bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abnormal rapid eye movement sleep atonia control in chronic post-traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Feemster John C , Steele Tyler A , Palermo Kyle P , Ralston Christy L , Tao Yumeng , Bauer David A , Edgar Liam , Rivera Sonia , Walters-Smith Maxwell , Gossard Thomas R , Teigen Luke N , Timm Paul C , Richardson Jarrett W , Robert Auger R , Kolla Bhanuprakash , McCarter Stuart J , Boeve Bradley F , Silber Michael H , St. Louis Erik K
Published: December 2021

Study Objectives

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) share some common features including prominent nightmares and sleep disturbances. We aimed to comparatively analyze REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) between patients with chronic PTSD with and without dream enactment behavior (DEB), isolated RBD (iRBD), and controls.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we comparatively analyzed 18 PTSD with DEB (PTSD+DEB), 18 PTSD without DEB, 15 iRBD, and 51 controls matched for age and sex. We reviewed medical records to determine PTSD clinical features and quantitatively analyzed RSWA. We used nonparametric analyses to compare clinical and polysomnographic features.

Results

PTSD patients, both with and without DEB, had significantly higher RSWA than controls (all p < .025, excepting submentalis phasic duration in PTSD+DEB). Most RSWA measures were also higher in PTSD+DEB than in PTSD without DEB patients (all p < .025).

Conclusions

PTSD patients have higher RSWA than controls, whether DEB is present or not, indicating that REM sleep atonia control is abnormal in chronic PTSD. Further prospective studies are needed to determine whether neurodegenerative risk and disease markers similar to RBD might occur in PTSD patients.
Telehealth Evaluation of Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinician and Caregiver Perspectives
Authors: McNally Keehn Rebecca , Enneking Brett , James Cristina , Tang Qing , Rouse Maura , Hines Elesia , Raches Christine , Etling Allison
Published: December 2021

Objective:

The objective of this study was to present clinician and caregiver perspectives regarding telehealth neurodevelopmental evaluation delivered at the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, we sought to describe telehealth neurodevelopmental evaluations, examine associations between child characteristics and diagnostic factors, determine the impact of technology and family barriers, and report on clinician and caregiver satisfaction with telehealth evaluation.

Methods:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person clinical services at a large children's hospital neurodevelopmental clinic were transitioned to telehealth. Data are presented for 254 remote evaluations of children (18–212 months; referral concern: 51% autism spectrum disorder [ASD], 24% developmental delay/intellectual disability, 25% other neurodevelopmental concern) conducted from May to July 2020. Data were gathered from electronic health records as well as clinician and caregiver surveys.

Results:

A clinical diagnosis was provided in 72% of telehealth evaluations. Clinicians rated diagnostic certainty as “completely” or “somewhat” certain in 74% of evaluations. Certainty ratings were higher for evaluations in which a diagnosis of ASD was provided. Although technology and family challenges were reported, clinicians rarely identified these as disruptive to the evaluation process. Clinicians reported satisfaction with various aspects of delivering telehealth. Caregivers endorsed high satisfaction with receipt of telehealth and reduced travel burden.

Conclusion:

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly transformed service delivery for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities and provided an unprecedented opportunity to evaluate the deployment of telehealth evaluation to meet the need for ongoing diagnostic care. Our findings suggest that telehealth holds significant promise for neurodevelopmental assessment both within the context of a global pandemic and beyond.
Foot Wounds and the Reconstructive Ladder
Authors: Simman Richard , Abbas Fuad-Tahsin
Published: December 2021

Background:

Foot soft tissue coverage represents a challenge to reconstructive surgeons due to a lack of donor sites for this specialized skin. This glabrous tethered thick skin is designed to withstand weight bearing stress and is hard to replace. The limited arch of rotation of foot local flaps contributes to further difficulties. In this study, we share our experience in foot soft tissue loss coverage using techniques tailored to each wound presentation.

Methods:

This case series presents eight patients with wounds of the plantar and dorsal surfaces of the foot, heel, and ankle. Closure techniques were selected and planned based on wound presentation and comorbidity status.

Results:

Patients’ mean age at surgery was 61 years. Etiologies of wounds include trauma, frostbite, diabetic ulceration, malignancy, pressure ulcer with osteomyelitis, and necrotizing infection. Coverage techniques included split and full-thickness skin graft, medial plantar arch pinch graft, cultured epithelial autograft, Hyalomatrix wound device, EpiFix tissue matrix, pedicle flap, and free rectus flap. Complete soft tissue coverage was achieved in each case within reasonable postoperative periods, and ambulation was preserved and/or restored.

