bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ICT in higher education: learning as usual or a “new normal”?
Authors: Adtani Rachana , Arora Rachna , Raut Rajesh , Neelam Netra
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study examines students’ perspectives towards the utilization of information and communication technology (ICT), during this sudden shift to remote online education due to COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. The aim is to identify the predictors of learning outcomes and understand if they are here to exist as the new normal.

Design/methodology/approach

The independent variable motivation, managing emotion, and acceptability of ICT, are examined as potential determinants of perceived learning outcomes in remote online education. An aggregate of 220 responses from the students of management graduates in higher education were collected to examine the predictors of learning outcomes using regression model in SPSS software. In addition, ANOVA technique was used to compare and assess managing emotion, motivation, and ICT acceptability of male and female students in remote online education.

Findings

Results indicate that motivation, managing emotion and acceptability of ICT are significant predictors, which affect students’ perceived learning outcomes. Furthermore, the study reveals that managing emotions and motivation levels of female students are higher than male students in remote online education.

Practical implications

Research identifies the antecedents of student learning outcomes in management education. These finding may be useful for educators and management to understand the factors influencing students' learning outcomes and to develop various modules to make remote online learning effective.

Originality/value

This research contributes significantly in investigating the antecedents of students learning outcome and provide insights regarding student’s perspective towards sudden shift to remote online education due to COVID-19 worldwide pandemic.
Food labeling in the European Union: a review of existing approaches
Authors: Peonides Margarita , Knoll Verena , Gerstner Nina , Heiss Raffael , Frischhut Markus , Gokani Nikhil
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This review explores the phenomenon of front-of-pack nutrition labels (FoPNLs) in the European Union (EU). FoPNLs highlight the nutritional quality of food and non-alcoholic beverages and help consumers to make healthier choices. The review explores different types of FoPNLs and evaluates their effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

A policy analysis was conducted, relying on extant academic literature, grey literature and policy documents. The use of current FoPNLs is interpreted in light of national and economic interests.

Findings

Our review identifies and describes seven government endorsed FoPNLs that are currently used in the EU. Five are positive endorsement labels (Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Lithuania, Slovenia and Sweden), which only provide a positive indication on more healthy products. The Keyhole is used in three EU countries (Denmark, Lithuania and Sweden), while the others are used in one country each. The Nutri-Score represents a summary label, which provides an overall grade of how healthy a product is. It is used in six countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Luxembourg). Finally, the Nutrinform battery is a nutrient-specific non-interpretive scheme, indicating the content of nutrients in a portion of a food product. All identified labels are only used on a voluntary basis, encouraging selective use.

Originality/value

This review contributes to a significant discussion about food labeling in the EU. It summarizes existing approaches and evaluates them in terms of their effectiveness. The current schemes in use reflect regional clustering. The most common scheme is the Nutri-Score. This is predominantly found in western EU states. Another major label is the Keyhole, with summary endorsement schemes being prevalent in northern EU states. The least common is Nutrinform, which has some support in southern EU states. The Nutri-score is most effective although economic interests are pushing for the Nutrinform battery in a small number of states. Finally, the review suggests that all existing FoPNLs are voluntary, these labels fail to provide consumers with adequate information about nutrition quality of food products. The EU needs to mobilize support to agree on a single one.
A social constructivist perspective on novice entrepreneurial learning in business incubators
Authors: Man Thomas Wing Yan , Berger Ron , Rachamim Matti
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Using the social constructivist perspective of learning, this study aims to examine the patterns and the key areas of entrepreneurial learning based on a case study of 16 participants who were the incubatees of two technology-based business incubators in China. The key research question is: how do novice entrepreneurs, focusing on technology-based business incubators, learn from a social constructivist perspective?

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers applied a qualitative methodology in this study as they wanted to understand better the complexity of the learning process that is hard to achieve quantitatively. The qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews with the incubatees, who were the managers and owners of their businesses. The interviews with the entrepreneurs were mainly focused on the learning patterns and the factors influencing learning through the use of the critical incident technique.

Findings

This will allow incubator managers to better evaluate the extent of effective entrepreneurial learning within the incubator's eco-system. The results show that the participants learn through socially constructivist systems that are structured around the support provided by the incubators. Learning in this context takes place in an extended spectrum, and participants are more interested in learning from networking with experienced entrepreneurs rather than from other incubatees or formal courses. Findings of this study help incubator managers and novice entrepreneurs to better shape learning and teamwork in an effort to improve the learning process. Policy makers should consider introducing schemes that encourage novice entrepreneurs to exhibit the creativity and innovation behaviour reported by experienced entrepreneurs.

