bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical evaluation of the anti-corrosion potential of selected amino acids on magnesium in aqueous sodium chloride solutions
Authors: Ikeuba Alexander I. , Sonde Christopher U. , Chukwudubem Ifeatu E. , Anozie Remigius C. , Ugi Benedict U. , Onyeachu Benedict , Ekerenam Okpo O. , Emori Wilfred
Published: June 2023

Purpose

In line with current research efforts to develop eco-friendly strategies for corrosion mitigation, the purpose of this study is to appraise the anti-corrosion potential of selected amino acids on magnesium corrosion in sodium chloride solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The corrosion inhibition of magnesium in aqueous solutions in the presence of benign, eco-friendly and readily available amino acids (alanine, arginine, histidine, lysine, proline) were evaluated using electrochemical methods.

Findings

Amino acids suppressed magnesium corrosion rate in aqueous sodium chloride solutions. The order of inhibition efficiency (%IE) was as follows: alanine < arginine < histidine < lysine < proline. The open circuit potential shift with respect to the blank was less than 0.085 VSCE, indicating that the amino acids are mixed-type corrosion inhibitors. In addition, the %IE of the amino acids was inversely proportional to the molecular weight. The results obtained indicate that the amino acids can serve as sustainable eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors for magnesium with the best inhibition efficiency attributed to proline with an efficiency of 85.1%.

Originality/value

New information on the application of amino acids as green sustainable corrosion inhibitors is provided herein.
Cronyism as a coping strategy: how do female academics deal with the lack of emancipative support?
Authors: Mousa Mohamed , Althalathini Doaa , Abdelgaffar Hala
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how female academics use cronyism to cope with the lack of emancipative support resulting from their intense teaching and research duties, poor representation at senior administrative levels and their exhausting familial commitments.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 female academics working full-time at four public universities in Egypt.

Findings

The findings showed that the low action resources (considering their unreasonable teaching loads, research requirements and supervision engagements), emancipative values (the unfair representation of female academics at senior administrative levels) and civic entitlement (universities not serious about promoting gender equality) are perceived by female academics as a lack of empowerment that necessitates their adoption of cronyism as their main coping strategy. Moreover, in male-dominated societies, female academics who do not have the power to shape their work-related status tend to use undesirable behaviours such as cronyism to mitigate the negative consequences of the shocks they encounter.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by filling a gap in human resources management in which empirical studies on the relationship between cronyism, emancipation and career shocks have been limited so far.
Prevalence and future trend in green supply chain management (GSCM): a systematic literature review
Authors: Balkumar Kartik , Gedam Vidyadhar V. , Himateja Mudunuri , Anbuudayasankar S.P. , Narassima M.S. , Ganesh K. , Dwarakanath M. , Pazhani Subramanian
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Over the last two decades, green supply chain management (GSCM) has enabled businesses to operate in an environmentally friendly manner. The present review examines 234 research articles and proposes a methodical literature review on GSCM, focusing on the aspects of sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

The work examines conceptual, analytical, empirical and non-empirical research articles, analyzing at all levels of the organization, such as firm, dyad, supply chain and network. The objective of the review is to provide insights into the state and scope of existing research in the domain of GSCM, to identify the prevalence of GSCM and to consolidate the trend of future research. The literature review follows a systematic methodology for analyzing the literature.

Findings

The findings can support researchers in identifying research areas with significant impact and streamline research on GSCM in the future. Practitioners can utilize this structured classification to strategize their green initiatives in their firms.

Originality/value

The work contributes to providing literature that explores a detailed review in GSCM. The proposed literature review captures critical aspects in the domain of GSCM and offers future research directions.
The entrepreneurial accompaniment process and the importance of context
Authors: Abdennadher Sarhan , Boudabbous Sami
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Based on the different stages of the business creation process and using qualitative methods, this study's aim is to understand the functioning of the process of accompaniment entrepreneurs in the Tunisian context.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors' exploratory research is qualitative. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a manager of an entrepreneurial accompaniment structure and 11 entrepreneurs. The entrepreneurs were subjected to a manual content analysis.

Findings

The results of the authors' research show the importance of the different mechanisms and structures put in place in the Tunisian context to promote private initiative. Tunisia is a diverse and very rich environment for the entrepreneurial process. The results of the authors' research confirm the processual nature of entrepreneurial accompaniment, which is presented as a continuum of five stages: the promoting of the entrepreneurial spirit, the exploration of the entrepreneurial profile, the study of the project and preparation of the business plan, the financing of the creation of a company and the creation of the company.

