bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diffusion of crisis signals across the world: evidence from subprime crisis of 2008-2009
Authors: Rajan Sruthi , Santhakumar Shijin
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The innovations in fundamentals coupled with noise traders induce co-movement in diverse markets. This co-movement in equity markets which is evidenced higher during the turmoil period influences economic fundamentals of a country dissimilar in nature. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether economic fundamentals or investors’ behavior attributable to disturbances across the world are the rationale behind the crisis transmission, and thereby distinguish fundamental-based contagion from investor-induced contagion.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, the study investigates the role of macroeconomic fundamentals and stock returns on crisis occurrence using panel probit estimates. Additionally, ordinary least squares estimates controlling the influence of fundamentals on domestic return capture the discrete country effect measuring the influence of domestic as well as foreign economic fundamentals along with foreign returns on the domestic stock index.

Findings

The empirical results reveal that foreign country stock index returns are having a significant influence on domestic returns besides a prominent role in crisis occurrence. The binary probit model confirmed the influence of both macroeconomic factors and foreign returns in crisis occurrence. The OLS estimates found evidence for investor-induced contagion in the crisis period where the effects of economic fundamentals are small in comparison to foreign market returns that are mainly dominant in pre- and post-crisis period.

Research limitations/implications

The propagation of crisis from one market to other would enable the policy makers to make clear regulations at right time to control for the crisis in future. The results can help the policy makers as well as investors in reducing the impact of the crisis in future by clearly monitoring the behavior of the factors under study.

Originality/value

The current study addresses the role of macro fundamentals and investors influence in crisis propagation. Adopting subprime crisis of 2008-2009 as a reference point and separating the sample period into pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis period, the study explains how badly the other 30 markets impacted the crisis that emerged in the USA.
Board committees and performance in microfinance institutions
Authors: Dato Muluneh Hideto , Mersland Roy , Mori Neema
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically relate subordinate board structures with improved financial and social performance in microfinance institutions (MFIs).

Design/methodology/approach

The research question is analyzed using a panel data from 23 MFIs in Ethiopia over a period of 2006-2011. Random effects panel data estimation is applied to analyze the link between board committees and MFI’s performance.

Findings

In MFIs with larger than average boards, the findings demonstrate significant ties between ﬁnancial and outreach performance and how their boards are structured. The structure of board committees moderates the relation between board size and financial and outreach performance measures. Importantly, board committee benefits MFIs through better operational self-sufficiency, lower operating expenses, greater outreach to customers, and outreach to poorer customers using average loan size as the proxy.

Practical implications

Practitioners within microfinance sector, and those operating in advisory and regulatory roles to the sector could benefit from the argument advanced in the paper in that normative recommendation to restructure boards or establish committees requires reevaluating the board characteristicsvis-à-visthe optimal monitoring, controlling, and advising needs of the institution.

Originality/value

Prior literature focuses on who sits on boards, how large are the boards, and how independent are they. This paper advances the understanding of the structure of board committees and how this may affect the performance of MFI. This approach provides better representation of director’s role and is thereby a good test of board effectiveness.
Building bridges: boundary spanners in servitized supply chains
Authors: Chakkol Mehmet , Karatzas Antonios , Johnson Mark , Godsell Janet
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Solutions provision depends on effective and efficient supply chains. Existing discourse within servitization has remained at the organisational or inter-organisational level with a limited emphasis on the role of individuals. However, supply chains are not just relationships between organisations, they are complex, inter-personal relationships that span organisational boundaries. The limited focus on boundary spanners and their interactions means that managerial roles critical for the provision of solutions remain unidentified. The purpose of this paper is to identify the functions, roles and practices of boundary spanners that connect organisations and enable the effective provision of solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study comprising 61 interviews in 11 firms was conducted in the UK network of a commercial vehicles manufacturer, to investigate boundary spanning for product and solutions provision.

Findings

The functions of boundary spanners move from communicating product and price features in product provision towards strategic communication, dissonance reduction, professional education, consultation and leveraging offerings in solutions provision. The study also identifies the boundary spanning roles and practices that form these functions for solutions provision.

