Research Grant Research Articles

Mechanochemical Synthesis of Sodium-Ion Conducting Chloride NaTaCl6

All-solid-state sodium batteries have been attracting attentions owing to their high energy density and safety. Solid electrolytes play a significant role in the electrochemical performances of all-solid-state batteries. Chloride-based solid electrolytes are particularly important for achieving high energy densities because of their high oxidation stability, ionic conductivity, and formability. Fewer sodium-ion conducting chlorides have been developed compared to lithium-ion conducting materials. It is necessary to discover the chlorides as the end-member of sodium-ion conductors. In this study, we report the development of a new NaTaCl6 chloride as an end-member sodium-ion conductor with high ionic conductivity. NaTaCl6 sample was mechanically prepared using a planetary ball mill apparatus. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the obtained sample displayed a broad pattern similar to the reported NaTaCl6 (ICSD#36519), suggesting that the sample contains both amorphous and crystalline phases. The reference intensity ratio method was used to investigate the weight ratios of the amorphous phases in the sample. The ratio was approximately 45 %. Transmission electron microscopy observations suggested that the sample consisted of the amorphous matrix and crystalline with the crystallite size of approximately 20 nm. The electrical conductivities of the pelletized samples were measured using two-terminal AC electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The sample pellets were prepared by uniaxial pressing at 360 MPa without heat treatment. The pellet sample had the relative density of 85 % (powder density: 3.32 g cm–3, pellet density: 2.83 g cm–3). The sample shows σ 25ºC of 6.2×10–5 S cm–1, and the activation energy of 0.37 eV. To determine the NaTaCl6 onset oxidation voltage (OOV), linear sweep voltammetry measurement was carried out. The OOV of the sample at 60 ºC was 3.8 V vs. Na15Sn4. To demonstrate the high oxidation stability of NaTaCl6 in all-solid-state sodium batteries, it was used in a positive electrode by mixing Na3V2(PO4)3 as the active material and the buffer layer. The cell exhibited an initial reversible capacity of 96 mAh g–1 and stable cycling after 40 cycles with the capacity retention of 99.5 %. A 3.3 V all-solid-state sodium battery without oxide solid electrolytes was successfully operated. In this study, the NaTaCl6 electrolyte was developed with a high ionic conductivity and oxidation stability.Acknowledgement: This work was partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Numbers: JP21H04701 and JP19H05816) and MEXT Program: Data Creation and Utilization-Type Material Research and Development Project Grant Number JPMXP1122712807.

Building bilateral global research capacity among students and faculty through initiation of a medical student research grant in Ghana.

Building bilateral global research capacity among students and faculty through initiation of a medical student research grant in Ghana.

Aqueous Polysulfide-Based Redox Flow Battery with Soluble Molecular Catalysts

Aqueous polysulfide-based redox flow batteries (RFBs) are promising for large-scale energy storage applications due to their low cost and high safety1. However, polysulfide negolyte suffers from poor kinetics, resulting in low operating current density and low energy efficiency2-5. Herein, we proposed a molecular catalyst strategy to transfer the sluggish electrochemical polysulfide reduction reaction to a fast chemical reaction via homogeneous catalysis. Inspired by the electron transport chain in the respiratory process, we selected riboflavin sodium phosphate (FMN-Na) as the molecular catalyst to transfer electrons from electrode to polysulfide with the disulfide bond cleavage6. The reaction rate (or turnover frequency) kobs is determined to be 33 s–1 at 1 M K2S4 solution, and this spontaneous chemical electron transfer process is verified by ultraviolet-visible light spectroscopy. In the polysulfide-ferrocyanide (S-Fe) RFB, the overpotential is dramatically decreased from over 800 mV to 241 mV at 30 mA cm–2 with the assistance of FMN-Na as the molecular catalysts. The catalyzed S-Fe RFB and polysulfide-iodide RFB showed stable operation for over 1,000 cycles at 40 mA cm–2. This work offers a simple but effective method to resolve the bottleneck for aqueous polysulfide-based RFBs, and such a homogeneous catalysis strategy may shed light on other flow battery systems with poor kinetics. We will combine operando spectroscopic techniques and theoretical calculation to discuss the possible reaction mechanism and intermediate.AcknowledgmentThis work is supported by two grants from the Research Grants Council (RGC) T23-713/22-R and RFS2223-4S03. Reference Y. Yao, J. Lei, Y. Shi, F. Ai and Y.-C. Lu, Nat. Energy, 2021, 6, 582-588. Z. Li and Y.-C. Lu, Nat. Energy, 2021, 6, 517-528. X. Wei, G.-G. Xia, B. Kirby, E. Thomsen, B. Li, Z. Nie, G. G. Graff, J. Liu, V. Sprenkle and W. Wang, J. Electrochem. Soc., 2015, 163, A5150. Z. Li, M. S. Pan, L. Su, P.-C. Tsai, A. F. Badel, J. M. Valle, S. L. Eiler, K. Xiang, F. R. Brushett and Y.-M. Chiang, Joule, 2017, 1, 306-327. J. Lei, Y. Yao, Y. Huang and Y.-C. Lu, ACS Energy Lett., 2023, 8, 429-435. J. Lei, Y. Zhang, Y. Yao, Y. Shi, K. L. Leung, J. Fan and Y.-C. Lu, Nat. Energy, 2023, DOI: 10.1038/s41560-023-01370-0.

