bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oncogenic RAS commandeers amino acid sensing machinery to aberrantly activate mTORC1 in multiple myeloma
Authors: Yang Yandan , Oellerich Thomas , Chen Ping , Bolomsky Arnold , Ceribelli Michele , Häupl Björn , Wright George W. , Phelan James D. , Huang Da Wei , Lord James W. , Van Winkle Callie K. , Yu Xin , Wisnieski Jan , Wang James Q. , Tosto Frances A. , Beck Erin , Wilson Kelli , McKnight Crystal , Travers Jameson , Klumpp-Thomas Carleen , Smith Grace A. , Pittaluga Stefania , Maric Irina , Kazandjian Dickran , Thomas Craig J. , Young Ryan M.
Published: November 2021

Oncogenic mutations within the RAS pathway are common in multiple myeloma (MM), an incurable malignancy of plasma cells. However, the mechanisms of pathogenic RAS signaling in this disease remain enigmatic and difficult to inhibit therapeutically. We employed an unbiased proteogenomic approach to dissect RAS signaling in MM by combining genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening with quantitative mass spectrometry focused on RAS biology. We discovered that mutant isoforms of RAS organized a signaling complex with the amino acid transporter, SLC3A2, and MTOR on endolysosomes, which directly activated mTORC1 by co-opting amino acid sensing pathways. MM tumors with high expression of mTORC1-dependent genes were more aggressive and enriched in RAS mutations, and we detected interactions between RAS and MTOR in MM patient tumors harboring mutant RAS isoforms. Inhibition of RAS-dependent mTORC1 activity synergized with MEK and ERK inhibitors to quench pathogenic RAS signaling in MM cells. This study redefines the RAS pathway in MM and provides a mechanistic and rational basis to target this novel mode of RAS signaling.
Optimizing multiplexed imaging experimental design through tissue spatial segregation estimation
Authors: Bost Pierre , Schulz Daniel , Engler Stefanie , Wasserfall Clive , Bodenmiller Bernd
Published: November 2021

Recent advances in multiplexed imaging methods allow simultaneous detection of dozens of proteins and hundreds of RNAs enabling deep spatial characterization of both healthy and diseased tissues. Parameters for design of optimal sequencing-based experiments have been established, but such parameters, especially those estimating how much area has to be imaged to capture all cell phenotype clusters, are lacking for multiplex imaging studies. Here, using a spatial transcriptomic atlas of healthy and tumor human tissues, we developed a new statistical framework that determines the number and area of fields of view necessary to accurately identify all cell types that are part of a tissue. Using this strategy on imaging mass cytometry data, we identified a measurement of tissue spatial segregation that enables optimal experimental design. This strategy will enable significantly improved design of multiplexed imaging studies.
Joint Learning of Full-structure Noise in Hierarchical Bayesian Regression Models
Authors: Hashemi Ali , Cai Chang , Gao Yijing , Ghosh Sanjay , Müller Klaus-Robert , Nagarajan Srikantan S. , Haufe Stefan
Published: November 2021

We consider the reconstruction of brain activity from electroencephalography (EEG). This inverse problem can be formulated as a linear regression with independent Gaussian scale mixture priors for both the source and noise components. Crucial factors influencing the accuracy of the source estimation are not only the noise level but also its correlation structure, but existing approaches have not addressed the estimation of noise covariance matrices with full structure. To address this shortcoming, we develop hierarchical Bayesian (type-II maximum likelihood) models for observations with latent variables for source and noise, which are estimated jointly from data. As an extension to classical sparse Bayesian learning (SBL), where across-sensor observations are assumed to be independent and identically distributed, we consider Gaussian noise with full covariance structure. Using the majorization-maximization framework and Riemannian geometry, we derive an efficient algorithm for updating the noise covariance along the manifold of positive definite matrices. We demonstrate that our algorithm has guaranteed and fast convergence and validate it in simulations and with real MEG data. Our results demonstrate that the novel framework significantly improves upon state-of-the-art techniques in the real-world scenario where the noise is indeed non-diagonal and full-structured. Our method has applications in many domains beyond biomagnetic inverse problems.
Processing of oxidatively damaged DNA dirty ends by APE1
Authors: Whitaker Amy M. , Stark Wesley J. , Freudenthal Bret D.
Published: November 2021

