bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal variation of Pacific Northern Fulmar bycatch: Implications for age and sex‐specific mortality
Authors: Beck Jessie , Michael Pamela E. , Hester Michelle , Nevins Hannahrose M. , Donnelly‐Greenan Erica , Gibble Corinne , Phillips Elizabeth M. , Young Colleen , Fitzgerald Shannon
Published: November 2020

Characterizing demography of fisheries bycatch is essential to understanding impacts on populations of long‐lived, low‐fecundity species. Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis rogersii) represent >50% of seabird bycatch in U.S. groundfish and halibut fisheries in the North Pacific. Using specimens collected by federal observer programs, we document the sex, age class, and body condition of 1,089 fulmars collected between 2004 and 2014. Using regional fulmar breeding phenology, we assess seasonal variation in the relative composition of a given sex or age class. Strong biases in bycatch toward adults and males were documented, with a slight increase in the proportion of males to females during the non‐breeding period. High proportions of adults were observed year‐round. Sex and age biases could be related to behavioral differences, including potential segregation at sea, and reflect similar biases seen in seabird bycatch in other subpolar fisheries. Overall body condition increased as the year progressed from breeding to non‐breeding seasons, possibly revealing the costs of reproduction on adults and recovery through the availability of fisheries offal and bait. Year‐round, only 3% of examined fulmars were emaciated. Together, these results indicate a persistent removal of adult male fulmars in good body condition across a decade, and highlight the contrast of fisheries‐caused mortality and potential assistance of fishery discards to post‐breeding recovery.
30 years of free‐air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE): What have we learned about future crop productivity and its potential for adaptation?
Authors: Ainsworth Elizabeth A. , Long Stephen P.
Published: November 2020

Free‐air CO2 enrichment (FACE) allows open‐air elevation of [CO2] without altering the microclimate. Its scale uniquely supports simultaneous study from physiology and yield to soil processes and disease. In 2005 we summarized results of then 28 published observations by meta‐analysis. Subsequent studies have combined FACE with temperature, drought, ozone, and nitrogen treatments. Here, we summarize the results of now almost 250 observations, spanning 14 sites and five continents. Across 186 independent studies of 18 C3 crops, elevation of [CO2] by ca. 200 ppm caused a ca. 18% increase in yield under non‐stress conditions. Legumes and root crops showed a greater increase and cereals less. Nitrogen deficiency reduced the average increase to 10%, as did warming by ca. 2°C. Two conclusions of the 2005 analysis were that C4 crops would not be more productive in elevated [CO2], except under drought, and that yield responses of C3 crops were diminished by nitrogen deficiency and wet conditions. Both stand the test of time. Further studies of maize and sorghum showed no yield increase, except in drought, while soybean productivity was negatively affected by early growing season wet conditions. Subsequent study showed reduced levels of nutrients, notably Zn and Fe in most crops, and lower nitrogen and protein in the seeds of non‐leguminous crops. Testing across crop germplasm revealed sufficient variation to maintain nutrient content under rising [CO2]. A strong correlation of yield response under elevated [CO2] to genetic yield potential in both rice and soybean was observed. Rice cultivars with the highest yield potential showed a 35% yield increase in elevated [CO2] compared to an average of 14%. Future FACE experiments have the potential to develop cultivars and management strategies for co‐promoting sustainability and productivity under future elevated [CO2].
Divergent drivers of the microbial methane sink in temperate forest and grassland soils
Authors: Täumer Jana , Kolb Steffen , Boeddinghaus Runa S. , Wang Haitao , Schöning Ingo , Schrumpf Marion , Urich Tim , Marhan Sven
Published: November 2020

Aerated topsoils are important sinks for atmospheric methane (CH4) via oxidation by CH4‐oxidizing bacteria (MOB). However, intensified management of grasslands and forests may reduce the CH4 sink capacity of soils. We investigated the influence of grassland land‐use intensity (150 sites) and forest management type (149 sites) on potential atmospheric CH4 oxidation rates (PMORs) and the abundance and diversity of MOB (with qPCR) in topsoils of three temperate regions in Germany. PMORs measurements in microcosms under defined conditions yielded approximately twice as much CH4 oxidation in forest than in grassland soils. High land‐use intensity of grasslands had a negative effect on PMORs (−40%) in almost all regions and fertilization was the predominant factor of grassland land‐use intensity leading to PMOR reduction by 20%. In contrast, forest management did not affect PMORs in forest soils. Upland soil cluster (USC)‐α was the dominant group of MOBs in the forests. In contrast, USC‐γ was absent in more than half of the forest soils but present in almost all grassland soils. USC‐α abundance had a direct positive effect on PMOR in forest, while in grasslands USC‐α and USC‐γ abundance affected PMOR positively with a more pronounced contribution of USC‐γ than USC‐α. Soil bulk density negatively influenced PMOR in both forests and grasslands. We further found that the response of the PMORs to pH, soil texture, soil water holding capacity and organic carbon and nitrogen content differ between temperate forest and grassland soils. pH had no direct effects on PMOR, but indirect ones via the MOB abundances, showing a negative effect on USC‐α, and a positive on USC‐γ abundance. We conclude that reduction in grassland land‐use intensity and afforestation has the potential to increase the CH4 sink function of soils and that different parameters determine the microbial methane sink in forest and grassland soils.
Workplace stress, common mental disorder and suicidal ideation in junior doctors
Authors: Petrie Katherine , Crawford Joanna , Shand Fiona , Harvey Samuel B.
Published: November 2020

Background

Doctors‐in‐training report elevated rates of mental disorders and high levels of stress. Whilst a number of work‐related sources of stress have been identified in the medical profession, it remains unclear as to the relative importance of workplace stressors for mental ill‐health in junior doctors.

