bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shielded metal arc welding of AISI 409M ferritic stainless steel: study on mechanical, intergranular corrosion properties and microstructure analysis
Authors: Ambade Sachin , Tembhurkar Chetan , Patil Awanikumar P. , Pantawane Prakash , Singh Ravi Pratap
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is on AISI 409 M ferritic stainless steel (FSS) which is developing a preferred choice for railway carriages, storage tanks and reactors in chemical plants. The intergranular corrosion behavior of welded SS 409 M has been studied in H2SO4solution (0.5 M) with the addition of NH4SCN (0.01 M) with different heat input. As this study is very important in context of various chemical and petrochemical industries.

Design/methodology/approach

The microstructure, mechanical properties and intergranular corrosion properties of AISI 409 M FSS using shielded metal arc welding were investigated. Shielded metal arc welding with different welding current values are used to change the heat input in the joints resulted in the microstructural variations. The microstructure of the welded steel was carefully inspected along the width of the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and the transverse-section of the thin plate.

Findings

The width of heat affected zone (3.1,4.2 and 5.8 mm) increases on increasing the welding heat input. Due to change in grain size (grain coarsening) as HAZ increased. From the microstructure, it was observed that the large grain growth which is dendritic and the structure become finer to increase in welding heat input. For lower heat input, the maximum microhardness value (388HV) was observed compared with medium (351 HV) and higher heat input (344 HV), which is caused by a rapid cooling rate and the depleted area of chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). The increase in weld heat input decreases tensile strength, i.e. 465 MPa, 440 MPa and 418 MPa for low, medium and high heat input, respectively. This is because of grain coarsening and chromium carbide precipitation in sensitized zone and wider HAZ. The degree of sensitization increases (27.04%, 31.86% and 36.08%) to increase welding heat input because of chromium carbide deposition at the grain boundaries. The results revealed that the higher degree of sensitization and the difference in intergranular corrosion behavior under high heat input are related to the grain growth in the HAZ and the weld zone.

Originality/value

The study is based on intergranular corrosion behavior of welded SS 409 M in H2SO4 solution (0.5 M) with the addition of NH4SCN (0.01 M) with different heat input which is rarely found in literature.
Electronic word-of-mouth in travel social networking sites and young consumers’ purchase intentions: an extended information adoption model
Authors: Song Bee Lian , Liew Chee Yoong , Sia Jye Ying , Gopal Kanesh
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Young consumers are increasing using electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in travel social networking sites to make purchase decisions. This paper aims to test the extended Information Adoption Model (IAM) that places perceived usefulness and information adoption as consequences of argument quality, source credibility, information quantity and emotive word comprehension, and as an antecedent of purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected through survey questionnaire from 405 hotel young customers in Malaysia, who had experienced travel social networking sites. The hypothesized relationships were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results show that argument quality, source credibility, information quantity and emotive word comprehension have positive effect on the perceived usefulness of eWOM. Perceived usefulness has positive influence on the information adoption of eWOM, which in turn predicts the young consumers’ purchase intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The present study strengthens and advances the existing literature on tourism, social media and marketing by offering an extension to the IAM. The proposed extended model of IAM is verified and applied effectively in the context of eWOM for travel social networking sites.

Practical implications

Practitioners and marketers of travel social networking sites can improve the usability and effectiveness of eWOM to attract more young consumers.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the extension of IAM by adding information quantity and emotive word comprehension. This research validated the significant roles of eWOM argument quality and source credibility in predicting the information usefulness of eWOM.
Ecological sexual dimorphism is modulated by the spatial scale of intersexual resource competition
Authors: Bocedi Greta
Published: August 2021

In Focus: Li, X‐Y., & H. Kokko. (2021). Sexual dimorphism driven by intersexual resource competition: Why is it rare, and where to look for it? Journal of Animal Ecology, 00, 1–13. Ecological sexual dimorphism, that is differences between the sexes in traits that are naturally selected as opposed to sexually selected, is gaining increasing attention after having often been dismissed as the ‘less‐parsimonious’ explanation for differences between sexes. One potential driver of ecological sexual dimorphism is intersexual resource competition, in a process analogous to ecological character displacement between species; yet, clear empirical examples are scarce. Li and Kokko present mathematical models that introduce novel pieces to the puzzle: the role of the scale of mating competition and the spatial variation in resource availability. They show that ecological sexual dimorphism evolves when local mating groups are small (e.g. monogamous pairs) and when different resources are homogeneously available across habitats. Counterintuitively, larger mating groups (e.g. polygyny), and consequently higher intralocus sexual conflict, lead to sexual monomorphism. Habitat heterogeneity also leads to overlapping niches, although it can sometimes drive polymorphism within sexes. This study highlights why the conditions for intrasexual resource competition to drive evolution of sexual dimorphism are stringent, even in the absence of genetic constraints or competing species. Crucially, it highlights the importance of considering the mating system and the spatial scale of resource competition for understanding the occurrence of ecological sexual dimorphism, showing a large potential for future work considering different aspects of species’ life histories and spatial dynamics.
Canopy conductance and gas exchange of a Japanese cypress forest after rainfall‐induced wetness
Authors: Jiao Linjie , Kosugi Yoshiko , Sempuku Yuichi , Chang Ting‐wei
Published: August 2021

