bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
I assume others are influenced by health misinformation on social media: examining the underlying process of intentions to combat health misinformation
Authors: Luo Chen , Zheng Han , Tang Yulong , Yang Xiaoya
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The mounting health misinformation on social media triggers heated discussions about how to address it. Anchored by the influence of presumed influence (IPI) model, this study investigates the underlying process of intentions to combat health misinformation. Specifically, we analyzed how presumed exposure of others and presumed influence on others affect intentions to practice pre-emptive and reactive misinformation countering strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

Covariance-based structural equation modeling based on survey data from 690 Chinese participants was performed using the “lavaan” package in R to examine the proposed mechanism.

Findings

Personal attention to health information on social media is positively associated with presumed others’ attention to the same information, which, in turn, is related to an increased perception of health misinformation’s influence on others. The presumed influence is further positively tied to two pre-emptive countermeasures (i.e. support for media literacy interventions and institutional verification intention) and one reactive countermeasure (i.e. misinformation correction intention). However, the relationship between presumed influence and support for governmental restrictions, as another reactive countering method, is not significant.

Originality/value

This study supplements the misinformation countering literature by examining IPI’s tenability in explaining why individuals engage in combating misinformation. Both pre-emptive and reactive strategies were considered, enabling a panoramic view of the motivators of misinformation countering compared to previous studies. Our findings also inform the necessity of adopting a context-specific perspective and crafting other-oriented messages to motivate users’ initiative in implementing corrective actions.
COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 transitions: case study on the Lao PDR
Authors: King Victor T. , Chin Wei Lee
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this review paper is to investigate the consequences of tourism development and economic growth within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, focusing specifically on Lao PDR post-pandemic. The adverse effect of COVID-19 on tourism and economic sectors has been pervasive across the ASEAN region, with varying degrees of impact. Some of these difficulties are set to continue, though there are positive signs of recovery and of the resilience of the tourism industry. Utilising case material from Lao PDR in Southeast Asia – an area frequently neglected in tourism studies – the paper sheds light on the post-pandemic landscape to address existing gaps in the current literature.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was taken in this review paper, utilising secondary data such as media reports, official reports from Tourism Laos and international governing bodies like United Nations and the World Bank to form a viewpoint discussion in the Lao PDR post-pandemic condition.

Findings

This paper reveals that contrary to a long period of recovery post-pandemic, there has been a degree of continuity from the pre-pandemic period. Considerable numbers of backpackers have returned to Vang Vieng, along with Vientiane and Luang Prabang. While the pre-pandemic emphasis on mass tourism persists, there is also an increased focus on regional and domestic markets. Laos, with its strategic location and cross-border connections, aims to take advantage of this shift.

Originality/value

The paper highlights a detailed exploration of the Lao tourism industry post-pandemic. It goes beyond the initial expectations in literature of a complete transformation post-pandemic, highlighting the continuity in visitor sources and traditional tourist attractions. It emphasises the Lao PDR strategic position for market reorientation, providing insight into the nation’s adaptive strategies and a nuanced perspective on the evolving landscape of Lao tourism.
Cumulative and interannual effects of reproduction in eastern grey kangaroos
Authors: Forrester Kelly , Larue Benjamin , King Wendy J. , Festa‐Bianchet Marco
Published: September 2024

Reproduction can reduce energy allocation to other life‐history traits such as survival and growth. Resource constraints give rise to (co)variation in life‐history traits and to heterogeneity in energy acquisition and allocation. At each reproductive opportunity, females face a choice between allocation to current reproduction or to maintenance. Many studies compare reproductive trade‐offs between two consecutive years, but few account for the cumulative effects of reproduction over multiple years, a crucial factor in understanding life‐history evolution in long‐lived iteroparous species.

We compared short‐ (interannual) and long‐term (cumulative) reproductive trade‐offs with a 14‐year capture–mark–recapture study of eastern grey kangaroos, where females can have substantial skeletal growth for several years after maturation. We used a multivariate approach to compare how interannual and multi‐annual cumulative reproduction affected growth (n = 378 measurements), mass change (n = 376 measurements) and subsequent reproduction (n = 388 measurements), and to quantify (co)variation between these traits among individuals (n = 107) and years (n = 14).

Interannually, young females that reproduced experienced decreased skeletal growth compared to young females that did not reproduce. Reproductive females of all ages experienced reduced mass gain and weaning probability in the following year. The cumulative effects of multiple reproductions included decreased skeletal growth, mass gain and weaning probability in the following year. These effects increased with age and reproductive rate. We found positive trait correlations between mass change, leg growth and subsequent reproduction among individuals and years, though weaker at the cumulative than interannual level.

