Marginal Support Research Articles

Improving soil fertility in shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) fields through a bioremediation process using microorganisms and biochar

Abstract The agricultural sector always relates to environmental issues. Pest and disease attacks on crops are the main factors that cause farmers to overuse pesticides. The use of synthetic pesticides has the potential to change soil fertility. This study aims to evaluate the fertility of soil resulting from bioremediation using bacteria and biochar as bioremediation agents in shallot planting soil contaminated chlorpyrifos pesticide. This type of research was an experiment in a shallot field in Siandong Village, Larangan Subdistrict, Brebes Regency. This study used a factorial experimental design with a Completely Randomized Block Design (RCBD), which consisted of 2 factors, namely bioremediation agents and coconut shell biochar, and there were 30 experimental units. Data were analyzed using statistical analysis using T-Test. The result showed that bioremediation agents could decrease soil pH by 15.42%, Organic-C by 11.51%, and soil CEC by 45.29% from the initial soil. However, bioremediation agents could increase soil N-Total by al 49.54%, soil P-Available by 24.69%, and soil K-Available by 82.49% higher than the initial soil. Bioremediation of pesticide-contaminated soil using bacteria and biochar can improve soil fertility. The technology can enhance marginal land and support sustainable agricultural systems.

Abstract 4120140: Catastrophic Bioprosthetic Aortic Valve Thrombosis: An Unappreciated Complication of Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support in Cardiogenic Shock

Description of Case: A 56-year-old male with a history of cardiac sarcoidosis with biventricular systolic heart failure (HF) and a bioprosthetic aortic valve presented with acute decompensated HF. Progressive cardiogenic shock and hemodynamic instability ensued, requiring urgent bedside placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) which provided only marginal hemodynamic support. After extensive multidisciplinary discussion, emergent cannulation for veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) was performed at the bedside as a bridge-to-decision for advanced HF therapies. The IABP was left in place for LV venting. Within 72 hours, extensive bilateral pulmonary opacities had developed. It was later realized that true LV ejection (as evidenced by aortic pulsatility on the arterial line) was not present and had been masked by pseudo-pulsatility provided by IABP inflations and deflations. Compared to an echocardiogram done 7 days prior to VA-ECMO cannulation, the bioprosthetic leaflets were no longer opening, thrombosis of the AV had occurred, and thrombus formation along the ECMO venous drainage cannula was noted. Failure to achieve LV venting culminated in complete thrombosis of the entire LV and LA and the patient ultimately expired. Discussion: Bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is a lesser-known complication of VA-ECMO support, with most reports involving bioprosthetic valves in the mitral position. Indeed, bioprosthetic valve thrombosis occurs at a higher rate than native valve thrombosis during VA-ECMO support. However, bioprosthetic AV thrombosis is an extremely rare complication of VA-ECMO support and arguably results in a more catastrophic scenario as most traditional approaches to LV unloading are contraindicated. The optimal LV unloading strategy for these patients (IABP, Impella, surgical apical unloading, etc) is unknown. Data from large retrospective analyses have demonstrated extremely poor outcomes when prosthetic valve thrombosis occurs, and it is thus critical to prevent this complication from developing. In contrast to IABP counter-pulsation, the benefit of upfront transvalvular LV venting with an Impella device safeguards the presence of a direct LV vent in the event of bioprosthetic AV thrombosis and eliminates the false reassurance of IABP pseudo-pulsatility. Further studies are needed to better elucidate the optimal LV unloading strategy in patients with bioprosthetic valves, particularly in the aortic position.

Mechanisms determining the multi-diversity of carrion visiting species along a gradient of carrion body mass

