bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating factors that affect the willingness to adopt peer-to-peer short-term insurance in South Africa
Authors: Dörfling Daniel Francois , Godspower-Akpomiemie Euphemia
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to identify the propensity for clients (legal and natural persons) to adopt peer-to-peer (P2P) short-term insurance policies as opposed to traditional and/or centralized short-term.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper data was collected through a survey of 102 sampled short-term insurance clients using convenience sampling. The TAM2 questionnaire was adapted to evaluate the intention to adopt a P2P insurance policy.

Findings

The findings of this study shed light on the factors influencing the adoption and (dis)continuation of short-term insurance products, both traditional and digital, among South African consumers. The results demonstrate that perceived usefulness, ease of use, trust, risk perception and subjective norm play crucial roles in individuals' intention to use or (dis)continue the use of these insurance products.

Practical implications

The study's findings provide actionable insights for practitioners in the short-term insurance sector, with a focus on marketers and e-commerce professionals. These insights emphasize the need to prioritize user-friendly design and trust-building measures in the development of P2P insurance systems. Additionally, practitioners should consider harnessing the power of social influence and carefully balancing innovative features with familiarity in their marketing efforts. These strategies are poised to enhance the adoption and competitive positioning of P2P insurance solutions amidst the evolving landscape of digital transformation.

Originality/value

This study makes a substantial contribution by employing the technology acceptance model (TAM) in a novel and unconventional manner. It not only explicates the intricate dynamics governing the adoption and discontinuation of short-term insurance products, encompassing both conventional and digital alternatives, within the South African consumer milieu but also extends its purview to infer the reasons behind the limited widespread adoption of the digital counterpart, despite its superior value proposition compared to the traditional offering. The findings elucidate the critical determinants shaping individuals' decisions in this dynamic market segment. This research enhances the global discourse on insurance adoption with a unique South African perspective and furnishes insurers and marketers with empirically grounded insights to optimize their strategies and cultivate substantive connections with their target demographic.
Numerical simulation of mechanical characteristics and tension-torsion coupling effect of tension-type anchor cable
Authors: Meng Xin , Ren Qingyang , Xiao Songqiang , Chen Bin , Li Hongfei
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to simulate the tension process of tension-type anchor cable and to explore the mechanical characteristics and tension-torsion coupling effect of anchor cable subjected to tension.

Design/methodology/approach

ABAQUS numerical software is applied to construct the numerical models of tension-type anchor cables with different diameters. Through explicit contact, the characteristics of contact between grouting body-anchor cable and grouting body-rock mass are determined. Confining pressure is applied to the model through surface pressure, and drawing force is applied to the model by displacement loading so as to simulate the tension process of the anchor cable.

Findings

The results show that the stress is transmitted in both axial and radial directions in the anchorage section and distributed in a cone. The shear stress in the grouting body is unevenly distributed, and its peak value increases with the rise in confining pressure and anchor cable diameter. The stress characteristics of torque and axial force are basically consistent and evenly distributed in the free section; they gradually decrease in the anchorage section. Due to the tension-torsion coupling effect, the internal stress characteristics of the anchor cable structure vary. On average, the anchorage performance of each anchor cable model is improved by 6.19%.

Originality/value

The proposed method of numerical modelling is effective in addressing the interface contact between the anchor cable and the grouting body and in solving the problem with convergence of calculation. Compared with the indoor test, this method is more suited to collecting the internal mechanical data of the anchor body.
An intuitionistic fuzzy grey-Markov method with application to demand forecasting for emergency supplies during major epidemics
Authors: Wang Zhiying , Jia Hongmei
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Forecasting demand of emergency supplies under major epidemics plays a vital role in improving rescue efficiency. Few studies have combined intuitionistic fuzzy set with grey-Markov method and applied it to the prediction of emergency supplies demand. Therefore, this article aims to establish a novel method for emergency supplies demand forecasting under major epidemics.

Design/methodology/approach

Emergency supplies demand is correlated with the number of infected cases in need of relief services. First, a novel method called the Intuitionistic Fuzzy TPGM(1,1)-Markov Method (IFTPGMM) is proposed, and it is utilized for the purpose of forecasting the number of people. Then, the prediction of demand for emergency supplies is calculated using a method based on the safety inventory theory, according to numbers predicted by IFTPGMM. Finally, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method, a comparative analysis is conducted between IFTPGMM and four other methods.

Findings

The results show that IFTPGMM demonstrates superior predictive performance compared to four other methods. The integration of the grey method and intuitionistic fuzzy set has been shown to effectively handle uncertain information and enhance the accuracy of predictions.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this article is to propose a novel method for emergency supplies demand forecasting under major epidemics. The benefits of utilizing the grey method for handling small sample sizes and intuitionistic fuzzy set for handling uncertain information are considered in this proposed method. This method not only enhances existing grey method but also expands the methodologies used for forecasting demand for emergency supplies.

Highlights (for review)

An intuitionistic fuzzy TPGM(1,1)-Markov method (IFTPGMM) is proposed.

