bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection rate of pustules in palmoplantar pustulosis with dermoscopy
Authors: Nakanishi Takeshi , Kokubu Hiraku , Fujimoto Noriki , Tanaka Toshihiro
Published: November 2021

In this study, dermoscopy was applied to determine the site of skin biopsy in cases of palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) with invisible tiny pustules or vesicles. Fifty‐two clinically diagnosed PPP patients (11 men and 41 women) were observed by a dermoscope and underwent skin biopsy. Nineteen patients had visible pustules, whereas 33 had no visible pustules. Pustules were detected by a dermoscope on palmoplantar lesions in 17 of the 33 PPP patients. In contrast, 16 patients showed no presence of pustules or vesicles observed by a dermoscope. In this group, biopsy specimens were taken from scaly lesions. Out of the 16 patients, 10 histologically showed pustules in the epidermis. We finally detected pustules for 46 patients among 52 who were clinically diagnosed with PPP. As a result, we detected pustules in PPP for 19 patients on “inspection”, and 36 patients on “inspection and dermoscopy”, and 46 patients on “inspection, dermoscopy, and biopsy”. Dermoscopy is significantly useful comparing the detection rate (inspection, 0.41; inspection and dermoscopy, 0.78; p = 0.0003; using χ2‐test). In addition, we also should learn from the results that the detection rate goes down to 0.78 without a biopsy. Thus, dermoscopy is certainly a useful tool for invisible pustules and also undetectable pustules to detect pustules in PPP. Moreover, we objectively showed that “inspection, dermoscopy, and biopsy” are the best way to make a PPP diagnosis.
The impacts of COVID‐19 containment on the Australian economy and its agricultural and mining industries*
Authors: Dixon Janine M. , Adams Philip D. , Sheard Nicholas
Published: November 2021

We simulate the economic impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the Australian economy using VURM, a detailed computable general equilibrium model for Australia. We identify five sources of economic perturbations: changes to productivity due to changing work practices, changes in household demand imposed by voluntary and mandated social distancing behaviour, changes in international trade due to a weakened world economy and severe curtailment of international travel, reduced population growth due to lower net migration and large debt‐financed fiscal stimulus. Variants of these shocks and associated recovery paths are simulated in VURM, with three scenarios describing potential recovery arcs. The macroeconomic and industry impacts are reported for each scenario. Ultimately, our focus is on the impact on output and employment in the agriculture and mining sectors, and on their likely recovery prospects. At the peak of economic impacts, output in these sectors declines by about 6 per cent relative to a no‐COVID baseline. Compared to the economy‐wide average, the decline in agriculture and mining output is small. This can be explained by relatively minor impacts on work practices, relatively low negative impacts on demand for intensive agriculture (helped by fiscal supports for households) and relatively low disruption to export demand.
Potential bypassing of nearest emergency department by EMS transports
Authors: Hanchate Amresh D. , Qi Danyang , Stopyra Jason P. , Paasche‐Orlow Michael K. , Baker William E. , Feldman James
Published: November 2021

Objective

Guidelines recommend emergency medical services (EMS) patients to be transported to the nearest appropriate emergency department (ED). Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of EMS transport to an ED other than the nearest ED (“potential bypassing”).

Data sources

Illinois Prehospital Patient Care Report Data of EMS transports (July 2019 to December 2019).

Data collection/extraction methods

We identified all EMS ground transports with an advanced life‐support (ALS) paramedic to an ED for patients aged 21 years and older. Using street address of incident location, we performed geocoding and driving route analyses and obtained estimated driving distance and time to the destination ED and alternative EDs.

Main outcome and measures

Our main outcomes were dichotomous indicators of potential bypassing of the nearest ED based on distance and time. As secondary outcomes we examined potential bypassing indicators based on excess driving distance and time.

Study design

We used Poisson regression models to obtain adjusted relative rates of potential bypassing indicators by acuity level, primary impression, patient demographics and geographic characteristics.

Principal findings

Our study cohort of 361,051 EMS transports consisted of 5.8% critical, 37.2% emergent and 57.0% low acuity cases transported to 222 EDs. The observed rate of potential bypassing was approximately 34% of cases for each acuity level. Treating the cardiovascular primary impression code group as the reference case, we found small to no differences in potential bypassing rates across other primary impression code groups of all acuity levels, with the exception of critical acuity trauma cases for which potential bypassing rate was 64% higher (incidence rate ratio = 1.64, 95% confidence interval, 1.54–1.74). Compared to zip codes with one ED within a 5‐mile vicinity, potential bypassing was higher in areas with no ED or multiple EDs within a 5‐mile vicinity.

