bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring how the fast-slow pace of life continuum and reproductive strategies structure microorganism life history variation
Authors: Romeijn Josje , Smallegange Isabel M.
Published: November 2022

Studying life history strategies in microorganisms can help predict their performance when complex microbial communities can be categorised into groups of organisms with similar strategies. Microorganisms are typically classified as copiotroph or oligotroph, but it has been proven difficult to generalise their life history strategies to broad lineages. Here we tested if the fast-slow continuum and reproductive strategy framework of macro-organismal life histories can be applied to microorganisms. We used demographic and energy budget data from 13 microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, a protist and a plant) to examine how generation time, survivorship, growth form, age at maturity, recruitment success, and net reproductive rate structure microbial life histories. We found that 79% of microorganism life-history variation fell along two uncorrelated axes. Like macro-organisms, we found a fast–slow pace of life continuum, including shorter-lived microorganisms at one end, and longer-lived microorganisms that mature later in life at the other. Also, like macro-organisms, we found a second, reproductive strategy axis, with microorganisms with greater lifetime reproductive success and decreased mortality at older age at one end, and microorganisms with the opposite characteristics at the other end. Microorganismal life history strategies did not covary proportionally to their shared evolutionary history. Thus, whereas this work suggests that the macro-organismal fast-slow continuum and reproductive strategy framework could be realistically applied to microorganisms, their life history processes cannot be inferred from patterns in taxonomic composition.

Impact statement

Animals and plants show distinct differences in their pace of life: some have high reproduction and high mortality, others low. Here we show that microorganisms display similar such life history patterns, igniting future research on microbial life history strategies.

Data summary

Supplemental data, R code and MatLab code are deposited in Figshare athttps://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.16831543.v2[27].
Generate a new crucian carp (Carassius auratus) strain without intermuscular bones by knocking outbmp6
Authors: Kuang Youyi , Zheng Xianhu , Cao Dingchen , Sun Zhipeng , Tong Guangxiang , Xu Huan , Yan Ting , Tang Shizhan , Chen Zhongxiang , Zhang Tingting , Zhang Tan , Dong Le , Yang Xiaoxing , Zhou Huijie , Guo Weilun , Sun Xiaowen
Published: November 2022

Elimination of intermuscular bones (IMBs) is vital to the aquaculture industry of cyprinids. In our previous study, we characterizedbmp6as essential in the development of IMBs in zebrafish. Knockout ofbmp6results in the absence of IMBs in zebrafish without affecting growth and reproduction. Therefore, we hypothesized thatbmp6could be used to generate new cyprinid strains without IMBs by gene editing. In this study, we established a gene editing strategy for knocking out the two orthologs ofbmp6in diploid crucian carp (Carassius auratus). We obtained an F3population with both orthologs knocked out, in which no IMBs were detected by bone staining and X-ray, indicating that the new strain without IMBs (named WUCI strain) was successfully generated. Furthermore, we extensively evaluated the performance of the new strain in growth, reproduction, nutrient components, muscle texture and structure, and metabolites in muscle. The results showed that the WUCI strain grew faster than the wild-type crucian carp at 4-month-age. The reproductive performance and flesh quality did not show significant differences between the WUCI strain and wild-type crucian carp. Moreover, the metabolomics analysis suggested that the muscle tissues of the WUCI strain significantly enriched some metabolites belonging to the Thiamine metabolism, Nicotinate and Nicotinamide Metabolism pathway, which plays beneficial effects in anti-aging, anti-oxidant, and anti-radiation damage. In conclusion, we established a strategy to eliminate IMBs in crucian carp and obtain a WUCI strain whose performance was expected compared to the wild-type crucian carp; meanwhile, the WUCI strain enriched some beneficial metabolites to human health in muscle tissue. This study is the first report that a farmed cyprinid strain without IMBs, which could be stably inherited, was obtained worldwide; it provided excellent germplasm for the cyprinids aquaculture industry and a useful molecular tool for eliminating IMBs in other cyprinids.
A phase retrieval framework based on the multigrid method to alleviate the twin-image problem
Authors: Ou Jiyang , Xie Hongsheng , Zhao Chunli , Li Lei , Tao Jun
Published: November 2022

