bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioaugmentation strategies based on bacterial and methanogenic cultures to relieve stress in anaerobic digestion of protein-rich substrates
Authors: Agostini Sara , Bucci Luca , Doni Davide , Costantini Paola , Gupte Ameya , Müller Bettina , Sibilla Fabrizio , Basaglia Marina , Casella Sergio , Kougias Panagiotis G. , Campanaro Stefano , Favaro Lorenzo , Treu Laura
Published: December 2023

Anaerobic co-digestion of protein-rich substrates is a prominent strategy for converting valuable feedstocks into methane, but it releases ammonia, which can inhibit methanogenesis. This study developed a cutting-edge combined culturomic and metagenomic approach to investigate the microbial composition of an ammonia-tolerant biogas plant. Newly-isolated microorganisms were used for bioaugmentation of stressed batch reactors fed with casein, maize silage and their combination. A co-culture enriched with proteolytic bacteria was isolated, selected and compared with the proteolytic collection strainPseudomonas lundensisDSM6252. The co-culture andP. lundensiswere combined with the ammonia-resistant archaeonMethanoculleus bourgensisMS2 to boost process stability. A microbial population pre-adapted to casein was also tested for evaluating the digestion of protein-rich feedstock. The promising results suggest combining proteolytic bacteria andM. bourgensiscould exploit microbial co-cultures to improve anaerobic digestion stability and ensure stable productivity even under the harshest of ammonia conditions.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

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High ammonia release from protein-rich substrates inhibits anaerobic digestion

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Newly isolated bacterial strains from anaerobic digester were obtained

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Proper bioaugmentation alleviates stress in casein and maize silage co-digestion

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Bioaugmentation with a hydrolytic/hydrogenotrophic co-culture enhances CH4yields
An improved dynamic model identification method for small unmanned helicopter
Authors: Zhou Jian , Liu Shuyu , Lu Jian , Liu Xinyu
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce an improved system identification method for small unmanned helicopters combining adaptive ant colony optimization algorithm and Levy’s method and to solve the problem of low model prediction accuracy caused by low-frequency domain curve fitting in the small unmanned helicopter frequency domain parameter identification method.

Design/methodology/approach

This method uses the Levy method to obtain the initial parameters of the fitting model, uses the global optimization characteristics of the adaptive ant colony algorithm and the advantages of avoiding the “premature” phenomenon to optimize the initial parameters and finally obtains a small unmanned helicopter through computational optimization Kinetic models under lateral channel and longitudinal channel.

Findings

The algorithm is verified by flight test data. The verification results show that the established dynamic model has high identification accuracy and can accurately reflect the dynamic characteristics of small unmanned helicopter flight.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel and improved frequency domain identification method for small unmanned helicopters. Compared with the conventional method, this method improves the identification accuracy and reduces the identification error.
Wastewater treatment plant site selection using GIS and multicriteria decision analysis
Authors: Awawdeh Muheeb , Al-Rousan Zaid , Alkaraki Khaled
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Cesspits are the means for each house to dispose of wastewater in the Bani Kinanah District (BKD) of Jordan, which creates severe environmental complications. This research aimed to find a suitable site for a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in BKD.

Design/methodology/approach

Geographic Information System (GIS)-based multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) was used for an optimal site selection for a sewage treatment plant. Several datasets were obtained to prepare the maps of the criteria influencing the choice of the most suitable site for the WWTP. The analytic hierarchy process was used to apply the weights for each factor.

Findings

Five classes of suitability were generated: 0.23% very high suitability, 8.49% high suitability, 47.12% moderate suitability, 37.67% low suitability and 6.49% very low suitability. According to Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) results, the elevations, slope and groundwater depth have high importance; where their weights 21%, 19% and 17%, respectively. The most suitable site for establishing a WWTP was found in the northern part of the study area, where it is characterized by relatively low elevations (−90 to −93 m), low slope (0–2.5 %), distance from groundwater level (47–82 m) and the space is sufficient for building the plant (25328 m2, 8861 m2 and 8586 m2).

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited by the availability of data.

Practical implications

The research is invaluable for decision makers involved in urban planning.

Social implications

Wastewater treatment plants are essential for communities with limited resources such as Jordan. It has also profound impacts on the surrounding environment.

Originality/value

From the present study, it can be concluded that GIS is essential in urban utility establishment, like urban domestic wastewater treatment site selection. Although the study area has adequate potential areas for establishing WWTP, further assessment of flood vulnerability, wastewater amount quantification, population growth and urban expansion must be seriously considered before implementation.
The political economy explanation of the logic of China’s “two miracles”
Authors: Ren Baoping
Published: December 2023

Purpose

During the Communist Party of China's endeavors over the past century, China has created “two miracles,” namely, large-scale and rapid economic development and long-term social stability.

