bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An operational conceptualization of human resource analytics: implications for in human resource development
Authors: Jiang Yeling , Akdere Mesut
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the evolution of the concept of human resource analytics (HRA) and propose an operational framework demonstrating the sources generating data for HRA, as well as the impact of HRA on multiple levels in the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of literature was conducted to present the existing body of knowledge and build upon for the development of an operational framework for successful implementation of HRA as a human resources (HR) process.

Findings

Building upon the existing literature, this paper presents an operational HRA framework, positioning HRA as an analytical process through integrating advanced statistical methodology. HRA presents a tool to obtain evidence-based analytical results for improving people-related performance, operational effectiveness, and ultimately the impact of the business strategy. By using HR big data, HRA impacts multiple organizational levels, from individual employees to HR functions and the organizational strategy.

Practical implications

While research on data analytics has recently flourished across various management fields, this has not been the case for the broader field of HR. This is especially a growing concern as the lack of understanding of the basics and fundamentals of people analytics in the field of HR may delay the effective implementation and operationalization of HRA and present additional barriers impacting on-going HR activities, as well as HR’s role as a strategic business partner. HR practice may greatly benefit from gaining an understanding of HRA and the multi-levels of impact it may have on the organization.

Originality/value

This paper explores various concepts related to HRA by examining terms such as “HR metrics” vs “HR” and “HR big data” vs “big data.” Furthermore, the comprehensive HRA operational framework presented in this paper provides HR professionals and researchers with a better understanding of HRA in the age of data analytics and artificial intelligence.
Impact of Sarbanes Oxley Act on initial public offerings: new evidence from reverse leveraged buyouts
Authors: Reddy Nischala P. , Le Ben , Paul Donna L.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how the passage of the Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX) impacted the likelihood and timing of the decision of leveraged buyout (LBO) firms to exit via initial public offering (IPO) (reverse-LBO) and the mediating effect of reputed private equity (PE) firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample comprises firms that went private via LBO between 1990 and 2018. The authors use logistic and ordinary least square regression models to compare the effect of SOX on the re-listing decision and the time taken to re-list.

Findings

LBO firms were less likely to exit via public offering after SOX, and the time from LBO to IPO was significantly longer for exiting firms post-SOX. PE firm reputation partially reversed the reluctance to exit via IPO and shortened the time to exit.

Research limitations/implications

The primary focus is RLBOs; the authors do not directly examine other methods of LBO exit. The findings have policy implications for unintended impacts of SOX. Despite the benefits of increasing transparency and protecting investors, SOX reduced the likelihood of going public and increased the time to IPO, potentially reducing product market competition.

Originality/value

RLBOs present a unique experimental setting as the authors can test the impact of SOX on both the likelihood and time to go public, whereas prior literature using first-time IPO samples are able to test only the likelihood. The authors also show that the reputation of the advising PE firm attenuates the reluctance and time taken for RLBOs to re-list. The authors are, thus, able to provide a new perspective on the impact of SOX on the going public decision.
Drifting the goals archetype: a systemic study
Authors: Bagodi Virupaxi , Mahanty Biswajit
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Managerial decision-making is an area of interest to both academia and practitioners. Researchers found that managers often fail to manage complex decision-making tasks and system thinkers assert that generic structures known as systems archetypes help them to a great deal in handling such situations. In this paper, it is demonstrated that decision makers resort to lowering of goal (quick-fix) in order to resolve the gap between the goal and current reality in the “drifting the goals” systems archetype.

Design/methodology/approach

A real-life case study is taken up to highlight the pitfalls of “drifting the goals” systems archetype for a decision situation in the Indian two-wheeler industry. System dynamics modeling is made use of to obtain the results.

Findings

The decision makers fail to realize the pitfall of lowering the goal to resolve the gap between the goal and current reality. It is seen that, irrespective of current less-than-desirable performance, managers adopting corrective actions other than lowering of goals perform better in the long run. Further, it is demonstrated that extending the boundary and experimentation results in designing a better service system and setting benchmarks.

Practical implications

The best possible way to avoid the pitfall is to hold the vision and not lower the long term goal. The managers must be aware of the pitfalls beforehand.

Originality/value

Systems thinking is important in complex decision-making tasks. Managers need to embrace long-term perspective in decision-making. This paper demonstrates the value of systems thinking in terms of a case study on the “drifting the goals” systems archetype.
Study on the quality improvement on black land in Northeast China under the environment of sustainable agricultural development
Authors: Teng Yun , Pang Boyuan , Guo Xiangyu
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The authors are committed to providing the Chinese government with a foundation for making decisions that will protect black land and ensure long-term agricultural development.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the grounded theory approach, this study investigates the influencing factors affecting the quality of black land in Northeast China and proposes a hypothetical model for the mechanism of the influencing factors on the quality of black land in Northeast China.

