bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Awareness of the LEED requirements for green housing development among built-environment professionals in Nigeria
Authors: Ade-Ojo Olubunmi Comfort
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The study aims to assess the gap in the awareness of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements for green housing development among built-environment professionals in meeting the housing need in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a cross-sectional survey of built-environment professionals in the Physical Planning Units (PPUs) of Federal Tertiary Educational Institutions in South-Western Nigeria. The LEED v4 scoring system for New Construction and Renovation was adopted for the survey questionnaire on five point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using the MIS and Kruskal–Wallis Rank sum Test.

Findings

Awareness of the LEED requirements varies across the categories. Sustainable site is ranked first while innovation and regional priority ranked from the rear. There is variation in awareness among the professionals. The Land Surveyors are followed by the Architects while the Builders ranked last.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of the study is limited to the professionals in the PPUs in the study area. However, the findings are indicative. The low level of awareness of some of the requirements and the extent of variation among the professionals will negatively impact the integrated design approach and collaborative effort needed for green housing to meet the housing deficit in Nigeria.

Practical implications

The study is limited in scope. The low level of awareness of the requirements coupled with the extent of variation among the professionals will negatively impact the integrated design approach and collaborative effort needed for green housing to meet the huge housing deficit in Nigeria.

Originality/value

The study takes the lead to assess the awareness of the requirements for green housing development based on the LEED impact categories. Improving the awareness of these requirements will enhance their implementation and consequently impact the quality of housing provision. The professionals need to bridge the knowledge gap to enhance collaboration and productivity for green housing development.
Managing intragroup conflicts within project design teams during pre-contract stage that effect the project deliverables in Sri Lanka
Authors: Gunasekara D.M.H. , Indikatiya I.H.P.R. , Perera B.A.K.S. , Senaratne Sepani
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the management of intragroup conflicts occurring in project design teams during pre-contract stages that affect the project deliverables of construction projects implemented in Sri Lanka.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach with a case study research strategy was used in the study. The required empirical data were collected by conducting expert interviews and reviewing the documents used in four selected projects implemented in Sri Lanka. All the projects used traditional separated procurement systems and had re-measurement contracts. Manual content analysis was used to analyze the collected data.

Findings

The study findings revealed the different types of intragroup conflicts that arise during the pre-contract stages of projects within project design teams of construction projects implemented in Sri Lanka and the causes and effects of those conflicts on project deliverables. The study recommends proactive strategies that can be adopted to manage those conflicts.

Originality/value

A dearth of literature on the association between the intragroup conflicts that arise during the design stages of construction projects and project deliverables exists. This study bridged this research gap. It is novel because it reveals the impact of intragroup conflicts that occur during the pre-contract stages of construction projects on project deliverables and identifies several proactive strategies that will assist in managing those intragroup conflicts.
Indigenous knowledge and innovative practices to cope with impacts of climate change on small-scale farming in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Rankoana Sejabaledi Agnes
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the indigenous and innovative practices adopted by the small-scale farmers to cope with the impacts of climate change hazards on subsistence farming.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through focus group discussions with 72 small-scale farmers from a rural community in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The discussions were analysed through verbatim transcripts and content analysis.

Findings

The study results show the farmers’ understanding of climate change variability and its hazards in the form of rainfall scarcity and excessively increased temperature, which are responsible for a declining production of indigenous crops. It has also been found that in the face of these hazards, the farmers experience low crop yields, which cannot provide the household food requirements. However, the small-scale farmers use a combination of local and innovative knowledge and skills to improve their crop production. They have adopted the indigenous adaptation mechanisms, which include rainfall prediction, preparation of the gardens, change of crops and the planting season to ensure better crop yields. The farmers also adopted innovative adaptation practices such as the use of fertilisers, growing of exotic crops and use of extension officers’ guidance and skills to minimise the risks and maximise the chances of resilient crop production.

Research limitations/implications

This paper describes the farmers’ ability to use the indigenous and innovative adaptation practices. It is only focused on the farmers’ knowledge and skills other than the extension officers’ skills.

Originality/value

The adaptation practices reported in the study fall within the adaptation and mitigation systems stipulated in the South African National Climate Change Strategy to assist the small-scale farmers grow and maintain the crops to improve production and minimise the risks, thus ensuring food security under observable harsh climate hazards.
FDI and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa: does democracy matter?
Authors: Gossel Sean
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper investigates whether democracy plays a mediating role in the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis is conducted using fixed effects and system GMM (Generalised Method of Moments) on a panel of 38 Sub-Saharan African countries covering the period of 1990–2018.

Findings

The results find that FDI has no direct effect on inequality whereas democracy reduces inequality directly in both the short run and the long run. The sensitivity analyses find that democracy improves equality regardless of the magnitude of FDI, resource endowment or democratic deepening whereas FDI only reduces inequality once a moderate level of democracy has been achieved.

