bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Earnings quality and crash risk in China: an integrated analysis
Authors: Wongchoti Udomsak , Tian Ge , Hao Wei , Ding Yi , Zhou Hongfeng
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The authors provide a comprehensive empirical examination on the impact of earnings quality on stock price crash risk in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors acknowledge and distinguish two-dimensional proxies for earnings quality – accounting-based (earnings management degree) and market-based (earnings transparency) known in accounting and finance literature.

Findings

The authors find that both generally indicate that better earnings quality is associated with less crashes. However, extremely high earnings transparency interacted with insider trading profit can also actually exacerbate stock price crashes.

Originality/value

This study is the first to highlight the pertinence of accounting-based measures to proxy for earnings quality in a fast-growing emerging market environment such as China.
The impact of crime on apartment prices in Hamburg, Germany
Authors: de Graaff Jan , Zietz Joachim
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of crime on apartment prices for Hamburg, Germany, for the years 2012 to 2017.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a panel data setting with fixed effects estimators and temporal lags to moderate the endogeneity concerns related to crime. The authors consider the effect of total crime, violent and property crime and some sub-categories of crime.

Findings

The estimates show that it takes two to three years for prices to react, with the longer run elasticity reaching −0.12 for total crime, −0.15 for property crime and −0.06 for violent crime. The elasticities are much larger in high-crime areas (−0.22 for total crime, −0.28 and −0.09 for property and violent crime) and elevated also in low-income areas.

Social implications

The finding that property crime matters more in terms of quantitative impact for housing values than violent crime provides reasonable grounds for rethinking the resource allocation of public spending on crime clearance and prevention in Germany. Far more emphasis on preventing property crime appears in order and especially so in the lower income or higher crime areas, which are significantly more affected by crime and in particular property crime than those in high income or low crime areas.

Originality/value

The estimates for Hamburg provide the first detailed results of the impact of crime on real estate prices in Germany. It is also the first study for Continental Europe using panel data.
Extending lean management along the supply chain: impact on efficiency
Authors: Moyano-Fuentes José , Maqueira-Marín Juan Manuel , Martínez-Jurado Pedro José , Sacristán-Díaz Macarena
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the contribution to improving the efficiency of the focal firm made by lean management at the internal and supply chain levels.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was conducted of 285 Spanish focal companies from industrial sectors that occupy an intermediate position in the supply chain. The data gathering method consisted of a telephone survey using computer-assisted telephone interviewing. A structural equation was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicate that there is an improvement in efficiency of the focal firm when lean management extends throughout the supply chain, in line with the resource-based theory and integrated supply chain management. In addition, lean management at the internal level is observed to impact positively on the focal firm's efficiency only when it contributes to enhancing the implementation of lean supply chain management.

Practical implications

To achieve the best operational performance derived from lean management, managers should pay attention to the transfer to their supply chain members of knowledge, competencies and cultural change linked to the level of internal lean implementation of the focal firm. Moreover, this paper provides a way to assess the operational aspects of lean supply chain strategy implementation and lean supply chain planning.

Originality/value

This study uses a holistic focus on lean supply chain management, to which it applies a validated instrument. It underlines that lean on the internal level should be complemented with lean on the supply chain level to provide a better understanding of the drivers of the efficiency of the focal firm.
Building blocks of instructor professional development for innovative ICT use during a pandemic
Authors: Schildkamp Kim , Wopereis Iwan , Kat-De Jong Marian , Peet Annette , Hoetjes IJsbrand
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Innovative use of information and communications technology (ICT) requires (new) knowledge and skills for the group that has the biggest impact on the quality of education: instructors. Facilitating professional development (PD) of instructors is crucial for the quality of one’s education system(s), perhaps even more so in times of a pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the authors’ analysis of reviews published in the last decade, this paper summarizes the key building blocks of effective PD on the innovative use of ICT during a pandemic. The authors used these building blocks to reflect on two national PD initiatives developed to support institutions of higher education in instructional use of ICT while dealing with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

Both PD initiatives include the same building blocks: (1) content-related building blocks focused on technological knowledge, (2) active learning and expert-supported PD (didactics-related building blocks) and (3) contextual building blocks consisting of clearly defined goals focused on the instructor's own practice, use of technology, sustained duration (e.g. taking place over a longer period of time) and evidence-informed PD. One contextual building block that was not evident in the reviews but emerged as a vital building block is “responsiveness” to the situation and needs of the participants.

Originality/value

High-quality PD is crucial if one wants to safeguard the quality of (online) instruction and learning to ensure high-quality education for all students. This paper can contribute to enhancing the quality of much-needed PD on online teaching (during, but also after COVID-19).
A technological innovation system approach to analysis knowledge spillover, the case of rotary-wing technology in Iran
Authors: Miremadi Tahereh , Baharloo Mahdi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to contribute to the debate of knowledge spillover by presenting a new application for the approach of the technological innovation system (TIS).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the evolutionary economics of the TIS approach, a new framework for knowledge spillover is built and applied to a case. To collect data in studying the case, a mix of quantitative–qualitative methods are used.

