bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Informal learning for sustainability in higher education institutions
Authors: Gramatakos Anastasia Luise , Lavau Stephanie
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Many higher education institutions are committed to developing students as skilled professionals and responsible citizens for a more sustainable future. In addition to the formal curriculum for sustainability education, there is an increasing interest in informal learning within universities. This paper aims to extend the current understanding of the diversity and significance of informal learning experiences in supporting students’ learning for sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Six focus groups were formed with 30 undergraduate and postgraduate students from an Australian higher education institution committed to supporting graduate competencies for sustainability. An inductive and qualitative inquiry was designed to enable participants to reflect on the ways in which their university experiences support meaningful and significant learning for sustainability.

Findings

The paper presents a typology of the diverse communities of informal learning that students create and engage with. These range from ongoing to transient groups, from environmentally to more socially oriented groups and from incidental to intended learning, from local to national in scale, with varying types and degrees of connection to the formal curriculum and the university campus. The paper demonstrates that these student-led experiences support three domains of learning: cognitive, practical and affective.

Originality/value

Deepening the understanding of the forms and significance of student-led learning within their university experience contributes to the identification of the roles that informal learning may play alongside formal education in developing graduates as agents of change for a more sustainable future.
Unfold studio: supporting critical literacies of text and code
Authors: Proctor Chris , Blikstein Paulo
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This research aims to explore how textual literacy and computational literacy can support each other and combine to create literacies with new critical possibilities. It describes the development of a Web application for interactive storytelling and analyzes how its use in a high-school classroom supported new rhetorical techniques and critical analysis of gender and race.

Design/methodology/approach

Three iterations of design-based research were used to develop a Web application for interactive storytelling, which combines writing with programming. A two-week study in a high-school sociology class was conducted to analyze how the Web application's textual and computational affordances support rhetorical strategies, which in turn support identity authorship and critical possibilities.

Findings

The results include a Web application for interactive storytelling and an analytical framework for analyzing how affordances of digital media can support literacy practices with unique critical possibilities. The final study showed how interactive stories can function as critical discourse models, simulations of social realities which support analysis of phenomena such as social positioning and the use of power.

Originality/value

Previous work has insufficiently spanned the fields of learning sciences and literacies, respectively emphasizing the mechanisms and the content of literacy practices. In focusing a design-based approach on critical awareness of identity, power and privilege, this research develops tools and theory for supporting critical computational literacies. This research envisions a literacy-based approach to K-12 computer science which could contribute to liberatory education.
Mapping the economics, social and technological attributes of the sharing economy
Authors: Davlembayeva Dinara , Papagiannidis Savvas , Alamanos Eleftherios
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The sharing economy is a socio-economic system in which individuals acquire and distribute goods and services among each other for free or for compensation through internet platforms. The sharing economy has attracted the interest of the academic community, which examined the phenomenon from the economic, social and technological perspectives. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the lack of an overarching analysis of the sharing economy, this paper employs a quantitative content analysis approach to explore and synthesise relevant findings to facilitate the understanding of this emerging phenomenon.

Findings

The paper identified and grouped findings under four themes, namely: collaborative consumption practices, resources, drivers of user engagement and impacts, each of which is discussed in relation to the three main themes, aiming to compare findings and then put forward an agenda for further research.

Originality/value

The paper offers a balanced analysis of the building blocks of the sharing economy, to identify emerging themes within each stream, to discuss any contextual differences from a multi-stakeholder perspective and to propose directions for future studies.
Customer’s loyalty and trial intentions within the retailer: the moderating role of variety-seeking tendency
Authors: Rubio Natalia , Villaseñor Nieves , Yagüe Maria Jesús
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of customer’s value to the retailer (CVR) from a marketing perspective. CVR is a broad concept that has two components: loyalty intentions to the retailer and intentions to try new products or brands that the retailer offers. This study proposes a theoretical model and considers the effect of three sources of CVR in consumer goods retailing: customer’s perceived functional service value, customer’s perceived private label brand (PLB) equity and customer’s perceived relationship value. The effects of the proposed antecedents are applied to two groups of customers: variety-seeking and non-variety-seeking consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

The questionnaire surveys were administered to customers of five retail firms with a nationwide presence in Spain (Carrefour, Auchan, Eroski, Mercadona, and El Corte Inglés). A total of 742 valid questionnaires was obtained.

Findings

The results show that the key differences between variety seekers (VS) and non-variety seekers (NVS) are imposed by PLB equity, which has a stronger relationship to both components of CVR for VS than for NVS. Relationship value has a stronger relationship to intention to try new products or brands for NVS than for VS. Finally, functional service value has a stronger relationship to intention to try new products or brands for VS than for NVS.

