bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Piloting personalization research through data-rich environments: a literature review and future research agenda
Authors: Mehmood Khalid , Verleye Katrien , De Keyser Arne , Larivière Bart
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Over the last 50 years, increased attention for personalization paved the way for one-to-one marketing efforts, but firms struggle to deliver on this promise. The purpose of this manuscript is to provide a complete picture on personalization, develop a future research agenda and put forth concrete advice on how to move the field forward from a theoretical, methodological, contextual, and practical viewpoint.

Design/methodology/approach

This research follows a systematic literature review process, providing an in-depth analysis of 135 articles (covering 184 studies) to distill the (1) key building blocks and components of personalization and (2) theoretical, contextual, and methodological aspects of the studies.

Findings

This manuscript uncovers six personalization components that can be linked to two personalization building blocks: (1) learning: manner, transparency, and timing and (2) tailoring: touchpoints, level, and dynamics. For each of these components, the authors propose future research avenues to stimulate personalization research that accounts for challenges in today's data-rich environments (e.g. data privacy, dealing with new data types). A theoretical, contextual, and methodological (i.e. industry, country and personalization object) review of the selected studies leads to a set of concrete recommendations for future work: account for heterogeneity, embed theoretical perspectives, infuse methodological innovation, adopt appropriate evaluation metrics, and deal with legal/ethical challenges in data-rich environments. Finally, several managerial implications are put forth to support practitioners in their personalization efforts.

Originality/value

This research provides an integration of personalization research beyond existing and outdated review papers. Doing so, it accounts for the impact of new technologies and Artificial Intelligence and aims to advance the next generation of knowledge development on personalization.
Performance management change: discourses at play in an Italian university
Authors: Manes-Rossi Francesca , Spanò Rosanna , Martin-Sardesai Ann , Guthrie James
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study explores the reactions of different categories of actors within a university setting (academics, administrative staff, governance members, and students) to implementing performance management system (PMS) changes. The paper aims to understand how these actors dealt with PMS change by discursively reconstructing their roles and positions at institutional and individual levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use Foucault's (1972/1989) conceptualisation of regimes of truths to analyse the case of an Italian university. Interviews with individual actors took place in the period 2012–2020. The data were contextualised with other data from publicly available reports, internal documents, and archival material.

Findings

The paper identifies the challenges actors face dealing with contrasting discourses and draws attention to the paradoxical changes triggering resistance. However, the findings show that when circumstances allow a generative resistance, dissent can be progressively replaced with a commitment on the part of actors, achieving alignment with organisational strategy.

Originality/value

The study challenges the commonly held view of resistance as a dysfunctional force that impedes change. It emphasises the importance of focusing on actors to make resistance a generative force shaping change towards more negotiated and agreed positions. This has implications for academics and practitioners seeking to implement PMSs.
To learn and let learn? Characteristics of the learning environment in knowledge-intensive medium-sized enterprises
Authors: Csizmadia Péter , Csillag Sára , Szászvári Karina Ágnes , Bácsi Katalin
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the characteristics of learning environments and the related human resource (HR) practices in two Hungarian information technology (IT) companies. The aim of the contribution is to provide an empirical in-depth analysis of how learning environments are being created and managed in knowledge-intensive small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the analysis of two company case studies. Relying on semi-structured interviews, the following research question was formulated: Are knowledge-intensive organisations necessarily accompanied by an expansive learning environment and HR practices consistent with that?

Findings

The lessons learned from the two case studies indicate that there is no direct link between knowledge-intensive work and an expansive learning environment. The establishment of a specific type of learning environment is rather connected to the types of knowledge being used in the labour process and the management’s perspective on learning and development. It also implies that companies, instead of representing unified models, may combine various elements of an expansive and restrictive learning environment.

Originality/value

The originality of the findings of this study lies in the interpretative linking of learning environments and HR practices in medium-sized IT companies.
Self-supporting or third-party? The optimal delivery strategy selection decision for e-tailers under competition
Authors: Yu Jing , Song Zonghui , Zhou Chi
Published: June 2022

Purpose

With the vigorous development of the e-commerce delivery service industry, delivery service has become an important factor for e-tailers to obtain the market competitive advantage. However, how to choose the best delivery service strategy is a difficult problem for e-tailers in practice. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of delivery service on e-tailers and online platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the Stackelberg game, the research study establishes and solves three models, namely dual self-supporting delivery service model, dual third-party delivery service model and differential delivery service model.

Findings

The results show that when the self-supporting and third-party delivery cost coefficients are all small, no matter which delivery service providers the competitor selects, the e-tailer selects delivery with a lower service fee. When the self-supporting and third-party delivery service fee are all low, no matter which delivery service providers the competitor selects, the e-tailer selects delivery with a smaller service cost. Both service fee and service cost determine the choice of e-tailers' delivery strategy. When the commission rate is moderate, both e-tailers are willing to choose the self-supporting delivery strategy, but the platform only prefers to provide self-supporting delivery to them with a lower delivery service sensitivity coefficient.

