Geographic Dispersion Research Articles

Coevolutionary Analysis of the Pfs47-P47Rec Complex: A Bioinformatics Approach.

The ability to predict and comprehend molecular interactions offers significant insights into the biological functions of proteins. The interaction between surface protein 47 of Plasmodium falciparum (Pfs47) and receptor of the protein 47 (P47Rec) has attracted increased attention due to their role in parasite evasion of the mosquito immune system and the concept of geographical coevolution between species. The aims of this study were as follows: to apply a bioinformatics approach to investigate the interaction between Pfs47 and P47Rec proteins and to identify the potential binding sites, protein orientations and receptor specificity sites concerning the geographical origins of the vectors and the parasite. Public sequences of the pfs47 and p47rec genes were downloaded and subsequently filtered to predict functional and structural annotations of the Pfs47-P47Rec complex. Phylogenetic analyses of both proteins were carried out. In addition, the p47Rec gene was subjected to sequencing and subsequent analysis in 2 distinct Anopheles species collected in Honduras. The examination of motifs reveals a significant degree of conservation in pfs47, suggesting that Pfs47 might have undergone recent evolutionary development and adaptation. Structural models and docking analyses supported the theory of selectivity of Plasmodium falciparum strains towards their vectors in diverse geographical regions. A detailed description of the putative interaction between the Pfs47-P47Rec complex is shown. The study identifies coevolutionary patterns between P47Rec and Pfs47 related to the speciation and geographic dispersion of Anopheles species and Plasmodium falciparum, with Pfs47 evolving more recently than P47Rec. This suggests a link between the parasite's adaptability and existing anopheline species across different regions. P47Rec likely has a cytoplasmic localization due to its lack of membrane attachment elements. However, these findings are based on simulations and require validation through methods like cryo-electron microscopy. A significant limitation is the scarcity of sequences in global databases, which restricts precise interaction modelling. Further research with diverse parasite isolates and anopheline species is recommended to enhance understanding of these proteins' structure and interaction.

Does geographic dispersion increase the stock price crash risk after M&A with earnouts Evidence from China

Does geographic dispersion increase the stock price crash risk after M&A with earnouts Evidence from China

Human burials during the hunter‐gathering/farming transition in Ojo de Agua, Northern Patagonia, Argentina

AbstractThis paper explores the implications of the conformation of formal burial areas in the southernmost limit of agricultural dispersion in South America. Previous research proposed the development of cemeteries or formal burial areas due to specialization in using specific habitats and the development of territorial ownership. From a paleoecological background, we hypothesize that hunter‐gatherers intensified resource exploitation and develop territoriality in population growth and pressure over resources. The expectation is that formal burial areas emerged in this context to legitimize the ties with the territory and ensure exclusive access to the land and its resources. To evaluate this hypothesis, we analyzed a mortuary context from southern Mendoza (Central Western Argentina), named Ojo de Agua, by describing the site's characteristics, burial modality, presence of grave goods, age at death profile, and evidence of violence. This site has two main conditions for handling our hypothesis: (1) the chronology and spatial localization coincide with the temporal and geographic dispersion of pre‐Hispanic cultigens; (2) systematic procedures during fieldwork led us to access a significant amount of information not available in other mortuary contexts of the area. Our results point to Ojo de Agua as a cemetery that emerged in the frame of increasing territoriality and conflict with neighboring groups and permitted us to improve our knowledge about the dynamic relationship between human population, environment, and cultural responses in the context of intensification and contact with food production. These results deepen recent studies in the same line but with a greater resolution.

