bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of customer knowledge on the organizational performance: a system dynamics approach
Authors: Bidgoli Seyed Danial , Owlia Mohammad Saleh , Isaai Mohammad Taghi
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this research was to model the impact of customer knowledge on the performance of organization with a focus on information technology industry. Furthermore, it is intended to analyze the effect of customer knowledge investment on the performance measures, by reviewing investment policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationship between customer knowledge and performance measures was specified using literature review and grounded theory method. The system dynamics approach was then applied to analyze the impact of the customer knowledge on the performance measures.

Findings

This study provided a dynamic model on the causal relationship between customer knowledge and organizational performance. The results showed that measures such as product development, financial performance, idea generation, technical knowledge and knowledge maturity were affected by the customer knowledge while the relationship with customer loyalty and the number of customers was not proven. Besides, it was found that to increase the impact of customer knowledge on organizational performance, knowledge maturity was essential, and investing on customer knowledge without investing on knowledge maturity would reduce the organizational performance. The results also showed that more knowledge investment would not necessarily increase financial strength of the organization.

Practical implications

Results of this study could be useful for strategy formulation and deployment especially for IT-based companies showing the importance of investment on customer knowledge on the one hand and the knowledge maturity in the organization on the other hand.

Originality/value

In this research, the impact of customer knowledge on both financial and nonfinancial performance measures was studied showing new findings on the dynamism of their relationships.
Joint pricing and ordering decisions for a loss-averse retailer with quantity-oriented reference point effect and demand uncertainty: a distribution-free approach
Authors: Yu Yue , Qiu Ruozhen , Sun Minghe
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This work examines the joint pricing and ordering (JPO) decisions for a loss-averse retailer with quantity-oriented reference point (RP) effect under demand uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

The demand is assumed to be uncertain with the mean and variance as the only known information. The prospect theory is used to model the retailer's expected utility. An expected utility maximization model in the distribution-free approach (DFA) is then developed. Using duality theory, the expected utility under the worst-case distribution is transformed into tractable piece-wise functions. To examine the effectiveness of the DFA in coping with the demand uncertainty, a stochastic programming model is developed and its solutions are used as benchmarks.

Findings

The proposed model and solution approach can effectively hedge against the demand uncertainty. The JPO decisions are significantly influenced by the LA coefficient and the reference level. The LA has a stronger influence than the reference level does on the expected utility. An excessive LA is detrimental while an appropriate reference level is beneficial to the retailer.

Practical implications

The results of this work are applicable to loss-averse retailers with the quantity-oriented RP when making JPO decisions with difficulty in predicting the demands.

Originality/value

The demand is assumed to be uncertain in this work, but a certain demand distribution is usually assumed in the existing literature. The DFA is used to study JPO decisions for the loss-averse retailer with quantity-oriented RP effect under the uncertain demand.
A multi-criterion group decision-making method based on regret theory under 2-tuple linguistic environment
Authors: Jia Xiang , Wang Yingming
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a multi-criterion group decision-making (MCGDM) method by combining the regret theory and the Choquet integral under 2-tuple linguistic environment and apply the proposed method to deal with the supplier selection problem.

Design/methodology/approach

When making a decision, the decision-maker is more willing to choose the alternative(s) which is preferred by the experts so as to avoid the regret. At the same time, the correlative relationships among the criterion set can be sufficiently described by the fuzzy measures, later the evaluations of a group of criteria can be aggregated by means of the Choquet integral. Hence, the authors cope with the MCGDM problems by combining the regret theory and the Choquet integral, where the fuzzy measures of criteria are partly known or completely unknown and the evaluations are expressed by 2-tuples. The vertical and the horizontal regret-rejoice functions are defined at first. Then, a model aiming to determine the missing fuzzy measures is constructed. Based on which, an MCGDM method is proposed. The proposed method is applied to tackle a practical decision-making problem to verify its feasibility and the effectiveness.

Findings

The vertical and the horizontal regret-rejoice functions are defined. The relationships of the fuzzy measures are expressed by the sets. A model is built for determining the fuzzy measures. Based on which, an MCGDM method is proposed. The results show that the proposed method can solve the MCGDM problems within the context of 2-tuple, where the decision-maker avoids the regret and the criteria are correlative.

Originality/value

The paper proposes an MCGDM method by combining the regret theory and the Choquet integral, which is suitable for dealing with a variety of decision-making problems.
Product recommendation using online reviews with emotional preferences
Authors: Hu Limei , Tan Chunqia , Deng Hepu
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel recommendation method using online reviews with emotional preferences for facilitating online purchase decisions. This leads to better use of information-rich online reviews for providing users with personalized recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel method is developed for producing personalized recommendations in online purchase decision-making. Such a method fuses the belief structure and the Shapley function together to effectively deal with the emotional preferences in online reviews and adequately tackle the interaction existent between product criteria with the use of a modified combination rule for making better online recommendations for making online purchase decisions.