Increased stomatal conductance of the dry leaves right after wetness ended was reported before, while few studies paid attention to this phenomenon in canopy scale and its contribution to the forest carbon sink function. Therefore, we observed the continuous change of canopy wetness and ecosystem fluxes after wetness ended by using wetness sensors and eddy covariance method for a Japanese cypress forest (Chamaecyparis obtuse Sieb. Et Zucc.) in the Asian monsoon area. Larger gc (canopy conductance) were found in the relationships with both vapor pressure deficit and Rn (net radiation) during the first several hours after wetness ended. The results for λE (latent heat flux) were similar to that of gc in spring and summer. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) in the relationships with Rn at different stages after wetness ended did not show clear difference except in spring. Nevertheless, annual summed‐up NEE showed that the average CO2 uptake at the first several hours after wetness ended was larger than the usual dry period. These results suggest that the improved stomatal opening at the first several hours after wetness ended plays a significant role in the canopy‐scale gas exchange processes.
PeMetR‐mediated sulfur assimilation is essential for virulence and patulin biosynthesis in Penicillium expansum
Authors: Chen Yong , Zhang Zhanquan , Li Boqiang , Tian Shiping
Published: August 2021

Penicillium expansum, as the causal agent of blue mould and a main producer of mycotoxin patulin, is a global concern for economic and food safety. To date, the nutritional requirements of the pathogen during infection and patulin biosynthesis are poorly understood. Here, we genetically characterized the role of the bZIP transcription factor PeMetR in sulfur metabolism, virulence and patulin biosynthesis of P. expansum. The PeMetR regulator is crucial for normal germination and growth on inorganic S‐sources but dispensable for utilization of organic S‐sources. Accordingly, it is involved in regulating the expression of genes in sulfur assimilation pathway rather than methionine metabolic processes. Disruption of PeMetR resulted in a complete loss of virulence on various fruits. Additionally, the mutant showed a remarkably reduced ability to produce patulin. Exogenous methionine could partially or completely rescue the impaired phenotypes of the mutant. Inactivation of the sulfur assimilation pathway genes, PesA, PesB, PesC, PesF, generated growth, virulence and patulin production defects similar to those of ΔPeMetR. Overall, our study provides evidence that PeMetR‐mediated sulfur assimilation is essential for growth and infection and shows for the first time that regulation of sulfur assimilation affects biosynthesis of an important mycotoxin patulin in P. expansum.
Can the group disincentivize offending? Considering opt‐out thresholds and decision reversals*
Authors: McGloin Jean Marie , Thomas Kyle J. , Rowan Zachary R. , Deitzer Jessica R.
Published: August 2021

Scholars generally agree that offending decisions occur in social context, with some suggesting that choice models should explicitly integrate the notion that the deviant actions of others can incentivize offending. In this study, we investigate whether group settings can also disincentivize deviant action via reverse bandwagon effects, where individuals reverse their offending decision and express an intention to opt out of the criminal act. Based on survey data from three universities using hypothetical scenarios about theft and fighting, we find evidence of opt‐out thresholds. Our findings indicate that deviant groups can serve as both an incentive and a disincentive, and that the relationship between group size and the perceived utility of crime is more complicated than prior work has suggested. Moreover, we find that these self‐reported opt‐out thresholds vary across scenarios, indicating that socially interdependent decision‐making processes may be situation specific. In the end, the study underscores the importance of acknowledging the social context in offending decisions and highlights that group effects may be more complex and nuanced than previously discussed.
An integrated theory of the firm approach to environmental, social and governance performance
Authors: Huang Danny Zhao‐Xiang
Published: August 2021

The literature seeking to explain why firms conduct environmental, social and governance (ESG) activity is substantial and growing but remains underdeveloped. This paper offers a holistic and multi‐disciplinary theoretical framework to situate ESG activity as integral to firm performance. Drawing on established theories of the firm, these theories together assist the firm identify salient stakeholders, and how their contributions and claims may be integrated into firm activity. This approach places ESG considerations as an important element of firm activity in terms of developing and maintaining a firm’s social licence, the way it manages risks, and building competitive advantage.
Potential impact of climate change on the distribution of some selected legumes in Cameroon and adjoining Nigeria border
Authors: Salako Gabriel , Oyebanji Oyetola Olusegun , Olagunju Temidayo Ebenezer , Howe Glenn Thomas
Published: August 2021

