bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Five shades of women: evidence from Italian listed firms
Authors: Rubino Franco Ernesto , Tenuta Paolo , Cambrea Domenico Rocco
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine empirically the impact of gender diversity on corporate performance by both comparing different positions occupied by female directors on the boards and their personal-specific characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper examines a sample of Italian listed companies during 2006–2015. To deal with endogeneity issues, the authors use a generalized method of moments as an empirical methodology.

Findings

The empirical findings show that the positive effect of both independent and executive women directors on firm performance is moderated by the specific characteristics of female directors. Specifically, the analyses show that foreign and busy females negatively impact on performance. Conversely, graduate female directors strengthen the positive link between executive women and firm performance.

Originality/value

The paper sheds light on the consequences of appointing different types of female directors (i.e. independent, executive, graduate, foreign and busy) on firm performance. Our empirical research that investigates the association between gender diversity and performance in the Italian context based on a longitudinal study, which involves a period of ten years, allowing consideration both of the years before and after the introduction of the gender quota law (Golfo–Mosca law).
Can directors' liability reduction promote corporate innovation?
Authors: Choi Sanghak , Jung Hail
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the effects of director liability reduction (DLR) laws on corporate innovation strategies in South Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression analysis is used to investigate the effects of the directors' liability reduction coverage on the corporate innovation. The data includes 7,517 firm-year observations spanning from 2011 to 2017.

Findings

The authors provide empirical evidence that directors feel protected by the coverage and are able to focus more on innovative projects. Using research and development expenditure and the number of patents registered to measure the firm's innovation, we find that covered firms spend more on R&D and register more patents than non-covered firms.

Originality/value

This study extends the literature on corporate innovation. A vast amount of literature empirically tests how best to motivate directors to engage in innovative activities. On the same line, this study is the first to empirically test the effect of DLR shelters on directors' motivations toward innovation.
Performance indicators for technology business incubators in Indian higher educational institutes
Authors: Rathore Rahul Singh , Agrawal Rajat
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to review existing performance indicators in technology business incubators (TBIs) and propose some new indicators with a focus on incubation activities in higher educational institutes (HEIs) of India.

Design/methodology/approach

Performance indicators of various types of incubators were identified from research papers followed by interview, consultation and suggestion from experts of the subject. Nature of interrelationship between the identified indicators has been established with the help of Interpretive Structural Modelling methodology and Matrice d’impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment analysis.

Findings

Number of ideas came for screening and number of ideas converted to start-ups, survival rate of incubatees is the indicators which have the highest driving power followed by time taken in screening an idea and number of failed or rejected ideas returned back into incubation. Few indicators (driving indicators) are affecting performance of other indicators as well.

Research limitations/implications

Some performance indicators are proposed which can be used for measuring performance of technology incubators in India. The actual implications will be known when these findings are used to assess performance of some technology incubator. This also is the limitation of the study that some cases can be included to validate the findings of this research.

Practical implications

A total of 15 performance indicators for measuring performance of TBIs in Indian HEIs have been proposed. The proposed indicators will help incubator management to prioritize the efforts and resource allocation.

Social implications

TBIs are looked upon as mechanism for promoting entrepreneurial culture in Indian HEIs. Their success is well linked to growth of society. This research will help technology incubators to identify the most important factors in incubation process. Performance improvement will directly affect society in whole. Culture of IEE (Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Employment ) can be achieved through technology incubators

Originality/value

Identification of new indicators for performance measurement of incubators in Indian HEIs is the novelty of this research. This has a lot of value due to multilevel hierarchy model.
Collagen formula with Chinese herbal medicine can improve skin condition and reduce inflammation: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Chang Hui-Chun , Lin Yung-Kai , Liang Chia-Hua , Huang Hsin-Wei , Lin Yung-Hao , Lin Yung-Hsiang , Hu Wei-Chun , Chiang Chi Fu
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Population aging was a global trend, and the most obvious thing after aging was the change in skin appearance. Therefore, the active ingredients that delay skin aging were particularly noticed. Past studies had pointed out that Chinese herbal extracts can improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles and melanin precipitation. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether combining hydrolyzed collagen with Chinese herbal extracts can improve skin conditions and achieve anti-inflammatory effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Fifty subjects were randomly divided into collagen or placebo groups, and one bottle of collagen or placebo drink was used every day for four weeks, after which skin and inflammatory factors were tested.

Findings

In comparison with the baseline results, the skin parameters were improving after four-week intervention. In addition, the IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a were significantly decreased and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) was increased after four-week hydrolyzed collagen intervention.