Aims

To examine workplace stressors reported by junior doctors and identify variables associated with adverse mental health outcomes.

Methods

Cross‐sectional analysis of national 2013 survey of Australian doctors focussing on junior medical officers (N = 3053; 24.9% of total sample). Primary outcomes were caseness of common mental disorder (CMD) and suicidal ideation in the past year.

Results

Perceived level of conflict between study/career and family/personal responsibility (OR = 3.76, 95% CI: 2.61–5.43; P < 0.01) and sleep deprivation (OR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.46–3.28; P < 0.01) were significantly associated with CMD, while perceived level of conflict between study/career and family/personal responsibility (OR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.78–5.50; P < 0.01) and bullying (OR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.42–6.03; P < 0.01) were most strongly associated with suicidal ideation in adjusted models.

Conclusion

This study identifies modifiable workplace variables that are influential in junior doctors' mental health, and in doing so, provides meaningful evidence‐informed targets for future interventions to prevent suicide and mental disorder in this population.
Influence of drying conditions on the stress and weight development of capillary suspensions
Authors: Fischer Steffen B. , Koos Erin
Published: November 2020

Cracking of suspensions during drying is a common problem. While additives, for example, binders and surfactants, can mitigate this problem, some applications, such as printing conductive pastes or sintering green bodies, do not lend themselves to the use of additives. Capillary suspensions provide an alternative formulation without additives. In this work, we use simultaneous stress and weight measurements to investigate the influence of formulation and drying conditions. Capillary suspensions dry more homogeneously and with lower peak stresses, leading to an increased robustness against cracking compared. An increase in dry film porosity is not the key driver for the stress reduction. Instead, the capillary bridges, which create strong particle networks, resist the stress. Increasing the relative humidity enhances this effect, even for pure suspensions. While lower boiling point secondary liquids, for example, water, persist for very long times during drying, higher boiling point liquids offer further potential to tune the drying process.
USP15 promotes the apoptosis of degenerative nucleus pulposus cells by suppressing the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway
Authors: Yu Bin , Shen Bin , Ba Zhaoyu , Liu Zhonghan , Yuan Jing , Zhao Weidong , Wu Desheng
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Degenerative disc disease is characterized by an enhanced breakdown of its existing nucleus pulposus (NP) matrix due to the dysregulation of matrix enzymes and factors. Ubiquitin‐specific protease 15 (USP15) is reported to be abnormal in certain human diseases. However, its role in NP degeneration remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the function of USP15 in degenerative NP cell specimens.

Methods

We induced gene silencing and overexpression of USP15 in degenerative NP cells using RNA interference (RNAi) and a lentiviral vector, respectively. qRT‐PCR and Western blotting were used to determine gene and protein expression levels. Cell apoptosis was analysed via flow cytometry. Protein interaction was examined by performing a co‐immunoprecipitation assay. Furthermore, the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and agonist IGF‐1 were used to investigate the link between USP15 and AKT in NP degeneration.

Results

We found that USP15 was up‐regulated in degenerative NP cells and that its overexpression accelerated the process of apoptosis. Moreover, USP15 expression levels negatively correlated with AKT phosphorylation in degenerative NP cells. Furthermore, targeting and silencing USP15 with miR‐338‐3p and studying its interaction with FK506‐binding protein 5 (FKBP5) revealed enhancement of FKBP5 ubiquitination, indicating that USP15 is a component of the FKBP5/AKT signalling pathway in degenerative NP cells.

Conclusions

Our results show that USP15 exacerbates NP degradation by deubiquitinating and stabilizing FKBP5. This in turn results in the suppression of AKT phosphorylation in degenerative NP cells. Therefore, our study provides insights into the understanding of USP15 function as a potential molecule in the network of NP degeneration.
The use of Breast Milk Fortifier in Preterm Infants by paediatric dietitians in the UK
Authors: Jupe Sophie , Maslin Kate
Published: November 2020

Background

Breast milk is the feed of choice for premature infants, although its nutritional composition is not always sufficient to meet their raised nutritional requirements. The addition of a multi‐nutrient breast milk fortifier (BMF) to breastmilk is recommended; however, international guidelines on the use of BMF are inconsistent. The present study aimed to explore the use of BMF in preterm infants by paediatric dietitians in the UK.

Methods

A questionnaire was designed and sent to members of the British Dietetic Association neonatal specialist group (n = 100) using a secure online platform. Descriptive statistics were calculated.

Results

Forty dietitians completed the survey, all of whom used BMF. Local hospital BMF guidelines were available to 77.5% (n = 31). The most commonly used criteria for commencing BMF were: tolerating a feed volume of 150 mL kg−1 day−1 (72.5%, n = 29), a gestational age <34 weeks (67.5%, n = 27) and a birth weight <1500 g (60%, n = 24). The primary contraindication for the use of BMF was necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). The majority of respondents used standard fortification, with individualised fortification available to only 12.5% (n = 5). The most common indicators for discontinuing BMF were on discharge home (67.5%, n = 27), satisfactory growth (65%, n = 26) or feeding directly from the breast (62.5%, n = 25).