Conclusion

Approximately one‐third of EMS transports potentially bypassed the nearest ED. EMS transport destination may be motivated by factors other than proximity.
Characterizing the spatial signal of environmental DNA in river systems using a community ecology approach
Authors: Cantera Isabel , Decotte Jean‐Baptiste , Dejean Tony , Murienne Jérôme , Vigouroux Régis , Valentini Alice , Brosse Sébastien
Published: November 2021

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is gaining a growing popularity among scientists but its applicability to biodiversity research and management remains limited in river systems by the lack of knowledge about the spatial extent of the downstream transport of eDNA. Here, we assessed the ability of eDNA inventories to retrieve spatial patterns of fish assemblages along two large and species‐rich Neotropical rivers. We first examined overall community variation with distance through the distance decay of similarity and compared this pattern to capture‐based samples. We then considered previous knowledge on individual species distributions, and compared it to the eDNA inventories for a set of 53 species. eDNA collected from 28 sites in the Maroni and 25 sites in the Oyapock rivers permitted to retrieve a decline of species similarity with increasing distance between sites. The distance decay of similarity derived from eDNA was similar and even more pronounced than that obtained with capture‐based methods (gill‐nets). In addition, the species upstream‐downstream distribution range derived from eDNA matched to the known distribution of most species. Our results demonstrate that environmental DNA does not represent an integrative measure of biodiversity across the whole upstream river basin but provides a relevant picture of local fish assemblages. Importantly, the spatial signal gathered from eDNA was therefore comparable to that gathered with local capture‐based methods, which describes fish fauna over a few hundred metres.
The Value Relevance of Earnings, Book Values, and Other Accounting Information and the Role of Economic Conditions in Value Relevance: A Literature Review*
Authors: Dunham Lee M. , Grandstaff Jaime L.
Published: November 2021

The value relevance research in accounting offers robust analyses about how the market views accounting information. Although significant work has been done to date in this mature research area, the literature does not fully explain or agree upon the changes in value relevance over time, and the impact of economic conditions on the value relevance of accounting information is a relatively understudied research stream. We review three streams of the value relevance literature: (i) the value relevance of earnings and book values, (ii) the value relevance of other accounting information, and (iii) the role of economic conditions on the value relevance of accounting information. Further, we review the various explanations put forth in the literature to try to explain the variation in value relevance over time. Finally, we provide a limited baseline for the current state of scholarly work and offer insight for future value relevance research.
Dietary citrate supplementation enhances longevity, metabolic health, and memory performance through promoting ketogenesis
Authors: Fan Shou‐Zen , Lin Cheng‐Sheng , Wei Yu‐Wen , Yeh Sheng‐Rong , Tsai Yi‐Hsuan , Lee Andrew Chengyu , Lin Wei‐Sheng , Wang Pei‐Yu
Published: November 2021

Citrate is an essential substrate for energy metabolism that plays critical roles in regulating cell growth and survival. However, the action of citrate in regulating metabolism, cognition, and aging at the organismal level remains poorly understood. Here, we report that dietary supplementation with citrate significantly reduces energy status and extends lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. Our genetic studies in fruit flies implicate a molecular mechanism associated with AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), target of rapamycin (TOR), and ketogenesis. Mice fed a high‐fat diet that supplemented with citrate or the ketone body β‐hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) also display improved metabolic health and memory. These results suggest that dietary citrate supplementation may prove to be a useful intervention in the future treatment of age‐related dysfunction.
Hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion for extended criteria donor allografts: Preliminary experience with extended organ preservation times in the setting of organ reallocation
Authors: Pavicevic Sandra , Uluk Deniz , Reichelt Sophie , Fikatas Panagiotis , Globke Brigitta , Raschzok Nathanael , Schmelzle Moritz , Öllinger Robert , Schöning Wenzel , Eurich Dennis , Pratschke Johann , Lurje Georg
Published: November 2021

Background

In times of critical organ shortage, poor organ pool utilization and increased use of extended‐criteria donor (ECD) allografts remain a major problem. Hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (HOPE) has emerged as a promising and feasible strategy in ECD liver transplantation (LT). However, potential safety limits regarding the duration of perfusion are yet to be explored. Besides marginal allograft quality (steatosis), prolonged cold ischemia time remains the most important factor for a high number of liver allografts being declined for transplantation.

Patients and Methods

Two ECD‐allografts were each allocated to two recipients, who proved to be unsuitable to receive the assigned allograft upon arrival at the transplant center. The organs were reallocated by Eurotransplant and accepted by our center for two different backup patients. During that time, HOPE was commenced and continued until the recipient hepatectomy was completed. Postoperative allograft function was assessed by serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin, and International Normalized Ratio. Incidence of early allograft dysfunction (EAD), postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay were analyzed.

Results

HOPE was applied for 4 h 35 min and 4 h 20 min, resulting in a total cold preservation time of 17 h 29 min and 15 h 20 min, respectively. Both recipients displayed decreasing serum transaminases and bilirubin levels postoperatively. No EAD or major postoperative complications occurred in either patient. Serum ALT and AST levels were within the normal range at discharge.

