bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global distribution of anaerobic dichloromethane degradation potential
Authors: Murdoch Robert W. , Chen Gao , Murdoch Fadime Kara , Mack E. Erin , Villalobos Solis Manuel I. , Hettich Robert L. , Löffler Frank E.
Published: August 2021

Anthropogenic activities and natural processes release dichloromethane (DCM), a toxic chemical with substantial ozone-depleting capacity. Specialized anaerobic bacteria metabolize DCM; however, the genetic basis for this process has remained elusive. Comparative genomics of the three known anaerobic DCM-degrading bacterial species revealed a homologous gene cluster, designated the methylene chloride catabolism (mec) gene cassette, comprising eight to ten genes with predicted 79.6 – 99.7% amino acid identity. Functional annotation identified genes encoding a corrinoid-dependent methyltransferase system, and shotgun proteomics applied to two DCM-catabolizing cultures revealed high expression of proteins encoded on the mec gene cluster during anaerobic growth with DCM. In a DCM-contaminated groundwater plume, the abundance of mec genes strongly correlated with DCM concentrations (R2 = 0.71 – 0.85) indicating their value as process-specific bioremediation biomarkers. mec gene clusters were identified in metagenomes representing peat bogs, the deep subsurface, and marine ecosystems including oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), suggesting DCM turnover in diverse habitats. The broad distribution of anaerobic DCM catabolic potential suggests a relevant control function for emissions to the atmosphere, and a role for DCM as a microbial energy source in critical zone environments. The findings imply that the global DCM flux might be far greater than emission measurements suggest.

Importance

Dichloromethane (DCM) is an increasing threat to stratospheric ozone with both anthropogenic and natural emission sources. Anaerobic bacterial metabolism of DCM has not yet been taken into consideration as a factor in the global DCM cycle. The discovery of the mec gene cassette associated with anaerobic bacterial DCM metabolism and its widespread distribution in environmental systems highlight a strong attenuation potential for DCM. Knowledge of the mec cassette offers new opportunities to delineate DCM sources, enables more robust estimates of DCM fluxes, supports refined DCM emission modeling and simulation of the stratospheric ozone layer, reveals a novel, ubiquitous C1 carbon metabolic system, and provides prognostic and diagnostic tools supporting bioremediation of groundwater aquifers impacted by DCM.
Molecular evidence of intertidal habitats selecting for repeated ice-binding protein evolution in invertebrates
Authors: Box Isaiah C. H. , Matthews Benjamin J. , Marshall Katie E.
Published: August 2021

Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) have evolved independently in multiple taxonomic groups to improve their survival of sub-zero temperatures. Intertidal invertebrates in temperate and polar regions frequently encounter sub-zero temperatures, yet there is little information on IBPs in these organisms. We hypothesized that there are far more ice-binding proteins than are currently known and that the occurrence of freezing in the intertidal zone selects for these proteins. We compiled a list of genome-sequenced invertebrates across multiple habitats and a list of known IBP sequences and used BLAST to identify a wide array of putative IBPs in those invertebrates. We found that the probability of an invertebrate species having an ice-binding protein was significantly greater in intertidal species as compared to those primarily found in open ocean or freshwater habitats. These intertidal IBPs had high sequence similarity to fish and tick antifreeze glycoproteins and fish type II antifreeze proteins. Previously established classifiers based on machine learning techniques further predicted ice-binding activity in the majority of our newly identified putative IBPs. We investigated the potential evolutionary origin of one putative IBP from the hard-shelled mussel Mytilus coruscus and suggest that it arose through gene duplication and neofunctionalization. We show that IBPs likely readily evolve in response to freezing risk, that there is an array of uncharacterized ice binding proteins and highlight the need for broader laboratory-based surveys of the diversity of ice binding activity across diverse taxonomic and ecological groups.

Summary statement

Intertidal invertebrates have a disproportionate number of putative ice-binding proteins relative to other habitats. These putative proteins are highly similar to antifreeze glycoproteins and type II antifreeze proteins from fish.
Monosomies, trisomies and segmental aneuploidies differentially affect chromosomal stability
Authors: Hintzen Dorine C. , Soto Mar , Schubert Michael , Bakker Bjorn , Spierings Diana C.J. , Szuhai Karoly , Lansdorp Peter M. , Foijer Floris , Medema René H. , Raaijmakers Jonne A.
Published: August 2021

