Methodological Gaps Research Articles

Green cryptocurrency and business strategies: Framework and insights from a stewardship literature review

AbstractThis study critically evaluates the extant research on green cryptocurrency (GC). It incorporates the systematic literature review (SLR) approach of research executed through the analysis and compilation of 54 relevant studies. The focus is on identifying and interpreting the thematic foci and existing gaps about GC to inform potential areas of future research. The SLR findings aggregated the research around key themes: interconnectedness, portfolio diversification, environmental impact, green blockchain, behavioral impact, and regulatory policy. Additionally, the study develops the research profile of the selected studies in terms of data analysis methodology, research findings, variables investigated, and critical knowledge gaps in the literature corpus. The study proffers an integrated framework and actionable inferences for supporting the merits of novel research and regulatory project applications in GC. It is crucial for understanding and advancing research in the GC domain, which currently has scant academic literature and efforts toward sustainable investment.

Integrated understanding of climate change and disaster risk for building resilience of cultural heritage sites

AbstractHeritage assets are vulnerable to climate change and disaster risks. However, existing literature has long been separating climate change from disaster risks, which were mainly considered as natural disasters. Recently, the framework of integrated understanding of climate change and disaster risk reduction in international policies started to be discussed in sustainable development discussion, while mentioning opportunities to build resilience of cultural heritage sites (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction 2020). But this framework is yet to be implemented and detailed in the context of heritage sites. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyze how the integrated understanding of climate change and disaster risk reduction policies can contribute to building climate resilience of cultural heritage sites by reviewing the key themes emerging from the literature. The question this paper answers are how can the integrated understanding of climate change and disaster risks reduction tackle barriers to the resilience of heritage sites? And what can be done to fill the gaps identified in the literature? To understand it, four elements from the literature are analyzed, including methodological contributions, temporalities, challenges and gaps, and opportunities. The findings of this review help in understanding the gap and interplay between science and policy in decision-making processes. We conclude by discussing the ways forward for the applicability of the framework in building resilience of cultural heritage sites.

How the Menstrual Cycle Can Be Utilized During Sports Training, Performance, and Recovery through Wearable Technology: A Narrative Review for Researchers, Physicians, Coaches, and Athletes.

The menstrual cycle (MC) serves as a vital indicator of overall health and metabolic function, regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and involving a complex interplay of hormones. Understanding these hormonal dynamics is crucial for deciphering an individual's physiological status and performance potential, particularly in athletes. Studies regarding the MC's impact on athletic performance and training often lack inclusivity, standardized methodologies, and inconsistent biological definitions, hindering comprehensive conclusions. Moreover, societal inequalities contribute to the underrepresentation of female athletes in research, exacerbating the lack of understanding regarding female physiology in sports medicine. Leveraging wearable technology presents a promising avenue for both tracking MCs and optimizing athletic training/recovery. Wearables offer real-time monitoring of biometrics that often correlate with hormonal fluctuations, and lifestyle trends (diet, sleep, stress) aiding in personalized training schedules and performance optimization. Integrating data collected by MC dynamics and wearable technology into athletic training has the potential to decrease the generally perceived negative impacts MC has on athletic performance. Addressing gaps in research methodologies and promoting awareness among athletes, coaches, and healthcare professionals are essential steps toward maximizing the potential of MC-informed training strategies.

Open innovation and internationalization of SMEs: a systematic literature review

PurposeOpen innovation (OI) significantly impacts the internationalization of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by connecting them with external resources and accelerating their innovation processes. This study aims to systematically evaluate and synthesize existing knowledge on the role of OI in the internationalization of SMEs.Design/methodology/approachThrough a systematic literature review method, this study critically evaluates 35 articles published between 2003 and 2023, synthesizing existing research from theoretical, contextual, characteristic and methodological perspectives.FindingsThis study identifies theoretical, methodological, characteristics and contextual research gaps and further proposes a research agenda for expanding knowledge in the field. Additionally, it provides an overview of the antecedents of OI adoption, SMEs internationalization outcomes and the influencing mechanisms of OI on SMEs internationalization found in the literature, thereby establishing a foundational knowledge base for future scholars and practitioners in this field.Originality/valueThis review contributes to the existing literature by consolidating current knowledge on the topic and advancing the understanding of the intersection between OI and the internationalization of SMEs.

