bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge sharing discourse types used by key actors in online affinity spaces
Authors: Sharma Priya , Li Qiyuan , Land Susan M.
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The growth of online social network sites and their conceptualization as affinity spaces makes them well suited for exploring how individuals share knowledge and practices around specific interests or affinities. The purpose of this study is to extend what is known about highly active/key actors in online affinity spaces, especially the ways in which they sustain and contribute to knowledge sharing.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed 514 discussion posts gathered from an online affinity space on disease management. This study used a variety of methods to answer the research questions: the authors used discourse analyses to examine the conversations in the online affinity space, social network analyses to identify the structure of participation in the space and association rule mining and sentiment analysis to identify co-occurrence of discourse codes and sentiment of the discussions.

Findings

The results indicate that the quality and type of discourse varies considerably between key and other actors. Key actors’ discourse in the network serves to elaborate on and explain ideas and concepts, whereas other actors provide a more supportive role and engage primarily in storytelling.

Originality/value

This work extends what is known about informal mentoring and the role of key actors within affinity spaces by identifying specific discourse types and types of knowledge sharing that are characteristic of key actors. Also, this study provides an example of the use of a combination of rule mining association and sentiment analysis to characterize the nature of the affinity space.
Independent mobility for persons with VIB using GIS
Authors: Zimmermann-Janschitz Susanne , Landauer Simon , Drexel Sebastian , Obermeier Jana
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The study aims to promote independent mobility for persons with visual impairment or legal blindness (VIB) by developing a Web-based wayfinding application using geographic information systems (GIS). While the literature mainly focuses on technical devices presenting results for wayfinding, a lack of integration of user needs is identified. The inclusive, participative developed application offers step-by-step directions for pre-trip planning through an accessible user interface.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a semi-automated approach to extract a pedestrian routing network data set based on open government data and field survey. User profiles calculate different routes using a weighting scheme for landmarks, orientation hints, infrastructure of crossings and sidewalks. The adoption of ArcGIS Web AppBuilder widgets allows access of the user interface additionally through keyboard-only navigation and therefore screen-reader capability.

Findings

GIS offers a powerful tool to design network analysis for persons with VIB. The routing algorithm accesses different user profiles, returning individualized turn-by-turn directions. The complex set of attributes, including shorelines, landmarks and barriers, can be integrated by semi-automated processes.

Practical implications

The paper illustrates the benefit of GIS applications for wayfinding of persons with VIB to raise self-determination and independence.

Originality/value

A ubiquitous pedestrian sidewalk network for a medium-size city comprises a novelty, as research has mainly focused on small areas. The integration of shorelines next to a various number of hints, landmarks and potential barriers through semi-automated processes allows reproducibility and transferability of the model to other cities.
Islamic religiosity and ethical intentions of Islamic bank managers: rethinking theory of planned behaviour
Authors: Samad Sarminah , Kashif Muhammad , Wijeneyake Shanika , Mingione Michela
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The primary aim of this study is to investigate how Islamic religiosity shapes the ethical attitude of customer relationship managers while predicting their behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey-based, cross-sectional data is collected from 257 customer relationship managers working in leading Islamic Banks in Pakistan.

Findings

Results demonstrate that religiosity positively influences the attitude of managers. Furthermore, the effect of subjective norms to predict ethical intentions is found insignificant which opens a new debate for the scholarly community.

Originality/value

A key contribution of this study is the investigation of Islamic religiosity as a predictor of managerial attitude. Furthermore, the context of Islamic bank managers is a new context of this investigation.
Trust me, I'm a bot – repercussions of chatbot disclosure in different service frontline settings
Authors: Mozafari Nika , Weiger Welf H. , Hammerschmidt Maik
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Chatbots are increasingly prevalent in the service frontline. Due to advancements in artificial intelligence, chatbots are often indistinguishable from humans. Regarding the question whether firms should disclose their chatbots' nonhuman identity or not, previous studies find negative consumer reactions to chatbot disclosure. By considering the role of trust and service-related context factors, this study explores how negative effects of chatbot disclosure for customer retention can be prevented.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents two experimental studies that examine the effect of disclosing the nonhuman identity of chatbots on customer retention. While the first study examines the effect of chatbot disclosure for different levels of service criticality, the second study considers different service outcomes. The authors employ analysis of covariance and mediation analysis to test their hypotheses.

Findings

Chatbot disclosure has a negative indirect effect on customer retention through mitigated trust for services with high criticality. In cases where a chatbot fails to handle the customer's service issue, disclosing the chatbot identity not only lacks negative impact but even elicits a positive effect on retention.

