bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An exploratory study that uses textual analysis to examine the financial reporting sentiments during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Non Normawati , Ab Aziz Norazlin
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine if Malaysian public listed companies have expressed any specific sentiment(s) when publishing their financial performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The disclosed sentiments contained in the management discussion and analysis section of the companies’ annual reports were extracted by means of computer-automated textual analysis through the linguistic inquiry and word counts and the Loughran–McDonald Financial Sentiment Dictionary. Next, a correlation analysis was conducted. Finally, a qualitative content analysis (QCA) was conducted to confirm these sentiments.

Findings

The analysis shows that companies adopted various tones of sentiments when communicating with their stakeholders. Most companies used negative sentiments to voice their concerns about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted upon their business operations. Only a few companies reflected positive sentiments, whilst those that experienced operating losses also expressed uncertainty.

Research limitations/implications

This study may assist either the regulators or accounting bodies to introduce a reporting framework that public companies can adopt during natural hazards. It also provides useful insights to (potential) investors to enable them to better understand the business landscape. For future research, the same study could be conducted on more countries so that their experiences can be used to better understand the business phenomenon from a global perspective.

Originality/value

This study is one of few studies to adopt automated textual analysis and QCA to examine the exhibited sentiments when public companies reported their financial performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Role of recommendation sizes and travel involvement in evaluating travel destination recommendation services: comparison between artificial intelligence and travel experts
Authors: Jang Wonseok (Eric) , Kim Soojin , Chun Jung Won , Jung A-Reum , Kim Hany
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to understand how travelers evaluate travel destination recommendations received from either artificial intelligence (AI) or human travel experts (TEs) based on the size of recommendation and their travel involvement.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a 2 (agent type: AI vs TE) × 2 (size of recommendation: small vs large) × 2 (travel involvement: low vs high) between-subjects design.

Findings

When AI recommends destinations, less-involved travelers perceive the recommendations as more credible and trust the system when AI offers larger recommendations than smaller ones. Meanwhile, when TEs offer recommendations, travelers consider the recommendations as equally credible and similarly trust the system, regardless of the recommendation size and travel involvement.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on the design of human-centered AI travel destination recommendation services.
Knowing what you don’t know: a tertiary study on knowledge management
Authors: Cerchione Roberto , Centobelli Piera , Oropallo Eugenio , Magni Domitilla , Borin Elena
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to conduct a tertiary review to analyse the state of the art of literature reviews on knowledge management (KM) published in academic journals and provide an overview of their evolution. From 2000 to 2022, about 500 reviews have been published in the KM field, with most systematic studies compared to bibliometric or meta-analytic studies, and an absence of previous tertiary studies. Therefore, given the lack of previous tertiary research, this paper provides a complete picture of the evolution of review topics in the past and presents implications for both researchers and practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

A classification scheme was defined to cluster and evaluate the literature reviews, both in terms of methodological approach and content. Regarding the content, the various secondary papers were classified according to the purpose of the research (state of the art, taxonomy, research agenda and research framework), the unit of analysis (small and medium enterprise, large company, start-up and university), the KM models adopted and the thematic areas addressed. Furthermore, a tertiary review methodology was identified integrating two main approaches: a bibliometric approach for cluster identification and a systematic approach for the discussion.

Findings

Two categories of contributions emerge from the results: those concerning research topics that have found a continuous interest over time and those that have not yet found a constant research interest. This latter aspect is relevant to help researchers conduct future literature analysis in KM research to bridge existing research gaps.

Research limitations/implications

This paper provides a unique compendium of search directions to offer a comprehensive overview of the scientific debate about KM. This overview can also be used as a managerial panacea to identify best KM practice guidelines from existing reviews.

Originality/value

This is a unique attempt to conduct a tertiary study on KM for more than two decades by providing insights into the structural body of knowledge through academic progress in the subject of KM. Thus, this study expands the field of KM and provides original approaches for research in the field.
Behavioural intentions through virtual reality from a destination image perspective
Authors: Jorge Filipa , Losada Nieves , Teixeira Mário-Sérgio
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate potential tourists’ behaviour regarding visiting and recommending a destination based on an image derived from a virtual reality (VR) model, including motivations for travel and place attachment.

Design/methodology/approach

The study had two phases and used both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches. The qualitative approach consisted of a focus group conducted to obtain the most important attributes of the destination image. The quantitative approach, which consisted of a self-administered questionnaire, was distributed to all the participants following a VR experience to provide data to empirically test the hypotheses proposed in the conceptual model.

