bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Silent Pandemic COVID-19 in the Asymptomatic Population
Authors: Stout Robert L. , Rigatti Steven J.
Published: November 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world there is a great need to understand the dynamics of spread. Currently the seroprevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 doubles every 3 months, this silent epidemic of new infections may be the main driving force behind the rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 cases.

Public health official quickly recognized that clinical cases were just the tip of the iceberg. In fact a great deal of the spread was being driven by the asymptomatically infected who continued to go out, socialize and go to work. While seropositivity is an insensitive marker for acute infection it does tell us about the prevalence COVID-19 in the population.

Objective

Describe the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the United States over time.

Methodology

Repeated convenience samples from a commercial laboratory dedicated to the assessment of life insurance applicants were tested for the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, in several time periods between May and December of 2020. US census data were used to estimate the population prevalence of seropositivity.

Results

The raw seroprevalence in the May-June, September, and December timeframes were 3.0%, 6.6% and 10.4%, respectively. Higher rates were noted in younger vs. older age groups. Total estimated seroprevalence in the US is estimated at 25.7 million cases.

Conclusions

The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 demonstrates a significantly larger pool of individuals who have contract COVID-19 and recovered, implying a lower case rate of hospitalizations and deaths than have been reported so far.
Prediction of abnormal left ventricular geometry in patients without cardiovascular disease through machine learning: An ECG-based approach
Authors: Angelaki Eleni , Marketou Maria E. , Barmparis Georgios D. , Patrianakos Alexandros , Vardas Panos E. , Parthenakis Fragiskos , Tsironis Giorgos P.
Published: November 2020

Cardiac remodeling is recognized as an important aspect of cardiovascular disease (CVD) progression. Machine learning (ML) techniques were applied on basic clinical parameters and electrocardiographic features for detecting abnormal left ventricular geometry (LVG), even before the onset of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), in a population without established CVD. After careful screening, we enrolled 528 subjects with and without essential hypertension, but no other indications of CVD. All patients underwent a full echocardiographic evaluation and were classified into 3 groups; normal geometry (NG), concentric remodeling without LVH (CR), and LVH. Abnormal LVG was identified as increased relative wall thickness (RWT) and/or left ventricular mass index (LVMi). We trained nonlinear predictive ML models, to classify subjects with abnormal LVG and calculated SHAP values to perform feature importance and interaction analysis. Hypertension, age, body mass index over the Sokolow-Lyon voltage, QRS-T angle, and QTc duration were some of the most important features. Our model was able to distinguish NG from all others (CR+LVH), with accuracy 86%, specificity 75%, sensitivity 95%, and area under the receiver operating curve (AUC/ROC) 0.89. We also trained our model to classify NG and CR (NG+CR) against those with established LVH, with accuracy 89%, specificity 97%, sensitivity 50%, and AUC/ROC 0.85. Our ML algorithm effectively detects abnormal LVG even at early stages. Innovative solutions are needed to improve risk stratification of patients without established CVD, especially in primary care settings, and ML may enable this direction.
Rural Disparities in Early Childhood Well Child Visit Attendance
Authors: DeGuzman Pamela B. , Huang Guoping , Lyons Genevieve , Snitzer Joseph , Keim-Malpass Jessica
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Children should attend well child visits (WCVs) during early childhood so that developmental disorders may be identified as early as possible, and if indicated treatment can begin. The aim of this research was to determine if rurality impacts access to WCV during early childhood, and if altering rurality measurement methods impacts outcomes.

Design and Methods

We utilized a longitudinal correlational design with early childhood data gathered from the Virginia All Payer Claims Database, which contains claims data from Medicaid and the majority of Virginia commercial insurance payers (n=6349). WCV attendance was evaluated against three rurality metrics: a traditional metric using Rural-Urban Commuting Area codes, a developed land variable, and a distance to care variable, at a zip code level.

Results

Two of the rurality methods revealed that rural children attend fewer WCVs than their urban counterparts, (67% vs. 50% respectively, using a traditional metric; and a 0.035 increase in WCV attendance for every percent increase in developed land). Differences were attenuated by insurance payer; children with Medicaid attend fewer WCVs than those with private insurance.

Conclusions

Young children in rural Virginia attend fewer WCVs than their non-rural counterparts, placing them at higher risk for missing timely developmental disorder screenings. The coronavirus disease pandemic has been associated with an abrupt and significant reduction in vaccination rates, which likely indicates fewer WCVs and concomitant developmental screenings. Pediatric nurses should encourage families of young children to develop a plan for continued WCVs, so that early identification of developmental disorders can be achieved.
Changing probability of experiencing food insecurity by socioeconomic and demographic groups during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK
Authors: Koltai Jonathan , Toffolutti Veronica , McKee Martin , Stuckler David
Published: November 2020

Background: Food supply concerns have featured prominently in the UK response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We assess changes in food insecurity in the UK population from April to July 2020.

