bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Initiation of ensemble kinesin-3 motility is regulated by the rigidity of cargo-motor attachment
Authors: Lama Prakash , Sirajuddin Minhajuddin
Published: December 2021

Intracellular cargo transport is powered by molecular motors that move on their respective filamentous tracks. A key component in this process is the tether between cargo and motor, which is often connected by long slender coiled-coils. Several studies have identified mechanisms that regulate cargo transport and can be broadly categorized into regulation of the motor ATPase activity by autoinhibition, cargo adapters and modifications in the cytoskeletal tracks. The regulatory effects of cargo-motor linkers have been described in kinesin-3 subfamily motors. However, the effects of cargo-motor linker rigidity on ensemble cargo transport has not been explored. Here we have built a DNA origami scaffold, which can be tethered with multiple kinesin-3 motors using either single or double-stranded DNA linkages, mimicking rigid versus flexible cargo-motor linkages. Using this system, we show that regardless of the motor numbers attached to the cargo, only linkers with a lesser degree of freedom allow motors to engage with microtubule tracks. Together, our work identifies that the rigidity of cargo-motor linkages influences motor motility. This opens up the possibilities to identify new factors that can influence the rigidity of cargo-motor linkages that in turn can regulate intracellular cargo transport.
Fungal endophytes from salt-adapted plants confer salt tolerance and promote growth in Wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) at early seedling stage
Authors: Nanjundappa Manjunatha , Manjunatha Nayana , Li Hua , Sivasithamparam Krishnapillai , Jones Michael G K , Edwards Ian , Wylie Stephen J , Agarrwal Ruchi
Published: December 2021

With increasing human global population, increased yield under saline conditions is a desirable trait for major food crops. Use of endophytes, isolated from halophytic hosts, seems to be an exciting approach for conferring salt tolerance to a salt sensitive crop. Therefore, in the current study, fungal endophytes were isolated from halophytic plants’ roots and their ability to withstand in vitro salt stress was evaluated. They could withstand upto 1M NaCl concentrations and this tolerance was independent of their host or tissue source. When inoculated on salt sensitive wheat seeds/seedlings several of the endophytes showed a positive impact on germination and biomass related parameters upon salt stress, bothin vitroand under glasshouse conditions. One of the isolate from dicot plants (identified asMicrosphaeropsis arundinis) could successfully colonize wheat and promote its growth under salt and no salt conditions. Amongst the fungal isolates that are known to be natural endophytes of wheat, Chaetomium globosum was the best performing isolate which has been reported as an effective biocontrol agent earlier. Based on the results of our preliminary study, we suggest that these fungal endophytes could prove beneficial for salt stress tolerance enhancement of wheat crop.
The HIV-1 capsid core is an opportunistic nuclear import receptor
Authors: Xue Guangai , Yu Hyun Jae , Goh Shih Lin , Gres Anna T. , Guney Mehmet Hakan , Sarafianos Stefan G. , Luban Jeremy , KewalRamani Vineet N.
Published: December 2021

The movement of viruses and other large macromolecular cargo through nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) is poorly understood. The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) provides an attractive model to interrogate this process due to the genetic and cell biological assays to score virus nuclear entry in living cells. Although initial studies of HIV-1 infection of nondividing cells focused on karyophilic virion proteins, subsequent work revealed the viral capsid (CA), the chief structural component of the pre-integration complex (PIC), to be a critical determinant in nuclear transport1. In support of this model, HIV-1 interactions with NPCs can be altered through CA mutation2, which makes direct contact with nucleoporins (Nups)3–5. Here we identify Nup35, Nup153, and POM121 to coordinately support HIV-1 nuclear entry. For Nup35 and POM121, this dependence was strongly dependent cyclophilin A (CypA) interaction with CA. Mutation of CA or removal of soluble host factors changed the interaction with the NPC. Collectively, these findings implicate the HIV-1 CA hexameric lattice that encapsulates the viral genome as a macromolecular nuclear transport receptor (NTR) that exploits soluble host factors to modulate NPC requirements during nuclear invasion.
Differential recognition of opioid analgesics by µ opioid receptors: Predicted interaction patterns correlate with ligand-specific voltage sensitivity
Authors: Kirchhofer Sina B. , Lim Victor Jun Yu , Ruland Julia G. , Kolb Peter , Bünemann Moritz
Published: December 2021