The twin-image problem, a persistent stagnation mode in iterative projection algorithms (IPAs) for coherent diffraction imaging, occurs when the ideal and twin images appear simultaneously in the reconstruction. Presented here is a methodological framework for IPAs termed the half-cycle multigrid (HMG) for use in phase retrieval to alleviate the twin-image problem during the iterative process. HMG reconstructs the low-frequency phase first to reduce the impact of oscillation caused by phase retrieval in the higher-frequency region of Fourier space during the iteration. The higher-frequency Fourier magnitude is then added to the reconstruction stage by stage using the multigrid method. The unification of phase retrieval orientation in the low-frequency region lays the foundation for that in the whole Fourier space. The reconstruction results of simulated and experimental diffraction patterns demonstrate that HMG effectively reduces the probability of the twin-image problem occurring, enhances the accuracy of low-frequency information, and achieves credible and faithful reconstruction results from noisy diffraction patterns. The combination of HMG with the oversampling smoothness framework allows more reliable reconstruction results, proving that the HMG framework has good extensibility. It is expected that HMG can be combined with other IPAs.
Improving anti-money laundering in bitcoin using evolving graph convolutions and deep neural decision forest
Authors: Mohan Anuraj , P.V. Karthika , Sankar Parvathi , Maya Manohar K. , Peter Amala
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Money laundering is the process of concealing unlawfully obtained funds by presenting them as coming from a legitimate source. Criminals use crypto money laundering to hide the illicit origin of funds using a variety of methods. The most simplified form of bitcoin money laundering leans hard on the fact that transactions made in cryptocurrencies are pseudonymous, but open data gives more power to investigators and enables the crowdsourcing of forensic analysis. With the motive to curb these illegal activities, there exist various rules, policies and technologies collectively known as anti-money laundering (AML) tools. When properly implemented, AML restrictions reduce the negative effects of illegal economic activity while also promoting financial market integrity and stability, but these bear high costs for institutions. The purpose of this work is to motivate the opportunity to reconcile the cause of safety with that of financial inclusion, bearing in mind the limitations of the available data. The authors use the Elliptic dataset; to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the largest labelled transaction dataset publicly available in any cryptocurrency.

Design/methodology/approach

AML in bitcoin can be modelled as a node classification task in dynamic networks. In this work, graph convolutional decision forest will be introduced, which combines the potentialities of evolving graph convolutional network and deep neural decision forest (DNDF). This model will be used to classify the unknown transactions in the Elliptic dataset. Additionally, the application of knowledge distillation (KD) over the proposed approach gives finest results compared to all the other experimented techniques.

Findings

The importance of utilising a concatenation between dynamic graph learning and ensemble feature learning is demonstrated in this work. The results show the superiority of the proposed model to classify the illicit transactions in the Elliptic dataset. Experiments also show that the results can be further improved when the system is fine-tuned using a KD framework.

Originality/value

Existing works used either ensemble learning or dynamic graph learning to tackle the problem of AML in bitcoin. The proposed model provides a novel view to combine the power of random forest with dynamic graph learning methods. Furthermore, the work also demonstrates the advantage of KD in improving the performance of the whole system.
A new shape of the supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Lau Yui-yip , P.V. Ranjith , Man Hin Chan Eve , Kanrak Maneerat , Varma Aparna J.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a new normal for international business (IB) activities, leaving them pondering their next steps. The decreasing effectiveness of current vaccines to protect individuals against new variants have created uncertainty on how to respond to the new waves of the COVID-19 infection. This study aims to empirically assesses how IBs perceive the unfolding challenges in the supply chain due to the pandemic and the solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey data is obtained from 166 logistics professionals in Hong Kong and India.

Findings

The results reveal that returns on investment, logistics, delays and imports are the most affected areas. The most often recommended solutions for supply chain management (SCM) include using local manufacturing capabilities, analytics and automation, offering better customer service, providing more effective transportation means, ensuring diligence around optimization and focusing on sustainability.

Originality/value

The findings of this study help to improve supply chain operations. This study also provides recommendations for changes to SCM in response to the new normal.
Consumer logics and the relational performance of selling high-risk goods: the case of elective cosmetic surgery
Authors: Au Anson
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This article investigates how medical specialists as professionals and elective cosmetic surgery tourists as consumers relationally negotiate decisions within the cosmetic surgery clinic. Drawing on a Goffmanian approach, this article explores the processual social structures that shape consumer logics in the clinic as a social space and as a type of professional institution.

Design/methodology/approach

This article is based on ethnographic fieldwork in cosmetic surgery clinics in South Korea.

Findings

This article identifies two genres of professional strategies (spatial arrangements and dramaturgical performances) that are leveraged by medical specialists to assert control over and persuade consumers to purchase cosmetic surgery.

Research limitations/implications

The valorization of surgery captured in this article suggests that surgical modifications may serve as another vehicle for entrenching class inequality between those able and those unable to afford surgery.

Practical implications

This article offers recommendations for future policymaking in terms of the regulatory oversight of the consumer profiles eligible for surgery and the marketing practices of clinics.

Originality/value

This article offers a micro-level account of how the high-risk good of cosmetic surgery is sold by medical specialists in charismatic and affective bids to enhance their legitimacy, authority and trust.
Assessing factors influencing consumers' non-adoption intention: exploring the dark sides of mobile payment
Authors: Behera Rajat Kumar , Bala Pradip Kumar , Rana Nripendra P.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The new ways to complete financial transactions have been developed by setting up mobile payment (m-payment) platforms and such platforms to access banking in the financial mainstream can transact as never before. But, does m-payment have veiled consequences? To seek an answer, the research was undertaken to explore the dark sides of m-payment for consumers by extending the theory of innovation resistance (IR) and by measuring non-adoption intention (NAI).