Design/methodology/approach

The causes for China's achieving the “two miracles” lie in the adherence to the Party's leadership as the political guarantee, the scientific theoretical guidance as the ideological guarantee, the socialist system as well as the national governance system as the institutional guarantee and giving full play of people's creativity under the Party's leadership as the driving force guarantee.

Findings

From a political economy point of view, the theoretical logic behind the creation of the “two miracles” is that the combination of the state capacity and the scaling up of markets under the Party's leadership contributes to the rapid economic development and further the long-term social stability based on the financial foundation laid by rapid economic development. The historical experience of the “Two Miracles” can be summed up as the cultivation of state capacity under the leadership of the Party, the synergy and complementarity between the central government and local governments, the combination of development planning and market mechanisms, and the coordination of selective, functional and inclusive industrial policies.

Originality/value

It is necessary to judge future development trends from a medium and long-term development perspective, further promote the co-evolution of the state and the market, reshape the growth regime for high-quality development, fully tap the potential of domestic demand and create a “people-centered” economic development model so as to continue the “two miracles” and achieve a miracle of high-quality development in the second century.
Does empowering leadership enhance employee agility? A serial mediation model
Authors: Naim Mohammad Faraz , Sahai Shikha , Elembilassery Varun
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Organizational success in a dynamic environment demands leadership and agility. The extant literature on employee agility needs more empirical evidence and appropriate theoretical explanations. This study aims to contribute to the literature by bringing empirical evidence to understand the intervening mechanisms through which empowering leadership influences employee agility and to suggest alternate theoretical explanations.

Design/methodology/approach

The mediating role of knowledge-sharing behavior and psychological safety is examined using quantitative data from a sample of 924 employees working in India's information technology industry.

Findings

Findings reveal that empowering leadership contributes to psychological safety at the workplace, promoting employees' knowledge-sharing behavior and leading to employee agility. The findings are globally relevant and theoretically consistent.

Research limitations/implications

The phenomenon is explained in two ways. Firstly, by combining the structural empowerment and motivation perspectives, and secondly, by combining the conservation of resources and social exchange perspectives.

Practical implications

The findings imply that psychological safety and knowledge-sharing behavior can be used as leading indicators to prepare the organization for success in a dynamic and volatile environment.

Originality/value

This study is one of the earliest attempts to explain the mediating mechanism between empowering leadership and employee agility using serial multiple mediations. Further, this study combines different theoretical perspectives to present the findings more logically.
Green manufacturing practices and SMEs’ sustainable performance: a moderated mediation mechanisms of green innovation and managerial discretion
Authors: Omar Adel , Al-shari Alaa , Shah Syed Haider Ali , Erkol Bayram Gül , Zameer Rahman Eman , Valeri Marco
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Drawing on the resource-based view, ecological modernization theory and upper-echelon theory, this study aims to explore how green manufacturing practices (GMGP) affect the sustainable performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

It also examines the mediating role of green innovation (GIN) and the moderating role of managerial discretion (MD). To test the hypothesized model, the data was collected from 394 manufacturing SMEs though survey and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS (SEM).

Findings

The results provide evidence for the positive relationship between GMGP and corporate sustainable performance (CSPR), mediated by GIN. Furthermore, the presence of MD enhances the positive effect of GMGP on CSPR through GIN. Thus, this study enhances the understanding of the relationship between GMGP and CSPR, including its underlying mechanism and conditional effects.

Research limitations/implications

This study collected sample from SMEs located in Punjab province of Pakistan which represents majority of the SMEs; however, future research can take data from other province and with large sample size.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the significance of GMGP and GIN in the manufacturing sector for attaining CSPR goals. GMGP guides business leaders to be more inclined toward the energy and resource consumption as well as waste generation within their organizations which lead to improved CSPR outcomes.

Originality/value

The findings of this study make significant contributions to the existing literature, shedding light on the dynamics between GMGP and CSPR. Moreover, the study offers managerial implications for organizations aiming to enhance their sustainable performance by implementing effective GMGP.
Sustaining the sisterhood: Soul Sisters Pakistan (SSP)
Authors: Taimoor Sadaf , Abbas Javaria , Tariq Beenish
Published: December 2023

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this case study are to understand and apply the PESTLE framework with a special focus on sociocultural nuances of a conservative society, appreciate the role of innovation and effective leadership in the success of entrepreneurial ventures, understand the bricolage theory to critically evaluate the role of entrepreneurs as agents of social change and develop monetization strategies for digital start-ups and recommend strategies that would help social enterprises to strike the right balance between their social aspirations and commercial goals.

