bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MOSAIC: A Unified Trait Database to Complement Structured Population Models
Authors: Bernard Connor , Santos Gabriel Silva , Deere Jacques A. , Rodriguez-Caro Roberto , Capdevila Pol , Kusch Erik , Gascoigne Samuel J L , Jackson John , Salguero-Gómez Roberto
Published: March 2022

The ecological sciences have joined the big data revolution. However, despite exponential growth in data availability, broader interoperability amongst datasets is still needed to unlock the potential of open access. The interface of demography and functional traits is well-positioned to benefit from said interoperability. Trait-based ecological approaches have been criticised because of their inability to predict fitness components, the core of demography; likewise, demographic approaches are data-hungry, and so using traits as ecological shortcuts to understanding and forecasting population viability could offer great value.

Here, we introduce MOSAIC, an open-access trait database that unlocks the demographic potential stored in the COMADRE, COMPADRE, and PADRINO open-access databases. MOSAIC data have been digitised and curated through a combination of existing datasets and additional taxonomic and/or trait records sourced from primary literature. In its first release, MOSAIC (v. 1.0.0) includes 14 trait fields for 300 animal and plant species: biomass, height, growth determination, regeneration, sexual dimorphism, mating system, hermaphrodism, sequential hermaphrodism, dispersal capacity, type of dispersal, mode of dispersal, dispersal classes, volancy, and aquatic habitat dependency. MOSAIC also includes species-level phylogenies for 1,359 species and population-specific climate data where locations are recorded.

Using MOSAIC, we highlight a taxonomic mismatch of widely used trait databases with existing structured population models. Despite millions of trait records available in open-access databases, taxonomic overlap between open-access demographic and trait databases is <5%. We identify where traits of interest to ecologists can benefit from database integration and start to quantify traits that are poorly quantified (e.g., growth determination, modularity).

The MOSAIC database evidences the importance of improving interoperability in open-access efforts in ecology as well as the need for complementary digitisation to fill targeted taxonomic gaps. In addition, MOSAIC highlights emerging challenges associated with the disparity between locations where different trait records are sourced.
Crystal structure of serotonin
Authors: Naeem Marilyn , Chadeayne Andrew R. , Golen James A. , Manke David R.
Published: March 2022

The title compound, serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) [systematic name: 3-(2-aminoethyl)-1H-indol-5-ol], C10H12N2O, has one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The conformation of the ethylamino side chain is gauche–gauche [Ca—Ca—Cm—Cm and Ca—Cm—Cm—N (a = aromatic, m = methylene) torsion angles = −64.2 (3) and −61.9 (2)°, respectively]. In the crystal, the molecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by N—H...O and O—H...N hydrogen bonds.
catena-Poly[oxidanium [tris{μ-[amino(iminio)methyl]phosphonato}zincate(II)]]
Authors: Chachlaki Elpiniki , Choquesillo-Lazarte Duane , Demadis Konstantinos D.
Published: March 2022

The crystal structure of the anionic zinc–[amino(iminio)methyl]phosphonate one-dimensional coordination polymer, Zn-AIMP, is reported; the negative charge is balanced by an oxidanium cation (H3O+) to give the composition {(H3O)[Zn(CH4N2PO3)3]}
n
. The building unit of the coordination polymer comprises a divalent Zn2+ cation (site symmetry \overline3..) and three [amino(iminio)methyl]phosphonate mono-anionic ligands (point group symmetry m). The AIMP ligand exists in a zwitterionic form with a total charge −1 as the phosphonate is fully deprotonated (–PO3
2−), while the amino(iminio)methyl moiety is protonated (H2N—C—NH2
+).
Primary school children's responses to food waste at school
Authors: Yen Dorothy A. , Cappellini Benedetta , Dovey Terry
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper seeks to understand children’s responses to food waste in school by exploring children’s views on food waste and empowering them to discuss and develop their own solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using creative problem-solving approach and photovoice technique, the authors conducted focus group discussions with 28 primary school children in the UK.

Findings

Children have a clear understanding of the consequences of food waste for individuals, society and the environment. They displayed negative emotions concerning food waste and responded positively to the possibility of food recycling. Their solutions to reduce food waste will require multiple stakeholder engagement, including self-regulation, peer-monitoring, teacher supervision and family support. However, rather than relying on intervention schemes that require significant adult involvement, children placed a heavy emphasis on self-regulation, playing an active role in addressing food waste in school.

