bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unravelling the encumbrances in procurement management of Nigeria's infrastructure development: pitfalls and prospects of projects
Authors: Ebekozien Andrew , Samsurijan Mohamad Shaharudin , Aigbavboa Clinton , Awe Emmanuel Omoniyi , Amadi Godpower C. , Emuchay Faith Ebekozien 
Published: April 2022

PurposeProcurement management in infrastructure development has gained considerable attention in developing countries. It is because of the success in the developed nations. Studies have shown that Nigeria's infrastructure development needs far exceed its current provision. Also, studies are scarce to reveal whether procurement management has been successful in infrastructure development projects in Nigeria. Therefore, this paper investigated the root cause of the perceived encumbrances impeding procurement management in infrastructure development projects and proffered policy measures to improve future Nigeria's infrastructure development.Design/methodology/approachData were collected via unexplored exploratory virtual interviews and selected cases from secondary sources. The engaged construction and engineering consultants have been involved in the procurement management of infrastructure projects in Nigeria. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the collected data.FindingsThe root causes of the pitfalls that emerged from the study include lack of competition and transparency, embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds, snail speed bureaucracy and bottleneck and lack of skills and knowledge. Others are collusion/bid-rigging/price-fixing/cartel formation, corruption, lack of professionalism, unbridled politicking, embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds, incompetence of tender boards, lack of patriotism to national service and lack of government organisations’ procurement capacity.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is restricted to unravelling the encumbrances in procurement management of Nigeria's infrastructure development projects. Future research is desirable to adopt a quantitative approach for more extensive coverage and validate findings from this paper.Practical implicationsThe paper findings, including those learnt from each case study evaluated, would undoubtedly influence policymakers and construction and engineering practitioners on the key strategies to employ in implementing future procurement management in Nigeria's infrastructure development projects.Originality/valueThis paper would assist policymakers and other stakeholders desirous of improved infrastructure to focus their priorities in mitigating the identified root cause hindering procurement management in Nigeria's infrastructure management.
Growth enhancements of elevated atmospheric [CO2] are reduced under drought‐like conditions in temperate eucalypts
Authors: Bendall Eli R. , Bedward Michael , Boer Matthias , Clarke Hamish , Collins Luke , Leigh Andrea , Bradstock Ross A. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Elevated atmospheric [CO2] (‘eCO2’) may alter species composition within vegetation types by favouring the growth of some species over others. However, other related changes in climate conditions, such as increased frequency and severity of drought, may reduce eCO2 fertilisation effects on plant growth. For many species, it is not known if responses will reflect variability in trait adaptations due to environment.

We grew seedlings of nine species of eucalypts indicative of three regional vegetation types (representing a mesic–xeric ecosystem gradient) under two CO2 concentrations (400 parts per million; 640 ppm, i.e. eCO2) and two watering regimes (well‐watered; drought‐like conditions).

Elevated CO2 increased biomass accumulation but drought reduced this effect, with mesic species experiencing larger relative reductions. Elevated CO2 increased the size of storage organs used during resprouting, in the absence of drought. Typical drought responses, such as increased leaf mass per unit area and root mass ratio, were more pronounced in xeric species and were reduced under eCO2.

Seedling growth and resprouting may be enhanced by eCO2, suggesting continued dominance of resprouting species in disturbance‐prone ecosystems, although severe drought is likely to offset eCO2 fertilisation. Xeric species may cope with drought more effectively under eCO2 than mesic species due to resource acquisition and storage traits that are more responsive.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Loan Word Accommodation Biases: Markedness and Finiteness
Authors: Shaw Marlieke , De Smet Hendrik 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
One way or another, loan words have to be grammatically integrated in the grammar of their recipient language. For verbs, Wohlgemuth (2009) finds that direct insertion, where native inflections are added directly onto the borrowed stem, is cross‐linguistically the most frequent accommodation strategy. He concludes from this that the borrowing of loan verbs is not constrained by inflection. Based on a two‐fold corpus study on the integration of English loan verbs in Present‐day Dutch and French loan verbs in Late Middle English, we propose a correction to Wohlgemuth's (2009) argument. Even under direct insertion, loan verbs are subject to constraints, as they enter some usage categories more readily than others. More specifically, we find evidence for loan verbs being avoided in finite forms and in morphologically marked forms. We refer to these joint tendencies as accommodation biases. The specific nature of accommodation biases in loan verbs suggests that loan verbs are underrepresented in those categories where they carry a dense functional load as markers of both lexical and grammatical information.
Correcting a bias in the computation of behavioural time budgets that are based on supervised learning
Authors: Resheff Yehezkel S. , Bensch Hanna M. , Zöttl Markus , Rotics Shay 
Published: April 2022