Case overview/synopsis

In March 2020, Kanwal Ahmed, founder of the much-lauded Facebook group Soul Sisters Pakistan (SSP), was posed with a critical situation. SSP’s first face-to-face member meetup, which had been hyped up by Pakistanis residing in Canada for months, had to be called off due to the advent of COVID-19. What worried Ahmed was not just the immediate impact of the postponement; rather, she was more concerned about how her social enterprise would sustain in the longer run. The new normal had changed the way businesses operated; tried and tested revenue generation strategies of SSP would neither be feasible in a COVID-stricken world nor reap the same results. Ahmed knew that her social enterprise could have a far-reaching impact in a pandemic-stricken world. However, she was unsure about how to monetize her business model so as to ensure steady revenue generation streams that would keep the enterprise afloat. Ahmed knew that the clock was ticking, and she had to act quickly and think of ways to ensure SSP’s long-term sustenance.

Complexity academic level

This case study is suitable for undergraduate students enrolled in courses of entrepreneurship and strategy.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.
SDG editorial: improving life on planet earth – a call to action for service research to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Authors: Russell-Bennett Rebekah , Rosenbaum Mark Scott , Fisk Raymond P. , Raciti Maria M.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This editorial aims to organise the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into seven ServCollab service research themes to provide a way forward for service research that improves human and planetary life.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual approach is used that draws on observations from the scholarly experience of the editors.

Findings

This editorial offers seven research themes for service researchers: services that enable the WELL-BEING of the human species; services that provide OPPORTUNITY for all humans; services that manage RESOURCES for all humans; ECONOMIC services for work and growth for all humans; services from INSTITUTIONS that offer fair and sustainable living for all humans; service ecosystems with the PLANET; and COLLABORATION services for sustainable development partnerships.

Practical implications

Service scholars are urged to pursue collaborative research that reduces suffering, improves well-being and enables well-becoming for the sustainability and prosperity of Planet Earth.

Originality/value

This editorial provides service scholars with a new framework synthesising the SDGs into research themes that help focus further service research.
China's soft power projection through the Chinese media: assessing the implications of Chinese media on Africans' perception of China's national image
Authors: Kimaiyo Gideon
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This article examines the effect of China's soft power projection through the Chinese media in Africa on the African audiences' perception of China's national image through a case study of the residents of Nairobi. It adopted Joseph Nye's soft power model and sought to address three fundamental questions : What is the extent and objective of China's media diplomacy in Africa? How has China's media “offensive” in Africa impacted African audiences' imagery of China? What are the implications, if any, of China's media diplomacy on the Kenyan public view of China?

Design/methodology/approach

This article used a mixed-methods research design, which deployed elements of positivism and interpretivism. It used a deductive approach and deployed the survey strategy, which entailed the collection of data from Nairobi city residents. The secondary data were collected from relevant academic literature sources. The primary data were analyzed empirically using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), while the secondary data were analyzed using discourse analysis.

Findings

China's soft power projection through the Chinese media in Africa is aimed at addressing the “misinformation” about China. China seeks its share of representation among the African public to correct negative perceptions of China. Kenyans had a generally positive attitude toward China. South Africa and Angola have “Fairly” positive perceptions of the Chinese media. However, this study did not reveal whether the perception was due to the influence of Chinese media. These findings implied that the African public's positive imagery of China cannot be fully attributed to Chinese media's influence.

Originality/value

This study is groundbreaking in that it is one of the few studies that have focused on China's public diplomacy in Africa and assessed the impact of Chinese media on the African public’s perception of China.
Effet global du genre dans le développement des chaînes de valeur mondiales dans le contexte africain
Authors: Baita Kossi Edem , Wonyra Kwami Ossadzifo
Published: December 2023

Cette étude examine l'effet global du genre dans le développement des chaînes de valeur mondiales (CVM) dans le contexte africain. Elle exploite la base de données de la CNUCED pour mesurer l'implication des femmes dans les chaînes de valeur mondiales à l'aide d'indices de participation des CVM à travers des données de panel des pays africains de 2000 à 2018. Les résultats montrent que le taux d'activité des femmes impacte positivement la position relative dans les chaînes mondiales de valeur en Afrique. A la lumière de ces résultats, il ressort qu'il faut encourager les politiques publiques visant une meilleure participation des femmes dans les chaines de valeur afin de favoriser la relance des économies africaines. De même, avec l'avènement de la ZLECAf, il ressort la nécessité de soutenir le commerce intra‐africain à travers une meilleure organisation des chaînes de valeur régionales et continentales grâce aux politiques visant la réduction des coûts commerciaux.
Optimizing UVC‐LED application to improve the shelf life of vacuum‐packed refrigerated stored Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets
Authors: Monteiro Maria Lúcia Guerra , Torres Neto Luiz , Mutz Yhan da Silva , Silva Carolina Ramos da , Conte‐Junior Carlos Adam
Published: December 2023

