bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical induction of gut β-like-cells by combined FoxO1/Notch inhibition as a glucose-lowering treatment for diabetes
Authors: Kitamoto Takumi , Lee Yun-Kyoung , Sultana Nishat , McKimpson Wendy M. , Watanabe Hitoshi , Du Wen , Fan Jason , Diaz Bryan , Lin Hua V. , Leibel Rudolph L. , Belvedere Sandro , Accili Domenico
Published: December 2021

Lifelong insulin replacement remains the mainstay of type 1 diabetes treatment. Genetic FoxO1 ablation promotes enteroendocrine cell (EECs) conversion into glucose-responsive β-like cells. Here, we tested whether chemical FoxO1 inhibitors can generate β-like gut cells. Pan-intestinal epithelial FoxO1 ablation expanded the EEC pool, induced β-like cells, and improved glucose tolerance in Ins2Akita/+ mice. This genetic effect was phenocopied by small molecule FoxO1 inhibitor, Cpd10. Cpd10 induced β-like cells that released insulin in response to glucose in mouse gut organoids, and this effect was strengthened by the Notch inhibitor, DBZ. In Ins2Akita/+ mice, a five-day course of either Cpd10 or DBZ induced insulin-immunoreactive β-like cells in the gut, lowered glycemia, and increased plasma insulin levels without apparent adverse effects. These results provide proof of principle of gut cell conversion into β-like cells by a small molecule FoxO1 inhibitor, paving the way for clinical applications.

One Sentence Summary

Orally available small molecule FoxO1 inhibitor phenocopied genetic FoxO1 ablation in generating gut β-like cells
Stem cell specific interferon stimulated gene expression is regulated by the formative pluripotency network through IRF1
Authors: Romeike Merrit , Spach Stephanie , Huber Marie , Feng Songjie , Vainorius Gintautas , Elling Ulrich , Buecker Christa
Published: December 2021

Stem cells intrinsically express a subset of genes which are normally associated with interferon stimulation, and thus the innate immunity response. Expression of these interferon stimulated genes (ISG) in stem cells is independent of external stimuli such as viral infection. Here we show that the interferon regulatory factor 1, Irf1, is directly controlled by the murine formative pluripotency gene regulatory network and therefore upregulated in the transition from naive to formative pluripotency. IRF1 in turn binds to regulatory regions of a conserved set of ISGs and is required for their faithful expression in formative pluripotent cells. IRF1 also binds to an enhancer of the formative pluripotency transcription factor Oct6 and is partially required for upregulation of Oct6. IRF1 therefore acts as a link between the formative pluripotency network and the regulation of innate immunity genes in formative pluripotency.
Collinearity of alpha-helices or beta strands in membrane proteins causes a characteristic peak centred on 4.9 Å resolution in diffraction intensity profiles, inducing higher diffraction anisotropy
Authors: Martin Juliette , Robert Xavier , Gouet Patrice , Falson Pierre , Chaptal Vincent
Published: December 2021

Diffraction anisotropy is a phenomenon that impacts more specifically membrane proteins, compared to soluble ones, but the reasons for this discrepancy remained unclear. Often, it is referred to a difference in resolution limits between highest and lowest diffraction limits as a signature for anisotropy. We show in this article that there is no simple correlation between anisotropy and difference in resolution limits, with notably a substantial number of structures displaying various anisotropy with no difference in resolution limits. We further investigated diffraction intensity profiles, and observed a peak centred on 4.9Å resolution more predominant in membrane proteins. Since this peak is in the region corresponding to secondary structures, we investigated the influence of secondary structure ratio. We showed that secondary structure content has little influence on this profile, while secondary structure collinearity in membrane proteins correlate with a stronger peak. Finally, we could further show that the presence of this peak is linked to higher diffraction anisotropy.

Synopsis

Membrane protein diffraction anisotropy originates from a peak at 4.9 Å resolution in intensity profiles, due to secondary structure collinearity.
Modeling diverse genetic subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma with a next-generation alveolar type 2 organoid platform
Authors: Naranjo Santiago , Cabana Christina M. , LaFave Lindsay M. , Westcott Peter M.K. , Romero Rodrigo , Ghosh Arkopravo , Liao Laura Z. , Schenkel Jason M. , Priore Isabella Del , Bhutkar Arjun , Yang Dian , Jacks Tyler
Published: December 2021

