bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic genome-wide account of binding sites for the model transcription factor Gcn4
Authors: Coey Christopher T. , Clark David J.
Published: December 2021

Sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factors are central to gene regulation. They are often associated with consensus binding sites that predict far more genomic sites than are bound in vivo. One explanation is that most sites are blocked by nucleosomes, such that only sites in nucleosome-depleted regulatory regions are bound. We compared the binding of the yeast transcription factor Gcn4 in vivo using published ChIP-seq data (546 sites) and in vitro, using a modified SELEX method (“G-SELEX”), which utilizes short genomic DNA fragments to quantify binding at all sites. We confirm that Gcn4 binds strongly to an AP-1-like sequence (TGACTCA) and weakly to half-sites. However, Gcn4 binds only some of the 1078 exact matches to this sequence, even in vitro. We show that there are only 166 copies of the high-affinity RTGACTCAY site (exact match) in the yeast genome, all occupied in vivo, largely independently of whether they are located in nucleosome-depleted or nucleosomal regions. Generally, RTGACTCAR/YTGACTCAY sites are bound much more weakly and YTGACTCAR sites are unbound, with biological implications for determining induction levels. We conclude that, to a first approximation, Gcn4 binding can be predicted using the high-affinity site, without reference to chromatin structure. We propose that transcription factor binding sites should be defined more precisely using quantitative data, allowing more accurate genome-wide prediction of binding sites and greater insight into gene regulation.
Effective structural unit analysis in hexagonal close-packed alloys – reconstruction of parent β microstructures and crystal orientation post-processing analysis
Authors: Birch Ruth , Britton Thomas Benjamin
Published: December 2021

Materials with an allotropic phase transformation can form microstructures where grains have orientation relationships determined by the transformation history. These microstructures influence the final material properties. In zirconium alloys, there is a solid-state body-centred cubic (b.c.c.) to hexagonal close-packed (h.c.p.) phase transformation, where the crystal orientations of the h.c.p. phase can be related to the parent b.c.c. structure via the Burgers orientation relationship (BOR). In the present work, a reconstruction code, developed for steels and which uses a Markov chain clustering algorithm to analyse electron backscatter diffraction maps, is adapted and applied to the h.c.p./b.c.c. BOR. This algorithm is released as open-source code (via github, as ParentBOR). The algorithm enables new post-processing of the original and reconstructed data sets to analyse the variants of the h.c.p. α phase that are present and understand shared crystal planes and shared lattice directions within each parent β grain; it is anticipated that this will assist in understanding the transformation-related deformation properties of the final microstructure. Finally, the ParentBOR code is compared with recently released reconstruction codes implemented in MTEX to reveal differences and similarities in how the microstructure is described.
Quantitative phase analysis and microstructural characterization of urinary tract calculi with X-ray diffraction Rietveld analysis on a Caribbean island
Authors: Greasley Jaimie , Goolcharan Shivan , Andrews Roger
Published: December 2021

In the twin-island state of Trinidad and Tobago, urinary stone analysis is not routinely performed. This study investigates, via powder X-ray diffraction, 52 urinary tract calculi collected from hospitals in Trinidad. Of these, 46 stones were analysed with Rietveld refinement for quantitative analysis and materials characterization. Refined unit-cell, microstructural and weight fraction parameters were obtained, with the last being used for stone classification. The results revealed seven distinct mineralogical phases of varying frequency: calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM, 58%), calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD, 23%), carbonated apatite (APA, 48%), brushite (BRU, 6%), struvite (STR, 42%), uric acid (UA, 23%) and ammonium acid urate (AAU, 19%). The average refined crystallite sizes were 1352 ± 90 Å (COM), 1921 ± 285 Å (COD), 83 ± 5 Å (APA), 1172 ± 9 Å (BRU), 1843 ± 138 Å (STR), 981 ± 87 Å (UA) and 292 ± 83 Å (AAU). Subsequently, 36.5% of stones were categorized as phosphates, 34.6% as oxalates, 13.5% as uric acid/urates and 15.4% as mixed compositions. The study findings highlight the importance of stone analysis as a necessary step towards disease management of local patients, and endorse the application of Rietveld refinement as a natural extension to diffraction-based kidney stone investigations.
X-ray structure of a human cardiac muscle troponin C/troponin I chimera in two crystal forms
Authors: Yan Chunhong , Sack John S.
Published: December 2021

