bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A description and examination of cyber‐bullying victimisation in the UK
Authors: Tzani Calli , Ioannou Maria , Synnott John , McDonnell Dean , Pylarinou Ntaniella‐Roumpini
Published: September 2021

Cyber bullying (CB) might be relatively new in comparison to School‐Bullying (SB); nonetheless, both types have a negative impact on victims' psychological state. This project investigated CB in the UK and examined the victimisation means, as well as the reasons behind it. Four hundred and eight participants completed an online survey, which includes the 52‐item measure Cyber‐bullying and Online Aggression survey (CBOAS). The survey was advertised on social media and was active for nine months. From the sample, 37.26% reported that they had experienced CB victimisation more than once. Females seem to be more frequently involved in CB, particularly on Facebook and by spreading rumours. Such incidents usually result from arguments in real‐life settings. Many victims were able to stop their CB victimisation by standing up to their CB perpetrators. There are indications that CB functions as a subtype of SB. Implications and limitations are discussed in detail.
Business model innovation in the agricultural supply chain at Bottom of the Pyramid: Evidence from India
Authors: Shukla Suwarna , Sengupta Tuhin
Published: September 2021

Business model innovation at the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) is typically understood from the “poor as buyers' lens.” Through the lens of stakeholder theory and sharing economy principle, our study documents, with the help of a participative observation approach, how business model innovation (BMI) is successfully implemented at the BoP with “poor as suppliers.” We show how design of incentives to stakeholders becomes a crucial factor toward successful implementation of BMI in subsistence markets. Further, we show how sharing economy principles are applied in agriculture, leading to economic and social sustainability to stakeholders. Our findings support the emerging literature on how such innovation can contribute to poverty alleviation in an emerging market context.
Role of management practices and their effects on firm performance: Emerging market context
Authors: Parameswar Nakul , Hasan Zuby , Dhir Sanjay
Published: September 2021

Unconventional factors are usually ignored in their influence on the firm's performance. The study develops a fundamental model to evaluate the role of management on firm's performance by assessing strategic flexibility, knowledge management, corporate governance, firm's resilience, and adoption of information, communication, and technology on firm's performance. The results suggest that the adoption of information, communication, and technology followed by corporate governance significantly influences a firm's performance. It also indicates that the quality of products and workplace training significantly enhance the firm's performance. This study suggests that academicians should look beyond the usual factors that influence firm performance in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world.
Enhancing knowledge transferability: A contradiction of the codification approach
Authors: Grinberg Elvira , Strakhovich Elvira
Published: September 2021

Structure of the codified knowledge matters: it defines knowledge transferability while its absence creates information overload. Knowledge transferability creates organizational value through an increase of intellectual capital, innovative activity, and firm performance. The knowledge‐based view postulates higher transferability of codified knowledge, but the codification approach complies with a set of contradictions. The present empirical study uncovers nonlinear relationships between knowledge structure and knowledge transferability and encourages further studies toward search for optimal knowledge structure.
Fun to drive? The dynamics of car manufacturers' differentiation strategies
Authors: Hoeft Fabian
Published: September 2021

Car manufacturers attempt to differentiate through a combination of technological and nontechnological differentiators, motivated by varying degrees of sustainability and competitive advantage rationale across first movers and followers. This paper investigates how differentiation efforts disseminate from individual firms to industry‐wide engagements and why some firms decide to move first. The case of incumbent car manufacturers is used to shed light on how and why firms differentiate and how differentiation links to the sustainability transition of the industry. The research highlights that car manufacturers attempt to differentiate through a combination of technological and nontechnological differentiators, motivated by varying degrees of sustainability and competitive advantage rationale across first movers and followers. A first‐mover advantage is particularly evident in technological differentiators.
Understanding the stimuli, scope, and impact of organizational transformation: The context of eBusiness technologies in supply chains
Authors: Bak Ozlem
Published: September 2021

With eBusiness technologies seen as a source of competitive edge, supply chains are facing organizational transformation. The supply chain transformation has been widely explored in the context of standalone case studies focusing on either systems, relationships, or implications of projects to supply or manufacturing risk. The research has been limited to address the underlying reasons for variance in organizational transformations effort. This study employs a case study in an automotive supply chain, followed by a questionnaire distributed to four automotive supply chains achieving 65 responses. The findings indicate that organizational transformation can vary based on the relationship between individual eBusiness technology and its stimulus (responsive, anticipatory, and/or proactive), its scope (evolutionary vs. radical change), and the extent of organizational transformation impact (departmental and/or business unit and/or supply chain level impact). Within this context, the current study brings forth new findings in automotive supply chains in which the individual eBusiness technologies indicated a variance across the supply chains.
The Value of Lung Ultrasound to Detect the Early Pleural and Pulmonary Pathologies in Nonhospitalized COVID‐19‐Suspected Cases in a Population With a Low Prevalence of COVID‐19 Infection: A Prospective Study in 297 Subjects
Authors: Safai Zadeh Ehsan , Huber Katharina P. , Dietrich Christoph F. , Trenker Corinna , Martin Evelyn , Beutel Björn , Wollenberg Birgit , Görg Christian
Published: September 2021

Objectives

This prospective study aimed to evaluate the value of B‐mode lung ultrasound (LUS) for the early diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection in nonhospitalized COVID‐19 suspected cases in a population with a low prevalence of disease.