The safety inventory theory is combined with IFTPGMM to construct a prediction method.

Asymptomatic infected cases are taken to forecast the demand for emergency supplies.
Carbon emissions reduction and tax evasion behaviour: a trade-off between environmental goals and economic feasibility
Authors: Yamen Ahmed , Mersni Hounaida
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of carbon emissions (carbon dioxide [CO2]) reduction on tax evasion behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses data from 200 countries from 2000 to 2017. The empirical analysis is based on various methodological tools, including ordinary least-squares model, fixed- and random-effects models. In addition, GMM and linear mixed model has been used for robustness purposes.

Findings

The results show that carbon emissions reduction significantly affects tax evasion behaviour; when carbon emissions decrease, tax evasion behaviour increases. This indicates that the reduction of CO2 emissions is linked to significant costs, placing a financial burden on companies and leading them to evade taxes to counterbalance these costs.

Practical implications

This study has important implications, as it highlights that the efforts made by countries to minimize CO2 emissions are associated with high costs and may lead to increased tax evasion, potentially contributing to countries’ budget deficits. The results provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to implement effective environmental and fiscal regulations that contribute to a sustainable and eco-friendly future. These regulations can help maintain a balance between improving economic growth and ensuring the protection of the environment.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to test the impact of carbon emissions on tax evasion using macro-level data.
Family firm entrepreneurial orientation: the effects of socio-emotional wealth, professionalization and bifurcation bias
Authors: Rosecká Nikola , Machek Ondřej
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effects of socio-emotional wealth importance (SEWi) in family firms and family firm-specific HR practices, namely professionalization and bifurcation bias, on their entrepreneurial orientation (EO).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper surveyed 133 small and medium-sized family firms in the USA. The respondents were recruited through Prolific Academic.

Findings

When SEWi is low, a family firm becomes more similar to a non-family firm, thereby enjoying the benefits associated with EO. When SEWi is high, a family firm leverages the unique resources and capabilities specific to family firms. Moderate SEWi levels are associated with lower EO levels. Additionally, the results support the argument that professionalization (involving non-family managers, formalization and decentralization) fosters EO, while bifurcation bias hinders its development.

Originality/value

Unlike previous studies, this paper posits a non-linear, U-shaped relationship between SEWi and EO. It contributes to the field by empirically investigating the effects of professionalization and bifurcation bias on EO in family firms.
Effects of technical and security factors on grid electricity reliability: evidence from Uganda national electricity grid network
Authors: Migisha Adella Grace , Ntayi Joseph Mapeera , Adaramola Muyiwa S. , Buyinza Faisal , Senyonga Livingstone , Abaliwano Joyce
Published: November 2023

Purpose

An unreliable supply of grid electricity has a strong negative impact on industrial and commercial profitability as well as on household activities and government services that rely on electricity supply. This unreliable grid electricity could be a result of technical and security factors affecting the grid network. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of technical and security factors on the transmission and distribution of grid electricity in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the ordinary least squares (OLS) and autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) models to examine the effects of technical and security factors on grid electricity reliability in Uganda. The study draws upon secondary time series monthly data sourced from the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) government utility, which transmits electricity to both distributors and grid users. Additionally, data from Umeme Limited, the largest power distribution utility in Uganda, were incorporated into the analysis.

Findings

The findings revealed that technical faults, failed grid equipment, system overload and theft and vandalism affected grid electricity reliability in the transmission and distribution subsystems of the Ugandan power grid network. The effect was computed both in terms of frequency and duration of power outages. For instance, the number of power outages was 116 and 2,307 for transmission and distribution subsystems, respectively. In terms of duration, the power outages reported on average were 1,248 h and 5,826 h, respectively, for transmission and distribution subsystems.

Originality/value

This paper investigates the effects of technical and security factors on the transmission and distribution grid electricity reliability, specifically focusing on frequency and duration of power outages, in the Ugandan context. It combines both OLS and ARDL models for analysis and adopts the systems reliability theory in the area of grid electricity reliability research.
Exploring social influence effect on mobile marketing behaviors of young consumers in the USA and Mexico
Authors: Oyedele Adesegun , Goenner Emily
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of social influence and value-driven mobile marketing activities on consumers’ acceptance of mobile marketing offers.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used is survey questionnaire. A proposed model was tested by using structural model analysis and data gathered from 356 Mexico consumers and 346 US consumers.

Findings

The study shows the number of peers and providing information are the main predictor variables of consumer acceptance of mobile marketing offers in both countries. These results suggest that social value factors are important variables for explaining consumers’ responses to mobile marketing offers across two countries characterized by dissimilar macro-environmental conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The study’s overall implication about standardization vs adaptation is that social value messages can be standardized across countries. However, the marketing tools and touch points required to communicate any message appeal must be adapted across countries. One limitation in this study is the use of a convenience sample of undergraduate college students. This study did not control for different types of mobile phones and the screen sizes of mobile phones.

Practical implications

The overall implication of standardization vs adaptation from the study results is that social value messages can be standardized across countries. However, the marketing tools and touch points required to communicate any message appeal must be adapted across countries.

