bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural snapshots of human PepT1 and PepT2 reveal mechanistic insights into substrate and drug transport across epithelial membranes
Authors: Killer Maxime , Wald Jiri , Pieprzyk Joanna , Marlovits Thomas C. , Löw Christian
Published: July 2021

The uptake of peptides in mammals plays a crucial role in nutrition and inflammatory diseases. This process is mediated by promiscuous transporters of the Solute Carrier Family 15, which form part of the Major Facilitator superfamily. Besides the uptake of short peptides, Peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) is a highly abundant drug transporter in the intestine and represents a major route for oral drug delivery. Peptide transporter 2 (PepT2) allows in addition renal drug reabsorption from ultrafiltration and brain-to-blood efflux of neurotoxic compounds. Here we present cryo-EM structures of human PepT1 in an outward open state and of human PepT2 in an inward facing partially occluded state with a bound substrate. The structures reveal the architecture of human peptide transporters and provide mechanistic insights into substrate recognition and conformational transitions during transport. Importantly, this may support future drug design efforts to increase the bioavailability of different drugs in the human body.
Structural basis of target DNA recognition by CRISPR-Cas12k for RNA-guided DNA transposition
Authors: Xiao Renjian , Wang Shukun , Han Ruijie , Li Zhuang , Gabel Clinton , Mukherjee Indranil Arun , Chang Leifu
Published: July 2021

The type V-K CRISPR-Cas system, featured by Cas12k effector with a naturally inactivated RuvC domain and associated with Tn7-like transposon for RNA-guided DNA transposition, is a promising tool for precise DNA insertion. To reveal the mechanism underlying target DNA recognition, we determined a cryo-EM structure of Cas12k from cyanobacteria Scytonema hofmanni in complex with a single guide RNA (sgRNA) and a double-stranded target DNA. Coupled with mutagenesis and in vitro DNA transposition assay, our results revealed mechanisms for the recognition of the GGTT PAM sequence and the structural elements of Cas12k critical for RNA-guided DNA transposition. These structural and mechanistic insights should aid in the development of type V-K CRISPR-transposon systems as tools for genome editing.
Mapping the integration of sensory information across fingers in human sensorimotor cortex
Authors: Arbuckle Spencer A. , Pruszynski J. Andrew , Diedrichsen Jörn
Published: July 2021

The integration of somatosensory signals across fingers is essential for dexterous object manipulation. Previous experiments suggest that this integration occurs in neural populations in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). However, the integration process has not been fully characterized, as previous studies have mainly used two-finger stimulation paradigms. Here, we addressed this gap by stimulating all 31 single- and multi-finger combinations. We measured population-wide activity patterns evoked during finger stimulation in human S1 and primary motor cortex (M1) using 7T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in female and male participants. Using multivariate fMRI analyses, we found clear evidence of unique non-linear interactions between fingers. In Brodmann area (BA) 3b, interactions predominantly occurred between pairs of neighbouring fingers. In BA 2, however, we found equally strong interactions between spatially distant fingers, as well as interactions between finger triplets and quadruplets. We additionally observed strong interactions in the hand area of M1. In both M1 and S1, these non-linear interactions did not reflect a general suppression of overall activity, suggesting instead that the interactions we observed reflect rich, non-linear integration of sensory inputs from the fingers. We suggest that this non-linear finger integration allows for a highly flexible mapping from finger sensory inputs to motor responses that facilitates dexterous object manipulation.
Prediction of lean blowout performance on variation of combustor inlet area ratio for micro gas turbine combustor
Authors: V. Kirubakaran , R. Naren Shankar
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to predict the effect of combustor inlet area ratio (CIAR) on the lean blowout limit (LBO) of a swirl stabilized can-type micro gas turbine combustor having a thermal capacity of 3 kW.

Design/methodology/approach

The blowout limits of the combustor were predicted predominantly from numerical simulations by using the average exit gas temperature (AEGT) method. In this method, the blowout limit is determined from characteristics of the average exit gas temperature of the combustion products for varying equivalence. The CIAR value considered in this study ranges from 0.2 to 0.4 and combustor inlet velocities range from 1.70 to 6.80 m/s.

Findings

The LBO equivalence ratio decreases gradually with an increase in inlet velocity. On the other hand, the LBO equivalence ratio decreases significantly especially at low inlet velocities with a decrease in CIAR. These results were backed by experimental results for a case of CIAR equal to 0.2.

Practical implications

Gas turbine combustors are vulnerable to operate on lean equivalence ratios at cruise flight to avoid high thermal stresses. A flame blowout is the main issue faced in lean operations. Based on literature and studies, the combustor lean blowout performance significantly depends on the primary zone mass flow rate. By incorporating variable area snout in the combustor will alter the primary zone mass flow rates by which the combustor will experience extended lean blowout limit characteristics.

