bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term Mortality Among Hospitalized Adults with Sepsis in Uganda: a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Blair Paul W. , Okello Stephen , Wailagala Abdullah , Ayebare Rodgers R. , Olebo David F. , Kayiira Mubaraka , Kemigisha Stacy M. , Kayondo Willy , Gregory Melissa , Koehler Jeff W. , Schoepp Randal J. , Badu Helen , Adams CDR Nehkonti , Naluyima Prossy , Beckett Charmagne , Waitt Peter , Lamorde Mohammed , Kibuuka Hannah , Clark Danielle V.
Published: September 2023

Background

Twelve-month mortality in sepsis survivors has not been previously characterized in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

Hospitalized adults with ≥ 2 modified systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria (temperature < 36°C or > 38°C, heart rate ≥ 90 beats per minute, or respiratory rate ≥ 20 breaths per minute) were enrolled at a tertiary care centre from October 2017 to August 2022. Multiple clinical blood and respiratory molecular and antigen assays were used to identify infectious etiologies. Baseline demographics were evaluated for risk of death by 1 month and 12 months using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

Among 435 participants, the median age was 45.0 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 28.0, 60.0) years, 57.6% were female, and 31.7% were living with HIV. Malaria (17.7%) followed by tuberculosis (4.7%), and bacteremia (4.6%) were the most common detected causes of illness. Overall, 49 (11.3%) participants died, and 24 participants died between one month and one year (49.0% of deaths and 5.5% of the cohort). Female participants had a decreased risk of death by 12-months (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21 to 0.66).

Conclusions

The burden of sepsis may be underestimated in sub-Saharan Africa due to limited long-term follow-up.
Sensitivity and Frequency Response of Biochemical Cascades
Authors: Kochen Michael A. , Hellerstein Joseph L. , Sauro Herbert M.
Published: September 2023

Abstract

Signal transduction from a cell’s surface to cytoplasmic and nuclear targets takes place through a complex network of interconnected pathways. Phosphorylation cycles are common components of many pathways and may take the form of a multi-layered cascade of cycles or incorporate species with multiple phosphorylation sites that effectively create a sequence of cycles with increasing states of phosphorylation. This work focuses on the frequency response and sensitivity of such systems, two properties that have not been thoroughly examined. Starting with a singularly phosphorylated single-cycle system, we compare the sensitivity to perturbation at steady-state across a range of input signal strengths. This is followed by a frequency response analysis focusing on the gain and associated bandwidth. Next, we consider a two-layer cascade of single phosphorylation cycles and focus on how the two cycles interact to produce various effects on the bandwidth and damping properties. Then we consider the (ultra)sensitivity of a doubly phosphorylated system, where we describe in detail first-order ultrasensitivity, a unique property of these systems, which can be blended with zero-order ultrasensitivity to create systems with relatively constant gain over a range of signal input. Finally, we give an in-depth analysis of the sensitivity of an n-phosphorylated system.
Efficient Enumeration and Visualization of Helix-coil Ensembles
Authors: Schmidler Scott C , Hughes Roy Gene , Oas Terrence G. , Zhao Shiwen
Published: September 2023

Helix-coil models are routinely used to interpret CD data of helical peptides or predict the helicity of naturally-occurring and designed polypeptides. However, a helix-coil model contains significantly more information than mean helicity alone, as it defines the entire ensemble - the equilibrium population of every possible helix-coil configuration - for a given sequence. Many desirable quantities of this ensemble are either not obtained as ensemble averages, or are not available using standard helicity-averaging calculations. Enumeration of the entire ensemble can allow calculation of a wider set of ensemble properties, but the exponential size of the configuration space typically renders this intractable. We present an algorithm that efficiently approximates the helix-coil ensemble to arbitrary accuracy, by sequentially generating a list of the M highest populated configurations in descending order of population. Truncating this list of (configuration, population) pairs at a desired accuracy provides an approximating sub-ensemble. We demonstrate several uses of this approach for providing insight into helix-coil ensembles and folding mechanisms, including landscape visualization.
The Impact of Martial Arts on Mental Health
Authors: Hiciano Rick A. , Piper Brian J.
Published: September 2023

Sports Psychiatry has been developing for the last three decades and is growing to be an integral part of Sports Medicine and Psychiatry. With the rising growth of mental health awareness in popular culture, and public announcements of professional athletes describing their struggles with mental health, the need for Sports Psychiatrists is becoming more apparent. However, limited data on mental health disorders amongst athletes poses issues in terms of providing standardized and reliable interventions for treatment. This is especially the case in less researched sports, such as martial arts. The current study aims to investigate the relationship between mental health and martial artists, specifically evaluating the relationship between domains of mental health, including aggression, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem, and Jeet Kune Do/mixed martial arts practitioners. The study will take place at Garcia Gung Fu, a martial arts dojo in Harlem, New York in addition to recruits from a Reddit Martial Arts form. Participants will include both adults and children. The findings in this study will contribute to the body of literature in both sports medicine and psychiatry. Additionally, this study will further illustrate the importance of the field of sports psychiatry and well as highlight the need for improved interventions for athletes.
Sharing and Reusing Computable Phenotype Definitions
Authors: Visweswaran Shyam , Zhang Louisa Yu , Bui Kevin , Sadhu Eugene M. , Samayamuthu Malarkodi J. , Morris Michele M.
Published: September 2023

Background

A scalable approach for the sharing and reuse of human-readable and computer-executable phenotype definitions can facilitate the reuse of electronic health records for cohort identification and research studies.

