bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statin use in relation to intraocular pressure, glaucoma, and ocular coherence tomography parameters in the UK Biobank
Authors: Kim Jihye , Kennedy Neary Marianne T. , Aschard Hugues , Palakkamanil Mathew M. , Do Ron , Wiggs Janey L. , Khawaja Anthony P. , Pasquale Louis R. , Kang Jae H. ,   for the Modifiable Risk Factors for Glaucoma Collaboration
Published: December 2021

Objective

To evaluate the relationship between statin use and various glaucoma-related traits.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis of UK Biobank data.

Participants

We included 118,153 participants (mean age (SD)=56.8 (8.0) years) with data on statin use (5 statin types – 2006-2010) and corneal-compensated IOP measured in 2009-2013). Also, we included 192,283 participants (with 8,982 self-reported glaucoma cases as of 2006-2010) for the glaucoma analyses. After excluding participants with neurodegenerative diseases, 41,638 participants with global macular retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (mRNFL) and 41,547 participants with ganglion cell inner plexiform layer thickness (mGCIPL) measurements in 2009–2010 were available for analysis.

Method

We examined associations with statin use utilizing multivariable-adjusted linear regression models for IOP, mRNFL, and mGCIPL and logistic regression models for glaucoma. We assessed whether a 2,673-member polygenic risk score (PRS) identified from a glaucoma multi-trait analysis of genome wide association study (MTAG) modified associations. We performed Mendelian randomization (MR) experiments using 5 gene variants as proxies for the cholesterol-altering effect of statins to investigate associations with various glaucoma-related outcomes.

Main Outcome and Measures

IOP; glaucoma; mRNFL; mGCIPL.

Results

Statin users had higher unadjusted mean IOP ± SD (16.3 ± 3.9 mm Hg; n = 20,593 participants) than non-users (15.9 ± 3.8 mm Hg; n = 97,560 participants), but in a multivariable-adjusted model, IOP did not differ by statin use (difference = 0.05 mm Hg; 95% CI: -0.02, 0.13; p=0.17). Similarly, statin use was not associated with prevalent glaucoma (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.13). Statin use was weakly associated with thinner mRNFL (difference = -0.15 microns; 95% CI: -0.28, -0.01; p=0.03) but not with mGCIPL thickness (difference = -0.12 microns; 95% CI: -0.29, 0.05; p=0.17). Among statins, simvastatin and atorvastatin, the two most commonly used statins, were not associated with any glaucoma outcome measures. No association was modified by the glaucoma MTAG PRS (Pinteraction≥0.16). MR experiments showed no evidence for a causal association between the cholesterol-altering effect of statins and various glaucoma outcomes (inverse weighted variance p≥0.14).

Conclusions

Statin use was not associated with lower IOP, lower glaucoma prevalence, thicker mRNFL or thicker mGCIPL in the UK Biobank.
High performance of a GPU-accelerated variant calling tool in genome data analysis
Authors: Zhang Qian , Liu Hao , Bu Fengxiao
Published: December 2021

Rapid advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have facilitated ultralarge population and cohort studies that utilized whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify DNA variants that may impact gene function. Massive sequencing data require highly efficient bioinformatics tools to complete read alignment and variant calling as the fundamental analysis. Multiple software and hardware acceleration strategies have been developed to boost the analysis speed. This study comprehensively evaluated the germline variant calling of a GPU-based acceleration tool, BaseNumber, using WGS datasets from several sources, including gold-standard samples from the Genome in a Bottle (GIAB) project and the Golden Standard of China Genome (GSCG) project, resequenced GSCG samples, and 100 in-house samples from the China Deafness Genetics Consortium (CDGC) project. Sequencing data were analyzed on the GPU server using BaseNumber, the variant calling outputs of which were compared to the reference VCF or the results generated by the Burrows-Wheeler Aligner (BWA) + Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK) pipeline on a generic CPU server. BaseNumber demonstrated high precision (99.32%) and recall (99.86%) rates in variant calls compared to the standard reference. The variant calling outputs of the BaseNumber and GATK pipelines were very similar, with a mean F1 of 99.69%. Additionally, BaseNumber took only 23 minutes on average to analyze a 48X WGS sample, which was 215.33 times shorter than the GATK workflow. The GPU-based BaseNumber provides a highly accurate and ultrafast variant calling capability, significantly improving the WGS analysis efficiency and facilitating time-sensitive tests, such as clinical WGS genetic diagnosis, and sheds light on the GPU-based acceleration of other omics data analyses.
Covalency between the uranyl ion and dithiophosphinate by sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory
Authors: Zhang Yusheng , Duan Wuhua , Wang Qiang , Zheng Lei , Wang Jianchen , Chen Jing , Sun Taoxiang
Published: December 2021

