bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reducing food waste: an exploration of a campus restaurant
Authors: Alcorn Michelle R. , Vega Daniel , Irvin Ryan , Paez Paola
Published: December 2020

Purpose

As exploratory research, this project aimed to develop and assess the effect of implementing a food waste reduction program at a restaurant on a university campus.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collection consisted of an audit of both pre and postconsumer food waste to determine the effectiveness of various reduction strategies and a survey to assess attitudes of employees toward food waste. As exploratory research, a personalized database was created to track current food waste amounts and reasons for waste in the restaurant operation to determine if the same method could be employed in future research.

Findings

Overall, the restaurant in this study implemented various effective food waste reduction practices that were inexpensive and simple, resulting in a weekly average reduction of 14.3 pounds of food waste. The top five food item products wasted by the kitchen were also identified for both pre and postintervention phases as well as the reasons for generating kitchen waste. Furthermore, data reported on postconsumer waste included weight quantities and product types.

Originality/value

The project resulted in evidence that a personalized food tracking system is useful for identifying and quantifying food waste in foodservice operations. Therefore, the research design and data collection methods used in this project can be used in future research on a larger scale.
Technology management for innovation in organizations: an argumentation-based modified TISM approach
Authors: Rajan Rishabh , Dhir Sanjay , Sushil
Published: December 2020

Purpose

In the rapidly changing business world, innovation plays a vital role for organizations to gain a competitive advantage. Various factors associated with technology management and innovations in organizations are diverse in the existing literature. Therefore, there is a need to bridge these gaps in the fitting proportions toward innovations within organizations. The primary objective of this study is to identify, explain and interpret the relationships between the identified technology-related factors that are important for innovations in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a modified total interpretive structural modeling (M-TISM) methodology was used to examine and analyze the various interactions between identified factors for innovations in organizations. However, the argumentation of the links is relatively weak in M-TISM. In order to compensate for this, M-TISM is additionally altered by an “Argumentation-based Modified TISM”. Hence, this research strengthens the modified TISM methodology by incorporating argumentation and total interpretation of the relationships between the identified factors.

Findings

A total of six major factors were identified using a literature review. Results suggest that workforce technical skills, technological infrastructure, technological alliances, technology transfer and top management support have an impact on innovation in organizations. Results also suggest that top management support and the technological infrastructure of an organization have a greater impact on innovation.

Research limitations/implications

For policymakers and practitioners, this study provides a suggestive list of critical factors, which may help to develop policies or guidelines for improving innovation in organizations. Policymakers should focus on technological infrastructure and collaborations to enhance innovations and productions within the organizations. For academicians, this study provides a modified TISM model that shows the impact of technology-related factors on innovations. Future researchers could expand this study by adding a greater number of technological factors and validate this model in other industries.

Originality/value

This study fills a gap in the literature by interpreting the various relationships among the identified factors and innovations. The model has been validated through a panel of seven experts from the Indian automotive industry of multiple organizations. This study is useful in the automobile industry as it determines what and how technology-related factors affect innovations, process improvement and R&D production for organizations.
Electronics for You
Authors: Vasavada Mukul , Chand Vijaya Sherry
Published: December 2020

EFY Group was a media group in the electronic industry, with four main activities: (1) publishing print magazines that focused mainly on the electronics industry in India—this was the main activity; (2) publishing digital (pdf) versions of the print magazines; (3) managing ten online communities; and (4) conducting events for the electronics industry. On June 16, 2016, the Board of EFY Group asked Rahul Chopra, Managing Director & CEO, to develop a “Digital First” strategy. It felt that the group had not paid adequate attention to digital publishing that was becoming common in the publishing industry and asked Rahul Chopra to focus on increasing the subscriptions to EFY's digital products.
Ethical disclosure in the Shari’ah annual reports of Islamic banks: discourse on Shari’ah governance, quantitative empirics and qualitative analysis
Authors: Sencal Harun , Asutay Mehmet
Published: December 2020

Purpose

As an essential component of Islamic governance for ensuring religious compliance, Shari’ah annual reports (SARs) play an important role in providing communication between Shari’ah board (SB) members and stakeholders. This paper aims to determine the ethical disclosure in SARs to identify how close the Shari’ah disclosure to the standards set by AAOIFI and also substantive morality of Islam. The research also aims to examine the factors determining disclosure performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Two disclosure indices are developed to generate data from the SARs: the AAOIFI standards for Shari’ah governance index for form related approach, an Islamic ethicality augmented index reflecting on substantive morality approach. The sample consists of 41 Islamic banks from 15 different countries for the period of 2007–2014. Sampled 305 SARs were examined through disclosure analysis in line with the two indices developed for this study. The econometric analysis was run to identify the factors determining disclosure performance.

