bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digestate as Biofertilizer for the Growth of Selected Vegetables and Illumina analysis of Associated Bacterial Community
Authors: Raymond F.C. , Buraimoh O.M. , Akerele O.S. , Ilori M.O. , Ogundipe O.T.
Published: December 2020

Chemical content of crops above desirable level, high cost, in addition to land and water pollution is a major drawback of applying chemical fertilizers. In this study, Digestate was used as a biofertilizer for the growth of selected vegetables. Furthermore, Illumina platform was employed to unravel the bacteria community of the digestate.Corchorus olitorius,Amaranthus hybridus,Bot-celosia argentiaandTalinum triangularewere grown in 16 experimental pots for 35days using cured digestate. Soil treated with chemical fertilizer was used as a positive control while the soil without any fertilizer was used as a negative control. The plant height ofTalinum triangularefor soil treated with digestate was 23.5cm and 34cm by days 7 and 35 respectively after plant emergence.Corchorus olitoriushad stunted growth under same treatment. Whereas,Bot-celosia argentiaandAmaranthus hybridusgrew poorly on all treatments. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference (p≤0.05) betweenTalinum triangularegrown in soil treated with digestate (plant height = 23.50, plant number =10 at day 7) compared with those treated with NPK (plant height = 18.50, plant number = 6.50 at day 7). The plant height and number for untreated soil at day 7 were 10.90 and 5.0 respectively). The Illumina sequencing of the digestate revealed the presence of some beneficial soil bacteria includingClostridium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Actinobacteria,andMicrococcus. The presence of these bacteria known to be Nitrogen fixers and Phosphate solubilizers confer biofertilizer potential to the digestate.
webMCP-counter: a web interface for transcriptomics-based quantification of immune and stromal cells in heterogeneous human or murine samples
Authors: Meylan Maxime , Becht Etienne , Sautès-Fridman Catherine , de Reyniès Aurélien , Fridman Wolf H. , Petitprez Florent
Published: December 2020

We previously reported MCP-counter and mMCP-counter, methods that allow precise estimation of the immune and stromal composition of human and murine samples from bulk transcriptomic data, but they were only distributed as R packages. Here, we report webMCP-counter, a user-friendly web interface to allow all users to use these methods, regardless of their proficiency in the R programming language.

Availability and Implementation

Freely available fromhttp://134.157.229.105:3838/webMCP/. Website developed with the R package shiny. Source code available from GitHub:https://github.com/FPetitprez/webMCP-counter.
Global analysis of multi-mutants to improve protein function
Authors: Johansson Kristoffer E. , Lindorff-Larsen Kresten , Winther Jakob R.
Published: December 2020

The identification of amino acid substitutions that both enhance the stability and function of a protein is a key challenge in protein engineering. Technological advances have enabled assaying thousands of protein variants in a single high-throughput experiment, and more recent studies use such data in protein engineering. We present a Global Multi-Mutant Analysis (GMMA) that exploits the presence of multiply-substituted variants to identify individual amino acid substitutions that are beneficial for the stability and function across a large library of protein variants. We have applied GMMA to >54,000 variants of green fluorescent protein (GFP), each with known fluorescence output, and each carrying 1–15 amino acid substitutions. The GMMA method achieves a good fit to the data while being analytically transparent. The six top-ranking substitutions are demonstrated to progressively enhance GFP and in general, our analysis recovers nearly all the substitutions previously reported to be beneficial for GFP folding and function, only using a single experiment as input.

Significance Statement

Protein engineering is carried out to improve proteins for practical applications by changing one or more amino acid residues in a protein. We present a method termed global multi-mutant analysis (GMMA) that helps solve two problems in protein engineering. First, because many proteins are already highly optimized, it can be difficult to identify individual variants that further improve function. Second, while it is possible to combine variants with small individual effects, such approaches may be hampered by non-additivity. GMMA identifies combinable effects of single substitutions from a large set of variants each carrying multiple substitutions. We demonstrate the approach on a set of 54,000 variants of green fluorescent protein and identify many enhancing single-substitutions from a single experiment.
Epithelial-stromal cell interactions and ECM mechanics drive the formation of airway-mimetic tubular morphology in lung organoids
Authors: Guney Tankut G. , Herranz Alfonso Muinelo , Mumby Sharon , Dunlop Iain E. , Adcock Ian M.
Published: December 2020

