bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of co-infection with parasites on severity of COVID-19
Authors: Gebrecherkos Teklay , Gessesse Zekarias , Kebede Yazezew , Gebreegzabher Atsbeha , Tasew Geremew , Abdulkader Mahmud , Ebuy Hiluf , Desta Abraham , Hailu Atakilti , Harris Vanessa , de Wit Tobias Rinke , Wolday Dawit
Published: February 2021

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection results in a spectrum of clinical presentations. The effect of co-infection with parasites on the clinical features of COVID-19 is unknown.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled consecutive COVID-19 patients and screened them for intestinal parasitic infections. Patients were followed during hospitalization for clinical outcomes. Patients with parasitic co-infection were compared to those without parasitic co-infection. The primary outcome was the proportion of COVID-19 patients who developed severe disease. Factors associated with the development of severe disease were determined by logistic regression.

Results

A total of 515 patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were screened for intestinal parasites, of whom 267 (51.8%) were co-infected with one or more parasites. Parasitic co-infection correlated inversely with COVID-19 severity. Severe COVID-19 was significantly higher in patients without parasites [47/248 (19.0%, CI: 14.52-24.35)] than in those with parasites [21/267 (7.9%, CI: 5.17-11.79)]; p<0.0001. There was a significantly higher proportion of patients who developed severe COVID-19 in the non-protozoa group [56/369 (15.2%, CI: 11.85-19.23)] as compared to the protozoa group [12/146 (8.2%, CI: 4.70-14.00)]; p=0.036. Significant higher proportion of the patients presented at baseline with severe COVID-19 in the helminth negative group [57/341 (16.7%, CI: 13.10 – 21.08)] than in the group with pre-existing helminth infection [11/174 (6.3%, CI: 3.51 – 11.11)]; p=0.001. In addition, after adjustment for age and presence of comorbidities, COVID-19 patients with any parasite co-infection [aOR 0.41 (95% CI: 0.22–0.77); p=0.006], or with protozoa co-infection [aOR 0.45 (95% CI: 0.21–0.98); p=0.044] as well as those with helminth co-infection [aOR 0.37 (95% CI: 0.17–0.80); p=0.011] had lower probability of developing severe COVID-19 compared with those without parasite, protozoa or helminth co-infection.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that co-infection with parasitic co-infection appears to be associated with reduced COVID-19 severity. The results suggest that parasite-driven immunomodulatory responses may mute hyperinflammation associated with severe COVID-19.
Periodontal inflammation mediates the link between homocysteine and high blood pressure
Authors: Botelho João , Machado Vanessa , Leira Yago , Proença Luís , Mendes José João
Published: February 2021

Background

Here, we assess the association between Hcy serum levels and periodontal status in a large representative sample of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods

We included 4,021 participants with a periodontal examination, medical self-reported data, BP and blood samples to determine complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and Hcy levels. We then calculated the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) and the periodontal epithelial surface area (PESA). Multivariable regression analysis explored the association between Hcy, periodontal measures and blood pressure. Mediation analysis was performed to understand the effect of age on the association of periodontitis with BP. Mediation analysis assessed the effect of PISA and PESA in the link between Hcy and BP.

Results

4,021 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Hcy levels showed significant correlations with systolic BP, diastolic BP, PISA, PESA and age. PESA showed to be significantly associated with Hcy both for the crude and adjusted models (p<0.01), but not PISA (p>0.05). In the association of Hcy with systolic BP, PISA significantly mediated 17.4% and PESA 0.9%. In the association of Hcy with diastolic BP, PISA significantly mediated 16.3% and PESA 47.2%.

Conclusions

This report shows that Hcy and periodontitis are associated. Also, both PISA and PESA significantly mediated the association of Hcy with systolic BP and diastolic BP. Future studies shall deepen the mechanisms by which homocysteine levels increase in a clinical situation of periodontitis.

One-sentence summary describing the key finding(s) from the study

Homocysteine and periodontitis are associated. The periodontal inflamed and epithelial surface areas significantly mediate the association of homocysteine with systolic and diastolic blood pressures.
Home Food Procurement Impacts Food Security and Diet Quality during COVID-19
Authors: Niles Meredith T. , Wirkkala Kristen Brassard , Belarmino Emily H. , Bertmann Farryl
Published: February 2021

Background

Home food procurement (HFP) (i.e. gardening, fishing, foraging, hunting, backyard livestock and canning) have historically been important ways that people obtain food. Recently, some HFP activities have grown (e.g. gardening), while other activities (e.g. hunting) have become less common in the United States. Anecdotally, COVID-19 has sparked an increase in HFP evidenced by increased hunting licenses and shortages in seeds and canning supplies. HFP may have positive benefits for food security and diet quality, though research beyond gardening is especially limited in high-income countries.