Methods

From April 2020 to June 2020, in an ambulatory testing center for COVID‐19‐suspected cases, 297 subjects were examined by LUS before a nasopharyngeal swab was taken for a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) test. The following LUS findings were defined as pathological ultrasound findings and were analyzed: the presence of 1) pleural effusion, 2) B‐lines, 3) fragmented visceral pleura, 4) consolidation, and 5) air bronchogram in the consolidation. The LUS findings were compared with the RT‐PCR test results.

Results

The result of the RT‐PCR test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) was positive in 11 and negative in 286 subjects, and the prevalence of COVID‐19 infection in the study participants was 3.7%. On LUS, a pathological finding could be detected in 56/297 (18.9%) study participants. The LUS revealed a sensitivity of 27.3%, a specificity of 81.5%, a positive predictive value of 5.4%, a negative predictive value of 96.7%, and a diagnostic accuracy of 79.9% for the identification of COVID‐19 infection.

Conclusions

For the identification of COVID‐19 infection, LUS is highly sensitive to the patient spectrum and to the prevalence of the disease. Due to the low diagnostic performance in nonhospitalized COVID‐19 cases in low‐prevalence areas, LUS cannot be considered to be an adequate method for making a diagnosis in this group.
A novel‐optimal monitoring model of rocky desertification based on feature space models with typical surface parameters derived from LANDSAT_8 OLI
Authors: Guo Bing , Zhang Dafu , Lu Yuefeng , Yang Fei , Meng Chao , Han Baomin , Zang Wenqian , Zhao Huihui , Wei Cuixia , Wu Hongwei , Hou Chunhong
Published: September 2021

Previous studies monitoring the spatial distribution of rocky desertification have used single indices, a comprehensive index, or image classification. However, these approaches could not distinguish between the degrees of rocky desertification as they did not consider various influencing factors and their interactions. To avoid the above shortcomings, this study used the feature space model and seven typical land surface parameters to establish two categories of rocky desertification model: (1) a point‐to‐point model; and (2) a point‐to‐line model. A novel model for the optimal monitoring of rocky desertification was then proposed, which could take the comprehensive impacts of the human‐nature system on the process of rocky desertification. The results showed that: (1) the feature space models provided a novel approach to large‐scale monitoring of rocky desertification; (2) the point‐to‐line model incorporating the rock bare index (RBI)‐dryness index feature space showed the optimal applicability for monitoring of rocky desertification, with a precision of 93.4%; and (3) the RBI performed the best in indicating the process of rocky desertification, with an average precision of 88.5%. The results of this study can act as a reference within the investigation of the spatiotemporal evolution of rocky desertification for karst mountain areas.
Extended high frequency hearing loss in tinnitus‐positive chronic suppurative otitis media patient
Authors: Mohd Salehuddin Nur Syazwani , Md Daud Mohd Khairi , Nik Othman Nik Adilah , Abd Rahman Normastura
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To determine the association between extended high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus in normal cochlear function based on a conventional audiometry chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) patient.

Design and methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted on 220 ears diagnosed as having CSOM with an equal number of tinnitus and without tinnitus groups. Only those with normal cochlear function based on conventional pure tone audiometry (250 Hz to 8 kHz) were included. They were further tested for hearing at extended high frequencies of up to 16 kHz. The severity of tinnitus was tested using a tinnitus questionnaire.

Results

The prevalence of extended high frequency hearing loss in the normal cochlear function CSOM patients with tinnitus was 81.8% (95% CI 74.5%, 89.1%), whereas the prevalence in the tinnitus negative group was 30.0% (95% CI 21.3%, 38.7%). There was a significant association between extended high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus in CSOM patients (P < .001). The average thresholds were significantly higher in the tinnitus group at all extended high frequencies tested with an increasing trend of significance toward the higher frequencies. However, this study did not observe any association between the severity of tinnitus and extended high frequency hearing loss.

Conclusion

The development of tinnitus among normal cochlear function CSOM patients indicates that the damage has occurred at a higher frequency level. However, the severity of tinnitus does not predict the degree of higher frequency hearing loss. Therefore, the presence of tinnitus warrants more aggressive monitoring and treatment to prevent sensorineural hearing loss from developing into the speech frequencies.

Level of Evidence

4.
How financial technology (fintech) can improve the business performance of securities firms by using the dynamic data envelopment analysis modified model
Authors: Lin Hong‐Jing , Chen Che‐Chien , Chiu Yung‐ho , Lin Tai‐Yu
Published: September 2021

Past literature is lack of consideration on financial technology (fintech) and undesirable output. We aim to understand the reasons underlying the operating performance of fintech in these securities firms and provide suggestions to them for promoting this growing technology phenomenon. This research employs the modified dynamic slacks‐based measurement (SBM) model to explore the electronic transaction efficiency of 38 securities firms in Taiwan. The research results show that most integrated and specialist securities firms fail to achieve the best efficiency in fintech operating performance, and large‐ and medium‐sized integrated securities firms do not achieve economies of scale.
A novel mutation of AMHR2 in two brothers with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome and their intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome
Authors: Fang Jianzheng , Gao Gao , Liu Jinyong , Cai Lingbo , Cui Yugui , Yang Xiaoyu
Published: September 2021

Background

Persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is defined as the presence of Müllerian duct derivatives in an otherwise normally virilized 46, XY male. It is usually caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in either the anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) or AMH receptor type 2 (AMHR2) genes. The main purpose of the study is to determine the novel mutations of AMHR2 in PMDS patients and their intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes (ICSI).

