bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short- and long-term impacts of merger activities in the banking industry: evidence from an emerging market
Authors: Alsharif Mohammad
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine in depth the impact of merger activities on banks in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

Event study, financial ratio and efficient frontier analyses with a mixture of parametric and non-parametric tests are used for the sample period 2016Q1–2022Q4.

Findings

Event study analysis shows that merging banks (bidders) have higher positive cumulative abnormal returns than merged banks (targets), indicating that investors believe that bidding banks will benefit the most from the merger strategy. It was also found that the efficiency measures of the combined banks of Saudi British Bank and Alawwal Bank deteriorated, while they improved for the combined banks of National Commercial Bank and Saudi American Bank in the post-merger period, confirming investors' views.

Research limitations/implications

Although the study focuses on the Saudi banking sector, its findings could be generalized to other banks in the region, as the Saudi banking sector is one of the largest in the Middle East region and is expected to grow further in the future.

Practical implications

The mere act of merging two banks does not guarantee the realization of cost synergies or efficiency gains. This research shows that mergers are not automatically cost-effective and that their success depends on good integration and restructuring strategies.

Originality/value

To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study to provide a comprehensive analysis of the short- and long-term impacts of merger activities in the Saudi banking sector.
The double-edged sword of forensic accounting services: litigation risks in Jordan’s industrial sector
Authors: Al-Hazaima Huthaifa , Arabiat Omar , Maayah Ghassan
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the association between forensic accounting services (FAS) and the risk of litigation within the context of industrial firms that are publicly traded on the Amman Stock Exchange by using the resource-based theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a data set consisting of 250 firm-year observations from 2017 to 2021, obtained from the annual reports of 50 selected firms. Logistic regression techniques are used to examine the specifics of the investigated relationship.

Findings

The findings strongly suggest that companies that use FAS are more likely to face increased litigation risks. This observation suggests that these firms are subject to a more thorough level of evaluation or scrutiny, which inherently increases their vulnerability to potential risks. The study incorporated several control variables such as firm age, size, profitability and working capital. However, it is noteworthy that the connection between FAS and litigation risk emerged as particularly prominent.

Research limitations/implications

Findings highlight the need for practitioners to tread cautiously with FAS. Although they provide in-depth evaluations, they can also unveil vulnerabilities, leading to increased legal action. Companies should balance the depth of FAS scrutiny against potential legal repercussions, ensuring they harness its benefits without inadvertently raising legal risks.

Originality/value

While most studies have emphasized the impact of forensic accounting on fraud, this paper covers a gap in the literature regarding the impact of FAS on litigation risks. The paper also facilitates the understanding of the correlation between firm characteristics and the likelihood of litigation.
Economic policy uncertainty and Indian banking stability: the mediating role of regulation and supervision
Authors: Syed Aamir Aijaz
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore how the unprecedented rise in the economic policy uncertainty influence Indian banking sector stability. The unprecedented rise in the economic policy uncertainty during the recent pandemic has garnered the attention of policymakers to investigate its consequences on different sectors of the economy.

Design/methodology/approach

In this quest, the present study uses system generalized method of moments and other econometric tools to examine the influence of economic policy uncertainty on the Indian banking sector, covering the time frame from 2000 to 2022. In addition, the current study also investigates the mediating role of regulation and supervision in the nexus of economic policy uncertainty and the Indian banking sector stability.

Findings

The empirical outcome reveals that economic policy uncertainty negatively influences banking stability. However, when economic policy uncertainty interacts with stringent banking regulations, private monitoring and supervisions, it assists in diversifying the negative impact of economic policy uncertainty on the Indian banking sector stability.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, the study is an original work and provides robust estimates that will assist policymakers in understanding the influence of policy uncertainty on the banking stability. Moreover, the study also helps in understanding the role of supervision and regulation in mitigating the negative consequences of policy uncertainty on the banking stability.
Linkages between capital, bank financing and economic growth: the case of Islamic and conventional banks from a panel of Muslim countries
Authors: Ghroubi Mohamed
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the triple relationship between capital regulation, banking lending and economic growth in a dual markets. Specifically, the author seeks to explore how changes in capital regulation can impact banking lending practices and subsequently influence economic growth, while also investigating the reciprocal effects of banking lending on economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The author follows several previous studies such as Shrieves and Dahl (1992), Beck and Levine (2002), Altunbas et al. (2007), Saeed et al. (2020) and Stewart et al. (2021) to identify a system of three equations, regarding economic growth, capital and banking financing growth, respectively. The author estimates the parameters of all equations simultaneously using the seemingly unrelated regression method (Zellner, 1962) for a sample of 46 Islamic banks and 113 conventional banks during 2002–2022. These banks operate in 13 Muslim countries from Middle East and North Africa and Southeast Asia.

