bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Empires and the Politics of Difference
Authors: Burbank Jane , Cooper Frederick
Published: November 2021

Empires governed different people differently. At one pole of empires’ repertoires of rule were the Mongols, who treated cultural difference as an ordinary fact, and possibly a useful one. At the other pole were Roman-style empires that insisted on the superiority of their civilization. Empires combined strategies and shifted among them. A polity could move through an imperial phase to more homogeneous composition, but empire-building was also a temptation for relatively uniform polities. Differential incorporation into the social fabric of empire or radical exclusion of certain categories from acceptance and political participation were variants on the politics of difference. This chapter explores issues of race, religion, differential rights, gender, ethnicity, and class as they played out across the vast spaces shaped by empires. Opponents of imperial rulers, coming from different social categories, also acted within and across imperial spaces.
Cannabis Vapor Exposure Alters Neural Circuit Oscillatory Activity in a Neurodevelopmental Model of Schizophrenia: Exploring the Differential Impact of Cannabis Constituents
Authors: Jenkins Bryan W , Buckhalter Shoshana , Perreault Melissa L , Khokhar Jibran Y
Published: November 2021

Cannabis use is highly prevalent in patients with schizophrenia and worsens the course of the disorder. To understand how exposure to cannabis changes schizophrenia-related oscillatory disruptions, we investigated the impact of administering cannabis vapor containing either Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or balanced THC/cannabidiol (CBD) on oscillatory activity in the neonatal ventral hippocampal lesion (NVHL) rat model of schizophrenia. Male Sprague Dawley rats underwent lesion or sham surgeries on postnatal day 7. In adulthood, electrodes were implanted targeting the cingulate cortex (Cg), the prelimbic cortex (PrLC), the hippocampus (HIP), and the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Local field potential recordings were obtained after rats were administered either the “THC-only” cannabis vapor (8–18% THC/0% CBD) or the “Balanced THC:CBD” cannabis vapor (4–11% THC/8.5–15.5% CBD) in a cross-over design with a 2-week wash-out period between exposures. Compared to controls, NVHL rats had reduced baseline gamma power in the Cg, HIP, and NAc, and reduced HIP-Cg high-gamma coherence. THC-only vapor exposure broadly suppressed oscillatory power and coherence, even beyond the baseline reductions observed in NHVL rats. Balanced THC:CBD vapor, however, did not suppress oscillatory power and coherence, and in some instances enhanced power. For NVHL rats, THC-only vapor normalized the baseline HIP-Cg high-gamma coherence deficits. NHVL rats demonstrated a 20 ms delay in HIP theta to high-gamma phase coupling, which was not apparent in the PrLC and NAc after both exposures. In conclusion, cannabis vapor exposure has varying impacts on oscillatory activity in NVHL rats, and the relative composition of naturally occurring cannabinoids may contribute to this variability.
I Know How It Feels: Empathy and Reluctance to Mobilize Legal Authorities
Authors: Fong Kelley
Published: November 2021

Why do people hesitate to summon state authorities to address concerns? Previous research has focused on cultural orientations about law enforcement, such as legal cynicism. In addition, people are often in a position to turn others in, requiring attention to how potential reporters understand the meaning and consequences of implicating others. This article identifies empathy as an underexamined lens through which marginalized groups view state intervention. I argue that amid shared social roles with those potentially reported to authorities, individuals invoke empathy in disavowing reporting. I advance this argument using the case of child abuse and neglect reporting, analyzing in-depth interviews with 74 low-income mothers in Rhode Island. Respondents disavowed or expressed ambivalence about reporting other families to child protection authorities, often justifying their non-reporting by empathizing with mothers they might report. Drawing on their own experiences of scrutinized and precarious motherhood, respondents imagined how they would feel if reported and balked at calling on child protective services, understanding reporting as an act of judging and jeopardizing another’s motherhood. The findings challenge conceptions of non-reporting as necessarily indicating social disorganization. Rather, hesitation to mobilize authorities can constitute an expression of care, kinship, and solidarity.
Whole-Genome Phylogenetic Reconstruction as a Powerful Tool to Reveal Homoplasy and Ancient Rapid Radiation in Waterflea Evolution
Authors: Van Damme Kay , Cornetti Luca , Fields Peter D , Ebert Dieter
Published: November 2021

