bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Funding community sustainable development using zero energy buildings
Authors: Wubah Daniel , Steuer Chris , Brown Guilbert , Rice Karen
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to provide an example of how higher education institutions (HEIs) can use a successful campus infrastructure project to fund a student- and faculty-led, community-success platform that advances the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied conceptual models for systems thinking and creating virtuous cycles to analyze Millersville University’s work to establish a community-impact, micro-grant fund using cost savings and utility rebates associated with a new campus zero-energy building. The analysis provides a case study that other HEIs can implement to create university and community virtuous cycles that advance the SDGs.

Findings

The case study suggests that as HEIs face increasing financial challenges, opportunities exist to capitalize on philanthropic giving and other funding sources to support community prosperity and increase university vitality through a shared responsibility paradigm centered on the SDGs.

Practical implications

This case study identifies specific funding sources that HEIs can use to fund campus and community sustainability projects using the SDG framework, mechanisms for establishing shared purpose around that impact and a conceptual model for thinking about opportunities to leverage philanthropic giving to create a virtuous cycle that increases university vitality through community impact.

Social implications

Constructing a campus zero energy building funded in part through philanthropic giving provided a unique opportunity to explore how a project’s success can be leveraged to create additional community successes. This case study offers an example for how to convert one success into a platform that funds projects that have direct community impact in one or more of the SDG goal areas.

Originality/value

This paper aims at bridging the gap between theoretical frameworks for community sustainable development and descriptive-only case studies by using a case study to demonstrate a conceptual model or framework for advancing community sustainability (Karatzoglou, 2013). The case study provides a unique model for using utility rebates associated with an infrastructure project that was funded through philanthropic giving to establish a fund for projects that support the community. Utility rebates associated with campus energy efficiency projects are often otherwise overlooked, used to fund additional energy efficiency projects or simply returned to a university’s operating budget. For some HEIs, this model may connect the work of facilities staff to student success in ways that have not previously been explored. For others, this alternative use of utility rebates may offer an opportunity to increase the investment value of utility rebate dollars by creating virtuous cycles within their communities that contribute to university vitality.
Performance indicators to support firm-level decision-making in the wine industry: a systematic literature review
Authors: Mota Jorge , Moreira António , Costa Rui , Serrão Silvana , Pais-Magalhães Vera , Costa Carlos
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the main firm-level performance indicators and group them in dimensions that support decision-making in the wine industry.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve this goal, an SLR approach was conducted in the Scopus database from 2009 to 2019. From a set of 607 articles, only 25 studies related to firm-level performance indicators were considered and, following an inductive thematic analysis and an interpretative synthesis, separated into different specific foci that include social, economic and environmental dimensions.

Findings

There is a limited number of papers identifying indicators regarding the firm-level performance of wine firms, and even fewer studies including indicators on an integrated approach to measure the different dimensions of firm performance. This paper documents that economic and environmental indicators cover 78.2% of all SLR indicators analyzed. As this group of indicators is limited to a set of sub-dimensions, this paper found that several groups of indicators are misrepresented, such as product portfolio or certifications related to marketing activities and indicators covering purchasing and supply chain activities, which play a crucial role in the competitiveness of the wine industry.

Practical implications

For practitioners, it discloses the most pertinent indicators they need to improve to craft their business strategies. This framework is of added value for policymakers to customize their support programs for specific producers to develop their competitive strategies. It could be deployed in teaching programs as a tool to address the importance of aligning different types of indicators to achieve firm-level performance in the wine industry.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature identifying a framework of analysis that includes indicators of four dimensions, namely, economic, social, territorial and environmental. This framework aims to relate performance measures to corporate strategy as a management control tool. The framework intends to improve the fit between firms’ activities and their competitive context and to be flexibly adapted to various products/firms in the wine industry.
The influence of spiritual leadership on spirituality, conscientiousness and job satisfaction and its impacts on the reduction of workplace deviant behavior
Authors: Wahyono  , Prihandono Dorojatun , Wijayanto Andhi
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study examines the influence of spiritual leadership toward spirituality, conscientiousness, job satisfaction and reduction of deviant behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of data analysis used is a structural model based on WarpPLS (Solimun et al., 2017), with the first-order factor analysis based on variables with reflective indicators.

Findings

The research findings indicate that the sustainability of workplace spirituality and conscientiousness can stimulate the employees' job satisfaction, which eventually leads to the reduction of workplace deviant behavior (WDB). Accordingly, the direct influence of workplace spirituality on WDB is quite major ( 0.296), this indicates the importance of workplace spirituality for employees in working so that it can reduce the WDB. Conscientiousness had a negative influence on WDB. However, the interesting part about this study is the indirect influence of workplace spirituality on WDB through job satisfaction, which also has a major value ( 0.208) and almost equal to the direct influence. This circumstance depicts how workplace spirituality influences WDB as well as the importance of the improvement of employees' job satisfaction.

