bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frameworks for evaluating education programmes and work related learning: a scoping review
Authors: Caley Lynne , Williams Sharon J. , Spernaes Izabela , Thomas David , Behrens Doris , Willson Alan
Published: April 2021

Purpose

It has become accepted practice to include an evaluation alongside learning programmes that take place at work, as a means of judging their effectiveness. There is a tendency to focus such evaluations on the relevance of the intervention and the amount of learning achieved by the individual. The aim of this review is to examine existing evaluation frameworks that have been used to evaluate education interventions and, in particular, assess how these have been used and the outcomes of such activity.

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping review using Arskey and O’Malley’s five stage framework was undertaken to examine existing evaluation frameworks claiming to evaluate education interventions.

Findings

Forty five articles were included in the review. A majority of papers concentrate on learner satisfaction and/or learning achieved. Rarely is a structured framework mentioned, or detail of the approach to analysis cited. Typically, evaluations lacked baseline data, control groups, longitudinal observations and contextual awareness.

Practical implications

This review has implications for those involved in designing and evaluating work-related education programmes, as it identifies areas where evaluations need to be strengthened and recommends how existing frameworks can be combined to improve how evaluations are conducted.

Originality/value

This scoping review is novel in its assessment and critique of evaluation frameworks employed to evaluate work-related education programmes.
Digital supply chain performance metrics: a literature review
Authors: Rasool Faisal , Greco Marco , Grimaldi Michele
Published: April 2021

Purpose

In the previous decade, a substantial amount of research has been undertaken to measure the digitalized supply chain (DSC) performance. This paper aims to present a systematic literature review on DSC performance measurement metrics to apprehend current practices, recognize gaps and advocate future research itineraries.

Design/methodology/approach

To guarantee a replicable, rigorous and transparent research process, the authors used a systematic literature review methodology to synthesize the research. A combination of 25 keywords was used to obtain 248 scientific studies in the first step. The balance scorecard (BSC) model was used to categorize 299 gathered performance metrics into 4 BSC perspectives.

Findings

The review highlighted the need for qualitative performance measuring metrics for DSC. During the review, only one study was identified that primarily focused on developing performance metrics for DSC. Additionally, the review identified that metrics related to internal and financial perspectives received the most attention while the “growth and learning” perspective received the least attention. The review also identified that external partners, such as distributors and suppliers, were virtually ignored in previous literature.

Originality/value

Although numerous literature reviews have been conducted in the past on the performance measuring metrics for supply chain management, no literature review aiming to synthesize the measuring metrics for DSC has yet been undertaken.
Identifying the configurational conditions for marketing analytics use in UK SMEs
Authors: Cao Guangming , Duan Yanqing , Tian Na
Published: April 2021

Purpose

While marketing analytics can be used to improve organizational decision-making and performance significantly, little research exists to examine how the configurations of multiple conditions affect marketing analytics use. This study draws on configuration theory to investigate marketing analytics use in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

This research employs a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis using data collected from a survey of 187 managers in UK SMEs.

Findings

The key findings show that (1) configurations of multiple conditions provide alternative pathways to marketing analytics use, and (2) the configurations for small firms are different from those for medium-sized firms.

Research limitations/implications

The research results are based on several key configurational factors and a single key-informant method to collect subjective data from UK SME managers.

Practical implications

The study helps SMEs to understand that marketing analytics use is influenced by the interaction of multiple conditions, that there are alternative pathways to marketing analytics use, and that SMEs should choose the configuration that fits best with their organizational contexts.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature by addressing an important yet underresearched area, i.e. marketing analytics use in SMEs, applying a configurational approach to the research phenomenon. It highlights different pathways to marketing analytics use in SMEs. The findings provide empirical evidence on the possibility and implication of marketing analytics use being asymmetrical and different between small and medium-sized firms.
Efficiency and the scope of outsourced services: a client firm’s absorptive capacity perspective of knowledge-intensive services
Authors: Ellimäki Pia , Aragón-Correa J. Alberto , Hurtado-Torres Nuria Esther
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Strategic literature has focused on how economies of scale in a firm offering outsourcing may generate incentives for clients to increase the outsourced services, but there has been limited research on how the clients’ features may influence the scope of services that they hire with an outsourcing provider. This study analyzes whether a client’s efficiency motivates it to increase ties with a specific provider of knowledge-intensive services in the context of business process outsourcing (BPO). We further explore whether industry conditions moderate the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A research framework is developed consisting of three main hypotheses. We combine industry data and proprietary and financial data from a longitudinal sample of 107 client firms of a multinational outsourcing service provider to test our hypotheses.

Findings

We find that more efficient firms hire more services from an outsourcing provider and that the munificence of the client firm’s industry positively moderates this relationship. Our results suggest that efficient clients can better keep transaction costs under control when accessing, assimilating, and exploiting the knowledge embedded in an expanded set of services provided by an outsourcing supplier.