Conclusions

Although BMF is used more proactively in UK neonatal units than previously, variation in practice remains. Individualised fortification is very uncommon and caution remains regarding risk of NEC. The development of national guidelines on the use of BMF would help to standardise nutritional care in neonatal units.
Effect of angiotensin receptor blockers and angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 on plasma equilibrium angiotensin peptide concentrations in cats with heart disease
Authors: Huh Terry , Larouche‐Lebel Éva , Loughran Kerry A. , Oyama Mark A.
Published: November 2020

Background

Little is known about the effect of renin angiotensin aldosterone system‐inhibiting (RAASi) drugs on alternative angiotensin peptides (APs) such as angiotensin 1‐7 (Ang1‐7), which are mediated by angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

Hypothesis/Objectives

Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) would alter balance of APs and differences would be magnified in vitro by incubation of plasma samples with recombinant human ACE2 (rhACE2).

Animals

Six cats with cardiomyopathy (CM), 8 healthy cats.

Methods

Prospective open label trial. Plasma equilibrium concentrations of APs were measured in healthy cats as well as in CM cats that first received no RAASi drugs (CMnoRAASi) and then after 14 days of PO telmisartan (CMARB). Plasma APs also were measured after in vitro incubation with rhACE2.

Results

No significant differences were found between healthy and CMnoRAASi groups. Concentrations of several APs, including angiotensin I (AT1) and angiotensin II (AT2) were significantly different between CMnoRAASi and CMARB groups. Incubation with rhACE2 decreased AT1 and AT2 in both groups. The geometric mean concentration of Ang1‐7 was significantly higher in CMARB (4.9 pg/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.7‐6.4 pg/mL) vs CMnoRAASi (3.2 pg/mL; 95% CI, 2.2‐4.7 pg/mL; P = .01) and in CMARB + ACE2 (5.0 pg/mL; 95% CI, 3.9‐6.4 pg/mL) vs CMnoRAASi + ACE2 (3.0 pg/mL; 95% CI, 1.7‐5.5 pg/mL; P = .01). The most favorable theoretical AP profile that maximized Ang1‐7 and other alternative APs was CMARB + ACE2.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Balance between traditional and alternative APs can be favorably shifted using ARBs and in vitro incubation with rhACE2. These data shed light on new AP‐targeting strategies in cats with CM.
Rebranding strategies and their boomerang effect—The curious case of Burberry
Authors: Olteanu Luminița
Published: November 2020

The analysis considers the way in which Burberry masterfully capitalized on consumers’ emotional attachments to social and cultural events and technological changes since the company's establishment in 1856 to the present day. To this end, the article examines Burberry's branding strategies and the brand's image as reflected in its advertisements over a period of over 100 years. The case study highlights the increasingly important role of consumers in creating or destroying a brand's image, raising some questions about some of the assumptions with which the European trade mark law operates in the area of dilution.
How Effective Are Intentional Vocabulary‐Learning Activities? A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: WEBB STUART , YANAGISAWA AKIFUMI , UCHIHARA TAKUMI
Published: November 2020

The present meta‐analysis aimed to summarize the extent to which second language vocabulary is learned from the most frequently researched word‐focused activities: flashcards, word lists, writing, and fill‐in‐the‐blanks. One hundred effect sizes from 22 studies were included in meta‐regression analyses and administered separately for the observations measured with meaning‐recall and form‐recall tests. The results revealed that the average percentage learning gains were 60.1% and 58.5% on meaning‐recall and form‐recall immediate posttests. These gains dropped to 39.4% and 25.1% on delayed meaning‐ and form‐recall tests, respectively. These results suggest that learning through word‐focused tasks is far from guaranteed. Moreover, the percentage learning gains among the different activities ranged from 18.4% to 77.0% on immediate posttests and from 23.9% to 73.4% on delayed posttests indicating that there is much variation in efficacy among the activities. Moderator analyses revealed that learners’ place of study and direction of learning affected learning.
Functional analysis of auxin receptor OsTIR1/OsAFB family members in rice grain yield, tillering, plant height, root system, germination, and auxinic herbicide resistance
Authors: Guo Fu , Huang Yizi , Qi Peipei , Lian Guiwei , Hu Xingming , Han Ning , Wang Junhui , Zhu Muyuan , Qian Qian , Bian Hongwu
Published: November 2020

Auxin regulates almost every aspect of plant growth and development and is perceived by the TIR1/AFB auxin co‐receptor proteins differentially acting in concert with specific Aux/IAA transcriptional repressors. Little is known about the diverse functions of TIR1/AFB family members in species other than Arabidopsis.

We created targeted OsTIR1 and OsAFB2–5 mutations in rice using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and functionally characterized the roles of these five members in plant growth and development and auxinic herbicide resistance.