Although ultraviolet‐C light‐emitting diode (UVC‐LED) has proven antimicrobial effectiveness doses needed to reach it cause adverse effects on the physicochemical quality of fish, and thus, optimization studies are crucial to boost its industrial application. This study aimed to identify optimal UVC‐LED conditions for maximum shelf life extension with the least possible quality changes of refrigerated stored tilapia fillets from a central composite rotatable design (CCRD). UVC‐LED powers (1, 1.38, and 1.58 mW/cm2) and times (500, 1800, and 2700 s) were set on the CCRD, which generated 11 treatments, including three replicate experiments. Treatments were analyzed for total aerobic psychrotrophic count, lipid oxidation, instrumental color, and texture parameters on days 0, 2, 4, 7, 11, and 14. The UVC‐LED affected shelf life and physicochemical parameters in a nonlinear fashion. UVC‐LED‐treated fish had increased shelf life by 2.80–4.76 days and increase or decrease in lipid oxidation (0.025–0.276 mg of malondialdehyde [MDA]/kg), total color change (∆E = 3.47–9.06), and hardness (1.31–8.51 N) over the refrigerated storage depending on specific UVC‐LED conditions applied. The optimal UVC‐LED condition was 0.97 mW/cm2 with 2503.6 s (2428.50 mJ/cm2), which increased the fillet's shelf life by 2.5‐fold (2 days) while maintaining quality closer to the original throughout refrigerated storage, resulting in ∆E < 5, an increase of only 0.05 mg of MDA/kg, and preservation of the decrease in hardness by 3.38 N compared to its control counterparts. Therefore, it represents an eco‐friendly technology that can easily scaled industrially to enhance the sustainable fish production chain.

Practical Application

The high fish perishability is a global concern due to food safety risks and waste generation impacting the environment adversely, especially nowadays, where fish production and consumption have increased, and there are more evident efforts to sustainable production. UVC‐LED is an eco‐friendly technology with proven antimicrobial effectiveness but doses needed to reach this effect enhance oxidative degradation. Despite that, optimization studies concerning the maximum shelf life extension while retaining the physicochemical quality of refrigerated stored fish are a gap in the literature and a barrier to its industrial application. Our findings are helpful in sustainably enhancing the fish production chain.
Antirheumatic drugs and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A nationwide, population‐based cohort study
Authors: Meng Chia‐Chu , Chen Der‐Yuan , Chen Yi‐Hsing , Huang Wen‐Nan , Chen Hsin‐Hua
Published: December 2023

Objectives

To assess the association between antirheumatic drugs and of the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a nationwide rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cohort.

Methods

Using claim data from the 2000–2020 National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 21 457 incident patients with RA from 2002 to 2020 without prior liver diseases. A time‐varying multivariable Cox regression model was applied to estimate for the association of NAFLD with the use of antirheumatic drugs after adjusting potential confounders, show as adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence interval (CIs). Subgroup analyses were conducted based on age‐, sex‐, and obesity‐related comorbidities.

Results

Multivariable time‐dependent Cox regression analyses showed that defined daily dose (DDD) of NSAID (aHR, 1.03; 95% CI: 1.02–1.05) and prednisolone equivalent dose >5 mg/day (aHR, 2.39; 95% CI: 1.85–3.09) were risk factors of NAFLD in patients with RA, while prednisolone equivalent dose ≤5 mg/day (aHR of 0.53; 95% CI: 0.40–0.71) and HCQ use (aHR of 0.75; 95% CI: 0.60–0.93) were associated with a decreased risk of NAFLD. In addition, a history of hospitalizations, number of outpatient visits, age, male, and leflunomide use were associated with the development of NAFLD in some subgroups.

Conclusion

This study reveals that NSAID use and prednisolone equivalent dose >5 mg/day were associated with an increased risk of NAFLD in patients with RA, while the use of HCQ and prednisolone equivalent dose ≤5 mg/day decreased the risk of NAFLD.
Lethality of pesticides on immature and adult stages of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Salustino Angélica da Silva , Ribeiro Lylian Souto , Morais Marília de Macêdo Duarte , Abreu Khyson Gomes , de Oliveira Filho Manoel Cicero , de Sousa Nayana Rodrigues , de Brito Carlos Henrique , Malaquias José Bruno
Published: December 2023