The complex cellular organisation of the human airway tract where interaction between epithelial and stromal lineages and the extracellular matrix (ECM) make it a difficult organ to studyin vitro. Currentin vitrolung models focus on modelling the lung epithelium such as air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures and bronchospheres, do not model the complex morphology and the cell-ECM interaction seenin vivo. Models that include stromal populations often separate them via a semipermeable barrier, which precludes the effect of cell-cell interaction or do not include the ECM or the effect of ECM mechanics such as viscoelasticity and stiffness. Here we investigated the effect of stromal cells on basal epithelial cell-derived bronchosphere structure and function through a triple culture of bronchial epithelial, lung fibroblast and airway smooth muscle cells. Epithelial-stromal cross talk enabled formation of epithelial cell-driven branching tubules consisting of luminal epithelial cells surrounded by stromal cells termed bronchotubules. Addition of agarose to the Matrigel scaffold (Agrigel) created a mechanically tunable ECM, where viscoelasticity and stiffness could be altered to enable long term tubule survival. Bronchotubule models enable the investigation of how epithelial-stromal cell and cell-ECM communication drive tissue patterning, repair and development of disease.

Significance Statement

Current models of airways diseases such as asthma and COPD do not reflect the physical characteristics of the diseased airway which may impact upon our understanding of disease pathophysiology. We have utilised the physical properties of agarose to modify the 3D stiffness of Matrigel to resemble the human airway. Using a primary airway epithelial cell-derived organoid model we demonstrate that a combined Matrigel/agrigel matrix allows sustained 3D organoid structure and the creation of tubules that can contract in response to a clinically relevant bronchoconstrictor. A complex 3D organoid composed of functioning epithelial cells, smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts may provide opportunities for refined drug discovery programmes.

Graphical Abstract

Mixture of healthy lung basal epithelial cells and healthy lung fibroblast cultured in matrigel result in tubules that fail in 4 days.

Addition of healthy airway smooth muscle allows for a contractile phenotype.

Triple culture of cells in a stiffer scaffold agrigel allows maintenance of tubular organoids for a minimum of 20 days.
A general approach to explore prokaryotic protein glycosylation reveals the unique surface layer modulation of an anammox bacterium
Authors: Pabst Martin , Grouzdev Denis , Lawson Christopher E. , Kleikamp Hugo B.C. , de Ram Carol , Louwen Rogier , Lin Yuemei , Lücker Sebastian , van Loosdrecht Mark C.M. , Laureni Michele
Published: December 2020

The enormous chemical diversity and strain variability of prokaryotic protein glycosylation makes a large-scale exploration exceptionally challenging. Therefore, despite the universal relevance of protein glycosylation across all domains of life, the understanding of their biological significance and the evolutionary forces shaping oligosaccharide structures remains highly limited.

Here, we report on a newly established mass binning glycoproteomics approach that establishes the chemical identity of the carbohydrate components and performs untargeted exploration of prokaryotic oligosaccharides from large-scale proteomics data directly. We demonstrate our approach by exploring an enrichment culture of the globally relevant anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteriumCa.Kuenenia stuttgartiensis. By doing so we resolved a remarkable array of oligosaccharides, produced by two entirely unrelated glycosylation machineries targeting the same surface-layer protein (SLP) simultaneously. More intriguingly, the investigated strain also accomplished modulation of highly specialized sugars, supposedly in response to its energy metabolism—the anaerobic oxidation of ammonium —which depends on the acquisition of substrates of opposite charge. Ultimately, we provide a systematic approach for the compositional exploration of prokaryotic protein glycosylation, and reveal for the first time a remarkable balance between maximising cellular protection through a complex array of oligosaccharides and adhering to the requirements of the ‘metabolic lifestyle’.
Induced Arp2/3 complex depletion increases FMNL2/3 formin expression and filopodia formation
Authors: Dimchev Vanessa , Lahmann Ines , Koestler Stefan A. , Kage Frieda , Dimchev Georgi , Steffen Anika , Stradal Theresia E.B. , Vauti Franz , Arnold Hans-Henning , Rottner Klemens
Published: December 2020