Methods

We examine HFP activities before and since the COVID-19 pandemic, and their relationship to food security and dietary quality using multivariable logit models and matching analysis with a statewide representative survey (n=600) of residents of Vermont, United States.

Results

We find 29% of respondent households classified as food insecure since COVID-19, and more prevalence among those experiencing a negative job change since COVID-19, households earning less than $50,000 annually, Hispanic and multi-race respondents. Forty-two percent of respondents engaged in HFP activities; the majority of those gardened, and more than half pursued HFP activities more intensely than before the pandemic. HFP was more common among food insecure households, who were more likely to fish, forage, hunt and have backyard livestock. Respondents who were food insecure, Black, Indigenous, People of Color and/or Hispanic, those with a negative job disruption, and larger households all had greater odds of increased intensity of HFP since COVID-19. HFP were significantly associated with eating greater amounts of fruits and vegetables, especially if gardening and canning, while respondents hunting or having backyard livestock were significantly more likely to have higher red meat intake.

Conclusion

Overall, these results suggest that HFP activities have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and may be an important safety net for food insecure households, and provide diet quality impacts. Long-term, HFP activities may have important food security and diet quality impacts, as well as conservation implications, which should be more thoroughly explored. Regardless, the increased interest and intensity of HFP demonstrates multiple opportunities for educational and outreach efforts.
The basis of a more contagious 501Y.V1 variant of SARS-COV-2
Authors: Liu Haolin , Zhang Qianqian , Wei Pengcheng , Chen Zhongzhou , Aviszus Katja , Yang John , Downing Walter , Peterson Shelley , Jiang Chengyu , Liang Bo , Reynoso Lyndon , Downey Gregory P. , Frankel Stephen K. , Kappler John , Marrack Philippa , Zhang Gongyi
Published: February 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is causing a world-wide pandemic. A variant of SARS-COV-2 (20I/501Y.V1) recently discovered in the United Kingdom has a single mutation from N501 to Y501 within the receptor binding domain (Y501-RBD), of the Spike protein of the virus. This variant is much more contagious than the original version (N501-RBD). We found that this mutated version of RBD binds to human Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) a ~10 times more tightly than the native version (N501-RBD). Modeling analysis showed that the N501Y mutation would allow a potential aromatic ring-ring interaction and an additional hydrogen bond between the RBD and ACE2. However, sera from individuals immunized with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine still efficiently block the binding of Y501-RBD to ACE2 though with a slight compromised manner by comparison with their ability to inhibit binding to ACE2 of N501-RBD. This may raise the concern whether therapeutic anti-RBD antibodies used to treat COVID-19 patients are still efficacious. Nevertheless, a therapeutic antibody, Bamlanivimab, still binds to the Y501-RBD as efficiently as its binds to N501-RBD.
Hoplonemertean larvae are planktonic predators that capture and devour active animal prey
Authors: von Dassow George , Mendes Cecili , Robbins Kara , Andrade Sonia , Maslakova Svetlana
Published: February 2021

The superficially-simple ciliated planktonic larvae of hoplonemerteans have been assumed to be lecithotrophic direct developers, even though many develop from such small eggs that it is hard to imagine how they could give rise to a viable juvenile without some phase of larval feeding. Indeed, attempts to raise such larvae to settlement without food invariably fail. Observations that some hoplonemertean larvae are found in plankton samples at a range of sizes, and much larger than hatchlings, suggests they must indeed feed somehow. Since these “planuliform” larvae lack apparent means to concentrate suspended algae or other unicellular food, one alternative hypothesis is that they are planktonic predators that hunt large prey. Here we provide direct evidence that this is indeed the case for six distinct species of hoplonemerteans. We recorded wild-caught larvae ofParanemertes californica, Paranemertessp.,Gurjanovella littoralis, Emplectonema viride, Carcinonemertes epialti, andOtotyphlonemertes sp.attacking, subduing, and devouring pelagic crustaceans, including barnacle nauplii, cyprids, copepods and their nauplii, and others. While there is no doubt that some hoplonemerteans are genuine lecithotrophs, our evidence suggests that many species in this group both feed and grow during an extended planktonic larval period. This conclusion has important consequences for biogeographic and life-history studies in this group, because it implies enhanced potential for long-distance dispersal. More broadly, the possibility that many animal larvae are actually carnivores invites reconsideration of prevailing stereotypes about metazoan developmental modes and the trade-offs between them.
PDE9 Inhibition Activates PPARα to Stimulate Mitochondrial Fat Metabolism and Reduce Cardiometabolic Syndrome
Authors: Mishra Sumita , Hahn Virginia S. , Sadagopan Nandhini , Dunkerly-Ering Brittany , Rodriguez Susana , Sarver Dylan C. , Ceddia Ryan P. , Murphy Sean , Knutsdottir Hildur , Jani Vivek , Ashoke Deepthi , Oeing Christian U. , O’Rourke Brian , Sharma Kavita , Gangoiti Jon , Sears Dorothy D. , Wong G. William , Collins Sheila , Kass David A.
Published: February 2021