Originality/value

The authors provide evidence that customers will react differently to chatbot disclosure depending on the service frontline setting. They show that chatbot disclosure does not only have undesirable consequences as previous studies suspect but can lead to positive reactions as well. By doing so, the authors draw a more balanced picture on the consequences of chatbot disclosure.
Brand implications of advertising products with their reflections
Authors: Sharma Nazuk , Romero Marisabel
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of advertising products with their reflections on some important brand outcomes such as brand purchase likelihood, brand trust and consumer willingness to pay for the advertised product.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses four experiments to assess the effects of advertising products with (vs without) reflections on the focal brand outcomes.

Findings

Results evidence a robust negative effect of advertising products with their reflections on the investigated brand outcomes across multiple product categories. Following Signaling Theory, product reflections are found to act as negative signaling devices in brand advertising contexts given that these inverted, false object reproductions are processed with a sense of confusion, ambiguity and uncertainty. Further in line with Signaling Theory, increased product quality uncertainty is determined as the underlying process and brand confidence signaling is tested as a relevant moderator to the proposed effects.

Originality/value

This inquiry is the first to systemically investigate brand implications of advertising products with their reflections. Counter to marketers’ aesthetic intuitions, the current research finds that this common advertising practice can actually hurt critical brand outcomes such as brand trust.
Appropriate strategy selection for reliability-centered maintenance of one-shot systems using fuzzy model
Authors: Azimian Meysam , Karbasian Mahdi , Atashgar Karim , Kabir Golam
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper addresses special reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) strategies for one-shot devices by providing fuzzy inferences system with the assumption that, to data, there is no data available on their maintenance. As far as one-shot devices are concerned, the relevant data is inadequate.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a fuzzy expert system is proposed to effectively select RCM strategies for one-shot devices. In this research: (1) a human expert team is provided, (2) spatial RCM strategies for one-shot devices and parameters bearing upon those strategies are determined, (3) the verbal variables of the expert team are transformed into fuzzy sets, (4) the relationship between parameters and strategies are designed whereupon a model is developed by MATLAB software, (5) Finally, the model is applied to a real-life one-shot system.

Findings

The finding of this study indicates that the proposed fuzzy expert system can determine the parameters affecting the choice of the appropriate one-shot RCM strategies, and a fuzzy inference system can help for effective decision making.

Originality/value

The developed model can be used as a fast and reliable method for determining an appropriate one-shot RCM strategy, whose results can be relied upon with a suitable approximation in respect of the behavior test. To the best authors’ knowledge, this problem is not addressed yet.
Access to finance for SMEs in post-socialist countries: the Baltic States and the South Caucasus compared
Authors: Imarhiagbe Bernard Owens , Smallbone David , Saridakis George , Blackburn Robert , Mohammed Anne-Marie
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This article examines access to finance for SMEs in the Baltic States and the South Caucasus countries following the financial crisis of 2007 and is set within the context of the rule of law for businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The article uses the cross-sectional dataset from the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS) for 2009 to examine access to finance for SMEs and the court system in the Baltic States and the South Caucasus countries. An ordered probit estimation technique is used to model access to finance and the court system in the Baltic States and the South Caucasus countries. The analysis draws upon institutional theory to explain access to finance for SMEs.

Findings

The results show variations from one Baltic State and South Caucasus country to another in relation to fairness, speed of justice and enforcement of court decisions. The analysis suggests that if access to finance is not an obstacle to business operations and the court system is fair, impartial and uncorrupted, it determines the likelihood of strength in entrepreneurship. Additionally, the results show that, within the Baltic region, businesses experiencing constraints in accessing finance are more likely to have females as their top managers. However, for the South Caucasus region, there was no gender difference.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on evidence from the Baltic States and the South Caucasus region. However, the findings are relevant to discussions on the importance of the context of entrepreneurship, and more specifically, the rule of law. The institutional theory provides an explanation for coercive, normative and mimetic institutional isomorphism in the context of access to finance for SMEs. Coercive institutional isomorphism exerts a dependence on access to finance for SMEs. In coercive institutional isomorphism, formal and informal pressures are exerted by external organisations such as governments, legal regulatory authorities, banks and other lending institutions. These formal and informal pressures are imposed to ensure compliance as a dependency for successful access to finance goal.

Practical implications

This research creates awareness among entrepreneurs, potential entrepreneurs, business practitioners and society that reducing obstacles to access finance and a fair court system improve entrepreneurial venture formation. This has the potential to create employment, advance business development and improve economic development.

Originality/value

This paper makes an original contribution by emphasising the significance of access to finance and a fair court system in encouraging stronger entrepreneurship. The institutional framework provides a definition for coercive institutional isomorphism to show how external forces exert a dependence pressure towards access to finance for SMEs.
Asymmetric effects of alliance intensity on absorptive capacity: the differences between potential and realized capacities
Authors: Vicentin Flavia Oliveira do Prado , Vasconcelos Ribeiro Galina Simone , Fernandes Rodrigues Alves Marlon , Backx Noronha Viana Adriana
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Prior research suggests that organizational alliances' contribution to innovation performance is conditional to absorptive capacity (AC). Instead of an antecedent of alliances, in this study, the authors conceptualize and evaluate AC as an outcome of alliance intensity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors tested their theoretical framework using multivariate statistical analysis on data collected from a survey applied to dedicated biotechnology firms (DBFs) from three countries: Brazil, Portugal and Spain.