Description

We developed a tool called Sharephe for the Informatics for Integrating Biology and the Bedside (i2b2) platform. Sharephe consists of a plugin for i2b2 and a cloud-based searchable repository of computable phenotypes, has the functionality to import to and export from the repository, and has the ability to link to supporting metadata.

Discussion

The i2b2 platform enables researchers to create, evaluate, and implement phenotypes without knowing complex query languages. In an initial evaluation, two sites on the Evolve to Next-Gen ACT (ENACT) network used Sharephe to successfully create, share, and reuse phenotypes.

Conclusion

The combination of a cloud-based computable repository and an i2b2 plugin for accessing the repository enables investigators to store and retrieve phenotypes from anywhere and at any time and to collaborate across sites in a research network.
An International, Cross-Sectional Survey of Preprinting Attitudes Among Biomedical Researchers
Authors: Ng Jeremy Y. , Chow Valerie , Santoro Lucas J. , Armond Anna Catharina Vieira , Pirshahid Sanam Ebrahimzadeh , Cobey Kelly D. , Moher David
Published: September 2023

Background

Preprints are scientific manuscripts that are made available on open-access servers but are not yet peer reviewed. While preprints are becoming more prevalent uptake is not uniform or optimal. Understanding researchers’ opinions and attitudes towards preprints is valuable to their successful implementation. Understanding knowledge gaps and researchers’ attitudes toward preprinting can assist stakeholders like journals, funding agencies, and universities to implement preprints more effectively. Here, we aim to collect perceptions and behaviours regarding preprints in across an international sample of biomedical researchers.

Methods

Biomedical authors were identified by a keyword-based, systematic search from the MEDLINE database, and their emails were extracted to invite them to our survey. A cross-sectional anonymous survey was distributed to all identified biomedical authors to collect their knowledge, attitudes, and opinions about preprinting.

Results

The survey was completed by 730 biomedical researchers with a response rate of 3.20% and demonstrated a wide range of attitudes and opinions about preprints with authors from various disciplines and career stages around the world. Most respondents were familiar with the concept of preprints, but most had not published a preprint before. The lead author of the project and journal policy had the most impact on decisions to post a preprint, while employers/research institute had the least impact. Supporting open science practices was the highest ranked incentive, while increases to authors’ visibility was highest ranked motivation for publishing preprints.

Conclusion

While many biomedical researchers recognize the benefits of preprints, there is still hesitation among others to engage in this practice. This may be due to the general lack of peer review of preprints and little enthusiasm from external organizations, such as journals, funding agencies, and universities. Future work is needed to determine optimal ways to increase researcher’s attitudes through modifications to current preprint systems and policies.
Chronic respiratory symptoms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease following completion of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment in Uganda
Authors: Namusobya Martha , Bongomin Felix , John Mukisa , Kimuli Ivan , Ddungu Ahmed , Batte Charles , Kirenga Bruce J.
Published: September 2023

Background

Prior pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is associated with chronic lung impairment, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We determined the prevalence and associations of chronic respiratory symptoms and COPD following completion of PTB treatment in Uganda.

Methods

Between August 2022 and December 2022, we consecutively enrolled post-PTB patients who had successfully completed PTB treatment between January 2016 and January 2020 at Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Chronic respiratory symptoms were defined as the presence of at least one of the following symptoms lasting for at least three months within a year: cough or sputum production, shortness of breath, chest pain, or wheezing, along with an FEV1/FVC < 0.70 on spirometry for the definition of COPD.

Results

We enrolled 326 participants (median age 36 years; IQR: 30 — 43), 182 (55.8%) were male, and 123 (37.7%) were living with HIV. Fifty-one (15.6%) participants had chronic respiratory symptoms, 5 (9.8%) having COPD; 4 GOLD I and 1 GOLD II. Chronic respiratory symptoms were 89% lower among participants whose PTB treatment outcome was “completed” (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR): 0.11, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01 – 0.87, p<0.01) and they were 74% lower among those with alcohol use disorders (aOR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.12 – 0.57, p <0.001). Non-HIV immunosuppressive conditions such as diabetes mellitus and chronic steroid use, were significantly associated with both chronic respiratory symptoms (aOR:7.72, 95% CI 3.13 – 19.04, p<0.001) and COPD (aOR: 8.42, 95% CI: 1.32 — 53.47, p=0.024).