The dithiophosphinic acids (HS2PR
2) have been used for the selective separation of trivalent actinides (AnIII) from lanthanides (LnIII) over the past decades. The substituents on the dithiophosphinic acids dramatically impact the separation performance, but the mechanism is still open for debate. In this work, two dithiophosphinic acids with significantly different AnIII/LnIII separation performance, i.e. diphenyl dithiophosphinic acid (HS2PPh2) and bis(ortho-trifluoromethylphenyl) dithiophosphinic acid [HS2P(o-CF3C6H4)2], are employed to understand the substituent effect on the bonding covalency between the S2PR
2
− anions (R = Ph and o-CF3C6H4) and the uranyl ion by sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) in combination with density functional theory calculations. The two UO2(S2PR
2)(EtOH) complexes display similar XAS spectra, in which the first pre-edge feature with an intensity of 0.16 is entirely attributed to the transitions from S 1s orbitals to the unoccupied molecular orbitals due to the mixing between U 5f and S 3p orbitals. The Mulliken population analysis indicates that the amount of \% S 3p character in these orbitals is essentially identical for the UO2(S2PPh2)2(EtOH) and UO2[S2P(o-CF3C6H4)2]2(EtOH) complexes, which is lower than that in the U 6d-based orbitals. The essentially identical covalency in U—S bonds for the two UO2(S2PR
2)2(EtOH) complexes are contradictory to the significantly different AnIII/LnIII separation performance of the two dithiophosphinic acids, thus the covalency seems to be unable to account for substituent effects in the AnIII/LnIII separation by the dithiophosphinic acids. The results in this work provide valuable insight into the understanding of the mechanism in the AnIII/LnIII separation by the dithiophosphinic acids.
The role of project managers’ attributes in project sustainability management and project performance under China-Pakistan economic corridor
Authors: Hashim Muhammad Zaheer , Chao Liu , Wang Chao
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Steered by upper echelon theory, this study aims to scrutinize the prevalence of project manager demographic factors (age, education and experience) in project sustainability management and project performance.

Design/methodology/approach

We used a sample of 209 project managers/supervisor/team leaders who were working in the projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Findings

The results indicate that project manager demographic factors have a significant influence on project performance (except experience) and project sustainability management. Moreover, project sustainability management partially mediates the relationship between age, education and project performance while it fully mediates the path between experience and project performance.

Practical implications

The research recommends senior, high educated and experienced managers for CPEC who promote sustainability and gain high project performance.

Originality/value

A number of studies have been carried out to assess the relationship between top managers’ attributes and environmental activities. However, so far, none of the studies has paid attention to the CPEC and projects working in Pakistan.
McDonald’s versus Vikram Bakshi
Authors: Pangarkar Nitin , Yadav Neetu
Published: December 2021

Learning outcomes

The case illustrates the challenges of managing JVs in emerging markets. specifically, after going through the case, students should be able to: i.Analyze the contexts in which firms need to form JVs and evaluate this need in the context of emerging markets such as India; ii.Understand how multinational corporations can achieve success in emerging markets, specifically the role of strategic (broader than the product) adaptation in success; iii.Evaluate the impact of conflict between partners on the short-term and long-term performance of a JV; and iv.Create alternatives, evaluate each alternative’s pros and cons, and recommend appropriate decisions to address the situation after a JV unravels and the organization is faced with quality and other challenges.

Case overview/synopsis

McDonald’s, the global giant in the quick service industry, entered India in 1993 and formed two JVs in 1995 one with Vikram Bakshi (Connaught Plaza Restaurants Ltd or CPRL) to own and operate stores in the northern and eastern zones, and another with Amit Jatia (Hardcastle Restaurants Private Limited or HRPL) to own and operate stores in the western and southern zones. Over the next 12 years, both the JVs made steady progress by opening new stores while also achieving better store-level metrics. Though CPRL was ahead of HRPL in terms of the number of stores and total revenues earned in 2008, the year marked the beginning of a long-running dispute between the two partners in CPRL, Bakshi and McDonald’s. Over the next 11 years, Bakshi and McDonald’s tried to block each other, filed court cases against each other and also exchanged recriminations in media. The feud hurt the performance of CPRL, which fell behind HRPL in terms of growth and other metrics. On May 9, 2019, the feuding partners reached an out-of-court settlement under which McDonald’s would buy out Bakshi’s shares in CPRL, thus making CPRL a subsidiary. Robert Hunghanfoo, who had been appointed head of CPRL after Bakshi’s exit, announced a temporary shutdown of McDonald’s stores to take stock of the current situation. He had to make a number of critical decisions that would impact the company’s performance in the long-term.

