bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survey evaluation of dog owners’ feeding habits in a household setting and comparison of FDA hygiene protocols on dog bowl bacterial contamination as evaluated by total aerobic cell counts
Authors: Luisana Emily , Saker Korinn , Jaykus Lee-Ann , Getty Caitlyn
Published: October 2021

In-home pet food handling and food dish hygiene practices can have adverse health impacts for both humans and pets. Safe food and dish handling guidelines are not easily evidenced for pet owners. The study was designed to investigate dog owners’ feeding habits and evaluate the impact of the Food and Drug Association (FDA) hygiene protocols on dog food dish contamination. Procedures and surveys were approved by NCSU-IACUC and -IRB. Pet feeding and food dish hygiene data were collected from 417 dog owner surveys and 68 food dish swabs. Total aerobic cell counts (TAC) were performed on 68 dishes and randomly assigned into Group A (FDA pet food handling and dish hygiene guidelines), Group B (FDA pet and human food handling and dish hygiene guidelines), or Group C (no guidelines). Hygiene protocols were instituted in-home for 1 week, followed by a second TAC and follow-up survey. Survey from dog owners-households indicated: 4.7% were aware of FDA pet food handling and dish hygiene guidelines; 36% have individuals ≤ 13 years old and/or immunocompromised; 43% store dog food 0-5 feet from human food; 34% wash their hands after feeding; and 33% prepare their dog food on human food preparation surfaces. The hygiene protocols followed by Groups A and B resulted in significant decreases in food dish TAC (P<0.001; 1.40; p=0.026; 0.604, respectively), as compared to Group C (p=0.373). Hot water (>160F) washing decreased TAC (p=0.005) over cold/lukewarm water. In the follow-up survey, 8% of Group A and B respondents reported likely to adhere to protocols long-term. This study suggests a need for pet food handling and dish hygiene guideline education to minimize bacterial contamination of dishes, especially in high-risk households.
Pupillometry and electroencephalography in the digit span task
Authors: Pavlov Yuri G. , Kasanov Dauren , Kosachenko Alexandra I. , Kotyusov Alexander I. , Busch Niko A.
Published: October 2021

This dataset consists of raw 64-channel EEG, cardiovascular (electrocardiography and photoplethysmography), and pupillometry data from 86 human participants recorded during 4 minutes of eyes-closed resting and during performance of a classic working memory task – digit span task with serial recall. The participants either memorized or just listened to sequences of 5, 9, or 13 digits presented auditorily every 2 seconds. The dataset can be used for (1) developing algorithms for cognitive load discrimination and detection of cognitive overload; (2) studying neural (event-related potentials and brain oscillations) and peripheral (electrocardiography, photoplethysmography, and pupillometry) physiological signals during encoding and maintenance of each sequentially presented memory item; (3) correlating cognitive load and individual differences in working memory to neural and peripheral physiology, and studying the relationship between the physiological signals; (4) integration of the physiological findings with the vast knowledge coming from behavioral studies of verbal working memory in simple span paradigms. The data are shared in Brain Imaging Data Structure (BIDS) format and freely available on OpenNeuro (https://openneuro.org/datasets/ds003838).
Individual-based modelling of shelled pteropods
Authors: Hofmann Elizondo Urs , Vogt Meike
Published: October 2021

Shelled pteropods are cosmopolitan, free-swimming organisms of biogeochemical and commercial importance. They are widely used as sentinel species for the overall response of marine ecosystems to environmental stressors associated with climate change and changes in ocean chemistry. However, currently we are unable to project the effects of climate change on shelled pteropods at the population level, due to the missing spatio-temporal characterization of the response of pteropods to environmental stressors, and the limited information on the pteropod life history and life cycle. In this study, we implement a shelled pteropod Individual-Based Model (IBM), i.e. we simulate a pteropod population as a set of discrete individuals over several generations, life stages (eggs, larvae, juveniles and adults) and as a function of temperature, food availability and aragonite saturation state. The model is able to provide an abundance signal that is consistent with the abundance signal measured in the temperate region. In addition, the modeled life stage progression matches the reported size spectrum across the year, with two major spawning periods in spring and fall, and maturation in March and September. Furthermore, our IBM correctly predicts the abundance maxima of younger, smaller and potentially more susceptible life stages in spring and winter. Thus, our model provides a tool for advancing our understanding of the response of pteropod populations to future environmental changes.
The amount range of membrane cholesterol required for robust cell adhesion and proliferation in serum-free condition
Authors: Takii Shino , Wu Jun , Okamura Daiji
Published: October 2021