The Arp2/3 complex generates branched actin filament networks operating in cell edge protrusion and vesicle trafficking. Here we employ a novel, conditional knockout mouse model permitting tissue- or cell-type specific deletion of the murineActr3gene (encoding Arp3). A functional Actr3 gene appeared essential for fibroblast viability and growth. Thus, we developed cell lines for exploring the consequences of acute, tamoxifen-inducedActr3deletion causing near-complete loss of Arp/3 complex function as well as abolished lamellipodia formation and membrane ruffling, as expected. However, Arp3-depleted cells displayed enhanced rather than reduced cell spreading, employing numerous filopodia, and showed little defects in individual cell migration. Reduction of collective cell migration as observed for instance in wound healing assays likely derived from defects in maintaining directionality during migration, while the principal ability to chemotax was only moderately affected. Analyses of actin turnover at the cell periphery revealed reduced actin turnover rates in Arp2/3-deficient cells, clearly deviating from previous sequestration approaches. Most surprisingly, induced removal of Arp2/3 complexes reproducibly increased FMNL formin expression, which correlated with the explosive induction of filopodia formation. Our results thus highlight both direct and indirect effects of acute Arp2/3 complex removal on actin cytoskeleton regulation.
HEd-INNOSERV: perceived service innovation scale for the higher education sector
Authors: Manohar Sridhar , Mittal Amit , Tandon Urvashi
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The study aims to emphasize the need for an exclusive theory, approach and measurement scale for service innovation. In the past three decades, the importance of services and service-related industry has grown tremendously. Well-established scales used for research in manufacturing cannot be directly adopted and measured in the service industry. This article follows the synthesis approach by including both technological and non-technological typologies for measuring service innovation. This is followed by reporting the effect of service innovation on outcome performances. The context of the study is the higher education sector.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated research design was used to collect data from students in various parts of south India. In total, two focus group discussions and three in-depth interviews were conducted for item generation. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed for the reliability and validity of the scale. The study developed the HEd-INNOSERV scale consisting of seven dimensions comprising 34 items.

Findings

The study developed the HEd-INNOSERV scale consisting of seven dimensions comprising 34 items. The empirical results demonstrate that the scale is reliable, valid and generalizable across higher education institutions (HEIs). The scope for future research is to develop a generalized scale that can measure across the entire service sector.

Research limitations/implications

The scale shall help researchers in testing the conceptual models earlier developed in the service innovation domain. Similarly, HEIs could measure their stakeholders' perceptions of their innovation activity. Further, the result indicates that innovation enhances the reputation of the institution, which ultimately results in positive word of mouth.

Practical implications

Commercialization of the scale by developing an appropriate algorithm would help institutions in measuring their innovation-led initiatives continually and establish quality and standards. The scale can be used complementarily with other measures adopted from regulatory and rating agencies.

Originality/value

The HEd-INNOSERV scale shall help in optimizing the existing business processes of HEIs by helping them consciously introduce appropriate technological and non-technological innovations.
The relationship between mentor support experiences and STEM graduate student career optimism
Authors: Olson Kristine J. , Huffman Ann Hergatt , Litson Kaylee
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Using social cognitive career theory in tandem with gender role theory, the current research examines how instrumental and socioemotional mentor support experiences are linked to mentee career optimism among a sample of STEM graduate students. More specifically, this study examines how self-efficacy and school satisfaction mediate the relationship dependent on the gender of the student as well as the gender of the mentor.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of N = 828 (n = 408 women, n = 420 men) graduate students enrolled in one of 119 public STEM graduate programs in the USA participated in an online survey.

Findings

Results suggest that student gender did not moderate the proposed mediation model. However, the instrumental support experiences → self-efficacy → career optimism mediation relationship was moderated by mentor gender with female mentors strengthening the relationship between mentor support experiences and optimism. Finally, same-gender mentor–student dyads experience consistency of school satisfaction regardless of instrumental mentor support experiences compared to the heterogeneous gender mentor–student dyads where school satisfaction is positively associated with mentor instrumental support.

Originality/value

This study expands Lent et al.'s (2015) social cognitive career model by providing an analysis of independent parallel mediation paths to examine the direct link between mentor support experiences and career optimism through self-efficacy and school satisfaction. Based on the findings, graduate programs should emphasize the importance of mentor support experiences and help graduate faculty explore how they can best provide mentor experiences to their mentees.
Presenting a proposed framework for evaluating university websites
Authors: Gharibe Niazi Monireh , Karbala Aghaei Kamran Masumeh , Ghaebi Amir
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to design a proposed framework for evaluating university websites.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is an exploratory mixed research. It was an applied research in terms of objective and used the Delphi technique and systematic review and meta-analysis approaches. Data collection tools were done through library studies, Delphi checklist and observation. The statistical population of the research comprised 17 experts who are designers of university websites and 20 Iranian university websites selected from the Webometrics website. The statistical data were analyzed using fuzzy methods, descriptive and inferential statistical methods and the SWARA weighting method. Also, the statistical analysis software SPSS 20 and Excel 2016, TOPSIS engineering software and MAXQDA were used.

Findings

Findings indicated that the dimensions of the designed proposed framework in order of their weights are credibility (0.130), reliability (0.125), usability (0.120), website design (0.110), functionality (0.104), content (0.100), page design (0.0922), efficiency (0.082), Webometrics (0.070) and systematic evaluation (0.067). Mebrate’s (2010) framework had the highest overlap (mean = 74.65), and Webometrics (mean = 18.5) had the least overlap and dependency (mean = 19) with the proposed framework. In the evaluation of the 20 university websites of Iran selected from the Webometrics site, the University of Tehran was ranked first with a score of 82.7 and Shiraz University was ranked last with a score of 75.