Central obesity with cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) is a major global contributor to human disease, and effective therapies are needed. Here, we show inhibiting cyclic-GMP selective phosphodiesterase-9A (PDE9-I) suppresses established diet-induced obesity and CMS in ovariectomized female and male mice. PDE9-I reduces abdominal, hepatic, and myocardial fat accumulation, stimulates mitochondrial activity in brown and white fat, and improves CMS, without altering activity or food intake. PDE9 localizes to mitochondria, and its inhibition stimulates lipolysis and mitochondrial respiration coupled to PPARα-dependent gene regulation. PPARα upregulation is required for PDE9-I metabolic efficacy and is absent in non-ovariectomized females that also display no metabolic benefits from PDE9-I. The latter is compatible with estrogen receptor-α altering PPARα chromatin binding identified by ChIPSeq. In humans with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction, myocardial expression ofPPARAand its regulated genes is reduced versus control. These findings support testing PDE9-I to treat obesity/CMS in men and postmenopausal women.

Oral inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 9 stimulates mitochondrial fat metabolism and lipolysis, reducing central obesity without changing appetite
What do we know about cryptocurrency? Past, present, future
Authors: Hossain Mohammed Sawkat
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The authors make a fundamental initial effort to conduct a systematic review analysis on “cryptocurrency,” mainly to analyze the way it has been changing the “stereotype” financial transactions, and also identify the probable unexplored research avenues on this innovative investment regime. The study aims to draw the landscape of the current state, prospects, challenges, trends and possible agendas of cryptocurrency in the global market.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a quali-quantitative approach widely known as meta-literature review, the synthesis analysis on “cryptocurrency” is conducted. Methodologically, the authors review and analyze the most recent and relevant papers preferably published between 2016 and 2020 in leading business and finance journals of ISI Web of Science (ISI WOS) through bibliometric analysis particularly coupled with content analysis.

Findings

The findings of the meta-analysis summarize the relevant stylized facts of the cryptocurrency market: distinctive features of blockchain technology, decentralized payment method, low-cost facility, ensuring pseudo-anonymity, independence from central authority, double spending attack protection, organic and instantaneous nature, among others. In addition, the analysis identified several future research regimes: pricing model, prospect of investment regime, hedging properties, volatility dynamics, information asymmetry, underlying risk factors and bubble-like nature in global cryptocurrency market.

Practical implications

This academic novelty significantly contributes to enhance our knowledge on the current state-of-the-art of digital finance, outlines the research agenda and eventually provides important investment implications for financial managers, research analysts, investors, market practitioners, regulatory compliance professionals and policymakers. Therefore, the findings shed the lights on new investment opportunity in the global market.

Originality/value

Cryptocurrency, virtual currency or digital asset having cryptography for idiosyncratic security features, seems to be a persistent paradigm shift in the digitalized financial system. Despite the continuing growth, the academic research on cryptocurrency is still at nascent stage, particularly because researchers did not deeply draw attention at this financial innovation. In addition, the authors argue that none of the earlier studies yet conducted a meta-analysis on this latest investment regime. Therefore, this review study is the initial attempt to fill up the gap in the finance literature.
The integration of sustainability and externalities into the “corporate DNA”: a practice-oriented approach
Authors: Walkiewicz Juliana , Lay-Kumar Jenny , Herzig Christian
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present a methodology to establish and integrate formal sustainability control systems (SCS) into management control systems (MCSs). The innovative approach aims at contributing to the need for SCS integration by permeating and transforming MCSs so that positive and negative externalities can be internalized into the financial performance measurement and reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

In an exploratory process, control systems were closely connected with financial accounting within four interrelated – ecologic, social, financial and knowledge-related – dimensions. Building on the action design research, multicriteria key performance indicators (KPI) for these dimensions were developed. Four value-based small and medium-sized enterprises of the food sector developed KPIs in interactive and participative workshops and interconnected their own business model with their sustainability principles. Constantly revising conformity, specific S.M.A.R.T. goals and related activities were defined, thereafter being used for KPI measures and for input in financial accounting.