2272 Methodological challenges and strategies in understanding the lived experiences of childless Chinese older couples

Abstract Introduction With more cases of delayed marriage, voluntary childlessness and infertility among Chinese, childless older couples are anticipated to increase. Although evidence suggests that being childless in Western societies may benefit older couples, older Chinese couples without children are marginalised as no one is available to take care of their physical, psychosocial and financial burdens because children in the Chinese societies are often responsible for caring and supporting older individuals. This ongoing study explores the lived experiences of ageing among childless Chinese older couples. While the research methods are novel in the literature, this study highlights the methodological challenges encountered by the researchers. Method This qualitative study adopts the interpretive phenomenological approach with photovoice. Twenty childless older couples are recruited to participate in two face-to-face interviews and submit photos before the second interview. The photos convey contextual details that are challenging to express in words, thereby enhancing the richness of the interview data. Data are analysed using the van Manen’s thematic analysis and Oliffe’s photographic analysis. Results Some challenges experienced so far include difficulties in recruiting participants, as certain spouses refuse to participate while their partners choose to do so. Also, certain couples are reluctant to talk about dying as the last stage of their ageing or be interviewed simultaneously. Similarly, certain couples may not know how to take and submit photos. Strategies utilised include providing simple and clear explanations before the interview, allowing some couples to be interviewed separately, assuring confidentiality in data handling, and recruiting those competent in using smartphones. Conclusion The methodological challenges and related strategies surrounding recruiting older couples and using photovoice provide valuable implications for future researchers. Acknowledgement The work described in this paper was fully supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (UGC/FDS16/M09/23).

2217 Experiences of older residents in anticipation of transitioning to a new nursing home

Abstract Introduction Transition is potentially a stressful incident to individuals as it requires major life adjustment. Older residents living in a nursing home consider it as their last place of life. When the older residents need to be relocated to a new nursing home, they inevitably face a significant transition due to their high dependency on the physical, psychological, and social needs. There is limited empirical evidence revealing the experiences of older residents who anticipate a transition from the existing nursing home to a new nursing home, thereby hampering our understanding of their needs and limiting the health care professionals, families, and friends to provide appropriate support in such major life event. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of older residents in anticipation of transitioning to a new nursing home. Method A descriptive qualitative approach was adopted. Thirty older residents who were going to be relocated from the existing nursing home to a new nursing home were recruited through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews, each lasted for around 30-minute, were conducted and audio-taped. Data were analysed through thematic analysis. Results Experiences of older residents were summarised in four themes, namely preparing for the transition, having expectations on the new living environment, worrying about changes in daily living, and valuing the support from others. In general, the older residents viewed the transition positively and perceived well-prepared for the transition. Such positive experience was mainly due to the support provided by nursing home staff and families before the transition took place. Conclusion The findings significantly expanded our understanding on the experiences of older residents in anticipation of transitioning to a new nursing home, which is largely absent from empirical evidence. Acknowledgement The work described in this paper was fully supported by Hong Kong Metropolitan University Research Grant (No. RD/2023/1.18).

