bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Merger
Authors: Aprill Chris , Payne Daniel , Ring Stephanie , Strauss Kristin , Bourgeois L. J. , Hammaker Paul M.
Published: July 2021

Whole Foods and Wild Oats were both natural- and organic-food stores that competed for similar customers on values such as high-quality and healthy products, excellent customer service, knowledge of products, and an enjoyable shopping experience. In February 2007, Whole Foods announced that it would purchase a smaller but formidable competitor, Wild Oats. There was tremendous geographic complementarity involved: The merger would give Whole Foods the largest footprint within the natural- and organic-grocery industry in North America.
Mixed embeddedness of Brazilian entrepreneurs in Toronto
Authors: Falcão Roberto Pessoa de Queiroz , Machado Michel Mott , Cruz Eduardo Picanço , Hossein Caroline Shenaz
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to investigate how social integration, immigrant networks and barriers to ventureing affect the entrepreneurial activities of Brazilians in Canada, indicating how mixed embeddedness takes place in that context.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected in Toronto, through the application of a survey with 74 Brazilian entrepreneur respondents and 42 semi-structured interviews with selected subjects, thus representing a multi-method approach. The analysis included descriptive statistics from the survey data and a qualitative analysis of the trajectories and life stories of Brazilian immigrants.

Findings

Our sample comprises respondents with a high level of education and proficiency in English, coming predominantly from the southeast of Brazil, white, aged from 30 to 49. The majority of businesses are small and related to the service sector. The article contributes to the literature by discussing the elements related to mixed embeddedness, including the need for cultural adaptation and for the creation of networks as a crucial element for business venturing.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses on entrepreneurs regardless of their businesses sector or formality/informality status. It could be used as an instrument to support Canadian public policies for welcoming Brazilians and for the Brazilian government to prevent the evasion of potential entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The article contributes to the body of knowledge of immigrant entrepreneurship in Canada and of Brazilian entrepreneurship overseas. The results suggest factors that may be relevant to the expansion of their business, such as social networking, cultural embeddedness and adaptation of the products/services to a wider range of target customers.
The tourism intermediaries' profitability in Portugal and Spain–differences and similarities
Authors: Gomes Conceição , Oliveira Fernanda
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to compare the financial performance of the tourism distribution sector between Portugal and Spain, regarding the years 2007 and 2017. It is also intended to determine which variables influence the performance of tourism intermediaries' enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study based on financial information available on SABI database, with official data of Spanish and Portuguese enterprises. The final sample gathers 6095 intermediaries (1585 Portuguese and 4510 Spanish) which were analyzed regarding their profitability through DuPont model and an additional variable – size.

Findings

The return on equity (ROE) calculation in 2007 and 2017 identifies an increase of 12.8% for Portugal and 19.6% for Spain. Through Spearman's Rho, return on sales (ROS), asset turnover and return on asset (ROA) have a positive association with ROE, but the results about asset on equity and enterprise size did not reveal such precise evidence.

Research limitations/implications

This study intends to reinforce the literature in terms of performance evaluation techniques to be used in this type of enterprises, applying DuPont model. At a practical level, besides aiming the maximization of the enterprise's profit, managers are faced with other financial challenges. Thus, this study provides important indications about aspects that should be considered to improve the enterprise's financial performance, supporting managers' decision making.

Originality/value

Financial studies focusing on the tourism distribution sector are limited. Even less frequent are studies with financial and official data from large samples, representative of the universe under study. The value of this study is based on these two aspects, allowing to strengthen the knowledge about tourism intermediaries and their financial performance, in a comparative approach between two countries.
An empirical analysis of the moderating effect of consumer skepticism between social value orientations and green advertising effectiveness
Authors: Ali Muhammad , Hassan Umar , Mustapha Ishamuddin , Osman Sharina
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to add a reliable factor that can contribute theoretically and methodologically to explain prosocial and proself behaviors. The study also signifies that green advertising approaches enable the consumer to develop an intention for green purchases. The basic idea is to investigate consumer social orientations and align them with green advertising initiatives to elicit the desired response as green purchase to manifest environmentally conscious behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis is based on data collection through questionnaires. Data is analyzed through structural equation modeling to assess the relationship of constructs.

Findings

The results of the study are empirically drawn through the measurement of relationships among consumer skepticism and the effectiveness of green advertising initiatives. Mediation of proself and prosocial orientation exists for public self-awareness but does not exist for benefit distance. Consumer skepticism moderates the relationship between prosocial orientation and green advertising effectiveness (GAE) but has no moderation between proself orientation and GAE.

Originality/value

The limitation of conventional prosocial theory does not explain the environmental behaviors driven by proself orientations. Hence, the addition of factors such as public awareness and social benefit distance coupled with signaling theory with foundations on theory of planned behavior and norm activation model to explain environmental conservation add an element of originality to the existing literature.

