bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging adult gamers and their diet – a socio-ecological approach to improve health behaviour
Authors: Micallef David , Parker Lukas , Brennan Linda , Schivinski Bruno , Jackson Michaela
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the opportunities and challenges to engage emerging adult gamers (aged 18–25) in adopting healthier diet behaviours through online games and related platforms such as esports and streaming. The study uses a socio-ecological approach to understand influences and suggests approaches to changing behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

Purposive and convenience sampling were used to identify (n = 13) online gaming industry professionals and emerging adult (EA) gamers for interview. Qualitative thematic analysis of data using NVivo was undertaken.

Findings

Bi-directional influences were found that are potentially impacting EA diet behaviours. Food industry advertising and sponsorships were identified as dominant influences within the behavioural ecology, using microcelebrities and esports events to target EAs. The study identifies a need for social marketers to engage EA gamers in healthful behaviours through interventions across various levels of the behavioural ecology, including those upstream with industry and potential government regulation, to promote better health and balance food marketing. It also identifies future research avenues for engaging gamers in good health.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the impact of the gaming behavioural ecology on EA diet behaviour. It identifies new channels that social marketers can use to engage EAs, who are difficult to reach through more traditional marketing channels.
E-payment adoption and utilization among micro-entrepreneurs: a comparative analysis between Indonesia and Malaysia
Authors: Trianto Budi , Nik Azman Nik Hadiyan , Masrizal Masrizal
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The development of financial technology (fintech), especially digital payments (e-payments), aims to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of economic transactions. This study aims to see the extent to which microentrepreneurs in Indonesia and Malaysia take advantage of the existence of e-payments in developing their business and the factors that influence the adoption of e-payments.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses qualitative and quantitative approach. For quantitative approach, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM 4.0) was used to analyze the data. Using the nonprobability convenient sampling technique, this study collected 400 respondents from microenterprises in Indonesia and Malaysia in various regions.

Findings

Most of the microentrepreneurs in Indonesia and Malaysia have used fintech platforms, especially e-wallet and ATM debit. However, for quick response code-based fintech for business transactions, most microentrepreneurs have not taken advantage of the platform. Then the results of the digital payment adoption factor also differ for each country.

Research limitations/implications

This study is valuable for decision-makers and regulators. These results can be used to find a roadmap for regulators to build a digital economy, especially digital payments for microenterprises in both countries. In addition, these results can be used as a basis for making policies regarding digital payments.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to compare e-payment adoption by microentrepreneurs in Indonesia and Malaysia. Indonesia and Malaysia are two countries in the Southeast Asia region that have great attention in fintech development. This study provides new insights about fintech, especially digital payments as a strategic approach in the digitalization era.
The relative valuation of cash flow and current accruals affected by their extremity
Authors: Mostafa Wael , Dixon Rob
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Recent studies on the securities market’s differential pricing of earnings components have shown that cash flow from operations is more highly valued than total accruals and that moderate cash flow from operations has higher valuation than extreme total accruals. An interesting question that follows is whether these findings hold regarding the differential valuations of cash flow and current accruals. This study aims to extend prior research by addressing this issue in two ways. First, the authors examine the incremental information content of cash flow from operations beyond working capital from operations. Second, the authors assess the effect of extreme working capital from operations on the incremental information content of cash flow from operations. This study aims to extend prior research by addressing this issue in two ways.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts market-based accounting research to test its hypotheses and to achieve its objectives. Specifically, this study uses statistical associations between accounting data and stock returns to examine the incremental information content (value relevance) of cash flow and working capital from operations and the effect of extreme working capital from operations on the incremental information content of cash flow.

Findings

The results show that cash flow from operations is not more highly valued than current accruals (both being valued equivalently). However, moderate cash flow from operations has higher valuation than extreme current accruals (each is valued differently). Overall, these research findings indicate that cash flow becomes more important for valuation as accruals get “extreme”.

Practical implications

As accruals are unlikely to persist to be permanent across the years, these results can be interpreted as indicating that cash flow and accruals information are used jointly by investors, with one being more important than the other depending on the relative “extremeness” of each. Therefore, both are of value to the investor and both should be reported.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the UK research on determining the preferred level of disaggregation of earnings components, i.e. operating cash flow, current accruals and non-current accruals. This would help investors to improve their investment and credit decisions.
Territorial disputes and affective polarization
Authors: BALCELLS LAIA , DANIELS LESLEY‐ANN , KUO ALEXANDER
Published: November 2023

Can territorial disputes within countries be a basis for affective polarization? If so, how does it vary across territories? A burgeoning literature on affective polarization has largely focused on partisan divisions; we argue that contentious political issues such as those relating to territorial integrity can also be a basis for such affective polarization, where citizens feel concord with those sharing such policy preferences and animus for those who do not. We specify hypotheses about territorial‐policy‐based affective polarization and bring comparative survey evidence from three European regions with salient and contentious territorial claims: Scotland, Catalonia and Northern Ireland. While these three cases encompass different outcomes of territorial disputes, our results show strikingly similar levels of affective polarization.
A fast method for fitting integrated species distribution models
Authors: Dovers Elliot , Popovic Gordana C. , Warton David I.
Published: November 2023

Integrated distribution models (IDMs) predict where species might occur using data from multiple sources, a technique thought to be especially useful when data from any individual source are scarce. Recent advances allow us to fit such models with latent terms to account for dependence within and between data sources, but they are computationally challenging to fit.

