bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kuiki Credit: scaling innovation in a growing fintech startup
Authors: Schill Ryan , Leonel Ronei , Fabian Frances , Jorgensen David Frank
Published: October 2022

Learning outcomes

Following successful discussion of this case, students should be able to:▪ understand and apply the principles of effectuation;▪ understand the difficulty of obtaining traditional financing in Latin America;▪ determine the importance of matching new hire and company values, particularly in a small business; and▪ analyze some of the unique problems facing a business at the point of scaling up and provide suggestions for how the protagonist could address those problems.

Case overview/synopsis

This case provides an introduction to the Fintech industry in South and Central America, fruitfully combining tenets of the lean startup methodology, effectual principles of entrepreneurship and a novel method of managing personal finances via decentralized vehicles provided through fintech. In addition, Kuiki Credit and its use of fintech represent a compelling example of industry disruption by an entrepreneurial firm. Owing to its unique location, this case provides students with a lens into a part of the world rife with bureaucracy and, in some cases, corruption. The disruption is thus unique in that not only does one view traditional disruption of industry dynamics, but also government policy and cultural mores. This is evinced within the body of the case through direct quotes from founder Ernesto Leal and Eduardo Morán, one of the company’s first employees. This information highlights the market Kuiki Credit pursued, one underserved by traditional financing and thus lacking access to credit.Consistent with effectual entrepreneurship principles, Ernesto Leal, the main protagonist and a Nicaraguan entrepreneur, drew upon his significant corporate experience in financial institutions and as a franchise owner to create a new venture. Kuiki Credit is designed to increase access to capital and disseminate fintech throughout Central and South America, and in particular first in Costa Rica and later in Nicaragua. The case is set in 2018, when Leal faces a scaling issue. Specifically, he wonders how to maintain an entrepreneurial company with high levels of innovation and a culture of continuous improvement despite the need to grow. Near the end of the case, some specific issues relative to culture are briefly reviewed in relation to the sales department and Leal feeling the need to restructure the company, while being encouraged by the board to hit breakeven targets for three consecutive months prior to expanding to new markets.

Complexity academic level

This case most appropriately lends itself to discussions in entrepreneurship at the junior or senior undergraduate level. To engage in this case most productively, students should have a basic understanding of entrepreneurship, the equivalent of two to three weeks into the semester.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS:3: Entrepreneurship.
Integrating S-ERP systems and lean manufacturing practices to improve sustainability performance: an institutional theory perspective
Authors: Abobakr Mohamed Ahmed , Abdel-Kader Magdy , Elbayoumi Ahmed Fouad
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of integrating Sustainable Enterprise Resource Planning (S-ERP) systems and lean manufacturing (LM) practices on sustainability performance, especially in Egypt as an emerging country.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors carried out an experimental study with a sample of 144 professional accountants of MPA, MBA and DBA students at two of the top universities in Egypt.

Findings

The results provide significant evidence that the integration of S-ERP systems and LM practices implementation improve sustainability performance. However, there is no significant evidence that S-ERP adoption contributes to the success of LM practices implementation.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach, this study is limited to use of a laboratory experiment design. Empirical evidence based on quasi experiments on a field setting would add value to the current literature.

Practical implications

Findings provide practical insights for the manufacturing sector managers into the benefits of integrating S-ERP systems and LM practices for sustainability performance improvement (e.g. reducing cost and waste, increasing operational efficiency). For ERP vendors, findings highlight how ERP vendors introduce “enablers” that incorporate LM best practices into their ERP systems and also how those vendors conform to the software sustainability criteria in the design of ERP applications.

Originality/value

Contrary to previous studies that addressed the individual impact of S-ERP systems and LM practices on performance, this paper experimentally gives an indication of the impact of concurrent implementation of S-ERP and LM practices on sustainability performance, especially in developing countries.
Examining proactive pro-environmental behaviour through green inclusive leadership and green human resource management: an empirical investigation among Malaysian hotel employees
Authors: Patwary Ataul Karim , Mohd Yusof Mohd Fadil , Bah Simpong Derweanna , Ab Ghaffar Siti Fatimah , Rahman Muhammad Khalilur
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Despite the significant economic contributions of the tourism and hospitality industry, it is also considered an emerging concern for its negative impact on the environment. This study investigated the association between green inclusive leadership (GIL), green human resource management (GHRM), and employee proactive pro-environmental behaviour (PEB). The study also investigated the mediating effect of GHRM between GIL and proactive PEB.

Design/methodology/approach

Hotel employees in Malaysia were the respondents in this study. The researchers used a cross-sectional approach and partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyse the data.

Findings

Results found a significant relationship between GIL, GHRM and proactive PEB. Findings of the study revealed that GHRM significantly meditates the relations between GIL and proactive PEB.

Practical implications

This study presents practical implications for the hotel industry by encouraging employees' environmentally responsible behaviour. Enlightening the role of environmentally open and accepting ways to promote positive employee behaviour is of considerable practical use not solely for the organisations but additionally for culture as a whole.