Design/methodology/approach

Three hundred individuals using popular online m-payment apps such as Paytm, PhonePe, Amazon Pay and Google Pay were surveyed for the primary data. IBM AMOS based structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the data.

Findings

Each m-payment transaction leaves a digital record, making some vulnerable consumers concerned about privacy threats. Lack of global standards prevents consumers from participating in the m-payment system properly until common interfaces are established based on up-to-date standards. Self-compassion (SC) characteristics such as anxiety, efficacy, fatigue, wait-and-see tendencies and the excessive choice of technology effect contribute to the non-adoption of m-payment.

Originality/value

This study proposes a threat model and empirically explores the dark sides of m-payment. In addition, it also unveils the moderator's role of SC in building the structural relationship between IR and NAI.
Islamic bank customer satisfaction, trust, loyalty and word of mouth: the CREATOR model
Authors: Khan Sadia Mehfooz , Ali Muhammad , Puah Chin-Hong , Amin Hanudin , Mubarak Muhammad Shujaat
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate two primary objectives. First, this study examines the influence of modified service quality dimensions on Islamic bank customer satisfaction using a compliance, reliability, empathy, assurance, tangible, operational efficiency, responsiveness (CREATOR) model. Second, the study explores the relationship between customer satisfaction, trust, loyalty and word of mouth (WOM) in Islamic banking of Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was analyzed using PLS-SEM-based approach. A total of 312 usable responses were used for data analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that all CREATOR dimensions have a significant positive impact on Islamic banks’ customer satisfaction. Similarly, this study also found a significant positive relationship between customer satisfaction, trust, loyalty and WOM. Overall, this study modified a well-established service quality framework by successfully implementing the CREATOR model in Islamic banking.

Originality/value

This study will provide helpful policy guidelines for Islamic bank managers improve their service quality and strengthen their relationships with existing and new customers. The authors are also sure that their proposed model will add value to the ongoing service quality literature by indicating the role of operational effectiveness in increasing customer satisfaction and promoting positive WOM.
Mediation path study on the effect of venture capital support on firm's corporate social responsibility
Authors: Lu Yuzhong , Sun Yanqi
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study examined the influence of corporate governance (CG) in relation to venture capital (VC) investment on invested firm's corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance in the Chinese context. More specifically, this paper examined the mediation of the proportion of independent directors (INDD), management shareholding (MSH) and executives' political connections (POLC) in the above-mentioned relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study performed multiple mediation testing and bootstrap mediation robustness test on data from Chinese A-class shares IPO companies between 2010 and 2018.

Findings

The results of direct relationship analysis showed that VC support is detrimental to firm' CSR performance, consistent with previous research studies. The indirect effect analysis showed that VC reduced firm' CSR through reduction of INDD on board and increased MSH. Conversely, VC contributed to firm's CSR through higher POLC, which confirmed the significance of the joint mediation model.

Practical implications

This study offers stakeholders the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the role of VC institutions, independent directors and executives, in terms of firm's CSR, as well as provides insights on control rights allocation and policy drafting on independent directors when considering accessing VC support.

Originality/value

By analyzing the mediation model of the VC–CSR relationship, this paper provides evidence to enrich the debate on the role of CG in the relation between VC and firm's CSR.
Risk benefit assessment of acrylamide in bakery products and bread
Authors: Aouzelleg Amar , Ojinnaka Delia
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this conceptual paper was to introduce the risk–benefit approach to bakery products in relation to their acrylamide content. Acrylamide is a compound which gives rise to risks of cancer, and several mitigating procedures have been in place for various products and processes. This paper concentrated on bakery products and took a risk–benefit approach in relation to acrylamide.

Design/methodology/approach

Papers published in peer-reviewed journals were reviewed. A combination of keywords such as acrylamide, bakery products and risk/benefit were used to find sources. Additional sources, such as governmental and non-governmental organisations documents, were also used when relevant. After looking at the main characteristics of acrylamide, the potential benefit of bread was also looked at. The paper summarises known information on acrylamide and looks at the risk and benefit of bakery products in relation to this compound.

Findings

The risk analysis approach can be extended to include benefits so that a balanced conclusion can be reached whether a product is an acceptable part of the diet or not. Exposure to acrylamide was a function of the product type and preparation/process. Bakery products were a source of many nutrients, and the risk regarding acrylamide may be controlled by careful product and process design.

