bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality issues related to the design and construction stage of a project in the Indian construction industry
Authors: Khan Sharmin , Saquib Mohammad , Hussain Anwar
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Quality in the construction industry is an important issue yet ignored during the initial stages of the life cycle of a project, that is, the design and construction stage. The contribution of stakeholders, especially the architects is generally suspended though it has huge significance in terms of cost and time related to quality. This research endeavors to examine the issues related to the design and construction stages of the project from architects' purview, to understand the relative importance of these issues in the Indian construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study of qualitative data conducted formed a basis for online quantitative data collection that was further analyzed with the help of cross-tabulation and multiple correspondence analysis methods.

Findings

The study concludes that the budget of a project is a corresponding factor related to quality concern for architects. The study also established that the quality issues corresponding to high budgets are closely related to the construction stage and are identified as preparation of checklist, and bidding process of hiring the contractor on the lowest bid.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to analyzing the perspective of architects; however, other stakeholders of the construction industry may represent a different opinion.

Practical implications

This research emphasizes the importance of the client's role, and need for integration and coordination among stakeholders in the construction industry for effective quality control and management.

Originality/value

The research presents an exhaustive literature review on quality issues and its importance with respect to cost implications, standard practices, sustainability and the life cycle of the project.
Does bribing lead to extra convenience or is it a barrier to longitudinal growth? Empirical evidence from South American Firms
Authors: Wu Ruohan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to study how firms’ longitudinal and dynamic growth will be affected by their bribing decisions to address the controversies existing in the extant literature on the impacts of briberies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors acquired information from Enterprise Survey by the World Bank and compiled a unique panel data set including firms from five South American countries between 2006 and 2017. The authors used multiple methods to estimate firms’ productivity. A comprehensive inspection of firms’ longitudinal development using a two-step estimation method that addressed the endogeneity issue was then conducted.

Findings

Bribery could significantly shorten the waiting time for resources to become available. However, bribery also substantially and robustly slows down firms’ productivity growth over time. Meanwhile, a bribing firm is very likely to bribe again in the future.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the extant literature by pioneering the empirical study of firms’ bribing decisions and their longitudinal growth. First, the authors constructed unique panel data and established a longitudinal investigation upon firms’ dynamic growth after bribing, filling the literature gap by studying the time-lagging effect of bribery on firms’ growth. Second, the authors performed a comprehensive overview of South American firms’ growth by looking into the dynamics of their production, employment, resource delay and productivity across years. Third, the authors found that bribing exerted contingent impacts upon firms’ growth, reconciling the mixed evidence in the literature.
From phubee to phubber: the transmission of phone snubbing behavior between marital partners
Authors: Chen Zhuo , Gong Yanping , Xie Julan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The ubiquity of mobile phone use has generated a common phenomenon called phubbing, a reference to snubbing someone in social settings and instead concentrating on one's phone. Despite numerous adverse effects of phubbing argued in previous research, the group of phubbers is growing intensively. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential transmission of phubbing between marital partners to raise public awareness of the propagation of phubbing.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-wave study with a 3-month interval was conducted, using matched husband–wife data from 253 Chinese couples. Husbands and wives separately completed questionnaires about their spouses’ phubbing and their marital quality. The dyadic data analysis method was applied to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results confirm the transmission of phubbing and show a pronounced gender asymmetry in the process of phubbing transmission. Phubbing could be transmitted from wives to husbands, but not vice versa. Specifically, only wives' phubbing significantly undermine relationship quality, while relationship quality was negatively related to both husbands' phubbing and wives' phubbing.

Originality/value

This study contributes to a better understanding of the mechanism of phubbing transmission and provide support for reciprocity theory and social role theory. Results can cause public attention to the transmissibility of phubbing and provide enlightenment on the management of personal phone behavior and offer insight into research on technology use in other types of interpersonal relationships.
Examining the demands of teacher evaluation: time use, strain and turnover among Tennessee school administrators
Authors: Hunter Seth B. , Rodriguez Luis A.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Recent teacher evaluation reforms around the globe substantially increased the number of teacher observations, consequently raising observers' (typically school administrators') observational loads. The purpose of this study is to examine associations between observational loads and school administrator turnover, reported time use and strain.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses education administrative data from the state of Tennessee to examine the link between observational loads and school administrator outcomes of interest. The results present credible regression estimates that isolate variation in observational loads within schools over time and within observers over time.