Originality/value

Theoretical contributions are made by constructing a new structural model supported by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and the induction of GIL, GHRM, and proactive PEB and measuring the factors simultaneously. The study further established the mediating role of GHRM between GIL and proactive PEB.
The background, significance and legal application of self-money laundering in China
Authors: He Ping
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the background and significance of criminalization of self-money laundering in China and to analyze its application in judicial practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces the international and domestic background of the criminalization of self-money laundering, demonstrates the theoretical basis and practical significance of the changes of Article 191 in the 11th amendment to the criminal law and puts forward solutions to some controversial issues in judicial practice.

Findings

The 11th amendment to the Criminal Law, which came into force in March 2021, criminalizes self-money laundering under Article 191 and has brought an impact on the traditional theory of criminal law. There are no similar amendments to the other two crimes, namely, Article 312 and Article 349, which lead to some confusion in the judicial practice, especially in the understanding of the number of crimes, and the meaning of proceeds of crime. This paper puts forward solutions to some controversial issues in judicial practice.

Originality/value

This paper introduces the criminalization of self-money laundering in the 11th amendment to the criminal law in China, presents a comprehensive description of and comments on the difference between the Article 191 and its similar articles, namely, Article 312 and Article 349, to make a well understanding in the application of law in judicial practice, which would be beneficial to theoretical researchers and judicial professionals.
The impact of information transparency on trade credit: the mediation role of risk
Authors: Bi Gong-Bing , Ye Wenjing , Xu Yang
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Existing literature demonstrates the important role of information transparency in enterprise development and market surveillance. However, little empirical research has examined the information transparency effect in supply chain management. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the significant role of information transparency on supply chain financing and its mechanism, taking trade credit as the starting point.

Design/methodology/approach

From the data set comprising 3,880 Chinese firms with A-shares listed on the Shenzhen and Shanghai Stock Exchanges from 2011 to 2020, we obtain the basic picture of information transparency and trade credit. Panel fixed effects regression is used to test the hypotheses concerning the antecedents to trade credit.

Findings

The empirical results show that: first, information transparency can significantly support corporate access to trade credit and is found to facilitate financing by mitigating perceived risk. Second, among companies with higher levels of financing constraints, weaker market power and more concentration of suppliers, information transparency promotes trade credit more markedly. Third, the outbreak of COVID-19 causes a substantial increase in uncertainty and risk in external circumstances and then the effect of information transparency is weakened. Fourth, the contribution to trade credit is likely to be stronger for disclosures containing management transparency elements compared to single financial transparency.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this study is one of the first to explore the positive role of information transparency to supply chain financing, which to a certain extent makes up for the lack of information transparency research in the supply chain. It provides new ideas for enterprises to obtain trade credit financing and promote the improvement of supervision departments’ disclosure policies.
Too close to lie to you: investigating availability management on multiple communication tools across different social relationships
Authors: Yuan Chien Wen (Tina) , Bi Nanyi
Published: October 2022

Purpose

In a world where different communication technologies support social connection, managing unavailability is as important as, if not more important than, managing availability. The need to manage unavailability becomes increasingly critical when users employ several communication tools to interact with various ties. A person's availability information disclosure may depend on different social relationships and the technologies used by the person. The study contributes to the literature by drawing on privacy management theory to investigate how users practice availability management and use its deceptive form, which is sometimes called a butler lie, with various ties across different messaging applications (apps) as part of their online privacy. Relevant factors in mediated communication, including facework, common ground, and interpersonal trust, are included in the developed model.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted an online survey (n = 475) to explore the relationship between one's contact with different interactants (significant others, family members, close friends, acquaintances, groups of friends, and groups of acquaintances) and one's practice of availability management and use of butler lies with these interactants at different size levels on various messaging apps.

Findings

Factors such as facework, privacy related to technology, and privacy related to social relationships affect the practice of availability management and the use of butler lies. Notably, butler lies are used most frequently with acquaintances and groups of acquaintances and least frequently with significant others. Moreover, the practice of availability management and the use of butler lies are negatively moderated by people's conversational grounding and trust.

Originality/value

The study examined the practice of cross-app availability management with diverse social ties on mobile technologies, which is a socio-informatic practice that is widely adopted in the contemporary digital landscape but on which limited scientific and theoretic research has been conducted. No research has directly investigated users' availability management across multiple apps from a relational perspective. Building on the theoretical framework of privacy management, the paper aims to bridge the gap in the relevant literature. The results of this study can serve as a reference for library professionals to develop information literacy programs according to users' availability management needs. The results also provide insights to system designers for developing messaging tools.
Biodiversity management approaches in small and innovative businesses: insights from asystems thinkingperspective
Authors: Torelli Riccardo , Balluchi Federica
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Amid the current global crisis, biodiversity remains a topic that is often relegated to a few disciplines. Many issues related to the relationship between organizations and the ecosystem remain unexplored. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the characteristics of the interrelationship between these two complex and dynamic systems.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is conducted using a constructivist approach, with an interpretivist perspective and a case study methodology. Through this research perspective and an exploratory multiple case study (holistic), the authors assess the implications related to the concept of biodiversity and the impacts that organizational choices could have on the consideration and management of this complex concept.