Originality/value

This paper analyzes the optimal delivery service strategies for e-tailers to compete with competitors, and explores the impacts of parameters for e-tailers and online platforms in their decision-making. The findings provide valuable implications for relevant practices.
Adaptive capacity constraint buffer monitoring of the multi-project system based on the relevance of drum activities
Authors: Zhang Junguang , Han Qing
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The activities using drum resources restrict the operation of multi-project systems. However, existing monitoring methods are not suitable for the characteristics of drum activities in the multi-project system. The authors therefore propose an adaptive capacity constraint buffer monitoring model based on the attributes of drum activities, aiming to build a high-efficiency progress control framework for multiple projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the attributes and the interrelationship of drum activities, the monitoring reference points are determined on the basis of decentralized buffers. The authors next set action thresholds according to the relationship between the drum activities' interval margin and buffer consumption, and then the corresponding monitoring measures are taken.

Findings

The empirical results show that, compared to the classic methods, the proposed approach can effectively monitor the progress of the drum plan and realize the dual optimization of multi-project duration and cost.

Research limitations/implications

The buffer consumption at the follow-up monitoring time point is neglected when determining the action thresholds. Prediction methods can be introduced to present more all-sided monitoring.

Practical implications

This paper fulfils the dual optimization of multi-project duration and cost. It provides a reference guide for project managers.

Originality/value

A capacity constraint buffer monitoring method suitable for a multi-project environment is produced.
Emission-decoupling accounting framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) for India with structurally decomposed production and consumption based drivers
Authors: Banerjee Suvajit
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The study attempts to capture the comprehensive accounting framework of the inverted U-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis relevant for an emerging economy based on an emission-growth decoupling approach. The paper intends to re-examine and analyze the roles of influential production- and consumption-based drivers for the prominently observable increasing pattern of the energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the Indian Territory.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted an annual time series structural decomposition analysis (SDA) based on a single-country input-output framework for the period 2000–2014 to identify and elaborate the contribution of the responsible drivers to the production-based carbon emission of India. The study further proceeded to analyze a decoupling index to explore the features of economic growth and carbon emissions comovement over time.

Findings

The results from the empirical exercise reflect a pattern of consistently developing relative decoupling character for most of the production-based drivers. The paper produces insightful results on the pattern of energy-related CO2 emissions from the perspective of the EKC hypothesis and highlights the importance of consumption-based drivers as substantial contributors to the economy-wide CO2 emissions to be controlled for effective decoupling of the aggregate production-based CO2 from the volume of aggregate production to enhance the opportunities for sustainable economic development.

Originality/value

The study uniquely correlates the declining trend of the emission intensity of India's gross domestic product (GDP) and the inclining trend of the overall emissions due to ever-increasing gross output in the form of a comprehensive accounting relationship.
Corporate disclosure of CO2 embedded in oil and gas reserves: stock market assessment in a context of global warming
Authors: Beauchamp Charlotte , Cormier Denis
Published: June 2022

Purpose

The authors assess the informativeness for stock markets of proven reserves of oil and gas, and embedded CO2 in those reserves.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a two-step regression approach, the authors attempt to test the relationship between proven reserves, CO2 embedded in those reserves and the stock market value controlling for the selection bias (i.e. the decision of managers to disclose environmental information about embedded CO2).

Findings

Results, based on a sample of the US and Canadian firms are the following. Proven reserves increase the firm’s value, while embedded CO2 reduces the stock market value substantially. Furthermore, the decision of managers to disclose information about embedded CO2 is positively related to analyst following, share price volatility, firm size, and institutional ownership.

Originality/value

The current study assesses the long-term incidence of embedded CO2 (in oil and gas proven reserves) on firms’ stock market value, while most studies are focusing on yearly CO2 emissions.
Personal and social norms in responsible computer acquisition
Authors: Yeow Paul H.P. , Lee Yee Leng , Yuen Yee Yen
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the mediating roles of social and personal norms in the relationships between transcendent values (i.e. altruistic and biospheric) and responsible computer acquisition behaviour (RCAB). Previous studies suggested the role of norms in explaining the value–behaviour relationship. However, they did not provide sufficient evidence of the mediating roles of both personal and social norms.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered questionnaire was employed to gather data from 571 consumers in Malaysia. The data were analysed using the structural equation modelling method.

Findings

It was found that personal and social norms partially mediate the relationship between altruistic values and RCAB. Social norms also partially mediate the relationship between altruistic values and personal norms. However, there was no significant relationship between biospheric values and RCAB; thus, the norms have no mediation roles.

Practical implications

It provides policymakers and marketers insights into ways of encouraging pro-environmental behaviour such as RCAB.