We propose a fast new methodology for fitting integrated distribution models using presence/absence and presence‐only data, via a spatial random effects approach combined with automatic differentiation. We have written an R package (called scampr) for straightforward implementation of our approach.

We use simulation to demonstrate that our approach has comparable performance to INLA—a common framework for fitting IDMs—but with computation times up to an order of magnitude faster. We also use simulation to look at when IDMs can be expected to outperform models fitted to a single data source, and find that the amount of benefit gained from using an IDM is a function of the relative amount of additional information available from incorporating a second data source into the model. We apply our method to predict 29 plant species in NSW, Australia, and find particular benefit in predictive performance when data from a single source are scarce and when compared to models for presence‐only data.

Our faster methods of fitting IDMs make it feasible to more deeply explore the model space (e.g. comparing different ways to model latent terms), and in future work, to consider extensions to more complex models, for example the multi‐species setting.
Unmasking bipolarity in recurrent depressive disorder following herpes simplex virus triggered n‐methyl‐D‐aspartate encephalitis
Authors: Narasimhappa Karthik , Mamtani Harkishan , Jain Kshiteeja , Holla Vikram V. , Ganjekar Sundarnag , Manjunath Netravathi , Kulanthaivelu Karthik , Desai Geetha
Published: November 2023

Objective

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection triggered n‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) encephalitis can lead to varied neuropsychiatric manifestations, including movement disorders and manic symptoms. HSV is known to affect the same brain regions as in secondary mania.

Method

We present a 35‐year‐old female diagnosed with recurrent depressive disorder (RDD) who developed NMDA encephalitis triggered by HSV infection.

Result

HSV‐triggered NMDA encephalitis led to a manic switch in a woman with RDD on antidepressants, along with the new onset of dyskinetic movements.

Conclusion

A neurological insult predisposed our patient to the variable effects of antidepressant drugs.
Processing speed and sustained attention in bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Little Bethany , Anwyll Megan , Norsworthy Laura , Corbett Luke , Schultz‐Froggatt Mia , Gallagher Peter
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Cognitive impairment is a core feature of bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Deficits in processing speed (PS) and sustained attention (SA) may be particularly impaired and may underpin a broader profile of deficits, however current knowledge of the nature of these impairments is limited by heterogeneous results in the literature. Few reviews to date have attempted to disentangle sources of heterogeneity to assess the presence and magnitude of impairments in PS and SA in BD and MDD.

Methods

One hundred and three studies were reviewed to examine performance in tests of PS and SA in BD (n = 3452) and MDD (n = 5461) compared to healthy controls (n = 8016). Neuropsychological methodology used in the literature was summarised. Data were meta‐analysed to assess impairments in PS and SA for each neuropsychological test separately. Subgroup analysis was performed across mood states to investigate sources of heterogeneity.

Results

Impairments were found across most neuropsychological tests, with small to large effect sizes for BD (range: d = 0.19–0.96) and MDD (range: d = 0.29–0.86). Impairments were present in symptomatic states and euthymia in most cases. Some outcome measures were not impaired in euthymia. Heterogeneity was observed for most neuropsychological tests and remained after separating by mood state. There inadequate data to meta‐analyse some outcome measures, particularly for symptomatic groups.

Conclusion

Impairments in PS and SA in BD and MDD can be observed across most neuropsychological tests. Future research should further investigate the nature of these impairments across mood states, controlling for clinical confounds.
β‐elemene enhances cisplatin sensitivity of non‐small cell lung cancer cells via the miR‐17‐5p/STAT3 axis
Authors: Qian Tian , Wenxian Tong , Anbing He
Published: November 2023