Contribution to Impact

The contribution of this study is the incorporation of social orientations as the antecedent for consumer behavior in an environmental context particularly as a response to green advertising initiatives to purchase green products. The use of theory of planned behavior in conjunction with the norm activation model and signaling theory adds to the literary bank.
Stock option, contract elements design and corporate innovation output – an analyse based on risk-taking and performance-based incentives
Authors: Shi Qi , Xiao Shufang , Chang Kaiwen , Wu Jiaying
Published: July 2021

Purpose

With the accelerated technological advancement, innovation has become a critical factor, which affects the core competitiveness of a company. However, studies about the relationship between internal stock option mechanisms and innovation productivity remain limited. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the impact of stock options and their elements design on innovation output from an internal mechanism perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 302 stock option incentive plans announced and implemented between 2006 and 2016, this study uses the propensity score matching and difference-in-difference model to find out whether the implementation of stock options improves the innovation outputs of enterprises.

Findings

Based on the statistical analysis, it is concluded that: stock options can stimulate corporate innovation; a stock option may drive innovation outputs through two ways, performance-based incentives and risk-taking incentives, with the latter one playing a more dominant role and the risk-taking incentives of stock options, could be optimised when the non-executives granting proportion is larger, the granting range is limited, the incentive period is longer, the exercisable proportion is increasing, the price-to-strike ratio is lower and relatively loose performance assessment criteria are applied.

Originality/value

The conclusion reached in the study may provide valuable information to listed firms in designing and implementing the stock option plans.
The impact knowledge management processes on business performance via the role of accounting information quality as a mediating factor
Authors: Al-Dmour Ahmed , Zaidan Hala , Al Natour Abdul Rahman
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to empirically investigate the role of accounting information quality (AIQ) as a mediating factor in the relationship between knowledge management (KM) processes and business performance (BP) of the financial institutions (FI) operating in Jordan.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a literature review and knowledge-based theory, an integrated conceptual framework has been developed to guide the study. The study’s conceptual framework is constituted of three primary constructs, namely, KM processes (acquisition, integration and utilization), BP (financial indicators and non-financial indicators) and AIQ conceptualized using the International Accounting Standard Board’s (2010) framework fundamental qualitative characteristics (relevance, understandability, faith representation and comparability). Data has been collected through a self-administered questionnaire applied to 247 respondents. The targeted respondents have been FIs (commercial banks and insurance companies) in Jordan.

Findings

The main findings supported accounting information as a mediator factor in enhancing the relationship between the FIs’ KM process and BP (FI) operating in Jordan.

Originality/value

This study contributed to theory by filling a gap in the literature regarding the role AIQ as a mediator factor between the KM process and BP of the FI operating in Jordan as a developing country.
Recreating pink defect in cheese with different strains of Thermus bacteria
Authors: Yeluri Jonnala Bhagya R , McSweeney Paul L H , Cotter Paul D , Sheehan Jeremiah J
Published: July 2021

Pink discoloration defects in cheese manifests as the appearance of pink patches within cheese blocks and has recently been associated with Thermus thermophilus. Swiss‐type cheeses were prepared at pilot scale using thermophilic starter cultures, Propionibacterium freudenreichii, and one of Thermus thermophilus HB27, Thermus scotoductus SE1 or Thermus thermophilus DPC6866 or a control without Thermus. Significantly, a higher level of redness was observed in cheeses with Thermus thermophilus HB27 relative to the other cheeses and suggests that the development of the pink defect is dependent on the strain of Thermus present and on other, as yet unknown, factors that require further study.
Age‐at‐death estimation in adults using three forensic methodologies: A Lamendin’s technique approach for Latin American context and the extension of a forensic international dental database
Authors: Garizoain Gonzalo , Parra Roberto C. , Escalante‐Flórez Karen J. , Aranda Claudia M. , Luna Leandro H. , Condori Lucio A. , Valderrama‐Leal Clara I. , Retana‐Milán Fernando
Published: July 2021

In forensic science, the information that teeth provide to the age estimation process is very important. In adults, one of the most widely used indicators of skeletal age is the Root Dentin Translucency (RDT), mainly through the Lamendin technique, which is used in various Latin American contexts. Recently, Parra et al. (2020) have developed a Bayesian regression model using the Lamendin technique to establish standardized criteria for estimating age‐at‐death in adults in various forensic contexts. In this study, we evaluate the applicability of this proposal together with the proposal by Lamendin et al. (1992) and Prince and Ubelaker (2002) in Latin American contexts. A sample of single‐rooted teeth belonging to 805 individuals from six Latin American countries was used. The results of the three proposals considered were analyzed taking into account factors such as age, sex, origin, and the tooth surface on which the variables were surveyed. Of the factors that would affect the estimates, it was found that the age of the individuals had the greatest influence. However, it was confirmed that the sex and surface of the teeth on which the measurements were taken did not influence the final result. On the other hand, as we expected, the application of the analyzed proposals would also be possible in other forensic contexts, as shown by the results obtained according to the origin. This research expands the FIDB with more information on Latino contexts.
Efficacy and safety profile of combining programmed cell death‐1 (PD‐1) inhibitors and antiangiogenic targeting agents as subsequent therapy for advanced or metastatic non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Authors: Xu Ziyi , Li Teng , Hu Xingsheng , Hao Xuezhi , Xing Puyuan , Li Junling
Published: July 2021

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated that PD‐1 inhibitors are effective in the treatment of advanced or metastatic non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, whether the combination of PD‐1 inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents benefit advanced NSCLC patients as subsequent therapy remains unknown. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the efficacy and safety profile of this combination strategy as subsequent therapy for NSCLC patients in a real‐world setting.

