bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The advertisement call of Physalaemus ephippifer (Anura: Leiuperidae) from Brazilian Amazonia
Authors: KAEFER IGOR L. , ERDTMANN LUCIANA K. , LIMA ALBERTINA P.
Published: May 2021

Physalaemus is recognized as an important system for the study of mechanisms and evolution of animal communication, especially because of studies involving the P. pustulosus species group. Physalaemus ephippifer is considered, together with P. fischeri (enesefae) and an undescribed species, to be the most similar species to the P. pustulosus group in external morphology, osteology, and characteristics of the call. Because of this, P. ephippifer has been included as an outgroup in studies to interpret patterns of signal-receiver evolution in the genus. Whereas details of the advertisement call structure of P. fischeri have been described (Tárano 2001), information (e.g., detailed graphic representation and range of variation) on P. ephippifer calls remains unavailable.
Rediscovery of the holotype of Trochilus maria Gosse, 1849 (Aves: Apodiformes: Trochilidae)
Authors: GRAVES GARY R. , PRYS-JONES ROBERT P.
Published: May 2021

Trochilus maria Gosse, 1849, was described from a specimen obtained by Richard Hill from the “mountains of Manchester,” most likely the Don Figueroa Mountains in Manchester Parish, Jamaica (Rapkin, 1851). Gosse (1849a: 258) quoted field notes from Hill stating that the specimen “was startled from a nest in which were two young ones, and was obtained by charging some of the blossoms of the mountain-pride (Spathelia simplex) on which it was feeding, with minute doses of strychnine. As soon as it sucked from one of the poisoned chalices, it fluttered, and fell dead.” Gosse (1849a: 258) provided a detailed plumage description (see below) and summarized, “It is near to Polytmus, but differs from it in the inferior length of its beak, and in the colours of the plumage; but being apparently young, it is impossible to say what the adult condition may prove. I am happy however to fortify my own judgment by that of Mr. Gould, who on my showing it to him decidedly pronounced it new.”
A new species of Polymorphus Lühe, 1911 (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae) in Black Coot, Fulica atra (Aves: Rallidae), Pakistan
Authors: BIRMANI NADIR ALI , DHAREJO ALI MURTAZA , KHAN MUHAMMAD MUNIF
Published: May 2021

As a consequence of geographical and climate factors, a high percentage of Pakistan’s bird fauna is migratory with a great number of Palearctic winter visitors which come to exploit the improved availability of food. Palearctic winter visitors normally are species, mainly from Soviet Union, represented by non-breeding individuals. The Black Coot, Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 (Gruiformes: Rallidae), comes to Pakistan from Siberia in winter (October–March) each year. Fulica atra is an omnivore that feeds on pondweeds, invertebrates, seeds, fruit and variety of small live prey, including eggs of other water birds. Birds are found mainly on freshwater lakes, reservoirs, rivers and town park lakes and they have also been found living in man-made ponds in Pakistan. These habitats provide favorable environment for breeding as well as the development of populations of snails, crustaceans and insect fauna, which enhances likelihood of acquiring parasitic infection.
Efficacy of hydrofibre dressing following total joint arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Mundi Raman , Chaudhry Harman , Ekhtiari Seper , Ajrawat Prabjit , Tushinski Daniel M , Wood Thomas J , Bhandari Mohit
Published: May 2021

Introduction:

In the United States, over 1,000,000 total joint arthroplasty (TJA) surgeries are performed annually and has been forecasted that this number will exceed 4,000,000 by the year 2030. Many different types of dressing exist for use in TJA surgery, and it is unclear if any of the newer, hydrofibre dressings are superior to traditional dressings at reducing rates of infections or improving wound healing. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the impact of hydrofiber dressings on reducing complications.

Methods:

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using the online databases MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing hydrofibre dressings to a standard dressing were included. Summary measures are reported as odds ratios (ORs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Our primary outcome was prosthetic joint infection (PJI). Secondary outcomes included blisters, dressing changes and wound irritation.

Results:

5 RCTs were included. Hydrofibre dressing had no observable effect on PJI or wound irritation (OR 0.53; 95% CI, 0.14–1.98; p = 0.35). Hydrofibre dressings reduced the rate of blisters (OR 0.36; 95% CI, 0.14–0.90; p = 0.03) and number of dressing changes (MD -1.89; 95% CI, -2.68 to -1.11).

Conclusions:

In conclusion, evidence suggests hydrofibre dressings have no observable effect on PJI and wound irritation. Evidence for reduction in blisters and number of dressings is modest given wide CIs and biased trial methodologies. Use of hydrofibre dressings should be considered inconclusive for mitigating major complications in light of current best evidence.
The association between femoral neck shaft angle and degenerative disease of the hip in a cadaveric model
Authors: Tu Leigh-Anne , Weinberg Douglas S , Liu Raymond W
Published: May 2021

Background:

While the influences of acetabular dysplasia and overcoverage on hip arthritis have been studied, the impact of femoral neck-shaft angle on hip arthritis is much more poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to determine if a relationship exists between neck shaft angle and the development of osteoarthritis, a better understanding of which would be useful to surgeons planning osteotomies about the hip.