Research limitations/implications

The focus of this study is primarily on incubators as the context of learning, whereas the macro-environmental factors, such as the socio-cultural and regulatory environments in China, were considered as playing a subtle role and would affect the incubatees' learning indirectly. The paper is based on a relatively small sample size and is geographically located in Ningbo, China. As such, the authors call for further research for comparative studies with a larger sample size so that a possible theory of entrepreneurial learning in the context of incubators might emerge in the future.
Trust in sharing accommodation sector: an institution-based trust perspective
Authors: Zhao Jialing , Wang Hongwei , Zhang Ying , Huang Yuxin
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The hosts' third-party certifications in the sharing accommodation platforms have largely overlooked how the provision of such certification information could facilitate the trust-building process and subsequently influence consumers' purchase intention. Adopting an institution-based trust perspective, the authors differentiate various types of hosts' certification information (i.e. financial certification and social certification) and examine their role in the trust-building process between the hosts and the customers on sharing accommodation platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the property-month level data of Airbnb Beijing from January 2019 to June 2020. Econometric analyses are adopted to evaluate the impact of institution-based trust on consumers' purchase intention. Specifically, the ordinary least square is used to testify the relationship between institution-based trust and purchase intention.

Findings

The empirical results show that the information on institution-based trust increases the likelihood that customers would reach purchase decisions. More importantly, results show that both financial certification and social certification affect consumers' purchase intention. The results further show that listings' attributes moderate the relationship between institution-based trust and customer purchase intention. Moreover, the authors find that “Superhost” and “Experience” positively moderate such relationships.

Originality/value

This paper confirms that the host certification fosters institution-based trust and reveals the impact of hosts' certification on consumers' purchase intentions. This study is among one of the first studies to incorporate institution-based trust into the trust formation on the sharing economy platform, which can improve the understanding of trust in the sharing economy context. The authors emphasize the importance of trust types on sharing economy platforms.
Lender retention of online prosocial lending: a self-determination perspective
Authors: Zhang Xi , Cheng Yihang , Liu Juan , Zhao Hongke , Xu Dongming , Li Yulong
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Prosocial lending in online crowdfunding has flourished in recent years, and it has become a new way to fundraise for philanthropy. However, there is almost a 70% user attrition rate in crowdfunding. The purpose of this study is to understand what the lender’s lending experience and social connection influence lender retention of online prosocial lending from a self-determination perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on self-determination theory (SDT), this research utilizes a quantifiable method for factors of the lender's lending experience and social connection. Additionally, the research constructs economic models to explore the impacts of these factors acting as the necessary conditions for basic psychological needs on lender retention, using a large-scale sample of over 380,000 lenders from Kiva.

Findings

The results indicate that, from the lender's lending experience aspect, the loan narratives with more profit language in the last lending and the failure of past participation are negatively related to lender retention. Regarding the lender's social connection aspect, their friends or small lending teams are positively related to lender retention, while whether they are invited and lending team size show negative influence. Furthermore, results indicate the moderating effects of the disclosure of lending motivation.

Originality/value

This research explores the mechanism of lender retention of online prosocial lending, providing a self-determination perspective about how previous experience influences long-term lending behavior. The study offers significant implications for the literature on online philanthropy, SDT and user retention of online platforms. At the same time, the study provides an understanding of the effects of different aspects of SDT.
A delicate balance: how physicians manage change towards collaborative care within their institutions
Authors: Vermond Debbie , de Groot Esther , de Wit Niek , Zwart Dorien
Published: September 2022

Purpose

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020–2022, the immutable and fragmented character of our healthcare system changed. Healthcare professionals and their institutional leads proved remarkably agile and managed to change toward collaborative care. The purpose of this paper is to examine experiences with collaborative practice in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic in two regions in the Netherlands, to explore and understand the relationship between policy and practice and the potential development of new collaborative care routines.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a methodology informed by theories that have a focus on professional working practice (so called “activity theory”) or the institutional decision-makers (discursive institutionalism), respectively, the perspective of physicians on the relationship between policy and practice was explored. Transcripts of meetings with physicians from different institutions and medical specialities about their collaborative COVID-19 care were qualitatively analysed.

Findings

The findings show how change during COVID-19 was primarily initiated from the bottom-up. Cultural-cognitive and normative forces in professional, collaborative working practice triggered the creation of new relationships and sharing of resources and capacity. The importance of top-down regulatory forces from institutional leads was less evident. Yet, both (bottom-up) professional legitimacy and (top-down) institutional support are mentioned as necessary by healthcare professionals to develop and sustain new collaborative routines.

Practical implications

The COVID-19 crisis provided opportunity to build better healthcare infrastructure by learning from the responses to this pandemic. Now is the time to find ways to integrate new ways of working initiated from the bottom-up with those longstanding ones initiated from top-down.

