bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical investigation of agglomeration phenomenon in fluidized beds by a combined CFD-DEM/PBM technique
Authors: Hasanpoor Saeed , Mansourpour Zahra , Mostoufi Navid
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to fundamentally develop a mathematical model for predicting the particle size distribution (PSD) in fluidized beds because their hydrodynamics depend on the PSD and its evolution during operation. To predict the gradual PSD change in a fluidized bed by using the population balance method (PBM), the kinetic parameter for agglomerate formation should be known and this parameter, in this work, is determined by the results of computational fluid dynamic–discrete element method (CFD-DEM) simulation.

Design/methodology/approach

Momentum and energy conservation equations and soft-sphere DEM are used to simulate the agglomeration phenomenon at high temperature in a two-dimensional air-polyethylene fluidized bed in bubbling regime. The Navier–Stokes equations for motion of gas are solved by the SIMPLE algorithm. Newton’s second law of motion is applied to describe the motion of individual particles. Collision between particles is detected by the no-binary search algorithm.

Findings

A correlation is proposed for estimating the kinetic parameter for agglomerate formation based on collision frequency, collision efficiency and inlet gas temperature. Based on the corrected kinetic parameter, the PBM is able to predict the PSD evolution in the fluidized bed in a fairly good agreement with the results of the CFD-DEM.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the agglomeration process cannot be compared quantitatively with experimental results. Because three-dimensional fluidized bed mostly contains millions of particles and simulating them takes a long computing time in DEM. As far as temperature is a dominant parameter in the agglomeration process, effects of inlet gas temperature are examined on the kinetic parameter. On the other hand, wider and deeper insights in which the effect of other parameters, such as velocity and so on will be studied, is one of the goals in the authors’ next works to compensate for the shortcomings in this work.

Originality/value

This study helps to understand the effect of the inlet gas temperature during the agglomeration process on the kinetic parameter and provides fundamental information in dealing with kinetic parameter to attain PSD in fluidized bed by the PBM.
Investigating country image influences after a product-harm crisis
Authors: Crouch Roberta Carolyn , Lu Vinh Nhat , Pourazad Naser , Ke Chen
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Although international product-harm crises have become more common, the influence of the country image (CI) associated with foreign goods in such crises remains under researched. This study aims to investigate the extent to which the CI of a foreign made product influences consumers’ attribution of blame and trust and, ultimately, their future purchase intentions after the product is involved in a crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (country) × 3 (crisis type) quasi experimental design was used, with data collected from Australia (n = 375) and China (n = 401).

Findings

CI can influence attribution of blame, subsequent levels of trust and likely purchase intentions. Australian and Chinese consumers have different views when it comes to trusting a company or placing blame, depending on the country of origin or the type of crisis. The direct and positive effect of CI on consumer purchase intentions following a product-harm crisis is sequentially mediated by attribution of blame and trust. Trust is the most powerful influence on future purchase intentions in both samples.

Research limitations/implications

In this research, only one type of crisis response strategy (no comment) was used. Thus, the results of this study must be viewed with caution when considering outcomes relating to other response options. Additionally, the testing was limited to only two samples, focussing on three countries (England, China, Vietnam), and one product context using a hypothetical brand. Further, despite our reasonable sample size (N = 776), the number of respondents represented in each cell would still be considered a limitation overall.

Practical implications

When developing crisis response strategies, managers should take into account the influence of a positive/negative source CI in driving attribution and trust. To minimize the impact of crisis on future purchasing decisions, organizations can leverage positive biases and mitigate negative ones, aiming to maintain or restore trust as a priority.

Originality/value

The study provides cross-country understanding about the significant role of CI during a product-harm crisis in relation to subsequent consumers’ blame attribution, their trust in the focal organization and ultimately their future purchase intentions.
Turning home boredom during the outbreak of COVID-19 into thriving at home and career self-management: the role of online leisure crafting
Authors: Chen I-Shuo
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper studied whether boredom at home due to social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic may motivate individuals to engage in online leisure crafting, thereby contributing to their thriving at home and career self-management. This paper aims to examine whether individuals’ growth need strength influences the impact of home boredom on online leisure crafting.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper performed a two-wave longitudinal study involving a group of employees from the hospitality industry (N= 340) in Mainland China. This paper evaluated home boredom, online leisure crafting and growth need strength at Time 1 and thriving at home and career self-management two months later at Time 2.

Findings

The respondents’ experience of home boredom had a time-lagged effect on their thriving at home and career self-management via online leisure crafting. Additionally, their growth need strength amplified the positive impact of home boredom on online leisure crafting.

Practical implications

Hospitality managers can motivate employees to engage in crafting online leisure activities at home when they experience home boredom during the outbreak of COVID-19, which may further allow them to experience thriving at home and engage in career self-management. Additionally, managers can develop managerial interventions to improve the growth need strength of employees with low growth needs, which may, in turn, render these employees less likely to tolerate home boredom, thereby increasing the positive impact of home boredom on their online leisure crafting.