Originality/value

The originality of this study is primarily placed on the causal relationship between the variables of spiritual leadership and WDB; other than the direct influence, there is also an indirect influence that has a big value, which is the path of spiritual leadership toward WDB through workplace spirituality (−0.248). In other words, WDB is not only influenced directly by spiritual leadership but also by workplace spirituality.
International trade, non-tariff measures and climate change: insights from Port wine exports
Authors: Macedo Anthony , Gouveia Sofia , Rebelo João , Santos João , Fraga Helder
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate international trade determinants, paying special attention to variables related to climate change and non-tariff measures (NTMs), as they shape more and more world trade flows, with particular incidence on globalised goods, such as wine.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on panel data of Port wine exports to 60 countries, between 2006 and 2018, a gravity model has been estimated through Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood. Explanatory variables include NTMs, mean temperature, temperature anomaly, gross domestic product (GDP), exchange rate, ad valorem equivalent tariffs and home bias.

Findings

The findings show that exports are inversely related to both mean temperature and temperature anomaly in importing countries. Regarding NTMs, it is found that only part of them are trade deterrent. Additionally, purchasing power in importing countries is one of the main determinants of Port wine exports.

Research limitations/implications

The results show that, besides traditional economic variables, policymakers and wineries should include in their exports' decisions the impact of variables related to climate change and NTMs.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper is to incorporate the impact of climatic variability of importing countries as a determinant of international trade of wine. Most former studies inspired of the gravity model consider explanatory variables such as GDP and exchange rate, and more recent ones started to consider NTMs too, however, this study may be the first paper to include the impact of climate change (quantified by mean temperature and temperature anomaly in importing countries) on exports.
Parametric estimation of a gauge function and a measure of technical efficiency
Authors: Han Yongseung , Littlefield Thomas , Kim Myeong Hwan
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper proposes the use of a gauge function as a measure of technical efficiency. The measure of technical inefficiency from a gauge function is desirable as the estimation of a gauge function is not subject to the endogeneity problem under the behavioral assumption of profit maximization in the competitive market.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors address three important properties of a gauge function, i.e. linear homogeneity, monotonicity and convexity in inputs and outputs, and show how such properties are utilized in its estimation. Then, the authors apply the estimation of a gauge function to US Blacksmiths in 1850 and 1880 to show that a failure to satisfy such properties may lead to an incorrect inference on the technical efficiency.

Findings

The authors find that the Blacksmiths in the 1850s were technically more efficient than the ones in the 1880s, indicating technical regress in Blacksmithing when the properties are satisfied.

Originality/value

This paper introduces a measure of technical inefficiency from a gauge function and shows how to estimate the gauge function parametrically for the measure. The authors show McFadden's gauge function and its properties, which differ from the properties of other distance functions. The authors emphasize linear homogeneity as well as monotonicity and convexity in inputs and outputs, which must be satisfied in the estimation of a gauge function.
All's well that ends well!? Moderating effects of goal progress on the relation between challenge and hindrance appraisal and well-being
Authors: Kronenwett Michael , Rigotti Thomas
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Drawing from both the transactional theory of stress and the conservation of resources theory, this paper sets out to investigate the role of demand-specific challenge and hindrance appraisal of emotional demands, as well as time pressure and perceived goal progress within the challenge–hindrance framework.

Design/methodology/approach

For this research, 91 employees provided daily diary data for one working week. Focusing on within-persons effects, multilevel moderated mediation models using multilevel path analyses were applied.

Findings

Both emotional demands and time pressure exert positive effects on work engagement when people expect resource gain (challenge appraisal), independent of actual resource gain (achievement). Furthermore, results show that goal progress buffers negative effects of perceived blocked resource gain (hindrance appraisal) on both emotional and motivational well-being.

Originality/value

This research proposes an extension and refinement of the challenge–hindrance stressor framework to explain health-impairing and motivational processes of emotional demands and time pressure, combining reasoning from both appraisal and resource theory perspectives. The study identifies demand-specific challenge and hindrance appraisals as mediators linking demands to emotional and motivational well-being, emphasizing the influence of goal progress as a resource on these relations.
Egyptian budgetary responses to COVID-19 and their social and economic consequences
Authors: Elkhashen Emad M. , Sarhan Ahmed , Ejiogu Amanze
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper discusses the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Egyptian economy and Egyptian government's budgetary responses to the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors undertake a critical analysis of Egyptian government's economic and social interventions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the funding of these interventions and their short- and long-term implications.

