bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aggregate economic policy uncertainty and corporate political contribution disclosure
Authors: Lei Lijun , Luo Yan
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Unlike other types of corporate disclosure, corporate political disclosure (CPD), which is the disclosure of corporate political contributions and the related governing policies and oversight mechanisms, does not provide completely new information to stakeholders. Some of the information disclosed in CPD is available from other public records (e.g. the Federal Election Committee website or OpenSecrets website). Given this unique feature of CPD, it is interesting to investigate the cost and benefit tradeoff for firms of altering their CPD practice in response to policy and political uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs recently developed indexes of aggregate economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and a novel dataset of CPD transparency to examine the impact of EPU on CPD transparency and how the proprietary cost of corporate political activities moderates this association. The sample consists of S&P 500 companies from the 2012 to 2019 period.

Findings

The authors document that firms mitigate the heightened information asymmetry associated with higher aggregate EPU by increasing CPD transparency. The positive association between EPU and CPD is less pronounced for firms that are more sensitive to EPU, for firms that more actively manage EPU through corporate political contributions or lobbying activities and for firms that are followed by more analysts. The authors also find that more transparent CPD helps to mitigate the information asymmetry caused by heightened EPU. This study’s results hold when the authors control for other types of voluntary corporate disclosure.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the emerging literature on the determinants of CPD transparency by identifying EPU's positive impact on CPD transparency. This study also provides empirical evidence that the proprietary costs arising from the controversial nature of corporate political activities dampen firms' incentives to provide transparent CPD in response to heightened EPU, and that information on corporate political activities gathered and processed by financial analysts seems to lower the marginal benefit to companies of publicizing CPD on their own website.
The impacts of the use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities on perceived internal audit quality
Authors: Betti Nathanaël , DeSimone Steven , Gray Joy , Poncin Ingrid
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This research paper aims to investigate the effects of internal audit’s (IA) use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities on perceived IA quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a 2 × 2 between-subjects experiment among upper and middle managers where the use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities by internal auditors are manipulated.

Findings

Results highlight the importance of internal auditor use of data analytics and performance of consulting activities to improve perceived IA quality. First, managers perceive internal auditors as more competent when the auditors use data analytics. Second, managers perceive internal auditors’ recommendations as more relevant when the auditors perform consulting activities. Finally, managers perceive an improvement in the quality of relationships with internal auditors when auditors perform consulting activities, which is strengthened when internal auditors combine the use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities.

Research limitations/implications

From a theoretical perspective, this research builds on the IA quality framework by considering digitalization as a contextual factor. This research focused on the perceptions of one major stakeholder of the IA function: senior management. Future research should investigate the perceptions of other stakeholders and other contextual factors.

Practical implications

This research suggests that internal auditors should prioritize the development of the consulting role in their function and develop their digital expertise, especially expertise in data analytics, to improve perceived IA quality.

Originality/value

This research tests the impacts of the use of data analytics and the performance of consulting activities on perceived IA quality holistically, by testing Trotman and Duncan’s (2018) framework using an experiment.
Automated text analyses of sustainability & integrated reporting. A literature review of empirical-quantitative research
Authors: Velte Patrick
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to focus on automated text analyses (ATAs) of sustainability and integrated reporting as a recent approach in empirical–quantitative research.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on legitimacy theory, the author conducts a structured literature review and includes 38 quantitative peer-reviewed empirical (archival) studies on specific determinants and consequences of sustainability and integrated reporting. The paper makes a clear distinction between analyses of reports due to readability, tone, similarity and specific topics. In line with prior studies, it is assumed that more readable reports with less tone and similarity relate to increased reporting quality.

Findings

In line with legitimacy theory, there are empirical indications that specific corporate governance variables, other firm characteristics and regulatory issues have a main impact on the quality of sustainability and integrated reporting. Furthermore, increased reporting quality leads to positive market reactions in line with the business case argument.

Research limitations/implications

The author deduces useful recommendations for future research to motivate researchers to include ATA of sustainability and integrated reports. Among others, future research should recognize sustainable and behavioral corporate governance determinants and analyze other stakeholders’ reactions.

Practical implications

As both stakeholders’ demands on sustainability and integrated reporting have increased since the financial crisis of 2008–2009, firms should increase the quality of reporting processes.