Originality/value

This research extends previous understanding, by showing children as agentic consumers who can shape food waste solutions in school. These findings are of use to primary teachers and local education authorities, to aid children in developing their own solutions to reduce food waste in their own schools.
Considerations for creating equitable and inclusive communication campaigns associated with ShakeAlert, the earthquake early warning system for the West Coast of the USA
Authors: Jenkins Mariah R. , McBride Sara K. , Morgoch Meredith , Smith Hollie
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The 2019 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR) cites earthquakes as the most damaging natural hazard globally, causing billions of dollars of damage and killing thousands of people. Earthquakes have the potential to drastically impact physical, social and economic landscapes; to reduce this risk, earthquake early warning (EEW) systems have been developed. However, these technical EEW systems do not operate in a vacuum; the inequities in social systems, along with the needs of diverse populations, must be considered when developing these systems and their associated communication campaigns.

Design/methodology/approach

This article reviews aspects of social vulnerability as they relate to ShakeAlert, the EEW system for the USA. The authors identified two theories (relationship management theory and mute group theory) to inform self-reflective questions for agencies managing campaigns for EEW systems, which can assist in the development of more inclusive communication practices. Finally, the authors suggest this work contributes to important conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues within early warning systems and earthquake preparedness campaigns in general.

Findings

To increase inclusivity, Macnamara (2012) argues that self-reflective questioning while analyzing perspective, philosophy and approaches for a campaign can help. Specific to EEW campaigns, developers may find self-reflective questions a useful approach to increase inclusion. These questions are guided by two theories and are explored in the paper.

Research limitations/implications

Several research limitations exist. First, this work explores two theories to develop a combined theoretical model for self-reflective questions. Further research is required to determine if this approach and the combination of these two theories have adequately informed the development of the reflective questions.

Originality/value

The authors could find little peer-reviewed work examining DEI for EEW systems, and ShakeAlert in particular. While articles on early warning systems exist that explore aspects of this, EEW and ShakeAlert, with its very limited time frames for warnings, creates unique challenges.
Pedestrian evacuation method based on improved cellular automata in emergencies
Authors: Longzhen Zhai , Feng ShaoHong
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The rapid evacuation of personnel in emergency situations is of great significance to the safety of pedestrians. In order to further improve the evacuation efficiency in emergency situations, this paper proposes a pedestrian evacuation model based on improved cellular automata based on microscopic features.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the space is divided into finer grids, so that a single pedestrian occupies multiple grids to show the microscopic behavior between pedestrians. Second, to simulate the velocity of pedestrian movement under different personnel density, a dynamic grid velocity model is designed to establish a linear correspondence relationship with the density of people in the surrounding environment. Finally, the pedestrian dynamic exit selection mechanism is established to simulate the pedestrian dynamic exit selection process.

Findings

The proposed method is applied to single-exit space evacuation, multi-exit space evacuation, and space evacuation with obstacles, respectively. Average speed and personnel evacuation decisions are analyzed in specific applications. The method proposed in this paper can provide the optimal evacuation plan for pedestrians in multiple exit and obstacle environments.

Practical implications/Social implications

In fire and emergency situations, the method proposed in this paper can provide a more effective evacuation strategy for pedestrians. The method proposed in this paper can quickly get pedestrians out of the dangerous area and provide a certain reference value for the stable development of society.

Originality/value

This paper proposes a cellular automata pedestrian evacuation method based on a fine grid velocity model. This method can more realistically simulate the microscopic behavior of pedestrians. The proposed model increases the speed of pedestrian movement, allowing pedestrians to dynamically adjust the speed according to the specific situation.
Why do customers want to learn? Antecedents and outcomes of customer learning
Authors: Sun Xiaochi , Eisingerich Andreas Benedikt , Foscht Thomas , Cui Xuebin , Schloffer Judith
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Customers often want to learn about a product/service, and companies can benefit from such a learning desire. While prior research has shed light on firm-beneficial outcomes of customer learning and explored the motivational factors of business partners’ learning behavior, less is known about the critical antecedents of individual customers’ learning behavior. This study aims to explore the key drivers of individual customers’ learning desires and identified customers with a stronger learning desire.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used both a lab experiment (Study 1, N = 148) and surveys (Study 2, N = 553; Study 3, N = 703) across different participant populations and product contexts.

Findings

This study indicated that both involvement and knowledge-sharing intention drove customer learning desire. Customer expertise further strengthened these main effects. Moreover, a stronger learning desire led to greater customer satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

This study identified key factors involved in customer learning desire and its potential benefits for companies. Additional research to investigate customer learning in specific environments and forms and regarding specific brands is warranted.

