bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomass accumulation and physiological responses of tomato plants to magnetically–treated water in hydroponic conditions
Authors: Ospina-Salazar Daniel I. , Rachmilevitch Shimon , Cuervo-Jurado Santiago , Zúñiga-Escobar Orlando
Published: September 2021

Magnetically-treated water (MTW) has been reported to enhance biomass accumulation in plants. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood, and the existing reports only deal with soil-grown plants. Thus, the purpose of this experiment was to assess whether or not MTW affects main physiological processes (gas exchange, biomass accumulation and water potential) in tomato plants whose water supply was only MTW. Two experiments were done in hydroponic semi-controlled conditions, consisting of a loop system with permanent recirculation of water through a non-uniform magnet. The plants grown under MTW showed a significant increase in chlorophyll content, photosynthesis and transpiration at high light irradiances, although the increase in stomatal conductance was less significant. MTW also increased fruit fresh biomass, number of fruits and root dry biomass in 61.7 %, 85.3 % and 30.3 % respectively, but this was only achieved at natural sunlight conditions. Moreover, treated plants showed higher root hydraulic conductance and leaf water potential, which is thought to be related with a lower surface tension of MTW, an effect that is consistent with previous studies. The higher biomass accumulation in tomato plants under MTW is likely explained because of a faster water transport from the roots to the leaves via xylem, which in turn increases H2O efflux and CO2 assimilation in the leaves, thanks to a higher stomatal conductance.
Identification of HLA-A*24:02-restricted CTL candidate epitopes derived from the non-structural polyprotein 1a of SARS-CoV-2 and analysis of their conservation using the mutation database of SARS-CoV-2 variants
Authors: Takagi Akira , Matsui Masanori
Published: September 2021

COVID-19 vaccines are currently being administrated worldwide and playing a critical role in controlling the pandemic. They have been designed to elicit neutralizing antibodies against Spike protein of the original SARS-CoV-2, and hence they are less effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutated Spike than the original virus. It is possible that novel variants with abilities of enhanced transmissibility and/or immunoevasion will appear in the near future and perfectly escape from vaccine-elicited immunity. Therefore, the current vaccines may need to be improved to compensate for the viral evolution. For this purpose, it may be beneficial to take advantage of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Several lines of evidence suggest the contribution of CTLs on the viral control in COVID-19, and CTLs target a wide range of proteins involving comparatively conserved non-structural proteins. Here, we identified twenty-two HLA-A*24:02-restricted CTL candidate epitopes derived from the non-structural polyprotein 1a (pp1a) of SARS-CoV-2 using computational algorithms, HLA-A*24:02 transgenic mice and the peptide-encapsulated liposomes. We focused on pp1a and HLA-A*24:02 because pp1a is relatively conserved and HLA-A*24:02 is predominant in East Asians such as Japanese. The conservation analysis revealed that the amino acid sequences of 7 out of the 22 epitopes were hardly affected by a number of mutations in the Sequence Read Archive database of SARS-CoV-2 variants. The information of such conserved epitopes might be useful for designing the next-generation COVID-19 vaccine that is universally effective against any SARS-CoV-2 variants by the induction of both anti-Spike neutralizing antibodies and CTLs specific for conserved epitopes.

Importance

COVID-19 vaccines have been designed to elicit neutralizing antibodies against the Spike protein of the original SARS-CoV-2, and hence they are less effective against variants. It is possible that novel variants will appear and escape from vaccine-elicited immunity. Therefore, the current vaccines may need to be improved to compensate for the viral evolution. For this purpose, it may be beneficial to take advantage of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Here, we identified twenty-two HLA-A*24:02-restricted CTL candidate epitopes derived from the non-structural polyprotein 1a (pp1a) of SARS-CoV-2. We focused on pp1a and HLA-A*24:02 because pp1a is conserved and HLA-A*24:02 is predominant in East Asians. The conservation analysis revealed that the amino acid sequences of 7 out of the 22 epitopes were hardly affected by mutations in the database of SARS-CoV-2 variants. The information might be useful for designing the next-generation COVID-19 vaccine that is universally effective against any variants.
X-ray restrained extremely localized molecular orbitals for the embedding of quantum mechanical calculations
Authors: Macetti Giovanni , Macchi Piero , Genoni Alessandro
Published: September 2021