Findings

TIS approach can help build a framework to analyze knowledge spillover from defense to the civil sector. This framework shows the direct relationship between the functional dynamics of the system and the spillover mechanism..

Research limitations/implications

Sharing the same weakness as TIS, the suggested framework does not pay attention to the contextual factors.

Practical implications

This framework is an analytical tool. It could be used for educational and research purposes, but it has limited power to devise policy guidelines.

Social implications

This framework is an analytical tool. It could be used for educational and research purposes. But it has limited power to devise policy guidelines.

Originality/value

The paper deviates from the conventional literature of knowledge spillover which uses national level of system analysis. Based on TIS, it adds a new perspective to the literature which had suffered from a limited value of generalizability.
Gender and CSR decisions: perspectives from Australian boards
Authors: Rao Kathyayini Kathy , Tilt Carol
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Within the board diversity literature, the issue of gender diversity has been extensively studied, however, limited research has examined whether gender diversity at board level has any influence on corporate social responsibility (CSR) decisions. This paper aims to fill this knowledge gap and shed light on whether, and how, gender diversity influences CSR related decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 13 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with board members of Australian companies to examine their perceptions of the effect of gender diversity.

Findings

Although the findings show evidence that there is a general perception that gender diversity has the potential to influence board level decisions, this does not appear to translate to CSR decisions specifically. The results from the interviews identified that several issues and moderating factors interact with the gender-CSR relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes significantly to the body of knowledge by going beyond the plethora of quantitative analyses. The results suggest that there is much work to be done to improve governance policy and mechanisms if boards are to see the potential for gender to have a positive impact on CSR decision-making.

Originality/value

The study responds to calls for more research adopting qualitative studies, including interviews and case studies, to understand the complex interactions that take place during board decision-making. The findings provide useful insights for future research, practise and policymakers.
The impact of clans and parties on mobilizing and guiding voters in Palestine (a field study: Hebron governorate)
Authors: Temeiza Thaer Jamal
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the impact of Clans and parties on mobilizing and guiding voters in the municipal elections in Palestine, from the point of view of Municipal Council members, especially the municipal elections in Hebron governorate for 2005 and 2017. The Palestinian society in Hebron governorate is characterized by the penetration of parties and clans, and this governorate is one of the most clan-based Palestinian provinces. It also relies on clans to run its social and political system as well as managing and shaping the guiding of its citizens.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative research method was used in this study, and the study population is consisted of members of the municipal councils in Hebron governorate, especially the councils classified (A, B).Whereas, the municipalities classified under category (A) are the ones in the center of the governorate, and the municipalities classified under category (B) are the most in the population. The study depended on a purposive sample of (200) Municipal Council members, including 100 municipal councilors in 2005 and 100 municipal councilors in 2017. The survey was conducted in the academic year (2018–2019). The method Four–Jurors (Reviewers) was used in collecting data.

Findings

The results of the study showed that clans and political parties are among the most prominent means of mobilizing and guiding voters in Palestine. The field study indicated thact clans and parties had a high impact on the mobilization and guiding of voters in the municipal elections in Hebron governorate in 2005 and 2017. This is due to the unity of the clan, its association with political parties and the overlapping between the clan and the party. Parties have also penetrated the Palestinian society besides its support to people who are loyal even it did not choose them in the elections. Moreover, many members of the electoral blocs are attributing themselves to the parties to gain their support in elections. Although Hamas did not participate in the 2017 elections, it had an impact on the electoral process by guiding its members not to elect Fatah blocs in the elections, or to support those who are close to this movement.

Originality/value

This study can be regarded as an introduction to identify the impact of clans and parties on mobilizing and guiding voters in the municipal elections in Palestine. Comparing that effect between the 2005 and 2017 elections, to find out how the strength of clans and parties differs in guiding their voters depending on the time period, as well as the ability of clans and parties to make political change by its influence on the political participation of its citizens.
Does it matter where you live? Examining the impact of gender, gender egalitarianism and city context on the work–family interface
Authors: Rajadhyaksha Ujvala
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study asks the following research question: does “city” context interact with gender and gender egalitarianism (GE) to impact the positive (WFPOS – work–family positive spillover) and negative (WFC - work-family conflict) aspects of the work–family (WF) interface of working men and women in India.

Design/methodology/approach

MANCOVA analysis is used to examine data gathered from 250+ working men and women from eight different Indian cities that were ranked based on the 2018 Ease of Living (EOL) Index.