In China, β‐elemene, a sesquiterpene compound derived from Curcuma wenyujin, is clinically used to treat many human malignancies, including non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nonetheless, the role of β‐elemene in regulating cisplatin sensitivity of NSCLC cells and the related mechanisms are not clear. This study was conducted to investigate the role of β‐elemene in sensitizing NSCLC cells to cisplatin. In this work, cisplatin‐resistant NSCLC cell lines were constructed. CCK‐8, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays were executed to examine cell viability, growth, and apoptosis. MiR‐17‐5p and STAT3 expression levels in cells were detected by qRT‐PCR. Western blot was executed to determine the expression levels of STAT3 and apoptosis‐related proteins (Bax and Bcl‐2) in the cells. Dual‐luciferase reporter gene experiments were performed to verify the targeting relationship between miR‐17‐5p and STAT3. Herein, we report that, β‐elemene inhibits the viability, and induces the apoptosis of cisplatin‐resistant NSCLC cells. Additionally, β‐elemene induces the upregulation miR‐17‐5p and downregulation of STAT3. STAT3 is validated to be a target of miR‐17‐5p in NSCLC cells. Additionally, the role of β‐elemene to repress the viability of cisplatin‐resistant NSCLC cells is partially counteracted by miR‐17‐5p inhibitor or STAT3 overexpression. In summary, our study suggests that β‐elemene enhances cisplatin sensitivity of NSCLC cells by modulating miR‐17‐5p/STAT3 axis, and it may be a choice for the complementary treatment of NSCLC patients.
The effect of lower limb strengthening exercise on orthostatic blood pressure and the skeletal muscle pump in older people with orthostatic hypotension
Authors: Frith James , Robinson Lisa , Gibbon Jake Ryan , Allen John
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Activation of muscles during standing is recommended to activate the skeletal muscle pump, increasing venous return and increasing blood pressure (BP) in people with orthostatic hypotension (OH).

Aim

The aim of this study is to determine if increasing the strength of the lower limb muscles can improve the effectiveness of the venous pump and postural BP in older people with OH.

Methods

Ten older people with OH underwent an 8‐week lower limb strengthening intervention. Repeated measurements of orthostatic BP, calf venous ejection fraction (EF) and muscle strength took place before, during and after intervention.

Results

The intervention increased calf muscle strength by 21% (interquartile range: 18–28), p = 0.018, from a median baseline of 38 (34–45) kg. Participants had normal levels of venous EF 64% (51–75) at baseline, with little to no venous reflux. The median ejection volume at baseline was 44 (36–58) mL per calf. Despite increasing muscle strength, venous EF did not increase (percentage change −10% (−16 to 24), p = 0.8) and systolic BP drop did not improve (percentage change 0% (−17 to 16), p = 1.0). Similarly, visual analysis of individual case‐series trends revealed increasing muscle strength with no clinically meaningful change in EF or orthostatic BP.

Conclusions

Muscle strengthening exercise does not increase the effectiveness of the skeletal muscle pump and is not an efficacious intervention for OH. As there is little to no venous pooling in the calf during standing in older people with OH, below knee compression is unlikely to be clinically effective.
Kidney donor age of 50 years or above is a risk factor for calcineurin inhibitor‐induced nephrotoxicity
Authors: Takada Yusuke , Tanabe Tatsu , Sasaki Hajime , Tsujimoto Takashi , Hotta Kiyohiko , Okada Kazufumi , Shiono Yutaka , Minami Keita , Tanaka Hiroshi , Harada Hiroshi
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)‐induced nephrotoxicity (CNI‐T) is a post‐transplantation complication that leads to graft dysfunction. Older‐donor kidney grafts may be susceptible to chronic CNI exposure because of long‐term arteriolar damage. The primary aim of this study was to examine the CNI‐T incidence and time‐course changes in the graft function according to donor age.

Methods

We included 334 kidney transplant recipients. CNI‐T was defined by Banff arteriolar hyaline thickening scores of ≥2 based on allograft protocol biopsy. Depending on donor age, participants were divided into the D > 70 (≥70 years), D60 (60–69 years), D50 (50–59 years), and D < 49: (≤49 years) groups. We investigated the extent to which CNI‐T affected the transplanted kidney function. Patients who did not develop CNI‐T during the study period were included in the non‐CNI‐T group; the remaining were grouped into the CNI‐T group.

Results

The CNI‐T incidence was higher in donors aged >50 years. Compared to D < 49, the CNI‐T risk was 1.86 times higher in D50 and 2.9 times higher in D > 70. Furthermore, the CNI‐T group exhibited a significantly lower graft function 10 years after transplantation.

Conclusion

CNI‐T incidence increases in donors aged ≥50 years and affects renal function after 10 years.
Septic suturitis: A suspected cause of periapical infection in a young horse
Authors: McQuillan Siobhan , Derham Ann , Davies Thomas , O'Leary John Mark
Published: November 2023

This case report describes septic suturitis as a likely cause of periapical dental disease in a 3‐year‐old Thoroughbred colt. The horse was presented for a unilateral sinusitis initially managed by a frontal osteotomy and sinus lavage and subsequently developed a septic suturitis. Subsequently, a computed tomography (CT) examination identified a periapical infection of cheek tooth 109 with associated sinusitis of the rostral sinus compartments and an extensive suturitis, with the most severe changes located at the right nasomaxillary suture line. There was an associated local fistulous tract rostral to the mesial periapical region of cheek tooth 107 but unassociated with typical periapical or endodontic dental disease changes on CT. The sinusitis did not respond to oral extraction of cheek tooth 109 and sinus lavage. A repeat head CT 2 weeks later, now revealed buccal alveolar bone loss surrounding cheek tooth 107 with obvious periodontal and endodontic dental disease changes. Oral extraction of cheek tooth 107 was performed and local curettage of the fistulous tract was conducted. We conclude that septic suturitis can become extensive and slow to resolve and its rostral extension can cause periapical infection of the closely associated rostral cheek teeth in young horses.
Hot spots for clinical signs of disease activity in vitiligo
Authors: Delbaere Liesbeth , van Causenbroeck Jérôme , Duponselle Jolien , Van Goethem Céline , Speeckaert Reinhart , van Geel Nanja
Published: November 2023