Method: We analyze 11,095 respondents from the April through July waves of the Understanding Society COVID-19 longitudinal study survey linked with Wave 9 of the UK Understanding Society study. Food insecurity was defined as having used a food bank in the last 4 weeks; being hungry but not eating in the last week; or not able to eat healthy and nutritious food in the last week. Unadjusted estimates to examine changes in population prevalence and logistic regression were used to assess the association between employment transitions and food insecurity.

Findings: The prevalence of reporting at least one form of food insecurity rose from 7.1% in April to 20.2% by July 2020. Some of the largest increases were among Asian respondents (22.91 percentage points), the self-employed (15.90 percentage points), and 35-44-year-olds (17.08 percentage points). In logistic regression models, those moving from employment to unemployment had higher odds of reporting food insecurity relative to furloughed individuals (OR=2.23; 95% CI: 1.20 to 4.13) and to the persistently employed (OR=2.38; 95% CI: 1.33 to 4.27), adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Furloughed individuals did not differ significantly in their probability of experiencing food insecurity compared to the persistently employed (OR=1.07; 95% CI: 0.83 to 1.37).

Interpretation: Food insecurity has increased substantially in the UK. Steps are needed to provide subsidies or food support to vulnerable groups.
Psychometric properties and factor invariance for the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28): study in Peruvian population exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ames-Guerrero Rita J. , Barreda-Parra Victoria A. , Huamani-Cahua Julio C.
Published: November 2020

Large-scale epidemics are known to significantly disrupt the mental health and perceived well-being of most populations. In spite of the wide range of screening tools, there are not many reliable and widespread tools for the identification of psychological symptoms in non-clinical populations during a health crisis.

Objective

The aim of this study was to conduct a psychometric analysis of the Goldberg’s GHQ-28 (1) through a sample of Peruvian adults using confirmatory factor analysis.

Materials and methods

434 individuals have been examined, studying the goodness and structure of the Goldberg GHQ-28 questionnaire.

Result

We found high reliability indicating optimal values (α by Cronbach = .829), also there are four correlated factors that show strict invariance among the 28 items. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were used to examine the structure of the subscales. There are high levels of anxiety (X=1.01) and social dysfunction (X=1.21) in the assessed sampling.

Conclusion

The factorial structure obtained in this study is similar to that originally described by the researchers involved in the original questionnaire. It is concluded that GHQ-28 is suitable to explore prevalence of psychopathologies in emergency contexts and social isolation for general non-psychiatric population.
Systemic blockade of Clever-1 elicits lymphocyte activation alongside checkpoint molecule downregulation in patients with solid tumors
Authors: Virtakoivu Reetta , Rannikko Jenna , Viitala Miro , Vaura Felix , Takeda Akira , Lönnberg Tapio , Koivunen Jussi , Jaakkola Panu , Pasanen Annika , Shetty Shishir , de Jonge Maja , Robbrecht Debbie , Ma Yuk Ting , Skyttä Tanja , Minchom Anna , Jalkanen Sirpa , Karvonen Matti K. , Mandelin Jami , Bono Petri , Hollmén Maija
Published: November 2020

Macrophages are critical in driving an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that counteracts the efficacy of T-cell targeting therapies. Thus, agents that can reprogram macrophages towards a proinflammatory state hold promise as novel immunotherapies for solid cancers. Here, we report that immunotherapeutic targeting of the macrophage scavenger receptor Clever-1 in heavily pretreated metastatic cancer patients was able to induce a significant increase and activation of peripheral T-cells. Anti-Clever-1 (FP-1305) administration led to suppression of nuclear lipid signaling pathways and a proinflammatory phenotypic switch in blood monocytes. Mechanistically, Clever-1 inhibition impaired multiprotein vacuolar ATPase–mediated endosomal acidification and improved macrophage cross-presentation of scavenged antigens. Our results reveal a non-redundant role played by the receptor Clever-1 in suppressing adaptive immune cell activation in humans. We provide evidence that targeting macrophage scavenging activity can promote an immune switch potentially leading to intratumoral proinflammatory responses in metastatic cancer patients.
ADHERENCE TO NATIONAL HEALTHCARE REFERRAL GUIDELINES AND ITS EFFECT ON THE MANAGEMENT OUTCOMES AMONG CHILDREN SEEN AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN WESTERN KENYA
Authors: Njanwe Paul Jairus , Marete Irene , Ayaya Samuel
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Referral guidelines are meant to ensure coordination and continuity across all levels of healthcare. Poor adherence to these guidelines could result in increased morbidity and mortality among the patients who are denied access; especially in the resource constrained healthcare settings in developing economies.