Originality/value

This research provides empirical evidence of the mediating roles of personal and social norms in value–behaviour relationships in an emerging market context.
Who is calling the shot? Risk culture experiments on bi-level governments
Authors: Rosdini Dini , Afiah Nunuy Nur , Sari Prima Yusi , Fitrijanti Tettet , Ritchi Hamzah , Alfian Adhi
Published: June 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore how risk culture – tone at the top (TATT) and informed risk decision (IRD) – can affect the effectiveness of risk management (EORM) in the government.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors experimented on 84 civil servants working in central and local governments in Indonesia, focusing on vital local governments and critical ministries/institutions in central governments.

Findings

TATT and its interaction with IRD do not affect the EORM, while IRD and socialization of risk affect and improve it. A weak TATT, low commitment and ineffective implementation of risk culture to the lower-middle echelon may impair a country’s risk management (RM) practice. IRD with socialization is also the key to improving decision-making and RM.

Originality/value

This paper illuminates the possibility of risk culture in regulating the EORM in the governmental general planning process using the experiment as the research method and provides different facets in the application of risk culture in the government, where the focus is on policy-making, budgeting and planning aspects by involving several important ministries, institutions and strategic local government’s civil servants.
Experimental comparison of fish mortality and injuries at innovative and conventional small hydropower plants
Authors: Mueller Melanie , Knott Josef , Pander Joachim , Geist Juergen
Published: June 2022

Resolving the controversy about hydropower is only possible based on reliable data on its ecological effects, particularly fish welfare.

Herein, we propose a comprehensive assessment of conventional and innovative hydropower using a dataset of 52,250 fish.

The effects of hydropower on fish were most harmful at sites with Kaplan turbines, showing ≤83% mortality. Innovative hydropower, often termed ‘fish‐friendly’, caused ≤64% mortality.

Our findings suggested that the runner peripheral speed, number of turbine blades and turbulence at turbine outlets were the most important factors.

Synthesis and applications. To reduce the impact of hydropower on fish, site‐specific characteristics such as head drop, bypass options and river‐specific species composition need to be more intensively considered in optimal turbine technologies and operation modes.
Biological flora of Britain and Ireland:Neottia nidus‐avis
Authors: Jersáková Jana , Minasiewicz Julita , Selosse Marc‐André
Published: June 2022

This account provides information on all aspects of the biology ofNeottia nidus‐avis(L.) Rich. (Bird's‐nest Orchid) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, reproductive characteristics, herbivory, history and conservation.

Neottia nidus‐avisis a native mycoheterotrophic orchid; it is found most frequently in the deep humus of densely shaded beech woodlands, on limestone or chalky soils in the British Isles. The species extends throughout temperate Eurasia.

Neottia nidus‐avisis a perennial, mostly monocarpic herb with mixed mode of reproduction and many adaptations to autogamy. The perennating organ is a short rhizome; vegetative reproduction by rhizome branching or root‐sprouting is rather infrequent. Because of its achlorophyllous nature,N. nidus‐avisis entirely dependent on its mycorrhizal basidiomycetes from the family Sebacinaceae for nutrition.

Plastid genome ofN. nidus‐avishas been reduced as a result of the relaxation of functional constraints on photosynthesis as in other mycoheterotrophic plants. Despite this, the plant has retained all enzymes to produce chlorophyll as well as some photoprotective metabolites, such as zeaxanthin and tocopherol, whose function in the mycoheterotrophic plant remains unresolved.

The species flowers from May to June, depending on latitude and altitude. The flowers emit a sweet scent and produce little nectar. They may be pollinated by flies, crawling thrips and ants but self‐pollination is presumed to be the main mode of reproduction. Between 75% and 97% of open flowers set fruits.

Neottia nidus‐avisis classified asVulnerablein Great Britain. The species is scattered throughout much of the British Isles, but it is very scarce except in southern England, where it is locally abundant. The main threats are deforestation, changes in woodland management and coniferization.
Inferring community assembly processes from functional seed trait variation along elevation gradient
Authors: Rosbakh Sergey , Chalmandrier Loïc , Phartyal Shyam , Poschlod Peter
Published: June 2022

Assembly of plant communities has long been scrutinized through the lens of trait‐based ecology. Studies generally analyse functional traits related to the vegetative growth, survival and resource acquisition and thus ignore how assembly rules may affect plants at other stages of their life cycle, particularly when seeds disperse, persist in soil and germinate.

Here, we analysed an extensive dataset of 16 traits for 167 species measured in‐situ in 36 grasslands located along an elevation gradient and studied the impact of abiotic filtering, biotic interactions and dispersal on traits reflecting different trait categories: plant vegetative growth, germination, dispersal and seed morphology. For each community, we quantified community‐weighted means (CWMs) and functional diversity (FD) for all traits and established their relationships to mean annual temperature.

