bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ex ante, ex post risk and bank capital ratios: an empirical investigation
Authors: Abbas Faisal , Bashir Adnan
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of leverage, regulatory capital and tier-I capital ratios on the ex ante and ex post risk of Japanese banks.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the hypotheses, the authors have implemented a panel of 507 commercial and cooperative banks of Japan over the period extending from 2001 to 2020, using a two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) framework.

Findings

The overall sample banks' results show that the impact of leverage, regulatory capital and tier-I capital ratios on ex ante and ex post risk is positive. The findings reveal that the effects of regulatory and tier-I capital ratios on ex post risk are negative (positive) for commercial (cooperative) banks, high-liquid, low-liquid and high-growth banks in Japan. In addition, the regulatory capital ratio is more beneficial for risk due to its power to absorb losses. The lagged coefficient indicates that banks require more time to adjust their ex post and ex ante risk during crisis period than during normal economic conditions.

Practical implications

The heterogeneity in results has practical implications for regulators, policymakers and bank managers in formulating the capital requirement guidelines with respect to ex ante and ex post risk across different categories and characteristics of banks.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study investigating the impact of leverage, regulatory capital and tier-I capital ratios on the ex ante and ex-post risk of Japanese commercial and cooperative banks over the period from 2001 to 2020. The insights into the impact of leverage, regulatory capital and tier-I capital ratios on the ex ante and ex post risk of well-capitalized, under-capitalized, high and low-liquid banks are new in the context of Japan.
Centrality and compatibility of institutional logics when introducing value-based reimbursement
Authors: Eriksson Thérèse , Levin Lars-Åke , Nedlund Ann-Charlotte
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Using financial incentives has been criticised for putting too much focus on things that can be measured. Value-based reimbursement may better align professional values with financial incentives. However, professional values may differ between actor groups. In this article, the authors identify institutional logics within healthcare-providing organisations. Further, the authors analyse how the centrality and compatibility of the identified logics affect the institutionalisation of external demands.

Design/methodology/approach

41 semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives from healthcare providers within spine surgery in Sweden, where a value-based reimbursement programme was introduced. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis with an abductive approach, and a conceptual framework based on neo-institutional theory.

Findings

After the introduction of the value-based reimbursement programme, the centrality and compatibility of the institutional logics within healthcare-providing organisations changed. The logic of spine surgeons was dominating whereas physiotherapists struggled to motivate a higher cost for high quality physiotherapy. The institutional logic of nurses was aligned with spine surgeons, however as a peripheral logic facilitating spine surgery. To attain holistic and interdisciplinary healthcare, dominating institutional logics within healthcare-providing organisations need to allow peripheral institutional logics to attain a higher centrality for higher compatibility. Thus, allowing other occupations to take responsibility for quality and attain the feeling of professional pride.

Originality/value

Interviewing spine surgeons, physiotherapists, nurses, managers and administrators allows us to deepen the understanding of micro-level behaviour as a reaction (or lack thereof) to macro-level decisions.
Developing “place leadership” when hierarchical accountability is omnipresent: the case of English sub-national government
Authors: Ferry Laurence , Sandford Mark
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The relationship between central and sub-national (local) government is contentious around distribution of power and control. There is a specific concern when a (local) place has power devolved, but centralised hierarchical accountability pervades.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper addresses that concern by considering recent innovative developments around place-based accountability arrangements in England, through analysis of official reports and news media.

Findings

The article illustrates aspirations towards accountability to the local electorate clash with hierarchical accountability that remains an omnipresent mechanism of central control. It is suggested, accountability forums be developed to blend hierarchy and the place leadership role of directly elected mayors. This could enable local accountability to the electorate, whilst taking account of the context of specific regional level complexities.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers to consider issues of place leadership and place based accountability within the framework of hierarchical accountability for central and local government relations.
Influencers' intimate self-disclosure and its impact on consumers' self-brand connections: scale development, validation, and application
Authors: Leite Fernanda Polli , Baptista Paulo de Paula
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study develops and validates a scale to measure social media influencers' intimate self-disclosure (SMIs' ISD), by accessing consumer perceptions of the intimacy levels of SMIs' self-disclosure. The authors further evaluate the extent to which SMIs' ISD fosters consumers' self-brand connections via consumer-SMI parasocial relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The scale was developed through item generation, purification, and validation. First, items were generated from existing scales and revised based on feedback provided by experts. The items were subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using an online survey with 433 participants. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the predictive power of SMIs' ISD on parasocial relationships and self-brand connections.

Findings

The results suggest that the perceived SMIs' ISD is a unidimensional construct. As proposed, SMIs' ISD enhances consumer-brand connections through the underlying mechanism of consumers' sense of being in a parasocial relationship with an SMI.