Findings

First, the results show that whereas the high alliance intensity effect is positive and stronger on RAC, it is negative and weaker on PAC. Second, the alliance intensity effect on RAC is strengthened when firms have alliances only in their home country and the top manager does not have both academic and managerial experiences.

Practical implications

The authors’ study suggests as implications for DBFs: (1) firms should form alliances to develop AC, (2) firms should consider alliances for improving AC when top managers' expertise is not diverse, and (3) firms should consider only alliances with national partners as a differential for AC development.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature of dynamic capabilities, AC, alliances and innovation management by providing empirical validation for key contingencies surrounding the benefits of alliances as an antecedent of AC.
Empirical nexus between financial and psychological entrepreneur characteristics and its analogy to entrepreneurship financial performance
Authors: Khan Waqas , Nisar Qasim Ali , Nasir Nadia , Nasir Sobia , Siddiqui Yousaf
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the key entrepreneurial roles (financial literacy, risk tolerance and competency) in the financial performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan and the mediating effects of locus of control and spiritual and emotional quotients.

Design/methodology/approach

The study data was collected from 541 SMEs in Pakistan (the target population) through a survey and analysed with partial least squares structural equation modelling.

Findings

The findings revealed that the key entrepreneurial characteristics were positively related to locus of control and spiritual quotient and elevated the financial performance in entrepreneurship. It was also reported that locus of control and spiritual quotient mediated between key entrepreneurial characteristics and financial performance. In this regard, emotional quotient strengthened the existing relationships between key characteristics, locus of control and spiritual quotient.

Practical implications

This study highlighted sustainable implications for SMEs to develop an effective mechanism and improve financial performance through guidelines that emphasized entrepreneurial characteristics and behaviours towards positive entrepreneurial ventures. This study also enabled policymakers to design policies that catalysed SME performance in Pakistan.

Originality/value

This study contributed a novel concept of key entrepreneurial characteristics by introducing a characteristics tool kit. Consequently, information on a unique framework (by integrating entrepreneurial characteristics and financial performance) and literature on spiritual quotient and locus of control in entrepreneurship were enriched. Contributions to the regulatory focus theory and four-phase Rubicon model in the study context were also made.
An institutional perspective on the selection and use of accounting textbooks: the case of universities in Indonesia
Authors: Irsyadillah Irsyadillah , Bayou Mohamed Salem M
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the selection and use of introductory financial accounting (IFA) textbooks in the context of achieving the objectives of accounting education to provide both discipline-specific skills and liberal education.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper adopts a qualitative research design to collect data through semi-structured interviews with 33 accounting educators across Indonesia. This study uses the institutional theory approach to explain how accounting textbooks are selected and used to meet the objectives of accounting education at universities.

Findings

The study provides evidence of the adoption of a systematic procedure for the selection of recommended IFA textbooks. The selection was driven by the technical-regulatory objective of providing technical training. This objective also guides the use of the recommended textbooks. In a sense, accounting educators were more concerned about responding to institutional pressures of preparing accountants for work in the accounting industry rather than providing students with a liberal education that promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the selection and use of IFA textbooks. Further research should examine the contents of various accounting textbooks and obtain feedback from the people involved in the publication of the textbooks.

Originality/value

The findings of this study have important implications for accounting educators. They can use these findings to improve their selection and use of accounting textbooks.
Challenges of subjectivity in team performance evaluation
Authors: Arnold Markus
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze challenges of subjective performance evaluation (SPE) and their effects on team performance. It focuses on discretionary bonus allocations in teams and challenges driven by cognitive biases on the superior or the employee side. This is important as efficient teamwork is a relevant source of competitive advantages in firms, and firms often rely on teams to coordinate various, mutually supportive organizational activities.

Design/methodology/approach

The author analyzes results that have recently been discussed in the literature and link them to each other to create a more holistic picture about potential performance effects of SPE. Based on the analyses, the author develops avenues for future research and point out open questions.