The X-ray restrained wavefunction (XRW) method is a quantum crystallographic technique that allows the calculation of molecular wavefunctions adapted to minimize the difference between computed and reference structure factor amplitudes. The latter result from experimental measurements on crystals or from advanced theoretical calculations with periodic boundary conditions, and are used as external restraints in a traditional least-squares structural refinement. Detailed investigations have shown that the technique is able to reliably capture the effects of the crystal field on the molecular electron density. In a recent application, electron distributions obtained from preliminary X-ray restrained wavefunction calculations have been employed in the framework of frozen density embedding theory to embed excited state computations of well defined subsystems. Inspired by these results, it was decided to test, for the first time, the X-ray restrained extremely localized molecular orbitals (XR-ELMOs) along with the recently developed quantum mechanics/extremely localized molecular orbital multiscale embedding approach. By exploiting XR-ELMOs obtained through XRW calculations that used structure factor amplitudes resulting from periodic ab initio computations, excited state calculations of acrylamide in an environment mimicking the one of the crystal structure were performed. In all these computations, the QM region coincides with the crystal asymmetric unit and the ELMO subsystem consisted of two other acrylamide molecules involved in direct hydrogen bonds with the reference unit. The shifts of the excitation energies with respect to the corresponding gas-phase values were evaluated as a function of different parameters on which the computations with XR-ELMOs depend. For instance, the dependence on the resolution of the sets of structure factors that were used to determine the embedding XR-ELMOs were assessed in particular. The results have shown that the use of XR-ELMOs slightly (but not negligibly) improves the description of excited states compared to the gas-phase ELMOs. Once again, these results demonstrate the efficiency of the XRW approach in incorporating environment effects into the calculated molecular orbitals and, hence, into the corresponding electron densities.
Numerical analysis of supersonic co-flow jet with varying lip thickness
Authors: K Sathish Kumar , R Naren Shankar , K Anusindhiya , B.R. Senthil Kumar
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to present the numerical study on supersonic jet mixing characteristics of the co-flow jet by varying lip thickness (LT). The LT chosen for the study is 2 mm, 7.75 mm and 15 mm.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary nozzle is designed for delivering Mach 2.0 jet, whereas the secondary nozzle is designed for delivering Mach 1.6 jet. The Nozzle pressure ratio chosen for the study is 3 and 5. To study the mixing characteristics of the co-flow jet, total pressure and Mach number measurements were taken along and normal to the jet axis. To validate the numerical results, the numerical total pressure values were also compared with the experimental result and it is proven to have a good agreement.

Findings

The results exhibit that, the 2 mm lip is shear dominant. The 7.75 mm and 15 mm lip is wake dominant. The jet interaction along the jet axis was also studied using the contours of total pressure, Mach number, turbulent kinetic energy and density gradient. The radial Mach number contours at the various axial location of the jet was also studied.

Practical implications

The effect of varying LT in exhaust nozzle plays a vital role in supersonic turbofan aircraft.

Originality/value

Supersonic co-flowing jet mixing effectiveness by varying the LT between the primary supersonic nozzle and the secondary supersonic nozzle has not been analyzed in the past.
Supply chain resilience during the COVID-19: empirical evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Queiroz Maciel M. , Fosso Wamba Samuel , Branski Regina M.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Although the advances in the supply chain resilience (SCR) literature, there is a critical gap concerning this understanding in a high disruption context, such as in the case of the COVID-19. This paper aims to investigate some dimensions (agility, robustness, disruption orientation and resource reconfiguration) of the SCR during this unprecedented disruption in the Brazilian supply chain context.

Design/methodology/approach

Supported by the resource-based view, dynamic capabilities and the SCR literature, we developed a model, which in turn was analyzed and validated by partial least squares structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results revealed that while resource reconfiguration and supply chain disruption orientation positively affect SCR, we found a non-significant effect of supply chain robustness and agility.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that in a considerable disruption scenario, managers with their supply chain operations in emerging economies should prioritize the development of resources to support the disruption orientation and manage the scarce resources adequately by reconfiguring them.

Originality/value

Our study is one of the first that reported the dynamics of the SCR dimensions in an emerging economy during the COVID-19.
Ethical leadership and quality of leader-subordinate relationship among women working in multinational enterprises in Malaysia, moderating role of employee psychological empowerment
Authors: Muniandi Jeevita , Richardson Christopher , Salamzadeh Yashar
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between ethical leadership and the quality of the manager-subordinate relationship, as well as the moderating effect of female employees’ psychological empowerment on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This is quantitative research in which an online questionnaire was distributed to female subordinates from multinational enterprises in Malaysia (n= 120). A partial least square is used for analysis in this research.

Findings

The findings confirm a strong positive correlation between all the seven ethical leadership dimensions and the quality of manager-subordinate relationship (leader member exchange). However, the moderating effect of psychological empowerment was found to be insignificant for two of the seven dimensions of ethical leadership.