Methods:

533 cadaveric femora and acetabulae (1066 total) from the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection (Cleveland, OH) were acquired. We measured true neck shaft angle using an AP photograph with the femoral neck parallel to the table. Femoral head volume to acetabular volume ratio, representing femoral head coverage, as well as femoral version were utilised. Correlation between neck shaft angle, femoral version, femoral head coverage and osteoarthritis were evaluated with multiple regression analysis.

Results:

The mean age and standard deviation was 56 ± 10 years. There were 64 females (12%) and 469 males. There were 380 Caucasians (71%) and 153 African-Americans. Mean femoral version was 11° ± 12° and mean true neck shaft angle was 127.7° ± 5.9° There was a strong correlation between age and arthritis (standardised beta 0.488, p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between increasing true neck shaft angle and decreasing hip arthritis (standardised beta -0.024, p = 0.038). In the femoral head overcoverage subset, increasing true neck shaft angle was still significantly associated with decreasing hip arthritis (standardised beta −0.088, p = 0.018), although this relationship was not significant with femoral head undercoverage subset.

Conclusions:

With sufficient acetabular coverage, a relative increase in femoral neck shaft angle within the physiologic range is associated with decreased hip osteoarthritis.

Clinical relevance:

An understanding of the relationship between femoral neck shaft angle and hip osteoarthritis could be useful for surgeons planning pelvic or proximal femur osteotomies in children.
Implant survival and functional results of endoprosthetic reconstruction for proximal femoral metastases with pathological fractures
Authors: Sofulu Omer , Sirin Evrim , Saglam Fevzi , Tokyay Abbas , Igrek Servet , Erol Bulent
Published: May 2021

Background:

This study aimed to evaluate the patient and implant survival, clinical and functional outcomes, and the rate of complications resulting in reconstruction failure following endoprosthetic reconstruction (EPR) of extensive proximal femoral metastases associated with actual or impending pathological fractures.

Methods:

A total of 111 patients with actual or impending pathological fractures due to metastatic disease of the proximal femur were treated with EPR between 2003 and 2018. Staged surgery, bilateral EPR, was performed in 3 cases. The patients comprised 51 females and 60 males with a mean age of 52.1 ± 12.3 years. The patient and implant survival were recorded. Clinical and functional outcomes were assessed by using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Musculoskeletal Tumour Society (MSTS) functional scoring, and Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS). The different types of abductor mechanism repair were evaluated by functional tests and existence of Trendelenburg gait at postoperative follow-ups. The complications resulting in reconstruction failure were investigated.

Results:

The mean follow-up was 23.1 ± 17.9 months. The overall survival of patients after EPR was 89% at 6 months, 72% at 1 year and 10% at 5 years. The estimated 1- and 5-year overall implant survival was 100% and 97.3% (95% CI, 0.95–0.98), respectively, as the endpoint was defined as complete removal of the prosthesis. Median VAS score before endoprosthetic replacement was 8 and after 3 months 4. Before surgery, the median MSTS score was 40 (30–56.6%) and the median KPS score was 40 (30–50). Postoperative third month, the median MSTS score was 56.6 (53.3–86.6%) and the median KPS score was 60 (40–70). Functional scores were superior in trochanter major split osteotomized group compared to trochanter major removed group. Trendelenburg gait was seen in 20 (17.5%) patients postoperatively. There were 10 (8.7%) complications resulting in reconstruction failure.

Conclusion:

Endoprosthetic replacement can provide a durable fixation with high implant survival rate and good clinical and functional results in extensive proximal femoral metastases associated with a pathological fracture.
Thermal resistance of masonry walls: a literature review on influence factors, evaluation, and improvement
Authors: Ismaiel Maysoun , Chen Yuxiang , Cruz-Noguez Carlos , Hagel Mark
Published: May 2021

Increasing the thermal resistance of masonry wall systems is one of the effective ways to reduce energy consumption in the operation of masonry buildings. This increase is also demanded by newer, more stringent energy codes. However, the effective thermal resistance ( R-value) of masonry walls is affected by many factors, such as thermal bridging, which occurs in places where highly conductive structural components penetrate insulating materials. Thermal bridging is common when connecting masonry veneers to structural backup walls. Furthermore, quick and precise methods for estimating the R-value are needed for thermal design improvements and code-compliance calculations. This study presents a comprehensive literature review on key factors that influence the overall thermal performance of masonry walls, methods to effectively estimate and measure R-values, and improvements in thermal design. In addition to identifying the main technical and practical challenges and the corresponding progress made on each front, key design considerations, such as code compliance, material properties, insulation types, and location, as well as special ties and shelf angles types, are also discussed. This study summarizes critical information and recommendations that will help improve the thermal design of masonry walls, hence reducing the energy consumption of buildings.
Influence of Salt Stress on Different Pepper Genotypes: Ion Homeostasis, Antioxidant Defense, and Secondary Metabolites
Authors: Kusvuran Sebnem , Kiran Sevinc , Altuntas Ozlem
Published: May 2021