Serum-containing medium is widely used to support cell attachment, stable growth and serial passaging of various cancer cell lines. However, the presence of cholesterols and lipids in serum greatly hinders the analysis of the effects of cholesterol depletion on cells in culture. In this study, we develop a defined serum-free culture condition accessible to a variety of different types of adherent cancer cells. We tested different factors that are considered essential for cell culture and various extracellular matrix for plate coating, and found cells cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM) basal media supplemented with Albumin (BSA) and insulin-transferrin-selenium-ethanolamine (ITS-X) on fibronectin-precoated well (called as “DA-X condition”) showed comparable proliferation and survival to those in a serum-containing medium. Interestingly, we observed that DA-X condition could be adapted to a wide variety of adherent cancer cell lines, which enabled the analysis of how cholesterol depletion affected cancer cells in culture. Mechanistically, we found the beneficial effects of the DA-X condition in part can be attributed to the appropriate level of membrane cholesterol, and fibronectin-mediated signaling plays an important role in the suppression of cholesterol production.
Formulation of Dry Powders of Vaccines Containing MF59 or AddaVax by Thin-Film Freeze-Drying
Authors: AboulFotouh Khaled , Uno Naoko , Xu Haiyue , Moon Chaeho , Sahakijpijarn Sawittree , Christensen Dale J. , Davenport Gregory J. , Cano Chris , Ross Ted M , Williams Robert O. , Cui Zhengrong
Published: October 2021

Oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion-based vaccine adjuvants such as MF59® are often used in seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines. However, vaccines containing nanoemulsions require cold chain for storage and are sensitive to accidental freezing. We explored the feasibility of developing dry powders of vaccines adjuvanted with MF59 or AddaVax™, a preclinical grade nanoemulsion that has the same composition and droplet size as MF59, by thin-film freeze-drying (TFFD). AddaVax alone was successfully converted from a liquid to dry powders by TFFD using trehalose as a stabilizing agent while maintaining the droplet size distribution of the AddaVax when reconstituted, whereas subjecting the same AddaVax composition to conventional shelf freeze-drying led to significant aggregation or fusion. TFFD was then applied to convert liquid AddaVax-adjuvanted vaccines containing either model antigens such as ovalbumin and lysozyme, mono-, bi-, and tri-valent recombinant hemagglutinin (rHA) protein-based H1 and/or H3 (universal) influenza vaccine candidates, as well as the MF59-containing Fluad® Quadrivalent influenza vaccine to dry powders. Antigens, stabilizing agents, and buffer showed different effects on the physical properties of the vaccines (e.g., mean particle size and particle size distribution) after subjected to TFFD, but the integrity and hemagglutination activity of the rHA antigens did not significantly change and the immunogenicity of reconstituted influenza vaccine candidates was preserved when evaluated in BALB/c mice. The vaccine dry powder was not sensititve to repeated freezing-and-thawing, in contrast to its liquid counterpart. It is concluded that TFFD can be applied to convert vaccines containing MF59 or an nanoemulsion with the same composition and droplet size as MF59 from liquid to dry powders while maintaining the immunogencity of the vaccines, and it may be used to prepare dry powders of multivalent universal influenza vaccines.
Influences of rare copy number variation on human complex traits
Authors: Hujoel Margaux L.A. , Sherman Maxwell A. , Barton Alison R. , Mukamel Ronen E. , Sankaran Vijay G. , Loh Po-Ru
Published: October 2021

The human genome contains hundreds of thousands of regions exhibiting copy number variation (CNV). However, the phenotypic effects of most such polymorphisms are unknown because only larger CNVs (spanning tens of kilobases) have been ascertainable from the SNP-array data generated by large biobanks. We developed a new computational approach that leverages abundant haplotype-sharing in biobank cohorts to more sensitively detect CNVs co-inherited within extended SNP haplotypes. Applied to UK Biobank, this approach achieved 6-fold increased CNV detection sensitivity compared to previous analyses, accounting for approximately half of all rare gene inactivation events produced by genomic structural variation. This extensive CNV call set enabled the most comprehensive analysis to date of associations between CNVs and 56 quantitative traits, identifying 269 independent associations (P < 5 × 10−8) – involving 97 loci – that rigorous statistical fine-mapping analyses indicated were likely to be causally driven by CNVs. Putative target genes were identifiable for nearly half of the loci, enabling new insights into dosage-sensitivity of these genes and implicating several novel gene-trait relationships. CNVs at several loci created extended allelic series including deletions or duplications of distal enhancers that associated with much stronger phenotypic effects than SNPs within these regulatory elements. These results demonstrate the ability of haplotype-informed analysis to empower structural variant detection and provide insights into the genetic basis of human complex traits.
The human frontal operculum is involved in visuomotor performance monitoring
Authors: Quirmbach Felix , Limanowski Jakub
Published: October 2021