Originality/value

This study showed that hydrolyzed collagen combined with Chinese herbal extracts can improve the condition of the skin, and can also reduce inflammatory associated factors, thereby achieving anti-aging effects.
Does officer self-legitimacy mediate the linkage between internal and external procedural justice? Evidence from Taiwanese police officers
Authors: Chen Fei-Lin , Sun Ivan , Wu Yuning , Wang Shun-Yung Kevin
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to assess whether internal procedural justice is directly and indirectly through self-legitimacy connected to external procedural justice among Taiwanese police officers.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data used in this study were collected from 316 Taiwanese police officers in 2019. Structural equation modeling was performed to examine the direct and indirect relationships between internal and external procedural justice.

Findings

Supervisors' internal procedural justice is directly related to the external procedural justice rendered to the public by police officers. Internal procedural justice also directly enhances officers' perceptions of internal legitimacy and external legitimacy. Greater senses of internal legitimacy are then accompanied by higher external procedural justice.

Research limitations/implications

Survey data collected from a non-random sample of officers limit the study findings' generalizability. Organizational justice in the form of supervisory justice is instrumental in promoting officers' perception of self-legitimacy and their delivery of fair treatment to the public.

Originality/value

The present study represents a first attempt to link two important veins of studies in recent policing literature, organizational justice and officer self-legitimacy. This study provides needed evidence to support the value of supervisory justice in policing in a non-Western democracy.
Ownership concentration, foreign ownership and tunneling in Indonesia
Authors: Wulandari Trisninik Ratih , Setiawan Doddy
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of ownership concentration and foreign ownership on tunneling activities in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

The population in this study were manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange from 2014 to 2018. The total observations used in this study were 557 observations. This study used three measurements to assess tunneling activities in a company, namely, related party receivables (TUL1), related party payables (TUL2) and related party receivables-payables (TUL3).

Findings

The results of this study indicated that ownership concentration and foreign ownership had a negative effect on tunneling activity of TUL1. Meanwhile, the effect of ownership concentration and foreign ownership on TUL2 and TUL3 showed a positive effect. This indicated that manufacturing companies in Indonesia preferred to carry out tunneling activities through related party payables compared with related party receivables. Foreign ownership was also effective in controlling the company’s tunneling activities when the company conducted tunneling transactions of related party receivables. Small companies and companies with positive return on assets were more susceptible to tunneling activities carried out by the companies.

Practical implications

The results of this study can be used as a consideration for investors in making decisions by looking at tunneling activities carried out by companies in Indonesia.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous study in the tunneling literature has compared the results of the effect of the concentration of foreign ownership and ownership on tunneling using three measurements at once. This is useful to see the company’s behavior of tunneling activities from a different perspective.
Characteristics of supplier performance measurement systems in collaborative innovation projects: the role of the purchasing department
Authors: Patrucco Andrea , Frattini Federico , Di Benedetto Anthony
Published: June 2021

Purpose

In the wake of the growing popularity of the open innovation approach, leveraging suppliers as external sources of innovation has attracted increasing interest from scholars and practitioners. Successful supplier involvement largely depends on an effective performance measurement process, but both supply chain management and innovation management literature have paid limited attention to this aspect. This paper aims to fill this gap by illustrating how companies measure the performance of the suppliers involved in their innovation projects and what role is played by the purchasing department.

Design/methodology/approach

This study interviews project stakeholders from nine different organizations acting as focal companies in the supply chains of various industries. This paper complements this on-field information with a vast amount of data collected from secondary project documents. Structured data coding and analysis allow us to discuss how companies redesign their performance measurement systems to ease the collaboration with suppliers in innovation and what factors underly these decisions.

Findings

The findings show that, in many cases, supplier performance measurement systems deviate from their typical characteristics to support collaboration in innovation projects. They integrate quantitative and qualitative measures, include contributions from different project stakeholders and are oriented toward high visibility and transparency with suppliers. A more substantial redesign of these systems is favored when purchasing is assigned to strategic project responsibilities and possesses higher absorptive capacity.

Originality/value

The results complement the knowledge for the supply chain management field, where supplier performance measurement systems have been discussed in the context of traditional buyer-supplier relationships, but not comprehensively in innovation projects and not considering the role of purchasing. Findings also contribute to the innovation management literature, which has mostly focused on what aspects need to be measured for innovation partners, rather than how to manage the performance measurement process in practice.
Do third-party assurance and mandatory CSR reporting matter to philanthropic and financial performance nexus? Evidence from India
Authors: Oware Kofi Mintah , Valacherry Arunima Kambikkanon , Mallikarjunappa Thathaiah
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to focus on examining whether third-party assurance (TPA) and mandatory corporate social responsibility reporting (MCSR) matter in the association between philanthropic giving (PHG) and listed firms’ financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the Indian stock market as a testing ground, the study used interactive regression and panel regression to analyse 80 sustainability-reporting firms with 800 firm-year observations between 2010 and 2019.

