bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stairway visual contrast enhancement to reduce fall-related events
Authors: Harper Sara A. , Long Christopher , Corbridge Samantha , Barrett Tyson S. , Braeger Alex , Zollinger Brevin J. , Hale Amy E. , Brown Chayston B. , Harrison Kenneth , Poulsen Shandon L. , Boman Travis , Dakin Christopher J.
Published: March 2022

Falls on stairs occur frequently and pose a significant health and financial risk. Laboratory research has found that fall frequency can be reduced through contrast enhancement of the stairs by applying vinyl striping to the first and last steps’ faces, and all the steps’ top edges. Here we sought to determine if such step contrast enhancement can reduce the probability of fall-related events such as loss of balance, slips, trips, and falls in public university staircases. Cameras were used to capture stair users’ ascent and descent on contrast enhanced (‘striped’) and control stairways. Observed age group, observed gender, traverse direction (ascent, descent), fall-related events, and walking speed (m/s) were recorded. Fall-related events were reduced for the striped stairway compared to the control stairway (odds ratio = 2.87, average marginal effect = 0.002, p = .023) when controlling for observed gender, age category, and traverse direction. These results suggest contrast enhancement of first and last steps’ face and all steps’ edges may reduce fall- related events in public settings. Adding contrast enhancement to public stairways is a simple and cost-effective way to reduce the loss of balance, slips, and trips that could lead to catastrophic falls on stairs as well as the health and financial burden associated with such falls.

PRECIS

Contrast enhancement of stairway features may be a simple and cost-effective way to reduce falls on stairs. We show that monochrome striping on the first and last steps’ faces and black stripes on steps’ top edges reduce the probability of fall-related events in public stairways.
The effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on postural balance in Parkinson’s Disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mahmud Mohammad , Hadi Zaeem , Prendergast Mabel , Ciocca Matteo , Saad Abdel Rahman , Pondeca Yuscah , Tai Yen , Scott Gregory , Seemungal Barry M
Published: March 2022

People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience postural imbalance, leading to considerably increased risk of falls. Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) is postulated to modulate postural balance in humans and improve it in PD. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigate the effects of GVS on postural balance in PD.

Six separate databases and research registers were searched for cross-over design trials that evaluated the effects of GVS on postural balance in PD. We used standardized mean difference (Hedges’ g) as a measure of effect size in all studies.

We screened 223 studies, evaluated 14, of which five qualified for the meta-analysis. Among n = 40 patients in five studies (range n= 5 to 13), using a fixed effects model we found an effect size estimate of g = 0.43 (p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.29,0.57]). However, the test for residual heterogeneity was significant (p < 0.001), thus we used a random effects model and found a pooled effect size estimate of 0.62 (p > 0.05, 95% CI [– 0.17, 1.41], I2 = 96.21%). Egger’s test was not significant and thus trim and funnel plot indicated no bias. To reduce heterogeneity, we performed sensitivity analysis and by removing one outlier study (n = 7 patients), we found an effect size estimate of 0.16 (p < 0.05, 95% CI [0.01, 0.31], I2 = 0%).

Our meta-analysis found GVS has a favourable effect on postural balance in PD patients, but due to limited literature and inconsistent methodologies, this favourable effect must be interpreted with caution.
THE IMPACT OF ROUTINES ON EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DIFFICULTIES IN CHILDREN AND ON PARENTAL ANXIETY DURING COVID-19
Authors: Lees Vera , Hay Rosie , Bould Helen , Kwong Alex S. F. , Major-Smith Daniel , Kounali Daphne , Pearson Rebecca M
Published: March 2022

Aims and hypothesis

We hypothesised that there would be an association between maintaining a routine during lockdown and both lower emotional and behavioural difficulties in children and lower parental anxiety. We also hypothesised that children of ‘keyworker’ parents would have fewer emotional and behavioural symptoms due to having maintained more normal routines.

Background

The Covid-19 pandemic and related public health measures have impacted on mental health of children.

Methods

We used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to explore associations between maintaining a routine, and emotional and behavioural difficulties in children, using linear regression models. We included measures of parental anxiety. We separately explored associations with having a keyworker parent. We used the Carey Infant Temperament Questionnaire and the Revised Rutter Parent Scale for Preschool Children to establish levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Results

289 parents completed questionnaires about their 411 children. Keeping a routine was associated with emotional and behavioural difficulty scores 5.0 points lower (95% CI -10.0 to - 0.1), p=0.045 than not keeping a routine. Parents who reported keeping a routine had anxiety scores 4.3 points lower (95% CI -7.5 to -1.1), p=0.009 than those who did not. Children of keyworkers tended to have lower emotional and behavioural difficulty scores (−3.1 (95%CI -6.26 to 0.08), p=0.056) than children of non-keyworkers. All models were adjusted for relevant potential confounders.