Originality/value

This study contributes to highlighting new perspectives of women empowerment. Moreover, it also uncovers psychological factor that influences manager-subordinate relationship using cognitive evaluation theory. The seven dimensions of ethical leadership have not been tested in the past studies (only identified, not tested separately).
Numerical investigations of endwall film cooling design of a turbine vane using four-holes pattern
Authors: Liu Jian , Xu Mengyao , Xi Wenxiong , Song Jiawen , Luo Shibin , Sunden Bengt Ake
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Endwall film cooling protects vane endwall by coolant coverage, especially at the leading edge (LE) region and vane-pressure side (PS) junction region. Strong flow impingement and complex vortexaa structures on the vane endwall cause difficulties for coolant flows to cover properly. This work aims at a full-scale arrangement of film cooling holes on the endwall which improves coolant efficiency in the LE region and vane-PS junction region.

Design/methodology/approach

The endwall film holes are grouped in four-holes constructal patterns. Three ways of arranging the groups are studied: based on the pressure field, the streamlines or the heat transfer field. The computational analysis is done with the k-ω SST model after validating the turbulence model properly.

Findings

By clustering the film cooling holes in four-holes patterns, the ejection of the coolant flow is stronger. The four-holes constructal patterns also improve the local coolant coverage in the “tough” regions, such as the junction region of the PS and the endwall. The arrangement based on streamlines distribution can effectively improve the coolant coverage and the arrangement based on the heat transfer distribution (HTD) has benefits by reducing high-temperature regions on the endwall.

Originality/value

A full-scale endwall film cooling design is presented considering interactions of different film cooling holes. A comprehensive model validation and mesh independence study are provided. The cooling holes pattern on the endwall is designed as four-holes constructal patterns combined with several arrangement choices, i.e. by pressure, by heat transfer and by streamline distributions.
Impact of knowledge sharing at work place on individual work performance of nurses in Pakistan
Authors: Rafique Ghulam Murtaza , Mahmood Khalid
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of knowledge sharing (KS) at work place on the individual work performance (IWP) of nurses.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional quantitative approach based on a survey questionnaire was used to collect data from currently working 256 nurses in 6 general public sector hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan. Equal sized convenient sampling technique was used to select the sample from the intended population. Multiple regression was applied to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicated that the elements of IWP (task and contextual performance) were positively correlated with and influenced by two facets of KS (KS propensity and KS behavior). A cohesive sharing culture among nurses must be established at their respective work places to foster the delivery of quality care services and to improve their performance.

Practical implications

The study findings suggest that health-care institutes must consider the importance of KS to boost up the sharing culture among all levels (s) of employees by establishing an interconnected learning environment for improved work performance.

Originality/value

KS plays a vital role in the learning and development of employees by enhancing their work performance. The extant literature showed that there was a dearth of studies that determined the impact of KS at work place on the IWP of nurses. As KS has unique and challenging factors in Pakistan, therefore, the investigation of its impact on nurses’ work performance would be worthy.
Lubrication characteristics of the worn slipper in the slipper-swashplate pair
Authors: Wang Haiji , Shi Guanglin
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper proposes the lubrication characteristics of the worn slipper in the slipper–swashplate pair. The mathematical analysis of lubrication characteristics of slipper with the measured surface roughness distribution is introduced. Based on the results from the test rig, it carries out the result compassion in different operating conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces the measured surface roughness distribution of new and used slippers and generates the oil film thickness distribution with it. An average flow Reynolds equation of the pressure distribution is introduced too. The experimental results are carried out on a novel adjustable oil film thickness test rig.

Findings

The surface roughness of the worn slipper enlarges the reacting force and torque only if the oil film thickness is small. When the ratio of oil film thickness to the root mean square of surface roughness is much smaller than 3, the influence of it on torque is obvious.

Originality/value

Different surface roughness of worn slipper proposed in this paper has an influence on the lubrication characteristics. As the slipper is worn after a period of use, the changed lubrication characteristics should be considered in the slipper design.
Owner CEO narcissism, international entrepreneurial orientation and post-entry speed of internationalization: an empirical study of exporting SMEs from China
Authors: Li Xiaoxuan , Wang Yue , Yang Miles M. , Tang Yanzhao
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study explores the impact of owner chief executive officers' (CEO) narcissism on the exporting small to medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) decision-making on the international market expansion speed after their initial entry. Specifically, the authors use the mechanism of firms' international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) to examine how owner CEO narcissism may influence SMEs' post-entry speed of internationalization (PSI), both directly and indirectly.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the hypotheses, the authors draw on data from a two-wave questionnaire and on archival export data from 291 Chinese exporting SMEs in three municipalities and 17 provinces from 2019 to 2020.

Findings

The results support the theoretical predictions that owner CEO narcissism shapes exporting SMEs' decisions on PSI, both directly and indirectly, through the mediation of firm-level IEO.