Findings

The findings suggest that AAOIFI guidelines have an influence on the level of disclosure, even if Islamic banks have not adopted them. However, the level of disclosure for the ethically augmented index is found to be very limited with reliance on general statements in most of the cases. As part of determining factors, the popularity of Shari’ah scholars is significant for both indices, while the existence of an internal Shari’ah auditing department holds some explanatory power. The adoption of AAOIFI standards at the country level, the regulatory quality and the duration of Sharīʿah-compliance are particularly deterministic factors in terms of complying with AAOIFI standards for SARs.

Originality/value

Although SB is the most crucial division of corporate governance in Islamic banks in terms of securing the “Islamic” identity of these institutions, their most important communication instrument, namely, SAR, has not been explored sufficiently, alongside an insufficient attempt to constitute Islamic corporate governance. Initially, this study attempted to constitute an Islamic corporate governance framework as a theoretical construct, which provides context for the empirical part of the research and this should be considered a novel approach. Second, the empirical part of the research aims to fill the gap observed in the literature such as small sample size and index construction-related matters. This research is conducted with a larger sample size as compared to the available studies in the literature and it has developed two indices for disclosure analysis along with developing an Islamic morality-based index beside an index based on AAOIFI standards.
Sustainability control system components, reporting and performance
Authors: Mahmoudian Fereshteh , Nazari Jamal A. , Herremans Irene M.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Drawing on the natural resource-based view and the literature on management control systems as a package, this study aims to investigate organizations’ sustainability control systems designed to achieve the interrelated sustainability objectives of performance and reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use three-stage least squares regressions on archival data for a large sample of international companies.

Findings

Better environmental performance and sustainability reporting quality are related to certain control system components, and the dual objectives of sustainability performance and reporting are interrelated.

Originality/value

This study provides theoretical contributions and practical implications by demonstrating how a set of sustainability control components can enable better sustainability reporting and performance outcomes.
Evaluating the customers' dining attitudes, e-satisfaction and continuance intention toward mobile food ordering apps (MFOAs): evidence from Bangladesh
Authors: Al Amin Md. , Arefin Md. Shamsul , Sultana Nayeema , Islam Md. Rakibul , Jahan Israt , Akhtar Ayeasha
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study was designed to specifically explore confirmation and perceived usefulness associated with mobile food ordering apps (MFOAs) in consideration of their impacts upon attitudes, satisfaction and intention to continuously use.

Design/methodology/approach

The research utilized the convenience sampling to gather data from 250 respondents having prior experience with MFOAs during COVID-19 pandemic period in Bangladesh. The Structural Equation Modeling technique was applied to analyze the data using SmartPLS 3 software.

Findings

This study's results showed that customers' perceived confirmation and usefulness were significant in determining their dinning attitudes. Besides, customers' dining attitudes were positively related to e-satisfaction. Finally, the customers’ continuance intention to use MFOAs was significantly influenced by their e-satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Restaurants managers should focus on online sales through MFOAs during the pandemic period since social distancing is a key strategy to manage COVID-19. Customers should be assured that the safety measures are undertaken while delivering the food.

Originality/value

This study incorporated the expectation-confirmation theory and technology acceptance model and tested it in the context of MFOAs.
Hospitality-based service recovery, outcome favourability, satisfaction with service recovery and consequent customer loyalty: an empirical analysis
Authors: Shams Ghazal , Rather Raouf , Abdur Rehman Mohsin , Lodhi Rab Nawaz
Published: December 2020

Purpose

In recent studies, tourism scholars focussed more on service failure and recovery. Thus satisfaction with service recovery (SSR) and outcome favourability in conjunction with service recovery (SR) and customers’ behavioural intention was given very little attention, while they are very attention-grabbing, particularly in marketing areas of hospitality and tourism studies. Using stealing thunder and co-creation-based strategies, this study aims to investigate the impact of SR on outcome favourability, and its association with SSR and customer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

To attain the objectives of the current study, data were collected through field survey by applying a random sampling technique from 346 regular customers four- and five-star hotels in the context of Iran. The structural equation modelling technique was applied for testing the measurement and relationship models of the study.

Findings

The findings of this research reveal a positive relationship between SR and outcome favourability. The findings also indicate that outcome favourability positively affects SSR and loyalty. Finally, SSR exerts a favourable and significant impact on customer loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

The study findings may have restricted applicability in different contexts other than four- and five-star hotels. Theoretically, the current research contributes insight into the dynamics of characterizing SR, outcome favourability, SSR and behavioural intention-based theoretical associations, as observed in the hospitality industry.

