bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the needs to adopt big data analytics in B2B organizations: development of propositions and model of needs
Authors: Ram Jiwat , Zhang Zeyang
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Big data analytics (BDA) is becoming a strategic tool to harness data to achieve business efficiencies. While business-to-customer organizations have adopted BDA, its adoption in business-to-business (B2B) has been slow, raising concerns about the lack of understanding of the need to adopt BDA. Little knowledge exists on the subject and the purpose of this study is to examine BDA adoption needs among B2B organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review (SLR) following the six-step SLR guidelines of Templier and Paré (2015) involved 1,051 articles, which were content analyzed.

Findings

The authors offer two-pronged findings. First, on the basis of the SLR, the authors develop a new four-category classification scheme of needs to adopt BDA and present a consolidated review of the current knowledge base along with these categories (i.e. innovation, operational efficiency, customer satisfaction and digital transformation). Second, underpinned by the theory of organizational motivation and literature evidence, the authors develop propositions and a corresponding model of BDA adoption needs. The authors show that BDA adoption among B2B organizations is driven by the need to augment customer lifetime value, champion the change, improve managerial decision cycle-time, tap into social media benefits and align with market transformation.

Research limitations/implications

The results facilitate theory development as the study creates a new classification scheme of needs and a model of needs to adopt BDA in large B2B organizations.

Practical implications

The findings will serve as a guideline framework for managers to examine their BDA adoption needs and strategize its adoption.

Originality/value

The study develops a new four-category classification scheme for understanding B2B organizations’ needs to adopt big data analytics. The study also develops a new model of needs which will serve as a stepping stone for the development of a theory of needs of technology adoption.
The impact of building morphology factors on the cost and aesthetical appearance of urban detached residential buildings in Sri Lanka
Authors: Weerasekara G.K.T. , Shandraseharan Archchana , Perera B.A.K.S. , Disaratna Vijitha
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The morphology of a building describes its outline and influences its architectural aesthetics and the cost directly. However, the literature on the impact of morphology on the aesthetics and cost of urban detached residential buildings is scarce. Thus, this study is significant because its aim was to identify the critical building morphology factors and the relationship that each of them maintains with the cost and aesthetics of urban detached residential buildings.

Design/methodology/approach

The multi-method qualitative approach was used to collect the required empirical data through interviews and case studies and to identify the effect of the morphology factors on the aesthetics and construction cost of urban residences in Sri Lanka, respectively. The collected data were analyzed using manual content analysis and descriptive statistics.

Findings

The study findings revealed that the morphology factors such as the roof and circulation spaces, open spaces and voids have a high impact on both the building cost and aesthetics. These findings will assist building designers in making effective design decisions on building costs and aesthetics so that a successful design outcome satisfying both the clients and design team could be obtained.

Originality/value

Although morphology has an impact on the cost and aesthetic of buildings, literature on the subject is scarce. Thus, this study is significant in that it aimed at identifying the significant building morphology factors in urban detached residential buildings and identifying their relationship with the cost and aesthetic of those buildings.
Exit strategy decision by venture capital firms in India using fuzzy AHP
Authors: Mehta Kiran , Sharma Renuka , Vyas Vishal , Kuckreja Jogeshwarpree Singh
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The existing literature on venture capitalists’ (VCs’) exits provides insufficient evidence regarding factors affecting the exit decision. This study aims to identify these factors and examine how VC firms do ranking or prioritize these factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on primary data. The qualitative analysis was done to develop the survey instrument. Fuzzy analytical hierarchical process, which is a popular method of multi-criteria decision modeling, is used to identify or rank the determinants of exit strategy by venture capital firms in India.

Findings

Broadly, eight determinants of exit strategy are ranked by VCs. A total of 33 statements describe these eight determinants. The results are analyzed on the basis of four measures of VCs’ profile, i.e. age of VC firm, number of start-ups in portfolios, type of investment and amount of investment.

Research limitations/implications

The survey instrument needs to be validated with a larger sample size and other financial backers than VCs.

Practical implications

The study has direct managerial implication for VC firms as it provides useful information regarding the determinants of exit strategy by VC firms in India. These findings can provide necessary information to other financial backers too, viz., angel investors, banks, non-banking financial institutions and other individual and syndicated set-ups providing funding to start-ups.

Originality/value

The current research is unique as no prior study has explored the determinants of VCs exit strategy and prioritizing these determinants.
Corruption as distinct crime: the need to reconceptualise internal control on controlling bureaucratic occupational fraud
Authors: Maulidi Ach , Ansell Jake
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide theoretical guidance that enables local governments to deal with occupational fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative approach is used to examine the efficacy of the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) internal control framework in tackling occupational fraud in local government. To achieve the goals, the authors performed a survey of the Indonesian auditor institutions.