Originality/value

The study extends emerging research on the role of CEO narcissism in the upper echelons literature into the international marketing (IM) context. It also offers new insights into what drives exporting SMEs' IM decision-making from a psychological microfoundations perspective. Furthermore, the authors theoretically establish and empirically demonstrate the key role of a firm's IEO as a mediator to complement the existing literature's focus on the direct influence of CEO narcissism on firms' internationalization decisions.
A hybrid approach for identifying and prioritizing critical success factors in technology transfer projects (case study: diesel locomotive manufacturing)
Authors: Mohammadi Navid , Heidary Dahooie Jalil , Khajevand Mohamadreza
Published: September 2021

Purpose

With the rapid advancement of technology, companies use new technologies to produce their products and services to maintain a competitive advantage. As companies alone cannot research and develop their technologies, they should use knowledge sources outside the organization that may exist throughout the world; hence, organizations need technology transfer. Because the success rate of technology transfer projects is low, the need to accurately assess and investigate the critical success factors of technology transfer projects is felt. In this regard, this study aims to identify and prioritize the critical success factors in technology transfer projects.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, 56 critical success factor (CSF) were extracted from the context of the articles and were adjusted using experts’ opinions in different phases, as well as the fuzzy-Delphi approach. Finally, 15 factors were categorized in the form of steps of the technology transfer model: STAGE-GATE. In the next step, the set of criteria needed to prioritize CFSs was extracted from the literature and finalized with the help of the experts. Then, how each of the CSF influences the identified criteria was scored according to the organization’s export opinions. Finally, the priority of each key success factor was calculated using the additive ratio assessment (ARAS) method.

Findings

The results obtained for prioritization of the critical success factors show that experience in technology transfer in the transferee company, the existence of experienced technology transfer managers, sufficient organizational infrastructure and documenting project problems, achievements and experiences are four critical success factors of the technology transfer projects. Considering the long-term and short-term specific goals of the technology transfer process and the choice of technology in line with the company’s commercial strategy are also the critical success factors with the next priorities.

Originality/value

The combination of ARAS and step-wise weight assessment ratio analysis methods for identifying and prioritizing managerial decisions in the high-tech industries is a value of this research. Also, a combination of novel multi-attribute decision-making methods by the older framework of new product development is another contribution of this research.
The impact of inequality on mental illness: thematic analysis on clinical notes
Authors: Brenisin Kristina , Akinwande Elizabeth , Trumm Aile , Breen Kieran
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The concept of inequality can be described as not being treated equally to everyone else in society. While previous studies have explored the concept of inequality and its impact on mental illness, these have been primarily quantitative. The details of experiences and potential impacts of inequalities by patients prior to admission into secure care have not been investigated comprehensively using a qualitative approach, which will identify individualised factors that may contribute to the development of mental ill-health. This study aims to explore whether those with multiple disadvantages are at greater risk of developing mental illness.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative study of patients’ clinical notes upon admission to a secure in-patient facility was conducted using a thematic analytical approach to investigate the key inequalities reported by patients with mental health problems. The topic of inequality was examined by assessing the clinical notes of 21 patients who were under treatment at the time of the study.

Findings

The majority of patients experienced multiple inequalities which impacted negatively on their mental health status. Three main themes that were identified were – a disrupted living environment, disturbed childhood and the importance of support. The thematic analysis has shown that the majority of the patients were exposed to numerous societal disadvantages in association with challenging life events in their early years and these have impacted significantly on their subsequent well-being.

Practical implications

When assessing the background to mental illness, it is important to gain a deep understanding of many inequalities that patients have faced prior to them developing their condition and, in particular, how these have combined to initiate the clinical manifestation. The study highlights the importance of raising awareness of how being treated unfairly, whether based on protected or non-protected characteristics, can contribute towards people becoming disadvantaged in society and ultimately making them more vulnerable to the development of mental health difficulties. Results of the study may inform the future use of inequalities as an integral component in the development of trauma-informed care.

Originality/value

This is the first study, to the authors’ knowledge, to consider intersectionality and admission to mental health units by adopting qualitative approach, specifically by reviewing patients’ clinical notes.
Chromolithographed history: brands’ trade cards and the co-construction of the French “roman national” (1900s-1930s)
Authors: Galluzzo Anthony
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study how several brands like Poulain, Liebig and Guérin have helped to disseminate the French roman national through their chromolithographs at the beginning of the 20th century. By doing so, the paper highlights the participation of brands in the co-construction of the French roman national, a historical narrative that articulates state-supported collective memories.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,106 historical trade cards have been collected and analyzed. Historical studies of the roman national have been used as secondary sources to aid in the interpretation of the motifs conveyed in those chromolithographs.

Findings

Chromolithographic images produced by various brands at the beginning of the 20th century contributed to the roman national. They provide an ethnocentric, patriotic and linear view of history but are also crossed by political fault lines, opposing secular and Catholic visions of history.

