bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Family firms and their participation in cross-border acquisition waves: evidence from India
Authors: Fuad Mohammad , Thakur Vinod , Sinha Ashutosh Kumar
Published: July 2021

Purpose

From the socioemotional wealth (SEW) perspective, family firms prioritize non-financial goals and show risk averse behaviour towards conducting acquisitions. In this paper, we study family firms' acquisitive behaviour while participating in CBA waves. Scholars have largely treated the cross border acquisition (CBA) wave and non-wave environments as homogeneous. We theorize that these two environments differ in their uncertainty and risk profiles on account of temporal clustering of acquisition deals. Accordingly, based on the SEW perspective, we examine the preference of family firms to participate in CBA waves.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on CBAs conducted by Indian family firms between 2000 and 2018. These waves are identified by conducting a simulation based methodology.

Findings

Our findings suggest that foreign institutional ownership, firm age and acquisition relatedness moderate the relationship between family control and participation in CBA waves.

Originality/value

Our paper contributes towards the acquisitive behavior of family firms and their participation in CBA waves.
Earnings management by health insurance companies in Brazil
Authors: Martinez Antonio Lopo , Carvalho Flávio Alves de
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study examines whether Brazilian health insurance companies (HICs) engage in earnings management through discretionary accruals or operational decisions by refraining from reporting a low indicator of sustainability in the market (IDSM).

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the Jones and Modified Jones models to identify earnings management through discretionary accruals and used the model described by Roychowdhury to estimate the abnormal behaviors of operational decisions. Data covering 2012 to 2018 were collected from the ANS website.

Findings

The results show that HICs engaged in earnings management to avoid reporting a low IDSM. The findings should help health insurance clients make decisions regarding the purchase or change of health insurance. The findings should also encourage regulators to improve their evaluation of the economic and financial risks around HICs.

Originality/value

The National Agency of Supplementary Health (ANS) established a qualification program for HICs, monitoring them based on a set of indicators. Managers may have an incentive to use earnings management to obtain indices that meet the requirements of the ANS qualification program in order to avoid showing signs of abnormality.
Smoothed/profile lattice Boltzmann method for hydrothermal analysis of a corrugated parabolic-trough solar collector filled with nanofluid predicted by Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li model
Authors: Shariatifard Alireza , Kamali Dariuosh , Hejri Saeid , Hasani Malekshah Emad
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This study aims to employ a modern numerical approach for conducting the simulations, which uses the smoothed-profile lattice Boltzmann method. Two separate distribution functions for flow and temperature fields are used to solve the Navier–Stokes equations in the most efficient manner. In addition, the Koo–Kleinstreuer–Li model is used to calculate the dynamic viscosity and thermal conductivity in the desired volume fractions, and the effect of Brownian motion is taken into consideration.

Design/methodology/approach

Nowadays, because of enhanced global price of oil and critical issue of global warming, a significant demand for using renewable energy exists. The solar energy is one of the most popular forms of renewable energy. The solar collector can be used to collect and trap the energy received from the sun. The present work focuses on introducing and investigating a parabolic-trough solar collector.

Findings

To analyze all hydrodynamic and thermal views of the solar collector, the structure of nanofluid stream, distribution of temperature, local dissipations because of flow and heat transfer, volumetric entropy production, Bejan number vs Rayleigh number and volume fraction are presented. Also, three different configurations for profile of solar receiver are designed and studied.

Originality/value

The originality of the present work is in using a modern numerical approach for a well-known application. Also, the effect of Brownian motion is taken into account which significantly enhances the accuracy.
Entrepreneurial logic and fit: a cross-level model of incubator performance
Authors: Nicholls-Nixon Charlene L. , Valliere Dave
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Although business incubators are widely used support mechanisms for innovative entrepreneurship, the literature still lacks theoretically based explanations of how the incubation process creates value for stakeholders. This study aims to address this gap by developing a conceptual model, and related research propositions, that explains how the entrepreneurial logic in use by an incubator influences the incubation process (selection criteria and service offering) and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Integrating the effectuation and entrepreneurial opportunities literature, which shares common conceptualizations about how the predictability of the future affects entrepreneurial action, the authors posit two archetypes of entrepreneurial logic that are associated with different incubation processes (causal or effectual) and two archetypes of opportunity attributes (discovery- or creation-based) that affect the incubation process needed to support their development.

Findings

Juxtaposing these archetypes, the proposed cross-level conceptual model specifies four levels of fit (ideal, surplus, deficit and mismatch) between the incubation process and the opportunity attributes of individual ventures, which directly influence venture performance (high, moderate and low). In turn, an incubator's performance is largely shaped by the overall performance of ventures in its portfolio.

