bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global supply chain resilience with the flexible partnership
Authors: Pratono Aluisius Hery , Han Ling , Maharani Asri
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how multinational corporations respond to environmental turbulence by adopting a flexible supply chain (SC).

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a case study in the medical industry to identify effective strategic approaches by taking advantage of new business opportunities and navigating complex business partnerships. This study focuses on medical diagnostic equipment, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and X-ray, that involves the suppliers, channel partners and medical users.

Findings

(1) The market turbulence brought the SC leaders to adopt multiple partnership approaches, i.e. funnel-based and area-based partnerships. (2) Adopting a funnel-based partnership allows the SC to seize new market opportunities. Still, it brought a risk element of SC failure from the flawed selection process and professional misconduct. (3) SC leaders adopted flexible partnerships to help address the risk of professional misconduct and select partners for long-term collaboration.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to emergent literature on social exchange theory by exposing the global SC when the SC leaders set up agility approaches. This paper also extends the discussion on the industrial marketing and purchasing theory, which seeks to promote an active buyer–seller relationship.
Disney princess speaks out
Authors: Sherman Kimberly , Ruane Sinéad G.
Published: March 2023

Research methodology

This case was developed with information gathered from publicly available secondary sources, including news articles, company annual reports, various organizational websites and social media posts. The authors pilot-tested the case in two undergraduate courses: Leadership and Labor-Management Relations.

Case overview/synopsis

In 2019, Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Roy Disney (co-founder of the entertainment giant The Walt Disney Company), gained considerable media attention when she publicly criticized the high compensation paid to the current Disney CEO, Robert Iger. In fact, Iger had one of the largest ratios of CEO-to-average worker pay in corporate America. Abigail Disney called for the company to reduce Iger’s compensation and to increase pay for the average Disney worker to address the perceived pay inequity.

Complexity academic level

This case is primarily written for the undergraduate level. The topics would be appropriate for Human Resource Management, Labor Relations, Business Ethics, Leadership, and an upper level Compensation course. It is possible that the case could also be used in a Business Strategy or Economics course if supporting documents are provided.
ChatGPT for tourism: applications, benefits and risks
Authors: Carvalho Inês , Ivanov Stanislav
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence is disrupting various industries, including the tourism sector. This paper aims to outline the applications, benefits and risks of ChatGPT and large language models in general on tourism. It also aims to establish a research agenda for investigating the implications of these models in tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the available literature on ChatGPT, large language models and artificial intelligence, the paper identifies areas of application of ChatGPT for several tourism stakeholders. Potential benefits and risks are then considered.

Findings

ChatGPT and other similar models are likely to have a profound impact on several tourism processes. They will contribute to further streamline customer service in front-of-house operations and increase productivity and efficiency in back-of-house operations. Although negative consequences for human resources are expected, this technology mostly enhances tourism employees.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies that explore the potential implications of ChatGPT in tourism and hospitality.
High temperature frequently increases facilitation between aquatic foundation species: A global meta‐analysis of interaction experiments between angiosperms, seaweeds and bivalves
Authors: Clemente Ken Joseph E. , Thomsen Mads S.
Published: March 2023

Many studies have quantified the ecological impacts of individual foundation species (FS). However, emerging data suggest that FS often co‐occur, potentially inhibiting or facilitating one another, thereby causing indirect, cascading effects on surrounding communities. Furthermore, global warming is accelerating, but little is known about how interactions between co‐occurring FS vary with temperature.

Shallow aquatic sedimentary systems are often dominated by three types of FS: slower‐growing clonal angiosperms, faster‐growing solitary seaweeds and shell‐forming filter‐ and deposit‐feeding bivalves. Here, we tested the impacts of one FS on another by analyzing manipulative interaction experiments from 148 papers with a global meta‐analysis.

We calculated 1942 (non‐independent) Hedges' g effect sizes, from 11,652 extracted values over performance responses, such as abundances, growth or survival of FS and their associated standard deviations and replication levels. Standard aggregation procedures generated 511 independent Hedges' g that were classified into six types of reciprocal impacts between FS.

We found that (i) seaweeds had consistent negative impacts on angiosperms across performance responses, organismal sizes, experimental approaches and ecosystem types; (ii) angiosperms and bivalves generally had positive impacts on each other (e.g. positive effects of angiosperms on bivalves were consistent across organismal sizes and experimental approaches, but angiosperm effect on bivalve growth and bivalve effect on angiosperm abundance were not significant); (iii) bivalves positively affected seaweeds (particularly on growth responses); (iv) there were generally no net effects of seaweeds on bivalves (except for the positive effect on growth) or angiosperms on seaweeds (except for the positive effect on ‘other processes’) and (v) bivalve interactions with other FS were typically more positive at higher temperatures, but angiosperm‐seaweed interactions were not moderated by temperature.