Findings

It is not appropriate to argue that all types of local government fraud can be deterred by a single internal control. The study suggests that COSO internal controls are not effective for dealing with corruption cases. However, the authors do find the efficacy of those controls are obvious for controlling asset misappropriation and financial statement fraud. This result indicates that if the COSO internal control framework is only designed for routine financial control and asset protection, it significantly and negatively influences its efficacy to deal with occupational fraud. This study has both theoretical and managerial implications, discussed separately.

Originality/value

In the field of prevention, the authors cannot make generalised theories and approaches for dealing with occupational fraud. Whilst previous authors have offered fraud deterrents in terms of internal controls, they have failed to realise the need to understand their effectiveness for particular forms of fraud. This paper sheds light on the effectiveness of internal controls in achieving their goals. This has both practical applications and stimulates theoretical insights.
The financial consequences of human capital disclosure as part of integrated reporting
Authors: Salvi Antonio , Raimo Nicola , Petruzzella Felice , Vitolla Filippo
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the financial consequences of the level of human capital (HC) information disclosed by firms through integrated reports. Specifically, this work examines the effect of HC information on the cost of capital and firm value.

Design/methodology/approach

A manual content analysis is used to measure the level of HC information contained in integrated reports. A fixed-effects regression model is used to analyse 375 observations (a balanced panel of 125 firms for the period 2017–2019) and test the financial consequences of HC disclosure.

Findings

The empirical outcomes indicate that HC disclosure has a significant and negative effect on the cost of capital and a positive impact on firm value. Our results show that companies can reduce investors' perceived firm risk by improving HC disclosure, leading to a lower cost of capital. Moreover, our findings support the notion that increased levels of HC disclosure are linked to firms' improved access to external financial resources, consequently enhancing firm value.

Originality/value

This study is the first contribution to examine the financial consequences of HC disclosure and is one of the first to examine the level of HC information within integrated reports.
Does the length of a review matter in perceived helpfulness? The moderating role of product experience
Authors: Jia Han , Shin Sumin , Jiao Jinfeng
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to offer a framework explaining how product experience (i.e. think vs feel) and product involvement (high vs low) influence the helpfulness of online reviews. It also reexamined how online consumer review dimensions help to build online review helpfulness under different contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using content analysis on 1,200 online customer reviews on 12 products from four categories to measure the relationships between online review dimensions and the helpfulness of reviews. The regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings indicate that the effectiveness of length of a review is moderated by product type; for think products, longer reviews yield higher helpfulness. Furthermore, the level of consistency between individual review ratings and overall product ratings is associated with review helpfulness. The length of product descriptions and product ratings is moderated by the level of involvement. For products with high involvement, longer descriptions yield higher helpfulness.

Originality/value

A conceptual connection to customer interaction is proposed by online customer reviews that vary by product type. The findings provide implications for online retailers to better manage online customer reviews and increase the value of product ratings.
A phenomenological exploration into sustainability in the foodservice industry in the MEA region
Authors: Batat Wided
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Previous research on sustainability in the foodservice industry has emphasized its environmental, social and economic dimensions predominantly studied within a Western context or in developed countries. This paper aims to question this positioning by considering the MEA (Middle East and African) context. Second, this paper examines sustainability forms according to the type of restaurant and explains how these forms compare with and contribute to the broader scholarship on sustainability in the service marketing literature and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper follows a phenomenological perspective and a grounded theory approach. The authors conducted in-depth interviews with 40 owners of different types of restaurants (traditional, modern and fast-food) in the capital city of Lebanon, Beirut.

Findings

This paper identifies four dimensions that are expressed in different ways depending on the type of restaurant. This paper also found that sustainability in the foodservice industry in the MEA region has some differences and similarities relative to the literature where current studies mainly focus on the Western context. While the most dominant form of sustainability in the MEA context is related to the social dimension implemented by restaurants through philanthropy and community support activities, the less important aspect refers to activities about ecology and environmental protection.

Research limitations/implications

The research highlights that sustainable activities in the MEA context are shaped by deep-rooted traditions of philanthropic offerings and community-based activities profoundly embedded within the Arab region. Second, the study contributes to current practices and research related to the foodservice literature by emphasizing the dynamics of the change in terms of sustainability perceptions across different kinds of restaurants and how the type of restaurant can affect the adoption and implementation of sustainable activities. The limits of this study are related to its small sample size and the exclusion of psychographic factors, such as age and gender, which can deepen the knowledge of sustainable actions implemented by female and male restaurant owners and people of different age ranges.

