bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CALLex: a CALL game to study lexical relationships based on a semantic database
Authors: Visser Henriëtte
Published: August 2021

This paper presents the prototype of CALLex, a program for learning lexical functions, created by a project funded by INTAS, a European organisation promoting cooperation between the European Union and the states of the former Soviet Union, developed by the Laboratory of Computational Linguistics at the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, supported by the universities of Klagenfurt, Austria and Heidelberg, Germany. The goal of the program is to facilitate language learning through several linguistic games in order to improve the lexical command of the language studied. The CALLex games access a lexico-semantic database consisting of two dictionaries, Russian and German, each containing roughly 1000 lexemes. The lexical functions cover a wide variety of lexical relationships, which can be roughly divided into three major groups: (1) collocations, which are syntagmatic relationships, such as ‘do x, nave x, or being in the state of x’, (trade) = conduct (trade) or (anger) = feel (anger), (2) substitutions, i.e. paradigmatic relationships, e.g. ‘a lexeme whose meaning is opposite to x’, (appear) = disappear, (courage) = cowardice, and (3) other prototypical relationships, ‘head of what is denoted by x’, (university) = rector, (tribe) = chief. While studying the combinatorial capabilities of a word and its most ‘idiomatic’ collocations, the student can get a feel for semantic fields and obtain structured access to the vocabulary and its syntactic expression in the foreign language. The strict separation of the CALL program and the underlying database facilitates the expansion of the linguistic resources on the one hand and the adaptation or the linguistic games to new didactic approaches on the other hand. This paper highlights the function of the database in the background of the program and the treatment of illrormed student input. Although some adjustments were made during the course of the project, a more flexible approach seems necessary. Here we envisage a component separate from, but interacting with the database, allowing for a more robust treatment of ill-formed input.
Die Entwicklung von Sexualität bei Kindern und Jugendlichen mit sexuellen Gewalterfahrungen
Authors: Schulte Katharina Louisa , Szota Katharina , Christiansen Hanna
Published: August 2021

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Zu den Folgen sexueller Gewalt gehören neben somatischen und psychischen Folgen auch Veränderungen in der Entwicklung der Sexualität. Fragestellung: Ziel dieses Reviews ist es, einen systematischen Überblick über den aktuellen Forschungsstand bezüglich der Entwicklung von Sexualität bei Kindern und Jugendlichen nach sexuellen Gewalterfahrungen zu geben. Methode: Eine systematische Literaturrecherche wurde in den Datenbanken PubMed, ERIC, Cochrane und PubPsych durchgeführt. Die Folgen von sexueller Gewalt bezüglich der Sexualität wurden systematisch analysiert. Ergebnisse: Es konnten insgesamt 127 Studien zur Sexualität nach sexueller Gewalt identifiziert werden, die acht Unterkategorien zugeordnet werden konnten: Sexuelles Risikoverhalten, Teenagerschwangerschaft, jugendliche Sexualstraftäter_innen, sexuelle Verhaltensauffälligkeiten, sexuelle Überzeugungen, Prostitution, Geschlechtskrankheiten und körperliche Symptome. Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Insgesamt zeigt die Literaturrecherche, dass die Sexualität von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit sexuellen Gewalterfahrungen teilweise nur lückenhaft untersucht wurde.
Joy Santiago: Charting Safety Through Mapmaking
Authors: Lee Jack
Published: August 2021

An environmental planner proudly "helping the Filipino people."
Thermoplasmonic effect onto Toad physiology signals by plasmonic microchip structure
Authors: Akbari S. , Hamidi S. M. , Eftekhari H. , Soheilian A.
Published: August 2021

Cardiovascular diseases are considered as the leading cause of death and almost 80% of deaths from this disease are developed in poor and less developed countries where early detection facilities are less available, along with overlooking the importance of screening. In other words, real-time monitoring of the physiological signals using flexible and wearable biosensors plays an important role in human life style. Thus, the present study aims to propose two dimensional flexible and wearable gold covered plasmonic samples as a physiological signal recorder, in which chips with nano array of resonant nanowire patterns performing in an integrated platform of plasmonic devices. The produced surface plasmon waves in our main chip were paired with an electric wave from the heart pulse and it use for recording and detecting the heartbeat of a toad with high accuracy. This measurement was performed in normal state and under external laser heating process to check the ability of signal recording and also thermoplasmonic effect onto the toad's heart signal. Our results show that our sensor was enough sensitive for detection while raising the body temperature of the toad and changing its heart rate as flatting T and P waves by thermoplasmonic effect.
Primary results of the Spanish Cryoballoon Ablation Registry: acute and long-term outcomes of the RECABA study
Authors: Ferrero-De-Loma-Osorio Ángel , Cózar Rocío , García-Alberola Arcadio , Valles Ermengol , Barrera Alberto , Toquero Jorge , Ormaetxe Jose Miguel , Sánchez Juan Martínez , Ruiz-Granell Ricardo , Amador Pablo Bastos , Rubio Jose Manuel , Martí-Amor Julio , Pascual Patricia , Molina Irene , Martínez-Alday Jesús Daniel ,   RECABA Investigators
Published: August 2021