Although phylogeny estimation is notoriously difficult in radiations that occurred several hundred million years ago, phylogenomic approaches offer new ways to examine relationships among ancient lineages and evaluate hypotheses that are key to evolutionary biology. Here, we reconstruct the deep-rooted relationships of one of the oldest living arthropod clades, the branchiopod crustaceans, using a kaleidoscopic approach. We use concatenation and coalescent tree-building methods to analyze a large multigene data set at the nucleotide and amino acid level and examine gene tree versus species tree discordance. We unequivocally resolve long-debated relationships among extant orders of the Cladocera, the waterfleas, an ecologically relevant zooplankton group in global aquatic and marine ecosystems that is famous for its model systems in ecology and evolution. To build the data set, we assembled eight de novo genomes of key taxa including representatives of all extant cladoceran orders and suborders. Our phylogenetic analysis focused on a BUSCO-based set of 823 conserved single-copy orthologs shared among 23 representative taxa spanning all living branchiopod orders, including 11 cladoceran families. Our analysis supports the monophyly of the Cladocera and reveals remarkable homoplasy in their body plans. We found large phylogenetic distances between lineages with similar ecological specializations, indicating independent evolution in major body plans, such as in the pelagic predatory orders Haplopoda and Onychopoda (the “Gymnomera”). In addition, we assessed rapid cladogenesis by estimating relative timings of divergence in major lineages using reliable fossil-calibrated priors on eight nodes in the branchiopod tree, suggesting a Paleozoic origin around 325 Ma for the cladoceran ancestor and an ancient rapid radiation around 252 Ma at the Perm/Triassic boundary. These findings raise new questions about the roles of homoplasy and rapid radiation in the diversification of the cladocerans and help examine trait evolution from a genomic perspective in a functionally well understood, ancient arthropod group. [Cladocera; Daphnia; evolution; homoplasy; molecular clock; phylogenomics; systematics; waterfleas.]
Water levels primarily drive variation in photosynthesis and nutrient use of scrub Red Mangroves in the southeastern Florida Everglades
Authors: Hogan J Aaron , Castañeda-Moya Edward , Lamb-Wotton Lukas , Troxler Tiffany , Baraloto Christopher
Published: November 2021

We investigated how mangrove-island micro-elevation (i.e., habitat: center vs edge) affects tree physiology in a scrub mangrove forest of the southeastern Everglades. We measured leaf gas exchange rates of scrub Rhizophora mangle L. trees monthly during 2019, hypothesizing that CO2 assimilation (Anet) and stomatal conductance (gsw) would decline with increasing water levels and salinity, expecting more considerable differences at mangrove-island edges than centers, where physiological stress is greatest. Water levels varied between 0 and 60 cm from the soil surface, rising during the wet season (May–October) relative to the dry season (November–April). Porewater salinity ranged from 15 to 30 p.p.t., being higher at mangrove-island edges than centers. Anet maximized at 15.1 μmol m−2 s−1, and gsw was typically <0.2 mol m−2 s−1, both of which were greater in the dry than the wet season and greater at island centers than edges, with seasonal variability being roughly equal to variation between habitats. After accounting for season and habitat, water level positively affected Anet in both seasons but did not affect gsw. Our findings suggest that inundation stress (i.e., water level) is the primary driver of variation in leaf gas exchange rates of scrub mangroves in the Florida Everglades, while also constraining Anet more than gsw. The interaction between inundation stress due to permanent flooding and habitat varies with season as physiological stress is alleviated at higher-elevation mangrove-island center habitats during the dry season. Freshwater inflows during the wet season increase water levels and inundation stress at higher-elevation mangrove-island centers, but also potentially alleviate salt and sulfide stress in soils. Thus, habitat heterogeneity leads to differences in nutrient and water acquisition and use between trees growing in island centers versus edges, creating distinct physiological controls on photosynthesis, which likely affect carbon flux dynamics of scrub mangroves in the Everglades.
The ultrafast snap of a finger is mediated by skin friction
Authors: Acharya Raghav , Challita Elio J. , Ilton Mark , Saad Bhamla M.
Published: November 2021

The snap of a finger has been used as a form of communication and music for millennia across human cultures. However, a systematic analysis of the dynamics of this rapid motion has not yet been performed. Using high-speed imaging and force sensors, we analyse the dynamics of the finger snap. We discover that the finger snap achieves peak angular accelerations of 1.6 × 106° s−2in 7 ms, making it one of the fastest recorded angular accelerations the human body produces (exceeding professional baseball pitches). Our analysis reveals the central role of skin friction in mediating the snap dynamics by acting as a latch to control the resulting high velocities and accelerations. We evaluate the role of this frictional latch experimentally, by covering the thumb and middle finger with different materials to produce different friction coefficients and varying compressibility. In doing so, we reveal that the compressible, frictional latch of the finger pads likely operates in a regime optimally tuned for both friction and compression. We also develop a soft, compressible friction-based latch-mediated spring actuated model to further elucidate the key role of friction and how it interacts with a compressible latch. Our mathematical model reveals that friction plays a dual role in the finger snap, both aiding in force loading and energy storage while hindering energy release. Our work reveals how friction between surfaces can be harnessed as a tunable latch system and provides design insight towards the frictional complexity in many robotic and ultra-fast energy-release structures.
Signature of transition to supershear rupture speed in the coseismic off-fault damage zone
Authors: Jara Jorge , Bruhat Lucile , Thomas Marion Y. , Antoine Solène L. , Okubo Kurama , Rougier Esteban , Rosakis Ares J. , Sammis Charles G. , Klinger Yann , Jolivet Romain , Bhat Harsha S.
Published: November 2021

