bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence mechanism of surface texture on the output performance of an ultrasonic motor
Authors: Liu Xiaoliang , Huang Xiaoming , Zhang Jian , Sun Weitao
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence mechanism of different interface component surface textures on the ultrasonic motor (USM) output performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The energy transmission mechanism of the traveling-wave ultrasonic motor 60 (TRUM-60) was numerically and experimentally investigated by fabricating dimple textures with different feature types on the friction material and the stator.

Findings

Textured friction material can increase the contact range effectively, and thus, can improve the friction characteristics of the interface and the output performance of the TRUM-60. The experimental results verified the expected influence mechanism and demonstrated that the use of either a textured friction material or stator has a very different effect on USM output performance. A textured PI-based friction material improved the TRUM-60 output performance, resulting in a maximum energy conversion efficiency of 57.11%. However, a textured stator degraded the TRUM-60 output performance, resulting in a minimum energy conversion efficiency of only 44.92%.

Originality/value

The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for improved USM designs with textured interfaces.
Management accounting developments in German-speaking countries: an overview and editorial reflections
Authors: Becker Albrecht , Pedell Burkhard , Pfaff Dieter
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to present a brief overview of developments in management accounting research and practice in German-speaking countries, locate the contributions of this special issue in historical trajectories and provide an outlook of expected future developments in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviews the literature and draws a critically reflective approach.

Findings

A century after Schmalenbach, Germanic management and cost accounting have significantly changed, even though the roots of the cost accounting tradition of the late 19th and early 20th centuries are still visible in practice and teaching, which is true for both organisational practice and research. In both cases, an encroachment of the global on the local can be seen but, paradoxically, as Hopwood (1999) noted, the seemingly globally standardised accounting systems allow for local idiosyncrasies to specifically stand out. The anchoring of management accounting in financial accounting, the country-specific ownership and financing models, the importance of capital and labour markets (e.g. strong codetermination) for companies, regulations on corporate governance and the determination of the tax base are examples of institutions that can shape the behaviour of management and, thus, also idiosyncrasies of management accounting in a country.

Originality/value

The contributions of this special issue provide insight into developments in management accounting research and practice in German-speaking countries and, thus, enhance our understanding of the different historical trajectories and traditions in management accounting. The papers by Weber and Wiegmann and by Gischet al.demonstrate how specific idiosyncratic practices and understandings of management accounting in German-speaking countries mediate global influences on management accounting in private- and public-sector organisations. The papers by Endenichet al.and by Kreilkampet al.show that the influence of international developments in management accounting research has become stronger in German-speaking management accounting academia.
Sustainable developments and corporate social responsibility in Vietnamese fashion enterprises
Authors: Nayak Rajkishore , Thang Long Nguyen Van , Nguyen Tu , Gaimster Julia , Morris Rebecca , George Majo
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to investigate the status of sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in fashion enterprises in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is qualitative in nature and utilized a multiple case study approach (questionnaires and face-to-face interviews) to achieve the objectives of the research. NVivo was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Findings showed that by collaborating with the local artisans to create the unique clothing lines, the fashion brands try to blend and upscale the traditional indigenous clothing styles with modern design concepts to promote the diversity of Vietnamese ethnic culture. The findings also suggest that both the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises (LEs) should maintain their corporate social responsibility (CSR) concepts to comply with the legal obligations such as salary and welfare benefits for employees, work safety, gender equality and promotions. Further, the CSR activities should address the social issues with their target stakeholders, particularly with the local communities.

Originality/value

This study sought to provide a snapshot on the current sustainable practices followed in Vietnamese fashion enterprises.
Knowledge sharing behaviour of overqualified repatriates
Authors: Jayasingam Sharmila , Chong Maggie Mei Kei , Abu Bakar Raida
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Organizations send their employees for international assignments so as to develop their international working experiences, their global knowledge and skills. These employees are then expected to return to their home countries (hereof known as repatriates) to share their newly gained knowledge or skills with their colleagues. This practice would benefit the organization's performance to some extent. Nonetheless, past literature had pointed out that many of such repatriates tend to leave their respective organizations as a result of not being able to fully utilize their newly acquired knowledge and skills, which led them to perceive that they were overqualified. This occurrence could lead to a loss of valuable knowledge for their organization. Aiming to address this issue at hand, the current study focuses on examining of the antecedents that could influence these repatriates' knowledge sharing behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a research framework which was developed from three aspects of interest–perceived overqualification, affective commitment and the moderating effect of repatriation support practices on knowledge sharing behaviour of repatriates. Structural model analysis was carried out to assess 152 useable data which were collected from returning corporate repatriates in Malaysia. The SmartPLS 3.0 software was applied.