Findings

An example is presented for demonstrating the applicability of the method for facilitating online purchase. The results show that the recommendation using the proposed method can effectively improve customer satisfaction with better purchase decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed method can better utilize online reviews for satisfying personalized needs of consumers. The use of such a method can optimize interface design, refine customer needs, reduce recommendation errors and provide personalized recommendations.

Originality/value

The proposed method adequately considers the characteristics of online reviews and the personalized needs of customers for providing customers with appropriate recommendations. It can help businesses better manage online reviews for improving customer satisfaction and create greater value for both businesses and customers.
Factors contributory to fire occurrences in two populated areas in the American southwest
Authors: Tong Susanna T.Y. , Wan Shitian , Gao Yuhe
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to further understand the factors contributory to fire occurrences in two semi-arid regions in the American Southwest, Clark County in Nevada and Maricopa and Pinal Counties in Arizona.

Design/methodology/approach

Statistical and geographic information system analyses were employed to examine the spatial and temporal relationships of various natural and human-caused factors with fire incidences.

Findings

Angström fire danger index, average amount of rainfall one month prior, extent of forests and grasslands, and proximities to secondary roads and population centers have significant relationships with fire events.

Research limitations/implications

The importance of the factors contributory to fire occurrence is site-specific even in areas with similar climatic regimes and varies among different geographic regions; as such, researchers will need to conduct specific investigation of each study area.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can be instrumental in facilitating fire managers to derive more informed strategies in fire prevention and management.

Originality/value

While there are many studies on fire, most of them are conducted in wet regions with a lot of vegetative cover; not much work is done on arid areas. This paper considered and compared the spatial and temporal relationships of a wide range of natural and human-caused factors with fire events in two semi-arid areas. The intent was to assess the relative importance of these factors in areas even with similar climatic regimes. As our world is facing unprecedented changes in terms of climate and population growth, it is paramount to have an enhanced understanding of the impacts of these changes on fire regimes. The study areas are hot and dry, and they are located in the wildland–urban interfaces with rapid population growth and urbanization; as such, the research findings may contribute to existing literature.
A perspective on value co-creation processes in eSports service ecosystems
Authors: Kunz Reinhard E. , Roth Alexander , Santomier James P.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Electronic Sports (eSports) is an emerging sector of the sports and entertainment industry experiencing an accelerated increase in consumer and sponsor demand. This paper aims to study selected cases of eSports service ecosystems, to identify similarities and differences and to understand the different roles, relationships and multiple interactions of actors involved in value co-creation processes.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical paper follows the service-dominant logic to highlight value creation. Based on the sport value framework, an organizing logic for the actors in sports-related ecosystems to exchange service and co-create value, the authors apply the conceptualization of an eSports service ecosystem framework in which actors create value through their interactions. A case study approach was applied to qualitatively describe two cases of value co-creation by multiple actors during three eSports events. Case study 1a is the 2019 League of Legends World Championship Finals in Paris. Case study 1b is the 2020 League of Legends World Championship Finals in Shanghai. Case study 2 is the BLAST Premier Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Global Final 2020, which was entirely virtual.

Findings

The outcome is an empirically investigated conceptual framework of multiple actors co-creating value within a service ecosystem in eSports. The insights of the cases explain how actors interact with each other and co-create value during events in eSports ecosystems. The cases illustrate interactions in the context of eSports where the actors are connected within ecosystems. This enables further development of a value co-creation concept and a better understanding of value co-creation in eSports.

Originality/value

This study contributes to research by explicating a theoretically grounded framework for eSports service ecosystems based on empirical evidence. This research extends the scope of value co-creation beyond the firm–customer dyad to a service ecosystem in eSports, demonstrating the dynamic interactions of multiple actors.
Bharat Forge: entrepreneurial leadership triumphs disruptive times
Authors: Gupta Praveen
Published: December 2021

Theoretical basis

There had been many pieces of research on international expansion approaches, and they continued to grow. However, research about the firms belonging to emerging nations and that went global were still in the early stages. It had been argued that most theories on international expansion had focused on explaining the internationalization of large firms, majorly originating in developed countries. This case study offers an intriguing reading about an Indian MNC, successfully entering the developed markets and competing thereof amidst tough and complex world. Moreover, the leaders like Baba Kalyani met the stiff challenge from complexities and disruption successfully through entrepreneurial mindset. The case study offers insights into “Creating Value Through Entrepreneurial Leadership Framework”.

