bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Schematizing vulnerability perceptions and understanding of drought-prone Gamo lowland communities: an evidence from Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Tora Thomas Toma , Degaga Degefa Tolossa , Utallo Abera Uncha
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The conceptual root of vulnerability dates back to the 1970s in the social science spheres. Vulnerability is a multi-dimensional and determinant precondition for disaster occurrence. The Gamo lowlands are exposed to a wide range of vulnerabilities. Therefore, this study aims to schematize community perceptions and understanding of vulnerability in drought-affected rural Gamo lowlands.

Design/methodology/approach

A community-based cross-sectional survey design and the mixed-methods research approach were executed. A four-staged multistage sampling was used to identify the respondent households. Into the four study sites, sample households were allocated proportionally by the lottery method. The survey data were gathered from 285 lowland households. The structured survey questionnaire, key informant interview, focus group discussion, and field observations, and transect walks were the tools used to collect the primary data. Data were analyzed deploying both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The Likert scale is used to analyze households’ vulnerability perceptions in which the item analysis approach was used for detailed analysis of the Likert-type items.

Findings

Locally, people perceive and understand vulnerability as exposure to drought hazard, rainfall inconsistency, the prevalence of human and animal diseases, livelihood insecurity, food shortfalls, poor income, lack of access to market, landholding and livestock ownership which are schematized by vulnerability perception pathways that delineate its extent. The findings also showed that the Gamo lowland inhabitants are unequally vulnerable as 96.5% of the studied households stated the differential idiosyncrasy of vulnerability. Old-aged, small-sized and female-headed households with no supportive force were found to be more vulnerable.

Practical implications

For better resilience, enhancing communities’ perceptions and understanding of vulnerability via continuous awareness creation by all the concerned stakeholders is recommended as the majority was lowly educated. It also yields input for policy debates and decision-making in the drought-prone lowland setup for building a resilient community.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is an original work pursued by using a household survey with empirical data sourced from drought-prone rural lowland communities.
Creating customer value in the sharing economy: an investigation of Airbnb users and their tripographic characteristics
Authors: So Kevin Kam Fung , Kim Hyunsu , Min Somang
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the roles of different types of customer value in influencing in customer evaluations of Airbnb. In particular, this study empirically tests the roles of four value dimensions in shaping existing Airbnb users’ attitudes and future behavioral intentions along with the effects of tripographic characteristics on users’ post-purchase evaluative judgments.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a multi-study approach to test the hypotheses. In Study 1, theoretical relationships between constructs were proposed and empirically analyzed; and in Study 2, a different sample was used to validate the hypothesized model and enhance the external validity of the findings. After completing both studies, the two samples were combined to test for the moderating effects of several key tripographic factors among Airbnb users.

Findings

This study found that price value, emotional value, quality value and social value were critical factors exerting differential effects on customers’ evaluations of Airbnb. Further analysis of group differences revealed that Airbnb customers’ value perceptions differed significantly depending on the length of stay, group size and number of previous trips. The number of previous trips also had a significant moderating effect on the relationship between social value and attitudes.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study contribute to the literature on Airbnb by presenting a comprehensive assessment of the differential effects of value components in evaluating Airbnb experiences with the consideration of tripographic characteristics. While supporting the importance of emotional, social, quality and price value to Airbnb guests, the results also show that Airbnb seems to appeal particularly to visitors who stay longer, travel with large groups and have used the platform several times in the past.

Originality/value

The findings of this study provide important insight into which customer values contribute to users’ attitudes and consequent favorable behaviors. More importantly, this study emphasized the importance of understanding the moderating effects of tripographic characteristics in the relationships between customer values and existing users’ evaluative judgment of Airbnb experiences.
What is rogue marketing? An exploration of how hard seltzer sparked a social media phenomenon
Authors: Norris Cortney L. , Taylor D. Christopher , Taylor Jr. Scott
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to introduce, explicate, offer a framework and provide future research directions for a phenomenon herein named rogue marketing. Rogue marketing is explored vis-à-vis a phenomenon that occurred over the summer of 2019 with a new product category, hard seltzers. It is proposed that rogue marketing occurs when an unaffiliated individual creates and posts an informal message about a brand on social media that becomes viral. Although the post is not funded or endorsed by the company that owns the brand, reaching viral status results in free and unexpected advertising (positive or negative).

Design/methodology/approach

Rogue marketing is first explored through a comparative analysis with company produced advertisements. Then, the company’s response to rogue marketing is gauged through both qualitative and quantitative data. The sample of 210 respondents was recruited from students enrolled in college hospitality courses and through posts made on social media.

Findings

Rogue marketing is found to be somewhat more compelling than company produced advertisements and those who found the rogue marketing message more compelling had stronger sentiments regarding the company’s response.