Social implications

The results discussed above thus have four policy implications. First, these results show that although democracy has inequality reducing benefits, SSA is unlikely to significantly reduce inequality unless the region purposefully diversifies its trade and FDI away from natural resources. Second, the region should continue to expand credit access to reduce inequality and attract FDI. Third, policymakers should undertake reforms that will reduce youth inequality. Lastly, the region should focus on long-run democratic reforms rather than on short-run democratization to improve governance and investor confidence.

Originality/value

Although there are existing studies that examine the association between FDI and inequality, FDI and democracy and democracy and inequality, this is the first study to explicitly examine the effect of democracy on the association between FDI and inequality in SSA, and the first study to separately consider the possible varied effects of contemporaneous democratization versus the long-run accumulation of democratic capital. In addition, rather than measure inequality by income alone, this study uses the more appropriate Human Development Index to account for SSA's sociological, education and income disparities.
Work alienation as a mediator between work from home-related isolation, loss of task identity and job insecurity amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mehta Prashant
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This sudden disruption of work in the world due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unravelling situations hitherto unknown to researchers and therefore requires careful and thorough investigation. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between work from home (WFH) isolation, WFH loss of task identity and job insecurity amid COVID-19 pandemic WFH arrangements by focusing on information technology/information technology-enabled services (IT/ITES) sector employees in India. The study also investigated the mediating role of work alienation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from IT/ITES sector employees who were working from home. The sample size was 312, with 71.8% males and 28.2% females. The study used a descriptive research design. Analysis of the data was carried out using partial least square structural equation modeling. All constructs–independent and dependent–were reflectively measured. The evaluated quality parameters (discriminant validity, reliability, collinearity, common method bias) for all the constructs were found to be within acceptable limits.

Findings

Findings from the study indicate that WFH-related isolation and loss of task identity have a significant direct impact on job insecurity. These, along with the mediating construct of work alienation, predicted a 35.8% variance in job insecurity. The study found that work alienation provided complementary mediation between the independent constructs evaluated.

Originality/value

This study attempts to scrape the surface and gain insight into the problems that may arise in the new world of work. This paper presents an attempt to explain some of the psychological pitfalls associated with WFH during the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand their impact on job insecurity.
Key audit matters and big4 auditors in Oman: a quantile approach analysis
Authors: Baatwah Saeed Rabea
Published: February 2022

Purpose

In response to the users of financial statements’ need for better communication value from audit reports, auditors are required to expand the format and content of their reports. This paper aims to investigate the heterogeneity of key audit matters (KAM) for big4 audit firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a pool of 273 year-observations from the Omani capital market for the period 2016–2019, a quantile regression approach is adopted to achieve this purpose because it can provide a broader picture of this heterogeneity.

Findings

The results indicate that all types of big4 audit firms are associated with lower numbers of KAM. However, each big4 audit firm reports these KAM differently. Also, the results indicate heterogeneity in the number of KAM among the partners of each firm. Specifically, partners in some big4 audit firms show a significant association with fewer KAM while others are insignificant. Some partners of Ernst and Young show a positive association with a higher number of KAM. Overall, the results confirm the heterogeneity among auditors in styling their KAM disclosure.

Originality/value

There are crucial implications for various policymakers. This paper is the first to analyse KAM aspects at the partner level and use quantile regression to detect the effect of audit firms on KAM.
A social marketing strategy to promote preconception care: development of the Woke Women strategy
Authors: Maas Veronique Y.F. , Blanchette Lyne M.G. , van Amstel Wencke , Franx Arie , Poels Marjolein , Koster Maria P.H.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Exposure to unhealthy lifestyle behaviours before pregnancy affects the health of mothers and their (unborn) children. A social marketing strategy could empower prospective parents to actively prepare for pregnancy through preconception care (PCC). This study aims to describe the development of a PCC social marketing strategy based on the eight-point benchmark criteria for effective social marketing and to clarify the concept of using social marketing for health promotion purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature search was carried out regarding the needs of the target population and PCC behavioural goals, leading to the development of a bottom-up, ambassador-driven, communication concept.

Findings

In-depth insights of all benchmarks were analysed and incorporated during the development process of a new PCC social marketing strategy, with a special focus on the application of the “Health Belief Model” (Benchmark 3) and “the Four-P framework” (Benchmark 8). Evidence-based preconceptional health information is our product, for a low price as the information is freely attainable, promoting a message of overall women‘s health and online or through a consult with a health-care provider as the appropriate place. This formative research resulted in the development of the Woke Women® strategy, empowering women to actively prepare for pregnancy.