Findings

Exploring employees’ fairness perceptions in team settings in which there is no clear standard for a “fair” team bonus allocation, the author finds that perceived fairness of team bonus allocation may decrease under SPE because employees interpret the “fairness” of the bonus allocation from an egocentric perspective. Such decrease in perceived fairness can eventually even lead to decreased team performance. Likewise, on the superior side, more complex, but highly relevant team can cause cognitive biases of superiors in assessing employee performance, thereby decreasing the potentially positive effects of SPE on team performance.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature by analyzing recently discovered challenges of SPE in teams and linking them to each other to draw more general conclusions about the performance effects of SPE. For practice, my findings imply that firms may want to be cautious when evaluating the potential effects of SPE – as it is made by human beings with their cognitive biases. For research, the paper opens up new research possibilities and points out open questions.
Global economic fluctuations and human development: how is the impact transmitted in Egypt?
Authors: Emara Amira Mohamed , Mohamed Nashwa Mostafa Ali
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between global economic fluctuations and human development through four transmission channels (foreign direct investment (FDI), official development aid (ODA), remittances and export earnings) in Egypt as an open developing economy, in the period 1990–2015.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a vector autoregressive model, which implies examining the impulse response functions and variance decompositions.

Findings

The results indicate that human development is negatively affected by global economic fluctuations through the four channels, namely, ODA, FDI, export earnings and remittances. In addition, the most effective transmission channels are FDI in the short run and export earnings in the long run.

Originality/value

While a large body of literature addresses the direct impact of business cycles and economic shocks on human development, only some studies focus on the indirect impact. The contribution is to identify the indirect impact of global economic fluctuations on human development in a developing economy, considering four transmission channels and to determine the most important of these channels. Moreover, using the human development index is an addition in this paper as most previous literature depends on other human development indicators such as children’s health, employment and schooling.
Particle emission levels in the user operating environment of powder, ink and filament-based 3D printers
Authors: Ding Shirun , Ng Bing Feng
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine on-site particle concentration levels due to emissions from a wide spectrum of additive manufacturing techniques, including polymer-based material extrusion, metal and polymer-based powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition and ink-based material jetting.

Design/methodology/approach

Particle concentrations in the operating environments of users were measured using a combination of particle sizers including the TSI 3910 Nano SMPS (10–420 nm) and the TSI 3330 optical particle sizer (0.3–10 µm). Also, fumes from a MEX printer during printing were directly captured using laser imaging method.

Findings

The number and mass concentration of submicron particles emitted from a desktop open-type MEX printer for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and polyvinyl alcohol approached and significantly exceeded the nanoparticle reference limits, respectively. Through laser imaging, fumes were observed to originate from the printer nozzle and from newly deposited layers of the desktop MEX printer. On the other hand, caution should be taken in the pre-processing of metal and polymer powder. Specifically, one to ten micrometers of particles were observed during the sieving, loading and cleaning of powder, with transient mass concentrations ranging between 150 and 9,000 µg/m3 that significantly exceeded the threshold level suggested for indoor air quality.

Originality/value

Preliminary investigation into possible exposures to particle emissions from different 3D printing processes was done, which is useful for the sustainable development of the 3D printing industry. In addition, automatic processes that enable “closed powder cycle” or “powder free handling” should be adopted to prevent users from unnecessary particle exposure.
Purpose before profit: unleashing individual and collective “human magic”
Authors: Joly Hubert
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The former CEO of Best Buy believes that companies need to move past the quest to drive the behavior of a collective workforce, and instead seek to inspire people by connecting with what matters to each one of them. Unleashing human magic, enabling them to make full use of their talents toward a common purpose, means creating an environment in which individuals flourish.

Design/methodology/approach

The author explains why clearly articulating and feeding the connection between personal and company purpose for every team member is one of the most crucial roles of any leader, from top executives to store managers.

Findings

The author’s turnaround achievement at Best Buy taught him that when people are doing what matters to them and what they believe in, they will walk through walls, pouring their energy, creativity and emotion into their job.

Practical implications

A sense of endless possibilities–both for oneself and for the business in pursuit of a noble purpose–fuel inner drive, positive energy and the desire to bring one’s best self to the table.

Originality/value

The author’s potent advice to leaders: The need for emotional intelligence, speed and flexibility means that employee autonomy–letting them carry their own weight–has become essential to success. Autonomy leads us to think creatively, which breeds innovation. 10;
The double-edged sword effect of psychological safety climate: a theoretical framework
Authors: Zhang Yejun , Wan Min (Maggie)
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Psychological safety climate has been commonly conceptualized as a facilitative team property. Despite the literature review and meta-analysis conducted recently, little is known about the potential dark side of psychological safety climate. The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical framework to advance our understanding of both the bright and dark sides of psychological safety.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on extant theories and previous literature, the authors propose a conceptual framework of the mechanisms and boundary conditions underlying the relationship between psychological safety climate and dysfunctional team behavior.

Findings

The authors propose that the relationship between psychological safety climate and dysfunctional behaviors in the team is directly contingent on psychological safety climate strength, and indirectly contingent on task interdependence, group faultlines, group conflict asymmetry and team power distance differentiation.