Originality/value

This study adopted an un-explored SR, outcome favourability and SSR theoretical perspectives to identify the strength and nature of relationships between them and discuss their important implications for academicians and hotel managers.
Guiding factors for planning public open spaces to enhance coastal cities’ disaster resilience to tsunamis
Authors: Jayakody R.R.J. Chathuranganee , Amaratunga Dilanthi
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Public open spaces (POS) in cities are often measured as a strength to enhance cities’ sustainability with a contribution to the three pillars: economic, social and environmental. Nevertheless, the importance of POS for disaster resilience is less recognised and remains under-rehearsed in the urban planning context. Within this context, this research paper aims to investigate the methods and approaches of using POS to enhance the coastal cities’ resilience to tsunamis through planning and designing interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the grounded theory as the research strategy. Accordingly, data collection involved 72 unstructured interviews covering a wide variety of participants related to the field of study including tsunami-affected communities, disaster resilience experts, urban planners, sociologists and coastal planners, in the context of Sri Lanka. The grounded theory coding procedure is used to analyse the data that includes transcripts, notes, maps and documents.

Findings

The analysis reveals that there is a significant potential to use POS to enhance the coastal cities’ resilience to tsunamis as an emergency evacuation directing point, as a primary place for emergency rescue, as an agent for temporary sheltering, as a facilitator for tsunami disaster mitigation and as a mediator to provide tsunami awareness. Finally, the findings propose five guiding factors for planning POS to enhance coastal cities’ disaster resilience to Tsunamis.

Originality/value

This paper introduces an innovative and unique approach for future urban planners and design professionals, to plan and design POS with a new direction towards disaster resilience while ensuring sustainability.
Bilateral trade agreements and trade finance: evidence from Turkey
Authors: Habiyaremye Alexis , Avsar Veysel
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study investigates the impact of trade integration on payment choice in international transactions using data from Turkey, an emerging economy that signed many trade agreements in the last two decades.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use industry-level trade finance data from Turkey, which reports payment methods in exports at two-digit ISIC level for 180 export destinations. The authors performed linear as well as maximum likelihood techniques to test our hypothesis.

Findings

The authors show that the removal of trade barriers by bilateral free trade agreements leads to more exporter-financed transactions. This implies that lowering trade barriers contributes to reducing risk, which leads to more trade finance by exporters.

Originality/value

Trade finance is the lifeblood of global trade. Although the previous literature have analyzed the institutional and financial factors affecting exporters' decision to extend trade credit, the effect of economic integration has been overlooked. In this regard, this study represents the first attempt to analyze the impact of trade integration on trade finance.
Impact of external assurance on corporate climate change disclosures: new evidence from Finland
Authors: Dutta Probal , Dutta Anupam
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of external assurance on the level of voluntary corporate climate change disclosures by Finnish firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample of this study includes 228 firm-year observations over the period 2008–2015 for listed Finnish companies that have issued sustainability reports and responded to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) questionnaire at least once during the sample period. The authors conduct a panel regression analysis to study the afore-mentioned linkage. In addition, the Tobit regression model is also estimated to check the robustness of our findings.

Findings

The findings suggest that assurance has a highly significant positive impact on the level of corporate climate change disclosures even after controlling for the effect of a number of control variables. Moreover, among the control variables, firm size and asset age are found to have significant effect on the extent of carbon emissions disclosure. Furthermore, the additional analysis reveals that the type of assurance providers (accounting firms vs non-accounting firms) and the type of financial auditors (Big4 financial auditors vs non-Big4 financial auditors) do not influence the level of climate change disclosure of assured companies.

Research limitations/implications

This research is subject to certain limitations. First, the source of the data used in this research is the CDP database which has limitations in that it is a voluntary disclosure process where all the observations collected are self-reported by the responding firms. This may bias the reported findings. Second, our sample includes only listed companies and hence the results might have limited explanatory capacity for unlisted firms.

Practical implications

By using the results of this research, corporate managers will be able to reduce the information asymmetry between various stakeholders and them through disclosure of accurate, reliable and credible environmental information. Such disclosures will, in turn, allow socially responsible investors to choose eco-friendly investments and will thus enable them to make appropriate investment decisions.

Originality/value

Research on the external assurance-corporate climate change disclosure nexus is scarce. This study addresses this gap in the nonfinancial disclosure assurance literature by demonstrating that external assurance increases the level of voluntary corporate climate change disclosure. Drawing on stakeholder-agency theory, this study views external assurance as a monitoring structure that potentially curbs the monitoring problem between corporate managers and other stakeholders and increases the amount of climate change disclosures making a possible avenue for the reduction of the information asymmetry between them.
The relationship between gender perception levels and infertility distress of infertile women in a university hospital, Turkey
Authors: Doğan Yüksekol Özlem , Duman Mesude , Durgun Ozan Yeter
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study was conducted to analyze the correlation between gender perception and infertility distress of infertile women.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a descriptive-analytical study conducted with 255 women receiving treatment in the in vitro fertilization unit of a medical faculty hospital in Turkey. Study data were collected using sociodemographic questions as well as the Perception of Gender Scale (PGS) and the Infertility Distress Scale (IDS).