For adaptive goal-directed action, the brain needs to monitor action performance and detect errors. The corresponding information may be conveyed via different sensory modalities; for instance, visual and proprioceptive body position cues may inform about current manual action performance. Thereby, contextual factors such as the current task set may also determine the relative importance of each sensory modality for action guidance. Here, we analysed human behavioral, fMRI, and MEG data from two VR-based hand-target phase matching studies to identify the neuronal correlates of performance monitoring and error processing under instructed visual or proprioceptive task sets. Our main result was a general, modality-independent response of the bilateral FO to poor phase matching accuracy, as evident from increased BOLD signal and increased gamma power. Furthermore, functional connectivity of the bilateral FO to the right PPC increased under a visual vs proprioceptive task set. These findings suggest that the bilateral FO generally monitors manual action performance; and, moreover, that when visual action feedback is used to guide action, the FO may signal an increased need for control to visuomotor regions in the right PPC following errors.
The Mettl3 epitranscriptomic writer amplifies p53 stress responses
Authors: Raj Nitin , Wang Mengxiong , Seoane Jose A. , Moonie Nancie A. , Demeter Janos , Kaiser Alyssa M. , Boutelle Anthony M. , Mulligan Abigail S. , Moffatt Clare , Curtis Christina , Chang Howard Y. , Jackson Peter. K. , Attardi Laura D.
Published: October 2021

The p53 transcription factor, encoded by the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer, plays a critical role in tissue homeostasis in response to stress signals. The mechanisms through which p53 promotes downstream tumor suppressive gene expression programs remain, however, only superficially understood. Here, we used tandem affinity purification and mass spectrometry to reveal new components of the p53 response. This approach uncovered Mettl3, a component of the m6A RNA methyltransferase complex (MTC), as a p53-interacting protein. Analysis of Mettl3- deficient cells revealed that Mettl3 promotes p53 protein stabilization and target gene expression in response to DNA damage. Mettl3 acts in part by competing with the p53 negative regulator, Mdm2, for binding to the p53 transactivation domains to promote methyltransferase-independent stabilization of p53. In addition, Mettl3 relies on its catalytic activity to augment p53 responses, with p53 recruiting Mettl3 to p53 target genes to co-transcriptionally direct m6A modification of p53 pathway transcripts to enhance their expression. Mettl3 also promotes p53 activity downstream of oncogenic signals in vivo, in both allograft and autochthonous lung adenocarcinoma models, suggesting cooperative action of p53 and Mettl3 in tumor suppression. Accordingly, we found in diverse human cancers that mutations in MTC components perturb expression of p53 target genes and that MTC mutations are mutually exclusive with TP53 mutations, suggesting that the MTC enhances the p53 transcriptional program in human cancer. Together, these studies reveal a fundamental role for Mettl3 in amplifying p53 signaling through protein stabilization and epitranscriptome regulation.
Non-motile subpopulations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa repress flagellar motility in motile cells through a type IV pili- and Pel-dependent mechanism
Authors: Lewis Kimberley A. , Vermilyea Danielle M. , Webster Shanice S. , Geiger Christopher J. , de Anda Jaime , Wong Gerard C. L. , O’Toole George A. , Hogan Deborah A.
Published: October 2021

The downregulation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa flagellar motility is a key event in biofilm formation, host-colonization, and the formation of microbial communities, but the external factors that repress motility are not well understood. Here, we report that under swarming conditions, swarming motility can be repressed by cells that are non-motile due to the absence of a flagellum or flagellar rotation. Non-swarming cells, due to mutations that prevent either flagellum biosynthesis or rotation, present at 5% of the total population suppressed swarming of wild-type cells under the conditions tested in this study. Non-swarming cells required functional type IV pili and the ability to produce Pel exopolysaccharide to suppress swarming by the flagellated wild type. In contrast, flagellated cells required only type IV pili, but not Pel production, in order for swarming to be repressed by non-flagellated cells. We hypothesize that interactions between motile and non-motile cells may enhance the formation of sessile communities including those involving multiple genotypes, phenotypically-diverse cells, and perhaps other species.

Importance

Our study shows that, under the conditions tested, a small population of non-swarming cells can impact the motility behavior of the larger population. The interactions that lead to the suppression of swarming motility require type IV pili and a secreted polysaccharide, two factors with known roles in biofilm formation. These data suggest that interactions between motile and non-motile cells may enhance the transition to sessile growth in populations and promote interactions between cells with different genotypes.
Physical activity and posture profile of a South African cohort of middle-aged men and women as determined by integrated hip and thigh accelerometry
Authors: Micklesfield Lisa K. , Westgate Kate , Smith Antonia , Kufe Clement , Mendham Amy E. , Lindsay Tim , Wijndaele Katrien , Goedecke Julia H. , Brage Soren
Published: October 2021

Background

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour are central to public health recommendations and highlight the need for precise measurement. Descriptive studies of objectively measured physical activity behaviours in African populations are rare. We aimed to develop a method of combining the signals from hip and thigh accelerometers to quantify physical behaviours and describe these by socio-demographic factors in a population of middle-aged men and women from urban South Africa.