Originality/value

This is a first effort to predict the lean blowout performance on the variation of combustor inlet area ratio on gas turbine combustor. This would help to extend the flame stability region for the gas turbine combustor.
The concept of autism spectrum disorder: a study on knowledge sharing protocol among parents with autistic children in Ghana
Authors: Kissi-Abrokwah Bernard , Kodua-Ntim Kwame
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify knowledge sharing practices used among parents with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on qualitative philosophical foundations, where phenomenological case study design was used to make an in-depth understanding of how parents whose children are diagnosed with ASD shared knowledge among themselves. The population for this research consists of parents whose children have been diagnosed with ASD in Ghana. The study sampled for the study was 12 parents and was selected from 4 autism awareness centres in Ghana to obtain data through the use of focus group discussion and analysed with the aid of thematic analysis.

Findings

The study showed that the dimensions of knowledge sharing practices used by parents with autistic children were after-action review/lesson learnt, brainstorming, mentoring, coaching system, discussion forum, face-to-face meeting, documentation, peer assistance and storytelling. Finally, the study also revealed that knowledge sharing practices used by parents with autistic children help them in their daily engagement.

Social implications

An aspect of the training of social workers should focus on how to assist parents, family and neighbours of children with ASD. The government through the needed ministries and agencies should create a social support system to assist parents and families with children with ASD. Counsellors should avail their services to parents with children with ASD as early as possible to avoid or ameliorate some of the emotional and psychological challenges of these parents.

Originality/value

The paper offers a comprehensive overview on how knowledge sharing transforms the individual to learn and accept autistic condition in Ghana.
Project stakeholder’s engagement and performance: a comparison between complex and non-complex projects using SEM
Authors: Nguyen Tuan Son , Mohamed Sherif , Mostafa Sherif
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The large number of stakeholders in a project is a source of complexity because their inter-relationships can lead to complex interactions, an inadequate understanding of the other stakeholders and conflicting stakeholder interests. Although several studies have investigated the role and effects of engaging stakeholders in improving project success, studies examining the relationships between stakeholder engagement (SE) and quantitative and qualitative project performance (PP) in complex projects (CPs) have been limited. This study empirically examined the relationships between SE and project performance within complex and non-CP contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used an extensive literature review to develop the conceptual model. The study identified 22 factors of measuring SE and project performance’s association within the context of CPs. The literature review followed by a questionnaire survey to collect data from quantifying the relationships. One hundred forty-four responses were received from project managers in different locations. The response data were subjected to structural equation modelling analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to evaluate the measurements model.

Findings

The current study generated several key findings. In the context of CPs, SE was found to negatively affect quantitative PP but to positively and significantly affect qualitative PP. In non-CPs, SE also positively affects qualitative PP. Further, in the context of CPs, SE negatively affects schedule performance, whereas no significant relationship was found between the two variables in non-CPs. In terms of cost performance, no significant relationship was observed between SE and cost performance for either group.

Originality/value

This research provides insight into differences in the relationship(s) between SE and PP in non-complex and CPs. The research also makes recommendations for project team members.
Using the Z-score to analyze the financial soundness of insurance firms
Authors: Moreno Ignacio , Parrado-Martínez Purificación , Trujillo-Ponce Antonio
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Despite the sophisticated regulatory regime established in Solvency II, analysts should be able to consider other less complex indicators of the soundness of insurers. The Z-score measure, which has traditionally been used as a proxy of individual risk in the banking sector, may be a useful tool when applied in the insurance sector. However, different methods for calculating this indicator have been proposed in the literature. This paper compares six different Z-score approaches to examine which one best fits insurance companies. The authors use a final dataset of 183 firms (1,382 observations) operating in the Spanish insurance sector during the period 2010–2017.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first stage, the authors opt for a root mean squared error (RMSE) criterion to evaluate which of the various mean and SD estimates that are used to compute the Z-score best fits the data. In the second stage, the authors estimate and compare the explanatory power of the six Z-score measures that are considered by using an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model. Finally, the authors report the results of the baseline equation using the system-GMM estimator developed by Arellano and Bover (1995) and Blundell and Bond (1998) for dynamic panel data models.

Findings

The authors find that the best formula for calculating the Z-score of insurance firms is the one that combines the current value of the return on assets (ROA) and capitalization with the SD of the returns calculated over the full sample period.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the research is that it addresses only the Spanish insurance sector, and consequently, the implications of the findings must be framed in this institutional context. However, the authors think that the results could be extrapolated to other countries. Future research should consider including different countries and analyzing the usefulness of aggregated insurer-level Z-scores for macroprudential monitoring.