Most earthquake ruptures propagate at speeds below the shear wave velocity within the crust, but in some rare cases, ruptures reach supershear speeds. The physics underlying the transition of natural subshear earthquakes to supershear ones is currently not fully understood. Most observational studies of supershear earthquakes have focused on determining which fault segments sustain fully grown supershear ruptures. Experimentally cross-validated numerical models have identified some of the key ingredients required to trigger a transition to supershear speed. However, the conditions for such a transition in nature are still unclear, including the precise location of this transition. In this work, we provide theoretical and numerical insights to identify the precise location of such a transition in nature. We use fracture mechanics arguments with multiple numerical models to identify the signature of supershear transition in coseismic off-fault damage. We then cross-validate this signature with high-resolution observations of fault zone width and early aftershock distributions. We confirm that the location of the transition from subshear to supershear speed is characterized by a decrease in the width of the coseismic off-fault damage zone. We thus help refine the precise location of such a transition for natural supershear earthquakes.
Predicting the zoonotic capacity of mammals to transmit SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Fischhoff Ilya R. , Castellanos Adrian A. , Rodrigues João P. G. L. M. , Varsani Arvind , Han Barbara A.
Published: November 2021

Back and forth transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between humans and animals will establish wild reservoirs of virus that endanger long-term efforts to control COVID-19 in people and to protect vulnerable animal populations. Better targeting surveillance and laboratory experiments to validate zoonotic potential requires predicting high-risk host species. A major bottleneck to this effort is the few species with available sequences for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, a key receptor required for viral cell entry. We overcome this bottleneck by combining species' ecological and biological traits with three-dimensional modelling of host-virus protein–protein interactions using machine learning. This approach enables predictions about the zoonotic capacity of SARS-CoV-2 for greater than 5000 mammals—an order of magnitude more species than previously possible. Our predictions are strongly corroborated byin vivostudies. The predicted zoonotic capacity and proximity to humans suggest enhanced transmission risk from several common mammals, and priority areas of geographic overlap between these species and global COVID-19 hotspots. With molecular data available for only a small fraction of potential animal hosts, linking data across biological scales offers a conceptual advance that may expand our predictive modelling capacity for zoonotic viruses with similarly unknown host ranges.
Delving into defence: identifying the Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5 gene suite involved in defence against secreted products of fungal, oomycete and bacterial rhizosphere competitors
Authors: Vick Silas H. W. , Fabian Belinda K. , Dawson Catherine J. , Foster Christie , Asher Amy , Hassan Karl A. , Midgley David J. , Paulsen Ian T. , Tetu Sasha G.
Published: November 2021

Competitive behaviours of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are integral to their ability to colonize and persist on plant roots and outcompete phytopathogenic fungi, oomycetes and bacteria. PGPR engage in a range of antagonistic behaviours that have been studied in detail, such as the production and secretion of compounds inhibitory to other microbes. In contrast, their defensive activities that enable them to tolerate exposure to inhibitory compounds produced by their neighbours are less well understood. In this study, the genes involved in the

Pseudomonas protegens

Pf-5 response to metabolites from eight diverse rhizosphere competitor organisms, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, Pythium spinosum,

Bacillus subtilis

QST713,

Pseudomonas

sp. Q2-87,

Streptomyces griseus

and

Streptomyces bikiniensis

subspecies bikiniensi, were examined. Proximity induced excreted metabolite responses were confirmed for Pf-5 with all partner organisms through HPLC before culturing a dense Pf-5 transposon mutant library adjacent to each of these microbes. This was followed by transposon-directed insertion site sequencing (TraDIS), which identified genes that influence Pf-5 fitness during these competitive interactions. A set of 148 genes was identified that were associated with increased fitness during competition, including cell surface modification, electron transport, nucleotide metabolism, as well as regulatory genes. In addition, 51 genes were identified for which loss of function resulted in fitness gains during competition. These included genes involved in flagella biosynthesis and cell division. Considerable overlap was observed in the set of genes observed to provide a fitness benefit during competition with all eight test organisms, indicating commonalities in the competitive response to phylogenetically diverse micro-organisms and providing new insight into competitive processes likely to take place in the rhizosphere.
Revised nomenclature and SNP barcode for Mycobacterium tuberculosis lineage 2
Authors: Thawornwattana Yuttapong , Mahasirimongkol Surakameth , Yanai Hideki , Maung Htet Myat Win , Cui Zhezhe , Chongsuvivatwong Virasakdi , Palittapongarnpim Prasit
Published: November 2021