Findings

The factors influencing the quality of black land include not only soil quality, ecological quality and environmental quality, but also economic quality and management quality, and can be classified into five categories. There are complex influence relationships between various factors and black land quality, with soil quality, ecological quality, environmental quality and management quality having a positive influence on economic quality. Soil quality, ecological quality and environmental quality are all improved as a result of good management. Black land quality is influenced positively by environmental quality, economic quality and management quality.

Research limitations/implications

The quality of black land is a major concern in terms of food production and long-term agricultural development. The black land in Northeast China was chosen as the subject of this study, and the research findings have some limitations. The next step will be to expand from studying the black land in Northeast China to the black land worldwide.

Originality/value

In Northeast China, the quality of the five dimensions of black land must be improved in a coordinated and consistent manner.
The impact of entrepreneurs' full-time versus hybrid employment and social connections on new venture survival: a USA–India comparison
Authors: Zhang Xi , Gopalakrishnan Shanthi , Roy Raja , Bandera Cesar
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the entrepreneurs' social connections and types of employment differentially affect the survival of startup firms in the USA and India. Further, the authors analyze the differences during both the early stage and the later stages of new ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) database between 2012 and 2014 and examine the hypothesized effects with logistic regression analyses.

Findings

The analysis reveals that an entrepreneur's social connections with other entrepreneurs favor the survival of the focal entrepreneur's early-stage business in the USA. However, social connections are more critical for later-stage ventures in India. During the early stage, new ventures of full-time entrepreneurs are more likely to survive in India, whereas those by hybrid entrepreneurs are more likely to survive in the USA. The differences between the importance of full-time and hybrid entrepreneurs across geographies are less discernible during the later stages of new ventures.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper is that it demonstrates the significant differences in the way social connections and types of employment (hybrid versus full-time) affect the survival of entrepreneurial firms in the early and later stages. The study also expands the international business literature by shedding new light on country-level differences that affect the survival of new ventures.
Work transitions after serious hand injury: Current occupational therapy practice in a middle‐income country
Authors: Buchanan Helen , van Niekerk Lana
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Work‐related transitions following serious hand injury can be complex for people with hand injuries and rehabilitation professionals supporting the return‐to‐work process. This study explored South African occupational therapy practice related to work transitions after a serious hand injury.

Methods

In this collective case study, maximum variation sampling was used to select seven occupational therapists involved in facilitating work‐related transitions for people with serious hand injuries. Participants selected at least five cases that illustrated the breadth of their practice in terms of work transitions; these cases formed the focus of the semi‐structured interviews. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Exemplar quotations were extracted to support emergent key themes.

Results

There was one overarching theme—Ongoing appraisal of the fit between function and inherent work demands—which comprised three stages: (1) determining and facilitating readiness to work; (2) managing the risk and trauma of returning to work, and (3) implementing reasonable accommodation. The central theme comprised six strategies that were used to optimise the transition process and achieve the best possible outcome.

Conclusion

The study highlighted the importance of work‐related transitions that are context‐driven, flexible, and involve multiple stakeholders. The occupational therapists demonstrated how they drew on their knowledge of local contexts to solve problems and generate effective individual strategies over the rehabilitation period. The findings may be applicable to other low‐ or middle‐income countries where the return‐to‐work process may not be as predictable as high‐income countries.
Not all oil shocks on the trade balance are alike: Empirical evidence from South Korea
Authors: Baek Jungho
Published: December 2021

The primary interest in the present article lies in the contribution to the existing literature by investigating the impacts that three components of oil shocks—oil supply shocks, aggregate demand shocks and oil‐specific demand shocks—have on three measures of South Korea's trade balances—oil, non‐oil and total trade balances. We reveal that aggregate demand shocks have significant impacts, while oil supply and oil‐specific demand shocks have negligible impacts. Additionally, the overall impact of the three oil shocks on South Korea's trade balances appears to rely on the response of the non‐oil trade balance.
A survey of cognitive function in peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Wang Yan , Zhang Hong‐Xia , Wang Yong‐Chun , Song Shu‐Hua , Jin Xue‐Qin , Tian Na , Chen Meng‐Hua
Published: December 2021

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate how peritoneal dialysis and other influencing factors affect patients' cognitive function.

Methods

The 85 subjects in the study group were regular patients in our center. The control group included 88 age and gender matched healthy individuals who were with normal renal function. The study subjects' cognitive levels and related factors were analyzed using several screening instruments: the cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale and statistical analysis was conducted based on the relevant data.

Results

The results showed that cognitive impairment was higher in peritoneal dialysis patients than in non‐dialysis subjects. Age and educational background were single factors that affected cognitive function, which was more likely to be impaired at a higher age level and/or a lower educational level.

Conclusion

Cognitive function can be impaired by peritoneal dialysis, and age and education levels are influencing factors.
The importance and impact of recognizing metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Al‐Omary Ahmed , Byth Karen , Weltman Martin , George Jacob , Eslam Mohammed
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) can develop in any patient, including those with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The recently proposed diagnostic criteria for MAFLD provide a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of concomitant fatty liver in patients with another established cause for their liver disease. The objective of our study was to assess the characteristics and outcomes of patients with a dual etiology liver disease.

