bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consumers' preference for eco-friendly packaged products: pride vs guilt appeal
Authors: Shimul Anwar Sadat , Cheah Isaac
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the influence of eco-friendly packaging on consumers' responses. A research framework is examined to identify significant antecedents of eco-friendly packaging behaviour, namely environmental responsibility, knowledge, attitudes, and message framing, to determine their relative importance.

Design/methodology/approach

A set of hypotheses is tested across two studies.

Findings

Study 1 (n = 160) shows that attitude is an important mediator between consumers' environmental responsibility and environmental knowledge and intentions when adopting eco-friendly packaging. Furthermore, study 2 (n = 132) finds that where eco-friendly packaging is concerned, the advertised message has to be framed with a particular emotional appeal congruent to a specific psychographic trait to stimulate pro-environmental behavioural intention.

Practical implications

Based on the findings of this research, advertisers and environmental practitioners can utilise the correct type of message appeals to implement pro-environmental campaigns and programs for appropriate consumer segments effectively.

Originality/value

Aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular, SDGs 12 on ensuring “responsible consumption and production”, the research findings have highlighted the importance of individual's environmental knowledge (eco-literacy) and responsibility as they act as precursors toward sustainable and responsible consumption.
Adolescent Generation Z and sustainable and responsible fashion consumption: exploring the value-action gap
Authors: Williams Annie , Hodges Nancy
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore whether a “value-action gap” exists between what members of the adolescent Generation Z (Gen Z) cohort value and how they act by investigating their actions related to sustainable and responsible fashion consumption (SRFC). Specific focus was placed on understanding these actions across the apparel consumption cycle, ranging from the acquisition, to use and disposal stages.

Design/methodology/approach

Forty-one members of Gen Z (20 males and 21 females) ranging in age from 15 to 18 participated in a total of seven focus groups.

Findings

Three emergent themes were identified and used to structure the interpretation: unintentionally sustainable, a knowledge conundrum and perceived barriers.

Research limitations/implications

The majority of focus group participants were Caucasian, and all were teenagers from a single geographical area in the Southeastern USA. Findings provided by this study offer insight regarding the SRFC habits of Gen Z relative to their concerns regarding sustainability and social and environmental responsibility.

Practical implications

Findings offer practitioners an opportunity to better understand how to address the needs of this generational cohort as they progress through adulthood.

Originality/value

Findings of this study investigate the value-action gap to offer insight into how adolescent members of Gen Z make consumption decisions, and specifically within a framework of the apparel consumption cycle as a whole, including acquisition, use and disposal. Findings also reveal some of their more general views on SRFC.
Talking to Voters about the ‘Everyday Economy’
Authors: Killick Anna
Published: October 2022

The everyday economy approach has influenced key members of Labour's economic team, notably Rachel Reeves. One potential benefit of the everyday economy approach is that it advocates changing how voters perceive the economy by making it connect to social and environmental goals. Voters, many of whom feel alienated from the material economy measured by indicators like gross domestic product (GDP) that politicians tend to refer to, might find everyday economic language more appealing. However, analysis of qualitative research on how voters see the economy suggests Labour should be cautious about attempting to replace terms like ‘economy’ and ‘growth’ with everyday economy terms like ‘liveability’. Instead, the party should fight the Conservatives on economic competence using conventional economic terms.
Separation, identification, and design of α‐glucosidase inhibitory peptides based on the molecular mechanism from Paeonia ostii ‘Feng Dan’ seed protein
Authors: Wei Ruiting , Lin Like , Li Tingting , Li Cong , Chen Bang , Shen Yehua
Published: October 2022

Peptides are considered promising sources of nutraceuticals. In this study, a mixture of peptides was prepared from Paeonia ostii ‘Feng Dan’ seed meal protein by continuous enzymolysis. Successive separation and purification procedures, including ultrafiltration and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC), were performed, and six novel peptides were identified by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization source–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC‒ESI‒MS/MS). In an in vitro antidiabetic activity test, Tyr–Phe–Phe–Met exhibited stronger α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity (48.17 ± 3.34% at 1 mg/mL) than the other peptides. Docking studies of this peptide into the active site of α‐glucosidase showed that the formation of hydrogen bonds could be critical for the enzymatic trapping of inhibitory peptides. Furthermore, two novel peptides, Phe–Phe–Phe–Met (IC50 = 245.46 ± 44.01 µM) and Tyr–Tyr–Phe–Met (IC50 = 306.71 ± 48.17 µM), with improved α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity, were designed based on molecular docking. Therefore, the seed meal of Paeonia ostii could be considered a functional food ingredient for the management of hyperglycemia, and three novel peptides were identified as α‐glucosidase inhibitors.
Microanatomy of the digestive tract and accessory organs of the Japanese flathead (Inegocia japonica Cuvier, 1829) (Scorpaeniformes, Platycephalidae)
Authors: Jeamah Archig , Sudtongkong Chanyut , Kenthao Anan , Imsonpang Supapong , Angsujinda Kitipong , Charoenphon Natthawut , Inchan Anjaree , Kongtueng Piyamat , Mitparian Tappadit , Senarat Sinlapachai
Published: October 2022

