bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Financial inclusion and sustainable development of banks: the place of organization of Islamic cooperation (OIC) in emerging markets
Authors: Tekin Hasan
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study examines the impact of financial inclusion on the corporate sustainability of banks in both Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and non-OIC emerging economies, considering the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The research utilizes data from 3,159 bank-years from 2007 to 2021 across 33 emerging markets.

Findings

Empirical findings indicate that firms operating in higher financial inclusion developing countries tend to exhibit higher levels of sustainable development. This positive relationship has become even more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting the importance of financial inclusion in fostering corporate sustainability, especially in times of economic challenges. Interestingly, while the positive correlation between financial inclusion and sustainable development remains consistent across both OIC and non-OIC countries, firms in OIC countries do not show significant changes during the pandemic.

Practical implications

This observation suggests that the pandemic’s impact on corporate sustainability may vary between the two groups of countries. This study highlights the significance of financial inclusion in promoting corporate sustainability in developing economies. In times of recessions when accessing finance becomes expensive, policymakers in OIC countries should identify firms that adhere to Islamic principles, such as those sensitive to interest rates, and provide them with targeted support. This assistance can enable these companies to compete effectively and achieve their financial sustainability objectives.

Originality/value

There has been no attempt to investigate the effect of financial inclusion and the pandemic on the sustainable development of banks in developing countries.
Robotic safety and hygiene attributes: visitors’ intention to receive robot-delivered hospitality services
Authors: Parvez M. Omar , Eluwole Kayode Kolawole , Lasisi Taiwo Temitope
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate tourists’ intentions to use hotel service robots with a focus on safety and hygiene. It examines the impact of perceived safety, health awareness and service assurance on consumer engagement and robot usage.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data from 275 participants with experience in robotic service were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The study used purposive sampling and collected data via the Prolific platform, using SEM and SmartPLS Ver. 3.0 for analysis.

Findings

Results indicate customers prioritize safety and hygiene, valuing effective service responses and cleanliness. Perceived robotic safety and service assurance positively influence personal engagement, with a preference for service robots among female guests.

Research limitations/implications

While emphasizing the importance of safety and service assurance in hotel robotics, the study acknowledges limitations in personalization and conclusive use of service robots.

Originality/value

This research contributes to understanding the role of perceived safety in service robot usage, highlighting the significance of user trust and comfort in human–robot interactions. It also explores the novel connection between service assurance and service robots, offering insights into robotic performance reliability in user-centric contexts.
Was the interest burden of the Ottoman public debt sustainable? A cliometric analysis
Authors: Hassan M. Kabir , Kazak Hasan , Akcan Melike Buse , Azazi Hasan
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the Ottoman Empire’s net interest payments and foreign debt were sustainable or not in terms of their burden on budget revenues, using the method of historical econometric analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the period between 1847 and 1882 of the Ottoman Empire is analyzed for sustainability analysis. Within the framework of the study, unit root tests and econometric analysis methods frequently used in the literature were used to analyze the sustainability of public debt. In the econometric analysis, in addition to various unit root tests, current econometric analysis methods, in particular Fourier expansion, were also used.

Findings

The results of econometric analyses showed that the burden of interest payments and foreign debt on the budget of the Ottoman state was unsustainable. This situation clearly shows the reason for the official bankruptcy of the Ottoman Empire, which was declared in 1875.

Practical implications

Although this study reveals the bankruptcy process of an important structure such as the Ottoman Empire in the historical process through econometric analyses, it also gives a very important message to today’s states. Accordingly, today’s state policies and decision-making mechanisms should take these results into account and strive to make the burden of public interest payments sustainable. It is believed that the study will shed light on the public finance policies of today’s states by drawing lessons from the collapse process of the Ottoman state.

Originality/value

Unlike the historical assessments in the literature on the decline of the Ottoman Empire, this study presents a cliometric approach by applying current econometric analysis techniques to past historical data. The study explains the unsustainability of the Ottoman Empire’s interest payments and external debt burden in the period under consideration in a way that, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, has not been done before.
Limited partners’ contribution to venture capital fund returns: newbies versus experienced
Authors: Abdou Khaled , Gupta Paramita
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate limited partners’ (LPs) influence on venture capital (VC) fund returns.

Design/methodology/approach

We merge data from Preqin and SDC’s VentureXpert spanning from 1993 to 2014 and conduct multiple regression analysis to examine the influence of LPs on VC fund performance. Additionally, we conduct three distinct robustness tests to verify the credibility of our findings.

Findings

Our empirical analysis demonstrates that newbie LPs consistently exert a significant positive influence on VC fund returns.

Research limitations/implications

VC and LP data is self-reported, and there is no comprehensive dataset as some LPs prefer to maintain anonymity.

