bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theory Instruments as Tangible Ways of Knowing
Authors: SORENSON JESSICA , KJÆRSGAARD METTE GISLEV , BUUR JACOB , KARYDA MARY , AĞÇA AYŞE ÖZGE
Published: December 2022

While ethnographers and the data they produce already play a role in affecting industry practices, there is potential to integrate anthropological ways of seeing and knowing into a shared transdisciplinary design praxis. In a series of design research experiments, we have taken a pragmatic and playful approach to physicalizing theory. The result is a set of ‘Theory Instruments’ that transform theory into tangible interaction. Theory Instruments scaffold knowledge production by encouraging new ways of seeing organizations, products, users, and the relations between them. We present two of these instruments, Actor‐Network Rings and Reciprocity Balance, through a case study with a design team at a health product company that wished to generate new design concepts from field material. Theory Instruments helped bridge the gap between the epistemic modes of knowing employed by ethnography practitioners and the technical and tacit modes of knowing familiar to design practitioners. This new mode of collaboration helped them to cross worlds, cultivating a more resilient, transdisciplinary praxis.
Show Must Go On: How Can Ballet Help Us Strengthen Ethnographic Practice?
Authors: ODABASI ALMINA KARYA
Published: December 2022

This PechaKucha is drawn from research conducted as an organizational ethnography at The Dutch National Ballet (DNB), a renowned professional organization in the culture and arts sector in the Netherlands. However, just like most research trajectories, mine was also full of hurdles that I needed to overcome, the biggest being Coronavirus and the disruptions it created. While constantly adapting myself and my research to the circumstances of the day, I agree with Marcus and Fischer's description of ethnography being a “messy, qualitative experience” (1986, p.22). I have come to recognize how resilience is very much engraved in the ballet as a profession with opportunities to observe its manifestation even before (or during) adversities; and its learnings can be useful for other (cultural) settings and/or disciplines. In this PechaKucha, by proposing a new perspective to understand ethnographic practice, I suggest that what we learn from ballet can impact the resilience of researchers and the trajectories we take.
Becoming Digitally Resilient: Understanding the Gap between Online Government Services and Low Ability Users
Authors: LEFEVRE YONI , GAZY DOROTA
Published: December 2022

In the Netherlands, approximately 2.5M people struggle to use technology in their daily life and are unable to use online governmental services independently. People with low digital literacy are increasingly feeling left behind by the digitalisation of society. Even though this group is very diverse, what they have in common is getting stuck at some point when they are in a digital environment e.g. when filling in digital forms.

The Dutch government wants to provide more effective and appropriate help by designing more accessible online services and offering different types of support. To support this, STBY was commissioned to do qualitative research to better understand the experiences of people with limited digital skills. The ethnographic methods used in the project enabled the researchers to get a holistic understanding of participants' experiences of going through this emotional and difficult journey. This personal approach enabled participants to share the ‘obstacles’ they are confronted with when using digital devices.

Currently, most people with limited digital skills find their own ways of navigating through digital services because they have this intrinsic motivation to function as individuals in society. This research went beyond investigating what a better digital service could look like but it also explores how people might be given appropriate tools and opportunities to be resilient in their own space, and at their own pace, both online and offline. Our research recommended strengthening a network of support that offers more inclusive and diverse help for people with different needs and levels of digital experiences.
Dismantling Stereotypes: Taking an Inside‐Out Perspective to Building Better Representation in Advertising for Unilever
Authors: BARRETT STEPHANIE , KANORIA SIDDHARTH
Published: December 2022

Equality, inclusion, and representation are increasingly acknowledged as core tenets of prosperous countries, cities, and organizations. We know that equality is essential, and we also know equality must be enacted on all fronts. Brands and other social organizations are increasingly recognizing their role as social stakeholders, committed to building a society in which both people and their businesses can thrive in the long‐term. Quantum Consumer Solutions and Unilever have partnered on this program of four projects to understand and reduce stereotypes and improve representation. We used a mixed‐methods approach, including semiotics, qualitative research, expert interviews, springboards, and internal organizational change to improve inclusivity in communications, pack, and products. Readers can expect to learn why we recommend an ‘inside‐out’ approach that combines organizational change with external initiatives, why we need to approach change from a place of complexity and why we need to bring multiple perspectives to cultural change.
Jobs Not to Be Done: Anti‐Work Theory and the Resilience of Mutual Aid
Authors: CARMODY TODD
Published: December 2022

This paper explores recent developments in anti‐work theory to identify key learnings for ethnographers in industry. It focuses in particular on how anti‐work perspectives allow us to rethink the managerial notions of resilience that dominate across many of the industries that collaborate with corporate ethnographers. In this tradition, achieving resilience is a matter of “finding yourself” at work – of ensuring that a job is not just a paycheck, but an avenue of self‐fulfillment. In order to explore what resilience might look like if we bracket the question of work, this paper turns to COVID‐era mutual aid projects. Two key learnings help reframe anti‐work theory for the EPIC community: the necessity of 1) rethinking the notion of reciprocity that sustains our commitment to work (you only get out of work what you put in) and 2) making positive claims on behalf of freedom (not freedom from work but freedom to make the conditions of your life).
Cybersecurity in the Icelandic Multiverse
Authors: MCGRATH MEGHAN
Published: December 2022