Originality/value

This analysis makes major contributions to prior research by including both sustainability and integrated reporting, based on ATA. ATAs play a prominent role in recent empirical research to evaluate possible drivers and consequences of sustainability and integrated reports. ATA may contribute to increased validity of empirical–quantitative research in comparison to classical manual content analyses, especially due to future CSR washing analyses.
Market perceptions on the role of female leadership in adapting to climate change
Authors: Kordsachia Othar , Bassen Alexander , Fieberg Christian , Wolters Katharina
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This empirical study aims to examine the association between gender-diverse boards and corporate carbon emissions and estimates the effect of board gender diversity on stock price reactions to climate activism. This study contributes to the inconclusive literature on the link between gender-diverse boards and firms' financial performance by examining a single and plausibly isolated channel of association (i.e. attention to climate change).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use parametric and non-parametric panel data techniques to examine the association between gender-diverse boards to corporate carbon emission. The system generalized methods of moments (SYS-GMM) estimator is used to address endogeneity concerns. The authors use the event study methodology to examine difference in stock price reactions to climate activism.

Findings

The results show that high board gender diversity is associated with lower corporate carbon emissions and higher stock returns to climate activism.

Originality/value

This is the first study to isolate public attention to climate change as a relevant channel through which gender-diverse boards have an impact of firms' financial performance. This study is timely and important due to the immediate threat of global warming and the recent introduction of mandatory board gender quotas in many countries around the world.
“Having our say”: a micro-level perspective in understanding sports clubs’ membership and active participation
Authors: Kopanidis Foula Z.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the drivers of membership at the micro-level to influence club retention rates and promote positive health-related behaviours through encouraging active member participation.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study (n = 197) was obtained from four martial arts groups in Melbourne, Australia. Self-administered questionnaires assessed the importance of personal benefits, risk taking, personal values and enjoyment of specific benefits.

Findings

Hierarchical analysis identified shared values, excitement (ß = −0.066, p < 0.05), sense of belonging (ß = 0.644, p < 0.05), enjoyment of activities (ß = 0.179, p < 0.05), fitness level (ß = 0.564, p < 0.05), belt status (ß = 0.466 p < 0.05) and the expectations of instructor (ß = 0.144 p < 0.05) and others (ß = 0.483 p < 0.05) as predictors in attracting and retaining club membership. Adult Australians share socio-demographic characteristics and common desires to attain specific benefits which appear to evolve, as membership is not perceived as an interim engagement but rather as a lifelong lifestyle choice.

Practical implications

By advocating positive associations between lifetime membership and active participation, social marketing campaigns can inform and contribute towards a knowledge base for sports clubs to develop targeted strategies and practices towards membership retention.

Originality/value

This study contributes to evidence-based social marketing approaches in an era of ageing demographics, where there remains a need to learn more about how to manage active memberships to promote healthy lifestyles and well-being at a national, community and individual level. The approach of exploring club membership at micro-level to inform tailored macro-level strategic health-related messages is also novel.
Assessing streetscape development effects on walking and cycling in historic contexts: the case study of Afrang district, Port Said, Egypt
Authors: ElSerafi Tamer
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Urban mobility has substantially evolved in several western countries, shifting from interest in road expansion strategies to cater motorized movement to the emphasis on sustainable mobility. This is, however, not the case in several developing countries that still try to accommodate vehicular flows in inner historic cities. This paper aims at providing an assessment framework that helps in evaluating the effect of streetscape development on the walking and cycling environment in historic contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

This research follows a two-phase methodology. Phase 1 is the investigation of the literature review including the streetscape design, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and indicators for the assessment of walking and cycling environment. This phase results in developing a set of indicators for the assessment. Phase 2 is the case study including, methods, steps and results of the assessment based on the output of Phase 1. This phase concludes with a discussion on the challenges and recommendations for the enhancement.

Findings

The streetscape development in Afrang was insufficient and negatively affected the walking and cycling environment. It was motorized-oriented, instead of enhancing green mobility. The interventions led to more crowds, safety risks and less pleasant experience. Moreover, the car users' experience was enhanced initially; however, the traffic situation did not persist. A sustainable urban mobility approach is necessary to be implemented with consideration to the global level and the relation to SDGs.

Originality/value

There is a gap in tackling the research problem both within the context of Port Said in particular and Egyptian context in general. Local authorities need a clear structured methodology to follow in the development of the streetscape. The assessment indicators gathered can be the basis for evaluating future plans.
Dynamics of micropolar-Walters B fluids under the influence of thermal radiation and Soret–Dufour mechanisms
Authors: Ayegbusi Florence Dami , Doungmo Goufo Emile Franc , Tchepmo Patrick
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the Dynamics of micropolar – water B Fluids flow simultaneously under the influence of thermal radiation and Soret–Dufour Mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

The thermal radiation contribution, the chemical change and heat generation take fluidity into account. The flow equations are used to produce a series of dimensionless equations with appropriate nondimensional quantities. By using the spectral homotopy analysis method (SHAM), simplified dimensionless equations have been quantitatively solved. With Chebyshev pseudospectral technique, SHAM integrates the approach of the well-known method of homotopical analysis to the set of altered equations. In terms of velocity, concentration and temperature profiles, the impacts of Prandtl number, chemical reaction and thermal radiation are studied. All findings are visually shown and all physical values are calculated and tabulated.