Conclusions

Extended HOPE enables the safe extension of preservation time for up to 18 h in human LT. End‐ischemic HOPE may significantly improve organ pool utilization, while simultaneously facilitating operating room logistics and preventing organ injury.
Nasal high flow therapy use in wards in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may spare ICU resources
Authors: Trump Matthew W. , Ganapathiraju Iaswarya , Jackson Julie A. , Branick Kate , Taylor Matt , Oetting Trevor W. , Pelaez Carol A.
Published: November 2021

Nasal high flow therapy has been previously studied for the management of acute hypoxic respiratory failure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but the data regarding its use outside of the intensive care unit are sparse. We aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy of nasal high flow therapy outside of the intensive care unit in patients with acute hypoxic respiratory failure and known chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We conducted a retrospective matched historic cohort study of adult patients with diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presenting with acute hypoxic respiratory failure between December 2017 to June 2019, after the initiation of a new protocol, which allowed patients to be managed with nasal high flow therapy on the medical/surgical wards instead of transferring them to the ICU per prior standard of care. Nasal high flow therapy was initiated either in the emergency department or on the medical/surgical wards. Patients were matched with historical cohorts who were managed with prior standard of care based on age, body mass index, comorbidities, and home oxygen use. Primary outcome of interest was difference in rates of mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay, total number of days spent in the intensive care unit, and in‐hospital mortality. A total of 90 patients met study inclusion criteria and were matched to 90 historical control patients. Among the study group, 8% required mechanical ventilation versus 9% in the control group (p = 0.79). Hospital length of stay was 7 days in study group versus 6 days in control group (p = 0.02), and in‐hospital mortality was the same in both study and control groups at 12% (p = 0.99). Nineteen percent of study group patients required ICU level of care at any time during the admission compared with 49% of control group (p < 0.001). Nasal high flow therapy use in patients with acute hypoxic respiratory failure and underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease outside of the intensive care unit may spare ICU resources and cost without delay in definitive care such as mechanical ventilation.
Neurological and cognitive outcomes after antibody‐negative autoimmune encephalitis in children
Authors: Gadian Jonathan , Eyre Michael , Konstantoulaki Ele , Almoyan Ani , Absoud Michael , Garrood Isabel , Lim Ming
Published: November 2021

AIM

To characterize the neurological and cognitive outcomes in children with antibody‐negative autoimmune encephalitis (Ab‐negative AE).

METHOD

A cohort of children presenting to our institution over a 10‐year period with autoimmune encephalitis was identified by structured retrospective review of medical records. Clinical features at presentation and final follow‐up were recorded. Neuropsychological testing was performed in a subset of patients. Outcomes after Ab‐negative AE were compared with outcomes after N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor antibody encephalitis (NMDARE).

RESULTS

Forty‐four patients (26 females, 18 males, median age 9y 2mo [interquartile range 4y 5mo–11y 8mo], 23 with NMDARE) with a diagnosis of autoimmune encephalitis were included. Postencephalitic epilepsy was more frequent after Ab‐negative AE compared to NMDARE (61% vs 14%, p=0.002). Cognitive testing was performed in a subset of patients (n=21; Ab‐negative AE=11, NMDARE=10). Full‐scale IQ was lower after Ab‐negative AE than NMDARE (mean IQ 75 vs 92, p=0.02), primarily because of reduced verbal comprehension index (80 vs 98, p=0.01) and working memory index (77 vs 95, p=0.09). The cognitive function most commonly impaired was executive function (80% [8/10] vs 22% [2/9]).

INTERPRETATION

Ab‐negative AE was associated with poorer cognitive outcomes than NMDARE at 1‐year follow‐up. Further studies are required to evaluate if immunotherapy can be optimized to improve outcome.
Wiring China: The impact of telegraph construction on grain market integration in late imperial China, 1870–1911
Authors: Hao Yu , Li Yuanzhe , Nye John V. C.
Published: November 2021

How did the telegraph improve market integration in late imperial China? This study exploits differences in the exogenous timing of telegraph construction in different prefectures from 1870 to 1911. The empirical results show that the arrival of the telegraph within a prefecture pair reduced the ratio of the two prefectures’ monthly high‐grade rice prices by 6.6 percentage points in nine southern Chinese provinces, or 17.2 per cent of the mean of the dependent variable. The main results are robust to controlling for institutional or transportation changes occurring during the same period, to using an alternative measure of market integration, to using prices of mid‐grade and low‐grade rice, and to excluding outliers with low data quality. In addition, the effect of the telegraph was stronger for prefecture pairs in which information transmission was more costly, and traditional long‐distance traders played an important role in the telegraph's promotion of market integration. In conclusion, our findings help us understand how a new information technology enhanced market integration in a premodern agrarian society with an established commercial network.
Bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy: How many seizures are required in chronic ambulatory electrocorticography to estimate the laterality ratio?
Authors: Chiang Sharon , Fan Joline M. , Rao Vikram R.
Published: November 2021

Objective

This study was undertaken to measure the duration of chronic electrocorticography (ECoG) needed to attain stable estimates of the seizure laterality ratio in patients with drug‐resistant bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (BTLE).

