bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Promoting business zakah as a product of Islamic finance to fund social causes for well-being of the underprivileged: evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Hoque Nazamul
Published: January 2022

Purpose

This study aims to look into the scope of exploring and promoting business zakah for the enhancement of the well-being of the underprivileged in society.

Design/methodology/approach

This is mainly a qualitative research conducted using both primary and secondary data. Primary data have been collected from 34 business entrepreneurs in Bangladesh through semi-structured in-depth interviews. The secondary data have been collected from annual reports with a view to calculating business zakah of five business enterprises for providing an indicative picture of prospective volume of business zakah in Bangladesh. Finally, collected qualitative data have been analyzed thematically following the due procedures with a view to addressing the research questions.

Findings

The findings reveal that around thirty five percent of sample entrepreneurs have used business zakah fund for fully and partially financing their social projects. It also reveals that on average annual business zakah fund amounts to nearly 144m BDT (around US$1.7m) per business enterprise. These findings bear clear witness that business zakah has extensive scope and promising prospect to be an instrument of financing social projects aimed at ensuring social well-being of the disadvantaged.

Practical implications

The findings of this research can be used as a guide to promote business zakah to finance social programs aimed at ensuring the well-being of the underprivileged of all societies particularly of Muslim countries representing one-fourth of the world population.

Originality/value

Exploring and promoting business zakah as an initiative of broadening the base of zakah is an innovative move and net addition to the literature of Islamic finance. It contributes greatly to the poverty alleviation movement in the sense that Muslim business entrepreneurs will now find their business zakah fund readily available to finance their social projects aimed at ensuring well-being of the impoverished.
The missing link in the evolution of product design: a strategy roadmap towards product development success
Authors: Sameti Ardalan
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The literature on product design/development (PD) has attempted to understand the consumer but has not provided a comprehensive framework for product marketers and designers. Thus, this paper aims to compile and link the main topics in the literature on PD to create a foundation for strategic development in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopted a “fit-for-purpose” methodology, a cross-referencing method and a meta-narrative approach that are appropriate for reviewing studies in a field involving complex topics and areas in which the literature is still developing.

Findings

To enhance the quality of product development, there is a need for PD strategy based on a clear understanding of many factors: the consumer; the complex interrelations among a product’s values, dimensions and personalities; PD theories; and other related variables.

Practical implications

This study found that PD studies should concentrate more on codifying strategies to enhance product development success. This is particularly important in view of consumers’ varied and changeable tastes in the global market and the differing insights of product marketers and designers.

Originality/value

This comprehensive systematic review is a unique study that contributes to future business-to-consumer and business-to-business research by compiling scattered and hidden strategies, theories and variables in the PD/development literature.
Secondary streptococcal infection following influenza
Authors: Okahashi Nobuo , Sumitomo Tomoko , Nakata Masanobu , Kawabata Shigetada
Published: January 2022

Secondary bacterial infection following influenza type A virus (IAV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality during influenza epidemics. Streptococcus pneumoniae has been identified as a predominant pathogen in secondary pneumonia cases that develop following influenza. Although IAV has been shown to enhance susceptibility to the secondary bacterial infection, the underlying mechanism of the viral–bacterial synergy leading to disease progression is complex and remains elusive. In this review, cooperative interactions of viruses and streptococci during co‐ or secondary infection with IAV are described. IAV infects the upper respiratory tract, therefore, streptococci that inhabit or infect the respiratory tract are of special interest. As many excellent reviews on the co‐infection of IAV and S. pneumoniae have already been published, this review is intended to describe the unique interactions between other streptococci and IAV. Both streptococcal and IAV infections modulate the host epithelial barrier of the respiratory tract in various ways. IAV infection directly disrupts epithelial barriers, though at the same time the virus modifies the properties of infected cells to enhance streptococcal adherence and invasion. Mitis group streptococci produce neuraminidases, which promote IAV infection in a unique manner. The studies reviewed here have revealed intriguing mechanisms underlying secondary streptococcal infection following influenza.
Nitrogen enrichment and warming shift community functional composition via distinct mechanisms: The role of intraspecific trait variability and species turnover
Authors: Wang Xiaoyi , Yan Xuebin , Huang Kailing , Luo Xi , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhou Luyao , Yang Fei , Xu Xiaohong , Zhou Xianhui , Niu Kechang , Guo Hui
Published: January 2022

Global change factors may shift community functional composition by driving species turnover (species occurrence and species relative abundance) and intraspecific trait variability. However, their relative contribution in determining the functional response of community to global change, especially nitrogen enrichment and warming, remains unclear.

We conducted a fully factorial field experiment in a Tibetan alpine meadow to examine the responses of plant community functional composition to nitrogen enrichment and warming by quantifying seven plant functional traits in each plot. Using the sum of squares decomposition, we further disentangled the relative contribution of intraspecific trait variability and species turnover to changes in community functional composition.

