bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous autonomous system and powerplant design for morphing quadrotors
Authors: Şahin Hüseyin , Kose Oguz , Oktay Tugrul 
Published: March 2022

PurposeThis study aims to optimize autonomous performance (i.e. both longitudinal and lateral) and endurance of the quadrotor type aerial vehicle simultaneously depending on the autopilot gain coefficients and battery weight.Design/methodology/approachQuadrotor design processes are critical to performance. Unmanned aerial vehicle durability is an important performance parameter. One of the factors affecting durability is the battery. Battery weight, energy capacity and discharge rate are important design parameters of the battery. In this study, proper autopilot gain coefficients and battery weight are obtained by using a stochastic optimization method named as simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA). Because there is no direct correlation between battery weight and battery energy density, artificial neural network (ANN) is benefited to obtain battery energy density corresponding to resulted battery weight found from SPSA algorithm. By using the SPSA algorithm optimum performance index is obtained, then obtained data is used for longitudinal and lateral autonomous flight simulations.FindingsWith SPSA, the best proportional integrator and derivative (PID) coefficients and battery weight, energy efficiency and endurance were obtained in case of morphing.Research limitations/implicationsIt takes a long time to find the most suitable battery values depending on quadrotor endurance. However, this situation can be overcome with the proposed SPSA.Practical implicationsIt is very useful to determine quadrotor endurance, PID coefficients and morphing rate using the optimization method.Social implicationsDetermining quadrotor endurance, PID coefficients and morphing rate using the optimization method provides advantages in terms of time, cost and practicality.Originality/valueThe proposed method improves quadrotor endurance. In addition, with the SPSA optimization method and ANN, the parameters required for endurance will be obtained faster and more securely. In addition, the energy density according to the battery weight also contributes to the clean environment and energy efficiency.
Prioritization of factors and selection of best business practice from bio-medical waste generated using best–worst method
Authors: Jangre Jogendra , Hameed Abdul Zubar , Srivastava Medha , Prasad Kanika , Patel Dharmendra 
Published: March 2022

PurposeHospital activities restore health and save lives; yet they produce infectious waste that might harm people and the environment if not handled carefully. The sudden increase in bio-medical waste (BMW) generation was caused due to the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the beginning of year 2020. There is a huge potential of businesses from BMW generated in the developing economies. The document destruction process would prove to be beneficial in determining the strategies and policies for the business from BMW. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate the factors that influence the business prospects from BMW in developing economies.Design/methodology/approachThe study focuses on identifying 18 factors based on an extensive literature review, questionnaire, theoretical foundations and interviews with experts in the context of developing economies. These factors are categorized into four groups namely “Culture, education and microeconomics”, “Infrastructure, social provision, and technology”, “Policy and institution” and “Integrated waste management system”. Consequently, these factors are prioritized to assist the decision-maker in comprehending the most critical aspects of accomplishing the best business practices. A framework based on the Best–Worst Method (BWM) is applied to evaluate and determine the significance of each identified factor.FindingsThe major contribution of this paper is to identify key factors that are responsible for successful implementation of the business practices from the generated BMW. The study also explains their nature, significance and inter-relationship among them using BWM. Current study applied a distinctive modeling approach to examine the contextual relationship among the key factors and to rank them as per their importance. The findings of the study suggest that “Setup for collection and segregation is the best alternative for business from BMW produced”.Originality/valueThe paper also presents strategies, which can be adopted as a guiding step by the decision-makers to formulate policies for the effective business practice from BMW. This research is expected to stimulate future applications of the BWM to facilitate long-term decision-making.
At the end of the world, turn left: examining toxic leadership, team silence and success in mega construction projects
Authors: Zaman Umer , Florez-Perez Laura , Anjam Mahwish , Ghani Khwaja Muddasar , Ul-Huda Noor 
Published: March 2022