Reactive oxygen species attack the structure of DNA, thus altering its base-pairing properties. Consequently, oxidative stress-associated DNA lesions are a major source of the mutation load that gives rise to cancer and other diseases. Base excision repair (BER) is the pathway primarily tasked with repairing DNA base damage, with apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE1) having both AP-endonuclease and 3’ to 5’ exonuclease (exo) DNA cleavage functions. The lesion 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG) can enter the genome as either a product of direct damage to the DNA, or through polymerase insertion at the 3’-end of a DNA strand during replication or repair. Importantly, 3’-8-oxoG impairs the ligation step of BER and therefore must be removed by the exo activity of a surrogate enzyme to prevent double stranded breaks and cell death. In the present study, we characterize the exo activity of APE1 on 3’-8-oxoG substrates. These structures demonstrate that APE1 uses a unified mechanism for its exo activities that differs from its more canonical AP-endonuclease activity. In addition, through complementation of the structural data with enzyme kinetics and binding studies employing both wild-type and rationally designed APE1 mutants, we were able to identify and characterize unique protein:DNA contacts that specifically mediate 8-oxoG removal by APE1.
A case series of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections caused by the variant of concern Gamma in Brazil
Authors: Naveca Felipe Gomes , Nascimento Valdinete Alves , Nascimento Fernanda , Ogrzewalska Maria , Pauvolid-Corrêa Alex , Araujo Mia Ferreira , Arantes Ighor , Rocha Batista Érika Lopes , Álvares Magalhães Alessandro Leonardo , Vinhal Fernando , Mattos Tirza Peixoto , Riediger Irina , Carmo Debur Maria do , Grinsztejn Beatriz , Veloso Valdiléa G , Brasil Patricia , Rodrigues Rodrigo Ribeiro , Rovaris Darcita Buerger , Fernandes Sandra Bianchini , Fernandes Cristiano , Abdalla Santos João Hugo , Abdalla Lígia Fernandes , Costa-Filho Rubens , Silva Marineide , Souza Victor , Costa Ágatha Araújo , Mejía Matilde , Brandão Maria Júlia , Gonçalves Luciana Fé , Silva George Allan , de Jesus Michele Silva , Pessoa Karina , Guerra Corado André de Lima , Gomes Duarte Debora Camila , Machado Ana Beatriz , de Azevedo Zukeram Ketiuce , Valente Natalia , Lopes Renata Serrano , Pereira Elisa Cavalcante , Appolinario Luciana Reis , Rocha Alice Sampaio , Lopez Tort Luis Fernando , Sekizuka Tsuyoshi , Itokawa Kentaro , Hashino Masanori , Kuroda Makoto , Wallau Gabriel Luz , Delatorre Edson , Gräf Tiago , Siqueira Marilda Mendonça , Bello Gonzalo , Resende Paola Cristina
Published: November 2021

The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern (VOC) Gamma during late 2020 and early 2021 in Brazilian settings with high seroprevalence raised some concern about the potential role of reinfections in driving the epidemic. Very few cases of reinfection associated with the VOC Gamma, however, have been reported. Here we describe 25 cases of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection confirmed by real-time RT-PCR twice within months apart in Brazil. SARS-CoV-2 genomic analysis confirmed that individuals were primo-infected between March and December 2020 with distinct viral lineages, including B.1.1, B.1.1.28, B.1.1.33, B.1.195 and P.2, and then reinfected with the VOC Gamma between 3 to 12 months after primo-infection. The overall mean cycle threshold (Ct) value of the first (25.7) and second (24.5) episodes were roughly similar for the whole group and 14 individuals displayed mean Ct values < 25.0 at reinfection. Sera of 14 patients tested by plaque reduction neutralization test after reinfection displayed detectable neutralizing antibodies against Gamma and other SARS-CoV-2 variants (B.1.33, B.1.1.28 and Delta). All individuals have milder or no symptoms after reinfection and none required hospitalization. The present study demonstrates that the VOC Gamma was associated with reinfections during the second Brazilian epidemic wave in 2021 and raised concern about the potential infectiousness of reinfected subjects. Although individuals here analyzed failed to mount a long-term sterilizing immunity, they developed a high anti-Gamma neutralizing antibody response after reinfection that may provide some protection against severe disease.
Respiratory symptoms of Swiss people with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia
Authors: Goutaki Myrofora , Hüsler Leonie , Lam Yin Ting , Koppe Helena M. , Jung Andreas , Lazor Romain , Müller Loretta ,   Swiss PCD research group, Pedersen Eva SL , Kuehni Claudia E.
Published: November 2021

Background

Mostly derived from chart reviews, where symptoms are recorded in a nonstandardised manner, clinical data about primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are inconsistent, which leads to missing and unreliable information. We assessed the prevalence and frequency of respiratory symptoms and studied differences by age and sex among an unselected population of Swiss people with PCD.

Methods

We sent a questionnaire that included items from the FOLLOW-PCD standardised questionnaire to all Swiss PCD registry participants.

