bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the analysis of online product reviews to support product improvement: integrating text mining with quality function deployment
Authors: Asadabadi Mehdi Rajabi , Saberi Morteza , Sadghiani Nima Salehi , Zwikael Ofer , Chang Elizabeth
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop an effective approach to support and guide production improvement processes utilising online product reviews.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper combines two methods: (1) natural language processing (NLP) to support advanced text mining to increase the accuracy of information extracted from product reviews and (2) quality function deployment (QFD) to utilise the extracted information to guide the product improvement process.

Findings

The paper proposes an approach to automate the process of obtaining voice of the customer (VOC) by performing text mining on available online product reviews while considering key factors such as the time of review and review usefulness. The paper enhances quality management processes in organisations and advances the literature on customer-oriented product improvement processes.

Originality/value

Online product reviews are a valuable source of information for companies to capture the true VOC. VOC is then commonly used by companies as the main input for QFD to enhance quality management and product improvement. However, this process requires considerable time, during which VOC may change, which may negatively impact the output of QFD. This paper addresses this challenge by providing an improved approach.
Education and environmental sustainability: culture matters
Authors: Komatsu Hikaru , Silova Iveta , Rappleye Jeremy
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Humans remain unsuccessful in their attempts to achieve environmental sustainability, despite decades of scientific awareness and political efforts toward that end. This paper suggests a fresh conceptualization, one that focuses on education, offers a fuller explanation for our lack of success and calls attention to alternatives.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first critically review mainstream approaches that have been used to achieve environmental sustainability, then introduce an alternative that the authors call the cultural approach. The authors finally discuss how educational research should be re-articulated based on the cultural approach.

Findings

The authors identified three mainstream approaches – the technological, cognitive approach and behaviorist – all of which function to reproduce modern mainstream culture. In contrast, the cultural approach assumes modern mainstream culture as the root cause of environmental unsustainability and aims to rearticulate it. To elaborate a cultural approach, the authors recommend education scholars to (1) bring attention to the role of culture in sustainability and (2) identify education practices that are potentially useful for enacting a cultural shift, primarily developing richer synergies between qualitative and quantitative research.

Originality/value

Unlike many previous studies in the field of education, the authors’ account highlights how current mainstream approaches used for current global education policymaking often merely reproduces modern mainstream culture and accelerates the environmental crisis. It thus proposes to redirect educational research for a cultural shift, one that allows human society to move beyond the comforting rhetoric of sustainability and face the survivability imperative.
Factors affecting e-government adoption in the UAE public sector organisations: the knowledge management perspective
Authors: Al Sayegh Ahmed Juma , Ahmad Syed Zamberi , AlFaqeeh Khadeeja Mohsen , Singh Sanjay Kumar
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate factors that influence e-government adoption among public sector departments with the view to determine how such factors may be used to better facilitate e-government adoption across United Arab Emirates (UAE) public sectors. The use of e-government is advocated for the central government in the UAE.

Design/methodology/approach

Using random sampling, a total of 172 participants from ten departments and organisations in Dubai and Sharjah completed the online survey for this pilot study.

Findings

The authors found that performance expectancy and facilitating conditions have positive effects on e-government adoption. Furthermore, this study revealed the factors that encourage more e-government adoption between government organisations in the UAE. This study reveals three facilitating conditions may encourage e-government adoption in UAE public sector organisations when short- and long-term performances have positive effects on e-government usage.

Practical implications

This study provides middle managers clarity on factors that would influence government-to-government (G2G) uptake in more government organisations across the country. For uniformity and consistency, middle managers are now better informed as a result of this study to determine how best to use the six factors to motivate subordinates for more effective G2G.

Originality/value

The scope and results of this study is a contribution to e-government studies because it identifies the factors that positively influence G2G adoption. This scope exceeds the studies by Chanet al.(2021) and Habibet al.(2020) which focuses on the use of e-government for citizens or the public. This study focuses on the use of e-government within the government and between government departments.
Auditing ethics and corruption: οld challenges and new trends for Supreme audit institutions in turbulent times
Authors: Kontogeorga Georgia , Papapanagiotou Anna
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how Supreme audit institutions (SAIs) address the issue of auditing ethical cases and, more specifically, to research whether the organizational structure of an SAI affects the variables of “corruption” and “trust in government.”

Design/methodology/approach

The authors categorized SAIs into two groups depending on their organizational structure according to two divergent philosophies: the court (French) and Anglo-Saxon models. These reflect the presidential and parliamentary systems, respectively. Given the lack of a common definition for these concepts, the authors tested their results using several indexes for corruption by examining OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Member countries between 2015 and 2019.

Findings

The authors’ research showed that SAIs organized according to the Anglo-Saxon philosophy achieved better scores than judicial SAIs for all indexes, and the difference was statistically significant. This result confirms the results of previous studies; however, one single common SAI model worldwide is not necessarily the optimal solution for fighting corruption.