Complexity academic level

MBA, Executive MBA and executive development programs.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
Amtek Auto – financing under distress
Authors: Raghupathy M.B.
Published: December 2021

Learning outcomes

The primary teaching objective is to discuss the capital raising efforts of a firm under financial distress. It also provides supporting data to calculate cost of capital, DuPont/modified DuPont values and Altman’s Z-Score that can appropriately be incorporated into the discussion. Case-B provides information and data of the company’s recent performance and to changes in bankruptcy law in India. Overall, this case study provides ample scope to discuss, understand and provide the solution to the following key corporate finance themes as follows: 1. Analyzing accounting statements and examine potential earnings quality issue. 2. Predicting default and bankruptcy using qualitative analysis, financial ratios, traditional and modified DuPont models and Altman’s Z score model. 3. Examining the capital raising efforts of a distressed firm, which has already defaulted on borrowings. 4. To explore the impact of changes in regulation on the turnaround efforts of the firm as well as on the promoters of the firm.

Case overview/synopsis

Since 2005, Amtek Auto moved at a breathtaking speed with the goal of reaching $10bn in sales, from the current level of about $1.2bn. The group had acquired more than a dozen companies spending about Rs.5,000cr. ($850m) during this period primarily through borrowed funds. However, the market and business expansion was not happening as expected. The company’s capacity utilization was just about 40% (approx.) during much of this period. The mounting fixed costs of operation and debt servicing grew to the level of unsustainability, led the firm to default on its borrowing. Now the company had to quickly recapitalize itself to run its operations and retain the premier position in auto component industry. The company and its promoters were considering various methods of debt restructuring, asset sale and further equity infusion.

Complexity academic level

Introductory and elective level corporate finance.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 1: Accounting and Finance.
Automatic interpolation algorithm for NURBS trajectory of shoe sole spraying based on 7-DOF robot
Authors: Xu Gaoping , Zhang Hao , Meng Zhuo , Sun Yize
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an automatic interpolation algorithm for robot spraying trajectories based on cubic Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) curves, to solve the problem of sparse and incomplete trajectory points of the head and heel of the shoe sole when extracting robot motion trajectories using structured-light 3D cameras and to ensure the robot joints move smoothly, so as to achieve a good effect of automatic spraying of the shoe sole with a 7-degree-of-freedom (DOF) robot.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the original shoe sole edge trajectory position points acquired by the 3D camera are fitted with NURBS curves. Then, the velocity constraint at the local maximum of the trajectory curvature is used as the reference for curve segmentation and S-shaped acceleration and deceleration planning. Immediately, real-time interpolation is performed in the time domain to obtain the position and orientation of each point of the robot motion trajectory. Finally, the inverse kinematics of the anthropomorphic motion of the 7-DOF robot arm is used to obtain the joint motion trajectory.

Findings

The simulation and experiment prove that the shoe sole spraying trajectory is complete, the spraying effect is good and the robot joint movement is smooth, which show that the algorithm is feasible.

Originality/value

This study is of good practical value for improving the quality of automated shoe sole spraying, and it has wide applicability for different shoe sole shapes.
A systematic literature review exploring the psychosocial aspects of palliative care provision for incarcerated persons: a human rights perspective
Authors: Johns Lise , Weightman Stacey , Blackburn Pippa , McAuliffe Donna
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the psychosocial aspects of palliative care provision for incarcerated persons drawing on a human rights perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

Seven databases were searched to identify empirical studies published from 2010 to 2020. Articles included were qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, written in English and with westernised health/prison settings, with a key focus on the psychosocial aspects of palliative care provision and human rights. The quality of the articles was appraised using the Mixed Methods Assessment Tool (2018).

Findings

The results from 26 articles revealed multiple models of care, with the US prison hospice program depicted as optimal, because of the use of trained incarcerated caregivers, working as aides to the interprofessional team. The bereavement needs of caregivers were highlighted. The barriers to adequate psychosocial care were negative public discourse, prison processes and resources, provider attitudes and the incarcerated person’s level of knowledge and trust. Identified facilitators were related to incarcerated persons’ caregiving programs, a sense of purpose and visitation leniency. Human rights principles were identified in studies that featured compassionate release and advance care planning.

Research limitations/implications

There is inconsistency in the literature regarding what constitutes psychosocial care, which meant that the authors needed to draw on multiple literature sources to formulate a definition. Additionally, the review only included studies written in English, meaning some high-quality studies could have been missed. The articles that conducted interviews with incarcerated individuals were undertaken in male prisons only and not female prisons.

Practical implications

Understanding the importance of psychosocial care for incarcerated persons with a life-limiting illness requires a shift in negative public discourse and the need for a stronger human rights focus. Some countries, such as the USA and UK, are achieving effective outcomes; however, countries such as Australia are yet to contribute to this knowledge base.