Practical implications

This study emphasizes the importance of supporting customer learning and encourages businesses to manage customer learning proactively. It also provides suggestions for effective learning support for targeted customer groups.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the customer learning literature by exploring key influencing factors of individual customers’ learning desires, based on self-determination theory. It also identified the role of customer expertise in shaping customers’ learning processes. Moreover, this study examined customer learning as a novel way to enhance customer satisfaction.
A human resources analytics and machine-learning examination of turnover: implications for theory and practice
Authors: Avrahami Dan , Pessach Dana , Singer Gonen , Chalutz Ben-Gal Hila
Published: March 2022

Purpose

What do antecedents of turnover tell us when examined using human resources (HR) analytics and machine-learning tools, and what are the respective theoretical and practical implications? Although the turnover literature is expansive, empirical evidence on turnover antecedents studied using data science tools remains limited.

Design/methodology/approach

To help reinvigorate research in this field, the authors propose a novel examination of turnover antecedents—competencies, commitment, trust and cultural values—using big data tools to develop a granular, case-dependent measure of turnover.

Findings

Using archival data from 700,000 employees of a large organization collected over a period of ten years, the authors find that turnover is generally associated with varying levels of these antecedents. However, in more fine-grained analysis, their relation to turnover is contingent upon role, person and cultural background.

Originality/value

The authors discuss the implications on turnover and strategic HR research and the potential of Artificial Intelligence and machine-learning methods in the design and implementation of managerial and HR planning initiatives.
Integrating extended theory of planned behaviour and norm activation model to examine the effects of environmental practices among Malaysian companies
Authors: Chan Kar Hoong , Chong Lee-Lee , Ng Tuan Hock
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Objectively, this study aims to recognise the antecedents that influence the managers’ environmental practices behavioural intention and its impact on their companies’ performance, namely, environmental and perceived future financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Standardised structured questionnaires are distributed through the investor relations department where the targeted respondents must be ranked manager position and above. A total of 107 usable responses were collected. To analyse the data collected, partial least square structural equation modelling is use.

Findings

Empirically, subjective and corporate norms are positively influencing the managers’ environmental practices intention. Corporate norm has the greatest effects among the antecedents. Furthermore, managers’ environmental practices intention is also found influential to their behaviour. Subsequently, the managers’ environmental practices behaviour is also positively influencing both environmental and perceived future financial performance. In which, managers’ environmental practices behaviour has a larger effect on their companies’ environmental performance. Finally, environmental performance is also positively influencing the perceived future financial performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study enhance the theoretical framework by integrating the extended theory of planned behaviour and norm activation model and extend the original theory of planned behaviour. Also, the greatest effect on corporate norm suggests companies to embrace corporate responsibilities internally to protect the environment. Practically, this study also provides few suggestions to the management so that they can cultivate environmentally friendly behaviour among the employees.

Originality/value

This study is integrating the extended theory of planned behaviour and norm activation model to examine the antecedents to the environmental practices intention among managers of the Malaysia listed companies and extends the original theory of planned behaviour to examine the impact of environmental practices behaviour to companies’ performance.
Combatting the financing of hate groups
Authors: Eggers Austin , Hobbs Jeffrey
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to make the reader aware of recent changes in the white supremacist movement and how such changes have altered the ways in which the movement can be combatted.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors study the movement in two periods: from 1970 to 2005 and from 2006 onward. The authors contrast the two periods and discuss the legal and financial issues within each.

Findings

The authors find that while legal concepts such as vicarious liability and respondeat superior apply today just as they did before, new tools are needed to fight the new means of financing the movement.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of this study is the lack of quantitative data. Because the “alt-right” became popular around 2015, there has not been enough time for the construction of detailed data sets.

Practical implications

While many law papers have explored the white supremacist movement, the financing side has gone under-analyzed in scholarly research. This is important in light of the rise of the internet, online payment processors, cryptocurrencies and remote organizing and fundraising.

Social implications

The 2017 Charlottesville rally was organized and financed via podcasts, online forums, encrypted chats and anonymous payments. Since then, the movement has mostly gone underground and has become more violent and radical as many members have come to believe that marches and politics do not help them.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no papers in finance that deal extensively with this topic. The authors believe that the severity of the issue and the importance of its funding make this study a valuable source of information. The recent changes occurring within the movement are likely to become even more critical to its success or failure in the future.
Women leaders and corporate social performance: do critical mass, CEO managerial ability and corporate governance matter?
Authors: Jouber Habib
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of top management team (TMT)'s gender diversity on corporate social performance (CSP). It sheds light on inconsistent results in literature by testing the moderator effects of chief executive officer (CEO) managerial ability and corporate governance (CG) on such impact.

Design/methodology/approach

A dynamic panel estimator is applied to an international sample of 8640 firm‐year observations from 2013 to 2017.