Originality

This paper presents a combination of theories for understanding collaboration in healthcare, which can inform future research into collaborative care initiatives.
The importance of marketing mix planning and customer orientation for venture capital–financed startups: impacts on valuation, performance, and survival
Authors: Woehler Julia , Ernst Cornelia
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Existing literature shows that marketing capabilities of new ventures are critical success factors affecting venture capital funding, startup performance and business failure. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether venture capitalists reward extensive marketing strategies in their startup valuation and whether the marketing mix planning and early strategies on customer orientation predict long-term development of startups.

Design/methodology/approach

To address these gaps, this study investigate 107 business plans of new ventures which received venture capital based on these planning documents. The authors use computer-aided text analysis and regression analyses.

Findings

This study’s findings show that customer orientation has positive effects on new venture performance and intensive marketing mix planning increases the likelihood of survival. However, venture capitalists decrease their startup valuation when they read too much about customer orientation and operative marketing mix planning.

Originality/value

This study relies on unique internal documents and therefore provides valuable and new insights for research and practice. Further, this study investigate various short- and long-term effects from marketing and customer orientation for a startups’ development.
A new cross-efficiency DEA approach for measuring the safety efficiency of China's construction industry
Authors: Liao Li-Huan , Chen Lei , Chang Yu
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Safety efficiency is the key to balance safety and production in construction industry; but the existing safety efficiency evaluation methods have the limitations of overestimating efficiency and ignoring undesirable outputs; therefore, according to the characteristics of safety production in construction industry, this paper innovatively develops a new cross-efficiency data envelopment analysis method to analyze safety efficiency, which can solve the limitations of traditional methods; and then the safety efficiency and its influencing factors of China's construction industry are analyzed, and some useful conclusions are obtained to improve its safety efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

A new cross-efficiency data envelopment analysis method with undesirable outputs is proposed; and the two-stage efficiency analysis framework is designed.

Findings

First, the construction industries in different areas have different reasons for affecting their safety efficiency; second, the evaluation results of global safety priority tend to be more acceptable; third, frequent safety accidents and low resource utilization lead to a slow downward trend of the safety efficiency of China's construction industry in the long run; fourth, construction engineering supervision, construction industrial scale, and construction industrial structure have the significant impact on safety efficiency.

Originality/value

Theoretically, a new cross-efficiency data envelopment analysis method with undesirable outputs is proposed for evaluating safety efficiency; practically, the safety efficiency and its influencing factors of China's construction industry are analyzed.
Memory impact of hygrothermal effect in a hollow cylinder by theory of uncoupled-coupled heat and moisture
Authors: Verma Jyoti , Lamba Navneet Kumar , Deshmukh K.C.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to prepare the hygrothermal model with fraction order theory in a mathematical aspect.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, linear hygrothermoelastic theory is adopted to analyze and discuss the memory effect in a finite length hollow cylinder subjected to hygrothermal loading.

Findings

Analytical solutions of temperature, moisture and stresses are obtained in this study by using the decoupling technique and the method of Integral transform.

Originality/value

The paper deals with the original work based on hygrothermal response in hollow cylinder by theory of uncoupled-coupled heat and moisture.
Student housing design implications for single-room occupancy during COVID-19 in Ghana
Authors: Appau Miller Williams , Attakora-Amaniampong Elvis , Tannor Oliver
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The adaptation of emerging building designs for single room occupancy in off-campus university student housing during the COVID-19 pandemic is evolving. However, assessing its effects on student satisfaction to compensate for COVID-19-associated impacts is missing. As a result, the study examines the satisfaction of students with emerging building designs in single-room off-campus student housing in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is quantitatively based on positivist philosophical thinking. A purposive sample of 202 purpose-built student housing facilities was selected across public and private universities in Ghana. Using systematic stratified sampling, the study sampled 1,212 student residents through a survey. A principal component method (PCM) was used to assess the availability of 10 emerging building design and basic building services variables across the study location. Multiple regression was employed to determine the satisfaction and predict potential variables for policy formulation.

Findings

The analysis revealed that private space for social distancing, the availability of hands-free fittings in the toilet and bathroom, and the availability of hands-free fixtures in the kitchen unit was common single-room self-occupancy support systems. However, there is a huge gap in the availability of key emerging building designs and basic building services and their associated effects on students' satisfaction across the study locations. Therefore, relevant proposals to serve as fundamental requirements for developing an off-campus student housing model during pandemics were indicated.

Research limitations/implications

It is seen that emerging building designs across the housing sector are equally evolving among off-campus student housing. The study helped to understand that student satisfaction with emerging building designs and basic services is a motivational need for students. However, the preparedness of student housing owners to adopt and satisfy the requirements of these design require further studies.