Cryoablation is safe and effective for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in controlled clinical trials, but contemporary real-world usage and outcomes are limited. The Report of the Spanish Cryoballoon Ablation Registry (RECABA) was designed to evaluate acute and 12-month outcomes of cryoballoon ablation for the treatment of AF in Spain. Patients from 27 Spanish centers were prospectively enrolled. Patients were treated with cryoballoon ablation and managed according to standard of care protocols at each center. The primary endpoint was ≥ 30 s freedom from AF at 12-month after a 3-month blanking period. Secondary endpoints included a description of patient characteristics, cryoablation procedural strategy and safety, and predictors of efficacy. In total, 1742 patients (71.4% PAF, 68.8% male, mean age 58.02 ± 10.40 years, 76.1% overweight or obese, CHA2DS2-VASc index 1.40 ± 1.28) were enrolled. Patients received 7.2 ± 2.67 cryo-applications. PV potentials could be detected in 61% of the PVs during ablation, with a mean time to block of 52.9 ± 37.02 s. Acute PVI was observed in 97% of PVs with 75.8% isolated with the first cryo-application. Mean procedural time was 113 ± 41 min. Acute complications occurred in 4.4% of the cases. With follow-up in 1628 patients, AF-free survival was 78.5% (PAF: 80.6% vs PersAF 73.3%; p < 0.001). Left atrium enlargement, female sex, non-PAF, and early recurrence were independent predictors of AF recurrence (p < 0.05). RECABA provides detailed insight into current dosing practices and demonstrates cryoablation is safe and effective in real-world use.

ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02785991.
Numerical investigation of transient mixed convection of nanofluid in a cavity with non-Darcy porous inner block and rotating cylinders with harmonic motion
Authors: Shirani Nima , Toghraie Davood
Published: August 2021

Mixed convection of nanofluid in a 2D square enclosure with a porous block in its center and four rotating cylinders, which are forced by a simple harmonic function, was studied numerically. The porous zone was studied by considering the Forchheimer–Brinkman-extended Darcy model. Effects of various parameters including Darcy number (10–5 ≤ Da ≤ 10–2), porosity (0.2 ≤ ɛ ≤ 0.7), Richardson number (0.1 ≤ Ri ≤ 10), and volume fraction of nanoparticles (0 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.03), on heat transfer, entropy generation, PEC, velocity, streamline and isotherm contours were demonstrated. The results show that decreasing the Darcy number as well as reducing the Richardson number leads to an increase in the average Nusselt number. However, porosity changes had no decisive effect on heat transfer. Maximize the volume fraction of copper nanoparticles in the base fluid enhanced heat transfer. In the case of the high permeability of the porous medium, the impact of the harmonic rotation of the cylinders on the flow patterns became more pronounced.
Spatial organization of biochemical cues in 3D-printed scaffolds to guide osteochondral tissue engineering
Authors: Camacho Paula , Behre Anne , Fainor Matthew , Seims Kelly B. , Chow Lesley W.
Published: August 2021

Peptide-functionalized 3D-printed scaffolds drive mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation towards osteogenesis or chondrogenesis based on the presence and organization of both cartilage-promoting and bone-promoting peptides.
Molecular layer deposition of photoactive metal-naphthalene hybrid thin films
Authors: Rogowska Melania , Hansen Per-Anders , Sønsteby Henrik Hovde , Dziadkowiec Joanna , Valen Håkon , Nilsen Ola
Published: August 2021

A series of organic–inorganic hybrid thin films with different d0-metals (Y, Ti, Zr and Hf) and 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid were prepared by molecular layer deposition (MLD) and their optical properties were explored.
Phosphorus- and fluorine-co-doped carbon nitride: modulated visible light absorption, charge carrier kinetics and boosted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Authors: Li Pinnan , Wang Mingya , Huang Shushu , Su Yiguo
Published: August 2021

A phosphorus and fluorine co-doped carbon nitride photocatalyst was constructed to modulate the band gap structure and visible light response ability of g-C3N4 as well as the photocatalytic H2 evolution activity.
Post-synthetic modifications (PSM) on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for visible-light-initiated photocatalysis
Authors: Qin Yuhuan , Hao Mingming , Wang Dengke , Li Zhaohui
Published: August 2021

In this frontier article, we have summarized different PSM strategies for the development of photoactive MOFs for a variety of photocatalytic applications.
Fragmentation of nanoplastics driven by plant–microbe rhizosphere interaction during abiotic stress combination
Authors: Yoon Hakwon , Kim Jun-Tae , Chang Yoon-Seok , Kim Eun-Ju
Published: August 2021