Research limitations/implications

This exploratory study of rogue marketing provides a conceptualization and starting framework for future research concerning this phenomenon.

Originality/value

Rogue marketing is a new phenomenon and is distinct from influencer marketing and viral marketing in its characteristics. Additionally, the company’s response to rogue marketing messages may influence behavioral outcomes.
The development of k-worker's task performance: an empirical research based on the Chinese context
Authors: Che Xiaoli , Fakhrorazi A. , Loke Wei-Kit , Hariani Swarmilah , Chen Qinyuan
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study examines the effect of knowledge workers' (k-workers') leader-member exchange (LMX) on task performance and the mediation effect of affective commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in China.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, 384 qualified questionnaires will be collected from k-workers in China by using a self-administered survey, and the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was employed for data analysis.

Findings

This finding showed that LMX has positive relationship on affective commitment, organizational citizenship behavior and task performance. The result also confirmed the mediation effect of organizational citizenship behavior on the relationship between LMX and task performance.

Originality/value

This research provide some implement to manage, motivate and inspire the k-workers and finally promote the organizational performance.
The response of majority employee-owned firms during the pandemic compared to other firms
Authors: Blasi Joseph , Kruse Douglas , Weltmann Dan
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand how majority employee-owned firms responded to the pandemic compared to firms that were not majority employee-owned. The Employee Ownership Foundation partnered with Rutgers University and the SSRS survey firm to survey ESOP and non-ESOP firms about their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. A key purpose of the survey was to estimate firm-level changes in employment from mid-January to August (current employment figures were adjusted to August 5 using BLS industry employment trends). The survey also looked at other forms of adjustment and responses to the pandemic as reviewed below. The focus in this study is on the differences between firms that are majority owned by ESOPs and those that are not.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey included 247 executives from ESOP Association member companies and 500 executives from an SSRS business panel constructed to be representative of US companies with 50 or more employees. The survey started on August 5 and ended on September 23, 2020.

Findings

(1) Majority ESOP firms had employment declines from January to August that were on average only one-fourth as large as for other firms. The difference is maintained when controlling for industry membership. (2) Majority ESOP firms were more likely to be declared “essential,” but the lower employment cutbacks among majority ESOP firms remain among essential and non-essential businesses. As essential businesses, majority ESOP firms were more likely receive Paycheck Protection Program or other government pandemic assistance, but both assistance recipients and non-recipients had lower employment cutbacks among majority ESOP firms. (3) The extent of employment cutbacks was higher for non-managers than for managers, but the manager/non-manager gap was higher among other firms than among majority ESOP firms.

Research limitations/implications

This study supports empirical findings done previously.

Practical implications

This study suggests to non-EO firms what they can do.

Social implications

This study suggests strengths of EO firms.

Originality/value

A very original and one-of-a-kind dataset.
Performing openness: how the interplay between knowledge sharing and digital infrastructure creates multiple accountabilities
Authors: Träskman Tomas Ivan , Skoog Matti
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The present study aims to address the emergence of platform-organized open innovation (OI). The research has the two main aims: the first is to increase the understanding of the performance of OI by investigating how the achievements of OI are measured in situated practices from a performative and strategic knowledge management (SKM) orientation. The methodological disadvantages of not pre-given case selection are partially counterbalanced by the second aim of the research, which is to extend existing SKM theory and examine how platforms create knowledge as they include actors and digital devices, thereby potentially redistributing relations of accountability.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on performativity theory, the paper studies how the achievements and knowledge created in OI are managed and evaluated in practice. The case description draws on different sources from a spiral case study, as openness is performed by platform, firm, crowd and innovation intermediaries.

Findings

The paper illustrates how a strategy of digitally enabled openness brings its own issues as platforms enable knowledge sharing and perform a redistribution of accountability. In the heterarchies studied through this research endeavor, managers and their team members were accountable not only to multiple units, or teams, across the organization, but also to the crowd. The case material demonstrates that the ecology of devices and their performative struggles create lateral accountability.

Research limitations/implications

While recent streams of research suggest that the context of OI (i.e. distributed sources of knowledge for innovation) shifts the unit of analysis of organization design from the individual firm to networks of actors organized on platforms, the authors find that the focal firm still remains a key conceptual parameter in SKM research, which, in turn, makes it difficult to capture the suggested radicality of OI.

Practical implications

The authors show, that in practice, the firm has to take into account the performance of the external crowd and at times put resources into its training and education. In heterarchy, distributed authority is assumed to be facilitated through lateral accountability, whereby the traditional principles of vertical authority no longer hold, but rather, managers and their team members can be accountable to multiple units, or teams, across the organization.