There is evidence of a link between disease activity in vitiligo and clinical visible signs such as confetti‐like depigmentation, Koebner phenomenon and hypochromic areas/borders. Despite its established value, dermatologists and researchers continue to have a limited understanding of the vitiligo disease activity signs. The primary goal of this study was to identify ‘hot spots’ of disease activity signs in vitiligo patients in order to improve detection in clinical practice. Furthermore, the prevalence, clinical profiles of predisposed patients, interrelationship between the disease activity signs and potential pitfalls in the recognition of the signs were evaluated. The Vitiligo Signs of Activity Score (VSAS) was used to score the presence of the disease activity signs in 441 non‐segmental and 57 segmental vitiligo patients. More detailed predilection areas were scored in a subset of patients, using 65 predefined body locations. At least one disease activity sign was observed in 51.0% and 8.8% of the non‐segmental and segmental vitiligo patients, respectively. Confetti‐like depigmentation was most observed on the elbows, Koebner phenomenon on the back of the hands, and hypochromic areas/borders in the armpits. The three signs were significantly more observed in patients with more involved body locations. Moreover, hypochromic areas/borders were more common in younger patients. Confetti‐like depigmentation had the highest interrelationship with the other signs and was the easiest to recognise. Knowledge around hot spots of the disease activity signs will enhance and simplify their detection in clinical practice. Based on the results, confetti‐like depigmentation appears to be the most straightforward sign to evaluate.
Investigation of retained austenite morphology‐dominated hardening and fatigue behavior in bainitic steel during wear process
Authors: Chen Sida , Huang Xiedong , Liao Zexin , Li Zulai , Wu Hong , Shan Quan
Published: November 2023

This study aims to revealing the relationship among retained austenite (RA) morphology, deformation‐induced transformation (DIPT) behavior, and surface wear behavior. The hardening and fatigue behavior during wear of continuous film‐like RA (CFRA), blocky RA (BRA), discontinuous film‐like RA (DFRA), and point or flocculent RA (PRA) achieved through different tempering processes was investigated using quasi‐in situ fatigue test and impact abrasive wear test. RA morphology exhibited a significant influence on hardening and fatigue behavior during wear. CFRA exhibited the best wear properties, owing to its excellent fatigue performance and hardening capacity. The BRA displayed relative high wear performance, with adequate hardening capacity but weak fatigue performance. DFRA demonstrated comparable wear resistance to BRA because of better fatigue performance. PRA exhibited deficient wear performance because of insufficient fatigue properties and low work‐hardening ability.
Megafauna diversity and functional declines in Europe from the Last Interglacial to the present
Authors: Davoli Marco , Monsarrat Sophie , Pedersen Rasmus Østergaard , Scussolini Paolo , Karger Dirk Nikolaus , Normand Signe , Svenning Jens‐Christian
Published: November 2023

Aim

Reconstructing megafauna diversity in the past before anthropogenic impacts is crucial for developing targeted restoration strategies. We estimated the diversity and functional decline of European megafauna in the present compared with the nearest in‐time climate period analogue to the present but prior to the worldwide diffusion of Homo sapiens.

Location

Europe.

Time Period

Last Interglacial (LIG; ca. 127,000 years ago) to present.

Major Taxa Studied

Wild, large (≥10 kg) terrestrial mammals.

Methods

We assessed the distribution of 48 European megafauna species during the LIG using hindcasting modelling and fossil records. Then, we estimated the decline in megafauna community diversity and potential trait‐based functional effects from the LIG to the present, accounting for climate differences between the two periods.

Results

Species richness and community biomass dropped by 70.8% (±11.7%) and by 94.5% (±9.9%). Functional diversity dropped by 80.3% (±15.3%) for herbivores and by 64.9% (±29.1%) for carnivores, while trait‐informed potential vegetation and meat consumptions dropped by 82.3% (±13.4%) and 60.5% (±26.0%). The loss in megafauna diversity and associated ecological processes were high everywhere, but particularly in western Europe for carnivores and in the East European Plain for herbivores. Potential megafauna richness in the two periods was similar if only climate‐driven differences were considered.