Females experience dynamic interannual and cumulative trade‐offs. Our analyses of cumulative costs of reproduction revealed long‐term trade‐offs as well as cumulative costs that were not apparent when estimating interannual costs. Trait correlations suggested heterogeneity in growth and reproduction among females. Years of increased growth were followed by years of increased reproduction, and years of poor growth were followed by years of poor reproduction. Our exploration of both interannual and cumulative costs of reproduction underscores the need to account for long‐term reproductive histories to better understand reproductive trade‐offs in long‐lived iteroparous species.
Identification of putative coral pathogens in endangered Caribbean staghorn coral using machine learning
Authors: Selwyn Jason D. , Despard Brecia A. , Vollmer Miles V. , Trytten Emily C. , Vollmer Steven V.
Published: September 2024

Coral diseases contribute to the rapid decline in coral reefs worldwide, and yet coral bacterial pathogens have proved difficult to identify because 16S rRNA gene surveys typically identify tens to hundreds of disease‐associate bacteria as putative pathogens. An example is white band disease (WBD), which has killed up to 95% of the now‐endangered Caribbean Acropora corals since 1979, yet the pathogen is still unknown. The 16S rRNA gene surveys have identified hundreds of WBD‐associated bacterial amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) from at least nine bacterial families with little consensus across studies. We conducted a multi‐year, multi‐site 16S rRNA gene sequencing comparison of 269 healthy and 143 WBD‐infected Acropora cervicornis and used machine learning modelling to accurately predict disease outcomes and identify the top ASVs contributing to disease. Our ensemble ML models accurately predicted disease with greater than 97% accuracy and identified 19 disease‐associated ASVs and five healthy‐associated ASVs that were consistently differentially abundant across sampling periods. Using a tank‐based transmission experiment, we tested whether the 19 disease‐associated ASVs met the assumption of a pathogen and identified two pathogenic candidate ASVs—ASV25 Cysteiniphilum litorale and ASV8 Vibrio sp. to target for future isolation, cultivation, and confirmation of Henle‐Koch's postulate via transmission assays.
Covering the land with oil palm: revelation, value, and landownership among the Kairak‐speaking Baining of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Yaneva‐Toraman Inna
Published: September 2024

This article explores how a displaced Papua New Guinean people decided to lease their customary land for oil palm plantation farming to restore their land use rights and resolve ongoing disputes with migrant settlers. By transforming the landscape into a territorialized space as a plantation, Kairak‐speaking Baining hoped to gain actual landownership status and control over their land, which in turn, they believed, could bring them the development they had long dreamed of. I argue that Kairak conceptions about the plantation as a tool to reveal their landownership and remove the settlers drew on Melanesian notions about covering and revelation, changing perceptions of value, and discourse around ‘settlerhood’ and ‘nativism’, and show how agribusiness capital expansion strategies leverage regional politics of identity and autochthony. By illustrating how the plantation expansion unfolded differently in this region, the material offers new insights on the Plantationocene, global land grabs, dispossession and migration, and reaffirms the consequences reported elsewhere in the world where enclosures of exclusion lead to forceful rearrangements of people's social and economic lives, leaving their hopes and plantation promises unrealized.
Potential of 3D printing in development of foods for special medical purpose: A review
Authors: Shi Hao , Zhang Min , Mujumdar Arun S. , Li Chunli
Published: September 2024

Nutritional management has emerged as an effective strategy to mitigate the risks of malnutrition and disease‐related mortality among patients. The emergence of novel food types, particularly foods for special medical purposes (FSMPs), has garnered increasing attention from researchers and businesses. 3D printing (3DP) technology, alternatively known as food additive manufacturing, has gained popularity among novel food developers due to its distinct capabilities in tailoring nutrition, appearance, texture, and enhancing overall edible quality. This review examines current market trends, product forms, and unique characteristics of FSMPs, highlighting the progress made in applying 3DP to the development of functional foods and drugs. Despite its potential medical benefits, there are limited instances of direct utilization of 3DP in the production of such specialized food type. Currently, the FSMP market faces several challenges, including limited product diversity, inadequate formula design, and a lack of product appeal. 3DP offers significant advantages in catering to the unique needs of special patients, encompassing both physiological medical benefits and enhanced sensory as well as psychological eating experiences. It holds great promise in promoting precision medicine and personalized home‐based FSMPs preparations. This review will delve into the development strategies and feasibility of 3DP in creating specialized medical food for patients with unique conditions and across different age groups. Additionally, it explores the potential challenges of applying 3DP to the FSMP sector, such as regulatory frameworks, patient acceptance, cost of 3D‐printed FSMPs, and the improvement of 3DP.
Identification and function of microRNAs in hemipteran pests: A review
Authors: Ren Yipeng , Dong Wenhao , Chen Juhong , Xue Huaijun , Bu Wenjun
Published: September 2024