Conclusions:

Foot soft tissue reconstruction is challenging and should be planned carefully due to the required specialized skin replacement. Primary closure should be considered first and attempted if possible. Technique escalation in accordance with the reconstructive ladder should be undertaken based on wound etiology, presentation, amount and nature of tissue loss, available resources, and surgeon experience.
Raltegravir-based Postnatal HIV Prophylaxis Therapy in a Neonate After in Utero Dolutegravir Exposure
Authors: Jacobs Tom G. , van Aerde Koen J. , Colbers Angela , Burger David M.
Published: December 2021

We present a case report of a neonate receiving raltegravir-based postnatal HIV prophylaxis after in utero dolutegravir exposure. High levels of raltegravir and dolutegravir can potentially cause bilirubin toxicity as they compete for albumin binding and follow the same metabolic pathway through UGT1A1. This case suggests delaying initiation of raltegravir-based postnatal prophylaxis by 24–48 hours after in utero dolutegravir exposure.
A Case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in a 12-Year-old Male After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine
Authors: Yalçinkaya Rumeysa , Öz Fatma Nur , Polat Meltem , Uçan Berna , Teke Türkan Aydin , Kaman Ayşe , Özdem Suna , Savaş Şen Zeynep , Cinni Rüveyda Gümüşer , Tanir Gönül
Published: December 2021

The pathophysiology of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in children (MIS-C) is unknown. It occurs several weeks after COVID-19 infection or exposure; however, MIS is rarely reported after COVID-19 vaccination, and cases are mostly in adults. Herein, we present a 12-year-old male who had no prior COVID-19 infection or exposure and developed MIS-C after his first dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine.
Frequency, Characteristics and Complications of COVID-19 in Hospitalized Infants
Authors: Hobbs Charlotte V. , Woodworth Kate , Young Cameron C. , Jackson Ashley M. , Newhams Margaret M. , Dapul Heda , Maamari Mia , Hall Mark W. , Maddux Aline B. , Singh Aalok R. , Schuster Jennifer E. , Rowan Courtney M. , Fitzgerald Julie C. , Irby Katherine , Kong Michele , Mack Elizabeth H. , Staat Mary A. , Cvijanovich Natalie Z. , Bembea Melania M. , Coates Bria M. , Halasa Natasha B. , Walker Tracie C. , McLaughlin Gwenn E. , Babbitt Christopher J. , Nofziger Ryan A. , Loftis Laura L. , Bradford Tamara T. , Campbell Angela P. , Patel Manish M. , Randolph Adrienne G. ,   for the Overcoming COVID-19 Investigators
Published: December 2021

Background:

Previous studies of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in infants have incompletely characterized factors associated with severe illness or focused on infants born to mothers with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here we highlight demographics, clinical characteristics and laboratory values that differ between infants with and without severe acute COVID-19.

Methods:

Active surveillance was performed by the Overcoming COVID-19 network to identify children and adolescents with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2–related illness hospitalized at 62 sites in 31 states from March 15 to December 27, 2020. We analyzed patients >7 days to <1 year old hospitalized with symptomatic acute COVID-19.

Results:

We report 232 infants >7 days to <1 year of age hospitalized with acute symptomatic COVID-19 from 37 US hospitals in our cohort from March 15 to December 27, 2020. Among 630 cases of severe COVID-19 in patients >7 days to <18 years old, 128 (20.3%) were infants. In infants with severe illness from the entire study period, the median age was 2 months, 66% were from racial and ethnic minority groups, 66% were previously healthy, 73% had respiratory complications, 13% received mechanical ventilation and <1% died.

Conclusions:

Infants accounted for over a fifth of children <18 years of age hospitalized for severe acute COVID-19, commonly manifesting with respiratory symptoms and complications. Although most infants hospitalized with COVID-19 did not suffer significant complications, longer term outcomes remain unclear. Notably, 75% of infants with severe disease were <6 months of age in this cohort study period, which predated maternal COVID-19 vaccination, underscoring the importance of maternal vaccination for COVID-19 in protecting the mother and infant.
Management of post-cervical laminectomy fusion pain syndrome with a successful trial of spinal cord stimulation
Authors: Dahbour Layth , Wright Thelma B. , Rusha Laert , Uppal Pushpinder , Gattu Kanchana , Lee Seung J. , Watterworth Blake , Stansbury Lynn
Published: December 2021

Introduction:

Spinal cord stimulation has been shown to be beneficial in various postsurgical neuropathic pain syndromes, but the already small cervical epidural space due to epidural fibrosis makes cervical spinal cord stimulator placement very difficult. We present a case of successful cervical cord stimulator implantation in a patient with a history of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, posterior cervical fusion, and significant epidural fibrosis.

Methods:

A 48-year-old woman with a history of type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and fibromyalgia presented with trauma-induced cervicalgia and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.

Results:

In a 4-day trial of stimulation, she reported an 80% reduction of her pain and significant improvement in her quality of life.