Methods

Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) was carried out. Sanger sequencing was used to detect mutations in AMHR2. The pathogenicity of the identified variant and its possible effects on the protein were evaluated with in silico tools. The expression level of AMHR2 was determined by Western blotting. The spermatogenic function was evaluated by testicular sperm aspiration and histopathologic examination. The ICSI outcomes were recorded.

Results

We present two brothers with a history of bilateral cryptorchidism with orchidopexy and infertility due to azoospermia. A novel compound heterozygous mutation of c.1219C>T [p.R407X] and c.1387C>T [p.R463C] in exons 9 and 10 of AMHR2 (NM_020547.2) was detected by whole‐exome sequencing (WES). Spermatozoon could be retrieved from the two patients by testicular aspiration following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) due to azoospermia. Finally, patient 1 had two healthy boys and patient 2 failed to conceive after three ICSI attempts.

Conclusion

The spermatozoa could obtain from PMDS patients due to azoospermia. For patients with bilateral cryptorchidism, PMDS should be included in the differential diagnosis and that genetic counseling needs to be considered when they seek reproductive help.
Detection of TSC1/TSC2 mosaic variants in patients with cardiac rhabdomyoma and tuberous sclerosis complex by hybrid‐capture next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Wang Siyu , Sun Hairui , Wang Jianbin , Gu Xiaoyan , Han Lu , Wu Yuduo , Yan He , Han Ling , Zhang Hongjia , He Yihua
Published: September 2021

Background

Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma (CR) is strongly associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), which is caused by variants in TSC1 and TSC2. However, in 10%–15% of patients with clinically confirmed TSC, no TSC1/TSC2 variants are identified by panel sequencing or multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA).

Methods

We analyzed eight fetuses with CR and their families. No TSC1/TSC2 variants had previously been identified for six of these fetuses, and we suspected the other two families of gonadal mosaicism. We performed next‐generation sequencing (NGS) using CR tissue, umbilical cord tissue, and parental blood. All positive results, involving two paternal semen, were verified by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR).

Results

Four fetuses carried low‐level mosaic variants (0.05%–14.89%), and two only exhibited somatic mosaic variants in the CR tissue (15.76% and 37.69%). Two fathers had gonadal mosaicism (9.07% and 4.86%). We identified nine pathogenic variants in eight fetuses, including one fetus with a second‐hit variant.

Conclusion

The fetuses assessed in this study carried low‐level and somatic mosaic variants, and CR tissue from one fetus exhibited a second‐hit variant. Heterozygous gonadal variants can exist in patients with low‐level mosaicism. Combining NGS with ddPCR improves the accuracy of prenatal TSC diagnosis.
Partial second‐toe pulp free flap for fingertip reconstruction: Experience and surgical tips to minimize complications
Authors: Kwon Hyo Jeong , Yoon Sungyeon , Han Hyun Ho , Moon Suk‐Ho
Published: September 2021

Background

Traumatic fingertip injury is a common hand injury and various methods are available to address them. The partial second‐toe pulp (PSTP) free flap is useful because of the similarity in shape, texture, and sensation to the fingertips. However, there may be many difficulties during surgery. The purpose of this report is to make the surgery easier and minimize complications by sharing the surgical tips of the authors obtained through many experiences.

Patients and Methods

Thirty patients who underwent PSTP free flap due to trauma were reviewed retrospectively from February 2015 to June 2018. The average age of the patients was 49.4 years. Seventeen were injured on the right side and 13 were on the left side. After removal of the injured tissue, a teardrop‐shaped flap was harvested from the medial side of the second toe. When inset, skin graft or vein graft was performed if necessary. When primary closure of the donor site was difficult, skin graft was performed (n = 21). The factors noted during surgery were analyzed.

Results

The flap size was 2.39 (range: 1.5–5) x 1.29 (range: 1–1.8) cm2. All flaps survived. Venous congestion was found in two patients, neuroma was found in one patient, and partial necrosis was found in two patients; all recovered with conservative care. The mean follow up periods was 5.79 (range: 2–18) months. None of the patients had functional impairment.

Conclusion

Successful reconstruction and enhanced functional and cosmetic effects can be achieved using surgical tips.
Rapid simultaneous acquisition of macromolecular tissue volume, susceptibility, and relaxometry maps
Authors: Yu Fang Frank , Huang Susie Yi , Kumar Ashwin , Witzel Thomas , Liao Congyu , Duval Tanguy , Cohen‐Adad Julien , Bilgic Berkin
Published: September 2021

Purpose

A major obstacle to the clinical implementation of quantitative MR is the lengthy acquisition time required to derive multi‐contrast parametric maps. We sought to reduce the acquisition time for QSM and macromolecular tissue volume by acquiring both contrasts simultaneously by leveraging their redundancies. The joint virtual coil concept with GRAPPA (JVC‐GRAPPA) was applied to reduce acquisition time further.