Abstract

Supervised learning of behavioural modes from body acceleration data has become a widely used research tool in Behavioural Ecology over the past decade. One of the primary usages of this tool is to estimate behavioural time budgets from the distribution of behaviours as predicted by the model. These serve as the key parameters to test predictions about the variation in animal behaviour. In this paper we show that the widespread computation of behavioural time budgets is biased, due to ignoring the classification model confusion probabilities.

Next, we introduce the confusion matrix correction for time budgets—a simple correction method for adjusting the computed time budgets based on the model's confusion matrix.

Finally, we show that the proposed correction is able to eliminate the bias, both theoretically and empirically in a series of data simulations on body acceleration data of a fossorial rodent species (Damaraland mole‐rat Fukomys damarensis).

Our paper provides a simple implementation of the confusion matrix correction for time budgets, and we encourage researchers to use it to improve accuracy of behavioural time budget calculations.
Jurema In Contemporary Brazil: Ritual Re‐Actualizations, Mysticism, Consciousness, And Healing
Authors: Grünewald Rodrigo de A. , Savoldi Robson , Collins Mark I. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThis article proposes an exposition and analysis of perceptions intrinsic to rituals carried out with the use of the jurema plant, especially when mixed with Syrian rue (juremahuasca) in contexts of contemporary esoteric re‐actualizations in Brazil. These rituals are conducted by people who look at jurema as a spiritual path, once acquainted with its psychedelic properties. We highlight the mystical attributes and the cultural bricolage elaborated by these individuals, who conduct ceremonies in ritual spaces in which participants experience altered states of perception and consciousness. Considered as an entheogen, jurema leads to states of mystical transformation in people. Such personal changes are often considered by users as the rhetoric of healing. Life stories and ethnographic contexts form the background of the article, which seeks to advance understandings about jurema based on speculations around the intertwining of the themes of consciousness, mysticism, and healing.
Cardiac surgery on patients with COVID‐19: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Gupta Aashray K. , Leslie Alasdair , Hewitt Joseph N. , Kovoor Joshua G. , Ovenden Christopher D. , Edwards Suzanne , Chan Justin C. Y. , Worthington Michael G. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIntroductionThe COVID‐19 pandemic has had a significant impact on global surgery. In particular, deleterious effects of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on the heart and cardiovascular system have been described. To inform surgical patients, we performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis aiming to characterize outcomes of COVID‐19 positive patients undergoing cardiac surgery.MethodsThe study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021228533) and conformed with PRISMA 2020 and MOOSE guidelines. PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE and Web of Science were searched between 1 January 2019 to 24 February 2022 for studies reporting outcomes on COVID‐19 positive patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Study screening, data extraction and risk of bias assessment were conducted in duplicate. Meta‐analysis was conducted using a random‐effects model where at least two studies had sufficient data for that variable.ResultsSearches identified 4223 articles of which 18 studies were included with a total 44 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Within these studies, 12 (66.7%) reported populations undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, three (16.7%) aortic valve replacements (AVR) and three (16.7%) aortic dissection repairs. Overall mean postoperative length of ICU stay was 3.39 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38, 6.39) and mean postoperative length of hospital stay was 17.88 (95% CI: 14.57, 21.19).ConclusionThis systematic review and meta‐analysis investigated studies of limited quality which characterized cardiac surgery in COVID‐19 positive patients and demonstrates that these patients have poor outcomes. Further issues to be explored are effects of COVID‐19 on decision‐making in cardiac surgery, and effects of COVID‐19 on the cardiovascular system at a cellular level.
Laparoscopic versus open appendicectomy in pregnancy: experience from a single institution and meta‐analysis
Authors: Liew Amos Nepacina , Lim Kylie Yen‐Yi , Quach Diane , Tsui Lap Wah , Croagh Daniel , Ackermann Travis George 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundAcute appendicitis remains an uncommon cause of non‐obstetric abdominal pain during pregnancy, with surgery being the preferred management option. We examined our experience with the surgical management of appendicitis during pregnancy, particularly the risk of foetal loss during the 1st and 2nd trimester and performed a meta‐analysis of the available literature.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who had an appendicectomy during pregnancy (January 2010 to December 2019) and a meta‐analysis comparing foetal death in open appendicectomy versus laparoscopic appendicectomy during the 1st and 2nd trimester.ResultsSeventy pregnant patients were included in our study (57 laparoscopic, 13 open). There were 4 foetal deaths during the study period (7%), all of which occurred after the laparoscopic approach (P‐value = 0.578). Open appendicectomies were associated with an increased risk of pre‐term delivery (P‐value = 0.038). The meta‐analysis of 9 studies, which included 311 patients, showed that there was no significant difference between OA and LA in foetal deaths during the 1st and 2nd trimesters (1st trimester foetal deaths: 9/143 laparoscopic versus 4/57 open, M‐H risk difference—0.02, 95% CI, −0.14 to 0.10): 2nd trimester foetal deaths: 7/159 laparoscopic versus 2/154 Open, M‐H risk difference 0.03, 95% CI, −0.02 to 0.09).ConclusionOur findings suggest there is no increased risk of foetal loss in pregnant patients undergoing a laparoscopic appendicectomy.
The changing landscape of general surgery in the elderly – trends over a decade in a tertiary centre in Singapore
Authors: Lee Yao Zong , Dharmawan Ayliana , Zhang Xiaojin , Chua Daniel Yong Chuen , Low Jee Keem 
Published: April 2022