The X-ray crystal structure of a human cardiac muscle troponin C/troponin I chimera has been determined in two different crystal forms and shows a conformation of the complex that differs from that previously observed by NMR. The chimera consists of the N-terminal domain of troponin C (cTnC; residues 1–80) fused to the switch region of troponin I (cTnI; residues 138–162). In both crystal forms, the cTnI residues form a six-turn α-helix that lays across the hydrophobic groove of an adjacent cTnC molecule in the crystal structure. In contrast to previous models, the cTnI helix runs in a parallel direction relative to the cTnC groove and completely blocks the calcium desensitizer binding site of the cTnC–cTnI interface.
Revenue efficiency evaluation of life insurance companies in India: identification of leaders and laggards
Authors: Bhatia Aparna , Mahendru Megha
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to evaluate revenue efficiency performance of life insurance companies in India. The study also compares if private or public insurance sector is more “revenue efficient”. Furthermore, the study determines the nature of return to scale (RTS) and identifies the leaders and laggards amongst insurance companies operating in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Revenue efficiency is calculated by employing data envelopment analysis – a non-parametric approach, on a data set of 24 insurance companies over the period 2013–2014 to 2017–2018.

Findings

The empirical results suggest that life insurance companies in India could generate only 34.4% of revenue, which is very less than what these are expected to generate from the same inputs. Majority of life insurance companies operating in India are operating at decreasing return to scale (DRS). There is a reduction in leaders and the highest proportion of companies is falling in the category of laggards.

Originality/value

As per the best knowledge of researchers, no empirical work has been carried out with respect to measuring the revenue efficiency of Indian insurance companies. The current study appropriately fills the gap by not only calculating the revenue efficiency scores of insurance companies in India but also provides insights into the causes of revenue inefficiencies. It also gives implications for efficient and effective management of insurance companies.
Unsteady stagnation point flow past a permeable stretching/shrinking Riga plate in Al2O3-Cu/H2O hybrid nanofluid with thermal radiation
Authors: Zainal Nurul Amira , Nazar Roslinda , Naganthran Kohilavani , Pop Ioan
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The investigation of fluid flow and heat transfer is incredibly significant in the present era, particularly in the engineering and manufacturing industries. Hence, this study aims to concern with analysing the unsteady stagnation point flow towards a permeable stretching/shrinking Riga plate of Al2O3-Cu/H2O. The effect of thermal radiation on the boundary layer flow is also taken into account.

Design/methodology/approach

The multi-variable differential equations with partial derivatives are transformed into third-order and second-order differential equations by applying appropriate transformations. The reduced mathematical model is solved in the MATLAB system by using the bvp4c procedure. This solution approach is capable of producing multiple solutions once the necessary assumptions are provided.

Findings

The results of various control parameters were analysed, and it has been observed that raising the solution viscosity from 0% to 0.5% and 1% improves the coefficient of skin friction and thermal conductivity by almost 1.0% and 1.9%. Similar response and observation can be witnessed in the addition of modified Hartmann number where the highest values dominate about 10.7% improvement. There is a substantial enhancement in the heat transfer rate, approximately 1.8% when the unsteadiness parameter leads around 30% in the boundary layer flow. In contrast, the increment in thermal radiation promotes heat transfer deterioration. Further, more than one solution is proven, which invariably leads to a stability analysis, which validates the first solution’s feasibility.

Originality/value

The present results are new and original for the study of flow and heat transfer on unsteady stagnation point flow past a permeable stretching/shrinking Riga plate in Al2O3-Cu/H2O hybrid nanofluid with thermal radiation.
I Am too old for this! Barriers contributing to the non-adoption of mobile payment
Authors: Cham Tat-Huei , Cheah Jun-Hwa , Cheng Boon-Liat , Lim Xin-Jean
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Since its inception, mobile payment is rapidly gaining popularity over the years, and starting to replace traditional modes of payment. The usage of mobile payments has further escalated following various precautionary measures (i.e. social distancing) in curbing the transmission of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, most of the elderlies are still sceptical about the usage of mobile payment services. The current study was set to investigate the impact of functional, psychological and risk barriers that resulted in elderlies' resistance towards using such services. The impact of stickiness to cash was also examined as a moderator on the investigated relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Online survey questionnaires were used to collect the responses from 400 elderly consumers at the age of 60 and above. Data analysis was then performed using the SPSS and AMOS statistical software packages.

Findings

Findings obtained acknowledged the significance of functional (i.e. perceived complexity, perceived incompatibility and perceived cost), psychological (i.e. lack of trust, inertia, and technological anxiety) and risk (i.e. privacy risk, security risk, financial risk and operational risk) barriers in influencing resistance towards mobile payment services among the elderlies. Consequently, resistance would influence their attitude and non-adoption intention; with attitude as the mediator between resistance and non-adoption intention. Finally, moderation analysis also confirmed the moderating effect of stickiness to cash towards elevating the correlation between resistance and non-adoption intention.

