bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benchmarking functional connectivity by the structure and geometry of the human brain
Authors: Liu Zhen-Qi , Betzel Richard F. , Misic Bratislav
Published: October 2021

The brain’s structural connectivity supports the propagation of electrical impulses, manifesting as patterns of co-activation, termed functional connectivity. Functional connectivity emerges from the underlying sparse structural connections, particularly through poly-synaptic communication. As a result, functional connections between brain regions without direct structural links are numerous, but their organization is not completely understood. Here we investigate the organization of functional connections without direct structural links. We develop a simple, data-driven method to benchmark functional connections with respect to their underlying structural and geometric embedding. We then use this method to re-weigh and re-express functional connectivity. We find evidence of unexpectedly strong functional connectivity within the canonical intrinsic networks of the brain. We also find unexpectedly strong functional connectivity at the apex of the unimodal-transmodal hierarchy. Our results suggest that both phenomena – functional modules and functional hierarchies – emerge from functional interactions that transcend the underlying structure and geometry. These findings also potentially explain recent reports that structural and functional connectivity gradually diverge in transmodal cortex. Collectively, we show how structural connectivity and geometry can be used as a natural frame of reference with which to study functional connectivity patterns in the brain.
Rapid carbon accumulation at a saltmarsh restored by managed realignment far exceeds carbon emitted in site construction
Authors: Mossman Hannah L. , Pontee Nigel , Born Katie , Lawrence Peter J. , Rae Stuart , Scott James , Serato Beatriz , Sparkes Robert B. , Sullivan Martin J.P. , Dunk Rachel M.
Published: October 2021

Increasing attention is being paid to the carbon sequestration and storage services provided by coastal blue carbon ecosystems such as saltmarshes. Sites restored by managed realignment, where existing sea walls are breached to reinstate tidal inundation to the land behind, have considerable potential to accumulate carbon through deposition of sediment brought in by the tide and burial of vegetation in the site. While this potential has been recognised, it is not yet a common motivating factor for saltmarsh restoration, partly due to uncertainties about the rate of carbon accumulation and how this balances against the greenhouse gases emitted during site construction. We use a combination of field measurements over four years and remote sensing to quantify carbon accumulation at a large managed realignment site, Steart Marshes, UK. Sediment accumulated rapidly at Steart Marshes (mean of 75 mm yr-1) and had a high carbon content (4.4% total carbon, 2.2% total organic carbon), resulting in carbon accumulation of 36.6 t ha-1yr-1total carbon (19.4 t ha- 1yr-1total organic carbon). This rate of carbon accumulation is an order of magnitude higher than reported in many other restored saltmarshes, and is higher although more similar to values previously reported from another hypertidal system (Bay of Fundy, Canada). The estimated carbon emissions associated with the construction of the site were ∼2-4% of the observed carbon accumulation during the study period, supporting the view that managed realignment projects in such settings are likely to have significant carbon accumulation benefits. We outline further considerations that are needed to move towards a full carbon budget for saltmarsh restoration.
The extrachromosomal circular DNAs of the rice blast pathogenMagnaporthe oryzaecontain a wide variety of LTR retrotransposons, genes, and effectors
Authors: Joubert Pierre M. , Krasileva Ksenia V.
Published: October 2021

Background

One of the ways genomes respond to stress is by producing extrachromosomal circular DNAs (eccDNAs). EccDNAs can contain genes and dramatically increase their copy number. They can also reinsert into the genome, generating structural variation. They have been shown to provide a source of phenotypic and genotypic plasticity in several species. However, whole circularome studies have so far been limited to a few model organisms. Fungal plant pathogens are a serious threat to global food security in part because of their rapid adaptation to disease prevention strategies. Understanding the mechanisms fungal pathogens use to escape disease control is paramount to curbing their threat.

Results

We present a whole circularome sequencing study of the rice blast pathogenMagnaporthe oryzae. We find thatM. oryzaehas a highly diverse circularome containing many genes and showing evidence of large LTR retrotransposon activity. We find that genes enriched on eccDNAs inM. oryzaeoccur in genomic regions prone to presence-absence variation and that disease associated genes are frequently on eccDNAs. Finally, we find that a subset of genes is never present on eccDNAs in our data, which indicates that the presence of these genes on eccDNAs is selected against.

