bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of customers’ motivations in the relationships between e-stimuli and behavioral intention on a bed and breakfast website
Authors: Jeon Myunghee Mindy , Jeong Miyoung , Lee Seonjeong Ally
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study examined relationships among e-stimuli and customers’ behavioral intentions and identified whether customers’ hedonic or utilitarian orientation moderation effects of e-stimuli on a bed and breakfast (B&B) website’s flow experience.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed hypotheses were tested by using structural equation modeling. Two group comparisons were conducted to test moderating effects in the relationships between stimuli and flow experience.

Findings

This study determined e-stimuli affected customers’ flow experiences and causal relationships among emotions, satisfaction and behavioral intentions. It also found moderating effects of hedonic/utilitarian motivation.

Practical implications

Findings from this study could help B&B operators develop online marketing strategies.

Originality/value

This study developed a framework of e-stimuli in a B&B website setting to address customers’ psychological behaviors to understand the practical needs of the B&B industry and customers’ expectations.
The effect of Muslims’ tendency to regret being customers of conventional banks on their intention to save money in Islamic banks
Authors: Burhanudin Burhanudin
Published: December 2020

Purpose

There are some Muslims who only hold conventional bank accounts, regardless that some believe that such banks implement an interest charging system that contradicts Islamic law concerning the prohibition of charging interest. This study aims to investigate the consumers’ tendency to regret (CTR) related to purchasing conventional banking services (CTR-P) and the failure to purchase Islamic banking services (CTR-NP). Then, this study investigates whether CTR-P and CTR-NP translate into regret, which, in turn, leads to the intention to save money in Islamic banks.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of Indonesian Muslims who only hold conventional banking accounts was conducted. There were 323 participants. This study then applied a partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to test the hypotheses.

Findings

This study found that a combination of CTR-P and CTR-NP translates into regret, which then drives the intention to save money in Islamic banks as a means of releasing such feelings of regret. The findings suggest that Muslims evaluate their banking decision on an Islamic basis and that making a decision that contradicts the prohibition of charging interest tends to cause regret. Islamic banks have opportunities to penetrate the market by focusing on Muslims who only hold accounts with conventional banks.

Originality/value

The findings of this study help advance understanding of Muslims’ negative emotional experience due to making a decision that they perceive contradicts Islamic law. Also, the findings help predict the strategy that Muslims use to neutralize such a negative emotional experience.
Investigating the customers’ drivers of Islamic credit card loyalty and word of mouth
Authors: Jamshidi Dariyoush , Kuanova Laura
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Because of the huge advantages of Islamic credit cards for both banks and customers, the purpose of this study is to examine the main factors that influence consumers to use an Islamic credit card (ICC).

Design/methodology/approach

Accordingly, the innovation diffusion theory, customer awareness and loyalty concept are considered because of their ability to predict behavior and also to provide valuable information. The proposed research model of the study was empirically validated using data collected from 397 bank customers in Kish Island, Iran. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling was used to analyze the collected data from respondents.

Findings

The results indicated that relative advantage and compatibility have a significant direct effect on ICC loyalty. The significant connection between ICC loyalty by bank customers and their decision to have positive word of mouth was also confirmed.

Originality/value

This study represents a basis for further refinement of individual ICC acceptance and loyalty models for researchers. For practitioners, organizations and banks would be able to redesign and manage-related factors, which, in turn, would increase the probability of ICC acceptance and usage success by bank customers.
The impact of entrepreneurs’ prior experience and communication networks on perceived knowledge access
Authors: Shi Wei , Weber Matthew
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Entrepreneurs approach the startup process with a stock of experience and a unique range of accumulated skills and abilities. Their prior experience shapes an “information funnel” through which the entrepreneurs’ attention is filtered. This study aims to investigate the impact of the relatedness of prior knowledge and knowledge acquisition activities on entrepreneurs’ perceived knowledge access.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from 100 early-stage entrepreneurs in the New York City metropolitan area to empirically test the proposed relationships with the method of conditional process modeling.

Findings

Findings from this study demonstrate a negative relationship between entrepreneurs’ prior experience and their perceived ability to access knowledge. However, this negative relationship can be mitigated by seeking tacit knowledge through informal channels. In addition, the relatedness of prior experience plays a positive role in influencing media use and knowledge network engagement. While media use is a positive predictor of perceived knowledge access, engagement within knowledge networks shows no direct influence on perceived knowledge access.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on the dimensions of entrepreneurial knowledge and recognizes perceived knowledge access as an important concept in forming an entrepreneurial intention and adds to the current dialogue on the interpretation of entrepreneurs’ prior experience. For practitioners, this study offers insights into the formation of founding teams and the approaches to obtaining valuable information.
Modelling the continuous innovation capability enablers in Indonesia’s manufacturing industry
Authors: Lianto Benny , Dachyar Muhammad , Soemardi Tresna Priyana
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and screen continuous innovation capability enablers (CICEs) in Indonesia’s manufacturing sectors, develop a relationship among these enablers and determine their driving power and dependence power in the sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The initial CICEs identification process is based on a literature review, while a fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) was used for the screening process of CICEs. Total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) was used to develop contextual relationships among various CICEs. The results of the TISM are used as an input for the matrix of cross-impact multiplications applied to classification (MICMAC) to classify the driving power and dependence powers of the CICEs.

