bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of inhibitory properties of neodymium tartrate and comparison with neodymium chloride for mild steel in neutral sodium chloride solution
Authors: Koundal Minakshi , Singh Ajay Kumar , Sharma Chhaya
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the eco-friendly neodymium tartrate (NdTar) inhibitor for mild steel in sodium chloride (NaCl) solution.

Design/methodology/approach

The mild steel 1010 coupon was considered for the current study. Weight loss and the electrochemical methods were used to evaluate the inhibitory effects of neodymium chloride (NdCl3) and NdTar on mild steel in NaCl solution. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements were carried out to study the morphology and composition of the film, nature of deposits and corrosion products formed in test media on the corroded steel, with the objective of further analyzing the observed behavior of the two inhibitors.

Findings

Of the two, NdTar performs better than NdCl3 because it shields mild steel surfaces for longer. According to the results, when NdCl3 is present in a corrosive solution, the protective film only comprises Nd/Fe oxide/hydroxide/carbonate. However, when neodymium is coupled with the tartrate group (an organic group) and then added to the NaCl solution, the inhibitor film comprises both bimetallic complexes (Fe-Tar-Nd) and metal oxide/hydroxide/carbonate, which results in a more compact film and has higher inhibition efficiency.

Originality/value

This study evaluated the combined effects of inorganic and organic inhibitors with those of an inorganic inhibitor used alone for mild steel in NaCl solution.
Addiction recovery stories: Bradley Maguire in conversation with Lisa Ogilvie
Authors: Maguire Bradley , Ogilvie Lisa
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine recovery through lived experience. It is part of a series that explores candid accounts of addiction and recovery to identify important components in the recovery process.

Design/methodology/approach

The G-CHIME model comprises six elements important to addiction recovery (growth, connectedness, hope, identity, meaning in life and empowerment). It provides a standard against which to consider addiction recovery, having been used in this series, as well as in the design of interventions that improve well-being and strengthen recovery. In this paper, a first-hand account is presented, followed by a semi-structured e-interview with the author of the account. Narrative analysis is used to explore the account and interview through the G-CHIME model.

Findings

This paper shows that addiction recovery is a remarkable process that can be effectively explained using the G-CHIME model. The significance of each component in the model is apparent from the account and e-interview presented.

Originality/value

Each account of recovery in this series is unique and, as yet, untold.
Analysis of nonlocal effects on plane waves in a transversely isotropic visco-thermoelastic medium with variable thermal conductivity
Authors: Chaudhary Shilpa , Deswal Sunita , Sheoran Sandeep Singh
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the behaviour of plane waves within a nonlocal transversely isotropic visco-thermoelastic medium having variable thermal conductivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of enunciation is used in the generalized theory of thermoelasticity in accordance with the Green–Lindsay and Eringen’s nonlocal elasticity models. The linear viscoelasticity model developed by Kelvin–Voigt is used to characterize the viscoelastic properties of transversely isotropic materials.

Findings

It has been noticed that three plane waves, which are coupled together, travel through the medium at three different speeds. The derivation of reflection coefficients and energy ratios for reflected waves is carried out by incorporating suitable boundary conditions. Numerical computations are performed for the amplitude ratios, phase speeds and energy partition and displayed in graphical form.

Originality/value

The outcomes of the numerical simulation demonstrate that the amplitude ratios are significantly influenced by variable thermal conductivity, nonlocal parameters and viscosity. It is further observed from the plots that the phase speeds in a transversely isotropic medium depend on the angle of incidence. In addition, it has been established that the energy is preserved during the reflection phenomenon.
Hosts' perspective on home-based commercial hospitality: Evidence from the desert city of Arad, Israel
Authors: Sandler Anna , Shani Amir , Shilo Shahar
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Home-based commercial hospitality (HBCH) is the focus of this study. This community-based tourism (CBT), which has received little research attention, is examined to reveal the meaning of commercially hosting visitors in private homes for experiential meetings on a variety of topics such as food, art, culture, folklore and various workshops.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research method was adopted, using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with HBCH providers in the desert town of Arad, located in southern Israel.

Findings

The study reveals the impact of this unusual occupation on the host's quality of life, the factors that encourage and suppress involvement in this entrepreneurship, as well as the positive and negative consequences of HBCH on the local environment.

Practical implications

The findings could offer important guidelines to municipalities and local governments seeking to encourage CBT and sustainable micro-enterprises.

Originality/value

HBCH is a recent phenomenon and, as such, has been little researched. This study of one community raises issues that may be shared by HBCH enterprises. The findings could contribute to developing such initiatives elsewhere, avoiding the obstacles faced in this pioneering effort.
The returns to returning to school
Authors: Adams Benjamin Charles
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This work examines the returns to education for workers who pursue additional education after time out of the labor force. It compares those who remain in the labor force during additional education with those who drop out of the labor force during additional education. It compares two cohorts of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY).