Findings

The results indicate that an increase in the variable viscosity leads to speed and temperature increases. Based on the transport nature of micropolar Walters B fluids, the thermal conductivity has great impact on the Prandtl number and decrease the velocity and temperature. The current research was very well supported by prior literature works. The results in this paper are anticipated to be helpful for biotechnology, food processing and boiling. It is used primarily in refrigerating systems, tensile heating to large-scale heating and oil pipeline reduction.

Originality/value

All results are presented graphically and all physical quantities are computed and tabulated.
Lymphomatoid papulosis associated with myeloid neoplasm with eosinophilia and FIP1L1::PDGFRA rearrangement: Successful imatinib treatment in two cases
Authors: Bellani Valentina , Croci Giorgio Alberto , Bucelli Cristina , Maronese Carlo Alberto , Alberti Sara , Iurlo Alessandra , Cattaneo Daniele
Published: May 2023

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a benign condition, listed among primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders. Its typical picture consists of relapsing–remitting papular lesions and it can be encountered in the course of a hematologic disease, at times representing its first manifestation. Hypereosinophilic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by persistent peripheral blood hypereosinophilia that may lead to life‐threatening organ damage. Among eosinophilic disorders, the subtype identified as myeloid/lymphoid neoplasm with eosinophilia and tyrosine kinase gene fusions has aroused particular interest due to its excellent response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including imatinib. Here, we described the case of two 33‐year‐old men presenting with LyP and myeloid neoplasm with eosinophilia and FIP1L1::PDGFRA rearrangement who achieved complete clinical and molecular remission of both conditions a few months after starting imatinib.
Allergen‐specific immunotherapy improves alopecia totalis in a severe atopic dermatitis patient
Authors: Kwon Il Joo , Park Jung Won , Kim Su Min , Lee Kwang Hoon , Park Chang Ook
Published: May 2023

House dust mite (HDM) is the most common allergen exacerbating atopic dermatitis (AD), and allergen‐specific immunotherapy (AIT) using HDM exhibited significant improvements in previous studies. Alopecia can occur as a complication of AD. Alopecia totalis (AT), a severe form of alopecia areata (AA), does not respond well to treatment and the chance of full recovery is less than 10%. For extensive hair loss, topical immunotherapy such as diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) is used as the first‐line treatment. However, since DPCP is a kind of contact allergen, it has the potential to exacerbate AD. A 38‐year‐old man with AD and AA visited our clinic with symptoms worsening from 3 months ago. Although taking oral methylprednisolone (8 mg/day) and cyclosporine (100 mg/day) for 3 months, he has lost over 90% of his hair and the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) was 43. Total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were 4454 kU/L (normal <100 kU/L) and the specific IgE levels for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae following ImmunoCAP® were 20.8 and 37.4 kU/L, respectively. This patient did not respond well to previous treatment and was reluctant to use long‐term steroids, so subcutaneous AIT using HDM was administered along with oral cyclosporine (100 mg/day). Topical tacrolimus was also applied to the AD lesions throughout the body. To reduce itching, nonsedative antihistamines were used if necessary. Hair loss was almost completely improved 1 year after the AIT initiation and the skin lesions of AD also improved (EASI 2.4). The specific IgE levels for D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae were 3.73 and 7.16 kU/L, respectively. Herein, we report a patient with promising results following AIT for AT with severe AD. In severe alopecic patients with AD refractory to conventional treatment, including immunosuppressants, AIT could be considered as a treatment option.
An apex predator engineers wetland food‐web heterogeneity through nutrient enrichment and habitat modification
Authors: Strickland Bradley A. , Flood Peter J. , Kline Jeffrey L. , Mazzotti Frank J. , Heithaus Michael R. , Trexler Joel C.
Published: May 2023

The potential for animals to modify spatial patterns of nutrient limitation for autotrophs and habitat availability for other members of their communities is increasingly recognized. However, net trophic effects of consumers acting as ecosystem engineers remain poorly known. The American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis is an abundant predator capable of dramatic modifications of physical habitat through the creation and maintenance of pond‐like basins, but its role in influencing community structure and nutrient dynamics is less appreciated.

We investigated if alligators engineer differences in nutrient availability and changes to community structure by their creation of ‘alligator ponds’ compared to the surrounding phosphorus (P)‐limited oligotrophic marsh.

We used a halo sampling design of three distinct habitats extending outward from 10 active alligator ponds across a hydrological gradient in the Everglades, USA. We performed nutrient analysis on basal food‐web resources and quantitative community analyses, and stoichiometric analyses on plants and animals.