Originality/value

This is the first study in servitization that identifies and describes the boundary spanning functions, roles and practices. By adopting the lens of boundary spanning, the research addresses the lack of empirical managerial-level enquiry within servitization research. It extends the theoretical discussion on the differences between supply chain management in servitized vs product contexts.
Earnings announcements, stock price reaction and market efficiency – the case of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Syed Ali Murad , Bajwa Ishtiaq Ahmad
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This study aims to find the response by stock market against the announcements of quarterly earnings is empirically tested by exploiting event study methodology. Efficient market hypothesis (EMH) on Saudi stock exchange is also tried on.

Design/methodology/approach

The market model is applied to help gauge the expected returns and to illustrate abnormal returns around the event date.

Findings

The results established that Saudi Stock Market does not bear semi-strong form of EMH. How efficient is the Saudi market is also reflected through evidence of significant abnormal returns and post-earnings announcement drift around earning announcements dates.

Research limitations/implications

The authors have not used analysts’ forecast as the expected earnings which are the limitation. As mentioned earlier, the authors used the quarterly earnings of the previous year as a proxy and that proxy could have been replaced by analysts’ forecast. Another limitation is that the trading volume in the event window is not considered.

Practical implications

The behavior of Saudi capital market is of much concern, and the study of this with a perspective of EMH is the significance of this paper.

Social implications

All stakeholders closely watch earnings announcements and its share price movement around the announcement date. Recently, Saudi Arabia has opened its doors to foreign investors, and big foreign investors are going to enter into Saudi capital market, and after their entry, the behavior of market could be different. In the authors’ opinion, this is the right time to study the efficiency of Saudi market before the entry of foreign investors.

Originality/value

This study is based on the gap created by EMH of Saudi market using event methodology, observed in the existing literature, and it will be a contribution to literature.
Are you a cistern or a channel? Exploring factors triggering knowledge-hiding behavior at the workplace: evidence from the Indian R&D professionals
Authors: Kumar Jha Jatinder , Varkkey Biju
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Knowledge is considered as a strategic asset for the organizations, especially for knowledge-intensive firms. Research and development (R&D) is a significant unit in organizations, as it is devoted to knowledge creation and transfer. The success of any R&D project in an organization depends on its innovative value and the transfer of knowledge to the employees. This study aims to focus on factors triggering knowledge-hiding behavior among R&D employees, thus disrupting the knowledge creation in the organization.

Design/methodology/approach

The grounded theory approach has been used to analyze qualitative data collected from 19 in-depth interviews of R&D professionals (middle and junior level) working in Indian pharmaceutical firms.

Findings

The study identified factors that triggered knowledge-hiding behavior among employees. These factors include distrust, competitive work environment, perceived career insecurity, lack of recognition, lack of reciprocation and lack of confidence in own knowledge. In addition, four hiding strategies used by employees to hide their knowledge from their fellow members were explored and identified: playing innocent, being misleader/evasive hiding, rationalized hiding and counter-questioning.

Research limitations/implications

Besides improving the understanding of knowledge-hiding behavior, particularly in the Indian context, this study has implications for both managerial practices and organizational policies.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the factors influencing knowledge-hiding behavior among R&D employees. Knowledge-hiding construct has not been adequately studied; however, it prevails in the organization and has potential to influence various individual- and organizational-level outcomes. In addition, ways of hiding knowledge used by employees were identified and new forms of strategies named “counter-questioning” were found.
Increasing organisational attractiveness
Authors: de Waal André
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Happiness at work (HAW) is receiving much attention in the literature, as HAW seems to have a positive effect on organisational performance, such as in increase of productivity, lower turnover of employees and less customer complaints. There is however no research into the relation between HAW and the attractiveness of an organisation. It stands to reason that people who are happier at work are also happier about their organisation and express this to their family and friends. Having an attractive organisation is becoming increasingly important as the world is currently experiencing an economic boom creating shortages of qualified personnel. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A possible way of creating an attractive organisation is by transforming the workplace into a high-performing organisation (HPO). The study described in this paper is looking in this respect at three hypotheses: H1. Higher HAW will increase the attractiveness of the organisation; H2. Becoming an HPO will increase HAW; and H3. Becoming an HPO will increase the attractiveness of the organisation. A large-scale survey of Dutch managers and employees was undertaken in which the respondents were asked their opinion of the high-performance level and attractiveness of their organisation, and their happiness with their job and organisation.

Findings

The study results show that the three hypotheses are basically confirmed. Increasing the happiness of work of employees, in general, raises the feeling of how attractive the organisation is to the employees themselves and to the external world. However, this positive feeling is mainly true for the work itself but not so much for how committed employees feel to the organisation.

