Regional Specificity Research Articles

Elevated extracellular free water in the brain predicts clinical improvement in first-episode psychosis.

Despite the diverse nature of clinical trajectories after a first-episode of psychosis, few baseline characteristics have been predictive of clinical improvement, and the neurobiological underpinnings of this heterogeneity remain largely unknown. Elevated extracellular free water (FW) in the brain is a diffusion imaging measure that has been consistently reported in different phases of psychosis that may indicate a neuroinflammatory state. Its predictive capacity in terms of clinical outcomes, however, is unknown. We used diffusion imaging to determine FW and tissue-specific fractional anisotropy (FA-t) in first-episode psychosis. Forty-seven participants were categorized as clinical "Improvers" (n=26) if they achieved a 20% decrease in total Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score at 12 months. To determine the predictive capacity of FW and FA-t, these measures were introduced in a stepwise logistic regression model to predict clinical improvement. For those measures surviving the model, regional between-group differences were also investigated in cortical surface or white matter tracts as applicable. Higher gray matter (GM) FW (OR-CI 1.134 - 2.543) and FA-t (OR-CI: 0.905 - 2.038) both predicted Improver status. FW in GM also linearly correlated with BPRS total score at 12 months follow-up. Examining regional specificity, Improvers showed greater FW predominantly in temporal regions and higher FA-t values in several white matter tracts, including bilateral longitudinal superior fasciculus. Our results show that elevated FW in GM and FA-t predict further clinical improvement during the initial phases of psychosis. The potential roles of brain inflammatory processes in predicting clinical improvement are discussed.

A critical review of domestic and foreign methodological aspects of financial strategies formation using a matrix method in modern realities

Subject. The article discusses financial strategies in the corporate finance management system based on a matrix approach. Objectives. The purpose is, after the analysis of existing financial models in economics that are based on the matrix approach, to identify positive and negative sides of each toolkit, while offering criteria for their comparison, formulated on regional, sectoral, and behavioral aspects. Methods. The study employs theoretical (analysis, synthesis, modeling, systematization) and empirical (comparison, classification by characteristics, mathematization) methods of scientific research. Results. I analyzed economic scientific literature concerning domestic and foreign methods of corporate finance management, defined the terms "financial model" and "financial matrix", compared domestic and foreign instruments, developed criteria for evaluating the existing techniques. The criteria enabled to reveal advantages and disadvantages of the matrix strategies mentioned above. Conclusions. A specific feature of domestic matrix methods is diversification. Moreover, almost all existing financial models are marked by universality: industry differences are ignored. However, each methodological toolkit has its "pros" and "cons", various indicators and financial strategies. At present, there is a need to form a new methodological technique based on the matrix approach. This toolkit can be presented in the form of a financial model characterized by precision and optimality, and would also consider such parameters as industry and regional specifics.

Zjawisko bałkanizacji na przykładzie wojen bałkańskich 1912–1913

Balkanization is defined as a political-geographical and political-legal term describing the complex specificity of the Balkan region. In particular, researchers point to the five most relevant phenomena and processes, the existence of which determines a holistic description of the concept. The Balkan Wars of 1912–1913 (their course and aftermath) led to significant political, social and economic changes in the Balkans, which implied: political-geographical fragmentation of the region as well as its separation and disintegration in political, cultural, economic dimensions. It should therefore be pointed out that they have had a significant impact in fully defining the definitional basis of the term “Balkanization”.