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most common histological subtype, accounts for 40% of all cases. While genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) recapitulate the histological progression and transcriptional evolution of human LUAD, they are slow and technically demanding. In contrast, cell line transplant models are fast and flexible, but are often derived from clonal idiosyncratic tumors that fail to capture the full spectrum of clinical disease. Organoid technologies provide a means to create next-generation cancer models that integrate the most relevant features of autochthonous and transplant-based systems, yet robust and faithful LUAD organoid platforms are currently lacking. Here, we describe optimized conditions to continuously expand murine alveolar type 2 cells (AT2), a prominent cell-of-origin for LUAD, in organoid culture. These organoids display canonical features of AT2 cells, including marker gene expression, the presence of lamellar bodies, and an ability to differentiate into the AT1 lineage. We used this system to develop flexible and versatile immunocompetent organoid-based models of KRAS and ALK-mutant LUAD. Notably, the resultant tumors closely resemble their autochthonous murine counterparts and human LUAD. In contrast to comparable organoid platforms, our system supports long-term maintenance of the AT2 cellular identity, providing unprecedented ease and reliability to study AT2 and LUAD biology in vitro and in vivo.
Cerebellar contributions to a brainwide network for reversal learning
Authors: Verpeut Jessica L. , Bergeler Silke , Kislin Mikhail , Townes F. William , Klibaite Ugne , Dhanerawala Zahra M. , Hoag Austin , Jung Caroline , Lee Junuk , Pisano Thomas J. , Seagraves Kelly M. , Shaevitz Joshua W. , Wang Samuel S.-H.
Published: December 2021

The cerebellum regulates nonmotor behavior, but the routes by which it exerts its influence are not well characterized. Here we report a necessary role for the posterior cerebellum in guiding a reversal learning task, acting through a network of diencephalic and neocortical structures. After chemogenetic inhibition of Purkinje cells in lobule VI or crus I, mice could learn a water Y-maze task but were impaired in their ability to reverse their initial choice. To map targets of perturbation, we imaged c-Fos activation in cleared whole brains using light-sheet microscopy. Reversal learning activated diencephalic regions and associative neocortical regions. Distinctive subsets of structures were altered by perturbation of lobule VI (including thalamus and habenula) and crus I (including hypothalamus and prelimbic/orbital cortex), and both perturbations influenced anterior cingulate and infralimbic cortex. To identify functional networks, we used correlated variation in c-Fos activation within each test group. Lobule VI inactivation weakened within-thalamus correlations, while crus I inactivation divided neocortical activity into well-separated sensorimotor and associative subnetworks. In both groups, high-throughput automated analysis of complex whole-body movement revealed deficiencies in across-day adaptation to an open field environment. Neither perturbation affected gait, within-day open-field adaptation, or location preference. Taken together, these experiments reveal brainwide systems for cerebellar influence that can affect multiple flexible responses.

Significance statement

The cerebellum, a part of all vertebrate brains, provides feedback to the rest of the brain on a split-second basis in response to unexpected events. The consequent changes can range from minute adjustments in movement to broad changes in behavior. In mice, we investigated cerebellar regions that help guide flexible behavior. Inactivation of these regions prevented mice from responding flexibly to a changing Y-shaped maze. We used light-sheet microscopy of c-fos protein expression to map brainwide effects of different stages of learning and cerebellar inactivation. Inactivation caused changes in thalamocortical activity that were similar in pattern, but opposite in sign, from normal learning. Lobule VI inactivation weakened thalamic functional networks, while crus I inactivation divided sensorimotor from associative neocortical networks. The same inactivation also impaired multiday adaptation to an open arena, as tracked using machine vision. Our work shows how the cerebellum’s influence over flexible response can be mediated by a widespread brain network.
Effects of polyvinylidene fluoride sealing on micro-arc oxidation coating of 7075 aluminum alloy
Authors: Li J. , Song R.G. , Qi X. , Wang C. , Jiang B.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this is to study the effects of organic sealing on the structure and performance of the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) film of 7075 aluminum alloy.

Design/methodology/approach

The 7075 aluminum alloy was treated by micro-arc oxidation technology, then the MAO films were sealed by polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) solutions with different concentrations to forms a MAO/PVDF composite coating on the surface of the 7075 aluminum alloy matrix.

Findings

The results show that the MAO/PVDF film thickness increased to 24.8 um. When the PVDF concentration was 8 g/L, and the sealed film reached best corrosion resistance and wear resistance.