Findings

The evidence suggests individual school administrators allocate a set amount of time to observations that is insensitive to observational load and seemingly assign observations to colleagues strategically. School administrator reports do not suggest observational loads are associated with negative unintended consequences on administrator strain or observer turnover.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature on teacher evaluation by shedding light on how the constraints posed by an evaluation system may affect the work of school administrators. It also extends the job demands-resources theory that describes worker responses to new job demands.
Management practices impacting on the rostering of medical scientists in the Australian healthcare sector
Authors: Cavanagh Jillian , Bartram Timothy , Pariona-Cabrera Patricia , Halvorsen Beni , Walker Matthew , Stanton Pauline
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study examines the management rostering systems that inform the ways medical scientists are allocated their work in the public healthcare sector in Australia. Promoting the contributions of medical scientists should be a priority given the important roles they are performing in relation to COVID-19 and the demand for medical testing doubling their workloads (COVID-19 National Incident Room Surveillance Team, 2020). This study examines the impact of work on medical scientists and rostering in a context of uncertain work conditions, budget restraints and technological change that ultimately affect the quality of patient care. This study utilises the Job-Demands-Resources theoretical framework (JD-R) to examine the various job demands on medical scientists and the resources available to them.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative methodological approach, this study conducted 23 semi-structured interviews with managers and trade union officials and 9 focus groups with 53 medical scientists, making a total 76 participants from four large public hospitals.

Findings

Due to increasing demands for pathology services, this study demonstrates that a lack of job resources, staff shortages, poor rostering practices such as increased workloads that lead to absenteeism, often illegible handwritten changes to rosters and ineffectual management lead to detrimental consequences for medical scientists’ job stress and well-being. Moreover, medical science work is hidden and not fully understood and often not respected by other clinicians, hospital management or the public. These factors have contributed to medical scientists’ lack of control over their work and causes job stress and burnout. Despite this, medical scientists use their personal resources to buffer the effects of excessive workloads and deliver high quality of patient care.

Originality/value

Findings suggest that developing mechanisms to promote sustainable employment practices for medical scientists are critical for the escalating demands in pathology.
Applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning within supply chains:systematic review and future research directions
Authors: Younis Hassan , Sundarakani Balan , Alsharairi Malek
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how artificial intelligence (AI), as well as machine learning (ML) techniques, are being applied and implemented within supply chains (SC) and to develop future research directions from thereof.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a systematic literature review methodology, this study analyzes the publications available on Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar that linked both AI and supply chain from one side and ML and supply chain from another side. A total of 388 research studies have been identified through the before said three database searches which are further screened, sorted and finalized with 50 studies. The research thoroughly reviews and analyzes the final lists of 50 studies that were found relevant and significant to the theme of AI and ML in supply chain management (SCM).

Findings

AI and ML applications are still at the infant stage and the opportunity for them to elevate supply chain performance is very promising. Some researchers developed AI and ML-related models which were tested and proved to be effective in optimizing SC, and therefore, the application of AI and ML in supply chain networks creates competitive advantages for firms. Other researchers claim that AI and ML are both currently adding value while many other researchers believe that they are still not fully exploited and their tools and techniques can leverage the supply chain’s total value. The research found that adoption of AI and ML have the ability to reduce the bullwhip effect, and therefore, further supports the performance of supply chain efficiency and responsiveness.

Research limitations/implications

This research was limited in terms of scope as it covered AI and ML applications in the supply chain while there are other dimensions that could be investigated such as big data and robotics but it was found too lengthy to include these additional dimensions, and therefore, left for future research studies that other researchers could explore and pursue.

Practical implications

This study opens the door wide for other researchers to explore how AI and ML can be adopted in SCM and what are the models that are already tested and proven to be viable. In addition, the paper also identified a group of research studies that confirmed the unexploited avenues of AI and ML which could be of high interest to other researchers to explore.

Originality/value

Although few earlier research studies touch based on the AI applications within manufacturing and transportation, this study is different and makes a unique contribution by offering a holistic view on the AI and ML implications within SC as a whole. The research carefully reviews a number of highly cited papers classifying them into three main themes and recommends future direction.
Empathic gaze: a study of human resource professionals
Authors: Lambert Steve , Dimitriadis Nikolaos , Venerucci Matteo , Taylor Mike
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to explore the fixation of the eyes of human resource (HR) professionals' when identifying emotions in the context of workplace research and to propose measures that might support them in their role.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper combines a contemporary literature review with reflections from practice to develop more nuanced understandings of 39 HR professionals' ability to recognise emotions. This paper used eye-tracking technology more commonly used in laboratory-based students to explore the fixation of the eye when identifying emotions.

Findings

The preliminary findings suggest that HR professionals with higher levels of emotional recognition principally focus on the eyes of the recipient, whereas those with lower levels or emotional recognition focus more so the nose or the randomly across the face, depending on the level of emotional recognition. The data suggest that women are better than men, in the sample group at recognising emotions, with some variations in recognising specific emotions such as disgust.

Research limitations/implications

The viewpoint paper proposes a number of implications for middle leaders and suggests that middle leaders should proactively seek out opportunities to be engaged in activities that support the Default Mode Network (DMN) function of the brain and subsequently the relationship-orientated aspects of leadership, for example, coaching other staff members. However, it has to be recognised that the sample size is small and further work is needed before any generalisations can be made.