Findings

Motivations for travel positively influence the image of a destination in both its cognitive and affective dimensions. Also, the cognitive dimension of destination image influences affective dimension of destination image and both dimensions affect overall destination image. Moreover, destination image, cognitive dimension and affective dimensions influence place dependence and identity. In turn, place dependence and place identity positively influence intention to visit the destination, but not intention to recommend it. Finally, intention to recommend the destination is positively influenced by the intention to visit the destination.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the complexity of the overall experience, the sample was selected purposefully, and all participants belong to Generation Z. Extending this study to other generations would also be valuable.

Originality/value

Although the utility of VR for tourism marketing purposes has been one of the most researched areas during recent years, factors that could encourage tourists to visit destinations previously displayed in VR are not yet identified.
An approach to targeted promotion of HPV vaccination based on parental preferences for social media content
Authors: Sommariva Silvia , Beckstead Jason , Khaliq Mahmooda , Daley Ellen , Martinez Tyson Dinorah
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Effectiveness of message tactics in social marketing projects often varies across groups of individuals, which suggests the importance of tailoring communication approaches to maximize the success of promotional strategies. This study aims to contribute in this direction by using an innovative approach to promote targeted human papillomavirus vaccination, applying conjoint analysis to understand parental preferences for social media content features.

Design/methodology/approach

An online purpose-built quantitative survey was administered to a group of parents meeting eligibility criteria. The survey questions were designed based on inputs from formative qualitative research conducted in a previous phase of the study.

Findings

In the overall sample of 285 parents, responses show that image was the most important feature of social media posts overall, followed by source and text. Cluster analysis identified eight segments in the sample based on parental preferences for content features. Significant differences across segments were identified in terms of need for cognition, vaccine hesitancy, parental gender, concerns around side effects, trust in medical providers, information sharing behaviors on social media and information seeking online.

Originality/value

The application of conjoint analysis to promotional content allows to assess which features of the content are most important in persuading different individuals and provide insights on how people process the information, ultimately to inform targeted promotion based on preferences. Conjoint analysis has been widely used in consumer research to explore audience preferences for products or services, but only a few applications of conjoint analysis to the design and testing of promotional content are found in the literature.
Higher education research performance parameters classified by systems theory: antecedents for the development of assessment models
Authors: Hermanu Adhi Indra , Sari Diana , Sondari Mery Citra , Dimyati Muhammad
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to identify and classify the parameters that construct the input, processes, output, productivity and outcome variables that affect performance. These parameters are used in the evaluation model to measure research performance in universities so that they can be used as the basis for making leadership policies both at the national and institutional levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of this research is a quantitative research method using a survey questionnaire that was sent to the heads of research institutions at universities in Indonesia. To obtain these parameters, a test for determining the value of the loading factor was used.

Findings

The authors found that input variable parameters consisted of 10 parameters; process variable consisted of 22 parameters; output variable parameters consisted of 8 parameters; productivity variable consisted of 4 parameters; and outcome variable parameters consisted of 10 parameters.

Originality/value

One approach to obtain parameters is through systems theory, where every element that makes up the organization contributes to the achievement of goals. This study attempted to develop parameters in the performance appraisal model of systems theory-based research institutions that are adapted to trends in the direction of research in universities. These parameters are based on aspects of input, process, output, productivity and outcome.
Properties of Cu/Zn+15%SAC0307+15%Cu/Al joints by different ultrasonic-assisted degrees
Authors: Huang Tian , Gan Guisheng , Liu Cong , Ma Peng , Ma Yongchong , Tang Zheng , Cheng Dayong , Liu Xin , Tian Kun
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effects of different ultrasonic-assisted loading degrees on the microstructure, mechanical properties and the fracture morphology of Cu/Zn+15%SAC0307+15%Cu/Al solder joints.

Design/methodology/approach

A new method in which 45 μm Zn particles were mixed with 15% 500 nm Cu particles and 15% 500 nm SAC0307 particles as solders (SACZ) and five different ultrasonic loading degrees were applied for realizing the soldering between Cu and Al at 240 °C and 8 MPa. Then, SEM was used to observe and analyze the soldering seam, interface microstructure and fracture morphology; the structural composition was determined by EDS; the phase of the soldering seam was characterized by XRD; and a PTR-1102 bonding tester was adopted to test the average shear strength.

Findings

The results manifest that Al–Zn solid solution is formed on the Al side of the Cu/SACZ/Al joints, while the interface IMC (Cu5Zn8) is formed on the Cu side of the Cu/SACZ/Al joints. When single ultrasonic was used in soldering, the interface IMC (Cu5Zn8) gradually thickens with the increase of ultrasonic degree. It is observed that the proportion of Zn or ZnO areas in solders decreases, and the proportion of Cu–Zn compound areas increases with the variation of ultrasonic degree. The maximum shear strength of joint reaches 46.01 MPa when the dual ultrasonic degree is 60°. The fracture position of the joint gradually shifts from the Al side interface to the solders and then to the Cu side interface.