The Japanese flathead, Inegocia japonica Cuvier, 1829 is a commercially important fish in small‐scale coastal fisheries in Thailand; however, an explanation of its digestive biology is missing. This study describes the digestive tract and accessory organs of I. japonica, using morphological and histological methods. The fish (10 individual fish, 24.5 ± 0.98 cm in total length) were obtained from Libong Island, Thailand. Integrated morphological and histological data showed that the digestive tract was composed of oesophagus, stomach, pyloric caeca and intestine, with accessory organs. All digestive tracts consisted of four layers, including mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa. Two stomach regions were identified (cardiac and pyloric stomachs). Several clusters of gastric glands were identified in the cardiac stomach. Each gland was a unicellular structure. The apical surface of this gland contained the vacuolar cell. The intestine was lined with a simple columnar structure with goblet cells that was similar to pyloric caecum. Goblet cells were rare in the anterior intestine, in contrast to the posterior intestine where goblet cells were abundant. The numerous of hepatocyte was mostly observed in the liver, whereas an exocrine acinar cell of pancreas was also identified. The results of our observations provided the first information of the digestive tract of I. japonica and can be applied to advanced study, such as physiology and histopathology.
Real‐world experience with belantamab mafodotin therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: A multicentre retrospective study
Authors: Shragai Tamir , Magen Hila , Lavi Noa , Gatt Moshe , Trestman Svetlana , Zektser Miri , Ganzel Chezi , Jarchowsky Osnat , Berger Tamar , Tadmor Tamar , Leiba Merav , Hertzog‐Tzarfaty Katrin , Horowitz Netanel , Shapira Michael , Varssano David , Berger Yoav , Frenkel Shahar , Krauthammer Mark , Avivi Irit , Luttwak Efrat , Cohen Yael C. ,   for the Israeli myeloma study group
Published: October 2022

Belantamab mafodotin, an immuno‐conjugate targeting B‐cell maturation antigen, showed single‐agent activity in phase 1 and 2 studies, and was recently approved for heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients. Real‐world data and long‐term follow‐up are scarce. We conducted a multisite retrospective study aimed to assess safety and efficacy of belantamab mafodotin monotherapy administered via the GSK expanded access compassionate care programme. One‐hundred and six RRMM patients were treated with belantamab mafodotin between July 2019 and March 2021. The median age was 69.4 years. Patients were heavily pretreated with a median of six (range 2–11) prior therapy lines. Major adverse effects included ocular toxicity (keratopathy 68.4%, grade ≥3: 40.5%; blurred vision 36.8%, grade ≥3: 6.3%), thrombocytopenia (27.4%, grade ≥3: 17.9%) and infections (11.3%, grade ≥3: 7.5%). Median follow‐up time was 11.9 [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.0–13.8] months. Overall response rate was 45.5%. Median progression‐free survival was 4.7 (95% CI 3.5–5.9) months in the entire cohort and 8.8 (95% CI 6.6–10.9) months among responders. Median overall survival was 14.5 (95% CI 9.5–19.6) months, and not reached for responders. To conclude, in a real‐world setting, belantamab mafodotin monotherapy showed efficacy comparable with the prospective clinical trials, with a tolerable toxicity profile.
Precise High‐order Meshing of 2D Domains with Rational Bézier Curves
Authors: Yang Jinlin , Liu Shibo , Chai Shuangming , Liu Ligang , Fu Xiao‐Ming
Published: October 2022

We propose a novel method to generate a high‐order triangular mesh for an input 2D domain with two key characteristics: (1) the mesh precisely conforms to a set of input piecewise rational domain curves, and (2) the geometric map on each curved triangle is injective. Central to the algorithm is a new sufficient condition for placing control points of a rational Bézier triangle to guarantee that the conformance and injectivity constraints are theoretically satisfied. Taking advantage of this condition, we provide an explicit construct that robustly creates higher‐order 2D meshes satisfying the two characteristics. We demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of our algorithm over a data set containing 2200 examples.
Clinical evaluation of narrow‐diameter implants versus standard‐diameter implants with lateral bone augmentation in posterior jaws: Three‐year results of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Xiao‐meng , Liu Bei‐lei , Qian Shu‐Jiao , Shi Jun‐Yu , Zhang Xiao , Lai Hong‐Chang
Published: October 2022

Background

The aim of this study was to compare the 3‐year clinical outcomes of narrow‐diameter implants (NDI) with standard‐diameter implants (SDI) in conjunction with lateral bone augmentation in atrophic posterior jaws.

Materials and Methods

Fifty patients were included and randomly assigned into two groups: Patients in Group 1 received NDI (Ø3.5 mm); patients in Group 2 received SDI (Ø4.3 mm) with simultaneous lateral bone augmentation. Implant survival rates, complications, crestal bone loss, peri‐implant conditions, treatment cost, and patient satisfaction were compared.