Discussion:

Although anecdotal evidence and case series have shown spinal cord stimulation to be successful in cervical failed back surgery syndrome, we are the first to discuss the technical challenges and complications associated with epidural fibrosis.
Effect of HIV Self-Testing on PrEP Adherence Among Gender-Diverse Sex Workers in Uganda: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Mujugira Andrew , Nakyanzi Agnes , Nabaggala Maria S. , Muwonge Timothy R. , Ssebuliba Timothy , Bagaya Monica , Nampewo Olivia , Sapiri Oliver , Nyanzi Kikulwe R. , Bambia Felix , Nsubuga Rogers , Serwadda David M. , Ware Norma C , Baeten Jared M. , Haberer Jessica E.
Published: December 2021

Background:

HIV self-testing (HIVST) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are complementary tools that could empower sex workers to control their HIV protection, but few studies have jointly evaluated PrEP and HIVST in any setting.

Methods:

The Empower Study was an open-label randomized trial in Uganda. Sex workers were offered F/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and randomized 1:1 to monthly HIVST and quarterly in-clinic testing (intervention) or quarterly in-clinic HIV testing alone (standard of care) and followed up for 12 months. PrEP adherence was measured using electronic adherence monitoring and tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) levels in dried blood spots. Adherence outcomes and sexual behaviors were compared by arm using generalized estimating equation models.

Results:

We enrolled 110 sex workers: 84 cisgender women, 14 transgender women, 10 men who have sex with men, and 2 transgender men. The median age was 23 years. The 12-month retention was 75%. Nearly all (99.4%) used ≥1 HIVST kit. The proportion with TFV-DP levels ≥700 fmol/punch in the HIVST and standard of care arms at the 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month visits was 2.4%, 2.3%, 0%, and 0% and 7.9%, 0%, 0%, and 0%, respectively, with no differences by randomization arm (P > 0.2). Self-reported condomless sex acts with paying partners was similar by arm [adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42 to 1.17; P = 0.18]. One seroconversion occurred (HIV incidence, 0.9/100 person-years); TFV-DP was not detected at any visit.

Conclusions:

A gender-diverse sample of sex workers in Uganda used HIVST but not daily oral PrEP for HIV protection. Alternate approaches to promote PrEP use, including long-acting formulations, should be considered in this population.
The Impact of Income and Social Mobility on Colorectal Cancer Outcomes and Treatment
Authors: Poulson Michael R. , Geary Alaina , Annesi Chandler , Dechert Tracey , Kenzik Kelly , Hall Jason
Published: December 2021

Objective:

To determine the impact of income mobility on racial disparities in colorectal cancer.

Background:

There are well-documented disparities in colorectal cancer treatment and outcomes between Black and White patients. Socioeconomic status, insurance, and other patient-level factors have been shown important, but little has been done to show the discriminatory factors that lead to these outcomes.

Methods:

Data were obtained from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End-Results database for Black and White patients with colorectal cancer between 2005 and 2015. County level measures of Black (BIM) and White income mobility (WIM) were obtained from the Opportunity Atlas as a measure of intergenerational poverty and social mobility. Regression models were created to assess the relative risk of advanced stage at diagnosis (Stage IV), surgery for localized disease (Stage I/II), and cancer-specific mortality.

Results:

There was no significant association of BIM or WIM on advanced stage at diagnosis in Black or White patients. An increase of $10,000 of BIM was associated with a 9% decrease in hazards of death for both Black (hazard ratio 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.86,0.95) and White (0.91, 95%CI 0.90,0.93) patients, while the same increase in WIM was associated with no significant difference in hazards among Black patients (hazard ratio 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.97,1.02). There were no predicted racial differences in hazards of death at high levels of BIM.

Conclusions:

Increased Black income mobility significantly improves survival for both Black and White patients. Interventions aimed at increasing economic and social mobility could significantly decrease mortality in both Black and White patients while alleviating disparities in outcomes.
Outcomes After Independent Trainee Versus Consultant-led Emergency Laparotomy
Authors: Rahman Saqib A. , Pickering Oliver , Tucker Vanessa , Mercer Stuart J. , Pucher Philip H.
Published: December 2021

Objective:

We utilized a population dataset to compare outcomes for patients where surgery was independently performed by trainees to cases led by a consultant.

Summary of Background Data:

Emergency laparotomy is a common, high-risk, procedure. Although trainee involvement to improve future surgeons’ experience and ability in the management of such cases is crucial, some studies have suggested this is to the detriment of patient outcomes. In the UK, appropriately skilled trainees may be entrusted to perform emergency laparotomy without supervision of a consultant (attending).

Methods:

Patients who underwent emergency laparotomy between 2013 and 2018 were identified from the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit of England and Wales. To reduce selection and confounding bias, the inverse probability of treatment weighting approach was used, allowing robust comparison of trainee-led and consultant-led laparotomy cases accounting for eighteen variables, including details of patient, treatment, pathology, and preoperative mortality risk. Groups were compared for mortality and length of stay.