Design/methodology/approach

This work utilizes a difference equation to estimate the returns to education for workers who pursue additional education after time spent out of school and in the labor force.

Findings

The results indicate a sheepskin return of approximately 14% for those who remain in the labor force and a return of approximately 9% to years of additional education for those who drop out of the labor force. This contrasting pattern of returns is robust to sample selection correction and a variety of checks.

Research limitations/implications

This work does not fully account for all threats to causation. Further research could pursue these and make use of data from more clearly defined periods of education.

Practical implications

This work finds key differences between the internal labor market faced by those remaining in the labor force and the external labor market faced by those dropping out of the labor force. A policy focused on re-training workers should account for these differences.

Originality/value

This is the first work to compare workers who pursue additional education while remaining in the labor force to workers who pursue additional education and drop out of the labor force.
Interpreter requirements of women from non-English speaking migrant backgrounds in maternity hospitals in Melbourne, Australia
Authors: Dawe Joshua , McDonald Ellie , Riggs Elisha , Szwarc Josef , Yelland Jane
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Access to professional interpreter services is a critical facilitator of positive health-care experiences when health-care professionals and women accessing maternity care are not proficient in a shared language. Understanding interpreter demand is essential for the provision of professional interpreter services. This study aims to characterise interpreter requirements among women from nonrefugee and refugee non-English-speaking migrant backgrounds in Australian maternity hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analysed administrative data from four public maternity hospitals in Victoria, Australia. The primary outcome was the proportion of women from non-English speaking migrant backgrounds who required an interpreter during their maternity care, both overall and stratified by refugee and nonrefugee background. Adjusted logistic regression was used to estimate the association between migrant background and interpreter requirements.

Findings

Among the 6,771 women from non-English speaking migrant backgrounds included in analyses, 1,344 (19.8%) required an interpreter during their maternity care. The odds of requiring an interpreter were fivefold higher among women from refugee backgrounds compared to migrant women from nonrefugee backgrounds [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 4.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.13–5.65].

Practical implications

The study highlights the diversity in cultural backgrounds and migration experiences of women accessing maternity care within metropolitan public hospitals. The high interpreter requirements, particularly among women from refugee backgrounds, underscores the need for comprehensive and woman-centred interpreter services to attenuate disparities in hospital maternity care.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to quantify the interpreter requirements of women from non-English-speaking migrant backgrounds in maternity hospital settings and make women comparisons between women from refugee and nonrefugee backgrounds.
Engaging the disengaged: the role of workplace spirituality on millennials’ work engagement
Authors: Bantha Tapas , Nayak Umakanta , Mishra Subhendu Kumar
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the association between workplace spirituality (WPS) and individual’s work engagement (WE) and also the mediating effect of individual’s psychological conditions [psychological meaningfulness (PSYM), psychological safety (PSYS) and psychological availability (PSYA)] on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded on Kahn’s personal engagement theory, a model has been developed with WPS as an independent variable, individual’s psychological conditions (PSYM, PSYS and PSYA) as the mediators and individual’s WE as the dependent variable. Based on the online responses from 510 millennial employees working in Fortune 500 manufacturing and service industries operating in India, analysis has been undertaken using confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson correlation and PROCESS macro of Hayes (2017).

Findings

WPS has been noted to influence individual’s WE positively and there is a partial mediation of PSYM, PSYS and PSYA on this relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is able to extend the scope of Kahn’s personal engagement theory.

Practical implications

Leaders and HR administrators can use the framework to ensure positive engagement levels for the millennial workforce. It will also help to reduce job dissatisfaction and burnouts at the workplace.

Originality/value

The present study contributes to understanding WE through the lens of WPS. It adds to the existing knowledge by explaining the mediation of the psychological conditions between spirituality and WE among millennials working in India. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study can be considered one of the first studies that has attempted to understand the role of WPS and psychological conditions on WE levels of millennials.
Personal determinants of early-stage strategic entrepreneurship: an empirical comparison of Vietnam and Taiwan
Authors: Lo Shihmin , Tran My-Linh , Chen Pei-Fen , Vo Thai Huy Cuong
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This research explores how individual factors drive early-stage strategic entrepreneurship (SE) in Vietnam and Taiwan. The authors extend SE and integrate knowledge spillover theory to gain insights into the relationship between individual factors and SE. The research highlights the importance of a dual process, which involves advantage-creating by innovation, as value creation and capture, and advantage-leveraging by growth and international expansion, as value retention and capture.