Practical implications

The results obtained for both groups have significant implications for segmentation and management of differentiated marketing strategies based on consumers’ characteristics (variety-seeking tendency).

Originality/value

This study establishes a new concept and measurement of CVR as determined by the customer him/herself. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of how the relative importance of service, PLBs and relationships affect CVR. Finally, despite the fact that contemporary consumers tend to seek variety, the variety-seeking profile has not been used to date as a moderating variable in studies of CVR.
Information exchange in social networks for health care
Authors: Sinapuelas Ian Clark , Ho Foo Nin
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to uncover the predictors of information exchange in social networking for health (SNH) care.

Design/methodology/approach

Using two national studies of consumers in the USA, this research examines how trust and social connections influence information exchange. The empirical analyses use a two-stage estimation approach and structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results show that higher trust encourages information getting, while social connections encourage information giving. In contrast to previous findings, this study shows that trust does not affect information giving when social connections are included in the model.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the role of trust and social connections in predicting information exchange in SNH. Research on general social media use has explored the role of personalities in predicting use. While this study controls for demographic variables that correlate strongly with personality types that are significant predictors, future research can determine which of the big-five personality factors correlate with information exchange. While social media usage has been steadily increasing from 2005 to 2015, the authors are unable to track changes in social media activities in healthcare over time as this study uses cross-sectional data. Future research can use panel data that can track these changes.

Practical implications

First, managers of social networks can encourage individuals with expansive networks to share their stories, as they are more likely to offer information. Second, they need to build the trust of individuals before fully reaping the benefits of SNH. This issue is especially critical for SNH if medical practitioners and public health officials need to use SNH as a communication channel. Third, medical practitioners and public health officials may need to intervene when misinformation is prevalent in SNH.

Social implications

Health-care providers and public health officials informed of information exchange predictors can modify their strategies in enacting health-related policies.

Originality/value

This research is the first to explore the links between trust, social connections and information exchange in SNH care. This research contributes to existing knowledge by identifying the important roles of trust and social connections and separate routes that these constructs influence information exchange.
Consumer morality and moral consumption behavior: literature domains, current contributions, and future research questions
Authors: Yaprak Attila , Prince Melvin
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The literature on consumer morality and consumption is spread widely across many research streams and would benefit from grouping under selected themes so that scholars’ work can be guided by the compass of these themes. It is also important to add studies to each of these themes to serve as gateways that will guide new research. The aim of this special issue of the Journal of Consumer Marketing was to achieve precisely this purpose. The purpose of this paper is to open the gate to the exploration of the themes that today describe this landscape.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper assesses the contributions made in each of several domains to better understand, why and how moral consumption works, what its ingredients are and how it may grow in the future. There are at least four domains of morality and moral consumption studies as follows: the formation of the moral self and moral identity; moral identity and ethical consumption; moral reasoning (cognitive processes) and moral choice; and the moral self and marketing. Each of these domains of work provides insight into the moral consumption phenomenon.

Findings

The authors highlight the development of the moral self and underscore the significance of the relationship between identity development and the individual’s moral actions and by extension the significance of that relationship in moral consumption. Also, the paper adds to the current discussion on morality and ethical consumption by underscoring their interlinked nature and how that linkage can drive consumption behavior, highlight the cognitive processes involved in moral choices and how consumers reason to arrive at those choices. Finally, the authors provide examples of the workings of moral identity and reasoning in consumption contexts more directly.

Originality/value

Each of these morality and moral consumption domains of work provides unique insights into the moral consumption phenomenon; thus, it is important to disseminate the contributions made in each domain to better understand, why and how moral consumption works, what its ingredients are and how it may grow in the future. In this paper, the authors offer contemporary original samples of key contributions to each of these domains.
The influence of religious orientation on viewers’ loyalty towards satellite TV channels
Authors: Abu-Alhaija Ahmad Saifalddin , Raja Yusof Raja Nerina , Hashim Haslinda , Jaharuddin Norsiah
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the influence of religious orientation on viewers’ loyalty, viewers’ satisfaction and perceived content quality; to examine the influences of perceived content quality and viewers’ satisfaction on viewers’ loyalty; and to examine the mediating roles of perceived content quality and viewers’ satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A set of questionnaires was distributed to 750 respondents in Jordan using convenience sampling. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The following are the findings: religious orientation has a direct positive influence on viewer’s loyalty, viewer’s satisfaction and perceived content quality; perceived content quality has a positive influence on viewer’s satisfaction; viewer’s satisfaction has positive influence on viewer’s loyalty; perceived content quality does not have any direct influence on viewer’s loyalty; perceived content quality has partial mediation role in the relationship between religious orientation and viewer’s satisfaction, while viewer’s satisfaction has full mediation role in the relationship between perceived content quality and viewer’s loyalty.