Synthesis. Despite variations in experimental and spatiotemporal conditions, the stronger positive interactions at higher temperatures suggest that facilitation, particularly involving bivalves, may become more important in a future warmer world. Importantly, addressing research gaps, such as the scarcity of FS interaction experiments from tropical and freshwater systems and for less studied species, as well as testing for density‐dependent effects, could better inform aquatic ecosystem conservation and restoration efforts and broaden our knowledge of FS interactions in the Anthropocene.
Long‐term fluctuations and mechanisms of seed production of riparian tree canopy species
Authors: Sakio Hitoshi , Kon Ayumi , Kubo Masako , Nakano Yosuke
Published: March 2023

Annual seedfall was measured over a 24‐year period for three canopy species, Fraxinus platypoda, Pterocarya rhoifolia, and Cercidiphyllum japonicum, in a riparian forest in the Chichibu Mountains, central Japan. We collected seeds from 20 traps approximately every month, except in the winter. Fraxinus platypoda and P. rhoifolia seedfall fluctuated, with a 2‐year cycle. The seedfall of C. japonicum also fluctuated, but this species produced seeds every year, with an approximate 4‐year cycle. The simple moving average over 5 years for F. platypoda and P. rhoifolia was maintained at a constant level over the 24‐year period, but it gradually increased for C. japonicum. Each year's seedfall for the three species was influenced by the previous year's seedfall. The results for F. platypoda suggest that the fluctuations in the amount of seedfall were almost entirely dependent on fluctuations in stored resources, regardless of the previous year's weather. Conversely, the amount of seedfall for P. rhoifolia and C. japonicum was influenced by fluctuations in stored resources and the average temperature or precipitation in the summer of the year before flowering. These differences in seed production patterns were associated with differences in life history characteristics such as seed size and regeneration mechanisms.
Microbe–sediment interactions in Great Lakes recreational waters: Implications for human health risk
Authors: VanMensel Danielle , Chaganti Subba Rao , Droppo Ian G. , Weisener Christopher G.
Published: March 2023

Microbial assessments of recreational water have traditionally focused on culturing or DNA‐based approaches of the planktonic water column, omitting influence from microbe–sediment relationships. Sediment (bed and suspended) has been shown to often harbour levels of bacteria higher than the planktonic phase. The fate of suspended sediment (SS) bacteria is extensively related to transport dynamics (e.g., deposition) of the associated sediment/floc. When hydraulic energy allows, SS will settle, introducing new (potentially pathogenic) organisms to the bed. With turbulence, including waves, currents and swimmers, the risk of human ingestion is elevated due to resuspension of bed sediment and associated microbes. This research used multiplex nanofluidic reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR on RNA of bacteria associated with bed and SS to explore the active bacteria in freshwater shorelines. Bacterial genes of human health concern regarding recreational water use were targeted, such as faecal indicator bacteria (FIB), microbial source tracking genes and virulence factors from waterborne pathogens. Results indicate avian sources (i.e., gulls, geese) to be the largest nonpoint source of FIB associated with sediment in Great Lakes shorelines. This research introduces a novel approach to microbial water quality assessments and enhances our understanding of microbe–sediment dynamics and the quality of freshwater beaches.
Benefiting signatories at others’ expense: Effects and spatial spillover of local emergency cooperation agreements in China
Authors: Wang Fan‐Fan , Mao Qingduo
Published: March 2023

Local emergency cooperation agreements (LECA) led by local governments have increasingly become an important measure to address public crisis. In China, local governments have also launched such LECA to deal with occupational accidents and diseases. In this study, a quasi‐experimental design was used to evaluate the effects and spatial spillover of LECA on work safety performance improvements. Several econometric models were applied based on provincial panel data (2001–2019). The results show that: (1) LECA reduce both the number and mortality rate of workplace accidents in signatory provinces. (2) LECA can also induce a scale effect, which means that signatories can induce positive spillover effects on work safety performance in neighboring signatory provinces. (3) The analysis also identified negative spillover effects for neighboring non‐signatory provinces, indicating that LECA may lead to spatial spillover of industrial risks. (4) Further analysis indicated that the comprehensive effect of LECA is positive but not significant. (5) The spatial spillover of industrial risks due to LECA mainly occurs in the midwestern region, and positive spillover effect exists between the eastern and western regions due to the economic correlation factors. In addition, general recommendations for regional crisis cooperation among subnational governments are provided.
Bursts in biosynthetic gene cluster transcription are accompanied by surges of natural compound production in the myxobacterium Sorangium sp.
Authors: Boldt Judith , Lukoševičiūtė Laima , Fu Chengzhang , Steglich Matthias , Bunk Boyke , Junker Vera , Gollasch Aileen , Trunkwalter Birte , Mohr Kathrin I. , Beckstette Michael , Wink Joachim , Overmann Jörg , Müller Rolf , Nübel Ulrich
Published: March 2023