Findings

The author’s findings demonstrate that in the case of Islamic banking, an increase in loan growth stimulates economic growth, while an increasing capital ratio positively influences economic growth but is accompanied by a reduction in loan growth. This result corroborates the findings of Stewart et al. (2021), which indicate that regulatory capital reduces unstable credit while improving gross domestic product growth. However, in the case of conventional banks, the response to an increase in loan growth on Gross Domestic Product Per Capita Growth (GDPCG) is ambiguous, while the capital ratio improves GDPCG and promotes LOANG, which, in turn, increases risk.

Practical implications

The Islamic banks can continue to significantly contribute to economic growth by effectively directing their available capital toward viable investment opportunities and supporting sustainable financial practices, even in the presence of potential constraints on loan growth. As for conventional banks, they are invited to increase their capital levels to ensure a strong and resilient financial system that can support lending and facilitate economic growth.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first to explore the triple relationship between capital requirements, Islamic bank lending and economic growth.
How does economic policy uncertainty shift the firm’s future profitability enhancement through intangible capital?
Authors: Arianpoor Arash , Eslami Khargh Fatemeh
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the effect of intangible capital (e.g. intangible investments and research and development (R&D) expenditures) on future profitability in an emerging economy and the moderating role of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) for companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

To this aim, information about 210 companies during 2014–2021 was collected. This study calculated EPU based on the inflation rate, interest rate, exchange rate and economic growth.

Findings

The results showed that both R&D expenditures and other intangible investments positively affect future profitability. Moreover, EPU decreases the positive effect of R&D expenditures and other intangible investments on future profitability. Hypothesis testing based on ordinary least squares and generalized method of moments regressions confirmed these results. This study emphasizes the urgent need to adjust how they operate the business during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

The nature and degree of intangible assets and R&D expenditures in firms in emerging markets is an interesting area of research. However, empirical studies in this area have not led to any unanimous conclusion in emerging markets. Moreover, intangible assets and R&D expenditures become very important in the economy affected by the financial crisis and conditions of uncertainties. In light of the COVID-19 crisis, significant changes occurred at all levels and affected accounting-related issues, and the present study highlighted COVID-19. The findings of this research will not only help the managers of companies in developing countries but also, because of the dearth of similar research, they can help managers in developed countries and the global community.
Stock liquidity, future investment and future investment efficiency in an emerging economy: investigating the moderator role of financial constraints
Authors: Arianpoor Arash , Mohammadbeikzade Nahid
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between stock liquidity, future investment, future investment efficiency and the moderating effect of financial constraints.

Design/methodology/approach

To serve the purpose of the study, the data of 178 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange in 2012–2017 were examined. In this research, two Amihud liquidity and stock trading turnover measures were taken for the liquidity. Due to variance heterogeneity, the FGLS test was used. Moreover, a modified multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the moderating role of financial constraints.

Findings

The results showed a significant positive relationship between the firm stock liquidity in the current year and the next year investment; the firm stock liquidity (based on the stock trading turnover) in the current year and the next two years’ investment; the firm stock liquidity (based on the trading turnover index) in the current year and the next year investment efficiency; and the firm stock liquidity (based on the stock trading turnover) in the current year and the next two years’ investment efficiency. Moreover, financial constraints negatively moderated the relationship of firm stock liquidity (based on trading turnover index) in the current year and investment in the next year; investment in the next two years; investment efficiency in the next year; and investment efficiency in the next two years.

Originality/value

Given the importance of investment and investment efficiency in emerging markets especially in Asian emerging markets, and because the predicted impacts through financing constraints are usually unclear, this paper attempted to fill the existing gap and be innovative in this regard.
Using facial enhancement technology (FET) in online sales of branded color cosmetics
Authors: Wei Yuling , Syahrivar Jhanghiz , Widyanto Hanif Adinugroho
Published: October 2023

Purpose

As one of the most cutting-edge technologies in the digital age, facial enhancement technology (FET) has greatly enhanced consumer online shopping experience and brought new e-commerce opportunities for cosmetics retailers. The purpose of this paper is to extend the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model in the context of FET. In addition to the concepts from the original model, the new FET-UTAUT model features (low) body esteem, social media addiction and FET adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

A purposive sampling of FET users in China via an online questionnaire yields 473 respondents. To analyze the data, this research uses the structural equation modeling method via statistical package for the social sciences and analysis of a moment structures software. A two-step approach, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, was used to test the hypotheses and generate the findings.