Originality/value

Extant literature on LPs’ contribution to VC fund performance is limited. The general assumption is that the role of LPs in VC fund performance is confined to funding. We introduce a new variable, LP track record, as a proxy for LP experience to examine if this variable influences VC performance.
Simplifying finite elements analysis of four-point bending tests for flip chip microcomponents
Authors: Mecellem Amer , Belhenini Soufyane , Khelladi Douaa , Richard Caroline
Published: April 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a simplifying approach for modelling a reliability test. Modelling the reliability tests of printed circuit board (PCB)/microelectronic component assemblies requires the adoption of several simplifying assumptions. This study introduces and validates simplified assumptions for modeling a four-point bend test on a PCB/wafer-level chip scale packaging assembly.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, simplifying assumptions were used. These involved substituting dynamic imposed displacement loading with an equivalent static loading, replacing the spherical shape of the interconnections with simplified shapes (cylindrical and cubic) and transitioning from a three-dimensional modelling approach to an equivalent two-dimensional model. The validity of these simplifications was confirmed through both quantitative and qualitative comparisons of the numerical results obtained. The maximum principal plastic strain in the solder balls and copper pads served as the criteria for comparison.

Findings

The simplified hypotheses were validated through quantitative and qualitative comparisons of the results from various models. Consequently, it was determined that the replacement of dynamic loading with equivalent static loading had no significant impact on the results. Similarly, substituting the spherical shape of interconnections with an equivalent shape and transitioning from a three-dimensional approach to a two-dimensional one did not substantially affect the precision of the obtained results.

Originality/value

This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers seeking to model accelerated reliability tests, particularly in the context of four-point bending tests. The results obtained in this study will assist other researchers in streamlining their numerical models, thereby reducing calculation costs through the utilization of the simplified hypotheses introduced and validated herein.
The effects of the Russia–Ukraine war and the Wagner Group coup on defense stocks in Europe: an event study analysis
Authors: Covachev Svetoslav , Fazakas Gergely
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of the beginning of the Russia–Ukraine war and the Wagner Group’s attempted military coup against Putin’s regime on the European defense sector, consisting of weapons manufacturers.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use the event study methodology to quantify the impact. That is, the authors assume that markets are efficient, and abnormal stock returns around the event dates capture the magnitudes of the impacts of the two events studied on European defense sector companies. The authors use the capital asset pricing model and two different multifactor models to estimate expected stock returns, which serve as the benchmark necessary to obtain abnormal returns.

Findings

The start of the war on February 24, 2022, when the Russian forces invaded Ukraine, was followed by high positive abnormal returns of up to 12% in the next few days. The results are particularly strong if multiple factors are used to control for the risk of the defense stocks. Conversely, the authors find a negative impact of the rebellion initiated by the mercenary Wagner Group’s chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, on June 23, 2023, on the abnormal returns of defense industry stocks on the first trading day after the event.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of the impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on the defense sector. Furthermore, this is the first study to measure the financial implications of the military coup initiated by the Wagner Group. The findings contribute to a rapidly growing literature on the financial implications of military conflicts around the world.
Supporting PK-12 continuous school improvement efforts in a school–university partnership network
Authors: Savick Stephanie L. , Watson Lauren
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This paper will discuss one university’s efforts to initiate a process to better support PK-12 continuous school improvement goals for all 13 schools in their PDS network as a way to broaden the university’s mission and respond more formally to the individual school communities with which they partner.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual in that it presents an innovative idea to stimulate discussion, generate new ideas and advance thinking about cross-institutional collaboration between universities and professional development schools.

Findings

The paper provides insights and ideas for bringing about change and growth in a seasoned PDS partnership network by connecting PK-12 continuous school improvement efforts to PDS partnership work.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to study how seasoned partnerships can participate in simultaneous renewal by offering ideas that school–university partnership leaders can build upon as they make efforts to participate in the process of growth and change.
Cutaneous adverse events following COVID‐19 vaccination: A case series of 30 Japanese patients and a review of 93 Japanese studies
Authors: Baba Atsunori , Yamada Kiyoko , Kanekura Takuro
Published: April 2024

