bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the impact of macro-economic changes on auditors' assessments of audit risk: a field study
Authors: Awadallah Abdelmoneim A. , Elsaid Haitham M.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The study aims at examining whether or not poor macro-economic conditions can lead auditors to change their risk management policies when performing an audit.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study is based on a questionnaire distributed to auditors working at the branches of the big four audit firms in Egypt over two rounds under different economic conditions. The responses in each of the two rounds were analyzed to identify any similarities or differences in auditors' behavior when performing analytical procedures under different economic conditions.

Findings

Auditors appear to alter their risk management strategies during challenging economic times. The present study results suggest that auditors increase their dependence on non-financial data and information as supporting evidence when assessing audit risk during times of economic difficulties. The findings also show that when the macro-economic trends are declining, audit firms tend to assign the performance of analytical procedures to more experienced audit personnel (i.e. senior auditors, audit managers and partners) with less of this work being done by the audit staff.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is based on a sample of 40 respondents. It is recommended for future research to use a larger sample size as results may differ for a greater sample. The present research did not consider the effect of auditors' specialization in a certain industry on the audit judgment during an audit engagement. Future research would examine the impact of auditors' industry specialization on audit judgments during periods of unfavorable economic conditions. The present study is based on a survey that aims at capturing auditors' perception. Further research would use other research techniques (e.g. laboratory experiment) to examine the effect of the general economic conditions on auditors' assessment of audit risk.

Practical implications

Auditors need to give sufficient attention to the analyses of non-financial information of their audit clients during the performance of the analytical procedures under unstable economic conditions rather than depending solely on financial information. Moreover, audit firms could use a much richer labor mix for audit teams through increasing their reliance on experienced senior auditors, audit managers and partners during periods of deteriorating macro-economic conditions to mitigate risk and improve audit judgment.

Originality/value

This study adds to the scarce literature in developing countries investigating the influence of external economic factors on the audit process. The present research provides information to practitioners and educators about risk management policies that could be considered in case of performing analytical procedures during an audit conducted under poor economic conditions.
Artificial intelligence in communication management: a cross-national study on adoption and knowledge, impact, challenges and risks
Authors: Zerfass Ansgar , Hagelstein Jens , Tench Ralph
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) might change the communication profession immensely, but the academic discourse is lacking an investigation of the perspective of practitioners on this. This article addresses this research gap. It offers a literature overview and reports about an empirical study on AI in communications, presenting first insights on how professionals in the field assess the technology.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative cross-national study among 2,689 European communication practitioners investigated four research questions: RQ1 – How much do professionals know about AI and to what extent are they already using AI technologies in their everyday lives? RQ2 – How do professionals rate the impact of AI on communication management? RQ3 – Which challenges do professionals identify for implementing AI in communication management? RQ4 – Which risks do they perceive?

Findings

Communication professionals revealed a limited understanding of AI and expected the technology to impact the profession as a whole more than the way their organisations or themselves work. Lack of individual competencies and organisations struggling with different levels of competency and unclear responsibilities were identified as key challenges and risks.

Research limitations/implications

The results highlight the need for communication managers to educate themselves and their teams about the technology and to identify the implementation of AI as a leadership issue.

Originality/value

The article offers the first cross-national quantitative study on AI in communication management. It presents valuable empirical insights on a trending topic in the discipline, highly relevant for both academics and practitioners.
An exploratory empirical study of whistleblowing and whistleblowers
Authors: Krambia-Kapardis Maria
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a profile of whistleblowers and to determine whether whistleblowing legislation would encourage those individuals to bring to light some illegal or unethical behaviour that otherwise would remain in the shadows.

Design/methodology/approach

Having identified whistleblowing correlation, a survey was carried out in Cyprus of actual whistleblowers and could-have-been whistleblowers.

Findings

Males between 46 and55 years of age, regardless of whether they have dependents or hold senior positions in organizations are significantly more likely to blow the whistle. However, could-have-been whistleblowers did not go ahead because they felt that the authorities would not act on their information.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the sensitive nature of the research topic and the fact that only whistleblowers or intended whistleblowers could participate in the study, the sample size is limited as a result. This, in turn, limits both the number of respondents in each category (actual and intended) as well as constrains the statistical analysis that could be carried out on the data.

Practical implications

It remains to be seen whether EU Member States shall implement the European Directive 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union Law, in its entirety by the due date, namely December 2021.