Methods

A total of 30 patients with advanced NSCLC, who progressed after at least two cycles of platinum‐based chemotherapy or targeted therapy and subsequently received combination therapy with a PD‐1 inhibitor and antiangiogenic agent, were included in this study. The safety profile and efficacy were also investigated.

Results

At the time of a median follow‐up period of 10.7 months, 28 patients had experienced progression of disease and 16 patients had died. The median progression‐free survial (mPFS) was 5.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.179–6.821), and the median overall survival (mOS) was 14.3 months (95% CI: 8.912–19.659). The objective response rate (ORR) and the disease control rate (DCR) were 10.3% and 72.4%, respectively (0 complete remission, three partial responses and 18 stable disease in 29 patients with measurable lesions). Patients with PD‐L1 expression of at least 1% of tumor cells (n = 5) had relatively longer mPFS compared to those with PD‐L1‐negative tumors (n = 14), (11.6 months vs. 3.7 months). Treatment was suspended in two patients due to grade 3 immune‐related pneumonia and pancreatitis, respectively. No novel adverse events (AEs) or grade 4 AEs were observed.

Conclusions

A combination of PD‐1 inhibitors and antiangiogenic targeting agents may be beneficial for patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC as subsequent treatment, especially for patients with PD‐L1 protein expression positive, and treatment is well tolerated.
Voluntary Disclosure in Light of Control Concerns*
Authors: Arya Anil , Ramanan Ram N.V.
Published: July 2021

The centrality of private information in the design of accounting institutions has been explored via agency models that address control concerns as well as disclosure models that amplify valuation issues. This paper derives disclosures by an entrepreneur‐owner when both control and valuation concerns are in play. In particular, the disclosures influence stock price not only via a direct impact on valuation of the firm's revenue but also via an indirect impact on the firm's cost of procuring inputs from a self‐interested and privately informed upstream supplier. In this setting, disclosures are judiciously designed to influence the supplier's decision to share cost information and to control information rents embedded in the procurement contract within the supply chain. Specifically, in order to convey that information rents are not in the offing and, thus, motivate information sharing by the supplier, the owner has incentives to convey a less “rosy” picture. In effect, when controlling supplier actions also becomes important, the owner discloses some unfavorable revenue news that she would have otherwise withheld and conceals some favorable revenue news that she would have otherwise revealed. Consequently, in our model, the disclosure region is either two‐tailed or intermediate, in contrast to the single‐tailed disclosure region implied by familiar valuation considerations alone.
Downregulation of ROR2 promotes dental pulp stem cell senescence by inhibiting STK4‐FOXO1/SMS1 axis in sphingomyelin biosynthesis
Authors: Dong Xing‐yue , Huang Yan‐xia , Yang Zhan , Chu Xiao‐yang , Wu Jue , Wang Shan , He Xin , Gao Chun‐Yan , Chen Xu , Yang Kai , Zhang Dong‐liang
Published: July 2021

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) play a vital role in tooth restoration, regeneration, and homeostasis. The link between DPSC senescence and tooth aging has been well‐recognized. ROR2 plays an important role in aging‐related gene expression. However, the expression and function of ROR2 in DPSC aging remain largely unknown. In this study, we found that ROR2 expression was significantly decreased in aged pulp tissues and DPSCs. The depletion of ROR2 in young DPSCs inhibits their self‐renewal capacity, while its overexpression in aged DPSCs restores their self‐renewal capacity. Interestingly, we found that sphingomyelin (SM) is involved in the senescence of DPSCs regulated by ROR2. Mechanistically, we confirmed that ROR2 inhibited the phosphorylation of STK4, which promoted the translocation of Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1) to the nucleus. STK4 inhibition or knockdown of FOXO1 markedly increased the proliferation of DPSCs and upregulated the expression of SMS1, which catalyzed SM biogenesis. Moreover, FOXO1 directly bound to the SMS1 promoter, repressing its transcription. Our findings demonstrated the critical role of the ROR2/STK4‐FOXO1/SMS1 axis in the regulation of SM biogenesis and DPSC senescence, providing a novel target for antagonizing tooth aging.
Auditors’ propensity and accuracy in issuing going‐concern modified audit opinions for charities
Authors: Yang Yitang (Jenny) , Simnett Roger , Carson Elizabeth
Published: July 2021

This paper identifies factors contributing to the auditor’s propensity to issue going‐concern modified audit opinions (hereafter, GCOs) for charities and examines their association with subsequent revocation of their charitable status. We find that about 4 percent of charities receive GCOs and these are more likely for those which are smaller, in greater financial distress, received a prior year GCO, and are also affected by dependence on the various types of funding received. After controlling for these factors, Big 4 auditors are less likely to issue GCOs than other audit firms, but there are no differences in their association with subsequent revocation.
A timing momentum strategy
Authors: Lin Chaonan , Yang Nien‐Tzu , Chou Robin K. , Ko Kuan‐Cheng
Published: July 2021