The seed traits were weakly correlated with vegetative traits. Therefore, these traits constituted independent axes of plant phenotypical variation that could be affected differently by community assembly rules. Abiotic filtering impacted mostly vegetative traits and to a lesser extent seed germination and morphological traits. Increasing low‐temperature stress in upland sites selected for short‐stature, slow‐growing and frost‐tolerant species that produce small quantities of small seeds with high degree of dormancy, high temperature requirements for germination and low germination speed.

Biotic interactions, specifically competition in the lowlands and facilitation in uplands, also filtered some functional traits in the studied communities. The benign climate in lowlands seems to promote plant with competitive strategies that include fast growth and resource acquisition (vegetative growth traits) and early and fast germination (germination traits), whereas the effects of facilitation on the vegetative and germination traits were cancelled out by the strong abiotic filtering.

The changes in the main dispersal vector from zoochory to anemochory along the elevation gradient strongly affected the dispersal and the seed morphological trait structure of the communities. This may be explained by stronger vertical turbulence and moderate warm upwinds and low grazing intensity in the uplands that select for light and non‐round shaped seeds with lower terminal velocity and endozoochorous potential.

Synthesis. We demonstrate that, in addition to vegetative traits, seed traits can substantially contribute to functional structuring of plant communities along environmental gradients. Thus, the ‘hard’ seed traits related to germination and dispersal are critical to detect multiple, complex community assembly rules. Consequently, such traits should be included in core lists of plant traits and, when applicable, be incorporated into the analysis of community assembly.
Recent advances in biobased and biodegradable polymer nanocomposites, nanoparticles, and natural antioxidants for antibacterial and antioxidant food packaging applications
Authors: Vieira Italo Rennan Sousa , de Carvalho Anna Paula Azevedo de , Conte‐Junior Carlos Adam
Published: June 2022

Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) and natural antioxidant compounds are an emerging trend in the food industry. Incorporating these substances in biobased and biodegradable matrices as polysaccharides (e.g., starch, cellulose, and chitosan) and proteins has highlighted the potential in active food packaging applications due to more significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, UV blocking, oxygen scavenging, water vapor permeability effects, and low environmental impact. In recent years, the migration of metal NPs and metal oxides in food contact packaging and their toxicological potential have raised concerns about the safety of the nanomaterials. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the main biobased and biodegradable polymer nanocomposites, inorganic NPs, natural antioxidants, and their potential use in active food packaging. The intrinsic properties of NPs and natural antioxidant actives in packaging materials are evaluated to extend shelf‐life, safety, and food quality. Toxicological and safety aspects of inorganic NPs are highlighted to understand the current controversy on applying some nanomaterials in food packaging. The synergism of inorganic NPs and plant‐derived natural antioxidant actives (e.g., vitamins, polyphenols, and carotenoids) and essential oils (EOs) potentiated the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of biodegradable nanocomposite films. Biodegradable packaging films based on green NPs—this is biosynthesized from plant extracts–showed suitable mechanical and barrier properties and had a lower environmental impact and offered efficient food protection. Furthermore, AgNPs and TiO2 NPs released metal ions from packaging into contents insufficiently to cause harm to human cells, which could be helpful to understanding critical gaps and provide progress in the packaging field.
Estimating Facility‐Level Monthly Water Consumption of Commercial, Industrial, Municipal, and Thermoelectric Users in Virginia
Authors: McCarthy Morgan , Brogan Connor , Shortridge Julie , Burgholzer Robert , Kleiner Joseph , Scott Durelle
Published: June 2022

Understanding water consumption is an important component of water management. However, water consumption data are limited and consumption coefficients do not account for variability through time and across users. This study combines federally maintained discharge data with state‐maintained withdrawal data at monthly time steps to estimate facility‐level and spatially aggregated water consumption in Virginia between 2010 and 2016. We evaluate (1) the feasibility of using discharge and withdrawal datasets to estimate sub‐annual water consumption, (2) how these consumption estimates vary depending on the level of spatial aggregation, and (3) what patterns of seasonality exist in consumption estimates. We find that a combined process of text matching and geospatial analysis is effective in matching facilities and yielding monthly time‐series of water consumption. Our results suggest that median consumption in industrial (17%) and commercial (19%) facilities may be higher than median consumption coefficients in the literature (10%). Consumption estimates also demonstrated more variability across facilities and seasons than aggregate coefficients in the literature suggest. Combining this approach with institutional knowledge can assist in quantifying issues such as inter‐basin transfers and infiltration that impact consumption estimates, ultimately allowing for more accurate accounts of water use and availability.
A comparison of design‐based and model‐based approaches for finite population spatial sampling and inference
Authors: Dumelle Michael , Higham Matt , Ver Hoef Jay M. , Olsen Anthony R. , Madsen Lisa
Published: June 2022

The design‐based and model‐based approaches to frequentist statistical inference rest on fundamentally different foundations. In the design‐based approach, inference relies on random sampling. In the model‐based approach, inference relies on distributional assumptions. We compare the approaches in a finite population spatial context.