Findings

The analysis shows that the Egyptian government's response to the pandemic will shrink Egypt's fiscal space significantly as increased borrowing and debt service obligations are not offset by the levying of corona tax on salaries and wages. However, increased taxation will impact negatively on poverty. The authors show that social interventions such as cash transfers are not provided at a level which will make an impact on alleviating poverty. The authors highlight increased spending on health as well as the adoption of a gender perspective in the response to the pandemic as positive outcomes with potential for future societal impact.

Originality/value

The authors highlight the Egyptian government's budgetary response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic and social implications of this response.
Outside revenue generation for academic libraries in emerging markets: a view from Klang valley in Malaysia
Authors: Shaifuddin Norshila , Md Rushdi Siti Rasyidah , Abdullah Sani Mad Khir Johari
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate various strategies of Malaysian public academic libraries that have been implemented to support library financial resources and to describe the challenges faced by the public university libraries in implementing income generation activities.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative data collection approach using a structured interview has been employed to elicit the opinions of librarians working in public university libraries in Klang Valley, Malaysia. In total, five (5) interview transcripts have been analyzed using theme-based analysis.

Findings

This study shows that the Malaysian public academic libraries showed positive reactions toward income generation. Various activities of revenue generation are carried out to support library financial resources on a small scale. However, management support for this concept is poor resulted due to many problems in carrying out the activities.

Practical implications

This study provides insights into the importance of revenue generation activities as a source of library financial resources at public academic libraries. The strategies include the investment of academic libraries in implementing the activities related to the income generation. It is required for the library to add this activity in its library budget, the proper strategic planning and the introduction of various revenue generation activities.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the field of library and information management as it highlights the strategies of outside revenue generation activities in Malaysian public academic libraries. Library administrators could use the results to develop their strategic plans to ensure the success of the initiatives.
Residential property market in Malaysia: an analysis of price drivers and co-movements
Authors: Mohd Thas Thaker Hassanudin , Ariff Mohamed , Subramaniam Niviethan Rao
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the drivers of residential price as well as the degree co-movement of housing among different states in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted an advanced econometrics technique: the dynamic autoregressive-distributed lag (DARDL) and – the time-frequency domain approach known as the wavelet coherence test. The DARDL model was applied to identify the cointegrating relationships and the CWT was used to analyze the co-movement and lead–lag relationships among four states’ regional housing prices. The extracted data were mainly on annual basis and comprised macroeconomics and financial factors. Information with regard to residential prices and other variables was extracted from the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC) website, the Central Bank of Malaysia Statistics Report, the Department of Statistics, Malaysia, I-Property.com and the World Bank (WB). The data covered in this study were the pool data from four main states in Malaysia and different categories of residential properties.

Findings

The empirical results indicate that there were long-run cointegration relationships between the housing price and capital gain and loss, rental per square feet, disposable income, inflation, number of marriages, deposit rate, risk premium and loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. While the wavelet analysis shows that (1) in the long run, Kuala Lumpur housing price having strong co-movement with Selangor, Penang and Melaka housing prices except for Johor and (2) the lead–lag relationship also postulates Kuala Lumpur housing price having in-phase category with Selangor, Penang and Melaka housing prices except for Johor.

Practical implications

This study offers relevant practical implications. First, the study proposes an active collaboration between the private sector and government support which may help to smooth the pricing issue of residential properties. More low-cost residential projects are needed for focus groups including middle- and low-income earners. Furthermore, the results are expected to provide real estate investor in Malaysia, an improved understanding of the regional housing market price dynamics.

Originality/value

The findings of this study were obtained from various reliable sources; therefore, the results reflected the analysis of price drivers and co-movements. Furthermore, findings from this study lend some support to the argument on the rise of residential prices and offer several policy implications from a practical point of view with regard to the residential market.
How team voice contributes to team performance: an empirical investigation
Authors: He Changqing , Song Jun , Yang Jin , Chen Zhi
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Although voice behavior is important for team performance, scholars have yet to identify its underlying mechanisms and boundary conditions. Using the theory of social information processing (SIP), this study explores how and when team voice influences team performance by considering team learning as a mediator and contingent reward transactional (CRT) leadership as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a survey in China using a questionnaire to collect the data. The study sample consisted of 78 leaders and 441 employees nested in 78 teams.

Findings

Results showed that team voice was positively related to team performance. The results also proved that the positive relationship between team voice and team performance was mediated by team learning. Additionally, CRT leadership enhanced the effect of team voice on team learning.