Organismal response to climate change may affect long‐term conservation plans. However, how climate change affects the distribution and conservation status of some plant species is still being debated. To test this, we selected four economically important legume species (Adenocarpus mannii, Afzelia bella, Afzelia bipindensis and Baphia nitida) from the Nigeria–Cameroon border in West Africa. The link between climate change and the species distribution range was predicted using the ensemble species distribution model (ESDM). Our analyses revealed the precipitation of the coldest period (50%) and precipitation of the driest period (40%) as the most important environmental variables influencing the distribution of the studied species. The projection shows independent habitat shifts (gain/loss) of the species consequent to climate change in the future (2050 and 2070). Despite the restricted coverage of occupancy for the selected species, our estimated species distribution range from the ESDM agrees with the current IUCN conservation status (least concern) for A. mannii. Hence, our results suggest that species distribution modelling at local habitats could yield insights into global species conservation assessments. Our findings highlighted the need for conservation through regulated land use in Dibombari highland, Cameroon Mountain (Cameroon) and the forests around Oban hills in Nigeria due to projected high species loss consequent to climate change. Thus, we recommend ecological niche modelling with extensive field surveys across the entire geographic range of these species for robust inferences that allow comparisons with the IUCN status.
The effect of increasing retirement age on consumption in China
Authors: Cao Zhan , Tang Yizhou
Published: August 2021

This paper discusses a factor influencing consumption in China that has not been widely addressed: the retirement age. Many previous studies on the relationship between retirement age and consumption are based on data from developed countries. Because of the many differences between China and the developed economies, this analysis relies on the Lau (2009) overlapping‐generations model. This model is more suitable for determining the relationship between consumption and retirement age in China, and for highlighting the positive relationship between consumption and retirement age. The empirical results reveal a causal relationship between retirement age and consumption and indicate that increasing the retirement age can stimulate economic growth. These results are specific to China and include gender differences and the varied impacts on low‐income and high‐income families.
Mindfulness as a path to fostering time affluence and well‐being
Authors: Schaupp Julia , Geiger Sonja
Published: August 2021

Given that time pressure is a widespread and straining phenomenon in modern societies, strategies to alleviate it are increasingly required. Employing a quasi‐experimental longitudinal design with an active control group, the present study examined whether practicing mindfulness may attenuate time pressure and lead to more time affluence. Corroborating and extending findings on positive effects of mindfulness practice, the presented longitudinal study suggests that compared with a physically exercising control group, participation in a mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) program leads to increases in time affluence and subjective well‐being. Further, a mediation analysis revealed that the effect of increased mindfulness on subjective well‐being is partially mediated through this increase in time affluence. As the first longitudinal study suggesting a change of time affluence as a result of participation in an MBSR program, this work enriches the research on mindfulness and time affluence and provides important impetus for future research. Moreover, this research provides an explanation for the well‐established effects of mindfulness practice on well‐being: increased subjective time affluence plays a mediating role. The paper underlines the importance of considering time affluence as an element of well‐being in mindfulness and general psychology research alike.
Researching Violence and Everyday Life in the 1970s: An Ethnographic Approach to the Argentine Military Family
Authors: Natale Eleonora
Published: August 2021

This article develops an alternative perspective on the Argentine military, addressing their narratives of everyday life in the 1970s and during the last dictatorship (1976–1983). By approaching the military as a community of families, it analyses how former officers of the regime, their wives and their children recount the years of political violence. Due to its ethnographic bottom‐up approach, the article challenges the traditional focus on the monolithic masculine narratives of the military in Latin America. Instead, it presents an innovative interpretative framework in which different understandings of violence and political confrontation emerge, showing a plurality of under‐researched elements that compose military identities in Argentina.
Clinical variability of neurofibromatosis 1: A modifying role of cooccurring PTPN11 variants and atypical brain MRI findings
Authors: D'Amico Alessandra , Rosano Carmen , Pannone Luca , Pinna Valentina , Assunto Antonia , Motta Marialetizia , Ugga Lorenzo , Daniele Paola , Mandile Roberta , Mariniello Lucio , Siano Maria Anna , Santoro Claudia , Piluso Giulio , Martinelli Simone , Strisciuglio Pietro , De Luca Alessandro , Tartaglia Marco , Melis Daniela
Published: August 2021

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a disorder characterized by variable expressivity caused by loss‐of‐function variants in NF1, encoding neurofibromin, a protein negatively controlling RAS signaling. We evaluated whether concurrent variation in proteins functionally linked to neurofibromin contribute to the variable expressivity of NF1. Parallel sequencing of a RASopathy gene panel in 138 individuals with molecularly confirmed clinical diagnosis of NF1 identified missense variants in PTPN11, encoding SHP2, a positive regulator of RAS signaling, in four subjects from three unrelated families. Three subjects were heterozygous for a gain‐of‐function variant and showed a severe expression of NF1 (developmental delay, multiple cerebral neoplasms and peculiar cortical MRI findings), and features resembling Noonan syndrome (a RASopathy caused by activating variants in PTPN11). Conversely, the fourth subject, who showed an attenuated presentation, carried a previously unreported PTPN11 variant that had a hypomorphic behavior in vitro. Our findings document that functionally relevant PTPN11 variants occur in a small but significant proportion of subjects with NF1 modulating disease presentation, suggesting a model in which the clinical expression of pathogenic NF1 variants is modified by concomitant dysregulation of protein(s) functionally linked to neurofibromin. We also suggest targeting of SHP2 function as an approach to treat evolutive complications of NF1.
Estimating economic losses to small‐scale fishers from shark conservation: A hedonic price analysis
Authors: Booth Hollie , Squires Dale , Yulianto Irfan , Simeon Benaya , Muhsin  , Adrianto Luky , Milner‐Gulland Eleanor Jane
Published: August 2021

