bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heat transfer enhancement in a corrugated chamber filled with hybrid nanofluid under an influence of internal heated plate
Authors: Hamza Naseer H. , Theeb Maathe A. , Sheremet Mikhail A.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to scrutinize numerically the effect of internally equipped nonuniformly heated plate within wavy cavity on heat transfer enhancement in the case of hybrid nanofluid flow.

Design/methodology/approach

The two-dimensional, steady, laminar, Newtonian and incompressible thermo-fluid flow phenomenon has been investigated numerically using Galerkin method. The considered parameters including number of waves (3–7), nondimensional length of heated plate (0.4–0.8), plate inclination angle (0º–90º), Rayleigh number (103–106) and concentration of nanoparticles (0.0–2.0) have been investigated in combination with involving hybrid nanofluid as a working fluid to augment thermal properties effectively. Two vertical wavy boundaries have low temperature whilst the other horizontal surfaces are adiabatic.

Findings

The Rayleigh number has a moderate impact on the values of Nusselt number, and skin friction parameter varied from 103 to 105 while it strongly affects them for Ra = 106, where Nu is roughly doubled (approximately 200%) in comparison with its value at Ra = 105 for all cases. Stream function is changed by the orientation of heated plate and Ra values, where its maximum value was 12.9 in horizontal position and 13.6 at vertical one. Results indicate a separation from the wavy walls at low Ra which tends to keep stagnation region at the deep parts of corrugated walls contrary the case at high Ra. The behavior of the isotherm contours tends to be distributed more evenly at lower values of Ra and angle of inclination lower than 45º. The resulting properties from mixing two materials for hybrid nanofluid into one base fluid show a good compromise between thermal capacity and heat conductivity, which is improved by 16% that leads to enhanced convective energy transport in the wavy chamber.

Originality/value

The originality of this work is the considered physical phenomenon where an influence of internal nonuniformly heated plate has been studied for the irregular geometry filled with a hybrid nanofluid. Such analysis allows defining the possible heat transfer enhancement for such an irregular cavity and inner heated plate.
Is technology truly improving the customer experience? Analysing the intention to use open banking in Indonesia
Authors: Iman Nofie , Nugroho Sahid Susilo , Junarsin Eddy , Pelawi Rizky Yusviento
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Open banking, with its promise to revolutionise electronic transactions through open application programming interfaces (APIs), aims to bridge the gap between banks and non-banks, enhancing lending, payments, investments and funds distribution. However, does this bold innovation truly resonate with consumers? This study delves into consumer intentions to adopt open banking in Indonesia by leveraging the technology readiness model, scrutinising its antecedents and moderating factors, and identifying the key attributes that users anticipate.

Design/methodology/approach

Through quantitative and qualitative approaches, this study answers the following questions: (1) Are financial service users ready to use open banking/open API applications? (2) What are the key attributes that consumer expects of open banking/open API? First, the authors developed a structural model based on the technology readiness model, distributed the questionnaire in eight major cities in Indonesia, analysed it using PLS-SEM and utilised a machine learning approach to unpack the main attributes expected from open banking.

Findings

This study’s findings indicate that customers are generally prepared to embrace open banking innovations. Nonetheless, to enhance public acceptance, certain factors should be emphasised, including organisational support, user-friendly technology, a comprehensive range of features, consumer financial literacy and banks' readiness to adopt open banking. In contrast to prior research, this study reveals that loyalty to traditional banking positively moderates the connection between customer value and the intention to utilise open banking. Additionally, the authors did not observe a significant moderating effect of financial literacy on the relationship between perceived customer value and the intention to use open banking.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the few that comprehensively analyses the consumers' readiness for open banking in developing contexts. This study is expected to produce a theoretical contribution as well as effective and optimal policies for the financial services sector.
Price and income elasticities of industrial electricity demand in Brazil: estimates and implications of COVID-19
Authors: Martins Luís Oscar Silva , Amorim Inara Rosa de , Mendes Vinicius de Araújo , Silva Marcelo Santana , Mendonça Freires Francisco Gaudencio , Torres Ednildo Andrade
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the price and income elasticities of short- and long-run industrial electricity demand in Brazil between 2003 and 2020. The research also examines the impacts of COVID-19 in Brazil’s industrial electricity sector, including an analysis in states more and less industrialized.

Design/methodology/approach

Dynamic adjustments models in panel data are used to present robust estimates and analyze the impact of different methodologies on reported elasticities.

Findings

The short-run price elasticity is estimated at −0.448, while the long-run values are around −1.60. Regarding income elasticity, the value is 0.069 in the short-run and is concentrated in 0.25 in the long-run. The inelastic results of income show that the industrial demand for electric energy follows the trend of loss of competitiveness of the Brazilian industry in the past years. In addition, the price of natural gas, the level of employment, and, in specific cases, the level of imports also influence industrial electricity demand.