Originality/value

Unlike previous studies where the emphasis is to explicate the effect of value-oriented mobile activity, this study examines the combined effect of social influence and value-driven mobile activities on acceptance of mobile marketing.
Species–area relationships of plants and microbes are driven by different mechanisms in patchy grassland fragments
Authors: Song Yueqing , Chase Jonathan M. , Zhou Yipeng , Xu Man , Xiao Yingli , Niu Yongjie , Liu Hairong , Wang Ling
Published: November 2023

The island species–area relationship (SAR) describes how the number of species on an island varies with its area and provides important information about the maintenance of species diversity and how species might be lost as habitats are lost and fragmented. While the island SAR has been widely studied among macroorganisms, patterns for soil microbes have been less forthcoming, as have analyses of potential underlying mechanisms.

We examined the SAR patterns of plants, soil fungi and bacteria among remnant grassland fragments isolated by degraded habitat matrix in a steppe grassland.

As expected, we found that the total species richness of plants, fungi and bacteria in the entire fragment decreased with decreasing fragment area. However, the mechanisms differed among taxa. For plants, the lower diversity was most likely because of decreases in habitat quality and habitat heterogeneity on smaller fragments. For fungi, we found similar results, but also an important interaction with plant diversity, suggesting they were coupled via their functional associations. For bacteria, the lower diversity on smaller fragments primarily resulted from a sampling effect from the larger species pool, which outweighed the effect of higher habitat heterogeneity on smaller fragments.

Synthesis: Our study highlights that fragmentation‐induced loss of diversity can have many different underlying mechanisms and that understanding these mechanisms can provide useful insights to project future biodiversity loss and conservation.
Oral lichenoid lesions in two snuff users with contact allergy to carvone
Authors: Adwa Usamah , Antelmi Annarita , Sukakul Thanisorn , Dahlin Jakob , Bruze Magnus , Svedman Cecilia
Published: November 2023

Background

Contact allergy to the mint‐tasting flavour carvone has been observed in patients with oral lichenoid lesions (OLL). Mint‐flavoured products such as toothpaste frequently contain carvone. Snuff is a smokeless tobacco product that is chewed or placed in the mouth rather than smoked. In Sweden, the use of snuff and its flavoured versions is extremely common.

Objectives

To investigate whether the consumption of mint‐flavoured snuff is associated with contact allergy to carvone and subsequently plays a role in the aetiology of OLL.

Methods

Regarding the two patients, patch testing with snuff pouches was performed. High‐performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis were used for identification of carvone in different snuff samples.

Results

Two patients with OLL were contacted allergic to carvone when patch tested. Both were using mint‐flavoured snuffs several hours a day for many years. One patient was contacted allergic to the snuff pouch tested as is. Carvone was detected in the snuff samples of both patients.

Conclusions

The patients were recommended to avoid the use of mint‐flavoured snuffs, toothpaste and foodstuffs. At follow‐up 3 months later, the patients had a dramatic clinical improvement of the OLL and oral symptoms. Exposure to mint‐flavoured snuffs can be overlooked as a possible aggravating/provoking factor in OLL.
Health state utility values for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Xie Shitong , Li Meixuan , Chen Xin , Guo Weihua , Liu Xinran , Yang Kehu , Wu Jing
Published: November 2023

Background

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most burdensome chronic diseases in the world. Health utility values are an important tool for quantifying this disease burden and conducting cost‐utility analyses. This review aimed to derive a reference set of health utility values for children and adolescents with T1DM.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE and Embase from inception to March 2023 for health utility values of T1DM children and adolescents (aged ≤18 years) measured using direct and indirect preference elicitation approaches. Utility estimates were pooled by meta‐analyses with subgroup analyses to evaluate differences by populations and elicitation approaches.

Results

Six studies involving 1276 participants were included in this study. Meta‐analysis showed the overall utility value of children and adolescents with T1DM was 0.91 (95% CI 0.89–0.93). The utility value of T1DM children and adolescents with complications was 0.90 (95% CI 0.88–0.92), which was lower than those without complications (0.96, 95% CI 0.95–0.97). The utility value of children (aged <13 years) was higher than adolescents (aged 13–18 years) (0.90 vs. 0.85). The utility value measured by the EQ‐5D‐3L (0.91) was higher than the HUI3 (0.89), the SF‐6Dv1 (0.83), and the time trade‐off (0.81). The parent proxy‐reported was similar to the patient self‐reported (0.91 vs. 0.91).

Conclusions

This study developed a reference set of pooled utility estimates for children and adolescents with T1DM, which is helpful for understanding the overall health status of T1DM and conducting economic evaluations. Further studies are needed to explore the utilities of T1DM with different types of complications.
Testing optimal defence theory in a social insect: Increased risk is correlated with increased venom investment
Authors: Koenig Phoebe A. , Moreau Corrie S.
Published: November 2023

Investment in defence may not be uniformly beneficial across an organism's lifespan. Risk, and therefore potential payoff of defence, may change with age and behaviour, but for colony‐living organisms, it may also change with colony size and reproductive stage.

