bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of social vs environmental sustainability information disclosure on consumer choice of delivery time with varying sustainability concerns
Authors: Viet Nguyen Quoc , de Leeuw Sander , van Herpen Erica
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper investigates the impact of sustainability information disclosure on consumers' choice of order-to-delivery lead-time in relation to consumers' sustainability concern.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on two choice experiments with participants from the Netherlands (n = 348) and the United Kingdom (n = 1,387), the impact of sustainability information disclosure was examined in connection with consumers' concerns for environmental and social sustainability. Information on environmental impact (carbon emission) and social impact (warehouse workers and drivers' well-being) was considered and compared.

Findings

Disclosing sustainability impact information significantly increased consumers' preference and choice for longer delivery times, with equivalent effects for environmental and social impact information. Consumers' relevant (environmental or social) sustainability concern as personality traits enhanced effects on preferences, as did priming of environmental concern.

Research limitations/implications

Future research may consider differences between product categories or e-commerce companies' reputation in sustainability activities.

Practical implications

The findings provide opportunities for online retailers to influence consumer choice of delivery time, especially through disclosing environmental and/or social sustainability information.

Originality/value

This study fills a gap in the literature on sustainability information disclosure to actively steer consumer choice of delivery time, particularly regarding the effect of social sustainability impact information in comparison to its environmental counterpart.
Fertility tourism: A systematic review
Authors: Strickland Paul , Ratten Vanessa
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The aim of this article is to review the literature on fertility tourism in terms of social policy implications. There has been a global growth in interest in fertility tourism, especially amongst these in developed countries travelling to developing countries for fertility needs. Due to women's increased involvement in the workforce and changing societal norms, the age at which females start having children has risen resulting in a need for many to seek fertility help. These developments have led to a growth in fertility tourism and related services.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors undertake a systematic literature review on fertility tourism to identify cognate research themes that relate to social policies such as assisted reproduction facilities, medical tourism and changing societal attitudes.

Findings

The findings of the study have important implications for social policy particularly regarding the tourism and health industry, practitioners and policymakers. This involves focussing on new geographic regions that are underrepresented in current research but have a high interest in fertility tourism. Currently much of the research is centred around western contexts but as evident in our review newly emerging markets in countries that have high infertility rates requires further attention. In addition, the authors provide directions for future research avenues that focus on how to evaluate changing social policies with regards to reproductive choices.

Originality/value

Whilst there has been much discussion in the media about fertility tourism there is limited knowledge about social policies related to human reproductive systems, so this article is amongst the first to discuss societal implications.
The human capital management perspective on quiet quitting: recommendations for employees, managers, and national policymakers
Authors: Serenko Alexander
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this Real Impact Viewpoint Article is to analyze the quiet quitting phenomenon from the human capital management perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The methods comprise the analysis of 672 TikTok comments, the use of secondary data and literature review.

Findings

Quiet quitting is a mindset in which employees deliberately limit work activities to their job description, meet yet not exceed the preestablished expectations, never volunteer for additional tasks and do all this to merely maintain their current employment status while prioritizing their well-being over organizational goals. Employees quiet quit due to poor extrinsic motivation, burnout and grudges against their managers or organizations. Quiet quitting is a double-edged sword: while it helps workers avoid burnout, engaging in this behavior may jeopardize their professional careers. Though the term is new, the ideas behind quiet quitting are not and go back decades.

Practical implications

Employees engaged in quiet quitting should become more efficient, avoid burnout, prepare for termination or resignation and manage future career difficulties. In response to quiet quitting, human capital managers should invest in knowledge sharing, capture the knowledge of potential quiet quitters, think twice before terminating them, conduct a knowledge audit, focus on high performers, introduce burnout management programs, promote interactional justice between managers and subordinates and fairly compensate for “going above and beyond.” Policymakers should prevent national human capital depletion, promote work-life balance as a national core value, fund employee mental health support and invest in employee efficiency innovation.

Originality/value

This Real Impact Viewpoint Article analyzes quiet quitting from the human capital management perspective.
Building cultural awareness and intercultural empathy using the critical incident analysis method
Authors: Eckert Sarah Anne , Miller Melodie
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of using structured reflection via the critical incident analysis method to develop multicultural awareness and intercultural empathy in undergraduate-level pre-service teachers. This research is important, given the striking demographic mismatch between students and teachers in US schools.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a convergent parallel mixed methods research design that combines both qualitative analysis of completed written critical incident analysis assignments and quantitative analysis of responses from a brief survey.

Findings

In most cases, engaging with the critical incident analysis method did lead participants reexamine their own experiences and develop a better understanding of their own biases and actions. While students followed different pathways with the assignment, participants were able to better understand the crucial role that teachers play in creating a space that values and welcomes diversity for the benefit of all students.