Plants can take up the fragmented nanoplastics generated by plant–microbe rhizosphere interactions upon combined exposure to cadmium and nanoplastics.
Reactions of benzyltriphenylphosphonium salts under photoredox catalysis
Authors: Boldt Andrew M. , Dickinson Sidney I. , Ramirez Jonathan R. , Benz-Weeden Anna M. , Wilson David S. , Stevenson Susan M.
Published: August 2021

Benzyltriphenylphosphonium salts become radical precursors under photoredox catalysis and may undergo either C–C coupling or reduction depending on their substituents.
Catalyst-free reductive hydrogenation or deuteration of aryl–heteroatom bonds induced by light
Authors: Yan Boyu , Zhou Yutong , Wu Jieliang , Ran Maogang , Li Huihui , Yao Qiuli
Published: August 2021

The photoinduced hydrogenation or deuteration of quaternary arylammonium salts, aryl triflates, and aryl halides under catalyst-free conditions was achieved.
Options for tackling pathogen resistance by genome editing in rice
Authors: Schmidt Sarah M. , Luu Van Thi , Buchholzer Marcel , Arra Yugander , Frommer Wolf B.
Published: August 2021

Rice is the most important staple crop in the developing world and its productivity is critical for food security, development, and poverty elimination. Worldwide, approximately 900 million people from low-income households depend on rice. Ninety percent of the global rice is produced in Asia, mainly by small-scale producers who farm 0.4 ha or less. Productivity is increasingly threatened by biotic stresses from viruses, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, insects, and arachnids. Nowadays, genome editing provides unique opportunities to generate variants of elite lines that are resistant to one or multiple diseases. We provide examples in which the simplest form of genome editing is used to block pathogens from exploiting host susceptibilities, thereby creating a robust broad-spectrum resistance. We highlight the editing of promoter sequences of rice SWEET sugar transporters, which led to resistance against Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) as a blueprint for the use of new breeding technologies in fighting other important crop diseases and for stacking with other useful traits. Notably, successful strategies for protecting against pathogen infections require more than just resistant rice lines, but also better maintenance and strategies to improve the living standards of small-scale producers.
A Korean Travel Agency Helps Make Leisure Activities Accessible to All
Authors: Zhao Linlin , Shiraani Fathimath , Yang Mo , Seabolt Katie , Sun Yu
Published: August 2021

Amuse Travel provides full-concierge customised travel services for diverse groups, including people with disabilities, families travelling with children and young people, and more recently, senior travellers. The company follows the vision of its CEO, Mr Seo-Yeon Oh (here onwards, Mr Oh), whose fundamental belief and driving mission is that all citizens should be able to travel comfortably and safely.

Information

For Skema: Written on the basis of material provided by Amuse Travel Company.

© CAB International 2021
Graphdiyne enables Cu nanoparticles for highly selective electroreduction of CO2 to formate
Authors: Wang Jing-Jing , Wang Hong-Juan , Zhang Chao , Gong Yun-Nan , Bai Ya-Li , Lu Tong-Bu
Published: August 2021

Undoped Cu nanoparticles (NPs) generally show poor selectivity and activity for electroreduction of CO2 to formate due to hard desorption of HCOO* intermediate on Cu site. Here we report a Cu/pyrenyl-graphdiyne (Pyr-GDY) composite catalyst, in which Cu2O and CuO NPs were in-situ formed and embedded in the matrix of a two-dimensional (2D) Pyr-GDY, during the synthesis of 2D Pyr-GDY using monolayer graphene covered Cu foil as a template, and copper acetate as a coupling catalyst. Cu2O and CuO NPs in Cu/Pyr-GDY can be electrochemically reduced to cubic metallic CuNPs to get Cu/Pyr-GDY-R electrocatalyst, with the average size of metallic Cu NPs being 42 nm. The Cu/Pyr-GDY-R on Cu foil can be directly used as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for CO2-to-formate conversion in a CO2-saturated 0.1 M KHCO3 electrolyte, with a formate Faradaic efficiency (FEformate) as high as 95% (at −1.2 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode), far superior to that of Pyr-GDY-free Cu NPs (with a FEformate of only 29%). The key reaction intermediate of HCOO* during CO2-to-formate conversion was identified by in situ Raman spectroscopy. The results of density functional theory calculations revealed that the Pyr-GDY support can decrease the reaction free energy for the adsorption of HCOO* on Cu site, due to the electron transfer from metallic Cu NPs to conjugated diacetylene groups in 2D Pyr-GDY support, which leads to the high selectivity for formate over hydrogen production.
Don’t Shoot the Sheriff: the Threat of Legal Claims Against Arbitrators and Arbitral Institutions
Authors: Malintoppi Loretta
Published: August 2021