Methods

We evaluated 1181 patients including 744 with CHC and 437 with MAFLD. All patients in both cohorts underwent liver biopsy indicating disease activity and fibrosis stage.

Results

Nearly half (43.1%) the patients with CHC had concomitant MAFLD. Comparing patients with CHC alone with those with a dual etiology disease, we found that the latter had more severe liver injury, hepatic inflammation and fibrosis (all P < 0.001). Interestingly, lean or normal‐weight patients with CHC and MAFLD had a similar fibrosis stage compared to the two other subgroups of MAFLD (obesity and/or diabetes mellitus). There was no statistical significance in hepatic steatosis and fibrosis between genotype 3 CHC and MAFLD group compared to other genotypes.

Conclusions

Patients with CHC and concomitant MAFLD had more severe liver disease than those with viral hepatitis alone. Recognizing coexisting MAFLD in patients with CHC is important for the delivery of holistic care.
2‐Methylhopanoids in geographically distinct, arid biological soil crusts are primarily cyanobacterial in origin
Authors: Garby Tamsyn J. , Jordan Matthew , Timms Verlaine , Walter Malcolm R. , Neilan Brett A.
Published: December 2021

Microbial palaeontology is largely reliant on the interpretation of geologically stable biomarkers or molecular fossils. Biomolecules that are both specific to particular groups of organisms and stable on a geological scale are invaluable for tracing the emergence and diversification of lifeforms, particularly in cases where mineral fossils are lacking. 2‐Methylhopanoids and their diagenic product, 2‐methylhopanes, are highly abundant bacterial membrane lipids, recoverable from samples in excess of a billion years old. In this work we used degenerate PCR, targeting 2‐methylhopanoid biosynthesis genes, and sequencing to show that the ability to produce these molecules in arid biological soil crusts from deserts in diverse geographical locations (Utah, USA, and the Pilbara, Australia) is largely confined to cyanobacteria. These data suggest that 2‐methylhopanes can be used as a proxy for cyanobacterial presence within these environments, contributing to our understanding of the emergence of terrestrial life on Earth.
Towards a Portfolio Approach: Partnerships for Sustainable Transformations
Authors: Horan David
Published: December 2021

This perspective article examines the role that partnerships can play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It elucidates a portfolio approach to partnerships that could align well with achieving a sustainable transformation. To conclude, it outlines recommendations on how this approach may be operationalized in research, policy, and practice. Much remains to be done on a portfolio approach. Practice and sharing of good practice should be guiding principles to facilitate peer‐to‐peer learning. It is also important to address power imbalances, conflicting interests, and limited representation in partnerships.
The effects of diversity on creativity: A literature review and synthesis
Authors: Hundschell Andreas , Razinskas Stefan , Backmann Julia , Hoegl Martin
Published: December 2021

In today's complex business world, the diversities within organizations, within teams, and of individual employees have emerged as a source of competitive advantage that can enhance creativity at multiple levels of analysis. However, the relationship between diversity and creativity at and across the individual, team, and organizational levels remains a topic of debate, despite ongoing scholarly interest. In this article, we address this debate by conducting a comprehensive multilevel review of 119 empirical studies that explores the effects of diversity on creativity. To structure this body of literature, we review studies based on their levels of analysis as well as the degrees of job‐relatedness and the observability of diversity attributes they investigate. This approach helps to enable the discussion of the differential effects that numerous diversity attributes can have on creativity at the individual, team, and organizational levels, thus uncovering promising avenues for future research. Our multilevel perspective particularly points toward the heightened need for more cross‐level and dynamic research designs and for extending conceptual ideas well known at one level of analysis to phenomena less understood at other levels of analysis. These approaches should improve the understanding of the complex, and therefore still puzzling, role of diversity for creativity.
Efficacy of bivalent fimbrial vaccines to control and eliminate intermediate forms of footrot in sheep
Authors: Smith KJ , Whittington RJ , Corrigan MA , Edmonstone BI , Cronin NA , Dhand NK , Dhungyel OP
Published: December 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of serogroup‐specific bivalent fimbrial vaccines in the control and elimination of relatively mild (intermediate) forms of footrot in sheep flocks in NSW, there being some evidence that such forms are difficult to control.

Methods

Four flocks of sheep with history of footrot of intermediate virulence were selected based on clinical and bacteriological diagnoses. Dichelobacter nodosus serogroups included in bivalent vaccines at each farm were based on on‐farm serogroup‐prevalence data. Two doses of bivalent vaccine were administered with a 4‐week interval between doses. Repeated post‐vaccination inspections of all feet of between 100 and 119 animals per mob were conducted and foot swabs were collected for bacteriological testing. Blood samples were collected from 10 to 24 individually identified animals per flock at each inspection to check for agglutinating antibody responses.