Originality/value

The topic of this paper is a challenging and promising one for scholars and practitioners alike, as it combines a review of SAIs' community practices with academic research by expanding the scant literature in this field.
Acquiring supply chain agility through information technology capability: the role of demand forecasting in retail industry
Authors: Bai Bingfeng
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Despite the importance of demand forecasting in retail industry, its influence on supply chain agility has not been sufficiently examined. From a total information technology (IT) capability perspective, the purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedent of supply chain agility through retail demand forecasting.

Design/methodology/approach

Combining the literature reviews, the quantitative method of algorithm analysis was targeted at, and the firm data were processed on MATLAB.

Findings

This paper summarizes IT dimensions of demand forecasting in retail industry and distinguishes the relationship of supply chain agility and demand forecasting from an IT capability view.

Practical implications

Managers can derive a better understanding and measurement of operating activities that appropriately balance among supply chain agility, IT capability and demand forecast practice. Demand forecasting should be integrated into the firm operations to determine the agility level of supply chain in marketplace.

Originality/value

This paper constructs new theoretical grounds for research into the relationship of demand forecasting-supply chain agility and provides an empirical assessment of the essential components for the means to prioritize IT-supply chain.
The relationship between emotional intelligence, transformational leadership, and performance: a test of the mediating role of job satisfaction
Authors: Alwali Joather , Alwali Wafaa
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This paper examines the effect of job satisfaction on job performance among physicians in Iraq's public hospitals. It also determines the mediating role of job satisfaction on the relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance. It further unveils the mediating role of job satisfaction on the nexus between transformational leadership and job performance. As physicians form the bulk of health-care professionals, their performance at work is crucial in determining patient satisfaction regarding care quality.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach with structural equation modelling via partial least squares (PLS-SEM) and bootstrapping estimation was used to test the hypotheses developed. A total of 157 responses were utilized in the data analysis.

Findings

Evidence from the study indicates that job satisfaction has a positive relationship with job performance. The study also provides evidence that job satisfaction plays a positive mediating role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance. Similarly, job satisfaction has a positive mediating effect on the nexus between transformational leadership and job performance among physicians in Iraq's public hospitals.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationship between physician job satisfaction and job performance in Iraqi public hospitals. Studies using Eastern samples are scarce, so the findings of this study will add to the body of knowledge from a cross-cultural standpoint.
How does an investor prioritize ESG factors in India? An assessment based on fuzzy AHP
Authors: Sood Kirti , Pathak Prachi , Jain Jinesh , Gupta Sanjay
Published: August 2022

Purpose

The primary objective of the study is to discover the most prominent criteria and sub-criteria among environmental issues, social dimensions and corporate governance factors that may impact individual equity investors' investment decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study collected data from 438 individual equity investors from the North Indian region. To achieve the objectives of the study, a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy AHP) was applied. The key considerations of the study were environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.

Findings

The governance criterion was discovered to be the most significant factor influencing individual equity investors' investment decisions among the three ESG factors, followed by environmental criteria, while social criteria were shown to be the least influential.

Research limitations/implications

The present study solely looked at ESG issues as drivers of stock investors' investment decisions. In the current world, however, many other factors, including behavioral biases, accounting information, ownership structure and fundamental analysis, can have a substantial influence on investors' investment decisions.

Practical implications

The study's findings widen the theoretical contribution in the field of responsible investment by asserting how ESG factors influence investors' investment decisions in the equity market. From a practical standpoint, this study applies to retail and institutional investors, portfolio managers, financial advisors, market regulators, corporations and society at large.

Originality/value

To the best of authors knowledge, no attempt has been made to prioritize the ESG issues that impact the investment decisions of individual equity investors. Ergo, this study contributes to the existing literature on socially responsible investment.
Spillover effects of customer distress on supplier investment policies
Authors: Rainville Megan
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Previous research found that customer financial distress can spillover to supplier firm decisions. The aim of this paper is to examine the investment decisions of suppliers of financially distressed customers.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a US sample of customer-supplier relationships from Compustat Segments between 1980 and 2017. The author uses a linear probability model in the baseline regression analysis. To ensure robustness, a logit regression model and an instrumental variable estimation approach are used, instrumenting for distress at the customer level using a negative shock to customer industry demand.

Findings

This study finds suppliers are more likely to reduce their investment in Capex when a customer is financially distressed. Supplier investment efficiency does not improve when a customer is financially distressed as suppliers with a greater likelihood of under-investment reduce their investment, while suppliers with a greater likelihood of over-investment increase their investment. The effect of customer distress on supplier investment decisions is more pronounced for suppliers of economically distressed customers.