While arbitrators and arbitral institutions should be held accountable if they act unlawfully or in bad faith, increasingly they also face serious legal attacks by parties dissatisfied with awards. These attacks often concern alleged lack of arbitrator independence and impartiality or violations of due process. These claims raise important issues concerning institutional and arbitrator immunity. In prolonging the dispute through collateral attacks, they can also undermine the finality and efficiency of arbitration as a dispute resolution process. Moreover, as parties’ conduct becomes more aggressive, such accusations may exacerbate ‘due process paranoia’. Finally, there is an obvious practical impact for arbitrators – particularly full-time arbitrators – who must be mindful of the risks and consider professional indemnity insurance, and for institutions who should address their own and their arbitrators' insurance position and generally be more transparent about the coverage that they provide. The article reviews some of the most recent claims against arbitrators and institutions alike to draw some lessons and propose concrete solutions to address the problem in future.
ANMCO POSITION PAPER: on administration of type 2 sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors to prevent heart failure in diabetic patients and to treat heart failure patients with and without diabetes
Authors: Gronda Edoardo , Napoli Claudio , Iacoviello Massimo , Urbinati Stefano , Caldarola Pasquale , Mannucci Edoardo , Colivicchi Furio , Gabrielli Domenico
Published: August 2021

This ANMCO (Associazione Nazionale Medici Cardiologi Ospedalieri) position paper aims to analyse the complex action of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors at the level of the kidney and cardiovascular system, focusing on the effect that these molecules have shown in the prevention and treatment of heart failure in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. The goal was pursued by comparing the data generated with pathophysiology studies and with multicentre controlled studies in large populations. In accordance with the analysis carried out in the document, the following recommendations are issued: (i) canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and ertugliflozin are molecules recommended for the prevention of heart failure hospitalizations in type 2 diabetic subjects; (ii) canagliflozin and dapagliflozin are recommended for the prevention of heart failure hospitalizations in type 2 diabetic subjects with severe chronic kidney disease, dapagliflozin proved to be safe and effective also in diabetic subjects; and (iii) dapagliflozin and empagliflozin are recommended to reduce the combined risk of heart failure and cardiovascular death in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction.
ANMCO POSITION PAPER: The reorganization of cardiology in times of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Authors: Caldarola Pasquale , Murrone Adriano , Roncon Loris , Di Pasquale Giuseppe , Tavazzi Luigi , Amodeo Vincenzo , Aspromonte Nadia , Cipriani Manlio , Di Lenarda Andrea , Domenicucci Stefano , Francese Giuseppina Maura , Imazio Massimo , di Uccio Fortunato Scotto , Urbinati Stefano , Valente Serafina , Gulizia Michele Massimo , Colivicchi Furio , Gabrielli Domenico
Published: August 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented event that has brought deep changes in hospital facilities with reshaping of the health system organization, revealing inadequacies of current hospital and local health systems. When the COVID-19 emergency will end, further evaluation of the national health system, new organization of acute wards, and a further evolution of the entire health system will be needed to improve care during the chronic phase of disease. Therefore, new standards for healthcare personnel, more efficient organization of hospital facilities for patients with acute illnesses, improvement of technological approaches, and better integration between hospital and territorial services should be pursued. With experience derived from the COVID-19 pandemic,new models, paradigms, interventional approaches, values and priorities should be suggested and implemented.
Management of Phytophthora cinnamomi Using Fungicides and Host Plant Defense Inducers Under Drought Conditions: A Case Study of Flowering Dogwood
Authors: Neupane Krishna , Alexander Lisa , Baysal-Gurel Fulya
Published: August 2021

Phytophthora cinnamomi is considered one of the most destructive pathogens of ornamental crops. Different fungicides and host plant defense inducers were tested for their efficacy in managing Phytophthora root rot in drought conditions. In this study, the drought conditions were maintained by evaluating the moisture-holding capacity of the pine bark in a 10.2-cm nursery container. Four controls and nine different treatments were used in two trials for this greenhouse study. All treatments were drench-applied as a preventative or curative treatment. Seedlings were artificially inoculated with P. cinnamomi. Regular irrigation was carried out using overhead irrigation for 1 month after inoculation. Irrigation was regulated by drip irrigation after the first month. A moisture level of 15% to 18% of total moisture-holding capacity was maintained using the gravimetric method throughout the drought period. Physiological parameters of the seedlings were recorded a week after seedlings were drought stressed. In both trials of preventative and curative treatments, all treatments were able to suppress the disease significantly except Orkestra Intrinsic. Orkestra Intrinsic had a disease severity statistically similar to the inoculated and stressed control in trial 1 of the curative treatment. Net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and leaf moisture potential were significantly greater in seedlings treated with Subdue MAXX, Signature Xtra, and Empress Intrinsic in both trials of preventative and curative treatments. Effective quantum yield of Photosystem II was significantly lower in the inoculated stressed control in both trials of preventative and curative treatments. Net chlorophyll content through the SPAD meter showed higher values for Subdue MAXX treated seedlings compared with the noninoculated nonstressed controls in trial 1 as both a curative and preventative application. In trial 2, Subdue MAXX and Signature Xtra were the best curative treatments, whereas Empress Intrinsic, Interface, and Subdue MAXX were the best preventative treatments for higher chlorophyll content. This case study will help growers perform successful management of Phytophthora root rot in woody ornamental crops during drought or water deficit conditions.
Pharmacy-Based Nursing Education Utilizing a Social Media Platform
Authors: May Casey C. , Mahle Jessica , Harper Dorina , Smetana Keaton S.
Published: August 2021