Originality/value

This paper offers a contemporary review underpinned by a preliminary study into HR professionals' ability to recognise emotions.
An adaptive scheme for degradation suppression in Lidar based SLAM
Authors: Rui Huang Yi Zhang
Published: August 2021

Purpose

With the booming development of computer, optical and sensing technologies and cybernetics, the technical research in unmanned vehicle has been advanced to a new era. This trend arouses great interest in simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). Especially, light detection and ranging (Lidar)-based SLAM system has the characteristics of high measuring accuracy and insensitivity to illumination conditions, which has been widely used in industry. However, SLAM has some intractable problems, including degradation under less structured or uncontrived environment. To solve this problem, this paper aims to propose an adaptive scheme with dynamic threshold to mitigate degradation.

Design/methodology/approach

We propose an adaptive strategy with a dynamic module is proposed to overcome degradation of point cloud. Besides, a distortion correction process is presented in the local map to reduce the impact of noise in the iterative optimization process. Our solution ensures adaptability to environmental changes.

Findings

Experimental results on both public data set and field tests demonstrated that the algorithm is robust and self-adaptive, which achieved higher localization accuracy and lower mapping error compared with existing methods.

Originality/value

Unlike other popular algorithms, we do not rely on multi-sensor fusion to improve the localization accuracy. Instead, the pure Lidar-based method with dynamic threshold and distortion correction module indeed improved the accuracy and robustness in localization results.
The intermediary role of organizational performance as a driver of total quality management and enterprise resource planning towards achieving organizational excellence: the moderating role of demographic factors
Authors: Al-Dhaafri Hassan Saleh , Alosani Mohammed Saleh
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The study's goal is to look at how total quality management (TQM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and organizational performance interact to affect organizational excellence.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire research design was used to achieve the goal of this study through the hypothesized model. The information was obtained from a Dubai police organization. Out of 550 questionnaires, 320 questionnaires were returned. To analyze the data for measurement and structural models, the structural equation modeling (SEM) partial least squares method was used.

Findings

The statistical results confirmed the positive and significant effects of TQM and ERP on organizational performance. The mediation role of organizational performance between TQM, ERP and organizational excellence also was confirmed.

Practical implications

More details and significant consequences have been explored in this study. The findings have a number of practical implications. The findings also assist practitioners and managers in making the best decisions while incorporating TQM, ERP and excellence practices in their organizations. Organizations will achieve optimum strong excellence and stay competitive in a competitive market by integrating the effects of TQM, ERP and organizational performance.

Originality/value

This study is another empirical investigation into the combined impact of TQM, ERP and performance on excellence relationships. In other words, the current study is one of the few that investigates the mediating role of organizational performance as a variable alongside organizational excellence as the ultimate variable in developing countries, specifically in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Risk of psychiatric diseases among patients with psoriasis in Korea: A 12‐year nationwide population‐based cohort study
Authors: Oh Jongwook , Jung Keum Ji , Kim Tae‐Gyun , Kim Hae Won , Jee Sun Ha , Lee Min‐Geol
Published: August 2021

The association between psoriasis and risk of psychiatric diseases has not been thoroughly evaluated in a large longitudinal cohort of the Asian population. We conducted a nationwide cohort study encompassing more than 1.6 million Koreans with a 12‐year follow‐up period. Patients were considered to be in the psoriasis cohort if they had an incident diagnostic code for psoriasis and included patients were followed up until they developed any psychiatric disease. In adjusted models, psoriasis patients (n = 10 868) were at an 18% increased risk for depression (hazard ratio [HR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–1.26), 16% for anxiety disorders (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08–1.26), and 21% for somatoform disorders (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.08–1.34) compared with the referent cohort (n = 1 620 055). Patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis had a higher risk of developing depression and somatoform disorders than patient with mild disease (depression, HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.07–1.54 vs HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.07–1.27; somatoform disorders, HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.26–2.03 vs HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.00–1.28). Our results highlight the burden of psychiatric diseases in patients with psoriasis in Korea and suggest that appropriate medical support for possible mental illness is warranted in Asian psoriatic patients.
Among stand heterogeneity is key for biodiversity in managed beech forests but does not question the value of unmanaged forests: Response to Bruun and Heilmann‐Clausen (2021)
Authors: Schall Peter , Heinrichs Steffi , Ammer Christian , Ayasse Manfred , Boch Steffen , Buscot François , Fischer Markus , Goldmann Kezia , Overmann Jörg , Schulze Ernst‐Detlef , Sikorski Johannes , Weisser Wolfgang W. , Wubet Tesfaye , Gossner Martin M.
Published: August 2021

Schall et al. (2020) assessed how a combination of different forest management systems in managed forest landscapes dominated by European beech may affect the biodiversity (alpha, beta and gamma) of 14 taxonomic groups. Current forest policy and nature conservation often demand for combining uneven‐aged managed and unmanaged, set‐aside for nature conservation, beech forests in order to promote biodiversity. In contrast to this, Schall et al. (2020) found even‐aged shelterwood forests, represented by different developmental phases, to support highest regional (gamma) diversity.