Originality/value

This paper examines how suppliers adjust their investment in response to customer distress, providing an additional channel through which customer distress affects suppliers. Overall, this study finds an important real implication of financial distress in the buyer-supplier relationship.
Identifying the characteristics of excellent peer reviewers by using Publons
Authors: Huang Zhihong , Zong Qianjin
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the characteristics of excellent peer reviewers by using Publons.com (an open and free online peer review website).

Design/methodology/approach

Reviewers of the clinical medicine field on Publons were selected as the sample (n = 1,864). A logistic regression model was employed to examine the data.

Findings

The results revealed that reviewers' verified reviews, verified editor records, and whether they were the Publons mentors had significant and positive associations with excellent peer reviewers, while their research performance (including the number of articles indexed by Web of Science (WOS), citations, H-index and high-cited researcher), genders, words per review, number of current/past editorial boards, whether they had experiences of post-publication review on Publons and whether they were Publons academy graduates had no significant associations with excellent peer reviewers.

Originality/value

This study could help journals find excellent peer reviewers from free and open online platforms.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at:https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-11-2021-0604.
A new multiobjective optimization adaptive layering algorithm for 3D printing based on demand-oriented
Authors: Wang Xiaoqi , Cao Jianfu , Cao Ye
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Adaptive slicing is a key step in 3D printing as it is closely related to the building time and the surface quality. This study aims to develop an adaptive layering algorithm that can coordinate the optimization of printing quality and efficiency to meet different printing needs.

Design/methodology/approach

A multiobjective optimization model is established for printing quality, printing time and layer height based on the variation of surface features, profile slope and curvature of the model. The optimal solution is found by an improved method combining Newton's method and gradient method and adapts to different printing requirements by adjusting the parameter thresholds.

Findings

Several benchmarks are applied to verify this new method. The proposed method has also been compared with the uniform layering method, it reduces the volume error by 46.4% and shortens the printing time by 28.1% and is compared with five existing adaptive layering methods to demonstrate its superior performance.

Originality/value

Compared with other methods with only one layered result, this method is a demand-oriented algorithm that can obtain different results according to different needs and it can reach a trade-off between the building time and the surface quality.
Implications for tourism management of including uncertainty in the estimation of the economic impact of sports events
Authors: Salgado Barandela Jesyca , Barajas Angel , Sanchez-Fernandez Patricio
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Studies that measure the economic impact of events usually disclose deterministic results. This situation implies a methodological problem that compromises the veracity of the estimates. This aspect is particularly relevant in the field of sports tourism. For these reasons, this study aims to empirically analyse the estimate of the initial injection of money from sporting events considering uncertainty, and show its variability.

Design/methodology/approach

Using surveys from five sporting events, a database with a total of 2,902 responses is analysed. With these cases as illustration to show the problem, the initial injection of money from the events is estimated. To include the uncertainty derived from the use of data gathered in the surveys, the confidence intervals are obtained using bootstrap.

Findings

The authors find remarkable differences between the current study’s results and deterministic results. In general, except for one of the events studied, the adverse possible scenario of being in the lower limit is higher than the more positive possible scenario. Moreover, in some cases, the lower limit is around one-third of the average or higher. It can imply an important cut in the expected impact. The results obtained allow us to show the differences between deterministic studies and those which include uncertainty.

Originality/value

The work presents prominent implications. Empirically, the inclusion of uncertainty in economic impact studies provides greater reliability to the results, defeating the idea of deterministic estimates. Managerially, working only with deterministic results limits the decision-making capacity of managers, and speculation increases in impact studies.
A scheduling strategy for a new energy highway integrated network with clean green energy synergy
Authors: Ji Li , Zhang Yiwei , Shi Ruifeng , Jia Limin , Zhang Xin
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Green energy as a transportation supply trend is irreversible. In this paper, a highway energy supply system (HESS) evolution model is proposed to provide highway transportation vehicles and service facilities with a clean electricity supply and form a new model of a source-grid-load-storage-charge synergistic highway-PV-WT integrated system (HPWIS). This paper aims to improve the flexibility index of highways and increase CO2 emission reduction of highways.

Design/methodology/approach

To maximize the integration potential, a new energy-generation, storage and information-integration station is established with a dynamic master–slave game model. The flexibility index is defined to evaluate the system ability to manage random fluctuations in power generation and load levels. Moreover, CO2 emission reduction is also quantified. Finally, the Lianhuo Expressway is taken as an example to calculate emission reduction and flexibility.

Findings

The results show that through the application of the scheduling strategy to the HPWIS, the flexibility index of the Lianhuo Expressway increased by 29.17%, promoting a corresponding decrease in CO2 emissions.