Salt stress, one of the most serious abiotic stresses, leads to a reduction in plant growth, development, and yield in many parts of the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the morphological, physiological, and biochemical salinity tolerance of nine local Turkish pepper genotypes and one variety. Greenhouse plants at the four-leaf stage were subjected to salt stress by adding a total of 150 mM NaCl to the nutrient solution over three days. The growth parameters, ion regulation, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidative enzyme activities were investigated, as were the malondialdehyde, flavonoid, and phenolic contents. The growth parameters, K+ and Ca2+ contents, and total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents decreased under salt stress. Conversely, the Na+ and Cl– contents and the total flavonoid and phenolic compounds increased under salt stress in all of the genotypes; lipid peroxidation also increased in all genotypes. Antioxidant enzyme activities, however, increased more under salt stress in the tolerant genotypes than it did in the less tolerant plants. The results show that genotypes BIB-6 and BIB-8 were more salt tolerant than the other genotypes and have high potential as genetic material in future breeding programs.
Medical Image of the Month: Perforated Gangrenous Cholecystitis
Authors:   Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ USA, Blackley Lauren , Chopra Madhav , El-Aini Tammer
Published: May 2021

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. Clinical Scenario: A 47-year-old lady with a past medical history of hypertension, DVT on Xarelto, and methamphetamine use presented with a 3-day history of progressive right upper quadrant pain. Physical examination demonstrated marked right upper quadrant tenderness with palpation and significant rebound tenderness. A CT of the abdomen and pelvis without intravenous contrast demonstrated findings consistent with acute calculus cholecystitis with evidence of perforation and a pericholecystic abscess. The patient was taken emergently to the operating room where she underwent an open cholecystectomy which demonstrated perforated gangrenous cholecystitis with a large abscess in the gallbladder fossa. She was admitted to the ICU post-operatively due septic shock and did well with fluid resuscitation and antibiotic administration. Discussion: Acute cholecystitis is the most common acute complication of cholelithiasis and accounts for 3-9% of hospital admissions for acute abdominal pain. Eight to 95% of cases of acute cholecystitis are the result of a …
An Assessment of Why UK Creative Departments Lose Talented Women: The Lost Girls
Authors: Ellis Kathryn
Published: May 2021

Abstract: In the UK, our advertising agency creative departments are losing out on up to 50% of junior female talent graduating from directly relevant creative higher education courses, a group this research terms "The Lost Girls." Statistics from this study and others show women are more likely to graduate from creative advertising, art, and design programs, but far less likely to secure permanent jobs as art directors and copywriters than their male peers. This article contends that drop out of entry-level female talent is a significant contributing factor to the notable gender imbalance in UK advertising agency creative departments. Based on in-depth interviews and small focus groups with a number of women in various positions, from advertising students to creative directors, this study explores potential reasons for the loss of talent and how industry and educational institutions can collaborate to help more women get into and thrive in advertising agency creative careers.
Roundtable on Disability and Advertising, Part I
Authors: Ellis Katie , Hall Kathleen , Haller Beth , Loebner Josh , Mallon Christina , Timke Edward
Published: May 2021

Abstract: A panel of academics and industry leaders came together to discuss the topic of disability and advertising. In Part I of this roundtable, participants discuss many topics: defining what disability means from cultural, social, and legal perspectives; how disability is factored into design; how to confront awkwardness people have in talking about disability; negative representations of disability, but also positive representations that emerge when the disabled community collaborates with advertising creators; the story behind Microsoft's XBox Adaptive Controller Super Bowl ad; how reaching and respecting disabled consumers is good for business; advertising's power to change perceptions about disabilities; the negative impact of representing disabilities through the trope of inspiration porn; advertisers' missteps in representing disabilities; and how advertisements impact how people see disabled people as desirable and how disabled people see themselves as desirable.
Disability, Advertising, and Design: An Interview with KR Liu and Christina Mallon
Authors: Liu KR , Mallon Christina , Loebner Josh , Timke Edward
Published: May 2021