Infections in the Etiology of Parkinson's Disease and Synucleinopathies: A Renewed Perspective, Mechanistic Insights, and Therapeutic Implications.

Increasing evidence suggests a potential role for infectious pathogens in the etiology of synucleinopathies, a group of age-related neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies. In this review, we discuss the link between infections and synucleinopathies from a historical perspective, present emerging evidence that supports this link, and address current research challenges with a focus on neuroinflammation. Infectious pathogens can elicit a neuroinflammatory response and modulate genetic risk in PD and related synucleinopathies. The mechanisms of how infections might be linked with synucleinopathies as well as the overlap between the immune cellular pathways affected by virulent pathogens and disease-related genetic risk factors are discussed. Here, an important role for α-synuclein in the immune response against infections is emerging. Critical methodological and knowledge gaps are addressed, and we provide new future perspectives on how to address these gaps. Understanding how infections and neuroinflammation influence synucleinopathies will be essential for the development of early diagnostic tools and novel therapies.

Geospatial Mapping and Meteorological Flood Risk Assessment: A Global Research Trend Analysis.

Flooding is a global threat causing significant economic and environmental damage, necessitating a policy response and collaborative strategy. This study assessed global research trends and advances in geospatial and meteorological flood risk assessment (G_MFRA), considering the ongoing debate on flood risk management and adaptation strategies. A total of 1872 original articles were downloaded in BibTex format using the Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus databases to retrieve G_MFRA studies published from 1985 to 2023. The annual growth rate of 15.48% implies that the field of G_MFRA has been increasing over time during the study period. The analysis of global trends in flood risk research and practice highlights the key themes, methodologies, and emerging directions. There exists a notable gap in data and methodologies for flood risk assessment studies between developed and developing countries, particularly in Africa and South America, highlighting the urgency of coordinated research efforts and cohesive policy actions. The challenges identified in the body of extant literature include technical expertise, complex communication networks, and resource constraints associated with the application gaps of the study methodologies. This study advocates for a holistic research approach to flood disaster management through ecosystem-based adaptation that underpins the Sustainable Development Goals to develop innovative flood techniques and models with the potential to influence global decision-making in the G_MFRA domain. Addressing these global challenges requires a networked partnership between the research community, institutions, and countries.

Pericoronary Fat Attenuation: Diagnosis and Clinical Implications.

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current state of knowledge regarding the technical challenges associated with the Post-Acquisition Fat Attenuation Index (PFAI). By examining the limitations and gaps in the current methodologies, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how various factors impact the accuracy and reliability of PFAI measurements. PFAI correlates with plaque instability, as inflammation in coronary plaque alters surrounding adipose tissue composition, increasing its water content and reducing lipid content, which is detectable via cardiac CT as increased attenuation. Recent studies have demonstrated PFA's prognostic value, with elevated levels linked to higher risks of cardiac events and plaque instability. A 2022 meta-analysis confirmed its association with major adverse cardiac events. Machine learning algorithms incorporating PFA and additional imaging features have further enhanced risk prediction beyond traditional metrics. Pericoronary fat attenuation is a promising marker for assessing coronary inflammation and could be useful in predicting plaque development, rupture, and monitoring treatment response, though further prospective studies and technical standardization are needed to fully establish its clinical benefits.