Understanding wildlife markets is central to effective conservation: it can help managers and policy‐makers to predict how interventions might influence supply and demand of wildlife products, and economic welfare of wildlife users; and thus, design interventions which have better outcomes for wildlife and people. Here we apply a revealed preference method of economic valuation—hedonic price analysis (HPA)—to understand shark markets and explore the economic costs of shark conservation for small‐scale fishers. We focus on a targeted semi‐commercial shark fishery in Indonesia—which poses a threat to some shark species, but provides important economic and subsistence value for a coastal community in an impoverished region of Indonesia—and use HPA to estimate market prices and welfare measures for threatened and CITES‐listed sharks. This represents a pertinent case study with practical implications because Indonesia is the world's largest shark fishing nation, where management interventions to reduce shark fishing mortality are needed. However, such interventions will create short‐term socio‐economic trade‐offs for fishing communities, which may hamper cooperation and compliance, and raise concerns regarding the fairness and equity of conservation. Our results give significant marginal price estimates for five species of conservation and commercial importance. Dusky sharks (Carcharhinus obscurus) and bottlenose wedgefish (Rhynchobatus australiae) have the highest implicit marginal prices, at US$ 157 and US$ 144, respectively. Our estimates suggest that conservation measures, such as catch limits for endangered and CITES‐listed species, could have significant economic opportunity costs (i.e., 3.4–17.6% revenue foregone) for low‐income fishers. Innovative policy instruments are required to transform shark markets and fisheries—to effectively reduce threats to endangered species and implement CITES, whilst doing no harm to vulnerable coastal communities. Methods from econometrics can help conservation scientists to better understand wildlife markets, and make management decisions which create better outcomes for wildlife and people.
Turkey as an emerging donor in the development community: The Turkish‐type Development Assistance Model (TDAM)
Authors: Turhan Yunus
Published: August 2021

Motivation

Over the past two decades, development communities have been intensively discussing the development assistance provided by emerging donors. Among these donors, although a relative newcomer to the development scene, Turkey has cut a distinctive figure, portraying itself as a great emerging power of its own accord.

Purpose

Though the modality of Turkish aid is paraded in the scholarly literature, this growing interest does not specifically explore the catch‐all term of “Turkish‐type development assistance model” (TDAM), developed for Turkish official development assistance (ODA) in 2016 to address the geopolitical, cultural, and religious landscape in a larger context. This article examines TDAM hitherto uncharted terrain, scrutinizing its patterns, characteristics, content, and modality.

Methods and approach

Applying an interpretive analytical framework allied with critical discourse analysis.

Findings

This article concludes that the concept of TDAM renders inclusive, cost‐effective, horizontal, peer‐based, and solidarity‐oriented aid relations with the recipient. Juxtaposed with the “virtuous power” paradigm of Turkey, this article reveals four main characteristics of TDAM that separate it from other emerging donors: a multitrack approach, a “human face” emphasis, the proximity of recipients, and a new discourse.

Policy implications

Turkish‐type debates about the changing landscape of development aid with a more critical analytical approach offer insights for broader development studies. A powerful engagement of Turkish foreign aid within an emerging donor landscape could be a new modality for the development community, thus the analysis of TDAM in this research hints at why this is the case or how this might matter for the evolving politics of aid.
The Wounds That Do Not Heal: The Lifetime Scar of Youth Unemployment
Authors: De Fraja Gianni , Lemos Sara , Rockey James
Published: August 2021

This paper uses UK administrative data to study the long‐term effects of unemployment on earnings. It is the first paper to pinpoint accurately the relative importance of the timing of employment shocks within workers’ lives. We find a strong effect of events in the first few years after entry into the labour market: each month of unemployment between ages 18 and 20 causes a permanent income loss of 1.2% per year. This scar effect of youth unemployment is lower when it happens when the worker's age is between 21 and 23, and it disappears altogether in the next three‐year age period. The scar effect is most severe for individuals at the lower end of the ability distribution.
Heart, kidney and left ventricular assist device: a complex trio
Authors: Gambaro Alessia , Lombardi Gianmarco , Onorati Francesco , Gottin Leonardo , Ribichini Flavio Luciano
Published: August 2021

Background

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome affecting the whole body, kidneys included. The left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is a valid option for patients with very severe HF. Focusing on renal function, LVAD implantation could theoretically reverse the detrimental effects of HF syndrome on kidneys. However, implanting an LVAD is a high‐risk surgical procedure, and LVAD patients have higher risk of bleeding, device thrombosis, strokes, renal impairment, multi‐organ failure and infections. Furthermore, an LVAD has its own particular effects on the renal system.