Originality/value

This study extends the absorptive capacity perspective by showing that a client’s efficiency reinforces its opportunities to absorb knowledge-intensive services from a supplier when expanding the range of operations in the context of BPO.
The impact of organizational factors on E-CRM success implementation
Authors: Khanh Chi Nguyen Thi , Phong Le Thai , Cao Kien Dinh
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the effects of organizational factors on electronic customer relationship management (e-CRM) successful implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey conducted in Vietnam. The dataset consists of 241 valid responses by individuals working at Vietnamese airlines. Correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were used to examine the causal relationships among organizational factors, customer orientation, knowledge management, data quality and CRM strategy.

Findings

The result shows that organizational factors have influence on e-CRM success. However, there are other factors needed to be more considered that are customer orientation having the most influence, following by knowledge management and technology. Still other factors have indirect effect on e-CRM success such as data quality and CRM strategy.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to examine an integrated model depicting the direct and indirect effects of organization factors on e-CRM success. From this perspective, this paper provides an improved understanding of how customer orientation and organizational factors, technology and knowledge management influences airlines applying e-CRM. This study also provides several implications for practice. The paper suggests airline providers and marketing managers, especially those in Vietnam, focus more on customer orientation activities. The paper also recommends that airlines should pay attention to its organizational structure in line with its customer-orientation strategy.
Site‐directed mutagenesis of the succinate dehydrogenase subunits B and D from Corynespora cassiicola reveals different fitness costs and sensitivities to succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors
Authors: Shi Yanxia , Sun Bingxue , Xie Xuewen , Chai Ali , Li Lei , Li Baoju
Published: April 2021

Carboxamide fungicides target succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). Recently published monitoring studies have shown that Corynespora cassiicola isolates are resistant to one or several SDH inhibitors (SDHIs) with amino acid substitutions in the SDH B and D subunits. We confirmed, by site‐directed mutagenesis of the sdhB and sdhD genes, that each of the mutations identified in the field strains of C. cassiicola conferred resistance to boscalid and, in some cases, cross‐resistance to other SDHIs (fluopyram, carboxin and penthiopyrad). Analyses of the enzyme activity and sdhB and sdhD gene expression show that modifications (SdhB_H278Y and SdhD_H105R) that result in a decline in SDH enzyme activity may be complemented by gene overexpression. The SdhB_H278Y, SdhB_I280V and SdhD_H105R mutants suffered large fitness penalties based on their biological properties, including conidia production and germination, mycelial growth, pathogenicity or survival abilities under environment stress. However, fitness cost was not found in the SdhB_H278R, SdhD_D95E and SdhD_G109V mutants. In the evaluation of resistance to boscalid in 2018 and 2019, the frequency of the SdhD_D95E and SdhD_G109V genotypes in the Liaoning and Shandong provinces changed dramatically compared with 2005–2017, from low resistance frequency (0.53% for D95E and 2.53% for G109V) to dominant resistance frequency (17.28% for D95E and 15.38% for G109V). Considering both the fitness and increased frequency of these genotypes, we may infer that the SdhD_D95E and SdhD_G109V mutants will be the dominant resistance mutants in field.
d‐canavanine affects peptidoglycan structure, morphogenesis and fitness in Rhizobiales
Authors: Aliashkevich Alena , Howell Matthew , Brown Pamela J. B. , Cava Felipe
Published: April 2021

The bacterial cell wall is made of peptidoglycan (PG), a polymer that is essential for maintenance of cell shape and survival. Many bacteria alter their PG chemistry as a strategy to adapt their cell wall to external challenges. Therefore, identifying these environmental cues is important to better understand the interplay between microbes and their habitat. Here, we used the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida to uncover cell wall modulators from plant extracts and found canavanine (CAN), a non‐proteinogenic amino acid. We demonstrated that cell wall chemical editing by CAN is licensed by P. putida BSAR, a broad‐spectrum racemase which catalyses production of dl‐CAN from l‐CAN, which is produced by many legumes. Importantly, d‐CAN diffuses to the extracellular milieu thereby having a potential impact on other organisms inhabiting the same niche. Our results show that d‐CAN alters dramatically the PG structure of Rhizobiales (e.g., Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Sinorhizobium meliloti), impairing PG crosslinkage and cell division. Using A. tumefaciens, we demonstrated that the detrimental effect of d‐CAN is suppressed by a single amino acid substitution in the cell division PG transpeptidase penicillin binding protein 3a. Collectively, this work highlights the role of amino acid racemization in cell wall chemical editing and fitness.
In search of policy innovation: Behavioural Insights Teams in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Jones Stephen , Head Brian , Ferguson Michele
Published: April 2021