Originality/value

This study advances self-disclosure and influencer marketing literature by addressing the lack of measures on SMIs' ISD from a consumer perspective and the scarcity of empirical understanding of how brands can profit from SMIs' capabilities to make intimate self-disclosure. Based on the literature review, this study is the first to empirically consider factual, emotional, and cognitive intimacy to develop scale and demonstrate the importance of SMIs' ISD in developing consumers' self-brand connections.
The link between extraversion and service outputs: a moderated mediation model of work vigor and coworker support
Authors: Hu Wan-Hsien , Lin Chen-Ju
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Based on the broaden-and-build theory, this study aims to clarify that the relationship between extraversion and service outcomes will be mediated by work vigor, and that, in turn, this mediating effect will be moderated by coworker support. Specifically, the authors examine vigor as an attitudinal resource to drive organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This research collected 181 valid questionnaires from service industries through a two-wave survey. The authors used hierarchical regression analysis to conduct each hypothesis test. Owing to the conditional mediating effect, the authors differentiated each variable centering and used the fractional number and the product as the predictor variable, moderator, and interaction effects after centering.

Findings

The relationships between extraversion and customer orientation and service performance mediated by work vigor in that the indirect relationships are stronger when perceived coworker support is higher than is lower.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies are suggested to probe into different forms of social support (e.g. family support), mechanisms of coworker support (e.g. task-related vs. non-task-related assistance), and different workplace contexts.

Practical implications

Extraversion, as a personality trait, is a significant reference index to examine an applicant's qualifications during recruitment, particularly in service organizations. Appropriate job assistance and emotional conciliation from coworkers can effectively facilitate employees' work vigor and service outputs.

Originality/value

Previous studies suggested the influence of different personality traits on different dimensions of work engagement. Accordingly, investigation indicates that extraversion can effectively predict work vigor which is an important attitude of willingness to put personal efforts at work to facilitate frontline service outcomes.
Carrots or sticks in debt collection services? A voice metrics and text analysis of debt collection calls
Authors: Liao Chengcheng , Du Peiyuan , Yang Yutao , Huang Ziyao
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Although phone calls are widely used by debt collection services to persuade delinquent customers to repay, few financial services studies have analyzed the unstructured voice and text data to investigate how debt collection call strategies drive customers to repay. Moreover, extant research opens the “black box” mainly through psychological theories without hard behavioral data of customers. The purpose of our study is to address this research gap.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors randomly sampled 3,204 debt collection calls from a large consumer finance company in East Asia. To rule out alternative explanations for the findings, such as consumers' previous experience of being persuaded by debt collectors or repeated calls, the authors selected calls made to delinquent customers who had not been delinquent before and were being called by the company for the first time. The authors transformed the unstructured voice and textual data into structured data through automatic speech recognition (ASR), voice mining, natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning analyses.

Findings

The findings revealed that (1) both moral appeal (carrot) and social warning (stick) strategies decrease repayment time because they arouse mainly happy emotion and fear emotion, respectively; (2) the legal warning (stick) strategy backfires because of decreasing the happy emotion and triggering the anger emotion, which impedes customers' compliance; and (3) in contrast to traditional wisdom, the combination of carrot and stick fails to decrease the repayment time.

Originality/value

The findings provide a valuable and systematic understanding of the effect of carrot strategies, stick strategies and the combinations of them on repayment time. This study is among the first to empirically analyze the effectiveness of carrot strategies, stick strategies and their joint strategies on repayment time through unstructured vocal and textual data analysis. What's more, the previous studies open the “black box” through psychological mechanism. The authors firstly elucidate a behavioral mechanism for why consumers behave differently under varying debt collection strategies by utilizing ASR, NLP and vocal emotion analyses.
A new conceptual model for assessing the role of knowledge cloud in stimulating subordinate creativity
Authors: Xiao Wen Hong , Wang M.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The knowledge cloud links people and ideas while also providing worldwide resources for putting them into action. This paper aims to see how the knowledge cloud affects the stimulation of subordinate creativity. The impact of the knowledge cloud on transformational leadership and its impacts on subordinate creativity are examined in this investigation. Also, this study checks out the influence of knowledge cloud on motivational goal orientation and the impact of motivational goal orientation on subordinate creativity. It investigates the influence of knowledge cloud on self-efficacy and feelings of it on subordinate creativity. Moreover, this research examines the impact of the knowledge cloud on employee empowerment and its impact on subordinate creativity.

Design/methodology/approach

Knowledge sharing is known as a human rationale for information. It promotes learning, human performance, decision-making and problem-solving at the job; thus, innovation and creativity need novel knowledge. Knowledge cloud is a knowledge source that provides a base for knowledge co-creation. This investigation explores the structural relationships among knowledge cloud, transformational leadership, motivational goal orientation, self-efficacy, employee empowerment and subordinate creativity. Here, a model is improved and experimentally examined based on the knowledge cloud, transformational leadership, motivational goal orientation, self-efficacy and employee empowerment to improve subordinate creativity using partial least squares (PLS) and data from car factories' employees in Beijing.