Design/methodology/approach

Innovation-oriented SE (ISE), growth-oriented SE (GSE) and internationalization-oriented SE (ITSE) are identified as new measures of SE. There are six hypotheses containing the effect of six personal characteristics have on SE. The authors employed logit regression to estimate the effect of independent variables on SE based on a pooled cross-sectional dataset drawn from Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring (GEM) in Vietnam and Taiwan during 2013–2018.

Findings

Opportunity sensing, education, self-funding ability, startup knowledge and skills and startup experience are crucial to the engagement of at least one type of SE in Vietnam. In contrast, education, self-funding ability and start-up knowledge and skills are key factors in Taiwan.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the extension of SE at the individual level in the early phase of new venturing and the integration of knowledge spillover theory. In order to drive early-stage SE further, the authors recommend to prioritize learning from spillovers within and among organizations, industries and communities, as well as through quality institutions, in addition to the individual drivers.
Investigating the relationship between supply chain maturity and performance: an emerging market study
Authors: Benrqya Yassine , Chetioui Youssef , Jerboui Chaimae
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The current research aims to investigate the relationship between supply chain (SC) processes maturity and SC performance in the context of an emerging market (i.e. Morocco). Based on the SCOR model, the authors propose and test a thorough conceptual framework in which information systems moderates the relationship between SC processes maturity and performance. The effects of firm age and size are also taken into account.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on data collected from 175 top and middle managers using self-administered questionnaires, the authors empirically assessed the conceptual model using a partial least squares (PLS) estimation.

Findings

The study's findings demonstrate that SC processes maturity has a significant effect on SC performance. Second, information systems act as a moderator in the relationship between SC maturity and performance, e.g. the impact of supply chain processes maturity on supply chain performance measures is stronger in the presence of information systems support. Ultimately, firm size and age were found to have no significant impact on supply chain performance.

Practical implications

The study's findings help SC managers to better understand how SC maturity contributes to SC performance. A firm effectively executing maturity factors in its SC processes is more likely to achieve a better SC performance. The authors also established the key role of information systems in strengthening the impact of SC maturity on performance. SC managers should capitalize on the use of information systems to achieve superior SC performance.

Originality/value

The present research bridges a gap pertaining to the impact of supply chain maturity on SC performance, particularly in emerging markets. It is the first of its kind to investigate the influence of SC maturity on SC performance the context of emerging markets.
Value for money (VFM) in private finance initiative (PFI) implementation in Malaysia
Authors: Ahmad Hawa , Ismail Suhaiza , Zakaria Zamzulaila
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Drawing on institutional work (Lawrence and Suddaby, 2006; Lawrence et al., 2011), this study aims to explore how the concept of value for money (VFM) is understood in terms of the private finance initiative (PFI) implementation in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews with 25 actors involved in the implementation of PFI projects at two public universities in Malaysia were conducted. The interviews focused on the ways in which participants in the projects make sense of VFM in their ongoing involvement with the projects. In addition, a review of publicly available documents was conducted to understand the ways in which the notion of VFM is reflected in the policies and procedures of the government. Data from the interviews and documents were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

It is found that the advocacy work of macro-level actors, as well as micro-level actors, has promoted PFI implementation to achieve VFM. However, to the micro-level actors, VFM is just a concept that carries different interpretations, depending on how PFI fits their everyday functional discourses. In addition, direct negotiation and lack of commercial appreciation are disruptive not only to the achievement of VFM but also to the public sector reform agenda of the country.

Originality/value

The present study contributes to the discourses on the concept of VFM that is assumed to be inherent in PFI. The findings are based on micro- and macro-level actors and cover both advocacy and disruption of VFM achievement.
The moderating impact of organizational readiness, competitive pressure and compatibility on the cost of using precast concrete components
Authors: Katebi Ali , Mohammadhosseini Amirhossein , Najmeddin Mohammad , Homami Peyman
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the cost of concrete component prefabrication using the moderating role of organizational readiness, compatibility and competitive pressure.

Design/methodology/approach

The information collected in this study was obtained from 188 questionnaires filled out online by civil engineers active in the Iranian construction industry. Data analysis was performed by partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results reveal that perceived risk has the greatest impact on cost of using precast concrete components (PCC). Furthermore, the organizational readiness, competitive pressure and compatibility variables have moderating role in the relationship between perceived risk and perceived usefulness. The results can help policymakers and managers to apply the appropriate perspective and strategy to promote this method by illustrating the factors affecting the cost of using PCC in the building construction.