We found that nitrogen enrichment caused a shift of plant community towards a more resource‐acquisitive strategy, while warming resulted in a shift towards a more resource‐conservative strategy. Plant intraspecific trait variability controls shifts in community functional composition in response to nitrogen enrichment, whereas species turnover (especially change in species relative abundance) mainly explains warming‐induced shifts. Nitrogen enrichment and warming did not show significant interactive effects on plant functional composition.

These findings suggest that nitrogen enrichment and warming can alter community functional composition of alpine meadow through distinct mechanisms. Plant intraspecific trait variability confers functional resilience of Tibetan alpine meadows under nitrogen enrichment, but warming could induce significant turnover of species that pronouncedly impacts community functioning in this highland ecosystem.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Preparation and partial pharmacodynamic studies of luliconazole ethosomes
Authors: Lin Biwen , Wang Wenjuan , Ba Wei , Li Hengjin , Fan Jianfeng
Published: January 2022

As a drug carrier, ethosome is found to be efficient in delivering drug to the deep skin layers through stratum corneum, and the purpose of this paper is to develop luridazole ethosomes acting as an optimal choice for transdermal antifungal drugs. The luliconazole ethosomes were prepared by thin‐film hydration, and evaluated for morphology, size, entrapment efficiency (EE), stability and deformability. In vitro, the transdermal experiment was performed on excised rat skin by Franz diffusion cell, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was applied to determine antifungal activity. In vivo, the irritation of luliconazole ethosomes was also observed in rats. The luliconazole ethosomes were prepared with 5% (w/v) lecithin, 45% (v/v) ethanol and 8‐min ultrasound, and characterised with small and uniform particle size, high EE of about 70%. These ethosomes possessed good deformability, were stable and affected by light and high temperature. The cumulative amount permeated of different dosage forms at 48 h from high to low was: ethosome > ointment > liposome > hydroalcoholic solution (p < 0.05), and the sum of the luliconazole retention of skin from high to low at 48 h was: ethosome/ointment > liposome > hydroalcoholic solution (p < 0.05). In the antifungal experiment, the MICs from high to low were: hydroalcoholic solution > liposome > ethosome (p < 0.05), and Trichoderma was more sensitive to luliconazole than Candida. There was no skin irritation observed after treatment of luliconazole ethosomes. The luliconazole ethosomes are firstly prepared in our study, which have little stimulation, better permeation effect and antifungal activity, offering a new perspective for choosing clinical antifungal drugs in the Department of Dermatology.
Necrostatin‐1 mitigates renal ischaemia–reperfusion injury ‐ time dependent ‐ via aborting the interacting protein kinase (RIPK‐1)‐induced inflammatory immune response
Authors: Ashour Hend , Hashem Heba A. , Khowailed Akef A. , Rashed Laila A. , Hassan Randa M. , Soliman Ayman S.
Published: January 2022

The recently defined necroptosis process participates in the pathophysiology of several tissue injuries. Targeting the necroptosis mediator receptor‐interacting protein kinase (RIPK1) by necrostatin‐1 in different phases of ischaemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) may provide new insight into the protection against renal IRI. The rat groups included (n = 8 in each group): 1) Sham; 2) Renal IRI; 3) Necrostatin‐1 treatment 20 min before ischaemia induction in a dose of 1.65 mg/kg/intravenous; 4) Necrostatin‐1 injection just before reperfusion; 5) Necrostatin‐1 injection 20 min after reperfusion establishment; and 6) drug injection at both the pre‐ischaemia and at reperfusion time in the same dose. Timing dependent, necrostatin‐1 diminished RIPK1 (p < 0.001), and aborted the necroptosis‐induced renal cell injury. Necrostatin‐1 decreased the renal chemokine (CXCL1), interleukin‐6, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM‐1), myeloperoxidase, and the nuclear factor (NFκB), concomitant with reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), inflammatory cell infiltration, and diminished cell death represented by apoptotic cell count and the BAX/Bcl2 protein ratio. In group 6, the cell injury was minimal and the renal functions (creatinine, BUN and creatinine clearance) were almost normalised. The inflammatory markers were diminished (p < 0.001) compared to the IRI group. The results were confirmed by histopathological examination. In conclusion, RIPK1 inhibition ameliorates the inflammatory immune response induced by renal IRI. The use of two doses was more beneficial as the pathophysiology of cell injury is characterised.
Experiential knowledge in mental health services: Analysing the enactment of expertise in peer support
Authors: Kirkegaard Sine
Published: January 2022

The shift towards recovery‐oriented mental health care has led to the extensive growth of peer support in contemporary service delivery. When enacting peer support, peer workers (PWs) use their lived experiences of mental illness to provide support to individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. While PWs are increasingly an integrated part of mental health services, the way in which peer support unfolds in everyday practices remains understudied. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork from Danish mental health centres, this paper investigates how peer workers and users enact experiential knowledge and expertise to support one another. Theoretically, this paper draws on a micro‐sociological approach that comprehends expertise as an interactional accomplishment enacted within institutional arrangements. First, the analysis shows how PWs and users develop affective relations based on shared illness experiences that enable the enactment of expertise. Second, it demonstrates how PWs and users engage in these relations by exchanging sympathy and knowledge according to different situational demands. Third, it shows how experiences of relational limitations make service users contest the value of experiential knowledge and PWs' position as valid experts. Centrally, this paper contributes to a general discussion of expertise and the implications of bringing lived experiences into mental health services.
Durable response to durvalumab‐based immunochemotherapy in small‐cell lung carcinoma transformation from EGFR‐mutant non–small cell lung cancer: A case report
Authors: Li Yu‐Chung
Published: January 2022