We propose a timing momentum strategy by incorporating moving‐average signals in the price momentum and show that the proposed strategy substantially outperforms the buy‐and‐hold strategy. The performance of the timing momentum is better than that of Barroso and Santa‐Clara’s (2015) constant‐volatility momentum and is identical to that of Daniel and Moskowitz’s (2016) dynamic momentum. One advantage of the timing momentum is that its weights on winner and loser portfolios are lower than the other two strategies, thus leading to lower transaction costs. Further, we show that the profitability of the timing momentum is enhanced when information uncertainty is high. More importantly, the timing momentum has time‐invariant profitability across various time‐series predictors and during periods of momentum crashes.
Cannabis and its therapeutic value in the ageing population: Attitudes of health‐care providers
Authors: Chandiok Karan , Marathe Shreeya , Rooney Miranda , Stocker Jess , Tellis Bianca , Pit Sabrina
Published: July 2021

Objective(s)

To explore the attitudes of health‐care providers and the perceived barriers and facilitators regarding the use of cannabis‐containing medicines (CCMs) in older patients.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews with eleven health‐care providers in rural New South Wales (NSW). A thematic analysis was performed.

Results

Themes and recommendations include attitudes towards CCMs for therapeutic purposes, their perceived uses, side effects, barriers to use and prescription (stigma, regulation, access and driving), difficulties encountered with the Special Access Scheme (SAS) and the need for ongoing research and education. An ecological framework demonstrated the complex interactions between patients and health‐care providers and their social, community and political environment.

Conclusion

Providers’ attitudes towards CCM use in older patients are generally positive; however, there is a need for further high‐quality evidence on efficacy and safety, alongside improved CCM education and training, to reduce barriers to their implementation. Barriers to prescription and access continue to evolve on personal, organisational and systemic levels.
Comparison of electrocardiograms (ECG) waveforms and centralized ECG measurements between a simple 6‐lead mobile ECG device and a standard 12‐lead ECG
Authors: Kleiman Robert , Darpo Borje , Brown Randy , Rudo Todd , Chamoun Svetlana , Albert David E. , Bos Johan Martijn , Ackerman Michael J.
Published: July 2021

Background

Interval duration measurements (IDMs) were compared between standard 12‐lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) and 6‐lead ECGs recorded with AliveCor's KardiaMobile 6L, a hand‐held mobile device designed for use by patients at home.

Methods

Electrocardiograms were recorded within, on average, 15 min from 705 patients in Mayo Clinic's Windland Smith Rice Genetic Heart Rhythm Clinic. Interpretable 12‐lead and 6‐lead recordings were available for 685 out of 705 (97%) eligible patients. The most common diagnosis was congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS, 343/685 [50%]), followed by unaffected relatives and patients (146/685 [21%]), and patients with other genetic heart diseases, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (36 [5.2%]), arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (23 [3.4%]), and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (14 [2.0%]). IDMs were performed by a central ECG laboratory using lead II with a semi‐automated technique.

Results

Despite differences in patient position (supine for 12‐lead ECGs and sitting for 6‐lead ECGs), mean IDMs were comparable, with mean values for the 12‐lead and 6‐lead ECGs for QTcF, heart rate, PR, and QRS differing by 2.6 ms, −5.5 beats per minute, 1.0 and 1.2 ms, respectively. Despite a modest difference in heart rate, intervals were close enough to allow a detection of clinically meaningful abnormalities.

Conclusions

The 6‐lead hand‐held device is potentially useful for a clinical follow‐up of remote patients, and for a safety follow‐up of patients participating in clinical trials who cannot visit the investigational site. This technology may extend the use of 12‐lead ECG recordings during the current COVID‐19 pandemic as remote patient monitoring becomes more common in virtual or hybrid‐design clinical studies.
Cardiac vagus nerve denervation by pulmonary vein isolation was effective for swallowing‐induced atrial tachycardia
Authors: Yamaguchi Yoshiaki , Sakamoto Tamotsu , Nakatani Yosuke , Mizumaki Koichi
Published: July 2021

Swallowing‐induced atrial tachycardia (SIAT) is a relatively rare arrhythmia. A 56‐year‐old woman was admitted to treat atrial tachycardia that occurs by not only eating and drinking but also yawning. Both the right and left upper pulmonary veins were suspected as the earliest activation site of the tachycardia and the abnormal activation of ectopies themselves were suppressed after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). In a 24‐hour Holter electrocardiogram, the HF component of the analysis of heart rate variability was suppressed both at 1 day and at 2 years after ablation. In this case, cardiac vagal nerve denervation by PVI was effective for SIAT.
Decentring the Lettered City: Exile, Transnational Networks, and Josué de Castro’s Centre International pour le Développement (1964–1973)
Authors: Ferretti Federico
Published: July 2021