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

(Mtb) lineage 2 (L2) strains are present globally, contributing to a widespread tuberculosis (TB) burden, particularly in Asia where both prevalence of TB and numbers of drug resistant TB are highest. The increasing availability of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data worldwide provides an opportunity to improve our understanding of the global genetic diversity of Mtb L2 and its association with the disease epidemiology and pathogenesis. However, existing L2 sublineage classification schemes leave >20 % of the Modern Beijing isolates unclassified. Here, we present a revised SNP-based classification scheme of L2 in a genomic framework based on phylogenetic analysis of >4000 L2 isolates from 34 countries in Asia, Eastern Europe, Oceania and Africa. Our scheme consists of over 30 genotypes, many of which have not been described before. In particular, we propose six main genotypes of Modern Beijing strains, denoted L2.2.M1–L2.2.M6. We also provide SNP markers for genotyping L2 strains from WGS data. This fine-scale genotyping scheme, which can classify >98 % of the studied isolates, serves as a basis for more effective monitoring and reporting of transmission and outbreaks, as well as improving genotype-phenotype associations such as disease severity and drug resistance. This article contains data hosted by Microreact.
Channel opening duration in adult muscle nAChRs determined by activated external ACh binding site
Authors: Ljaschenko Dmitrij , Mrestani Achmed , Pauli Martin , Dudel Josef , Heckmann Manfred
Published: November 2021

We recorded currents through the cell membrane at single nAChR molecules, held at ACh or Epibatidine (Ebd) concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 or 100 µM. The measured current amplitudes had an absolutely fixed value of 15 pA. This was valid for different agonists at all concentrations. Binding an agonist at one or both sites in the ring of subunits allowed to open the channel, the site that initiated the opening determined the duration of the final opening of the channel. In addition, the current flow was continuously interrupted by < 3 µs shut times. The resolution of our records was optimized to reach 5 µs, but was insufficient to resolve an unknown proportion of shorter shut times. Therefore, measured durations of openings are overestimated, and cited in brackets: τo1 (3 µs) elicited by agonist-binding at the δ-site, τo2 and τo3 (40 and 183 µs) by binding at the ε-site, and τo4 (752 µs) by binding at the ε- and δ-site. Mono-liganded nAChRs trigger short bursts of 0.6 ms duration. Bi-liganded nAChRs generate long bursts that at low agonist concentrations last 12 ms. Above 10 µM ACh, long bursts are shortened, with 100 µM ACh, to 5 ms, and further at higher concentrations. While ACh was the main agonist, Ebd bound more effectively than ACh to the ε-site.

SIGNIFICANCE

Transmembrane currents were recorded from single nAChR molecules. Binding ACh at one of the external receptor sites opens the central current channel repeatedly for a period selected by the activated receptor site, and transmembrane current can flow with fixed 15 pA amplitude (same at various agonists and range of concentrations, unaffected by desensitization). Current flow is interrupted by fixed < 3 µs blocks of the central channel that border each opening. Sets of current block and opening can be repeated for receptor-determined periods of time and form bursts of channel openings. The results may help to interpret the structural reactions in the center of the molecule that are addressed in the introduction.
Structural and biochemical analyses of the tetrameric carboxypeptidase S9Cfn from Fusobacterium nucleatum
Authors: Wang Xin , Cheng Meng-Ting , Chen Zhi-Peng , Jiang Yong-Liang , Ge Yu-Shu , Xia Rong , Hou Wen-Tao
Published: November 2021

As one of the most abundant bacteria in the human oral cavity, Fusobacterium nucleatum is closely involved in various oral diseases and is also a risk factor for other diseases. The peptidases of F. nucleatum can digest exogenous peptides into amino acids to satisfy its nutrient requirements. Here, a putative F. nucleatum peptidase, termed S9Cfn, which belongs to the S9C peptidase family was identified. Enzymatic activity assays combined with mass-spectrometric analysis revealed that S9Cfn is a carboxypeptidase, but not an aminopeptidase as previously annotated. The crystal structure of the S9Cfn tetramer was solved at 2.6 Å resolution and was found to contain a pair of oligomeric pores in the center. Structural analysis, together with site-directed mutagenesis and enzymatic activity assays, revealed a substrate-entrance tunnel that extends from each oligomeric pore to the catalytic triad, adjacent to which three conserved arginine residues are responsible for substrate binding. Moreover, comparison with other S9 peptidase structures indicated drastic conformational changes of the oligomeric pores during the catalytic cycle. Together, these findings increase the knowledge of this unique type of tetrameric carboxypeptidase and provide insight into the homeostatic control of microbiota in the human oral cavity.
Multitasking in the gut: the X-ray structure of the multidomain BbgIII from Bifidobacterium bifidum offers possible explanations for its alternative functions
Authors: Moroz Olga V. , Blagova Elena , Lebedev Andrey A. , Sánchez Rodríguez Filomeno , Rigden Daniel J. , Tams Jeppe Wegener , Wilting Reinhard , Vester Jan Kjølhede , Longhin Elena , Hansen Gustav Hammerich , Krogh Kristian Bertel Rømer Mørkeberg , Pache Roland A. , Davies Gideon J. , Wilson Keith S.
Published: November 2021