Findings

There was no significant main effect of gender on WF interface variables. Low levels of GE and low EOL were significantly associated with high levels of WFC and WFPOS. There was a significant interaction between gender, GE and city. An examination of within-gender differences indicated that in low-EOL cities, men and women with low values of GE (traditionals) had significantly higher time-based WFC than men and women with high values of GE (egalitarians). Additionally, traditional women reported higher WFPOS than egalitarian women. In high-EOL cities, traditional men reported significantly higher time-based WFC than egalitarian men. There were no significant differences between women.

Research limitations/implications

Gender, along with gender-related attitudinal and contextual variables, does a better job of explaining variance in the WF interface as compared to gender alone. Results support the notion that high WFPOS and high WFC can co-occur in contexts of change and transition such as rapidly growing urban centers.

Practical implications

The results have significance for work–family practitioners as well as urban city planners looking to improve the quality of work–life in India and other similar emerging market economies experiencing rapid urbanization.

Originality/value

The study extends work–family research by bringing aspects of urban planning and gender studies into an understanding of the work–family interface.
Conservation planning for adaptive and neutral evolutionary processes
Authors: Hanson Jeffrey O. , Marques Adam , Veríssimo Ana , Camacho‐Sanchez Miguel , Velo‐Antón Guillermo , Martínez‐Solano Íñigo , Carvalho Silvia B.
Published: July 2020

Protected area systems should ideally maintain adaptive and neutral evolutionary processes. To achieve this, plans for expanding protected area systems (prioritizations) can improve coverage of related attributes (evolutionary attributes). However, long‐standing challenges in mapping and operationalizing evolutionary attributes have prevented their widespread usage.

We outline a novel framework for incorporating evolutionary processes into conservation planning. Using three amphibian species in the Iberian Peninsula (Hyla molleri, Pelobates cultripes and Rana iberica), we mapped a comprehensive range of adaptive and neutral evolutionary attributes to delineate places containing individuals with moderate to high heterozygosity, different neutral genetic clusters, different adaptive genetic clusters and climatic refugia. We overlaid these maps with boundaries of existing protected areas to quantify representation shortfalls and generated a prioritization to identify additional priority areas. To assess the performance of conventional approaches, we also generated a prioritization using only the species' distribution data—without the evolutionary attributes.

We found that existing protected areas within the Iberian Peninsula are failing to adequately represent evolutionary attributes for the study species. Specifically, they are not adequately representing places predicted to contain individuals with moderate to high heterozygosity for any of the studied species, and neither are they adequately representing the species' potential climatic refugia. They also have poor coverage of the distinct adaptive and neutral genetic clusters that comprise each of the species' distributions. By incorporating the evolutionary attributes into the prioritization process, we identified priority areas that would address all of the shortfalls for only a minor increase in the size of the protected area system. In comparison, the prioritization generated following conventional approaches, despite encompassing a similar extent, did not substantially improve representation of the species' evolutionary attributes.

Synthesis and applications. We introduce a framework for incorporating adaptive and neutral evolutionary processes into conservation planning. This framework can reveal weaknesses in the coverage of climatic refugia, genetic diversity and potential local adaptations by existing protected areas. Moreover, it can identify priority areas to improve conservation of evolutionary processes. Since neglecting evolutionary processes can impair conservation plans, we recommend using evolutionary data to inform decision‐making where possible.
The importance of extreme rainfall events and their timing in a semi‐arid grassland
Authors: Post Alison K. , Knapp Alan K.
Published: July 2020

Climate change is intensifying the hydrologic cycle globally, increasing both the size and frequency of extreme precipitation events, or deluges. Arid and semi‐arid ecosystems are expected to be particularly responsive to this change because their ecological processes are largely driven by distinct soil moisture pulses. However, since soil moisture, air temperature and plant phenology vary throughout the growing season, deluges will likely have differing impacts on these systems depending on when they occur.

We conducted a field experiment to assess how the seasonal timing (early, middle or late growing season) of a single deluge (70‐mm precipitation event) altered key ecological processes in the semi‐arid shortgrass steppe of North America.

Regardless of timing, a single deluge stimulated most ecosystem processes, but a deluge at mid‐season caused the greatest increase in soil respiration, canopy greenness, above‐ground net primary production (ANPP) and growth and flowering of the dominant plant species Bouteloua gracilis. In contrast, below‐ground net primary production (BNPP) was insensitive to deluge timing, with a consistent BNPP increase in all the deluge treatments that was almost twice as large as the ANPP response. This BNPP response was largely driven by enhanced root production at the 10–20 cm, rather than 0–10 cm, soil depth.