Research methodology

The case study has been developed through secondary data sources. The published online resources, the firm's annual reports formed the basis of the research work. Author accessed online news articles, auto component industry experts' views and reports from global consultancy firms, and auto industry body such as SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers) reports helped the research. The views and interviews by promoters of the company are available online for deeper insights and analysis.

Case overview/synopsis

An Indian multinational, Bharat Forge Limited (BFL), was a shining example of achieving global manufacturing standards through perseverance and entrepreneurial leadership. For more than the past four decades, BFL faced complexities, uncertainties and disruptions multiple times, and every time, the business world saw a resurgent company, Bharat Forge. The company achieved growth through diversification, related and unrelated, acquisition, product innovation, portfolio expansion and expansion in domestic and global development. Competitive market, economic slowdown, innovation and technology disruption had not deterred BFL from growing into a worldwide auto component giant. BFL overcame all hurdles with grit and enterprise. It achieved a paradigm shift with over half the revenue from non-automotive sectors such as defence, electric vehicle components, e-mobility, power electronics and aluminium light-weighting.

Complexity academic level

This case is planned for MBA students, primarily in the second half of the course curriculum. It can be executed in marketing, strategic marketing and strategic management courses. The conceptual framework pertaining to corporate strategy, global expansion, diversification, product development, innovation, disruption, market development and entrepreneurial leadership can be taught through the case. The case is suitable for MBA executive students as well, in courses mentioned above in addition to courses such as strategic leadership.
Assessing the effectiveness of accounting information systems in the era of COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Al-Okaily Manaf
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the Accounting Information Systems (AIS) effectiveness on the organizational level by extending DeLone and McLean success model in developing countries like Jordan. Unlike other studies, this study investigates the effects of system quality, information quality, process quality, collaboration quality, service quality, individual performance and workgroup performance toward organizational performance during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administrated survey was used to collect data from 104 accounting managers operating in listed Jordanian firms in the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE). The partial least squares-structural equation modeling method was used for data analysis.

Findings

Eight relationships were tested, whereby six were supported as was expected. Particularly, the empirical results reveal that individual performance is positively and significantly influenced by information quality, process quality and service quality. Furthermore, workgroup performance is positively and significantly influenced by individual performance. The results also show that organizational performance is impacted by individual performance and workgroup performance.

Originality/value

The current study is among the first empirical studies that has extended the information systems success model to evaluate AIS success during COVID-19 pandemic. This study also offers insights into the importance of AIS success among listed Jordanian firms in ASE.
YIMBY: The Latest Frontier of Gentrification
Authors: Wyly Elvin
Published: December 2021

The growth of ‘Yes In My Back Yard’ (YIMBY) activism seems at first a simple story of a new social movement led by a new generation frustrated with the housing supply shortages created by decades of Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) conservative spatial privilege and exclusion. Yet YIMBY/NIMBY dialectics reflect more fundamental transformations of intergenerational inequalities between past and present amidst today's multiple scales of intensifying competition in urban life. YIMBY movements, therefore, must be understood as part of the long history of gentrification and the current, accelerating co‐evolution of socio‐cultural change and the circulation of capital. YIMBY activism reflects a complex hybrid of a previous century's axioms of trickle‐down filtering theory and contemporary progressive moral‐ethical discourses of dynamic, diversifying lived experiences of intersectionality at the scales of individuals, families, communities, nations, and cultures. As intensified urban competition co‐evolves with diverse, recombinant axes of Western/non‐Western and colonial/decolonial relations of space and time, localized economic rent gaps become transnational, transhistorical moral rent gaps constituted through competing claims for inclusion into the inherent exclusivity of capitalizable property rights. YIMBY activism reveals the evolutionary frontiers of escalating competition legitimating itself on a gentrifying urban planet.
Self‐reported knowledge on literacy of Israeli speech‐language pathologists and special education teachers
Authors: Zadunaisky‐Ehrlich Sara , Yifat Rachel
Published: December 2021

The promotion of literacy skills is considered a cornerstone in the work of special education teachers (SETs) and speech‐language pathologists (SLPs). The present study examined the self‐reported literacy knowledge of Israeli 67 SETs and 72 SLPs along three dimensions: development, assessment and intervention, and emergent literacy. Participants in both groups completed an individually delivered Likert‐based survey. The main findings indicated positive correlations between development, assessment, and emergent literacy in both groups and no differences in their knowledge about emergent literacy. In contrast, SLPs reported lack of knowledge in literacy development, assessment and intervention, compared to SETs. The relationship between language modalities ‐ reading, writing, oral language – seems to determine the role of each profession in literacy. Furthermore, the perception of written language as a modality or as a style of discourse was not conclusive in both groups. Therefore, policy makers and training programs should continue to deepen the training of professional staffs, especially by encouraging and training SLPs to address written language. Furthermore, the demarcation of the field of linguistic literacy of each profession is not evident in practice and needs to be discussed and coordinated to achieve true and optimal inter‐professional cooperation.
The pikas of China: a review of current research priorities and challenges for conservation
Authors: LAMBERT Joseph P. , ZHANG Xiaozheng , SHI Kun , RIORDAN Philip
Published: December 2021