Originality/value

The mechanism of ultrasonic action on micro-nanoparticles is further studied. By using different ultrasonic loading degrees to realize Cu/Al soldering, it is believed that the understandings gained in this study may offer some new insights for the development of low-temperature soldering methodology for heterogeneous materials.
A chemosensitive based ammonia gas sensor with PANI/PEO- ZnO nanofiber composites sensing layer
Authors: Konuk Ege Gözde , Akay Özge , Yüce Hüseyin
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the ammonia sensing performance of polyaniline/polyethylene oxide (PANI/PEO) and polyaniline/polyethylene oxide/zinc oxide (PANI/PEO-ZnO) composite nanofibers at room temperature.

Design/methodology/approach

Gas sensor structures were fabricated using micro-fabrication techniques. First, onto the SiO2 wafer, gold electrodes were fabricated via thermal evaporation. PANI/PEO nanofibers were produced by the electrospinning method and the ZnO layer was deposited by RF magnetron sputtering on the electrospun nanofibers as a sensing layer. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed for characterization analysis of nanofibers. After all, gas sensing analysis of PANI/PEO and PANI/PEO/ZnO nanofibers was performed using an experimental setup at room temperature conditions.

Findings

FTIR analysis confirms the presence of functional groups of PANI, PEO and ZnO in nanofiber structure. SEM images demonstrate beads-free, thinner and smooth nanofibers with ZnO contribution to electrospun PANI/PEO nanofibers. Moreover, according to the gas sensing results, the PANI/PEO nanofibers exhibit 115 and 457 s response time and recovery time, respectively. However, the PANI/PEO/ZnO nanofibers exhibit 245 and 153 s response time and recovery time, respectively.

Originality/value

In this study, ZnO was deposited via RF magnetron sputtering techniques on PANI/PEO nanofibers as a different approach instead of in situ polymerization, to investigate and enhance the sensor response and recovery time of the PANI/PEO/ZnO and PANI/PEO composite nanofibers to ammonia. These results indicated that ZnO can enhance the sensing properties of conductive polymer based resistive sensors.
Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic: strategies and challenges for an aging society in Japan
Authors: Hasegawa Tomonori , Hirata Koki , Matsumoto Kunichika
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This article analyzes the challenges of infectious disease control under a super-aged society through Japan’s experience with COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

This article provides an overview of Japan’s COVID-19 measures and their characteristics, discusses their successes and failures, and identifies future challenges.

Findings

Japan’s basic strategy for COVID-19 consists of three parts: the border defense (Stage 1), slowing down the spread (Stage 2), and damage control (Stage 3). One key policy feature in Stage 2 and Stage 3 is based on “voluntary restriction”. It had a certain effect, but it was prolonged with each recurring “wave of infection”, resulting in economic exhaustion and people’s dissatisfaction. Thus, the effect of the voluntary restriction has weakened, while the percentage of people who have been vaccinated is improving, making it difficult to predict the damage of the next “wave”. Under the hyper-aged society, it was necessary to identify and protect particularly vulnerable areas, i.e., psychiatry hospitals, chronic care hospitals, and long term care (LTC) facilities. On the other hand, secondary impacts extend to young people. The most serious one is the decrease in births which further accelerates the aging of society.

Originality/value

This study is original as it investigated why Japan’s unique countermeasures against COVID-19 without mandatory lockdown worked well for a considerable period. It also revealed that secondary impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic are broader and more significant than the direct loss of life, and that the social system, especially super-aged society with many vulnerable areas should be reformed in consideration of the threat of infectious diseases. Lessons from the Japanese case may contribute to other countries.
Does financial statement readability alleviate the informational disadvantage of foreign investors?
Authors: Arora Somya , Chauhan Yogesh
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore whether financial statement readability overcomes the information disadvantage of foreign equity investors.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive data set of Indian firms listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) for 2007–2019 has been used to evaluate the proposed research questions. This study uses the Panel data method to investigate the research question.

Findings

The results reveal that readable financial statements attract foreign investments. The readability benefits are more noticeable for firms operating in less competitive industries and having poor earnings quality.