Originality/value

It is different from the previous studies that mostly focussed on religious commitment and religiosity as the important predictors of customer’s loyalty, and this study emphasised on the influence of religious orientation (the motivational approach of religion) as one of the religious dimensions that can affect customer’s loyalty model. The selected approach may provide additional insights into the existing loyalty models.
Factors influencing the investors’ intention to adopt Takaful (Islamic insurance) products
Authors: Hassan Hafiz Ali , Abbas Sayyed Khawar
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The research paper is an effort to find out the behavior of Pakistani individuals toward usage of Takaful insurance. This paper aims to identify the factors, which influence investors’ intention toward the adoption of Takaful. Islamic finance is growing rapidly in the international market, especially in Islamic countries. Pakistan is an Islamic country, where the majority of the population is Muslim. Therefore, there is a great potential for Takaful exists in the country.

Design/methodology/approach

Both explanatory and descriptive research designs used for the research framework. The theory of planned behavior is the base theory and the model incorporates several factors such as relative advantage, compatibility, social influence, awareness and religiosity that may influence the adoption of Takaful. The primary data collected through the distribution of self-administered survey-based questionnaire, containing 23 items scaled at a five-point Likert scale. The non-probability snowball sampling and judgmental sampling techniques are used due to the scarce of Takaful users. The sample consists of 345 individuals (127 Takaful users and 218 non-users) living in the three main cities, namely, Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. The data are further analyzed and interpreted with IBM SPSS 21. The results are evaluated using descriptive statistics, reliability, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation and binary logistic regression models.

Findings

The research findings reveal that factors such as relative advantage, compatibility, social influence, awareness and religiosity have a significant impact on the behavioral intention of Takaful amongst a depicted sample of Pakistani people. Similarly, Takaful has great potential in the Pakistani market, but due to lack of awareness, Takaful share is far behind than conventional insurance. It is further suggested that Takaful operators must devise some policies and plan to spread awareness about Takaful and come up with more innovative products.

Practical implications

The Takaful operators must devise plans to aware people about Islamic insurance. The study provides implication to Takaful management; Takaful users; and more importantly, the regularity authorities to operate and successfully conduct Takaful applications. Further, they should advance Takaful operations and produce more innovative products. The study focuses on some factors while there are plenty of others, which should be studied accordingly. For future researchers and students, there is a great potential of other techniques and measures, which can be further used for analysis of Takaful business.

Originality/value

This research is a first attempt to trace out the behavior of Pakistani people about Takaful, using the above discussed factors. The behavioral intention is studied using users and non-users combination, which is never done before in the current setting.
Datafication, dataveillance, and the social credit system as China’s new normal
Authors: Lee Claire Seungeun
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to explore how China uses a social credit system as part of its “data-driven authoritarianism” policy; and second, to investigate how datafication, which is a method to legitimize data collection, and dataveillance, which is continuous surveillance through the use of data, offer the Chinese state a legitimate method of monitoring, surveilling and controlling citizens, businesses and society. Taken together, China’s social credit system is analyzed as an integrated tool for datafication, dataveillance and data-driven authoritarianism.

Design/methodology/approach

This study combines the personal narratives of 22 Chinese citizens with policy analyses, online discussions and media reports. The stories were collected using a scenario-based story completion method to understand the participants’ perceptions of the recently introduced social credit system in China.

Findings

China’s new social credit system, which turns both online and offline behaviors into a credit score through smartphone apps, creates a “new normal” way of life for Chinese citizens. This data-driven authoritarianism uses data and technology to enhance citizen surveillance. Interactions between individuals, technologies and information emerge from understanding the system as one that provides social goods, using technologies, and raising concerns of privacy, security and collectivity. An integrated critical perspective that incorporates the concepts of datafication and dataveillance enhances a general understanding of how data-driven authoritarianism develops through the social credit system.

Originality/value

This study builds upon an ongoing debate and an emerging body of literature on datafication, dataveillance and digital sociology while filling empirical gaps in the study of the global South. The Chinese social credit system has growing recognition and importance as both a governing tool and a part of everyday datafication and dataveillance processes. Thus, these phenomena necessitate discussion of its consequences for, and applications by, the Chinese state and businesses, as well as affected individuals’ efforts to adapt to the system.
“I wouldn’t have let you in if you’d had a folder”
Authors: Brown Sally
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss methodological issues connected to being a member of a stigmatised group invited to take part in a research study.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on experiences of interviewing young parents and their families about teenage parenthood. The paper reflects on how the feelings of young parents about being under surveillance all the time, by official agencies and in their communities, could lead to resistance to “official” visitors, role confusion relating to access, and a great deal of image management, all of which potentially influenced the interviews.