Results

Three patients dropped out the follow‐up. No implant loss was observed. The difference in technical complication rates between the two groups was 3.8% (95% CI: −13.7% to 21.3%). No significant differences in crestal bone loss were found between two groups at 3‐year follow‐up (0.55 ± 0.76 vs 0.41 ± 0.41 mm, p = .429). A total of 20.8% (5/24) of NDI were diagnosed with mucositis and 8.3% (2/24) with peri‐implantitis. A total of 17.4% (4/23) of SDI showed mucositis and (1/23) 4.3% showed peri‐implantitis. The total cumulative cost of treatment per patient in Group 1 (2849.6 USD, 95% CI: 2726.8–2972.4) was significantly lower than that in Group 2 (3581.4 USD, 95% CI, 3460.9–3701.9) over the 3‐year follow‐up (p < .01). The patient satisfaction rating of operation was significantly higher in Group 1 (85.42 ± 7.41 vs 80.48 ± 7.95, p = .033).

Discussion

NDI yielded favorable implant survival, acceptable technical and biological complications, and high patient satisfaction supporting single crowns in the atrophic posterior region after 3‐year follow‐up. NDI might be a reasonable alternative in horizontally deficient posterior jaws.

Trial Registration

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR1800020426.
The ecological health of Lake Victoria (Kenya) in the face of growing cage aquaculture
Authors: Okechi John Kengere , Peoples Nick , Nyamweya Chrisphine Sangara , Glaser Sarah , Kaufman Leslie
Published: October 2022

The rapid growth of cage aquaculture of introduced Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in Lake Victoria has raised urgent environmental concerns. This study aims to compare local environmental conditions, fish species abundance and diversity between paired cage and control stations at four locations over 9 months (n = 72) in Lake Victoria, Kenya. The study sites were arrayed along a limnological gradient from eutrophic waters within Winam Gulf, to more oligotrophic waters off Mfangano Island. It was hypothesized that nutrient loading, fish biomass, and species diversity would be higher at the cages than within control areas. Water quality variables were measured at 1 m depth and fish sampled using replicate sets of monofilament gillnets. A principal components analysis reduced our dataset into two significant PCs; PC1, which accounts for eutrophication and PC2, which reflects seasonal variability. Two‐way analysis of variance tests on PC1 and PC2 scores found no significant differences between paired cage‐control stations at any site. Significant differences between sites confirmed a strong gradient in eutrophication and variability, decreasing from the inner gulf to the open lake (PC1, FSite = 139.426, p < .001; PC2, FSite = 10.675, p < .001). Water transparency ranged from 0.38 (SD 0.09) to 2.65 (SD 0.4) m, increasing with distance from the inner gulf. Mean monthly fish biomass was higher near cages than controls (FStation = 6.517, p < .05). Seventeen species across eight families were recorded. Fish species were more abundant and diverse in the inner gulf with some species significantly more abundant near cages than near controls. The findings failed to show significantly degraded water quality near cage aquaculture farms compared to control areas. This suggests that cage farms positioned in deep high‐flow lake areas can act as both a refugia from fishing pressure and a submerged structure for shelter and foraging for threatened endemic fishes.
Primary care and abortion legislation in Chile: A failed point of entry
Authors: Casas Lidia , Vivaldi Lieta , Montero Adela , Bozo Natalia , Álvarez Juan José , Babul Jorge
Published: October 2022

While Chile's partial decriminalization of abortion in 2017 was a long overdue recognition of women's sexual and reproductive rights, nearly four years later the caseload remains well below expectations. This pattern is the product of standing barriers in access to abortion‐related health services, especially at the primary care point of entry. This study seeks to identify and describe these barriers. The findings presented here were obtained through a qualitative, exploratory study based on 19 semi‐structured interviews with relevant actors identified through non‐random sampling and snowballing techniques. Coding was inductive and complemented by semantic content analysis. The authors find that the key barriers in primary care to accessing legal abortion are unfamiliarity with the law, insufficient practitioner training, intersectoral discrimination, and the stigma surrounding abortion. They conclude that the government needs to exercise its constitutional mandate as guarantor of public health and act promptly to safeguard and guarantee the abortion rights of Chilean women.
Effects of glucose‐lowering agents on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in subjects with type 2 diabetes: An updated meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials with external adjudication of events
Authors: Mannucci Edoardo , Gallo Marco , Giaccari Andrea , Candido Riccardo , Pintaudi Basilio , Targher Giovanni , Monami Matteo ,   the SID‐AMD joint panel for Italian Guidelines on Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Published: October 2022

Aims

To investigate the effects of glucose‐lowering agents on all‐cause mortality, and cardiovascular and renal outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

A MEDLINE and EMBASE search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials, published up to 28 February 2022, with a follow‐up ≥52 weeks, in which glucose‐lowering drugs were compared with either placebo or active comparators. We included only trials reporting formal external adjudication of events. All‐cause mortality, 3‐point MACE (major cardiovascular events), and hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) were considered as principal outcomes. Doubling of serum creatinine, worsening albuminuria, and renal death were considered as secondary endpoints.