Iceland makes a unique case study for cybersecurity in that it ranks among the world's most connected nations as well as among the highest for social trust. Data that elsewhere is considered sensitive is shared freely by individuals and businesses. As a result, technology built in places with different cybersecurity paradigms may not function as intended in an Icelandic context. This work, undertaken with undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Iceland's Computer Science department, employed ethnographic methods in a classroom setting to build cybersecurity awareness with a special emphasis on culture and to engage the broader community in conversations about security from local perspectives. This work lends itself well to multinational enterprise settings, where systems may be built with the expectation of security behaviors that do not actually reflect local or regional norms. Of special interest to the EPIC community may also be this case study's exploration of ethnography as a defensive grassroots tool in cyberwarfare. In the so‐called “wild west” of cybercrime where so often those with the most resources and imperialist drive win the day, we suggest that ethnographic skills are an undertapped resource that communities can employ in active striving for resilience.
Migration governance evolution amidst a nested crisis: The case of South America
Authors: Margheritis Ana
Published: December 2022

This article aims to expand our understanding of how diverse crises affect the evolution of migration governance. Building upon an interdisciplinary framework, it proposes a nuanced notion of migration crisis, qualified as ‘nested’, and illustrates its application through an interpretative synthesis of empirical works and primary sources on responses to the massive emigration of Venezuelans to South American countries at the peak of the outflow (2017–2019). This conceptual and analytical exercise highlights the interplay of national and regional dynamics and fills some gaps in existing accounts regarding what governability entails, and the nature, scope, and reasons of governance evolution. It shows that policy choices were embedded in and shaped by several critical structural conditions and junctures; disagreement on problem definition precluded cooperation and redefined both the role of key actors and the construction of the crisis narrative; apparent contradictions between rhetoric and practice were rather a re‐framing of complementary (humanitarian/securitization) interventions.
Description of COVID‐19 patients and mapping nursing data to ICNP 2021 reference set in SNOMED CT
Authors: Thoroddsen Asta , Rúnarsdóttir Elva Rún , Örlygsdóttir Brynja
Published: December 2022

Aim

To describe nursing care of COVID‐19 patients with International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) 2019, ICNP 2021 reference set, and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine–Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT).

Background

From the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic, nurses have realised the importance of documenting nursing care.

Introduction

It is important to recognise how real nursing data match the ICNP reference set in SNOMED CT as that is the terminology to be used in Iceland.

Methods

A descriptive study with two methods: (a) statistical analysis of demographic and coded clinical data identified and retrieved from Electronic Health Record (EHR) and (b) mapping of documented nursing diagnoses and interventions in EHRs into ICNP 2019, ICNP 2021 and SNOMED CT 2021.

Results

The sample consisted of all (n = 91) adult COVID‐19 patients admitted to the National University Hospital between 28 February and 30 June 2020. Nurses used 62 different diagnoses and 79 interventions to document nursing care. Diagnoses and interventions were best represented by SNOMED CT (85.4%; 100%), then by ICNP 2019 version (79.2%; 85%) and least by the ICNP 2021 reference set (70.8; 83.3%). Ten nursing diagnoses did not have a match in the ICNP 2021 reference set.

Discussion

Nurses need to keep up with the development of ICNP and submit to ICN new terms and concepts deemed necessary for nursing practice for inclusion in ICNP and SNOMED CT.

Conclusion

Not all concepts in ICNP 2019 for COVID‐19 patients were found to have equivalence in ICNP 2021. SNOMED CT–preferred terms cover the description of COVID‐19 patients better than the ICNP 2021 reference set in SNOMED CT.

Implications for nursing and health policy

Through the use of ICNP, nurses can articulate the unique contribution made by the profession and make visible the specific role of nursing worldwide.
Preparing for the upcoming 2022/23 influenza season: A modelling study of the susceptible population in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom
Authors: Boudewijns Bronke , Paget John , Del Riccio Marco , Coudeville Laurent , Crépey Pascal
Published: December 2022

We analysed the influenza epidemic that occurred in Australia during the 2022 winter using an age‐structured dynamic transmission model, which accounts for past epidemics to estimate the population susceptibility to an influenza infection. We applied the same model to five European countries. Our analysis suggests Europe might experience an early and moderately large influenza epidemic. Also, differences may arise between countries, with Germany and Spain experiencing larger epidemics, than France, Italy and the United Kingdom, especially in children.
Asymmetric review of qualified immunity appeals
Authors: Reinert Alexander A.
Published: December 2022