Of the approximately 30 extant species of pika (Ochotona; Ochotonidae; Lagomorpha), at least 23 occur in China. Of these, 8 are endemic, and 3 are classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Research into most Chinese species is scarce, and there is much to learn about basic aspects of their ecology. We reviewed the literature on the 23 Chinese Ochotona species, with the aim of highlighting knowledge gaps and biases in research allocation. Specifically, we identify (1) which pika species receive the most attention from researchers, (2) which topics are the most frequently studied, and (3) how well research satisfies conservation priorities. We covered a total of 879 articles, most of which were written in English or Chinese. Around 75% of all publications focused on the plateau pika Ochotona curzoniae. Seven species were represented by 10 or fewer publications each. Endangered and endemic species were particularly poorly represented. 204 papers treated pikas as a pest, while 13 studied conservation issues. Nine species were considered possible targets for pest control, including some poorly known endemics. We make some recommendations on how research into Chinese Ochotona could be improved, including: (1) recognizing that the current species‐level taxonomy may be an ineffective way to prioritize conservation research in Ochotona, (2) directing more research toward threatened and endemic species, subspecies, and populations, (3) researching the ecosystem engineering effects of pikas, (4) collecting basic data on natural history of the many understudied species, and (5) researching threats, including climate change and pest control campaigns.
Population genomics provides insights into the evolution and adaptation of tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) in China
Authors: REN Yue , JIA Ting , ZHANG Hao , ZHU Wanlong , WANG Zhengkun
Published: December 2021

Physiological adaptation of tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) to changing environmental temperature has been reported in detail. However, the T. belangeri origin (mainland or island), population history, and adaptation to historical climate change remain largely unknown or controversial. Here, for the first time, we sequenced the simplified genome of 134 T. belangeri individuals from 12 populations in China and further resequenced one individual from each population. Using population genomic approaches, we first observed considerable genetic variation in T. belangeri. Moreover, T. belangeri populations formed obvious genetic structure and reflected different demographic histories; they generally exhibited high genetic diversity, although the isolated populations had relatively low genetic diversity. The results presented in this study indicate that T. b. modesta and T. b. tonquinia were separated recently and with a similar population dynamics. Second, physical barriers rather than distance were the driving factors of divergence, and environmental heterogeneity may play an important role in genetic differentiation in T. belangeri. Moreover, our analyses highlight the role of historical global climates in the T. belangeri population dynamics and indicate that the decrease of the T. belangeri population size may be due to the low temperature. Finally, we identified the olfaction‐associated adaptive genes between different altitude populations and found that olfactory‐related genes of high‐altitude populations were selectively eliminated. Our study provides demographic history knowledge of T. belangeri; their adaption history offers new insights into their evolution and adaptation, and provides valuable baseline information for conservation measures.
How do trained panelists characterize baby leafy greens? A comparison of descriptive analysis and Napping
Authors: O'Brien Regina , Simon James E. , Tepper Beverly J.
Published: December 2021

Baby leafy greens are one of the fastest growing segments of the salad green market. Baby leafy greens are generally more mild tasting than their fully‐mature counterparts. Nevertheless, a diversity of plant species can be grown as baby greens, which exhibit a wide range of sensory attributes. Sensory profiles of baby leaf varieties have not been well described in the literature. This study aimed to describe the differences between several baby leafy green varieties from the plant family Brassicaceae and those which were non‐Brassicaceae, and to compare two descriptive methods, traditional descriptive analysis (DA) and Napping, a rapid profiling technique. Both methods used the same trained panelists. In the first study, the panel (n = 11) developed a lexicon for and evaluated four samples grown in a controlled aeroponic environment. In the second study, 12 commercially available samples were evaluated with DA (n = 8) and Napping (n = 11). Panelists identified differences in the pungency, bitterness, and ‘‘green’’ attributes across all samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to model associations between the samples and the sensory attributes. The PCA extracted three factors. PC1 ranged from pungent qualities to sweet/grassy, PC2 included green color, and PC3 included saltiness and sourness. The Napping showed similar sample separation (RV = 0.67), but included relevant textural terms (‘‘chewy’’; ‘‘rubbery’’) not used in the DA. The current lexicon can be applied to a large range of baby leafy greens. Napping showed good correspondence with DA and can be deployed with agricultural products where time and other resources may be limited.