Abstract: KR Liu (Head of Brand Accessibility at Google, Brand Studio) and Christina Mallon (Head of Inclusive Design and Accessibility at Wunderman Thompson Global and Chief Brand Officer of Open Style Lab) talk with Josh Loebner (Director of Strategy at Designsensory and Adweek contributing writer) about disability, advertising, and design. Many topics were covered during their conversation: the importance of community in spreading more respectful messages about and to disabled people; the need to destigmatize disabilities in design, advertising, and marketing; how accessible design can lead to societal change; the potential and limits of human-centered design; the importance of including disability perspectives in preparing creative briefs; the need to include disability in defining diversity; disability-related barriers in advertising and how to overcome them; how advertisers can dispel misunderstandings about disability; and the power of advertising to normalize disability in society.
Debates on Digital Advertising Strategies: An Experiential Approach to Encourage Critical Thinking
Authors: Razi Sajna
Published: May 2021

Abstract: The digital world we live in today presents opportunities as well as challenges. As marketers, digital and social media platforms facilitate a vast reach to global consumers and enable fast ways to approach them with diverse content. But consumers with their own biases and influenced by geography, culture, and society may differentially interpret strategies and content. As future leaders, it is increasingly important for our students to understand diversity of thought and gain skills to address this with an open mind. Having the skills to critically analyze and objectively evaluate a situation through differing viewpoints and overcoming personal biases are increasingly important for future success in life and one's career. At the same time, experiential learning techniques which foster fun learning experiences can help increase a student's engagement. This article details a debate approach for analyzing digital advertising and marketing strategies in a digital/social media marketing class. A multi-format debate technique is used to facilitate higher-order critical thinking skills and improve interactivity among students. A step-by-step detailed lesson plan, learning goals, assessment rubrics, and instructions to adapt debates to online formats are provided for educators' use.
Key Concepts in Advertising: Dramatic Realism
Authors: Timke Edward
Published: May 2021

Abstract: Key Concepts in Advertising articles provide short lectures on important concepts to help understand advertising's place in society, culture, history, and the economy. This article focuses on the concept of dramaticrealism, which is defined and applied extensively in historian Roland Marchand's book Advertising the American Dream . A series of short videos provide background information about Marchand's book, define dramatic realism, and encourage viewers to apply the concept in their own creation and analysis of advertisements. In the end, viewers learn that dramatic realism reveals how ads represent everyday life and its problems. It draws attention to how advertisements can underscore the usefulness of a product or service by relying on anxieties and fears, as well as human wishes to be liked, included, and seen as desirable. A recommended reading list provides other sources to learn more about the concept and its associated topics.
Key Concepts in Advertising: Discourse
Authors: Timke Edward
Published: May 2021

Abstract: Key Concepts in Advertising articles provide short lectures on an important concept to help understand advertising's place in society, culture, history, and the economy. This article focuses on the concept of discourse, which can be defined as a culturally and socially sanctioned way of communicating about a topic. A series of short videos provide background information about the idea of discourse, define discourse, and encourage viewers to apply the concept in their own creation and analysis of advertisements. In the end, viewers learn that discourse reveals how to unpack advertisements' explicit and implicit messages as well as how advertising might be a force of restraint and conformity as well as a site of resistance and change. A recommended reading list provides other sources to learn more about the concept and its associated topics.
Digital Collection: 40 Years of Advertising the MLK Holiday
Authors: West E. James
Published: May 2021

Abstract: Building on the sample of advertisements featured in the accompanying Advertising & Society Quarterly article "His Light Still Shines: Corporate Advertisers and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday," this digital collection provides a cross-section of MLK Daythemed or inspired advertisements from 1981 to the present found largely in Black magazines. Collectively, these adverts and advertising features showcase the multivalent ways in which American companies—from multinational corporations to local businesses and commercial vendors—have attempted to walk the tightrope between commemorating and commercializing King, and between acknowledging and appropriating his activism and political legacy.
Vibration compensation method based on instantaneous ranging model for triangular FMCW ladar signals
Authors: Wang Rongrong , Wang Bingnan , Xiang Maosheng , Li Chuang , Wang Shuai
Published: May 2021

Triangular frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) laser radars (ladars) are extremely sensitive to vibration errors. An FMCW ladar 3D imaging system may suffer from severe vibrations and can use only one-period echoes for the ranging of each observation spot; consequently, it can provide only few measurement results. These vibrations may cause large errors because conventional vibration compensation methods are ineffective when applied to fast disturbances with limited measurement results. To solve this problem, we analyze the influence of vibrations on FMCW ladar ranging and propose a vibration compensation method based on an instantaneous ranging model for one-period triangular FMCW ladar signals. We first use a synchrosqueezing wavelet transform to extract time-frequency curves of the up- and down-dechirp signals and then build an instantaneous ranging model that can characterize local vibration errors. Based on the instantaneous ranges, we remove the disturbance vibration errors by taking the mean values of the instantaneous ranges and obtain the target range by using the triangular relations of the up and down observations. Experiments based on synthetic and real data verify the effectiveness of the proposed method and its superiority over the three-point method and Doppler shift method in compensating for vibrations with different frequencies and noise levels.
Compact and fast depth sensor based on a liquid lens using chromatic aberration to improve accuracy
Authors: Jung Gyu Suk , Won Yong Hyub
Published: May 2021