Findings

Participants may feel that they should consent to an interview because of their position as a member of a group accustomed to being under surveillance, but they can take the opportunity to use the interview to demonstrate their competence, in this case as mothers. Interviewing members of a stigmatised group such as teenage parents empowers them to challenge negative stereotypes normally encountered in discourses of teenage parenting, thus subverting a sense of feeling bound to take part in an interview and turning the encounter around to assert a positive identity.

Originality/value

The “positionality” of the researcher as an influence on the research process has been widely examined, the positionality of the participants less so. This paper highlights how members of a stigmatised and potentially vulnerable group position themselves, and by so doing, can use the interview as part of the process of asserting a valued identity.
Coding qualitative data: a synthesis guiding the novice
Authors: Skjott Linneberg Mai , Korsgaard Steffen
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Qualitative research has gained in importance in the social sciences. General knowledge about qualitative data analysis, how to code qualitative data and decisions concerning related research design in the analytical process are all important for novice researchers. The purpose of this paper is to offer researchers who are new to qualitative research a thorough yet practical introduction to the vocabulary and craft of coding.

Design/methodology/approach

Having pooled, their experience in coding qualitative material and teaching students how to code, in this paper, the authors synthesize the extensive literature on coding in the form of a hands-on review.

Findings

The aim of this paper is to provide a thorough yet practical presentation of the vocabulary and craft of coding. The authors, thus, discuss the central choices that have to be made before, during and after coding, providing support for novices in practicing careful and enlightening coding work, and joining in the debate on practices and quality in qualitative research.

Originality/value

While much material on coding exists, it tends to be either too comprehensive or too superficial to be practically useful for the novice researcher. This paper, thus, focusses on the central decisions that need to be made when engaging in qualitative data coding in order to help researchers new to qualitative research engage in thorough coding in order to enhance the quality of their analyses and findings, as well as improve quantitative researchers’ understanding of qualitative coding.
Measuring chain performance beyond supplier–buyer relationships in agri-food chains
Authors: Kataike Joanita , Aramyan Lusine H. , Schmidt Oliver , Molnár Adrienn , Gellynck Xavier
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Measuring chain performance which extends beyond supplier–buyer interface is of paramount importance in tracking and tracing the ineffectiveness and inefficiency of the entire chain. In response to chain inefficiencies, key performance indicators need to be assessed at different chain levels. Knowledge amongst chain members and evident research on the chain members’ assessment of the chain partners’ contribution to their individual chain performance is equivocal. The purpose of this study is to investigate perceived performance contribution of bilateral relationships of each chain member to its chain partners’ performance across the dairy sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted in a dairy agri-food sector in Uganda. A total of 115 triad chains (three matching chain members) were obtained during the period of January to April 2016. Using simple random sampling, the dairy farmers (first suppliers), the cooperative supply managers (second suppliers) and the processors (buyers) were surveyed. Means and standard deviations presented descriptive findings. Furthermore, Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to assess the differences and similarities of the perceived performance contribution of the individual chain partners.

Findings

The results revealed that each chain members’ perception of chain performance contribution toward the individual chain performance is relatively high. Further, it was found that there were significant differences between the chain members about the perceived chain performance contributions. However, within the internal chain analysis, no significant differences were observed.

Research limitations/implications

Although limited to a single agri-food sector within the Ugandan dairy sector, the findings support evidence from similar agri-food chains worldwide.

Originality/value

Literature shows shortcomings in measuring chain performance at three chain levels. Therefore, this shift from single or dyad to triad chain analysis provides new insights into the field of agri-food chains and supply chain performance in particular. It also provides important empirical results on how each chain member contributes to the chain partners’ performance.
Data‐Driven Supply Chain Orientation and Financial Performance: The Moderating Effect of Innovation‐Focused Complementary Assets
Authors: Yu Wantao , Jacobs Mark A. , Chavez Roberto , Feng Mengying
Published: May 2019

Drawing on the complementary assets framework, this study explores the moderating effect of innovation‐focused complementary assets (CA‐I) on the relationship between a data‐driven supply chain orientation (DDSCO) and firm financial performance. To test the moderating effect, survey data gathered from 329 manufacturing firms in China were analysed using a moderated regression analysis. The results indicate that DDSCO has a significant positive effect on financial performance, and that capabilities for product and process innovation function as complementary assets moderating the DDSCO–performance relationship. The findings suggest that innovation‐focused complementary assets are performance differentiators when paired with a DDSCO and explain why some firms obtain financial benefits from the development of a DDSCO while others do not. Specifically, competitive advantage from a DDSCO may not be realized unless CA‐I and potentially other complementary assets are harnessed, thus providing useful practical guidance to managers. Hence, the study provides empirical support for the complementary assets framework.
Big Data Analytics Capabilities and Innovation: The Mediating Role of Dynamic Capabilities and Moderating Effect of the Environment
Authors: Mikalef Patrick , Boura Maria , Lekakos George , Krogstie John
Published: May 2019