Results:

A total of 111,583 patients were included in the study. The operating surgeon was a consultant in 103,462 cases (92.7%) and atrainee in 8121 cases (7.3%). Mortality at discharge was 11.6%. Trainees were less likely to operate on high-risk and colorectal cases. After weighting, mortality (12.2% vs 11.6%, P = 0.338) was equivalent between trainee- and consultant-led cases. Median length of stay was 11 (interquartile range 7, 19) versus 11 (7, 20) days (P = 0.004), respectively. Trainee-led operations reported fewer cases of blood loss >500mL (9.1% vs 11.1%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Major laparotomy maybe safely entrusted to appropriately skilled trainees without impacting patient outcomes.
The American College of Surgeons Entering Resident Readiness Assessment (ACS ERRA)
Authors: Park Yoon Soo , Sachdeva Ajit K. , Liscum Kathy , Alseidi Adnan , Gesbeck Melissa , Blair Patrice Gabler , Salcedo Edgardo , Sullivan Maura , Bordage Georges
Published: December 2021

Objective:

To gather validity evidence supporting the use and interpretation of scores from the American College of Surgeons Entering Resident Readiness Assessment (ACS ERRA) Program.

Summary and Background Data:

ACS ERRA is an online formative assessment program developed to assess entering surgery residents’ ability to make critical clinical decisions, and includes 12 clinical areas and 20 topics identified by a national panel of surgeon educators and residency program directors.

Methods:

Data from 3 national testing administrations of ACS ERRA (2018–2020) were used to gather validity evidence regarding content, response process, internal structure (reliability), relations to other variables, and consequences.

Results:

Over the 3 administrations, 1975 surgery residents participated from 125 distinct residency programs. Overall scores [Mean = 64% (SD = 7%)] remained consistent across the 3 years (P = 0.670). There were no significant differences among resident characteristics (gender, age, international medical graduate status). The mean case discrimination index was 0.54 [SD = 0.15]. Kappa inter-rater reliability for scoring was 0.87; the overall test score reliability (G-coefficient) was 0.86 (Ф-coefficient = 0.83). Residents who completed residency readiness programs had higher ACS ERRA scores (66% versus 63%, Cohen’s d = 0.23, P < 0.001). On average, 15% of decisions made (21/140 per test) involved potentially harmful actions. Variability in scores from graduating medical schools (7%) carried over twice as much weight than from matched residency programs (3%).

Conclusions:

ACS ERRA scores provide valuable information to entering surgery residents and surgery program directors to aid in development of individual and group learning plans.
Scaffolding layered control architectures through constraint closure: insights into brain evolution and development
Authors: Wilson Stuart P. , Prescott Tony J.
Published: December 2021

The functional organization of the mammalian brain can be considered to form a layered control architecture, but how this complex system has emerged through evolution and is constructed during development remains a puzzle. Here we consider brain organization through the framework of constraint closure, viewed as a general characteristic of living systems, that they are composed of multiple sub-systems that constrain each other at different timescales. We do so by developing a new formalism for constraint closure, inspired by a previous model showing how within-lifetime dynamics can constrain between-lifetime dynamics, and we demonstrate how this interaction can be generalized to multi-layered systems. Through this model, we consider brain organization in the context of two major examples of constraint closure—physiological regulation and visual orienting. Our analysis draws attention to the capacity of layered brain architectures to scaffold themselves across multiple timescales, including the ability of cortical processes to constrain the evolution of sub-cortical processes, and of the latter to constrain the space in which cortical systems self-organize and refine themselves.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.
Computational validity: using computation to translate behaviours across species
Authors: Redish A. David , Kepecs Adam , Anderson Lisa M. , Calvin Olivia L. , Grissom Nicola M. , Haynos Ann F. , Heilbronner Sarah R. , Herman Alexander B. , Jacob Suma , Ma Sisi , Vilares Iris , Vinogradov Sophia , Walters Cody J. , Widge Alik S. , Zick Jennifer L. , Zilverstand Anna
Published: December 2021

We propose a new conceptual framework (computational validity) for translation across species and populations based on the computational similarity between the information processing underlying parallel tasks. Translating between species depends not on the superficial similarity of the tasks presented, but rather on the computational similarity of the strategies and mechanisms that underlie those behaviours. Computational validity goes beyond construct validity by directly addressing questions of information processing. Computational validity interacts with circuit validity as computation depends on circuits, but similar computations could be accomplished by different circuits. Because different individuals may use different computations to accomplish a given task, computational validity suggests that behaviour should be understood through the subject's point of view; thus, behaviour should be characterized on an individual level rather than a task level. Tasks can constrain the computational algorithms available to a subject and the observed subtleties of that behaviour can provide information about the computations used by each individual. Computational validity has especially high relevance for the study of psychiatric disorders, given the new views of psychiatry as identifying and mediating information processing dysfunctions that may show high inter-individual variability, as well as for animal models investigating aspects of human psychiatric disorders.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.
The evolution of quantitative sensitivity
Authors: Bryer Margaret A. H. , Koopman Sarah E. , Cantlon Jessica F. , Piantadosi Steven T. , MacLean Evan L. , Baker Joseph M. , Beran Michael J. , Jones Sarah M. , Jordan Kerry E. , Mahamane Salif , Nieder Andreas , Perdue Bonnie M. , Range Friederike , Stevens Jeffrey R. , Tomonaga Masaki , Ujfalussy Dorottya J. , Vonk Jennifer
Published: December 2021