Results

We included randomized controlled trials performed on metformin (n = 17), pioglitazone (n = 20), alpha‐glucosidase inhibitors (n = 9), insulin secretagogues (n = 42), dipeptidyl‐peptidase‐4 inhibitors (n = 67), glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (n = 45) or sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors (SGLT‐2i; n = 42) and insulin (n = 18). Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist and SGLT‐2i were associated with a significant reduction in all‐cause mortality [Mantel‐Haenszel odds ratio (MH‐OR), 95% confidence interval: 0.88 (0.83; 0.95) and 0.85 (0.79; 0.91), respectively] and MACE [MH‐OR, 95% confidence interval: 0.89 (0.84; 0.94) and 0.90 (0.84; 0.96), respectively]. SGLT‐2i was associated with a reduced risk of HHF [MH‐OR 0.68 (0.62; 0.75)], worsening albuminuria [MH‐OR 0.67 (0.55; 0.80)] and doubling of serum creatinine [MH‐OR 0.58 (0.44; 0.79)]. Metformin and pioglitazone were associated with a significantly lower risk of MACE [MH‐OR 0.60 (0.47; 0.80) and 0.85 (0.74; 0.97), respectively] and pioglitazone with a higher risk of HHF [MH‐OR 1.30 (1.04; 1.62)]. Insulin secretagogues were associated with increased risk of all‐cause mortality [MH‐OR 1.12 (1.01; 1.24)] and MACE [MH‐OR 1.19 (1.02; 1.39)].

Conclusions

The results of this updated meta‐analysis need to be considered in the choice of drug treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus, which cannot be merely based on the effect of glucose‐lowering drugs on long‐term glycaemic control.
Do Islamist parties help or hinder women? Party institutionalization, piety and responsiveness to female citizens
Authors: Abdel‐Samad Mounah , Benstead Lindsay J.
Published: October 2022

Does electing Islamist parties help or hurt women? Due to Ennahda winning a plurality in the 2011 elections and women from all parties winning 31% of seats, Tunisia offers an opportunity to test the impact of legislator gender and Islamist orientation on women's representation. Using original 2012 surveys of 40 Tunisian parliamentarians (MPs) and 1200 citizens, we find that electing female and Islamists MPs improves women's symbolic and service responsiveness by increasing the likelihood that female citizens are aware of and contact MPs. Electing Islamist female MPs has a positive impact on women's symbolic and service responsiveness, but decreases the likelihood that men will interact with legislators. We argue that Islamist deputies are more responsive to women due to an Islamic mandate effect—that is, Islamist parties' efforts to institutionalize their constituency relations, provide services to the marginalized through direct contact with citizens, and respect norms of piety by using female parliamentarians to reach women in sex‐segregated spaces. While Islamist parties positively impact some dimensions of women's representation, they also reinforce traditional gender relations. Our results extend the literature on Islam, gender, and governance by demonstrating that quotas and party institutionalization improve women's representation in clientelistic contexts.
Palliative care of COVID‐19 patients with do‐not‐resuscitate status in underrepresented minorities
Authors: Brankovic Milos , Jeon Hyein , Markovic Nikolina , Choi Catherine , Adam Shawn , Ampey Madia , Pergament Kathleen , Tien Yen Chyn Eric
Published: October 2022

Background

The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on palliative care intervention (PCIs) in patients with do‐not‐resuscitate (DNR) status remains uncertain.

Methods

Case–control study of patients with DNR order with RT‐PCR confirmed SARS‐COV2 infection (cases), and those with DNR order but without SARS‐COV2 infection (controls). The primary outcome measures included timing and delivery of PCIs, and secondary measures included pre‐admission characteristics and in‐hospital death.

Results

The ethnicity distribution was comparable between 69 cases and 138 controls, including Black/African Americans (61% vs. 44%), Latino/Hispanics (16% vs. 26%) and White (9% vs. 20%) (trend‐p = .54). Cases were employed more (17% vs. 6%, adjusted‐p = .012), less frail (fit 47% vs. 21%; mildly frail 22% vs. 36%; frail 31% vs. 43%, trend‐p = .018) and had fewer comorbidities than controls. Cases had higher chances of intensive care unit admission (HR 1.76 [95% CI: 1.03–3.02]) and intubation (53% vs. 30%, p = .002), lower chances to be seen by palliative care team (HR .46 [.30–.70]) and a longer time to palliative care visit than controls (β per ln‐day .67 [.00–1.34]). In the setting of no‐visiting hospitals policy, we did not find significant increase in utilisation of video conferencing (22% vs. 13%) and religious services (12% vs. 12%) both in case and in controls.

Conclusion

Do‐not‐resuscitate patients with COVID‐19 had better general health and higher employment status than ‘typical’ DNR patients, but lower chances to be seen by the palliative care team. This study raises a question of the applicability of the current palliative care model in addressing the needs of DNR patients with COVID‐19 during the pandemic.
Investigating temporal and prosodic markers in clinical high‐risk for psychosis participants using automated acoustic analysis
Authors: Bianciardi Bianca , Gajwani Ruchika , Gross Joachim , Gumley Andrew I. , Lawrie Stephen M. , Moelling Melina , Schwannauer Matthias , Schultze‐Lutter Frauke , Fracasso Alessio , Uhlhaas Peter J.
Published: October 2022

Aim

Language disturbances are a candidate biomarker for the early detection of psychosis. Temporal and prosodic abnormalities have been observed in schizophrenia patients, while there is conflicting evidence whether such deficits are present in participants meeting clinical high‐risk for psychosis (CHR‐P) criteria.

Methods

Clinical interviews from CHR‐P participants (n = 50) were examined for temporal and prosodic metrics and compared against a group of healthy controls (n = 17) and participants with affective disorders and substance abuse (n = 23).