Combined small‐cell lung carcinoma (C‐SCLC) is small‐cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) with added non–small‐cell morphology. We report a case of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation‐positive C‐SCLC in an 84‐year‐old patient with metastatic brain lesions who developed intrinsic resistance to osimertinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). The patient was diagnosed with small‐cell transformation of non–small‐cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and received 6 cycles of dose‐adjusted durvalumab with etoposide and carboplatin. In December 2021, the patient received the seventeenth cycle of maintenance durvalumab 19 months after diagnosis and showed continued treatment response and disease control. Comprehensive molecular profiling and repeated biopsies are recommended in NSCLC patients who progress on first‐line EGFR‐TKIs. Durvalumab in combination with chemotherapy appears to be beneficial for EGFR mutation‐positive C‐SCLC patients that are resistant to TKIs.
Mental health in people with minority sexual orientations: A meta‐analysis of population‐based studies
Authors: Wittgens Charlotte , Fischer Mirjam M. , Buspavanich Pichit , Theobald Sabrina , Schweizer Katinka , Trautmann Sebastian
Published: January 2022

Aims

To conduct a meta‐analysis of population‐based studies to quantify the association between sexual minority status (lesbian women, gay men, and bisexual people) and the risk of common mental disorders (depressive disorders, alcohol use disorders (AUD), anxiety disorders, and suicidality).

Method

PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library Database, the Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, and ProQuest were searched for relevant studies published between 2000 and May 2020. The PRISMA guidelines were followed for selection processes. Twenty‐six studies met the inclusion criteria which included a total of 519,414 heterosexuals, 10,178 lesbian/gay people and 14,410 bisexual people.

Results

Lesbian/gay people (ORs between 1.97, 95% [CI = 1.76, 2.19] and 2.89, 95% [CI = 2.41,3.38]) and bisexual people (ORs between 2.70; 95% [CI = 2.21,3.18], and 4.81; 95% [CI = 3.63, 5.99]) had a higher risk for mental disorders than heterosexuals for all investigated diagnostic categories. The risk for depression (OR = 2.70; 95% [CI = 2.21, 3.18]) and suicidality (OR = 4.81; 95% [CI = 3.63, 5.99]) was higher in bisexual compared with lesbian/gay people. Exploratory meta‐regressions revealed no evidence for a decrease in mental health differences between people with minority sexual orientations and heterosexuals in more recent years of data assessment, except for AUD.

Conclusions

These findings clearly suggest disparities in mental health between people with minority sexual orientations and heterosexual people. There is a lack of data regarding a wider spectrum of sexual orientations and mental disorders and studies in non‐Western countries.
A Dynamic Measure of Bureaucratic Reputation: New Data for New Theory
Authors: Bellodi Luca
Published: January 2022

Bureaucratic reputation is one of the most important concepts used to understand the behavior of administrative agencies and their interactions with multiple audiences. Despite a rich theoretical literature discussing reputation, we do not have a comparable measure across agencies, between countries, and over time. I present a new strategy to measure bureaucratic reputation from legislative speeches with word‐embedding techniques. I introduce an original dataset on the reputation of 465 bureaucratic bodies over a period of 40 years, and across two countries—the U.S. and the U.K. I perform several validation tests and present an application of this method to investigate whether partisanship and agency politicization matter for reputation. I find that agencies enjoy a better reputation among the members of the party in government, with partisan differences less pronounced for independent bodies. Finally, I discuss how this measurement strategy can contribute to classical and new questions about political–administrative interactions.
Promoting maker‐centred instruction through virtual professional development activities for K‐12 teachers in low‐income rural areas
Authors: Chen Ye , Cao Li
Published: January 2022

With an increased interest in makerspace in K‐12 education, professional development (PD) is needed to equip teachers with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to effectively incorporate makerspace and maker technology in teaching. This study examined a virtual PD programme to improve K‐12 teachers' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs in teaching with maker technology. Data were collected from 43 in‐service schoolteachers through project artefacts, survey questionnaires and reflection journals. Results of the qualitative and quantitative analyses show that the PD experience effectively improved participants' knowledge in maker technology and the associated pedagogy, as well as their attitudes and beliefs towards teaching with maker technology. Implications for designing and implementing a virtual maker‐centred teacher PD programme and directions for future research are discussed.

Practitioner notes

What is currently known about this topic

Makerspaces and maker technology have been increasingly introduced to K‐12 settings to promote student learning.

Teachers struggle to effectively design and implement maker‐centred instruction.

Empirical research was very limited on preparing in‐service teachers for maker‐centred instruction.