Conclusion

Chronic pulmonary symptoms, including COPD, are important and yet under recognized complications of PTB treatment in Uganda. Therefore, screening and management in key sub-groups, such as those with immunosuppressive condition, will improve morbidity and quality of life in this population.
Determinants and Patterns of Contraceptive Use among Sexually Active Women living with HIV in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Akinsolu Folahanmi T. , Adegbite Zaniab O. , Bankole Samuel , Lawale Abisola , Adewole Ifeoluwa E. , Abodunrin Olunike R. , Olagunju Mobolaji T. , Ola Oluwabukola M. , Chukwuemeka Abel , Gambari Aisha O. , Njuguna Diana W. , Nwogu-Attah Jacinta N. , Salako Abideen O. , Lukwa Akim T. , Herbertson Ebiere , Eleje George U. , Ezechi Oliver C.
Published: September 2023

Background

Contraception is a strategy to meet the family planning goals of women living with human immunodeficiency virus (WLHIV) as well as to reduce the transmission of HIV. There is limited data from Nigeria, where HIV prevalent is the second-largest in the world. This study aimed to examine contraceptive use and identify factors influencing its use among sexually active WLHIV in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted involving 443 sexually active WLHIV. The inclusion criteria were WLHIV, aged 18–49 years, who asserted being fecund and sexually active. An adopted questionnaire was used to collect data, and the data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Windows version 25. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Among sexually active WLHIV (n = 443), 73.1% used contraceptives, with 26.9% having unmet needs. The results revealed a significant association between employment status and the use of contraceptives (AOR] = 2.150; 95% CI 1.279–3.612 p=0.004); accessibility to contraceptive methods and the use of contraceptives (AOR = 21.483; 95% CI 7.279–63.402 p=0.00). Also, a significant association was found between payment for service and contraceptive use (AOR = 14.343; 95% CI 2.705-76.051; p = 0.003). Previous reactions towards contraceptive use were also significantly associated with contraceptive use (AOR = 14.343; 95% CI 2.705-76.051 p = 0.003). The dual contraceptives usage rate was 30.7%.

Conclusions

Although contraceptive use among sexually active WLHIV was high, the study highlighted the need for increased adoption of dual contraceptive methods to mitigate the risk of unintended pregnancy and HIV re-infection among this population. It emphasized the importance of continuous sensitization and counseling services healthcare providers provide to promote contraceptive use among WLHIV.
Differential effects of IL4I1 protein on lymphocytes from healthy and multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Davis Stephanie E. , Hu Jingwen , Nanescu Sonia E. , Kumar Mahesh N. , Baydyuk Maryna , Oft Helena , Amjad Faria S. , Wellstein Anton , Huang Jeffrey K.
Published: September 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by immune mediated demyelination of the central nervous system, resulting in extensive neurological deficit and remyelination impairment. We have previously found that interleukin-four induced one (IL4I1) protein modulates CNS inflammation and enhances remyelination in mouse models of experimental demyelination. However, it remained unclear if IL4I1 regulates lymphocyte activity in MS. To assess the therapeutic potential of IL4I1 in MS, we investigated the impact of IL4I1 treatment on human lymphocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from healthy individuals and MS patients. We found that IL4I1 increased the relative densities of Th2 and regulatory T-cells, while reducing Th17 cell density in healthy control samples. Furthermore, IL4I1-treated lymphocytes promoted CNS remyelination when grafted into demyelinated spinal cord lesions in mice. We found that baseline endogenousIL4I1expression was reduced in people with MS. However, unlike healthy controls, IL4I1 treatment had no significant effect onIL17orTOB1expression in lymphocytes derived from MS patients. These results suggest that IL4I1 skews CD4+T-cells to a regulatory state in healthy human lymphocytes, which may be essential for promoting remyelination. However, IL4I1 appears unable to exert its influence on lymphocytes in MS, indicating that impaired IL4I1-mediated activity may underlie MS pathology.
Attractor dynamics reflect decision confidence in macaque prefrontal cortex
Authors: Wang Siyu , Falcone Rossella , Richmond Barry , Averbeck Bruno B.
Published: September 2023

Decisions are made with different degrees of consistency, and this consistency can be linked to the confidence that the best choice has been made. Theoretical work suggests that attractor dynamics in networks can account for choice consistency, but how this is implemented in the brain remains unclear. Here, we provide evidence that the energy landscape around attractor basins in population neural activity in prefrontal cortex reflects choice consistency. We trained two rhesus monkeys to make accept/reject decisions based on pretrained visual cues that signaled reward offers with different magnitudes and delays-to-reward. Monkeys made consistent decisions for very good and very bad offers, but decisions were less consistent for intermediate offers. Analysis of neural data showed that the attractor basins around patterns of activity reflecting decisions had steeper landscapes for offers that led to consistent decisions. Therefore, we provide neural evidence that energy landscapes predict decision consistency, which reflects decision confidence.
Using recurrent neural networks to detect supernumerary chromosomes in fungal strains causing blast diseases
Authors: Gyawali Nikesh , Hao Yangfan , Lin Guifang , Huang Jun , Bika Ravi , Daza Lidia Calderon , Zheng Hunkun , Cruppe Giovana , Caragea Doina , Cook David , Valent Barbara , liu Sanzhen
Published: September 2023