Hemiptera is one of the most significant orders of insect pests, including whiteflies, true bugs, aphids, planthoppers, psyllids, and so forth, which have led to substantial economic losses in agricultural industries and have significantly affected food yields through their ability to suck the phloem sap of crops and transmit numerous bacterial and viral pathogens. Therefore, explorations of pest‐specific, eco‐friendly and easy‐to‐adopt technologies for hemipteran pest control are urgently needed. To the best of our knowledge, microRNAs (miRNAs), which are endogenous non‐coding small RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides in length, are involved in regulating gene expression via the direct recognition and binding of the 3′‐untranslated region (3′‐UTR) of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) or by acting as a center of a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network at the post‐transcriptional level. This review systematically outlines the characterization and functional investigation of the miRNA biogenesis pathway in hemipteran pests, such as whiteflies, true bugs, aphids and planthoppers. In addition, we explored the results of small RNA sequencing and functional observations of miRNAs in these pests, and the results suggest that the numerous miRNAs obtained and annotated via high‐throughput sequencing technology and bioinformatic analyses contribute to molting development, fitness, wing polyphenism, symbiont interactions and insecticide resistance in hemipteran pests. Finally, we summarize current advances and propose a framework for future research to extend the current data and address potential limitations in the investigation and application of hemipteran miRNAs.
Antibacterial effect and mechanism of theaflavin against Listeria monocytogenes and its application on apple skins
Authors: Lin Yunzhi , Shen Cunkuan , Zhao Junxin , Wang Chen , Obara Manami , Maung Aye Thida , Morita Miho , Abdelaziz Marwa Nabil Sayed , Masuda Yoshimitsu , Honjoh Ken‐ichi , Miyamoto Takahisa
Published: September 2024

Theaflavin 3,3′‐digallate (TF3), a major polyphenolic component of black tea, exhibits antibacterial effects against many foodborne pathogens. However, the antibacterial mechanisms of TF3 against Listeria monocytogenes remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of TF3 on viability, biofilm, and membrane function of L. monocytogenes by the conventional plating method, crystal violet staining, and microscopy using fluorescent dyes JC‐1 and Laurdan, respectively. It was found that TF3 showed excellent antibacterial activity against L. monocytogenes with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 62.5 mg/L. The viable count determined on TSA decreased by 3 log after the treatment for 2 h with TF3 at 62.5 mg/L. The viable count determined on TSA containing 4% NaCl decreased by more than 4 log after the treatment for 30 min with TF3 at the same concentration, suggesting that TF3 gave damage on the cells, enhancing the antibacterial action of 4% NaCl, but the damage was recoverable in the absence of 4% NaCl. To explore the antibacterial mechanisms of TF3, the effects of TF3 on membrane potential and membrane fluidity were investigated. TF3 reduced both membrane potential and fluidity of L. monocytogenes at 62.5 mg/L, suggesting that TF3 damaged the structural integrity of the cell membrane. TF3 reduced biofilm mass of mature biofilm of L. monocytogenes. Moreover, THEAFLAVIN TF40, a commercially available Camellia sinensis leaf extract containing TF3, reduced viable count of L. monocytogenes by 2 log on apple skin. These results suggest the potential of theaflavins as a natural anti‐Listeria disinfectant.
Synergy‐as‐principle in global climate regulation
Authors: Roeben Volker
Published: September 2024

Isolated policy interventions are unlikely to effectively address a highly complex and cross‐cutting issue such as climate change. Such issues require more integrated or holistic approaches. The concept of searching for synergy across multiple objectives could then achieve better outcomes than a default position of trade‐off and collision. This contribution construes a novel principle of synergy to structure integrated decision‐making in global climate regulation through law. This article grounds its argument theoretically in the analysis of global regulation. It first develops the rationale of a regulatory principle justifying synergetic choices in rule‐design and rule‐application. It then sets out a typology of regulatory synergies – reinforcing, functional, and dormant or connecting – which can be arranged on a sliding scale and delivered with appropriate policy tools. It also suggests pathways for synergy‐as‐principle to advance beyond an effective strategy to acquiring legal bindingness within global regulation through law. Finally, this article tests the workability of this principle in four scenarios where climate protection and adjacent objectives intersect. Beyond this analysis of global climate regulation, this article points to the deeper normative foundations capable of supporting a non‐exclusionary global community.
Continuous Monitoring of Vegetation and Soil Recovery After Eucalyptus grandis Removal in Dense Trees and Shrubs Areas
Authors: Ruwanza Sheunesu
Published: September 2024