Methods

In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the complex interaction between LVAD and the kidneys from the pathophysiological and clinical perspectives. An analysis of the different effects of pulsatile‐flow and continuous‐flow LVAD is provided.

Results

Despite their limitations, creatinine‐based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) formulas help to stratify patients by their post‐LVAD placement prognosis. Poor basal renal function, the onset of acute kidney injury or the need for renal replacement therapy after LVAD implantation negatively influences a patient's prognosis. LVAD can also prompt an improvement in renal function, however, with some counterintuitive effects on a patient's prognosis.

Conclusion

It is still hard to say whether different trends in eGFR depend on different renal conditions before LVAD placement, on a patient's better overall status or on a particular patient management strategy before and/or after the device's implantation. Steps should be taken to solve this question because finding the best candidates for LVAD implantation is of paramount importance to ensure the best outcomes.
The effect of fascin 1 inhibition on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells
Authors: Wahab Awais , Hyytiäinen Aini , Wahbi Wafa , Tuomainen Katja , Tervo Sanni , Conesa‐Zamora Pablo , Jauhiainen Laura , Mäkinen Laura K. , Paavonen Timo , Toppila‐Salmi Sanna , Salem Abdelhakim , Almangush Alhadi , Salo Tuula , Al‐Samadi Ahmed
Published: August 2021

Fascin 1 plays important pro‐metastatic roles in head and neck carcinoma (HNSCC) migration, invasion, and metastasis. However, limited advancement in targeting metastasis remains a major obstacle in improving HNSCC patients’ survival. Therefore, we assessed the therapeutic potential of fascin 1 targeted inhibition and its potential prognostic value in HNSCC patients. Using in vitro and in vivo approaches, we investigated the effect of compound G2, a novel fascin 1 inhibitor, on HNSCC cells migration, invasion, and metastasis. High‐throughput screening (HTS) was used to assess cytotoxic activity of compound G2 alone or combined with irradiation. We also evaluated the prognostic potential of fascin 1 in HNSCC patients. Interestingly, compound G2 reduced carcinoma cells migration and invasion in vitro and inhibited metastasis in vivo. Moreover, HTS revealed a modest cytotoxic activity of the compound G2 on HNSCC cell lines. Irradiation did not synergistically enhance the compound G2‐mediated cytotoxic activity. Survival analyses showed that high fascin 1 immunoexpression, at the tumor invasive front, was associated with cancer‐specific mortality in the advanced stages of HNSCC. Collectively, our findings suggest that fascin 1 represents a promising anti‐metastatic therapeutic target and a useful prognostic marker in patients with HNSCC. Novel anti‐metastatic agents could provide a valuable addition to cancer therapy.
Surgical treatment of synovial sepsis: Is endoscopy the best approach?
Authors: Gillingham J. , Mair T. S.
Published: August 2021

Treatment of synovial sepsis (septic arthritis, bursitis and tenosynovitis) typically involves surgical lavage of the infected synovial cavity(ies). The two most used techniques are through‐and‐through needle lavage and endoscopic lavage. Endoscopic lavage is considered to have several advantages, and anecdotally, there appears to be a general shift towards favouring this technique. However, there are only a limited number of published studies directly comparing the outcomes of the two treatment techniques. The available published literature suggests that the outcomes (short‐term survival, return to work) are comparable. Further studies are required to expand the available veterinary literature and to assess such factors as the costs associated with the different treatment methods. A variation in diagnostic values used for diagnosing synovial sepsis is apparent in the current literature and further clarification of inclusion/diagnostic criteria would be useful for clinicians.
A traction force approach for fatigue assessment of complex welded structures
Authors: Rautiainen Matti , Remes Heikki , Niemelä Ari
Published: August 2021

A new traction force approach (TFA) for weld root fatigue analysis of complex cruciform connections is introduced. The approach defines the local nominal weld stress by using a solid element model and connecting the welded parts only from the toe and root lines. This enables the peak weld forces to be distinctly defined. The TFA approach was validated with a fully connected solid element model. As a comparison, the same analyses were performed for a shell element model. The study shows that the approach that is introduced here gives a good estimate for the local weld force with a maximum error of 10% while the commonly used shell element model greatly overestimates the peak weld force, particularly for complex connections. The analysis of fatigue‐tested connections showed that by using TFA, instead of an approach based on overall nominal weld stress, the scatter range index is reduced from 3.71 to 1.98. The TFA approach is much more efficient compared to conventional approaches because of the low pre‐ and post‐processing effort.
Redefining marginal land for bioenergy crop production
Authors: Khanna Madhu , Chen Luoye , Basso Bruno , Cai Ximing , Field John L. , Guan Kaiyu , Jiang Chongya , Lark Tyler J. , Richard Tom L. , Spawn‐Lee Seth A. , Yang Pan , Zipp Katherine Y.
Published: August 2021