Head-to-Head Comparison of the Diagnostic Performance of FDG PET/CT and FDG PET/MRI in Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND. The available evidence on the use of FDG PET/MRI performed using an integrated system in patients with cancer has grown substantially. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the diagnostic performance of FDG PET/CT and FDG PET/MRI in patients with cancer. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION. MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for studies reporting a head-to-head comparison of the diagnostic performance of FDG PET/CT and FDG PET/MRI in patients with cancer from July 1, 2015, to January 25, 2023. The two modalities' diagnostic performance was summarized, stratified by performance end point. For end points with sufficient data, a meta-analysis was performed using bivariate modeling to produce summary estimates of pooled sensitivity and specificity. For the remaining end points, reported performance in individual studies was recorded. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS. The systematic review included 29 studies with a total of 1656 patients. For patient-level detection of regional nodal metastases (five studies), pooled sensitivity and specificity for PET/MRI were 88% (95% CI, 74-95%) and 92% (95% CI, 71-98%), respectively, and for PET/CT were 86% (95% CI, 70-94%) and 86% (95% CI, 68-95%). For lesion-level detection of recurrence and/or metastases (five studies), pooled sensitivity and specificity for PET/MRI were 94% (95% CI, 78-99%) and 83% (95% CI, 76-88%), respectively, and for PET/CT were 91% (95% CI, 77-96%) and 81% (95% CI, 72-88%). In individual studies not included in the meta-analysis, PET/MRI in comparison with PET/CT showed staging accuracy in breast cancer of 98.0% versus 74.5% and in colorectal cancer of 96.2% versus 69.2%; sensitivity for primary tumor detection in cervical cancer of 93.2% versus 66.2%; and sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for lesion-level liver metastasis detection of 91.1-98.0% versus 42.3-71.1%, 100.0% versus 83.3-98.6%, and 96.5-98.2% versus 44.7-86.7%, respectively. In three studies, management was more commonly impacted by information from PET/MRI (5.2-11.1%) than PET/CT (0.0-2.6%). CONCLUSION. PET/MRI showed comparable or superior diagnostic performance versus PET/CT across a range of cancers and end points. CLINICAL IMPACT. The findings help to identify clinical settings where PET/MRI may provide clinical benefit for oncologic evaluation. TRIAL REGISTRATION. Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42023433857.

Suicides in Siberia from 1925 to 1937: Causes, Dynamics, and Significance

This article attempts to establish the causes, trace the dynamics, and assess the significance of suicides that occurred in the Siberian and West Siberian regions between 1925 and 1937. The research is based on a diverse array of sources, including statistical compilations, minutes from meetings, resolutions from party, Soviet, and Komsomol bodies, reports from special commissions, administrative correspondence, and materials from periodical publications. Through a comprehensive analysis of this heterogeneous information, the article demonstrates an increase in the number of suicides in Siberia, elucidates the demographic and social-professional composition of those who voluntarily ended their lives, and identifies the methods employed as well as the most common reasons for suicide. These parameters are analyzed in comparison with similar indicators across the RSFSR and the USSR, revealing the presence of regional specificity. The article challenges the prevailing historiographical view that placed sole responsibility for suicides on the individuals themselves. It presents evidence that one significant avenue for combating suicides involved holding accountable those whose actions or inactions contributed to these tragic events. The conclusion drawn is that, despite failing to achieve tangible success in preventing suicides, the higher political leadership at both regional and provincial levels managed to create an illusion that this phenomenon had been entirely eradicated.

Farming Mountains and Herding Sheep: A Study of the Peasant Economy in the Northern Section of the Lüliang Mountains in Modern Times

Abstract The peasant economy has been a focal point of academic interest, with existing research primarily concentrated on the plains, leaving mountainous areas less explored. Different ecological environments have shaped distinct forms of peasant economies. The Lüliang Mountains, as a typical agrarian-pastoral mixed zone, has typological significance among peasant economic formations in that it is characterized by extensive cultivation with meager yields and an integration of agriculture and animal husbandry. In modern times, peasants have cultivated vast mountainous lands, planted a variety of cash crops, and established close ties with the market. Reliance on pastoral activities has supplemented the family economy, leading to a rational and efficient division of labor within households. This division manifests horizontally and vertically with younger members herding and older members either tending the fields or working in sidelines, thereby achieving a balanced distribution of labor and resilient family survival. Behind the seeming uniformity of the peasant economy, regional specificity remains hidden and awaits exploration. The particularities of regional ecological environments and the production factors of the peasant economy are crucial areas for research.