Originality/value

If palliative care is a human right, then its philosophy should be considered in its entirety, with the inclusion of psychosocial care.
Non-linear pricing in E-commerce: an exploration
Authors: Das Dipankar , Jadhav Vivek Sharadadevi
Published: December 2021

Purpose

To understand the new non-linear pricing in E-commerce. The present paper aims to put forth an idea of using tie-in agreement in the electronic commerce market in the name of trust in India. According to the Indian antitrust law, tie-in agreement is not allowed to use as compulsory in an offer to the buyer. This means that a tie-in agreement cannot be a compulsion or only an option to the buyer. This means it can be an extra option.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper shows that using this logic the sellers are giving two options simultaneously to the buyer: (1) a commodity with a tie-in agreement and (2) the same commodity without a tie-in agreement. Therefore, there are two price mechanisms that are present. Now it is the decision of the buyer to choose between the two. These two price mechanisms create a new variable called trust. If the buyer selects the first option, then that buyer will not be treated as a trustworthy buyer, but in the second case, the buyer would be treated as a trustworthy or the affianced buyer. Therefore, the buyer would be leaning toward the second option. The paper proves that in the second option it would be difficult to minimize the consumer expenditure. As a result, there would be a situation of non-linear pricing in the name of trust which is hidden in the offer. The present work gives both theoretical models and empirical justifications.

Findings

We find that E-wallet is often used when a consumer orders food online but offline cash payment is preferred. Therefore, the offer does matter for the consumer. Hence, the offer can be used to make a tie-in arrangement. Therefore, even if there is a tie-in arrangement in online food servicing applications, the Competition Commission of India can restrict such practices as for illegal tying, the firm has to have the monopoly power in one market and there should be compulsory tie-arrangement in another market. But it does not mean that E-wallet tie-arrangement cannot be ignored as the monopoly power in the online food servicing market can influence the market share in the E-wallet market. Tie-in arrangement is also important, as the consumer has to spend more under cashback offer conditions which reduce the long-run gain of consumers.

Originality/value

The paper considered trust as a new element in forming non-linear pricing. This is new to this literature.
Ecological well-being performance and influencing factors in China: from the perspective of income inequality
Authors: Zhou Lijun , Zhang Zongqing
Published: December 2021

Purpose

China's increasing income inequality might cause a series of problems, such as the slowdown of economic growth, social and economic tension, the decline of the ecological environment quality and the threat to citizens' health. Consequently, income inequality will inevitably affect the ecological well-being performance (EWP) level of China's provinces through the above aspects. Analyzing the impact of income inequality on EWP and its spatial spillover effects are conducive to improving the level of EWP in China. Therefore, the research purpose of this paper is to use China's provincial data from 2001 to 2017 to analyze the impact of income inequality on EWP and the spatial spillover effect based on the evaluation of the EWP value of each province.

Design/methodology/approach

At first, this study utilizes the super efficiency slacks-based measure model (Super-SBM model) to calculate the EWP values of 30 provinces in China, which can evaluate and rank the effective decision units in the SBM model and make up for the defect that the effective decision units cannot be distinguished. Then this study applies the spatial Durbin model and Tobit regression model (SDM-Tobit model) to explore the impact of income inequality and other influencing factors on EWP and the spatial spillover effects in adjacent areas.

Findings

Firstly, the average EWP in China fluctuated slightly and showed a downward trend from 2001 to 2017. In addition, the EWP values of the provinces in the western region are usually weaker than those in the eastern and central regions. Moreover, income inequality is negatively correlated with EWP, and the EWP has a spatial spillover effect, which means the EWP level in a region is affected by EWP values in the adjacent regions. Furthermore, the industrial structure and urbanization level are both negatively related to EWP, while technology level, investment openness, trade openness and education level are positively related to EWP.

Originality/value

Compared with the existing research, the possible contribution of this research is that it takes income inequality as one of the important influencing factors of EWP and adopts the SDM-Tobit model to analyze the impact mechanism of income inequality on EWP from the perspective of time and space, providing new ideas for improving the EWP of various provinces in China.
What drives continuance intention to use a food-ordering chatbot? An examination of trust and satisfaction
Authors: Hsiao Kuo-Lun , Chen Chia-Chen
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) customer service chatbots are a new application service, and little is known about this type of service. This study applies service quality, trust and satisfaction to predict users' continuance intention to use a food-ordering chatbot.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model and hypotheses are tested using online questionnaire responses to collect users' perceptions of such services. One hundred and eleven responses of actual users were received.

Findings

Empirical results show that anthropomorphism and service quality, such as problem-solving, are the antecedents of trust and satisfaction, while satisfaction has the most significant direct effect on the users' intention.

Originality/value

The results provide further useful insights for service providers and chatbot developers to improve services.
The effect of credit rating downgrades along the supply chain
Authors: Alldredge Dallin M. , Chen Yinfei , Liu Steve , Luo Lan
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the information transfer effects of customers’ credit rating downgrades on supplier firms.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors use suppliers’ cumulative abnormal returns around customers’ credit rating downgrade events to identify how shocks to customer credit impact supplier equity prices. The authors also incorporate ordinary least squares and weighted least squares regressions regression analysis of the determinants of supplier market response to customer downgrades.