Practical implications

The Z-score may be a useful early warning indicator for microprudential supervision. In addition to being an indicator of the soundness of insurers simpler than those established in the current regulation, the information provided by this accounting-based measure may help analysts and investors obtain a better understanding of insurance firms' risk factors.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine and compare different approaches to calculating Z-scores in the insurance sector. The few available results on the predictive power of the Z-score are mixed and focus on the banking sector.
Quizzing – a hazing ritual in workgroups
Authors: Kristensen Anette Kaagaard , Kristensen Martin Lund
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine how newcomers’ experience and perception of their exposure to the hazing ritual “quizzing” affects their mode of relating to the workgroup.

Design/methodology/approach

Two illustrative cases are selected from a constructivist grounded theory study based on 15 semi-structured interviews with nursing students in clinical internships at somatic hospital wards.

Findings

As newcomers to the nursing profession, nursing students are exposed to experienced insiders’ hazing ritual “quizzing” during their internship at Danish hospitals. “Quizzing” is a public ceremony performed by an experienced insider, e.g. a daily or clinical supervisor. The ritual continues until a bystander intervenes even though the newcomer admits not knowing the answers. “Quizzing” is being met with repulsion and represents a deviation from expectations of social inclusion, civilized behavior and hope of resonance. It leaves newcomers feeling alienated and makes them adopting a repulsive mode of relating to the workgroup.

Originality/value

This paper applies Hartmut Rosa’s resonance theory and theories of workplace hazing to explore how workgroup hazing affects newcomers’ mode of relating to workgroups.
The nexus between stakeholders’ materiality and sustainable development goals: evidence from higher education institutions
Authors: Aras Guler , Kutlu Furtuna Ozlem , Hacioglu Kazak Evrim
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to shed light on the association between stakeholders’ materiality and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), highlighting how higher education institutions (HEIs) can pursue sustainable development and provide a holistic perspective by mapping material issues. This paper provides a clear understanding of the universities’ role, specifically a state university in a developing country in fostering sustainable development. Particularly, this study identifies where the service industry and Yildiz Technical University (YTU) can contribute to the SDGs.

Design/methodology/approach

This methodology contains three stages. In the first stage, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board categories have been mapped to the SDGs, in the second stage mapping of the service sector and its industries has been carried out. Additionally, the methodology was based on an exploratory case study.

Findings

This paper provides empirical results on the significance of the service sector, education and YTU in contributing to the SDGs. Moreover, this paper provides a framework by mapping the material issues on how the education sector can make contributions to the SDGs.

Practical implications

Exhibiting how HEIs’ implement integrated thinking and voluntarily implemented International Integrated Reporting Council guidelines can assist policymakers to make regulations based on the voluntary reporting framework.

Social implications

This paper contributes to increasing academics’ awareness of sustainability practices. The research process and findings of this study can assist policymakers to make regulations based on the HEIs’ voluntary reporting framework.

Originality/value

This study is the first to identify specifically where the service industry and specifically a state university in a developing country can contribute to the SDGs and one of a few in the emerging academic studies. Additionally, how integrated reporting can contribute to value creation by establishing and proactively achieving the SDGs.
Elementary students learning science in an MR environment by constructing liminal blends through action on props
Authors: Tu Xintian , Georgen Chris , Danish Joshua A. , Enyedy Noel
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to show how collective embodiment with physical objects (i.e. props) support young children’s learning through the construction of liminal blends that merge physical, virtual and conceptual resources in a mixed-reality (MR) environment..

Design/methodology/approach

Building on Science through Technology Enhanced Play (STEP), we apply the Learning in Embodied Activity Framework to further explore how liminal blends can help us understand learning within MR environments. Twenty-two students from a mixed first- and second-grade classroom participated in a seven-part activity sequence in the STEP environment. The authors applied interaction analysis to analyze how student’s actions performed with the physical objects helped them to construct liminal blends that allowed key concepts to be made visible and shared for collective sensemaking.

Findings

The authors found that conceptually productive liminal blends occurred when students constructed connections between the resources in the MR environment and coordinated their embodiment with props to represent new understandings.

Originality/value

This study concludes with the implications for how the design of MR environment and teachers’ facilitation in MR environment supports students in constructing liminal blends and their understanding of complex science phenomena.
Collaboration technology affordances from virtual collaboration in the time of COVID-19 and post-pandemic strategies
Authors: Mitchell Alanah
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore key collaboration technology affordances from virtual collaboration and remote work during the time of COVID-19. The purpose of this exploration is to improve the understanding of technology-supported collaboration in order to achieve individual and organizational success with the adoption, use and implementation of virtual collaboration in a pandemic and post-pandemic world.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative data is collected from 55 graduate students during a time of work transition due to COVID-19. This paper distills key collaboration technology affordances identified from participant feedback.