Originality/value

The chromolithographs produced and disseminated by companies have so far only been analyzed as promotional tools, aimed at popularizing brands and stores. By studying roman national motifs, this paper helps us understand what role businesses have played in building other narratives and forging a national spirit.
“Racing” to the IBOR transition finish line
Authors: Forrester J. Paul , Miller Mary Jo N.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Summarize and review the key developments during the first three-quarters of 2021 relating to transition of the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR) to alternative risk-free rates, in accordance with the guidance of global regulators and market participants.

Design/methodology/approach

Outlines and explains four key events to date during 2021 that are instrumental to the success of LIBOR transition, including the ISDA 2020 IBOR Protocol and Supplement, the 5 March 2021 announcements by ICE Benchmark Administration and the Financial Conduct Authority, the transition of interdealer swap conventions from LIBOR to SOFR, and the ARRC endorsement of the CME Group SOFR term rate.

Findings

The global adherence to the ISDA Protocol and Supplement, the successful launch of “SOFR First” and other “RFR First” swaps convention transitions, and the ARRC’s endorsement of CME’s SOFR term rate have given the market the clarity and tools that it needs to complete the transition away from LIBOR by the deadlines fixed by the 5 March 2021 benchmark transition event.

Practical implications

It now is clear that market participants globally have the resources to, and must, move to adopt alternative reference rates and related operational systems and other infrastructure to cease origination of new LIBOR-linked contracts after 31 December 2021. The ARRC’s endorsement of the SOFR term rate for business loans and related derivatives and securitizations is a critical positive development for the structured finance market.

Originality/value

Expert analysis and guidance from experienced finance lawyers.
Strategic transformation tosustilience: learning from COVID-19
Authors: Grant John , Wunder Thomas
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The authors seek to stimulate and strengthen learning for both institutional and corporate leadership to transform society toward sustainability and resilience. The authors use sustainability in the broader socioecological sense, rather than meaning merely financial survival. Based upon experiences by various parties in dealing with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or (C-19) during 2020 and into 2021, we are all driven to ask, “Which lessons shall we learn?”

Design/methodology/approach

Based upon a brief review of environmental and management literature, the authors compare experiences with C-19 and those of socio-ecological sustainability to-date and distill both sources for optimism as well as pessimism in the face of technical and socio-political challenges.

Findings

Historical experiences are not particularly encouraging, but there are many opportunities for great improvements if institutional and corporate leaders choose to learn from both C-19 experiences and earlier efforts toward sustainability.

Practical implications

Procrastination by major industrialized economies in not taking major positive actions to control and reduce carbon pollution and other environmental damage is leading to human crises–hunger and thirst followed by migration, conflicts and healthcare system collapses. Organizational executives need to develop flexibility and embrace precautionary principles regarding many stakeholders if humanity is going to have a good chance of flourishing in the future.

Originality/value

The authors adapt the “wedding cake” model of Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and their relationships to the concept of “dynamic materiality” in both an organizational as well as a macro perspective. In addition, the authors introduce the wordsustilienceto describe an organization's combined ability to achieve “sustainability” through relatively stable conditions as well as the “resilience” to rebound after major external shocks.
Information technologies and seaport operational efficiency
Authors: Adabere Sandra , Owusu Kwateng Kwame , Dzidzah Esther , Kamewor Francis Tetteh
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The introduction of information technology (IT) in port operations has been a tremendous contributor to transformation in world trade. This study was carried out to examine the influence of IT on the efficiency of seaport operations.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is quantitative in nature, and it relied on a closed-ended self-administered questionnaire to collect primary data. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the theoretical model and hypothesis.

Findings

The results indicate that IT has a positive direct effect on port operational efficiency (OE) and an indirect effect on port OE through organizational culture (OC). The mediating role of OC is statistically insignificant.

Originality/value

This is among the first few attempts in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) that provides researchers with a contemporary view of IT and seaport operations.
Emerging insights into the immunological aspects of keloids
Authors: Yu Yangyiyi , Wu Haijing , Zhang Qing , Ogawa Rei , Fu Siqi
Published: September 2021

A special kind of scar, keloid, sometimes grows huge, disturbing patients in different ways. We discussed the pathogenesis of keloids and found researches about fibroblasts and collagen disorders, with little emphasis on immunity. Coupled with few effective treatments in keloid at present, we have focused on the immunological mechanisms of keloids with an aim to unravel some new therapeutic approaches in the future. In this review, the immunological processes are separately illustrated by the classification of different immune cells. In addition, we also discuss possible reasons for the repeated recurrence of keloids, the phenomenon of cell talks, and inflammation‐related signal pathways involved in the pathogenesis of keloids.
Kawasaki disease in adolescence and adulthood: Report of four cases
Authors: Sakai Hiroyuki , Minami‐Hori Masako , Shimamura Tomoe , Kanno Kyoko
Published: September 2021