Originality/value

This paper offer insights for the boredom literature regarding how individuals’ home boredom caused by social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic might lead to their thriving at home through online leisure crafting. This paper also provides insights for the leisure crafting literature regarding the role of online leisure crafting in individuals’ thriving at home. This paper reveals the role of growth need strength in the impact of home boredom on thriving at home through online leisure crafting.
Effect of online political incivility on partisan attitude: role of issue involvement, moral identity and incivility accountability
Authors: Sharma Isha , Jain Kokil , Singh Gurinder
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The study investigates the effect of an uncivil comment made by a party representative on social media and tests whether it can lead to a change in observers' attitude toward the party.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected from 196 respondents using a scenario-based survey. Proposed model is tested using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

It is found that individual's moral identity and issue involvement influence perceived civility of the online post, which in turn affects attitude toward the party as well as the individual. It is observed that for high partisans, effect of perceived civility on attitude toward the party is stronger compared to low partisans. Party's lack of responsiveness to address the uncivil comment from its representative increases party's incivility accountability and lowers the partisan attitude toward the party.

Originality/value

The study presents a novel understanding of how political party representatives can influence the image of the party by engaging in an uncivil discourse on social media. Results support that strong partisan would react more unfavorably indicating that loyalty toward the party cannot be taken for granted.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-03-2020-0084
Connecting founder social identity with social entrepreneurial intentions
Authors: Ko Eun-Jeong , Kim Kihwan
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Despite recent advances in research on antecedents of social entrepreneurial intentions, founder social identity has rarely been part of the research effort. This paper aims to investigate how different types of founder social identity affect social entrepreneurial intentions (SE intentions).

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates how different types of founder social identity, such as Darwinians, Communitarians and Missionaries, affect SE intentions. Specifically, this study predicts that entrepreneurs with Darwinian identity would be less likely to form SE intentions, while those with Missionary and Communitarian identities would be more prone to form SE intentions. The hypotheses are tested on a sample of 725 individuals recruited using Amazon Mechanical Turk. Most of the hypotheses, except for Communitarian identity, are supported by the data analysis. The results contribute to the literature on founder social identity and SE intentions and demonstrate that founder social identity is one of the important antecedents of social entrepreneurial intentions.

Findings

Two of the hypotheses were supported by the results. Specifically, this study found a positive relation between Missionary founder social identity (its locus of self-definition is “Impersonal-We”) and social entrepreneurial intentions. This research also confirms that Darwinian founder social identity (its locus of self-definition is “I”) has a negative impact on social entrepreneurial intentions.

Originality/value

First, a person’s social identity has been largely overlooked in social entrepreneurship intention literature (Bacq and Alt, 2018; Hockerts, 2017; Zaremohzzabiehet al, 2019). The findings provide the empirical evidence that individual-level antecedents, especially one’s membership in a social group (i.e. social identity), exert a significant impact on the formation of SE intentions. Second, among the two types of founder social identity predicted to have a positive influence on SE intentions, only Missionary identity was found to have such a positive impact. The typical Communitarian locus of self-definition of “Personal We,” is less influential than the self-definition of the typical Missionary locus of “Impersonal We.” This might imply that not all types of feelings of belonging to a community have a positive impact on the formation and development of social entrepreneurial intentions. Finally, this study found that Darwinians are less likely to pursue social entrepreneurship although the definition of Darwinians is close to the definition of traditional entrepreneurs (e.g. profit/opportunity seekers). This may signify that the traditional concept of entrepreneurship may not be enough to explain different types of entrepreneurial motivations (e.g. social vs commercial entrepreneurship).
Pollen transfer networks reveal alien species as main heterospecific pollen donors with fitness consequences for natives
Authors: Parra‐Tabla Víctor , Alonso Conchita , Ashman Tia‐Lynn , Raguso Robert A. , Albor Cristopher , Sosenski Paula , Carmona Diego , Arceo‐Gómez Gerardo
Published: October 2020

The ecological dynamics of co‐flowering communities are largely mediated by pollinators. However, current understanding of pollinator‐mediated interactions primarily relies on how co‐flowering plants influence attraction of shared pollinators, and much less is known about plant–plant interactions that occur via heterospecific pollen (HP) transfer. Invaded communities in particular can be highly affected by the transfer of alien pollen, but the strength, drivers and fitness consequences of these interactions at a community scale are not well understood.

Here we analyse HP transfer networks in nine coastal communities in the Yucatan Mexico that vary in the relative abundance of invasive flowers to evaluate how HP donation and receipt varies between native and alien plants. We further evaluate whether HP donation and receipt are mediated by floral traits (e.g. display, flower size) or pollinator visitation rate. Finally, we evaluated whether post‐pollination success (proportion of pollen tubes produced) was affected by alien HP receipt and whether the effect varied between native and alien recipients.