Originality/value

The effects of different concentrations of PVDF on microarc oxidation properties of 7075 aluminum alloy were studied.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic upon fashion consumer behavior: focus on mass and luxury products
Authors: Pang Wonbae , Ko Jisu , Kim Sang Jin , Ko Eunju
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in overall consumption, but luxury sales within offline department stores rose significantly. This study identifies changes in the market environment variable (i.e. pandemics) and their impact on clothing consumption behavior. Moreover, it examines consumer behavior characteristics and provides implications for future fashion marketing and merchandising strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed post-pandemic consumption trends by obtaining luxury brand sales data from the Korea National Statistical Office and department stores. Moreover, it investigated luxury consumption fluctuation after the pandemic and statistically analyzed the characteristics of luxury consumers by customer level (CL) that affected sales.

Findings

The results of the study showed that offline (online) clothing consumption at mass markets has decreased (increased) since the pandemic, whereas sales of luxury fashion brands at offline department stores have grown. Moreover, the in-depth analysis showed a significant sales decline (increase) for clothing-centered (leather-centered) luxury brands.

Practical implications

If such a trend in luxury brand consumption continues, current polarization is expected to be maintained. Therefore, the study’s findings can be used as basic data in strengthening luxury brands and planning products.

Originality/value

This is the first work to undertake a comparative study of fashion consumer behavior, before and after the pandemic, involving the mass and luxury markets in South Korea.
Value-relevance of reported changes in fair values and measurement-related fair value disclosures: evidence from the Australian real estate industry
Authors: Sangchan Pinprapa , Bhuiyan Md. Borhan Uddin , Habib Ahsan
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate the value-relevance of changes in fair values of investment property reported under International Accounting Standards (IAS) 40 and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 13.

Design/methodology/approach

Multivariate regression models are used to regress cumulative market-adjusted stock returns of real estate firms on changes in fair values, along with control variables and corporate governance variables, in order to examine the research question.

Findings

Using hand-collected data from the Australian Real Estate Industry (AREI), the authors find that changes in fair values of investment property are value-relevant for equity investors. The authors further find that using unobservable inputs in an active market (Level 3 inputs) does not diminish the information content of fair values. The authors document that properties valued exclusively by directors have a significantly reduced value-relevance, whereas property valuations made collectively by both directors and independent valuers have superior value-relevance, possibly owing to the combination of inside knowledge and externally imposed monitoring. Collectively, the findings suggest that in the real estate industry, where unobservable inputs are commonly used to determine fair values of properties, the fair values determined subjectively are perceived to be sufficiently informative and relevant.

Research limitations/implications

The authors' findings have important implications for accounting standard-setters in considering whether an external valuation should be required and whether the extensive measurement-related fair value disclosure requirements are useful.

Originality/value

The study extends previous archival evidence and complements prior commentaries on experimental and analytical work in the Australian regulatory environment.
Non-GAAP measure disclosure and insider trading incentives in high-tech IPO firms
Authors: BC Bishal , Liu Bo
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether the non-generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) performance measures (NGMs) disclosure by high-tech initial public offering (IPO) firms signal firms’ efforts to maintain relatively high stock price levels before the expiration of the lock-up period to benefit insider selling.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors perform ordinary least squares and logit regressions using financial statement data and hand collected data on NGM disclosures for high-tech firms during the IPO process.

Findings

The authors find that the top executives of high-tech IPO firms with NGM disclosures are significantly more likely to sell and sell significantly more insider shares at the lock-up expiration than those of high-tech IPO firms without NGM disclosures. At the same time, while high-tech NGM firms have stock returns similar to their counterparts without NGMs for the period before the lock-up expiration, their stock returns are substantially lower after insider selling following the lock-up expiration.

Practical implications

By documenting the negative association between NGM disclosures and post-lockup expiration stock performance, the study highlights managerial deliberate optimism about the firm’s prospects which may not materialize. Hence, investors should take the NGM disclosures with a grain of salt.

Originality/value

This paper fills a notable void in the non-GAAP reporting literature by documenting a statistically and economically significant positive association between managerial equity trading incentives and NGM disclosures by high-tech IPO firms.
Cooperatives' performance relative to investor-owned firms: a non-distorted approach for the wine sector
Authors: D'Amato Antonio , Festa Giuseppe , Dhir Amandeep , Rossi Matteo
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether significant performance differences between cooperatives and investor-owned firms (IOFs) may exist.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on data from a sample of Italian wine firms for the period from 2009 to 2018, an adjusted measure of performance called earnings before interests, taxes, depreciations and amortizations gross the raw materials cost was adopted to consider the different objectives of cooperatives relative to those of IOFs.

Findings

Empirical evidence shows that in the context under analysis, cooperatives have performed better than IOFs.