Findings

The workshop series reveals the importance of including relevant stakeholders, multiple feedback loops and permanent dialogue to abolish cognitive barriers. The approach enables the development of multicriterial KPIs and identification of costs and benefits for an integrated financial accounting.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to practice and research in the field of SCS by providing insights into the process of an explorative workshop series developing multicriteria KPIs for controlling and financial accounting.
Ensuring better output in library services through work life balance: a study of librarians’ opinion
Authors: Samanta Sasmita Rani , Rautaray Bijayalaxmi , Swain Dillip K.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to attempt to explore and examine work–life balance situation of employees working in reputed academic libraries in Odisha, India and to study how they make a balance of duties and assignments offered to them in their respective organizations with that of their personal lives with possible recommendations basing upon the views of the respondents.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper investigates how working librarians of the surveyed institutions maintain work–life balance. A structured questionnaire was administered among the respondents to elicit their responses. The investigators conducted specific interview sessions among some selected librarians of reputed libraries of Odisha, India to know their pragmatic views relating to the way they balance their official works with that of their personal lives. The gathered data was fed into MS Excel file for analysis and subsequent interpretation. SPSS was used for obtaining chi-square value for knowing the level of significance of result.

Findings

The study finds that majority of respondents express their job satisfaction and happiness with the working environment of their respective institutions, and they are offered annual increments and career promotion, as this has become the key aspect of every organization to retain employees. It further reveals that very few respondents express that they are desired by their respective institutions to devote extra time and very few male respondents indicated that they carry family tension in their mind to their respective work places compared to their female counterparts. Moreover, the study reveals that institutions are proactive enough to embrace modern information communication technology offering suitable digital working ambience to their employees.

Research limitations/implications

The paper primarily deals with work-life balance of employees in the field of library and information science of the state of Odisha (India) as the respondents in its scope of discussion.

Originality/value

The paper aims to contribute new knowledge to the corpus of existing literature on work–life balance with some constructive outcomes for effective generalization.
A new weighted fraction Monte Carlo method for particle coagulation
Authors: Jiang Xiao , Chan Tat Leung
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the aerosol dynamics of the particle coagulation process using a newly developed weighted fraction Monte Carlo (WFMC) method.

Design/methodology/approach

The weighted numerical particles are adopted in a similar manner to the multi-Monte Carlo (MMC) method, with the addition of a new fraction function (α). Probabilistic removal is also introduced to maintain a constant number scheme.

Findings

Three typical cases with constant kernel, free-molecular coagulation kernel and different initial distributions for particle coagulation are simulated and validated. The results show an excellent agreement between the Monte Carlo (MC) method and the corresponding analytical solutions or sectional method results. Further numerical results show that the critical stochastic error in the newly proposed WFMC method is significantly reduced when compared with the traditional MMC method for higher-order moments with only a slight increase in computational cost. The particle size distribution is also found to extend for the larger size regime with the WFMC method, which is traditionally insufficient in the classical direct simulation MC and MMC methods. The effects of different fraction functions on the weight function are also investigated.

Originality Value

Stochastic error is inevitable in MC simulations of aerosol dynamics. To minimize this critical stochastic error, many algorithms, such as MMC method, have been proposed. However, the weight of the numerical particles is not adjustable. This newly developed algorithm with an adjustable weight of the numerical particles can provide improved stochastic error reduction.
Bank-appointed directors and idiosyncratic volatility: evidence from India
Authors: Jadiyappa Nemiraja , Joseph Anto , Sisodia Garima
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the impact of the bank-appointed directors on the agency costs of debt by using the idiosyncratic risk of stock returns as a measure of agency costs of debt.

Design/methodology/approach

We use multivariate panel regression, event study and finally, propensity score matching approaches to test our hypothesis. The robustness of the results is tested for possible endogeneity issues by employing instrumental variable two-stage least square (IV-2SLS) technique.

Findings

Consistent with the efficient monitoring hypothesis, we find a negative relationship between the presence of the bank-appointed director and the idiosyncratic volatility of stock returns among Indian firms. This implies that such firms take up less risky investment projects.

Originality/value

We contribute to the literature from two aspects. First, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the monitoring efficiency of creditors' governance. Hitherto, such examinations are done from the shareholders' perspective. Second, we examine the role of the bank-appointed directors on the board of non-financial firms in an emerging world context and find, contrary to the existing evidence in the US context, active monitoring role played by such directors.
A case study of Ao Nagas of Nagaland on the issues toward gender justice
Authors: Longkumer Purlemla , Bokth Humayun
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the various cultural practices and social relations, which mediates and position men and women among the Ao Nagas of Nagaland and highlight the various barriers and challenges faced by the Ao Naga women by examining the traditional practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The various data used in this paper incorporate both primary and secondary data. The information gathered through secondary data includes books and journals and reports. On the other hand, the primary data include unstructured interview, case studies and oral history on the basis of field experiences.