The species Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann, 1824), known as Mediterranean fruit fly, is an important pest for fruit trees worldwide. The control of this pest is carried out mainly by the chemical method, using organophosphorus, pyrethroid, and spinosyn pesticides. The lethality of doses of malathion, deltamethrin, and spinetoram on immature and adult stages of C. capitata was evaluated under laboratory conditions. The egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages were exposed to doses of pesticides through contact and ingestion. The doses were obtained by decreasing the recommended doses (malathion: 200 mL L−1, deltamethrin: 50 mL L−1, and spinetoram: 120 g ha−1) with intervals of 20%, this being the minimum dose used. The variables evaluated were: viability of eggs and pupae and mortality of larvae and adults. Application of spinetoram and malathion through contact caused high mortality of adults, with LD90 at the sub‐doses of 43.74% (52.48 g c.p. ha−1) and 68.81% (137.62 mL c.p. 100 L−1), respectively. The mortality of adults by ingestion of deltamethrin and malathion allowed us to estimate only the LD50. Only the pesticide deltamethrin presented LD50 for the egg stage. The larval and pupal stages the effect of the pesticides on larvae treated through contact resulted in 52% mortality with spinetoram and 62% with malathion. The mortality of larvae and pupae treated through ingestion was below 20% for the three pesticides. Sub‐doses of spinetoram (43.74%; 52.48 g c.p. ha−1) and malathion (68.81%; 137.62 mL c.p. 100 L−1) can be used since they present a 90% efficiency on C. capitata adult when applied by contact under laboratory conditions.
Genome sequencing of Pakistani families with male infertility identifies deleterious genotypes in SPAG6, CCDC9, TKTL1, TUBA3C, and M1AP
Authors: Khan Muhammad Riaz , Akbari Arvand , Nicholas Thomas J. , Castillo‐Madeen Helen , Ajmal Muhammad , Haq Taqweem Ul , Laan Maris , Quinlan Aaron R. , Ahuja Jasvinder S. , Shah Aftab Ali , Conrad Donald F.
Published: December 2023

Background

There are likely to be hundreds of monogenic forms of human male infertility. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is the most efficient way to make progress in mapping the causative genetic variants, and ultimately improve clinical management of the disease in each patient. Recruitment of consanguineous families is an effective approach to ascertain the genetic forms of many diseases.

Objectives

To apply WGS to large consanguineous families with likely hereditary male infertility and identify potential genetic cases.

Materials and methods

We recruited seven large families with clinically diagnosed male infertility from rural Pakistan, including five with a history of consanguinity. We generated WGS data on 26 individuals (3–5 per family) and analyzed the resulting data with a computational pipeline to identify potentially causal single nucleotide variants, indels, and copy number variants.

Results

We identified plausible genetic causes in five of the seven families, including a homozygous 10 kb deletion of exon 2 in a well‐established male infertility gene (M1AP), and biallelic missense substitutions (SPAG6, CCDC9, TUBA3C) and an in‐frame hemizygous deletion (TKTL1) in genes with emerging relevance.

Discussion and conclusion

The rate of genetic findings using the current approach (71%) was much higher than what we recently achieved using whole‐exome sequencing (WES) of unrelated singleton cases (20%). Furthermore, we identified a pathogenic single‐exon deletion in M1AP that would be undetectable by WES. Screening more families with WGS, especially in underrepresented populations, will further reveal the types of variants underlying male infertility and accelerate the use of genetics in the patient management.
Rational Sentence Interpretation in Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Zhan Meilin , Chen Sihan , Levy Roger , Lu Jiayi , Gibson Edward
Published: December 2023

Previous work has shown that English native speakers interpret sentences as predicted by a noisy‐channel model: They integrate both the real‐world plausibility of the meaning—the prior—and the likelihood that the intended sentence may be corrupted into the perceived sentence. In this study, we test the noisy‐channel model in Mandarin Chinese, a language taxonomically different from English. We present native Mandarin speakers sentences in a written modality (Experiment 1) and an auditory modality (Experiment 2) in three pairs of syntactic alternations. The critical materials are literally implausible but require differing numbers and types of edits in order to form more plausible sentences. Each sentence is followed by a comprehension question that allows us to infer whether the speakers interpreted the item literally, or made an inference toward a more likely meaning. Similar to previous research on related English constructions, Mandarin participants made the most inferences for implausible materials that could be inferred as plausible by deleting a single morpheme or inserting a single morpheme. Participants were less likely to infer a plausible meaning for materials that could be inferred as plausible by making an exchange across a preposition. And participants were least likely to infer a plausible meaning for materials that could be inferred as plausible by making an exchange across a main verb. Moreover, we found more inferences in written materials than spoken materials, possibly a result of a lack of word boundaries in written Chinese. Overall, the fact that the results were so similar to those found in related constructions in English suggests that the noisy‐channel proposal is robust.
The climate crisis affects Mediterranean marine molluscs of conservation concern
Authors: Schultz Lotta , Wessely Johannes , Dullinger Stefan , Albano Paolo G.
Published: December 2023

Aim

The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot of endemism and it is warming at two to three times the rate of the global ocean. The continental masses that surround it constrain species range shifts. Therefore, as seawater temperature increases, distributions of marine species may contract into few small cooler refugia, with consequent risk of extinction from range contraction and fragmentation, particularly for endemics. We assess this risk for 15 molluscs of conservation concern occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. Invertebrates have been rarely assessed so far, despite their diversity and their importance for ecosystem functioning.

Location

The Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Methods

We used ensemble species distribution models to project the future range of our target species and assess their IUCN Red List status.