Originality/value

Despite the theoretical literature suggesting that the cooperative form of organizations suffers from many weaknesses, these results highlight that cooperatives operating in the wine sector are at least as economically efficient as other organizations, and more specifically, they perform better than for-profit firms. Consequent implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Digital librarianship practice and open access technology use for sustainable development in Nigeria
Authors: Okuonghae Omorodion , Achugbue Edwin Iroroeavwo
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The continuous advancement in technology has disrupted practices in many sectors, including education. Thus, this study aims to examine digital librarianship practice and open access technology use for sustainable development in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey type of descriptive research design was adopted in this study while the population of the study comprised librarians in universities in Delta State. A total of 38 randomly selected librarians from four universities in Delta State were used for this study, and the data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Findings

This study revealed that the level of digital librarianship practice in university libraries in Delta State for sustainable development is low; just as social media tools, open source integrated library systems and Google Cloud Platforms are the most commonly used open access technologies in the libraries. Furthermore, this study showed that perennial factors such as poor funding of education, inadequate quality educational infrastructure, mismanagement of education fund among others are hindrance to sustainable development in the country’s educational sector.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited in its use of only one state (out of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja) in Nigeria for this research. Also, social desirability bias on the part of the respondents could have influenced the pattern in which the respondents reacted to items in section D.

Practical implications

This study has practical implications for the sensitization and training of librarians towards leveraging on the various open access technologies in delivering effective library and information services required in the Fourth Industrial revolution.

Originality/value

This study seeks to pioneer a new area of focus by examining digital librarianship practice and open access technology use as enablers of sustainable development.
Unity lost. Negotiating the ancient roots of Pedagogy in Sweden, 1865–1971
Authors: Hammar Isak , Östh Gustafsson Hampus
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to investigate attempts to safeguard classical humanism in secondary schools by appealing to a cultural-historical link with Antiquity, voiced in the face of educational reforms in Sweden between 1865 and 1971.

Design/methodology/approach

By focusing on the content of the pedagogical journal Pedagogisk Tidskrift, the article highlights a number of examples of how an ancient historical lineage was evoked and how historical knowledge was mobilized and contested in various ways.

Findings

The article argues that the enduring negotiation over the educational need to maintain a strong link with the ancient past was strained due to increasing scholarly specialization and thus entangled in competing views on reform and what was deemed “traditional” or “modern”.

Originality/value

From a larger perspective, the conflict over the role of Antiquity in Swedish secondary schools reveals a trajectory for the history of education as part of and later apart from a general history of the humanities. Classical history originally served as a common past from which Swedish culture and education developed, but later lost this integrating function within the burgeoning discipline of Pedagogy. The findings demonstrate the value of bringing the newly (re)formed history of humanities and history of education closer together.
Youth high unemployment/unemployability in South Africa: the unemployed graduates' perspectives
Authors: Mseleku Zethembe
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore youth graduate unemployment and unemployability as a development problem in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study applied a qualitative research method to elicit the perspectives of youth graduates regarding their unemployment and unemployability. A total of 30 face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with unemployed youth who recently graduated from five South African universities.

Findings

The results indicate that, as youth graduate unemployment increases in South Africa, graduates become hopeless in terms of securing employment. The participants attributed their unemployment to multidimensional factors that include limited demand in the labour market, skills mismatch and lack of work experience.

Research limitations/implications

This research exclusively focused on graduates from five South African universities; hence, the results of this small qualitative study cannot be generalised to the entire South African population. However, this paper offers important insights that may form the foundation for a nationwide study on a related topic.

Originality/value

This paper presents important insights that influence policy makers, government and other relevant stakeholders to develop alternative solutions to youth graduate unemployment. This paper recommends that government should play a critical role in bridging the gap between higher education and industry in order to address youth graduate unemployment. It also calls for a more cooperative effort between government, higher learning institutions and employers in order to create job opportunities for youth graduates in South Africa.
Preparing supply chain for the next disruption beyond COVID-19: managerial antecedents of supply chain resilience
Authors: Nikookar Ethan , Yanadori Yoshio
Published: December 2021

Purpose

COVID-19 once again showed the importance of building resilience in supply chains. Extant research on supply chain resilience management has successfully identified a set of organizational antecedents that contribute to supply chain resilience. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which these antecedents are developed within a firm. Drawing on the dynamic managerial capabilities theory, the current study aims to investigate the critical role that supply chain managers play in developing the organizational antecedents. Specifically, this study shows that supply chain managers' social capital, human capital and cognition are instrumental to the development of three organizational supply chain resilience antecedents: visibility, responsiveness and flexibility, which subsequently enhance the firm's supply chain resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employ survey data collected from 598 manufacturing firms in Australia, and Hayes and Preacher's (2014) parallel multiple mediator model to empirically test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings of the study establish that supply chain managers' social capital, human capital and cognition indeed have implications for developing supply chain resilience. Furthermore, the mediators through which managers' social capital, human capital and cognition improve supply chain resilience are identified in the current study.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the extant literature on supply chain resilience, investigating the role that supply chain managers play in developing the resilience of their firm.
The influence of information configuration on mobile game download
Authors: Tang Zhongjun , He Bo
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The study aims to show how several factors interact to promote mobile game download: the number of games released by a publisher, the quality of the games released, the popularity of a game's genre, the quality of borrowed intellectual property, the frequency of recommendations, intragenre ranking, consumer rating and review quantity.