Conclusion

Maintaining a routine may be beneficial for both child emotional wellbeing and parental anxiety, although it is also possible that lower parental anxiety levels made maintaining a routine easier. Being the child of a keyworker parent during lockdown may have been protective for child emotional wellbeing.
Large-bodied ornithomimosaurs inhabited Appalachia during the Late Cretaceous of North America
Authors: Chinzorig Tsogtbaatar , Cullen Thomas , Phillips George , Rolke Richard , Zanno Lindsay E.
Published: March 2022

Reconstructing the evolution, diversity, and paleobiogeography of North America’s Late Cretaceous dinosaur assemblages requires spatiotemporally contiguous data; however, there remains a spatial and temporal disparity in dinosaur data on the continent. The rarity of vertebrate-bearing sedimentary deposits representing Turonian–Santonian ecosystems, and the relatively sparse record of dinosaurs from the eastern portion of the continent, present persistent challenges for studies of North American dinosaur evolution. Here we describe an assemblage of ornithomimosaurian materials from the Santonian Eutaw Formation of Mississippi. Morphological data coupled with osteohistological growth markers suggest the presence of two taxa of different body sizes, including one of the largest ornithomimosaurians known worldwide. The regression predicts a femoral circumference and a body mass of the Eutaw individuals similar to or greater than that of large-bodied ornithomimosaurs,Beishanlong grandisandGallimimus bullatus. The paleohistology of MMNS VP-6332 demonstrates that the individual was at least 11 years of age (similar toB. grandis[∼375 kg, 13–14 years old at death]). Additional pedal elements share some intriguing features with ornithomimosaurs yet suggest a larger-body size closer toDeinocheirus mirificus. The presence of a large-bodied ornithomimosaur in this region during this time is consistent with the relatively recent discoveries of early-diverging, large-bodied ornithomimosaurs from mid-Cretaceous strata of Laurasia (Arkansaurus fridayiandB. grandis). The smaller Eutaw taxon is represented by a tibia preserving seven growth cycles, with osteohistological indicators of decreasing growth, yet belongs to an individual with near reaching somatic maturity of the larger taxon, suggesting the co-existence of medium- and large-bodied ornithomimosaur taxa during the Late Cretaceous Santonian of North America. The Eutaw ornithomimosaur materials provide key information on the diversity and distribution of North American ornithomimosaurs and Appalachian dinosaurs and fit with broader evidence of multiple cohabiting species of ornithomimosaurian dinosaurs in Late Cretaceous ecosystems of Laurasia.
Elucidating the role of c-di-AMP in Mycobacterium smegmatis: phenotypic characterization and functional analysis
Authors: Chaudhary Vikas , Pal Aditya , Singla Mamta , Ghosh Anirban
Published: March 2022

Cyclic-di-AMP (c-di-AMP) is a newly discovered secondary messenger molecule that plays a critical role in monitoring several important cellular processes, especially in several Gram-positive bacteria signal transduction pathways. In this study, we seek to unravel the physiological significance of the molecule c-di-AMP in Mycobacterium smegmatis under different conditions, using strains with altered c-di-AMP levels: c-di-AMP null mutant (ΔdisA) and a c-di-AMP over-expression mutant (Δpde). Our thorough analysis of the mutants revealed that the intracellular concentration of c-di-AMP could determine many basic phenotypes such as colony architecture, cell shape, cell size, membrane permeability etc. Additionally, it was shown to play a significant role in multiple stress adaptation pathways in the case of different DNA and membrane stresses. Our study also revealed how the biofilm phenotype of M. smegmatis cells are dependent on intracellular c-di-AMP concentration. Next, we checked how c-di-AMP contributes to antibiotic tolerance characteristics of M. smegmatis, which was followed by a detailed transcriptome profile analysis to reveal key genes and pathways regulated by c-di-AMP in mycobacteria.
Neurocognitive and substance use disorders in older adults: challenges and evidence
Authors: Agrawal Aditi , Touma Sawaya Rayah , Ojeahere Margaret , Padilla Vanessa , El Hayek Samer
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to review the presentation of substance use disorders in older adults, how addiction intertwines with neurocognitive disorders and how to approach this vulnerable population.

Design/methodology/approach

Electronic data searches of PubMed, Medline and the Cochrane Library (years 2000–2021) were performed using the keywords “neurocognitive,” “dementia,” “substance use,” “addiction,” “older adults” and “elderly.” The authors, in consensus, selected pivotal studies and conducted a narrative synthesis of the findings.