Methods

Physical behaviours were quantified by integrating the signals from two triaxial accelerometers worn simultaneously during free-living, in a subsample of participants from the Middle-aged Soweto Cohort (MASC) (n=794; mean (SD) age: 53.7 (6.3) years). Acceleration time-series from the two accelerometers were combined and movement-related acceleration derived using Euclidean Norm Minus One (ENMO, in milli-g). This was summarised as total movement volume (mean ENMO) and time spent in non-movement (<28mg), light intensity physical activity (LPA, 28-85 mg) and moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA, >85 mg); thigh pitch angle and a sleep diary were used to further divide non-movement time (min/day) spent into sleep, awake sitting/lying, and standing. Socio-demographic factors were self-reported, and weight and height were measured.

Results

Mean (SD) wear time for combined thigh-hip accelerometry was 128 (48) hours. Movement volume was 15.0 (6.5) mg for men (n=437; 53.6 (6.2) years) and 12.2 (3.4) mg for women (n=357; 53 (5.8) years). Men spent more time in MVPA and sitting/lying, while women spent more time standing. Age was inversely associated with movement volume, MVPA and LPA in men and women. When compared to their normal weight counterparts, men who were overweight or obese spent less average daily time in MVPA, while women who were overweight or obese spent less time in LPA and more time sitting/lying. Socio-economic status was inversely associated with volume, MVPA and time spent sleeping, and positively associated with time spent sitting/lying, in both men and women.

Conclusions

Integrating signals from hip and thigh accelerometers enables characterisation of physical behaviours that can be applied in an African population. Age, female sex, BMI and socio-economic status are inversely associated with physical activity and directly associated with sedentary behaviour.
An improved sparrow search algorithm based on levy flight and opposition-based learning
Authors: Chen Danni , Zhao JianDong , Huang Peng , Deng Xiongna , Lu Tingting
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Sparrow search algorithm (SSA) is a novel global optimization method, but it is easy to fall into local optimization, which leads to its poor search accuracy and stability. The purpose of this study is to propose an improved SSA algorithm, called levy flight and opposition-based learning (LOSSA), based on LOSSA strategy. The LOSSA shows better search accuracy, faster convergence speed and stronger stability.

Design/methodology/approach

To further enhance the optimization performance of the algorithm, The Levy flight operation is introduced into the producers search process of the original SSA to enhance the ability of the algorithm to jump out of the local optimum. The opposition-based learning strategy generates better solutions for SSA, which is beneficial to accelerate the convergence speed of the algorithm. On the one hand, the performance of the LOSSA is evaluated by a set of numerical experiments based on classical benchmark functions. On the other hand, the hyper-parameter optimization problem of the Support Vector Machine (SVM) is also used to test the ability of LOSSA to solve practical problems.

Findings

First of all, the effectiveness of the two improved methods is verified by Wilcoxon signed rank test. Second, the statistical results of the numerical experiment show the significant improvement of the LOSSA compared with the original algorithm and other natural heuristic algorithms. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the LOSSA in solving the hyper-parameter optimization problem of machine learning algorithms are demonstrated.

Originality/value

An improved SSA based on LOSSA is proposed in this paper. The experimental results show that the overall performance of the LOSSA is satisfactory. Compared with the SSA and other natural heuristic algorithms, the LOSSA shows better search accuracy, faster convergence speed and stronger stability. Moreover, the LOSSA also showed great optimization performance in the hyper-parameter optimization of the SVM model.
Factors impacting BIM application in prefabricated buildings in China with DEMATEL-ISM
Authors: Gong Cheng , Xu Hongyu , Xiong Feng , Zuo Jian , Dong Na
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Some papers have investigated the complex factors impacting building information modeling (BIM) application in prefabricated buildings (PBs), but few paid attention to their interaction relationships. Ignoring the fact that different factors are not isolated may lead to some key factors being overlooked without appropriate improvement strategies being proposed. This paper aims to analyze those factors and their inter-relationships, with the view to identify the critical factors and their interaction relationships so as to derive constructive strategies that would effectively facilitate BIM adoption in Chinese prefabrication.

Design/methodology/approach

First, factors influencing BIM application in prefabrication are extracted and collated by literature review, expert interview and analysis of PBs characteristics. Thereafter, an evaluation laboratory (decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory) and interpretive structural modeling are used to explore the relationships and hierarchy among the factors. Based on the degree of cause and centrality, critical factors are extracted and the interaction relationship are investigated.

Findings

The results show that BIM policies and standards for PBs are the main causal factors. The maturity of BIM software and BIM data interface for PBs, willingness to share data, the strategic goals of the enterprise, BIM law and BIM input and benefit are the main transitional factors while BIM staff and workflow, enterprise attitude, distribution of BIM liability and cooperation of participants are the main direct factors.