СУЧАСНІ АСПЕКТИ КОРПОРАТИВНОГО МЕНЕДЖМЕНТУ ТРАНСНАЦІОНАЛЬНИХ КОМПАНІЙ, ЩО ПРАЦЮЮТЬ В УКРАЇНІ

The article examines modern features of corporate management of TNCs (transnational companies) operating in the Ukrainian markets. The essence and general aspects of the activities of TNCs are considered, the main features of transnational companies are highlighted (global presence, scale, innovation, flexibility and adaptability, influence on world politics and economics), type of market structure. The main features of organizing activities in conditions of geographical dispersion of representative offices and divisions of TNCs are highlighted. Emphasis is placed on the need for high-quality corporate management, introducing the existing features of the activities of TNCs, the breadth of coverage of various markets, which is extremely important in the difficult conditions of globalization, frequent changes in the laws of countries, the emergence and rapid spread of innovations, and other factors affecting the activities of global companies and their business environment. Wednesday. The essence and main features of corporate management are described, its purpose (ensuring effective management of all aspects of the company’s activities at the global level in order to achieve strategic goals and success in the international market.) and main tasks (managing various areas of business: strategies, policies, resources, finances, innovations, personnel, quality of products and processes, stakeholders, etc.). The main constituent factors and components of high-quality corporate management of TNCs (TNC management method, organizational structure (management hierarchy), system of relations, compliance with the principle of business information transparency, corporate governance model, special components of TNC corporate management are identified and characterized), their features are described, and examples are given. from the practice of TNCs in Ukraine. The main hierarchical levels of the management structure of TNCs are indicated - senior management (top management), regional management, functional management and local management, and their features are highlighted. The main aspects of information transparency of TNCs are presented and characterized, including such important sections as: transparency of financial reporting, transparency of corporate governance, transparency of strategic information, transparency of data on products and services, transparency in terms of social responsibility of business. The channels of information communication of TNCs with the main stakeholders are noted. Models of corporate management used in the activities of TNCs in Ukraine (centralized and decentralized, matrix and combined models) are identified and described. The need to comply with an important feature of corporate management of TNCs - cross-culturalism - is noted. Conclusions are drawn about the quality of corporate management of TNCs in Ukraine. General conclusions are made and further directions of research in this topic are outlined.

Exploring The Two Decades Of Quality Assurance Advancement In Vocational Education And Training

Quality assurance in vocational education and training (VET) becoming a concern driven by evolving educational landscapes and the demand for skilled and job-ready individuals. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on VET quality assurance from the year 2003 to 2022. Data was visualized using VOSviewer and Tableau. This paper aims to provide insights into the quantitative distrubution, citation pattern, geographical dispersion, and emerging topics in this field. Results show an increasing volume of publications on quality assurance in VET. The citation pattern suggests that the depth of exploration and engagement with existing knowledge is not proportionally robust. Russian Federation emerges as a prominent contributor in terms of document output. A lack of international research collaboration among countries, signaling a need for increased global engagement. The identified trends in research can be categorized into three clusters. Cluster 1 focuses on aspects related to the implementation of quality assurance in VET, Cluster 2 delves into methodological approaches in this context, and Cluster 3 explores research contexts associated with the value, benefits, or objectives of implementing quality assurance in VET. This article also offers a reflection on the findings as research that necessitates further exploration. This article can serve as a valuable resource for empirical researchers seeking to examine the temporal evolution of study participants and the shifting research themes pertaining to quality assurance in vocational education.

Perineal myiasis caused by Wohlfahrtia magnifica in mares in central France

AbstractThree cases of Wohlfahrtia magnifica perineal myiasis on mares living in the Indre Department (central France) are reported. W. magnifica, whose geographical dispersion towards the plains has been known since the 1980s, continues its progression in France. Altitude is not a limiting factor for this fly, unlike climate. However, we assume that climate change and its ecological consequences, associated with the natural resistance of the maggot and commercial transactions, will not be an obstacle to the W. magnifica development in France.