Governments around the world have increasingly used experimental findings from behavioural trials to fine‐tune their service delivery policy models and their communication with citizens. In some areas of policy review, government teams have drawn on ‘behavioural’ methods, developed through Behavioural Insights (BI) and Behavioural Economics (BE) approaches, with a view to enhancing cost‐efficiencies and regulatory compliance. We compare the practices of several teams in Australia and New Zealand, based on 40 practitioner interviews with staff in governmental BI–BE units. We outline staff perceptions about the challenges and opportunities for BI–BE units in their quest to make positive contributions to policy innovation in the informational, regulatory, and service domains. In most instances, their focus has been on selecting specific researchable topics where experimental methods can be deployed, and where measurable positive changes are anticipated. Although benefits have been produced in many such areas, complex issues have not yet been tackled. However, BI–BE approaches could potentially contribute to broader teams addressing more complex problems.
Impacts of COVID‐19 on global poverty, food security, and diets: Insights from global model scenario analysis
Authors: Laborde David , Martin Will , Vos Rob
Published: April 2021

This study assesses the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) on poverty, food insecurity, and diets, accounting for the complex links between the crisis and the incomes and living costs of vulnerable households. Key elements are impacts on labor supply, effects of social distancing, shifts in demand from services involving close contact, increases in the cost of logistics in food and other supply chains, and reductions in savings and investment. These are examined using IFPRI's global general equilibrium model linked to epidemiological and household models. The simulations suggest that the global recession caused by COVID‐19 will be much deeper than that of the 2008–2009 financial crisis. The increases in poverty are concentrated in South Asia and sub‐Saharan Africa with impacts harder in urban areas than in rural. The COVID‐19‐related lockdown measures explain most of the fall in output, whereas declines in savings soften the adverse impacts on food consumption. Almost 150 million people are projected to fall into extreme poverty and food insecurity. Decomposition of the results shows that approaches assuming uniform income shocks would underestimate the impact by as much as one‐third, emphasizing the need for the more refined approach of this study.
Identifying substitute host tree species for epiphytes: The relative importance of tree size and species, bark and site characteristics
Authors: Mitchell Ruth J. , Hewison Richard L. , Beaton Joan , Douglass John R.
Published: April 2021

Questions

Can bark characteristics be used to determine the suitability of trees to host epiphytic bryophytes and lichens or are other tree and site characteristics more important? Identification of substitute hosts is required in the face of epidemic tree deaths due to diseases that are a threat to affiliated epiphytic communities. We assess the suitability of seven phorophytes to host the epiphytes associated with the UK native oak species, Quercus petraea and Quercus robur, which are currently threatened by a range of pests and pathogens.

Location

Six botanic gardens and arboreta across the UK.

Method

We recorded the site, habitat, tree (height, diameter at breast height [1.3 m; DBH], percentage canopy cover) and bark characteristics (pH, conductivity, density, water‐holding capacity, hardness, topography) and epiphytic community composition on Acer pseudoplatanus, Castanea sativa, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Quercus cerris, Quercus petraea, Quercus robur, Quercus rubra and Tilia × europaea. In total 230 trees were surveyed across the six sites.

Results

Comparisons between all trees showed significant correlations between similarities in community composition and bark characteristics. However, “tree characteristics” (species, height, DBH and canopy over) explained more of the variation in epiphytic community composition than bark and site characteristics. Phorophytes with similar epiphytic community richness or composition to native oaks did not necessarily have similar bark characteristics. Non‐native oaks and the non‐native hybrid Tilia × europaea supported similar epiphyte communities to the native oaks and are suggested as substitute phorophytes.

Conclusion

Using bark traits is not a reliable method to assess the suitability of substitute phorophytes to conserve epiphytic communities. Instead, the epiphytes hosted by a wider range of phorophytes should be recorded to allow an assessment of their suitability as substitute hosts and hence aid management decisions on replacement phorophytes following tree loss.
TLR4 pathway impairs synaptic number and cerebrovascular functions through astrocyte activation following traumatic brain injury
Authors: Rosa Juliana M. , Farré‐Alins Víctor , Ortega María Cristina , Navarrete Marta , Lopez‐Rodriguez Ana Belen , Palomino‐Antolín Alejandra , Fernández‐López Elena , Vila‐del Sol Virginia , Decouty Céline , Narros‐Fernández Paloma , Clemente Diego , Egea Javier
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose

Activation of astrocytes contributes to synaptic remodelling, tissue repair and neuronal survival following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The mechanisms by which these cells interact to resident/infiltrated inflammatory cells to rewire neuronal networks and repair brain functions remain poorly understood. Here, we explored how TLR4‐induced astrocyte activation modified synapses and cerebrovascular integrity following TBI.

Experimental Approach

To determine how functional astrocyte alterations induced by activation of TLR4 pathway in inflammatory cells regulate synapses and neurovascular integrity after TBI, we used pharmacology, genetic approaches, live calcium imaging, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity assessment and molecular and behavioural methods.

