bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging from the swamp: an autoethnography on the legitimacy of action research
Authors: Smith Natalie
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The pressure on the academic community to demonstrate impact, bridge theory to practice and solve practical problems is persistent. Action research has the potential for bridging the rigour–relevance gap, but has struggled for legitimacy. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the impediments to action research legitimacy.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytic autoethnography of a PhD candidature, utilising legitimacy theory.

Findings

The study finds that a self-perpetuating cycle is hampering the quality of action research and provides a comprehensive list of impediments to action research legitimacy. It predicts that legitimacy can be improved through differentiating and improving guidance to theoretical contribution and considering a broader range of stakeholders for research funding and execution.

Research limitations/implications

Provides a more comprehensive understanding of the type and form of legitimacy issues for action research, which informs the actions likely to improve legitimacy. Provides clarity into limitations and variants in legitimacy theory. As the perspective of one PhD candidate, the study has the potential for bias and limitations to generalisability.

Practical implications

Improving the legitimacy of action research helps practice-based disciplines. The findings assist practitioners contemplating an academic pursuit to solve intractable business problems.

Social implications

Research that is both rigorous and relevant contributes to one’s ability to solve complex societal problems. This study provides insights into how research rigour and relevance could be improved.

Originality/value

This research provides unique perspective and insight into the reasons action research continues to struggle for legitimacy
Ready-made garment industry attractiveness: the case of Bangladesh garments’ blue-collar employees
Authors: Hasan Ikramul , Islam M. Nazmul , Khan Sariat Rafa
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study illustrates the effects of the motivating factors (e.g. learning facilities, employees' compensation and working environment) on organizational attractiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative study. This study investigates the hypotheses based on the 160 employee responses from the different garments operating in Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMGs) industry.

Findings

Using the structural equation modeling in Bangladesh's RMG industry, this paper argues that the working environment has a significant effect on organizational attractiveness in Bangladesh's RMG industry. This research study underlines that the working environment and employee compensations serve better than the employees learning facilities to grow employees RMG attraction.

Research limitations/implications

The findings will help practitioners of the garment manufacturers to showcase the motivating factors for the employees in growing attraction for the industry. However, the research is limited to the garment industry in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Moreover, similar research can be extended further in other countries with bigger samples to draw a general conclusion for the RMGs' operating in Asia.

Practical implications

This paper brings a plea for the practitioners through this research's outcomes and provides useful indications of how organizations can motivate their employees to ensure organizational attractiveness for their garment industry.

Originality/value

The paper also contributes to the body of the literature relating to attractiveness in Bangladesh's RMG sector. Employees' participation in this research also confirms the unique context of the sector.
Tequila at home or abroad? paths to brand love and purchase loyalty for hedonic products
Authors: Cacho-Elizondo Silvia , Conway Dato-on Mary , Harmon-Kizer Tracy
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of consumer brand experience on brand love and loyalty toward a favorite tequila brand across Mexico and the USA while advancing marketing strategies to strengthen consumer-brand relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were analyzed from 906 respondents (348-USA and 558-Mexico) to assess paths to purchase loyalty and test brand relationship hypotheses using partial least squares.

Findings

Analysis revealed that consumers in both markets demonstrated similar paths from tequila experience to brand love and attitude toward their favorite tequila brand. On the contrary, significant differences in the influence of tequila experience on the brand image were evident. Tequila experience did not have a significant difference between markets on purchase loyalty. Attitude toward the tequila brand had a much stronger influence on brand image for the USA compared to Mexican respondents. Finally, brand love’s influence on purchase loyalty differed significantly between the two markets of respondents.

Practical implications

Considering different paths to behavioral brand loyalty across markets enables segmentation strategy development to increase repeat purchase and brand allegiance. Results indicate that the brand's image is a strong influencer of purchase loyalty, suggesting opportunities exist for brand managers to consider unique paths toward purchase loyalty.

Originality/value

This study advances the literature by answering the call for multi-national studies that investigate consumer-brand relationships. Furthermore, the research setting offers insight into consumer-brand relationships and consumption patterns for spirits in a different national context, in this case, the product’s country of origin (Mexico) and its largest market (USA).
An anomaly detection method based on double encoder–decoder generative adversarial networks
Authors: Liu Hui , Tang Tinglong , Luo Jake , Zhao Meng , Zheng Baole , Wu Yirong
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to address the challenge of training a detection model for the robot to detect the abnormal samples in the industrial environment, while abnormal patterns are very rare under this condition.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a new model with double encoder–decoder (DED) generative adversarial networks to detect anomalies when the model is trained without any abnormal patterns. The DED approach is used to map high-dimensional input images to a low-dimensional space, through which the latent variables are obtained. Minimizing the change in the latent variables during the training process helps the model learn the data distribution. Anomaly detection is achieved by calculating the distance between two low-dimensional vectors obtained from two encoders.