Originality/value

While COVID-19 and its associated effect keep evolving in building design requirements, it is equally relevant to assess the students' satisfaction with these designs and services among single room occupancy-made off-campus student housing. This research is limited to Africa.
Understanding physicians' motivations for community participation and content contribution in online health communities
Authors: Chen Qin , Jin Jiahua , Yan Xiangbin
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Since the success of online communities depend on physicians' participation, understanding factors that influence community participation and content contribution are critical for online health communities (OHCs). Drawing on the self-determination theory (SDT), an empirical model was proposed to explore the effects of social returns and economic returns on physicians' community participation, private content contribution and public content contribution, and the moderating effect of their online seniority. This paper aims to address these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data of 4,343 physicians were collected from a Chinese OHC, and ordinary least squares (OLS) and negative binomial regression models were employed to verify the proposed theoretical model.

Findings

The authors’ results indicate that both social and economic returns have a positive effect on physicians' community participation and private content contribution, and their online seniority strengthens the positive effects of economic returns on community participation and private content contribution.

Originality/value

The authors’ research extends physicians' community participation by dividing content contribution into private and public, and enhances our understanding of the determinants of physicians' participation in OHCs by exploring the effects of social and economic returns, as well as the moderating effect of online seniority. Their findings contribute to the literature on e-Health and user participation, and provide management implications for OHC managers.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available athttps://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-11-2021-0615/
Experiences and meaning of loneliness beyond age and group identity
Authors: Malli Melina Aikaterini , Ryan Sara , Maddison Jane , Kharicha Kalpa
Published: September 2022

Research into loneliness has focussed on subpopulations, and in particular those defined by age, identifying specific contextual factors contributing to their experiences. We suggest that the ‘essence’ of loneliness cannot be fully captured by examining a unitary group and argue for broader and diverse sampling to better understand how loneliness is experienced. Informed by a symbolic interactionist approach, this study aims to elucidate experiences and meaning of loneliness among a heterogeneous group of adults. In depth interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of 37 individuals, aged 18–71 years who had experienced loneliness in the UK. Using thematic analysis, four themes were identified: Loneliness as lacking, loneliness as abandonment, lingering loneliness and the unspoken and trivialised experience of loneliness. Our analysis signals the complexity of loneliness  did not necessarily conform to one‐dimensional conceptualisations of the phenomenon. Loneliness is linked to interpersonal relationships, but also associated with participants’ roles and identity within society. Thus, society exacerbates and creates loneliness. Implications for the support and provision of loneliness are also discussed.
Transcriptome characterization and profiling related to detoxification enzyme genes in Chilo sacchariphagus (Lepidoptera Crambidae)
Authors: Liu Jianbai , Yi Jiequn , Wu Han , Lu Yinglin , Mao Yongkai , Lin Mingjiang , Li Jihu , An Yuxing
Published: September 2022

Chilo sacchariphagus Bojeris is one of the most dangerous pests of sugarcane. The larvae damage the seedlings and stems of sugarcane and also harm sorghum, corn and other crops, which causes great economic losses to the sugar industry every year. Transcriptome sequencing and expression profile analysis of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP), carboxylesterase and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) were carried out, which could provide a basis for drug resistance monitoring and drug resistance management of the pest. Unigenes of C. sacchariphagus were obtained by using the Illumina HiSeqTM 4,000 platform as 150 bp paired‐end reads. A total of 173,013 unigenes were obtained after data assembly and redundancy removal. 28,330 unigenes were annotated based on multiple public databases, and the number of unigenes annotated by NR database was the largest. According to the transcriptome analysis, 214 candidate detoxification enzyme genes were identified, including 44 GSTs, 138 CYPs, and 32 CarEs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the CYPs were mainly clustered in CYP4, CYP6, CYP9 and CYP12 subfamilies; CarEs mainly include antennal CarEs, venom CarEs and CarEs NOTUM; while the GSTs cluster mainly contains subfamilies such as delta, omega, epsilon, theta, zeta and sigma. In this study, transcriptome information of C. sacchariphagus was obtained, and genes related to detoxification were identified, which could provide data and a basis for the further study of detoxification and host plant adaptation mechanism of C. sacchariphagus.
Association between triglyceride glucose index and carotid intima‐media thickness in obese and nonobese adults
Authors: Jia Xiaojing , Zhu Yuanyue , Qi Yan , Zheng Ruizhi , Lin Lin , Hu Chunyan , Zhang Yi , Wu Xueyan , Qi Hongyan , Wei Ran , Zhang Jie , Xu Min , Xu Yu , Wang Tiange , Zhao Zhiyun , Chen Yuhong , Bi Yufang , Wang Weiqing , Li Mian , Lu Jieli
Published: September 2022

Background

The triglyceride glucose (TyG) index is closely associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. However, the association remains inconclusive among obese and nonobese individuals.