Resource availability and habitat heterogeneity are essential drivers of biodiversity, but their individual roles often remain unclear since both factors are often correlated. Here, we tested the more-individuals hypothesis (MIH) and the habitat-heterogeneity hypothesis (HHH) for bacteria, fungi, dipterans, coleopterans, birds, and mammals on 100 experimentally exposed carcasses ranging by three orders of magnitude in body mass. At the level of each carcass we found marginal or significant support for the MIH for bacteria, fungi, and beetles in spring and significant support for fungi, dipterans, and mammals in summer. The HHH was supported only for bacteria in spring, while it was supported for all groups except mammals in summer. Overall multidiversity always increased with body mass, with a steeper increase in summer. Abundance based rarefaction-extrapolation curves for three classes of body mass showed the highest species richness for medium-sized carcasses, particular for dipterans and microbes, supporting the HHH also among carcasses. These findings complement existing necromass studies of deadwood, showing there are more niches associated with larger resource amounts and an increasing habitat heterogeneity between carcasses most pronounced for medium-sized species. Higher resource amount led to increased diversity of carrion-consuming organisms in summer, particularly due to the increasing number of niches with increasing size. Our findings underline the importance of distributed large carrion as well as medium-sized carrion in ecosystems supporting overall biodiversity of carrion-consumers. Furthermore, the different responses in spring and summer may inform strategies of carrion enrichment management schemes throughout the year.

Quercetin in semen extender curtails reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and improves functional attributes of cryopreserved buck semen

Cryopreservation of goat spermatozoa is challenging due to several factors, including one of the most essential, i.e., oxidative stress. It is particularly essential in goat semen due to its scanty ejaculate volume and high sperm concentration. This leaves a narrow sperm-to-seminal plasma ratio owing to marginal antioxidant support; moreover, semen extension further dilutes the antioxidant level, leading to an imbalance of oxidant-antioxidant equilibrium. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of quercetin on curtailing oxidative stress and its reflection on the post-thaw survivability and membrane integrity of goat spermatozoa. For this study, six bucks were selected. Six ejaculates from each buck totaling 36 ejaculates were collected, which were then split into five parts; furthermore, each part was added with a semen extender having a particular concentration of additive. Group C without quercetin and T1 containing Vitamin E at 3 mmol/mL were considered the control and positive control respectively, whereas T2, T3, and T4 contain 10, 20, and 30 μmol/mL of Quercetin respectively. The final sperm concentration of each group was kept at 200 × 106 spermatozoa/mL. All groups were subjected to equilibration at 4 °C for 4 h, then filled in French mini (0.25 mL) straws, followed by sealing and cryopreservation. Samples after 72 h of cryopreservation were subjected to evaluation of plasma membrane integrity and viability through staining, acrosomal integrity, and mitochondrial membrane activity through flow cytometry. Evaluation of sperm kinematics as well as the oxidant-antioxidant status of sperm (ROS and nitric oxide) and seminal plasma (SOD, CAT, GPx, FRAP, and lipid peroxidation through MDA estimation) were also carried out. Quercetin, when supplemented at 20 μmol/mL in buck semen extender, significantly (p < 0.01) improved cryopreserved sperm functions in terms of plasma membrane integrity, viability, acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial membrane activity, and sperm kinematics of buck semen. Similarly, Quercetin supplementation at 20 μmol/mL significantly reduced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in sperm and improved the antioxidant status of seminal plasma, which was indicated by reduced oxidative damage and improved the antioxidant status of buck semen. In conclusion, Quercetin at 20 μmol/mL reduced oxidative stress, improved semen antioxidant status, and improved sperm membranes integrity and kinematics.

Detailed cool star flare morphology with CHEOPS and TESS

Context. White-light stellar flares are proxies for some of the most energetic types of flares, but their triggering mechanism is still poorly understood. As they are associated with strong X and ultraviolet emission, their study is particularly relevant to estimate the amount of high-energy irradiation onto the atmospheres of exoplanets, especially those in their stars’ habitable zone. Aims. We used the high-cadence, high-photometric capabilities of the CHEOPS and TESS space telescopes to study the detailed morphology of white-light flares occurring in a sample of 130 late-K and M stars, and compared our findings with results obtained at a lower cadence. Methods. We employed dedicated software for the reduction of 3 s cadence CHEOPS data, and adopted the 20 s cadence TESS data reduced by their official processing pipeline. We developed an algorithm to separate multi-peak flare profiles into their components, in order to contrast them to those of single-peak, classical flares. We also exploited this tool to estimate amplitudes and periodicities in a small sample of quasi-periodic pulsation (QPP) candidates. Results. Complex flares represent a significant percentage (≳30%) of the detected outburst events. Our findings suggest that high-impulse flares are more frequent than suspected from lower-cadence data, so that the most impactful flux levels that hit close-in exoplanets might be more time-limited than expected. We found significant differences in the duration distributions of single and complex flare components, but not in their peak luminosity. A statistical analysis of the flare parameter distributions provides marginal support for their description with a log-normal instead of a power-law function, leaving the door open to several flare formation scenarios. We tentatively confirmed previous results about QPPs in high-cadence photometry, report the possible detection of a pre-flare dip, and did not find hints of photometric variability due to an undetected flare background. Conclusions. The high-cadence study of stellar hosts might be crucial to evaluate the impact of their flares on close-in exoplanets, as their impulsive phase emission might otherwise be incorrectly estimated. Future telescopes such as PLATO and Ariel, thanks to their high-cadence capability, will help in this respect. As the details of flare profiles and of the shape of their parameter distributions are made more accessible by continuing to increase the instrument precision and time resolution, the models used to interpret them and their role in star-planet interactions might need to be updated constantly.

