bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The value of TPM for Portuguese companies
Authors: Vaz Eduardo , Vieira De Sá José Carlos , Santos Gilberto , Correia Florbela , Ávila Paulo
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of a maintenance philosophy, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), on the operational performance of the Portuguese industry, identifying how it enables the systematic reduction of waste in maintenance.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire was constructed and sent to 472 Portuguese enterprises, having obtained a sample constituted of 84 valid answers. With a five-point Likert scale, it was possible to assess the impact of the TPM on five operational performance dimensions, being them: quality, flexibility, productivity, safety and costs.

Findings

It was found that the planned maintenance, together with education and training are the practices with the highest degree of implementation in the Portuguese industry, exceeding 70% for both. The productivity is the dimension with a higher degree of impact from the implementation of TPM and costs the dimension that suffered a lesser impact.

Practical implications

This paper shows and analyses the current state of TPM implementation in the Portuguese industry and it will be useful for maintenance professionals, researchers and others concerned with maintenance, in order to understand the effects of TPM implementation on the operational performance of the Portuguese industries.

Originality/value

The findings from this paper will be valuable for professionals who desire and are looking forward to implement an effective maintenance approach in the maintenance management system, in order to achieve the excellence in maintenance.
Role of governance on SME exports and performance
Authors: Dubey Vivek Kumar , Das Arindam
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effect of governance – a proxy for network effects on small and medium enterprises (SME) growth through access to new markets. Specifically, investigate how export intensity (EI) and performance are affected. This study also tests related theories, given the growth in the post-liberalization setting of a developing economy. Specifically, this study tests Uppsala and born global (BG) perspectives for internationalization and resource-based view for performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collect secondary data for each SME over a 20 year period from a growth-oriented developing economy – India. This period is after the liberalization of the Indian economy. Thus, the authors test the hypotheses in this context. The authors expect that exports would surge for SMEs given the governance structures considered. The authors consider several governance modes and two types of product classifications, namely, products and services.

Findings

The authors find conditional support for the two models – indicating that governance structures do not consistently support finding new markets. Further, given the governance structure, EI is not consistently a means to improved performance. This is contrary to the expectations. However, at the same time, the authors do find evidence that governance matters and affects products and services differently.

Research limitations/implications

While the authors conduct research in India which has a variety of cultures and state policies, the authors still believe comparative study with multi-country data from developing countries might bring further insights. Further, primary data would also help to understand governance and motivational effects (the authors did not consider the later). Implications: The authors believe the research will have implications for policy since the authors find effects of governance. Hence, specific policies that improve the performance of a governance type could be adopted.

Practical implications

Although SMEs are affected by many factors, the authors find significant effects for important variables. Hence, the authors believe the government could use the study to design proper policies so that new markets could be discovered through different governance forms, through strategic investment and capacity building.

Social implications

SMEs are a key part of the social fabric of a society/country. The work deals with how SMEs could be helped. Hence, the authors believe the work has important implications for society. Further, as the work deals with large firm-SME interfaces, the authors also inform how these different governance structures are performing and where attention is needed.

Originality/value

The authors find that certain governance-type and SME-type work well together. Further, networks through the governance structures help find new markets – depending on SME-type. The authors find partial support for the Uppsala model and also for the BG model, again depending on the SME-type.
Low-cost real-time fiber optic sensor for intrusion detection
Authors: Abdallah Adel , Fouad Mohamed M. , Ahmed Hesham N.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel intensity-modulated fiber optic sensor for real-time intrusion detection using a fiber-optic microbend sensor and an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR).

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed system is tested using different scenarios using person/car as intruders. Experiments are conducted in the lab and in the field. In the beginning, the OTDR trace is obtained and recorded as a reference signal without intrusion events. The second step is to capture the OTDR trace with intrusion events in one or multiple sectors. This measured signal is then compared to the reference signal and processed by matrix laboratory to determine the intruded sector. Information of the intrusion is displayed on an interactive screen implemented by Visual basic. The deformer is designed and implemented using SOLIDWORKS three-dimensional computer aided design Software.

Findings

The system is tested for intrusions by performing two experiments. The first experiment is performed for both persons (>50 kg) in the lab and cars in an open field with a car moving at 60 km/h using two optical fiber sectors of lengths 200 and 500 m. For test purposes, the deformer length used in the experiment is 2 m. The used signal processing technique in the first experiment has some limitations and its accuracy is 70% after measuring and recording 100 observations. To overcome these limitations, a second experiment with another technique of signal processing is performed.

Research limitations/implications

The system can perfectly display consecutive intrusions of the sectors, but in case of simultaneous intrusions of different sectors, which is difficult to take place in real situations, there will be the ambiguity of the number of intruders and the intruded sector. This will be addressed in future work. Suitable and stable laser power is required to get a suitable level of backscattered power. Optimization of the deformer is required to enhance the sensitivity and reliability of the sensor.