Conclusions

Our study paves the way to understanding how eccDNAs contribute to adaptation inM. oryzae. Our analysis also reveals howM. oryzaeeccDNAs differ from those of other species and highlights the need for further comparative characterization of eccDNAs across species to gain a better understanding of these molecules.
A stress-reduced passaging technique improves the viability of human pluripotent cells
Authors: Takahashi Kazutoshi , Okubo Chikako , Nakamura Michiko , Iwasaki Mio , Kawahara Yuka , Tabata Tsuyoshi , Miyamoto Yousuke , Woltjen Knut , Yamanaka Shinya
Published: October 2021

Xeno-free culture systems have expanded the clinical and industrial application of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). However, yet some problems, such as the reproducibility among the experiments, remain. Here we describe an improved method for the subculture of human PSCs. The revised method significantly enhanced the viability of human PSCs by lowering DNA damage and apoptosis, resulting in more efficient and reproducible downstream applications such as gene editing, gene delivery, and directed differentiation. Furthermore, the method did not alter PSC characteristics after long-term culture and attenuated the growth advantage of abnormal subpopulations. This robust passaging method minimizes experimental error and reduces the rate of PSCs failing quality control of human PSC research and application.

Highlights

The revised passaging method significantly increases the viability of human PSCs.

The method triggers less DNA damage and apoptosis signals compared to the conventional method.

The stress-reduced method improves the results of downstream applications.

The method does not alter PSC characters and attenuates the overgrowth of abnormal subpopulations.
Highly similar sequence and structure yet different biophysical behaviour: A computational study of two triosephosphate isomerases
Authors: Chávez-García Cecilia , Karttunen Mikko
Published: October 2021

Homodimeric triosephosphate isomerases (TIM) from Trypanosoma cruzi (TcTIM) and Trypanosoma brucei (TbTIM) have a markedly similar amino acid sequences and three-dimensional structures. However, several of their biophysical parameters, such as their susceptibility to sulfhydryl agents and their reactivation speed after being denatured, have significant differences. The causes of these differences were explored with microsecond-scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of three different TIM proteins: TcTIM, TbTIM and a chimeric protein, Mut1. We examined their electrostatic interactions and explored the impact of simulation length on them. The same salt bridge between catalytic residues Lys 14 and Glu 98 was observed in all three proteins but key differences were found in other interactions that the catalytic amino acids form. In particular, a cation-π interaction between catalytic amino acids Lys 14 and His 96, and both a salt bridge and a hydrogen bond between catalytic Glu168 and residue Arg100, were only observed in TcTIM. Furthermore, although TcTIM forms less hydrogen bonds than TbTIM and Mut1, its hydrogen bond network spans almost the entire protein, connecting the residues in both monomers. This work provides new insight on the mechanisms that give rise to the different behaviour of these proteins. The results also show the importance of long simulations.
Isostructural rubidium and caesium 4-(3,5-dinitropyrazol-4-yl)-3,5-dinitropyrazolates: crystal engineering with polynitro energetic species
Authors: Domasevitch Kostiantyn V. , Ponomarova Vira V.
Published: October 2021

In the structures of the title salts, poly[[μ4-4-(3,5-dinitropyrazol-4-yl)-3,5-dinitropyrazol-1-ido]rubidium], [Rb(C6HN8O8)]
n
, (1), and its isostructural caesium analogue [Cs(C6HN8O8)
n
, (2), two independent cations M1 and M2 (M = Rb, Cs) are situated on a crystallographic twofold axis and on a center of inversion, respectively. Mutual intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the conjugate 3,5-dinitopyrazole NH-donor and 3,5-dinitropyrazole N-acceptor sites of the anions [N...N = 2.785 (2) Å for (1) and 2.832 (3) Å for (2)] governs the self-assembly of the translation-related anions in a predictable fashion. Such one-component modular construction of the organic subtopology supports the utility of the crystal-engineering approach towards designing the structures of polynitro energetic materials. The anionic chains are further linked by multiple ion–dipole interactions involving the 12-coordinate cations bonded to two pyrazole N-atoms [Rb—N = 3.1285 (16), 3.2261 (16) Å; Cs—N = 3.369 (2), 3.401 (2) Å] and all of the eight nitro O-atoms [Rb—O = 2.8543 (15)–3.6985 (16) Å; Cs—O = 3.071 (2)–3.811 (2) Å]. The resulting ionic networks follow the CsCl topological archetype, with either metal or organic ions residing in an environment of eight counter-ions. Weak lone pair–π-hole interactions [pyrazole-N atoms to NO2 groups; N...N = 2.990 (3)–3.198 (3) Å] are also relevant to the packing. The Hirshfeld surfaces and percentage two-dimensional fingerprint plots for (1) and (2) are described.
A systematic review of construction safety research: quantitative and qualitative content analysis approach
Authors: Bhagwat Kishor , Delhi Venkata Santosh Kumar
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Construction safety management (CSM) has been intensively researched in the last four decades but hitherto mostly aimed at understanding root causes of accidents, recommending preventive measures and evaluating their implications. However, a systematic effort to present a comprehensive picture of construction safety research is hardly witnessed. Therefore, the study aims to investigate construction safety research contributors, ontologies, themes, evolution, emerging trends and future directions using quantitative and qualitative content analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 877 journal articles were extracted using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and Scopus literature database and were analyzed using VOSviewer and Nvivo tools to present a comprehensive picture of the CSM body of knowledge.