Originality/value

This study diverges from future research on the critical incident analysis method by asking students to examine specific moments from their past in the process of deep, targeted self-reflection.
Linkage between hiring and retention of diverse workforce, affective commitment and counterproductive work behavior
Authors: Dongrey Ritika , Rokade Varsha
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The social exchange theory (SET) and the principle of reciprocity advocate the give and take relationship between counterparts. Perceived justice and fairness engage employees in pro-organizational behavior, while perceived injustice or biases invoke anti-organizational behavior. On similar grounds, the current research aims to find the relationship between employee perception regarding “hiring and retention of diverse employees (HRDE),” “affective commitment,” and “counterproductive work behavior (CWB).” Furthermore, assessing differences in the perception of age diversity concerning studied variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for the current study were collected from various private organizations in India with a sample size (n = 457). The data were further analyzed using factor analysis, regression analysis and analysis of variance.

Findings

Unlike previous research, the findings suggested a positive effect of the variable “hiring and retention of the diverse workforce” on both “affective commitment” and “CWB.” Interestingly, “affective commitment” also indicated a positive relationship with CWB. Further, various age groups showed differences in the perception of “affective commitment” and not “HRDE” and “CWB”.

Originality/value

The findings of the study not only focus on the brighter side of becoming a more diverse workplace (i.e. higher affective commitment) but also highlights the side effects (i.e. CWB) aiding management to be mindful for effective, sustainable management and creation of psychological safe work environment for all.
The dynamic link between eco-innovation and ecological footprint in India: does the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hold?
Authors: Wang Yongming , Villanthenkodath Muhammed Ashiq , Haseeb Mohammad
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The eco-innovation is considered one of the possible ways to tackle climate change. However, the conflicting empirical evidence related to the role of eco-innovation on environmental quality becomes a motivation to explore the effect of eco-innovation on environmental degradation proxied by ecological footprint. Besides, it controls economic growth, remittance inflows, trade openness and total energy consumption in the environmental degradation function.

Design/methodology/approach

Uses the Augmented Auto Regressive Distributed Lag (AARDL) approach to examine the cointegration relation among the series during the period ranging from 1975 to 2017 for India within the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework.

Findings

The result suggests that eco-innovation can mitigate climate change by reducing the ecological footprint. Similarly, economic growth reduces the ecological footprint in the short- and long-run. However, the square of economic growth is positive and significant. Thus, it shows evidence against the conventional EKC hypothesis. The results also reveal that remittance inflows have an insignificant negative role on the ecological footprint, while total energy consumption and trade openness harm the environment by enhancing the ecological footprint.

Practical implications

This study provides important implications for climate change mitigation. Thus, the government should promote eco-innovation to mitigate climate change by offering a favorable legal environment to the firms to adopt the same in their production and consumption activities. It also suggests that initiatives like green strategies should give serious attention while incurring research expenditure.

Originality/value

No prior studies assess the impact of eco-innovation on the ecological footprint for the period of 1975–2017 in India.
Experiences of women with autistic spectrum condition accessing the Brighton and Hove Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service
Authors: Pentz Ollie , Cooke Jennifer , Sharp Harriet
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to describe the experiences and barriers to care for women with autistic spectrum condition (ASC) under the care of the Brighton and Hove Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service (BHSPMHS) and provide recommendations to improve the service.

Design/methodology/approach

Patients with an ASC diagnosis or suspected diagnosis and awaiting assessment under the care of BHSPMHS were offered to take part in the study. Five patients were interviewed to explore their experiences.

Findings

Participants had a mix of positive and negative experiences of services. Positives included the continuous support and allowing flexibility around appointments. Dialectical behavioural therapy groups running online instead of in-person was highlighted as a universal negative as well as delays in diagnosing ASC.

Practical implications

Those likely to meet the criteria for ASC but are awaiting formal diagnosis should be treated with appropriate adjustments to service provision as those who have received a diagnosis. Recommendations for service improvements include the provision of smaller, in-person therapy groups. Adjustments to treatments may include flexibility around appointment times and location.

Originality/value

There is little research into the experiences of people with ASC under the care of perinatal mental health teams. As specialist perinatal services expand, it is important to understand the experiences of women with ASC being cared for by these services, to ensure they are accessible and inclusive. The results of this study will be used to guide service development and act as a model for other services, with the intention of improving care for this patient group.
Remarkable lives – Danielle Jeffries in conversation with Robert Hurst
Authors: Jeffries Danielle , Hurst Robert
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share Danielle Jeffries’ story.

Design/methodology/approach

Danielle wrote a biography of her experiences. Robert then asked a series of questions from the perspective of a mental health academic.

Findings

Danielle shared stories from her life, and how her experiences have shaped her, including being sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Research limitations/implications

Recovery narratives such as this give us an overview of only a single person’s experiences. However, they allow the person with lived experience to explore their story in depth.

Practical implications

What Danielle has written is very powerful. Her story will give readers an insight into her life and experiences.

