bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No road is long with good company. What factors affect Ph.D. student’s satisfaction with their supervisor?
Authors: Seeber Marco , Horta Hugo
Published: February 2021

Purpose

How frequently may be advisable for a supervisor to meet a PhD student? Are PhD students more satisfied if supervised by someone of the same gender, nationality or with common research interests? Thus far, we lack quantitative evidence regarding similar crucial aspects of managing PhD supervision. The goal of this study is hence to investigate what factors affect Ph.D. students' satisfaction about the professional and personal relationships with their supervisors.

Design/methodology/approach

We focus on the characteristics of the interactions between the student and the supervisor, controlling for other important factors, namely, the supervisor's and student's traits, and the characteristics of the context. We employ survey responses from 971 Ph.D. students at two public, research-oriented and internationally renowned universities in Hong Kong and South Korea.

Findings

The results show the importance of meeting the supervisor at least once per week. Students are more satisfied of the relationship with their supervisor when they have similar research interests, whereas a key finding is that similarity in terms of gender or nationality does not matter. We also found remarkable differences between disciplines in the level of satisfaction (up to 30%), and that students are more satisfied when the supervisor is strongly involved in international research, whereas satisfaction is negatively affected by the number of Ph.D. students supervised.

Originality/value

The article's findings suggest that students are not more satisfied of their relationship with their supervisors when they have the same gender or nationality, whereas it is other traits of their interaction, such as the frequency of meetings and the similarity of research interest, which matter.
Towards understanding a football club’s social media network: an exploratory case study of Manchester United
Authors: Guzmán Erick Méndez , Zhang Ziqi , Ahmed Wasim
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this work is to study how different stakeholders of a football club engage with interactions online through Twitter. It analyses the football club’s Twitter network to discover influential actors and the topic of interest in their online communication.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analysed the social networks derived from over two million tweets collected during football matches played by Manchester United. The authors applied social network analysis to discover influencers and sub-communities and performed content analysis on the most popular tweets of the prominent influencers.

Findings

Sub-communities can be formed around current affairs that are irrelevant to football, perhaps due to opportunistic attempts of using the large networks and massive attention during football matches to disseminate information. Furthermore, the popularity of tweets featuring different topics depends on the types of influencers involved.

Practical implications

The methods can help football clubs develop a deeper understanding of their online social communities. The findings can also inform football clubs on how to optimise their communication strategies by using various influencers.

Originality/value

Compared to previous research, the authors discovered a wide range of influencers and denser networks characterised by a smaller number of large clusters. Interestingly, this study also found that bots appeared to become influential within the network.
Intangible supply chain complexity, organizational structure and firm performance
Authors: Pant Pushpesh , Dutta Shantanu , Sarmah S.P.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a large-sample empirical examination of how intangible supply chain complexity impacts firm performance in light of a firm's organizational structure.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses panel data from 2,580 Indian manufacturing firms and constructs empirical proxy for intangible supply chain complexity, i.e. CHQ distance from major cities. The proposed conceptual model is grounded in the dynamic capability view (DCV) and social network theory (SNT). Multivariate regression analyses are performed to investigate the effect of intangible complexity on firm performance.

Findings

Results show that intangible supply chain complexity, as proxied by “CHQ distance from major cities”, negatively affects firm performance and a firm's organizational structure plays an important role in conceiving CHQ locational strategies. Firms with interconnected supply chain and social network (e.g. business group firms) have a higher propensity to locate their CHQs farther away from major cities, and business group firms that have more distantly located CHQs experience better financial performance compared to independent firms (with less network resources).

Originality/value

In light of the supply chain literature and relevant theories, the study conceptualizes intangible supply chain complexity as “CHQ distance from major cities” and deepens our understanding of the relationship between intangible complexity and firm performance in light of organizational structure. Further, it develops an objective understanding of intangible supply chain complexity by relying on secondary panel data.
City branding of the “music-design-culinary” as urban tourism of Bandung, West Java
Authors: Bustomi Thomas , Avianto Bhakti Nur
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Bandung city had constructed new facilities in urban areas or supplemented existing facilities to create a city branding of music-design-culinary. This paper aims to assess their potential as new tourist areas for urban. This study very little research explicitly to discuss new phenomena tourism from urban areas that raise the image of three branding concepts at once.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research more emphasized meaning and process analysis. Data analysis was carried out by looking at the status of an urban community, an object and a set of conditions in the thought system or current cases. The supporting data analysis technique used in this research is spatial analysis overlay is one of the basic ways to create spatial relationships between music, design and culinary by processing the result SWOT analysis factor.

Findings

Three forms of brand imaging development can ultimately lift new changes in strengthening relationships for building a good image of the tourism city with visitors.