Enhancing Farmer’s Income and Farmer Producer Organizations’ (FPOs) in India

The agriculture sector in India has spent the last few decades primarily focusing on expanding agricultural output and enhancing food security. This approach included the following steps: first is, enhancing production through the use of high-quality seeds, agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, and irrigation. Second is, providing subsidies for farm inputs and paying fair prices for crops. Third is, Public investments in agriculture, and last is institutions that facilitate trade. Mid through the 1960s, the nation experienced a food shortage. In India, the green revolution overcome the path to address the food crisis that had persisted for the previous fifty years. India's population increased by 2.55 times while production of food increased by 3.7 times, which has made India a self-sufficient country in the food industry and able to export the net food to other countries. The strategy had no impact on the rise of farmers' income and had no provisions for their welfare. Several studies demonstrate that an increase in output should increase a farmer's income, but this was not always true. The Government of India (GoI) has announced in the union budget to double the income of farmers by 2022. Various grass root institutions are existing in India such as self-help groups, farmer's groups, farmer's interest groups, cooperatives, common interest groups, and Farmer Producer Organization (FPO). The GOI has suggested FPO as a tool, In order to mobilize the farmers and bring them under one umbrella to achieve the goal and double the farmers' income. Farmer Producer Organizations offer small and marginal farmers institutional support, assure a stable income for their agricultural output, and ultimately improve their standard of living. The main objective of this paper is to examine the structure of farmers' income in the country and how Farmer producer organizations empower the farmer's income to assess the possibility of enhancing the farmers’ income and discuss the FPO's tools for increasing the farmers’ incomes. The study is based on secondary data and the study is primarily exploratory. This paper addresses the issue of farmers' income and FPOs. This paper is based on 70th and 77th round NSSO Situation Assessment Surveys. The data pertains to the years 2012 and 2018-19. The information was gathered from different secondary sources, such as data on policies and other government sources, including NGOs, National and international management journals, and online sources are included. The study concludes that although boosting farmers' real earnings in six years is a challenging challenge, it may not be entirely unachievable if appropriate techniques are used. The study finds that increases over five to six years in nominal terms are already occurring. The instruments should be multifaceted and focus on increasing returns, lowering costs, and creating sustainable incomes while taking into account the dwindling natural resource base. For tracking the development, we should periodically have access to trustworthy income statistics. The income described in this paper is the gross cost of production. It can be concluded that FPOs form a core part of the strategy to sustain the life of small and marginal farmers out of poverty and enhance their income and competitiveness in agricultural markets. The expected result of this effort is to provide a single window for farmers to increase their income from farm produce through direct marketing and to gain collective bargaining power. So, the purpose of this study is to illustrate how smallholder farmers might raise their income through FPOs, which may help the farmers in doubling their income and empower them.

What predicts psychosocial functioning in borderline personality disorder? Investigating the association with reflective functioning.