Practical implications

Organisations now have knowledge at their disposal about ways to promote happiness in their employees, thus raising their attractiveness to current and future employees.

Originality/value

The study results indicate that senior management has to make more effort to raise the quality level of the organisation, preferably towards the high performance level, in order for employees to start feeling more committed to their organisation. This is because the study results show that transforming an organisation into a high-performance entity increases happiness of employees at work significantly, especially about their work and in a lesser degree with the commitment they feel towards the organisation itself. This result has not been found before, so this research provides managers for the first time with a validated way to help their staff to become happier and more productive.
Regulation and growth-oriented small businesses in North-West England
Authors: Peck Frank , Jackson Keith , Mulvey Gail
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which growth-oriented small and micro-businesses (SMBs) are affected by regulations. Case studies from North-West England are used to investigate the relationship between attitudes and responses to regulation and the characteristics of business growth.

Design/methodology/approach

This research examines the relationship between regulation and growth using eight case studies of SMBs. The selected cases are proactive in seeking new market opportunities and innovative in terms of product development or business process.

Findings

Case studies confirm that owner-managers of SMBs experience high levels of regulatory burden. However, some growth-oriented businesses also recognise the advantages in being proactive in seeking regulatory knowledge. These advantages were particularly prevalent in cases where growth is driven by product innovation in relatively new product markets.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on a limited number of case studies in one region of England. Even so, interviews facilitate probing to increase understanding of the underlying reasons for attitudes towards regulation. The cases demonstrate that even very small businesses can use regulatory knowledge as a basis for business growth.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that networking in order to engage with regulatory regimes can generate competitive advantages and open up new market opportunities for small businesses.

Originality/value

This research contributes towards the debate on the impact of regulations on the economy at the micro level and in doing so highlights important nuances in the relationship between business growth and the regulatory environment.
Game on! A new integrated resort business model
Authors: Tham Aaron , Huang Danny
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present the case for a new integrated resort business model. It does so by integrating the notion of a smart tourism ecosystem into the concept of dynamic capabilities so as to guide integrated resort theory and practice in an evolving landscape.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical model is derived from synthesising the gaps surrounding literature that contextualises business models and the relatively scarce body of knowledge related to integrated resort business models.

Findings

Integrated resorts are characterised by strategies using a follower mentality. Destinations seeking to create new integrated resorts largely emulate existing product or service points of differentiation, though such attempts are often quickly eroded by competition. By integrating the smart tourism ecosystem to the theoretical framework, this conceptual paper elucidates how an information-rich environment can help to better realise sustainable competitive advantages.

Research limitations/implications

This conceptual paper will require empirical data to validate the theoretical model. Implications stemming from the research will hasten greater social networks that need to be incorporated to foster timely and necessary circulation of information to attain optimal outcomes generated by the dynamic capability effect.

Originality/value

This paper re-conceptualises the business model for integrated resorts. By integrating the notion of smart tourism ecosystems to business model literature, the paper illuminates how integrated resorts can be better positioned in adapting to the changing operating environments.
Using functional trait diversity patterns to disentangle the scale‐dependent ecological processes in a subtropical forest
Authors: Zhang Hui , Chen Han Y. H. , Lian Juyu , John Robert , Ronghua Li , Liu Hui , Ye Wanhui , Berninger Frank , Ye Qing
Published: February 2018

Disentangling ecological processes that influence community assembly and species diversity across spatial scales remains a major goal of community ecology. Community assembly processes influence spatial patterns of species diversity through their interactions with key functional traits. Hence, quantifying spatial patterns of functional trait diversity (FD) represents a useful tool for disentangling the relative importance of abiotic filtering, biotic interactions, random assembly and dispersal limitation across spatial scales.

Here, we measured 12 traits of 112 study species in a 20‐ha fully mapped subtropical forest plot. The individuals of the 112 study species account for 99% of all living stems with diameter at breast height ≥ 1 cm. We studied important functional traits related to physiological processes of plants including resource acquisition (e.g. CO2 assimilation rate and leaf nutrient concentration) and drought tolerance (e.g. stem hydraulic conductivity and leaf turgor loss point). Additionally, species abundance, spatial locations (x‐ and y‐coordinates for each individual of the 112 study species) as well as topographic and soil variables that represent potentially important attributes of the physical environment of the plot were also included in our dataset.