Originality/value

The paper develops a performative theory of openness. OI is a model, strategy and socio-material practice whereby digital designs create an ecology of devices that can enact all kinds of openness. Ultimately, the current paper proposes that SKM and OI theory need to consider how platforms perform relations of accountability beyond the boundaries of the single organization.
Impact of different aging conditions on the IMC layer growth and shear strength of Ni-modified MWCNTs reinforced Sn-Ag-Cu composite solder
Authors: Zhai Xinmeng , Chen Yue , Li Yuefeng
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a new composite solder to improve the reliability of composite solder joints. Nano-particles modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Ni-MWCNTs) can indeed improve the microstructure of composite solder joints and improve the reliability of solder joints. Although many people have conducted in-depth research on the composite solder of Ni-MWCNTs. However, no one has studied the performance of Ni-MWCNTs composite solder under different aging conditions. In this article, Ni-MWCNTs was added to Sn-Ag-Cu (SAC) solder, and the physical properties of composite solder, the microstructure and mechanical properties were evaluated.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the effect of different aging conditions on the intermetallic compound (IMC) layer growth and shear strength of Ni-modified MWCNTs reinforced SAC composite solder was studied. Compared with SAC307 solder alloy, the influence of Ni-MWCNTs with different contents (0, 0.1 and 0.2 Wt.%) on composite solder was examined. To study the aging characteristics of composite solder joints, the solder joints were aged at 80°C, 120°C and 150°C.

Findings

The experimental results show that the content of Ni-MWCNTs affects the morphology and growth of the IMC layer at the interface. The microhardness of the solder increases and the wetting angle decreases. After aging at moderate (120°C) and high temperature (150°C), the morphology of the Cu6Sn5 IMC layer changed from scallop to lamellar and the grain size became coarser. The following two different phase compositions were observed in the solder joints with Ni-MWCNTs reinforcement: Cu3Sn and (Cu, Ni)6Sn5. The fracture surface of the solder joints all appeared ductile dents, and the size of the pits increased significantly with the increase of the aging temperature. Through growth kinetic analysis, Ni-modified MWCNTs in composite solder joints can effectively inhibit the diffusion of atoms in solder joints. In short, when the addition amount of Ni-MWCNTs is 0.1 Wt.%, the solder joints exhibit the best wettability and the highest shear strength.

Originality/value

In this study, the effects of aging conditions on the growth and shear strength of the IMC layer of Ni modified MWCNTs reinforced SAC307 composite solder were studied. The effects of Ni MWCNTs with different contents (0, 0.1 and 0.2 Wt.%) on the composite solder were examined.
A conceptual framework for a systemic understanding of barriers during lean implementation
Authors: Puram Praveen , Sony Michael , Antony Jiju , Gurumurthy Anand
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Multiple organisations which have attempted to implement lean production/manufacturing/thinking have failed to achieve significant benefits. Practitioners and researchers have identified the barriers that hinder successful implementation. This study first consolidates such lean implementation barriers that are common across all industry sectors. Further, a systemic understanding of lean barriers is attempted by determining causal relationships between barriers and their relative causal strength.

Design/methodology/approach

Barriers to lean implementation were first identified from extant literature and categorised into broad barrier groups. These barrier groups were classified into four categories as specified by Liker's 4P model of lean–philosophy, people and partnership, processes and problem-solving. Additionally, interrelations between barriers, both within and among these four categories were determined.

Findings

The barriers classified under philosophy were the most critical as it affects the barriers in other groups. Similarly, barriers such as lack of leadership and top management commitment, lack of resources, shortage of lean consultants and trainers, lack of systemic understanding of lean and the need for its implementation, lack of lean expertise and training were found to be the most critical causal barriers.

Research limitations/implications

Highly critical barriers in terms of causality should be addressed with high priority, as effective measures against them may eliminate or reduce the impact of other barriers.

Originality/value

This study addresses the confusion regarding the high number of lean barriers in extant literature by providing a systemic understanding of the same. By exploring the interrelations among barriers, the most important causal barriers and barrier types (4Ps) are identified, the knowledge of which could improve lean implementation success. This is a novel attempt in the domain of lean.
Stochastic processes regulate belowground community assembly in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Kang Luyao , Chen Leiyi , Zhang Dianye , Peng Yunfeng , Song Yutong , Kou Dan , Deng Ye , Yang Yuanhe
Published: November 2021