This paper discusses the relevance of radical scholarship by exploring the case of the Centre International pour le Développement (CID), founded by Brazilian geographer Josué de Castro during his exile in Paris. Drawing upon Latin American works on the “Lettered City” and the evolving role of intellectuals in constructing critical knowledge, I explore new archives revealing the CID’s daily (net)working. My argument is that this case suggests new interpretations of the notion of Lettered City, exposing slipperiness and potentialities of radical intellectuals’ roles in influencing politics and proposing solutions for global problems. On the one hand, despite Castro’s international renown, the CID failed in its mission of involving politicians and “enlightened” businessmen during the Cold War because its purposes clashed with the interests of most of its interlocutors. On the other, the CID’s archives show that Castro performed a powerful global networking to circulate ideas that still inspire radical geographers.
Presence of high‐risk HLA genotype is the most important individual risk factor for coeliac disease among at‐risk relatives
Authors: Paavola Saana , Lindfors Katri , Kivelä Laura , Cerqueira Juliana , Huhtala Heini , Saavalainen Päivi , Tauschi Riku , Kaukinen Katri , Kurppa Kalle
Published: July 2021

Background

Family screening has been advocated as a means to reduce the major underdiagnosis of coeliac disease. However, the precise risk of the disease in relatives and the impact of patient‐ and relative‐related individual factors remain obscure.

Aims

To investigate the individual risk of coeliac disease among patients' relatives.

Methods

Altogether 2943 relatives of 624 index patients were assessed for the presence of previous coeliac disease diagnosis, or were screened for the disease. Coeliac disease‐associated human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genotype was determined from all participants. The association between individual factors and new screening positivity was assessed by logistic regression.

Results

There were 229 previously diagnosed non‐index relatives with coeliac disease and 2714 non‐affected (2067 first‐degree, 647 more distant) relatives. Of these 2714 relatives, 129 (4.8%) were screening‐positive (first‐degree 5.1%, second‐degree 3.6%, more distant 3.5%). The combined prevalence of the previously diagnosed and now detected cases in relatives was 12.2% (6.3% clinically detected, 5.9% screen‐detected). In univariate analysis, age <18 years at diagnosis (odds ratio 1.60, 95% CI 1.04‐2.45) in index, and age 41‐60 years (1.73, 1.10‐2.73), being a sibling (1.65, 1.06‐2.59) and having the high‐risk genotype (3.22, 2.01‐5.15 DQ2.5/2.5 or DQ2.5/2.2 vs other risk alleles) in relatives were associated with screening positivity. Only high‐risk HLA remained significant (2.94, 1.80‐4.78) in multivariable analysis.

Conclusions

Unrecognised coeliac disease was common among at‐risk relatives even in a country with an active case‐finding policy, and also in relatives more distant than first‐degree. The presence of a high‐risk genotype was the most important predictor for screening positivity. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03136731.
Sourcing macrolithics: Mineralogical, geochemical and provenance investigation of stone artefacts from Neolithic Avgi, north‐west Greece
Authors: Stergiou Christos L. , Bekiaris Tasos , Melfos Vasilios , Theodoridou Stella , Stratouli Georgia
Published: July 2021

The provenance of the lithic raw materials employed in the production of macrolithic artefacts at Neolithic Avgi (Middle–Late Neolithic, c.5700–4500 cal bce) in Kastoria, north‐western Greece, is studied. Mineralogical, petrographic and geochemical analysis was conducted on selected samples of the archaeological material, supported by geological fieldwork and outcrop sampling. The majority of the macrolithic stone artefacts was manufactured by local raw materials, originating from either the neighbouring ophiolites at Maniakoi or the alluvial sediments of the Aliakmon River and its tributaries. A minor amount of artefacts was produced from ‘exotic’ rocks, such as marble, malachite and amber. The study of two marble artefacts indicates that the raw material is from the island of Naxos in Aegean, although the neighbouring island of Paros is not excluded, suggesting the participation of the Neolithic community of Avgi in social and/or exchange networks.
Pro‐vaccination subjective norms moderate the relationship between conspiracy mentality and vaccination intentions
Authors: Winter Kevin , Pummerer Lotte , Hornsey Matthew J. , Sassenberg Kai
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Increasing vaccination hesitancy threatens societies’ capacity to contain pandemics and other diseases. One factor that is positively associated with vaccination intentions is a supportive subjective norm (i.e., the perception that close others approve of vaccination). On the downside, there is evidence that negative attitudes toward vaccinations are partly rooted in conspiracy mentality (i.e., the tendency to believe in conspiracies). The objective of this study is to examine the role of subjective norms in moderating the association between conspiracy mentality and vaccine hesitancy. We examined two competing predictions: Are those high in conspiracy mentality immune to subjective norms, or do subjective norms moderate the relationship between conspiracy mentality and vaccination intentions?

Methods

We conducted five studies (total N = 1,280) to test these hypotheses across several vaccination contexts (some real, some fictitious). We measured conspiracy mentality, vaccination intentions, subjective norms, attitudes toward vaccination, and perceived behavioural control.