Findings

This paper selected 16 CICEs classified in seven dimensions. TISM results and MICMAC analysis show that leadership, as well as climate and culture, are enablers with the highest driving power and lowest dependence powers; followed by information technology. The results of this study indicate that efforts to continuously develop innovation capabilities in the Indonesian manufacturing industries are strongly influenced by their leadership capability, climate and culture, also information technology-related capability.

Practical implications

The framework assessed in this study provides business managers and policymakers to obtain a bigger picture in developing policies with evidence-based strategy and priority in regard to continuous innovation capability.

Originality/value

The results will be useful for business managers and policymakers to understand the relationship between CICEs and identify key CICEs in Indonesia’s manufacturing sectors, which were previously non-existent.
The relationship between depression and academic satisfaction in medical science students
Authors: Mirhosseini Seyedmohammad , Bazghaleh Milad , Basirinezhad Mohammad Hasan , Abbasi Ali , Ebrahimi Hossein
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Students’ academic achievement is a multifaceted phenomenon. While depression can suppress academic performance, academic satisfaction can promote it. This study aims to investigate the relationship between depression and academic satisfaction among students studying at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 312 undergraduate students of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. Data collection tools included demographic data form, University Student Depression Inventory and academic satisfaction scale. Data were collected by a simple random sampling method and self-reporting by the participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariate multiple regression analysis and multivariate linear regression).

Findings

The participants’ mean depression and academic satisfaction scores were 71.92 ± 22.94 and 53.70 ± 9.69, respectively. In addition, the depression score was significantly and inversely correlated with students' academic satisfaction (r = −0.122, p-value = 0.031). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between students’ depression with marital status, level of the semester, interest in the field of study and study topic.

Research limitations/implications

This study emphasizes improving education, spiritual and social support and strengthens strategies to deal with depression and medical science students’ related factors.

Originality/value

Students of medical sciences are exposed to depression during their college years, which is related to their academic satisfaction.
A capital idea: exploring the relationship between human and social capital and student achievement in schools
Authors: Daly Alan J. , Liou Yi-Hwa , Der-Martirosian Claudia
Published: December 2020

Purpose

As accountability policies worldwide press for higher student achievement, schools across the globe are enacting a host of reform efforts with varied outcomes. Mounting evidence suggests reforms, which encourage greater collaboration among teachers, may ultimately support increased student learning. Specifically, this study aims to investigate the relationship between human and social and student achievement outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

In exploring this idea, the authors draw on human and social capital and examine the influence of these forms of capital on student achievement using social network analysis and hierarchical linear modeling.

Findings

The results indicate that teacher human and social capital each have a significant and positive relationship with student achievement. Moreover, both teacher human and social capital together have an even stronger effect on student achievement than either human or social capital alone.

Originality/value

As more schools across the globe adopt structures for teacher collaboration and the development of learning communities, there is a need to better understand how schools may capitalize on these opportunities in ways that yield improved student learning. Our work sheds new light on these critical foundational elements of human and social capital that are individually and collectively associated with student achievement.
The positive effect of the pH and volume of fluid intake on kidney stones in adult men
Authors: Esnaasharan Fahimeh , Alizadeh Mansour , Ayremlou Parvin , Zarrin Rasoul
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between pH of water or other daily fluid intake and risk of kidney stones in adult men.

Design/methodology/approach

This case–control study included 120 adult men with kidney stones and 240 healthy controls matched by age. Participants were selected from the Urmia Imam Khomeini Educational Hospital in the northwest of Iran by the available sampling method between 2017 and 2018. The mean total daily fluid intake of the subjects over the past one year period was collected using a validated 139-item Food Frequency Questionnaire, and the pH of drinking water samples consumed over the past six months was determined using an electrochemical pH meter. Information on physical activity level and socio-demographic characteristics of all participants was collected.

Findings

The mean pH of daily water consumption was 7.1 ± 250.3 and 7.4%± 250.3 in case and control groups, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusting for the covariates 25 a significant relationship was detected between the pH of drinking water (not for other fluid intake26) and kidney stone disease (OR = 0.15, CI 0.06–0.4, P > 1. Moreover, no association was found between the volume of total fluid intake and risk of kidney stones.