Findings

The author finds reliable evidence that the critical mass of at least three women leaders has a positive impact on the firm's CSP. Obtained results suggest, moreover, the deterrence effects of CEO managerial ability and CG tools (board independence, board gender diversity, the presence of a corporate social responsibility committee and family control) on the women leaders' contribution to the firm's CSP level. These results remain consistent with alternative measures for women leaders and CEO managerial ability. However, findings are lost when women achieve the CEO position, the chairperson position or both positions, which imply that men and women leadership styles are closely similar rather than different. Furthermore, women leaders' effect on CSP seems dependent (do not) on the country (industry) which a firm belongs to.

Practical implications

From a practical standpoint, the study highlights the importance of fostering the achievement of a critical mass of women leaders and the combination of CEO managerial ability – educational/professional backgrounds – and CG attributes to improve the firm's CSP. The study has important implications for investors and regulators. If investors wish to increase CSP, they should ask for more gender diversified TMTs. Furthermore, this study supports regulators in their efforts to increase senior women's quotas by providing empirical evidence of better social outcomes under leader gender diversity. The study’s evidence is also useful for companies in setting the criteria to identify CEOs who can support their strategic decisions.

Originality/value

By studying the impact female leaders have on CSP under CEO managerial ability and CG as moderators, this study is the first to display complementarities and substitutions between CEO's managerial ability and selected CG attributes in the promotion of CSP by female senior executives. Furthermore, it fills the void on how TMT's gender diversity impact CSP. In fact, while it is conventionally considered that women are more likely to engage in socially responsible activities, sensitive findings of this study shed light on the brighter side of female executives when they achieve the CEO, the chairperson position or both positions.
Cognitive biases in implementing a performance management system: behavioral strategy for supporting managers’ decision-making processes
Authors: Hristov Ivo , Camilli Riccardo , Mechelli Alessandro
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to provide a clear picture on the cognitive biases affecting managers’ decision-making process of implementing a performance management system (PMS), and to identify managerial practices, measures and the key challenges to manage the cognitive biases in the corporate strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews, based on theoretical milestones of performance management and cognitive psychology, gathered from 104 experienced professionals’ evaluations on the likelihood and impact of managers’ cognitive biases in PMS implementation, potential solutions as well as drivers and connected criticalities.

Findings

Recurring cognitive biases, together with considerable impacts, emerged in the first, and most strategic, phases of the PMS implementation. The authors developed a roadmap to support corporate transition to integrate behavioral strategy into the PMS implementation aiming to achieve economically and efficiently sound performance.

Research limitations/implications

From the view of proper behavioral strategy affirmation in performance management literature, in a small way, the authors contribute to a desirable taxonomy of cognitive biases so differentiated decision-making scenarios may be built to compare results and draw new observations. Behavioral studies could transversally connect the cognitive biases of performance management to actors’ sociodemographic features and personality types. Practitioners may check biases affecting their organizations by means of the questionnaire and, consequently, adopt the framework illustrated to reduce them.

Originality/value

Performance management literature has constantly investigated positive and negative behavioral factors related to the PMS. This study, instead, makes a theoretical and methodological contribution to the PMS implementation as a decision-making process. The authors propose a theoretical framework that integrates cognitive psychology insights and applies measures to reduce biases.
A methodological framework for theoretical explanation in performance management and management control systems research
Authors: Pfister Jan A. , Peda Peeter , Otley David
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on how to apply the abductive research process for developing a theoretical explanation in studies on performance management and management control systems. This is important because theoretically ambitious research tends to require explanatory study outcomes, but prior research frameworks provide little guidance in this regard, potentially facilitating ill-defined research designs and a lack of common vocabulary and criteria for evaluating studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors introduce a methodological framework that distinguishes three interwoven theoretical abstraction levels: descriptive, analytical and explanatory. They use a recently published qualitative field study to illustrate an application of the framework.

Findings

The framework and its illustrated application make the systematic logic of the abductive research process visible and accessible to researchers. The authors explain how the framework supports moving from empirical description to theoretical explanation during the research process and where the three levels might open spaces for the positioning of novel practices and conceptual and theoretical innovations.

Originality/value

The framework provides guidance for an explanatory research design and theory-building purpose and has been developed in response to recent criticism in the field that highlights the wide gap between leading-edge practice and the lagging state of theory. It offers interdisciplinary vocabulary and evaluation criteria that can be applied by any accounting and management researcher regardless of whether they pursue critical, interpretive or positivist research and whether they primarily use qualitative or quantitative research methods.
An experimental investigation of the “follow own signal” decision rule under increased information uncertainty
Authors: Tsang Ming , Stivers Adam
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine individuals' tendency to strictly follow their own signal while ignoring predecessors' decisions when making decisions under varying degrees of uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a controlled laboratory experiment, the authors separate the follow-own-signal behavior from other types of behavior such as Bayes consistent or herd-like (i.e. follow-the-majority) behavior.