Findings

The study results show that knowledge cloud, transformational leadership, motivational goal orientation, self-efficacy and employee empowerment are strongly related to subordinate creativity. In addition to using the Sobel test, all four variables' mediating role (transformational leadership, motivational goal orientation, self-efficacy and employee empowerment) is confirmed.

Practical implications

A knowledge cloud can improve the stimulating subordinate creativity of employees through transformational leadership, motivational goal orientation, self-efficacy and employee empowerment. First, the human resources department must have some programs to improve the knowledge cloud's incentive. Second, creating an atmosphere of cooperation and trust among employees should enhance the knowledge cloud's effects.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that addresses the knowledge cloud's role in subordinate creativity in firms. This investigation also assists the creativity literature by testing the mediating effect of motivational goal orientation, transformational leadership, feelings of self-efficacy and employee empowerment.
Tracking data and the conservation of the high seas: Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Davies Tammy E. , Carneiro Ana P. B. , Campos Bruna , Hazin Carolina , Dunn Daniel C. , Gjerde Kristina M. , Johnson David E. , Dias Maria P.
Published: September 2021

Biologging technology is rapidly advancing—scientists are obtaining data on movement and behaviour for a range of species, more accurately than ever before. With this information, it is possible to understand more about important areas and their connections across the open ocean including the high seas, beyond national jurisdictions. But an absence of a global governance framework has so far hindered a coordinated approach to conservation action on the high seas.

We showcase a candidate high seas MPA in the Northeast Atlantic identified primarily from seabird tracking data and being taken forward under a regional process: the North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Seamount (NACES) MPA, under the OSPAR Commission. It provides a unique case study to learn about the intricacies of implementation when applying tracking information for conservation. From this, we identify the facilitating conditions and challenges faced from identification to designation and highlight actionable opportunities for future area‐based management of the high seas that will be made possible under a new agreement.

Policy implications. The North Atlantic Current and Evlanov Seamount (NACES) MPA demonstrates the power of translating tracking data into usable geospatial knowledge to inform conservation and policy and provides an exemplar for a data‐driven approach to high seas conservation that can become a reality under the forthcoming governance framework (under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (known as the BBNJ Agreement)). This new agreement presents a unique conservation opportunity both for the application of tracking data to conservation outcomes and for the protection of migratory species.
In vivo biological evaluation of sodium salt of ethyl (E)‐2‐cyano‐3‐(7‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐2‐oxoquinoline‐1(2H)‐yl)‐3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl) acrylate as anticancer agent
Authors: Mohammed Faten Z. , Abd El‐Aziz Rahma M. , El‐Deen Ibrahim M. , Abd‐Rahman Marwa S. , AlGhannam Sheikha M.
Published: September 2021

Nowadays, quinoline scaffold is among the most vital construction compounds for the development of new drugs. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the anti‐cancer activity of sodium salt of ethyl (E)‐2‐cyano‐3‐(7‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐2‐oxoquinoline‐1(2H)‐yl)‐3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl) acrylate against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells residing in female mice's peritoneal cavity. The docking study exhibited a favourable interaction between the compound and the receptors 1MOY and 3KJF of osteopontin and caspase 3, respectively. The compound's sodium salt showed potential antioxidant and anti‐cancer effects against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in vivo. Herein, the results elucidated that treatment with the compound's sodium salt exerted significant chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects, which reduced both EAC cell volume and count. Our results revealed that treatment with the sodium salt of the compound demonstrated a remarkable in vivo apoptotic effect through elevation of the expression of caspase 3 and reduction of osteopontin levels. Histopathological examination confirmed that the compound's sodium salt improved liver and kidney tissues without any apparent adverse effects.
Postpartum haemorrhage trends in Sweden using the Robson ten group classification system: a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Ladfors LV , Muraca GM , Zetterqvist J , Butwick AJ , Stephansson O
Published: September 2021

Objective

To examine postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) trends in Sweden using the Robson classification system.

Design

Population‐based cohort study.

Setting

Sweden.

Population

Deliveries in 2000–2016, classified as Robson groups 1–5 (singleton pregnancies in vertex presentation, from gestational weeks 37+0; n = 1 590 178).

Methods

We examined temporal trends in PPH between 2000 and 2016 overall, and within each Robson group, and performed logistic regression to examine the influence of changes in risk factors (maternal, comorbidity, obstetric practice and infant factors) over time.

Main outcome measures

Postpartum haemorrhage, defined as an estimated blood loss of >1000 ml.

Results

The overall PPH rate increased from 5.4 to 7.3%, corresponding to a 37% (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.32–1.42) increase over time. Rates varied between Robson groups, ranging from 4.5% in group 3 to 14.3% in group 4b. Increasing trends in PPH were found in all Robson groups except for groups 2b and 4b (prelabour caesarean deliveries). In the unstratified analysis, adjusting for maternal, comorbidity and obstetric practice factors slightly attenuated the risk of PPH in the later period (2013–2016), compared with the reference period (2000–2004; crude OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.24–1.29, adjusted OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.20–1.25). Within individual Robson groups, changes in risk factors did not explain increasing rates of PPH.