In Japan, cutaneous adverse events (AEs) following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination have been frequently described; however, a larger case series and literature review are lacking. There is an urgent need for an extensive investigation of new cases and previous reports to provide a thorough body of information about post‐COVID‐19 immunization cutaneous AEs. We aimed to analyze patients with cutaneous AEs after COVID‐19 vaccination in our hospital and review previous studies of cutaneous AEs. We analyzed post‐COVID‐19 vaccination cutaneous AEs in our department, the Japanese Registry, and previous literature. We enrolled 30 patients with cutaneous post‐vaccination AEs in our department over 2 years (April 1, 2021, to March 31, 2023). We also confirmed cases registered in the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare COVID‐19 vaccine side effect reporting system (February 17, 2021–March 12, 2023). A total of 587 records were retrieved and 93 articles were included for data extraction. A total of 28 non‐injection‐site cutaneous AEs and two injection‐site AEs were identified. Six (20.0%) patients developed new‐onset erythematous eruptions, and five (16.7%) patients developed urticaria. Pruritic eruption, eczema, shingles, and sweating symptoms have also been reported. In previous studies on non‐injection‐site cutaneous AEs, individuals who received the BNT162b2 vaccine were older than those who received mRNA‐1273 (P < 0.01). Cutaneous AEs were mostly nonsignificant and self‐limiting reactions; however, rare, severe, or life‐threatening AEs were also reported. Physicians should be aware of the various possible cutaneous AEs associated with the COVID‐19 vaccination.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis complicated with primary cutaneous aspergillosis: A report of four cases
Authors: Liu Qianru , Su Huilin , Hong Chunli , Han Jiande , Chen Xiaohong , Tang Xuhua
Published: April 2024

Primary cutaneous aspergillosis (PCA) is a rare opportunistic infection caused by Aspergillus that can be life‐threatening. PCA is mainly reported in immunocompromised hosts such as patients with AIDS, those with hematologic malignancy, or infants with occlusive dressings. However, no study has previously reported PCA associated with toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). This study reports four cases of TEN complicated with PCA, presenting with discrete gray or black spots over newly formed epithelia. Risk factors of PCA in patients with TEN include host factors, iatrogenic factors, indoor environment, and wound care. Two of the four cases eventually died, highlighting the importance of further exploring PCA in patients with TEN.
Strategic postponement of coalition policymaking in European Parliamentary democracies
Authors: LU XIAO
Published: April 2024

Coalition policymaking concerns not only who decides what in which jurisdiction but also when, how speedy and in what rhythm. Due to the limited time budget and shadow of future elections, parties in charge of respective ministerial portfolios have to strategically organize their policy agendas to trade off between policy and electoral incentives in the face of coalition partners who monitor and control ministerial autonomy. However, despite the burgeoning literature on coalition governance, the temporal dimension of ministerial agenda control is less well understood. I advance this research by proposing a model to directly account for the influence of time budgets on timing decisions of ministers in policy initiation. In this model, I distinguish between different timing strategies of policy initiation a ministerial party may possibly adopt and identify in equilibrium a conditional postponing strategy by which ministers facing high scrutiny of coalition partners will postpone bill initiation till the end of the term. The empirical examination lends support to my argument and further demonstrates that the timing strategy of ministers can also be influenced by coalition conflict and policy saliency of bills.
Toward sustainable climate action in advanced economies: Linking information communication technology, technological innovation, economic complexity, and ecological footprint
Authors: Onwe Joshua Chukwuma , Nathaniel Solomon Prince , Ansari Mohd Arshad
Published: April 2024

Information and communication technology (ICT), technological innovation, and renewable energy (REN) consumption have been proffered as solutions to the recent environmental tragedies in developed countries. In recent times, ICT diffusion and technological innovation have improved in G7 countries, but the same cannot be said of REN consumption. As such, this study examines the link between ICT, economic complexity, technological innovation, REN, and ecological footprint (EF) for G7 countries over the period 1990–2020. We use three variables (fixed telephone subscriptions [FTS], mobile cellular subscriptions [MCS], and individuals using the internet [IUI]) to represent ICT. The presence of cross‐sectional dependence guides the use of second‐generation econometric methods for slope heterogeneity, unit root, cointegration, and parameter estimation. The augment mean group (AMG) estimator and panel OLS techniques are applied to complement the method of moment quantile regression (MM‐QR) approach. The MM‐QR results suggest that REN consumption and technological innovation impede the EF across all quantile levels (0.1–0.9), whereas economic growth and economic complexity augment the EF in G7 countries. The ICT variables have heterogeneous effects on the EF, suggesting that the impact of ICT on the EF depends on the estimation techniques and proxy for the variable. In line with these outcomes, public policies directed toward funding technological innovation projects are recommended. The funding should specifically focus on environmentally friendly technologies that can guarantee complementarity between reduced environmental damage and increased economic growth.
Modeling the influence of mineral rents and low‐carbon energy on environmental quality: New insights from a sustainability perspective
Authors: Caglar Abdullah Emre , Daştan Muhammet , Avci Salih Bortecine , Ahmed Zahoor , Gönenç Senem
Published: April 2024