Practical implications

First, managers should consider individuals high in voice behavior when selecting team members. Second, leaders need to focus on enhancing the learning process. Third, the authors’ findings suggest that when selecting persons as team leaders, managers should pay additional attention to their leadership style.

Originality/value

The primary contribution of this study is that the research sheds light on the specific team process (i.e. team learning), through which team voice is related to team performance. Moreover, the current study deepens the authors’ understanding of the role of leadership in the voice process by identifying the moderating role of CRT leadership.
Perils of public sector enterprises in India: is privatization of central public sector enterprises a sustainable strategy?
Authors: Phukon Abhijit , Gakhar Divya Verma
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to attempt to empirically investigate the impact of privatization on the performance of central public sector enterprises in India. Further attempt is made to explore whether privatization is a necessary or sufficient condition for improvement of performance of central public sector enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The scope of the study is limited to financial and operating performance analysis of 206 central public sector enterprises in India. Multiple regression analysis has been used to determine the magnitude and direction of relationship between dependent and independent variables and identify variables other than privatization which affects performance.

Findings

The study found that financial and operational performance of firms has improved significantly due to privatization. Further, firm-specific factors and other parallel reforms adopted by enterprises have significantly influenced their performance. The established regression model is highly significant with F-ratio of 31.825 at 99% significance level. The degree of explanation of the model is robust with adjusted R2 at 0.956 implying that only 4.40% of explanation in the dependent variable cannot be explained by designated independent/explanatory variables.

Originality/value

The study would be useful to public policymakers to reach to a policy view on whether further disinvestment/privatization of central public sector enterprises need to be continued, and if so, then to what extent and direction.
A new economical technique for dyeing polyamide fibre/nanoclay composite with basic dye
Authors: El-Gabry Lamiaa Kamal , Nasr Mohamed Fathy , Abou El-Kheir Amira Adel
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This work aims to increase the dyeability of nylon 6 with basic dyeing through the treatment of the fibre with available and cheap nanomaterials, namely; nano bentonite using an economic and simple method.

Design/methodology/approach

Different amounts of nano clay, namely, nano bentonite were dispersed in distilled water using an ultrasonic homogenizer for 1 h. Nylon fabrics were treated with different concentrations of dispersed nano bentonite (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% wt/v). After half an hour, the samples were padded using SVETEMA laboratory padding system. The padding pressure was adjusted at 3 bar to allow a pickup of 100%. The padded samples were dried at 80°C for 5 min and cured at 160°C for 3 min using ROACHES laboratory thermos-fixation. The cured samples were then washed with running water and left to dry at room temperature.

Findings

The obtained results indicated that the modification of polyamide 6 fibres with nano bentonite had a great impact on their dyeing properties. The obtained shades, absorption behaviour and fastness properties were significantly enhanced. Based on these results, it was concluded that polyamide fabrics could be successfully dyed with basic dyes using economical dyeing conditions.

Originality/value

This paper introduces a new method the loaded the nano-clay on the synthetic fibres, which are nylon 6 to enhance the dyeability with cationic dyes using the physical method without changing the structure of the fibres.
Online corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure in the banking industry: evidence from Poland
Authors: Matuszak Łukasz , Różańska Ewa
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Based on a set of complementary theories, namely, the legitimacy, stakeholder and signaling theories, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the visibility of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures on bank websites. In particular, we explored the accessibility, placement, reporting format, extent and content of online CSR information. This paper also examined the effect of size, being listed, ownership structure and the internationalization of banks on online CSR reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample consisting of 20 banks was used where the data were manually collected from the websites of various banks during the fourth quarter of 2017. Three reporting formats were explored: information posted directly on the website, information contained in a separate CSR report and information within a management commentary or annual report or integrated report. Content analysis was used to measure the level of online CSR disclosures in four sub-dimensions: environment, human resources, products and customers and community involvement. The sample was grouped according to the criteria of size, being listed, ownership structure and internationality. Non-parametric statistics were used to analyze some factors that influence CSR disclosure, namely, size, public ownership, internationalization and foreign ownership.

Findings

The results indicate that accessibility to CSR information is relatively good. The placement of CSR information on websites varies among banks. Moreover, community involvement was the most disclosed dimension on the banks’ websites. There was a lack of disclosure on items regarding the environment. Furthermore, the findings of this paper showed that significant determinants for explaining online CSR disclosure level were size and being listed.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by examining the online CSR disclosure practices of banks from an emerging market with a different socio-economic context and regulations compared to the developed market.
Quantifying range structure to inform management in invaded landscapes
Authors: Cheney Chad , van Wilgen Nicola J. , Esler Karen J. , Foxcroft Llewellyn C. , McGeoch Melodie A.
Published: October 2020

The negative impact of invasive alien plants (IAPs) in protected areas (PAs) is managed through control programmes, often using area‐based management, where identified IAPs in management units are controlled simultaneously. However, this approach has shortfalls, including the methods used to prioritise management units, spatial grain dependence and spatial interdependence of management units. Species‐based management approaches, though used less frequently, are usually aimed at eradication.