Results

We received questionnaires from 74 out of 86 (86%) invited persons or their caregivers (age range: 3–73 years; median age: 23), including 68% adults (≥18 years) and 51% females. Among participants, 70 (94%) reported chronic nasal symptoms, most frequently runny nose (65%), blocked nose (55%), or anosmia (38%). Ear pain and hearing problems were reported by 58% of the participants. Almost all (99%) reported cough and sputum production. The most common chronic cough complications were gastroesophageal reflux (n=11; 15%), vomiting (n=8; 11%), and urinary incontinence (n=6; 8%). Only 9 participants (12%) reported frequent wheeze, which occurred mainly during infection or exercise, while 49 persons (66%) reported shortness of breath; 9% even at rest or during daily activities. Older patients reported more frequent nasal symptoms and shortness of breath. We found no difference by sex or ultrastructural ciliary defect.

Conclusion

This is the first study that describes patient-reported PCD symptoms. The consistent collection of standardised clinical data will allow us to better characterise the phenotypic variability of the disease and study disease course and prognosis.

Take home message

Detailed information about patient-reported PCD symptoms will help characterise the phenotypic variability of the disease and could inform the development of individualised treatment strategies for patients.
Modelling the effect of the interaction between vaccination and non-pharmaceutical measures on COVID-19 incidence
Authors: Canga Atsegine , Bidegain Gorka
Published: November 2021

Since December 2019, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly from Wuhan (China) across the globe, affecting more than 200 countries by mid-2021, with over 190 M reported cases and around 4 M fatalities. During the first year of the pandemic, affected countries implemented a variety of non-pharmaceutical interventions to control virus transmission. In December 2020, countries started administering several authorised vaccines under a limited supply scenario. In this context, the aim of this study was to develop a SEIR-type continuous-time deterministic disease model, to determine the impact of interaction between different vaccination scenarios and levels of protection measures on disease incidence. For this, the model incorporates (i) a protection measure including low (self-protection), medium (mobility limitation), high (closure of indoor facilities) and very high (lockdown) protection levels, (ii) quarantine for confirmed cases, and (iii) vaccination rate and efficacy of four type of vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca or Janssen). The model was verified and evaluated using the response timeline and vaccination strategies and rates in the Basque Country (N. Spain). Once the model performance was validated, different initial phase (when 30% of the population is vaccinated) vaccination scenarios were simulated, including (i) a realistic vaccine limited supply scenario, and (ii) four potential full vaccine supply scenarios where a unique vaccine type is administered. Some differences in disease incidence were found between vaccination scenarios for low and medium-level protection measures. However, regardless of the administered vaccine, a high-level protection scenario is the most effective to control the virus transmission and disease mortality in the studied initial phase of vaccination. The results obtained here may vary in further studies since there may be some unpredictable factors/covariates. With this in mind, the model here could be easily applied to other regions or countries, modifying the strategies implemented and initial conditions.
Structural insights into the mechanism of nucleotide regulation of pancreatic KATP channel
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Wu Jing-Xiang , Ding Dian , Duan Xinli , Ma Songling , Lai Lipeng , Chen Lei
Published: November 2021

ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) are metabolic sensors that convert the intracellular ATP/ADP ratio to the excitability of cells. They are involved in many physiological processes and implicated in several human diseases. Here we present the cryo-EM structures of the pancreatic KATP channel in both the closed state and the pre-open state, resolved in the same sample. The nucleotides bind at the inhibitory sites of the Kir6.2 channel in the closed state but not in the pre-open state. Structural comparisons reveal the mechanism for ATP inhibition and Mg-ADP activation, two fundamental properties of KATP channels. Moreover, the structure also uncovers the activation mechanism of diazoxide-type KATP openers.
The effect of consumer resistance to innovation on innovation adoption: the moderating role of customer loyalty
Authors: Sun Yang , Ding Wenmei , Weng Chen , Cheah Isaac , Cai Helen Huifen
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to construct a relationship model between the consumer resistance to innovation (CRI) and innovation adoption, and the study selected the customer loyalty as the moderating variable.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on questionnaire survey and regression model analysis, the study analyses the psychological processes and formation mechanisms that they either resist or adopt innovation by exploring users' attitudes towards smartphone application updates.

Findings

The results showed that innovation resistance negatively affected innovation adoption, and consumers are more likely to adopt innovations simply under the influence of customer loyalty. In addition, the moderating effect of customer loyalty is different in that how the three dimensions of innovation resistance influence innovation adoption. From the perspective of affective response, when consumers become emotionally disgusted with innovative products, loyalty can hardly change their minds. When consumers' resistance to innovation comes more from cognitive evaluation or functioning, loyalty is more likely to change their resistance.