Originality/value

Developing a social marketing strategy to enhance actively preparing for pregnancy shows potential to encourage prospective parents to adopt healthier preconceptional lifestyle behaviours and can therefore improve the health of future generations.
Does social media usage boost career prospects of women: an exploratory study in the academia
Authors: Sarwar Ambreen , Imran Muhammad Kashif , Akhtar Nadeem , Fatima Tehreem
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper draws on the affordance perspective, to explore the social media (SM) usage experiences that might render valuable for academic women professionals, for knowledge exchange, networking and success. Owing to the increased SM usage during COVID-19 pandemic, this paper tries to find out that in what ways do SM affordances facilitate the underprivileged group of women professionals to grow in their careers in a masculine, conservative society through knowledge exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

By utilizing qualitative study design, the authors collected data from 31 women employed in Pakistani universities, through unstructured questionnaires. The responses were analyzed through Nvivo.

Findings

The generated themes suggested that women in Pakistan are aware of SM's potential for knowledge exchange among fellow professionals. They use it to aid them in communication, collaboration and networking. Additionally, they utilize it to share knowledge and build networks that are vital for career progression and success.

Research limitations/implications

The paper concludes with the implications for practitioners that would aid them in boosting career prospects for women academicians through SM usage in a developing country Pakistan; where women's career outlooks are not as promising as for men; or as bright as for women working in the developed economies.

Originality/value

This a unique attempt to explore knowledge exchange dimensions with the help of SM in the context of working women by the deploying the phenomenological approach.
An integrated decision-making approach for global supplier selection and order allocation to create an environment-friendly supply chain
Authors: Ali Hassan , Zhang Jingwen , Liu Sheng , Shoaib Muhammad
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Due to the fierce market competition, many organizations seek global suppliers because of lower procurement costs and better product quality. However, selecting suitable global suppliers is one of the complicated decision-making tasks for decision-makers due to the involvement of various qualitative and quantitative factors. The primary purpose of this research is to design an integrated approach for global supplier selection and order allocation in the context of developing an environment-friendly supply chain under data uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) is used to calculate the selected criteria weights. After that, the weights obtained from FAHP are inserted into the fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS) to examine the performance of selected suppliers and determine their final ranks. Finally, the obtained results from FTOPSIS are incorporated into the multi-choice goal programming (MCGP) model, which involves multi-aspiration levels to allocate the optimal order quantity to the selected global suppliers.

Findings

A real-time case study of the automotive industry is presented to demonstrate the efficiency and practicality of the suggested approach. The case study and sensitivity analysis results show that the proposed model effectively tackles suppliers' evaluation and order allocation data uncertainty.

Originality/value

Incorporation of risks, environmental management and economic factors during global supplier selection in the automotive sector has not been given much attention in the past literature. So, this research aims to fulfill the gap by developing an integrated approach that can tackle data uncertainty effectively.
The effect of maternal and nutritional factors on birth weight: a cohort study in Tehran, Iran
Authors: Karimi Tahereh , Moslemi Zeinab , Rezazadeh Arezoo , Eini-Zinab Hassan
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of maternal food intake before and during pregnancy on birth weight.

Design/methodology/approach

As a prospective cohort study, a total of 585 pregnant women of first trimester, visiting Tehran Metropolitan Area public health centers and private sectors (clinics and hospitals), were interviewed at first phase, and pregestational dietary intake was obtained by a 168-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. At the third trimester, dietary recalls were collected via interview. Finally, birth weight information was extracted from health records. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to explore the effect of maternal and nutritional factors on birth weight.

Findings

The results of the analysis show that direct measures of nutrition, measured as food group consumption at first and third trimester of pregnancy, had no significant effect on birth weight once the confounding factors were controlled (p > 0.05). Of control variables included in the analysis, twin pregnancy outcome (p = 0.000), pregnancy number (p = 0.04), prepregnancy weight (p = 0.004) (marginally significant) and gestational age (p = 0.000) (marginally significant) were associated with birth weight.

Originality/value

The results of this study show no significant role of mother’s nutrition during pregnancy on birth weight, while long-term nutrition outcomes such as prepregnancy weight had significant role. It seems the main reasons behind less important role of pregnancy nutrition on birth weight in this study include the following: food intake deficiency is not a major problem for participants, and cross-sectional data on food intake are less important on outcome of pregnancy weight than long-term nutritional status outcome variables such as mother’s weight and height. This finding should be addressed in public health planning for women at childbearing age.
Climate change adaptation and productive efficiency of subsistence farming: A bias‐corrected panel data stochastic frontier approach
Authors: Asmare Fissha , Jaraitė Jūratė , Kažukauskas Andrius
Published: February 2022

We explore the impact of climate change adaptation on the technical efficiency of Ethiopian farmers using panel data collected from 6820 farm plots. We employ Green's (2010) stochastic frontier approach and propensity score matching to address selection bias. Our results reveal that climate change adaptation improves the efficiency of maize, wheat and barley production. We also show that failure to account for selection bias underestimates the average efficiency level. Our findings imply that the expansion of climate change adaptation at larger scales will provide a double benefit by curbing climate‐related risks and increasing the efficiency of farmers. Moreover, increasing credit access and introducing mechanisms that allow farmers to get enough water during the main growing season will enhance the efficiency of subsistence farmers.
Aging and entheses: An ultrasonographic probing of degenerative enthesopathy in a cohort of 147 healthy subjects
Authors: Moshrif Abdelhfeez , Abdel Noor Rasha , Aly Hany , Mortada Mohamed , Hafez Ahmed
Published: February 2022

Aim

To investigate the prevalence and features of degenerative enthesopathic changes in a large cohort of healthy individuals by musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and their relation to age and other demographic features.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, 147 healthy subjects (1470 entheses) were examined by MSUS according to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology guidelines: Achilles tendon, plantar fascia, patellar, and quadriceps insertions of both lower limbs.