The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with functioning in participants with and without borderline personality disorder (BPD). In particular, we were interested whether mentalizing and related social cognitive capacities, as factors of internal functioning, are important in predicting psychosocial functioning, in addition to other psychopathological and sociodemographic factors. This is a cross-sectional study with N = 53 right-handed females with and without BPD, without significant differences in age, IQ, and socioeconomic status, who completed semi-structured diagnostic and self-report measures of social cognition. Mentalizing was assessed using the Reflective Functioning Scale based on transcribed Adult Attachment Interviews. A regularized regression with the elastic net penalty was deployed to investigate whether mentalizing and social cognition predict psychosocial functioning. Borderline personality disorder symptom severity, sexual abuse trauma, and social and socio-economic factors ranked as the most important variables in predicting psychosocial functioning, while reflective functioning (RF) was somewhat less important in the prediction, social cognitive functioning and sociodemographic variables were least important. Borderline personality disorder symptom severity was most important in determining functional impairment, alongside trauma related to sexual abuse as well as social and socio-economic factors. These findings verify that BPD symptoms themselves most robustly predict functional impairment, followed by history of sexual abuse, then contextual factors (e.g. housing, financial, physical health), and then RF. These results lend marginal support to the conceptualization that mentalizing may enhance psychosocial functioning by facilitating social learning, but emphasize symptom reduction and stabilization of life context as key intervention targets.

Integrating Critical Content into an Undergraduate Research Methods Course to Support Student Learning Outcomes

Background Undergraduate students have reported low utility for research. Drawing from the literature about motivation and culturally relevant and responsive education, we framed psychological research methods as a social justice tool to enhance learners’ understanding of racial inequality and valuing of course content. Objective Two instructors infused critical methods content throughout their undergraduate psychological research methods courses to increase students’ perceptions of systemic racism in research, multicultural perspective taking, and motivation toward the course. Method Undergraduate students’ attitudes were measured at the beginning and end of the semester using an anonymous online survey. The critical research methods content was integrated throughout the semester. Results Effect sizes provided marginal support for increased awareness of systemic racism in research and multicultural perspective-taking. Results also indicated that students who more strongly perceived research as a social justice strategy reported greater valuing of research, and those who perceived higher value reported greater intentions to pursue research in the future. Conclusion Results provide proof of concept for critical methods content in facilitating undergraduate students’ critical awareness and engagement with psychological research methods. Teaching Implications Teachers can utilize critical content to support students’ critical engagement and goal setting within their learning contexts.

Investigating the Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Jordanian Traditional Handicraft Sector

Objectives: The traditional Handicraft sector in Jordan is encountering significant challenges due to the measures adopted by the Jordanian government to curb the spread of COVID-19. These measures threaten the handicrafts sector’s sustainability and compromise artisans’ livelihoods. This research aims to examine the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 on the Traditional Handicraft sector in Jordan.&#x0D; Methods: The research utilizes a qualitative methodology to collect and analyze data. The research attempted to cover mostly widespread handicrafts in Jordan. These crafts were concentrated in Jordan's capital 'Amman'. A random sample of craftsmen working in ceramics, mosaics, olive wood carving, embroidery, and accessories was chosen. Semi-structured interviews, with open-ended questions, were conducted to collect the essential data.&#x0D; Results: The research results revealed that the pandemic badly affected the business activity and operational environment. The research also shows the low and marginal support workers within the sector received during the pandemic were not adequate to help the artisans. Furthermore, it shows a relationship between changing strategies in the conduct of business and the sustainability of the studios.&#x0D; Conclusions: The research concluded that changing the management strategies of the studios and the marketing methods for handicraft products greatly helped the sustainability of handicraft studios during the pandemic. The research recommends training the artisans to be familiar with the social media platforms and utilize those platforms to sell their products, training courses in e-marketing managerial, packaging, and design skills are highly recommended for building capacities of the artisans and sustaining their studios.

Petiole XLA (xylem to leaf area ratio) integrates hydraulic safety and efficiency across a diverse group of eucalypt leaves.

A theoretical trade-off between the efficiency and safety of water transport systems in plants is used to explain diverse ecological patterns, from tree size to community structure. Despite its pervasive influence, this theory has marginal empirical support. This may be partially due to obfuscation of associations by wide phylogenetic sampling or non-standard sampling between studies. To address this, we examine the coordination of structural and anatomical traits linked to hydraulic safety and efficiency in the leaves of an ecologically diverse group of eucalypts. We introduce a new trait for characterising leaf water transport function measured as the cross-sectional XA at the petiole divided by the downstream leaf area (XLApetiole ). Variation in XLApetiole revealed support for a safety-efficiency trade-off in eucalypt leaves. XLApetiole was negatively correlated with theoretical petiole xylem conductivity (Ks_petiole ) and strongly negatively correlated with leaf cavitation vulnerability (Ψ50leaf ). Species with lower Ψ50leaf exhibited petiole xylem with narrower vessels and greater fibre wall area fractions. Our findings highlight XLApetiole as a novel integrative trait that provides insights into the evolution of leaf form and function in eucalypts and holds promise for wider use among diverse species.