Social implications

With its focus on the foodservice industry in the MEA underpinning restaurateurs’ lack of ecological sustainability, this research shows that nongovernmental organizations could play a vital role in terms of raising awareness about ecological issues and how restaurateurs can be involved in eco-friendly initiatives.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the foodservice literature and the emerging research on sustainability in restaurants by presenting an approach based on examining sustainable restaurants in a developing country context. The paper does so by adopting a restaurant owner’s perspective and analyzing three types of restaurants, namely, traditional, modern and fast-food restaurants.
The role of customer experience in the perceived value–word-of-mouth relationship
Authors: Kuppelwieser Volker G. , Klaus Philipp , Manthiou Aikaterini , Hollebeek Linda D.
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The customer experience (CX), as revealed in the literature-based debate, has been variously viewed as either a driver or an outcome of customer-perceived value (CPV). However, the association of CPV, CX and word-of-mouth (WoM) behavior remains nebulous to date, thereby generating an important research gap. In response and to bridge this gap, this study aims to explore CX’s role in the CPV–WoM behavior relationship, the role of WoM behavior arising from CX and whether CX acts as a core mediator (vs a moderator) in the association of CPV and subsequent consumer-behavior outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

By conducting two studies spanning a broad range of services, this paper explores the relationship between CPV, CX, and WoM behavior through structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings are that CX plays a crucial role in the CPV–WoM relationship, thereby confirming the existence of a direct link between CPV (social/hedonic/utilitarian value), CX and WoM. The results also highlight CX’s mediating role in the relationship between social and utilitarian (but not hedonic) values. Moreover, the results reveal that the EXQ scale, measuring CX, comprises distinct experiences perceived by high and low CX-based customer segments, respectively.

Practical implications

CPV (utilitarian, hedonic, social) not only affects consumers’ behavioral intentions but also, more importantly, their WoM behavior. Therefore, managers need to consider all three values. Moreover, managers should shift their focus from social value perceptions to CX. The results suggest that managers need to devote additional resources to the development of a suitable CX, which will help mitigate consumers’ online and/or offline brand-related WoM. This study indicates the context in which managers must emphasize the construct that produces positive outcomes.

Originality/value

By identifying a direct relationship between CPV, CX and the ensuing consumer-behavior outcomes, the study offers important theoretical insight into CX’s nomological network.
Capturing and analyzing e-WOM for travel products: a method based on sentiment analysis and stochastic dominance
Authors: Li Yong-Hai , Zheng Jin , Yue Shan-Tao , Fan Zhi-Ping
Published: July 2021

Purpose

In recent years, electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) concerning travel products reflected in online review information has become an important reference for tourists to make their product purchase decisions, while for travel service providers (TSPs), monitoring and improving the e-WOM of their travel products is always an important task. Therefore, based on the online review information, how to capture e-WOM of travel products and find out specific ways to improve the e-WOM is a noteworthy research problem. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for capturing and analyzing e-WOM toward travel products based on sentiment analysis and stochastic dominance.

Design/methodology/approach

Specifically, online review information of travel products is first crawled and preprocessed. Second, sentiment strengths of online review information toward travel products concerning each feature are judged. Then, the matrix of structured online review information toward travel products is formed. Further, the matrix of e-WOM comparisons between any two travel products is constructed, and e-WOM ranking concerning each travel product is determined. Finally, trade-off chart models are constructed to conduct the e-WOM improvement analyses concerning the travel products.

Findings

An empirical study based on the online review information toward six travel products crawled from the Tuniu.com website is given to illustrate the use of the proposed method.

Originality/value

The proposed method can not only realize the real-time e-WOM monitoring to travel products but also be useful for TSPs to improve the e-WOM of their travel products.
Gender diversity and financial performance in an emerging economy: empirical evidencefrom India
Authors: Maji Santi Gopal , Saha Rupjyoti
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of gender diversity both at operational and leadership levels on the financial performance of firms in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a panel data set of 100 large Indian corporate firms. This study uses the Blau index and Shannon index to compute gender diversity. First, this paper uses system generalized method of moments model to deal with the potential endogeneity issue in the association between gender diversity and firm performance. Second, to unveil heterogeneity in such a relationship, the study applies panel data quantile regression model. Finally, the study adopts a generalized estimating equation model to investigate such relationships for group affiliated and standalone firms.

Findings

This study finds a significant positive impact of workforce gender diversity and board gender diversity on the financial performance of firms. Further, the results of the quantile regression model indicate that the impact of gender diversity (workforce and board) on firm performance is more pronounced at higher quantiles of the conditional distribution of firm performance. However, the study fails to extricate any significant impact of audit committee gender diversity on firm performance. Finally, the study also finds a significant positive impact of gender diversity at both workforce and board level for a group affiliated, as well as standalone firms.