Understanding biogeographical patterns and underlying processes of belowground community assembly is crucial for predicting soil functions and their responses to global environmental change. However, little is known about potential differences of belowground community assembly among bacteria, fungi, protists and soil animals, particularly for alpine ecosystems. Based on the combination of large‐scale field sampling, high‐throughput marker‐gene sequencing and multiple statistical analyses, we explored patterns and drivers of belowground community assembly in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau. Our results revealed that the distance–decay rates varied among trophic levels, with organisms of higher trophic level having weaker distance–decay pattern. The spatial and environmental variables explained limited variations of belowground communities. By contrast, the stochastic processes, mainly consisting of dispersal limitation and drift, played a primary role in regulating belowground community assembly. Moreover, the relative importance of stochastic processes varied among trophic levels, with the role of dispersal limitation weakening whereas that of drift enhancing in the order of bacteria, fungi, protists and soil animals. These findings advance our understanding of patterns and mechanisms driving belowground community assembly in alpine ecosystems and provide a reference basis for predicting the dynamics of ecosystem functions under changing environment.
Exploring the context and interface of corporate social responsibility and HRM
Authors: Sarvaiya Harsha , Arrowsmith Jim
Published: November 2021

This paper examines the interface between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and human resource management (HRM) within organisational settings. It draws on 29 interviews with senior CSR and HR professionals in 16 New Zealand organisations to explore the implications of CSR for HRM. Findings indicate that the pursuit of CSR can support HR strategy and practice because of functional complementarities and a common discourse around employee engagement and well‐being. However, the relationship can also involve territorial silos and tensions that vary according to contextual factors such as the scope and stage of CSR development; its structural location within the organisation; and situational features such as size and sector which help shape the resourcing and priorities of the two functions. This study contributes to knowledge and practice by adopting a contingency approach to advance the argument that integrating CSR principles into HR strategy and practices can, under favourable circumstances, promote ‘socially responsible’ HRM.
Evolution of metabolic scaling among the tetrapod: effect of phylogeny, the geologic time of class formation, and uniformity of species within a class
Authors: GAVRILOV Valery M. , GOLUBEVA Tatiana B. , BUSHUEV Andrey V.
Published: November 2021

The metabolic scaling in the animal has been discussed for over 90 years, but no consensus has been reached. Our analysis of 2126 species of vertebrates reveals a significant allometric exponent heterogeneity. We show that classes of terrestrial vertebrates exhibit the evolution of metabolic scaling. Both the allometric coefficient “a” and the allometric exponent “b” change naturally, but differently depending on the geological time of group formation. The allometric coefficient “a” shows the measure of the evolutionary development of systems that forms resting metabolism in animals. Endothermic classes, such as birds and mammals, have a metabolic rate that is in an order of magnitude higher than that in ectothermic classes, including amphibians and reptiles. In the terrestrial vertebrate phylogeny, we find that the metabolic scaling is characterized by 3 main allometric exponent values:b= 3/4 (mammals),b> 3/4 (ectotherms, such as amphibians and reptiles), andb< 3/4 (birds). The heterogeneity of the allometric exponent is a natural phenomenon associated with the general evolution of vertebrates. The scaling factor decreases depending on both the external design and the size (birds vs mammals) of the animal. The metabolic rate and uniformity of species within a class increase as the geological start date of formation of the class approaches the present time. The higher the mass‐specific standard metabolic rate in the class, the slower metabolic rate grows with increasing body size in this class. Our results lay the groundwork for further exploration of the evolutionary and ecological aspects of the development of metabolic scaling in animals.
A comprehensive group‐based cognitive behavioural treatment for blood‐injection‐injury phobia
Authors: Mason Elizabeth C. , Gaston Jonathan E. , Pestell Carmela F. , Page Andrew C.
Published: November 2021

Objectives

A key feature of blood‐injection‐injury (BII) phobia is activation of disgust responses, in addition to fear. Yet, standard treatments have largely neglected addressing disgust responses. The disorder is further complicated by fainting in 75% of sufferers. Moreover, treatments have been traditionally delivered in an individual format, which may not be as efficient as group treatment. The aim of this study was to develop a group‐based programme for BII phobia, with components targeting fear, disgust, and fainting, to determine feasibility and effectiveness of such an intervention.

Methods

Participants took part in an 8‐session, group‐based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) programme for BII phobia (N = 40). The key outcome measure was the Multidimensional Blood/Injury Phobia Inventory, which assesses a range of phobic stimuli and responses (including fear, disgust, and fainting).

Results

There were significant improvements, with large effect sizes, across symptoms over the course of treatment. Participants with higher disgust sensitivity reported higher pre‐treatment symptom severity and greater life interference than those with lower disgust scores. Despite this, neither pre‐treatment disgust sensitivity nor fainting history impacted on treatment response. For the first time, however, we showed that greater reductions in disgust to BII stimuli were associated with greater overall symptom reductions, highlighting the importance of disgust in the treatment of this disorder, and potentially others.

Conclusion

Despite the heterogeneous nature of BII phobia, this group‐based, modified CBT intervention was effective in reducing a variety of phobic responses, including fear, disgust, and fainting.

Practitioner points

Disgust is a key maintaining factor in blood‐injection‐injury phobia, which clinicians should consider in their assessment and treatment of this disorder. There is little in the existing literature to guide clinicians in this regard.