Kawasaki disease (KD) in adolescence and adulthood is often underrecognized, because KD predominantly affects infants and young children below the age of 5 years. We report four cases of KD in patients 16–32 years of age. The first department that the patients visited was the Department of Otolaryngology, Obstetrics, or General Internal Medicine. Since KD almost always develops as cutaneous and mucosal manifestations, dermatologists have a particularly significant role in diagnosing KD in adolescents and adults. KD should be kept in mind for febrile patients of any age group presenting with exanthem.
Experimentally decomposing phytoplankton community change into ecological and evolutionary contributions
Authors: Hattich Giannina S. I. , Listmann Luisa , Govaert Lynn , Pansch Christian , Reusch Thorsten B. H. , Matthiessen Birte
Published: September 2021

Shifts in microbial communities and their functioning in response to environmental change result from contemporary interspecific and intraspecific diversity changes. Interspecific changes are driven by ecological shifts in species composition, while intraspecific changes are here assumed to be dominated by evolutionary shifts in genotype frequency. Quantifying the relative contributions of interspecific and intraspecific diversity shifts to community change thus addresses the essential, yet understudied question as to how important ecological and evolutionary contributions are to total community changes. This debate is to date practically constrained by (a) a lack of studies integrating across organizational levels and (b) a mismatch between data requirements of existing partitioning metrics and the feasibility to collect such data, especially in microscopic organisms like phytoplankton.

We experimentally assessed the relative ecological and evolutionary contributions to total phytoplankton community changes using a new design and validated its functionality by comparisons to established partitioning metrics. We used a community of coexisting Emiliania huxleyi and Chaetoceros affinis with initially nine genotypes each. First, we exposed the community to elevated CO2 concentration for 80 days (~50 generations) to induce interspecific and intraspecific diversity changes and a total abundance change. Second, we independently manipulated the induced interspecific and intraspecific diversity changes in an assay to quantify the corresponding ecological and evolutionary contributions to the total change. Third, we applied existing partitioning metrics to our experimental data and compared the outcomes.

Total phytoplankton abundance declined to one‐fifth in the high CO2 exposed community compared to ambient conditions. Consistently across all applied partitioning metrics, the abundance decline could predominantly be explained by ecological shifts and to a low extent by evolutionary changes.

We discuss potential consequences of the observed community changes on ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, we explain that the low evolutionary contributions likely resulted of intraspecific diversity changes that occurred irrespectively of CO2. We discuss how the assay could be upscaled to more realistic settings, including more species and drivers. Overall, the presented calculations of eco‐evolutionary contributions to phytoplankton community changes constitute another important step towards understanding future phytoplankton shifts, and eco‐evolutionary dynamics in general.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Who takes the hit? Gender differences in employment outcomes after disasters
Authors: Wong Po Yin
Published: September 2021

We estimate the individual labor market outcomes in Indonesia using historical data to isolate the plausibly exogenous variation in local labor market conditions due to unexpected natural hazards. We find that men substitute labor away when there are more unanticipated disasters while women work more. These gender differences in employment elasticities are heterogeneous by land ownership and education. Results imply that policies targeting women, including more flexible workplace arrangements and incentives to finishing secondary school, may be necessary to allow women to substitute away from work when the gains from participation are low.
Factors that contribute to the cognitive impairment in elderly dialysis patients
Authors: Zhu Jun‐Jie , Chen Yang‐Jin , Chen Ling‐Ling , Zhao Li‐Jun , Zhou Ping
Published: September 2021

Aim

To evaluate the cognitive function in dialysis patients over 60 years old and identify the contributing factors.

Methods

A group of elderly dialysis patients in the Department of Nephrology, Pan'an People's Hospital between March 2015 and June 2018 were chosen as the subjects for this study. Patients were divided into two groups, those with cognitive impairment and those with normal cognitive function. Results of their Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Digit Span subtest (WDMS), and Stanford Diagnostic Math Test (SDMT) were reviewed and analyzed.

Results

Among the 110 elderly dialysis patients, 75 patients (68.18%) showed different levels of damage to their cognitive function. Their assessment scores on MoCA (total), MoCA subtests: visuospatial/executive, naming, attention, language, delayed recall, abstraction and orientation, COWAT (total), COWAT1, COWAT2, COWAT3, WMDS‐Backward, and SDMT are significantly lower than patients with normal cognitive abilities (p < 0.05). Further analysis showed that the highest percentage (72.00%) of patients had impairment with visuospatial/executive function; and, of the 75 cognitive impaired patients, 37.33% showed cognitive damage in two MoCA subtests simultaneously. Patients with and without cognitive impairment showed a significant (p < 0.05) difference on factors including age, education level, employment status, financial situation, dialysis vintage, serum albumin, and hemoglobin.