Findings

The proposed method has better accuracy and F1 score when compared with traditional anomaly detection models.

Originality/value

A new architecture with a DED pipeline is designed to capture the distribution of images in the training process so that anomalous samples are accurately identified. A new weight function is introduced to control the proportion of losses in the encoding reconstruction and adversarial phases to achieve better results. An anomaly detection model is proposed to achieve superior performance against prior state-of-the-art approaches.
The role of brand representatives in predicting trust in early buyer–supplier relationships
Authors: Seyedghorban Zahra , Simpson Dayna , Matanda Margaret Jekanyika
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the dynamics of trust creation in an early buyer–supplier relationship phase at the interpersonal level. The authors use a brand-based communication approach to investigate the trust–risk–commitment link.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data from 204 senior managers in small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in Australia were collected and analyzed.

Findings

Results indicate that ability, credibility, benevolence and persona of supplier brand representatives (SBRs) relate significantly to a buyers’ trust in SBR, leading to diminished perceived risk, and increased relationship commitment between the parties. These findings support the importance of using individual representatives who are able to broadcast their supplier’s brand values, and increase trust in exploratory buyer–supplier relationships.

Research limitations/implications

This research focused on SMEs in Australia, investigating exploratory phase of the interpersonal relationships. Future research can investigate large firms interacting in different relationship phases in the light of brand-based communication.

Practical implications

The study describes several strategies for both buying and supplying firms to use, to best use brand-based communication as a means to build trust in the early phases of buyer–supplier relationships.

Originality/value

Prior research has focused on interorganizational trust and established or mature buyer–supplier relationships. This study investigates the initial phase of buyer–supplier relationships, and at the interpersonal exchange level. It also incorporates a role for brand-based communication in the buyer–supplier relationship which has received limited attention in the literature.
The role of shared study space in shaping graduate students’ social networks
Authors: Zhou Yaoyi , Hua Ying
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study whether the use of a shared study space played a role in shaping graduate students’ social networks by exploring how the copresence in space was related to the structure of friendship and advice networks. The authors first proposed two concepts of spatial copresence: measured spatial-temporal copresence and perceived copresence. The authors then examined the role of copresence through a case study of a shared study space occupied by 27 graduate students in the same department.

Design/methodology/approach

Copresence relations were first constructed through a six-month room access history data set and self-reported data to examine whether measured spatial-temporal copresence was consistent with perceived copresence. Friendship and advice network relations were then analyzed with copresence, social media connections, class project collaboration relations and social homophily (nationality, gender, cohort) through quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) and MQAP analysis.

Findings

The authors found that students who used the shared study space more often reported more friendship and advice ties. The perceived copresence and the measured spatial-temporal copresence were highly correlated. Copresence relations, as measured by survey and room access history, were both significantly correlated with advice relation, which was associated with perceived social support.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the debate about whether “space” continues to play significant roles in graduate students’ social networks in the context of flexible learning environments. The results also reveal new directions for research methods in studying spatial proximity in flexible settings.
Teaching for intersectionality: insights from a relational cultural perspective
Authors: Simola Sheldene K.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to consider the use of relational cultural theory (RCT) as an underlying, processual orientation for teaching with those who are living and learning at the intersection of multiple, marginalised identities.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of intersectionality is defined, and key characteristics of intersectional approaches are described. The criticality of teaching for intersectionality-related social justice goals involving inclusion, engagement, mattering, empowerment and critical inquiry as foundations for critical praxis is identified. Consideration is given to the viability of RCT as an underlying orientation for teaching with students who live and learn at the intersection of multiple, marginalised identities.

Findings

RCT is consonant with key characteristics of intersectional approaches, including rejection of essentialist perspectives; recognising the roles of power in creating, maintaining and legitimising interlocking marginalisations; retaining race as a critical point of intersectional analysis and practice; recognising the validity of insights obtained from non-dominant standpoints; and working to fulfill social justice goals. Practical guidelines from RCT that support social justice goals include facilitating student voice within a context of radical respect; use of “disruptive empathy”; attending to particular experiences within the context of systemic power dynamics; using co-active “power with” versus “power over” students; relying on mutuality and fluid expertise; and reframing student resistance.

Research limitations/implications

This paper provides a foundational overview of the history, nature and uses of RCT as an underlying processual orientation when teaching across diverse academic disciplines for students who live and learn at the intersection of multiple marginalised identities. Detailed case studies involving the application of RCT, including those involving teacher self-reflection would be useful.