Group psychotherapy research grants

Group psychotherapy research grants

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS’ VIEWS ON PATIENT HANDLING, WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS, AND THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF TARGETED EXERCISE IN PREPARING FOR OCCUPATIONAL DEMANDS

Purpose and backgroundNearly 70% of UK physiotherapists experience work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) during their career, with a significant proportion occurring in the back and being attributed to patient handling tasks. Evidence suggests that manual handling training alone is ineffective and interventions among nurses indicate that a tailored approach, including targeted exercise (TE), can reduce WRMSD rates. This study aimed to explore physiotherapists’ perspectives of WRMSDs, patient handling, and the role of TE in reducing WRMSDs among physiotherapists.Methods and ResultsKey informant interviews were conducted with 4 physiotherapy operational leads and 1 manual handling trainer from NHS Grampian. Interviews were transcribed and Framework Analysis was utilised to identify key themes, including challenges, barriers, and facilitators. Following this, two online focus groups were conducted with 7 qualified NHS physiotherapists across the UK. Views of manual handling training varied across specialities, with some finding it comprehensive and adaptable, and others finding it less applicable to patients in their speciality or community setting. Physiotherapist views on fitness for work varied, with some highlighting the necessity of TE to ensure workforce health whilst others considered exercise to be a personal matter. Facilitators to implementation identified by participants were having support from management and a strong justification for the exercise content. Varied work schedules and facilities were identified as barriers to implementation of a work-based TE intervention.ConclusionVarying perspectives on TE interventions and barriers to implementation were identified. This work will inform future research to develop TE interventions in consultation with key stakeholders.Conflicts of InterestNo conflicts of interestSource of FundingNHS Endowment Research Grant 22/001

Characteristics and career outcomes of dermatology-focused medical student research grant recipients

Although several dermatology-focused research grants for medical students exist, studies have yet to evaluate the outcomes of grant recipients, such as entry into dermatology residency and academic careers. We have described the characteristics of recipients of dermatology-focused medical student research grants and outcomes, including entry into dermatology residency and academic careers, and we have focused on seven dermatology-focused national and regional research grants eligible for US medical students. Data were obtained from publicly available online sources for grants from 2004 to 2023. Of the 235 medical student recipients of dermatology research grants between 2004 and 2023, 45.5% attended one of the top 20 medical schools funded by National Institutes of Health research grants. Of those who completed medical school, 68.3% advanced to a dermatology residency (n = 123/180). Among board-certified dermatologists, 44.7% held an academic position (n = 34/76); among those who attended a top 20 medical school, 50% held an academic position (n = 23/46) compared with 36.7% who did not (n = 11/30). Limitations of this study include selection bias and incomplete data availability. Medical student research grants allow students to thoughtfully engage in dermatology research early in medical education. These grants may facilitate entry into dermatology residency and academic careers and lead to continued research endeavors.

Research in Psychiatry Medical Education through "MUST Enrich Grant": A Scoping Review.

The Indian Teachers of Psychiatry (IToP) forum introduced a unique research grant scheme- IToP-MUST (Minds United Scholarship for Teachers) Enrich Research Grant- for conducting research in psychiatry education. This scoping review's objectives are to (a) assess the research areas and methodologies of MUST Enrich grant-supported research, (b) identify strengths and limitations of these research works, and (c) inform the researchers and funding agency concerning robust methodologies and study areas that can be considered in the future. We included all MUST-funded original educational research projects from their inception (2020) to the present, which were either published or, although unpublished, available in the public domain. Eleven research projects were identified. Most awardees were junior academic faculty members (n = 9, 82%). Eight (73%) studies were related to Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) and were based on teaching-learning (TL) or related methods under the CBME framework, focusing on newer TL methods. Seven of eight (88%) were based on undergraduate TL. Most (n = 8, 73%) of the studies had an observational cross-sectional design, whereas the rest were interventional studies. Almost all were quantitative studies (n = 10, 91%). The prime themes of the research were students' and teachers' perspectives on the study topic, innovations in psychiatry TL, and their educational impact. This review's findings will inform funders and researchers about future research areas and help formulate robust methodologies. Other funders must earmark their funding for educational research to grow this field.