Findings

Performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and (low) body esteem have positive relationships with FET adoption. FET adoption has a positive relationship with online purchase intention of branded color cosmetics, and the empirical evidence for the moderating role of social media addiction in the relationship between FET adoption and online purchase intention is inconclusive.

Originality/value

This research extends the traditional UTAUT model by proposing a novel FET-UTAUT model that incorporates additional key concepts such as body esteem, FET adoption and social media addiction. Managerial implications of this research are provided for FET designers and branded color cosmetic retailers.
Participatory action research and intersectionality: a critical dialogical reflection of a study with older adults
Authors: Muntinga Maaike , Bendien Elena , Abma Tineke , Groot Barbara
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Researchers who work in partnership with older adults in participatory studies often experience various advantages, but also complex ethical questions or even encounter obstacles during the research process. This paper aims to provide insights into the value of an intersectional lens in participatory research to understand how power plays out within a mixed research team of academic and community co-researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

Four academic researchers reflected in a case-study approach in a dialogical way on two critical case examples with the most learning potential by written dialogical and via face-to-face meetings in duos or trios. This study used an intersectionality-informed analysis.

Findings

This study shows that the intersectional lens helped the authors to understand the interactions of key players in the study and their different social locations. Intersections of age, gender, ethnicity/class and professional status stood out as categories in conflict. In hindsight, forms of privilege and oppression became more apparent. The authors also understood that they reproduced traditional power dynamics within the group of co-researchers and between academic and community co-researchers that did not match their mission for horizontal relations. This study showed that academics, although they wanted to work toward social inclusion and equality, were bystanders and people who reproduced power relations at several crucial moments. This was disempowering for certain older individuals and social groups and marginalized their voices and interests.

Originality/value

Till now, not many scholars wrote in-depth about race- and age-related tensions in partnerships in participatory action research or related approaches, especially not about tensions in research with older people.
University students' perceptions of tourism impacts: a study in Vietnam
Authors: Nghiêm-Phú Bình , Hoàng Trang Thị-Thu , Kiều Hương Thu , Vũ Hương Lan
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Research about tourism impacts is abundant. However, existing studies often investigate tourism impacts from residents’ and tourists’ perspectives. The study targeting students is absent. The students’ perception and evaluation of tourism impact must be investigated independently to have more insights into improving the current education curriculum, which covertly addresses the impacts. Therefore, this study aims to examine university students’ perception of tourism impacts as young tourists to provide implications for better teaching of such content in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

Vietnam was chosen as the context, and a mixed method was employed. First, free elicitation with 118 university students was carried out to identify the students’ perceived impacts (109 items, four categories). Second, structured surveys using the previously generated content with 243 and 224 university students were implemented to identify the latent structures of the impacts (3-4 factors per impact category).

Findings

Tourism impacts can be dually perceived. In other words, they can come in positive or negative forms or are directed toward the destinations or the residents. However, being positive or negative, or affecting the place or the people, tourism impacts have some general and universal elements concerning the economic, sociocultural and environmental ones. In addition, they have some specific and contextual aspects, such as cross-border marriages, child labor and economic autonomy loss.

Originality/value

Tourism impacts seen from the perspective of university students are relatable and valuable for tourism education. Educators in Vietnam should consider revising the current curriculum to address all the tourism impacts overtly.
Stress alters the role of silicon in controlling plant water movement
Authors: Cooke Julia , Carey Joanna C.
Published: October 2023

One function of plant Si is ameliorating stress, including drought and salinity stress, which can induce active Si uptake in addition to passive uptake via transpiration. However, the interactions and feedbacks between stress, water movement and Si uptake remain unknown.

To examine this gap, we compiled papers reporting transpiration and/or stomatal conductance of plants exposed to stresses while varying Si availability.

Our meta‐analysis (34 studies, excluding rice) showed that stress alters the role of Si in controlling water movement across diverse plant groups. Increased Si availability significantly increased water movement in stressed plants, particularly stomatal conductance (p < 0.001, k = 84) in plants exposed to salinity (p < 0.05, k = 20) and drought (p < 0.05, k = 45) stress.

This signal of increased conductance was most apparent in C4 plants (p < 0.001, k = 41) and Poales (p < 0.001, k = 47). These findings have implications for plants under increasing water and salinity stress, particularly for Poales, where survival in affected ecosystems could be mediated by soil Si availability, and in agricultural systems, supplying Si to water‐stressed plants could increase productivity.

