bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oceanic heterotrophic flagellates are dominated by a few widespread taxa
Authors: Obiol Aleix , Muhovic Imer , Massana Ramon
Published: October 2021

Marine heterotrophic flagellates (HFs) form a diverse and ecologically relevant functional group of bacterial grazers and nutrient remineralizers in oceanic waters. Despite playing a crucial role in marine biogeochemical cycles, there is still a lack of information on which specific taxa dominate HF assemblages and what are their patterns of distribution in a global context. In the present work, we addressed this issue by analyzing amplicon sequencing data sets retrieved from samples taken in tropical and subtropical oceanic regions at depths from surface to 4000 m. Only a few dozens of widespread taxa, mostly affiliating to MAST clades, Picozoa, Bicosoecida and Chrysophyceae, seemed to dominate surface HF assemblages. The majority of these dominant HFs were present at relatively constant abundances, while others were influenced by temperature or displayed a patchy distribution. In the deep ocean, only a handful of taxa belonging to Bicosoecida and Chrysophyceae, together with Diplonemea and Kinetoplastida, explained most of the HF signal. Co‐occurrence networks between HF and prokaryotic taxa at the surface ocean revealed two main clusters influenced by temperature that did not seem to show specific patterns of interaction. However, some correlations emerged outside these thermal groups that could represent new prey–predator interactions. Overall, we identified the putatively most ecologically relevant HF taxa in the ocean, which become promising targets for further experimental and genomic studies.
Prediction of asymptomatic COVID‐19 infections based on complex network
Authors: Chen Yili , He Haoming , Liu Dakang , Zhang Xie , Wang Jingpei , Yang Yixiao
Published: October 2021

Novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID‐19) epidemic outbreak at the end of 2019 and threaten global public health, social stability, and economic development, which is characterized by highly contagious and asymptomatic infections. At present, governments around the world are taking decisive action to limit the human and economic impact of COVID‐19, but very few interventions have been made to target the transmission of asymptomatic infected individuals. Thus, it is a quite crucial and complex problem to make accurate forecasts of epidemic trends, which many types of research dedicated to deal with it. In this article, we set up a novel COVID‐19 transmission model by introducing traditional SEIR (susceptible‐exposed‐infected‐removed) disease transmission models into complex network and propose an effective prediction algorithm based on the traditional machine learning algorithm TrustRank, which can predict asymptomatic infected individuals in a population contact network. Our simulation results show that our method largely outperforms the graph neural network algorithm for new coronary pneumonia prediction and our method is also robust and gives good results even if the network information is incomplete.
Summary of ISO/TC 201 International Standard ISO 18516:2019 Surface chemical analysis—Determination of lateral resolution and sharpness in beam‐based methods with a range from nanometres to micrometres and its implementation for imaging laboratory X‐ray photoelectron spectrometers (XPS)
Authors: Unger Wolfgang E. S. , Senoner Mathias , Stockmann Jörg M. , Fernandez Vincent , Fairley Neal , Passiu Cristiana , Spencer Nicholas D. , Rossi Antonella
Published: October 2021

ISO 18516:2019 Surface chemical analysis—Determination of lateral resolution and sharpness in beam‐based methods with a range from nanometres to micrometres revises ISO 18516:2006 Surface chemical analysis—Auger electron spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy—Determination of lateral resolution. It implements three different methods delivering parameters useful to express the lateral resolution: (1) the straight edge method, (2) the narrow line method and (3) the grating method. The theoretical background of these methods is introduced in ISO/TR 19319:2013 Surface chemical analysis—Fundamental approaches to determination of lateral resolution and sharpness in beam‐based methods. The revised International Standard ISO 18516 delivers standardized procedures for the determination of the (1) effective lateral resolution by imaging of square‐wave gratings, the (2) lateral resolution expressed as the parameter D12–88 characterizing the steepness of the sigmoidal edge spread function (ESF) determined by imaging a straight edge and (3) the lateral resolution expressed as the full width of half maximum of the line spread function (LSF), wLSF, determined by imaging a narrow line. The last method also delivers information on the shape of the LSF, which characterizes an individual imaging instrument. Finally, the implementation of all three standardized methods in the field of imaging laboratory X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is shortly presented. This part of the letter is based on the use of a new test sample developed at ETH Zurich, Switzerland. This test sample displays a micrometre scaled pattern motivated by the resolving power of recent imaging XPS instruments.
Maximizing Information: A Machine Learning Approach for Analysis of Complex Nanoscale Electromechanical Behavior in Defect‐Rich PZT Films
Authors: Zhang Fengyuan , Williams Kerisha N. , Edwards David , Naden Aaron B. , Yao Yulian , Neumayer Sabine M. , Kumar Amit , Rodriguez Brian J. , Bassiri‐Gharb Nazanin
Published: October 2021

Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) based techniques probe material properties over microscale regions with nanoscale resolution, ultimately resulting in investigation of mesoscale functionalities. Among SPM techniques, piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) is a highly effective tool in exploring polarization switching in ferroelectric materials. However, its signal is also sensitive to sample‐dependent electrostatic and chemo‐electromechanical changes. Literature reports have often concentrated on the evaluation of the Off‐field piezoresponse, compared to On‐field piezoresponse, based on the latter's increased sensitivity to non‐ferroelectric contributions. Using machine learning approaches incorporating both Off‐ and On‐field piezoresponse response as well as Off‐field resonance frequency to maximize information, switching piezoresponse in a defect‐rich Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 thin film is investigated. As expected, one major contributor to the piezoresponse is mostly ferroelectric, coupled with electrostatic phenomena during On‐field measurements. A second component is electrostatic in nature, while a third component is likely due to a superposition of multiple non‐ferroelectric processes. The proposed approach will enable deeper understanding of switching phenomena in weakly ferroelectric samples and materials with large chemo‐electromechanical response.
Anesthesia management of known asthmatic patient with complicated gestational trophoblastic disease in resource limited area: Case report
Authors: Girma Timsel
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT

Introduction and importance:

Gestational trophoblastic disease is a rare complication of pregnancy characterized by abnormal proliferation of the trophoblastic epithelium. Molar pregnancy can be divided into complete and partial molar pregnancies based on genetic and histopathological features. The thyroid hyper function in molar pregnancy is attributed to excess of human chorionic gonadotropin, which has a weak intrinsic thyroid stimulating activity. The aim of this case report is to describe anesthesia management of complicated molar pregnancy.

Case presentation:

A 45 years old gravida 2 para 1 mother presented with vaginal bleeding of 02 day duration. She was diagnosed with complete molar pregnancy plus severe anemia and thyrotoxicosis. She was a known asthmatic patient for the last 5 years and she takes salbutamol puff when she had attack. Up on this, emergency hysterectomy was planned. When she arrived to operation theatre she was on propanalol 40 mg daily and PTU 100mg TID. Preoperatively the risk and benefit of doing the surgery without having blood product for transfusion with patient current status and deferring the procedure until blood is found was discussed in detail with gynaecologist and consultant anesthetist in charge. The patient and her family were involved in decision making. By considering all risks we preceded surgery with spinal anesthesia.

Clinical discussion:

Gestational trophoblastic disease include wide spectrum of tumor which are either benign or malignant invasive mole. Even if hyperthyroidism is a rare complication of GTD, when it is present, it can be severe and potentially life-threatening. Clinical hyperthyroidism due to GTD is cured by surgical evacuation of molar tissue. However, the perioperative management of these patients presents multitude of challenges for the anesthetist due to risk of high-output cardiac failure, hypovolemia and thyrotoxicosis.

Conclusion:

Management of women who have coexisting disease presented with complicated molar pregnancy in resource scared area is challenging. Anesthesia management of GTD patient with severe anemia using neurexial block is possible approach to reduce intraoperative blood loss in absence of blood product.

Highlights
Shear Velocity Structure Beneath the Central United States From the Inversion of Rayleigh Wave Phase Velocities
Authors: Geng Y. , Basu U. , Powell C. A.
Published: October 2021

A three‐dimensional shear velocity model for the crust and upper mantle beneath the central United States is presented by inverting Rayleigh wave phase velocities from 20 s to 100 s periods. These phase velocities were determined using regional and teleseismic earthquakes recorded by the Northern Embayment Lithospheric Experiment stations, the CERI New Madrid Seismic Network, the Earthscope Transportable Array, and the Ozark Illinois INdiana Kentucky Flexible Array. A low Vs anomaly is imaged in the mantle below the Reelfoot Rift, which is the uppermost portion of connected low‐velocity zones dipping toward the southwest below the rift and to the northwest below the Illinois Basin. According to the analysis in previous tomographic studies using both Vp and Vs anomalies, the elevation of temperature and the enrichment of iron, water, and orthopyroxene contents are required factors to explain the reduced seismic velocities. These low‐velocity zones are produced by silica‐rich fluids rising from the stalled Farallon slab. Two areas with low shear strength characterized by low Vs are imaged below the Ste. Genevieve and the Wabash Valley seismic zones. The low‐velocity, weak areas may be responsible for stress concentration and thus the generation of intraplate seismicity.
Multi‐GNSS Airborne Radio Occultation Observations as a Complement to Dropsondes in Atmospheric River Reconnaissance
Authors: Haase J. S. , Murphy M. J. , Cao B. , Ralph F. M. , Zheng M. , Delle Monache L.
Published: October 2021

