bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of non-invasive body-surface gastric mapping for detecting electrophysiological biomarkers by simultaneous high-resolution serosal mapping in a porcine model
Authors: Calder Stefan , Cheng Leo K. , Andrews Christopher N. , Paskaranandavadivel Niranchan , Waite Stephen , Alighaleh Saeed , Erickson Jonathan C. , Gharibans Armen , O’Grady Gregory , Du Peng
Published: August 2021

Gastric disorders are increasingly prevalent, but reliable clinical tools to objectively assess gastric function are lacking. Body-surface gastric mapping (BSGM) is a non-invasive method for the detection of gastric electrophysiological biomarkers including slow wave direction, which have correlated with symptoms in patients with gastroparesis and functional dyspepsia. However, no studies have validated the relationship between gastric slow waves and body surface activation profiles. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the relationship between gastric slow waves and body-surface recordings. High-resolution electrode arrays were placed to simultaneously capture slow waves from the gastric serosa (32×6 electrodes at 4 mm resolution) and abdominal surface (8×8 at 20 mm inter-electrode spacing) in a porcine model. BSGM signals were extracted based on a combination of wavelet and phase information analyses. A total of 1185 individual cycles of slow waves assessed, out of which 897 (76%) were normal antegrade waves, occurring in 10/14 (71%) subjects studied. BSGM accurately detected the underlying slow wave in terms of frequency (r = 0.99, p = 0.43) as well as the direction of propagation (p = 0.41, F-measure: 0.92). In addition, the cycle-by-cycle match between BSGM and transitions of gastric slow waves in terms either or both temporal and spatial abnormalities was demonstrated. These results validate BSGM as a suitable method for non-invasively and accurately detecting gastric slow wave activation profiles from the body surface.

Single sentence summary

Simultaneous recordings of the stomach using serosal and body-surface electrode arrays demonstrated reliable detection of frequency and classification of propagation.
Small RNA expression and miRNA modification dynamics in human oocytes and early embryos
Authors: Paloviita Pauliina , Hydén-Granskog Christel , Yohannes Dawit A. , Paluoja Priit , Kere Juha , Tapanainen Juha S. , Krjutškov Kaarel , Tuuri Timo , Võsa Urmo , Vuoristo Sanna
Published: August 2021

Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) play important roles during the oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET), when the maternal phenotype is reprogrammed and the embryo genome is gradually activated. The transcriptional program driving early human development has been studied with the focus mainly on protein-coding RNAs, and expression dynamics of sRNAs remain largely unexplored. We profiled sRNAs in human oocytes and early embryos using an RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) method suitable for low inputs of material. We show that OET in humans is temporally coupled with the transition from predominant expression of oocyte short piRNAs (os-piRNAs) in oocytes, to activation of microRNA (miRNA) expression in cleavage stage embryos. Additionally, 3′ mono- and oligoadenylation of miRNAs is markedly increased in zygotes. We hypothesize that this may modulate the function or stability of maternal miRNAs, some of which are retained throughout the first cell divisions in embryos. This study is the first of its kind elucidating the dynamics of sRNA expression and miRNA modification along a continuous trajectory of early human development and provides a valuable data set for in-depth interpretative analyses.
The inter-generational arts branding of the Star Wars saga: may the myth be with you!
Authors: Patsiaouras Georgios
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Employing the Star Wars brand as a case study, this paper seeks to critically discuss the importance of comparative mythology for inter-generational branding and consumption practices within arts related markets.

Design/methodology/approach

Secondary data have been gathered focusing on the analysis of material in the form of books, academic journals, films, videos, television programs, websites and media reports related to the interface between comparative mythology, the Star Wars brand.

Findings

First, this paper indicates how the long-standing success of the Star Wars brand mirrors and reflects the power of monomythic storytelling in creating a platform for arts and place building branding associations and extensions for numerous products and services. Second, this study shows and highlights the potential of monomythic structures/storytelling and comparative mythology in acting an underlying cultural platform whereupon several arts brand associations, narratives, extensions and overall strategies can emerge. Finally, this project suggests how arts marketing scholars could further explore the infusion of mythological narratives within branding practices in the areas of performing/visual arts, museums, entertainment and arts related tourism campaigns.

