In addition, the prospects for neurorehabilitation research in China are discussed. From 2010 to 2022, a total of 74,220 publications in neurorehabilitation were identified, with there being an overall upward tendency. During this period, the National Natural Science Foundation of China has funded 476 research projects with a total funding of 192.38 million RMB to support neurorehabilitation research in China. With the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, China has made some achievements in neurorehabilitation research. Research related to neurorehabilitation is believed to be making steady and significant progress in China.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRODUCTS – HOW CUSTOMERS FROM GENERATION Z IN V4 COUNTRIES ASSESS THIS APPROACH

Funding information: International Visegrad Fund Grant Number IVF 22230264. This article presents the results of a survey conducted in the first half of 2023. A total of 812 questionnaires were obtained from current and potential consumers (individual and B2B) in the Visegrad countries. The survey’s goal was to find out how consumers perceive and evaluate the quality and pro-ecological factors/challenges of the products of the electrical machinery industry, in the context of their declared personal purchases. Among other things, it sought to establish the actions consumers expect from manufacturers if they want to increase the market share of good-quality and environmentally friendly products. Improvements to the quality of products, with reductions in their negative environmental impact throughout their life cycle, were noticed most in Hungary and Poland. In all countries surveyed, consumers agreed most strongly with the statement that to increase the market share of good quality and environmentally friendly products, producers should enable recycling, disposal, and so on, and improve the availability of information.

Understanding tertiary EFL teacher learning and identity development: a cultural-historical activity theory perspective

Though current scholarship has conducted much research on teacher learning and teacher identity respectively, there are limited empirical studies examining the combination of these two constructs. This study, drawing upon cultural-historical activity theory, aims at exploring two tertiary EFL teachers’ specific learning processes and how they develop their identities through learning. Data sources include observations, interviews, informal communications and artifacts concerning the two participants’ learning and identity constructions. The findings reveal that teacher learning is an expansive learning process that starts with triggering events, and reflection permeates all the phases of teachers’ expansive learning. Besides, teacher learning is driven by multiple contradictions. Faced with these contradictions, teachers exert their agency, negotiate with significant others and cross various boundaries in their learning activities, which eventually promotes their identity development. The findings provide implications for further explorations of teacher learning and teacher identity.&#x0D; FUNDING INFORMATION. This work was supported by the [Youth Fund for Humanities and Social Sciences Research of the Ministry of Education] under Grant [22YJC740041]; [General Project of Philosophy and Social Science Research in Colleges and Universities] under Grant [2022SJYB2210]; [Chinese Scholarship Council] under Grant [202208320214]; and [Higher Education Reform Research Project of Jiangsu University] under Grant [2021JGYB081].