Design/methodology/approach

Signaling theory was used to classify the mobile game information displayed on the Apple App Store into four groups. A conceptual model was proposed to illustrate the complex relationship between the information and download. Based on information on 203 mobile games in the seven days following their release, the model was empirically tested to identify the influence of information configuration on game download by combining fuzzy qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and a fuzzy cognitive map (FCM).

Findings

Three solutions were identified for high game download and two for low/medium. The number of previous games released by a publisher, intragenre ranking, consumer rating and review quantity are core conditions that reinforce high game download. The effects of one information type on another and on downloads change as coexisting information types change.

Originality/value

This study enriches existing knowledge about how combinations of multiple types of game information lead to game download and extends previous variance-based research. Combining an FCM with fsQCA can facilitate one’s understanding of the complex causal relationships between game information and download.
Information culture and recordkeeping: a case of Chinese enterprises
Authors: Lian Zhiying , Wang Ning , Oliver Gillian
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report findings from an investigation on the information culture and recordkeeping in two Chinese companies, exploring the interaction between information culture and recordkeeping.

Design/methodology/approach

On the basis of systematic literature review, this research investigates the information culture and recordkeeping in two Chinese companies by conducting in-depth interviews with the staff of the two companies.

Findings

The attitude of the leadership and the staff towards records and information is different in the result-oriented information culture and rule-following culture. If a company aims to stay innovative and competitive, an information culture that can facilitate the good governance of records and information should be developed, and information professionals can play a key role in working towards this.

Originality/value

As a qualitative study of information culture and recordkeeping in Chinese companies, this paper provides the insight into the interaction between information culture and recordkeeping, demonstrates the impact of information culture on information governance and identifies the factors influencing information culture in an organization.
Developing a resilient, robust and efficient supply network in Africa
Authors: Preston Jade F. , Cox Bruce A. , Rebeiz Paul P. , Breitbach Timothy W.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Supply chains need to balance competing objectives; in addition to efficiency, supply chains need to be resilient to adversarial and environmental interference and robust to uncertainties in long-term demand. Significant research has been conducted designing efficient supply chains and recent research has focused on resilient supply chain design. However, the integration of resilient and robust supply chain design is less well studied. The purpose of the paper is to include resilience and robustness into supply chain design.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops a method to include resilience and robustness into supply chain design. Using the region of West Africa, which is plagued with persisting logistical issues, the authors develop a regional risk assessment framework and then apply categorical risk to the countries of West Africa using publicly available data. A scenario reduction technique is used to focus on the highest risk scenarios for the model to be tractable. Next, the authors develop a mathematical model leveraging this framework to design a resilient supply network that minimizes cost while ensuring the network functions following a disruption. Finally, the authors examine the network's robustness to demand uncertainty via several plausible emergency scenarios.

Findings

The authors provide optimal sets of transshipment hubs with varying counts from 5 through 15 hubs. The authors determine there is no feasible solution that uses only five transshipment hubs. The authors' findings reinforce those seven transshipment hubs – the solution currently employed in West Africa – is the cheapest architecture to achieve resilience and robustness. Additionally, for each set of feasibility transshipment hubs, the authors provide connections between hubs and demand spokes.

Originality/value

While, at the time of this research, three other manuscripts incorporated both resilience and robustness of the authors' research unique solved the problem as a network flow instead of as a set covering problem. Additionally, the authors establish a novel risk framework to guide the required amount of redundancy, and finally the out research proposes a scenario reduction heuristic to allow tractable exploration of 512 possible demand scenarios.
Transforming the scope of the bank through fintechs: toward a modularized network governance
Authors: Łasak Piotr , Gancarczyk Marta
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to develop a theoretical framework of the transformation of the bank's scope driven by fintechs.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual foundations for a comprehensive transformation of the bank governance through financial technologies (fintechs) are underexplored. In order to develop such foundations, the authors adopt transaction cost economics (TCE), the concepts of external enablers and a modular organizational design, as well as a systematic literature review.

