bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The worker bee’s dilemma: move out to move up?
Authors: Paul Tyechia Veronica
Published: April 2022

Theoretical basis

This case is underpinned by multiple motivational theories, including Maslow’s Hierarchy, Alderfer’s existence relatedness growth, equity theory, expectancy theory and Herzberg’s two-factor theory.

Research methodology

This data was gleaned from the protagonist and corporate documents. Names have been changed to conceal the identity of the firm and its employees.

Case overview/synopsis

Vivienne consistently earned high-performance ratings at her firm. She designed the internal firm university, a permanent learning program. She then noticed other employees being promoted based on her work. She was not offered a promotion, so she conducted a job analysis. Based on those findings, Vivienne decided to develop and present a retitling proposal for her promotion to a title better aligned with the level of work she performed. This case analyzes Vivienne’s organization, the firm university program, and her retitling proposal using management theories, human resources laws, and concepts, and it leads to an important career crossroads.

Complexity academic level

Undergraduate courses: organizational behavior and human resource management.
Synthesis of chitosan-coated magnetite nanoparticles using co-precipitation method for copper(II) ions removal in aqueous solution
Authors: Htwe Aung Than , Maung Min Thet Maung , Naing Zaw
Published: April 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the removal of copper(II) ions from aqueous model salt solution by using chitosan-coated magnetite nanoparticles.

Design/methodology/approach

The chitosan-coated magnetite nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis. The adsorption of Cu(II) by using magnetite nanoparticles as an adsorbent was investigated under different adsorption conditions. The parameters studied were contact time, adsorbent dose and initial concentrations.

Findings

The sorption capacities of prepared samples were studied for the removal of Cu2+ ions from aqueous model solutions with varying experimental conditions of the initial metal concentration, contact time and dosage. It is found that the removal percent of Cu2+ ions increases with an increase in initial metal concentration, contact time and amount of dosage.

Originality/value

Based on the obtained results, this study recommends that chitosan-coated magnetite nanoparticles can also be applied for removal of some heavy metal ions and/or organic compounds in aqueous solution. It is recommended that this study be shared with the polymer-based nanomaterial researchers, especially material science.
Modelling and mapping how common guillemots balance their energy budgets over a full annual cycle
Authors: Dunn Ruth E. , Green Jonathan A. , Wanless Sarah , Harris Mike P. , Newell Mark A. , Bogdanova Maria I. , Horswill Catharine , Daunt Francis , Matthiopoulos Jason
Published: April 2022

The ability of individual animals to balance their energy budgets throughout the annual cycle is important for their survival, reproduction and population dynamics. However, the annual cycles of many wild, mobile animals are difficult to observe and our understanding of how individuals balance their energy budgets throughout the year therefore remains poor.

We developed a hierarchical Bayesian state‐space model to investigate how key components of animal energy budgets (namely individual energy gain and storage) varied in space and time. Our model used biologger‐derived estimates of time‐activity budgets, locations and energy expenditure to infer year‐round time series of energy income and reserves. The model accounted for seasonality in environmental drivers such as sea surface temperature and daylength, allowing us to identify times and locations of high energy gain.

Our study system was a population of common guillemots Uria aalge breeding at a western North Sea colony. These seabirds manage their energy budgets by adjusting their behaviour and accumulating fat reserves. However, typically during severe weather conditions, birds can experience an energy deficit over a sustained period, leading to starvation and large‐scale mortality events.

We show that guillemot energy gain varied in both time and space. Estimates of guillemot body mass varied throughout the annual cycle and birds periodically experienced losses in mass. Mass losses were likely to have either been adaptive, or due to energetic bottlenecks, the latter leading to increased susceptibility to mortality. Guillemots tended to be lighter towards the edge of their spatial distribution.

We describe a framework that combines biologging data, time‐activity budget analysis and Bayesian state‐space modelling to identify times and locations of high energetic reward or potential energetic bottlenecks in a wild animal population. Our approach can be extended to address ecological and conservation‐driven questions that were previously unanswerable due to logistical complexities in collecting data on wild, mobile animals across full annual cycles.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Towards a better ecological understanding of metacommunity stability: A multiscale framework to disentangle population variability and synchrony effects
Authors: Segrestin Jules , Lepš Jan
Published: April 2022

Despite great progress in our understanding of the mechanisms governing ecosystem stability in local communities, we still lack knowledge at a larger spatial scale. Studying the stability of metacommunities requires assessing the temporal stability and synchrony of populations across space and organizational levels. Previous attempts to disentangle these effects have provided limited ecological interpretations, and conceptual improvements are needed to identify the underlying ecological processes.

We propose an extended framework aiming at disentangling simultaneously the relative effects of population stability and different types of synchronies on metacommunity stability. We adapted previous methods of decomposing stability into a new set of indices associated with clearer ecological hypotheses. Particularly, we provide synchrony indices that are not affected by statistical properties of the metacommunity but focus on species responses to environment, demography and interactions. We applied this framework to a unique dataset describing the sorted biomass of individual plant populations, across 12 communities of a species‐rich meadow, and for 16 years. The communities were sampled in different treatments of fertilization and dominant removal to evaluate the effect of environmental heterogeneity on stability.