Findings

This paper identifies topics of virtual collaboration success as well as challenges related to organizational transitions during COVID-19. The findings from this work relate to four collaboration technology affordances including: (1) flexibility and productivity, (2) social connectedness and organizational culture, (3) technology support and (4) management and leadership. Additionally, this research provides insight into the complexities of virtual collaboration in these areas while also making recommendations for the post-pandemic future.

Originality/value

This research makes a contribution through the analysis of a unique set of data elaborating on participant experiences during a global pandemic as well as through the exploration of future implications.
From voluntarism to regulation: effects of Directive 2014/95/EU on sustainability reporting in the EU
Authors: Ottenstein Philipp , Erben Saskia , Jost Sébastien , Weuster Carl William , Zülch Henning
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to examine the effects of the European Non-financial Reporting Directive (2014/95/EU) on firms' sustainability reporting practices, especially reporting quantity (i.e. availability of information) and quality (i.e. comparability and credibility).

Design/methodology/approach

To test the main hypotheses, the authors select 905 treated firms from the EU 28 + 2 countries for a difference-in-differences regression analysis of dependent variables from the Refinitiv ESG database.

Findings

The results suggest that the Directive influences sustainability reporting quantity and quality. Treated firms provide around 4 percentage points more sustainability information (i.e. availability) than propensity score matched control firms and are 19 percent more likely to receive external assurance (i.e. credibility). However, we also find that the Directive is not the decisive factor in the adoption of GRI guidelines (i.e. comparability).

Research limitations/implications

The analysis is restricted to large listed firms and does not account for small, mid-sized and private firms. Further, cross-cultural differences which influence sustainability reporting are controlled for but not investigated in detail. The authors derive several suggestions for future research related to the NFR Directive and its revision.

Practical implications

The authors’ findings have practical implications for the future development of sustainability reporting in the EU and for other regulators considering the adoption of sustainability reporting.

Originality/value

This study is the first to provide evidence on the NFR Directive's reporting effects across multiple countries. It adds to the growing literature on the consequences of mandatory sustainability reporting. Additionally, this paper introduces a novel measurement approach sustainability information quantity that could benefit researchers.
Green recovery strategies for the mining industry of India: lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Marimuthu Ramaganesh , Sankaranarayanan Bathrinath , Ali Syed Mithun , Karuppiah Koppiahraj
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to find and evaluate the impact of COVID-19 in India’s mining activities. From the literature survey and input from experts, 14 important factors and ten green recovery strategies are identified. These 14 factors and 10 strategies are examined in a real industrial environment.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research study, fuzzy-complex proportional assessment is used to compare the identified strategies with the selected factors. Based on the outcome, this study identifies the optimum strategy that could assist the mining industry in handling both COVID-19 and sustainability issues.

Findings

The study’s outcome reveals that a large group of workers, collapse of demand and disruption, and suffered contractual workers are the top three factors that need to be considered regarding COVID-19 and sustainability issues. Effective strategies for eco-innovation practices, an emphasis on health and safety, and environmental awareness, education and training are the three primary strategies to be implemented for the greatest impact.

Originality/value

This research study is the first of its kind to coordinate both issues of COVID-19 and sustainability. In this regard, this study sheds a timely light on the precautions that need to be taken in tackling COVID-19 and sustainability issues. This study’s outcome will enhance the managerial capability in developing robust and effective strategies for handling difficult situations.
Revitalising Waqf (endowment) lands for agribusiness: potentials of the anchor company models
Authors: Ali Azizan Norfaridah , Muhamat Amirul Afif , Syed Alwi Sharifah Faigah , Ali Husniyati , Abdullah Amalia Qistina Casteneda
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Waqf (endowment) lands constitute as among the highest types of waqf (endowment) properties in Malaysia; yet it is still unable to reach its maximum potential due to various challenges such as capital, location, legal and administrative issues. Therefore, this study intends to explore these issues by focussing on the two states in Malaysia (Selangor and Perak) that have fertile lands but different management authorities.

Design/methodology/approach

There were series of interviews that had been conducted with ten (10) key informants who are experts and practitioners in the areas of Shariah (Islamic law), farming, agribusiness, land management and waqf.

Findings

Findings exhibit that constraints and challenges that had been highlighted in the previous literature still exist (although some improvements had been made), but there is emerging theme that the study intends to highlight which is on the needs to secure market for the agribusiness produce and the potential role of anchor company in the agribusiness. It is pertinent that for agribusiness to thrive, selecting the right anchor company that has the capacity to address the challenges is necessary. This study posits two anchor company models (Waqf Trustee-Anchor Company and Waqf Trustee-Anchor Company-Community Farmers) that can be applied for agribusiness on the waqf lands.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on the Malaysia's context influenced by specific country's features. Nevertheless, such findings can still be used as reference or benchmark by other endowment trustees in other countries especially for the Muslim countries as well as the non-Muslim countries that have significant Muslim populations.