Intriguingly, Si addition to unstressed plants had no consistent impact on water movement, with reduction of water movement with Si addition to unstressed plants in 50% of studies, mostly those involving non‐Poales species. This is an important first broad‐scale Si cost quantification, as the costs of Si for plants have remained stubbornly mysterious, hampering evolutionary and functional understanding of plant Si use.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Global terrestrial nitrogen uptake and nitrogen use efficiency
Authors: Peng Yunke , Prentice Iain Colin , Bloomfield Keith J. , Campioli Matteo , Guo Zhiwen , Sun Yuanfeng , Tian Di , Wang Xiangping , Vicca Sara , Stocker Benjamin D.
Published: October 2023

Plant biomass production (BP), nitrogen uptake (Nup) and their ratio, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) must be quantified to understand how nitrogen (N) cycling constrains terrestrial carbon (C) uptake. But the controls of key plant processes determining Nup and NUE, including BP, C and N allocation, tissue C:N ratios and N resorption efficiency (NRE), remain poorly known.

We compiled measurements from 804 forest and grassland sites and derived regression models for each of these processes with growth temperature, vapour pressure deficit, stand age, soil C:N ratio, fAPAR (remotely sensed fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by green vegetation) and growing‐season average daily incident photosynthetic photon flux density (gPPFD; effectively the seasonal concentration of light availability, which increases polewards) as predictors. An empirical model for leaf N was based on optimal photosynthetic capacity (a function of gPPFD and climate) and observed leaf mass per area. The models were used to produce global maps of Nup and NUE.

Global BP was estimated as 72 Pg C/year; Nup as 950 Tg N/year; and NUE as 76 g C/g N. Forest BP was found to increase with growth temperature and fAPAR and to decrease with stand age, soil C:N ratio and gPPFD. Forest NUE is controlled primarily by climate through its effect on C allocation—especially to leaves, being richer in N than other tissues. NUE is greater in colder climates, where N is less readily available, because below‐ground allocation is increased. NUE is also greater in drier climates because leaf allocation is reduced. NRE is enhanced (further promoting NUE) in both cold and dry climates.

Synthesis. These findings can provide observationally based benchmarks for model representations of C–N cycle coupling. State‐of‐the‐art vegetation models in the TRENDY ensemble showed variable performance against these benchmarks, and models including coupled C–N cycling produced relatively poor simulations of Nup and NUE.
Rhizosphere shapes the associations between protistan predators and bacteria within microbiomes through the deterministic selection on bacterial communities
Authors: Yue Yang , Liu Chen , Xu Boting , Wang Yijin , Lv Qihui , Zhou Zeyuan , Li Rong , Kowalchuk George A. , Jousset Alexandre , Shen Qirong , Xiong Wu
Published: October 2023

The assembly of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere is well‐documented and plays a crucial role in supporting plant performance. However, we have limited knowledge of how plant rhizosphere determines the assembly of protistan predators and whether the potential associations between protistan predators and bacterial communities shift due to rhizosphere selection. To address this, we examined bacterial and protistan taxa from 443 agricultural soil samples including bulk and rhizosphere soils. Our results presented distinct patterns of bacteria and protistan predators in rhizosphere microbiome assembly. Community assembly of protistan predators was determined by a stochastic process in the rhizosphere and the diversity of protistan predators was reduced in the rhizosphere compared to bulk soils, these may be attributed to the indirect impacts from the altered bacterial communities that showed deterministic process assembly in the rhizosphere. Interestingly, we observed that the plant rhizosphere facilitates more close interrelationships between protistan predators and bacterial communities, which might promote a healthy rhizosphere microbial community for plant growth. Overall, our findings indicate that the potential predator–prey relationships within the microbiome, mediated by plant rhizosphere, might contribute to plant performance in agricultural ecosystems.
Cumulus expansion is impaired with advanced reproductive age due to loss of matrix integrity and reduced hyaluronan
Authors: Babayev Elnur , Suebthawinkul Chanakarn , Gokyer Dilan , Parkes Wendena S. , Rivas Felipe , Pavone Mary Ellen , Hall Adam R. , Pritchard Michele T. , Duncan Francesca E.
Published: October 2023

Reproductive aging is associated with ovulatory defects. Age‐related ovarian fibrosis partially contributes to this phenotype as short‐term treatment with anti‐fibrotic compounds improves ovulation in reproductively old mice. However, age‐dependent changes that are intrinsic to the follicle may also be relevant. In this study, we used a mouse model to demonstrate that reproductive aging is associated with impaired cumulus expansion which is accompanied by altered morphokinetic behavior of cumulus cells as assessed by time‐lapse microscopy. The extracellular matrix integrity of expanded cumulus–oocyte complexes is compromised with advanced age as evidenced by increased penetration of fluorescent nanoparticles in a particle exclusion assay and larger open spaces on scanning electron microscopy. Reduced hyaluronan (HA) levels, decreased expression of genes encoding HA‐associated proteins (e.g., Ptx3 and Tnfaip6), and increased expression of inflammatory genes and matrix metalloproteinases underlie this loss of matrix integrity. Importantly, HA levels are decreased with age in follicular fluid of women, indicative of conserved reproductive aging mechanisms. These findings provide novel mechanistic insights into how defects in cumulus expansion contribute to age‐related infertility and may serve as a target to extend reproductive longevity.
Syringe irrigation in confluent canals: A sequential computational fluid dynamics assessment
Authors: Rito Pereira Mário , Silva Goncalo , Semiao Viriato , Martins Jorge N. R. , Silverio Vania , Pascoal‐Faria Paula , Duarte Isabel , Alves Nuno , Ginjeira António
Published: October 2023