Originality/value

The authors' study contributes to a better understanding of the close relationship between the entrepreneurial process and accompaniment in order to confirm the procedural nature of the latter. Then, this study highlights the involvement of the context in entrepreneurial accompaniment and the role of this accompaniment in the success of the entrepreneurial project. In addition, the authors' survey confirms the interest of entrepreneurial accompaniment from the stage of promoting the entrepreneurial spirit until the effective creation of the company. Taking into account the specificities of each stage of the creation process, the study shows the interest of a procedural approach to entrepreneurial accompaniment in order to put in place the necessary and above all adequate measures to help the entrepreneur at each stage of the entrepreneurial process and, subsequently, maximize the chances of success of the entrepreneur's business.
Firm performance and CEO turnover: the moderating role of CEO attributes
Authors: Chijoke-Mgbame Aruoriwo Marian , Boateng Agyenim , Mgbame Chijoke Oscar , Yekini Kemi C.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of firm performance on chief executive officer (CEO) turnover and the moderating role of CEO attributes on the firm performance–CEO turnover relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Probit regressions were used to examine the relationship between various CEO attributes and CEO turnover and the moderation effect of firm performance on the CEO attributes–CEO turnover relationship. The sample comprises firms from the FTSE 350 Index covering the period 1999–2018.

Findings

The results indicate that firm performance negatively and significantly impacts CEO turnover. Further analysis reveals that selected CEO attributes, namely, CEO internal experience, CEO network size and CEO age, moderate the relationship between firm performance and CEO turnover. Specifically, CEO internal experience and performance combine to reduce the likelihood of CEO turnover. However, CEO network size and age when combined with firm performance increase the likelihood of CEO turnover.

Practical implications

The results imply that boards should pay more attention to CEO attributes in their decisions to hire and fire executive managers as these factors may affect a wide variety of firm outcomes.

Originality/value

This paper makes key contributions to the CEO turnover and corporate governance literature by providing evidence of key factors other than performance that can affect the CEO dismissal decision. Specifically, this study shows that CEO attributes such as CEO internal experience, CEO networks and CEO age far outweigh the importance of performance as a factor influencing CEO turnover decisions.
Industrial ecological evaluation based on DPSIR and panel grey clustering model
Authors: Huang Yaru , Ye Yaojun , Zhou Mengling
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to build an improved grey panel clustering evaluation model and evaluate the comprehensive development potential of industrial economy, society and ecological environment in the Yangtze River Economic Belt of China. The purpose of this study is to provide some theoretical basis and tool support for management departments and relevant researchers engaged in industrial sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the driving force pressure state impact response analysis framework to build a comprehensive evaluation index system. Based on the center point triangle whitening weight function, it classifies the panel grey clustering of improvement time and index weight.

Findings

The results show that there are great differences in the level of industrial ecological development in different regions of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which further illustrates the scientificity and rationality of the evaluation method proposed in this paper.

Practical implications

Due to the industrial ecological development is in a constantly changing state, and the information is uncertain. Whitening weight function is introduced to represent the complete information of relevant data. The industrial ecological evaluation involves a comprehensive complex system, which belongs to the panel data analysis problem. The improved grey panel clustering evaluation model is applied to grade the industrial ecological development level of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The results have important guiding significance for the balanced development of industrial ecology in the region.

Social implications

Due to the industrial ecological development is in a constantly changing state, and the information is uncertain. Whitening weight function is introduced to represent the complete information of relevant data. The industrial ecological evaluation involves a comprehensive complex system, which belongs to the panel data analysis problem. In order to improve the effectiveness of industrial ecological evaluation, the improved grey panel clustering evaluation model is applied to grade the industrial ecological development level of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The results have important guiding significance for the balanced development of industrial ecology in the region.

Originality/value

the new model proposed in this paper complements and improves the grey clustering analysis theory of panel data, that is, aiming at the subjective limitation of using time degree to determine time weight in panel grey clustering, a comprehensive theoretical method for determining time weight is creatively proposed. Combining the DPSIR (Driving force-Pressure-State-Influence-Response) model model with ecological development, a comprehensive evaluation model is constructed to make the evaluation results more authentic and comprehensive.
Time effect and shifted motivations in deprived areas: an overall perspective of entrepreneurial process
Authors: Zhao Yuxi , Thompson Piers
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Williams and Williams (2012, 2017) find multiple entrepreneurial motivations are experienced by entrepreneurs in deprived areas at different points in time. Drawing on this prior work this study aims to explore how and why the shifted motivations evolve, as well as, what factors cause this change in deprived areas. The work draws upon temporal motivational theory (TMT) that considers the influence of individuals' needs in determining their time-sensitive motivation.