Prevalence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency at 12 months after acute pancreatitis: a prospective, multicentre, longitudinal cohort study

Exocrine Pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) occurs following acute pancreatitis (AP) at variably reported rates and with unclear recovery timeline. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence and predictors of EPI at 12 months after AP in a prospective cohort. In this prospective, multicentre, longitudinal cohort study, adult participants (≥18 years) admitted to the hospital with an AP attack (defined by Revised Atlanta Classification) were enrolled in a United States multi-centre longitudinal cohort (Sites: The Ohio State University, University of Pittsburgh, and Johns Hopkins University). Patients were excluded if they had pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis, or malabsorptive disease (including previously diagnosed EPI). Participant data was obtained by interview and by review of the electronic medical record. EPI was assessed by stool fecal elastase (FE-1) levels collected at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months (primary endpoint). EPI was defined by FE-1 <200μg/g; severe FE-1 level ≤100μg/g; mild FE-1 101-200μg/g. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of EPI at 12 months. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03063398. EPI was observed in 29 (34.1%) of the 85 participants [44 (51.8%) male, mean age 54.7±14.1 years] who provided stool samples at 12 months. For the study overall, participants were recruited between June 22, 2017 and October 18, 2021. A total of 5794 individuals were screened, 311 of whom were eligible for the study. 112 participants provided stool samples at baseline, 79 completed stool samples at 3 months, and 85 completed samples at 12 months. 64 participants included samples at all 3 timepoints. In univariable analysis, factors significantly associated with EPI at 12 months included recurrent (versus index) AP, pre-existing diabetes, alcohol, and idiopathic etiologies, and increasing severity of AP. In multivariable analysis, the odds of having EPI at 12 months increased 4-fold with idiopathic AP etiology (Odds Ratio 4.095, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.418, 11.826), and 3-fold with moderately severe or severe AP (Odds Ratio 3.166, 95% CI 1.156, 8.670), and baseline diabetes mellitus (Odds Ratio 3.217, 95% CI 1.113, 9.298). Even individuals with an index mild attack of AP (n=39) developed severe EPI at 12 months (prevalence 12.8%). EPI as diagnosed by FE-1 is present in over one third of prospectively assessed patients at 12 months post-AP. Since EPI develops in patients with mild AP, investigations are needed to understand the mechanisms of injury and identify methods for tailored screening. This study was supported by an Investigator Initiated Research Grant from AbbVie, Inc.

Sustainable governance of natural gas exploration: A coastal forest ecosystem perspective

AbstractCoastal forest ecosystems can benefit from an empirical study of the sustainable governance of natural gas exploration. But, policymakers and practitioners cannot make informed decisions in the absence of thorough and comprehensive research. This study examines empirical research on the sustainable governance of natural gas exploration within the coastal forest ecosystem, identifies research gaps and outlines future directions. Researchers utilised the theories, context, characteristics, and methodologies (TCCM) analysis in the systematic narrative review of nine studies. The study findings revealed that sustainable governance of natural gas exploration to lessen coastal forest ecological consequences is questionable since most of the study indicated negative impacts on coastal forests. Furthermore, the study findings contributed by identifying the most prominent theories, such as economic theory and efficient taxation, which are thought to maximise long‐term economic benefits while minimising the degradation of forest ecosystems. Natural gas exploration‐related taxes have the potential to support conservation initiatives and coastal forest ecosystem restoration. Furthermore, the study acknowledges that most studies do not have guidelines for evaluating the concepts of sustainable governance. Moreover, the research suggests the need for sustainable governance that strikes a balance between the goals of natural gas development and the protection of coastal forest ecosystems, enacts laws and regulations that promote good governance towards the Green House Gases protocol, and sets up monitoring and control mechanisms. Furthermore, the government should provide incentives, such as research grants, to encourage research and dissemination, as well as sustainable management techniques for natural gas extraction and coastal forest ecosystem management and conservation.

Bilirubin metabolism in early life and respiratory health during preschool age: A combined analysis of two independent birth cohorts.