A comparison of statistical versus clinical classifiers of seizure clustering in women with catamenial and noncatamenial epilepsy.

We assessed whether (1) women with statistical clustering of daily seizure counts (DSCs) or seizure intervals (SIs) also showed clinical clustering, defined separately by ≥2 (≥2-SC) and ≥3 (≥3-SC) seizures on any single day; and (2) how these classifiers might apply to catamenial epilepsy. This is a retrospective case-control analysis of data from 50 women with epilepsy (WWE). We assessed the relationships of the four classifiers to each other and to catamenial versus noncatamenial epilepsy using chi-squared, correlation, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. ≥3-SC, not ≥2-SC, was more frequent in WWE who had statistical DSC clustering versus those who did not (21/25 [84.0%] vs. 11/25 [44.0%], p= .007). Logistic regression (p= .006) and ROC (p= .015) identified ≥3-SC, not ≥2-SC, as a predictor of statistical DSC clustering, but ≥4-SC was more accurate. ≥3-SC correlated with the average daily seizure frequencies (ADSFs) of the subjects (p= .01). ROC optimal sensitivity-specificity cut-point for ADSF prediction of ≥3-SC (.372) was 64.6% higher than for ≥2-SC (.226). SI clustering was more common in WWE who had catamenial versus noncatamenial epilepsy (p= .013). Logistic regression identified statistical SI clustering as the only significant classifier (p= .043). ROC analysis offered only marginal support (p= .056), because specificity was low (42.1%). The findings lend statistical support for (1) the utility of clinical ≥3-SC as a predictor of convulsive status epilepticus, (2) consideration of ADSFs in defining clustering, and (3) ≥4-SC as a more accurate clinical predictor of statistical DSC clustering. Statistical SI clustering occurred more frequently in women with catamenial than noncatamenial epilepsy (90.3% vs. 57.9%, p= .013). Although sensitivity was high (90.3%, 28/31), specificity was only 42.1% (8/19). Algorithms that test patterns and periodicities of clusters are more applicable.

The internal metallicity distributions of simulated galaxies from EAGLE, Illustris, and IllustrisTNG at z = 1.8–4 as probed by gamma-ray burst hosts

ABSTRACT Massive stars are thought to be progenitors of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), most likely with a bias favouring low-metallicity progenitors. Because galaxies do not have a constant metallicity throughout, the combination of line-of-sight absorption metallicity inferred from GRB afterglow spectroscopy and of host galaxy global metallicity derived from emission lines diagnostics represents a powerful way to probe both the bias function for GRB progenitors and the chemical inhomogeneities across star-forming regions. In this study, we predict the relationship between Zabs and Zemiss using three different hydrodynamical cosmological simulations: Illustris, EAGLE, and IllustrisTNG. We find that while the qualitative shape of the curve relating emission versus absorption metallicity remains the same, the predicted relationship between these two observables is significantly different between the simulations. Using data for the host galaxy of GRB121024A for which both Zabs and Zemiss have been measured, we find marginal support for the Illustris simulation as producing the most-realistic internal metallicity distributions within star-forming galaxies at cosmic noon. Overall, all simulations predict similar properties for the bulk of the GRB host galaxy population, but each has distinct features in the tail of the Zabs-Zemiss distribution that in principle allow to discriminate between models if a sufficiently large sample of observations are available (i.e. N ≳ 11 on average). Substantial progress is expected in the near future, with upcoming JWST/NIRspec observations of 10 GRB host galaxies for which absorption metallicity from the afterglow spectra exists.

The role of hopelessness and procedural justice on depressogenic outcomes in serious adolescent offenders.