Conclusions

Postpartum haemorrhage rates varied between Robson groups. Changes in risk factors could not explain the 37% increase in PPH for women in Robson groups 1–5 in Sweden, 2000–2016.

Tweetable abstract

Changes in risk factors could not explain the increasing trend of PPH in Sweden, and rates of PPH varied widely between Robson groups.
Chronic hypertension, perinatal mortality and the impact of preterm delivery: a population‐based study
Authors: Grover S , Brandt JS , Reddy UM , Ananth CV
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To estimate the association between chronic hypertension and perinatal mortality and to evaluate the extent to which risks are impacted by preterm delivery.

Design

Cross‐sectional analysis.

Setting

United States, 2015–18.

Population

Singleton births (20–44 weeks of gestation).

Exposure

Chronic hypertension, defined as elevated blood pressure diagnosed before pregnancy or recognised before 20 weeks of gestation.

Main outcomes and measures

We derived the risk of perinatal mortality in relation to chronic hypertension from Poisson models, adjusted for confounders. The impacts of misclassification and unmeasured confounding were assessed. Causal mediation analysis was performed to quantify the impact of preterm delivery on the association.

Results

Of the 15 090 678 singleton births, perinatal mortality rates were 22.5 and 8.2 per 1000 births in chronic hypertensive and normotensive pregnancies, respectively (adjusted risk ratio 2.05, 95% CI 2.00–2.10). Corrections for exposure misclassification and unmeasured confounding biases substantially increased the risk estimate. Although causal mediation analysis revealed that most of the association of chronic hypertension on perinatal mortality was mediated through preterm delivery, the perinatal mortality rates were highest at early term, term and late term gestations, suggesting that a planned early term delivery at 37–386/7 weeks may optimally balance risk in these pregnancies. Additionally, 87% (95% CI 84–90%) of perinatal deaths could be eliminated if preterm deliveries, as a result of chronic hypertension, were preventable.

Conclusions

Chronic hypertension is associated with increased risk for perinatal mortality. Planned early term delivery and targeting modifiable risk factors for chronic hypertension may reduce perinatal mortality rates.

Tweetable abstract

Maternal chronic hypertension is associated with increased risk for perinatal mortality, largely driven by preterm birth.
Predictors for sexual dysfunction in the first year postpartum: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cattani Laura , De Maeyer Liza , Verbakel Jan Y , Bosteels Jan , Deprest Jan
Published: September 2021

Background

Pregnancy and childbirth increase the risk for pelvic floor dysfunction, including sexual dysfunction. So far, the mechanisms and the extent to which certain risk factors play a role remain unclear.

Objectives

In this systematic review of the literature we aimed to determine risk factors for sexual dysfunction in the first year after childbirth.

Search Strategy

We searched MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL using the search strategy: sexual dysfunction AND obstetric events.

Selection Criteria

We included original, comparative studies, reported in English, that used validated questionnaires and the ICS/IUGA terminology for sexual dysfunction, dyspareunia and vaginal dryness.

Data Collection and Analysis

We assessed the quality and the risk of bias of the included studies with the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. We extracted the reported data and we performed random‐effects meta‐analysis to obtain the summary odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using the I2 statistic.

Main Results

Anal sphincter injury was associated with increased odds for both sexual dysfunction (OR 3.00, 95%CI 1.28–7.03) and dyspareunia (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.47–2.52). Episiotomy was associated with dyspareunia (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.25–2.14), but not with sexual dysfunction (OR 1.90, 95% CI 0.94–3.84). Compared with spontaneous birth, caesarean section reduced the odds for dyspareunia (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54–0.86) but not for sexual dysfunction (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.89–1.46). Instrumental vaginal birth increased the odds for sexual dysfunction (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.05–2.76), yet no difference was found for dyspareunia (OR 1.82, 95% CI 0.88–3.75). One study of low quality reported on vaginal dryness and found no association with obstetric events.

Conclusions

Perineal trauma, rather than mode of birth, increases the odds for sexual dysfunction in the first year after childbirth.

Tweetable Abstract

Perineal trauma, rather than mode of birth, correlates with sexual dysfunction and dyspareunia postpartum. #dyspareunia #OASI #episiotomy
Crime, quarantine, and the U.S. coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Lopez Ernesto , Rosenfeld Richard
Published: September 2021

Research Summary

Priorresearch has produced varied results regarding the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on crime rates, depending on the offenses and time periods under investigation. The current study of weekly offense rates in large U.S. cities is based on a longer time period, a greater number of offenses than prior research, and a varying number of cities for each offense (max = 28, min = 13, md = 20). We find that weekly property crime and drug offense rates, averaged across the cities, fell during the pandemic. An exception is motor vehicle theft, which trended upward after pandemic‐related population restrictions were instituted in March 2020. Robbery rates also declined immediately after the pandemic began. Average weekly homicide, aggravated assault, and gun assault rates did not exhibit statistically significant increases after March. Beginning in June 2020, however, significant increases in these offenses were detected, followed by declines in the late summer and fall. Fixed‐effects regression analyses disclose significant decreases in aggravated assault, robbery, and larceny rates associated with reduced residential mobility during the pandemic. These results support the routine activity hypothesis that the dispersion of activity away from households increases crime rates. The results for the other offenses are less supportive.