Results

There were no deficits in acoustic variables in the CHR‐P group, while participants with affective disorders/substance abuse were characterized by slower speech rate, longer pauses and higher unvoiced frames percentage.

Conclusion

Our finding suggests that temporal and prosodic aspects of speech are not impaired in early‐stage psychosis. Further studies are required to clarify whether such abnormalities are present in sub‐groups of CHR‐P participants with elevated psychosis‐risk.
Artificial intelligence, 21st century competences, and socio‐emotional learning in education: More than high‐risk?
Authors: Tuomi Ilkka
Published: October 2022

Over the last two decades, 21st century competences and socio‐emotional skills have become a major focus in educational policy. In this article, skills for the 21st century, soft skills, as well as social and emotional skills, are contextualised in the context of technological change, machine learning, and the ethics of artificial intelligence. The use of data‐driven AI technologies to model and measure these skills—in this article defined as non‐epistemic competence components—can lead to major social challenges that have important implications for educational policies and practices. A moratorium on the use of data on these competence components in machine learning systems is proposed until the society‐wide impact is better understood.
Skeletal muscle mass index is independently associated with all‐cause mortality in men: The Nagahama study
Authors: Tabara Yasuharu , Setoh Kazuya , Kawaguchi Takahisa , Matsuda Fumihiko
Published: October 2022

Background

We aimed to determine if skeletal muscle mass is a predictor of all‐cause mortality and if muscle mass plays a role in the association between body mass index (BMI) and all‐cause mortality in community residents.

Methods

The study population consists of 3582 elderly (age ≥65 years) adults. The skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was measured between 2013 and 2016. Men with SMI <7.0 kg/m2 and women with SMI <5.7 kg/m2 were considered to have low SMI. All‐cause mortality was determined by reviewing residential registry records (follow‐up duration: 2564 ± 373 days).

Results

The mortality rate of the low SMI group was significantly higher than that of the normal SMI group in men (191.3 vs. 93.0 per 10 000 person‐years, P < 0.001), but not in women (P = 0.191). In Cox proportional hazard analysis adjusted for possible covariates, the group differences remained significant (hazard ratio = 1.82, P = 0.011). The results were similar when individuals who died within 1 year of follow‐up were excluded from the analysis (P = 0.015). Cubic splines revealed that SMI <6.9 kg/m2 is a risk factor of all‐cause mortality in men. BMI was found to be significantly associated with all‐cause mortality in men (P = 0.010), but not in women (P = 0.288); however, the association disappeared after adjustment for SMI (P = 0.163).

Conclusion

SMI <6.9 kg/m2 is a risk factor of all‐cause mortality in men but not in women. SMI underlies the relationship between BMI and all‐cause mortality. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 956–960.
Toxic remedies: Poisons and medicine in Eurasian history
Authors: Arnold David
Published: October 2022

Histories of medicine are conventionally confined to one geographical region and assume a sharp distinction between medicines and poisons. Recent scholarship, however, has created very different perspectives. Medico‐toxic substances were highly mobile commodities that often breached any clear distinction between what kills and what heals. The investigation of poisons could be innovative and integral to the ways in which medicines were conceived and deployed. The search for ‘potent’ remedies, but also for poison antidotes and elixirs, fostered a transregional quest for new ‘wonder drugs’ and the means of ‘taming’ or mastering their toxicity. Further, there is much to be gained by looking at developments from a trans‐Eurasian perspective and, rather than imagining discrete ‘systems’ of medicine, exploring patterns of commonality and exchange, as well as divergence, between constituent regions and over an extended period of time.
The genetic variation of a mitochondrial and two behaviour‐related genes in invasive African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) populations in Taiwan
Authors: Ku Yu‐Chia , Chen Yu‐Chi , Hung Chih‐Ming , Ng Chen Siang
Published: October 2022

The African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus is an invasive bird species in Taiwan and has expanded its distribution range rapidly over the past three decades. There is limited information available on the invasion process of African Sacred Ibises in Taiwan and its genetic consequences. We investigated whether genetic factors reflected the expansion of African Sacred Ibises and determined the extent to which two behaviour‐associated genes may have facilitated invasion. The dopamine receptor gene (DRD4) and the serotonin transporter gene (SERT) have both been found to be associated with novel‐seeking and bold behaviour in birds. We hypothesized that: (1) selection on temperament traits may determine the polymorphisms in these two genes and (2) the likelihood of dispersal of African Sacred Ibis populations can be explained by the intraspecific variation at these two genes. To detect the signals of population expansion and natural selection, we compared intra‐population variation and inter‐population differentiation of DRD4 and SERT with those of a mitochondrial gene (COX1) and an additional intron. We recovered contrasting patterns of nucleotide variation between the mitochondrial and nuclear genes with no single nucleotide polymorphisms detected in COX1 compared with allelic polymorphism in DRD4 and SERT. Populations showed decreasing genetic diversity at DRD4 as their distance to the initial invasive locality increased, consistent with a rapid expansion from one founder population. However, we found little evidence of selection on DRD4 or SERT, suggesting that these behaviour‐related genes are unlikely to have played a significant role in the successful invasion of the African Sacred Ibises in Taiwan. We detected high levels of genetic variation at these two behaviour‐related genes despite the effects of inbreeding in these invasive birds.
Development and characterisation of structurally reforming engineered flat‐rice xerogel for hot water cooking
Authors: Boopathy Bhavadharini , Rajan Anbarasan , Stephen Jaspin , Radhakrishnan Mahendran
Published: October 2022