Depth from defocus (DFD) obtains depth information using two defocused images, making it possible to obtain a depth map with high resolution equal to that of the RGB image. However, it is difficult to change the focus mechanically in real-time applications, and the depth range is narrow because it is inversely proportional to the depth accuracy. This paper presents a compact DFD system based on a liquid lens that uses chromatic aberration for real-time application and depth accuracy improvement. The electrical focus changing of a liquid lens greatly shortens the image-capturing time, making it suitable for real-time applications as well as helping with compact lens design. Depth accuracy can be improved by dividing the depth range into three channels using chromatic aberration. This work demonstrated the improvement of depth accuracy through theory and simulation and verified it through DFD system design and depth measurement experiments of real 3D objects. Our depth measurement system showed a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.7 mm to 4.98 mm compared to 2.275 mm to 12.3 mm in the conventional method, for the depth measurement range of 30 cm to 70 cm. Only three lenses are required in the total optical system. The response time of changing focus by the liquid lens is 10 ms, so two defocused images for DFD can be acquired within a single frame period of real-time operations. Lens design and image processing were conducted using Zemax and MATLAB, respectively.
CMOS monolithic photodetector with a built-in 2-dimensional light direction sensor for laser diode based underwater wireless optical communications
Authors: Lv Zhijian , He Gui , Qiu Chengfeng , Fan Youyou , Wang Hongyi , Liu Zhaojun
Published: May 2021

Underwater wireless optical communications (UWOC) are considered an emerging high-speed wireless network for underwater applications and compete with underwater radio frequency (RF) communications and underwater acoustic communications (UAC). Even though the utilization of laser diodes (LDs) enhances the -3dB modulation bandwidth extraordinarily from a few tens of MHz to GHz, LDs have the features of high collimation and narrow spectrum. Without the point-to-point optical alignment, the performance of the LD-based UWOC system drops exponentially because the received optical power determines the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the UWOC system. To achieve a high-performance and reliable UWOC link based on LDs requires focusing optics and an alignment system. In this paper, we demonstrated a CMOS monolithic photodetector with a built-in 2-dimensional light direction sensor for the UWOC link by using a 450 nm LD and none-return-to-zero on-off keying (NRZ-OOK) modulation method. Employing this innovative technique, the field of view (FOV) was enlarged to 120°, and data rates up to 110 Mb/s at a bit error rate (BER) of 2.3×10−10 were obtained. The establishment of a proposed UWOC physical link showed enhanced communication performance for more practical and robust wireless communication applications.
Avaliação do Sistema Aquífero Serra Geral com um modelo de dupla porosidade baseado na análise de testes de bombeamento
Authors: Severgnini Bianca Regina , Bortolin Taison Anderson , Roehe Reginato Pedro Antônio
Published: May 2021

O Sistema Aquífero Serra Geral (SASG) é composto por aquíferos fraturados associados às estruturas existentes nas rochas vulcânicas, sendo um sistema heterogêneo e anisotrópico. Por esse motivo, os métodos de Cooper & Jacob e Theis costumam não ser eficazes em traduzir as descontinuidades do meio e podem levar a avaliações incertas. A utilização de outros métodos, como os de Warren & Root e de Moench aplicados para aquíferos de dupla porosidade, podem representar uma alternativa para a avaliação desse tipo de aquífero. Dentro desse contexto, o objetivo do estudo foi determinar a eficiência do uso de modelos de dupla porosidade na avaliação de aquíferos fraturados, comparando com os modelos clássicos, através da análise dos ajustes dos dados teóricos aos dados de rebaixamento obtidos em campo. Os dados analisados provêm de testes de bombeamento com poços de observação realizados em uma bacia hidrográfica no município de Caxias do Sul – RS, na qual há a ocorrência do SASG. Os ajustes obtidos através dos métodos de dupla porosidade revelaram que estes apresentam boa adequabilidade no ajuste das curvas de rebaixamento podendo ser empregados para análise de parâmetros hidrodinâmicos de aquíferos fraturados, tal como o SASG. Destaca-se o método de Moench, cujos erros foram 90% inferiores do que os apresentados pelos métodos clássicos, mostrando que estes últimos são menos eficazes na avaliação do comportamento hidrodinâmico da água em meios heterogêneos e anisotrópicos.
Forgetting social value and other good practices in construction supply chains: Procurement in pandemics
Authors:   School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, UK, Watt Greg
Published: May 2021