The µ opioid receptor (MOR) is the key target for analgesia, but the application of opioids is accompanied by several issues. There is a wide range of opioid analgesics, differing in their chemical structure and their properties in receptor activation and subsequent effects. A better understanding of ligand-receptor interactions and resulting effects is important. Here, we calculated the respective binding modes for several opioids and analyzed fingerprints of ligand-receptor interactions. We further corroborated the binding modes experimentally by cellular assays. As ligand-induced modulation of activity due to changes in membrane potential was displayed by MOR, we further analyzed the effects of voltage sensitivity of this receptor. With a combined in silico and in vitro approach, we defined discriminating interaction patterns for the ligand-specific voltage sensitivity. With this, we present new insights for interactions likely in ligand recognition and their specific effects on activation of the MOR.
Assessing the impact of free-roaming dog population management through systems modelling
Authors: Smith Lauren M. , Quinnell Rupert J. , Goold Conor , Munteanu Alex M. , Hartmann Sabine , Collins Lisa M.
Published: December 2021

Free-roaming dogs can present significant challenges to public health, wildlife conservation, and livestock production. Their own welfare may also be a concern, as free-roaming dogs can experience poor health and welfare. Dog population management is widely conducted to mitigate these issues. To ensure efficient use of resources, it is critical that effective, cost-efficient, and high-welfare strategies are identified. The dog population comprises distinct subpopulations characterised by their restriction status and level of ownership, but the assessment of dog population management often fails to consider the impact of the interaction between subpopulations on management success. We present a system dynamics model that incorporates an interactive and dynamic system of dog subpopulations. We identify that methods incorporating both fertility control and responsible ownership interventions (a reduction in abandonment and an increase in shelter adoptions) have the greatest potential to reduce free-roaming dog population sizes over longer periods of time, whilst being cost-effective and improving overall welfare. We suggest that future management should be applied at high levels of coverage and should target all sources of population increase, such as abandonment, births, and free-roaming owned dogs, to ensure effective and cost-efficient reduction in free-roaming dog numbers.
Polycomb Group Ring Finger Protein 6 suppresses Myc-induced lymphomagenesis
Authors: Tanaskovic Nina , Dalsass Mattia , Ceccotti Giorgia , Filipuzzi Marco , Verrecchia Alessandro , Nicoli Paola , Doni Mirko , Olivero Daniela , Pasini Diego , Koseki Haruhiko , Sabò Arianna , Bisso Andrea , Amati Bruno
Published: December 2021

Max is an obligate dimerization partner for the Myc transcription factors and for several repressors, such as Mnt, Mxd1-4 and Mga, collectively thought to antagonize Myc function in transcription and oncogenesis. Mga, in particular, is part of the variant Polycomb group repressive complex PRC1.6. Here, we show that ablation of the distinct PRC1.6 subunit Pcgf6 – but not Mga – accelerates Myc-induced lymphomagenesis in Eµ-myc transgenic mice. Unexpectedly, however, Pcgf6 loss shows no significant impact on transcriptional profiles, in neither pre-tumoral B-cells, nor lymphomas. Altogether, these data unravel an unforeseen, Mga- and PRC1.6-independent tumor suppressor activity of Pcgf6.
Synergistic collagen-condiment: Streptococcal collagen-like (Scl) protein in cell-adhesion and diabetic wound-closure matrix
Authors: Singh Rupneet , Choudhury Chinmayee , Nambiyar Kaniyappan , Sharma Swati , Singh Lakhwinder , Bhatia Alka , Banerjee Dibyajyoti , Das Ashim , Chakraborti Anuradha
Published: December 2021

Group A streptococcus (GAS), Streptococcus pyogenes manifests plethora of diseases through its explicit virulence factors. Among these, the recently deciphered MSCRAMMs, Streptococcal collagen-like (Scls) adhesins are most studied proteins in context of their biophysically stable collagenous-sequence (Gly-X-Y) despite the difference from analogous mammalian-collagen. Based on recent evidence on collagen-mimetic Scls, we elucidated biomaterial-potential of the unmodified, recombinant Scl1 (rScl1). Initially, rScl1 trimeric- assembly yielded its stability in silico than the monomeric-unit. Thereby, rScl1 matrix characterization was confirmed in vitro. rScl1 exhibited high A549 and HepG2 cell- viability—rScl1 dose incremented to 20.0 µg/ml at time points up to 24 hr, and on 24 hr stored-dishes—deliberating it non-cytotoxic. Imploring cell-adhesion potential, we observed increased cell-counts tangential to rScl1-gradient. This affirmative prelude on rScl1 as a supporting-matrix cued its synergy to collagen; we discerned it through rScl1-augmented, full-thickness diabetic wound-closure in vivo and as a first, we studied > 18-month rabbit alloxan-models. We have ascertained re-epithelialization with higher type III collagen in absence of inflammation evidenced morphometrically and histologically. Finally, we correlated our observations through atomistic-evaluation of rScl1-α2β1-integrin interaction, surprisingly, with augmented binding-energy compared to collagen. Hence, connoting recombinant-streptococcal collagen as an ‘alternate’; with further characterization, rScl1 can potentiate important revelations conceding homogeneous and safe, bio-available, biomaterial.
Internal Tremors and Vibration Symptoms Among People with Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: A narrative review of patient reports
Authors: Massey Daisy , Baker Anna D , Berrent Diana Zicklin , Güthe Nick , Shidlovsky Suzanne Pincus , Fisher Liza , Grady Connor B , Caraballo César , Sharma Richa , Krumholz Harlan M
Published: December 2021