Shape transforming foods are an emerging area of interest that could be customised according to consumer needs with the desirable structure and reduced package space. The current work aims to investigate the shape transformation behaviour of a 2D xerogel developed from rice hydrogel at the concentration of 4% and 90 °C. This flat xerogel is coated with ethyl cellulose as constraint material in the form of linear equally spaced strips. Immersing the xerogels in hot water over a temperature of 70 °C, resulted in a 3D transformation of the discs in 12 s (Video S1). The transformation is achieved owing to xerogel's increased swelling power (0.27–0.78) due to the anisotropic nature. This is confirmed by the SEM images of top (smooth) and bottom (rough) xerogel. In order to characterise the process of shape transformation bending analysis was done wherein a significant difference in bending angle (35.86–63.10°), height (24.73–50.26 mm), curvature (0.57–2.38 μ mm−1) and end‐to‐end distance (118.23–15.11 mm) from 2 to 12 s. The formed 3D shape was similar to the commercial tubular (penne) pasta. This study opens up the utilisation of less concentrated rice xerogel in shape transformation for designing engineered food.
V‐notched rail shear test applied to geopolymer composites
Authors: Trindade Ana C. C. , Wang Pengqing , Kriven Waltraud M.
Published: October 2022

This work presents a systematic study of the shear properties of a potassium‐based geopolymer reinforced with distinct types of fibers. Chopped basalt reinforcements in lengths from 3 mm up to 50 mm and 13 μm in diameter were compared with thicker 20‐mm length, basalt mini bars, sand‐coated basalt mini rods, and steel fibers. The samples were tested under a V‐notched rail shear tests (ASTM D7078), coupled with optical measurements, namely, digital image correlation, allowing a novel study of their crack patterns and failure modes under shear loading. In general, the use of chopped fibers resulted in shear strengths of up to 9 MPa and shear moduli of 4.3 GPa, with no significant variation with fiber length increments, neither in shear stress nor strain at peak load (0.1%). Mini bars and steel fiber reinforcements resulted in slightly lower shear stresses of 7.1 and 8.4 MPa, respectively. They exhibited greater strain values at peak loads, up to 2.1% which were attributed to fiber‐matrix enhanced adhesions, thereby allowing gradual debonding and increased ductility. This effect was also recorded for mini rods, but at much lower strength levels, which did not contribute to their multiple cracking capacities. The alignment of the mini rods in 45° directions resulted in a 50% increase in shear stress, showing the feasibility of tailoring the manufacturing process to attend to distinct demands.
Chipping of ceramic‐based dental materials by micrometric particles
Authors: Sánchez‐González Estíbaliz , Borrero‐López Óscar , Rodríguez‐Rojas Fernando , Hoffman Mark , Guiberteau Fernando
Published: October 2022

Chipping caused by micrometric particles poses a threat to the structural integrity of modern dental prosthetic materials. It can degrade their fracture strength and cause wear of both artificial crowns and antagonist teeth. Here, surface chipping of the main types of commercial ceramic‐based dental materials at the microcontact/particle level is investigated by means of indentation tests. Conical tips of different sizes (radii 20 and 200 μm) under axial and sliding loading are employed to simulate individual microcontacts. Both decreasing particle size and adding a lateral contact force decrease the chipping load below typical bite forces. Specific damage mechanisms are identified as predominantly brittle fracture in ceramics with small, equiaxed crystals, with significant quasi‐plastic damage in ceramics containing large, elongated crystals and composites. Critical loads for the occurrence of chipping are quantified (lowest values in equiaxed glass–ceramics; greatest in zirconia) and analyzed within the framework of fracture mechanics. The brittleness index (BI) is proposed as a simple indicator of the resistance to chipping of dental materials—the lower the BI, the greater the resistance. Special attention is paid to the effect of the materials’ microstructure, which can result in transformation toughening (as in zirconia) or quasi‐plastic behavior (as in lithium disilicate), both highly beneficial to increasing the chipping resistance. Finally, practical implications for the selection of current dental materials as well as for the development of novel materials with improved durability are discussed.
Dual‐mode optical thermometry and multicolor anti‐counterfeiting based on Bi3+/Er3+ co‐activated BaGd2O4 phosphor
Authors: Fu Jie , Zhou Liuyan , Chen Yanling , Lin Jianhua , Ye Renguang , Lei Lei , Shen Yang , Deng Degang , Xu Shiqing
Published: October 2022