Key Results

Shortly after a TBI, there is a recruitment of excitable and reactive astrocytes mediated by TLR4 pathway activation with detrimental effects on post‐synaptic density‐95 (PSD‐95)/vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) synaptic puncta, BBB integrity and neurological outcome. Pharmacological blockage of the TLR4 pathway with resatorvid (TAK‐242) partially reversed many of the observed effects. Synapses and BBB recovery after resatorvid administration were not observed in IP3R2−/− mice, indicating that effects of TLR4 inhibition depend on the subsequent astrocyte activation. In addition, TBI increased the astrocytic‐protein thrombospondin‐1 necessary to induce a synaptic recovery in a sub‐acute phase.

Conclusions and Implications

Our data demonstrate that TLR4‐mediated signalling, most probably through microglia and/or infiltrated monocyte–astrocyte communication, plays a crucial role in the TBI pathophysiology and that its inhibition prevents synaptic loss and BBB damage accelerating tissue recovery/repair, which might represent a therapeutic potential in CNS injuries and disorders.
Debate: The future of inpatient units – do we need them?
Authors: Cotgrove Andy , Northover Guy
Published: April 2021

There will always be a need for some inpatient beds. However, in this paper we highlight some of the potential risks and harms from admission and suggest that for many children and young people intensive community interventions would result in better outcomes, improved patient experience and be more cost‐effective.
Polypharmacy and saliva volumes in the northeast of Germany – The Study of Health in Pomerania
Authors: Laugisch Oliver , Holtfreter Birte , Pink Christiane , Samietz Stefanie , Völzke Henry , Kocher Thomas
Published: April 2021

Objectives

Associations between saliva volumes or salivary flow rates and potentially xerogenic medication are rarely evaluated in cohorts with a wide age range. This cross‐sectional cohort study investigated possible relationships between the regular consumption of potentially xerogenic medication and stimulated saliva volumes.

Methods

Data from the German Studies of Health in Pomerania (SHIP‐2 and SHIP‐Trend‐0) were pooled. Potentially xerogenic medications were identified using the Workshop on Oral Medicine VI criteria. Stimulated saliva was sampled using Salivette®, and saliva volumes expressed as μl/min were determined. Applying linear mixed models with adjustment for time point of saliva collection, associations of (a) age and sex with regularly consumed medication, (b) age and sex with saliva volumes, and (c) the number of regularly consumed xerogenic medications with saliva volumes were evaluated.

Results

Six thousand seven hundred and fifty‐three participants aged 20‐83 years (mean 53.4 ± 14.9) were included. The average number of medications did not differ markedly between females (2.21 ± 2.46) and males (2.24 ± 2.83). Males took more potentially xerogenic medication (1.0 ± 1.3) than did females (0.9 ± 1.3). Also, males took more potentially xerogenic cardiovascular medications than did females (0.9 ± 1.2 versus 0.7 ± 1.1), while females were prescribed a higher number of potentially xerogenic medications affecting the nervous system (0.2 ± 0.5 versus 0.1 ± 0.4). The average stimulated saliva volume was 967.0 ± 433.3 µL/min. Regularly consumed and potentially xerogenic medications were associated with lower saliva volumes. Older age correlated not only with a higher number of total medications and a higher number of xerogenic medications affecting either the cardiovascular (in males) or the nervous system (in females), but also with lower saliva volumes.

Conclusions

Ageing was associated with polypharmacy, especially with the intake of potentially xerogenic medication, and lower average saliva volumes. With regard to complications of dry mouth, anamnesis of medication consumption is of high importance.
IMAT: The Iterative Medial Axis Transform
Authors: Lee Yonghyeon , Baek Jonghyuk , Kim Young Min , Park Frank Chongwoo
Published: April 2021

We present the iterative medial axis transform (IMAT), an iterative descent method that constructs a medial axis transform (MAT) for a sparse, noisy, oriented point cloud sampled from an object's boundary. We first establish the equivalence between the traditional definition of the MAT of an object, i.e., the set of centres and corresponding radii of all balls maximally inscribed inside the object, with an alternative characterization matching the boundary enclosing the union of the balls with the object boundary. Based on this boundary equivalence characterization, a new MAT algorithm is proposed, in which an error function that reflects the difference between the two boundaries is minimized while restricting the number of balls to within some a priori specified upper limit. An iterative descent method with guaranteed local convergence is developed for the minimization that is also amenable to parallelization. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses of diverse 2D and 3D objects demonstrate the noise robustness, shape fidelity, and representation efficiency of the resulting MAT.
Echocardiographic assessment of chamber size and ventricular function during the first year after heart transplantation
Authors: Ingvarsson Annika , Werther Evaldsson Anna , Waktare Johan , Braun Oscar , Smith Gustav Jan , Roijer Anders , Rådegran Göran , Meurling Carl
Published: April 2021

Aims

Detecting changes in ventricular function after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is important but interpretation of findings is complicated by lack of data on early graft adaptation. We sought to evaluate echocardiographic measures of ventricular size and function the first year following OHT including speckle tracking derived strain. We also aimed to compare echocardiographic findings to haemodynamic parameters obtained by right heart catheterization (RHC).