Aneuploidy and chromosomal instability are both commonly found in cancer. Chromosomal instability leads to karyotype heterogeneity in tumors and is associated with therapy resistance, metastasis and poor prognosis. It has been hypothesized that aneuploidy per se is sufficient to drive CIN, however due to limited models and heterogenous results, it has remained controversial which aspects of aneuploidy can drive CIN. In this study we systematically tested the impact of different types of aneuploidies on the induction of CIN. We generated a plethora of isogenic aneuploid clones harboring whole chromosome or segmental aneuploidies in human p53-deficient RPE-1 cells. We observed increased segregation errors in cells harboring trisomies that strongly correlated to the number of gained genes. Strikingly, we found that clones harboring only monosomies do not induce a CIN phenotype. Finally, we found that an initial chromosome breakage event and subsequent fusion can instigate breakage-fusion-bridge cycles in segmental aneuploidies. This suggests that monosomies, trisomies and segmental aneuploidies have fundamentally different effects on chromosomal instability and these results help us to decipher the complex relationship between aneuploidy and CIN.
Validation, analysis and annotation of cryo-EM structures
Authors: Pintilie Grigore , Chiu Wah
Published: August 2021

The process of turning 2D micrographs into 3D atomic models of the imaged macromolecules has been under rapid development and scrutiny in the field of cryo-EM. Here, some important methods for validation at several stages in this process are described. Firstly, how Fourier shell correlation of two independent maps and phase randomization beyond a certain frequency address the assessment of map resolution is reviewed. Techniques for local resolution estimation and map sharpening are also touched upon. The topic of validating models which are either builtde novoor based on a known atomic structure fitted into a cryo-EM map is then approached. Map–model comparison usingQ-scores and Fourier shell correlation plots is used to assure the agreement of the model with the observed map density. The importance of annotating the model withBfactors to account for the resolvability of individual atoms in the map is illustrated. Finally, the timely topic of detecting and validating water molecules and metal ions in maps that have surpassed ∼2 Å resolution is described.
Ownership vs access: consumers' digital ownership perceptions and preferences
Authors: Zhu Xiaohua , Cho Moonhee
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study investigated the interrelations of US consumers' perceptions of their ownership of digital media content, their perceived importance of various digital rights and ownership rights and their preferences for owning vs accessing media content.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an online questionnaire survey and analyzed data from 437 participants recruited via Amazon's Mechanical Turk mechanism.

Findings

Participants' perceived importance of digital rights correlates with consumers' ownership perceptions, and people who value certain digital rights tend to have narrower ownership perceptions. Users' ownership and access preferences vary with their perceived importance of ownership rights, especially concerning music and movies. Notably, people who prefer the access model were less concerned about ownership rights to possess, use and resell content.

Social implications

The study provides empirical evidence of consumers' ownership perceptions in the digital age and warns consumers of the dangers of the erosion of their digital ownership rights.

Originality/value

Legal ownership and psychological ownership are usually considered separate constructs and seldom examined together. By showing the correlation between consumers' ownership perceptions and their perceived importance of digital rights, this study demonstrates the connection between legal ownership and psychological ownership.
Numerical solution of large deflection beams by using the Laplace Adomian decomposition method
Authors: Lin Ming-Xian , Tseng Chia-Hsiang , Chen Chao Kuang
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper presents the problems using Laplace Adomian decomposition method (LADM) for investigating the deformation and nonlinear behavior of the large deflection problems on Euler-Bernoulli beam.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing equations will be converted to characteristic equations based on the LADM. The validity of the LADM has been confirmed by comparing the numerical results to different methods.

Findings

The results of the LADM are found to be better than the results of Adomian decomposition method (ADM), due to this method's rapid convergence and accuracy to obtain the solutions by using fewer iterative terms. LADM are presented for two examples for large deflection problems. The results obtained from example 1 shows the effects of the loading, horizontal parameters and moment parameters. Example 2 demonstrates the point loading and point angle influence on the Euler-Bernoulli beam.

Originality/value

The results of the LADM are found to be better than the results of ADM, due to this method's rapid convergence and accuracy to obtain the solutions by using fewer iterative terms.
Simulation-based learning in tertiary-level disaster risk management education: a class-room experiment
Authors: Tasantab Jerry Chati , Gajendran Thayaparan , Owi Toinpre , Raju Emmanuel
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Conventional lecture-based educational approaches alone might not be able to portray the complexity of disaster risk management practice and its real-life dynamics. One work-integrated learning practice that can give students practical work-related experiences is simulation-based learning. However, there is a limited discourse on simulation-based learning in disaster risk management education at the tertiary level. As tertiary education plays a crucial role in developing capabilities within the workforce, simulation-based learning can evoke or replicate substantial aspects of the real world in a fully interactive fashion. This paper aims to present outcomes of simulation-based learning sessions the authors designed and delivered in a disaster risk management course.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a framework to illustrate simulation-based learning in a disaster risk management programme. It was then used as a guide to design and execute simulation-based learning sessions. An autoethnographic methodology was then applied to reflectively narrate the experiences and feelings during the design and execution of the simulations.

Findings

The evaluation of the simulation sessions showed that participants were able to apply their knowledge and demonstrate the skills required to make critical decisions in disaster risk reduction. The conclusion from the simulation-based learning sessions is that making simulation-based learning a part of the pedagogy of disaster risk management education enables students to gain practical experience, deliberate ethical tensions and practical dilemmas and develop the ability to work with multiple perspectives.