With big data analytics growing rapidly in popularity, academics and practitioners have been considering the means through which they can incorporate the shifts these technologies bring into their competitive strategies. Drawing on the resource‐based view, the dynamic capabilities view, and on recent literature on big data analytics, this study examines the indirect relationship between a big data analytics capability (BDAC) and two types of innovation capabilities: incremental and radical. The study extends existing research by proposing that BDACs enable firms to generate insight that can help strengthen their dynamic capabilities, which in turn positively impact incremental and radical innovation capabilities. To test their proposed research model, the authors used survey data from 175 chief information officers and IT managers working in Greek firms. By means of partial least squares structural equation modelling, the results confirm the authors’ assumptions regarding the indirect effect that BDACs have on innovation capabilities. Specifically, they find that dynamic capabilities fully mediate the effect on both incremental and radical innovation capabilities. In addition, under conditions of high environmental heterogeneity, the impact of BDACs on dynamic capabilities and, in sequence, incremental innovation capability is enhanced, while under conditions of high environmental dynamism the effect of dynamic capabilities on incremental innovation capabilities is amplified.
Brain responses to anticipating and receiving beer: Comparing light, at‐risk, and dependent alcohol users
Authors: Groefsema Martine M. , Engels Rutger C.M.E. , Voon Valerie , Schellekens Arnt F.A. , Luijten Maartje , Sescousse Guillaume
Published: May 2019

Impaired brain processing of alcohol‐related rewards has been suggested to play a central role in alcohol use disorder. Yet, evidence remains inconsistent and mainly originates from studies in which participants passively observe alcohol cues or taste alcohol. Here, we designed a protocol in which beer consumption was predicted by incentive cues and contingent on instrumental action closer to real life situations. We predicted that anticipating and receiving beer (compared with water) would elicit activity in the brain reward network and that this activity would correlate with drinking level across participants.

The sample consisted of 150 beer‐drinking males, aged 18 to 25 years. Three groups were defined based on alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT) scores: light drinkers (n = 39), at‐risk drinkers (n = 64), and dependent drinkers (n = 47). fMRI measures were obtained while participants engaged in the beer incentive delay task involving beer‐ and water‐predicting cues followed by real sips of beer or water.

During anticipation, outcome notification and delivery of beer compared with water, higher activity was found in a reward‐related brain network including the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and amygdala. Yet, no activity was observed in the striatum, and no differences were found between the groups.

Our results reveal that anticipating, obtaining, and tasting beer activates parts of the brain reward network, but that these brain responses do not differentiate between different drinking levels.
Impact of next‐generation sequencing panels in the evaluation of limb‐girdle muscular dystrophies
Authors: Özyilmaz Berk , Kirbiyik Özgür , Özdemir Taha R. , Kaya Özer Özge , Kutbay Yaşar B. , Erdogan Kadri M. , Güvenç Merve Saka , Kale Murat Yildirim , Gazeteci Hande , Kiliç Betül , Sertpoyraz Filiz , Diniz Gulden , Baydan Figen , Gençpinar Pinar , Dündar Nihal Olgaç , Yiş Uluç
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is the fourth most common muscular dystrophy, with progressive proximal muscle weakness. However, a large number of neuromuscular conditions are similarly presented. Because of this, the use of high‐throughput methods such as next‐generation sequencing (NGS) is important in the evaluation of LGMD.

Methods

In this report, we applied a custom target capture‐based NGS panel covering 31 LGMD‐associated genes (MYOT, LMNA, CAV3, DES, DNAJB6, FLNC, CAPN3, DYSF, SGCG, SGCA, SGCB, SGCD, TCAP, TRIM32, FRKP, TTN, POMT1, ANO5, FKTN, POMT2, POMGnT1, DAG1, PLEC, GAA, GMPPB, HNRNPDL, TNPO3, LIMS2, POMK, TRAPPC11, ISPD) in 74 patients suspected of LGMD.

Results

In 25 (33.8%) out of 74 patients analyzed, one or more pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in 13 different genes were detected. Six of the patients had the variants that were not found in databases and literature; thus, they were interpreted as novel pathogenic variants.