Findings

Repatriates with highly perceived overqualifications tend to exhibit low affective commitment. The impact of their perceived overqualification on knowledge sharing behaviour was fully mediated by their affective commitment. Repatriation support practice was found to strengthen the positive relationship between affective commitment and knowledge sharing behaviour.

Originality/value

The use of the relative deprivation theory showed that the outcome derived from this study could serve as an insight for organizations to understand how those repatriates' perception of overqualification influences their level of affective commitment, and subsequently, the extent to which they share knowledge upon returning.
SEC guidance on broker-dealer custody of digital asset securities
Authors: Smith Holly
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To explain how the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in its Digital Asset Securities Release, issued on December 23, 2020, laid out its vision for how broker-dealers can comply with the custody requirements of Rule 15c3-3 under the Exchange Act (the Customer Protection Rule) for investments in digital asset securities.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Explains the current regulatory uncertainty for broker-dealers doing a business in digital asset securities and developing systems and procedures that result in compliance with the custody requirements of the Customer Protection Rule; seven minimum steps that broker-dealers can take and nine terms and conditions with which they can comply to protect against SEC enforcement action; and the SEC’s request for comment in response to its position statement.

Findings

A broker-dealer operating pursuant to the terms and conditions of the position statement articulated in the Release will not be subject to SEC enforcement action on the basis that the broker-dealer deems itself to have obtained and maintained physical possession or control of customer fully paid and excess margin digital asset securities for the purposes of paragraph (b)(1) of the Customer Protection Rule.

Originality/Value

Practical guidance from experienced financial services, broker-dealer and securities lawyer.
China’s forthcoming digital currency: implications for foreign companies and financial institutions in China
Authors: Louie Betty L. , Wang Martha
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To answer key questions about China’s forthcoming digital currency, the Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DCEP) or “digital yuan.”

Design/methodology/approach

Discusses prospective legal standards and guidelines; expected features compared with traditional payment methods and other digital currencies; how DCEP works; status of pilot programs; use of DCEP for cross-border payments; transparency, data protection and cybersecurity issues; and key implications for foreign businesses and financial institutions in China.

Findings

When DCEP is officially launched in China, there is little doubt that the population can easily adapt to its use. The launch of DCEP can have significant ramifications on a global scale, as it could reduce China’s reliance on the SWIFT system for international banking and offers the first glimpse of the internationalization of the renminbi (RMB).

Practical implications

Foreign companies operating in China, hi-tech businesses, retailers, financial institutions, and mobile app developers need to track the development and acceptance of DCEP, monitor arising risks, assess how their financial products fit, and adjust business operations, reporting requirements and financial reserves related to the requirements and use of DCEP, expected growth in fintech surrounding digital currencies.

Originality/value

Practical advice from experienced mergers and acquisitions, private equity, strategic investment and capital markets lawyers.
Demystifying congruence effects in Instagram in-feed native ads: the role of media-based and self-based congruence
Authors: Yang Jing , Jiang Mengtian
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the kinds of ad appeals and brand types that contribute to perceived ad–media congruence on Instagram and how such congruence influences consumers’ engagement intentions via the interaction of self-related congruence constructs. Additionally, ad intrusiveness was studied as a mediator of the relationship between ad–media congruence and consumers’ behavioral engagement intention.

Design/methodology/approach

An online 2 (Ad appeal: hedonic vs utilitarian) × 2 (Brand type: hedonic vs utilitarian) between-subject experiment was conducted with four versions of mock-up Instagram in-feed native ads.

Findings

Results showed that hedonic advertising appeals contributed to ad–media congruence on Instagram, which yielded a lower level of ad intrusiveness and further resulted in higher consumer behavioral engagement intentions. The brand type did not significantly influence participants’ perceptions of ad–media congruence. Moreover, the findings indicate individuals’ brand-self congruence and ad-self congruence were significant moderators in interactions with ad–media congruence in influencing consumers’ behavioral engagement intentions.

Practical implications

Both brand managers and social media providers can leverage this study’s findings to improve ad effectiveness and consumer experiences in their respective social media landscapes. Specifically, knowing what kind of ad is more congruent and less intrusive, as well as how to better tailor targeting strategies in digital media spaces by building higher ad self- and brand self-congruence, can help them achieve persuasive effects when complying with the Federal Trade Commission disclosure guideline.

Originality/value

The current study advances extant literature on native advertising by examining the core characteristic of ad–media congruence and its relation to the key metric of social media marketing success – consumer engagement intentions. The findings also extend the congruence theory by examining the interaction effect of media- and self-related congruence constructs.
Drivers to implement the circular economy in born-sustainable business models: a case study in the fashion industry
Authors: Ostermann Cristina M. , Nascimento Leandro da Silva , Steinbruch Fernanda Kalil , Callegaro-de-Menezes Daniela
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to identify the drivers for adopting the circular economy (CE) in a born-sustainable business of the fashion sector.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory case study was carried out with a unique and relevant case: the only Brazilian company implementing circularity practices defined through a sectoral commitment, the 2020 Circular Fashion System Commitment.