By pointing out that unmanaged forests included in our study are not old‐growth forests, Bruun and Heilmann‐Clausen (2021) challenge our conclusion as not providing sound scientific advice to societies. It is true that the studied unmanaged forests are not representing old‐growth forests as defined in the literature. However, we demonstrate the representativeness of our unmanaged forests for current beech forest landscapes of Central Europe, where managed forests were more or less recently set‐aside in order to develop old‐growth structures. We also show that the managed and recently unmanaged forests in our study already differ distinctively in their forest structures.

We use this response to stress the role of forest reserves for promoting certain species groups, and to emphasise their importance as valuable research sites today and in the future.

Synthesis and applications. We see two main conclusions from our study. First, unmanaged forests still matter. We agree with Bruun and Heilmann‐Clausen (2021) on the general importance of unmanaged, old‐growth or long‐untouched forests, and we do not question the importance of set‐aside forests for biodiversity conservation. However, a complete complementarity to managed systems may only reveal after many decades of natural development. Second, safeguarding biodiversity in largely managed forest landscapes should focus on providing a landscape matrix of different developmental phases with varying environmental conditions rather than on maximising the vertical structure within stands. Such landscapes can partly compensate for structures that are still missing in vital, dense and closed forests recently set‐aside or for unsuitable phases that may occur due to a cyclic synchronisation of forest structures in unmanaged forests.
First report of the presence of Necrodes littoralis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silphidae) on a human corpse in Italy
Authors: Bonacci Teresa , Mendicino Federica , Carlomagno Francesco , Bonelli Domenico , Scapoli Chiara , Pezzi Marco
Published: August 2021

The colonization of a human body by Necrodes littoralis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silphidae) is reported for the first time in Italy. This species is both necrophagous and predator of necrophagous fauna. The body colonized by the coleopteran was found indoors, in an advanced decomposition stage, in a suburban area of Cosenza (Calabria, Southern Italy) in November. Insects (adults, puparia and larvae) were collected on and around the body. Puparia and larvae were raised in the laboratory until the adult stage for morphological identification, which was carried out through taxonomical keys. Besides N. littoralis, also the presence of Calliphora vicina Robineau‐Desvoidy, Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Hydrotaea dentipes (Fabricius) (Diptera: Muscidae), and Creophilus maxillosus (L.) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) was detected. Necrodes littoralis is a species of forensic interest because it may colonize human and vertebrate corpses and has been reported elsewhere in Europe.
Nonrandom missing data can bias Principal Component Analysis inference of population genetic structure
Authors: Yi Xueling , Latch Emily K.
Published: August 2021

Population genetic studies in non‐model systems increasingly use next‐generation sequencing to obtain more loci, but such methods also generate more missing data that may affect downstream analyses. Here we focus on the principal component analysis (PCA) which has been widely used to explore and visualize population structure with mean‐imputed missing data. We simulated data of different population models with various total missingness (1%, 10%, 20%) introduced either randomly or biased among individuals or populations. We found that individuals biased with missing data would be dragged away from their real population clusters to the origin of PCA plots, making them indistinguishable from true admixed individuals and potentially leading to misinterpreted population structure. We also generated empirical data of the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) using restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (RADseq). We filtered three data sets with 19.12%, 9.87%, and 1.35% total missingness, all showing nonrandom missing data with biased individuals dragged towards the PCA origin, consistent with results from simulations. We highlight the importance of considering missing data effects on PCA in non‐model systems where nonrandom missing data are common due to varying sample quality. To help detect missing data effects, we suggest to (1) plot PCA with a colour gradient showing per sample missingness, (2) interpret samples close to the PCA origin with extra caution, (3) explore filtering parameters with and without the missingness‐biased samples, and (4) use complementary analyses (e.g., model‐based methods) to cross‐validate PCA results and help interpret population structure.
A Systematic Framework to Understand Transnational Governance for Cybersecurity Risks from Digital Trade
Authors: Huang Keman , Madnick Stuart , Choucri Nazli , Zhang Fang
Published: August 2021