Synthesis. In a semi‐arid ecosystem, a single deluge can have season‐long impacts on many ecosystem processes, but responses can be mediated by event timing. Therefore, predicting responses of semi‐arid ecosystems to more dynamic precipitation regimes, and subsequent impacts on the global carbon budget, will require knowledge of how deluge magnitude, frequency and timing are being altered by climate change.
Crisis management in times of COVID‐19: Game, set or match?
Authors: Trachsler Tara , Jong Wouter
Published: July 2020

COVID‐19 has spread around the world, and crisis teams are working full steam ahead to address its challenges. We argue that crisis teams tend to rely on procedures and responsibilities but largely underestimate the importance of the mindset of individual participants. We posit that crisis management should be regarded as an elite sport and adopt insights from that field accordingly.
Lung cancer reported as a benign lesion due to low‐dose chest computed tomography artefact: A case report
Authors: Coughlan Fionn , Saffar Bann , McWilliams Annette , Melsom Stephen
Published: July 2020

CT imaging for lung cancer screening requires low dose technique. Low dose CT chest imaging is associated with an increased risk of artefacts, such as increased noise. We present a case where an artefact from the low dose technique lead to a lung cancer being erroneously reported as a benign hamartoma.
Deep learning‐based methods for individual recognition in small birds
Authors: Ferreira André C. , Silva Liliana R. , Renna Francesco , Brandl Hanja B. , Renoult Julien P. , Farine Damien R. , Covas Rita , Doutrelant Claire
Published: July 2020

Individual identification is a crucial step to answer many questions in evolutionary biology and is mostly performed by marking animals with tags. Such methods are well‐established, but often make data collection and analyses time‐consuming, or limit the contexts in which data can be collected.

Recent computational advances, specifically deep learning, can help overcome the limitations of collecting large‐scale data across contexts. However, one of the bottlenecks preventing the application of deep learning for individual identification is the need to collect and identify hundreds to thousands of individually labelled pictures to train convolutional neural networks (CNNs).

Here we describe procedures for automating the collection of training data, generating training datasets, and training CNNs to allow identification of individual birds. We apply our procedures to three small bird species, the sociable weaver Philetairus socius, the great tit Parus major and the zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata, representing both wild and captive contexts.

We first show how the collection of individually labelled images can be automated, allowing the construction of training datasets consisting of hundreds of images per individual. Second, we describe how to train a CNN to uniquely re‐identify each individual in new images. Third, we illustrate the general applicability of CNNs for studies in animal biology by showing that trained CNNs can re‐identify individual birds in images collected in contexts that differ from the ones originally used to train the CNNs. Finally, we present a potential solution to solve the issues of new incoming individuals.

Overall, our work demonstrates the feasibility of applying state‐of‐the‐art deep learning tools for individual identification of birds, both in the laboratory and in the wild. These techniques are made possible by our approaches that allow efficient collection of training data. The ability to conduct individual recognition of birds without requiring external markers that can be visually identified by human observers represents a major advance over current methods.
How managers use culture and controls to impose a ‘996’ work regime in China that constitutes modern slavery
Authors: Wang Jenny Jing
Published: July 2020

The paper investigates how unrestricted global capitalism and a Confucian culture of hierarchy and obedience combine to create a form of modern slavery in China. The cases cited involve semi‐structured interviews with 11 managers and 19 workers working in the hospitality and manufacturing sectors. The interviews are analysed to determine how managers use controls to exploit power/distance, high levels of insecurity, and unenforced labour rights to impose harsh working conditions. Prior research has examined what mechanisms are imposed in a society that retains a Confucian legacy of obedience but not ‘how’ they are imposed in a way that constitutes a form of modern slavery.
Identifying risk factors involved in the common versus specific liabilities to substance use: A genetically informed approach
Authors: Iob Eleonora , Schoeler Tabea , Cecil Charlotte M. , Walton Esther , McQuillin Andrew , Pingault Jean‐Baptiste
Published: July 2020

Individuals most often use several rather than one substance among alcohol, cigarettes or cannabis. This widespread co‐occurring use of multiple substances is thought to stem from a common liability that is partly genetic in origin. Genetic risk may indirectly contribute to a common liability to substance use through genetically influenced mental health vulnerabilities and individual traits. To test this possibility, we used polygenic scores indexing mental health and individual traits and examined their association with the common versus specific liabilities to substance use.

We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (N = 4218) and applied trait‐state‐occasion models to delineate the common and substance‐specific factors based on four classes of substances (alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis and other illicit substances) assessed over time (ages 17, 20 and 22). We generated 18 polygenic scores indexing genetically influenced mental health vulnerabilities and individual traits. In multivariable regression, we then tested the independent contribution of selected polygenic scores to the common and substance‐specific factors.