Practical implications

Guidelines are provided for the practical application of RCT when teaching for intersectionality across diverse academic disciplines.

Social implications

RCT supports the intersectionality-related social justice goals of inclusion, engagement, mattering, empowerment and critical inquiry as foundations for critical praxis.

Originality/value

Intersectional pedagogies have been associated with positive attitudinal, intentional and behavioural outcomes. However, despite some notable exceptions, intersectional pedagogies are still absent in most academic disciplines. This paper provides practical guidance on the use of RCT as an underlying processual orientation when teaching for intersectionality across diverse academic disciplines.
A novel approach for optimal replacement threshold and inspection scheme for condition based maintenance
Authors: Golmakani Hamid Reza
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the simultaneous determination of optimal replacement threshold and inspection scheme for a system within condition-based maintenance (CBM) framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A proportional hazards model (PHM) is used for risk of failure and a Markovian process to model the system covariates. Total expected long-run cost (including replacement, inspection and downtime costs) is formulated in terms of replacement threshold and inspection scheme. Through an iterative procedure, for all different values of replacement thresholds, their associated optimal inspection scheme is determined using an effective search algorithm. By evaluating the corresponding costs, the optimal replacement threshold and its associated optimal inspection scheme are, then, identified.

Findings

The mathematical formulation, that takes into account all different costs, required for the simultaneous determination of optimal replacement threshold and optimal inspection scheme for an item subjected to CBM using PHM is provided. The proposed approach is compared against classical age policy and one state-of-the-art policy through a numerical example. The results show that the proposed approach outperforms other comparing policies.

Practical implications

In practical situations where CBM is implemented, inspections and downtime often incur cost. Under such circumstances, findings of this paper can be utilized for the determination of optimal replacement threshold and optimal inspection scheme so that the CBM cost is minimized.

Originality/value

In most of the reported researches, it is often assumed that inspections have no cost and/or that the time for replacements (either preventive or at failure) is negligible. In the contrary, in this paper the author takes all cost factors including inspection costs, replacement time(s) and their associated downtime costs into account in the simultaneous determination of optimal replacement threshold and optimal inspection scheme.
ICD corporate communication and its determinants: evidence from Italian listed companies’ websites
Authors: Nicolò Giuseppe , Aversano Natalia , Sannino Giuseppe , Tartaglia Polcini Paolo
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the extent and type of online intellectual capital (IC) disclosure provided by a sample of 117 Italian listed companies. The study also seeks to identify possible determinants of the extent and type of intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) practiced by Italian listed companies via the Web.

Design/methodology/approach

A content analysis is conducted to investigate the extent and type of online ICD provided through websites by a sample of 117 Italian listed companies. Two multivariate ordinary least squares regression models are applied to estimate the associations proposed in the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that Italian listed companies are exploiting the potential of websites to satisfy the information needs of investors and other stakeholders in relation to strategic IC-based corporate resources, with a particular focus on external capital. For the most part, ICD is conveyed in narrative form. Moreover, while the size and board independence positively affect both the extent and type of ICD, profitability exerts a positive influence only on the extent of online ICD.

Originality/value

Unlike previous ICD studies, which focussed on annual reports, this study explores an emerging and innovative tool to convey ICD, namely, the website. In today’s world, websites are considered to be the most expedient and effective tools for sharing and transmitting information, including IC; they are a vehicle that can shift the IC focus from the organisation to the wider ecosystem.
Analyzing the mediating effect of organizational identification on the relationship between CSR employer branding and employee retention
Authors: Bharadwaj Shubhangi , Yameen Mohammad
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The study aims to explore the relationship between the employer branding (EB) dimension of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employee retention (ER) while testing for organizational identification (OI) as a mediator, within a single framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is cross-sectional, and the data were collected from 126 employees working in the Indian information technology (IT) companies. Regression technique and PROCESS macro were deployed to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings asserted that, first, the EB dimension of CSR influences ER. Second, CSR significantly affected OI and was found to be a strong predictor of ER. Third, the relationship between CSR and ER is mediated by OI.

Practical implications

Organizations should embed ethical stance in their policies, practices and procedures to retain a skilled workforce. Further, CSR as an EB dimension, while being imperative for improving employee-related outcomes, does not necessarily help to enhance retention of employees unless the employees build a strong identity with their work organization.

Social implications

The study connotes that organizations should be more socially responsible for achieving better employer status among various stakeholders. A well-designed strategy pertaining to CSR may increase the reputation of an employer as an attractive place to work for current and prospective employees.