Governing cybersecurity risks from digital trade is a growing responsibility for governments and corporations. This study develops a systematic framework to delineate and analyze the strategies that governments and corporations take to address cybersecurity risks from digital trade. It maps out the current landscape based on a collection of 75 cases where governments and corporations interact to govern transnational cybersecurity risks. This study reveals that: first, governing cybersecurity risks from digital trade is a global issue whereby most governments implement policies with concerning that the cybersecurity risks embedded within purchasing transnational digital products can influence their domestic political and societal systems. Second, governments dominates the governance interactions by implementing trade policies whereas corporations simply comply. Corporations do, however, have chances to take more active roles in constructing the governance system. Third, supply chain cybersecurity risks have more significant impacts on governance mode between governments and corporations whereas concerns on different national cybersecurity risks do not. Fourth, the interactions between governments and corporations reveal the exisitence of loops that can amplify or reduce cybersecurity risks. This provides policy implications on transnational cybersecurity governance for policy makers and business leaders to consider their potential options and understand the global digital trade environment when cybersecurity and digital trade overlap.
Cocaine cue‐induced mesocorticolimbic activation in cocaine users: Effects of personality traits, lifetime drug use, and acute stimulant ingestion
Authors: D'Amour‐Horvat Valérie , Cox Sylvia M. L. , Dagher Alain , Kolivakis Theodore , Jaworska Natalia , Leyton Marco
Published: August 2021

Stimulant drug‐paired cues can acquire the ability to activate mesocorticolimbic pathways and lead to new bouts of drug use. Studies in laboratory animals suggest that these effects are augmented by progressively greater drug use histories, impulsive personality traits, and acute drug ingestion. As a preliminary test of these hypotheses in humans, we exposed cocaine users (n = 14) and healthy volunteers (n = 10) to cocaine‐related videos during two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions, once following acute administration of placebo and once followingd‐amphetamine (0.3 mg/kg, p.o.). Across sessions, cocaine users showed larger cocaine cue‐induced responses than healthy controls in the associative striatum and midbrain. Among the cocaine users, larger drug cue‐induced responses during the placebo session were correlated with higher Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS‐11) nonplanning scores (associative striatum) and greater lifetime use of stimulant drugs (limbic, associative, and sensorimotor striatum). The administration ofd‐amphetamine did not augment the cue‐induced activations, but, in cocaine users, drug cue‐induced striatal activations were more widespread following prolonged cocaine cue exposure. Together, these effects of past and present drug use might aggravate the risk for stimulant drug use problems.
Immunotherapy for the treatment of penile intraepithelial neoplasia associated with human papilloma virus type 16 using topical imiquimod and human papilloma virus vaccination
Authors: Kim Tae Yeb , Das Moushumi , Poppito Natalie , Jarrett Paul
Published: August 2021

Penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN) is frequently associated with human papilloma virus (HPV). Three cases of PeIN associated with HPV‐type 16 were successfully treated with topical imiquimod and concurrent HPV vaccination. Human papilloma vaccine protects against oncogenic human papilloma viruses. In New Zealand, a decline in incidence of PeIN is anticipated with the recent funding of human papilloma vaccine for boys and young men aged 9–26 years. Therefore, HPV vaccination may have a role for treatment of PeIN and prophylaxis.
An empirical bioethical examination of Norwegian and British doctors' views of responsibility and (de)prioritization in healthcare
Authors: Everett Jim A. C. , Maslen Hannah , Nussberger Anne‐Marie , Bringedal Berit , Wilkinson Dominic , Savulescu Julian
Published: August 2021

In a world with limited resources, allocation of resources to certain individuals and conditions inevitably means fewer resources allocated to other individuals and conditions. Should a patient's personal responsibility be relevant to decisions regarding allocation? In this project we combine the normative and the descriptive, conducting an empirical bioethical examination of how both Norwegian and British doctors think about principles of responsibility in allocating scarce healthcare resources. A large proportion of doctors in both countries supported including responsibility for illness in prioritization decisions. This finding was more prominent in zero‐sum scenarios where allocation to one patient means that another patient is denied treatment. There was most support for incorporating prospective responsibility (through patient contracts), and low support for integrating responsibility into co‐payments (i.e. through requiring responsible patients to pay part of the costs of treatment). Finally, some behaviours were considered more appropriate grounds for deprioritization (smoking, alcohol, drug use)—potentially because of the certainty of impact and direct link to ill health. In zero‐sum situations, prognosis also influenced prioritization (but did not outweigh responsibility). Ethical implications are discussed. We argue that the role that responsibility constructs appear to play in doctors' decisions indicates a needs for more nuanced—and clear—policy. Such policy should account for the distinctions we draw between responsibility‐sensitive and prognostic justifications for deprioritization.
In male Hodgkin lymphoma patients, impaired fertility may be improved by non‐gonadotoxic therapy
Authors: Laddaga Filomena Emanuela , Masciopinto Pierluigi , Nardelli Claudia , Vacca Margherita Patrizia , Masciandaro Paola , Arcuti Elena , Cicinelli Ettore , Specchia Giorgina , Musto Pellegrino , Gaudio Francesco
Published: August 2021