Methods

Three adult volunteers were imaged on a 3 Tesla scanner using a multi‐echo 3D GRE sequence acquired at 3 head orientations. Macromolecular tissue volume, QSM, , T1, and proton density maps were reconstructed. The same sequence (GRAPPA R = 4) was performed in subject 1 with a single head orientation for comparison. Fully sampled data was acquired in subject 2, from which retrospective undersampling was performed (R = 6 GRAPPA and R = 9 JVC‐GRAPPA). Prospective undersampling was performed in subject 3 (R = 6 GRAPPA and R = 9 JVC‐GRAPPA) using gradient blips to shift k‐space sampling in later echoes.

Results

Subject 1’s multi‐orientation and single‐orientation macromolecular tissue volume maps were not significantly different based on RMSE. For subject 2, the retrospectively undersampled JVC‐GRAPPA and GRAPPA generated similar results as fully sampled data. This approach was validated with the prospectively undersampled images in subject 3. Using QSM, , and macromolecular tissue volume, the contributions of myelin and iron content to susceptibility were estimated.

Conclusion

We have developed a novel strategy to simultaneously acquire data for the reconstruction of 5 intrinsically coregistered 1‐mm isotropic resolution multi‐parametric maps, with a scan time of 6 min using JVC‐GRAPPA.
MRI‐guided attenuation correction in torso PET/MRI: Assessment of segmentation‐, atlas‐, and deep learning‐based approaches in the presence of outliers
Authors: Arabi Hossein , Zaidi Habib
Published: September 2021

Purpose

We compare the performance of three commonly used MRI‐guided attenuation correction approaches in torso PET/MRI, namely segmentation‐, atlas‐, and deep learning‐based algorithms.

Methods

Twenty‐five co‐registered torso 18F‐FDG PET/CT and PET/MR images were enrolled. PET attenuation maps were generated from in‐phase Dixon MRI using a three‐tissue class segmentation‐based approach (soft‐tissue, lung, and background air), voxel‐wise weighting atlas‐based approach, and a residual convolutional neural network. The bias in standardized uptake value (SUV) was calculated for each approach considering CT‐based attenuation corrected PET images as reference. In addition to the overall performance assessment of these approaches, the primary focus of this work was on recognizing the origins of potential outliers, notably body truncation, metal‐artifacts, abnormal anatomy, and small malignant lesions in the lungs.

Results

The deep learning approach outperformed both atlas‐ and segmentation‐based methods resulting in less than 4% SUV bias across 25 patients compared to the segmentation‐based method with up to 20% SUV bias in bony structures and the atlas‐based method with 9% bias in the lung. The deep learning‐based method exhibited superior performance. Yet, in case of sever truncation and metallic‐artifacts in the input MRI, this approach was outperformed by the atlas‐based method, exhibiting suboptimal performance in the affected regions. Conversely, for abnormal anatomies, such as a patient presenting with one lung or small malignant lesion in the lung, the deep learning algorithm exhibited promising performance compared to other methods.

Conclusion

The deep learning‐based method provides promising outcome for synthetic CT generation from MRI. However, metal‐artifact and body truncation should be specifically addressed.
A multigrid local smoother approach for a domain decomposition solver over non‐matching grids
Authors: Bornia Giorgio , Chierici Andrea , Chirco Leonardo , Giovacchini Valentina , Manservisi Sandro
Published: September 2021

In this paper we consider a multigrid approach for solving elliptic equations over non‐matching grids with domain decomposition methods. The domain is partitioned into subdomains with different mesh levels that do not match at the interface. The proposed algorithm searches for the global solution over different levels by projecting the residuals on the overlap region. This method is used in conjunction with a domain decomposition solver which only requires, in each iteration step, the solutions of several small local subproblems over finite element blocks. This algorithm is shown to converge to the solution of the corresponding Lagrange multiplier problem for non‐matching grids. The convergence properties of the algorithms are analyzed and numerical examples are presented. When the multigrid and domain decomposition approaches are combined, the method is shown to be reliable and easy to implement. Furthermore the local nature of the solver allows for a straightforward implementation on multiple parallel computers and graphics processing unit (GPU) clusters.
Numerical results for a fourth‐order nonlinear wave equation of Kirchhoff type with a viscoelastic term
Authors: Thanh Le Thi Mai , Dung Tran Trinh Manh , Nhan Nguyen Huu , Ngoc Le Thi Phuong , Long Nguyen Thanh
Published: September 2021