Originality/value

This paper proposed a new model to capture the evolution of the HESS, which provides highway transportation vehicles and service facilities with a clean electricity supply and achieves energy transfer aided by an energy storage system, thus forming a new model of a transportation energy system with source-grid-load-storage-charge synergy. An evaluation method is proposed to improve the air quality index through the coordination of new energy generation and environmental conditions, and dynamic configuration and dispatch are achieved with the master–slave game model.
Hepatitis C virus, insulin resistance, and diabetes: A review
Authors: Alzahrani Nabeel
Published: August 2022

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and diabetes mellitus (DM) are two chronic diseases that are a cause of significant health and economic burdens worldwide. HCV is associated with the development of insulin resistance (IR) and DM. The mechanisms through which HCV induces IR and DM include direct viral effects, proinflammatory cytokines, and other immune‐mediated processes. Type 1 DM (T1DM) and type 2 DM (T2DM) are both chronic diseases that involve impaired glucose homeostasis, albeit through different mechanisms. T1DM is an autoimmune disease that leads to the destruction of pancreatic beta cells resulting in insulin deficiency. In T2DM, a combination of peripheral IR and irregular production of insulin eventually leads to beta‐cell destruction and insulin insufficiency. Both T1DM and T2DM etiologies involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The data on HCV and T1DM association remain limited, unlike T2DM, where a large body of evidence linking HCV to T2DM is available. Here, we intend to outline the current state of knowledge on HCV, IR, and DM.
Effect of radio frequency, ultrasound, microwave‐assisted papain, and alcalase hydrolysis on the structure, antioxidant activity, and peptidomic profile of Rosa roxburghii Tratt. seed protein
Authors: Yin Hao , Jiang Yongli , Zhou Xuefu , Zhong Yu , Wang Danfeng , Deng Yun , Xue Haoyan
Published: August 2022

Traditional enzymatic hydrolysis methods have defects such as low efficiency and poor bioactivity in the production of active peptides. In this study, radio frequency (RF) technology was innovatively used to assist the hydrolysis of Rosa roxburghii Tratt. seed protein (RTSP) by papain and alcalase. RF‐assisted hydrolysis was compared with ultrasound‐(US) and microwave (MW)‐assisted techniques in terms of the degree of hydrolysis, structure, antioxidant properties, and changes in the peptidome of the hydrolysates to clarify the mechanism of functional change of physically‐assisted hydrolysate. All three methods improved hydrolysis efficiency. The degree of hydrolysis (DH) of papain group increased from 6.38% to 7.97%, 9.97% and 8.37% after US‐, MW‐ and RF‐assisted hydrolysis, respectively, while the DH of alcalase‐treated group increased from 21.13% to 25.66%, 26.03%, and 23.01%, respectively. The in vitro antioxidant capacity and intracellular antioxidant capacity of RTSP and its hydrolysates were measured and evaluated by fuzzy statistical evaluation, and MW‐assisted alcalase hydrolysis had the highest in vitro and intracellular antioxidant activity scores of 0.713 and 0.820, respectively. Fourier transform infrared and amino acid composition analysis explained the enhanced antioxidant properties of the hydrolysates. Further peptide profiling showed the physical assistance led to an increase in the species and contents of small molecule antioxidant peptides compared to enzyme treatment alone. Pearson's linear correlation analysis showed that AY, LY, IY, PHW, SVL, LHL, YYV, VYY, and NHAV were significantly correlated with the antioxidant properties of hydrolysates. Our data suggested that physical assistance such as US, MW, and RF were effective to improve the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis and produce novel antioxidant peptides.

Practical Application

In this study, it was found that electromagnetic wave‐assisted enzymatic hydrolysis could improve the efficiency of hydrolysis and enhance the antioxidant activity of hydrolysates compared to unassisted means. Compared with MW treatment, RF has the comparable hydrolysis effect, but has the advantages of high penetration ability, good uniformity, and low energy consumption and has greater potential for the production of bioactive peptides.
A genome–proteome‐based approach for xylan degradation by Cohnella sp. AR92
Authors: Pisa José Horacio , Hero Johan Sebastian , Romero Héctor Gabriel , Martínez María Alejandra
Published: August 2022

Several members of Cohnella genus have been reported as xylanolytic bacteria with significant capacity as carbohydrate‐active enzyme producers (CAZymes), whose mechanisms involving xylan degradation are a key goal for suitable applications in bio‐based industries. Using Cohnella sp. AR92 bacterium, we ensembled a genomic–proteomic approach to assess plant biomass conversion targeting its xylanolytic set of enzymes. Also, the genomic traits of the strain AR92 were compared to other Cohnella spp., showing a significant variability in terms of genome sizes and content of genes that code CAZymes. The AR92 strain genome harbours 209 CAZymes encoding sequences active on different polysaccharides, particularly directed towards xylans. Concurrent proteomic data recovered from cultures containing three kinds of lignocellulosic‐derived substrates showed a broad set of xylan‐degrading enzymes. The most abundant CAZymes expressed in the different conditions assayed were endo‐β‐1,4‐xylanases belonging to the GH11 and GH10 families, enzymes that were previously proved to be useful in the biotransformation of lignocellulosic biomass derived from sugarcane as well as onto xylan‐enriched substrates. Therefore, considering the large reserve of CAZymes of Cohnella sp. AR92, a xylan processing model for AR92 strain is proposed.
Abnormal resting‐state effective connectivity in reward network among long‐term male smokers
Authors: Zhang Mengzhe , Gao Xinyu , Yang Zhengui , Han Shaoqiang , Zhou Bingqian , Niu Xiaoyu , Wang Weijian , Wei Yarui , Cheng Jingliang , Zhang Yong
Published: August 2022