Practical implications

The proposed work enables us to benefit from the ease of implementation and the reduced cost of the intensity-modulated fiber optic sensors because it overcomes the constraints that prevent using the intensity-modulated fiber optic sensors for intrusion detection.

Originality/value

The proposed system is the first time long-range intensity-modulated fiber optic sensor for intrusion detection.
Mechanical properties of the concrete with recycled coarse aggregate surface treated by microbes
Authors: S. Jagan , T.R. Neelakantan
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Scarcity in the construction aggregates necessitated the use of suitable alternative materials such as recycled aggregates. However, the higher porosity of recycled aggregates due to the presence of adhered mortar affects its quality resulting in limited utilization. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of Bacillus subtilis to enhance the properties of the recycled coarse aggregate (RCA). The strains of the bacterial species were collected from the Gene bank, Chandigarh, and cultured to 105 cells/ml to treat the RCA.

Design/methodology/approach

The concrete mixtures are prepared with 0%, 50% and 100% of treated and untreated RCA by mortar mixing approach. The concrete specimens are tested for compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength and elastic modulus at 7, 14 and 28 days, respectively.

Findings

Microbial treatment to RCAs increased the weight of the aggregate and decreased the water absorption of the aggregates. The optimal replacement of RCA was observed to be 50% and the strength of the concrete with 50% of treated RCA was comparable to the normal aggregate concrete. The CaCO3 precipitation by bacterial species fills the pores on the RCA and thus increasing the strength of the concrete.

Originality/value

The originality of the research is to produce concrete with waste recycled aggregate treated by bacteria to overcome the problem of scarcity in construction materials.
Female spouses lived experiences of living with a husband with dementia: a qualitative study on changes in everyday life
Authors: Egilstrød Barbara , Petersen Kirsten Schultz
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of female spouses’ lived experiences of changes in everyday life while living with a husband with dementia.

Design/methodology/approach

Nine individual interviews of female spouses were conducted in 2017. A phenomenological narrative approach was applied during data collection, and the analysis was inspired by Amedeo Giorgi’s analytic steps.

Findings

Female spouses experienced changes in their marital relationships, and found ways of managing these changes, although they realized life was marked by loneliness and distress. The identified themes reveal how female spouses experienced changes in everyday life as the disease progressed. Everyday routines gradually changed and they actively sought ways to uphold everyday life and a marital relationship.

Research limitations/implications

Research should focus on developing supportive interventions, where the people with the lived experiences in relation to dementia are involved in the research process, to better target the needs for support, when developing interventions.

Practical implications

Insight into everyday life can help health-care service providers to better the support to female spouses and contribute with more individualized support, which may contribute to the quality of care.

Originality/value

In this study, the authors disclose the invisible and silent work that takes place in an everyday life, when living with a husband with dementia during the time span of caregiving. Spouses’ experiences are important to include, when developing intervention to support spouses to better tailor the interventions.
Population level consequences of facultatively cooperative behaviour in a stochastic environment
Authors: Busana Michela , Childs Dylan Z. , Burke Terrence A. , Komdeur Jan , Richardson David S. , Dugdale Hannah L.
Published: October 2021

The social environment in which individuals live affects their fitness and in turn population dynamics as a whole. Birds with facultative cooperative breeding can live in social groups with dominants, subordinate helpers that assist with the breeding of others, and subordinate non‐helpers. Helping behaviour benefits dominants through increased reproductive rates and reduced extrinsic mortality, such that cooperative breeding might have evolved in response to unpredictable, harsh conditions affecting reproduction and/or survival of the dominants. Additionally, there may be different costs and benefits to both helpers and non‐helpers, depending on the time‐scale. For example, early‐life costs might be compensated by later‐life benefits. These differential effects are rarely analysed in the same study.

We examined whether helping behaviour affects population persistence in a stochastic environment and whether there are direct fitness consequences of different life‐history tactics adopted by helpers and non‐helpers.

We parameterised a matrix population model describing the population dynamics of female Seychelles warblers Acrocephalus sechellensis, birds that display facultative cooperative breeding. The stochastic density‐dependent model is defined by a (st)age structure that includes life‐history differences between helpers and non‐helpers and thus can estimate the demographic mechanisms of direct benefits of helping behaviour.

We found that population dynamics are strongly influenced by stochastic variation in the reproductive rates of the dominants, that helping behaviour promotes population persistence and that there are only early‐life differences in the direct fitness of helpers and non‐helpers.

Through a matrix population model, we captured multiple demographic rates simultaneously and analysed their relative importance in determining population dynamics of these cooperative breeders. Disentangling early‐life versus lifetime effects of individual tactics sheds new light on the costs and benefits of helping behaviour. For example, the finding that helpers and non‐helpers have similar lifetime reproductive outputs and that differences in reproductive values between the two life‐history tactics arise only in early life suggests that overall, helpers and non‐helpers have a similar balance of costs and benefits when analysing direct benefits. We recommend analysing the consequence of different life‐history tactics, during both early life and over the lifetime, as analyses of these different time frames may produce conflicting results.
SARS‐CoV‐2 and pregnancy outcomes under universal and non‐universal testing in Sweden: register‐based nationwide cohort study
Authors: Stephansson O , Pasternak B , Ahlberg M , Hervius Askling H , Aronsson B , Appelqvist E , Jonsson J , Sengpiel V , Söderling J , Norman M , Ludvigsson JF , Neovius M
Published: October 2021

Objective

To assess associations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection and pregnancy outcomes considering testing policy and test‐positivity‐to‐delivery interval.