Social implications

There is so much to learn from stories such as Danielle’s. In particular, the way that she speaks about the impact of a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder.

Originality/value

This is the first time that Danielle has chosen to share her unique story. The value of Danielle sharing her story is apparent upon reading it.
Exploring the influence of student emotions and professor behaviour on course ratings: a quantitative analysis
Authors: Rybinski Krzysztof
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between student emotions, professors' performance and course ratings and difficulty.

Design/methodology/approach

Natural language processing models are used to extract six basic emotions and several categories of professors' harmful performance from nearly one million student reviews randomly selected from the website ratemyprofessors.com. These features are used in regression analysis to analyse their relationship with numerical ratings of course quality and course difficulty.

Findings

Negative emotions and bad performance by professors are detected more often for low-rated courses and courses perceived as more difficult by students. Positive emotions are seen for highly rated and less challenging courses.

Practical implications

This paper shows that natural language processing tools can be used to enhance and strengthen the quality assurance processes at universities. The proposed methods can improve the often-contested student evaluation of teaching practices, help students make better and more informed choices about their courses and assist instructors to better tailor their teaching approaches and create a more positive learning environment for their students.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel analysis of how student emotions and poor performance by professors, derived automatically from teacher evaluations by students, affect course ratings. Results also lead to a novel hypothesis that the student–course emotional match or student tolerance of bad behaviour by professors can affect the performance of students and their chances of completing their degree.
Smartdevice use in a COVID‐19 world: Exploring work–family conflict and turnover intentions
Authors: Wilkinson Simon , Haar Jarrod
Published: April 2023

Technology has made life more complex, and mobile working (mWork) captures the way employees’ smart‐device use (e.g. smartphones, laptops etc.) can facilitate working during family time at home and what the effects of this use are. Engaging in mWork is expected to be detrimental to employee outcomes. In this study, mWork is explored as it relates to turnover intentions and work–family and family–work conflict, with conflict expected to mediate the influence on turnover. Furthermore, given the potential dynamics from gender and parental status, these are both included as moderators, and ultimately a moderated mediation model is tested. Using data from 419 New Zealand employees just after New Zealand's lockdown finished in May 2020, there is overall strong support found for the direct and mediation hypotheses. Overall, mWork influences turnover intentions by blurring the line between work and personal life (leading to higher work–family and family–work conflict), and these also influence turnover intentions.
SAPHO syndrome complicated with relapsing polychondritis: A case report
Authors: Cao Fengjiao , Hou Xiujuan , Kang Tianlun , Shi Xiaojun , Ma Weiguo , Zhang Yuan , Li Chen
Published: April 2023

Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a rare chronic inflammatory disease. The main clinical manifestation of SAPHO syndrome is an osteoarthropathy with cutaneous involvement. Relapsing polychondritis (RP) characterized by chronic inflammation and cartilage degeneration is a rare systematic autoimmune disease. Here we report a RP case in a SAPHO syndrome patient, in which auricularitis happened 10 years after the diagnosed as SAPHO syndrome. Tofacitinib treatment can alleviate the symptoms.
RANKL acts an unfavorable prognostic biomarker and potential target in advanced KRAS‐mutated lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Hong‐Shuai , Liu Cheng‐Ming , Wang Yan
Published: April 2023

Objective

Advanced lung cancers carrying Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutation remain a group that lacks effective treatments. Receptor activator of nuclear factorκB ligand (RANKL) has been demonstrated to drive malignant phenotypes in lung cancer; however, its role in KRAS‐mutant (mt) lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is not yet fully elucidated.

Materials and methods

The data used to explore expression and prognosis were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype‐Tissue Expression databases, and from our hospital. The proliferation, invasion, and migration capacities of KRAS‐mt LUAD cells were evaluated. The prediction model was established via Lasso regression method.

Results

RANKL is strongly expressed in advanced KRAS‐mt LUAD, and significantly distinct association exists between high RANKL expression and poor survival. The enriched expression of RANKL in advanced KRAS‐mt LUAD was confirmed by specimens from our hospital. Further, although not statistically significant, our clinical cohort (n = 57) revealed a longer median progression‐free survival in advanced KRAS‐mt LUAD patients treated with RANKL inhibitor than those without (300 vs. 133 days, p = 0.210), but not in KRAS‐wt ones (208 vs. 250 days, p = 0.334). Decrease of KRAS‐mt LUAD cells’ capacity for proliferation, invasion, and migration was observed when RANKL was knocked down. Enrichment analysis suggested distinct roles of RANKL between KRAS‐mt and KRAS‐wt LUAD, with adhesion‐related pathways and molecules significantly downregulated in the KRAS‐mt RANKL‐high tumors. Finally, a model for predicting overall survival of KRAS‐wt LUAD was established according to four related key genes (BCAM, ICAM5, ITGA3, and LAMA3), which had good performance in prediction concordance.