A better understanding of the genetic regulation of the biosynthesis of microbial compounds could accelerate the discovery of new biologically active molecules and facilitate their production. To this end, we have investigated the time course of genome‐wide transcription in the myxobacterium Sorangium sp. So ce836 in relation to its production of natural compounds. Time‐resolved RNA sequencing revealed that core biosynthesis genes from 48 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs; 92% of all BGCs encoded in the genome) were actively transcribed at specific time points in a batch culture. The majority (80%) of polyketide synthase and non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase genes displayed distinct peaks of transcription during exponential bacterial growth. Strikingly, these bursts in BGC transcriptional activity were associated with surges in the net production rates of known natural compounds, indicating that their biosynthesis was critically regulated at the transcriptional level. In contrast, BGC read counts from single time points had limited predictive value about biosynthetic activity, since transcription levels varied >100‐fold among BGCs with detected natural products. Taken together, our time‐course data provide unique insights into the dynamics of natural compound biosynthesis and its regulation in a wild‐type myxobacterium, challenging the commonly cited notion of preferential BGC expression under nutrient‐limited conditions. The close association observed between BGC transcription and compound production warrants additional efforts to develop genetic engineering tools for boosting compound yields from myxobacterial producer strains.
Detection of sexual dimorphism of the foramen magnum in cats using computed tomography
Authors: Akbaş Zarife Selin , Duro Sokol , Yalin Ebru Eravcı , Gündemir Ozan , Özkan Ermiş , Szara Tomasz
Published: March 2023

The foramen magnum is a large round or oval opening surrounded by parts of the occipital bone. It connects the cranial cavity with the vertebral canal. The foramen magnum is an important structure having various applications in veterinary practice and forensic medicine. The variability of its shape and sexual dimorphism allow it to be exploited for sex and age identification in different species. This retrospective study used computed tomographic (CT) images of the caudal region of the 102 mixed‐breed cat heads (55 males and 47 females). Eight linear measurements of the foramen magnum (FM) and occipital condyles were performed on CT images. The aim of the study was to find out if the linear measurements of the CT images of the foramen magnum showed variability between the sexes of the cats. In general, the values of the linear measurements in male cats were higher than in females. The mean maximum length of the foramen magnum (MLFM) was 11.18 ± 0.84 mm and 10.63 ± 0.72 mm in male and female cats, respectively. The mean maximum internal width of the foramen magnum (MWFM) was 14.43 ± 0.72 mm in males and 13.75 ± 1.01 mm in females. The difference between FM measurements in female and male cats was statistically significant (pvalue; FML: 0.001, FMW: 0.000). The MLFM confidence interval was 10.41 mm to 10.86 mm in female cats and 10.97 mm to 11.39 mm in males. The confidence interval of MWFM was 13.5 mm to 14.0 mm in female cats and 14.2 mm to 14.66 mm in male cats. With these intervals, we can predict the probability of sex in cats with 95% confidence. It was noted that measurements of the occipital condyles were not sex‐determining. The difference in foramen magnum index in female and male cats was statistically insignificant (pvalue; 0.875). As a result of the study, it was seen that the linear measurements of the foramen magnum were sex‐determining.
Gratitude, fragility and strength: Perspectives of adults born preterm about prematurity
Authors: Girard‐Bock Camille , Luu Thuy Mai , Bourque Claude Julie , Nuyt Anne Monique , Barrington Keith J. , Janvier Annie
Published: March 2023

Aim

The aim of the study was to explore how young adults thought that being born preterm had affected their lives.

Methods

Adult participants of a research cohort were questioned about their perspectives. Answers were analysed using mixed methods.

Results

Forty‐five participants evaluated their health at median score of 8/10. When asked about the meaning of being born preterm, 65% had positive self‐centred answers, invoking two main themes: being stronger/‘a fighter’/more resilient and being a survivor/chosen; 42% also reported negative themes, such as having health problems and a difficult start. All heard about their prematurity from their parents, 55% with positive child‐centred or healthcare system‐centred themes, 19% with neutral themes; 35% also heard negative parent‐centred themes (tragic experience, guilt, mother's health). When asked which words were associated with prematurity, participants mainly chose positive words for themselves and their family, but more negative words for how the media and society depicted prematurity. Answers were not correlated with adverse objective health measures.

Conclusion

Participants evaluated their health in a balanced fashion. Preterm‐born adults often feel that they have experienced positive transformations as a result of their traumatic start. They often have feelings of gratitude and strength, independent of health problems.
Dysfunction of circadian and sleep rhythms in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Rigat Ludovica , Ouk Koliane , Kramer Achim , Priller Josef
Published: March 2023

Dysfunction of circadian and sleep rhythms is an early feature of many neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder resulting in cognitive and psychiatric disturbances. Although it is largely unclear whether dysfunctions in sleep and circadian rhythms contribute to the etiology of AD or are a consequence of the disease, there is evidence that these conditions are involved in a complex self‐reinforcing bidirectional relationship. According to the recent studies, dysregulation of the circadian clock already occurs during the asymptomatic stage of the disease and could promote neurodegeneration. Thus, restoration of sleep and circadian rhythms in preclinical AD may represent an opportunity for early intervention to slow the disease course.
Reducing touching eyes, nose and mouth (‘T‐zone’) to reduce the spread of infectious disease: A prospective study of motivational, volitional and non‐reflective predictors
Authors: Wilson Mackenzie , van Allen Zachary M. , Grimshaw Jeremy M. , Brehaut Jamie C. , Durand Audrey , Lalonde Jean‐François , Manuel Douglas G. , Michie Susan , West Robert , Presseau Justin
Published: March 2023

Background

The route into the body for many pathogens is through the eyes, nose and mouth (i.e., the ‘T‐zone’) via inhalation or fomite‐based transfer during face touching. It is important to understand factors that are associated with touching the T‐zone to inform preventive strategies.