Originality/value

For developing a new branding that can be implemented, the actors necessary to identify and assess internal and external factors policy for further formulation development of tourism city strategy. These articles very few research to explore discuss new phenomena in urban tourism that raise the image of three branding concepts at once. The present work was a modest effort to fill this gap literature with uses a compilation of research findings separately from city branding in various cities used as a conceptual basis and a comparative analysis is then conducted of three schemes.
Experimental study on line-contact elastohydrodynamic grease lubrication properties of surface-textured rollers
Authors: Yang Fuqin , Hu Dexing , Xiao Qianhao , Zhao Shun
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to study line-contact elastohydrodynamic grease lubrication properties of surface-textured rollers as well as the effect of different crown widths (dw) on oil film thickness under textured conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

The laser processing method was used to make the micro-texture on the surface of GCr15 steel rollers; lithium grease was used as the lubricant, and line-contact elastohydrodynamic grease lubrication experiments under pure sliding conditions were performed on light interference elastohydrodynamic-lubricated experimental table.

Findings

The results show that the line-contact elastohydrodynamic grease lubrication is closely related to the textured crown width of steel rollers. At low speeds and light loads, texturing has an inevitable inhibitory effect on the formation of the lubricating oil film, and the smaller the width of the crown area, the more obvious the inhibitory effect, which is not conducive to the improvement of the lubrication condition. At high speeds and high loads, the textured roller with dw = 1 mm has the largest oil film thickness and shows better lubrication performance.

Originality/value

At present, there is little research on the surface texture of line-contact friction pairs. This work explores the effect of different textured crown width on the lubricating properties of line-contact elastohydrodynamic grease lubrication by experiment. It provides a new theoretical basis for the subsequent practical application of surface texture technology.
Conceptual and influential structure of Takaful literature: a bibliometric review
Authors: Nasir Adeel , Farooq Umar , Khan Ashraf
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to provide a comprehensive review of key influential aspects and conceptual structure of Takaful literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors review 149 journal articles using bibliometric citation analysis, co-word analysis and citation histograms. However, the authors have introduced a new index of keywords for co-word analysis.

Findings

The results purpose four research clusters of Takaful literature. The first theme compared Takaful with conventional insurance from various perspectives. Second theme explored the business model and sharia-compliant issues. Third theme applied the marketing concepts and examined the customer behaviour such as commitment, loyalty, satisfaction or awareness. Fourth theme examined risk management, investment and corporate governance issues. This research also identified the structure of variables studied in each theme.

Originality/value

This paper follows a very novel and trending bibliometric approach and explores what has been published, encompassing all aspects of Takaful literature. This study also presents 22 future research directions which are either missing or less researched in Takaful literature.
International school teachers: precarity during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Bailey Lucy
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This article explores the initial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international school teachers, using the findings to theorise agency and elective precarity amongst self-initiated, middling expatriates.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis of online posts on a teaching abroad discussion forum is used to critically examine the thesis that international school educators form part of a global precariat (Bunnell, 2016; Poole, 2019a, 2019b). Thematic analysis charts participants' discussion of aspects of precarity as consequences of the pandemic.

Findings

The data suggest that whilst dimensions of precarity have been exacerbated by the pandemic some dimensions of privilege remain. The term elective precarity is employed to describe the position of international school teachers, and it is noted that the pandemic has eroded the sense of agency within precarity. Posts suggest that teachers are reluctant to be globally mobile when lacking this sense of agency.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed to establish whether agency and elective precarity are useful concepts for exploring the experiences of other self-initiated expatriates during the pandemic. There is a need for further research into the supply of international school educators as key enablers of other forms of global mobility.

Originality/value

The paper proposes two new concepts, elective precarity and agency within precarity, to capture the discourse of self-initiated expatriates. It contributes to the emerging literature charting the impact of the pandemic on self-initiated expatriation.
Marketing strategies in communicating CSR in the Muslim market of the United Arab Emirates: insights from the banking sector
Authors: Georgiadou Effrosyni , Nickerson Catherine
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the online corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication by domestic and global banks operating in the United Arab Emirates.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a qualitative content analysis, the study examines the strategies banks use to market their CSR initiatives on their corporate websites. CSR marketing strategies are classified with reference to Kotler and Lee’s (2005) categorization.

Findings

The analysis indicates that overall, all CSR marketing strategies, as proposed by Kotler and Lee (2005), are used by the domestic UAE banks with the most frequently used being cause-promotion, philanthropy and socially responsible business practices. Government owned and conventional banks display patterns congruent to the communications observed in the global sample. Islamic banks have a less diversified approach relying mostly on philanthropy with only one Islamic bank using four of the six strategies.