Bilirubin has antioxidant properties, and elevated levels within the normal range have been associated with improved lung function and decreased risk of asthma in adults, but studies of young children are scarce. Here, we investigate associations between bilirubin in early life and respiratory health endpoints during preschool age in two independent birth cohorts. Bilirubin metabolites were assessed at ages 0.5, 1.5, and 6 years in COPSAC2010 (Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010) and ages 1, 3, and 6 years in the VDAART (The Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial) cohort. Meta-analyses were done to summarize the relationship between levels of bilirubin metabolites and asthma, infections, lung function, and allergic sensitization until age 6 across the cohorts. Interaction with the glucuronosyltransferase family 1 member A1 (UGT1A) genotype encoding for an enzyme in the bilirubin metabolism was explored, and metabolomics data were integrated to study underlying mechanisms. Increasing bilirubin (Z,Z) at ages 1.5-3 years was associated with an increased risk of allergic sensitization (adjusted relative risk [aRR]= 1.85 [1.20-2.85], p= 0.005), and age 6 bilirubin (Z,Z) also showed a trend of association with allergic sensitization at age 6 (aRR= 1.31 [0.97-1.77], p= 0.08), which showed significant interaction for the age 6 bilirubin (Z,Z)xUGT1A genotype. Further, increasing bilirubin (E,E), bilirubin (Z,Z), and biliverdin at ages 1.5-3 years was associated with a lower forced expiratory volume at age 6 (aRRrange= 0.81-0.91, p<0.049) but without a significant interaction with the UGT1A genotype (pinteractions>0.05). Network analysis showed a significant correlation between bilirubin metabolism and acyl carnitines. There were no associations between bilirubin metabolites and the risk of asthma and infections. Bilirubin metabolism in early life may play a role in childhood respiratory health, particularly in children with specific UGT1A genotypes. The Lundbeck Foundation (Grant no R16-A1694), The Ministry of Health (Grant no 903516), Danish Council for Strategic Research (Grant no 0603-00280B), and The Capital Region Research Foundation have provided core support to the COPSAC research center. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 946228). The Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDDART, ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00920621) was supported by grant U01HL091528 from NHLBI, U54TR001012 from the National Centers for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). Metabolomics work by VDAART was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) grant R01HL123915 and R01HL141826. S.T.W. was supported by R01HL091528 from the NHLBI, UG3OD023268 from Office of The Director, National Institute of Health, and P01HL132825 from the NHLBI.

Clinical and cost-effectiveness of remote-delivered, online lifestyle therapy versus psychotherapy for reducing depression: results from the CALM non-inferiority, randomised trial

We conducted the first non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial to determine whether lifestyle therapy is non-inferior to psychotherapy with respect to mental health outcomes and costs when delivered via online videoconferencing. An individually randomised, group treatment design with computer-generated block randomisation was used. Between May 2021-April 2022, 182 adults with a Distress Questionnaire-5 score=≥8 (indicative depression) were recruited from a tertiary mental health service in regional Victoria, Australia and surrounds. Participants were assigned to six 90-min sessions over 8-weeks using group-based, online videoconferencing comprising: (1) lifestyle therapy (targeting nutrition, physical activity) with a dietitian and exercise physiologist (n=91) or (2) psychotherapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) with psychologists (n=91). The primary outcome was Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression at 8-weeks (non-inferiority margin ≤2) using Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE). Cost-minimisation analysis estimated the mean difference in total costs from health sector and societal perspectives. Outcomes were assessed by blinded research assistants using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews. Results are presented per-protocol (PP) and Intention to Treat (ITT) using beta coefficients with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs). The sample was 80% women (mean: 45-years [SD:13.4], mean PHQ-9:10.5 [SD:5.7]. An average 4.2 of 6 sessions were completed, with complete data for n=132. Over 8-weeks, depression reduced in both arms (PP: Lifestyle (n=70) mean difference:-3.97, 95% CIs:-5.10,-2.84; and Psychotherapy (n=62): mean difference:-3.74, 95% CIs:-5.12,-2.37; ITT: Lifestyle (n=91) mean difference:-4.42, 95% CIs:-4.59,-4.25; Psychotherapy (n=91) mean difference:-3.82, 95% CIs:-4.05,-3.69) with evidence of non-inferiority (PP GEE β:-0.59; 95% CIs:-1.87, 0.70, n=132; ITT GEE β:-0.49, 95% CIs:-1.73, 0.75, n=182). Three serious adverse events were recorded. While lifestyle therapy was delivered at lower cost, there were no differences in total costs (health sector adjusted mean difference: PP AUD$156 [95% CIs-$182, $611, ITT AUD$190 [95% CIs-$155, $651] ]; societal adjusted mean difference: PP AUD$350 [95% CIs:-$222, $1152] ITT AUD$ 408 [95% CIs-$139, $1157]. Remote-delivered lifestyle therapy was non-inferior to psychotherapy with respect to clinical and cost outcomes. If replicated in a fully powered RCT, this approach could increase access to allied health professionals who, with adequate training and guidelines, can deliver mental healthcare at comparable cost to psychologists. This trial was funded by the Australian Medical Research Future Fund (GA133346) under its Covid-19 Mental Health Research Grant Scheme.