Originality/value

There was contradictory information regarding how unsafe acrylamide is. In this paper, the risk–benefit approach has been qualitatively used to weigh both the risks and benefits of the bakery product category.
Drivers of social innovation in disability services for inclusion: a focus on social farming in nonprofit organizations
Authors: Mion Giorgio , Baratta Rossella , Bonfanti Angelo , Baroni Sara
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study investigates the drivers of social innovation in disability services with specific reference to the context of nonprofit organizations of social farming. In addition, it highlights the role of stakeholder networks in enhancing the social innovation process and the characteristics of stakeholders and networks driving and supporting social innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a qualitative methodology, research was conducted through a case study survey with interviews to 13 nonprofit organizations of social farming for people with disability located in the northeast of Italy.

Findings

Insights gained from the interviews revealed that individual, organizational and contextual factors drive social innovation in disability nonprofits. In addition, networks play a key role in enhancing the three drivers of social innovation through the social innovation journey, from opportunity recognition to implementation of the innovation, to its consolidation phases. Characteristics of the networks and the stakeholders involved are also outlined.

Practical implications

Practical implications for social entrepreneurs include the need to establish cross-sectoral partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including private companies.

Social implications

Implications for policy makers stress the need for ongoing support for nonprofit disability organizations. Social implications are not limited to the inclusion of socially weaker groups; rather, the entire community benefits from the social innovation process.

Originality/value

Social farming represents a valuable solution to meet the needs of disadvantaged people. While much research has investigated the topic of social innovation in social entrepreneurship, only a few studies have addressed social innovation in the context of disability nonprofits involved in social farming.
Declines in freshwater mussel density, size and productivity in the River Thames over the past half century
Authors: Ollard Isobel , Aldridge David C.
Published: November 2022

A pioneering, quantitative study published in Journal of Animal Ecology in 1966 on freshwater mussel populations in the River Thames, UK, continues to be cited extensively as evidence of the major contribution that mussels make to benthic biomass and ecosystem functioning in global river ecosystems.

Ecological alteration, as well as declines in freshwater mussel populations elsewhere, suggest that changes to mussel populations in the River Thames are likely to have occurred over the half century since this study.

We resurveyed the site reported in Negus (1966) and quantified the changes in mussel population density, species composition, growth patterns and productivity.

We found large declines in population density for all unionid species. The duck mussel Anodonta anatina decreased to 1.1% of 1964 density. The painter's mussel Unio pictorum fell to 3.2% of 1964 density. The swollen river mussel Unio tumidus showed statistically nonsignificant declines. In contrast to 1964, in 2020 we found no living specimens of the depressed river mussel Pseudanodonta complanata (classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List) but found new records of the invasive, nonnative zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and Asian clam Corbicula fluminea. Additionally, we found strong decreases in size‐at‐age for all species, which now grow to 65–90% of maximum lengths in 1964. As a result of reduced density and size, estimated annual biomass production fell to 7.5% of 1964 levels.

Since mussels can be important to ecosystem functioning, providing key regulating and provisioning services, the declines we found imply substantial degradation of freshwater ecosystem services in the River Thames, one of the UK's largest rivers. Our study also highlights the importance to conservationists and ecologists of updating and validating assumptions and data about wild populations, which in the present era of anthropogenic ecosystem alteration are undergoing significant and rapid changes. Regular population surveys of key species are essential to maintain an accurate picture of ecosystem health and to guide management.
Earlier flowering of winter oilseed rape compensates for higher pest pressure in warmer climates
Authors: Fricke Ute , Redlich Sarah , Zhang Jie , Benjamin Caryl S. , Englmeier Jana , Ganuza Cristina , Haensel Maria , Riebl Rebekka , Rojas‐Botero Sandra , Tobisch Cynthia , Uhler Johannes , Uphus Lars , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf
Published: November 2022

Global warming can increase insect pest pressure by enhancing reproductive rates. Whether this translates into yield losses depends on phenological synchronisation of pests with their host plants and natural enemies. Simultaneously, landscape composition may mitigate climate effects by shaping the resource availability for pests and their antagonists. Here, we study the combined effects of temperature and landscape composition on pest abundances, larval parasitism, crop damage and yield, while also considering crop phenology, to identify strategies for sustainable management of oilseed rape (OSR) pests under warming climates.

In all, 29 winter OSR crop fields were investigated in different climates (defined by multi‐annual mean temperature, MAT) and landscape contexts in Bavaria, Germany. We measured abundances of adult pollen beetles and stem weevil larvae, pollen beetle larval parasitism, bud loss, stem damage and seed yield, and calculated the flowering date from growth stage observations. Landscape parameters (proportion of non‐crop and OSR area, change in OSR area relative to the previous year) were calculated at six spatial scales (0.6–5 km).

Pollen beetle abundance increased with MAT but to different degrees depending on the landscape context, that is, increased less strongly when OSR proportions were high (1‐km scale), interannually constant (5‐km scale) or both. In contrast, stem weevil abundance and stem damage did not respond to landscape composition nor MAT. Pollen beetle larval parasitism was overall low, but occasionally exceeded 30% under both low and high MAT and with reduced OSR area (0.6‐km scale).