Findings

The desire of these entrepreneurs to change their ways of doing things and try to produce in a way that respects the ecosystem and enhances natural genetic diversity, while simultaneously drawing value from it in a healthy and sustainable manner, is evident. The orientation toward a sustainable and ecologically innovative business brings the concept of profit into the background on several occasions, leading these bakery entrepreneurs to be visionary green entrepreneurs (or ecopreneurs). The desire to be sustainable and to change the ways of “business as usual” makes these companies and their entrepreneurs an example of “sustainability-as-flourishing.”

Originality/value

By adopting the systems thinking approach and multiple case studies, this study examines the interrelation between some innovative small companies (bakeries) and biodiversity, their motivations to actively engage in biodiversity protection and their roles in protecting agrobiodiversity as well as the natural wealth of the ecosystem.
Wild herbivores enhance resistance to invasion by exotic cacti in an African savanna
Authors: Wells Harry B. M. , Crego Ramiro D. , Alston Jesse M. , Ndung'u S. Kimani , Khasoha Leo M. , Reed Courtney G. , Hassan Abdikadir A. , Kurukura Samson , Ekadeli Jackson , Namoni Mathew , Stewart Peter S. , Kimuyu Duncan M. , Wolf Amelia A. , Young Truman P. , Kartzinel Tyler R. , Palmer Todd M. , Goheen Jacob R. , Pringle Robert M.
Published: October 2022

Whether wild herbivores confer biotic resistance to invasion by exotic plants remains a key question in ecology. There is evidence that wild herbivores can impede invasion by exotic plants, but it is unclear whether and how this generalises across ecosystems with varying wild herbivore diversity and functional groups of plants, particularly over long‐term (decadal) time frames.

Using data from three long‐term (13‐ to 26‐year) exclosure experiments in central Kenya, we tested the effects of wild herbivores on the density of exotic invasive cacti, Opuntia stricta and O. ficus‐indica (collectively, Opuntia), which are among the worst invasive species globally. We also examined relationships between wild herbivore richness and elephant occurrence probability with the probability of O. stricta presence at the landscape level (6150 km2).

Opuntia densities were 74% to 99% lower in almost all plots accessible to wild herbivores compared to exclosure plots. Opuntia densities also increased more rapidly across time in plots excluding wild herbivores. These effects were largely driven by megaherbivores (≥1000 kg), particularly elephants.

At the landscape level, modelled Opuntia stricta occurrence probability was negatively correlated with estimated species richness of wild herbivores and elephant occurrence probability. On average, O. stricta occurrence probability fell from ~0.56 to ~0.45 as wild herbivore richness increased from 6 to 10 species and fell from ~0.57 to ~0.40 as elephant occurrence probability increased from ~0.41 to ~0.84. These multi‐scale results suggest that any facilitative effects of Opuntia by wild herbivores (e.g. seed/vegetative dispersal) are overridden by suppression (e.g. consumption, uprooting, trampling).

Synthesis. Our experimental and observational findings that wild herbivores confer resistance to invasion by exotic cacti add to evidence that conserving and restoring native herbivore assemblages (particularly megaherbivores) can increase community resistance to plant invasions.
Heart Disease and The Economic Contributions of Elderly Men and Women: Evidence from Australia
Authors: Ishida Marie , Ludwick Teralynn , Mahal Ajay
Published: October 2022

Macroeconomic forecasts and program evaluations of health service interventions are pessimistic about ageing populations, given their low work participation and high demand for social services. We estimate the impact of heart disease on paid work and the value of unpaid non‐market activities of the Australian elderly, using Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) data, finding significant losses in the value of their contributions to adult care and voluntary work. Impacts on non‐market contributions of older women were more significant than for older men. A broader perspective on the value of the contributions made by the elderly is needed to enhance efficiency and (gender) equality.
The challenge of institutionalised complicity: Researching the pharmaceutical industry in the era of impact and engagement
Authors: Martin Paul A.
Published: October 2022

The pharmaceutical industry plays a central role in the production of the drugs we use to treat most illnesses. It is immensely powerful and has received sustained attention from sociologists of health and illness, who have provided a critique of its influence and sometimes unethical behaviour. However, in recent years, funders are increasingly expecting researchers to engage and collaborate with stakeholders, including industry. This raises important questions about the institutionalisation of complicity and the different forms this might take. This article asks: How can sociologists engage with the pharmaceutical industry in a positive and constructive manner, whilst remaining independent, principled and critical? It will draw on my experience of establishing a major project on high‐priced drugs for rare diseases and the literature on collaboration, stakeholder engagement and responsible research to propose a methodological framework to address this challenge. This is based on six PRIMES: (normative) Principles, Reflection and Independence, (field) Mapping, (careful) Engagement and Strategic intervention that have broad applications to many other areas of contemporary social science research.
Lepidic growth component as a favorable prognostic factor in non–small cell lung cancer of ≤3 cm
Authors: Sato Daisuke , Matsubara Hirochika , Matsuoka Hiroyasu , Kondo Tetsuo , Sasanuma Harunobu , Sugimura Aya , Onuki Yuichiro , Uchida Tsuyoshi , Nakajima Hiroyuki
Published: October 2022