Practical Application

Sensory evaluation methods have traditionally been applied in the food industry with processed products.While traditional methods such as descriptive analysis have been used to profile products, rapid and inexpensive profiling methods should be screened for their value in describing agricultural products. The results of this study can be applied to breeding and grow‐out programs to aid in optimization of the processing,storage, and quality control for the rapidly expanding baby leafy green market.
Water is a preservative of microbes
Authors: Hallsworth John E.
Published: December 2021

Water is the cellular milieu, drives all biochemistry within Earth’s biosphere and facilitates microbe‐mediated decay processes. Instead of reviewing these topics, the current article focuses on the activities of water as a preservative—its capacity to maintain the long‐term integrity and viability of microbial cells—and identifies the mechanisms by which this occurs. Water provides for, and maintains, cellular structures; buffers against thermodynamic extremes, at various scales; can mitigate events that are traumatic to the cell membrane, such as desiccation–rehydration, freeze–thawing and thermal shock; prevents microbial dehydration that can otherwise exacerbate oxidative damage; mitigates against biocidal factors (in some circumstances reducing ultraviolet radiation and diluting solute stressors or toxic substances); and is effective at electrostatic screening so prevents damage to the cell by the intense electrostatic fields of some ions. In addition, the water retained in desiccated cells (historically referred to as ‘bound’ water) plays key roles in biomacromolecular structures and their interactions even for fully hydrated cells. Assuming that the components of the cell membrane are chemically stable or at least repairable, and the environment is fairly constant, water molecules can apparently maintain membrane geometries over very long periods provided these configurations represent thermodynamically stable states. The spores and vegetative cells of many microbes survive longer in the presence of vapour‐phase water (at moderate‐to‐high relative humidities) than under more‐arid conditions. There are several mechanisms by which large bodies of water, when cooled during subzero weather conditions remain in a liquid state thus preventing potentially dangerous (freeze–thaw) transitions for their microbiome. Microbial life can be preserved in pure water, freshwater systems, seawater, brines, ice/permafrost, sugar‐rich aqueous milieux and vapour‐phase water according to laboratory‐based studies carried out over periods of years to decades and some natural environments that have yielded cells that are apparently thousands, or even (for hypersaline fluid inclusions of mineralized NaCl) hundreds of millions, of years old. The term preservative has often been restricted to those substances used to extend the shelf life of foods (e.g. sodium benzoate, nitrites and sulphites) or those used to conserve dead organisms, such as ethanol or formaldehyde. For living microorganisms however, the ultimate preservative may actually be water. Implications of this role are discussed with reference to the ecology of halophiles, human pathogens and other microbes; food science; biotechnology; biosignatures for life and other aspects of astrobiology; and the large‐scale release/reactivation of preserved microbes caused by global climate change.
Overcoming the pitfalls of merging dietary metabarcoding into ecological networks
Authors: Cuff Jordan P. , Windsor Fredric M. , Tercel Maximillian P. T. G. , Kitson James J. N. , Evans Darren M.
Published: December 2021

The construction of increasingly detailed species interaction networks is extending the potential applications of network ecology, providing an opportunity to understand complex eco‐evolutionary interactions, ecosystem service provision and the impacts of environmental change on ecosystem functioning. Dietary metabarcoding is a rapidly growing tool increasingly used to construct ecological networks of trophic interactions, enabling the determination of individual animal diets including difficult‐to‐distinguish prey taxa and even for species where traditional dietary analyses are unsuitable (e.g. fluid feeders and small invertebrates).

Several challenges, however, surround the use of dietary metabarcoding, especially when metabarcoding‐based interactions are merged with observation‐based species interaction data.

We describe the difficulties surrounding the quantification of species interactions, sampling perspective discrepancy (i.e. zoocentric vs. phytocentric sampling), experimental biases, reference database omissions and assumptions regarding direct and indirect consumption events.

These problems are not, however, insurmountable. Effective experimental design and data curation with appropriate attention paid to these problems renders the incorporation of dietary metabarcoding into ecological network analysis a powerful tool for the construction of highly resolved networks. Throughout, we discuss how these problems should be addressed when merging data to construct ecological networks.
Sex differences in acute cannabis effects revisited: Results from two randomized, controlled trials
Authors: Arkell Thomas R. , Kevin Richard C. , Vinckenbosch Frederick , Lintzeris Nicholas , Theunissen Eef , Ramaekers Johannes G. , McGregor Iain S.
Published: December 2021