Findings

The study observed rapid growth in construction safety research with contributions from various countries, organizations and researchers. This study identified 3 research levels, 8 project phases, 10 project types, 6 research instruments and 19 research data sources along with their usage in the research domain. Further, the study identified 13 emerging research themes, 4 emerging research trends and an observed paradigm shift from reactive to proactive CSM approach.

Research limitations/implications

The comprehensive study on the emerging themes and findings on proactive CSM has strategic implications to practice to incorporate safety. The identified future directions can assist researchers in bridging the existing gaps and strengthening emerging research trends.

Originality/value

The study presents a comprehensive picture of the CSM body of knowledge using the content analysis approach that was absent in past literature and opened future research avenues.
Internet public opinion dissemination mechanism of COVID-19: evidence from the Shuanghuanglian event
Authors: Zhang Xing , Zhou Yan , Zhou Fuli , Pratap Saurabh
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has become a major public health emergency of global concern. Studying the Internet public opinion dissemination mechanism of public health emergencies is of great significance for creating a legalized network environment, and it is also helpful for managers to make scientific decisions when encountering Internet public opinion crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the analysis of the process of spreading the Internet public opinion in major epidemics, a dynamic model of the Internet public opinion spread system was constructed to study the interactive relationship among the public opinion events, network media, netizens and government and the spread of epidemic public opinion. The Shuanghuanglian event in COVID-19 in China was taken as a typical example to make simulation analysis.

Findings

Research results show three points: (1) the government credibility plays a decisive role in the spread of Internet public opinion; (2) it is the best time to intervene when Internet public opinion occurred at first time; (3) the management and control of social media are the key to public opinion governance. Besides, specific countermeasures are proposed to assist control of Internet public opinion dissemination.

Originality/value

The epidemic Internet public opinion risk evolution system is a complex nonlinear social system. The system dynamics model is used to carry out research to facilitate the analysis of the Internet public opinion propagation mechanism and explore the interrelationship of various factors.
Determinants of mobile learning adoption: extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT)
Authors: Alowayr Ali
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Although several different learning technologies have been integrated into the face-to-face (F2F) learning approach, the effective implementation of mobile learning (m-learning) is still at an early stage. This may be due to the lack of understanding factors that affect learners' acceptance of m-learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) as a theoretical background, this research investigates m-learning adoption in Saudi Arabia. The research framework extends the UTAUT by including intrinsic motivation, mobile learning self-efficacy and perceived satisfaction. A total of 200 higher education students voluntarily participated in the research. The application of the partial least square technique indicated that the proposed model can predict m-learning adoption adequately in Saudi Arabia (R2 = 0.73.8).

Findings

The research outcomes are significant for educational institutions and teachers to implement m-learning effectively. Many recommendations can be suggested to help enhance learners' willingness to adopt m-learning technology: Teachers need to design their courses in an interactive way and provide several different activities to ensure that learners obtain real benefits in their learning outcomes. When learners have positive perceptions about the use of this technology in the learning process, such perceptions should be supported by providing beneficial courses.

Originality/value

This research examines the effectiveness of the extended UTAUT to predict m-learning adoption in Saudi Arabia higher education. This could provide a significant contribution to the existing evidence about the validity of the model in different learning cultures and contexts.
Exploring teacher learning process in Chinese lesson study: a case of representing fractions on a number line
Authors: Huang Xingfeng , Huang Rongjin , Lai Mun Yee
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This paper presented the learning process of a group of primary mathematics teachers who participated in two iterations of lesson design, enactment and reflection in a Chinese Lesson Study.

Design/methodology/approach

An expansive learning theory was employed to examine the teachers’ learning process in lesson study (LS) on representing fractions on a number line. The evolution of a germ cell was utilized to feature the transformation of the object of activity from abstract to concrete through resolving contradictions among LS members. The videos of lesson planning, research lessons (RLs) and debriefing meetings were collected and analyzed to reveal the expansive learning process.

Findings

The analysis showed that the teachers expanded their learning through transforming the object from diffuse to concrete and expanded through consciously articulating the germ cell. The outcomes of object-oriented activity include improving the enacted lesson which promoted students’ conceptual understanding.