Results

The mean age (±SD) of the participants was 43.68 (±14.53) years and 57.1% were female. Enthesopathy has been detected in at least 1 area in 113 subjects (76.87%). Thickening (21.6%) and hypoechogenicity (15.3%) were the most frequent inflammatory findings while enthesophyte (10.13%) was the most prevalent structural one. Age and male gender were significantly correlating with inflammatory (rs = .341, P = .001/r = .310, P = .001), structural (rs = .354, P = .001/r = .166, P = .04) and total scores (rs = .406, P = .001/r = .302, P = .001). More inflammatory changes were noticed in the age group 36‐55 years. Body mass index had a positive correlation with inflammatory (rs = .290, P = .001) and total scores (rs = 0.298, P = .001) but not with structural lesions (rs = .154, P = .062).

Conclusions

Thickening, hypoechogenicity, cortical irregularities, and enthesophytes are frequent degenerative features of enthesopathy. These findings need to be redefined to be more specific for spondyloarthritides. Enthesopathy should be interpreted with caution in the light of the clinical picture, especially in elderly and obese male patients.
Interdependencies of cellular and humoral immune responses in heterologous and homologous SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination
Authors: Hollstein Moritz M. , Münsterkötter Lennart , Schön Michael P. , Bergmann Armin , Husar Thea M. , Abratis Anna , Eidizadeh Abass , Schaffrinski Meike , Zachmann Karolin , Schmitz Anne , Holsapple Jason S. , Stanisz‐Bogeski Hedwig , Schanz Julie , Fischer Andreas , Groß Uwe , Leha Andreas , Zautner Andreas E. , Schnelle Moritz , Erpenbeck Luise
Published: February 2022

Background

Homologous and heterologous SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccinations yield different spike protein‐directed humoral and cellular immune responses. This study aimed to explore their currently unknown interdependencies.

Methods

COV‐ADAPT is a prospective, observational cohort study of 417 healthcare workers who received vaccination with homologous ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19, homologous BNT162b2 or with heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19/BNT162b2. We assessed humoral (anti‐spike‐RBD‐IgG, neutralizing antibodies, and avidity) and cellular (spike‐induced T‐cell interferon‐γ release) immune responses in blood samples up to 2 weeks before (T1) and 2–12 weeks following secondary immunization (T2).

Results

Initial vaccination with ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 resulted in lower anti‐spike‐RBD‐IgG compared with BNT162b2 (70 ± 114 vs. 226 ± 279 BAU/ml, p < .01) at T1. Booster vaccination with BNT162b2 proved superior to ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 at T2 (anti‐spike‐RBD‐IgG: ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19/BNT162b2 2387 ± 1627 and homologous BNT162b2 3202 ± 2184 vs. homologous ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 413 ± 461 BAU/ml, both p < .001; spike‐induced T‐cell interferon‐γ release: ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19/BNT162b2 5069 ± 6733 and homologous BNT162b2 4880 ± 7570 vs. homologous ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 1152 ± 2243 mIU/ml, both p < .001). No significant differences were detected between BNT162b2‐boostered groups at T2. For ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19, no booster effect on T‐cell activation could be observed. We found associations between anti‐spike‐RBD‐IgG levels (ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19/BNT162b2 and homologous BNT162b2) and T‐cell responses (homologous ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 and ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19/BNT162b2) from T1 to T2. Additionally, anti‐spike‐RBD‐IgG and T‐cell response were linked at both time points (all groups combined). All regimes yielded neutralizing antibodies and increased antibody avidity at T2.

Conclusions

Interdependencies between humoral and cellular immune responses differ between common SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination regimes. T‐cell activation is unlikely to compensate for poor humoral responses.
Atypical Spitz tumours: an epidemiological, clinical and dermoscopic multicentre study with 16 years of follow-up
Authors: De Giorgi Vincenzo , Venturi Federico , Silvestri Flavia , Trane Luciana , Savarese Imma , Scarfì Federica , Cencetti Francesca , Pecenco Silvia , Tramontana Marta , Maio Vincenza , Zuccaro Biancamaria , Colombo Jacopo , Bagnoni Giovanni , Stingeni Luca , Massi Daniela
Published: February 2022

Background

Atypical Spitz tumours (ASTs) are regarded as an intermediate category distinguished from prototypical Spitz naevus by presenting one or more atypical features and often by an uncertain malignant potential. Clinical and dermoscopic features may play a relevant role in the diagnostic approach.