The construction industry is a major contributor to the UK economy and provides additional benefits for wider society including the creation of social value. The creation of social value is highly dependent upon the construction industry supply chain which can been described as fragmented, adversarial and wasteful. Supply chain collaboration has been improving in recent times with increased trust and communication helping to successfully deliver project requirements, including the creation of social value. However, progression in construction supply chain collaboration was made pre Covid-19, the consequential UK Government enforced lockdown, and resulting recession. As we are now in the immediate aftermath of the initial impacts of the pandemic, this paper aims to understand if the lockdown and proceeding recession has resulted in any supply chain procurement behaviour changes of Quantity Surveying professionals, and how such changes may impact upon social value creation. Semi structured interviews were conducted with seventeen main contractor Quantity Surveyors and the results analysed using narrative analysis. The results revealed that whilst there is a lack of supply chain collaboration generally, progress has been made in building trust and communication amongst the supply chain to help create social value. However, changes in supply chain management behaviours post pandemic now risk undermining social value creation in the construction industry.
A motivational framework for women to work in the construction industry: An Indonesian case study
Authors:   Universitas Agung Podomoro, Indonesia, Hansen Seng , Rostiyanti Susy F. ,   Universitas Agung Podomoro, Indonesia, Nafthalie Angelia ,   Universitas Agung Podomoro, Indonesia
Published: May 2021

The poor level of women’s participation in the construction industry has been a concern for many years. In fact, women represent less than 3% of the total workers in the Indonesian construction industry. On the other hand, the industry is experiencing a worker shortage causing it to innovatively attract construction workers by increasing women’s participation in the industry. Thus, this paper aims to understand the motivating factors for women to work in the construction industry. It adopts multi-sequence research techniques including integrative literature review, expert interviews and questionnaire surveys to collect data for the study. The data was then analysed using relative importance index and factor analysis. The findings were discussed and synthesised to develop a motivational framework for women to work in the construction industry. While this framework was developed based on the Indonesian context, it can serve as a theoretical foundation for further research regarding women’s participation in the construction industry.
Understanding the barriers to women’s career in construction industry: Indonesian perspective
Authors:   Universitas Agung Podomoro, Indonesia, Rostiyanti Susy F. , Hansen Seng ,   Universitas Agung Podomoro, Indonesia, Harison Steven ,   Universitas Agung Podomoro, Indonesia
Published: May 2021

Women’s involvement in the Indonesian construction industry is considerably low accounting for less than 3% of the total workers. Construction as a male-dominated industry becomes a barrier for women to join the workforce. The increase in the need for workforces is proportional to the growth in construction development. The needs cannot only be provided by male workers. Women's participation in the construction industry will contribute to the shortage of human capital demand. The aim of this research is to find the factors that impede women to pursue their careers in the construction industry. 21 factors are gathered from an extensive literature review. After conducting expert interviews, the factors are developed into a questionnaire and distributed to women who are already in the workforce. The analysis based on the Relative Important Index shows that the most influential barrier to women in construction is the lack of worksite security. The factor analysis found five critical barriers to women’s careers in the construction industry. Developing these barriers to a framework gives a broader perspective about the sources of each critical barrier. Internal as well as external elements including worksite, organization, and the industry itself have been the cause that prevents women to pursue their careers in the construction industry.
Project manager personality traits towards project success: Moderated role of working experience in perspectives of small public construction projects in Malaysia
Authors:   School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains  Malaysia, Noor Syaharudin Shah Mohd , Esa Muneera ,   School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains  Malaysia, Kamal Ernawati Mustafa ,   School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains  Malaysia, Mansor Aida Azlina ,   Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA
Published: May 2021

Project success requires organisations and project managers to change strategies to satisfy stakeholders. Research into project success needs comprehensive analysis and approaches in various contexts, especially touching on non-technical skills (personality). This study aims to focus on examining the association of Project Manager Personality Traits (PMPTs) to the success of Small Public Construction Projects (SPCPs) and moderated by working experience. A survey was carried out to collect data using a structured Big Five Inventory (BFI) and Project Success Achieved Instrument (PSAI) questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used on a sample of 137 respondents for hypotheses testing and moderation effect analysis. Results show that PMPTs had a positive impact on the success of SPCPs. Conscientiousness (CT) and Agreeableness (AG) traits influence were more prominent when compared with other traits. While working experience does not moderate the relationship between PMPTs and the success of SPCPs. This study reflected the theoretical research of personality traits and their impact on the construction management industry. There have been limited studies of project success in the relationship with the BFI in the past, especially in the SPCPs context. The present study provides a basis for researchers interested in this area to examine further the use of BFI and PSAI as resources in other industries. Practically these findings may enable government or authorities to better align and suit project managers and their assigned project-based levels, where project managers are located in ministries overseeing small-scale projects. This study contributes theoretically to SPCPs literature by offering insights into project manager personality affecting project success and focus on selected agency in Malaysia.
The Council on Foreign Relations, the Biden Team, and Key Policy Outcomes
Authors: Shoup Laurence H.
Published: May 2021

We can analyze the new Biden administration, its personnel, and the policies it is likely to follow, especially on the all-important questions of the climate crisis and U.S. grand strategy toward China, by looking at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Decision support system model using FIS Mamdani for determining tire pressure
Authors: Rusliyawati Rusliyawati , Wantoro Agus
Published: May 2021