This article presents results from the most comprehensive study to date of the resolution of qualified immunity in the federal courts of appeals and the US Supreme Court. By analyzing more than 4000 appellate decisions issued between 2004 and 2015, this study provides novel insights into how courts of appeals resolve arguments for qualified immunity. Moreover, by conducting an unprecedented analysis of certiorari practice, this study reveals how the US Supreme Court has exercised its discretionary jurisdiction in the area of qualified immunity. The data presented here have significant implications for civil rights enforcement and the uniformity of federal law. They show that qualified immunity, when deployed, often bars relief for plaintiffs. Moreover, they show that courts of appeals reverse decisions to deny qualified immunity far more often than they reverse decisions to grant qualified immunity, and that this asymmetric review is correlated with traditional indicators of judicial ideology, among other variables. Significantly, the data also suggest that the asymmetric review that characterizes appellate decisions is also present in the Supreme Court's certiorari practice.
Truth and reparations: A perpetual challenge for the marginalized in Peru
Authors: Kellett Nicole Coffey
Published: December 2022

The Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Comisión de la Verdad; CVR) is considered one of the most comprehensive in Latin America. Peru set forth a plan for reparations to address the gross inequalities underlying the war, yet nearly twenty years since the CVR report was submitted, extreme discrimination of victims undergirds the systemic challenges that impede the allocation of due resources and recognition of rights for war survivors. This article draws from a larger case study with a female war survivor from the Department of Ayacucho. By highlighting the challenges survivors face in accessing reparations, this research illustrates how a lack of judicial accountability, scarcity of resources applied to reparations, politicized narrative surrounding victimhood, and failure to adequately reconcile with the past, exacerbates marginalization that prompted the war and undermines the CVR's goal of transitional justice.
Clinical feasibility of absorbable gelatin film adhesion barrier (GM142 “TENALEAF®”) in gynecological laparoscopic surgery: Safety assessment for first‐in‐human use and surgical video
Authors: Kikuchi Iwaho , Momoeda Mikio , Ujihira Takafumi , Iguchi Michiyo , Koga Kaori , Morita Mineto
Published: December 2022

Aim

To evaluate the safety and operability of the GM142 (TENALEAF®, Medical Division, Gunze Limited, Tokyo, Japan) adhesion barrier applied in patients undergoing surgery for benign gynecologic disease.

Methods

This multicenter open study enrolled 34 patients from November 2018 to October 2019.

Results

The primary outcome was the incidence of adverse events (AE) within 12 weeks postoperatively. None of the 30 patients completing the study experienced a life‐threatening AE. Thirteen patients (43.3%) suffered 30 mild or moderate AE in total. No intestinal obstruction (0/30) was observed, with the sample size justified by the AdSpray® trial (8/61 patients with AE). No gelatin‐specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies were induced in the patients. The adhesion barrier could be easily inserted (even via trocar) and positioned. After malfunctions were reported in six patients, the instructions for use were updated for trocar use.

Conclusion

This study showed the safety and clinical feasibility GM142 as an adhesion barrier.
Mitochondrial genome phylogeny reveals the deep‐time origin of Gomphomastacinae (Orthoptera: Eumastacidae) and its alpine genera in China
Authors: Ge Jun‐Jie , Ying Hong‐Fei , Xu Sheng‐Quan , Huang Hua‐Teng
Published: December 2022

Gomphomastacinae is a grasshopper subfamily in Eumastacidae, with a morphology and distribution distinct from other subfamilies. The alpine genera of Gomphomastacinae that inhabit the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China show unique characteristics adapted to high‐altitude life. However, their phylogenetic position and biogeographic history remain controversial. Thus, to determine the diversification history of these alpine genera and the origin of the subfamily, we obtained mitochondrial genome sequences from all seven Gomphomastacinae genera distributed in China. The reconstructed phylogeny was well supported and confirmed the phylogenetic position of Gomphomastacinae within Eumastacidae. Time calibration revealed a deep‐time origin of the subfamily dating back to the Cretaceous period, and the diversification among alpine genera was also an ancient pre‐Miocene event (30–50 Ma). Based on phylogeny and time estimates, the most likely biogeographic scenario is that Gomphomastacinae originated from an ancestral lineage that lived in East Gondwana and dispersed to Central and Western Asia through India. Subsequently, the alpine genera likely diverged along with the uplift of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and survived drastic climate change by in situ adaptation to high‐altitude dwellings.
Phosphorylation chemistry of the Bordetella PlrSR TCS and its contribution to bacterial persistence in the lower respiratory tract
Authors: Barr Sarah A. , Kennedy Emily N. , McKay Liliana S. , Johnson Richard M. , Ohr Ryan J. , Cotter Peggy A. , Bourret Robert B.
Published: December 2022