Findings

Research about substance use disorders in older adults is limited, especially in those with superimposed neurocognitive disorders. Having dual diagnoses can make the identification and treatment of either condition challenging. Management should use a holistic multidisciplinary approach that involves medical professionals and caregivers.

Originality/value

This review highlights some of the intertwining aspects between substance use disorders and neurocognitive disorders in older adults. It provides a comprehensive summary of the available evidence on treatment in this population.
Multigenerational product innovation process in electronic information industry: a qualitative study
Authors: Bo Qingwen , Zou Bo , Guo Jinyu
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Developing multigenerational products through iteration helps enterprises cope with environmental uncertainty and maintain lasting competitive advantages in a globally competitive environment. From the knowledge integration perspective, this study aims explore how enterprises achieve multigenerational product innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory case study design is used to explore the multigenerational product innovation process.

Findings

This study proposes a model of the multigenerational product innovation process and shows that knowledge integration includes two important parts: the internalization of external knowledge and intergenerational knowledge integration. This study further conclude that multigenerational innovation has three main channels: rapid iteration, continuous reflection and coordination.

Originality/value

First, this study presents a theoretical model of the process of multigenerational product innovation, including triggers, knowledge integration, learning systems and outcomes, and further enhances our understanding from product innovation to multigenerational product innovation. Second, this study contributes to the literature on the multigenerational product innovation process by revealing the knowledge integration process of the internalization of external knowledge and intergenerational knowledge integration.
3D large strain hierarchical multiscale analysis of soft fiber-reinforced tissues: application to a degraded arterial wall
Authors: Hatefi Ardakani Saeed , Fatemi Dehaghani Peyman , Moslemzadeh Hesam , Mohammadi Soheil
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose is to analyze the mechanical behavior of the arterial wall in the degraded region of the arterial wall and to determine the stress distribution, as an important factor for predicting the potential failure mechanisms in the wall. In fact, while the collagen fiber degradation process itself is not modeled, zones with reduced collagen fiber content (corresponding to the degradation process) are assumed. To do so, a local weakness in the media layer is considered by defining representative volume elements (RVEs) with different fiber collagen contents in the degraded area to investigate the mechanical response of the arterial wall.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-dimensional (3D) large strain hierarchical multiscale technique, based on the homogenization and genetic algorithm (GA), is utilized to numerically model collagen fiber degradation in a typical artery. Determination of material constants for the ground matrix and collagen fibers in the microscale level is performed by the GA. In order to investigate the mechanical degradation, two types of RVEs with different collagen contents in fibers are considered. Each RVE is divided into two parts of noncollagenous matrix and collagen fiber, and the part of collagen fiber is further divided into matrix and collagen fibrils.

Findings

The von Mises stress distributions on the inner and outer surfaces of the artery and the influence of collagen fiber degradation on thinning of the arterial wall in the degraded area are thoroughly studied. Comparing the maximum stress values on outer and inner surfaces in the degraded region shows that the inner surface is under higher stress states, which makes it more prone to failure. Furthermore, due to the weakness of the artery in the degraded area, it is concluded that the collagen fiber degradation considerably reduces the wall thickness in the degraded area, leading to an observable local inflation across the degraded artery.

Originality/value

Considering that little attention has been paid to multiscale numerical modeling of collagen fiber degradation, in this paper a 3D large strain hierarchical multiscale technique based on homogenization and GA methods is presented. Therefore, while the collagen fiber degradation process itself is not modeled in this study, zones with reduced collagen fiber content (corresponding to the degradation process) are assumed.
Legal framework for the protection of foreign employees in China
Authors: Wu Wenfang , Luo Xuan
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to examine the adequate application of rights and protections granted to employees under labor laws and regulations to foreign employees working in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyzed applicable laws, regulations and related literature on the employment of foreigners in China and employed quantitative and qualitative methods to scrutinize the features of labor disputes involving foreign employees, to assess claims of inconsistencies. A group of judges and labor arbitrators were also interviewed.

Findings

The inconsistencies between Chinese immigration and labor laws, and between applicable laws and court enforcement, result in a considerable gap in employment protection for foreign employees. They have grown over the last two decades, in a changing legal environment of labor protection and labor market for foreigners.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused on documented foreign employees' labor litigations from 2017 to 2020 in people's courts in China's five most economically developed regions. Future studies could cover a wider geographic territory and labor disputes of undocumented foreign employees to provide an even more comprehensive picture of the challenges and potential solutions.

Practical implications

The inconsistency between immigration and labor law regarding employment protection for documented foreign employees requires legal clarification and regulation to ensure equal employment protection of both Chinese and foreign employees.