A bibliometric analysis and future research agenda for online labour platforms

Online labour platforms (OLPs) are profit-oriented companies utilising technology to connect independent contractor workers with short-term service labour needs, offering a digital marketplace for posting tasks, receiving bids, and finalising agreements across various domains such as writing, design, programming, and digital marketing. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the concurrent body of knowledge on OLPs, explaining how the specificities of this emerging form of labour are researched from various academic standpoints. The study is based on a dataset of 358 papers on OLPs published from 2013 to August 2023. The main finding of the study is that scholarly interest in OLPs is steadily growing in the observed period. However, geographical dispersion of the scientific output is not in line with the actual level of utilisation of OLPs, and scholarly interest in OLPs spans across diverse disciplines, including industrial relations and labour, management, economics, sociology, law, and computer science. The results of this paper can help better understand the dynamics of scholarly publishing on OLPs and further leverage underexploited subtopics in this field.

The impact of global city location intensity on MNE performance: Leveraging learning and connectivity

Building on recent international business research that embraces insights from economic geography, we hypothesise that MNEs locating a high share of the total number of their subsidiaries in global cities (which we conceptualize as global city location intensity) exhibit higher financial performance. We further argue that knowledge-intensive firms benefit more from global city location intensity than less knowledge-intensive firms. We also posit that multinationality (international geographic dispersion) negatively moderates the relationship between global city location intensity and financial performance. We test our hypotheses on a sample of 497 MNEs and find strong support for our predictions. We contribute to the literature by introducing the notion of intensity into the relationship between global city locations and financial performance and call for considering scale effects when examining locational decisions and their consequences.

Grads on the go: Measuring college‐specific labor markets for graduates

AbstractThis paper introduces a new measure of the labor markets served by colleges and universities across the United States. About 50% of recent college graduates are living and working in the metro area nearest the institution they attended, with this figure climbing to 67% in‐state. The geographic dispersion of alumni is more than twice as great for highly selective 4‐year institutions as for 2‐year institutions. However, more than one quarter of 2‐year institutions disperse alumni more diversely than the average public 4‐year institution. In one application of these data, we find that the average strength of the labor market to which a college sends its graduates predicts college‐specific intergenerational economic mobility. In a second application, we quantify the extent of “brain drain” across areas and illustrate the importance of considering migration patterns of college graduates when estimating the social return on public investment in higher education.

GROWING GREENER: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF TRENDS IN GREEN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESEARCH

A new area of study in the field of human resource management (HRM) has evolved as academic interest in the environment has increased. The objective of this paper is to investigate the geographical dispersion, magnitude and development of the knowledge foundation by pinpointing noteworthy writers, publications, terminologies, and periodicals while evaluating present-day written works and cognitive frameworks and emphasizing prevalent patterns of research on green human resource management (GHRM). Using a bibliometric technique, the intellectual framework of the GHRM research is examined. Findings suggest four clusters in the bibliographic coupling analysis presented in environmental management (cluster 1), employee behaviour towards organizational environmental performance (cluster 2), organizational citizenship behaviour towards the environment (cluster 3), and green supply chain management (cluster 4). The implications of this study suggest that GHRM is crucial to the theoretical and managerial aspects of human resource management for sustainable development.

The new Diploma of Rural Generalist Anaesthesia: Supporting Australian rural and remote communities.

In 2023, a Diploma of Rural Generalist Anaesthesia (DipRGA) was implemented across Australia. Developed collaboratively by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the 12-month qualification is completed during or following ACRRM or RACGP Rural Generalist Fellowship training. Focused on the needs of rural and remote communities for elective and emergency surgery, maternity care, resuscitative care for medical illness or injury, and stabilisation for retrieval, the DipRGA supports rural generalist anaesthetists working within collaborative teams in geographically isolated settings. The goal is a graduate who can anaesthetise American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class 1, 2 and stable 3 patients for elective surgery, provide obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia, anaesthetise paediatric patients and undertake advanced crisis care within their scope of practice. Crucially, they also recognise both limitations of their skills and local resources available when considering whether to provide care, defer, refer or transfer patients. DipRGA curriculum design commenced by adapting the ANZCA specialist training curriculum with consideration of the training approach of both the ACRRM and the RACGP, particularly the rural and remote context. Curriculum content is addressed in seven entrustable professional activities supported by workplace-based assessments and multisource feedback. Trainees are supervised by rural generalist anaesthetists and specialist anaesthetists, and complete flexible learning activities to accommodate geographical dispersion. Standardised summative assessments include an early test of knowledge and an examination, adapted from the ACRRM structured assessment using multiple patient scenarios.

