bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long lifespan and optimal recurrent education
Authors: Momota Akira
Published: June 2022

This paper theoretically investigates the effect of increased longevity on years of schooling and work. I consider a situation in which individuals have opportunities for recurrent education by assuming that the transition from schooling to work is reversible. I find that setting aside a period of time for recurrent education is optimal for individuals when the lifespan is longer than a certain threshold number of years. When the lifespan is longer than the threshold, as the lifespan increases, both the total schooling years and the working years increase and the lifetime income increases. However, the marginal effect of a rise in lifespan on the lifetime income decreases significantly when recurrent education occurs.
Locating federalism: Non‐financial assets and public policy in Canada
Authors: Sayers Anthony , Alcantara Christopher , Armstrong David A.
Published: June 2022

Scholars who study centralization and decentralization in Canada usually rely on the distribution of authority and financial/human resources to identify transfers of “power to” and “power over” among different levels of government. We argue that patterns of non‐financial asset ownership are a useful yet frequently overlooked measure of “power to.” We demonstrate that Canadian municipal policy responses to the COVID‐19 pandemic were shaped in part by the physical assets owned by municipal and provincial governments. These patterns of non‐financial asset ownership reveal Canadian municipalities to be more important policy actors than typically assumed. A full understanding of the distribution of power within the Canadian federation requires attention to government ownership of physical assets.
Progressive frontal intraosseous lipoma: Detection of the mosaic AKT1 variant discloses Proteus syndrome
Authors: Schmidt Julia , Bremmer Felix , Brockmann Knut , Kaulfuß Silke , Wollnik Bernd
Published: June 2022

Proteus syndrome is a very rare disorder with progressive, asymmetrical, and disproportionate overgrowth of body parts with a highly variable phenotype. It is associated with mosaicism for the recurrent heterozygous somatic gain‐of‐function variant c.49G>A (p.Glu17Lys) in the protein kinase AKT1. We report on a girl with a progressive intraosseous lipoma of the frontal bone and additional, nonspecific features including mild developmental delay, strabism, and a limbal dermoid of the left eye. She did not fulfill the criteria for a clinical diagnosis of Proteus syndrome. However, mutation analysis of AKT1 in a lipoma biopsy revealed this specific activating variant. Several cases of progressive intraosseous lipoma of the frontal bone have been reported in the literature. Only in two of these observations, a tentative diagnosis of Proteus syndrome was made, based on additional clinical features, although without molecular‐genetic verification. We conclude that oligosymptomatic Proteus syndrome should be considered in progressive intraosseous lipoma, as recognition of this diagnosis has relevant implications for genetic counseling and opens novel treatment options with AKT1 inhibitors rather than surgical procedures.
Motives for the use of serotonergic psychedelics: A systematic review
Authors: Basedow Lukas A. , Kuitunen‐Paul Sören
Published: June 2022

Issues

Serotonergic psychedelics (SP) are psychoactive substances that produce unique sets of subjective effects, such as hallucinatory experiences. This systematic review is the first to summarise which motives for SP use have been assessed in medical, psychological, sociological and ethnological research across different types of SPs and across cultural backgrounds. Findings on use motives can be especially important in the context of harm reduction.

Approach

We searched academic databases (Medline, Web of Science and Embase) and included publications if they were peer‐reviewed and written in English, German, Spanish or Dutch. We analysed which type of motives were reported, comparing motives from quantitative and qualitative reports, and investigating associations between motives and year of publication, specific SPs and specific participant populations.

Key Findings

Our search in November 2020 resulted in 30,257 unique articles of which 37 were included in the analysis. Across all studies, the most common motive for SP use was the desire to expand awareness (78% of included studies), followed by coping (67%) and enhancement (57%) motives. There were no statistically significant associations between reported motive and type of report (quantitative vs. qualitative), year of publication (range: 1967–2020), type of SP and participant population.

Implications

If SP‐related harms are to be reduced, harm‐reduction services could focus on providing non‐pharmacological ways of fulfilling an expansion motive. Additionally, future studies should aim to assess specific motives for specific SPs.

Conclusions

SPs are most commonly used to expand (self‐)knowledge, promote spiritual development or for curiosity, notably across different SP user populations including patients.
COVID‐19 vaccination coverage and vaccine hesitancy among people with opioid use disorder in Barcelona, Spain
Authors: Vallecillo Gabriel , Durán Xavier , Canosa Irene , Roquer Albert , Martinez Maria C. , Perelló Rafael
Published: June 2022

Introduction

People with substance use disorders are considered a priority group for SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination as they are at elevated risk of COVID‐19 and its severe complications. However, data are scarce about vaccination coverage in a real‐world setting.

Methods

A descriptive study was conducted in people with opioid use disorder (OUD) from three public centres for outpatient drug addiction treatment in Barcelona, Spain, who received brief medical advice and were referred to vaccination clinic sites.