Our results implicated several genetically influenced traits and vulnerabilities in the common liability to substance use, most notably risk taking (bstandardised = 0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.10, 0.17]), followed by extraversion (bstandardised = −0.10; 95% CI [−0.13, −0.06]), and schizophrenia risk (bstandardised = 0.06; 95% CI [0.02, 0.09]). Educational attainment (EA) and body mass index (BMI) had opposite effects on substance‐specific liabilities such as cigarette use (bstandardised‐EA = −0.15; 95% CI [−0.19, −0.12]; bstandardised‐BMI = 0.05; 95% CI [0.02, 0.09]) and alcohol use (bstandardised‐EA = 0.07; 95% CI [0.03, 0.11]; bstandardised‐BMI = −0.06; 95% CI [−0.10, −0.02]). These findings point towards largely distinct sets of genetic influences on the common versus specific liabilities.
Insect pollination of cycads
Authors: Toon Alicia , Terry L. Irene , Tang William , Walter Gimme H. , Cook Lyn G.
Published: July 2020

Most cycads have intimate associations with their insect pollinators that parallel those of well‐known flowering plants, such as sexually deceptive orchids and the male wasps and bees they deceive. Despite this, the mistaken belief that cycads are mostly wind‐pollinated is still commonly expressed. Perhaps as a consequence, cycad–pollinator systems are rarely exemplified in studies of the role of pollinators in plant evolution and diversification. Although first recognised more than a century ago, specialised associations between cycads and their insect pollinators have been elucidated experimentally only in the past few decades. This review covers the history of understanding pollination in cycads, the advances that have been made since the 1980s using field observations and experiments, and analyses of molecular data from the population to phylum level. We outline areas for future research to address how such interactions might have affected speciation and extinctions. We stress that inclusion of cycads in broader considerations of the role of pollinators in plant diversification is important because they are phylogenetically distant from flowering plants and their pollination systems might have evolved independently of one another. This review is timely because cycads are a globally threatened group that might be vulnerable to co‐extinction with pollinator loss.
Silent, underground warfare of flies: an endoparasitic bee fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae) larva parasitising a predatory assassin fly (Diptera: Asilidae) larva
Authors: Ferguson David J , Li Xuankun , Yeates David K
Published: July 2020

Assassin or robber flies (Asilidae) and bee flies (Bombyliidae) are two of the largest and most diverse fly families with over 7400 and 4700 described species worldwide, respectively. Adult assassin flies are predatory, feeding on smaller insects captured on the wing, and larvae predate on soft‐bodied arthropods in the soil or rotting wood. Adult bee flies feed on nectar and pollen. Almost all bee fly larvae are external or internal parasitoids of other insect larvae, usually in the soil. Although the interaction between bee fly larvae and their hosts has been rarely observed, we recently discovered assassin fly larvae hosting bee fly Lepidanthrax linguatus (Anthracinae: Villini) endoparasitoids in riverine sandy soil in southern NSW, Australia. While bee fly larvae have been known to attack other fly larvae, Asilidae is an uncommon host group. Furthermore, to find bee fly larvae inside the host is even less common because most bee fly larvae are ectoparasitoids. Here we describe and illustrate the host assassin fly (Bathypogon nigrinus: Bathypogoninae) larva and pupa, as well as the first instar bee fly larva (planidium) though careful external examination of the surface of the asilid larva, which is translucent, allowing us to see the internal parasite. This is the first larva and pupa from Bathypogoninae to be described. We also illustrate the bee fly larva in detail based on scanning electron microscopy of a larva in situ, after dissection from the host. Finally, we describe the late instar larval and pupal exuvia of the endoparasitoid. Like other endoparasitoid bombyliid larvae in the Villini, the first instar larva causes the host to produce a breathing tube that surrounds the posterior half of the parasitoid, allowing the parasitoid to maintain contact with atmospheric oxygen.
Dermoscopic patterns of intradermal naevi
Authors: Greco Vincenzo , Cappello Milena , Megna Matteo , Costa Claudia , Villani Alessia , Fabbrocini Gabriella , Marino Vincenzo , Scalvenzi Massimiliano
Published: July 2020

Background

Intradermal naevi represent a benign histopathological variant of common melanocytic naevi. Studies describing dermoscopic criteria of dermal naevi are very limited.

Objectives

To identify dermoscopic features of dermal naevi in order to facilitate differential diagnosis from malignant lesions.

Methods

A 15‐year retrospective study was performed to evaluate the dermoscopic characteristics of 202 dermal naevi, histopathologically diagnosed through the analysis of digital dermoscopic images performed with polarised light dermoscopy. For each lesion, vascular pattern, pigment pattern and other dermoscopic clues were evaluated.

Results

147 Unna naevi and 55 Miescher naevi were included in the study. Brown pigment (37.1%) was the pigment pattern most frequently observed in both Unna and Miescher naevi, followed by cobblestone pattern (30.6%) in Unna naevi and white areas (23.6%) and dotted/globule pattern (20%) in Miescher naevi. As regards the vascular patterns, the polymorphic one was the most frequently observed (34.6%). The combination between comma‐shaped and arborising vessels was the most common among all naevi.