Despite high pollen beetle abundance in warm climates, yields were high when OSR flowered early. Thereby, higher temperatures favoured early flowering. Only among late‐flowering OSR crop fields yield was higher in cooler than warmer climates. Bud loss responded analogously. Landscape composition did not substantially affect bud loss and yield.

Synthesis and applications: Earlier flowering of winter OSR compensates for higher pollen beetle abundance in warmer climates, while interannual continuity of OSR area prevents high pollen beetle abundance in the first place. Thus, regional coordination of crop rotation and crop management promoting early flowering may contribute to sustainable pest management in OSR under current and future climatic conditions.
Vanishing acts: the crisis of our loss of kinship with the more‐than‐human world
Authors: Dowd Amanda
Published: November 2022

In this paper I am arguing for the recognition of the implicit structural and emotional links between the development of mind and psyche and the more‐than‐human world. I suggest that it is because of this interpenetration that the uncanny experience of displacement anxiety and its effects on our capacities to think and make links is an under‐appreciated aspect of our constant ‘forgetting’ of the building syndrome of our Earth’s symptomatology. I make use of my own theory of the ‘organizing gestalt’ and the thinking of Maturana, Ingold and Colman to offer a framework for the consideration of the uncanny links between what we know about vanishing biodiversity, broken ecosystems and the breaking down of previously integrated Earth systems and the breaking down of our ways of thinking about our relationships with the more‐than‐human‐world. I suggest that, taken together, such a framework feels remarkably akin to Australian indigenous ways of being in the world. Finally, I ask the question, what might it mean to think ecologically in our psychoanalytic work?
Dark feet and dark wings: penetrating the depths of the Earth
Authors: Zeiger Robin B.
Published: November 2022

The author, although an analyst, is an initiate into the topic of environmental destruction. Following Wendell Berry, she enters the dark and begins a journey of dream‐like reflection, weaving images from her own dream and drawing on the work of Vaughan, Bernstein, Soloveitchik and Sacks. She asks, ‘not if but where does climate change enter the room?’. The second half of the paper focuses on the manifestations of environmental destruction in dreams and sandplay from three patients and one dream group participant. The paper argues that the analyst must see and intuit before our patients can access the objective layer of environmental destruction in dreams and symbolic material. In this way, the climate becomes the wounded patient, and the analyst as wounded healer must first access his/her own relationship to the wounds inside. Finally, using an ancient Jewish mythological story of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the author argues that Jungian analysts must work to find balance between the inner world of depth psychology and the outer world with its challenges and problems that include environmental destruction.
Prediction of climate change effects on the potential distribution of cycad blue butterfly (Luthrodes pandava) in South Korea
Authors: Shin Man‐Seok , Kim Tae‐Geun , Cho Youngho
Published: November 2022

Luthrodes pandava (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) is a major pest of the genus Cycas (Cycadales: Cycadaceae) and mainly inhabits low latitudes of Asia. Recently, L. pandava has gradually spread to other regions. L. pandava was first recorded in South Korea in 2006 and has been continuously observed on Jeju Island ever since. Adequate management and mitigation plans are necessary to prevent further spread of L. pandava throughout Korea. Therefore, this study used a species distribution model to predict the potential distribution of L. pandava under current and future climate conditions. A weighted ensemble model that incorporated the accuracy of 10 species distribution models was used to improve the forecast certainty. The potential distribution areas of L. pandava were predicted in units of 20 years from the present to 2,100 using a climate change scenario (SSP5–8.5). Under current and future climate conditions, the ensemble model predicted that L. pandava would be extensively distributed on Jeju Island and along the southern seaboard, west coast, and east coast, inhabiting 50–70% of Korea's land area by 2,100. Additionally, many sources of food for L. pandava, excluding those in the Cycas genus, have been observed in Korea. Thus, trading ports and the inland of the Korean Peninsula must be continuously monitored for outbreaks of L. pandava. The findings of this study provide essential necessary data to help mitigate the outbreak and spread of L. pandava in Korea and their associated damage to the Cycas genus.
The effects of nursing care based on Levine's Conservation Model on fatigue, depression, perceived social support, and sleep quality in infertile women: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kirca Nurcan , Özcan Şadiye
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nursing care based on the Levine's Conservation Model on depression caused by infertility, fatigue, perceived social support, and sleep quality levels.

Methods

This study includes randomized controlled trial that was conducted from July 2019 to April 2020, with 65 Turkish women with infertility (experimental group: 34, control group: 31). We collected data using the Visual Similarity Scale for Fatigue, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Beck's Depression Inventory, and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale. The experimental group received nursing care based on the Levine's Conservation Model. Data were analyzed using t‐tests and χ2 tests analyses.

Findings

As a result of the measurements made, it was found that the experimental group had a lower fatigue level than the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001). It was also found that the experimental group had higher energy and perceived social support scores than the control group after the practice, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001). As a result of the measurements made after the practice, it was found that the experimental group had a lower depression level than the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Nursing care based on the Levine's Conservation Model decreased fatigue and depression in women receiving infertility treatment and increased perceived social support and sleep.