Originality/value

This study provides a literature review of whistleblowing and reports an original survey against the backdrop of the European Directive.
Integrating oral health into prenatal care: a scoping review
Authors: Adeniyi Abiola , Donnelly Leeann , Janssen Patricia , Jevitt Cecilia , Siarkowski Michael , Brondani Mario
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Integrating preventive oral care into prenatal care is suggested as a strategy for reducing the burden of oral diseases among pregnant women and their offspring. This scoping review sought to synthesize available information and identify knowledge gaps on integrating oral health into prenatal care.

Design/methodology/approach

The scoping review was conducted based on the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review framework using the following databases: CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Medline, ProQuest Dissertation and theses Global, Psychinfo and Web of Science®. No search limits were used. Content analysis of the included articles was performed to identify conceptual frameworks, types of integration used, study designs, study objectives and outcomes.

Findings

Overall, 2,861 references were obtained from the databases search; and based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria 35 references were included in the final analysis. Of these 35 references, one document presented a conceptual model, six documents reviewed guidelines for integrating oral health in prenatal care, two were policy documents aimed at interprofessional collaboration for oral health during pregnancy, eight documents described programs focused on providing oral care during pregnancy, five of the references were literature reviews and the remaining 13 evaluated the impact of integration. Linkages between healthcare professionals were the most common type of integration used.

Research limitations/implications

Despite advances in understanding integrated care concepts for healthcare delivery, there is little evidence available on the impact of the various types of, and strategies for, integrating oral health into prenatal care. Future research to bridge the identified gaps is recommended.

Originality/value

The originality of this study is to provide evidence on integrated oral healthcare during pregnancy.
Key-synergies between strategic resources and operational tool orchestration for organization development
Authors: Amedzro St-Hilaire Walter
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the synergy between strategic resources and operational tool orchestration for organization development.

Design/methodology/approach

The article has a progressive empirical multiple-level research design. With a cross-sectional analysis, this investigation confirms the organization development can be related to strategic resources and a complex interplay of factors. Along with this method, our study enables rich empirical conceptualization and helps with extending theory.

Findings

The results indicate that in operational tool orchestration, the higher the synergy in the factors of production, the greater the strategic development, competitive positioning and sustainability of the organization. In sum, according to these results, the synergy between operational tool orchestration and the factors of productivity could have a significant effect on organizational objectives achievement.

Originality/value

This research provides researchers with an empirical base stating that organization development can be related to strategic resources in an operational context. The article also provides a new contribution to the existing literature in management development by confirming the significance of vital resources and functional tool orchestration in organization optimization and will be referenced by other authors in the future.
Skin lands in Ghana and application of blockchain technology for acquisition and title registration
Authors: Mintah Kwabena , Baako Kingsley Tetteh , Kavaarpuo Godwin , Otchere Gideon Kwame
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The land sector in Ghana, particularly skin lands acquisition and title registration are fraught with several issues including unreliable record-keeping systems and land encroachments. The paper explores the potential of blockchain application in skin lands acquisition and title registration in Ghana with the aim of developing a blockchain-enabled framework for land acquisition. The purpose of this paper is to use the framework as a tool towards solving some of the loopholes in the process that leads to numerous issues bedeviling the current system.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a systematic literature review approach fused with informal discussions with key informants and leverages on the researchers’ own experiences to conceptualize blockchain application in skin lands acquisition in Ghana.

Findings

Problems bedeviling skin lands acquisition and title registration emanated from the issuance of allocation notes, payment of kola money and use of a physical ledger to document land transactions. As a result, the developed framework was designed to respond to these issues and deal with the problems. As the proposed blockchain framework would be a public register, it was argued that information on all transactions on a specific parcel of land could be available to the public in real-time. This enhances transparency and possibly resolves the issue of encroachments and indeterminate land boundaries because stakeholders can determine rightful owners of land parcels before initiating transactions.

Practical implications

Practically, blockchain technology has the potential to deal with the numerous issues affecting the smooth operation of skin lands acquisition and title registration in Ghana. Once the enumerated issues are resolved, there will be certainty of title to and ownership of land and property to drive investments because lenders could more easily ascertain owners of land parcels that could be used as collateral for securing loans. Similarly, property developers and land purchasers could easily identify rightful owners for land transactions. The government would be able to identify owners for land and property taxation.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on blockchain and application to land acquisition and title registration with a focus on a specific customary land ownership system.
Effect of wood particulate size on the mechanical properties of PLA biocomposite
Authors: Sachin S. Raj , Kannan T. Kandasamy , Rajasekar Rathanasamy
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to carry out an investigation of the role of the wood particle size on the mechanical properties of poly lactic acid (PLA)-reinforced neem fiber biocomposite.