Findings

From an analysis of the literature, a theoretical scheme composed of internal and external drivers is proposed. In the case studied, there is a prevalence of internal drivers that led the company to implement the CE. Most of the internal drivers described by the literature were identified in this research, except for two: profitability and available technology. Regarding the external drivers, of the 12 listed, only laws and regulations were identified. Thus, the results suggest that internal drivers are more numerous and may be more prominent than external ones for CE adoption in the born-sustainable business.

Research limitations/implications

Due to its exploratory design and unique case study, the research does not allow generalizations, suggesting replication with a larger number of companies and carrying out quantitative research with born-sustainable companies and incumbent companies, for comparison. Considering that there is a difference between companies that decide for sustainable practices and companies that were already born sustainable, it can be questioned if the drivers for implementing CE for both companies are also different.

Originality/value

This study proposes a theoretical scheme that indicates the main internal and external drivers for companies' CE implementation. Developed from a literature review and applied in an empirical case, this scheme is comprehensive and can be adopted to analyze companies of different sizes and industries. Hence, this paper generates new perspectives for CE literature.
Exploring social entrepreneurial boundary spanning for compassion-triggered opportunities
Authors: Griffin-EL Eliada Wosu
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the research question: How does the social entrepreneur’s compassion inform how they engage with their environment to mobilize resources for social entrepreneurial action?

Design/methodology/approach

The study features a comparative case study analysis of seven high-profile social entrepreneurs within Cape Town, South Africa. Data via in-depth interviews, site visits and archival information and follow-up conversations were collected and then analyzed via thematic coding of qualitative analysis.

Findings

The findings suggest that compassion is an antecedent for the social entrepreneurial boundary spanning shaped by their orientation toward concern for others’ well-being. Propositions presented offer the groundwork for an emergent theoretical framework of social entrepreneurial boundary spanning.

Originality/value

The study builds upon the emerging compassion research within social entrepreneurship, extending the conceptualization of compassion to be shapers of the social structure – not just the individual or the organization – in an emerging market context.
In praise of COVID-19: discovering adaptive leadership in unprecedented times
Authors: Yeo Roland K.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore adaptive leadership behavior during a global health crisis in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It discusses the characteristics of adaptive leadership and offers practical steps to help managers lead through tough times.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on an in-depth study of a mid-sized multinational professional service firm where 25 frontline managers were interviewed. Individual stories about the challenges and opportunities of how these managers led their company out of ambiguity contribute to critical insights as discussed in this paper.

Findings

First, leading adaptively involves a fundamental acknowledgment of your vulnerabilities by turning them into a source of inner strength through the support of others. Second, it is important to harness collective wisdom to accelerate urgent and complex decision-making. Third, experimentation is key to breaking away from status quo and venturing into innovative practices. Fourth, following personal instincts while exercising objective judgment could give you the courage to think and act differently.

Originality/value

This paper offers firsthand insights into the mindsets and behaviors of practicing managers who spontaneously shared their deeper feelings and expectations of their leadership setbacks and foresight of what would be expected of the “new” normal in a post-pandemic era. The perspectives offered here provide a deeper dimension to the current understanding of adaptive leadership.
Age dependent effects of Retigabine on absence seizure in WAG/Rij rats; an experimental study
Authors: Karadenizli Sabriye , Şahin Deniz , Ateş Nurbay
Published: June 2021