Results

In the majority of animals, antibody levels for serogroups included in each vaccine were above the level believed to be required for protective immunity. Footrot disappeared on farm 1 prior to vaccination, but did not reappear postvaccination. Footrot was controlled but not eliminated on farms 2, 3, and 4, where the prevalence and severity of the disease and number of serogroups present were reduced.

Conclusion

Serogroup‐specific bivalent vaccines can be effective at controlling footrot caused by intermediate strains of D. nodosus.
One health ethics
Authors: Capps Benjamin
Published: December 2021

One health has brought to the fore connections—between human culture and nature—that underlie healthy (and unhealthy) ecological niches. Like other emerging environmental concepts—eco‐health, one medicine and planetary health—one health merges scientific evidence with reasons for sustaining a healthy environment. This narrative is not new, but the importance of a cogent way of thinking about nature in ways that allow us to ameliorate harms brought about by human activities has become a theme of the Anthropocene. Many societies face seemingly insurmountable crises, brought about by a collective failure to foster ethical forms of environmental health. The following essay is an egalitarian reimagining of one health ethics. Undertaking this task is of considerable philosophical importance, because solving the problem of denotation—asking what is one health?—could change our rational view of nature for the betterment of humankind and our Earthly companions.
SerpinA3N attenuates ischemic stroke injury by reducing apoptosis and neuroinflammation
Authors: Zhang Yu , Chen Qianbo , Chen Dashuang , Zhao Wenqi , Wang Haowei , Yang Mei , Xiang Zhenghua , Yuan Hongbin
Published: December 2021

Objective

To assess the effect of serine protein inhibitor A3N (serpinA3N) in ischemic stroke and to explore its mechanism of action.

Methods

Mouse ischemic stroke model was induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. The expression pattern of serpinA3N was assessed using immunofluorescence, Western blot analysis, and real‐time quantitative PCR. An adeno‐associated virus (AAV) and recombinant serpinA3N were administered. Additionally, co‐immunoprecipitation‐mass spectrometry and immunofluorescence co‐staining were used to identify protein interactions.

Results

SerpinA3N was upregulated in astrocytes and neurons within the ischemic penumbra after stroke in the acute phase. The expression of serpinA3N gradually increased 6 h after reperfusion, peaked on the day 2–3, and then decreased by day 7. Overexpression of serpinA3N by AAV significantly reduced the infarct size and improved motor function, associated with alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress. SerpinA3N treatment also reduced apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Co‐immunoprecipitation‐mass spectrometry and Western blotting revealed that clusterin interacts with serpinA3N, and Akt‐mTOR pathway members were upregulated by serpinA3N both in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusions

SerpinA3N is expressed in astrocytes and penumbra neurons after stroke in mice. It reduces brain damage possibly via interacting with clusterin and inhibiting neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammation.
How to not get lost in the labyrinth during device‐assisted enteroscopy endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Authors: Kogure Hirofumi , Nakai Yousuke , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro
Published: December 2021

This Editorial refers to the article by Y. Kanno et al., p 238‐243 of this issue.
Urbanization affects oak–pathogen interactions across spatial scales
Authors: van Dijk Laura J. A. , Moreira Xoaquín , Barr Anna E. , Abdala‐Roberts Luis , Castagneyrol Bastien , Faticov Maria , Hardwick Bess , ten Hoopen Jan P. J. G. , de la Mata Raúl , Pires Ricardo Matheus , Roslin Tomas , Schigel Dmitry S. , Timmermans Bart G. H. , Tack Ayco J. M.
Published: December 2021

The world is rapidly urbanizing, thereby transforming natural landscapes and changing the abundance and distribution of organisms. However, insights into the effects of urbanization on species interactions, and plant–pathogen interactions in particular, are lacking. We investigated the effects of urbanization on powdery mildew infection on Quercus robur at continental and within‐city scales. At the continental scale, we compared infection levels between urban and rural areas of different‐sized cities in Europe, and investigated whether plant traits, climatic variables and CO2 emissions mediated the effect of urbanization on infection levels. Within one large city (Stockholm, Sweden), we further explored whether local habitat features and spatial connectivity influenced infection levels during multiple years. At the continental scale, infection severity was consistently higher on trees in urban than rural areas, with some indication that temperature mediated this effect. Within Stockholm city, temperature had no effect, while local accumulation of leaf litter negatively affected powdery mildew incidence in one out of three years, and more connected trees had lower infection levels. This study is the first to describe the effects of urbanization on plant–pathogen interactions both within and among cities, and to uncover the potential mechanisms behind the observed patterns at each scale.
The effect of Melampsorella caryophyllacearum (fir broom rust) on the morphological and anatomical traits of Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi‐trojani
Authors: Özden Keleş Seray , Ünal Sabri , Karadeniz Mertcan
Published: December 2021

Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi‐trojani (Kazdagi fir), an endemic tree species in Turkey, is increasingly threatened by Melampsorella caryophyllacearum, a fungal pathogen affecting growth and development of trees. In this work, the effect of M. caryophyllacearum on tree growth and wood cell anatomical properties were investigated in four study plots at two different altitudes (low vs. high) and aspects (shaded vs. sunny) in the Ilgaz Mountain area, south‐western Kastamonu, Turkey. Morphology (stem diameter and height), ring widths and anatomical cell characteristics (tracheid and ray sizes) were compared between asymptomatic and symptomatic trees within each plot. Disease incidence tended to increase with decreasing altitude: trees that were grown at relatively low altitude (approx. 1400 m a.s.l.) showed disease incidence, compared with trees at high altitude (approx. 1700 m a.s.l.). At the lower altitude, symptomatic trees had thinner, shorter stems, whereas stem diameter and height did not differ between asymptomatic and symptomatic trees at the higher altitude. In this study, symptomatic trees showed wider growth rings and greater wood cell sizes than asymptomatic trees in each study plot. The study thus suggests that low altitude may lead to higher pathogen damage in trees, and greater disease incidence may be encouraged by northern aspect.
A mesocosm‐based assessment of whether root hairs affect soil erosion by simulated rainfall
Authors: Burak Emma , Dodd Ian C. , Quinton John N.
Published: December 2021

Although plant canopies are widely recognized to protect the soil and help mitigate soil erosion, recent research has shown that the majority of soil scour prevention can be attributed to the roots. Because roots are more difficult and time‐consuming to measure than shoots, research in this area has largely been limited to understanding the influence of large roots and/or whole root systems, and there is little understanding on how smaller root traits, such as root hairs, contribute to the root system's ability to mitigate soil erosion. Therefore, this study subjected a root hairless mutant (brb) of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Pallas) and its wild‐type (WT) genotype to simulated rainfall. The results showed that increasing root presence significantly reduced soil erosion, but the impact of root hairs was less clear. Soil detachment significantly decreased as root length density increased, with no apparent genotypic difference in this relationship. The brb root systems produced significantly thinner (0.8‐fold) roots and a higher percentage (1.1‐fold) of fine roots, with both traits previously associated with increased ability to mitigate soil erosion. However, brb mesocosms produced a similar quantity of eroded soil to WT mesocosms, suggesting that root hairs in WT plants could have compensated for their root systems' reduced ability to mitigate soil erosion.

Highlights

It is not known whether root hairs affect a root system's ability to mitigate soil erosion.

Soil yield following simulated rainfall was compared for a root hairless mutant (brb) and its WT.

Root traits of brb favoured erosion mitigation, but brb and WT mesocosms eroded to the same degree.
Nine years of experimental warming did not influence the thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate in the medaka fish Oryzias latipes
Authors: Alberto‐Payet Fanny , Lassus Remy , Isla Alejandro , Daufresne Martin , Sentis Arnaud
Published: December 2021

A pressing challenge is to determine whether and how global‐change drivers influence species physiology and survival. Recently, researchers have proposed the metabolic theory of ecology, defending the hypothesis of a universal thermal dependence of metabolic rate or, alternatively, the metabolic cold adaptation theory, stating that local adaptation can influence the thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate. However, the long‐term (i.e. multigenerational) consequences of warming for the thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate remain largely unexplored although it determines energy use and is crucial for species response to climate change.

In this study, we used an evolutionary experiment with medaka fishes Oryzias latipes maintained for more than 12 generations at warm and cold temperatures (30 and 20°C, respectively) to address this issue. Our objective was to investigate whether thermal adaptation influences the relationship between temperature and mass‐corrected metabolic rate and how this may occur.

In agreement with the universal thermal dependence hypothesis, we found that warming did not significantly influence the thermal sensitivity of mass‐corrected metabolic rate: neither the intercept nor the slope of the temperature–metabolic rate relationship differed among fish lineages. Our small‐scale laboratory experiment thus indicated that there is limited potential for evolutionary change in medaka fish metabolic rate in response to warmer temperatures.

Overall, we provide evidence that 9 years of experimental warming did not influence the thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate. Our results highlight the invariability of the thermal dependence of metabolic rate, which has important implications for adaptation to climate warming. This finding suggests a limited potential for metabolic adaptations in response to long‐term temperature changes, which may have negative consequences for the persistence of fish populations under climate change.
A teratocyte‐specific serpin from the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia vestalis inhibits the prophenoloxidase‐activating system of its host Plutella xylostella
Authors: Gu Qijuan , Wu Zhiwei , Zhou Yuenan , Wang Zhizhi , Shi Min , Huang Jianhua , Chen Xuexin
Published: December 2021

