bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of host city image in the country destination branding in sport mega-event context: exploring cognitive and affective image dimensions
Authors: Ferreira Luciana Brandão , Giraldi Janaina de Moura Engracia , Maheshwari Vish , Oliveira Jorge Henrique Caldeira de
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to verify the brand image effects of holding a sport mega-event by investigating the host city's influence on the country's branding, as a tourist destination.

Design/methodology/approach

This research considered the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and uses quantitative methods: exploratory factor analysis and regression. Data were collected by structured questionnaires with a sample of (n = 274) international respondents with high international travel experience.

Findings

Rio de Janeiro's 2016 host city image positively predicted Brazil's tourist destination image. Both cognitive and affective image dimensions of Rio as a host city predicted Brazil's destination image, but the cognitive image dimensions demonstrated more impact.

Practical implications

Even in a mega-event context, city marketing strategies should be planned and executed with a focus on the country's destination image.

Originality/value

The study contributes by focusing on presenting the importance of the host city image dimensions to the host country destination image in a sports mega-event context. The study investigated a new approach, the impacts of affective and cognitive dimensions in the overall destination image considering two connected destinations and the hosting of a sport mega-event, a condition not found in the literature thus far.
Predicting complaint voicing or exit amidst Indian consumers: a CHAID analysis
Authors: Kumar Amit , Kaur Anupriya
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The current study aims to predict consumer complaint status (complainers or non-complainers) based on socio-demographic and psychographic factors and further to discern the differences in behavior disposition of consumer groups concerning determinants of consumer's tendency to exit (TE).

Design/methodology/approach

The research used survey-based data of 600 Indian consumers of three service sectors (hotel and hospitality, automobile service centers and organized retail stores). Chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) decision tree analysis was used to profile consumers.

Findings

The results indicated that occupation; income; education; industry and attitude toward complaining were significant factors in profiling consumers as complainers or non-complainers. Further, determinants of TE (discouraging subjective norms, perceived likelihood of successful complaint, lower perceived switching cost, poor employee response, negative past experience and ease of complaint process) vary significantly across the groups of complainers and non-complainers.

Research limitations/implications

The research questions in this study were tested with three service sectors consumers in India, so due care should be exercised in generalizing these findings to other sectors and countries. Study replication across other service sectors and countries is recommended to improve the generalizability of these findings with wider socio-demographic samples.

Practical implications

Firms striving for consumer retention and aim to extend their consumer life cycle can greatly benefit from the results of this study to understand the customer complaint behavior (CCB) specific to non-complaining (exit) behavior. The future researcher may benefit from replicating and extending the model in different industries for further contribution to the CCB literature.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no evidence of consumer segmentation based on their complaining behavior or socio-demographic and psychographic factors by employing CHAID decision tree analysis. In addition to illustrating the use of data mining techniques such as CHAID in the field of CCB, it also contributes to the extant literature by researching in a non-Western setting like India.
Twentieth-century built urban heritage potential of the Somali region, its management, challenges and opportunities: the case of Jigjiga, Qebridahar and Erer cities
Authors: Yasien Muhammed Hamid , Kebede Tesfamichael Teshale
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The research works concerned with heritage management, in general, are available domestically and globally, but they are not as abundant as required when it comes to the management of twentieth-century urban heritages, particularly the Somali region. Thus, this research is assumed as innovative and evocative of additional research initiatives in the management of twentieth-century urban heritages, and it can assure the development of sustainable heritage tourism in the research area.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a cross-sectional survey as the research design, and qualitative data of both primary and secondary types were collected for this research. Therefore, purposively selected knowledgeable individuals in heritages of the study area were involved in in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and field surveys of twentieth-century built urban heritage sites were conducted in Jigjiga, Erer and Qebridahar cities. Generally, observation, face-to-face interview interviews and focused group discussions were used to collect primary data, and document analysis was also used to collect secondary data.

Findings

The findings of the study revealed that the Somali region is rich in twentieth-century urban built heritage. The imperial palace, administrative centers, mosques, shrines, churches, military camps, Italian-built architecture sites, patriot centers, statues of local heroes, older bus stations and city centers are among the twentieth-century built heritages in the region. However, most of these heritages were not recognized. Consequently; conservation, promotion and use of the twentieth-century urban heritages for sustainable development are given little attention despite that there are infrastructural facilities for tourists in the region and the proximity of the region to the heritage tourism corridors of Harar and Dire Dawa.

Research limitations/implications

Awareness should be made to the concerned institutions and societies about socio-economic and cultural values of the twentieth-century urban built heritage.

Practical implications

The Federal Culture and Tourism Ministry and Culture and Tourism Bureau of the Somali region should cooperatively develop a short and long-term plan of action to manage the twentieth-century built urban heritage of the region and use them for sustainable development through the participation of the society.