Our findings demonstrate that alligators act as ecosystem engineers and enhance food‐web heterogeneity by increasing nutrient availability, manipulating physical structure and altering algal, plant and animal communities. Flocculent detritus, an unconsolidated layer of particulate organic matter and soil, showed strong patterns of P enrichment in ponds. Higher P availability in alligator ponds also resulted in bottom‐up trophic transfer of nutrients as evidenced by higher growth rates (lower N:P) for plants and aquatic consumers. Edge habitats surrounding alligator ponds contained the most diverse communities of invertebrates and plants, but low total abundance of fishes, likely driven by high densities of emergent macrophytes. Pond communities exhibited higher abundance of fish compared to edge habitat and were dominated by compositions of small invertebrates that track high nutrient availability in the water column. Marshes contained high numbers of animals that are closely tied to periphyton mats, which were absent from other habitats.

Alligator‐engineered habitats are ecologically important by providing nutrient‐enriched ‘hotspots’ in an oligotrophic system, habitat heterogeneity to marshes, and refuges for other fauna during seasonal disturbances. This work adds to growing evidence that efforts to model community dynamics should routinely consider animal‐mediated bottom‐up processes like ecosystem engineering.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and Non‐Traditional Families
Authors: Horsey Kirsty , Jackson Emily
Published: May 2023

There is now a broad consensus that reform of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, has become necessary. Our focus in this legislation article is not on whether the Act needs to be reformed, but on the narrower question of whether the regulation of fertility treatment in the UK does enough to protect the interests of non‐traditional families. The 2008 reforms to the original 1990 Act took some important steps towards inclusivity, for example by deleting the requirement that clinics consider the child's ‘need for a father’ before providing treatment, and enabling two women to be a child's legal parents from birth. Our contention here is that any new legislation should go further in order to recognise and accommodate diverse family forms.
Impact of the monetary value of housing assistance on adult health outcomes
Authors: Byrne Thomas , Miller Daniel P. , Thomas Margaret M. C.
Published: May 2023

Objective

To assess the impact of the dollar value of federal low‐income housing assistance on adult health outcomes and whether this impact varies across housing assistance programs.

Data Sources

We use the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 1999 to 2016 linked with administrative records from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) tracking receipt of low‐income housing assistance from 1999 to 2017.

Design

We use two approaches to assess the impact of the value of housing assistance among HUD housing assistance recipients on outcomes capturing overall health and mental health, chronic and acute health conditions, health care hardship, and food insecurity. First, we use multivariable regression models that adjust for a wide array of possible confounders. Second, we use an instrumental variable approach in which the county‐level supply of HUD housing serves as an instrument for the value of housing assistance.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Our sample includes all 12,031 adult HUD linkage‐eligible NHIS respondents who were currently in HUD housing at the time of their NHIS interview.

Principal Findings

We find the most consistent associations between the value of housing assistance and measures of health care hardship, a relationship that is most robust for Housing Choice Voucher recipients, where we find a $100 increase in the value of housing assistance is associated with a 6.2 percentage point decrease in probability of needing but not being able to afford medical care. We find little evidence that the value of housing assistance impacts overall health or chronic health outcomes.

Conclusions

The relationship between the value of housing assistance and health likely operates via an income effect, wherein receipt of a more valuable benefit frees up resources to spend on needed care. Policy changes to increase the value of housing assistance may have tangible health benefits for tenants receiving housing assistance.
An enhanced descriptor extraction algorithm for power line detection from point clouds
Authors: Shokri Danesh , Rastiveis Heidar , Sarasua Wayne A. , Homayouni Saeid , Hosseiny Benyamin , Shams Alireza
Published: May 2023

Mobile terrestrial laser scanning (MTLS) systems provide a safe and efficient means to survey roadway corridors at high speed. MTLS point clouds are rich in planimetric data. However, manual extraction of useful information from these point clouds can be time consuming and laborious and automated object extraction from MTLS point clouds has become a hot topic in the remote sensing community. This study proposes an automated method for power line extraction from MTLS point clouds based on a multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network. The proposed method consists of three main steps: (i) point cloud preprocessing, (ii) descriptor extraction and selection, and (iii) point classification. The preprocessing step involves filtering out more than 90% of the point cloud by eliminating the vast majority of unneeded points. Next, various descriptors are extracted from the remaining points including planarity, linearity, and verticality, and the descriptor standard deviation is used to select the best‐suited descriptors for power line extraction. Finally, an MLP neural network is trained using the selected descriptors from several cable and noncable sample points. The proposed algorithm was evaluated in three MTLS point clouds in urban and nonurban environments totalling 5.5 kilometres in length. An average precision of 94% and a recall of 94% showed the algorithm’s reliability and feasibility.
Evaluation of clinical oral care outcomes according to nursing outcomes classification
Authors: Büyükyılmaz Funda , Çulha Yeliz , Coşkun Sakine , Cengiz Didem
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This research was planned to follow the healing process of the oral mucosa in patients in intensive care with an “Impaired Oral Mucous Membrane Integrity” nursing diagnosis based on the “NOC (1100) Oral Health Assessment” outcome criteria.