Background

Many non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors present complex histology with various components. The effects of the lepidic growth component (LGC) on the prognosis of NSCLC have not been investigated. Here, we investigated whether an LGC is a relevant prognostic factor for NSCLC.

Methods

This study retrospectively investigated the clinicopathologic characteristics of 379 patients with NSCLC ≤3 cm who underwent complete surgical resection between 2004 and 2016 at the University of Yamanashi Hospital. The histologic subtypes were classified into NSCLC with or without an LGC. We evaluated the effect of an LGC on the clinicopathologic features and 5‐year overall survival of patients with NSCLC.

Results

On final pathology, 214 (56%) of 379 patients had an LGC, and 165 (44%) did not. Sex, smoking history, ground‐glass opacity component, pathologic invasive size, lymph node metastasis, pleural invasion, vessel invasion, pathologic stage, and histologic type were significantly different between the groups. Multivariate analysis of 5‐year overall survival, identified age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.035–1.105; p < 0.001), pathologic invasive size (HR, 1.548; 95% CI, 1.088–2.202; p = 0.015) and LGC (HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.099–4.051; p = 0.025) as independent prognostic factors. When the pathologic invasive size was matched, the 5‐year overall survival of the LGC and non‐LGC groups was 93% and 77%, respectively (p = 0.006).

Conclusions

LGC is a significantly favorable prognostic factor for NSCLC with a pathologic invasive size of ≤3 cm.
Physiological reactivity to fear moderates the relation between parenting distress with conduct and prosocial behaviors
Authors: Fanti Kostas A. , Konikkou Katerina , Georgiou Giorgos , Petridou Maria , Demetriou Chara , Soursou Georgia , Kyranides Melina Nicole
Published: October 2022

This study investigated whether the associations between parental distress with conduct problems (CPs) and prosocial behaviors (PBs) are moderated by children's skin conductance (SC) and heart rate (HR) reactivity to fear. Participants were 147 Greek‐Cypriot children (Mage = 7.30, 44.2% girls), selected from a larger screening sample (data were collected from 2015 to 2018). Longitudinal associations suggested that children with high HR reactivity to fear were more likely to display PB, whereas those with low SC reactivity were more likely to engage in CP behaviors. In contrast, interaction effects suggested that children high on SC reactivity to fear were more susceptible to the effects of parental distress, as indicated by their higher vulnerability to engage in CP (cross‐sectionally) behaviors and their lower scores on PB (cross‐sectionally and longitudinally).
Fluoride hesitancy: A mixed methods study on decision‐making about forms of fluoride
Authors: Ko Alice , Chi Donald L.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

To investigate whether professionally applied topical fluoride‐hesitant caregivers are also hesitant about other forms of fluoride for their child.

Methods

This was a mixed methods study of 56 caregivers hesitant about professionally applied topical fluoride for their child recruited from the University of Washington Center for Paediatric Dentistry and Seattle Children's Hospital's Odessa Brown Children's Dental Clinic. A 32‐item semi‐structured interview script was piloted and finalized. One‐time interviews with caregivers were conducted by phone in 2019. Associations between hesitancy of topical fluoride, fluoridated water and toothpaste were assessed quantitatively via two‐tailed chi‐squared tests. Qualitative data were coded using an inductive approach and content analytic methods to investigate reasons for hesitancy.

Results

There were significant associations between hesitancy in all three pairwise comparisons of fluoride form (p < .01). Similar proportions of caregivers strongly or somewhat opposed fluoridated water compared with toothpaste (75% and 65%, respectively), but four times as many caregivers strongly or somewhat favoured fluoridated toothpaste compared to water for their child (25% and 7%, respectively). Concerns about harm were the most common reason caregivers opposed both fluoridated water and toothpaste. However, fluoride‐hesitant caregivers reported being more comfortable with fluoridated toothpaste because amount and frequency can be controlled, and ingestion can be prevented.

Conclusions

Professionally applied topical fluoride hesitancy is significantly associated with fluoridated water and toothpaste hesitancy, but caregivers who were hesitant about topical fluoride was more comfortable with fluoridated toothpaste than fluoridated water for their child.
The associations of APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 genes with Alzheimer's disease: A large case–control study in Chinese population
Authors: Xiao Xuewen , Liu Hui , Zhou Lu , Liu Xixi , Xu Tianyan , Zhu Yuan , Yang Qijie , Hao Xiaoli , Liu Yingzi , Zhang Weiwei , Zhou Yafang , Wang Junling , Li Jinchen , Jiao Bin , Shen Lu , Liao Xinxin
Published: October 2022

Aim

The associations of non‐pathogenic variants of APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain unclear. This study is aimed at determining the role of these variants in AD.