Implications for nursing practice

This research provides important findings about nursing care based on Levine's Conservation Model for women receiving infertility treatment. It decreased depression and fatigue and increased perceived social support and sleep quality.
Scaling up restoration efforts by simulating the effects of fire to circumvent prescribed burns when preparing restoration sites in South African fynbos ecosystems
Authors: Ngwenya Duduzile K. , Holmes Patricia M. , Geerts Sjirk , Esler Karen J.
Published: November 2022

The method of clearing alien species and the nature of the soil seedbank influence the quality of restoration outcomes, particularly in fire‐prone ecosystems heavily invaded with fire‐adapted alien species. One of the challenges encountered is reducing the likelihood of reinvasions when the invading species are equally responsive to restoration treatments. By simulating the fire effects that are required to regenerate native vegetation, the study tested whether the recovery of the native species could be initiated without conducting a prescribed ecological burn. In a case study of South African Cape Flats Sand Fynbos with a heavy invasion ofAcacia saligna, the felled acacia were stacked into brush piles, with the litter raked off from the sowing areas and the collected seeds were pre‐treated for germination. Despite the lack of a fire, the sowing of pre‐treated seeds on raked plots led to good recovery of native vegetation over time. This was indicated by the recovery of higher density, cover and richness of native species in sown plots compared with unsown treatments. However, the recovery of native species had not approached the vegetation structure comparable to a reference site after 2 years; that is, only partial fynbos structure was recovered. The recruitment of acacia was less dense without fire, as hypothesised, and independent of treatment. However, over time, control plots had higher acacia cover than other treatments. Despite this sparse recruitment of acacia, the acacia seedbank decreased naturally to about 50% of the initial size over 2 years in control plots. Raking off litter during site preparation removed 50% of the acacia seedbank which decreased slightly thereafter. Consequently, the residual acacia seedbank was relatively similar across treatments after 2 and a half years. In conclusion, circumventing prescribed burns in heavily degraded fynbos ecosystems is a scalable restoration strategy, as recruitment of alien acacia was minimized, its seedbank declined significantly, and good native cover developed after clearing and sowing.
The efficiency of different irrigation activation techniques in the removal of calcium silicate‐based endodontic sealer from artificially created groove
Authors: Sümbüllü Meltem , Ali Afzal , Büker Mine , Arslan Hakan
Published: November 2022

This study evaluated the removal of a calcium silicate‐based sealer (EndoSeal MTA) with needle irrigation (NI), passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), XP‐endo Finisher (XPF) and EDDY. A total of 56 human mandibular premolars were instrumented up to size 40.04 taper. The roots were separated longitudinally, and grooves were prepared with an ultrasonic tip at one‐half of each root canal. The grooves were covered with EndoSeal MTA and re‐attached roots were investigated based on the activation techniques applied. The results showed that significantly more material (p < 0.05) was removed in the EDDY group compared to the NI, PUI and XPF groups in the apical region. In the coronal region, no significant difference was observed between EDDY, XPF and PUI (p > 0.05), whereas all the latter were significantly more effective than NI (p < 0.05). These findings show that the removal of EndoSeal MTA can be more effective with EDDY compared to XPF, PUI and NI in the apical region.
The intimacy of the gift in the economy of sex work
Authors: Garza Ana P. Gutiérrez
Published: November 2022

This article explores the intersection that exists between the economy and intimacy through an exploration of gift exchanges between Latin American sex workers and regular clients in London. It engages with scholarship on sex work and intimacy to explore the social dimension of gifts embedded in affective commodified relationships. It explores the ways in which gifts create socioeconomic and emotional spheres of speculation that contribute to the achievement of women's migration dreams. Tracing gift exchanges in sex work offers an opportunity to examine the development of relationships that emerge from intimate sexual transactions and to look at the ways in which gift exchanges in sex work constrain or enable women's social, economic, and emotional aspirations for the future.
Severity and prevalence of ankyloglossia‐associated breastfeeding symptoms: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cordray Holly , Mahendran Geethanjeli N. , Tey Ching Siong , Nemeth John , Sutcliffe Alastair , Ingram Jenny , Raol Nikhila
Published: November 2022

Aim

To evaluate breastfeeding symptoms associated with ankyloglossia/tongue‐tie.

Methods

Databases included PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies reported baseline breastfeeding symptoms/severity from tongue‐tied infants. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality. Low‐quality studies were excluded. Main outcomes were weighted mean severity scores for dyads with ankyloglossia relative to reference values for successful breastfeeding. Meta‐analyses used inverse‐variance‐weighted random‐effects models.