Originality/value

Using the variables of perceived risk, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use to predict factors affecting the cost of using PCC is considered as an innovation in this research. In addition to identifying the most important factors affecting the cost of PCC prefabrication in the construction industry, this research tries to identify the impact of environmental factors on the model by examining the moderating role of organizational readiness, competitive pressure and compatibility.
Linking person–job fit and intrinsic motivation to salespeople’s service innovative behavior
Authors: Alqhaiwi Zaid Oqla , Koburtay Tamer , Karatepe Osman M.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Drawing from conservation of resources (COR) and regulatory fit theories, this paper aims to propose and examine moderated mediation model of service innovative behavior among salespeople.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypothesized links were gauged based on time-lagged and multiple sources of data collected from salespeople and their supervisors in a large-scale multi-brand retail firm.

Findings

The hypothesized relationships were confirmed, and the moderated mediation model proposed in this paper was viable. Results suggest that person–job (P-J) fit boosts salespeople’s service innovative behavior, and intrinsic motivation (INTMOT) mediates this relationship. Promotion focus strengthens the positive influence of P-J fit on salespeople’s INTMOT. More importantly, promotion focus moderates the indirect positive link between P-J fit and service innovative behavior through INTMOT.

Originality/value

This research enhances the current knowledge by assessing promotion focus as a moderator of the impact of P-J fit on service innovative behavior via INTMOT among salespeople. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no established research examining the abovementioned links in the sales literature.
COVID-19 and the restaurant industry in Jalisco, Mexico
Authors: Rodríguez-Reyes Luis Raúl , Pasillas Mireya
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to study the effect of the COVID-19 economic slowdown on the restaurant industry in Jalisco, Mexico, identifying business-specific variables that improve/worsen restaurants’ odds of permanent closure.

Design/methodology/approach

The data of a randomized survey on 438 restaurants conducted in October 2020 in Jalisco, Mexico, are analyzed using a binary logistic regression model in which the dependent variable depicts the perception of the restaurant owner regarding the possibility of closing the business for good because of COVID-19.

Findings

Layoffs and large year-on-year drops in sales increased the odds of permanent closure by 12.7 and 5.5 times, respectively. At the same time, being a small business had a protective effect against closure. For instance, a restaurant with 6 to 10 employees and 11 to 20 seats, respectively, had 87.9% and 45.1% lower odds of permanent closure than a different-sized restaurant. There is also an element of legacy in restaurant resilience. Every year the business has been open, it has 2.5% lower odds of permanent closure.

Practical implications

These results call for government financial support to the restaurant industry in extreme financial distress and help to understand the business-specific characteristics of resilient restaurants when liquidity vanishes, such as in the COVID-19 economic crisis.

Originality/value

This study fills a gap in the literature regarding the effect of COVID-19 on the restaurant industry in Mexico, which is scarcely studied. Moreover, it analyzes data collected in the recovery period after the first wave of COVID-19, providing a unique scenario to study critical variables for the resilience of restaurants.
Exploring the determinants of young agripreneurs' success toward sustainable agriculture: a regression approach
Authors: Pliakoura Alexandra , Beligiannis Grigorios , Mavrommati Athanasia , Kontogeorgos Achilleas
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the perceptions of young agricultural entrepreneurs (agripreneurs, as a neologism, from now on), to understand what they consider as determinants in achieving entrepreneurial success in accordance with their type of farming.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses primary data collected through a questionnaire, among 222 young agripreneurs who are active in lowland, semi-mountainous and mountainous regions of western Greece.

Findings

The approach used provided a clear evidence that perceived characteristics, such as internal funding and level of education/training, have a significant relationship with the perception of young agripreneurs’ success (YAS). Also, the perception of young agripreneurs for success varies by the type of farming. Crop production agripreneurs have a significantly higher need for participation in Producer Groups than in livestock production ones. Alternatively, gender, presents a significant relationship only with livestock production agripreneurs’ success.

Practical implications

The results of this study could help to design appropriate policy instruments and at the same time, promote and foster entrepreneurship on the one hand and provide suggestions for young agripreneurs to create sustainable new ventures on the other hand.

Originality/value

This study is original and valuable in the sense that provides the practical implications for understanding the entrepreneurial success and sustainability in a very critical segment of the agricultural sector.
Exploring entrepreneurial motivations among Saudi female business undergraduates
Authors: Sefiani Yassine , Davies Barry
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study seeks to develop a clearer understanding of the motivational factors affecting Saudi female business undergraduates' choice of pursuing entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopts a quantitative approach to gain general understanding of the students' perceptions with regard to their motivations to pursue entrepreneurship. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey administered to 214 female business undergraduates at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) in Al-Khobar, to investigate their perceptions of entrepreneurial motivations. Descriptive statistics and factor analysis were used to identify the motivational factors. Multiple regression analysis was used to reveal relationships between the motivation factors and entrepreneurial motivation of female business undergraduates.