Aim

To determine adherence to the national healthcare referral guidelines and immediate outcomes of children seen at a tertiary teaching hospital in Western Kenya.

Materials and methods

A Cross-sectional study conducted at the Pediatric emergency department of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Western Kenya between February to June 2016. A total of 422 children aged below 15 years were recruited systematically. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaires and clinical chart reviews respectively. Checklists were used to collect information from ambulances. Pearson chi-square tests and odds ratios were used to test for association between predictor and outcome variables using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version-24.

Results

More than half (55.5%) of the 422 children enrolled were male while 51.4% were aged between 5 to 14 years. Hospital referrals accounted for 15.9% (n=67) with the rest being self-referrals and no counter referrals seen. Adherence to all the four transfer guideline requirements was observed in 46.3% (n=31) of the 67 hospital referrals. Less than half (46.3%) of the hospital referrals had their referring facilities calling the receiving facility prior to initiating the referral; 83.6% had a referral document; 64.2% were transferred in ambulances while 68.7% (n=46) were accompanied by health care workers. Most (88.1%) of the hospital referrals were admitted. Lower level of parental education (p= 0.025), residing outside the host county (p<0.001) and a child being older than five years (p = 0.015) were significantly associated with hospital referrals. Hospital referrals were nearly three times (AOR = 2.932; 95% CI: 2.422 – 3.550; p<0.001) more likely to be admitted compared to children who were self-referred.

Conclusion

There is low adherence to national healthcare referral guidelines among children seen at the second largest national hospital in Kenya; with less than half of hospital referrals transferred as per the transfer process guidelines.
Multiomics and digital monitoring during lifestyle changes reveal independent dimensions of human biology and health
Authors: Marabita Francesco , James Tojo , Karhu Anu , Virtanen Heidi , Kettunen Kaisa , Stenlund Hans , Boulund Fredrik , Hellström Cecilia , Neiman Maja , Mills Robert , Perheentupa Teemu , Laivuori Hannele , Helkkula Pyry , Byrne Myles , Jokinen Ilkka , Honko Harri , Kallonen Antti , Ermes Miikka , Similä Heidi , Lindholm Mikko , Widen Elisabeth , Ripatti Samuli , Perälä-Heape Maritta , Engstrand Lars , Nilsson Peter , Moritz Thomas , Miettinen Timo , Sallinen Riitta , Kallioniemi Olli
Published: November 2020

In order to explore opportunities for personalized and predictive health care, we collected serial clinical measurements, health surveys and multiomics profiles (genomics, proteomics, autoantibodies, metabolomics and gut microbiome) from 96 individuals. The participants underwent data-driven health coaching over a 16-month period with continuous digital monitoring of activity and sleep. Multiomics factor analysis resulted in an unsupervised, data-driven and integrated view of human health, revealing distinct and independent molecular factors linked to obesity, diabetes, liver function, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, immunity, exercise, diet and hormonal effects. The data revealed novel and previously uncovered associations between risk factors, molecular pathways, and quantitative lifestyle parameters. For example, ethinyl estradiol use had a distinct impact on metabolites, proteins and physiology. Multidimensional molecular and digital health signatures uncovered biological variability between people and quantitative effects of lifestyle changes, hence illustrating the value of the combined use of molecular and digital monitoring of human health.
The repurposed drugs suramin and quinacrine inhibit cooperativelyin vitroSARS-CoV-2 3CLpro
Authors: Eberle Raphael J. , Olivier Danilo S. , Amaral Marcos S. , Willbold Dieter , Arni Raghuvir K. , Coronado Monika A.
Published: November 2020

Since the first report of a new pneumonia disease in December 2019 (Wuhan, China) up to now WHO reported more than 50 million confirmed cases and more than one million losses, globally. The causative agent of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide resulting in a pandemic of unprecedented magnitude. To date, no clinically safe drug or vaccine is available and the development of molecules to combat SARS-CoV-2 infections is imminent. A well-known strategy to identify molecules with inhibitory potential against SARS-CoV-2 proteins is the repurposing of clinically developed drugs, e.g., anti-parasitic drugs. The results described in this study demonstrate the inhibitory potential of quinacrine and suramin against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro). Quinacrine and suramin molecules present a competitive and non-competitive mode of inhibition, respectively, with IC50and KDvalues in low μM range. Using docking and molecular dynamics simulations we identified a possible binding mode and the amino acids involved in these interactions. Our results suggested that suramin in combination with quinacrine showed promising synergistic efficacy to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. The identification of effective, synergistic drug combinations could lead to the design of better treatments for the COVID-19 disease. Drug repositioning offers hope to the SARS-CoV-2 control.
Frustration in protein complexes leads to interaction versatility
Authors: Freiberger Maria I. , Wolynes Peter G. , Ferreiro Diego U. , Fuxreiter Monika
Published: November 2020