Originality/value

This study provides a comprehensive proposed framework for evaluating university websites that eliminates the shortcomings of all models, frameworks and methods of university website evaluation that focused only on one or more dimensions of university websites.
National social capital, perceived entrepreneurial ability and entrepreneurial intentions
Authors: Amini Sedeh Amirmahmood , Abootorabi Hooman , Zhang Jing
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Grounded in theory of planned behavior, this study explores how national social capital, as an important but untested element of institutional environment, influences the effect of perceived entrepreneurial ability on entrepreneurial intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data of more than 95,000 individuals in 33 countries from Adult Population Survey (APS) conducted by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), combined with data collected by World Values Survey (WVS), this study employs hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to assess the moderation effect of national social capital on the relationship between perceived entrepreneurial ability of individuals nested within different countries and entrepreneurial intentions.

Findings

The results reveal that national social capital enhances the positive impact of perceived entrepreneurial ability on the intent of individuals to start a new business. Notably, this study finds all three components of national social capital – generalized trust, breadth of formal organizational memberships and civic engagement– strengthen the influence of perceived entrepreneurial ability on entrepreneurial intentions.

Originality/value

As the main contribution, this research illustrates the combined effects of social environment (i.e. national social capital) and individuals' evaluations regarding their ability to start a business (i.e. perceived entrepreneurial ability) on entrepreneurial intentions. This study highlights that national social capital complements perceived entrepreneurial ability by helping identify favorable start-up conditions and increasing the tendency of people to act on those conditions.
Dynamics of a medium value consumer apparel supply chain key parameters
Authors: Kumar Vimal , Verma Pratima , Jha Ajay , Lai Kuei-Kuei , Do Manh-Hoang
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This research presents a study on the supply chain process of an Indian apparel industry considering various parameters involved. The study aims to identify the main parameters to improve the supply chain process and develop a comprehensive structural relationship to rank them to streamline the apparel supply chain process and business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The team of five experts from this apparel industry was made to give scores to multiple parameters. The TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) technique is used to develop the model for eleven key parameters and then rank them.

Findings

Based on the data analysis the planning, customer and warehouse storage have emerged as top three key parameters while the non-replenishment approach, push and pull strategy and manufacturing of the product are identified as the bottom three parameters from a hierarchy level. These parameters have been ranked based on their contributing attributes in this apparel supply chain process.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides an overall ranking of parameters and the implications are in the direction of helping the industry to improve its supply chain performances rather than focus only on productivity. Further, the key parameters are identified as critical inputs and show that the firms are being more proactive and well prepared comprised of the industry.

Originality/value

The study indicates that the key parameters are identified by this apparel brand to improve its supply chain process. The key supply chain process involves planning, manufacturing, distribution, end customer and returns logistics of the goods, etc. So, this research also provides the focused parameters on the supply chain performance received by end customer from the supplier and rank them for effectiveness and improve their overall organizational performance. It also provides a critical observation of their supply chain process improvement which includes different brand uses, strategies and approaches.
An integrative literature review exploring the impact of alcohol workplace policies
Authors: Alfred Lolita , Limmer Mark , Cartwright Susan
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Alcohol workplace policies (AWPs) can help organizations to manage and support employees with alcohol-related problems. Over the last two decades, there has been a slow but steady rise of research on AWPs with some indication that these can contribute to reducing employee excessive consumption. However, there does not appear to be any empirical literature reviews to consolidate and evaluate what this body of evidence says regarding the impact of these policies. The following review seeks to address this gap.

Design/methodology/approach

Five electronic databases were searched for papers published between January 1996 and January 2020. To capture additional relevant papers (including those from non-peer reviewed sources), the search was extended to Google Scholar, professional and human resource management websites, trade publications and the website of one United Kingdom (UK)-based alcohol charity. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to systematically screen the paper titles, abstracts and full-text records. 14 papers were deemed eligible and therefore included in the integrative review. After extracting data, all 14 papers were appraised for quality and then analysed using the narrative synthesis guide by Popay et al. (2006).

Findings

Five themes were identified, namely, Associations between Policy and Consumption Levels/Patterns, Deterrence, Policy and Programme Type, Knowledge and Understanding and Enforcement and Discipline. These themes encapsulated what the included papers concluded about the impact and associated benefits or challenges of AWPs.

Research limitations/implications

This review identifies that despite the benefits of AWPs, up to 40% of workplaces do not have these policies in place. Future research needs to explicitly explore the reasons for this.