Originality/value

This study suggests that foreign investors facing informational disadvantages prefer firms with better readability as a substitute for informational acquisition, processing and monitoring.
Telework during the Covid-19 pandemic and the work-nonwork conflict
Authors: Custodia de Oliveira Erica
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the relationship between telework and teleworkers’ characteristics and the work-nonwork conflict (WNWC) in the Brazilian context, investigating time spent in eight nonwork dimensions and the more affected dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was quantitative and descriptive. A survey was conducted with 299 professionals’ teleworking in Brazil. Data analysis was conducted through descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation and analysis of variance.

Findings

Results show diversified interests other than work and family among teleworkers, variation within the affected nonwork dimensions in the WNWC, and that teleworkers’ WNWC is negatively associated with time flexibility and manager support and positively associated with individual preference for segmentation as a boundary management strategy.

Research limitations/implications

The study highlights the need to include more nonwork aspects in telework studies to influence organizational practices. The main limitation is the nonprobabilistic sample.

Practical implications

Knowing more about teleworkers’ WNWC will help organizations improve lives by implementing practices and building a cultural environment that preserves nonwork time.

Social implications

The study reinforces demands from new family arrangements and an aging society: organizations have to prepare to have teleworkers who want or need to dedicate time to interests besides family or children.

Originality/value

It progresses towards a broad understanding of nonwork besides family to understand teleworkers’ WNWC.
Using HR automation to attract stronger construction candidates and simplify remote onboarding challenges
Authors: Said Jenn
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This case study aims to explore how human resource (HR) automation was used to attract stronger construction candidates and simplify remote onboarding, with ASRC Construction Group in northern Alaska specifically highlighted.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a real-world case study that examined ASRC Construction Group’s use of HR automation technology.

Findings

ASRC Construction Group was able to automate its HR processes, which helped the company easily scale staff up and down based on project demands. This was especially useful during peak season when the company hires and terms 50–100 employees a week. In the past, processing that many hires required as many as four people working 10 or 12 h a day. Now it only takes one dedicated manager with a shared recruiting team and is a much easier process, particularly with rehires.

Originality/value

This is a unique case study that explores how HR automation worked in remote Alaska.
Shared leadership and team performance in health care: how intellectual capital and team learning intervene in this relationship
Authors: Shoukat Muhammad Haroon , Shah Syed Asim , Muneeb Dilnaz
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the role of shared leadership (SL) practices in improving team performance (TP) in health-care producer organizations by mediating the roles of intellectual capital (IC) and team learning (TL).

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual model was proposed using social learning theory and resource-based view theory. The structured questionnaire was administered to respondents of Pakistani health-care producer organizations using a cross-sectional approach. Data was collected from 23 team leaders and 203 team members from 23 different teams. PLS-structural equation modeling was applied to SmartPLS 3.2.9.

Findings

The findings revealed that SL and IC are positively associated with TP, while TL has no association with TP. Further, SL is positively associated with IC and TL. This study also found that IC significantly mediates between SL and TP. Still, no mediating role of TL between SL and TP was found.

Practical implications

The findings suggest health-care producer organizations adopt shared leader practices where team members are given a say in decision-making to boost their morale, leading to effective TP.

Originality/value

The conceptual model was created using social learning and resource-based view theories. This is an early attempt to examine the role of SL in health-care producer organizations.
Application of GIS and remote sensing in mineral exploration: current and future perspectives
Authors: Tagwai Mathew Gregory , Jimoh Onimisi Abdullateef , Shehu Shaib Abdulazeez , Zabidi Hareyani
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to give an oversight of what is being done by researchers in GIS and remote sensing (field) to explore minerals. The main objective of this review is to explore how GIS and remote sensing have been beneficial in identifying mineral deposits for easier and cost-effective mining.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of this research used Web of Science to generate a database of published articles on the application of GIS and remote sensing techniques for mineral exploration. The literature was further digested, noting the main findings, adopted method, illustration and research scales.

Findings

When applied alone, each technique seems effective, but it is important to know that combining different methods is more effective in identifying ore deposits.

Originality/value

This paper also examined and provided possible solutions to both current and future perspective issues relating to the application of GIS and remote sensing to mineral exploration. The authors believe that the conclusions and recommendations drawn from case studies and literature review will be of great importance to geoscientists and policymakers.
Effects of milk types used in Antep cheese production on some cheese organoleptic quality parameters and brine composition during 5‐month ripening
Authors: Ertekin Mahmut , Uğurlu Özlem , Salum Pelin , Erbay Zafer
Published: March 2023