Conclusions

Our study describes the dermoscopic features of dermal naevi that may help to differentiate them from malignant lesions such as basal cell carcinoma, amelanotic melanoma and Spitz naevi.
Antiphospholipid antibodies and extracellular vesicles in pregnancy
Authors: Tong Mancy , Tsai Bridget W. , Chamley Lawrence W.
Published: July 2020

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are autoantibodies that target phospholipid‐binding proteins, such as β2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI), and can induce thrombosis systemically, as well as increase the risk of obstetric complications such as recurrent miscarriage and preeclampsia. Due to the expression of β2GPI by placental trophoblasts, aPL readily target the maternal‐fetal interface during pregnancy and many studies have investigated the deleterious effects of aPL on placental trophoblast function. This review will focus on studies that have examined the effects of aPL on the production and modification of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from trophoblasts, as EVs are a key mode of feto‐maternal communication in both normal and pathological pregnancy. A more comprehensive understanding of the effects of aPL on the quantity and cargo of EVs extruded by the human placenta may contribute to our current knowledge of how aPL induce both systemic and obstetric disease.
Experimental models of glaucoma filtration surgery
Authors: Chong Rachel S , Crowston Jonathan G , Wong Tina T
Published: July 2020

Glaucoma filtration surgery plays an important role in achieving intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction in patients who have high IOP despite maximum medical therapy. Preclinical experimental models of glaucoma filtration surgery contribute a great deal to our knowledge of the wound healing processes that predispose to scarring and may lead to poor outcomes. However, this research needs to be interpreted in the light of the specific study design, animal model and methods used. We review the existing literature addressing various models of experimental glaucoma filtration surgery, discuss the considerations in assessing these models and describe future steps in evaluating potential therapeutics and bleb characteristics that could impact translational research in this field.
Print versus digital reading comprehension tests: does the congruency of study and test medium matter?
Authors: Ben‐Yehudah Gal , Eshet‐Alkalai Yoram
Published: July 2020

The use of digital environments for both learning and assessment is becoming prevalent. This often leads to incongruent situations, in which the study medium (eg, printed textbook) is different from the testing medium (eg, online multiple‐choice exams). Despite some evidence that incongruent study‐test situations are associated with inferior achievements, the effect of study‐test congruency has not been investigated systematically. Here, we examine this question in the context of digitally displayed versus printed text comprehension using a full‐factorial experimental design. One hundred and twelve university students participated in the study. They studied an expository text in one medium (print or digital) and then, comprehension was assessed in either the same (congruent) or the different (incongruent) medium. No significant differences in performance were found between the congruent and incongruent study‐test conditions. However, consistent with findings reported in the literature, comprehension of the digital text was inferior to that of the printed text. Results show that this screen inferiority occurred irrespective of the testing medium. These findings suggest that studying in one medium and taking the test in another does not affect comprehension, but the medium in which one studies does influence test outcomes.
Riemannian Newton and trust‐region algorithms for analytic rotation in exploratory factor analysis
Authors: Liu Yang
Published: July 2020

In exploratory factor analysis, latent factors and factor loadings are seldom interpretable until analytic rotation is performed. Typically, the rotation problem is solved by numerically searching for an element in the manifold of orthogonal or oblique rotation matrices such that the rotated factor loadings minimize a pre‐specified complexity function. The widely used gradient projection (GP) algorithm, although simple to program and able to deal with both orthogonal and oblique rotation, is found to suffer from slow convergence when the number of manifest variables and/or the number of latent factors is large. The present work examines the effectiveness of two Riemannian second‐order algorithms, which respectively generalize the well‐established truncated Newton and trust‐region strategies for unconstrained optimization in Euclidean spaces, in solving the rotation problem. When approaching a local minimum, the second‐order algorithms usually converge superlinearly or even quadratically, better than first‐order algorithms that only converge linearly. It is further observed in Monte Carlo studies that, compared to the GP algorithm, the Riemannian truncated Newton and trust‐region algorithms require not only much fewer iterations but also much less processing time to meet the same convergence criterion, especially in the case of oblique rotation.
Pediatric meningioma: a clinicopathologic and molecular study with potential grading implications
Authors: Toland Angus , McNulty Samantha N. , Pekmezci Melike , Evenson Michael , Huntoon Kristin , Pierson Christopher R. , Boue Daniel R. , Perry Arie , Dahiya Sonika
Published: July 2020