Originality/value

This study made a unique contribution to understanding the learning process of teachers in Chinese LS from the perspective of expansive learning.
Analysis of factors impacting survivability of sustainable supply chain during COVID-19 pandemic: an empirical study in the context of SMEs
Authors: Baral Manish Mohan , Singh Rajesh Kumar , Kazançoğlu Yiğit
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Nowadays, many firms are finding ways to enhance the survivability of sustainable supply chains (SUSSCs). The present study aims to develop a model for the SUSSCs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

With the help of exhaustive literature review, constructs and items are identified to collect the responses from different SMEs. A total of 278 complete responses are received and 6 hypotheses are developed. Hypotheses testing have been done using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

Major constructs identified for the study are supply chain (SC) performance measurement under uncertainty (SPMU), supply chain cooperation (SCCO), supply chain positioning (SCP), supply chain administration (SCA), supply chain feasibility (SCF) and the SUSSCs. From statistical analysis of the data collected, it can be concluded that the considered latent variables contribute significantly towardsthe model fit.

Research limitations/implications

The present study contributes to the existing literature on disruptions and survivability. The study can be further carried out in context to different countries and sectors to generalize the findings.

Practical implications

The research findings will be fruitful for SMEs and other organizations in developing strategies to improve survivability during uncertain business environments.

Originality/value

The study has developed a model that shows that the identified latent variables and their indicators contribute significantly toward the dependent variable, i.e. survivability. It contributes significantly in bridging the research gaps existing in context to the survivability of SMEs.
Family-owned enterprises and their role in entrepreneurial development: a bibliometric and content analysis of the literature
Authors: Kumar Rishi Kant , Dubey Amlendu Kumar
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Family business has been widely discussed in the literature. Still, a holistic approach summarizing the family business concept in entrepreneurship is fragmented to date. This paper aims to explore the multimedia view of family business research in entrepreneurship and finds the key theme discussed by researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a systematic literature review on family business and its role in entrepreneurship have been conducted. The literature review consists of bibliometric and content analyzes. Bibliometric research offers quantitative insights, whereas content analysis provides the qualitative evaluation of the literature.

Findings

The findings suggest that recent research in this area focuses on exploring the role of women entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurship in the family business. The literature also finds that because of the nature of family businesses, successors get the opportunity to use their family’s network, social status, financing and opportunity toward a well-developed market.

Research limitations/implications

This paper may help researchers and practitioners to identify the past and current research trends related to family business and entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

The concepts from network theory are applied for content analysis to identify and explore various family business and entrepreneurship literature sub-domains.
Usage of smartphone for financial transactions: from the consumer privacy perspective
Authors: Chatterjee Sheshadri , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Vrontis Demetris , Hussain Zahid
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to empirically examine how consumer privacy concerns (CPC) impact smartphone usage for financial transactions. The study also investigates the moderating impact of regulations on this action.

Design/methodology/approach

With the inputs from literature and related privacy theories, a theoretical model was developed. The model was later empirically validated using the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique with 367 respondents from India.

Findings

The study finds that CPC significantly impacts on consumer behavior in using smartphones for financial transactions. The study also highlights that regulation has a moderating impact on consumer usage of smartphones for financial transactions.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides valuable inputs to smartphone service providers, practitioners, regulatory authorities and policymakers on appropriate and secure usage of smartphones by consumers, ensuring privacy protection while making financial transactions.

Originality/value

This study provides a unique model showing the antecedents of CPC to impact the behavioral reaction of smartphone users mediated through the ingredients of privacy calculus theory. Besides, this study analyzes the moderating effects of regulation on the use of smartphones for financial transactions. This is also a novel approach of this study.
Support of young children from disadvantaged families in Switzerland: mixed-method evaluation of the home visitation program Schritt:weise
Authors: Lannen Patricia , Duss Isabelle
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Children from disadvantaged families often already show developmental deficits at the time of school entry. The goal of Schritt:weise, a preventive, easy-access early education program for children ages one to five is to avoid such deficits through a combination of home visits by semi-professionals as well as center-based group activities. The program has been translated and adapted from the Dutch program Opstapje and is now being implemented in different regions in Switzerland. To offer the program more readily in rural areas, four adapted models were developed. This paper aims to provide a mixed-method, combined process and outcome evaluation of these newly developed models.

Design/methodology/approach

For this combined process and outcome evaluation, standardized testing for child development outcomes and interviews with different stakeholders were conducted.

Findings

The evaluation found that implementation of all four models was feasible and children developed along the norm in all four of the models. This finding was confirmed one year after program completion.

Research limitations/implications

Building an evidence-base to better understand success of early intervention programs is key to effectively supporting children from disadvantaged families in their development.

Practical implications

This early education program using home-visitation with semi-professionals is feasible and successful in reaching children from disadvantaged families.