We employed two FD‐based tests (comparing FD within communities to those from random communities, distance‐based Moran's eigenvector maps (MEM) and redundancy analysis‐based variance partitioning), and one spatial analysis (inhomogeneous bivariate pair correlation analysis) to quantify the spatial patterns of FD of the plot at multiple spatial scales (400, 900, 1,600, 2,500 and 10,000 m2).

We demonstrate that abiotic filtering is the major determinant responsible for trait convergence at relatively small scales (400, 900 and 1,600 m2), whereas dispersal limitation becomes dominant, causing the weakening of trait convergence at relatively large scales (2,500 and 10,000 m2).

Our results highlight the relative contributions of different ecological processes to community assembly at different spatial scales, which can be distinguished using the diversity patterns of key functional traits. Also, our integrated approaches constitute a useful study design to disentangle variable ecological processes in shaping community assembly across spatial scales.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Revisiting concepts of thermal physiology: Predicting responses of mammals to climate change
Authors: Mitchell Duncan , Snelling Edward P. , Hetem Robyn S. , Maloney Shane K. , Strauss Willem Maartin , Fuller Andrea
Published: February 2018

The accuracy of predictive models (also known as mechanistic or causal models) of animal responses to climate change depends on properly incorporating the principles of heat transfer and thermoregulation into those models. Regrettably, proper incorporation of these principles is not always evident.

We have revisited the relevant principles of thermal physiology and analysed how they have been applied in predictive models of large mammals, which are particularly vulnerable, to climate change. We considered dry heat exchange, evaporative heat transfer, the thermoneutral zone and homeothermy, and we examined the roles of size and shape in the thermal physiology of large mammals.

We report on the following misconceptions in influential predictive models: underestimation of the role of radiant heat transfer, misassignment of the role and misunderstanding of the sustainability of evaporative cooling, misinterpretation of the thermoneutral zone as a zone of thermal tolerance or as a zone of sustainable energetics, confusion of upper critical temperature and critical thermal maximum, overestimation of the metabolic energy cost of evaporative cooling, failure to appreciate that the current advantages of size and shape will become disadvantageous as climate change advances, misassumptions about skin temperature and, lastly, misconceptions about the relationship between body core temperature and its variability with body mass in large mammals.

Not all misconceptions invalidate the models, but we believe that preventing inappropriate assumptions from propagating will improve model accuracy, especially as models progress beyond their current typically static format to include genetic and epigenetic adaptation that can result in phenotypic plasticity.
Co‐production in community mental health services: blurred boundaries or a game of pretend?
Authors: Kirkegaard Sine , Andersen Ditte
Published: February 2018

The concept of co‐production suggests a collaborative production of public welfare services, across boundaries of participant categories, for example professionals, service users, peer‐workers and volunteers. While co‐production has been embraced in most European countries, the way in which it is translated into everyday practice remains understudied. Drawing on ethnographic data from Danish community mental health services, we attempt to fill this gap by critically investigating how participants interact in an organisational set‐up with blurred boundaries between participant categories. In particular, we clarify under what circumstances the blurred boundaries emerge as believable. Theoretically, we combine Lamont and Molnár's (2002) distinction between symbolic boundaries and social boundaries with Goffman's (1974) microanalysis of “principles of convincingness”. The article presents three findings: (1) co‐production is employed as a symbolic resource for blurring social boundaries; (2) the believability of blurred boundaries is worked up through participants’ access to resources of validation, knowledge and authority; and (3) incongruence between symbolic and social boundaries institutionalises practices where participants merely act ‘as if’ boundaries are blurred. Clarification of the principles of convincingness contributes to a general discussion of how co‐production frames the everyday negotiation of symbolic and social boundaries in public welfare services.
One world is not enough: the structured phenomenology of lifestyle migrants in East Asia
Authors: Stones Rob , Botterill Kate , Lee Maggy , O'Reilly Karen
Published: February 2018