Originality/value

There are limited studies using empirical data from different regions in China to document and understand the gap between the statutory labor protections and the labor protection granted to foreign employees in law as well as in court practice.
Information and volatility linkages between real estate, equity, bond and money markets in Australia
Authors: Wang Justine , Tomlins Mark , Tiwari Piyush
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine information and volatility linkages among real estate, equity, bond and money markets in Australia.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel rational expectations framework of financial contagion (Kodres and Pritsker, 2002), along with a combination of robust statistical methods including simple and dynamic correlations and generalized impulse response (Fereidouni et al., 2014) have been employed using data covering three dynamic pre-pandemic economic cycles, namely, global financial crisis (GFC) period, pre-pandemic housing boom and pre-pandemic housing downturn from 2008 (February) to 2019 (December).

Findings

Results reveal information linkages across real estate, equity, bond and money markets through correlations in return and volatilities of these series. Finding indicates that the three financial markets (equity, bond and money markets) are interdependent and integrated through information and volatility linkages during the GFC period and pre-pandemic housing downturn period. Financial markets have stronger associations with real estate market during pre-pandemic housing boom. The findings contribute to the general notion that the performances of three financial markets are closely related to the “boom” phase of the real estate cycle.

Originality/value

This research provides an extension of existing literature regarding the information and volatility contagion of the expanded set of core investment markets in Australia. The findings could assist household buyers and investors in designing strategic investment portfolios/hedging strategies and minimizing asset specific risks through diversification over short-term and long-term. In addition, results could support the maintenance, growth and development of a combination of competitive balanced investment markets including real estate, equity, bond and money markets in post-pandemic economy.
Spanish B1 vocabulary acquisition among Chinese students withGuadalingo
Authors: Casañ Pitarch Ricardo , Wang Lulu
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The objective of this research is to measure Chinese students' progress in gaining new vocabulary in Spanish at the B1 level after using the serious video game Guadalingo.

Design/methodology/approach

A group of 30 Chinese students participated in an experiment, in which 16 of them played Guadalingo; the other 14 were used as the control group. The experimental group played five lessons of the video game in a period of 10 days. Before and after the lessons, students were tested on their knowledge of the vocabulary from these units.

Findings

Results have shown that the use of Guadalingo helped these students to enhance their knowledge of the target vocabulary by 17.40% after the completion of the missions.

Originality/value

Based on our result, the use of video games seems to be a suitable and great support to the foreign language classroom, and the use of Guadalingo could be considered a valuable tool for this purpose.
Bonding between information literacy and personal information management practices: a survey of electronic media journalists
Authors: Haider Usman , Batool Syeda Hina , Malik Amara , Mahmood Khalid , Safdar Muhmmad
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Reporters are considered unique in terms of their information needs and seeking from other groups of masses. As they are running information business, the purpose of the study is to know about their skills of seeking, evaluating and engaging with information effectively and efficiently.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with electronic media reporters from 20 news channels to assess their information literacy skills (IL) and personal information management practices (PIM).

Findings

The results indicated that the study’s participants considered themselves as information literate. They perceived themselves competent and confident in IL skills for the overall scale and on its all sub-dimensions as well. Interestingly, the study findings show that IL skills affect PIM practices positively. However, they were less competent in advanced searching techniques (i.e. use of Boolean logic, truncation etc.) and cloud-based storing tools and applications.

Practical implications

The study has inferences for information professionals, educators, media owners and other stakeholders. Policymakers in electronic media, particularly media libraries should offer training opportunities by organizing workshops, seminars etc. to enhance their advanced IL as well as PIM skills at workplace.

Originality/value

Very few studies investigated the IL phenomenon beyond its skills and assessment aspects. The present study uniquely identified impact of IL on PIM practices of working electronic media journalists.
#NotHolidayButDistance Education: a study on social media use for K-12 education during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Celik Ismail , Dindar Muhterem , Muukkonen Hanni
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore Twitter posts of Turkish government agencies and the public under a specific hashtag, #NotHolidayButDistanceEducation, specifically related to online distance education during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a thematic analysis on 22,547 original tweets posted by 6,970 users during the first month of online distance education in Turkish K-12 schools. Based on like and retweet counts, the study further explored the extent of stakeholders’ engagement with the observed themes.

Findings

The findings showed that government agencies and citizens used Twitter to provide technical and psychological support, appreciate and motivate stakeholders, demonstrate sample distance education activities, share information and offer suggestions about the ongoing online distance education. It was also observed that the hashtag has been used for expressing negative views about online distance education and for political purposes. A positive relationship was found between social media engagement and providing technical support or sharing information for online distance education.