Design/methodology/approach

Composite test specimens were processed by reinforcing neem wood flour (NWF) in two different particle sizes, micro-sized NWF (MNWF) and nano-sized NWF (NNWF) separately into PLA. Composites were extruded at four different fiber loadings (10, 15, 20 and 25 Wt.%) into PLA matrix. The MNWF and NNWF had particle sizes varying from 5 to 15 µm and 10 to 15 nm, respectively.

Findings

Tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength of PLA increased with fiber reinforcement for both the MNWF and NNWF cases. The NNWF-reinforced PLA composite at 20 Wt.% fiber loading proved to be the best composite that had outstanding mechanical properties in this research.

Practical implications

The developed composite can be used as a substitute for conventional plywood for furniture, building infrastructure and interior components for the automobile, aircraft and railway sectors.

Originality/value

A new biocomposite had been fabricated by using PLA and NWF and had been tested for its mechanical characteristics.
Organizational learning capacity of startups in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Gonzaga Barbara Santana , Figueiredo Paulo Soares , Souza Elisabeth Loiola Regina da Cruz , Passos Francisco Uchoa
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This empirical and exploratory study analyzed the role of interaction with the innovation environment and of the organizational learning capacity (OLC) development stage in startups in Northeast Brazil based on the perception of managers of these companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a quantitative study. Questionnaires were sent electronically to the managers of startups in the nine states of Northeast Brazil. A total of 54 managers participated, composing a non-probabilistic sample. The data collected were analyzed by multiple linear regressions.

Findings

The results obtained seek to evidence whether the interaction of startups in Northeast Brazil with the startup ecosystem and the development stage in which these companies are found are associated with OLC. The results confirmed the hypothesis that higher startup development stages are positively associated with higher levels of OLC in the sample. A negative association was identified between the manufacturing startup type and the OLC level, and the level of interaction with the innovation environment was still infrequent.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the literature on the determinants of organizational learning and to startup managers who wish to more effectively promote this learning. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Practical implications

This study contributes to the literature on the determinants of organizational learning and to startup managers who wish to more effectively promote this learning. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Originality/value

Studies on Brazilian startups are still relatively scarce, especially studies that focus on learning capacity. No other studies addressing the hypotheses tested here were found.
SARS‐CoV‐2 testing and outcomes in the first 30 days after the first case of COVID‐19 at an Australian children's hospital
Authors: Ibrahim Laila F , Tosif Shidan , McNab Sarah , Hall Samantha , Lee Hyun Jung , Lewena Stuart , Daley Andrew J , Crawford Nigel W , Steer Andrew C , Bryant Penelope A , Babl Franz E
Published: May 2020

Objective

International studies describing COVID‐19 in children have shown low proportions of paediatric cases and generally a mild clinical course. We aimed to present early data on children tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 at a large Australian tertiary children's hospital according to the state health department guidelines, which varied over time.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. It included all paediatric patients (aged 0–18 years) who presented to the ED or the Respiratory Infection Clinic (RIC) and were tested for SARS‐CoV‐2. The 30‐day study period commenced after the first confirmed positive case was detected at the hospital on 21 March 2020, until 19 April 2020. We recorded epidemiological and clinical data.

Results

There were 433 patients in whom SARS‐CoV‐2 testing was performed in ED (331 [76%]) or RIC (102 [24%]). There were four (0.9%) who had positive SARS‐CoV‐2 detected, none of whom were admitted to hospital or developed severe disease. Of these SARS‐CoV‐2 positive patients, 1/4 (25%) had a comorbidity, which was asthma. Of the SARS‐CoV‐2 negative patients, 196/429 (46%) had comorbidities. Risk factors for COVID‐19 were identified in 4/4 SARS‐CoV‐2 positive patients and 47/429 (11%) SARS‐CoV‐2 negative patients.

Conclusion

Our study identified a very low rate of SARS‐CoV‐2 positive cases in children presenting to a tertiary ED or RIC, none of whom were admitted to hospital. A high proportion of patients who were SARS‐CoV‐2 negative had comorbidities.
Common Auditors and Private Bank Loans*
Authors: Francis Jere R. , Wang Wei
Published: May 2020

We show that when banks and borrowers share the same audit firm, borrowers receive lower interest rates, after controlling for potentially confounding director connectedness. The common auditor effect is observed only for opaque borrowers, and is greatest when the same audit engagement office audits the bank and borrower. A common auditor connection also matters more for longer‐tenured auditors, for geographically proximate borrowers, and when the syndicate involves fewer lenders. The effect does not hold for auditors recently sanctioned by the PCAOB. Finally, the interest rate discount is not the consequence of homophily or biased decision making, based on a comparison of postloan performance of firms with common auditor loans versus those with noncommon auditor loans.
The Effect of Web‐Based Nursing Process Teaching on Senior Nursing Students’ Care Planning Skills#
Authors: Basit Gülden , Korkmaz Fatoş
Published: May 2020

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of web‐based nursing process teaching on senior nursing students’ care plan preparation skills.