Originality/value

First, the authors attempt to expand psychological safety climate literature by considering its potential damaging outcomes. Second, they contribute to the theory of psychological safety climate by suggesting a theoretical model consisting of the boundary conditions wherein psychological safety climate could reduce team effectiveness. Finally, the authors incorporate climate strength into the psychological safety literature to probe the antecedents of psychological safety climate strength and when it matters to the subsequent negative outcomes.
Influence of thermal and pH cycles on surface characteristics lithium disilicate glass-ceramic dental crowns milled with CAD/CAM process
Authors: Singh Yajvinder , Gulati Vishal
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The paper aims to evaluate the influence of thermo-chemical cycles of oral fluids on the surface attributes (roughness and microhardness) of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic (LDC) crown restorations manufactured with CAD/CAM technology.

Design/methodology/approach

There have been 24 LDC crowns manufactured using the CAD/CAM process for their respective preparation dies ply methyl methacrylate (PMMA) of mandibular left second premolar tooth (n= 8 each group). The standard procedure was used to glaze 16 crown samples (Groups 2 and 3).Samples of Group 3 were aged with thermal (563°C and 5563°C) and pH (2–14) cycles. All 24 samples were tested with a Profilometer and a Vicker hardness tester was used for their surface roughness and hardness measurement, respectively.

Findings

In statistical examination on SPSS Statistics 20 (IBM) software, of surface roughness values (Ra) and Vicker hardness values from different groups, Tukey HSD test was executed in one-way ANOVA (a= 0.05). The means Ra for groups were accordingly Group 3 > Group1 > Group 2 (p< 0.001). Similarly, micro-hardness was in order of Group 2 > Group 1 > Group 3 (p< 0.001).

Research limitations/implications

The research work does not have any limitations.

Originality/value

Surrounding temperature and pH significantly impact the surface characteristics of lithium disilicate crown restoration. The study also reveals the inverse relationship between surface roughness and surface hardness parameters. The observed results and facts revealed well in agreement with the past research studies.
Genetic diversity of the endangered Japanese golden eagle at neutral and functional loci
Authors: Naito‐Liederbach Annegret M. , Sato Yu , Nakajima Nobuyoshi , Maeda Taku , Inoue Takehiko , Yamazaki Toru , Ogden Rob , Inoue‐Murayama Miho
Published: June 2021

The Japanese golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos japonica) is an endangered subspecies with declining reproductive success. Previous research on this subspecies reported genetic diversity in northern Japan and in captivity using neutral genetic markers, but the situation in other areas of Japan and diversity at functional genetic loci are understudied. Here, we increased wild samples from western Japan and captive samples from zoos and analyzed genetic diversity of mitochondrial DNA, nuclear microsatellite loci, and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) DRB exon 2 region. In addition, wild Scottish samples were analyzed and literature from European subspecies and other raptor species was surveyed to compare with the Japanese golden eagle. Overall, levels of mtDNA haplotype and microsatellite diversity observed in western Japan were similar to previously studied northern regions. However, microsatellite allelic diversity was lower compared to other golden eagle subspecies. MHC diversity indices, especially in captive Japanese golden eagles, were also low relative to raptors classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. This pattern could be explained by the loss of rare alleles due to genetic drift—a consequence of a declining population—suggesting the possibility of an early population bottleneck. Moreover, genetic structure analyses suggested that the Japanese population likely consists of one gene pool, so the bottleneck may affect the entire population. From these results, we suggest maintaining gene flow between local populations to prevent inbreeding and further loss of alleles, increasing the number of breeding pairs in captivity, and releasing captive individuals to reinforce the wild population.
An umbrella review of effect size, bias, and power across meta‐analyses in emergency medicine
Authors: Parish Austin J. , Yuan Denley M. K. , Raggi Jason R. , Omotoso Oluyemi O. , West Jason R. , Ioannidis John P. A.
Published: June 2021

Objectives

The objective of this study was to conduct an umbrella review of therapeutic studies relevant to emergency medicine, analyzing patterns in effect size, power, and signals of potential bias across an entire field of clinical research.

Methods

We combined topic‐ and journal‐driven searches of PubMed and Google Scholar for published articles of systematic reviews and meta‐analyses (SRMA) relevant to emergency medicine (last search in November 2020). Data were screened and extracted by six investigators. Redundant meta‐analyses were removed. Whenever possible for each comparison we extracted one meta‐analysis on mortality with the most events and one meta‐analysis on a nonmortality outcome with the most studies. From each meta‐analysis we extracted all individual study effects; outcomes were converted to odds ratios (ORs) and placed on a common scale where an OR < 1.0 represents a reduction in a harmful outcome with an experimental treatment versus control. Outcomes were analyzed at the level of individual studies and at the level of summary effects across meta‐analyses.