Findings

The authors find that customer credit rating downgrades present significant negative shocks to the stock prices of supplier firms. Moreover, the authors show that the information transfer effects are determined by both firm- and industry-level factors, including the market anticipation of downgrades, the strength of the customer–supplier linkage, the industry rivals’ reactions to the downgrades and investor attention. The authors also find that the likelihood that a supplier will receive a rating downgrade is significantly higher following its primary customer firm’s downgrade.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to explore the information transfer effects of credit rating downgrades on primary stakeholders within the supply chain. The authors document that customer–supplier networks have valuable implications for the spillover effect across debt and equity holders. Information about customers’ financial stress is incorporated into suppliers’ equity prices outside of the context of customer bankruptcy.
Business process prioritization criteria: a case study in the financial market
Authors: Santos Robson Porfírio dos , Salgado Thaiane Martins , Pereira Veridiana Rotondaro
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze and examine how an organization from the financial sector prioritizes its business processes and what criteria are adopted to select the most appropriate process for improvement projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This descriptive research is based on an exploratory approach. Qualitative methodology was applied to a case study through on-site observation, documentation analysis and semi-structured interviews.

Findings

The results confirm criteria mentioned in the literature, such as financial aspects and strategic impacts, but also raised a new critical issue: automation potential of manual processes, reflecting the current movement of process automation.

Research limitations/implications

As a limitation of this study, it is worth mentioning the application in only one organization in the financial market and the small number of respondents, even though they occupy leadership positions in the organization.

Practical implications

As a practical implication, the present work offers a direction for managers of the financial sector in structuring and applying models for prioritizing processes aimed at organizational efficiency.

Social implications

Automation solutions for process improvement need careful study to minimize impacts in human resources reduction. In this sense, the eligibility of a process for automation must be carefully considered.

Originality/value

This paper presents the evolution of the process prioritization model adopted by a large institution in the financial market, which has a significant presence in the Brazilian and international markets as a commercial and wholesale bank.
Estimation of total fine root production using continuous inflow methods in tropical mangrove forest on Pohnpei Island, Micronesia: Fine root necromass accumulation is a substantial contributor to blue carbon stocks
Authors: Ono Kenji , Fujimoto Kiyoshi , Hirata Yasumasa , Tabuchi Ryuichi , Taniguchi Shingo , Furukawa Keita , Watanabe Shin , Suwa Rempei , Lihpai Saimon
Published: December 2021

Fine root decomposition, mortality, and production are fundamental components of belowground carbon dynamics in mangrove ecosystems. Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems with huge carbon stocks; however, information on the dynamics of submerged fine roots in mangrove soils is limited. To estimate fine root production in several sites of mangrove communities on Pohnpei Island, Micronesia, we estimated continuous inflows using a simple mass balance model to combine ingrowth core and litterbag experimental results. According to our findings, previously reported mangrove fine root production values were severely underestimated because the fine root decomposition process was disregarded during the experimental period. We estimated that annual fine root production up to 0.3 m in depth ranged from 13.8 (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza in a landward plot) to 56.3 Mg ha−1 year−1 (B. gymnorrhiza in a seaward plot). However, comparing the fine root production with respect to the unit of stem cross‐section area increase in the sample tree, the fine root production of Rhizophora spp. was greater than that of other species. The annual fine root mortality and decomposition to annual fine root production was 70%–105% and 11%–52% of annual production, respectively. The annual fine root production estimated here was much higher than that previously reported. These findings begin to quantify the contribution and importance of highly productive mangrove fine roots for carbon sequestration in blue carbon ecosystems. Moreover, this study provides new insights into the organic carbon dynamics in mangrove soils with mangrove vegetation succession.
Sudden death related to the gastrointestinal system in Tunisia: A 13 year autopsy study
Authors: Ben Abderrahim Sarra , Gharbaoui Meriem , Békir Olfa , Hamdoun Moncef , Allouche Mohamed
Published: December 2021

Sudden gastrointestinal (GI) death is an unexpected death due to digestive system causes mainly found after autopsy. The literature is rich in articles that studied sudden death due to cardiac causes while sudden GI deaths remain less well‐documented. We retrospectively investigated all cases of gastrointestinal death at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Tunis, over 13 years (January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2018). Two hundred and eight cases were collected. The mean age of our series was 51.06 ± 20.99 years. No history of digestive disorders was reported in 78.4%, and no family history of sudden death was found in any cases. A male predominance was found in most epidemiological characteristics of the sample with a significant statistical rate in some features. Non‐specific abdominal pain was the most described symptom (n = 92). Perforation of GI tract was the common mechanism involved in the death of 55 cases, of which 44 were related to ulcer perforation. These ulcer perforations were statistically more reported in smokers and people suffering from schizophrenia. Intestinal obstruction was the second commonest cause of death, mainly found in the elderly. Sudden death in children was most frequently caused by acute intussusception. This study highlights that systematic study of sudden death due to GI causes might provide opportunities to identify avenues for overall health improvement.
Update on adjuvant therapy in completely resected NSCLC patients
Authors: Lim Jeong Uk , Yeo Chang Dong
Published: December 2021