METHODS

Pretest‐posttest intervention design was used. A total of 131 senior nursing students were evaluated for 5 weeks. Data were collected using a datasheet, a nursing care plan (pretest‐posttest), and a self‐efficacy form.

FINDINGS

The intervention group had significantly higher data collection, planning stage scores, and a total care plan score than the others. The intervention group was competent in all self‐efficacy items, except the one concerning prioritizing nursing diagnoses.

CONCLUSIONS

Web‐based nursing process teaching offered with the curriculum helps students to develop care planning skills.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

It is necessary to focus on different teaching methods and using standardized terminology in teaching the nursing process.
Hypothermia during CRRT, a comparative analysis
Authors: Bell Max , Ronco Claudio , Hansson Fredrik , Broman Marcus
Published: May 2020

Background

One of the most common adverse events during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is hypothermia, reported to occur in over 4/10 cases. In turn, hypothermia is known to be associated with higher mortality rates among patients treated in intensive care units (ICU). The present study examined if a novel warming device in the current generation of CRRT systems could lower incidence of hypothermia compared to previous generation technology.

Methods

We included ICU patients >18 years, at Skåne University Hospital, Lund from November 2006 to August 2019 and treated with CRRT. Temperature measurements were recorded from the CRRT systems and from the patients hourly.

Results

In total, 310 patients treated with the older system vs 32 patients treated using the newer CRRT system were included. We found that historic Prismaflex patients spent 11.43% of their time in hypothermia, as compared to the novel Prismax CRRT system, where 10.06% of patient hours were below 36.0°C (Chi‐Square P = .0063).

The novel blood warmer is associated with less heat loss compared to the older warmer: mean patient temperature was 37°C vs 36.5°C for these two groups and mean set return temperature was 37.9°C vs 40.9°C (both P < .001).

Conclusions

The current generation CRRT system and blood warmer significantly decreases the risk of hypothermia among critically ill patients treated with continuous renal replacement therapy as compared to historic controls. Achieving target temperature is easier with the new system.
Real‐time teledermatology clinics in a tertiary public hospital: A clinical audit
Authors: Miller Bradley J , Finnane Anna , Vun Yin , Halloran Sean , Stapelberg Anesce , Soyer H. Peter , Caffery Liam
Published: May 2020

Background

Our metropolitan hospital provides a real‐time videoconference teledermatology clinic to enable patients in rural and remote Queensland to access a specialist for dermatology care.

Methods

Retrospective clinical audit of all patient referrals to the videoconference teledermatology clinic for a two‐year period.

Results

A total of 483 consultations for 178 patients were conducted by the teledermatology clinic. Most patients were from remote and very remote regions of Queensland with a mean distance from our metropolitan hospital to the patient’s town of residence of 1295 km. The most common reason for referral, as per the referral form, was rash (32%), followed by acne (12%) and dermatitis (11%). Most (78%) referrals came from general practitioners. Around 8% of patients seen in the teledermatology clinic were converted to in‐person review; 81% of patients were managed via teledermatology, and 10% of patients did not attend the scheduled teleconsultation.

Conclusion

The outpatient teledermatology clinic run through the Telehealth Centre of a metropolitan hospital is an effective way of delivering a general dermatology consultation service to rural and remote patients in a timely manner.
Local evaluation of the Tasmanian component of the National Suicide Prevention Trial—Preliminary learnings
Authors: Smith Laura , Purton Terry , Auckland Stuart , Lees David , Mond Jonathan
Published: May 2020

Objective

Tasmania is one of the 12 Australian sites chosen to participate in the National Suicide Prevention Trial. The Centre for Rural Health, University of Tasmania, was contracted to conduct a local‐level, process evaluation of this initiative using a Participatory Action Research approach, with the objective of this article to summarise progress and key learnings from the local evaluation to date.

Design

Empowerment and Utilisation‐Focus Evaluation theoretical approaches informed the conduct of process evaluation activities, within an overarching participatory action research approach.

Setting

Three participating regions in Tasmania were included as follows: Launceston, the North‐West and Break O'Day.

Participants

Working group members, service providers and other relevant stakeholders.