Findings

As the authors systemically increase the degree of uncertainty in the information environment, participants are increasingly more likely to act only on their own signal. This suggests that financial decisions that are made under highly uncertain market conditions may be more signal revealing, and hence, may lead to better information aggregation than previously thought. The authors also find that as uncertainty increases, participants are more likely to switch in and out of this behavior, suggesting that behavior under highly uncertain conditions may also be more random and complex.

Originality/value

The authors are the first to examine how uncertainty affects the follow-own-signal behavior. The authors also offer potential testable empirical implications, such as an increase in contrarian investing, home bias, and own-company ownership under times of increased uncertainty or in more uncertain markets.
Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls in cream and ice cream using modified QuEChERS extraction and GC‐QqQ‐MS/MS method: A risk assessment study
Authors: Shahsavari Saeed , Shariatifar Nabi , Arabameri Majid , Mahmoudi Razzagh , Moazzen Mojtaba , Ghajarbeygi Peyman
Published: March 2022

The concentrations of six non–dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL‐PCBs) were measured using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with triple‐quadrupole (QqQ) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method in cream and ice cream offered in Tehran (Iran). The results showed the limits of detection, limit of quantification and recovery for the PCB analytes in the ranges 0.04–0.16, 0.132–0.482 ng/g fat, 5.2–9.2 and 95.5–107.2%, respectively. The results showed the mean concentration of total 6NDL‐PCBs in cream (21.634 ± 2.18 ng/g fat) was higher than that in the ice cream (12.317 ± 1.524 ng/g fat) samples. The estimated daily intake (EDI) was lower than the tolerable daily intake (TDI < 10 ng/kg BW/day). Ultimately, the probabilistic model with Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) revealed the incremental lifetime cancer risk levels (95th) of PCB compounds in ice cream (adults = 1.62E−6 and children = 4.37E−6) and cream (adults = 9.65E−7 and children = 7.57E−6) were lower than the level of acceptable risk (10−4).
Toward an empirically based Developmental Trauma Disorder diagnosis and semi‐structured interview for children: The DTD field trial replication
Authors: Ford Julian D. , Spinazzola Joseph , van der Kolk Bessel , Chan Grace
Published: March 2022

Objective

Developmental trauma disorder (DTD) is a childhood psychiatric syndrome designed to include sequelae of trauma exposure not fully captured by PTSD. This study aimed to determine whether the assessment of DTD with an independent sample of children in mental health treatment will replicate results from an initial validation study.

Methods

The DTD semi‐structured interview (DTD‐SI) was administered to a convenience sample in six sites in the United States (N = 271 children in mental health care, 8–18 years old, 47% female, 41% Black or Latinx) with measures of trauma history, DSM‐IV PTSD, probable DSM‐IV psychiatric diagnoses, emotion regulation/dysregulation, internalizing/externalizing problems, and quality of life. Confirmatory factor (CFA) and item response theory (IRT) analyses tested DTD’s structure and DTD‐SI’s information value. Bivariate and multivariate analyses tested DTD’s criterion and convergent validity.

Results

A three‐factor solution (i.e., emotion/somatic, attentional/behavioral, and self/relational dysregulation) best fit the data (CFI = 0.91; TLI = 0.89; BIC = 357.17; RMSEA = 0.06; SRMR = 0.05). DTD‐SI items were informative across race/ethnicity, gender, and age with three exceptions. Emotion dysregulation was the most informative item at low levels of DTD severity. Non‐suicidal self‐injury was rare but discriminative in identifying children with high levels of DTD severity. Results supported the criterion and convergent validity of the DTD construct.

Conclusion

This replication provides empirical support for DTD as a construct and potential psychiatric syndrome, and the DTD‐SI’s validity as a clinical research tool.
A dynamic analysis of the distribution of commodity futures and spot prices
Authors: Li Jian , Chavas Jean‐Paul
Published: March 2022