Findings

The first findings show a positive association between PHG and financial performance (return on assets, ROA and stock price returns, SPR). Also, the study shows that the interactive variable of MCSR and PHG has a mixed association with financial performance. The second findings show a positive and statistically significant association between TPA and SPR. Also, the interactive effect of TPA and PHG has a negative association with return on equity (ROE) and a positive association with SPR. The third findings show a negative association between MCSR and financial performance (ROA and ROE) and a positive association with SPR. However, when a firm combines MCSR and TPA, the outcome is a negative association with ROE. The fourth findings show that MCSR has a positive association with TPA. The study control for any form of heteroscedasticity, serial correlation and endogeneity effects.

Practical implications

Managers, if given a choice, must opt for TPA over MCSR because the βcoefficient is higher in TPA than MCSR in PHG-financial performance nexus.

Originality/value

The study addresses the information asymmetry problem from the application of TPA and MCSR, which is new to an emerging economy context.
13C‐chloromethane incubations provide evidence for novel bacterial chloromethane degraders in a living tree fern
Authors: Kröber Eileen , Wende Sonja , Kanukollu Saranya , Buchen‐Tschiskale Caroline , Besaury Ludovic , Keppler Frank , Vuilleumier Stéphane , Kolb Steffen , Bringel Françoise
Published: June 2021

Chloromethane (CH3Cl) is the most abundant halogenated volatile organic compound in the atmosphere and contributes to stratospheric ozone depletion. CH3Cl has mainly natural sources such as emissions from vegetation. In particular, ferns have been recognized as strong emitters. Mitigation of CH3Cl to the atmosphere by methylotrophic bacteria, a global sink for this compound, is likely underestimated and remains poorly characterized. We identified and characterized CH3Cl‐degrading bacteria associated with intact and living tree fern plants of the species Cyathea australis by stable isotope probing (SIP) with 13C‐labelled CH3Cl combined with metagenomics. Metagenome‐assembled genomes (MAGs) related to Methylobacterium and Friedmanniella were identified as being involved in the degradation of CH3Cl in the phyllosphere, i.e., the aerial parts of the tree fern, while a MAG related to Sorangium was linked to CH3Cl degradation in the fern rhizosphere. The only known metabolic pathway for CH3Cl degradation, via a methyltransferase system including the gene cmuA, was not detected in metagenomes or MAGs identified by SIP. Hence, a yet uncharacterized methylotrophic cmuA‐independent pathway may drive CH3Cl degradation in the investigated tree ferns.
Growth promotion of a deep‐sea bacterium by sensing infrared light through a bacteriophytochrome photoreceptor
Authors: Liu Ge , Shan Yeqi , Zheng Rikuan , Liu Rui , Sun Chaomin
Published: June 2021

Photoreceptors are found in all kingdoms of life and bacteriophytochromes (Bphps) are the most abundant photo‐sensing receptors in bacteria. Interestingly, BphPs have been linked to some bacterial physiological responses, yet most of the biological processes they regulate are still elusive, especially in non‐photosynthetic bacteria. Here, we show that a bacteriophytochrome (CmoBphp) from a deep‐sea bacterium Croceicoccus marinus OT19 perceives infrared light (wavelength at 940 nm) and transduces photo‐sensing signals to a downstream intracellular transduction cascade for better growth. We discover that the infrared light‐mediated growth promotion of C. marinus OT19 is attributed partly to the enhancement of pyruvate and propanoate metabolism. Further study suggests that CmoBphp plays a crucial role in integrating infrared light with intracellular signalling to control the bacterial growth and metabolism. This is the first report that deep‐sea non‐photosynthetic bacteria can sense infrared light to control growth through a bacteriophytochrome photoreceptor, thus providing new understandings towards light energy utilization by microorganisms.
The landscape of lysogeny across microbial community density, diversity and energetics
Authors: Silveira Cynthia B. , Luque Antoni , Rohwer Forest
Published: June 2021