Results

A merged analysis across the studies revealed an interaction effect of conspiracy mentality and subjective norm on vaccination intentions. When subjective norm was high (i.e., when participants perceived that close others approved of vaccines) conspiracy mentality no longer predicted vaccination intentions. This was consistent with the moderating hypothesis of subjective norms and inconsistent with the immunity hypothesis.

Conclusions

The typical negative relationship between conspiracy mentality and vaccination intentions is eliminated among those who perceive pro‐vaccination subjective norms. Although correlational, these data raise the possibility that pro‐vaccination views of friends and family can be leveraged to reduce vaccine hesitancy.
Glycocalyx is critical for blood‐brain barrier integrity by suppressing caveolin1‐dependent endothelial transcytosis following ischemic stroke
Authors: Zhu Juan , Li Zheqi , Ji Zhong , Wu Yongming , He Yihua , Liu Kewei , Chang Yuan , Peng Yuqin , Lin Zhenzhou , Wang Shengnan , Wang Dongmei , Huang Kaibin , Pan Suyue
Published: July 2021

The breakdown of the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) is related to the occurrence and deterioration of neurological dysfunction in ischemic stroke, which leads to the extravasation of blood‐borne substances, resulting in vasogenic edema and increased mortality. However, a limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control the restrictive properties of the BBB hinders the manipulation of the BBB in disease and treatment. Here, we found that the glycocalyx (GCX) is a critical factor in the regulation of brain endothelial barrier integrity. First, endothelial GCX displayed a biphasic change pattern, of which the timescale matched well with the biphasic evolution of BBB permeability to tracers within the first week after t‐MCAO. Moreover, GCX destruction with hyaluronidase increased BBB permeability in healthy mice and aggravated BBB leakage in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (t‐MCAO) mice. Surprisingly, ultrastructural observation showed that GCX destruction was accompanied by increased endothelial transcytosis at the ischemic BBB, while the tight junctions remained morphologically and functionally intact. Knockdown of caveolin1 (Cav1) suppressed endothelial transcytosis, leading to reduced BBB permeability, and brain edema. Lastly, a coimmunoprecipitation assay showed that GCX degradation enhanced the interaction between syndecan1 and Src by promoting the binding of phosphorylated syndecan1 to the Src SH2 domain, which led to rapid modulation of cytoskeletal proteins to promote caveolae‐mediated endocytosis. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the dynamic degradation and reconstruction of GCX may account for the biphasic changes in BBB permeability in ischemic stroke, and reveal an essential role of GCX in suppressing transcellular transport in brain endothelial cells to maintain BBB integrity. Targeting GCX may provide a novel strategy for managing BBB dysfunction and central nervous system drug delivery.
The Rosebank Field, NE Atlantic: Volcanic characterisation of an inter‐lava hydrocarbon discovery
Authors: Millett John M. , Jerram Dougal A. , Manton Ben , Planke Sverre , Ablard Peter , Wallis Dirk , Hole Malcolm J. , Brandsen Harry , Jolley David W. , Dennehy Cliona
Published: July 2021

The Rosebank Field is located in the Faroe‐Shetland Basin and hosts hydrocarbons within siliciclastic sediments interlayered with volcanic packages of the Late Paleocene to Early Eocene aged Flett Formation. Within this study the volcanic sequences are investigated based on an integrated appraisal of available drill cuttings, sidewall cores, core and wireline logs including image log and geochemical logs from eight wells supported by 3D seismic data. The Rosebank lower (RLV), middle (RMV) and upper (RUV) volcanic sequences are inter‐layered with Colsay Member (C1–C4) fluvial to shallow marine siliciclastic intervals. A comprehensive cross‐field borehole based lithofacies interpretation is presented characterising simple, compound and ponded effusive lava flow facies along with pillow lavas, invasive lava flows, volcaniclastic sediments and complex lava–sediment interactions. Geochemical analyses of core, sidewall core, and hand‐picked cuttings spanning the field reveal separate high‐titanium (RHT) and relatively lower‐titanium (RLT) basaltic magma suites. These compositions can be identified and correlated across much of the field utilising geochemical logging data which, in combination with the geochemical analyses, reveals a two‐part stratigraphic sub‐division of each of the RLV, RMV and RUV. Geochemical logging data is also used to define a volcanic proxy (Fe/10+Ti) which utilises the elevated iron (Fe) and titanium (Ti) within all effusive and volcaniclastic basaltic lithologies to differentiate siliciclastic from volcaniclastic sediments where other logging parameters overlap. By comparing the borehole analyses with seismic data, a localised eruptive vent is interpreted within the north of the field. Finally, a cross‐field volcanic model is presented and compared with relevant global field analogues, providing a constrained spatial framework for sub‐surface modelling of inter‐volcanic sequences.
Reactive oxygen species in cancer: Current findings and future directions
Authors: Nakamura Hajime , Takada Kohichi
Published: July 2021