Study on the sports biomechanics prediction, sport biofluids and assessment of college students’ mental health status transport based on artificial neural network and expert system

Based on the theories of artificial neural networks and expert systems, this study constructs a model for assessing the sports biomechanics’ mental health of college students using artificial neural networks and expert systems. It assesses the sports biomechanics’ mental health status of college students who had their yoga classes suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, A mobile questionnaire was used to collect information on students’ personal circumstances, sport biofluids and yoga exercise routines, as well as data from the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). This study presents a novel approach to assessing the intersection of sports biomechanics and mental health by employing Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and expert systems. Unlike previous research in this domain, this study offers an extensive review of the literature, highlighting both the distinctive contributions of ANNs and expert systems and the existing gaps in current methodologies. Similarly, a univariate analysis method was utilized to quantitatively assess the impact of yoga interventions and other factors on college students’ sports biomechanics and mental health. Building on this analysis, an artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed to predict mental health outcomes and sport biofluid conditions. The model focused on evaluating the significance of various variables, with particular attention to the contribution of yoga exercise routines. In short, this approach aims to enhance the understanding and support for utilizing yoga interventions to improve college students’ mental health within the context of sports biomechanics, especially in the post-pandemic era. The findings should make an important contribution to the field of integrating ANNs with expert systems and sports biomechanics improves mental health prediction accuracy.

A Comparative Analysis of the Factors Influencing Job Expectations among Unemployed Men and Women in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, persistent gender differences in unemployment rates exist, with women enduring greater rates of unemployment de-spite having a higher average educational attainment than men. Gender differences in job search intensity vary with attitudes to-ward employment or unemployment as attitudes play a significant role in employment decision-making. These differences are intimately linked to people's expectations and mindsets regarding their work, which are strongly influenced by societal and cultural gender roles. This study looks at how job expectations differ between unemployed men and women in Sri Lanka. This study relies on data from the Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka Labour Force Survey (2021) and a multinomial logistic model to analyse the total unemployed, male unemployed, and female unemployed separately while taking two dependent variables; job sector expectations and occupational expectations. The study's findings emphasise the pivotal role of gender in sharpening job expectations among the unemployed. Regarding job sector expectations, unemployed women are more inclined towards jobs in the public sector than those in the private sector because of the government's reputation for offering standardized working hours and a work-life balance conducive environment. Furthermore, there are noteworthy differences in occupational expectations as unemployed women are more likely to expect professional and managerial level jobs with the increase in higher education enrolment. This study offers a groundbreaking contribution to the literature by unveiling unique, gender-specific determinants of job expectations among Sri Lanka's unemployed, highlighting the influence of unemployment duration, and employing distinct analytical models to bridge significant theoretical, empirical and methodological gaps. Finally, this study puts forth the broader discourse on gender, unemployment, and labour market dynamics in Sri Lanka, offering gender-specific policy recommendations aimed at bridging the expectation gap between unemployed men and women in Sri Lanka.

Flood vulnerability map of the Bagmati River basin, Nepal: a comparative approach of the analytical hierarchy process and frequency ratio model

AbstractThe analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and frequency ratio model (FR), along with the integration of GIS, have proven to be successful approaches for assessing flood-prone areas. However, in Nepal flood vulnerability mapping based on GIS decision analysis is limited. Thus, this study focused on comparing the data-driven FR method and expert knowledge-based AHP technique in a GIS environment to prepare a flood vulnerability map for the Bagmati River basin, helping to explore the gap in flood vulnerability mapping methodologies and approaches. By combining all class-weighted contributing factors, like elevation, precipitation, flow accumulation, drainage density, soil, distance from the river, land use land cover, normalized difference vegetative index, slope and topographic wetness index, the study evaluated the efficiency of FR and AHP in assessing flood vulnerability maps. An inventory map of floods containing 107 flood points was created. Subsequently, the flood vulnerability maps generated using FR and AHP models revealed that 9.30% and 11.36% of regions were in highly vulnerable areas, respectively. Receiver operating characteristics validated the model outcomes, indicating that the FR model’s accuracy of 91% outperformed the AHP model’s 84% accuracy. The study findings will assist decision-makers in enacting sustainable management techniques to reduce future damage in the Bagmati basin.

A network analysis of affective and motivational individual differences and error monitoring in a non-clinical sample.