Discussion

The diagnosis rate achieved (33.8%) is consistent with previous literature reports and underlines the efficiency and importance of NGS technology in the molecular genetic evaluation of LGMD.
Shear adhesive performance of leaf‐cutting ant workers (Atta cephalotes)
Authors: Stark Alyssa Y. , Davis Hayden R. , Harrison William K.
Published: May 2019

Wingless arboreal ants must resist the force of gravity while traversing substrates in their environment. For leaf‐cutting ants like Atta cephalotes, foraging may also include a ca. 30 m vertical descent while carrying a load 1–6 times their body mass. We hypothesized that heavier and larger ants would carry heavier and larger loads and that adhesive performance would positively correlate with load mass. We found no relationship between ant mass, body length, head width, or adhesive performance, and the load size an ant carried. In addition to workers carrying vegetative loads (most often leaves), workers in an active foraging trail also include smaller workers riding on the leaves carried by larger workers, and large major workers, providing protection from aerial and ground attacks (Soldiers), respectively. Despite varying functional roles, all foraging ants require secure attachment to the substrate. We measured shear adhesive performance of each foraging role and found that Soldiers produced the highest shear adhesive forces. However, when controlling for tarsal pad area, we found that ants carrying loads have higher shear adhesive performance per unit area than those riding on leaves, and that Soldiers have the lowest shear adhesive performance per unit area. This suggests that while leaf choice does not appear to be dictated by size, mass, or shear adhesive performance of individual ants, overall, ants who carry leaves adhere more strongly given their pad size than those who do not.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Lipids and insulin regulate mitochondrial‐derived peptide (MOTS‐c) in PCOS and healthy subjects
Authors: Ramanjaneya Manjunath , Jerobin Jayakumar , Bettahi Ilham , Bensila Milin , Aye Myint , Siveen Kodappully Sivaraman , Sathyapalan Thozhukat , Skarulis Monica , Abou‐Samra Abdul‐Badi , Atkin Stephen L.
Published: May 2019

Objective

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous endocrine disorder associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR). MOTS‐c, a mitochondrial peptide, promotes insulin sensitivity (IS) through activating AKT and AMPK‐dependent pathways. The current study was designed to examine the response of MOTS‐c to lipids (intralipid) followed by insulin in PCOS and healthy subjects.

Methods

All subjects underwent 5‐hour intralipid/saline infusion with a hyperinsulinemic‐euglycaemic clamp in the final 2 hours. Plasma samples were collected to measure circulating MOTS‐c using a commercial ELISA kit. Subsequently, this was repeated following an eight‐week exercise intervention.

Results

Intralipid significantly increased plasma MOTS‐c both in controls and PCOS subjects, whilst the insulin infusion blunted the intralipid‐induced response seen for both lipids and MOT‐c.

Intralipid elevated plasma MOTS‐c to 232 ± 124% of basal in control (P < 0.01) and to 349 ± 206% of basal in PCOS (P < 0.001) subjects. Administration of insulin suppressed intralipid‐induced MOTS‐c from 232 ± 124% to 165 ± 97% (NS) in control and from 349 ± 206% to 183 ± 177% (P < 0.05) in PCOS subjects, respectively. Following exercise, intralipid elevated plasma MOTS‐c to 305 ± 153% of basal in control (P < 0.01) and to 215 ± 103% of basal in PCOS (P < 0.01) subjects; insulin suppressed intralipid‐induced MOTS‐c only in controls.

Conclusions

In conclusion, this is the first study to show increased lipid enhanced circulating MOTS‐c whilst insulin attenuated the MOTS‐c response in human. Further, eight weeks of moderate exercise training did not show any changes in circulating MOTS‐c levels in healthy controls and in women with PCOS.
Retrospective clinical evaluation of implant‐supported single crowns: Mean follow‐up of 15 years
Authors: Chrcanovic Bruno Ramos , Kisch Jenö , Larsson Christel
Published: May 2019

Objective

To retrospectively assess the clinical outcomes of implant‐supported single crowns and the supporting implants.

Material and Methods

This retrospective study included all patients treated with implant‐supported single crowns at one specialist clinic. Implant and prosthesis failure, and mechanical/technical complications (ceramic fracture/chipping; crown loss of retention/mobility; crown failure/fracture; loosening/loss/fracture of prosthetic screw; and implant failure/fracture) were the outcomes analyzed. Any condition/situation that led to the removal/replacement of crowns was considered prosthesis failure.

Results

A total of 438 patients with 567 crowns were included. Mean ± SD follow‐up of 183.4 ± 69.3 months. A total of 37 implants (6.5%) and 54 crowns (9.5%) failed. If only technical problems were considered, the crown failure rate decreased to 4.1% (23/567). Most common reasons for crown failure: esthetic issue (n = 12), crown constantly mobile (n = 9), change to another type of prosthesis together with other implants (n = 8), crown fracture (n = 7), and crown in infraposition in comparison with adjacent teeth (n = 7). The odds of crown failure were shown to be statistically significantly higher for the following factors: younger patients, maxillary crowns, and screw‐retained crowns. Loose prosthetic screw was much more prevalent in screw‐retained than in cemented crowns. Ceramic fracture/chipping was more prevalent in screw‐retained crowns, maxillae, females. Crown fracture was more prevalent in ceramic crowns, screw‐retained crowns, maxillae, posterior region, females. However, these differences were statistically significant only for crown fractures in females.