Originality/value

The research is a pioneer in the investigation of the industrial behavior of electricity of the Brazilian industrial branch, using as control variables, the average temperature, and the level of rainfall, this one, so important for a country whose main source is hydroelectric. In addition, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first study, which is prepared to analyze the effects of COVID-19 on electric consumption in the industrial sector, investigating these impacts, including in the states considered more and less industrialized. The estimates generated may help in the design of the Brazilian energy policy.
Assessing ethical praxis of ethical (Islamic) financial institutions: a survey of empirical discoveries
Authors: Shamsudheen Shinaj Valangattil , Rosly Saiful Azhar , Muneeza Aishath
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to portray the ethical disposition of Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) globally by investigating the ethical gap identified in the empirical literature to date.

Design/methodology/approach

Two methods of analysis used in this study are content analysis and ratio analysis. While the former was conducted to identify the main themes of empirical studies and to gauge the gap between theory and practice of ethical principles and business practice in the Islamic banking and financial industry, the latter quantified the intensity of the gap identified.

Findings

The findings indicate that global ethical practices were found to be above medial, and the South East Asian region stood out with a relatively better performance along with the subpar performance of the African region. Among the ethical parameters, the praxis of marketing ethics was found to be distinctly aligned with the principles, and the organizational ethical decision-making behaviour was held to be least harmonized with the norms.

Practical implications

The findings of this study help researchers and regulators to better understand the issues and provide practical solutions to address the shortfalls of ethics in Islamic finance in practice.

Originality/value

In spite of the vast literature, comprehension of the overarching ethical standing of IFIs is still equivocal. This study contributes to the growing literature of ethical and/or Islamic finance primarily in two ways. Firstly, it provides a comprehensive depiction of the ethical standings of the IFIs all around the globe, which can be treated as a guiding document for regulators and industry practitioners to better understand the issues and provide practical solutions to address the shortfalls of ethics in Islamic finance in practice. Secondly, it helps researchers identify research gaps and provides a systematic direction for future studies in the area of ethics in Islamic finance.
Thinking styles and conflict management: a gamified empirical study
Authors: Hendijani Rosa , Ahmadi Mohammad Milad
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Individual differences cause many differences in human behaviour, and the first source of these differences is personality. In various organisations, employees are encouraged to manage conflict through conflict management styles. The way people think can be an essential factor in their ability to conflict management. Difficult employees are individuals who constantly use problematic communication styles to express their feelings and thoughts to direct the behaviour of others. This empirical study aims to investigate the effect of thinking styles on individuals’ conflict management in dealing with difficult personalities.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the research purpose, a gamified situation was designed, and a survey was performed in laboratory settings and on an online platform. At first, participants’ reactions were measured in the simulated conflict management situation dealing with difficult personalities; subsequently, the dominant thinking style of participants was measured by the rational-experiential inventory (REI) and the cognitive reflection test. At the end, participants answered a series of demographic questions.

Findings

The collected data were then analysed by regression analysis. Based on the findings of this study, the rational thinking measured by the REI40 has a significant and positive effect on the performance of individuals in conflict management with difficult personalities in an organisational context; in other words, rational thinking leads to better performance in conflict management than experiential thinking.

Originality/value

The value of this article lies in the direct study of the impact of thinking styles on conflict management, which was done by focusing on difficult organisational personalities. Also, using gamification in research design is another research initiative.
Antecedents of loneliness: a systematic review
Authors: Kumar Sushant
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Loneliness is widely prevalent in modern society. Despite the growth in studies, very limited studies so far have attempted to systematically review the literature. This study aims to consolidate the antecedents of loneliness by reviewing the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The systematic literature review method is adopted to identify the antecedents. Full texts of each article were taken for analysis which was published from 2002 to 2022. Multiple databases were examined and total of 60 articles were included for systematic literature review.

Findings

The study presents the descriptive analysis of the articles. Also, the paper thematically presents the key antecedents of loneliness in three themes (a) Loss of love, (b) Individual cognitive and personal factors and (c) Childhood experiences and parenting practices. The study also highlights the moderating effect of demographic factors and lifestyle changes.

Originality/value

The current study is the first systematic literature review to present the antecedents of loneliness. The study contributes by offering an enhanced understanding of loneliness. Also, the study presents contemporary understanding of loneliness and proposes a conceptual framework. The findings are useful to academicians as well as policymakers.
Examining the effect of elder abuse on welfare status: the case of selected districts in Southwestern Uganda
Authors: Aharimpisya Dianah , Kiyingi Frank Pio , Kasekende Francis
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the predictive potential of elder abuse on welfare status of older persons in selected districts in Southwestern Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The study took a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical design. Using a sample of 285 respondents, data were obtained from 201 usable questionnaires collected from caregivers and officials relating with older persons in this area making it a response rate of 70.5%. Using statistical program for social scientists (SPSS), the researchers tested and analyzed six hypotheses.