Methods

This prospective study was conducted in 5751 adults with normal carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT) at baseline. We divided the population into four groups based on the TyG index, which was calculated by the following formula: Ln (fasting triglycerides [mg/dL] × fasting glucose [mg/dL]/2). Information on CIMT was acquired by ultrasonography. Incident elevated CIMT was defined as IMT values greater than 0.9 mm at follow‐up. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the associations between TyG index and elevated CIMT were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

After a median follow‐up of 4.3 years, 722 (12.6%) individuals had progressed to elevated CIMT. Compared with the second quartile of the TyG index, the first and fourth quartile both conferred higher risks of elevated CIMT after adjusting for potential confounders. In the total population, the ORs for the first and fourth quartile were 1.29 (95% CI, 1.00‐1.66) and 1.42 (95% CI, 1.11‐1.83), respectively. Restricted cubic splines demonstrated an approximately U‐shaped association between TyG index and elevated CIMT among the total and nonobese adults (P for nonlinearity <.05), but not in those with general or abdominal obesity.

Conclusions

A U‐shaped association was observed between TyG index and elevated CIMT only among nonobese Chinese adults.
Ecological Imperialism: A World‐Systems Approach
Authors: Frame Mariko L.
Published: September 2022

This article explores the complex relationships between global ecological crises and ecological imperialism through world‐systems analysis. In a hierarchical capitalist world system, neoliberal globalization has granted global capital seemingly unfettered exploitation of nature across the planet. For the impoverished and marginalized in the Global South, this globalization is experienced as a form of contemporary ecological imperialism where the resources of the Global South are funneled to nation‐states in the Global North in the form of consumer goods and “ecologically unequal exchange,” while profits are siphoned off by transnational corporations. This ecological imperialism persists, but it is largely overlooked in current debates about environmentalism in the 21st century.
French Ecological Imperialism: A Postcolonial Approach
Authors: Njoh Ambe J.
Published: September 2022

Ecological imperialism is receiving increasing attention from analysts. However, the extant literature on the subject contains two major gaps. First, the non‐English‐speaking world is woefully underrepresented. Second, previous analyses have employed mainly Marxist analytical frameworks; consequently, the efficacy of alternative frameworks in analyzing ecological imperialism remains largely undeveloped. To bridge these two gaps, I focus on two areas: 1) the role of France, and 2) the value of postcolonialism as an analytic framework. France is a non‐English‐speaking polity at the forefront of colonialism and imperialism and one with a devastating ecological footprint. It influences contemporary development efforts in the countries it controlled as colonies, and it continues to dominate them as a neocolonial power. Postcolonialism serves as a versatile analytical framework for understanding and changing ecological imperialism.
Expanding the genetic spectrum of tooth agenesis using whole‐exome sequencing
Authors: Yu Kang , Dou Jiaqi , Huang Wei , Wang Feng , Wu Yiqun
Published: September 2022

Tooth agenesis is a high genetic heterogeneous disorder with more than 80 genes identified as associated molecular causes. The present study aimed to detect the possible pathogenic variants in a cohort of well‐characterized probands with a clinical diagnosis of tooth agenesis. We performed whole‐exome sequencing (WES) in 131 tooth agenesis patients with no previously identified molecular diagnosis. All the potential pathogenic variants were verified by Sanger sequencing in patients and their family members. Seventy‐three patients were genetically diagnosed in 131 unrelated Chinese patients with tooth agenesis, providing a positive molecular diagnostic rate of 55.7%, including 53.8% (49/91) in the non‐syndromic tooth agenesis (NSTA) group, and 60.0% (24/40) in syndromic tooth agenesis (STA) group. A total of 75 variants from 13 different genes were identified, including 33 novel variants, and WNT10A and EDA are the most common causative genes associated with non‐syndromic and syndromic tooth agenesis, respectively. This study further extends the variant spectrum and clinical profiles of tooth agenesis, which has a positive significance for clinical practice, genetic diagnosis, prenatal counseling and future treatment.
Gender diversity, sustainability reporting, CEO overconfidence, and efficient risk‐taking: Evidence from South Asian agri‐food industry
Authors: Yahya Farzan , Meiling Li , Lee Chien‐Chiang , Waqas Muhammad , Shaohua Zhang
Published: September 2022