The genomes of the fungusMagnaporthe oryzaethat causes blast diseases on diverse grass species, including major crop plants, have indispensable core-chromosomes and may contain one or more additional supernumerary chromosomes, also known as mini-chromosomes. The mini-chromosome is speculated to play a role in fungal biology, provide effector gene mobility, and may transfer between strains. To understand and study the biological function of mini-chromosomes, it is crucial to be able to identify whether a given strain ofM. oryzaepossesses a mini-chromosome. In this study, we applied recurrent neural network models, more specifically, Bidirectional Long Short-Term Models (Bi-LSTM), for classifying DNA sequences as core-or mini-chromosomes. The models were trained with sequences from multiple available core- and mini-chromosome assemblies. The trained model was then used to predict the presence of the mini-chromosome in a global collection ofM. oryzaeisolates using short-read DNA sequences. The model predicted that the mini-chromosome was prevalent inM. oryzaeisolates, including those isolated from rice, wheat, Lolium and many other grass species. Interestingly, 23 recent wheat strains collected since 2005 all carried the mini-chromosome, but none of nine early strains collected before 1991 had the mini-chromosome, indicating the preferential selection for strains carrying the mini-chromosome in recent years. Based on the limited sample size, we found the presence of the mini-chromosome in isolates of pathotypeEleusinewas not as high as isolates of other pathotypes. The deep learning model was also used to identify assembled sequence contigs that were derived from the mini-chromosome and partial regions on core-chromosomes potentially translocated from a mini-chromosome. In summary, our study has developed a reliable method for categorizing DNA sequences and showcases an application of recurrent neural networks in the field of predictive genomics.
Role of Stress Echocardiography in the Assessment of Myocardial Ischemia
Authors: Patel Dhwani Manishbhai , Panjiyar Binay K , Ghotra Monica , Husain Mahato Gulam Husain Nabi , Upadhyay Ronak Brijeshkumar , Agarwal Abhimanyu
Published: September 2023

Stress Echocardiography (ECG) is a commonly used modality for detection and assessment of Ischemic heart diseases (IHD). Its non-invasive nature makes it a more reliable diagnostic tool. This modality induces myocardial stress through exercise or pharmacological agents. Stress Echocardiography induced by exercise stress tests are more physiologic than pharmacologic stress tests as its finding tells about a patient’s exercise capacity which is prognostically important. Thus, if a patient can exercise, this is the preferred stress modality. Moreover, its radiation-free nature makes it a preferred option for individuals with contraindications to other stress imaging techniques and also decreases complications associated with other cardiac imaging modalities. Clinical conditions can be accurately assessed by comparing the findings of the heart rate and electrocardiograms after stress echocardiography with normal state. Analysis of stress echocardiography is done by visual precise evaluation of impaired myocardial contractility and regional wall motion abnormalities. This modality shows excellent results with current technology and by using an image enhancing agent, where necessary. It can identify the location of myocardial ischemia as well. Stress echocardiography holds significant potential in changing outcomes for a large population of patients with its high diagnostic accuracy, risk stratification capabilities, and cost-effectiveness.
Transposable element abundance subtly contributes to lower fitness in maize
Authors: Stitzer Michelle C. , Khaipho-Burch Merritt B. , Hudson Asher I. , Song Baoxing , Valdez-Franco Jose Arcadio , Ramstein Guillaume , Feschotte Cedric , Buckler Edward S.
Published: September 2023

Transposable elements (TEs) have long been shown to have deleterious effects on the survival and reproduction of their host organism. As TEs are mobile DNA that jump to new positions, this deleterious cost can occur directly, by inserting into genes and regulatory sequences. Classical population genetic theory suggests copy-number dependent selection against TEs is necessary to prevent TEs from expanding so much they take over a genome. Such models have been difficult to interpret when applied to large genomes like maize, where there are hundreds of thousands of TE insertions that collectively make up 85% of the genome. Here, we use nearly 5000 inbred lines from maize mapping populations and a pan-genomic imputation approach to measure TE content. Segregating TE content gives rise to 100 Mb differences between individuals, and populations often show transgressive segregation in TE content. We use replicated phenotypes measured in hybrids across numerous years and environments to empirically measure the fitness costs of TEs. For an annual plant like maize, grain yield is not only a key agronomic phenotype, but also a direct measure of reproductive output. We find weak negative effects of TE accumulation on grain yield, nearing the limit of the efficacy of natural selection in maize. This results in a loss of one kernel (≈0.1% of average per-plant yield) for every additional 14 Mb of TE content. This deleterious load is enriched in TEs within 1 kilobase of genes and young TE insertions. Together, we provide rare empirical measurements of the fitness costs of TEs, and suggest that the TEs we see today in the genome have been filtered by selection against their deleterious consequences on maize fitness.
Determinants of apartment price volatility in Vietnam: a comparison between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Authors: Nguyen Nhung Thi , Nguyen Lan Hoang Mai , Do Quyen , Luu Linh Khanh
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore factors influencing apartment price volatility in the two biggest cities in Vietnam, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the supply and demand approach and provides a literature review of previous studies to develop four main hypotheses using four determinants of apartment price volatility in Vietnam: gross domestic product (GDP), inflation rate, lending interest rate and construction cost. Subsequently, the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) is used to analyze a monthly data sample of 117.