Results

A total of 332 articles contained 431 eligible meta‐analyses with a total of 3,129 individual study outcomes; of these, 2,593 (83%) were from randomized controlled trials. The median OR across all studies was 0.70. Within each meta‐analysis, the earliest study effect on average demonstrated larger benefit compared to the overall summary effect. Only 57 of 431 meta‐analyses (13%) both favored the experimental intervention and did not show any signal of small study effects or excess significance, and of those only 12 had at least one study with 80% or higher power to detect an OR of 0.70. Of these, no interventions significantly decreased mortality in well‐powered trials. Although the power of studies increased somewhat over time, the majority of studies were underpowered.

Conclusions

Few interventions studied within SRMAs relevant to emergency medicine seem to have strong and unbiased evidence for improving outcomes. The field would benefit from more optimally powered trials.
Acceptability and uptake of HIV self‐testing in emergency care settings: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Aluisio Adam R. , Lim Rachel K. , Tang Oliver Y. , Sugut Janet , Kinuthia John , Bosire Rose , Guthrie Kate M. , Katz David A. , Farquhar Carey , Mello Michael J.
Published: June 2021

Background

Emergency departments (ED) interface with large numbers of patients that are often missed by conventional HIV testing approaches. ED‐based HIV self‐testing (HIVST) is an innovative engagement approach which has potential for testing gains among populations that have failed to be reached. This systematic review and meta‐analysis evaluated acceptability and uptake of HIVST, as compared to standard provider‐delivered testing approaches, among patients seeking care in ED settings.

Methods

Six electronic databases were systematically searched (Dates: January 1990–May 2021). Reports with data on HIVST acceptability and/or testing uptake in ED settings were included. Two reviewers identified eligible records (κ= 0.84); quality was assessed using formalized criteria. Acceptability and testing uptake metrics were summarized, and pooled estimates were calculated using random‐effects models with assessments of heterogeneity.

Results

Of 5773 records identified, seven met inclusion criteria. The cumulative sample was 1942 subjects, drawn from three randomized control trials (RCTs) and four cross‐sectional studies. Four reports assessed HIVST acceptability. Pooled acceptability of self‐testing was 92.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 88.0%–97.1%). Data from two RCTs demonstrated that HIVST significantly increased testing uptake as compared to standard programs (risk ratio [RR] = 4.41, 95% CI: 1.95–10.10, I2 = 25.8%). Overall, the quality of evidence was low (42.9%) or very low (42.9%), with one report of moderate quality (14.2%).

Conclusions

Available data indicate that HIVST may be acceptable and may increase testing among patients seeking emergency care, suggesting that expanding ED‐based HIVST programs could enhance HIV diagnosis. However, given the limitations of the reports, additional research is needed to better inform the evidence base.
Are Accounting Programs Future‐ready? Employability Skills
Authors: Banasik Ewa , Jubb Christine
Published: June 2021

The first aim of this paper is to ascertain the extent to which Master‐level accounting units across Australian universities incorporate five specific employability skills: digital technology and intellectual, communication, teamwork and leadership and management skills. The accounting profession considers these skills as the skills required of accountants in the foreseeable future. Using the International Education Standards as a benchmark, we review unit outlines and synopses to identify whether these employability skills are reflected in unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes. Our research indicates that too often not evident in the documents examined are exposures to 1) digital technology and accounting software and systems, 2) assessment of oral presentation capability, 3) training that fosters teamwork skills before completion of assessable team tasks and 4) situations that model and develop leadership and management skills. The second aim of this paper is to offer recommendations for the inclusion of these skills into curricula. Based on the literature and best practices identified in this study, we formulate 13 recommendations that we feel, if implemented, would remedy the issues uncovered and improve the integration of these skills into all accounting programs.
Implementing a specialist paediatric clinical pharmacology service in a UK children's hospital
Authors: Hawcutt Daniel B. , Warner Naomi , Kenyon Elaine , Murray Christine , Taylor Julia , Moss James , McWilliam Stephen , Weston Will , Murdock Nicki
Published: June 2021

Aims

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health subspecialist training in Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics has been delivered in the UK for 20 years, but no specialist clinical services have been set up previously.

Methods

Prospective audit and service evaluation of paediatric clinical pharmacology service pilot phase and dedicated service at a UK children's hospital.

Results

Pilot scheme (May–October 2019), then weekly service (established June 2020). Service covers the High Dependency Unit, and inpatients with polypharmacy. The pilot demonstrated high levels of acceptance, with 89% of suggested medication changes agreed by lead clinical team, and success, with 97.5% of suggested changes continued until discharge/pilot completion. Economic analysis estimated direct annualised cost savings on medications of up to £10 000. After 20 ward rounds of the established service, 270 potential medication changes were identified, 213 were carried out (78.9%). The most common were deprescribing (n = 143), prescribing (n = 47) and dose adjustment (n = 8). Seventy‐five different medications were deprescribed, most commonly chloral hydrate (n = 12), Lactulose, ibuprofen, Bio‐Kult and sodium alginate (all n = 4). The percentage of inpatients prescribed ≥10 medications decreased from 38.5 to 32.1%, while the subset prescribed ≥20 medications decreased from 11.0 to 5.67%. The mean number of medicines prescribed decreased from 9.0 to 8.0, while the median was unchanged at 7. Annual Yellow Card reports of suspected adverse drug reactions more than doubled (n = 66).