Findings

The results point to three scenarios of the banks' scope, depending on the adopted technological mechanisms and related effects that change the characteristics of organizational activities, justifying new bank boundaries. The most advanced application of fintechs results in a modularized network scenario leading to the emergence of financial ecosystems.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed micro-perspective of decisional rules in an individual organization is unique in the current literature that predominantly focuses on the banking sector at large. The identified scenarios are valuable for solid theoretical and empirical grounding and can be further exploited in decision simulations and empirical studies.

Practical implications

The proposed theoretical framework points to the rationales and consequences of adopted technologies for the boundaries of a bank organization.

Originality/value

This paper provides three contributions to the literature on technology-driven transformations of organizations with a focus on banks. First, the authors elaborate a theoretical framework for establishing the bank's boundaries in response to the expansion of financial technologies. Second, the authors add to the knowledge accumulation in the area of organizational transformations based on the ICT adoption, in particular, to the literature on the modular organizational design. Third, the authors contribute to the decision-maker practice by proposing the alternative options of banks' scope transformed through fintechs.
Preservice kindergarten teachers’ narratives during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Aizenberg Merav
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this current study is to follow the development of preservice kindergarten teachers during the practicum phase of their teacher education studies in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and following the first period of lockdown.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample included 38 preservice kindergarten teachers in their third and final year of studies who worked in kindergartens as student teachers. Data were collected using reflective journals written by the participants during their studies, after returning to work following the first lockdown. The author analyzed the data using the life-story narrative method.

Findings

The analysis identified four different types of early education preservice teachers based on their ability to cope with the shift in work conditions. The discussion offers insight into participants’ ability to effectively implement the professional tools they had acquired in the program and during the practicum.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include reliance on data from reflective journals, which may be missing details that would have been collected face-to-face. The study has important implications for the functioning of kindergarten teachers in times of crisis, which should be taken into account in the design of the teachers’ training programs.

Originality/value

The effect of the pandemic on the quality of the preservice kindergarten teachers’ training process, and its implications for functioning in other types of crises are discussed.
Is it all bad? Saudi EFL student perceptions of the role of anxiety when writing
Authors: Alfarwan Salah
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The study aims to ascertain the degree to which Saudi tertiary level writers experience foreign language (FL), English, writing anxiety compared with other variables known to affect writing, such as motivation, types of self-efficacy or teacher assistance, how anxiety relates to those other variables, and whether the effects of anxiety on writing are always perceived as negative.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used questionnaire and interview data following writing tasks in two conditions (practice and exam).

Findings

The key findings were that, regardless of level or writing condition, writing anxiety emerged as the least strongly experienced of all the relevant variables. From factor analysis, it was found to be associated with perceived general English language proficiency and writing strategic ability and not with topic knowledge, teacher or motivational variables. Contrary to the assumption in much of the literature, many participants experienced some anxiety as having a positive effect on their English writing, in certain ways and at certain times (dependent on the writing condition) and not solely a negative impact.

Research limitations/implications

Implications are drawn for theory and for the teaching of writing.

Practical implications

Drawn towards the end of the paper.

Social implications

Any research on factors that affect writing seemingly has practical value and implications in such contexts, in addition to interest for L2 writing research and theory.

Originality/value

There remains a question that applies across the whole field of anxiety research in education and applied linguistics concerning whether anxiety is, as often assumed, always bad and so constitutes something to be removed, or whether in fact some degree of anxiety is actually helpful (Alpert and Haber, 1960). This study aims to answer.
Leaf economics in a three‐dimensional environment: Testing leaf trait responses in vascular epiphytes to land use, climate and tree zone
Authors: Richards Jeannine H. , Damschen Ellen I.
Published: December 2021

The study of functional traits offers predictive power for community ecology. Particularly in cases where individual species are difficult to study, known properties of trait spectra, such as the leaf economics spectrum (LES), and trait–environment relationships can provide crucial generalizable information that can contribute to forecasts of distributional shifts in response to the abiotic effects of climate and land use changes.

Vascular epiphytes have been proposed as indicators of environmental change, but we know little about the ecology of most species. Key functional trait assumptions are based on terrestrial plants; testing these in epiphytes verifies their universality and will inform applying functional traits in predicting epiphyte responses to climate and land use change.

In this study, we use functional traits from 37 vascular epiphyte species from forests and shade coffee farms at two sites in northern Nicaragua. We compare correlations among traits and intraspecific trait variances with those of terrestrial plants and among epiphyte taxonomic groups. We also test trait responses to environmental differences between sites and land use types, and within zones of the tree.