Social implications

It is possible to support children from disadvantaged families through the program Schritt:weise and prevent developmental deficits at school entry.

Originality/value

The finding that children developed along the norm in all four models means that the key program goal was achieved and that the specific implementation model can be chosen based on the specifics of the implementation context.
Host country employees’ negative perceptions of successive expatriate leadership: the role of leadership transference and implicit leadership theories
Authors: Ciuk Sylwia , Schedlitzki Doris
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Drawing on socio-cognitively orientated leadership studies, this paper aims to contribute to our understanding of host country employees’ (HCEs) negative perceptions of successive expatriate leadership by exploring how their memories of shared past experiences affect these perceptions. Contrary to previous work which tends to focus on HCEs’ attitudes towards individual expatriates, the authors shift attention to successive executive expatriate assignments within a single subsidiary.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on an intrinsic case study carried out in a Polish subsidiary of an American multinational pharmaceutical company which had been managed by four successive expatriate General Managers and one local executive. The authors draw on interview data with 40 HCEs. Twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff who had been managed by at least three of the subsidiary’s expatriate leaders.

Findings

The authors demonstrate how transference triggered by past experiences with expatriate leaders as well as HCEs’ implicit leadership theories affect HCEs’ negative perceptions of expatriate leadership and lead to the emergence of expatriate leadership schema.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that explores the role of transference and implicit leadership theories in HCEs’ perceptions of successive executive expatriate assignments. By focussing on retrospective accounts of HCEs who had been managed by a series of successive expatriate leaders, our study has generated a more nuanced and contextualised understanding of the role of HCEs’ shared past experiences in shaping their perceptions of expatriate leadership. The authors propose a new concept – expatriate leadership schema – which describes HCEs’ cognitive structures, developed during past experiences with successive expatriate leaders, which specify what HCEs believe expatriate leadership to look like and what they expect from it.
Risk sharing vs risk shifting: a comparative study of Islamic banks
Authors: Khandelwal Sunil , Aljifri Khaled
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to compare the use of risk-sharing and risk-shifting contracts (RSFCs) in Islamic banks using a triple grouping of conservative, moderate and liberal Islamic banks based on the Khaled Khandelwal (KK) model. Six fundamental Islamic contracts are used in this study, namely, Mushãrakah, Mudãrabah, Murãbaha, Salam, Ijãrah, Istisnã. Mushãrakah and Mudãrabah represent profit and loss sharing contracts (i.e., risk-sharing contracts – RSHCs), whereas Murãbaha, Salam, Ijãrah and Istisnã represent RSFCs. This study extends the previous studies by addressing an issue that has been neglected in the literature. The extent to which the two groups of contracts are used is extremely important because of its effect on the valuation of Islamic banks and on their earning quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to analyze, using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, the use of RSHCs and RSFCs made by 72 fully Islamic banks, using a sample that includes banks in most of the countries where Islamic banks are present. Only fully Islamic Banks were considered, that is, banks that are essentially mainstream banks; therefore, banks that include only a specific line of Islamic products, often called the Islamic Window, were excluded. The total number of the sample was 118, but the study was restricted to 72 banks due to the availability of time series data covering the period of study, 2007 to 2015.

Findings

The study documents that over the period 2007 to 2015 the moderate banks have better distribution and balance of RSHCs and RSFCs than the conservative and liberal banks. The conservative banks are found to depend greatly on RSFCs, whereas the liberal banks are found to depend almost completely on RSFCs. Unexpectedly, the conservative banks have not shown a noticeable improvement over the period of analysis on their level of reliance on RSHCs. The results show that there is a significant difference in the percentage income distribution of the two contracts between the moderate banks and the conservative banks and between the moderate banks and the liberal banks. However, no significant difference was found between the conservative banks and the liberal banks.

Originality/value

The study uses an alternate rating model for Islamic financial institutions. The study examined the issue of risk sharing and risk shifting contracts usage in banks for a long period of nine years and at a global level and with an additional dimension of three categories of Islamic Banks based on the KK model.
Impact of gender diversity in boardroom on risk-return profile of Indian corporates
Authors: Nigam Narander Kumar , Singh Kirtivardhan , Arya Purushottam
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The existing literature point that the presence of women directors in a firm reduces its risk. However, the relation between boardroom gender diversity and a firm’s return is widely disputed leading to no concrete answer. Some studies mention that women directors have a positive impact on firm performance, whereas, on the other hand, some findings suggest that women directors reduce financial performance. This paper aims to study the relationship of firm risk and return with boardroom gender diversity and the net impact on firm performance in the Indian context. This study uses not only traditional measures of risk and return but also the third measure of risk-adjusted returns to postulate its findings.