Results

Three hundred and sixty‐two individuals were included: 277 (77%) were men with a mean age of 48.1 ± 8.9 years and 77% were Spanish. Most (90%) participants engaged in polysubstance use and all individuals were on opioid agonist therapy. Psychiatric comorbidity was present in 56% subjects and 32% individuals had ≥1 chronic disease, 30% had HIV and 13% hepatitis C. There were 258 fully vaccinated individuals (71%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 67, 76). Age (odds ratio [OR] 1.04; 95% CI 1.01, 1.08; P < 0.01) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.11, 2.5; P < 0.01) were associated with full vaccination. The vaccination hesitancy causes cited were complacency (53, 51%), convenience (40, 39%) and confidence (11, 10%).

Discussion and Conclusions

More than two‐thirds of our sample of people with OUD were fully vaccinated. Complacency and convenience represented a significant barrier to complete vaccination among people with OUD on opioid agonist therapy referred to vaccination clinic sites. Additional measures are necessary to increase vaccination, especially for younger individuals and those with less medical comorbidity. Integrating vaccination services in drug outpatient centres could be a useful alternative.
Anticipation across modalities in children and adults: Relating anticipatory alpha rhythm lateralization, reaction time, and executive function
Authors: Meredith Weiss Staci , Marshall Peter J.
Published: June 2022

The development of the ability to anticipate—as manifested by preparatory actions and neural activation related to the expectation of an upcoming stimulus—may play a key role in the ontogeny of cognitive skills more broadly. This preregistered study examined anticipatory brain potentials and behavioral responses (reaction time; RT) to anticipated target stimuli in relation to individual differences in the ability to use goals to direct action (as indexed by measures of executive function; EF). A cross‐sectional investigation was conducted in 40 adults (aged 18–25 years) and 40 children (aged 6–8 years) to examine the association of changes in the amplitude of modality‐specific alpha‐range rhythms in the electroencephalogram (EEG) during anticipation of lateralized visual, tactile, or auditory stimuli with inter‐ and intraindividual variation in RT and EF. Children and adults exhibited contralateral anticipatory reductions in the mu rhythm and the visual alpha rhythm for tactile and visual anticipation, respectively, indicating modality and spatially specific attention allocation. Variability in within‐subject anticipatory alpha lateralization (the difference between contralateral and ipsilateral alpha power) was related to single‐trial RT. This relation was more prominent in adults than in children, and was not apparent for auditory stimuli. Multilevel models indicated that interindividual differences in anticipatory mu rhythm lateralization contributed to the significant association with variability in EF, but this was not the case for visual or auditory alpha rhythms. Exploratory microstate analyses were undertaken to cluster global field power (GFP) into a distribution‐free temporal analysis examining developmental differences across samples and in relation to RT and EF. Anticipation is suggested as a developmental bridge construct connecting neuroscience, behavior, and cognition, with anticipatory EEG oscillations being discussed as quantifiable and potentially malleable indicators of stimulus prediction.
The emerging frontier of plant immunity's core hubs
Authors: Iakovidis Michail , Chung Eui‐Hwan , Saile Svenja C. , Sauberzweig Elke , El Kasmi Farid
Published: June 2022

The ever‐growing world population, increasingly frequent extreme weather events and conditions, emergence of novel devastating crop pathogens and the social strive for quality food products represent a huge challenge for current and future agricultural production systems. To address these challenges and find realistic solutions, it is becoming more important by the day to understand the complex interactions between plants and the environment, mainly the associated organisms, but in particular pathogens. In the past several years, research in the fields of plant pathology and plant–microbe interactions has enabled tremendous progress in understanding how certain receptor‐based plant innate immune systems function to successfully prevent infections and diseases. In this review, we highlight and discuss some of these new ground‐breaking discoveries and point out strategies of how pathogens counteract the function of important core convergence hubs of the plant immune system. For practical reasons, we specifically place emphasis on potential applications that can be detracted by such discoveries and what challenges the future of agriculture has to face, but also how these challenges could be tackled.
Anisotropic cyclic plasticity modeling for additively manufactured nickel‐based superalloys
Authors: Jin Shengzhe , Sun Jingyu , Yuan Huang
Published: June 2022

The additively manufactured materials show anisotropic mechanical properties. In the present paper, a constitutive model for a nickel‐based superalloy made by selective laser melting was established to characterize cyclic mechanical behaviors under multiaxial loading conditions. Detailed material tests revealed that the effects from the building orientation decrease with multiaxial cyclic loads. A cyclic constitutive model based on the Hill criterion was introduced for the superalloy and considered the orthotropic mechanical properties depending on loading cycles. The computation confirms the model can reasonably simulate the cyclic elastic‐plastic behavior under non‐proportional complex loading conditions and provides an applicable method for engineering applications.
Edge tracing technique to study post‐necking behavior and failure in Al alloys and anisotropic plasticity in line pipe steels
Authors: Shokeir Zacharie , Besson Jacques , Belhadj Chiraz , Petit Tom , Madi Yazid
Published: June 2022