Originality/value

The paper examined CSR as an important attribute of employer branding for retaining competent employees in the Indian setting; studies on CSR as an EB dimension are limited. The results focus on embracing socially responsible behavior of organizations and on examining the role of OI as a mediating variable.
Stress and memory: a systematic state-of-the-art review with evidence-gathering recommendations for police
Authors: Di Nota Paula M. , Stoliker Bryce E. , Vaughan Adam D. , Andersen Judith P. , Anderson Gregory S.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study isto synthesize recent empirical research investigating memory of stressful critical incidents (both simulated and occurring in the field) among law enforcement officers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the approach of systematic state-of-the-art review.

Findings

In total, 20 studies of police and military officers show reduced detail and accuracy of high- versus low-stress incidents, especially for peripheral versus target information. Decrements in memory performance were mediated by the extent of physiological stress responses. Delayed recall accuracy was improved among officers that engaged in immediate post-incident rehearsal, including independent debriefing or reviewing body-worn camera footage.

Research limitations/implications

Most studies were not found through systematic database searches, highlighting a need for broader indexing and/or open access publishing to make research more accessible.

Practical implications

By understanding how stress physiology enhances or interferes with memory encoding, consolidation and recall, evidence-based practices surrounding post-incident evidence gathering are recommended.

Social implications

The current review addresses common public misconceptions of enhanced cognitive performance among police relative to the average citizen.

Originality/value

The current work draws from scientific knowledge about the pervasive influence of stress physiology on memory to inform existing practices surrounding post-incident evidence gathering among police.
Data analytics by management accountants
Authors: Spraakman Gary , Sanchez-Rodriguez Cristobal , Tuck-Riggs Carol Anne
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to understand how the tasks of management accountants (MA) are affected by data analytics (DA).

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology was deemed most appropriate given the exploratory nature of the research questions (RQ). In total, 10 open-ended interview questions were used to gather the evidence. The case study design was inductive, yielding rich data from 29 respondents representing 20 different organizations.

Findings

Answers were provided to three interrelated RQs about the use of DA by MA, namely, what are their responsibilities? How does this work support inference, prediction and assurance? And how can they ensure insights from DA can be turned into decisions that add value? The findings also indicate that MA have not taken charge of the data analytic opportunities and at present, their activities remain largely focused on descriptive and financial data analysis rather than more complex activities using external data, operational data and modeling.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this research is that it is based on a relatively small, geographically restricted sample (20 organizations in south-central Canada) as well by interviews that were only 60 min in duration.

Practical implications

Provides a base for the existing practice of management accounting with DA.

Social implications

Explains the social relationship between DA and management accounting.

Originality/value

Documented and explained the extent of actual DA use by MA.
Macroeconomic variables and stock indices: an asymmetric evidence from quantile ARDL model
Authors: Chang Bisharat Hussain , Bhutto Niaz Ahmed , Turi Jamshid Ali , Hashmi Shabir Mohsin , Gohar Raheel
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study examines the short-run and long-run impact of macroeconomic variables such as industrial production index, inflation, exchange rate, interest rate, foreign direct investment and trade balance, on KSE 100 index and sectorial stock indices under bearish, bullish and normal states of the stock market prices. Moreover, we take into account the effect of three crises observed from 2005 to 2009.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses quantile autoregressive distributed lag (QARDL) model for examining the short-run and long-run effect across various quantiles of the dependent variables and compare its' results standard autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model.

Findings

ARDL estimates indicate that, in the long-run, industrial production index, trade balance and foreign direct investment significantly affect stock prices. These findings remain same when three crises have been taken into consideration. In addition, estimates from QARDL model indicate that, in the short-run, the effect of exchange rate, interest rate, consumer price index and foreign direct investment, varies across bearish, bullish and normal states of the overall stock prices. Moreover, the short-run findings for Auto Assembler, Cement, Commercial Banks sector are consistent with overall stock indices, whereas other sectors, such as, Oil and Gas and Power Generation and distribution are asymmetrically affected by all macroeconomic variables. In the long-run, the effect of all macro-variables varies across different states of the stock markets except industrial production index for Auto Assembler sector, Oil and Gas sector and composite index of KSE 100 index.