We propose using a Commonness framework to reconcile area‐based and species‐based management approaches, viewing the invasion process as a population trajectory from uncommon to common. The framework assigns species to one of eight commonness types at a given scale using three species characteristics: local population size (small/large), geographic range (wide/narrow) and spatial pattern (even/clumped). These metrics were calculated using a comprehensive fine‐scale IAP dataset from Table Mountain National Park, South Africa, at six scales of increasing spatial grain, enabling quantification of the effects of scale and species' range structure on management potential of IAPs.

Most species exhibited the Point Source commonness type at fine spatial grains, requiring Rapid Response, Reconnaissance or Sweeping management strategies. At coarser grains, species were mostly classed within wide occupancy ranges, with small population sizes (Dispersed and Sparse types). The Control strategy currently applied in the area (best suited for large populations across a narrow range) should be re‐evaluated given the progress made by historical clearing in reducing commonness. Using a phylo‐tree, we identified adjacent areas that require different strategies as well as changes in species‐specific goals at particular sites with increasing grain coarseness. For example, species generally deemed to be common, for which a Control strategy is applied, may require Rapid Response type strategies for isolated and/or small, clumped subpopulations.

Synthesis and applications. We use a Commonness framework to quantify patterns of plant invasion at multiple spatial scales. We demonstrate how different management strategies are appropriate for the same species in different parts of its invaded range, and how these nuances are often obscured through the use of coarse data. The framework enables tailoring management interventions to minimise the spread and impact of invasive alien plants.
Museum specimens: An overlooked and valuable material for conservation genetics
Authors: Nakahama Naoyuki
Published: October 2020

Museum specimens include genetic information from when they were collected. This historical information, which is very difficult to ascertain from samples collected currently, could be a valuable material for use in conservation genetics. However, the genetic analysis of museum specimens is technically difficult because of DNA fragmentation and the deamination of cytosine to uracil. In recent years, various methods have been developed for the genetic analysis of museum specimens, such as data analysis techniques including next‐generation sequencing. The development of approaches that extract historical genetic information from museum specimens is expected to provide a new perspective on conservation genetics. This review focuses on the availability of museum specimens as genetic resources for conservation genetics. Some case studies are introduced, and perspectives on the future utility of conservation genetic studies using museum specimens are discussed. Moreover, recommended genetic analysis methods and important points for the usage of museum specimens are presented. This review provides a strong case for increasing the usage of museum specimens in conservation genetics studies in the future.
Evaluating the structural properties of bioactive‐loaded nanocarriers with modern analytical tools
Authors: Rostamabadi Hadis , Falsafi Seid Reza , Assadpour Elham , Jafari Seid Mahdi
Published: October 2020

With the emergence of nanocarriers for offering smart transformers improving the bioavailability and functionality of food bioactive compounds, a critical issue is experimental and analytical evaluation of the bioactive‐loaded nanocarriers; so, further technical advancements are necessary for the precise structural characterization of these nanodelivery systems and application of sophisticated analytical techniques. Here, we have portrayed the current progress in the structural characterization approaches including X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and small‐angle X‐ray scattering/small‐angle neutron scattering as powerful and informative tools to have a better control on the design, development, and appraisal of nanoengineered bioactive delivery systems. Different examples and case studies have been tabulated along with illustrative and schematic representation of relevant results. An emerging view concerning the challenges for future structural characterization of these systems is also discussed in detail.
Optimizing the relationship between job autonomy and knowledge workers’ satisfaction: The roles of crafting and value congruence
Authors: Zhao Jia‐Lin , Li Xu‐Hong , Shields John
Published: October 2020