Originality/value

The present study provides insight into how CSR is communicated within one of the largest industries in the fast-growing economy of the UAE. The observations reported here could help corporate communication practitioners and managers in domestic corporations that contribute to the Islamic economy to understand how to benchmark better and to communicate more effectively about their CSR.
China’s NME status at the WTO: analysis of the debate
Authors: Hošman Mirek Tobiáš
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Although officially ended in July 2020, China’s dispute about its non-market economy (NME) status at the World Trade Organization (WTO) is far from being resolved. The NME status enables China’s counterparts to disregard Chinese prices in antidumping proceedings and instead use the so-called surrogate country methodology. This paper aims to structure and analyze the complex debate, which emerged with the disputes China has filed against the European Union and the USA at the WTO, and therefore provide a point of reference for future analysis of and debates about China’s NME status.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on the existing academic literature on the topic and on the legal WTO-related documents (e.g. multilateral agreements, China’s Accession Protocol, legal findings of the WTO dispute panels).

Findings

Four different interpretations of the respective legal documents about China’s NME status are discussed and strong and weak aspects of these interpretations are pointed out. Also, several misunderstandings and mistakes appearing in the debate are clarified.

Practical implications

As the question of China’s position at the WTO and its NME status has not been resolved yet and some authors believe that China will pursue its case again once the WTO Appellate Body revives its functionality, the analysis of the debate can serve as a point of reference for the academic debate and the future research on this topic. Moreover, it offers an introduction to China’s NME position at the WTO for the newcomers to this topic.

Originality/value

Although China’s NME status has been much discussed, there is no literature review that would structure the debate and point out some of the (dis)advantages of the respective arguments and interpretations. Rather than adding to the large corpus of literature about the NME status, this study takes this corpus as the object of its analysis.
Assessing the impact of dividend policy on the sustainability of distressed firms
Authors: Sami Mina , Abdallah Wael
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The paper uses firm level data for the top listed firms in New York exchange stock over the period 2000–2017. The analysis is mainly based on 237 firms that already experienced losses at the end of the fiscal year. The study aims to use the properties of the dynamic panel data, specifically the methodology proposed by Arenllo and Bond (1991), to fulfill the objectives of the paper.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper focuses on the dividend policy management of the firms when they experience a loss at the end of the fiscal year. The objective is to examine how such a policy management affects the sustainability of the firm (measured by the future sales and total factor productivity[TFP]) and the wealth of its shareholders (measured by the Stock Returns).

Findings

The results show that the distressed firms that distribute dividends at the end of the loss period are able to maintain sustainability and to reach more favorable wealth situation of their shareholders relative to the firms who abstain to pay; the dividend policy during periods of loss is still able to send positive signals about the firm in the market; and the dividend policy can be considered as a predictive indicator for a sustainable firm whose shareholders can also predict their capital gains.

Originality/value

Agreed upon the literature that the firms during the period of crisis are likely to change their dividend policy, this study offers robust evidence that the dividend policy of distressed firms affects their sustainability (measured by sales and TFP) and the wealth status of their shareholders (measured by the Stock Returns).
Why should I contribute my voice? Analysis of members' knowledge contribution behavior from a perspective of social distance
Authors: Zhang Min , Xue Yunxiao , Yang Jun , Zhang Yan
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Members' knowledge contribution behavior has positive significance for maintaining the activity of the knowledge community, as well as for improving knowledge interaction efficiency and member viscosity. With the development of the mobile Internet, knowledge communities based on social platforms have become more convenient and popular. This study aims to explore what and how factors influence members' knowledge contribution behavior in social knowledge communities from the perspective of social distance.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the theory of reciprocity and on the theory of self-efficacy, hypotheses and research models are proposed. In the empirical study, WeChat learning group is selected as the research case. The empirical investigation (N = 244) collects research data through questionnaires.

Findings

I-intention and we-intention both have positive influence on members' knowledge contribution behavior. Knowledge self-efficacy positively moderates the influence of we-intention and affects knowledge contribution behavior. In addition, I-intention is positively affected by expected knowledge benefit, expected emotional benefit and expected image benefit, while costs have no effect. We-intention is positively influenced by affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment in relationship strength, as well as affiliation to the contributing climate.

Originality/value

This paper aims to discuss I-intention, we-intention, and their roles in members' knowledge contribution behavior. It is a beneficial development for existing research to combine the characteristics of new style communities with systematical analysis of knowledge contribution behavior. Findings may provide enlightenment to the social knowledge community on diversity development and differentiated marketing strategies.
Effects of roasted coffee on the chemical, microbiological and sensory qualities of fermented cocoa and cashew juices
Authors: Gyedu-Akoto Esther , Kumi Asare Eric , Opoku Stephen Yaw , Dadzie Abu Mustapha , Ofosu-Agyei Emmanuel
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Roasted coffee provides a complex blend of different flavours which produce a range of sensory qualities. With the development of protocols for the production of fresh juices, jams and marmalades from cocoa and cashew pulp juices at Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, this paper aims to study the effects of roasted coffee powder on fermented cocoa and cashew juices to diversify the uses of these two juices.