This study aims to assess the influence of root canal preparation, irrigation needle design and its placement depth in the irrigation flow of confluent canals during syringe irrigation. A mandibular molar presenting two confluent canals in its mesial root was sequentially prepared and scanned by micro‐computed tomography after mechanical preparation up to ProTaper Next system sizes X2 (25/.06v), X3 (30/.07v) and X4 (40/.06v). In each of the root canal preparation models, a side‐vented and an open‐ended needle at 5, 3 and 2 mm from the working length were included, and irrigation flow was assessed by a validated computational fluid dynamics model. The results revealed that the irrigant flowed out of the confluent canals mainly through the canal that did not have the needle. Apical penetration and renewal of the irrigant were most efficiently achieved with the use of a 30G open‐ended needle and a 30/.07v preparation.
Optimal grid size for site‐specific nutrient application
Authors: Mills Brian E. , Brorsen B. Wade , Poursina Davood , Arnall D. Brian
Published: October 2023

This article develops a theoretical framework to determine the economically optimal grid size when sampling to guide precision application of inputs. Our theoretical model shows that a finer grid is optimal with increases in output price. A coarser grid is optimal with increased sampling costs and increased spatial correlation. With an exponential variogram, for example, the optimal grid size increases as the range increases. An applied example of lime application for winter wheat is used to demonstrate the framework. Spatial variograms for pH and Buffer pH were estimated using data from nine farmer fields. At the average spatial variability from these fields and using typical Oklahoma wheat yields of 40 bu/ac, grid sampling was economical when prices were above $5.43/bu. The optimal grid sizes were slightly larger than the 2.5‐acre sizes that are typically used by producers. The empirical example verified the theory in that it found that optimal grid size decreased with higher output prices and crop yields and increased with greater spatial correlation. For example, optimal grid size approximately doubled as the range of the exponential correlation function doubled.
Does Geographical Proximity Matter in Small Business Lending? Evidence from Changes in Main Bank Relationships*
Authors: Ono Arito , Saito Yukiko U. , Sakai Koji , Uesugi Iichiro
Published: October 2023

We examine the causal link between the geographical distance between firms and their main bank and the termination of main bank relationships, using the exogenous change in firm–main bank distances brought about by bank branch consolidations in Japan. Our findings are threefold. First, an increase in lending distance increases the likelihood that firms switch their main bank. Second, the average lending distance for firms that switched to a new main bank decreased after the switch. Third, the lending distance of new firm–main bank relationships after the switch had a positive impact on the probability of default of small firms.
The value of believing in free will: A prediction on seeking and experiencing meaning in life
Authors: Zhao Meng , Liu Jia , Huo Yongquan
Published: October 2023

Despite abundant philosophical pondering and experiential evidence demonstrating the need for freedom in leading a meaningful life, the literature lacks an investigation of whether and how free will beliefs contribute to one's meaningful life as an antecedent variable. Based on the coupling of the life‐affirming hypothesis and Chinese culture, we used a manipulation experiment (Study 1, n = 242) and a two‐wave longitudinal study (Study 2, n = 378) to test the potential causality between laypeople's daily beliefs in free will and meaning in life (presence of and search for meaning) with two samples of Chinese undergraduates. The results show that belief in free will positively predicts the presence of meaning and search for meaning, immediately (Study 1) and 2 months later (Study 2). The present work corroborated that the belief in free will is an antecedent variable that imbues life with meaning and sparks actions seeking meaning, supporting the life‐affirming hypothesis instead of the deficit‐correcting hypothesis.
Comparing maternal factors associated with postpartum depression between primiparous adolescents and adults: A large retrospective cohort study
Authors: Jeon Nakyung , Kent‐Marvick Jacqueline , Sanders Jessica N. , Hanson Heidi , Simonsen Sara E.
Published: October 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of diagnosed postpartum depression (PPD) and the likelihood of PPD among primiparous women. We also evaluated differences in the influence of various maternal factors associated with PPD in adolescent versus adult mothers.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records linked to birth certificates to evaluate the associations between maternal factors and PPD diagnosis. The study population was stratified into adults and adolescents based on age at delivery. We evaluated socioeconomic, demographic, psychological, and clinical factors associated with PPD in each of the age‐defined maternal cohorts using multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