Background

Tobacco addiction is a chronic, relapsing mental disorder characterized by compulsive tobacco seeking and smoking. Current evidence shows that tobacco addiction exerts their initial reinforcing effects by activating reward circuits in the brain, but the causal connectivity among reward circuits is still unclear. Therefore, it is vital to understand how the reward network works to lead to the compulsive smoking behaviour.

Method

We applied dynamic causal modelling (DCM) to resting‐state functional magnetic resonance (rs‐fMRI) to characterize changes in effective connectivity (EC) among eight major hubs from reward network between 76 long‐term male smokers and 55 nonsmoking volunteers (matched with age, gender and education).

Results

Relative to the healthy controls, long‐term smokers had stronger ECs from the right anterior insula to left ventral striatum, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) to ventral tegmental area (VTA), PCC to left anterior insula, left anterior insula to VTA, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) to PCC and weaker ECs from the VTA to left ventral striatum, right anterior insula to right ventral striatum, and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) to right anterior insula.

Conclusions

Overall, our findings revealed disrupted neural causal interactions among parts of the reward network associated with tobacco addiction, expanding the growing evidence for the potential neurobiological mechanisms of tobacco addiction. We found abnormalities within the mesocorticolimbic system and a top‐down regulation disorder in the dopamine‐dependent process of response inhibition and salience attribution among long‐term smokers, which may facilitate the development of effective therapies in tobacco addiction.
Adoption patterns and productivity impacts of agricultural mechanization services
Authors: Lu Qinan , Du Xiaodong , Qiu Huanguang
Published: August 2022

Agricultural mechanization services (AMS) have emerged as a viable and effective solution for helping farmers gain access to machinery equipment in developing countries. This study investigates the simultaneous decision‐making regarding multiple mechanization services and the causal impacts of the AMS on land productivity among Chinese smallholders. We find that: (i) The ratio of off‐farm wage to AMS price, or the wage‐rent ratio, has a significant positive effect on AMS adoption; the sequential adoption of AMS starts with power‐intensive followed by control‐intensive production tasks, (ii) Switching to AMS in plowing, transplanting, and harvesting increases rice yield by 48.0 kg, 23.7 kg, and 7.9 kg, respectively, and (iii) The AMS of pesticide spraying significantly decreases yield but the negative effect can be mitigated with professional service providers and effective labor monitoring, highlighting potential moral hazards associated with AMS when monitoring is costly. Simulation illustrates that increased AMS adoption can significantly enhance food security in China.
A Novel Penalized Inverse-Variance Weighted Estimator for Mendelian Randomization with Applications to COVID-19 Outcomes
Authors: Xu Siqi , Wang Peng , Fung Wing Kam , Liu Zhonghua
Published: August 2022

Mendelian randomization utilizes genetic variants as instrumental variables (IVs) to estimate the causal effect of an exposure variable on an outcome of interest even in the presence of unmeasured confounders. However, the popular inverse-variance weighted (IVW) estimator could be biased in the presence of weak IVs, a common challenge in MR studies. In this article, we develop a novel penalized inverse-variance weighted (pIVW) estimator, which adjusts the original IVW estimator to account for the weak IV issue by using a penalization approach to prevent the denominator of the pIVW estimator from being close to zero. Moreover, we adjust the variance estimation of the pIVW estimator to account for the presence of balanced horizontal pleiotropy. We show that the recently proposed debiased IVW (dIVW) estimator is a special case of our proposed pIVW estimator. We further prove that the pIVW estimator has smaller bias and variance than the dIVW estimator under some regularity conditions. We also conduct extensive simulation studies to demonstrate the performance of the proposed pIVW estimator. Furthermore, we apply the pIVW estimator to estimate the causal effects of five obesity-related exposures on three coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. Notably, we find that hypertensive disease is associated with an increased risk of hospitalized COVID-19; and peripheral vascular disease and higher body mass index are associated with increased risks of COVID-19 infection, hospitalized COVID-19, and critically ill COVID-19.
Elevated bone turnover markers predict bone mineral density accrual in adolescents with 21‐hydroxylase deficiency
Authors: Wiromrat Pattara , Namphaisan Phanpaphorn , Wongsurawat Nantaporn , Panamonta Ouyporn , Nasomyont Nat
Published: August 2022

Context

Prognostic biomarkers for monitoring bone health in adolescents with 21‐hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD) are needed.