Originality/value

The present study makes a novel contribution to the extant literature on the association between gender diversity and financial performance of firms by examining such diversity at both operational and leadership levels in the context of an emerging country such as India that captures the complex realities pertaining to gender issues. Further, the study contributes to the empirical literature regarding the heterogeneous impact of gender diversity on firm performance in the Indian context.
Gender diversification in police agencies: is it a zero-sum game?
Authors: Nowacki Jeffrey , Schafer Joseph , Hibdon Julie
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The article first examines whether police hiring decisions represent a zero-sum game where hires from one under-represented group (e.g. White women) reduce the number of hires made from other under-represented groups (non-White men and/or non-White women). Second, we explore whether agencies that hire more members of underrepresented groups achieve more diverse applicant pools in future hiring cycles. Negative binomial regression techniques are used in both analyses.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study come from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEAs) from 2011 to 2016. These data are divided into two periods: Period A (2011–2013) and Period B (2014–2016). The two periods are combined to assess a zero-sum effect. Then, Period A data on hiring decisions is used to estimate the diversity in applicant pools in Period B.

Findings

Results from this study provided little evidence of a zero-sum effect. It does not seem that agencies that hire from one under-represented group are less likely to hire from others. Instead, agencies that have shown a commitment to diversification are more likely to make additional hires from under-represented groups. We also found evidence of a relationship between Period A hires and Period B applicant pools for Hispanic women, but not for other groups. Broadly, we found that agencies where a larger share of officers are women were more likely to hire more women applicants.

Originality/value

Previous research examining zero-sum effects in hiring rely on officer rosters rather than specific applicant and hiring data. The data used in this study allows for a more precise examination of hiring decisions, and allows us to link hiring decisions to future applicant pool composition.
Evaluation of occupant's adaptive thermal comfort behaviour in naturally ventilated courtyard houses
Authors: Pilechiha Peiman , Norouziasas Alireza , Ghorbani Naeini Hoorieh , Jolma Kasmir
Published: July 2021

Purpose

In vernacular buildings, many climatic and passive solutions have been used to create indoor thermal comfort. Seasonal occupant movement is an example of a traditional response to increasing thermal comfort. This article investigates the influence of these user behaviours on thermal comfort in courtyard houses.

Design/methodology/approach

Parametric models of three different scenarios of courtyard houses are simulated. The courtyard houses are located in Shiraz, Iran, and share the same orientation and construction materials. To enhance the accuracy of the study, the indoor adaptive thermal comfort (ATC) analysis is performed with three different window-to-wall ratios (WWR) of 25, 50 and 75%. The ACT analysis is performed on an hourly basis for summer and winter scenarios.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the indoor ATC is 8.3% higher in winter than in the summer in the seasonal zones. During the summer, the amount of ATC is relatively sustained in all zones. Unlike common beliefs, seasonal movement can enhance the ATC, especially during winter, specifically in the northern part of the courtyard. In northern zones, the seasonal movement of occupants improves the indoor ATC from 10.1 to 23.7%, and in southern zones, the improvement is from 2.2 to 4.8%.

Originality/value

This research presents a new numerical investigation into occupants' seasonal movements in courtyard houses during summer and winter. It provides a precise pattern to show how much this seasonal movement can affect the habitant's ATC.
Identifying and intervening to stop school bullying: the role of school resource officers
Authors: Paez Gabriel R. , Colvin Roddrick
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore school resource officers (SROs) and their role in preventing, detecting and intervening in bullying incidents.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from 214 survey respondents, the present study attempted to identify the personal and situational characteristics that help to understand when SROs are likely to identify and intervene in bullying incidents.

Findings

Taking a multivariate logistic regression approach, the results show that SROs – regardless of race, age, gender and education – who can identify instances of bullying are more likely to intervene to stop it.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of improved training for SROs are discussed, as are ways to enhance the integration of SROs into schools’ overall anti-bullying efforts.

Originality/value

Bullying and violence in schools have been a growing concern for school districts and SROs are being increasingly seen as critical components of anti-bullying programs.
Exploring Corporate Social Responsibility in the Italian wine sector through websites
Authors: Esposito Benedetta , Sessa Maria Rosaria , Sica Daniela , Malandrino Ornella
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how the Italian wine industry discloses corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices and quality certifications and the corresponding determinants via websites. The study also aims to investigate the relationship between CSR practices and financial performance. The information consistency between the quality certificates reported on corporate websites and official database statements is also explored. Lastly, the paper investigates how the relationship between the size of wineries and CSR disclosure changes according to firms' geographic location.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyses CSR corporate communication via the websites of a sample of Italian wineries by adjusting the theoretical framework developed by Amran (2012) to the wine sector's peculiarities. Moreover, a cross-certification analysis and a moderation analysis were performed to fulfil the purpose of the research.