Design/methodology/approach

Based upon the data of the top 100 of the Bombay Stock Exchange-500 firms for the period FY 2009–2010 to FY 2018–2019, this study applied fixed effect panel regression and random effects Tobit regression to examine the effect of board gender diversity on firm performance.

Findings

The study concludes that firms with women directors on board have lower risk and lower returns. It also results in a higher risk-adjusted return, creating a positive impact on a firm’s performance.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the existing literature on corporate governance by considering return, risk and risk-adjusted returns in single research to have a holistic measure of firm performance. It provides empirical evidence from one of the largest emerging economies, India where the female director and independent female director have been introduced recently.
Qualitative research interviews using online video technology – challenges and opportunities
Authors: de Villiers Charl , Farooq Muhammad Bilal , Molinari Matteo
Published: October 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the methodological and method-related challenges and opportunities arising from the use of video interviews in qualitative accounting research, focussed on collecting contextual data and visual cues, enriching communication quality and building and maintaining rapport with interviewees.

Design/methodology/approach

Prior literature and the authors’ experiences using video technologies for research, including conducting interviews, inform this research. This study uses a transactional conceptual refinement of information richness theory and channel expansion theory to critically analyse the challenges and opportunities of using video technology to conduct qualitative research interviews.

Findings

The ability, need for and significance of collecting contextual data depend on the researchers’ ontological and epistemological assumptions, and are, therefore, influenced by their research design choices. Video technology enables researchers to view research settings by video. In addition, whilst group/panel interviews have their advantages, it is often difficult to get everyone together in person, something video technology can potentially overcome. The feasibility and the quality of video interviews can be improved if both interview participants are experienced with using video technology, as well as with judicious investment in good quality video technology and through testing and practice. We also discuss how rapport building with interviewees can be facilitated by overcoming the video’s sense of disconnect and enhancing interviewees’ willingness to engage.

Originality/value

The study builds on the limited prior literature and considers the challenges and opportunities related to methodology and method when conducting video-based qualitative interviews in accounting research. Broadly, qualitative researchers will find the paper useful in considering the use of video interviews and in making research design choices appropriate for video interviews.
The integrated MHD thermal performance with slip conditions on metachronal propulsion: the engineering material for biomedical applications
Authors: Imran Naveed , Javed Maryiam
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Particular attention is given to the viscous damping force parameter, stiffness parameter, rigidity parameter, and Brinkman number and plotted their graph for thermal distribution, momentum profile and concentration profile.

Design/methodology/approach

In the field of engineering, biologically inspired propulsion systems are getting the utmost importance. Keeping in view their developmental progress, the present study was made. The theoretical analysis explores the effect of heat and mass transfer on non-Newtonian Sisko fluid with slip effects and transverse magnetic field in symmetric compliant channel. Using low Reynolds number, so that the authors neglect inertial forces and for keeping the pressure constant during the flow, channel height is used largely as compared to the ratio of wavelength. The governing equations of fluid flow problem are solved using the perturbation analysis.

Findings

Results are considered for thickening, thinning and viscous nature of fluid models. It is found that the velocity distribution profile is boosted for increasing values of the Sisko fluid parameter and porous effect, while thermal profile is reducing for Brinkman number (viscous dissipation effects) for all cases. Moreover, shear-thicken and shear-thinning behavior of non-Newtonian Sisko fluid is also explained through the graphs.

Originality/value

Hear-thicken and shear-thinning behavior of non-Newtonian Sisko fluid is also explained through the graphs.
The significance of biofilms to human, animal, plant and ecosystem health
Authors: Sentenac Hugo , Loyau Adeline , Leflaive Joséphine , Schmeller Dirk S.
Published: October 2021

Biofilms are matrix‐enclosed communities that represent the most dominant and active mode of microbial life on Earth. Because biofilms are inherently more productive than any equivalent planktonic community, they are of great relevance to all environments they inhabit. However, their existence and importance are still poorly known by the general public, conservation practitioners and environmental policymakers.

Most micro‐organisms of multicellular organisms (including humans, animals and plants) occur in the form of true biofilms or biofilm‐like structures that play vital roles in their development, physiology and immunity. Conversely, some biofilms can have a negative effect on host health.

Biofilms growing on non‐biological surfaces are essential components of many terrestrial and marine ecosystems: they form the basis of food webs and ensure nutrient cycling and bioremediation in natural systems. However, environmental biofilms can promote the persistence of human pathogens, produce harmful toxins, foul and corrode surfaces in natural and man‐made settings; all of which can have significant health and economic implications.