To introduce the perspective of patients who have PASC with vibrations and tremors as a prominent component, we leveraged the efforts by Survivor Corps, a grassroots COVID-19 patient advocacy group, to gather information from people in their Facebook group suffering from vibrations and tremors. Survivor Corps collected 140 emails and 450 Facebook comments from members. From the emails, we identified 22 themes and 7 broader domains based on common coding techniques for qualitative data and the constant comparative method of qualitative data analysis. Facebook comments were analyzed using Word Clouds to visualize frequency of terms. The respondents’ emails reflected 7 domains that formed the basis of characterizing their experience with vibrations and tremors. These domains were: (1) symptom experience, description, and anatomic location; (2) initial symptom onset; (3) symptom timing; (4) symptom triggers or alleviators; (5) change from baseline health status; (6) experience with medical establishment; and (7) impact on people’s lives and livelihood. There were 22 themes total, each corresponding to one of the broader domains. The Facebook comments Word Cloud revealed that the 10 most common words used in comments were: tremors (64), covid (55), pain (51), vibrations (43), months (36), burning (29), feet (24), hands (22), legs (21), back (20). Overall, these patient narratives described intense suffering, and there is still no diagnosis or treatment available.
The construction of the affinity-seeking strategies of Airbnb homestay hosts
Authors: Qiu Hanqin , Chen Dongzhi , Bi Jian-Wu , Lyu Jiaying , Li Qinghui
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the dimensions and sub-factors of Airbnb hosts’ affinity-seeking strategies. It also aims to build a conceptual framework of hosts’ affinity-seeking strategies and their impact on Airbnb guests’ feelings of affection toward their host and/or the homestay and their behavioral intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on 150,161 Inside Airbnb online reviews in three major US cities, this study uses semantic analysis to explore processes through which hosts’ affinity-seeking strategies are constructed.

Findings

A conceptual framework is proposed to identify two dimensions (warmth and competency) and their sub-factors (“presenting friendly attitudes,” “showing personality traits,” “providing service and help” and “promoting social interaction and sharing”) of Airbnb homestay hosts’ affinity-seeking strategies. The framework shows a positive relationship between these strategies and guests’ affection and behavior in response.

Practical implications

The research findings provide valuable insights to hosts for improving their affinity and strengthening their competitive advantages. They also offer guidance to destination management organizations on how to build a positive destination image.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to conceptualize Airbnb homestay hosts’ affinity-seeking strategies. It contributes to the literature by incorporating social cognition theory and service theory in the analysis of these strategies.
An attention-based view of supply disruption risk management: balancing biased attentional processing for improved resilience in the COVID-19 context
Authors: Lorentz Harri , Laari Sini , Meehan Joanne , Eßig Michael , Henke Michael
Published: December 2021

Purpose

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study investigates a variety of approaches to supply disruption risk management for achieving effective responses for resilience at the supply management subunit level (e.g. category of items). Drawing on the attention-based view of the firm, the authors model the attentional antecedents of supply resilience as (1) attentional perspectives and (2) attentional selection. Attentional perspectives focus on either supply risk sources or supply network recoverability, and both are hypothesised to have a direct positive association with supply resilience. Attentional selection is top down or bottom up when it comes to disruption detection, and these are hypothesised to moderate the association between disruption risk management perspectives and resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

Conducted at the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, this study employs a hierarchical regression analysis on a multicountry survey of 190 procurement professionals, each responding from the perspective of their own subunit area of supply responsibility.

Findings

Both attentional disruption risk management perspectives are needed to achieve supply resilience, and neither is superior in terms of achieving supply resilience. Both the efficiency of the top down and exposure to the unexpected with the bottom up are needed – to a balanced degree – for improved supply resilience.

Practical implications

The results encourage firms to purposefully develop their supply risk management practices, first, to include both perspectives and, second, to avoid biases in attentional selection for disruption detection. Ensuring a more balanced approach may allow firms to improve their supply resilience.

Originality/value

The results contribute to the understanding of the microfoundations that underpin firms' operational capabilities for supply risk and disruption management and possible attentional biases.
Quality management practices and quality of work life – a conceptual model development
Authors: Srinivasaiah Rashmi , Devappa Renuka Swamy , Nanjundeswaraswamy T.S.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The present study analyzes the research articles linking quality management practices (QMP) and quality of work life (QWL). The investigation leads toward the formulation of the hypothesis and developing a conceptual framework of QMP and QWL.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a systematic literature review to explore the relationship between QMP and QWL using the Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Eric, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and Google Scholar database and identifies critical factors of QMP and QWL using Pareto analysis. Further study proposes a conceptual framework of articles linking QMP and QWL.