Distributionally Robust Newsvendor Under Stochastic Dominance with a Feature-Based Application

Problem definition: In this paper, we study the newsvendor problem under some distributional ambiguity sets and explore their relations. Additionally, we explore the benefits of implementing this robust solution in the feature-based newsvendor problem. Methodology and results: We propose a new type of discrepancy-based ambiguity set, the JW ambiguity set, and analyze it within the framework of first-order stochastic dominance. We show that the distributionally robust optimization (DRO) problem with this ambiguity set admits a closed-form solution for the newsvendor loss. This result also implies that the newsvendor problem under the well-known infinity-Wasserstein ambiguity set and Lévy ball ambiguity set admit closed-form inventory levels as a by-product. In the application of feature-based newsvendor, we adopt general kernel methods to estimate the conditional demand distribution and apply our proposed DRO solutions to account for the estimation error. Managerial implications: The closed-form solutions enable an efficient computation of optimal inventory levels. In addition, we explore the property of optimal robust inventory levels with respect to the nonrobust version via concepts of perceived critical ratio and mean repulsion. The results of numerical experiments and the case study indicate that the proposed model outperforms other state-of-the-art approaches, particularly in environments where demand is influenced by covariates and difficult to estimate. Funding: X. Li is supported by the Singapore Ministry of Education [Tier 1 Grant 23-0619-P0001, 24-0500-A0001] and National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72331004]. L. Zhang is partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 72171156 and 72231002] and the Hong Kong Research Grants Council [Grant 16212419]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2023.0159 .

Penny Wise and Pound Foolish: Does Striving to Meet Earnings Expectations by Manipulating Real Activities Trigger Product Recalls?

We examine whether managers’ activities in striving to reach earnings targets through real earnings manipulation affect their firms’ product recalls. Our evidence implies that firms suspected of manipulating real activities in trying to meet earnings benchmarks exhibit a higher likelihood and frequency of product recalls. In cross-sectional results consistent with expectations, we find that the impact of exploiting real activities to attain earnings benchmarks on product recalls intensifies for firms whose managers have stronger incentives to manage earnings and subsides for firms subject to greater customer power and firms with more growth opportunities. Additional analysis shows that lowering product quality to meet or beat earnings expectations undermines firms’ future performance. This paper was accepted by Ranjani Krishnan, accounting. Funding: Y. Chen acknowledges the General Research Fund of the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong [Project 15504219] for financial support. L. Ma acknowledges financial support from the Ministry of Education Project of Humanities and Social Sciences [Project 22YJC630099] and the Young Scholars Grant Program of the University of International Business and Economics [Project 20YQ06]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.04035 .

Credibility of the evidence on green space and human health: an overview of meta-analyses using evidence grading approaches