In this paper, numerical results for a fourth‐order nonlinear wave equation of Kirchhoff type with a viscoelastic term are established. First, the existence and uniqueness of a solution is proved by applying the Faedo–Galerkin method and the weak compact method. Next, an algorithm to the initial boundary value problem for a nonlinear evolution equation of fourth order is studied where the spatial‐variable discretization and time‐variable discretization are constructed to approximate derivatives by the difference schemes. Finally, the numerical results are shown to present the errors of proposed algorithm. Simulations of the approximate solution and the exact solution are also visualized.
Effect of β3‐adrenergic receptor gene polymorphism and lifestyle on overweight Japanese rural residents: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Hara Akinori , Nguyen Phat Minh , Tsujiguchi Hiromasa , Nakamura Masaharu , Yamada Yohei , Suzuki Keita , Suzuki Fumihiko , Kasahara Tomoko , Pham Oanh Kim , Nakamura Haruki , Kambayashi Yasuhiro , Shimizu Yukari , Nguyen Thao Thi Thu , Miyagi Sakae , Kannon Takayuki , Sato Takehiro , Hosomichi Kazuyoshi , Tajima Atsushi , Nakamura Hiroyuki
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The β3‐adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) gene polymorphism has been implicated in obesity. Therefore, the contribution of ADRB3 Trp64Arg polymorphism to obesity‐related indicators was investigated, taking into account the lifestyle‐related factors in a Japanese rural population.

Methods

A total of 600 Japanese adults aged ≥40 years in a population‐based cohort study were analyzed. The ADRB3 polymorphism was determined using peripheral blood samples. Associations between genotype and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat (BF) percentage were examined, adjusting for lifestyle‐related factors, including daily nutrient intake.

Results

The frequency of Arg64 allele carriers was 36%. There was no significant difference in BMI, WC, or BF between the groups with or without the Trp64Arg polymorphism. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the Trp64Arg polymorphism was not associated with these three indicators, but lifestyle factors including physical inactivity, higher energy and sodium consumption, and less animal protein intake were significantly related to increased WC and BF percentages.

Conclusions

The Trp64Arg polymorphism of ADRB3 gene did not contribute to increased BMI, WC, or BF. However, lifestyle‐related factors impacted these indicators in middle‐aged and older Japanese individuals living in rural areas.
A content analysis of the aims, strategies, and effects of food and nonalcoholic drink advertising based on advertising industry case studies
Authors: Nanchahal Kiran , Vasiljevic Milica , Petticrew Mark
Published: September 2021

Background

Placing limitations on advertising of food and nonalcoholic drinks to children is an effective strategy in addressing childhood obesity. The industry maintains that further restrictions are unnecessary.

Aims

To ascertain whether the advertising campaigns were successful according to the industry evaluations and more specifically the effects of marketing on children.

Materials & Methods

A total of 117 case studies (1980–2016) published by the advertising industry which evaluate the effects of advertising campaigns were reviewed. This industry data source had been previously used to analyze the effects of alcohol advertising campaigns. The nutrition profile of the products was assessed by applying the World Health Organisation Nutrition Profile model designed to restrict the marketing of foods and beverages to children.

Results

The food and drink industry advertising campaigns target specific consumers including children, use several persuasive marketing techniques (utilizing celebrities and gamification), often position unhealthy products as healthy, and lead to increased sales of the advertised product with good returns on investment. The health‐related claims made, and aspects of the campaigns related to the marketing of the products to children are summarized.

Discussion

Our analysis of food and non‐alcoholic drinks case studies aligns with similar analyses of tobacco and alcohol advertising

Conclusion

This analysis, based on internal industry data, presents important evidence on the effects of advertising on consumption‐related outcomes and the mechanisms by which they are achieved.
Fostering ocean empathy through future scenarios
Authors: Blythe Jessica , Baird Julia , Bennett Nathan , Dale Gillian , Nash Kirsty L. , Pickering Gary , Wabnitz Colette C. C.
Published: September 2021

Empathy for nature is considered a prerequisite for sustainable interactions with the biosphere. Yet to date, empirical research on how to stimulate empathy remains scarce.

Here, we investigate whether future scenarios can promote greater empathy for the oceans. Using a pre‐post empathy questionnaire, participants (N = 269) were presented with an optimistic or a pessimistic future scenario for the high seas in a virtual reality (VR) or written format.

Results showed that post‐test empathy levels were significantly higher than pre‐test levels, indicating that future scenarios fostered ocean empathy. We also find that the pessimistic scenario resulted in greater empathy levels compared to the optimistic scenario. Finally, we found no significant difference between the VR and written conditions and found that empathy scores significantly decreased 3 months after the initial intervention.

As one of the first studies to empirically demonstrate the influence of a purposeful intervention to build ocean empathy, this article makes critical contributions to advancing research on future scenarios and offers a novel approach for supporting ocean sustainability.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Effect of a novel green modification of alumina nanoparticles on the curing kinetics and electrical insulation properties of epoxy composites
Authors: Mousavi Seyed Rasoul , Estaji Sara , Rostami Elham , Khonakdar Hossein Ali , Arjmand Mohammad
Published: September 2021