Conclusion

Elderly patients on dialysis have a higher risk of becoming cognitive impaired. The cognitive impairment in elderly dialysis patients was significantly associated with age, dialysis vintage, and levels of serum albumin and hemoglobin.
Gratitude and indebtedness: Associations with personality traits and life satisfaction in South Korea
Authors: Kim Joo Hyun , Lim JungHa
Published: September 2021

Gratitude and indebtedness are predominant emotional and cognitive responses that occur after receiving benefits from others. There is ambiguity as to whether these two emotions are distinct in interdependence‐oriented cultures. To investigate whether gratitude and indebtedness are distinct emotions in South Korea, we examined the relationship between gratitude and indebtedness and the associations between these emotions and personality traits. Further, we examined the relationships of gratitude and indebtedness with life satisfaction. The sample of 294 college students aged 18 to 27 years participated in the study. Data were collected using self‐report questionnaires. Results showed that there was no systematic relation between gratitude and indebtedness. The two emotions demonstrated contrasting associations with the Big Five personality traits. That is, gratitude was positively linked to agreeableness, extraversion, and openness, but negatively linked to conscientiousness and neuroticism. Conversely, indebtedness was positively linked to conscientiousness and neuroticism. Furthermore, gratitude and indebtedness demonstrated different associations with life satisfaction. Gratitude, but not indebtedness, explained life satisfaction after controlling for personality traits. These findings suggest that gratitude and indebtedness are distinct emotions in South Korea. We discussed gratitude and indebtedness as distinct emotions in an interdependence‐oriented Korean context with previous findings of different cultural contexts.
“Even if the Chinese Grow Wings and Fly”: Recasting Martial Arts in a Tanzanian Karate Dojo
Authors: Rafiq (he/him) Mohamed Yunus , Sheridan (he/him) Derek
Published: September 2021

In a Tanzanian seaside dojo, Sempai Ali Issa Hassan, a Swahili martial artist, filmmaker, and healer, offers an alternative history claiming the East Asian martial arts originate in the Afro‐Islamic world. Starting from his reaction to a visit by a Chinese Shaolin master, we trace the contours of our experience making sense of claims which both challenge and recast assumptions about Afro‐Asian cultural exchange.
Professional traders’ individual and social preferences under risk: Does group's wealth matter?
Authors: Caferra Rocco , Morone Andrea , Morone Piergiuseppe , Storelli Paolo
Published: September 2021

We studied whether professional traders’ risk attitudes varied according to social context. To this extent, we examined whether the level of wealth in the relevant group influenced traders’ risky decisions. The results showed that risk aversion decreased with increased income/wealth conditions in the group context.
Baroque Modernity in Latin America: Situating Indigeneity, Urban Indigeneity and the Popular Economy
Authors: McNelly Angus
Published: September 2021

This article uses the Bolivian city of El Alto as a lens through which to evaluate the place of urban indigeneity and the popular economy within Latin American modernity. Whilst some express worries over the erosion of indigenous ways of life and others see urban indigenous practices as defying capitalist modernity, I argue that these emergent forms of indigeneity need to be understood as part of the complex, particular historical articulation of modernity in Latin America. Here, colonialism and uneven capitalist development have imbued modernity with a baroque character, containing multiple temporalities and contradictory societal forms, including that of urban indigeneity.
Diverse Articulations of Urban Indigeneity among Lowland Indigenous Groups in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Authors: Horn Philipp
Published: September 2021

This article contrasts politico‐legal understandings of indigeneity to the lived experiences of urban residents in Santa Cruz (Bolivia) who belong to distinct lowland indigenous groups and whose specific demands are often not addressed by government authorities. It also critically examines power relations and patterns of exclusion within urban indigenous communities. The findings offer insights on the multiple, and at times conflicting, experiences of distinct urban indigenous residents. They also highlight the need to consider alternative indigenous struggles which confront unjust government practices that reproduce social exclusion and coloniality, but also problematise patriarchal relations and gerontocracy among urban indigenous groups.
Neither Natives nor Nationals in Brazil: The ‘Indianisation’ of Bolivian Migrants in the City of São Paulo
Authors: Ikemura Amaral Aiko
Published: September 2021

Bolivian migrants in Brazil are commonly categorised as ‘indians’ who are ‘enslaved’ in São Paulo's garment industry. Simultaneously, self‐identified indigenous peoples in Brazilian urban centres are constantly challenged as to the authenticity of their claims to indigeneity. This article explores the racialisation of migrants based on an ethnography of two Bolivian street markets in São Paulo, as social and spatial mobilities articulate race and class hierarchies. It proposes that such racialisation is entrenched in colonial socio‐spatial hierarchies that continue to represent indigenous peoples as excluded from humanity, modernity and the city, reinforcing their subaltern insertion in the labour market.
Cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations between subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry fat mass
Authors: Green Jacob J. , Smith Robert W. , Stratton Matthew T. , Harty Patrick S. , Rodriguez Christian , Siedler Madelin R. , White Sarah J. , Williams Abegale D. , Dellinger Jacob R. , Keith Dale S. , Boykin Jake R. , Tinsley Grant M.
Published: September 2021