Bordetella species cause lower respiratory tract infections in mammals. B. pertussis and B. bronchiseptica are the causative agents of whooping cough and kennel cough, respectively. The current acellular vaccine for B. pertussis protects against disease but does not prevent transmission or colonization. Cases of pertussis are on the rise even in areas of high vaccination. The PlrSR two‐component system, is required for persistence in the mouse lung. A partial plrS deletion strain and a plrS H521Q strain cannot survive past 3 days in the lung, suggesting PlrSR works in a phosphorylation‐dependent mechanism. We characterized the biochemistry of B. bronchiseptica PlrSR and found that both proteins function as a canonical two‐component system. His521 was essential and Glu522 was critical for PlrS autophosphorylation. Asn525 was essential for phosphatase activity. The PAS domain was critical for both PlrS autophosphorylation and phosphatase activities. PlrS could both phosphotransfer to and exert phosphatase activity toward PlrR. Unexpectedly, PlrR formed a tetramer when unphosphorylated and a dimer upon phosphorylation. Finally, we demonstrated the importance of PlrS phosphatase activity for persistence within the murine lung. By characterizing PlrSR we hope to guide future in vivo investigation for development of new vaccines and therapeutics.
Experiencing multiple concurrent functional gastrointestinal disorders is associated with greater symptom severity and worse quality of life in chronic constipation and defecation disorders
Authors: Kaplan Adam I. , Mazor Yoav , Prott Gillian M. , Sequeira Carol , Jones Michael P. , Malcolm Allison
Published: December 2022

Background

Recent community‐based studies have demonstrated that experiencing multiple concurrent functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) is associated with increased somatization, worse quality of life (QoL), and greater health care utilization. However, the presence of multiple overlapping FGIDs is unstudied specifically in chronic constipation and functional defecation disorders (FDD). We investigated the prevalence and impact of additional nonconstipation FGIDs on constipation severity, anorectal physiology, anxiety and depression, and QoL, in patients with chronic constipation and FDD.

Methods

One‐hundred and forty‐six consecutive patients with functional constipation or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS‐C/IBS‐M) presenting to a tertiary referral Neurogastroenterology Clinic were studied. In addition, 90/146 (62%) qualified for FDD due to abnormal defecatory physiology. Patients underwent comprehensive baseline assessment comprising anorectal physiology, Bristol Stool Chart, Rome questionnaire, Knowles‐Eccersley‐Scott‐Symptom (KESS) constipation score, Hospital Anxiety, and Depression Scale, and modified 36‐Item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) for QoL. Additional FGIDs were diagnosed using Rome III criteria.

Key Results

Additional nonconstipation FGIDs occurred in 85% of patients, with a mean of 2.1 (SD 1.6) additional FGIDs. Patients with four or more additional FGIDs experienced greater constipation severity compared to those with no additional FGIDs (p = 0.004). Comorbid FGIDs were associated with worse SF‐36 scores for physical functioning (p < 0.001), role‐physical (p = 0.005), bodily pain (p < 0.001), vitality (p = 0.008), social functioning (p = 0.004), and mental health index (p = 0.031).

Conclusions and Inferences

Functional gastrointestinal disorders comorbidity is highly prevalent in chronic constipation and defecatory disorders, and this is associated with greater symptom severity and worse QoL. Multimodal treatments targeting comorbid FGIDs may lead to superior outcomes.
The Boltzmann Brains Puzzle
Authors: Avni Ron
Published: December 2022

Leading cosmological theories engender a controversial puzzle which has prompted philosophers to propose competing epistemological solutions and physicists to propose methodological changes to cosmology. The puzzle arises from the prediction that every brain on Earth will eventually be vastly outnumbered by physical duplicates formed by random collisions of particles in outer space. Supposing that this prediction is correct, shouldn't you believe that your brain is probably one of these vastly more typical extraterrestrial brains, since you cannot infer your brain's origin from your experiential state? But supposing that your brain is one of these extraterrestrial brains, why be confident in the cosmological theories, since you never actually received testimony supporting these theories? Proposals in the literature either deny the rationality of believing theories that make the prediction or deny the typicality of your brain among its duplicates. This paper argues that these proposals are not entirely satisfactory. Instead, one should be confident in theories making the prediction on the supposition that your brain is one of the extraterrestrial brains. The upshots include that it may be rational to believe that your brain is probably an extraterrestrial brain and that cosmologists should not alter their methodology in response to the puzzle.
KDM4D enhances osteo/dentinogenic differentiation and migration of SCAPs via binding to RPS5
Authors: Liang Hanbing , Li Qian , Wang Ning , Wang Chunxiong , Shi Shaojing , Yang Haoqing , Cao Yangyang , Shi Ruitang , Jin Luyuan , Zhang Chen
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAPs) provide promising candidates for dental pulp regeneration. Despite great advances in the transcriptional controls of the SCAPs fate, little is known about the regulation of SCAP differentiation.