Methods and results

Fifty OHT patients were examined prospectively with TTE and RHC at 1, 6, and 12 months after OHT. Left ventricle (LV) was assessed with fractional shortening, ejection fraction and systolic tissue velocities. Right ventricular (RV) evaluation included tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), systolic tissue velocity (S´) and fractional area change (FAC). LV global longitudinal and circumferential strain and RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) and RV lateral wall strain (RVfree) were analysed. No relevant changes occurred in LV echocardiographic parameters, whereas all measures of RV function improved significantly during follow‐up. There was an increase in TAPSE (12.4 ± 3.3 mm to 14.4 ± 4.3 mm, p < .01), FAC (36% ± 8% to 41% ± 8%, p < .01), RV GLS (−15.8% ± 4% to −17.8% ± 3.6%, p < .01), and RVfree (−15.5% ± 3.7% to −18.6% ± 3.6%, p < .001). Between 1 and 12 months, pulmonary pressures decreased, whereas pulmonary vascular resistance did not.

Conclusion

Stable OHT recipients reached steady state regarding LV function 1 month after transplantation. In contrast, RV function displayed gradual improvement the first year following OHT, indicating delayed RV adaptation as compared to the LV. Improved RV function parameters were independent of invasively measured pulmonary pressures.
Multiple‐Benefit Conservation defined
Authors: Gardali Thomas , Dybala Kristen E. , Seavy Nathaniel E.
Published: April 2021

A new term, Multiple‐Benefit Conservation, has emerged in the conservation community, but has not been defined. We define Multiple‐Benefit Conservation asconservation efforts designed to simultaneously benefit local communities of people, enhance ecological function, and improve habitat quality for fish and wildlife. Its key features are setting ecological and societal goals at the outset and defining success as achieving these goals simultaneously. This is in contrast to efforts aimed at one goal thatmayalso produce co‐benefits; it is inclusive of ecosystem services but not limited by a focus solely on human benefit. Strengths of this approach include that it is constructive, inclusive of multiple worldviews, easily communicated, solutions‐oriented, and compelling. Multiple‐Benefit Conservation as we define and describe it here appears to provide a pathway useful for designing conservation efforts that are more likely to be inclusive, that will quantify trade‐offs among goals, and can embrace pluralistic conservation leadership.
Imperfect detection biases extinction‐debt assessments
Authors: Montgomery Fielding A. , Reid Scott M. , Mandrak Nicholas E.
Published: April 2021

Freshwater ecosystems have been substantially altered, threatening the survival and recovery of aquatic species at risk. Estimating the likelihood and magnitude of future extinctions (extinction debt; ED) is integral for conserving biodiversity and requires accurate species composition lists. Using species‐area relationships, we estimated ED for fishes in historically disturbed wetlands in the Lake Erie basin. Then, we used simulated data sets to assess how ED varied when species lists used to derive species‐area relationships had an increasing proportion of undetected species. When species lists were incomplete, ranging from 0.99 to 0.75, 15% fewer wetlands were estimated to have species in ED and, on average, 50% fewer species were expected to go extinct per wetland. Imperfect detection ultimately biased conservation prioritization among wetlands. Our findings suggest that if imperfect detection is not accounted for when projecting future extinctions, the severity of future species loss across a landscape, and the subsequent need for immediate restorative action, can be greatly underestimated.
‘Money up in smoke’: The financial benefits of smoking cessation may be more motivating to people who are homeless than potential health gains
Authors: Puljević Cheneal , Snoswell Aaron , Rivas Lorena , Ali Mohammed M. , de Greef Wouter , Ferris Jason , Gartner Coral
Published: April 2021

Introduction

High rates of tobacco smoking among people who are homeless or living in temporary accommodation exacerbate poor health outcomes and financial disadvantage. There is limited research on this population's perceptions of smoking cessation benefits or support strategies.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional survey of 68 male smokers living in a temporary accommodation hostel in Brisbane, Australia. The survey measured smoking and quit attempt history, perceptions of cessation aids and benefits of cessation, and awareness of the Intensive Quit Support program—a free Queensland government‐funded program comprising 12 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy supplemented with weekly calls from Quitline.

Results

Participants (56% aged ≤40 years) spent a high proportion of their income on smoking (median $80/week). Although the most commonly reported perceived benefit of smoking cessation was improved health, more participants were interested in a campaign promoting the financial savings of quitting rather than the health benefits. Twice as many participants reported the high cost of smoking‐provoked thoughts of quitting than graphic health warning labels on cigarette packs (70.6% vs. 30.9%). Participants reported a high level of interest in e‐cigarettes as a cessation aid. There was a low level of awareness but moderate level of interest in the Intensive Quit Support program.