Design

Nationwide cohort study.

Setting

Sweden.

Population

From the Pregnancy‐Register we identified 88 593 singleton births, 11 March 2020–31 January 2021, linked to data on SARS‐CoV‐2‐positivity from the Public Health Agency, and information on neonatal care admission from the Neonatal Quality Register. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were estimated stratified by testing‐policy and test‐positivity‐to‐delivery interval.

Main outcome measures

Five‐minute Apgar score, neonatal care admission, stillbirth and preterm birth.

Results

During pregnancy, SARS‐CoV‐2 test‐positivity was 5.4% (794/14 665) under universal testing and 1.9% (1402/73 928) under non‐universal testing. There were generally lower risks associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 under universal than non‐universal testing. In women testing positive >10 days from delivery, generally no significant differences in risk were observed under either testing policy. Neonatal care admission was more common (15.3% versus 8.0%; aOR 2.24, 95% CI 1.62–3.11) in women testing positive ≤10 days before delivery under universal testing. There was no significant association with 5‐minute Apgar score below 7 (1.0% versus 1.7%; aOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.24–1.72) or stillbirth (0.3% versus 0.4%; aOR 0.72, 95% CI 0.10–5.20). Compared with term births (2.1%), test‐positivity was higher in medically indicated preterm birth (5.7%; aOR 2.70, 95% CI 1.60–4.58) but not significantly increased in spontaneous preterm birth (2.3%; aOR 1.12, 95% CI 0.62–2.02).

Conclusions

Testing policy and timing of test‐positivity impact associations between SARS‐CoV‐2‐positivity and pregnancy outcomes. Under non‐universal testing, women with complications near delivery are more likely to be tested than women without complications, thereby inflating any association with adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with findings under universal testing.

Tweetable abstract

Testing policy and time from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection to delivery influence the association with pregnancy outcomes.
Factors influencing oral cancer screening preferences in patients attending Tertiary Care University Oral Health Clinic
Authors: McGowan B , Grace H , Beste D , Frey S , Bridges J , Sun J , Nair RG
Published: October 2021

Background

Understanding factors that influence patients' preferences towards oral cancer (OC) screening is imperative to provide high‐quality evidence‐based OC screening interventions that can be targeted for population‐level uptake. This study determined adult patients' knowledge and awareness of OC, and how health behaviours influenced their preferences towards OC screening.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study used a 42‐point questionnaire, between February and May 2020 using a combination of in‐person and telephone interviews. Chi‐square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were applied to confounding factors that returned statistical significance against OC knowledge and awareness. Significance of P < 0.05 was accepted.

Results

Sixty‐eight (38.6%) participants out of a total 176 had good knowledge of OC and 89 (50.6%) had good awareness. A total of 31.8% reported preference for OC screening by a general dental practitioner (GDP) over a general medical practitioner (GMP). Majority (72.7%) reported acceptance of OC screening at their next GDP visit. Ages 56–70 (OR = 0.357, 95% CI) and previous smokers (OR = 0.336, 95% CI) significantly influenced screening preferences. Knowledge of risk factors did not significantly influence OC screening preferences (χ2 = 3.178, P = 0.075).

Conclusions

Significant gaps in OC knowledge, screening and role of GDPs exist with smoking history and age influencing OC screening preferences.
LGBTI attitudes towards and experiences of aged care: Results of an exploratory survey
Authors: McClean Tom
Published: October 2021

Objective

To gather views of older LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex) people on their experiences and expectations of aged care.

Methods

An online survey of participants recruited through a large provider in NSW, Australia, and three organisations in the LGBTI community.

Results

Respondents were older members of the LGBTI community, with a range of kinds of experience of aged care (including as clients, workers and advocates). They were somewhat skewed towards regional areas and many reported different kinds of vulnerability. They reported feeling safe to disclose their LGBTI status when engaging with services and not having difficulties on that basis. However, most disagreed that services currently meet the needs of LGBTI people. They said visible signs of welcome, inclusive language, treating disclosures sensitively and managing relations with partners and family were most important for older LGBTI people. Their own choices about aged care would be influenced by service inclusiveness and quality. There were no clear trends by demography, vulnerability or other characteristics.