Exploring perceptions of performance support team effectiveness in elite sport

ABSTRACT Elite sport organisations are increasingly recruiting diverse and sophisticated performance support teams in an attempt to optimise athlete health and performance. These multiteam systems are commonly comprised of sport medicine and sport science personnel (e.g. physiotherapists, sport scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionists, psychologists), yet the effectiveness of such teams is reliant upon more than the mere aggregate of the assembled expertise. Whilst the multidimensional nature of team effectiveness has been investigated in other domains, such research pertaining to performance support teams in elite sport is sparse. A qualitative method of enquiry was used to explore performance support team effectiveness across a range of elite sports. Four online focus groups consisting of a total of 18 participants working in English Premier League Football, Formula One, and Olympic Sports (summer and winter) were conducted, and reflexive thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. Four overarching themes were generated which are deemed to be associated with performance support team effectiveness: team structure (composition, geographic dispersion, hierarchical arrangement, and leadership), team member attributes (role proficiency, open mindedness, adaptability, and humility), shared mental model (shared objectives, role understanding, and contextual awareness), and social capital (trust, respect, cohesion, and communication). This study provides a greater understanding of performance support team effectiveness in elite sport which has conceivable implications for future research and also professional practice.

Bayesian spatial modelling of localised SARS-CoV-2 transmission through mobility networks across England.

In the early phases of growth, resurgent epidemic waves of SARS-CoV-2 incidence have been characterised by localised outbreaks. Therefore, understanding the geographic dispersion of emerging variants at the start of an outbreak is key for situational public health awareness. Using telecoms data, we derived mobility networks describing the movement patterns between local authorities in England, which we have used to inform the spatial structure of a Bayesian BYM2 model. Surge testing interventions can result in spatio-temporal sampling bias, and we account for this by extending the BYM2 model to include a random effect for each timepoint in a given area. Simulated-scenario modelling and real-world analyses of each variant that became dominant in England were conducted using our BYM2 model at local authority level in England. Simulated datasets were created using a stochastic metapopulation model, with the transmission rates between different areas parameterised using telecoms mobility data. Different scenarios were constructed to reproduce real-world spatial dispersion patterns that could prove challenging to inference, and we used these scenarios to understand the performance characteristics of the BYM2 model. The model performed better than unadjusted test positivity in all the simulation-scenarios, and in particular when sample sizes were small, or data was missing for geographical areas. Through the analyses of emerging variant transmission across England, we found a reduction in the early growth phase geographic clustering of later dominant variants as England became more interconnected from early 2022 and public health interventions were reduced. We have also shown the recent increased geographic spread and dominance of variants with similar mutations in the receptor binding domain, which may be indicative of convergent evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The Nação Rules: A Comparative Analysis of the Bylaws of Western Sephardic Congregations in the Early Modern Atlantic

Religious persecution, segregation, and commercial networks triggered the diaspora of Iberian New Christians and Sephardic Jews throughout the Atlantic in the Early Modern period. Despite the geographical dispersion, the diverse host environments, and the complex religious experiences, the so-called Western Sephardic Diaspora was founded on the principles of unity and preservation, which were cemented by the notion of belonging to the Nação. Thus, as a cross-border community connected by common geographical origins, collective cultural identity, and a shared New Christian background, the concept of Nação was structural for the definition and evolution of the diasporic experience of Portuguese and Spanish exiles and their descendants from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. This article overviews the most recent findings and perspectives on the concept of the Nação as a unifying element of the Western Sephardic Diaspora. Then, it problematizes the interpretation of this concept in different Sephardic communities established in Atlantic port cities. This problem is approached by analyzing these communities’ internal bylaws (ascamot) under the lens of two critical questions: (1) the concept of Nação as defining the borders of belonging to the community and (2) the unity and preservation of the Nação as essential drifts of the organization and management of the community. This analysis emphasizes the tension between the dynamism and particularities of each community and the conservatism of the idea of Nação, promoted by small social and economic elites that exercised increasing control over the communities and their interaction with the surrounding environments.