This paper proposes a moderated mediation model to explain how job autonomy affects knowledge workers’ job and leisure satisfaction through crafting activities. Using a large‐scale survey of 836 Chinese knowledge workers, we confirm the role of job crafting in mediating the relation between job autonomy and job satisfaction, and further reveal that leisure crafting mediates the relation between job autonomy and leisure satisfaction. Our results also reveal the moderating effects of person‐organization value congruence on the relation between job autonomy and job/leisure crafting and, in turn, on the indirect effect of job autonomy on knowledge workers’ satisfaction. These findings indicate that knowledge‐intensive organizations should apply interventions conducive to leisure crafting to elevate their employees’ well‐being. The findings also highlight the worth of fostering a culture of ‘crafting’ to facilitate person‐organization value congruence and strengthen the positive relations between job autonomy and crafting activities.
Comparative analysis of the morphological property and chemical composition of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber with bound phenolic compounds from different algae
Authors: Luo Mukang , Hu Kaixi , Zeng Qingzhu , Yang Xinquan , Wang Yulin , Dong Lihong , Huang Fei , Zhang Ruifen , Su Dongxiao
Published: October 2020

The morphological, physicochemical, and biochemical properties of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber from seven types of algae were investigated. The soluble dietary fiber (SDF) contents (6.48 to 60.90% of the total fiber) in most of the investigated algae were significantly lower than the insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) contents (39.10 to 93.52% of the total fiber). It can be inferred from the infrared and UV‐Vis spectra that the SDF and IDF of algae may contain cellulose, hemicellulose, various monosaccharides, phenolic compounds, and quinone pigments. The bound phenolic in the seven algae varied widely in contents (3.76 to 14.08 mg GAE/g in IDF and 1.94 to 8.61 mg GAE/g in SDF), whose antioxidant activities in the IDF were stronger than those in SDF because of different phenolic compositions. The HPLC‐mass spectrometry (MS)/MS results showed that the IDF may contain methyl‐8α‐hydroxy‐grindelate‐7β‐O‐7′β‐ether hydrate, hydroxydecanoic acid, and malyngic acid.

Practical Application

Polysaccharides of high content in algae cannot be digested by humans, hence regarded as dietary fibers. A large amount of bound phenolic compounds in dietary fibers can add to the biological activities of dietary fibers. These topics are important to the development of seaweed‐based functional foods.
How age and infection history shape the antigen‐specific CD8+ T‐cell repertoire: Implications for vaccination strategies in older adults
Authors: Lanfermeijer Josien , Borghans José A. M. , van Baarle Debbie
Published: October 2020

Older adults often show signs of impaired CD8+ T‐cell immunity, reflected by weaker responses against new infections and vaccinations, and decreased protection against reinfection. This immune impairment is in part thought to be the consequence of a decrease in both T‐cell numbers and repertoire diversity. If this is indeed the case, a strategy to prevent infectious diseases in older adults could be the induction of protective memory responses through vaccination at a younger age. However, this requires that the induced immune responses are maintained until old age. It is therefore important to obtain insights into the long‐term maintenance of the antigen‐specific T‐cell repertoire. Here, we review the literature on the maintenance of antigen‐experienced CD8+ T‐cell repertoires against acute and chronic infections. We describe the complex interactions that play a role in shaping the memory T‐cell repertoire, and the effects of age, infection history, and T‐cell avidity. We discuss the implications of these findings for the development of new vaccination strategies to protect older adults.
Stress induces reinstatement of extinguished cocaine conditioned place preference by a sequential signaling via neuropeptide S, orexin, and endocannabinoid
Authors: Chou Yu‐Hsien , Hor Chia Chun , Lee Ming Tatt , Lee Hsin‐Jung , Guerrini Remo , Calo Girolamo , Chiou Lih‐Chu
Published: October 2020

Neurons containing neuropeptide S (NPS) and orexins are activated during stress. Previously, we reported that orexins released during stress, via orexin OX1 receptors (OX1Rs), contribute to the reinstatement of cocaine seeking through endocannabinoid/CB1 receptor (CB1R)‐mediated dopaminergic disinhibition in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Here, we further demonstrated that NPS released during stress is an up‐stream activator of this orexin‐endocannabinoid cascade in the VTA, leading to the reinstatement of cocaine seeking. Mice were trained to acquire cocaine conditioned place preference (CPP) by context‐pairing cocaine injections followed by the extinction training with context‐pairing saline injections. Interestingly, the extinguished cocaine CPP in mice was significantly reinstated by intracerebroventricular injection (i.c.v.) of NPS (1 nmol) in a manner prevented by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of SHA68 (50 mg/kg), an NPS receptor antagonist. This NPS‐induced cocaine reinstatement was prevented by either i.p. or intra‐VTA microinjection (i.vta.) of SB‐334867 (15 mg/kg, i.p. or 15 nmol, i.vta.) and AM 251 (1.1 mg/kg, i.p. or 30 nmol, i.vta.), antagonists of OX1Rs and CB1Rs, respectively. Besides, NPS (1 nmol, i.c.v.) increased the number of c‐Fos‐containing orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) and increased orexin‐A level in the VTA. The latter effect was blocked by SHA68. Furthermore, a 30‐min restraint stress in mice reinstated extinguished cocaine CPP and was prevented by SHA68. These results suggest that NPS is released upon stress and subsequently activates LH orexin neurons to release orexins in the VTA. The released orexins then reinstate extinguished cocaine CPP via an OX1R‐ and endocannabinoid‐CB1R‐mediated signaling in the VTA.
Patterns of surveillance for colorectal cancer: Experience from a single large tertiary institution
Authors: Pellegrino Samantha A , Chan Steven , Simons Koen , Kinsella Rita , Gibbs Peter , Faragher Ian G , Deftereos Irene , Yeung Justin MC
Published: October 2020