Variations in the water vapor that atmospheric rivers (ARs) carry toward North America within Pacific storms strongly modulates the spatiotemporal distribution of west‐coast precipitation. The “AR Recon” program was established to improve forecasts of landfalling Pacific‐coast ARs and their associated precipitation. Dropsondes are deployed from weather reconnaissance aircraft and pressure sensors have been added to drifting ocean buoys to fill a major gap in standard weather observations, while research is being conducted on the potential for airborne Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio occultation (ARO) to also contribute to forecast improvement. ARO further expands the spatial coverage of the data collected during AR Recon flights. This study provides the first description of these data, which provide water vapor and temperature information typically as far as 300 km to the side of the aircraft. The first refractivity profiles from European Galileo satellites are provided and their accuracy is evaluated using the dropsondes. It is shown that spatial variations in the refractivity anomaly (difference from the climatological background) are modulated by AR features, including the low‐level jet and tropopause fold, illustrating the potential for RO measurements to represent key AR characteristics. It is demonstrated that assimilation of ARO refractivity profiles can influence the moisture used as initial conditions in a high‐resolution model. While the dropsonde measurements provide precise, in situ wind, temperature and water vapor vertical profiles beneath the aircraft, and the buoys provide surface pressure, ARO provides complementary thermodynamic information aloft in broad areas not otherwise sampled at no additional expendable cost.
Vertical Structure of Tropical Deep Convective Systems at Different Life Stages From CloudSat Observations
Authors: Hu Xiaoyu , Ge Jinming , Li Wenxue , Du Jiajing , Li Qinghao , Mu Qingyu
Published: October 2021

CloudSat observations are used to characterize the morphologies and internal vertical structures of tropical deep convective systems (DCSs) at different life stages, that is, developing, mature, and dissipating stages according to the buoyancy at the cloud top. The DCSs are further partitioned into convective pillar, major anvil, and minor anvil and then discussed separately. The DCS exhibits an apparent mushroom‐like structure in the developing stage, with a horizontally narrow convective pillar and widespread anvil cloud. The convective pillar widens in the mature stage, while the anvil length remains quite similar. In the dissipating stage, the convective pillar shrinks vertically and horizontally, and the anvil length is shorter than that in the other two stages. The life stage has a larger impact on the vertical structure of the ice number concentration () and ice water content (IWC) than on the ice effective radius (). The high area at the top of the convective pillar expands vertically and horizontally as the DCS evolves, indicating that newly formed ice particles are likely to accumulate in the convective pillar and consequently increase the IWC in this section rather than being transmitted to anvil clouds. Both ice and liquid precipitation occur in a narrow region within the pillar during the developing stage, then widen at the mature stage and shrink at the dissipating stage. Our results provide detailed morphologies and internal structures of DCS evolution and would be helpful to improve DCS representation in numerical models.
Tractography of the arcuate fasciculus in healthy right-handed and left-handed multilingual subjects and its relation to language lateralization on functional MRI
Authors: Yazbek Sandrine , Hage Stephanie , Mallak Iyad , Smayra Tarek
Published: October 2021

Functional MRI (fMRI) enables evaluation of language cortical organization and plays a central role in surgical planning. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) or Tractography, allows evaluation of the white matter fibers involved in language. Unlike fMRI, DTI does not rely on the patient’s cooperation. In monolinguals, there is a significant correlation between the lateralization of language on fMRI and on DTI. Our objective is to delineate the arcuate fasciculus (AF) in right- and left-handed trilinguals and determine if the AF laterality on DTI is correlated to language lateralization on fMRI. 15 right and 15 left-handed trilingual volunteers underwent fMRI and DTI. Laterality Index was determined on fMRI (fMRI-LI). Mean Diffusivity, Fractional Anisotropy (FA), Number of Fibers, Fiber Length, Fiber Volume and Laterality Index (DTI-LI) of the AF were calculated on DTI. 28 of the 30 subjects presented a bilateral AF. Most subjects (52%) were found to have a bilateral language lateralization of the AF on DTI. Only 4 subjects had bilateral lateralization of language on fMRI. The right AF demonstrated lower diffusivity than the left AF in the total participants, the right-handed, and the left-handed subjects. FA, Volume and Length of the AF were not significantly different between the two hemispheres. No correlation was found between the DTI-LI of the AF and the fMRI-LI. A prominent role of the right AF and a bilateral structural organization of the AF was present in our multilingual population regardless of their handedness. While in prior studies DTI was able to determine language lateralization in monolingual subjects, this was not possible in trilingual highly educated subjects.
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus vaccine based on a propagation-defective RNA replicon elicited sterilizing immunity in mice
Authors: Gutiérrez-Álvarez J. , Honrubia J. M. , Sanz-Bravo A. , González-Miranda E. , Fernández-Delgado R. , Rejas M. T. , Zúñiga S. , Sola I. , Enjuanes L.
Published: October 2021