β-Galactosidases catalyse the hydrolysis of lactose into galactose and glucose; as an alternative reaction, some β-galactosidases also catalyse the formation of galactooligosaccharides by transglycosylation. Both reactions have industrial importance: lactose hydrolysis is used to produce lactose-free milk, while galactooligosaccharides have been shown to act as prebiotics. For some multi-domain β-galactosidases, the hydrolysis/transglycosylation ratio can be modified by the truncation of carbohydrate-binding modules. Here, an analysis of BbgIII, a multidomain β-galactosidase from Bifidobacterium bifidum, is presented. The X-ray structure has been determined of an intact protein corresponding to a gene construct of eight domains. The use of evolutionary covariance-based predictions made sequence docking in low-resolution areas of the model spectacularly easy, confirming the relevance of this rapidly developing deep-learning-based technique for model building. The structure revealed two alternative orientations of the CBM32 carbohydrate-binding module relative to the GH2 catalytic domain in the six crystallographically independent chains. In one orientation the CBM32 domain covers the entrance to the active site of the enzyme, while in the other orientation the active site is open, suggesting a possible mechanism for switching between the two activities of the enzyme, namely lactose hydrolysis and transgalactosylation. The location of the carbohydrate-binding site of the CBM32 domain on the opposite site of the module to where it comes into contact with the catalytic GH2 domain is consistent with its involvement in adherence to host cells. The role of the CBM32 domain in switching between hydrolysis and transglycosylation modes offers protein-engineering opportunities for selective β-galactosidase modification for industrial purposes in the future.
The impact of folding modes and deuteration on the atomic resolution structure of hen egg-white lysozyme
Authors: Ramos Joao , Laux Valerie , Haertlein Michael , Forsyth V. Trevor , Mossou Estelle , Larsen Sine , Langkilde Annette E.
Published: November 2021

The biological function of a protein is intimately related to its structure and dynamics, which in turn are determined by the way in which it has been folded. In vitro refolding is commonly used for the recovery of recombinant proteins that are expressed in the form of inclusion bodies and is of central interest in terms of the folding pathways that occur in vivo. Here, biophysical data are reported for in vitro-refolded hydrogenated hen egg-white lysozyme, in combination with atomic resolution X-ray diffraction analyses, which allowed detailed comparisons with native hydrogenated and refolded perdeuterated lysozyme. Distinct folding modes are observed for the hydrogenated and perdeuterated refolded variants, which are determined by conformational changes to the backbone structure of the Lys97–Gly104 flexible loop. Surprisingly, the structure of the refolded perdeuterated protein is closer to that of native lysozyme than that of the refolded hydrogenated protein. These structural differences suggest that the observed decreases in thermal stability and enzymatic activity in the refolded perdeuterated and hydrogenated proteins are consequences of the macromolecular deuteration effect and of distinct folding dynamics, respectively. These results are discussed in the context of both in vitro and in vivo folding, as well as of lysozyme amyloidogenesis.
Mental health of undergraduate distance learners: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Gamage Gayani P. , Herath H.M.Chulani J.
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Mental health is as important as physical health and new university entrants report high prevalence of depression. In open and distance learning (ODL), students must manage both work and studies. Those who are unable to effectively balance these aspects may experience negative outcomes such as dropping out, distress and physical health problems. Therefore, the study aims to investigate psychological distress amongst distance-learning undergraduate students to gather evidence for recommending necessary interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted using depression, anxiety, stress scale (DASS-21). Participants were undergraduate students from the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL). The students' socio-demographic details, history of physical and mental illnesses were also recorded.

Findings

According to scoring, 51% of the sample was categorised as “psychologically distressed” relating to the anxiety levels they reported whilst depression (35%) and stress remained (20%) at low levels. The three-factor structure of DASS-21 was also confirmed with reliability scores of 0.8 obtained for all three sub-scales.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations were low-response rate (less than 50%) and inability to provide causal explanations for psychological distress. Further research could address these.

Practical implications

The current research identified anxiety as a psychologically distressing factor for ODL students with the use of a reliable screening tool. Therefore, exploring reasons and interventions to help reduce anxiety could be developed.

Social implications

Majority of distance learners are contributing to a country's economy whilst learning to improve their current socio-economic status. Therefore, addressing these negative impacts is important.

Originality/value

The study explored ODL students' psychological distress and highlighted the need to identify causes and development of support systems to enhance mental well-being.
Development of an aeroelastic model based on system identification using boundary elements method
Authors: Firouz-Abadi Rohollah Dehghani , Borhan Panah Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the stability of aeroelastic systems using a novel reduced order aeroelastic model.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed aeroelastic model is a reduced-order model constructed based on the aerodynamic model identification using the generalized aerodynamic force response and the unsteady boundary element method in various excitation frequency values. Due to the low computational cost and acceptable accuracy of the boundary element method, this method is selected to determine the unsteady time response of the aerodynamic model. Regarding the structural model, the elastic mode shapes of the shell are used.