In patients with completely resected non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy has been associated with improvement in survival by minimizing the risk of recurrence. For years, systemic chemotherapy including platinum based regimen has been a mainstay treatment modality of adjuvant treatment after complete resection. ADAURA study showed that among completely resected IB to IIIA NSCLC, disease‐free survival was significantly better in patients under adjuvant osimertinib than a placebo group. After the advent of a variety of new treatment regimens, such as third generation TKI and immunotherapy, the landscape of postoperative adjuvant treatment has been changing. In this review, we discuss some key issues regarding choice of adjuvant treatment after complete resection in NSCLC, and provide further updates on recent advances in treatment modalities.
Differential responses of amphibians and reptiles to land‐use change in the biodiversity hotspot of north‐eastern Madagascar
Authors: Fulgence T. R. , Martin D. A. , Randriamanantena R. , Botra R. , Befidimanana E. , Osen K. , Wurz A. , Kreft H. , Andrianarimisa A. , Ratsoavina F. M.
Published: December 2021

Large expanses of tropical rainforest have been converted into agricultural landscapes cultivated by smallholder farmers. This is also the case in north‐eastern Madagascar; a region that retains significant proportions of forest cover despite slash‐and‐burn shifting hill rice cultivation and vanilla agroforestry expansion. The region is also a global hotspot for herpetofauna diversity, but how amphibians and reptiles are affected by land‐use change remains largely unknown. Using a space‐for‐time study design, we compared species diversity and community composition across seven prevalent land uses: unburned (old‐growth forest, forest fragment, and forest‐derived vanilla agroforest) and burned (fallow‐derived vanilla agroforest, woody fallow, and herbaceous fallow) land‐use types, and rice paddy. We conducted six comprehensive, time‐standardized searches across at least 10 replicates per land‐use type and applied genetic barcoding to confirm species identification. We documented an exceptional diversity of herpetofauna (119 species; 91% endemic). Observed plot‐level amphibian species richness was significantly higher in old‐growth forest than in all other land‐use types. Plot‐level reptile species richness was significantly higher in unburned land‐use types compared with burned land‐use types. For both amphibians and reptiles, the less‐disturbed land‐use types showed more uneven communities and the species composition in old‐growth forest differed significantly from all other land‐use types. Amphibians had higher forest dependency (38% of species occurred exclusively in old‐growth forest) than reptiles (26%). Our analyses thus revealed that the two groups respond differently to land‐use change: we found less pronounced losses of reptile species richness especially in unburned agricultural habitats, suggesting that reptiles are less susceptible to land‐use change than amphibians, possibly due to their ability to cope with hotter and drier microclimates. In conclusion, our findings emphasize existing conservation opportunities – especially for reptiles – in extensive agricultural landscapes while highlighting the precarious situation of amphibians in disappearing old‐growth forests.
Frequency of DPYD gene variants and phenotype inference in a Southern Brazilian population
Authors: Botton Mariana Rodrigues , Hentschke‐Lopes Marina , Matte Ursula
Published: December 2021

Fluoropyrimidines are chemotherapy drugs that may cause severe adverse events, and their metabolism occurs by dihydropyrimidine deydrogenase (DPD), coded by DPYD. Variants in the DPYD were associated to a greater risk of toxicity. Our aim was to determine the frequency of the most relevant DPYD alleles according to CPIC guidelines (DPYD*2A‐rs3918290, DPYD*13‐rs55886062, rs67376798, and HapB3‐rs75017182) in a sample of 800 healthy Southern Brazilians. Frequencies for rs3918290, rs75017182, and rs67376798 were 0.25%, 1.06%, and 0.38%, respectively. No rs55886062 allele was detected. In total, 3.4% of individuals were classified as intermediate metabolizers. Frequencies for rs3918290, rs55886062, and rs67376798 were similar to those found in non‐Finnish Europeans; however, rs75017182 was less frequent when compared to non‐Finnish Europeans, but more frequent than in Africans and East Asians. rs3918290 and rs67376798 also presented higher frequency when compared to Africans. The Latino population was the only one that did not differ from our sample in any variant analyzed. The frequencies for all the other populations (non‐Finnish European, African, South Asian, and East Asian) presented differences from our sample in at least one variant. rs115232898 was not analyzed in the present study. Cost‐effective studies should be performed to evaluate the implementation of these tests in the clinical practice in the Southern Brazil.
Two internal critiques for theists who oppose moral enhancement on a process virtue basis
Authors: Brummett Abram , Crutchfield Parker
Published: December 2021