Many endoparasitoids adopt several parasitic factors, such as venom, polydnavirus and teratocytes, to suppress the immune response of their associated hosts including melanization for successful parasitism. A teratocyte‐specific expressed serpin gene, designated as CvT‐serpin6, was identified from the parasitoid Cotesia vestalis. The immunoblot result suggested that CvT‐serpin6 was secreted into extracellular space. qPCR results showed that CvT‐serpin6 was mainly transcribed at later stages of parasitism, and the transcriptional abundance of CvT‐serpin6 in teratocytes was significantly increased in response to the challenge of bacteria. Inhibitory assay indicated that recombinant CvT‐serpin6 (rCvT‐serpin6) could inhibit the activation of Plutella xylostella prophenoloxidase and ultimately resulted in the inhibition of melanization in P. xylostella haemolymph. Furthermore, we confirmed that rCvT‐serpin6 could form SDS‐stable complexes with activated PxPAP1 and PxPAP3 in a dose‐dependent manner. Altogether, our results further shed insight into the molecular mechanisms that teratocytes involved in controlling host immune response.
Background pain in persons with chronic leg ulcers: An exploratory study of symptom characteristics and management
Authors: Leren Lena , Eide Hilde , Johansen Edda Aslaug , Jelnes Rolf , Ljoså Tone Marte
Published: December 2021

This exploratory descriptive study aimed to describe characteristics and management of background pain related to chronic leg ulcers. A total of 121 participants were recruited from two wound care clinics using a consecutive sampling method. Data were obtained through screening interview, clinical examination, and questionnaires. The mean average background pain intensity was 4.5 (SD 2.56) (CI 95% 4.0‐5.0). Pain interfered mostly with general activity (mean 4.3), sleep (mean 4.1), and walking ability (mean 4.0) (0‐10 NRS). The most frequently reported descriptors of background pain were ‘tender’, ‘stabbing’, ‘aching’, and ‘hot‐burning’. Most of the participants stated that the pain was intermittent. Less than 60% had analgesics prescribed specifically for ulcer related pain, and the respondents reported that pain management provided a mean pain relief of 45.9% (SD 33.9, range 0‐100). The findings indicate that ulcer related background pain is a significant problem that interferes with daily function, and that pain management in wound care is still inadequate.
Luminescence and structural evolution in ultra‐low melting quaternary tin fluorophosphate glasses (NaF‐SnF2‐SnO‐P2O5)
Authors: Chen Chunlin , Jiang Yiguang , Zhang Longfei , Guan Feng , Wang Zaiyang , Huang Xin , Zeng Huidan , Yuan Xinqiang , Zhang Long , He Jin
Published: December 2021

For transparent low melting inorganic glass, which is relevant for sealing and additional applications, Pb‐containing glasses have reached the lowest melting point and best comprehensive performance. Considering potential toxicity and regulatory limitations, there is urgent need to develop Pb‐free ultra‐low melting point glass. Herein, we systemically investigated the structure and luminescence evolution of the Pb‐free ultra‐low melting quaternary tin fluorophosphate glasses (NaF‐SnF2‐SnO‐P2O5), in which varied NaF content was tuned to affect the properties of glass. With NaF content increases, the Sn‐O and P‐O bonds have been gradually transformed to Sn‐F and P‐F bonds, and the phosphrous tetrahedron PO4 has been converted to PO3F. The weaken bonding results in the decrease of the ultra‐low melting point to 329°C when NaF increased to 15 a.t.%, 29oC lower than the ternary glass. The blue shifts of both absorption and photoluminescence spectra were observed due to the higher ionic character of glass structure with NaF increases. As reported previously in the ternary tin fluorophosphate glass, the quaternary glass system also shows a phosphorescence behavior (∼1 s) due to the existence of oxygen vacancies. Additionally, the changes in oxygen vacancy defects correlate with the NaF content, thus affecting the decay time as well. The ultra‐low melting point luminescent quaternary tin fluorophosphate glasses (NaF‐SnF2‐SnO‐P2O5) may be relevant for opto‐electronic applications such as the packaging in displays or light‐emitting diodes.
Symptoms of depression in parents after discharge from NICU associated with family‐centred care
Authors: Axelin Anna , Feeley Nancy , Campbell‐Yeo Marsha , Silnes Tandberg Bente , Szczapa Tomasz , Wielenga Joke , Weis Janne , Pavicic Bosnjak Anita , Jonsdottir Rakel B. , George Kendall , Blomqvist Ylva T. , Bohlin Kajsa , Lehtonen Liisa ,   Separation, Closeness Experiences in Neonatal Environment (SCENE) research group
Published: December 2021

Aims

The aim of this study was to examine the potential association of family‐centred care as perceived by parents during a NICU stay with parents’ depressive symptoms at discharge and at 4 months corrected for infant age.

Design

A longitudinal, multicentre cohort study was conducted from 2018 to 2020 in 23 NICUs across 15 countries.

Methods

Parents (n = 635 mothers, n = 466, fathers) of infants (n = 739) born before 35 weeks of gestation and admitted to the participating NICUs were enrolled to the study during the first weeks of their infants’ hospitalizations. They responded to Digi‐FCC daily text messages inquiring about their perception of family‐centred care provided by NICU staff. In addition, they completed a questionnaire assessing their overall perception of family‐centred care at discharge. Parents’ depressive symptoms were measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at discharge and again after discharge when their infants were at 4 months corrected for age.