The acorn ant Temnothorax longispinosus uses venom to defend against socially parasitic ants that raid their nests to steal brood. We investigated the idea that T. longispinosus adjust their venom allocation in accordance with raid risk. We tested the predictions that T. longispinosus ants should produce more venom when raids are most likely to occur and during the parts of the nest reproductive cycle when the potential fitness loss per raid is highest. We also asked whether venom volume varies between nurses and foragers within a colony, which have different potential risk levels, and whether this difference increases with colony size.

We found that workers had more venom in the summer, both before and during the period when raids occur, than in the fall when pupae were no longer present in nests. Workers engaging in nursing behaviours had more venom as the pupa to worker ratio in the nest increased, indicating that nurses invest more in venom as the relative number of pupae requiring defence increases. In addition, the difference in venom volume between nurses and foragers grew with colony size.

These results provide observational support for the hypothesis that individuals vary their investment in venom over their colony's development in conjunction with the risk of social parasitism.
Loss of plasticity in maturation timing after ten years of captive spawning in a delta smelt conservation hatchery
Authors: LaCava Melanie E. F. , Griffiths Joanna S. , Ellison Luke , Carson Evan W. , Hung Tien‐Chieh , Finger Amanda J.
Published: November 2023

Adaptation to captivity in spawning programs can lead to unintentional consequences, such as domestication that results in reduced fitness in the wild. The timing of sexual maturation has been shown to be a trait under domestication selection in fish hatcheries, which affects a fish's access to mating opportunities and aligning their offspring's development with favorable environmental conditions. Earlier maturing fish may be favored in hatchery settings where managers provide artificially optimal growing conditions, but early maturation may reduce fitness in the wild if, for example, there is a mismatch between timing of reproduction and availability of resources that support recruitment. We investigated patterns of maturation timing in a delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) conservation hatchery by quantifying changes to the median age at maturity since the captive spawning program was initiated in 2008. Over the span of a decade, we observed a small, but significant increase in age at maturity among broodstock by 2.2 weeks. This trait had low heritability and was largely controlled by phenotypic plasticity that was dependent on the time of year fish were born. Fish that were born later in the year matured faster, potentially a carryover from selection favoring synchronous spawning in the wild. However, higher DI (domestication index) fish showed a loss of plasticity, we argue, as a result of hatchery practices that breed individuals past peak periods of female ripeness. Our findings suggest that the hatchery setting has relaxed selection pressures for fish to mature quickly at the end of the year and, consequently, has led to a loss of plasticity in age at maturity. Hatchery fish that are re‐introduced in the wild may not be able to align maturation with population peaks if their maturation rates are too slow with reduced plasticity, potentially resulting in lower fitness.
The neglected roles of adjacent natural ecosystems in maintaining bacterial diversity in agroecosystems
Authors: Peng Ziheng , Yang Yunfeng , Liu Yu , Bu Lianyan , Qi Jiejun , Gao Hang , Chen Shi , Pan Haibo , Chen Beibei , Liang Chunling , Li Xiaomeng , An Yining , Wang Shaopeng , Wei Gehong , Jiao Shuo
Published: November 2023

A central aim of community ecology is to understand how local species diversity is shaped. Agricultural activities are reshaping and filtering soil biodiversity and communities; however, ecological processes that structure agricultural communities have often overlooked the role of the regional species pool, mainly owing to the lack of large datasets across several regions. Here, we conducted a soil survey of 941 plots of agricultural and adjacent natural ecosystems (e.g., forest, wetland, grassland, and desert) in 38 regions across diverse climatic and soil gradients to evaluate whether the regional species pool of soil microbes from adjacent natural ecosystems is important in shaping agricultural soil microbial diversity and completeness. Using a framework of multiscales community assembly, we revealed that the regional species pool was an important predictor of agricultural bacterial diversity and explained a unique variation that cannot be predicted by historical legacy, large‐scale environmental factors, and local community assembly processes. Moreover, the species pool effects were associated with microbial dormancy potential, where taxa with higher dormancy potential exhibited stronger species pool effects. Bacterial diversity in regions with higher agricultural intensity was more influenced by species pool effects than that in regions with low intensity, indicating that the maintenance of agricultural biodiversity in high‐intensity regions strongly depends on species present in the surrounding landscape. Models for community completeness indicated the positive effect of regional species pool, further implying the community unsaturation and increased potential in bacterial diversity of agricultural ecosystems. Overall, our study reveals the indubitable role of regional species pool from adjacent natural ecosystems in predicting bacterial diversity, which has useful implication for biodiversity management and conservation in agricultural systems.
Molecular regulation of virulence in Legionella pneumophila
Authors: Graham Christopher I. , MacMartin Teassa L. , de Kievit Teresa R. , Brassinga Ann Karen C.
Published: November 2023