Social implications

The local institutions, communities and individuals should be aware of and involved in the conservation, promotion and use of the twentieth-century built urban heritages for sustainable social, cultural and economic development.

Originality/value

As far as the researchers' knowledge is concerned, there is no research of a similar type in which the setting and results are closer to this. Therefore, this research is original and is based on extensive primary data gathered from field surveys.
Determinants of becoming an M&A acquirer or target: evidence from the US insurance industry
Authors: Özer Gökhan , Okur Nurullah , Çam İlhan
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper explores which fundamental aspects of US insurance firms are significant factors in determining whether a firm will be a target or acquirer firm.

Design/methodology/approach

By focusing on 251 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals (119 target firms and 132 acquirer firms) over the period between 1990 and 2019, multinomial logistic regression results identify the determinants associated with becoming targets or acquirers.

Findings

US insurance firms are more likely to become targets if they are smaller, have lower cash holdings, are non-life, and do not have environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores. Insurance firms are more likely to be acquirers if they have higher profitability, higher cash flow and higher intangibles, and if they are non-life and do not have ESG scores. Moreover, the likelihood of becoming an acquirer decreases in times of global financial crises (GFCs) as compared to non-GFC times.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to utilize multi-period multinomial logistic regression analysis to investigate the determinants of selection decisions of M&A targets and acquirers in the US insurance industry.
Design opportunities for future development of crisis communication technologies for marginalised groups – Co-designing with Swedish disability organisations
Authors: Nilsson Elisabet M. , Lundälv Jörgen , Eriksson Magnus
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The purpose is to firstly, provide an example of how voices of people with various disabilities (motor, visual, hearing, and neuropsychiatric impairments) can be listened to and involved in the initial phases of a co-design process (Discover, Define). Secondly, to present the outcome of the joint explorations as design opportunities pointing out directions for future development of crisis communication technologies supporting people with disabilities in building crisis preparedness. The study was conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The study assumes a design research approach including a literature review, focus group interviews, a national online survey and collaborative (co-)design workshops involving crisis communicators and representatives of disability organisations in Sweden. The research- and design process was organised in line with the Double Diamond design process model consisting of the four phases: Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver, whereof the two first phases are addressed in this paper.

Findings

The analysis of the survey data resulted in a series of challenges, which were presented to and evaluated by crisis communicators and representatives from the disability organisations at the workshops. Seven crisis communication challenges were identified, for example, the lack of understanding and knowledge of needs, conditions and what it means to build crisis preparedness for people with disabilities, the lack of and/or inability to develop digital competencies and the lack of social crisis preparedness. The challenges were translated into design opportunities to be used in the next step of the co-design process (Develop, Deliver).

Originality/value

This research paper offers both a conceptual approach and empirical perspectives of design opportunities in crisis communication. To translate identified challenges into design opportunities starting with a “How Might We”, creates conditions for both researchers, designers and people with disabilities to jointly turn something complex, such as a crisis communication challenge, into something concrete to act upon. That is, their joint explorations do not stop by “knowing”, but also enable them to in the next step take action by developing potential solutions for crisis communication technologies for facing these challenges.
“School of precariousness”: the production of consent to precarious work in administration internships
Authors: Fuzyama Christian Kazuo , Lemos Ana Heloisa , Silva Marcelo Almeida de Carvalho
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to understand the production of consent to precarious working conditions in administration students' internship experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 13 students of an undergraduate program in Business Administration in a private university were interviewed. The students' perceptions about the dynamics of the internship and their engagement in this experience were explored through thematic analysis.

Findings

Internships became more than spaces to learn about the world of work. They are also the locus of professional socialization toward precarious work. The detachment of internships from their educational scope is mediated by neonormative control mechanisms that subjectively mobilize the interns, producing the institutionalization and appreciation of the precarious experience, resignified as something that leads to autonomy, learning and a job position.

Practical implications

The article can help students, universities and companies to assess the role of internships in training future professionals.

Social implications

The research problematizes the internship as a form of professional socialization toward precarious work and its detachment from the original educational purpose. The article critically contributes to the debate about the current professional socialization process of young students.

Originality/value

The article highlights the subjective dimension that supports students' consent to dysfunctional internships, discussing both the experience of work precariousness and exploitation, and the terms of the students' engagement in such dynamics, bridging consent to neonormative controls.
Brazilian stock market performance and investor sentiment on Twitter
Authors: Souza Dyliane Mouri Silva de , Martins Orleans Silva
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study identified how investor sentiment on Twitter is associated with Brazilian stock market return and trading volume.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyzes 314,864 tweets between January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2018, collected with the Tweepy library. The companies’ financial data were obtained from Refinitiv Eikon. Using the netnographic method, a Twitter Investor Sentiment Index (ISI) was constructed based on terms associated with the stocks. This Twitter sentiment was attributed through machine learning using the Google Cloud Natural Language API. The associations between Twitter sentiment and market performance were performed using quantile regressions and vector auto-regression (VAR) models, because the variables of interest are heterogeneous and non-normal, even as relationships can be dynamic.