The ability to represent approximate quantities appears to be phylogenetically widespread, but the selective pressures and proximate mechanisms favouring this ability remain unknown. We analysed quantity discrimination data from 672 subjects across 33 bird and mammal species, using a novel Bayesian model that combined phylogenetic regression with a model of number psychophysics and random effect components. This allowed us to combine data from 49 studies and calculate the Weber fraction (a measure of quantity representation precision) for each species. We then examined which cognitive, socioecological and biological factors were related to variance in Weber fraction. We found contributions of phylogeny to quantity discrimination performance across taxa. Of the neural, socioecological and general cognitive factors we tested, cortical neuron density and domain-general cognition were the strongest predictors of Weber fraction, controlling for phylogeny. Our study is a new demonstration of evolutionary constraints on cognition, as well as of a relation between species-specific neuron density and a particular cognitive ability.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.
How the evolution of air breathing shaped hippocampal function
Authors: Jacobs Lucia F.
Published: December 2021

To make maps from airborne odours requires dynamic respiratory patterns. I propose that this constraint explains the modulation of memory by nasal respiration in mammals, including murine rodents (e.g. laboratory mouse, laboratory rat) and humans. My prior theories of limbic system evolution offer a framework to understand why this occurs. The answer begins with the evolution of nasal respiration in Devonian lobe-finned fishes. This evolutionary innovation led to adaptive radiations in chemosensory systems, including the emergence of the vomeronasal system and a specialization of the main olfactory system for spatial orientation. As mammals continued to radiate into environments hostile to spatial olfaction (air, water), there was a loss of hippocampal structure and function in lineages that evolved sensory modalities adapted to these new environments. Hence the independent evolution of echolocation in bats and toothed whales was accompanied by a loss of hippocampal structure (whales) and an absence of hippocampal theta oscillations during navigation (bats). In conclusion, models of hippocampal function that are divorced from considerations of ecology and evolution fall short of explaining hippocampal diversity across mammals and even hippocampal function in humans.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Systems neuroscience through the lens of evolutionary theory’.
Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on a Human Research Islet Program
Authors: Dafoe Tina J. , dos Santos Theodore , Spigelman Aliya F. , Lyon James , Smith Nancy , Bautista Austin , MacDonald Patrick E. , Manning Fox Jocelyn E.
Published: December 2021

Designated a pandemic in March 2020, the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), led to new guidelines and restrictions being implemented for individuals, businesses, and societies in efforts to limit the impacts of COVID-19 on personal health and healthcare systems. Here we report the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pancreas processing and islet isolation/distribution outcomes at the Alberta Diabetes Institute IsletCore, a facility specialising in the processing and distribution of human pancreatic islets for research. While the number of organs processed was significantly reduced, organ quality and the function of cellular outputs were minimally impacted during the pandemic when compared to an equivalent period immediately prior. Despite the maintained quality of isolated islets, recipient groups reported poorer feedback regarding the samples. Our findings suggest this is likely due to disrupted distribution which led to increased transit times to recipient labs, particularly those overseas. Thus, to improve overall outcomes in a climate of limited research islet supply, prioritization of tissue recipients based on likely tissue transit times may be needed.
High-resolution screening for marine prokaryotic and eukaryotic taxa with selective preference for PE and PET surfaces
Authors: Marsay Katherine S. , Koucherov Yuri , Davidov Keren , Iankelevich-Kounio Evgenia , Itzahri Sheli , Salmon-Divon Mali , Oren Matan
Published: December 2021

Marine plastic debris serve as substrates for the colonization of a variety of prokaryote and eukaryote organisms. Of particular interest are the microorganisms that have adapted to thrive on plastic as they may contain genes, enzymes or pathways involved in the colonization or metabolism of plastics. We implemented DNA metabarcoding with nanopore MinION sequencing to compare the one-month-old biomes of hydrolysable (polyethylene terephthalate) and non-hydrolysable (polyethylene) plastics surfaces vs. those of glass and the surrounding water in a Mediterranean Sea marina. We sequenced longer 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA and ITS barcode loci for a more comprehensive taxonomic profiling of the bacterial, protist and fungal communities respectively. Long read sequencing enabled high-resolution mapping to genera and species. Using differential abundance screening we identified 32 bacteria and five eukaryotic species, that were differentially abundant on plastic compared to glass. This approach may be used in the future to characterize the plastisphere communities and to screen for microorganisms with a plastic-metabolism potential.
PITA, a pre-bilaterian p75NTR, is the evolutionary ancestor of TNF receptors
Authors: Cumming Mark J. , Gibon Julien , Sossin Wayne S. , Barker Philip A.
Published: December 2021

Tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs) regulate a diverse array of biological functions, including adaptive immunity, neurodevelopment, and many others. Although TNFRs are expressed in all metazoan phyla, a coherent model of the molecular origins of mammalian TNFRs—and how they relate to TNFRs in other phyla—has remained elusive. To address this, we executed a large-scale, systematic Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST)-based approach to trace the evolutionary ancestry of all 29 human TNFRs. We discovered that all human TNFRs are descendants of a single pre-bilaterian TNFR with strong sequence similarity to the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), which we designate as PITA for ‘p75NTR is the TNFR Ancestor’. A distinct subset of human TNFRs—including EDAR, XEDAR and TROY—share a unique history as descendants of EDAR-XEDAR-TROY (EXT), which diverged from PITA in a bilaterian ancestor. Most PITA descendants possess a death domain (DD) within their intracellular domain (ICD) but EXTs do not. PITA descendants are expressed in all bilaterian phyla and Cnidaria, but not in non-planulozoan ParaHoxozoa, suggesting that PITA originated in an ancestral planulozoan. Drosophila melanogaster TNFRs (Wengen (Wgn) and Grindelwald (Grnd)) were identified as divergent PITA descendants, providing the first evolutionary link between this model TNFR system and the mammalian TNFR superfamily. This study reveals PITA as the ancestor to human and Drosophila TNFR systems and describes an evolutionary model that will facilitate deciphering TNF-TNFR functions in health and disease.
Take-off control and characteristics of FanWing
Authors: Meng Lin , Gao Yang , Liu Yangyang , Lu Shengfang
Published: December 2021

Purpose

As a short take-off and landing aircraft, FanWing has the capability of being driven under power a short distance from a parking space to the take-off area. The purpose of this paper is to design the take-off control system of FanWing and study the factors that influence the short take-off performance under control.

Design/methodology/approach

The force analysis of FanWing is studied in the take-off phase. Two take-off control methods are researched, and several factors that influence the short take-off performance are studied under control.

Findings

The elevator and fan wing control systems are designed. Although the vehicle load increases under the fan wing control, the fan wing control is not a recommended practice in the take-off phase for its sensitivity to the pitch angle command. The additional pitch-down moment has a significant influence on the control system and the short take-off performance that the barycenter variation of FanWing should be considered carefully.

Practical implications

The presented efforts provide a reference for the location of the center of gravity in designing FanWing. The traditional elevator control is more recommended than the fan wing control in the take-off phase.

Originality/value

This paper offers a valuable reference on the control system design of FanWing. It also proves that there is an additional pith-down moment that needs to be paid close attention to. Four factors that influence the short take-off performance are compared under control.
Identifying aggressive versus ethical sales supervision in B2B service recovery: a multilevel perspective
Authors: Ahmad Bilal , Liu Da , Akhtar Naeem , Akbar Muhammad Imad-ud-Din
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The current research provides a conceptual framework that explains how sales managers' aggression across business-to-business (B2B) sales organizations triggers salespeople's surface acting, deep acting and service recovery performance. It also investigates the moderating role of ethical leadership through sales managers' aggressiveness on service recovery performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test the model using multilevel analysis with cross-sectional data of 367 salespeople from different sales organizations.

Findings

The study shows that the aggression of sales managers has an adverse influence on service recovery performance. Additionally, aggressiveness among sales managers is positively connected with surface acting while adversely affecting deep acting. The study’s findings also indicate that ethical sales leadership is positively moderate among sales managers' aggressiveness and service recovery performance.

Research limitations/implications

The authors collected data from individual salespersons, which is the limitation; however, future studies could collect data using the dyadic approach, such as matching responses from both managers and salespersons. This method could enhance the model's internal validity.

Originality/value

Several studies have mainly focused on positive supervision styles in the literature on service recovery. At the same time, building a negative supervision model in the B2B service recovery context, which has been persistently ignored, is noteworthy.
What do we know about career and development? Insights from Career Development International at age 25
Authors: Varma Arup , Kumar Satish , Sureka Riya , Lim Weng Marc
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Career Development International (CDI) is an established source of scientific research on careers and development. The journal reached its 25-years milestone in 2021. To commemorate the occasion, the article aims to provide a retrospective of the major trends, research constituents, thematic structure and key factors explaining the citation impact of CDI articles between 1996 and 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

The article extracts bibliographic data of CDI from Scopus and uses that data in (1) a series of bibliometric analyses to explain the major trends, research constituents and thematic structure and (2) a negative binomial regression analysis to explain the key factors affecting the citation impact of CDI.

Findings

The article finds that CDI has progressed and contributed substantially to the scientific community since its inception 25 years ago. The contributions in CDI are mainly from America and Europe and can be organized around five major clusters, namely career development, work engagement, entrepreneurship career, career outcomes and career mentoring.