AbstractAn ageing population with higher rates of helping seeking behaviour and treatment utilization is a worldwide phenomenon with no exception to Singapore. As elderly patients are fast becoming an increasing large part of our surgical practice, their long term outcomes are particularly important.ObjectiveWe take stock of our local experience in a high volume tertiary centre in Singapore, Tan Tock Seng Hospital by reviewing the number of surgical procedures performed for elderly patients (65 years old and above) across a decade and reviewing their post‐operative outcomes.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included elderly patients (>= aged 65) who underwent surgical procedures under general anaesthesia from January 2008 to December 2019. Demographic data, nature of operation, preoperative American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) status of patients and surrogate markers of outcome including average length of stay (ALOS), 30 and 90‐day mortality were retrospectively analysed.ResultsAcross a 12‐year period, we observed a nearly overall two‐fold increase in the number of surgical procedures for elderly patients from 1,129 cases in 2008 to 2,118 cases in 2019. The ALOS for elderly surgical patients trended downwards from an average of 12.3 days in 2008 to 9.0 days in 2019. All cause 30‐day mortality rate of elderly patients dropped from 5.8% in 2008 to 2.7% in 2019.ConclusionThe landscape for general surgery in the elderly is changing in the context of advances in health care and a paradigm shift in treatment beliefs and perspectives. Ultimately, informed decision making, patient engagement and empowerment by the surgeon are keys to better outcomes and improved patient experience.
Fixed dosing of kukoamine B in sepsis patients: Results from population pharmacokinetic modelling and simulation
Authors: Wang Huanhuan , Wang Teng , Hu Xiaoyun , Deng Chenhui , Jiang Ji , Qin Hanyu , Dong Kai , Chen Shuai , Jin Chunyan , Zhao Qian , Du Bin , Hu Pei 
Published: April 2022