Originality/value

These findings support potential protective effects of drinking water intake with higher pH level on preventing kidney stones.
Effect of volatility of development aid on volatility of foreign direct investment inflows
Authors: Gnangnon Sena Kimm
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of development aid volatility on foreign direct investment (FDI) volatility in aid recipient countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis has relied on a sample of 117 countries over the period 1981–2016 and used the two-step system generalized methods of moments (GMM) approach.

Findings

The findings indicate that development aid volatility exerts a positive and significant effect on FDI volatility, with the magnitude of this positive effect rising as countries’ real per capita income increases. Furthermore, development aid volatility is non-linearly related to FDI volatility, as additional rises in the degree of development aid volatility further amplify FDI volatility.

Research limitations/implications

These outcomes highlight that volatility of development aid inflows enhances the volatility of FDI inflows. Thus, the enhancement of the aid coordination system between donor-countries and recipient-countries would not only help mitigate the volatility of aid – which reduces the macroeconomic effectiveness of aid – but also stabilizes FDI inflows to developing countries.

Practical implications

A limitation of the present paper is its reliance on aggregate FDI inflows to perform the analysis. Availability of data on greenfield FDI inflows and cross-border mergers and acquisitions FDI inflows over a long-time-period would provide an opportunity to conduct an in-depth analysis of the volatility of development aid on FDI inflows volatility. Furthermore, it could be interesting to investigate in the future (if data is available) the extent to which aid coordination systems between donor-countries and recipient-countries versus recipient-countries’ domestic factors contribute to explaining the dynamics of FDI inflows volatility in recipient-countries of these two types of capital flows.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this topic has not been addressed in the literature.
Home sharing, property crime and disorder
Authors: Roth Jeffrey J.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to test the association between home sharing, property crime and disorder.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of Texas cities, this study examined the relationship between city-level home sharing density (number of listings per 10,000 residents) and five specific offenses (burglary, larceny, simple assault, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness) while controlling for the size of the local food service/accommodation and arts/entertainment sectors, economic disadvantage and other demographic variables.

Findings

The results suggest a statistically significant but very small association between home sharing and four of the five offenses.

Research limitations/implications

The primary limitations of this study are that it was limited to a single state and included only a few large cities.

Practical implications

There is clearly a need for many more studies of home sharing and crime using other samples and methods. If the association between home sharing and crimes is confirmed by future studies, that may affect regulation of home sharing and allocation of law enforcement resources.

Originality/value

Only a few studies have examined the relationship between home sharing and crime. The present study builds on that work using a sample from a new location, a different level of aggregation and previously unstudied crimes.
Prediction of putative epitope‐based vaccine against all corona virus strains for the Chinese population: Approach toward development of vaccine
Authors: Batool Hina , Batool Sana , Mahmood Malik Siddique , Mushtaq Nada , Khan Azmat Ullah , Ali Muhammad , Sahibzada Kashif Iqbal , Ashraf Naeem Mahmood
Published: December 2020

Currently, the whole world is facing the coronavirus disease‐19 pandemic. As of now, approximately 0.15 million people around the globe are infected with the novel coronavirus. In the last decade, two strains of the coronavirus family, severe acute respiratory syndrome‐related coronavirus and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, also resulted in epidemics in south Asian and the Middle Eastern countries with high mortality rate. This scenario demands the development of a putative vaccine which may provide immunity against all current and new evolving coronavirus strains. In this study, we designed an epitope‐based vaccine using an immunoinformatic approach. This vaccine may protect against all coronavirus strains. The vaccine is developed by considering the geographical distribution of coronavirus strains and host genetics (Chinese population). Nine experimentally validated epitopes sequences from coronavirus strains were used to derive the variants considering the conservancy in all strains. Further, the binding affinities of all derived variants were checked with most abundant human leukocyte antigen alleles in the Chinese population. Three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I epitopes from spike glycoprotein and nucleoprotein showed sufficient binding while one MHC Class II epitope from spike glycoprotein was found to be an effective binder. A cocktail of these epitopes gave more than 95% population coverage in the Chinese population. Moreover, molecular dynamics simulation supported the aforementioned predictions. Further, in vivo studies are needed to confirm the immunogenic potential of these vaccines.
Effect of maternal infection on progeny growth and resistance mediated by maternal genotype and nutrient availability
Authors: Höckerstedt Layla , Susi Hanna , Laine Anna‐Liisa
Published: December 2020

Maternal effects of pathogen infection on progeny development and disease resistance may be adaptive and have important consequences for population dynamics. However, these effects are often context‐dependent and examples of adaptive transgenerational responses from perennials are scarce, although they may be a particularly important mechanism generating variation in the offspring of long‐lived species.

Here, we studied the effect of maternal infection of Plantago lanceolata by Podosphaera plantaginis, a fungal parasite, on the growth, flower production and resistance of the progeny of six maternal genotypes in nutrient‐rich and nutrient‐poor environments. For this purpose, we combined a common garden study with automated phenotyping measurements of early life stages, and an inoculation experiment.