HP transfer networks exhibit relatively high connectance (c. 15%), suggesting high HP transfer within the studied communities. Significant network nestedness further suggests the existence of species that predominantly act as HP donors or recipients in the community. Species‐level analyses showed that natives receive 80% more HP compared to alien species, and that alien plants donate 40% more HP than natives. HP receipt and donation were mediated by different floral traits and such effects were independent of plant origin (native or alien). The proportion of alien HP received significantly affected conspecific pollen tube success in natives, but not that of alien species.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that HP transfer in invaded communities is widespread, and that native and alien species play different roles within HP transfer networks, which are mediated by a different suite of floral traits. Alien species, in particular, play a central role as HP donors and are more tolerant to HP receipt than natives—a finding that points to two overlooked mechanisms facilitating alien plant invasion and success within native co‐flowering communities.
‘Is Still Not the Blood of the Blessed Martyr Thomas Fully Avenged?’ Thomas Becket's Cult at Canterbury under Henry III and Edward I
Authors: Wilkinson Louise J.
Published: October 2020

In July 1220, the boy king Henry III attended the Translation of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury, whereby the saint's body was transferred from its original tomb in the crypt of Canterbury cathedral to a splendid new shrine in the main body of the church. This article explores the continuing appeal of Becket's cult at Canterbury for elite ecclesiastical and lay circles in thirteenth‐ and early fourteenth‐century England. It argues that the Englishmen, or holders of ecclesiastical office in England, who were canonised as saints in the thirteenth century were associated with St Thomas and his cult. Drawing on the records of the English royal household and wardrobe, alongside letters and charters, this article then examines the reception of Becket's cult at the royal court. Although Henry III was more famous for his adult devotion to St Edward the Confessor, Henry and his wife, Eleanor of Provence, still paid their respects to Becket's shrine at Canterbury. Royal interest in St Thomas of Canterbury, or St Thomas the Martyr, continued, but with added vigour, under Edward I, his wives and his children. Despite St Thomas's appeal for opponents of the English crown, Becket's cult remained firmly connected to the English ruling dynasty.
The Representative of the State: Why the English Parliament Was Distinctive in the Early 17th Century
Authors: Yerby George
Published: October 2020

This article identifies the forms of state development in 16th‐ and 17th‐century England, and shows that they were embraced by parliament rather than the crown, reflecting the change whereby MPs ceased to be mere local representatives and came to be seen as the central representative of the kingdom, traditionally the function of the monarch. Thus parliament assumed a defining role in the new national dimension of foreign policy, working in concert with the Elizabethan government, but generally in opposition to the early Stuarts, who perpetuated a dynastic approach. The most challenging domestic manifestation of parliament as central representative was the long‐term campaign for freedom of trade, pursued by a broad coalition of the merchant community and the gentry in parliament, asserting a principled right of English subjects to be free of arbitrary exactions and restraints, such as the royal prerogative of impositions. The emergent state was structured by a distinctive internal dynamic, based on the sole sovereignty of representative law, established by the expulsion of the universal church. Omni‐competent statute had a unique dual force, responding directly to constituency requirements, and meeting them with definitive national provisions. This was adopted by parliament as the new instrument of good government, but distrusted and sidelined by the Stuart crown. Consequently, in 1641, John Pym bemoaned the absence of parliaments as bereaving the country of the legislative function, which he now saw as ‘that which makes and constitutes a kingdom’. The appropriation of state perspectives reinforced parliamentarian strength and ambitions.
House of Lords Committee Accommodation and Its Use: Restoration and Renewal in the 19th and 20th Centuries*
Authors: Tudor Philippa
Published: October 2020

Following the 1834 fire, the work of house of lords committees continued virtually without interruption, at first in temporary accommodation and, from 1846, in rooms in the new palace designed by Charles Barry. This article charts the history of house of lords committee activity and the varied use of its accommodation at Westminster from 1834 to the present. Major committee work immediately following the fire included an inquiry into prison reform. Barry's accommodation was scantily fitted out, and quickly needed technical and other adaptations. Committees themselves changed too, with the heaviest phase of private bill activity needed for the creation of the railways tailing off by the late 1860s. Following a low point in committee activity between 1940 and 1970 committee work has developed in fits and starts from 1971 onwards. The further expansion of committees following the Jellicoe committee report of 1992 was accommodated by the reform of private bill procedure, which helped free up committee rooms, and in October 2009, the establishment of the Supreme Court meant that the law lords no longer sat judicially in the large committee rooms 1 and 2. Since 2012, however, the further expansion of committee activity has not been matched by an increase in its accommodation.
Combinatorial strategies for production improvement of red pigments from Antarctic fungus Geomyces sp.
Authors: Huang Hezhou , Ding Lulu , Lu Jian , Wang Nengfei , Cai Menghao
Published: October 2020