Social implications

The suggested models have potentials to improve the living condition of the B40 (below 40% household income) in Malaysia because the models encourage their participation in the agribusiness activities.

Originality/value

This study focusses on the agribusiness, which is rarely being given attention in previous literature in the context of endowment lands. Therefore, this article bridges the literature gap and at the same time attempts to provide suggestion to address the pertinent issue – the underutilised endowment lands.
More than just managerial self-efficacy: conceptualizing and predicting top managers' means efficacy about the organization under extreme events
Authors: Zhang Fengxiu , Welch Eric W.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study extends the concept of managerial efficacy to include managerial means efficacy (MME) attributed to the utility and quality of means external to managers for performing a task. Focusing on its antecedents, the authors theorize and empirically test MME sourced from the organization (MMEO) and situate the examination under extreme events.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a 2016 national survey of 892 top managers in 273 US largest transit agencies covering 82% of the entire population. Participants report their confidence for their organization to perform effectively under various extreme events. The survey data are matched with data from various institutional data sources to capture organizational characteristics, operations and experience with extreme events.

Findings

Findings suggest that organizational-level factors influence MMEO. Specifically, organizational slack and relationship management of key jurisdictional stakeholders positively predict MMEO, whereas political fragmentation is negatively associated with MMEO.

Practical implications

Organizations can bolster MMEO, hence, managerial efficacy through developing organizational slack and engaging in relationships building with jurisdictional stakeholders. Those initiatives have particular importance for those with boundary-spanning service areas.

Originality/value

The study advances understanding of managerial efficacy by directing attention to means external to managers' self. It also brings clarity to the notion of “confident managers” or “managerial confidence” broadly applied in previous studies. Findings provide insights about capacity-building interventions to build managerial efficacy through improving external means, circumventing the need to alter self-efficacy that is typically stable and resistant to change.
Celebrity selection in social media ecosystems: a flexible and interactive framework
Authors: Shukla Shekhar , Dubey Ashish
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Quantitative objective studies on the problem of celebrity selection are lacking. Furthermore, existing research does not recognize the group decision-making nature and the possibility of customer involvement in celebrity or influencer selection for social media marketing. This study conceptualizes celebrity selection as a multi-attribute group decision-making problem while deriving the final ranking of celebrities/influencers using interactive and flexible criteria based on the value tradeoff approach. The article thus proposes and demonstrates a quantitative objective method of celebrity selection for a brand or campaign in an interactive manner incorporating customer's preferences as well.

Design/methodology/approach

Each decision-maker's preferences for celebrity selection criteria are objectively captured and converted into an overall group preference using a modified generalized fuzzy evaluation method (MGFEM). The final ranking of celebrities is then derived from an interactive and criteria-based value tradeoff approach using the flexible and interactive tradeoff method.

Findings

The approach gives a different ranking of celebrities for two campaigns based on group members' perceived importance of the selection criteria in different scenarios. This group includes decision-makers (DMs) from the brand, marketing communication agency and brand's customers. Further, each group member has an almost equal say in the decision-making based on fuzzy evaluation and an interactive and flexible value tradeoff approach to celebrity selection for receiving a rank order.

Research limitations/implications

The approach uses secondary data on celebrities and hypothetical scenarios. Comparison with other methods is difficult, as no other study proposes a multi-criteria group decision-making approach to celebrity selection especially in a social media context.

Practical implications

This approach can help DMs make more informed, objective and effective decisions on celebrity selection for their brands or campaigns. It recognizes that there are multiple stakeholders, including the end customers, each of whose views is objectively considered in the aspects of group decision-making through a fuzzy evaluation method. Further, this study provides a selection mechanism for a given context of endorsement by objectively and interactively encapsulating stakeholder preferences.

Originality/value

This robust and holistic approach to celebrity selection can help DMs objectively make consensual decisions with partial or complete information. This quantitative approach contributes to the literature on selection mechanisms of influencers, celebrities, social media opinion leaders etc. by providing a methodological aid that encompasses aspects of interactive group decision-making for a given context. Moreover, this method is useful to DMs and stakeholders in understanding and incorporating the effect of nature or context of the brand and the campaign type in the selection of a celebrity or an influencer.
Prediction of nanosilver and dye content on silk fabric using a scanner-based artificial intelligence technique
Authors: Shams Nateri Ali , Hasanlou Elham , Hajipour Abbas
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate using scanner-based adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), artificial neural networks (ANNs) and polynomial regression methods for prediction of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and dye concentrations on AgNP-treated silk fabrics.