This study examined a novel group treatment for blood‐injection‐injury phobia which included strategies to target disgust, in addition to traditional CBT strategies to address fear and fainting.

The treatment was feasible and acceptable. Symptoms of fear, disgust, and fainting reduced significantly over treatment.

Changes in disgust symptoms were associated with overall symptom changes, however a control group is needed to determine the effects of individual treatment components and to make more robust conclusions about the benefits of this enhanced approach.
Critically engaging vulnerability: Rethinking oral health with vulnerabilized populations
Authors: Macdonald Mary Ellen , Muirhead Vanessa , Doughty Janine , Freeman Ruth
Published: November 2021

This paper is the third in a series of narrative reviews challenging core concepts in oral health research and practice. Our series started with a framework for Inclusion Oral Health. Our second review explored one component of this framework, looking at how intersectionality adds important complexity to oral public health. This current manuscript drills into a second component of Inclusion Oral Health, exploring how labels can lead to ‘othering’ thereby misrepresenting populations and (re)producing harms. Specifically, we address a common oral public health label: vulnerable populations. This term is commonly used descriptively: an adjective (vulnerable) is used to modify a noun (population). What this descriptor conceals is the ‘how,’ ‘why,’ and ‘therefore’ that leads to and from vulnerability: How and why is a population made vulnerable; to what are they vulnerable; what makes them ‘at risk,’ and to what are they ‘at risk’? In concealing these questions, we argue our conventional approach unwittingly does harm. Vulnerability is a term that implies a population has inherent characteristics that make them vulnerable; further, it casts populations as discrete, homogenous entities, thereby misrepresenting the complexities that people live. In so doing, this label can eclipse the strengths, agency and power of individuals and populations to care for themselves and each other. Regarding oral public health, the convention of vulnerability averts our research gaze away from social processes that produce vulnerability to instead focus on the downstream product, the vulnerable population. This paper theorizes vulnerability for oral public health, critically engaging its production and reproduction. Drawing from critical public health literature and disability studies, we advance a critique of vulnerability to make explicit hidden assumptions and their harmful outcomes. We propose solutions for research and practice, including co‐engagement and co‐production with peoples who have been vulnerabilized. In so doing, this paper moves forward the potential for oral public health to advance research and practice that engages complexity in our work with vulnerabilized populations.
Invasive species increase biodiversity and, therefore, services: An argument of equivocations
Authors: Lean Christopher Hunter
Published: November 2021

Some critics of invasion biology have argued the invasion of ecosystems by nonindigenous species can create more valuable ecosystems. They consider invaded communities as more valuable because they potentially produce more ecosystem services. To establish that the introduction of nonindigenous species creates more valuable ecosystems, they defend that value is provisioned by ecosystem services. These services are derived from ecosystem productivity, the production and cycling of resources. Ecosystem productivity is a result of biodiversity, which is understood as local species richness. Invasive species increase local species richness and, therefore, increase the conservation value of local ecosystems. These views are disseminating to the public via a series of popular science books. Conservationists must respond to these views, and I outline a method of rejecting such arguments against controlling invasive species. Ecological systems are valuable for more than local productivity and biodiversity is not accurately described by a local species count.
Implementing “ethical space”: An exploratory study of Indigenous‐conservation partnerships
Authors: Nikolakis William , Hotte Ngaio
Published: November 2021

An “ethical space” approach is conceptualized as one way to balance asymmetrical power and respectfully engage diverse worldviews in Indigenous‐conservation partnerships. However, published literature offers little insight into how ethical space is implemented in practice. Using a literature review and interviews, we identify two key traits and two sub‐traits of creating ethical space: engagement, and the two sub‐traits of dialogic processes and principles, and the trait of introspection and reflection. Engagement involves interactions between Indigenous peoples and conservation organizations, often through dialogic processes to build learning and trust. Principle‐based engagement must focus on empowering Indigenous ownership over conservation work. Creating a space for introspection and reflection can deconstruct colonial hierarchies and unequal power dynamics and allow Indigenous‐led approaches to take root.
Effects of drying and simulated flooding on soil phosphorus dynamics from two contrasting UK grassland soils
Authors: Khan Sidra U. , Hooda Peter S. , Blackwell Martin S. A. , Busquets Rosa
Published: November 2021