We found higher stability at a larger spatial scale, mainly due to statistical averaging (portfolio effect). The variability of individual populations was an important determinant of the stability of the whole metacommunity. Consistent with the hypothesis of a common response to environmental conditions, we found that the fluctuations of populations were mostly synchronized (within and between species) at a large spatial scale and tended to destabilize the metacommunity. On the other hand, opposite fluctuations (anti‐synchrony) between populations occurred at the local scale, probably due to local species interactions.

Synthesis. Our framework appears as a powerful tool to test how ecological processes occurring simultaneously at different spatial and organizational scales affect the stability of metacommunities. This study advances our ecological understanding of the processes underlying the stability of species‐rich environments.
Time after time: detecting annual patterns in stream bacterial biofilm communities
Authors: Gautam Anju , Lear Gavin , Lewis Gillian D.
Published: April 2022

To quantify the major environmental drivers of stream bacterial population dynamics, we modelled temporal differences in stream bacterial communities to quantify community shifts, including those relating to cyclical seasonal variation and more sporadic bloom events. We applied Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA bacterial gene sequencing of 892 stream biofilm samples, collected monthly for 36‐months from six streams. The streams were located a maximum of 118 km apart and drained three different catchment types (forest, urban and rural land uses). We identified repeatable seasonal patterns among bacterial taxa, allowing their separation into three ecological groupings, those following linear, bloom/trough and repeated, seasonal trends. Various physicochemical parameters (light, water and air temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrients) were linked to temporal community changes. Our models indicate that bloom events and seasonal episodes modify biofilm bacterial populations, suggesting that distinct microbial taxa thrive during these events including non‐cyanobacterial community members. These models could aid in determining how temporal environmental changes affect community assembly and guide the selection of appropriate statistical models to capture future community responses to environmental change.
Jacobites and Latin Verse, 1688–1702
Authors: Taylor Edward
Published: April 2022

The richness of Jacobite poetic culture is well known, but the substantial body of Jacobite verse written in Latin — which remained an important European language into the eighteenth century — has received patchy attention. During the first phase of Jacobitism (1688–1702), Jacobites wrote Latin poems in England, France, Scotland, and Ireland to express their disappointments and hopes. Poems were composed in modes of satire and panegyric/lament and, in many genres, from epigram to epic. They circulated domestically and internationally and through consumption were a feature of political culture for both Jacobites, who embraced them, and Williamites, who defined themselves against them.
Plant community context controls short‐ versus medium‐term effects of pre‐emergent herbicides on target and non‐target species after fire
Authors: Lazarus Brynne E. , Germino Matthew J.
Published: April 2022

Questions

Selective herbicide application is a common restoration strategy to control exotic invaders that interfere with native plant recovery after wildfire. Whether spraying with pre‐emergent or bio‐herbicides releases native plants from competition with exotics (“spray‐and‐release” strategy) and makes communities resistant to reinvasion by exotic annual grasses (e.g. cheatgrass, medusahead), without risks to non‐target native plants or secondary invasion, is a major question for land managers of semiarid plant communities.

Location

Sagebrush steppe of southwest Idaho, USA.

Methods

We applied chemical herbicides (imazapic, rimsulfuron) and weed‐suppressive bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens strains MB906 and D7) to three sagebrush steppe communities after fire. We measured plant cover prior to burning and for four years (five for exotic annual grasses) post treatment.

Results

Both chemical herbicides significantly reduced exotic annual grass cover in all communities in the first post‐spraying year, but rimsulfuron plots were re‐invaded after 1–2 years, while imazapic plots continued to resist reinvasion four and even five years post spraying, well after the herbicide should have degraded. We did not detect any increase in native perennial grass cover with either herbicide, and herbicides had both positive and negative effects on individual bunchgrass basal diameter, depending on species and plant community. Rimsulfuron was more damaging than imazapic to shallow‐rooted perennial bunchgrasses. Moss and lichen cover, key components of soil integrity, increased with chemical herbicide treatments in some communities. Both herbicides increased secondary invaders (exotic forbs or grasses), which varied by plant community and herbicide. Weed‐suppressive bacteria treatments had no significant effects on cover of any functional group.

Conclusions

While short‐term effects of chemical herbicides that target exotic annual grasses were relatively consistent and predictable, longer‐term effects were specific to the herbicide and plant community. The “spray‐and‐release” strategy may confer resistance to re‐invasion by exotic annual grasses if herbicides prevent re‐invasion for an extended period.
The role of sentiment in the US economy: 1920 to 1934
Authors: Kabiri Ali , James Harold , Landon‐Lane John , Tuckett David , Nyman Rickard
Published: April 2022

This paper investigates the role of sentiment in the US economy from 1920 to 1934 using digitised articles from The Wall Street Journal. We derive a monthly sentiment index and use a 10‐variable vector error correction model to identify sentiment shocks that are orthogonal to fundamentals. We show the timing and strength of these shocks and their resultant effects on the economy using historical decompositions. Intermittent impacts of up to 15 per cent on industrial production, 10 per cent on the S&P 500 and bank loans, and 37 basis points for the credit risk spread suggest a large role for sentiment.
The imperative of state capacity in public health crisis: Asia's early COVID‐19 policy responses
Authors: Yen Wei‐Ting , Liu Li‐Yin , Won Eunji , Testriono
Published: April 2022