Findings

It was found that the PGS mean score was 69.65 and the IDS mean score was 53.1. It was determined that there was a negative, moderate and significant correlation between gender perception and infertility distress levels of women in the infertility treatment process (r = −0.263, p < 0.001).

Originality/value

As a result of the study, a negative, moderate, significant correlation was detected between gender perception and infertility distress.
An assessment on the news about the tourism industry during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Şengel Ümit , Çevrimkaya Mustafa , Genç Gökhan , Işkın Merve , Zengin Burhanettin , Sarıışık Mehmet
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study examines the relationship of COVID-19 with the tourism industry in the context of news coverage. More specifically, this study analyzes the relationship between COVID-19 and subsectors of tourism throughout different periods of the pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research techniques were applied, and content analysis used, to analyze the collected data. The news contents obtained cover two one-week periods: March 5–12, 2020, and April 5–12, 2020. The content analysis method and MAXQDA program were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The research findings reveal that tourism and news related to COVID-19 were heavily connected with the travel industry during March 5–12, 2020, with concentrations slightly favoring the hospitality industry. In the period of April 5–12, 2020, the strong relationship between tourism and travel continued. During the latter period, the hospitality and the events industries were both subjects of relevant news.

Research limitations/implications

This study examined the news during a short period of time. In addition, the sample of the study does not represent all news in all media. Examining different media outlets and different news cycles may produce different results.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to examine the relationship between the pandemic and the tourism industry from a macro perspective in the context of news coverage. The study provides implications for policy-makers, tourism planners and industry.
What drives Muslim Malaysian consumers’ general attitude towards religious advertising?
Authors: Waqas Muhammad
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Given the increased interest in the practical significance of the general attitude towards religious advertising, the purpose of this paper is to examine what influences consumers’ general attitude towards religious advertising in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytical research design was used to examine the impact of five factors (attitude towards the purpose/goal of the religious advertising [attitude institution], the quality of the message [attitude instrument], the information presented in the religious advertising about the product [product information], the social image associated with the advertised product [social image] and the hedonic pleasure owing to the advertisement of the product or service [hedonic pleasure]) on the general attitude towards religious advertising. Data were collected using an online survey (n= 210) and were analysed using structural equation modelling method.

Findings

The research found that the attitude towards the institution of advertising and the hedonic pleasure significantly influence the general attitude towards religious advertising. However, the quality of the advertisement, social image and product information were found to be insignificant predictors. Overall, this is a surprising result, where consumers place their trust in the reputation of the provider of the product or service and act based on the stimulus of good feeling the advertisement converse to them.

Originality/value

This paper fills the gap in the research, as there are very few studies done on religious advertising. This paper has presented ways to improve practices of religious advertising.
Workplace bullying from the perspectives of trainee clinical psychologists
Authors: Brown Lan Rachel , Mason Barbara , Carter Madeline
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Research has identified that workplace bullying is a significant problem within health care, with health-care trainees at particular risk. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of workplace bullying from the perspectives of trainee clinical psychologists.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 14 trainee clinical psychologists recruited from British universities participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

The analysis generated four main themes: workplace bullying “activating threat responses”, the process of trainee clinical psychologists “making sense of bullying”, “difficulties navigating power within the system” when experiencing and reporting bullying and “finding safety and support” within and outside of work contexts.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first known study of workplace bullying specifically within clinical psychology. The research has implications for guidance for training institutions and professional bodies associated with trainee mental health professionals.
Nurturing psychological capital: an examination of organizational antecedents: the role of employee perceptions of teamwork, training opportunities and leader–member exchange
Authors: Xerri Matthew J. , Farr-Wharton Ben , Brunetto Yvonne
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper uses conservation of resources (COR) theory to examine antecedents of psychological capital (PsyCap). Past research shows that employees with high personal resources such as PsyCap also have high work performance. Hence, organizations need information about how to enhance PsyCap. This paper extends existing research by examining potential antecedents of PsyCap. A total of three potential antecedents are tested, including perceptions of individual-level cooperation between employees (i.e. teamwork), relationships between employees and their supervisors (i.e. supervisor–subordinate relationships) and a human resource (HR) practice (i.e. training opportunities).

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to compare the impact of organizational factors on US and Australian employees' PsyCap.

Findings

The results indicate a significant direct effect of leader–member exchange (LMX) onto PsyCap and a significant indirect effect between LMX and PsyCap through teamwork and through training opportunities for employees in Australia and the USA. Teamwork and training opportunities partially mediate the impact of LMX onto PsyCap for both Australian and US employees.