Findings

The research highlights the important role of construction costs in apartment price volatility in the two largest cities. Moreover, there are significant differences in how all four determinants affect apartment price volatility in the two cities. In addition, there is a long-run relationship between the determinants and apartment price volatility in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations related to data transparency of the real estate industry in Vietnam lead to three main limitations of this paper, including: this paper only collects a sample of 117 valid monthly observations; apartment price volatility is calculated by changes in the apartment price index instead of apartment price standard deviation; and this paper is limited by only four determinants, those being GDP, inflation rate, lending interest rate and construction cost.

Practical implications

The study provides evidence of differences in how the above determinants affect apartment price volatility in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which helps investors and policymakers to make informed decisions relating to the real estate market in the two biggest cities in Vietnam.

Social implications

This paper makes several recommendations to policymakers and investors in Vietnam to ensure a stable real estate market, contributing to the stability of the national economy.

Originality/value

This paper provides a new approach using VECM to analyze both long-run and short-run relationships between macroeconomic and sectoral independent variables and apartment price volatility in the two biggest cities in Vietnam.
Entrepreneurial intentions’ temporal stability – intraindividual and group-level analyses
Authors: Figueiredo Belchior Ricardo , Lyons Roisin
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Entrepreneurial intention (EI) has been studied prolifically, as a precursor to entrepreneurial action, and a desired outcome of entrepreneurship education. Yet, the paucity of extant studies that analyze its temporal stability has been noted. This paper aims to address this gap by studying the temporal stability of EI, investigating its persistence as an attitudinal state over time.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of intraindividual and group-level longitudinal analyses were undertaken, over an 11-year period, using a student sample from Portugal. The authors highlight the magnitude of EI change over time, where item-structure, relative and absolute stability and group and individual-level EI changes are all considered.

Findings

Results indicate an initially strong to moderate EI item-structure stability and relative stability over the first five years, with moderate signs of deterioration. This deterioration becomes even more pronounced across the full 11-year period. Regarding EI absolute stability, while college students (as a group) did not display a general tendency to develop higher or lower EI during the first five years, a small deterioration was found over the 11-year period. At the individual level, EI instability was detected, and this increased with time. Finally, the exploratory results suggest that entrepreneurship education may buffer the deterioration of EI.

Practical implications

The findings provide a more nuanced reasoning for dampened EI–entrepreneurial behavior associations and highlight key determinants of EI change, which can inform educational experts and policymakers.

Originality/value

The legitimacy of the EI field lays heavily on the existence of a stable EI construct and a strong relationship between intentions and behavior. The methodology provides a new and more complete picture of EI’s temporal stability.
Social network sites and competition: a tale of YouTube, 2005–2015
Authors: Newaz Md Tarique
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to document and analyze the success story of YouTube as a social network site in a competitive market, offering important academic and managerial implications.

Design/methodology/approach

Historical methods were used for investigation. This study applies the Resource-Advantage theory to identify key events in the history of YouTube from archival documents and evaluates and synthesizes the evidence to recount the channel’s evolution.

Findings

YouTube faced challenges from competitors across various industries since its launch. It has used its global user base and technological skills to develop innovative market offerings for users, contributors and marketers. YouTube built long-term relationships with stakeholders, continuously adapted to external changes and initiated internal alignments to compete in multiple industries. Over time, despite several changes in the competitive landscape, YouTube has grown into a successful media firm, competing across traditional broadcasting, gaming, live TV streaming and SNS industries. It is an exciting tale in the history of social networking.

Originality/value

This study significantly contributes to the marketing history of social network sites and platform-specific scholarship by applying the Resource-Advantage theory to document the evolution of YouTube.
Driving financial results is not the only priority! An exploration of the future role of chief financial officer: a grounded theory approach
Authors: Chatpibal Manoj , Chaiyasoonthorn Wornchanok , Chaveesuk Singha
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims to develop a conceptual framework for the role of chief financial officer (CFO) in an ever-changing environment. As previous research focused on responding to specific crises, there have been theoretical and practical gaps in the role of CFO. The study's goal is to fill a critical gap by developing a comprehensive and integrated set of roles to assist the CFO in a constantly changing environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a grounded theory approach, semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted with 21 CFOs from various industries in Thailand, including foreign multinational corporations and domestic companies with international operations. CFOs were asked how they frame their roles in the face of an ever-changing environment and how they prepare for the future.