Flooding is known to mobilise soil phosphorus (P). However, it is still not clear how climate change‐driven extended periods of soil drying followed by flooding will affect soil‐P dynamics. We tested the hypothesis under laboratory conditions that soil antecedent conditions (moist/dry) determine the amount of P mobilised upon flooding. A series of controlled laboratory experiments were carried out by flooding samples of two contrasting soils (a Dystric Cambisol [Crediton series] and a Stagni‐Vertic Cambisol [Hallsworth series]), which had each been either dried (40°C for 10 days) or kept at field moisture conditions (25% moisture content). Flooding was simulated by maintaining a 10‐cm water column depth in mesocosms. Periodically collected water samples were analysed for dissolved reactive P (DRP), total dissolved P (TDP) and dissolved unreactive P (DUP). The onset of flooding significantly (p < 0.001) increased dissolved concentrations of all forms of P. The release of TDP coincided with a reduction in redox potential, suggesting reductive dissolution of P bearing iron/manganese (Fe/Mn) minerals as indicated by a significant positive correlation between TDP and dissolved Fe (r = 0.430, p < 0.001) and TDP and dissolved Mn (r = 0.622, p < 0.001). Flooding of the dried soils caused a significantly greater increase in the dissolved P concentrations of all forms of P relative to their moist‐flooded counterparts. This could be due to a combination of factors which are associated with soil drying and flooding. The Crediton dry‐flooded soils released higher concentrations of DRP upon flooding (e.g. 0.14 mg P L−1 on day 1 after flooding) perhaps due to its higher concentrations of water‐ and NaHCO3‐extractable P than the Hallsworth dry‐flooded (HDF) soil (0.03 mg P L−1 on day 1 after flooding). However, most of the P in the water column of the dry‐flooded soils was unreactive, with the HDF soil releasing higher concentrations of DUP, likely due to its higher organic matter and microbial biomass P contents. The results suggest that flooding of dried soils has greater potential to enhance mobilisation of soil‐P than flooding of moist soils and thus has potential implications for soil fertility and surface water quality.

Highlights

Flooding significantly increased dissolved concentrations of all forms of P.

Dried soils released much greater P than their moist counterparts upon flooding.

Increased amounts of P in the floodwater coincided with reductions in redox potential and biomass P.

Soil with greater amount of biomass‐P and organic matter released greater amounts of dissolved unreactive P.
Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease tremor‐dominant subtype: A mimicker of essential tremor
Authors: Yang Dehao , Cen Zhidong , Wang Lebo , Chen Xinhui , Liu Peng , Wang Haotian , Ouyang Zhiyuan , Chen You , Zhang Fan , Xie Fei , Wang Bo , Wu Sheng , Yin Houmin , Jiang Biao , Wang Zhiping , Ji Junfeng , Luo Wei
Published: November 2021

Background and purpose

The GGC repeat expansion in the NOTCH2NLC gene has been identified as the genetic cause of neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID). Recently, this repeat expansion was also reported to be associated with essential tremor (ET). However, some patients with this repeat expansion, initially diagnosed with ET, were eventually diagnosed with NIID. Therefore, controversy remains regarding the clinical diagnosis of these expansion‐positive patients presenting with tremor‐dominant symptoms. This study aimed to clarify the clinical phenotype in tremor‐dominant patients who have the GGC repeat expansion in the NOTCH2NLC gene.

Methods

We screened for pathogenic GGC repeat expansions in 602 patients initially diagnosed with ET and systematically re‐evaluated the clinical features of the expansion‐positive probands and their family members.

Results

Pathogenic GGC repeat expansion in the NOTCH2NLC gene was detected in 10 probands (1.66%). Seven of these probands were re‐evaluated and found to have systemic areflexia, cognitive impairment, and abnormal nerve conduction, which prompted a change of diagnosis from ET to NIID. Three of the probands had typical hyperintensity in the corticomedullary junction on diffusion‐weighted imaging. Intranuclear inclusions were detected in all four probands who underwent skin biopsy.

Conclusions

The NIID tremor‐dominant subtype can be easily misdiagnosed as ET. We should take NIID into account for differential diagnosis of ET. Systemic areflexia could be an important clinical clue suggesting that cranial magnetic resonance imaging examination, or even further genetic testing and skin biopsy examination, should be used to confirm the diagnosis of NIID.
The emergence of innovations through the encounter of knowledges in “the local”. How fresh action emerges in networks
Authors: Clemens Iris
Published: November 2021

In the contribution, first the concept of development and its interrelations with education is critically discussed. This leads to reflexions on the dysfunctionality of these educational concepts in certain so called non‐western contexts in the majority world (also called global south). Instead of following the concept of development, the conditions, under which creativity and innovations can emerge in local contexts, are discussed from a network theory or relational perspective. As a basis, the emergence of knowledge in general is explained shortly, including also in line with the interest of the special issue in locality thoughts on indigenous knowledge. This approach is bringing together thoughts on localities, networks, and the emergence of knowledge with perspectives on conditions of possibilities for the emergence of innovations and creativity. I am using tools from the network theory to describe and analyse these relations and processes in detail. For the analysis, I will use an example from a Nigerian classroom.
Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in thymic epithelial cells*
Authors: Martinez‐Ruíz Gustavo Ulises , Morales‐Sánchez Abigail , Bhandoola Avinash
Published: November 2021