Our results demonstrated that functions of OsTIR1/AFB family members are partially redundant in grain yield, tillering, plant height, root system and germination. Ostir1, Osafb2 and Osafb4 mutants exhibited more severe phenotypes than Osafb3 and Osafb5. The Ostir1Osafb2 double mutant displays extremely severe defects in plant development. All five OsTIR1/AFB members interacted with OsIAA1 and OsIAA11 proteins in vivo. Root elongation assay showed that each Ostir1/afb2–5 mutant was resistant to 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4‐D) treatment. Notably, only the Osafb4 mutants were strongly resistant to the herbicide picloram, suggesting that OsAFB4 is a unique auxin receptor in rice.

Our findings demonstrate similarities and specificities of auxin receptor TIR1/AFB proteins in rice, and could offer the opportunity to modify effective herbicide‐resistant alleles in agronomically important crops.
Epidural catheter placement in children with baclofen pumps
Authors: Eklund Susan E. , Samineni Aneesh V. , Koka Anjali , Riley Bobbie L. , Brusseau Roland R. , Shore Benjamin J. , Miller Patricia E. , Stone Scellig S. , Berde Charles B. , Alrayashi Walid
Published: November 2020

Background

Children with cerebral palsy often suffer from increased tone, which can be treated with intrathecal baclofen via implanted pump. Additionally, they often require major orthopedic surgery for hip reconstruction; however, the presence of an intrathecal baclofen pump is a relative contraindication to regional anesthesia due to concerns about damaging the intrathecal baclofen pump system.

Aims

(a) To evaluate adverse events related to placing epidural catheters in children with intrathecal baclofen pumps and (b) describe our multidisciplinary approach to the care of these complex patients.

Methods

Children with cerebral palsy and intrathecal baclofen pump in situ who underwent hip reconstruction between 2010 and 2019 and had a perioperative epidural placed were reviewed retrospectively. Charts were assessed for adverse events or intrathecal baclofen complications. Fluoroscopic images were reviewed to evaluate the proximity between epidural and intrathecal baclofen catheters. The process of coordinating multiple services was examined.

Results

Sixteen children met the inclusion criteria. There were no major complications following epidural placement. Postoperative pump interrogation was normal for all patients. Fluoroscopy was utilized for 9/16 (56%) epidural procedures. Epidurogram was used to confirm 11/16 catheters (68%). Children with an intrathecal baclofen pump were identified by orthopedic surgeons at the time of surgical booking and referred to the regional anesthesia team for review. The neurosurgical, pain, and regional anesthesia teams determined the appropriateness and safety of approaching the neuraxis. Pain and/or regional anesthesiologists with competency in spine fluoroscopy were scheduled on the day of surgery for fluoroscopically guided epidural placement. Postoperatively, catheters were managed by the acute pain team. Intrathecal baclofen pumps were interrogated by the baclofen pump team prior to patient discharge.

Discussion

In this case series, not only was epidural placement feasible but also there were no observed complications. This work highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to complex regional anesthetic techniques, as well as the importance of basic competency in spine fluoroscopy for regional anesthesiologists.
Incidence of BKV in the urine and blood samples of pediatric patients undergoing HSCT
Authors: Yazısız Hatice , Uygun Vedat , Çolak Dilek , Mutlu Derya , Hazar Volkan , Öğünç Dilara , Öngüt Gözde , Küpesiz Funda Tayfun
Published: November 2020

The aims were to investigate the incidence of BKV infection and the presence of HC in pediatric patients undergoing HSCT. Twenty‐four children patients (M/F: 17/7) undergoing HSCT in a single center over a period of 1 year were included in the study. The presence of BKV DNA was determined by quantitative real‐time PCR in plasma and urine samples at the following times: before transplantation, twice a week until engraftment time, and weekly for + 100 days. The mean age of the patients was 7.79 ± 5.03 years, the mean follow‐up time was 95.6 ± 25.9 days, and the average number of samples per patient was 15.8 ± 3.2. BKV DNA was detected in at least one urine sample in 91.6% (n: 22) and at least one plasma sample in 75% (n:18) of the patients. The median time to the first BKV DNA positivity in urine and plasma samples was 11 (range: 1‐80) and 32 days (range: 2‐79), respectively. The median value of BKV DNA copies in urine and plasma were 1.7 × 106 (range: 2.8 × 101‐1.2 × 1014) and 1.9 × 103 copies/mL (range: 3‐2.1 × 106), respectively. Thirteen patients (54.2%) had hematuria with BKV viruria; 8 (33.3%) patients had viremia. The median value of the BKV DNA copies in urine and plasma was 4.4 × 107 (range: 65‐1 × 1011) and 2.9 × 103 (range: 7‐7.8 × 104) copies/mL in these patients. Two (15.4%) of the 13 patients with BKV viruria and hematuria were diagnosed with BKV‐related HC. BKV DNA viral load monitoring of urine and plasma in pediatric HSCT patients with a high risk for viral infections is valuable for understanding the development of BKV–related HC.
Tick salivary gland transcriptomics and proteomics
Authors: Martins Larissa Almeida , Bensaoud Chaima , Kotál Jan , Chmelař Jindřich , Kotsyfakis Michail
Published: November 2020