Findings

The iCFO model is developed, which identifies the critical “core” roles of the CFO in securing the business foundation, as well as the “future opportunities” roles that function as growth engines for long-term business strength. The research delves into the importance of integrity, ethical mindset and corporate governance in the role of the CFO. The iCFO model is designed to help guide future research and provide practical applications for CFOs in both domestic and international contexts. The term “core” refers to the CFO’s primary responsibilities, which include driving profitability, managing risks and optimizing business performance. The “future opportunities” component focuses on the roles that CFOs can play in strengthening the future of business by optimizing investment efficiency, driving digital transformation and being the CEO’s business partner. The findings also emphasized “integrity,” which must encompass all decisions, actions or recommendations made by the CFO.

Originality/value

The study offers unique perspectives on an emerging economy, providing new insights. Through interviews with 21 CFOs, it contributes empirical evidence on the development of roles in accounting and finance, emphasizing good governance practices. The findings highlight the integrated role of the CFO and their self-reflection on their value within the company. Significantly, the study's implications are relevant and applicable to a global audience, particularly in developing economies that prioritize growth. Future studies could incorporate integrated thinking into the iCFO model to address social, environmental and economic factors, making it more universally relevant. Additionally, exploring the adoption of the chief value officer context in developing markets could enable CFOs to expand their focus beyond financial metrics, embracing a comprehensive approach to value creation. By integrating these concepts into the iCFO model, CFOs can effectively drive sustainable and impactful business outcomes on a global scale.
Long-term orientation and corporate social responsibility in small and medium-sized enterprises: the role of strategy formation mode
Authors: Rosecká Nikola , Machek Ondřej , Stasa Michele , Kubíček Aleš
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the effects of long-term orientation (LTO) and strategy formation mode on corporate social responsibility. While many researchers have investigated how large businesses address corporate social responsibility (CSR), there is little empirical evidence on how small- and medium-sized businesses implement CSR or what individual drivers shape this process.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper surveyed 282 small and medium-sized managers from the United Kingdom. The respondents were recruited using platform Prolific Academic.

Findings

The findings reveal that LTO is a prerequisite for developing CSR and shapes strategy formation mode. The findings also suggested that deliberate strategies are positively related to CSR. The results are consistent across different components of LTO (futurity, continuity and perseverance) and CSR types (internal and external).

Originality/value

The results show that all aspects of LTO are relevant for CSR in SMEs. Besides LTO, deliberate strategy formation model is an important factor contributing to CSR. The paper presents as first an empirical contribution to the strategy literature by examining positive relationship between LTO and deliberate strategy formation mode.
Detection of varicella‐zoster virus in two dermatomes of herpes zoster duplex bilateralis in an immunocompetent host
Authors: Ono Hiroto , Yamaguchi Reimon , Anzawa Kazushi , Shimizu Akira
Published: September 2023

An 85‐year‐old woman with no history of herpes zoster (HZ) presented with a primary lesion of erythema and blistering on her left thigh and a secondary similar lesion on her right chest which had appeared at 4 and 3 days before presentation, respectively. Tzanck smears for both lesions were positive, revealing multinucleated giant cells. Immunochromatography to detect varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) antigen (DermaQuick®VZV) showed positive on the left thigh at initial onset but negative on the right chest at subsequent onset. The latter repeatedly tested negative for VZV by DermaQuick®VZV. A skin biopsy of the subsequent onset area revealed giant cells, and inclusion bodies were observed in the epidermis. Immunohistochemical staining with anti‐VZV antibody and polymerase chain reaction to detect VZV DNA were positive. The patient was diagnosed with HZ duplex bilateralis and treated with acyclovir. The right thoracic region of the posterior part of the lesion became negative for DermaQuick®VZV. It is thought that expression of viral antigens was suppressed in the right thoracic region, i.e., the late‐onset area.
A re‐evaluation of the effects of mechanical cockle dredging in the Dutch Wadden Sea
Authors: van der Meer Jaap , Folmer Eelke
Published: September 2023

Marine bivalves provide an important seafood resource, but conflicts between bivalve fisheries and conservation goals may arise.

A scientific debate about cockle dredging in the Dutch Wadden Sea resulted in an apparent consensus among scientists of a severe and long‐lasting impact of the mechanical fisheries, and the fisheries were banned.

Specifically, two highly cited papers concluded that the fisheries caused a strong reduction in bivalve recruitment for a period of 8 years and that the fisheries led to the loss of red knots from the Dutch Wadden Sea and a decline of the European wintering population.