Maker resource deficiency in rural areas and the COVID‐19 pandemic added pressure for researchers and educators to develop alternative models for digitalizing maker‐centred professional development (PD).

What this paper adds

This study designed and implemented virtual maker‐centred PD activities to prepare K‐12 schoolteachers for integrating maker technology in classroom teaching.

Both quantitative and qualitative results show that virtual maker‐centred PD activities significantly improved teachers' knowledge of maker technology and the associated pedagogy, and also improved their attitudes and beliefs toward teaching with maker technology.

This paper provides a practical example of how maker‐centred PD for in‐service teachers could be accomplished through a virtual programme.

Implications for practitioners

It is beneficial for teachers to have hands‐on experience through making to better understand what maker technology can do and what the learning process is in making.

Domain and context‐specific making contributed to the development of making‐associated pedagogy skills, as well as attitudes and beliefs towards maker technology.

PD programmes should focus on maker knowledge and skills first to improve teachers' attitudes and beliefs.

For at‐a‐distance making, it is important to provide access to a collection of tools and give teachers an immersive experience in an authentic makerspace.
Who “it” is influences what “it” does: Discourse effects on children's syntactic parsing
Authors: Huang Yi Ting , Ovans Zoe
Published: January 2022

Children often interpret first noun phrases (NP1s) as agents, which improves comprehension of actives but hinders passives. While children sometimes withhold the agent‐first bias, the reasons remain unclear. The current study tests the hypothesis that children default to the agent‐first bias as a “best guess” of role assignment when they face uncertainty about sentence properties. Thus, rather than always relying on early‐arriving cues, children can attend to different sentence cues across communicative contexts. To test this account, we manipulated interpretive uncertainty by varying cues to the discourse status of initial arguments (referring to new vs. given entities) and measured interpretation accuracy for active (where the agent‐first bias predicted verb morphology) and passive sentences (where the two conflicted). Across three experiments, we found that children relied on the agent‐first bias more when new discourse entities were signaled by definite NP1s, reference to unmentioned entities, and novel words. This, in turn, led to higher accuracy for actives relative to passives. In contrast, when given entities were implied through pronoun NP1s, reference to mentioned entities, and known words, children avoided the agent‐first bias and instead assigned roles using more reliable but later‐arriving verb morphology. This led to similar comprehension accuracy across constructions. These findings suggest that children simultaneously interpret relations between sentences (e.g., discourse continuity) and within sentences (e.g., role assignment), such that commitments to the former can influence parsing cues for the latter.
ERp44 is required for endocardial cushion development by regulating VEGFA secretion in myocardium
Authors: Bi Youkun , Yang Zhiguang , Jin Meng , Zhai Kui , Wang Jun , Mao Yang , Liu Yang , Ding Mingqin , Wang Huiwen , Wang Fengchao , Cai Hong , Ji Guangju
Published: January 2022

Objectives

Endocardial cushions are precursors of the valve septum complex that separates the four heart chambers. Several genes have been implicated in the development of endocardial cushions. Specifically, ERp44 has been found to play a role in the early secretory pathway, but its function in heart development has not been well studied.

Materials and Methods

In this study, we established conditional and tissue‐specific knockout mouse models. The morphology, survival rate, the development of heart and endocardial cushion were under evaluation. The relationship between ERp44 and VEGFA was investigated by transcriptome, qPCR, WB, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry.

Results

ERp44 knockout (KO) mice were smaller in size, and most mice died during early postnatal life. KO hearts exhibited the typical phenotypes of congenital heart diseases, such as abnormal heart shapes and severe septal and valvular defects. Similar phenotypes were found in cTNT‐Cre+/−; ERp44fl/fl mice, which indicated that myocardial ERp44 principally controls endocardial cushion formation. Further studies demonstrated that the deletion of ERp44 significantly decreased the proliferation of cushion cells and impaired the endocardial‐mesenchymal transition (EndMT), which was followed by endocardial cushion dysplasia. Finally, we found that ERp44 was directly bound to VEGFA and controlled its release, further regulating EndMT.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that ERp44 plays a specific role in heart development. ERp44 contributes to the development of the endocardial cushion by affecting VEGFA‐mediated EndMT.
Aligning ecological compensation policies with the Post‐2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to achieve real net gain in biodiversity
Authors: Simmonds Jeremy S. , von Hase Amrei , Quétier Fabien , Brownlie Susie , Maron Martine , Possingham Hugh P. , Souquet Mathieu , zu Ermgassen Sophus O. S. E. , ten Kate Kerry , Costa Hugo M. , Sonter Laura J.
Published: January 2022

Increasingly, government and corporate policies on ecological compensation (e.g., offsetting) are requiring “net gain” outcomes for biodiversity. This presents an opportunity to align development with the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Post‐2020 Global Biodiversity Framework's (GBF) proposed ambition for overall biodiversity recovery. In this perspective, we describe three conditions that should be accounted for in net gain policy to align outcomes with biodiversity recovery goals: namely, a requirement for residual losses from development to be compensated for by (1) absolute gains, which are (2) scaled to the achievement of explicit biodiversity targets, where (3) gains are demonstrably feasible. We show that few current policies meet these conditions, which risks undermining efforts to achieve the proposed Post‐2020 GBF milestones and goals, as well as other jurisdictional policy imperatives to halt and reverse biodiversity decline. To guide future decision‐making, we provide a supporting decision tree outlining net gain compensation feasibility.
The Consumption‐Stimulating Effect of Public Rental Housing in China
Authors: Shao Xiaokuai , Cao Yujin , Teng Yangchuan , Chen Jidong , Gong Liutang
Published: January 2022