Preexisting political institutions influence governments' responses to public health crises in different ways, creating national variations. This article investigates how state capacity, a country's fundamental ability to organize bureaucracy and allocate societal resources, affects the timing and configuration of governments' COVID‐19 policy responses. Through comparative case study analysis of five of China's neighboring countries early in the COVID‐19 crisis, the paper shows that more‐capable states (Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan) initiated crisis response faster, mobilized national resources more extensively, and utilized diverse policy tools when the virus risk level was still low. In contrast, low‐capacity states (Thailand and Indonesia) were more reactive in handling the crisis, limited their focus to border‐related measures, and were more constrained in the types of tools they could employ. The paper points to the importance of studying the COVID‐19 response process rather than the outcome (i.e., confirmed cases/deaths) when unpacking the impacts of political institutions in public health crises.
Evaluating the clinical utility of the patient‐identified most bothersome symptom measure from PROMISE‐2 for research in migraine prevention
Authors: Lipton Richard B. , Goadsby Peter J. , Dodick David W. , McGinley James S. , Houts Carrie R. , Wirth R. J. , Kymes Steve , Ettrup Anders , Østerberg Ole , Cady Roger , Ashina Messoud , Buse Dawn C.
Published: April 2022

Objective

To assess the utility of the novel patient‐identified (PI) most bothersome symptom (MBS) measure from PROMISE‐2, a phase 3 trial of eptinezumab for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine.

Background

Relief of bothersome migraine symptoms can influence satisfaction with treatment and therapeutic persistence. Understanding the impact of preventive treatment on a PI‐MBS could improve clinical decision‐making.

Methods

In PROMISE‐2, patients with chronic migraine received eptinezumab 100, 300 mg, or placebo administered intravenously every 12 weeks for up to 2 doses (n = 1072). PI‐MBS was an exploratory outcome requiring each patient to self‐report their MBS in response to an open‐ended question. At baseline and week 12, patients rated overall improvement in PI‐MBS. The relationships among PI‐MBS at week 12 and change in monthly migraine days (MMDs) from baseline to month 3 (weeks 9–12), Patient Global Impression of Change at week 12, and changes from baseline to week 12 in the 6‐item Headache Impact Test total, EuroQol 5‐dimensions 5‐levels visual analog scale, and 36‐item Short‐Form Health Survey component scores were assessed.

Results

Treatment groups had similar baseline characteristics and reported a total of 23 unique PI‐MBS, most commonly light sensitivity (200/1072, 18.7%), nausea/vomiting (162/1072, 15.1%), and pain with activity (147/1072, 13.7%). Improvements in PI‐MBS at week 12 correlated with changes in MMDs (ρ = −0.49; p < 0.0001) and other patient‐reported outcomes. Controlling for changes in MMDs, PI‐MBS improvement predicted other patient‐reported outcomes in expected directions. The magnitude of the standardized mean differences between placebo and active treatment for PI‐MBS were 0.31 (p < 0.0001 vs. placebo) and 0.54 (p < 0.0001 vs. placebo) for eptinezumab 100 and 300 mg, respectively.

Conclusions

Improvement in PI‐MBS at week 12 was associated with improvement in other patient‐reported outcome measures, and PI‐MBS may be an important patient‐centered measure of treatment benefits in patients with chronic migraine.
A comparison between alkali‐activated slag/fly ash binders prepared with natural seawater and deionized water
Authors: Ren Jie , Sun Hongfang , Li Qun , Li Zhenming , Zhang Xiaogang , Wang Yanshuai , Li Linfei , Xing Feng
Published: April 2022

In this research, the effects of natural seawater (SW) on the properties of alkali‐activated slag/fly ash (AASF) are studied. AASF prepared with deionized water is set as the reference mixture. The results showed that the use of natural SW resulted in a prolonged setting time and lower heat release, but no obvious impact on the flowability of AASF specimens. The long‐term compressive strength became higher when SW was used, whereas the corresponding flexural strength and fractural toughness turned lower. The use of SW induced the formation of new products that were not identified in the reference mixture, such as Cl–hydrocalumite and gypsum. In addition, it is evidenced that the dissolution of fly ash (FA) particles was significantly delayed with the incorporation of SW. All these results were related to the various ions introduced by the natural SW and their interactions with the alkaline activator as well as the precipitation of salts on slag and FA surfaces or in the matrix.
Synthesis of non‐agglomerating submicron/nano‐Yb2Si2O7 powders by a carbon‐coated coprecipitation method
Authors: Liu Jingting , Luo Zhixin , Yang Jinxing , Oh Yoonsuk , Wu Zhen , Sun Luchao , Wang Jingyang
Published: April 2022

We herein report a novel carbon‐coated coprecipitation method to synthesize non‐agglomerating submicron/nano‐β‐Yb2Si2O7 powders. Yb(C2H3O2)3·4H2O and silica sol (alkaline) were chosen as the ytterbium source and silicon source, respectively. A carbon surface layer is processed using sucrose as carbon source to hinder the contact and sintering of β‐Yb2Si2O7 particles during heat treatment under a protective atmosphere, and then the carbon layer could be completely removed by inletting air at 900°C during cooling process. The as‐synthesized Yb2Si2O7 powders demonstrate an average size of 271 nm with a narrow distribution of 142–531 nm. The results show that the carbon layer could successfully solve the severe agglomeration or sintering of nanometer β‐Yb2Si2O7 particles during the calcination process. The as‐developed carbon‐coated coprecipitation technique is an effective method to fabricate high purity submicron/nano‐Yb2Si2O7 powders.
Transcriptome profiling and RNA interference reveals relevant detoxification genes in Monochamus alternatus response to (+)‐α‐pinene
Authors: He Xuanyu , Hao Zhaodong , Li Hui , Xu Tian , Chen Ruixu , Xia Xiaohong , Li Shouyin , Hao Dejun
Published: April 2022