Originality/value

This paper responds to the call for theory-building that links the antecedents and outcomes of the incubation process across levels of analysis. In addition to developing a conceptual model and research agenda at the intersection of entrepreneurship and business incubation, the proposed model also has implications for incubator directors deciding how to allocate limited resources, and for public/private sector administrators interested in leveraging investment in business incubators.
The analysis of OLC stages and the venture capital investors from Adizes life cycle theory
Authors: Verma Pratima , Kumar Vimal
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the organization’s life-cycle stages influence the venture capital investor’s decision. The present study also aims to explore the relationships between life cycle stages and financing decisions of investors of an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The research focuses on a qualitative approach and adopts descriptive and case study methods to perceive the data collected. By the multi-case research approach, the authors conducted interviews in analytics and technological companies. The data originates from semi-structured interviews and publicly available data with various venture capital firms.

Findings

In this research, 10 stages of the organization’s life cycle from the Adizes theory have been considered. It starts from the first two stages as courtship and infancy to bureaucracy and death to the final stages. The results and findings indicate that life cycle stages influence venture capitalist financing decisions.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of the current research help venture capitalist to take investment decisions according to the life cycle stage of the organization. Furthermore, according to the stage of the organization, the owner of a venture capital firm can approach various venture capitalists for the betterment of the organization.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research is to consider a case-based approach involving Adizes’ life cycle in all 10 stages of venture capital firms that affect venture capitalists.
Determinants of university reputation: conceptual model and empirical investigation in an emerging higher education market
Authors: Kaushal Vikrant , Jaiswal Deepak , Kant Rishi , Ali Nurmahmud
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The study aims to explore and test the integrated relationships between university reputation and its key antecedents. In doing so, theoretically derived antecedents of university reputation were examined. The study reports the complex interplay among image, quality, value, satisfaction and attachment and their subsequent effect on reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative method was used to achieve research objectives. Data collected from students enrolled in major private university in Northern India were analysed to test the proposed model directly and indirectly using structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

The findings confirmed most of the hypothesised relationships. Prominently, image construct was found to be significantly affecting students' quality perceptions along with satisfaction, attachment, value and importantly reputation. The study found evidence for the impact of students' attachment on university reputation. Findings also indicated the presence of several indirect relationships among the considered dimensions.

Research limitations/implications

Current research offers implications for universities that are met with the perpetual challenge of survival in the competitive higher education (HE) marketplace. Findings from the study not only help build theory on university reputation but make essential contribution towards guiding managers in developing effective strategies by building reputation via concentrating on the most crucial determinants.

Originality/value

Although research in HE marketing is growing, effects of student attachment towards building reputation has not garnered attention, which is theoretically a vital construct. The paper presents new framework to realise university reputation with the help of integrated relationships among select dimensions in the setting of an emerging HE market.
Extending differences-in-differences frameworks to Granger equations: evidence from cutback management during three recessions
Authors: Buerger Christian , Sandel Riley M. , Reitano Vincent , Lofton Michelle L. , Jones Peter
Published: July 2021

Purpose

The authors show how to extend difference-in-differences (DiD) frameworks to Granger (1969) equations, a technique that tests for the parallel trends assumption and measures changes in effect sizes over time. To illustrate how these equations work, they apply them to state cutback management decisions in three recessions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies quantitative methods. The authors estimate DiD frameworks as Granger (1969) equations.

Findings

After empirically analyzing recessions that started in 1990, 2001 and 2007, the authors find that states deepen expenditure cuts when economic declines lengthen and tend to make large cuts to specific expenditure categories instead of spreading cuts equally over all service areas.

Originality/value

The authors offer two contributions of methodological value. First, they introduce the estimation of Granger equations to the study of topics in public administration. Second, they show how this technique helps to evaluate the impact of economic declines on state spending. By instituting these contributions, they offer a unique way of analyzing cutback management decisions.
The effect of attendance on student performance: implications of using virtual learning on overall performance
Authors: Diab-Bahman Randa , Al-Enzi Abrar , Sharafeddine Wael , Aftimos Sapheya
Published: July 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the correlation between academic performance and attendance of e-learning, away from the conventional classroom setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The study investigates the impact of attendance in the final grades of 389 undergraduate first- and second-year undergraduates taking Business Management classes online for the first time over the span of three consecutive academic semesters during an academic year.

Findings

The results show that there was a negative correlation between attendance and grades. However, splitting the results by year provided some insightful information as there was a difference between the relationships for first- and second-year students. Therefore, it can be concluded that both attendance and the year of the students did have a statistically significant influence on grades.

Originality/value

Although the impact of students' attendance on their academic performance has not been the subject of extensive research, especially in the field of Management studies and in an online delivery medium, it is likely to be of interest to academics and policymakers as the pandemic continues to make e-learning more popular.
Uncertainty management in organizational crisis communication: the impact of crisis responsibility uncertainty and attribution-based emotions on publics' further crisis information seeking
Authors: Lee Yen-I , Lu Xuerong , Jin Yan
Published: July 2021

Purpose

Although uncertainty has been identified as a key crisis characteristic and a multi-faceted construct essential to effective crisis management research and practice, only a few studies examined publics' perceived uncertainty with a focus on crisis severity uncertainty, leaving crisis responsibility uncertainty uninvestigated in organizational crisis settings.