Originality/value

The paper tests mechanism between customer resist the new product and new product adoption and the moderate effect of customer loyalty.
Profiling food festivals by type, name and descriptive content: a population level study
Authors: Kesgin Muhammet , Murthy Rajendran , Lagiewski Rick
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This research aims to classify and describe food festivals and examine the patterns in food festival naming and festival descriptions in online media.

Design/methodology/approach

This research represents the first population-level empirical examination of food festivals in the United States using a purpose-built dataset (N = 2,626). Methodology includes text mining to examine food festival communications.

Findings

Food festival size varies across local and regional spheres within the country. Food festivals employ geographical (place-, destination-based) associations in their names. Food festivals' descriptions and online communications showcase a welcoming environment predominantly emphasizing family-oriented and live entertainment experiences. Food festivals across the country show common naming patterns based on the elements of longevity, recurrence, location name, brand name, geographic scope, theme, and occasion.

Originality/value

The study makes an original contribution to the theory and practice by identifying festival forms, styles, functions, and their diversity. A population level examination of food festivals does not currently exist. Therefore, this research will serve as a foundation for scholarly work in the future and as a benchmark for evaluating current and future research.
Characterization of the shopping preferences and needs of low-income consumers living in food deserts
Authors: Mogil Samantha , Hill Evanah , Quinlan Jennifer
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Lack of access to supermarkets and fresh produce continues to be a problem for low income consumers in many countries. The purpose of this research was to identify the shopping preferences and needs of such consumers in the Eastern U.S. Additionally, the research sought to determine the interest and preferences of low income consumers in a mobile grocery intervention which would provide neighborhoods with a consistent, convenient shopping experience.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed methods approach included conducting focus groups in low-income neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. and a quantitative survey (n = 202) administered via Survey Monkey to low-income consumers. Thematic analysis was conducted on focus group data and surveys were administered and analyzed to assess applicability of themes identified to consumers over a larger geographic area.

Findings

Results indicated that consumers in food desert neighborhoods reported an interest in purchasing a wide range of food staples, household goods, and personal items from any shopping intervention. Participants indicated a need for a more convenient overall shopping experience for a range of foods and goods in addition to fresh food choices. Findings indicate that mobile interventions to increase food access may benefit from expanding products available through the intervention beyond fresh produce and perishable goods.

Originality/value

This research explored purchasing preferences with low income consumers living in food deserts. It identifies products and goods they would prefer to see in an intervention to increase food access and is unique in that it explores the wants and preferences of consumers living in food deserts.
Children’s menus in shopping centre restaurants: a multicentric study
Authors: Viegas Cláudia , Lima João , Afonso Cláudia , Toth András Jozsef , Bálint Illés Csaba , Bittsánszky András , Šatalić Zvonimir , Vidaček Filipec Sanja , Fabijanic Valeria , Duran Samuel , Torres Jairo Alonso , Spinelli Monica , Matias Andrea , Souza Pinto Ana Maria , Rocha Ada
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study is to identify and characterize kids' menu offer in fast-food and traditional restaurants located in shopping centres in five different countries.

Design/methodology/approach

An observational cross-sectional study is carried out, though a study was performed in all restaurants located in shopping centres from main cities, in five countries: Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Hungary and Portugal. A tool for assessing the quality of menus is used for the analysis (Kids Menu Healthy Score (KIMEHS)). Menu prices between countries were compared.

Findings

A total of 192 kids' menus were collected, 44 in Portugal, 57 in Brazil, 66 in Chile, 15 in Hungary and 10 in Croatia. All the countries have average negative KIMEHS values for the menus, indicating that the offer is generally poor in terms of healthy options. The cost of children's menus in European countries is generally low. In Brazil, the price is significantly more expensive, which may limit the accessibility by social economically deprived populations. No significant differences were found in the average cost of meals from different restaurants typology. Traditional/Western restaurants present the highest price.

Practical implications

Globally, kids' menus are composed by unhealthy food items, pointing to the need of improvements in food availability, aiming to promote healthy food habits among children.

Originality/value

This study presents innovative data on children's menus, allowing for characterization of meals offered to children and comparison between different countries.

Key points

Kids’ menus are composed by unhealthy food items.

Improvement of kids' menus quality will promote children food habits.

Healthier out-of-home food consumption will contribute to public health.
Brain drain in microfinance institutions: the role of gender and organizational factors
Authors: Nourani Mohammad , Mia Md Aslam , Saifullah Md. Khaled , Ahmad Noor Hazlina
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Uncontrollable brain drain (employees’ turnover) has been found to hamper humanitarian and sustainable objectives of socially oriented organizations. Hence, this study aims to explore the roles of gender and organizational-level factors on the rate of employees’ turnover in microfinance institutions (MFIs).