The recently developed edge tracing (ET) method allows to estimate the radial deformation in axisymmetric tensile specimens via analysis of digital images recorded during the experiments. Images are processed to detect the sample's contours and therefore estimate the minimal cross‐section diameter. This technique was mainly developed to characterize the plastic behavior well beyond the necking strain. The aim of this work is to apply the ET method to two novel case studies. Firstly, the post‐necking behavior and failure of a low ductility Al alloy are investigated. Low ductility alloys tend to fail brutally after reaching the maximum load. The major result is the capture of the sharp load drop which allowed to calibrate parameters of a GTN damage model. Secondly, the anisotropic elastic–plastic behavior of a “vintage” line pipe steel is characterized by a direct measurement of the Lankford coefficient. Assembled experimental data allowed to model the anisotropic plasticity beyond necking in different loading directions.
A randomized trial of ketorolac and metoclopramide for migraine in the emergency department
Authors: Richer Lawrence P. , Ali Samina , Johnson David W. , Rosychuk Rhonda J. , Newton Amanda S. , Rowe Brian H.
Published: June 2022

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a common monotherapy (intravenous [iv] metoclopramide) compared to a combination strategy (adding iv ketorolac to metoclopramide) in children presenting for acute treatment of migraine headache in the emergency department (ED).

Methods

Children aged 5–17 years presenting for acute treatment of migraine headache at two pediatric EDs were enrolled in a double‐blind randomized controlled trial. Children were randomly assigned to receive iv metoclopramide 0.2 mg/kg) and placebo or iv metoclopramide (0.2 mg/kg) and ketorolac (0.5 mg/kg). The primary outcome was a mean change in pain from baseline to 120 min via a 100 mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Follow‐up was conducted 24‐h after discharge.

Results

Fifty‐three children were randomized and included in the analysis (monotherapy group [metoclopramide + placebo], n = 27; and ketorolac group [metoclopramide + ketorolac], n = 26); mean age was 12.9 ± 2.7 years and baseline pain severity on VAS was 67.3 ± 2.7 mm. The mean change in pain intensity at 120 min was −44 mm (SD: 24; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 32–57) for the monotherapy group and −36 mm (SD: 24; 95% CI: 23–49) for the ketorolac group, with a mean difference between groups of 8 mm (95% CI: −9–25; p = 0.360). Seventeen percent of the children (9/53; 95% CI: 7–27%) were pain‐free at discharge. There was no difference in headache recurrence or adverse events between groups.

Conclusions

The approach of combining iv metoclopramide with ketorolac failed to improve pain scores in children presenting for acute treatment of migraine headache in the ED compared to metoclopramide monotherapy. Most patients were discharged with residual pain. Further comparative studies are needed to test alternative ED treatments for migraine in children or adolescents.
Reduced expression of inflammasome complex components in cluster headache
Authors: Şahin Erdi , Karaaslan Zerrin , Şanlı Elif , Timirci Kahraman Özlem , Ulusoy Canan , Kocasoy Orhan Elif , Ekizoğlu Esme , Küçükali Cem İsmail , Tüzün Erdem , Baykan Betül
Published: June 2022

Background

The involvement of inflammation in the pathophysiology of cluster headache (CH) has been suggested, with a role implied for interleukin (IL)‐1β. We aimed to measure peripheral blood expression levels of IL‐1β–inducing systems, the inflammasome complex, and nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) signaling, and investigate their values as putative biomarkers in CH.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study conducted in the Headache Unit of Istanbul University, Turkey, blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and sera were collected from 30 patients with episodic migraine, 4 with chronic CH, and 47 healthy individuals. Levels of inflammasome complex components (NLRP1, NLRP3, caspase 1, and ASC), end products of inflammasome complex activity (IL‐1β, IL‐18, and nitric oxide synthase isoforms), neuron‐specific enolase, other inflammatory factors (NF‐κB, HMGB1, and s100b), and anti‐inflammatory IL‐4 were measured by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and/or enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

NLRP3 expression levels were significantly reduced in PBMC samples of patients with CH, obtained during CH attacks (n = 24) or headache‐free (out of cycle) episodes (n = 10). CH‐attack patients showed greater expression levels of IL‐1β (2−ΔΔCT median [25th–75th percentile], 0.96 [0.66–1.29 vs. 0.52 [0.43–0.73]) and NF‐κB (1.06 [0.66–3.00] vs. 0.62 [0.43–1.19]) in PBMCs but not in sera compared with headache‐free CH patients. However, these differences did not attain statistical significance (p = 0.058 and p = 0.072, respectively). Moreover, NLRP1 (52.52 [35.48–67.91] vs. 78.66 [54.92–213.25]; p = 0.017), HMGB1 (11.51 [5.20–15.50] vs. 13.33 [8.08–18.13]; p = 0.038), S100b (569.90 [524.10–783.80] vs. 763.40 [590.15–2713.00]; p = 0.013), NSE (11.15 [6.26–14.91] vs. 13.93 [10.82–19.04]; p = 0.021), nNOS (4.24 [3.34–12.85] vs. 12.82 [4.52–15.44]; p = 0.028), and eNOS (64.83 [54.59–91.14] vs. 89.42 [61.19–228.40]; p = 0.034) levels were lower in patients with three or more autonomic manifestations (n = 9). No correlation was found between inflammation factors and clinical parameters of CH.