Our results show that the effects of infection on the mother plants transcend to impact their progeny. Although maternal infection decreased total leaf and flower production of the progeny by the end of the growing season, it accelerated early growth and enhanced resistance to the pathogen P. plantaginis.

We also discovered that the effects of maternal infection affected progeny development and resistance through a three way‐interaction between maternal genotype, maternal infection status and nutrient availability.

Synthesis. Our results emphasize the importance of maternal effects mediated through genotypic and environmental factors in long‐living perennials and suggest that maternal infection can create a layer of phenotypic diversity in resistance. These results may have important implications for both epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of host–parasite interactions in the wild.
Allocating a COVID‐19 Vaccine: Balancing National and International Responsibilities
Authors: LIE REIDAR K. , MILLER FRANKLIN G.
Published: December 2020

Policy Points

In this paper we propose a middle‐ground policy for the distribution of an effective COVID‐19 vaccine, between a cosmopolitan approach that rejects entirely nation‐state priority and unbridled vaccine nationalism that disregards obligations to promote an equitable global allocation of an effective vaccine over time.

Features of the COVAX partnership, a collaboration among the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop and distribute COVID‐19 vaccines make it an appropriate framework for a middle‐ground policy.
A hidden cost of convenience: Disparate impacts of a program to reduce burden on probation officers and participants
Authors: Saunders Jessica , Midgette Greg , Taylor Jirka , Faraji Sara‐Laure
Published: December 2020

Research Summary

Criminal justice practitioners increasingly seek out efficient means of community supervision supplanting face‐to‐face interactions with practices that are less onerous to administrators and clients. We examined the differential impact of remote supervision for low‐risk probationers by race. Remote reporting greatly reduces or eliminates in‐person meetings where race would be salient; however, it also creates conditions where an officer may rely more heavily on heuristics. We found the program drastically reduced violations, but also exacerbated the racial discrepancy in reporting high discretion violations.

Policy Implication

The study illustrates how integrating an empirical test of racial discrepancies into program evaluation can illuminate conditions that amplify implicit bias. Our findings illustrate how a program with unequivocally positive outcomes for low‐risk probationers overall can further amplify racial disparities, particularly when the probation officer has more discretion. By creating a statistically equivalent group of clients who receive probation‐as‐usual, our evaluation strategy measures this bias by comparing consequences for which an agent has high discretion against those for which they have low or no discretion for program participants. This approach is replicable across many criminal justice practices.
Physicochemical, techno‐functional, and fat melting properties of spray‐dried camel and bovine milk powders
Authors: Zouari Ahmed , Lajnaf Roua , Lopez Christelle , Schuck Pierre , Attia Hamadi , Ayadi Mohamed Ali
Published: December 2020

In this study, three skimmed and one whole‐fat spray‐dried camel milk powders were produced and their characteristics were compared to those of bovine milk powders. The physicochemical analysis of the produced powders indicated that camel milk powders (whether skimmed or not) presented higher ash and whey protein contents as compared to those of bovine milk powders. Our results indicated that the investigated camel and bovine milk powders exhibited a high solubility index (>99%) with poor dispersibility and wettability indexes due to their small particles size (d50 ≤ 12 µm) and their narrow size distribution (span ≤ 2). In addition, although camel and bovine milk powders presented the same total fat content, lower free fat content was measured for camel milk powders. Besides, the whey protein nitrogen index and the SDS‐PAGE electrophoresis underlined that camel and bovine milk proteins remained intact after drying with low denaturation extent. It is worth noticed that camel milk proteins were less denaturized due to the absence of the heat‐sensitive β‐lactoglobulin in camel milk. Moreover, the low denaturation extent participated in the enhancing of the foaming capacity and stability of camel and bovine milk powders. Finally, the calorimetric analysis showed that higher fat melting temperatures were recorded in whole‐fat camel milk powder and in their anhydrous form as compared to those of bovine milk.

Practical Application

Camel milk powder is an emerging non‐bovine dairy product. Understanding its rehydration ability and evaluating the impact of spray drying on its protein quality are promising approaches to obtain high‐quality camel milk powder with high reconstitution ability. Findings of this study indicated that spray drying is a suitable technique to produce highly soluble camel milk powders with low denaturation extent. These results will benefit the research and development department of food industry (especially those producing camel milk powder) as well as the direct consumers.
Major Tectono‐thermal Events in the Yangtze Craton: Insights from U‐Pb‐Lu‐Hf Isotope Records in Zircons from End‐Permian Volcanic Interlayers in Southwest China
Authors: SHI Zejin , LI Wenjie , ZHANG Jin , TIAN Yaming , WANG Yong , YIN Guan , LUO Qichao
Published: December 2020