Findings

Findings suggest that, Ao Naga women's subordinate position to men can be traced back not only to the prevailing customary laws and tradition but also include a number of factors in their societal affairs which include village formation, where men played a prominent role and thereby, the traditional political seat in the village is denied to women till today. Further, women were kept out of the institution of morung known as Ariju in Ao dialect, where men acquired leadership skills. The strong prevalence of inheritance rules, clanship, succession is held very much intact which seems to affect women's lives to a great extent, along with strong ideologies whereby Naga men are given more honor due to the contributions in safeguarding of village during head hunting days. This high status is enjoyed till today and widely accepted among the people. A deep unequal power sharing among man and woman thus seems to exist in the Ao Naga society.

Originality/value

This research article gives a detailed insight of the Ao Naga women bounded in the domains of customary laws and traditional beliefs.
Are competition and performance friends or foes? Evidence from the Middle East banking sector
Authors: Khattak Mudeer Ahmed , Ali Mohsin
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of banking market competition on banks’ profitability and banks’ risk using a sample of six countries from the Middle East from 2006 to 2017.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the system generalized method of moments estimator to tackle potential omitted variable bias, endogeneity and simultaneity issues.

Findings

After controlling for bank market and country-specific characteristics, this study reports strong and robust evidence that competition in the banking market is conducive to lower financial performance. This research further finds that intense banking competition leads to lower profitability and increased risk regardless of bank type. As the relationship is not different for Islamic banks, one can argue that activities of Islamic banks are based on the basic traditional banking operations and products, and banks need to diversify their business activities to reduce failure risk and preserve the banking sector’s stability.

Originality/value

This paper tries to bridge the gap by studying the impact of competition on bank performance in high-income dual banking Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies. Earlier studies have either covered all the dual banking economies or the Middle East and North African region. The authors suggest that the GCC banking market is required to be studied separately because of its idiosyncrasies. Second, unlike earlier studies, the authors have not only examined the impact of competition on bank return but also on bank risk.
Evaluating the critical success criteria for prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction projects
Authors: Wuni Ibrahim Yahaya , Shen Geoffrey Qiping , Osei-Kyei Robert
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Prefabricated prefinished volumetric construction (PPVC) is a game-changing construction method that transforms the fragmented site-based construction of buildings into an integrated production, integration and assembly of value-added volumetric building components. Where circumstances merit, the effective implementation of PPVC leverages significant gains in time, cost, quality, productivity and sustainability performance of construction projects. As PPVC is increasingly becoming mainstream, it is imperative to identify the critical success criteria (CSC) for measuring PPVC project success. The purpose of this study is to identify, rank and benchmark the CSC for measuring PPVC project success.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a quantitative research design where the potential CSC for PPVC projects were evaluated. A comprehensive literature and pilot expert review identified 18 CSC for measuring PPVC project success. Based on a questionnaire survey of international PPVC experts, the 18 CSC were analyzed and prioritized using mean score analysis and weighting function.

Findings

Based on mean index assessment, the top five CSC for PPVC projects were identified as adherence to project schedules, meeting project quality specification, meeting safety requirements, client and owner satisfaction and cost savings and profitability. Further analysis grouped the 18 CSC into six principal success criteria (PSC), comprising time performance, cost performance, quality performance, environmental and safety performance, stakeholder satisfaction and supply chain performance. Based on weighted analysis of the six PSCs, quality performance, time performance and environmental and safety performance obtained the highest weights.

Research limitations/implications

The research results are limited by the following limitations. First, although adequate, the sample size was relatively smaller. Second, the generalized analysis overlooked the geospatial sensitivities of the CSC.

Originality/value

The results constitute the first exclusive quantitative ranking and prioritization of the CSC for PPVC projects. The outputs of this study will enable practitioners to reliably and accurately evaluate the performance levels of PPVC projects. A framework of the CSC for measuring the success of PPVC projects was developed.
Analyzing business-failure-process risk: evidence from Finland
Authors: Laitinen Erkki K.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the business-failure-process risk from two perspectives. First, a simplified model of the loss-generation process in a failing firm is developed to show that the linear system embedded in accounting makes financial ratios to depend linearly on each other. Second, a simplified model of the development of the risk during the failure process is developed to introduce a new concept of failure-process-risk line (FPRL) to assess the systematic failure risk of a firm. Empirical evidence from Finnish firms is used to test two hypotheses.

Design/methodology/approach

This study makes use of simple mathematical modeling to depict the loss-generation process and the development of failure risk during the failure process. Hypotheses are extracted from the mathematical results for empirical testing. Time-series data originally from 13,082 non-failing and 515 failing Finnish are used to test the hypotheses. Analysis of varianceFstatistics and Mann–WhitneyUtest are used in testing of the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings show that the linear time-series correlations are generally higher in failing than in non-failing firms because of the loss-generation process. The FPRL depicted efficiently the systematic failure-process risk through the beta coefficient. Beta coefficient efficiently discriminated between failing and non-failing firms. The difference between the last-period risk estimate and FPRL was largely determined by the approximated growth rate of the periodic failure risk.