Interventions

Mixed‐methods surveys, field observations and content analysis were conducted.

Results

Survey results indicated that most working group members understood the concept of a “systems‐based” approach to suicide prevention. Most participants believed that working group structures/functions engaged community members with lived experience, while around half believed that these structures/functions facilitated relationships with local services and that working group action plans adequately addressed issues of capacity building and sustainability. Preliminary field data suggested that awareness raising, engagement and face‐to‐face capacity‐building activities focused on the wider community were preferred to activities targeting specific populations.

Conclusion

These preliminary findings suggest ambivalence among key stakeholders concerning the application of a systems‐based approach to suicide prevention in regional areas of Tasmania. Consistent with a participatory action research approach, the findings will inform the evolution of trial site activity for the remainder of the trial and, in due course, the implementation of future such initiatives.
The Iron Triangle of Urban Entrepreneurialism: The Political Economy of Urban Corruption in Spain
Authors: Moreno Zacarés Javier
Published: May 2020

Despite a cascade of corruption scandals over the last decade, the role of political corruption has yet to be accounted for in the scholarship on Spanish urban entrepreneurialism. This is an omission that extends to the broader literature on the topic as well. This paper looks at the theoretical causes of this neglect and explores ways of integrating corruption into the study of urban entrepreneurialism. To do so, it offers a systematic analysis of the role of clientelism in the political economy of Spanish inter‐urban competition. Contrary to the existing literature, which at best explains away corruption as a logical outgrowth of intensified competition for real estate capital, this paper argues that corruption is rooted in a political structure that precedes the emergence of urban entrepreneurialism. This structure is identified as an “iron triangle”, a complex of colluding interests formed by the state, the real estate industry, and political parties.
Second trimester cervical length measurements with transvaginal ultrasound: A prospective observational agreement and reliability study
Authors: Kuusela Pihla , Wennerholm Ulla‐Britt , Fadl Helena , Wesström Jan , Lindgren Peter , Hagberg Henrik , Jacobsson Bo , Valentin Lil
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Universal screening for preterm delivery by adding transvaginal ultrasound measurement of cervical length to routine second trimester ultrasound has been proposed. The aim is to estimate inter‐ and intraobserver agreement and reliability of second trimester transvaginal ultrasound measurements of cervical length performed by specially trained midwife sonographers.

Material and methods

This is a prospective reliability and agreement study performed in seven Swedish ultrasound centers. In total, 18 midwife sonographers specially trained to perform ultrasound measurements of cervical length and 286 women in the second trimester were included. In each center, two midwife sonographers measured cervical length a few minutes apart in the same woman, the number of women examined per examiner pair varying between 24 and 30 (LIVE study). Sixteen midwife sonographers measured cervical length twice ≥2 months apart on 93 video clips (CLIPS study). The main outcome measures were mean difference, limits of agreement, intraclass correlation coefficient, intra‐individual standard deviation, repeatability, Cohen’s kappa and Fleiss kappa.

Results

The limits of agreement and intraclass correlation coefficient of the best examiner pair in the LIVE study were −4.06 to 4.72 mm and 0.91, and those of the poorest were −11.11 to 11.39 mm and 0.31. In the CLIPS study, median (range) intra‐individual standard deviation was 2.14 mm (1.40‐3.46), repeatability 5.93 mm (3.88‐9.58), intraclass correlation coefficient 0.84 (0.66‐0.94). Median (range) interobserver agreement for cervical length ≤25 mm in the CLIPS study was 94.6% (84.9%‐98.9%) and Cohen’s kappa 0.56 (0.12‐0.92), median (range) intraobserver agreement was 95.2% (87.1%‐98.9%) and Cohen’s kappa 0.68 (0.27‐0.93).

Conclusions

Agreement and reliability of cervical length measurements differed substantially between examiner pairs and examiners. If cervical length measurements are used to guide management there is potential for both over‐ and under‐treatment. Uniform training and rigorous supervision and quality control are advised.
The Grip of the Ideal
Authors: Hoggett Paul
Published: May 2020

The ideal, an unrealizable state of perfection where reality does not apply, is a familiar phenomenon in the consulting room and in the wider society. Its grip is immensely powerful and it is connected to two significant negative emotions, shame and ressentiment (a particular form of grievance in which the grievance is nursed). This article examines whether these two different emotions arise from two different kinds of relation we take up to the ideal. Shame arising when we fail to be the ideal, ressentiment arising when we fail to have or possess the ideal. There are also good grounds for believing that each emotion is connected to a distinctive form of splitting, whilst shame seems to be governed by the law of all or nothing, ressentiment is governed by the law of right or wrong. Western civilization seems to be in thrall to the ideal, that is, to a place where there are no limitations to the possible and where time and loss do not apply. With the climate emergency deepening every month the question remains, when will we Moderns wake up to reality?
Holocene tephra record of Lake Veliko jezero, Croatia: implications for the central Mediterranean tephrostratigraphy and sea level rise
Authors: Razum Ivan , Miko Slobodan , Ilijanić Nikolina , Petrelli Maurizio , Röhl Ursula , Hasan Ozren , Giaccio Biagio
Published: May 2020