Methods

We studied 13 patients with drug‐resistant BTLE who were implanted for at least 1 year with a responsive neurostimulation device (RNS System) that provides chronic ambulatory ECoG. Bootstrap analysis and nonlinear regression were applied to model the relationship between chronic ECoG duration and the probability of capturing at least one seizure. Laterality of electrographic seizures in chronic ECoG was compared with the seizure laterality ratio from Phase 1 scalp video‐electroencephalographic (vEEG) monitoring. The Kaplan–Meier estimator was used to evaluate time to seizure laterality ratio convergence.

Results

Seizure laterality ratios from Phase 1 scalp vEEG monitoring correlated poorly with those from RNS chronic ECoG (r = .31, p = .30). Across the 13 patients, average electrographic seizure frequencies ranged from 1.4 seizures/month to 5.1 seizures/day. A 50% probability of recording at least one electrographic seizure required 9.1 days of chronic ECoG, and 90% probability required 44.3 days of chronic ECoG. A median recording duration of 150.9 days (5 months), corresponding to a median of 16 seizures, was needed before confidence intervals for the seizure laterality ratio reliably contained the long‐term value. The median recording duration before the point estimate of the seizure laterality ratio converged to a stationary value was 236.8 days (7.9 months).

Significance

RNS chronic ECoG overcomes temporal sampling limitations intrinsic to inpatient Phase 1 vEEG evaluations. In patients with drug‐resistant BTLE, approximately 8 months of chronic RNS ECoG are needed to precisely estimate the seizure laterality ratio, with 75% of people with BTLE achieving convergence after 1 year of RNS recording. For individuals who are candidates for unilateral resection based on seizure laterality, optimized recording duration may help avert morbidity associated with delay to definitive treatment.
In Conversation with Tony Letai
Authors: Skourti Eleni , Letai Anthony
Published: November 2021

Anthony Letai is Professor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and President of The Society for Functional Precision Medicine. Among Tony’s scientific achievements, work from his lab contributed toward the FDA approval of Venetoclax combination treatment for adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Moreover, his studies on cancer cell death have led to the development of BH3 profiling, an assay that allows for the definition of how close a cell is to the threshold required to commit to apoptosis, which can be used to improve clinical outcomes for cancer patients. In this interview, Tony relays the story behind some of his scientific breakthroughs, discusses the importance of function when designing targeted cancer therapies, gives an overview of BH3 profiling and its application to cancer therapy, and recalls the key events and collaborations that drove his successful research career.
Where I am and who I am with: Contextual dynamics of personality in the prediction of work performance
Authors: Woods Stephen A.
Published: November 2021

Contextually dynamic expressions of personality traits were examined in this study to understand their effects on work performance criteria. A concept of contextualized trait resources was developed to explain the dynamic deployment of traits across specific social contexts to deal with the demands that people face (e.g., work demands). A sample of 111 managers provided multiple contextualized ratings of the Big Five reflecting key social domains, and operationalized as role‐identities and metaperceptions, and also participated in a 1‐day assessment center (AC). Analyses showed that metaperceptions of the Big Five from the perspective of a work supervisor, and to a lesser extent metaperceptions averaged across contexts, predicted performance criteria at the AC after controlling for the effects of general ratings of the same traits. It was concluded that both the social domain, and specific interpersonal context of trait expressions are potentially informative in understanding the effects of contextually dynamic representations of personality. Implications for recruitment and selection are discussed.
Maximum weighted induced forests and trees: new formulations and a computational comparative review
Authors: Melo Rafael A. , Ribeiro Celso C.
Published: November 2021

Given a graph with a weight associated with each vertex , the maximum weighted induced forest problem (MWIF) consists of encountering a maximum weighted subset of the vertices such that induces a forest. This NP‐hard problem is known to be equivalent to the minimum weighted feedback vertex set problem, which has applicability in a variety of domains. The closely related maximum weighted induced tree problem (MWIT), on the other hand, requires that the subset induces a tree. We propose two new integer programming formulations with an exponential number of constraints and branch‐and‐cut procedures for MWIF. Computational experiments using benchmark instances are performed comparing several formulations, including the newly proposed approaches and those available in the literature, when solved by a standard commercial mixed integer programming solver. More specifically, five formulations are compared, two compact ones (i.e., with a polynomial number of variables and constraints) and the three others with an exponential number of constraints. The experiments show that a new formulation for the problem based on directed cutset inequalities for eliminating cycles (DCUT) offers stronger linear relaxation bounds earlier in the search process. The results also indicate that the other new formulation, denoted tree with cycle elimination (TCYC), outperforms those available in the literature when it comes to the average times for proving optimality for the benchmark instances with up to 81 vertices. Additionally, this formulation can achieve much lower average times for solving the larger random instances that can be optimally solved. Furthermore, we show how the formulations for MWIF can be easily extended for MWIT. Such extension allowed us to analyze the difference between the optimal solution values of the two problems when considering different classes of graphs.
Biosynthesis and beneficial effects of microbial gibberellins on crops for sustainable agriculture
Authors: Keswani Chetan , Singh Satyendra P. , García-Estrada Carlos , Mezaache-Aichour Samia , Glare Travis R. , Borriss Rainer , Rajput Vishnu D. , Minkina Tatiana M. , Ortiz Aurelio , Sansinenea Estibaliz
Published: November 2021