Despite increasing depression and suicide rates in justice-system-involved youth, little is known about depressogenic risk factors in this population. Therefore, we explored how levels of and changes in hopelessness and perceptions of procedural justice predicted depressive and suicidal outcomes in justice-system-involved youth. We hypothesized that higher levels and increasing trajectories of hopelessness, as well as of perceived injustice, would predict depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation across adolescence and emerging adulthood. We also expected that procedural injustice would explain the relation between hopelessness and these outcomes. Finally, we hypothesized that gender and race/ethnicity would moderate the influence of hopelessness and perceived injustice. Data for the present study were collected as part of the Pathways to Desistance study. In total, 1,354 adolescents (Mage = 16.04 years; 86.4% male; 41.4% non-Hispanic Black, 33.5% Hispanic, 20.2% non-Hispanic White) convicted of serious offenses participated. For the present study, participants answered questions on measures of procedural justice, hopelessness, depression, and suicidal ideation across 11 time points over 7 years. Using latent growth curve modeling, we found partial support for our hypotheses. Specifically, baseline levels of hopelessness predicted depression levels and increases in depression during adolescence (ps < .01). Further, changes in hopelessness predicted corresponding changes in depression throughout adolescence and emerging adulthood (ps < .001). Similarly, procedural justice levels predicted levels of depression (p < .001), and changes in procedural justice corresponded to changes in depression during emerging adulthood (p = .01). With regard to suicidal ideation, levels of and changes in hopelessness in emerging adulthood predicted corresponding suicidal ideation outcomes (ps ≤ .01). Meanwhile, we found only marginal support for our mediation model (p = .05). Collectively, results did not vary across gender or race/ethnicity. Hopelessness and perceived injustice are unique predictors of depression for juvenile-justice-system-involved youth. Preventive interventions targeting both hopelessness and procedural justice could help attenuate elevated depression rates in this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Effectiveness of Heads of Community Secondary Schools’ Leadership Practice of Setting Goals and Expectations in Enhancing Equity in Education in Kigoma Region, Tanzania

This study examined the effectiveness of heads of community secondary schools’ leadership practice of setting goals and expectations in enhancing equity in education in Kigoma region. The study was informed by the Student-Centred Model of Effective Leadership Practices by Robinson et al. (2008). Convergent design under the mixed method approach was used to collect, analyse, and report both qualitative and quantitative data. The target population was 140 community secondary schools, 140 heads of schools,2049 teachers and 15, 543 Form IV students. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used to obtain a sample of 24 community secondary schools and a total of 312 respondents consisting of 144 Form IV students, 144 teachers, and 24 heads of schools. The researcher employed a questionnaire, interview guide, focus group discussion guide and document analysis guide for collecting data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data and to test the hypothesis, and results were presented using tables. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the hypothesis. Thematic analysis was used for analysing qualitative data. Findings were presented using frequencies, percentages, mean, narration and direct quotations. The study found that heads of community secondary schools’ leadership practice of setting goals and expectations has a moderate and highly significant statistical relationship with equity in education (r = 0.367, p = 0.000). The study concluded that setting goals and expectations is effective in enhancing equity in education. However, equity in education has not been enhanced to the expected levels due to factors such as an inadequate focus on providing academic support, marginal support to at-risk students and ensuring students complete Form IV. The study recommended that in setting goals and expectations, heads of schools need to give priority to all dimensions of equity in education. Also, the study recommended that the Government in collaboration with intermediary bodies should provide leadership training to optimise the effectiveness of leadership roles of heads of schools in enhancing equity in education.

Is “Zoom Fatigue” Real? Video Conferencing Boosts Productivity but Worsens Well-Being

Video conferencing has become a predominant mode of workplace meetings, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. In this research, we integrate objective self-awareness theory with the interface design of video conferencing tools to explain the mixed implications of video conferencing for employees. We hypothesize that time spent on video conferencing is positively related to state self-consciousness (i.e., being conscious about one’s self as the object of awareness). State self-consciousness, in turn, is positively related to work productivity but at the same time negatively related to well-being. We further hypothesize that introverted employees are more affected by participation in video conferencing than their extroverted counterparts. In a study employing experience sampling methodology among 144 United Kingdom-based employees who were working remotely on account of the mandatory closure of the workplace, we found evidence for the hypotheses. Specifically, time spent on video conferencing on a workday increased state self-consciousness on that day, which, in turn, increased work productivity. The negative relationship between state self-consciousness and the moderating effect of extraversion received marginal support. A supplementary experimental study further tested the tenet of objective self-awareness theory. We discuss the implications of our findings for how organizations can manage video conferencing as they move to remote work at unprecedented rates.