There is a knowledge gap about the roles of biofilms in the epidemiology of wildlife emerging infectious diseases, yet these pose a major threat to public health, biodiversity and sustainability. The drivers of global environmental change all affect biofilm structure and functions. The consequences for host and ecosystem health are, however, poorly understood. While the concept of a healthy microbiome (as opposed to dysbiosis) is emerging in medicine and conservation biology, the concept of a healthy biofilm remains to be defined in environmental sciences.

Here, we use an integrative approach to (a) review current knowledge on the roles of biofilms growing on biological and non‐biological interfaces for the health of multicellular organisms and ecosystems, and (b) provide future research directions to address identified knowledge gaps. Giving the biofilm life‐form its full importance will help understand the effects of global environmental change on these communities and, in turn, on human, animal, plant and ecosystem health.
Global warming and polarization. Wind turbines and the electoral success of the greens and the populist radical right
Authors: OTTENI CYRILL , WEISSKIRCHER MANÈS
Published: October 2021

The increased salience of environmental concerns, first and foremost global warming, is one of the key developments of contemporary Western European politics. Still, the effects of global warming issues on electoral outcomes, party competition and polarization remain poorly understood. Our article shows how the construction of wind turbines fuels conflict between its key proponents and opponents, Green and populist radical right parties. Contention over the issue contributes to the electoral success of both sides and therefore reinforces the new central divide between them. Drawing on a novel dataset, we investigate the impact of the construction of wind turbines on Alternative für Deutschland and Green party electoral success in Germany. We employ a two‐way fixed effects model, where the construction of wind turbines functions as the independent variable. We show that the construction of wind turbines boosts the electoral support of both their biggest supporters and their biggest opponents. Our results have important implications for understanding contemporary political conflict in Western Europe such as the electoral rise of the Greens and the populist radical right, the importance of issue salience and the polarization of party systems.
Returns on investment to the British bovine tuberculosis control programme
Authors: Schaefer K. Aleks , Scheitrum Daniel P. , van Winden Steven
Published: October 2021

In the animal health arena, government‐mandated testing, herd movement restrictions, and culling of reactor (infected) animals are common practices in the midst of an infectious disease outbreak. These policies create a significant economic trade‐off—on one hand, such control efforts represent a public good by reducing the negative externality of private actions associated with the transmission of infectious disease; on the other hand, they impose substantial economic costs on the affected farms. This paper empirically evaluates the economic trade‐offs created by disease control efforts in the context of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Great Britain. We find that—in this context—government control efforts are clearly cost‐effective. Mandatory testing, imposition of movement restrictions on infected herds, and culling of reactor animals generate an annual external value of approximately £152 million to the British beef sector with a social return‐on‐investment of 3.46. Moreover, coupled compensation averts approximately 75% of the farm exits that would otherwise have resulted from these policies.
Role of blue‐light cystoscopy in detecting invasive bladder tumours: data from a multi‐institutional registry
Authors: Ahmadi Hamed , Ladi‐Seyedian Seyedeh Sanam , Konety Badrinath , Pohar Kamal , Holzbeierlein Jeffrey M. , Kates Max , Willard Brian , Taylor Jennifer M. , Liao Joseph C. , Kaimakliotis Hristos Z. , Porten Sima P. , Steinberg Gary D. , Tyson Mark D. , Lotan Yair , Daneshmand Siamak ,   the Blue Light Cystoscopy with Cysview Registry Group
Published: October 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the role of blue‐light cystoscopy (BLC) in detecting invasive tumours that were not visible on white‐light cystoscopy (WLC).

Patients and Methods

Using the multi‐institutional Cysview registry database, patients who had at least one white‐light negative (WL–)/blue‐light positive (BL+) lesion with invasive pathology (≥T1) as highest stage tumour were identified. All WL–/BL+ lesions and all invasive tumours in the database were used as denominators. Relevant baseline and outcome data were collected.

Results

Of the 3514 lesions (1257 unique patients), 818 (23.2%) lesions were WL−/BL+, of those, 55 (7%) lesions were invasive (48 T1, seven T2; 47 unique patients) including 28/55 (51%) de novo invasive lesions (26 unique patients). In all, 21/47 (45%) patients had WL−/BL+ concommitant carcinoma in situ and/or another T1 lesions. Of 22 patients with a WL−/BL+ lesion who underwent radical cystectomy (RC), high‐risk pathological features leading to RC was only visible on BLC in 18 (82%) patients. At time of RC, 11/22 (50%) patients had pathological upstaging including four (18%) with node‐positive disease.