Invasion by invasive alien plants is a global challenge and South Africa has invested billions of Rands to manage invaders through the Working for Water programme. However, regular monitoring after alien plant clearing is hardly done, yet it forms the basis for assessing clearing programme effectiveness, particularly ecosystem recovery trajectories. I monitored both vegetation and soil recovery 6 years after Eucalyptus grandis clearing by Working for Water at Zvakanaka Farm in Limpopo Province of South Africa. Vegetation diversity and soil physical properties were surveyed in 2019 and re‐surveyed in 2022 on fell‐and‐removal and fell‐and‐stackburn cleared treatments and compared to the nearby uninvaded treatment. Results show a significant increase in species richness in 2022 compared to 2019 in the fell‐and‐removal treatment. Cover of both native trees and shrubs as well as forbs was significantly higher in 2022 compared to 2019 in the fell‐and‐removal treatment compared to the fell‐and‐stackburn treatment. Most secondary invaders such as Acacia mearnsii, E. cloeziana, Lantana camara and Rubus rigidus that frequently occurred in 2019 showed decreased occurrence in 2022 on both cleared treatments. Between the two sampling years, soil compaction improved on the fell‐and‐removal treatment only, whereas hydraulic conductivity increased significantly in 2022 compared to 2019 in both the fell‐and‐removal and fell‐and‐stackburn treatments. Soils that were strongly and severely repellent in 2019 in the fell‐and‐stackburn treatment were becoming slightly repellent in 2022. These results show varied vegetation and soil improvements between 2019 and 2022 in both the fell‐and‐removal and fell‐and‐stackburn cleared treatments an indication that recovery is moving towards a positive vegetation and soil recovery trajectory in the direction of the uninvaded treatment. Recommendations for successful passive restoration such as secondary invasion follow‐up clearing are discussed.
Living With Hyraxes: Biogeography and Comparative Ecology of West African Fornasinius Beetles
Authors: Ajong Stephanie N. , Luiselli Luca , Lado Thomas Francis , Demaya Gift Simon , Eniang Edem A. , Segniagbeto Gabriel Hoinsoude , Ketoh Guillaume Koffivi , Le Duc Olivier , De Palma Michele , Amori Giovanni , Fa Julia E. , Behangana Mathias , Hema Emmanuel M. , Dendi Daniele
Published: September 2024

Among the flower beetles (Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), the Goliathini comprise several genera of medium‐ and large‐sized beetles widely distributed in sub‐Saharan Africa. In this tribe, the genus Fornasinius Bertoloni, 1853, includes two species found in West Africa: F. higginsi (Westwood) and F. klingbeili Zöller, Fiebig,and Schulze. In this study, we present new data on the comparative ecology and biogeography of these two species, including sex ratio, population structure by size, monthly activity patterns and habitat features at two different spatial scales. These observations were conducted, mostly opportunistically, over a 20‐year period in Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo. Both species exhibited similar overall population structure and morphometrics. They were characterised by a male‐skewed adult sex ratio (with possible bias), male‐larger sexual size dimorphism and consistent population structure by size; the two species are seemingly parapatric (with the potential contact zone being separated in eastern Ghana by the Volta River and Volta Lake). Both are primarily found in the vicinity of trees that contained middens of hyraxes, such as Dendrohyrax dorsalis (F. higginsi), Dendrohyrax interfluvialis (F. klingbeili) and Procavia capensis (F. klingbeili). F. higginsi has been primarily observed in forest habitat, while F. klingbeili was found in both forests and Guinea savannahs. Occurrence sites of F. higginsi were predominantly characterised by higher tree cover, less bare areas and built‐up zones. Although these beetles may be locally abundant within hyrax middens, they typically occur in only a relatively small number of sites within their preferred habitat. Monthly activity patterns differed between the two species. Although adults of both species were observed throughout the year, sightings of F. higginsi were more common during the wet season, whereas F. klingbeili sightings were more frequent in the dry season. The observed differences in monthly activity patterns between these ecologically and morphologically similar species may help to minimise interspecific competition in potential—yet unknown—sites of syntopy. Although some Fornasinius populations might be locally threatened by deforestation or overhunting of hyraxes, the careful management of hyrax populations should adequately ensure the conservation of these two beetle species.
Physiological control for left ventricular assist devices based on deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Fernández‐Zapico Diego , Peirelinck Thijs , Deconinck Geert , Donker Dirk W. , Fresiello Libera
Published: September 2024

Background

The improvement of controllers of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) technology supporting heart failure (HF) patients has enormous impact, given the high prevalence and mortality of HF in the population. The use of reinforcement learning for control applications in LVAD remains minimally explored. This work introduces a preload‐based deep reinforcement learning control for LVAD based on the proximal policy optimization algorithm.

Methods

The deep reinforcement learning control is built upon data derived from a deterministic high‐fidelity cardiorespiratory simulator exposed to variations of total blood volume, heart rate, systemic vascular resistance, pulmonary vascular resistance, right ventricular end‐systolic elastance, and left ventricular end‐systolic elastance, to replicate realistic inter‐ and intra‐patient variability of patients with a severe HF supported by LVAD. The deep reinforcement learning control obtained in this work is trained to avoid ventricular suction and allow aortic valve opening by using left ventricular pressure signals: end‐diastolic pressure, maximum pressure in the left ventricle (LV), and maximum pressure in the aorta.

Results

The results show controller obtained in this work, compared to the constant speed LVAD alternative, assures a more stable end‐diastolic volume (EDV), with a standard deviation of 5 mL and 9 mL, respectively, and a higher degree of aortic flow, with an average flow of 1.1 L/min and 0.9 L/min, respectively.