China's public rental policy creates opportunities for poor households to rent apartments at low rental prices. In addition to such an impact, we argue that public rental housing increases the purchasing power of the poor and therefore enhances the income elasticity of consumption, i.e., the percentage of consumption increment due to a 1 percent increase in income. Based on a nationwide dataset from China, the Chinese Household Income Project 2018, we find that public rental housing significantly increases the marginal impact of household disposable income on consumption. Specifically, our analysis suggests that public rental apartments could increase the income elasticity of consumption demand by 18 percent among all rental households and by 24 percent among rental households with below‐average income. We also find that the effect of public rental housing on income elasticity of consumption is stronger for service consumption than for nonservice consumption. These results suggest that a well designed public rental policy could not only promote consumption in favor of the service industry but also alleviate the undesirable consequences of the unbalanced consumption structure caused by income inequality.
Heterogeneous environmental seascape across a biogeographic break influences the thermal physiology and tolerances to ocean acidification in an ecosystem engineer
Authors: Rodríguez‐Romero Araceli , Gaitán‐Espitía Juan Diego , Opitz Tania , Lardies Marco A.
Published: January 2022

Aim

Understanding how spatio‐temporal environmental variability influences stress tolerance, local adaptation and phenotypic variation among populations is a key challenge for evolutionary ecology and climate change biology. Coastal biogeographic breaks are natural laboratories to explore this fundamental research question due to the contrasting environmental conditions experienced by natural populations across these regions.

Location

In the South East Pacific (SEP) coast, a major break (30º‐32ºS) is characterized by extreme natural variability in sea surface temperature (SST) and carbonate chemistry parameters related to temporal and spatial dynamics in upwelling events. Calcifying organisms inhibiting this zone are exposed to marked fluctuations and clines in SST that together with naturally acidified waters can impact their metabolism, calcification and fitness, making them particularly prone to the effects of climate change (e.g. ocean acidification, OA). We investigated to what extent the spatial and temporal environmental variability (in SST and seawater carbonate conditions) that characterizes the biogeographic break in the SEP influences intra‐specific differences in the thermal ecology and the tolerances to OA of the limpet Scurria araucana.

Methods

During two years, we conducted field surveys of limpet populations at sites across the SEP break (27ºS, 30ºS and 32ºS). We collected individuals from each population to test for geographic differences in morphometric (e.g. total buoyancy weight, shell length) and physiological (e.g. oxygen consumption rate, cardiac activity and thermal performance curves; TPC) responses to local environmental conditions (Tº and pH/pCO2) and to simulated OA scenarios.

Results

Populations of S. Araucana exhibit high tolerance to OA with no signal of geographic influence on this attribute. However, inter‐population differences in thermal physiology (metabolic rates and performances) were found across the biogeographic break in the SEP coast. Limpets from the central part of the break (30ºS) exhibit higher thermal performance compared to limpets from populations at both sides of the break.

Main conclusions

Variation in SST has a greater effect shaping inter‐population differences in thermal physiology of the limpet S. araucana. These physiological differences are aligned the thermal heterogenous seascape along the biogeographic break in the SEP. Contrarily, temporal and spatial variation in seawater carbonate conditions does not influence inter‐population differences in phenotypic response populations, but an overall high tolerance to OA.
Getting our Act together to improve Indigenous leadership and recognition in biodiversity management
Authors: Goolmeer Teagan , Skroblin Anja , Wintle Brendan A.
Published: January 2022

Increasingly scientists and policy makers are acknowledging the importance of Indigenous participation in effective biodiversity conservation. In Australia, the recognised Indigenous estate is vast, accounting for up to 57% of the continent and comprising some of the highest priority conservation lands, including 46% of the formal National Reserve System. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Act) is Commonwealth legislation designed to protect and manage nationally and internationally important species and ecological communities, which entails specific objectives to recognise Indigenous people. However, to date the involvement of Indigenous people in implementation of the Act has been inconsistent and inadequate, particularly in the protection of the Indigenous estate, understanding and supporting Indigenous people’s aspirations for Country and culturally significant species, and respecting the traditional management of species and landscapes. In this article, we will explore the key barriers and opportunities for improving Indigenous participation in biodiversity conservation under the Act. We structure our exploration using the three connected themes: (1) meaningful Indigenous engagement and participation, (2) recognition of the Indigenous Estate and (3) strengthening Indigenous‐led governance. We find that there is a pressing need and an immediate opportunity to reform and strengthen the Act to protect Indigenous Knowledge, to recognise and report on the role of Indigenous Estate, and to realise the aspirations of Indigenous peoples for improved land and sea management that strengthens people, culture and Country.
Pirra Jungku: Comparison of traditional and contemporary fire practices on Karajarri Country, Western Australia
Authors: Blackwood Edward M. J. , Rangers Karajarri , Bayley Sam , Bijlani Hamsini , Fensham Rod J , Lindsay Malcolm , Noakes Ewan , Wemyss Jackie , Legge Sarah
Published: January 2022