Originality/value

The simulated workplace experience allowed students to experience decision-making as disaster risk management professionals, allowing them to integrate theory with practice.
The effect of unemployment benefits on health and living standards in Turkey: evidence from structural equation modelling and regression discontinuity design
Authors: Giovanis Eleftherios , Ozdamar Oznur , Özdaş Burcu
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Unemployment can negatively affect individuals, their families and communities in various ways. When individuals are out of work may experience mental and physical health problems, material deprivation and poverty. This study aims to examine the impact of unemployment benefits on health and living standards in Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ a structural equation modelling (SEM) to consider the simultaneous relationships among the unemployment benefits and the latent variables of health and Standard of Living (SoL). We propose a fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Design (FRDD) and a Regression Kink Design (RKD) within the SEM framework to infer causality. For the empirical analysis, the authors employ the panel Income and Living Conditions Survey (ILCS) in 2007–2015.

Findings

The authors’ findings suggest that those who receive these benefits are more likely to report higher levels of health and improve their living standards compared to the non-recipients. Furthermore, unemployment benefits replacement rates are associated with improved levels in health and living standards. The authors’ results indicate a substantial heterogeneity on the impact of unemployment benefits since males, low educated individuals and those belonging to the lower levels of income are affected more in terms of their health status and living standards.

Originality/value

The majority of earlier studies have focused on the impact of unemployment benefits on labor outcomes. The originality of this study is that we implement the FRDD and RKD within the SEM framework to explore, simultaneously, the impact of unemployment insurance on health and living standards. Moreover, future research studies can implement this framework to infer causality and explore the impact of related policies and reforms.
Green sourcing in the era of industry 4.0: towards green and digitalized competitive advantages
Authors: Fallahpour Alireza , Yazdani Morteza , Mohammed Ahmed , Wong Kuan Yew
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In the last decade, sustainable sourcing decision has gained tremendous attention due to the increasing governmental restrictions and public attentiveness. This decision involves diverse sets of classical and environmental parameters, which are originated from a complex, ambiguous and inconsistent decision-making environment. Arguably, supply chain management is fronting the next industrial revolution, which is named industry 4.0, due to the fast advance of digitalization. Considering the latter's rapid growth, current supplier selection models are, or it will, inefficient to assign the level of priority of each supplier among a set of suppliers, and therefore, more advanced models merging “recipes” of sustainability and industry 4.0 ingenuities are required. Yet, no research work found towards a digitalized, along with sustainability's target, sourcing.

Design/methodology/approach

A new framework for green and digitalized sourcing is developed. Thereafter, a hybrid decision-making approach is developed that utilizes (1) fuzzy preference programming (FPP) to decide the importance of one supplier attribute over another and (2) multi-objective optimization on the basis of ratio analysis (MOORA) to prioritize suppliers based on fuzzy performance rating. The proposed approach is implemented in consultation with the procurement department of a food processing company willing to develop a greener supply chain in the era of industry 4.0.

Findings

The proposed approach is capable to recognize the most important evaluation criteria, explain the ambiguity of experts' expressions and having better discrimination power to assess suppliers on operational efficiency and environmental and digitalization criteria, and henceforth enhances the quality of the sourcing process. Sensitivity analysis is performed to help managers for model approval. Moreover, this work presents the first attempt towards green and digitalized supplier selection. It paves the way towards further development in the modelling and optimization of sourcing in the era of industry 4.0.

Originality/value

Competitive supply chain management needs efficient purchasing and production activities since they represent its core, and this arises the necessity for a strategic adaptation and alignment with the requirement of industry 4.0. The latter implies alterations in the avenue firms operate and shape their activities and processes. In the context of supplier selection, this would involve the way supplier assessed and selected. This work is originally initiated based on a joint collaboration with a food company. A hybrid decision-making approach is proposed to evaluate and select suppliers considering operational efficiency, environmental criteria and digitalization initiatives towards digitalized and green supplier selection (DG-SS). To this end, supply chain management in the era of sustainability and digitalization are discussed.
The implication of multicultural education on students' learning approaches in biosciences and pharmacy courses
Authors: Ng Zhi Xiang , Yong Phaik Har
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The globalisation of higher education has created new challenges for educators to remain dynamic in teaching science undergraduates with diverse cultural backgrounds. The current study explores this challenge by evaluating the different personal factors among biosciences and pharmacy undergraduates that affect their learning approaches as well as to identify course-specific teaching approaches in order to determine their impacts on students' learning.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey design based on study process questionnaire (SPQ), and approaches and study skills inventory for students (ASSIST) was utilised to collect quantitative data from 129 biosciences and pharmacy undergraduates.