Methods

Our study recruited 1154 AD patients and 2403 controls. APP, PSEN1, PSEN2, and APOE were sequenced using a targeted panel. Variants were classified into common or rare variants with the minor allele frequencies (MAF) cutoff of 0.01. Common variant (MAF≥0.01)‐based association test was performed by PLINK 1.9, and gene‐based (MAF <0.01) association analysis was conducted using Sequence Kernel Association Test‐Optimal (SKAT‐O test). Additionally, using PLINK 1.9, we performed AD endophenotypes association studies.

Results

A common variant, PSEN2 rs11405, was suggestively associated with AD risk (p = 1.08 × 10−2). The gene‐based association analysis revealed that the APP gene exhibited a significant association with AD (p = 1.43 × 10−2). In the AD endophenotypes association studies, APP rs459543 was nominally correlated with CSF Aβ42 level (p = 7.91 × 10−3).

Conclusion

Our study indicated that non‐pathogenic variants in PSEN2 and APP may be involved in AD pathogenesis in the Chinese population.
Prediction of the photofading of 1‐H or 1‐ethyl derivatives of 3‐cyano‐6‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐5‐(p‐X‐phenylazo)‐2‐pyridone dyes and their azo‐hydrazone tautomerism: A theoretical study
Authors: Wojciechowski Krzysztof , Szuster Lucjan
Published: October 2022

The lightfastness calculations for photofading of monoazo pyridone dyes were performed. For this purpose, all‐valence molecular orbital method PM3 was applied. Frontier electron density distribution on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) was examined. The obtained parameters seem to reflect the tendency for an electrophilic attack with a singlet oxygen (1O2) atom or a nucleophilic attack with superoxide anion (O2●─) on a particular atom in a molecule. Reactivity indicators for superdelocalisability () and electron density distribution in ground and excited state were calculated. Superdelocalisabilities enable the fastness values to be explained in different chemical molecules depending on tautomeric forms in which they may occur.
Remodelling of myelinated axons and oligodendrocyte differentiation is stimulated by environmental enrichment in the young adult brain
Authors: Nicholson Madeline , Wood Rhiannon J. , Gonsalvez David G. , Hannan Anthony J. , Fletcher Jessica L. , Xiao Junhua , Murray Simon S.
Published: October 2022

Oligodendrocyte production and myelination continues lifelong in the central nervous system (CNS), and all stages of this process can be adaptively regulated by neuronal activity. While artificial exogenous stimulation of neuronal circuits greatly enhances oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) production and increases myelination during development, the extent to which physiological stimuli replicates this is unclear, particularly in the adult CNS when the rate of new myelin addition slows. Here, we used environmental enrichment (EE) to physiologically stimulate neuronal activity for 6 weeks in 9‐week‐old C57BL/six male and female mice and found no increase in compact myelin in the corpus callosum or somatosensory cortex. Instead, we observed a global increase in callosal axon diameter with thicker myelin sheaths, elongated paranodes and shortened nodes of Ranvier. These findings indicate that EE induced the dynamic structural remodelling of myelinated axons. Additionally, we observed a global increase in the differentiation of OPCs and pre‐myelinating oligodendroglia in the corpus callosum and somatosensory cortex. Our findings of structural remodelling of myelinated axons in response to physiological neural stimuli during young adulthood provide important insights in understanding experience‐dependent myelin plasticity throughout the lifespan and provide a platform to investigate axon–myelin interactions in a physiologically relevant context.
A comparative study on fatigue indicator parameters for near‐α titanium alloys
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhang Xiang , Oskay Caglar
Published: October 2022

Nucleation of in‐service cracks leads to detrimental consequences for structural components of near‐α titanium alloys subjected to fatigue loads. Experimental observations show that the fatigue initiation facets usually form in certain crystallographic orientation ranges of “hard” primary α grains which differ between pure and dwell fatigue loads. In this manuscript, a comparative study has been performed using several fatigue indicator parameters (FIPs) to assess their ability to predict the location of fatigue crack nucleation in near‐α titanium alloy microstructures. All selected FIPs are implemented within the same polycrystalline plasticity finite element modeling framework to facilitate one‐to‐one comparisons. Comparison on predictability of critical initiation locations and their crystallographic orientations is studied for incorporated FIPs under pure and dwell fatigue. The critical locations predicted by some FIPs were found to be close to each other, and consistent with the crystallographic orientation ranges from fractography measurements, in addition to the range transition from pure to dwell fatigue loads. Critical locations from slip driven FIPs are obtained to be several grains away from that of the former ones and are inclined to capture orientations of slip traces from experiments.
Agroecosystem model simulations reveal spatial variability in relative productivity in biomass sorghum and maize in Iowa, USA
Authors: Bendorf Josh , Heaton Emily , Hartman Theodore , Aslan‐Sungur Guler (Rojda) , VanLoocke Andy
Published: October 2022