Error monitoring, which plays a crucial role in shaping adaptive behavior, is influenced by a complex interplay of affective and motivational factors. Understanding these associations often proves challenging due to the intricate nature of these variables. With the aim of addressing previous inconsistencies and methodological gaps, in this study, we utilized network analysis to investigate the relationship between affective and motivational individual differences and error monitoring. We employed six Gaussian Graphical Models on a non-clinical population ($N$ = 236) to examine the conditional dependence between the amplitude of response-related potentials (error-related negativity; correct-related negativity) and 29 self-report measures related to anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts, compulsive behavior, and motivation while adjusting for covariates: age, handedness, and latency of error-related negativity and correct-related negativity. We then validated our results on an independent sample of 107 participants. Our findings revealed unique associations between error-related negativity amplitudes and specific traits. Notably, more pronounced error-related negativity amplitudes were associated with increased rumination and obsessing, and decreased reward sensitivity. Importantly, in our non-clinical sample, error-related negativity was not directly associated with trait anxiety. These results underscore the nuanced effects of affective and motivational traits on error processing in healthy population.

From living heritage values to value-based policymaking: exploring new indicators for Abu Dhabi’s sustainable development

This exploratory study offers an analysis of Abu Dhabi’s living heritage ecosystem. It borrows from approaches predominantly used in the healthcare field and develops a value-based framework that provides a broader understanding of heritage and its integration into innovation, economic development, and societal change in Abu Dhabi. This framework includes three steps: (1) identification of the individual heritage values (‘heritage drivers’) through ethnographic interviews; (2) aggregation of the dynamics impacting the practical realization of these values and relative identification of value-based policymaking areas; and (3) suggestion of an approach that builds indicators to assess the impact of living heritage policies contributing to the achievement of the UN SDGs and their relevance to grassroots ‘heritage drivers’. This study also addresses the existing methodological gap in qualitative surveys focusing on Abu Dhabi’s cultural landscape, which is characterized by ongoing transformations. The UAE’s current social, economic, and political conditions continuously shape Abu Dhabi’s approach to using its rich tangible and intangible heritage as a catalyst for new articulations between the ‘local’ and the ‘global’. Even if the epistemological approach suggested in this paper is far from exhaustive, the interdisciplinary aspect of this research has practical implications that may be useful for international researchers and policymakers working in a variety of fields.

Electrochemical Surface Science: Self-assembly of Porphyrin molecules at single crystal metal electrodes

A detailed understanding of properties and processes at surfaces and interfaces requires at least two types of most basic information, chemical composition and –distribution as well as structure. While surface science in ultrahigh vacuum is blessed with a plethora of high sensitivity and highest spatial and temporal resolution due to the free accessibility of the surfaces by any kind of probe beams, investigations of solid surfaces under ambient conditions, i.e. in contact with gases or liquids, were for a long time restricted to the use of integral photon-based reflection-, absorption-, emission-, and diffraction methods. This “methodological gap” between UHV surface science and environmental interface research became immediately, at least partially, closed after the realization of the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and following variants of proximity probes (SPM). The full applicability of this class of methods also under ambient conditions opened the door to structure information of solid-liquid interfaces of comparable resolution as in UHV at room temperature, a “quantum leap” for the understanding of e.g. interfacial electrochemistry. This, in turn, highlighted the need of reliable determination of the chemical composition and distribution at solid-liquid interfaces and pushed the development of in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).The availability of both techniques, in situ SPM and in situ XPS closes the former methodological gap between the research in UHV and under ambient conditions. In particular, interfacial electrochemistry, being primarily interested in chemical processes at electrode/electrolyte interfaces benefits decisively of this development.In this article, as an example, we present systematic in situ STM measurements and results on the interactions and self-assembly of porphyrins at anion modified metal/electrolyte interfaces, an important class of molecules for the functionalization of surfaces for various applications. Atomically and sub-molecularly resolved potentiostatic and potentiodynamic in situ STM images of such molecular layers are nowadays standard and wait for an in-depth theoretical analysis.