The in situ zircon U‐Pb‐Lu‐Hf isotope records from end‐Permian volcanic interlayers in southwest China, integrated with previous studies, restructure the evolutionary history of the Yangtze Craton from Precambrian to Late Paleozoic. This includes early continental crust formation before ∼3.0 Ga and massive juvenile crustal growth at 2.6–2.4 Ga; large‐scale crustal reworking at ∼2.1–1.7 Ga; Neoproterozoic crust addition at ∼1.1 to 0.7 Ga; collision and subduction along the craton margin between ∼700–541 Ma; Early Ordovician to Late Silurian magmatism; and large tectono‐thermal events in the Middle Carboniferous to end‐Permian. Some zircons withTMD2ages from 4.40 to 4.01 Ga and lower initial176Hf/177Hf values of 0.280592 to 0.280726 may imply the existence of Hadean crust relics beneath the Yangtze Craton and their provenances could be associated with Hadean crustal remelting. This study further clarifies that the Precambrian‐age zircons between the end‐Permian volcanic interlayers, the complexes in the western margin of the Yangtze Craton, and the sedimentary Kangdian Basin, may share an affinity based on similar U‐Pb age spectra and Hf isotope features. It also shows that the Neoproterozoic tectono‐thermal event may be associated with large‐scale tectono‐rifting activity, which is different from the Grenville‐age continental collision between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in South China. The above findings support the inference of a widespread Archean basement extending to the western Yangtze Craton and a provenance in the Kangdian Basin that is derived from the weathering and erosion of Paleoproterozoic continental crust.
Effects of inhaled nitric oxide in COVID‐19–induced ARDS – Is it worthwhile?
Authors: Lotz Christopher , Muellenbach Ralf M. , Meybohm Patrick , Mutlak Haitham , Lepper Philipp M. , Rolfes Caroline‐Barbara , Peivandi Asghar , Stumpner Jan , Kredel Markus , Kranke Peter , Torje Iuliu , Reyher Christian
Published: December 2020

Background

Changes in pulmonary hemodynamics and ventilation/perfusion were proposed as hallmarks of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)–induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) may overcome these issues and improve arterial oxygenation.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed arterial oxygenation and pulmonary vasoreactivity in seven COVID‐19 ARDS patients receiving 20 ppm iNO for 15‐30 minutes.

Results

The inhalation of NO significantly improved oxygenation. All patients with severe ARDS had higher partial pressures of oxygen and reduced pulmonary vascular resistance. Significant changes in pulmonary shunting were not observed.

Conclusion

Overall, iNO could provide immediate help and delay respiratory deterioration in COVID‐19–induced moderate to severe ARDS.
Unconditional Transfers Are Not Oil: The Economic Foundations of Subnational Undemocratic Regime Reproduction
Authors: Diaz‐Rioseco Diego , Giraudy Agustina
Published: December 2020

Extant research on rentierism claims that oil royalties and unconditional transfers are among the main factors sustaining subnational undemocratic regimes (SURs). This article claims that these revenues are insufficient to economically reproduce SUR, as subnational rentier states generally overspend beyond their means. Drawing on evidence from Argentina, we identify two pathways to SUR reproduction. First, rulers in resource‐rich provinces rely on ‘hidden rents’ from local extractive industries to sustain long‐term spending. Second, rulers in resource‐poor provinces heavily subsidised by fiscal institutions resort to discretionary grants from presidents to reproduce their political regimes.
Klotho gene G395A and C1818T polymorphisms in acromegaly: Association with clinical presentation and comorbidities
Authors: Helvaci Nafiye , Kabacam Serkan , Dagdelen Selcuk , Lay Incilay , Karabulut Erdem , Mut Melike , Alikasifoglu Mehmet , Erbas Tomris
Published: December 2020

Background

Klotho is a new identified anti‐ageing gene with tumour suppressor activities. Current data suggest that there is a tight relationship between Klotho protein and growth hormone (GH)/insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) axis.

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the possible association of Klotho gene polymorphisms with acromegaly and to assess whether these polymorphisms contribute to clinical characteristics, comorbidities and biochemical variables in these patients.

Methods

The study included 52 patients with acromegaly and 52 unrelated healthy subjects. The Klotho G395A and C1818T polymorphisms were assessed by Sanger sequencing. Serum levels of sKlotho were determined by ELISA method.

Results

Subjects carrying GA genotype of Klotho G395A polymorphism had 3.27 times higher risk of developing acromegaly [odds ratio (OR), 3.27; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37–7.81; p = .023]. The A allele of G395A was significantly associated with acromegaly risk (OR, 2.27; 95% CI: 1.1–4.72; p = .022). No association was observed between the studied polymorphisms and disease characteristics including age at acromegaly diagnosis, size of adenoma, baseline GH and IGF‐1 concentrations, and final outcome. G395A polymorphism was associated with the presence of malignancy (OR, 2.24, 95% CI: 1.63–3.08; p = .019) and colorectal polyps (OR, 1.99; 95% CI: 1.02–3.88; p = .047) in patients with acromegaly. Serum sKlotho levels were significantly higher and correlated with GH and IGF‐1 levels among acromegaly patients. There was no association between the studied polymorphisms and sKlotho levels.