Legionella pneumophila is a gram‐negative bacteria found in natural and anthropogenic aquatic environments such as evaporative cooling towers, where it reproduces as an intracellular parasite of cohabiting protozoa. If L. pneumophila is aerosolized and inhaled by a susceptible person, bacteria may colonize their alveolar macrophages causing the opportunistic pneumonia Legionnaires' disease. L. pneumophila utilizes an elaborate regulatory network to control virulence processes such as the Dot/Icm Type IV secretion system and effector repertoire, responding to changing nutritional cues as their host becomes depleted. The bacteria subsequently differentiate to a transmissive state that can survive in the environment until a replacement host is encountered and colonized. In this review, we discuss the lifecycle of L. pneumophila and the molecular regulatory network that senses nutritional depletion via the stringent response, a link to stationary phase‐like metabolic changes via alternative sigma factors, and two‐component systems that are homologous to stress sensors in other pathogens, to regulate differentiation between the intracellular replicative phase and more transmissible states. Together, we highlight how this prototypic intracellular pathogen offers enormous potential in understanding how molecular mechanisms enable intracellular parasitism and pathogenicity.
Etiology, risk factors and management of hypertension post liver transplantation
Authors: Braekman Eline , De Bruyne Ruth , Vandekerckhove Kristof , Prytula Agnieszka
Published: November 2023

Background

Cardiovascular events are one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in the long‐term follow‐up of liver transplant recipients. Hypertension is a significant cardiovascular risk factor that occurs frequently after pediatric liver transplantation. Chronic use of immunosuppressants – mainly calcineurin inhibitors – plays a major role in the development of post‐transplant hypertension and circadian disturbances such as flattening of the nocturnal blood pressure dip. This requires special attention in children given the long timeframe during which immunosuppressive therapy is necessary. Careful and structured blood pressure monitoring and adequate treatment of hypertension are essential to optimize the quality of life and life expectancy of pediatric liver transplant patients. However, evidence‐based guidelines for monitoring and management of post‐transplant hypertension and its complications are lacking.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive review of the current knowledge and practices concerning post‐transplant hypertension. The databases Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar were scanned with the following keywords: pediatric liver transplantation, immunosuppression, tacrolimus, cardiovascular effects, hypertension, heart function, kidney function, circadian rhythm, mechanism, monitoring, and management.

Results

In this review, we describe the incidence and etiology of hypertension in pediatric liver transplant recipients, the underlying mechanisms and characteristics of calcineurin inhibitor‐induced hypertension, and the consequences of and risk factors for post‐transplant hypertension. We hereby present an overview of the current practices in blood pressure monitoring and antihypertensive treatment as well as an algorithm for the evaluation and management of hypertension post liver transplantation. Finally, we discuss knowledge gaps and suggestions for future research.
Women's philanthropy and religion: The ladies of the Northampton shoe trade, 1870–1950
Authors: Perry Kathrina
Published: November 2023

This paper considers the role in which women played within religious organisations within the 19th and 20th centuries. Using the Northampton Boot and Shoe industry as a focus, it will explore the philanthropic activities carried out by women connected to the industry, and how they were able to support the local churches. The paper also considers the importance of women's history within a local history study as well as showing women's contribution to society and their local community.
Make the upcoming IPCC Cities Special Report count
Authors: Bai Xuemei
Published: November 2023

Cities are receiving increasing attention in global assessments over the past two decades. It has been a hard-fought shift for many urban researchers, but the biggest impetus stems from the pivotal role cities play both as drivers and bearers of impacts of global environmental change. Notably, cities are home to 57% of the world’s population, responsible for over 70% of global consumption–related carbon emissions and contributing to over 80% of gross domestic product in many countries. Within the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), cities have shifted from the periphery to center stage, which culminated in the decision to produce a dedicated special report on cities in its next assessment cycle. Expectations are high that this upcoming special report will substantially enhance awareness, shape policy, and catalyze actions across mitigation and adaptation within cities and beyond. With the scoping process expected to begin in early 2024, now is a critical time to consider what should be the focus of the upcoming special report.
Clade 2.3.4.4 H5 chimeric cold-adapted attenuated influenza vaccines induced cross-reactive protection in mice and ferrets
Authors: Sun Weiyang , Xu Jiaqi , Wang Zhenfei , Li Dongxu , Sun Yue , Zhu Menghan , Liu Xiawei , Li Yuanguo , Li Fangxu , Wang Tiecheng , Feng Na , Guo Zhendong , Xia Xianzhu , Gao Yuwei
Published: November 2023

Clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx subtype avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have circulated in poultry and wild birds worldwide. Recently, an increasing number of H5Nx human infection cases have been reported occurred. Live attenuated influenza vaccines demonstrate more advantages than other types of vaccines, such as ease of administration, elicitation of systemic immune responses, and the ability to generate breadth protection. However, the attenuated viruses also bear the risk of reassortment with the wild-type influenza A virus. To overcome this reassortment problem, we designed and constructed Clade 2.3.4.4 H5 chimeric cold-adapted attenuated influenza vaccines (CAIVs) by introducing the hemagglutinin ectodomains of H5N6 into a cold-adapted attenuated master donor of an influenza B virus. These H5 CAIVs induce humoral antibody response, mucosal immune response, and cellular immune response in mice models. After two doses were administered in mice, H5 CAIVs provided cross-protection responses with 100% survival against wild-type Clade 2.3.4.4 H5 subtype AIVs. The immunized mice exhibited more significant reductions of lung viral titers or lung pathology than those in the mock group mice. In ferret models, Clade 2.3.4.4b and 2.3.4.4h H5 CAIVs produced a cross-protective efficacy against wild-type Clade 2.3.4.4b and Clade 2.3.4.4h H5 AIVs. The findings of the current study indicate that our H5 CAIVs may have the potential to prevent and control H5Nx influenza viruses in humans.