Findings

The study revealed four generalised entrepreneurial motivations among Saudi female business undergraduates: personal motivational factors with an emphasis on freedom and social status; business motivational factors such as financial rewards and security; social motivational factors manifested in the influence of the community, roles and family; and environmental motivations which were mainly associated to education, the market knowledge and ability to access finance.

Research limitations/implications

The study was restricted to female students at PMU University. Thus, generalisation of the results could be limited. The findings of the study could be useful to relevant authorities to enhance and boost entrepreneurship for female students and hence to contribute to the national Vision 2030.

Originality/value

This study is among those few studies located in the MENA region that explore Saudi female university students' attitude towards entrepreneurship. It adds to the authors' understanding on the four generalised factors by highlighting the importance of the family's role and entrepreneurship education in motivating Saudi female students towards entrepreneurship engagement. It also contributes to the understanding of these motivations that could be applied in other similar contexts.
Leading and lagging role between financial stress and crude oil
Authors: Gençyürek Ahmet Galip
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The crude oil market plays a key role in addressing the issue of energy economics. This paper aims to detect the causality relationship between the crude oil market and economy based on the financial system.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used the static and dynamic Hatemi-J Bootstrap Toda–Yamamoto and Diebold–Yilmaz connectedness index. The Hatemi-J Bootstrap Toda-Yamamoto approach allows researchers to use nonstationary data and that method is robust to nonnormal distribution and heteroscedasticity. The Diebold–Yilmaz connectedness index model provides researchers to detect the power of connectedness besides linkage direction. The analyzed period is the span from January 3, 2005 to October 3, 2022.

Findings

The results show bidirectional causality in the full sample but unidirectional causality before and after the 2008 financial crisis. During the 2008 financial crisis period and the COVID-19 period, there was a bidirectional and unidirectional causality, respectively. The connectedness approach indicates that the crude oil market affects financial stress through investors’ risk preferences.

Research limitations/implications

The Diebold–Yilmaz spillover index model is based on vector autoregression methods with a stationarity precondition. However, some of the five dimensions that constitute the financial stress index (FSI) are nonstationary in level. Therefore, the authors takes the first difference of the nonstationary data.

Practical implications

The linkage between the crude oil market and the FSI provides useful information for investors and policymakers. For instance, this paper indicates that an investor wanted to forecast future value of the crude oil (financial stress) should consider the current and past values of financial stress (crude oil). Moreover, policymaker should consider the crude oil market (FSI) to make a policy proposal for financial system (crude oil market).

Originality/value

Recently, indicators of economic activity levels (economic policy uncertainty, implied volatility index) have begun to be considered to analyze the relationship between energy and the economy but very little is known in the literature about the leading and lagging roles of data in subsample periods and the linkage channel. The other originality of this research is using the new econometric approaches.
Financial constraints and carbon emissions: an empirical investigation
Authors: Rehman Ijaz Ur , Shahzad Faisal , Hanif Muhammad Abdullah , Arshad Ameena , Sergi Bruno S.
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to empirically examine the influence of financial constraints on firm carbon emissions. In addition to the role of financial constraints in firm-level carbon emissions, this study also examines this influence in the presence of governance, environmental orientation and firm-level attributes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using pooled ordinary least square, this study examines the impact of financial constraints on firm-level carbon emissions using a panel of 1,536 US firm-year observations from 2008 to 2019. This study also used two-step generalized method of moment–based dynamic panel data and two-stage least square approaches to address potential endogeneity. The results are robust to endogeneity and collinearity issues.

Findings

The results suggest that financial constraints enhance the carbon emissions of the firms. The economic significance of financial constraints on carbon emissions is more pronounced for the firms that do not report environment-related expenditure investment and those that are highly leveraged. The authors further document that firms with a nondiverse gender board signify a statistically significant impact of financial constraints on carbon emissions. These results are also economically significant, as one standard deviation increase in financial constraints is associated with a 3.340% increase in carbon emissions at the firm level.

Research limitations/implications

Some implicit and explicit factors like corporate emissions policy and culture may condition the relationship of financial constraints with carbon emissions. Therefore, it would be worthwhile to consider these factors for future research. In addition, it is beneficial to identify the thresholds and/or quantiles at which financial constraints may significantly make a difference in enhancing carbon emissions.

Practical implications

The findings offer policy implications for investment in stakeholder engagement for capital acquisitions, thereby effectively enforcing environmental innovation and leading to a reduction in carbon emissions.