Method

This study, which was planned in a methodological and descriptive type of research, was carried out with 50 patients who were hospitalized in the intensive care clinic of a state hospital between June and December 2022, with a nursing diagnosis of “Impaired Oral Mucous Membrane Integrity.” Data were collected using a Patient Information Form and the “NOC (1100) Oral Health Evaluation Scale” for the nursing outcomes classification. In the analysis of the data descriptive statistical methods, Pearson correlation test, Friedman test as well as Cohen's kappa test were used to evaluate the agreement between two independent observers.

Findings

In the study, content validity index value of the NOC scale was calculated to be 0.90. The examination of the participants’ mean scores on the NOC (1100) Oral Health Assessment Scale showed that there were statistically significant differences in terms of the repeated evaluations, except for the NOC indicators of “Oral mucosal integrity,” “Gum integrity,” and “Tooth integrity” (p < 0.01). No statistically significant correlation was found between the mean NOC scale scores of the patients according to the variables of age, body mass index, mechanical ventilation time, and length of stay in the intensive care unit (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The findings showed that the Turkish version of NOC (1100) Oral Health Assessment Scale was a valid tool for monitoring the healing process of the oral mucosa in patients in intensive care.

Implications of nursing practice

With the use of NOC (1100) Oral Health Assessment Scale, a common language will be formed in the evaluation for monitoring the healing process of the oral mucosa in nursing care.
Persistence and adherence with Latanoprost: A Danish register‐based cohort study in older patients with glaucoma
Authors: Amiri Diva , Sessa Maurizio , Andersen Morten , Kolko Miriam
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to assess the association between switching patterns and adherence/persistence in Danish patients over the age of 65, who started their first‐ever glaucoma treatment with latanoprost eye drops.

Methods

Patients were assigned to three different cohorts: (1) switchers, (2) non‐switchers, and (3) preservative‐free latanoprost (Monoprost®) users. Patients were followed for 1 year until the end of data coverage or censoring. Study covariates were used to compute the propensity score. In the adjusted analysis, the propensity score was added to the model as an independent variable. The Cox regression model was used to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) of discontinuation for the three cohorts (the non‐switchers cohort was the reference level) in both adjusted and unadjusted analyses.

Results

Non‐switchers had a statistically significant lower adherence (proportion of days covered, PDC 92%) than switchers (PDC 96%; p < 0.001) and users of Monoprost® (PDC 99%; p < 0.001). Switchers had a 53% lower risk of treatment discontinuation compared to the reference group within 1 year after the first redemption of latanoprost in both unadjusted (HR 0.47; 95% Confidence interval, 95% CI: 0.41–0.53; p < 0.001) and adjusted (HR 0.47; 95% CI: 0.42–0.53; p < 0.001) analyses. In comparison to the non‐switchers, Monoprost® users had a 78% lower risk for the above result in both unadjusted (HR 0.22; 95% CI: 0.17–0.28; p < 0.001) and adjusted (HR 0.22; 95% CI: 0.17–0.29; p < 0.001) analyses.

Conclusion

This study found increased adherence and persistence in latanoprost users among those who redeemed preservative‐free latanoprost (Monoprost®) and among those who switched between different latanoprost formulations.
Ethanolamine plasmalogens derived from whale brain stimulate both follicle‐stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone secretion by bovine gonadotrophs
Authors: Saito Risa , Bando Takeharu , Kotaniguchi Miyako , Tamura Tsutomu , Kuno Tomoe , Watanabe Kenji , Mizukami Yoichi , Kitamura Shinichi , Kadokawa Hiroya
Published: May 2023

Ethanolamine plasmalogens (EPls) are the only known ligands of a novel receptor, G protein‐coupled receptor 61, and bovine brain EPls stimulate follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) but not luteinizing hormone (LH), secreted by bovine gonadotrophs. We hypothesized that the brain EPls of whales (Balaenoptera edeni), another Cetartiodactyla with at least twice the lifespan of bovines, could stimulate FSH secretion by gonadotrophs. To test this hypothesis, bovine gonadotrophs (from approximately 2‐year‐old Japanese Black heifers) were cultured for 3.5 days and treated with increasing concentrations of brain EP1s from whales (approximately 22 years old). FSH and LH secretion was stimulated by all tested concentrations of whale EPls (p < 0.05). To clarify the important differences between bovine and whale EPls, we utilized two‐dimensional liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, which revealed 35 peaks. Among them, we observed significant differences between 12 EPl molecular species. Additionally, we identified differentially expressed genes for enzymes involved in EPl synthesis or degradation in the hypothalamus of young heifers and old cows (approximately 10 years old) as compared to whales (approximately 28 years old) via deep sequencing of the transcriptome. We conclude that whale brains contain unique EPls that stimulate both FSH and LH secretion by bovine gonadotrophs.
Identifying the psychological mechanisms of utility‐value activities to inform educational research and practice
Authors: Silverman David M. , Hulleman Chris S. , Tibbetts Yoi
Published: May 2023