Originality/value

Focusing on the most successful film franchise of all times, this study argues that comparative mythology constitutes an endless source for common templates of artistic, cross-cultural and inter-generational marketing practices focusing on universal moral codes and archetypes.
COVID-19, liquidity and financial health: empirical evidence from South Asian economy
Authors: Karim Md. Rezaul , Shetu Samia Afrin , Razia Sultana
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The pandemic COVID-19 has affected every sector of an economy in every possible way. Banking sector of Bangladesh has been affected by it badly. The purpose of this paper is to find out the impact of COVID-19 on the liquidity and financial health of the listed banks in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

Liquidity ratios are calculated to measure the liquidity condition of the banks and revised Altman's Z-Score Model for non-manufacturing companies is used to measure the financial health. The ratios are compared before and during the COVID-19 periods to assess the impact.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate a deterioration of liquidity position and financial health of the listed banks after the emergence of this pandemic. Though the banks have poor liquidity ratios and financial health prior to the emergence of this pandemic, they have decreased more in the second quarter of 2020. Most of the banks have poor liquidity ratios and cash position. The listed Islamic Banks have poor financial health than the listed Commercial Banks and all the banks belong to the red zone in all the quarters.

Practical implications

The results of this study will have policy implications for companies and regulators of money market.

Originality/value

This paper is a pioneer initiative in assessing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on liquidity and financial health based on empirical data.
Mediating role of immediate performance outcomes between supply chain integration and firm performance
Authors: Afshan Nikhat , Mandal Purnendu , Gunasekaran Angappa , Motwani Jaideep
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of immediate performance outcomes on the relationship between dimensions of supply chain integration (SCI) and financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study tests the proposed model linking dimensions of SCI, immediate performance outcomes and financial performance using structural equation modeling on a sample of Indian manufacturing companies.

Findings

The findings suggest that the relationship between dimensions of SCI and firm performance is fully mediated through the immediate performance outcomes.

Originality/value

This study deals with the potential benefits of SCI, especially in developing countries like India, where a little research has been done in this area. Also, this study provides support to practitioners that SCI is an effective way of improving both supply chain performance and financial performance.
Information technology (IT) governance and IT capability to realize firm performance: enabling role of agility and innovative capability
Authors: Ilmudeen Aboobucker
Published: August 2021

Purpose

With the ever-growing turbulent business setting, there is a great interest to study how a firm tailors information technology (IT) capability to shape agility and innovation capability to stay ahead of the competition. This study examines how IT governance and IT capability can be tailored to achieve firm performance through agility and innovative capability in a turbulent environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the dynamic capability theory, this study based on the primary survey data of 253 responses from senior IT and business executives in China proves the hypothesized relationship in the proposed model.

Findings

This study shows that the IT governance mechanism positively impacts on IT-enabled dynamic capabilities. Further, IT-enabled dynamic capabilities positively impact on agility and innovative capability that in turn support to achieve firm performance. The environmental uncertainty is only significant in the IT-enabled dynamic capabilities–business process agility relationship.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests corporate leaders and executives to better exploit their resources and tailor IT capabilities in the turbulent environment. Further, this study offers theoretical and practical implications.

Originality/value

This study proposes ways for executives to examine the multifaceted nature of environmental uncertainty to achieve agility, innovation and firm performance rather than simply investing in IT.
Does broadband infrastructure really affect consumption of rural households? – A quasi-natural experiment evidence from China
Authors: Wan Jianxiang , Nie Changteng , Zhang Fan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

As an important public infrastructure, broadband has absorbed a large amount of investment in China. However, how and to what extent these investments affect economic and social development is largely unknown. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of broadband infrastructure construction on consumption of rural households, using an exogenous policy shock introduced by the China's “Broadband Countryside” pilot project.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the tracking sample data of China Household Financial Survey in 2013 and 2015, this study estimates the effect of broadband construction on rural household consumption and draws causality between them relying on a quasi-natural experiment based on an exogenous policy shock.

Findings

The difference-in-difference estimates show that broadband construction has significantly increased rural household consumption by 16.69%. This positive promotion effect is mainly achieved through mobile phone access to the Internet, while penetration of computer crowds out rural household consumption. Further research find that broadband construction has increased rural household consumption related to daily life and high-quality household consumption, but not statistically significant for the latter, and it has not helped to promote the consumption upgrading of rural households.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding of the positive status of broadband infrastructure in economic and social development by analyzing the impact of broadband infrastructure construction on rural household consumption. This study expands the content of consumption to rural households, especially high-quality consumption and consumption upgrading in rural areas, which provides the possibility to further tap the consumption potential of rural market. The study is the first to explore how broadband infrastructure construction affects consumption of rural households using a quasi-natural experiment.
Study on fine lines and undercut suppression of printed circuit board prepared by electrolytic etching
Authors: Fu Denglin , Wen Yanan , Chen Jida , Lu Lansi , Yan Ting , Liao Chaohui , He Wei , Chen Shijin , Sheng Lizhao
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study an electrolytic etching method to prepare fine lines on printed circuit board (PCB). And the influence of organics on the side corrosion protection of PCB fine lines during electrolytic etching is studied in detail.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the etching factor of PCB fine lines produced by new method and the traditional method was analyzed by the metallographic microscope. In addition, field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to study the inhibition of undercut of the four organometallic corrosion inhibitors with 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, benzotriazole, l-phenylalanine and l-tryptophan in the electrolytic etching process.