Traditional fire practices in Australia’s deserts may have created mosaics of post‐fire seral stages that benefitted some plants and animals. Managing fire to emulate the patterns produced by traditional burning practices is a common objective in contemporary conservation planning in Australia’s deserts. However, the extent to which traditional burning in deserts affected fire regimes across space and time is contested. We aim to contribute to knowledge about the impacts of traditional burning on fire patterns in the Great Sandy Desert, northwest Australia. Our study covered the traditional lands of the Karajarri people, where some families were living a traditional lifestyle on Country until the 1960s. We analysed high‐quality aerial photographs taken over 18,000 km2 of Karajarri Country in the 1940s. Fire footprints up to several years old were mapped from these images, and their spatial characteristics were compared to those of contemporary fire regimes over the same area, visualised using high‐resolution Sentinel satellite imagery. Fires in the 1940s (considered traditional) were more numerous but much smaller than contemporary (2016–2020) fires. The areal extent of recently burnt areas was smaller and the fire frequency was lower in the 1940s. Contemporary fire patterns around cultural sites differed little from fire patterns elsewhere in the landscape, possibly because people were burning over large areas rather than only at localised sites. Our study suggests that Karajarri influenced fire patterns at a landscape scale in the Great Sandy Desert, at least during periods of average rainfall. The findings are helping Karajarri refine fire management goals, for example, by informing the size and dispersion of future burns, and supporting community discussion about fire and culture. Fire management outcomes for plants and animals are being tracked with a biodiversity monitoring program.
Yarning up with Gerry Turpin – An Interview about Indigenous biocultural knowledges
Authors: Turpin Gerry , Cameron Liz
Published: January 2022

Aboriginal conversations usually take place around a fire, so that we can sit and immerse ourselves not only through talk but connect with Country. The act of yarning serves as a medium to establish and build respectful relationships, exchange stories and traditions and to preserve and pass on cultural knowledge. This interview with Ethnobotanist Gerry Turpin (Fig. 1) began like all other initial yarning conversations on who we are and where we belong.
Understanding Indigenous values and priorities for wetlands to guide weed management actions: Lessons from the Nardab floodplain in northern Australia’s Kakadu National Park
Authors: Bangalang Na‐gangila , Nadji Jonathan , Nayinggul Anita , Nadji Sean , Nayinggul Alfred , Dempsey Simon , Mangiru Kenneth , Dempsey James , McCartney Serena , Mairi Macdonald Jennifer , Robinson Cathy J.
Published: January 2022

Many wetlands around the world are vulnerable to invasive species and are also culturally important for Indigenous peoples. Yet, translating the complex values Indigenous peoples hold for wetlands into management actions to mitigate the impacts of invasive species can be difficult to put into practice. In this paper, we draw on an Indigenous‐led project on the Nardab wetland in Kakadu National Park to show how understanding the local nuance of Indigenous values and priorities in different wetland places can guide more effective and inclusive weed management activities. At Nardab, Indigenous values and priorities guided the choice of three priority sites to manage the impacts of Para grass (Urochloa mutica) weed. Specific values and priorities were identified across the sites, including significant bush tucker populations, and harvesting sites, the ability for the site to support Indigenous knowledge sharing and ceremonial activities and the opportunity for visitors to enjoy a healthy wetland in this World Heritage Area. The values and priorities varied across the sites, so the actions needed to improve the health of these places were also place specific. The results showed that relationships between Indigenous people and places varied from site to site within a given wetland and could not be easily generalized when deciding on effective management activities. The paper highlights the benefits of supporting ecological, cultural and human‐focused actions that Indigenous people wish to prioritize at selected sites to ensure the management of weed impacts on wetlands adequately reflect the diverse cultural landscapes that are embedded within Indigenous peoples’ Country.
Developing a two‐way learning monitoring program for Mankarr (Greater Bilby) in the Western Desert, Western Australia
Authors: Skroblin Anja , Carboon Tracy , Bidu Gladys , Taylor Muuki , Bidu Ngamaru , Taylor Waka , Taylor Karnu , Miller Minyawu , Robinson Leah , Williams Carol , Chapman Nganjapayi , Marney Mulyatingki , Marney Carl , Biljabu Jakayu , Biljabu Levina , Jeffries Pamela , Samson Heather , Charles Phillipa , Game Edward T. , Wintle Brendan
Published: January 2022