Marginal land has received wide attention for its potential to produce bioenergy feedstocks while minimizing diversion of productive agricultural land from food crop production. However, there has been no consensus in the literature on how to define or identify land that is marginal for food crops and beneficial for bioenergy crops. Studies have used different definitions to quantify the amount of such land available; these have largely been based on assumed biophysical thresholds for soil quality and productivity that are unchanging over space and time. We discuss the limitations of these definitions and the rationale for considering economic returns and environmental outcomes in classifying land as marginal. We then propose the concept of “socially” marginal which is defined as land that is earning close to zero returnsafteraccounting for the monetized costs of environmental externalities generated. We discuss a broad set of criteria for classifying land as socially marginal for food crops and suitable for bioenergy crops; with these criteria, this classification depends on spatially varying and time‐varying factors, such as climate and market conditions and policy incentives. While there are challenges related to identifying this marginal land, satellite and other large‐scale datasets increasingly enable such analysis at a fine spatial resolution. We also discuss reasons why landowners might choose not to convert bioenergy‐suitable land to bioenergy crops, and thus the need for policy incentives to support conversion of land that is socially beneficial for bioenergy crop production.
CarniFOSS: A database of the body mass of fossil carnivores
Authors: Faurby Søren , Morlo Michael , Werdelin Lars
Published: August 2021

Motivation

Body mass is one of the most important determinants of animal ecology. Unlike other important traits it is also readily inferable from fossils and it is therefore one of the only traits that can be directly analysed and compared between fossil and contemporary communities. Despite this, no comprehensive database of the body mass of larger clades of extinct species exists. Analysis of fossils has therefore been restricted to small clades or to smaller, potentially biased, subsets of species. We here describe CarniFoss, an open‐access database of body masses of all 1,322 extinct species of non‐pinniped Carnivoramorpha and two related extinct groups of carnivorous mammals, Hyaenodonta and Oxyaenidae.

Main types of variables contained

We gathered lengths of teeth of fossil and extant species and body mass for extant species and a few of the best‐known fossil species. Following this we estimated body mass for all species through phylogenetic imputation.

Spatial location and grain

Global, terrestrial.

Time period and grain

We collected data on all known species within the focal groups. The known species all lived in the Palaeogene, Neogene or Quaternary (i.e., the last 66 Myr).

Major taxa and level of measurement

We searched for data on reported tooth size of all described species of Carnivoramorpha (excluding pinnipeds) and selected extinct related groups (Hyaenodonta and Oxyaenidae). We combined this with measured body mass for all extant species and inferred body mass based on long‐bones for selected extinct species, as well as a species‐level phylogeny including all extant and extinct species in the group, and inferred the body mass for all species using phylogenetic imputation.

Software format

Data are provided as a series of .csv files, with all metadata in a separate PDF file.
Identifying key forage plants to support wild bee diversity and a species at risk in the Prairie Pothole Region
Authors: Purvis Emily E.N. , Best Lincoln R. , Galpern Paul
Published: August 2021

Global wild bee declines have been well documented in recent decades, with a regularly cited driver being habitat loss and the associated reduction of food and nesting resources. In North America's Prairie Pothole Region, habitat loss is largely attributed to agricultural intensification, resulting in the reduction of once common native grasslands surrounding wetlands.

Although restoration of these grassland–wetland complexes has been implemented across the region, wild bees are not often the primary target for recovery. Restoration efforts may better support wild bees by including specific flowering plants (i.e. food resources) intended to provision the highest diversity of taxa; however, very little information is available specific to this region, which covers over 700 000 km2 in Canada and the United States.

Our objective is to inform habitat restoration intended to support wild bee conservation through the addition of targeted flowering plant species at restored sites. As such, we used a model‐based approach to identify 16 key flowering plants present in remnant grassland–wetland complexes that are highly visited by diverse wild bee species, as well as by Bombus terricola Kirby, which is a species at risk in this region. The key plants represented eight families and supported approximately 82% of all visits from 69 out of the 75 observed bee species.

By incorporating the recommended floral resources into restoration practices in the Prairie Pothole Region, practitioners can more efficiently mitigate the habitat loss that is thought to be a major driver of wild bee decline.
Predictors of postoperative recurrence in patients with non‐metastatic pT3a renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Ohsugi Haruyuki , Ohe Chisato , Yoshida Takashi , Ikeda Junichi , Sugi Motohiko , Kinoshita Hidefumi , Matsuda Tadashi
Published: August 2021