IMPORTANCE

Clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have circulated globally and caused substantial economic loss. Increasing numbers of humans have been infected with Clade 2.3.4.4 H5N6 AIVs in recent years. Only a few human influenza vaccines have been licensed to date. However, the licensed live attenuated influenza virus vaccine exhibited the potential of being recombinant with the wild-type influenza A virus (IAV). Therefore, we developed a chimeric cold-adapted attenuated influenza vaccine based on the Clade 2.3.4.4 H5 AIVs. These H5 vaccines demonstrate the advantage of being non-recombinant with circulated IAVs in the future influenza vaccine study. The findings of our current study reveal that these H5 vaccines can induce cross-reactive protective efficacy in mice and ferrets. Our H5 vaccines may provide a novel option for developing human-infected Clade 2.3.4.4 H5 AIV vaccines.
Supplemental Material: Expanding the metamorphic devolatilization model: Komatiites as a source for orogenic gold deposits in high-grade metamorphic rocks
Authors: Yu Chang , Zhong Richen , Chen Yanjing , al. et
Published: November 2023

File S1: Detailed description of simulation methods. File S2: Gold contents of volcanic rocks in West Australian Craton. File S3: Bulk rock water contents of komatiites in global greenstone belts. Data for Files S2 and S3 are compiled from GEOROC database. 
Petrogenesis and metallogenic implications of Eocene–Oligocene magmatism in the Yulong porphyry copper belt, eastern Tibet: a review and analysis of geochronological, geochemical, and Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic data
Authors: Wang Xiao-Qing , Ji Feng-Bao
Published: November 2023

The Eocene Yulong porphyry copper belt (YPCB) in eastern Tibet contains more than 10 Mt of Cu metal, associated with subvolcanic to volcanic porphyry systems intruding Cenozoic sedimentary basins. Geochemical data analysis shows that all samples belonged to high-K calc-alkaline and shoshonite series with metaluminous–peraluminous characteristics, light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements enrichment, high field strength elements depletion, and share geochemical similarities to adakitic rocks. We have established a spatiotemporal evolution framework through geochronological data analysis, combined with calculated bulk zirconium saturation temperature, calculated crustal thickness and geophysical evidence. We identified three magmatic processes triggered by asthenospheric upwelling and thermal erosion of thickened crust: (1) ultrapotassic magma derived from metasomatized mantle; (2) coeval ultrapotassic melt that promoted the partial melting of eroded lower crust and the generation of high-K adakitic felsic melt; high-K and Mg# adakitic fertile magma was formed by interaction between the eroded sulfide-rich juvenile lower crust-derived melt and mantle peridotite; (3) high-K adakitic fertile magma was derived from sulfide-rich juvenile lower crust, triggered by injecting hydrous ultrapotassic magma into thinned lower crust. The difference between deposit size in the north/south section of Yulong belt may be caused by the temperature of magmatic source and the volume of coeval potassic–ultrapotassic magmatism. Our analysis of the YPCB suggests that magmatism after 175 Ma within Intermontane arc complex of the Canadian Cordillera has high potential for porphyry deposits.
Large rapidity gaps in proton–nucleus interaction
Authors: Khoze V. A. , Ryskin M. G.
Published: November 2023

We analyse the cross-section of events with Large Rapidity Gaps observed in proton–lead collisions by the CMS Collaboration (arXiv:2301.07630). The role of the transverse size of elementary pN amplitude is discussed. We emphasize that the cross-section of incoming proton dissociation caused by the photon radiated off the lead ion is close to the value of $$d\sigma /d\Delta \eta ^F$$

d
σ
/
d
Δ

η
F

measured by the CMS, and it is not clear why there is no room in the data for the Pomeron-induced contribution
Dynamic fermion flavor mixing through transition dipole moments
Authors: Rafelski Johann , Steinmetz Andrew , Yang Cheng Tao
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we show that Majorana neutrino flavor mixing can be driven by transition dipole moments in the presence of external electromagnetic fields. We demonstrate the sensitivity of the rotation mixing matrix to strong fields obtaining dynamical mass eigenstates in the two-flavor model. The three-flavor case, and extensions to the quark sector, is introduced.
Identify and Prioritize the Challenges of Customer Knowledge in Successful Project Management: An Agile Project Management Approach
Authors: Jafari Mostafa , Zahedi Mohammadreza , Khanachah Shayan Naghdi
Published: November 2023