‘Omics’ technologies have facilitated the identification of hundreds to thousands of tick molecules that mediate tick feeding and play a role in the transmission of tick‐borne diseases. Deep sequencing methodologies have played a key role in this knowledge accumulation, profoundly facilitating the study of the biology of disease vectors lacking reference genomes. For example, the nucleotide sequences of the entire set of tick salivary effectors, the so‐called tick ‘sialome’, now contain at least one order of magnitude more transcript sequences compared to similar projects based on Sanger sequencing. Tick feeding is a complex and dynamic process, and while the dynamic ‘sialome’ is thought to mediate tick feeding success, exactly how transcriptome dynamics relate to tick‐host‐pathogen interactions is still largely unknown. The identification and, importantly, the functional analysis of the tick ‘sialome’ is expected to shed light on this ‘black box’. This information will be crucial for developing strategies to block pathogen transmission, not only for anti‐tick vaccine development but also the discovery and development of new, pharmacologically active compounds for human diseases.
Coumarin improves tomato plant tolerance to salinity by enhancing antioxidant defence, glyoxalase system and ion homeostasis
Authors: Parvin K. , Hasanuzzaman M. , Mohsin S. M. , Nahar K. , Fujita M.
Published: November 2020

Salinity is a severe threat to crop growth, development and even to world food sustainability. Plant possess natural antioxidant defense tactics to mitigate salinity‐induced oxidative stress. Phenolic compounds are non‐enzymatic antioxidants with specific roles in protecting plant cells against stress‐mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Coumarin (COU) is one of these compounds, however, to date, little is known about antioxidative roles of exogenous COU in enhancing plant tolerance mechanisms under salt stress.

The involvement of COU in increasing tomato salt tolerance was examined in the present study using COU as a pre‐treatment at 20 or 30 µM for 2 days against salt stress (100 or 160  NaCl; 5 days). The COU‐mediated stimulation of plant antioxidant defence and glyoxalase systems to suppress salt‐induced ROS and methylglyoxal (MG) toxicity, respectively, were the main hypotheses examined in the present study.

Addition of COU suppressed salt‐induced excess accumulation of ROS and MG, and significantly reduced membrane damage, lipid peroxidation and Na+ toxicity. These results demonstrate COU‐improved plant growth, biomass content, photosynthetic pigment content, water retention and mineral homeostasis upon imposition of salinity.

Finally, this present study suggests that COU has potential roles as a phytoprotectant in stimulating plant antioxidative mechanisms and improving glyoxalase enzyme activity under salinity stress.
Extending AAA Capabilities to Meet PPP Goals in Supply Chains
Authors: Sodhi ManMohan S. , Tang Christopher S.
Published: November 2020

A company must develop the "AAA" capabilities of agility, adaptability, and alignment in its supply chain to compete in a dynamic global environment profitably. However, as businesses face new challenges with increased environmental and social sustainability expectations, they must expand these AAA supply chain capabilities to people, planet, and profits. This study provides a framework for extending a company's capabilities for profitable supply chain management to those needed to achieve triple‐bottom‐line benefits.
Revisit of AAA Excellence of Global Value Chains: Robustness, Resilience, and Realignment
Authors: Cohen Morris A. , Kouvelis Panos
Published: November 2020

What are the attributes of the best‐performing supply chains? According to Lee (2004), the best supply chains are agile, adaptable, and ensure the interests of all participating companies stay aligned, that is, The Triple‐A framework. Fifteen years later, we find global supply chains exposed, with an increasing frequency and alarming severity, to low probability disruptive shocks. We revisit the question of the current attributes of best‐performing supply chains in a highly uncertain and risk fraught world. Using the lessons of the last 20 years, we propose a new framework, the “Triple A & R” framework, as the foundational concept for defining excellence capabilities in global supply chains. Supply chains have to enhance agility with robustness, for real‐time excellent performance across a wide‐range of risk scenarios. Adaptability has to go beyond adjustment to trends and requires the building of resilience to recover from current shocks and proactively mitigate future shocks. We need to rethink and pursue re‐alignment of incentives for a “new normal” with changing consumer preferences, new value propositions and innovative business models. We review relevant literature that supported the implementation of Triple‐A practices in the best chains, and highlight the challenges faced by them in the last 20 years. We offer an array of interesting research directions to flesh out “Triple A & R” concepts and develop practices for its effective implementation.
Improving Agility, Adaptability, Alignment, Accessibility, and Affordability in Nanostore Supply Chains
Authors: Escamilla Rafael , Fransoo Jan C. , Tang Christopher S.
Published: November 2020

In developing economies, nanostores (i.e., small independent neighborhood stores) in urban and rural areas face different infrastructural, operational, and financial challenges. How can urban nanostores compete with supermarket chains as they enter the market? How can rural nanostores provide more services at affordable prices to sustain their operations? By developing innovative business models enabled by new technologies such as smartphones, mobile payments, and solar panels, we show how urban nanostores can increase the capabilities of agility, adaptability, and alignment in their supply chain to compete, and how rural nanostores can change their operations to improve accessibility (in terms of products/services) and affordability (in terms of price). In addition, we describe some emerging research opportunities for further consideration.
Fixing Phantom Stockouts: Optimal Data‐Driven Shelf Inspection Policies
Authors: Chen Li
Published: November 2020