Findings

Biosciences undergraduates adopted deep and achieving learning approaches as they progressed through the curriculum, whilst surface learners dominated the pharmacy course. Ethnicity was shown to affect the learning approaches among the undergraduates. Although male undergraduates from both courses were more competitive than the female, elder female undergraduates tend to adopt deep learning approach. Pre-university qualifications did not significantly influence the undergraduate's learning approach. The contrasting finding on the preferred teaching approaches between biosciences and pharmacy undergraduates has highlighted the importance of providing tailored teaching and learning strategies to cater different students' learning needs.

Originality/value

This study has demonstrated the combinational use of SPQ and ASSIST instruments to compare undergraduate's learning approaches with preferred teaching approaches. The current finding could support the development of teaching and learning practice among the biosciences and pharmacy undergraduates with multicultural background.
Motivation and the careers of agricultural entrepreneurs in Ivory Coast
Authors: Milot-Lapointe Francis , Boua Sika Joëlle Prisca , St-Jean Etienne
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Following an incursion into the business world as an entrepreneur, many people go back to being salaried workers or unemployed. Using self-determination theory (SDT), this study aims to test the effects of self-determined motivation of Ivorian agricultural entrepreneurs on career retention, career satisfaction and subjective well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample under study consisted of 171 agricultural entrepreneurs in the Ivory Coast who owned their businesses. Research hypotheses were tested using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings reveal that the degree of self-determination in the motivation of Ivorian agricultural entrepreneurs does not have a direct effect on their intention as to whether or not to remain an entrepreneur. The findings nevertheless show that the more the degree of motivation of Ivorian agricultural entrepreneurs is self-determined, the greater satisfaction they experience with their entrepreneurial career and the higher their subjective well-being. The findings also show that satisfaction with the entrepreneurial career is a predictor of career retention among Ivorian agricultural entrepreneurs. In addition, career retention and subjective well-being are reciprocally linked, as are subjective well-being and career satisfaction.

Practical implications

Career retention of agricultural entrepreneurs in the Ivory Coast can be achieved through career satisfaction and self-determined motivation.

Originality/value

Based on previous studies on SDT in an organizational context, this study is, to the best of the knowledge, the first to have tested a theoretical model that can explain career retention, career satisfaction and subjective well-being among entrepreneurs. This research brings to light these processes among agricultural entrepreneurs in Ivory Coast.
The modern transformation of family governance: co-evolve of family authority and family formal institution
Authors: Ma Jun
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the co-evolve relationship between informal relational governance (i.e. family involvement and personal authority) and family formal governance system in the process of growth and transformation. This co-evolve relationship is especially affected by the external institutional environment and market competition power. Thus, in the comprehensive process of deepening the reform and changing market, the modern transformation of family business means that rediscovery of unique superiority of family business and the core of this transformation is the governance of status privileges and private interests.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the hypotheses, this paper uses the 9th Chinese Private Enterprise Survey in 2010. A total of 4,900 questionnaires are issued, 4,614 are recovered and the total recovery rate is 94.16%. After clean the data, the study obtained 1,239 samples. To overcome the possible existence of heteroscedasticity, this study uses the feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) to estimate the model. Besides, as for dummy dependent variables, this study uses logistics regression.

Findings

This paper makes an empirical test for the evolution of family governance driven by institutional change and organizational growth willingness in the process of growth and transformation, including a co-evolve relationship between family involvement and governance institution. Meanwhile, the empirical analysis comes to the conclusion that the institutional constraint to relational governance improves firm performance, which further promotes the modern transformation of family business governance.

Practical implications

It is the key to transformation to the modern corporate organization that family business could beyond the intervention of the traditional nepotism, patriarchal authority and family will. The fundamental of this process is to take advantage of formal institutions to manage family power.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the modern transformation of the formal organization from the perspective of modern ideal dominant type proposed by Max Weber. Modern organization is a hybrid system of the non-personified and personified institution. The primary reason why modern organization suffered erosion and destruction is that informal institution (status and relationship network) were endowed with legal privileges and private interests in modern organization including family business. The governance of privileges and private interests has become the core issue that whether the family business could play an instrumental value and realize modern transformation successfully.
Trust and social network to boost tacit knowledge sharing with mediation of commitment: does culture moderate?
Authors: Umar Muhammad , Sial Maqbool Hussain , Ali Syed Ahmad , Bari Muhammad Waseem , Ahmad Muhammad
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the tacit knowledge-sharing framework among Pakistani academicians. The objective is to study trust and social networks as antecedents to foster tacit knowledge sharing with the mediating role of commitment. Furthermore, the moderating role of organizational knowledge-sharing culture is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The study applied a survey-based quantitative research design to test the proposed model. The nature of data are cross-sectional and collected with stratified random sampling among public sector higher education professionals of Pakistan. The total sample size for the present research is 247 respondents. The variance-based structural equation modeling technique by using Smart_PLS software is used for analysis.

Findings

Data analysis and results reveal that trust and social networks are significant predictors of tacit knowledge sharing among Pakistani academicians while commitment positively mediated the relationships. While the moderating role of organizational knowledge-sharing culture is also established.