Lysogens are common at high bacterial densities, an observation that contrasts with the prevailing view of lysogeny as a low‐density refugium strategy. Here, we review the mechanisms regulating lysogeny in complex communities and show that the additive effects of coinfections, diversity and host energic status yield a bimodal distribution of lysogeny as a function of microbial densities. At high cell densities (above 106 cells ml−1 or g−1) and low diversity, coinfections by two or more phages are frequent and excess energy availability stimulates inefficient metabolism. Both mechanisms favour phage integration and characterize the Piggyback‐the‐Winner dynamic. At low densities (below 105 cells ml−1 or g−1), starvation represses lytic genes and extends the time window for lysogenic commitment, resulting in a higher frequency of coinfections that cause integration. This pattern follows the predictions of the refugium hypothesis. At intermediary densities (between 105 and 106 cells ml−1 or g−1), encounter rates and efficient energy metabolism favour lysis. This may involve Kill‐the‐Winner lytic dynamics and induction. Based on these three regimes, we propose a framework wherein phage integration occurs more frequently at both ends of the host density gradient, with distinct underlying molecular mechanisms (coinfections and host metabolism) dominating at each extreme.
Biochemistry of methanol‐dependent acetogenesis in Eubacterium callanderi KIST612
Authors: Dietrich Helge M. , Kremp Florian , Öppinger Christian , Ribaric Luna , Müller Volker
Published: June 2021

Methanol is the simplest of all alcohols, is universally distributed in anoxic sediments as a result of plant material decomposition and is constantly attracting attention as an interesting substrate for anaerobes like acetogens that can convert bio‐renewable methanol into value‐added chemicals. A major drawback in the development of environmentally friendly but economically attractive biotechnological processes is the present lack of information on biochemistry and bioenergetics during methanol conversion in these bacteria. The mesophilic acetogen Eubacterium callanderi KIST612 is naturally able to consume methanol and produce acetate as well as butyrate. To grasp the full potential of methanol‐based production of chemicals, we analysed the genes and enzymes involved in methanol conversion to acetate and identified the redox carriers involved. We will display a complete model for methanol‐derived acetogenesis and butyrogenesis in Eubacterium callanderi KIST612, tracing the electron transfer routes and shed light on the bioenergetics during the process.
Dépenses publiques de santé, état de santé et croissance en Afrique Subsaharienne: Cas de l'Afrique de l'Est et de l'Ouest
Authors: Karabou Essosinam Franck , Adeve Komlan Ametowoyo , Tsomdzo Kossi Atsutsè Dziédzom
Published: June 2021

L'objectif de ce papier est d'analyser l'effet des dépenses de santé et de l'état de santé sur la croissance économique en Afrique Subsaharienne (ASS). A cet effet, un modèle de panel dynamique a été utilisé pour un échantillon de 32 pays d'Afrique Subsaharienne couvrant la période 2005 à 2014 d'une part et pour une analyse approfondie concernant les régions de l'Est et de l'Ouest d'autre part. A cet effet, l'approche par la méthode des moments généralisés (GMM) a été utilisée pour obtenir les résultats dans le contexte africain. Cependant, l'estimateur des moindres carrés des variables muettes corrigé (LSDVC) a été utilisé pour les résultats concernant les deux régions d'Afrique (Est et Ouest). Les résultats issus des estimations montrent que le produit intérieur brut est principalement influencé positivement par les indicateurs de santé notamment l'espérance de vie et le taux de mortalité infanto‐juvénile, les dépenses de santé (publiques et privées) et la proportion des femmes dans la population active. L'implication politique qui découle de ce papier est que le revenu par habitant peut être augmenté par des politiques visant l'amélioration de l'état de santé de la population et de l'autonomisation des femmes.
Obedient Men and Obsessive Women: Donor Insemination, Gender and Psychology in Belgium
Authors: Claes Tinne
Published: June 2021

Drawing on contemporary studies and oral history interviews, this article analyses psychiatric evaluations of heterosexual couples requesting donor insemination in Belgium in the 1970s. It contains two interrelated arguments. First, it reassesses the reason why mental health professionals were incorporated into fertility clinics. In response to negative assumptions about the mental stability of candidates seeking donor insemination, they had to act as gatekeepers. This finding contradicts earlier research, which linked the integration of mental health professionals in reproductive medicine to the growing awareness of the emotional consequences of infertility and to the exclusivity of in vitro fertilisation. Second, this article shows that psychiatric evaluations were influenced by both traditional gender roles and newer models of equality. As the mirror of a society that was changing at different speeds, they reflected both the transformation of traditional ideals of family, sex and marriage and the discomfort sparked by these changes.
A Struggle for Competence: National Security, Surveillance and the Scope of EU Law at the Court of Justice of European Union
Authors: Zalnieriute Monika
Published: June 2021