In recent decades, the detrimental impacts of climate change have been increasingly felt worldwide. This is due to the extreme consumption of natural resources to fuel economic activity. Confronting a widening ecological deficit, humanity must urgently accelerate its journey toward sustainable development goals (SDGs). This demands active efforts to curb environmental pollution and protect natural resources, safeguarding the planet for future generations. Since Brazil has high biocapacity and ecological areas, the impact of energy resources on ecological sustainability policies cannot be excluded. Moreover, Brazil holds a vital position in the world for global foreign direct investment flows. In this regard, this paper considers the asymmetric impact of mineral rents and foreign direct investments when investigating Brazil's environmental sustainability. In addition, it evaluates elements like economic growth and low‐carbon energy consumption from 1970 to 2021. To this end, the research applies the Fourier nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model and draws three significant conclusions. First, resource extraction undermines environmental sustainability. Second, the inflow of foreign direct investment reduces the load capacity factor, implying that the pollution haven hypothesis holds for Brazil. Third, low‐carbon energy consumption contributes to environmental sustainability. Our findings highlight the critical role of regulating mineral resource rents in achieving SDGs in Brazil. Moreover, increasing investment in clean energy sources and transitioning toward low‐carbon energy can promote sustainable development in Brazil. The Brazilian government should abandon mineral extraction, focus on low‐carbon energy consumption, and prevent companies from destroying nature by introducing strict environmental regulations for foreign investment flows.
Probiotic properties and the ameliorative effect on DSS‐induced colitis of human milk–derived Lactobacillus gasseri SHMB 0001
Authors: Wang Xufei , Dong Fang , Liu Gaojie , Ye Lin , Xiao Fangfei , Li Xiaolu , Zhang Ting , Wang Yizhong
Published: April 2024

Human milk contains a variety of microorganisms that exert benefit for human health. In the current study, we isolated a novel Lactobacillus gasseri strain named Lactobacillus gasseri (L. gasseri) SHMB 0001 from human milk and aimed to evaluate the probiotic characteristics and protective effects on murine colitis of the strain. The results showed that L. gasseri SHMB 0001 possessed promising potential probiotic characteristics, including good tolerance against artificial gastric and intestinal fluids, adhesion to Caco‐2 cells, susceptibility to antibiotic, no hemolytic activity, and without signs of toxicity or infection in mice. Administration of L. gasseri SHMB 0001 (1 × 108 CFU per gram of mouse weight per day) reduced weight loss, the disease activity index, and colon shortening in mice during murine colitis conditions. Histopathological analysis revealed that L. gasseri SHMB 0001 treatment attenuated epithelial damage and inflammatory infiltration in the colon. L. gasseri SHMB 0001 treatment increased the expression of colonic occludin and claudin‐1 while decreasing the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokine genes. L. gasseri SHMB 0001 modified the composition and structure of the gut microbiota community and partially recovered the Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) metabolic pathways altered by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Overall, our results indicated that the human breast milk–derived L. gasseri SHMB 0001 exhibited promising probiotic properties and ameliorative effect on DSS‐induced colitis in mice. L. gasseri SHMB 0001 may be applied as a promising probiotic against intestinal inflammation in the future.

Practical Application

L. gasseri SHMB 0001 isolated from human breast milk showed good tolerance to gastrointestinal environment, safety, and protective effect against DSS‐induced mice colitis via enforcing gut barrier, downregulating pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and modulating gut microbiota. L. gasseri SHMB 0001 may be a promising probiotic candidate for the treatment of intestinal inflammation.
Surgical outcomes for non‐small cell lung cancer in younger adults: A population‐based study
Authors: Zhang Zhirong , Huo Huandong , Li Feng , Miao Jinbai , Hu Bin , Chen Shuo
Published: April 2024

Background

The surgical outcomes for younger patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features long‐term survival outcomes in younger individuals with NSCLC following surgery.

Methods

We queried the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database from 2010 to 2017, selecting all pathologically confirmed NSCLC cases that underwent cancer‐directed surgery. Younger patients were defined as those aged 18–50 years, while older patients were 51–80 years. Propensity score matching (PSM) was implemented to mitigate selection bias. Overall survival (OS) and lung cancer‐specific survival (LCSS) were compared using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

Among the 33 586 treated surgically patients, 2223 (6.6%) were young. Compared to the older group, younger patients had a higher frequency of female gender, non‐white ethnicity, carcinoid tumors, stage IV disease, pneumonectomy, and postoperative adjuvant therapies. The 5‐year OS rates were significantly higher for younger patients (79.3% vs. 62.0%; p < 0.001), as were the 5‐year LCSS rates (82.4% vs. 71.8%; p < 0.001). Post‐PSM, younger patients consistently demonstrated significantly better OS and LCSS. Further stage‐specific analysis revealed significantly improved 5‐year OS rates at each stage and superior 5‐year LCSS for stages I–II among younger patients. However, there was no statistically significant difference in LCSS for stages III–IV.