The outcome of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has improved significantly in recent years, and now attention is increasingly being focused on the well‐being of these young patients. This study aimed to analyse the influence of HL and its treatment on the spermatogenic status of 46 male HL patients with available spermiograms, treated between 2008 and 2016. Analysing prognostic factors at diagnosis, we found that the number of spermatozoa was reduced in stage III–IV; motility and vitality were reduced in stage III–IV and in the presence of B symptoms; and abnormal forms were increased in patients with elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and low albumin. Furthermore, we found that haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was associated with a severe impairment of fertility in terms of sperm motility. In HL‐treated patients who did not undergo HSCT we found a statistically significantly improved fertility in terms of motility. In this study, we found that HSCT induced infertility in the majority of male patients with HL, but that first‐line treatment could improve the impaired fertility status caused by disease. Further studies are needed in larger case series to investigate risk factors for impaired fertility at HL diagnosis and after treatment.
Influence of avocado orchard landscapes on amphibians and reptiles in the trans‐Mexican volcanic belt
Authors: Vega‐Agavo María Ismaela , Suazo‐Ortuño Ireri , Lopez‐Toledo Leonel , Gómez‐Tagle Alberto , Sillero Neftalí , Pineda‐López Rubén , Alvarado‐Díaz Javier
Published: August 2021

Commercial fruit orchards are embedded in a landscape of native forest and diverse kinds of agroecosystems. The landscape structure of these systems is a major driver of biodiversity response. Generally, it is assumed that high levels of biodiversity occur in perennial systems largely due to their high structural complexity. However, little is known about the influence of other landscape attributes on these levels of biodiversity. Avocado (Persea americana) constitutes about 25 percent of the global fresh fruit trade. In Mexico, avocado trees flourish about the same altitude as pine–oak forests (POFs). We studied the response of the local herpetofauna to conversion of POF to avocado orchards (AOs). We also explored the effects of forest cover on species that differ in their levels of habitat specialization. In the avocado belt in Michoacan, we sampled 12 sites representing a gradient of AO embedded in native POF to evaluate the variation in structure of local assemblages of amphibians and reptiles. Reduction of POF cover negatively affected specialist frog and snake species, but this relationship varied among buffers around sampling sites. Generalist species of amphibians and lizards showed increased abundances and richness in sites with low POF cover, whereas snake richness and abundance were higher in sites with high POF cover. Our study suggests that POF conversion to AO is a driver favoring the persistence and success of generalist but not specialist herpetofauna species. Therefore, to conserve the diversity of amphibians and reptiles in these agroecosystems, it is important to ensure high proportion of POF patches.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Parent–Child Joint Behaviors in Novel Object Play Create High‐Quality Data for Word Learning
Authors: Chen Chi‐hsin , Houston Derek M. , Yu Chen
Published: August 2021

This research takes a dyadic approach to study early word learning and focuses on toddlers’ (N = 20, age: 17–23 months)information seekingand parents’information providingbehaviors and the ways the two are coupled in real‐time parent–child interactions. Using head‐mounted eye tracking, this study provides the first detailed comparison of children’s and their parents’ behavioral and attentional patterns in two free‐play contexts: one with novel objects with to‐be‐learned names (Learning condition) and the other with familiar objects with known names (Play condition). Children and parents in the Learning condition modified their individual and joint behaviors when encountering novel objects with to‐be‐learned names, which created clearer signals that reduced referential ambiguity and potentially facilitated word learning.
Clinical, genetic, and histological features of centronuclear myopathy in the Netherlands
Authors: Reumers Stacha F. I. , Erasmus Corrie E. , Bouman Karlijn , Pennings Maartje , Schouten Meyke , Kusters Benno , Duijkers Floor A. M. , van der Kooi Anneke , Jaeger Bregje , Verschuuren‐Bemelmans Corien C. , Faber Catharina G. , van Engelen Baziel G. , Kamsteeg Erik‐Jan , Jungbluth Heinz , Voermans Nicol C.
Published: August 2021

Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) is a genetically heterogeneous congenital myopathy characterized by muscle weakness, atrophy, and variable degrees of cardiorespiratory involvement. The clinical severity is largely explained by genotype (DNM2, MTM1, RYR1, BIN1, TTN, and other rarer genetic backgrounds), specific mutation(s), and age of the patient. The histopathological hallmark of CNM is the presence of internal centralized nuclei on muscle biopsy. Information on the phenotypical spectrum, subtype prevalence, and phenotype–genotype correlations is limited. To characterize CNM more comprehensively, we retrospectively assessed a national cohort of 48 CNM patients (mean age = 32 ± 24 years, range 0–80, 54% males) from the Netherlands clinically, histologically, and genetically. All information was extracted from entries in the patient's medical records, between 2000 and 2020. Frequent clinical features in addition to muscle weakness and hypotonia were fatigue and exercise intolerance in more mildly affected cases. Genetic analysis showed variants in four genes (18 DNM2, 14 MTM1, 9 RYR1, and 7 BIN1), including 16 novel variants. In addition to central nuclei, histologic examination revealed a large variability of myopathic features in the different genotypes. The identification and characterization of these patients contribute to trial readiness.
Role of the CCL2‐CCR2 signalling axis in cancer: Mechanisms and therapeutic targeting
Authors: Xu Maosen , Wang Yang , Xia Ruolan , Wei Yuquan , Wei Xiawei
Published: August 2021