Originality/value

This study integrated governance and environment-oriented variables in the model to empirically examine the role of financial constraints on the carbon emissions of the firms in the USA over and above what has already been documented in the earlier literature.
Bionic research of photothermal conversion performance based on butterfly wings
Authors: Liu Guomin , Chen Haoqing , Yin Yue , Chen Yongxu , Liu Yansong
Published: October 2023

As the demand for sustainable construction practices increases, innovative ideas are being explored for the construction of insulated wall panels in contemporary buildings. The butterfly is a remarkable organism that uses a thermostatic mechanism to regulate its body temperature. The microstructure on the surface of its wing scales is responsible for reflecting incident light multiple times, extending the optical path, and increasing the light absorption, thus ensuring that its body temperature remains stable. This microstructure, also known as the light capture structure, has been simulated and analyzed using ANSYS software. The results indicate that this structure can improve the light‐thermal conversion efficiency in the illuminated region, thus increasing the local heat using light radiation. Additionally, due to the unique arrangement of units in the light capture structure, the heat exchange rate with air is significantly reduced, resulting in a low heat flux. Therefore, if this butterfly‐like trapped light structure is applied to the insulated wall panels, the requirements of modern architectural concepts can be realized.
Low‐grade inflammation for predicting severe acute pancreatitis in patients with hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis
Authors: Lin Xue Yan , Lai Yong Xing , Lin Yi , Lin Zhi Hui
Published: October 2023

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the association between low‐grade inflammation (LGI) and the severity of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTG‐AP).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 311 patients with HTG‐AP who were admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, Fujian Provincial Hospital between April 2012 and March 2021. Inpatient medical and radiological records were reviewed to collect the clinical manifestations, disease severity, and comorbidities. C‐reactive protein (CRP) level, white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (PLT) count, and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were considered LGI components and were combined to calculate a standardized LGI score. The association between the LGI score and the severity of HTG‐AP was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

Of the 311 patients with HTG‐AP, 47 (15.1%) had mild acute pancreatitis (MAP), 184 (59.2%) had moderately severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP), and 80 (25.7%) had severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), respectively. Patients with MSAP and SAP had a higher LGI score than those with MAP (1.50 vs −6.00, P < 0.001). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with LGI scores in the fourth quartile were more likely to have MSAP and SAP (odds ratio [OR] 21.925, 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.014–95.867, P < 0.001). The multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that low calcium (OR 0.105, 95% CI 0.011–0.969, P = 0.047) and high LGI score (OR 1.253, 95% CI 1.066–1.473, P = 0.006) were associated with MSAP and SAP. When predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis, the LGI score had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (0.7737) compared to its individual components.

Conclusion

An elevated LGI score was associated with a higher risk of SAP in patients with HTG‐AP.
Incidental finding of tall cell variant papillary thyroid carcinoma on prostate‐specific membrane antigen PET CT scan
Authors: Xie Benjamin , Lehane Christopher , Paulus Felik , Ho Shon Ivan
Published: October 2023

Prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET CT is widely used for staging and restaging of prostate cancer. Thyroid and other non‐prostatic pathology may be incidentally identified by this imaging modality. Such findings warrant further investigation given their malignant potential. We describe the first reported case of PSMA avid T cell‐variant papillary thyroid carcinoma incidentally detected on PSMA PET CT.
Role of natural transformation in the evolution of small cryptic plasmids in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Nies Fabian , Wein Tanita , Hanke Dustin M. , Springstein Benjamin L. , Alcorta Jaime , Taubenheim Claudia , Dagan Tal
Published: October 2023

Small cryptic plasmids have no clear effect on the host fitness and their functional repertoire remains obscure. The naturally competent cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 harbours several small cryptic plasmids; whether their evolution with this species is supported by horizontal transfer remains understudied. Here, we show that the small cryptic plasmid DNA is transferred in the population exclusively by natural transformation, where the transfer frequency of plasmid‐encoded genes is similar to that of chromosome‐encoded genes. Establishing a system to follow gene transfer, we compared the transfer frequency of genes encoded in cryptic plasmids pCA2.4 (2378 bp) and pCB2.4 (2345 bp) within and between populations of two Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 labtypes (termed Kiel and Sevilla). Our results reveal that plasmid gene transfer frequency depends on the recipient labtype. Furthermore, gene transfer via whole plasmid uptake in the Sevilla labtype ranged among the lowest detected transfer rates in our experiments. Our study indicates that horizontal DNA transfer via natural transformation is frequent in the evolution of small cryptic plasmids that reside in naturally competent organisms. Furthermore, we suggest that the contribution of natural transformation to cryptic plasmid persistence in Synechocystis is limited.
Robotic enucleation & uncinectomy of complex lesions of the proximal pancreas
Authors: Bell‐Allen Nicholas , McKay Bartholomew , Kilburn Daniel , Waters Peadar , Cavallucci David
Published: October 2023

Background

Malignant tumours within the proximal pancreas traditionally require pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for cure. For smaller lesions with borderline malignant potential the risk/benefit of PD becomes difficult to justify. Robotic approaches to these lesions allow for parenchymal preserving resection with reduced complication profile without oncological compromise.