Research limitations/implications

The current research explains tacit knowledge sharing among academics with fewer antecedents i.e. social network and trust with limited sample size and specific population. There is still a great deal of work to be done in this area. Hence, the study provides direction for including knowledge-oriented leadership and knowledge governance in the current framework. Moreover, the framework can be tested in different work settings for better generalization.

Practical implications

The study gives an important lead to practitioners for enhancing tacit knowledge sharing at the workplace through a robust social network of employees, building trust and boosting employees’ commitment, as well as through supportive organizational knowledge sharing culture.

Originality/value

The research comprehends the tacit knowledge sharing framework with theoretical arrangements of trust, social networks, commitment and culture in higher education workplace settings under the umbrella of social capital theory.
Risk of chronic spontaneous urticaria in reproductive‐aged women with abnormal uterine bleeding: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Chen Tai‐Li , Yip Hei‐Tung , Wang Jen‐Hung , Chang Chi‐Han , Huang Ci , Hsu Chung‐Y. , Chang Chung‐Hsing
Published: August 2021

Women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) have been reported to develop chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Nevertheless, whether or not AUB women have an increased risk of CSU has not been examined in large‐scale epidemiologic studies. This study aimed to investigate the risk of CSU among reproductive‐aged women with AUB. A total of 79 595 patients and 79 107 propensity‐score matched controls were recruited from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database to conduct a nationwide cohort study. The Cox proportional‐hazard regression model was applied to examine the adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for CSU in relation to AUB. We found that women with AUB had a higher risk for CSU (aHR = 1.83; 95% CI, 1.76–1.90) than women without AUB. Subgroup analyses revealed that AUB with an abnormal bleeding frequency (aHR = 1.70; 95% CI, 1.60–1.79), irregular bleeding (aHR = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.71–1.89), and intermenstrual bleeding (aHR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.49–1.83) were associated with an increased risk of CSU compared with those without abnormalities. The Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the cumulative incidence of developing CSU was consistently higher in the AUB cohort than in the non‐AUB cohort during the entire follow‐up period (log‐rank test, p < 0.001). In conclusion, reproductive‐aged women with AUB were found to have a higher risk of developing CSU. This study emphasizes the importance of enquiring CSU patients about menstrual problems in clinical practice. Further consultation with obstetrician‐gynecologists may be beneficial.
Safety considerations of systemic Janus kinase inhibitors in atopic dermatitis applications
Authors: Chang Po‐Hsiung , Huang Sheng‐Fen , Chang Po‐Sheng , Yu Yu
Published: August 2021

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are emerging treatments for atopic dermatitis (AD). Due to this novel role as a therapeutic option for patients with AD, we aimed to review current evidence on the pathophysiology and the safety and adverse effects (AEs) of oral JAK inhibitors for the treatment of AD utilizing the key terms atopic dermatitis, JAK inhibitors, and adverse effect or event. Our study indicated that oral JAK inhibitors have a moderate safety profile for use in AD in several reviews and phase II or III clinical trials. Headaches, nausea, and nasopharyngitis are the most commonly reported systemic AEs. Furthermore, acne, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, and eczema herpeticum are the most commonly recorded dermatological AEs. Current evidence indicates JAK inhibitors may also have less association with some of the serious AEs, although there is potential for increased risk of asthma, acute pancreatitis, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Whereas data remain limited for the long‐term safety of JAK inhibitor use in patients with AD, many ongoing clinical trials have promising preliminary results.
Climate influences productivity but not breeding density of wedge‐tailed eaglesAquila audaxin arid and mesic Western Australia
Authors: Cherriman Simon C. , Fleming Patricia A. , Shephard Jill M. , Olsen Penny D.
Published: August 2021

Long‐term studies are required to reveal responses by long‐lived, top‐order predator populations to ongoing seasonal fluctuations. However, such investigations are rare in the Australian context. Between 2009 and 2019, the breeding density and productivity of an arid and a mesic wedge‐tailed eagleAquila audaxpopulation, each occupying an area of 2800 km2, were compared (11–98 pairs monitored annually). Breeding pairs spaced themselves evenly in both study areas, with no significant difference between the average arid zone nearest‐neighbour distance of 5.32 ± 1.98 km (n = 44) and that determined for the mesic zone (4.88 ± 2.32 km,n = 54). This similarity in spacing suggests a maximum average density is tolerated by these territorial raptors. By contrast, annual breeding success (proportion of pairs fledging young) and productivity (fledged young per pair) differed significantly between the two populations, with rainfall (but not temperature) influencing reproduction. In the arid zone, the proportion of successful pairs per occupied breeding home range was consistently low each year (mean = 12 ± 7% fledged broods per pair, range 0–26%) and positively correlated with annual rainfall. In the mesic zone, it was consistently high each year (mean = 69 ± 9%, range 57–91%) and not significantly correlated with annual rainfall. Overall productivity figures showed similar differences, with 0.13 and 0.77 fledglings per pair per year for arid (n = 9 years) and mesic (n = 11 years) eagles, respectively. Such low arid zone productivity, the lowest ever recorded for the species, could have long‐term implications in the face of the increased frequency of extreme weather events. That breeding density can be independent of climatic factors provides new insight into the way a largeAquilaspecies integrates with Australia’s predominantly arid environment. This study provides an important baseline data set for continued research on long‐term occupancy and productivity trends.
Health seeking behaviours and treatments received by Australian women with vulvodynia: A cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Mitchell Alice M. , Armour Mike , Chalmers K. Jane
Published: August 2021