Significance

Coronaviruses (CoVs) have the largest genome among RNA viruses and a proofreading exoribonuclease (nsp14) responsible for high-fidelity RNA synthesis. These properties make CoVs very attractive for the establishment of vaccine platforms or viral vectors since they can stably store large amounts of information without genome integration. Using Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) as a model, a propagation-deficient RNA replicon was generated by removing the envelope (E) gene (essential for viral morphogenesis and involved in virulence) and accessory genes 3, 4a, 4b, and 5 (responsible for antagonism of the innate immune response): MERS-CoV-Δ[3,4a,4b,5,E]. This replicon is strongly attenuated and elicits sterilizing protection after a single immunization, making it a promising vaccine candidate and an interesting platform for vector-based vaccine development.
IPM for tropical crops: lentil
Authors: Sharma Anamika , Muniappan Rangaswamy
Published: October 2021

Lentil is an old-world legume and grown in more than 70 countries. It is a major source of protein in plant-based diets and is often used to fix nitrogen in the soil as a rotational crop, especially with cereal crops. Canada, USA, and Australia are the major exporters of lentil. Around the globe, this crop faces various biotic and abiotic stresses. More than 35 insect pests and the same number of diseases are reported to infest lentil in different parts of the world. While the status of insect pests and diseases varies in different geographical regions, some of them are aphids, armyworm, cutworm, pod borer, Stemphylium blight, fusarium wilt, Alternaria blight, and rust. Cultural management strategies for abiotic and biotic stresses include crop rotation, the timing of seeding, appropriate seed rates, and weed management. Biological control agents are also known for several insect pests. Environmental-friendly options such as biopesticides and microbials (entomopathogenic bacteria, fungi and nematodes, neem products, and
Trichoderma
sp.) can be used as seed treatment and foliar application. Various tolerant and resistant lentil varieties are available around the globe. In the present article, we provide an IPM package for the management of major biotic stresses for lentil crop.
Overgroups of subsystem subgroups in exceptional groups: A 2𝐴₁-proof
Authors: Gvozdevsky P.
Published: October 2021

In the present paper, a weak form of sandwich classification for the overgroups of the subsystem subgroup

E
(
Δ
,
R
)

E(\Delta ,R)

of the Chevalley group

G
(
Φ
,
R
)

G(\Phi ,R)

is proved in the case where

Φ
\Phi

is a simply laced root system and

Δ
\Delta

is its sufficiently large subsystem. Namely, it is shown that, for such an overgroup

H
H

, there exists a unique net of ideals

σ
\sigma

of the ring

R
R

such that
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E
(
Φ
,
Δ
,
R
,
σ
)
≤
H
≤

Stab

G
(
Φ
,
R
)

⁡
(
L
(
σ
)
)

E(\Phi ,\Delta ,R,\sigma )\le H\le \operatorname {Stab}_{G(\Phi ,R)}(L(\sigma ))

, where

E
(
Φ
,
Δ
,
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,
σ
)

E(\Phi ,\Delta ,R,\sigma )

is an elementary subgroup associated with the net and

L
(
σ
)

L(\sigma )

is the corresponding subalgebra of the Chevalley Lie algebra.
Performance analysis of multiple gain boost converter with hybrid maximum power point tracker for solar PV connected to grid
Authors: Kiran Kumar B M , Indira M S , Nagaraja Rao S
Published: October 2021

This paper analyses the performance of a multiple gain boost converter (MGBC) connected to a solar photovoltaic (SPV) system with a grid-tied inverter. The capacitor inductor capacitor (CLC)-based MGBC is integrated to lift the output voltage of the SPV to the required level. The voltage lifts/levels in a boost converter (BC) are based on the number of CLC cells. The suggested MGBC is compared with various conventional BCs in terms of boost factor and component count. A hybrid fuzzy logic–perturb & observe maximum power point tracker (HFL–P&O MPPT) developed is used to monitor Pmax (maximum power) generated by the SPV. Also, a comparative analysis of the suggested MPPT with a conventional P&O and fuzzy logic-based (FLB) MPPT for a CLC-based MGBC is presented. The comparison is made in terms of rise time, voltage ripples (%), steady-state time and boost factor. The output characteristics of the developed model for different irradiation conditions are analysed using the MATLAB/Simulink tool. The MPPT simulation result exhibits minimum oscillations at MPP and a significantly better rise time of 0.015 s when compared with a conventional MPPT and FLB MPPT. The proposed CLC-MGBC gives an appreciable boost factor of 4. The generated SPV power is supplied to the grid through a conventional inverter and synchronized using a phase-locked loop system. The total harmonic distortion of 1.66% obtained in the output current of the inverter is within the permissible range of the IEEE standards.
Internal herniation of the cecum through the foramen of Winslow—a case report
Authors: Luciano Emmanuel , Hyde Russell , Solh Wael , Davis Ryan T , Pacheco Felipe
Published: October 2021