Social media has changed the way individuals communicate and recently multiple articles have been published highlighting the utilization of social media for education. To our knowledge, cross-discipline education utilizing these platforms has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to implement a pharmacist-led, social media-based nursing education program and evaluate the perceived value. A curriculum of pharmacy-related issues was developed and topics were posted to the neurocritical care unit (NCCU) Facebook group or emailed to non-Facebook users weekly. A pre- and posteducation survey was sent out evaluating the program's effectiveness. Thirty-seven nurses were members of the NCCU Facebook group and 33 received the education via email. A total of 29% and 19% of nurses completed the pre- and posteducation survey, respectively. Of those who completed the survey, 36% received education via Facebook. As compared with the preeducation survey, there were no statistically significant differences in nursing performance on fact-based questions (P value > .05 on all assessment questions); however, 100% of respondents wanted to continue this education delivery. Utilizing social media as a means of cross-discipline education was well-received; however, the solitary utilization should be used cautiously, as performance did not improve on assessment questions.
Health Care at the End of Life
Authors: Henao-Castaño Ángela María , Rivera-Romero Nathaly , Garzón Heidi Paola Ospina
Published: August 2021

The objective of this study was to determine the experience of the nurses who provide health care in the final stages of life in the intensive care unit for adults. The authors report the results of their study, which used a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach. Eighteen adults participated by being interviewed using semistructured questions. The nurses expressed that health care at the end of life represents an emotional and psychological burden for them. They also recognized that health care was given based on the empiricism achieved through clinical experience. In this regard, they emphasize the importance of having the proper education in this area to provide comprehensive care to the patient, the family, and the nurse.
Very low-dose recombinant Factor VIIa administration for cardiac surgical bleeding reduces red blood cell transfusions and renal risk: a matched cohort study
Authors: Cotter Elizabeth , Sharma Akshit , Campton Alice , Gao Guangyi , He Jianghua , Wirtz Katy , Zorn Trip , Flynn Brigid C.
Published: August 2021

Outcomes following administration of very-low-dose recombinant activated factor VIIa (vld-rFVIIa) for cardiac surgical bleeding remain debatable. We sought to determine the association of vld-rFVIIa and adverse surgical outcomes. Retrospective, cohort matching of patients undergoing cardiac surgery who received vld-rFVIIa (median 13.02 μg/kg) for perioperative bleeding were matched to cardiac surgical patients who had bleeding and received standard of care for bleeding without Factor VIIa administration. Of the 362 matched patients (182 in each group), patients who received rFVIIa required significantly less red blood cell transfusions [median 3 units (range 0--60, IQR = 4 units) versus 4 units (range 2-34, IQR = 4 units); P = 0.0004], decreased length of hospital stay (median 8 versus 9 days; P = 0.0158) and decreased renal risk (P < 0.0001). Incidence of renal failure, postoperative infection, postoperative thrombosis, prolonged ventilation, total ICU hours and 30-day mortality were not different between the two groups. Vld-rFVIIa for cardiac surgical bleeding was associated with decreased red blood cell transfusion, renal risk and length of hospital stay without increased thromboembolism or mortality when compared to patients who had cardiac surgical bleeding and received standard of care without Factor VIIa.
A universal microfluidic approach for quantitative study of bacterial biofilms
Authors: Zhang Yuzhen , Zeng Lingbin , Cai Yumin , Chen Zhaoyuan , Liu Peng , Ma Luyan Z. , Liu Jintao
Published: August 2021