Zoning of the Lower Volga Region and Formation of Territory, Okrug, District and Rural Bodies of Soviet Authority in 1928: First Stage

Introduction. The article examines the process of formation of the Lower Volga region and Soviet authorities at the level of regional, district, and rural administration at the first stage of zoning (before the liquidation of okrugs). Methods and materials. The research was carried out based on traditional methods of historical research (historical-genetic, retrospective, historical-systemic, and historical-comparative). The use of an array of unpublished archival documents stored in the State Archives of the Volgograd Region and the Documentation Center for Contemporary History of the Volgograd Region, and materials from periodicals and legislative sources of government bodies of the USSR and the RSFSR, greatly facilitated the research process. Analysis. The study is aimed at identifying the regional specifics of the zoning process and the accompanying process of formation of Soviet authorities (at the level of councils and executive committees of councils of the Lower Volga region). Results. The zoning of the Lower Volga region already at the first stage revealed a range of problems, the systematic solution of which in the future will make it possible to transform the agricultural region into the industrial center of the Volga region. In the process of reform, along with positive aspects – the reduction in cost of the management apparatus, the bringing closer to the population of Soviet authorities endowed with significant powers (district executive committees and councils) – there were also clearly negative consequences. The distance of rural councils from middle management and the consolidation of individual rural councils, on the one hand, led to the planned reduction of hardware costs but, on the other hand, excluded remote villages from active public life. Districts became the main operational unit of economic and Soviet work in the region. There were several issues to address, including the imbalance between districts with different population sizes, from small ones with just over 2,000 people to large ones with populations approaching 100,000. Additionally, there was a lack of communication between administrative units and personnel problems, which emerged as a significant hurdle in the development of district and rural Soviet administration at the second stage of zoning (in the conditions of the liquidation of okrugs).

Individual contralesional recruitment in the context of structural reserve in early motor reorganization after stroke

The concept of structural reserve in stroke reorganization assumes that the relevance of the contralesional hemisphere strongly depends on the brain tissue spared by the lesion in the affected hemisphere. Recent studies, however, have indicated that the contralesional hemisphere's impact exhibits region-specific variability with concurrently existing maladaptive and supportive influences. This challenges traditional views, necessitating a nuanced investigation of contralesional motor areas and their interaction with ipsilesional networks.Our study focused on the functional role of contralesional key motor areas and lesion-induced connectome disruption early after stroke.Online TMS data of twenty-five stroke patients was analyzed to disentangle interindividual differences in the functional roles of contralesional primary motor cortex (M1), dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC), and anterior interparietal sulcus (aIPS) for motor function. Connectome-based lesion symptom mapping and corticospinal tract lesion quantification were used to investigate how TMS effects depend on ipsilesional structural network properties.At group and individual levels, TMS interference with contralesional M1 and aIPS but not dPMC led to improved performance early after stroke. At the connectome level, a more disturbing role of contralesional M1 was related to a more severe disruption of the structural integrity of ipsilesional M1 in the affected motor network. In contrast, a detrimental influence of contralesional aIPS was linked to less disruption of the ipsilesional M1 connectivity.Our findings indicate that contralesional areas distinctively interfere with motor performance early after stroke depending on ipsilesional structural integrity, extending the concept of structural reserve to regional specificity in recovery of function.