In Privacy International and Quadrature Du Net, the Grand Chamber of the CJEU ruled that the e‐Privacy Directive generally prevents bulk retention and transmission of traffic and location data, unless Member States can prove serious threats to national security. In such cases, bulk data can be retained during a strictly necessary period, subject to review by a court or independent administrative body. The judgments will impact other data retention and sharing arrangements, such as the PNR, proposed e‐Privacy Regulation and e‐Evidence package, and adequacy decisions under GDPR, including for post‐Brexit UK. The rulings suggest the CJEU's significance in national security, which has been outside of European integration, but has become a ground for political struggle between EU institutions and Member States. While Privacy International unequivocally asserts CJEU's authority in national security and is a victory for data protection, Quadrature Du Net does not oppose indiscriminate data retention in principle and is an ambivalent response to political pressure.
An overview of research of essential oils by self‐organizing maps: A novel approach for meta‐analysis study
Authors: Galvan Diego , Effting Luciane , Torres Neto Luiz , Conte‐Junior Carlos Adam
Published: June 2021

Essential oils (EOs) are commercially important products, sources of compounds with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities considered indispensable for several fields, such as the food industry, cosmetics, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, sanitary and agricultural industries. In this context, this systematic review and meta‐analysis, a novel approach will be presented using chemometric tools to verify and recognize patterns of antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities of EOs according to their geographic, botanical, chemical, and microbiological distribution. Scientific papers were selected following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses statement flow diagram, and the data were evaluated by the self‐organizing map and hierarchical cluster analysis. Overall, this novel approach allowed us to draw an overview of antioxidants and antimicrobials activities of EOs reported in 2019, through 585 articles evaluated, obtaining a dataset with more than 10,000 data, distributed in more than 80 countries, 290 plant genera, 150 chemical compounds, 30 genera of bacteria, and 10 genera of fungi. The networks for geographic, botanical, chemical, and microbiological distribution indicated that Brazil, Asia, the botanical genus Thymus, species Thymus vulgaris L. “thyme,” the Lamiaceae family, limonene, and the oxygenated monoterpene class were the most representative in the dataset, while the species Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were the most used to assess the antimicrobial activity of EOs. This work can be seen as a guide for the processing of metadata using a novel approach with non‐conventional statistical methods. However, this preliminary approach with EOs can be extended to other sources or areas of food science.
Involvement of non‐coding RNAs during infection of rice by Acidovorax oryzae
Authors: Cui Zhouqi , Zhang Yang , Kakar Kaleem U. , Kong Xiangdong , Li Ruihui , Loh Belinda , Leptihn Sebastian , Li Bin
Published: June 2021

The expression of non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has been observed in a variety of bacteria. However, the function of ncRNAs and their regulatory targets are largely unknown, and few ncRNAs are found to be associated with bacterial virulence. The bacterial brown stripe pathogen Acidovorax oryzae (Ao) RS‐1 shows a high level of condition‐dependent differential expression of ncRNA, which we identified in a genome wide screen. We experimentally validated 66 differentially expressed ncRNAs using an integrative analysis of conservative genome sequences and transcriptomic data during in vivo interaction of the bacterial pathogen with the rice plant. To test the relevance of the differentially expressed ncRNAs, we chose four with different positions within the genome, and with different secondary structures and promoter activities. The results show that the overexpression of the four ncRNAs caused a significant change in virulence‐related phenotypes, resistance to various environmental stresses, expression of secretion systems and effector proteins, while changing the expression of ncRNA putative target genes. We conclude that these ncRNAs are examples for the inherent regulatory roles for many of the observed ncRNAs in response to changing conditions such as host interaction or environmental adaption.
Apical debris extrusion of full‐sequenced rotary systems in narrow ribbon‐shaped canals
Authors: Al Omari Taher , El‐Farraj Hamza , Arıcan Burçin , Atav Ateş Ayfer
Published: June 2021

The apically extruded debris caused by TruNatomy System (TRN), RACE EVO system (RE) and VDW Rotate (VR) systems in mandibular anterior teeth with ribbon‐shaped root canals were compared. The root canals (n = 20 in each group) were irrigated with NaOCl 2.5%, and the extruded debris was collected at pre‐weighted Eppendorf tubes. The amount of apically extruded debris (mg) and the treatment time (s) were recorded. Tukey pairwise comparisons were performed to compare groups with a 95% confidence level. VR had significantly less debris extrusion values and treatment time than RE and TRN (P < 0.05). Although no difference was observed between RE and TRN in terms of apically extruded debris (P > 0.05), a significant difference in favour of RE was observed in terms of treatment time (P < 0.05). All the instruments extruded debris at varying weights.
Exploring physical activity changes and experiences of older adults living in retirement villages during a pandemic
Authors: Ng Yoke Leng , Hill Keith D. , Burton Elissa
Published: June 2021

Objective

To explore physical activity changes and participation among physically active older adults living in retirement villages during the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted over the telephone. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted.