AimsTo assess the appropriateness of the body weight or fixed dosing regimen, a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) model of kukoamine B has been built in sepsis patients.MethodsPlasma concentrations of kukoamine B and the covariates information were taken from 30 sepsis patients assigned into 0.06 mg/kg, 0.12 mg/kg and 0.24 mg/kg groups in a Phase IIa clinical trial. The PopPK model was built using a nonlinear mixed‐effect (NLME) modelling approach. Based on the final model, PK profiles were respectively simulated 500 times applying the body weight and renal function information of 12 sepsis patients from the 0.24 mg/kg group on the body weight or the fixed dosing regimen. For each dosing regimen, PK profiles of 6000 virtual patients were obtained. Statistical analyses for Cmax and Cmin were performed. If the biases of Cmax and Cmin can all meet the criteria of ±15%, the fixed dosing regimen can substitute for the body weight dosing regimen.ResultsThe PopPK model was successfully developed using the NLME approach. A bi‐compartmental model was selected as the basic model. Renal function was identified as a statistically significant covariate of systemic clearance with the objective function value (OFV) decreasing 8.6, resulting in a 5.2% decrease in inter‐individual variability (IIV) of systemic clearance. Body weight was not identified as a statistically significant covariate. Simulation results demonstrated two methods had a bias of 8.1% for Cmax, and 8.6% for Cmin. Furthermore, PK variability was lower on the fixed dosing regimen than the body weight regimen.ConclusionsBased on the simulation results, a fixed dosing regimen was recommended in the subsequent clinical trials.
Native language subtitling of educational videos: A multimodal analysis with eye tracking, EEG and self‐reports
Authors: Negi Shivsevak , Mitra Ritayan 
Published: April 2022

AbstractLanguage assistance becomes an integral component of the teaching–learning process in non‐English– speaking multilingual societies where education takes place predominantly in local languages. Subtitles have been found to be beneficial in facilitating understanding of English language media in such situations. However, when accompanied with subtitles, information‐rich instructional materials can add to the learner's cognitive load as their attention must be split between the content and the subtitle. To evaluate the cognitive and affective impacts of subtitle language on learning, we conducted a multimodal study using eye tracking, electroencephalogram (EEG), self‐report, and pre–post test data of 51 individuals watching a 12‐minute educational video with either no subtitles, English subtitles (L2) or subtitles in their native language (L1). We discovered (a) positive learning gains for groups with subtitles, whether L1 or L2, which suggested positive impact of subtitles on learning outcome; (b) native language subtitling yielded the highest instructional efficiency and supported effective distribution of visual attention between slide content and subtitle; (c) native language subtitles elicited the lowest cognitive load, as evidenced by both EEG measurements and self‐report data; and (d) gaze data highlighted key strategies of high and low performers during interaction with subtitled media.
Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic

Use of subtitles for language acquisition is an extensively researched topic.

It is well established that subtitles are beneficial for language acquisition.

Use of subtitles for content learning is relatively less understood with no robust finding.

What this paper adds

Provides a rich literature review about the impact of subtitles, namely, beneficial, detrimental or neutral, for content learning.

Offers empirical results demonstrating positive impact of native language subtitles for content learning.

Adds to the limited literature of multimodal investigation of learning with subtitles.

Implications for practice and/or policy

English language e‐learning content designers may consider adding native language subtitles for global adoption of learning products.
Import liberalization and export product mix
Authors: Fan Haichao , Luong Tuan Anh , Lai Edwin L‐C. , Zhang Lina 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThis paper develops a monopolistic competition model of multi‐product firms to explain the effect of trade liberalization on the product mix of multi‐product exporting firms. The model shows that input‐tariff reduction leads to increases in a firm's export values, especially for products that are farther from a firm's core competency. To test the theoretical predictions, we use the merged data built upon the highly disaggregated Chinese firm‐level production data and customs data for 2000–2006. Consistent with the theory, the positive impact of input trade liberalization on export value is found to be more pronounced for peripheral products, and input‐tariff reduction also expands a firm's product scope, affecting firm's average productivity.
Synthetic peptides bioinspired in temporin‐PTa with antibacterial and antibiofilm activity
Authors: Souza e Silva Patrícia , Ferreira Marcos Antonio , de Moraes Luiz Filipe Ramalho , de Barros Elizângela , Preza Sérgio Leandro Espíndola , Cardoso Marlon Henrique , Franco Octávio Luiz , Migliolo Ludovico 
Published: April 2022