Meningiomas are common in adults (~35% of brain tumors) but rare in children, where they exhibit unique clinical, pathological and molecular features compared to adult counterparts. Thus, data generated from adult cohorts may be imperfectly suited to guiding diagnostic, prognostic and treatment decisions for children. We studied 50 meningioma patients ≤18 years with available clinical and pathological data to address the need for data obtained in the pediatric setting. As previously described, we noted a slight bias toward male patients and a higher proportion of spinal tumors compared to adults. Thirty‐eight of 50 specimens were further analyzed by next generation sequencing. Loss‐of‐function mutations in NF2 and chromosome 22 losses were common, but pathogenic variants in other genes (SMARCB1, FUBP1, BRAF, TERT promoter, CHEK2, SMAD and GATA3) were identified in a minority of cases. Copy number variants outside of chromosomes 22 and 1 were infrequent. H3K27 hypomethylation, a useful biomarker in adult tumors, was not found in our cohort. In exploring the correlation between mitotic count and recurrence‐free survival, we found a threshold of six mitoses per 10 high powered fields as the optimal cutoff in predicting recurrence‐free survival. If independently validated in larger studies, adjusted grading thresholds could enhance the clinical management of pediatric meningiomas.
Sleep health practices and sleep knowledge among healthcare professionals in Dutch paediatric rehabilitation
Authors: Hulst Raquel Y. , Pillen Sigrid , Voorman Jeanine M. , Rave Neele , Visser‐Meily Johanna M.A. , Verschuren Olaf
Published: July 2020

Background

Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in children with neurodisabilities, yet they seem under‐recognized in paediatric rehabilitation settings. The aim of this study was to assess among two groups of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working in paediatric rehabilitation: (1) sleep health practices and (2) knowledge about sleep physiology, sleep disorders and sleep hygiene.

Methods

We performed a cross‐sectional sleep survey among medical and non‐medical HCPs and the general population. Participants (30 rehabilitation physicians [RPs], 54 allied health professionals [AHPs] and 63 controls) received an anonymous 30‐item survey consisting of three domains: (1) general information, (2) application of sleep health practices and (3) sleep knowledge.

Results

RPs address sleep issues more frequently in clinical practice than AHPs. Sleep interventions mostly consist of giving advice about healthy sleep practices and are given by the majority of HCPs. While RPs demonstrated the highest scores on all knowledge domains, total sleep knowledge scores did not exceed 50% correct across groups, with AHPs and controls showing equal scores. Sleep hygiene rules closest to bedtime and related to the sleep environment were best known, whereas those related to daytime practices were rarely mentioned across all groups. A small minority of HCPs (RPs 20%; AHPs 15%) believed to possess sufficient sleep knowledge to address sleep in clinical practice. No association was found between self‐perceived knowledge and sleep knowledge scores among HCPs.

Conclusions

Sleep should become a standard item for review during routine health assessments in paediatric rehabilitation settings. HCPs' limited exposure to sleep education may result in feelings of incompetence and inadequate sleep knowledge levels, affecting their sleep health practices. Appropriate sleep training programs should be implemented to empower HCPs with knowledge, skills and confidence, needed to recognize and treat sleep disorders in children with neurodisabilities, as well as to be able to guide parents.
Children’s Beliefs About Possibility Differ Across Dreams, Stories, and Reality
Authors: Goulding Brandon W. , Friedman Ori
Published: July 2020

Are children’s judgments about what can happen in dreams and stories constrained by their beliefs about reality? This question was explored across three experiments, in which four hundred and sixty‐nine 4‐ to 7‐year‐olds judged whether improbable and impossible events could occur in a dream, a story, or reality. In Experiment 1, children judged events more possible in dreams than in reality. In Experiment 2, children also judged events more possible in dreams than in stories. Both experiments also suggested that children’s beliefs about reality constrain their judgments about dreams and stories. Finally, in Experiment 3 children were asked about impossible events more typical of dreams and stories. In contrast with the other experiments, children now affirmed the events could happen in these worlds.
Teledermatology in the times of COVID‐19 – a systematic review
Authors: Elsner Peter
Published: July 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic restricts the care of dermatological patients in many ways. Teledermatology such as video consultation or “store‐and‐forward” teledermatology could at least partly compensate for this. This systematic review summarizes all published studies on teledermatology during the COVID‐19 pandemic. It is based on a MEDLINE search for articles from 2020 in English and German.

Two surveys among dermatologists from the USA and India showed that more than 80 % offered teledermatology. Among German dermatologists 17.5 % of 480 respondents offered online video consultation, 11.3 % offline consultation (store and forward) and 10.0 % both. Five cohort studies on teledermatology during the pandemic were identified. Three of them investigated teledermatology in chronic dermatoses (acne, inflammatory skin diseases), one dealt with the care of oncological patients with dermatological complications, and one analyzed teleconsultation in suspected COVID‐19 cases. In all studies, teledermatology largely reduced the number of personal consultations.