Aim

To evaluate the clinical and dermoscopic features of ASTs, and their evolution over time.

Methods

This was a descriptive, multicentre study of the clinical and dermoscopic characteristics of ASTs. Data on clinical and dermoscopic characteristics, histopathology, local extension, therapy and follow-up, lymph node staging, complete lymph node dissection, and outcome were collected from the databases of four Italian Dermatology Units for the period 2004–2021.

Results

The study population consisted of 99 patients (62 female, 37 male) with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of AST, including age at presentation ranged from 2 to 70 years (mean 28.1 years, median 24 years). Of the 99 patients, 29 (29.3%) underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy, which showed evidence of micrometastases in three cases (10.3%); all three patients underwent complete lymph node dissection with no evidence of further metastasis. Considering the whole study population, the clinical outcome was excellent, as all of the patients have no evidence of recurrence or distant metastasis. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 216 months (mean 81.6 months, median 78 months). In addition, we collected data on the clinical and dermoscopic features of 26 lesions. The most frequent dermoscopic pattern observed was the multicomponent pattern (34.6%), followed by homogeneous (26.9%) and nonspecific (23.2%). In 66.7% of amelanotic ASTs, we observed glomerular (coiled) vessels uniformly distributed within the entire lesion, without asymmetry.

Conclusion

The results of our study with a long follow-up show no recurrence or distant metastases, confirming the good clinical outcome, even in the case of sentinel lymph node positivity. From a diagnostic point of view, our series identified a typical dermoscopic picture for amelanotic ASTs, with a glomerular vascular pattern throughout the lesion in the absence of other dermoscopic parameters, making the correct diagnosis possible.
Disease-related burden and long-term outcome in orofacial granulomatosis: observations from a large single-centre cohort
Authors: Stoevesandt Johanna , Keita Dyamilatou Ulrike , Goebeler Matthias
Published: February 2022

There is a lack of standardized treatment recommendations for orofacial granulomatosis, a chronic inflammatory condition aetiologically related to Crohn disease. To assess clinical baseline parameters and treatment strategies, we retrospectively analysed 61 consecutive cases from our institutional database. Disease-related functional/psychological impairment and long-term outcomes were descriptively evaluated using a standardized self-reporting questionnaire. The median age of patients was 45 (7–77) years. Oral steroids were given in 41.0% of cases, but only produced short-term disease control, while response to steroid-sparing agents was inconsistent. Only a minority of patients reported relevant disease-related functional impairment in eating (21.7%) or speaking (4.3%), but the majority perceived psychological distress due to the cosmetic aspects of the disease (69.6%), comments from others (65.2%) and/or general anxiety/insecurity (73.9%). Regardless of the initial treatment, long-term outcomes after 71 months (range 7–304 months) were beneficial, with most patients being in complete remission (52.2%) or reporting only mild residual swelling (43.5%).
Health system responses for type 1 diabetes: A scoping review
Authors: Zafra‐Tanaka Jessica H. , Beran David , Bernabe‐Ortiz Antonio
Published: February 2022

Aims

The focus of health system interventions for noncommunicable diseases and diabetes focus mainly on primary health care responses. However, existing interventions are not necessarily adapted for the complex management of type 1 diabetes (T1DM). We aimed to identify and describe health system interventions which have been developed to improve the management of T1DM globally.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review by searching MEDLINE, Embase, and Global Health using OVID for peer‐review articles published in either English, Spanish, Portuguese or French in the last 10 years. We classified the intervention strategies according to the Effective Practice and Organization of Care (EPOC) taxonomy for health system interventions and the World Health Organization (WHO) health system building blocks.

Results

This review identified 159 health system interventions to improve T1DM management. Over half of the studies focused only on children or adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Only a small fraction of the studies were conducted in low‐and‐middle income countries (LMICs). According to the EPOC taxonomy, the most frequently studied category was delivery arrangement interventions, while implementation strategies and financial arrangements were less frequently studied. Also, governance arrangements domains were not studied. The most common combination of intervention strategies included self‐management with either telemedicine, use of information and smart home technologies.