Results

Seventeen older adults were interviewed, and they engaged in many types of physical activity before the COVID‐19 lockdown. During the COVID‐19 lockdown, the most common physical activity that older adults participated in was walking. Mental well‐being and socialisation were affected during the lockdown, with older adults employing several strategies to help them cope.

Conclusions

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, physically active residents of retirement villages maintained their physical activity, but with reduced intensity and variety. In some cases, this impacted their mental and physical health. Physical activity resources aimed at facilitating diverse and sufficiently intense physical activity may benefit this group, and others.
Local Immigration and Support for Anti‐Immigration Parties: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Cools Sara , Finseraas Henning , Rogeberg Ole
Published: June 2021

Does the share of immigrants in a community influence whether people vote for anti‐immigration parties? We conduct a systematic review of the causal inference literature studying this question. We collect estimates from 20 studies and develop a new Bayesian meta‐analysis framework to account for both between‐study heterogeneity in effect sizes and the possibility of reporting bias. Although meta‐analysis methods that do not adjust for reporting bias suggest a moderate effect of local immigration, our Bayesian model finds that the effect of local immigration on far‐right voting is on average negligible once we account for reporting bias. However, the analysis also reveals a large heterogeneity in effects across contexts, suggesting that local immigration may be important for anti‐immigration vote shares in certain settings.
Efficient performance by companies with mixed ownership: Privatization and divestiture of a vertically integrated public monopoly
Authors: Berg Sanford V. , Okamura Makoto , Yane Haruka , Yane Shinji
Published: June 2021

This paper examines a model of privatization and divestiture of a vertically integrated public monopoly. The framework is used to derive general conditions of how mixed companies might be used to promote efficient outcomes without assuming either an ideal social planner or superior cost performance of private enterprise. The conditions suggest that efficient public policy towards mixed (public‐private partnership) companies depends on basic cost and demand conditions. The results indicate that: (1) a vertically integrated private monopoly can be more efficient than any combination of mixed companies when there is a sufficiently flat linear (elastic) demand curve and relatively greater (upward sloping) marginal cost for the downstream sector; (2) an upstream public and downstream public firm can achieve the first best outcome when the downstream firm has constant marginal costs; and (3) a partial privatization of the upstream firm achieves higher welfare than taking that action for the downstream firm. The intuition behind the propositions is provided using standard features of cost and demand. While the implications for public policy regarding privatization and divestiture in infrastructure sectors are not definitive, the results underscore the importance of understanding cost and demand conditions when developing and implementing public policies.
Beyond‐human ethics: The animal question in institutional ethical reviews
Authors: Oliver Catherine
Published: June 2021

In this paper, I investigate how the development of ethics and methods in beyond human and posthuman research have largely been ignored within institutional ethical frameworks. Specifically, I argue that the ethical review process for research needs critical consideration in light of emerging multispecies methodologies. The inclusion and consideration of animals in geography should go further than “bringing animals in” to the discipline; instead they must seek to rethink geographical theory as with and for non‐humans. The ethics, politics, and practices of animals’ inclusion in research have been differentially attended to across geographical scholarship. To do this, I investigate how institutional ethical review operates as a disciplining and shaping tool in the neoliberal university. In doing so, I contend that ethical review processes shape the narratives and structures of what kinds of research are possible for not only animal geographers, but across the discipline. I then explore how multispecies research specifically is affected by and can affect institutional ethical review, revealing how these processes fall short against the heightened backdrop of species difference. Where posthumanist ethics is in tension with institutional ethical frameworks, I argue that ethical approval does not necessarily indicate that researchers have successfully grappled with complex moral dilemmas. Particularly, the acquiring of ethical approval prioritises outmoded forms of knowledge that prioritise homogenised ethical and methodological practice over ethical innovation and questioning. Finally, I offer three propositions drawing on posthumanist ethics and informed by innovative and exploratory multispecies research: the inclusion of animals as participants in research; the reimagination of multispecies ethical and methodological practice; and the reform of institutional ethical review processes. By exploring how radical ethics might be mobilised in multispecies research, I argue that we can further geographical theory and practice to reconfigure who matters as a geographical and ethical subject.
Exosome‐delivered miR‐221/222 exacerbates tumor liver metastasis by targeting SPINT1 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Tian Fei , Wang Peiyun , Lin Dan , Dai Jiajia , Liu Qibing , Guan Yu , Zhan Yang , Yang Yichen , Wang Wenpeng , Wang Jiefu , Liu Jia , Zheng Lei , Zhuang Yan , Hu Jun , Wang Junfeng , Kong Dalu , Zhu Kegan
Published: June 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the progression of many cancers through largely unelucidated mechanisms. The results of our present study identified a gene cluster, miR‐221/222, that is constitutively upregulated in serum exosome samples of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) with liver metastasis (LM); this upregulation predicts a poor overall survival rate. Using an in vitro cell coculture model, we demonstrated that CRC exosomes harboring miR‐221/222 activate liver hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) by suppressing SPINT1 expression. Importantly, miR‐221/222 plays a key role in forming a favorable premetastatic niche (PMN) that leads to the aggressive nature of CRC, which was further shown through in vivo studies. Overall, our results show that exosomal miR‐221/222 promotes CRC progression and may serve as a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target for CRC with LM.
Evaluation of population‐level pharmacogenetic actionability in Alabama
Authors: Davis Brittney H. , Williams Kelly , Absher Devin , Korf Bruce , Limdi Nita A.
Published: June 2021