Originality/value

This study is one of the very few studies that explored the minimally investigated territory on the consequential importance of mobile payment usage among the elderlies, specifically, through extending the literature on the impact of functional, psychological and risk barriers towards the individuals' resistance. Besides, this study also successfully contributed to existing body of knowledge by highlighting the mediating role of attitude and moderating role of stickiness to cash in the interrelationships between resistance, attitude and non-adoption intention.
Mediating mechanisms in the relationship between supervisor incivility and employee service delivery in the hospitality industry
Authors: Im Angie Yeonsook , Cho Seonghee
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of supervisor incivility on employees’ general self-efficacy and engagement and their mediating roles in a relationship between supervisor incivility and employees’ service delivery. The study also explores how gender (dis)similarities between supervisors and subordinates affect these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 276 frontline hotel employees in the US Midwest participated in the study. The research model was examined through a two-step structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study findings suggest that an uncivil supervisor negatively influences hotel employees’ self-efficacy and engagement level, which served as underlying mechanisms connecting supervisor incivility with reduced service delivery. The findings did not support the moderating role of gender (dis)similarity.

Practical implications

The results of the current study should urge organizations to acknowledge the detrimental impact of workplace incivility and to commit to the prevention and termination of employee mistreatment. Organizations make efforts to ensure that supervisors serve their internal customers with support and gratitude and help enhance employees’ psychological resources.

Originality/value

The current study advanced the body of literature by suggesting an integral psychological underlying mechanism linking uncivil treatment and declined performance in the hospitality industry.
Exploring the structure and characteristics of the Anglo-American paramedic system in developed countries: a scoping review
Authors: Makrides Timothy , Ross Linda , Gosling Cameron , Acker Joseph , O'Meara Peter
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to map and examine the existing evidence to provide an overview of what is known about the structure and characteristics of the Anglo-American paramedic system in developed countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The review includes results examining the structure and characteristics of the Anglo-American paramedic system in English-speaking developed countries. Databases, including Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, CINAHL, Google Scholar and Epistemonikos, were searched from the inception of the databases. A grey literature search strategy was conducted to identify non-indexed relevant literature along with forward and backward searching of citations and references of included studies. Two reviewers undertook title and abstract screening, followed by full-text screening. Finally, data extraction was performed using a customised instrument. Included studies were summarised using narrative synthesis structured around broad themes exploring the structure and characteristics of the Anglo-American paramedic system.

Findings

The synthesis of information shows that varying models (or subsystems) exist within the Anglo-American paramedic system. The use of metaphorical models based on philosophical underpinnings are used to describe two novel subsystems within the Anglo-American paramedic system. These are the professionally autonomous and directive paramedic systems, with the directive model being further categorised into the rescue and hospital-managed submodels.

Originality/value

This study is the first of its kind to explore the modern subcategorisation of the Anglo-American paramedic system using a realist lens as the basis for its approach.
Reconnoitering enablers of travelers' online hotel booking intention: moderation of service affordability and perceived pandemic risk
Authors: Biswas Abhijeet
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The meddling of foreign players into the Indian hotel industry has triggered fervent competitiveness, and therefore, consumers' attitude, intention and behavior have been the epicenter of all activities. This study endeavors to explicate enablers of online hotel booking intention (OHBI) in the Indian hospitality industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examined OHBI of 560 travelers during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India using structural equation modeling and an extended technology acceptance model. Direct and indirect associations were explored using mediation and moderation.

Findings

The results manifest that hotel website credibility, perceived website interactivity and perceived ease of use (PEU) aggrandize perceived usefulness (PU), which, in turn, considerably magnifies travelers' OHBI. PEU and PU partially mediate the relationship in the model. Into the bargain, service affordability reinforces the relationship, while perceived pandemic risk enfeebles the relationship between PU and OHBI.

Research limitations/implications

The study unfurls pressing determinants of PEU, PU and OHBI that may facilitate hoteliers to lure travelers and enhance profitability.

Originality/value

There is a paucity of literature on “hotel website credibility” and “perceived pandemic risk” in the hospitality industry. Hence, the study enriches literature by assimilating underlying constructs through an epigrammatic conceptual model. The study is distinctive because it unearths the possibilities of mediation and moderation amongst the aforementioned constructs and posits the calamitous effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism and hospitality sector.
Jordanian university instructors' perspectives on emergency remote teaching during COVID-19: humanities vs sciences
Authors: Haider Ahmad S. , Al-Salman Saleh
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The study aims to probe into university instructors' reactions to adopting the remote online learning model brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study investigates the instructors' perspectives, in the humanities and science classes, on the effectiveness of the emergency remote teaching (ERT) compared to face-to-face teaching.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for the study were compiled from the responses of 127 instructors representing two private universities in middle and northern Jordan. The sample included 66 faculty members in the humanities and 61 in the sciences. The instructors' responses were elicited through a Likert-type questionnaire consisting of 20 items.