Antep cheese is a local Turkish cheese characterized by scalding during production and ripened in brine. In this study, Antep cheeses were produced using mixtures of different milk types (cow, sheep, and goat milk) and ripened for 5 months. The composition, proteolytic ripening extension index (REI), free fatty acid (FFA) content, and volatile compounds of the cheeses and the variation of the brines were analyzed for the 5‐month ripening period. Low proteolytic activity in cheese during ripening caused the cheeses to have low REI values (3.92%–7.57%), although it was observed that some parts of the water‐soluble nitrogen fractions diffused into the brine, causing a lower REI. As a result of lipolysis during ripening, total FFA (TFFA) concentrations in all cheeses were increased, whereas the highest increases were detected in the concentrations of short‐chain FFAs. The highest FFA concentrations were determined in cheese produced using goat milk, and the volatile FFA ratio in TFFA exceeded 10% in the third month of ripening. Although it was observed that the milk types used in the production had significant effects on the change of volatile compounds of the produced cheeses and their brines, the impact of the ripening time was more important.

Practical Application

This study investigated Antep cheese made with different milk types. Volatile compounds and soluble nitrogen fractions were transferred to the brine by diffusion during ripening. The volatile profile of the cheese varied with milk type, but ripening time was the primary factor influencing volatile compounds. This suggests that the targeted organoleptic properties of the cheese are determined by ripening time and conditions. Additionally, changes in the brine's composition during the ripening process provide insight into how to manage the brine as waste.
Genomes of two Extinct‐in‐the‐Wild reptiles from Christmas Island reveal distinct evolutionary histories and conservation insights
Authors: Dodge Tristram O. , Farquharson Katherine A. , Ford Claire , Cavanagh Lisa , Schubert Kristen , Schumer Molly , Belov Katherine , Hogg Carolyn J.
Published: March 2023

Genomics can play important roles in biodiversity conservation, especially for Extinct‐in‐the‐Wild species where genetic factors greatly influence risk of total extinction and probability of successful reintroductions. The Christmas Island blue‐tailed skink (Cryptoblepharus egeriae) and Lister's gecko (Lepidodactylus listeri) are two endemic reptile species that went extinct in the wild shortly after the introduction of a predatory snake. After a decade of management, captive populations have expanded from 66 skinks and 43 geckos to several thousand individuals; however, little is known about patterns of genetic variation in these species. Here, we use PacBio HiFi long‐read and Hi‐C sequencing to generate highly contiguous reference genomes for both reptiles, including the XY chromosome pair in the skink. We then analyse patterns of genetic diversity to infer ancient demography and more recent histories of inbreeding. We observe high genome‐wide heterozygosity in the skink (0.007 heterozygous sites per base‐pair) and gecko (0.005), consistent with large historical population sizes. However, nearly 10% of the blue‐tailed skink reference genome falls within long (>1 Mb) runs of homozygosity (ROH), resulting in homozygosity at all major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci. In contrast, we detect a single ROH in Lister's gecko. We infer from the ROH lengths that related skinks may have established the captive populations. Despite a shared recent extinction in the wild, our results suggest important differences in these species' histories and implications for management. We show how reference genomes can contribute evolutionary and conservation insights, and we provide resources for future population‐level and comparative genomic studies in reptiles.
Efficacy of PF‐06651600 in alleviating the pro‐inflammatory capacity of CD4+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Mohammad Talar Ahmad Merza
Published: March 2023

Introduction

PF‐06651600 is a highly specific inhibitor of Janus‐activated kinase 3 and the Tec family of kinases. Regarding its dual function in the inhibition of both γc cytokine receptors and T cell receptor signaling, the present study aimed at evaluating the impact of PF‐06651600 on the status of T‐helper cells (Th) as the central game players in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Method

TCD4+ cells were isolated from 34 RA patients and 15 healthy control individuals and were evaluated after treatment with PF‐06651600.

Results

RA patients had higher percentages of TCD4+ cells, CD4+ PD‐1+ cells, and CD4+ PD‐1+ TIGIT+ cells compared to a healthy control group and the TCD4+ cells of these patients showed higher interferon (IFN)‐γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and interleukin (IL)‐17 secretion along with higher messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of T‐bet. The percentage of CD4+ PD‐1+ TIGIT+ cells showed a reverse correlation with the Disease Activity Score of 28 joints of the RA patients. PF‐06651600 caused a significant decrease in the mRNA expressions of T‐bet and RAR‐related orphan receptor γt and the secretion of interferon (IFN)‐γ and TNF‐α in TCD4+ cells of RA patients. On the other hand, the population of CD4+ PD‐1+ TIGIT+ cells was expanded under the influence of PF‐06651600. This treatment also reduced the proliferation of TCD4+ cells.