Educational communities of rural schools in the arctic (on the example of the Murmansk oblast): A social justice perspective on inclusion

The article addresses the current problem of searching and substantiating mechanisms for the development of inclusive education. The research relevance is also determined by the Arctic context, which corresponds to the epistemological need of modern interdisciplinary knowledge in the development of inclusive education, the priorities of state policy, as well as to the expectations and demands of regional communities. The authors aim to study social interactions within rural schools in the Arctic from the standpoint of inclusion as an indicator of social justice (on the example of the Murmansk Oblast). To that end, rural schools are modelled and described based on the developed criteria. Difficulties experienced by the teachers in the course of inclusive educational process, including when using distance technologies, are typified. According to the results obtained, typical models of rural schools in the Murmansk Oblast include suburban schools and remote schools and their following variants: the school as a territorial cooperation, a border school, an isolated school, and an indigenous school. In all rural school models, under successful formation of external and internal social ties, a shortage of special education teachers is observed. The teachers face methodological, organizational, and social difficulties. In addition, the educational environment is not sufficiently accessible, which forms barriers to social justice. The revealed regional specificity of rural schools serves as a justification for a conceptual and substantive development of Arctic pedagogy. The results obtained are useful for further theoretical and empirical research in the field of inclusive education, as well as for the development of regional programs of inclusive educational practices, taking the differentiation of social conditions into account.

Value-based Islamic education management: developing leadership and commitment in contemporary Islamic school environments

This study investigates the impact of integrating local values into Islamic education management on student leadership and commitment in South Sulawesi, employing a mixed-methods approach. Purpose: The research aims to understand how embedding local values such as sipakatau and siri na pacce influences student development in Islamic schools. Design/Methodology/Approach: A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was used. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires distributed to students, teachers, and school administrators. Qualitative insights were obtained from interviews with stakeholders at Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) 1 Makassar, Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) 2 Bone, Madrasah Aliyah Al-Mujahidin Gowa, and Sekolah Islam Terpadu (SIT) Al-Ihsan Makassar. Findings: The quantitative results show that 42% of respondents strongly agree on the effective implementation of local values, positively impacting student leadership and commitment, with the highest support from school administrators. Qualitative data corroborated these findings, highlighting that local values significantly enhance character development and leadership skills. Conclusion: The integration of local values into educational management positively affects student leadership and commitment, offering novel empirical evidence in this area. Practical Implications: Policymakers should embed local values into educational policies and curricula, and provide training for educators to implement these values effectively. Limitations: The study’s limitations include potential response bias and regional specificity. Future Research: Further studies should explore diverse educational contexts and employ longitudinal designs to assess the long-term impacts of local values on educational outcomes.

Are there Marshallian industrial districts in Portugal? revisiting the canello and pavone algorithm

The present study maps and classifies industrial districts in Portugal, identifying the features of specialization and the current capacity of industrialization. It employs an adaptation of the algorithm developed by Canello and Pavone (2016) in 308 Portuguese municipalities based on six phases. In terms of methodological innovation, a new concentration ratio was introduced, making it possible to identify homogeneity in the industrial structure and to consider different sizes of companies, regarding the classification of Industrial Districts. It provides guidelines for policymakers in order to promote cross-fertilized industrial districts, considering the specificities of low-density industrial regions.

Establishment of reference intervals of thyroid-related hormones for adults with normal liver function in Zhejiang Province by indirect method.

Thyroid disorders are prevalently diagnosed yet face significant challenges in their accurate identification in China. Predominantly, the reference intervals (RIs) currently in use across Chinese medical facilities derive from company-provided data, lacking stringent scientific validation. This practice underscores the urgent necessity for establishing tailored RIs for thyroid-related hormones, specifically tailored to the coastal area populations. Such refined RIs are imperative for empowering clinicians with the precise tools needed for the accurate diagnosis of both overt and subclinical thyroid conditions. This investigation analyzed the medical histories of 6021 euthyroid individuals mainly from East coastal area of China between June 2019 and December 2020. The cohort comprised residents of coastal areas, focusing on extracting insights into the regional specificity of thyroid hormone levels. A thorough examination protocol was implemented, encompassing inquiries into thyroid health history, ultrasound screenings, palpations during thyroid surgery, detections of thyroid antibodies, and reviews of medication histories. Adherence to the CLSI C28-A3 guidelines facilitated the derivation of RIs for thyroid-related hormones, subsequently juxtaposed against those provided by commercial entities. The study delineated the following gender- and age-specific RIs for Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH): for males under 50 years, 0.57-3.37; males over 50 years, 0.51-4.03; females under 50 years, 0.53-3.91; and females over 50 years, 0.63-4.31. Further analysis revealed the RIs for Free Thyroxine (FT4), Free Triiodothyronine (FT3), Total Thyroxine (TT4), and Total Triiodothyronine (TT3) amongst males and females, with notable distinctions observed between the two genders and across age brackets. These findings are in stark contrast to the standardized intervals provided by manufacturers, particularly highlighting differences in TT3 and FT3 levels between genders and a tendency for TSH levels to increase with age. This research successfully establishes refined RIs for thyroid-related hormones within the Chinese coastal area populations, taking into account critical demographic factors such as gender and age. These tailored RIs are anticipated to significantly enhance the diagnostic accuracy for thyroid diseases, addressing the previously noted discrepancies with manufacturer-provided data and underscoring the importance of regionally and demographically adjusted reference intervals in clinical practice.