Conclusions

There is a need to expand potential interventions to other EPOC strategies to assess their potential effect on health outcomes in people with T1DM, as well as to involve more LMIC settings as the impact may be greater in these settings.
Decreased soil aggregation and reduced soil organic carbon activity in conventional vegetable fields converted from paddy fields
Authors: Yu Quanbo , Xu Lingying , Wang Meiyan , Xu Shengxiang , Sun Weixia , Yang Jizhou , Shi Yijie , Shi Xuezheng , Xie Xinqiao
Published: February 2022

Soil structure and organic carbon are key factors that reflect soil quality in sustainable agricultural production. Many studies have concentrated on soil aeration under intensive anthropogenic agricultural practices, but the relationship between soil aggregate stability and soil organic carbon (SOC) functional groups is poorly understood, particularly in degraded greenhouse vegetable fields converted from paddy fields. To solve this problem, soil samples were collected from local vegetable fields and adjacent paddy fields. Conventional open‐air vegetable fields and greenhouse vegetable fields, both with a 6–8‐year cultivation history following conversion from paddy fields, were considered. SOC functional groups were characterised by 13C cross‐polarisation magic‐angle‐spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (13C CPMAS NMR). The results showed that the mean weight diameter (MWD) values of water‐stable soil aggregates in the open‐air vegetable fields and greenhouse vegetable fields decreased by 64.6% and 66.7%, respectively, compared with those in the paddy fields. Similar results were obtained for the soil aggregate distribution, and soil aggregates in the greenhouse vegetable fields and open‐air vegetable fields were mainly in the 0.25–2 mm size classes. Among all SOC functional groups, O‐alkyl C exhibited the greatest decrease after the conversion of paddy fields to vegetable fields, no matter whether greenhouse vegetable fields or open‐air vegetable fields. The degradation of soil structure decreased the physical protection of SOC functional groups by soil aggregates, and therefore, decreased the total SOC content and labile C functional group fractions in bulk soil. At the soil aggregate scale, the decrease of O‐alkyl C mainly occurred in microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm), while aromatic C decreased significantly in macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) in the greenhouse vegetable fields converted from paddy fields. Correlation analysis showed that O‐alkyl C was significantly positively related to MWD and the proportion of large soil macroaggregate (>2 mm). This result suggested that soil aggregates become fragile in long‐term vegetable cultivation after conversion from paddy fields, and a large loss of O‐alkyl C might be the main reason for this phenomenon.

Highlights

Soil aggregation was significantly decreased in conventional vegetable fields converted from paddy fields.

SOC accumulation was closely positively related to soil macroaggregate formation.

O‐alkyl C mainly decreased in microaggregates, with the opposite observed for aromatic C, in soil of greenhouse vegetable fields.

The large loss of O‐alkyl C may explain the degradation of soil aggregates.
Acquisition and use of analgesic drugs by horse owners in the United States
Authors: Sellon Debra C. , Sanz Macarena , Kopper Jamie J.
Published: February 2022

Background

Little is known about the acquisition and use of equine analgesic drugs by horse owners in the United States (US).

Objectives

To determine factors associated with possession of analgesic drugs by horse owners in the US or with analgesic drug acquisition from sources noncompliant with a valid veterinarian‐client‐patient (VCPR) relationship.

Study design

Cross‐sectional survey.

Methods

An internet‐based questionnaire included items related to experiences with horses and equine analgesic drugs. Factors associated with possession of ≥5 types of analgesic drugs and with the acquisition of drugs from VCPR noncompliant sources were analysed using logistic regression.

Results

Responses from 389 US horse owners indicated that 96% have access to at least one type of equine analgesic medication and most are confident in their drug administration skills. Horse owners with ≥5 types of analgesic drugs were more likely to have managed >20 horses in their life (odds ratio [OR] = 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7‐5.6), have medical insurance for some horses (OR = 4.2, CI = 2.3‐7.7), and have veterinary or human medical training (OR = 2.2, CI = 1.2‐4.1) and were less likely to have a primary care veterinarian requiring >30 minutes travel time (OR = 0.5, CI = 0.3‐0.9). Horse owners who obtained drugs through VCPR noncompliant sources were likely to be male (OR = 5.6, CI = 1.6‐19.4), ≤40 years of age (OR = 2.0, CI = 1.2‐3.2), and reside in the South or West regions of the US (OR = 2.4, CI = 1.4‐4.0).

Main limitations

Possible distribution, self‐selection, response, and recall biases as a result of convenience sampling methodology.

Conclusions

Discussion between veterinarians and horse owners regarding available analgesic drugs and owners’ competence in administering those drugs may improve veterinary care recommendations and owner compliance.
Geographic roots, anthropological routes: New avenues in geographies of religions
Authors: Richardson Matthew
Published: February 2022

Since their advent, geographies of religions have emerged as a kaleidoscopic, vital, yet often misunderstood subset of social and cultural geography. In this article, I respond to Kong's call (2010) for geographers to turn to the often neglected functional, mythic, and symbolic dimensions of religion. First, I offer a brief disciplinary biography, outlining seminal currents of research over the past century. In doing so, I identify two scalar poles of analysis around which the emergent literature is oriented – the individual/affective and the collective/structural. At the interface of these poles is a rich, albeit under‐theorised, field of geographic analysis. To address this, I turn to Turner's theory on ritual performance as a way for geographers to better approach this interface and engage with the fundamentality of rituals in the (re)generation of religious worlds.
Changes in levels of omega‐O‐acylceramides and related processing enzymes of sun‐exposed and sun‐protected facial stratum corneum in differently pigmented ethnic groups
Authors: Rawlings Anthony V. , Schoop Rotraut , Klose Christian , Monneuse Jean‐Marc , Summers Beverley , Voegeli Rainer
Published: February 2022

Introduction

We report on the differences in ceramide composition and levels of omega‐O‐acylceramide processing enzymes of sun‐exposed and sun‐protected facialstratum corneum (SC) among Albino African, Black African and Caucasian women living in South Africa.