Design/methodology/approach

For estimation of the dye and AgNPs concentration using image processing, the silk fabrics were scanned under the condition of 200 pixels per inch. The red green blue (RGB) values of scanned images were obtained after applying the median filter. Then, the relationship between scanner RGB values and dye and AgNPs concentrations were obtained by using artificial intelligence methods such as ANFIS and ANNs.

Findings

The best result was achieved by the ANFIS system for calculation concentration of dye with 0.07% error and concentration of AgNPs with 0.008 (gr/l) error. The obtained results indicate that the performance of the ANFIS system method is better than the other methods.

Originality/value

Using a scanner-based artificial intelligence technique for prediction of nanosilver and dye content on silk fabric.
Do we always drink the same coffee? The effect of weight and colour on takeaway coffee perception
Authors: Sakarya Asli , Dortyol Ibrahim Taylan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Beverage serving affects consumers’ taste and price perceptions. Therefore, the correct selection of the presentation cues is essential when a consumer evaluates a product. This study aims to determine how haptic (weight) and visual (colour) cues of drinking vessels affect the taste and price perception of coffee.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors created three different experimental designs. Given that coffee is a popular drink among the younger population, the authors invited undergraduate students in the 18–24 age group into this study. The participants tasted the same coffee from cups differ in weight (heavy and normal) and colour (congruent, incongruent and neutral), after which their opinions about the taste and price were recorded.

Findings

According to the results, increasing the weight of the cup creates a more positive perception of the smell and density of the coffee. Moreover, coffee served in a heavy cup was perceived to be more expensive than in other cups. The authors also found that incongruent cups received a lower score in all evaluations regarding taste perception. In the final experiment, the authors used the weight and colour manipulations together. According to the participants, the most fragrant coffee was perceived from a heavy and congruent cup.

Research limitations/implications

Small sample is one of the limitations of this study. Future studies could be conducted with bigger and more diverse sample using different kinds of coffee beans.

Practical implications

It will be appropriate for coffee producers to design the cups in light of the said results.

Originality/value

The paucity in the existing literature of sensory marketing studies using hot drinks is remarkable, especially takeaway coffee, which is becoming more popular with an increasing number of coffee chains, and needs to be examined in detail.
Possible involvement of zinc deficiency in epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor‐induced xerotic dermatitis
Authors: Tohyama Mikiko , Sakaguchi Chihiro , Nishina Tomohiro , Hyodo Ichinosuke
Published: July 2021

Cancer treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) often induces severe xerotic dermatitis. Various irritants facilitate development of dermatitis in xerotic skin. As zinc deficiency plays a role in the development of irritant dermatitis, we measured serum zinc levels in 25 patients with xerotic dermatitis due to treatment with EGFRIs. Of these patients, nine were treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors and 16 were treated with anti‐EGFR antibody alone or in combination with other anticancer agents. Serum zinc levels of all patients were lower than the normal range of >80 μg/dL, with a mean ± SD serum zinc level of 56.4 ± 11.7 μg/dL. These were correlated with serum magnesium levels in patients. As the serum magnesium level is known to be reduced by the inhibition of EGFR, a similar mechanism may also be involved in decreasing the serum zinc level. Among 21 patients treated with zinc supplementation for more than 2 months, xerotic dermatitis markedly improved, with an increase of serum zinc levels in 16 patients. The other five patients exhibited no significant improvement in their skin condition, and insufficient and unstable increase in serum zinc levels. In conclusion, zinc supplementation may be beneficial in supportive care for patients with EGFRI‐induced xerotic dermatitis.
Urban street lighting differentially affects community attributes of airborne and ground‐dwelling invertebrate assemblages
Authors: Lockett Martin T. , Jones Therésa M. , Elgar Mark A. , Gaston Kevin J. , Visser Marcel E. , Hopkins Gareth R.
Published: July 2021

The introduction of artificial light at night (ALAN) into natural and urbanised landscapes is a known and highly pervasive disruptor of invertebrate communities. However, the effect of variation in intensity and spectra of ALAN on invertebrate communities inhabiting different spatial niches is little understood. Further, the remarkable ability of ALAN to continue to disrupt biodiversity even in chronically illuminated urban landscapes is not often acknowledged.

Here, we simultaneously sampled airborne and ground‐dwelling invertebrate assemblages under and between urban street lights to explore the effects on community composition and abundance of (a) proximity to decadal (i.e. long‐illuminated) nocturnal street lighting and (b) variation in the spectral output of light.