A total of 61,226 primiparous women, including 6435 (11%) mothers younger than 20 years old, were included in the study. The overall PPD rate was 4.0%, with the age‐specific PPD rate measuring 1.6 times higher in adolescents than in adult women (6.1% vs. 3.8%). Compared with adults, adolescents were less likely to obtain firsttrimester prenatal care (33% vs. 16%), more likely to have recent tobacco use (11% vs. 6%), and more likely to have had an infection during pregnancy (5% vs. 1%). In adjusted models, significant factors for PPD in both groups included a history of depression or anxiety, tobacco use, and long‐acting reversible contraception use.

Conclusions

In this cohort of first‐time mothers, adolescents had higher rates of PPD diagnosis as well as PPD‐associated maternal factors than adults. Increased awareness of PPD risk in adolescents and early intervention, including integrating mental healthcare into prenatal care, may help benefit adolescents and reduce the risk and severity of PPD.
The experiences of parents of children diagnosed with cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy
Authors: Piercy Hilary , Nutting Charlotte
Published: October 2023

Background

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare X‐linked neurodegenerative disease, affecting the brain, spinal cord and adrenal cortex. Childhood cerebral ALD (CCALD) is the most severe form of disease, involving rapidly progressive neurological deterioration. The treatment option for CCALD is allogenic haemopoietic stem cell transplant, which is only successful for early‐stage disease. Parents' experiences of CCALD can inform healthcare delivery.

Study aim

To detail the experiences of parents of children diagnosed with cerebral ALD.

Methods

A descriptive qualitative study. Parents were recruited via a UK‐based community support organisation. Data collection involved single semi‐structured interviews structured around a topic guide and conducted remotely. Data were analysed using the thematic analysis approach.

Findings

Twelve parents from 11 families with a total of 16 children with ALD contributed to the study. Their 16 children with ALD followed one of three disease pathways, determined by the extent of neurological damage at diagnosis. Three themes, and their respective sub themes, describe the pathways and what they meant for parents. ‘No possibility of treatment’ concerns situations when CCALD was diagnosed at an advanced stage, the landslide of deterioration parents witnessed and their efforts to maintain normality. ‘Close to the treatment threshold’ describes situations where a small treatment window required parents to make agonising treatment decisions. ‘Watching and waiting’ explains the challenges for parents when disease was detected early enabling children to benefit from timely treatment.

Discussion

Parents' experiences were largely defined by the extent of cerebral damage at diagnosis, which determined the availability and success of treatment. There were specific challenges related to the three situations, indicating areas where support from health and care services may help parents deal with this devastating diagnosis.

Conclusion

This study indicates support needs of parents across the spectrum of CCALD diagnoses and highlights the critical importance of early diagnosis.
Variants in DOK7 results in fetal akinesia deformation sequence: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Tiwari Amit K. , Srinivasan Varunvenkat M. , Phadke Shubha R. , Saxena Deepti
Published: October 2023

We report the third case of FADS due to biallelic DOK7 variants, which further strengthens the association of DOK7 with this lethal phenotype and lack of genotype phenotype correlation.
Interactive Locomotion Style Control for a Human Character based on Gait Cycle Features
Authors: Kim Chaelin , Eom Haekwang , Yoo Jung Eun , Choi Soojin , Noh Junyong
Published: October 2023

This article introduces a data‐driven locomotion style controller for full‐body human characters using gait cycle features. Based on gait analysis, we define a set of gait features that can represent various locomotion styles as spatio‐temporal patterns within a single gait cycle. We compute the gait features for every single gait cycle in motion capture data and use them to search for the desired motion. Our real‐time style controller provides users with visual feedback for the changing inputs, exploiting the Motion Matching algorithm. We also provide a graphical controller interface that visualizes our style representation to enable intuitive control for users. We show that the proposed method is capable of retrieving appropriate locomotions for various gait cycle features, from simple walking motions to single‐foot motions such as hopping and dragging. To validate the effectiveness of our method, we conducted a user study that compares the usability and performance of our system with those of an existing footstep animation tool. The results show that our method is preferred over the baseline method for intuitive control and fast visual feedback.
The association between hemoglobin concentration and clinical outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: Insights from the LongTEAM registry
Authors: Lin Fa , Lu Changyu , Li Runting , Chen Yu , Han Heze , Zhao Yuanli , Chen Xiaolin , Zhao Jizong
Published: October 2023

Objective

The aim of this study is to explore whether preoperative hemoglobin levels could serve as a prospective biomarker for early brain injury in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). This investigation seeks to discern its association with postoperative complications and unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of data derived from the LongTeam registry, including patients with aSAH diagnosed between January 2015 and September 2021. These patients were stratified into three distinct groups based on their hemoglobin levels: anemic, standard, and elevated HGB. We employed logistic models featuring spline transformations to assess the relationship between HGB levels and in‐hospital complications. Furthermore, a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was employed to estimate the impact of elevated hemoglobin levels on the hazard function, which was elucidated through Kaplan–Meier curves.