Findings

The analysis revealed the extensive use of CSR disclosure via websites. It was found that company size positively affects CSR disclosure and Quality Certification Disclosure (QCD), while geographic location slightly moderates the relationship between the two variables. In addition, a negative relationship between CSR disclosure and corporate financial performance and its reverse causality emerged. Moreover, for most wineries, information consistency between the quality certificates reported on corporate websites and official database statements was observed.

Research limitations/implications

The study's main limitation is that the search process was performed during lockdown. Therefore, the examined issues could change in the near future due to the shift in priorities that the COVID-19 pandemic is determining.

Practical implications

The results can help managers implement CSR disclosure and QCD practices to enhance stakeholder legitimacy and enable their companies to compete in strongly competitive international markets.

Originality/value

The paper represents the first study investigating online QCD and its consistency in the Italian wine sector.
Medical tourism in the COVID-19 era: opportunities, challenges and the way ahead
Authors: Chhabra Arvind , Munjal Mehak , Mishra Prabhu Chandra , Singh Kritika , Das Debjanee , Kuhar Neha , Vats Monika
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The novel coronavirus has not only caused significant illness and loss of life, it has caused major disruption at local, national and global levels. While the healthcare industry is experiencing growth during the pandemic, disruption to travel has affected medical tourism. This article considers the short-term factors affecting medical tourism and how they could be mitigated by incorporating technological advances to secure long-term growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines data provided by the Indian government as well as from non-government sources available in the public domain to review the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on medical tourism. The authors also examine data on technological advances in the healthcare industry that could help to reduce the impact of the pandemic.

Findings

This study’s findings show that while in-person services have been seriously impacted in the short term, technological adaptation of medical services to facilitate remote medical consultation has significantly increased. This has enlarged the business opportunities available to hospitals and general practitioners, and it could be leveraged to enhance medical tourism.

Originality/value

The article provides an analysis of the impact of the pandemic on medical tourism and how technology could be used to overcome short-term negative impacts and support longer-term development.
The Joy of Data
Authors: Tarran Brian
Published: July 2021

The joy of data.
Statisticians, Roll Up Your Sleeves! There's A Crisis to be Solved
Authors: Seibold Heidi , Charlton Alethea , Boulesteix Anne-Laure , Hoffmann Sabine
Published: July 2021

Statisticians play a key role in almost all scientific research. As such, they may be key to solving the reproducibility crisis. Heidi Seibold, Alethea Charlton, Anne-Laure Boulesteix and Sabine Hoffmann urge statisticians to take an active role in promoting more credible science
Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) for 3‐way designs
Authors: Somerfield Paul J. , Clarke K. Robert , Gorley Ray N.
Published: July 2021

Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) is a robust non‐parametric hypothesis‐testing framework for differences in resemblances among groups of samples. To date, the generalisation and use of ANOSIM to analyse various 2‐way nested and crossed designs with unordered or ordered factors has been described. This paper describes how the 2‐way tests may be extended and modified for the analysis of 3‐way designs, including the introduction of a different type of constrained permutation procedure for a design in which one factor is nested in another and crossed with a third. The construction of 3‐way tests using the generalised statistic in various nested and crossed designs, with or without ordered factors, and with or without replication, is described. Applications of the new tests to ecological data are demonstrated using three marine examples. They are as follows: a study of changes in fish diet for fish of increasing size sampled in different locations at different times (a 3‐way fully crossed design with ordered factors); a hierarchical spatial study of the fauna inhabiting kelp holdfasts (a 3‐way fully nested design with unordered factors); and a study of infaunal macrobenthos in which sites within areas were resampled over a long time series (a design in which sites are nested in areas but crossed with years, both latter factors potentially being ordered). The magnitudes of the ANOSIM statistics provide information about relative effect sizes (accounting for other factors), which is often a focus for multifactorial designs. Though the described ANOSIM tests do not provide parallels for all the range of 3‐way mixed‐factor designs possible in ANOVA (and its multivariate semi‐parametric counterpart PERMANOVA), it is seen that for nested factors these ANOSIM tests parallel the matching PERMANOVA random‐effects models, and not their fixed‐effects counterparts, thus allowing the same broader inference about the space from which these random factor levels are drawn.
Long‐term outcome of supraciliary gold micro shunt in refractory glaucoma
Authors: Figus Michele , Loiudice Pasquale , Passani Andrea , Perciballi Laura , Agnifili Luca , Nardi Marco , Posarelli Chiara
Published: July 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the 10‐year follow‐up efficacy and safety of gold micro shunt (GMS) in patients with refractory glaucoma, and the potential risk factors for failure.