Findings

The present study's findings have shown that online instruction is becoming more common despite the presence of some major challenges facing instructors. The results showed that the e-learning system seems to better suit the humanities courses compared to the sciences courses. The findings also showed that faculty members in the humanities are more satisfied with the effectiveness of the assessment tools utilized in the online courses than their colleagues in the sciences. In addition, humanities e-courses seem to provide a more interactive learning environment than e-courses in the sciences.

Practical implications

More training for instructors on how to design online course syllabi to ensure effective delivery is needed. Instructors need to develop ways to encourage students to interact in virtual e-classes to the same level as the on-ground classes. Instructors also need to adopt the “blended learning” system as a transitional stage before switching completely to online learning.

Originality/value

Different studies have investigated how COVID-19 has impacted education. The current study brings to light the perspectives of the Jordanian teaching staff on transitioning to ERT during the COVID-19 crisis taking into account the differences between humanities and sciences classes.
A proposed centralized Shariah governance framework for Islamic banks in Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Md. Kausar
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a centralized Shariah governance framework (CSGF) for the Islamic banks and Shariah governance in Bangladesh as such, the existence and practices of the Shariah governance framework (SGF) are decentralized and diversified.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper implements a qualitative case study approach to develop a CSGF for the Islamic banks in Bangladesh. The data has been collected from 17 respondents through semi-structured interviews with a combination of regulators, Shariah supervisory board members, Shariah department executives and Shariah experts from the central bank and Islamic banks in Bangladesh.

Findings

This study proposes a CSGF which is comprising two-tier Shariah supervisory boards (SSBs), i.e. institutional SSB and centralized Shariah supervisory board (CSSB) under the central bank to monitor the overall functions of SG. The study recommends the setting up of four departments under the central bank to enhance the functions of CSSB. Besides, the central bank can introduce Shariah rating, external Shariah audit and external Shariah review through Islamic rating agencies and Islamic Chartered Accountant Firms for transparency and quality compliance which are more desired from the public and other stakeholders.

Research limitations/implications

The study significantly contributed to the national and global regulatory bodies by providing a structural CSGF for the Islamic banks to perform their functions and activities smoothly.

Practical implications

The study outlines a CSGF for the Islamic banks in Bangladesh as the existing practices are diversified and decentralized. Therefore, this framework would be helpful for the central bank and Islamic banks in Bangladesh to promote unique practices of the SGF.

Originality/value

This is the first research that provides a structure of CSGF for Islamic banks in Bangladesh, while the central bank of Malaysia developed the first SGF. There is no study concerning the demographic figure of CSGF of Islamic banks in the entire literature.
The moderating effect of leadership empowerment on relational capital and firms' innovation performance in the entrepreneurial ecosystem: Evidence from China
Authors: Duan Yunlong , Chen Yilin , Liu Shuling , Wong Chi-Sum , Yang Meng , Mu Chang
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to fill the research gap on the moderating effect of leadership empowerment on the relationship between relational capital and firms' innovation performance in the entrepreneurial ecosystem by addressing the following research questions: (1) How do different types of relational capital positively or negatively affect firms' innovation performance in China? (2) Does leadership empowerment play a moderating role in the above relationship?

Design/methodology/approach

Using data derived from the firms distributed in eastern, central and western China, the authors study the impact of relational capital, one of the dimensions of intellectual capital, on firms' innovation performance in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Based on firms' operation process regarding the relationships with their external stakeholders, the authors divided relational capital into three aspects: trust, reciprocity and transparency. Furthermore, leadership empowerment is taken as the moderating variable in the above theoretical relationship.

Findings

There is significant evidence that trust, reciprocity and transparency have positive impact on firms' innovation performance. Leadership empowerment positively moderates the impact of trust and reciprocity on innovation performance. However, there is no significant moderating effect of leadership empowerment on the relationship between transparency and innovation performance.

Originality/value

In the era of the knowledge economy, the entrepreneurial ecosystem is a critical foundation for firms to improve their innovation capacity and performance, and intellectual capital is one of the most imperative drivers in terms of firms' innovation performance. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated thoroughly concerning the relationships among the entrepreneurial ecosystem, intellectual capital and innovation performance. As this study explores the relationships among the above three factors, it may have profound theoretical and practical significance for firms to extent external relationship networks, improve their innovation performance and strengthen their core competencies, which is of great significance to facilitate the construction of entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Robotizing meaningful work
Authors: Turja Tuuli , Minkkinen Jaana , Mauno Saija
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Robots have a history of replacing human labor in undesirable, dirty, dull and dangerous tasks. With robots now emerging in academic and human-centered work, this paper aims to investigate psychological implications of robotizing desirable and socially rewarding work.

Design/methodology/approach

Testing the holistic stress model, this study examines educational professionals’ stress responses as mediators between robotization expectations and future optimism in life. The study uses survey data on 2,434 education professionals.