Retigabine (RTG, Ezogabine, DC23129) is the first neuronal potassium channel opener in the treatment of epilepsy and exerts its effects through the activation of neuronal KCNQ2/3 potassium channels; in higher doses, it acts also on sodium and voltage‐gated calcium channels. The aim of this study was to investigate possible age‐dependent therapeutic effects of RTG on spike‐and‐wave discharges (SWD) in an animal model of absence epilepsy using WAG/Rij rats. In this study, 6‐ and 12‐month‐old WAG/Rij rats were used. For both age categories, three sub‐groups that consisted of one control group (n=7) by the administration of 20% DMSO (control) and two study groups by the administration of 5 mg/kg (n=7) and 15 mg/kg RTG (n=7) were designed. EEG electrodes were placed onto the skull of anaesthetized animals; and baseline EEG was recorded for one hour after a recovery period from surgery. Then, the pre‐determined two distinct doses of RTG and 20% DMSO were administered as a solvent via intraperitoneal injections, and EEG was recorded for 3 hours. After injection, both doses of RTG increased the total SWD number and duration of SWD in the first and second hours in 12‐month‐old rats. These parameters were elevated compared to 6‐month‐old rats. Age‐dependent effects of RTG were observed in SWD activity. Pro‐epileptic effects in middle‐aged WAG/Rij rats were demonstrated in both RTG doses. Differences in the distribution of KCNQ2/3 channels and switch of GABAergic system from inhibitory to excitatory with age might contribute to increased SWD activity in middle‐aged rats.
A randomized controlled trial of ibuprofen versus ketorolac versus diclofenac for acute, nonradicular low back pain
Authors: Irizarry Eddie , Restivo Andrew , Salama Maha , Davitt Michelle , Feliciano Carmen , Cortijo‐Brown Alexis , Friedman Benjamin W.
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the first‐line medication for acute low back pain (LBP). It is unclear if the choice of NSAID impacts outcomes. We compared ibuprofen, ketorolac, and diclofenac for the treatment of acute, nonradicular LBP.

Methods

This was a three‐armed, double‐blind, comparative effectiveness study, in which we enrolled patients at the conclusion of an ED visit for musculoskeletal LBP and determined outcomes by telephone 5 days later. Patients were randomized to receive a 5‐day supply of 600 mg of ibuprofen, 10 mg of ketorolac, or 50 mg of diclofenac, each to be used every 8 h as needed. Every participant also received LBP education. The primary outcome was improvement in Roland‐Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), a 24‐item instrument on which lower scores indicate better LBP functional outcomes, between ED visit and day 5. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity, measured using the descriptors none, mild, moderate, and severe, and the presence of stomach irritation.

Results

A total of 868 patients were screened and 66 patients were enrolled in each of the three arms. Baseline characteristics were similar. Improvements in RMDQ by day 5 were as follows: ibuprofen 9.4, ketorolac 11.9, and diclofenac 10.9 (p = 0.34). Mild or no pain on day 5 was as follows: ibuprofen 38 of 61 (62%), ketorolac 47 of 59 (80%), and diclofenac 45 of 62 (71%; 95% CI for rounded mean difference of 17% between ibuprofen and ketorolac = 1, 33%, p = 0.04, number needed to treat = 6 [95% CI = 3–69]). Stomach irritation was reported by 16 of 62 (26%) ibuprofen patients versus three of 61 (5%) in the ketorolac arm and six of 64 (9%) in the diclofenac arm (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

There were no important differences between groups with regard to the primary outcome. These data do not rule out that possibility that ketorolac results in better pain relief and less stomach irritation than ibuprofen.
Are glyphosate‐resistant weeds a threat to conservation agriculture? Evidence from tillage practices in soybeans
Authors: Van Deynze Braeden , Swinton Scott M. , Hennessy David A.
Published: June 2021

Conservation tillage in American soybean production has become increasingly common, improving soil health while reducing soil erosion and fuel consumption. This trend has been reinforced by the widespread adoption of glyphosate‐based weed control systems. Many weed species have since evolved to resist glyphosate, reducing its effectiveness. We provide evidence that the spread of glyphosate‐resistant weeds is responsible for significant reductions in the use of conservation tillage in soybean production. We estimate reduced‐form and structural probit models of tillage choice, using a large panel of field‐level soybean management decisions from across the United States spanning 1998–2016. We find that the first emergence of glyphosate‐resistant weed species has little initial effect on tillage practices, though by the time that eight glyphosate‐resistant weed species are identified, conservation tillage and no‐till use fall by 3.9 percentage points and 7.6 percentage points, respectively. We further find that when ten glyphosate‐resistant species are present, the predicted adoption rate of non‐glyphosate herbicides rises 50 percentage points, and that the availability of non‐glyphosate herbicides facilitates continued use of conservation tillage as glyphosate‐resistant weeds proliferate. Using a simple benefits transfer model, we conservatively estimate that between 2008 and 2016 farmers' tillage responses to the spread of glyphosate‐resistant weeds have caused water quality and climate damages via fuel emissions valued at nearly $245 million. This value does not account for climate damages due to carbon released during soil disruptions and is likely to grow as glyphosate resistance becomes more widespread and more farmers turn to tillage for supplemental weed control.
The Emu: More‐Than‐Human and More‐Than‐Animal Geographies
Authors: Raven Margaret , Robinson Daniel , Hunter John
Published: June 2021