Main Conclusions

Severe, size‐biased defaunation has degraded megafauna assemblages and megafauna‐mediated ecological processes across Europe from the LIG to the present. These patterns cannot be explained by climate differences between the two periods, thus were likely driven by prehistoric Homo sapiens. The results suggest that the structure of wild ecosystems of the present strongly deviates from the evolutionary norm, with decreased functional heterogeneity and decreased fluxes of biogeochemical compounds across the trophic networks, highlighting the importance of ambitious policies of megafauna community restoration to support ecosystem functioning.
Hyperactivity in preschool age is associated with higher fat‐free mass and healthy lifestyle behaviours five years later: A longitudinal study of Swedish children
Authors: Lundgren Oskar , Henriksson Pontus , Delisle Nyström Christine , Henström Maria , Löf Marie
Published: November 2023

Background

There is evidence for a link between hyperactivity and obesity, especially among older children. Both conditions seem to be multifactorial in origin and hypotheses of common underlying issues, such as emotional dysregulation, have been suggested. However, studies of the co‐occurrence of the two conditions in younger age groups have been inconclusive.

Objectives

We aimed to study the longitudinal associations of psychological strengths and difficulties at 4 years of age with health behaviours, body composition, physical fitness, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors 5 years later.

Methods

Parents of 226 4‐year‐old children filled out the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). At 9 years of age, we assessed health behaviours, physical fitness, body composition, and CVD risk factors. Associations were examined with linear regression models that were adjusted for sex, age of the child at 9, and maternal education.

Results

In the adjusted models, hyperactivity at 4 was associated with higher fat‐free mass (β = 0.18, p = 0.007) and lower levels of sedentary behaviour (β −0.14, p = 0.043) at 9 years. Furthermore, greater emotional problems at 4 were associated with lower intake of fruit and vegetables (β −0.14, p = 0.038) at 9 years. However, there were no statistically significant associations between psychological difficulties and fat‐mass index.

Conclusions

Our novel data provide no evidence of an association between hyperactivity in preschool age and obesity or obesity‐related behaviours in school age. Future studies examining how psychological factors relate to obesity development should consider a developmental perspective.
Leaving it at the gate: A phenomenological exploration of resilience in mental health nursing staff in a high‐secure personality disorder unit
Authors: Rooney Carol , Pyer Michelle , Campbell Jackie
Published: November 2023

Aims and Design

This study reports a qualitative phenomenological investigation of resilience in nursing staff working in a high‐secure personality disorder service.

Method

Interviews were carried out with six nursing staff, and these captured the richness and complexity of the lived experience of nursing staff.

Results

Four superordinate themes emerged from the analysis: Management of emotions: participants showed an awareness that their job is about giving care to patients who may present with very challenging behaviours. The care that they offered was conceptualized as something that needed to be provided in a measured way, with boundaries. A clear distinction was drawn between ‘caring personally’ for patients, and ‘providing care’. Teamwork: teamwork was cited as a major influencing factor by all participants. This was seen as directly impacting the smooth running of the ward, and therefore on the well‐being of nursing staff, but also of patients. Understanding: nursing staff were acutely aware that they were working in an environment where everyday interactions would be open to intense scrutiny and possible misinterpretation by patients. Work–life balance: All the participants spoke of making a conscious effort to have a separate work and home life, which was influenced by a number of factors.

Conclusion

The article has discussed the themes of managing emotion, team understanding and work–life balance, illustrating how each contributes to the resilience of nursing staff in this challenging environment. New insights – applicable in both national and international contexts – have been produced.

Impact

In secure environments, mental health nursing staff need organizational support and assistance to develop ways of managing difficult experiences with patients, systems that promote recovery, and educational and supervisory support to help understand and process the effects on them. This article provides evidence to support the work of managers and clinicians in these environments.

No Patient or Public Contribution.
Championing and shaming in a credence good market: Which one to use?
Authors: Volle Alexandre , González Patrick
Published: November 2023

We analyze the performance of the championing and shaming inquiries by a Nongovernmental Organization in a signaling game played by a monopoly that sells a credence good to an uninformed consumer. Championing (shaming) means certifying (uncovering) a firm that sells a high (low) quality product. An inquiry alters the whole information structure of the signaling game. It provides redundant hard information in a separating equilibrium but it lowers the set of separating prices. We show that a high‐quality producer and the consumers welcome this inquiry in a pooling equilibrium as it enhances their expected payoffs. They prefer a championing over a shaming inquiry when the likelihood of a high‐quality producer is low. A championing inquiry may lower the consumer's expected payoff if it is run before the monopoly sets its price since the consumer may prefer paying a low pooling price for a credence good rather than a high price for a certified high‐quality good.
Immersion challenge of three salmonid species (family Salmonidae) with three multilocus sequence typing variants of Flavobacterium psychrophilum provides evidence of differential host specificity
Authors: Knupp Christopher , Loch Thomas P.
Published: November 2023