Core M1‐A from Mljet Island, Croatia, was retrieved from a submerged sinkhole to investigate tephra and reconstruct past sea levels. Eleven tephra layers were found, out of which six are macroscopically visible, while five are cryptotephra. For two of the tephra layers, glass shard concentrations were below the critical amount necessary for reliable analysis, while two more originated from a stratigraphical interval likely disturbed by drilling operations. Major and trace element compositions of glass shards were determined by wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (WDS) using an electron microprobe analyser (EMPA) and by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS). The tephra discrimination relied on a novel approach based on a multivariate analysis of element selection and the use of log‐ratio scatterplots and common bivariate plots. The results enabled correlation of five tephra to known eruptions originating from Somma‐Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei. Specifically, we identified Avellino Pumice, Mercato, Agnano Monte Spina and Neapolitan Yellow Tuff, extending known distributions for Avellino and Agnano Monte Spina. Moreover, our findings possibly support an earlier proposition that Agnano Monte Spina tephra originated from two eruptions with a pause of a few decades in between. Based on the tephra correlations and radiocarbon dating, an age‐depth model was compiled that provided chronological constraints for the sea level during the formation of the lake (10.7 cal. kaBP, 49 m b.s.l.) and sea intrusion (2.3 cal. kaBP, 2.5 m b.s.l.).
Conserving spawning stocks through harvest slot limits and no‐take protected areas
Authors: Gnanalingam Gaya , Gaff Holly , Butler Mark J.
Published: May 2020

The key to the conservation of harvested species is the maintenance of reproductive success. Yet for many marine species large, old, individuals are targeted despite their disproportionate contribution to reproduction. We hypothesized that a combination of no‐take marine protected areas (MPAs) and harvest slot limits (maximum and minimum size limits) would result in the conservation of large spawning individuals under heavy harvest. We tested this approach under different harvest intensities with a 2‐sex, stage‐structured metapopulation model for the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus). P. argus is intensively harvested in the Caribbean, and in many localities large, mature individuals no longer exist. No‐take MPAs and harvest slot limits combined, rebuilt and maintained large mature individuals even under high harvest pressure. The most conservative model (a 30% MPA and harvest slot limit of 75–105 mm) increased spawner abundance by 5.53E12 compared with the fishing status quo at the end of 30 years. Spawning stock abundance also increased by 2.76–9.56E12 individuals at a high harvest intensity over 30 years with MPAs alone. Our results demonstrate the potential of MPAs and harvest slot limits for the conservation of large breeding individuals in some marine and freshwater environments. Decisions on which management strategy best suits a fishery, however, requires balancing what is ecologically desirable with what is economically and socially feasible.
Machine learning‐based charge scheduling of electric vehicles with minimum waiting time
Authors: Vanitha V. , Resmi R. , Reddy Karri Naga Sai Vineela
Published: May 2020

In order to reduce the greenhouse gas emission and limit the rise in global temperature, the trend in automotive industry is changing rapidly and most of the manufacturers are moving towards the electrification of vehicles. Computational intelligence and machine learning play a very important role in the field of electric vehicles (EVs) due to the necessity of automatic control in battery charging and port accessibility. Due to the limited ranges of EVs, they have to be charged periodically during their travels and its charging will take more time. As the number of EVs increases, suitable charging infrastructure having many charging stations and co‐ordination of scheduling the charging vehicles from charging stations are necessary. As charging stations have less number of fast charging ports, accessing these fast charging ports needs proper planning. The major challenge of an EV is to identify the charging station with a fast charging port which is on route to the destination with minimum waiting time. This article deals with the application of machine learning in selecting a charging station with available fast charging port and minimum waiting
time.
Effects of isotretinoin on glucose metabolism in patients with acne: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tsai Tsung‐Yu , Liu Han‐Wen , Chao Yuan‐Chen , Huang Yu‐Chen
Published: May 2020