Findings

In the contemporary period, the ISI is positively correlated with stock market returns, but negatively correlated with trading volume. The autoregressive analysis did not confirm the expectation of a dynamic relationship between sentiment and market variables. The quantile analysis showed that the ISI explains the stock market return, however, only at times of lower returns. It is possible to state that this effect is due to the informational content of the tweets (sentiment), and not to the volume of tweets.

Originality/value

The study presents unprecedented evidence for the Brazilian market that investor sentiment can be identified on Twitter, and that this sentiment can be useful for the formation of an investment strategy, especially in times of lower returns. These findings are original and relevant to market agents, such as investors, managers and regulators, as they can be used to obtain abnormal returns.
Incorporating management action suitability in conservation plans
Authors: Carter Zachary T. , Hanson Jeffrey O. , Perry George L. W. , Russell James C.
Published: September 2022

Conservation decision makers must negotiate social and technical complexities to achieve desired biodiversity outcomes. Quantitative models can inform decision making, by evaluating and predicting management outcomes, so that comparisons can be made between alternative courses of action. However, whether a proposed action is appropriate for implementation, regardless of its contribution to management outcomes, also requires consideration. Existing quantitative models have yet to fully incorporate the suitability of proposed management actions, which hinders their ability to inform decision making.

We used gradient boosted decision trees – a machine‐learning technique – to determine the suitability of alternative management actions available to a biodiversity conservation programme. We demonstrate our approach using the Predator Free 2050 programme – a large and complex conservation initiative that seeks to eradicate selected invasive vertebrates from the entirety of New Zealand by 2050. We created a nationally contiguous network of management tools to suppress populations of invasive species across the entire country. We then used our suitability predictions to explore three scenarios for selecting invasive species management tools, based on maximising (a) implementation probability, (b) humaneness and (c) cost‐savings.

Our models highlighted that an interplay of factors influence where management tools can potentially be implemented. Our management scenarios revealed what different contiguous management networks could look like for New Zealand over the next 10–15 years as an interim step to achieving Predator Free 2050. Each scenario differed in the tools selected for implementation in different places and in the overall economic costs associated with creating a contiguous management network. Some locations were identified as unsuitable for any existing management tools, indicating that future transformative technologies may be required to create a contiguous network.

Synthesis and applications. Conservation decision making must not only consider biodiversity outcomes but also whether selected management actions are appropriate in the first place. Here, we used machine‐learning techniques to determine the suitability of competing managements actions that are proposed to meet biodiversity objectives. Our approach provides an objective, transparent and reproducible framework to determine the suitability of actions at sites across large spatial extents, under complex social and technical constraints.
Dinoflagellate hosts determine the community structure of marine Chytridiomycota: Demonstration of their prominent interactions
Authors: Fernández‐Valero Alan Denis , Reñé Albert , Timoneda Natàlia , Sampedro Nagore , Garcés Esther
Published: September 2022

The interactions of parasitic fungi with their phytoplankton hosts in the marine environment are mostly unknown. In this study, we evaluated the diversity of Chytridiomycota in phytoplankton communities dominated by dinoflagellates at several coastal locations in the NW Mediterranean Sea and demonstrated the most prominent interactions of these parasites with their hosts. The protist community in seawater differed from that in sediment, with the latter characterized by a greater heterogeneity of putative hosts, such as dinoflagellates and diatoms, as well as a chytrid community more diverse in its composition and with a higher relative abundance. Chytrids accounted for 77 amplicon sequence variants, of which 70 were found exclusively among different blooming host species. The relative abundance of chytrids was highest in samples dominated by the dinoflagellate genera Ostreopsis and Alexandrium, clearly indicating the presence of specific chytrid communities. The establishment of parasitoid‐host co‐cultures of chytrids and dinoflagellates allowed the morphological identification and molecular characterization of three species of Chytridiomycota, including Dinomyces arenysensis, as one of the most abundant environmental sequences, and the discovery of two other species not yet described.
Aridity differentially alters the stability of soil bacterial and fungal networks in coastal and inland areas of Australia
Authors: Chen Qing‐Lin , Xiang Qian , Sun An‐Qi , Hu Hang‐Wei
Published: September 2022