Conclusions

RANKL acts as an unfavorable prognostic biomarker for patients with advanced KRAS‐mt LUAD. Inhibition of RANKL may be a feasible strategy for this subset of patients.
Notes on an interspecific interaction between distant taxa: Observation of active cohabitation and communal nesting resources between Gehyra mutilata (Wiegmann, 1834) and two vespid wasp species
Authors: Bailey Luke R. , Bool Ian , Muhtianda Iman Akbar , Akbar Panji Gusti , Karya Adi , Analuddin Kangkuso , Courtney Jones Stephanie K.
Published: April 2023

Tropical ecosystems are biodiverse and ecologically complex, supporting nearly half of the global herpetofauna. Ecological interactions play a role in the maintenance of species diversity with a range of ecological interactions occurring within and among species in tropical ecosystems. Incidental observations of ecological interactions provide an important contribution to the understanding of the ecology and natural history of species. Here, we report an interspecific interaction between distant taxa, the Four‐Clawed Gecko (Gehyra mutilata) utilizing an active communal nesting site and shared nesting resources with two vespid wasp species (Eumeninae and Polistinae), where previous observations documented species utilizing abandoned nesting resources. This is the first known record of three species actively cohabitating in a shared nesting resource. This observation, with one or all species positively benefiting from the ecological interaction, likely indicates a mutualistic or commensal ecological interaction. Incidental observations such as the present study are likely to reveal that interspecific ecological interactions including communal nesting are more widespread than previously thought and the co‐utilization of existing nesting resources presents an advantage for taxa. Observations such as these provide the basis for understanding the complex network of ecological interactions occurring in tropical rainforests.
Road mortality in the blue‐black grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) is seasonally driven and sex‐biased
Authors: Vianna Vinícius Rozendo , Costa Gabriel Carvalho , de Alencar Pedro Rodrigues , Dias Raphael Igor
Published: April 2023

Roads are responsible for different negative effects on wildlife, including the isolation of populations and the direct reduction of biodiversity. Millions of animals are killed in traffic every year. Despite that, the influence of animal behaviour on the probability of animal‐vehicle collisions has been overlooked by the literature. The blue‐black grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) is a small, migratory, dichromatic species. During the breeding period, males vigorously defend small, clustered territories. Here, we investigated how the number of roadkills varied spatially and temporally in relation to the breeding activity, density, and sex of grassquits. We demonstrated that the variation in the movement dynamics and reproductive behaviour of the grassquits are associated with a great number of casualties. Road mortality is higher during the breeding period but is not associated with juvenile dispersion. As expected, males have a higher probability of being road‐killed than females, suggesting that territory defence and mate searching may increase the risk of mortality. On the other hand, the clustering of individuals may not increase the risk of road fatalities, suggesting that other environmental attributes may influence the probability of being killed on roads.
The association between body mass index and patient‐reported outcome measures before and after primary total hip or knee arthroplasty: a registry
Authors: Mulford Jonathan S. , Ackerman Ilana , Holder Carl , Cashman Kara S. , Graves Stephen E. , Harris Ian A.
Published: April 2023

Background

The objective is to determine whether body mass index is associated with patient‐reported expectations and well‐being before primary total hip or total knee arthroplasty, and patient‐reported outcomes 6 months after surgery.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. Outcome measures included pre‐operative expectations for post‐operative mobility, joint pain and health, pre‐ and post‐operative EQ‐5D‐5L, EQ‐VAS, Oxford Hip/Knee Scores and joint pain scales, and post‐operative perceived change and perceived satisfaction. Associations with BMI were assessed using chi‐square tests, analysis of variance and Linear Mixed Models equations.

Results

Data were available for 12 816 primary THA patients and 20 253 primary TKA patients. Pre‐operatively, patients in higher BMI categories were significantly more likely to expect ongoing problems with mobility, more joint pain and poorer health following surgery (P<0.01 for all analyses). For arthroplasty patients, higher BMI was associated with poorer pre‐operative and post‐operative scores for all measures. BMI was positively associated with improvements in EQ‐5D, OHS/KS and joint pain. While between‐group differences were statistically significant, many were small in magnitude. There was no association between BMI and patient‐perceived change or satisfaction after arthroplasty.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing THA/TKA, higher BMI was associated with lower pre‐operative expectations, poorer well‐being before surgery, and worse scores after surgery. Patients who were obese demonstrated comparable satisfaction with their operated joint, compared with non‐obese patients. BMI was associated with greater pre‐ to post‐operative improvements in outcome scores for EQ‐5D, VAS knee, OHS/OKS and joint pain but these differences may not be clinically important.
Associations between invasive aspergillosis and cytomegalovirus in lung transplant recipients: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Wulff Signe Marie , Perch Michael , Helweg‐Larsen Jannik , Bredahl Pia , Arendrup Maiken Cavling , Lundgren Jens , Helleberg Marie , Crone Cornelia Geisler
Published: April 2023