Some evidence suggests that males and females may differ in their responses to acute cannabis effects, including subjective drug effects and behavioural effects, and cannabinoid pharmacokinetics. This is significant given current changes to cannabis‐related policies and, in consequence, increased cannabis accessibility. The present study combines data from two randomized controlled trials to investigate possible differences among males (n = 21) and females (n = 19) in the acute effects of vaporized cannabis containing 13.75 mg Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), with and without cannabidiol (CBD; 13.75 mg). To control for differences in the timing of assessments, peak (or peak change from baseline) scores were calculated for a range of measures including subjective drug effects, cognitive performance, cardiovascular effects, and plasma concentrations of THC, CBD, and their respective primary metabolites. While THC elicited robust and significant changes in all but one outcome measure relative to placebo, relatively few sex differences were observed after controlling for BMI and plasma THC concentrations. Relative to females, males performed better overall on a divided attention task (DAT) and had higher peak plasma concentrations of 11‐nor‐9‐carboxy‐THC (11‐COOH‐THC). Males and females did not differ with respect to plasma concentrations of any other analyte, subjective drug effects, or cardiovascular measures. These data indicate an absence of systematic sex differences in acute cannabis effects given a moderate dose of vaporized cannabis. They do not preclude the possibility that sex differences may emerge with higher THC doses or with other commonly used routes of administration (e.g., orally administered oils or edibles).
Evidence of facilitation between early‐successional tree species and the regenerating plant community in a tropical seasonally dry environment
Authors: Sales Lucas Diego , Pereira de Oliveira Dayana Maria , Dantas Carvalho Ellen Cristina , Soares Arlete Aparecida , Boscaini Zandavalli Roberta
Published: December 2021

Early‐successional tree species may facilitate the establishment of the regenerating plant community in semi‐arid environments by creating more favourable microenvironments and reducing environmental stress. However, it is not clear how these tree species can influence morphofunctional and physiological responses of the regenerating plant community. In field conditions, we used three early‐successional tree species in the adult stage (Combretum leprosum, Cenostigma bracteosum and Mimosa tenuiflora) as potential facilitators, and two regenerating ones as target species (Cordia oncocalyx and Croton blanchetianus). We then evaluated the effect of the former on the leaf anatomy, physiology and growth of the latter. We found that C. leprosum and C. bracteosum acted as facilitators, resulting in a 55% and 22% reduction in solar radiation in the rainy season, and an 11% and 10% reduction in the dry season, respectively. In addition, we observed a higher soil moisture under the canopy of nurse species, especially under C. leprosum, which showed an increase of over 38% in gravimetric water content in the rainy and dry seasons. These results favoured gas exchange (CO2 uptake, stomatal conductance and transpiration) and growth in Cordia oncocalyx and C. blanchetianus. Furthermore, we did not observe any stress reduction under the canopy of M. tenuiflora and in the open area, where target species showed reduced gas exchange and growth. The positive morphological and ecophysiological responses of the target species under C. leprosum and C. bracteosum reinforce the importance of studying microenvironments created by early‐successional tree species. This way, we can understand the mechanisms promoting facilitation and the influence of this positive interaction on the restructuring process of the plant community in a semi‐arid environment.
Fear and Greed: Australian Public Opinion Towards China's Rise*
Authors: Chubb Danielle , McAllister Ian
Published: December 2021

The gradual transformation of Australia's relationship with Asia over the past half century has been accompanied by major shifts in public opinion. These changes have been prompted by numerous changes in the social composition of the electorate, by globalisation which has brought many foreign firms to Australia, and by the political elite's changing approach to engagement with Asia. There is, however, considerable elite anxiety concerning the economic and military rise of China, and these concerns are expressed in public debate and attitudes. Using opinion surveys collected over half a century, the first part of this article examines the trends emerging from debates over Australia's economic and political relationship with China. In the second part, we use the 2018 and 2020 Lowy Polls to explain who changed their views of China and why. The results suggest that the dramatic shift in attitudes towards China between 2018 and 2020 was mainly driven by concerns about foreign influence in Australian politics. Overall, public opinion towards China has become more polarised, between economic opportunity on the one hand and fear of an authoritarian neighbour on the other.
Pharmacovigilance in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A review with particular focus on Africa
Authors: Kiguba Ronald , Olsson Sten , Waitt Catriona
Published: December 2021