Practical implications

This review highlights that AWPs can benefit employees and workplaces. Therefore, organizations are encouraged to develop and implement AWPs to support health improvement and prevention of alcohol problems in the workplace.

Originality/value

This review provides a current synthesis of literature published over the last two decades regarding the impact of AWPs on employees and workplaces.
Social entrepreneurship competency: an approach by discipline and gender
Authors: Vázquez-Parra José Carlos , García-González Abel , Ramírez-Montoya María Soledad
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze how university men and women in different disciplines of study in Mexico perceive social entrepreneurship competencies, using a multifactorial analysis to find possible areas of opportunity to reduce the gender gap in social-entrepreneurship-project proposals.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study with a validated questionnaire that records the perception levels of five social entrepreneurship subcompetencies. The survey, which includes 28 indicators, was applied to 140 university students from different disciplines. Hypothesis testing was applied to identify significant differences between men and women in each subcompetency by disciplinary area.

Findings

In the global sample, significant differences by gender were observed only in the social value subcompetency. In the disciplinary analysis, significant differences were found in architecture and design, business, and engineering and science.

Research limitations/implications

The questionnaire only gathered data about the students' perceptions. To the extent that perception is triangulated with other instruments, it is possible to increase knowledge regarding how to train in social entrepreneurship.

Practical implications

The results can be useful for university training and increasing the envisioning and formulating of government projects by young people who create new businesses.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature on the role of gender-specific perceptions of social entrepreneurship in Mexico.
Inter-professional education in a child mental health-care context: children’s nursing and clinical psychology students learning together
Authors: Cust Fiona , Combes Helen , Priest Helena , Cust Henry
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Previous research has explored inter-professional education (IPE) in mental health contexts, for example, between mental health nurses and clinical psychologists (CPs). However, little research has explored IPE with children’s nurses (CNs) and CPs, who often work together in a range of in-patient and community mental health settings. Indeed, a significant proportion of CNs’ work involves identifying and responding to the mental health needs of children, young people and families; equally, CPs work directly into child teams, and their consultancy work requires awareness of other professional roles. However, knowledge and understanding of roles, and true collaborative working, appears to be limited. This study aimed to address these limitations.

Design/methodology/approach

A project was designed to bring together these two groups in an educational context, to explore ways in which collaborative working may enable effective mental health-care delivery. A total of 17 children’s nursing students and 15 clinical psychology trainees participated in a 3-day workshop, including experiential and clinical vignette work. Workshops were evaluated at three time points, using a questionnaire.

Findings

The workshops were effective in improving knowledge, skills and understanding of roles. Teamwork and discussions were helpful in modifying attitudes and perceptions. However, “defensiveness” was an important theme, demonstrating somewhat fixed beliefs about roles in relation to child mental health care.

Originality/value

Few studies have explored IPE in child mental health contexts, especially in the pre-qualification arena.
Rethinking social mobility in education: looking through the lens of professional capital
Authors: Major Lee Elliot , Weiner Jennie Miles
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that current ways school systems have addressed social mobility is misguided at best and, at worst, hurts social mobility. Instead, we call for a focus on investment in teachers' professional capital as a primary lever for enhancing the likelihood they can effectively prepare and develop all children to lead successful lives after school. These arguments have become even more pertinent with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Using contemporary research, and grounded in our collective decades of research in these areas, we define social mobility and document how the aim of improving it has become a central tenet of our governments' stated ambitions and the yardstick by which school systems' success is measured. We then show how the application of market-based approaches to schools and teachers' work has hindered social mobility and offer a new path forward.

Findings

After 50 years of neoliberal policies incentivising individualistic and competitive behaviours, it is time to move towards policies that enhance professional capital and promote high quality collaboration between teachers. We call for a new path forward: a re-orientation to invest in teachers' capacity to realise the potential of education to improve the life prospects for all children, irrespective of their background.

Originality/value

As with so many issues, the COVID-19 pandemic has shone an intense light on the role of educators in society. There are credible concerns that economic and educational inequalities resulting from the crisis have the potential to trigger a fall in future social mobility levels. Yet this should also be seen as a new dawn for renewed thinking in which we seriously consider a shift away from neoliberal to professional capital policies to create an education system that nurtures teaching professionals, promotes collective behaviour and helps rather than hinders efforts to improve social mobility.
A qualitative analysis to identify takeover target criteria
Authors: Meghouar Hicham
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study proposes a qualitative analysis to identify takeover target criteria according to French Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

A principal component factor analysis, applied to responses from 42 French M&A practitioners, highlighted four factors that summarize information about predictive variables and which explain the occurrence of takeover.