This paper investigates the role of futures markets and their dynamic effects on the stability of commodity prices. The analysis is based on combining two econometric approaches: a quantile vector autoregression (QVAR) model of the marginal distributions of futures and spot prices, and a copula of their joint distribution. Applied to the US soybean and corn markets over the period of 1980–2019, the econometric investigation finds evidence of nonlinear price dynamics that depend on the maturity of the futures contract and documents how marginal price distributions and associated moments evolve over time. Based on the estimates of the QVAR model, we provide evidence of local instability in the upper tail of the price distributions. We find that the futures market helps stabilize the market under nearby futures contract maturity. We document the presence of nonlinear cointegration relationships between futures and spot price. Relying on a copula, we find a positive contemporaneous codependence between futures price and spot price across all quantiles, codependence that varies with the futures contract maturity. We also present evidence of a time‐varying basis that affects the convergence properties of the futures and spot price. Our findings shed new light on the joint determination of futures and spot price in commodity markets.
Dalit Women in Cinema: A Narrative of Gender and Caste
Authors: Lalitha S. , Pankaj Ajeet Kumar
Published: March 2022

Dalit women in India experience gender in an entirely different way from upper‐caste women because, along with gender discrimination, Dalit women face caste discrimination. Their experience of gender discrimination intersects with their caste identity, which intensifies their suffering. Dalit women experience gender‐based discrimination and social exclusion and stigma. Drawing from the Tamil movie Karnan, two Bollywood movies—200‐Halla Ho and Article15—and the Netflix web series Azib Dastan‐Geeli Pucchi (an anthology), we endeavor to answer several questions: What patterns exist in the gender‐ and caste‐based humiliation of Dalit women? How do gender and caste intersect in the humiliation and social exclusion of those women? How is their experience of gender‐based discrimination different from that of upper‐caste women? How do Dalit women assert their agency and struggle against gender and caste oppression in society? What kind of resilience do they rely upon to negotiate gender and caste discrimination? What inspires and motivates them to fight for their dignity? Despite the challenges and hurdles, how are these women achieving their aspirations?
Women in Oppressive Societies as Portrayed in Kollywood Movies
Authors: Kalyani V. , Arumugam Thangaraja , Surya Kumar M.
Published: March 2022

The three films discussed in this article describe the cultural and living conditions of women who are socially oppressed in Tamil Nadu, in southern India. Each film exposes a different method of oppression used to subjugate these women: oppression by caste discrimination, honor killings, and modern‐day slavery. Paradesi [Vagabond] examines the misery of tea plantation workers. It describes the slavery system that extorts poor women who are lured into working on tea plantations, and shows how they are forced to live their entire lives as slaves without a shred of hope or freedom. Madha Yaanai Koottam [Herd of Mad Elephants] dramatizes the story of the two wives of a wealthy and respected landowner. The hostile and increasingly violent conflict between the families of the wives puts a spotlight on the realities of caste‐ism and honor killings. Jai Bhim [Victory to Bhim] exposes the struggles of women who belong to the Irula tribe. It shows how a member of the Irula tribe was falsely framed in a theft case. The film addresses the indirect struggles of women who belong to a tribal community. The public outcry sparked by these realistic films has garnered public awareness of the social oppression of women.
Predictors of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in health care workers providing health and rehabilitation services in rural and remote locations: A scoping review
Authors: McGrath Kelly , Matthews Lynda R. , Heard Rob
Published: March 2022

Introduction

A better understanding of the predictors of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in health care workers in rural and remote communities is needed to inform preventative interventions for this sector of the health workforce.

Objective

To identify predictors of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in health care workers providing health and rehabilitation services in rural and remote locations.

Design

A scoping review informed by Arksey and O'Malley's five‐stage framework and the scoping review protocol of the PRISMA‐ScR statement.

Findings

The search yielded 946 articles, and 34 full texts were screened for eligibility, leaving 12 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. No studies on workers providing rehabilitation services were identified. Three studies assessed possible predictors of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in health care workers, and all studies evaluated burnout. The most studied predictor variables were age, gender, profession and workload.

Discussion

This study identified potential risk and protective factors for health care workers that are likely relevant to those providing rehabilitation services in rural locations. Little is known about possible predictors of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in professionals working in rural and remote areas outside of medicine and nursing or health care workers in rural community‐based settings.

Conclusion

Research examining predictors of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue in rehabilitation health care workers working in rural and remote locations is scant. Research that identifies risk and protective factors in this rapidly growing sector of the health care workforce is needed to inform the development of interventions that promote professional quality of life.
Comparison of QT dispersion before and after PDA device closure in pediatrics
Authors: Khalilian Mohammad Reza , Ziaratban Mehdi , Alizadeh Parinaz , Norouzi Ali Reza , Shirvani Armin
Published: March 2022

Background

Numerous studies have shown that QT dispersion (QTd) can be a suitable criterion for risk assessment of arrhythmia in patients with congenital heart disease. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmia by changing ventricular repolarization homogeneity. In this study, we assessed QTd changes after PDA device closure and the effect of PAH on these changes.