Conclusion

Our results support the involvement of the IL‐1β system in attacks of CH. However, the components of the inflammasome complex are suppressed in the peripheral blood and do not appear to play a role in the pathophysiology of CH. These findings argue against a potential biomarker value of the inflammasome complex in CH.
Assessing companies' decent work practices: An analysis of ESG rating methodologies
Authors: LOUCHE Céline , DELAUTRE Guillaume , BALVEDI PIMENTEL Gabriela
Published: June 2022

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating agencies, as non‐financial data providers, have become central actors in the field of responsible investment. Although research has explored the construction of ESG metrics, little is known about how agencies evaluate decent work. Building on the analysis of six rating agencies, this article investigates how these actors measure and assess companies' performance in terms of decent work and related areas and identifies the challenges they face in this endeavour. The authors seek to better understand the capacity of responsible investment and ESG ratings to promote and improve decent work within companies.
Une mesure proportionnée face à la menace du COVID‐19? Le recours aux applications et autres outils de surveillance des salariés au regard des règles relatives à la protection des données de l'Union européenne
Authors: SUDER Seili , SIIBAK Andra
Published: June 2022

Les autrices s'intéressent aux outils de suivi des contacts et autres dispositifs de surveillance utilisés par les employeurs pendant la pandémie. Elles se demandent s'ils sont bien compatibles avec les dispositions du Règlement général sur la protection des données de l'Union européenne. Rappelant que la relation de travail est par nature déséquilibrée, elles estiment que les législations nationales devraient mieux protéger le droit des salariés de refuser ces systèmes une fois la pandémie passée. En outre, quand la sécurité des travailleurs ne dépendra plus de ces outils, il faudra compléter les règles et orientations existantes pour éviter l'utilisation des informations collectées à mauvais escient.
The disproportionately large contribution of the Māori and Pacific Islander community to the healthcare burden of gout in Western Sydney
Authors: Wong Peter K. K. , Ng Beverly C. K. , Mitchell James , Han Joanne , Lam Cinda , Spencer David , Cai Ken , Manolios Nicholas
Published: June 2022

Background

Gout is a common chronic inflammatory disorder due to monosodium urate deposition, which results in severe inflammatory arthritis. It is particularly common in those of Māori or Pacific Islander heritage. There is a significant number of this at‐risk ethnic group in western Sydney.

Aims

To determine the healthcare burden of gout in Western Sydney.

Methods

We characterised patients managed in the emergency departments (EDs) of the four Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) hospitals and those admitted for gout as the primary or secondary diagnosis from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018.

Results

There were 472 patients managed in ED on 552 occasions at a direct cost to the LHD of A$367 835. Those of Māori or Pacific Islander ethnicity comprised 25.2% (n = 119/472), while half (n = 39/80) of those managed in ED for gout on two or more occasions were of Māori or Pacific Islander ethnicity. Overall, 310 patients were admitted with gout as the principal diagnosis on 413 occasions at a cost of A$1.73 million. Seventy‐five (24.2%) of the 310 patients were of Māori or Pacific Islander heritage. A total of 584 WSLHD inpatients had gout as a secondary diagnosis. This was associated with 714 admissions.

Conclusions

The disproportionately large healthcare burden of gout in Western Sydney from the relatively small Māori and Pacific Islander population needs attention. Urgent culturally appropriate interventions to address gout are required to address this inequality.
Rituximab treatment for systemic sclerosis‐associated interstitial lung disease: a case series of 13 patients
Authors: Morgan Kelly , Woollard Charlotte , Beinart Dylan , Host Lauren V. , Roddy Janet
Published: June 2022

Background

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common complication of SSc, with a high mortality, despite current available treatments. Rituximab has shown some promising, although varied, results for the treatment of SSc‐ILD.

Aims

To determine whether rituximab stabilised or improved pulmonary function at 12 months, in patients with SSc‐ILD.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of patients with SSc‐ILD who progressed despite conventional therapy and received rituximab between 2008 and 2019 was performed at two tertiary centres. Baseline percentage forced vital capacity (FVC) and percentage diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) were compared with 1‐year post the first dose of rituximab. Mean and median change in FVC (%) and DLCO (%) were calculated. For those with available data, the FVC (%) and DLCO (%) 2 years and 1 year prior to rituximab were compared with the change 12‐months post‐rituximab.

Results

Thirteen patients were included in the analysis. All patients demonstrated stability in their pulmonary function testing at 1‐year post‐rituximab. The mean FVC (%) was 57.18 (±16.93 standard deviation (SD)) prior to rituximab and 59.75 (±18.83 SD) 12‐month post‐rituximab, demonstrating an increase of 2.57 (±4.70 SD; P‐value 0.07). The mean DLCO (%) increased from 37.10 (±18.41 SD) prior to rituximab to 38.03 (±19.83) post‐rituximab. The mean change in DLCO (%) was 0.93 (±5.05 SD; P‐value 0.53). In the 2 years preceding rituximab, the mean FVC (%) and DLCO (%) declined by 9.25 and 9.66 respectively.