Design/methodology/approach

To close this research gap empirically, this study employed data from an online survey of a total of 817 US adults to examine how participants' crisis responsibility uncertainty and their attribution-based crisis emotions might impact their crisis responses such as further crisis information seeking.

Findings

First, findings show that participants' crisis responsibility uncertainty was negatively associated with their attribution-independent (AI) crisis emotions (i.e. anxiety, fear, apprehension and sympathy) and external-attribution-dependent (EAD) crisis emotions (i.e. disgust, contempt, anger and sadness), but positively associated with internal-attribution-dependent (IAD) crisis emotions (i.e. guilt, embarrassment and shame). Second, crisis responsibility uncertainty and AI crisis emotions were positive predictors for participants' further crisis information seeking. Third, AI crisis emotions and IAD crisis emotions were parallel mediators for the relationship between participants' crisis responsibility uncertainty and their further crisis information seeking.

Practical implications

Organizations need to pay attention to the perceived uncertainty about crisis responsibility and attribution-based crisis emotions since they can impact the decision of seeking crisis information during an ongoing organizational crisis.

Originality/value

This study improves uncertainty management in organizational crisis communication research and practice, connecting crisis responsibility uncertainty, attribution-based crisis emotions and publics' crisis information seeking.
Patient characteristics and burden of disease in Japanese patients with generalized pustular psoriasis: Results from the Medical Data Vision claims database
Authors: Morita Akimichi , Kotowsky Nirali , Gao Ran , Shimizu Reiko , Okubo Yukari
Published: July 2021

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a rare and severe systemic, neutrophilic skin disease. To date, accurate clinical profiling of patients with GPP remains poorly understood. In this study, we present the characteristics and estimate the burden of disease in patients with GPP compared with those with plaque psoriasis, in Japan. This retrospective study was conducted using the Medical Data Vision database between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. Patients with at least one confirmed inpatient or outpatient diagnostic code for GPP (L40.1) or psoriasis vulgaris (L40.0) were included for analysis. The main outcome measures included comparisons of the prevalence of comorbidities, medication use, and healthcare resource utilization between patients with GPP, patients with plaque psoriasis, and a general population‐matched cohort. In total, 718 patients with GPP and 27,773 patients with plaque psoriasis were identified. Patients with GPP were more likely to be female than those with plaque psoriasis (51.6% vs. 38.7%). During the 12‐month follow‐up period, patients with GPP were more likely to experience comorbidities than those with plaque psoriasis, including psoriatic arthritis, other forms of psoriasis, osteoporosis, interstitial pneumonia, and peptic ulcer disease. Medication use also differed between those with GPP and those with plaque psoriasis: patients with GPP were more likely to be prescribed antibiotics and psychiatric medication. Patients with GPP were also more likely to require more healthcare resource utilization with longer hospitalizations than those with plaque psoriasis. Overall, in Japan, patients with GPP have a higher burden of illness than those with plaque psoriasis.
Predator abundance drives the association between exploratory personality and foraging habitat risk in a wild marine meso‐predator
Authors: Dhellemmes Félicie , Smukall Matthew J. , Guttridge Tristan L. , Krause Jens , Hussey Nigel E.
Published: July 2021

In recent years, the incorporation of lower levels of organization to the understanding of population ecology, has led to an increase in interest for animal personality and individual foraging specialization. Despite these topics investigating comparable phenomena, that is, individual consistency in behaviour and in food resource use respectively, they have rarely been investigated together.

Food resource use is thought to be at the interface between personality and life history. More explorative individuals in a population, for example, are thought to increase encounter rates with food resources and consequently have faster growth than less explorative conspecifics.

Such hypotheses have so far only received partial support, and the link between personality and life history is increasingly speculated to be plastic and dependent on spatio‐temporal variation in ecological conditions. Intraspecific competition and/or predation risk, for example are known to influence foraging specialization.

Here, we investigated the relationship between exploration personality of juvenile lemon sharks Negaprion brevirostris (measured in captivity) and foraging habitat use (high risk vs. low risk; measured via stable isotope analysis in the field) in relation to conspecific and predator abundance.

We identified predator abundance as the main driver for the association between foraging habitat and exploration personality. When predators were less abundant, increased exploration was associated with foraging in riskier habitats. When predator abundance increased, an inverse relationship occurred, with less explorative individuals using more dangerous habitat.