Design/methodology/approach

Six semi-structured interviews with actual entrepreneurs are used to collect qualitative data from deprived areas of Nottingham, which is one of the most deprived cities in the UK. The study employs Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to consider each entrepreneurial endeavour as a unique journey to investigate the shifting of motivations.

Findings

A polarization is found in terms of how entrepreneurial motivations evolve in deprived areas. In considering the first task-specific entrepreneurial motivation, time plays a role either in accumulating job dissatisfaction and increasing confidence led by accumulated experience, or in creating random chances that enable individuals to realize that they are able to use existing skills and experiences to start a business. Regarding the second task-specific entrepreneurial motivation when the business becomes more established, it is usually stimulated by increased confidence based on perceived progress. The use of self-help methods and downward comparison found in this study should be noted as they help to re-consider individuals' needs in deprived areas.

Originality/value

This study produces a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of the time effect on shifted motivation at different entrepreneurial phases in a deprived context, which contributes to enrich theoretical knowledge and raise policymakers' awareness of entrepreneurial motivations from these marginalized groups.
Reduction of changeover time through SMED with RACI integration in garment factories
Authors: Mohammad Azim , Hamja Abu , Hasle Peter
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Shorter lead time with low price and quality product demand is pivotal in the garment industry. Pressure on production lead time stresses the importance of reducing style changeover time in manufacturing factories, and this paper aims to contribute to solving the challenge by showing how the single minute exchange of die (SMED) methodology in practice can be adapted to garment factories in developing countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper investigates three cases of SMED implementation integrated with responsible, accountable, consulted, informed (RACI) matrices in garment factories in an action research approach. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are applied.

Findings

The study shows a reduction of 50% to 64% of changeover time with SMED implementation measured with two key indicators – throughout time and time to reach peak production. Moreover, the implementation depends on the application of the RACI matrix for the distribution of responsibility as well as integration with the basic production flow before and after the application of SMED.

Practical implications

The study can guide better SMED implementation in garment factories with limited investment by stressing the need to adapt to the specifics of the garment industry, secure the division of responsibility and integrate SMED in the production flow before and after the changeover.

Originality/value

Limited research on the application of SMED in the garment industry. This paper contributes to understanding the specific conditions for successful implementation in the garment industry in developing countries and addresses additional activities that help secure a sustainable implementation process.
Higher education in emergency situation: blended learning prospects and challenges for educators in the developing countries
Authors: Brenya Boahemaa
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Blended learning (BL) is becoming more popular as a method of welcoming a progressively diverse range of students while adding value to the learning environment through the integration of online teaching resources. However, BL's approach of combining online instruction with conventional classroom strategies has received attention and expressed reservations over the years. While several research works have been conducted and draw attention to the global challenges of the BL mode of delivering instruction in BL's entirety, there is still no full idea of the challenges and prospects that exist regarding teacher educators' usage of the approach in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the context of developing countries. As a result, this study investigates the prospects and challenges of BL implementation in HEIs from the perspective of educators.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the technology acceptance model (TAM), qualitative research methods and semi-structured interviews were used to gather insights from 10 educators. The data were analyzed using a thematic data analysis technique to arrive at the outcome of the study.

Findings

The findings reveal that educators deeply comprehend the BL approach and perceive the approach's effectiveness in delivering instruction and student learning. Conversely, educators' challenges are inadequate technology resources, poor internet connections, inadequate professional development training and a dearth of incentives. The study has implications for theory, research, policy enactment and practice regarding the improvement of the BL agenda in HEIs.

Originality/value

The explanatory framework presented here is the qualitative approach to the study of themes regarding the perceptions, prospects and challenges educators experience in their use of the BL approach in teaching and learning in the HEIs.
The relationships among social media communication, brand equity and satisfaction in a tourism destination: the case of Danang city, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Hue Kim Thi , Tran Phuong Thi Kim , Tran Vinh Trung
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role of social media communication, tourist satisfaction and destination brand equity components in enhancing destination brand equity based on the Stimulus – Organism – Response (S-O-R) theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual model and research hypotheses were assessed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM). An online survey was used to collect data from 369 domestic tourists who had traveled to Danang and knew about content related to Danang generated by either DMOs or other users on social media.

Findings

Except for the effect of DMO-generated social media communication on tourist satisfaction and the impact of destination brand awareness on destination brand loyalty, the findings confirmed the sequential causal relationships between research concepts based on the S-O-R model.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should explore the proposed model based on comparisons of different nationalities to better understand the impact of cultural factors.