Findings

Results indicate that physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse and neglect negatively and significantly predicted welfare status. Though negatively related, social abuse and sexual abuse did not significantly predict welfare status.

Practical implications

Family members and caregivers must make practices that do not promote physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse and neglect as these negatively affect the welfare status of elderly persons. District officials such as community development officers and other persons handling older persons need to implement policies that promote the welfare status of the elderly.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates that the existence of physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse and neglect is a deterrent to older person’s welfare status.
A novel approach in psychiatric healthcare: co-designing a digital platform
Authors: Sigurðardóttir Steinunn Gróa , Óskarsdóttir María , Ingimarsson Oddur , Islind Anna Sigridur
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on the involvement of mental healthcare professionals in a co-design process of a digital healthcare platform. Many people with severe mental disorders need constant support and monitoring, and with long waiting lists and scarce resources in mental healthcare, there is a dire need for innovative digital solutions to counteract those issues. This paper elaborates on a co-design process of a digital platform and mobile app designed for people with mental disorders. The platform primarily considers two perspectives: i) the patients and ii) the healthcare professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on canonical action research, where the co-design involvement with 13 healthcare professionals is analyzed and their interactions with three primary scenarios are focused.

Findings

The main contribution of this paper is three co-design principles: i) clarity and information accessibility regarding the patient's side, ii) efficiency and flexibility when it comes to the healthcare professional's side and iii) a notification function in the mobile application.

Originality/value

The theoretical contribution is the conceptualization of the three co-design principles that others can use when designing digital platforms in healthcare in general and psychiatric care in particular. The practical contributions are firstly outlined through the co-design process itself, where scenarios to guide the work are used, and secondly, the improvements made in the digital platform derived from the results of the co-design process.
Sustainable investment initiatives and the performance of stakeholders involved in multinational technology companies' supply chains: linear or nonlinear effects?
Authors: Tran Thu Huong , Lu Wen-Min , Kweh Qian Long
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine how environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and ISO 14001, which is an internationally agreed standard to set out the requirements for an environmental management system, affect firm performance in the context of the Industry 4.0 supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop a new chance-constrained network data envelopment analysis (DEA) in the presence of non-positive data to estimate innovation, operational and profitability performances for three main relation groups (suppliers, partners and customers) in Microsoft's supply chain.

Findings

Results of this study show the following: (1) the application of ISO 14001 will reduce profitability but increase overall performance (OP); (2) ESG implementation has a convex U-shaped influence on profitability and OP, which means that firms will benefit when ESG investment goes beyond a particular level; (3) the nonlinear U-shape is presented in the E and G components, but not in the S of the individual ESG initiatives, and (4) only specific subcomponents of S and G in the subcomponent of individual ESG initiatives are nonlinearly connected to OP. Research's results reveal that the customer group has a higher performance value than the other two groups, which suggests that this group will create competitive advantages for Microsoft.

Originality/value

Overall, the authors provide an insightful viewpoint into supply chain management by examining the ESG initiatives, ISO 14001 and performances of Microsoft's supply chain.
Niklas Luhmann and Jacques Ellul on the autonomy of technology
Authors: Lovasz Adam
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Drawing on the work of Niklas Luhmann, the paper argues that technology can be viewed as a self-referential system which is autonomous from both human beings and other function systems of society. The paper aims to develop a philosophy of technology from the work of Niklas Luhmann. To achieve this aim, it draws upon the systems-theory work of Jacques Ellul, a philosopher of technology who focuses on the autonomous potential of technological evolution.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on the work of Niklas Luhmann and Jacques Ellul to explore the theme of autonomous technology and what this means for our thinking about technological issues in the twenty-first century. Insights from these two thinkers and researchers working in the Luhmannian sociological tradition are applied to remote work.

Findings

The sociological approach of Luhmann, coupled with Ellul's insights into the autonomous nature of technology, can help us develop a systems theory of technology which takes seriously its irreducibility to human functions.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes to the growing sociological literature that thematizes the Luhmannian approach to technology, helping us better understand this phenomenon and think in new ways about what technological autonomy means.

Originality/value

The paper brings together the work of Luhmann, Ellul and contemporary researchers to advance a new understanding of technology and technological communication.
Decision analysis for seabird recovery: Navigating complexity across ecosystems, balancing competing values and bridging spaces between research and implementation
Authors: Fischer Johannes H. , Parker Kevin A. , Kenup Caio F. , Davis Tāne , Bull Stewart , Pera‐Leask Estelle , Ryan Hom , Witehira Mark , Cole Rosalind A. , Taylor Graeme A. , Debski Igor , Ewen John G.
Published: June 2023

Conservation management decisions are challenging due to multiple, competing values (objectives) held by various parties, complex management options (alternatives), potential irreversible consequences, ubiquitous uncertainty and opaque governance structures. These complications are exacerbated when target species are highly mobile, utilise aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and interact with human interests. Even when decisions are made, these challenges may still inhibit management implementation. Decision analyses offer solutions, but are rarely applied in conservation management, especially for highly mobile species across ecosystems.