Results

The mothers’ and the fathers’ perceptions of family‐centred care were associated with their depressive symptoms at discharge and at 4 months corrected age, controlling for gestational age, multiple birth, parent education and relationship status. Parents’ participation in infant care, care‐related decisions and emotional support provided to parents by staff explained the variation in the parents’ perceptions of family‐centred care. The factors facilitating the implementation of family‐centred care included unlimited access to the unit for the parents and for their significant others, as well as amenities for parents.

Conclusions

Our study shows that family‐centred NICU care associates with parents’ depressive symptoms after a NICU stay.

Impact

Depression is common in parents of preterm infants. The provision of family‐centred care may protect the mental well‐being of parents of preterm infants.
Estimation of breeding value and accuracy using pedigree and genotype of Hanwoo cows (Korean cattle)
Authors: Kim Eun‐Ho , Kang Ho‐Chan , Sun Du‐Won , Myung Cheol‐Hyun , Kim Ji‐Yeong , Lee Doo‐Ho , Lee Seung‐Hwan , Lim Hyun‐Tae
Published: December 2021

The genetic improvement of Hanwoo is dependent on the estimated breeding value (EBV) of pedigree‐based Korean proven bull's number, and the genetic evaluation for cows is difficult due to insufficient pedigree and test records. Genomic selection involves utilizing the individual's genotype to estimate the breeding value (BV) and is determined to be an appropriate evaluation method for cows who lack test information. This study used pedigree and genotype to estimate and analyse BV and accuracy of Hanwoo cows in the Gyeongnam area using pedigree best linear unbiased prediction (PBLUP) and genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP). The test group acquired pedigree and genotype of 919 Hanwoo cows in the Gyeongnam area. The traits used for analysis were carcass weight (CWT), eye muscle areas (EMA), backfat thickness (BFT) and marbling score (MS). PBLUP used Reference group 1 containing the pedigree and phenotype of 919 Hanwoo cows and 545,483 heads to construct the numeric relationship matrix and estimated the EBV and accuracy. GBLUP used Reference group 2 containing the genotype and phenotype of 919 Hanwoo cows and 17,226 heads to construct the genomic relationship matrix and estimated the genomic EBV (GEBV) and accuracy. In the order of CWT, EMA, BFT and MS, the accuracy of PBLUP was 0.488, 0.480, 0.482 and 0.486 while the accuracy of GBLUP was higher with 0.779, 0.758, 0.766 and 0.791. And for 104 cows without relationship coefficient on pedigree to the reference group, the accuracy as PBLUP was estimated to be 0, but for GBLUP, it was possible to estimate the accuracy for all individuals. If GBLUP is applied to cows raised in general farms, the genetic evaluation can be performed even on animals without pedigree and high‐accuracy estimation, enabling selection of excellent cows. Accordingly, by securing the genetic diversity of cows, it is expected to increase the profitability of farms by decreasing the inbreeding rate and increasing efficiency of elite calf production.
Colonization and extinction dynamics and their link to the distribution of European trees at the continental scale
Authors: Guyennon Arnaud , Reineking Björn , Dahlgren Jonas , Lehtonen Aleksi , Ratcliffe Sophia , Ruiz‐Benito Paloma , Zavala Miguel A. , Kunstler Georges
Published: December 2021

Aim

The population processes that drive tree species distribution are still widely debated. We test the hypotheses that metapopulation processes of colonization and extinction are linked to predictions of species distribution models.

Location

Europe: Spain, France, Germany, Finland and Sweden.

Taxon

Angiosperms and Gymnosperms.

Methods

For 17 tree species analysed, we fitted species distribution models (SDM) relating environmental variables to presence–absence data across Europe. Then, using independent data from national forest inventories across Europe, we tested whether colonization and extinction probabilities are related to SDM occurrence probabilities. Finally, we assessed the probability of presence at metapopulation equilibrium depending on colonization and extinction probabilities.

Results

We found that for most species at least one process (colonization/extinction) is related to SDM occurrence probability, but rarely both (only two species). Depending on the species, the link was either for colonization or for extinction, but relationships were generally weak. In addition, the metapopulation models tended to overestimate the occurrence probability at equilibrium.

Main conclusions

Our study shows that metapopulation processes are only weakly related to SDM occurrence probability and call for caution in extrapolating SDM models to metapopulation dynamics.
Comparison of rates of dementia among older adult recipients of two, one, or no vaccinations
Authors: Wiemken Timothy L. , Salas Joanne , Morley John E. , Hoft Daniel F. , Jacobs Christine , Scherrer Jeffrey F.
Published: December 2021

Background

Multiple types of vaccinations are associated with lower risk for dementia, but it is not known if receiving more than one vaccination type is associated with a greater decrease in incident dementia as compared with receiving only one type. We determined if dementia risk is lowest in patients who receive both herpes zoster (HZ) and tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccinations as compared with receipt of only one or the other type of vaccination.