Natural red pigments have been widely used as food and cosmetics additives. However, due to toxic byproducts or allergen issues, it is still necessary to look for some other red pigment products. This study proposed combinatorial strategies to improve production of a new kind of red pigments from the fungus Geomyces WNF‐15A, isolated from Antarctica. A high‐production medium was developed by statistical experimental design, which was further simplified for industrial use by single‐factor experiments. Strain breeding by atmospheric room temperature plasma mutagenesis generated a mutant, Geomyces sp. WNF‐15A‐M210, which increased production of red pigments by 24.4% and shortened culture phase by 33.3% comparing with the wild‐type. The production of red pigments by this mutant favored a weak alkaline condition but required only mild dissolved oxygen tension. Control of initial pH 8.5 (process pH around 7.5) increased red pigments production by 19% comparing with natural condition. Precursor and inhibitor addition experiments indicated that the red pigments were synthesized by polyketide pathway, and feeding 6 mmol/L precursor of sodium acetate by three aliquots at days 3 to 5 improved biosynthesis of red pigments by 27%. Finally, the developed culture process was verified in a 5‐L stirred tank bioreactor. The red pigments production of the pH regulation group reached 1.11‐fold of the control and 1.95‐fold of the precursor regulation group, respectively. This study provides high‐production strain, optimized medium, and bioprocess for the possible industrial production of Antarctic Geomyces red pigments in future.

Practical Application

Antarctic Geomyces red pigments showed high color value, nontoxic characteristic, and good water solubility. It holds potential for industrial use and is under development for food additive in China currently. This study provides an optional manufacturing process for this new kind of red pigments.
Primary thymic adenocarcinoma with an aggressive clinical course: An autopsy case showing signet ring cell‐like features
Authors: Shiono Ayako , Fujino Takashi , Kaira Kyoichi , Kato Tomomi , Yasuda Masanori , Kobayashi Kunihiko , Kagamu Hiroshi
Published: October 2020

Thymic adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare neoplasm, and little is known about its pathogenesis and clinical characteristics. A 52‐year‐old man presented to our clinic with severe dyspnea. At initial presentation, massive carcinomatous pleuritis and pericarditis were observed, and a lobulated mass in the anterior mediastinum was found on computed tomography. Cytological examination revealed adenocarcinoma accompanied by signet ring cells; however, his tumor showed aggressive growth without any possibility of treatment, and he died as a result of cancer progression within one month of admission. An autopsy confirmed thymic adenocarcinoma showing various histological features including mucinous, signet ring cell‐like, and trabecular features. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin (CK) (AE1/AE3) but negative for TTF‐1. In addition, some tumor cells were positive for CD5 and KIT. Further examination revealed that tumor cells of the nonmucinous type were positive for CK7, and negative for CK20 and caudal‐type homeobox 2 (CDX2). The tumor cells with mucinous and signet ring‐like features were positive for CK20 and CDX2 and negative for CK7, indicating enteric differentiation. In particular, tumor cells with signet ring cell‐like features indicated widespread lymphangitic carcinomatosis and pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM). The presence of signet ring cell‐like features with enteric differentiation is suggestive of a fulminant clinical course due to widespread lymphangiosis carcinomatosa and PTTM in patients with thymic adenocarcinoma.

Key points

Thymic adenocarcinoma is an extremely rare neoplasm.

Histological features of thymic adenocarcinoma include mucinous, signet ring cell‐like, and trabecular features.

Tumor cells with signet ring cell‐like features indicate widespread lymphangitic carcinomatosis and pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy.

The presence of signet ring cell‐like features with enteric differentiation is associated with a fulminant clinical course.
StrathE2E2: An r package for modelling the dynamics of marine food webs and fisheries
Authors: Heath Michael R. , Speirs Douglas C. , Thurlbeck Ian , Wilson Robert J.
Published: October 2020

We present StrathE2E2, an r package for modelling the whole ecosystem, or ‘big‐picture’ effects of hydrodynamics, temperature, nutrient additions and fishing on continental shelf marine food webs.

StrathE2E2 has two linked parts—a fishing fleet model and an ecology model. The fishing model combines harvesting, discarding and seabed disturbance rates across a range of gears and passes the results into the ecology model.

The ecology model is a network of coupled ordinary differential equations representing the rates of change in nitrogen mass of organic detritus, dissolved inorganic nutrient and coarse guilds of living biomass spanning microbes to megafauna. The equations include representations of feeding, metabolism, reproduction, active migrations, advection and mixing. Environmental driving data include temperature, irradiance, hydrodynamics and nutrient inputs from rivers, atmosphere and ocean boundaries.

The package includes functions for parameter optimization, global sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo estimation of credible intervals for model outputs.

A fully developed and documented implementation for the North Sea is included with the package.
Leveraging spatial information to forecast nonlinear ecological dynamics
Authors: Johnson Bethany , Gomez Marcella , Munch Stephan B.
Published: October 2020

There has been a recent demand for forecasting in ecology, particularly in the field of ecosystem management. Empirical dynamic modelling (EDM), an equation‐free nonlinear forecasting method, is receiving growing attention, but it requires long time series to produce accurate predictions. Though most ecological time series are short, spatial replicates are often available. Here we explore how utilizing available spatial data can improve our ability to forecast ecological dynamics.