Materials and Methods

Short hairpin RNAs and full‐length RNA were used to deplete or overexpress lysine demethylase 4D (KDM4D) gene expression. Western blotting, real‐time RT‐PCR, alizarin red staining, and scratch migration assays were used to study the role of KDM4D and the ribosomal protein encoded by RPS5 in SCAPs. RNA microarray, chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) assays were performed to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Results

KDM4D enhanced the osteo/dentinogenic differentiation, migration, and chemotaxis of SCAPs. The microarray results revealed that 88 mRNAs were differentially expressed in KDM4D‐overexpressed SCAPs. ChIP results showed knock‐down of KDM4D increased the level of H3K9me2 and H3K9me3 in CNR1 promoter region. There were 37 possible binding partners of KDM4D. KDM4D was found to combine with RPS5, which also promoted the osteo/dentinogenic differentiation, migration, and chemotaxis of SCAPs.

Conclusions

KDM4D promoted the osteo/dentinogenic differentiation and migration potential of SCAPs in combination with RPS5, which provides a therapeutic clue for improving SCAPs‐based dental tissue regeneration.
The alcohol harm paradox and tooth loss among Brazilian older adults
Authors: Oliveira Leandro Machado , Pelissari Thayná Regina , Moreira Carlos Heitor Cunha , Ardenghi Thiago Machado , Demarco Flávio Fernando , Zanatta Fabrício Batistin
Published: December 2022

Objective

To investigate whether the association between alcohol consumption and tooth loss is modified across socioeconomic positions (SEPs) in Brazilian older adults.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis using data of The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSI‐Brazil 2015–2016). Effect Measure Modification (EMM) analyses using multivariable Poisson regression models tested whether the association between heavy drinking and lack of functional dentition (FD) varies in magnitude and direction according to levels of Household Wealth index (HWI) and educational attainment, assessed by the Relative Excess Risk due to Interaction (RERI). Sensitivity analyses using lifetime exposure to alcohol were performed.

Results

The analytical sample comprised 8078 participants. Heavy drinkers living in low‐wealth households and with lower education presented 7% (95% CI: 1.01–1.14) and 36% (95% CI: 1.28–1.44) higher prevalence of lack of FD, respectively, than their counterparts, and super‐additive associations were detected [RERI for HWI: 0.12 (95% CI: 0.02–0.21); RERI for educational attainment: 0.20 (95% CI: 0.09–0.30)]. The associations were also super‐additive in the sensitivity analyses when controlling for abstainer reference group bias.

Conclusion

We suggest that alcohol consumption disproportionately impacts the prevalence of tooth loss in Brazilian older adults from lower SEP groups.
Language patterns in Japanese patients with Alzheimer disease: A machine learning approach
Authors: Momota Yuki , Liang Kuo‐ching , Horigome Toshiro , Kitazawa Momoko , Eguchi Yoko , Takamiya Akihiro , Goto Akiko , Mimura Masaru , Kishimoto Taishiro
Published: December 2022

Aim

The authors applied natural language processing and machine learning to explore the disease‐related language patterns that warrant objective measures for assessing language ability in Japanese patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), while most previous studies have used large publicly available data sets in Euro‐American languages.

Methods

The authors obtained 276 speech samples from 42 patients with AD and 52 healthy controls, aged 50 years or older. A natural language processing library for Python was used, spaCy, with an add‐on library, GiNZA, which is a Japanese parser based on Universal Dependencies designed to facilitate multilingual parser development. The authors used eXtreme Gradient Boosting for our classification algorithm. Each unit of part‐of‐speech and dependency was tagged and counted to create features such as tag‐frequency and tag‐to‐tag transition‐frequency. Each feature's importance was computed during the 100‐fold repeated random subsampling validation and averaged.

Results

The model resulted in an accuracy of 0.84 (SD = 0.06), and an area under the curve of 0.90 (SD = 0.03). Among the features that were important for such predictions, seven of the top 10 features were related to part‐of‐speech, while the remaining three were related to dependency. A box plot analysis demonstrated that the appearance rates of content words–related features were lower among the patients, whereas those with stagnation‐related features were higher.

Conclusion

The current study demonstrated a promising level of accuracy for predicting AD and found the language patterns corresponding to the type of lexical‐semantic decline known as ‘empty speech’, which is regarded as a characteristic of AD.
Root‐released organic compounds in aquaponics and their potential effects on system performance
Authors: Senff Paula , Baßmann Björn , Kaiser Frederik , Harbach Harvey , Robin Christophe , Fontaine Pascal
Published: December 2022