Understanding how agile teams reach effectiveness: A systematic literature review to take stock and look forward

In a global environment that continues to challenge organizations' responsiveness, agile teams have proliferated in diverse sectors of practice and streams of research. However, scholars also indicate that agile teams, their way of working, and how they achieve effectiveness seem to be an undertheorized phenomenon. To better account for and understand how agile teams reach effectiveness, we aim to compile, organize, and synthesize the agile team literature using the IMOI model as a theoretical anchoring point. We systematically reviewed 74 studies on agile teams and identified their key input, mediating, and outcome factors. This effort has, consequently, allowed us to identify crucial theoretical and methodological gaps in the understanding of how agile teams manage uncertainty and what is needed to close these gaps. Furthermore, we identified three themes relevant to all teams dealing with the management of uncertainty.

Functional structure of the natural enemy community of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda in the Americas

Ecosystem functions such as biological pest control are mediated by the richness and abundance of service providers i.e., biological control agents (BCAs), relative contributions of individual taxa and community structure. This is especially relevant in the native range of agricultural herbivores, where a speciose community of co-evolved BCAs can prevent them from attaining pest status. Here, we use a powerful graphical approach to assess the functional structure of BCA communities of the fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on maize in the Neotropics. Drawing upon a curated database of all-time field and laboratory studies, we graphed patterns in the functional contribution, abundance and niche breadth for a respective 69, 53 and 3 taxa of resident parasitoids, predators and pathogens. Regardless of varying taxon coverage and rigor of the underlying studies, functional structure follows a saturating relationship in which the first three taxa account for 90–98% of aggregate biological control function. Abundance-functionality matrices prove critically incomplete, as more than 80% of invertebrate taxa miss empirically derived efficiency metrics while associated FAW infestation data are scarce. Despite its methodological shortfalls and data gaps, our work pinpoints Chelonus insularis, Cryptus albitarsis, several taxa of egg parasitoids, Doru spp. and Orius spp. as taxa with outsized functionality and conservation potential. This is also exemplified by the highly variable aggregate function across studies, with dispersion indices of 1.52 and 2.14 for invertebrate BCAs. Our work underlines the critical importance of functional ecology research, networked trials and standardized methodologies in advancing conservation biological control globally

Methodological Challenges in Aligning EPDs with Whole Life Carbon Limits for Buildings: A B2B Approach

Abstract The environmental performance from the materials used in buildings is pivotal in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the building sector; buildings are in the top three of the world’s most significant contributors of GHG emissions and are responsible for one-fifth of the overall resource consumption. Alongside multiple countries enforcing legal GHG limits and requiring Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for new buildings, the availability of product-level environmental data, known as Type III Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) has increased exponentially. EPDs were originally used for Business-to-Business purposes but are now the main data source for building-level LCAs. However, this often comes with a large set of uncertainties, as EPDs are still evolving as a documentation approach, and not always readily applicable in the whole life cycle approach. There are a multitude of complex areas to engage into, this study focuses on how use-stage modules are documented in EPDs, and how varied approaches create further complexity and perils in relation to their use in LCA and regulations, in the sense of, potential leading to high uncertainties and wrongful interpretations. The study aims to address the methodological gaps associated with the use of EPDs as data inputs in legally binding LCA requirements particularly concerning modules B1-5, which constitute the embodied part of the use-stage. The findings reveal a significant margin of error if EPDs are not correctly implemented, underscoring the importance of the Business-to-Business documentation approach.

A WRF-UCM-SOLWEIG framework for mapping thermal comfort and quantifying urban climate drivers: Advancing spatial and temporal resolutions at city scale

The capability to evaluate city-scale outdoor thermal comfort is crucial for understanding the public's experience of heat stress, especially during heat waves. Nevertheless, there remains a methodological gap in accurately mapping thermal comfort with high spatial and temporal resolutions in complex urban environment and in quantifying the contributions of various urban climate drivers, such as sky view factors and tree canopy fraction. To bridge this gap, we propose an innovative WRF-UCM-SOLWEIG framework that couples a mesoscale model with an urban microclimate model. Specifically, it integrates the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with the urban canopy model (WRF-UCM) and the Solar and Longwave Environmental Irradiance Geometry model (SOLWEIG). This framework is then applied to a densely populated tropical city in China, to quantify the impact of urban climate drivers on the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). The results reveal a significant diurnal variation in the impact of urban morphology. Notably, the most significant drivers affecting daytime UTCI are the impervious surface fraction and the tree canopy fraction, with maximum Pearson's correlation coefficients of 0.80 and -0.70, respectively. These findings suggest that urban heat mitigation strategies should prioritize on reducing impervious surfaces and enhancing shade management, alongside expanding urban forestry measures.