Understanding the mechanism of insect resistance to toxic effects of phytochemicals can provide an insight into plant–herbivore interactions. Monochamus alternatus Hope, a main vector of pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), prefers to infest masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb) and causes huge economic and environmental losses. α‐Pinene is the primary component of resin produced by masson pine and plays a crucial role in defending against herbivorous insects, but its defensive effects on M. alternatus larvae are barely known. Here, we explored the physiological metabolism in M. alternatus larvae that were fumigated with (+)‐α‐pinene, (‐)‐α‐pinene, β‐pinene, (R)‐(+)‐limonene, myrcene and (‐)‐α‐phellandrene. (+)‐α‐Pinene showed the highest fumigant toxicity to M. alternatus larvae among these monoterpenes, and the fourth instar larvae possessed the highest resistance to this compound at the larval stage. Comparative transcriptome analysis detected 423 up‐regulated and 311 down‐regulated genes in the larvae fumigated with (+)‐α‐pinene, which were mainly related to detoxification, energy and protein metabolism. Among the differentially expressed genes encoding for detoxification enzymes, 14 P450s, 13 UGTs, 1GSTs and 3ABCs were dramatically up‐regulated in the larvae fumigated with (+)‐α‐pinene. Silencing of P450s via RNA interference led to an increased mortality in the larval fumigated with (+)‐α‐pinene. Piperonyl butoxide exposure significantly increased the mortality and inhibited the expressions of P450s, UGTs and ABCs in the larvae fumigated with (+)‐α‐pinene. These results suggested an important role of P450s in the resistance of M. alternatus larvae to (+)‐α‐pinene fumigation, which may facilitate the understanding of terpenoid detoxification in M. alternatus larvae.
Taxonomy and phylogeny of the freshwater tintinnid Tintinnopsis tubuformis Chiang, 1956 (Ciliophora, Oligotrichea) and a proposed synonymization of T. longa nom. corr. Chiang, 1956
Authors: He Jialian , Jiang Jiamei , Agatha Sabine , Pan Hongbo
Published: April 2022

Tintinnid ciliates are traditionally identified by their loricae; however, increasing evidence indicates that some lorica features (e.g. its length, spiraled structures) are not reliable. The vast majority of tintinnids inhabit the marine pelagial; merely, about thirty species live in freshwater. In the present study, two morphotypes with similar lorica shapes and opening diameters but deviating lorica lengths were isolated from freshwater samples collected at different water temperatures near Chongming Island in the Yangtze Estuary, China. The specimens were studied in vivo and after protargol staining, and their phylogenetic placement was inferred from three ribosomal RNA markers; further, cell division was investigated in the short morphotype. Based on the original descriptions, the longer morphotype is identified as Tintinnopsis longa nom. corr. Chiang, 1956, and the shorter one as Tintinnopsis tubuformis Chiang, 1956. Despite distinct differences in the lorica lengths, the identity of the three molecular markers in both morphotypes suggests conspecificity, which is supported by overlapping ranges in the lorica opening diameters and the length‐independent features of the somatic ciliary pattern (e.g. number of kineties). Hence, we synonymized T. longa nom. corr. with T. tubuformis and neotypified the later species.
Dietary tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil as alternative to antibiotics alleviates experimentally induced Eimeria tenella challenge in Japanese quails
Authors: Khan Mashal , Chand Naila , Naz Shabana , Khan Rifat U.
Published: April 2022

Coccidiosis is one of the most common infectious diseases seen in Japanese quails. The current study was conducted to evaluate the impact of tea tree essential oil (TTEO) on growth performance and intestinal health of quails in response to Eimeria tenella challenge. A total of 250 Japanese quails were divided into five treatments: untreated uninfected (negative control); untreated infected (positive control); infected + Amprolium; infected and 1% TTEO; infected and 2% TTEO. Except negative control, all groups were orally dosed with 5 × 104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella. The results revealed that supplementation of 1% TTEO and treatment of amprolium improved feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio in infected quails compared to the positive control. Similarly, lesion score and mortality was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced in quails supplemented with 2% TTEO and amprolium treated birds. Moreover, oocysts counts and histological features of caecum in infected birds were reversed in 1% TTEO and amprolium treatment. The histological findings of amprolium and 1% TTEO supplemented quails showed intact intestinal villi with mild sloughed epithelium. In conclusion, 1% TTEO can be safely used to control coccidiosis in Japanese quails as natural effective compound.
Dietary neutral detergent fibre and lignin contents affect intake, digestibility and digesta retention in captive sloths (Bradypus variegatus)
Authors: de Andrade Gilcifran Prestes , de Albuquerque Priscilla Virgínio , Tschá Mauricéa do Carmo , de Alcântara Silvia Fernanda , de Miranda Maria Eduarda Luiz Coelho , Nascimento Júlio Cézar dos Santos , de Barros Nathália Fernanda Justino , Amorim Marleyne José Afonso Accioly Lins
Published: April 2022