Practical implications

DMOs should associate social media with their marketing strategies to enhance destination brand equity, using cutting-edge technologies to create content and update information in a significant way to make communications by DMOs more effective. The findings especially suggest that UGC plays a vital role in improving brand equity dimensions, so DMOs could exploit UGC to engage existing customers and build relationships with potential customers. This research provides guidance for DMOs to improve their brand equity based on social media.

Originality/value

This study has contributed to the destination marketing literature by applying the S-O-R theory to propose a pathway for effectively increasing destination brand equity and highlight the importance of social media communication as a driver to achieve a hierarchical relationship between destination brand equity components and tourist satisfaction from stimulus to organism (e.g. cognition to affect).
How bad do you want it? A bibliometric review of individual competitiveness
Authors: Fezzey Tyler N.A. , Swab R. Gabrielle
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Competitiveness is an individual difference variable that incorporates factors generally associated with the desire to excel in comparison to others and the enjoyment of competition. There is still much debate on whether it is helpful or harmful, which may stem from the scattered ways in which it is studied. Thereby, this study aims to properly synthesize the literature concerning the prevailing correlates, underlying theory and frequent applications of competitiveness and to set forth an outline of domains in need of further research and exploration.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors do so by using two methods of analysis on a representative sample of 546 peer-reviewed publications.

Findings

The authors find that competitiveness research has and will continue to grow expeditiously, but its complexity and cloudiness have not yet been attenuated.

Originality/value

The study uncovers opportunities for pertinent future research on competitiveness to grow more productively and collaboratively by highlighting salient works and identifying the fragmentations that have led the literature into a state of disarray.
Departure of giants: ownership transition in lone-founder owned firms
Authors: Amin Ali , Ali Rizwan , Rehman Ramiz ur
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The characteristics of businesses change with the change in ownership structure of the business. This study examines the change in ownership structure of the firm after the departure of lone founders, and its influence on dividend payout decisions of the firm.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed 4,302 firm-year observations of non-financial firms listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange over the period 2007–2021. To test the hypotheses, the authors employed ordinary least squares regression, and additionally, generalized method of moments estimation and fixed effect analysis were applied to check for the robustness of results.

Findings

Using the lens of agency theory and social identity theory, the authors report that the presence of lone founder (family owners) is negatively (positively) associated with dividend payout, however, transition of lone-founder ownership to family-owned and family-managed firm leads to more dividend payout, whereas its transition to family-owned and non-family-managed firm results in lesser dividend payments.

Originality/value

This study provides novel insight into the strategic behavior of lone founders and extend the limited family business heterogeneity literature by examining the effects of ownership transition and its influence on firm's dividend payout decisions.
The impact of governmental initiatives on corporate environmental responsibility: the case of the Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Sun Yuting , Ren Jieyu , Jin Gang , Hu Hanhui
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the most comprehensive and substantial international cooperation platform, creating a new market influenced by economic and political factors. In this paper, the authors aim to examine whether and how the BRI impacts the Chinese enterprises' corporate environmental responsibility (CER).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on China's listed firms' database from 2011 to 2018, the authors use the PSM-DID method, an econometrics method combined with propensity score matching (PSM) and difference-in-differences (DID), to conduct causal inference between the BRI and Chinese enterprises' CER and conduct a series of robustness analyses. Moreover, the authors explore the mechanisms underlying the main effect from both market and non-market perspectives.

Findings

The results suggest that the BRI significantly increases Chinese enterprises' CER. Further analyses show that market competition and government support are two possible mechanisms through which the BRI has an effect on the enterprises' CER.

Originality/value

The research study supplements existing work on the environmental effects of the BRI at a microlevel and adds to the literature on the drivers of CER. The findings offer valuable insights into governments and scholars by demonstrating that CER is a crucial tool for Chinese enterprises to gain a competitive advantage in the increasingly competitive markets along the BRI.
Green finance insights: evolution of the green bonds market
Authors: Gabr Dina Hosam , Elbannan Mona A.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to providea comprehensive review of the concepts and definitions of green finance, and the importance of “green” impact investments today. The core challenge in combating climate change is reducing and controlling greenhouse gas emissions; therefore, this study explores the solutions green finance provides emphasizing their impact on the environment and firms' financial performance. With increasing attention to the concept of green finance, multiple forms of green financial tools have come to fruition; the most prominent are green bonds.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper compiles a comprehensive green bond dataset, presenting a statistical study of the evolution of the green bonds market from its first appearance in 2006 until 2021.

Findings

The green bond market has seen massive growth over the years reaching $1651.92bn as of 2021. Findings show that green bonds are working towards shifting from high carbon-emitting energy to renewable energy, which is vital to economic development and growth. In congruence, green bonds are aligned with the United Nation's sustainable development goals (SDGs) amounting to $550bn for 2020, with the five most covered SDGs amounting to over 60%.