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), a class of highly bioactive molecules, have been widely studied in various types of cancers. ROS are considered to be normal byproducts of numerous cellular processes. Typically, cancer cells exhibit higher basal levels of ROS compared with normal cells as a result of an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. ROS have a dual role in cell metabolism: At low to moderate levels, ROS act as signal transducers to activate cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. In contrast, high levels of ROS cause damage to proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, membranes, and organelles, leading to cell death. Extensive studies have revealed that anticancer therapies that manipulate ROS levels, including immunotherapies, show promising in vitro as well as in vivo results. In this review, we summarize molecular mechanisms and oncogenic functions that modulate ROS levels and are useful for the development of cancer therapeutic strategies. This review also provides insights into the future development of effective agents that regulate the redox system for cancer treatment.
Patterns of morphological simplification and innovation in the megadiverse Holometabola (Insecta)
Authors: Beutel Rolf Georg , Friedrich Frank , Economo Evan P.
Published: July 2021

We analyzed patterns of complexity and simplicity in holometabolan insects using parsimony and maximum‐likelihood. By contrast with other groups of arthropods (and most other groups of animals), insects have undergone a stepwise process of structural simplification in their evolution. The megadiverse Holometabola are characterized mainly by structurally simplified larvae, which differ strongly from the adults in their morphology and usually also in their life habits. Although smaller groups such as Neuropterida have largely maintained their structural complexity in adults and immature life stages, a series of reductions occurred with the appearance and diversification of Coleopterida, Mecopterida and especially Antliophora. Parasitic Strepsiptera or fleas display conspicuous patterns of reduction in different life stages and body regions, and high degrees of simplification also occur in groups with short‐lived adults. Larvae living in moist substrates display far‐reaching structural simplifications and also morphological uniformity, especially in the species‐rich Diptera, but also in other groups. Liquid feeding leads to correlated simplifications and innovation of adult head structures, especially of the mouthparts. Functional or anatomical dipterism leads to an optimization of the flight apparatus in most holometabolous groups, which is correlated with reductions in one of the pterothoracic segments, and coupled (e.g. by hamuli), partly reduced or transformed wings (e.g. halteres). In flightless groups, the pterothoracic skeleto‐muscular apparatus is strongly simplified. In the abdomen of adult females a stepwise reduction of the lepismatoid ovipositor occurs. By contrast, the male genital apparatus often undergoes an extreme diversification. Our evaluations revealed a highly correlated complexity between larval and adult stages.
Understanding mechanisms behind unwanted health behaviours in Nordic and South Asian women and how they affect their gestational diabetes follow‐ups: A qualitative study
Authors: Sharma Archana , Birkeland Kåre I. , Nermoen Ingrid , Qvigstad Elisabeth , Tran Anh T. , Gulseth Hanne L. , Sollid Stina T. , Wium Cecilie , Varsi Cecilie
Published: July 2021

Aims

The type 2 diabetes risk following gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is high, particularly among South Asian women in Western countries. Our study aimed to advance the knowledge regarding the mechanisms behind suboptimal follow‐up in the Nordic and South Asian women with previous GDM by comparing (1) their experiences, (2) health and disease perceptions and (3) barriers to and facilitators of health‐promoting behaviours.

Methods

This qualitative study was conducted in three hospital outpatient clinics in Norway, comprising six focus group interviews with 28 women 1–3 years after a pregnancy with GDM. The participants were purposively sampled and grouped according to their ethnicity. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, and a theoretical approach was applied to support the analysis and discuss the study's findings.

Results

Five main themes were identified: lack of resilience, emotional distress, ‘caught between a rock and a hard place’, postpartum abandonment and insufficient guidance. The key determinants of the maintenance of unwanted health behaviours after GDM were consistent across the ethnic groups. Although the importance of a culturally sensitive approach was emphasised, it appeared secondary to the need for a more organised public healthcare during and after GDM.

Conclusions

Women's real‐life constraints, combined with the inadequate healthcare‐service implementation, could explain the non‐adherence to the lifestyle‐changes guidelines essential for preventing diabetes post‐GDM. We suggest promoting specific coping strategies and changing the healthcare service approach rather than relying on women's capacity to initiate the necessary changes.
Density influences the heritability and genetic correlations of fish behaviour under trawling‐associated selection
Authors: Crespel Amélie , Miller Toby , Rácz Anita , Parsons Kevin , Lindström Jan , Killen Shaun
Published: July 2021

Fishing‐associated selection is one of the most important human‐induced evolutionary pressures for natural populations. However, it is unclear whether fishing leads to heritable phenotypic changes in the targeted populations, as the heritability and genetic correlations of traits potentially under selection have received little attention. In addition, phenotypic changes could arise from fishing‐associated environmental effects, such as reductions in population density. Using fish reared at baseline and reduced group density and repeatedly harvested by simulated trawling, we show that trawling can induce direct selection on fish social behaviour. As sociability has significant heritability and is also genetically correlated with activity and exploration, trawling has the potential to induce both direct selection and indirect selection on a variety of fish behaviours, potentially leading to evolution over time. However, while trawling selection was consistent between density conditions, the heritability and genetic correlations of behaviours changed according to the population density. Fishing‐associated environmental effects can thus modify the evolutionary potential of fish behaviour, revealing the need to use a more integrative approach to address the evolutionary consequences of fishing.
A guide to the Michaelis–Menten equation: steady state and beyond
Authors: Srinivasan Bharath
Published: July 2021