Green space is an important part of the human living environment, with many epidemiological studies estimating its impact on human health. However, no study has quantitatively assessed the credibility of the existing evidence, impeding their translations into policy decisions and hindering researchers from identifying new research gaps. This overview aims to evaluate and rank such evidence credibility. Following the PRISMA guideline, we systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases for systematic reviews with meta-analyses concerning green spaces and health outcomes published up to January 15, 2024. We categorized the credibility of meta-analytical evidence from interventional studies into four levels (i.e., high, moderate, low, and very low) using the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluations framework, based on five domains including risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness, imprecision, and publication bias. Further, we recalculated all the meta-analyses from observational studies and classified evidence into five levels (i.e., convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, and non-significant) by considering stringent thresholds for P-values, sample size, robustness, heterogeneity, and testing for biases. In total, 154 meta-analysed associations (interventional=44, observational=110) between green spaces and health outcomes were graded. Among meta-analyses from interventional studies, zero, four (wellbeing, systolic blood pressure, negative affect, and positive affect), 20, and 20 associations between green spaces and health outcomes were graded as high, moderate, low, and very low credibility evidence, respectively. Among meta-analyses from observational studies, one (cardiovascular disease mortality), four (prevalence/incidence of diabetes mellitus, preterm birth, and small for gestational age infant, and all-cause mortality), 12, 22, and 71 associations were categorized as convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, and non-significant evidence, respectively. The current evidence largely confirms beneficial associations between green spaces and human health. However, only a small subset of these associations can be deemed to have a high or convincing credibility. Hence, future better designed primary studies and meta-analyses are still needed to provide higher quality evidence for informing health promotion strategies. The National Natural Science Foundation of China of China; the Guangzhou Science and Technology Program; the Guangdong Medical Science and Technology Research Fund; the Research Grant Council of the Hong Kong SAR; and Sino-German mobility program.

Charting Excellence: Unveiling the Influence of Scientific Publications on Global University Rankings

ABSTRACT The global ranking of universities has grown substantially within both academia and industry. This study aims to explore how scientific publications, their visibility, and citations contribute to improving university rankings. A survey was conducted online involving 2000 faculty members at the University of Dhaka. Email addresses were gathered from the university website, and 311 faculty members provided responses, resulting in a response rate of 15.55%. Faculty members acknowledged that writing scientific articles for top-ranked journals requires statistical, analytical and other relevant skills. The benefits of publishing in prestigious journals indicating a generally positive perception among the respondents. This study empirically demonstrated that publishing in journals listed in databases like Scopus or Web of Science enhances visibility, which in turn leads to more citations. Together, these factors contribute to improving university rankings. Dhaka University must focus on increasing its publications in top-tier journals by implementing incentive programs, fostering research collaborations, and allocating additional research grants. By understanding these universal standards for scholarly excellence, other universities can tailor their strategies to enhance faculty support and foster a culture conducive to impactful research publication. The findings from this study offer valuable insights that can be applied to other universities worldwide.

Establish a noninvasive model to screen metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease in children aged 6–14 years in China and its applications in high-obesity-risk countries and regions

The prevalence of metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is rising precipitously among children, particularly in regions or countries burdened with high prevalence of obesity. However, identifying those at high risk remains a significant challenge, as the majority do not exhibit distinct symptoms of MASLD. There is an urgent need for a widely accepted non-invasive predictor to facilitate early disease diagnosis and management of the disease. Our study aims to 1) evaluate and compare existing predictors of MASLD, and 2) develop a practical screening strategy for children, tailored to local prevalence of obesity. We utilized a school-based cross-sectional survey in Beijing as the training dataset to establish predictive models for screening MASLD in children. An independent school-based study in Ningbo was used to validate the models. We selected the optimal non-invasive MASLD predictor by comparing logistic regression model, random forest model, decision tree model, and support vector machine model using both the Beijing and Ningbo datasets. This was followed by serial testing using the best performance index we identified and indices from previous studies. Finally, we calculated the potential MASLD screening recommendation categories and corresponding profits based on national and subnational obesity prevalence, and applied those three categories to 200 countries according to their obesity prevalence from 1990 to2022. A total of 1018 children were included (NBeijing=596, NNingbo=422). The logistic regression model demonstrated the best performance, identifying the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR, cutoff value≥0.48) as the optimal noninvasive index for predicting MASLD, with strong performance in both training and validation set. Additionally, the combination of WHtR and lipid accumulation product (LAP) was selected as an optimal serial test to improve the positive predictive value, with a LAP cutoff value of ≥668.22cm×mg/dL. Based on the obesity prevalence among 30provinces, three MASLD screening recommendations were proposed: 1) "Population-screening-recommended": For regions with an obesity prevalence ≥12.0%, where MASLD prevalence ranged from 5.0% to 21.5%; 2) "Resources-permitted": For regions with an obesity prevalence between 8.4% and 12.0%, where MASLD prevalence ranged from 2.3% to 4.4%; 3) "Population-screening-not-recommended": For regions with an obesity prevalence <8.4%, where MASLD prevalence is difficult to detect using our tool. Using our proposed cutoff for screening MASLD, the number of countries classified into the "Population-screening-recommended" and "Resources-permitted" categories increased from one and 11 in 1990 to 95 and 28 in 2022, respectively. WHtR might serve as a practical and accessible index for predicting pediatric MASLD. A WHtR value≥0.48 could facilitate early identification and management of MASLD in areas with obesity prevalence ≥12.0%. Furthermore, combining WHtR ≥0.48 with LAP ≥668.22cm×mg/dL is recommended for individual MASLD screening. Moreover, linking these measures with population obesity prevalence not only helps estimate MASLD prevalence but also indicates potential screening profits in regions at varying levels of obesity risk. This study was supported by grants from Capital's Funds for Health Improvement and Research (Grant No. 2022-1G-4251), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82273654), Major Science and Technology Projects for Health of Zhejiang Province (Grant No. WKJ-ZJ-2216), Cyrus Tang Foundation for Young Scholar 2022 (2022-B126) and Sino-German Mobility Programme (M-0015).