We provide relevant background for the design‐based and model‐based approaches and then study their performance using simulated data and real data. The real data are from the United States Environmental Protection Agency's 2012 National Lakes Assessment. A variety of sample sizes, location layouts, dependence structures, and response types are considered. The population mean is the parameter of interest, and performance is measured using statistics like bias, squared error and interval coverage.

When studying the simulated and real data, we found that regardless of the strength of spatial dependence in the data, the generalized random tessellation stratified (GRTS) algorithm, which explicitly incorporates spatial locations into sampling, tends to outperform the simple random sampling (SRS) algorithm, which does not explicitly incorporate spatial locations into sampling. We also found that model‐based inference tends to outperform design‐based inference, even for skewed data where the model‐based distributional assumptions are violated. The performance gap between design‐based inference and model‐based inference is small when GRTS samples are used but large when SRS samples are used, suggesting that the sampling choice (whether to use GRTS or SRS) is most important when performing design‐based inference.

There are many benefits and drawbacks to the design‐based and model‐based approaches for finite population spatial sampling and inference that practitioners must consider when choosing between them. We provide relevant background contextualizing each approach and study their properties in a variety of scenarios, making recommendations for use based on the practitioner's goals.
A prospective study of diagnostic accuracy of multidisciplinary team and radiology reporting of preoperative colorectal cancer local staging
Authors: Bedrikovetski Sergei , Dudi‐Venkata Nagendra N. , Kroon Hidde M. , Traeger Luke H. , Seow Warren , Vather Ryash , Wilks Michael , Moore James W. , Sammour Tarik
Published: June 2022

Introduction

The aim of this study was to correlate and assess diagnostic accuracy of preoperative staging at multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) against the original radiology reports and pathological staging in colorectal cancer patients.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted at two institutions. Patients with histologically proven colorectal cancer and available preoperative imaging were included. Preoperative tumor and nodal staging (cT and cN) as determined by the MDT and the radiology report (computed tomography [CT] and/or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) were recorded. Kappa statistics were used to assess agreement between MDT and the radiology report for cN staging in colon cancer, cT and cN in rectal cancer, and tumor regression grade (TRG) in patients with rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant therapy. Pathological report after surgery served as the reference standard for local staging, and AUROC curves were constructed to compare diagnostic accuracy of the MDT and radiology report.

Results

A total of 481 patients were included. Agreement between MDT and radiology report for cN stage was good in colon cancer (k = .756, Confidence Interval (CI) 95% .686–.826). Agreement for cT and cN and in rectal cancer was very good (kw = .825, CI 95% .758–.892) and good (kw = .792, CI 95% .709–.875), respectively. In the rectal cancer group that received neoadjuvant therapy, agreement on TRG was very good (kw = .919, CI 95% .846–.993). AUROC curves using pathological staging indicated no difference in diagnostic accuracy between MDT and radiology reports for either colon or rectal cancer.

Conclusion

Preoperative colorectal cancer local staging was consistent between specialist MDT review and original radiology reports, with no significant differences in diagnostic accuracy identified.
Pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a tropical country: Results of a multicenter study in Thailand
Authors: Rungrojjananon Nattapol , Pakakasama Samart , Winaichatsak Angkana , Siriwanawong Rapee , Rujkijyanont Piya , Traivaree Chanchai , Photia Apichat , Monsereenusorn Chalinee
Published: June 2022

Background

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, life‐threatening condition caused by genetic mutation or various triggers disturbing the immune system.

Methods

A multicenter retrospective study of pediatric patients with HLH receiving a diagnosis between January 2005 and December 2019 from three pediatric oncology centers was conducted to explore the clinical characteristics and determine prognostic factors associated with outcomes among Thai children.

Results

In all, 78 patients with HLH with a median age at diagnosis of 3.17 (range, .08–17.83) years were enrolled. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. The most common type of HLH was infection‐associated hemophagocytic syndrome (IAHS) (n = 59, 75%) of which Epstein‐Barr virus was the most common pathogen. Thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, and treatment response at weeks 2 and 8 after initiating treatment were associated with mortality. Platelet count <50,000 cells/mm3 was the only independent prognostic factor to define survival outcome (p‐value .035). Two‐year overall survival rate was 71.3% (95% confidence interval, 59.2%–80.3%). Survival rates between IAHS, malignant associated HLH, macrophage activation syndrome, and unspecific HLH did not significantly differ (p‐value .571).