Objectives

To assess associations between concentrations of baseline bone turnover markers (BTMs) including osteocalcin (OC) and type‐I collagen C‐terminal telopeptide (CTX) and changes in lumbar spine bone mineral density (LSBMD) in adolescents with classic 21OHD.

Designs and patients

A retrospective‐prospective study of 33 adolescents with classic 21OHD who had baseline data for LSBMD, bone age (BA), and BTM concentrations.

Methods

BTM concentrations were converted into z‐scores according to BA. We measured LSBMD at the follow‐up study visit and calculated the annual percentage change in LSBMD (%∆LSBMD).

Results

At baseline, participants (55% female, 79% Tanner 5) had mean (±SD) age of 14.6 ± 3.6 years, BA 16.7 ± 2.9 years, and average glucocorticoid (GC) dose 17.3 ± 5.6 mg/m2/day of hydrocortisone equivalent. The mean follow‐up duration was 14.4 ± 5.6 months. Median (Q1–Q3) %∆LSBMD was 3.6% (0–8.5)/year. %∆LSBMD was similar among genders or 21OHD subtypes. Prednisolone versus hydrocortisone replacement resulted in lower %∆LSBMD (p = .004). %∆LSBMD was increased across tertiles of CTX z‐score (p = .014). %∆LSBMD correlated negatively with GC dose (p = .01) and positively with CTX and OC z‐scores (p < .01). In regression analyses, only CTX z‐score positively associated with %∆LSBMD (p = .003), adjusting for sex, BA, body mass index, testosterone, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D, and GC type and dose.

Conclusions

Higher GC dose and the use of prednisolone were associated with decreased LSBMD accrual in adolescents with 21OHD. CTX z‐score independently associated with LSBMD accrual, suggesting its potential for prognostic bone biomarker.
Analysis of impacts of inflation on the distribution of household consumption expenditures
Authors: Taylor Lester D.
Published: August 2022

As a consequence of the COVID‐19 pandemic of early 2020, production in the United States, as in much of the world, largely came to a standstill. Unemployment in the United States quickly rose from 3.5% in February to 13.2% in May, quarter‐to‐quarter GDP fell 7.8%, and substantial transfers were enacted to maintain household income. The resulting mismatch between aggregate supply and demand not surprisingly ignited an inflation that by early 2022 had reached a year‐over‐year 40‐year high. The purpose of the present communication is to utilize a framework developed from data embodied in surveys of households’ consumer expenditures to analyze impacts of this inflation on separate categories of expenditure. The engine for the analysis, whose construction is described in detail by Taylor (2013, is a matrix of “intra‐budget” coefficients that represent the direct relationships amongst different categories of expenditure in households’ budgets. The elements of this matrix are constructed from the information in 58 quarters of data (2006 through 2019) from the ongoing BLS Survey of Consumer Expenditure to analyze effects and impacts on 16 categories of US household consumption expenditure of the 2021–2022 inflation. Principal findings include: expenditures for housing, transportation, gasoline and oil, and personal insurance consistently endure the largest impacts from inflation; real‐ income effects from inflation differ from those arising from a like cut in nominal income; not surprisingly, food expenditures are most impacted at low income.
Common hippopotamus in the upper Dhidhessa River and its conflicts with Arjo‐Dhidhessa Sugar Factory, Ethiopia
Authors: Teshome Kena , Erena Mosissa Geleta
Published: August 2022

Due to the loss of wetlands, land‐use change, and confrontations with humans, the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is one of the largest land mammals currently threatened and classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The common hippo is found in protected and unprotected habitats, marshes, and inland major rivers of Ethiopia. However, little is known about the population status of hippos in the country. Hence, this study aimed to reveal the current population size of hippos and its conflicts with sugarcane plantation in Arjo‐Dhidhessa Sugar Factory. Data on population size, diet composition, and potential hippo conflicts was also collected from August 2020 to February 2021. The complete on‐foot count method was used to estimate the hippo population during the wet and dry seasons. The backtracking approach was used to determine the hippo's diet, which involved identifying and quantifying foraged species using quadrats. The total sugarcane stalk damage was counted in the sampled fields to determine sugarcane damage. Direct observation and interviews with sugarcane guards were used to identify mitigation methods employed to prevent hippo attacks. During the wet and dry seasons, a total of 96 and 182 hippos were documented in the upper Dhidhessa River, respectively. Hippos ate 23 plant species from 11 different families. The Poaceae family made up 51.32% of the hippo's diet. During the wet and dry seasons, a total of 662 (36.5%) and 1156 (63.5%) sugarcane stalks/ha were damaged, respectively. The best mitigation techniques against hippo assaults in the area were guarding, fencing, trenching, and burning fire. A sound conservation action plan for hippos along the Dhidhessa River and associated banks must be developed. Furthermore, while hippos are encircled by the Arjo‐Dhidhessa sugarcane irrigation scheme, modern mitigation measures and corridors for hippos should be implemented.
Developmental changes in colour constancy in a naturalistic object selection task
Authors: Wedge‐Roberts Rebecca , Aston Stacey , Beierholm Ulrik , Kentridge Robert , Hurlbert Anya , Nardini Marko , Olkkonen Maria
Published: August 2022