PurposeFailures in both followership and leadership become inevitable as mega construction projects are directed and controlled by toxic leaders. Consequently, team member's desire for knowledge hoarding silence is triggered and goal alignment between the leader and team members suddenly fades away to realize success in mega projects. Considering the growing importance of these rarely examined constructs and fragmented literature on toxic leadership (TL), team silence and mega project success (PS) in the global construction industry, the present study aimed to examine the effects of TL and project team member's silence (PTMS) on the success of mega construction projects. Moreover, the mediating influence of PTMS to link TL and mega construction PS has also been explored.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on survey data of 326 project professionals directly associated with mega construction projects worth US$62bn under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the conceptual model was tested with covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) using Mplus program. Scales were adapted from previous research to measure TL (with its five-dimensions including abusive supervision, authoritarian leadership, self-promotion, narcissism and unpredictability), PS (with its three-dimensions including project management success, project ownership success and project investment success) and project team members' silence. Reflective–formative second order assessments were specifically applied to measure the multi-dimensional nature of TL and PS, respectively.FindingsMplus estimations revealed that TL negatively influences PS, besides forcing a culture of silence among project team members. Interestingly, the relationship between TL and PS is also negatively mediated by the PTMS.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study's findings are derived from data of project professionals (N = 326) to examine success in megaprojects under the CPEC. Hence, these findings may be re-validated through future studies on similar megaprojects (e.g. China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) worth US$8tn) that may also be predicated by TL tendencies, silent cultures and high-stakes involved to seize PS.Practical implicationsPolicymakers, construction practitioners and other key stakeholders (e.g. departmental heads/supervisors) can take advantage of this new evidence to better interpret the success paradox in mega projects, and to reduce the spread and long-term damage of TL on team members and eventually create opportunities for PS.Originality/valueThe present study's novelty is manifested within this first empirical evidence on TL that breeds team silence in underperforming mega projects. Notably, present study offers alarming evidence on mega projects that can be easily derailed from success, as they continue to suffer from team silence and TL.
Regulatory examinations and life insurance development
Authors: Srbinoski Bojan , Poposki Klime , Born Patricia , Van Hulle Karel 
Published: March 2022

Purpose
Solvency and market conduct regulations play a crucial role in supporting life insurance development by boosting consumer confidence and securing a stable environment for insurers to write business. The regulation encapsulates not only the legal framework but also its enforcement. This study aims to focus on the latter and investigate the impact of solvency and market conduct examinations on life insurance development within a homogenous legal environment in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach
To test the relationship between the regulatory examinations and life insurance development, this study uses annual data for 51 US states over the period 2013–2018 and uses fixed and random effects panel regressions controlling for the possible omitted variables bias and serial correlation. This study constructs two groups of indicators to measure the robustness and ability of regulators to prevent insolvencies and opportunistic market practices and estimate their effects on market development.

Findings
The results show that more stringent regulators with respect to solvency examinations deter life insurers from their markets and channel to those markets with lenient examiners, hurting the development of life insurance in the stringent states. Additionally, regulators boost consumer confidence by providing robust market conduct practices, which results in higher life insurance demand.

Originality/value
This study contributes to the debates about the pros and cons of the current state-led regulation in the USA and the general benefits/costs of regulation for insurance market development.
Neurophysiological responses to robot–human interactions in retail stores
Authors: Rancati Gaia , Maggioni Isabella 
Published: March 2022

PurposeRetailers are increasingly considering the introduction of service robots in their stores to support or even replace service staff. Service robots can execute service scripts during the service encounter that can influence customer interactions and the overall experience. While the role of service agents is well documented, more research is needed to understand customer responses to a technology-infused servicescape and to investigate the value of service robots as interaction partners. The purpose of this study is to examine the degree of customer immersion in human-human or human-robot interactions across different stages of the service experience and to understand how immersion affects store visit duration under each condition.Design/methodology/approachAn experimental field study was developed to test the research hypotheses. The study was conducted in a retail store selling premium Italian leather goods with 50 respondents randomly allocated to one of two experimental conditions, interaction with a service robot or interaction with a human sales associate. Participants’ biometrics were collected to measure their immersion in the service encounter and to assess its impact on store visit duration.FindingsThe interaction with a service robot increases the level of customer immersion during the service encounter’s welcome and surprise moments. Immersion positively affects visit duration. However, participants exposed to a robot sales associate reported a shorter visit duration as compared to those who interacted with a human sales associate.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the emerging service and retail marketing literature on service robot applications applying a neuroscientific approach to the study of human–robot interactions across different moments of the service encounter. For managers, this study shows the conditions under which service robots can be successfully implemented in retail stores in accordance with the type of task performed and the degree of immersion generated in customers.
The impact of CSR on the financing cost of Jordanian firms
Authors: AlKhouri Ritab , Suwaidan Mishiel Said 
Published: March 2022

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure on the firms’ weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of Jordanian industrial firms listed in the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) over the 2009–2019 period. In particular, this paper examines whether stockholders and creditors value CSR information disclosure positively when they decide to provide financing to the firm.