The two assemblages responded differently. For airborne invertebrates, night‐time abundance doubled, and night‐time assemblage composition was significantly different for traps under, compared with between, street lights. These differences in abundance were not affected by street light intensity, and were absent in day samples, suggesting that even weak ALAN may be causing short‐term redistribution of nocturnal invertebrates. Further, the abundance (but not composition) effects of ALAN on airborne invertebrates increased when the street lights emitted a higher proportion of short‐wavelength light.

In contrast, for ground‐dwelling invertebrates, we found only marginal effects of proximity and spectrum of lighting on abundance and no effect on assemblage composition. However, more intense street lighting reduced abundance and altered composition at traps both under and between lights.

Synthesis and Applications. Public lighting managers must consider ALAN impacts on invertebrate communities not only when introducing ALAN to naïve environments, but also when changing lighting in areas that are highly urbanised and exposed to decades of ALAN. Further, lighting proposals and environmental monitoring of invertebrate communities must take into account the effects on both ground‐dwelling and airborne assemblages, as these may respond very differently to the presence, intensity and spectrum of ALAN.
Agricultural intensification erodes taxonomic and functional diversity in Mediterranean olive groves by filtering out rare species
Authors: Tarifa Rubén , Martínez‐Núñez Carlos , Valera Francisco , González‐Varo Juan P. , Salido Teresa , Rey Pedro J.
Published: July 2021

Agri‐Environmental Schemes (AES) have been proposed to mitigate the impact of agriculture on both taxonomic and functional biodiversity. However, a better knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the loss of agrobiodiversity is needed to implement efficient AES. An unbalanced effort on research towards arable lands compared to permanent crops, and on fauna relative to plants, is patent, which limits the generalization of AES effectiveness.

We evaluated the effects of agricultural management and landscape simplification on taxonomic and functional diversity of the ground herb cover of 40 olive groves. We use a recently developed approach based on Hill numbers (rare, common and dominant species based) to analyse taxonomic and functional dissimilarity between farms with contrasting agricultural practices, and its potential attenuation by landscape complexity. We further explore the filtering effect of agricultural intensification on functional traits, and the relationship between functional and species richness across landscapes.

We found that taxonomic and functional dissimilarity of herb assemblages between intensively and low‐intensively managed fields was mainly due to rare species. Dissimilarity decreased as landscape complexity increased, evidencing that complex landscapes attenuate the impact of agriculture intensification on herb assemblage composition. Agricultural intensification favoured more functionally homogeneous assemblages and disfavoured the herbs pollinated by insects, while it did not seem to affect wind‐pollinated species.

Overall, functional richness increased exponentially with species richness across landscapes, but the latter was insufficient to drive any clear enhancement in functional richness in simple landscapes. In contrast, high species richness accelerated the enhancement in functional richness in intermediate and complex landscapes. These results highlight the functional filtering that intensive agriculture has generated for decades in homogeneous olive‐dominated landscapes.

Synthesis and applications. Herb cover is essential to support the fauna of permanent croplands and their sustainable production. Hence, Agri‐Environmental Schemes (AES) in these croplands should promote management practices favouring the diversity and functionality of herb assemblages. Such AES should be particularly prioritized in homogeneous landscapes, where ground herb cover composition and function has long been homogenized to a great extent.
Reflections on the aconitine poisoning
Authors: Ya Yang , Zhixiang Zhang , Chao Liu , Wei Zhao , Zhiyong Wang , Huafeng Cheng , Shaohua Zhu , Hongfei Xu
Published: July 2021

Aconitine is a natural toxic substance belonging to the family of aconitum alkaloids, which is used in small doses by Traditional Chinese practitioners. We present a case of accidental death due to acute aconitine poisoning. A 65‐year‐old Chinese man presented to a medical clinic with fever and shoulder pain. Soon after administration of intravenous ceftriaxone, a bottle of Chinese medicinal wine was administered. The man rapidly experienced headache, hearing loss and tinnitus, nausea, diarrhea, numbness of the lips, tongue, face, and the upper and lower extremities, cold sweat, fall of blood pressure, and discomfort of the entire body, and he died on the same day. Postmortem examination showed cyanosis of the nail beds, severe congestion in lungs and other organs, bilateral pleural effusions, and infiltration of basophils in the intestinal submucosa. No significant increase of IgE was found in the blood. Toxicological analysis detected aconitine in the medicinal wine, blood, and stomach contents by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS⁄MS). Aconitine was quantified in cardiac blood as 16.4 ng/ml, and in stomach contents (63.8 ng/ml) and wine sample (10.1 ug/ml). The cause of death was aconitine poisoning. This case report highlights the danger of aconitine. LC‐MS⁄MS has the advantages of high analytic speed, sensitivity, and accuracy. It would be desirable for the government to control the use of aconitine‐containing herbal extracts.
Improving metabarcoding taxonomic assignment: A case study of fishes in a large marine ecosystem
Authors: Gold Zachary , Curd Emily E. , Goodwin Kelly D. , Choi Emma S. , Frable Benjamin W. , Thompson Andrew R. , Walker Harold J. , Burton Ronald S. , Kacev Dovi , Martz Lucas D. , Barber Paul H.
Published: July 2021