Findings

Respondents entertaining robotization expectations perceived their work to be less meaningful and reported more burnout symptoms than those with no robotization expectations. Future optimism about life was not affected by robotization expectations alone, but meaninglessness and burnout symptoms mediated the relation between expectations of robotization and future optimism.

Practical implications

Robotization may be viewed as challenging the meaningfulness of educational work by compromising ethical values and interaction. To prevent excess stress among personnel, robotization should be planned together with employees in co-operation negotiations. This implicates the need for co-designing technological changes in organizations especially in the cases of social use of robots.

Originality/value

Work’s meaningfulness in robotization is a novel research topic and a step toward socially sustainable robotization.
Patient cognitive impairment associated with higher home health care delivery costs
Authors: Burgdorf Julia G. , Sen Aditi P. , Wolff Jennifer L.
Published: December 2021

Objective

To assess whether home health agencies incur significantly higher care delivery costs for patients with cognitive impairment across three timeframes relevant to home health payment policy.

Data Sources

Linked Medicare home health claims and patient assessments, National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), and home health agency cost reports for a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health between 2011 and 2016.

Study Design

We modeled care delivery costs incurred by the home health agency as a function of patient cognitive impairment using multivariable, propensity score‐adjusted, generalized linear models.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

We identified NHATS participants who experienced an index home health episode between 2011 and 2016 (n = 1214; weighted n = 5,856,333) and linked their NHATS survey data to standardized patient assessment and claims data for the episode, as well as cost report data for the home health agency that provided care.

Principal Findings

Across the first 30, 60, and 120 days of caring for a patient with cognitive impairment, we estimate additional costs of care to the home health agency of $186.19 (p = 0.02), $282.46 (p = 0.01), and $740.91 (p = 0.04), respectively.

Conclusions

Home health agencies incur significantly higher costs when caring for a patient with cognitive impairment. As patient cognitive function is not considered in the most recent Medicare home health reimbursement model, agencies may be disincentivized from providing care to those with cognitive impairment. Policy makers and researchers should carefully monitor home health access among Medicare beneficiaries with cognitive impairment and further investigate the inclusion of patient cognitive function in future risk adjustment models.
Similarities and differences between internet gaming disorder and tobacco use disorder: A large‐scale network study
Authors: Zheng Yan‐Bin , Dong Hao‐Hao , Wang Min , Zhou Weiran , Lin Xiao , Dong Guang‐Heng
Published: December 2021

Studies have shown that internet gaming disorder (IGD) has the potential to be a type of addiction; however, direct comparisons (similarities and differences) between IGD and traditional addictions remain scarce, especially at the neuroimaging level. Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected from 92 individuals with IGD, 96 individuals with tobacco use disorders (TUDs) and 107 individuals who served as healthy controls (HCs). Independent component analysis (ICA) was performed to explore the similarities and differences among these three groups; Granger causality analysis (GCA) was further performed based on the ICA results to determine potential neural features underlying the differences and similarities among the groups. The ICA results indicated significant differences in the subcortical network and cerebellar network. GCA results found that significant differences in bilateral caudate among three groups, and the efferents of dorsal frontostriatal circuit showed significant differences in insula among three groups, whereas efferents of ventral frontostriatal circuit showed significant differences in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Two kinds of addiction showed differences in thalamus and frontostriatal circuits, and similar changes found in cerebellum and mPFC regions. It suggested that addiction disorders have psychopathology features, and the craving and reward dysfunctions may be the key reasons. Although both substance addiction and behaviour addiction showed craving dysfunction in cerebellum, however, the key reward dysfunction of substance addiction was found in subcortical regions, whereas behaviour addiction located in cortical regions.
Climate Policy Networks in Australia: Dynamics of Failure and Possibility
Authors: Da Rimini Francesca , Goodman James , Swarnakar Pradip , Ylä‐Anttila Tuomas
Published: December 2021

Many high‐income countries are committed to effective climate policy, yet remain heavily dependent on fossil fuel extraction. The contradiction between an intensifying climate crisis and continued policy failure generates new political alignments, constituencies, and agendas. A dialectical process of socio‐ecological change opens‐up, where the climate is “socialised” and society is “climatised”. Australia is a high‐income, high‐emitting fossil fuel “superpower” with a thirty‐year stretch of failing climate policy, and offers an exceptionally vivid illustration of this dynamic. The paper explores these themes through the rhetoric of participants in Australian climate policy networks. It is based on sustained involvement the field and a series of in‐depth interviews with organisations that seek to influence Australian climate policy, across business associations, trade unions, environmental non‐governmental organisations, government agencies, and think tanks. It finds extensive strategic reflection across these organisations, with moves to more collaboration and alliance‐building to isolate the fossil fuel lobby, and efforts at creating new constituencies to advance decarbonisation “on the ground”.
Staying focused when nobody is watching: Self‐regulatory strategies to reduce mind wandering during self‐directed learning
Authors: Randall Jason G. , Hanson Matthew D. , Nassrelgrgawi Alexander S.
Published: December 2021