What factors predict faculty engagement in business ethics education?

Business ethics is widely viewed as essential to business education. However, considerable discretion exists regarding its actual instruction. This study explored the impact of instructor and institutional factors on faculty engagement with business ethics. A positive correlation emerged between belief in the importance of and comfort with teaching ethics and faculty engagement. Also, faculty in institutions without codes of ethics were more likely to address ethical behavior in the classroom. Finally, there was marginal support for a relationship between faculty perception of the importance of ethical behavior for career advancement and addressing ethical conduct in courses. Findings and their implications are addressed.

EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION (ECMO) CANNULA MALPOSITION IDENTIFIED THROUGH POINT-OF-CARE ULTRASOUND

TOPIC: Critical Care TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: In adult ECMO, veno-venous (VV) dual lumen intrajugular (IJ) cannula placement is verified intra-procedurally with echocardiogram and monitored with daily chest radiography (CXR) while bi-femoral lines are verified with pelvic films. Worsening ECMO support prompts evaluation for cannula malposition. Radiographs may suggest proper cannula placement despite malposition, which is associated with complications such as insufficient venous drainage, vessel obstruction/occlusion, and trauma to surrounding anatomic structures. In these cases, ultrasound remains a portable, fast and inexpensive tool to identify and correct malposition. We report three cases of malpositioned VV ECMO cannulas identified through bedside POCUS despite appearing appropriately positioned radiographically. CASE PRESENTATION: 27-year-old female with Hodgkin's lymphoma and suspected bleomycin induced lung injury. Cannulated via dual lumen IJ for VV ECMO for progressive and refractory hypoxemia, with line verified intraoperatively. Daily CXR commented "ECMO cannula in appropriate position". Developed increasing evidence of recirculation, and POCUS showed outflow jet positioned distally in the hepatic vein. Recirculation improved with retraction of the cannula under ultrasound guidance. 30-year-old male with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease, intubated and cannulated for VV ECMO as a bridge to transplant. After dual lumen IJ cannulation, he showed evidence of recirculation and low flows (SpO2 88%, ScVO2 82%, flow 2.1 Lpm). CXR commented "dual lumen IJ ECMO cannula with side hole in the right atrium, distal tip in the IVC". POCUS showed the outflow jet positioned in the hepatic vein. Support immediately improved once cannula retracted under ultrasound guidance. 41-year-old male with ARDS and refractory hypoxemia underwent bi-femoral VV ECMO cannulation. On day three of hospitalization, he began cutting out flow and had marginal support despite fluids, CXR on day 1 and 3 both commented "ECMO cannula terminating in the cavo-atrial junction". POCUS showed the tip of the return cannula distal to the hepatic vein with the return jet partially entering the hepatic vein when it had been in the RA on days 1-2 ultrasonographically. DISCUSSION: Cannulas are anchored by sutures to prevent displacement. Any change in the position may be noted on follow-up radiographs. However, radiographs are static images, and discerning minor changes in cannula position may be challenging. Each of these malpositions were missed on radiography. Currently there are no guidelines for daily ultrasonographic monitoring of cannula position. Further investigation into the benefits of daily ultrasonographic monitoring over the course of ECMO support is warranted. CONCLUSIONS: Daily complete ultrasound evaluation may help to reduce complications from malpositioning in the monitoring phase of ECMO support. REFERENCE #1: Douflé G, Roscoe A, Billia F, Fan E. Echocardiography for adult patients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [published correction appears in Crit Care. 2016;20:34]. Crit Care. 2015;19:326. Published 2015 Oct 2. doi:10.1186/s13054-015-1042-2 REFERENCE #2: Lee S, Chaturvedi A. Imaging adults on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Insights Imaging. 2014;5(6):731-742. doi:10.1007/s13244-014-0357-x REFERENCE #3: Victor K, Barrett N, Glover G, Kapetanakis S, Langrish C. Acute Budd-Chiari syndrome during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation diagnosed using transthoracic echocardiography. Br J Anaesth. 2012 Jun;108(6):1043-4. doi: 10.1093/bja/aes161. PMID: 22593140. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Taylor Becker, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Charles Rappaport, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Roger Struble, source=Web Response