The chemokine ligand CCL2 and its receptor CCR2 are implicated in the initiation and progression of various cancers. CCL2 can activate tumour cell growth and proliferation through a variety of mechanisms. By interacting with CCR2, CCL2 promotes cancer cell migration and recruits immunosuppressive cells to the tumour microenvironment, favouring cancer development. Over the last several decades, a series of studies have been conducted to explore the CCL2‐CCR2 signalling axis function in malignancies. Therapeutic strategies targeting the CCL2‐ CCR2 axis have also shown promising effects, enriching our approaches for fighting against cancer. In this review, we summarize the role of the CCL2‐CCR2 signalling axis in tumorigenesis and highlight recent studies on CCL2‐CCR2 targeted therapy, focusing on preclinical studies and clinical trials.
Absence of effect of steady state bempedoic acid on cardiac repolarization: Results of a thorough QT/QTc study in healthy volunteers
Authors: Amore Benny M. , Cramer Clay T. , MacDougall Diane E. , Sasiela William J. , Emery Maurice G.
Published: August 2021

Bempedoic acid is an inhibitor of adenosine triphosphate–citrate lyase approved for use in adults with hypercholesterolemia. Nonclinical studies assessed binding to the human ether‐a‐go‐go–related gene (hERG) potassium channel in vitro and the effect of bempedoic acid on QT/QTc in cynomolgus monkeys. A randomized, double‐blind, parallel‐design clinical study assessed the effects of steady‐state bempedoic acid at a supratherapeutic dose (240 mg/day, 33.3% higher the180 mg/day therapeutic dose), placebo, and moxifloxacin (400 mg) in healthy subjects. In vitro binding potency for bempedoic acid to the hERG potassium channel was weak, with half‐maximal inhibition (IC50) estimated at greater than 1000 μM (>1670‐fold the bempedoic acid 180 mg/day steady‐state unbound maximum concentration). In monkeys, individual rate‐corrected QT intervals showed no time‐ or dose‐dependent changes up to 100 mg/kg of bempedoic acid. In human subjects, the upper 90% confidence interval (CI) for the difference in QTc interval, corrected using Fridericia’s formula (QTcF), between bempedoic acid and placebo was less than 5 msec at all time points. Concentration‐QTcF analysis showed that maximum bempedoic acid concentration at steady‐state was attained at a median 2.1 h postdose, and the predicted mean change (90% CI) in QTcF at the observed mean bempedoic acid concentration 2 h postdose was −0.5 (−5.0, 4.0) msec. The lower bound of the moxifloxacin 90% CI exceeded 5 msec at prespecified time points, establishing study sensitivity. Steady‐state bempedoic acid at a supratherapeutic dose of 240 mg was generally well‐tolerated and not associated with QTc prolongation in healthy subjects.
Upadacitinib pharmacokinetics and exposure‐response analyses of efficacy and safety in psoriatic arthritis patients – Analyses of phase III clinical trials
Authors: Muensterman Elena , Engelhardt Benjamin , Gopalakrishnan Sathej , Anderson Jaclyn K. , Mohamed Mohamed‐Eslam F.
Published: August 2021

Upadacitinib is an oral Janus kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and recently approved by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The efficacy and safety profile of upadacitinib in PsA have been established in the SELECT‐PsA program in two global phase III studies, which evaluated upadacitinib 15 and 30 mg q.d. The analyses described here characterized upadacitinib pharmacokinetics and exposure‐response relationships for efficacy and safety endpoints using data from the SELECT‐PsA studies. Upadacitinib pharmacokinetics in patients with PsA were characterized through a Bayesian population analysis approach and were comparable to pharmacokinetics in patients with RA. Exposure‐response relationships for key efficacy and safety endpoints were characterized using data from 1916 patients with PsA. The percentage of patients achieving efficacy endpoints at week 12 (American College of Rheumatology [ACR]50 and ACR70), 16 and 24 (sIGA0/1) increased with increasing upadacitinib average plasma concentration over a dosing interval, whereas no clear exposure‐response trend was observed for ACR20 at week 12 or ACR20/50/70 at week 24 within the range of plasma exposures evaluated in the phase III PsA studies. No clear trends for exposure‐response relationships were identified for experiencing pneumonia, herpes zoster infection, hemoglobin less than 8 g/dl, lymphopenia (grade ≥ 3), or neutropenia (grade ≥ 3) after 24 weeks of treatment. Shallow relationships with plasma exposures were observed for serious infections and hemoglobin decrease greater than 2 g/dl from baseline at week 24. Based on exposure‐response analyses, the upadacitinib 15 mg q.d. regimen is predicted to achieve robust efficacy in patients with PsA and to be associated with limited incidences of reductions in hemoglobin or occurrence of serious infections.
Extinction risk is linked to lifestyle in freshwater gastropods
Authors: Neubauer Thomas A. , Georgopoulou Elisavet
Published: August 2021