Bacteria usually live in densely packed communities called biofilms, where interactions between the bacteria give rise to complex properties. Quantitative analysis is indispensable in understanding those properties. However, current biofilm culturing approaches impose various limitations to these types of analysis. Here, we developed a microfluidic approach for quantitative study of biofilms, which is universal and can be used to culture biofilms of various bacterial species. To demonstrate the advantages of this approach, we present two examples, both of which revealed new biological insights. In the first example, we explored the response of Escherichia coli biofilms to exogenous hydrogen peroxide; We found the biofilms gained resistance to H2O2, but their growth was slowed down due to the metabolic cost of maintaining the resistance; However, under oxygen limitation, H2O2 can anti-intuitively boost biofilm growth. In the second example, we explored resource retention by Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms; We observed a fluorescent substance within the biofilm and identified it as the siderophore pyoverdine; We further showed that the extracellular matrix component Psl acted as a retention barrier for pyoverdine, minimizing its loss into the environment and therefore potentially promoting sharing of pyoverdine within the biofilm.
How entrepreneurial team heterogeneity impacts decision-making performance? An input-process-output approach
Authors: Zhang Zhipeng , Zhu Li , Chen Gong , Shang Lu , Zhao Qiuyun , Ren Feng
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Existing studies mostly rely on the static characteristics of team members, and there is still a lack of empirical investigation on how entrepreneurial team members make decisions through dynamic team process and how team members’ cognition influences team decision-making. The purpose of this study is to validate how entrepreneurial team heterogeneity affects team decision-making performance from the perspective of dynamic team process.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the theory of input-process-output model, this study proposed and examined the mediating role of team interaction as well as the moderating role of proactive socialization tactics in the relationship between entrepreneurial team heterogeneity and decision-making performance. Based on a sample of 162 entrepreneurial teams that include pairing superiors and subordinates, hierarchical regressions and moderated mediation tests were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The research results show that the heterogeneity of entrepreneurial teams is positively correlated with both team interaction and decision-making performance. Team interaction plays a mediating role between entrepreneurial team heterogeneity and decision-making performance; information seeking of proactive socialization tactics moderates the impact of entrepreneurial team heterogeneity on team interaction.

Originality/value

Contributing to the literature on entrepreneurial team decision-making performance, this study identifies that proactive socialization tactics with a high level of information seeking can help entrepreneurial team members respond to environmental and organizational changes more effectively during team development and increase the effectiveness of team interaction. This finding helps us better understand the mechanism and context under which entrepreneurial heterogeneity may enhance the team’s decision-making performance.
Managing stakeholder attributes for risk mitigation: evidence from construction project contractors
Authors: Xia Nini , Guo Jiale , Lin Yi-Hsin
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Previous studies have proposed that correctly managing stakeholders with certain attributes can benefit project management; however, robust theoretical elaborations and empirical investigations of this topic have been lacking. The purpose of this study is to empirically test the effects of two stakeholder attributes – contractor-perceived contractor salience and contractor project position – on the criticality of five typical contractor-related risks: risk of (1) injuries and accidents, (2) quality defects, (3) work delays, (4) cost overruns and (5) breaches of contract.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaire data were collected from 118 Chinese contractor managers. Regression models were run in Mplus 7.11 to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The data show that higher contractor-perceived contractor salience and a more supportive contractor project position were both related to lower criticality of contractor-related risks, including risk of (1) injuries and accidents, (2) quality defects, (3) work delays, (4) cost overruns and (5) breaches of contract. Contractor salience also mediated the negative relationship between a supportive contractor project position and the criticality of contractor-related risks.

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ research design is cross-sectional and thus cannot establish causation in the relationships among the studied variables. The single item measure of contractor project position was used for the first time in the present study; thus, its reliability and validity still await more empirical examinations.

Originality/value

The findings advance the understanding of the value of stakeholder management in projects by specifying that prioritizing stakeholders' claims and securing their support for the project reduce the criticality of stakeholder-related risks. By providing empirical evidence from the construction context, the findings also add to knowledge on the instrumental power of stakeholder management in enhancing project risk management performance.
Linking complexity factors and project management approaches to performance: an embedded single case study of IT-enabled change projects in Australia
Authors: Odusanya Sylvia , Ochoa J. Jorge , Chileshe Nicholas , Ahn Seungjun
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a holistic view of the link between the identification of complexity contributing factors, the application of project management approaches and their impacts on the performance of Information Technology (IT)-enabled change projects.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach of an embedded single-case design comprising three IT-enabled change projects delivered in Australia was used to explore the impact of complexity contributing factors and project management approaches on project performance measures. Semi-structured interviews were used as the main data collection method. Thematic analysis was used as the data analysis approach.

Findings

The results from the thematic analysis highlight that complexity contributing factors are related to two categories of complexity defined in this paper: technical uncertainties and uncertainty in goals and deliverables, both have an impact on the performance of IT-enabled change projects. It also highlights key project management approaches such as the use of an adaptive management approach and good communication as key to managing complexity. It also identifies a misalignment between stakeholder perception of success and the project management success measure for complex IT-enabled projects.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on data collected from Australian participants involved in three case studies. Additional data collection and reviews from practitioners in the field of project management could further refine and improve this research.

Practical implications

The research facilitates the identification of specific complexity contributing factors at the early stage of a project to ensure that the appropriate project management approaches and success measures are used.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to rethinking the pathways towards improving project performance in the IT sector by expanding the identification of project complexity to understanding how complexity and the management approaches impact project performance.
Between tragedy, romance, comedy and satire: narratives of axiological progress in public relations
Authors: Winkler Peter , Kretschmer Jannik , Etter Michael
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Over recent years, public relations (PR) research has diversified in themes and theories. As a result, PR presents itself today as a multi-paradigmatic discipline with competing ideas of progress that mainly circle around questions of ontology and epistemology, i.e. around defining appropriate object and knowledge in PR research.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual article highlights a third crucial question underlying the debate drawing on a narrative approach: The question of axiology, hence, the normative question how PR research shall develop to contribute to societal progress.