Biomass sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is an annual C4 grass that has emerged as a candidate bioenergy crop but has not been widely grown in the United States. Corn (Zea mays L.), another annual C4 grass, has been produced on a large scale in the United States for biofuels. Iowa leads the nation in both corn and ethanol production. The high productivity of corn in Iowa creates the research question: could biomass sorghum be as or more productive than corn in the state in terms of bioenergy? Efforts to use crop models to fill the gaps left by field experimentation on biomass sorghum have also been limited thus far. To address our research question, we collected biophysical data on biomass sorghum grown in Iowa for two growing seasons, used them to develop a biomass sorghum module in an agroecosystem model (Agro‐IBIS), and predict the potential performance of biomass sorghum across Iowa compared to maize. Despite dry conditions in 2019 and 2020, average biomass sorghum yields were 17.20 Mg ha−1. By comparison, average corn aboveground biomass was higher in 2020 (22.02 Mg ha−1). Soil cores indicated average belowground biomass of 1.46 Mg ha−1, with roots concentrated near the surface (73% of biomass above 50 cm in a 1 m core). When biomass sorghum model parameters were calibrated with measured values, model output was in close agreement with measured biomass (slope = 0.932, R2 = 0.91) and evapotranspiration (slope = 0.757, R2 = 0.64). Subsequent regional simulations revealed a notable latitudinal gradient in biomass sorghum yield, with a strong linear relationship between yield and seasonal growing degree‐days (R2 = 0.89). When these yields were compared to simulated corn aboveground biomass yields, only 3.4% of the state had biomass sorghum yields that were significantly higher than corn. This number was reduced to 0.3% when comparing the crops in terms of energy ethanol yield. Thus, we conclude biomass sorghum must be improved to be competitive with corn as an annual biofuel crop in Iowa. This study provides a baseline against which to compare advancements in sorghum breeding for biomass and stress tolerance in Iowa.
Depicting environmental gradients from Malaise trap samples: Is ethanol‐basedDNAmetabarcoding enough?
Authors: Chimeno Caroline , Hübner Jeremy , Seifert Linda , Morinière Jérôme , Bozicevic Vedran , Hausmann Axel , Schmidt Stefan , Müller Jörg
Published: October 2022

DNA metabarcoding is revolutionising biodiversity research, as it offers researchers a holistic taxonomic approach across lineages. Many studies are dedicated to testing its application and optimising workflows. One topic of discussion is the nature of samples used for sequencing and comparing taxonomic results.

However, in ecological and environmental studies, where scientists always work with subsets of species, it may be less important whether different methods provide different subsets but more important if ecological and environmental information is conserved equally.

Numerous studies have successfully applied destructive and non‐destructive metabarcoding approaches to evaluate patterns in biodiversity and in this respect, we aim to determine for the very first time whether environmental information is also conserved in the preservative ethanol of terrestrial arthropod bulk samples.

To test this, we applied DNA metabarcoding on tissue DNA and on ethanol‐based DNA of the same Malaise trap samples. The arthropod material was collected with eight traps located in three different habitats: forest, meadow, and riparian.

We identified more than 3000 operational taxonomic units and demonstrate that ethanol‐based DNA sequencing did not provide information on ecological gradients, except for the case of seasonal patterns, which was well conserved for some taxa.

The conserved seasonality is an interesting starting point for further investigations. Until future research has provided more successful results, we recommend researchers dealing with terrestrial ecosystems to be careful when using ethanol DNA.
3D mapping of phrenic nerve course for radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation
Authors: Bohnen Marius , Weber Reinhold , Minners Jan , Eichenlaub Martin , Jadidi Amir , Müller‐Edenborn Björn , Neumann Franz‐Josef , Arentz Thomas , Lehrmann Heiko
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Phrenic nerve (PN) injury is a rare but severe complication of radiofrequency (RF) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). The objective of this study was to characterize the typical intracardiac course of the PN with a three‐dimensional electroanatomic mapping system, to quantify the need for modification of the ablation trajectory to avoid delivering an ablation lesion on sites with PN capture, and to identify very circumscribed areas of common PNC on the routine ablation trajectory of a RF‐PVI, allowing fast and effective PN screening for everyday usage.

Methods

We enrolled 137 consecutive patients (63 ± 9 years, 64% men) undergoing PVI. A detailed high output (20 mA) pace‐mapping protocol was performed in the right (RA) and left atrium (LA) and adjacent vasculature.

Results

The right PN was most commonly captured in the superior vena cava at a lateral (50%) or posterolateral (23%) position before descending along the RA either straight (29%) or with a posterolateral bend (20%). In the LA, beginning deep within the right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV), the right PN is most frequently detectable anterolateral (31%), then descends to the lateral proximal RSPV (23%), and further towards the lateral antral region (15%) onto the medial LA wall (12%). To avoid delivering an ablation lesion on sites with PN capture, modification of ablation trajectory was necessary in 23% of cases, most commonly in the lateral RSPV antrum (81%). No PN injury occurred.