Background

Vulvodynia is a condition characterised by pain in the vulva lasting more than three months and for which no obvious aetiology can be found. It affects around 8% of women and has significant negative impacts on quality of life. There is a paucity of research on healthcare management pathways and the use of evidence‐based treatments in an Australian community setting.

Aims

To explore which healthcare professionals Australian women with vulvodynia seek treatment from, and which treatments are recommended, provided, or prescribed by these healthcare professionals.

Materials and Methods

A cross‐sectional online survey was conducted from May 2019 to August 2019. Women were eligible to participate if they had been diagnosed with vulvodynia by a healthcare professional, were currently living in Australia, and were over 18 years old.

Results

Fifty respondents meet the inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 30.5 years. On average, respondents reported seeing four different types of healthcare professionals in the management of their vulvodynia, with general practitioners (GPs) (98%), medical specialists (96%), and physiotherapists (80%) being the three most commonly consulted. Most respondents reported seeing multiple GPs (>87%), multiple medical specialists (>77%), and multiple physiotherapists (50%). The most commonly prescribed interventions were pelvic floor down‐training exercises (76%), topical (70%) and oral (70%) medication, and vulvodynia information (56%).

Conclusions

Australian women with vulvodynia seek help from several professionals and receive a variety of treatments for their pain. Of concern is many treatments that are being offered clinically have very little peer‐reviewed evidence of effectiveness in vulvodynia.
Development and validation of the Nonclinging to Ego Scale
Authors: Ridthikerd Pummarat , Huansuriya Thipnapa
Published: August 2021

The purpose of the present research was to develop a scale to measure a Buddhist psychological construct called nonclinging to ego (the tendency to be psychologically free from overidentification with physical appearance, thoughts, and emotions, and to have lower need to satisfy, protect, and enhance self). Using data from Thai university students, we verified the presence of nine theorised factors. The Nonclinging to Ego Scale (NCES) was translated into English to assess its generalisability beyond a Thai‐speaking population. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to demonstrate configural and metric invariances of the NCES between Thai‐ and English‐speaking samples. Finally, we assessed the NCES’s concurrent validity with theoretically related constructs: well‐being, nonattachment, narcissism, and ethnocentrism. Results matched theoretical predictions, supporting the NCES’s concurrent validity. These findings support the NCES’s potential utility for research into intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intergroup relations issues and dynamics.
Outpatient vs inpatient Foley catheter induction of labor in multiparas with unripe cervixes: A randomized trial
Authors: Hamdan Mukhri , Shuhaina Shuib , Hong Jesrine Gek Shan , Vallikkannu Narayanan , Zaidi Syeda Nureena , Tan Yi Pin , Tan Peng Chiong
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Multiparous labor inductions are typically successful, and the process can be rapid, starting from a ripened cervix with a predictable response to amniotomy and oxytocin infusion. Outpatient Foley catheter labor induction in multiparas with unripe cervixes is a feasible option as the mechanical process of ripening is usually without significant uterine contractions and well tolerated. Labor contractions can be initiated by amniotomy and titrated oxytocin infusion in the hospital for well‐timed births during working hours as night birth are associated with adverse events. We sought to evaluate outpatient compared with inpatient Foley catheter induction of labor in multiparas for births during working hours and maternal satisfaction.

Material and methods

A randomized trial was conducted in the University of Malaya Medical Center. A total of 163 term multiparas (no dropouts) with unripe cervixes (Bishop score ≤5) scheduled for labor induction were randomized to outpatient or inpatient Foley catheter. Primary outcomes were delivery during “working hours” 08:00–18:00 h and maternal satisfaction on allocated care (assessed by 11‐point visual numerical rating score 0–10, with higher score indicating more satisfied). Clinical trial registration: ISRCTN13534944.

Results

Comparing outpatient and inpatient arms, delivery during working hours were 54/82 (65.9%) vs. 48/81 (59.3%) (relative risk 1.1, 95% CI 0.9–1.4, p = 0.421) and median maternal satisfaction visual numerical rating score was 9 (interquartile range 9–9) vs. 9 (interquartile range 8–9, p = 0.134), repectively. Duration of hospital stay and membrane rupture to delivery interval were significantly shorter in the outpatient arm: 35.8 ± 20.2 vs. 45.2 ± 16.2 h (p = 0.001) and 4.1 ± 2.9 vs. 5.3 ± 3.6 h (p = 0.020), respectively. Other maternal and neonatal secondary outcomes were not significantly different.