Tire air pressure is very important in driving, providing comfort, safety, and efficiency in fuel consumption. This study aims to create a model that can determine the measurement of tire air pressure. The model was developed based on the Mamdani FIS with five input parameters: load weight (load capacity), weather, mileage, rim diameter, and tire thickness. Mamdani inference generates front and rear tire air pressure. The calculation of tire pressure using the system was compared with a manual that only considers the vehicle load. This comparison shows the difference in the mean size of 1.24% for the front tire pressure and 2.17% for the rear tire. The system can provide recommendations for tire air pressure by considering several parameters in addition to vehicle load.
Responses and screening of white jute (Corchorus capsularis L.) genotypes against salinity stresses
Authors: Jui Sadia Afrin , Mukul Md. Mia , Rashid Md. Harun Or , Nur Iffat Jahan , Ghosh Ranjit Kumar , Mostofa Md. Golam , Akter Nargis , Sultan Md. Tipu
Published: May 2021

Soil salinity, a serious threat to jute cultivation in saline areas (southern parts) of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) has developed a moderately salt tolerant White Jute variety (BJRI Deshi pat-8; BJC 2197) in 2013 which can’t grow well in saline areas having more than 8.0 dSm-1 salinity stress. Hence, 23 whitejute accessions and one control variety (BJC 2197) were tested to isolate the salt tolerant accession(s) for hybridization purpose followed by augmented design in farmers’ field having nearly 8.0-9.0 dSm-1 salinity at Patuakhali district during mid-March to mid-August 2019. The experimental plot size was 3.0 m2 (3 m × 1 m) for each genotype having 3 lines of 1.0 m length, plant-plant: 10-15 cm and line- line: 30 cm distance. Soil salinity was recorded during sowing, vegetative and plant maturity stages. In this study, the highest plant height 2.84 m was recorded in Acc. 2750 followed by Acc. 2589 (2.76 m) and Acc. 1779 (2.69 m). The highest fiber yield (9.0 g plant-1) was observed in Acc. 1779 followed by Acc. 2589 (8.40 g plant-1) and Acc. 2750 (8.0 g plant-1). The lowest plant mortality rate (2.5%) was found in Acc.2750 followed by Acc.1779 (6.24%), Acc. 1780 (7.50), Acc. 3556 (11.10%), Acc. 2589 (11.20%) and BJC 2197 (16.5%). Few seeds were germinated in Acc. 3020 and Acc. 3658 but plants were died after 20 days of sowing. Six genotypes of cluster I showed higher diversity in Euclidean cluster analysis. The Acc. 2750, Acc. 1779, Acc. 2589 of cluster I having relative salinity tolerance and good fiber yield capacity would be grown in next year for confirmation as well as hybridization with the existing salinity susceptible variety to develop high yielding white jute variety for saline areas.
Antimycotic potential of Kawayang tinik against pathogenic fungal species
Authors: Saducos Abegail G
Published: May 2021

The importance of discovering and obtaining new, natural and sustainable sources of potential drugs have been the focus of scientific communities due to the emergence of increasing cases of microbial resistance, one of the biggest health threats in our society today. This study aimed to determine the antimycotic potential of Bambusa blumeana (kawayang tinik) specifically its leaf, rhizome, root, inner culm and outer culm extracts using the agar well diffusion assay. Results of the study revealed that all kawayang tinik extracts produced statistically equal size zone of inhibition (ZOI) against Aspergillus niger at 1 mg/ ml concentration while the ethanolic root and leaf extracts showed larger ZOI against Penicillium chrysogenum compared to other kawayang tinik extracts. Furthermore, the results of the antifungal assay showed comparable activity of kawayang tinik extracts to Fluconazole, a pharmaceutically approved antifungal drug, at 1 mg/ml concentration. Phytochemical studies further revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenols, sterols, triterpenes and flavonoids in its different parts which may support its potential antimycotic properties.
The Effect of Demographic Variables on Price Sensitivity of Customers A Field Study
Authors: Nassar Yehia , Gad Ghada , Kortam Wael
Published: May 2021

This study aims to improve understanding of the relationship between some customer demographic variables which are gender, income level, family life cycle and age. And price sensitivity of customers which is an individual difference variable describing how individual consumers show their reactions to changes in price levels. This study will be applied in Fast Moving Consumer goods (FMCG) industry in Egypt. Fast Moving Consumer goods are the products which have high usage frequency, have limited shelf life (up to two years max) for example Biscuits, chocolates, personal care, hair care and dental care products. The consumption of these products is high and that’s why these products move fast from retailers to consumers.
David Versus Goliath: The Competitiveness Of Africa’s Local Enterprises In The Global Economy
Authors: OGBOR John O. , IYAMABHOR Martins , AWOSIGHO Onome Precious
Published: May 2021