Soil microbes promote plant growth through several mechanisms such as secretion of chemical compounds including plant growth hormones. Among the phytohormones, auxins, ethylene, cytokinins, abscisic acid and gibberellins are the best understood compounds. Gibberellins were first isolated in 1935 from the fungus Gibberella fujikuroi and are synthesized by several soil microbes. The effect of gibberellins on plant growth and development has been studied, as has the biosynthesis pathways, enzymes, genes and their regulation. This review revisits the history of gibberellin research highlighting microbial gibberellins and their effects on plant health with an emphasis on the early discoveries and current advances that can find vital applications in agricultural practices.
Antimicrobial activities of plant essential oil vapours against Acidovorax citrulli and Xanthomonas campestris on Cucurbitaceae, Brassicaceae and Solanaceae seeds
Authors: Chung Min Young , Kim Hoikyung , Beuchat Larry R. , Ryu Jee-Hoon
Published: November 2021

Aim

This study was done to develop a seed decontamination treatment for organic seeds against plant pathogens (Acidovorax citrulli and Xanthomonas campestris) using essential oil (EO) vapours without affecting the seeds' germination rate.

Methods and Results

By using a diffusion assay and determining minimum inhibitory and lethal concentrations, we screened two EO vapours which were most inhibitory to A. citrulli (cinnamon bark and garlic EO vapours) and X. campestris (onion and garlic EO vapours). After 48 h of exposure to EO vapours at 25°C and 43% or 85% relative humidity (RH), no significant decrease (p > 0.05) in germination rates was observed compared with those of control seeds. It was observed that EO vapour treatment at 25°C and 43% or 85% RH for 48 h caused significant population reductions (p ≤ 0.05) (ca. 0.3–2.6 log colony forming unit/g) compared to those of untreated seeds.

Conclusion

Applications of EO vapours showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) antimicrobial effects against A. citrulli and X. campestris on both laboratory mediums and plant seeds without decreasing the germination rate of seeds.

Significance and Impact of the Study

This study provides useful information for the development of natural seed sterilization treatments using EO vapours.
Nurses' work engagement: The influences of ambidextrous leadership, clinical nurse leadership and workload
Authors: Cai Ying , Li Quan , Cao Ting , Wan Qiaoqin
Published: November 2021

Aim

To test the relationships among staff nurses' work engagement, nurse managers' ambidextrous leadership and staff nurses' clinical leadership and workload.

Design

A multicentre cross‐sectional survey design was used.

Methods

The study was conducted in eight medical centres from six representative provinces of China in October 2019. The participants completed electronic questionnaires that measured ambidextrous leadership, clinical nurse leadership, workload and work engagement. We used structural equation modelling to test a hypothetical model.

Results

The hypothetical model had a good fit to the actual data. Ambidextrous leadership was positively associated with clinical nurse leadership and work engagement, and clinical nurse leadership had a significant positive relationship with work engagement, which partially mediated the path from ambidextrous leadership to work engagement. In addition, workload moderated the relationship between ambidextrous leadership and clinical nurse leadership.

Conclusion

This study makes a timely contribution to the nursing literature by demonstrating that nurse managers' ambidextrous leadership and clinical nurse leadership are important determinants of work engagement. Improving the level of ambidextrous leadership and clinical nurse leadership helps to enhance work engagement.

Impact

This study provides a new strategy to increase nurses' work engagement from a new perspective of nursing leadership. Enhancing nurse managers' ambidextrous leadership and clinical nurse leadership can increase work engagement. Nurse managers should value the role of ambidextrous leadership and clinical nurse leadership in promoting work engagement, especially when nurses perceive they have a low workload.
Socialized sexual values and meanings ascribed to sex as predictors of the experience of sex: A theoretical model
Authors: Walters Tracy L.
Published: November 2021

This paper proposes a midrange model based on symbolic interactionism that identifies potential predictors of the experience of sex. Symbolic interactionism is a sociological framework which focuses on how individuals construct shared meanings for objects and events through repeated interactions. Regarding sexual behavior, meanings are typically socialized through repeated interactions with parents and significant others in one's life. These meanings can therefore vary from person to person and individuals may have different meanings as a result of their gender, as well as for sexual behavior within diverse types of sexual relationships. Individuals who have meanings and values that are discrepant with their behavior may have more negative sexual experiences than individuals whose meanings, values, and behavior are more congruent. The symbolic interactionism framework and its concepts are presented and explained, and empirical findings which support the proposed associations are then presented. Limitations and implications of the model are also discussed.
The impact of catholic religion on earnings management: A case of Poland
Authors: Grabiński Konrad , Wójtowicz Piotr
Published: November 2021