Optimizing production in aquaponics requires in‐depth knowledge of the plant, fish and microbial compartments. This opinion paper is focused on root‐released organic compounds and their implication in aquaponics, an area that has received little to no direct research to date. Key scientific literature from two distinct fields of study—phytochemicals in aquaculture science and root exudates in plant science—reveals possible pathways and effects. Root exudates, passively or actively released by plants as a stress response, protection or signalling, have the potential to influence the systems microbiome and the cultured fish, as similar phytochemicals have been found to affect bacterial abundance and diversity and fish health and behaviour. These are key aspects to run aquaponics successfully, which shows the need for further investigation to better understand sources and mechanisms of such molecules and possible ways to harness beneficial effects that can guide new research directions as the role of aquaponics grows in recirculating aquaculture.
Potential of innovative marine aquaculture techniques to close nutrient cycles
Authors: Lothmann Ricarda , Sewilam Hani
Published: December 2022

Aquaculture is an established technique for producing marine species. However, it creates large amounts of nutrient‐rich waste. Therefore, it is worth examining the methods available to use these nutrients and close the nutrient cycle. This review covers research activities of different saline water methods for food production. These are Integrated Multi‐Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), Biofloc Technology (BFT) and marine aquaponics. IMTA combines on‐ and offshore aquaculture with macroalgae and filter feeder production. Commercial implementations have been achieved but are not widely used. Especially shrimp are suitable for cultivation in saline BFT systems. Few commercial deployments exist. There is a well‐established market for the products of IMTA and BFT systems. Marine aquaponics is increasingly being tested as part of an expansion of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and BFT systems, but commercial implementations are not known. Moreover, there is no established market for the resulting salt‐tolerant plants (halophytes). Market prices and popularity were evaluated to assess the economic potential of the different plant and aquaculture species farmed with IMTA, BFT and marine aquaponics. There are established markets for well‐known products, but therefore the competition is greater. Niche products are offered occasionally, but often achieve top prices. Closing nutrient cycles and increasing saline water usage for food production as well as high product diversity are necessary to mitigate the increasing pressure on freshwater resources and to be able to feed the growing world population. Therefore, IMTA, BFT and marine aquaponics are promising techniques for reducing pressure on freshwater resources and improving food supply.
Internet usage and the income gap between self‐employed individuals and employees: Evidence from China
Authors: Ma Xinxin
Published: December 2022

Using longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Studies, we investigate the impact of Internet usage on the income gap between self‐employed individuals and employees in China, considering the sample selection bias and individual heterogeneity issues. We divided employment statuses into three types―small entrepreneur, own‐account worker, and employee. The findings reveal the following: First, the returns from Internet usage differ by employment type, which is lower for self‐employed individuals than that for employees. Second, the difference in Internet usage contributes to widening the income gap, whereas the difference in the returns from Internet usage to income contributes to narrowing it. Finally, Internet usage exerts a greater impact on the income gap between employees and small entrepreneurs than that between employees and own‐account workers. These empirical results suggest that the division of Internet access may exacerbate the segmentation of the formal and informal sectors in China.
The default‐interventionist model underlies premise typicality weakening the premise diversity effect during category‐based induction: Event‐related potentials evidence
Authors: Lu Lijie , Yang Jiyue , Shu Rui , Long Changquan
Published: December 2022

The diversity effect during category‐based induction (CBI) means that the more diverse the evidence, the higher will be the conclusion's inductive strength. However, it is influenced by the premise typicality. Three competitive cognitive processing models account for this influence: (1) The pre‐emptive conflict resolution model assumes that only premise typicality activates; (2) the parallel‐competitive model assumes that premise typicality and diversity activate in parallel; and (3) the default‐interventionist model assumes that a default response of premise diversity first activates and is subsequently followed by premise typicality, or premise typicality activates first, followed by premise diversity. The timing of premise typicality affecting the diversity effect during CBI was measured using event‐related potentials to determine which cognitive model best explains this influence. Similar to previous studies, non‐diverse premise inductive tasks involving two typical premise categories were compared with diverse premise inductive tasks involving a typical and an atypical category. The results showed that non‐diverse conditions had higher “correct” response proportions, greater inductive strength, higher “definitely” response proportions, and shorter reaction times than diverse conditions, showing that premise typicality weakens the diversity effect. Moreover, the diverse premises elicited larger P2, smaller FN400, and greater frontal post‐N400‐positivity amplitudes than non‐diverse premises, suggesting that premise diversity was facilitated during a relatively early time window and revised by premise typicality in a later window. These results support the default‐interventionist in nature during thinking and reasoning.
Built Environment Professionals’ Perception of the Importance of Facility Management Professionals at the Design Stage
Authors: Oluwunmi Adedamola Olufunke
Published: December 2022