There are several ways to incorporate spatial information into EDM and not all have been applied in ecology. We compare spatial EDM approaches used in ecology and physics and introduce a flexible Bayesian model that makes use of prior movement information.

We test these methods on simulated data generated with three population dynamics models with varying levels of complexity, time series length, spatial symmetry and heterogeneity. Adding spatial data generally improves accuracy, though the best method depends on the spatial process. We applied the methods to empirical fisheries data, highlighting the complexity of real population dynamics.

Leveraging spatial data is an effective way to overcome the problem of short ecological time series. Since the best forecasting method depends on the underlying dynamics, we suggest that users apply several in concert and that this may be useful in identifying spatial heterogeneity in dynamics.
Analyst Recommendations, Herding Intensity, and Trading Performance*
Authors: Lien Donald , Hung Pi‐Hsia , Chen Li‐Wen
Published: October 2020

This paper examines how analyst recommendations and investors’ herding influence stock returns and trading performance. Different types of investors display distinct herding intensity. Institutional investors herd significantly more than individuals do and investment trusts exhibit the highest herding intensity. Foreign investors tend to herd in buying (selling) stocks when analysts issue better (worse) recommendations. Investment trusts are inclined to herd in the sell side when analysts issue “sell” recommendations. Institutional buy (sell) herding positively (negatively) correlates to current‐day returns. Individual herding shows the exact opposite pattern. Finally, institutional investors’ higher buy intensity has better trading performance following analysts’ buy‐oriented recommendations.
Digital technology for anaphylaxis management impact on patient behaviour: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Sala‐Cunill Anna , Luengo Olga , Curran Adrian , Moreno Nuria , Labrador‐Horrillo Moises , Guilarte Mar , Gonzalez‐Medina Mónica , Galvan‐Blasco Paula , Cardona Victoria
Published: October 2020

Background

Epinephrine is the first‐line treatment for anaphylaxis. Patients at risk should always carry an epinephrine autoinjector (EAI). Several EAI gaps have been identified. We sought to evaluate satisfaction using a medical device (digital technology comprising an EAI smart case connected to a mobile APP) with functions that overcome most of the EAI limitations and to determine whether patient behaviour and anaphylaxis management improve with its use.

Methods

This was a randomized, open‐label, crossover clinical trial in a tertiary hospital involving patients with history of anaphylaxis carrying an EAI. The study was conducted in two three‐month periods, one with and one without the medical device. The primary endpoint was satisfaction with the medical device. Usability, adherence, anxiety and anaphylaxis episodes were evaluated as secondary endpoints.

Results

A total of 100 patients were included (mean age 38.1 years, 74% female), and 95 completed the trial. The satisfaction visual analogue scale (VAS) after using the medical device was higher than before its use (89.1 [95% CI, 60.2‐99.1] vs 56.3 [95% CI, 48.1‐81.4];P < .0001). The adherence VAS improved from 59.7 (95% CI, 54.0‐65.3) to 88.6 (95% CI, 84.2‐92.9) (P < .0001). Overall, 90% patients found the medical device easy to use. Patients’ anxiety decreased from 52.2% to 29.3% (P < .001). Seven episodes of anaphylaxis occurred during the study, all in patients without the medical device (P = .025). Eighty‐eight per cent of patients felt more involved in the management of anaphylaxis when using the medical device.

Conclusion

This is the first clinical trial evaluating digital technology for EAIs, showing a change of behaviour in patients at risk of anaphylaxis, increasing satisfaction, improving adherence, and reducing anxiety, with good usability.
Biogenic amine content during the production and ripening of Sremski kulen, Serbian traditional dry fermented sausage
Authors: Suvajdžić Branko , Tasić Tatjana , Teodorović Vlado , Janković Vesna , Dimitrijević Mirjana , Karabasil Neđeljko , Vasilev Dragan
Published: October 2020

Sremski kulen is a wide diameter dry fermented sausage, produced from pork, seasoned with red spicy paprika, stuffed into pork cecum, and preserved by smoking, fermentation and drying. Due to specific ripening process, Sremski kulen is suitable for the accumulation of biogenic amines. Therefore, the aminogenesis was studied in traditionally produced Sremski kulen, taking into account the physicochemical parameters and microbial counts. The content of six biogenic amines (tryptamine, phenylethylamine, tyramine, histamine, putrescine, and cadaverine) was analyzed using high‐performance liquid chromatography. The ripening process of Sremski kulen was slow followed by changes in aw and pH value as well as expressed proteolysis. The autochthonous microbiota showed pronounced decarboxylase activity. Tryptamine and phenylethylamine were detected at each examined ripening stage while histamine was not detected until the end of ripening (16.55 ± 2.33 mg/kg). Tyramine, cadaverine, and putrescine content significantly increased during the ripening period (p < .05). In the final product, cadaverine was the dominant biogenic amine (132.40 ± 5.05 mg/kg), followed by tyramine (115.80 ± 15.46 mg/kg) and putrescine (68.55 ± 2.39 mg/kg). Although the long ripening period greatly contributed to the accumulation of biogenic amines in final product, their content are not of concern from product safety aspects, but requires improvement in hygiene of production process.
Three lessons conservation science can learn from the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Buxton Rachel T. , Bergman Jordanna N. , Lin Hsien‐Yung , Binley Allison D. , Avery‐Gomm Stephanie , Schuster Richard , Roche Dominique G. , Bennett Joseph R.
Published: October 2020