Methods

Between October 2018 and March 2021, 97 patients (48 males; 49 females; mean age 31.36 ± 4.26 months; range 3 months to 14 years) who satisfied the primary inclusion criteria and did not meet the exclusion criteria and underwent PDA device closure intervention were included in the study. Echocardiography was performed before the procedure. QT corrected (QTc), and QTd and PR intervals were measured according to the patients’ standard 12‐lead ECGs in two periods, preoperative (1 day) and after (3 months).

Results

In the general group, QTc and QTd decreased significantly after PDA closure. Based on our classification of the patients in two groups of high PAP and normal PAP, the three parameters QTc, QTd, and PR interval were assessed separately in the two groups. All three parameters decreased significantly in the normal PAP and high PAP groups.

Conclusions

However, a left‐to‐right shunt through the patent ductus arteriosus can affect ventricular repolarization; this effect seems to be particularly more significant when there is pulmonary hypertension.
Pricing Behaviour and Menu Costs in Multi‐product Firms
Authors: Letterie Wilko , Nilsen Øivind A.
Published: March 2022

This paper investigates the micro‐foundations of pricing behaviour using monthly producer prices for Norwegian multi‐product firms. We find both infrequent and many small price changes together with a high degree of within‐firm synchronization. This points at fixed menu costs featuring scope economies, at additional linear and convex price adjustment costs, and at the presence of firm‐specific shocks. The structural estimates and a simulation support the view that in order to understand pricing behaviour and the effectiveness of monetary policy, the analysis of multi‐product firms and a richer price adjustment technology in the intermediate goods sector is valuable.
Empathy at birth: Mother's cortex synchronizes with that of her newborn in pain
Authors: Bembich Stefano , Saksida Amanda , Mastromarino Simona , Travan Laura , Di Risio Giovanna , Cont Gabriele , Demarini Sergio
Published: March 2022

Early neonatal relation with the caregiver is vital for newborn survival and for the promotion of an appropriate neural development. The aim of this study was to assess if the empathic cortical response of a mother to her baby's pain is synchronized with the neonatal cortical response to the painful stimulation. We used hyperscanning, a functional neuroimaging approach that allows studying functional synchronization between two brains. Sixteen mother–newborn dyads were recruited. Maternal and neonatal cortical activities were simultaneously monitored, by near‐infrared spectroscopy, during a heel prick performed on the baby and observed by the mother. Multiple pairedttest was used to identify cortical activation, and wavelet transform coherence method was used to explore possible synchronization between the maternal and neonatal cortical areas. Activations were observed in mother's parietal cortex, bilaterally, and in newborn's superior motor/somatosensory cortex. The main functional synchronization analysis showed that mother's left parietal cortex activity cross‐correlated with that of her newborn's superior motor/somatosensory cortex. Such synchronization dynamically changed throughout assessment, becoming positively cross‐correlated only after the leading role in synchronizing cortical activities was taken up by the newborn. Thus, maternal empathic cortical response to baby pain was guided by and synchronized to the newborn's cortical response to pain. We conclude that, in case of potential danger for the infant, brain areas involved in mother–newborn relationship appear to be already co‐regulated at birth.
Handling and novel object recognition modulate fear response and endocannabinoid signaling in nucleus basalis magnocellularis
Authors: Bengoetxea de Tena Iker , Moreno‐Rodríguez Marta , Llorente‐Ovejero Alberto , Monge‐Benito Sergio , Martínez‐Gardeazabal Jonatan , Onandia‐Hinchado Iban , Manuel Ivan , Giménez‐Llort Lydia , Rodríguez‐Puertas Rafael
Published: March 2022

Storage of aversive memories is of utmost importance for survival, allowing animals to avoid upcoming similar stimuli. However, without reinforcement, the learned avoidance response gradually decreases over time. Although the molecular mechanisms controlling this extinction process are not well known, there is evidence that the endocannabinoid system plays a key role through CB1 receptor‐mediated modulation of cholinergic signaling. In this study, we measured fear extinction throughout 7 months using naïve rats, assessed in passive avoidance (PA) test in a non‐reinforced manner. Then, we evaluated the effect of gentle handling and non‐aversive novel object recognition test (NORT) on the extinction and expression of fear memories by measuring passive avoidance responses. Neurochemical correlates were analyzed by functional autoradiography for cannabinoid, cholinergic, and dopaminergic receptors. Despite results showing a gradual decrease of passive avoidance response, it did not fully disappear even after 7 months, indicating the robustness of this process. Meanwhile, in rats that received gentle handling or performed NORT after receiving the PA aversive stimulus, extinction occurred within a week. In contrast, gentle handling performed before receiving the aversive stimulus exacerbated fear expression and triggered escape response in PA. The neurochemical analysis showed increased cannabinoid and cholinergic activity in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) in rats that had performed only PA, as opposed to rats that received gentle handling before PA. Additionally, a correlation between CB1 mediated‐signaling in the NBM and freezing in PA was found, suggesting that the endocannabinoid system might be responsible for modulating fear response induced by aversive memories.
Smaller adult fish size in warmer water is not explained by elevated metabolism
Authors: Wootton Henry F. , Morrongiello John R. , Schmitt Thomas , Audzijonyte Asta
Published: March 2022