We conclude that the relationship between personality and resource use is plastic and context dependent, which could explain the inconclusive results of previous studies investigating links between personality and life history.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Rethinking the Post‐Truth Polarisation Narrative: Social Roles and Hinge Commitments in the Plural Public Sphere
Authors: Ashton Natalie Alana , Cruft Rowan
Published: July 2021

This article critically evaluates what we call the ‘popular narrative’ about the state of the public sphere. We identify three elements of this popular narrative (the post‐truth element, the polarisation element and the new technology element), and draw on philosophical work on hinge epistemology and social roles to challenge each one. We propose, instead, that public debate has always depended on non‐evidential commitments, that it has always been home to significant, deep division, and that social media, rather than causing these phenomena, has just made them more visible. Finally, we recommend some changes to traditional and social media which we believe would help foster a healthier, more inclusive, public sphere.
Interest group networks in the European Union
Authors: BUNEA ADRIANA , IBENSKAS RAIMONDAS , WEILER FLORIAN
Published: July 2021

Interest group networks are crucial for understanding European Union (EU) integration, policymaking and interest representation. Yet, comparative analysis of interest organisation networks across EU policy areas is limited. This study provides the first large‐scale investigation of interest group information networks across all EU policy domains. We argue that interest groups prioritise access to trustworthy and high‐quality information coming from partners with shared policy goals. Thus, interest organisations form network ties with other organisations if the latter are from the same country, represent the same type of interest, or are policy insiders. The effect of these three factors varies across policy domains depending on the extent to which the institutional setting assures equal and broad organisational access to decision‐making. Our empirical analysis operationalises information ties as Twitter‐follower relationships among 7,388 interest organisations. In the first step of the analysis, we use Exponential Random Graph Models to examine tie formation in the full network and across 40 policy domains. We find strong but variable effects of country and interest type homophily and policy insiderness on the creation of network ties. In the second step, we examine how the effect of these three variables on tie formation varies with policy domain characteristics. We find that shared interest type and policy insiderness are less relevant for tie formation in (re‐)distributive and especially regulatory policy domains characterised by more supranational decision‐making. Sharing an interest type and being a policy insider matters more for tie formation in foreign and interior policies where decision‐making is more intergovernmental. The effect of country homophily is less clearly related to policy type and decision‐making mode. Our findings emphasise the importance of institutional and policy context in shaping interest group networks in the EU.
An evaluation of the Be Your Own Baby public awareness campaign
Authors: Marthey Daniel , Rashid Hira , Xie Liyang , Boudreaux Michel
Published: July 2021

Objective

Assess the impact of the Be Your Own Baby (BYOB) public awareness campaign including population‐level exposure, the effectiveness of ad platforms, and the effect of the campaign on family planning clinic attendance, the campaign's primary goal.

Data Sources

The study relied on administrative data on traffic and engagement from the campaign's website, population survey data measuring campaign exposure, and clinic attendance volumes from state‐by‐year restricted‐use versions of the Office of Population Affairs' Family Planning Annual Reports (2006–2018).

Study Design

Bivariate analyses were used to assess website traffic and engagement and population‐level exposure across key subgroups. We then used the synthetic control method to examine the impact of the BYOB campaign on per capita Title X clinic attendance among the target demographic, women 18–29 years of age.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Not applicable. We relied on secondary sources.

Principal Findings

Primary media platforms used by the campaign included social media, digital display, streaming audio, YouTube, and search. Website traffic was driven primarily by digital display ads, but engagement was highest for search. Our results suggest nearly 12% of Delaware women 18–29 years of age were exposed to the campaign. However, exposure was measured at the end of the campaign and was likely much larger during its peak. Our results indicated that the campaign was associated with between 13 and 23 additional Title X clinic visits per 1000 women compared with 110 users per 1000 at baseline in 2014.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest the BYOB campaign was successful at increasing clinic attendance among the target demographic. These results have important implications for other programs seeking to use public awareness messaging to increase participation in the health care system and are especially important for Title X administrators who have faced declining patient volumes for over 10 years.
The limits of telecommuting: Policy challenges of counterurbanisation as a pandemic response
Authors: Denham Todd
Published: July 2021

A prominent aspect of many people's experiences of the COVID‐19 pandemic has been a practice known as telecommuting, which typically involves working from home. Telecommuting has been a key response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, and it has translated into an increasingly and explicitly expressed desire to move out of cities and into nonmetropolitan areas where housing is less dense and infection rates are lower. This interest in counterurbanisation is an understandable response to self‐isolation. However, many postpandemic telecommuters are likely to be knowledge workers for whom some presence in the office during the working week may be required, and that may limit their counterurban moves to metropolitan hinterlands and regions. Commuter‐based population growth in metropolitan‐proximate and peri‐urban settlements may then lead to urban sprawl—that is, to disconnected and widespread suburbanisation. This article addresses emergent policy challenges for governments as they respond to the growing propensity for nonmetropolitan and particularly peri‐urban relocations that appears to be an outcome of the pandemic. Specific attention is paid to the distribution of employment and need to consider the variegated nature of population and demographic trajectories in nonmetropolitan Australia.
Development of a pest threshold decision support system for minimising damage to winter wheat from wheat bulb fly, Delia coarctata
Authors: Leybourne Daniel J. , Storer Kate E. , Berry Pete , Ellis Steve
Published: July 2021