Practical implications

Australian employees are likely to reduce their performance because of a perceived loss of personal resources and/or may even experience burnout and/or become a stress-related workers compensation statistic.

Originality/value

The findings suggest that employees in Australia perceived significantly lower levels of supportive resources to draw upon, including from their managers and peers. On applying COR theory, when comparing employees, it was observed that those who perceive fewer resources will be less equipped to produce resource gains. Taking into consideration that employees require the use of resources to maintain personal resources, Australian employees have fewer resources at their disposal to maintain their personal resources (i.e. PsyCap).
Study on the effect of semisolid lubricants on tribological properties of hardened steel during boring process
Authors: G. Lawrance , Paul P. Sam , A.S. Varadarajan
Published: December 2020

Purpose

In the internal turning process, tool life and work piece quality are greatly influenced by the generation of heat in the cutting zone. During machining, cutting fluids are applied at the cutting zones to reduce heat generation and enhance tribological properties. However, in the boring process, cutting fluids cannot be applied at cutting zone properly, and wastage of cutting fluid is a threat to the ecology and personnel health. Hence, application of semisolid lubricant in the boring process is considered as an innovative technique for temperature reduction in cutting zone because of its eco-friendly system, which also has a higher ability of biodegradability. This paper aims to study the influence of semisolid lubricants comprising of grease,graphite, aluminium oxide in different composition applied at a tool–chip,tool–work interface using a semisolid lubricant applicator applied with varying pressure.

Design/methodology/approach

In the present study, the cutting performance during boring of AISI4340 steel is enhanced through the application of semisolid lubricant with different composition of grease, graphite and aluminium oxide applied at tool-work and tool-chip interface with varying pressure using semisolid lubricant applicator.

Findings

The results show that use of semisolid lubricant like grease, graphite and nano aluminium oxide at tool-chip interface with maximum pressure reduces cutting temperature, tool vibration, cutting force and surface roughness.

Originality/value

Reduce cutting temperature, tool vibration, cutting force and surface roughness.
Plant quantity and quality regulate the diversity of arthropod communities in a semi‐arid grassland
Authors: Lu Xiaoming , Zhao Xuezhen , Tachibana Taiki , Uchida Kei , Sasaki Takehiro , Bai Yongfei
Published: December 2020

The quantity (e.g. biomass production) and quality (e.g. leaf nutrient content) of plants can strongly influence arthropod diversity, but few studies have tried to disentangle such effects.

In this study, we examined the independent effects of plant productivity and leaf traits on the taxon richness and abundance of entire arthropod communities and multiple arthropod orders in replicated monocultures of 15 herbaceous species in the Inner Mongolian grassland.

Total taxon richness of arthropod communities increased with plant productivity and an increase in a high nutrient content indicator (PC1) of plant leaf traits (e.g. high leaf nitrogen, phosphorus and water contents), but decreased with an increase in a poor nutrient content indicator (PC2) of plant leaf traits (e.g. high leaf lignin content but low SLA). Total abundance of arthropod communities increased with increasing plant productivity but decreased with increasing PC2.

Many common, rather than rare arthropod orders, exhibited strong responses to the changes in plant quantity or quality. Taxon richness of Diptera, Neuroptera and Coleoptera responded positively to the increase in plant productivity and PC1, while taxon richness of Hemiptera and Coleoptera responded negatively to the increase in PC2. Abundances of Diptera and Coleoptera responded positively to the increased plant productivity, whereas abundances of Hymenoptera and Hemiptera responded negatively to the increased PC2. The order‐specific responses of arthropod richness and abundance to plant quantity or quality reflected the different food requirements and feeding behaviours of arthropods.

Our findings demonstrate that plant quantity and quality can independently control richness and abundance of arthropod communities. The changes in plant productivity and nutrient content of different plant species may alter arthropod diversity and community structure, and these changes in turn may have strong cascading effects on multiple functions (e.g. prey, decomposers, pollinators and predators) in terrestrial ecosystems.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
The geometry of resource constraint: An empirical study of the golden snub‐nosed monkey
Authors: Hou Rong , Chapman Colin A. , Rothman Jessica M. , Zhang He , Huang Kang , Guo Songtao , Li Baoguo , Raubenheimer David
Published: December 2020

Apposite conceptualization and measurement of resource variation is critical for understanding many issues in ecology, including ecological niches, persistence and distribution of populations, the structure of communities and population resilience to perturbations.

We apply the nutritional geometry framework to conceptualize and quantify the responses of a temperate‐living primate, the golden snub‐nosed monkey Rhinopithecus roxellana to variation in resource quality and quantity and in nutrient requirements associated with seasonal environments.