Methods

Retrospective data analyses based on medical records from 55 patients who underwent GMS implant for refractory glaucoma between March 2007 and April 2008. The primary outcome measure was the cumulative probability of success defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) below 21 mmHg together with a 33% lowering of the baseline IOP with (qualified) or without (complete) topical medications, no reoperation for glaucoma or loss of light perception.

Results

Mean IOP 10 years after the GMS implantation was 21.6 ± 5.1 mmHg with 2.7 ± 0.7 drugs. Qualified success was achieved in 8/55 patients (14.5%) with a mean of 2.9 ± 0.8 drugs at 5 years and in 2/55 patients (3.6%) with a mean of 2.7 ± 1.0 drugs at 10 years. None of the patients reached complete success at five years from surgery. The cumulative probability of complete success was 14%, 9% and 0% at 1, 2 and 5 years, respectively, and 72%, 67%, 36% and 3.6% at 1, 2, 5 and 10 years, respectively, for qualified success criterion. Baseline IOP for complete success, number of baseline medication for qualified success and age at the time of GMS implantation for both criteria were risk factors significantly associated with failure.

Conclusion

A very low long‐term survival rate of GMS in refractory glaucoma was found. Most patients did not reach the IOP success criteria of the study, even with the re‐introduction of medications, leading to the need for further surgical procedures.
The jury is still out on the existence of a placental microbiome
Authors: Briana Despina D. , Papaevangelou Vassiliki , Malamitsi‐Puchner Ariadne
Published: July 2021

The human microbiome is crucial for regulating normal development, but the exact point when it is established remains unknown. A sterile placenta was traditionally considered a prerequisite for a healthy pregnancy, but studies have revealed that the placenta harbours microbial communities, even under normal conditions. However, reports have failed to provide evidence for the consistent presence of bacteria in the normal human placenta, challenging the in utero colonisation hypothesis. This mini review examines our understanding of the potential placental microbial colonisation in normal healthy pregnancies. This may impact the metabolic and immune functions of the growing foetus and have long‐term consequences.
Effects of wood kraft pulp feeding on feed digestibility and rumen fermentation of Japanese Black steer in the middle fattening stage
Authors: Mizuguchi Hitoshi , Maeda Yuka , Nishimura Keiko , Shinkura Hiroshi , Kurosu Kazuhiro , Terada Fuminori , Kushibiki Shiro
Published: July 2021

We investigated the effects of wood kraft pulp (KP) feeding on feed digestibility and rumen fermentation of Japanese Black (JB) steer in the middle fattening stage. The feeding experiment was carried out a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design using six JB steers (16.2 ± 0.8 months of age). Steers were fed rice straw and three concentrated feeds: commercial formula feed (control), formula feed containing 7.5% KP on a dry matter (DM) basis (7.5% KP), and formula feed containing 15% KP on a DM basis (15% KP). Feed digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters were recorded for 3 days during the measurement period, after an adaptation phase of 11 days. There was no significant difference in DM intake per day among diets. A slightly higher digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was observed in steers fed 15% KP, compared with those fed other diets (P = 0.059). The butyric acid ratio in rumen fluid was higher in steers fed KP diets than in steers fed control (P = 0.083). The average ruminal pH was unaffected by KP diets. This study suggests that replacing 15% of concentrated feed with KP has little effect on feed digestibility and rumen fermentation in JB fattening steer.
Investigations of the maintenance system of the Konik Polski horse and its effects on fecal microbiota activity during the winter and summer seasons
Authors: Juśkiewicz Jerzy , Fotschki Bartosz , Jaworska Joanna , Siemieniuch Marta
Published: July 2021

Gastrointestinal microbiota play a key role in the nutrients digestion and hence maintaining animal health and welfare. The diet offered to the animals in captivity may differ considerably from that on natural pastures. In a stabled maintenance system, horses have a limited choice of habitat and feed. Time spend for feeding is relevant for equine welfare because the reduction of the time devoted for foraging may be responsible for inducing gastric inflammation and ulceration. Therefore, in the present study, it was hypothesized that fecal bacterial fermentative processes differ between free‐roaming and stabled Konik Polski Horses (KPHs) with respect to microbial enzymatic activity, and thus the fecal concentration of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA), which can be further utilized for assessing the feeding behavior and welfare in free‐roaming versus stabled horses. The SCFA concentration and profile, as well as the extracellular and intracellular activities of selected bacterial enzymes, were characterized in horse feces collected during the winter and summer feeding seasons. The results showed higher enzymatic activity and SCFA production in the feces excreted by free‐roaming versus stabled horses, especially during summer. An increase in pasture plant diversity may be beneficial for the gastrointestinal microbiota and hence for maintaining health and welfare.
COVID‐19 acute respiratory distress syndrome: A simulation study of the effects of combination therapy with tocilizumab and siltuximab
Authors: Doyle Eileen B. , Bentley Darren , Dodds Michael G.
Published: July 2021

Aims

To assess the potential of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) signalling blockade in the lung to treat SARS‐CoV‐2 infection via model‐based simulation by exploring soluble IL‐6 receptor (sIL‐6R) sequestration by tocilizumab (TCZ) and IL‐6 sequestration by siltuximab (SIL).