Disordered proteins can fold into a well-defined structure upon binding but these complexes are often fuzzy: the originally disordered partner adopts different binding modes when bound to different partners. Here we perform a systematic analysis of 160 proteins that form fuzzy complexes and demonstrate that the disordered partner displays a high degree of frustration in both the free and bound states. Although the folding of disordered regions upon binding reduces frustration relative to that of the unbound state, the interactions at the binding interface do not become fully optimized. In addition, we show that sub-optimal interactions lead to alternative frustration patterns in the complexes with different partners. These results demonstrate that disordered proteins do not always achieve fully optimal interactions in their complexes and their residual frustration leads to interaction versatility with different partners.
Comparative analysis of histone H3K4me3 modifications between early embryos and somatic tissues in cattle
Authors: Ishibashi Mao , Ikeda Shuntaro , Minami Naojiro
Published: November 2020

Epigenetic changes induced in the early developmental stages by the surrounding environment can have not only short-term but also long-term consequences throughout life. This concept constitutes the “Developmental Origins of Health and Disease” (DOHaD) hypothesis and encompasses the possibility of controlling livestock health and diseases by epigenetic regulation during early development. As a preliminary step for examining changes of epigenetic modifications in early embryos and their long-lasting effects in fully differentiated somatic tissues, we aimed to obtain high-throughput genome-wide histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) profiles of bovine early embryos and to compare these data with those from adult somatic tissues in order to extract common and typical features between these tissues in terms of H3K4me3 modifications. Bovine blastocysts were producedin vitroand subjected to chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing analysis of H3K4me3. Comparative analysis of the blastocyst-derived H3K4me3 profile with publicly available data from adult liver and muscle tissues revealed that the blastocyst profile could be used as a “sieve” to extract somatic tissue-specific modifications in genes closely related to tissue-specific functions. Furthermore, principal component analysis of the level of common modifications between blastocysts and somatic tissues in meat production-related and imprinted genes well characterized inter- and intra-tissue differences. The results of this study produced a referential genome-wide H3K4me3 profile of bovine early embryos and revealed its common and typical features in relation to the profiles of adult tissues.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are submitted along with the main manuscript. The ChIP-seq datasets for bovine blastocysts have been deposited in the Gene Expression Omnibus of NCBI with accession number GSE161221.
A Humanized Animal Model Predicts Clonal Evolution and Therapeutic Vulnerabilities in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Authors: Celik Hamza , Krug Ethan , Zhang Christine RC , Han Wentao , Issa Nancy , Koh Won Kyun , Bjeije Hassan , Kukhar Ostap , Allen Maggie , Li Tindao , Fisher Daniel AC , Fowles Jared , Wong Terrence N. , Stubbs Matthew C. , Koblish Holly K. , Oh Stephen T. , Challen Grant A.
Published: November 2020

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are chronic blood diseases with significant morbidity and mortality. While sequencing studies have elucidated the genetic mutations that drive these diseases, MPNs remain largely incurable with a significant proportion of patients progressing to rapidly fatal secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML). Therapeutic discovery has been hampered by the inability of genetically-engineered mouse models to generate key human pathologies such as bone marrow fibrosis. To circumvent these limitations, here we present a humanized animal model of myelofibrosis (MF) patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). These PDXs robustly engrafted patient cells which recapitulated the patient’s genetic hierarchy and pathologies such as reticulin fibrosis and propagation of MPN-initiating stem cells. The model can select for engraftment of rare leukemic subclones to identify MF patients at-risk for sAML transformation, and can be used as a platform for genetic target validation and therapeutic discovery. We present a novel but generalizable model to study human MPN biology.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Although the genetic events driving myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are well-defined, therapeutic discovery has been hampered by the inability of murine models to replicate key patient pathologies. Here, we present a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) system to model human myelofibrosis that reproduces human pathologies and is amenable to genetic and pharmacological manipulation.
Cladosporium herbarumpeptidogalactomannan triggers significant defense responses in whole tobacco plants
Authors: de B. Montebianco Caroline , Mattos Bianca B. , da F Silva Tatiane , Barreto-Bergter Eliana , Vaslin Maite F S
Published: November 2020