Policy Implications

Quarantines and lockdowns, although necessary to reduce contagious illness, are not desirable crime‐control devices. An object lesson of the coronavirus pandemic is to redouble effective crime reduction strategies and improve police–community relations without confining people to their homes.
Determination of lipid profiles of Dezhou donkey meat using an LC‐MS‐based lipidomics method
Authors: Li Mengmeng , Zhu Mingxia , Chai Wenqiong , Wang Yonghui , Fan Dongmei , Lv Mengqing , Jiang Xiaojing , Liu Yongxiang , Wei Qingxin , Wang Changfa
Published: September 2021

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is an important factor affecting meat quality, but lipid and metabolic profiles of donkey meat remain unclear. The present study was conducted to investigate lipid characteristics in different parts of Dezhou donkey using lipidomics. The results show that IMF was more abundant in longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) than rump muscle (RM) and hamstring muscle (HM), and mainly composed of triglycerides (TGs) rich in saturated fatty acid (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFAs). A total of 1143 lipids belonging to 14 subclasses were identified in donkey meat, of which 73 lipids (23 upregulated and 50 downregulated) including glycerolipids (GLs), glycerophospholipids (GPs) and sphingolipids (SPs) were significantly different and are therefore potential biomarkers in LDM versus RM versus HM analyses (variable importance in projection >1, p < 0.05). Notably, 21 TGs upregulated in LDM were rich in MUFAs at sn‐1 and SFAs at 2 and 3 positions of TG. Donkey muscle accumulated far more SFAs at the sn‐3 position of TG, while more SFAs were present at the sn‐1 positions of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and the percentages of SFAs at the three positions in TG, PC, and PE in the LDM group were much higher. The abundance of MUFAs at the sn‐2 positions of TG, PC, and PE was significantly greater than in sn‐1 or 3 positions, and the percentages of 18:1n‐9 at the sn‐1 and 2 position of TGs in LDM were significantly higher than in RM and HM groups. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g.,18:2n‐6, 18:3n‐3, and 20:4n‐6) tended to occur at the sn‐1 position in TG, but at the sn‐2 position in PC and PE. Significantly differential lipids were mainly enriched in GP, GL, and SP pathways, all considered key pathways for regulating IMF. The results reveal the components, structures and metabolic pathways of lipid molecules in donkey meat, and provide novel insight into the development of donkey meat products and accurate regulation of IMF.

Practical Application

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is an important factor affecting meat quality, which is directly related to meat flavor, juiciness, and tenderness, but lipid and metabolic profiles of IMF remain unclear. The current results provide basic information for the development of donkey meat products, and broaden our understanding of the regulation of IMF.
Transplantion of predominant Lactobacilli from native hens to commercial hens could indirectly regulate their ISC activity by improving intestinal microbiota
Authors: Liu Lijuan , Zhou Zhou , Hong Yi , Jiang Keyang , Yu Lingzi , Xie Xiaochen , Mi Yuling , Zhu Shu Jeffrey , Zhang Caiqiao , Li Jian
Published: September 2021

In poultry, HyLine (HL) Hens are known for their excellent laying performance. However, ZhenNing (ZN) Hens, a native chicken breed in China, are known for their unique flavour. The intestinal mucosa, which is the main organ for nutrient absorption, could affect livestock product quality. In ZN Hens’ intestinal mucosa, we found more villus wrinkles, larger villus circumference and higher amino acid transporters mRNA abundance compared with HL Hens. Among three laying periods of ZN Hens, in the intestinal lumen, Lactobacillus salivarius (L. sa.), Lactobacillus agilis (L. ag.) and Lactobacillus aviarius were the predominant species in the laying peak period. Furthermore, multiple‐antibiotics feeding in ZN Hens and predominant Lactobacillus feeding in HL Hens suggested that these Lactobacilli could indeed increase villus wrinkles and improve intestinal absorption. In HL Hens, L. sa. + L. ag. treatment could promote organoids budding in vitro, and promote epithelial proliferation in vivo. Collectively, the unique intestinal mucosa morphology in ZN Hens was due to the high abundance of intestinal L. sa. and L. ag. Transplant these Lactobacilli to HL Hens could increase their intestinal probiotics abundance, fine adjust the intestinal stem cell function and promote the epithelial proliferation, in turn, increase villus winkles and mucosal absorption area.
Appendiceal tumours – A correlation of CT features and histopathological diagnosis
Authors: Brassil Michael , Lee Ronan , O’Neill Damien , Woods Graham , Moloney Brian M , Dunne Ruth , Morrin Martina , Lee Michael J
Published: September 2021