A “phantom stockout" is a retail stockout phenomenon caused by unobserved inventory shrinkage. Unlike conventional stockouts that can be corrected by inventory replenishment, a phantom stockout persists and requires human inspection. In this study, we formulate such a problem as an infinite‐horizon Bayesian dynamic program with joint inventory inspection and replenishment decisions. This problem is challenging to solve due to non‐convexity and high dimensionality. However, we find that under the Bernoulli shrinkage process, the optimal inventory inspection policy has a simple threshold structure that depends on the number of consecutive zero‐sales periods since the last inspection, while the optimal inventory replenishment policy is the same as the optimal policy without inventory shrinkage. Our numerical studies further demonstrate that this simple and intuitive policy can be an effective heuristic for more general shrinkage processes.
Optimal Global Liner Service Procurement by Utilizing Liner Service Schedules
Authors: Lee Chung‐Yee , Shu Shengnan , Xu Zhou
Published: November 2020

For global shippers (i.e., multinational manufacturers or retailers), strategic sourcing of container liner shipping services from ocean carriers is an important element of successful global supply chain management. We study how to utilize information about different ocean carriers’ liner service schedules so that shippers can optimize their sourcing decisions over the selection of carriers to transport container cargoes around the world through multiple shipping lanes. We first introduce a deterministic optimization problem, where cargo demands are given in advance and in which inventory holding costs are included to capture the impacts of liner service schedules on the total operating cost. We formulate the deterministic optimization problem as a mixed integer linear program, which can be simplified by exploiting a totally unimodular property, and can thus be solved directly by a general optimization solver. To further capture the impact of liner service schedules on shippers’ resilience to the uncertainties in cargo demands, we then introduce a two‐stage robust optimization counterpart of the deterministic problem based on a probability‐free demand uncertainty set. As the two‐stage robust optimization problem is challenging to solve, we derive some novel reformulations that can enable us to develop an effective solution method. By exploiting the information about liner service schedules, we show how our proposed models and solution method can help shippers to optimize their liner service procurement decisions.
The Knowledge Value Chain: An Operational Perspective
Authors: Gaimon Cheryl , Ramachandran Karthik
Published: November 2020

The successful launch of an innovative product or service is driven by an unexplored market opportunity or a technological breakthrough. Oftentimes, however, firms lack the necessary resource capabilities to exploit new market opportunities; alternately, markets may not exist for firms to successfully profit from technological breakthroughs. In other words, firms suffer from performance gaps between their market opportunities and their resource capabilities. In this study, we organize the growing literature on knowledge management to develop the concept of a knowledge value chain, which we characterize as the transformative engine by which a firm can close such performance gaps. In addition to motivating the framework through case studies and placing the existing research literature in knowledge management within this framework, we also identify several directions of future research.
Identification of differentially expressed genes and pathways in isonuclear kenaf genotypes under salt stress
Authors: Munsif Fazal , Kong Xiangjun , Khan Aziz , Shah Tariq , Arif Muhammad , Jahangir Muhammad , Akhtar Kashif , Tang Danfeng , Zheng Jie , Liao Xiaofang , Faisal Shah , Ali Izhar , Iqbal Anas , Ahmad Parvaiz , Zhou Ruiyang
Published: November 2020

Salinity is a potential abiotic stress and globally threatens crop productivity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying salt stress tolerance with respect to cytoplasmic effect, gene expression, and metabolism pathway under salt stress have not yet been reported in isonuclear kenaf genotypes. To fill this knowledge gap, growth, physiological, biochemical, transcriptome, and cytoplasm changes in kenaf cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line (P3A) and its iso‐nuclear maintainer line (P3B) under 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) stress and control conditions were analyzed. Salt stress significantly reduced leaf soluble protein, soluble sugars, proline, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzymatic activity, and induced oxidative damage in terms of higher MDA contents in both genotypes. The reduction of these parameters resulted in a reduced plant growth compared with control. However, P3A was relatively more tolerant to salt stress than P3B. This tolerance of P3A was further confirmed by improved physio‐biochemical traits under salt stress conditions. Transcriptome analysis showed that 4256 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two genotypes under salt stress were identified. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that photosynthesis, photosynthesis antenna‐protein, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways might be associated with the improved NaCl stress tolerance in P3A. Conclusively, P3A cytoplasmic male sterile could be a potential salt‐tolerant material for future breeding program of kenaf and can be used for phytoremediation of salt‐affected soils. These data provide a valuable resource on the cytoplasmic effect of salt‐responsive genes in kenaf and salt stress tolerance in kenaf.
Evaluation of the use of SYBR‐14 and propidium iodide stain in a fluorescent computer‐assisted spermatozoal quantification method in dogs
Authors: Watts John R.
Published: November 2020