We find that epiphyte leaf traits fall towards the slower end of the LES, but with about one‐third lower leaf nitrogen per change in specific leaf area (SLA) relative to terrestrial herbaceous plants. Bromeliads show less relationship between these traits than other epiphyte groups and also deviate in other trait interrelationships, suggesting unique leaf construction.

Trait–environment relationships varied most strongly along vertical gradients within trees, but some traits, including SLA and carbon isotope ratio, also responded to land use and site differences.

We present evidence that trait relationships established for terrestrial plants appear to translate to epiphytes, but identify some possible caveats. Strong trait response to vertical gradients within trees suggests that within‐canopy shifts could provide resilience to climate and land use changes for some epiphyte species.
Hydrogen isotopes (δ2H) of polyunsaturated fatty acids track bioconversion by zooplankton
Authors: Pilecky Matthias , Kämmer Samuel K. , Mathieu‐Resuge Margaux , Wassenaar Leonard I. , Taipale Sami J. , Martin‐Creuzburg Dominik , Kainz Martin J.
Published: December 2021

Organisms at the base of aquatic food webs synthesize essential nutrients, such as omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA), which are transferred to consumers at higher trophic levels. Many consumers, requiring n‐3 long‐chain (LC) PUFA, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have limited ability to biosynthesize them from the essential dietary precursor α‐linolenic acid (ALA) and thus rely on dietary provision of LC‐PUFA.

We investigated LC‐PUFA metabolism in freshwater zooplankton using stable hydrogen isotopes (δ2H) of fatty acids as tracers. We conducted feeding experiments with the freshwater keystone grazer Daphnia to quantify changes in the δ2H value of body FA in response to the FA composition of their food and the δ2H value of the ambient water.

The isotopic composition of LC‐PUFA changed in Daphnia, depending on the integration of 2H from ambient water during de novo synthesis or bioconversion from dietary precursors, allowing us to distinguish dietary from bioconverted EPA in body tissue. We tested the applicability of these laboratory findings in a field setting by analysing δ2H values of PUFA in primary producers and consumers in eutrophic ponds to track EPA sources of zooplankton.

Multilinear regression models that included conversion of ALA to EPA correlated better with zooplankton δ2HEPA than seston δ2HEPA at low dietary EPA supply.

This study provides evidence that zooplankton can compensate for low dietary EPA supply by activating LC‐PUFA biosynthesis and shows that herbivorous zooplankton play a crucial role in upgrading FA for higher trophic levels during low dietary EPA supply.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
The eightfold way of teaching psychological type
Authors: Shumate Carol
Published: December 2021

For Jung, the discovery of type differences represented the beginning of his individuation journey, and his experiential discovery can model the path of learning about psychological type. A course on psychological type can enable individuals to discover empirically Jung’s revelations about the psyche if it is structured like the individuation journey itself: beginning with differentiation of the preferred functions, proceeding to the inferior function at the midpoint of the journey, and concluding with an exploration of the unconscious functions. Such a pedagogical method mandates a non‐prescriptive approach that empowers students to lead their own learning, an approach expressed by the Taoist concept of wu wei. Psychological Types references wu wei as a means of balancing consciousness and the unconscious. Sometimes Jung’s typology is thought to deal only with consciousness, but in fact it represented Jung’s own eightfold way into the unconscious. To illustrate the dynamic interaction of conscious and unconscious functions, John Beebe’s eight‐function eight‐archetype model is an indispensable tool, because it illuminates the unconscious opposites inherent in each type and connects them with archetypal complexes. With the aid of Beebe’s model, students can plot a typological trajectory of development for their journey to the Self.
Typology, the eight‐function model, and archetypal complexes
Authors: Urhøj Hanne
Published: December 2021

This clinical presentation shows what insights a typology‐conscious analysis of clients and their families may lead to and points out what is added by applying John Beebe’s eight‐function, eight‐archetype model. To reflect on the inner balance between archetypal complexes in the eight‐function structure that holds our psyche, the author invites clients to do a typological analysis, including an analysis of their archetypal patterns, which may, itself, provoke anxiety. This article includes a presentation of ideas and experiences sparked when confronting these complexes in clinical work. Clients are introduced to six stages of coping with stress that may allow them to be more conscious of their complexes when triggered. These stages are Faint, Freeze, Flight, Fidget, Fight, and Flow. To identify whether the stress is physiological, emotional, or intellectual, the idea of the Triune Brain is introduced. The therapeutic work may lead to redemption from opposites, which is an ethical task.
Personalising the risk of conversion from laparoscopic to open hysterectomy in benign conditions: Development and external validation of risk prediction models
Authors: Madhvani Krupa , Fernandez‐Felix Borja M. , Zamora Javier , Carpenter Tyrone , Khan Khalid S.
Published: December 2021

Objective

To develop and validate novel prediction models to personalise the risk of conversion from laparoscopic to open hysterectomy in benign conditions.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Settings

English NHS Hospitals between 2011 and 2018.