Indigenous people are the custodians of knowledge systems that hold detailed awareness of the environment, including applications for monitoring and management to improve biodiversity and cultural outcomes. Indigenous communities are increasingly participating in programs to monitor populations of wildlife. There is a need for frameworks to guide how Indigenous priorities, aspirations and culture can be respected within monitoring programs, as well as case studies that demonstrate how Indigenous knowledge and practice can provide opportunities together with Western science practice to improve the rigour and outcomes of wildlife monitoring. Here, we describe the process of developing a monitoring program that was tailored to be carried out by Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa Indigenous ranger teams to assess the status, trend and response to the management of a threatened and culturally significant species Mankarr (Greater Bilby; Macrotis lagotis). We applied a collaborative two‐way approach, using iterative consultations, elicitations and field trials involving Indigenous and non‐Indigenous project partners to define monitoring objectives, record biocultural knowledge and tailor a sampling methodology to fit the requirements of Martu Traditional Owners. Our project focused on creating a method that would be engaging, accessible and useful for rangers who would carry out the program, and prioritized collection of relevant data for community decision‐making regarding management. We outline our key learnings for co‐design of wildlife monitoring programs on Indigenous lands. Our approach provides insights that will assist in designing other cross‐cultural or participatory monitoring programs.
The effect of epilepsy surgery on productivity: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Siriratnam Pakeeran , Foster Emma , Shakhatreh Lubna , Neal Andrew , Carney Patrick W. , Jackson Graeme D. , O'Brien Terence J. , Kwan Patrick , Chen Zhibin , Ademi Zanfina
Published: January 2022

Objectives

An important but understudied benefit of resective epilepsy surgery is improvement in productivity; that is, people's ability to contribute to society through participation in the workforce and in unpaid roles such as carer duties. Here, we aimed to evaluate productivity in adults with drug‐resistant epilepsy (DRE) pre‐ and post‐resective epilepsy surgery, and to explore the factors that positively influence productivity outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis using four electronic databases: Medline (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), EBM Reviews ‐ Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Cochrane Library. All studies over the past 30 years reporting on pre‐ and post‐resective epilepsy surgical outcomes in adults with DRE were eligible for inclusion. Meta‐analysis was performed to assess the post‐surgery change in employment outcomes.

Results

A total of 1005 titles and abstracts were reviewed. Seventeen studies, comprising 2056 unique patients, were suitable for the final quantitative synthesis and meta‐analysis. Resective epilepsy surgery resulted in a 22% improvement in overall productivity (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.40). The factors associated with increased post‐surgery employment risk ratios were lower pre‐surgical employment in the workforce (relative risk ratio [RRR] =0.34; 95% CI: 0.15–0.74), shorter follow‐up duration (RRR = 0.95; 95% CI: 0.90–0.99), and lower mean age at time of surgery (RRR= 0.97; 95% CI: 0.94–0.99). The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using Risk Of Bias In Non‐randomised Studies ‐ of Interventions and was low for most variables except ”measurement of exposure.”

Significance

There is clear evidence that resective surgery in eligible surgical DRE patients results in improved productivity. Future work may include implementing a standardized method for collecting and reporting productivity in epilepsy cohorts and focusing on ways to reprioritize health care resource allocation to allow suitable candidates to access surgery earlier. This will ultimately benefit individuals with DRE, their families, our communities, and the wider health care system.
Thermal adaptation occurs in the respiration and growth of widely distributed bacteria
Authors: Tian Weitao , Sun Huimin , Zhang Yan , Xu Jianjun , Yao Jia , Li Jinquan , Li Bo , Nie Ming
Published: January 2022

Soil microbial respiration is an important factor in regulating carbon (C) exchange between the soil and atmosphere. Thermal adaptation of soil microorganisms will lead to a weakening of the positive feedback between climate warming and soil respiration. The thermal adaptation of microbial communities and fungal species has been proven. However, studies on the thermal adaptation of bacterial species, the most important decomposers in the soil, are still lacking. Here, we isolated six species of widely distributed dominant bacteria and studied the effects of constant warming and temperature fluctuations on those species. The results showed that constant warming caused a downregulation of respiratory temperature sensitivity (Q10) of the bacterial species, accompanied by an elevation of the minimum temperature (Tmin) required for growth. Similar results were seen with the addition of temperature fluctuations, suggesting that both scenarios caused a significant thermal adaptation among the bacterial species. Fluctuating and increasing temperatures are considered an important component of future warming. Therefore, the inclusion of physiological responses of bacteria to these changes is essential to understand relationships between microbiota and temperature and enhance the prediction of global soil–atmosphere C feedbacks.
Calcium Isotope Ratios (δ44/40Ca) of Thirty‐Four Geological Chinese Reference Materials Measured by Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Liu Fang , Li Xin , Zhang Zhaofeng , Bai Jianghao , An Yajun
Published: January 2022