Despite the importance of soil bacterial and fungal communities for ecosystem services and human welfare, how their ecological networks respond to climatic aridity have yet been evaluated. Here, we collected soil samples from 47 sites across 2500 km in coastal and inland areas of eastern Australia with contrasting status of aridity. We found that the diversity of both bacteria and fungi significantly differed between inland and coastal soils. Despite the significant differences in soil nutrient availability and stoichiometry between the inland and coastal regions, aridity was the most important predictor of bacterial and fungal community compositions. Aridity has altered the potential microbial migration rates and further impacted the microbial assembly processes by increasing the importance of stochasticity in bacterial and fungal communities. More importantly, ecological network analysis indicated that aridity enhanced the complexity and stability of the bacterial network but reduced that of the fungal network, possibly due to the contrasting impacts of aridity on the community‐level habitat niche breadth and overlaps. Our work paves the way towards a more comprehensive understanding of how climate changes will alter soil microbial communities, which is integral to predicting their long‐term consequences for ecosystem sustainability and resilience to future disturbances.
Cash to spend: IPO wealth and house prices
Authors: Hartman‐Glaser Barney , Thibodeau Mark , Yoshida Jiro
Published: September 2022

This study demonstrates the impact of initial public offerings (IPOs) on local house prices. Applying spatial difference‐in‐differences methods to IPOs in California from 1993 to 2017, we find house prices increase by 0.7%–0.9% near an IPO firm's headquarters around filing and issuing dates. Upon lockup expiration, price changes depend on postissuance returns. Treating the San Francisco Bay as a commuting barrier, we identify sustained price increases after filings and temporary increases after issuing and lockup expiration. We also confirm post‐IPO price divergence between the treatment and synthetic control areas. Our findings indicate the effect of liquid wealth under mild financial constraints.
Analysis of indole and indazole amides synthetic cannabinoids by differential Raman spectroscopy based on ANN
Authors: Lee Jin , Jiang Hong
Published: September 2022

A simple, rapid, accurate, and non‐destructive method was developed for the determination of cannabinoids, combining principal component analysis and multi‐layer perceptron neural network to classify indole and indazole amide synthetic cannabinoids. Under the experimental conditions of this study, 25 experimental samples were successfully classified into two categories as the final classification, which guaranteed 96% correct rate. First, the samples were manually classified and divided into two categories according to the difference in peak position and peak intensity of the differential Raman characteristic peaks at 650–540 cm−1, etc. Fisher's discriminant method (FDA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to analyze the experimental data. Fisher's discriminant analysis was used to formulate two classification functions to discriminate the results of manual classification, and the overall accuracy rate of classification reached 88%. Principal component analysis was used to reduce the dimensionality of the data, which could reduce the influence of redundant data on the experimental results. The original data, FDA‐processed data and PCA‐processed data, and artificial neural network algorithm (ANN‐MLP/RBF) were combined to build a classification model. In the MLP model, the classification accuracy of the original data, FDA‐processed data, and PCA‐processed data was 80%, 92%, and 96% respectively, and the overall accuracy of the sample classification was 89.33%. In the RBF model, the accuracy of sample classification was 76%, 84%, and 92% respectively, and the overall accuracy of sample classification was 84%. Differential Raman spectroscopy could be used to distinguish 25 kinds of synthetic cannabinoids, and finally, the samples were divided into two categories. The PCA + MLP model was the best for processing spectral data. Based on the perspective of multivariate data, this study demonstrated that the method could be used for rapid and non‐destructive testing of indole and indazole amide synthetic cannabinoids and that an efficient and non‐destructive classification model was obtained. This method could be used for rapid detection and inspection of drugs in the field of forensic science.
Embedding reciprocity in human resource management: A social exchange theory of the role of frontline managers
Authors: Kilroy Jennifer , Dundon Tony , Townsend Keith
Published: September 2022

This article focuses on frontline managers (FLM) who, until recently, have been neglected as key actors in the implementation of human resource management policies and subsequent employee performance outcomes. This research finds that FLMs are not a homogenous entity who act as robotic conformists, but rather evolve and become important agents shaping organisational performance outcomes and worker effort. The article extends social exchange theory to present a ‘zone of reciprocity’ that refines understanding of the causal chain between different FLM styles, HR policy and employee performance outcomes of organisational citizenship behaviour and commitment. The data are survey responses from 613 employees who all work and report to specific FLM in a single medical device multi‐divisional organisation. The article offers new theory development as well as implications for practitioners interested in FLM and the HR performance causal chain.
Incentive Contract Design and Employee‐Initiated Innovation: Evidence from the Field*
Authors: Cai Wei , Gallani Susanna , Shin Jee‐Eun
Published: September 2022