Bacterial coldwater disease (BCWD), caused by Flavobacterium psychrophilum, results in significant losses among multiple salmonid (family Salmonidae) species. Molecular epidemiology and serotyping studies have suggested that some variants are host specific; however, these associations have not been evaluated by cross‐challenging fish species with putatively host‐associated F. psychrophilum isolates via more natural (i.e. immersion) exposure routes. To this end, F. psychrophilum isolates US19‐COS, US62‐ATS and US87‐RBT, each originally recovered from diseased coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) or rainbow trout (O. mykiss), and belonging to a host‐associated multilocus sequence typing clonal complex (e.g. CC‐ST9, CC‐ST232 or CC‐ST10), were PCR‐serotyped, evaluated for proteolytic activity, and used to challenge adipose fin‐clipped 4‐month old Atlantic salmon, coho salmon and rainbow trout via immersion. Findings showed US87‐RBT caused disease and mortality only in rainbow trout (e.g. 56.7% survival probability). US19‐COS and US62‐ATS caused more mortality in coho salmon and Atlantic salmon but also caused disease in both other host species, albeit to a lesser extent. Observed survival differences may be due to variant antigenic/virulence determinants as differences in serotype and proteolytic activity were discovered. Collectively, results highlight the intricacies of F. psychrophilum‐host interactions and provide further in vivo evidence that some F. psychrophilum MLST variants are host specific, which may have implications for the development of BCWD prevention and control strategies.
The Productivity Effects Of Corporate Diversification*
Authors: Bet Germán
Published: November 2023

This paper studies the productivity effects of corporate diversification. I estimate a model that allows diversification decisions to affect future productivity. I apply the model to a panel of U.S. manufacturing firms to measure the impact of diversification on productivity. My estimates suggest that diversification plays a key role in explaining differences in productivity across productive units and time. The average productivity effect of diversification is estimated to be positive at the productive unit level. However, the effect varies considerably across productive units and sectors of activity, depending crucially on already attained productivity.
Cross‐sectional population‐based estimates of a rural‐urban disparity in prevalence of long COVID among Michigan adults with polymerase chain reaction‐confirmed COVID‐19, 2020‐2022
Authors: MacCallum‐Bridges Colleen L. , Hirschtick Jana L. , Allgood Kristi L. , Ryu Soomin , Orellana Robert C. , Fleischer Nancy L.
Published: November 2023

Purpose

To (1) assess whether residential rurality/urbanicity was associated with the prevalence of 30‐ or 90‐day long COVID, and (2) evaluate whether differences in long COVID risk factors might explain this potential disparity.

Methods

We used data from the Michigan COVID‐19 Recovery Surveillance Study, a population‐based probability sample of adults with COVID‐19 (n = 4,937). We measured residential rurality/urbanicity using dichotomized Rural‐Urban Commuting Area codes (metropolitan, nonmetropolitan). We considered outcomes of 30‐day long COVID (illness duration ≥30 days) and 90‐day long COVID (illness duration ≥90 days). Using Poisson regression, we estimated unadjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) to compare 30‐ and 90‐day long COVID between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan respondents. Then, we adjusted our model to account for differences between groups in long COVID risk factors (age, sex, acute COVID‐19 severity, vaccination status, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health care access, SARS‐CoV‐2 variant, and pre‐existing conditions). We estimated associations for the full study period (Jan 1, 2020‐May 31, 2022), the pre‐vaccine era (before April 5, 2021), and the vaccine era (after April 5, 2021).

Findings

Compared to metropolitan adults, the prevalence of 30‐day long COVID was 15% higher (PR = 1.15 [95% CI: 1.03, 1.29]), and the prevalence of 90‐day long COVID was 27% higher (PR = 1.27 [95% CI: 1.09, 1.49]) among nonmetropolitan adults. Adjusting for long COVID risk factors did not reduce disparity estimates in the pre‐vaccine era but halved estimates in the vaccine era.

Conclusions

Our findings provide evidence of a rural‐urban disparity in long COVID and suggest that the factors contributing to this disparity changed over time as the sociopolitical context of the pandemic evolved and COVID‐19 vaccines were introduced.
The dynamic development of intellectual property right: Innovation diffusion and evolutionary game—A perspective on patent evolution
Authors: Xue Hua
Published: November 2023

The birth of intellectual property right (IPR) is accompanied by the emergence of scientific and technological revolution, and is deeply influenced by continuous advancement of science and technology. Meanwhile, the emergence of new technology will inevitably undergo a process of development, game, evolution or even extinction. As an important proxy of IPR, patents play a crucial role in indicating the evolution of IPR. Therefore, this paper focuses on the S‐type diffusion and evolutionary game process of IPR, and reveals the main influencing factors of this dynamic evolution process by constructing a bionic evolution system of IPR development through empirical research combined with data analysis methods. This research can promote a deeper understanding of both the formation and the future developmental logic of IPR for the academic community, and will provide new research ideas for improving the theoretical system of IPR. Moreover, this can provide some new solutions to the operation of IPR system and the practice of strategic promotion in a new round of scientific and technological revolution under the new normal.
They chew by night? Night‐time behaviour in a ‘ruminating’ primate, the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus)
Authors: Bösch J. , McGrosky A. , Tuuga A. , Tangah J. , Clauss M. , Matsuda I.
Published: November 2023