Findings

A thorough review of the literature identifies three different categories of research articles: “factor identification” articles, “QMP implementation” articles, “scale development” articles, and “influence of QMP on various organizational and employees-related factors” articles. Many studies have attempted to study the relationship and influence of QMP on employee-related factors but not by considering them holistically, thus, underlining the significant gap in the QMP and HRM literature.

Research limitations/implications

To review the literature on QMP and QWL, only a handful of databases were reviewed. Further, the proposed conceptual model is based on the QMP and QWL/HRM literature review, and it is not empirically validated. Further research can be considered to test and validate the proposed conceptual framework empirically.

Practical implications

This study highlights a gap in the existing research studies and an incomplete consideration of employees' aspects of QWL. Researchers and organizations are advised to adopt a broader view while assessing QMP implementation's influence on employees.

Originality/value

This study uses a systematic literature review and Pareto analysis to find the critical factors of QMP and QWL, thus providing a new research avenue for researchers, quality experts and human resource managers to consider all the aspects of employees, that is, QWL of employees, to understand the influence of QMP on employees to achieve firm success.
Rethinking dual careers: success factors for career transition of professional football players and the role of sport entrepreneurship
Authors: Ramos Ana Sofia , Hammerschmidt Jonas , Ribeiro Antonio Sérgio , Lima Francisco , Kraus Sascha
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this longitudinal study is to examine the dual career and entrepreneurial experiences of professional football players and their influence on the career transition process to entrepreneurship or employment.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examined a Portuguese employer–employee data set from 1991 to 2017 using the logit model, a binary choice regression model that allows predicting the probabilities of two possible qualitative and binary outcomes.

Findings

Entrepreneurial experience is the key driver for retired football players to pursue entrepreneurship. Having a dual career and working during the athletic career leads to higher chances of continuing in the labor market as an employee. Higher education levels did not significantly influence the decision to pursue a second career but having secondary education increases the chances of continuing as an entrepreneur.

Research limitations/implications

First, the study aims to shed light on success factors in career transition of professional football players who engage in a dual career. Second, the authors introduce sport entrepreneurship as a possible activity alongside an athletic career.

Practical implications

Athletes can benefit from the experience they gain during a dual career in the process of career transition. Working in the final year of an athletic career represents a promising strategy to gain work experience alongside sport without jeopardizing sporting success.

Originality/value

This study adds evidence to the contemporary discourse on dual career theory and career transitions and reconciles the theory of sport entrepreneurship and dual careers.
Coopetition within the entrepreneurial ecosystem: startups’ entrepreneurial learning processes and their implications for new venture performance
Authors: Yang Junping , Zhang Mengjie
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore coopetition within the entrepreneurial ecosystem and answer the following two fundamental questions: How does coopetition affect the entrepreneurial learning and performance of startups? and What learning strategies should startups adopt to promote their growth in the coopetition activities?

Design/methodology/approach

Using the structural equation model and instrumental variable, this study used a sample of 371 startups to test the hypotheses. Data comes from startups in Jiangsu, Shanghai and Zhejiang, China.

Findings

This study finds that the coopetition-performance relationship of startups is marginally negative. This study also finds that exploitative learning and exploratory learning positively mediate this relationship. Ecosystem’s social capital can enhance the coopetition-exploration relationship, but the coopetition-exploitation relationship is not affected.

Originality/value

Many studies propose that the coopetition-performance relationship is ambiguous, which makes it meaningful to explore startups individually. Based on the resource-based view and the knowledge-based view, this study deepen the works of Bouncken and Fredrich (2016c), that is, how startups can learn and grow through coopetition activities. This study proposes that coopetition is one of the foundations of the ecosystem and explore the coopetition-performance relationship in this special context. Thus, the present paper adds to the budding literature on the effects of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and to the literature on coopetition.
Infotainment as a hybrid of information and entertainment: a conceptual analysis
Authors: Savolainen Reijo
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To elaborate the nature of infotainment as a mediating concept between information and entertainment by analysing how the concept of infotainment is approached in diverse domains such as communication research.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual analysis was conducted by focussing on 41 key studies on the topic. First, it was examined how researchers have approached the relationships between informational and entertaining elements of infotainment. Thereafter, attention was directed to the ways in which people make use of infotainment. The conceptual analysis is based on the comparison of the similarities and differences between the characterizations of the above issues.

Findings

Early studies characterized infotainment in terms of soft news which is distinct from hard news offering factual information. Later investigations offer a more nuanced picture by approaching infotainment as phenomenon with diverse dimensions depicting the topics, focus and presentation style. Studies on the use of infotainment offer contradictory evidence of the extent to which infotaining programmes can increase people's interest in social, political and health issues, for example.