Discussion and Conclusions

Smoking cessation campaigns promoting the financial savings of cessation may be more salient than health‐focused campaigns among relatively young men who smoke and experience homelessness. There is a clear need for innovative, targeted strategies promoting smoking cessation among this population.
Creation and anthropology: N.F.S. Grundtvig as humanist and feminist
Authors: Pedersen Else Marie Wiberg
Published: April 2021

This article focuses on Scandinavian creation theology by way of the anthropology of the Happy Dane, the theologian, author, hymn writer, poet, and pastor Nicolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1783–1872). After having given two examples of Grundtvig's and Grundtvigians’ encounter with USA in the past, it is demonstrated how the Lutheran Grundtvig, based on his positive and organic creation theology, fought ideas of creational hierarchies, whether slavery or subjection of women. Grundtvig logically and naturally connected his creation theology to a humanist anthropology of which not the devil but God was Creator and sole subject. As in Galatians 3:28, this encompassed a feminist view as he acknowledged two equal sexes and genders: all humans are equal regardless of color of the skin, sex, or belief and hence should have human rights equally.
Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists improve biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Bray Jonathan J. H. , Foster‐Davies Harri , Salem Ahmed , Hoole Amy L. , Obaid Daniel R. , Halcox Julian P. J. , Stephens Jeffrey W.
Published: April 2021

Aim

To conduct a meta‐analysis and systematic review to examine the effects of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RAs) on clinical biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined changes with GLP‐1RAs in a priori selected biomarkers of inflammation: C‐reactive protein (CRP), adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNFα), plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1, interleukin‐6, leptin; and of oxidative stress: malondialdehyde (MDA); 8‐iso‐prostaglandin F2α; and 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine (8‐OHdG).

Results

We included 40 eligible RCTs (n = 6749) with a median follow‐up of 6 months, a mean participant age of 53.1 years, 56.3% females, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 55.6 mmol/mol, body mass index 28.8 kg/m2 and diabetes duration 7.46 years. Analysis of GLP‐1RAs versus standard diabetes therapies or placebo revealed significant reductions in CRP, TNFα and MDA, and significant increases in adiponectin for (mean difference −0.54 mg/L [−0.75, −0.34]; standard mean difference [SMD] −0.39 [−0.62, −0.15]; SMD −0.84 [−1.61, −0.06] and SMD 0.30 [0.12, 0.49], respectively [95% confidence intervals]). Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly and was significantly and strongly correlated with a reduction in CRP. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance was also significantly correlated with a reduction in CRP, but HbA1c was not.

Conclusions

There is strong evidence supporting clinically relevant anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects of GLP‐1RAs. This may be used to guide future targeted clinical use of GLP‐1RAs and the development of medications seeking to target the cardioprotective properties of GLP‐1RAs.
Critical considerations of workplace flexibility “for all” and gendered outcomes: Men being flexible about their flexibility
Authors: Borgkvist Ashlee , Moore Vivienne , Crabb Shona , Eliott Jaklin
Published: April 2021

Flexible working arrangements (FWA) “for all, from the CEO down”, have begun to be promoted in Australia, heralded as a means to finally achieve gender equity in the workplace. However, workplaces are gendered spaces in which masculine traits and unconstrained availability are usually highly valued, as encapsulated in the notion of the ideal worker, and women are seen as lacking or “other”. We undertook a study to examine how upper level managers in large, male‐dominated organizations endorsing FWA for all perceived and reflected on the use of FWA within their organizations and by themselves. Interviews were undertaken with 12 upper level managers (9 men). Applying a social constructionist perspective and critical theoretical lens informed by theories of Acker and Ahmed, qualitative analysis suggested that, despite being “for all” in organizational rhetoric, FWA remains viewed as “for women”, and appropriate to lower level, routinized roles. Upper level managers described themselves and other men as able to be “flexible about their flexibility” thus maintaining their standing as ideal workers. This framing of flexibility has implications for men, women and society. It enabled ongoing positioning of women as other in workplace settings, rendering invisible structural inequality. Thus, FWA for all does not necessarily transform workplace gender equity.
Language learners' digital literacies: Focus on students' information literacy and reading practices online
Authors: Vorobel Oksana , Voorhees Terry Tuvi , Gokcora Deniz
Published: April 2021

The widespread use of technology and the Internet have changed many of language learners' everyday practices, including literacies. While there have been many studies with the focus on language learners' digital literacies, few, however, have explored language learners' digital information literacy and online reading practices with the use of social bookmarking tools, especially in a community college setting. We address this gap by investigating community‐college language learners' digital literacies when social bookmarking with the focus on digital information and online reading practices from an ecological perspective. In this qualitative multiple‐case study, the focal participants were five English learners, students in an English as a Second Language writing course in a community college in the northeastern United States. Data collection included interviews, observations, and researchers' e‐journals. Thorough within‐ and cross‐case analysis of data shows that language learners searched for digital texts and evaluated them based on relevance, reliability, interest, language, and importance for them and their learning community in the social bookmarking tool. The participants struggled with the number of results in search engines, keywords, and evaluation of digital texts for relevance and reliability. We show the need for more instruction, support, and guidance of language learners' digital information literacy practices as well as the benefits of providing students with opportunities to read digital texts. Our suggestions for future research include investigating the role of multimodality and other factors that influence language learners' evaluation practices when they look for and read information online.
Functional response and egg distribution among hosts byPseudapanteles dignus, a larval endoparasitoid ofTuta absoluta
Authors: D'Auro Franco , Luna María Gabriela , Liljesthröm Gerardo Gustavo
Published: April 2021