Conclusions

The trial failed to demonstrate the anticipated increase in births during working hours with outpatient compared with inpatient induction of labor with Foley catheter in parous women with an unripe cervix. Hospital stay and membrane rupture to delivery interval were significantly shortened in the outpatient group. The rate of maternal satisfaction was high in both groups and no significant differences were found.
A trade‐off: Antimicrobial resistance and COVID‐19
Authors: Johnson Tess
Published: August 2021

As we combat the COVID‐19 pandemic, both the prescription of antimicrobials and the use of biocidal agents have increased in many countries. Although these measures can be expected to benefit existing people by, to some extent, mitigating the pandemic's effects, they may threaten long‐term well‐being of existing and future people, where they contribute to the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A trade‐off dilemma thus presents itself: combat COVID‐19 using these measures, or stop using them in order to protect against AMR. Currently, I argue, we are choosing to continue with these measures, and thus to prioritize combatting COVID‐19, without adequate ethical reflection on the AMR‐associated costs of these measures. I discuss the magnitude of the possible costs and benefits involved in making the trade‐off in favour of COVID‐19, and their distribution. I highlight two salient aspects of distribution that can help determine whether combatting COVID‐19 whilst exacerbating AMR produces justly distributed costs and benefits: distribution between current and future populations, and distribution between existing geographical populations. Adopting this account, I argue that based on the magnitude and distribution of costs and benefits of combatting COVID‐19, we have good reason to rethink this trade‐off, and instead consider prioritizing protecting current and future people against AMR, but jettisoning measures against COVID‐19 that also exacerbate AMR.
PDK2 leads to cisplatin resistance through suppression of mitochondrial function in ovarian clear cell carcinoma
Authors: Kitamura Sachiko , Yamaguchi Ken , Murakami Ryusuke , Furutake Yoko , Higasa Koichiro , Abiko Kaoru , Hamanishi Junzo , Baba Tsukasa , Matsumura Noriomi , Mandai Masaki
Published: August 2021

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC) exhibits an association with endometriosis, resistance to oxidative stress, and poor prognosis owing to its resistance to conventional platinum‐based chemotherapy. A greater understanding of the molecular characteristics and pathogenesis of ovarian cancer subtypes may facilitate the development of targeted therapeutic strategies, although the mechanism of drug resistance in ovarian CCC has yet to be determined. In this study, we assessed exome sequencing data to identify new therapeutic targets of mitochondrial function in ovarian CCC because of the central role of mitochondria in redox homeostasis. Copy number analyses revealed that chromosome 17q21‐24 (chr.17q21‐24) amplification was associated with recurrence in ovarian CCC. Cell viability assays identified an association between cisplatin resistance and chr.17q21‐24 amplification, and mitochondrion‐related genes were enriched in patients with chr.17q21‐24 amplification. Patients with high expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 (PDK2) had a worse prognosis than those with low PDK2 expression. Furthermore, inhibition of PDK2 synergistically enhanced cisplatin sensitivity by activating the electron transport chain and by increasing the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Mouse xenograft models showed that inhibition of PDK2 with cisplatin inhibited tumor growth. This evidence suggests that targeting mitochondrial metabolism and redox homeostasis is an attractive therapeutic strategy for improving drug sensitivity in ovarian CCC.
Developmental associations between risk‐taking and anxiety symptoms across ages 8–12 years
Authors: Tieskens Jacintha M. , Buil J. Marieke , Koot Susanne , van Lier Pol A. C.
Published: August 2021

This study explored the transactional association between anxiety symptoms and risk‐avoidance in Dutch elementary schoolchildren (N = 1200; 50% girls) across ages 8–12. Anxiety symptoms were obtained using self‐, peer‐, and teacher‐reports. Risk‐avoidance was measured using the Balloon Analogue Risk Task—Youth Version. Random‐intercept cross‐lagged panel models showed that, across informants, increases in anxiety symptoms predicted decreases in risk‐taking. Apart from minor exceptions, this effect was similar across sexes. For peer‐reports, the reverse path from decreases in risk‐taking to increased anxiety was also found. Overall, this study gives insight into the developmental link between symptoms of anxiety and risk‐avoidance which is important for early signaling and prevention as well as for our understanding of the consequences of childhood anxiety symptoms.
Measuring the quality of early childhood education: Associations with children’s development from a national study with the IMCEIC tool in Colombia
Authors: Maldonado‐Carreño Carolina , Yoshikawa Hirokazu , Escallón Eduardo , Ponguta Liliana Angélica , Nieto Ana María , Kagan Sharon Lynn , Rey‐ Guerra Catalina , Cristancho Juan Camilo , Mateus Angy , Caro Luz Angela , Aragon Carlos Andrés , Rodríguez Ana María , Motta Andrés
Published: August 2021