Design/methodology/approach

Cocoa and cashew juices were fermented with the incorporation of 2% roasted coffee powder using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast starter. The fermenting juices were monitored by measuring pH, temperature, specific gravity and titratable acidity. At the end of the fermentation, the juices were poured into clean, sterilized containers to mature. They were then analysed for their physicochemical, microbiological and sensory qualities. These were repeated with cocoa and cashew juices without coffee powder to determine the effects of the roasted coffee on the fermented juices.

Findings

The addition of roasted coffee powder to cocoa and cashew juices did not have any significant effect on the fermentation performance of the juices. Three out of the four juices took a total of 13 days to complete fermentation with an average final specific gravity of 0.99. The quality of the fermented juices was not compromised by microbial activities. However, the addition of roasted coffee powder reduced the alcohol content of fermented cocoa juice from 9.0 to 5.0% and that of cashew from 11.0% to 7.5%. Sensory analysis using untrained panellists, who were ordinary consumers, showed significant differences among the four fermented juices in terms of appearance, taste and aroma. Their mean scores for coffee aroma ranged from 0.3 to 2.0 with coffee incorporated fermented juices having higher rankings.

Originality/value

These findings have shown the possibility of processing cocoa and cashew juices, which under normal circumstances would have been discarded along their value chains, into coffee-flavoured wines. They are also important to cocoa, cashew and coffee farmers, processors, as well as wine enthusiasts.
Polyurethane resin derived from polyol of palm olein and recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)
Authors: Adamu Abbas Ahmad , Muhamad Sarih Norazilawati , Gan Seng Neon
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste from soft drink bottles was incorporated into palm olein alkyd to produce new polyol for use in polyurethane resins as surface protection on metal surfaces.

Design/methodology/approach

Alkyd was prepared from palm olein, glycerol and phthalic anhydride. PET underwent simultaneous glycolysis and transesterification reactions with the alkyd. Varying the amount of PET has led to polyols with different viscosities. Polyurethane resins were produced by reacting the polyols with toluene diisocyanate. The resins were coated on mild steel panels and cured. Performances of the cured films were tested.

Findings

The polyurethanes (PU) resin cured to a harder film with better thermal stability. Films showed excellent adhesion properties, while higher content of PET exhibited higher pencil hardness, better water, salt, acid and alkali resistance.

Research limitations/implications

Other vegetable oils could also be used. The alkyd structure could be changed by formulation to have different functionality and the ability to incorporate higher amount of PET waste. Rate of glycolysis of PET could be increased by higher amount of ethylene glycol.

Practical implications

This method has managed to use waste PET in producing new polyol and PU resins. The cured films exhibit good mechanical and chemical properties, as well as excellent adhesion and thermal stability.

Social implications

The non-biodegradable PET has created environmental pollution problems connected to littering and illegal landfilling. It has become necessary to pay greater attention to recycling PET bottles for obtaining valuable products.

Originality/value

This approach is different from the earlier reports, where PET was recycled to recover the raw materials.
Back‐calculation of keratometer index based on OCT data and raytracing – a Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Langenbucher Achim , Szentmáry Nóra , Weisensee Johannes , Cayless Alan , Menapace Rupert , Hoffmann Peter
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to develop a raytracing‐based strategy for calculating corneal power from anterior segment optical coherence tomography data and extracting the individual keratometer index, which converts the corneal front surface radius to corneal power.

Methods

A large OCT dataset (10,218 eyes of 8,430 patients) from the Casia 2 (Tomey, Japan) was post‐processed in MATLAB (MathWorks, USA). Radius of curvature, asphericity of the corneal front and back surface, central corneal thickness and pupil size (aperture) were used to trace a bundle of rays through the cornea and derive the best focus plane. Corneal power was calculated with respect to the corneal front vertex plane, and the keratometer index was back‐calculated using corneal power and front surface radius. Keratometer index was analysed in a multivariate linear model.

Results

The averaged resulting keratometer index was 1.3317 ± 0.0017 with a median of 1.3317 and range from 1.3233 to 1.3390. In a univariate model, only the front surface asphericity affected the keratometer index. The multivariate model for modelling the keratometer index using all 6 input parameters performed very well (RMS error: 5.54e‐4, R2: 0.90, significance vs. constant model: <0.0001).