Mind wandering, the direction of attention away from a primary task, has the potential to interfere with learning, especially in increasingly common self‐directed learning environments. By integrating self‐regulated learning and mind wandering theories, we developed three interventions to encourage on‐task focus in a self‐directed training environment. We tested these self‐regulation interventions in two experiments: a field study with working adults (Study 1, N = 133) and a lab study with college students (Study 2, N = 175) where participants completed a self‐directed online Excel training. Overall, results from the two studies demonstrated that mind wandering negatively harms self‐directed training outcomes, including knowledge, self‐efficacy, and trainee reactions. The strength of these effects differed between samples, with mind wandering more harmful in Study 2 where the participants were significantly less motivated. There was little evidence that the self‐regulation interventions significantly influenced mind wandering or training outcomes when compared to a control group. However, correlational results suggest possible deterrents of mind wandering, including mindfulness, metacognitive monitoring, implementation intentions, and environmental structuring. Drawing from our multidisciplinary theoretical integration and the empirical results presented here, we provide recommendations for future theoretical development and applied research to reduce off‐task thought and enhance performance in self‐directed training.
Cytology, function and dynamics of stem and progenitor cells in decapod crustaceans
Authors: Vogt Günter
Published: December 2021

Stem cells play key roles in development, tissue homeostasis, regeneration, ageing and diseases. Comprehensive reviews on stem cells are available for the determinately growing mammals and insects and some lower invertebrates like hydra but are rare for larger, indeterminately growing invertebrates that can live for many decades. This paper reviews the cytology, function and dynamics of stem and progenitor cells in the decapod crustaceans, a species‐rich and ecologically and economically important animal group that includes mainly indeterminate growers but also some determinate growers. Further advantages of decapods for stem cell research are almost 1000‐fold differences in body size and longevity, the regeneration of damaged appendages and the virtual absence of age‐related diseases and tumours in the indeterminately growing species. The available data demonstrate that the Decapoda possess a remarkable variety of structurally and functionally different stem cells in embryos and larvae, and in the epidermis, musculature, haematopoietic tissue, heart, brain, hepatopancreas, olfactory sense organs and gonads of adults. Some of these seem to be rather continuously active over a lifetime but others are cyclically activated and silenced in periods of days, weeks and years, depending on the specific organ and function. Stem cell proliferation is triggered by signals related to development, moulting, feeding, reproduction, injury, infection, environmental enrichment and social status. Some regulatory pathways have already been identified, including the evolutionarily conserved GATA‐binding and runt‐domain transcription factors, the widespread neurotransmitter serotonin, the arthropod‐specific hormone 20‐hydroxyecdysone and the novel astakine growth factors. Knowledge of stem cells in decapods primarily refines our picture on the development, growth and maintenance of tissues and organs in this animal group. Cultured decapod stem cells have good potential for toxicity testing and virus research with practical relevance for aquaculture. Knowledge of stem cells in decapods also broadens our understanding of the evolution of stem cells and regeneration in the animal kingdom. The stem cells of long‐lived, indeterminately growing decapods may hold the key to understanding how stem and progenitor cells function into old age without adverse side effects, possibly evoking new ideas for the development of anti‐ageing and anti‐cancer treatments in humans.
Adhesion‐related readmissions after open and laparoscopic colorectal surgery in 16 524 patients
Authors: Krielen Pepijn , ten Broek Richard P. G. , van Dongen Koen W. , Parker Mike C. , Griffiths Ewen A. , van Goor Harry , Stommel Martijn W. J.
Published: December 2021

Aim

Colorectal surgery is associated with a high risk of adhesion formation and subsequent complications. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery reduces adhesion formation by 50%; however, the effect on adhesion‐related complications is still unknown. This study aims to compare differences in incidence rates of adhesion‐related readmissions after laparoscopic and open colorectal surgery.

Method

Population data from the Scottish National Health Service were used to identify patients who underwent colorectal surgery between June 2009 and June 2011. Readmissions were registered until December 2017 and categorized as being either directly or possibly related to adhesions, or as reoperations potentially complicated by adhesions. The primary outcome measure was the difference in incidence of directly adhesion‐related readmissions between the open and laparoscopic cohort.

Results

Colorectal surgery was performed in 16 524 patients; 4455 (27%) underwent laparoscopic surgery. Patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery were readmitted less frequently for directly adhesion‐related complications, 2.4% (95% CI 2.0%–2.8%) versus 7.5% (95% CI 7.1%–7.9%) in the open cohort. Readmissions for possibly adhesion‐related complications were less frequent in the laparoscopic cohort, 16.8% (95% CI 15.6%–18.0%) versus 21.7% (95% CI 20.9%–22.5%), as well as reoperations potentially complicated by adhesions, 9.7% (95% CI 8.9%–10.5%) versus 16.9% (95% CI 16.3%–17.5%).