Methods

Literature values of IL‐6, IL‐6 antagonist SIL, sIL‐6R, IL‐6R antagonist TCZ and their respective binding constants were used to develop a model to predict the impact of treatment on IL‐6 signalling. Models were used to generate simulated bronchoalveolar lavage fluid concentrations for normal subjects, subjects at risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and subjects with ARDS under 4 conditions: without treatment; treatment with TCZ; treatment with SIL; and treatment with TCZ + SIL.

Results

With TCZ intervention, IL‐6 levels are unaffected and sIL‐6R is reduced somewhat below the Normal case. IL‐6:sIL‐6R complex only slightly decreased relative to the no‐intervention case. With SIL intervention, sIL‐6R levels are unaffected and IL‐6 is greatly reduced below the Normal case. IL‐6:sIL‐6R complex is greatly decreased relative to the no‐intervention case. With TCZ + SIL intervention, IL‐6 and sIL‐6R levels are reduced below the Normal case and achieve suppression equivalent to monotherapy results for their respective targets. IL‐6:sIL‐6R complex reduction is predicted to be greater than that achieved with monotherapy. This reflects sequestration of both components of the complex and the nonlinear binding equilibrium.

Conclusion

Coadministration of both IL‐6 and IL‐6R sequestering products such as SIL and TCZ may be necessary to effectively treat COVID‐19 patients who have or are at risk of developing ARDS.
Applying behaviour change theory to understand the barriers to implementing routine outcome monitoring
Authors: Bear Holly Alice , Dalzell Kate , Edbrooke‐Childs Julian , Wolpert Miranda
Published: July 2021

Background

Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) is a valuable tool for monitoring client progress and pre‐empting deterioration, however, there is considerable variation in how data are collected and recorded and uptake in clinical practice remains low. The aim of this study was to develop a self‐report measure of practitioner attitudes to ROM in order to better understand the barriers to successful implementation in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Methods

An anonymous survey was completed by 184 CAMHS practitioners in the United Kingdom. The survey was designed using the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Model of Behaviour (COM‐B). Practitioners who reported using ROM frequently in their clinical work (53%) were compared to those who used ROM infrequently (47%) across dimensions of the COM‐B survey subscales.

Results

Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the proposed four‐factor structure, showing acceptable model fit, with high factor loadings and good reliability for all subscales. Frequent users of ROM exhibited significantly higher psychological capability, physical opportunity, social opportunity, and motivation, compared to infrequent users F (4, 140) = 14.76, p < .0001; Pillai’s Trace = .297, partial η2 = .30. Results highlight several barriers to ROM, including the belief that there is not a strong evidence base for ROM, not receiving external training, and not discussing feedback and outcome data in supervision.

Implications

In the hope of improving the successful implementation of ROM, this research provides an evidence‐based tool for assessing practitioners’ attitudes to ROM, which map on to intervention functions and represent targets for future implementation efforts.

Practitioner Points

The value of routine outcome monitoring (ROM) as a means to measure client progress and to elevate the efficiency and quality of mental health care is well‐documented in the research literature, however, uptake in practice remains relatively low.

This study applied behaviour change theory to develop a psychometrically sound self‐report measure of practitioners’ perspectives and practices to understand the barriers to implementation in child and adolescent mental health services in the United Kingdom.

The complex and multifaceted nature of the barriers to implementation requires multilevel behaviour change strategies at the client, clinician, and organisational level.