Conclusions

In the classical calculation, the keratometer index used for converting corneal radius to dioptric power uses several model assumptions. As these assumptions are not generally satisfied, corneal power cannot be calculated from corneal front surface radius alone. Considering all 6 input variables, the linear prediction model performs well and can be used if all input parameters are measured with a tomographer.
Circulating chemerin level is associated with metabolic, biochemical and haematological parameters—A population‐based study
Authors: Chou Hsin‐Hua , Teng Ming‐Sheng , Hsu Lung‐An , Er Leay‐Kiaw , Wu Semon , Ko Yu‐Lin
Published: February 2021

Objective

This study aims to analyse the association of chemerin levels with several metabolic, biochemical and haematological parameters in a large Taiwanese population with relative healthy status.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Data of 4101 healthy participants without history of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and renal insufficiency from Taiwan Biobank were analysed. The demographic, biochemical and haematologic parameters were retrieved from the database. Chemerin levels were measured using commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to test the independent correlates of chemerin.

Results

In the univariate analysis, circulating chemerin levels were positively associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist‐to‐hip ratio (WHR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), total cholesterol, triglyceride, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), creatinine, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma‐glutamyl transferase (γ‐GT), leucocyte and platelet counts both in men and women and negatively associated with high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and total bilirubin. In the multivariate analysis, BMI, HbA1C, triglyceride, uric acid, γ‐GT and platelet counts predicted chemerin levels independently both in men and in women with positive correlation, while eGFR, total bilirubin and HDL‐C predicted circulating chemerin levels independently with negative correlation.

Conclusions

Chemerin level is independently associated with multiple metabolic, biochemical and haematological parameters. This study provides further evidence on the molecular basis linking obesity with several human diseases.
Decreased Nutritional Risk Index is associated with mortality after heart transplantation
Authors: Krishnan Aravind , Bigelow Benjamin , Hsu Steven , Gilotra Nisha A. , Sharma Kavita , Choi Chun Woo , Kilic Ahmet
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Validated scoring tools, such as the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), can aid clinicians in quantifying the degree of malnourishment in patients prior to an operation. We evaluated the association between NRI and outcomes after heart transplantation.

Methods

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was used to identify adult patients (age > 18) undergoing heart transplantation between 1987 and 2016. NRI was calculated and categorized into previously established groupings representing severity of malnutrition. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to assess the primary outcome of all‐cause mortality.

Results

A total of 25,236 patients were included in the analysis. Most patients (75.4%) were male. Malnourishment was absent (NRI ≥ 100) in 11,022 (44%) patients, while 2,898 (12%) were mildly malnourished (97.5 ≤ NRI < 100), 8,685 (34%) were moderately malnourished (83.5 ≤ NRI < 97.5), and 2,631 (10%) were severely malnourished (NRI < 83.5). Moderate‐to‐severe malnutrition was associated with increased mortality (HR = 1.18, p < .001, 95%CI: 1.13‐1.24), and post‐transplant renal failure requiring dialysis (OR: 1.13, p < .001, 95%CI: 1.03‐1.23).

Conclusion

Malnourishment determined by NRI is independently associated with mortality and post‐transplant dialysis after heart transplant. This is the largest study of NRI in heart transplant recipients.
Walk this way, fly that way: Goniozus jacintae attunes flight and foraging behaviour to leafroller host instar
Authors: Aspin Emma , Keller Michael A. , Yazdani Maryam , Hardy Ian C.W.
Published: February 2021

Parasitoids exhibit distinct behaviours while foraging for their herbivorous hosts. Some are specialised with respect to the host stage they can utilise and even the age of individuals within a single stage. Observing the behavioural response of parasitoids to hosts of varying age may provide more practical understanding of potential biocontrol agents. A wind tunnel experiment was conducted to test for host‐stage dependent foraging behaviour in Goniozus jacintae Farrugia (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), a common but understudied parasitoid of the light brown apple moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), which is a pest of grapevine, Vitis vinifera L. (Vitaceae), and other crops in Australia. Goniozus jacintae was already known to parasitise instars 3‐6 of LBAM, but most readily parasitises the later instars. Later instars are larger and have a higher rate of feeding, producing more faeces and silk deposits than earlier instars, and are likely to also produce more volatile cues that may be detected by parasitoids. We found that the timing, frequency, and duration of foraging behaviours of G. jacintae varied significantly among host instars. Flight duration was shortest when females were exposed to leaves infested by fifth instars. The profile of behaviours exhibited was different during pre‐ and post‐flight foraging, with the newly described slow walking behaviour only exhibited in close proximity to a potential host. These results contribute to the understanding of bethylid foraging, a relatively unexplored aspect of bethylid reproductive behaviour, and towards enhancing the efficacy of utilising G. jacintae in the control of leafroller pests.
Biodiversity and pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi associated with the lesser spruce sawfly, Pristiphora abietina
Authors: Biryol Seda , Araz Nazan , Eski Ardahan , Aktürk Rasim , Aksu Yaşar , Çelik Göktürk Berna , Bilgin Lale , Demir İsmail
Published: February 2021