Design/methodology/approach
To investigate the relationship between the firm's disclosure of CSR and its WACC within Jordanian industrial firms, this study used the generalized method of moments. This study first describes the variables and then the model specification. The dependent variable is the WACC, calculated as the weighted average cost of debt and the cost of equity. For the main independent variable, this study used the CSR disclosure index developed by Abu Qa'adan and Suwaidan (2019), which includes 42 items of information classified into four categories: environmental information, human resources information, community involvement information and product/services to customer information. The sample includes 42 industrial firms listed in the ASE over the period 2009–2019.

Findings
This study finds find that there is no impact of total CSR disclosure on the WACC. However, firms that do not disclose enough information and engage in socially responsible activities related to the environment and the human resources are considered high risk to the market participants (i.e. creditors and equity holders) and consequently are penalized by being charged high financing costs. Furthermore, profitable firms that engage in CSR activities are seen to be highly risky.

Research limitations/implications
As the period chosen for the study is considered a period of an economic slowdown in Jordan, it is highly likely that the impact of the economic slowdown increased the required return on investment by equity holders. The results of the study are consistent with the idea that managers regard CSR as philanthropy rather than as a necessary activity that leads to the sustainability of their businesses. On the other hand, it could be that investors do not give any attention to the CSR information provided by the firm, and hence, their required return is determined by other factors.