The main advantage of Agile Project Management (APM) lies in its ability to investigate and resolve issues that arise during the project period, making timely adjustments to save resources and deliver successful projects on time and at a lower cost. Customers play a crucial role in determining many of these changes, highlighting their special involvement in managing projects using an agile approach. This paper prioritizes the factors influencing challenges related to customer knowledge in APM, initially identifying three categories: individual, organizational, and technological factors. Expert opinions from the software development industry verified these factors, while the DANP method explored their causal relationships and importance. The analysis revealed organizational factors’ impact on the other two categories, with individual factors ranking highest, followed by technological factors. Notable challenges related to customer knowledge include lack of time for knowledge sharing, reluctance to adopt information technology systems, ineffective communication between knowledge-holders and seekers, inadequate training on new technology, and a lack of awareness regarding knowledge benefits for project partners. These findings are presented as suggestions to project teams for effectively managing agile projects and addressing customer knowledge challenges. By implementing these recommendations, projects can achieve greater efficiency and success.
Design and Joint Control of a Conjoined Biplane and Quadrotor
Authors: Schröter S. , Smeur E. J. J. , Remes B. D. W.
Published: November 2023

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have the potential to perform many different missions, some of which may require a large aircraft for endurance and a small aircraft for maneuverability in wind gusts or cluttered environments such as buildings. This paper proposes a novel combination of a quadrotor and a hybrid biplane capable of joint hover, joint forward flight, and mid-air separation followed by separate flight. We investigate cooperative control strategies during joint flight that do not require any communication between the quadcopter and the biplane. This means that the two aircraft have their own independent control strategy based on their own sensors. The biplane, which is the largest of the two with most control authority, leads the flight and the goal for the quadrotor is to help in producing thrust and increasing rotational stability. Three control strategies for the quadrotor are compared: a proportional angular rate damper, a proportional angular acceleration damper, and constant thrust without attitude control. Simulation and practical tests show that for desired attitude changes of the biplane, the quadrotor rate- and angular acceleration damper strategies lead to a small performance degradation. However, the angular rate damper strategy reduces the roll angle error in disturbance rejection experiments and requires the smallest input command. The in-flight release is successfully tested in joint hover up to a forward pitch angle of −18∘.
Reminiscences on Influential Papers
Authors: Borovica-Gajic Renata
Published: November 2023

This issue's contributors chose papers that address challenges at the heart of database systems: physical design tuning for index selection and transaction isolation levels. Both contributions emphasize the elegant, modular, and long-lasting design choices of the respective work. Enjoy reading!
Seasonal Succession of Bacterial Communities in the Land-Based Container with Recycling Water Aquaculture System
Authors: Gao Na , Wang Yize , Fang Ting , Liang Yangyang , Cui Kai , Chen Jinliang , Lu Wenxuan
Published: November 2023

The land-based container with recycling water aquaculture system (C-RAS) has gained popularity in China due to its water conservation and pollution reduction capabilities. However, there is a dearth of theoretical research on this subject. In this study, water from Koi-cultured container and three-stage eco-ponds was sampled over three seasons and then the bacterial communities were analyzed. The findings of this study indicate that the implementation of three-stage eco-ponds significantly enhances water quality. Specifically, during the summer season, eco-ponds exhibit the highest removal efficiencies of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in comparison to other seasons. During winter, the bacterial communities’ operational taxonomic units, diversity, and richness experience a substantial decline. The system was dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota phyla. The lower relative abundance of Actinobacteriota and Cyanobacteria elucidated the reason for the lower off-flavor compounds in container-cultured fish compared to pond-cultured fish. The bacterial community was significantly influenced by water temperature and pH, as revealed by canonical correspondence analysis. These findings establish a fundamental basis for the development of a healthy and sustainable C-RAS technology.
Supplementary Table S1 from Impact of BMI on Prevalence of Dense Breasts by Race and Ethnicity
Authors: Kerlikowske Karla , Bissell Michael C. S. , Sprague Brian L. , Tice Jeffrey A. , Tossas Katherine Y. , Bowles Erin J. A. , Ho Thao-Quyen H. , Keegan Theresa H. M. , Miglioretti Diana L.
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Table S1. Results by 4 density categories.
Supplementary Table 1 from Impact on the Volume of Pathology Reports Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in SEER Cancer Registries
Authors: Chtourou Amina , Sanchez Pamela V. , Golden Todd , Chen Huann-Sheng , Schwartz Stephen M. , Wu Xiao-Cheng , Hernandez Brenda Y. , Harrison Jovanka N. , Penberthy Lynne , Negoita Serban
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Table 1. The average of the sum of pathology reports during March to May of 2018 and 2019 (pre-pandemic period) compared to the sum of pathology reports during March to May 2020 (pandemic period) by cancer site.
Supplementary Table S3 from Racial and Ethnic Variation in Diagnostic Mammography Performance among Women Reporting a Breast Lump
Authors: Nyante Sarah J. , Abraham Linn , Aiello Bowles Erin J. , Lee Christoph I. , Kerlikowske Karla , Miglioretti Diana L. , Sprague Brian L. , Henderson Louise M.
Published: November 2023