Originality/value

Based on the above findings, corresponding improvement strategies are proposed so as to promote BIM application in prefabrication and the rapid development of China’s PBs efficiently.
Synthesizing sources in magnetics: a benchmark problem
Authors: Alotto Piergiorgio , Di Barba Paolo , Formisano Alessandro , Lozito Gabriele Maria , Martone Raffaele , Mognaschi Maria Evelina , Repetto Maurizio , Salvini Alessandro , Savini Antonio
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Inverse problems in electromagnetism, namely, the recovery of sources (currents or charges) or system data from measured effects, are usually ill-posed or, in the numerical formulation, ill-conditioned and require suitable regularization to provide meaningful results. To test new regularization methods, there is the need of benchmark problems, which numerical properties and solutions should be well known. Hence, this study aims to define a benchmark problem, suitable to test new regularization approaches and solves with different methods.

Design/methodology/approach

To assess reliability and performance of different solving strategies for inverse source problems, a benchmark problem of current synthesis is defined and solved by means of several regularization methods in a comparative way; subsequently, an approach in terms of an artificial neural network (ANN) is considered as a viable alternative to classical regularization schemes. The solution of the underlying forward problem is based on a finite element analysis.

Findings

The paper provides a very detailed analysis of the proposed inverse problem in terms of numerical properties of the lead field matrix. The solutions found by different regularization approaches and an ANN method are provided, showing the performance of the applied methods and the numerical issues of the benchmark problem.

Originality/value

The value of the paper is to provide the numerical characteristics and issues of the proposed benchmark problem in a comprehensive way, by means of a wide variety of regularization methods and an ANN approach.
Minimisation and management strategies for refurbishment and renovation waste in Hong Kong
Authors: Yu Ann T.W. , Mok Kelvin S.H. , Wong Irene
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The capacity of landfills will reach saturation in the 2020s. There are more than 50,000 buildings in Hong Kong over 30 years old and which may require extensive refurbishment under the Mandatory Building Scheme. Additionally, most new owners/tenants tend to renovate their premises before moving in. Hence, there is an urgent need in Hong Kong, to explore strategies and measures to enable the development of effective refurbishment and renovation (R&R) waste management for such projects. The objectives of this paper are to investigate the process of R&R for identifying the perceived barriers and thereby the strategies for minimisation and management of R&R waste in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

Desktop study, semi-structured interviews, site observations and document reviews were used as the data collection methods to achieve the objectives of this research. Considering the nature and characteristics of the industry structure, the snowball sampling process was deployed for data collection. Thematic analysis and content analysis were used for data analysis. Waste minimisation and management strategies for R&R projects were then discussed and developed by the research team and a focus group meeting was held to validate the research findings. Six strategies were then proposed to the government.

Findings

R&R projects contribute 10–20% of the construction and demolition waste. The barriers to recycling of R&R waste can be grouped into six major categories: (1) lack of sorting and storage spaces, (2) high cost, (3) insufficient government supporting policy, (4) complicated recycling processes, (5) immature recycling market and (6) insufficient public education. Also, six strategies are proposed in this study, which include (1) pre-refurbishment audit, (2) development of recycling market, (3) sea reclamation, (4) incineration, (5) government support and (6) education and research.

Originality/value

The strategies and measures proposed in this research could most adequately serve as reference for the government officials, building professionals and academic researchers. Such knowledge would make possible the development of effective strategies and measures for minimising and managing R&R waste.
The impact of the European court of human rights on the development of rights in health care
Authors: Yaroshenko Oleg M. , Steshenko Volodymyr M. , Anisimova Hanna V. , Yakovleva Galina O. , Nabrusko Mariia S.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the international regional system of the preservation of the right to health in the European human rights system through the work of the ECtHR, to analyse the case law of the ECHR based on the human right to health. This purpose determines the following tasks: to identify the features of the realization of the right to health in the European mechanism of human rights protection; to study the mechanism of realization of the right to health in the activity of the ECtHR; to describe the case law of the ECtHR in terms of the right to health.

Design/methodology/approach

The “black letter” law methodology is used to focus attention on conducting research on the letter of the law and the desire to conduct a descriptive analysis of legal norms, based on primary sources.

Findings

On the basis of the conducted researches, it is possible to draw a conclusion that the ECHR, albeit implicitly, refers to the right to health as well.