Results

As hypothesized, our models predicted major range shifts, contractions and fragmentation in the Mediterranean Sea for all species. Under moderate emission scenarios such as RCP4.5, up to 12 of the 15 target species will be eradicated from the eastern and southern warmer sectors. Under severe emission scenarios such as RCP8.5 and by the end of the century, we predict the global extinction of the endemic Patella ferruginea and Pinna nobilis. Non‐endemic species may buffer range loss in the Mediterranean with range gains in the Atlantic Ocean. Still, we predict that only a single species, Zonaria pyrum, will have marginal total range gains in future climate warming scenarios.

Main conclusions

Eight species will become threatened and the fate of Patella ferruginea and Pinna nobilis contrasts the belief that marine species are less prone to extinction than continental species under a warming climate.
A qualitative study on patients' selection in the scarcity of resources in the COVID‐19 pandemic in a communal culture
Authors: Dewi Ervin Dyah Ayu Masita , Matter Lara , Susilo Astrid Pratidina , Krumeich Anja
Published: December 2023

The scarcity of resources during the COVID‐19 pandemic caused ethical dilemmas in prioritizing patients for treatment. Medical and ethical guidance only emphasizes clinical procedures but does not consider the sociocultural aspect. This study explored the perception of former COVID‐19 patients and their families on the decision‐making process of the patient's selection at a time of scarcity of resources. The result will inform the development of an ethical guide for allocating scarce resources that aligns with Indonesian culture. We conducted qualitative research with in‐depth interviews between May ‐ December 2022 involving sixteen participants from various cities in Indonesia. We transcribed the interviews and analyzed the results using thematic analysis. This study found that doctor's decisions often differed from patient's expectations in allocating scarce resources, and therefore, it should be communicated appropriately. Medical decisions were not sufficiently made ethically, but must also be made communicatively. In Indonesia's strong communal culture, community involvement was essential to distributing limited resources. A better approach to ethical education, including adequate communication skills, is necessary to prepare health professionals for facing unpredictable future pandemics.
The OPTIFAST total and partial meal replacement programme reduces cardiometabolic risk in adults with obesity: Secondary and exploratory analysis of the OPTIWIN study
Authors: Ard Jamy D. , Neeland Ian J. , Rothberg Amy E. , Chilton Robert J. , de Luis Daniel , Cohen Sarah S. , Johansen Odd Erik
Published: December 2023

Aim

The effects of weight loss with a partial or total meal replacement programme (MRP) on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk factors are not fully understood, in particular in people at higher CV risk. In the 52‐week randomized controlled OPTIWIN study in men and women with obesity, meal replacement programme (total for first 26 weeks, partial for the ensuing 26 weeks) with OPTIFAST (OP) resulted in significantly greater weight loss compared with a low‐calorie food‐based (FB) dietary plan, both as part of a comprehensive lifestyle intervention [OP (n = 135)/FB (n = 138) week 26: −12.4%/−6.0%, p < .001; week 52: −10.5%/−5.5%, p < .001]. Here, we examined effects on ASCVD risk factors and 10‐year ASCVD risk.

Materials and Methods

Participants with body mass index 30‐55 kg/m2 and age 18‐70 years, and not on anti‐obesity medications, were recruited. The effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), lipid parameters and 10‐year ASCVD risk were analysed as changes over time using linear mixed models. Subgroup analyses were conducted for changes in SBP, DBP and ASCVD risk by categories of age (<40, 40‐59, ≥60 years), baseline SBP (</≥130 mmHg) and sex.

Results

Baseline characteristics were well balanced (OP/FB females 86%/79%, mean age 47/47 years, body mass index 38.4/39.2 kg/m2, 10‐year ASCVD risk <5% 87%/74%, dysglycaemia 52%/50%). At week 26, SBP/DBP were significantly reduced with OP versus FB, and a greater proportion achieved BP ≤130/80 mmHg [odds ratio 2.11 (95% confidence interval 1.10, 4.03), p = .024]. All lipid parameters as well as 10‐year ASCVD risk were significantly improved with OP versus FB. A similar, but slightly attenuated pattern was observed at 52 weeks. Across subgroups, greater reductions for SBP, DBP and ASCVD risk were generally seen with OP versus FB with quantitatively higher baseline SBP and age, and in men.