Conclusion

PF‐06651600 demonstrated a potential to modulate the activity of TCD4+ cells in RA patients and to reduce the commitment of Th cells to the pathogenic Th1 and Th17 subsets. Further, it caused TCD4+ cells to gain an exhausted phenotype which is associated with better prognosis in RA patients.
Attitudes and factors affecting decision‐making regarding COVID‐19 vaccination among autoimmune rheumatic disease patients
Authors: Wantha Orathai , Mahakkanukrauh Ajanee , Tuydaung Kwankaew , Donsrichan Walailuk , Yingyaun Kannikar , Kaewmeun Sumalee , Suwannaroj Siraphop , Foocharoen Chingching
Published: March 2023

Background

Coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) vaccine hesitancy is a significant threat to the success of COVID‐19 vaccination programs.

Objectives

We aimed to assess attitudes and factors affecting the decision‐making vis‐à‐vis COVID‐19 vaccination among patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs).

Method

A cross‐sectional survey of adults with ARDs was conducted between January 2022 and April 2022. All enrolled ARDs patients were asked to answer a questionnaire about their attitudes regarding COVID‐19 vaccination.

Results

Three hundred patients were included with a female‐to‐male ratio of 2.5:1. The mean age of the patients was 49.2 ± 15.6 years. Around 37% of patients who hesitated to get the COVID‐19 vaccination were apprehensive regarding potential adverse events from the vaccine. About 25% (76 cases) were hesitant about vaccination, of which 15% were uncertain about the vaccine's efficacy, and 15% thought the vaccine was unnecessary because they lived in rural areas where they practiced social distancing. “Family role as a non‐working member” was the only factor strongly associated with hesitancy for vaccination (odds ratio of 2.42; 95% CI 1.06–5.57). The attitudes to vaccination showed that the patients were concerned about disease flaring and believed all medicine should be stopped before vaccination.

Conclusion

Around one‐quarter of ARDs sufferers hesitated to get COVID‐19 vaccination. In addition, some patients were disinclined to get vaccinated because they were worried about its efficacy and/or associated adverse events. The findings help healthcare providers plan to counter negative attitudes toward vaccination in ARDs patients to protect them during the COVID‐19 era.
Prescribed fire is associated with increased floral richness and promotes short‐term increases in bee biodiversity in the ponderosa pine forest of the Southern Rocky Mountains
Authors: Gelles Ryleigh V. , Davis Thomas S. , Barrett Kevin J.
Published: March 2023

Managed low‐severity surface fires are frequently implemented in efforts to restore disturbance processes to forests of North America; although the effects of managed fire on forest structure are well‐studied, few studies investigate whether these disturbances cascade to impact pollinator communities.

We analysed bee‐habitat relationships in fire‐treated (1‐ and 3‐years post‐treatment) and non‐treated ponderosa pine stands in Colorado to test wild bee population responses.

Observed bee richness and α‐diversity were highest in stands 1‐year post‐fire and had more Anthophora, Bombus, Osmia and Lasioglossum spp. in comparison to 3‐year post‐fire and non‐treated stands. Bee functional groups were responsive to treatments, with more below‐ground nesting taxa present in stands 3 years post‐fire.

Floral richness was the highest mid‐growing season (June, July) and within 1‐year post‐fire stands.

A model analysing the effects of foraging and nesting habitat variation on bee assemblages indicated positive association between floral richness and bee α‐diversity, but negative relationships with stand basal area. Nesting habitat was not associated with variation in bee assemblages.

We conclude that managed fire has positive short‐term effects on bee biodiversity that are likely mediated by floral richness. However, these effects were not detectable by 3 years post‐treatment in the southern Rocky Mountain region.
Association between oral metformin use and the risk of age‐related macular degeneration: A systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Holtz Jeppe Kirkegaard , Thinggaard Benjamin Sommer , Grauslund Jakob , Subhi Yousif
Published: March 2023

Rodent studies demonstrate that oral metformin use may reduce chronic low‐grade inflammation, downregulate apoptosis and extend life span. Emerging epidemiological evidence suggests that oral metformin use may protect against development of age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) in humans. In this study, we systematically reviewed the literature on the association between oral metformin use and AMD in patients with type 2 diabetes and conducted a quantitative meta‐analysis to provide a summary estimate of the association. We searched 12 literature databases on 10 August 2022 and identified nine eligible studies with data on a total of 1 427 074 individuals with diabetes. We found that patients with diabetes using metformin had a significantly lower odds ratio (OR) of having or developing AMD (OR 0.63; 95% CI: 0.46–0.86; p = 0.004). Our analyses also revealed that although the findings were robust in the sensitivity analysis, the Funnel plot indicated a certain publication bias towards finding a protective effect. Results of individual studies suggested inconsistent findings, as some studies found lower risk of AMD from higher total metformin exposure, whereas other studies found a higher risk of AMD from higher total metformin exposure. Taken together, there may be a link between metformin use and lower risk of AMD, but the relationship is only studied in observational studies, various sources of bias can be speculated to influence, and careful interpretation is warranted.
National data showed an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity among four‐year‐old Swedish children during the first year of COVID‐19
Authors: Miregård Jessica , Nowicka Paulina , Nylander Charlotte
Published: March 2023