Tabulation of the types of false-negative cancers diagnosed
Supplementary Table S2 from Racial and Ethnic Variation in Diagnostic Mammography Performance among Women Reporting a Breast Lump
Authors: Nyante Sarah J. , Abraham Linn , Aiello Bowles Erin J. , Lee Christoph I. , Kerlikowske Karla , Miglioretti Diana L. , Sprague Brian L. , Henderson Louise M.
Published: November 2023

Ultrasound/MRI use by age and racial/ethnic group
Supplementary Figure 1 from Long-term Cancer Survival Trends by Updated Summary Stage
Authors: Forjaz Gonçalo , Ries Lynn , Devasia Theresa P. , Flynn Gretchen , Ruhl Jennifer , Mariotto Angela B.
Published: November 2023

Cancers of the anus, bladder, bone, salivary gland, vagina, and vulva: trends in five-year relative survival (SEER 8, 1975–2018, A–F) and age-adjusted incidence (SEER 8, 1975–2019) and mortality (U.S., 1975–2019) rates (G–L) by long-term summary stage (survival and incidence only). Dots represent observed rates and lines represent modeled rates. Incidence and mortality rates are plotted on the log scale.
Supplementary Table 2 from Do Polygenic Risk Scores Add to Clinical Data in Predicting Pancreatic Cancer? A Scoping Review
Authors: Wang Louise , Grimshaw Alyssa A. , Mezzacappa Catherine , Rahimi Larki Navid , Yang Yu-Xiao , Justice Amy C.
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Table 2 shows the search strategies employed for the scoping review.
Supplementary Table 1 from “It's Probably Just Hemorrhoids”: A Qualitative Exploration of the Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Long-term Survivors of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Rogers Charles R. , Korous Kevin M. , De Vera Mary A. , Shaukat Aasma , Brooks Ellen , Rifelj Kelly Krupa , Henley Candace , Johnson Wenora , Rogers Tiana N.
Published: November 2023

Table S1. Interview Guide
Supplementary Table S1 from Epidemiology of Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection among Diverse Chinese Adults in Typical Areas of China: Findings from the DLCC Study
Authors: Zhu Yingying , He Huijing , Zhu Xiaoli , Hu Yaoda , Yu Shuting , Diao Wenwen , Li Shuguang , Shan Guangliang , Chen Xingming
Published: November 2023

Table S1. The prevalence of oral HPV infection in different age groups.
Supplementary Figure S1 from Epidemiology of Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection among Diverse Chinese Adults in Typical Areas of China: Findings from the DLCC Study
Authors: Zhu Yingying , He Huijing , Zhu Xiaoli , Hu Yaoda , Yu Shuting , Diao Wenwen , Li Shuguang , Shan Guangliang , Chen Xingming
Published: November 2023

Figure S1 Design and flow chart of the study. Data in this study were from the DLCC study, and the data resource, population selection, information collected and statistical methods were demonstrated in this figure. DLCC: the Diverse Life-Course Cohort; HIPV: human papillomavirus.
Supplementary Table 5 from Lifetime Body Weight Trajectories and Risk of Renal Cell Cancer: A Large U.S. Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Deng Zhengyi , Hajihosseini Morteza , Moore Justin X. , Khan Saira , Graff Rebecca E. , Bondy Melissa L. , Chung Benjamin I. , Langston Marvin E.
Published: November 2023

Association between weighted years living overweight or obese (WYO) and renal cell cancer incidence among individuals the intervention group from whom information on physical activity was collected at baseline.
Supplementary Table 4 from Lifetime Body Weight Trajectories and Risk of Renal Cell Cancer: A Large U.S. Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Deng Zhengyi , Hajihosseini Morteza , Moore Justin X. , Khan Saira , Graff Rebecca E. , Bondy Melissa L. , Chung Benjamin I. , Langston Marvin E.
Published: November 2023

Association between weighted years living overweight or obese (WYO) and renal cell cancer incidence among participants who completed the diet history questionnaire.
Supplementary Table 2 from Lifetime Body Weight Trajectories and Risk of Renal Cell Cancer: A Large U.S. Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Deng Zhengyi , Hajihosseini Morteza , Moore Justin X. , Khan Saira , Graff Rebecca E. , Bondy Melissa L. , Chung Benjamin I. , Langston Marvin E.
Published: November 2023

Association between weighted years living overweight or obese (WYO) and clear cell renal cell cancer (ccRCC) incidence.
Supplementary Figure 1 from Lifetime Body Weight Trajectories and Risk of Renal Cell Cancer: A Large U.S. Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Deng Zhengyi , Hajihosseini Morteza , Moore Justin X. , Khan Saira , Graff Rebecca E. , Bondy Melissa L. , Chung Benjamin I. , Langston Marvin E.
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Figure 1. Flow chart of study population. Supplementary Figure 1 shows the flow chart of the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study population from the PLCO study.