Conclusion

This case series suggests that rituximab might stabilise pulmonary function tests, and delay deterioration in patients with progressive SSc‐ILD. These findings add to the growing body of evidence suggesting a role for rituximab in the treatment of SSc‐ILD.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators in patients with orthotopic heart transplant: A multicenter case series
Authors: Maskoun Waddah , Raad Mohamad , Cha Yong‐Mei , Houmsse Mahmoud , Abualsuod Amjad , Ezzeddine Fatima , Pieper Justin , Jamoor Khaled , Tita Cristina , Miller John
Published: June 2022

Background

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is common after orthotopic heart transplant (OHT). No clear guidelines for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation in OHT patients at high risk for SCD currently exist.

Objectives

To assess the safety, efficacy, and benefit of ICDs and resynchronization therapy post‐OHT. We also provide a systematic review of previous reports.

Methods

A retrospective multicenter cohort study within the United States. Patients with ICD post‐OHT between 2000 and 2020 were identified.

Results

We analyzed 16 patients from 4 centers. The mean standard‐deviation (SD) age was 43 (18) years at OHT and 51 (20) years at ICD implantation. The mean (SD) duration from OHT to ICD implantation was 9 (5) years. The mean (SD) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 35% (17%). There were 2 (13%) postprocedural complications: 1 hematoma and 1 death. Mean (SD) follow‐up was 24 (23) months. Survival rate was 63% (10/16) at 1 year and 56% (9/16) at 2 years, with 6/7 of those who died having LVEF < 35% at the time of the ICD implantation. Patients were more likely to receive appropriate therapy if their ICD was implanted for secondary (5/8) rather than primary (0/8) prevention (p = .007). Of those who did, 4 patients survived to 30 days post‐ICD therapy. Severe CAV was not associated with the rate of appropriate therapy.

Conclusions

Beneficial outcomes were observed when ICDs were implanted for secondary prevention only, and in patients with higher baseline LVEF. We also observed benefits with resynchronization therapy.
STAT3 suppresses the AMPKα/ULK1‐dependent induction of autophagy in glioblastoma cells
Authors: Bhattacharya Sujoy , Yin Jinggang , Yang Chuanhe , Wang Yinan , Sims Michelle , Pfeffer Lawrence M. , Chaum Edward
Published: June 2022

Despite advances in molecular characterization, glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most common and lethal brain tumour with high mortality rates in both paediatric and adult patients. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an important oncogenic driver of GBM. Although STAT3 reportedly plays a role in autophagy of some cells, its role in cancer cell autophagy remains unclear. In this study, we found Serine‐727 and Tyrosine‐705 phosphorylation of STAT3 was constitutive in GBM cell lines. Tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 in GBM cells suppresses autophagy, whereas knockout (KO) of STAT3 increases ULK1 gene expression, increases TSC2‐AMPKα‐ULK1 signalling, and increases lysosomal Cathepsin D processing, leading to the stimulation of autophagy. Rescue of STAT3‐KO cells by the enforced expression of wild‐type (WT) STAT3 reverses these pathways and inhibits autophagy. Conversely, expression of Y705F‐ and S727A‐STAT3 phosphorylation deficient mutants in STAT3‐KO cells did not suppress autophagy. Inhibition of ULK1 activity (by treatment with MRT68921) or its expression (by siRNA knockdown) in STAT3‐KO cells inhibits autophagy and sensitizes cells to apoptosis. Taken together, our findings suggest that serine and tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 play critical roles in STAT3‐dependent autophagy in GBM, and thus are potential targets to treat GBM.
Effects of tag type and surgery on migration of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts
Authors: Lennox Robert J. , Stöger Elisabeth , Dahlmo Lotte S. , Helle Turid , Wiers Tore , Hanssen Erlend M. , Vollset Knut Wiik
Published: June 2022

Tagging salmon smolts to provide information about the timing of outmigration has been a common approach to monitor phenology and model the risk of encountering stressors. However, the validity of tagging has come under scrutiny because of the sensitivity of this parameter in various management systems. We studied the probability of migration, timing of migration and growth during migration for Atlantic salmon smolts tagged with three different tags in the River Dale, western Norway. Two groups were tagged with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags via a small ventral nonsurgical incision, either a 12 mm or a new 16 mm PIT tag. Two groups were subjected to surgical implantation of either a dummy acoustic transmitter or a 12 mm PIT tag (a sham surgery). Overall, 71% of the tagged smolts were recaptured at the downstream Wolf trap. Smolts from the sham tagged group were recaptured most frequently (78%) compared to dummy acoustic transmitters and 16 mm PIT tags (both 68%), but the differences were not significant. Results agree with prior assessments that longer smolts migrated earlier, with about half a day earlier migration for each millimetre total length of the smolt, but did not suggest any difference in time of migration among the tag types. Growth in length was evident from release to recapture, with smaller smolts exhibiting greater growth and no effect of tagging treatment. Our findings suggest that inferences about the timing of outmigration for salmon smolts based on acoustic tagging should be made cautiously because of the relationship among tag size, suitable fish size and the timing of a tagged individual's migration.
Establishment and experimental verification of temperature prediction model for quick‐frozen strawberry jetted with dry ice
Authors: Zhao Yanfeng , Ning Jinghong , Sun Zhaoyang
Published: June 2022