Regional peculiarities of training teachers for education systems of multicultural regions: Substantiation of the forecasting model

Introduction. The authors investigate the problem of how initial teacher education is developing in the context of dynamic ethnocultural processes. The purpose of this study is to identify regional peculiarities of preparing prospective teachers for working in education systems of multicultural regions in order to substantiate a forecasting model of the framework program. Materials and Methods. The research is based on the ideas of system-based and integration-based approaches. The authors use the following methods: content analysis, method of precedents and modeling. Results. The authors presented the following results: studies conducted by Russian and international researchers on the problems of preparing teachers to work in education systems of multicultural regions are reviewed; regional specifics of educational systems of multicultural regions (Voronezh, Samara and Omsk regions) are revealed and the best regional practices of training teachers to solve professional tasks in the conditions of dynamic ethnocultural processes are described; the forecasting model of the framework program for teacher training in the education system of multicultural regions is presented. Conclusions. The study concludes about the forecasting model of the framework program for training teachers who would be able to solve professional tasks in the education system of regions with dynamic ethnocultural processes.

Impact of water stress on Mediterranean oak savanna grasslands productivity: Implications for on-farm grazing management

This study analyzes the productivity of grasslands in a Mediterranean oak-savanna ecosystem, focusing on its linkages with water availability. In these water-controlled ecosystems, grassland environmental preservation and sustainable management depend on quantitatively understanding these links. Productivity and water stress were modeled in southern Spain (2001–2018), integrating meteorological information and MODIS sensor data into a light-use efficiency model and a surface energy balance. The results provided valuable insights into how grasslands behaved during droughts at different spatiotemporal scales. During the most significant droughts, 2004/2005 and 2011/2012, aerial biomass production was reduced by 42 % and 67 %, respectively. The spatial analysis identified the central east side of the region, with low slopes and moderate tree cover, as the most productive area. The biomass production time series classification identified four distinct trends, all showing shifted relationships with similar slopes between production and anomalies of relative evapotranspiration. The seasonal analysis highlighted the importance of autumn, accounting for nearly 30 % of the annual biomass production, which was essential in years with spring water deficits. The proposed methodology provides on-farm grassland production curves depending on water availability (max-mean-min range with a mean error of 15.5 %). Together with weather forecast data, this could help farmers decide on the optimal level of management intensification and stocking rate. Although the regional specificity may limit the study’s direct applicability, this scheme offers valuable metrics that could be adapted to other areas under water scarcity conditions.

18 F-Fluorination of Nitroimidazolyl-Containing Sultone: A Direct Access to a Highly Hydrophilic Radiotracer for High-Performance Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Hypoxia.