E-books in Spanish university libraries: An analysis of online social sciences degrees

This paper analyzes the availability, via both library lending licenses and open access, of digital versions of the monographs that professors recommend in online bachelor's degrees courses in social sciences at Spanish public universities. Monographs are the type of document most recommended by professors when it comes to teaching and learning in higher education. Digital format is most suitable for online degrees, considering the added effort entailed for libraries to get these documents owing to the geographic dispersion of the students.For this purpose, all the resources in the recommended reading section of the syllabi from a sample of online degree programs in social sciences for the 2022–2023 academic year were extracted. Then, the catalogs of the corresponding university libraries were consulted to check the availability of the monographs on the reading lists. In addition, the catalogs of the usual suppliers to Spanish university libraries were consulted to check the availability of lending licenses for libraries. Finally, types of digital lending platforms are analyzed.Monographs account for 85.6 % of the documents referenced in courses' recommended reading lists. Only 21.0 % of monographs are available in digital format, either through library lending (17.4 %) or open access (4.9 %). On the contrary, practically the entirety of reading lists is available for lending through university libraries in printed format. University libraries could make the effort to acquire even more digital lending licenses for a portion of the books recommended by professors, but in this way they could only obtain 40.9 % of the monographs in digital format.Therefore, the publishing industry is not currently meeting the needs of online university education in the social sciences, owing to a large part of its catalog – especially older works – not being offered in digital format as well as the lack of library lending licenses.

An Empirical Investigation Into the Influence of Software Communities’ Cultural and Geographical Dispersion on Productivity

Estimating and understanding software development productivity represent crucial tasks for researchers and practitioners. Although different works focused on evaluating the impact of human factors on productivity, a few explored the influence of cultural/geographical diversity in software development communities. More particularly, all previous treatise addresses cultural aspects as abstract concepts without providing a quantitative representation. Improved knowledge of these matters might help project managers to assemble more productive teams and tool vendors to design software analytics toolkits that may better estimate productivity. This paper has the goal of enlarging the existing body of knowledge on the factors affecting productivity by focusing on cultural and geographical dispersion of a development community—namely, how diverse a community is in terms of cultural attitudes and geographical collocation of the members who belong to it. To reach this goal, we performed a mixed-method empirical study. First, we built a statistical model relating dispersion metrics with the productivity of 25 open-source communities on Github. Then, we performed a confirmatory survey with 140 practitioners. The key results of our study indicate that cultural and geographical dispersion considerably impact productivity, thus encouraging managers and practitioners to consider such aspects during all the phases of the software development lifecycle. We conclude our paper by elaborating on the main insights from our analyses and instilling implications that may drive further research.

Dispersal history and bidirectional human-fish host switching of invasive, hypervirulent Streptococcus agalactiae sequence type 283.

Human group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections attributable to an invasive, hypervirulent sequence type (ST) 283 have been associated with freshwater fish consumption in Asia. The origin, geographic dispersion pathways and host transitions of GBS ST283 remain unresolved. We gather 328 ST283 isolate whole-genome sequences collected from humans and fish between 1998 and 2021, representing eleven countries across four continents. We apply Bayesian phylogeographic analyses to reconstruct the dispersal history of ST283 and combine ST283 phylogenies with genetic markers and host association to investigate host switching and the gain and loss of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factor genes. Initial dispersal within Asia followed ST283 emergence in the early 1980s, with Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong observed as early transmission hubs. Subsequent intercontinental dispersal originating from Vietnam began in the decade commencing 2001, demonstrating ST283 holds potential to expand geographically. Furthermore, we observe bidirectional host switching, with the detection of more frequent human-to-fish than fish-to-human transitions, suggesting that sound wastewater management, hygiene and sanitation may help to interrupt chains of transmission between hosts. We also show that antimicrobial resistance and virulence factor genes were lost more frequently than gained across the evolutionary history of ST283. Our findings highlight the need for enhanced surveillance, clinical awareness, and targeted risk mitigation to limit transmission and reduce the impact of an emerging pathogen associated with a high-growth aquaculture industry.