In this study, the quick‐freezing model and heat transfer model of quick‐freezing of strawberries with dry ice at different flow speeds were proposed to ensure the quality of quick‐frozen strawberries and control the jetting amount of dry ice. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of internal and external temperature in the process of quick‐freezing strawberries by jetting dry ice. The quick‐freezing experiment platform of strawberries based on dry ice jetting was built for a quick‐freezing experiment of strawberries at a dry ice jetting flow speed of 0.30 m/s. As indicated by the results, the temperature of strawberries was more uniform under the dry ice jetting speed of 0.30 m/s. The highest and lowest temperature differences between the surface and center of strawberries (the simulated) were 15.7 and 39.7°C, respectively, and the quick‐freezing time of strawberries was 345 s. Compared with the experimental result, the error of quick‐freezing completion time was 5.79%. The differences measured in the experiment were 15.1 and 37.7°C, and the error accounted for 4.73% and 7.89%, respectively. The accuracy of the model was measured, mean relative error = 6.31% and root mean square error = 10.78%. As revealed by the results, the model had high universality and precision and could be used to analyze the temperature change during dry ice jetting‐based quick‐freezing of strawberries. The quality indexes of quick‐frozen strawberries before and after dry ice jetting were found to be better than the standard of quick‐frozen strawberries. Thus, the research results can provide a reference for a further development of energy‐saving and environmental dry ice jetting‐based quick‐freezing equipment.
Resign or carry‐on? District and principal leadership as drivers of change in teacher turnover intentions during the COVID‐19 crisis: A latent growth model examination
Authors: Matthews Russell A. , Wayne Julie H. , Smith Claire , Casper Wendy J. , Wang Yi‐Ren , Streit Jessica
Published: June 2022

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, teachers in the United States, an already at‐risk occupation group, experienced new work‐related stressors, safety concerns, and work‐life challenges, magnifying on‐going retention concerns. Integrating the crisis management literature with the unfolding model of turnover, we theorize that leader actions trigger initial employee responses but also set the stage for on‐going crisis response that influence changes in teachers' turnover intentions. We apply latent growth curve modelling to test our hypotheses based on a sample of 617 K‐12 teachers using nine waves of data, including a baseline survey at the start of the 2020–2021 school year and eight follow‐up surveys (2‐week lags) through the Fall 2020 semester. In terms of overall adaptation, teachers on average, experienced an increase in work‐life balance and a decrease in turnover intentions over the course of the semester. Results also suggest that district and school leadership provide unique and complementary resources, but leader behaviours that shape initial crisis responses do not similarly affect employee responses during crisis, contrary to theory. Instead, teachers' adaptive crisis response trajectories were triggered by continued resource provision over the semester; increasing provision of valued resources (i.e., continued refinement of safety practices) and improvements in work‐life balance prevented turnover intentions from spiralling throughout the crisis. Crisis management theory and research should continue to incorporate temporal dynamics and identify factors that contribute to crisis response trajectories, using designs and analyses that allow for examination as crises unfold in real time.
Differential expression of glucose metabolism‐related genes and AMP‐activated protein kinases in crop tissue of male and female pigeons (Columba livia domestica) during the incubation and chick‐rearing periods
Authors: Zhu Jian‐Guo , Xie Peng , Song Chao , Liu Ting‐Wu , Gong Dao‐Qing
Published: June 2022

The objective of this study was to explore the carbohydrate contents of crop milk, insulin and glucose concentrations in serum and the expression patterns of AMP‐activated protein kinases (AMPKs) and genes related to glucose metabolism in pigeon crops during the breeding period. Crop milk was collected from squabs of rearing Day 1 (R1) to R6. Contents of total sugar and reducing sugar increased to the maximum levels at R6 (p < 0.05). Forty‐two pairs of adult pigeons were allotted to seven groups by different breeding stages, and their crops and serum were sampled. No significant differences were found in either insulin or glucose levels in serum. The glucose transporter 2 gene level was the greatest at R15 in females, whereas it was at R7 in males. However, sodium‐dependent glucose transporters 1 expression in both sexes decreased from incubation Day 17 (I17) to R7. In females, glucokinase expression peaked at R1, and at R1 and R7 in males. Pyruvate kinase mRNA levels peaked at R7 in females and at R15 males. The mRNA abundance of fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphatase 1 in both sexes and glucose‐6‐phosphatase in females decreased after I10. While phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 expression decreased after I17 (p < 0.05). Protein levels of AMPKα in crops were minimized at R1 (p < 0.05). In females, expression of AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 was inhibited at I17 and R1 (p < 0.05). In males, AMPKα1 expression was decreased at R7 (p < 0.05) and AMPKα2 was reduced at I10 and R1. pAMPK expression was the lowest at I17 in females, and it was at R7 and R25 in males. Conclusively, glycolysis in pigeon crops was enhanced during chick‐rearing, while gluconeogenesis was significantly inhibited. The stability of the insulin level suggests that it was probably not involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism in crop tissues.
Punishing or rallying ‘round the flag? Heterogeneous effects of terrorism in South Tyrol
Authors: Belmonte Alessandro
Published: June 2022