We evaluated food intake, digestibility, digesta retention and digestible energy (DE) intake in four three‐toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus, body mass 2.86 ± 0.10 kg) fed two leaf‐based diets containing different neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin contents. Total dry matter intake (DMI), and intake in relation to body mass and metabolic body weight were higher for the mixed diet with lower NDF content based on Pterondon sp. + Inga sp. (47 g day−1, 16 g kg−1 day−1 and 21 g kg−0.75 day−1) compared to the treatment with higher content of NDF from only Cecropia pachystachya leaves (37 g day−1, 14 g kg−1 day−1 and 18 g kg−0.75 day−1). The digestibility of dry matter (dDM) and neutral detergent fibre (dNDF) were higher in the mixed diet (60% and 61% respectively). There was a higher supply of DE and metabolisable energy (ME) on the mixed diet, at 221 and 199 kJ kg−0.75 day−1, meeting the average energy requirement of 185 kJ ME kg−0.75 day−1 ME estimated for sloths in this study. In contrast, the diet with C. pachystachya generated a deficit of 31 kJ ME kg−0.75 day−1. There was a correlation between DMI and dNDF (r2 = 0.89), and between dNDF and dDM (r2 = 0.98) across treatments. The mean retention times for a liquid and a particle marker were lower on the mixed diet with the higher intake at 133 h (passage rate = 0.75% h−1) and 181 h (0.55% h−1), and longer on the single‐species diet with lower intake at 204 h (0.49% h−1) and 261 h (0.38% h−1). The results suggest that it may be beneficial for sloths to be offered a variety of browse from which they can choose low‐NDF components. Further, we suggest that these sloths perform ‘digesta washing’ to increase the microbial yield in the stomach to maximise the digestion of NDF and dry matter.
Non‐parametric short‐ and long‐run Granger causality testing in the frequency domain
Authors: Taufemback Cleiton Guollo
Published: April 2022

Herein, we propose a novel non‐parametric frequency Granger causality test. We apply a filtering process in the time domain to remove possible spurious causality, thereby eliminating potential interference. Thereafter, in the frequency domain, we perform a local kernel regression for each frequency and test the non‐causality hypothesis from the distance between each estimate to zero. We provide asymptotic results for strict stationary series concerning ‐mixing conditions. Our method can also perform group causality tests, a feature that is absent in most alternative methods. Monte Carlo experiments illustrate that our method is comparable, and in some cases, performs better than alternative methods in the literature. Finally, we test the causality between monetary policy variables and stock prices.
Tax evasion and social reputation: The role of influencers in a social network
Authors: Di Gioacchino Debora , Fichera Domenico
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we present an agent‐based model in which taxpayers ‘live’ in a network and care about their social reputation. Individuals decide whether to pay or to evade taxes considering the expected economic net benefit and the reputational cost from tax evasion. Individuals differ in income and in the weight they attach to social reputation, which is updated by assessing the opinions shared in their reference group. The reference group contains individuals irrespective of their income (integrated society) or it is made up of peers belonging to the same income group (segregated society). We simulate the model in the two alternative settings to find the frequency distribution of taxpayers in a dataset of random networks. The results indicate that, in an integrated society, network conformity is reached and all individuals either evade or pay their taxes. Conversely, a segregated society might generate obstacles to the diffusion of opinions and, as a result, tax evasion and tax compliance might coexist. Lastly, we consider the effects of a social media campaign starring a celebrity financed by a fiscal authority to increase overall tax compliance by exploiting the diffusion dynamics in the network. We show that such a policy is more effective if the diffusion of opinions is not hindered by social segregation. In an integrated society, especially if income inequality is low, a celebrity's endorsement of tax compliance might nudge widespread socially responsible tax behaviour.
State‐society relations and inter‐communal dynamics in conflict: Non‐Muslim minorities in post‐IS Iraq
Authors: Isakhan Benjamin , Gourlay William
Published: April 2022

This article examines state‐society relations and inter‐communal dynamics in conflict, focusing on the case study of non‐Muslim minorities in Iraq. It draws on interview data to analyse the lived experiences of Iraq's Yazidis and Christians before, during and after Islamic State (IS) rule. It finds that the attacks by the IS on Iraq's Yazidi and Christian communities not only caused considerable suffering but also led to a renewed crisis of faith in the Iraqi state and a further breakdown in relations with other groups, especially Sunni Arabs. However, Iraq's Yazidis and Christian have also demonstrated remarkable resilience in terms of returning to their ancient homelands and rebuilding their fractured communities. Together, these findings raise further questions about the legitimacy of the Iraqi state in the eyes of its non‐Muslim minorities and the prospects of a peaceful multicultural future for Iraq.
Association between maternal adiposity measures and adverse maternal outcomes of pregnancy: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Heslehurst Nicola , Ngongalah Lem , Bigirumurame Theophile , Nguyen Giang , Odeniyi Adefisayo , Flynn Angela , Smith Vikki , Crowe Lisa , Skidmore Becky , Gaudet Laura , Simon Alexandre , Hayes Louise
Published: April 2022