This study examines how the design of incentive contracts for tasks defined as workers' official responsibilities (i.e., standard tasks) influences workers' propensity to engage in employee‐initiated innovation (EII). EII corresponds to innovation activities that are not formally assigned to workers but are nonetheless encouraged and considered to be important for the company's success. Like other extra‐role behaviors, EII is difficult to incentivize directly. Therefore, it is important to understand whether and how explicit incentive contracts designed for the workers' standard tasks may indirectly influence their EII activity. We use field data from a manufacturing company that uses a dedicated information system to track workers' EII idea submissions. We find theory‐consistent evidence that, compared to workers receiving fixed pay, employees rewarded for their standard tasks with variable compensation contracts exhibit a lower propensity to engage in EII. This result is concentrated among ideas benefiting other constituents and activities beyond the proponents' standard task (i.e., broad‐scope ideas). In contrast, we find no difference attributable to standard task incentive design in the proposal of innovation ideas narrowly focused on the proponent's standard task (i.e., narrow‐scope ideas). Our findings suggest that variable pay narrows employees' conceptual focus around the standard task and hinders employee engagement in broad‐scope innovation activities compared to fixed compensation contracts. We contribute to the literature on incentives for innovation by showing that standard task compensation contracts have spillover effects on EII behavior. We also contribute to the nascent literature on EII by showing that innovation types, defined based on their relation with the proponent's standard task, matter. Our results are relevant for practitioners in that managers relying on variable pay contracts to incentivize standard task performance should expect lower employee engagement in broad‐scope EII.
Antimicrobial action of four herbal plants over mixed‐species biofilms of Candida albicans with four different microorganisms
Authors: Domingues Nádia , Ramos Lucas de Paula , Pereira Larissa Marques , do Rosário Estevam dos Santos Pâmela Beatriz , Scorzoni Liliana , Pereira Thaís Cristine , Abu Hasna Amjad , Carvalho Cláudio Antonio Talge , de Oliveira Luciane Dias
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of four herbal plants glycolic extracts over mixed‐species biofilm composed of Candida albicans (C. albicans) and another pathogenic bacterium as alternative therapy to be investigated. Four plants extract of Pfaffia paniculata roots; Hamamelis virginiana leaf, Stryphnodendron barbatiman tree bark and Gymnema sylvestre stem and leaves were tested over multi‐species biofilm of C. albicans (ATCC 18804) and Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 35688), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 4083) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442) for 5 min and 24 h and colony forming units per millilitre was calculated. The data were analysed using Kruskal–Wallis with Dunn's test (p ≤ 0.05). All tested extracts showed antimicrobial action over the mixed‐species biofilms after 24 h. Some extracts eliminated totally the biofilms. The glycolic extract of P. paniculata, H. virginiana, S. barbatiman and G. sylvestre are effective over mixed‐species biofilms and may be indicated as endodontic irrigant or intracanal medication.
Internal morphology of distal roots of mandibular first molars revealed by computed microtomography
Authors: Marceliano‐Alves Marília F. , de Coutinho Thais Machado Carvalho , Ronquete Vivian , Goulard Paula Avelar Ribeiro , do Nascimento Larissa Moraes Gabriel , de Almeida dos Santos Antoine , Lopes Ricardo Tadeu , Lins Renata Ximenes , da Silva Limoeiro Ana Grasiela , Nascimento Wayne Martins , Amoroso‐Silva Pablo Andres
Published: September 2022

To evaluate the internal morphology of 100 distal roots of mandibular first molars using micro‐CT. Teeth were scanned to characterise: Vertucci type, root length, canal shape, presence and location of accessory canals, and the number of foramina at 4 mm from the apex, presence of root isthmus and the length from the primary canal to the apical foramen. Vertucci type I was found in 57% of cases, followed by V (27%). The most common cross‐section 1 mm from the apex was oval (49%) and circular (38%). The average root length was 16.06 mm (16.61–19.02 mm). The mean foramen size was 0.32 and 0.53 mm for the minor and major diameters, respectively. The volume, surface area and SMI were 7.84 mm3, 68.87 mm2 and 1.52 mm, respectively. Root isthmi were found in 47% of the samples, and the length mean from the primary canal to the apical foramen was 2,03 mm. The internal morphology of the distal roots of mandibular first molars may be complex and shows variations.
Discoid (nummular) eczema in the paediatric setting – An Australian/New Zealand narrative
Authors: McWhirter Seamus , Foster Rachael , Halbert Anne , Miller Robert , Morgan Vanessa A. , Rademaker Marius , Robertson Susan , Scardamaglia Laura , Warren Lachlan , Wong Li‐Chuen , Zappala Tania , Orchard David
Published: September 2022