Findings

Three case studies are investigated by the proposed model. In the first place, a typical two-dimensional section is introduced as a means of verification by approximating the Theodorsen function. As the second test case, the flutter speed of Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development 445.6 wing with 45° sweep angle is determined and compared with the experimental test results in the literature. Finally, a complete aircraft is considered to demonstrate the capability of the proposed model in handling complex configurations.

Originality/value

The paper introduces an algorithm to construct an aeroelastic model applicable to any unsteady aerodynamic model including experimental models and modal structural models in the implicit and reduced order form. In other words, the main advantage of the proposed method, further to its simplicity and low computational effort, which can be used as a means of real-time aeroelastic simulation, is its ability to provide aerodynamic and structural models in implicit and reduced order forms.
Blockchain for smart manufacturing systems: a survey
Authors: Song Zhiting , Zhu Jianhua
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Smart manufacturing is the prime gripper for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry. Smart manufacturing systems (SMSs) largely determine how smart manufacturing evolves in technical and organizational dimensions and how it realizes values in products, production or services. SMSs are growing rapidly and receiving tons of attention from academic research and industrial practice. However, the development of SMSs is still in its fancy, and many issues wait to be identified and solved, such as single point failures, low transparency and ineffective resource sharing. Blockchain, an emerging technology deriving from Bitcoin, is competent to aid SMSs to conquer troubles due to its decentralization, traceability, trackability, disintermediation, auditability and etc. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the blockchain applications in SMSs, seek out the challenges faced by blockchain-enabled SMSs (BSMSs) and provide referable research directions and ideas.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature review as a survey is conducted in this paper. The survey starts by introducing blockchain concepts, followed by the descriptions of a literature review method and the blockchain applications throughout the product life cycle in SMSs. Then, the key issues and challenges confronting BSMSs are discussed and some possible research directions are also proposed. It finally presents qualitative and quantitative descriptions of BSMSs, along with some conclusions and implications.

Findings

The findings of this paper present a deep understanding about the current status and challenges of blockchain adoption in SMSs. Furthermore, this paper provides a brand new thinking for future research.

Originality/value

This paper minutely analyzes the impacts that blockchain exerts on SMSs in view of the product life cycle, and proposes using the complexity science thinking to deal with BSMSs qualitatively and quantitatively, including tackling the current major problems BSMSs face. This research can serve as a foundation for future theoretical studies and enterprise practice.
Restrictive or expansive? European Investment Bank's challenge to equipoise climate finance with post-pandemic boost
Authors: Kavvadia Helen
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Unique among European Union (EU) economic governance entities and multilateral banks, the European Investment Bank (EIB) possesses a dual nature, as an EU body and a bank. The EIB has been ever evolving to adapt to policy and market developments and to reflect the geo-economic landscape. In 2019, in association with the EU's Green Deal, the bank announced its metamorphosis into a “Climate Bank,” ending its fossil fuel lending after 2021. Additionaly, upon the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its attendant health and economy crisis, EU decision-makers have solicited the bank to support both urgent needs for tackling and countering the spread of the disease and the post-pandemic economic recovery. Nevertheless, devastated economic actors in need of assistance fall within many sectors, including some less green ones.

Design/methodology/approach

This article is grounded on agency theory for developing a generic stakeholder framework, which is then subsequently applied in investigating the EIB, in interaction with its main stakeholders.

Findings

This article investigates the EIB stakeholders in pursuing these two seemingly contradictory objectives of exclusively restricting its activity to green funding and expanding its action for achieving a broad impact in the real economy. By exploring this tension, the article argues that by prioritizing the post-COVID restart, the EIB risks to deviate from its strict green commitment.

Practical implications

The analysis of the EIB's divergent stakeholder stances demonstrates some ambivalence in future EIB activity in an effort to equipoise climate finance with a post-pandemic boost. The same ambivalence might equally occur with other major economic governance actors. The stakeholder framework developed and applied in the case of the EIB can be useful for studying also the stakeholder dynamics of other organizations.

Social implications

The analysis demonstrates a tension between selective climate-related funding for “building back better” and the need for a wide broaching of countercyclical stimulus, with implications for economic and social actors alike.