Conclusions

Providers should continue to focus on inclusiveness, and improve support for managing relations with family.
Democracy by Deterrence: Norms, Constitutions, and Electoral Tilting
Authors: Helmke Gretchen , Kroeger Mary , Paine Jack
Published: October 2021

In contemporary democracies, backsliding typically occurs through legal machinations. Self‐enforcing democracy requires that political parties refrain from exploiting legal opportunities to tilt electoral rules. Using a formal model, we argue that informal norms of mutual forbearance and formal constitutional rules are fundamentally intertwined via a logic of deterrence. By circumscribing how far each party can legally bend the rules, legal bounds create reversion points if mutual forbearance collapses. If legal bounds are symmetric between parties, they deter electoral tilting by making credible each party's threat to punish transgressions by the other. If legal bounds become sufficiently asymmetric, however, the foundations for forbearance crumble. Asymmetries emerge when some groups (a) are more vulnerable than others to legally permissible electoral distortions and (b) favored and disfavored groups sort heavily into parties. We apply this mechanism to explain gerrymandering and voting rights in the United States in the post‐Civil Rights era.
Early Emotional Development and Primitive Mental States: A Brief Perspective
Authors: Schellekes Alina
Published: October 2021

This paper focuses on early emotional development, both during pregnancy and in early infancy, as relevant to understanding primitive mental states encountered in clinical work. The first prism chosen in this search to understand the origins of our mind is based on clinical experience and its psychoanalytic theorization. Two main psychoanalytic theoretical approaches are relevant to understanding the psyche of the infant: the first emphasizes primary narcissism and conceptualizes the baby as immersed in a mental state of merger with the primal object; the second approach relates to the baby's psyche as a separate entity that is able to experience a raw sense of separateness from the object, right from the beginning of life. Clinical implications that stem from each theoretical approach are discussed. The second prism chosen is based on psychoanalytic interpretation of fetus and infant observations and on developmental studies. These observations and studies deepen our understanding of the coming into being of thinking processes, emotions and relational patterns during the whole lifespan, in general, and in the therapeutic situation, in particular. The author also discusses the limitations inherent in building retroactive conclusions, about the origins of emotional development that are drawn from within the clinical situation.
Cardiovascular and renal effects of novel nonpeptide nociceptin opioid peptide receptor agonists
Authors: Denys Ian B. , Gao Juan , Sutphen Jane C. , Zaveri Nurulain T. , Kapusta Daniel R.
Published: October 2021

Background and Purpose

Partial agonists of the nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptor have potential therapeutic use as antihypertensive and water diuretics (aquaretics). To date, peptide NOP receptor ligands have failed to progress in clinical trials due to poor pharmacokinetics and adverse effects. Nonpeptide, small‐molecule NOP receptor ligands may be more suitable as therapeutic agents. This study investigated the cardiovascular and renal responses produced by the novel nonpeptide NOP agonists AT‐403, AT‐090, AT‐127, and AT‐039.

Experimental Approach

Changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), renal excretory function and occurrence of sedation and hyperphagia were determined before and after i.v. bolus injection or infusion of the NOP agonists in conscious Sprague–Dawley rats. Additional studies involving (i) measurement of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and (ii) renal denervation were conducted to investigate the role of the renal nerves in the cardiorenal responses to AT‐039.

Key Results

Bolus i.v. injection of AT‐403, AT‐090, AT‐127 and AT‐039 produced significant decreases in MAP and HR and a sodium‐sparing diuresis. AT‐403, AT‐090, and AT‐127, but not AT‐039, induced sedation and hyperphagia at all doses tested. Infusion i.v. of AT‐039 produced hypotension and aquaresis without adverse central nervous system effects or change in HR, responses that were also observed in renal denervated rats.

Conclusions and Implications

Nonpeptide NOP agonists decrease blood pressure and produce aquaresis in conscious rodents. Due to lack of sedation and hyperphagia, AT‐039 represents a novel NOP agonist that may be useful for treatment of hypertension and/or volume overload/hyponatraemic states.
Myocardial injury in patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia: Pivotal role of inflammation in COVID‐19
Authors: Melillo Francesco , Napolano Antonio , Loffi Marco , Regazzoni Valentina , Boccellino Antonio , Danzi Gian Battista , Cappelletti Alberto Maria , Rovere‐Querini Patrizia , Landoni Giovanni , Ingallina Giacomo , Stella Stefano , Ancona Francesco , Dagna Lorenzo , Scarpellini Paolo , Ripa Marco , Castagna Antonella , Tresoldi Moreno , Zangrillo Alberto , Ciceri Fabio , Agricola Eustachio
Published: October 2021

Aims

Infection by SARS‐CoV‐2 may result in a systemic disease and a proportion of patients ranging 15%–44% experienced cardiac injury (CI) diagnosed by abnormal troponin levels. The aim of the present study was to analyse the clinical characteristics of a large series of hospitalized patients for COVID‐19 in order to identify predisposing and/or protective factors of CI and the outcome.

Methods and results

This is an observational, retrospective study on patients hospitalized in two Italian centres (San Raffaele Hospital and Cremona Hospital) for COVID‐19 and at least one high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs‐cTnt) measurement during hospitalization. CI was defined if at least one hs‐cTnt value was above the 99th percentile. The primary end‐point was the occurrence of CI during hospitalization.