Fish and other ectotherms living in warmer waters often grow faster as juveniles, mature earlier, but become smaller adults. Known as the temperature‐size rule (TSR), this pattern is commonly attributed to higher metabolism in warmer waters, leaving fewer resources for growth. An alternative explanation focuses on growth and reproduction trade‐offs across temperatures. We tested these hypotheses by measuring growth, maturation, metabolism and reproductive allocation from zebrafish populations kept at 26 and 30°C across six generations. Zebrafish growth and maturation followed TSR expectations but were not explained by baseline metabolic rate, which converged between temperature treatments after a few generations. Rather, we found that females at 30°C allocated more to reproduction, especially when maturing at the smallest sizes. We show that elevated temperatures do not necessarily increase baseline metabolism if sufficient acclimation is allowed and call for an urgent revision of modelling assumptions used to predict population and ecosystem responses to warming.
Perennial biomass crops on marginal land improve both regional climate and agricultural productivity
Authors: He Yufeng , Jaiswal Deepak , Liang Xin‐Zhong , Sun Chao , Long Stephen P.
Published: March 2022

Perennial grasses can reduce soil erosion, restore carbon stocks, and provide feedstocks for biofuels and bioproducts. Here, we show an additional benefit, amelioration of regional climate warming, and drying. Growing Miscanthus × giganteus, an example of perennial biomass crops, on US marginal land cools the Midwest Heartland summer by up to 1°C as predicted by a new coupled climate‐crop modeling system. This cooling is mainly caused by the increased duration and size of the Miscanthus × giganteus leaf canopy when compared with the existing vegetations on marginal land, resulting in larger solar reflection, more evapotranspiration, and decreased sensible heat transfer. Summer rainfall is increased through mesoscale circulation responses by 23–29 mm (14%–15%) and water vapor pressure deficit reduced by 5%–13%, lowering potential transpiration for all Midwest crops. Similar but weaker effects are simulated in the Southern Heartland. This positive feedback through the climate–crop interaction and teleconnection leads to 4%–8% more biomass production and potentially 12% higher corn and soybean yields, with greater yield stability. Growing perennials on marginal land could be a feasible solution to climate change mitigation and adaptation by strengthening food security and providing sustainable alternatives to fossil‐based products.
High trophic niche overlap in mixed‐species colonies using artificial nests
Authors: Gameiro João , Catry Teresa , Marcelino Joana , Franco Aldina M.A. , Palmeirim Jorge M. , Catry Inês
Published: March 2022

Although successful at recovering endangered populations, conservation actions based on nest provisioning seldom consider how they shape the composition of communities and alter interspecific interactions. Specifically, the extent to which dietary overlap within these communities may affect the conservation of target species has rarely been assessed. In Southern Europe, sites of large‐scale nest‐site provisioning aimed at recovering Lesser Kestrels Falco naumanni populations have attracted non‐target bird species, resulting in mixed breeding assemblages that might promote interspecific competition for resources during breeding. Here we used stable isotope analysis (δ15N and δ13C) to assess inter‐ and intraspecific dietary segregation in these assemblages and investigate the mechanisms allowing species coexistence. We examined resource partitioning and trophic niche overlap among Lesser Kestrels, Common Kestrels Falco tinnunculus, European Rollers Coracias garrulus, Western Barn Owls Tyto alba, Little Owls Athene noctua and Spotless Starlings Sturnus unicolor; and within species between parents and their offspring. Similar isotope ratios and highly overlapped niches, particularly among Lesser Kestrels, Rollers and Starlings, suggest limited dietary segregation and use of similar prey. Within species, parent–offspring segregation was marked across all species. Our results indicate that species breeding in these assemblages occupy similar ecological niches, despite a potential increase in competition. High resource availability in the area may permit coexistence but the viability of mixed‐species groups may be compromised in areas with limited resources, which are predicted to expand with ongoing human‐ and climate‐induced changes. Conservation practices based on nest provisioning should consider the ecological niches of target and non‐target species as well as their interactions.