The emu is endemic to Australia and is one of the world’s largest flightless birds. For Indigenous peoples, the emu is a highly significant and totemic species—a fact that is poorly recognised by many. Emu shows itself, and is positioned as: a national symbol in the Australian Commonwealth Coat of Arms; a spirit and Dreaming‐creation belief involving the sky; a scientific animal; medicine and food; an oil; and as a component that has been isolated, privatised and monopolised through the patent system. It is important to recognise the significance of animals like the emu, and its many uses. Yet to date there is limited critical discussion of the appropriation and patenting of emu oil products which appear to be based on Indigenous knowledge, uses and innovations. This article uses more‐than‐human and more‐than‐animal thinking to decentre, problematise and Indigenise “ways of thinking” about the emu. We also seek to reframe the subjugation of “traditional knowledge” in scientific discourses and to reify Indigenous Australian innovations, and relationships with animals and Country.
A trouble shared is a trouble halved: The role of family identification and identification with humankind in well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Frenzel Svenja B. , Junker Nina M. , Avanzi Lorenzo , Bolatov Aidos , Haslam S. Alexander , Häusser Jan A. , Kark Ronit , Meyer Ines , Mojzisch Andreas , Monzani Lucas , Reicher Stephen , Samekin Adil , Schury Valerie A. , Steffens Niklas K. , Sultanova Liliya , Van Dijk Dina , van Zyl Llewellyn E. , Van Dick Rolf
Published: June 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic has triggered health‐related anxiety in ways that undermine peoples’ mental and physical health. Contextual factors such as living in a high‐risk area might further increase the risk of health deterioration. Based on the Social Identity Approach, we argue that social identities can not only be local that are characterized by social interactions, but also be global that are characterized by a symbolic sense of togetherness and that both of these can be a basis for health. In line with these ideas, we tested how identification with one’s family and with humankind relates to stress and physical symptoms while experiencing health‐related anxiety and being exposed to contextual risk factors. We tested our assumptions in a representative sample (N = 974) two‐wave survey study with a 4‐week time lag. The results show that anxiety at Time 1 was positively related to stress and physical symptoms at Time 2. Feeling exposed to risk factors related to lower physical health, but was unrelated to stress. Family identification and identification with humankind were both negatively associated with subsequent stress and family identification was negatively associated with subsequent physical symptoms. These findings suggest that for social identities to be beneficial for mental health, they can be embodied as well as symbolic.
Preclinical models of myocardial infarction: from mechanism to translation
Authors: Martin Tamara P. , MacDonald Eilidh A. , Elbassioni Ali Ali Mohamed , O'Toole Dylan , Zaeri Ali Abdullah I. , Nicklin Stuart A. , Gray Gillian A. , Loughrey Christopher M.
Published: June 2021

Approximately 7 million people are affected by acute myocardial infarction (MI) each year, and despite significant therapeutic and diagnostic advancements, MI remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Preclinical animal models have significantly advanced our understanding of MI and have enabled the development of therapeutic strategies to combat this debilitating disease. Notably, some drugs currently used to treat MI and heart failure (HF) in patients had initially been studied in preclinical animal models. Despite this, preclinical models are limited in their ability to fully reproduce the complexity of MI in humans. The preclinical model must be carefully selected to maximise the translational potential of experimental findings. This review describes current experimental models of MI and considers how they have been used to understand drug mechanisms of action and support translational medicine development.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on Preclinical Models for Cardiovascular disease research (BJP 75th Anniversary). To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.5/issuetoc
Community composition of tree and palm species following disturbance in a forest with bamboo in southwestern Amazonia, Brazil
Authors: Ziccardi Leonardo G. , Graça Paulo Maurício Lima de Alencastro , Figueiredo Evandro O. , Yanai Aurora M. , Fearnside Philip M.
Published: June 2021

Anthropogenic disturbances such as selective logging and forest fires can cause further degradation in tropical forests. Various authors have suggested that logging and fire in southwestern Amazonia can increase bamboo abundance and contribute to slowing succession, but few studies have addressed community‐composition patterns at either the local or the regional scale. We used a natural experiment with forest fire and post‐burn logging to analyze the effects of increased bamboo abundance on the community composition of trees and palms in Brazil's Acre state in southwestern Amazonia. Bamboo abundance was expressed by variables collected both by field sampling and from high‐resolution images using a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA). Disturbance in these forests was associated with a significant reduction in the number of crowns of emergent trees and palms and an increase in the canopy fraction occupied by bamboo. A significant negative relationship was observed between the canopy area occupied by bamboo and the number of tree and palm species, regardless of the level of disturbance. Bamboo density (culms m−2) and canopy area occupied by bamboo had significant effects on community composition, indicating that bamboo abundance is a key driver affecting the floristic composition of the forest.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
NIC: An innovative supervised machine learning computational framework having network‐based interactional connections
Authors: Mirrashid Alireza , Shirazi Ali‐Asghar Beheshti
Published: June 2021