Foramen of Winslow hernias are a rare, but dangerous form of internal hernia that can present in individuals with signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction. This case report details operative management of a cecal herniation through the foramen of Winslow in an elderly male with no prior history of intra-abdominal surgery. The patient presented with worsening abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and obstipation. Due to the clinical picture of a complete bowel obstruction and subsequent imaging findings, an urgent abdominal exploration was performed. During the procedure, the cecum was found to be ischemic and strangulated in the lesser sac, herniated through the foramen of Winslow. Following operative reduction and right hemicolectomy, it was decided to close the foramen of Winslow to prevent recurrence and future complications. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course with resolution of symptoms.
Differential features of the fifth wave of COVID-19 associated with vaccination and the Delta variant in a reference hospital in Catalonia, Spain
Authors: Iftimie Simona , López-Azcona Ana F. , Lozano-Olmo Maria José , Hernández-Aguilera Anna , Sarrà-Moretó Salvador , Joven Jorge , Camps Jordi , Castro Antoni
Published: October 2021

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Spain has suffered five waves of infection, the latter being related to the expansion of the Delta variant and with a high incidence. A vaccination campaign began in December 2020 and by the end of the fifth wave 77.3% of people had been fully vaccinated. Understanding the impact of these new characteristics on COVID-19 is essential for public health strategies. Our objective was to ascertain any differences in the characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients during that period compared to previous waves. We found that patients in the fifth wave were considerably younger than before and the mortality rate fell from 22.5 to 2.0%. Admissions to the Intensive Care Unit decreased from 10 to 2%. Patients in the fifth wave had fewer comorbidities, and the age of the patients who died was higher than those who survived. Our results show a marked improvement in patient outcomes in the fifth wave, suggesting success of the vaccination campaign despite the explosion in cases due to the Delta variant.
Public awareness and support for use of wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 monitoring: A community survey in Louisville, Kentucky
Authors: Holm Rochelle H. , Brick J. Michael , Amraotkar Alok R. , Hart Joy L. , Mukherjee Anish , Zeigler Jacob , Bushau-Sprinkle Adrienne M. , Anderson Lauren B. , Walker Kandi L. , Talley Daymond , Keith Rachel J. , Rai Shesh N. , Palmer Kenneth E. , Bhatnagar Aruni , Smith Ted
Published: October 2021

The majority of sewer systems in the United States and other countries, are operated by public utilities. In the absence of any regulation, public perception of monitoring wastewater for population health biomarkers is an important consideration for a public utility commission when allocating resources for this purpose. In August 2021, we conducted a survey as part of an ongoing COVID-19 community prevalence study in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY. The survey comprised of seven questions about awareness of and privacy concerns and was sent to 32,000 households randomly distributed within the county. A total of 1,220 sampled adults participated in the probability sample, and 981 were used in analysis. A total of 2,444 adults additionally responded in the convenience sample, and 1,751 were used in analysis. The samples were weighted to produce estimates representative of all adults in the county. Public awareness of tracking COVID-19 virus in the sewers was low. Opinions about how data from this activity are shared strongly supported public disclosure of monitoring results. Responses showed more support for measuring the largest areas (>30,000 to 50,000 households) typically representing population levels found in a community or regional wastewater treatment plant. Those who had a history of COVID-19 infection were more likely to support highly localized monitoring. Understanding wastewater surveillance strategies and thresholds of privacy concerns requires in-depth, comprehensive analysis of public opinion for continued success and efficacy of public health monitoring.

Graphic for Table of Contents (TOC)/Abstract Art
The mediating role of parental playfulness on parent–child relationship and competence among parents of children with ASD
Authors: Roy Rini Grace , Kumar Aneesh
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The difficulties of a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can lead to behaviours that are quite challenging for parents to understand and address. Most of the parental studies of ASD focus on the challenges faced by the parents. This study aims to adopt a strength-based model that investigates the mediating role of parental playfulness in the association between parent–child relationship and parental competence.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a quantitative study that adopts a correlational research design. The mediation analysis explores the role of parental playfulness as a mediator in the association between parent–child relationship and parental competence. The sample consisted of 120 parents of children diagnosed with ASD from India, selected using a purposive sampling technique.

Findings

The mediation analysis results indicate that playfulness among parents of children with ASD was found to function as a partial mediator in the relationship between parent–child relationship and parental competence. This could suggest that more playful parents have better parent–child relationships and are competent in parenting.

Research limitations/implications

These findings have importance in understanding the role of playful interaction on parent–child relationships and parenting competence, having implications for further research. Enabling playfulness in parenting will enhance children and parents to promote their relationship and thus feel competent to bring positive light in their lives.

Practical implications

Most often, the clinicians are concerned with addressing only the autistic symptoms; it is also essential to look into parental well-being. Practical playful interaction training should help parents establish a rapport, understand, adjust and adapt with their child.

Social implications

Practical intervention and training plans can be suggested to all family members to improve the condition of the child and the family’s general well-being. As the study focused on the clinical population, the findings could provide useful inputs for mental health professionals and counsellors.