Article impact statement: COVID‐19 has demonstrated the need to optimize research activity, convey the gravity of loss, and reevaluate merit in conservation science.
DDGP vs. SMILE in Relapsed/Refractory Extranodal Natural Killer/T‐cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type: A Retrospective Study of 54 Patients
Authors: Wang Xin , Hu Junxia , Dong Meng , Ding Mengjie , Zhu Linan , Wu Jingjing , Sun Zhenchang , Li Xin , Zhang Lei , Li Ling , Wang Xinhua , Fu Xiaorui , Wang Guannan , Chen Qingjiang , Zhang Mingzhi , Zhang Xudong
Published: October 2020

Extranodal natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKL) is a rare peripheral T‐cell lymphoma that predominantly occurs in Asian and South American populations. The treatment of ENKL has been a challenge for a long time. This study was conducted to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of cisplatin, dexamethasone, gemcitabine, and pegaspargase (DDGP) and methotrexate, dexamethasone, ifosfamide, L‐asparaginase, and etoposide (SMILE) regimens for relapsed/refractory ENKL and explore the prognostic factors. From October 2014 to July 2019, 54 patients with relapsed/refractory ENKL who received DDGP or SMILE chemotherapy were retrospectively assessed in this study. Thirty‐one patients received DDGP chemotherapy and 23 patients received SMILE chemotherapy. A higher complete response rate was observed in patients treated with DDGP regimen (61.3% vs. 30.4%, P = 0.025). The DDGP group (95% confidence interval (CI) of 5‐year progression‐free survival (PFS): 24.6–66.2%; 95% CI of 5‐year overall survival (OS): 8.5–91.7%) was also significantly associated with longer 5‐year PFS and 5‐year OS (P = 0.008 for 5‐year PFS, P = 0.023 for 5‐year OS). More serious leucopenia (P = 0.021), neutropenia (P = 0.041), and allergy (P = 0.040) were observed in the SMILE group. Post‐treatment Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐DNA status (P = 0.001 for PFS, P = 0.018 for OS) was identified as a significant prognostic factor for PFS and OS in multivariate analysis. The present research suggested that compared with SMILE chemotherapy, DDGP chemotherapy can significantly improve the response and survival of relapsed/refractory ENKL with better tolerance. Post‐treatment EBV‐DNA status was identified as a significant prognostic factor for PFS and OS in relapsed/refractory ENKL.
Artificial neural network‐based prediction of prolonged length of stay and need for post‐acute care in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Kulkarni Hemant , Thangam Manoj , Amin Amit P.
Published: October 2020

Background

Prolonged length of stay (LOS) and post‐acute care after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is common and costly. Risk models for predicting prolonged LOS and post‐acute care have limited accuracy. Our goal was to develop and validate models using artificial neural networks (ANN) to predict prolonged LOS > 7days and need for post‐acute care after PCI.

Methods

We defined prolonged LOS as ≥7 days and post‐acute care as patients discharged to: extended care, transitional care unit, rehabilitation, other acute care hospital, nursing home or hospice care. Data from 22 675 patients who presented with ACS and underwent PCI was shuffled and split into a derivation set (75% of dataset) and a validation dataset (25% of dataset). Calibration plots were used to examine the overall predictive performance of the MLP by plotting observed and expected risk deciles and fitting a lowess smoother to the data. Classification accuracy was assessed by a receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the ROC curve (AUC).

Results

Our MLP‐based model predicted prolonged LOS with an accuracy of 90.87% and 88.36% in training and test sets, respectively. The post‐acute care model had an accuracy of 90.22% and 86.31% in training and test sets, respectively. This accuracy was achieved with quick convergence. Predicted probabilities from the MLP models showed good (prolonged LOS) to excellent calibration (post‐acute care).

Conclusions

Our ANN‐based models accurately predicted LOS and need for post‐acute care. Larger studies for replicability and longitudinal studies for evidence of impact are needed to establish these models in current PCI practice.
B‐type natriuretic peptide over N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide to predict incident atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke
Authors: Palà E. , Pagola J. , Juega J. , Francisco‐Pascual J. , Bustamante A. , Penalba A. , Comas I. , Rodriguez M. , De Lera Alfonso M. , Arenillas J. F. , de Torres R. , Pérez‐Sánchez S. , Cabezas J. A. , Moniche F. , González‐Alujas T. , Molina C. A. , Montaner J.
Published: October 2020

Background and purpose

B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) are well‐known surrogates of atrial fibrillation (AF) detection but studies usually present data on either BNP or NT‐proBNP. The aim was to determine and directly compare the validity of the two biomarkers as a tool to predict AF and guide prolonged cardiac monitoring in cryptogenic stroke patients.