Purpose

To identify theory‐informed predictors of intention to reduce facial ‘T‐zone’ touching and self‐reported ‘T‐zone’ touching.

Methods

We conducted a nationally representative prospective questionnaire study of Canadians. Respondents were randomized to answer questions about touching their eyes, nose, or mouth with a questionnaire assessing 11 factors from an augmented Health Action Process Approach at baseline: intention, outcome expectancies, risk perception, individual severity, self‐efficacy, action planning, coping planning, social support, automaticity, goal facilitation and stability of context. At 2‐week follow‐up, we assessed HAPA‐based indicators of self‐regulatory activities (awareness of standards, effort, self‐monitoring) and self‐reported behaviour (primary dependent variable).

Results

Of 656 Canadian adults recruited, 569 responded to follow‐up (87% response rate). Across all areas of the ‘T‐zone’, outcome expectancy was the strongest predictor of intention to reduce facial ‘T‐zone’ touching, while self‐efficacy was a significant predictor for only the eyes and mouth. Automaticity was the strongest predictor of behaviour at the 2‐week follow‐up. No sociodemographic or psychological factors predicted behaviour, with the exception of self‐efficacy, which negatively predicted eye touching.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that focusing on reflective processes may increase intention to reduce ‘T‐zone’ touching, while reducing actual ‘T‐zone’ touching may require strategies that address the automatic nature of this behaviour.
Smaller size of harlequin toads from populations long exposed to the fungal disease chytridiomycosis
Authors: Lampo Margarita , Señaris Celsa , González Katiuska , Ballestas Onil
Published: March 2023

Pathogens can exert great selective pressures on the life history traits of their hosts. Species experiencing high mortality throughout their adulthood can benefit from breeding earlier. Chytridiomycosis, a fungal disease caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been a major driver of extinction for harlequin toads (Atelopus) and continues to be frequent cause of adult mortality for species persisting with endemic infections. We compared the body size of Atelopus cruciger between a remnant population long exposed to Bd (post‐epidemic) and populations sampled before the presumed Bd outbreak in the late 80s (pre‐epidemic). Reproductive female and male toads from pre‐epidemic populations were significantly bigger than those from post‐epidemic populations at similar altitudes, suggesting that toads from post‐epidemic populations are breeding earlier. A significant positive relationship between body size and the number of eggs in oviducts suggests a trade‐off between the benefit of breeding earlier and the cost of smaller clutch sizes. This cost–benefit relationship is likely to change along elevation gradients because the number of eggs relative to body size tends to be lower at higher elevations. By breeding earlier harlequin toad populations long exposed to Bd can increase their demographic competence, particularly in lowland habitats, where the cost–benefit relationship of breeding earlier tends to be more favorable.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Characterization of primary hyperparathyroidism based on target organ involvement: An analysis from the Indian PHPT registry
Authors: Mukherjee Soham , Arya Ashutosh K. , Bhadada Sanjay Kumar , Pal Rimesh , Lohani Shivangani , Gupta Ashish , Rao Sudhaker D.
Published: March 2023

Background

It has been a matter of debate for long time about the existence of two distinct phenotypes of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) predisposed to either renal or skeletal manifestation.

Objective

To differentiate characteristics of symptomatic PHPT patients based on the presence of skeletal or renal involvement.

Design

Retrospective analysis of data from the Indian PHPT registry.

Patients

PHPT patients were divided into four discrete groups: asymptomatic, presenting with renal manifestations alone, skeletal manifestations alone, and both skeletal and renal manifestations.

Measurements

Clinical, biochemical, and tumour weight and histopathological characteristics of these groups were compared.

Results

Of the 229 eligible patients, 45 were asymptomatic, 62 had renal manifestations, 55 had skeletal manifestations, and 67 had both skeletal and renal manifestations. Patients with both skeletal and renal manifestations had higher serum calcium levels than those with isolated skeletal involvement [12.5 (11.1–13.7) mg/dL, 11.2 (10.6–12.3) mg/dL, respectively; p < .05]. Serum alkaline phosphatase (AP), plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, and parathyroid tumour weight were significantly higher in patients with isolated skeletal, and both skeletal and renal manifestations, compared to the other two groups. A preoperative PTH and AP level of 300 pg/mL and 152 U/L, predicted the risk of developing skeletal involvement with sensitivity and specificity of 71%, 70%, and 69%, 67%, respectively.