Research limitations/implications

The loss-generation process is based on a simple cash-based approach ignoring the growth of the firm. In future research, the model could be generalized to a growing firm in an accrual-based framework. The failure-process risk is assumed to grow at a constant rate. In further studies, more general models could be applied. Empirical analyses are based on simple statistical methods and tests. More advanced methods could be used to analyze the data.

Practical implications

This study shows that failure process makes the time-series correlation between financial ratios to increase making their signals of failure consistent and allowing the use of static classification models to assess failure risk. The beta coefficient is a useful tool to reflect systematic failure-process risk. In addition, it can be used in practice to warn a firm about ongoing failure process.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study analyzing systematically business-failure-process risk. It is first in introducing a mathematical loss-generation process and the FPRL based on the beta coefficient assessing the systematic failure risk.
Entrepreneurial intentions among women: does entrepreneurial training and education matters? (Pre- and post-evaluation of psychological attributes and its effects on entrepreneurial intention)
Authors: Bhatti Muhammad Awais , A Al Doghan Mohammed , Mat Saat Suzanie Adina , Juhari Ariff Syah , Alshagawi Mohammed
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Researchers have been trying to identify different psychological attributes which influence entrepreneurial intention (EI) and role of entrepreneurial education and training programs to develop these attributes among women. Therefore, the purpose of this study is twofold: firstly, to evaluate the difference among psychological attributes before and after an entrepreneurial education and training program. Secondly, to examine the effects of psychological attributes on EI among female students in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

A detailed program was designed with the combination of entrepreneurial education and training program throughout a 14-week semester. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 310 female university students studying in a Saudi university and participated in this program. SPSS, version 20, was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Entrepreneurial education and training programs based on active learning and learner-centered approaches play an important role to significantly improve the level of psychological attributes and EI of female students. Furthermore, findings of this study also suggest that psychological attributes (training retention, self-confidence, tolerance of ambiguity, innovativeness and achievement motivation) positively influence EI.

Originality/value

Previous studies only focused on relationship testing among psychological attributes and EI. This research proposes strategies to design entrepreneurial education and training program to improve psychological attributes and EI which can be considered practical version of EntreComp conceptual model.
Individual spiritual capital: meaning, a conceptual framework and implications
Authors: Vasconcelos Anselmo Ferreira
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to trigger a transcendental concern toward building the spiritual capital (SC) particularly focused on the highly relevant domain of work. In doing so, this conceptual framework focuses on potential antecedents and outcomes of the SC.

Design/methodology/approach

Such an endeavor is premised on the Christian's teaching that advocates the need for gathering spiritual treasures (i.e. capital). Secondly, the foray into Spiritism Doctrine (SD) literature is due to the fact that this doctrine considers the spiritual construct as the cornerstone of its principles and tenets. Thirdly, it also examines the related perceptions and approaches from the fields of positive psychology, positive organizational scholarship, workplace spirituality and psychology of religion.

Findings

The model invites the individual to capitalize on salient virtues and remarkable human qualities so as to build a SC, namely: humility, compassion, forgiveness, empathy, positive emotions, connections/relationships and sense of cooperation. Finally, it is envisaged that the attempt to create a SC may lead the individual to a feeling of well-being and more resilience at work.

Practical implications

At last, the implications to develop a SC in the context of work are sizeable. After all, it implies to add more concerns to one's career much beyond those strictly functional or professional ones. Rather, it means to regard the work domain through unusual lens.

Originality/value

By bringing the conceptual framework of SC to the forefront of management, spirituality and religion studies through an interdisciplinary approach showed that it is not an elusive or mythical topic. On the contrary, this analysis revealed that this is a serious and surprisingly neglected issue that deserves further attention in light of the benefits that it can potentially yield.
The asymmetric online talk effect
Authors: Zhang Ying , Lu Xing , Prombutr Wikrom
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The authors investigate the extent to which online talk can influence contemporaneous and future stock trading, especially when market news is unpresented.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose an improved sentiment formula incorporating online hype, neutral sentiment and poster reputation. In addition, they conduct event study, OLS regression analyses and probit models.

Findings

First, investors tend to be more talkative in relation to firms that are (1) smaller size, (2) more growth-like, (3) with lower prices and higher short interests and (4) of higher beta. Second, the bullish tone of investors positively affects the abnormal returns of small-capitalization stocks. However, online talk has little impact on large-capitalization stocks, except that more postings boost trading liquidity. Third, online talk predicts the presence of future news regardless of firm size, with stronger predictive power found for small-capitalization stocks.