The evolution of evidence and availability of Clinical Pharmacogenetic Implementation Consortium (CPIC) guidelines have enabled assessment of pharmacogenetic (PGx) actionability and clinical implementation. However, population‐level actionability is not well‐characterized. We leveraged the Alabama Genomic Health Initiative (AGHI) to evaluate population‐level PGx actionability. Participants (>18 years), representing all 67 Alabama counties, were genotyped using the Illumina Global Screening array. Using CPIC guidelines, actionability was evaluated using (1) genotype data and genetic ancestry, (2) prescribing data, and (3) combined genotype and medication data. Of 6,331 participants, 4230 had genotype data and 3386 had genotype and prescription data (76% women; 76% White/18% Black [self‐reported]). Genetic ancestry was concordant with self‐reported race. For CPIC level A genes, 98.6% had an actionable genotype (99.4% Blacks/African; 98.5% White/European). With the exception of DPYD and CYP2C19, the prevalence of actionable genotypes by gene differed significantly by race. Based on prescribing, actionability was highest for CYP2D6 (70.9%), G6PD (54.1%), CYP2C19 (53.5%), and CYP2C9 (47.5%). Among participants prescribed atenolol, carvedilol, or metoprolol, ~ 50% had an actionable ADRB1 genotype, associated with decreased therapeutic response, with higher actionability among Blacks compared to Whites (62.5% vs. 47.4%; p < 0.0001). Based on both genotype and prescribing frequencies, no significant differences in actionability were observed between men and women. This statewide effort highlights PGx population‐level impact to help optimize pharmacotherapy. Almost all Alabamians harbor an actionable genotype, and a significant proportion are prescribed affected medications. Statewide efforts, such as AGHI, lay the foundation for translational research and evaluate “real‐world” outcomes of PGx.
Maternal Undernutrition in Adolescence and Child Human Capital Development Over the Life Course: Evidence from an International Cohort Study
Authors: Georgiadis Andreas , Benny Liza , Dornan Paul , Behrman Jere
Published: June 2021

Adolescence has been highlighted as a period when environments are critical for the human capital development of women, and thus of their children, but evidence on this from low‐ and middle‐income countries is scarce. We estimate the effect of mother’s adolescent undernutrition on offspring growth and development from infancy through adolescence using data from an international cohort study in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam, and instrumental variables estimation that employs rainfall shocks during mother’s adolescence as instruments for mother’s nutritional status. We find a positive and significant effect of mother’s adolescent nutritional status on child height‐for‐age in infancy that persists through to adolescence, and evidence that this may manifest mainly through a biological channel. Our results also support a significant impact of rainfall shocks during mother’s early adolescence on mother’s adult height and child growth from infancy to adolescence. We find no significant effect of mother’s adolescent nutritional status and rainfall shocks during mother’s adolescence on child achievement tests scores, however.
Role of digestive enzymes in the adaptation of Frankliniella occidentalis to preferred and less‐preferred host plants
Authors: Zhi Junrui , Liu Li , Hou Xiaolin , Xie Wen , Yue Wenbo , Zeng Guang
Published: June 2021