Maternal obesity increases pregnancy‐related risks. Women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2 are considered to be at risk and should receive additional care, although approximately half will have uncomplicated pregnancies. This systematic review aimed to identify early pregnancy measures of adiposity associated with adverse maternal health outcomes. Searches included six databases, reference lists, citations, and contacting authors. Screening and quality assessment were carried out by two authors independently. Random effects meta‐analysis and narrative synthesis were conducted. Seventy studies were included with a pooled sample of 89,588 women. Meta‐analysis showed significantly increased odds of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with higher waist circumference (WC) categories (1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04, 1.88) and per unit increase in WC (1.31, 95% CI 1.03, 1.67). Women with GDM had higher WC than controls (mean difference [MD] 6.18 cm, 95% CI 3.92, 8.44). WC was significantly associated with hypertensive disorders, delivery‐related outcomes, metabolic syndrome, and composite pregnancy outcomes. Waist to hip ratio was significantly associated with GDM, hypertensive disorders, and delivery‐related outcomes. Fat mass, neck circumference, skinfolds, and visceral fat were significantly associated with adverse outcomes, although limited data were available. Our findings identify the need to explore how useful adiposity measures are at predicting risk in pregnancy, compared with BMI, to direct care to women with the greatest need.
The use of oxytocin to cause cervical dilation for transcervical insemination in nulliparous goats: Improving pregnancy and kidding rates
Authors: Gutierrez Valeria Alvarado , Sánchez‐Dávila Fernando , Ledezma‐Torres Rogelio Alejandro , Peterson Sam , Brenner Estela Garza , Luna‐Palomera Carlos , Vazquez‐Armijo José Fernando , López‐Villalobos Nicolás , Grizelj Juraj
Published: April 2022

To evaluate the effect of oxytocin as a cervical dilator, a study was carried out on nulliparous goats inseminated transcervically at the beginning of the breeding season. One hundred sixteen nulliparous goats with a mean live weight of 33.4 ± 0.68 kg and an age of 13.7 ± 0.37 months were used. The goats were exposed to active bucks of proven fertility for a period of 14 d in order to induce oestrus. One week later, the Ovsynch protocol was applied, which consisted of the application of 20 mg of gonadorelin (Day Zero), 0.075 mg of cloprostenol (Day 7) and of a second dose of 20 mg of gonadorelin applied on Day 9. Artificial insemination (AI) was performed 16 hr later. Three treatments were evaluated: T1 = 50 IU saline, T2 = 25 IU oxytocin; T3 = 50 IU of oxytocin, intravenously applied 10–15 min before AI. The time required to inseminate each treated goat from groups T2 and T3 was 49.56 and 56.25 s, respectively, versus 85.78 s needed for the goats from group T1 (p < .0001). In the T1 group of goats, the insemination catheter was inserted 2.1 cm into the cervical canal and in goats from groups T2 and T3 it reached 3.41 and 3.77 cm into the cervical canal, respectively (p = .02). Pregnancy rates and prolificacy (kids/doe) were higher (p = .02) for groups T2 (82.93%; 1.16) and T3 (76.92%; 1.21) respectively than for control goats (61.11%; 0.69). In conclusion, the intravenous administration of oxytocin led to greater dilation and depth of cervical penetration, obtaining higher pregnancy rates and prolificacy.
Latent profile analysis of classroom behavior problems in an American national sample of prekindergarten children
Authors: McDermott Paul A. , Rovine Michael J. , Gerstner Clara‐Christina E. , Weiss Emily M. , Watkins Marley W.
Published: April 2022

Problematic behaviors impede young children's ability to succeed in the classroom. Examining individual patterns of behavior problems allows researchers to identify profiles of students most in need of support. This study applied latent profile analysis (LPA) among a national sample (N = 2764) of American prekindergarten children and found six distinct behavior profiles, which differed in the severity and type (underactive vs. overactive) of behavior problems and the classroom contexts in which problem behaviors arose (peer, learning, and teacher contexts). About two‐thirds of children displayed positive behaviors across classroom contexts, performed well on assessments of early academic ability, and maintained positive relationships with their teachers, indicating generally appropriate adjustment to the preschool environment. Yet, 24% of children were classified into three risk profiles as they demonstrated elevated and pervasive underactive or overactive behavior problems in multiple classroom settings. Children with these profiles were deemed the most vulnerable in the sample, as those with underactive problems had the lowest academic proficiency, and those with overactive problems showed the most negative relationships with teachers and parents. Implications for practice are discussed.
Buy Domestic? Emerging Food Nationalism in Slovakia
Authors: Najdený Roman , Križan František , Gurňák Daniel , Bilková Kristína
Published: April 2022

In a rapidly globalising world, food nationalism has been the subject of research in many fields. The paper discusses food nationalism, in relation to the social and spatial aspects of consumers' shopping behaviour. According to the results of a two‐step cluster analysis, food nationalism has no significant relationship with permanent residence of consumers. Economic status, however, was the only factor to demonstrate a statistically significant relationship between consumers and food nationalism. Compared to unemployed people and pensioners, employed people and entrepreneurs show significantly higher levels of food nationalism. In the study, the assumption that consumers who prefer quality will visit stores with a higher share of domestic food was not confirmed. In contrast, a marginally significant relationship was found between consumer preference for quality and support for domestic producers.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY: THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF POLYPYRROLE DOPED ORGANIC ACIDS THIN FILM
Authors: Sabri Nor Syamimi , Yahud Shuhaida , Ludin F.
Published: April 2022