DNA metabarcoding is an important tool for molecular ecology. However, its effectiveness hinges on the quality of reference sequence databases and classification parameters employed. Here we evaluate the performance of MiFish 12S taxonomic assignments using a case study of California Current Large Marine Ecosystem fishes to determine best practices for metabarcoding. Specifically, we use a taxonomy cross‐validation by identity framework to compare classification performance between a global database comprised of all available sequences and a curated database that only includes sequences of fishes from the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem. We demonstrate that the regional database provides higher assignment accuracy than the comprehensive global database. We also document a tradeoff between accuracy and misclassification across a range of taxonomic cutoff scores, highlighting the importance of parameter selection for taxonomic classification. Furthermore, we compared assignment accuracy with and without the inclusion of additionally generated reference sequences. To this end, we sequenced tissue from 597 species using the MiFish 12S primers, adding 252 species to GenBank's existing 550 California Current Large Marine Ecosystem fish sequences. We then compared species and reads identified from seawater environmental DNA samples using global databases with and without our generated references, and the regional database. The addition of new references allowed for the identification of 16 additional native taxa representing 17.0% of total reads from eDNA samples, including species with vast ecological and economic value. Together these results demonstrate the importance of comprehensive and curated reference databases for effective metabarcoding and the need for locus‐specific validation efforts.
Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain in schoolchildren in Cameroon, sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Kemta Lekpa Fernando , Enyama Dominique , Noukeu Njinkui Diomede , Ngongang Chiedjio Arielle , Simeni Njonnou Sylvain Raoul , Ngongang Ouankou Christian , Namme Luma Henry , Choukem Simeon Pierre
Published: July 2021

Background

Data on the prevalence and factors associated with low back pain (LBP) in schoolchildren are scarce in Africa, particularly in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Objectives

To assess the prevalence and factors associated with LBP in schoolchildren in Cameroon.

Patients and methods

We performed a cross‐sectional study in 10 randomly selected schools (public and private) in Douala, Cameroon. Using a self‐administrated questionnaire, sociodemographic, usual physical activity, and clinical data were collected and all the schoolbags were weighted. Informed consent was obtained from the parents. Statistical significance was established at P < .05. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with LBP.

Results

We included 1075 schoolchildren (543 boys, 50.5%). The prevalence of LBP was 12.3% (132 children: 81 girls and 51 boys). The mean age was 11 ± 1 years (range, 8‐14 years). Body mass index was normal in 110 schoolchildren (83.4%). Sixteen schoolchildren had already met a physician for LBP. Among the factors evaluated, those associated with LBP were female gender, doing competitive sport, sitting position, and LBP in at least 1 parent. The mean weight of the schoolbags was 4.9 ± 1.9 kg. We had 99 children with LBP and a schoolbag weight ≥10% of their body weight. No association was found between the weight of schoolbag and LBP.

Conclusion

LBP is common in Cameroonian schoolchildren, where 12.3% suffer from it. The weight of schoolbags was not associated with LBP. However, female gender, competitive sport, sitting position, and parental history of LBP were significantly associated with its occurrence.
A Tale of Two Supervisors: Compliance with Risk Disclosure Regulation in the Banking Sector*
Authors: Bischof Jannis , Daske Holger , Elfers Ferdinand , Hail Luzi
Published: July 2021

We examine how the presence of multiple supervisory agencies affects firm‐level compliance in form and substance with disclosure regulations. This analysis is important because coordination problems among regulators are frequently present in practice but often overlooked in academic research. We exploit that banks are subject to equivalent risk disclosure rules under securities laws (IFRS 7) and banking regulation (Pillar 3 of the Basel II Accord) but that different regulators start enforcing the rules at different points in time. We find that banks substantially increase their formal risk disclosures upon the adoption of Pillar 3 even if they already had to comply with the same requirements under IFRS 7. The effects are stronger if the central bank is responsible for bank supervision and bank regulators are equipped with more supervisory resources, but are less pronounced if the securities market regulator is an independent entity. In turn, banks facing more market pressures are more compliant with the rules. We further find persistent liquidity benefits of the increased risk disclosures but only after Pillar 3 became effective and its compliance was enforced by the banking regulator. Our results suggest that formal and material compliance with risk disclosure regulation are a function of both the resources of the supervisory agency and its incentive alignment with the regulated firms. In our setting, the banking regulator seems more effective in fulfilling this role.