Findings

The SEM results show that corrosion inhibitors can greatly inhibit undercut of PCB fine lines during electrolytic etching process. XPS results indicate that N and S atoms on corrosion inhibitors can form covalent bonds with copper during electrolytic etching process, which can be adsorbed on sidewall of PCB fine lines to form a dense protective film, thereby inhibiting undercut of PCB fine lines. Quantum chemical calculations show that four corrosion inhibitor molecules tend to be parallel to copper surface and adsorb on copper surface in an optimal form. COMSOL Multiphysics simulation revealed that there is a significant difference in the amount of corrosion inhibitor adsorbed on sidewall of the fine line and the etching area.

Originality/value

As a clean production technology, electrolytic etching method has a good development indicator for the production of high-quality fine lines in PCB industry in the future. And it is of great significance in saving resources and reducing environmental pollution.
Key drivers for implementing international construction joint ventures (ICJVs): global insights for sustainable growth
Authors: Tetteh Mershack Opoku , Chan Albert P.C. , Darko Amos , Yevu Sitsofe Kwame , Boateng Emmanuel B. , Nwaogu Janet Mayowa
Published: August 2021

Purpose

International construction joint ventures (ICJVs) are an effective strategy for construction companies worldwide for delivering large and complex projects. Despite numerous ICJVs studies, there is a lack of comprehensive empirical examination of what drives ICJVs implementation. This study aims to investigate the key drivers for implementing ICJVs through an international survey.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded on a comprehensive literature review and structured questionnaire survey, 123 ICJV experts' responses from 24 different countries/jurisdictions were analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Mann–Whitney U test was used to determine any divergence of ranking of the drivers by the experts. Factor analysis (FA) was used to identify the clusters underlying the key drivers. Rank agreement analysis was later used to investigate the consensus between experts from developing and developed countries/jurisdictions on their ranking of the clusters.

Findings

Out of 34 factors, 26 factors greatly drive the implementation of ICJVs. Mann–Whitney U test results prove the absence of significant disparity among the experts in the ranking of the drivers. Six clusters were obtained through factor analysis (FA), namely, market-penetration and innovation-driven drivers, legal and market-driven drivers, fiscal incentives and market expansion drivers, personal branding drivers, sustainable advantage/power drivers and industrial and organizational promotion drivers. Rank agreement analysis exhibited varied levels of concurrence between professionals from developed and developing countries/jurisdictions.

Practical implications

The appreciation of the factors motivating ICJVs is beneficial to the successful implementation of ICJV strategies. A clear understanding of the drivers can help practitioners and policymakers to customize their ICJVs to reap the expected benefits.

Originality/value

The study has generated valuable insights into the factors that are greatly driving the implementation of ICJVs worldwide. While the findings of this study provide a profound contribution to theory and practice, it contributes to sustainable growth in different perspectives.
Toward a pedagogy of Black livingness: Black students’ creative multimodal renderings of resistance to anti-Blackness
Authors: Griffin Autumn A. , Turner Jennifer D.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Historically, literacy education and research have been dominated by white supremacist narratives that marginalize and deficitize the literate practices of Black students. As anti-Blackness proliferates in US schools, Black youth suffer social, psychological, intellectual, and physical traumas. Despite relentless attacks of anti-Blackness, Black youth fight valiantly through a range of creative outlets, including multimodal compositions, that enable them to move beyond negative stereotypes, maintain their creativity, and manifest the present and future lives they desire and so deeply deserve.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to answer the question “How do Black students' multimodal renderings demonstrate creativity and love in ways that disrupt anti-Blackness?” The authors critically examine four multimodal compositions created by Black elementary and middle school students to understand how Black youth author a more racially just society and envision self-determined, joyful futures. The authors take up Black Livingness as a theoretical framework and use visual methodologies to analyze themes of Black life, love and hope in the young people’s multimodal renderings.

Findings

The findings suggest that Black youth creatively compose multimodal renderings that are humanizing, allowing their thoughts, feelings and experiences to guide their critiques of the present world and envision new personal and societal futures. The authors conclude with a theorization of a Black Livingness Pedagogy that centers care for Black youth.