Conclusions

Overall, younger patients with NSCLC treated surgically exhibit superior OS and LCSS compared to their older counterparts, although no statistically significant difference in LCSS for stages III–IV was observed between the two age groups.
Using camera traps and N‐mixture models to estimate population abundance: Model selection really matters
Authors: Koetke Lisa Jeanne , Hodder Dexter P. , Johnson Chris J.
Published: April 2024

Estimating the abundance or density of wildlife populations is a critical part of species conservation and management, but estimates can vary greatly in precision and accuracy according to the sampling and statistical methods, sampling and ecological variation, and sample size.

We used images of moose (Alces americanus) from camera traps to parameterize N‐mixture models and tested the effect of ecological conditions, the spatial scale of measurement, and the criteria used to define independent detections on estimates of population abundance. We compared the model estimates to those generated empirically with aerial survey data, the standard method for many species of ungulate. We explored the sensitivity of estimates to model choice based on the common statistical criterion of parsimony.

The two most parsimonious N‐mixture models (i.e. AICc) were considerably biased, producing implausibly large and considerably imprecise estimates of abundance. Most of the other models produced estimates of moose abundance that were ecologically realistic and relatively accurate. The accuracy of population estimates produced by N‐mixture models was not overly sensitive to the formulation of models, the scale at which ecological conditions were measured, or the criteria used to define independent detection and by extension sample size.

Our results suggested that parsimony was a poor measure of the predictive accuracy of the population estimates produced with the N‐mixture model. We recommend using a suite of models to generate predictions of abundance instead of the single top‐ranked model. Collecting and processing data from the aerial survey was less expensive and took less time, but data from camera traps provided a broader set of insights into the behaviour of moose and the co‐occurrence of competitors and predators.
Paternal peri‐conceptional physical activity and the risk of congenital heart disease in offspring: A case–control study
Authors: Atieh Ornina , Azzi Nohad Maria J. , Lteif Georges J. , Atieh Ninar A. , Germanos Nadim Y. , Grandjean Valérie , Yarkiner Zalihe , Saliba Zakhia , Khalife Marie‐Claude Fadous , Raad Georges
Published: April 2024

Background

Genetic and environmental factors have been shown to contribute to the development of congenital heart disease (CHD). To date, the focus of scientific articles has primarily centered on genetics and maternal environmental factors, with comparatively less attention given to paternal risk factors.

Objectives

This study aims to investigate the potential association between paternal pre‐conceptional physical activity levels (PA), along with paternal peri‐conceptional smoking and alcohol consumption, and the risk of CHD in offspring.

Materials and methods

An observational case–control study was conducted in Lebanon, with 279 participants, aiming to investigate potential risk factors for CHD. We included children with confirmed CHD, born between 2012 and 2022. Controls born in the same timeframe were selected randomly from the general population using online questionnaire forms. Mean age of children included was 6 years old (0–10). The pre‐conceptional PA was assessed using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire validated in Arabic. In addition, paternal smoking, alcohol consumption, and maternal risk factors were collected.

Results

The study included 128 CHD cases (45.9%) and their parents, as well as 151 healthy infants (54.1%) and their parents. There were no statistically significant variations in the alcohol consumption noted between the fathers in the case and control groups (p = 0.18). The paternal involvement in recreational‐related PA during the peri‐conception period was associated with a reduced risk of the CHD development in offspring by 46.9% (OR = 0.531, 95% CI: 0.301–0.936, p = 0.029). Additionally, increasing paternal total sitting time by 1 h above the average, which was approximately 260 min (4 h), increased the risk of CHD in offspring by 0.4% (p = 0.001). Moreover, paternal smoking exhibited an apparent association with a 56% increased risk of offspring developing CHD, notwithstanding that the confidence intervals included the null (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 0.86–2.8, p = 0.136).

Discussion and conclusion

This observational study is the first to report a potential association between paternal PA, and CHD in offspring. This study aligns with previous reports, advocating for the paternal engagement in PA and the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits, especially during the critical stages of conception. Such practices are strongly recommended to enhance fertility and promote optimal health for offspring. However, due to the subjectivity in reporting PA and lack of molecular proof, additional prospective and molecular studies are required to validate these findings.
The emperor's new glass: The introduction of Carolingian wood ash glass in North Sea trade
Authors: Barfod Gry H. , Feveile Lene L. , Sindbæk Søren M.
Published: April 2024

Micro‐X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) screening of 244 glass sherds from Ribe, Denmark, identified 23 wood ash glasses. The closely dated finds pinpoint the arrival of the earliest wood ash glass produced in Western Europe in this important North Sea trading hub. This glass type was absent among glass from 700 to 790 CE but feature strongly from 790 to 810 CE. Electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) analysis of 24 glasses show the presence of four types. We show the strengths of classifying wood ash glass based on the glass‐producing sands and conclude that the earliest production took place on a considerable scale and had a major impact on glass circulation in Northern Europe in the ninth century.
Mobilizing ideas of order: Burden‐sharing in the US–Japan and ANZUS alliances
Authors: Dell'Era Alice , Martín Félix E.
Published: April 2024