Aim

Colorectal cancer surveillance is an essential part of care and should include clinical review and follow‐up investigations. There is limited information regarding postoperative surveillance and survivorship care in the Australian context. This study investigated patterns of colorectal cancer surveillance at a large tertiary institution.

Methods

A retrospective review of hospital records was conducted for all patients treated with curative surgery between January 2012 and June 2017. Provision of clinical surveillance, colonoscopy, computed tomography (CT), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) within 24 months postoperatively were recorded. Kaplan‐Meier estimates were used to evaluate time‐to‐surveillance review and associated investigations.

Results

A total of 675 patients were included in the study. Median time to first postoperative clinical review was 20 days (95% confidence interval (CI), 18‐21) with only 31% of patients having their first postoperative clinic review within 2 weeks. Median time to first CEA was 100 days (95% CI, 92‐109), with 47% of patients having their CEA checked within the first 3 months, increasing to 68% at 6 months. Median time to first follow‐up CT scan was 262 days (95% CI, 242‐278) and for colonoscopy, 560 days (95% CI, 477‐625). Poor uptake of surveillance testing was more prevalent in patients from older age groups, those with multiple comorbidities, and higher stage cancers.

Conclusion

Colorectal cancer surveillance is multi‐disciplinary and involves several parallel processes, many of which lead to inconsistent follow‐up. Further prospective work is required to identify the reasons for variation in care and which aspects are most important to cancer patients.
Naegele’s rule and the length of pregnancy – A review
Authors: Lawson Gerald Wightman
Published: October 2020

Background

The proposition that a pregnancy is 40 weeks or 280 days in duration is attributed to the German obstetrician Franz Naegele (1778–1851). His rule adds nine months and seven days to the first day of the last menstrual period. The expected date of confinement from this formula is approximately right in the majority of cases. However, the idea that this rule can apply to every pregnant female – young or old, nulliparous or multigravida, Caucasian, Asian, African, or Indigenous – stretches credulity. In addition, many women regard the 40‐week date as a deadline, which if crossed, may then place the baby under stress. Forty weeks is such a simple, round, convenient figure that it has proved difficult to challenge, despite criticism. Nonetheless, what might have been an appropriate formula in Germany in the 19th century deserves to be revisited in the 21st.

Aims

To review the length of pregnancy, in the light of current technology, in particular ultrasound scanning, and assisted reproductive techniques.

Material and Methods

A Medline search was performed for variables on the length of pregnancy, the expected date of confinement, and prolonged pregnancy.

Results

A number of factors were found to significantly influence the length of a pregnancy, including ethnicity, height, variations in the menstrual cycle, the timing of ovulation, parity and maternal weight.

Conclusions

Naegele’s rule should be considered as a guideline for the expected date of confinement, and not a definite date.
Cerebroplacental ratio as predictor of adverse perinatal outcome in the third trimester
Authors: Bonnevier Anna , Maršál Karel , Brodszki Jana , Thuring Ann , Källén Karin
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Fetal growth restriction is associated with adverse perinatal outcome and the clinical management of these pregnancies is a challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) to predict adverse perinatal outcome in high‐risk pregnancies in the third trimester. Another aim was to study whether the CPR has better predictive value than its components, middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index (PI) and umbilical artery (UA) PI.

Material and methods

The study was a retrospective cohort study including 1573 singleton high‐risk pregnancies with Doppler examinations performed at 32+0 to 40+6 gestational weeks at Lund University Hospital and the University Hospital of Malmö between 29 December 1994 and 31 December 2017. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to investigate the predictive value of the gestational age‐specific z‐scores for CPR, UA PI and MCA PI, respectively, for the primary outcome “perinatal asphyxia/mortality” and the secondary outcomes “birthweight small for gestational age (SGA)” and two composite outcomes: “appropriate for gestational age/large for gestational age liveborn infants with neonatal morbidity” and “SGA liveborn infants with neonatal morbidity.”