Here, Bi3+, Er3+ co‐activated gadolinium phosphors with multimode emission properties are prepared, which can emits blue, green, and orange light under the excitation of ultraviolet, 980 and 1550 nm, respectively. Moreover, BaGd2O4:Bi3+, Er3+ can show multicolor luminescence under different excitation conditions, such as pump light source, ambient temperature, working current, and other factors. Based on the dynamic luminescence characteristics, the dynamic anti‐counterfeiting experiments are designed based on the phosphor. At the same time, the material also shows multimode temperature sensing characteristics. Under the excitation of 980 nm laser, three strong up‐conversion signals Er3+ ions are generated at 528 nm (2H11/2), 555 nm (4S3/2), and 668 nm (4F9/2), which have different temperature dependences. Based on the fluorescence intensity ratio between thermal‐coupled energy levels (2H11/2/4S3/2) and nonthermal‐coupled energy levels (2H11/2/4F9/2) of Er3+ ions, respectively, the dual‐mode temperature thermometer was constructed with high‐temperature sensitivity. In addition, the fluorescence lifetime of Bi3+ ions also has a strong temperature dependence, which can be used as another temperature detection signal, greatly improving the stability of thermometers under harsh conditions. Therefore, the material has a bright prospect in the field of anti‐counterfeiting and temperature sensing.
Optimal promotions of competing firms in a frictional labour market with organizational hierarchies
Authors: Dawid Herbert , Mitkova Mariya , Zaharieva Anna
Published: October 2022

We study optimal promotion decisions of hierarchical firms, with one junior and one senior managerial position, which interact in a search and matching labour market. Workers acquire experience over time while being employed in a junior position and the firm has to determine the experience level at which the worker receives a promotion which allows her to fill a senior position. Promoted workers move to the senior position in their current firm, if it is vacant, otherwise they search for senior positions on the market. The promotion cut‐offs of the competing firms exhibit strategic complementarity, but we show that generically a unique stable symmetric general equilibrium exists. We find that stronger competition among firms leads to later (earlier) promotions if the initial number of firms is small (large) giving rise to an inverse U‐shape relationship. In the presence of two skill groups, stronger competition among firms reduces the importance of skill differences, so the gap in wages and promotion times decreases with the number of firms. The model is compatible with empirical evidence that high‐skill workers are promoted faster than the low‐skilled and that internal promotions are more frequent than cross‐firm moves to a higher hierarchical position.
Nano‐hydroxyapatite‐induced remineralization of artificial white spot lesions after bleaching treatment with 10% carbamide peroxide
Authors: da Freiria Amanda Cristina Brezolini , Ortiz Mariangela Ivette Guanipa , de Sobral Danielle Ferreira Souza , Aguiar Flavio Henrique Baggio , Lima Débora Alves Nunes Leite
Published: October 2022

Objective

To assessed in vitro the effect of nanohydroxyapatite (n‐HA) to improve the aesthetic appearance and microhardness of white spot lesions (WSL) when associated with a low‐concentration bleaching agent (carbamide peroxide—CP10%).

Material and methods

Enamel/dentin specimens (n = 60) of 5 × 5 × 2.2 mm were prepared, of these, 48 were submitted to pH‐cycling to create artificial WSL. Subsequently, these were allocated into five groups (n = 12): n‐HA; n‐HA + CP10%; CP10%; WSL control (WSLC); sound control (Sound). The color was assessed at baseline, pre‐treatment, and post‐treatment using a spectrophotometer, and the color (ΔE/ΔE00) and whiteness index (ΔWID) alterations were determined. The enamel cross‐sectional microhardness (CSMH) was evaluated (post‐treatment) with a Knoop indenter, 25gf/5 s, 20–200 μm. The data was analyzed through generalized linear models (α = 5%).

Results

ΔEand ΔE00were significantly higher for the bleached groups (n‐HA + CP10% and CP10%), and the n‐HA was higher than the WSLCgroup (p < 0.05). ΔWID was significantly higher for the bleached groups (p < 0.05). The CSMH values were significantly higher in the sound group than in the n‐HA, CP10%, and WSLCgroups (p < 0.05). The WSLChad lower microhardness than the n‐HA + CP10% and sound groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

n‐HA is suitable to remineralize and recover the color of the WSL. However, its association with CP10% maintains the esthetical outcome while increasing its in‐depth remineralizing effect.

Clinical significance

Considering the aesthetic and functional repercussions of the WSL persistence, treatments that tend to improve its physical appearance and reinforce its weakened substructure in a non‐invasive way are ideal. For this associating low‐concentration, bleaching agents to the remineralizing treatments is promising to treat this type of lesions.
Influence of photoperiod variations on the mRNA expression pattern of melatonin bio‐synthesizing enzyme genes in the pineal organ and retina: A study in relation to the serum melatonin profile in the tropical carp Catla catla
Authors: Sanjita Devi Haobijam , Rajiv Chongtham , Mondal Gopinath , Khan Zeeshan Ahmad , Devi Sijagurumayum Dharmajyoti , Bharali Rupjyoti , Chattoraj Asamanja
Published: October 2022