Studies of diurnal primates have long considered the nocturnal period to be a time spent merely sleeping and not effectively utilized for foraging or social behaviours. However, digestive activity should continue during the night. To explore the adaptive significance of the primate rumination‐like behaviour, that is, regurgitation and re‐mastication (R/R), observed in the proboscis monkey Nasalis larvatus (but only infrequently during the day), we tested the hypothesis that they frequently awaken and ‘ruminate’ at night through detailed nocturnal observations. We analysed infrared video recordings of nocturnal behaviours of 179 individuals over 35 nights, totalling over 251 h, of free‐ranging proboscis monkeys in the lower Kinabatangan region of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The results showed that, as we expected, proboscis monkeys were frequently awake at night; they only slept about one third of the time observed at night (27.4 ± 24.6%), with juveniles sleeping the most and subadults sleeping the least. However, contrary to our expectations, R/R did not appear to occur more frequently than during daytime observations and accounted for a minor proportion of the total activity budget during the night. Whether frequent waking up during the night represents an adaptive strategy in relation to predation avoidance, or is a consequence of disturbance (e.g. due to moving branches or mosquitoes), requires further study, ideally in comparison with protected ex situ conditions. Our findings suggest that without detailed observations, primate sleeping times may easily be overestimated due to a high proportion of time spent awake but resting.
The art of reinvention: The remarkable longevity of the OSCE
Authors: Chan See Chai Carol , Rashid Mohammed Ahmed
Published: November 2023

This commentary delves into the theatre and performances of OSCEs. Join us in exploring their 50‐year journey of reinvention and how they continue to hold the stage in medical assessments.
Reliability and agreement of subjective and objective non‐invasive break‐up time measurements in contact lens wearers
Authors: Valencia‐Nieto Laura , López‐de la Rosa Alberto , González‐García María J. , López‐Miguel Alberto
Published: November 2023

Purpose

To assess the reliability and agreement of non‐invasive break‐up time (NIBUT) in symptomatic and asymptomatic contact lens (CL) wearers using automatic objective and conventional subjective techniques.

Methods

In this prospective cross‐sectional study, soft CL wearers, classified into symptomatic and asymptomatic based on the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire‐8, underwent NIBUT assessment with the CL in situ. The CA‐800 Corneal Analyzer and the EasyTear® VIEW+ Tearscope were used for objective and subjective evaluation, respectively. The within‐subject repeatability and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. The agreement between the devices was compared using the Bland–Altman method.

Results

A total of 141 CL wearers (51 male and 90 female) with a mean age of 33.6 (SD = 12.2) years were included. The repeatability and ICC values obtained with the CA‐800 device when measuring NIBUT were 5.4 s and 58.6% across the whole sample, 4.2 s and 48.8% for the asymptomatic group and 7.1 s and 68.4% for the symptomatic group. When using the subjective method (EasyTear®), the respective repeatability and ICC values were 7.3 s and 32.7% for the whole sample, 6.5 s and 30.4% for the asymptomatic group and 8.6 s and 35.9% for the symptomatic group. The CA‐800 device provided significantly (p < 0.001) shorter NIBUT values compared with EasyTear® for the whole sample (3.3 [2.9] vs. 8.1 [3.4] s), the asymptomatic (3.3 [3.0] vs. 7.7 [3.6] s) and the symptomatic (3.8 [2.9] vs. 8.6 [3.0] s) groups.

Conclusion

Objective (CA‐800) NIBUT assessment provides more reliable measurements than the conventional subjective technique using the EasyTear® device. However, CL practitioners should also be aware that the objective method indicates shorter NIBUT values. Symptomatic CL wearers may also need a higher number of NIBUT measurements to obtain reliable estimations.
Pay more, earn more: The shared value approach and contingence of high‐tech industry
Authors: Chen Kuo‐Liang , Tsai Stephie Hsin‐Ju , Hu Kae‐Kuen , Roeschmann Juan
Published: November 2023

Should firms consider paying high salaries and providing attractive benefits as a cost or an investment for cultivating high‐quality human capital? By considering the shared value approach and human capital theory, this study tackles the issue of companies exploiting and providing unfair salaries and benefits to nonmanagerial staff owing to the presence of information asymmetry and market friction. It explores whether this practice ultimately hinders companies from accumulating high‐quality human capital and, consequently, improving performance. The sample population is drawn from 852 publicly traded companies listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in 2018. Employing regression models, this study reveals that paying high salaries improves firms' short‐term performance. Moreover, the results partially suggest that providing attractive benefits increases firms' long‐term performance. These effects are more prominent in the high‐tech industry since this industry is intensely competitive, and a key asset for high‐tech companies is high‐quality human capital.
Risk aggregation considering probabilistic and consequential interactions: A general formulation with computational cost handling
Authors: Bao Chunbing , Cai Meng , Li Jianping , Zheng Qinyue , Wu Dengsheng , Meng Qingchun
Published: November 2023