Conclusions

In people with obesity at low ASCVD risk, OP significantly reduced cardiovascular risk factors and 10‐year predicted risk for ASCVD.
I will trade, just not today: Individual investor trading activity around birthdays
Authors: Bajo Emanuele , Randl Otto , Simion Giorgia
Published: December 2023

In this paper we provide new evidence of investor inattention by showing that personal occurrences such as birthdays are able to drive attention away from the stock market. We document that individual investors significantly reduce their trading activity in the 3 days around their birthday. The reduction in the propensity to trade is larger for more active traders, in the event of a decade birthday and when this celebrative event falls on a Friday. Results are robust to analyses focusing only on days when investor attention should be at its peak, as expressed by excess news coverage and trading volumes.
Foregrounding learner voice: Chinese international students' interpretations of strategy use during oral discourse socialization in Germany
Authors: Long Yao , Ding Yuting
Published: December 2023

Although multilingualism is becoming a more important topic of inquiry, a closer look at intercultural studies on Chinese overseas students reveals that they are inclined to contrast the learning behaviors of these students with Western learning conceptions and practices and interpret their learning ways based on Western assumptions. The study used qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate how this cohort of minoritized learners leveraged a material‐centered approach highlighting repetition, reading aloud, rote learning, and translanguaging to increase the salience and processing of the target language input. Additionally, this study performed a comparative analysis of the use frequency and interpretations of learning strategies between self‐reported successful and currently less successful students from China. The results indicate that the former cohort was more concerned with self‐directed activities in favor of input processing and the model of input‐output connection. Lastly, this highlights the importance of legitimization of their approach resource repertoire by foregrounding their interpretations of their own learning behaviors in the new academic environment.
Areas with high HIV prevalence: A spatial analysis of nationwide claims data in Germany
Authors: Akmatov M. K. , Hu E. , Rüsenberg R. , Kollan C. , Schmidt D. , Kohring C. , Holstiege J. , Bickel M. , Bätzing J.
Published: December 2023

Objective

We aimed to identify spatial clusters of high HIV prevalence in Germany.

Methods

Using nationwide outpatient claims data comprising information of about 88% of the total German population (N = 72 041 683), we examined spatial variations and spatial clusters of high HIV prevalence at the district level (N = 401). People with HIV were identified using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD‐10 codes) B20, B22, and B24 (HIV disease) documented as ‘confirmed’.

Results

Among 72 041 683 people with statutory health insurance in Germany in 2021, 72 636 had diagnosed HIV, which corresponds to a prevalence of 101 per 100 000 individuals (0.10%). Of these, 56 895 were males (78%). At a district level, the HIV prevalence varied by a factor of 32 between 13 in a rural district in Bavaria and 417 per 100 000 individuals in the German capital, Berlin. The spatial autocorrelation coefficient was 0.24 (p < 0.0001, Global Moran's I). Several high‐prevalence spatial clusters of different sizes were identified, mostly located in western Germany. The largest cluster comprised eight districts in the southern part of Hesse, including the city of Frankfurt and the city of Mainz in Rhineland‐Palatinate. The second cluster consisted of four districts in North Rhine‐Westphalia, including the cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf. Two districts in southern Germany (Mannheim and Ludwigshafen) formed the third cluster. Only urban districts were observed in spatial clusters of high HIV prevalence.

Conclusions

The current study identified for the first time spatial clusters with high HIV prevalence in Germany. This understanding is of particular importance when planning the general and specialized medical care of patients with HIV and to support preventive measures.
Emotional vulnerability and coping strategies among Turkish student teachers: A community of practice perspective
Authors: Yüce Erkan , Nazari Mostafa , Karimpour Sedigheh
Published: December 2023

Despite the growth of research on teachers’ emotional vulnerability in recent years, little research has explored this issue among student teachers. Drawing on the lens of the community of practice (CoP), in this study, we report on the emotional vulnerability and coping strategies of Turkish student teachers during a teacher education course. Data were collected before, during, and after the course using semi‐structured interviews, reflective journals, and narrative frames. Data analysis revealed that across the engagement, imagination, and alignment dimensions of the CoP, the student teachers experienced emotional vulnerability that not only influenced their present membership but also negatively shaped their future perceptions. Additionally, the student teachers adopted various personal and interpersonal coping strategies to regulate their negative emotions, which reduced the negative effects of emotional vulnerability on their CoP membership. We conclude the study with implications for teacher educators in how to use the findings to deal with student teachers’ emotional vulnerability, especially through drawing on their coping strategies.
Guide to tinted sunscreens in skin of color
Authors: Zhou Cici , Lee Claudia , Salas Jesse , Luke Janiene
Published: December 2023

Disorders of hyperpigmentation, such as melasma and post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation, disproportionately affect skin of color and have a profound impact on quality of life. Exposure to ultraviolet light (UVL) is a well‐documented factor in these disorders. However, recent studies show that visible light (VL) is a significant and underrecognized contributor to hyperpigmentation, especially in skin of color. Our objective is to review the role of VL in disorders of hyperpigmentation and that of tinted sunscreens in protecting against VL. Tinted sunscreens containing iron oxides should be recommended over nontinted sunscreens for patients prone to disorders of hyperpigmentation, as iron oxides protect against VL in addition to UVL. Tinted sunscreens are more effective than nontinted sunscreens in preventing melasma relapses and reducing hyperpigmentation, and they may also enhance the depigmenting efficacy of topical hydroquinone. In the search for an ideal tinted sunscreen for a particular patient, several factors must be considered, including a broad spectrum with adequate coverage of both UVL and VL, tint, formulation texture, active ingredients, and cost. VL is increasingly recognized as a major contributor of hyperpigmentation, and adequate treatment for disorders of hyperpigmentation should include protection against VL. Tinted sunscreens are ideal but require consideration of cosmesis, efficacy, and affordability.
Organizational identification and leader evaluation in a global workplace: Interaction of self‐uncertainty, self‐construal, and organizational culture
Authors: Desai Sejal N. , Hogg Michael A.
Published: December 2023