Conclusion

This work implements a deep reinforcement learning controller in a high‐fidelity cardiorespiratory simulator, resulting in increases of flow through the aortic valve and increases of EDV stability, when compared to a constant speed LVAD strategy.
The polymyxin‐B direct hemoperfusion OPTimal Initiation timing with Catecholamine PMX‐OPTIC study: A multicenter retrospective observational study
Authors: Nakamura Kensuke , Okazaki Tetsuya , Tampo Akihito , Mochizuki Katsunori , Kanda Naoki , Ono Takahiro , Yanagita Kunio , Shimomura Taro , Murase Taichi , Saito Ken , Hirayama Takahiro , Ito Tomoaki , Ogawa Koji , Nakamura Mizuki , Oda Tomohiro , Morishima Takeshi , Fukushima Takuma , Yasui Hiroharu , Akashi Naoki , Oshima Kojiro , Kawarazaki Hiroo , Akiba Tsukasa , Uemura Susumu , Honma Yuhei , Nitta Kenichi , Okamoto Koji , Takaki Shunsuke , Takeda Hirotaka , Yamashita Chizuru
Published: September 2024

Background

Polymyxin‐B direct hemoperfusion (PMX‐DHP) is an endotoxin adsorption column‐based blood purification therapy. Since one of the most potent effects of PMX‐DHP is blood pressure elevations, it may be the most effective when it is introduced at the time when the need for vasopressors is the greatest, which, in turn, may reduce mortality.

Methods

A multicenter retrospective study was conducted at 24 ICUs in Japan. In each ICU, the 20 most recent consecutive cases of septic shock treated with PMX‐DHP were analyzed. The duration between the time of the peak vasopressive agent dose, expressed as the noradrenaline equivalent dose (NEq), and the time of PMX initiation was evaluated. The primary outcome was 28‐day mortality, and a multivariable analysis was performed to investigate factors associated with mortality.

Results

A total of 480 septic shock patients were included in the analysis. Among all patients, the 28‐day mortality group was older, more severely ill, and had a higher body mass index. The NEq peak and NEq on PMX‐DHP initiation were both higher in deceased patients. Regarding the timing of PMX‐DHP initiation from the NEq peak, −4 << 4 h had more survivors (229/304, 75.3%) than ≤−4 h (50/75, 66.7%) and ≥4 h (66/101, 65.4%) (p = 0.085). When −4 << 4 h was assigned as a reference, the timing of PMX‐DHP initiation from the NEq peak of ≤−4 h had an odds ratio of 1.96 (1.07–3.58), p = 0.029, while ≥4 h had an odds ratio of 1.64 (0.94–2.87), p = 0.082 for 28‐day mortality, in the multivariable regression analysis. A spline curve of the relationship between the probability of death and the timing of PMX‐DHP initiation from the NEq peak showed a downward convex curve with a nadir at timing = 0. The odds ratios of the timing of PMX‐DHP initiation other than −4 << 4 h were significantly higher in an older age, male sex, lower BMI, more severe illness, and higher oxygenation.

Conclusions

The induction of PMX‐DHP at the time of the peak vasopressor dose correlated with lower mortality. PMX‐DHP is one of the options available for elevating blood pressure in septic shock, and its initiation either too early or late for shock peak may not improve the outcome.
Tax privacy concerns hamper digitization of the nanostore channel
Authors: Escamilla Rafael , Brosi Prisca , Fransoo Jan C. , Mora‐Quiñones Camilo , Mejía‐Argueta Christopher
Published: September 2024

Various entities, such as startups, suppliers, and governments, face substantial difficulties in convincing nanostore shopkeepers to adopt digital technologies. Given the informal status of nanostores, we posit that shopkeepers experience Tax Privacy Concerns from their operational records potentially becoming transparent to the tax authorities, which hampers their inclination to digitize. Through the application of a survey and vignette experiments in the field with hundreds of shopkeepers across three cities in Latin America, we find consistent evidence for the negative role of Tax Privacy Concerns, above and beyond shopkeepers' Willingness to Share Data with various entities, Trust in the government and other entities, and general Privacy Concerns. Further, we show that having entities that shopkeepers trust and are willing to share data with offer technological solutions does not mitigate shopkeepers' Tax Privacy Concerns and boosts digitization. In contrast, positive word of mouth that data are unlikely to be shared with the tax authorities does mitigate Tax Privacy Concerns. Overall, our findings provide novel evidence for the existence and influence of privacy concerns for operational data among microentrepreneurs, which answers calls in the extant literature to explore privacy concerns beyond the consumer context.
After Admission: The Emotional Suffering of Students Enrolled Through the Rural Students Quota Plan in China's Elite Universities
Authors: Wang Songdi , Chen Jiexiu , Zhou Lu
Published: September 2024

The Chinese government has implemented a series of special admission policies in recent years to promote higher education equity. One of the key approaches is the ‘Rural Students Quota Plan’, which requires elite universities to enrol a certain number of rural students from disadvantaged social and economic backgrounds each year. This study adopted qualitative methods to explore the experiences of these students, focusing on their emotional journeys after admission to elite universities. In this project, 32 rural students from R University were invited to participate in semi‐structured interviews. After thematic analysis, this paper further focuses on the systematic presentation and in‐depth analysis of ten of these Quota Plan students' university experiences to carefully delve into their emotional journeys while integrating the narratives of other participants as background data into the analysis. Drawing on Bourdieu's conceptual tools, this study highlights how emotional struggles such as the sense of feeling lost and inferior are shaped by external social structures and the elite university field. The study argues that as elite universities strive to enrol more rural students, mechanisms must be put in place to better support rural students in their adaptation and integration throughout the higher education process.
Explaining Temporal Trends in School‐Related Stress: A Decomposition Analysis of Repeated Swedish Survey Data
Authors: Högberg Björn
Published: September 2024