Here, we show that these papers had severe shortcomings in terms of data selection and data analysis and we challenge their conclusions.
How Does Foreign Acquirers’ ESG Misbehaviour Exposure Affect the Completion of Cross‐Border Acquisitions?
Authors: Zhu Shan , Du Jian , Lu Jie , Zheng Qiuxia
Published: September 2023

This study investigates how foreign acquirers’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) misbehaviour exposure affects the completion of cross‐border acquisitions (CBAs), and how this impact varies according to citizen power in the target country and the presence of deal rumours. Using a sample of CBAs attempted by Chinese listed firms from 2011 to 2019, we find that foreign acquirers with higher ESG misbehaviour exposure are more likely to fail in CBA completions. As citizen power in the target country increases, such acquirers face greater challenges in CBA completion. In addition, deal rumours can make matters worse (akin to pouring fuel on a fire), putting foreign acquirers with high ESG misbehaviour exposure in a more unfavourable position. Overall, our findings shed light on the concerns and resistance of stakeholders in the target country towards a foreign acquirer with ESG misbehaviour exposure and demonstrate boundary conditions for such an adverse effect.
CITY OF NON‐EQUIVALENTS: Making, Maintaining and Disrupting Customary Attachments to Land in Port Vila, Vanuatu
Authors: Day Jennifer
Published: September 2023

In this article I describe how a permanent underclass is being inadvertently created in a South Pacific city. I use Descola's idea of equivalence in human relations to explain urban tenure and evictions in the postcolonial South Pacific city of Port Vila. Vanuatu is a nation of 82 islands. Its archipelagic geography segregates most people's autochthonous lands, preventing ready access to the national capital. Port Vila, then, is a city of non‐citizens of the urban space: by accident of birth, a small number of people now control the land where virtually all poor migrants to the capital will live. This article describes how two non‐equivalent relations—production and protection—feature prominently in the ways that people talk about tenure insecurity. In sum, these non‐equivalent relations form the basis of how people relate to each other in terms of urban land occupancy. The pervasiveness of non‐equivalence indicates a fundamental difference between denizens of Pacific cities, whose urban policies will need to adapt to account for its presence. A right to the city may look different in places where non‐equivalence is at the very stamba (foundation) of how the city is made.
Toxicity of plants as insecticides against human pathogenic mosquito vectors of Saudi Arabian strains—A review
Authors: Aziz Al Thabiani , Panneerselvam Chellasamy , Edward‐Sam Edwin
Published: September 2023

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are considered to be huge threat among millions of peoples, animals, and other living organisms in the world. Most of the vector borne diseases such as malaria, filariasis, dengue hemorrhagic fever, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis etc., created huge impact on humans in all over the world. Vector diseases in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are increasing day by day and their control measures taken through the government sectors for eradicating the vectors helps in controlling the diseases but still more approaches to be implemented or assimilated. Most of the synthetic or chemical based insecticides to control mosquitoes developed resistance among their communities even though they showed their potential in controlling the vector in initial days. Botanical insecticides from plant‐based origin such as active compounds, essential oils, green synthesized nanomaterials, and microbial secondary metabolites helps more efficiency in controlling vectors. Mode of action against vectors differs based on its persisting active ingredients, such as larvicidal, pupicidal, adulticidal, oviposition, morphological changes etc. Even though number of research works has been carried out against mosquito species, there is only limited number of studies undergone against mosquito vectors from Saudi Arabia origin. Hence this review will give us the current knowledge on the effectiveness of botanical insecticides against major mosquito vectors from Saudi Arabia. Thus, it gives more significant against medical and veterinary sectors.
Interview with Prof. Evgenios Agathokleous, School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), China
Authors: Azevedo Ricardo A.
Published: September 2023

In a series of Interviews with people linked to the scientific community that Annals of Applied Biology launched in 2020, we are pleased to talk to Prof. Evgenios Agathokleous, who is a Full Professor at the School of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), China.
The Patent Examiner Sweepstakes
Authors: Schuster W. Michael
Published: September 2023

This article presents evidence that patent value varies with random examiner assignment at the U.S. Patent Office. Prior work analyzed firm growth as a function of review by “easy” examiners who grant patents at a high rate. The current research looks past whether a patent is granted and instead focuses on how assignment to an “easy” or “hard” examiner influences the attributes of resultant patents. Focusing on their propensities to reject applications on novelty or obviousness grounds, analysis finds that patents issued by lenient examiners tend to be broader in scope, are more valuable to their owners, and elicit a larger stock market response when granted. Further analysis quantifies the level of variation (“noise”) among examiners. This inquiry finds that the noise level in issuing novelty rejections decreases with examiner experience, while variation among examiners issuing obviousness rejections actually increases with experience. A third line of investigation presents evidence that “stricter” examiners disproportionately reach the correct examination relative to more lenient counterparts. This conclusion is supported by “twin application” analysis comparing outcomes of related U.S. and European applications. Consistent with the literature using this method, the European Patent Office's outcome is considered the “gold standard” for examination, and thus, its decision to grant or deny is assumed correct.
Diversified boards and the achievement of environmental, social, and governance goals
Authors: Alawadi Asma , Kakabadse Nada , Morley Michael , Khan Nadeem
Published: September 2023