Debates on allies' contributions to alliances focus mainly on the material dimension. Accordingly, smaller partners are often belittled for failing to contribute their fair share to their defensive alliances with more powerful allies. While acknowledging that junior partners’ contributions do not match the same level of material capabilities provided by a more significant power like the United States, this study highlights the importance of other intangible contributions. We argue that defensive alliances during peacetime require a crucial, albeit overlooked, ideational contribution by all allies. We examine the US–Japan and ANZUS alliances to explore the process through which junior partners advance the interests of an alliance through ideational contributions. Our findings reveal that Japan and Australia contribute to their respective alliances with the United States by mobilizing fundamental ideas and norms that sustain and promote a specific global order and security vision. We maintain that such intangible contributions are necessary for alliance success.
Exploring the interplay: Maternal electronic health literacy and its impact on early childhood development and parenting practices
Authors: Oflu Ayse , Yalcin Siddika Songul
Published: April 2024

Background

Mothers need a competent electronic health literacy (eHL) skill for beneficial gains for the health of their children in the virtual environment, which is a new health platform. We predict that a competent eHL of mothers who play a central role in early childhood will positively affect the health of their children. This study aimed to determine the level of eHL of mothers of young children and investigate the relationship between mothers' eHL and early childhood development (ECD) and early parenting practices (EPP).

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted on mothers with children aged 36–59 months using eHealth. Sociodemographic and personal characteristics form, Early Childhood Development Module and eHealth Literacy Scale were administered to the participating mothers.

Results

The data from 440 mother–child pairs were analysed. Children of mothers with sufficient eHL levels were more likely to be Early Childhood Development Index (ECDI)‐on‐track, adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.16 (1.29–3.61); have adequate support in learning, AOR (%95 CI): 3.23 (1.69–6.18); and have adequate daily meals and snacks, AOR (%95 CI): 2.43 (1.56–3.78).

Conclusion

These results revealed that there is a need for interventions that will contribute to child health by improving mothers' eHL levels.
Radiotherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy for multifocal intracranial and intramedullary Rosai–Dorfman disease
Authors: D'Oria Salvatore , Rossitto Martina , Giraldi David , Fanelli Vincenzo , Bonaparte Ilaria , Ciliberti Maria Paola , Fiorentino Alba
Published: April 2024

Background

We present a case of a 51‐year‐old man affected by Rosai–Dorfman disease with multiple disseminated intraparenchymal and a single spinal cord localization, presenting with dysphasia and paraparesis.

Case Presentation

The patient elected to receive medical steroidal therapy and two radiotherapy cycles. Steroids allowed initial regression of some lesions, while radiotherapy constituted an optimal maintenance treatment. At 6‐year follow up, the patient did not develop any new neurological damage in respect to baseline.

Conclusions

Adjuvant therapy with radiotherapy and steroidal therapy is a valid option in multicentric Rosai–Dorfman disease patients not eligible for surgery.
Hippocampal sclerosis and temporal lobe epilepsy following febrile status epilepticus: The FEBSTAT study
Authors: Lewis Darrell V. , Voyvodic James , Shinnar Shlomo , Chan Stephen , Bello Jacqueline A. , Moshé Solomon L. , Nordli Douglas R. , Frank L. Matthew , Pellock John M. , Hesdorffer Dale C. , Xu Yuan , Shinnar Ruth C. , Seinfeld Syndi , Epstein Leon G. , Masur David , Gallentine William , Weiss Erica , Deng Xiaoyan , Sun Shumei ,   the FEBSTAT Study Team
Published: April 2024

Objective

This study was undertaken to determine whether hippocampal T2 hyperintensity predicts sequelae of febrile status epilepticus, including hippocampal atrophy, sclerosis, and mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Methods

Acute magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained within a mean of 4.4 (SD = 5.5, median = 2.0) days after febrile status on >200 infants with follow‐up MRI at approximately 1, 5, and 10 years. Hippocampal size, morphology, and T2 signal intensity were scored visually by neuroradiologists blinded to clinical details. Hippocampal volumetry provided quantitative measurement. Upon the occurrence of two or more unprovoked seizures, subjects were reassessed for epilepsy. Hippocampal volumes were normalized using total brain volumes.

Results

Fourteen of 22 subjects with acute hippocampal T2 hyperintensity returned for follow‐up MRI, and 10 developed definite hippocampal sclerosis, which persisted through the 10‐year follow‐up. Hippocampi appearing normal initially remained normal on visual inspection. However, in subjects with normal‐appearing hippocampi, volumetrics indicated that male, but not female, hippocampi were smaller than controls, but increasing hippocampal asymmetry was not seen following febrile status. Forty‐four subjects developed epilepsy; six developed mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and, of the six, two had definite, two had equivocal, and two had no hippocampal sclerosis. Only one subject developed mesial temporal epilepsy without initial hyperintensity, and that subject had hippocampal malrotation. Ten‐year cumulative incidence of all types of epilepsy, including mesial temporal epilepsy, was highest in subjects with initial T2 hyperintensity and lowest in those with normal signal and no other brain abnormalities.