Conclusions

The odds of crown failure were significant for some factors, but one must keep in mind that non‐technical complications are as common as technical ones as reasons for the replacement of implant‐supported single crowns.
Contact allergy to beeswax and propolis among patients with cheilitis or facial dermatitis
Authors: Nyman Gunnar S. A. , Tang Mimmi , Inerot Annika , Osmancevic Amra , Malmberg Per , Hagvall Lina
Published: May 2019

Background

Beeswax, both white and yellow, has many uses, such as in lip balm. This material can cause contact allergy, although not many cases have been described.

Methods

Ninety‐five patients with contact cheilitis, facial eczema or a suspicion of contact allergy to beeswax were patch tested with yellow and white beeswax and with propolis, in addition to the Swedish baseline series. Patients who reacted positively to beeswax were additionally tested with caffeic acid, and two derivatives thereof that are believed to be important haptens in propolis.

Results

Seventeen patients had positive reactions to beeswax. Fourteen of these patients had been tested with both yellow and white beeswax. Among those 14, eight had positive reactions to both types of wax, five only to yellow wax, and one only to white wax. Of the 10 wax‐positive patients tested with caffeic acid derivatives, three reacted positively. Fourteen beeswax‐positive patients also had positive reactions to propolis.

Conclusion

Patch testing cheilitis patients is important, as contact allergy is common. Our suggestion is to patch test, apart from the baseline series and the patient's own products, also with beeswax and propolis. Many beeswax‐allergic cheilitis patients would not have been diagnosed with a relevant contact allergy if only the Swedish baseline series had been used.
Climate‐niche factor analysis: a spatial approach to quantifying species vulnerability to climate change
Authors: Rinnan D. Scott , Lawler Joshua
Published: May 2019

Climate change vulnerability assessments are an important tool for understanding the threat that climate change poses to species and populations, but do not generally yield insight into the spatial variation in vulnerability throughout a species’ habitat. We demonstrate how to adapt the method of ecological‐niche factor analysis (ENFA) to objectively quantify aspects of species sensitivity to climate change. We then expand ENFA to quantify aspects of exposure and vulnerability to climate change as well, using future projections of global climate models. This approach provides spatially‐explicit insight into geographic patterns of vulnerability, relies only on readily‐available spatial data, is suitable for a wide range of species and habitats, and invites comparison between different species. We apply our methods to a case study of two species of montane mammals, the American pika Ochotona princeps and the yellow‐bellied marmot Marmota flaviventris.
Pathline Density Distributions in a Null‐Space Monte Carlo Approach to Assess Groundwater Pathways
Authors: Moeck Christian , Molson John , Schirmer Mario
Published: May 2019

A null‐space Monte‐Carlo (NSMC) approach was applied to account for uncertainty in the calibration of the hydraulic conductivity (K) field for a three‐dimensional groundwater flow model of a major water supply system in Switzerland. The approach generates different parameter realizations of the K field using the pilot point methodology. Subsequently, particle tracking (PT) was applied to each calibrated model, and the resulting particles are interpreted as the spatial pathline density distribution of multiple sources. The adopted approach offers advantages over classical PT which does not provide a means for treating uncertainty originating from the incomplete description of subsurface heterogeneity. Uncertainty in the K field is shown to strongly influence the spatial pathline distribution. Pathline spreading is particularly evident in locations where the information content of the head observations does not sufficiently constrain the estimated parameters. Despite the predictive uncertainty, the pumped drinking water at the study site is most likely dominated by artificially‐infiltrated groundwater originating from the local infiltration canals. The model suggests that within the well field, the central pumping wells could be extracting regional groundwater, although the probability is relatively low. Nevertheless, a rigorous uncertainty assessment is still required since only a few realizations resulted in flow paths that support the field observations. Model results should therefore not be based on only one model realization; rather, an uncertainty analysis should be carried out to provide a sufficiently large suite of equally probable simulations that include all potential sources and pathways.
Usefulness of a salt check sheet for elementary school and junior high school children
Authors: Fujiwara Takeshi , Kikuchi Kaori , Hoshide Satoshi , Tsuchihashi Takuya , Kario Kazuomi
Published: May 2019