Originality/value

With growing worldwide concern for global warming, green finance became the fuel that pushes the world to act in combating and mitigating climate change. Coupled with adopting the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, Green finance became a vital tool in creating a pathway to sustainable development, as it connects the financial world with environmental and societal benefits.
A diary study on location autonomy and employee mental distress: the mediating role of task-environment fit
Authors: Wu Chia-Huei , Davis Matthew , Collis Hannah , Hughes Helen , Fang Linhao
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the role of location autonomy (i.e. autonomy over where to work) in shaping employee mental distress during their working days.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 316 employees from 6 organizations in the UK provided data for 4,082 half-day sessions, over 10 working days. Random intercept modeling is used to analyze half-day data nested within individuals.

Findings

Results show that location autonomy, beyond decision-making autonomy and work-method autonomy, is positively associated with the perception of task-environment (TE) fit which, in turn, contributes to lower mental distress during each half-day session. Results of supplementary analysis also show that location autonomy can contribute to higher absorption, task proficiency and job satisfaction via TE fit during each half-day session.

Originality/value

This study reveals the importance and uniqueness of location autonomy in shaping employees' outcomes, offering implications for how organizations can use this in the work–life flexibility policies to support employee mental health.
Influence of TiO2 and Y2O3 nanoparticles on mechanical properties of aluminium matrix hybrid nanocomposites fabricated by vacuum die casting
Authors: Singh Mandeep , Goyal Khushdeep , Bhandari Deepak
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of titanium oxide (TiO2) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3) nanoparticles-reinforced pure aluminium (Al) on the mechanical properties of hybrid aluminium matrix nanocomposites (HAMNCs).

Design/methodology/approach

The HAMNCs were fabricated via a vacuum die-assisted stir casting route by a two-step feeding method. The varying weight percentages of TiO2 and Y2O3 nanoparticles were added as 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 Wt.%.

Findings

Scanning electron microscope images showed the homogenous dispersion of nanoparticles in Al matrix. The tensile strength by 28.97%, yield strength by 50.60%, compression strength by 104.6% and micro-hardness by 50.90% were improved in HAMNC1 when compared to the base matrix. The highest values impact strength of 36.3 J was observed for HAMNC1. The elongation % was decreased by increasing the weight percentage of the nanoparticles. HAMNC1 improved the wear resistance by 23.68%, while increasing the coefficient of friction by 14.18%. Field emission scanning electron microscope analysis of the fractured surfaces of tensile samples revealed microcracks and the debonding of nanoparticles.

Originality/value

The combined effect of TiO2 and Y2O3 nanoparticles with pure Al on mechanical properties has been studied. The composites were fabricated with two-step feeding vacuum-assisted stir casting.
Divergent responses of grassland productivity and plant diversity to intra‐annual precipitation variability across climate regions: A global synthesis
Authors: Su Jishuai , Zhang Yi , Xu Fengwei
Published: June 2023

Global warming intensifies the hydrological cycle and may result in changes in the frequency and intensity of precipitation events. However, a knowledge gap still exists about the general influences of intra‐annual precipitation variability on grassland plant diversity and ecosystem function at the global scale.

Here, we synthesized field manipulative experiments from 66 publications to quantify the effects of intra‐annual precipitation variability increases (IPVI) on community biomass and plant diversity in grasslands worldwide.

At the global scale, we found that IPVI generally increased grassland community above‐ground biomass (AGB) by 6.90%, and decreased grass biomass and soil ammonium content by 10.38% and 25.35% respectively. IPVI increased and decreased total AGB in arid and humid regions, respectively, and IPVI enhanced grassland below‐ground biomass and plant species richness in arid regions, but showed no effect in humid regions. Furthermore, moderate IPVI stimulated plant species richness and community biomass in arid grasslands, while extreme IPVI impaired them in mesic grasslands. Changes in total AGB under IPVI were related to changes in the biomass of plant functional groups, species richness and soil moisture. Structural equation modelling demonstrated that climate conditions (mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation) and background soil properties (soil sand content and soil organic carbon content) jointly regulated grassland total AGB responses to IPVI across climate regions.