Aim

Freshwater ecosystems and their biota are severely endangered by global change today, and predicted extinction levels are skyrocketing for many taxa. Most studies have focused on entire clades, while approaches testing for selective extinction risk with respect to ecological traits are rare. As studies are typically based on modern faunas, the generality of the detected patterns in the context of the current biodiversity crisis remains uncertain. We use a dataset of fossil and modern freshwater gastropods to investigate extinction probability in dependence of lifestyle and geographic distribution.

Location

Europe, Miocene to present‐day.

Methods

We performed generalized linear mixed modelling to test for a relationship between extinction probability and taxonomic group (Caenogastropoda vs. Hygrophila, reflecting different lifestyles) and range size, while using time as random effect. Extinction and survival of modern representatives was predicted based on IUCN conservation status. To identify the types of faunas with elevated extinction risk with respect to lifestyle, we tested for a relationship between the proportion of Caenogastropoda and lake surface area and geological duration using generalized linear models.

Results

We found a clear relationship between extinction likelihood and lifestyle, which is linked to differences in range sizes and is independent of geological time. Caenogastropoda are more prone to go extinct. A strong positive relationship between the proportion of Caenogastropoda and geological duration was found, showing that Caenogastropoda are more dominant in long‐lived lakes.

Main conclusions

The elevated extinction risk of caenogastropods is linked to their smaller geographic ranges, which reflects their comparably poor colonization ability, and urges enhanced conservation efforts. Their high diversity and high degree of endemism in long‐lived lakes render, especially these archives of evolution important conservators of biodiversity. As most of these lakes are under severe anthropogenic pressure, concerted conservation measures are needed to ensure the survival of their unique biota.
Research priorities for children with neurological impairment and medical complexity in high‐income countries
Authors: Diskin Catherine , Malik Kristina , Gill Peter J , Rashid Nada , Chan Carol Y , Nelson Katherine E , Thomson Joanna , Berry Jay , Agrawal Rishi , Orkin Julia , Cohen Eyal
Published: August 2021

Aim

To identify the highest‐priority clinical research areas related to children with neurological impairment and medical complexity among clinicians and caregivers.

Method

A modified, three‐stage Delphi study using online surveys and guided by a steering committee was completed. In round 1, clinicians and family caregivers suggested clinical topics and related questions that require research to support this subgroup of children. After refinement of the suggestions by the steering committee, participants contributed to 1 (family caregivers) or 2 (clinicians) subsequent rounds to develop a prioritized list.

Results

A diverse international expert panel consisting of 49 clinicians and 12 family caregivers provided 601 responses. Responses were distilled into 26 clinical topics comprising 126 related questions. The top clinical topics prioritized for research were irritability and pain, child mental health, disorders of tone, polypharmacy, sleep, aspiration, behavior, dysautonomia, and feeding intolerance. The clinician expert panel also prioritized 10 specific research questions.

Interpretation

Study findings support a research agenda for children with neurological impairment and medical complexity focused on addressing clinical questions, prioritized by an international group of clinicians and caregivers.
Evolution of Jigsaw ‐ a National Youth Mental Health Service
Authors: O'Reilly Aileen , O'Brien Gillian , Moore Jeff , Duffy Joseph , Longmore Paul , Cullinan Sarah , McGrory Siobhán
Published: August 2021

Aim

There has been a global movement towards transformation of youth mental health services, but limited information on the core principles and characteristics of these new services is available. Jigsaw is one such service, established in Ireland in 2006, with the intent of creating change in Ireland's system of mental healthcare for 12–25 year olds. The aim of this paper is to describe the evolution of Jigsaw services, which are now firmly embedded in the Irish system of care for young people, and recognized internationally as an established service network.

Methods

This paper describes provides an up‐to‐date description of the Jigsaw service model, key areas of evolution that have shaped this model, and identifies future directions in service development.

Results

Key attributes of the Jigsaw service model including therapeutic service, scope of practice, youth mental health promotion, youth participation, and monitoring/evaluation are described in this paper. Information on key enablers (funding and governance/quality) and service providers is also included.

Conclusions

Information on the core principles and characteristics of youth mental health services is important. This paper addresses a gap in the literature by describing the Jigsaw service model, which continues to evolve so that it is responsive to the needs of young people.