Methods

Primary analysis in a Veterans Health Administration (VA) cohort was replicated in private sector medical claims data. Eligible patients were ≥65 years of age and free of dementia for 2 years prior to baseline (VHA n = 80,070; MarketScan n = 129,200). At index, patients either had both HZ and Tdap, only HZ, only Tdap, or neither vaccination. Confounding was controlled with generalized boosted propensity scores and inverse probability of treatment weighting. Competing risk (VHA) and Cox proportional hazard (MarketScan) models estimated the association between vaccination status and incident dementia.

Results

VHA patients' mean age was 76.8 ± 7.6 years, 4.4% were female and 90.9% were White, and MarketScan patients' mean age was 70.5 ± 5.9 and 65.4% were female. In both cohorts, having both HZ and Tdap vaccinations compared with no vaccination was significantly associated with lower dementia risk (VHA HR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.43–0.59; MarketScan HR = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.38–0.89). In both cohorts, compared with neither vaccination, patients with only one or the other vaccination types had a significantly lower risk for dementia. Incident dementia was lower in patients with both vaccinations versus only one vaccination type.

Conclusions and Relevance

Receiving two types of vaccinations versus one type was associated with lower dementia risk. Vaccinations may have non‐specific associations with incident dementia. Low cost and accessible, common adult vaccinations may be an overlooked intervention for reducing dementia risk.
Impacts of electric vehicles on the European high and extra high voltage power grid
Authors: Slednev Viktor , Jochem Patrick , Fichtner Wolf
Published: December 2021

The impact of electric vehicles on the electricity grid has been focused on by the literature in many facets, comprising considerations of the electricity system of a single household up to the highest voltage grid level. But each of these analyses is focusing on a single grid level. While the impact on the local level depends strongly on the specific environment and is consequently diverse, there is strong evidence that the impact on the highest grid level is non‐critical. So far, there is no study considering several voltage levels together. Consequently, we analyzed here for the first time all voltage levels between 60 and 380 kV together for the European transmission grid and included, besides the load flexibilities from home charging, also the load from fast charging stations for the year 2050 with a completely replaced car fleet by electric vehicles. While the impact on the security of supply is rather marginal, with a slight increase of load shedding on some distribution grid nodes, the impact on nodal prices and greenhouse gas emission is—with up to 9%—more severe. When applying the model on the highest grid level alone, our results show significantly smaller impacts. These results endorse our comprehensive approach, which considers several grid levels and their comprehensive interactions—an isolated consideration of grid levels seems inappropriate for our research questions.
Claws and toepads in mainland and island Anolis (Squamata: Dactyloidae): Different adaptive radiations with intersectional morphospatial zones
Authors: Cortés‐Parra Camilo , Calderón‐Espinosa Martha L. , Jerez Adriana
Published: December 2021

Anolis lizards have evolved morphologies in response to different selective factors related to microhabitat use. Morphological diversity exhibits evolutionary patterns that reveal similarities and unique regional traits among the mainland and island environments and among Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles islands. In the Greater Antilles and mainland environments anole species are classified into morphological/ecological groups, that are known as morphotypes (mainland) or ecomorphs (Greater Antilles). Morphotypes are defined only with morphological information; in contrast, for ecomorph assignment both morphology and ethology are required. For mainland species distributed in northwestern South America 10 morphotypes were proposed to include the morphological diversity of 59 species. We obtained data from body size, limbs length, tail length, and the number of lamellae for an additional ten species occurring in the same region and assigned them into morphotypes. We also collected data of the claw and toepad diversity of mainland and island Anolis from northwestern South America and compared it to the claw and toepads morphology recorded for the Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles islands, under a phylogenetic framework. We found new island morphotypes (MT11–MT13) of Anolis from northwestern South America. When comparing claws and toepads morphology among the 13 morphotypes we found that morphological variation of these traits partially corresponds to morphotype groups. For instance, habitat specialist species like Anolis heterodermus, classified in morphotype 4 (MT4), have a characteristic design of broad toepad and reduced claws, and non‐unique design of toepads and claws occurs in morphotypes MT1, MT2, MT5, MT10, and MT13. We also compared claws and toepads of fore and hindlimbs within the same individual, and found that even if limbs show differences in claws and toepads, suggesting that they perform differential biomechanical function, the degree of within individual variation is specific and not related to morphotype assignment. Our data supported the convergent and unique regional evolution among mainland and island anoles, and revealed aspects of correlative evolution of functional traits of claws and toepads that probably are related to minor differences in microhabitat use among mainland and island species, as suggested by previously published literature. Lastly, the evolutionary pattern of morphological diversity of claws and toepads of Anolis in the mainland and island environment supports both unique regional traits and common selective and historical factors that have molded Anolis morphological diversity.