We applied a formal decision analysis for the conservation management of a highly mobile seabird (Kuaka; Whenua Hou Diving Petrel;Pelecanoides whenuahouensis) across ecosystems. Together with Māori (Indigenous Peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand), government staff and industry representatives, we identified seven fundamental objectives and 11 potential alternatives. We predicted consequences of alternatives across objectives using state‐of‐the‐art statistical models, including integrated population models, and expert elicitations hosted through Shiny apps. We then used various decision‐analytical tools to weigh trade‐offs and identify the preferred alternative.

The preferred alternative across objectives consisted of a combination of mitigation of vessel‐based light pollution, plant and competition management and inter‐island translocations. This alternative was predicted to provide the most effective conservation outcomes across values and ecosystems and was rapidly implemented in a stepwise fashion following this decision analysis.

Synthesis and application. We illustrate that decision analyses provide inclusive environments for all participants despite diverse backgrounds and views, enable rational navigation of complex decision landscapes and facilitate transparent identification of preferred management options across all fundamental values, including Māori value systems and industry concerns. Additionally, we show that decision analyses can rapidly bridge the spaces between research and implementation. Therefore, we argue that the application of decision analyses has great potential to improve the field of conservation.
Modelling spatial variation in an exploited species across marine reserve boundaries
Authors: Hanns Benjamin J. , Shears Nick T.
Published: June 2023

An increase in exploited species within marine reserves is often expected to benefit adjacent fished areas through the movement or ‘spill‐over’ of exploited species across reserve boundaries. However, harvest at and near reserve boundaries can also decrease abundances inside reserves, forming ‘edge‐effects’. Spatial analysis of gradients in abundance across reserve boundaries have been used to interpret the extents of edge‐effects and spill‐over. While the shape of these gradients will vary depending on species mobility and fishing intensity on reserve boundaries, they have largely been assumed to be gradual and quantified using continuous modelling strategies.

This study shows that continuous modelling strategies can lead to overestimations of spill‐over and edge‐effects by underfitting the rapid transition in abundance that can occur from reserve to fished areas. The abundances of spiny lobster (Jasus edwardsii) across the boundaries of two north‐eastern New Zealand marine reserves were quantified using catch survey data collected over 2 years. Several modelling approaches were used, and the predictive performance of each approach was compared.

Abrupt changes in lobster abundances were found across reserve boundaries and were best represented with models that incorporated a stepwise function across boundaries or where data from reserve and fished areas were modelled independently. Despite the mobile nature of this species, we found little evidence of edge‐effects and spill‐over within and adjacent to the surveyed marine reserves, which may reflect the low population status within these reserves. In contrast, standard continuous modelling approaches overestimated the extent of edge‐effects and spill‐over in both marine reserves.

Policy implications. This study shows how accurate assessments of edge‐effects and spill‐over can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of existing marine reserves in protecting exploited species. These findings emphasise the importance comparing several different modelling strategies when evaluating edge‐effects and spill‐over to ensure appropriate model fits. Although modelling approaches such as generalised additive models present a simple solution to exploring spatial variation in ecological data, we emphasise the importance of questioning the applicability of such strategies when assessing variation across areas of rapid change such as protected area boundaries.
Short‐term effects of moderate severity disturbances on forest canopy structure
Authors: Choi Dennis Heejoon , LaRue Elizabeth A. , Atkins Jeff W. , Foster Jane R. , Matthes Jaclyn Hatala , Fahey Robert T. , Thapa Bina , Fei Songlin , Hardiman Brady S.
Published: June 2023

Moderate severity disturbances, those that do not result in stand replacement, play an essential role in ecosystem dynamics. Despite the prevalence of moderate severity disturbances and the significant impacts they impose on forest functioning, little is known about their effects on forest canopy structure and how these effects differ over time across a range of disturbance severities and disturbance types.

Using longitudinal data from the National Ecological Observatory Network project, we assessed the effects of three moderate severity press disturbances (beech bark disease, hemlock woolly adelgid and emerald ash borer, which are characterized by continuous disturbance and sustained mortality) and three moderate severity pulse disturbances (spring cankerworm moth, spongy moth and ground fire, which are associated with discrete and relatively short mortalities) on temperate forest canopy structure in eastern US. We studied (1) how light detection and ranging (LiDAR)‐derived metrics of canopy structure change in response to disturbance and (2) whether initial canopy complexity offsets impact of disturbances on canopy structure over time. We used a mixed‐effects modelling framework which included a non‐linear term for time to represent changes in canopy structure caused by disturbance, and interactions between time and both disturbance intensity and initial canopy complexity.