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and invasive aspergillosis (IA) cause morbidity among lung transplant recipients (LTXr). Early diagnosis and treatment could improve outcomes. We examined rates of CMV after IA andvice versato assess whether screening for one infection is warranted after detecting the other. All Danish LTXr, 2010–2019, were followed for IA and CMV for 2 years after transplantation. IA was defined using ISHLT criteria. Adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) were estimated by Poisson regression adjusted for time after transplantation. We included 295 LTXr, among whom CMV and IA were diagnosed in 128 (43%) and 48 (16%). The risk of CMV was high the first 3 months after IA, IR 98/100 person‐years of follow‐up (95% CI 47–206). The risk of IA was significantly increased in the first 3 months after CMV, aIRR 2.91 (95% CI 1.32–6.44). Numbers needed to screen to diagnose one case of CMV after IA, and one case of IA after CMV was approximately seven and eight, respectively. Systematic screening for CMV following diagnosis of IA, andvice versa, may improve timeliness of diagnosis and outcomes for LTXr.
Loneliness is associated with a greater self‐reference effect in episodic memory when compared against a close friend
Authors: Kokici Laureta , Chirtop Gratiela , Ferguson Heather J. , Martin Andrew K.
Published: April 2023

Loneliness describes a negative experience associated with perceived social disconnection. Despite the clear links between loneliness and mental and physical health, relatively little is known about how loneliness affects cognition. In this study, we tested the effect of loneliness on cognitive distance between the self and others, using a task in which participants completed a surprise memory task for adjectives implicitly encoded in relation to the self, a close friend or a celebrity. We assessed item memory sensitivity, metacognitive sensitivity, metacognitive efficiency and source memory for positive and negative words. In addition, participants reported their trait loneliness and depression. Results revealed an overall self‐referential advantage compared with both friend and celebrity encoded items. Likewise, a friend‐referential advantage was identified compared to celebrity‐encoded items. Individuals who experienced more loneliness showed a greater self‐referential bias in comparison to words encoded in relation to a close friend, and a smaller friend‐referential bias in comparison to words encoded in relation to celebrity. These findings suggest that loneliness is reflected in a greater cognitive distance between the self and close friends in relation to memory biases. The results have important implications for understanding the social contextual effects on memory and the cognitive ramifications of loneliness.
Association between plane of mesocolic dissection and recurrence after complete mesocolic excision for right‐sided colon cancer: a cohort study
Authors: Bertelsen Claus Anders , Gundestrup Anders Kierkegaard , Olsen Anna Sofie Friis , Bols Birgitte , Ingeholm Peter , Kleif Jakob
Published: April 2023

Aim

Dissection in the mesocolic plane is considered by some medical professionals to be crucial in complete mesocolic excision. We aimed to assess whether intramesocolic plane dissection is associated with a risk of recurrence after complete mesocolic excision for right‐sided colon cancer.

Method

This is a single‐centre study based on prospectively registered data on patients undergoing resection for Union for International Cancer Control Stage I–III right‐sided colon adenocarcinoma during the period 2010–2017. Patients were stratified in an intramesocolic plane group or a mesocolic plane group based on a prospective assessment of fresh specimens by a pathologist. Primary outcome was the 4.2 year risk of recurrence after inverse probability treatment weighting and competing risk analyses.

Results

Of 383 patients, 4 (1%) were excluded as the specimen was assessed as muscularis propria plane, 347 (91.6%) specimens were deemed as mesocolic and 32 (8.4%) as intramesocolic. The 4.2 year cumulative incidence of recurrence after inverse probability treatment weighting was 9.1% (95% CI 6.0%–12.1%) in the mesocolic group compared with 14.0% (3.6%–24.5%) in the intramesocolic group with an absolute risk difference in favour of mesocolic plane dissection of 4.9% (−5.7 to 15.6, p = 0.37). No difference was observed in the risk of local recurrence, death before recurrence or overall survival after 4.2 years between the two groups.

Conclusion

Mesocolic plane dissection can be achieved in more than 90% of patients. The classification seems to be a guide for good surgical practice and not to be used for research purposes.
Generalist invasion in a complex lake food web
Authors: Kuparinen Anna , Uusi‐Heikkilä Silva , Perälä Tommi , Ercoli Fabio , Eloranta Antti P. , Cremona Fabien , Nõges Peeter , Laas Alo , Nõges Tiina
Published: April 2023