Design/methodology/approach

The study used an unbalanced panel data of 235 MFIs spanning the period 2010–2019. Based on the availability of the required data set on the World Bank catalogue (in collaboration with Microfinance Information Exchange-MIX Market), this study covers four South Asian countries, namely, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Then, the authors analyzed the data using the conventional panel data regression techniques (e.g. fixed effects model and random effects model).

Findings

The regression results revealed that women leaders (board members) could significantly reduce the employee turnover rate of MFIs. Although the efficiency wage hypothesis is supported in this study, it depends on the profit orientation of the MFIs. This study also confirmed that financial sustainability and donations have helped MFIs to reduce their employees’ turnover, which reiterates the image and brand value effect of MFIs. Moreover, the overall gender development and legal status (e.g. Bank and Non-Bank Financial Institutions) have also been found to have an effect on employees’ turnover based on the sub-sample analysis.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study is among the first to investigate the impact of gender and institutional characteristics on employees’ turnover based on a large and recent panel dataset from selected South Asian countries.
Segmenting children’s active school travel behaviour: insights on caregivers’ perceived risks and social norms
Authors: Saleme Pamela , Pang Bo
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Active school travel (AST) programmes aim to change commuting behaviour to improve children's physical and mental health. However, very limited health education programmes for children use segmentation to create tailored solutions that understand the specific characteristics of each group of children and their caregivers in order to yield better results. The aim of this study is to use a statistical segmentation analysis (two-step cluster analysis) to gain insights on the examination of specific groups to design future health education interventions and campaigns that can improve children's health.

Design/methodology/approach

Guided by the Ecological and Cognitive Active Commuting (ECAC) framework, a market segmentation analysis was performed. An online survey was designed to collect data from caregivers of children between 5 and 12 years attending school and responsible for taking the child to and/or from school in Victoria and Queensland, Australia. Using 3,082 responses collected from Australian caregivers of primary school children, a two-step cluster analysis was performed.

Findings

Analysis revealed the most important variables for group formation were previous child walking behaviour, distance from school and caregiver income. Perceived risk of the physical environment was the most important psychographic segmentation variable for group formation, followed by social norms. Four distinct groups with different characteristics were identified from the analysis.

Originality/value

This is the first study that applies the ECAC framework to perform market segmentation in the AST context. Results revealed four market segments that demand different tailored solutions. Findings shed light on how to better design AST interventions and campaigns to promote children's health using segmentation techniques.
Women’s health concern in Jordan: knowledge, practice and barriers toward cervical cancer screening
Authors: Maabreh Roqia Saleem , Al-Husban Raya Yousef , Al-Akash Hekmat Yousef , Al-Shdayfat Noha
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most important health issues faced by women worldwide. The purpose of this study is to identify Jordanian women’s knowledge, barriers and measures pertaining to risk factors and screening choices of CC (Pap smear tests).

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied a cross sectional design by collecting data from a convenient sample of 200 women between 20 and 70 years of age in health and public centers in Jordan. Data was then analyzed using the descriptive statistical tools of SPSS, version 21.

Findings

The findings revealed that 55.5% of the participants had no information about the Pap smear, and 75% did not know the risk factors. Moreover, 50% of the sample did not know where to take the test, and 50% reported a lack of encouragement from the husband to undertake the test. More than half of the participants (56.5%) expressed fear that cervical screening would be a painful examination even though they reported not having any previous experience with the test.

Originality/value

Based on these findings, public education about CC screening is essential, including advertising and a campaign similar to the breast cancer awareness programs in Jordan, as a way of encouraging early screening to improve the health of women.
Corporate social responsibility disclosure and information asymmetry: does boardroom attributes matter?
Authors: Hamrouni Amal , Bouattour Mondher , Ben Farhat Toumi Nadia , Boussaada Rim
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The current study aims to investigate the relation between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and information asymmetry, as well as the moderating effect of board characteristics (gender diversity, size and independence) on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a panel data regression analysis with the system generalized method of moments (SGMM) estimator of nonfinancial French firms included in the SBF 120 index. The environmental and social disclosure scores are collected from the Bloomberg database, while financial data are collected from the FactSet database.

Findings

The empirical results demonstrate that environmental disclosure has a positive impact on the level of information asymmetry, while social disclosure has no effect on the information environment. Gender diversity and board independence negatively impact the opacity index, while board size has a positive effect. The presence of women in board composition has a substitution effect on the relationship between environmental disclosure and information asymmetry. There is no moderating effect of board size on the association between CSR disclosure and information asymmetry. However, the proportion of independent female directors and board independence operates as substitutes to social disclosure on reducing information asymmetry.