Surface‐dwelling C. catla were exposed to different photoperiods (8L:16D, 12L:12D, 12D:12L and 16L:8D) and the mRNA level profile of enzymes involved in melatonin synthesis was evaluated in the pineal gland and retina. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the serum melatonin profile with the mRNA level was also performed. The results indicated diurnal variations in the transcripts of tph1, aanat and hiomt in the pineal organ and retina, and these variations change with the change in lighting regime. The serum melatonin profile showed rhythmicity in the natural photoperiod, but the serum melatonin level increased proportionally with increasing daylength. In short photoperiods, the peak value (though lower than in long photoperiods) of melatonin maintains a longer duration in serum. Moreover, the comparative analysis revealed a similar profile of mRNA of pineal aanat1 and aanat2 with serum melatonin under the same lighting conditions. This indicates that serum melatonin is produced by the pineal gland. Our results specify the importance of day length and the timing of onset or offset of the dark for maintaining the oscillating levels of serum melatonin and mRNA levels of melatonin biosynthesizing enzyme genes in the pineal organ and retina as well. The findings in this study highlight the distinctive pattern of mRNA levels in the pineal organ and retina under different photoperiods. The pineal melatonin biosynthesizing enzyme genes showed a similar pattern with serum melatonin levels while the retinal genes changed dramatically with photoperiod. We also revealed a light‐dependent transcriptional regulation of pineal aanat genes in C. catla. Moreover, our results suggest that ALAN and skyglow can influence the levels of serum melatonin and its biosynthesis, resulting in desynchronization of the entire biological clock as well as the overall physiology of the animal.
Measuring the randomness of micro‐ and nanostructure spatial distributions: Effects of scanning electron microscope image processing and analysis
Authors: Mavrogonatos A. , Papia E‐M. , Dimitrakellis P. , Constantoudis V.
Published: October 2022

The quantitative characterisation of the degree of randomness and aggregation of surface micro‐ and nanostructures is critical to evaluate their effects on targeted functionalities. To this end, the methods of point pattern analysis (PPA), largely used in ecology and medical imaging, seem to provide a powerful toolset. However, the application of these techniques requires the extraction of the point pattern of nanostructures from their microscope images. In this work, we address the issue of the impact that Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image processing may have on the fundamental metric of PPA, that is, the Nearest Neighbour Index (NNI). Using typical SEM images of polymer micro‐ and nanostructures taken from secondary and backscattered electrons, we report the effects of the (a) noise filtering and (b) binarisation threshold on the value of NNI as well as the impact of the image finite size effects. Based on these results, we draw conclusions for the safe choice of SEM settings to provide accurate measurement of nanostructure randomness through NNI estimation.
Multisensory interaction in the evaluation of beverages and environment for Japanese participants: Flavor, palatability, and cultural impressions
Authors: Ikeda Tsunagu , Morishita Masanao , Akada Tomoya , Uchida Masaaki , Matsubara Naoki
Published: October 2022

In the present experiment, the participants tasted high‐intensive bitter and low‐intensive bitter beverages under one of the following four conditions: drinking green tea or coffee in either a Japanese or a Western environment. The participants evaluated the beverage and the environment. The results revealed the following interactions. (1) Given the combination of the intensive bitter coffee and the Western environment, the beverage and environment congruency facilitated the beverage evaluations for “Deliciousness” and “Wanting to drink more”. (2) Women tended to evaluate beverages as more delicious and desired when the beverages matched the environment, compared with when they did not match. (3) Participants who drank coffee perceived the environment to be colder than participants who drank green tea. These results indicate that the social and cultural background of the Japanese consuming a beverage may modulate multisensory interaction in the evaluation of a beverage and the environment.

Practical Applications

Our findings in this research revealed that persons involved in the design of the eating and drinking environment, that is from restaurant managers, architects, and interior designers to persons who think about the dining room at their home, may produce tastier food consumption by designing the environment in a multisensory way. For example, when designing space to serve foods and beverages that have cultural elements, creating a cultural environment that is congruent with the foods may result in a better eating experience. Since multisensory influences on the deliciousness of food can be affected by the social and cultural background of the consumer, the aforementioned people need to have a sufficient understanding of the object persons they serving the meal.
Timing of submissions to The Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health: Associations with the COVID‐19 pandemic and editorial decisions
Authors: McGee Richard G , Graves Lara E , Barnett Adrian
Published: October 2022

Aim

To determine if the timing of manuscript submissions to The Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health (JPCH) changed following the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic and to determine if the timing of manuscript submissions influenced editorial decisions.

Methods

A retrospective observational study of submissions to JPCH from 1 January 2015 to 1 August 2022 was performed. Regression models were used to explore the change over time. Editorial decisions were examined using a multinomial regression model with the three‐category ordinal outcome of reject, revise and accept. All statistical models were fitted using a Bayesian approach and show 95% credible intervals (CI).

Results

The analyses included 11 499 manuscript submissions between 2015 and 2022. The mean number of manuscript submissions increased by 17 papers per month (CI 15–19), with a larger 4‐month long increase after the COVID‐19 pandemic was declared of 86 submissions per month (CI 67–103). There was no clear effect of the pandemic on weekend submissions, mean difference in probability 0.003 (CI –0.021 to 0.026). Throughout the study period, the peak submission time was later in the day and was shifted +37 min later post‐March 2020 (CI +22 to +52 min). Throughout the study period, submissions out‐of‐hours and on weekends were less likely to get an editorial decision of ‘accept’ or ‘revise’: odds ratio weekend versus weekday 0.87 (CI 0.78–0.97).

Conclusion

The COVID‐19 pandemic had a limited effect on the timing of manuscript submissions to JPCH. However, the timing of manuscript submission impacted the likelihood of a more positive editorial decision. While the time of manuscript submission is only one part of the research process, it is postulated that it may be associated with research quality.