Originality/value

We take into account the effect of three crises observed from 2005 to 2009 and also examine the macroeconomic effect across bullish, bearish and normal states of the sectorial stock indices and composite index of Pakistan stock exchange. Finally, we use novel approach, called QARDL model, which has several advantages over other techniques.
Assessment of irreversible losses of non-Newtonian nanofluid flow underlying Hall current, chemical reaction and thermal radiation
Authors: Das S. , Sarkar S. , Jana R.N.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To amend the efficiency of engineering processes and electronic devices, it is very urgent to assess the irreversibility in the term entropy generation (EG). The efficiency of energy transportation in a system can be improved by minimization of the rate of EG. In this context, the aim of the present study is to estimate irreversible losses of an unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a viscous incompressible electrically conducting non-Newtonian molybdenum disulfide-polyethylene glycol Casson nanofluid past a moving vertical plate with slip condition under the influence of Hall current, thermal radiation, internal heat generation/absorption and first-order chemical reaction. Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanoparticles are dispersed in the base fluid polyethylene glycol (PEG) to make Casson nanofluid. Casson fluid model is considered to characterize the rheology of the non-Newtonian fluid, whereas Rosseland approximation is adopted to simulate the thermal radiative heat flux in the energy equation.

Design/methodology/approach

The closed-form solutions are obtained for the model equations by using the Laplace transform method (LTM). Graphs and tables are prepared to examine the impact of pertinent flow parameters on the pertinent flow characteristics. The energy efficiency of the system via the Bejan number is studied extensively.

Findings

Analysis reveals that Hall current has diminishing behavior on entropy production of the thermal system. Strengthening of the magnetic field declines the velocity components and prop-ups the rate of EG. Adding nanoparticles into the base fluid reduces the EG, whereas there are an optimum volume fraction of nanoparticles for which the EG is minimized. Further, the rate of decay of EG is prominent in molybdenum disulfide-polyethylene glycol in comparison to PEG.

Practical implications

The results of this study would benefit the industrial sector in achieving the maximum heat transfer at the cost of minimum irreversibilities with an optimal choice of embedded thermophysical parameters. In view of this agenda, this study would be adjuvant in powder technology, polymer dynamics, metallurgical process, manufacturing dynamics of nano-polymers, petroleum industries, chemical industries, magnetic field control of material processing, synthesis of smart polymers, etc.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study is to encompass the analytical solution by using the LTM. Such an exact solution of non-Newtonian fluid flow is rare in the literature. Limited research articles are available in the field of EG analysis during the flow of non-Newtonian nanoliquid subject to a strong magnetic field.
Participation patterns and determinants of participation of young children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Abu‐Dahab Sana M. N. , Alheresh Rawan A. , Malkawi Somaya H. , Saleh Maysoun , Wong John
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Understanding participation patterns of young children with cerebral palsy (CP) will enable occupational therapists to tailor family‐ and child‐centred services. This study compares participation patterns and participation barriers of young children with CP with those of typically developing (TD) children. In addition, effect of age and gender on participation were examined as well as child‐related determinants of participation for young children with CP.

Methods

Participants were a convenience sample of 110 young children with CP and 150 TD children, aged 36–72 months. Children with CP represented different levels of the Gross Motor Function Classification System‐Expanded and Revised (GMFCS‐E&R), the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS). The Arabic Preschool Activity Card Sort was used to measure participation level as well as barriers of participation. T‐tests, ANOVA, and exploratory regressions were employed. Significance was set at p < .05.

Results

Young children with CP showed significant decreased overall and domain‐specific participation compared to TD children (p < .001). Perceived barriers of participation were mostly related to child‐factors for young children with CP compared to greater variability in barriers in TD children. Gender had no significant effect on participation regardless of diagnosis; however, pattern of the effect of age was different among the two groups. MACS was found to be the only significant predictor of participation for children with CP (p = .001).

Conclusion

Occupational therapists should focus on enhancing participation for young children with CP and consider participation barriers when designing their interventions. Several factors need to be considered when aiming to enhance participation of children with CP. The use of the MACS could contribute to better intervention planning.
Metagenomic insights into the metabolism and evolution of a new Thermoplasmata order (Candidatus Gimiplasmatales)
Authors: Hu Wenzhe , Pan Jie , Wang Bin , Guo Jun , Li Meng , Xu Meiying
Published: December 2020