Results

Our study comprised a total of 988 patients, among whom 115 (11.6%) presented preoperative anemia, and 63 (6.4%) exhibited elevated preoperative HGB levels. Following adjustments for potential confounding factors, no significant disparity in risk was evident between anemic patients and those with standard HGB levels. However, individuals with elevated HGB levels displayed a heightened incidence and an increased risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT, odds ratio [OR] = 2.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16–4.91, p = 0.018; hazard ratio [HR] = 2.05, 95% CI 1.08–3.92, p = 0.015). Aberrant HGB concentrations did not demonstrate an association with other clinical outcomes.

Conclusion

Our findings emphasize that abnormal HGB levels show no association with adverse outcomes at the 90 days mark after accounting for clinical confounding factors in patients with aSAH. Simultaneously, the study illuminates the potential of HGB as an early indicator for identifying patients at a heightened risk of developing DVT.
Cognitive‐perceptual traits associated with autism and schizotypy influence use of physics during predictive visual tracking
Authors: Cooper Chloe , Meso Andrew Isaac
Published: October 2023

Schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can disrupt cognition and consequently behaviour. Traits of ASD and the subclinical manifestation of schizophrenia called schizotypy have been studied in healthy populations with overlap found in trait profiles linking ASD social deficits to negative schizotypy and ASD attention to detail to positive schizotypy. Here, we probed the relationship between subtrait profiles, cognition and behaviour, using a predictive tracking task to measure individuals' eye movements under three gravity conditions. A total of 48 healthy participants tracked an on‐screen projected ball under familiar gravity, inverted upward acceleration (against gravity) and horizontal gravity control conditions while eye movements were recorded and dynamic performance quantified. Participants completed ASD and schizotypy inventories generating highly correlated scores, r = 0.73. All tracked best under the gravity condition, producing anticipatory downward responses from stimulus onset which were delayed under upward inverted gravity. Tracking performance was not associated with overall ASD or schizotypy trait levels. Combining measures using principal components analysis (PCA), we decomposed the inventories into subtraits unveiling interesting patterns. Positive schizotypy was associated with ASD dimensions of rigidity, odd behaviour and face processing, which all linked to anticipatory tracking responses under inverted gravity. In contrast, negative schizotypy was associated with ASD dimensions of social interactions and rigidity and to early stimulus‐driven tracking under gravity. There was also substantial nonspecific overlap between ASD and schizotypy dissociated from tracking. Our work links positive‐odd traits with anticipatory tracking when physics rules are violated and negative‐social traits with exploitation of physics laws of motion.
Major revision version 12.0 of the European AIDS Clinical Society guidelines 2023
Authors: Ambrosioni Juan , Levi Laura , Alagaratnam Jasmini , Van Bremen Kathrin , Mastrangelo Andrea , Waalewijn Hylke , Molina Jean‐Michel , Guaraldi Giovanni , Winston Alan , Boesecke Christoph , Cinque Paola , Bamford Alasdair , Calmy Alexandra , Marzolini Catia , Martínez Esteban , Oprea Cristiana , Welch Steven , Koval Anna , Mendao Luis , Rockstroh Jürgen K. ,   The EACS Governing Board
Published: October 2023

Background

The European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) guidelines were revised in 2023 for the 19th time, and all aspects of HIV care were updated.