Objective

To analyze the effect of patterns of extrarenal tumor extension with other pathological factors on postoperative recurrence in patients with non‐metastatic pT3a renal cell carcinoma.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 587 non‐metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients who underwent radical surgery between 2006 and 2017 at Kansai Medical University Hospital, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan. We extracted a subset of 114 patients with pT3a of predominant histological types: 93 with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (81.6%), 13 with unclassified renal cell carcinoma (11.4%), six with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (5.3%) and two with papillary renal cell carcinoma. The primary end‐point was recurrence‐free survival. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Of the 114 patients with pT3a renal cell carcinoma, 42 patients (36.8%) experienced recurrence. Multivariate analysis showed that perinephric fat invasion (hazard ratio 2.36, P = 0.009), sarcomatoid or rhabdoid component (hazard ratio 2.88, P = 0.022) and necrosis (hazard ratio 2.34, P = 0.030) were independent factors for recurrence‐free survival. The high‐risk pT3a group, which had more than two independent predictors, had poor prognosis. Recurrence‐free survival of the high‐risk pT3a group and the pT3b or greater group were similar (median recurrence‐free survival 23.0 and 10.8 months, respectively).

Conclusions

Perinephric fat invasion, sarcomatoid or rhabdoid component and necrosis are independent predictors of recurrence‐free survival in patients with pT3a‐predominant renal cell carcinoma. Patients with more than two of these predictors have poor oncological outcomes. These findings will aid in risk stratification for predicting recurrence and provide prognostic information for patient counseling.
Formulations and a Lagrangian relaxation approach for the prize collecting traveling salesman problem
Authors: Pantuza Guido , de Souza Mauricio C.
Published: August 2021

The prize collecting traveling salesman problem (PCTSP) is a generalization of the traveling salesman problem (TSP) in which a tour starting at a root node must visit a subset of nodes to collect a prescribed amount of total prize minimizing the summation of travel costs and penalty costs associated with nonvisited nodes. We propose new formulations and compare them with adaptations to the PCTSP of strong formulations from the literature for the asymmetric TSP. One of the formulations proposed in this paper provided the tighter linear relaxation bounds on computational experiments based on benchmark instances for the asymmetric TSP. We then develop a Lagrangian relaxation approach embedding heuristic schemes to obtain both lower and upper bounds. The proposed heuristic has shown to be successful in obtaining optimal or near‐optimal solutions with information from the Lagrangian subproblems. Our Lagrangian approach can thereupon provide small optimality gaps, being an efficient alternative to bound optimal values of large instances.
Binding communication to improve peripheral venous catheter monitoring
Authors: Thibaut Albertini , Olga Florea Bodean , Fanyu Huang , Jeremy Gonin , Jean Gaudart , Sophia Boudjema , Isabelle Richer , Céline Pascual‐Espuny , Michel Durampart , Philippe Brouqui
Published: August 2021

Background

Optimizing the monitoring of peripheral venous catheters is essential. We developed a nursing record system at bedside (Patient Smart Reader) to track peripheral venous catheter acts.

Aims

The aim of the present study was to improve peripheral venous catheter monitoring. To improve the quality of monitoring, we aimed to increase the usage of the nursing record system at the bedside.

Methods

We developed a ‘commitment intervention’ course based on a binding communication paradigm. The corresponding effect on monitoring was analysed using a p‐chart and time series analysis.

Findings

Nurses observed a significant improvement in compliance with catheter monitoring over time (shifts after shifts), ranging from 27.6% (CI = [25.3; 30.0]) compliance before the commitment intervention to 47.4% (CI = [45.0; 49.9]) compliance after training. The commitment intervention increased the chances of carrying out monitoring through the tool for acts related to peripheral venous catheters by a factor of 2.42 (odds ratio) (CI = [1.88; 3.11]).

Conclusion

Binding communication provides an effective method for changing nurses' behaviours in terms of safe care. The determinants of engagement (individual vs collective) can be indicators for defining future communication and training strategies in care centers for all health care workers.
Assessing the risk of vehicle instability due to flooding
Authors: Bocanegra Ricardo A. , Francés Félix
Published: August 2021

Flooding can destabilize vehicles which might, in turn, exacerbate the negative effects of floods when vehicles are swept away by flows, and lead to economic loss and fatalities. In order to suitably manage floods, it is necessary to determine the risk of instability to which vehicles in flood‐prone areas are subject. This paper develops a methodology to estimate this risk based on the characteristics of floods and the vehicle fleet located in potential flood‐prone areas. This risk is determined by the statistical integral of the instability hazard and vehicles' vulnerability. The instability hazard was established by a stability function of partially submerged cars and flood frequency, while vulnerability was calculated by combining the susceptibility and exposure of cars. Our methodology was applied in the towns of Alfafar and Massanassa (Spain). It found that the annualized instability risk due to flooding could be relatively high on most streets and roads, with values reaching the order of 8.4 at‐risk vehicles per hectare/year.
Functional decline among older cancer survivors in the Baltimore longitudinal study of aging
Authors: Siddique Arfan , Simonsick Eleanor M. , Gallicchio Lisa
Published: August 2021

Background

Evidence has begun to emerge indicating that cancer survivors experience accelerated aging. This study examines this phenomenon by evaluating trajectories of functional decline in older adults with a history of a cancer diagnosis relative to those without a history of cancer.