Some bioconservatives reject the use of biotechnology for moral enhancement while simultaneously purporting to accept standard theism and process virtue. Standard theism holds that God is a personal, omniscient, omnibenevolent, omnipotent, transcendent being. Process virtue holds that virtue can only be obtained through a specific process and not by means of biotechnological shortcuts. For example, proponents of the view may claim that the virtue of compassion cannot be achieved by taking a pill but must come about from organic life experience that involves suffering, and reflection. We describe two internal critiques that arise by combining standard theism and process virtue. The first critique arises when the process virtue view is applied to the concept of God himself. Because God is thought to have always been perfectly virtuous, it follows he did not obtain his virtue through a process. Theistic bioconservatives must either give up the notion that God has always been perfectly virtuous or give up their claim that virtue must be obtained through a particular kind of process. The second critique argues that rejecting moral enhancement on the basis of process virtue is selfish, which is a vice by the lights of all mainstream manifestations of standard theism. Process virtue is selfish because it requires prioritizing the development of one's own personal virtue over moral enhancement that will improve one's other‐regarding virtues. We conclude that the combination of standard theism and process virtue does not serve as a strong basis from which to oppose moral enhancement.
Elevational distribution of birds in an Eastern African montane environment as governed by temperature, precipitation, and habitat availability
Authors: van der Hoek Yntze , Sirami Clélia , Faida Emmanuel , Musemakweli Valens , Tuyisingize Deogratias
Published: December 2021

Tropical species, many of which have limited thermal tolerances and narrow ecological niches, are likely to experience elevational shifts due to climate change. However, our ability to predict these shifts is limited by a scarcity of baseline data on current distributions and a lack of understanding of drivers of species ranges. To characterize the elevational distributions of a suite of Afromontane birds, we conducted annual point counts between 2013 and 2018 at 297 plots across habitats and elevations (2416–4303 m) in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. We assessed elevational and habitat preferences via indicator analyses, and modeled abundance distributions as a function of temperature, precipitation, habitat availability, and congeneric competition. Although most of the 35 focal species were distributed across habitats and elevational ranges, 20 species particularly associated with narrow elevational range (<300 m) and 24 species were strongly associated with one to three habitat types. Abiotic factors significantly correlated with abundance distributions of 33 species (temperature 33, precipitation 17), and biotic factors with distributions of 31 species (habitat 30, competition 7). Temperature and habitat availability were particularly associated with upper elevational limits (31 and 26 species, respectively, vs. 10 and 6 at lower limits), whereas precipitation affected both limits similarly (17 lower, 16 upper), and competition had a limited role at either limit (4 lower, 3 upper). That the elevational distribution of Afromontane birds results from a species‐specific combination of biotic and abiotic factors is crucial information in our effort to predict climate change effects in this region.
RUNX1 transactivates BCR‐ABL1 expression in Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Masuda Tatsuya , Maeda Shintaro , Shimada Sae , Sakuramoto Naoya , Morita Ken , Koyama Asami , Suzuki Kensho , Mitsuda Yoshihide , Matsuo Hidemasa , Kubota Hirohito , Kato Itaru , Tanaka Kuniaki , Takita Junko , Hirata Masahiro , Kataoka Tatsuki R , Nakahata Tatsutoshi , Adachi Souichi , Hirai Hideyo , Mizuta Shuichi , Naka Kazuhito , Imai Yoichi , Kimura Shinya , Sugiyama Hiroshi , Kamikubo Yasuhiko
Published: December 2021

The emergence of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as part of a front‐line treatment has greatly improved the clinical outcome of the patients with Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, a portion of them still become refractory to the therapy mainly through acquiring mutations in the BCR‐ABL1 gene, necessitating a novel strategy to treat tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)‐resistant Ph+ ALL cases. In this report, we show evidence that RUNX1 transcription factor stringently controls the expression of BCR‐ABL1, which can strategically be targeted by our novel RUNX inhibitor, Chb‐M'. Through a series of in vitro experiments, we identified that RUNX1 binds to the promoter of BCR and directly transactivates BCR‐ABL1 expression in Ph+ ALL cell lines. These cells showed significantly reduced expression of BCR‐ABL1 with suppressed proliferation upon RUNX1 knockdown. Moreover, treatment with Chb‐M' consistently downregulated the expression of BCR‐ABL1 in these cells and this drug was highly effective even in an imatinib‐resistant Ph+ ALL cell line. In good agreement with these findings, forced expression of BCR‐ABL1 in these cells conferred relative resistance to Chb‐M'. In addition, in vivo experiments with the Ph+ ALL patient‐derived xenograft cells showed similar results. In summary, targeting RUNX1 therapeutically in Ph+ ALL cells may lead to overcoming TKI resistance through the transcriptional regulation of BCR‐ABL1. Chb‐M' could be a novel drug for patients with TKI‐resistant refractory Ph+ ALL.
The neural correlates of working memory training in typically developing children
Authors: Jones Jonathan S. , Adlam Anna‐Lynne R. , Benattayallah Abdelmalek , Milton Fraser N.
Published: December 2021