Appendiceal tumours are uncommon neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. An understanding of the imaging appearances facilitates an accurate radiological description, which guides surgical and oncological management. In this study, a retrospective review of the CT imaging and histopathology of all cases of appendiceal tumours discussed at the oncology multidisciplinary meetings in a single centre, over an 8‐year period (2012–2019) is performed. The array and incidence of both common and rare pathologies are investigated, and important characteristic imaging findings for radiologists to recognize are highlighted.
A Matter of Appearances: How Does Auditing Expertise Benefit Audit Committees When Selecting Auditors?†‡
Authors: Baugh Matthew , Hallman Nicholas J. , Kachelmeier Steven J.
Published: September 2021

Literature to date reveals relatively little about the role of expertise in auditor selection beyond basic preferences for Big 4 and industry specialist auditors. We hypothesize that audit committees whose members have no Big 4 auditing experience are likely to struggle when interviewing prospective Big 4 partners, leading such committees to draw on superficial, heuristic cues in lieu of conducting more substantive evaluations. To test this prediction, we obtain independent ratings of the facial attractiveness of audit partners identified from Form AP filings recently mandated by the US PCAOB. Our primary finding is that audit committees with no Big 4–experienced members are more likely to favor partners whose photographs raters view to be highly attractive. We characterize attractiveness as a superficial attribute for auditor selection because we detect no relation between attractiveness and accruals‐ or restatement‐based measures of financial reporting quality for audit committees with one or more Big 4–experienced members. We do find an inverse association between attractiveness and financial reporting quality for committees without this experience, likely reflecting the statistical implication of a selection bias. We conclude that auditing expertise mitigates the influence of superficial considerations in auditor selection, enabling audit committees to fulfill their stewardship role more effectively.
An automatic classifier of bat sonotypes around the world
Authors: Roemer Charlotte , Julien Jean‐François , Ahoudji Pélé Patrice , Chassot Jean‐Marie , Genta Mauricio , Colombo Raphaël , Botto German , Negreira Carlos A. , Djossa Bruno Agossou , Ing Ros Kiri , Hassanin Alexandre , Rufray Vincent , Uriot Quentin , Participants Vigie‐Chiro , Bas Yves
Published: September 2021

Bioacoustics is one of the most popular methods in bat research. Bat species are identifiable through their echolocation call features (e.g. peak frequency, duration, bandwidth) but the amounts of recordings to process generally require the help of machine learning algorithms. Yet, classifiers are only developed in some areas of the world and it may take dozens of years before they are available everywhere because reference calls are still lacking for numerous species. Our goal was to develop a universal classifier that would classify bat sonotypes according to call shape and peak frequency.

To achieve this, we first defined eight sonotype categories that cover all bat echolocation shapes worldwide. We then trained a classifier using random forest decision trees with a database of 1,154,835 labelled sound events containing bat and non‐bat sounds from four continents. After classification, we developed a process to group detected sound events according to the probability scores of their predicted sonotype category and their peak frequency. We then tested the performance of our classifier on a different set of recordings originating from five continents.

Depending on the bat sonotype tested, the performance (area under ROC curve) of our classifier ranged between 0.77 and 0.99 for low‐quality calls (SNR < 25 dB). Performance ranged between 0.89 and 1 for middle‐ or high‐quality calls (SNR ≥ 25 dB). The performance for bat feeding buzz classification ranged between 0.93 and 0.98 depending on the SNR. The classifier was not developed to classify bat social calls; the majority of them were classified as a bat sonotype.

The classifier is an open data format and can be used by anyone to study bats around the world. It can be used to spot acoustically described species but for which a classifier was not developed, and even to detect species that were not acoustically described yet. The grouping of sound events according to call sonotype and peak frequency may be used to describe bat communities and compare the composition of acoustic niches across time and space. This allows the monitoring of bats and the assessment of bat conservation issues in any region of the world.
Partisanship, Economic Assessments, and Presidential Accountability
Authors: Ang Zoe , Reeves Andrew , Rogowski Jon C. , Vishwanath Arjun
Published: September 2021