Low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC) face unique challenges with regard to the establishment of robust pharmacovigilance systems capable of generating data to inform healthcare policy and practice. These include the limited integration and reliability of pharmacovigilance systems across LMIC despite recent efforts to harmonize pharmacovigilance rules and regulations in several regional economic communities. There are particular challenges relating to the need to translate reporting tools into numerous local languages and the low numbers of healthcare providers relative to number of patients, with very short consultation times. Additional factors frequent in LMIC include high uptake of herbal and traditional medication, mostly by self‐medication; disruptive political conflicts jeopardizing fragile systems; and little or no access to drug utilization data, which makes it difficult to reliably estimate the true risks of medicines use. Pharmacovigilance activities are hindered by the scarcity of well‐trained personnel with little or no budgetary support from national governments; high turnover of pharmacovigilance staff whose training involves a substantial amount of resources; and little awareness of pharmacovigilance among healthcare workers, decision makers and consumers. Furthermore, little collaboration between public health programmes and national medicines regulatory authorities coupled with limited investment in pharmacovigilance activities, especially during mass drug administration for neglected tropical diseases and mass vaccinations, produces major challenges in establishing a culture where pharmacovigilance is systematically embedded. Very low spontaneous reporting rates with poor quality reports hinders robust signal detection analyses. This review summarises the specific challenges and areas of progress in pharmacovigilance in LMIC with special focus on the situation in Africa.
Quo vadis, Brazil? Environmental Malgovernance under Bolsonaro and the Ambiguous Role of the Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Bastos Lima Mairon G. , Da Costa Karen
Published: December 2021

Brazil has continuously been in the international spotlight, first as an emerging economy improving social inclusion and sustainable development, then suddenly as a global pariah on environmental governance. Using two case studies – the rising deforestation of the Amazon and the 2019 oil spill on Brazil's Northeast coast – we examine the Bolsonaro administration in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to reveal a combination of misgovernance and malgovernance, where transgressions are intentional. The article develops these analytical concepts, explores how environmental malgovernance in Brazil may be addressed and discusses how Bolsonaro's malpractices are internationally challenged, but also condoned.
Using Position‐Based Dynamics for Simulating Mitral Valve Closure and Repair Procedures
Authors: Walczak Lars , Georgii Joachim , Tautz Lennart , Neugebauer Mathias , Wamala Isaac , Sündermann Simon , Falk Volkmar , Hennemuth Anja
Published: December 2021

To achieve the best treatment of mitral valve disease in a patient, surgeons aim to optimally combine complementary surgical techniques. Image‐based in silico simulation as well as visualization of the mitral valve dynamics can support the visual analysis of the patient‐specific valvular dynamics and enable an exploration of different therapy options. The usage in a time‐constrained clinical environment requires a mitral valve model that is cost‐effective, easy to set up, parameterize and evaluate. Working towards this goal, we develop a simplified model of the mitral valve and analyse its applicability for the sketched use‐case. We propose a novel approach to simulate the mitral valve with position‐based dynamics. The resulting mitral valve model can be deformed to simulate the closing and opening, and incorporate changes caused by virtual interventions in the simulation. Ten mitral valves were reconstructed from transesophageal echocardiogram sequences of patients with normal and abnormal physiology for evaluation. Simulation results showed good agreements with expert annotations of the original image data and reproduced valve closure in all cases. In four of five pathological cases, abnormal closing behaviour was correctly reproduced. In future research, we aim to improve the parameterization of the model in terms of biomechanical correctness and perform a more extensive validation.
Human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Chen Xiaoyong , Huang Jing , Wu Jun , Hao Jie , Fu Boqiang , Wang Ying , Zhou Bo , Na Tao , Wei Jun , Zhang Yong , Li Qiyuan , Hu Shijun , Zhou Jiaxi , Yu Junying , Wu Zhaohui , Zhu Huanxin , Cao Jiani , Wang Lei , Peng Yaojin , Liang Lingmin , Ma Aijin , Zhang Yu , Zhao Tongbiao , Xiang Andy Peng
Published: December 2021

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have attracted great interest for cell therapy and tissue regeneration due to their self‐renewal capacity, multipotency and potent immunomodulatory effects on immune cells. However, heterogeneity of MSCs has become a prominent obstacle to limit their translation into practice, as cells from different tissue sources or each individual have great differences in their transcriptomic signatures, differentiation potential and biological functions. Therefore, there is an urgent need for consensus standard for the quality control and technical specifications of MSCs. ‘Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells’ is the latest set of guidelines on hMSC in China, jointly drafted and agreed upon by experts from the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research. This standard specifies the technical requirements, test methods, test regulations, instructions for use, labelling requirements, packaging requirements, storage requirements, transportation requirements and waste disposal requirements for hMSC, which is applicable to the quality control for hMSC. It was originally released by the China Society for Cell Biology on 9 January 2021. We hope that publication of these guidelines will facilitate institutional establishment, acceptance and execution of proper protocols, and accelerate the international standardization of hMSC for clinical development and therapeutic applications.
Providing social assistance and humanitarian relief: The case for embracing uncertainty
Authors: Caravani Matteo , Lind Jeremy , Sabates‐Wheeler Rachel , Scoones Ian
Published: December 2021

Motivation

Social assistance, humanitarian relief, and disaster response increasingly overlap, especially where recurrent crises and persistent conflicts prevail. In such situations, distinctions between risk and uncertainty become especially important. It is critical for policy and practice to shift from focusing on risk assessment and management to embracing uncertainty.