This paper investigated the impact of religiosity on accrual and real earnings management. Unlike most previous studies which consider this issue in a multi‐religious setting, we use a mono‐religious setting, specifically Poland where the Roman Catholic Church holds a dominant position. Thus, we are able to study the impact of religiosity on earnings management ignoring the impact of different religious denominations magnified by cultural factors. Our study focuses on the impact the Catholic religion has on earnings management. A novelty of this study is our proxy for religiosity. We use the communicantes ratio applicable only to Catholic and Orthodox denominations. This study contributes to the literature by providing a broader picture of the impact of religiosity on earnings management. Based on a sample of Polish companies, we find that Catholicism positively (negatively) influences the level of accrual (real) earnings management. We carefully examine the issue of differences between religiosity and personal faith and highlight the problems related to selecting a proxy for religiosity. The results indicate that a firm's preferred earnings management strategy depends heavily on the values shared by the national community. The majority of previous studies find that religiosity has a negative (positive) impact on accrual (real) earnings management. We provide empirical evidence that this is not always the case. There exists a setting in which the impact of religiosity is opposite, and the mechanisms through which religiosity influences earnings management are much more complicated than what was previously assumed.
Workflow for high‐resolution phase segmentation of cement clinker from combined BSE image and EDX spectral data
Authors: Jiang Mingze , Rößler Christiane , Wellmann Eva , Klaver Jop , Kleiner Florian , Schmatz Joyce
Published: November 2021

Burning of clinker is the most influencing step of cement quality during the production process. Appropriate characterisation for quality control and decision‐making is therefore the critical point to maintain a stable production but also for the development of alternative cements. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in combination with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) delivers spatially resolved phase and chemical information for cement clinker. This data can be used to quantify phase fractions and chemical composition of identified phases.

The contribution aims to provide an overview of phase fraction quantification by semi‐automatic phase segmentation using high‐resolution backscattered electron (BSE) images and lower‐resolved EDX element maps. Therefore, a tool for image analysis was developed that uses state‐of‐the‐art algorithms for pixel‐wise image segmentation and labelling in combination with a decision tree that allows searching for specific clinker phases. Results show that this tool can be applied to segment sub‐micron scale clinker phases and to get a quantification of all phase fractions. In addition, statistical evaluation of the data is implemented within the tool to reveal whether the imaged area is representative for all clinker phases.
Memory deficits in aphantasics are not restricted to autobiographical memory – Perspectives from the Dual Coding Approach
Authors: Monzel Merlin , Vetterlein Annabel , Reuter Martin
Published: November 2021

Scene Construction Theory suggests similar neural mechanisms for visual imagery and autobiographical memory, supporting the seeming scientific consensus that a loss of visual imagery affects autobiographical memory. Based on the Dual Coding Theory and the Reverse Hierarchy Model, we also assumed influences of visual imagery on recent visual memory and even verbal memory, although little evidence has been provided so far. Thus, in a sample of 67 congenital aphantasics (= persons without mental imagery) and 32 demographically matched controls, it was investigated whether deficits in visual imagery are associated with deficits in visual as well as verbal short‐term and long‐term memory. The memory tasks were theoretically selected based on task difficulty, retrieval condition, and subcategories of stimuli, as previous null findings were attributed to insensitive tasks that were solvable by aphantasics by means of non‐visual alternative strategies. Significant group differences were found in all memory components, with aphantasics performing worse than non‐aphantasics. Therefore, evidence was obtained for the influence of visual imagery on all memory components beyond autobiographical memory.
Risk factors associated with household transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Authors: Ng David Chun‐Ern , Tan Kah Kee , Chin Ling , Cheng Xiang Lin , Vijayakulasingam Thalitha , Liew Damian Wen Xian , Zainol Abidin Nor Zanariah , Lee Ming Lee , Ganasegeran Kurubaran , Khoo Erwin Jiayuan
Published: November 2021

Aim

Households are a significant venue for the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2. We conducted a study to characterise the transmission dynamics and identify risk factors for household transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.

Methods

This retrospective observational study included 185 families of paediatric COVID‐19 cases from 1 February 2020 to 31 December 2020. We identified the index case for each household and gathered the socio‐demographic, epidemiological investigation results and risk factors for household transmission from medical case records. The secondary attack rate was calculated, and logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with secondary household transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2.

Results

Of the 848 household contacts, 466 acquired secondary infections, resulting in a secondary attack rate of 55%. The median age of the secondary cases was 12 years. Female household contacts and household contacts who slept in the same room with the index case were significantly associated with increased risk for COVID‐19. Other independent risk factors associated with higher transmission risk in the household included an index case who was symptomatic, a household index case aged greater than 18 years and a male household index case.