Research limitations/implications

As the study concentrates on the analysis of an individual concept, that is, infotainment, the findings cannot be generalized to concern the ways in which informational and entertaining phenomena are related as a whole.

Originality/value

By elaborating the conceptual nature of infotainment, the study contributes to information behaviour research by refining the picture of the relationships between information and entertainment.
Sortie-based aircraft component demand rate to predict requirements
Authors: O'Neal Thomas R. , Dickens John M. , Champagne Lance E. , Glassburner Aaron V. , Anderson Jason R. , Breitbach Timothy W.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Forecasting techniques improve supply chain resilience by ensuring that the correct parts are available when required. In addition, accurate forecasts conserve precious resources and money by avoiding new start contracts to produce unforeseen part requests, reducing labor intensive cannibalization actions and ensuring consistent transportation modality streams where changes incur cost. This study explores the effectiveness of the United States Air Force’s current flying hour-based demand forecast by comparing it with a sortie-based demand forecast to predict future spare part needs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a correlation analysis to show that demand for reparable parts on certain aircraft has a stronger correlation to the number of sorties flown than the number of flying hours. The effect of using the number of sorties flown instead of flying hours is analyzed by employing sorties in the United States Air Force (USAF)’s current reparable parts forecasting model. A comparative analysis on D200 forecasting error is conducted across F-16 and B-52 fleets.

Findings

This study finds that the USAF could improve its reparable parts forecast, and subsequently part availability, by employing a sortie-based demand rate for particular aircraft such as the F-16. Additionally, our findings indicate that forecasts for reparable parts on aircraft with low sortie count flying profiles, such as the B-52 fleet, perform better modeling demand as a function of flying hours. Thus, evidence is provided that the Air Force should employ multiple forecasting techniques across its possessed, organically supported aircraft fleets. The improvement of the forecast and subsequent decrease in forecast error will be presented in the Results and Discussion section.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited by the data-collection environment, which is only reported on an annual basis and is limited to 14 years of historical data. Furthermore, some observations were not included because significant data entry errors resulted in unusable observations.

Originality/value

There are few studies addressing the time measure of USAF reparable component failures. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no studies that analyze spare component demand as a function of sortie numbers and compare the results of forecasts made on a sortie-based demand signal to the current flying hour-based approach to spare parts forecasting. The sortie-based forecast is a novel methodology and is shown to outperform the current flying hour-based method for some aircraft fleets.
GAMES, game theory and artificial intelligence
Authors: Hanley John T.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how game theoretic solution concepts inform what classes of problems will be amenable to artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), and how to evolve the interaction between human and artificial intelligence.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach addresses the development of operational gaming to support planning and decision making. It then provides a succinct summary of game theory for those designing and using games, with an emphasis on information conditions and solution concepts. It addresses how experimentation demonstrates where human decisions differ from game theoretic solution concepts and how games have been used to develop AI/ML. It concludes by suggesting what classes of problems will be amenable to AI/ML, and which will not. It goes on to propose a method for evolving human/artificial intelligence.

Findings

Game theoretic solution concepts inform classes of problems where AI/ML 'solutions' will be suspect. The complexity of the subject requires a campaign of learning.

Originality/value

Though games have been essential to the development of AI/ML, practitioners have yet to employ game theory to understand its limitations.
An analysis of the prosperity of China's marine economy
Authors: Xuemei Li , Yang Benshuo , Cao Yun , Zhang Liyan , Liu Han , Wang Pengcheng , Qu Xiaomei
Published: December 2021

Purpose

China's marine economy occupies an important position within the national economy, and its contribution thereto is constantly improving. The overall operation of the marine economy shows positive developmental trends with potential for further growth. The purpose of this research is to analyse the prosperity of China's marine economy, reveal trends therein and forecast the likely turning point in its operation.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the periodicity and fluctuation of China's marine economy development, China's marine economic prosperity indicator system is established from five perspectives. On this basis, China's marine economic operation prosperity index can be synthesised and calculated, then a dynamic factor model is constructed. Using the filtering method to calculate China's marine economic operational Stock–Watson index, Markov switching has been used to determine the trend to transition. Furthermore, China's current marine economic prosperity is evaluated through analysis of influencing factors and correlation analysis.

Findings

The analysis shows that, from 2017 to 2019, the operation of the marine economy is relatively stable, and the prosperity index supports this finding; meanwhile it also exposes problems in China's marine economy, such as an unbalanced industrial structure, low marine economic benefits and insufficient capacity for sustainable development.