Conclusions

Klotho G395A polymorphism is associated with acromegaly susceptibility and increased risk of malignancy and colorectal polyps in these patients.
Prioritizing threat management across terrestrial and freshwater realms for species conservation and recovery
Authors: Camaclang Abbey E. , Currie Jessica , Giles Emily , Forbes Graham J. , Edge Christopher B. , Monk Wendy A. , Nocera Joseph J. , Stewart‐Robertson Graeme , Browne Constance , O'Malley Zoe G. , Snider James , Martin Tara G.
Published: December 2020

The need to manage threats to biodiversity, and to do so cost‐effectively, is urgent. Cross‐realm conservation management is recognized as a cost‐effective approach, but it requires collaboration between agencies and jurisdictions, and local knowledge of anthropogenic threats to biodiversity. With its emphasis on stakeholder engagement and use of structured expert elicitation, Priority Threat Management (PTM) facilitates rapid, cross‐realm planning at the regional scale. We used PTM to identify cost‐effective management strategies with the aim of securing nine ecological groups, comprised of 45 species and one ecological community of conservation concern, across terrestrial and freshwater realms within the Wolastoq|Saint John River watershed in Canada. Under business‐as‐usual, four of nine groups are expected to have >50% probability of persistence over the next 25 years. Investment of $141 million over 25 years in three management strategies could secure seven groups across both realms with >50% probability of persistence. Achieving higher levels of persistence comes at a cost—securing six groups with >60% probability of persistence requires investing $218 million over 25 years in seven strategies. Through a structured, iterative process, whereby stakeholders cooperate to clarify objectives, devise management strategies, and collate data, PTM can support timely and cost‐effective management across multiple realms.
Air pollution and neurological development in children
Authors: Ha Sandie
Published: December 2020

Pregnancy and early childhood are periods with high plasticity in neurological development. Environmental perturbations during these sensitive windows can have lifelong developmental consequences. This review summarizes key findings relevant to the effects of air pollution on neurological development. Mounting evidence suggests that exposure to air pollution, both during pregnancy and childhood, is associated with childhood developmental outcomes ranging from changes in brain structures to subclinical deficits in developmental test scores, and, ultimately, developmental disorders such as attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorders or autism spectrum disorders. Although the biological mechanisms of effects remain to be elucidated, multiple pathways are probably involved and include oxidative stress, inflammation, and/or endocrine disruption. Given the alarming global increase in developmental disorders in recent years, and increased human exposures to pollution, it is critical to reduce personal and community‐level exposures through tight collaboration of interdisciplinary and multi‐level bodies including community partners, physicians, industry partners, policy makers, public health practitioners, and researchers.

What this paper adds

Exposure to air pollution is associated with a range of childhood developmental complications.

Biological mechanisms may include oxidative stress, inflammation, and endocrine disruption.
Electives Shopping, Grading Policies and Grading Competition
Authors: Gregor Martin
Published: December 2020

This paper analyses grading competition between instructors of elective courses when students shop for high course scores, the instructors maximize class size, and the school imposes a ceiling on mean course scores to limit grade inflation. We demonstrate that curriculum flexibility (more listed courses or fewer required courses) intensifies the competition: in particular, top scores increase. To tame incentives to provide large scores, we suppose that the school additionally introduces a top‐score grading policy. We consider three regimes. First, the school caps top scores. Then grading competition segregates students into a concentrated group of achievers and a dispersed group of laggards. This effect extends to constraints on scores at lower quantiles. Second, the school normalizes the range of scores by adjusting the mean‐score ceiling. On normalization, scores of a less flexible curriculum first‐order stochastically dominate scores of a more flexible curriculum. Hence all students prefer rigid curricula. Third, the school requires that the mean score is evaluated for enrolled students instead of a representative sample of students. Then the instructors stop competing for students, which introduces assortative inefficiencies. Overall, we show that addressing grade inflation through grading policies may generate inequalities, rigidities and inefficiencies.
Cardiac pseudomass due to enlarged epicardial adipose tissue: Comparison of echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Adachi Hidenori , Ihara Madoka , Nojima Yuhei , Kurimoto Tetsuya , Nanto Shinsuke
Published: December 2020

A 75‐year‐old woman underwent preoperative echocardiography, which revealed a mass in the left atrium; however, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed no mass. Echocardiography revealed an enlargement of the epicardial adipose tissue in the left atrioventricular groove, therefore a pseudomass. Causes of cardiac pseudomass on echocardiography have been reported. Suspected pseudomasses should be reliably differentiated from a tumor or thrombus, and if new forms are found, the images must be shared for the benefit of clinicians.
Endogenous fibrinolysis—Relevance to clinical thrombosis risk assessment
Authors: Kanji Rahim , Kubica Jacek , Navarese Eliano P. , Gorog Diana A.
Published: December 2020