Working memory training improves children's cognitive performance on untrained tasks; however, little is known about the underlying neural mechanisms. This was investigated in 32 typically developing children aged 10–14 years (19 girls and 13 boys) using a randomized controlled design and multi‐modal magnetic resonance imaging (Devon, UK; 2015–2016). Training improved working memory performance and increased intrinsic functional connectivity between the bilateral intraparietal sulci. Furthermore, improvements in working memory were associated with greater recruitment of the left middle frontal gyrus on a complex span task. Repeated engagement of fronto‐parietal regions during training may increase their activity and functional connectivity over time, affording greater working memory performance. The plausibility of generalizable cognitive benefits from a neurobiological perspective and implications for neurodevelopmental theory are discussed.
International differences in the CEO gender pay gap
Authors: Chen Xiaoqi , Torsin Wouter , Tsang Albert
Published: December 2021

Research question/issue

This study examines (i) whether and to what extent differences in the level of compensation paid to men and women can be observed at the corporate executive (i.e., CEOs) level in an international setting and (ii) whether and how country‐level attitudes toward gender equality help explain the heterogeneity in the CEO gender pay gap observed across countries.

Research findings/insights

Using executive compensation data from 27 countries over the 2001–2016 period, this study documents a 3.3% average difference in the level of executive compensation between male and female CEOs in countries around the world. The results further indicate that firms that transition from a male to a female CEO tend to have a significantly lower level of compensation. These results are robust when controlling for an array of key CEO attributes including education, age, and work experience and when US firms are excluded from the sample. Our findings also suggest that attitudes related to gender equality across countries can be an important factor explaining the CEO gender pay gap observed in our study.

Theoretical/academic implications

The results of our study suggest the existence of a CEO gender pay gap at the international level. Specifically, our study suggests that the difference in pay between men and women, which is well documented in the literature of many countries, not only applies to regular employees in an economy but can also be generalized to those who work at the chief executive level. More importantly, our study suggests that a country's institutional environment vis‐à‐vis gender equality can contribute to the gender pay differences observed in various countries around the world.

Practitioner/policy implications

We provide evidence supporting the existence of a gender pay gap using executive compensation data at the CEO level. We further show that country‐level institutional characteristics related to gender equality partly contribute to gender pay differences between male and female CEOs across countries. Thus, the findings of our study provide new insights into the potential determinants of executive compensation (i.e., CEO gender and country‐level gender equality) and are valuable to policymakers in proposing legislative changes to reduce the gender pay gap.
Appropriate fabrication method for pressure‐formed mouthguards using polyolefin sheets
Authors: Watarai Yuko , Mizuhashi Fumi , Koide Kaoru
Published: December 2021

Background/Aim

Polyolefin sheet mouthguards are usually formed in the same manner as ethylene‐vinyl acetate sheet mouthguards. However, the heating condition of the polyolefin sheet for the pressure‐forming process has not been determined. The aim of this study was to examine the appropriate heating condition for polyolefin sheet mouthguards when fabricated with the pressure‐formed technique.

Materials and Methods

Mouthguard sheets of 3.0 mm polyolefin were pressure formed on working models at three heating temperatures: 90°C, 105°C, and 120°C. The thickness of the mouthguard was measured at the labial surface of the central incisor, and the buccal and occlusal surfaces of the first molar. The fit of the mouthguard was examined at the central incisor and the first molar by measuring the distance between the mouthguard and the cervical margin of the working model. Differences in the thickness and fit of the mouthguards according to the heating conditions and the measured regions were analyzed using two‐way analysis of variance.

Results

Mouthguard thickness varied among the measured regions of the central incisors and first molars (p < .01). The greatest thickness was found at the labial surface of the central incisor in mouthguards fabricated with the heating temperature of 90°C (p < .01). The greatest thickness was found in mouthguards fabricated with the heating temperature of 105°C at the buccal surface of the first molar (p < .01), and 105°C or 120°C at the occlusal surface of the first molar (p < .01). The fit was not significantly different among the three heating conditions both at the central incisor and the first molar.

Conclusions

The appropriate heating condition for pressure‐formed mouthguards using polyolefin sheets was 90°C to maintain the mouthguard thickness at the anterior teeth area with proper fit.
Trust, Respect, and Forgiveness: The Educational Philosophy of Janusz Korczak
Authors: Tsabar Boaz
Published: December 2021

Abstract

In this article, Boaz Tsabar explores the fundamental significance of relations of trust between educator and child in the work of renowned Polish‐Jewish pedagogue, author, children's rights advocate, and orphanage director Janusz Korczak. The first part of the article investigates the existential importance of trust in a pedagogy that is based on humanistic‐dialogical principles. The second and central part explores three ways in which Korczak strived to implement the element of trust in his educational work with children at the Dom Sierot orphanage in Warsaw: the first manifested in a renouncement of idealism coupled with a concrete demonstration of respect for students' actual life experience; the second in the creation and maintenance of a consistent and orderly pedagogical space so as to infuse pupils' lives with a sense of security and rational order; and the third in a refinement of reality to the level of a game while upholding the child's right to engage in trial‐and‐error within it. Finally, Tsabar discusses the fundamental importance of forgiveness in Korczak's concept of trust and concludes the article with an investigation of two implicit threats to the development of relations of trust in the contemporary public school system.