Methods

Non‐lacunar acute ischaemic stroke (<72 h) patients over 55 years of age with cryptogenic stroke after standard evaluation were included in the Crypto‐AF study and blood was collected. BNP and NT‐proBNP levels were determined by automated immunoassays. AF was assessed by 28 days’ monitoring. Highest (optimizing specificity) and lowest (optimizing sensitivity) quartiles were used as biomarker cut‐offs to build predictive models adjusted by sex and age. The integrated discrimination improvement index (IDI) and DeLong test were used to compare the performance of the two biomarkers.

Results

From 320 patients evaluated, 218 were included in the analysis. AF was detected in 50 patients (22.9%). NT‐proBNP (P < 0.001) and BNP (P < 0.001) levels were higher in subjects with AF and their levels correlated (r = 0.495, P < 0.001). BNP showed an increased area under the curve (0.720 vs. 0.669; P = 0.0218) and a better predictive capacity (IDI = 3.63%, 95% confidence interval 1.36%–5.91%) compared to NT‐proBNP. BNP performed better than NT‐proBNP in a specific model (IDI = 3.7%, 95% confidence interval 0.87%–6.5%), whilst both biomarkers performed similarly in the case of a sensitive model.

Conclusions

Both BNP and NT‐proBNP were increased in cryptogenic stroke patients with AF detection. Interestingly, BNP outperforms NT‐proBNP, especially in terms of specificity.
Translational perspectives to treat Epidermolysis bullosa—Where do we stand?
Authors: Prodinger Christine , Bauer Johann W , Laimer Martin
Published: October 2020

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is the prototypical example of genetic skin fragility disorders. Genotypic heterogeneity, modifier genes, epigenetic, biochemical and environmental factors alter and determine pathogenic traits and, ultimately, the wide and striking phenotypic variability in EB. Besides the primary structural‐functional defect, chronic tissue damage with induction and dysregulation of inflammatory pathways is a common pathogenic mechanism in EB. In localized variants, the inflammatory aberrations may mainly affect the micromilieu of lesional skin, while a systemic inflammatory response was shown to contribute to the systemic morbidity in severe EB subtypes with extensive cutaneous involvement. Our continued understanding of the pathophysiology of EB, as well as advances in molecular technologies, has paved the way for translational therapeutic approaches. The spectrum comprises of corrective and symptom‐relieving therapies that include innovative therapeutic options garnered from the bench, repurposed drugs approved for other diseases, as well as strategies for gene‐, protein‐ and cell‐based therapies. Immunological traits further define new targets of therapy, aimed at improving skin barrier restoration, microbial surveillance and infection control, wound healing and anti‐neoplastic effects. Clinical availability and feasibility of these approaches for all EB patients and subtypes are currently limited, reflecting issues of efficacy, specificity, tolerability and safety. A multistep targeting approach and highly individualized, risk‐stratified combinatory treatment plans will thus be essential for sustained efficacy and improved overall quality of life in EB.
The shaping of public services through calculative practices: The roles of accountants, citizens, professionals, and politicians
Authors: Lapsley Irvine , Miller Peter , Steccolini Ileana
Published: October 2020

This contribution introduces the special issue on the roles of accounting practices in the context of reforms to and within public service organizations. The papers in the special issue provide fresh insights into the ways in which calculative practices intervene in public services, and thus come to affect the experiences of such actors, offering important perspectives on how the latter act to resist, reshape, redefine, and change those very practices, or strategically and tactically use (or avoid the use of) accounting to impact the ways in which services are defined and delivered.
William Smith's map brought alive by digital remastering
Authors: Butcher Alan R. , Pirrie Duncan , Rollinson Gavyn K. , Horsch Hanna , Hesselbo Stephen P. , Owen Michael , Haberlah David
Published: October 2020

The geological mapping carried out by William Smith, which resulted in the publication of his famous map in 1815, was remarkable in many respects, not least because it relied on him being able to make consistent and accurate observations on the rock types he encountered during his fieldwork. This ability, gained from his many years studying rocks, allowed him to observe features with his own eyes (or at the very least, with the aid of a simple magnifying device) that others could not. We take a new look at William Smith's original stratigraphical sequences, and with samples collected from his classic field areas (many of which are around the city of Bath, Somerset, UK), demonstrate how spatial mineralogy mapping can be incorporated into the modern age of digital mapping.
Palaeobiotechnology
Authors: Tihelka Erik
Published: October 2020