Wheat bulb fly, Delia coarctata, is an important pest of winter wheat in the UK, causing significant damage of up to 4 t/ha. Accepted population thresholds for D. coarctata are 250 eggs/m2 for crops sown up to the end of October and 100 eggs/m2 for crops sown from November. Fields with populations of D. coarctata that exceed the thresholds are at higher risk of experiencing economically damaging infestations. In the UK, recent withdrawal of insecticides means that only a seed treatment (Signal 300 ES) is available for chemical control of D. coarctata; however, this is only effective for late‐sown crops and accurate estimations of annual population levels are required to ensure a seed treatment is applied if needed. As a result of the lack of postdrilling control strategies, the management of D. coarctata is becoming reliant on nonchemical methods of control. Control strategies that are effective in managing similar stem‐boring pests of wheat include sowing earlier and using higher seed rates to produce crops with greater pest tolerance. In this study, we develop two predictive models that can be used for integrated D. coarctata management. The first is an updated pest level prediction model that predicts D. coarctata populations from meteorological parameters with a predictive accuracy of 70%, a significant improvement on previous prediction models. Our second model predicts the maximum number of shoots for a winter wheat crop that would be expected at the terminal spikelet development stage. This shoot number model uses information about the thermal time from plant emergence to terminal spikelet, leaf phyllochron length, plant population and sowing date to predict the degree of tolerance a crop will have against D. coarctata. The shoot number model was calibrated against data collected from five field experiments and tested against data from four experiments. Model testing demonstrated that the shoot number model has a predictive accuracy of 65.7%. The foundation for a future decision support system using these models for the sustainable management of D. coarcata risk is described. It should be noted that these models represent a stepping‐stone towards a decision support system and that further model validation over a wider geographic range is required.
Nest survival of the threatened Campo MinerGeositta poeciloptera: a tropical cavity‐nesting grassland bird
Authors: Camargos de Meireles Ricardo , Esteves Lopes Leonardo , Pichorim Mauro , de Sousa Silva Machado Tamara Luciane , Duca Charles , Solar Ricardo
Published: July 2021

Nest survival is a key step in the reproductive biology of birds and is essential for understanding the strategies used to improve the chances of nest success. Here we studied the main factors driving nesting success of the Campo MinerGeositta poeciloptera(Scleruridae), a threatened Neotropical grassland bird that nests in cavities, usually along steep soil banks. We calculated the apparent success and modelled daily nest survival rates (DSR) based on 86 nests monitored to investigate the effects of nest‐related covariates on the nest survival. In the DSR modelling, we looked at the effects of reproductive phase (incubation and nestling periods), breeding seasons (years), temporal‐trends (linear and quadratic) rainfall and nest’s individual covariates (height, distance from the top of the cavity to the top of the bank, cavity depth and cavity entrance area). The overall apparent nest success was 58% and estimates based on DSRs were ˜45%. Nest phase, cavity entrance area, nest height and a linear time trend were the main factors influencing DSRs. The survival during incubation was lower (˜54%) than during the nestling period (˜83%), and both phases showed higher values in the beginning of the breeding season. Predation was the main driver of nest failure (23.3%,N = 20), followed by nest abandonment (10.5%,N = 9) and nest usurpation (7%,N = 6). Our results allow us to better understand and conserve this threatened species and also shed light in the reproductive ecology of a whole family endemic to the Neotropics.
Joint modeling of zero‐inflated longitudinal proportions and time‐to‐event data with application to a gut microbiome study
Authors: Hu Jiyuan , Wang Chan , Blaser Martin J. , Li Huilin
Published: July 2021