The development of an obstructive luminal thrombus is pathological and considered a failure of endogenous fibrinolysis. The consequences may be fatal, or result in lasting downstream organ damage. Therefore, assessment of endogenous fibrinolytic status in an individual may identify those at risk of occlusive thrombus formation and provide prognostic information. Arterial thrombi are more platelet rich and more resistant to fibrinolysis than venous thrombi. Several recent studies using global tests of fibrinolysis in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) have shown that despite dual antiplatelet therapy, patients with impaired fibrinolytic status have an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events, compared with those with effective fibrinolytic function. Such data add significantly to the predictive value of established cardiovascular risk factors and conventional biomarkers. Most data reported have been obtained with the Global Thrombosis Test and the turbidimetric plasma clot lysis assay. A few small studies in patients with ischaemic stroke suggest a similar predictive role of fibrinolytic status assessment in these patients. Studies reporting an association between impaired fibrinolysis and future venous thrombotic events are limited, and in the form of case‐control studies. Viscoelastic assays may have a role in the prediction of venous thromboembolic risk. Assays of fibrinolytic function should be used to obtain a more accurate risk of future thrombotic events, particularly in the setting of ACS. The availability of point‐of‐care tests helps facilitate this and should encourage future studies to assess personalised antithrombotic treatment combinations to optimise fibrinolytic status and reduce thrombosis risk.
Host evolutionary relationships explain tree mortality caused by a generalist pest–pathogen complex
Authors: Lynch Shannon Colleen , Eskalen Akif , Gilbert Gregory S.
Published: December 2020

The phylogenetic signal of transmissibility (competence) and attack severity among hosts of generalist pests is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the phylogenetic effects on hosts differentially affected by an emergent generalist beetle–pathogen complex in California and South Africa. Host types (non‐competent, competent and killed‐competent) are based on nested types of outcomes of interactions between host plants, the beetles and the fungal pathogens. Phylogenetic dispersion analysis of each host type revealed that the phylogenetic preferences of beetle attack and fungal growth were a nonrandom subset of all available tree and shrub species. Competent hosts were phylogenetically narrower by 62 Myr than the set of all potential hosts, and those with devastating impacts were the most constrained by 107 Myr. Our results show a strong phylogenetic signal in the relative effects of a generalist pest–pathogen complex on host species, demonstrating that the strength of multi‐host pest impacts in plants can be predicted by host evolutionary relationships. This study presents a unifying theoretical approach to identifying likely disease outcomes across multiple host‐pest combinations.
Medical management of Rhodococcus equi infections: A clinical epidemiology perspective
Authors: Huber L.
Published: December 2020

Rhodococcus equi infections cause severe pulmonary disease in foals, affecting animal welfare and increasing production costs in horse‐breeding farms. Extra‐pulmonary disorders (EPD) are relatively common and can occur independently of pulmonary disease; foals with EPD have a more guarded prognosis. The accompanying paper by Shaw et al. (2021) reports the successful diagnosis and medical treatment of a large abdominal abscess caused by R. equi infection. The authors report on the benefits of using gallium maltolate, a semimetal compound with antimicrobial activity, in combination with traditional R. equi infection antimicrobial treatment (combination of a macrolide and rifampicin). Experimental studies are needed to understand further the benefits of this combined therapy, to evaluate the synergistic effects and if it improves the concentration of antimicrobial drugs into infected tissues. The publication of this case report in Equine Veterinary Education is of clinical importance to equine practitioners when diagnosing and treating R. equi infected foals with or without EPD.
Abundance of an invasive bivalve, Corbicula fluminea, is negatively related to growth of freshwater mussels in the wild
Authors: Haag Wendell R. , Culp Jacob , Drayer Andrea N. , McGregor Monte A. , White Drew E. J. , Price Steven J.
Published: December 2020

Causes of worldwide freshwater mussel declines are poorly understood, and the potential role of the invasive Asian Clam, Corbicula fluminea, has received little attention.

We measured survival and growth of captively‐reared juveniles of four native mussel species during 84‐day in situ exposures at 17 sites in the Rockcastle River system, Kentucky, U.S.A., where mussel declines are attributed to coal mining. We measured water temperature, a comprehensive array of water chemistry variables, and Corbicula abundance at each site during mussel exposures.

Mussel survival was high (mean = 85.4%), did not differ among species, and was not related to any measured factor. In contrast, growth varied among sites by an order of magnitude, but growth responses were nearly identical for all four species. We found little evidence of water pollution from coal mining or other sources, and pollution did not explain variation in mussel growth. Growth was best explained by a model including only temperature (positive effect) and Corbicula abundance (negative effect) without interaction.