We discovered that high intensity of both press and pulse disturbances inhibited canopy height growth while low intensity pulse disturbances facilitated it. In addition, high intensity pulse disturbances facilitated increases in the complexity of the canopy over time. Concerning the impact of initial canopy complexity, we found that the initial canopy complexity of disturbed plots altered the effects of moderate disturbances, indicating potential resilience effects.

Synthesis. This study used repeated measurements of LiDAR data to examine the effects of moderate disturbances on various dimensions of forest canopy structure, including height, openness, density and complexity. Our study indicates that both press and pulse disturbances can inhibit canopy height growth over time. However, while the impact of press disturbances on other dimensions of canopy structure could not be clearly detected, likely because of compensatory growth, the impact of pulse disturbances over time was more readily apparent using multi‐temporal LiDAR data. Furthermore, our findings suggest that canopy complexity might help to mitigate the impact of moderate disturbances on canopy structures over time. Overall, our research highlights the usefulness of multi‐temporal LiDAR data for assessing the structural changes in forest canopies caused by moderate severity disturbances.
Temporal progression of anaerobic fungal communities in dairy calves from birth to maturity
Authors: Jones Adrienne L. , Clayborn Jordan , Pribil Elizabeth , Foote Andrew P. , Montogomery Dagan , Elshahed Mostafa S. , Youssef Noha H.
Published: June 2023

Establishment of microbial communities in neonatal calves is vital for their growth and overall health. While this process has received considerable attention for bacteria, our knowledge on temporal progression of anaerobic gut fungi (AGF) in calves is lacking. Here, we examined AGF communities in faecal samples from six dairy cattle collected at 24 different time points during the pre‐weaning (days 1–48), weaning (days 48–60), and post‐weaning (days 60–360) phases. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction indicated that AGF colonisation occurs within 24 h after birth, with loads slowly increasing during pre‐weaning and weaning, then drastically increasing post‐weaning. Culture‐independent amplicon surveys identified higher alpha diversity during pre‐weaning/weaning, compared to post‐weaning. AGF community structure underwent a drastic shift post‐weaning, from a community enriched in genera commonly encountered in hindgut fermenters to one enriched in genera commonly encountered in adult ruminants. Comparison of AGF community between calves day 1 post‐birth and their mothers suggest a major role for maternal transmission, with additional input from cohabitating subjects. This distinct pattern of AGF progression could best be understood in‐light of their narrower niche preferences, metabolic specialisation, and physiological optima compared to bacteria, hence eliciting a unique response to changes in feeding pattern and associated structural GIT development during maturation.
Evaluation of streamflow as a covariate in models for predicting daily pesticide concentrations
Authors: Mosquin Paul L. , Aldworth Jeremy , Chen Wenlin , Grant Shanique
Published: June 2023

Several models have been developed with streamflow as a covariate for predicting daily pesticide concentrations in surface water systems. Among these models, the SEAWAVE‐QEX model has been proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for regulatory assessments. In this paper, the model was modified to include alternative transformations of streamflow data, and to include no streamflow covariates. The predictive performance of the modified models was evaluated and compared with the original SEAWAVE‐QEX model using a high frequency sampling dataset that includes 9 sites with 10 years of data from the Atrazine Ecological Monitoring Program. Streamflow transformations evaluated included those in the SEAWAVE‐QEX model (short‐term and mid‐term flow anomalies), reduced models with only short‐term flow anomaly or without any flow covariates, normalized Box‐Cox transformation of flow, and combinations of normalized Box‐Cox and flow anomalies. Loglinear interpolation was also evaluated. The normalized Box‐Cox transformation provided best predictive performance and significantly better predictive performance than that of the SEAWAVE‐QEX model for a target quantity of regulatory interest, such as the maximum 1‐day rolling average (similarly for the maximum 60‐day rolling average, but not significantly so). The no‐flow covariate model was only slightly worse than Box‐Cox. Significant differences in predictive performance of the SEAWAVE‐QEX model were detected across sites.
Overview of ecofiscal powers for municipalities: Implementation of new measures in Québec
Authors: Tremblay‐Racicot Fanny , Prémont Marie‐Claude , Leclair Kamille
Published: June 2023