Models based on computational intelligence have many applications in various problems. Such systems are generally set up and designed based on a collection of data and information. In some real problems, the implementation of experimental studies or doing tests are costly and time‐consuming. Therefore, a model which requires fewer data than the existing soft computing methods can be useful and applicable. In this article, a network‐based interactional connection system is proposed as a new supervised machine learning computational framework for problems with small data. This model, which is inspired by the connections between neurons of the brain, utilizes the series and parallel structures with interactional connections to determine the best estimation. The proposed approach uses less unknown parameters than existing models and gives a suitable response in a few steps. The learning process starts with one generation and continues until an acceptable prediction is found, and the coefficients are determined. However, it may have more generations in a sequential format for better prediction and providing more accurate answers. To evaluate the performance of the proposed computational system, three engineering problems were investigated as a numerical study. The results also compared with the predicted values of four well‐known techniques.
Procurement risk management in a petroleum refinery
Authors: Oliveira Fernando S.
Published: June 2021

We analyze a petroleum refinery's procurement strategy, explaining how risk management affects optimal sourcing from long‐term, spot, and swap contracts. We use time series analysis to model the interaction between petroleum prices, transportation costs, and gross product worth. These models are then used to generate the scenarios incorporated in the stochastic program applied to compute the conditional value‐at‐risk. We prove the necessary and sufficient conditions for the optimal procurement and risk management strategies, and show that risk aversion can be better represented by the weighted average between expected profit and conditional value‐at‐risk, deriving the respective ISO curves. We estimate that an increase in the degree of risk aversion decreases the use of swap contracts. Our model is applied to the analysis of a refinery based in Singapore. Using regression analysis, we show we cannot reject the hypothesis of a statistically significant relationship between the way Saudi Arabia prices the long‐term contracts and the shape of the forward curve. We then study how risk aversion influences the procurement strategies, profitability, and risk exposure of the refinery. Finally, we analyze the pricing of long‐term (forward) contracts by Saudi Arabia, and study how the country could benefit from a different pricing policy.
SPARRING: A deliberate practice pedagogy for business education
Authors: Giraud‐Carrier François C. , Fawcett Stanley E. , Fawcett Amydee M.
Published: June 2021

Many higher education institutions are calling for more experiential learning to improve learning outcomes and better prepare students for the workplace. The need for enhanced experiential education in business schools, and in the decision sciences, is especially important. However, there is a lack of common practical understanding of how to implement this type of learning in business education. We address this gap using deliberate practice as a conceptual framework. Deliberate practice is a proven training technique for developing high levels of expertise. In spite of growing evidence of its relevance to higher education, two obstacles inhibit its widespread adoption by business educators. First, due to its origins as a one‐on‐one coaching technique, deliberate practice is difficult to apply in traditional university classrooms. Second, because the curriculum must be designed from the start to implement deliberate practice principles, instructional design guidelines are needed to direct the efforts of faculty. To overcome these obstacles, we develop an eight‐step instructional design model called SPARRING that incorporates all deliberate practice principles into one framework. We then discuss 13 pedagogical techniques that instructors can use in and outside of class to implement deliberate practice in business education. Using the SPARRING model, we show that these techniques can deliver an authentic and effective deliberate practice experience. We also discuss the application of the SPARRING model at the program and school levels. At a time of major disruptions in higher education, the SPARRING model offers a new pathway for traditional residential universities interested in teaching real‐world skills valued by employers in a manner not easily replicated by artificial intelligence.
Dolichoarteriopathies of the extracranial internal carotid artery: The Plaque At RISK study
Authors: Dilba Kristine , van Dam‐Nolen Dianne H. K. , Crombag Geneviève A. J. C. , van der Kolk Anja G. , Koudstaal Peter J. , Nederkoorn Paul J. , Hendrikse Jeroen , Kooi Marianne Eline , van der Steen Antonius F. W. , Wentzel Jolanda J. , van der Lugt Aad , Bos Daniel
Published: June 2021

Background and purpose

Dolichoarteriopathies of the extracranial part of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are associated with cerebrovascular events, yet information on their prevalence and risk factors remains limited. The aim of the present study therefore was to study the prevalence and risk factors of dolichoarteriopathies in a sample of patients with cerebrovascular symptoms from the Plaque At RISK (PARISK) study.

Methods

In a random sample of 100 patients from the PARISK study, multidetector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) was performed as part of clinical workup. On MDCTA, we evaluated the extracranial trajectory of the ICA by measuring the length (in millimeters), the tortuosity index (TI; defined as the ICA length divided by the shortest possible distance from bifurcation to skull base), and dolichoarteriopathy type (tortuosity, coiling or kinking). Next, we investigated the association between cardiovascular risk factors and these measurements using linear and logistic regression analyses.