Synthesis. Overall, our study shows divergent responses of grassland productivity and diversity to IPVI in arid and humid regions. Accounting for climate, edaphic properties and precipitation variability can help improve our ability to predict the responses of grassland ecosystems to future changes in precipitation at global scales.
The 2‐methylpropene degradation pathway in Mycobacteriaceae family strains
Authors: Helbich Steffen , Barrantes Israel , dos Anjos Borges Luiz Gustavo , Pieper Dietmar H. , Vainshtein Yevhen , Sohn Kai , Engesser Karl‐Heinrich
Published: June 2023

Mycolicibacterium gadium IBE100 and Mycobacterium paragordonae IBE200 are aerobic, chemoorganoheterotrophic bacteria isolated from activated sludge from a wastewater treatment plant. They use 2‐methylpropene (isobutene, 2‐MP) as the sole source of carbon and energy. Here, we postulate a degradation pathway of 2‐methylpropene derived from whole genome sequencing, differential expression analysis and peptide‐mass fingerprinting. Key genes identified are coding for a 4‐component soluble diiron monooxygenase with epoxidase activity, an epoxide hydrolase, and a 2‐hydroxyisobutyryl‐CoA mutase. In both strains, involved genes are arranged in clusters of 61.0 and 58.5 kbp, respectively, which also contain the genes coding for parts of the aerobic pathway of adenosylcobalamin synthesis. This vitamin is essential for the carbon rearrangement reaction catalysed by the mutase. These findings provide data for the identification of potential 2‐methylpropene degraders.
Caring through things at a distance: Intimacy and presence in teletherapy assemblages
Authors: Arribas‐Ayllon Michael A. M.
Published: June 2023

The COVID‐19 crisis in the UK precipitated a sharp rise in the use of remote technologies to provide therapy during the lockdown. With mental health care services migrating to devices and video‐conferencing platforms, nearly all forms of therapy had become ‘teletherapy’. Drawing on interviews with UK‐based practitioners, this paper explores how existing ideas of intimacy and presence are challenged when care is practiced at a distance. Against the background of concerns that remote technologies erode intimacy and degrade physical presence, the argument is made that presence, distance, intimacy and control are reconfigured within mediated therapy. Analysis of practitioners’ experiences of teletherapy examines the material and expressive components of ‘assemblages’ characterised by their stable and fluid properties. Two assemblages are identified and discussed: emergency care assemblages and assemblages of intimacy, both of which are aligned with specific sectors of mental health care. Evidence that therapeutic encounters are constrained by technologies are considered alongside the material conditions and inequalities of vulnerable groups, while assemblages with relatively stable properties are generative of new ways of relating to clients online. These findings highlight the material and expressive components of human and nonhuman assemblages that create new kinds of affective relations in distanced care.
‘It’s not as good as the face‐to‐face contact’: A sociomaterialist analysis of the use of virtual care among Canadian gay, bisexual and queer men during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Daroya Emerich , Grey Cornel , Klassen Ben , Lessard David , Skakoon‐Sparling Shayna , Perez‐Brumer Amaya , Adam Barry , Cox Joseph , Lachowsky Nathan J. , Hart Trevor A. , Gervais Jessie , Tan Darrell H. S. , Grace Daniel
Published: June 2023

The COVID‐19 pandemic led to the widespread adoption of virtual care—the use of communication technologies to receive health care at home. We explored the differential impacts of the rapid transition to virtual care during the COVID‐19 pandemic on health‐care access and delivery for gay, bisexual and queer men (GBQM), a population that disproportionately experiences sexual and mental health disparities in Canada. Adopting a sociomaterial theoretical perspective, we analysed 93 semi‐structured interviews with GBQM (n = 93) in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, Canada, conducted between November 2020 and February 2021 (n = 42) and June‐October 2021 (n = 51). We focused on explicating how the dynamic relations of humans and non‐humans in everyday virtual care practices have opened or foreclosed different care capacities for GBQM. Our analysis revealed that the rapid expansion and implementation of virtual care during the COVID‐19 pandemic enacted disruptions and challenges while providing benefits to health‐care access among some GBQM. Further, virtual care required participants to change their sociomaterial practices to receive health care effectively, including learning new ways of communicating with providers. Our sociomaterial analysis provides a framework that helps identify what works and what needs to be improved when delivering virtual care to meet the health needs of GBQM and other diverse populations.
Artisanal cheeses relying on spontaneous fermentation as sources of unusual microbiota – The example of the Bulgarian ‘mehovo sirene’ skin bag cheese
Authors: Dimov Svetoslav G. , Posheva Vilma , Georgieva‐Miteva Dimitrina , Peykov Slavil , Kitanova Meglena , Ilieva Ralitsa , Dimitrov Tsvetan , Iliev Mihail , Gotcheva Velitchka , Strateva Tanya
Published: June 2023