Background

Utility‐value interventions have been shown to promote students' achievement and motivation in mathematics through encouraging them to identify connections between course content and their real lives. To extend the benefits of these interventions, additional research is necessary to test their efficacy in diverse high school contexts, as well as investigate the psychological mechanisms through which they benefit students.

Aims

To inform efforts within broader learning contexts to develop activities and messages based on utility‐value interventions that effectively target the psychological mechanisms that support student learning.

Samples

Study 1 (N = 375) and Study 2 (N = 2894) include racially and socioeconomically diverse samples of students enrolled in mathematics courses across four high schools in the United States.

Methods

We conducted two randomized field experiments to test the effects of brief utility‐value activities on students' motivation. Using multi‐level path analyses, we then investigated the mechanisms through which utility‐value activities bolster students' interest and achievement in mathematics.

Results

In pre‐registered analyses, we found that the utility‐value activities promoted students' perceived value of mathematics, as well as their novel engagement and sense of social identity congruence with mathematics. In turn, these outcomes mediated the indirect effects of the activities on students' grades and interest in mathematics.

Conclusions

Our results underscore the potential of utility‐value activities to promote students' success. Based on our mediation findings, we also provide a roadmap for how learning contexts can develop activities and messages that effectively target key processes to advance student success.
Variational Bayes inference for hidden Markov diagnostic classification models
Authors: Yamaguchi Kazuhiro , Martinez Alfonso J.
Published: May 2023

Diagnostic classification models (DCMs) can be used to track the cognitive learning states of students across multiple time points or over repeated measurements. This study developed an effective variational Bayes (VB) inference method for hidden Markov longitudinal general DCMs. The simulations performed in this study verified the validity of the proposed algorithm for satisfactorily recovering true parameters. Simulation and applied data analyses were conducted to compare the proposed VB method to Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. The results revealed that the parameter estimates provided by the VB method were consistent with the MCMC method with the additional benefit of a faster estimation time. The comparative simulation also indicated differences between the two methods in terms of posterior standard deviation and coverage of 95% credible intervals. Thus, with limited computational resources and time, the proposed VB method can output estimations comparable to that of MCMC.
GNAS gene mutations affecting XLαs and bone health: A long neglected relationship
Authors: Xie Yanni , Chen Xiang , Xie Ying , Yu Xijie
Published: May 2023

The GNAS locus is an imprinted site. The α‐subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα) and extralarge variant (XLαs) are the two important products of the GNAS locus. The abnormal expression of Gsα is associated with pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and related disorders, including Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO), pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP), and progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH). XLαs protein can mimic the catalytic intracellular synthesis of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) by Gsα in response to parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulation, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of PPHP and POH in patients with paternal GNAS defects. A paternally inherited nonsense variant in the first exon of XLαs in an adult patient may be associated with fractures and osteopetrosis. The relationship between the XLαs product of the GNAS locus and bone remodeling may have been overlooked. Here, we summarize the phenotypes of genetic mouse models and clinical cases of XLαs variations and suggest that the abnormal paternal expression of XLαs may be associated with the development of POH and affect osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation.
Paraventricular nucleus‐central amygdala oxytocinergic projection modulates pain‐related anxiety‐like behaviors in mice
Authors: Li Yu‐Jie , Du Wei‐Jia , Liu Rui , Zan Gui‐Ying , Ye Bing‐Lu , Li Qian , Sheng Zhi‐Hao , Yuan Ya‐Wei , Song Yu‐Jie , Liu Jing‐Gen , Liu Zhi‐Qiang
Published: May 2023

Aims

Anxiety disorders associated with pain are a common health problem. However, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the role of paraventricular nucleus (PVN)‐central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) oxytocinergic projections in anxiety‐like behaviors induced by inflammatory pain.

Methods

After inflammatory pain induction by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), mice underwent elevated plus maze, light–dark transition test, and marble burying test to examine the anxiety‐like behaviors. Chemogenetic, optogenetic, and fiber photometry recordings were used to modulate and record the activity of the oxytocinergic projections of the PVN‐CeA.