Conclusion

IAHS was the most common cause among pediatric HLH in Thailand. The outcomes of Thai children with HLH were comparable to those of developed countries. Platelet count <50,000 cells/mm3 was the only independent prognostic factor to define survival outcome.
Covid‐19 vaccination BNT162b2 temporarily impairs semen concentration and total motile count among semen donors
Authors: Gat Itai , Kedem Alon , Dviri Michal , Umanski Ana , Levi Matan , Hourvitz Ariel , Baum Micha
Published: June 2022

Background

The development of covid‐19 vaccinations represents a notable scientific achievement. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised regarding their possible detrimental impact on male fertility

Objective

To investigate the effect of covid‐19 BNT162b2 (Pfizer) vaccine on semen parameters among semen donors (SD).

Methods

Thirty‐seven SD from three sperm banks that provided 216 samples were included in that retrospective longitudinal multicenter cohort study. BNT162b2 vaccination included two doses, and vaccination completion was scheduled 7 days after the second dose. The study included four phases: T0 – pre‐vaccination baseline control, which encompassed 1–2 initial samples per SD; T1, T2 and T3 – short, intermediate, and long terms evaluations, respectively. Each included 1–3 semen samples per donor provided 15–45, 75–125 and over 145 days after vaccination completion, respectively. The primary endpoints were semen parameters. Three statistical analyses were conducted: (1) generalized estimated equation model; (2) first sample and (3) samples' mean of each donor per period were compared to T0.

Results

Repetitive measurements revealed −15.4% sperm concentration decrease on T2 (CI −25.5%–3.9%, p = 0.01) leading to total motile count 22.1% reduction (CI −35% – −6.6%, p = 0.007) compared to T0. Similarly, analysis of first semen sample only and samples' mean per donor resulted in concentration and total motile count (TMC) reductions on T2 compared to T0 ‐ median decline of 12 million/ml and 31.2 million motile spermatozoa, respectively (p = 0.02 and 0.002 respectively) on first sample evaluation and median decline of 9.5 × 106 and 27.3 million motile spermatozoa (p = 0.004 and 0.003, respectively) on samples' mean examination. T3 evaluation demonstrated overall recovery without. Semen volume and sperm motility were not impaired.

Discussion

This longitudinal study focused on SD demonstrates selective temporary sperm concentration and TMC deterioration 3 months after vaccination followed by later recovery verified by diverse statistical analyses.

Conclusions

Systemic immune response after BNT162b2 vaccine is a reasonable cause for transient semen concentration and TMC decline. Long‐term prognosis remains good.
Emergent craniotomy in rural and regional settings: recommendations from a tertiary neurosurgery unit: diagnosis and surgical decision‐making
Authors: Raman Vignesh , Jiwrajka Manasi , Pollard Cliff , Grieve David A. , Alexander Hamish , Redmond Michael
Published: June 2022

Largely attributed to the tyranny of distance, timely transfer of patients with major traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from rural or regional hospitals to metropolitan trauma centres is not always feasible. This has warranted emergent craniotomies to be undertaken by non‐neurosurgeons at their local hospitals with previous acceptable results reported in regional Australia. Our institution endorses this ongoing potentially life‐saving practice when necessary and emphasize the need for neurosurgical units to provide ongoing TBI education to peripheral hospitals. In this first of a two‐part narrative review, the authors describe the recommended diagnostic pathway for patients with a suspected TBI presenting to rural or regional hospitals and discuss local surgical management options in the presence or absence of a CT scanner.
Investigations on fire‐gilding
Authors: Margreiter Raphael , Baumann Jonas , Mantouvalou Ioanna , Radtke Martin , Reinholz Uwe , Strub Erik
Published: June 2022

Fire‐gilding is a historic technique for the application of golden layers on a number of different base materials utilizing a gold amalgam. This technique leaves a significant amount of Hg in the golden layer, giving archeometrists a reliable indicator to identify fire‐gildings. Recent findings on presumably fire‐gilded objects have shown in several cases significantly lower Hg content than previously studied objects. This prompted a synchrotron‐based X‐ray fluorescence investigation into the Hg distribution along the material–gilding interface, as well as a series of measurements regarding the Hg content development in fire‐gilded samples during artificial aging. This work presents findings on laboratory‐prepared fire‐gildings, indicating an Hg enrichment at the interface of fire‐gilded silver samples. Notably, such an enrichment is missing in fire‐gilded copper samples. Further, it is confirmed that fire‐gilded layers typically do not undercut an Hg bulk content of 5%. In this light, it seems improbable that ancient samples that contain <5% Hg are fire‐gilded. The results presented in this study might lead to a non‐destructive method to identify the Hg enrichment at the interface. This might be obtained by a combination of different non‐destructive measurements and might also work unambiguously in samples in which the gold top layer is altered.
Experimental research on the integrated treatment of de‐acidification and reinforcement of paper cultural relics by electrosorption
Authors: Fan Yunjie , Huang Qiao , Yang Chengda , Qin Ying
Published: June 2022