We included 750 patients (median age 67, IQR 56–77 years; 69% males), of whom 46.9% had history of hypertension, 14.7% of chronic coronary disease and 22.3% of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Abnormal troponin levels (median troponin 74, IQR 34–147 ng/l) were detected in 390 patients (52%) during the hospitalization.

At multivariable analysis age, CKD, cancer, C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels were independently associated with CI. Independent predictors of very high troponin levels were chronic kidney disease and CRP levels. Patients with CI showed higher rate of all‐cause mortality (40.0% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.001) compared to those without CI.

Conclusion

This large, multicentre Italian study confirmed the high prevalence of CI and its prognostic role in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19, highlighting the leading role of systemic inflammation for the occurrence of CI.
Species interactions: next‐level citizen science
Authors: Groom Quentin , Pernat Nadja , Adriaens Tim , de Groot Maarten , Jelaska Sven D. , Marčiulynienė Diana , Martinou Angeliki F. , Skuhrovec Jiří , Tricarico Elena , Wit Ernst C. , Roy Helen E.
Published: October 2021

We envisage a future research environment where digital data on species interactions are easily accessible and comprehensively cover all species, life stages and habitats. To achieve this goal, we need data from many sources, including the largely untapped potential of citizen science for mobilising and utilising existing information on species interactions. Traditionally volunteers contributing information on the occurrence of species have focused on single‐species observations from within one target taxon. We make recommendations on how to improve the gathering of species interaction data through citizen science, which data should be collected and how it can be motivated. These recommendations include providing feedback in the form of network visualisations, leveraging a wide variety of other data sources and eliciting an emotional connection to the species in question. There are many uses for these data, but in the context of biological invasions, information on species interactions will increase understanding of the effects of invasive alien species on recipient communities and ecosystems. We believe that the inclusion of ecological networks as a concept within citizen science, not only for initiatives focussed on biological invasions but also across other ecological themes, will not only enrich scientific knowledge on species interactions but also deepen the experience and enjoyment of citizens themselves.
Race, place, and power in the production of medical knowledge: Perspectives from the Greater Caribbean
Authors: Hogarth Rana A.
Published: October 2021

Over the past 10 years, the Greater Caribbean has emerged as an instructive historical concept for scholarly studies on slavery, race, disease, climate, commerce, and culture. During the era of Atlantic World slavery, this region spanned the Carolinas to the Caribbean, was home to racially diverse inhabitants, new diseases, flora and fauna typically not found in Europe, and climates that were equally as unfamiliar. Scholars have increasingly come to recognize this space as an ideal one for studying knowledge production about health and race. On the topic of race, in particular, the Greater Caribbean provided the context in which white commentators challenged or affirmed notions of innate racial difference through what they witnessed while living in the region. Questions about race, disease, climate and constitutions, could be posed at any locale; however, the ability to make side‐by‐side comparisons of how living, breathing Black and white bodies experienced sickness, treated illness, and labored in distinctive disease environments and climates was easier done in the Greater Caribbean than in Europe. Bearing that in mind, we should strive toward recognizing how knowledge about human bodies produced in Europe and the Caribbean worked in tandem to reify race. A number of scholars have made just that point, and amplified the significance of this region in contributing to the development and circulation of knowledge about race, as well as medical therapeutics, and disease.
National strategies for vaccination against COVID‐19 in people living with HIV in Central and Eastern European region
Authors: Jilich David , Skrzat‐Klapaczyńska Agata , Fleischhans Lukas , Bursa Dominik , Antoniak Sergii , Balayan Tatevik , Begovac Josip , Cicic Alma , Dragovic Gordana , Goekengin Deniz , Harxhi Arjan , Kase Kerstin , Lakatos Botond , Matulionyte Raimonda , Mulabdic Velida , Oprea Cristiana , Papadopoulos Antonios , Rukhadze Nino , Tomazic Janez , Tovba Lida , Soják Ľubomír , Vassilenko Anne , Yancheva Nina , Yurin Oleg , Kowalska Justyna ,   for the ECEE Network Group
Published: October 2021

Introduction

People living with HIV (PLWH) are at higher risk of poorer COVID‐19 outcomes. Vaccination is a safe and effective method of prevention against many infectious diseases, including COVID‐19. Here we investigate the strategies for national COVID‐19 vaccination programmes across central and eastern Europe and the inclusion of PLWH in vaccination programmes.

Methods

The Euroguidelines in Central and Eastern Europe Network Group consists of experts in the field of infectious diseases from 24 countries in the region. Between 1 November 2020 and 19 March 2021 the group proceeded an on‐line survey consisting of 20 questions.