Originality/value
This research contributes to the literature on CSR in the following: first, contrary to previous research that examines the impact of CSR on a firm's value or its cost of equity capital, this study will examine the effect of CSR disclosures on the company’s WACC. Second, this research examines the CSR disclosure in a small market where information asymmetry is high, thus the authors suggest that their CSR disclosure is one channel through which firms can reduce this information asymmetry and improve their performance.
Surgical management of pudendal nerve entrapment after sacrospinous ligament fixation
Authors: Vodegel Eva V. , van Delft Kim W. M. , Nuboer Charlotte H. C. , Kowalik Claudia R. , Roovers Jan‐Paul W. R. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo analyse the efficacy of sacrospinous ligament (SSL) suture removal on the reduction of pain symptoms in the case of suspected pudendal nerve entrapment after sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF).DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingTertiary referral centre, the Netherlands.PopulationA cohort of 21 women having their SSLF sutures removed because of SSLF‐related pain symptoms.MethodsClinical record review.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was reduction of pain after SSL suture removal. Secondary outcome measures were time interval between suture placement and suture removal, complete suture removal, adverse events and recurrence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).ResultsA total of 21 women underwent SSL suture removal for severe and/or persistent pain, which was confirmed on clinical examination: 95% of the women (20/21) reported pain reduction after suture removal, and 57% reported complete pain relief. The time interval between suture placement and suture removal was at a median of 414 days (range 8–1855 days). Sutures could be completely removed in 86% of cases (18/21). One woman had excessive blood loss (520 ml) without blood transfusion. At 6–8 weeks after surgery, 10% of the women (2/21) had renewed symptomatic POP, stage ≥ 2, for which additional POP surgery was indicated.ConclusionsWhen performed by an experienced clinician, SSL suture removal is feasible and efficacious, with low morbidity. In addition, the risk of recurrent POP in the short term appeared to be low.Tweetable abstractThe surgical removal of sacrospinous ligament sutures is safe and efficacious for pain relief, even remote from initial placement.
A secretory phospholipase A2 of a fungal pathogen contributes to lipid droplet homeostasis, assimilation of insect‐derived lipids, and repression of host immune responses
Authors: Deng Juan , Lu Zhuoyue , Wang Huifang , Li Ning , Song Guimei , Zhu Qiankuan , Sun Jingxin , Zhang Yongjun 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSecretory phospholipase A2s (sPLA2s) are found in a wide range of organisms from bacteria to higher plants and animals and are involved in varied and cellular processes. However, roles of these enzymes in microbial pathogens remain unclear. Here, an sPLA2 (BbPLA2) was characterized in the filamentous insect pathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana. BbPLA2 was exclusively expressed in insect hemolymph‐derived cells (hyphal bodies), and its expression was induced by insect‐derived nutrients and lipids, and nutrient starvation. High levels of secretion of BbPLA2 were observed as well as its distribution in hyphal body lipid drops (LDs). Overexpression of BbPLA2 increased the ability of B. bassiana to utilize insect‐derived nutrients and lipids, and promoted LD accumulation, indicating functions for BbPLA2 in mediating LD homeostasis and assimilation of insect‐derived lipids. Strains overexpressing BbPLA2 showed moderately increased virulence, including more efficient penetration of the insect cuticle and evasion of host immune responses as compared to the wild type strain. In addition, B. bassiana‐activated host immune genes were downregulated in the BbPLA2 overexpression strain, but upregulated by infections with a ΔBbPLA2 strain. These data demonstrate that BbPLA2 contributes to LD homeostasis, assimilation of insect‐derived lipids, and repression of host immune responses.
What a few hairs can tell us about the resource use of giant armadillos
Authors: MAGIOLI Marcelo , ATTIAS Nina , MASSOCATO Gabriel , KLUYBER Danilo , MOREIRA Marcelo Zacharias , FERRAZ Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros , CHIARELLO Adriano Garcia , DESBIEZ Arnaud L. J. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractUnderstanding of resource requirements of vulnerable species is key for conservation planning. Here, we used stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) of hair from giant armadillos (Priodontes maximus) to understand individual resource use. We collected hair from 19 giant armadillos analyzing 34 samples from the Brazilian Pantanal and compared the resource use between sexes and age classes. We also assessed the relationship of isotopic values with individuals’ body mass and the habitat type used. We observed a wide variation in resource use by giant armadillos, showing that individuals consume prey that feeds on distinct resources and occupies different habitat types, indicating that there is individual variation in foraging behavior. Most giant armadillos presented a mixed diet (C3/C4 resources, forests/open areas), but a quarter of individuals had strictly C4 diets (open areas). Males are more prone to forage on C4 resources, presenting an isotopic niche 2.6‐times larger than that of females. Subadults presented diets more associated with habitats with high arboreal cover (C3 resources, forests), while adults foraged more in open areas (C4 resources). This result is mirrored by the positive relationship between δ13C values and body mass, suggesting that larger giant armadillos tend to feed more in open areas. We observed that δ13C values decreased as individuals increased the use of habitats with high arboreal cover. We stress the importance of conserving the natural mosaic in the Pantanal landscape for the species persistence, given that giant armadillos require all habitat types to fulfill their dietary, spatial, and developmental needs.
Does α‐lipoic acid therapeutically effective against experimentally induced‐acute pulpitis in rats?
Authors: Kermeoğlu Fatma , Sayıner Serkan , Şehirli Ahmet Özer , Savtekin Gökçe , Aksoy Umut 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe purpose of the study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of α‐lipoic acid (ALA) on an induced‐acute pulpitis model in rats. Twenty‐four Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, induced‐acute pulpitis (PULP) and PULP + ALA groups. In the PULP and PULP + ALA groups, the crowns of the maxillary left incisors were removed horizontally. All exposed pulp tissues were treated with 5 µL LPS solution. In the PULP + ALA group, the rats were treated intraperitoneally with a single dose of ALA (100 mg/kg). The rats were sacrificed 24 h after pulp injury, and the trunk blood and pulp samples were collected and then determined using ELISA assay kits. TNF‐α, IL‐1β, MMP‐1 and MMP‐2 levels in the serum and pulp tissues were considerably higher in the PULP group than the control group (p < 0.01–0.001). In the PULP + ALA group, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, MMP‐1 and MMP‐2 levels in the serum and pulp tissues decreased significantly compared to the PULP group (p < 0.05–0.001). ALA decreases pro‐inflammatory mediators and proteolytic enzymes, which might relieve acute inflammation.
Genome‐wide analysis suggests multiple domestication events of Chinese local pigs
Authors: Peng Yebo , Cai Xinyu , Wang Yuzhan , Liu Zexuan , Zhao Yiqiang 
Published: March 2022

AbstractChinese local pigs have abundant phenotypes as a result of different cultures and habits of Chinese populations, geographic constraints and the long history of pig domestication. A comprehensive investigation of local Chinese pigs will benefit biodiversity research and future breeding practices. However, their classification and demographic history are not yet clear. We studied 91 Chinese local pigs from 14 breeds and 15 Chinese wild boars to reveal the dispersal of Chinese pigs, genetic groups and the demographic history. Based on spatial feature analyses, we believe that the geographic landscape played an important role in the dispersal of local pigs. According to genetic studies, Chinese pigs are divided into three groups where each group appears to have a distinct background. The nucleotide diversity, observed heterozygosity, runs of homozygosity and inbreeding coefficient varied among the groups and widespread migration also existed between the groups. Furthermore, demographic models have been constructed to explain the evolutionary relationship between the groups using the approximate Bayesian computation approach. These suggested that Chinese local pigs are inherited from an extinct Sus scrofa population from ~22 000 years ago. Then, the three groups diverged from ancestors ~16 000, ~11 000 and ~8700 years ago respectively. This study advances our understanding of the genetic variation and demographic history of Chinese local pigs.