We present a geometric model distinguishing qualitative constraint, quantitative constraint and ‘pseudo‐constraint’ whereby nutrient intakes resemble response to qualitative resource constraint but are in fact driven by variation in nutrient requirements. The model is applied to analyse nutrient intakes recorded in 164 full‐day observations of monkeys from two populations, one wild and the other captive, across seasons. Additionally, we recorded the diet of a single animal over 32 consecutive days in the wild.

Despite considerable differences in available resources, the captive and wild populations showed marked similarities in nutrient intakes, including indistinguishable amounts and ratios of ingested macronutrients during summer and autumn and strong year‐round maintenance of protein compared to seasonally variable fat and carbohydrate intakes. These similarities suggest homeostatically regulated nutritional targets and provide reference points to identify factors driving population differences in macronutrient intake in winter and spring.

Our framework enabled us to distinguish examples of quantitative, qualitative and ‘pseudo‐constraint’. We suggest that this approach can increase the resolution at which resource constraint is conceptualized and measured in ecological studies.
Epidemiology and clinical features of emergency department patients with suspected COVID‐19: Insights from Australia's ‘second wave’ (COVED‐4)
Authors: O'Reilly Gerard M , Mitchell Robert D , Mitra Biswadev , Akhlaghi Hamed , Tran Viet , Furyk Jeremy S , Buntine Paul , Wong Anselm , Gangathimmaiah Vinay , Knott Jonathan , Raos Max , Chatterton Erica , Sevior Carolyne , Parker Sophie , Baker Samuel , Loughman Ashley , Lowry Nicole , Freeman Dylan , Sri‐Ganeshan Muhuntha , Chapman Nicole , Siu Sherman , Noonan Michael P , Smit De Villiers , Cameron Peter A ,   the COVED Project Team
Published: December 2020

Objective

The aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiology and clinical features of patients presenting to the ED with suspected and confirmed COVID‐19 during Australia's ‘second wave’.

Methods

The COVID‐19 ED (COVED) Project is an ongoing prospective cohort study in Australian EDs. This analysis presents data from 12 sites across four Australian states for the period from 1 July to 31 August 2020. All adult patients who met the criteria for ‘suspected COVID‐19’ and underwent testing for SARS‐CoV‐2 in the ED were eligible for inclusion. Study outcomes included a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test result, mechanical ventilation and in‐hospital mortality.

Results

There were 106 136 presentations to the participating EDs and 12 055 (11.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 11.2–11.6) underwent testing for SARS‐CoV‐2. Of these, 255 (2%) patients returned a positive result. Among positive cases, 13 (5%) received mechanical ventilation during their hospital admission compared to 122 (2%) of the SARS‐CoV‐2 negative patients (odds ratio 2.7; 95% CI 1.5–4.9, P = 0.001). Nineteen (7%) SARS‐CoV‐2 positive patients died in hospital compared to 212 (3%) of the SARS‐CoV‐2 negative patients (odds ratio 2.3; 95% CI 1.4–3.7, P = 0.001). Strong clinical predictors of the SARS‐CoV‐2 test result included self‐reported fever, sore throat, bilateral infiltrates on chest X‐ray, and absence of a leucocytosis on first ED blood tests (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

In this prospective multi‐site study during Australia's ‘second wave’, a substantial proportion of ED presentations required SARS‐CoV‐2 testing and isolation. Presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 on nasopharyngeal swab was associated with an increase in the odds of death and mechanical ventilation in hospital.
Current perspectives on the occurrence of Q fever: highlighting the need for systematic surveillance for a neglected zoonotic disease in Indian subcontinent
Authors: Sahu Radhakrishna , Rawool Deepak Bhiwa , Dhaka Pankaj , Yadav Jay Prakash , Mishra Sidharth Prasad , Kumar Manesh , Vergis Jess , Malik Satyaveer Singh , Barbuddhe Sukhadeo Baliram
Published: December 2020

Coxiellosis or Q fever is an important global occupational zoonotic disease caused by one of the most contagious bacterial pathogens – Coxiella burnetii, which ranks one among the 13 global priority zoonoses. The detection of C. burnetii infection is exhibiting an increasing trend in high‐risk personnel around the globe. It has increasingly been detected from foods of animal origin (including bulk milk, eggs, and meat) as well as tick vectors in many parts of the world. Coxiellosis is reported to be an important public health threat causing spontaneous abortions in humans and potential reproductive failure, which would result in production losses among livestock. Further, comprehensive coverage of the reports and trends of Q fever in developing countries, where this infection is supposed to be widely prevalent appears scarce. Also, the pathogen remains grossly neglected and underreported. Moreover, policymakers and funding agencies do not view it as a priority problem, especially in the Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Maldives. Here, we review the occurrence and epidemiology of the disease in a global context with special emphasis on its status in the Indian subcontinent.
Three cases of Sneddon syndrome: A comparison with lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis
Authors: Ting Sarajane , Kelly Robert I
Published: December 2020

Lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis and Sneddon syndrome can have very similar clinical presentations with chronic persistent widespread blanchable livedo racemosa. Lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis has only recently been described and generally is associated with a benign prognosis. Sneddon syndrome is associated with the development of multiple cerebrovascular accidents and progressive neurological impairment. We present three cases of Sneddon syndrome and compare them with lymphocytic thrombophilic arteritis to identify patients at risk of neurological events.
Human torpor: translating insights from nature into manned deep space expedition
Authors: Shi Zhe , Qin Meng , Huang Lu , Xu Tao , Chen Ying , Hu Qin , Peng Sha , Peng Zhuang , Qu Li‐Na , Chen Shan‐Guang , Tuo Qin‐Hui , Liao Duan‐Fang , Wang Xiao‐Ping , Wu Ren‐Rong , Yuan Ti‐Fei , Li Ying‐Hui , Liu Xin‐Min
Published: December 2020

During a long‐duration manned spaceflight mission, such as flying to Mars and beyond, all crew members will spend a long period in an independent spacecraft with closed‐loop bioregenerative life‐support systems. Saving resources and reducing medical risks, particularly in mental heath, are key technology gaps hampering human expedition into deep space. In the 1960s, several scientists proposed that an induced state of suppressed metabolism in humans, which mimics ‘hibernation’, could be an ideal solution to cope with many issues during spaceflight. In recent years, with the introduction of specific methods, it is becoming more feasible to induce an artificial hibernation‐like state (synthetic torpor) in non‐hibernating species. Natural torpor is a fascinating, yet enigmatic, physiological process in which metabolic rate (MR), body core temperature (Tb) and behavioural activity are reduced to save energy during harsh seasonal conditions. It employs a complex central neural network to orchestrate a homeostatic state of hypometabolism, hypothermia and hypoactivity in response to environmental challenges. The anatomical and functional connections within the central nervous system (CNS) lie at the heart of controlling synthetic torpor. Although progress has been made, the precise mechanisms underlying the active regulation of the torpor–arousal transition, and their profound influence on neural function and behaviour, which are critical concerns for safe and reversible human torpor, remain poorly understood. In this review, we place particular emphasis on elaborating the central nervous mechanism orchestrating the torpor–arousal transition in both non‐flying hibernating mammals and non‐hibernating species, and aim to provide translational insights into long‐duration manned spaceflight. In addition, identifying difficulties and challenges ahead will underscore important concerns in engineering synthetic torpor in humans. We believe that synthetic torpor may not be the only option for manned long‐duration spaceflight, but it is the most achievable solution in the foreseeable future. Translating the available knowledge from natural torpor research will not only benefit manned spaceflight, but also many clinical settings attempting to manipulate energy metabolism and neurobehavioural functions.
Raising the profile of woodfuels in the forest landscape restoration agenda
Authors: Harvey Celia A. , Guariguata Manuel R.
Published: December 2020

Forest landscape restoration (FLR) is being promoted as a means of tackling global challenges including land degradation, climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. However, as the FLR agenda gains momentum, it is critical that FLR initiatives pay sufficient attention in promoting the sustainable management of woodfuels, so far overlooked. In many regions, woodfuels (firewood and charcoal) are the main energy source for households and play a pivotal role in local economies; yet they are also associated with environmental degradation and adverse health outcomes. Here we examine the reasons why it is important to raise the profile of woodfuels within the FLR agenda and highlight the enabling conditions needed to promote sustainable management of woodfuels. In landscapes where woodfuel use is prevalent, FLR initiatives should consider enhancing wood fuel supply by growing trees, promoting fuel‐efficient cookstoves and kilns, and shifting pressure from natural forests and woodlands to planted trees. We argue that if wood fuel issues are considered in the design, implementation and monitoring of FLR initiatives and are supported by appropriate policies, resources and technical capacity, this will greatly enhance the sustainability and success of FLR initiatives.
National support for the European integration project: Does financial integration matter?
Authors: Esteve‐González Patricia , Herwartz Helmut , Theilen Bernd
Published: December 2020

We analyze in how far market perceptions of actual financial integration affect EU integration support at the country level. As indicators of realized states of integration in financial markets we rely upon yield differentials of long‐term government debt. To identify particular situations that could undermine the integration process, we suggest a new measure of EU integration risks that fulfills a number of properties which are desirable to ensure its informational value. Our results indicate that tensions to finance public debt in integrated financial markets are the main contributor to weakened support for EU integration. Particularly, large yield spreads increase the polarization on this issue at the country level. Moreover, as a confirmation of a‐priori expectations, we find that the national support for EU integration sees a fostering in times of economic upswing and under beneficial structural EU funding. These results indicate that it becomes crucial to monitor increasing international yield differences as they could prepare the ground for claims for EU disintegration policies, thereby, threatening future advances of the EU integration project.
Assessing hydrologic and water quality effects of land use conversion to Brassica carinata as a winter biofuel crop in the southeastern coastal plain of Georgia, USA using the SWAT model
Authors: Hoghooghi Nahal , Bosch David D. , Bledsoe Brian P.
Published: December 2020