Few issues are more salient for voters or more important in political decision making than economic conditions, and no American public official is more closely associated with the economy than the president. Existing scholarship disagrees, however, about how partisan loyalties affect economic evaluations. We study how partisan control of the presidency affects economic perceptions using eight waves of panel data collected around the 2016 presidential election from a national probability sample. We find that although individual‐level perceptions are largely stable across time, the change in partisan control of the White House was associated with more positive evaluations among Republicans and more negative evaluations among Democrats. These effects are statistically significant yet substantively modest in magnitude. Our results indicate that partisanship is less strongly associated with economic assessments than some previous scholarship has claimed and suggest more sanguine conclusions about the prospects for presidential accountability even in a partisan era.
The international EAACI/GA²LEN/EuroGuiDerm/APAAACI guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis, and management of urticaria
Authors: Zuberbier Torsten , Abdul Latiff Amir Hamzah , Abuzakouk Mohamed , Aquilina Susan , Asero Riccardo , Baker Diane , Ballmer‐Weber Barbara , Bangert Christine , Ben‐Shoshan Moshe , Bernstein Jonathan A. , Bindslev‐Jensen Carsten , Brockow Knut , Brzoza Zenon , Chong Neto Herberto Jose , Church Martin K. , Criado Paulo R. , Danilycheva Inna V. , Dressler Corinna , Ensina Luis Felipe , Fonacier Luz , Gaskins Matthew , Gáspár Krisztian , Gelincik Aslı , Giménez‐Arnau Ana , Godse Kiran , Gonçalo Margarida , Grattan Clive , Grosber Martine , Hamelmann Eckard , Hébert Jacques , Hide Michihiro , Kaplan Allen , Kapp Alexander , Kessel Aharon , Kocatürk Emek , Kulthanan Kanokvalai , Larenas‐Linnemann Désirée , Lauerma Antti , Leslie Tabi A. , Magerl Markus , Makris Michael , Meshkova Raisa Y. , Metz Martin , Micallef Daniel , Mortz Charlotte G. , Nast Alexander , Oude‐Elberink Hanneke , Pawankar Ruby , Pigatto Paolo D. , Ratti Sisa Hector , Rojo Gutiérrez María Isabel , Saini Sarbjit S. , Schmid‐Grendelmeier Peter , Sekerel Bulent E. , Siebenhaar Frank , Siiskonen Hanna , Soria Angele , Staubach‐Renz Petra , Stingeni Luca , Sussman Gordon , Szegedi Andrea , Thomsen Simon Francis , Vadasz Zahava , Vestergaard Christian , Wedi Bettina , Zhao Zuotao , Maurer Marcus
Published: September 2021

This update and revision of the international guideline for urticaria was developed following the methods recommended by Cochrane and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) working group. It is a joint initiative of the Dermatology Section of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA²LEN) and its Urticaria and Angioedema Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCAREs and ACAREs), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF; EuroGuiDerm), and the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology with the participation of 64 delegates of 50 national and international societies and from 31 countries. The consensus conference was held on 3 December 2020. This guideline was acknowledged and accepted by the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Urticaria is a frequent, mast cell–driven disease that presents with wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for acute urticaria is approximately 20%. Chronic spontaneous or inducible urticaria is disabling, impairs quality of life, and affects performance at work and school. This updated version of the international guideline for urticaria covers the definition and classification of urticaria and outlines expert‐guided and evidence‐based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the different subtypes of urticaria.
An absolute radiocarbon chronology for the world heritage site of Sarvestan (SW Iran): A late Sasanian heritage in early Islamic era
Authors: Djamali Morteza , Capano Manuela , Askari‐Chaverdi Alireza , Faucherre Nicolas , Guibal Frédéric , Northedge Alastair , Rashidian Elnaz , Tuna Thibaut , Bard Edouard
Published: September 2021

This study presents a new precise radiocarbon chronology for the World Heritage site of Sarvestan (SW Iran). The monument is a key construction in the history of architecture because it is a typical Sasanian construction built during the late Sasanian or early Islamic period. Previous attempts to date the monument have suggested the ages ranging from the middle Sasanian (fifth century CE) to early Abbasid (ninth century CE) era. These age estimations are based on the analysis of architectural plans and techniques, and a few radiocarbon dates with very large age uncertainties. This paper presents the results of a systematic radiocarbon dating of timbers in the walls and charcoals in plaster mortars used in the main dome of the monument. It further applies wiggle matching technique and R_Combine function to substantially reduce the age uncertainties in wood sections. The results indicate that a major construction work was undertaken sometime between 658 and 683 CE, the century of the invasion of Fars by Muslim Arabs. This finding pushes back the age of Sarvestan for two centuries and suggests that the monument was built at the transitional period between Sasanian to Islamic era. Sarvestan would have been an architectural project designed and possibly initiated during the late Sasanian period but mainly accomplished during the second half of the seventh century CE. It can thus be considered a late Sasanian heritage in early Islamic period. Its construction at a time of political unrest further suggests that some areas of Fars may have benefited from certain socio‐political stabilities during the expansion of Islam into the east at mid‐ to late seventh century CE.
The influence of soil environment on the degradation of archaeological leather
Authors: Vyskočilová Gabriela , Kopecká Radka , Pavliňák David , Laichmanová Monika , Sedláček Ivo , Orlita Alois , Příhoda Jiří , Miu Lucretia
Published: September 2021