Conclusions

We observed distinct skeletal and renal phenotypic subgroups among PHPT patients with characteristic biochemical and hormonal patterns with higher parathyroid disease burden in patients with skeletal complications compared to those with isolated renal manifestation.
Price determinants of bred heifers: Do reputations matter?
Authors: Pinto Allan F. , Goodrich Brittney K. , Kelley William , Runge Max
Published: March 2023

Replacement brood cows are among the most significant investments for cow‐calf operations, thus crucial to profitability. Many cow‐calf producers find it cost effective to purchase replacements from a reliable replacement heifer seller, though by doing so they increase risk of reproductive inefficiency due to unknown characteristics of the heifers. When important information about a product is missing to buyers, a seller can build a reputation over time that acts as signal for quality. Previous work has explored reputation effects in feeder cattle markets, but to our knowledge we are the first to explore reputation effects in bred replacement cattle markets. Using data from an annual replacement heifer sale, we analyze the values of heifer characteristics and test for premiums from reputation development. After controlling for reproductive practices, breed, and other characteristics, we find reputation does not play the role that Shapiro theorized. In this sale, the lot order is strategically chosen and may indicate bred heifer quality to buyers, replacing the need for reputation as a signal. This study highlights the importance of quality signals and regional preferences in bred replacement cattle marketing and lays the empirical groundwork for future studies to test Shapiro's theory.
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing to indicate increased ventilatory variability in subjects with dysfunctional breathing
Authors: Mendes Nathalia B. S. , Plachi Franciele , Guimarães Amanda , Nolasco Talmir , Gass Ricardo , Nogueira Marcelo , Teixeira Paulo J. Z. , Gazzana Marcelo B. , Neder J Alberto , Berton Danilo C.
Published: March 2023

Background

Dysfunctional breathing (DB) is a common, but largely underappreciated, cause of chronic dyspnoea. Under visual inspection, most subjects with DB present with larger sequential changes in ventilation (V̇E) and breathing pattern (tidal volume (VT) and breathing frequency (f)) before and/or during incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Currently, however, there are no objective criteria to indicate increased ventilatory variability in these subjects.

Methods

Twenty chronically dyspnoeic subjects with DB and 10 age‐ and sex‐matched controls performed CPET on a cycle ergometer. Cut‐offs to indicate increased V̇E, VT, f, and f/VT ratio variability (Δ = highest‐lowest 20 s arithmetic mean) over the last resting minute (rest), the 2sd min of unloaded exercise (unload), and the 3rd min of loaded exercise (load) were established by ROC curve analyses.

Results

Subjects with DB presented with increased V̇E, higher ventilatory variability, higher dyspnoea burden, and lower exercise capacity compared to controls (p < 0.05). ΔV̇Eload (>4.1 L/min), Δfrest (>5 breaths/min; bpm), Δfunload (>4 bpm), Δfload (>5 bpm), Δf/VTrest (>4.9 bpm/L), and Δf/VTload (>1.3 bpm/L) differentiated DB from a normal pattern (areas under the curve ranging from 0.729 to 0.845). High Δf, in particular, was associated with DB across all CPET phases.

Conclusions

This study provides objective criteria to indicate increased ventilatory variability during incremental CPET in dyspnoeic subjects with DB. Large variability in breathing frequency seems particularly useful in this context, a finding that should be prospectively confirmed in larger studies.
Importance of caregivers' subjective social status and neighbourhood disadvantage for adolescents with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Mackie Tayler , Morrow Troy D. , Abadula Fayo J. , Jaser Sarah S.
Published: March 2023

Aims

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes from low‐income populations are more likely to have difficulty in managing their diabetes and ultimately have poorer glycaemic outcomes, but less is known about neighbourhood‐level factors or subjective social status (SSS) as risk/protective factors. We examined associations between multiple indicators of socio‐economic status with diabetes outcomes.

Methods

One hundred and ninety‐eight adolescents ages 13–17 (58% female, 58% White, non‐Hispanic) experiencing moderate diabetes distress completed measures of diabetes management and diabetes distress, and their caregivers reported on SSS. Glycaemic indicators were extracted from medical records, and participants' addresses were used to determine area deprivation index (ADI).

Results

Higher levels of neighbourhood disadvantage were significantly associated with higher haemoglobin A1c levels and average glucose levels, but caregivers' SSS was more strongly associated with all glycaemic indicators, diabetes management and diabetes distress.

Conclusions

Given strong associations between caregivers' SSS and glycaemic control, diabetes management, and diabetes distress, screening for caregivers' SSS may identify adolescents who would benefit from additional support.
Mobilizing religious differences and terrorism, negotiating civil rights in Egypt
Authors: Abraham Nevine
Published: March 2023