Recommendations for practice include the need for integrated, multilevel strategies aimed at improving practitioners’ capabilities and motivations, strong organisational leadership and a culture of data gathering and sharing, and implementation interventions, which are tailored to target local barriers.
Variability in the type and layer distribution of cortical Aβ pathology in familial Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Willumsen Nanet , Poole Teresa , Nicholas Jennifer M. , Fox Nick C. , Ryan Natalie S. , Lashley Tammaryn
Published: July 2021

Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) is caused by autosomal dominant mutations in the PSEN1, PSEN2 or APP genes, giving rise to considerable clinical and pathological heterogeneity in FAD. Here we investigate variability in clinical data and the type and distribution of Aβ pathologies throughout the cortical layers of different FAD mutation cases. Brain tissue from 20 FAD cases [PSEN1 pre‐codon 200 (n = 10), PSEN1 post‐codon 200 (n = 6), APP (n = 4)] were investigated. Frontal cortex sections were stained immunohistochemically for Aβ, and Nissl to define the cortical layers. The frequency of different amyloid‐beta plaque types was graded for each cortical layer and the severity of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) was determined in cortical and leptomeningeal blood vessels. Comparisons were made between FAD mutations and APOE4 status, with associations between pathology, clinical and genetic data investigated. In this cohort, possession of an APOE4 allele was associated with increased disease duration but not with age at onset, after adjusting for mutation sub‐group and sex. We found Aβ pathology to be heterogeneous between cases although Aβ load was highest in cortical layer 3 for all mutation groups and a higher Aβ load was associated with APOE4. The PSEN1 post‐codon 200 group had a higher Aβ load in lower cortical layers, with a small number of this group having increased cotton wool plaque pathology in lower layers. Cotton wool plaque frequency was positively associated with the severity of CAA in the whole cohort and in the PSEN1 post‐codon 200 group. Carriers of the same PSEN1 mutation can have differing patterns of Aβ deposition, potentially because of differences in risk factors. Our results highlight possible influences of APOE4 genotype, and PSEN1 mutation type on Aβ deposition, which may have effects on the clinical heterogeneity of FAD.
Development and attribution of a linear referencing system for managing and disseminating traffic volume data on rural highway networks
Authors: Ominski Auja , Paramita Puteri , Regehr Jonathan D.
Published: July 2021

Developing and disseminating system‐wide traffic volume data are critical objectives of traffic monitoring programs. Jurisdictions commonly use maps to disseminate traffic volume data and visualize spatial traffic patterns throughout a highway network. A linear referencing system is essential in this process, yet limited research is available on the methods of sequencing (segmenting) a highway network and attributing traffic volume data to those sequences. This paper aims to fill this knowledge gap by describing the development and application of a generic three‐phase methodology: (1) to subdivide a rural highway network into sequences assumed to have uniform or homogeneous traffic volume by applying objective criteria; (2) to attribute traffic volume data to the sequenced highway network based on a set of attribution principles; and (3) to evaluate and refine the results. Application of the methodology in Manitoba resulted in the development and attribution of a new linear referencing system comprising 2,164 sequences. This provided the foundation for mapping spatial fluctuations in traffic volume at the network level. More generally, it revealed the importance of periodically evaluating the data visualization and dissemination impacts that arise when changes are made to the sampling procedure within a traffic monitoring program and when physical modifications occur on the highway network.
Conservation actions benefit the most threatened species: A 13‐year assessment of Alliance for Zero Extinction species
Authors: Luther David , Cooper William Justin , Wong Jesse , Walker Margaretta , Farinelli Sarah , Visseren‐Hamakers Ingrid , Burfield Ian J. , Simkins Ashley , Bunting Gill , Brooks Thomas M. , Dicks Kara , Scott Janet , Westrip James R. S. , Lamoreux John , Parr Mike , de Silva Naamal , Foster Matt , Upgren Amy , Butchart Stuart H. M.
Published: July 2021

More species in the world are threatened with extinction today than at any other time in recent history. In 2005, the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE; https://zeroextinction.org/) released its first inventory of highly threatened species (i.e., those listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered on the IUCN Red List) that are effectively confined to a single site. Updates were released in 2010 and 2018. Here we identify the species removed from the list in these updates, determine the reasons for these removals, identify species that no longer qualify as AZE species as a result of conservation actions, and examine which conservation actions produced these recoveries. In total, 360 species that qualified as AZE species in 2005 no longer qualified by 2018 (45% of those listed in 2005) due to improved knowledge of distribution or taxonomy (83%), genuine improvements resulting in species being downlisted to lower categories of extinction risk (12%), genuine range expansion of species such that they are no longer restricted to single sites (4%), or deterioration to extinction (1%). Our results show that while protected areas and site management are important to the successful conservation of AZE species, other conservation actions, such as species‐level management or improved laws and policies, are also essential to safeguard these species from extinction. Sixty‐eight percent of the original 2005 AZE sites are now fully or partially covered by protected areas, an increase of almost 20% in 15 years. Yet today, only 64% of current (2018) AZE sites are fully or partially covered by protected areas, with 36% lacking any formal protection. Continued efforts to safeguard and manage AZE sites would benefit not only the 1,483 AZE species but also potentially another 1,359 Critically Endangered and Endangered amphibian, bird, and mammal species whose distributions overlap with AZE sites.