Methods

Community dwelling healthy volunteers in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging were evaluated in the Clinical Research Unit of the National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program. Between 2006 and 2019, 1728 men and women (aged 22–100) underwent clinical evaluation of functional status; 359 reported having a history of cancer. Longitudinal associations between self‐reported cancer history and measures of functional decline were examined using generalized estimating equations. Additionally, time‐to‐event and Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine trajectories of decline. Where appropriate, age‐stratified associations were examined, and models were adjusted for sex, body mass index, race, smoking status, education, and number of comorbid conditions.

Results

Among all participants, a history of cancer was associated with 1.42 (95% CI 1.11–1.81) greater odds of weak grip strength. Among older participants (>65 years of age), those with a history of cancer had 1.61 (95% CI 1.28, 2.02) greater odds of slow gait speed and a 0.11 unit (95% CI 0.19–0.03) lower physical performance score than those with no cancer history. Time‐to‐event analysis showed that older individuals with a history of cancer experienced steeper decline in grip strength and gait speed than older adults with no history of cancer (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Cancer survivors, especially older individuals, demonstrate greater odds of and accelerated functional decline, suggesting that cancer and/or its treatment may alter aging trajectories. Observational and intervention studies are needed for prevention, mitigation, and/or reversal of aging‐related effects of cancer and its treatment.
Morphological patterns of the rib cage and lung in the healthy and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Schlager Benedikt , Krump Florian , Boettinger Julius , Jonas René , Liebsch Christian , Ruf Michael , Beer Meinrad , Wilke Hans‐Joachim
Published: August 2021

The morphology of the rib cage affects both the biomechanics of the upper body's musculoskeletal structure and the respiratory mechanics. This becomes particularly important when evaluating skeletal deformities, as in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The aim of this study was to identify morphological characteristics of the rib cage in relation to the lung in patients with non‐deformed and scoliotic spines. Computed tomography data of 40 patients without any visible spinal abnormalities (healthy group) and 21 patients with AIS were obtained retrospectively. All bony structures as well as the right and left lung were reconstructed using image segmentation. Morphological parameters were calculated based on the distances between characteristic morphological landmarks. These parameters included the rib position, length, and area, the rib cage depth and width, and the rib inclination angle on either side, as well as the spinal height and length. Furthermore, we determined the left and right lung volumes, and the area of contact between the rib cage and lung. Differences between healthy and scoliotic spines were statistically analysed using the t‐test for unpaired data. The rib cage of the AIS group was significantly deformed in the dorso‐ventral and medio‐lateral directions. The anatomical proximity of the lung to the ribs was nearly symmetrical in the healthy group. By contrast, within the AIS group, the lung covered a significantly greater area on the left side of the rib cage at large thoracic deformities. Within the levels T1–T6, no significant difference in the rib length, depth to width relationship, or area was observed between the healthy and AIS groups. Inferior to the lung (T7–T12), these parameters exhibited greater variability. The ratio between the width of the rib cage at T6 and the thoracic spinal height (T1–T12) was significantly increased within the thoracic AIS group (1.1 ± 0.08) compared with the healthy group (1.0 ± 0.05). No statistical differences were found between the lung volumes among all the groups. While the rib cage was frequently strongly deformed in the AIS group, the lung and its surrounding ribs appeared to be normally developed. The observed rib hump in AIS appeared to be formed particularly by a more ventral position of the ribs on the concave side. Furthermore, the rib cage width to spinal height ratio suggested that the spinal height of the thoracic AIS‐spine is reduced. This indicates that the spine would gain its growth‐related height after correcting the spinal deformity. These are the important aspects to consider in the aetiology research and orthopaedic treatment of AIS.
Sharp and fully loaded: 3D tissue reconstruction reveals how snake fangs stay deadly during fang replacement
Authors: Cleuren Silke G. C. , Parker William M. G. , Richards Hazel L. , Hocking David P. , Evans Alistair R.
Published: August 2021

Snake venom is produced, transported and delivered by the sophisticated venom delivery system (VDS). When snakes bite, the venom travels from the venom gland through the venom duct into needle‐like fangs that inject it into their prey. To counteract breakages, fangs are continuously replaced throughout life. Currently, the anatomy of the connection between the duct and the fang has not been described, and the mechanism by which the duct is reconnected to the replacement fang has not been identified. We examined the VDS in 3D in representative species from two families and one subfamily (Elapidae, Viperidae, Atractaspidinae) using contrast‐enhanced microCT (diceCT), followed by dissection and histology. We observed that the venom duct bifurcates immediately anterior to the fangs so that both the original and replacement fangs are separately connected and functional in delivering venom. When a fang is absent, the canal leading to the empty position is temporarily closed. We found that elapid snakes have a crescent‐shaped venom reservoir where venom likely pools before it enters the fang. These findings form the final piece of the puzzle of VDS anatomy in front‐fanged venomous snakes. Additionally, they provide further evidence for independent evolution of the VDS in these three snake taxa.