Findings

According to the surveyed practitioners, four main axes explain 83% of the occurrence of takeover. These axes reflect motivations related to the undervalued target theory, synergy theory and agency theory. The first factor defined by the size of the company, its rate of return and turbulence in the sector. A second factor opposed market value and dividend payout ratio to the liquidity variable. The last two factors are called the debt factor, structured by the debt variable and the value creation factor, which opposed the value creation variable and transaction volume to the growth opportunities variable. The results therefore confirmed the importance of some predictor variables tested in previous studies and showed different results.

Research limitations/implications

This study was limited in terms of sample size. The low number of responses obtained reflects the sensitivity of the subject, insofar as it highlights the predictive model used by M&A practitioners (professional secrecy). Future investigations will involve in extending the questionnaire approach to a larger sample of continental European M&A practitioners.

Originality/value

Predicting takeover targets has been the subject of abundant literature. The results do not converge and are sometimes contradictory. This paper undertakes a field study conducted using a questionnaire survey to detect predictive variables used by M&A practitioners in their identification of a target firm. The authors aim to identify a relevant indicators favorable to the occurrence of a takeover bid and which are/or not handled by the literature.
A sustainable urban water management model under uncertainty: a case study
Authors: Shabani Maryam , Shams Gharneh Naser , Akhavan Niaki Seyed Taghi
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Tackling the challenges of water scarcity requires comprehensive management according to financial, environmental and social issues. This paper aims to develop a planning approach for systematic decision-making and pay attention to uncertainties in water demand management and supply investment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study presents a multiobjective optimization model to manage water resources based on the balance of supply and demand. The objectives of the model include economic, social and environmental (sustainable development) factors. The model achieves an optimal urban water portfolio by using a scenario tree.

Findings

The mathematical goal programming (GP) in a multiobjective optimization model is applied and solved by the branch and bound method. The results indicate the selected supply augmentation and demand management options in each stage for 20 years according to the dry, normal and wetness year scenarios.

Practical implications

This model is based on a real-world case and has been implemented in the city of Karaj. It can be applied for water management of other cities concerning sustainable development as well.

Originality/value

This paper innovates by considering the sustainable development criteria that are defined using three objective functions, including economic, social and environmental factors. The balance of supply and demand concerning uncertainty has not been investigated in any urban water portfolios. The standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) is incorporated to generate different scenarios. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this approach is used for the first time.
Tourism – resilient but vulnerable as “the times they are a changing” in the “new normality”
Authors: Butler Richard
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a viewpoint about the short- and long-term future of tourism in the light of the effects of the response to Covid-19 and the implications of potential changes tourism might be facing.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a review of current media and academic commentaries and articles on the impact of Covid-19 on tourism, and the likelihood of changes being forced on tourism by external agents of change desiring a different form that the industry should take.

Findings

Current concerns and changes in patterns of tourism are being driven by two main forces: restrictions imposed on travel, both domestic and international, and fear by potential tourists and destination hosts of infection being caused by the resumption of tourist travel. The situation is extremely vulnerable, changing long-established patterns of behaviour and the effects of tourism on economies, communities and environments. The future for tourism is seen as generally positive in the long term, but agents of change opposed to the traditional patterns of tourism may create a negative environment that could cause severe disruption to the industry and its customers, unless tourism displays willingness and resolve to correct previously inappropriate ways of operating.

Originality/value

This paper presents a viewpoint about the short- and long-term future of tourism.
Airlift and tourism development: two sides of the same coin
Authors: Eccles Gavin
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This viewpoint paper provides insights and actions as to how destinations and airports need to be aligned in post-COVID-19 resumption. This paper aims to inform those working in airports and tourism boards about how to deal with airlines and support connectivity and route development post-COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a practical viewpoint based on working with airlines and tourism boards as part of consultancy and advisory development.

Findings

This paper offers practical suggestions on how airlines, airports and tourism boards can work together to support air connectivity and tourism development.

Practical implications

This paper provides those working in aviation and the tourism industry with practical steps to manage route development and connectivity post-COVID-19.

Originality/value

The paper suggests new ways of working towards the integration of efforts made by airlines, airports and tourism boards.
Generation of seismic excitations compatible with target spectrum: application to Eurocode 8
Authors: Boudina Abdellah , Hammoutene Malek
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to artificially generate seismic accelerograms compatible with the response spectrum imposed as a function of the given environmental parameters such as magnitude, epicentral distance and type of soil. This study is necessary for the non-linear dynamic analysis of structures in regions where real seismic records are not available.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a stochastic iterative method is used to estimate the spectral densities of acceleration power from the respective target response spectra. Thereafter, based on the superposition of seismic waves, a subsequent iterative procedure, which implicitly takes into account the non-stationary character of temporal intensity content of strong ground motions, is developed to synthesize, from these power spectral density, the corresponding acceleration time histories. The phase contents of the ground acceleration samples, thus obtained, are generated using a probability density function of phase derivatives with characteristic parameters estimated from seismological considerations. When based on seismic codes spectrum compatible criteria, this procedure can be used to generate strong ground motions for structural design.