This article aims to understand the impact of board gender diversity (BGD) on the firm's deviation from efficient risk‐taking (DERT) along with the mediating effect of sustainability reporting and the moderating effect of CEO overconfidence. The sample consists of 77 South Asian agri‐food firms over the period 2010–2019. To account for endogeneity and other statistical biases, we use a system GMM approach. The results show that there is a non‐monotonic relationship between BGD and DERT. Consistent with critical mass theory, we find that at least three women on board (WOB) are required to reduce the firm's DERT. The findings of the study also reveal that the overconfident CEO may restrict the female directors to achieve the firm's efficient risk‐taking. The evidence further suggests that sustainability reporting quality (SRQ) does not mediate the link between BGD and a firm's DERT. The robustness tests are performed based on alternative risk proxy and the likelihood of financial distress. Our results theoretically support stakeholder, critical mass, and agency perspective that South Asian capital markets should enhance the representation of WOB to mitigate agency conflicts and to improve long‐term firm sustainability.
An intelligent sustainable efficient transmission internet protocol to switch between User Datagram Protocol and Transmission Control Protocol in IoT computing
Authors: Mahmoodi Khaniabadi Shadi , Javadpour Amir , Gheisari Mehdi , Zhang Weizhe , Liu Yang , Sangaiah Arun Kumar
Published: September 2022

Today, Internet of things (IoT), Cloud and Fog networks have spread out around the world. The more these networks grow, the more their energy consumption comes to attention. Many efforts have been made during recent years to decrease this energy consumption, mainly focused on utilizing low‐power devices. Green algorithms are recently proposed to reduce energy consumption by modifying the structure of many algorithms employed in the network and its protocols. This paper proposes a new green reliability algorithm for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP protocol) in Fog computing. The proposed algorithm does not require extensive TCP/IP protocol changes or relevant hardware. It is based on transferring less number of packets in the network by using the advantage of differences between TCP and User Datagram Protocol (UDP). TCP and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) are different in nature as the number of total packets in UDP is half that of TCP. As a result, the number of complete packets in UDP is half that of TCP. The proposed method is built around the loss of some packets in applications, such as voice and online video, does not severely degrade the end results. Therefore, the UDP protocol can substitute TCP in such situations. The criterion to switch between the two is the minimum acceptable Quality of Service (QoS) of the overall network. In other words, the UDP protocol will be used as long as QoS requirements are met. The switching process between UDP and TCP is dynamic, optimized by estimating network noise in the period. Additionally, we evaluated the proposed method based on several QoS functions, including delay, throughput, and energy usage.
Identification of DDX5 as an indispensable activator of the glucocorticoid receptor in adipocyte differentiation
Authors: Hokimoto Shingo , Funakoshi‐Tago Megumi , Tago Kenji
Published: September 2022

The expression of CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein (C/EBP) family members and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPAR γ) is essential for the differentiation of pre‐adipocyte 3T3‐L1 cells into mature adipocytes induced by a combined stimulation with dexamethasone, 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine and insulin (DMI). We herein demonstrated that the RNA helicase DDX5, the expression of which was induced by DMI, played an important role in the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3‐L1 cells. The DMI‐induced accumulation of lipid droplets and expression of adipocyte markers in 3T3‐L1 cells were significantly inhibited by the knockdown of DDX5. The knockdown of DDX5 interfered with the expressional induction of C/EBPδ, which was the first to be induced in the transcription factor cascade, and inhibited the subsequent expression of the other transcription factors, C/EBPβ, PPARγ and C/EBPα. DDX5 interacted with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which induced the expression of C/EBPδ. The knockdown of DDX5 failed to induce the nuclear translocation of GR, suggesting the essential role of DDX5 in the early stage of adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, the reconstitution of DDX5, but not the DDX5 mutant (K144N) lacking RNA helicase activity, restored DMI‐induced GR activation and adipocyte differentiation in 3T3‐L1 cells in which DDX5 was knocked down, confirming that the RNA helicase activity of DDX5 is essential for adipogenesis. Collectively, these results revealed for the first time that DDX5 is necessary for GR activation and plays an essential role in early adipocyte differentiation.
Increasing threat of wildfires: the year 2020 in perspective: A Global Ecology and Biogeography special issue
Authors: Nolan Rachael H. , Anderson Liana O. , Poulter Benjamin , Varner J. Morgan
Published: September 2022

Aim

Each year, wild and managed fires burn roughly 4 million km2 [~400 million hectares (Mha)] of savanna, forest, grassland and agricultural ecosystems. Land use and climate change have altered fire regimes throughout the world, with a trend toward higher‐severity fires found from Australia, the Americas, Europe and Asia, to the Arctic. In 2020, there were notable catastrophic fires in Australia (in the 2019/20 Austral fire season), the Western United States, South America and Siberia. These fires defined much of the global fire year and were compounded by the socio‐economic disruption of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic.

Location

Global.

Time period

2020.

Major taxa studied

Flora and fauna.

Methods

The Global Ecology and Biogeography special issue, ‘Increasing threat of wildfires: the year 2020 in perspective’, includes 18 papers that catalogue these fire events, their drivers and their impacts on flora and fauna.

Results

Collectively, these papers highlight the importance of fire response traits, exposure and sensitivity to interacting threats in determining fire impacts.