Research limitations/implications

The article provides a rich overview of CDI, but the findings are limited to the accuracy and availability of bibliographic data of CDI from Scopus.

Originality/value

The article extends Akkermans and Kubasch's (2017) 5-years retrospection of major journals on career and development through a 25-years retrospection of CDI, and in doing so, the article provides a longer and more accurate representation of CDI's contributions to the extant literature on career and development.
Application of model order reduction with Cauer ladder networks to industrial inductors
Authors: Koester Niels , Koenig Oliver , Thaler Alexander , Bíró Oszkár
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The Cauer ladder network (CLN) model order reduction (MOR) method is applied to an industrial inductor. This paper aims to to anaylse the influence of different meshes on the CLN method and their parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

The industrial inductor is simulated with the CLN method for different meshes. Meshes considering skin effect are compared with equidistant meshes. The inductor is also simulated with the eddy current finite element method (ECFEM) for frequencies 1 kHz to 1 MHz. The solution of the CLN method is compared with the ECFEM solutions for the current density in the conductor and the total impedance.

Findings

The increase of resistance resulting from the skin effect can be modelled with the CLN method, using a uniform mesh with elements much larger than the skin depth. Meshes taking account of the skin depth are only needed if the electromagnetic fields have to be reconstructed. Additionally, the convergence of the impedance is used to define a stopping criterion without the need for a benchmark solution.

Originality/value

The work shows that the CLN method can generate a network, which is capable of mimicking the increase of resistance usually accompanied by the skin effect without using a mesh that takes the skin depth into account. In addition, the proposed stopping criterion makes it possible to use the CLN method as an a priori MOR technique.
COVID-19 impact on job losses in Portugal: who are the hardest-hit?
Authors: Lopes Ana Sofia , Carreira Pedro
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic caused job losses to rise dramatically. Herein, the purpose of the article is to identify which personal and job characteristics make individuals more vulnerable or more resilient to COVID-19 unemployment in Portugal and thus to help policymakers, organizations and individuals themselves, in creating mechanisms to avoid unemployment within this new context.

Design/methodology/approach

Using extensive personal and job-related data on the complete population of newly unemployed in Portugal over several months after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, a logit model is estimated to identify the characteristics that make workers more resilient or more vulnerable to COVID-19 unemployment, in comparison with the pre-crisis period.

Findings

The COVID-19 crisis is shown to be disruptive by changing the unemployment structure, increasing socioeconomic inequalities and weakening traditional mechanisms of employment protection. Additionally, the authors identify a higher vulnerability of low-skilled individuals and of those in occupations with low working-from-home feasibility and/or from non-essential sectors (particularly tourism).

Practical implications

Policy indications are given aiming to protect the most vulnerable individuals, sectors and regions in Portugal, in this new and unprecedented context.

Originality/value

A seven-month period following the emergence of the pandemic is considered, which allows investigating both the immediate and the medium-term effects of the COVID-19 crisis on job losses. Additionally, by matching data from three different sources, an extensive set of multilevel variables is considered, some of them new in the literature.
The influence of Internet banking services quality on e-customers’ satisfaction of Saudi banks: comparison study before and during COVID-19
Authors: Alarifi Areej Abdulrahman , Husain Khalid Sami
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to compare e-customer satisfaction in Saudi banks before and during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by assessing the e-service quality dimension before and during the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine e-customer satisfaction among Saudi bank e-customers, data were collected using convenience sampling methods utilizing two questionnaires before and during COVID-19, distributed to Saudi bank e-customers. The sample size of collecting data of 588 bank e-customers was analyzed through a well-known statistical technique, multiple regression and paired sample t-test, using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) software and Excel.

Findings

It is found that efficiency is the major determinant of e-customers’ satisfaction with banks in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi context is different from other countries. There are differences between the impact of Internet banking e-service quality on e-customer service before and during the COVID-19.

Practical implications

This research has a crucial inference for the managerial level practically. This study has important implications for the banks to satisfy their e-customers by increasing customer service level and enhancing the interaction in the site to solve the e-customers problem immediately by creating an effective support team to encourage the effect of responsiveness. In particular, website managers should review their website framework and create an easily organized site for e-customers.

Originality/value

The research improves past studies' methodology by testing the impacts between the constructs before and during COVID-19. This research is a significant addition to the current literature collection.
Conjoint analysis: the assumptions, applications, concerns, remedies and future research direction
Authors: Kulshreshtha Kushagra , Sharma Gunjan , Bajpai Naval
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Since the inception of the conjoint analysis technique in the year 1971, papers addressing the epistemological aspects of conjoint analysis are scant. Hence, this paper attempts to address the vacuum of qualitative discourse addressing the epistemological and methodological aspects of conjoint analysis including different issues, challenges, probable solutions, limitations and future direction of conjoint analysis in the recent decade.