Results

The mean (standard deviation) length of the ICA was 93 (± 14) mm, with a median (interquartile range) TI of 1.2 (1.1–1.3). The overall prevalence of dolichoarteriopathies was 69%, with tortuosity being the most common (72%), followed by coiling (20%), and kinking (8%). We found that age and obesity were associated with a higher TI: difference per 10‐year increase in age: 0.05 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02–0.08) and 0.16 (95% CI 0.07–0.25) for obesity. Obesity and hypercholesterolemia were associated with a more severe type of dolichoarteriopathy (odds ratio [OR] 2.07 [95% CI 1.04–4.12] and OR 2.17 [95% CI 1.02–4.63], respectively).

Conclusion

Dolichoarteriopathies in the extracranial ICA are common in patients with cerebrovascular symptoms, and age, obesity and hypercholesterolemia may play an important role in the pathophysiology of these abnormalities.
Functional groups of hoverflies inSoutheast Europeacross different vegetation types
Authors: Miličić Marija , Popov Snežana , Jurca Tamara , Cardoso Pedro , Janković Marina , Ačanski Jelena , Vujić Ante
Published: June 2021

To better understand the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, it is increasingly accepted that the focus of study needs to shift from taxonomic identity to the diversity of functional traits displayed by species within a community. Such an approach allows species to be grouped according to particular functional characteristics. Increasingly viewed as an extremely important group of model organisms, hoverflies have been the focus of a variety of ecological studies. Based on data regarding selected functional traits of hoverflies registered in Southeast Europe, the main aims of our study were to define hoverfly functional groups according to the similarity of these traits, as well as to compare the representation of delineated hoverfly functional groups among these vegetation types. We used fuzzy clustering to classify 568 SE European hoverfly species into five functional groups. The principle trait separating these functional groups was larval feeding type, followed by size of species range, flight ability, number of generations, inundation tolerance, and tolerance to human impact. For 9 of 11 vegetation types, the dominant functional group was characterized by species with good flight ability, having high human impact tolerance and more annual generations. The remaining two vegetation types, South‐west Balkan sub‐Mediterranean mixed oak forests and Mediterranean mixed forests, showed disparate dominance patterns, indicating that richness of functional groups is dependent on vegetation. Further investigation of whether and how established conservation measures enable recovery of the functional richness affected by habitat disturbance would help elucidate the importance of functional diversity in preserving biodiversity.
Development and validation of the Mindful Parenting in Infancy Scale (MPIS)
Authors: Gartstein Maria A.
Published: June 2021

Although mindfulness in parenting has been recognized as important for some time, there is a dearth of measurement tools, especially for caregivers of infants. Two studies were conducted: (1) developing and providing an initial psychometric evaluation of the Mindful Parenting in Infancy Scale (MPIS) and (2) reproducing initial findings with an independent sample of infants and caregivers. In Study 1, 37 caregivers of infants (3–12 months of age) responded to MPIS, providing indicators of parenting stress and infant temperament. Study 2 caregivers (N = 57) responded to identical measures, with infant electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded during the Still Face Procedure, along with a baseline condition. Study 1 results indicated good internal consistency, with Study 2 providing additional support for reliability. Correlations with parenting stress markers were also significant across both investigations, indicative of greater stress with lower levels of mindfulness. A number of correlations with temperament scores were also significant, and in the hypothesized direction, across both studies. Importantly, the MPIS score was predictive of infant frontal EEG asymmetry in a path model examined in the context of Study 2. Thus, the present investigation provides support for MPIS as a promising brief measurement tool based on results obtained with two independent samples.
Telehealth during COVID‐19: The perspective of alcohol and other drug nurses
Authors: Searby Adam , Burr Dianna
Published: June 2021

Aim

This study aimed to explore the experiences of alcohol and other drug nurses transitioning to telehealth due to the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Background

COVID‐19 has caused immense disruption to healthcare services, and to reduce viral transmission, many services moved to off‐site care delivery modalities such as telehealth.

Design

We used a qualitative descriptive design for this study.

Methods

Secondary analysis of semistructured interviews with alcohol and other drug nurses from Australia and New Zealand (n = 19) was conducted in July and August 2020. Data were analysed using thematic analysis and reported using COREQ guidelines.

Results

Three were identified: ‘“All our face‐to‐face contact ceased with clients”: Changing service delivery’, ‘“How do I do my job when I can't see you?”: An anxious shift in service delivery’ and ‘“A lot of Indigenous people don't like the FaceTiming and all that”: Challenges to delivery of services through telehealth’.