Concerns related to school are consistently ranked as among the greatest stressors in the lives of adolescents. Research from varying contexts report rising rates of school‐related stress among students, but we currently lack knowledge on what drives these trends. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictors of temporal trends in school‐related stress in Swedish students between 2003 and 2020. To this end, repeated surveys of 9807 Swedish students aged 16 years are analysed using Blinder‐Oaxaca decomposition techniques. The results show that the rise in school‐related stress was primarily due to growing schoolwork difficulties and social exclusion among students, indicating possibly adverse consequences of a large‐scale educational reform as well as of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In addition, rising academic aspirations contributed to the increase, in line with arguments concerning the increasing weight attached to educational success among adolescents in the ‘schooled society’.
Parental differentiation, self‐differentiation, and attachment among twins and nontwin siblings
Authors: Einav Michal , Eliezer Yarden , Schmidt‐Barad Tomer
Published: September 2024

Objective

The current study examined the roles of parental differentiation, self‐differentiation, and attachment style and history in parenting twins.

Background

Raising twins is a complex parental experience. One of the major roles of parenting twins is to ensure their parallel development, as well as their psychological differentiation and self‐individuation.

Method

The study included 91 Israeli adult participants (41 same‐sex fraternal twins; 50 same‐sex nontwin siblings), sampled through social media, who answered a series of questionnaires.

Results

Results indicated that twins reported less self‐differentiation, a poorer attachment history with their parents, and less secure attachment than nontwin siblings. Moderation analysis established that the positive link between parental differentiation and self‐differentiation was significantly stronger for twins than nontwin siblings. In contrast, sibling status had no moderating effect on the link between attachment history and style.

Conclusion

These findings emphasize the significance of parental differentiation in twins' personal development and the importance of recognizing the unique bond between them.

Implications

Implications for practitioners focusing on nurturing healthy development, strong sibling relationships, and individual well‐being are discussed.
Pressure Transducer Measurement Variability in Deep Wells Screened Across the Water Table
Authors: McDonald John P.
Published: September 2024

Automated water level measurements collected using vented pressure transducers in deep wells screened across the water table may exhibit a greater response to barometric pressure changes than the true water level. The cause was hypothesized to be disequilibrium in barometric pressure between the wellbores and land surface due to air exchange with the deep vadose zone. In this study, vented and nonvented pressure transducers were installed and operated simultaneously in two deep wells screened across the water table. A vent tube open to the atmosphere at land surface allowed for barometric compensation of the vented transducers. Two nonvented transducers were installed in each well, one submerged in the water and one above the water surface. The difference in readings allowed for barometric compensation. Manual measurements were also collected. It was confirmed that measurements from the vented transducers exhibited greater variability in response to barometric pressure changes than the nonvented transducers and manual measurements. Comparison of the downhole barometric pressure measurements to values from a nearby meteorology station showed the response in the wells to changes in barometric pressure was time‐lagged and attenuated. Thus, the reference pressure from land surface supplied to the vented transducers was not representative of the air pressure within the wells. This caused fluctuations of the transducer readings in response to barometric pressure changes to be greater than the true water level change. This issue can be resolved by the use of nonvented pressure transducers.
Virtual care pathways for people living with HIV: A mixed‐methods systematic review
Authors: Farooq Hamzah Z. , Whitton Louise , Mwendera Chikondi , Divall Pip , Spitters Sophie J. I. M. , Anderson Jane , Thornhill John P
Published: September 2024

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic prompted an unprecedented surge in virtual services, necessitating a rapid shift to digital healthcare approaches. This review focuses on evaluating the evidence of virtual care (VC) in delivering HIV care, considering the complex nature of HIV and the need for tailored‐approaches, especially for marginalized populations.

Methods

A mixed‐methods systematic review was performed with searches on five databases, covering studies from January 1946 to May 2022. Inclusion criteria involved two‐way virtual consultations between healthcare workers and people living with HIV (PLHIV), with detailed descriptions and outcomes. Qualitative and quantitative studies were included, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa score and Stenfors' framework.

Results

Among 4143 identified records, 26 studies met the criteria, with various models of care described. The majority of studies were observational, and videoconferencing was the primary mode of virtual consultation employed. Quantitative analysis revealed PLHIV generally accept VC, with high attendance rates (87%). Mean acceptability and satisfaction rates were 80% and 85%, respectively, while 87% achieved HIV viral suppression. The setting and models of VC implementation varied, with some introduced in response to COVID‐19 while others were as part of trials.