The de‐acidification method has always been a hotspot in the research of paper‐based cultural relics conservation science. The existing de‐acidification methods are either not thorough enough or not easy to operate, requiring innovation and breakthrough. Moreover, the strength of the paper cannot be significantly improved by the simple de‐acidification treatment. To achieve the reinforcement of paper, another intervention process is often required, and each intervention may cause damage to the fragile paper cultural relics. This study introduces electrosorption deionization technology to the conservation treatment of paper cultural relics. Based on the electrosorption technology, an integrated treatment of paper de‐acidification and reinforcement was applied to sample papers using a composite electrolyte of de‐acidification and reinforcement materials and a self‐made electrosorption device. The experimental results show that both the de‐acidification and reinforcement effects on the paper samples obtained a significant promotion.
Late antique glass from Salapia: Tracking production and trading networks
Authors: Gliozzo Elisabetta , Giannetti Francesca , Goffredo Roberto , Totten Darian Marie
Published: June 2022

The investigation of 38 late antique vessels from the archaeological excavation of Salapia has been performed using EMPA and LA‐ICP‐MS. The collection was made using impure sands and mineral soda. Among coloured glass, most vessels were made of ‘fresh’ glass. The use of colouring agents is rare, and most decoloured glass is obtained by Mn addition. Sb‐decolouration is limited to one cup, and two colourless vessels show both manganese and antimony. As for provenance, the prevalence of Egyptian‐HIMT glass over the Levantine is evident. Among Levantine glass, Jalame glass is represented, whereas Apollonia glass is absent. Among Egyptian (and deemed Egyptian) glass, the prevalence of HIMT glass over the other types has been observed. The high attestation of fresh glass, most notable in the earlier centuries, suggests the importation of glass in the form of finished objects, especially luxury vessels.
Hyperthyroid cats and their kidneys: a literature review
Authors: Yu L , Lacorcia L , Johnstone T
Published: June 2022

Hyperthyroidism and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common diseases of geriatric cats, and often occur concurrently. Thus, a thorough understanding of the influence of thyroid function on renal function is of significant value for all feline practitioners. Among other effects, hyperthyroidism causes protein catabolism and increases renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). These effects render traditional renal markers insensitive for the detection of CKD in cats with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. Furthermore, the development of iatrogenic hypothyroidism with over treatment of hyperthyroidism can be detrimental to renal function and may negatively affect long‐term survival. This review discusses important diagnostic considerations of feline hyperthyroidism, as well as key treatment modalities, with an emphasis on the use of radioiodine and the importance of post treatment monitoring of thyroid and renal parameters. In Australia, a common curative treatment for cats with benign hyperthyroidism (i.e. thyroid hyperplasia or adenoma) is a fixed dose of orally administered radioiodine, regardless of the serum total thyroxine concentration at the time of diagnosis. This review discusses the long term outcomes of this standard of care in comparison with current, relevant research literature from around the world. Finally, this review explores the use of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in assessing renal function before and after treatment in hyperthyroid cats. SDMA correlates well with GFR and creatinine in non‐hyperthyroid cats, but our understanding of its performance in hyperthyroid cats remains in its infancy.
HIV‐1 Nef hijacks both exocytic and endocytic pathways of host intracellular trafficking through differential regulation of Rab GTPases
Authors: Kumari Sushila , Dash Prasanta K. , Kumari Tripti , Guo Ming‐Lei , Ghosh Jimut Kanti , Buch Shilpa J. , Tripathi Raj Kamal
Published: June 2022

Background

HIV‐1 Nef regulates several cellular functions in an infected cell which results in viral persistence and AIDS pathogenesis. The currently understood molecular mechanism(s) underlying Nef‐dependent cellular function(s) are unable to explain how events are coordinately regulated in the host cell. Intracellular membranous trafficking maintains cellular homeostasis and is regulated by Rab GTPases ‐ a member of the Ras superfamily.

Results

In the current study, we tried to decipher the role of Nef on the Rab GTPases‐dependent complex and vesicular trafficking. Expression profiling of Rabs in Nef‐expressing cells showed that Nef differentially regulates the expression of individual Rabs in a cell‐specific manner. Further analysis of Rabs in HIV‐1NL4‐3 or ΔNef infected cells demonstrated that the Nef protein is responsible for variation in Rabs expression. Using a panel of competitive peptide inhibitors against Nef, we identified the critical domain of HIV‐1 Nef involved in modulation of Rabs expression. The molecular function of Nef‐mediated upregulation of Rab5 and Rab7 and downregulation of Rab11 increased the transport of SERINC5 from the cell surface to the lysosomal compartment. Moreover, the Nef‐dependent increase in Rab27 expression assists exosome release. Reversal of Rabs expression using competitive inhibitors against Nef and manipulation of Rabs expression reduced viral release and infectivity of progeny virions.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that Nef differentially regulates the expression of Rab proteins in HIV‐1 infected cells to hijack the host intracellular trafficking, which augments viral replication and HIV‐1 pathogenesis.