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), is an important invasive pest that causes serious damage to vegetables in China. Changes in digestive enzyme activities (α‐amylase, trypsin, and tryptase) and gene expression levels of F. occidentalis were examined after they were transferred to kidney bean, a preferred host, or broad bean, a less‐preferred host. The results showed that α‐amylase and trypsin activities initially decreased in both nymphs and adults after transfer to kidney bean or broad bean plants and they were the lowest in the F1 generation. The α‐amylase and trypsin activities were significantly different among the tested generations. The tryptase activities in the second instars fed on kidney bean plants were not significantly different from those of the controls in nymphs at all three generations, whereas they increased when fed on broad bean plants. Most digestive enzyme genes in both the nymph and adult thrips showed similar changes, decreasing with transfer to kidney bean plants and increasing on broad bean plants. However, the expression levels of the trypsin gene FoTRYP‐1 and the tryptase gene FoTPSB2 in the second instars fed on broad bean and kidney bean plants, respectively, were not significantly different from those of the controls. The expression levels of the four digestive enzyme genes were significantly higher in broad bean than in kidney bean plants. These results indicate that F. occidentalis can adjust its digestive enzyme activities and gene expression levels after being transferred to host plants for which its preference differs and that the changes depend on the specific enzyme, thrips generation, and developmental stage. Findings from this study would provide a basis for further studies to reveal the physiological and ecological bases of the wide host range and strong host adaptability of F. occidentalis.
The forgotten annual forbs of Victoria’s basalt plains grassland
Authors: J Sinclair Steve , Scott‐Walker Geordie , Batpurev Khorloo , Morgan John W. , Just Karl , Cook Damien
Published: June 2021

Comparison of historical data with recent surveys of grasslands across Victoria’s basalt plain reveals a substantial decline in native annual forbs. Eleven of the 35 species once common in this ecosystem have not been recorded for decades. The near loss of a lifeform from an ecosystem should ring alarm bells, but it seems the warning has passed largely unnoticed. Is this due to ‘shifting baseline syndrome’? What has caused this quiet decline in biodiversity, and what does it teach us about management and restoration?
On the prediction of fatigue life subjected to variable loading sequence
Authors: Jang Joonyoung , Khonsari Michael M.
Published: June 2021

Miner's rule is one of the most widely used cumulative damage equations for evaluating useful fatigue life. However, it often yields unsatisfactory predictions due to its linearity of the damage accumulation. In this paper, a new nonlinear fatigue damage accumulation model is developed that treats loading sequence effect and, also, enables one to predict the rate of damage by introducing a loading sequence parameter. This parameter is defined using the loading sequence ratio, which depends on material properties. Applicability of the proposed model is validated using the results of nine sets of independent experimental measurements of fatigue life under multiple loading sequences. It is shown that the predictions are in agreement with measured results and that the model provides a reliable estimation of fatigue life.
Social media business networks and SME performance: A rural–urban comparative analysis
Authors: Tiwasing Pattanapong
Published: June 2021

Social media business networks provide small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) with a modern platform to network, resulting in improved business performance. However, rural SMEs are less likely to access these networks and often underperform urban counterparts. This paper provides a rural–urban comparative analysis of business performance across SMEs for both members and non‐members of social media business networks. Empirically, the analysis draws on data of over 13,000 SMEs from the 2015‐UK Government's Small Business Survey. Inverse Probability Weighting is used to control for selection bias of firms selecting into a location and business network and for variations in business characteristics. The results reveal that rural SMEs that are members of social media business networks tend to register higher turnover and seek to grow sales compared to rural and urban SMEs that are non‐members. For turnover, rural firms that are members of these business networks perform as well as urban SMEs that are members. However, for sales growth, they underperform urban counterparts. Therefore, the development of SMEs’ performance in rural areas requires enhanced online business support environments, improved digital infrastructure and connectivity, the creation of online co‐working spaces, and increased digital and technological skills.
Clinical efficiency of inhibitory control test for the diagnosis of minimal hepatic encephalopathy: A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Luo Ming , Li Xiao‐Fei , Hu Sheng‐Juan , Bai Fei‐Hu
Published: June 2021

Aim

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is a common neuropsychiatric complication of liver cirrhosis and portosystemic shunt. The inhibitory control test (ICT) is a novel computerized psychometric test for MHE diagnosis, but its efficiency has yet to be confirmed. This study aimed to systematically review the existing evidence concerning the ICT application and then evaluate the efficiency of ICT for MHE diagnosis in clinical practice.

Methods

A comprehensive search of published works was carried out to identify reports concerning the ICT for MHE diagnosis between January 2000 and December 2020. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of ICT for MHE diagnosis were calculated using a random or fixed effect model. The summary receiver operator characteristic (sROC) curve was constructed, and the area under the sROC curve was calculated. Metaregression and subgroup analyses were used to identify the source of heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated using the Deeks funnel plot asymmetry test.

Results

Twelve studies were included in this systematic review, and nine studies enrolling 1022 patients were included in the final meta‐analysis. The ICT had a pooled sensitivity, specificity, and DOR of 83%, 64%, and 9, respectively. The area under the sROC curve was 0.79. The metaregression analysis indicated that different locations of studies (relative diagnostic odds ratio, 12.65; p = 0.02) were identified as the source of heterogeneity. No significant publication bias was observed.

Conclusions

The ICT has a high sensitivity and moderate specificity for MHE diagnosis, and it can be used as a primary diagnostic method for MHE.