The paper is based on original empirical research into the lifestyle migration of European migrants, primarily British, to Thailand and Malaysia, and of Hong Kong Chinese migrants to Mainland China. We combine strong structuration theory (SST) with Heideggerian phenomenology to develop a distinctive approach to the interplay between social structures and the lived experience of migrants. The approach enables a rich engagement with the subjectivities of migrants, an engagement that is powerfully enhanced by close attention to how these inner lives are deeply interwoven with relevant structural contexts. The approach is presented as one that could be fruitfully adopted to explore parallel issues within all types of migration. As is intrinsic to lifestyle migration, commitment to a better quality of life is central to the East Asian migrants, but they seek an uncomplicated, physically enhanced texture of life, framed more by a phenomenology of prosaic well‐being than of self‐realization or transcendence. In spite of possessing economic and status privileges due to their relatively elite position within global structures the reality for a good number of the lifestyle migrants falls short of their prior expectations. They are subject to particular kinds of socio‐structural marginaliszation as a consequence of the character of their migration, and they find themselves relatively isolated and facing a distinct range of challenges. A comparison with research into various groups of migrants to the USA brings into relief the specificities of the socio‐structural positioning of the lifestyle migrants of the study. Those East Asian migrants who express the greatest sense of ease and contentment seem to be those who have responded creatively to the specific challenges of their socio‐structural situation. Often, this appears to have been achieved through understated but active involvements with their new settings and through sustaining focused transnational connections and relationships.
Health‐Related Quality of Life among Chronic Opioid Users, Nonchronic Opioid Users, and Nonopioid Users with Chronic Noncancer Pain
Authors: Hayes Corey J. , Li Xiaocong , Li Chenghui , Shah Anuj , Kathe Niranjan , Bhandari Naleen Raj , Payakachat Nalin
Published: February 2018

Objective

Evaluate the association between opioid therapy and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in participants with chronic, noncancer pain (CNCP).

Data Sources

Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Longitudinal, Medical Conditions, and Prescription Files.

Study Design

Using a retrospective cohort study design, the Mental Health Component (MCS12) and Physical Health Component (PCS12) scores of the Short Form‐12 Version 2 were assessed to measure mental and physical HRQoL.

Data Collection

Chronic, noncancer pain participants were classified as chronic, nonchronic, and nonopioid users. One‐to‐one propensity score matching was employed to match chronic opioid users to nonchronic opioid users plus nonchronic opioid users and chronic opioid users to nonopioid users.

Principal Findings

A total of 5,876 participants were identified. After matching, PCS12 was not significantly different between nonchronic versus nonopioid users (LSM Diff = −0.98, 95% CI: −2.07, 0.10), chronic versus nonopioid users (LSM Diff = −2.24, 95% CI: −4.58, 0.10), or chronic versus nonchronic opioid users (LSM Diff = −2.23, 95% CI: −4.53, 0.05). Similarly, MCS12 was not significantly different between nonchronic versus nonopioid users (LSM Diff = 0.76, 95% CI: −0.46, 1.98), chronic versus nonopioid users (LSM Diff = 1.08, 95% CI: −1.26, 3.42), or chronic versus nonchronic opioid users (LSM Diff = −0.57, 95% CI: −2.90, 1.77).

Conclusions

Clinicians should evaluate opioid use in participants with CNCP as opioid use is not correlated with better HRQoL.
Presenting Cost and Efficiency Measures That Support Consumers to Make High‐Value Health Care Choices
Authors: Greene Jessica , Sacks Rebecca M.
Published: February 2018

Objective

To identify approaches to presenting cost and resource use measures that support consumers in selecting high‐value hospitals.

Data Sources

Survey data were collected from U.S. employees of Analog Devices (n = 420).

Study Design

In two online experiments, participants viewed comparative data on four hospitals. In one experiment, participants were randomized to view one of five versions of the same comparative cost data, and in the other experiment they viewed different versions of the same readmissions data. Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined whether presentation approach was related to selecting the high‐value hospital.

Principal Findings

Consumers were approximately 16 percentage points more likely to select a high‐value hospital when cost data were presented using actual dollar amounts or using the word “affordable” to describe low‐cost hospitals, compared to when the Hospital Compare spending ratio was used. Consumers were 33 points more likely to select the highest performing hospital when readmission performance was shown using word icons rather than percentages.