Cladosporium herbarumis one of the most frequently occurring fungal species, with a worldwide distribution, and is found in almost all man-occupied niches in organic and inorganic matter and as a phytopathogen on certain agricultural crops. The structure of the most abundant glycoprotein from theC. herbarumcell wall, peptidogalactomanann or pGM, was previously elucidated and includes carbohydrates (76%), with mannose, galactose and glucose as its main monosaccharides (52:36:12 molar ratio). pGM was able to strongly induce the expression of defense-related genes and ROS accumulation when in contact with BY2 tobacco cells. Here, using two distinctNicotiana tabacumcultivars, Xanthi and SR1, we evaluated the ability ofC. herbarumpGM to induce SAR-like defense by studying its antiviral activity againstTobacco mosaic virus(TMV) and the induction of SAR markers includingPRgenes and ROS accumulation. Our results show that pGM induced a strong activation of defense responses in treated plants from both tobacco cultivars, contributing to the impairment of viral infection. Expression levels of the pathogenesis-related genesPR-1a(unknown function),PR-2(□-1-3endoglucanase)PR-3(chitinase), andPR-5(thaumatin-like protein), the phenylpropanoid pathway genePAL(phenylalanine ammonia-lyase) and genes involved in plant stress responses and innate immunity, such asLOX1(lipoxygenase) andNtPrxN1(peroxidase), were strongly induced until 120 h after pGM spray application. Accumulation of superoxide radicals was also observed in a pGM dose-dependent manner.
Innovativeness and performance: the joint effect of relational trust and combinative capability
Authors: Parra-Requena Gloria , Ruiz-Ortega María José , Garcia-Villaverde Pedro M. , Ramírez F. Javier
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This work aims to develop a configurational model to explain how relational trust and combinative capability can jointly improve the relationship between innovativeness and firm's performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical study was developed on a sample of 224 companies in the footwear industry in Spain. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses in order to confirm the proposed configurational model.

Findings

The partial results demonstrate the significant effect of relational trust on the innovativeness-performance relationship but, unexpectedly, reveals the non-significant effect of combinative capability on this relationship. The triple interaction effects model provides new insights into the positive effect of combinative capability on the innovativeness-performance relationship once firms gain relational trust from their contacts.

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional nature of the study imposes a limitation on the results. Nevertheless, due to the detailed information required to achieve the aims of the research, a longitudinal study could be excessively complex. In any event, the cross-sectional approach of the study accomplishes the proposed aim.

Practical implications

Managers should involve the employees of the firm in order to improve the effectiveness of continuous innovation, encouraging them to establish trusting relationships with external agents and contributing to combine the relevant external knowledge with the individual and collective knowledge available in the firm.

Originality/value

This work contributes to the existing literature with a more complete picture of the influence of innovativeness on firms' performance, highlighting that performance is affected by the coherence of the configuration of innovativeness, relational trust and combination capability.
Hierarchical value-attainment paths of CBEC consumers: a means-end-chain perspective
Authors: Xu Xiao-Yu , Tayyab Syed Muhammad Usman , Chang Fang-Kai , Zhao Kai
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study elicits the critical attributes, consequences and values associated with the purchasing process in the context of cross-border e-commerce (CBEC). The purpose is to provide a better understanding of the fundamental factors that determine consumer values in CBEC.

Design/methodology/approach

The study applies the means-end-chain theory and soft-laddering techniques to interview 60 CBEC consumers to construct an implication matrix and a hierarchical value map (HVM) of the consumer purchasing process, consisting of attribute-consequence-value (A-C-V) paths.

Findings

By analyzing the significant linkages, elements, ladders and chains in the HVM, four dominant A-C-V paths were identified: economic-driven, efficiency-driven, progress-driven and quality-driven paths.

Research limitations/implications

This study included only Chinese CBEC buyers. This limitation might affect the generalizability of the conclusions as culture, purchase habits and economic development differ between China and other countries.

Practical implications

The results of this study provide CBEC practitioners an understanding of the consumer purchasing process and how consumer values are associated with platform characteristics. Thus, the results aid practitioners in allocating resources and developing CBEC platforms in an appropriate manner and direction.

Originality/value

This study sheds lights on the emerging phenomenon of CBEC. By applying the means-end-chain approach, the study provides a comprehensive HVM for interpreting the consumer online purchasing process in this novel context. By illustrating the dominant paths, this research provides deeper theoretical insights into the specific focuses of CBEC consumer purchasing.
Accounting for the unaccountable – coping with COVID
Authors: Salterio Steven E.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand what are the best projections of these events effects on organizations and economies. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic leads to a combination of economic and public health circumstances that challenge the accounting for and accountability of organizations that are mostly outside of their experience and that of academics for the past 50 years.

Design/methodology/approach

Through evidence-based policymaking research, evaluation and reporting tools the author draws on the extant research literature to develop estimates of likely effects of these events on organizations and economies.