Findings

The results found show that the forms of acceleration of the target and the simulated signals have similar characteristics in terms of strong motion durations, the peak ground acceleration values, corresponding time of occurrence and also, the corresponding cumulative energy functions follow practically the same pattern of variations.

Originality/value

The aim of this study is to generate seismic accelerograms compatible with regulatory spectra by the composition of the three acceleration duration segments based on environmental parameters (magnitude, epicentral distance and type of soil) and which subsequently serves to control the time envelope of the generated signals, and therefore the random generation of phase derivatives, which has not been previously treated.
Large trees and decay: Suppliers of a keystone resource for cavity‐using wildlife in old‐growth and secondary Andean temperate forests
Authors: Ibarra José Tomás , Novoa Fernando J. , Jaillard Hélène , Altamirano Tomás A.
Published: December 2020

Tree cavities are a keystone resource for many wildlife species worldwide. In Andean temperate forests of South America, many species of birds, mammals and reptiles use cavities to achieve their life history requirements. However, information on cavity supply and drivers of cavity production in these forests remains largely undocumented. We examined the patterns of tree‐cavity supply in successional native forests, exploring the potential drivers of cavity occurrence and relative abundances in Andean temperate ecosystems of southern Chile. In 10 forest stands, we established 369 vegetation plots and measured 7951 trees. For each tree, we recorded the species and measured the diameter at breast height (DBH), decay class and number of cavities. While tree density was much higher in secondary than in old‐growth forest stands, the density of nonexcavated cavities was higher in old‐growth than in secondary forests. Cavity occurrence and relative abundances (number of cavities per tree) were higher in large decaying and standing dead trees (i.e. habitat legacies) than in young healthy trees. Importantly, DBH and decay had a stronger influence on the supply of nonexcavated than excavated cavities. Our results highlight the importance of old‐growth forest stands, tree decay processes and habitat legacies for securing a continuous supply of a keystone habitat resource for tree cavity‐using wildlife in a global biodiversity hotspot of South America.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
A Comparison of Mental and Behavioral Health Risks Factors Associated With Current Dual Use of Electronic Cigarette and Conventional Tobacco Cigarettes With Exclusive Tobacco Cigarette Use and Nonuse Among Adults in the United States
Authors: Okunna Nene
Published: December 2020

Background and Objectives

While health risks associated with tobacco cigarette use are well‐known, additional risks of dual use are poorly understood. This study compared mental and behavioral health risk factors associated with the current dual use of e‐cigarettes and conventional tobacco cigarettes with current exclusive users of tobacco cigarettes and nonusers of either e‐cigarettes or tobacco cigarettes.

Methods

Data from the 2016 National Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed (N = 277,034). Current dual use was defined as the current use of tobacco cigarettes and the use of e‐cigarettes, everyday or some days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between dual use and mental and behavioral health risks compared with exclusive tobacco cigarette users and nonusers.

Results

Compared with nonusers, current dual use was associated with increased odds of having more than 14 days of self‐reported poor physical health (adjusted odd ratio [AOR], 1.9; P < .01), more than 14 days of self‐reported poor mental health (AOR, 1.8; P < .01), a diagnosis of depression (AOR, 2.2; P < .001); using smokeless tobacco products (AOR, 1.6; P < .05), alcohol use (AOR, 1.6; P < .01), and marijuana use (AOR, 8.3; P < .001) than current exclusive users of tobacco cigarettes.