Originality/value

The right to health is included in the catalogue of the most important universally recognized human rights and is most often considered as an integral part of socio-economic human rights, but there is no special universal or regional mechanism for protecting this category of rights.
Study on static load test of simply supported hollow slab bridge flexural strengthened with polyurethane–cement composite
Authors: Li Chunwei , Sun Quansheng , Liu Yancheng
Published: October 2021

Purpose

As the service time of bridges increases, the degradation of bending capacity, the lack of safety reserves and the decrease in bridge reliability are common in early built bridges. Due to the defective lateral hinge joints, hollow slab bridges are prone to cracking of hinge joint between plates, transverse connection failure and stress of single plates under the action of long-term overload and repeated load. These phenomena seriously affect the bending capacity of the hollow slab bridge. This paper aims to describe a new method of simply supported hollow slab bridge reinforcement called polyurethane–cement (PUC) composite flexural reinforcement.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper first studies the preparation and tensile and compressive properties of PUC composite materials. Then, relying on the actual bridge strengthening project, the 5 × 20 m prestressed concrete simply supported hollow slab was reinforced with PUC composites with a thickness of 3 cm within 18 m of the beam bottom. Finally, the load test was used to compare the performance of the bridge before and after the strengthening.

Findings

Results showed that PUC has high compressive and tensile strengths of 72 and 46 MPa. The static test revealed that the measured values and verification coefficients of the measured points were reduced compared with those before strengthening, the deflection and strain were reduced by more than 15%, the measured section stiffness was improved by approximately 20%. After the strengthening, the lateral connection of the bridge, the strength and rigidity of the structure and the structural integrity and safety reserves were all significantly improved. The application of PUC to the flexural strengthening of the bridge structure has a significant effect.

Originality/value

As a new type of material, PUC composite is light, remarkable and has good performance. When used in the bending strengthening of bridge structures, this material can improve the strength, rigidity, safety reserve and bending capacity of bridges, thus demonstrating its good engineering application prospect.
A model for B2B salesperson performance with service ecosystems perspective: a grounded theory
Authors: Razi Nasrin , Moshabaki Asghar , Khodadad Hosseini Hamid , Kordnaeij Asadollah
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a model for business to business salesperson performance (SP) with a service ecosystems perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the research aims, classical grounded theory was used. The data was gathered through in-depth interviews with 20 sales managers and main sales actors.

Findings

After coding and analyzing the data, salesperson institutional performance is introduced as a core category including three main dimensions of regulative, normative and cognitive-cultural performance. Multi-level factors determining SP are identified and performance results are introduced in a multi-level long term way. The sales actors, macro variables, actors’ orientations and sales method are introduced as circumstances, while salesperson stressors are presented as covariants deterring the fulfillment of salesperson’s activities.

Originality/value

This study focuses on the contributions of the salesperson in the alignment of institutional arrangements or the results of their being institutionalized, as well as determining the factors and variables affecting it.
How do religiosity and acculturation to the global consumer culture drive the perceived value of luxury? A study in Kuwait
Authors: Al-Issa Nermain , Dens Nathalie
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to understand the impact of religiosity and acculturation to the global consumer culture (AGCC) on Muslims’ perception of luxury values. Prior results on the effect of religion/religiosity on luxury consumption and purchase intentions are inconsistent. Then, while AGCC is argued to affect consumers’ perceptions of luxury values, research in this area is scarce.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an online questionnaire with 300 Kuwaiti respondents recruited from a paid consumer panel, the authors explore the relations between religiosity and AGGC on the one hand and luxury values on the other through linear regressions.

Findings

Religiosity enhances the perceived extended self, perfectionism, materialistic and sustainable value of luxury. AGCC enhances Muslims’ perception of all luxury values under study. Globalized Muslims mainly perceive luxury as means of self-identification.

Originality/value

The study is the first, to the knowledge, to investigate the impact of religiosity and AGCC on Muslims’ perception of luxury values. The authors propose an integrative set of luxury values that reflect both the social and personal value of luxury. The study focuses on Muslims in Kuwait; a potential luxury market that is under-investigated.
An integrative conceptual two-factor model of workplace value congruence and incongruence
Authors: Abbasi Zoleikha , Billsberry Jon , Todres Mathew
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to integrate research conducted on work values, political values and cultural values to develop a new heuristic model of values that can be applied to workplace outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that draws upon the work values, political values and cultural values literatures and the “similarity leads to attraction” and “dissimilarity leads to repulsion” hypotheses to advocate an integrative conceptual model spanning these constructs.

Findings

Integrating the three types of values with the underlying hypotheses of “similarity leads to attraction” and “dissimilarity leads to repulsion”, an internally consistent two-factor model of values is developed. This heuristic model argues that one set of factors causes value congruence and its associated outcomes and a different set of factors causes value incongruence and its associated outcomes. By conceptualizing value congruence and value incongruence as a two-factor theory, the idea is advanced that people do not assess value similarity and value dissimilarity unidimensionally, but these are two separate dimensions supported by different theoretical hypotheses and processes.