Outbreaks of lesser spruce sawfly, Pristiphora abietina (Christ) (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), on conifers regularly occur in Turkey and other European countries. Chemical pesticides have been used to contain outbreaks, but those may damage the forest and disturb natural enemies. To minimize the use of chemical pesticides in the management of this forest pest, we identified the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) that naturally occur on P. abietina and tested their efficacy against the pest under laboratory and semi‐field conditions. Using morphological and molecular techniques, 13 EPF isolates were obtained from the pest and identified as Beauveria bassiana (Bals.‐Criv.) Vuill., Beauveria pseudobassiana S.A. Rehner & Humber, and Lecanicillium muscarium (Petch.) Zare & W. Gams. A laboratory screening test at 106 conidia ml−1 showed that all isolates caused 59‐100% mortality after 14 days. Further experiments were performed with the three most effective isolates, all belonging to B. bassiana. For these isolates, an increase in conidia dose increased pest mortality. Also, the ability of horizontal transmission in the pest population was shown. All three isolates were effective in killing P. abietina on spruce under semi‐field conditions. These data will contribute to the development of an integrated pest management program for P. abietina based on microbial biological control.
Lessons From the Field. Family Grief Care and Bibliotherapy: A Call for Models and Studies
Authors: Bowman Ted
Published: February 2021

Objective

For this Lesson From the Field report, I write as a family and grief educator to advocate for greater attention to bibliotherapy by family scientists, therapists, and educators. Bibliotherapy (also referred to as poetry therapy or therapeutic storytelling) is the use of literary resources, storytelling, or writing with the purpose of healing.

Background

Disruptive changes can result in altered personal or family stories. Grief educator Tom Attig (1996) reported that after significant changes, such as bereavement, many persons describe a process of relearning their world. Family therapist Karl Tomm (1990) asserted that a human task throughout life is to story and re‐story. Earlier and current models of family development include milestones of changing family stories (see Duvall, 1962; McGoldrick et al., 2011). A current collective example is personal and family disruptions in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Despite many accounts, journals like Family Relations have rarely explored the intersection of family changes (for this article, the focus is family changes that result in loss and grief) using the perspectives and tools of bibliotherapy.

Method

Disruptive changes and the resulting grief and loss for individuals and families were used as an example of a subject matter worthy of family scientists' attention.

Conclusion and Implications

Family grief care includes attention to changing family stories. Enhanced studies of bibliotherapy by family scientists can inform and enrich support for families through times of grief.
SEL1L degradation intermediates stimulate cytosolic aggregation of polyglutamine‐expanded protein
Authors: Hattori Tokuya , Hanafusa Ken , Wada Ikuo , Hosokawa Nobuko
Published: February 2021

Misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are degraded by ER‐associated degradation (ERAD). In mammalian cells, the HRD1–SEL1L membrane ubiquitin ligase complex plays a central role in this process. However, SEL1L is inherently unstable, and excess SEL1L is also degraded by ERAD. Accordingly, when proteasome activity is inhibited, multiple degradation intermediates of SEL1L appear in the cytosol. In this study, we searched for factors that inhibit SEL1L degradation and identified OS‐9 and XTP3‐B, two ER lectins that regulate glycoprotein ERAD. SEL1L degradation was characterized by a ladder of degradation products, and the C‐terminal Pro‐rich region of SEL1L was responsible for generation of this pattern. In the cytosol, these degradation intermediates stimulated aggregation of polyglutamine‐expanded Huntingtin protein (Htt‐polyQ‐GFP) by interacting with aggregation‐prone proteins, including Htt‐polyQ‐GFP. Collectively, our findings indicate that peptide fragments of ER proteins generated during ERAD may affect protein aggregation in the cytosol, revealing the interconnection of protein homeostasis across subcellular compartments.
Clinical and radiological features of MS, NMOSD, and MOGAD, and evolution of the diagnostic processes in Thailand
Authors: Rattanathamsakul Natthapon , Siritho Sasitorn
Published: February 2021