Originality/value

The approach is novel, as it develops a new analytical framework for understanding stakeholder dynamics and tests it empirically on the EIB. This constitutes the first study of EIB stakeholder management.
Struggling to make ends meet: can consumer financial behaviors improve?
Authors: Meneau Lisa K. , Moorthy Janakiraman
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to examine the following two research objectives. The first was to examine the predictive relationships that consumer characteristics of financial literacy, thinking styles and self-control have with a consumer's financial behaviors. The second goal was to ascertain financial management products' ability to aid those consumers who need it the most by weakening the predictive effects of consumer traits on financial behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a web-based survey to gather information. The measurement and structural models were analyzed using generalized structured component analysis (GSCA), a component-based structural equation model. The mediation effect of self-control is assessed using the GSCA. The conditional mediation of demographic variables and use of personal financial management products are evaluated using multi-group analysis (MGA) in GSCA.

Findings

Antecedents, financial literacy, thinking styles and self-control consumer characteristics are predictors of financial behaviors. However, self-control plays a more prominent role as a mediator between the other variables, strengthening the overall relationship. Also, financial products can have a beneficial moderation effect assisting those consumers who need them the most.

Practical implications

These insights help in creating target specific financial literacy strategies to influence consumers' financial behaviors. Also, there is a need to develop mechanisms to influence a consumer's self-control and thinking styles to improve financial behavior. In conjunction with other initiatives, the impact of financial literacy has a greater effect on financial behaviors. Further, the insights assist financial institutions and financial technology firms in offering and creating products to help customers make better financial decisions and improve their financial behaviors.

Social implications

The research addressed a significant global issue – consumer financial health. The Great Recession and the COVID-19 recession highlight the need to focus on the consumer and efforts to improve their financial health.

Originality/value

This research highlighted the mediating role of self-control and suggested that existing and future financial products can positively influence consumer behavior drivers.
The effects of internal stickiness on the success of projects
Authors: Araujo Valdemilson de Assis Alves de , Scafuto Isabel Cristina , Serra Fernando Ribeiro , Vils Leonardo , Bizarrias Flavio
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the effects of internal stickiness (IS) on the success of projects through the perception of managers involved in projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected 253 valid responses from project managers, using a validated IS scale and project success scale. The results were analyzed using nonparametric correlation due to the nature of the data.

Findings

The dimensions of success are interrelated, and IS, considering the barriers to knowledge transfer, is negatively related to all of these dimensions. This confirms the importance of the behavior of the individual and the team, rather than only formal processes to avoid IS and positively impact the success of projects.

Practical implications

The tacit and behavioral component of knowledge management needs to be further explored in practice. Project management activities need to pay greater attention to knowledge development, knowledge transfer and learning between those involved in the project and within a company.

Originality/value

The study provides a better understanding of knowledge transfer barriers, represented by the IS construct, to the success of projects. The success of projects depends on the relationship with teams that include members of organizational sectors not related to the existence of permanent project management teams. The relationship contributes to the successful transfer of knowledge between the recipient and the source of knowledge according to the recipient's needs.
Categorizing transaction costs outcomes under uncertainty: a blockchain perspective for government organizations
Authors: Herold David M. , Saberi Sara , Kouhizadeh Mahtab , Wilde Simon
Published: November 2021

Purpose

In response, the purpose of this paper is to provide theoretical frameworks about the organizational uncertainty behind what and when to adopt blockchain technology and their implications on transaction costs. The immature nature and the absence of standards in blockchain technology lead to uncertainty in government organizations concerning the adoption (“what to adopt”) and the identification of the right time (“when to start”).

Design/methodology/approach

Using transaction cost theory and path dependency theory, this paper proposes two frameworks: to assess transaction cost risks and opportunities costs; and to depict four different types of transaction costs outcomes regarding blockchain adoption.

Findings

This paper identifies various theoretical concepts that influence blockchain adoption and combine the two critical constructs of “bounded rationality” and the “lock-in effect” to categorize the multiple transaction costs outcomes for blockchain adoption.

Research limitations/implications

Although existing research in blockchain highlights mainly the potential benefits of blockchain applications, only a little attention has been given to frameworks that categorize potential transaction costs outcomes under uncertainty, in particular from organizational theorists.

Originality/value

Both frameworks advance the understanding of the decision-making behind blockchain adoption and synthesize the current literature to offer conceptual clarity regarding the varied implications and outcomes linked to the uncertainty regarding transactions costs stemming from blockchain technology.
Understanding non-Muslims’ reluctance to halal food: a systematic review
Authors: Ramli Mohd Anuar , Abd Razak Muhamad Afiq , Jaafar Mohamad Hasif
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To tap into the global market, it is important to evaluate and predict the trends of the acceptance of non-Muslims towards halal food products. This review paper aimed to evaluate the evidence relating to the potential barriers to the acceptance of halal food among non-Muslim consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors searched ScienceDirect, Scopus, Emerald and JSTOR databases. The search for the studies was performed without restrictions by using the terms “Non-Muslim” OR “Jews” OR “Christian” OR “Hindu” OR “Buddha” AND “halal” OR “halalan toyyiban” OR “sharia compliance” AND “food” OR “dietary” AND “perception” OR “opinion” OR “attitude” OR “barrier”. Quantitative studies were included, and the quality of the studies was assessed with the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool.