A novel green surface modification was successfully implemented on alumina nanoparticles using chitosan (CS) to prevent nanoparticles' aggregation. To evaluate the surface changes of nanoparticles, FTIR, TGA, TEM, and SEM analyses were used. The cure kinetics of the uncured samples was analyzed by DSC. Different methods such as KAS, Friedman, Starink, and FWO were applied to measure the activation energy. The activation energy of epoxy reinforced with chitosan‐functionalized alumina (epoxy/[CS‐EPO‐alumina]) was less than that of epoxy reinforced with alumina (epoxy/alumina), which was a confirmation of the positive effect of CS on curing reaction kinetics. Using the Malek method, the Sestak‐Berggren autocatalytic equation was chosen to investigate the cure kinetics of the epoxy. It was found that the Sestak‐Berggren equation is well matched with the experimental data and the model was suitable to predict the epoxy curing reaction reliably. Moreover, the glass transition temperatures of all samples were approximately the same. The effect of surface modification of alumina on the electrical insulating behavior of epoxy was also studied. It was found that CS functionalized alumina (CS‐EPO‐alumina) increased volume resistivity of epoxy at a temperature range of 30 to 80°C more than that of alumina. Electric stability and breakdown strength of epoxy/alumina and epoxy/(CS‐EPO‐alumina) also enhanced, where epoxy/(CS‐EPO‐alumina) experienced a further increase compared to epoxy.
Effect of repeated hydrothermal cycling on the durability of glass fiber/epoxy composites with and without carbon nanotube reinforcement
Authors: Fulmali Abhinav Omprakash , Sen Bhaskar , Nayak B. Arnimesh , Prusty Rajesh Kumar
Published: September 2021

Enhancing the performance of polymeric composites by incorporating carbon nanotube (CNT) is a current research trend. In this article, the performance of glass fiber reinforced epoxy (GE) composite with and without CNT has been observed under repeated hydrothermal cycling (HC) between 15 and 50°C water baths. Before carrying out the HC, the optimum concentration of CNT in the GE composite was obtained by flexural test. This study first confirms that the addition of 0.1 wt% of CNTs resulted in a 6.68% and 6.47% increment in flexural strength and modulus compared to neat GE composite. Alteration in the performance of the neat GE and 0.1 wt% CNT‐GE was then analyzed after performing HC for 20, 40, and 60 cycles by conducting mechanical (flexural), thermomechanical (dynamic mechanical thermal analysis [DMA]), chemical (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy [FTIR]) and fractographic (scanning electron microscopy [SEM]) analysis. Degradation in the mechanical performance of the CNT embedded GE composite was found to be faster than the neat one with the increasing number of HC. The possible reason has been explained based on the evidence obtained from DMA, FTIR, and SEM analysis.
The relationship between placental characteristics and birthweight discordance in different types of selective intrauterine growth restriction in monochorionic diamniotic twins: A single‐center 7 year cohort study
Authors: Wang Xueju , Shi Huifeng , Li Luyao , Yuan Pengbo , Zhao Yangyu , Wei Yuan
Published: September 2021

Objective

To clarify the relationships between placental characteristics and birthweight discordance in three types of selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) in monochorionic diamniotic twins.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted between april 2013 and april 2020. Associations between placental characteristics and birthweight discordance were evaluated through multiple linear regression analyses with two models for each sIUGR type. Model A was adjusted for gestational age, Model B additionally adjusted for the impact of placental characteristics interacted.

Results

In cases of type I sIUGR, birthweight discordance ratio was positively associated with placental territory discordance ratio [(β = 0.181,95%CI(0.072,0.290), p < 0.05), (β = 0.239,95%CI(0.125, 0.353), p < 0.05)] under both Model A and Model B. In‐type II sIUGR [(β = −0.012,95%CI(‐0.020, −0.004), p < 0.05) (β = −0.010,95%CI (−0.018, −0.002), p < 0.05)] and type III sIUGR [(β = −0.011,95%CI (−0.021, −0.001), p < 0.05), (β = −0.012,95%CI(‐0.022, −0.003), p < 0.05)], birthweight discordance ratio was negatively associated with the total diameter of all the anastomoses as calculated with both Model A and Model B.

Conclusion

Birthweight discordance is primarily related to placental territory discordance in type I sIUGR, whereas vascular anastomoses play important roles for growth‐restricted fetal compensation in type II and III sIUGR.
IVF embryo choices and pregnancy outcomes
Authors: Wang Li , Wang Xiaohong , Liu Yun , Ou Xianghong , Li Min , Chen Lei , Shao Xiaoguang , Quan Song , Duan Jinliang , He Wei , Shen Huan , Sun Ling , Yu Yuexin , Cram David S. , Leigh Donald , Yao Yuanqing
Published: September 2021

Objective

Investigate the chromosome status and transfer outcomes of embryos selected using routine “best morphology” IVF practices.

Method

A prospective multi‐center, non‐selection cohort study involving patients undertaking IVF treatment. Study entry conditions were blastocyst biopsy, >1 embryo with chromosome analysis and frozen transfer of the best morphology embryo. Primary analyses were βhCG positive, implantation, ongoing pregnancy and birth rates and pregnancy‐stage progression failures.

Results

After transfer, embryo chromosome status was assigned and outcomes divided into two primary groups ‐ euploids (n = 135) and aneuploids (n = 53). Compared to euploid embryo transfers, aneuploid embryos had significantly lower primary outcomes (+βhCG: 67% vs. 30%, p < 0.0001; IR: 56% vs. 19%, p < 0.0001; ongoing week 12: 51% vs. 9%, p < 0.0001; and livebirths: 50% vs. 8%, p < 0.0001, respectively). Transfers were further subdivided into smaller groups according to their main chromosomal feature. Stage analysis showed higher failure rates for aneuploids to initiate a pregnancy (p < 0.0001), higher subclinical miscarriage rate (p = 0.0402) and higher clinical miscarriage rate (p = 0.0038).