When the illumination falling on a surface change, so does the reflected light. Despite this, adult observers are good at perceiving surfaces as relatively unchanging—an ability termed colour constancy. Very few studies have investigated colour constancy in infants, and even fewer in children. Here we asked whether there is a difference in colour constancy between children and adults; what the developmental trajectory is between six and 11 years; and whether the pattern of constancy across illuminations and reflectances differs between adults and children. To this end, we developed a novel, child‐friendly computer‐based object selection task. In this, observers saw a dragon's favourite sweet under a neutral illumination and picked the matching sweet from an array of eight seen under a different illumination (blue, yellow, red, or green). This set contained a reflectance match (colour constant; perfect performance) and a tristimulus match (colour inconstant). We ran two experiments, with two‐dimensional scenes in one and three‐dimensional renderings in the other. Twenty‐six adults and 33 children took part in the first experiment; 26 adults and 40 children took part in the second. Children performed better than adults on this task, and their performance decreased with age in both experiments. We found differences across illuminations and sweets, but a similar pattern across both age groups. This unexpected finding might reflect a real decrease in colour constancy from childhood to adulthood, explained by developmental changes in the perceptual and cognitive mechanisms underpinning colour constancy, or differences in task strategies between children and adults.

Highlights

Six‐ to 11‐year‐old children demonstrated better performance than adults on a colour constancy object selection task.

Performance decreased with age over childhood.

These findings may indicate development of cognitive strategies used to overcome automatic colour constancy mechanisms.
An ethics of anthropology‐informed community engagement with COVID‐19 clinical trials in Africa
Authors: Edwards Sarah J. L. , Silaigwana Blessing , Asogun Danny , Mugwagwa Julius , Ntoumi Francine , Ansumana Rashid , Bardosh Kevin , Ambe Jennyfer
Published: August 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic has reinforced the critical role of ethics and community engagement in designing and conducting clinical research during infectious disease outbreaks where no vaccine or treatment already exists. In reviewing current practices across Africa, we distinguish between three distinct roles for community engagement in clinical research that are often conflated: 1) the importance of community engagement for identifying and honouring cultural sensitivities; 2) the importance of recognising the socio‐political context in which the research is proposed; and 3) the importance of understanding what is in the interest of communities recruited to research according to their own views and values. By making these distinctions, we show that current practice of clinical research could draw on anthropology in ways which are sometimes unnecessary to solicit local cultural values, overlook the importance of socio‐political contexts and wider societal structures within which it works, potentially serving to reinforce unjust political or social regimes, and threaten to cast doubt on the trustworthiness of the research. We argue that more discerning anthropological engagement as well as wider collaboration with other social scientists and those working in the humanities is urgently needed to improve the ethics of current biomedical and pharmaceutical research practice in Africa.
Stability of the Gross Motor Function Classification System over time in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Huroy Menal , Behlim Tarannum , Andersen John , Buckley David , Fehlings Darcy , Kirton Adam , Pigeon Nicole , Mishaal Ram A. , Wood Ellen , Shevell Michael , Oskoui Maryam
Published: August 2022

Aim

To assess the stability of the Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) from time of preliminary diagnosis (~2 years of age) to time of diagnosis (~5 years of age), and to examine factors associated with reclassification.

Method

We conducted a longitudinal study using a sample from the Canadian CP Registry. Stability was analysed by using the percentage of agreement between timepoints and a weighted prevalence and bias adjusted kappa statistic. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify variables associated with reclassification.

Results

The study included 1670 children (857 males, 713 females) with a mean age of 11 years 4 months (SD 4 years, range 3 years 5 months–20 years 1 month) at time of data extraction (3rd September 2019), of which 1435 (85.9%) maintained a stable GMFCS, with a weighted kappa of 0.91 (95% confidence interval 0.89–0.92). Univariate logistic regression showed that initial GMFCS level, CP subtype, and the presence of cognitive impairment were associated with the likelihood of change in the GMFCS level (p < 0.1). In the multivariate analysis, however, the likelihood was associated with initial GMFCS level only (odds ratio 7.10–8.88, p < 0.00).

Interpretation

The GMFCS has good stability in early childhood. For the majority of children, it is predictive of their long‐term motor function.

What this paper adds

The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) rating in early childhood is stable over time.

There is no directionality in the reclassification of the GMFCS.