Discoid (nummular) eczema is a common and distinctive eczema variant, which has not been studied in depth. Although the principles of management are similar to that of classic atopic dermatitis, distinctions are made due to its unique presentation and persistent clinical course in children. Australian and New Zealand dermatologists with an interest in paediatric eczema developed a consensus narrative to assist clinicians in diagnosing and treating this subtype of eczema. Identifying triggers, potent topical corticosteroids under occlusion, skin barrier support and management of pruritus are first‐line therapies, however, many eventually require systemic immunomodulatory agents.
Allergic disease trajectories up to adolescence: Characteristics, early‐life, and genetic determinants
Authors: Kilanowski Anna , Thiering Elisabeth , Wang Gang , Kumar Ashish , Kress Sara , Flexeder Claudia , Bauer Carl‐Peter , Berdel Dietrich , von Berg Andrea , Bergström Anna , Gappa Monika , Heinrich Joachim , Herberth Gunda , Koletzko Sibylle , Kull Inger , Melén Erik , Schikowski Tamara , Peters Annette , Standl Marie
Published: September 2022

Background

Allergic diseases often develop jointly during early childhood but differ in timing of onset, remission, and progression. Their disease course over time is often difficult to predict and determinants are not well understood.

Objectives

We aimed to identify trajectories of allergic diseases up to adolescence and to investigate their association with early‐life and genetic determinants and clinical characteristics.

Methods

Longitudinal k‐means clustering was used to derive trajectories of allergic diseases (asthma, atopic dermatitis, and rhinitis) in two German birth cohorts (GINIplus/LISA). Associations with early‐life determinants, polygenic risk scores, food and aeroallergen sensitization, and lung function were estimated by multinomial models. The results were replicated in the independent Swedish BAMSE cohort.

Results

Seven allergic disease trajectories were identified: “Intermittently allergic,” “rhinitis,” “early‐resolving dermatitis,” “mid‐persisting dermatitis,” “multimorbid,” “persisting dermatitis plus rhinitis,” and “early‐transient asthma.” Family history of allergies was more prevalent in all allergic disease trajectories compared the non‐allergic controls with stronger effect sizes for clusters comprising more than one allergic disease (e.g., RRR = 5.0, 95% CI = [3.1–8.0] in the multimorbid versus 1.8 [1.4–2.4] in the mild intermittently allergic cluster). Specific polygenic risk scores for single allergic diseases were significantly associated with their relevant trajectories. The derived trajectories and their association with genetic effects and clinical characteristics showed similar results in BAMSE.

Conclusion

Seven robust allergic clusters were identified and showed associations with early life and genetic factors as well as clinical characteristics.
Potential role of dynein‐related genes in the etiology of male infertility: A systematic review and a meta‐analysis
Authors: Levkova Mariya , Radanova Maria , Angelova Lyudmila
Published: September 2022

Background

The dynein‐related genes may have a role in the etiology of male infertility, particularly in cases of impaired sperm motility.

Objectives

The goal of this review is to compile a list of the most important dynein‐related candidate genes that may contribute to male factor infertility.

Materials and methods

Databases were searched using the keywords “dynein,” “male,” “infertility,” and by applying strict inclusion criteria. A meta‐analysis was also performed by using the eligible case‐control studies. The odd ratios (ORs), the Z‐test score, and the level of significance were determined using a fixed model with a p value of 0.05. Funnel plots were used to check for publication bias.

Results

There were 35 studies that met the inclusion criteria. There were a total of 15 genes responsible for the production of dynein structural proteins, the production of dynein assembling factors, and potentially associated with male infertility. A total of five case‐control studies were eligible for inclusion in the meta‐analysis. Variants in the dynein‐related genes were linked to an increased the risk of male infertility (OR = 21.52, 95% confidence interval 8.34–55.50, Z test = 6.35, p < 0.05). The percentage of heterogeneity, I2, was 47.00%. The lack of variants in the dynein genes was an advantage, and this was statistically significant.

Discussion

The results from the present review illustrate that pathogenic variants in genes both for dynein synthesis and for dynein assembly factors could be associated with isolated cases of male infertility without any other symptoms.

Conclusions

The genes addressed in this study, which are involved in both the production and assembly of dynein, could be used as molecular targets for future research into the etiology of sperm motility problems.
Proteomic changes in human spermatozoa during in vitro capacitation and acrosome reaction in normozoospermia and asthenozoospermia
Authors: Chhikara Nirmal , Tomar Anil Kumar , Datta Sudip Kumar , Yadav Savita
Published: September 2022

Background

The cellular and molecular mechanisms of the events that help spermatozoa acquire their fertilizing capability during capacitation and acrosome reaction are not completely understood.

Objective

This study was performed with a postulation that the identification of sperm proteins and their changes during in vitro capacitation and acrosome reaction will unravel unknown molecular aspects of fertilization that impact male fertility.

Materials and methods

Spermatozoa collected from sequential conditions, that is, separation of ejaculated spermatozoa by Percoll gradient centrifugation, in vitro capacitation, and acrosome reaction were processed for tandem mass spectrometric analysis, followed by protein identification, label‐free quantitation, and statistical analysis.