Methods

A review of a single surgeons prospectively collated database across two institutions of consecutive robotic enucleations or parenchyma preserving resections of the proximal pancreas was performed between July 2018 and October 2021. Standard demographic data, preoperative variables, intraoperative parameters, post‐operative outcomes, morbidity and mortality were recorded.

Results

Thirteen patients (8 female and 5 male) underwent robotic enucleation (EN) (8) and/or uncinectomy (UN) (5) in the proximal pancreas. Mean BMI was 32(kg/m2). Three patients (21%) underwent preoperative prophylactic pancreatic duct stenting. One patient required conversion to open. The median operative time in the EN group was 170 min (108–224 min) and the UN group was 160 min (110–204 min). The majority (8) of lesions were pNETs. Three lesions were IPMNs, with 1 solitary fibrous tumour and a serous cystic neoplasm (SCN) respectively. Median tumour size was 23 mm (11–58 mm) in the EN group, and 27 mm (17–38 mm) in the UN group. Ten of 13 patients had an R0 resection. There was no mortality in our series. Four (31%) patients across both groups developed clinically relevant POPF while none developed new endocrine or exocrine insufficiency. Average outpatient follow‐up has been 6 months (1–18 months).

Conclusion

A robotic approach in proximal parenchymal preserving pancreatectomy is expanding, safe and feasible.
From the Food Mail Program to Nutrition North Canada: The impact on food insecurity among Indigenous and non‐Indigenous families with children
Authors: Daley Angela , Pandey Sujita , Phipps Shelley , Watson Barry
Published: October 2023

Food insecurity is prevalent in northern Canada, especially among Indigenous peoples. As one approach to address this issue, the federal government subsidizes the shipping of necessities to remote northern communities, initially through the Food Mail Program and then Nutrition North Canada as of April 2011. We use the Canadian Community Health Survey (2007 to 2016) and a difference‐in‐differences model to estimate the impact of the policy change on food insecurity, testing for heterogeneity between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous families. Our results, which withstand several robustness checks, indicate that the policy change increased the likelihood of overall food insecurity by 8.9 percentage points (77.3% relative to the sample mean) and moderate/severe food insecurity by 7.1 percentage points (89.3% relative to the sample mean). It also increased severe food insecurity among Indigenous families by 7.3 percentage points (more than three times the sample mean). There was, however, variation across regions and subsamples of families with children. Specifically, the policy change was particularly harmful to Indigenous families in the territories and Inuit Nunangat. The detrimental impact was also heightened in the presence of children, especially when considering severe food insecurity among Indigenous families.
Eosinophil‐derived neurotoxin levels in early childhood and association with preschool asthma – A prospective observational study
Authors: Färdig Martin , Lie Anine , Borres Magnus P. , Ekenkrantz Tina , Granum Berit , Haugen Guttorm , Jonassen Christine M. , Movérare Robert , Rehbinder Eva Maria , Skjerven Håvard O. , Staff Anne Cathrine , Vettukattil Riyas , Lødrup Carlsen Karin C. , Söderhäll Cilla , Nordlund Björn
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Eosinophil‐derived neurotoxin (EDN) is related to childhood asthma, while normal values are lacking. We aimed to document serum EDN levels at 1 and 3 years in general and in non‐atopic children, and explore if EDN levels differed by sex or were associated with preschool asthma at 3 years.

Methods

From the PreventADALL birth cohort, we included 1233 children with EDN analysed using ImmunoCAP at 1 and/or 3 years. Non‐atopic children had no history of wheeze, asthma, allergic sensitization or atopic dermatitis. Preschool asthma was defined as having ≥3 episodes of bronchial obstruction between 2 and 3 years, plus doctor diagnosed asthma and/or asthma medication use by 3 years. The upper limit of normal (ULN) of EDN was defined as the 95th percentile. With Youden Index we calculated EDN cut‐off levels for risk of preschool asthma.