The initial GMFCS level was related to the likelihood of change in follow‐up GMFCS level.
Implementing telepsychiatry in an early psychosis service during COVID‐19: Experiences of young people and clinicians and changes in service utilization
Authors: Randall Leigh‐Anne , Raisin Cara , Waters Flavie , Williams Chelsey , Shymko Gordon , Davis Deepak
Published: August 2022

Aim

In response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, our early psychosis program rapidly transitioned to telepsychiatry. This study examined the change in health service utilization and experiences of young people and clinicians in response to the implementation of telepsychiatry.

Methods

Mixed methodology and triangulation of evidence drawn from health service databases and survey data. Using a retrospective observational design, health service data from pre‐ (Time 1) and post‐(Time 2) telepsychiatry periods were compared. Surveys were also conducted with representation from clinicians and young people.

Results

The number of appointments increased between Time 1 and 2, although this was accompanied by a near‐doubling in missed appointments (8% to 13%). Young people had mixed views about telepsychiatry. While convenience was a frequently cited benefit, clients reported technological issues, isolation and lack of human connection. A preference for face‐to‐face appointments was linked to younger age and anxiety when using telepsychiatry. Clinicians reported improved workplace satisfaction and efficiency but noted some limitations in the use of telepsychiatry including difficulty interviewing and managing unwell clients remotely and called for greater skill development.

Conclusions

The introduction of telepsychiatry in response to COVID‐19 was associated with an increase in service activity; however, there was an increase missed appointments by young people. Although clinicians and clients reported positive experiences, telepsychiatry was not completely endorsed as a replacement for face‐to‐face interactions.
Acceptability and feasibility of a multidomain harmonized data collection protocol in youth mental health
Authors: Youn Sarah , Mamsa Somayra , Allott Kelly , Berger Maximus , Polari Andrea , Rice Simon , Schmaal Lianne , Wood Stephen , Lavoie Suzie
Published: August 2022

Objective

To develop targeted treatment for young people experiencing mental illness, a better understanding of the biological, psychological, and social changes is required, particularly during the early stages of illness. To do this, large datasets need to be collected using standardized methods. A harmonized data collection protocol was tested in a youth mental health research setting to determine its acceptability and feasibility.

Method

Eighteen participants completed the harmonization protocol, including a clinical interview, self‐report measures, neurocognitive measures, and mock assessments of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood. The feasibility of the protocol was assessed by recording recruitment rates, study withdrawals, missing data, and protocol deviations. Subjective responses from participant surveys and focus groups were used to examine the acceptability of the protocol.

Results

Twenty‐eight young people were approached, 18 consented, and four did not complete the study. Most participants reported positive subjective impressions of the protocol as a whole and showed interest in participating in the study again, if given the opportunity. Participants generally perceived the MRI and neurocognitive tasks as interesting and suggested that the assessment of clinical presentation could be shortened.

Conclusion

Overall, the harmonized data collection protocol appeared to be feasible and generally well‐accepted by participants. With a majority of participants finding the assessment of clinical presentation too long and repetitive, the authors have made suggestions to shorten the self‐reports. The broader implementation of this protocol could allow researchers to create large datasets and better understand how psychopathological and neurobiological changes occur in young people with mental ill‐health.
Seizures following COVID‐19 vaccination in Mexico: A nationwide observational study
Authors: Núñez Isaac , García‐Grimshaw Miguel , Castillo Valencia Carlos Yoel , Aguilera Callejas Daniel Eduardo , Moya Alfaro Mónica Libertad , Saniger‐Alba María del Mar , Gutiérrez‐Romero Alonso , Carrillo‐Mezo Roger , Ceballos‐Liceaga Santa Elizabeth , Baptista‐Rosas Raúl C. , López‐Gatell Hugo , Reyes‐Terán Gustavo , Díaz‐Ortega Jose Luis , Arauz Antonio , Valdés‐Ferrer Sergio Iván , Hernández‐Vanegas Laura E.
Published: August 2022

The COVID‐19 pandemic led to the development and emergency approval of an array of effective vaccines against SARS‐CoV‐2. Given the relatively small number of patients included in vaccine trials, postapproval epidemiological surveillance is crucial to detect infrequent vaccine‐related adverse events. We conducted a nationwide retrospective descriptive study evaluating the incidence of seizures among recipients of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines in Mexico from December 24, 2020 (date of administration of first doses nationwide) to October 29, 2021. Among 81 916 351 doses of any vaccine that were administered, we documented seizures in 53 patients, of which 31 (60%) were new onset seizures. The incidence rate of seizures per million doses was highest for mRNA‐1273 (Moderna) with 2.73 per million, followed by BNT162b2 (Pfizer‐BioNTech) with 1.02 per million, and Ad5‐nCoV (CanSino) with 1.01 per million. Thus, we found that seizures following SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination are exceedingly rare events.