Conclusion

PN mapping frequently reveals the close proximity of the PN to the ablation trajectory during PVI, particularly in the lateral RSPV antrum. Routine PN pacing should be considered during RF PVI procedures.
Influence of loading and grafting on hard‐ and soft‐tissue healing at immediately placed implants: An experimental study in minipigs
Authors: Parvini Puria , Buser Daniel , Pippenger Benjamin Evans , Imber Jean‐Claude , Stavropoulos Andreas , Bellón Benjamin , Jarry Christian , Schwarz Frank
Published: October 2022

Aim

To histologically evaluate the influence of (1) loading and (2) grafting on osseointegration and peri‐implant soft‐tissue healing at immediately placed, self‐cutting progressive tissue‐level implants (TLX) in a minipig model.

Materials and Methods

TLX implants (n = 56) were immediately placed following the extraction of the mandibular first and second premolars, bilaterally, in a total of n = 14 minipigs. In each animal, the implant sites were allocated to the following four groups: (1) unloaded with simultaneous grafting using a bovine bone mineral; (2) unloaded without grafting; (3) loaded with simultaneous grafting; and (4) loaded without grafting. Histomorphometric assessments at 4 and 12 weeks (n = 7 animals each) included primary (i.e., bone‐to‐implant contact [BIC]) and secondary outcome measures (e.g., first BIC [fBIC], junctional epithelium length [JE], connective tissue contact length [CTC], biological width [BW = JE + CTC]).

Results

At 4 weeks, mean BIC values ranged from 74.5 ± 11.6% in Group 2 to 83.8 ± 13.3% in Group 1, and, at 12 weeks, from 75.5% ± 7.9% in Group 2 to 79.9 ± 8.6% in Group 1. Multivariate linear mixed regression did not reveal any associations between BIC and implant loading or grafting at 4 and 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, significantly higher fBIC values were noted in Group 2 when compared with Group 1. All groups showed comparable JE, CTC, and BW values.

Conclusions

Implant loading and grafting had no major effects on osseointegration and peri‐implant soft tissue healing at TLX implants.
Social media and price discovery: The case of cross‐listed firms
Authors: Fan Rui , Talavera Oleksandr , Tran Vu
Published: October 2022

In this article, we examine whether social media information affects the price‐discovery process for cross‐listed companies. Using over 29 million overnight tweets mentioning cross‐listed companies, we examine the role of social media for a link between the last periods of trading in the US markets and the first periods in the UK market. Our estimates suggest that the size and content of information flows on social networks support the price‐discovery process. The interactions between lagged US stock features and overnight tweets significantly affect stock returns and volatility of cross‐listed stocks when the UK market opens. These effects weaken and disappear 1 to 3 hr after the opening of the UK market. We also develop a profitable trading strategy based on overnight social media, and the profits remain economically significant after considering transaction costs.
Effect of blanching and drying processes on shelf‐life of Parkia speciosa seed and pods
Authors: Devi Hidam Roshree , Panghal Anil , Chhikara Navnidhi , Dhull Sanju Bala , Bangar Sneh Punia , Singh Ajay
Published: October 2022

Parkia speciosa Hassk is an underutilized legume containing numerous nutrients with high perishability. The study was planned to extend the shelf‐life of P. speciosa seeds and pods with different treatments. Blanched and unblanched seeds and pods were subjected to freezing, freeze drying, cabinet drying, and sun drying. Samples were analyzed for nutritional, phytochemical, rehydration ratio, and overall acceptability score. Significant variation in nutritional value was observed in fresh and processed seeds as well as pods. Due to blanching, some minerals leached out resulting in lower ash content. Protein content was reduced slightly due to blanching and drying. Hot water blanching prior to drying, or freezing, inactivated the oxidative enzymes and preserved nutritional value. Freeze‐dried seed and pods had the highest % dehydration compared to other treatments. Blanched and unblanched, freeze‐dried samples had overall acceptance in an acceptable range for seed and pods. Freeze‐dried seeds and pods had longer storability without significant degradation of total antioxidants, phenols, ascorbic acid, overall acceptability, and rehydration ratio. Rehydration of freeze‐dried seeds and pods after blanching was highest. The study concluded that freeze drying along with blanching as pretreatment is effective in extending the shelf‐life of P. speciosa without a change in sensory profile.