Findings

The article presents a model, which describes how normative visions of progress in different PR paradigms – functional, co-creational, social-reflective and critical-cultural – manifest in each distinct combinations of four narrative plots – tragedy, romance, comedy and satire.

Originality/value

These findings complement the current debate on disciplinary progress in PR research by fostering reflection and debate on paradigm development and cross-paradigmatic tensions and exchange from an explicit axiological perspective.
Sailfish optimizer algorithm (SFO) for optimized clustering in wireless sensor network (WSN)
Authors: Kumar Battina Srinuvasu , Santhi S.G. , Narayana S.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Inspired optimization algorithms respond to numerous scientific and engineering difficulties based on its flexibility and simplicity. Such algorithms are valid for optimization difficulties devoid of structural alterations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a nature-inspired optimization algorithm, named Sailfish optimizer (SFO) stimulated using sailfish group. Monetary custom of energy is a dangerous problem on wireless sensor network (WSN).

Findings

Network cluster is an effective method of reducing node power consumption and increasing network life. An algorithm for selecting cluster head (CHs) based on enhanced cuckoo search was proposed. But this algorithm uses a novel encoding system and wellness work. It integrates a few problems. To overthrow this method many metaheuristic-based CH selection algorithms are presented. To avoid this problem, this paper proposed the SFO algorithm based energy-efficient CH selection of WSN.

Originality/value

The proposed SFO algorithm based energy-efficient algorithm is used for discovering the CHs ideal situation. The simulations under delay, delratio, drop, energy, network lifetime, overhead and throughput are carried out.
Counterterrorism protective security as part of the planning, design and development of crowded places in Australia: where are we now?
Authors: Christensen Pernille H.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Between 2013 and 2016 Western countries experienced a nearly 600% increase in terrorist attacks. Among the most significant shift in terrorism trends during this time is the recent focus on civilians in crowded places as a frequent target. Although crowded places have become critical targets for terrorist attacks, there remains a dearth of research studying crowded places or the built environment practitioner's role in creating crowded places that are as resilient as possible against terrorism.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the results from 33 in-depth, semi-structured, one-hour interviews with property developers, property investors, property managers, security consultants, designers, planners and government/policy officials in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, Australia. A purposive, snowball sampling method was used to identify participants in the study.

Findings

This research extends the existing literature base on counterterrorism protective security, a distinctly under-researched component of the terrorism research discourse, by developing a baseline of threat considerations considered during the planning, design and development process. This paper presents the Australian results of a first-of-its-kind international study that connects the planning, design and development of real estate in crowded places with planning for protective counterterrorism, and investigates what, when and how counterterrorism protective security (CTPS) is considered in the development process of crowded places. The findings show that a series of common threats were identified across the stakeholder groups, including development risk, development location/site selection, natural phenomena and human-induced issues.

Research limitations/implications

This research extends the current knowledge base on CTPS and has the potential to influence decision-makers in both the counterterrorism policy landscape and those influential in developing standards for the planning, design, construction and management of real estate assets.

Originality/value

An original contribution of this research is detailing the significant range of threats, impacts of events and organisational influences that exist in informing the real estate development process.
Uncovering inefficiencies in the workers’ compensation industry using Lean methodology
Authors: Taha Omar , Mazzuchi Thomas A. , Sarkani Shahram , Antony Jiju , Furterer Sandra
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply Lean in the workers’ compensation industry. It focuses on identifying patterns of repetitive non-value-added transnational activities for physical-therapy patients and healthcare providers. It addresses the research gap in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, we designed and deployed multiple case studies to better understand the journey of an injured worker within the worker compensation system in the United States of America. We partnered with Concentra Inc., a leading national healthcare provider in the field of workers’ compensation having 520 medical centers in 44 states. Both case studies included conducting direct observations, Gemba walk, in five clinics in two states: Florida and Pennsylvania. We analyzed the data of 263 injured workers with 8 or more physical therapy visits who got admitted to Concentra clinics in both states over the period of 31 days.

Findings

The results revealed that the time intervals at which activities associated with physical therapy treatment pre-authorization accounted for 91.59% of the total non-value-added activities and are thus the key administrative factor leading to process inefficiency in the state of Florida. The Process Cycle Efficiency of Pennsylvania was 75.36% compared to 53.16% of Florida. The injured workers in Florida needed 39.58 days on average to complete eight physical therapy visits compared to 27.92 days in Pennsylvania (a median of 34.09 vs 22.15 days).

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited as it only focuses on processes on the healthcare provider side. An expanded value stream map that includes the treatment pre-authorization process on the insurance side would be beneficial for generating more potential solutions to streamline the process.