Results

Twenty‐two countries (out of 24 invited) participated in the survey and 20/22 countries in the period between December 2020 and March 2021 had already started their COVID‐19 vaccination programme. In total, seven different vaccines were used by participating countries. In 17/21 countries (81%), vaccinated persons were centralized within the national registry. In 8/21 countries (38%) PLWH were prioritized for vaccination (the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Montenegro, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) and the Czech Republic, Greece and Serbia had put in place national guidelines for vaccination of PLWH. In 14/20 countries (70%) vaccination was only provided by designated centres. Eighteen respondents (18/21; 85.7%) reported that they planned to follow up HIV patients vaccinated against COVID‐19, mainly by measuring antibody levels and checking COVID‐19 incidence (11/21; 52.3%).

Conclusions

This survey‐based study suggests that there are significant differences in terms of prioritizing PLWH, the types of vaccines used, vaccination coverage, and the development and implementation of a vaccination programmes within the region. Regardless of heterogenicity and existing barriers within the region, systematic vaccination in PLWH should have the highest priority, especially in those with severe immunodeficiency, risk factors, and in the elderly, aiming for prompt and high vaccination coverage.
The Dogma Within? Examining Religious Bias in Private Title VII Claims
Authors: Dahl Matthew , Patel Devan N. , Hall Matthew E. K.
Published: October 2021

In recent years, American politicians have become increasingly concerned that judges who identify as Christian are making decisions based on that identity—that Christian judges harbor a certain “dogma” within them that shapes their decision making. In this article, we investigate whether this concern is warranted by examining how such judges handle claims that are brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits private discrimination in employment on the basis of religion. By focusing on decision making in cases of private discrimination—rather than public discrimination—we make progress on a theoretical conundrum that has dogged previous efforts to identify causal effects in religious accommodation cases. However, our tests produce little evidence to support the idea that Christian judges are more likely than their non‐Christian colleagues to favor claimants, even in this alternative domain. Our findings therefore suggest that the current political focus on possible bias among Christian judges is empirically unfounded, at least in situations of religious accommodation.
Cigarettes, a skin killer! Cigarette smoke may cause ferroptosis in female skin
Authors: Zhang Qunxian , Tang Sihuan , Huang Guixin , Liu Hongtao
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Skin exposure to tobacco smoke is closely related to skin aging. Ferroptosis is an iron‐dependent form of regulated cell death driven by the accumulation of lipid peroxides to levels sufficient to trigger cell death. However, few studies have examined ferroptosis in skin‐related diseases.

Methods

This study searched for differentially expressed genes by analyzing gene expression data downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Ferroptosis‐related genes were obtained by analyzing the FerrDb database. We also investigated the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis‐related genes by enrichment analysis and constructing gene‐miRNA and gene‐transcription factor networks.

Results

Based on these analyses, exposure to cigarette smoke can cause ferroptosis in female skin. Ferroptosis‐associated genes might be regulated by 17 miRNAs and 20 TFs.

Conclusion

Finally, we found ferroptosis in the skin of women exposed to cigarette smoke, and the results provide an important theoretical basis for future research and anti‐aging treatment of skin.
Body image and scar assessment: A longitudinal cohort analysis of cardiothoracic, neurosurgery and urology patients
Authors: SHORKA Dorit , YEMINI Noa , Ben SHUSHAN Gila , TOKAR Luba , BENBENISHTY Julie , WOLOSKI‐WRUBLE Anna
Published: October 2021

Background

Scar severity and scar viewing are known to affect body image. The literature is lacking on the relationship between body image and surgical scar assessment.

The aims of this study were to compare patients from 3 different surgical departments in terms of body image and scar assessment at discharge, in comparison with nurses’ scar assessment, and 3 months post‐surgery. In addition, the research examined age and gender in relation to the main variables.

Methods

A longitudinal, comparative, correlational study was conducted using an instrument which included a health history, a nurses scar assessment tool and a patient scar assessment tool at hospital discharge, as well as a body image tool used both at discharge and at 3 months’ post‐surgery. The 10‐item body image scale was comprised of affective items, behavioural items and cognitive items. The STROCSS 2019 checklist is used.

Results

75 patients were studied who were mostly male (68.0%) with a mean age of 59 and married (77.3%). The sample distribution of departments included 30.7% cardiothoracic, 29.3% neurosurgery and 40% urology. Cardiothoracic patients displayed a significant negative body image pre‐surgery compared to post‐surgery. Neurosurgical patients’ scar assessments were significantly higher than nurses’ assessments with no differences found in the other departments.

Conclusions

The healthcare team needs to consider engaging patients in post‐surgery discussions concerning scarring and body image. The results of this study revealed that expectations in both clinician and patient participants need to be assessed and evaluated for congruency in order to offer a greater patient‐focused peri‐operative experience.
Severe intrauterine adhesions after life‐threatening event caused by Epstein–Barr virus‐associated atraumatic spleen laceration: Case report
Authors: Ozaki Takahiro , Masuda Miho , Ikeda Makiko , Ando Yukiko , Sato Hiroshi , Hirose Masaya
Published: October 2021