Contents

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of SYBR‐14/propidium iodide (PI) stain in a computer‐assisted spermatozoal quantification (CASQ) method of determining spermatozoal concentration in canine semen. In Experiment A, the spermatozoal concentration was measured (n = 52) with a haemocytometer and by CASQ under fluorescent illumination using green long‐pass (G‐LP) and red long‐pass filters at measurement concentrations of <25 million/ml. For the red filter, the limits of agreement between the haemocytometer and CASQ were −6.3% to 6.8% and −7.5% to 6.2% between the haemocytometer and CASQ for the G‐LP filter. For the red filter, the mean precision CVs were 2.21% ± 4.33% (mean ± 95% CI) for the haemocytometer, 2.19% ± 4.29% for CASQ and using the G‐LP filter 2.13% ± 4.18% for the haemocytometer and 2.66% ± 5.21% for CASQ. In Experiment B, spermatozoa were also examined with a green spectrum short‐pass (G‐SP) filter (n = 50) at measurement concentrations of <12.5 million/ml. The limits of agreement between the haemocytometer and CASQ were −5.4% to 7.8% using the red filter, −15.8% to 14.3% using the G‐LP filter and −13.1% to 11.3% using the G‐SP filter. The mean precision CVs for the haemocytometer and CASQ, respectively, were 2.68% ± 5.26% (mean ± 95% CI) and 1.93% ± 3.72% using the red filter and 2.01% ± 3.95% and 3.55% ± 6.95% using the G‐LP filter, and 3.96% ± 7.76% for CASQ using the G‐SP filter. Using the red filter, the agreement between the haemocytometer and CASQ and the precision of both haemocytometer methods and CASQ were better than when using green filters. The CASQ method performed using green filters produced acceptable results; however, CASQ using a red filter with PI staining alone was superior to that using green filters and SYBR‐14/PI staining.
Did you Conduct a Sensitivity Analysis? A New Weighting-Based Approach for Evaluations of the Average Treatment Effect for the Treated
Authors: Hong Guanglei , Yang Fan , Qin Xu
Published: November 2020

In non-experimental research, a sensitivity analysis helps determine whether a causal conclusion could be easily reversed in the presence of hidden bias. A new approach to sensitivity analysis on the basis of weighting extends and supplements propensity score weighting methods for identifying the average treatment effect for the treated (ATT). In its essence, the discrepancy between a new weight that adjusts for the omitted confounders and an initial weight that omits them captures the role of the confounders. This strategy is appealing for a number of reasons including that, regardless of how complex the data generation functions are, the number of sensitivity parameters remains small and their forms never change. A graphical display of the sensitivity parameter values facilitates a holistic assessment of the dominant potential bias. An application to the well-known LaLonde data lays out the implementation procedure and illustrates its broad utility. The data offer a prototypical example of non-experimental evaluations of the average impact of job training programmes for the participant population.
Soldiers' Perceptions and Expectations of Converting Military Capital—The Cases of Israeli and British Militaries*☆
Authors: Grosswirth Kachtan Dana , Binks Eve
Published: November 2020

Research regarding the ability to convert military resources into valuable social resources (convertibility) focused on the macro‐level. These researches examined the influence of various mechanisms on the ability to convert military service into objective rewards in the civilian sphere and labor market. The aim of this research is to focus on a neglected part in the research of convertibility: the micro‐level analysis that emphasizes the subjective dimension. We argue that soldiers are motivated by, evaluate and perceive their military service through the capitals they acquire during military service which they expect, or not, to convert into the civilian sphere and labor market. The article presents a comparative analysis of veterans from the Israeli and British militaries, based on interviews with soldiers who served in both combat and non‐combat roles.
Extension of platelet shelf life with an improved bacterial testing algorithm
Authors: Ramirez‐Arcos Sandra , Evans Stephanie , McIntyre Terri , Pang Christopher , Yi Qi‐Long , DiFranco Caesar , Goldman Mindy
Published: November 2020

Background

At Canadian Blood Services, platelet concentrate (PC) shelf life was extended to 7 days with a large‐volume, delayed‐sampling bacterial screening algorithm. We present the development study and postimplementation results.

Study Design and Methods

In the development study, PCs inoculated with five bacteria (various concentrations) were incubated for 7 days with daily sampling for BacT/ALERT cultures and bacterial quantification. After implementation, from August 2017 to December 2019, a total of 223 156 pools and 39 725 apheresis units and 5310 outdated PCs were screened. Since March 2018, cocomponents associated to false‐positive results have been released to inventory.

Results

In the development study, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Staphylococcus aureus were detected at concentrations of at least 0.01 colony‐forming units (CFUs)/mL at 24 hours postinoculation. However, Staphylococcus epidermidis was detected at concentrations of less than 0.16 CFUs/mL only more than 48 hours postinoculation. After implementation, 776 (0.35%) and 303 (0.77%) initial‐positive results and 201 (0.09%) and 16 (0.04%) confirmed‐positive results were obtained for pools and apheresis units, respectively, predominantly with Cutibacterium acnes. Other organisms included staphylococci, streptococci, Klebsiella oxytoca and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. One nonfatal reaction involving a 7‐day pool contaminated with S. epidermidis occurred. Approximately, 1‐in‐1000 false‐negative screening results were obtained during testing of outdated PCs. Approximately 1000 cocomponents associated with false‐positive results were released into inventory. Combined PC outdating at Canadian Blood Services and hospitals was reduced from 18.9% to 13.1%.