Conclusion

A UK model for subspecialist paediatric clinical pharmacology service delivery has demonstrated a positive clinical impact and could be replicated at other UK secondary/tertiary children's hospitals.
Cesarean birth, obstetric emergencies, and adverse neonatal outcomes in Iceland during a period of increasing labor induction
Authors: Gunnarsdóttir Jóhanna , Swift Emma M. , Jakobsdóttir Jóhanna , Smárason Alexander , Thorkelsson Thordur , Einarsdóttir Kristjana
Published: June 2021

Background

The rate of labor induction has risen steeply throughout the world. This project aimed to estimate changes in the rates of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in Iceland between 1997 and 2018, and to assess whether the changes can be explained by an increased rate of labor induction.

Methods

Singleton live births, occurring between 1997 and 2018, that did not start by prelabor cesarean, were identified from the Icelandic Medical Birth Register (n = 85 971). Rates of intrapartum cesarean birth (CB), obstetric emergencies, and neonatal outcomes were calculated, and adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated with log‐binomial regression (reference: 1997‐2001). Adjustments were made for: (a) maternal characteristics, and (b) labor induction and gestational age.

Results

The rate of labor induction increased from 13.6% in the period 1997‐2001 to 28.1% in the period 2014‐2018. The rate of intrapartum CB decreased between the periods of 1997‐2001 and 2014‐2018 for both primiparous (aRR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69 to 0.84) and multiparous women (aRR 0.55, 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.63). The rate of obstetric emergencies and adverse neonatal outcomes also decreased between these time periods. Adjusting for labor induction did not attenuate these associations.

Conclusions

The rates of adverse maternal outcomes and adverse neonatal outcomes decreased over the study period. However, there was no evidence that this decrease could be explained by the increased rate of labor induction.
Association of frailty with clinical outcomes in myelofibrosis: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Bankar Aniket , Alibhai Shabbir , Smith Elliot , Yang Dongyang , Malik Sarah , Cheung Verna , Siddiq Nancy , Claudio Jaime , Arruda Andrea , Tsui Hubert , Capo‐Chichi Jose‐Mario , Kennedy James A. , McNamara Caroline , Sibai Hassan , Maze Dawn , Xu Wei , Gupta Vikas
Published: June 2021

There is limited understanding of the impact of frailty on clinical outcomes in patients with myelofibrosis (MF). In this retrospective cohort study on 439 chronic phase MF patients [mean age: 68·7 ± 12 years; median follow‐up: 3·4 years (IQR 0·4–8·6)] from 2004 till 2018, we used a 35‐variable frailty index (FI) to categorise patient’s frailty status as fit (FI < 0·2, reference), prefrail (FI 0·2–0·29) or frail (FI ≥ 0·3). The association of frailty with overall survival (OS) and cumulative JAK inhibitor (JAKi) therapy failure was measured using hazard ratio (HR, 95% CI). In multivariable analysis, prefrail (HR 1·7, 1·1–2·5) and frail patients (HR 2·9, 1·6–5·5), those with higher DIPSS score (HR 2·5, 1·6–3·9) and transfusion dependency (HR 1·9, 1·3–2·9) had shorter OS. In a subset analysis of patients on JAKi treatment (n = 222), frail patients (HR 2·5, 1·1–5·7), patients with higher DIPSS score (HR 1·7, 1·0–3·1) and transfusion dependence (HR 1·7, 1·1–2·7) had higher cumulative incidence of JAKi failure. Age, comorbidities, ECOG performance status, and MPN driver mutations did not impact outcomes. Thus, higher frailty scores are associated with worse OS and increased JAKi failure in MF, and is a superior indicator of fitness in comparison to age, comorbidities, and performance status.
Integration of genetic structure into conservation of an endangered, endemic lizard, Ceratophora aspera: A case study from Sri Lanka
Authors: Wikramanayake Shanelle A. , Wikramanayake Eric D. , Pallewatta Nirmalie , Leaché Adam D.
Published: June 2021