The thymus is required for the development of both adaptive and innate‐like T cell subsets. There is keen interest in manipulating thymic function for therapeutic purposes in circumstances of autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, and for purposes of immunotherapy. Within the thymus, thymic epithelial cells play essential roles in directing T cell development. Several transcription factors are known to be essential for thymic epithelial cell development and function, and a few transcription factors have been studied in considerable detail. However, the role of many other transcription factors is less well understood. Further, it is likely that roles exist for other transcription factors not yet known to be important in thymic epithelial cells. Recent progress in understanding of thymic epithelial cell heterogeneity has provided some new insight into transcriptional requirements in subtypes of thymic epithelial cells. However, it is unknown whether progenitors of thymic epithelial cells exist in the adult thymus, and consequently, developmental relationships linking putative precursors with differentiated cell types are poorly understood. While we do not presently possess a clear understanding of stage‐specific requirements for transcription factors in thymic epithelial cells, new single‐cell transcriptomic and epigenomic technologies should enable rapid progress in this field. Here, we review our current knowledge of transcription factors involved in the development, maintenance, and function of thymic epithelial cells, and the mechanisms by which they act.
Effect of pressurization on the fracture toughness of borosilicate glasses
Authors: Lee Kuo‐Hao , Yang Yongjian , Ding Linfeng , Ziebarth Benedikt , Mauro John C.
Published: November 2021

In this study, hot‐compression is applied to two multicomponent borosilicate glasses, Borofloat33 (Boro33) and N‐BK7, using molecular dynamics simulations. The effects of pressure on elastic properties, surface energy, and fracture toughness (are investigated. It is found that the impact onis mainly dominated by the change of Young's modulus under pressure, which is proportional to the relative change in density. Between the two glasses under investigation,can be improved more effectively by the hot‐compression process for Boro33, due to its higher concentration of 3‐coordinated boron (B3), which facilitates densification via B3to B4conversion under compression.
A physically based thermo‐elastoplastic constitutive model for braided CMCs‐SiC at ultra‐high temperature
Authors: Chen Yanfei , Ai Shigang , Wang Pan , Fang Daining
Published: November 2021

Complex microstructure and multiple internal microcrack propagation of braided silicon carbide ceramic matrix composites (CMCs‐SiC) make their mechanical behavior remarkably nonlinear. Still, few models have been developed at ultra‐high temperature due to the challenge to incorporate detailed micromechanisms of nonlinearity into the formulation. Based on the observations of fracture morphologies of previous experiments of CMCs‐SiC under different stress states and current on‐axis tensile experiments of 2D C/SiC composites at ultra‐high temperature, some assumptions are proposed. Then, a physically based constitutive model at ultra‐high temperature is established within the thermo‐elastoplastic framework. The novelty of this model is that we proposed a thermal yield criterion, which considers the material orthotropy, tension‐compression asymmetry, unilateral crack closure effect, and temperature effect. The thermal hardening effect is a distinctive phenomenon for CMCs‐SiC in vacuum and is described using an improved Johnson–Cook model. The proposed model is implemented using a return mapping algorithm. The results show that the model predictions of stress–strain relationships agree well with experimental data at different stress states and different temperatures.
Fracture toughness enhancement via sub‐micro silver‐precipitation in silica glass fabricated by spark plasma sintering
Authors: Liu Lei , Shinozaki Kenji
Published: November 2021

Sub‐micro silver (Ag) precipitated in silica (SiO2) glass was prepared via spark plasma sintering (SPS), and the microstructure, mechanical properties, and thermal conductivity were investigated. The in situ formation of Ag sub‐micro particles through decomposition of silver nitrate (AgNO3) was homogeneously distributed within the SiO2 matrix. By precipitation of Ag particles, larger steady‐state creep deformation and plastic deformation were observed owing to the ductility of the Ag particles. Moreover, crack bridging and pull‐out of Ag particles were observed during crack propagation. As a result, the fracture toughness of SiO2 glass improved with increasing Ag content. The sample with 1.4 vol% Ag sintered at 1200°C showed the highest toughness value of 2.15 ± 0.2 MPa m1/2. Larger Ag particles in the samples sintered at higher temperatures tend to deform easily, resulting in larger ductility. In addition, incorporation of Ag particles improved thermal conductivity.
Branching crypts in inflammatory bowel disease revisited
Authors: Rubio Carlos A. , Schmidt Peter T. , Lang‐Schwarz Corinna , Vieth Michael
Published: November 2021