Key Points of the Guidelines Update

Version 12.0 of the guidelines recommend the same six first‐line treatment options for antiretroviral treatment (ART)‐naïve adults as versions 11.0 and 11.1: tenofovir‐based backbone plus an unboosted integrase inhibitor or doravirine; abacavir/lamivudine plus dolutegravir; or dual therapy with lamivudine or emtricitabine plus dolutegravir. The long‐acting section has been expanded in the ART and drug–drug interaction (DDI) panels. Tables for preferred and alternative ART in children and adolescents have been updated, as has the section on prevention of vertical transmission, particularly with new guidance for breastfeeding. A new DDI table has been included for the ART and anti‐infective drugs used for opportunistic infections, sexually transmitted infections, and other infectious conditions; lenacapavir has been included in all DDI tables. New sections on alcohol use and patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) have been included in the comorbidity panel, in addition to updates on many relevant topics, such as new resource guidance for deprescribing in people with HIV. Other sections, including travel, cognitive impairment, cancer screening, sexual health, and diabetes have also been revised extensively. The algorithm for the management of acute hepatitis C virus infection has been removed, as current guidelines recommend immediate treatment of all people with recently acquired hepatitis C virus. Updates on vaccination for hepatitis B virus and recommendations for simplification to tenofovir‐free two‐drug regimens in people with isolated anti‐hepatitis B core antibodies are provided. In the opportunistic infections and COVID‐19 panel, guidance on the management of COVID‐19 in people with HIV has been updated according to the most up‐to‐date evidence, and a new section on monkeypox has been added.

Conclusions

In 2023, the EACS guidelines were updated extensively and now include several new sections. The recommendations are available as a free app, in interactive web format, and as a pdf online.
Leishmania surface molecule lipophosphoglycan‐TLR2 interaction moderates TPL2‐mediated TLR2 signalling for parasite survival
Authors: Ghosh Soumya Kanti , Shukla Divanshu , Mahor Hima , Srivastava Sunit Kumar , Bodhale Neelam , Banerjee Raja , Saha Bhaskar
Published: October 2023

Leishmania donovani, a protozoan parasite, resides and replicates in macrophages and inflicts the potentially fatal disease visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The parasite‐expressed surface lipophosphoglycan (LPG) was implicated in binding TLR2 on NK cells, but the modus operandi of its disease‐promoting influence remained unknown. As TPL2, a member of the MAPK module in mammalian macrophages, was implicated in the anti‐inflammatory immune response and promoting pathogen survival, we investigated the possibility of TPL2‐directed LPG‐TLR2 signalling in Leishmania infection. We observed that TLR2 or TPL2 blockade differentially influenced the TLR2 ligand proteoglycan (PGN)‐induced p38MAPK and ERK‐1/2 activation. TLR2 blockade abrogated the PGN‐induced TPL2 activation. L. donovani infection impaired the Akt activation whereas, upon TPL2 inhibition, the infection fails to control Akt phosphorylation. In L. donovani‐infected macrophages, TLR2 blocking negatively affected p38, Akt and TPL2 phosphorylation while ERK1/2 phosphorylation increased relative to the infection alone. TPL2 blockade reduced TGF‐β, but increased TNF‐α expression and diminished amastigote count in macrophages. While exploring stimulation patterns of TLR2 ligands, LPG, unlike PGN, selectively increased TLR2 expression in macrophages. LPG blockade increased p38MAPK and AKT, but slightly affected ERK‐1/2 and significantly reduced TPL2 phosphorylation from L. donovani‐infected macrophages. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics analysis drew a parallel between LPG's glycan chain lengths with the frequency of interaction with TLR2 which might impact TLR2 signalling. Therefore, the parasite regulates the TLR2 signalling via TPL2 when elicited by LPG‐TLR2 interaction for pathogenesis.
Evaluating topsoil salinity via geophysical methods in rice production systems in the Vietnam Mekong Delta
Authors: Nguyen Van Hong , Germer Jörn , Asch Folkard
Published: October 2023

The Vietnam Mekong Delta (VMD) is threatened by increasing saltwater intrusion due to diminishing freshwater availability, land subsidence, and climate change induced sea level rise. Through irrigation, saltwater can accumulate in the rice fields and decrease rice production. The study aims at evaluating topsoil salinity and examining a potential link between topsoil salinity and rice production systems in a case study in the Tra Vinh province of the VMD. For this, we applied two geophysical methods, namely, 3D electrical resistivity tomography (ARES II) and electromagnetic induction (EM38‐MK2). 3D ARES II measurements with different electrode spacings were compared with EM38‐MK2 topsoil measurements to evaluate their respective potential for monitoring topsoil salinity on an agricultural scale and the relationship between land‐use types and topsoil salinity. Results show that EM38‐MK2 is a rapid and powerful tool for obtaining high‐resolution topsoil salinity maps for rice fields. With ARES II data, 3D maps up to 40 m depth can be created, but compared with EM38‐MK2 topsoil maps, topsoil salinity was underestimated due to limitations in resolution. Salt contamination of above 300 mS m−1 was found in some double‐cropped rice fields, whereas in triple‐cropped rice fields salinity was below 200 mS m−1. Results clearly show a relation between topsoil salinity and proximity to the saline water sources; however, a clear link between rice production and topsoil salinity could not be established. The study proved that geophysical methods are useful tools for assessing and monitoring topsoil salinity at agricultural fields scale in the VMD.