Leather objects, found in archaeological excavations, survive in a specific environment. This leather material is very delicate and only little is known about the mechanism of its (bio)degradation in a soil environment. The main goal of this study was to clarify how leather is affected by a soil environment and why archaeological leathers have their typical properties. We tested the influence of the soil (bio)degradation processes on the mechanical properties, colour difference, morphological changes, possible absorption of additional inorganic components from soil and changes of the leather composition. The microbial activity of the soil was also analysed.
Histological and histochemical studies of the gastrointestinal tract in the water monitor lizard (Varanus salvator)
Authors: Srichairat Nattawut , Taksintum Wut , Chumnanpuen Pramote
Published: September 2021

The histological and histochemical studies of gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) are important for understanding the morphophysiology in animal digestive processes. Therefore, this study aimed to describe and analyse the histological and histochemical characteristics of Varanus salvator GI tract based on two adult wild‐caught specimens (male and female). The results of histological study revealed that most of V. salvator GI tract is quite similar to that of other vertebrates. However, only slight differences were found in some histological aspects. According to the fine structure of stomach, the oxynticopeptic cells of oral fundic region contained numerous secretory granules, while those of the aboral fundic region contained less secretory granules. For the mucin histochemical study, the acid and neutral mucins can be found throughout the GI tract except for pyloric stomach found neutral mucin only. This study provides information about the microanatomic structures of V. salvator GI tract that could be applied to the biological and veterinary sciences, and farming and feeding management.
Physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic model predictions of inter‐ethnic differences in imatinib pharmacokinetics and dosing regimens
Authors: Adiwidjaja Jeffry , Gross Annette S. , Boddy Alan V. , McLachlan Andrew J.
Published: September 2021

Aims

This study implements a physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling approach to investigate inter‐ethnic differences in imatinib pharmacokinetics and dosing regimens.

Methods

A PBPK model of imatinib was built in the Simcyp Simulator (version 17) integrating in vitro drug metabolism and clinical pharmacokinetic data. The model accounts for ethnic differences in body size and abundance of drug‐metabolising enzymes and proteins involved in imatinib disposition. Utility of this model for prediction of imatinib pharmacokinetics was evaluated across different dosing regimens and ethnic groups. The impact of ethnicity on imatinib dosing was then assessed based on the established range of trough concentrations (Css,min).

Results

The PBPK model of imatinib demonstrated excellent predictive performance in describing pharmacokinetics and the attained Css,min in patients from different ethnic groups, shown by prediction differences that were within 1.25‐fold of the clinically‐reported values in published studies. PBPK simulation suggested a similar dose of imatinib (400–600 mg/d) to achieve the desirable range of Css,min (1000–3200 ng/mL) in populations of European, Japanese and Chinese ancestry. The simulation indicated that patients of African ancestry may benefit from a higher initial dose (600–800 mg/d) to achieve imatinib target concentrations, due to a higher apparent clearance (CL/F) of imatinib compared to other ethnic groups; however, the clinical data to support this are currently limited.

Conclusion

PBPK simulations highlighted a potential ethnic difference in the recommended initial dose of imatinib between populations of European and African ancestry, but not populations of Chinese and Japanese ancestry.
The fairness of ventilator allocation during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Wang Xueshi
Published: September 2021

There is ongoing debate on how to fairly allocate scarce critical care resources to patients with COVID‐19. The debate revolves around two views: those who believe that priority for scarce resources should primarily aim at saving the most lives (SML) or at saving the most life‐years, and those who believe that public health should focus on health equity to address health disparities and social determinants of health. I argue that maximizing medical outcomes by saving the greatest number of patients is not a plausible strategy for combating COVID‐19. There are reasons of fairness to give each patient who can meet general eligibility requirements a chance of being saved. Rather than focusing on outcome maximization, a better solution would be the individualist lottery that takes account of probability of survival and duration of treatment. Although the individualist lottery allocates scarce resources in a fair way that is responsive to health equity concerns, it still gives considerable weight to the concern of SML. Thus, this procedure can be reasonably accepted by all key stakeholders.
Perceived locus of control for clutter: Reported reasons for clutter in adults with and without hoarding symptoms
Authors: Dozier Mary E. , Nix Caitlyn A. , Taylor Caera , Pyles Karly , Mejia Nicole , Kalchbrenner Rachel
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The goal of the current investigation was to expand on previous work on reasons for saving/discarding in the context of hoarding by examining individuals’ perceived locus of control for household clutter.

Methods

Participants were asked to list their perceived reasons for clutter and assign each reason a percentage rating reflecting the extent to which they judged the reason to be responsible for their household clutter.

Results

Lack of time was an almost universally endorsed reason for clutter. Clinically severe hoarding levels were associated with lower responsibility ratings for time‐related reasons and increased endorsement of distress‐related reasons.

Conclusions

Future research should examine whether insight level affects how individuals with clinically severe hoarding perceive the locus of control for household clutter.

Practitioner Ponits

Perception of lack of time may influence individuals’ sense of locus of control for their household clutter levels.

Hoarding severity is associated with being more likely to attribute distress around discarding or decision making as the reason for clutter.