Results and discussion

Collectively, a total of 1088 sperm proteins were identified. In comparison to ejaculated spermatozoa, 44 and 141 proteins were differentially expressed in capacitated and acrosome reacted spermatozoa, respectively. A large number of proteins were found downregulated, including clusterin, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component, semenogelin‐1 and 2, heat shock protein 90, beta‐microseminoprotein, and keratin. It was expected as sperm‐membrane‐associated proteins are removed during capacitation. There were significant proteomic alterations in asthenozoospermia compared to normozoospermia; however, variation was more noticeable among proteins of acrosome reacted spermatozoa and those released during the acrosome reaction. The processes enriched among downregulated proteins in asthenozoospermia included acrosome assembly, binding of spermatozoa to zona pellucida, nucleosome assembly, flagellated sperm motility, protein folding, oxidative phosphorylation, tricarboxylic acid cycle, chromatin silencing, gluconeogenesis, glycolytic process, and glycolysis.

Conclusion

The dynamic information generated about proteomic alterations in spermatozoa during capacitation and acrosome reaction and their variability in asthenozoospermia will contribute not only to enhancing our understanding of processes that prepare spermatozoa to acquire fertilization capability but also help in deciphering novel factors of male infertility.
Family‐centred care and breastfeeding self‐efficacy determined how ready mothers were for their infants to be discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Lebel Valérie , Argiropoulos Nikolas , Robins Stephanie , Charbonneau Lyne , Feeley Nancy
Published: September 2022

Aim

We examined if a range of factors were associated with how ready mothers were for their infants to be discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods

This was a secondary analysis of a study on the well‐being of mothers whose infants were hospitalised in the level 3 NICU at the Jewish General Hospital in Canada. We studied 132 mother–infant dyads: 70 from an open ward NICU and 62 from the purpose‐built NICU with pods or single‐family rooms that replaced it in 2016. The mothers completed a questionnaire on NICU stress and their perceptions of family‐centred care on enrolment and another on breastfeeding self‐efficacy and readiness to go home a week before discharge. The infants' characteristics were retrieved from the medical files.

Results

The infants were born at a mean age of 29.8 ± 3.1 weeks. Greater family‐centred care during early hospitalisation (p = 0.01) and greater breastfeeding self‐efficacy in the period before discharge (p = 0.04) were significantly associated with higher readiness for discharge. The unit design was not significantly associated with readiness for discharge.

Conclusion

The quality of early family‐centred care and breastfeeding self‐efficacy were significantly associated with how ready mothers were for their preterm infant to be discharged from the NICU.
Pursuing a uniform effect: Pathways linking exposure to normatively‐focused scientific consensus messages (NFSCMs) to behavioral intention to adopt science
Authors: Koh Hyeseung
Published: September 2022

This study tested the effect of normatively‐focused scientific consensus messages (NFSCMs) on receivers' intention to consume GE‐foods. In Study 1, the efficacy of a NFSCM was examined, relative to a standard descriptive norm message (SDNM), a scientific consensus message (SCM), and two control messages, issue‐relevant and issue‐irrelevant messages, using an experiment. In Study 2, the effect of the NFSCM with discrete descriptive norm formats was tested, relative to a standard message used in the real world, using an experiment. Results indicated that the effect of exposure to the NFSCM on intention was mediated via attentional focus on the norm information and perceptions about the norm, which is consistent with those in prior literature. The re‐specified model was not contingent on participants’ education level, gender and political stance indicating a uniform effect. Exposure to the messages also changed receivers’ feeling of disgust and un/certainty about the scientific issue in desirable ways.
Clinical utility of a model‐based amoxicillin dosage regimen in neonates with early‐onset sepsis
Authors: Kou Chen , Li Di‐Fei , Tang Bo‐Hao , Dong Lei , Yao Bu‐Fan , van den Anker John , You Dian‐Ping , Wu Yue‐E , Zhao Wei
Published: September 2022

Early‐onset sepsis (EOS) is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in neonates. Currently, amoxicillin is empirically used to treat neonates with EOS. However, data on its effectiveness in neonates with EOS are still limited. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the pharmacodynamics (PD) target attainment and effectiveness of a model‐based amoxicillin dosage regimen in these neonates. We used a previously developed model and collected additional clinical data from the EOS neonates who used the model‐based dosage regimen (25 mg/kg every 12 h). The primary outcomes were PD target attainment (free drug concentration above minimum inhibitory concentration during 70% of the dosing interval) and treatment failure rate. The secondary endpoints were length of amoxicillin treatment, duration of hospitalization etc. Seventy‐five neonates (postmenstrual age 28.4–41.6 wk) were enrolled. A total of 70 (93.3%) neonates reached their PD target using 1 mg/L as the minimum inhibitory concentration breakpoint. The treatment failure rate was 10.7%.
Enough chit‐chat, strike! Deliberation and agonism in corporate governance
Authors: Richard Stanislas
Published: September 2022