Invasive species constitute a threat not only to native populations but also to the structure and functioning of entire food webs. Despite being considered as a global problem, only a small number of studies have quantitatively predicted the food web‐level consequences of invasions. Here, we use an allometric trophic network model parameterized using empirical data on species body masses and feeding interactions to predict the effects of a possible invasion of Amur sleeper (Perccottus glenii), on a well‐studied lake ecosystem. We show that the modeled establishment of Amur sleeper decreased the biomasses of top predator fishes by about 10%–19%. These reductions were largely explained by increased larval competition for food and Amur sleeper predation on fish larvae. In contrast, biomasses of less valued fish of lower trophic positions increased by about 0.4%–9% owing to reduced predation pressure by top piscivores. The predicted impact of Amur sleeper establishment on the biomasses of native fish species vastly exceeded the impacts of current‐day fishing pressures.
Validation as Evaluating Desired and Undesired Effects: Insights From Cross‐Classified Mixed Effects Model
Authors: Ji Xuejun Ryan , Wu Amery D.
Published: April 2023

The Cross‐Classified Mixed Effects Model (CCMEM) has been demonstrated to be a flexible framework for evaluating reliability by measurement specialists. Reliability can be estimated based on the variance components of the test scores. Built upon their accomplishment, this study extends the CCMEM to be used for evaluating validity evidence. Validity is viewed as the coherence among the elements of a measurement system. As such, validity can be evaluated by the user‐reasoned desired or undesired fixed and random effects. Based on the data of ePIRLS 2016 Reading Assessment, we demonstrate how to obtain evidence for reliability and validity by CCMEM. We conclude with a discussion on the practicality and benefits of this validation method.
Phenobarbital in super‐refractory status epilepticus (PIRATE): A retrospective, multicenter analysis
Authors: Kunst Stefan , Rojo Mikel , Schmidbauer Moritz L. , Pelz Johann O. , Mueller Annekatrin , Minnerup Jens , Meyer Lennart , Madžar Dominik , Reindl Caroline , Madlener Marie , Malter Michael , Neumann Bernhard , Dimitriadis Konstantinos ,   for the IGNITE Study Group
Published: April 2023

Objective

Super‐refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is an enduring or recurring SE after 24 h or more of general anesthesia. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of phenobarbital (PB) for the treatment of SRSE.

Methods

This retrospective, multicenter study included neurointensive care unit (NICU) patients with SRSE treated with PB between September 2015 and September 2020 from six participating centers of the Initiative of German NeuroIntensive Trial Engagement (IGNITE) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PB treatment for SRSE. The primary outcome measure was seizure termination. In addition, we evaluated maximum reached serum levels, treatment duration, and clinical complications using a multivariate generalized linear model.

Results

Ninety‐one patients were included (45.1% female). Seizure termination was achieved in 54 patients (59.3%). Increasing serum levels of PB were associated with successful seizure control (per μg/mL: adjusted odds ratio [adj.OR] = 1.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0–1.2, p < .01). The median length of treatment in the NICU was 33.7 [23.2–56.6] days across groups. Clinical complications occurred in 89% (n = 81) of patients and included ICU‐acquired infections, hypotension requiring catecholamine therapy, and anaphylactic shock. There was no association between clinical complications and treatment outcome or in‐hospital mortality. The overall average modified Rankin scale (mRS) at discharge from the NICU was 5 ± 1. Six patients (6.6%) reached mRS ≤3, of whom five were successfully treated with PB. In‐hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients in whom seizure control could not be achieved.

Significance

We observed a high rate in attainment of seizure control in patients treated with PB. Success of treatment correlated with higher dosing and serum levels. However, as one would expect in a cohort of critically ill patients with prolonged NICU treatment, the rate of favorable clinical outcome at discharge from the NICU remained extremely low. Further prospective studies evaluating long‐term clinical outcome of PB treatment as well as an earlier use of PB at higher doses would be of value.
Management‐induced changes in soil organic carbon and related crop yield dynamics in China's cropland
Authors: Lin Bai‐Jian , Li Ruo‐Chen , Liu Ke‐Chun , Pelumi Oladele Olatunde , Xu Zhi‐Yu , Lal Rattan , Zhao Xin , Zhang Hai‐Lin
Published: April 2023

Enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and food supply are vital for human survival when facing climate change. Site‐specific best management practices (BMPs) are being promoted for adoption globally as solutions. However, how SOC and crop yield are related to each other in responding to BMPs remains unknown. Here, path analysis based on meta‐analysis and machine learning was conducted to identify the effects and potential mechanisms of how the relationship between SOC and crop yield responds to site‐specific BMPs in China. The results showed that BMPs could significantly enhance SOC and maintain or increase crop yield. The maximum benefits in SOC (30.6%) and crop yield (79.8%) occurred in mineral fertilizer combined with organic inputs (MOF). Specifically, the optimal SOC and crop yield would be achieved when the areas were arid, soil pH was ≥7.3, initial SOC content was ≤10 g kg−1, duration was >10 years, and the nitrogen (N) input level was 100–200 kg ha−1. Further analysis revealed that the original SOC level and crop yield change showed an inverted V‐shaped structure. The association between the changes in SOC and crop yield might be linked to the positive role of the nutrient‐mediated effect. The results generally suggested that improving the SOC can strongly support better crop performance. Limitations in increasing crop yield still exist due to low original SOC level, and in regions where the excessive N inputs, inappropriate tillage or organic input is inadequate and could be diminished by optimizing BMPs in harmony with site‐specific conditions.
Intersectional (in)visibility of transgender individuals with an ethnic minority background throughout a gender transition: Four longitudinal case studies
Authors: Hennekam Sophie , Dumazert Jean‐Pierre
Published: April 2023