This paper studies the electoral effects of terrorism by examining a rich panel dataset on the South Tyrolean case. A Northern and predominantly German‐speaking region of Italy, South Tyrol was the theater of a long war of attrition fought between the majority language group and the Italian state for autonomy and independence. Using detailed information on the whole record of 337 terrorist attacks occurring between 1956 and 1991, I find that (i) low‐scale terror or attacks which targeted police forces negatively affected incumbent support; (ii) high‐scale terror or attacks which targeted civilians or caused deaths were conducive of rally‐round‐the‐Italian‐flag momenta; (iii) support to terrorists sensibly drops after deadly attacks. These findings highlight the role of terror intensity and violence in driving the impact of terrorism on incumbent actors and terrorist organizations and help reconcile the coexistence of seemingly contradictory effects of terrorism documented in the literature.
Fee versus royalty licensing in a Cournot duopoly with increasing marginal costs
Authors: Fauli‐Oller Ramon , Sandonís Joel
Published: June 2022

We consider a symmetric homogeneous Cournot duopoly operating under increasing marginal costs. One of the firms owns a patented superior technology that reduces the intercept of the marginal cost function. We compare the incentives of the insider patentee to license the technology to the rival firm either through a fixed fee or through a royalty. We obtain that royalty licensing does not necessarily dominates in our setting: when decreasing returns are important, a royalty is superior only for small enough innovations, whereas a fixed fee is chosen for large innovations. Aditionally, we show that our model is able to replicate the results in Wang (2002), which analyzes the same question in a differentiated duopoly with constant marginal costs.
Inter‐sectoral relative price, inflation and structural transformation
Authors: Chattopadhyay Subhasankar
Published: June 2022

While the pattern of composition of sectoral output and consumption are well stylised during growth and structural transformation of an economy, the evidence on the movement of inter‐sectoral relative price is mixed across countries. This paper investigates how demand and supply side forces simultaneously shape structural transformation and the path of relative price in a two‐sector economy comprising an agricultural and a non‐agricultural sector. The model incorporates non‐homothetic preference, heterogeneous sectoral production functions with heterogeneous and exogenous total factor productivity growth. We further investigate how the equilibrium path of relative price contributes to inflation measured by proportionate changes in the aggregate price level which is an index of sectoral prices. We find that the equilibrium rate of inflation is always positive during structural transformation. The rate of inflation increases with increase in growth rate of the non‐agricultural sector and with a higher preference for agricultural goods, and reduces with an increase in the growth of the agricultural sector.
Is pain modular?
Authors: Casser Laurenz , Clarke Sam
Published: June 2022

We suggest that pain processing has a modular architecture. We begin by motivating the (widely assumed but seldom defended) conjecture that pain processing comprises inferential mechanisms. We then note that pain exhibits a characteristic form of judgement independence. On the assumption that pain processing is inferential, we argue that its judgement independence is indicative of modular (encapsulated) mechanisms. Indeed, we go further, suggesting that it renders the modularity of pain mechanisms adefault hypothesisto be embraced pending convincing counterevidence. Finally, we consider what a modular pain architecture might look like, and question alleged counterevidence to our proposal.
The loss and return of self: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of coping and recovery from chronic hepatitis B in China
Authors: Hou Liqi , Zhang Yansong , Tang Suqin , Tang Xinfeng
Published: June 2022

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a prevalent disease with various negative consequences. The lived experience of coping and recovery of a patient with Chronic hepatitis B was explored in this study. A semistructured interview was conducted with one participant who had been recovered from Chronic hepatitis B for 10 years. Data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Five superordinate themes emerged, including lingering in the shadow of death anxiety, diminished functioning of the self, adopting a highly disciplined lifestyle, receiving social support, and the return of the self with scars. The findings revealed that the disease is deeply associated with moral standing, which means the diagnosis of Chronic hepatitis B might imply a loss of moral face for Chinese people living with the condition. Our findings point to the need for increasing knowledge about chronic hepatitis B, decoupling the disease from a moral standpoint, and providing a supportive environment.
An empirical study of play duration and in‐app purchase behavior in mobile games
Authors: Jiao Yifan , Tang Christopher S. , Wang Jingqi
Published: June 2022

In the context of free‐to‐play (FTP) mobile games, this paper seeks to examine one question: Which factors affect a player's play duration or in‐app purchases (of virtual items)? This research question has not been examined in the research literature. But it is an important one because the revenue of an FTP game developer is based on in‐app ads watched by players (which depend on play duration) and in‐app purchases. Using different regression models to analyze weekly data associated with 100,000 players' activities and expenditures of an FTP mobile game over a 3‐year period, we provide three key results and their implications. First, game performance has an “inverted‐U” effect. Players with exceptionally good/bad performance in 1 week tend to play for a shorter duration and make fewer purchases in the following week. This result implies that a game developer should monitor a player's performance and offer rewards to prevent players from dropping out. Second, virtual item novelty has a positive effect. Players who acquired new virtual items in 1 week tend to play for a longer duration and make more purchases in the following week. This result suggests that, to entice players to extend their play and increase their expenditure, the game developer should design customized virtual items with personalized pricing. Third, social interaction has a positive effect. Players who are “clan members” or played more with friends in 1 week tend to play for a longer duration and make more purchases in the following week. Hence, the game developer can benefit from this result by developing incentive for players to invite their friends to play together.
The impact of tariffs and price premiums of locally manufactured products on global manufacturers' sourcing strategies
Authors: Chen Kanglin , Wang Xin , Niu Baozhuang , Chen Ying‐Ju
Published: June 2022