The Bulgarian ‘mehovo sirene’ cheese is a type of regional artisanal cheese prepared from raw ewe milk in a skin bag relying on spontaneous fermentation. A metagenomics study revealed an unusual microbiome comprising beneficial bacteria such asStaphylococcus equorum,Lactococcus lactis,Streptococcus thermophilus,Lactobacillus delbrueckii,Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens,Lactococcus raffinolactis,Lactiplantibacillus plantarum,Limosilactobacillus fermentumandLoigolactobacillus coryniformis. Our findings suggest that ‘mehovo sirene’ could have some functional food properties and is a source of beneficial microorganisms.
Can uteroplacental insufficiency explain the increased cardiovascular risk in women with a history of spontaneous preterm birth?
Authors: Giorgione Veronica
Published: June 2023

Linked article: This is a mini commentary on Theilen et al., pp.1483–1490 in this issue. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/1471‐0528.17552.
Nail analysis for the assessment of caffeine abuse in Northwest China: A population‐based study
Authors: Qiao Hongwei , Shao Litao , Chen Jie , Jiang Shan , Su Mengxiang , Liu Peipei , Di Bin
Published: June 2023

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive agent worldwide and has the potential for abuse, but studies monitoring caffeine abuse in China are scarce. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of caffeine abuse in northwest China and investigate the correlation between caffeine and other drugs in hair and nails using an ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS). Fingernail clippings were collected from 376 participants in northwest China to detect caffeine and 13 other illicit psychoactive drugs and their metabolites. Paired hair and nail samples were collected from 39 participants to investigate the correlation between caffeine and other drugs in hair and nails. The samples were decontaminated, pulverized, and extracted by a high‐throughput nail sample preparation method and analyzed by UPLC‐MS/MS. The results showed a risk of caffeine abuse in northwest China, with concentrations ranging from 0.43 to 10.6 ng/mg for healthy volunteers, 0.49–246 ng/mg for caffeine abusers, and 0.25–363 ng/mg for drug addicts in community rehabilitation centers. Caffeine was detected together with other illicit psychoactive drugs and their metabolites. Furthermore, positive detection correlations were found between hair and nail samples. This study provides a current perspective on caffeine abuse in northwest China and demonstrates the practical use of UPLC‐MS/MS for the simultaneous detection of caffeine and 13 illicit psychoactive drugs and their metabolites in hair and nails. The results highlight the potential of nails as a supplementary matrix when hair samples are unavailable and emphasize the need for handling caffeine carefully given its potential for abuse.
Compounds identified in an illicit generic Xanax tablet are the result of a failed synthesis of alprazolam
Authors: Kizzire Koby L. , Langlois Emily , Brown Savannah
Published: June 2023

Unintended compounds produced by inexperienced clandestine chemists may present a challenge in laboratories tasked with their identification. In March 2020, an anonymously submitted tablet purchased as a generic form of Xanax was analyzed by Erowid's DrugsData.org. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) results publicly released online indicated several unidentified compounds due to a lack of database references at that time. Elucidation by our group indicated the presence of several structurally related compounds that were linked to a failed synthesis of alprazolam. For this case study, a published procedure for the synthesis of alprazolam starting with the chloroacetylation of 2‐amino‐5‐chlorobenzophenone was identified as a potential source of this failure. The procedure was reproduced to identify pitfalls of the methodology and examine its possible link to the illicit tablet. Reaction outcomes were analyzed via GC–MS and compared to the tablet submission data. The major compound in this submission, N‐(2‐benzoyl‐4‐chlorophenyl)‐2‐chloroacetamide, along with several related byproducts were successfully reproduced indicating that the tablet contents potentially stem from a failure to synthesize alprazolam.
Occurrence of pesticide residues in honey from apiaries with incidents of honeybee poisoning in East China and a corresponding risk assessment for honeybees and Chinese consumers
Authors: He Liang , Zhang Jie , Shen Leiding , Ji Xiaofeng , Li Rui
Published: June 2023

We investigated the occurrence of 80 pesticide residues in 96 honey samples from apiaries with honeybee poisoning incidences by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and subsequently conducted risk assessments of exposure for in‐hive honeybees and Chinese consumers. Six pesticides were detected with residue concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 130.9 µg/kg. The mean concentrations of acetamiprid, dinotefuran, hexythiazox, propargite, semiamitraz, and carbendazim in positive samples were 7.9 ± 9.1, 5.9 ± 1.7, 3.0 ± 1.6, 44.2 ± 50.0, 9.0 ± 9.4, and 5.5 ± 4.1 µg/kg, respectively. Carbendazim, semiamitraz, and acetamiprid were the major contaminants in honey, with incidences of 99.0%, 93.8%, and 49.0%, respectively. The cooccurrence of pesticides (≥2 pesticides) was detected in 95.9% of the samples, with up to six residual pesticides found in one sample. The HQ (hazard quotient) values of the six pesticides to in‐hive honeybees were from 4.7 × 10−8 to 0.021, less than 1, indicating their acceptable exposure risk to honeybees. In terms of the representative‐case and worst‐case scenarios, the sum of separate HQs of each pesticide yielding an HI (hazard index) ranged from 0.012 to 0.016 for in‐hive worker honeybees and from 0.015 to 0.021 for in‐hive larva honeybees, indicating an overall acceptable potential cumulative risk of multiple pesticides to in‐hive honeybees. Both the %ARfD (acute reference dose) value (0.0001–0.075) and %ADI (acceptable daily intake) value (0.00002–0.0046) of risky pesticides were much less than 100, revealing acceptable risk exposure to risky pesticides via honey consumption for human health. Thus, our results showed that multipesticide residual honey from apiaries with honeybee poisoning incidents in East China was safe for humans and in‐hive honeybees.