Results

The performance in predicting perinatal asphyxia/mortality was poor for all three variables and did not differ significantly. The ROC area under curve (AUC) was 0.56, 0.55 and 0.53 for CPR, UA PI and MCA PI z‐scores, respectively. The ROC AUC for CPR z‐scores to predict SGA was 0.73, significantly higher than that for either UA PI or MCA PI (P < .001). The ability of CPR and the MCA PI to predict appropriate for gestational age/large for gestational age infant morbidity and SGA infant morbidity was similar and significantly better than UA PI (P < .001).

Conclusions

In the present study, none of the three Doppler measures proved to be useful in predicting perinatal asphyxia and mortality. CPR and MCA PI were equally good in predicting neonatal morbidity, especially in SGA pregnancies, and both were significantly better predictors than the UA PI. CPR had a high predictive value for SGA at birth, better than that of its two components, UA PI and MCA PI.
The Origins of Slip for High‐Fired Chinese Ceramics: Evidence from Jiangdong‐Type Calcium‐Glaze Wares Unearthed from Two Han Dynasty Cemeteries in Zhejiang, East China
Authors: Zhou X. , Lv H. , Yang Z. , Cui J. , Li H. , Hu J.
Published: October 2020

For Chinese high‐fired glazed ceramics, a slip can improve the quality of products in many ways; however, when and how the artisans started applying a slip before glazing is still relatively unknown. Some Han dynasty Jiangdong‐type calcium glazed wares were unearthed from two tomb groups in Zhejiang. The results show that under the calcium glaze layer, there is another slip coating, which contains high levels of iron and potassium. The underglaze coating can beautify the wares and it could be regarded as the earliest engobe technology on high‐fired ceramic. Further, the raw materials used in the slip coating can be traced back to the so‐called mud glaze black pottery, which began to appear in the late Neolithic period. We believe that the high‐temperature calcium glaze was made of plant ash, which suggests similarities to proto‐porcelain that dates back to the pre‐Qin period. These glazed wares might be a typical kind of proto‐porcelain from the end of the Warring States period and Han dynasty, representing a combination of mud glaze and plant ash glaze.
Market power evolution and convergence in European banking: An empirical note
Authors: Yildirim Canan , Kasman Adnan
Published: October 2020

This paper undertakes an up‐to‐date assessment of evolution and convergence in market power over 2013 and 2018 in the Eurozone banking markets in view of the progress towards completing the banking union. The results show that average market power measured by the Lerner index displays an upward trend up until 2016 declining thereafter. Further findings by employing the panel convergence methodology of Philips and Sul (2007) fail to support the hypothesis of integration in the Eurozone banking markets through market power convergence. Furthermore, club clustering tests reveal presence of three sub‐clusters of countries with different speeds of convergence.
Evaluation of misrepresented findings in the abstracts of acute respiratory distress syndrome randomised trials with nonsignificant primary endpoints
Authors: Dormire Kody D. , Whitehead Aldon J. , Wayant Cole , Bowers Aaron , Vassar Matt
Published: October 2020

Objective

We investigated the randomised controlled trials (RCTs) related to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to assess the presentation and frequency of misrepresented research findings, also known as spin.

Methods

We searched PubMed (MEDLINE) for studies published from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2019. We included randomised controlled trials with an ARDS intervention and a nonsignificant primary endpoint. Trial screening and data extraction was performed on all studies independently and in duplicate. The primary endpoint was to investigate the frequency and manifestation of spin in RCT abstracts. Our secondary endpoint was to investigate associations between funding source and spin.

Results

Our PubMed search returned 766 articles with 37 meeting inclusion criteria. Spin was present in 14 (14/37, 37.8%; 95% CI 22.5%‐55.2%) abstracts. The most common manifestations of spin were claiming benefit based on a significant secondary endpoint (6/14, 42.9%), followed by the use of “trend” statements, such as “trend toward significance” (2/14, 14.3%; 95% CI 1.8%‐42.8%). The most common spin in abstract conclusions was in the form of claiming benefit due to a significant secondary endpoint (3/4, 75%; 95% CI 19.4%‐99.4%). Our secondary endpoint did not identify a significant difference in the prevalence of spin in publicly funded (5/19, 26.3%; 95% CI 9.1%‐51.2%) compared to privately funded (4/12, 33.3%; 95% CI 9.9%‐65.1%) studies (P > .05).

Conclusions

RCTs of ARDS interventions with nonsignificant primary endpoints often included spin in the abstract. Spin in the abstract may influence clinician appraisal and interpretation of diagnostic or treatment modalities.