The determinants and impact of research grants: The case of Brazilian productivity scholarships

Research Productivity Grant (PQ) is a governmental research award maintained by CPNq, the Brazilian Council of Research, and designed as a funding program to support scientific studies in all fields of science. Using a compilation of data from the Lattes platform, we study the individual CVs of more than 133000 researchers between 2005 and 2022 to examine PQ's selection criteria and impact on research productivity over time. First, a machine learning model can accurately predict who receives the financial support. This suggests that some parts of the evaluation process can be automated based on Lattes. Moreover, the main factors that impact the likelihood of a researcher receiving an entry-level PQ are the number of supervisions and papers published. These factors are consistent across different fields of science. Additionally, we found a significant and positive impact from receiving the award in key academic research output. After receiving a CNPq productivity award, researchers tend to increase the number of citations of papers and publications.

A self-assessment maturity matrix to support large-scale change using collaborative networks in the New Zealand health system

BackgroundA maturity matrix can be a useful tool for organisations implementing large-system transformation (LST) initiatives in complex systems. Insights from implementation of a local LST initiative using collaborative networks, known as Alliances, highlighted a tool was needed to help health system leaders prompt discussions on how and where to focus their change efforts. In the New Zealand (NZ) health system, Alliances were introduced to integrate the planning and delivery of health care between primary and hospital care.MethodsThe aim of this research was to use insights from Alliance members to develop a learning tool that collaborative networks could use to assess and improve their readiness for change. We constructed a maturity matrix using the knowledge of senior NZ health system leaders, in a workshop setting. The maturity matrix was empirically tested and refined with three Alliances and with feedback from the NZ Ministry of Health Māori Health Strategy and Policy team.ResultsThe maturity matrix described the 10 key elements that had been found to support successful implementation of LST initiatives in the NZ health system, along with success indicators and different stages of maturity from beginning to excellence. Testing of the maturity matrix with three Alliances suggested that it functioned as a learning tool and stimulated collective thinking and reflection. The Māori Health Strategy and Policy team commented on the importance of such a tool to increase health system leaders’ responsiveness to improving Māori health outcomes. Comparisons with similar international matrices revealed common elements with ours. A strength of our maturity matrix is that it is specific to the NZ context and is the first practical tool to implement large-scale change in the health system that incorporates principles of the Government’s treaty with Māori, the indigenous people of NZ.ConclusionsThrough a regular self-assessment process, use of the maturity matrix may create feedback loops to support deliberate learning and knowledge sharing for senior health system leaders and collaborative networks. The maturity matrix fills an important gap in the NZ health system and contributes to implementation science literature internationally.OtherThis study was approved by the Victoria University of Wellington Human Ethics Committee (Ethics Approval Number 27,356). The research was supported by the Victoria University of Wellington research grant (222,809) and from the University of Auckland Department of Medicine research fund (H10779).