National‐level monitoring of quality of early childhood education (ECE) is key to achieving inclusive and equitable education. Most countries report structural quality while process characteristics are rarely observed at the national level. This study examined the associations between ECE and children's development in a middle‐income country using data from a nationally representative sample of public centers serving Colombian children (N = 3163; M = 4.3 years, 50% girls; 42% Mestizo, 16% White, 15% Afro‐Colombian, 4% Indigenous, 23% not reported). Descriptive findings evidenced low to moderate quality. Multilevel models showed several positive associations between structural and process quality and child outcomes. Results have implications for the existing literature and highlight the feasibility of quality monitoring in low‐ and middle‐income countries.
Microbiological diagnosis of endophthalmitis using nanopore targeted sequencing
Authors: Huang Qiong , Fu Aisi , Wang Yiyan , Zhang Jie , Zhao Wanxu , Cheng Yang
Published: August 2021

Background

Microorganism identification is critical for the early diagnosis and management of infectious endophthalmitis, but traditional culture can yield false‐negative results. Nanopore targeted sequencing (NTS) is a third‐generation sequencing technique with multiple advantages. This study aimed to test aqueous humour or vitreous fluid samples from presumed cases of infectious endophthalmitis using NTS to evaluate the feasibility of NTS in diagnosing endophthalmitis, especially for culture‐negative cases.

Methods

This prospective study enrolled patients who presented to the Department of Ophthalmology of Union Hospital (Wuhan, China) between June 2018 and December 2020. The samples were sent immediately for routine microbiology culture processing and NTS assay.

Results

NTS identified microorganisms in 17 of 18 cases (94.4%) (eight culture‐positive cases, nine culture‐negative cases, and one case unavailable for culture). There was a high‐quality match between culture and NTS for culture‐positive cases. In the eight culture‐negative cases and the case unavailable for culture, NTS detected either bacteria, fungi, or a mixture of bacteria and fungi in the intraocular fluids. The average waiting times for the results of bacterial and fungal cultures were 48 and 72 h, respectively. The average time for the NTS results was 12 h.

Conclusions

NTS appears to be a promising diagnostic platform for diagnosing infectious endophthalmitis, even for culture‐negative cases.
Urban Precarity: The Destructiveness of Neoliberalism and Possibilities for Transformation
Authors: Susser Ida
Published: August 2021

As neoliberalism has torn apart the policies of social and collective stability integral to the visions of welfare states post‐World War II, precarity has become central to the study of advanced capitalist societies. This contribution invokes literary explorations of urbanity to argue that the anthropological analysis of the “urban” is pivotal to the understanding of how contemporary precarity is made and experienced. It draws on my fieldwork with the French Gilets Jaunes movement. The study of the urban has a long history both outside Europe and the United States as well as within. By contrast, precarity has emerged as a key word in the historic centers of capital where states have abandoned aspirations for expanding wellbeing. The papers presented here explore the relevance of this concept to post‐colonial countries where life, as many have pointed out, has always been precarious.
Patch characteristics and domestic dogs differentially affect carnivore space use in fragmented landscapes in southern Chile
Authors: Malhotra Rumaan , Jiménez Jaime E. , Harris Nyeema C.
Published: August 2021

Aim

In an increasingly anthropogenic world, species face multiple interacting threats. Habitat fragmentation and domestic dogs are two perturbations threatening terrestrial mammals globally. Our aim was to determine whether (a) the spatial use of domestic dogs increases with habitat destruction, and (b) domestic dogs and habitat destruction drive the spatial use of native carnivores in a heavily degraded agricultural landscape.

Location

Central valley/Andean foothills transition of Los Lagos, Chile.

Methods

We implemented a camera trap survey in a fragmented landscape comprised of native forest patches amidst a matrix of pastureland. We used single‐species occupancy models to assess the impact of domestic dogs and habitat destruction on three mesocarnivores—the foxes, culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) and chilla (Lycalopex griseus) and the wild cat güiña (Leopardus guigna). Additionally, we compared temporal activity of all study species including domestic dogs.

Results

Detection rates for both the foxes increased with domestic dog occupancy, while factors driving occupancy differed for each of the native species. We found that a 12% projected increase in domestic dog occupancy negatively impacted the spatial use of the culpeo. Habitat loss and fragmentation were positive drivers for chilla and domestic dog occupancy. The güiña did not respond to fragmentation and other habitat covariates or domestic dog occupancy. All native carnivore species were primarily nocturnal, while the domestic dog was almost entirely diurnal.

Main Conclusions

We highlight that domestic dog occupancy was positively correlated with habitat loss. Native species showed varied tolerance to domestic dog occupancy and no negative response to habitat destruction. Future conditions of increased fragmentation and habitat loss will likely increase the potential contact between domestic dogs and native carnivores.