This conceptual paper contributes to the critique of a body of literature that will be named ‘deliberative corporate governance’ by defending non‐deliberative acts performed by stakeholders. It first argues that this literature introduces to the corporation a decision‐making process where it does not belong, given the corporation's economic role. This leads to an ‘efficiency constraint’ on any attempt to justify deliberation – deliberative governance theorists must show that it is the most efficient and cost‐effective way to address the issues that concern them. A real case example where deliberation would have been counter‐productive in that regard will show that this is not the case. Building on this example, the paper uses the theory of democratic agonism to argue that non‐deliberative acts should be part of governance. A sketch of managerial duties vis‐à‐vis such acts is attempted as well. The paper does not seek to reject deliberative corporate governance entirely, but rather to defend the importance of non‐deliberative practices in addressing its theoretical concern. It makes a conceptual contribution to corporate governance theory, from which it draws practical implications for stakeholders‐oriented management.
‘Wanting no regrets’: Parental decision making around selective dorsal rhizotomy
Authors: Waite Gillian , Chugh Deepti , Cawker Stephanie , Oulton Kate , Wray Jo , Harniess Phill
Published: September 2022

Background

Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is an irreversible neurosurgical procedure used to reduce spasticity while aiming to improve gross motor function for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Little research has explored the complexity of parental decision‐making experiences surrounding SDR surgery and required rehabilitation. The aim was to explore parental experiences and expectation in the decision‐making process around the SDR operation, physiotherapy treatment and outcomes.

Method

Qualitative methods using in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews were used. Eighteen parents (11 mothers and 7 fathers) participated whose child had SDR and completed 2‐year post‐operative rehabilitation. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Decision making involved an interacting process between the ‘parental information seeking experience’, ‘influence of professional encounters and relationships’ and ‘emotional and social aspects’. Despite underlying uncertainties about outcomes, parental drivers of expectations and aspirations for their child preceded and sustained this decision‐making process. A foundational narrative of ‘wanting no regrets’ resolved their decision to undertake SDR. Outcomes did not always match expectations, and parents moved away from a position of idealism, which was driven in part by parental information seeking including overly optimistic media representation.

Conclusion

Universally, parents expressed they had ‘no regrets’ on their decision, yet many felt a mismatch between expectation and outcomes of SDR surgery. A greater understanding of the complex nature of SDR decision making is required to help improve family preparedness and provide support from clinicians to enable balanced discussions in parental decision‐making.
Examination of school readiness and factors related to developmental vulnerability in children born very low birth weight
Authors: Bando Nicole , Walton Kathryn , O'Connor Deborah L. , Janus Magdalena , Unger Sharon L.
Published: September 2022

Background

Many children born very low birth weight (VLBW) experience school struggles with preparedness requiring adequate physical, social, behavioural, cognitive and communication skills. A global assessment of proficiency is necessary to identify those at risk in any such area and direct early intervention accordingly. Study objectives were to characterize developmental vulnerability and school readiness scores in these key domains in a sample of children born VLBW versus their provincial public school system peers and identify early‐life infant and parent factors related to suboptimal school readiness.

Methods

The Early Development Instrument teacher assessments of school readiness were collected for a Canadian VLBW sample (NCT02759809). Comparisons between children born VLBW and peers were made. Group differences between children born VLBW considered vulnerable (<10th percentile, not developmentally ready for learning) and not vulnerable were tested and linear regression explored associations between early‐life factors and domain scores.

Results

Of 77 available Early Development Instrument assessments, median (interquartile range) assessment age was 6.0 (5.7, 6.2) years, birth weight 950 (793, 1250) grammes and birth gestation 27.4 (25.6, 29.7) weeks. A higher proportion of children born VLBW versus peers exhibited vulnerability in Physical Health and Well‐being (24.7% vs. 16.1%, p = 0.04), Communication Skills and General Knowledge (23.4% vs. 10.2%, p = 0.0001) and vulnerability in ≥2 domains (26.0% vs. 14.4%, p = 0.004). Children born VLBW classified as vulnerable versus not vulnerable had lower birth gestation and 5‐min Apgar. Adjusted regression models found Apgar <7 associated with lower scores for Physical Health and Well‐being (−0.86; 95%CI: −1.71, −0.00; p = 0.049), Social Competence (−1.77; 95%CI: −2.92, −0.62; p = 0.003), Emotional Maturity (−1.55; 95%CI: −2.43, −0.66; p = 0.0009) and Communication Skills and General Knowledge (−1.63; 95%CI: −3.19, −0.06; p = 0.04).

Conclusions

This VLBW sample exhibited poor school readiness in multiple domains. Identification of lower birth gestation and Apgar may assist targeted early interventions to mitigate vulnerability.