Conclusions

High rates of household transmission of COVID‐19 were found, indicating households were a major setting of transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2. Our data provide insight into the risk factors for household transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 in Malaysia.
Increased reproductive trait diversity, evolutionary history and distinctiveness during the succession of tropical forest
Authors: Romanowski Luciele Leonhardt , Zanata Thais Bastos , Marques Marcia C. M. , Carlucci Marcos Bergmann , Varassin Isabela Galarda
Published: November 2021

Questions

Do old‐growth forests retain more evolutionary history and more reproductive trait diversity along the successional gradient? How similar are the phylogenetic branches and reproductive attributes at each phase? In which succession stages are distinct lineages of trees and shrubs present? Do distinct lineages have distinct traits? Is there a turnover of species, lineages and traits of trees and shrubs along the successional gradient?

Location

Atlantic Forest, Reserva Natural Guaricica (25°19′ S, 45°42′ W) and Reserva Natural das Águas (25°21′ S, 48°46′ W), Antonina, Paraná, southern Brazil.

Methods

We assessed the variation of alpha and beta taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversities of tree and shrub communities along a successional gradient (phase 1, stand initiation phase, from 0 to 9 years old; phase 2, stem exclusion phase, 10–25 years old; and phase 3, understorey re‐initiation phase, 25–200 years old). We also evaluated the occurrence of distinct lineages and traits related to seed dispersal and pollination.

Results

In addition to the expected change in species composition, lineages and trait states and values were replaced along the chronosequence, with stronger variation for trees. Old‐growth forests harbor distinct lineages and traits and a greater amount of evolutionary history and functional diversity of reproductive traits. We also found that distinct lineages were those that performed distinct functions.

Conclusions

Our study showed that as the succession proceeds, turnover of lineages and traits occurred, with the understorey re‐initiation stage harboring the largest taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity. In addition, understories of the re‐initiation stage are important for the occurrence of distinct lineages, such as magnoliids, and of distinct traits, such as large fruits and seeds, which highlights the importance of conservation of old‐growth forests, and its preservation can prevent the loss of distinct evolutionary histories and functions.
Between democratic structures and illiberal practices in Sinaloa
Authors: Mendez de Hoyos Irma , Domínguez Lizárraga Nancy G. , Sánchez Zazueta Jesús E.
Published: November 2021

This article analyzes the quality of democracy in the state of Sinaloa. The objective is to provide an overview of the current status of the democratic dimensions in the state, and to analyze the performance of some democratic institutions and political actors. It detects the illiberal structures and practices that persist and permeate life in Sinaloa in political competition, electoral integrity, political and economic elites, and organized crime. The analysis and evidence presented show an unbalanced evolution among dimensions of democracy, along with a complex juxtaposition of democratic institutional and political changes. There is a permanence, and to some extent, entrenchment, of illiberal practices and structures that allow democratic advances only a limited influence, and that halt or decelerate democratic consolidation in the state.
Continuities and transformations in the democratization process of the political system in Nuevo Leon
Authors: Garza Castillo Mario Alberto , Trak Juan Manuel
Published: November 2021

This article aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses of democracy in Nuevo León, using as a theoretical framework the concept of illiberal structures and practices at the subnational level. First, we describe the sociodemographic characteristics of Nuevo León. Next, we summarize the democratization process in the state. Third, we analyze the evolution of the electoral competition in the state—the law; election results for governors, Congress, and municipalities; and the role of justice in state elections. Fourth, the article considers whether some nonpolitical actors such as economic elites, organized crime, or gender‐based violence influence the democratic process. The fuzzy borders between political and economic elites are the most relevant weakness of democratization in Nuevo León. The cooptation of the public decision‐making process by the business elite may be an illiberal structure or practice in the state.
Heating of carbonaceous materials: Insights into the effects of thermal metamorphism on spectral properties of carbonaceous chondrites and asteroids
Authors: Duan Achen , Wu Yunzhao , Cloutis Edward A. , Yu Jinfei , Li Shaolin , Jiang Yun
Published: November 2021

Carbonaceous chondrites (CCs) are important materials for understanding the early evolution of the solar system and delivery of organic material to the early Earth. Spectral analysis of CCs can establish the relationship between them and their possible parent asteroids, which helps to determine the surface composition of the asteroid. In this paper, the 0.3–26 μm reflectance spectra of a series of coals ranging from lignite to anthracite (Earth analogs of organic matter contained in CCs), a coal heated to various durations and temperatures, and reflectance spectra of CM2 meteorites were analyzed in conjunction with compositional information to derive spectral–compositional relationships. All types of coals have strong aromatic absorptions (3.28 and 5–6.5 μm) and aliphatic “triplet” absorptions (3.38, 3.41, and 3.48 μm). In contrast, CM2 meteorites have obvious aliphatic absorptions and lack aromatic absorptions. The reason is the weak absorption coefficients of aromatic materials and the overlap with strong OH/H2O absorption. Absorptions in the coal spectra are strongly related to elemental H/C ratio. When the H/C ratio is >0.55, the absorption intensity of an aliphatic increases linearly with the increase of H/C. For heated coal, increasing heating time above 1 h at 450 °C causes the disappearance of the aliphatic “triplet” absorptions. Similarly, heating Murchison meteorite to 400 °C for 1 week causes all the organic absorptions to disappear. This implies that in remote sensing detections, only asteroids (e.g., with CM and CI carbonaceous chondrites compositions) that experienced low thermal metamorphism (<400 °C) are suitable as potential targets for detecting organic compounds using features in the 3–4 µm region.
Peace Is Relative: Qatar and Agreements with Israel
Authors: Admoni Ariel
Published: November 2021

The normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain had a major impact on other entities in the Middle East. One of the important players was the Al Thani administration in Qatar. This was the third time Doha needed to respond to a peace treaty with Israel. Every time, Qatar has chosen a different way. In the cases of both the Egypt–Israel peace treaty and the Abraham Accords, Doha objected. In the 1990s, however, the Al Thani regime supported rapprochement with Israel, for two reasons. The first was the opinion of the Palestinian community. The second was due to the objectives of the foreign policy of the emirate. In 1979, Qatar had to suit the norm in the Arab arena, in particular, Saudi Arabia. In 1990, it had to externalize Qatar's status in international affairs. In 2020, it had to ally itself with other Islamic states and organizations that opposed Israel, like Turkey. In order to understand Doha's point of view on the peace agreements, this article examines each one separately, as each has its unique features, causes, and consequences for the negotiations and the way they affected the years that followed. The article then identifies the recurring characteristics of the two earlier processes and their relevance to contemporary politics in the Persian Gulf.
Reciprocal Dependencies: Turkey‐Iran Trade Relations Since the Turn of the 21st Century
Authors: Ozer‐Imer Itir , Kilic Emrullah Can
Published: November 2021

International trade can be considered a means of sharing the world's wealth and a web that holds countries together. Despite the fact that this web is not strong enough to defy every problem between states, trade has become an important tool for Turkey's rapprochement with its neighbors. In this regard, Turkish‐Iranian trade relations are based on mutual benefits and reciprocal dependency. Despite the two countries’ different political and economic structures and numerous points of controversy, Turkey and Iran have enhanced their economic relations. As a result of increasing and mutually beneficial bilateral trade, both countries have succeeded in confining their differences to minor points of friction.
Will advances in functional renal magnetic resonance imaging translate to the nephrology clinic?
Authors: Rankin Alastair J. , Mayne Kaitlin , Allwood‐Spiers Sarah , Hall Barrientos Pauline , Roditi Giles , Gillis Keith A. , Mark Patrick B.
Published: November 2021

Characterizing structural and tissue abnormalities of the kidney is fundamental to understanding kidney disease. Functional multi‐parametric renal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive imaging strategy whereby several sequences are employed within a single session to quantify renal perfusion, tissue oxygenation, fibrosis, inflammation, and oedema without using ionizing radiation. In this review, we discuss evidence surrounding its use in several clinical settings including acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, polycystic kidney disease and around renal transplantation. Kidney size on MRI is already a validated measure for making therapeutic decisions in the setting of polycystic kidney disease. Functional MRI sequences, T1 mapping and apparent diffusion coefficient, can non‐invasively quantify interstitial fibrosis and so may have a near‐future role in the nephrology clinic to stratify the risk of progressive chronic kidney disease or transplant dysfunction. Beyond this, multi‐parametric MRI may be used diagnostically, for example differentiating inflammatory versus ischaemic causes of renal dysfunction, but this remains to be proven. Changes in MRI properties of kidney parenchyma may be useful surrogate markers to use as end points in clinical trials to assess if drugs prevent renal fibrosis or alter kidney perfusion. Large, multi‐centre studies of functional renal MRI are ongoing which aim to provide definitive answers as to its role in the management of patients with renal dysfunction.
Gilles Deleuze's societies of control: Implications for mental health nursing and coercive community care
Authors: Paradis‐Gagné Etienne , Holmes Dave
Published: November 2021

Since the era of deinstitutionalisation, many clinical approaches have emerged to enable the care and treatment of people suffering from mental illness. In recent years, the use of coercive approaches in the community (e.g., outpatient commitment or community treatment orders) has also increased internationally. Although nurses' role regarding these coercive approaches is central and significant, few empirical and theoretical writings have tackled this controversial nursing practice. The purpose of this paper is to analyse coercive nursing care through the lens of French philosopher Gilles Deleuze's concept of ‘societies of control’. Taking up Michel Foucault's work on disciplinary power, Deleuze explores how the move from the striated spaces of closed institutions to the smooth spaces of societies of control took place since the middle of the 20th century. According to Deleuze, the overall objective of ‘societies of control’ is no longer simply to govern deviant behaviour in closed environments (e.g., psychiatric hospitals and prisons) but to ensure a regime of unrelentless surveillance in the open spaces of our communities.