Carinata (Brassica carinata) is an industrial oilseed feedstock for renewable fuels grown as a winter crop in the southeast US, which may provide a new rotation alternative and benefits for water quality. However, the effects of carinata on water quantity and quality at the watershed and local scales are unknown. In this study, we use the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to assess the potential influence of carinata on water balance components, nutrients and sediment loads under plausible future scenarios of land use change in the upper Suwannee River Basin in the Atlantic Coastal Plain Physiographic Region near Tifton in South‐Central Georgia. Three future scenarios are considered, including planting stand‐alone carinata in winter fallow land every third year, planting stand‐alone winter wheat in winter fallow land every third year, and carinata and winter wheat in rotation, one year of winter carinata followed by two years of winter wheat during simulation periods. The results show that under all three future scenarios, surface runoff, sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen loadings decrease at both watershed and local scales, with higher average monthly reductions in the stand‐alone carinata scenario versus the stand‐alone winter wheat scenario. When carinata and winter wheat were planted over 36% of the total watershed area, reduction in total sediment, mineral phosphorus, and nitrate loads was ranging from 11.5% to 50.0%. However, when only 12% of the total watershed area was converted to carinata, the simulated reductions ranged from 3.8% to 14.0%. This suggests that the extent of carinata planting is crucial in assessing its hydrologic and water quality benefits. Overall, these results indicate that planting the biofuel carinata as a winter crop can reduce sediment and nutrient loading and provide water quality benefits to downstream waterbodies.
A New Bronze Age Hoard from Mariesminde at Langeskov on Funen, Denmark
Authors: Thrane Henrik , Juottijärvi Arne
Published: December 2020

A hoard was discovered at Mariesminde near the centre of the Danish island Funen in 2003 during trial excavations. A pot containing 27 bronzes was later excavated in the museum laboratory. The bronzes were stacked disorderly, with a large piece of sheet bronze at the bottom. The objects consisted of broken rings, several so-called ‘Hohlwulstringe’ or hollow rings, a socketed axe, plus 13 casting cakes and three casting runners. No less than four rings are types new to Scandinavia and reflect connections with the Italian peninsula and further away.

The hoard’s mixture of broken objects, casting runners and cakes classifies it as a scrap hoard. It is dated to the Bronze Age period VI (Montelius), prominently indicated by the hollow rings.

The findspot of the hoard was only c. 200 m from the well-known period IV hoard Mariesminde I with the largest collection of gold vessels from Funen.

The metal analyses open new perspectives and indicate an origin in the Alps or the Erzgebirge for most of the collection.
Hypertension and erectile dysfunction: The role of endovascular therapy in Asia
Authors: Wang Tzung‐Dau , Lee Chih‐Kuo , Chia Yook‐Chin , Tsoi Kelvin , Buranakitjaroen Peera , Chen Chen‐Huan , Cheng Hao‐Min , Tay Jam Chin , Teo Boon Wee , Turana Yuda , Sogunuru Guru Prasad , Wang Ji‐Guang , Kario Kazuomi ,   the HOPE Asia Network
Published: December 2020

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) is above 40% in both Asian and non‐Asian male populations after the age of 40 years. The prevalence of ED among hypertensive patients is approximately double than that in normotensive population. Pelvic arterial insufficiency is the predominant cause of ED in men aged over 50 years. Stenosis in any segment of the iliac–pudendal–penile arterial system, which is considered an erectile‐related arterial axis, could lead to ED. Pharmacotherapy with lifestyle modification is effective in alleviating sexual dysfunction, yet a substantial number of patients still develop ED. Given the established applicability of angioplasty for the entire iliac–pudendal–penile arterial system, penile duplex ultrasound, and pelvic computed tomography angiography could be considered as the routine screening tools in ED patients with poor response to phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitors. Endovascular therapy for pelvic arterial insufficiency‐related ED has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment option in patients who have anatomically suitable vessels and functionally significant stenoses. Clinical improvement was achieved in over 60% of patients at one year following pelvic angioplasty in the PERFECT registry from Taiwan. A 30%‐40% restenosis rate in distal internal pudendal and penile arteries remains a hurdle. Angioplasty for pelvic arterial occlusive disease could be considered as a viable approach to arteriogenic ED.