Originality/value

Previous conceptual work on values has isolated different types of values and considered them separately. A contribution is made by integrating the three main streams of values research. The paper is the first to advocate a two-factor theory to values and the first to incorporate the “similarity leads to attraction” and “dissimilarity leads to repulsion” hypotheses. The model repositions the focus for future research on value congruence and incongruence.
Association between individual and environmental factors with body mass index for age z-score in female adolescents living in North-West of Iran
Authors: Seyyedin Bahareh , Omidvar Nasrin , Bakhshi Bahar , Zayeri Farid , Rezazadeh Arezoo
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of individual and environmental indicators with body mass-index-for-age-z-score (BAZ) of female adolescents living in the North-West of Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

In this cross-sectional study, 380 female adolescents aged 16-18 years were selected from two major ethnic groups (Azeri and Kurd) in Urmia city selected by stratified cluster sampling method. In total, 13 high schools (9 public and 4 private) were selected across all municipality zones of Urmia city. BAZ was calculated by Anthro-Plus software. Demographic and socioeconomic information of samples were collected by a questionnaire through interviews. Home environment features (including physical activity facilities, television, computer games and social media use, food consumption habits and family rules) and school environment features (including socioeconomic status [SES], physical activity facilities, food consumption habits) were evaluated by two separate self-constructed questionnaires via an interview with adolescents and schools’ deans, respectively.

Findings

Azeri adolescents had parents with higher education and job level and higher SES compared to Kurds (p = 0.000). A higher percent of Azeri adolescents were obese than their Kurd counterparts (p = 0.006). No association was found between individual factors and BAZ in each ethnic group. Considering home environment characteristics, in Kurd adolescents, the maternal occupational level was positively associated with BAZ (p = 0.02). With regard to school environmental features, accessibility of physical activity facilities in school was inversely associated with BAZ only in Kurds (p = 0.005).

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate various environmental factors in association with adolescent’s overweight/obesity prevalence in different ethnical groups in northwest Iran.
Political Image Making in Portraits of Isabella d'Este, Marchioness of Mantua
Authors: James Carolyn
Published: October 2021

Isabella d'Este (1474–1539), marchioness of the northern Italian city state of Mantua, commissioned portraits of herself from some of the foremost painters of her day, including Titian and Leonardo da Vinci. These works have mostly been analysed through the prism of artistic connoisseurship and Isabella's motivations for commissioning them have been seen in gendered terms as idiosyncratic and trivial. This article explores the ways in which Isabella deployed portraiture as a political tool and investigates how she integrated this avenue of self‐fashioning with other forms of identity branding to underpin her reputation as a woman capable of exercising authority and deserving of respect for her administrative and diplomatic skills. By analysing the trajectory of Isabella's portrait commissions in the context of her changing levels of political influence, and by considering them as a group, I aim to make sense of their iconography and show that the idea that she merely wished to be memorialised for a beauty she never possessed in reality fails to take into account the sophistication of her political image making.
Efficacy and safety of oral ibrexafungerp for the treatment of acute vulvovaginal candidiasis: a global phase 3, randomised, placebo‐controlled superiority study (VANISH 306)
Authors: Sobel R , Nyirjesy P , Ghannoum MA , Delchev DA , Azie NE , Angulo D , Harriott IA , Borroto‐Esoda K , Sobel JD
Published: October 2021

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ibrexafungerp versus placebo for acute vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) treatment.

Design

Global phase 3, randomised, placebo‐controlled superiority study.

Setting

Study sites in the USA (n = 19) and Bulgaria (n = 18).

Population

Female patients aged ≥12 years with acute VVC and a vulvovaginal signs and symptoms (VSS) score ≥4 at baseline.

Methods

Patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to ibrexafungerp (300 mg twice for 1 day) or placebo.

Main outcome measures

The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients with a clinical cure (VSS = 0) at the test‐of‐cure visit (day 11 ± 3). Secondary endpoints included percentages of patients with mycological eradication, clinical cure and mycological eradication (overall success), clinical improvement (VSS ≤1) at test‐of‐cure visit, and complete resolution of symptoms at follow‐up visit (day 25 ± 4).

Results

At the test‐of‐cure visit, patients receiving ibrexafungerp had significantly higher rates of clinical cure (63.3% [119/188] versus 44.0% [37/84]; P = 0.007), mycological eradication (58.5% [110/188] versus 29.8% [25/84]; P < 0.001), overall success (46.1% [82/188] versus 28.4% [23/84]; P = 0.022) and clinical improvement (72.3% [136/188] versus 54.8% [46/84]; P = 0.01) versus those receiving placebo. Symptom resolution was sustained and further increased with ibrexafungerp (73.9%) versus placebo (52.4%) at follow‐up (P = 0.001). Ibrexafungerp was generally well tolerated. Adverse events were primarily gastrointestinal and were mild to moderate in severity.

Conclusions

Ibrexafungerp demonstrated statistical superiority over placebo for the primary and secondary endpoints. Ibrexafungerp is a promising novel, well‐tolerated and effective oral 1‐day treatment for acute VVC.