The results indicate that the limitations of personal dermatological care of patients with skin diseases during the COVID‐19 pandemic can be at least partially compensated by an extension of teledermatology. Findings from the use of teledermatology during the pandemic should be employed to improve the use and acceptance of teledermatology by patients and dermatologists.
Weight gain and metabolic screening in young people with early psychosis on long acting injectable antipsychotic medication (aripiprazole vs paliperidone)
Authors: Shymko Gordon , Grace Terina , Jolly Nicole , Dobson Louise , Hacking Daniel , Parmar Arti , Kapi Puanna , Waters Flavie
Published: July 2020

Aim

Long‐acting injectable (LAI)antipsychotics are often used in psychosis to assist with medication compliance and relapse prevention, although the weight gain and metabolic effects in young people are yet to be examined. This study examined the long‐term effects of aripiprazole and paliperidone in LAI formulation on weight gain and metabolic parameters in young people with early episode psychosis.

Methods

Weight gain and other metabolic effects of aripiprazole and paliperidone in LAI formulation were examined in 59 young people with early episode psychosis over a 12‐month period. Changes in outcome measurements were examined at baseline and 3 monthly intervals.

Results

The results showed that both aripiprazole and paliperidone were associated with time‐dependent increases in weight. At 12 months, weight increased by an average of 7% (6 kg) with both aripiprazole and paliperidone relative to the baseline, and the percentage of overweight or obese people increased from 33% to 60%. There was no advantage of aripiprazole compared to paliperidone with regards to weight change, although aripiprazole was associated with lower triglycerides and prolactin levels.

Conclusions

Both LAI medications were associated with substantial weight increases over time. These results build on emerging evidence showing that aripiprazole is not weight neutral in young people. Our recommendation is that weight‐management programs should be offered from the start of medication initiation.
An insula‐driven network computes decision uncertainty and promotes abstinence in chronic cocaine users
Authors: Yu Ju‐Chi , Fiore Vincenzo G. , Briggs Richard W. , Braud Jacquelyn , Rubia Katya , Adinoff Bryon , Gu Xiaosi
Published: July 2020

The anterior insular cortex (AIC) and its interconnected brain regions have been associated with both addiction and decision‐making under uncertainty. However, the causal interactions in this uncertainty‐encoding neurocircuitry and how these neural dynamics impact relapse remain elusive. Here, we used model‐based fMRI to measure choice uncertainty in a motor decision task in 61 individuals with cocaine use disorder (CUD) and 25 healthy controls. CUD participants were assessed before discharge from a residential treatment program and followed for up to 24 weeks. We found that choice uncertainty was tracked by the AIC, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and ventral striatum (VS), across participants. Stronger activations in these regions measured pre‐discharge predicted longer abstinence after discharge in individuals with CUD. Dynamic causal modeling revealed an AIC‐to‐dACC‐directed connectivity modulated by uncertainty in controls, but a dACC‐to‐AIC connectivity in CUD participants. This reversal was mostly driven by early relapsers (<30 days). Furthermore, CUD individuals who displayed a stronger AIC‐to‐dACC excitatory connection during uncertainty encoding remained abstinent for longer periods. These findings reveal a critical role of an AIC‐driven, uncertainty‐encoding neurocircuitry in protecting against relapse and promoting abstinence.
Effects of posture, side and dominant hand on calf circumference measurement in community‐dwelling older adults
Authors: Jeong Eunjin , Kim Miji , Won Chang Won
Published: July 2020

Aim

Calf circumference (CC) measurement has been used for assessing skeletal muscle mass and for screening sarcopenia. However, there is no gold standard method for CC assessment.

Methods

We analyzed 1439 participants (mean age 75.9 ± 3.8 years, 47.7% men) from the 2017 baseline survey of the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. CC was measured, using a tape, on both sides in standing and sitting positions. For sarcopenia, the diagnostic criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 was used.

Results

The mean of CC on the left side (Lt.CC) was smaller than that on the right side (Rt.CC) in standing (Rt.CC 33.82 cm, Lt.CC 33.76 cm, P = 0.006) and sitting (Rt.CC 34.29 cm, Lt.CC 34.21 cm, P = 0.005) positions. The Lt.CC of right‐handers, regardless of posture, was smaller than Rt.CC (standing: Rt.CC 33.83 cm, Lt.CC 33.76 cm, P = 0.006; sitting: Rt.CC 34.28 cm, Lt.CC 34.21 cm, P = 0.006). The Lt.CC of left‐handers was non‐significantly smaller than Rt.CC (standing: Rt.CC 33.77 cm, Lt.CC 33.75 cm, P = 0.896; sitting: Rt.CC 34.35 cm, Lt.CC 34.28 cm, P = 0.527). In the results of receiver operating characteristic analysis of CC for diagnosing sarcopenia based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019, Rt.CC in the standing posture showed the largest area under the curve (standing: Rt.CC 0.716, Lt.CC 0.714; sitting: Rt.CC 0.707, Lt.CC 0.703).

Conclusions

Our study shows that CC measurement on either side in the standing posture, regardless of the dominant hand, can be used as an optimal method for screening sarcopenia in community‐dwelling older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 822–827.