Originality/value

There are some theoretical and empirical evidence that support positive outcomes of playfulness on personal well-being (Atzaba Poria, in press; Yue et al., 2016; Proyer, 2014). Although there has been some interest in the impact of children’s playfulness on their development (Bundy, 1997), little is known about the influence of parental playfulness on parents and children. Therefore, addressing these gaps, this empirical study focusses on investigating the role of parental playfulness in parent–child relationship and parental competence, rather than considering external challenges of parents based on the ASD child’s behavioural challenges and autistic features.
Analysts’ cash flow forecasts informativeness, financial distress and auditor quality
Authors: Papadaki Afroditi , Pavlopoulou-Lelaki Olga-Chara
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the sophistication (accuracy, bias, informativeness for changes in accruals) and market pricing of analysts’ cash flow forecasts for Eurozone listed firms and the effects of financial distress and auditor quality.

Design/methodology/approach

Accuracy/bias is investigated using analysts’ cash flow forecast errors. The naïve extrapolation model is used to examine the forecasts’ informativeness for working capital changes. A total return model is used to examine value-relevance. This study controls for the forecast horizon, using the Altman z-score and a BigN/industry specialization auditor indicator to proxy for distress and auditor quality, respectively.

Findings

Analysts efficiently adjust earnings forecasts for depreciation during cash flow forecast formation but fail to efficiently incorporate working capital changes. Findings indicate cash flow forecasts’ accuracy improves for distressed firms and firms of high auditor quality, attributed to analyst conservatism and accounting choices and more accurate earnings forecasts, respectively. Cash flow forecasts’ value-relevance increases for distressed firms, particularly those of high auditor quality and timely forecasts.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine analysts’ cash flow forecasts taking into consideration financial distress and auditor quality, controlling for the analyst forecast horizon.
Artificial intelligence (AI) for tourism: an European-based study on successful AI tourism start-ups
Authors: Filieri Raffaele , D’Amico Elettra , Destefanis Alessandro , Paolucci Emilio , Raguseo Elisabetta
Published: October 2021

Purpose

The travel and tourism industry (TTI) could benefit the most from artificial intelligence (AI), which could reshape this industry. This study aims to explore the characteristics of tourism AI start-ups, the AI technological domains financed by Venture Capitalists (VCs), and the phases of the supply chain where the AI domains are in high demand.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed a database of the European AI start-ups operating in the TTI from the Crunchbase database (2005–2020). The authors used start-ups as the unit of analysis as they often foster radical change. The authors complemented quantitative and qualitative methods.

Findings

AI start-ups have been mainly created by male Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics graduates between 2015 and 2017. The number of founders and previous study experience in non-start-up companies was positively related to securing a higher amount of funding. European AI start-ups are concentrated in the capital town of major tourism destinations (France, UK and Spain). The AI technological domains that received more funding from VCs were Learning, Communication and Services (i.e. big data, machine learning and natural language processing), indicating a strong interest in AI solutions enabling marketing automation, segmentation and customisation. Furthermore, VC-backed AI solutions focus on the pre-trip and post-trip.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study focussing on digital entrepreneurship, specifically VC-backed AI start-ups operating in the TTI. The authors apply, for the first time, a mixed-method approach in the study of tourism entrepreneurship.
On the link between U.S.‐China commodity trade and exchange rate uncertainty: An asymmetric analysis
Authors: Xu Jia , Bahmani‐Oskooee Mohsen , Karamelikli Huseyin
Published: October 2021

Previous studies that assessed the impact of exchange rate volatility on Chinese trade flows reported mixed findings. They all have assumed that the effects are symmetric. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of asymmetric effects of the real yuan–dollar volatility on the trade flows of 84 2‐digit industries that trade between the two countries. We show that estimating asymmetric and nonlinear models for each industry yields much more significant outcomes than estimating symmetric and linear models. We find that trade flows of 2/3rd of industries are affected asymmetrically in the short run. Short‐run effects last into asymmetric adverse long‐run effects in 35 U.S. exporting industries (with export share of 45%) to China and in 44 Chinese exporting industries (with 76% export share) to the U.S. Since increased volatility hurts a significant share of both countries' exports, a stable yuan–dollar rate as well as inflation rate will benefit both countries in the long run.
Clozapine treatment and risk of severe COVID‐19 infection
Authors: Ohlis Anna , Sörberg Wallin Alma , Sarafis Anna , Sjöqvist Hugo , MacCabe James H. , Ahlen Johan , Dalman Christina
Published: October 2021

Objective

To investigate whether patients with clozapine treatment are at an increased risk of a more severe COVID‐19 infection as compared with patients on other antipsychotic drugs.