Design/methodology/approach

For exploring the methodological and epistemological aspects of conjoint analysis, the seminal papers on conjoint analysis were reviewed. Moreover, the authors' experience for the state-of-art review was also taken into consideration.

Findings

The findings suggest that conjoint analysis that roots back since 1971 has not seen much exploration in Asian regions and is mainly used for new product development in the field of marketing or allied areas. Moreover, the reliability and validity of conjoint analysis is always a matter of concern for the researchers that hinders this technique's wider adaptability. Thus, the paper presents some probable solutions to address the focal issues useful for improved reliability and validity of the conjoint analysis technique.

Research limitations/implications

This paper attempts to familiarize the researchers with epistemological and methodological aspects of conjoint analysis with certain solutions to evolve beyond existing conjoint analysis dimensions in terms of improved validity, reliability, epistemological and methodological aspects of conjoint analysis (CA). Moreover, it acts as a call for research in different research domains, especially in the Asian continent.

Originality/value

There exist certain seminal research papers on epistemological aspects of conjoint analysis. However, there is a dearth of such attempt in the recent decade addressing the application issues of conjoint analysis incorporating the recent issues as well. Therefore, this paper is an attempt to usher the future researcher to understand the methodological aspects of conjoint analysis. It may prevent them from violating the basic assumptions and methodological threshold. This research technique is preferred equally by academicians and practitioners, thus making it imperative to have clarity beforehand for improved research rigor.
Gas film lubrication method on rotation shaft seal based on contact design
Authors: Wang Yue , Zou Longqing , Fu Hailong , Huang Congcong , Liu Jiaqi
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Wear failure happens frequently in rubber seal of high-speed rotating shaft because of the dry friction. Some traditional lubrication methods are not effective because of the restrictions on the relative high speed, temperature and others. This paper aims to present a new method of lubrication with gas film for the rotation shaft seal based on the contact design.

Design/methodology/approach

To obtain the generation condition of gas film and good effect of lubrication in the contact gap between the shaft and its seal, a series of micro-spiral grooves are designed on the contact surface of rubber seal so as to obtain a continuous dynamic pressure difference.

Findings

The result is that the distribution of the gas film in the micro-gap is continuous under the design of the spiral grooves and the contact with eccentricity because of the deformation of rubber seal, which is verified through the simulation calculation and experiment test. It is confirmed that the lubrication method with gas film through designing micro-spiral grooves on the contact surface is effective, and can achieve self-adaptive air lubrication for the high-speed shaft under the premise of the reliable sealing.

Originality/value

The method of gas film lubrication is realized through designing a microstructure of spiral grooves on the rubber surface to change the contact status, which can form a mechanism of adaptive lubrication to reduce the dry friction automatically in the contact gap. For the cross-scale difference between the rubber seal and gas film, a new modeling method is presented by building the mapping relation for the split blocks and repairing technique with integrated computer engineering and manufacturing, to reduce the possibility of nonconvergence and improve the efficiency and accuracy of calculation.
An investigation on the influence of sintering temperature on microstructural, physical and mechanical properties of Cu-SiC composites
Authors: Somani Nalin , Tyagi Y. K. , Gupta Nitin Kumar
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the sintering temperature on the microstructural, mechanical and physical properties of Cu-SiC composites.

Design/methodology/approach

The powder metallurgy route was used to fabricate the samples. Cold compaction of powders was conducted at 250 MPa which was followed by sintering at 850°C–950°C at the interval of 50 °C in the open atmospheric furnace. SiC was used as a reinforcement and the volumetric fraction of the SiC was varied as 10%, 15% and 20%. The processed samples were metallurgically characterized by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Mechanical characterization was done using tensile and Vickers’ micro-hardness testing to check the hardness and strength of the samples. Archimedes principle and Four-point collinear probe method were used to measure the density and electrical resistivity of the samples.

Findings

SEM micrograph reveals the uniform dispersion of the SiC particles in the Cu matrix element. The results revealed that the Hardness and tensile strength were improved due to the addition of SiC and were maximum for the samples sintered at 950 °C. The addition of SiC has also increased the electrical resistivity of the Cu-SiC composite and was lowest for Cu 100% while the relative density has shown the reverse trend. Further, it was found that the maximum hardness of 91.67 Hv and ultimate tensile strength of 312.93 MPa were found for Cu-20% SiC composite and the lowest electrical resistivity of 2.017 µ- Ω-cm was found for pure Cu sample sintered at 950 °C, and this temperature was concluded as the optimum sintering temperature.

Research limitations/implications

The powder metallurgy route for the fabrication of the composites is a challenging task as the trapping of oxygen cannot be controlled during the compaction process as well as during the sintering process. So, a more intensive study is required to overcome these kinds of limitations.

Originality/value

As of the author’s best knowledge, no work has been reported on the effect of sintering temperature on the properties of the Cu-SiC composites which has huge potential in the industries.