Practical implications

This study highlights the role of social media in providing practical and emotional support to education stakeholders in times of crisis. Thus, governments can use social media to provide evidence-based psychological and physical health support to their citizens during a pandemic. Social media can serve to improve education practices in schools through the interactions between the public and policymakers.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study can be considered unique because it demonstrates the civic use of social media for educational crisis management. This study highlights the influence of social media in educational policy and practice development in the contemporary era.
Toward capturing divergent collaboration in makerspaces using motion sensors
Authors: Chng Edwin , Seyam Mohamed Raouf , Yao William , Schneider Bertrand
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to uncover divergent collaboration in makerspaces using social network analysis to examine ongoing social relations and sequential data pattern mining to invesitgate temporal changes in social activities.

Design/methodology/approach

While there is a significant body of qualitative work on makerspaces, there is a lack of quantitative research identifying productive interactions in open-ended learning environments. This study explores the use of high frequency sensor data to capture divergent collaboration in a semester-long makerspace course, where students support each other while working on different projects.

Findings

The main finding indicates that students who diversely mix with others performed better in a semester-long course. Additional results suggest that having a certain balance of working individually, collaborating with other students and interacting with instructors maximizes performance, provided that sufficient alone time is committed to develop individual technical skills.

Research limitations/implications

These discoveries provide insight into how productive makerspace collaboration can occur within the framework of Divergent Collaboration Learning Mechanisms (Tissenbaum et al., 2017).

Practical implications

Identifying the diversity and sequence of social interactions could also increase instructor awareness of struggling students and having this data in real-time opens new doors for identifying (un)productive behaviors.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study is to explore the use of a sensor-based, data-driven, longitudinal approach in an ecologically valid setting to understand divergent collaboration in makerspaces. Finally, this study discusses how this work represents an initial step toward quantifying and supporting productive interactions in project-based learning environments.
The effect of institutional factors on financial deepening: evidence from 50 African countries
Authors: Sanga Bahati , Aziakpono Meshach
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper investigates the impact of institutional factors on financial deepening and its implications on bank credit in Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs different panel econometric models to examine the heterogeneity of 50 African countries from 2000 to 2019. The estimators include panel corrected standard errors, system generalized method of moments, quantile and threshold regressions.

Findings

The results show that rule of law, regulatory quality, government effectiveness, voice and accountability, control of corruption and political stability significantly influence financial deepening in Africa. However, government effectiveness has a higher effect on middle- and high-income countries, while other indicators have a high impact on low-income countries. All institutional indicators have stronger effects, almost double, at higher financial depth levels than for countries with lower levels. Government effectiveness and regulatory quality impact financial deepening more for countries with strong institutions than weak ones. Thus, the relationship between institutional qualities and credit provided by banks is non-monotonic.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that strengthening appropriate institutional factors based on country heterogeneity may effectively stimulate debt financing in Africa, the primary source of financing for small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper is that previous studies did not sufficiently scrutinize the heterogeneity of the structure of African economies – i.e. differences in institution, credit and income levels.
The relationship between corporate sustainability performance and earnings management: evidence from emerging East Asian economies
Authors: Nguyen Linh-TX
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between corporate sustainability performance and earnings management in emerging East Asian economies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors base on the triple bottom line approach to measure corporate sustainability performance. In terms of earnings management, two models are applied to detect real activities manipulation and discretionary accruals. The authors use panel data analysis of 410 listed non-financial firms in emerging East Asian economies from 2016 to 2020 that are collected from the Thomson Reuters Eikon database.

Findings

The authors find a negative influence of corporate sustainability performance on real activities manipulation and discretionary accruals. The findings highlight the long-term perspective of sustainable development strategies in relation to earnings management. The authors conclude that sustainable firms in emerging East Asia are less likely to engage in earnings management.

Practical implications

The study would be of interest to investors who need more detailed assessments of financial reporting quality to facilitate their investment decision-making and to policymakers who need more understanding of business practices and reporting behaviors of East Asian firms.

Originality/value

The study has shed light on the role of corporate sustainability performance in constraining earnings management and the role of corporate ethics in providing transparent and reliable financial reporting in emerging East Asian economies.
A mixed-method study on the barriers of industry 4.0 adoption in the Indonesian SMEs manufacturing supply chains
Authors: Fernando Yudi , Wahyuni-T.D. Ika Sari , Gui Anderes , Ikhsan Ridho Bramulya , Mergeresa Fineke , Ganesan Yuvaraj
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the adoption barriers of Industry 4.0 in the Indonesian manufacturing supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The mixed method was deployed to validate the findings. First, the qualitative study was conducted based on the interviews. Then, the companies were approached using filter questions on the involvement in adopting industry 4.0 and its impact on the supply chain.