Previous studies reporting the influence of isotretinoin treatment on glucose metabolism have produced conflicting results. We therefore aimed to examine the effects of isotretinoin treatment on changes in insulin resistance and serum levels of adiponectin in patients with acne. A systematic review and meta‐analysis of the literature published from the inception of isotretinoin to March 31, 2019 were conducted. In the absence of controlled trials, open‐label studies on acne patients receiving isotretinoin treatment were included. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. The outcomes included changes in the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) values and serum levels of adiponectin after isotretinoin treatment. Pooled analysis showed that HOMA‐IR values did not change significantly after isotretinoin treatment (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.183; 95 % confidence interval [CI] = −0.004–0.371; I2 = 38.3), whereas the level of adiponectin significantly increased (SMD = 0.512; 95 % CI = 0.327–0.698; I2 = 10.7). Our study concluded that isotretinoin treatment for patients with acne resulted in an increased serum level of adiponectin but did not have a substantial impact on the status of insulin resistance.
Quantitative assessment of sciatic nerve changes in Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 1A patients using magnetic resonance neurography
Authors: Fortanier E. , Ogier A. C. , Delmont E. , Lefebvre M.‐N. , Viout P. , Guye M. , Bendahan D. , Attarian S.
Published: May 2020

Background and purpose

Nerve tissue alterations have rarely been quantified in Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 1A (CMT1A) patients. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively assess the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) anomalies of the sciatic and tibial nerves in CMT1A disease using quantitative neurography MRI. It was also intended to seek for correlations with clinical variables.

Methods

Quantitative neurography MRI was used in order to assess differences in nerve volume, proton density and magnetization transfer ratio in the lower limbs of CMT1A patients and healthy controls. Disease severity was evaluated using the Charcot–Marie–Tooth Neuropathy Score version 2, Charcot–Marie–Tooth examination scores and Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale scores. Electrophysiological measurements were performed in order to assess the compound motor action potential and the Motor Unit Number Index. Clinical impairment was evaluated using muscle strength measurements and Charcot–Marie–Tooth examination scores.

Results

A total of 32 CMT1A patients were enrolled and compared to 13 healthy subjects. The 3D nerve volume, magnetization transfer ratio and proton density were significantly different in CMT1A patients for the whole sciatic and tibial nerve volume. The sciatic nerve volume was significantly correlated with the whole set of clinical scores whereas no correlation was found between the tibial nerve volume and the clinical scores.

Conclusion

Nerve injury could be quantified in vivo using quantitative neurography MRI and the corresponding biomarkers were correlated with clinical disability in CMT1A patients. The sensitivity of the selected metrics will have to be assessed through repeated measurements over time during longitudinal studies to evaluate structural nerve changes under treatment.
Drainage increases CO2 and N2O emissions from tropical peat soils
Authors: Prananto Jeremy Aditya , Minasny Budiman , Comeau Louis‐Pierre , Rudiyanto Rudiyanto , Grace Peter
Published: May 2020

Tropical peatlands are vital ecosystems that play an important role in global carbon storage and cycles. Current estimates of greenhouse gases from these peatlands are uncertain as emissions vary with environmental conditions. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of managed and natural tropical peatland GHG fluxes: heterotrophic (i.e. soil respiration without roots), total CO2 respiration rates, CH4 and N2O fluxes. The study documents studies that measure GHG fluxes from the soil (n = 372) from various land uses, groundwater levels and environmental conditions. We found that total soil respiration was larger in managed peat ecosystems (median = 52.3 Mg CO2 ha−1 year−1) than in natural forest (median = 35.9 Mg CO2 ha−1 year−1). Groundwater level had a stronger effect on soil CO2 emission than land use. Every 100 mm drop of groundwater level caused an increase of 5.1 and 3.7 Mg CO2 ha−1 year−1 for plantation and cropping land use, respectively. Where groundwater is deep (≥0.5 m), heterotrophic respiration constituted 84% of the total emissions. N2O emissions were significantly larger at deeper groundwater levels, where every drop in 100 mm of groundwater level resulted in an exponential emission increase (exp(0.7) kg N ha−1 year−1). Deeper groundwater levels induced high N2O emissions, which constitute about 15% of total GHG emissions. CH4 emissions were large where groundwater is shallow; however, they were substantially smaller than other GHG emissions. When compared to temperate and boreal peatland soils, tropical peatlands had, on average, double the CO2 emissions. Surprisingly, the CO2 emission rates in tropical peatlands were in the same magnitude as tropical mineral soils. This comprehensive analysis provides a great understanding of the GHG dynamics within tropical peat soils that can be used as a guide for policymakers to create suitable programmes to manage the sustainability of peatlands effectively.
Climate change impacts on long‐term forest productivity might be driven by species turnover rather than by changes in tree growth
Authors: García‐Valdés Raúl , Estrada Alba , Early Regan , Lehsten Veiko , Morin Xavier
Published: May 2020

Aim

Climate change impacts forest functioning and services through two inter‐related effects. First, it impacts tree growth, with effects, for example, on biomass production. Second, climate change also reshuffles community composition, with further effects on forest functioning. However, the relative importance of these two effects has rarely been studied. Here, we developed a new modelling approach to investigate these relative importances for forest productivity.