A variety of taxes, charges and user fees deployed by municipalities can mitigate the negative impact of activities and infrastructures on the environment while diversifying revenue sources. Existing studies on ecofiscal instruments in Canadian municipalities, however, have focused primarily on the pricing of water and waste material while neglecting other environmental issues and the potential of taxes and regulatory charges. This article presents a picture of municipal ecotaxation in Québec and includes four new instruments crafted by Québec municipalities.
Magnetic chitosan oligomer‐sulfonate‐stearic acid triple combination as cisplatin carrier for site‐specific targeted on MCF‐7 cancer cells: Preparation, characterization and in vitro experiments
Authors: Akkaya Birnur , Akkaya Recep , Nazlim Arife
Published: June 2023

In this study, a new amphiphilic target‐specific adsorbent, chitosan oligomer‐sulfonate‐stearic acid triple combination (S‐Cho‐SA), and magnetic chitosan oligomer‐sulfonate‐stearic acid triple combination (M‐S‐Cho‐SA) by oleic acid (OA)‐modified Fe3O4 via hydrophobic interaction are fabricated. By modifying the nanoparticle surfaces and having the ability to magnetically allow the target region, these particles attract attention as important particles used in targeting mechanisms in cancer therapy. With magnetic nanoparticles and an external magnetic field, it is possible to transport therapeutic agents to the target site and keep them in the desired effect zone for a longer period of time. These new adsorbents are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT‐IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTA). After chemical characterization, it is complexed with cisplatin (CDDP). The magnetic adsorbents were loaded with high efficiency (>50%), and the release experiments exhibited that cisplatin is released more at pH 4.5 compared with pH 7.4 at 37°C. It showed better drug release results under a magnetic field for magnetic adsorbents (36% for pH 4.5 and 3.6% for pH 7.4). The biocompatibility of the prepared adsorbents was demonstrated via the XTT assay in MCF‐7 cell lines. The results also exhibited that S‐Cho‐SA and M‐S‐Cho‐SA were biocompatible, and free cisplatin and cisplatin‐complexed adsorbents showed an antiproliferative effect. The results showed that these new cisplatin‐loaded (M‐S‐Cho‐SA) nanoparticles are good candidates for thermotherapy in cancer treatment in the future, as they can provide selectivity by site‐specific targeting and hold onto an alternative magnetic field due to the magnetic nature of the nanoparticles.
The Kimberley Dental Team: A process evaluation of a volunteer dental programme serving remote Aboriginal communities in Australia
Authors: Patel Jilen , Bear Natasha , Long Robyn , Naoum Steven , Slack‐Smith Linda , Kruger Estie
Published: June 2023

Objectives

This study aims to conduct a process evaluation of the Kimberley Dental Team (KDT), a not‐for‐profit, volunteer organization providing care to remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia.

Methods

A logic model was constructed to detail the operational context of the KDT model. Subsequently, the fidelity (the extent to which each of the programme's elements were implemented as planned), dose (types and quantity of services provided) and reach (demographic characteristics and communities serviced) of the KDT model were evaluated using service data, deidentified clinical records and volunteer rosters maintained by KDT from 2009 to 2019. Trends and patterns of service provision were analysed using total counts and proportions over time. A Poisson regression model was used to explore changed in the rates of surgical treatment over time. The associations between volunteer activity and service provision was also investigated using correlation coefficients and linear regression.

Results

A total of 6365 patients (98% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander) were seen over the 10‐year period with services being provided across 35 different communities in the Kimberley. Most services were provided to school‐aged children, consistent with the programme's objectives. The peak preventive, restorative and surgical rates occurred among school‐aged children, young adults and older adults respectively. A trend was observed indicating a reducing rate of surgical procedures from 2010 to 2019 (p < .001). The volunteer profile showed significant diversity beyond the conventional dentist–nurse structure and 40% being repeat volunteers.

Conclusions

The KDT programme maintained a strong focus on service provision to school‐aged children over the last decade with the educational and preventive components being central to the care being provided. This process evaluation found that the dose and reach of the KDT model grew with an increase in resources and was adaptive to perceived community need. The model was shown to evolve through gradual structural adaptations contributing to its overall fidelity.
Imagined foodways and rejected biopedagogies: Rural children's perspectives of rural foodways
Authors: Ersfjord Ellen M. I. , Plasil Tanja , Heggem Reidun
Published: June 2023

Rural residency is an independent risk factor for being overweight, but little is known about why this is so. The purpose of our study was to gain insight into what Norwegian rural children say about a rural diet in comparison to an urban one. Child‐friendly methods were used. We found a discrepancy between what the children said they eat – traditional, ‘healthy’ foods, and what they ate – largely ultra‐processed foods. We explored this by using the frameworks of imagined foodways and biopedagogies. Their imagined foodways were rooted in notions of ‘traditional food’, connected to surrounding nature and a history of farming and hunting. Urban people were perceived as eating an inferior diet of very unhealthy and ultra‐processed foods of which they do not know the origin of. As a result, the children rejected specific health‐ and nutrition recommendations that were incompatible with their notions of traditional foods, leading to a more calorie dense diet than their urban counterparts. Our research adds to knowledge on what role a rural diet can play on the prevalence of overweight in rural areas, and how biopedagogies can be recontextualized within different cultural fields.
The Dynamic Interplay of Kinetic and Linguistic Coordination in Danish and Norwegian Conversation
Authors: Trujillo James P. , Dideriksen Christina , Tylén Kristian , Christiansen Morten H. , Fusaroli Riccardo
Published: June 2023