Tweetable abstract

Ibrexafungerp is statistically superior to placebo for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.
Technocratic attitudes in COVID‐19 times: Change and preference over types of experts
Authors: LAVEZZOLO SEBASTIÁN , RAMIRO LUIS , FERNÁNDEZ‐VÁZQUEZ PABLO
Published: October 2021

Western publics show a sizable support for experts’ involvement in political decision making, that is, technocratic attitudes. This article analyzes two key aspects of these attitudes: technocratic attitudes’ stability and the heterogeneity in the demand for experts depending on the context. We first analyze how technocratic attitudes have been affected by an external event, the COVID‐19 pandemic, that has placed experts’ role at the forefront of the public debate; this allows us to analyze the stability or change in these attitudes. Second, given that the pandemic quickly evolved from being a public health issue to becoming a political issue combining economic and public health dimensions, we examine whether framing the COVID‐19 pandemic exclusively as a public health problem or as including a prominent economic dimension as well affects the type of public officials who are preferred to lead the political management of the crisis (independent experts with diverse professional skills or party politicians belonging to different parties and with a specialization in different policy fields). We pursue these two research goals through a panel survey conducted in Spain at two different time points, one before and another during the pandemic, in which we measure technocratic attitudes using an exhaustive battery; and through a survey experiment combining a conjoint design and a framing experiment. Results show that, first, technocratic attitudes have significantly increased as a consequence of the coronavirus outbreak; second, people's preference for experts prevails against any other experimental treatment such as party affiliation; and, finally, preferences for the type of experts vary depending on the problem to be solved. In this way, this paper significantly increases our knowledge of the factors that affect variation in public attitudes towards experts’ involvement in political decision‐making.
Endostar (rh‐endostatin) improves efficacy of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non‐small cell lung cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yuan Meng , Zhai Yirui , Men Yu , Wang Jianyang , Deng Lei , Wang Wenqing , Bao Yongxing , Yang Xu , Sun Shuang , Ma Zeliang , Liu Yunsong , Wang Jun , Zhu Hui , Hui Zhouguang
Published: October 2021

Background

We aimed to clarify the benefits of the addition of rh‐endostatin into concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) versus CCRT alone for locally advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by a meta‐analysis.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Wanfang and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were systematically screened from inception to November 2020 using the prespecified terms. Prospective trials (evaluating or) comparing the efficacy of endostar combined with CCRT and CCRT for locally advanced NSCLC were included. The primary endpoints were risk ratios (RRs) for objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). The secondary endpoints were RRs for overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs).

Results

Ten studies with 716 patients were included in this meta‐analysis. Endostar combined with CCRT significantly improved ORR and DCR compared with CCRT. The RRs of ORR and DCR for endostar combined with CCRT versus CCRT were 1.263 (95% CI: 1.137–1.403, p < 0.001) and 1.274 (95% CI: 1.124–1.444, p < 0.001), respectively. Endostar combined with CCRT significantly improved one‐year survival rate compared with CCRT with pooled RR = 1.113 (95% CI: 1.006–1.231, p = 0.038). Endostar combination treatments had similar incidences of main adverse events compared with CCRT (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Endostar combined with CCRT is associated with significantly higher ORR, DCR and survival rate than CCRT with similar incidences of main adverse events in NSCLC.
Haemorrhagic death from severe liver trauma has decreased in the era of haemostatic resuscitation
Authors: Fischer Nicholas J , Civil Ian D
Published: October 2021

Background

Severe liver trauma can cause major haemorrhage and death. Haemostatic resuscitation principles are associated with improved survival in trauma patients with major haemorrhage. We hypothesised death from liver haemorrhage decreased in parallel with the introduction of haemostatic resuscitation.

Aim

To establish the incidence of haemorrhagic death in patients with severe liver trauma and review how outcomes in two time periods associate with changes in resuscitation practice.

Methods

A retrospective review of all adult patients admitted to Auckland City Hospital with liver trauma was undertaken for a 14‐year period. Resuscitation fluid for patients with grade V liver trauma or death from liver haemorrhage was compared between the first and second half of the study (2006–2013 vs. 2013–2020).

Results

Four hundred and fifty patients were admitted with liver trauma during the 14‐year period. Mortality from haemorrhage in patients with severe liver trauma (grade IV and V) decreased between the first and second half of the study (p = 0.009). Pre‐hospital and emergency department crystalloid fluid use decreased (p = 0.002). Fresh frozen plasma in ED (p = 0.076) and total cryoprecipitate use (p = 0.072) increased. Tranexamic acid use increased (p = 0.002). Use of colloid fluid was abandoned (p = 0.013). There was no significant difference in pre‐hospital time or time from hospital arrival until haemorrhage control laparotomy.

Conclusion

Death from liver haemorrhage decreased in association with the introduction of haemostatic resuscitation while the incidence, severity and surgical management of liver trauma was comparable.