Originality/value

Through the analysis of the prosperity of China's marine economy, the authors reveal the trends in China's marine economy and forecast its likely future turning point.
Rendering viscose fabric dye-able with anionic dyes using plasma treatment technique and chitosan nanoparticles as an eco-friendly approach
Authors: Mostafa Khaled
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims at studying the oxygen plasma treatment and the previously prepared and fully characterized chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) as a green and eco-friendly strategy for surface modification of viscose fabric. This was done to render viscose fabric dye able with two types of acid dyes that do not have direct affinity to fix on it via improving the fabric wettability.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the goal, viscose fabric was activated with oxygen plasma at optimum conditions and coated with different concentrations of CNPs solution via conventional pad dry cure technique. The untreated and plasma-treated fabrics with CNPs were dyed with two types of acid dyes, namely, Acid Orange 7 and Methyl Red under determined conditions. The color strength (K/S), fastness properties to light, rubbing and perspiration, add on %, tensile strength, wettability and durability of the dyed samples were determined and compared.

Findings

The results divulged that oxygen plasma-treated fabric with CNPs and the aforementioned dyes in question could improve the flowing properties in comparison with untreated fabric: (a) the fabric wettability expressed as wetting area mm2; (b) the dye ability and fastness properties of viscose fabrics expressed as K/S and fastness properties; and (c) the strength properties and add on % of the treated fabric. On the other hand, the durability of the plasma-treated fabric decreased with increasing washing cycles.

Originality/value

The novelty addressed here was using plasma treatment as an eco-friendly pre-treatment approach for attachment of CNPs as a multifunctional green bio-nano polymer onto viscose fabric, which improved the dyeing properties of the fabric with acid dyes that do not have direct affinity to fix onto it.
Role of mall attractiveness in shaping fashion shopping orientation of apparel shoppers: a segmentation approach
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Kashyap Anil Kumar
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify distinct segments of apparel shoppers based on their fashion shopping orientation. The difference among the segments based on mall attractive dimension is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through mall intercept survey from the mall shoppers. Samples of 375 respondents are used for data analysis purpose. Exploratory factor analysis is used to extract the factors of fashion shopping orientation and mall attractive dimensions while K-means cluster analysis is applied to identify the segments.

Findings

This study resulted in three factors of fashion orientation of apparel shoppers, i.e. fashion involvement, variety seeking and economic value, and four factors of mall attractive dimensions: convenience, entertainment, atmosphere and architecture design. Based on these factors, this study came out with three distinct segments of fashion shoppers: pragmatic shoppers, variety seeking shoppers and highly fashioned shoppers. These three segments are attracted towards the mall dimension differently.

Originality/value

This paper presents the three distinct profiles of fashion shoppers based on their fashion shopping orientation and mall attractive dimensions. The findings of this study may help retailers and mall developers to target mall visitors appropriately.
Influence of emotions displayed by employees during service recovery
Authors: Sicilia María , Caro-Jiménez M. Carmen , Fernández-Sabiote Estela
Published: December 2021

Purpose

While research evidences how customers’ emotions can influence their consumer experience, understanding of how employees’ displayed emotions affect the customer service experience is more limited. Drawing on affect transfer theory, the authors test for the mediating role of attitude towards the employee, which is proposed to mediate the effect of employees’ displayed emotion on customers’ satisfaction with recovery. As service recovery entails a critical service experience in which emotions can easily rise, this paper aims to highlight the pivotal role of employee-displayed emotions during service recovery.

Methodology

A scenario-based experiment in the context of an airline service failure recovery (3 × 2 between-subjects design) manipulates frontline employees’ emotions (anger vs happiness vs no specific emotion) and the quality of the solution (bad vs good).

Findings

Employees’ displayed emotions directly affect attitude towards the employee and indirectly affect service recovery satisfaction. Moreover, attitude towards the employee is affected more by the employee’s displayed emotion when the solution offered is bad compared to good.

Practical implications

Employees’ emotions displayed during service recovery can enhance or damage service recovery strategies. Employees should control for negative emotions in the case of service failure, especially when unable to provide a good solution.

Originality

Emotions displayed by employees can influence the customer’s service recovery evaluations. There is an interesting interaction between the quality of the solution and employees’ displayed emotions. Additionally, the mantra of “service with a smile” may not be valid in the case of service recovery: rather, employees should avoid displaying negative emotions.
A systematic literature review of food sustainable supply chain management (FSSCM): building blocks and research trends
Authors: Palazzo Maria , Vollero Agostino
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the increased research attention gained by sustainability in food supply chain management. Although previous review studies have focused on aspects such as traceability, food safety, and performance measurement, sustainability has rarely been considered as a means of integrating these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a comprehensive review of the literature on food sustainable supply chain management (FSSCM). Using systematic review methods, relevant studies published from 1997 to early 2021 are explored to reveal the research landscape and the gaps and trends.

Findings

The paper shows the building blocks and the main research directions in FSSCM, particularly considering the opportunities in “neglected” emerging countries. Insights are provided into the various elements of the sustainability supply chain in the food industry, which have previously been analysed separately.