Purpose

The article assesses the appropriateness of two approaches to social assistance and humanitarian relief where crises recur and conflicts persist: risk assessment and management; and embracing uncertainty and ignorance.

Methods and approach

The article reviews different approaches to social assistance, humanitarian relief, and disaster response, and asks how they are framed. It draws on experiences from programmes offering social assistance, humanitarian relief, and disaster response, highlighting the professional, bureaucratic, and institutional features that influence programme design and functioning. These are compared with “high‐reliability” approaches deployed in other critical infrastructure—such as water and energy supply.

Findings

Mainstream approaches focus on risk assessment and management, assuming predictability and stability. This is problematic, especially in settings of crisis and conflict where there may be no functioning delivery system for social assistance and relief. The article highlights alternatives to the mainstream risk‐focused approaches, which emphasize learning, collaboration, adaptation, and flexibility. Such approaches must build on embedded practices of moral economy, collective action, and mutual care and be supported through professional and institutional capacities that generate reliability.

Policy implications

The article suggests a new agenda for the intersection of social assistance, humanitarian relief, and disaster response, which makes uncertainty the focus for rethinking responses at scale, especially in settings affected by crisis and conflict.
Level of knowledge about metalloproteinases in dental students close to graduate from three universities in Peruvian capital city
Authors: Cayo‐Rojas César F. , Soto‐Castro Lilliam , Castro‐Mena Manuel , Medrano‐Colmenares Sara , López‐Gurreonero Carlos , Córdova‐Limaylla Nancy , Briceño‐Vergel Gissela , Ladera‐Castañeda Marysela , Cervantes‐Ganoza Luis
Published: December 2021

Background

Metalloproteinases are proteolytic enzymes that degrade dentin and periodontal collagen; therefore, it is of special interest that dental students know its mechanism of action and how its effects can be inhibited. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate the level of knowledge about metalloproteinases in dental students close to graduate from three universities in Peruvian capital city.

Materials and methods

In this analytical, observational, cross‐sectional and prospective study, 223 dental students close to graduate in three Peruvian universities were evaluated from September to November 2020. A questionnaire of 20 closed questions with three answers was validated and used to measure the level of general and dental knowledge about metalloproteinases. A logit model was used to evaluate the influence of the following variables: “gender” (X1), “type of university” (X2), “marital status” (X3) and “age group” (X4), in the knowledge levels of the students, considering a p‐value <.05.

Results

Of the 223 dentistry students, it was obtained that the level of knowledge about metalloproteinases was predominantly low with 82.1%, (95% confidence interval (CI): 77.1%–87.1%) of the total. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, "type of university" was the only variable that proved to have a significant influence (p = .022) on the level of knowledge about metalloproteinases with an odds ratio of (OR = 0.44; CI: 0.21–0.89), whilst the other variables "age group" (p > .05), "gender" (p = .058) and "marital status" (p = .114) were not considered influential factors.

Conclusion

The majority of final year dental students in three Peruvian universities presented a low level of overall knowledge about metalloproteinases. In addition, private university students were 56% less likely to pass the subject knowledge test. On contrary, gender, age group and marital status did not significantly influence the level of knowledge of the students.
Effect of saliva contamination on the bond strength of single‐step and three‐step adhesive systems
Authors: Bolme June , Gjerdet Nils R. , Lægreid Torgils
Published: December 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of saliva contamination on bond strength to dentin with an etch‐and‐rinse and a self‐etch adhesive system. For each of these adhesive systems, the dentin surface of 24 human molars were allocated to one of four groups representing different saliva contamination scenarios. Saliva was applied at different stages in the bonding process, and was investigated to be remedied by water rinsing and/or air drying. Uncontaminated tooth surfaces were used as controls. Bonding procedures were performed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and a polymer‐based composite was placed. The bond strength was measured by a micro‐tensile test. Except for the etch‐and‐rinse approach having contamination with saliva after etching, followed by air drying, all salivary contamination regimens resulted in a substantial number of specimens not surviving the test, and the bond strength value of these was therefore set to 0 MPa for the purposes of the statistical analysis. Water rinsing after etching and salivary contamination did significantly reduce the bond strength. Contamination after priming showed the lowest bond strength. For the self‐etch approach, saliva contamination before the adhesive procedure, followed by air drying, significantly reduced the bond strength, while contamination followed by water rinsing or air drying did not statistically significantly reduce the strength.