Methods

Tape strippings were taken from the sun‐exposed cheek and the sunprotected postauricular site (PA). In two subsets proteomic (n = 18) and lipidomic (n = 24) analysis were performed using mass‐spectrometry‐based shotgun platforms.

Results

No significant differences in total ceramide levels or ceramide subtypes were found between the Black African and Caucasian women in either the cheek or PA samples. Compared to the other two groups the levels of total ceramide as well as selected omega‐O‐acylceramide species were increased in Albino Africans. On the cheek, ceramide (CER) EOS, EOH along with CER AS were increased relative to the Caucasian women, while CER EOP and EOdS were elevated relative to the Black African women. Moreover, on the PA site CER EOP and EOdS were elevated compared with the Black African women and CER EOdS in Caucasians. Decreasesin masslevels of 12R‐LOX and eLOX3 were observed on cheeks compared with the PA sites in all ethnic groups. On the PA sites 12R‐LOX was particularly lower in the Albino Africans compared with the Black African and Caucasian women. On the cheeks mass levels of SDR9C7 was also lower in the Albino Africans.

Conclusion

The mass levels of the ceramides were similar between Black African and Caucasian women. However, elevated total ceramides and excessively elevated selected omega‐O‐acylceramides were apparent in the Albino African women. The findings in the Albino African women were unexpected as these participants suffer from impaired skin barrier function. However, the elevated levels omega‐O‐acylceramides can contribute to barrier insufficiency by directly impacting SC lipid phase behaviour and/or secondly elevated omegaO‐acylceramide levels may indicate a reduced attachment of ceramides to the corneocyte lipid envelope and reduced corneocyte maturation that can also impair the barrier. Indeed, differences in the mass levels of omega‐O‐acylceramide processing enzymes were observed for 12R‐LOX and SDR9C7 for the Albino Africans. This indicates a corneocyte lipid scaffold disorder in this population.
Effect of slurry and sol‐gel introduce SiCnws on ablation and bending behaviors of modified SiCf/HfC‐SiC composites
Authors: Hou Wanbo , Qi Wei , Yang Yongqiang , Feng Tao , Liang Mingyu , Tong Mingde , Li Hejun , Lin Hongjiao , Wen Shifeng
Published: February 2022

The slurry and sol‐gel methods were used to introduce SiC nanowires (SiCnws) into the SiCf/HfC‐SiC composites. The microstructures, ablation, and bending behaviors of the SiCnws modified composites prepared by the two methods were compared. The bending strengths of the modified composites obtained by introducing SiCnws by the slurry and sol‐gel methods were 224 ± 19 and 154 ± 14 MPa, respectively. The results showed that SiC fibers with chemical corrosion and thermal damage during the sol‐gel process decreased the bending strength of the SiCnws‐modified SiCf/HfC‐SiC composites. Meanwhile, the pyrolytic carbon interface accompanying corrosion damage in the sol‐gel process led to the degradation of interface function, which hindered the interface debonding and fiber sliding of the composites during the bending test. After ablation, the bending strengths of the two composites were 188 ± 19 and 50 ± 7 MPa, respectively. The bending strength retention of the modified composites fabricated by the slurry method (83.9%) was higher than that (32.5%) of the composites fabricated by the sol‐gel method after ablation. As the composites fabricated by the slurry method exhibited a good ablation resistance under the oxyacetylene flame (∼2350°C).
HLA‐dependent variation in SARS‐CoV‐2 CD8 + T cell cross‐reactivity with human coronaviruses
Authors: Buckley Paul R. , Lee Chloe H. , Pereira Pinho Mariana , Ottakandathil Babu Rosana , Woo Jeongmin , Antanaviciute Agne , Simmons Alison , Ogg Graham , Koohy Hashem
Published: February 2022