Hypoxia, characterized by nonphysiological levels of oxygen tension, is a key phenomenon common to the majority of malignant tumors with poor prognosis. Many efforts have been made to develop hypoxia imaging for diagnosis, staging, and monitoring of diseases, as well as for evaluating therapies. PET Imaging using 18F-fluoronitroimidazoles (i.e., [18F]FMISO as a lead radiotracer) has demonstrated potential for clinical investigations, but the poor contrast and prolonged acquisition times (>2.5 h) strongly limit its accuracy and routine developments. Here, we report an original [18F]fluoronitroimidazole bearing a sulfo group ([18F]FLUSONIM) that displays highly hydrophilic properties and rapid clearance, providing high-performance hypoxia specific PET imaging. We describe the synthesis and radiosynthesis of [18F]FLUSONIM, its in vivo preclinical evaluation by PET imaging in healthy rats and a rhabdomyosarcoma rat model, as well as its radiometabolization and histological studies. [18F]FLUSONIM was prepared in a single step by high yielding radiofluorination of a sultone precursor, highlighting the advantages of this new radiolabeling approach not yet explored for radiopharmaceutical development. PET imaging experiments were conducted by systematically comparing [18F]FLUSONIM to [18F]FMISO as a reference. The overall results unequivocally demonstrate that the developed radiopharmaceutical meets the criteria of an ideal candidate for hypoxia PET imaging-rapid and efficient radiosynthesis, total stability, exclusive urinary elimination, high specificity for hypoxic regions, unprecedented tumor/background ratios, short acquisition delays (<60 min), and promising potential for further preclinical and clinical applications.

Effect of UV exposure and natural aging on the in vitro PAHs bioaccessibility associated with tire wear particles in soil

Tire wear particles (TWP), as an emerging type of microplastics, are a significant source of contaminants in roadside soils due to their high concentration of pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study explored the impact of ultraviolet (UV) exposure and natural aging on the in vitro bioaccessibility of PAHs associated with TWP in soil on a China-wide scale. Our findings suggested that UV exposure amplified the negative charge of TWP by 75 % and increased the hydrophobic groups on the particle surface. The bioaccessibility of 3- and 4-ring PAHs in TWP was significantly (p < 0.05) heightened by UV exposure. After 20 types of soils containing 2 % UV-exposed TWP underwent natural aging, the bioaccessibility of PAHs saw a significant decrease (p < 0.05) to 16–48 %, compared to 28–96 % in the unaged group. Soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC) were the two primary soil properties positively influencing the reduction of in vitro PAHs concentration and PAHs bioaccessibility. According to the prediction results, soils in southern China presented the highest potential region for the release of bioaccessible PAHs from TWP, highlighting the regional specificity of environmental impact. Our study provides valuable insights into the biological impact of PAHs associated with TWP on a regional scale, and offers scientific evidence for targeted soil risk management strategies.

Macrogenomics Reveals Effects on Marine Microbial Communities during Oplegnathus punctatus Enclosure Farming.

(1) Background: Laizhou Bay is an important aquaculture area in the north of China. Oplegnathus punctatus is one of the species with high economic benefits. In recent years, the water environment of Laizhou Bay has reached a mild eutrophication level, while microorganisms are an important group between the environment and species. In this study, we evaluated alterations in environmental elements, microbial populations, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) along with their interconnections during Oplegnathus punctatus net culture. (2) Methods: A total of 142 samples from various water layers were gathered for metagenome assembly analysis. Mariculture increases the abundance of microorganisms in this culture area and makes the microbial community structure more complex. The change had more significant effects on sediment than on seawater. (3) Results: Certain populations of cyanobacteria and Candidatus Micrarchaecta in seawater, and Actinobacteria and Thaumarchaeota in sediments showed high abundance in the mariculture area. Antibiotic resistance genes in sediments were more sensitive to various environmental factors, especially oxygen solubility and salinity. (4) Conclusions: These findings highlight the complex and dynamic nature of microorganism-environment-ARG interactions, characterized by regional specificity and providing insights for a more rational use of marine resources.

Brain region-specific action of ketamine as a rapid antidepressant.