Originality/value

Recognizing that “the creation and use of images [is] a practice of decolonizing methodology” (Brown, 2013, loc. 2323), the authors examine Black student-created multimodal compositional practices to understand how Black youth author a more racially just society and envision self-determined, joyful futures.
“Teaching employability is not my job!”: redefining embedded employability from within the higher education curriculum
Authors: Daubney Kate
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper introduces a new approach to embedding employability by extracting from higher education curriculum the knowledge, attributes, skills and experience that employers value. The Extracted Employability concept enables academics to surface the innate employability value of what they already teach across all curriculums, disciplines and programmes, enabling students to prepare better for work and make more effective career decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Manual textual analysis of all UK Quality Assurance Agency Subject Benchmark Statements surfaced a database of common descriptors for defining and articulating the innate employability value of higher education curriculum, enriching language in attributes and transferable skills.

Findings

Extracted Employability enables academics to articulate the employability value of their existing curriculum without sacrificing rigour or integrity, which is particularly of concern in research-led universities. Piloting the concept, a database of attributes and transferable skills enabled academics to surface significantly greater value for students from curriculum in the language employers recognise, addressing the perceived “skills gap”.

Practical implications

Students, particularly studying subjects not professionally-aligned, will find it easier to connect the extracted employability value of their curriculum with what employers are looking for. Academics can use richer language of skills for creating learning outcomes that also have employability value.

Social implications

Surfacing employability through curriculum makes it structurally unavoidable for all students to engage with, supporting social mobility and enabling students to realise more effectively the value of their higher education in work.

Originality/value

Research and practice on employability has derived from a position outside academic curriculum established by Knight and Yorke (2003), but this approach redefines employability from within academic curriculum.
Flow and heat transfer over a permeable moving wedge in a hybrid nanofluid with activation energy and binary chemical reaction
Authors: Zainal Nurul Amira , Nazar Roslinda , Naganthran Kohilavani , Pop Ioan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The analysis of boundary layers is needed to reflect the behaviour of fluid flows in current industrial processes and to improve the efficacy of products. Hence, this study aims to analyse the flow and heat transfer performance of hybrid alumina-copper/water (Al2O3-Cu/H2O) nanofluid with the inclusion of activation energy and binary chemical reaction effect towards a moving wedge.

Design/methodology/approach

The multivariable differential equations with partial derivatives are converted into a specific type of ordinary differential equations by using valid similarity transformations. The reduced mathematical model is elucidated in the MATLAB system by using the bvp4c procedure. This solution method is competent in delivering multiple solutions once appropriate assumptions are supplied.

Findings

The results of multiple control parameters have been studied, and the findings are verified to provide more than one solution. The coefficient of skin friction was discovered to be increased by adding nanoparticles volume fraction from 0% to 0.5% and 1%, by almost 1.6% and 3.2%. Besides, increasing the nanoparticles volume fraction improves heat transfer efficiency gradually. The inclusion of the activation energy factor displays a downward trend in the mass transfer rates, consequently reducing the concentration profile. In contrast, the increment of the binary reaction rate greatly facilitates the augmentation of mass transfer rates. There is a significant enhancement in the heat transfer rate, approximately 13.2%, when the suction effect dominates about 10% in the boundary layer flow. Additionally, the results revealed that as the activation energy rises, the temperature and concentration profiles rise as well. It is proved that the activation energy parameter boosts the concentration of chemical species in the boundary layer. A similar pattern emerges as the wedge angle parameter increases. The current effort aims to improve the thermal analysis process, particularly in real-world applications such as geothermal reservoirs, chemical engineering and food processing, which often encountered mass transfer phenomenon followed by chemical reactions with activation energy.

Originality/value

The present results are original and new for the study of flow and heat transfer over a permeable moving wedge in a hybrid nanofluid with activation energy and binary chemical reaction.
Unpacking the role of self-congruence, attendee engagement and emotional attachment in cultural events
Authors: Meeprom Supawat , Fakfare Pipatpong
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between self-congruence and attendee engagement in explaining emotional attachment in the context of cultural events.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modelling with partial least squares analysis has been applied. Data were collected from 421 respondents through an onsite survey during the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festive week in Thailand.

Findings

The findings revealed that self-congruence (i.e. actual self-congruence and ideal self-congruence) has a positive influence on attendee engagement. When attendees' actual self and ideal self-match with the event image, they are more likely to actively engage in the event activities.