Practical implications

This study shows that Lean could play a critical role in identifying and quantifying continuous improvement opportunities that could accelerate patient’s treatment, reduce administrative burden on healthcare providers and improve the overall claim cost of insurance companies. It provides data-driven argument for insurance companies to consider eliminating physical therapy pre-authorization.

Originality/value

This is the first study to apply Lean methodology in the workers’ compensation field.
Physician dominance in the 21st century: Examining the rise of non‐physician autonomy through prevailing theoretical lenses
Authors: Feyereisen Scott , McConnell William , Thomas Clayton , Puro Neeraj
Published: August 2021

Theories of physician dominance are a foundational contribution of medical sociology to the study of health care, but must be revisited in the light of ongoing changes in medicine. As non‐physician specialists like nurse practitioners grow in number and acquire more autonomy, increasing medical profession differentiation presents a challenge for traditional physician dominance theories. After evaluating potential theoretical explanations for subordinate occupations' autonomy gains, we conduct a state‐level quantitative analysis of variation in nursing policies across U.S. states. We construct our dependent variable, nursing autonomy, using seven state‐level advanced practice nursing policies adopted from 2001–2017. Using an ordered scale, we code nurse practitioner, nurse anaesthetist, nurse midwife and clinical‐nurse‐specialist practice and prescription polices according to each policy's autonomy level. We then use time‐series regression to examine theory‐driven propositions regarding nursing autonomy change. Nursing autonomy has increased over time, signalling a general erosion of physician dominance. However, we find differential patterns of policy adoption, indicating that erosion is not uniform. Physicians have maintained dominance in relatively prestigious specialties (e.g. anaesthesiology) while dominance declined in others (e.g. obstetrician). Factors external to the profession, such as consumer power, continue to influence within‐profession dynamics. Examining ongoing professional differentiation in medicine illustrates how physician dominance depends on shifting social and professional contexts.
Temporal trends in obstetric anal sphincter injury from the first vaginal delivery in Austria, Canada, Norway, and Sweden
Authors: Gyhagen Maria , Ellström Engh Marie , Husslein Heinrich , Koelbl Heinz , Nilsson Ida E. K. , Schulz Jane , Wagg Adrian , Milsom Ian
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) are severe complications that can cause considerable short‐ and long‐term morbidity. Austria, Canada, Norway, and Sweden have similar socio‐economic characteristics, and all four countries have access to national birth registers. In this study, we hypothesized that the incidence of OASI should be very similar for different obstetric scenarios in these four countries. Therefore, the aim was to compare the incidence of OASI in these four countries in primiparous women, with spontaneous or instrumental delivery (vacuum or forceps), and in women with a first vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC).

Material and methods

Aggregated data on 1 933 930 vaginally delivered primiparous women and women with VBAC were retrieved from the birth registers gathered in Austria, Canada, Norway, and Sweden. The annual rate of OASI (ICD‐10 codes O70.2–O70.3) was presented as the percentage of women with a spontaneous delivery, vacuum or forceps delivery, and a VBAC during the period 2004–2016.

Results

The incidence of OASI varied considerably between countries and over time. Canada and Sweden had the highest rates, and Austria and Norway the lowest. In Norway, the rate of OASI decreased consistently for all types of deliveries after introducing a perineal protection program in 2004 (p < 0.001). During vacuum delivery, the incidence of OASI varied between countries from 4.1% to 15.5% across the study period. In Canada and Norway, the rate of OASI after a forceps delivery was similar in 2004 at ~20% and with differing trajectories to 24.3% (β 0.49) and 6.2% (β −1.15) (trend, all p < 0.001) in 2016.

Conclusions

This comparative register study suggests that there may be considerable potential for lowering the incidence of OASI. The perineal protection program implemented by Norway has been successful. Each country should critically, without prejudice, analyze their current clinical practices and rate of OASI and consider the best preventive strategy.
Apoptosis induction by the stem cell factor LIN28A
Authors: Attali‐Padael Yael , Armon Leah , Urbach Achia
Published: August 2021

Background information

Lin28A and its paralog Lin28B are RNA binding proteins expressed in stem and progenitor cells, regulating the balance between their proliferation and differentiation. In‐vivo and in‐vitro experiments have shown that overexpression of these genes leads to abnormal cell proliferation, which results in many cases in cell transformation and tumor formation.

Results

Here we show, for the first time, that Lin28A overexpression can also lead to the opposite effect, i.e. apoptosis induction. We further demonstrate that this effect is specific to Lin28A but not to Lin28B and that it is mediated via the Let‐7 independent pathway in a complex mechanism that involves at least several proteins.

Conclusions and Significance

This unexpected observation suggests that cell fate regulation by Lin28 is dependent on a specific cellular/genetic context. Unraveling the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this Lin28A overexpression effect may pave the way for novel tumor therapeutic strategies, as Lin28 is commonly expressed in many types of tumors but not in most normal adult cells.