Findings

Based on the qualitative study, nine main barriers were found in the thematic analysis. Thus, to get a consensus on the barriers in the industry, the barrier indicators were tested using a structural equation model retrieved from 173 small and medium Indonesian manufacturing firms. Results indicate that five main barriers (e.g. unclear Industry 4.0 policy, higher-risk investment, insecure data sharing, lack of expertise and lack of incentive) are confirmed as the adoption barriers.

Practical implications

The successful adoption of supply chain integration with Industry 4.0 technology can strengthen the manufacturing sector and competitiveness. Therefore, this study can be a complimentary assessment to evaluate the Indonesia Industry 4.0 Readiness Index (INDI 4.0) and the effectiveness of the government support program.

Originality/value

The results can be used as the framework to foresee the successful implementation of smart manufacturing supply chain management and its integration. Therefore, the authors proposed the framework to foresee the successful implementation of smart manufacturing, supply chain management and integration.
Demystifying entrepreneurial name choice: insights from the US biotech industry
Authors: Stoyneva Irina , Vracheva Veselina
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Drawing from legitimacy and institutional entrepreneurship theory, this study assesses the naming patterns of entrepreneurial firms in the US biotechnology industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use a mixed-methods design of content analysis and regression to analyze a sample of 441 entrepreneurial biotechnology firms, for which data were obtained from Net Advantage. The authors track changes to the proportion of firms with naming attributes, such as name length and type of name. The authors also examine variability in those characteristics during the industry's evolution, comparing freestanding to acquired start-ups.

Findings

Start-ups select names that are longer, more descriptive, begin with rare sounds or hard plosives and have stronger discipline- or technology-specific links during nascent years of the industry. As the industry evolves, entrepreneurs are more likely to select names that are shorter, more abstract, begin with hard plosives and have stronger industry-specific links. The naming patterns of freestanding and acquired companies differ, and companies that conform to industry pressures tend to remain independent.

Originality/value

Unlike extant studies that assess established industries, the current study identifies shifting trends in the naming patterns of entrepreneurial firms in an emerging industry. By focusing on start-ups, the authors expand research on organizational naming practices, which focuses traditionally on name choices and name change patterns of incumbents. By using marketing and linguistics methods when analyzing organizational name attributes, naming patterns in these attributes are identified, including name length, name type, starting letter of the name and link to the industry.
Trading behavior of Swedish retirement investors during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hagen Johannes , Malisa Amedeus , Post Thomas
Published: March 2022

Purpose

How did investors in the Swedish Premium Pension System (PPS) react to the stock market shock ignited by the COVID-19 pandemic?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use fund-level data from the Swedish Pensions Agency on investment choices in the PPS. For each fund, the authors use monthly information on the number of investors and holdings' market value up to November 2020. The authors also use information on the total number of portfolio changes per day. For analyzing whether PPS investors reacted to the pandemic with claiming their pension, the authors use monthly data on the number of investors of a certain age group who initiate their public pension payment.

Findings

Trades more than doubled, and shifted capital from equity funds to low risk interest funds. In economic terms, however, trading stayed at low levels–less than two percent of investors traded in March 2020 and there was no effect on pension withdrawals. The increased trading during the market tumult was disproportionately concentrated among investors in the top of the pension capital distribution.

Research limitations/implications

With fund-level data, the authors cannot investigate what in particular made retirement investors stay calm in the midst of a severe market decline. Either, those investors have a long-term investment horizon as they save for their pension or particular features of the system's choice architecture induce inertia and discourage from trading. The sub-group analyses are more consistent with the explanation that PPS-induced inertia is responsible for the relatively small increase in trading activity, but future research could exploit individual level data to explore this in more detail.

Practical implications

The often-criticized PPS choice architecture provided positive side effects in times of a severe market shock by shielding retail investors from committing trading mistakes when trying to outsmart the market.

Originality/value

The study complements previous evidence on the effects of COVID-19 on investor activity. The small response of PPS investors to COVID-19 is in line with earlier US findings on 401(k) accounts during the 2007 financial crisis (Tang et al., 2012) and industry reports about the COVID-19 period (see, e.g. Mitchell, 2020). The authors find no effects at all on public pension withdrawals in Sweden, while evidence from US 401(k) plans indicates a small share of workers taking COVID-related early withdrawals.
Lean management practices perception and their influence on organizational performance in a public Higher Education Institution
Authors: Klein Leander Luiz , Vieira Kelmara Mendes , Marçal Diego Russowsky , Pereira Jeferson Roberto Lima
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the perception of Lean management practices by public servants of a Higher Education Institution (HEI) and its influence on the organizational performance. The underlying assumption is that Lean management practices may have perceived even without a whole dissemination of the Lean Thinking way in the institution, and they exercise a positive influence on organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire of Lean management practices applicable to HEIs was developed and a survey was carried out in a public HEI in Brazil. A valid sample of 748 respondents was obtained.