Significance

Hippocampal T2 hyperintensity following febrile status epilepticus predicted hippocampal sclerosis and significant likelihood of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Normal hippocampal appearance in the acute postictal MRI was followed by maintained normal appearance, symmetric growth, and lower risk of epilepsy. Volumetric measurement detected mildly decreased hippocampal volume in males with febrile status.
Genetic load and viability of a future restored northern white rhino population
Authors: Wilder Aryn P. , Steiner Cynthia C. , Hendricks Sarah , Haller Benjamin C. , Kim Chang , Korody Marisa L. , Ryder Oliver A.
Published: April 2024

As biodiversity loss outpaces recovery, conservationists are increasingly turning to novel tools for preventing extinction, including cloning and in vitro gametogenesis of biobanked cells. However, restoration of populations can be hindered by low genetic diversity and deleterious genetic load. The persistence of the northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) now depends on the cryopreserved cells of 12 individuals. These banked genomes have higher genetic diversity than southern white rhinos (C. s. simum), a sister subspecies that successfully recovered from a severe bottleneck, but the potential impact of genetic load is unknown. We estimated how demographic history has shaped genome‐wide genetic load in nine northern and 13 southern white rhinos. The bottleneck left southern white rhinos with more fixed and homozygous deleterious alleles and longer runs of homozygosity, whereas northern white rhinos retained more deleterious alleles masked in heterozygosity. To gauge the impact of genetic load on the fitness of a northern white rhino population restored from biobanked cells, we simulated recovery using fitness of southern white rhinos as a benchmark for a viable population. Unlike traditional restoration, cell‐derived founders can be reintroduced in subsequent generations to boost lost genetic diversity and relieve inbreeding. In simulations with repeated reintroduction of founders into a restored population, the fitness cost of genetic load remained lower than that borne by southern white rhinos. Without reintroductions, rapid growth of the restored population (>20–30% per generation) would be needed to maintain comparable fitness. Our results suggest that inbreeding depression from genetic load is not necessarily a barrier to recovery of the northern white rhino and demonstrate how restoration from biobanked cells relieves some constraints of conventional restoration from a limited founder pool. Established conservation methods that protect healthy populations will remain paramount, but emerging technologies hold promise to bolster these tools to combat the extinction crisis.
Atlanto‐occipital fracture: Intrathecal corticosteroid medication of the subarachnoid space—A novel treatment method
Authors: Hall Suzy , Meehan‐Howard Lucy , Prutton Jamie
Published: April 2024

This case report describes the successful conservative management of a comminuted fracture of the atlas and occiput involving the atlanto‐occipital joint. To the authors' knowledge, treatment of fractures involving the atlanto‐occipital joint in the horse and intrathecal subarachnoid space corticosteroid injection in the standing sedated patient has not been previously reported. Clinical signs following atlanto‐occipital (AO) fracture included acute onset ataxia, proprioceptive deficits and neck stiffness; which developed immediately post‐trauma during head and tail rope‐assisted recovery from general anaesthesia. Radiographic examination was not diagnostic immediately post‐trauma and computed tomography (CT) imaging subsequently identified articular fractures of the atlas and occiput. Treatment included ultrasound‐guided intrathecal medication of the subarachnoid space and intra‐articular medication of the left AO joint under standing sedation. Medication resulted in a marked improvement in clinical signs (grade 4 ataxia to grade 1 ataxia) and a return to ridden exercise 12 months post‐injury.
Climbing mechanisms as a central trait to understand the ecology of lianas across the tropics
Authors: Dias Arildo S. , Oliveira Rafael S. , Martins Fernando R. , Bongers Frans , Anten Niels P. R. , Sterck Frank J.
Published: April 2024

Aims

Lianas are a central component of tropical forests. However, how the type of climbing mechanisms is related to the functional and taxonomic diversity of lianas across the tropics, remains largely unresolved. Here, we tested two main hypotheses: (i) the functional diversity of lianas differs with climbing mechanism (active and passive) and (ii) the association between taxonomic diversity with contemporary climate, paleoclimate, forest structure and phylogeny differ between climbing mechanisms.

Location

Tropical forests.

Time Period

Present.

Major Taxa Studied

Terrestrial plants.

Methods

We assembled functional traits and the type of climbing mechanism for 702 liana species and used the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP v.2.0) to standardize species names, map geographical distribution and estimate taxonomic richness. We used kernel density n‐dimensional hypervolume to estimate the functional diversity of each type of climbing mechanism. We compared the environmental response of taxonomic richness of each type of climbing mechanism, active and passive, to the response of overall liana species richness. We assessed the magnitude and direction of the environmental response considering variables of climate, soil fertility and forest structure.