The prevalence and clinical features of multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody‐associated disease (MOGAD) are similar in the Thai population to those of other Asian countries. These disorders share common features and mimic other conditions, emphasizing the importance of helpful diagnostic tools, including serologic testing and imaging study. Since the establishment of the first laboratory center in Thailand for aquaporin‐4 antibody (AQP4‐Ab) in 2010, seven centers nationwide have provided testing and increased the diagnostic rate in the past decade. The Thai Clinical Practice Guideline for MS and NMOSD was published in 2018, incorporating AQP4‐Ab testing and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in all patients suspected of demyelinating diseases. Herein, we summarize the evolution of processes and obstacles in the diagnosis of demyelinating diseases in Thailand.
A voltage‐dependent Ca2+ homeostat operates in the plant vacuolar membrane
Authors: Dindas Julian , Dreyer Ingo , Huang Shouguang , Hedrich Rainer , Roelfsema M. Rob G.
Published: February 2021

Cytosolic calcium signals are evoked by a large variety of biotic and abiotic stimuli and play an important role in cellular and long distance signalling in plants. While the function of the plasma membrane in cytosolic Ca2+ signalling has been intensively studied, the role of the vacuolar membrane remains elusive.

A newly developed vacuolar voltage clamp technique was used in combination with live‐cell imaging, to study the role of the vacuolar membrane in Ca2+ and pH homeostasis of bulging root hair cells of Arabidopsis.

Depolarisation of the vacuolar membrane caused a rapid increase in the Ca2+ concentration and alkalised the cytosol, while hyperpolarisation led to the opposite responses.

The relationship between the vacuolar membrane potential, the cytosolic pH and Ca2+ concentration suggests that a vacuolar H+/Ca2+ exchange mechanism plays a central role in cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis. Mathematical modelling further suggests that the voltage‐dependent vacuolar Ca2+ homeostat could contribute to calcium signalling when coupled to a recently discovered K+ channel‐dependent module for electrical excitability of the vacuolar membrane.
Aneuploidy and loss of heterozygosity as risk markers for malignant transformation in oral mucosa
Authors: Odell Edward W.
Published: February 2021

The ability to predict malignant transformation in oral potentially malignant disorders would inform targeted treatment, provide prognostic information and allow secondary prevention. DNA ploidy and loss of heterozygosity assays are already in clinical use, and loss of heterozygosity has been used in prospective clinical trials. This review appraises published evidence of predictive ability and explores interpretation of heterogeneous studies, with different diagnostic methods, criteria and intention. Both methods have a sound biological foundation and have predictive value independent of dysplasia grading and clinical parameters. The application of these two techniques cannot be directly compared because of differences in expression of results and application to populations of different risk. Predicting malignant transformation accurately on an individual patient basis is not yet possible with either technique. However, they are valuable applications to stratify patients for inclusion in trials, identify the lowest risk patients and exclude risk when biopsy results are indeterminate for dysplasia.
Citrulluside H and citrulluside T from young watermelon fruit attenuate ultraviolet B radiation‐induced matrix metalloproteinase expression through the scavenging of generated reactive oxygen species in human dermal fibroblasts
Authors: Itoh Tomohiro , Fujita Singo , Koketsu Mamoru , Hashizume Toshiharu
Published: February 2021

Background

Prolonged exposure to UV radiation disrupts the oxidative stress defense systems; in the absence of adequate reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐scavenging mechanisms, the ROS produced cause oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Thus, ROS elimination can protect against photoaging and possibly skin cancer. We recently isolated two novel phenolic glycosides (citrulluside H and citrulluside T) with antioxidative activity from young watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruits. In the present study, we evaluated the protective effect of these compounds against UV‐B–induced photodamage in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs).

Methods

NHDFs were exposed to UV‐B irradiation at 25 mJ/cm2. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1 and MMP‐3 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative real‐time PCR. MMP protein expression, as well as MAPK and NF‐κB signaling, was investigated by Western blot analysis. Activation protein‐1 (AP‐1) transcriptional activity was determined using a luciferase reporter assay. Intracellular ROS levels were measured using the CellROX™ Deep Red Reagent.

Results

Citrulluside H and citrulluside T significantly downregulated the protein and mRNA expression of MMP‐1 and MMP‐3, which are associated with the onset of skin wrinkle formation. Importantly, inhibition of UV‐B–induced MMP expression in NHDFs by citrulluside H and citrulluside T was primarily due to the attenuation of MAPK/AP‐1 and NF‐κB signaling via scavenging of the generated ROS.