The functional response of a biocontrol agent has been classically pointed out as a quantitative evaluation criterion to understand its killing capacity to an arthropod pest. In this paper, we revisited the functional response of the internal larval parasitoidPseudapanteles dignus(Muesebeck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a candidate for biocontrol of the South American tomato leafminer,Tuta absoluta(Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), measured as the daily egg oviposition of single parasitoid females at increasing densities ofT. absolutalarvae through dissection of hosts. The functional response curve of the number of parasitized hosts was fitted out taking into account the number of eggs laid and their distribution among hosts at eachT. absolutalarval density. The data also allowed us to discuss the self‐superparasitism strategy of this parasitoid as an adaptive trait.Pseudapanteles dignusshowed a sigmoid shape functional response and a contagious distribution of eggs among hosts, favouring self‐superparasitism and laying a similar number of eggs in each superparasitized host at eachT. absolutadensity. This research is firstly intended to ascertain about the oviposition behaviour ofP. dignusand additionally to provide information on its reproduction to be applied in mass rearing procedures and augmentative releases againstT. absoluta.
Clinical experience of poly‐L‐lactic acid injections for body contouring treatment
Authors: Shridharani Sachin M. , Tisch Grace M. , Ebersole Trina G. , Moak Teri N. , Edwartz Carolina
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Clinical data on body contouring with injectable poly‐L‐lactic acid are sparsely reported in published literature. This study describes the lead author's clinical experience using injectable poly‐L‐lactic acid for body contouring in various anatomic locations.

Methods

Twenty consecutive patients undergoing body contouring treatments with poly‐L‐lactic acid were prospectively followed. All treatments were performed at a single clinic between February 2017 and February 2019. Treatment details such as reconstitution, injection volume and dosage were documented. Treatment response was assessed independently by patients and the treating physician. Adverse events were recorded.

Results

Twenty patients (85% women) received injectable poly‐L‐lactic acid for body contouring treatments such as buttocks volumization, cellulite and skin quality treatment. In most patients (65%), poly‐L‐lactic acid was administered to correct postsurgical soft tissue deformities. Overall, patients had a mean of 5.1 treatment sessions in a mean of 1.4 anatomic locations. The most commonly treated anatomic locations were buttocks (58% of treatment sessions), thighs (20%) and abdomen (9%). Dosage and injection volume varied between patients depending on anatomic location and desired outcome. Most treatment sessions (86%) resulted in improvement of the treated area. Adverse events included bruising, oedema, numbness and tenderness. Nodule formation was recorded for one patient (5%).

Conclusion

According to the lead author's clinical experience, poly‐L‐lactic acid injection is well tolerated and can achieve good aesthetic outcomes when used for body contouring in appropriate patients. Preliminary data suggest that poly‐L‐lactic acid injection may be a viable nonsurgical technique for correcting postsurgical soft tissue deformities.
Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis without neurological involvement
Authors: Stelten B. M. L. , Raal F. J. , Marais A. D. , Riksen N. P. , Roeters van Lennep J. E. , Duell P.B , van der Graaf M. , Kluijtmans L. A. J. , Wevers R. A. , Verrips A.
Published: April 2021

Background

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is an autosomal recessively inherited inborn error of metabolism. Neurological symptoms are considered to be a clinical hallmark of untreated adult patients. We describe a ‘milder CTX phenotype’, without neurological involvement.

Methods

We performed a retrospective patient file study in 79 genetically confirmed Dutch patients with CTX (55 patients aged ≥ 21 years) to study the clinical heterogeneity of CTX. We studied the frequency of adult patients with CTX without neurological involvement at diagnosis, in our Dutch cohort, and included a family from South Africa and patients from Italy, USA, Chile and Asia from the literature.

Results

In total, we describe 19 adult patients with CTX from 16 independent families, without neurological symptoms at diagnosis. A relatively small percentage (21%, n = 4) had a history of cataract. The majority, 84% (n = 16), presented with tendon xanthomas as the sole or predominant feature. The majority of patients showed increased plasma cholesterol levels. No correlation was found between this ‘milder phenotype’, the cholestanol levels and the CYP27A1 genotype. In addition, we describe three novel mutations in the CYP27A1 gene.