Conclusions

VC for PLHIV is deemed an acceptable and effective approach and is associated with good virological outcomes. Data on other health outcomes is lacking. The review underscores the importance of diverse models of care, patient choice and comprehensive training initiatives for both staff and patients. Establishing a ‘gold standard’ for VC models is crucial for ensuring appropriate and effective reviews of PLHIV in virtual settings.
Giving a Conspicuously Branded Gift: The Role of Guilt
Authors: Chang Chiu‐Chi Angela , Lin Ying‐Ching
Published: September 2024

Scant research has explored how the emotions of gift‐givers influence their gift selection, particularly negative emotions. Addressing this gap, this research examines how guilt impacts gift‐giving, capitalizing on the conceptual link between guilt, power, and size. Through four experiments, we demonstrate that, compared with gift‐givers in a control condition, guilty gift‐givers are more likely to choose conspicuously branded gifts—items with highly noticeable, large brand logos. We observe this effect using different scenarios and the autobiographical recall procedure to elicit guilt, as well as a variety of operationalizations of brand conspicuousness. We find that the sense of power and power restoration provided by the gift account for the results. Moreover, the preference for a conspicuously branded gift diminishes when guilty gift‐givers engage in reparative actions to alleviate their guilt prior to gift‐giving. This research contributes to the literature on guilt, power, and conspicuous consumption by revealing a novel consequence of guilt on consumer choice in gift‐giving contexts and expanding our understanding of conspicuous brand usage. The findings have practical implications for marketers, particularly in using guilt appeals and promoting conspicuously branded gifts. Finally, we suggest future research directions related to positive emotions and other outcomes of interest in gift‐giving.
Partial incorporation of black jelly mushroom (Auricularia polytricha) as a plant‐based ingredient in the production of hybrid patties using meat from different species
Authors: Abdul Wahab Nurdamia Qaisara , Pangestika Leonie Margaretha Widya , Ismail‐Fitry Mohammad Rashedi
Published: September 2024

The impact of meat replacement with black jelly mushrooms as a means to produce hybrid patties using meat from different species (chicken‐MCP, beef‐MBP, mutton‐MMP and buffalo‐MBOP) was investigated. For this purpose, 50% of the meat was replaced with black jelly mushrooms. A patty with 100% mushroom (CMP) was observed as a control. Proximate composition, water holding capacity (WHC), cooking yield, shrinkage, pH, gel strength, colour, texture, microstructure and sensory acceptance of the patties were analysed. MBP had the highest WHC (88.51%) and gel strength (24.89 N) compared to other patties (P < 0.05). MBP exhibited a less compact and dense structure compared to other patties. Simultaneously, it is characterised as the least in hardness but the highest in chewiness and cohesiveness. The sensory evaluation highlights MBP as the most preferred, particularly for texture. In conclusion, black jelly mushrooms are suitable to be mixed with beef to produce alternative patties.
Pickering emulsions based on ovalbumin‐ferulic acid‐sodium alginate supramolecular hydrogels: application to cookies replacing margarine
Authors: Xie Bing , Xin Ting , Huang Yunying , Liu Zhigeng , Jin Weihao , Tao Chunlan , Zhou Yongqiang , Dong Lihong , Huang Fei , Su Dongxiao
Published: September 2024

Margarine contains trans fatty acids, which have been linked to adverse effects on human health. It is therefore of the utmost importance to develop superior margarine substitutes for use in baked foods. The protein‐polyphenol‐polysaccharide ternary supramolecular system displays remarkable stability and can be utilised in the formulation of emulsions for partial margarine replacement. The aim of this study was to examine the stability of an ovalbumin (OVA)‐ferulic acid (FA)‐sodium alginate (SA) ternary supramolecular emulsion with varying water‐to‐oil ratios. The emulsion was evaluated for its potential as a substitute for margarine in cookies. The findings revealed that the specific emulsion instability of the system initially increased and subsequently decreased with an increase in corn oil content, reaching an optimal point of stability and dispersibility at a water‐to‐oil ratio of 5:11. As the emulsion was incorporated into the cookie dough at levels ranging from 0% to 100% margarine, the viscoelasticity of the dough was enhanced and the hardness was reduced. As the emulsion content increased in place of margarine, the cookies exhibited visible cracks on the surface, accompanied by an increase in hardness, baking loss rate and a notable change in colour. The cookies demonstrated the optimal quality when the emulsion content was 40%.
Personalized pricing decisions through adversarial risk analysis
Authors: Rasines Daniel García , Naveiro Roi , Insua David Ríos , Santana Simón Rodríguez
Published: September 2024