Originality/value

The findings offer insights into one type of events, the cultural event, which is a common event in Thailand. This study is also one among a handful works that investigates the moderating role of perceived crowding on the relationship between attendees' actual and ideal self-congruence and engagement with the event. Although the findings do not suggest a significant moderating effect, this study provides preliminary insight into how perceived crowding shapes the perception of tourists in a cultural event context.
Energy management and manufacturing strategies: the case of Iranian oil industry
Authors: Khabazi Kenari Naghmeh , Feghhi Farahmand Naser , Iranzadeh Soleyman
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Iran is currently among the countries with high energy consumption levels. Based on the statistics published on the country's hydrocarbon balance sheet, the industrial sector was the largest energy user of all the sectors, followed by the household and transportation sectors. Besides, production lines account for the highest percentage of the industrial sector energy consumption. Accordingly, this paper aims to investigate the effects of coordinated energy management and manufacturing strategies to increase energy management performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper collected the required information on energy management and manufacturing from the experts of petrochemical companies; and oil and gas refineries and then examined their relationship. Moreover, the questionnaire tool was used to measure the independent variable.

Findings

The evaluations showed that organizations with coordinated and uncoordinated strategies do not exhibit equal energy management performance. Organizations with a coordinated combination of strategies have higher energy management performance than those with an uncoordinated combination of strategies. Combinations such as 11, 22, 33 and 44 are among the more coordinated combinations, which lead to higher performance.

Originality/value

Reviewing the studies in this regard revealed that limited and a handful of research papers were carried out on organizations' energy management strategies. None of the existing research has considered energy management strategies as a subsystem of an organization or specified its coordination with manufacturing strategies. However, this research has delved into this issue and our findings confirm certain assumptions of past studies and contribute to evaluating its effects on energy management performance.
How do the unintended consequences of performance evaluation systems manifest themselves?
Authors: Welter Larissa Marx , Ensslin Sandra Rolim
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The objectives of this study were to verify and group the unintended consequences (UCs) of performance evaluation systems (PESs) reported by empirical studies in the literature; and to determine whether these consequences manifest themselves at the managerial or the operational level of organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of the literature was undertaken using the intervention instrument Knowledge Development Process-Constructivist. In total, 33 scientifically relevant empirical articles were selected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, representative of the theme of PESs’ UCs. The treatment of the data was due to critical reflection on the findings, synthesized in a literature map.

Findings

The study identified 24 UCs, most of which were negative. These were divided into two categories: feelings/emotions and attitudes/implications. Most conscious attitudes manifested themselves at the managerial level, whereas the unconscious ones appeared at the operational level. It was established that employees are more likely to be induced to adopt dysfunctional behaviours. Social aspects that interact with a PES, such as contextual and cultural factors, are fundamental for understanding how PES’s UCs occur.

Originality/value

The study provides insights for researchers and professionals in the field of performance evaluation who wish to delve deeper into the theme of UCs, based on the proposed structure of a literature map that consists of dividing consequences into feelings and attitudes; checking the occurrence level (managerial or operational); and identifying the nature of the attitude, whether it is conscious or unconscious.
Knowledge discovery in research on policing strategies: an overview of the past fifty years
Authors: Basilio Marcio Pereira , Pereira Valdecy , Oliveira Max William Coelho Moreira de
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The insecurity generated, today in various parts of the planet, by the various conflicts that arise in the violence in large cities, has motivated the academy to research the solutions and strategies adopted by local governments in the fight against crime. The volume of data generated by several universities over the past 50 years has increased exponentially. Consequently, researchers struggle to process essential data in today’s competitive world. The aim of this study is to explore and provide an overview of the studies carried out in the field of action to combat crime in different countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched for publications from January 1945 to September 3, 2020 on the topic of policing strategies in titles, abstracts and keywords. References were analyzed using the R bibliometrix package, and abstracts were analyzed using latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) with collapsed Gibbs sampling for topics related to policing and related subjects.

Findings

As a result of the research, this paper can assert that in the last 50 years, 3,361 authors have produced 2,085 documents on the theme of policing strategy and related subjects in 58 countries. Scientific production in this area grows at a rate of 5.10 per year. The USA is the leading country in publications with 42.58%, followed by the UK with 8.39% and Canada with 4.07%. As for journals, the highlight is Policing, Policing and Society and Police Quarterly, which account for more than 15.44% of all indexed literature. Regarding the authors, the highlight is Weisburd and Braga. As a result, the LDA grouped the latent words in the articles analyzed by themes studied and presented the list of articles by themes. The thematic map identifies the following themes as basic research subjects: community policing, problem-oriented policing, predictive policing, fear of crime and social control.