Originality/value

Only a few researchers have systematically reviewed the literature or taken a bibliometric approach in their analyses to provide an overview of the current trends and links between sustainability and food supply chain management.
Momentary associations between stress and alcohol craving in the naturalistic environment: differential associations for Black and White young adults
Authors: Pedersen Sarah L. , Kennedy Traci M. , Holmes Jordan , Molina Brooke S. G.
Published: December 2021

Background and Aims

Black drinkers compared with White drinkers experience more alcohol‐related problems. Examination of social determinants of inequities in alcohol problems is needed. The current study measured (1) associations between acute stress and alcohol craving in the naturalistic environment for self‐identified Black and White individuals who drink alcohol and (2) whether a history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) moderated these associations.

Design and Setting

Observational study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to collect data from participants at six semi‐random time‐points throughout the day during a 10‐day period. A series of three‐level multi‐level models examined between‐ and within‐person associations for stress and alcohol and tested if these associations differed for Black and White adults.

Participants

Participants were 229 adult drinkers (aged 21–35 years) who completed a larger study examining alcohol response for Black and White adults with and without a history of childhood ADHD.

Measurements

Momentary stress and alcohol craving, ADHD history and socio‐demographic characteristics (i.e. racial identity, sex, age, current education level, household income) were assessed. Participants were required to self‐identify as either ‘African American or Black’ or ‘European American or White’.

Findings

Significant racial identity × stress interactions indicated that associations between stress and craving were stronger for Black compared with White adults across the 10‐day period (between‐person: B = 0.14, P = 0.007), concurrently within a given EMA time‐point (within‐person: B = 0.04, P = 0.001) and prospectively from time‐point to time‐point (within‐person: B = 0.05, P = 0.001). Results remained while accounting for income × stress interactions.

Conclusions

Acute stress appears to be more strongly related to alcohol craving in self‐identified Black compared with self‐identified White individuals. This provides support for policy changes to eliminate structural inequities that increase stress exposure and the development of just‐in‐time culturally responsive interventions focused on coping with acute stress for Black individuals.
The geography of sobriety checkpoints and alcohol‐impaired driving
Authors: Morrison Christopher N. , Kwizera Muhire , Chen Qixuan , Puljevic Cheneal , Branas Charles C. , Wiebe Douglas J. , Peek‐Asa Corinne , McGavin Kirsten M. , Franssen Shellee J. , Le Vy K. , Keating Michael , Ferris Jason
Published: December 2021

Background and Aims

Sobriety checkpoints are an effective strategy to reduce alcohol‐impaired driving, motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities. The aim of this study was to identify the geographic extent over which individual sobriety checkpoints affect alcohol‐impaired driving.

Design, Setting, Participants

Spatial ecological panel analysis using geolocated breath test data from the Queensland Police Service, Australia, for January 2012 to June 2018. Data were aggregated over 338 weeks within 528 Statistical Area level 2 (SA2) units (n = 178 464 SA2‐weeks) and 84 Statistical Area level 3 (SA3) units (n = 28 392 SA3‐weeks). SA2 units in Queensland contain a mean population of 8883.5 (SD = 55 018.3) and encompass 468.9 roadway kilometers (SD = 1490.0); SA3 units contain a mean population of 57 201.6 (SD = 29521.6) and encompass 2936.0 roadway kilometers (SD = 7025.0).

Measurements

Independent measures were the density of sobriety checkpoints conducted per 500 roadway kilometers within local and spatially adjacent space–time units. The dependent measure was the rate of tests that detected breath alcohol concentration (a proxy for blood alcohol concentration [BAC]) greater than the legal maximum value of 0.05% for fully licensed drivers in Queensland. Bayesian hierarchical spatial negative binomial models‐related sobriety checkpoints to the rate of breath tests with BAC ≥ 0.05% within and between space–time units.

Findings

One additional sobriety checkpoint conducted per 500 roadway kilometers was associated with 2.5% reduction in the rate of breath tests with BAC ≥ 0.05% within local SA2 units (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.975; 95% credibility interval (CrI): 0.973–0.978), and with 5.5% reduction in the rate of breath tests with BAC ≥ 0.05% within local SA3 units (IRR = 0.945; 95%CrI: 0.937–0.953). Associations were attenuated towards null in spatially adjacent units and in temporally lagged units (e.g. SA3‐weeks; adjacent lagged 1 week: IRR = 0.969; 95%CrI: 0.937–1.003).

Conclusions

Individual sobriety checkpoints appear to be associated with reductions in nearby alcohol‐impaired driving. Relationships decay after approximately 1 week and beyond local areas containing approximately 60 000 residents and 3000 kilometers of roadway.
Establishing the Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service: Preliminary experience
Authors: Tan Yu Hwee , Frazer Malcolm I.
Published: December 2021

Background

Transvaginal mesh (TVM) has been used for treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Mesh‐related complications are reported in 3% of women receiving mid‐urethral sling surgery for SUI and in up to 20% of women who receive TVM for POP. The Australian Senate Enquiry report in March 2018 recommended that each Australian state establish specialist multidisciplinary units for management of TVM complications.