Conclusion

Screening of 7‐day PCs increased bacterial detection mainly of anaerobes and reduced outdating. The incidence of septic transfusion events has decreased approximately threefold. A longer surveillance period is needed to evaluate the value of anaerobic cultures and residual safety risk.
Navigating wahine Kāi Tahu methodology
Authors: Cleaver Kerri
Published: November 2020

INTRODUCTION: Indigenous research is diverse and rich with multiple epistemological understandings. There is no one template for how we go about this. Shut out from the hallowed halls of academia for generations, Indigenous wa ̄hine have taken up the diversity of our perspectives and, in doing so, space has been created to compose from our own contexts.APPROACH: This article explores one way of engaging in research as an Indigenous social worker. It is the sharing of my own process of mapping out my legitimacy in an academic space and in a Ma ̄ori space as a colonised wahine Kāi Tahu caught in the dual complexities of decolonising and living in this time. Navigating wāhine Kāi Tahu methodology is about the journey to create from my own context, honouring the process and the voices and experiences of the wāhine Kāi Tahu who shared in my research. The process includes the melding of traditional Kāi Tahu stories into a methodological framework in Indigenous ethnography.
Mātauranga-ā-Whānau: Constructing a methodological approach centred on whānau pūrākau
Authors: Lipsham Marjorie
Published: November 2020

INTRODUCTION: This article discusses the development of a distinctively Māori methodology that centres knowledge and practices that are embedded within whānau. Mātauranga-ā-whānau is a Kaupapa Māori approach that brings a focus upon Māori knowledge that is transmitted intergenerationally.APPROACH: The development of Mātauranga-ā-whānau as a methodological approach supports both the assertion by Graham Hingangaroa Smith (1997) that Kaupapa Māori must be committed to the validation and legitimation of Māori worldviews and the argument by Leonie Pihama (2001) that there are multiple ways of expressing Māori theories and methodologies. Pihama (2001) highlights that affirming whānau, hapū and iwi ways of being within the broader discussion of Kaupapa Māori is critical. While it is beyond the scope of this article to provide an in-depth discussion of both Kaupapa Māori theory and Mātauranga Māori, it is important to note that both cultural frameworks inform the way in which Mātauranga-ā-whānau is discussed.CONCLUSIONS: Drawing upon whānau knowledge, experiences and practices, through pūrākau, this article introduces how Māori can approach research applying culturally grounded methodologies.
The most important thing I learned in practice
Authors: Hollis-English Awhina
Published: November 2020

From the Māori Social Work Practice and Research Symposium 2019
Effect of foundress population density and size on reproduction and population growth of a haplodiploid mite

Authors: Weerawansha Nuwan , Wang Qiao , He Xiong Zhao
Published: November 2020

Tetranychus ludeni Zacher (Acari: Tetranychidae) is an invasive polyphagous haplodiploid pest mite of many vegetable crops in many parts of the world. This study investigated the effects of simultaneous variations in the local foundress population density and size on the reproduction and population growth of T. ludeni. We show that negative population-density and -size dependency limited the reproduction of foundresses, where the effects of population size on population growth overweighed that of population density. We further demonstrate that ovipositing females could accelerate population growth rate (intrinsic rate of increase, rm) at higher population sizes by producing more daughters early during their lifespan, which can be an adaptive strategy to allow more daughters to complete development and disperse to reduce future food competition intensity. This study provided knowledge on population dynamics in response to foundress population density and size in general and T. ludeni population forecast and precise timing of pest management in particular.
Three new species of the genus Cunaxoides (Cunaxidae) from China

Authors: Chen Jian-xin , Guo Jian-jun , Yi Tian-ci , Jin Dao-chao
Published: November 2020

This paper describes three new species of genus Cunaxoides, namely, C. reticulatus Chen & Jin sp. nov., C. kanasensis Chen & Jin sp. nov. and C. allokanasensis Chen & Jin sp. nov., which are described and figured from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
Ontogenetic instars of Phyllhermannia goldengatensis sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Hermanniidae) from South Africa

Authors: Ermilov Sergey G. , Hugo-Coetzee Elizabeth A. , Khaustov Alexander A. , Khaustov Vladimir A. , Khaustov Vladimir A.
Published: November 2020

A new species of the genus Phyllhermannia is described from soil of Golden Gate Highlands National Park (central South Africa), based on all ontogenetic instars. The species is also recorded in Lesotho. Adult of Phyllhermannia goldengatensis sp. nov. differs from P. africana, P. natalensis, P. nathanaeli, and P. pauliani by the presence of median longitudinal and three pairs of lateral semicircular band-like furrows resembling the shape of large cells on dorsal part of the notogaster. The juvenile instars of P. goldengatensis sp. nov. are compared with those P. bandabanda, P. falklandica, P. gladiata, P. lemannae, and P. sauli. An identification key to known species of Phyllhermannia in South Africa is presented.
Description of Aculops shalchii sp. nov. and supplementary descriptions of Eriophyes euphorbiae and Aceria rubiae (Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) from Iran

Authors: Lotfollahi Parisa , Chetverikov Philipp E. , Mehri-heyran Hosein , Saboori Alireza
Published: November 2020

One new phyllocoptine species and two eriophyine species collected in Norther-West Iran are described and illustrated: Aculops shalchii Lotfollahi sp. nov. (Phyllocoptinae) from Sweet Clover, Melilotus indicus (L.) All. (Fabaceae), Eriophyes euphorbiae (Nalepa, 1891) from Euphorbia boissieriana (Woronow) Prokh. (Euphorbiaceae) and Aceria rubiae (Canestrini, 1897) from Rubia tinctorum L. (Rubiaceae). Our supplementary data on morphology of A. rubiae and E. euphorpbiae indicate that they both have a thin translucent supracapitular plate situated below the frontal lobe of the prodorsal shield. Data from literature suggest A. rubiae and E. euphorbiae to be gall-forming species, however no visible damages causing by these mites were found in Iran.