Aim

This paper summarised national data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 4‐year‐old children in Sweden in 2020, the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic. It compares this with data from 2018. Differences between regions and sex were identified.

Methods

Comparative data from Swedish Child Health Services were available for 18/21 regions. Chi‐square tests were used to compare data from 2018 and 2020 and to examine differences between the sexes. Sex and year were examined through interaction tests.

Results

In 2020, 13.3% of the 100 001 children had overweight or obesity: 15.1% of the girls and 11.6% of the boys (p < 0.001). In 2018, 11.4% of the 105 445 children had overweight or obesity: 13.2% of the girls and 9.4% of the boys. This was an overall increase of 16.6% (p = 0.000) in the national Swedish data from 2018 to 2020. The increase between the years was greater for obesity (31.8%, p = 0.000) than for overweight (13.3%, p = 0.000).

Conclusion

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among 4‐year‐olds in Sweden increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic and needs to be addressed. The prevalence needs to be followed as part of prevention programmes and to evaluate health interventions.
Could woodworking have influenced variation in the form of Acheulean handaxes?
Authors: Gürbüz Rebecca Biermann , Lycett Stephen J.
Published: March 2023

The relationship between tool form and function is fundamental to hominin behaviour and evolution. Acheulean handaxes are known for their general consistency across more than a million years and three continents, albeit with some variation in size and shape. However, the influence of this variation on cutting has only rarely been studied, mostly in either butchery or generalized cutting tasks. Yet evidence indicates that handaxes were used for woodworking by at least 1.5 mya. Here, we experimentally tested whether woodworking could have exerted selective pressures on handaxe form. Additionally, these data were compared with a previous experiment that tested flakes during woodworking. For handaxes, no significant relationships were detected in woodworking efficiency. Accordingly, woodworking likely did not exert strong selective pressures on handaxe variability. However, the effectiveness shown by handaxes further demonstrates the functional flexibility of this technology, which is likely a factor contributing to their use over broad temporal, geographical and ecological spans. When comparing handaxes with flakes, only the smallest flakes were found to be significantly less efficient than handaxes. Therefore, the functional demands of woodworking were likely influencing hominin technological decisions about flake morphology, or the selection of flakes for woodworking, more than they were handaxe morphology.
The Real Effects of Analyst Research Quality: Evidence from the Adoption of the Broker Protocol
Authors: Platikanova Petya
Published: March 2023

I provide empirical evidence that labour market frictions have an adverse effect on the quality of analyst research. Using the staggered, voluntary adoption of the Protocol for Broker Recruiting (Protocol) since 2004, I show that, without non‐compete agreements, financial analysts produce more accurate forecasts and exert greater efforts in updating their research more frequently. Consistent with the notion that information asymmetry in the capital market are lower in the post‐Protocol period, I provide empirical evidence and argue that the research coverage by Protocol members enables managers to access capital and extend their investment opportunities. My findings suggest that analyst coverage by Protocol members has a favourable effect on investment in innovative projects, production capacity and acquisitions.
Progressive grey matter alterations in bipolar disorder across the life span – A systematic review
Authors: Förster Katharina , Horstmann Rosa H. , Dannlowski Udo , Houenou Josselin , Kanske Philipp
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To elucidate the relationship between the course of bipolar disorder (BD) and structural brain changes across the life span, we conducted a systematic review of longitudinal imaging studies in adolescent and adult BD patients.

Methods

Eleven studies with 329 BD patients and 277 controls met our PICOS criteria (participants, intervention, comparison, outcome and study design): BD diagnosis based on DSM criteria, natural course of disease, comparison of grey matter changes in BD individuals over ≥1‐year interval between scans.

Results

The selected studies yielded heterogeneous findings, partly due to varying patient characteristics, data acquisition and statistical models. Mood episodes were associated with greater grey matter loss in frontal brain regions over time. Brain volume decreased or remained stable in adolescent patients, whereas it increased in healthy adolescents. Adult BD patients showed increased cortical thinning and brain structural decline. In particular, disease onset in adolescence was associated with amygdala volume reduction, which was not reported in adult BD.