Results

Of 1328 screened studies, 39 were included (5730 infants with ankyloglossia). The mean LATCH score for patients with untreated ankyloglossia, 7.1 (95% CI: 6.7–7.4), was significantly below the good‐breastfeeding threshold. The mean Infant Breastfeeding Assessment Tool score, 10.0 (8.2–11.7), was not significantly below the good‐breastfeeding threshold. The mean Infant‐Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire‐Revised score, 18.2 (10.5–26.0), was consistent with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The mean Breastfeeding Self‐Efficacy Scale‐Short Form score, 43.7 (39.3–48.1), indicated significant risk of cessation of exclusive breastfeeding within 1–3 months. Mean nipple pain was 4.9 (4.1–5.7) on a 0–10 scale, greater than typical scores for breastfeeding mothers without nipple damage. Total prevalence of breastfeeding difficulties was 49.3% (95% CI: 47.3–51.4%). Early, undesired weaning occurred in 20.3% (18.5–22.2%) of cases before intervention.

Conclusion

Ankyloglossia is adversely associated with breastfeeding success and maternal well‐being.
Older Chinese and Korean migrants' experiences of the first COVID‐19 lockdown in Aotearoa New Zealand: A qualitative study
Authors: Koh Anne , Morgan Tessa , Wiles Janine , Williams Lisa , Xu Jing , Gott Merryn
Published: November 2022

Later‐life migrants, as older people living away from their home nations, occupy multiply‐precarious positions in relation to national COVID‐19 pandemic responses. Concern has particularly centred on this group's increased risk of social and linguistic exclusion. We explore the perspectives of later‐life older Chinese and Koreans living in New Zealand during the nation's COVID‐19 lockdown of 2020. This paper presents a sub‐analysis of culturally‐matched interviews conducted with 3 Korean and 5 Chinese later‐life migrants. These participants are a sub‐sample of a larger qualitative interview study comprising 44 interviews. A social capital approach has been used to aid conceptualisation of participants' experiences and a reflexive thematic approach guided analysis. Despite their underrepresentation in national response efforts, Chinese and Korean later‐life migrants resourcefully participated in ethnically‐specific pandemic initiatives. Three themes identified were: (1) taking it seriously (2) already digitally literate (3) challenges and difficulties. Older Asian migrants engaged in a range of creative strategies to stay connected during COVID‐19 lockdowns which drew heavily on pre‐existing social capital. Future pandemic responses should seek to improve connectedness between the national government COVID‐19 response and older Korean and Chinese later‐life migrants.
Living on the edge: Plant diversity in the Iberian chionophilous vegetation
Authors: Illa Estela , Pérez‐Haase Aaron , Brufau Rainer , Font Xavier
Published: November 2022

Aims

Chionophilous vegetation (i.e. snowbed vegetation and chionophilous grasslands) hosts relict arctic–alpine species, among which snowbed specialists, that find their southernmost limit in the Iberian Peninsula, where they are especially threatened by climate change. Our aims were to identify the main Iberian chionophilous vegetation groups, and analyse their plant diversity patterns and their role as refugia for snowbed glacial relicts, as well as that of Iberian high‐mountain regions.

Location

Iberian high mountains.

Methods

We used thebeta‐flexibleclustering method to classify 1002 vegetation relevés of Iberian chionophilous vegetation, and computed species Indicator Values and frequencies for the resulting groups. We performed a Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) ordination of the relevés, and fitted six climatic variables to reveal the main ecological gradients. We constructed rarefaction curves to compare species richness between vegetation groups and between mountain regions.

Results

We obtained eight vegetation groups, four consisting of snowbed vegetation and four of chionophilous grasslands. All but one group were present in the Pyrenees, where snowbed specialist richness was the highest. In southern and central Iberian ranges, snowbed vegetation was extremely scarce, and the main vegetation group corresponded to cryoromediterranean grasslands, where both species and specialist richness were the lowest. Snowbed and northern Iberian grassland groups accounted for similar high specialist richness, although specialists were infrequent and scarce at relevé level in these grasslands.

Conclusions

Despite the set of specialised species that thrive in snowbeds, many of them are also present but scarce in northern Iberian chionophilous grasslands. In a future scenario with a high reduction of snow cover duration, which may entail the disappearance of many snowbed vegetation patches, northern Iberian chionophilous grasslands may act as terminal refugia for snowbed specialists. Nevertheless, specialists are very threatened in central and southern Iberian ranges, where snowbed vegetation is infrequent and chionophilous grasslands provide almost no shelter to them.
The effect of TRV027 on coagulation in COVID‐19: A pilot randomized, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Robbins Alexander J. , Che Bakri Nur Amalina , Toke‐Bjolgerud Edward , Edwards Aaron , Vikraman Asha , Michalsky Cathy , Fossler Michael , Lemm Nana‐Marie , Medhipour Savviz , Budd William , Gravani Athanasia , Hurley Lisa , Kapil Vikas , Jackson Aimee , Lonsdale Dagan , Latham Victoria , Laffan Michael , Chapman Neil , Cooper Nichola , Szydlo Richard , Boyle Joseph , Pollock Katrina M. , Owen David
Published: November 2022