As a result of the dynamics of globalization, the variegated economies of the world have become more homogenous, integrated, interrelated and interdependent. However, rather than becoming a veritable player in a network of interrelationship and interdependency, the African economy has increasingly become a powerless spectator in the theatre of globalization. Although there is a great deal of literature and research in this area of international business, most of it has concentrated on the multinational corporations and their effects on the host country’s economy. Research and literature in this field have mainly looked at protective measures and subsidies as the way out of foreign competition; it has rarely addressed competitive strategic responses of local firms to foreign multinational corporations operating in the local economies. Anchored on the resource-based view of the firm and the network interaction theory, the paper provides an alternative framework or a paradigm shift for analyzing the competitive options available to Africa’s local firms in a global market. From this paradigm shift, the competitive advantages of Africa’s local firms are conceptualized to be (i) a function of firm specific assets and (ii) the prevailing home market conditions. The method of inquiry adopted in this paper is textual deconstruction. The major contribution of this study to the existing globalization discourse is its shift of focus from the multinational corporation to the analysis of global competition from the perspective of the competitiveness of enterprises in less developed economies such as Africa. The suggested framework and paradigm shift can also be used by scholars to map strategic options for local enterprises in selected markets. Future research can subject the suggested framework to empirical scrutiny to see how well the arguments hold.
Correlational Evaluation of Cost Management and Supply Chain Performance of Food and Beverages Firms in Port Harcourt
Authors: Cyril Ibama Awoiyim , Okwandu Gabriel A. , Adiele Kenneth. C.
Published: May 2021

This study adopted a correlational investigation to examine the relationship between Cost Management and Supply Chain Performance of food and Beverages firms in Port Harcourt. The population for this study consists of seventeen (17) food and beverages firms in Port Harcourt. The researcher conducted a census study due to the small size of the population. However, a total of Eighty Five (85) top managerial staff of the firms constituted the respondents for the study. Furthermore, Eighty five (85) copies of the questionnaire were administered to the top managers of each of the 17 food and beverages companies while seventy (70) copies were retrieved and used for the study. The respondent’s demographics were analyzed by employing the measures of central tendencies and measures of dispersions. Correspondingly, the Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used in testing the study hypotheses in other to ascertain the relationship between the predictor variable (Cost Management) and the criterion variable (Supply Chain Performance).The result of the analysis revealed that Cost Management significantly influenced Supply Chain Performance of food and Beverages firms in Port Harcourt. Hence, the authors concluded that Cost Management  significantly affect Supply Chain Performance and therefore recommended that the management of food and Beverages firms in Port Harcourt should adopt  appropriate  cost management strategies in other to increase  their level of supply chain performance.
Vetting of Bloomberg’s ESG Governance ISS:QualityScore [GQS]
Authors: Lusk Edward J. , Wells Mia
Published: May 2021

Context Of the plethora of market navigation platforms, the Environment, Social, and Governance [ESGÓ]-platform offered by BloombergÔ Professional Services* is one of the most richly endowed, including nearly 2,000 data-fields that provide an invaluable context for better understanding the “Stakeholder-impact” of the firm’s activities. A recent amelioration of the ESG-platform is the link with Institutional Shareholder Services [ISS] that offers a taxonomy where firms are assigned to Governance-risk decile-groups based upon ISS:GovernanceQualityScores: (GQSÔ). The GQS-platform offers a data-driven approach to scoring & screening designed to help investors monitor company governance activities so as to better inform their decision-making. Study Design Clear is: Market Intel-Platforms only have one simple raison d’être: To provide a relative advantage in teasing out market winners relative to the “Squawk-On-The Street”. If this is the case, information professionals, in a best practices context, are tacitly obligated to offer vetting tests of platforms such as the GQS to service investors in need an independent and reliable evaluation to Ferret-out useful market guidance platforms. In this endeavor, we offer a vetting evaluation of a random sample of firms included in the two polar-ISS:GQS:Classifications: GQS[1] & GQS[10]]. Point of information The intent of the GQS-Vetting is not to “reverse-engineer” the results of the GQS-assignment protocol so as to arrive an “inferentially” de-coded approximation of the actual ISS:GQS-protocol. Our vetting addresses the question: Is there a logical reason to reject the belief that the set of GQS-assignment protocols are not well formed thus creating Governance-risk-groupings that have no intra-group coherence and so exhibit no inter-group differentiability. Results Initially, we used a Strawman-Vetting test followed by FPE-inferential tests using specific and sensitive Income Statement and Balance Sheet Panel-profiles from a random sample of the firms in: GQS[1] & GQS[10]. We find that the triage-focus of GQS[1] is “Revenue at the Margin” while that of GQS[10] is “Asset[Net] Management”. Also, both groups have exhibited impressive attention to managing Working Capital. Summary: The ISS:GQS-assignment protocols seem to be well-formed and capable of offering useful differentiation.