This is the first known case report of severe intrauterine adhesion (IUA) following a life‐threatening event caused by an Epstein–Barr virus‐associated atraumatic spleen laceration. A 22‐year‐old nulligravid female suffered from infectious mononucleosis for approximately 1 month. Sudden severe hypovolemic shock with massive hemoperitoneum appeared and hemostasis was completely achieved by a splenectomy for an atraumatic spleen laceration, although that was followed by multiorgan failure and abdominal compartment syndrome. Complete recovery without any neurological sequelae was achieved by intensive treatment. A postoperative pathological evaluation revealed Epstein–Barr virus‐associated splenomegaly. The patient was referred to our department because of secondary amenorrhea for approximately 5 months since the last menstruation, which occurred just prior to the event. Laboratory blood test results demonstrated normal thyroid and ovarian functions. Hysterofiberscopy revealed complete obstruction at the end of the cervical canal, indicating secondary uterine amenorrhea caused by severe IUA. Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis with a rigid hysteroscope reached the opening of the uterine cavity and menstruation was restored.
Specific heat and thermal history of the Sariçiçek howardite
Authors: Altunayar‐Unsalan Cisem , Unsalan Ozan , Szurgot Marian A. , Wach Radosław A.
Published: October 2021

Meteorites are excavated fragments from asteroid surfaces and planets, and determining their thermophysical properties is important since they contain valuable information about internal structures of their parent bodies. We investigated thermophysical properties of the Sariçiçek meteorite by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), measuring phase transition temperatures, enthalpy changes and specific heat capacities of samples and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), investigating weight change in a sample as a function of temperature or time. DSC results indicate that troilite α/β and β/γ phase transition temperatures of the interior part of the meteorite were at 421.98 ± 0.02 and 581.74 ± 1.71 K, and troilite content of interior and crust parts of the meteorite were 0.28 and 0.02 wt%, respectively. Relict temperatures were calculated as 453 ± 10, 465 ± 17, and 588 ± 55 K; specific heat capacities were measured as 779, 745, and 663 J kg–1 K–1 at 300 K; and predicted as 568, 537, and 480 J kg–1 K–1 at 200 K, for interior, edge, and crust, respectively. TGA results revealed that Sariçiçek's weight loss was 0.98% at 1170 °C, and water content and hydrogen abundance at 200–800 °C were 0.34% and 0.04%, respectively. Obtained results shed light on a thermal history of Sariçiçek’s parent body and provide further knowledge on thermal alteration of 4 Vesta.
Adjusting to China competition: Evidence from Japanese plant‐product‐level data
Authors: Bellone Flora , Hazir Cilem Selin , Matsuura Toshiyuki
Published: October 2021

This study examines how the product mixes of Japanese manufacturing plants have been impacted by the rise of China imports over the period 1997–2014. It focuses on the way plants are embedded in their local environment mitigates this causal relationship. We find evidence that China import competition induced both product downsizing and product exit within Japanese manufacturing plants. Moreover, we find that those negative effects differ across plants according to various plant characteristics including the spatial organization of their parent firm, and the degree of their exposure to external agglomeration economies.
A vorticity wave packet breaking within a rapidly rotating vortex. Part I: The critical layer flow
Authors: Caillol Philippe
Published: October 2021

This paper considers the interaction between a free vorticity wave packet and a rapidly rotating vortex in the slowly‐evolving regime, a long time after the initial, unsteady, and strong interaction. We study a singular, nonlinear, amplitude‐modulated, and helical mode inside a linearly stable, columnar, and axisymmetric vortex on the ‐plane. The interaction starts when the neutral mode enters resonance with the vortex on a spiraling critical surface, where the phase angular speed is equal to the rotation frequency. The singularity in the modal equation on this asymmetric surface strongly modifies the flow in its neighborhood, the three‐dimensionl helical critical layer, the region where the wave/vortex interaction occurs. This interaction generates a vertically sheared 3D mean flow of higher amplitude than the wave packet. The chosen envelope regime assumes the formation of a mean radial velocity of the same order as the wave packet amplitude, deviating the streamlines in a spiral way with respect to the rotational wind. Through matched asymptotic expansions, we find an analytical solution of the leading‐order motion equations inside the critical layer. The pattern of the latter, strongly deformed by the mean radial velocity, loses its symmetries with respect to the azimuthal and radial directions. It nevertheless conserves enough symmetries so that the leading‐order divergences of the mean radial wave fluxes are zero. The Batchelor integral condition generalized to the three‐dimensional quasi‐steady recirculating flow within the critical layer separatrices yields a leading‐order uniform axial vorticity at any vortex height.
Developing scoring functions for soil quality to assess land suitability for irrigated wheat in Southern Algeria
Authors: Mihoub Adil , Koull Naima , Helimi Samia , Elhafed Kherraze Mohammed , Mokhtari Sakher , Pulido Fernández Manuel
Published: October 2021