Gang Membership and Gang Crime in New Zealand: A National Study Identifying Spatial Risk Factors

In this exploratory study, we identify the spatial risk factors associated with gang membership and gang crime in New Zealand using social disorganization as a theoretical framework. Gang membership data from the Gang Intelligence Center and gang crime data from New Zealand Police are included in spatial regression models to identify risk factors. Overall marginal support was found for the use of social disorganization constructs to explain gang membership and gang crime in New Zealand. Higher deprivation and higher diversity were both found to be associated with gang membership and gang crime, respectively. Some similarities and notable differences were observed between our results and the mainly U.S.-centric results of past spatial gang research. This study allows for a greater understanding of the generalizability of the social disorganization theory to explain gang membership and gang crime in areas with markedly different cultural perspectives and ethnocentricities to the United States.

Marginal support for a trophic cascade among sympatric canids in peripheral wolf range.

Trophic cascades reportedly structure ecological communities through indirect species interactions. Though the predator-herbivore-autotroph relationship has received much attention, mechanistic evidence supporting intraguild trophic cascades is rare. We established 348 remote camera sites (1 August-5 September 2019) across seven study areas of varying wolf (Canis lupus) density including one study area where wolves were absent in northern Michigan, USA. Using multi-species occupancy modeling at species-relevant spatial scales, we evaluated the hypothesis that increased wolf occurrence suppresses coyote (C. latrans) occurrence with corresponding increased red fox (Vulpes vulpes) occurrence mediated by land cover edge density, human presence, and temporal partitioning. Remote cameras recorded >600,000 images and included 6,370, 10,137, and 4,876 detections of wolves, coyotes, and foxes, respectively. Fox occupancy probability was more than three times as high (0.29) at camera sites where wolves were present, relative to sites wolves were absent (0.09). Pairwise species interactions supported expected size-based dominance patterns among canids and insignificant effects were directionally consistent with reported reduced strength of top-down effects in peripheral wolf range. Increased edge density also increased co-occurrence of coyote and wolves, likely a function of increased prey availability and refugia for coyotes. Though foxes occurred in spatial proximity to wolves, competition was limited by greater temporal partitioning than observed between coyotes and foxes that were spatially segregated. Collectively, our results provide marginal support for the reported trophic cascade among wolves, coyotes, and foxes wherein top-down effects may be reduced near the edge of current wolf distributions. As predators continue to recolonize portions of their historic range, knowledge of the effects on intraguild predators has implications for species management and predicting prey population responses.

Mending fences in a buyer–supplier relationship: The role of justice in relationship restoration

AbstractWhile the extant literature has examined causes for buyer–supplier relationship dissolution, the restoration of severed buyer–supplier relationships has been overlooked. Drawing on organizational justice theory, our research develops and tests a model of relationship restoration. We examine how the supplier's restoration tactics—acknowledgment, compensation, and operational transparency, influence the interactional, distributive, and procedural fairness perception, respectively, of the buyer, resulting in relationship restoration. The results are based on a 2 (Acknowledgment – Yes/No) × 2 (Compensation – Yes/No) × 2 (Operational Transparency – Yes/No) vignette‐based study with 390 experienced practitioners. The analysis shows that compensating the buyer and providing transparent procedures for dealing with similar situations in the future, lead to higher distributive fairness and procedural fairness, respectively, resulting in restored relationships. Compensation makes up for past supplier malperformance, whereas operational transparency mitigates future concerns. We also find that restoration tactics based on interactional justice are less effective than those based on procedural and distributive justice. There is only marginal support for the indirect positive effect of acknowledgment on restoration intentions (p &lt; 0.10). These results point to the importance of knowing how to approach a buyer to initiate relationship restoration. Managers must understand and evaluate the specific needs of each buyer when proposing a compensatory design that appeals to the buyer. Additionally, establishing procedures that are appealing to all buyers can be a challenge for a supplier, due to the differing benefits to the supplier provided by each buyer.