Findings

The process of investigating this subject led the author to write a short research synthesis paper (Salterio 2020a) that summarized the historical economic evidence about the Spanish flu of 1918–1920 and various simulations of potential pandemic macroeconomic effects. This evidence allowed the author to quantify the potential effects of the crisis less than a month into the North American economic shutdown.

Originality/value

Using that research synthesis the author responded to the call for papers for this special issue by reflecting on the lessons that this crisis has for managers and organizations from both an accountability and accounting perspective.
Predictability in securities price formation: differences between developed and emerging markets
Authors: Camilleri Silvio John , Vassallo Semiramis , Bai Ye
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper examines whether there are differences in the nature of the price discovery process across established versus emerging stock markets using a twenty-country sample.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyse security returns for traces of predictability or non-randomness using variance ratio tests, Granger-Causality models and runs tests.

Findings

The findings pinpoint at predictabilities which seem inconsistent with market efficiency, and they suggest that the inherent cause of predictability differs across groups.

Research limitations/implications

The authors present empirical evidence which may be used to attain a deeper understanding of the links between predictability and market efficiency, in view of the conflicting evidence in prior literature.

Practical implications

Whilst the pricing process in emerging markets may be hindered by delayed adjustments, in case of established markets it seems that there is a higher tendency for price reversals which could be due to prior over-reactions.

Originality/value

This study presents evidence of substantial differences in predictability across developed and emerging markets which was gleaned through the rigorous application of different empirical tests.
Customers’ awareness and knowledge level of fraudulent acts in electronic banking in Ghana: evidence from a universal bank
Authors: Amoh John Kwaku , Awunyo-Vitor Dadson , Ofori-Boateng Kenneth
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This study aims to assess customers’ awareness and level of knowledge on electronic banking fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

A well-structured interviewer-assisted questionnaire was used to collect data from 400 clients of a case study bank. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W) statistic was also estimated to track and rank the fraudulent activities identified by the respondents with respect to electronic banking.

Findings

This study found that respondents were aware of most of the specific forms of electronic banking fraud. Firstly, automated teller machinfraud is the most common scam for which customers are aware of. Secondly, institutional factors such as lack of monitoring and education of clients are major factors which expose the bank and clients to fraudulent electronic banking acts. Thirdly, the most effective action that can be taken to prevent fraud in the bank is increased security and personal identification number (PIN) protection education.

Research limitations/implications

This study focusses on a universal bank and uses data from customers of only one branch of the bank to achieve the research objectives.

Originality/value

One uniqueness of this paper is in the adoption of Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W) statistic to track and rank fraudulent banking activities. The findings will allow financial institutions to know the forms of current and innovative electronic banking fraudulent activities that customers are aware of. It will also enable the banks to find ways to inform their clients about emerging electronic banking fraudulent activities to prevent them from falling victims.
Corporate governance performance and financial statement fraud: evidence from Malaysia
Authors: Md Nasir Noorul Azwin , Hashim Hafiza Aishah
Published: November 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to review the performance of corporate governance practices in Malaysia from the beginning of the 21st century until recently. This paper also highlights the history of corporate governance practices in Malaysia and the country’s financial statement fraud situation.

Design/Methodology/Approach

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic society that requires managing corporations and firms collectively. Hence, corporate governance practices and good practices are compelled to fit society’s uniqueness. This paper used the survey findings generated from the Corporate Governance Watch Report (CG Watch Report) by the Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia and the Asian Corporate Governance Association from the year 2002 to the year 2018 and discussed the corporate governance performance related to financial statement fraud in Malaysia. The market ranking survey oversees five categories of corporate governance scores: rules and regulations, enforcement, political/regulatory environment, adoption of International Generally Accepted Accounting Principle and corporate governance culture

Findings

The findings reported that firms in Malaysia have benefited from good laws and regulations through corporate governance reforms.

Practical Implications

This study’s findings are relevant to regulators, board members, shareholders, potential investors, analysts and others to produce more informative timely comparisons. Future research should consider analysing and comparing the corporate governance performance in Malaysia with the corporate governance performance of other countries in Asia.

Originality Value

This study summarized the findings generated from a periodical CG Watch Report from the year 2003 to 2018. This study also underlined the actions of responsible agencies and regulatory bodies determined to have a decent corporate governance practice in Malaysia, especially in minimizing financial statement fraud occurrence in the country.
Advertising and marketing archives and ephemera at the Harvard libraries: discovery and opportunity
Authors: Beard Fred , Petrotta Brian
Published: November 2020

Purpose

A series of online searches of the Harvard University Library System – which includes the Baker Library, Houghton Library and the Radcliffe Institute’s Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library – on the History of Women in America revealed nearly 1,000 archive and manuscript holdings on advertising and related topics. This paper aims to investigate the extent of these holdings, to assess their value to advertising and marketing historians and to explore their potential for encouraging future research on under-investigated topics and questions.