The majority of organisms that ever lived on the Earth, and hence the majority of evolutionary innovations, are now extinct. Only fragments of this past diversity are observable in the form of the fossil record. Biomimicry and biotechnology seek to utilize the astonishing diversity of living organism's solutions to complex biological problems as inspiration for human technology. This feature reviews the potential industrial applications of fossil‐inspired technologies, an emerging area of research here referred to as ‘palaeobiotechnology’ or ‘brown biotechnology’. Examples from vertebrate, invertebrate and molecular palaeontology illustrate the diverse potential applications of extinct organisms, including the design of new materials such as bone substitutes, development of pharmaceuticals, robots and anchoring devices for submarines. Palaeobiotechnological approaches are able to both inspire modern sustainable technologies and at the same time illuminate the biology of ancient organisms.
The study of slavery in the early and central middle ages: Old problems and new approaches
Authors: Sutherland Samuel S.
Published: October 2020

Traditionally treated separately from the Mediterranean slavery of the later middle ages, the study of slavery in the early and central middle ages has mostly fixated on locating and explaining the disappearance of Roman slavery and its replacement with serfdom. Marc Bloch provided the seminal study for this line of inquiry. While subsequent scholars have debated Bloch's approach to defining medieval slavery, his proposed causes for its disappearance, and the timing and pace of the transition, most studies nevertheless continue in the tradition of attempting to answer his question. Some recent studies, however, have moved away from this question altogether to elucidate the continued significance of slavery in various societies of the central middle ages.
Expectations versus reality: The well‐being of female migrant workers in garment factories in Myanmar
Authors: NGUYEN Hanh
Published: October 2020

This article examines how material and non‐material well‐being is under‐stood and experienced by female migrant workers in unskilled labour‐intensive industries. It follows the capability approach pioneered by Amartya Sen, arguing that a lack of self‐ and collective empowerment can undermine economic, social and psychological well‐being. Data drawn from a survey of a cross section of 249 female migrant workers in garment factories in Myanmar support this theory. In the light of the country's economic and social transitions, its asymmetric labour market and its underdeveloped social security system, the author suggests that labour policies should embrace and empower the most vulnerable groups of workers.
Whole‐genome resequencing reveals loci under selection during silkworm improvement
Authors: Li Chunlin , Zuo Weidong , Tong Xiaoling , Han Minjin , Gao Rui , Hu Hai , Lu Kunpeng , Luan Yue , Zhang Bili , Liu Yanyu , Dai Fangyin
Published: October 2020

Breeding or genetic improvement refers to the process of artificial selection following domestication; as such, it has had a major influence on modern agriculture and animal production. Improvement generally focuses on traits that greatly affect the economic performance. Therefore, understanding the genetic basis underlying improvement will contribute to the identification of genes controlling economic traits and will facilitate future crop and animal breeding. However, genome‐wide study of the molecular basis underlying improvement remains rare. The silkworm is a unique, entirely domesticated economically important invertebrate; genetic improvement has had a huge effect on the silkworm regarding silk‐related traits. Herein, we performed whole‐genomic sequencing on local and genetically improved silkworm lines to identify the genomic regions under strong selection in silkworm breeding/improvement. By genomic‐wide selective sweeping analysis, we identified 24 genomic regions with strong selection signals, eight of which contained 13 candidate genes underlying silkworm breeding. Interestingly, six of these genes were annotated with functions related to neural signal response. Among the six genes, BGIBMGA004050 encodes silkworm CREB‐regulated_transcription_coactivator_1 (BmCRTC1), which was reported to be involved in energy‐sensing pathways. These results suggested that improvement may have affected the nervous system of the silkworm. This research will provide new insights into the genetic basis underlying the genetic improvement of silkworms and possibly of other species.
Powering up flipped learning: An online learning environment with a concept map‐guided problem‐posing strategy
Authors: Hwang Gwo‐Jen , Chang Shao‐Chen , Song Yanjie , Hsieh Min‐Chuan
Published: October 2020

Scholars have suggested that flipped learning can be enhanced by designing effective in‐class learning activities to improve students' higher order thinking skills. Problem posing has been recognized as such a learning strategy that has great potential for improving students' higher order thinking skills. However, it has been reported as a challenging task for most students. Research evidence has indicated the potential of engaging students in group learning with step‐by‐step hints when conducting problem‐posing activities. Therefore, this study proposed a multilevel concept mapping‐based problem‐posing strategy to assist students in completing the problem‐posing tasks in flipped learning. To understand the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, a flipped learning system was developed and adopted in the science class of an elementary school. Seventy‐five fifth graders from three classes were divided into experimental group A, experimental Group B and a control group. Students in Group A used the concept map‐guided problem‐posing strategy for flipped learning (CMPP‐FL), students in Group B used the problem‐posing strategy‐based flipped learning, while students in the control group used the conventional flipped learning strategy. The results showed that the CMPP‐FL was effective in terms of improving students' learning performance, especially for students with higher levels of critical thinking tendency.