Practical implications

It is of interest to practitioners and researchers to study online talk so as to better understand the trading psychology of retail investors and the effects on the stock market. Furthermore, policymakers are interested in tracking activities on stock message boards in order to prevent security fraud and protect investors' interests.

Originality/value

The results are robust and suggest that online talk has significant impacts on stock trading exploiting an information asymmetry. This study of stock message board posting activities helps researchers to understand whether message contents contain valuable and unique content compared with information available via more traditional media channels.
A framework for confronting a pivotal change challenge
Authors: Komlos David , Benjamin David
Published: February 2021

Purpose

When confronted by high-stakes challenges that require a change of course leaders need fast, high-quality decisions and genuine team alignment on the path forward. To address this problem, we offer an experience-tested framework for confronting defining moments of high complexity, low clarity and weak alignment.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework is based on four key principles: a unifying goal, a requisite variety of people, a group-wide communication network that connects everyone on the team, repeated, high-quality collision.

Findings

Collisions among knowledgeable team members are what produce a solution and buy-in. They are what surfaces relevant understanding about how potential actions are connected.

Practical implications

For effective teams, identify those directly affected by the challenge, those with relevant experiences or specialist know-how and those who will ultimately own and execute solutions.

Originality/value

This step-by-step process guide will be useful to leaders needing to course correct while trying to digitize, merge, turn around, grow, deliver a leading-edge customer experience or during a myriad of other complex pursuits. The high-stakes nature of these challenges becomes apparent when leaders realize that their team’s current course and speed is not going to deliver the needed results and intended impact soon enough or, worse, not at all.
Evaluation of bend curvature of superheater tube using CFD analysis
Authors: Chatterjee Sushovan , Das Subhasish , Sarma Neelam Kumar
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The heat transfer within a heat exchanger is highly influenced by geometry of the components especially those with hollow structures like tubes. This paper aims to intend toward the study of efficient and optimized heat transfer in the bends of superheater tubes, with different curvature ratio at constant Reynolds Number.

Design/methodology/approach

The effect of changing curvature ratio on enthalpy of the fluid passing through the superheater tubes for multi-pass system has been studied with the aid of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) using ANSYS 14.0. Initially a superheater tube with two pass system has been examined with different curvature ratios of 1.425, 1.56, 1.71, 1.85 and 1.99. An industry specified curvature ratio of 1.71 with two pass is investigated, and a comparative assessment has been carried out. This is intended toward obtaining an optimized radius of curvature of the bend for enhancement of heat transfer.

Findings

The results obtained from software simulation revealed that the curvature ratio of 1.85 provides maximum heat transfer to the fluid flowing through the tube with two pass. This result has been found to be consistent with higher number of passes as well. The effect of secondary flow in bends of curvature has also been illustrated in the present work.

Research limitations/implications

The study of heat transfer in thermodynamic systems is a never-ending process and has to be continued for the upliftment of power plant performances. This study has been conducted on steady flow behavior of the fluid which may be upgraded by carrying out the same in transient mode. The impact of different curvature ratios on some important parameters such as heat transfer coefficients will certainly upgrade the value of research.

Originality/value

This computational study provided comprehensive information on fluid flow behavior and its effect on heat transfer in bends of curvature of superheater tubes inside the boiler. It also provides information on optimized bend of curvature for efficient heat transfer process.
Clophosome alleviate dextran sulphate sodium‐induced colitis by regulating gut immune responses and maintaining intestinal integrity in mice
Authors: Tian Wen‐jie , Wang Qian‐nan , Wang Xue‐feng , Dong Dan‐feng
Published: February 2021

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic progressive disorder characterized by complicated gastrointestinal inflammation. Research on therapeutic agents is still urgent due to the lack of satisfactory treatments. Gut macrophages are considered to be predominant in excessive inflammatory responses. Thus, we aimed to investigate whether depletion of macrophages would have a beneficial effect on IBD and could be a potential therapeutic strategy. In this study, we established a 12‐day Dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)‐induced colitis mouse model and determined the effect of the macrophage depletion agent Clophosome (neutral clodronate liposomes; CNC). The results showed that CNC significantly alleviated the symptoms of colitis, as demonstrated by greater weight gain, decreased disease activity index (DAI) scores, and lower histopathological damage scores, as well was reduced levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‐6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α. To investigate T cell subsets, cells were isolated from the lamina propria and cultured to analyse the expression of IL‐17A, interferon (IFN)‐γ and Foxp3 in CD4+ cells by flow cytometry. The data showed that during the process of colitis, the frequencies of CD4+IL‐17A+ T cells were significantly increased. Notably, CNC treatment markedly reduced the population of CD4+IL‐17A+ T cells, especially CD4+IL‐17A+IFN‐γ+ T cells. Furthermore, intestinal barrier integrity, as assessed by immunostaining of mucin and tight junction proteins, was severely disrupted in colitis. CNC improved the intestinal barrier by enhancing the expression of muc‐2 and occludin. In summary, our findings demonstrated that CNC successfully ameliorated DSS‐induced colitis and that its effect may be associated with inhibiting inflammatory responses and maintaining intestinal integrity.
Clinical profile, treatment and outcome of Kawasaki disease: A single‐center experience from a tertiary care referral center of Assam, north‐east India
Authors: Sharma Dhrubajyoti , Iqbal Farhin , Narayan Dev Chiranjeet , Bora Shivangi , Hoque Ruhul Amin , Kom Leivon Bellamy
Published: February 2021