Practical implications

As the main implication between the combination of the bibliometric analysis method with the probabilistic topic modelling, is the emergence of a primordial step in the systematic literature review process, as this method allows to explore and group a large volume of data. Another practical implication that is intended is to provide the beginning researcher or any other reader with a panoramic view of the main authors who study the themes that impact police activity in any city in the world, which are the countries and reference centers of the study on the subject and, finally, the evolution of the main themes researched in the police area.

Originality/value

The value of these studies is summarized in the presentation of an overview on the theme in the last 50 years, offering the opportunity for other researchers to use this research as a starting point for other analyses.
Explaining presidential instability in Latin America: evidence from Brazil, Argentina and Ecuador
Authors: Abofarha Elsayed Ali , Nasreldein Ramez Ibrahim
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study attempts to figure out the factors that contributed to deposing certain elected presidents before the end of their constitutional terms, alongside tracing the new political context that prevailed in Latin America since 1978 and its impact on direct political participation and military behavior during presidential crises.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the comparative method to investigate the causes of presidential instability in three case studies.

Findings

The likelihood of presidential instability increases when a president enacts austerity economic policies that marginalize large sectors of the citizenry, becomes implicated in acts of corruption and develops a hostile relationship with members of the ruling coalition.

Originality/value

This study integrates the social movement theory with analytical perspectives from parliamentary behavior to explain presidential instability. It attempts to investigate the dynamics of interaction between the acts of furious citizens and disloyal legislators through the in-depth analysis of three case studies.
Gamification through fantasy sports – Empirical findings from professional sport leagues
Authors: Buser Markus , Woratschek Herbert , Ridpath B. David
Published: August 2021

Purpose

In this paper, Fantasy Sports (Hereafter FS) is conceptually classified as a concept of gamification for professional sport leagues. From a sporting perspective, FS is often criticized because such online activities may be at the expense of physical activities. Otherwise, gamification can ultimately lead to economic advantages for sport leagues. To further empirically analyse this supposed juxtaposition, an empirical study is presented.

Design/methodology/approach

In the empirical study, participation and non-participation in a sport league-related FS league are analysed and the study uses a divided sample (N = 319) for a one-factor Welch-ANOVA. FS effects on sport practice (engaging in doing sport) and usage (engaging with sport) of FS players as well as on gaining and retaining fans are investigated.

Findings

Results demonstrate that participating in gamified FS experiences increases sport usage while not harming general sport practice. Furthermore, FS participation increases consumption capital as well as sport fans' loyalty and word of mouth (WOM) towards the league brand. Building on the results, league brands should foster gamified FS applications to retain their fan base and acquire new fans.

Originality/value

The authors’ theoretical contribution indicates the importance of FS as a gamified application and essential marketing tool for professional sport leagues. By introducing the terms sport practice and usage, the authors bridge the traditional logic of sport consumption with innovative approaches around engagement in and with sports. The results refute the prejudice that FS leads to less physical activity due to time substitution or displacement.
A numerical technique and effect of magnetic field dependent (MFD) viscosity on thermal instability in a ferrofluid pores with Coriolis force for Darcy model
Authors: Murugan D. , Sekar R.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The effect of magnetic field dependent (MFD) viscosity on the onset of convection in a ferromagnetic fluid layer heated from below saturating rotating porous medium in the presence of vertical magnetic field is investigated theoretically by using Darcy model. The resulting eigen value problem is solved using the regular perturbation technique. Both stationary and oscillatory instabilities have been obtained. It is found that increase in MFD viscosity and increase in magnetic Rayleigh number is to delay the onset of ferroconvection, while the nonlinearity of fluid magnetization has no influence on the stability of the system.

Design/methodology/approach

The thermal perturbation method is employed for analytical solution. A theory of linear stability analysis and normal mode technique have been carried out to analyze the onset of convection for a fluid layer contained between two impermeable boundaries for which an exact solution is obtained.

Findings

The conditions for the system to stabilize both by stationary and oscillatory modes are studied. Even for the oscillatory system of particular frequency dictated by physical conditions, the critical Rayleigh numbers for oscillatory mode of the system were found to be greater than for the stationary mode. The system gets destabilized for various physical parameters only through stationary mode. Hence, the analysis is restricted to the stationary mode. To the Coriolis force, the Taylor number Ta is calculated to discuss the results. It is found that the system stabilizes through stationary mode for values of and for oscillatory instability is favored for Ta > 104. Therefore the Taylor number Ta leads to stability of the system. For larger rotation, magnetization leads to destabilization of the system. The MFD viscosity is found to stabilize the system.