Recent studies have suggested that the temporal dynamics of the human microbiome may have associations with human health and disease. An increasing number of longitudinal microbiome studies, which record time to disease onset, aim to identify candidate microbes as biomarkers for prognosis. Owing to the ultra‐skewness and sparsity of microbiome proportion (relative abundance) data, directly applying traditional statistical methods may result in substantial power loss or spurious inferences. We propose a novel joint modeling framework [JointMM], which is comprised of two sub‐models: a longitudinal sub‐model called zero‐inflated scaled‐beta generalized linear mixed‐effects regression to depict the temporal structure of microbial proportions among subjects; and a survival sub‐model to characterize the occurrence of an event and its relationship with the longitudinal microbiome proportions. JointMM is specifically designed to handle the zero‐inflated and highly skewed longitudinal microbial proportion data and examine whether the temporal pattern of microbial presence and/or the nonzero microbial proportions are associated with differences in the time to an event. The longitudinal sub‐model of JointMM also provides the capacity to investigate how the (time‐varying) covariates are related to the temporal microbial presence/absence patterns and/or the changing trend in nonzero proportions. Comprehensive simulations and real data analyses are used to assess the statistical efficiency and interpretability of JointMM.
Humoral response rate and predictors of response to BNT162b2 mRNA COVID19 vaccine in patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Avivi Irit , Balaban Roi , Shragai Tamir , Sheffer Gabi , Morales Miguel , Aharon Anat , Lowenton‐Spier Noa , Trestman Svetlana , Perry Chava , Benyamini Noam , Mittelman Moshe , Tabib Yaara , Bar Lev Tali , Zavaro Mor , Herishanu Yair , Luttwak Efrat , Cohen Yael C.
Published: July 2021

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients are at excess risk for clinically significant COVID19 infection. BNT162b2 mRNA COVID19 (BNT162b2) vaccine provides effective protection against COVID19 for the general population, yet its effect in MM patients may be compromised due to disease and therapy‐related factors and was not yet evaluated. This single‐centre prospective study included MM patients tested for serological response 14–21 days post second vaccine. Vaccinated healthy volunteers served as controls. In all, 171 MM patients, median age 70 (38–94) were included; 159 active MM and 12 smouldering myeloma (SMM). Seropositive response rate (median titer) was 76% (91 U/ml) in active MM patients vs 98% (992 U/ml) in the 64 controls (P < 0·0001), and 100% (822 U/ml) in SMM patients. Multivariate analysis revealed older age (P = 0·009), exposure to ≥4 novel anti‐myeloma drugs (P = 0·02) and hypogammaglobulinaemia (P = 0·002) were associated with lower response rates. None of the novel agents significantly decreased response rate, whereas daratumumab trended towards reduced response (P = 0·08). Adverse events occurred in 53% and 55% of the MM patients and controls, respectively, all transient grade 1–2. In conclusion, BNT162b2 vaccine was safe and provided a high seropositivity rate in MM patients, independent of treatment type. Older, hypogammaglobulinaemic and heavily pretreated patients had lower response rates.
Putting Mutual Exclusivity in Context: Speaker Race Influences Monolingual and Bilingual Infants’ Word‐Learning Assumptions
Authors: Weatherhead Drew , Kandhadai Padmapriya , Hall D. Geoffrey , Werker Janet F.
Published: July 2021

Previous work indicates mutual exclusivity in word learning in monolingual, but not bilingual toddlers. We asked whether this difference indicates distinct conceptual biases, or instead reflects best‐guess heuristic use in the absence of context. We altered word‐learning contexts by manipulating whether a familiar‐ or unfamiliar‐race speaker introduced a novel word for an object with a known category label painted in a new color. Both monolingual and bilingual infants showed mutual exclusivity for a familiar‐race speaker, and relaxed mutual exclusivity and treated the novel word as a category label for an unfamiliar‐race speaker. Thus, monolingual and bilingual infants have access to similar word‐learning heuristics, and both use nonlinguistic social context to guide their use of the most appropriate heuristic.
The effects of increasing fruit and vegetable intake in children with asthma: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Berthon Bronwyn S. , McLoughlin Rebecca F. , Jensen Megan E. , Hosseini Banafshe , Williams Evan J. , Baines Katherine J. , Taylor Steven L. , Rogers Geraint B. , Ivey Kerry L. , Morten Matthew , Da Silva Sena Carla R. , Collison Adam M. , Starkey Malcolm R. , Mattes Joerg , Wark Peter A. B. , Wood Lisa G.
Published: July 2021

Background

A high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet reduces asthma exacerbations in adults; this has not been examined in children to date.

Objective

To investigate the effect of a 6‐month, high F&V diet on the time to first asthma exacerbation in children with asthma, in a parallel‐group, randomized, controlled trial.

Methods

Children (aged 3–11 years) with asthma, history of exacerbations and usual low F&V intake (≤3 serves/day) were randomized to the intervention (high F&V diet) or control group (usual diet) for 6 months. The primary outcome was time to first exacerbation requiring medical intervention. Secondary outcomes included exacerbation rate, lung function, plasma TNF‐α, CRP, and IL‐6, faecal microbiota and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and G‐protein coupled receptor (GPR) 41/43 and HDAC (1–11) expression.