Conclusion

Overall, any adhesion‐related readmissions occurred in over one in three patients after open colorectal surgery and one in four after laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Compared with open surgery, incidence rates of adhesion‐related complications decrease but remain substantial after laparoscopic surgery.
Speakers Align With Their Partner's Overspecification During Interaction
Authors: Loy Jia E. , Smith Kenny
Published: December 2021

Speakers often overspecify by encoding more information than is necessary when referring to an object (e.g., “the blue mug” for the only mug in a group of objects). We investigated the role of a partner's linguistic behavior (whether or not they overspecify) on a speaker's own tendency to overspecify. We used a director–matcher task in which speakers interacted with a partner who either consistently overspecified or minimally specified in the color/size dimension (Experiments 1, 2, and 3), as well as with a partner who switched behaviors midway through interaction (Experiments 4 and 5). We found that speakers aligned with their partner's linguistic behavior to produce overspecific or minimally specific descriptions, and we saw little evidence that the alignment was enhanced by lexical or semantic repetition across prime and target trials. Time‐course analyses showed that alignment increased over the course of the interaction, and speakers appeared to track a change in the partner's linguistic behavior, altering their reference strategy to continue matching that of their partner's. These results demonstrate the persistent influence of a partner's behavior on speakers across the duration of an interaction.
IUCNN – Deep learning approaches to approximate species' extinction risk
Authors: Zizka Alexander , Andermann Tobias , Silvestro Daniele
Published: December 2021

Aim

The Red List (RL) from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature is the most comprehensive global quantification of extinction risk, and widely used in applied conservation as well as in biogeographic and ecological research. Yet, due to the time‐consuming assessment process, the RL is biased taxonomically and geographically, which limits its application on large scales, in particular for underdocumented areas such as the tropics, or understudied taxa, such as most plants and invertebrates. Here, we present IUCNN, an R‐package implementing deep learning models to predict species RL status from publicly available geographic occurrence records (and other data if available).

Innovation

We implement a user‐friendly workflow to train and validate neural network models, and use them to predict species RL status. IUCNN contains specific functions for extinction risk prediction in the RL framework, including a regression‐based approach to account for the ordinal nature of RL categories, a Bayesian approach for improved uncertainty quantification and a convolutional neural network to predict species RL status based on their raw geographic occurrences. Most analyses run with few lines of code, not requiring users to have prior experience with neural network models. We demonstrate the use of IUCNN on an empirical dataset of ~14,000 orchid species, for which IUCNN models can predict extinction risk within minutes, while outperforming comparable methods based on species occurrence information.

Main conclusions

IUCNN harnesses innovative methodology to estimate the RL status of large numbers of species. By providing estimates of the number and identity of threatened species in custom geographic or taxonomic datasets, IUCNN enables large‐scale automated assessments of the extinction risk of species so far not well represented on the official RL.
In vitro profiling and functional assessments of the anti‐diabetic capacity of phenolic‐rich extracts of Bulbine natalensis and Bulbine frutescens
Authors: Oyedemi Sunday O. , Atanes Patricio , Aiyegoro Olayinka A. , Amoo Stephen O. , Swain Shasank S. , Persaud Shanta J.
Published: December 2021

Aims

Bulbine natalensis (BN) and Bulbine frutescens (BF) are recommended in South African traditional medicine to treat diabetes, but their modes of action are unknown. This study assessed the phenolic acid profiles, mineral composition and in vitro functional effects of BN and BF to better understand their glucose‐lowering capabilities.

Methods

Phenolic acid and mineral composition of BN and BF methanolic extracts were determined by HPLC and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy respectively. Antioxidant capacity was assessed by potassium ferricyanide reducing power and 2,2‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assays, and inhibition of alpha‐amylase, alpha‐glucosidase, pancreatic lipase and DPP4 was evaluated by standard enzyme assays. The effects of BN and BF extracts on insulin secretion were investigated using static incubations of isolated mouse islets and molecular docking analysis was used to identify interactions of BN and BF with partners that could mediate stimulatory effects on insulin secretion.

Results

Methanolic extracts of BN and BF contained high concentrations of protocatechuic and gallic acids, and high levels of Zn, Mn and Cr. The extracts inhibited alpha‐glucosidase, alpha‐amylase, pancreatic lipase and DPP4 activities, and they also inhibited free radical generation. Both extracts significantly potentiated glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion without significantly affecting basal insulin secretion or islet cell viability. Protocatechuic acid, the most abundant phenolic acid in the extracts, showed high affinity for PKA, PKC, DPP4 and CaMK II in the docking analysis.