Findings

Two themes were identified to be the potential barriers in the acceptance of halal food among non-Muslim consumers. There were two major factors: weak intention (negative attitude, perceived low behavioural control and perceived low subjective norms) and lack of food safety awareness, whereas the minor factors were as follows: perceived low food quality, halal logo/brand, lack of halal awareness, religious belief, animal welfare, consumer motive, low confidence level, lack of proper marketing/promotion, bad cognitive dissonance, bad food assurance and poor product judgement.

Practical implications

By realising these potential barriers, it will benefit many parties including stakeholders and the food industry to improve their strategy to expand the halal market, especially for non-Muslims.

Originality/value

Based on the findings, the authors believe that while research towards halal needs to continue and improve its basis in theory and design, researchers and food marketers can be confident that intention of purchasing halal food products can be increased by securing the aspect of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control as well as food safety awareness. Based on the identification of these potential barriers, this review hopes to further explain effective methods of communication for conveying halal concept in different parts of the countries.
Episodic supply chains at times of disruption
Authors: Öberg Christina
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Additive manufacturing has been described as converting supply chains into demand chains. By focusing on metal additive manufacturing as a contemporary technology causing ongoing disruption to the supply chain, the purpose of this paper is to describe and discuss how incumbent firms act during an ongoing, transformational disruption of their supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews and secondary data, along with seminars attracting approximately 600 individuals operating in metal additive manufacturing, form the empirical basis for this paper.

Findings

The findings of this paper indicate how disruption occurs at multiple positions in the supply chain. Episodic positions as conceptualised in this paper refer to how parties challenged by disruption attempt to reach normality while speeding the transformational disruption.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to previous research by theorising about episodic positions in light of a supply chain disruption. The empirical data are unique in how they capture supply chain change at the time of disruption and illustrate disruptive, transformational change to supply chains. The paper interlinks research on disruption from the innovation and supply chain literature, with contributions to both.
EVERYDAY ROMA STIGMATIZATION: Racialized Urban Encounters, Collective Histories and Fragmented Habitus
Authors: Creţan Remus , Kupka Petr , Powell Ryan , Walach Václav
Published: November 2021

Roma discrimination and stigmatization in Europe are well‐documented, with urban scholars emphasizing pervasive prejudices and stereotypes alongside negative policy outcomes. However, the focus on Roma marginality has tended to centre on punitive state and urban governance to the neglect of everyday urban relations. In this article we focus on the micro manifestations of stigmatization—racialized urban encounters—and their neglected longer‐term affects for Roma in Czechia and Romania. Ethnographic research and in‐depth qualitative interviews with Roma respondents expose a complex, dynamic and multi‐layered response to stigmatization that challenges the simplistic binary of resistance versus the internalization of stigma. The concept of fragmented habitus is deployed in capturing this dynamic process and providing a nuanced representation of the urban inhabitation of a long‐term stigmatized and racialized position, beyond generic ‘Otherness’. We argue for more attention to the specificities and complexities of everyday relations and their affects in capturing the interdependence between urban encounters, the longer‐term construction of Roma inferiority, and the heterogeneous, dynamic and ambivalent ways in which Roma inhabit their racialized urban position.
Sepsis treatment options identified by 10‐year study of microbial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility in a level‐four neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Størdal Eline Hasselgård , Solevåg Anne Lee , Bjørnholt Jørgen Vildershøj , Rønnestad Arild , Stensvold Hans Jørgen
Published: November 2021

Aim

This observational study investigated the microbiology of blood culture‐positive sepsis episodes and susceptibility to empiric antibiotics in early‐onset sepsis (EOS) and late‐onset sepsis (LOS) in a level‐four neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from 2010 to 2019.

Methods

It was based on patient records and data that Oslo University Hospital, Norway, routinely submitted to the Norwegian Neonatal Network database. Clinical data were merged with blood culture results, including antibiotic susceptibility.

Results

We studied 5249 infants admitted to the NICU 6321 times and identified 324 positive blood cultures from 287 infants, with 30 EOS and 305 LOS episodes. Frequent causative agents for EOS were group B streptococci (33.3%), Escherichia coli (20.0%) and Staphylococcus aureus (16.7%). All were susceptible to empiric ampicillin and gentamicin. LOS was most frequently caused by coagulase‐negative staphylococci (CONS) (73.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.7%) and Enterococci (6.9%). CONS, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Enterobacter represented 91.9% of LOS episodes and were susceptible to vancomycin and cefotaxime (96.1%), vancomycin and gentamicin (97.0%) and cloxacillin and gentamicin (38.1%).

Conclusion

Empiric treatment with ampicillin and gentamicin was adequate for EOS. Combining vancomycin and gentamicin may be a safer alternative to cefotaxime for LOS, as this reduces exposure to broad‐spectrum antibiotics.