The “less is better” paradox and consumer behaviour: a systematic review of choice overload and its marketing implications

Purpose This study, a systematic literature review, aims to review the state-of-the-art literature on choice overload from 2000 to 2023. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews 53 research articles published in peer-reviewed journals, using thematic and descriptive analyses. The literature was selected using the PRISMA framework. Findings Recent research in consumer behaviour has found that too many choices can be detrimental to decision-making. This paper reviews the development of choice overload literature, methodologies used by researchers to study choice overload, small and large choice sets, antecedents, moderators and outcomes of choice overload and the contexts in which choice overload exists. Research limitations/implications Limited literature coverage because of the strict adherence to inclusion/exclusion criteria. The theory challenges the conventional choice models in psychology and economics according to which expanding a choice set cannot make decision-making worse and violates the regularity axiom, a cornerstone of classical choice theory. This review also identifies avenues for further research in the field. Practical implications A significant decrease in satisfaction or motivation because of too many choices would require marketers and public policymakers to rethink their practice of providing ever-increasing assortments to choose from because they could possibly boost their success by offering less. Originality/value This systematic review makes distinctive contributions by classifying the existing studies based on evidence “for” and “against” the existence of choice overload. The review also combines cross-context insights on assortment sizes, moderators and methodological commonalities and gaps to understand the multi-faceted nature and contextual nuances of choice overload.

EXAMINING CLINICAL STUDIES ABOUT CUPPING THERAPY IN TURKEY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

There is insufficient quantitative data available on the characteristics of research conducted on cupping therapy. This insufficiency complicates our ability to achieve a more profound understanding of the subject. The primary aim of this work was to assess the outcome of clinical studies outputs in cupping therapy and discuss methodological gaps. Six databases PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, TUBITAK ULAKBIM DergiPark, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, were systematically searched from their inception to January 2024. Performance analysis was made in the study. Frequency and distributions were analyzed with SPSS 24. The software Wordclouds software was used to generate visualization. Within the scope of the research, 26 studies that met the selection criteria were accessed. It was determined that the majority of the studies (46.16%) were written in 2019-2021. The most used technique was 3 S (73.07%), and the most preferred point was du 14 point. While the top two variables are oxidative stress and heavy metal levels, the co-word analysis of keywords showed that "wet cupping therapy" was the largest single node. The findings from this bibliometric study provide the current status and productivity in clinical research of cupping therapy over the past ten years. It is seen that despite the challenges facing the field of cupping research, which include standardization, legal, and reporting quality, there has been an increase in publications to mitigate disease-related symptoms in clinical populations.

Image recommendation for social media marketing in maternity and baby care product industry – a machine learning approach

PurposeThe digital marketing landscape is rapidly evolving, but the integration of visual content still heavily depends on human expertise. Driven by the quest for innovative marketing strategies that resonate with family-oriented consumers, this study seeks to bridge this gap by applying machine learning to analyze visual content in the maternity and baby care product sector.Design/methodology/approachThis study incorporates a range of machine learning techniques – including open science framework feature detection, panoptic segmentation, customized instance segmentation, and face detection calculation methods – to analyze and predict the appeal of images, thereby enhancing user engagement and parent-child intimacy.FindingsThe exploration of various ML models, such as DT, LightGBM, RIPPER algorithm, and CNNs, has offered a comparative analysis that addresses a methodological gap in the existing literature, which frequently depends on isolated model evaluations. According to our quadrant analysis with respect to engagement rate and parent-child intimacy, the selection of a model for real-world applications depends on balancing performance and interpretability.Originality/valueThe proposed system offers a series of actionable recommendations designed to enhance customer engagement and foster brand loyalty. This study contributes to image design in maternity and baby care marketing and provides analytical insights for recommendation systems.