Research limitations/implications

Although the models include the most common control variables used in the literature, they omit some variables. Second, the results should be interpreted with caution and should not be generalized to the entire stock market since the sample is based on large French companies.

Practical implications

The results of this study may be of interest to managers, investors and French market authorities since France is characterized by highly developed laws and reforms in the area of CSR. In addition, the paper leads to a better understanding of how women on the board, in particular, independent female directors, affect the relationship between CSR disclosure and information asymmetry. This could be of interest to French authorities, which has encouraged the appointment of women through the adoption of the Copé–Zimmermann law.

Originality/value

First, to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore the moderating effect of board characteristics on the relationship between CSR and information asymmetry. Second, unlike previous studies using individual proxies to measure information asymmetry, the authors favor the opacity index of Andersonet al.(2009). They calculate this index by including a fifth individual measure, namely, share price volatility. The opacity index better describes the information environment of companies than individual measures since it reflects the perceptions of investors and analysts together.
Organizing subject access to cultural heritage in Swedish online museums
Authors: Golub Koraljka , Ziolkowski Pawel Michal , Zlodi Goran
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The study aims to paint a representative picture of the current state of search interfaces of Swedish online museum collections, focussing on search functionalities with particular reference to subject searching, as well as the use of controlled vocabularies, with the purpose of identifying which improvements of the search interfaces are needed to ensure high-quality information retrieval for the end user.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first step, a set of 21 search interface criteria was identified, based on related research and current standards in the domain of cultural heritage knowledge organization. Secondly, a complete set of Swedish museums that provide online access to their collections was identified, comprising nine cross-search services and 91 individual museums' websites. These 100 websites were each evaluated against the 21 criteria, between 1 July and 31 August 2020.

Findings

Although many standards and guidelines are in place to ensure quality-controlled subject indexing, which in turn support information retrieval of relevant resources (as individual or full search results), the study shows that they are not broadly implemented, resulting in information retrieval failures for the end user. The study also demonstrates a strong need for the implementation of controlled vocabularies in these museums.

Originality/value

This study is a rare piece of research which examines subject searching in online museums; the 21 search criteria and their use in the analysis of the complete set of online collections of a country represents a considerable and unique contribution to the fields of knowledge organization and information retrieval of cultural heritage. Its particular value lies in showing how the needs of end users, many of which are documented and reflected in international standards and guidelines, should be taken into account in designing search tools for these museums; especially so in subject searching, which is the most complex and yet the most common type of search. Much effort has been invested into digitizing cultural heritage collections, but access to them is hindered by poor search functionality. This study identifies which are the most important aspects to improve.
Re-exploring entrepreneurial intentions and personality attributes during a pandemic
Authors: Cater John James , Young Marilyn , Al-Shammari Marwan , James Kevin
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Using the theory of planned behavior as a theoretical base, this study aims to examine the effect of the personality attributes, risk-taking, creativity and locus of control on the entrepreneurial intentions of US business college students. The authors replicated previous studies from around the world but performed the research during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed 353 students, comparing those with entrepreneurial intentions (n = 213) versus those without entrepreneurial intentions (n = 140).

Findings

The authors found that risk-taking and creativity both significantly and positively predicted entrepreneurial intentions, but locus of control did not have a significant impact.

Practical implications

Contextually, the authors performed this study during the widespread complications of the Covid-19 pandemic. The authors advise business educators to initiate programs that encourage student entrepreneurship by nurturing creativity and offering educational resources that assist students in reducing the perceived risk of entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

The authors seek to increase awareness among business educators of the significance of entrepreneurship as a desirable career. The authors believe that one impact from the Covid-19 pandemic has been an expanded interest among students to start their own businesses. The authors propose that creative measures introduced into the business school curriculum by business educators will enhance students’ desire to take risks to create their own businesses.
Selective exposure to COVID-19 vaccination information: the influence of prior attitude, perceived threat level and information limit
Authors: Li Ke , Li Yujia , Zhang Pengyi
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The massive amount of available information and functionality of the Internet makes selective information seeking effortless. This paper aims to understand the selective exposure to information during a health decision-making task.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted an experiment with a sample of 36 students to examine the influence of prior attitude, perceived threat level and information limit on users’ selective exposure to and recall of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination information. Participants were assigned to two conditions with or without an upper limit of the number of articles to be examined, and this study collected the number of articles read, the number of articles included in the report and recall score of the articles after one day of the experiment.

Findings

This study found that (1) participants with a negative attitude were more inclined to view attitude-consistent information and recalled attitude-consistent information more accurately, while participants with a positive attitude viewed more balanced information; (2) participants perceiving higher health threat level recalled attitude-consistent information more accurately; and (3) an upper limit on the number of articles to be viewed does not have any impact on selective exposure.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this paper pinpoint the disparity of influence of positive and negative attitudes on selective exposure to and selective recall of health information, which was not previously recognized.