Results

The key results are as follows: inflammatory pain‐induced anxiety‐like behaviors in mice accompanied by decreased activity of PVN oxytocin neurons. Chemogenetic activation of PVN oxytocin neurons prevented pain‐related anxiety‐like behaviors, whereas inhibition of PVN oxytocin neurons induced anxiety‐like behaviors in naïve mice. PVN oxytocin neurons projected directly to the CeA, and microinjection of oxytocin into the CeA blocked anxiety‐like behaviors. Inflammatory pain also decreased the activity of CeA neurons, and optogenetic activation of PVNoxytocin‐CeA circuit prevented anxiety‐like behavior in response to inflammatory pain.

Conclusion

The results of our study suggest that oxytocin has anti‐anxiety effects and provide novel insights into the role of PVNoxytocin‐CeA projections in the regulation of anxiety‐like behaviors induced by inflammatory pain.
Knowledge distillation for unsupervised defect detection of yarn‐dyed fabric using the system DAERD: Dual attention embedded reconstruction distillation
Authors: Zhang Hongwei , Liu Shuaibo , Lu Shuai , Yao Le , Li Pengfei
Published: May 2023

Detecting defects of yarn‐dyed fabrics automatically in industrial scenarios can improve economic efficiency, but the scarcity of defect samples makes the task more challenging in the customised and small‐batch production scenario. At present, most reconstruction‐based methods have high requirements on the effect of reconstructing the defect area into the normal area, and the reconstruction performance often determines the final defect detection result. To solve this problem, this article proposes an unsupervised learning framework of dual attention embedded reconstruction distillation. We try to use this novel distillation scheme to provide some contribution to the defect detection field. Firstly, different from the encoder‐encoder structure of traditional distillation, the teacher‐student network in this article adopts the encoder‐decoder structure. The purpose of the student network is to restore the normal feature representation of the pre‐trained teacher network. Secondly, this article proposes a dual attention residual module, which can effectively remove redundant information and defective feature information from the teacher network through the double feature weight allocation mechanism. This helps the student network to recover the normal feature information output by the teacher network. Finally, the multi‐level training deployment at the feature level in this article aims to make the model obtain accurate defect detection results. The proposed method has been extensively tested on the published fabric dataset YDFID‐1, ZJU‐Leaper dataset and the anomaly detection dataset MVTec. The results show that this method not only has good performance in fabric defect detection and location but also has universal applicability.
Acknowledge the land: An Indigenous historical reflection on colonial and extractive theology
Authors: Smith Robert O.
Published: May 2023

Western Christian theological support for resource extractivism is interwoven with theological support of settler coloniality. Christian theology is therefore an essential site for the defense of Indigenous land claims. Replacement theology, also known as supersessionism, should be understood as involving Jewish‐Christian‐Muslim relations and as imbricating the ideologies and theologies supporting political and material coloniality, including extractivism. This article offers a friendly critique of contemporary anti‐supersessionist theological projects through the lenses of postcolonial, decolonial, and global Indigenous thought, suggesting a path toward addressing the crisis of the Anthropocene.
Myocardial performance index and cardiovascular diseases
Authors: Askin Lutfu , Yuce Elif İlkay , Tanriverdi Okan
Published: May 2023

The Myocardial Performance Index (MPI), also known as the Tei Index, is a measure of the overall performance of the heart that takes into account both systolic and diastolic function. It is a non‐invasive echocardiographic index that provides information about the efficiency of the heart's pumping action. The MPI is a useful tool for evaluating cardiac function in various clinical conditions, such as heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiomyopathy. A higher MPI value indicates poorer cardiac function, while a lower MPI value indicates better cardiac function. This review will give a summary of the relevant MPI literature, provide a methodology and technical aspects, and make research recommendations.
Avian diversity and function across the world's most populous cities
Authors: Richardson James , Lees Alexander C. , Miller Eliot T. , Marsden Stuart J.
Published: May 2023

Understanding the composition of urban wildlife communities is crucial to promote biodiversity, ecosystem function and links between nature and people. Using crowdsourced data from over five million eBird checklists, we examined the influence of urban characteristics on avian richness and function at 8443 sites within and across 137 global cities. Under half of the species from regional pools were recorded in cities, and we found a significant phylogenetic signal for urban tolerance. Site‐level avian richness was positively influenced by the extent of open forest, cultivation and wetlands and avian functional diversity by wetlands. Functional diversity co‐declined with richness, but groups including granivores and aquatic birds occurred even at species‐poor sites. Cities in arid areas held a higher percentage of regional species richness. Our results indicate commonalities in the influence of habitat on richness and function, as well as lower niche availability, and phylogenetic diversity across the world's cities.
Save the kids: The need for regulation of cryptocurrency to protect adolescents from fraud
Authors: Ryan Evan
Published: May 2023