The Egyptian state's publication of its first National Human Rights Strategy 2021–2026 (NHRS) (2021) on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks came at the crossroads of Western pressure to improve human rights and the state's use of counterterrorism to silence voices. The recent arrests of Coptic activists, dubbing them “terrorists” on the pretext of disturbing public peace and instigating sectarianism, follows the regime's capitalization on Egypt's history of battling Islamic radicalism and sectarian strife. The regime has additionally used societal instabilities post the 2011 revolution to demonstrate Egypt's unique case of human rights. This paper analyzes the ways in which the language of the NHRS entangles terrorism to negotiate the interpretation of civil rights and social justice. In doing so, the thesis of NHRS posits civil rights and social justice to be the responsibility of the collective in general, and religious institutions in particular, as preservers of public peace and national unity. While the publication of the NHRS is inscribed in the feigning of democratization to Western donors, assigning Coptic activists as terrorists, as this paper argues, plays up religious differences, broadens the purview of counterterrorism, and expands state power.
Risk of disease relapse, safety and tolerability of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination in patients with chronic inflammatory neuropathies
Authors: Doneddu Pietro Emiliano , Briani Chiara , Cocito Dario , Manganelli Fiore , Fabrizi Gian Maria , Matà Sabrina , Mazzeo Anna , Fazio Raffaella , Benedetti Luana , Luigetti Marco , Inghilleri Maurizio , Ruiu Elisa , Siciliano Gabriele , Cosentino Giuseppe , Marfia Girolama Alessandra , Carpo Marinella , Filosto Massimiliano , Antonini Giovanni , Notturno Francesca , Sotgiu Stefano , Cucurachi Laura , Dell'Aquila Claudia , Bianchi Elisa , Rosso Tiziana , Giordano Andrea , Fernandes Marco , Campagnolo Marta , Peci Erdita , Spina Emanuele , Tagliapietra Matteo , Sperti Martina , Gentile Luca , Strano Camilla , Germano Francesco , Romozzi Marina , Moret Federica , Zarbo Ignazio Roberto , Viola Divina Valeria , Vegezzi Elisa , Mataluni Giorgia , Cotti‐Piccinelli Stefano , Leonardi Luca , Carta Alessandra , Nobile‐Orazio Eduardo ,   the INCLUSIVE Study Group
Published: March 2023

Background and purpose

The aim was to evaluate the risk of relapse after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) vaccination, and its safety and tolerability, in patients with chronic inflammatory neuropathies.

Methods

In this multicenter, cohort and case‐crossover study, the risk of relapse associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination was assessed by comparing the frequency of relapse in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) patients who underwent or did not undergo vaccination. Frequency of relapse in the 3 months prior to and after vaccination, and safety and tolerability of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination, were also assessed.

Results

In all, 336 patients were included (278 CIDP, 58 MMN). Three hundred and seven (91%) patients underwent SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination. Twenty‐nine patients (9%) did not undergo vaccination. Mild and transient relapses were observed in 16 (5%) patients (13 CIDP, 3 MMN) after SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination and in none of the patients who did not undergo vaccination (relative risk [RR] 3.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.19–52.25). There was no increase in the specific risk of relapse associated with type of vaccine or diagnosis. Comparison with the 3‐month control period preceding vaccination revealed an increased risk of relapse after vaccination (RR 4.00, 95% CI 1.35–11.82), which was restricted to CIDP patients (RR 3.25, 95% CI 1.07–9.84). The safety profile of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination was characterized by short‐term, mild‐to‐moderate local and systemic adverse events.

Conclusions

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) vaccination in CIDP and MMN patients does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of relapse at the primary end‐point, although a slightly increased risk in CIDP patients was found compared to the 3 months before vaccination.
Improving the accuracy of models to map alpine grassland above‐ground biomass using Google earth engine
Authors: Shi Yan , Gao Jay , Brierley Gary , Li Xilai , Perry George L. W. , Xu Tingting
Published: March 2023

Accurate modelling and mapping of alpine grassland aboveground biomass (AGB) are crucial for pastoral agriculture planning and management on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau (QTP). This study assessed the effectiveness of four popular models (traditional multiple linear regression (MLR), support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural network (ANN), and deep neural network (DNN)) with various input combinations (geospatial variables [GV], vegetation types [VT], field measurements [FM], meteorological variables [MV] and observation time [OT]) for AGB estimation based on a new framework for AGB modelling and mapping using Google Earth Engine. The results showed that the input feature of GV had a poor performance in AGB estimation (0.121 < R2 < 0.591). FM improved the accuracy the most when incorporated with GV (0.815 < R2 < 0.833). Although MV, VT and OT improved the accuracy (R2) only by 0.112–0.216 with an importance rank order of MV > VT > OT for machine learning models, their outputs could be used to map AGB. Grass AGB was less accurately predicted than shrub AGB, but the pooling of both VTs improved estimation accuracy (R2) by 0.171–0.269. The performance of the models followed the ranked order of DNN > ANN > SVM > MLR. DNN had the highest accuracy (R2 = 0.818) using all non‐field measured variables (excluding FM) as the inputs, and it was successfully applied to a new dataset (not associated with the data used in the training and testing) with aR2of 0.676. This study presents an effective and operational framework for modelling and mapping grassland AGB. Accordingly, it provides the scientific foundations to determine of sustainable grazing carrying capacity in alpine grasslands.
THE GERMAN MUSEUM AND THE EARLY RECEPTION OF GERMAN LETTERS IN BRITAIN, 1800–18011
Authors: Puckey Oliver
Published: March 2023