Conclusion

Routine morphology‐based embryo selection resulted in a high euploid selection rate but a significant number of aneuploid embryos were still inadvertently selected for transfer (28%) with the subsequent high failure rates for pregnancy initiation and progression having implications for appropriate patient management.
Modeling within‐year growth on the Mathematics Measure of Academic Progress
Authors: Boorse Jaclin , Van Norman Ethan R.
Published: September 2021

Prior research on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), a computer‐adaptive test distributed by the Northwest Evaluation Association, has primarily focused on the Reading MAP for screening/benchmarking in elementary grades. The purpose of this study was to explore the functional form of growth and the extent to which student variability in growth was captured by the Mathematics MAP across a single school year using linear mixed‐effects regression. Participants were 1608 middle school students from a school district in the Upper Midwest. Results supported a statistically significant nonlinear growth term for sixth grade and statistically significant, but small, monthly linear growth terms for sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The Math MAP moderately captured individual variability across grades. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Analysis of behavioral interventions in alternative school settings
Authors: Aspiranti Kathleen , Mayworm Ashley , Gadke Daniel L.
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study was to conduct an analysis of the effects of behavioral interventions used in alternative school settings on student outcomes, including group design (GD) and single‐case design (SCD) studies. Behavioral interventions were broadly defined as interventions targeting behavior or thoughts and feelings, but not academics. An alternative school setting is defined as, “A public elementary/secondary school that (1) addresses needs of students that typically cannot be met in a regular school, (2) provides nontraditional education, (3) serves as an adjunct to a regular school, or (4) falls outside the categories of regular, special education, or vocational education” (National Center for Education Statistics, 2017). Studies meeting What Works Clearinghouse design standards for GD and SCD were included. A total of 21 eligible studies (13 GD; 8 SCD) were included across peer‐reviewed journal articles and dissertations. The GD studies included a total of 1202 participants and SCD included 105 participants. Hedges' g effect sizes measures were calculated separately for GD and SCD studies. Results indicate interventions in alternative settings have at least moderate effects on behavioral and emotional outcomes; these effects were higher for SCD studies. There were no significant moderators for GD studies, but outcomes were moderated by grade and race for SCD studies. The need for future studies with increased methodological rigor is discussed.
BotanizeR: A flexible R package with Shiny app to practice plant identification for online teaching and beyond
Authors: Weigelt Patrick , Denelle Pierre , Brambach Fabian , Kreft Holger
Published: September 2021

Societal Impact Statement

Confronting the ongoing biodiversity crisis and our incomplete taxonomic knowledge on the world's plants requires well‐trained experts able to recognize and identify species. Although botanical training is an integral part of many university programs in biology, plant identification skills are becoming rare. The Covid‐19 pandemic has challenged plant identification classes as many courses rely on hands‐on practicing with plant material or guided excursions. Here, we present BotanizeR, a flexible online tool to make the wealth of digitally available but scattered information on plant characteristics accessible and allow users to practice plant identification. BotanizeR can assist in teaching plant knowledge in a playful way during times of online teaching and beyond and may help to increase the fascination of biology students and laypeople alike for plant diversity.
Effects of elevated CO2 on activities of protective and detoxifying enzymes in Frankliniella occidentalis and F. intonsa under spinetoram stress
Authors: Fan Zongfang , Qian Lei , Chen Yaping , Fan Rui , He Shuqi , Gao Yulin , Gui Furong
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

Elevated CO2 can directly affect the toxicity of insecticides to insects and the physiological response of insects to insecticides. Frankliniella occidentalis and F. intonsa are highly destructive pests that target horticultural crops. Spinetoram is an effective pesticide against thrips. This study sought to explore the effect of elevated CO2 on efficacy of spinetoram against F. occidentalis and F. intonsa and effect of the spinetoram on activities of protective and detoxifying enzymes under elevated CO2. Notably, these enzymes can be exploited in further studies to develop interventions for thrips resistance management.

RESULTS

Toxicity bioassay showed that the LC50 values of F. occidentalis and F. intonsa exposed to spinetoram at elevated CO2 (800 μL L−1 concentration) for 48 h was 0.08 and 0.006 mg L−1, respectively, which is 0.62 and 0.75 times of the values at ambient CO2 (400 μL L−1 concentration). The findings showed that elevated CO2 decreased activities of the superoxide dismutase and acetylcholinesterase in thrips, while increasing the activities of carboxylesterase and glutathione S‐transferase. However, spinetoram increased activities of protective and detoxifying enzymes in both thrips under the two CO2 levels. Elevated CO2 and spinetoram affect the physiological enzyme activity in thrips synergistically, and the activities of analyzed enzymes were generally higher in F. occidentalis than in F. intonsa.