There is a misconception that facility management (FM) professionals are needed only after a building has been completed, in order to manage maintenance and operating expenses. Hence, they are hardly considered an essential part of the design team. To query this notion, this study investigated the perception of built environment professionals on the importance of FM professionals at the design stage. Quantitative research using a questionnaire survey was adopted. Three hundred and forty questionnaires were administered to four categories of built environment professionals (engineers - civil, electrical and mechanical; architects; quantity surveyors, and builders) in Lagos, Nigeria and 266 (78%) of the questionnaires were found useful for analysis. The data was analysed using percentages, mean, relative importance index (RII) and Kruskal-Wallis test. The outcome of the analysis showed that respondents agree that FM professionals are important at the design stage in order to review design from a maintenance, operation, and serviceability perspective. The study also revealed that architects and quantity surveyors are fully convinced that FM professionals are crucial at the design stage, while builders and engineers are not. It was suggested that the governing body of FM professionals, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), should organize forums where other built environment professionals can be educated on the importance of involving FM professionals at the design stage. Moreover, IFMA should leverage its membership base to secure meetings with owners of facilities with high running costs and demonstrate to them the savings accruable had they engaged FM professionals at the design stage. This is with a view to encouraging such owners to engage IFMA members from the onset of their subsequent projects. Doing so will ensure the delivery of cost-efficient facilities.
How Much Can VR Improve Spatial Experience? - A Case Study with a Commercial Building Project
Authors: Juan Yi-Kai , Chi Hao-Yun , Zhang Yang
Published: December 2022

With the development of Industry 4.0 and the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the global construction industry has undergone a rapid digital transformation, pushing the development of building information modeling (BIM), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies towards greater maturity. However, from the perspective of building developers and end users, does VR technology have any benefit for complex building projects? What are users' acceptance and evaluation on VR emerging technology? After constructing a VR simulation navigation system for an actual commercial building project, this study investigated and compared the differences between using the VR system and the traditional navigation system in the four dimensions of the technology acceptance model. The results showed that the subjects generally believed that the VR system has significant benefits in terms of usefulness, users’ attitude, and users’ intention, however, there is still room for improvement in the perceived ease of use. Moreover, feedback from developers supported the benefits of the VR technology validated the system effectiveness. Hence, VR and BIM technologies are recommended to be effectively integrated, in order to enhance the integrity of industrial applications and establish a new design communication and collaboration model for the architecture, engineering, construction, and facility management industry.
Effect of Facilities Management Service Quality on User Satisfaction and Institutional Image
Authors: Nicholas Yusuf , Mohammed Mohammed Ishaq , Ufere Kalu Joseph , Kuna Ahmad Ibrahim
Published: December 2022

The rapid change in all sectors of human endeavour disrupts the way businesses, organisations and institutions conduct their activities. In the service industry, provision of high quality service becomes the trending issue as service users increasingly becomes sophisticated. Studies have shown that provision of high quality service improves institutional image and influences level of users’ satisfaction. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of facilities management services quality on users’ satisfaction and institutional image in Gombe State University (GSU) with a view to providing evidence-based information for managerial decision. Using survey strategy, 666 questionnaires were administered, of which 458 were retrieved and used for analysis. The result show that FM service quality has statistically significant effect on institutional image (β = 0.979; t = 473.10; p < 0.05) and user satisfaction (β = 0.990; t = 1483.32; p < 0.05). The overall model performance indicated that FM service quality explained about 96% and 98% variation in institutional image and users’ satisfaction respectively. It is recommended that decision makers in higher education institutions (HEIs) should pay more attention to the management and upgrading of both core learning facilities and other support services to ensure sustained user satisfaction and institutional image.
Perspective and Practices of Social Sustainability across Construction Project Lifecycle
Authors: Kordi Nurul Elma , Belayutham Sheila , Che Ibrahim Che Khairil Izam
Published: December 2022

Previous research has suggested incorporating social sustainability into the construction project lifecycle. However, the understanding and means of incorporating social sustainability practices throughout the project lifecycle remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to fill a knowledge gap by investigating the “real experiences” and “perspectives” of industry practitioners on social sustainability practices throughout the construction project lifecycle. The study began with a literature review to identify social sustainability attributes, which were then confirmed through structured interviews with 15 practitioners, and the data were then analysed thematically. The practitioners unanimously agreed that the social sustainability attributes could be divided into nine (9) main attributes along with the 20 sub-attributes, namely: 1) safety and health; 2) impact assessment; 3) employment; 4) stakeholder involvement; 5) satisfaction; 6) quality education; 7) social procurement; 8) protection design/belonging; and 9) human right. The practitioners have positioned the nine main social sustainability attributes into the different phases of the construction project lifecycle, based on actual practices in their projects and their professional opinion on the subject matter. Stakeholder Involvement shows the largest gap for improvement (31.7%), followed by the attributes of Worker Health and Safety (23.3%), Protection of Cultural Heritage (21.7%), and Social Procurement (21.7%). Findings from this study would benefit the industry stakeholders in incorporating social sustainability at different phases of the construction project lifecycle. The framework gives a comprehensive understanding of social sustainability that can be utilized to enhance construction project planning and sustainable development. The novelty also lies in the consolidation of social sustainability attributes for practitioners in construction that could act as a reference for any future developments related to social sustainability in construction.
Repurposing Mitragynine as Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Agent Evidenced by In Silico Predictive Approach
Authors: Mohamed Tap Fatahiya , Zakaria Nor Hafizah , Abdul Majid Fadzilah Adibah , AKM Moyeenul Huq , Jamal Jamia Azdina
Published: December 2022

The ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) catastrophe calls for the development of therapeutic approaches to combat the disease. Therefore, an in silico study was conducted to evaluate druggability capacity of mitragynine, a natural indole alkaloid compound, using adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) prediction and molecular docking simulation to the region binding domain of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 RBD). The pharmacodynamics of mitragynine were evaluated for its druggability using SwissADME software, and molecular docking simulation was performed using using AutoDock software, using SARS-CoV-2 RBD (PDB ID: 6M0J) as the protein target retrieved from Protein Data Bank (PDB). ADME predicted that this compound has excellent druggability, transport properties, and pharmacokinetics, following Lipinski’s rule of five. Mitragynine is also nonmutagenic based on the AMES toxicity test. No PAINS alert was observed and synthetic acceptability score was 4.49, suggesting a moderately synthesised compound. Through the molecular docking approach, mitragynine successfully docked the binding site of SARS-CoV-2 RBD with a binding energy of -6.3kcal/mol and formed hydrogen bonds with the residue N501, which is one of the residues at the binding site of RBD. These findings, together with other therapeutic qualities of mitragynine warrant for more research into molecular dynamics, in vitro, and in vivo studies in COVID-19 therapy.
Molecular Identification of Podosphaera xanthii and the Susceptibility of Vigna Species Genotypes to Natural Infection of Powdery Mildew
Authors: Aumentado Herbert Dustin , Balendres Mark Angelo
Published: December 2022

Powdery mildew was observed on 20 genotypes of Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (yardlong beans) and 33 genotypes of V. radiata (mungbean) in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Powdery mildew was collected and then subjected to molecular characterization to identify the species associated with the disease. Based on combined microscopic observations and molecular identification, the species causing powdery mildew to yardlong bean and mungbean was Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & S. Takam. 2000 (Bas.: Erysiphe xanthii 1845). None of the yardlong beans and mungbean genotypes were resistant to powdery mildew, with disease incidence reaching up to 100% and with fungal colonies present on plant vines and both sides of leaves. This is the first report of powdery mildew disease caused by P. xanthii on yardlong bean and mungbean in the country. Both legume plant species are important food crops in the Philippines. The information from this study will be valuable in formulating other disease management approaches. The lack of resistant plants warrants further screening in legume germplasm collection to identify sources of resistance or tolerance.
Marine Water Pollution Index in Intensive Shrimp Cultivation System in Jembrana
Authors: Sumantra I Ketut , Soken Made Gede , Wiryawan I Wayan Gde , Wijaya I Made Wahyu
Published: December 2022

Intensive shrimp cultivation with a high level of shrimp biomass and feeding will also result in high waste disposal. This condition can cause pollution in the surrounding waters and reduce the quality of the environment, which will threaten the sustainability of the environment and the sustainability of shrimp cultivation on the shrimp farm. The problem is the pollution load of shrimp farm wastes in the intensive cultivation system and the pollution status of coastal waters. This study aims to analyse the pollution load of shrimp farm wastes and the pollution status of coastal waters. This research was carried out in the coastal area of Jembrana District for four months, from March to June 2022. It was conducted by collecting data directly in the field. Samples were taken by purposive sampling method, namely at the inlet and outlet of the reservoir, the outlet of the shrimp farm, the outlet of the WWTP, coastal waters and marine waters. The pollution load level of shrimp farm waste at each station refers to the Minister of Environment Decree No. 54 of 2004, and the marine water pollution index refers to the Minister of Environment Decree No. 115 of 2003. The pollution load of shrimp farm waste based on the parameter concentration value has passed the thresholds for the quality standards of source water and maintenance water, which are: 1). Free ammonia (NH3-N) at ST 1, ST 2, ST 3, and ST 4; 2). Nitrate (NO3-N) at ST 1, ST 2, ST 3, and ST 4. A load of waste generated from shrimp rearing farms was free ammonia at 3.3 tons/ha/year and nitrate at 555.96 kg/ha/year. In contrast, the pollution load of waste discharged into coastal waters from shrimp farm wastewater treatment plants was free ammonia at 2.06 tons/ha/year and nitrate at 475.96 kg/ha/year. The pollution index of coastal waters in the shrimp farm cultivation area in Jembrana District was classified as moderately polluted with a Pij of 7.67 and heavily polluted (Pij = 11.09) according to 80 days of observation and 110 days of shrimp rearing. Meanwhile, in marine waters, the level of pollution was in the moderate category during the 80-day and 110-day observation periods. Maintaining the preservation of the marine environment requires an analysis of the capacity of the organic waste of shrimp farms on the carrying capacity of the aquatic environment. Therefore, it can be used as a reference in formulating policies for the development of Vannamei shrimp cultivation areas in Jembrana District, Jembrana Regency.