High‐precision calcium isotopic ratios of thirty‐four Chinese geological reference materials, including igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, river/marine sediments and soils, are reported. Measurements were conducted by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (Triton TIMS) using a 42Ca–43Ca double spike. These reference materials cover a wide range of chemical compositions with CaO ranging from 0.10 to 51.1% m/m. The δ44/40Ca variation of igneous rocks was up to 0.75‰, ranging from 0.61 ± 0.06‰ to 1.35 ± 0.04‰. Two metamorphic rocks yielded δ44/40Ca of 0.39 ± 0.02‰ and 0.86 ± 0.02‰, respectively. δ44/40Ca values of sedimentary rocks varied from −0.14 ± 0.09‰ to 0.98 ± 0.12‰, suggesting significant isotopic fractionation during low‐temperature processes. Like sedimentary rocks, river/marine sediments and soil displayed large Ca isotopic variations, with δ44/40Ca spanning from 0.12 ± 0.06‰ to 0.77 ± 0.03‰ and −0.09 ± 0.11‰ to 0.74 ± 0.08‰, respectively. The comprehensive data set reported in this study serves as a reference for quality assurance and inter‐laboratory comparison for high‐precision Ca isotopic studies.
Stopping and restarting PrEP and loss to follow‐up among PrEP‐taking men who have sex with men and transgender women at risk of HIV‐1 participating in a prospective cohort study in Kenya
Authors: Wahome Elizabeth , Boyd Anders , Thiong’o Alexander N. , Mohamed Khamisi , Oduor Tony , Gichuru Evans , Mwambi John , van der Elst Elise , Graham Susan M. , Prins Maria , Sanders Eduard J.
Published: January 2022

Objective

To assess frequency and predictors of switching between being on and off PrEP and being lost to follow‐up (LTFU) among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) with access to PrEP services in Sub‐Saharan Africa.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of MSM and TGW from coastal Kenya who initiated daily oral PrEP from June 2017 to June 2019. Participants were followed monthly for HIV‐1 testing, PrEP refill, risk assessment and risk reduction counselling. Follow‐up was censored at the last visit before 30 June 2019, or the last HIV‐1‐negative visit (for those with HIV‐1 seroconversion), whichever occurred first. We estimated transition intensities (TI) and predictors of switching: (i) between being off and on PrEP; and (ii) from either PrEP state and being LTFU (i.e. not returning to the clinic for > 90 days) using a multi‐state Markov model.

Results

In all, 134 participants starting PrEP were followed for a median of 20.3 months [interquartile range (IQR): 7.7–22.1]. A total of 49 (36.6%) people stopped PrEP 73 times [TI = 0.6/person‐year (PY), 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.5–0.7] and, of these, 25 (51.0%) restarted PrEP 38 times (TI = 1.2/PY, 95% CI: 0.9–1.7). In multivariable analysis, stopping PrEP was related to anal sex ≤ 3 months, substance‐use disorder and travelling. Restarting PrEP was related to non‐Christian or non‐Muslim religion and travelling. A total of 54 participants were LTFU: on PrEP (n = 47, TI = 0.3/PY, 95% CI: 0.3–0.5) and off PrEP (n = 7, TI = 0.2/PY, 95% CI: 0.1–0.4). In multivariable analysis, becoming LTFU while on PrEP was associated with secondary education or higher, living in the area for ≤ 1 year, residence outside the immediate clinic area and alcohol‐use disorder.

Conclusions

Switching between being on and off PrEP or becoming LTFU while on PrEP was frequent among individuals at risk of HIV‐1 acquisition. Alternative PrEP options (e.g. event‐driven PrEP) may need to be considered for MSM and TGW with PrEP‐taking challenges, while improved engagement with care is needed for all MSM and TGW regardless of PrEP regimen.
Challenges perceived by nursing professionals in physician‐centred organizations: An exploratory qualitative study
Authors: Abbas Sidra , Zakar Rubeena , Fischer Florian , Gilani Amir
Published: January 2022

Aim

To explore and analyse contextual challenges in nursing that have affected nurses’ perceptions and role performance.

Background

Health system hierarchy and patient/family‐centred care has led to a high demand for skilled nurses. However, patriarchal organizations create challenges for nursing clinicians in Pakistan and elsewhere.

Methods

A qualitative exploratory research (phenomenology) design was used. Twenty‐five participants identified through purposive sampling contributed to the study. The data analysis was conducted using NVivo 12 Plus. We generated six major themes. Reporting was accomplished according to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research checklist.

Results

Gendered division of labour places nurses in a submissive position in clinical practice. Decreases in nurse‐to‐patient ratio and increase in patient‐focused care adversely affect evidence‐based practice. The gap between theory and practice in delivering quality care is increasing due to existing communication barriers among health‐related professionals and an inadequate work environment. Comparatively inactive nursing leadership and directorate roles are not improving the social image of nursing, and are promoting role conflict and poor nursing self‐concepts among nurses. In fact, cultural shock experienced by young nurses has produced inherent disorientation in their professionalism and fostered displays of horizontal violence towards them by senior nurses.

Conclusion

These challenges are influencing nurses’ decisions to remain in or to join nursing as a profession that is confronted by severe recruitment and retention shortages due to the social and cultural stigmatization of this female dominated profession.

Implications for nursing, health and social policy

This study promotes the concept of evidence‐based practice to deliver quality health services in public hospitals and to improve the social status of nursing in Pakistan. It provides influential evidence to policymakers who should urgently address nurses’ workplace health and safety issues as a global right.