CONCLUSION

Elevated CO2 amplifies the efficacy of spinetoram on thrips, F. intonsa is more susceptibility to spinetoram than F. occidentalis and the latter showed better adaptation to adverse conditions than the former. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Perspectives on gene copy number variation and pesticide resistance
Authors: Heckel David G
Published: September 2021

Although the generation of evolutionary diversity by gene duplication has long been known, the implications for pesticide resistance are just now beginning to be appreciated. A few examples will be cited to illustrate the point that there are many variations on the theme that gene duplication does not follow a set pattern. Transposable elements may facilitate the process but the mechanistic details are obscure and unpredictable. New developments in DNA sequencing technology and genome assembly promise to reveal more examples, yet care must be taken in interpreting the results of transcriptome and genome assemblies and independent means of validation are important. Once a specific gene family is identified, special methods generally must be used to avoid underestimating population polymorphisms and being trapped in preconceptions about the simplicity of the process. © 2021 The Author. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Nanoscale‐Sculptured Al Microparticles as Universal Hierarchical Adhesion Promoters
Authors: Qiu Haoyi , Schmidt Catarina , Carstensen Jürgen , Kaps Sören , Adelung Rainer
Published: September 2021

A combination of properties (e.g., biocompatibility, abrasion resistance, chemical inertness, etc.) from different polymers is desirable in many applications such as in medical and marine fields. However, joining nonstick polymers is still challenging. Herein, a facile and environmentally friendly approach is demonstrated to improve the adhesion between nonstick polymers through mechanical interlocking using a low amount of nanoscale‐sculptured Al microparticles. The hook‐like structures for mechanical interlocking are created on Al microparticles by nanoscale sculpturing, that is, a wet chemical etching process. By the incorporation of nanoscale‐sculptured Al microparticles at a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/polythiourethane (PTU) interface serving as just one demonstrator example, the peeling strength of PDMS from PTU is 30 times higher compared with that without Al microparticles and 4 times higher than that with untreated Al microparticles, respectively. The significant increase in adhesion can be attributed to the penetration of both polymers into the hook‐like structures of nanoscale‐sculptured Al microparticles, forming a tight and strong hierarchical mechanical interlocking.
One‐pot synthesis and multiple MS/MS fragmentation studies of phospholysine peptides
Authors: Zhao Xuelian , Fu Songsen , Zhao Yufen , Ni Feng
Published: September 2021

Rationale

Compared with phosphorylation of arginine and histidine, the study of phosphorylation of lysine lags far behind. The major challenges toward the current study of phosphorylation of lysine include synthesis and unambiguous phosphosite identification. This study provided a simple chemical synthesis method to construct phospholysine peptides (pLys peptides) and investigated their fragmentation under multiple activation types.

Methods

Herein, we developed a synthetic method for pLys peptides in aqueous solution within one pot. Two peptides were lysine‐phosphorylated using this method. The purified pLys peptides were first characterized using NMR, then were subjected to nano‐liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC‐MS/MS) analysis under multiple fragmentation method including collision‐induced dissociation (CID), higher energy collisional dissociation (HCD), electron transfer dissociation (ETD), electron transfer/higher energy collisional dissociation (EThcD), and ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) fragmentation to investigate the relevant diagnostic ions.

Results

Two pLys peptides were synthesized with a moderate yield following an easily handled experimental protocol. NMR spectra showed the phosphorylation occurred on ε‐NH2 of lysine but not other groups. As for the fragmentation, in general, pLys immonium ions and phosphate‐related neutral losses were ubiquitous among spectra derived from these activation types except for ETD. Using these ions as diagnostic ions, the misassigned phosphosites by algorithm could be recorrected. UVPD‐generated spectra owned good sequence‐coverage and abundant fragment ions, with pLys immonium ions and neutral losses of weak intensity.

Conclusions

A synthetic method was developed for pLys peptides in aqueous solution within one pot. The characteristic pLys immonium ions and phosphate‐related neutral loss could serve as the diagnostic ions for unambiguous phosphosite identification of pLys peptides. In addition, UVPD was promising for the identification of pLys peptides.
Instrument localisation for endovascular aneurysm repair: Comparison of two methods based on tracking systems or using imaging
Authors: Jäckle Sonja , Lange Annkristin , García‐Vázquez Verónica , Eixmann Tim , Matysiak Florian , Sieren Malte Maria , Horn Marco , Schulz‐Hildebrandt Hinnerk , Hüttmann Gereon , Ernst Floris , Heldmann Stefan , Pätz Torben , Preusser Tobias
Published: September 2021

Background

In endovascular aneuysm repair (EVAR) procedures, medical instruments are currently navigated with a two‐dimensional imaging based guidance requiring X‐rays and contrast agent.

Methods

Novel approaches for obtaining the three‐dimensional instrument positions are introduced. Firstly, a method based on fibre optical shape sensing, one electromagnetic sensor and a preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan is described. Secondly, an approach based on image processing using one 2D fluoroscopic image and a preoperative CT scan is introduced.

Results

For the tracking based method, average errors from 1.81 to 3.13 mm and maximum errors from 3.21 to 5.46 mm were measured. For the image‐based approach, average errors from 3.07 to 6.02 mm and maximum errors from 8.05 to 15.75 mm were measured.

Conclusion

The tracking based method is promising for usage in EVAR procedures. For the image‐based approach are applications in smaller vessels more suitable, since its errors increase with the vessel diameter.