Thermoplasmata is a widely distributed and ecologically important archaeal class in the phylum Euryarchaeota. Because few cultures and genomes are available, uncharacterized Thermoplasmata metabolisms remain unexplored. In this study, we obtained four medium‐ to high‐quality archaeal metagenome‐assembled genomes (MAGs) from the filamentous fragments of black‐odorous aquatic sediments (Foshan, Guangdong, China). Based on their 16S rRNA gene and ribosomal protein phylogenies, the four MAGs belong to the previously unnamed Thermoplasmata UBA10834 clade. We propose that this clade (five reference genomes from the Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) and four MAGs from this study) be considered a new order, Candidatus Gimiplasmatales. Metabolic pathway reconstructions indicated that the Ca. Gimiplasmatales MAGs can biosynthesize isoprenoids and nucleotides de novo. Additionally, some taxa have genes for formaldehyde and acetate assimilation, and the Wood–Ljungdahl CO2‐fixation pathway, indicating a mixotrophic lifestyle. Sulfur reduction, hydrogen metabolism, and arsenic detoxification pathways were predicted, indicating sulfur‐, hydrogen‐, and arsenic‐transformation potentials. Comparative genomics indicated that the H4F Wood–Ljungdahl pathway of both Ca. Gimiplasmatales and Methanomassiliicoccales was likely obtained by the interdomain lateral gene transfer from the Firmicutes. Collectively, this study elucidates the taxonomic and potential metabolic diversity of the new order Ca. Gimiplasmatales and the evolution of this subgroup and its sister lineage Methanomassiliicoccales.
Unpaid family caregiving responsibilities, employee job tasks and work‐family conflict: A cross‐cultural study
Authors: Bainbridge Hugh T. J. , Palm Esther , Fong Man Mandy
Published: December 2020

Employment is often undertaken simultaneous with providing unpaid care for an elderly or disabled family member. These dual responsibilities can create substantial inter‐role conflict. The current study considers how these roles affect work‐family conflict by examining: (i) the process which the gender of employees with caregiving responsibilities shapes work‐family conflict and (ii) whether this effect of employee gender is moderated by the societal level of gender egalitarianism. Data were collected from employees with caregiving responsibilities in 33 European countries. Findings suggest that the mediated relationship between gender and work‐family conflict is moderated by gender egalitarianism. As gender egalitarianism increases, women's commitment to caregiving is unchanged, while men, contrary to expectations, provide less caregiving. This gendered effect leads to an adjustment in an employee's job tasks, which in turn, reduces work‐family conflict. Overall, the findings suggest that gender, job tasks and cross‐cultural variables are important considerations at the interface of employment and caregiving.
Antibacterial activity and main action pathway of benzyl isothiocyanate extracted from papaya seeds
Authors: Li Ping , Zhao Yi‐meng , Wang Cui , Zhu Hua‐ping
Published: December 2020

The development of natural antimicrobial agents has attracted long‐term attention due to the increasing demand for food preservation. Papaya, a widely cultivated nutritious tropical fruit, has benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) as one of the most important secondary metabolites in its seeds. And the antibacterial activity of BITC toward different strains and the main antibacterial pathway remain unclear. The current study focused on characterizing the antibacterial effect and exploring the major bacteriostatic pathway of BITC. BITC was shown to have a broad‐spectrum antibacterial effect, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1 µL/mL for Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Aspergillus niger, and 0.5 µL/mL for Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, and Penicillium citrinum. Additionally, BITC was identified to affect the integrity of the biological oxidation system rather than the permeability or morphology of cell membranes. Furthermore, BITC was found not only to affect ATP production but also to hinder a series of important chemical reactions of the coenzymes involved in the transfer of hydrogen ions in the respiratory chain. The bacteriostatic pathway of BITC was shown to be implicated in an incomplete respiratory chain and the deregulation of the metabolism system. These results indicate the potential of BITC as a natural preservative in the food industry.

Practical Application

BITC is present in papaya seeds and can be extracted and purified. Exploring its antibacterial activity and main action pathway may facilitate its application as a new bacteriostatic agent in food industry.
Exploring the concept of presenteeism in nursing: A hybrid concept analysis
Authors: Mohammadi Mohammad Mehdi , Dehghan Nayeri Nahid , Varaei Shokoh , Rasti Arezoo
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To explore the concept of presenteeism in nursing.

Method

A three‐phase concept analysis using a hybrid model was used. In the theoretical phase (first phase), a literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Proquest, EBSCO, Scopus, OVID, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, SID, and Iranmedex. In the fieldwork phase (second phase), semistructured interviews with 17 nurses were used. In the final analytical phase (third phase), the results of the previous phases were combined.

Findings

In the final definition, presenteeism can be considered as a kind of fall from balance, in whose nature lies the non‐actualization of capacities. If the imbalance of presence is due to the body, we are faced with the non‐actualization of movement capacity, and regarding the imbalance caused by the soul, cognitive and emotional actualization is challenged.

Conclusion

Exploration of the concept of presenteeism in the nursing is the basis for identifying this concept in a profession that deals with health as the most valuable human property.