Practical implications

Vaccination campaigns should focus on reaching people with negative attitudes who are more prone to selective exposure to encourage them to seek more balanced information.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to explore selective exposure to COVID-19 vaccination information. This study found that people with a negative attitude and a higher level of perceived health threat are more prone to selective exposure, which was not found in previous research.
Financial inclusion, corporate social responsibility and firm performance – analysis of interactive relationship
Authors: Bhattacharyya Asit , Khan Mahbub
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Prior studies on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and performance have frequently used unidirectional, single-equation regression although the literature recommends the reciprocal association of CSR with firm performance. This paper aims to elucidate the interactive relationship of CSR spending with financial inclusion (FI) and firm performance. The study also explores the moderating impact of the level of FI on the CSR-firm performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a simultaneous equations model to capture the FI, CSR and firm performance relationships and apply a three-stage regression approach and generalised method of moments approach to address possible endogeneity.

Findings

The results confirm a positive association of CSR spending with performance but a negative relationship of FI with performance. This paper also finds that FI negatively moderates the CSR spending-performance relationship.

Practical implications

The positive impact of CSR spending and the negative impact of FI on performance in mandatory CSR regimes provides valuable input in policy formulation. The results of the study will also be useful to national and international organisations, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Originality/value

This study uses a simultaneous equations model to capture the reciprocal association of CSR spending with firm performance, whereas prior studies on CSR and performance have frequently used unidirectional, single-equation regression. This paper also finds that FI negatively moderates the CSR spending- performance relationship. Including FI and exploring the moderating impact of the level of FI on the CSR-firm performance relationship is novel.
Association of plant-based diets with lipid profile and anthropometric indices: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Borazjani Mohadese , Nouri Mehran , Venkatakrishnane Kamesh , Najafi Maryam , Faghih Shiva
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Plant-based diets have been related to decreasing morbidity and mortality of many non-communicable diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plant-based diets and lipid profiles and anthropometric indices.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was performed on 236 men and women selected from Shiraz health-care centers. This study used a 168-item food frequency questionnaire to calculate plant-based diet index (PDI), healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI) and unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPDI). Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Furthermore, body mass index, a body shape index and conicity index (CI) were calculated after measuring weight, height and waist circumference.

Findings

Higher score of PDI was significantly related to higher triglycerides level (OR = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.04, 4.48;P= 0.03). In the fully adjusted model, there was a significant association between ABSI and hPDI (OR = 4.88; 95% CI: 1.17, 20.24;P= 0.03). A significant inverse association was observed between uPDI and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (OR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.21, 0.98;P= 0.03). Also, this study found a decreasing, but insignificant trend in relation of ABSI (OR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.22, 2.34) and CI (OR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.56) with PDI.

Research limitations/implications

Further studies are needed to explore the association of PDI with anthropometric indices and lipid profile and also to assess the potential causality of the observed associations. Plant-based diets according to their contents could affect triglycerides, HDL and anthropometric properties.

Practical implications

Hence, dietitians should consider the findings of this study such as the inverse effect of unhealthy plant-based diets on HDL and the relation between healthy plant-based diets and WC and abdominal obesity.

Originality/value

This study showed that adherence to a plant-based diet was related to higher triglycerides levels. Also, uPDI was inversely associated with HDL level. Furthermore, participants who adhered more to a healthy plant-based diet had higher abdominal adiposity.
Does national ethical judgement matter for earnings management?
Authors: Viana Jr Dante Baiardo Cavalcante , Lourenço Isabel , Black Ervin Lynn
Published: November 2021

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the association between country-level ethical judgement and earnings management and the role that firm-level enforcement and the quality of accounting standards play in this association.

Design/methodology/approach

The analyses are based on a sample of 45,889 firm-year observations from 34 countries between 1998 and 2018. Based on the World Values Survey questionnaire, this study constructs a comprehensive index of the ethical judgement of each country.

Findings

The empirical findings suggest that firms from countries where ethically suspect behaviours are less acceptable are associated with lower levels of accruals-based earnings management and that firm-level enforcement and the quality of accounting standards dampen such association.

Practical implications

The results contribute to the debate about ethical issues in the accounting profession in an international context, adding to the sustainable development debate given that the creation of long-term value for firms is intrinsically related to business ethics and good quality financial reporting.

Social implications

When it is known that countries’ ethically-related judgements reduce the level of earnings management, actions can be taken by regulators and other stakeholders to build fairer societies with a more sustainable view, given that the quality of the financial reporting is inextricably linked to how income and wealth are distributed.