Main conclusions

The scale of the 2020 megafires has helped identify new research areas required to more comprehensively assess fire impacts on biodiversity and biogeochemistry and to inform ecosystem management.
Short‐term stroke risk after emergency department treat‐and‐release headache visit
Authors: Liberman Ava L. , Zhang Cenai , Lipton Richard B. , Kamel Hooman , Parikh Neal S. , Navi Babak B. , Segal Alan Z. , Razzak Junaid , Newman‐Toker David E. , Merkler Alexander E.
Published: September 2022

Objective

To evaluate whether patients discharged to home after an emergency department (ED) visit for headache face a heightened short‐term risk of stroke.

Background

Stroke hospitalizations that occur soon after ED visits for headache complaints may reflect diagnostic error.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using statewide administrative claims data for all ED visits and admissions at nonfederal hospitals in Florida 2005–2018 and New York 2005–2016. Using standard International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes, we identified adult patients discharged to home from the ED (treat‐and‐release visit) with a benign headache diagnosis (cohort of interest) as well as those with a diagnosis of renal colic or back pain (negative controls). The primary study outcome was hospitalization within 30 days for stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) defined using validated ICD codes. We assess the relationship between index ED visit discharge diagnosis and stroke hospitalization adjusting for patient demographics and vascular comorbidities.

Results

We identified 1,502,831 patients with an ED treat‐and‐release headache visit; mean age was 41 (standard deviation: 17) years and 1,044,520 (70%) were female. A total of 2150 (0.14%) patients with headache were hospitalized for stroke within 30 days. In adjusted analysis, stroke risk was higher after headache compared to renal colic (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.29–3.16) or back pain (HR: 4.0; 95% CI: 3.74–4.3). In the subgroup of 26,714 (1.78%) patients with headache who received brain magnetic resonance imaging at index ED visit, stroke risk was only slightly elevated compared to renal colic (HR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.22–1.78) or back pain (HR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.24–1.80).

Conclusion

Approximately 1 in 700 patients discharged to home from the ED with a headache diagnosis had a stroke in the following month. Stroke risk was three to four times higher after an ED visit for headache compared to renal colic or back pain.
Update on platelet procoagulant mechanisms in health and in bleeding disorders
Authors: Bourguignon Alex , Tasneem Subia , Hayward Catherine P. M.
Published: September 2022

Platelet procoagulant mechanisms are emerging to be complex and important to achieving haemostasis. The mechanisms include the release of procoagulant molecules from platelet storage granules, and strong agonist‐induced expression of procoagulant phospholipids on the outer platelet membrane for tenase and prothrombinase assembly. The release of dense granule polyphosphate is important to platelet procoagulant function as it promotes the activation of factors XII, XI and V, inhibits tissue factor pathway inhibitor and fibrinolysis, and strengthens fibrin clots. Platelet procoagulant function also involves the release of partially activated factor V from platelets. Scott syndrome has provided important insights on the mechanisms that regulate procoagulant phospholipids expression on the external platelet membrane, which require strong agonist stimulation that increase cystolic calcium levels, mitochondrial calcium uptake, the loss of flippase function and activation of the transmembrane scramblase protein anoctamin 6. There have been advances in the methods used to directly and indirectly assess platelet procoagulant function in health and disease. Assessments of thrombin generation with platelet rich plasma samples has provided new insights on how platelet procoagulant function is altered in inherited platelet disorders, and how platelets influence the bleeding phenotype of a number of severe coagulation factor deficiencies. Several therapies, including desmopressin and recombinant factor VIIa, improve thrombin generation by platelets. There is growing interest in targeting platelet procoagulant function for therapeutic benefit. This review highlights recent advances in our understanding of platelet‐dependent procoagulant mechanisms in health and in bleeding disorders.
Diagnosis and treatment of thrombotic microangiopathy
Authors: Thompson Gemma L. , Kavanagh David
Published: September 2022

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and end organ damage. TMAs have varying underlying pathophysiology and can therefore present with an array of clinical presentations. Renal involvement is common as the kidney is particularly susceptible to the endothelial damage and microvascular occlusion. TMAs require rapid assessment, diagnosis, and commencement of appropriate treatment due to the high morbidity and mortality associated with them. Ground‐breaking research into the pathogenesis of TMAs over the past 20 years has driven the successful development of targeted therapeutics revolutionizing patient outcomes. This review outlines the clinical presentations, pathogenesis, diagnostic tests and treatments for TMAs.
Thou Shalt not Lie! Exploring and testing countermeasures against faking intentions and faking in selection interviews
Authors: Bill Benedikt , Melchers Klaus G.
Published: September 2022