Efficient land‐use management could be optimized through appropriate advice regarding land suitability and achieving a reasonable yield while preserving soil and environmental conditions. The main objective of this study was to determine and define those locations capable of wheat cultivation with irrigation in the municipality of N’goussa (Southern Algeria). Expert opinion (EO) method was used for selecting minimum soil data set (MDS‐EO), where six influencing soil properties (sand, pH, salinity, organic matter, gypsum and lime) and other three key parameters (slope, land use/land cover, and proximity to roads and electricity network) were considered important for irrigated wheat cultivation in the study area. Indicators were weighted according to principal component analysis (PCA) loadings and summed. PCA revealed that the selected nine indicators are appropriate for accounting 73.63% of the total variance. Two maps of land suitability were created here (expressed as a soil quality index within a range from 0 to 1) from multivariate analysis and already known standard scoring functions (SSFs) by using two data sets (pure and scored). The distribution of soil quality index (IQI) showed that above 70% of the land was moderately (MS) to highly suitable (HS) for irrigated wheat. The estimation accuracy of soil quality classes has been evaluated using random forests (RF), having as a dependent variable the final class of land suitability used in each map. It was determined that estimation accuracy could reach 60% (pure data set) and 65% (scored data set) at 0.5 cut‐off value for soil quality classes. Final prioritizing according to ranks of sensitivity index (SI) and efficiency ratio (ER) showed that IQI obtained from scored data set is the most suitable approach in soil quality assessment of arid areas. Therefore, it could be applied in southern Algeria for land management, integrated planning and environmental assessments.
Undercurrents in the world economy: Evolving global investment flows in the South
Authors: Gómez Lucía , Oinas Päivi , Wall Ronald Sean
Published: October 2021

Foreign direct investment (FDI) to the global South has increased, but very little research has gone into analysing the diverse FDI flows between unequally related groups of countries. This paper contributes by investigating (a) the distribution of global FDI into and between semi‐peripheral and peripheral countries in the global South (2006–2014), and (b) the country location factors of FDI in these two regions. We introduce a distinction between multinational enterprises from emerging (EMNE) and from peripheral countries (PMNE) and show evidence of their different investment behaviour. Our results uniquely demonstrate intra‐regional investment differences, the increasing sophistication of peripheries as hosts and sources of FDI (developmental undercurrents) and a rich set of location factors explaining FDI into these regions. We also show that EMNEs invest in semi‐peripheral countries so as to benefit from their emerging capacity to innovate.
Response to comment on “Genomic epidemiology of superspreading events in Austria reveals mutational dynamics and transmission properties of SARS-CoV-2”
Authors: Nicholson Michael D. , Endler Lukas , Popa Alexandra , Genger Jakob-Wendelin , Bock Christoph , Michor Franziska , Bergthaler Andreas
Published: October 2021

Further analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing data identifies several highly recurrent genetic variants with low allele frequencies, which, if filtered out, provide estimates consistent with tighter transmission bottlenecks.
Engineering Natural Competence into the Fast-Growing Cyanobacterium
Synechococcus elongatus
Strain UTEX 2973
Authors: Wendt Kristen E. , Walker Patricia , Sengupta Annesha , Ungerer Justin , Pakrasi Himadri B.
Published: October 2021

Certain bacterial species have the ability to take up naked extracellular DNA and integrate it into their genomes. This process is known as natural transformation and is widely considered to play a major role in bacterial evolution.
Further Insight into the Mechanism of Human PMN Lysis following Phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Rungelrath Viktoria , Porter Adeline R. , Malachowa Natalia , Freedman Brett A. , Leung Jacqueline M. , Voyich Jovanka M. , Otto Michael , Kobayashi Scott D. , DeLeo Frank R.
Published: October 2021

S. aureusstrain USA300 has the ability to cause rapid lysis of human neutrophils after phagocytosis. Although this phenomenon likely contributes to the success of USA300 as a human pathogen, our knowledge of the mechanism remains incomplete.
Mapping SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Epitopes in COVID-19 Patients with a Multi-Coronavirus Protein Microarray
Authors: Camerini David , Randall Arlo Z. , Trappl-Kimmons Krista , Oberai Amit , Hung Christopher , Edgar Joshua , Shandling Adam , Huynh Vu , Teng Andy A. , Hermanson Gary , Pablo Jozelyn V. , Stumpf Megan M. , Lester Sandra N. , Harcourt Jennifer , Tamin Azaibi , Rasheed Mohammed , Thornburg Natalie J. , Satheshkumar Panayampalli S. , Liang Xiaowu , Kennedy Richard B. , Yee Angela , Townsend Michael , Campo Joseph J.
Published: October 2021

With novel mutant SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern on the rise, knowledge of immune specificities against SARS-CoV-2 proteins is increasingly important for understanding the impact of structural changes in antibody-reactive protein epitopes on naturally acquired and vaccine-induced immunity, as well as broader topics of cross-reactivity and viral evolution. A multi-coronavirus protein microarray used to map the binding of COVID-19 patient antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 proteins and protein fragments as well as to the proteins of four other coronaviruses that infect humans has shown specific regions of SARS-CoV-2 proteins that are highly reactive with patient antibodies and revealed cross-reactivity of these antibodies with other human coronaviruses.