Aim

This is a retrospective study to report our experience with a cohort of 73 patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) over 2.5 years.

Method

The study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics. Data were retrieved from medical records of Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunodeficiency Clinic collected from April 2017 to October 2019 and analyzed.

Results

Male‐to‐female ratio in our cohort was 2:1. The median age at diagnosis of KD was 3 years (IQR, 4.25). Fever was present in all patients. Oral mucosal changes are the second most common symptom (N = 64, 87%) followed by extremity changes (N = 58, 79%), and rash (N = 56, 76%). Nineteen (26%) children had cardiovascular complications like coronary artery abnormalities (N = 15, 20%), cardiac tamponade (N = 2, 2%), and shock (N = 1, 1%). The effusion in the patients with cardiac tamponade contained inflammatory cells and plenty of red blood cells. Sixty‐eight (93%) patients with KD had received treatment with IVIg. Patients in our cohort had completed a mean follow‐up of 13.6 ± 9.4 months. No fatality or any long term adverse effects were observed on follow‐up.

Conclusion

Kawasaki disease is a common rheumatological disorder in children at our center with diverse clinical presentations. The disease needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis in an acute febrile illness in children persisting up to 5 days.
Assessment of the anti‐rheumatoid arthritis activity of Gastrodia elata (tian‐ma) and Radix aconitic lateralis preparata (fu‐zi) via network pharmacology and untargeted metabolomics analyses
Authors: Yang Jie , Zhang Yu , Li Wei‐Hong , Guo Bu‐Fa , Peng Qi‐Lun , Yao Wei‐Yi , Gong Di‐Hong , Ding Wei‐Jun
Published: February 2021

Aim

Gastrodia elata and Radix aconiti lateralis preparrata are respectively named as Tian‐Ma and Fu‐Zi (TF) in Chinese. We explored the active components against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from an extensively used couplet of Chinese herbs, Gastrodia elata and Radix aconiti lateralis preparata (TF) via untargeted metabolomics and network pharmacological approaches.

Methods

Water extracts of TF were mixed at ratios 1:1, 3:2 and 2:3 (w/w). Ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) was then utilized as metabolomics screening. Human Metabolome (http://www.hmdb.ca/) and Lipidmaps (http://www.lipidmaps.org/) databases were used to annotate detected compounds. Further identification of vital genes and important pathways associated with the anti‐RA properties of the TF preparations was done via network pharmacology, and verified by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR).

Results

Four key compounds involved in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and isoflavonoid biosynthesis were identified through metabolomics analyses. Three key components of TF associated with anti‐RA activity were linoleic acid, daidzein, and daidzin. Results of RT‐qPCR revealed that all 3 tested TF couplets (1:1, 3:2, and 2:3) markedly suppressed the transcription of PTGS2. These results were consistent with our network pharmacological predictions.

Conclusions

The anti‐RA properties of Tian‐Ma and Fu‐Zi are associated with the inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism pathway.
Clinical assessment of cemento‐osseous dysplasia based on three‐dimensional diagnostic imaging: A case report
Authors: Shibata Naoki , Inamoto Kyoko , Naitoh Munetaka , Ariji Eiichiro
Published: February 2021

Cemento‐osseous dysplasia (COD) is a lesion in which periapical bone is replaced by fibrous tissue, including osseous or cementum‐like tissue. In the initial stage of COD, radiolucencies are noted at the root apex on periapical radiography, which can be confused with apical periodontitis. Understanding of correct pathological condition and careful assessment of COD is critical to avoid unnecessary endodontic interventions in healthy teeth. This report describes the ability and usefulness of cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) and multi‐slice computed tomography (MSCT) to detect COD. The findings in this case suggest that MSCT is more appropriate than CBCT, especially for patients with early‐ to middle‐stage COD. However, the radiation dose is higher in MSCT than in CBCT; the application of MSCT should be limited to assessment of whether treatment or surgical management is necessary.