Many applicants use faking in interviews to present themselves more favorably than they really are. There is widespread concern that this may affect interview validity. As previous research on countermeasures is sparse, we conducted an exploratory study to identify the most promising countermeasures. For technology‐mediated interviews, these were warnings referring to a criterion‐based content analysis and lie detection algorithms focusing on nonverbal or paraverbal cues. For face‐to‐face interviews, these were objective questions and a personable interviewer. We then investigated the effects of these countermeasures on faking intentions in two experimental vignette studies and on faking in another simulated interview study. However, none of the countermeasures could reduce faking intentions or faking. Additionally, in the vignette studies, warnings impaired applicant reactions.
Evolutionary divergence in phenotypic plasticity shapes brain size variation between coexisting sunfish ecotypes
Authors: Axelrod Caleb J. , Robinson Beren W. , Laberge Frédéric
Published: September 2022

Mechanisms that generate brain size variation and the consequences of such variation on ecological performance are poorly understood in most natural animal populations. We use a reciprocal‐transplant common garden experiment and foraging performance trials to test for brain size plasticity and the functional consequences of brain size variation in Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) ecotypes that have diverged between nearshore littoral and offshore pelagic lake habitats. Different age‐classes of wild‐caught juveniles from both habitats were exposed for 6 months to treatments that mimicked littoral and pelagic foraging. Plastic responses in oral jaw size suggested that treatments mimicked natural habitat‐specific foraging conditions. Plastic brain size responses to foraging manipulations differed between ecotypes, as only pelagic sourced fish showed brain size plasticity. Only pelagic juveniles under 1 year‐old expressed this plastic response, suggesting that plastic brain size responses decline with age and so may be irreversible. Finally, larger brain size was associated with enhanced foraging performance on live benthic but not pelagic prey, providing the first experimental evidence of a relationship between brain size and prey‐specific foraging performance in fishes. The recent post‐glacial origin of these ecotypes suggests that brain size plasticity can rapidly evolve and diverge in fish under contrasting ecological conditions.
Effect of sub‐lethal treatment of carvacrol and thymol on virulence potential and resistance to several bactericidal treatments of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Kim Yu‐Min , Shin Minjung , Kang Jun‐Won , Kang Dong‐Hyun
Published: September 2022

This study examined the changes in biofilm‐formation ability, hemolytic/lipase/nuclease/protease activities, and resistance to various bactericidal treatments of Staphylococcus aureus after sublethal treatment with carvacrol and thymol. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of carvacrol and thymol for S. aureus were 0.4 and 0.3 mg/ml, respectively, and sublethal concentrations (1/2 and 1/4 MIC) were determined based on these concentrations. Sublethal treatment with carvacrol and thymol did not change the protease and lipase activities but reduced the hemolytic and nuclease activities of S. aureus. After sublethal treatment with carvacrol and thymol, the biofilm‐formation ability of S. aureus was decreased, which was found to be due to the decrease in cell surface hydrophobicity. In addition, after sublethal treatment with carvacrol and thymol, the resistance of S. aureus to heating and malic acid treatments increased, whereas resistance to ultraviolet and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) decreased, and resistance to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) did not change. The results of this study show that sublethal treatment with carvacrol and thymol can effectively suppress some virulence factors of S. aureus and that applying HOCl or ultraviolet radiation would be an effective subsequent treatment to inactivate S. aureus after sublethal treatment.
Safety and efficacy of a new hydrogel based on hyaluronic acid as cosmeceutical for xerosis
Authors: Ha Nam Gyoung , Lee Seon Hwa , Lee Eun Hye , Chang Minyoul , Yoo Jeongsoo , Lee Weon Ju
Published: September 2022

Background

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is among the most effective and safe ingredients frequently used in cosmetics. However, a more economical and efficient formulation is still required.

Objective

We sought to assess the safety and efficacy of a novel hydrogel manufactured only by irradiation containing cross‐linked HA and polyethylene glycol polymers with addition of polysiloxane.

Methods

The study included 30 people with normal skin and 30 patients with xerosis. In the normal skin group, to evaluate the safety, a patch test and a photopatch test were performed, and patients' discomfort was investigated. In those with xerosis, to assess the efficacy, a skin barrier function test was performed at baseline and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the application of the novel hydrogel. Additionally, the xerosis severity scale (XSS), patient satisfaction, Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA), and adverse responses were evaluated.

Results

In the safety study, there was no significant discomfort in the experimental group compared with the control group. In the efficacy study, at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the application of the novel hydrogel, the mean value of skin hydration and sebum content increased and the mean value of XSS decreased with time in the experimental group, and a difference was observed when compared with the control group. IGA showed improvement in 97%, 77%, and 80% at each visit and the proportions of satisfied patients were 90%, 87%, and 90%, respectively.

Conclusions

The novel HA‐based hydrogel tested herein could be a safe and effective therapeutic remedy for xerosis.