Practical Application

This analytical approach will be used in detecting multiple pesticide residues in honey and risk assessment for dietary exposure to pesticide residues. It can support various surveillance programs about honey safety and in‐hive honeybee health evaluation.
Evaluation of impacts of climate change on natural and managed wetland basins
Authors: Shin Satbyeol , Her Younggu , Khare Yogesh
Published: June 2023

Low floodplain wetlands such as the Western Everglades in South Florida are vulnerable to extreme weather events, and their water quality and ecosystem functions vary greatly depending on changes in water levels and discharges. The future (i.e., the mid and late 21st century) climate is projected to result in increased frequency and magnitude of extreme events, which could negatively affect the hydroecological function of the wetlands. Wetland management practices have commonly been implemented to protect wetlands and their functions, but it is not clear whether the current management practices can still be effective in projected climate change scenarios. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the impacts of climate change on the runoff and total phosphorus (TP) of natural (L28 Gap) and managed (L28) wetland watersheds in the Western Everglades. For the assessment, we employed future climate projections made using 29 general circulation models (GCMs) and the Watershed Assessment Model (WAM), a watershed loading model. The WAM was calibrated and validated for the baseline period (2000–2014), and the bias‐corrected climate projections were incorporated into the model to project the runoff discharge and TP loads for the near‐future (2030–2044) and far‐future (2070–2084) periods in two carbon emission scenarios. The modeling results show that the natural wetland watershed would be more vulnerable to projected climate change than the managed wetland watershed. The impact of projected climate change scenarios on daily runoff and TP loads was modulated by water control facilities and practices in the managed watershed, highlighting the significance of watershed management practices for improved water quality under projected climate change. This study demonstrates how the local natural and managed wetland watersheds distinctly respond to the global‐scale changes and emphasizes the role of water management practices in wetland basins, which are expected to help develop effective climate change adaptation plans for improved sustainability of wetland systems.
Increased glutamate in type 2 diabetes in the Korean population is associated with increased plasminogen levels
Authors: Lee Hyo Jung , Yeom Jeong Won , Yun Ji Ho , Jang Han Byul , Yoo Min‐Gyu , Kim Hyo‐Jin , Koo Soo Kyung , Lee Hye‐Ja
Published: June 2023

Background

Glutamate is a major neurotransmitter, although it causes cytotoxicity and inflammation in nonneuronal organs. This study aimed to investigate the metabolic disorders in which glutamate, associated with type 2 diabetes onset, is induced in the liver.

Methods

An analysis of Korean community‐based Ansan‐Ansung cohort study data as well as functional research using in vitro and mouse models were performed.

Results

Groups with high plasma glutamate levels (T2, T3) had a significantly increased risk of diabetes incidence after 8 years, compared to the group with relatively low glutamate levels (T1). Analysis of the effect of glutamate on diabetes onset in vitro showed that glutamate induces insulin resistance by increasing glucose‐related protein 78 (GRP78) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) expression in SK‐Hep‐1 human liver cells. In addition, three different genes, FRMB4B, PLG, and PARD3, were significantly associated with glutamate and were identified via genome‐wide association studies. Among glutamate‐related genes, plasminogen (PLG) levels were most significantly increased in several environments in which insulin resistance was induced, and was also upregulated by glutamate. Glutamate‐induced increase in PLG in liver cells was caused by metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 activation, and PLG levels were also upregulated after extracellular secretion. Moreover, glutamate increased the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1). Thus, extracellular secreted PLG cannot be converted to plasmin (fibrinolytic enzyme) by increased PAI‐1.

Conclusions

Increased glutamate is closely associated with the development of diabetes, and it may cause metabolic disorders by inhibiting the fibrinolytic system, which plays an important role in determining blood clots, a hallmark of diabetes.