Properties of materials in microscale are different from those in bulk form. This article aims to presents the experimental studies of the electrical properties of Polypyrrole thin film doped in organic acid.  Ten samples of Polypyrrole doped in organic acids thin films with different layers were prepared using the spin coating method applied on glass substrates. The electrical resistance of the thin film is measured as a function of film thickness and temperature.
DEVELOPMENT OF SMART CAMPUS APPLICATIONS BASED ON WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES USING OPEN-SOURCE PLATFORMS
Authors: Abdull Rashid Nur Farahin , Abu-Samah Asma' , Mohd Noh Aishah , Azam Noor Zaim Syafiq , Wahid Nur Najihah , Chiang Chee Qin , Alobaidy Haider , Abdullah Nor Fadzilah , Abdul Hamid Sawal , Nordin Rosdiadee
Published: April 2022

Malaysian National Center for Education estimates that students' enrolments will increase to 17.2 million by 2028. The conventional way of managing things around campus work can be  improved by applying the smart campus concept. This study showcases the potential smart campus applications with different wireless IoT technologies and their application; LoRa for Internet of Bicycle (IoB), Sigfox for water quality monitoring, IEEE 801.11p for campus active safety application, and NB-IoT for remote mangrove conservation. The prototypes consist of various sensors and online dashboards to demonstrate the open-source IoT ecosystem. For IoB, a 0.5 km radius centered at LoRa gateway’s location, proved reliable for real-time e-bicycles location monitoring. It offers locking system security to avoid bicycles steal. The SigFox-based water quality monitoring system received signal performance is adequate (RSSI -80 to -90 dBm) with a  tower location approximately 3 km from the lake area. For active safety application based on IEEE 801.11p, communication of braking force, car speed, and position of cars ahead of an obstacle make this application feasible to improve road safety around campus, with the real implementation expected to be achieved in the next five to ten years. Lastly, the application of remote mangrove conservation monitoring using NB-IoT on LTE mobile network from Celcom as an independent wireless platform. It allows researchers and students from the university to use this application for their research on sustainable conservation at remote mangrove sites worldwide. The results have shown that all the wireless IoT is promising for future smart campus deployment.
CONFIGURATION OF HYBRID FUEL-ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT MODEL BASED ON FULL FLIGHT PATH PERFORMANCE
Authors: Al-Habahbeh Osama Mahmoud
Published: April 2022

A new approach to enhance the performance of hybrid fuel-electric aircraft is investigated. This approach adopts Fuel-first strategy (FFS) to increase the effectiveness of electrical propulsion. To illustrate the effectiveness of this method, it is compared to other propulsion types. The FFS is based on starting the electric propulsion only after the aircraft reaches the lowest weight. That is, when fuel is fully consumed. This involves inflight switching of propulsion type, where the first part of the flight is powered by fuel only and the second part is fully-electric. A hybrid version of Piper Cherokee is used to demonstrate the new concept. Modified versions of Breguet equation and Payne range strategy are used to calculate aircraft performance. Adopting FFS resulted in 10.3% fuel saving relative to conventional propulsion as well 4.2% fuel saving relative to parallel hybrid propulsion. The main theme behind this proposal is that by consuming the fuel first, the aircraft becomes lighter sooner, and this enables the batteries to power the aircraft for longer range. Upon comparing the method with other methods in the literature, it was found superior in terms of fuel consumption and performance.
MORPHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF FEB AND FE2B IN BORIDE LAYER OF 304 STAINLESS STEEL UNDER DIFFERENT MEDIUM
Authors: Abdullah Bulan , Alias Siti Khadijah , Ab Latif Mohd Noor Halmy , Ahmad Nurulnatisya , Sulaiman Syidatul Akma , Rahmat Siti Najihah
Published: April 2022

This study investigates the morphological behavior of FeB and Fe2B phase in boronized 304 stainless steel under two different mediums which is powder and paste. Surface attrition was implemented in order to initiate better boron diffusivity. The comparison of microstructure in term of grain size and boride layer thickness were also analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy, X-Ray diffraction analysis and energy dispersive X-Ray Analysis were conducted to prove the existence of FeB and Fe2B phases. The relationship between the phase and Vickers microhardness was also investigated. The results show formation of flat-toothed boride layer in both sample with different FeB and Fe2B layer uniformity. Paste boronized sample with120 µm boride layer thickness had outperformed the powder boronized sample that with 43 µm boride layer thickness, thus providing significant improvement in microhardness values from 1500 Hv to 1800 Hv. In conclusion, paste medium provide outstanding boride layer thickness with 300% enhancement and excellent microhardness with 20% improvement. The results of this findings could offer a new insight in pack boronizing of stainless steel that can be complicated to boronized due to its high alloying element content.
Comparative Assessment of Different Turbulence Models to Estimate Thermo-Fluid Characteristics of an Infrared Suppression (IRS) Device
Authors: Mukherjee Arnab , Senapati Jnana Ranjan , Rathore Sushil Kumar , Barik Ashok Kumar
Published: April 2022