The early reception of German letters in London can be better understood through a close reading of the bookseller Constantin Geisweiler's short‐lived journal The German Museum (1800–1801). The 1790s have been described as an era of literary ‘Germanomania’, as numerous translations of German works appeared for the first time in English. By 1800, however, an increasingly pejorative assessment of the supposedly pro‐Jacobin and atheistic character of German culture had entrenched itself among British critics. Geisweiler and his co‐contributors responded to this through wide‐ranging analyses of German literature and philosophy. Although Geisweiler's enterprise was, commercially speaking, a failure, this article argues that The German Museum was nevertheless significant for breaking out of the rigid mould of ‘Schauer‐, Ritter‐ and Räuberromane’ that had superficially characterised earlier British interest in German culture. This article will argue that the period around 1800 was a particularly febrile one for processes of Anglo‐German cultural transfer due to the consolidation of transnational networks of booksellers, printers and publishers – networks whose activities would be severely compromised following Napoleon's Continental Blockade of 1806. In the final analysis, nascent British ideas of ‘Germany’ at the turn of the nineteenth century can be more robustly historicised through a scrutinous reading of Geisweiler's journal.
An insight into the thermal processability of highly bioactive borosilicate glasses through kinetic approach
Authors: Chakraborty Anustup , Bodhak Subhadip , Molla Atiar Rahaman , Annapurna Kalyandurg , Biswas Kaushik
Published: March 2023

The paucity of crystallization resistant bioactive glasses with desired biological functions stands as a bottleneck toward the fabrication of various biomedical constructs such as amorphous coatings, scaffolds, and fibers for advanced tissue engineering applications. In this context, a series of borosilicate‐based bioactive glasses with a range of compositions: (53.88 − x)SiO2–21.7Na2O–21.7CaO–1.7P2O5–xB2O3 (mol%) where x = 0, 13.47, 22.45, 31.43, and 40.41 were prepared to address such limitation. The glasses were primarily investigated for their potential to be processed into amorphous scaffolds through evaluation of crystallization kinetics, sintering behavior, and viscosity–temperature dependence. The inclusion of B2O3 gradually reduces the activation energy of crystallization (Ea), according to the prediction from different kinetic models, whereas Friedman's model‐free method unraveled the variation in Ea as crystallization progresses. The crystallization event is further elucidated by obtaining the Avrami parameter (n) and dimensionality (m) through Matusita–Sakka equation. The optimization of the sintering schedule for amorphous scaffold preparation was accomplished by exploiting isothermal prediction from Avrami–Erofeev model. Moreover, viscosity–temperature relationship for the studied glasses was established to identify the processing window for drawing and sintering. This study proposes a comprehensive approach adopting theoretical models to elucidate suitable high‐temperature process parameters of bioactive glasses avoiding devitrification.
Impact of contact with the baby following stillbirth on parental mental health and well‐being: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Sun Shiwen , Qian Jialu , Wang Fang , Tian Yanping , Sun Yaping , Zheng Qiong , Yu Xiaoyan
Published: March 2023

Aim

This study aims to identify and synthesize available research reporting parental mental health outcomes related to contact with a stillborn baby.

Background

Stillbirth is devastating events for parents. The effects of contact with the stillborn baby on parental mental health are uncertain.

Methods

This was a systematic review and meta‐analysis carried out by searching six international electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, PsycINFO and CNKI databases from inception to 15 January 2023. Review Manager software was used for data analysis.

Results

Ten studies were included (n = 3974). Contact with a stillborn baby increased the risks of anxiety, depression and post‐traumatic stress disorder in the short term and increased the risks of anxiety and post‐traumatic stress disorder in the long term. Parents who had contact with a stillborn baby were more satisfied with their decision. Subgroup analysis showed that seeing a stillborn baby had no significant effect on anxiety or depression, but holding a stillborn baby increased the risks of anxiety.

Conclusions

Caregivers should respect the parents' decision on whether to have contact with the stillborn baby and provide parents with continuous information, emotional and behavioural support after they have contact with stillborn babies.
Enhanced broadband NIR emission in glass–ceramic fibers containing Nd3+/Yb3+ co‐doped YCa4O(BO3)3 disordered nanocrystal
Authors: Zhao Yajing , Tang Guowu , Xiong Puxian , Chen Qianyi , Sun Yongsheng , Wang Zhiduo , Chen Dongdan , Yang Zhongmin
Published: March 2023

Demands are increasing for ultrashort pulse laser in industrial applications, where the gain bandwidth of most optical fiber material is not wide enough, and developing a wide bandwidth gain medium is challenging. Glass–ceramic fibers containing Nd3+/Yb3+ co‐doped YCa4O(BO3)3 nanocrystals were fabricated by the molten core method and successive heat treatment. After a careful heat treatment, Nd3+/Yb3+ co‐doped YCa4O(BO3)3 nanocrystals were precipitated in the fiber core. Enhanced broadband near‐infrared (NIR) emission from 850 to 1150 nm (bandwidth: ∼252 nm) was obtained in the glass–ceramic fiber compared to that of precursor fiber. These results suggest that the Nd3+/Yb3+ glass–ceramic fibers are promising for broadband NIR optical amplifications and lasers.
Herodotools: An R package to integrate macroevolution, biogeography and community ecology
Authors: Nakamura Gabriel , Rodrigues Arthur V. , Luza André Luís , Maestri Renan , Debastiani Vanderlei , Duarte Leandro
Published: March 2023