Results

67 children were randomized between September 2015 and July 2018. F&V intake (difference in change (∆): 3.5 serves/day, 95% CI: [2.6, 4.4] p < 0.001) and plasma total carotenoids (∆: 0.44 µg/ml [0.19, 0.70] p = 0.001) increased after 6 months (intervention vs control). Time to first exacerbation (HR: 0.81, 95% CI: [0.38, 1.69], p = 0.569; control vs. intervention) and exacerbation rate (IRR: 0.84, [0.47, 1.49], p = 0.553; control vs. intervention) were similar between groups. In per‐protocol analysis, airway reactance z‐scores increased in the intervention versus control group (X5 ∆: 0.76 [0.04, 1.48] p = 0.038, X20 ∆: 0.93 [0.23, 1.64] p = 0.009) and changes in faecal microbiota were observed though there was no difference between groups in systemic inflammation or molecular mechanisms. In the control group, CRP and HDAC enzyme activity increased, while GPR41 expression decreased. No adverse events attributable to the interventions were observed.

Conclusion & Clinical Relevance

A high F&V diet did not affect asthma exacerbations over the 6‐month intervention, though warrants further investigation as a strategy for improving lung function and protecting against systemic inflammation in children with asthma.
Half‐body Portrait Relighting with Overcomplete Lighting Representation
Authors: Song Guoxian , Cham Tat‐Jen , Cai Jianfei , Zheng Jianmin
Published: July 2021

We present a neural‐based model for relighting a half‐body portrait image by simply referring to another portrait image with the desired lighting condition. Rather than following classical inverse rendering methodology that involves estimating normals, albedo and environment maps, we implicitly encode the subject and lighting in a latent space, and use these latent codes to generate relighted images by neural rendering. A key technical innovation is the use of a novel overcomplete lighting representation, which facilitates lighting interpolation in the latent space, as well as helping regularize the self‐organization of the lighting latent space during training. In addition, we propose a novel multiplicative neural render that more effectively combines the subject and lighting latent codes for rendering. We also created a large‐scale photorealistic rendered relighting dataset for training, which allows our model to generalize well to real images. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our system not only outperforms existing methods for referral‐based portrait relighting, but also has the capability generate sequences of relighted images via lighting rotations.
Reversing a tyranny of cascading shoreline‐protection decisions driving coastal habitat loss
Authors: Gittman Rachel K. , Scyphers Steven B. , Baillie Christopher J. , Brodmerkel Anna , Grabowski Jonathan H. , Livernois Mariah , Poray Abigail K. , Smith Carter S. , Fodrie F. Joel
Published: July 2021

Shoreline hardening is a major driver of biodiversity and habitat loss in coastal ecosystems yet remains a common approach to coastal management globally. Using surveys of waterfront residents in North Carolina, USA, we sought to identify factors influencing individual shore‐protection decisions and ultimately impacting coastal ecosystems, particularly coastal wetlands. We found that neighboring shore condition was the best predictor of respondent shore condition. Respondents with hardened shorelines were more likely to have neighbors with hardened shorelines, and to report that neighbors influenced their shore‐protection choices than respondents with natural shorelines. Further, respondents who expressed climate‐change skepticism and preference for shoreline hardening were opposed to shoreline‐hardening restrictions. Despite preferring hardening, respondents ranked wetlands as highly valuable for storm protection and other ecosystem services, suggesting a disconnect between the ecological knowledge of individuals and social norms of shore‐protection decisions. However, our results also suggest that efforts to increase the installation of living shorelines have the potential to conserve and restore important coastal habitats and support biodiversity along shorelines that may otherwise be degraded by hardening. Further, encouraging waterfront‐property owners who have adopted living shorelines to recommend them to neighbors may be an effective strategy to initiate and reinforce pro‐conservation social norms.
Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) in Mid‐Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe: Implementation challenges and practices
Authors: Kavhu Blessing , Mpakairi Kudzai Shaun
Published: July 2021

Biodiversity monitoring and data‐management technologies can enhance the protection of persecuted species, such as African elephants (Loxodonta africana), through providing management‐relevant information. Implementing these technologies, however, often presents several capacity and resource challenges for field staff in protected areas. In the Mid‐Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA) is in the process of adopting the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) as law enforcement and data management tool for adaptive management. With the support of several conservation partners, ZPWMA was able to acquire SMART equipment (computers and handheld cyber‐tracker devices) as well as train rangers and officers on how to use SMART in the region. Following the training and provision of SMART equipment, most protected areas (6 out of 7) in the Mid‐Zambezi Valley have adopted SMART for law enforcement and relevant data are being collected. This study draws from the first‐hand experience of training workshops, interviews with field staff, observations from support visits, and discussions with conservation partners in the Zambezi Valley. We observed that the introduction of SMART was marred by (a) technical and capacity challenges, (b) behavioral and human dynamics challenges, and (c) resources challenges. These were linked to ineptness among patrol rangers and officers, discomfort with the new technology, and uneven distribution of resources to implement SMART. To help overcome some of the challenges, we propose the development of an integrated SMART implementation plan, motivation of field staff, learning from implementation models of institutions that have successfully implemented SMART, and the provision of more SMART equipment.
“The use of bilateral continuous erector spinae plane blocks for postoperative analgesia after right‐sided living donor hepatectomy: A feasibility study”
Authors: Adelmann Dieter , Khorashadi Mina , Zhou George , Kinjo Sakura , Braun Hillary J. , Ascher Nancy L. , Braehler Matthias R.
Published: July 2021