Novelty impact statement

Perkia speciosa is one of the highly nutritious and underutilized legume, are explored for a shelf‐life extension for their seeds and pods, herein. Mere exposed to minimal pre‐processing treatments, they are made available in the longer term without any nutritional loss, appreciable rehydration extent, and overall acceptability profile as well. Thus, these minimal pre‐processing tactics adoption by agri‐entrepreneurs land the basis for value addition, malnutrition eradication, food security, and commercialization to contribute to the overall growth of the nation.
Spatial–temporal dynamics of the built environment toward sustainability: A material stock and flow analysis in Chinese new and old urban areas
Authors: Yang Dong , Dang Mengyuan , Guo Jing , Sun Lingwen , Zhang Ruirui , Han Feng , Shi Feng , Liu Qian , Tanikawa Hiroki
Published: October 2022

The urban built environment has accumulated massive amounts of resources, which is the main “hot spot” of construction materials and energy consumption in cities. To effectively monitor and manage resources use and waste disposal toward sustainability, this study intended to explore different metabolic paths of the urban built environment, as well as strategies for new and old urban areas separately with the help of material stock and flow analysis. Based on snapshots of 2003, 2010, and 2017 and combined with big data, a four‐dimensional geographic information system buildings database of Lixia District in Jinan, China, was compiled for bottom‐up stock modeling. Finally, the environmental impact assessment of the buildings’ demolition and disposal stage was carried out. The results showed that the building material stock was 142.31 Mt in 2017, with an increase of 69% from 2003. The reinforced concrete buildings increased rapidly from 2003 to 2017, especially in new urban areas, which has boosted demand for steel and cement by more than 150% during these 15 years. The material stock of the old urban area tends to be saturated, whereas the new urban area has experienced a rapid expansion with the material inflow four times as large as the material outflow. Potential recycling of waste concrete can reduce the generation of building demolition waste by 50%, save 0.15 km2 of land occupation, increase raw material substitution by nearly 10 times, and reduce CO2 emissions by 2.5 times.
Delaying supplier payments to increase buyer profits
Authors: Kovach Jeremy J. , Swink Morgan , Rodriguez Mauricio
Published: October 2022

As a means of acquiring trade credit, delaying supplier payments by extending payables (days to payment) offer financial benefits for buyers. However, such extensions may also engender costly supplier retaliation that results in operational disruptions and financial loss. Terms of payment between buyers and suppliers often affect the relationships established between trade partners; thus, changes to these terms should be evaluated within a social context. Social exchange theory (SET) is applied to analyze the benefits and costs of abrupt payable extensions on buyers' operational outcomes and profitability. The findings indicate that buyers who delay supplier payables by abruptly lengthening payables tend to subsequently increase investments in accounts receivable, inventory, and capital expenditures. Contrary to popular expectations, however, these buyers financially underperform when compared with similar (matched) firms that do not raise payables. Further analysis indicates that these buyers also experience greater supplier turnover and increases in indirect costs. These results are consistent with the expectation of retaliatory supplier responses to payable extensions. It is also revealed that the detrimental effects of delaying supplier payments by payable extensions are significantly smaller for more powerful and financially stronger firms. However, the relationships between payable extensions and capital‐based benefits do not appear to be contingent on buyer power or financial strength. This study extends SET by applying it as a lens through which researchers can examine shifts in trade credit terms. The findings suggest a broadened scope of factors to be considered in social exchange and offer new operationalizations of power and trust factors often addressed in SET studies. The study ends with a discussion of the implications of these findings for practice and future research.
Glycosylation and the global virome
Authors: Pegg Cassandra L. , Schulz Benjamin L. , Neely Benjamin A. , Albery Gregory F. , Carlson Colin J.
Published: October 2022

The sugars that coat the outsides of viruses and host cells are key to successful disease transmission, but they remain understudied compared to other molecular features. Understanding the comparative zoology of glycosylation ‐ and harnessing it for predictive science ‐ could help close the molecular gap in zoonotic risk assessment.
Towards the definition of the humpback whale population units along the Mexican and Central American coasts in the Pacific Ocean
Authors: Martínez‐Loustalot Pamela , Audley Katherina , Cheeseman Ted , De Weerdt Joëlle , Frisch‐Jordán Astrid , Guzón Oscar , Olio Marilia , Ortega‐Ortiz Christian D. , Ransome Nicola , Villegas‐Zurita Francisco , Urbán R. Jorge
Published: October 2022

The SPLASH project (2004–2006) revealed complex population structure and migratory connections, but no regional effort was made along the southern Mexican Pacific coast until dedicated research was initiated in 2010. It is unclear whether humpback whales documented in this region belong to the Mexican or Central American population units. This study aimed to establish the relationship between humpback whales of southern Mexico and those of the surrounding population units. Humpback whale photo‐identification images were compared from multiple locations in north, central, and southern Mexico and Central America. Whales' movements among regions were estimated using the Interchange Index (InI) and the Movement Index (MI). The results showed higher movements among the southern sampling areas, suggesting that whales from southern Mexico belong to the “Central American population unit.” This population unit migrates north to the feeding areas of the US West Coast using a migratory corridor along mainland Mexico to the mouth of the Gulf of California along the Baja California Peninsula. The degree of interaction with humpback whales from other population units is unknown. More studies are needed to understand population structure and disentangle photographic capture of whales on migration from whales where this is their main wintering area.