Findings

The results demonstrate that some Lean management practices (leadership support and employee involvement, focus on the internal customers, long-term thinking, community services value, elimination of waste and continuous improvement) have a positive influence on the organizational performance of the studied HEI. These results extend the applicability and foster the initiation of Lean management practices in the public service scenario and HEIs.

Practical implications

This study supports HEI leaders and managers in developing and/or promoting better management practices to improve organizational performance. In addition, it promotes the advancement of Lean initiatives in the organizational environment of the HEI, allowing for a better quality to the “beneficiaries” of the services provided.

Originality/value

Despite the broad evidence of Lean in the manufacturing and industrial sectors, this study advances by exploring the perception of Lean management practices in the HEIs context and their influence on organizational performance. This paper also initiates and fosters the discussion of internal costumers and community services value as basic practices of an HEI.
Broad spectrum artificial light at night increases the conspicuousness of camouflaged prey
Authors: McMahon Oak , Smyth Tim , Davies Thomas W.
Published: March 2022

The growing global prevalence of energy efficient broad spectrum lighting threatens to disrupt an array of visually guided ecological processes. Broad spectrum lighting likely better enables the discrimination of colour, yet it is potential to increase the conspicuousness of camouflaged prey at night remains little explored.

Using a well‐established visual model, we quantified the impacts of four spectrally distinct narrow and broad spectrum lighting technologies on the conspicuousness of three different polymorphic colour variations of intertidal littorinid snail, as viewed by three model predators.

Modern broad spectrum lighting technologies increased the conspicuousness of prey compared to 20th‐century narrow spectrum lighting. This effect was most prominent in the yellow colour morphs due to greater contrast with their natural fucoid seaweed background.

Synthesis and applications. Our results provide evidence that the global transition to broad spectrum lighting will decrease the efficacy of camouflage at night in nature, potentially altering selective predation, population dynamics and the genetic structure of polymorphic populations. These findings highlight the need for further consideration in environmental management and planning, to ensure habitats are protected from unnecessary exposure to artificial light.
Nitrogen increases early‐stage and slows late‐stage decomposition across diverse grasslands
Authors: Gill Allison L. , Adler Peter B. , Borer Elizabeth T. , Buyarski Christopher R. , Cleland Elsa E. , D'Antonio Carla M. , Davies Kendi F. , Gruner Daniel S. , Harpole W. Stanley , Hofmockel Kirsten S. , MacDougall Andrew S. , McCulley Rebecca L. , Melbourne Brett A. , Moore Joslin L. , Morgan John W. , Risch Anita C. , Schütz Martin , Seabloom Eric W. , Wright Justin P. , Yang Louie H. , Hobbie Sarah E.
Published: March 2022

To evaluate how increased anthropogenic nutrient inputs alter carbon cycling in grasslands, we conducted a litter decomposition study across 20 temperate grasslands on three continents within the Nutrient Network, a globally distributed nutrient enrichment experiment

We determined the effects of addition of experimental nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium plus micronutrient (Kμ) on decomposition of a common tree leaf litter in a long‐term study (maximum of 7 years; exact deployment period varied across sites). The use of higher order decomposition models allowed us to distinguish between the effects of nutrients on early‐ versus late‐stage decomposition.

Across continents, the addition of N (but not other nutrients) accelerated early‐stage decomposition and slowed late‐stage decomposition, increasing the slowly decomposing fraction by 28% and the overall litter mean residence time by 58%.

Synthesis. Using a novel, long‐term cross‐site experiment, we found widespread evidence that N enhances the early stages of above‐ground plant litter decomposition across diverse and widespread temperate grassland sites but slows late‐stage decomposition. These findings were corroborated by fitting the data to multiple decomposition models and have implications for N effects on soil organic matter formation. For example, following N enrichment, increased microbial processing of litter substrates early in decomposition could promote the production and transfer of low molecular weight compounds to soils and potentially enhance the stabilization of mineral‐associated organic matter. By contrast, by slowing late‐stage decomposition, N enrichment could promote particulate organic matter (POM) accumulation. Such hypotheses deserve further testing.
Correlation of patient‐reported routine assessment of patient index data with clinical measures of disease activity in psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Ward Louise , Oliffe Michael , Kane Barry , Chessman Diana , Meaney Donna , Briggs Fiona , Gibson Kathryn , Barnsley Les , Sumpton Daniel
Published: March 2022

Aim

A treat‐to‐target strategy is recommended for management of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), although there is lack of agreement regarding the best measure of disease activity to target. Physician assessments included in traditional indices can be complex and time consuming to complete and cannot be readily conducted by telehealth. This study compares the routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID3), an efficient tool comprising patient self‐assessment, with traditional clinician‐led composite measures in the PsA clinic setting.