Methods

In this register‐based cohort study, all residents (age 18 or older) in the Stockholm Region with a psychotic disorder diagnosis and antipsychotic treatment were included (N = 8 233) and followed from 1 March 2020 to 14 January 2021. The exposure was defined as clozapine treatment and the outcome measures (indicating a more severe COVID‐19 infection) were: inpatient care, care within intensive care unit or death due to COVID‐19 infection. Differences in outcome rates between exposed (n = 966) and unexposed (other antipsychotics; n = 7 267) were examined using Cox proportional hazards models and expressed as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

No statistically significant differences in outcome rates were found between the two groups of patients after adjusting for age, sex and residence in retirement homes. The adjusted HR for the exposed compared to the unexposed was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.54, 1.70) for inpatient care; 1.69 (0.48, 5.93) for care in intensive care unit (ICU); and 0.86 (0.26, 2.80) for death. Regarding inpatient care, additional adjusting for country of birth, living in socioeconomically vulnerable areas, number of care visits during the previous year, and comorbid medical illnesses did not alter the results.

Conclusions

Our results may add support to the present guidelines, recommending sustained clozapine treatment during the current COVID‐19 pandemic with careful monitoring and readiness to alter drug doses as needed.
Ethnic and regional differences in the temporal trends of prostate cancer incidence and mortality in New Zealand
Authors: Matti Bashar , Chapman David , Zargar‐Shoshtari Kamran
Published: October 2021

Background

Prostate cancer (Pca) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in New Zealand (NZ) men and the third leading cause of cancer deaths. Temporal changes in Pca incidence and mortality have not been reported despite changes in the Pca landscape. This study aims to analyse the temporal trends in Pca with focus on ethnic and regional variations.

Methods

The study cohort was identified from the NZ Cancer Registry and the mortality collection databases. Men who were diagnosed with Pca between 2000 and 2018 were included in the incidence analysis. Men who died from Pca between 2000 and 2015 were included in the mortality analysis. Other data collected were ethnicity and geographical information. Pca incidence and mortality were calculated as age‐standardized rates using the 2001 World Health Organization population.

Results

A total of 58 966 men were diagnosed (incidence: 105.2 per 100 000) and 14 749 men died (mortality: 49.3 per 100 000) from Pca. When compared to European men, Māori and Asian men had significantly lower Pca incidence. Mortality rates demonstrated a steady decline, which was more prominent until 2010. Māori and Pacific men had higher mortality rates when compared to European men. In most recent years, the difference in mortality is decreasing for Māori but increasing for Pacific men. There were no regional differences in mortality.

Conclusion

Pca incidence in NZ has fluctuated over the last 20 years, while mortality rates have shown to steadily decline. Pca mortality was shown to disproportionately affect Māori and Pacific men.
Logistic regression analysis of two‐phase studies using generalized method of moments
Authors: Kundu Prosenjit , Chatterjee Nilanjan
Published: October 2021

Two‐phase designs can reduce the cost of epidemiological studies by limiting the ascertainment of expensive covariates or/and exposures to an efficiently selected subset (phase‐II) of a larger (phase‐I) study. Efficient analysis of the resulting data set combining disparate information from phase‐I and phase‐II, however, can be complex. Most of the existing methods, including semiparametric maximum‐likelihood estimator, require the information in phase‐I to be summarized into a fixed number of strata. In this paper, we describe a novel method for the analysis of two‐phase studies where information from phase‐I is summarized by parameters associated with a reduced logistic regression model of the disease outcome on available covariates. We then setup estimating equations for parameters associated with the desired extended logistic regression model, based on information on the reduced model parameters from phase‐I and complete data available at phase‐II after accounting for nonrandom sampling design. We use generalized method of moments to solve overly identified estimating equations and develop the resulting asymptotic theory for the proposed estimator. Simulation studies show that the use of reduced parametric models, as opposed to summarizing data into strata, can lead to more efficient utilization of phase‐I data. An application of the proposed method is illustrated using the data from the U.S. National Wilms Tumor Study.
Latent classes of aggression and peer victimization: Measurement invariance and differential item functioning across sex, race‐ethnicity, cohort, and study site
Authors: Bettencourt Amie F. , Musci Rashelle J. , Masyn Katherine E. , Farrell Albert D.
Published: October 2021

Peer victimization is common and linked to maladjustment. Prior research has typically identified four peer victimization subgroups: aggressors, victims, aggressive‐victims, and uninvolved. However, findings related to sex and racial‐ethnic differences in subgroup membership have been mixed. Using data collected in September of 2002 and 2003, this study conducted confirmatory latent class analysis of a racially‐ethnically diverse sample of 5415 sixth graders (49% boys; 50.6% Black; 20.9% Hispanic) representing two cohorts from 37 schools in four U.S. communities to replicate the four subgroups and evaluate measurement invariance of latent class indicators across cohort, sex, race‐ethnicity, and study site. Results replicated the four‐class solution and illustrated that sociodemographic differences in subgroup membership were less evident after accounting for differential item functioning.
Efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin injection in reducing deltoid muscle hypertrophy
Authors: Shin Sun Hye , Park Su Jung , Yeoum Seung Hoon , Youn Choon Shik , Park Kui Young
Published: October 2021