AbstractSeveral antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been reported in amphibian toxins, as temporin‐PTa from Hylarana picturata. The amino acid distribution within a helical structure of AMPs favors the design of new bioactive peptides. Therefore, this work reports the rational design of two new synthetic peptides denominated Hp‐MAP1 and Hp‐MAP2 derived from temporin‐PTa. These peptides present an amphipathic helix with positive charges of +4 and +5, hydrophobic moment (<µH>) of 0.66 and 0.72 and hydrophobicity (<H>) of 0.49 and 0.41, respectively. Hp‐MAP1 and Hp‐MAP2 displayed in vitro activity against Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria from 2.8 to 92 µM, without presenting hemolytic effects. Molecular dynamics simulation suggested that the parent and designed temporin‐like peptides lack structural stability in an aqueous solution. By contrast, α‐helical structures were predicted in hydrophobic and anionic environments. Additionally, the peptides were simulated on mimetic membranes composed of anionic and neutral phospholipids 1,2‐dipalmitoylsn‐glycerol‐3‐phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG‐anionic), 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐lyco‐3 phosphatidylethanolamine (DPPE‐neutral). When in contact with DPPG/DPPE (90:10) and DPPG/DPPE (50:50) temporin‐PTa, Hp‐MAP1 and Hp‐MAP2 established interactions guided by hydrogen and saline bounds. Therefore, the findings described here reveal that the optimization of the amphipathic α‐helical cationic peptides Hp‐MAP1 and Hp‐MAP2 enabled the generation of new synthetic antimicrobial agents to combat pathogenic microorganisms.
Paid maternal leave is associated with infant brain function at 3 months of age
Authors: Brito Natalie H. , Werchan Denise , Brandes‐Aitken Annie , Yoshikawa Hirokazu , Greaves Ashley , Zhang Maggie 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe first months of life are critical for establishing neural connections relevant for social and cognitive development. Yet, the United States lacks a national policy of paid family leave during this important period of brain development. This study examined associations between paid leave and infant electroencephalography (EEG) at 3 months in a sociodemographically diverse sample of families from New York City (N = 80; 53 males; 48% Latine; data collection occurred 05/2018–12/2019). Variable‐centered regression results indicate that paid leave status was related to differences in EEG power (ps < .02, R2s > .12). Convergent results from person‐centered latent profile analyses demonstrate that mothers with paid leave were 7.39 times as likely to have infants with EEG profiles characterized by increased higher‐Hz power (95% CI, 1.9–36.9), potentially reflecting more mature patterns of brain activity.
Tripartite motif family proteins in inflammatory bowel disease: Mechanisms and potential for interventions
Authors: Chen Rirong , Tie Yizhe , Lu Jinyu , Li Li , Zeng Zhirong , Chen Minhu , Zhang Shenghong 
Published: April 2022

AbstractInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic recurrent gastrointestinal inflammatory disease that poses a heavy burden to the global healthcare system. However, the current paucity of mechanistic understanding of IBD pathogenesis hampers the development of aetiology‐directed therapies. Novel therapeutic options based on IBD pathogenesis are urgently needed for attaining better long‐term prognosis for IBD patients. The tripartite motif (TRIM) family is a large protein family including more than 70 structurally conservative members, typically characterized by their RBCC structure, which primarily function as E3 ubiquitin ligases in post‐translational modification. They have emerged as regulators of a broad range of cellular mechanisms, including proliferation, differentiation, transcription and immune regulation. TRIM family proteins are involved in multiple diseases, such as viral infection, cancer and autoimmune disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on TRIM proteins' involvement in the pathophysiology and progression of IBD, in particular, on intestinal mucosal barriers, gene susceptibility and opportunistic infections, thus providing novel therapeutic targets for this complicated disease. However, the exact mechanisms of TRIM proteins in IBD pathogenesis and IBD‐related carcinogenesis are still unknown, and more studies are warranted to explore potential therapeutic targets of TRIM proteins in IBD.