Implications for nursing practice

The identified attributes of presenteeism provide a deep insight for nurse managers into the nature of presenteeism. Nurse managers cannot deal with a destructive phenomenon without exploring and identifying its exact meaning.
The Road to Uluru: Constitutional Recognition and the UNDeclaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Authors: Hobbs Harry
Published: December 2020

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have campaigned for reform to the Australian state for generations. Over the last decade, debate over constitutional recognition has assumed mainstream prominence as a series of parliamentary and expert bodies designed to raise awareness of the need for change, propose options for that change, and build a community consensus around those proposals, have been established. This article assesses the five public processes undertaken between 2010 and 2017. It explains that constitutional reform has been hampered by state ambivalence towards the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). However, it argues that that same state ambivalence created space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to eventually take control of the debate, reframe it along their own priorities, and re‐energise the movement for constitutional recognition. Even if prospects for a referendum remain uncertain, the Uluru Statement from the Heart has succeeded in building community consensus for a clear proposal because the UNDRIP informed and influenced its development.
Medicine misuse: A systematic review and proposed hierarchical terminology
Authors: Singier Allison , Noize Pernelle , Berdaï Driss , Daveluy Amélie , Arnaud Mickaël , Molimard Mathieu , Bégaud Bernard , Salvo Francesco
Published: December 2020

Aims

Although medicine misuse is a public health issue, it has multiple meanings in the medical literature. This study aimed to characterize, classify and identify the most appropriate definitions of medicine misuse.

Methods

A systematic review was performed in Medline, ISI Web of Science, SocINDEX, PsycInfo, PsycArticles and Psychological and Behavioral Sciences Collection, using keywords related to “misuse”, “appropriateness” and “medicine” between 1 November 2008 and 25 August 2020. Additional searches were conducted in websites of regulatory agencies and public health institutions. Two authors independently selected studies providing both definitions and examples of misuse, while a third resolved disagreements. Definitions were used to propose a hierarchical classification based on initiator, intent, purpose and context of medicine misuse. The study is registered on PROSPERO: CRD42018115789.

Results

Of 3404 identified records, 51 were included. A total of 71 definitions and 74 examples of misuse were retrieved. When the prescriber is initiator and according to intent, potential medicine misuse referred to “intentional or unintentional prescribing not in line with clinical evidence”. Based on context, they could prescribe medicines not clinically justified, i.e. overprescribing, or prescribe indicated medicines incorrectly, i.e. misprescribing. Among other groups of definitions, those overlapping with drug abuse or medication use errors were considered out‐of‐scope.

Conclusion

This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the terms and definitions used to characterize medicine misuse and could serve as a basis for a terminology that makes clear distinctions between misuse, abuse and errors.
Mice with a specific deficiency of Pfkfb3 in myeloid cells are protected from hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Wang Lina , Zhang Xiaoyu , Cao Yapeng , Ma Qian , Mao Xiaoxiao , Xu Jiean , Yang Qiuhua , Zhou Yaqi , Lucas Rudolf , Fulton David J. , Su Yunchao , Barman Scott A. , Hong Mei , Liu Zhiping , Huo Yuqing
Published: December 2020

Background and Purpose

Macrophage infiltration into the lungs is a characteristic of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Glycolysis is the main metabolic pathway for macrophage activation. However, the effect of macrophage glycolysis on the development of PH remains unknown. We investigated the effect of 6‐phosphofructo‐2‐kinase/fructose‐2,6‐bisphosphatase 3 (PFKBF3), a critical enzyme of macrophage glycolysis, on PH development.

Experimental Approach

Lung tissues from PH patients were examined by immunostaining with macrophage markers. PH was induced in Wistar rats with SU5416/hypoxia and in mice with hypoxia. Lungs and macrophages were isolated for analysis by RT‐PCR, western blot, flow cytometry, and immunostaining.

Key Results

Expression of glycolytic molecules was increased in circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lung macrophages of PH patients. These results were also found in lung macrophages of SU5416/hypoxia (Su/Hx)‐induced PH rats and hypoxia‐induced PH mice. PH was ameliorated in myeloid‐specific Pfkfb3‐deficient mice (Pfkfb3ΔMϕ) or mice treated with the PFKFB3 inhibitor 3PO, compared with their controls. Alveolar macrophages of PH Pfkfb3ΔMϕ mice produced lower levels of growth factors and pro‐inflammatory cytokines than those of control mice. Circulating myeloid cells and lung myeloid cells were much fewer in PH Pfkfb3ΔMϕ mice than controls. Mechanistically, overexpression of Hif1a or Hif2a in bone marrow‐derived macrophages (BMDMs) cultured with bone marrow of Pfkfb3ΔMϕ mice restored the decreased expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and growth factors.