With the increasing demand for body contouring, botulinum toxin (BTX) injection is being widely used off‐label for muscular hypertrophy. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated the clinical efficacy of BTX type A (BTX‐A) in deltoid muscle hypertrophy. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intramuscular injection of BTX in reducing deltoid muscle hypertrophy. Overall, 10 patients with bilateral deltoid muscle hypertrophy were treated with an intramuscular injection of prabotulinum toxin A, with a total of 50 units [U] administered per patient. As measured by ultrasonography, the thickness of the deltoid muscles was significantly decreased at weeks 2 and 12. In addition, the clinical assessment score by blinded investigators was improved after the treatment; however, patients' satisfaction scores were relatively low. No major complications were reported. Therefore, intramuscular injection of BTX‐A seems to be a candidate for novel treatment option for deltoid muscle hypertrophy. Further larger clinical studies are warranted to confirm the efficacy of BTX‐A.
Double immune reconstitution therapy: Cladribine after alemtuzumab in the treatment of multiple sclerosis
Authors: Adamec Ivan , Jovanović Ivan , Krbot Skorić Magdalena , Habek Mario
Published: October 2021

Background and purpose

Alemtuzumab, a monoclonal anti‐CD52 antibody, and cladribine, a purine nucleoside analogue, are used for the treatment of highly active relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). Both are administered as two short yearly courses but possess the ability to induce long‐term remission, labeling them as immune reconstitution therapies. Although disease activity after alemtuzumab administration is rare, there are a small number of people with MS who will experience disease activity despite repeated alemtuzumab treatment.

Methods

We report on six patients with MS who experienced disease activity after alemtuzumab and were subsequently treated with cladribine and followed up for up to 2 years.

Results

None of the patients experienced relapses during the follow‐up period and in all patients Expanded Disability Status Scale values remained unchanged. All patients had lymphopenia at one time point. In patients 1 and 2, at the nadir, the lymphopenia was grade 1, in patient 3 it was grade 2 and in patients 5 and 6 it was grade 3. No infections or malignancies were recorded during the follow‐up.

Conclusion

This report provides a framework for treating people with MS with sequential immune reconstitution therapies.
Temporary Allee effects among non‐stationary recruitment dynamics in depleted gadid and flatfish populations
Authors: Tirronen Maria , Perälä Tommi , Kuparinen Anna
Published: October 2021

Many considerably declined fish populations have not fully recovered despite reductions in fishing pressure. One of the possible causes of impaired recovery is the (demographic) Allee effect. To investigate whether low‐abundance recruitment dynamics can switch between compensation and depensation, the latter implying the presence of the Allee effect, we analysed the stock–recruitment time series of 17 depleted cod‐type and flatfish populations using a Bayesian change point model. The recruitment dynamics were represented with the sigmoidal Beverton–Holt and the Saila–Lorda stock–recruitment models, allowing the parameters of the models to shift at a priori unknown change points. Our synthesis study questions the common assumption that recruitment is stationary and compensatory and the high amount of scatteredness often present in stock–recruitment data is only due to random variation. When a moderate amount of such variation was assumed, stock–recruitment dynamics were best explained by a non‐stationary model for 53% of the populations, which suggests that these populations exhibit temporal changes in the stock–recruitment relationship. For four populations, we found shifts between compensation and depensation, suggesting the presence of temporary Allee effects. However, the evidence of Allee effects was highly dependent on the priors of the stock–recruitment model parameters and the amount of random variation assumed. Nonetheless, detection of changes in low‐abundance recruitment is essential in stock assessment since such changes affect the renewal ability of the population and, ultimately, its sustainable harvest limits.
Pseudoperoxidase activity, conformational stability, and aggregation propensity of the His98Tyr myoglobin variant: implications for the onset of myoglobinopathy
Authors: Hofbauer Stefan , Pignataro Marcello , Borsari Marco , Bortolotti Carlo Augusto , Di Rocco Giulia , Ravenscroft Gianina , Furtmüller Paul G. , Obinger Christian , Sola Marco , Battistuzzi Gianantonio
Published: October 2021

The autosomal dominant striated muscle disease myoglobinopathy is due to the single point mutation His98Tyr in human myoglobin (MB), the heme protein responsible for binding, storage, and controlled release of O2 in striated muscle. In order to understand the molecular basis of this disease, a comprehensive biochemical and biophysical study on wt MB and the variant H98Y has been performed. Although only small differences exist between the active site architectures of the two proteins, the mutant (a) exhibits an increased reactivity toward hydrogen peroxide, (b) exhibits a higher tendency to form high‐molecular‐weight aggregates, and (c) is more prone to heme bleaching, possibly as a consequence of the observed H2O2‐induced formation of the Tyr98 radical close to the metal center. These effects add to the impaired oxygen binding capacity and faster heme dissociation of the H98Y variant compared with wt MB. As the above effects result from bond formation/cleavage events occurring at the distal and proximal heme sites, it appears that the molecular determinants of the disease are localized there. These findings set the basis for clarifying the onset of the cascade of chemical events that are responsible for the pathological symptoms of myoglobinopathy.