Firm Photovoltaic Power Generation: Overview and Economic Outlook

Grid‐connected photovoltaic electricity production steadily grows at the margin of conventional power generation, but its management becomes more complex. To overcome this challenge, a transformation of variable renewable energy (VRE) resources into firm power generation is proposed. Drawing on insights from the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power System Task 16 case studies, it becomes evident that achieving nearly 100% VRE power grids that reliably meet demand year‐round can be economically viable through optimal VRE transformation. This transformation involves various traditional methods, e.g., storage, VRE blending, geographical dispersion, and load flexibility. However, overbuilding VRE capacity and controlled curtailment, acting as implicit energy storage, are now seen as essential prerequisites for this transformation. Nevertheless, aligning this vision with the current market rules poses a dilemma as it doesn't necessarily align with VRE producers’ interests. This predicament calls for a reconsideration of VRE market regulations. Current designs based on marginal energy production signals do not suffice. Instead, it is advocated for market rules grounded in the capacity of firmly enabled VREs rather than their energy output. Ultimately, the economic model should harmonize with the variability of VRE resources, rather than forcing VRE resources to adapt to existing market structures.

Estudio demográfico de las personas con nuevo diagnóstico de infección por VIH en el área sanitaria de un hospital de tercer nivel

IntroductionCountering HIV infection remains a primary objective of the Spanish National Health System. Emergency services play a crucial role in reducing missed diagnostic opportunities, with estimates suggesting that one in 3 such opportunities occur here. The aim of the study is to examine the geographical dispersion of newly diagnosed HIV cases, within a downtown Madrid hospital. MethodsThis is an observational, descriptive, retrospective study evaluating the geographical distribution of new HIV diagnoses in the care area of a tertiary University Hospital in the Community of Madrid. ResultsThree hundred and eighty-seven individuals with a new diagnosis of HIV infection between 2018 and 2020 were analysed, the majority being young people with an average age of 36±9 years. 86% were gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and 48.6% were immigrants. 15.3% presented with CD4+<200cells/mm3 and 9.5% with an AIDS-defining illness. 32.7% and 5.1% had an RNA-HIV-1>100,000copies/mL and >500,000copies/mL, respectively, with up to 13.7% of subjects presenting resistance mutations at diagnosis. Geographically, 51.4% of individuals came from 4 Health Centres and more than 70% of the new diagnoses were included in nine Health Centres. ConclusionBetter understanding the geographical distribution of new HIV diagnoses by health areas allows us to identify areas of higher transmission risk, thereby directing and implementing prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment measures.

Supply chain resilience: new challenges and opportunities

ABSTRACT Considering the tighter collaboration, increased complexity and ever-wider geographic dispersion in the global supply chain, supply chain uncertainties and risks remain a key managerial challenge to build a resilient supply chain. From this perspective, in this study, a structured literature review on extant studies related to supply chain resilience in the past decade is conducted. Given a general descriptive analysis and an in-depth content analysis in terms of problem-oriented and methodology-driven dimensions, the research progress for building resilient supply chains is depicted. Then, following a ‘why-what-how’ logic, revisiting of the Triple-A (alignment, agility and adaptiveness), Triple-P (product complexity, process complexity and partnership complexity) and Triple-R (readiness, responsiveness and restoration) frameworks are conducted to sort out the challenges and research gaps for the development of supply chain resilience across the globe. Finally, a generalised framework is proposed and research opportunities for future development are discussed.