Histologic sections from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) usually exhibit crypts with architectural distortions and branching crypts. It has been postulated that crypt branching should be assessed only in well‐oriented, upright crypts. However, those crypts are mostly found in sections from colectomy specimens and colon mucosectomies. Sections from endoscopic biopsies are fortuitously cut in a horizontal plane, a procedure mostly revealing cross‐cut crypt rings. In endoscopic biopsies from UC patients we previously detected cross‐cut crypts heralding the crest domain of branching crypts. Recently, the scrutiny of biopsies from IBD patients revealed that branching‐crest domains concurred either with crypts in symmetric branching, typified by twin, amalgamating back‐to‐back isometrics crypt‐rings, or with crypts in asymmetric branching, characterized by ≥2 amalgamating anisometric crypt‐rings; both symmetric and asymmetric branching‐crest domains were encased by a thin muscularis mucosae. Quantitative studies in biopsies from Swedish and German patients with IBD showed that crypts in asymmetric branching outnumbered those in symmetric branching. Because crypt‐branching seldom occurs in the normal colon in adults and considering that colon crypts typically divide once or twice during a lifetime, the accruing of asymmetric branching crypts in IBD biopsies emerges as a significant histologic parameter. Although the biological significance of asymmetric crypt‐branching in IBD remains at present elusive, their occurrence deserves to be further investigated. The future policy will be to include in our pathologic reports, the number of crypts in asymmetric branching, in order to monitor their frequency in prospective surveillance biopsies in patients with IBD.
The effectiveness of a medical clowning program on improving emotional status among hospitalized children undergoing cancer treatment: A quasi‐experimental study
Authors: Wu Wei‐Wen , Lu Frank L. , Shiu Cheng‐Shi , Tang Chia‐Chun , Jou Shiann‐Tang , Chen Jiann‐Shiuh , Liu Yen‐Lin
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To examine the effectiveness of one‐time medical clowning on improving short‐term positive emotions among hospitalized children undergoing cancer treatment, and to analyze whether age moderates this effect.

Design

In this quasi‐experimental research study, we recruited a pooled sample of 96 children who were undergoing cancer treatment in pediatric oncology/hematology wards at three university‐affiliated medical centers in Taiwan from June 2018 through April 2020.

Methods

Children’s demographic characteristics, symptom distress, quality of life, and pretest emotional status were collected at T1. At T2, we collected only posttest emotional status. We adapted generalized estimating equation models to evaluate the effectiveness of medical clowning on enhancing positive emotions.

Findings

Changes in the probabilities of positive emotion were significantly different across groups (51.84% for the experimental group, 15.76% for the control group; Δ = 36.08, p = 0.001), and the change was more than two times larger for the experimental group (effect ratio = 3.28, p < 0.05) than for the control group. When evaluating the moderating effect of age on the intervention, none of the coefficients reached the significant (p < 0.05) levels, suggesting that age may not moderate the intervention effect.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the core value of medical clowning in child‐friendly health care. Our findings clearly support the benefit of the one‐time medical clowning program on enhancing short‐term emotional well‐being across age groups of children. Medical clowning programs should be strongly encouraged and supported in pediatric oncology wards.

Clinical relevance

Medical clowning programs should be widely and continuously implemented in pediatric oncology wards as a routine clinical practice for enhancing emotional well‐being among children receiving cancer treatment. Nurses need to be aware of medical clowning’s equal effectiveness across age groups, not only or better for younger children.
The role of multimodal MRI in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Knudsen Laust Vind , Gazerani Parisa , Duan Yunyun , Michel Tanja Maria , Vafaee Manouchehr Seyedi
Published: November 2021

Background and Purpose

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD), where neurodegeneration is not as considerable, thereby potentially increasing the effect of treatments. Therefore, highly sensitive and specific classification of subjects with MCI is necessary, where various MRI modalities have displayed promise.

Methods

Structural, diffusion, and resting‐state (RS) functional MRI analyses were performed on the AD (n = 26), MCI (n = 5), and healthy control (HC) (n = 14) group. Structural analysis was performed via voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) and volumetric subcortical segmentation analysis. Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were estimated during the diffusion analysis. RS analysis investigated seed‐based functional connectivity. Classification via support vector machine was performed to evaluate which MRI modality most accurately differentiated the groups. Multiple linear regression was conducted to evaluate the MRI modalities correlation with clinical assessment scores.

Results

Classification of MCI and HC displayed highest accuracy based on diffusion MRI, which besides demonstrated high correlation with clinical scores. Classification was equally accurate in AD, when using VBM or diffusion tensor imaging measures. Yet, more variance was explained by VBM measures in the clinical assessment scores of the AD group.

Conclusions

This study highlights the potential of diffusion MRI in differentiating MCI from HC and AD. However, the results need to be interpreted with caution as sample size and artifacts in the MRI data probably influenced the results.