In conversation, individuals work together to achieve communicative goals, complementing and aligning language and body with each other. An important emerging question is whether interlocutors entrain with one another equally across linguistic levels (e.g., lexical, syntactic, and semantic) and modalities (i.e., speech and gesture), or whether there are complementary patterns of behaviors, with some levels or modalities diverging and others converging in coordinated fashions. This study assesses how kinematic and linguistic entrainment interact with one another across levels of measurement, and according to communicative context. We analyzed data from two matched corpora of dyadic interaction between—respectively—Danish and Norwegian native speakers engaged in affiliative conversations and task‐oriented conversations. We assessed linguistic entrainment at the lexical, syntactic, and semantic level, and kinetic alignment of the head and hands using video‐based motion tracking and dynamic time warping. We tested whether—across the two languages—linguistic alignment correlates with kinetic alignment, and whether these kinetic‐linguistic associations are modulated either by the type of conversation or by the language spoken. We found that kinetic entrainment was positively associated with low‐level linguistic (i.e., lexical) entrainment, while negatively associated with high‐level linguistic (i.e., semantic) entrainment, in a cross‐linguistically robust way. Our findings suggest that conversation makes use of a dynamic coordination of similarity and complementarity both between individuals as well as between different communicative modalities, and provides evidence for a multimodal, interpersonal synergy account of interaction.
Is Nonsymbolic Arithmetic Truly “Arithmetic”? Examining the Computational Capacity of the Approximate Number System in Young Children
Authors: Cheng Chen , Kibbe Melissa M.
Published: June 2023

Young children with limited knowledge of formal mathematics can intuitively perform basic arithmetic‐like operations over nonsymbolic, approximate representations of quantity. However, the algorithmic rules that guide such nonsymbolic operations are not entirely clear. We asked whether nonsymbolic arithmetic operations have a function‐like structure, like symbolic arithmetic. Children (n = 74 4‐ to ‐8‐year‐olds in Experiment 1; n = 52 7‐ to 8‐year‐olds in Experiment 2) first solved two nonsymbolic arithmetic problems. We then showed children two unequal sets of objects, and asked children which of the two derived solutions should be added to the smaller of the two sets to make them “about the same.” We hypothesized that, if nonsymbolic arithmetic follows similar function rules to symbolic arithmetic, then children should be able to use the solutions of nonsymbolic computations as inputs into another nonsymbolic problem. Contrary to this hypothesis, we found that children were unable to reliably do so, suggesting that these solutions may not operate as independent representations that can be used inputs into other nonsymbolic computations. These results suggest that nonsymbolic and symbolic arithmetic computations are algorithmically distinct, which may limit the extent to which children can leverage nonsymbolic arithmetic intuitions to acquire formal mathematics knowledge.
Hypothesis‐free discovery of novel cancer predictors using machine learning
Authors: Madakkatel Iqbal , Lumsden Amanda L. , Mulugeta Anwar , Olver Ian , Hyppönen Elina
Published: June 2023

Background

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and better understanding of the risk factors could enhance prevention.

Methods

We conducted a hypothesis‐free analysis combining machine learning and statistical approaches to identify cancer risk factors from 2828 potential predictors captured at baseline. There were 459,169 UK Biobank participants free from cancer at baseline and 48,671 new cancer cases during the 10‐year follow‐up. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, education, material deprivation, smoking, alcohol intake, body mass index and skin colour (as a proxy for sun sensitivity) were used for obtaining adjusted odds ratios, with continuous predictors presented using quintiles (Q).

Results

In addition to smoking, older age and male sex, positively associating features included several anthropometric characteristics, whole body water mass, pulse, hypertension and biomarkers such as urinary microalbumin (Q5 vs. Q1 OR 1.16, 95% CI = 1.13–1.19), C‐reactive protein (Q5 vs. Q1 OR 1.20, 95% CI = 1.16–1.24) and red blood cell distribution width (Q5 vs. Q1 OR 1.18, 95% CI = 1.14–1.21), among others. High‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (Q5 vs. Q1 OR 0.84, 95% CI = 0.81–0.87) and albumin (Q5 vs. Q1 OR 0.84, 95% CI = 0.81–0.87) were inversely associated with cancer. In sex‐stratified analyses, higher testosterone increased the risk in females but not in males (Q5 vs. Q1 ORfemales1.23, 95% CI = 1.17–1.30). Phosphate was associated with a lower risk in females but a higher risk in males (Q5 vs. Q1 ORfemales0.94, 95% CI = 0.90–0.99 vs. ORmales1.09, 95% CI 1.04–1.15).