Sri Lanka is a biodiversity hotspot within the Indo‐Malayan Biogeographic region. The lowland and montane rainforest ecoregions contain high proportions of endemic species whose populations are experiencing increasing levels of isolation and fragmentation due to habitat destruction. One of these threatened species, the rough‐nosed horned lizard (Ceratophora aspera), is distributed across the lowland rainforests of Southwestern Sri Lanka, making it a well‐suited species to understand the consequences of rainforest fragmentation on population genetic structure. We used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data to characterize genetic diversity and population structure of C. aspera across the Southwestern rainforests of Sri Lanka. Population structure and phylogenetic analyses supported the separation of populations into four forest groups that show a pattern of isolation by distance. We propose recommendations for the conservation of C. aspera that consider genetic variation, biogeographic history, and natural history. This project underscores the necessity of using holistic approaches to make well‐informed decisions for conservation of forest specialist species, especially during forest landscape restoration.
Outcomes of hepatitis C virus nucleic acid testing positive donors in aviremic recipients with delayed direct‐acting antiviral initiation
Authors: Hudson Madeline R. , Webb Allyssa R. , Logan Angela Tong , Silverman Andrew , Brueckner Andrew J.
Published: June 2021

The use of allografts from hepatitis C virus (HCV) Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT)+ donors into HCV NAT‐ recipients has been reported to be efficacious in a handful of studies. However, these studies have not reflected real‐world practice where the initiation of direct‐acting antivirals (DAA) is dependent on insurance coverage. A single‐center, retrospective chart review of HCV NAT‐ recipients who underwent solid organ transplantation (SOT) from a HCV NAT+ donor between April 1, 2019 and May 27, 2020 was conducted. Sixty‐one HCV NAT‐ patients underwent SOT with a HCV NAT+ organ, with 59 transplant recipients included for evaluation: 22 kidney (KT), 18 liver (LiT), 10 heart (HT), nine lung (LuT). HCV transmission occurred in 100% of recipients. Average time to DAA initiation was POD 46.3 ± 25 days. SVR12 was achieved in 98% (56/57; two patients ineligible for analysis). Treatment failure occurred in one LuT on glecaprevir/pibrentasvir with P32del and Q80K mutations. No patients developed fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis. Two patients died, secondary to anastomotic complication (LuT) and pulmonary embolism (HT). Clinically significant rejection was diagnosed and treated in two HT (one patient with ACR2 and one with ACR2/pAMR2) and one LiT (RAI 5/9). Six patients (10.2%) had documented adverse effects attributed to DAA therapy, primarily gastrointestinal.
Does international travel cause economic growth? Evidence from China's removal of travel restrictions on foreigners
Authors: Liu Chang , Zhou Li‐An
Published: June 2021

International travel has been hypothesized to shape large cross‐country differences in productivity and income. However, evidence supporting this hypothesis, especially from developing countries, remains scarce. This paper fills this gap by studying a novel historical natural experiment—China's removal of travel restrictions on foreigners to designated Open‐to‐Foreigners‐Counties (OFCs). Utilizing the county‐by‐county rollout of the OFCs, we find that removing travel restrictions on foreigners led to a 7.4% increase in per capita industrial output for the OFCs in 1985–1991. The positive effects are larger in counties with more foreign equipment and greater industrial human capital. We highlight the role of person‐based international knowledge diffusion in the economic catch‐up of technology recipient countries.
Molecular characterization and aggressiveness of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex from Eucalyptus spp. in Brazil
Authors: Freitas Rodrigo G. , Hermenegildo Pollyane S. , Guimarães Lúcio M. S. , Zauza Edival A. V. , Badel Jorge L. , Alfenas Acelino C.
Published: June 2021

Bacterial wilt, one of the world's most destructive diseases in many crops, including eucalypt, is caused by four distinct phylogenetic lineages of the Ralstonia solanacearum species complex, recently classified in three distinct species: R. solanacearum (phylotype II), R. pseudosolanacearum (phylotype I and III) and R. syzygii (phylotype IV). In this study, we characterized 93 Ralstonia isolates obtained from eucalypt grown in different Brazilian regions using phylotype and sequevar designations and genomic fingerprinting with BOX‐PCR. In addition, we evaluated the aggressiveness of a select group of isolates in two eucalypt clones differing in resistance. We found that 89 isolates belong to R. solanacearum (phylotype II) and four to R. pseudosolanacearum (phylotype I). Unlike R. pseudosolanacearum, R. solanacearum was phylogenetically diverse and no correlation was found between sequevar and geographic origin. Most isolates grouped with reference isolates of phylotype IIA sequevar 41, whereas a few others clustered in phylotype IIB, mainly sequevar 4NPB, which is an emergent variant described affecting eucalypt for the first time. Isolates of R. solanacearum phylotype IIB were less aggressive to clone CLR371 (susceptible) whereas the R. pseudosolanacearum isolate tested was the only one pathogenic to the CLR172 (resistant) clone. Isolate aggressiveness varied between the eucalypt clones tested. The results of this study reinforce the importance of conducting molecular and aggressiveness characterization of the pathogen population to develop management strategies aimed at the deployment of host resistance in eucalypt breeding programmes.