The past decade has seen significant pressure to return manufacturing to developed countries. Such movements call for import tariffs to be raised and consumers' valuation of products made from locally sourced components increased. These factors are believed to stimulate firms operating in a single market to source components locally. However, it is not clear that they are equally effective for multinational firms that produce and sell products in multiple markets. To enrich the understanding of this issue, we build a game‐theoretical model to analyze the sourcing decisions of a global manufacturer that maintains production sites and sells products in both domestic and foreign markets in a competitive environment. The firm can choose either to source components from suppliers located in the same markets as the manufacturing sites to gain tariff savings and a price premium from consumers' higher valuation, or to source all components from a single foreign supplier to obtain a lower sourcing cost. We find that the structure of the global supply chain plays a critical role in the firm's sourcing strategy. Consumers' higher valuation of locally manufactured goods always promotes local sourcing. Raising tariffs, however, might backfire and discourage local sourcing because of the firm's global supply chain structure and the foreign supplier's strategic response to higher tariffs. Finally, local sourcing may reduce the consumer surplus even though consumers place a higher value on locally manufactured goods. This paper sheds light on recent movements to return manufacturing to developed countries and demonstrates the importance of taking the manufacturer's global supply chain structure and vertical interaction with suppliers into account.
Detection of concealed knowledge via the ERP‐based technique Brain Fingerprinting: Real‐life and real‐crime incidents
Authors: Afzali M. Usman , Seren‐Grace Alex P. , Palmer Robin W. , Neumann Ewald , Makarious Sarah , Wilson Debra , Jones Richard D.
Published: June 2022

Brain Fingerprinting (BFP) is an electroencephalogram‐based system used to detect knowledge, or absence of knowledge of a real‐life incident (e.g., a crime) in a person's memory. With the help of BFP, a potential crime suspect can be classified as possessing crime‐related information (Information‐Present), not possessing crime‐related information (Information‐Absent), or Indeterminate (BFP unable to classify a subject). In the lab setting, we compare the ground‐truth of a subject (i.e., real‐life involvement in an incident) against their classification based on BFP testing. We report two studies: replication of BFP with university students (Study 1) and replication of BFP with parolees (Study 2). In Study 1, we tested 31 subjects (24 females, seven males, mean age = 21.3) on either their own or another subject's real‐life incident. BFP correctly classified nine Information‐Present and 18 Information‐Absent subjects, but with one false positive and three exclusions. In Study 2, we tested 17 male parolees (mean age = 47.5) on their own or another parolee's crime incident. BFP correctly classified two Information‐Present and six Information‐Absent subjects. However, there was also one false positive classification and three Indeterminates. Additionally, we identified three subjects who could not complete the BFP testing and two exclusions. We posit that BFP is not yet at a stage to be considered a robust and accurate crime‐detection tool as claimed in former articles. Nevertheless, after addressing the limitations, BFP has considerable potential as an information detection tool in forensic investigations, especially for detecting idiosyncratic crime‐relevant knowledge in a perpetrator, in addition to helping to confirm the accuracy of a suspect's claim of innocence.
Competition rather than facilitation affects plant performance across an abiotic stress gradient in a restored California salt marsh
Authors: Tanner Karen E. , Wasson Kerstin , Parker Ingrid M.
Published: June 2022

The Stress Gradient Hypothesis predicts facilitation will become more important than competition where abiotic stress is high, and the framework successfully predicts positive interactions between species in many systems. Fewer studies have focused on intraspecific facilitation, and to our knowledge none examine intraspecific interactions in Pacific Coast salt marshes of North America. We used two species that tend to occur in large, monospecific patches to test for intraspecific facilitation in a restored California marsh, where tides and evaporation during summer create moisture and salinity gradients across elevation. We tested performance of Frankenia salina or Jaumea carnosa in restoration plots using two treatments: clustered plantings to promote facilitation, and widely spaced plantings to limit interaction between individuals. We characterized the soil water potential gradient and measured plant survival, cover, physiology, and susceptibility to herbivory across elevation and planting treatments. Soil water potential declined sharply with elevation, suggesting plant stress should be higher upslope. However, tissue water potential was unaffected by elevation, and survival was high—suggesting growing conditions remained benign. A seawater addition treatment did not alter the response of plants or plant interactions to the abiotic gradient. At 19 months, intraspecific competition prevailed across the entire elevation gradient for both species, with less transplant cover in clustered plantings. However, clustered Frankenia fared better during a transient period of heavy rabbit herbivory. Aside from this temporary benefit, clustering did not reduce stress and strongly suppressed growth—suggesting that restoration designs for the high marsh should minimize competition.