Originality/value

This research paper is new and original.
Authentication of berries and berry‐based food products
Authors: Salo Heikki M. , Nguyen Nga , Alakärppä Emmi , Klavins Linards , Hykkerud Anne Linn , Karppinen Katja , Jaakola Laura , Klavins Maris , Häggman Hely
Published: August 2021

Berries represent one of the most important and high‐valued group of modern‐day health‐beneficial “superfoods” whose dietary consumption has been recognized to be beneficial for human health for a long time. In addition to being delicious, berries are rich in nutrients, vitamins, and several bioactive compounds, including carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and hydrolysable tannins. However, due to their high value, berries and berry‐based products are often subject to fraudulent adulteration, commonly for economical gain, but also unintentionally due to misidentification of species. Deliberate adulteration often comprises the substitution of high‐value berries with lower value counterparts and mislabeling of product contents. As adulteration is deceptive toward customers and presents a risk for public health, food authentication through different methods is applied as a countermeasure. Although many authentication methods have been developed in terms of fast, sensitive, reliable, and low‐cost analysis and have been applied in the authentication of a myriad of food products and species, their application on berries and berry‐based products is still limited. The present review provides an overview of the development and application of analytical chemistry methods, such as isotope ratio analysis, liquid and gas chromatography, spectroscopy, as well as DNA‐based methods and electronic sensors, for the authentication of berries and berry‐based food products. We provide an overview of the earlier use and recent advances of these methods, as well as discuss the advances and drawbacks related to their application.
Bombyx mori U‐shaped regulates the melanization cascade and immune response via binding with the Lozenge protein
Authors: Zhang Kui , Tan Juan , Hao Xiangwei , Tang Houyi , Abbas Muhammad Nadeem , Su Jingjing , Su Yongyue , Cui Hongjuan
Published: July 2021

Zinc finger protein, an important transcription factor, regulates gene expression associated with various physiological and pathological processes. U‐shaped, belong to the Friend of GATA (FOG) transcription factor, plays a crucial role in hematopoiesis by interacting with the GATA transcription factor as a co‐factor. However, little is known about its functions in insects. In the present study, a U‐shaped cDNA was identified and characterized from the silkworm Bombyx mori and its potential roles in innate immunity investigated. The predicted silkworm U‐shaped amino acid sequence contained a classical nuclear localization signal (NLS) motif “GESSPKRRRR” at position 450–459, and arginine residues at position 456 and 478 are the critical sites of the NLS. U‐shaped mRNA was detected in all tested tissues of the B. mori; however, the highest levels were found in the hemocytes. U‐shaped mRNA expression levels were upregulated in the hemocyte after the Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus challenge. Furthermore, U‐shaped knockdown significantly reduced the melanization process and suppressed the expression of melanization‐associated genes, including PPO1, PPO2, PPAE and BAEE. In addition, U‐shaped interacts with Lozenge protein to regulate the innate immune response of the insect. Our results revealed that U‐shaped binds directly to Lozenge protein to modulate the melanization process and innate immune responses in silkworm.
The scientific basis and future of lipoprotein apheresis
Authors: Thompson Gilbert R.
Published: July 2021

Lipoprotein apheresis plays a vital role in the management of the severe hyperlipidemias that predispose to atherosclerosis. Determinants of efficacy are the acute reduction in lipoproteins achieved by each apheresis procedure, their frequency, and the fractional catabolic rates and hence pool sizes of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) or lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) of the patient being treated. A useful criterion of the efficacy of apheresis plus lipid‐lowering drug therapy is the decrease in the interval (time‐averaged) mean of serum total or LDL cholesterol or Lp(a) between procedures, expressed as the percent decrease in the interval means below the maximal levels of these lipoproteins when off all treatment. Recent advances in lipid‐lowering drug therapy may diminish the use of lipoprotein apheresis but will not abolish its unique role as a therapeutic “last chance saloon,” especially for children and pregnant women with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
The Accumulating Interest in Water Banks: Assessing Their Role in Mitigating Water Insecurities
Authors: Carney Clint P. , Endter‐Wada Joanna , Welsh Lisa W.
Published: August 2021