Location

Eleven forest sites in central Europe.

Time period

Historical (1990) and end‐of‐21st‐century climate‐like conditions. We simulated 2,000 years of forest dynamics for each set of conditions.

Major taxa studied

Twenty‐five common tree species in European temperate forests.

Methods

We coupled species distribution models and a forest succession model, working at complementary spatial and temporal scales, to simulate the climatic filtering that shapes potential tree species pools, the biotic filtering that shapes realized communities and the functioning of these realized communities in the long‐term.

Results

Under an average temperature increase (relative to 1901–1990) of between 1.5 and 1.7 °C, changes in simulated forest productivity were caused mostly by changes in the growth of persisting tree species. With an average temperature increase of 3.6–4.0 °C, changes in simulated productivity at sites that currently have a mild climate were again caused predominantly by changes in tree species growth. However, at the warmest and coldest sites, changes in productivity were related mostly to shifts in species composition. In general, at the coldest sites, forest productivity is likely to be enhanced by climate change, whereas at the warmest sites the productivity might increase or decrease depending on the future precipitation regime.

Main conclusions

A combination of two complementary modelling approaches that address questions at the interface between biogeography, community ecology and ecosystem functioning, reveals that climate change‐driven community reshuffling in the long term might be crucially important for ecosystem functioning.
Effectiveness of an oral health education programme for older adults using a workbook
Authors: Lee Kyeong Hee , Choi Yoon Young , Jung Eun Seo
Published: May 2020

Objective

This study investigated the effects of an oral health education programme utilising a workbook for people aged 65 years or older.

Materials and Methods

A pre–post quasi‐experimental design was used to verify the effectiveness of an oral health education programme using a workbook. Oral health education was provided once a week for 5 weeks from May to June 2019. Intervention group I only received lectures on oral health education, while intervention group II reviewed the content using the workbook immediately after the lecture. Chi‐square test, Fisher's exact test and a one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to compare differences among the three groups; a paired t test was also carried out to identify the changes before and after the programme.

Results

Intervention group I showed a significant increase of 3.52 on oral health knowledge and 3.47 on oral health recognition, while exhibiting a significant decrease of 0.21 on the O’Leary index and 0.69 on the tongue coating index. Intervention group II depicted a significant increase of 4.48 on oral health knowledge and 3.97 on oral health recognition and a significant decrease of 0.32 on the O’Leary index and 2.10 on the tongue coating index.

Conclusions

The oral health education programme using the workbook increased knowledge and recognition of oral health and lowered the O’Leary and tongue coating indexes. Hence, the use of a workbook may facilitate the effectiveness of oral health education for older people.
Field Tracer Tests to Evaluate Transport Properties of Tryptophan and Humic Acid in Karst
Authors: Frank Simon , Goeppert Nadine , Goldscheider Nico
Published: May 2020

The monitoring of water quality, especially of karst springs, requires methods for rapidly estimating and quantifying parameters that indicate contamination. In the last few years, fluorescence‐based measurements of tryptophan and humic acid have become a promising tool to assess water quality in near real‐time. In this study, we conducted comparative tracer tests in a karst experimental site to investigate the transport properties and behavior of tryptophan and humic acid in a natural karst aquifer. These two tracers were compared with the conservative tracer uranine. Fluorescence measurements were conducted with an online field fluorometer and in the laboratory. The obtained breakthrough curves (BTCs) and the modeling results demonstrate that (1) the online field fluorometer is suitable for real‐time fluorescence measurements of all three tracers; (2) the transport parameters obtained for uranine, tryptophan, and humic acid are comparable in the fast flow areas of the karst system; (3) the transport velocities of humic acid are slower and the resulting residence times are accordingly higher, compared to uranine and tryptophan, in the slower and longer flow paths; (4) the obtained BTCs reveal additional information about the investigated karst system. As a conclusion, the experiments show that the transport properties of tryptophan are similar to those of uranine while humic acid is partly transported slower and with retardation. These findings allow a better and quantitative interpretation of the results when these substances are used as natural fecal and contamination indicators.