Ketamine has been found to have rapid and potent antidepressant activity. However, despite the ubiquitous brain expression of its molecular target, the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), it was not clear whether there is a selective, primary site for ketamine's antidepressant action. We found that ketamine injection in depressive-like mice specifically blocks NMDARs in lateral habenular (LHb) neurons, but not in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. This regional specificity depended on the use-dependent nature of ketamine as a channel blocker, local neural activity, and the extrasynaptic reservoir pool size of NMDARs. Activating hippocampal or inactivating LHb neurons swapped their ketamine sensitivity. Conditional knockout of NMDARs in the LHb occluded ketamine's antidepressant effects and blocked the systemic ketamine-induced elevation of serotonin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus. This distinction of the primary versus secondary brain target(s) of ketamine should help with the design of more precise and efficient antidepressant treatments.

Antecedents and processes leading to open innovation in SMEs

Open Innovation (OI) literature related to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has often been fragmented, hindering the effective generalisation of findings. We conducted a systematic multidisciplinary literature review to explore OI in the context of SMEs across various regions. OI research in SMEs was most common in Europe, followed by China, Korea, South East Asia, Africa, South America and the Middle East. Surprisingly, very little research has been done in the USA, Canada, and the Indian subcontinent. We aimed to identify the commonalities and regional specifics in the antecedents and processes leading to OI. The review included one hundred research articles from the Web of Science database. Our findings revealed four common antecedents of OI across the firms: Human Factors, Technology, Policy, and Heterogeneity. Additionally, we identified three standard processes that lead to the OI phenomenon: firm-level partnerships, collaboration with academia, and intermediation. Though the antecedents and processes hold across firms of different sizes, human factors, policy and heterogeneity among the antecedents and intermediation as the process holds more significance to the SMEs as a sector. This research has important implications for academia and the industry. Firstly, we have responded to the research gap by increasing the generalisation of results across the regions. Secondly, different stakeholders may look for literature that is directly relevant to them. Thirdly, SME managers need to know the specific attitudes to facilitate OI effectively. Fourthly, the importance of intermediation has been identified as an effective process leading to OI. Finally, we have categorised future research directions under different clusters.

Integrated Multi-Biomarker Responses of Juvenile Zebra Seabream (Diplodus cervinus) to Warming and Acidification Conditions

The impacts of climate change-related stressors are becoming more noticeable in the ocean, particularly in coastal marine ecosystems. Yet limited information still exists on the physiological state and ecological resilience of marine fish species, especially during their early life stages (i.e., larvae and juveniles). The present study investigated the effects of chronic exposure to seawater warming (OW; ΔT = +4 °C) and acidification (OA; ΔpH = −0.3 pH units, equivalent to pCO2~1000 µatm), acting alone or combined (OWA), on juvenile zebra seabream (Diplodus cervinus) physiological resilience, considering distinct levels of biological organization (i.e., biochemical, cell, organ and individual levels). After 60 days of exposure, both stressors, in isolation or combination, significantly decreased specific growth rate (−11% in OW, −42% in OA and −49% in OWA) and leukocyte counts (from −29% in OA and OWA up to −37% in OW) in relation to the control treatment. In addition, a decreased Fulton’s condition index (K) was observed under warming and acidification in combination (−35% in OWA). At the cell level, OW, OA and OWA triggered different biomarker responses in D. cervinus (i.e., up-regulation, down-regulation, or absence of significant effect). In general, the results are suggestive of an antagonistic effect when warming and acidification are combined. OWA yielded the highest integrated biomarker response (IBR) index value in the whole organism, muscle, brain and gills of D. cervinus juveniles, therefore suggesting that the effects of these stressors are more severe when they act together. The distinct patterns observed in each stress scenario highlight the importance of carrying out further studies adjusted to the specificities of different regions, i.e., accounting not only for the type and degree of severity of environmental stressors already felt and/or projected for that specific area, but also the physiological plasticity of species that inhabit a particular ecosystem. The gathered knowledge will allow one to determine the vulnerability of particular marine species and geographic areas and, most importantly, to draw up effective and tailor-made conservation strategies to overcome climate change impacts.