The accurate computation to predict the heat transfer and flow characteristics in an IRS system is challenging because of the complex designs of thermo-fluid dynamics, such as the entrainment of cold atmospheric air and mixing with the hot exhaust from the gas turbine housed in naval or cargo ships. This study considers the IRS device with four cylindrical funnels stacked one above the other. This study aims to find the suitable turbulence model(s) for numerical modeling of the IRS device. The Reynolds number based on the nozzle diameter is varied between 3527 and 7231 (laboratory-scale) and 4×105 to 5×105 (real-scale) as per the availability of the experimental data. Eight turbulence models, viz., standard  k−ε, RNG k−ε (with standard wall function and enhanced wall functions), realizable k−ε, low Reynold number (LRN) Launder-Sharma k−ε, low Reynold number (LRN) Yang-Shi k−ε, standard k−ω, k−ω SST, v2−f are used to model the complex entrainment and mixing process inside the IRS device. The LRN-LS model estimates the thermos-fluid dynamics quite accurately for the lower Reynolds number range (laboratory-scale IRS), and SST k−ω model predicts accurately for higher Reynolds number values (real-scale IRS). We believe that the present study would help further the numerical modeling of IRS devices.
Experimental Study on Fluidelastic Instability of Tube Bundles With Asymmetric Stiffness Using Visual Image Processing System
Authors: Tan Wei , Ren Peng , Wang Yuqi , Wang Yue , Zhu Guorui
Published: April 2022

This technical brief is an experimental study, which used a water tunnel to investigate the fluidelastic instability of tube bundles with asymmetric stiffness. The natural frequency ratios (streamwise/transverse) of the tubes are 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%, respectively. Flexible tubes are set as the following two patterns: a single flexible tube and a cluster of seven flexible tubes. The vibration data of tube bundles are collected and analyzed by a self-designed Visual Analysis System. The results show that the fluidelastic instability only occurs in the transverse direction. In the streamwise direction, the coupling effect of vibrations in both directions of the tube causes the increase of vibration amplitude, no matter in the single-flexible-tube case or the seven-flexible-tube cluster. Furthermore, reducing the natural frequency of the streamwise direction will not change the transverse critical velocity but leads to an amplitude increase caused by vortex-induced vibration. Compared to the single flexible tube, vortex-induced vibration is more likely to occur in the tube cluster with larger amplitudes.
Atomic-resolution lithography with an on-chip scanning tunneling microscope
Authors: Alipour Afshin , Fowler Emma L. , Moheimani S. O. Reza , Owen James H. G. , Randall John N.
Published: April 2022

In this work, atomic-resolution lithography with a Microelectromechanical-System (MEMS) based Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) is demonstrated for the first time. The microscope consists of a commercial UltraHigh-Vacuum (UHV) STM whose regular tip is replaced with a 1-Degree-of-Freedom (1-DOF) MEMS nanopositioner. This results in a hybrid STM system where XY-plane motions are provided by the piezotube of the original system and Z-axis motion by the MEMS with a higher bandwidth. Sharp tips made of Pt or W are added to the MEMS devices with postfabrication techniques. With this hybrid system, STM-based lithography is demonstrated on an H-passivated Si (100)-2×1 sample under UHV condition. Results prove the capability of the hybrid STM system for atomic-scale lithography. This capability, paired with the small footprint of the MEMS device, makes this approach a candidate for building a high-throughput parallel STM lithography platform by incorporating an array of 1-DOF MEMS devices that perform lithography in parallel.
Whole-Genome Sequences of Three Edwardsiella piscicida Isolates from Diseased Fish in South Korea
Authors: Kim Nameun , Lee Yoonhang , Tho Ho Diem , Park Ji Yeon , Lee Ju Yeop , Kang Yu-Ra , Kim Do-Hyung
Published: April 2022

Edwardsiella piscicida
is a Gram-negative pathogen that is associated with edwardsiellosis in aquaculture systems worldwide. Here, we report the whole-genome sequences of three
E. piscicida
isolates derived from cultured fish in South Korea.
Whole-Genome Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing Reveals Distinct Gut Microbiome Signatures of Obese Cats
Authors: Ma Xiaolei , Brinker Emily , Graff Emily C. , Cao Wenqi , Gross Amanda L. , Johnson Aime K. , Zhang Chao , Martin Douglas R. , Wang Xu
Published: April 2022

Obesity affects around 45% of domestic cats, and licensed drugs for treating feline obesity are lacking. Physical exercise and calorie restrictions are commonly used for weight loss but with limited efficacy.
Cutaneous Microbiome Profiles Following Chlorhexidine Treatment in a 72-Hour Daily Follow-Up Paired Design: a Pilot Study
Authors: Mougeot Jean-Luc C. , Beckman Micaela F. , Bahrani Mougeot Farah , Horton James M.
Published: April 2022

Annually, over 80,000 central line infections occur in the United States. Understanding the pathogenesis of these infections is crucial.
Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection May Increase the Susceptibility of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex to Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Yang Xiao-Yan , Wang Yang-Yang , Zhou Yue-Peng , He Jing , Mei Meng-Jie , Zhang Meng-Na , Wang Bin , Zhou Wen-Jing , Luo Min-Hua , Wang Qiu-Hong , Li Zhong-Yuan , Xu Yong , Lu Qian , Zou Li-Ping
Published: April 2022

CMV is an environmental risk factor for ASD, but its role in syndromic autism with known genetic etiology has been rarely studied. The pathogenesis of ASD is related to the interaction between environmental and genetic factors.