Background

Postoperative pain after living donor hepatectomy is significant. Postoperative coagulopathy may limit the use of epidural analgesia, the gold standard for pain control in abdominal surgery. The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a novel regional anesthesia technique that has been shown to provide effective analgesia in abdominal surgery. In this study, we examined the effect of continuous ESPB, administered via catheters, on perioperative opioid requirements after right living donor hepatectomies for liver transplantation.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study in patients undergoing right living donor hepatectomy. Twenty‐four patients who received preoperative ESPB were compared to 51 historical controls who did not receive regional anesthesia. The primary endpoint was the total amount of oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) required on the day of surgery and postoperative day (POD) 1.

Results

Patients in the ESPB group required a lower total amount of OMEs on the day of surgery and POD 1 [141 (107–188) mg] compared the control group [293 (220–380) mg; P < .001].

Conclusions

The use of continuous ESPB significantly reduced opioid consumption following right living donor hepatectomy.
Sensitivity of a cold‐water coral reef to interannual variability in regional oceanography
Authors: Kazanidis Georgios , Henry Lea‐Anne , Vad Johanne , Johnson Clare , De Clippele Laurence Helene , Roberts J. Murray
Published: July 2021

Aim

We assessed the effects of regional oceanographic shifts on the macrofaunal biodiversity and biogeography of cold‐water coral reefs (CWCRs). CWCRs are often hotspots of biodiversity and ecosystem services and are in the frontline of exposure to multiple human pressures and climate change. Almost nothing is known about how large‐scale atmospheric variability affects the structure of CWCRs’ communities over ecological timescales, and this hinders their efficient conservation. This knowledge gap is especially evident for species‐rich macrofauna, a key component for ecosystem functioning.

Location

The Mingulay Reef Complex, a protected biogenic ecosystem in the northeast Atlantic (120–190 m).

Methods

A unique time series (2003–2011) at 79 stations was used to make the first assessment of interannual changes in CWCRs’ macrofaunal biodiversity, biogeography and functional traits. We quantified the impacts of interannual changes in North Atlantic Oscillation Index (NAOI)—the major mode of atmospheric variability in the North Atlantic, bottom temperature and salinity alongside static variables of seafloor terrain and hydrography.

Results

Environmental gradients explained a significant amount of community composition ( = 26.7%, p < .01) with interannual changes in bottom temperature, salinity and NAOI explaining nearly twice as much variability than changes in terrain or hydrography. We observed significant differences in community composition, diversity and functional traits but not in species richness across interannual variability in bottom temperature. In warmer years, the biogeographic composition shifted more towards a temperate and subtropical affinity.

Main Conclusions

Our findings highlight the necessity for thorough investigations of faunal communities in CWCRs as they may be sensitive to interannual changes in regional oceanography. Considering the scientific consensus on the substantial warming of North Atlantic by 2100, we recommend the establishment of programmes for the monitoring of CWCRs. This will support an advanced understanding of CWCRs’ environmental status over time and will serve their conservation for the future.
Metabolic syndrome severity score and the progression of CKD
Authors: Wu Mingyang , Shu Yanling , Wang Lulin , Song Lulu , Chen Shuohua , Liu Yunyun , Bi Jianing , Li Dankang , Yang Yingping , Hu Yonghua , Wang Youjie , Wu Shouling , Tian Yaohua
Published: July 2021

Background

Metabolic syndrome severity, expressed by the continuous metabolic syndrome risk score (MetS score), has been demonstrated to be able to predict future health conditions. However, little is known about the association between MetS score and renal function.

Methods

A total of 22,719 participants with normal renal function abstracted from the Kailuan Study were followed from 2006 to 2016. The new onset of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and/or proteinuria >300 mg/dl. Progressive decline in renal function was defined as an annual change rate of eGFR below the 10th percentile of the whole population.

Results

In the multivariate‐adjusted model, we found that the risk of progressive decline in renal function increased consistently with the MetS score, with an odds ratio of 1.49 (95% CI, 1.28, 1.73) for those subjects>75th percentile compared with those <25th percentile. Additionally, a high MetS score was found to be associated with an increased risk of CKD, with a hazard ratio of 1.53 (95% CI, 1.33, 1.78) for subjects >75th percentile compared with those <25th percentile.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that the MetS score was associated with an increased risk of a progressive decline in renal function and was also a strong and independent risk factor for the development of CKD. These findings provide evidence of the potential clinical utility of the MetS score for assessing metabolic syndrome severity to detect the risk of decreased renal function and CKD.