Reallocation is often promoted as a response to water security dilemmas in the western United States. Water banking is a form of reallocation utilized in several states to facilitate temporary water rights transfers. This article frames and examines water banking’s potential influences on water security from a hydro‐social perspective through a case analysis of water banking policy in Utah. It analyzes the challenges of integrating the market‐based economic incentives of water banks with the legal precedents of the prior appropriation doctrine to reallocate water in overappropriated basins with hydrologically interdependent uses. Key‐informant interviews and focus groups were used to examine water security’s meaning to stakeholders and analyze how water banking could affect the water security of disparate users and uses at multiple scales. Stakeholders predominately saw water security as assurance in water quantity, but water security was further equated by participants with the legal protections afforded by water rights. Multiple complexities in water bank implementation are to be expected when multiscalar contexts are considered, including societal and hydrologic tradeoffs in settings with diverse and interconnected interests. Our research shows that examining the potential ramifications of water banking policy through stakeholder perspectives can reveal nuanced insights on individual and collective water security issues not only within Utah but other arid regions in general.
A laboratory for conceiving Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs)—The ‘Data pool initiative for the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem’
Authors: Latifi Hooman , Holzwarth Stefanie , Skidmore Andrew , Brůna Josef , Červenka Jaroslav , Darvishzadeh Roshanak , Hais Martin , Heiden Uta , Homolová Lucie , Krzystek Peter , Schneider Thomas , Starý Martin , Wang Tiejun , Müller Jörg , Heurich Marco
Published: July 2021

Effects of climate change‐induced events on forest ecosystem dynamics of composition, function and structure call for increased long‐term, interdisciplinary and integrated research on biodiversity indicators, in particular within strictly protected areas with extensive non‐intervention zones. The long‐established concept of forest supersites generally relies on long‐term funds from national agencies and goes beyond the logistic and financial capabilities of state‐ or region‐wide protected area administrations, universities and research institutes.

We introduce the concept of data pools as a smaller‐scale, user‐driven and reasonable alternative to co‐develop remote sensing and forest ecosystem science to validated products, biodiversity indicators and management plans. We demonstrate this concept with the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem Data Pool, which has been established as an interdisciplinary, international data pool within the strictly protected Bavarian Forest and Šumava National Parks and currently comprises 10 active partners. We demonstrate how the structure and impact of the data pool differs from comparable cases.

We assessed the international influence and visibility of the data pool with the help of a systematic literature search and a brief analysis of the results. Results primarily suggest an increase in the impact and visibility of published material during the life span of the data pool, with highest visibilities achieved by research conducted on leaf traits, vegetation phenology and 3D‐based forest inventory.

We conclude that the data pool results in an efficient contribution to the concept of global biodiversity observatory by evolving towards a training platform, functioning as a pool of data and algorithms, directly communicating with management for implementation and providing test fields for feasibility studies on earth observation missions.
Cognitive style and drinking to cope: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Corcoran Emma , Lewis Gemma , Heron Jon , Hickman Matthew , Lewis Glyn
Published: August 2021

Background and Aims

Having a negative cognitive style may lead someone to feel hopeless about his or her situation and be more likely to engage in coping‐motivated drinking. We, therefore, aimed to investigate the association between cognitive style and drinking to cope.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

The former Avon Health Authority in South West England.

Participants

A total of 1681 participants of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Measurements

Participants completed cognitive style questions at age 17 and a subset of drinking to cope questions at age 24. We used linear regression to test the association between cognitive style and drinking to cope, controlling for confounders. Alcohol consumption and dependence scales were included in a secondary analysis.

Findings

A 20‐point increase (that was the standard deviation of the exposure variable) in cognitive style score at age 17 was associated with an increase of 0.24 in drinking to cope scores at age 24 after adjustment for confounding variables (95% CI) = 0.08–0.41, P = 0.003). We found no evidence of an association between cognitive style and alcohol consumption (coefficient = 0.03, 95% CI = −0.08–0.14, P = 0.591) before or after adjustment. There was evidence for an association with alcohol dependence, but this was not present after adjusting for confounders (coefficient = 0.01, 95% CI = −0.04–0.05, P = 0.769).

Conclusions

In young adults in England, there appears to be a positive association between negative cognitive style and subsequent drinking to cope.
Health and Public Health Implications of COVID‐19 in Asian Countries
Authors: Miyawaki Atsushi , Tsugawa Yusuke
Published: August 2021

This paper discusses the impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on population health in Asian countries. Compared to European countries, Asian countries, in general, experienced much fewer COVID‐19 cases and deaths. The underlying factors in this difference would include the earlier and more stringent nonpharmaceutical interventions, differences in the age structure, the geographical characteristics in Asia, and the experience of past outbreaks of emerging diseases, though further studies are needed to investigate the exact mechanisms. Still, regarding the aim of developing resilient health care systems, there remain several lessons from the COVID‐19 pandemic experience in Asian countries that could inform more effective management of future pandemics.