Conclusions

BN and BF have multiple beneficial effects on glucoregulatory pathways and they, or their derivatives, could be developed to treat type 2 diabetes.
A history and evaluation of catch‐only stock assessment models
Authors: Ovando Daniel , Free Christopher M. , Jensen Olaf P. , Hilborn Ray
Published: December 2021

Understanding the status of fish stocks is a critical step in ensuring the ecological and economic sustainability of marine ecosystems. However, at least half of global catch and a vast majority of global fisheries lack formal stock assessments, largely due to a lack of sufficient data. Catch data, loosely referring to any catch records be it inclusive of discards or not, are the only type of fishery data available across a wide range of fisheries at a global scale. This has given rise to a long list of so‐called “catch‐only” models, intended to estimate aspects of stock status based primarily on characteristics of a fishery's catch history. In this paper, we review the history, performance and potential of “catch‐only” models to estimate stock biomass status. While individual catch‐only models often report good performance, repeated efforts to examine the performance of these models have consistently found them to be imprecise and biased when applied to new data‐limited fisheries. We demonstrate that a large reason for this is the simple lack of information on stock status contained in the shape of a catch history alone. Off‐the‐shelf use of catch‐only models can lead to poor and biased estimates of stock status, potentially hindering efforts at effective management.
Latina mothers’ mental health: An examination of its relation to parenting and material resources
Authors: Galvan Thania , Hurwich‐Reiss Eliana , Watamura Sarah E.
Published: December 2021

The demands and stressors associated with motherhood can increase a mother's risk for mental health concerns. Latina mothers are particularly vulnerable to the relation between motherhood‐related stressors and maternal mental health given that they are at an increased risk for mental health concerns, that they are likely to have their mental health needs go unmet, and that traditional Latinx cultural values/gender roles emphasize women assuming the role of primary caregiver of the family's children. In an attempt to better understand how motherhood impacts Latina mother's mental health, this study explored the relations among parental self‐efficacy, parenting stress, and maternal mental health. This study also explored how a mother's perception of her material resources influenced these relations. One hundred and thirty‐two Latina mothers completed questionnaires to assess parenting stress, parental self‐efficacy, and maternal mental health risk. The moderating effect of maternal perception of material resources in the aforementioned relations was assessed through the creation of a composite variable derived from items in the demographic questionnaires. Multiple linear regression analyses were used. Higher levels of parenting stress, but not parental self‐efficacy, were related to increased maternal mental health risk. Furthermore, mothers who perceived themselves to have lower material resources were at increased risk for diminished mental health in the context of low parental self‐efficacy. Results of this study yielded important information that is necessary for informing healthcare best practices, identifying targets for future interventions, and ultimately improving the health outcomes of Latinx mothers and their families.
Digital value chain restructuring and labour process transformations in the fast‐fashion sector: Evidence from the value chains of Zara & H&M
Authors: López Tatiana , Riedler Tim , Köhnen Heiner , Fütterer Michael
Published: December 2021

In this article, we combine a workplace‐centred Labour Process Theory approach with a multi‐level Global Value Chain perspective to link digital labour process transformations in the fast‐fashion value chain to broader dynamics of digital value chain restructuring. Drawing on a case study of H&M and Zara, we show how these retailers’ digital supply chain management strategies are linked to the de‐skilling, standardization and rationalization of tasks and to the emergence of new digital forms of labour control in production, logistics and retail. At the same time, we find that the effects of these transformations on working conditions are mediated by workers’ position in the value chain as well as by gender and capital‐labour power relations. The article contributes to debates on value chains and digitalization by revealing how, under digital capitalism, the ability to control and digitally integrate labour processes in complex store, logistics and manufacturing networks represents a key source of power in buyer‐driven value chains.
Effect of TiO2 on microphase development during phase separation and crystallization in Na2O–B2O3–SiO2 glass system
Authors: Kwinda Tovhowani Innocent , Enke Dirk , Koppka Sharon
Published: December 2021

This study examines the incorporation of TiO2 into sodium borosilicate glasses and its effect on the formation of glassy and crystalline microphases. Glasses in the composition range: 7Na2O–23B2O3–(70 ‐ X)SiO2–XTiO2 (where X = 0–14.6 mol.% TiO2) which exhibit phase separation were investigated. Raman studies confirm the formation of two different TiO2 coordinations depending on the molar content of TiO2. Thermal properties of glasses are unaffected by TiO2 addition. The domain size of microphase development in TiO2‐containing glass indicates competition between phase separation and crystallization. Enrichment of titanium on the interphase between glassy microphases reduces the mass transfer and consequently limits the growth rate of glassy phases. This competes with the formation of anatase for which a nucleation‐controlled mechanism is proposed.