There are no known methods to easily evaluate the dietary salt intake of children. We hypothesized that the salt check sheet, for which validity has been confirmed in both hypertensive outpatients and in the general population, can be used to assess dietary salt intake in children. We enrolled 188 healthy schoolchildren (mean age 11.2 ± 1.1 years, 53.2% boys) and asked them to answer both the salt check sheet and a brief self‐administered dietary history questionnaire for Japanese schoolchildren aged 6‐18 years (BDHQ15y). The mean total salt check‐sheet score was 12.7 ± 4.0 points (range: 4‐24 points), and the estimated daily salt intake from the BDHQ15y was 12.1 ± 3.7 g (range: 4.7‐27.2 g). The total check‐sheet score was significantly positively correlated with the estimated daily salt intake from the BDHQ15y (r = 0.408, P < 0.001). Thirty‐one study participants were assigned to the “low” salt group (total score on the salt check sheet was 0‐8 points), 78 participants to the “medium” salt group (9‐13 points), and 79 participants to the “high and very high” salt group (≥14 points), and a comparison estimating daily salt intake from the BDHQ15y among the three groups was performed. Daily salt‐intake levels tended to increase as the group of total check‐sheet scores increased: “low” vs “medium” vs “high and very high” salt group levels were 9.5 ± 3.1 vs 11.6 vs 13.5 ± 3.9, respectively (P < 0.001). This demonstrates that the salt check sheet is a useful tool to easily assess dietary salt intake in children.
Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) type IV ice‐structuring protein LS‐12 in the acute‐phase response to Flavobacterium psychrophilum infection
Authors: Di Natale Adrian , Jarau Maureen , Russell Spencer K. , Horricks Ryan A. , Lillie Brandon N. , Dixon Brian , Lumsden John S.
Published: May 2019

A previous proteomic study examining the plasma acute‐phase response of rainbow trout to sterile inflammation highlighted an unidentified 9.5‐kDa spot using 2D‐PAGE, which was dramatically increased. The 15 amino acid sequence obtained from this protein spot allowed rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR to generate a 443‐bp nucleotide sequence that was 98.6% similar to type‐4 ice‐structuring protein LS‐12 from Atlantic salmon Salmo salar Linnaeus. Quantitative reverse translation PCR and an ELISA were used to measure gene expression and plasma concentrations of LS‐12 following experimental intraperitoneal injection of rainbow trout with either 106 or 108 colony‐forming units (CFU) of Flavobacterium psychrophilum. There was no significant change in the plasma concentration of LS‐12 up to 15 days post‐infection in any group. Hepatic LS‐12 gene expression was significantly reduced at 3 and 6 days (p < 0.001) post‐infection in fish injected with 108 CFU of F. psychrophilum relative to control fish, while branchial or head kidney expression was unchanged. Infected fish had significantly increased hepatic gene expression of serum amyloid A, confirming an acute‐phase response. Under the conditions used, LS‐12 is not a positive acute‐phase protein in rainbow trout.
Preparation of low‐density polyethylene film with quercetin and α‐tocopherol loaded with mesoporous silica for synergetic‐release antioxidant active packaging
Authors: Li Cheng , Qiu Xiao‐Lin , Lu Li‐Xin , Tang Ya‐Li , Long Qing , Dang Jin‐Gui
Published: May 2019

In this study, synergetic and controlled‐release low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) antioxidant active films were prepared by cast extrusion. A well‐ordered (4 nm) Mobil Composition of Matter No. 41 (MCM‐41) was prepared to carry α‐tocopherol for reducing the diffusivity (D), while improving the D of quercetin. Characterization of MCM‐41 included small angle X‐ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption testing. New films added α‐tocopherol and α‐tocopherol loaded with MCM‐41 on the base of a LDPE film containing quercetin. Testing of new films covered the physical properties, release behavior, and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl free radical‐scavenging assays. The physical properties discussed differences among any additives, which contain mechanical and barrier properties. Release experiments showed the controlled‐release of MCM‐41 to α‐tocopherol, while addition of α‐tocopherol promoted the release of quercetin in food simulant (95% ethanol). Free radical scavenging increased obviously after adding α‐tocopherol and α‐tocopherol loaded with MCM‐41. This study demonstrated the feasibility of synergetic and controlled‐release antioxidant active packaging films.

Practical Application

This work provides a method to control the release of α‐tocopherol in the packaging films using molecular sieve MCM‐41, and promotes the release of quercetin. The preservation of easily oxidized fatty foods is very important. In addition to the usual high‐barrier composite packaging, the release‐type antioxidant packaging is also a method. Food antioxidant packaging film is an important research direction in the field of intelligent packaging, and has great potential in the field of food flexible packaging. Release‐type antioxidants are added to the packaging substrate, and the release rate of antioxidants is adjusted to prevent the oxidation of contents, to extend the shelf life of butter, and other commodities in the process of commodity storage and transportation.