Conclusions

A considerable proportion of invasive lesions are only detectable by BLC and the rate of pathological upstaging is significant. Our present findings suggest an additional benefit of BLC in the detection of invasive bladder tumours that has implications for treatment approach.
Electrical neurostimulation for the treatment of chronic pruritus: A systematic review
Authors: Badwy Moustafa , Baart Sara J. , Thio Hok B. , Huygen Frank J. P. M. , de Vos Cecile C.
Published: October 2021

Approximately one fifth of the world population experiences continuous itch for 6 weeks or more during their life, that is chronic itch. It is diverse in its aetiologies, and it is notoriously hard to treat. Because itch and pain have largely overlapping pathophysiology and the demonstrated efficacy of neurostimulation in treatment of selected chronic pain conditions, we conducted a systematic review to investigate whether neurostimulation could be an effective treatment for chronic itch. We identified two randomized controlled trials and 17 open label studies or case reports investigating various neurostimulation modalities for the treatment of refractory itch of various aetiologies. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) was the most investigated modality (n = 17), and in the largest number of conditions. Other modalities were cutaneous field stimulation (n = 2), painscrambler (n = 1), transcranial direct current stimulation (n = 1) and peripheral nerve field stimulation (n = 1). Atopic dermatitis was the most studied condition (n = 5). Despite the large heterogeneity in used stimulation paradigms and outcome parameters, all studies reported a positive effect of at least one neurostimulation modality. Our review indicates that electrical neurostimulation could be considered for the treatment of refractory chronic itch of selected aetiologies, such as atopic dermatitis or burn pruritus. However, better understanding of the mechanisms of action of the neurostimulation modalities and regimens in various pruritic conditions is necessary.
Viral suppression after transition from nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor‐ to dolutegravir‐based antiretroviral therapy: A prospective cohort study in Lesotho (DO‐REAL study)
Authors: Brown Jennifer A. , Nsakala Bienvenu L. , Mokhele Kuena , Rakuoane Itumeleng , Muhairwe Josephine , Urda Lorena , Amstutz Alain , Tschumi Nadine , Klimkait Thomas , Labhardt Niklaus D.
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Since 2018, the World Health Organization has recommended dolutegravir (DTG)‐containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) for most people living with HIV. Country programmes across Africa have subsequently transitioned from other, mostly nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)‐based ART to DTG‐based ART. This study aims to assess the virological impact of programmatic transitioning to DTG‐based ART in Lesotho.

Methods

The prospective Dolutegravir in Real‐Life in Lesotho (DO‐REAL) cohort enrols people living with HIV initiating or transitioning to DTG‐based ART in Lesotho. Here, we present data from participants who transitioned from NNRTI‐ to DTG‐based ART between February and December 2020. Blood samples collected at transition and at 16 weeks’ follow‐up (window 8–32 weeks) were used for viral load (VL) and resistance testing.

Results

Among 1347 participants, follow‐up data was available for 1225. The majority (60%) were female, median age at transition was 47 years [interquartile range (IQR): 38–56], and median (IQR) time since ART initiation was 5.9 (3.5–9.0) years. Among those with complete VL data, the rate of viral suppression to < 100 copies/mL was 1093/1116 (98%) before, 1073/1116 (96%) at, and 1098/1116 (98%) after transition. Even among those with a VL ≥ 100 copies/mL at transition, 42/44 (95%) achieved suppression to < 100 copies/mL at follow‐up. Seven participants had a VL ≥ 1000 copies/mL at follow‐up and did not harbour any integrase mutations associated with resistance to DTG.

Conclusions

The high levels of viral suppression observed are encouraging regarding virological outcomes upon programmatic transitioning from NNRTI‐ to DTG‐based ART.
‘Its Object is Not to Degrade, But to Elevate’: Reflecting on Preventive Detention in the Early 20th Century
Authors: BENNETT RACHEL
Published: October 2021

In response to growing concerns about habitual criminality and its impact upon the fabric of society, the Prevention of Crime Act 1908 stipulated that when the courts passed a sentence of penal servitude upon repeat offenders, they could additionally pass a sentence of preventive detention if it was deemed expedient for the protection of the public. Reflecting upon the commentaries of those who worked within the preventive detention institution at Camp Hill, this article explores the rationale underpinning the regime and examines the management of the historic question facing the prison system, namely how prisoners should be ‘doing time’ and how prisons should be using this ‘time’.
The Magistrates Association – A Century On
Authors: COLLINS JON
Published: October 2021

One hundred years on from the founding of the Magistrates Association (MA) this article explores the role that the MA has played, and continues to play, in informing and influencing the future development of the magistracy, the courts and the broader criminal justice system. It looks at reforms to the magistracy over the last century and then explores the need for further reform, looking at magistrate numbers, diversity and training, magistrates’ courts and the court reform programme, the powers available to magistrates, and the need for political will to enable the modernisation of the magistracy within the context of reform to the courts.