Methods

Data were collected prospectively from July 2016 to March 2020 in 2 dedicated PsA clinics in Sydney, Australia. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was created for comparison of RAPID3 score with composite scores minimal disease activity (MDA), very low disease activity (VLDA) and disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA) in low disease activity or remission.

Results

Ninety‐three patients had simultaneous collection of RAPID3 and MDA measures. Mean (SD) age was 49.9 (13.5) years, 50.5% were male and 23 (24.7%) had erosive disease at baseline. RAPID3 scores ≤3.2 and ≤2.7 (range 0‐30) had high sensitivity and specificity for VLDA and DAPSA remission respectively, with ROC curve area under the curve (95% CI) of 0.94 (0.91‐0.97) and 0.96 (0.93‐0.99).

Conclusion

RAPID3 has good agreement with physician‐led composite scores of MDA, VLDA and DAPSA, and provides a viable alternative to composite scores. This is particularly helpful in settings that do not allow for clinical examination, for example telehealth.
Development of a rating scale for objective assessment of performance in laparoscopic appendicectomy surgery
Authors: Sirimanna Pramudith , Boyce Stephen , Gunanayagam Prashanth , Gladman Marc A. , Naganathan Vasi
Published: March 2022

Backgrounds

Laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) is the most common index procedure for junior surgical trainees. Despite the shift towards competency‐based training, there is no method of quantitatively assessing performance during LA. This study aimed to obtain expert consensus regarding the items required to create a LA Rating Scale (LARS).

Methods

A list of steps required for LA surgery, as well as descriptors of “poor”, “average” and “excellent” performance for each of these steps were created for potential inclusion into an objective assessment tool for LA surgery. Using a Delphi method, 20 experts from multiple institutions rated on a Likert scale from 1 to 5 the suitability of these steps and descriptors of performance. Responses were obtained until consensus (Cronbach's α > 0.8) was achieved.

Results

Fifteen experts participated in the study. Consensus was achieved for all items during the first iteration of the Delphi with a Cronbach's α of 0.96. The Cronbach's α for the steps was 0.87 and 0.92 for the descriptors of performance. Steps and descriptors of performance that >80% of experts rated as ≥4 were used to create the final LARS tool.

Conclusion

Multi‐institutional expert consensus was obtained regarding the steps and, for the first time, descriptors of performance for LA, demonstrating their face and content validity, as well as generalisability. Subsequently, the LARS tool was created that can be used to quantitatively assess intra‐operative performance. This instrument can be used to identify weaknesses in performance and facilitate deliberate practice, thus shifting training in LA to a competency‐based approach.
Risk factors for hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy in cases of severe acidosis: A case–control study
Authors: Lorain Perrine , Bower Alexandra , Gottardi Elsa , Dommergues Marc , Foix L’Helias Laurence , Guellec Isabelle , Kayem Gilles
Published: March 2022

Introduction

The aim of the study was to identify the obstetric risk factors for hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in infants with asphyxia at birth.

Material and methods

This multicenter case–control study covered the 5‐year period from 2014 through 2018 and included newborns ≥36 weeks of gestation with an umbilical pH at birth ≤7.0. Cases were newborns who developed moderate or severe HIE; they were matched with controls with pH ≤7.0 at birth over the same period without moderate or severe HIE. The factors studied were maternal, gestational, intrapartum, delivery‐related, and neonatal characteristics. A multivariable analysis was performed to study the maternal, obstetric, and neonatal factors independently associated with moderate or severe HIE.

Results

Our review of the records identified 41 cases and 98 controls. Compared with controls, children with moderate or severe HIE had a lower 5‐min Apgar score, lower umbilical artery pH, and higher cord lactate levels at birth and at 1 h of life. Obstetric factors associated with moderate or severe HIE were the occurrence of an acute event (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 6.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8–22.5), maternal fever (aOR 3.5; 95% CI 1.0–11.9), and thick meconium during labor (aOR 2.9; 95% CI 1.0–8.6).

Conclusions

HIE is associated with a lower 5‐min Apgar score and with the severity of acidosis at birth and at 1 h of life. In newborns with a pH <7.0 at birth, the occurrence of an acute obstetric event, maternal fever, and thick meconium are independent factors associated with moderate or severe HIE.