Conclusions

This study shows the clinical heterogeneity of CTX, highlighting the existence of a ‘milder phenotype’, that is without neurological involvement at diagnosis. Adult patients with CTX may present with tendon xanthomas as the sole or predominant feature, mimicking familial hypercholesterolemia. It is important to realize that the absence of neurological symptoms does not rule out the development of future neurological symptoms. As CTX is a treatable disorder, early diagnosis and initiation of treatment when additional clinical signs occur is therefore essential.
Influence of Liquid on the Tooth Surface on the Accuracy of Intraoral Scanners: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Chen Yuming , Zhai Zhihao , Li Hefei , Yamada Shuhei , Matsuoka Takashi , Ono Shinji , Nakano Tamaki
Published: April 2021

Purpose: To assess the influence of liquid attached on the tooth surfaces on the accuracy (trueness and precision) of intraoral scanners and the effectiveness of the drying method (using compression air) to exclude the influence of liquid on the scanning results.

Materials and methods: A mandibular jaw model was scanned using an industrial computed tomography scanner to obtain a reference model. A scanning platform was designed to simulate three specific tooth surface states (dry, wet, blow‐dry). Two kinds of liquids (ultra‐pure water and artificial saliva) were used for the test. Two intraoral scanners (Trios 3 and Primescan) were used to scan the mandibular jaw model 10 times under each condition. All scanning data were processed and analyzed using dedicated software (Geomagic Control 2015). Trueness and precision comparison were conducted within the 12 groups of 3D models divided based on different intraoral scanners and liquids used under each condition. The root mean square (RMS) value was used to indicate the difference between the aligned virtual models. The color maps were used to evaluate and observe the deviation distribution patterns. The 3‐way ANOVA (condition, intraoral scanner, liquid) followed by the Tukey test were used to assess precision and trueness. The level of significance was set at 0.05.

Results: The mean RMS values obtained from wet condition were significantly higher than those of the dry and blow‐dry condition (p < 0.001, F = 64.033 for trueness and F = 54.866 for precision), which indicates less accurate trueness and precision for wet condition. For two different types of liquids, the mean RMS value was not significantly different on trueness and precision. The deviations caused by liquid were positive and mainly distributed in the pits and fissures of the occlusal surface of posterior teeth, the interproximal area of the teeth, and the margin of the abutments.

Conclusions: Liquid on the tooth surface could affect intraoral scanning accuracy. Blow‐drying with a three‐way syringe can reduce scanning errors.
Ecological specialization promotes diversity and diversification in the Eastern Mediterranean genus Ricotia (Brassicaceae)
Authors: Özüdoğru Barış , Karacaoğlu Çağaşan , Akaydın Galip , Erik Sadık , Mummenhoff Klaus , Sağlam İsmail Kudret
Published: April 2021

Despite its amazing biodiversity, the Eastern Mediterranean remains a highly understudied region when compared with the Western Mediterranean, restricting our understanding of diversity across the entire Mediterranean. Here we use a combination of molecular markers and presence/absence data from all species of the Eastern Mediterranean genus Ricotia collected across its full geographic range to determine historical, ecological, and evolutionary factors responsible for lineage‐specific diversification in the Eastern Mediterranean. Network analysis based on molecular data revealed a high genetic structure within all lineages, and phylogenetic reconstructions based on the multispecies coalescent showed that within‐lineage diversification corresponded to the onset of the Mediterranean climate. Reconstruction of ancestral histories indicates that the genus originated within Anatolia and spread across the Eastern Mediterranean and Levant using the Taurus mountains. Ecological niche models suggest that local populations did not go through any major distributional shifts and have persisted in present‐day habitats since the Last Glacial Maximum. Furthermore, niche differentiation tests revealed significant differences between closely related species and showed the main variables predicting species limits to be different for each species. Our results give crucial information on the patterns and processes shaping diversity in the Eastern Mediterranean and show the main factors promoting diversification to be local environmental dynamics and ecological specialization and not large‐scale latitudinal movements, as often reported for southern Europe. By determining local and regional patterns of diversification in an Eastern Mediterranean genus, we further our understanding of the major trends influencing plant diversity in the Mediterranean basin as a whole.
A platoon regulation algorithm to improve the traffic performance of highway work zones
Authors: Cao Danni , Wu Jiaming , Wu Jianjun , Kulcsár Balázs , Qu Xiaobo
Published: April 2021

This paper presents a cooperative traffic control strategy to increase the capacity of nonrecurrent bottlenecks such as work zones by making full use of the spatial resources upstream of work zones. The upstream area is divided into two zones: the regulation and the merging areas. The basic logic is that a large gap is more efficient in accommodating merging vehicles than several small and scattered gaps with the same total length. In the regulation area, a nonlinear programming model is developed to balance both traffic capacity improvements and safety risks. A two‐step solving algorithm is proposed for finding optimal solutions. In the merging area, the sorting algorithm is used to design lane‐changing trajectories based on the regulated platoons. A case study is conducted, and the results indicate that the proposed model is able to significantly improve work zone capacity with minor disturbances to the traffic.