This study draws on four longitudinal case studies of transgender individuals with an ethnic minority background that undergo a gender transition while being in employment in the Netherlands. Four individuals were each interviewed four times over a period of 2 years. They were asked to make sense of their experience using a narrative approach. Using an intersectional lens, the findings reveal that non‐White transgender individuals experience intersectional invisibility and intersectional hypervisibility in a dynamic and ongoing way, which influences their experiences and concurrently fosters and hinders their gender expression as they go through a gender transition while being in employment. More specifically, we build on the literature on managing (in)visibility by showing how transgender individuals with an ethnic minority background manage their (in)visibility in a dynamic and sometimes strategic way in which they reflect on the perceived consequences of their (in)visibility and then adjust their gender expression and/or strategy to elicit more positive outcomes for themselves. Practical and theoretical implications as well as suggestions to enhance our understanding of this understudied population at work and create a more inclusive work environment are presented.
Cord blood adiponectin and leptin concentrations in monochorionic twins with selective intrauterine growth restriction and their associations with childhood growth trajectories
Authors: Wen Li , Fu Huijia , Saffery Richard , Tong Chao , Liu Yamin , Kilby Mark D. , Qi Hongbo , Baker Philip N.
Published: April 2023

Background

Being born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was associated with subsequent health issues later in life. However, the underlying role of adipokines in IUGR is unknown.

Objectives

To measure the adiponectin and leptin concentrations in the cord blood of monochorionic (MC) twins with selective IUGR (sIUGR) and evaluate their associations with childhood growth trajectories.

Methods

Cord blood samples were collected from 22 pairs of MC twins with sIUGR and 20 pairs of normal MC twins. Adiponectin and leptin concentrations in cord blood were determined by ELISA. Data regarding perinatal outcomes and infantile growth trajectories from birth to 24 months were obtained.

Results

Only cord blood adiponectin concentrations were associated with IUGR (β −1.51, 95% CI −2.45, −0.57, p = 0.002), and cord blood leptin concentrations were significantly lower in sIUGR twins compared to normal twins (2.8 ± 1.6 vs. 6.4 ± 3.0, p < 0.001). Adiponectin concentrations were negatively associated with height increments from birth to 6 months (β −0.28, 95% CI −0.51, −0.06, p = 0.015). Leptin concentrations were negatively associated with weight at 6 and 24 months (β −0.12 95% CI −0.22, −0.02, p = 0.002; β −0.18 95% CI −0.33, −0.03, p = 0.019) and weight and height increments from birth to 6 months (β −0.17 95% CI −0.29, −0.06, p = 0.020; β −0.40 95% CI −0.81, −0.01, p = 0.037).

Conclusion

Cord blood adiponectin concentrations were negatively associated with IUGR but did not predict childhood growth. Cord blood leptin concentrations were inversely associated with weight and height increments in the first 6 months.
Unfolding intersecting forms of socio‐spatial exclusion: Accommodation centres at the height of the “refugee reception crisis” in Germany
Authors: Seethaler‐Wari Shahd , Yanasmayan Zeynep
Published: April 2023

At the height of the “refugee reception crisis” in 2015, a large number of forced migrants had to be accommodated in Germany, which led to the transformation of old infrastructures and building of new centres. Based on extensive fieldwork in three centres in the same city, this article seeks to highlight the intersecting forms of socio‐spatial exclusion in refugee accommodations in Germany. First, we unpack how differential internal and external spatial arrangements intersect to aggravate or alleviate social exclusion of forced migrants. Second, we draw attention to the ways in which the regulation of space and social relations inside the accommodation centres intersect with the dominant gendered notions of the refugee label. Despite the potency of power relations that differentially categorizes, controls and excludes, exclusion remains ambivalent as forced migrants consistently claim ownership over the space in and around the centres and build social relationships to maintain a sense of “normalcy”.
Infant externalizing behavior and parent depressive symptoms: Prospective predictors of parental pandemic related distress
Authors: Murray Samantha A. , Wang Lijuan , Cummings E. Mark , Braungart‐Rieker Julia M.
Published: April 2023