Population

68 752 women undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign conditions.

Methods

We developed two multivariable logistic models using readily available clinical information, one for the pre‐operative setting and another for operative decision‐making using additional surgical information, using 2011–2016 data in five regions (24 806 women). We validated them (a) temporally in the same regions using 2017–2018 data (12 438 women); (b) geographically in the same time‐period using data from three different regions (22 024 women); and (c) temporally and geographically using 2017–2018 data in three different regions (9484 women).

Main Outcome Measures

Conversion from laparoscopic to open hysterectomy.

Results

Conversions occurred in 6.8% (1687/24 806) of hysterectomies in the development group, and in 5.5% (681/12 438) in the temporal, 5.9% (1297/22 204) in the geographical and 5.2% (488/9484) in the temporal and geographical validation groups. In the development cohort, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values for the pre‐operative and operative models were 0.65 and 0.67, respectively. In the validation cohorts the corresponding values were 0.65 and 0.66 (temporal), 0.66 and 0.68 (geographical) and 0.65 and 0.68 (temporal and geographical), respectively. Factors predictive of conversion included age, Asian ethnicity, obesity, fibroids, adenomyosis, endometriosis and adhesions. Adhesions were the most predictive (odds ratio 2.54, 95% confidence interval 2.22–2.90).

Conclusion

The models for predicting conversions showed acceptable performance and transferability.

Tweetable Abstract

Novel tool to personalise the risk of conversion from laparoscopic to open hysterectomy in benign conditions.
Focus on prevention: The public is more supportive of “overdose prevention sites” than they are of “safe injection facilities”
Authors: Socia Kelly M. , Stone Rebecca , Palacios Wilson R. , Cluverius John
Published: December 2021

Research Summary: Using a national survey experiment, we examined Americans’ national and local‐level support for facilities that provide a safer space for individuals to consume illicit drugs under the supervision of medical professionals. We determined whether support levels differed based on (1) the label used to refer to such facilities (“safe injection facilities” vs. “overdose prevention sites”), (2) whether beneficial information is provided about these facilities regarding either a crime control framework or a public health framework, or not. We also considered how national support differed from local‐level support, and how national or local‐level perceptions of the opioid epidemic influenced support.

Policy Implications: We found that the label used to refer to these facilities was the most important factor influencing support levels. The public was also much more supportive of these facilities at the national level than at the local level, which suggests that support for these facilities is impacted by “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) concerns. Perceptions of an opioid epidemic either nationally or locally also influenced support levels. The major policy takeaways are that (1) proponents of these facilities should refer to them using labels that highlight overdose prevention (“overdose prevention site”), rather than safe drug use (“safe injection facility”) and (2) discussions about local facilities should be placed in the context of both the national and local opioid epidemic to help mitigate NIMBY concerns.
Negative reviews online: an exploratory analysis of patient complaints about dental services in Western Australia
Authors: Kroon M , Park JS
Published: December 2021

Objective

Rates of online reviews are continually increasing. Coinciding with this, is the beneficial abundance of subjective information that is now available to patients. Such information can be persuasive in selecting a healthcare provider. This analysis of one‐and‐two‐star Google reviews received by dental practices within the Perth metropolitan region aims to identify common themes within dental practice complaints.

Methods

This mixed‐methods study was conducted by gathering reviews from the ‘Google review’ feature, which have been published by users between 2013 and 2020. These data were then coded into recognised themes, and crucial quotes were selected and de‐identified creating a narrative about the themes present which formed the qualitative component of this research.

Results

A total of 413 negative reviews were included in this study. From these, 1071 specific complaints were identified. Major themes identified included treatment issues, staffing, communication and professionalism, finance, and premise. Spread across these five themes were an additional thirty‐eight subthemes. Overall, treatment was a primary concern for patients, making up 37.1% of the results. Within the subthemes ‘treatment dissatisfaction (unspecified)’ was also high, at 23.1%.

Conclusion

This study identified the most common complaints received by dental clinics on Google review within the Perth metropolitan area. Further investigation is required to provide supplementary data regarding factors that may influence complaint rates and types, such as the socio‐economic status of areas and geographical factors such as distance from the Perth metropolitan.