Design/methodology/approach

Described are the extensive and valuable special collections and other holdings related to advertising, business and marketing of the Harvard Library System. Also described are the availability of the holdings and recommendations for accessing and studying the collections and artifacts.

Findings

The research reported here supports an overall conclusion that the Harvard Library System holds an important place among the world’s repositories of valuable historical advertisements and marketing ephemera. The research also supports four specific conclusions regarding the historical value of Harvard’s collections and archives. First, some of the collections offer access to artifacts and items from an under-investigated period – the first half of the 19th century. Second, many of the collections are international in scope. Third, the collections represent a wide array of 19th century non-periodical advertisements and ephemera, such as trade cards, posters and theatrical playbills. Fourth, and most important, the collections offer significant potential for addressing, among other under-investigated topics, the important role of women in the development of modern advertising theory and professional practices.

Originality/value

A prior search for the world’s largest and most historically significant archives and collections of advertisements and marketing ephemera (promotional objects or media executions created for a one-time, limited purpose) revealed a handful of library and museum collections of exceptional size or topical importance meriting further investigation. This paper adds to an extensive line of research published in the marketing and advertising historical literature exploring and describing the breadth, depth and historical value of the world’s important collections of historical advertisements and ephemera.
The Double Irish and Dutch Sandwich strategies and tax avoidance in Mauritius
Authors: Beebeejaun Ambareen
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Double Irish and Dutch Sandwich (DIDS) tax schemes used by international companies. Companies using these schemes are enabled to transfer a large amount of their profits to offshore tax havens by using wholly owned subsidiaries located in Ireland and the Netherlands. This paper also analyzes the US General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) to see whether it can effectively detect and counteract this scheme. This analysis is furthermore enhanced by applying the Mauritian GAAR through Section 90 of the Income Tax Act to the said schemes.

Design/methodology/approach

Concerning research methods, the library and the internet will be the main sources of information to be used for this paper. Through the usage of library research, the Mauritian Income Tax Act, US GAAR, European Commission decisions and scholar writings will further enhance this paper on the structure and preventive actions that can be taken against the DIDS scheme. This paper will also use a case study coupled with a theoretical analysis of current anti-avoidance rules.

Findings

The paper then concludes that it is possible to counteract the schemes using the Mauritian law but under specific circumstances. It is then revealed that there is a fundamental flaw in the current tax systems, which is the inability to regulate the intangible nature of resources and technology-based transactions.

Originality/value

To the author's knowledge, this paper is among the first literature on the subject of DIDS strategies conducted in the context of Mauritius.
Workspace transitions: conceptualizing and measuring person–space fit and examining its role in workplace outcomes and social network activity
Authors: Bankins Sarah , Tomprou Maria , Kim ByeongJo
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Although the physical environment provides an important context for employees' work, there remain divergent findings regarding how different spatial settings, such as more open or more closed workspaces, impact employees. Employing research on the functions of the physical work environment, we contribute to a growing body of research on employees' interactions with their workspace by developing and measuring the notion of person–space fit (P-S fit). This construct affords examination of the multi-dimensional nature of employees' interactions with their workspaces, to understand how their perceived fit with the key functions of their workspace impacts their experiences and social network activity at work.

Design/methodology/approach

We first develop a new P-S fit scale and test its factorial, convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity over other person–environment fit concepts (N = 155). Next, in a naturally-occurring, quasi-field experiment of a workspace change intervention moving employees from predominantly closed workspace to more open workspace (N = 47 pre-move;N = 37 post-move), we examine how changes in both workspace layout and P-S fit impact workers' experiences of their workspaces (needs for task privacy and spaciousness) and collaborative behaviors (social network activity).

Findings

Our P-S fit scale consists of theoretically and empirically validated dimensions representing fit with four workspace functions: aesthetic fit; identity fit; instrumental fit; and collaboration fit. Instrumental fit is positively associated with experiences of task privacy, whereas aesthetic fit and identity fit positively associated with experiences of spaciousness, but no forms of fit were related to social network activity. However, the findings show that work-related social network ties tended to decrease, and new ones were less likely to form, in open office spaces.