Cryptocurrency has become the new hot investment for young investors. Everyone wants to get in on the next cryptocurrency bubble, and there are those that want to exploit this excitement and exploit children. Influencers who have young audiences are pushing cryptocurrency investments onto their audiences and not fully educating them on the risks. To avoid this exploitation, The Securities and Exchange Commission should actively regulate decentralized exchanges where children purchase cryptocurrency, put age limit regulations into place, and require know your customer systems to verify that minors are not purchasing cryptocurrency without the consent of a guardian.
Biology and status of Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Forsskål, 1775) stocks on the Kenyan coast
Authors: Mrombo Nathan Lenjo , Orembo Boaz Ohoa , Obuya Julia Akinyi , Nyamweya Chrisphine Sangara
Published: May 2023

Groupers are apex predators that are believed to play crucial roles in ecosystems, so any loss or decline of these species in coral reefs can adversely affect ecosystem stability. Epinephelus fuscoguttatus is currently categorized as vulnerable (VU) from its previous near threatened (NT) category. Information about their biological and ecological status is limited to assist in formulating management plans for the species in Kenya. Therefore, we aimed to provide baseline scientific information on the biology of E. fuscoguttatus, to enable formulation of sustainable management strategies. Sampling was conducted for 1 year at two fish landing sites along the Kenyan coast: Shimoni and Mayungu. Exploitation rate, size at maturity (L50), GSI, and fecundity were estimated. We found that E. fuscoguttatus was currently exploited above an optimum level, (E = 0.9). Length at maturity L50 was 59.50 cm for males and 48.2 cm for females, and mean fecundity was 509,121 eggs/female/year. The gonadosomatic index was highest in June and December, but ripe females were identified in several months to suggest a protracted spawning period. The exploitation rate of E. fuscoguttatus was not sustainable. Consequently, we recommend reducing fishing effort to biologically sustainable levels to enhance recovery.
The impact of extreme flood‐relief pump operations on resident fish in an artificial drain and the potential for artificial habitat introduction
Authors: Norman Josh , Reeds Jake , Wright Rosalind M. , Bolland Jonathan D.
Published: May 2023

Fish are ubiquitous in pumped artificial drains but channel maintenance exposes fish to high flows and predators, and fish communities may experience population‐level threats if they are unable to access refuge during extreme flood‐relief pump operations. We assessed the impact of an extreme flood‐relief pump operation and effects of artificial habitat introduction on a resident fish community in an artificial drain in Great Britain using side‐scan and multi‐beam sonar. Sonar surveys before the flood found abundant aggregations of resident fish, whereas no fish were found after the flood, which suggested flood‐relief pump operations significantly altered resident fish populations. Fish abundance near artificial habitats monitored before the flood were highest during crepuscular periods and was similar among three different artificial habitat designs. Our findings improve the understanding of extreme flood impacts on fish in artificial drains and demonstrate the usefulness of sonar techniques for surveying abundance and spatial distribution of fish populations before and after floods.
Impact of timing of prophylaxis commencement, F8 genotype and age on factor consumption and health‐related quality of life in patients with severe haemophilia A
Authors: Arvanitakis Alexandros , Holme Pål Andre , Berntorp Erik , Astermark Jan
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The timing of prophylaxis and F8 genotype can impact treatment outcomes in adults with severe haemophilia A (HA).

Aim

To investigate how F8 genotype, timing, and type of prophylaxis influence arthropathy, bleeding rates, factor consumption and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods

Thirty‐eight patients with severe HA were enrolled. Bleeding events were recorded retrospectively during median 12.5 months. F8 gene variants were classified as null or non‐null. Joint health and HRQoL were assessed with HJHS and EQ‐5D‐5L, respectively.

Results

The median age at prophylaxis start was 1.25 years in the primary prophylaxis group (N = 15, median age 26 years) and 31.5 years in the secondary group (N = 22, 45 years), respectively. There were significant differences in the medians of HJHS (4 vs. 20, p < .001), EQ‐5D‐5L index (0.9647 vs. 0.904, p = .022), EQ VAS (87 vs. 75, p = .01) and FVIII consumption (3883 vs. 2737 IU/kg/year, p = .02), between the primary and secondary groups, respectively. Median annualized bleeding rate (ABR) was 0 for both groups. Twenty‐five null and thirteen non‐null F8 gene variants were identified. In the secondary prophylaxis group, lower median FVIII consumption (1926 vs. 3370 IU/kg/year) was shown for non‐null compared to null variants, respectively, with similar ABR and HJHS.

Conclusion

Delayed prophylaxis start with intermediate dose intensity prevents bleeds but at a cost of more arthropathy and reduced HRQoL, compared to higher intensity primary prophylaxis. Non‐null F8 genotype may allow lower factor consumption with similar HJHS and bleeding rates, compared to null genotype.
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Authors: Grant Maria J.
Published: May 2023

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