Conclusions

The evidence collected suggests that the progression of BD impairs adolescent brain development and accelerates structural brain decline across the lifespan. Age‐specific changes in amygdala volume in adolescent BD suggest that reduced amygdala volume is a correlate of early onset BD. Clarifying the role of BD in brain development across the lifespan promises a deeper understanding of the progression of BD patients through different developmental episodes.
Latent Deformation Models for Multivariate Functional Data and Time-Warping Separability
Authors: Carroll Cody , Müller Hans-Georg
Published: March 2023

Multivariate functional data present theoretical and practical complications that are not found in univariate functional data. One of these is a situation where the component functions of multivariate functional data are positive and are subject to mutual time warping. That is, the component processes exhibit a common shape but are subject to systematic phase variation across their domains in addition to subject-specific time warping, where each subject has its own internal clock. This motivates a novel model for multivariate functional data that connect such mutual time warping to a latent-deformation-based framework by exploiting a novel time-warping separability assumption. This separability assumption allows for meaningful interpretation and dimension reduction. The resulting latent deformation model is shown to be well suited to represent commonly encountered functional vector data. The proposed approach combines a random amplitude factor for each component with population-based registration across the components of a multivariate functional data vector and includes a latent population function, which corresponds to a common underlying trajectory. We propose estimators for all components of the model, enabling implementation of the proposed data-based representation for multivariate functional data and downstream analyses such as Fréchet regression. Rates of convergence are established when curves are fully observed or observed with measurement error. The usefulness of the model, interpretations, and practical aspects are illustrated in simulations and with application to multivariate human growth curves and multivariate environmental pollution data.
Aversive well‐being comparisons in dysphoria and the role of brooding rumination
Authors: Schlechter Pascal , Morina Nexhmedin
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Individuals frequently engage in comparisons on how they are doing relative to different standards. According to the general comparative‐processing model, comparisons can be perceived as aversive (appraised as threatening the motives of the comparer) or appetitive (appraised as consonant with, or positively challenging the motives). Research indicates that aversive comparisons are associated with depression. We hypothesize that aversive comparisons play a significant role in the relationship between brooding rumination and depression. Drawing on central propositions of control theory that discrepancies instigate rumination, we investigated the mediating role of brooding rumination in this relationship. Reflecting the different directionality, we also examined whether well‐being comparisons mediate the relationship between brooding rumination and depression.

Methods

Dysphoric participants (N = 500) were administered measures of depression and brooding rumination, and the Comparison Standards Scale for Well‐being. The latter assesses aversive social, temporal, counterfactual, and criteria‐based comparisons regarding their (a) frequency, (b) perceived discrepancy to the standard, and (c) engendered affective valence.

Results

The relationship between the frequency of aversive comparisons with depression was partially accounted for by comparison discrepancy and engendered affective valence and brooding rumination. The relationship between rumination and depression was partially mediated by sequential comparison processes.

Conclusions

Longitudinal research needs to unravel the underlying directionality of the relationship between depression, brooding, and comparison. Relevant clinical implications of well‐being comparison are discussed.
Single‐cell profiling of ineffective erythropoiesis in a mouse model of β‐thalassaemia intermedia
Authors: Peng Yuanliang , Liang Long , Zhang Haihang , Liu Hong , Zhang Guanxiong , Sun Shuming , Guo Xianfeng , Wang Yanpeng , Hu Bin , Liu Rui , Li Yanan , Nie Ling , Zhang Ji , Ye Mao , Ginzburg Yelena Z. , Lin Zhong , Yin Biao , Chen Huiyong , Liu Jing
Published: March 2023

Beta‐thalassaemia is an inherited haemoglobin disorder characterised by ineffective erythropoiesis (IE). The detailed pathogenesis of IE remains unclear. In this study, we used single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) to examine IE in Th3/+ β‐thalassaemic mice. The results showed that the erythroid group was remarkably expanded, and genes involved in biological processes such as iron metabolism, haeme synthesis, protein folding, and response to heat were significantly upregulated from erythroid progenitors to reticulocytes in β‐thalassaemic mice. In particular, we identified a unique cell population close to reticulocytes, named ThReticulocytes, characterised by a high level of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) expression and dysregulation of iron metabolism and haeme synthesis signalling. Treatment of β‐thalassaemic mice with the haeme oxygenase inhibitor tin‐mesoporphyrin effectively improved the iron disorder and IE, and the ThReticulocyte population and Hsp70 expression were significantly suppressed. This study revealed in detail the progression of IE at the single‐cell level and possibly provided clues to find therapeutic targets in thalassaemia.