The present study examined cross‐sectional and longitudinal relationships between total and segmental subcutaneous tissue thicknesses from ultrasonography (US) and total and segmental fat mass (FM) estimates from dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Traditional US FM estimates were also examined. Twenty resistance‐trained males (mean ± SD; age: 22.0 ± 2.6 years; body mass: 74.8 ± 11.5 kg; DXA fat: 17.5 ± 4.5%) completed a 6‐week supervised resistance training programme while consuming a hypercaloric diet. Pre‐ and post‐intervention body composition was assessed by DXA and B‐mode US. Data were analysed using Pearson's correlation (r), Lin's correlation coefficient (CCC), paired t‐tests, Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests and Bland–Altman analysis, as appropriate. Cross‐sectionally, correlations were observed between total DXA FM and total subcutaneous tissue thickness (r = 0.88). Longitudinally, a correlation was observed between total DXA FM changes and total subcutaneous tissue changes (r = 0.49, CCC = 0.38). Correlations of similar magnitudes were observed for the upper body and trunk estimates, but DXA FM changes were unrelated to subcutaneous tissue changes for the lower body and arms. Cross‐sectionally, US 2‐compartment FM and DXA FM were correlated (r = 0.91, CCC = 0.83). Longitudinally, a weaker correlation was observed (r = 0.47, CCC = 0.33). In summary, longitudinal associations between US and DXA are weaker than cross‐sectional relationships; additionally, correlations between US subcutaneous tissue and whole‐body DXA FM appear to be driven by the trunk region rather than appendages. Reporting raw skinfold thicknesses rather than FM estimates alone may improve the utility of techniques based on subcutaneous tissue thickness, such as US and skinfolds.
Respiratory muscle weakness and its association with exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: de Souza Yves , Suzana Maria Eduarda , Medeiros Stefany , Macedo Joseane , da Costa Cláudia Henrique
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Although COPD patients commonly present respiratory complaints despite pharmacological treatment, dyspnea does not correlate directly and linearly with spirometric data, a fact that makes it difficult to select patients for pulmonary rehabilitation. Thus, seems logical that the measurement of respiratory muscle strength could help in this initial assessment if it presents a good correlation with exercise capacity. The aim of this study is to assess whether patients with muscle weakness, characterized as a reduction in maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) below 70% of predicted value, have a good relationship between the assessed respiratory muscle strength and the exercise capacity measured by the 6‐min walk test (6MWT) in patients with COPD.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with COPD according to the 2019 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) on regular use of their medications, without exacerbations for 3 months or more and with respiratory muscle weakness (PImax < 70% of predicted) performed 6MWT in a 30‐m‐long flat corridor.

Results

Data from 81 patients were analyzed. There was a strong correlation between the distance of the 6MWD with the PImax (r = 0.764, p < 0.0001). When separating the sample by the 350‐m cut in the 6MWD, we found that the patients with the worst performance in the test are those who present the greatest respiratory muscle weakness.

Conclusion

PImax correlates well with exercise capacity, and patients with respiratory muscle weakness could be referred to a pulmonary rehabilitation protocol tied to inspiratory muscle training.
Management of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: Urgent versus early endoscopy
Authors: Lau James Yun Wong
Published: September 2021

For decades, timing of endoscopy has been a controversy in the management of patients who present with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). The advent of endoscopic hemostatic therapy led to reduced further bleeding, surgery and mortality. Observational studies suggest that in patients at low risk of further bleeding, early endoscopy establishes diagnosis and allows their prompt hospital discharge. In the high‐risk patients, early endoscopy with hemostatic treatment can stop bleeding and improve outcomes. Sample size in early randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was small. They included low‐risk patients or patients with poorly defined risks. We designed a RCT to test the hypothesis that in high‐risk patients (defined by those with an admission Glasgow Blatchford Score of 12 or greater), endoscopy within 6 h of gastrointestinal consultation, when compared to the standard of care i.e. endoscopy within 24 h, would improve outcomes. The primary outcomes, all‐cause mortality at 30 days did not differ between groups; 23 of 258 (8.9%) in the urgent‐endoscopy group and 17 of 258 (6.6%) in the early‐endoscopy group died (difference 2.3%, 95% confidence interval −2.3 to 6.9%). Further bleeding was similar (10.9% vs. 7.8%) between groups. A higher rate in endoscopic hemostatic treatment was observed in the urgent‐endoscopy group (60.1% vs. 48.4%). In patients with peptic ulcers, active bleeding or visible vessels were found on initial endoscopy in 105 of the 158 patients (66.4%) and in 76 of 159 (47.8%) in the respective group. In the majority of patients with GIB, endoscopy earlier than 24 h is not indicated.