Results

We found that active climbing exhibits a higher functional richness than passive climbing. Richness patterns of active and passive climbing mechanisms were mainly driven by contemporary climate, paleoclimate and phylogenetic relatedness. More importantly, paleoclimate was negatively associated with active climbing and positively associated with passive climbing.

Main Conclusions

Our study highlights differences in functional diversity (richness, dispersion, evenness and originality) between active and passive climbing species, likely reflecting their distinct ecological strategies for resource use, stress tolerance and dispersal. Integrating taxonomic and functional diversity metrics with information about the type of climbing mechanism provides deeper insights into the ecology and response of lianas to climate change.
The imagined island: Colonialism and constructed remoteness on Diego Garcia
Authors: Motluk Kate
Published: April 2024

Colonial powers have long used islands and island forms for imperial projects, including military bases, weapons testing, resource mining and migrant detention. In order to pursue these interests, colonial powers have often sought geographically remote sites, but they further rely on the construction of remoteness. This article reflects on the colonial construction of remoteness by analysing the case study of Diego Garcia. The militarised atoll of Diego Garcia is one in a chain of islands that make up the British Indian Ocean Territory, the last colony created by the British government. While Diego Garcia is now under British sovereign control, the island was brutally cleared of its Indigenous inhabitants to make way for a joint British‐American military base. By detailing the ways in which ‘remoteness’ has affected the Indigenous Chagossians, ‘war on terror’ detainees, asylum‐seekers and migrant workers, this article demonstrates how colonial powers deploy remoteness as a way of distancing groups deemed ‘other’ from rights. Additionally, colonial powers use ‘remoteness’ to paradoxically protect their own proximity to colonial interests, including geopolitically significant sites for military installations.
Regional development policy in Galilee periphery in Israel
Authors: Arie Herscovici , Osnat Akirav
Published: April 2024

In Israel, regional clusters serve as a mechanism for regional development, achieved through the integration of interests, pooling of resources, knowledge transfer, and the facilitation of agglomerations. This study gains insights from two EU regional development programs, LEADER and URBACT, to potentially benefit the regional clusters in Galilee, Israel's northern periphery. The research examined five municipal clusters in Galilee, aiming to identify their distinct characteristics and place them within a wider theoretical and comparative framework. A qualitative research approach was adopted, involving semi‐structured interviews with the clusters' CEOs and an analysis of pertinent policy documents. The findings suggest that Galilee's municipal clusters encounter challenges similar to those faced by the EU's LEADER and URBACT programs. These include establishing regional networks, achieving recognition for their capabilities, and cultivating trust and cooperation gradually. The CEOs shared their experiences in navigating the challenges posed by wary mayors and government ministries. The recognized success of these clusters, as evidenced in policy documents, could signify a shift from Israel's traditional centralist political culture to a more decentralized power structure.
Considerable interlaboratory variation in PD‐L1 positivity for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the Netherlands— A nationwide evaluation study
Authors: Hempenius Maaike Anna , Koomen Bregje M , Deckers Ivette A G , Oosting Sjoukje F , Willems Stefan M , van der Vegt Bert
Published: April 2024

Aims

Patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are eligible for first‐line immune checkpoint inhibition if their tumour is positive for programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) determined by the combined positive score (CPS). This nationwide study, using real‐world data, investigated the developing PD‐L1 testing landscape in the first 3 years after introduction of the test in HNSCC and examined interlaboratory variation in PD‐L1 positivity rates.

Methods

Pathology reports of HNSCC patients mentioning PD‐L1 were extracted from the Dutch Pathology Registry (Palga). Tumour and PD‐L1 testing characteristics were analysed per year and interlaboratory variation in PD‐L1 positivity rates was assessed using funnel plots with 95% confidence limits around the overall mean.

Results

A total of 817 PD‐L1 tests were reported in 702 patients among 19 laboratories; 85.2% of the tests on histological material were stated to be positive. The national PD‐L1 positivity rate differed significantly per year during the study period (79.7–89.9%). The use of the recommended 22C3 antibody increased from 59.9 to 74.3%. A total of 673 PD‐L1 tests on histological material from 12 laboratories were analysed to investigate interlaboratory variation. Four (33%) deviated significantly from the national mean of PD‐L1‐positive cases using CPS ≥ 1 cut‐off, while two (17%) deviated significantly for CPS ≥ 20 cut‐off.

Conclusion

In the first 3 years of PD‐L1 assessment in HNSCC, the testing landscape became more uniform. However, interlaboratory variation in PD‐L1 positivity rates between Dutch laboratories was substantial. This implies that there is a need for further test standardisation to reduce this variation.