Complicated interaction between risk events is the critical obstacle preventing accurate risk aggregation, which is an important issue in risk management. Recent research integrates interaction into risk aggregation with different perspectives and lacks a comprehensive discussion of this issue, making the risk aggregation process not universal for diverse cases, especially in subjective risk assessment contexts. Therefore, this article proposes a theoretically convincing risk aggregation method embedding different types of interaction to support decision analysis more effectively. The main contributions of this article are as follows: (a) more in‐depth and stricter definitions, measures, and graphical descriptions of different types of interaction are developed to ensure the accuracy of risk aggregation; (b) a formal risk aggregation approach that could apply in both objective and subjective risk assessment contexts while elegantly embedding risk interactions is proposed; (c) the additivity of risks and risk sets in the risk aggregation process is discussed in detail and the conditions for additivity are clarified; (d) the quasi‐two/three‐additive measures, which approximately obtain the aggregate risk value within sufficient reliability, are proposed to greatly reduce the computational cost. To examine the applicability of the proposed general risk aggregation method, a case study is finally presented to show the complete risk aggregation process and its application in the decision‐making stage.
Sedimentary evolution and lake level fluctuations of Urmia Lake (north‐west Iran) over the past 50 000 years; insights from Artemia faecal pellet records
Authors: Sarı Selma , Mohammadi Ali , Schwamborn Georg , Haghipour Negar , Yu Byung Yong , Eriş Kürşad Kadir , Lak Razyeh
Published: November 2023

A 25 m long sediment core from hypersaline Urmia Lake (north‐west Iran) was studied for the Late Quaternary depositional history and palaeoclimate variations using the abundance and compositional characteristics of Artemia faecal pellets. Sediment analysis is supported by scanning electron microscopy – energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, organic and inorganic carbon content measurements, and stable isotopes (δ13C and δ18O) from faecal pellet carbonates. The imprecise chronology of the core back to 50 kyr bp is supported by ten radiocarbon ages from faecal pellets and bulk sediments. The palaeoenvironmental record is subdivided into four periods: (i) During much of Marine Isotope Stage 3, a period of lake level lowering is characterized by a decreasing amount of faecal pellets, and an increasing amount of coated grains, sulphate minerals and reworked shell fragments. (ii) During late Marine Isotope Stage 3 and early Marine Isotope Stage 2 a lake level lowstand and a lake floor exposure is interpreted based on the relatively low abundance of pellets, which are multicoloured and appear together with volcanic lithics and rounded sulphate minerals. (iii) During late Marine Isotope Stage 2 the record is devoid of pellets but dominated by large sulphate crystals suggesting a prolonged low lake level. (iv) During Marine Isotope Stage 1 a relative lake level highstand is rapidly established with sediments that are highly abundant in fresh pellets. The modern lake level lowstand is represented by a salt crust. The δ13C and δ18O records measured from faecal pellet carbonates suggest a link with the precipitation versus evaporation balance in the lake over time. From bottom to top the linear trend towards more negative delta values illustrates the increasing amount of precipitation arriving at the lake from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene. Two prominent isotope minima during the Late Pleistocene and one prominent minimum in the early Holocene mark relative high lake levels, which can also be linked to Lake Van in Turkey.
Different sedentary behaviors, genetic susceptibility of hypertension, and new‐onset hypertension: Mediating effects of body mass index and grip strength
Authors: Yang Sisi , Ye Ziliang , Liu Mengyi , Zhang Yanjun , Gan Xiaoqin , Wu Qimeng , Zhou Chun , He Panpan , Zhang Yuanyuan , Qin Xianhui
Published: November 2023

Background

The association between different sedentary behaviors and hypertension risk remains unclear. We aimed to explore the relationship between different domains of sedentary behaviors and new‐onset hypertension, investigate whether genetic susceptibility to hypertension modifies the relationship, and examine the extent to which the relationship is mediated by body mass index (BMI) and grip strength.

Methods

212 714 participants without baseline hypertension in the UK Biobank were enrolled. The three major sedentary behaviors (TV‐watching, nonoccupational computer use, and driving) were measured using touch screen questionnaires. The primary outcome was new‐onset hypertension.

Results

During a median follow‐up of 11.9 years, 13 983 participants developed hypertension. There was a linear positive association between TV‐watching time and new‐onset hypertension (p for nonlinearity =0.868). A J‐shaped association was found for nonoccupational computer use time and driving time with new‐onset hypertension, with an inflection point of 0.5 h/day for both (both p for nonlinearity <0.001). Polygenetic risk scores for hypertension (based on 118 related single‐nucleotide polymorphisms) did not significantly modify these associations (all p‐interactions >0.05). Furthermore, the detrimental effects of long‐term sedentary behaviors on hypertension were mediated by BMI by 21%–30%, and the beneficial effects of limited sitting time (within 0.5 h/day) for driving and nonoccupational computer use were mediated by grip strength by 6–25%.

Conclusions

There was a positive association for hands‐independence sedentary behavior (TV‐watching), and a J‐shaped association for hands‐dependence sedentary behaviors (nonoccupational computer use and driving) with new‐onset hypertension, regardless of genetic risks of hypertension. These relationships were partly mediated by BMI and grip strength.