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

The concurrent use of e‐cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes is associated with increased odds of having behavioral and mental health problems. These findings may be indicative of increased health risks associated with dual use, compared with the exclusive use of tobacco cigarettes, and have important implications for public health interventions and policies aimed at mitigating health risk behaviors. (Am J Addict 2020;00:00–00)
Microstructure of the tongue surface and lingual glands of the Sulawesi bear cuscus, Ailurops ursinus (Marsupialia: Phalangeridae)—A light and scanning electron microscopic study
Authors: Goździewska‐Harłajczuk Karolina , Klećkowska‐Nawrot Joanna , Hamouzová Pavla , Čížek Petr
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the microstructure of the surface of the tongue and lingual glands of the vulnerable native Sulawesi bear Ailurops ursinus. The study was carried out on five tongues collected from four adult animals and one young animal. There was variation in the shape of the filiform papillae. Few conical papillae were observed on the caudo‐lateral surface of the tongue. The gustatory papillae included fungiform papillae on the entire lingual surface and three vallate papillae, with the largest papilla located centrally. The foliate papillae were present on all the studied tongues and consisted of parallel folia on the right and left caudo‐lateral side of the tongue, which were divided into five to eight sulci. Numerous openings of the lingual glands were present on surface of the root of the tongue. Histochemical studies of the cells of the lingual glands showed the differences between young and adult animals. Thus, the composition of the secretion of these glands depends on age of animals. An aggregation of lymphatic cells was observed beneath the surface of the root epithelium. Keel (enlargement of mucosa) was present on the ventral surface of the tongue medially and was composed of the connective tissue and epithelium.
Differences in risk factors for anticoagulant‐related nephropathy between warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants: Analysis of the Japanese adverse drug event report database
Authors: Mitsuboshi Satoru , Niimura Takahiro , Zamami Yoshito , Ishizawa Keisuke
Published: December 2020

Limited information is available on anticoagulant‐related nephropathy (ARN). We therefore reviewed the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database to investigate kidney injury (KI) in patients administered warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and sought to clarify the risk factors for ARN. KI risk in warfarin users was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35–2.13; P < .01) and age ≥80 years (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.07–1.72; P = .01). KI risk in DOAC users was associated with body weight ≥80 kg (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.01–2.53; P = .04) and use of dabigatran (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.09–2.37; P < .01). Our findings suggest that risk factors for ARN differ between warfarin and DOACs and that these risk factors may be associated with bleeding risk. Therefore, the risk of ARN may be decreased by better managing bleeding risk in patients taking anticoagulants.
Weight calibration to improve efficiency for estimating pure risks from the additive hazards model with the nested case‐control design
Authors: Shin Yei Eun , Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Graubard Barry I. , Gail Mitchell H.
Published: December 2020

We study the efficiency of covariate‐specific estimates of pure risk (one minus the survival function) when some covariates are only available for case‐control samples nested in a cohort. We focus on the semiparametric additive hazards model in which the hazard function equals a baseline hazard plus a linear combination of covariates with either time‐varying or time‐invariant coefficients. A published approach uses the design‐based inclusion probabilities to reweight the nested case‐control data. We obtain more efficient estimates of pure risks by calibrating the design weights to data available in the entire cohort, for both time‐varying and time‐invariant covariate coefficients. We develop explicit variance formulas for the weight‐calibrated estimates based on influence functions. Simulations show the improvement in precision by using weight calibration and confirm the consistency of variance estimators and the validity of inference based on asymptotic normality. Examples are provided using data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial Study (PLCO).
Carbenoxolone and 18β‐glycyrrhetinic acid inhibit inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate‐mediated endothelial cell calcium signalling and depolarise mitochondria
Authors: Buckley Charlotte , Zhang Xun , Wilson Calum , McCarron John G.
Published: December 2020

Background and Purpose

Coordinated endothelial control of cardiovascular function is proposed to occur by endothelial cell communication via gap junctions and connexins. To study intercellular communication, the pharmacological agents carbenoxolone (CBX) and 18β‐glycyrrhetinic acid (18βGA) are used widely as connexin inhibitors and gap junction blockers.

Experimental Approach

We investigated the effects of CBX and 18βGA on intercellular Ca2+ waves, evoked by inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) in the endothelium of intact mesenteric resistance arteries.

Key Results

Acetycholine‐evoked IP3‐mediated Ca2+ release and propagated waves were inhibited by CBX (100 μM) and 18βGA (40 μM). Unexpectedly, the Ca2+ signals were inhibited uniformly in all cells, suggesting that CBX and 18βGA reduced Ca2+ release. Localised photolysis of caged IP3 (cIP3) was used to provide precise spatiotemporal control of site of cell activation. Local cIP3 photolysis generated reproducible Ca2+ increases and Ca2+ waves that propagated across cells distant to the photolysis site. CBX and 18βGA each blocked Ca2+ waves in a time‐dependent manner by inhibiting the initiating IP3‐evoked Ca2+ release event rather than block of gap junctions. This effect was reversed on drug washout and was unaffected by small or intermediate K+‐channel blockers. Furthermore, CBX and 18βGA each rapidly and reversibly collapsed the mitochondrial membrane potential.

Conclusion and Implications

CBX and 18βGA inhibit IP3‐mediated Ca2+ release and depolarise the mitochondrial membrane potential. These results suggest that CBX and 18βGA may block cell–cell communication by acting at sites that are unrelated to gap junctions.