Our model predicts 46% lower mass gain over 84 days for every 10‐fold increase in Corbicula abundance regardless of temperature, but growth may be reduced to unsustainably low levels in cooler streams. Previous ideas about water pollution as a cause of low growth and mussel declines were not supported by our data. Instead, the predicted strong effects of Corbicula, combined with similar responses of four mussel species, suggest that Corbicula may be an important, but overlooked, factor in widespread mussel declines.
Comparison of design, metallurgy, mechanical performance and shaping ability of replica‐like and counterfeit instruments of the ProTaper Next system
Authors: Martins J. N. R. , Silva E. J. N. L. , Marques D. , Belladonna F. , Simões‐Carvalho M. , Camacho E. , Braz Fernandes F. M. , Versiani M. A.
Published: December 2020

Aim

To compare the ProTaper Next (PTN) system with a replica‐like and a counterfeit system regarding design, metallurgy, mechanical performance and shaping ability.

Methodology

Replica‐like (X‐File) and counterfeit (PTN‐CF) instruments were compared to the PTN system regarding design (microscopy), phase transformation temperatures (differential scanning calorimetry), nickel‐titanium ratio (energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy), cyclic fatigue, torsional resistance, bending strength, and untouched canal areas in extracted mandibular molars (micro‐CT). anova, post hoc Tukey’s and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used according to normality assessment (Shapiro–Wilk test) with the significance level set at 5%.

Results

Overall similarities in design and nickel‐titanium (Ni/Ti) ratio were observed amongst instruments with the X‐File having a smoother surface finish. PTN and PTN‐CF had mixed austenite plus R‐phase (R‐phase start approximately at 45 ºC and near 30 ºC, respectively), whilst X‐File instruments were austenitic (R‐phase started at approximately at 17 ºC) at room temperature (20 ºC). PTN‐CF had the greatest inconsistency in the phase transformation temperatures. Time to fracture of PTN‐CF X2 and X3 was significantly shorter than PTN and X‐File instruments (P < 0.05), whilst no difference was noted in maximum torque to fracture amongst the tested systems (P > 0.05). X‐Files and PTN‐CF had a stress‐induced phase change during bending load. Mean unprepared surface areas of root canals were 25.8% (PTN), 31.1% (X‐File) and 32.5% (PTN‐CF) with no significant difference amongst groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Similarities amongst the systems were noted in the Ni/Ti ratio and maximum torque to fracture, whilst differences were observed in the design, phase transformation temperatures and mechanical behaviour. The ProTaper Next counterfeit instruments could be considered as the less secure system considering its low‐cyclic fatigue resistance. Apart from these differences, the unprepared canal surface areas, obtained with the tested systems, were similar.
Effect of Fe3+ substitution on the structural modification and band structure modulated UV absorption of hydroxyapatite
Authors: Hadagalli Komalakrushna , Shenoy Sulakshana , Shakya Kaushal R. , G Manjunath , Tarafder Kartick , Mandal Saumen , Basu Bikramjit
Published: December 2020

The effect of Fe3+ ionic substitution in hydroxyapatite (Ca10‐xFex(PO4)6(OH)2) was studied using structural modifications, resulting in an improvement in UV absorption through a tailored optical band structure. Ca2+ of HA being larger compared to Fe3+ contributes to the shrinkage of the lattice. Undoped HA has a peak at 1085 cm−1 (ʋ3 PO43−) which is shifted to 1033 cm−1 for Fe‐HA, because of the perturbation in HA structure. An improvement of UV absorption in the entire UVA and UVB range with an increase in Fe content because of a decrease in bandgap from 5.9 eV to 2.1 eV with undoped and doped HA. Theoretically obtained band gap and optical behaviour of the systems are well correlated with the experimental findings. Moreover, the use of marine biowaste from cuttlefish bone, as the source of HA; low cost and promising UV absorption can have a potential application as UV protective sunscreen filters.
Clinical efficacy of popular oral hair growth supplement ingredients
Authors: Adelman Madeline J. , Bedford Lisa M. , Potts Geoff A.
Published: December 2020

Hair supplements are a vast and growing industry. Patients often turn to oral supplements to address hair concerns as they are easily accessible. There are numerous products on the market, many with thousands of reviews (both positive and negative). Nutritional supplements are regulated by the FDA as foods instead of drugs, meaning they do not have to prove their efficacy and safety before becoming available to consumers. While some oral supplements have strong evidence supporting their use for hair growth, many ingredients have not been tested in clinical trials, have only in vitro evidence for hair growth, or have only been tested in animals. Given these industry characteristics, it is important for dermatologists to be aware of the safety and utility of these ingredients to provide appropriate counseling to their patients. The goal of this review is to evaluate the efficacy of popular hair growth oral supplement ingredients and formulations. This review does not address the topical formulations of these ingredients and their effects on hair growth.