Conclusion

Our findings delineated both citrulluside H and citrulluside T as potential agents for alleviating UV‐induced skin photoaging.
Genetic variants of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in cats with mammary gland carcinoma
Authors: Govoni Verônica Mollica , Da Silva Tereza Cristina , Guerra Juliana Mariotti , Pereira Isabel Veloso Alves , Queiroga Felisbina Luisa , Cogliati Bruno
Published: February 2021

Mammary tumours are the first and third most incident neoplasm in women and cats, respectively. Approximately 85% of feline mammary gland tumours are malignant and aggressive, especially the triple‐negative and HER‐2+ molecular subtypes. Triple‐negative basal‐like feline mammary carcinomas (FMCs) are considered suitable models due to the clinical and morphological similarities with human basal‐like triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC). In women, TNBC has a poor prognosis and is often associated with mutations in the tumour suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. In light of this, the aim of the present investigation was to screen somatic and germline variants of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in nine female cats bearing FMCs. Matched whole blood and FMC samples were obtained for genetic analysis. Additional tumour samples were obtained for histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation. Genomic DNA was isolated and 27 exonic regions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes were amplified and screened by next‐generation sequencing. A somatic variant with high functional impact was found in exon 11 of BRCA2 at a frequency of 4.34% in one FMC‐bearing cat. Four germline variants with moderate impact were detected in three of the nine FMC‐bearing cats and were restricted to exon 9 of BRCA1. It is concluded that the germline genetic variants found in one‐third of FMC‐bearing animals might be associated with a higher risk of hereditary mammary carcinogenesis.
The Static Transmission Error of Cracked Spur Gear Teeth Using FEA
Authors: Sirichai Seney , Howard Ian , Morgan Laurie , Teh Kian
Published: February 2021

This paper considers a Finite Element Model which is used to predict the torsional mesh stiffness and static transmission error of a pair of spur gears in mesh. The model involves the use of 2D plain strain elements, coupled with contact elements at the points of contact between the meshing teeth. A simple strategy of how to determine an appropriate value of the penalty parameter of the contact elements (gap element) is also presented. When gears are unloaded, a pinion and gear with perfect involute profiles, should theoretically run with zero transmission error. However, when gears with involute profiles are loaded, the individual torsional mesh stiffness of each gear changes throughout the mesh cycle, causing variations in angular rotation of the gear body and subsequent transmission error. The theoretical changes in the torsional mesh stiffness throughout the mesh cycle are developed using finite element analysis and related to the static transmission error. A 5mm through thickness tooth crack is also modelled, and the comparison of the torsional mesh stiffness and static transmission error with and without the tooth crack is discussed.
Some Comments on the Differential Model of Hysteresis
Authors: Liu Y. H. , Tuan G. , Foliente G. C. , Ma F.
Published: February 2021

The differential model of hysteresis has found general acceptance in computational mechanics. Shapes of hysteresis loops generated by the model depend on both the loop parameters and external excitation. In this paper, sensitivity of the differential model to various constituent parameters is studied. A more robust model of hysteresis can be constructed if sensitivity to loop parameters and excitation can be better understood.
Agent Support for Collaborative Design
Authors: Jha Krishna N. , Morris Andrea , Mytych Ed , Spering Judith
Published: February 2021

Extensive collaboration among multiple distributed design groups is required to design aircraft parts. Achieving such a collaboration manually is time-consuming, expensive, and inefficient; but the cost of ignoring or minimizing it is much higher in terms of delayed and/or inferior quality products. We describe a multi-agent-based approach to support the desired collaboration among the design groups during the preliminary design (PD) process. A variety of agents including interface agents and control agents are used to model the various collaboration functionalities. The agent-representation includes a formal representation of the task-structures. A web-based user-interface provides high-level interface to the users. The agents collaborate to produce optimized and feasible designs.
Optimal Motion Planning for Deposition in Layered Manufacturing
Authors: Kao Ju-Hsien , Prinz Fritz B.
Published: February 2021

The quality of material produced by layered manufacturing (LM) is closely related to the topology and fairness of deposition paths. A poorly planned path often results in voids or gaps between adjacent passes or layers. However, there are virtually no solutions to producing a completely smooth, connected spiral path that fills entirely a given arbitrary cross-sectional geometry without overlapping.

In this paper, we relax the constraints of cross-sectional shapes and propose a shape optimization algorithm based on its skeleton. The shape is optimized in a way that high-quality spiral deposition paths can be produced. The resulting paths are computed based on the geometry skeleton, instead of common recursive-offset algorithms.
A Modular Composable Software Architecture for the Simulation of Mechatronic Systems
Authors: Díaz-Calderón Antonio , Paredis Christiaan J. J.
Published: February 2021

This paper presents a software architecture for composing complete system-level simulations of mechatronic systems. The proposed architecture will provide the designer with the infrastructure to rapidly create simulations of alternative designs. The architecture promotes modularity and composability through the use of the design entity. Moreover, the architecture supports hierarchical modeling and provides the infrastructure to seamlessly integrate mechanics models with electronics and information technology models. Finally, the architecture facilitates distributed computing to take full advantage of the power of networked computers. This paper introduces the individual concepts of our architecture, and illustrates them in the design of a missile seeker.