Aims

The aims of this study are to report on the setting up of the Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service (QPMS) and summarise its first 24 months to provide a potential framework for the establishment of similar service models within Australia and internationally.

Materials and methods

The planning and implementation of QPMS was a complex two‐stage co‐design process involving clinicians and consumers representing women with TVM complications. Consumer input in planning was important for the optimal establishment of QPMS to meet women’s holistic needs.

Results

From April 2019 to April 2021, 484 women had been treated by the medical team; 257 women had undergone cystoscopy and examination under anaesthesia; 91 patients had undergone mesh revision surgery – 65 complete excision and 25 partial excision and one sling division; and 180 women had been discharged from QPMS.

Conclusions

Providing a comprehensive multidisciplinary service for managing TVM complications requires careful planning with consumer involvement before initiation. Addition of these patients to an existing service may not succeed. Emphasis on surgery may be misplaced for many. QPMS patients, as in sufferers with chronic pain conditions, benefit from psychological support and allied healthcare.
Differences in the prevalence of mental health disorders among Black American adults with sickle cell disease compared to those with non‐heritable medical conditions or no medical conditions
Authors: Jonassaint Charles R. , Lukombo Ines , Feldman Robert , Driscoll Jordan , Eack Shaun M. , Abebe Kaleab Z. , De Castro Laura
Published: December 2021

Our aim was to determine differences in the prevalence of mental health disorders between Black Americans living with sickle cell disease (SCD) and Black Americans with other, non‐heritable medical conditions, or no medical conditions. We examined the prevalence of mental health disorders among a non‐institutionalized, community sample of Black adults in the US from the National Survey of American Life. We compared the odds of mental health disorders between Black American adults with SCD and those with other medical conditions, or no medical condition. Among the SCD group, 38·8% reported at least one mental health disorder: 17·6% endorsed a mood disorder, 24·7% an anxiety disorder, 2·4% an eating disorder, and 11·8% a childhood disorder. Compared to those with other medical conditions, Black Americans with SCD had greater poverty, more children in the household, and were less likely to be married/cohabitating (all P < 0·05). Yet, Black Americans with SCD were not at greater odds of having a mental health disorder compared to those with other medical conditions. When compared to the group with no conditions, however, individuals with SCD had 2·57 greater odds of mood disorder (95% confidence interval: 1·43–4·65; P = 0·002). The effect remained when controlling for socioeconomic status, marital status, and perceived physical health. In this study, almost 40% of Black American adults with SCD presented with a mental health disorder. Prevalence of mental health disorders was similar among those with non‐heritable medical conditions, but those without a medical condition had a lower prevalence than in SCD. Among Black Americans, there appear to be unmeasured factors, common across medical conditions, that are linked to mental health disorders.
Predictors of range of motion restrictions in children with spastic cerebral palsy: A registry‐based study
Authors: Almasri Nihad A. , Gracely Ed J. , Saleh Maysoun , Alquaqzeh Fatima Alzahra
Published: December 2021

Background

Although children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) commonly present with restricted passive range of motion (PROM) and contractures, knowledge about the child's characteristics that increase the risk of development of restricted PROM is limited. Identifying children who are more likely to develop contractures is important for early detection and the provision of appropriate medical management. This study aims to identify the most commonly restricted PROM of children with spastic CP and (2) to examine the combined effect of a child's age, gender, gross motor functional classification level and CP subtype on the development of restricted PROM in children with spastic CP.

Methods

The PROM of 233 children diagnosed with CP was extracted from the national registry of CP in Jordan (CPUP‐Jordan) in addition to information about children's age, gender, level of Gross Motor Function Classification System‐Expanded and Revised (GMFCS‐E&R) and subtype of CP. The mean age of the participants was 3.73 years (SD = 3.14), 57.5% were males and 80.3% had bilateral spastic CP. Point biserial correlations were calculated between the PROM and the child's variables. Multiple binary logistic regressions were conducted to identify the predictors of PROM.

Results

Hip abduction was the most common restricted PROM (57.9%), whereas the hip extension was the least (2.1%). Children with older ages demonstrated more restrictions in knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion; males demonstrated more restriction in hip abduction than females; children with lower GMFCS‐E&R levels had more restrictions in hip internal rotation but fewer restrictions in hip abduction and ankle dorsiflexion; and children with bilateral spastic CP had more restrictions in hip abduction than children with unilateral spastic CP.

Conclusions

PROM of the hip, knee and ankle joints of children with spastic CP was predicted by different sets of child characteristics. Implications for health professionals and follow‐up registries of children with CP are provided.