The conditions and extent of cross‐protective immunity between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and common‐cold human coronaviruses (HCoVs) remain open despite several reports of pre‐existing T cell immunity to SARS‐CoV‐2 in individuals without prior exposure. Using a pool of functionally evaluated SARS‐CoV‐2 peptides, we report a map of 126 immunogenic peptides with high similarity to 285 MHC‐presented peptides from at least one HCoV. Employing this map of SARS‐CoV‐2‐non‐homologous and homologous immunogenic peptides, we observe several immunogenic peptides with high similarity to human proteins, some of which have been reported to have elevated expression in severe COVID‐19 patients. After combining our map with SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific TCR repertoire data from COVID‐19 patients and healthy controls, we show that public repertoires for the majority of convalescent patients are dominated by TCRs cognate to non‐homologous SARS‐CoV‐2 peptides. We find that for a subset of patients, >50% of their public SARS‐CoV‐2‐specific repertoires consist of TCRs cognate to homologous SARS‐CoV‐2‐HCoV peptides. Further analysis suggests that this skewed distribution of TCRs cognate to homologous or non‐homologous peptides in COVID‐19 patients is likely to be HLA‐dependent. Finally, we provide 10 SARS‐CoV‐2 peptides with known cognate TCRs that are conserved across multiple coronaviruses and are predicted to be recognized by a high proportion of the global population. These findings may have important implications for COVID‐19 heterogeneity, vaccine‐induced immune responses, and robustness of immunity to SARS‐CoV‐2 and its variants.
Contact damage tolerance of alumina‐based layered ceramics with tailored microstructures
Authors: Schlacher Josef , Jabr Abdullah , Hofer Anna‐Katharina , Bermejo Raul
Published: February 2022

This work demonstrates how to enhance contact damage resistance of alumina‐based ceramics combining tailored microstructures in a multilayer architecture. The multilayer system designed with textured alumina layers under compressive residual stresses embedded between alumina–zirconia layers was investigated under Hertzian contact loading and compared to the corresponding monolithic reference materials. Critical forces for crack initiation under spherical contact were detected through an acoustic emission system. Damage was assessed by combining cross‐section polishing and ion‐slicing techniques. It was found that a textured microstructure can accommodate the damage below the surface by shear‐driven, quasi‐plastic deformation instead of the classical Hertzian cone cracking observed in equiaxed alumina. In the multilayer system, a combination of both mechanisms, namely Hertzian cone cracking on the top (equiaxed) surface layer and quasi‐plastic deformation within the embedded textured layer, was identified. Further propagation of cone cracks at higher loads was hindered and/or deflected owed to the combined action of the textured microstructure and compressive residual stresses. These findings demonstrate the potential of embedding textured layers as a strategy to enhance the contact damage tolerance in alumina ceramics.
The polygamous GnRH neuron: Astrocytic and tanycytic communication with a neuroendocrine neuronal population
Authors: Prevot Vincent , Sharif Ariane
Published: February 2022

To ensure the survival of the species, hypothalamic neuroendocrine circuits controlling fertility, which converge onto neurons producing gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH), must respond to fluctuating physiological conditions by undergoing rapid and reversible structural and functional changes. However, GnRH neurons do not act alone, but through reciprocal interactions with multiple hypothalamic cell populations, including several glial and endothelial cell types. For instance, it has long been known that in the hypothalamic median eminence, where GnRH axons terminate and release their neurohormone into the pituitary portal blood circulation, morphological plasticity displayed by distal processes of tanycytes modifies their relationship with adjacent neurons as well as the spatial properties of the neurohemal junction. These alterations not only regulate the capacity of GnRH neurons to release their neurohormone, but also the activation of discrete non‐neuronal pathways that mediate feedback by peripheral hormones onto the hypothalamus. Additionally, a recent breakthrough has demonstrated that GnRH neurons themselves orchestrate the establishment of their neuroendocrine circuitry during postnatal development by recruiting an entourage of newborn astrocytes that escort them into adulthood and, via signalling through gliotransmitters such as prostaglandin E2, modulate their activity and GnRH release. Intriguingly, several environmental and behavioural toxins perturb these neuron‐glia interactions and consequently, reproductive maturation and fertility. Deciphering the communication between GnRH neurons and other neural cell types constituting hypothalamic neuroendocrine circuits is thus critical both to understanding physiological processes such as puberty, oestrous cyclicity and aging, and to developing novel therapeutic strategies for dysfunctions of these processes, including the effects of endocrine disruptors.
Perceived impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on body dysmorphic disorder and anxiety among population seeking cosmetic procedures
Authors: Pourani Mohammad Reza , Ghalamkarpour Fariba
Published: February 2022

Introduction

COVID‐19‐related anxiety and preventative actions like the widespread shutdown of beauty‐related services emerged as a stressful condition for BDD patients seeking expert opinions.

Material and methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional investigation to assess anxiety symptoms (by CDAS) and BDD (via BDD‐YBOCS questionnaire) in patients referred to the esthetic clinic.

Results

A total of 120 individuals (106 females and 14 males; mean age: 45.53 ± 11.84) were evaluated. 13.3% of subjects were diagnosed with BDD; 79.2%, 17.5%, and 3.3% of them perceived none or mild, moderate, and severe symptoms of anxiety, respectively.

Conclusion

Anxiety was not connected with BDD in our investigation. Further evaluation of other psychiatric disorders associated with anxiety and BDD was recommended.