The modern definition of enzymology is synonymous with the Michaelis–Menten equation instituted by Leonor Michaelis and Maud Menten. Most textbooks, or chapters within, discussing enzymology start with the derivation of the equation under the assumption of rapid equilibrium (as done by Michaelis–Menten) or steady state (as modified by Briggs and Haldane) conditions to highlight the importance of this equation as the bedrock on which interpretation of enzyme kinetic results is dependent. However, few textbooks or monographs take the effort of placing the equation within its right historical context and discuss the assumptions that have gone into its institution. This guide will dwell on these in substantial detail. Further, this guide will attempt to instil a sense of appreciation for the mathematical curve rectangular hyperbola, its unique attributes and how ubiquitous the curve is in biological systems. To conclude, this guide will discuss the limitations of the equation, and the method it embodies, and trace the journey of how investigators are attempting to move beyond the steady‐state approach and the Michaelis–Menten equation into full progress curve, pre–steady state and single‐turnover kinetic analysis to obtain greater insights into enzyme kinetics and catalysis.
Cave amphipods reveal co‐variation between morphology and trophic niche in a low‐productivity environment
Authors: Premate Ester , Borko Špela , Delić Teo , Malard Florian , Simon Laurent , Fišer Cene
Published: July 2021

Identifying the relationships between morphology and trophic niche is at the core of functional morphology. Low resource diversity and fluxes of organic carbon are expected to constrain trophic specialisation of morphological structures because food resources are too scarce to promote trophic differentiation. However, species from low‐productivity habitats often exhibit specialised biological traits such as resistance to starvation and high food‐finding abilities, which may in turn release constraints on trophic and morphological differentiation among species.

Groundwaters are food resource‐limited because of the lack of photosynthetic production and limited inputs of organic carbon from surface ecosystems. We tested for co‐variation between morphology and trophic habits in co‐occurring Niphargus amphipods from five groundwater caves of the Dinaric Karst, Europe. We predicted that the size of gnathopods—the accessory feeding appendages—would positively co‐vary with trophic position: species with larger gnathopods should more easily grab and immobilise prey.

We quantified gnathopod size and shape by means of morphometric measurements and assessed isotopic niche, trophic position, and carbon signatures using nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) stable isotopes. We tested for correlation between morphological traits and trophic position and δ13C signatures while accounting for phylogenetic relationships among species.

All co‐occurring species differed morphologically in at least one gnathopod measurement and all of them differed in their isotopic niches. As predicted, gnathopod size increased with the increasing trophic position. This co‐variation probably reflects differences in detritivorous and predatory habits among species: amphipods with larger gnathopods, hence larger muscle and more powerful grip, could more easily subdue prey. Moreover, we found a significant correlation between gnathopod shape and the normalised δ13C values, indicating that shape of the gnathopods may be related to exploitation of different food resources.

We show that low‐productivity subterranean habitat species can exhibit strong trophic specialisation of morphological structures. Gnathopod size and shape of Niphargus amphipods are functional traits that co‐vary with trophic habits. Our findings pave the way for investigating how co‐variation of morphological and trophic traits may control energy flow and species’ coexistence at lower bounds of habitat productivity.
Major loss of coralline algal diversity in response to ocean acidification
Authors: Peña Viviana , Harvey Ben P. , Agostini Sylvain , Porzio Lucia , Milazzo Marco , Horta Paulo , Le Gall Line , Hall‐Spencer Jason M.
Published: July 2021

Calcified coralline algae are ecologically important in rocky habitats in the marine photic zone worldwide and there is growing concern that ocean acidification will severely impact them. Laboratory studies of these algae in simulated ocean acidification conditions have revealed wide variability in growth, photosynthesis and calcification responses, making it difficult to assess their future biodiversity, abundance and contribution to ecosystem function. Here, we apply molecular systematic tools to assess the impact of natural gradients in seawater carbonate chemistry on the biodiversity of coralline algae in the Mediterranean and the NW Pacific, link this to their evolutionary history and evaluate their potential future biodiversity and abundance. We found a decrease in the taxonomic diversity of coralline algae with increasing acidification with more than half of the species lost in high pCO2 conditions. Sporolithales is the oldest order (Lower Cretaceous) and diversified when ocean chemistry favoured low Mg calcite deposition; it is less diverse today and was the most sensitive to ocean acidification. Corallinales were also reduced in cover and diversity but several species survived at high pCO2; it is the most recent order of coralline algae and originated when ocean chemistry favoured aragonite and high Mg calcite deposition. The sharp decline in cover and thickness of coralline algal carbonate deposits at high pCO2 highlighted their lower fitness in response to ocean acidification. Reductions in CO2 emissions are needed to limit the risk of losing coralline algal diversity.