We explore the impact of board resources arising from diverse board members on the achievement of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. Employing resource dependence theory as our frame and drawing on qualitative data from 41 interviews with board directors of publicly traded and privately held companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we identify three key mechanisms underpinning the achievement of ESG goals, namely, the leveraging of particular connections, the deployment of different resources, and the harnessing of a range of diversity types. We find that the use of social resources is often related to environmental concerns and occasionally social goals, but rarely governance issues. We also find that financial motivations often drive environmental issues, while many of the social resources that added value occurred in the public sector. Importantly, the combining of both skill and social resources, rather than relying on each alone, was seen to increase the likelihood of achieving ESG goals. Our findings also point to the importance of board diversity in accomplishing the board's ESG goals, most especially functional diversity. We propose that such functional diversity, along with resources in the form of social resources and skills, needs to feature more prominently in order to improve ESG performance and outcomes. We highlight the implications of our work, especially regarding the establishment of board diversity policies beyond gender alone.
SAM: Self-Adapting Mixture Prior to Dynamically Borrow Information from Historical Data in Clinical Trials
Authors: Yang Peng , Zhao Yuansong , Nie Lei , Vallejo Jonathon , Yuan Ying
Published: September 2023

Mixture priors provide an intuitive way to incorporate historical data while accounting for potential prior-data conflict by combining an informative prior with a noninformative prior. However, prespecifying the mixing weight for each component remains a crucial challenge. Ideally, the mixing weight should reflect the degree of prior-data conflict, which is often unknown beforehand, posing a significant obstacle to the application and acceptance of mixture priors. To address this challenge, we introduce self-adapting mixture (SAM) priors that determine the mixing weight using likelihood ratio test statistics or Bayes factors. SAM priors are data-driven and self-adapting, favoring the informative (noninformative) prior component when there is little (substantial) evidence of prior-data conflict. Consequently, SAM priors achieve dynamic information borrowing. We demonstrate that SAM priors exhibit desirable properties in both finite and large samples and achieve information-borrowing consistency. Moreover, SAM priors are easy to compute, data-driven, and calibration-free, mitigating the risk of data dredging. Numerical studies show that SAM priors outperform existing methods in adopting prior-data conflicts effectively. We developed R package “SAMprior” and web application that are freely available at CRAN and www.trialdesign.org to facilitate the use of SAM priors.
Regulation of nociception threshold by norepinephrine through adrenergic α2 receptor in rat models of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Gao Qing , Zhang Yingying , Wang Xiaoying , Wang Rui , Zhang Limei
Published: September 2023

Background

The mechanism of pain symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) is unclear. Norepinephrine (NE) regulates neuropathic pain through ascending and descending pathways. However, the loss of NE neurons in the brain of patients with PD is obvious, it is speculated that NE is involved in the occurrence of PD pain symptoms.

Aims

To investigate the effect of NE on the activation of brain cells through adrenergic α2 receptor, so as to regulate the nociception threshold in a 6‐OHDA‐induced animal model of PD.

Methods

PD rat model was established by 6‐OHDA injection (6‐OHDA group). DSP‐4 (or anti‐DBH‐saporin) was used to reduce the NE level of the PD rat brain. The heat sensitivity threshold (HST) and pressure withdrawal threshold (PWT) were measured. Tyrosine hydroxylase and NE in rat brains were detected by Elisa. The percentage of GFAP‐positive cells in the prefrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus and striatum of rats was detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. GFAP protein was semiquantified by method of western blot. Then yohimbine and guanfacine were used to increase the NE level in PD rats, and the above experimental changes were observed after drug application.

Results

The contents of NE in the brain of 6‐OHDA‐induced PD rats were lower than that of control group. After DSP‐4 (or anti‐DBH‐saporin) injection, PD rats showed the lowest NE level (compared with 6‐OHDA group, p ≤ 0.05), and after yohimbine and guanfacine were applied to 6‐OHDA group, the contents of NE increased in the prefrontal cortex of rats. The HST and PWT of 6‐OHDA group were significantly lower than those of control group, and after DSP‐4 (or anti‐DBH‐saporin) injection, the HST and PWT of rats were lower than those of 6‐OHDA group, and after the administration of yohimbine and guanfacine, both HST and PWT were significantly increased. GFAP‐positive cells increased in prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate gyrus of 6‐OHDA group rats, and more significantly increased after DSP‐4 (or anti‐DBH‐saporin) injection, and significantly reduced after yohimbine and guanfacine were used.

Conclusions

The change of norepinephrine content can affect the activation of prefrontal and cingulate gyrus glial cells and participate in the regulation of nociception threshold in PD rats. Adrenergic α2 receptor agonist and central presynaptic membrane α2 receptor blocker both affect cell activation and improve hyperalgesia.