Originality/value

Contributing to a growing body of research linking person–environment fit literature to workspace design, this study offers a new scale assessing P-S fit and provides some empirical evidence of its importance for understanding the complexity of the employee-work environment interaction.
Mother-teacher-scholar-advocates: narrating work-life on the professorial plateau
Authors: Lowenstein Elisabeth , Jones Darolyn “Lyn”
Published: November 2020

Purpose

In this study, two mother-scholars describe their lived experiences working in higher education in the USA while parenting children with disabilities. They situate their narratives within the context of institutionalized motherhood, courtesy stigma and the career plateau experienced by many working mothers of children with disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Within this collaborative autoethnography, the authors employ autoethnographic narrative and poetic inquiry.

Findings

The authors reveal unique work-life tensions that they have experienced as mothers, teachers and scholars, reflecting on the experiences that led them to become advocates for people and families with disabilities.

Practical implications

The authors aim to reduce stigma and to disrupt the career plateau by offering suggestions to help coworkers and supervisors be more supportive of working parents of children with disabilities.

Originality/value

The authors enumerate the advantages of collaborative autoethnography in uncovering how stigma against mothers of children with disabilities is manifested within an academic community.
Deflating power imbalance through personal identity enhancement
Authors: Mishra Shreya , Chaudhuri Manosi , Dey Ajoy Kumar
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to identify how the intersection of power, context, subjectivity and directionality makes it possible for the targets of workplace bullying to deflate power imbalance between them and the perpetrators.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on nine in-depth interviews with self-reported targets from different public sector organizations in India. The targets were purposively selected keeping in mind that they made deliberate attempts to counter bullying. Constructivist grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data.

Findings

Six themes emerged as sources of power imbalance and eight themes as the way of deflating power imbalance. The core category that emerged was “enhancing personal identity”, which was the underlying phenomenon leading to deflation of power imbalance, through the intersection of power, context, subjectivity and directionality.

Research limitations/implications

The study indicates that power, context, subjectivity and directionality of bullying help the targets to identify effective strategies of deflating power imbalance. In the process, the targets indulge in personal identity enhancement. It further reinforces the understanding that power does not remain static and may shift from the perpetrator to the target of bullying.

Practical implications

The study provides various tactics that targets can use to counter workplace bullying. It implies that targets need not always leave the organization or succumb to the situation in order to deal with bullying. It encourages the targets of bullying and those who deal with bullying targets to indulge in personal identity enhancement through problem-focused strategies of tackling workplace bullying.

Originality/value

It also furthers our understanding of workplace bullying from the point of intersection of the four aspects of the phenomenon – power, context, subjectivity and directionality – which allows the targets of bullying to enhance their personal identity.
Misunderstandings about older people fuel corona virus complacency
Authors: Altshuler Ellery
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore public assumptions underlying the apparent disregard for the lives of older people during the coronavirus outbreak. It attempts to dispel myths about quality of life among older people.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper integrates the author’s personal experiences as a doctor with data collection, which involved general PubMed searches for articles relating to the public response to the effect of coronavirus on older people; beliefs about the lives of older people; and issues of happiness, contentedness and quality of life in older people.

Findings

Some people have concluded that the lives of older people – which they believe to be of low quality – are worth risking to lessen the economic impact of coronavirus. This morbid calculation is based in part on the assumption that older people are less happy than younger people. In fact, the evidence shows that as people get older, they become significantly happier.

Originality/value

This paper asks readers to explore their assumptions about ageing and reaffirms the importance of protecting older people in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Hesperidin inhibits L‐NAME‐induced vascular and renal alterations in rats by suppressing the renin–angiotensin system, transforming growth factor‐β1, and oxidative stress
Authors: Bunbupha Sarawoot , Apaijit Kwanjit , Potue Prapassorn , Maneesai Putcharawipa , Pakdeechote Poungrat
Published: November 2020

The protective effect of hesperidin on vascular and renal alterations and possible underlying mechanisms involved in Nω‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L‐NAME)‐induced hypertensive rats were investigated in this study. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were administered L‐NAME (40 mg/kg/day), L‐NAME plus hesperidin (30 mg/kg/day), and L‐NAME plus captopril (2.5 mg/kg/day) for 5 weeks. Hesperidin and captopril significantly prevented L‐NAME‐induced hypertension, vascular and renal dysfunction, intrarenal artery remodelling, glomerular extracellular matrix accumulation, and renal fibrosis. The preventive treatment with hesperidin and captopril also significantly decreased serum angiotensin‐converting enzyme activity and plasma transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) levels and downregulated angiotensin II receptor type I and TGF‐β1 protein expression in the kidneys. In addition, decreased malondialdehyde levels and increased superoxide dismutase activity in the plasma and kidney were observed after co‐treatment with hesperidin or captopril. These findings suggest that hesperidin inhibits L‐NAME‐induced vascular and renal alterations in rats. The possible mechanism may be related to the suppression of the activation of the renin–angiotensin system and expression of TGF‐β1, and reduction of oxidative stress.