Conclusions

This hypothesis‐free analysis suggests personal characteristics, metabolic biomarkers, physical measures and smoking as important predictors of cancer risk, with further studies needed to confirm causality and clinical relevance.
Association of multiple‐sclerosis‐related mortality with COVID‐19 and other common infections: a multiple causes of death analysis
Authors: Fedeli Ugo , Barbiellini Amidei Claudio , Avossa Francesco , Schievano Elena , Kingwell Elaine
Published: June 2023

Background and purpose

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from higher infection‐related mortality compared to the general population; however, sparse data are available on the increased risk of death associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and other common types of infections.

Methods

All mortality records and multiple‐cause‐of‐death data in 2010–2021 of residents in the Veneto region (northeastern Italy) were extracted. Mention of specific infections was compared between death certificates reporting MS or not. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated by conditional logistic regression matching by age, sex and calendar year. The bimonthly averages of MS‐related deaths in 2010–2019 were compared with those registered during the pandemic (2020–2021).

Results

Of 580,015 deaths through 2010–2021, MS was mentioned in 850 cases (0.15%), 59.3% women. Influenza and pneumonia were reported in 18.4% of MS‐related compared to 11.0% non‐MS‐related deaths (OR 2.72, 95% CI 2.28–3.25). The odds of mention of urinary tract infections was significantly greater in MS‐related deaths of men (OR 8.16, 95% CI 5.23–12.7) than women (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.82–5.02). Aspiration pneumonia, pressure ulcers/skin infections and sepsis were also significantly associated with MS‐related deaths. Reporting of COVID‐19 as a cause of death did not significantly differ between deaths with and without mention of MS (approximately 11% of both). However, compared to 2010–2019, peaks in MS‐related deaths were observed during the pandemic waves.

Conclusions

Infections continue to play a significant role in MS‐related deaths, underlying the need to improve prevention and management strategies.
Threshold definitions for significant change on the timed 25‐foot walk and nine‐hole peg test in primary progressive multiple sclerosis
Authors: Koch Marcus W. , Repovic Pavle , Mostert Jop , Bowen James D. , Comtois Jacynthe , Strijbis Eva , Uitdehaag Bernard , Cutter Gary
Published: June 2023

Background and purpose

The timed 25‐foot walk (T25FW) and nine‐hole peg test (NHPT) exhibit random variability in the short term. A threshold of ≥20% change from baseline has been used to indicate true disability change, but other threshold definitions may be better suited to exclude false and include true change events. The aim of this study was to use patient‐level original trial data to investigate the short‐term variation in T25FW and NHPT, and to compare its extent with disability change at 12‐month follow‐up in people with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

Methods

We used original patient‐level data from PROMISE, a large PPMS trial. In this trial, three separate T25FW and NHPT measurements were performed 1 week apart during screening. We used these repeated measures to describe the extent of short‐term variation. We used binary logistic regression models to investigate the association between screening characteristics and unacceptable short‐term variation.

Results

The traditional 20% threshold excluded a reasonable number of false change events, while also yielding a large number of change events at follow‐up. Increasing index values on the T25FW and NHPT were associated with higher short‐term variation.

Conclusions

The traditional ≥20% change threshold for the T25FW and NHPT represents a reasonable compromise between reducing the number of false change events and achieving the largest number of change events in people with PPMS. Our analyses inform the design of clinical trials in PPMS.
Grassquits adjust parental care in broods parasitized by native nest flies
Authors: Biagolini Carlos , Diniz Pedro , Macedo Regina H.
Published: June 2023

The parasitic nest fliesPhilornisspp. are ectoparasites associated with a large number of Neotropical bird species. Little is known about how flies locate birds' nests and how parents respond to native or subcutaneous parasitic flies. Here, we used blue‐black grassquits (Volatinia jacarina) to test (i) if parental care in early egg and nestling stages could predict parasitism status in late nestling stages and (ii) if parental care differed between parasitized and non‐parasitized nests. In general, the proportion of time parents were on the nest (both incubation and nestling periods) did not predict laterPhilornisparasitism status. These results suggest that flies do not use the presence of parents at the nest to locate nestlings. Parents visited the nest to feed nestlings more frequently in parasitized nests, suggesting that parents compensate for presumed nestling energy loss due toPhilornisparasitism. Parents also spent more time on nest maintenance in parasitized nests, which may be an attempt to remove larvae from nest walls or repair the nest damaged by larvae displacement. Finally, the time spent brooding did not vary with parasitism status. Grassquit responses toPhilornisparasitism provide a new perspective relative to the evolution of effective defense strategies against native parasites.