Aim

Speciation, extinction and historical dispersal are the ultimate factors generating and maintaining biodiversity. However, methods of macroevolution used to detect historical processes usually ignore the variation of macroevolutionary processes at scales finer than entire regions. Likewise, biogeography and community ecology often ignore deep‐time evolutionary processes. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to integrate data from ancestral state reconstructions, current species distributions and biogeographical regionalization. Herodotools is an R package designed to perform this integration.

Location

Global application, with an example from Neotropics.

Major taxa studied

Any taxa, with an example from small rodents (genus Akodon and subfamily Sigmodontinae).

Methods

Herodotools streamline analyses of historical biogeography, including regionalization, calculation of assemblage age, lineage in situ diversification and community phylogenetic metrics, merging species occurrence with macroevolutionary methods of ancestral area and trait reconstruction. The main functions of our R package are presented with toy examples and by analysing the historical biogeography of small rodent assemblages in the Neotropics.

Results

Our package can integrate methods from biogeography, macroevolution and community ecology, allowing us to downscale the effects of historical processes and calculate important historical variables (e.g., age of assemblages, in situ diversification, phylogenetic regionalization, phylogenetic transition zones, metrics of trait macroevolutionary dynamics and new metrics of phylogenetic diversity and endemism) in different scales, from entire regions to communities of co‐occurrent species.

Main Conclusions

Herodotools is the first platform to streamline the analysis of historical biogeography, enabling a better understanding of historical processes at different levels of organization, from local assemblages to entire biogeographical regions and incorporating macroevolutionary models in commonly used community phylogenetic metrics. This integration bridges the gap between macroevolutionary, biogeography and community ecology methods.
Flood vulnerability and risk assessment of historic urban areas: Vulnerability evaluation, derivation of depth‐damage curves and cost–benefit analysis of flood adaptation measures applied to the historic city centre of Tomar, Portugal
Authors: Davis Lucy , Larionova Tatiana , Patel Dhairya , Tse Demiana , Baquedano Juliá Pilar , Pinto Santos Pedro , Ferreira Tiago Miguel
Published: March 2023

Around 45% of natural hazards reported worldwide are related to floods, and current indications show that exposure to floods and inherent losses will keep escalating. Historic centres are particularly vulnerable in this context due to the structural and material characteristics of the buildings and because they embrace social and cultural values that must be safeguarded. This article aims to contribute to this research area by presenting and discussing the application of an index‐based methodology specifically tailored to assess flood risk in historic urban centres. The historic city centre of Tomar, Portugal, an area that encompasses over 500 buildings and has a rich history of floods, is used here as a case study. Vulnerability data resulting from the application of the vulnerability assessment approach are then combined with flood hazard—that is, water velocity and depth obtained from flood peaks estimated for 20‐ and 100‐year periods of return—and used to identify the buildings at risk. Finally, a set of depth‐damage curves is derived and used here to carry out a cost–benefit analysis for different flood adaptation measures.
Role of oral iron supplementation for anemia secondary to acute nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chang Arunchai , Rugivarodom Manus , Pungpipattrakul Nuttanit , Akarapatima Keerati , Suwanno Komsai , Rattanasupar Attapon , Ovartlarnporn Bancha , Prachayakul Varayu
Published: March 2023

Background and Aim

Although acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) can lead to anemia, evidence regarding the effects of oral iron supplementation on UGIB‐induced anemia following discharge remains lacking. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of oral iron supplementation on hemoglobin response and iron storage in patients with anemia secondary to nonvariceal UGIB.

Methods

This randomized controlled trial included 151 patients with nonvariceal UGIB who had anemia at discharge. Patients were assigned to a 1:1 block in which they were either administered 6 weeks of 600 mg/d oral ferrous fumarate (treatment group,n = 77) or treated without iron supplementation (control group,n = 74). The primary outcome was composite hemoglobin response (hemoglobin elevation greater than 2 g/dL or no anemia at the end of treatment [EOT]).

Results

The proportion of patients achieving composite hemoglobin response was greater in the treatment group than in the control group (72.7%vs45.9%; adjusted risk ratio [RR], 2.980;P = 0.004). At EOT, the percentage change in the hemoglobin level (34.2 ± 24.8%vs19.4 ± 19.9%; adjusted coefficient, 11.543;P < 0.001) was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group; however, the proportions of patients with a serum ferritin level <30 μg/L and a transferrin saturation <16% were lower in the treatment group (allP < 0.05). No significant differences in treatment‐associated adverse effects and adherence rates were observed between the groups.

Conclusion

Oral iron supplementation exerts beneficial effects on anemia and iron storage following nonvariceal UGIB without significantly impacting rates of adverse effects or adherence.