Understanding predictors and effects of the COVID‐19 Pandemic is a top‐priority in research endeavors. The impact of COVID‐19 on all components of family life and mental health cannot be overstated. This study emphasizes the need to investigate predictors of parents' responses to disaster by conceptualizing the depth of the impact of the pandemic using Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Systems Model. We evaluate parents of infants as the center of the microsystem and discuss the importance of parents' responses to the pandemic for children's development. Specifically, utilizing a prospective design involving a sample of 105 infant‐mother‐father triads, we test the predictive effects of mothers' and fathers' mental health and infant externalizing behavior assessed prior to the pandemic when infants were 16‐months on later pandemic related distress (PRD) approximately 1 year later. Results indicate that for both mothers and fathers, more depressive symptoms during their child's infancy predicted more PRD. Although mothers' reports of more child externalizing behavior significantly predicted more PRD, fathers' reports of externalizing were strongly, positively correlated with their concurrent depressive symptoms but not directly related to PRD. We demonstrate the importance of pre‐existing mental health and parents' perceptions of their children's behavior as early as 16 months, in coping with disaster.
Microstructures and mechanical properties of B4C–SiC and B4C–SiC–TiB2 ceramic composites fabricated by hot pressing
Authors: Wang Bo , Cai Delong , Wang Haoyi , Zou Wenhua , Yang Zhihua , Duan Xiaoming , He Peigang , Li Daxin , Duan Wenjiu , Jia Dechang , Lin Hua‐Tay , Zhao Chao , Zhou Yu
Published: April 2023

Boron carbide (B4C) ceramic composites with excellent mechanical properties were fabricated by hot‐pressing using B4C, silicon carbide (SiC), titanium boride (TiB2), and magnesium aluminum silicate (MAS) as raw materials. The influences of SiC and TiB2 content on the microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the composites were systematically investigated. The mechanism by which MAS promotes the sintering process of composites was also investigated. MAS exists in composites in the form of amorphous phase. It can effectively remove the oxide layer from the surface of ceramic particles during the high temperature sintering process. The typical values of relative density, hardness, bending strength, and fracture toughness of B4C–SiC–TiB2 composites are 99.6%, 32.61 GPa, 434 MPa, and 6.20 MPa m1/2, respectively. Based on the microstructure observations and finite element modeling, the operative toughening mechanism is mainly attributed to the crack deflection along the grain boundary, which results from the residual stress field generated by the thermal expansion mismatch between B4C and TiB2 phase.
Effect of moisture content on engineering characteristics of apricot (Prunus armeniacaL.) kernel
Authors: Pawar Krantidip R. , Nema Prabhat K. , Babar Onkar A. , Yadav Dhiraj Kumar
Published: April 2023

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels, the innermost part of the economical stone fruit, are utilized for edible purposes, extraction of oil, and many pharmaceutical products. Biological materials are complex in structure and get affected by their moisture content. This study investigates the effect of different moisture content from 5.66% to 26.47% wet basis apricot kernels on its various engineering characteristics and develops their correlations. The engineering characteristics such as linear dimension length (13.26–14.47 mm), breadth (8.69–9.97 mm), thickness (5.36–6.50 mm), arithmetic mean diameter (9.11–10.32 mm), geometric mean diameter (8.48–9.77 mm), surface area (227.91–302.68 mm2), projected area (91.99–114.95 mm2), 1000 kernel mass (0.317–0.403 kg), true density (881.23–973.55 kg m−3), and porosity (33.74%–43.68%) increased linearly with moisture content. On the other hand, bulk density (548.23–583.89 kg m−3) and elongation ratio (2.25–2.51) showed a decreasing trend with an increase in moisture content. The frictional properties such as angle of repose (22.81–28.92°) and coefficient of static friction value for glass, stainless steel, galvanized iron, and wood were found to increase with increased moisture content and ranged from 0.179–0.283, 0.272–0.347, 0.416–0.512, and 0.488–0.595, respectively. The highest static coefficient of friction was observed for wood surfaces. A significant difference in color values L*, a*, b*, hue angle (H), chroma (C), and ∆E values were observed at different moisture content. Terminal velocities and hardness of AK increased linearly with moisture content and the values were found between 4.26 and 5.91 m s−1 and 21.59 to 35.25 N mm−1, respectively.

Practical applications

Apricot kernels have nutritional and pharmaceutical value due to the abundance of bioactive components in them but are still underutilized due to a lack of handling knowledge and processing mechanization. Apricot kernels are delicate and sensitive for mechanical damage during every stage of their processing. This study investigates engineering characteristics in view to understand their relationship with moisture content, as many instruments and equipment are yet to be designed. Knowledge of its engineering characteristics at different moisture content would help handlers for quality evaluation, and manufacturers in optimally designing processing machinery and quality analytical instruments.
Reply to: Comment on: Effectiveness and safety of anti‐tau drugs for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Zheng Xiaoyan , Tang Yuyuan , Lu Liming
Published: April 2023

This letter comments on the letter by Stefanacci et al.