Originality/value

While previous literature documents that ethical judgement at both the individual and organizational levels matter as key determinants of the way managers are involved with unethical accounting practices, this study investigates the role of ethical judgement at the country level in explaining earnings management.
Elastic anisotropy of the Marcellus Shale
Authors: Sayers Colin M.
Published: November 2021

The Marcellus Shale is one of the largest shale gas resources in the world and is anisotropic due to fine layering and the partial alignment of anisotropic clay minerals and organic matter with the bedding. This anisotropy can be approximated as Vertically Transversely Isotropic (transversely isotropic with a vertical axis of rotational symmetry) with five independent density‐normalized elastic stiffnesses A11, A13, A33, A55 and A66 in the two‐index notation and with axis of rotational symmetry along x3. Compressional and dipole shear‐wave data acquired in a horizontal well allows estimation of A11, A55 and A66, while the same data in a vertical pilot well allows estimation of A33 and A55. The ratio of vertically propagating P‐ to S‐velocity is and has a quadratic dependence on in the Upper Marcellus with minimum occurring for the largest volume fraction of kerogen. This relation allows estimation of A33 along a lateral well using measured values of A55 in the well. Comparison of Thomsen's anisotropy parameter ε is found to be mostly greater than anisotropy parameter γ. Estimating A13 as the average of A33 – 2A55 and A11 – 2A66 as proposed recently by Yan and Vernik allows Thomsen's anisotropy parameter δ and a parameter K0 that relates the horizontal and vertical effective stresses to be estimated. The results are expected to help in estimating horizontal stress needed for design of hydraulic fractures, and in interpreting seismic amplitude variation with offset required for reservoir characterization.
Probability Puzzle: Classroom Bingo
Authors: Fletcher Michael
Published: November 2021

Classroom bingo. Plus the solution to “A certain bet”. By Michael Fletcher.
Florence Nightingale's “Greatest Feat”
Authors: Small Hugh
Published: November 2021

A Nightingale family letter, dated 1857, sheds light on Florence's mathematical abilities, says Hugh Small
What is Risk Know-How?
Authors: Brown Tracey , Franklin Christine , Sierra Leonor
Published: November 2021

Communities around the world are participating in a project to develop a framework for “risk know-how”. Tracey Brown, Christine Franklin and Leonor Sierra introduce the framework, and call for statisticians to get involved
Remembering Chen Wen-chen
Authors: Chao Anne , Levina Liza
Published: November 2021

Anne Chao and Liza Levina reflect on an “extraordinarily brilliant student”.
Chen Wen-Chen's Academic Contributions
Authors: Chao Anne
Published: November 2021

Probability models for Zipf's law; asymptotic theories in urn models; optimal stopping-time theories in urn models; and inter-disciplinary collaboration.
Scepticism, Science and Statistics
Authors: Boyd Ian L.
Published: November 2021

There is much public scepticism about the way science and statistics are used within government, says Ian L. Boyd, a former scientific adviser. But rather than close ranks against scepticism, the science professions within government should embrace it, he argues, and use it to test their own assumptions and motivations
Formation of colloidal micro‐nano particles and flavor characteristics of Greenland halibut bone soup
Authors: He Wei , Zhu Wenhui , Bu Ying , Wang Wenxuan , Li Xuepeng , Li Jianrong , Zhang Yuyu
Published: November 2021

In this study, halibut bone, a byproduct of Greenland halibut processing, was prepared into a thick soup through a non‐frying process. The formation of colloidal micro‐nano particles and flavor characteristics in halibut bone soup was explored. The results showed that the nutrients in halibut bones migrated to the soup continuously with the cooking process and reached the highest concentration (total sugars, 38.16 mg/100 ml; water‐soluble proteins, 25.71 mg/ml; fatty acids, 2.15 g/100 ml; solids, 1.14 g/100 ml) at 150 min. Taste substances such as organic acids, 5′‐nucleotides and total free amino acids (TFAAs) content in halibut bone soup also reached maximum at 150 min. At this time, results for particle size showed that MNPs with uniform size (725.62 nm) were formed, which made the bone soup milky white, stable, and had good tasting. Headspace‐gas chromatography‐ion mobility spectrometry results showed that a total of 59 volatile substances were detected from the halibut bone soup. The content of volatile flavor substances in the 150 min group was lower than that in the 90–120 min group. Meanwhile, aldehydes and ketones gradually became esters.

Practical Application

Soup is an indispensable part of the world food culture. In order to increase the added value of Greenland halibut, halibut bone soup was studied in this paper. This study found that halibut bone soup that had not been fried, formed the MNPs and has a more harmonious and pleasant flavor. Thus, non‐fried halibut bone soup is a good processing method and can improve economic efficiency.