Conclusions and Implications

Myeloid Pfkfb3 deficiency protects mice from PH, thereby suggesting that myeloid PFKFB3 is one of the important targets in the therapeutic effect of PFKFB3 inhibition in PH treatment.
When event knowledge overrides word order in sentence comprehension: Learning a first language after childhood
Authors: Cheng Qi , Mayberry Rachel I.
Published: December 2020

Limited language experience in childhood is common among deaf individuals, which prior research has shown to lead to low levels of language processing. Although basic structures such as word order have been found to be resilient to conditions of sparse language input in early life, whether they are robust to conditions of extreme language delay is unknown. The sentence comprehension strategies of post‐childhood, first‐language (L1) learners of American Sign Language (ASL) with at least 9 years of language experience were investigated, in comparison to two control groups of learners with full access to language from birth (deaf native signers and hearing L2 learners who were native English speakers). The results of a sentence‐to‐picture matching experiment show that event knowledge overrides word order for post‐childhood L1 learners, regardless of the animacy of the subject, while both deaf native signers and hearing L2 signers consistently rely on word order to comprehend sentences. Language inaccessibility throughout early childhood impedes the acquisition of even basic word order. Similar to the strategies used by very young children prior to the development of basic sentence structure, post‐childhood L1 learners rely more on context and event knowledge to comprehend sentences. Language experience during childhood is critical to the development of basic sentence structure.
Comparative efficacy and safety of glucose‐lowering drugs as adjunctive therapy for adults with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Avgerinos Ioannis , Manolopoulos Apostolos , Michailidis Theodoros , Kitsios Konstantinos , Liakos Aris , Karagiannis Thomas , Dimitrakopoulos Konstantinos , Matthews David R. , Tsapas Apostolos , Bekiari Eleni
Published: December 2020

Aim

To assess the efficacy and safety of glucose‐lowering drugs used as an adjunct to insulin therapy in adults with type 1 diabetes.

Methods

We searched Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to 24 January 2020 for randomized controlled trials. Our primary outcome was change in HbA1c. We additionally assessed eight efficacy and six safety secondary endpoints. We performed random effects frequentist network meta‐analysis to estimate mean differences (MDs) and odds ratios (ORs), alongside 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed risk of bias and evaluated confidence in the evidence for the primary outcome.

Results

We included 58 trials comprising 13 216 participants. Overall, sodium‐glucose co‐transporter (SGLT) inhibitors, liraglutide, glibenclamide, acarbose and metformin reduced HbA1c compared with placebo (MDs ranging from −0.46% [95% CI −0.64% to −0.29%] for empagliflozin to −0.20% [−0.35% to −0.06%] for metformin). SGLT inhibitors, exenatide daily, liraglutide and metformin reduced body weight and total daily insulin dose, while liraglutide and SGLT inhibitors reduced blood pressure. Diabetic ketoacidosis and genital infections were more frequent with SGLT inhibitors, while exenatide, liraglutide, pramlintide and metformin increased the incidence of nausea. No drug increased the incidence of severe hypoglycaemia. Confidence in evidence was mainly moderate to very low.

Conclusions

Specific drugs may improve glycaemic control and reduce body weight, blood pressure and total daily insulin dose in patients with type 1 diabetes. However, low quality of evidence and an increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, genital infections or gastrointestinal adverse events should be taken into consideration by healthcare providers and patients. Future long‐term trials are needed to clarify their benefit‐to‐risk profile and elucidate their role in clinical practice.
Fatigue life analysis of wind turbine gear with oxide inclusion
Authors: Liu Ran , Sun Dexin , Hou Junling , Liu Fengjun , Li Qun
Published: December 2020

Considering a great deal of wind turbine gear failure cases, it is shown that the oxide inclusion has been one of the main reasons for the failure of the gear shaft under fatigue loading condition. In this paper, the fatigue behaviour of gears involving oxide inclusion under real operating condition is investigated. A three‐dimensional finite element model for helical gear pair applied in the middle stage of wind power increasing gearbox is established, and the fatigue life of nonmetallic inclusion zone of middle gear shaft is predicted using Miner's theory and real load spectrum of wind power growth gearbox. Then, the effects of several factors (such as the size and position of oxide inclusion and residual stress induced by manufacturing) on the fatigue life of gears with inclusion are studied. The results show that both inclusion size and position have great influence on the fatigue life of gears, and the compress residual stress will prolong the fatigue life of gears. Furthermore, the critical safety line and safety region of gears with oxide inclusion have been obtained for three representative inclusion positions. The present work is expected to provide a guidance for the engineering design and life safety evaluation of wind turbine gears.