Past studies in social psychology, and in organizational psychology, have incorporated social identity theory but have not specifically examined the effects of self‐construal and self‐uncertainty on an individual's organizational identification. Through two social psychology experiments, the present research advances the literature by studying the effects of three predictor variables (self‐construal, self‐uncertainty, and organizational culture) on the criterion variables of identification with the organization, commitment to the organization, extra‐role behaviors (Study 1), and leader evaluations (Study 2). Study 1 (N = 256) found that participants evaluated a self‐inclusive organization more favorably when it possessed a relational (as opposed to nonrelational) organizational culture. This effect was, as predicted, moderated by self‐uncertainty such that it was significantly stronger under high rather than low self‐uncertainty. Study 2 (N = 336) examined the same criterion variables as the previous study but with the addition of leader evaluation. It was found that interdependent participants identified with and were more committed to their organization. Participants with an interdependent self‐construal and high levels of self‐uncertainty rated their leader more favorably when in a relational (as opposed to nonrelational) organization. Additionally, a significant three‐way interaction between the predictors was explored. Future research directions and wider implications for strengthening employee identification and leader evaluations in organizations are discussed.
Preschoolers and anxiety: The effect of parental characteristics
Authors: Kadoglou Maria , Tziaka Eftychia , Samakouri Maria , Serdari Aspasia
Published: December 2023

Problem

Anxiety is a common phenomenon among children that can lead to adverse developmental outcomes. A challenging parent–child relationship and its characteristics may negatively impact the development of a child's internalizing problems. However, theoretical models on children's anxiety have not fully emphasized the contribution of parenting and environmental factors. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the possible correlations between parenting styles and other parental characteristics with children's anxiety.

Methods

The sample consisted of 443 parents of preschool children who completed the Parenting Styles and Dimension Questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist 1.5–5. The univariate analysis included differences between demographic groups, assessed with independent sample t‐tests. Associations between demographic evidence and child anxiety were estimated using χ2 tests. Binomial logistic regression analysis assessed the most important parenting characteristics contributing to a child's anxiety.

Findings

A total of 24.6% of the children had borderline or clinical symptoms of anxiety. Parents whose children were anxious were more permissive than parents of nonanxious children (p < 0.001). Mothers were more authoritative compared to fathers. In addition, permissive parenting style increased the probability of a child's anxiety and maternal permissive style emerged as a significant predictor of anxiety in preschoolers (p < 0.003).

Conclusions

This study revealed that the permissive parenting style is associated with anxiety in preschool children. Furthermore, the maternal permissive style was identified as a predictor of anxiety. Future research may address its causal effect on anxiety and other behavioral problems, focusing on multiple perspective relationships and cultural dimensions.
Biomarkers in rosacea: A systematic review
Authors: Geng R. S. Q. , Bourkas A. N. , Sibbald R. G. , Sibbald C.
Published: December 2023

Rosacea is a chronic and psychologically ladened disease affecting 1%–3% of people worldwide. The identification and validation of biomarkers in rosacea patients has the potential to improve disease progression, support diagnosis, provide objective measures for clinical trials and aid in management. The objective of this review is to systematically identify all rosacea biomarkers, categorize them by type and identify trends to improve disease expression. Eligibility criteria for this review (PROSPERO CRD42023397510) include randomized controlled trials, case–control studies, cohort studies and other observational studies. No restrictions were placed on patient demographics (age, sex, ethnicity) or language of publication until February 2023. Quality of studies was assessed using the National Institute of Health quality assessment tool. The literature search was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 805 unique articles were screened based on the applied inclusion and exclusion criteria. After the articles were screened based on title/abstract and full‐text, a total of 38 studies were included, reporting on a total of 119 unique biomarkers. The results of this review and current rosacea pathogenic mechanisms provide the greatest support for the innate cathelicidin and inflammasome, Th1 and Th17 pathways. The most commonly reported biomarkers include IL‐1β, TNF‐α, IL‐37, IFN‐γ and MMP‐9. Biomarkers identified in this study support current theories of rosacea pathogenesis and provide direction for research to further our knowledge. However, more research is needed to identify biomarkers panels that can provide diagnostic utility. This may be difficult due to the heterogeneity of the disease and potential differences between rosacea subtypes.