Pricing decisions stand out as one of the most critical tasks a company faces, particularly in today's digital economy. As with other business decision‐making problems, pricing unfolds in a highly competitive and uncertain environment. Traditional analyses in this area have heavily relied on game theory and its variants. However, an important drawback of these approaches is their reliance on common knowledge assumptions, which are hardly tenable in competitive business domains. This paper introduces an innovative personalized pricing framework designed to assist decision‐makers in undertaking pricing decisions amidst competition, considering both buyer's and competitors' preferences. Our approach (i) establishes a coherent framework for modeling competition mitigating common knowledge assumptions; (ii) proposes a principled method to forecast competitors' pricing and customers' purchasing decisions, acknowledging major business uncertainties; and (iii) encourages structured thinking about the competitors' problems, thus enriching the solution process. To illustrate these properties, in addition to a general pricing template, we outline two specifications—one from the retail domain and a more intricate one from the pension fund domain.
Multi‐Environment Analysis of Nutritional and Grain Quality Traits in Relation to Grain Yield Under Drought and Terminal Heat Stress in Bread Wheat and Durum Wheat
Authors: Kakanur Jagadeesha Yashavanthakumar , Navathe Sudhir , Krishnappa Gopalareddy , Ambati Divya , Baviskar Vijendra , Biradar Suma , Magar Nilesh , Mishra Chandra Nath , Mamrutha Harohalli Masthigowda , Govindan Velu , Singh Gyanendra Pratap , Singh Gyanendra
Published: September 2024

Heat and drought are two important constraints to global wheat productivity; understanding the genotypic responses for quality parameters under harsh production conditions (drought and heat) is very important for developing nutrient‐dense wheat varieties. A set of 15 modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) cultivars were tested in nine environments, including three different production conditions (normal, heat and drought) during 2020–21. Genotype stability performance for yield, nutrition and quality parameters is assessed using multienvironment trials through AMMI and GGE Biplot analysis. We discovered intriguing stress dynamics in grain zinc content (Zn) and grain iron content (Fe). Under heat stress, zinc concentration increases but decreases under drought stress, while iron does the opposite. Selecting zinc, starch and kernel weight under terminal heat stress can boost yield. Protein content and yield are inversely related, making it difficult for breeders to optimise both traits. G × E interactions and stability indices across all environments have found genotypes with high‐yielding stable genotypes, G12 (MP1358) (42.09 ppm) and G5 (HI1544) (42.41 ppm) have high Fe content. G12 (MP1358) (14.98%) ranked highest in protein concentration. Meanwhile, for Zn content, G11 (MACS 4058) (45.23 ppm) and G15 (WH730) (42.44 ppm) were top performers across environments. G7 (HI 1636) and G12 (MP1358) stand out as a win‐win genotype for their high potential and stability in yield, protein, Zn and Fe content. Our study shows the complex relationships and possible suggestions for targeted breeding programmes under heat and drought stress conditions to improve wheat grain quality and micronutrient profiles without yield loss.
Theoretical investigation on elastic property evolutions of low volume fly ash concrete
Authors: Wang Yao , Liu Jinliang
Published: September 2024

Toward expanding the application of fly ash in cement‐based materials, this study proposes a comprehensive study on predicting the elastic properties of low‐volume fly ash concrete, with the replacement levels limited to 30% or less. Unlike conventional ordinary Portland cement concrete, the inclusion of fly ash in concrete brings alterations in properties from both chemical and physical perspectives: (1) the presence of fly ash liberates the alkaline solution that consumes calcium hydroxide to generate secondary calcium silicate hydrate gels; (2) unreacted fly ash particles exhibits a refinement effect on the micropore structure and contributes to forming a denser solid matrix. In order to characterize these effects on the mechanical properties of fly ash concrete, this paper conducts qualitative assessment of hydration reactions and quantitative calculations of volumetric compounds in the material. Utilizing the Mori‒Tanaka scheme, a predictive model is then developed to integrate the hierarchical effects of constituents at multiple scales on the modulus of elasticity of low‐volume fly ash concrete. The reliability of the proposed model is validated through a series of mechanical tests involving various mix designs, as well as comparison with other published test data.
A novel homozygous mutation in the DNAAF3 gene leads to severe asthenozoospermia and teratospermia
Authors: Chen Dongjia , Fan Guoqing , Xu Yan , Luo Peng , Chen Qinyun , Chen Xuren , Guo Zexin , Zhu Xianqing , Gao Yong
Published: September 2024

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by ultrastructural defects in the cilia or flagella of cells, causing respiratory abnormalities, sinusitis, visceral transposition, and male infertility. DNAAF3 plays an important role in the assembly and transportation of axonemal dynein complexes in cilia or flagella and has been shown to be associated with PCD. To date, only two cases of PCD with infertility associated with DNAAF3 mutations have been reported, and no mouse models for this gene have been successfully constructed. This study was conducted on an infertile Chinese male patient with a history of bronchitis. Examination of the patient's semen revealed severe asthenozoospermia and teratospermia. Whole exome sequencing revealed a new homozygous loss‐of‐function DNAAF3 mutation. CRISPR‐Cas9 gene‐editing technology was used to construct the same mutation in C57/B6 mice, revealing that homozygous C57/B6 mice were characterized by severe hydrocephalus and early death. The results of this study expand the mutation spectrum of DNAAF3 and confirm its correlation with PCD pathogenesis. This study provides new insights on the mechanisms underlying male infertility related to DNAAF3 mutation and PCD.