Results

The overall median (ULN) EDN levels were 27.4 (121) μg/L at 1 year (n = 787), and 20.1 (87.8) μg/L at 3 years (n = 857). Non‐atopic children had EDN levels of 24.0 (107) μg/L at 1 year (n = 147), and 17.3 (84.6) μg/L at 3 years (n = 173). EDN levels were higher in boys compared to girls; 32.0 (133) versus 24.5 (97.0) μg/L at 1 year, and 20.9 (96.3) versus 19.0 (72.4) μg/L at 3 years. Preschool asthma was observed in 109/892 (12.2%) children. Higher EDN levels at 1 (>26.7 μg/L) and 3 (≥20.5 μg/L) years were associated with preschool asthma; adjusted OR (95% CI) 2.20 (1.09, 4.41) and 4.68 (2.29, 9.55), respectively.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

We report EDN values in early childhood, demonstrating higher levels at 1 compared to 3 years and in boys compared to girls at both ages. Higher EDN levels at both ages were associated with preschool asthma. However, EDN cut‐off levels for preschool asthma were overall lower than the ULN of non‐atopic children, limiting translation into clinical practice.
Colonic mucosal defect closure using balloon‐assisted enteroscopy: Reopenable‐clip over‐the‐line method
Authors: Nomura Tatsuma , Sugimoto Shinya , Ito Keiichi
Published: October 2023

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Determinants of myocardial work indices in women
Authors: Jasaityte Ruta , Bajraktarevic Rija , Blaschke‐Waluga Daniela , Seeland Ute , Regitz‐Zagrosek Vera , Landmesser Ulf , Stangl Karl , Knebel Fabian , Stangl Verena , Brand Anna
Published: October 2023

Objective

By incorporating myocardial deformation and afterload, novel echocardiographic myocardial work indices appear to be advantageous compared to load‐dependent left ventricular (LV) deformation analyses. As such, these indices may provide a more accurate and, above all, load‐independent estimation of LV function in patients with chronically increased afterload. To date however, data on the relation of these indices to clinical and conventional echocardiographic parameters are scarce.

Purpose

Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between myocardial work indices and age, body mass index (BMI), NTproBNP, the clinical history of arterial hypertension and diastolic dysfunction as well as selected conventional echocardiographic parameters in women.

Methods

We analyzed echocardiographic data of women included in the Berlin Female Risk Evaluation (BEFRI) trial. Global Work Index (GWI), Global Constructive Work (GCW), Global Wasted Work (GWW) and Global Work Efficiency (GWE) were calculated using commercially available software based on noninvasive pressure‐strain loops. The impact of selected clinical and echocardiographic characteristics on myocardial work parameters was investigated by uni‐ and multivariate regression analyses.

Results

A total of 224 women were included in the final analysis. 155 of them were normotensive and 69 had a history of arterial hypertension. Diastolic dysfunction was more prevalent in subjects with arterial hypertension. Study participants with arterial hypertension showed higher GWI and GCW whereas GWW and GWE did not significantly differ between groups. GCW and GWW were lower and GWE higher in the presence of normal diastolic function. In multivariate regression analyses, arterial hypertension, LV GLS, and interventricular septal thickness were significantly associated with GWI. GCW showed significant associations with the clinical history of arterial hypertension, LV GLS, age and IVRT. Similarly, LV GLS, IVRT and mitral inflow E wave deceleration time were identified to be significant determinants of GWW and GWE.

Conclusion

Our data confirm that, in a randomly selected sample of the general urban female population, myocardial work parameters are predominantly determined by LV GLS. In addition, the presence of arterial hypertension was identified to be a significant determinant of GWI and GCW, but not for GWW and GWE. Finally, a prolonged LV relaxation time was significantly associated with GWW and GWE, suggesting more wasted myocardial work and lower GWE values with increasing LV relaxation time.
A duplex real‐time PCR with TaqMan probes for the distinction of Anoplophora chinensis (Forster) and Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) on different biological matrices
Authors: Rizzo Domenico , Da Lio Daniele , Zubieta Claudia Gabriela , Ranaldi Chiara , Marrucci Andrea , Stabile Igor , d'Agostino Andrea , Bartolini Linda , Rapisarda Carmelo , Pennacchio Fabrizio , Rossi Elisabetta
Published: October 2023

Anoplophora chinensis (Forster, 1771), the citrus longhorned beetle, and Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky, 1853), the Asian longhorned beetle, are wood borers of great economic importance, infesting a wide range of ornamental trees and shrubs. Native to Asia, their presence has been detected in several countries on different continents. Both are included in the EPPO A2 list of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests. A duplex molecular test based on TaqMan probe technology for the identification of the two species has been set up, using specimens (adults and larvae) of the two species. To test the duplex real‐time PCR on frass, an artificial frass (‘manufactured sawdust’) has been created using wood chips from healthy branches of Acer negundo, spiked with a known amount of DNA from larvae of the species. The analytical specificity, analytical sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility of the duplex real‐time PCR test were evaluated according to EPPO Standards. This new molecular tool allows distinction, with only one test, between these two Anoplophora species using DNA isolated from the adult, larvae and/or frass.