Conclusion

Participants in our study reported challenges in transitioning to telehealth modalities. The perceived loss of therapeutic communication, difficulties in assessing risks to healthcare consumers such as domestic violence and challenges delivering telehealth care to a marginalized consumer cohort need to be overcome before telehealth is considered successful in alcohol and other drug treatment. However, telehealth was a successful adjunct to existing practices for nurses working with consumers in regional or remote areas or where consumers preferred this method of service delivery.

Impact

Nurses in this study described substantial issues with the delivery of alcohol and other drug treatment via telehealth, including a perception that telehealth was a barrier to addressing risks to consumers who use alcohol and other drugs, and difficulties working in a therapeutically beneficial way via telehealth. Telehealth is a means to reduce viral transmission through a reduction in face‐to‐face contact, and although it may be useful for some service functions, it may be detrimental to the clinical services nurses provide.
Learning in serial mergers: Evidence from a global sample
Authors: Pandey Vivek K. , Sutton Ninon K. , Steigner Tanja
Published: June 2021

Do frequent acquirers learn from their experience in serial mergers? A recent stream of literature has proposed that the generally observed declining investor response (cumulative abnormal returns) to successive acquisitions by frequent acquirers may be evidence of learning, rather than the result of commonly attributed causes such as managerial hubris or empire building. We examine the learning hypothesis on a global scale, using a sample of 13,326 publicly listed acquiring firms representing 72 nations conducting 27,305 acquisitions over the period 1984–2014. Our results provide evidence of institutional‐based differences in acquirer learning on a global scale in the valuation of private targets. In contrast, we find evidence of hubris in takeovers of public targets, especially in the United States, and other competitive takeover markets, where acquirers experience persistent, significant losses over successive acquisitions, while targets continue to reap significant gains throughout the acquisition sequence.
Atresia of ovarian follicles in fishes, and implications and uses in aquaculture and fisheries
Authors: Corriero Aldo , Zupa Rosa , Mylonas Constantinos C. , Passantino Letizia
Published: June 2021

Atresia of ovarian follicles, that is the degenerative process of germ cells and their associated somatic cells, is a complex process involving apoptosis, autophagy and heterophagy. Follicular atresia is a normal component of fish oogenesis and it is observed throughout the ovarian cycle, although it is more frequent in regressing ovaries during the postspawning period. An increased occurrence of follicular atresia above physiological rates reduces fish fecundity and even causes reproductive failure in both wild and captive‐reared fish stocks, and hence, this phenomenon has a wide range of implications in applied sciences such as fisheries and aquaculture. The present article reviews the available literature on both basic and applied traits of oocyte loss by atresia, including its morpho‐physiological aspects and factors that cause a supraphysiological increase of follicular atresia. Finally, the review presents the use of early follicular atresia identification in the selection process of induced spawning in aquaculture and the implications of follicular atresia in fisheries management.
Nondestructive identification of barley seeds varieties using hyperspectral data from two sides of barley seeds
Authors: Sun Heng , Zhang Liu , Li Hao , Rao Zhenhong , Ji Haiyan
Published: June 2021

The identification of seed varieties is of significance to ensure seed purity. In this study, 1,600 barley seeds (400 per variety) were selected as the samples. By using a near‐infrared hyperspectral imaging system, the hyperspectral cube data on the reverse and ventral sides of each barley seed were obtained. Three preprocessing methods (standard normal variate, multivariate scatter correction, and Savitzky–Golay first derivative) and three discriminant models (k‐nearest neighbors, support vector machine [SVM], and random forest) were selected for preprocessing and modeling, respectively. The results indicated that the reverse spectral data preprocessed by multivariate scatter correction and the ventral spectral data preprocessed by Savitzky–Golay first derivative had the best modeling results. In order to further simplify the model, feature selection algorithm (successive projections algorithm) was used for feature wavelength selection. After multivariate data analysis, the combination of k‐nearest neighbors and successive projections algorithm based on the reverse spectral data was selected as the best discriminant model. The accuracy of the calibration set and the prediction set were 95.52% and 93.71%, and the Kappa value were 0.9424 and 0.9156, respectively. The reverse spectral data of barley seeds of the validation set were used to verify the accuracy of the discriminant model and visualize the classification results. Finally, considering the practical application, the mixed spectral data containing different ratios of the reverse spectral data was analyzed, and satisfactory results were obtained. It can be concluded from this study that hyperspectral imaging technology was a very promising method for identification of barley seed varieties.

Practical applications

With the circulation of the seed market, the traditional methods used for variety identification can no longer meet the needs of large‐scale, high‐quality production. As a nondestructive determination method, hyperspectral imaging technology combined machine vision and near‐infrared spectroscopy. In this study, hyperspectral imaging technology was used to identify barley seed varieties, and satisfactory results were obtained. It can provide a theoretical reference for future multispectral online detection technology.