Significance

Our study emphasized the indispensable role of HIV‐1 protein Nef on various aspects of the intracellular trafficking regulated by Rabs GTPases, which explained how HIV‐1 Nef may hijack membrane trafficking pathways in infected cells.
Resveratrol attenuates behavioural impairment associated with learning and memory in rats with diabetes induced by a high‐fat diet and streptozotocin
Authors: Singh Amrita , Bodakhe Surendra H.
Published: June 2022

Background and Purpose

A high‐fat diet (HFD) is a common risk factor for Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its associated cognitive impairments. In models of diabetes, resveratrol, a modulator of SIRT1, regulates the fasting glucose and antioxidant levels, as well as the lipid profile. Resveratrol may also alleviate the cognitive dysfunctions associated with diabetes.

Experimental Approach

Albino rats were fed a HFD, (60% kcal fat) after treatment with streptozotocin (45 mg·kg−1,i.p., single dose) to induce an experimental model of T2DM. After 14 weeks of the animals in confirmed diabetic condition, they were treated with metformin (200 mg·kg−1,i.p.) or resveratrol (50 or 100 mg·kg−1,i.p.) for 4 weeks. Levels of oxidative‐nitroso‐stress, SIRT1, TGF‐β1, inflammation and cholinergic activity were determined in plasma, hippocampus and cerebral cortex. A battery of behavioural studies associated with learning memory were performed during and after the experimental protocol.

Key Results

Treatment with resveratrol attenuated the increased glucose levels (pre‐ and post‐prandial), impaired glucose tolerance, HbA1c, and decreased the body weights of the T2DM rats. Moreover, resveratrol ameliorated the impaired learning and memory associated with increased SIRT1 and decreased TGF‐β1, TNF‐α, oxidative‐nitroso‐stress, and cholinergic activities in the plasma and the brains of the T2DM animals.

Conclusion and Implication

Our results demonstrated that SIRT1 modulation interacted with TGF‐β1 signalling, and mitigated hyperglycaemia and subsequent learning‐memory impairments in the T2DM animals. Our study also suggested novel therapeutic targets, including TGF‐β1, which may add to our knowledge of resveratrol, when used to treat impaired memory associated with diabetes.
Sociographie des ritualités funéraires en temps de pandémie: des rites empêchés aux rites appropriés
Authors: Cherblanc Jacques , Zech Emmanuelle , Gauthier Geneviève , Verdon Chantal , Simard Chantale , Bergeron‐Leclerc Christiane , Grenier Josée , Maltais Danielle , Cadell Susan , Sani Livia , Bacqué Marie‐Frédérique
Published: June 2022

La Covid‐19 a entraîné dans plusieurs pays des mesures sociosanitaires inédites, notamment des restrictions majeures aux rituels funéraires. Ces empêchements ont concerné tant les rites pré‐mortem, péri‐mortem que post‐mortem. À partir d'une étude longitudinale débutée en mars 2021 auprès de 955 personnes francophones canadiennes endeuillées d'un proche pendant la pandémie, cet article propose de décrire la réalité vécue de ces empêchements. Par une analyse des données quantitatives et qualitatives recueillies, il est possible d'identifier l’écart entre les rituels funéraires souhaités et réalisés pendant la première année de la pandémie de Covid‐19. Les résultats montrent d'importantes privations des différents rites souhaités, mais également une certaine créativité rituelle et symbolique de la part des personnes endeuillées.
Quinoline‐derivatives as privileged scaffolds for medicinal and pharmaceutical chemists: A comprehensive review
Authors: Yadav Vivek , Reang Jurnal , Sharma Vinita , Majeed Jaseela , Sharma Prabodh Chander , Sharma Kalicharan , Giri Namita , Kumar Arun , Tonk Rajiv Kumar
Published: June 2022

The quinoline scaffolds are privileged for their numerous biological activities in the pharmaceutical field. This moiety constitutes a well‐known space in several marketed preparations. The quinoline scaffolds gained attention in modern days being an important chemical moiety in the identification, designing, and synthesis of novel potent derivatives. The current review is developed to shine the light on critical and significant insights on the quinoline derivatives possessing diverse biological activities such as analgesic, anti‐inflammatory, antialzheimer, anti‐convulsant, anti‐oxidant, antimicrobial, anti‐cancer activities and so on. A detailed summary of quinoline ring from its origin to the recent advancements regarding its synthesis, green chemistry approaches, patented methods, and its marketed drugs is presented in the review. We attempted to review the literature compiling the critical information that has potential to encourage fellow researchers and scientists for the design and development of quinoline scaffold based active molecules that have improved therapeutic performance along with profound pharmacological properties.