COVID‐19 causes significant thrombosis and coagulopathy, with elevated D‐dimer a predictor of adverse outcome. The precise mechanism of this coagulopathy remains unclear; one hypothesis is that loss of angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 activity during viral endocytosis leads to pro‐inflammatory angiotensin‐II accumulation, loss of angiotensin‐1‐7 and subsequent vascular endothelial activation. We undertook a double‐blind randomized, placebo‐controlled experimental medicine study to assess the effect of TRV027, a synthetic angiotensin‐1‐7 analogue on D‐dimer in 30 patients admitted to hospital with COVID‐19. The study showed a similar rate of adverse events in TRV027 and control groups. There was a numerical decrease in D‐dimer in the TRV027 group and increase in D‐dimer in the placebo group; however, this did not reach statistical significance (P = .15). A Bayesian analysis demonstrated that there was a 92% probability that this change represented a true drug effect.
ComVis‐Sail: Comparative Sailing Performance Visualization for Coaching
Authors: Pieras M. , Marroquim R. , Broekens D. , Eisemann E. , Vilanova A.
Published: November 2022

During training sessions, sailors rely on feedback provided by the coaches to reinforce their skills and improve their performance. Nowadays, the incorporation of sensors on the boats enables coaches to potentially provide more informed feedback to the sailors. A common exercise during practice sessions, consists of two boats of the same class, sailing side by side in a straight line with different boat handling techniques. Coaches try to understand which techniques are that make one boat go faster than the other. The analysis of the obtained data from the boats is challenging given its multi‐dimensional, time‐varying and spatial nature. At present, coaches only rely on aggregated statistics reducing the complexity of the data, hereby losing local and temporal information. We describe a new domain characterization and present a visualization design that allows coaches to analyse the data, structuring their analysis and explore the data from different perspectives. A central element of the tool is the glyph design to intuitively represent and aggregate multiple aspects of the sensor data. We have conducted multiple user studies with naive users, sailors and coaches to evaluate the design and potential of the overall tool.

image
Visual Exploration of Financial Data with Incremental Domain Knowledge
Authors: Arleo Alessio , Tsigkanos Christos , Leite Roger A. , Dustdar Schahram , Miksch Silvia , Sorger Johannes
Published: November 2022

Modelling the dynamics of a growing financial environment is a complex task that requires domain knowledge, expertise and access to heterogeneous information types. Such information can stem from several sources at different scales, complicating the task of forming a holistic impression of the financial landscape, especially in terms of the economical relationships between firms. Bringing this scattered information into a common context is, therefore, an essential step in the process of obtaining meaningful insights about the state of an economy. In this paper, we present Sabrina 2.0, a Visual Analytics (VA) approach for exploring financial data across different scales, from individual firms up to nation‐wide aggregate data. Our solution is coupled with a pipeline for the generation of firm‐to‐firm financial transaction networks, fusing information about individual firms with sector‐to‐sector transaction data and domain knowledge on macroscopic aspects of the economy. Each network can be created to have multiple instances to compare different scenarios. We collaborated with experts from finance and economy during the development of our VA solution, and evaluated our approach with seven domain experts across industry and academia through a qualitative insight‐based evaluation. The analysis shows how Sabrina 2.0 enables the generation of insights, and how the incorporation of transaction models assists users in their exploration of a national economy.
The diversity of people's relationships with biodiversity should inform forest restoration and creation
Authors: Austen Gail E. , Dallimer Martin , Irvine Katherine N. , Fisher Jessica C. , Fish Robert D. , Davies Zoe G.
Published: November 2022

Forest restoration/creation is a policy focus worldwide, with initiatives pledging to plant billions of trees. While there is an emphasis on providing “the right tree in the right place,” we need to understand for whom the trees are right. Such social dimensions are frequently overlooked, despite being critical to successful forest restoration/creation. We used Q‐methodology to examine what forest biodiversity attributes (e.g., functions, behaviors, colors, smells) people (N = 194) relate to and how in Britain. We found that shared public perspectives on biodiversity attributes are multifaceted, influenced by personal experience and vary across taxa. This heterogeneity highlights the importance of gaining a richer understanding of human–nature relationships, as restoration/creation initiatives need to deliver biodiverse forests to accommodate the plurality of preferences brought to bear upon them. Based on our findings, emphasizing biodiversity in forest restoration/creation should contribute to greater use of, comfort in, and meaningful engagement with, forests in the future by a wider set of publics.
Over‐the‐scope clip closure of a pancreaticocolonic fistula with walled‐off necrosis after necrotizing pancreatitis using a rendezvous technique
Authors: Mukai Shuntaro , Itoi Takao , Kojima Hiroyuki
Published: November 2022

Watch a video of this article.