Conclusions

Presenting cost and resource use measures effectively to consumers is challenging. This study suggests using actual dollar amounts for cost, but presenting performance on readmissions using evaluative symbols.
Migrant workers, self‐reliance, and the propensity to hold income protection insurance by country of residence
Authors: Clark Gordon L. , McGill Sarah , Cuñado Juncal
Published: February 2018

Utilising a large comparative survey across 11 countries, it is shown that country effects condition the individual uptake of income protection insurance and that shared attributes, including labour market status, are important factors in determining the take‐up of income protection insurance, whatever the respondents' country of residence. We observed differences in the respondents' coping strategies, including self‐reliance, and were able to distinguish between migrant workers and those who work in their country of origin, along with the “special” case of the Australian respondents. These findings have implications for the ongoing debate on the labour market effects of globalisation and the significance of national institutions and regulatory practices.
Radiation exposure to sonographers from nuclear medicine patients: A review
Authors: Earl Victoria Jean , Badawy Mohamed Khaldoun
Published: February 2018

Following nuclear medicine scans a patient can be a source of radiation exposure to the hospital staff, including sonographers. Sonographers are not routinely monitored for occupational radiation exposure as they do not commonly interact with radioactive patients or other sources of ionizing radiation. This review aims to find evidence relating to the risk and amount of radiation the sonographer is exposed to from nuclear medicine patients. It is established in the literature that the radiation exposure to the sonographer following diagnostic nuclear medicine studies is low and consequently the risk is not significant. Nevertheless, it is paramount that basic radiation safety principles are followed to ensure any exposure to ionizing radiation is kept as low as reasonably achievable. Practical recommendations are given to assist the sonographer in radiation protection. Nuclear medicine therapy procedures may place the sonographer at higher risk and as such consultation with a Radiation Safety Officer or Medical Physicist as to the extent of exposure is recommended.
Exposure to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in utero and early elementary school outcomes
Authors: Kragholm K. , Andersen M. P. , Mortensen R. N. , Bech L. F. , Polcwiartek C. , Rohde C. , Torp‐Pedersen C. , Videbech P. , Nielsen J.
Published: February 2018

Objective

Data on special education in offspring exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in utero are lacking. We examined associations of in utero SSRI exposure with special education needs and delayed elementary school start.

Methods

A population‐based case‐cohort study using Danish nationwide birth and prescription registry data from 2005 to 2008. Follow‐up ends during 2011–2015 to capture special education needs during and delayed entry to the first elementary school year. Cases were in utero SSRI‐exposed offspring. Cohort‐controls were SSRI‐unexposed offspring of mothers previously on SSRIs. We reported odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for relevant potential confounders.

Results

Of 117 475 first‐incident non‐multiple pregnancy births, 3314 were SSRI‐exposed, and 3536 were unexposed. Among SSRI‐exposed offspring, 3.2% (n = 98) had special school needs vs. 2.4% (n = 77) in unexposed offspring, P‐value=0.048. Correspondingly, 12.3% (n = 383) among SSRI‐exposed children had delayed school entry vs. 9.4% (n = 308) in unexposed offspring, P‐value < 0.001. Adjusted OR for the association with special school needs was 1.12 (95% CI 0.82–1.55; P‐value = 0.48) and 1.38 (95% CI 0.90–2.13; P‐value = 0.14) for exposure in all three trimesters. The corresponding adjusted ORs for delayed school entry were 1.17 (95% CI 0.99–1.38; P‐value = 0.073) and 1.40 (95% CI 1.11–1.76; P‐value = 0.004).

Conclusion

In utero SSRI exposure in all three trimesters was associated with delayed elementary school start but not special education needs.
Effect of extreme climatic events resulting in prolonged precipitation on the reproductive output of sea turtles
Authors: Rivas M. L. , Spínola M. , Arrieta H. , Faife‐Cabrera M.
Published: February 2018

Anthropogenic climate change is predicted to increase the variation in storm patterns in some areas in the coming decades. This variation in mean rainfall and increase in mean temperature could increase the extinction risk of species with temperature‐dependent sex determination. Taking into account that sea turtle reproductive output depends on climatic conditions, such as precipitation and temperature, extreme climatic events could affect the mortality of eggs and hatchlings. Our main goal was to assess the effects of extreme climatic events resulting in prolonged precipitation episodes on the reproductive output of leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea and how these events might reduce hatchling production. To study how short periods of protracted rainfall affect leatherback turtle reproductive output, we recorded (1) the hatching success of n = 48 nests located at 50, 75 and 90 cm depths under sun and shaded treatments from 2013 to 2015 at the Pacuare Reserve in Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, (2) the water table level and (3) sand moisture at 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 cm depths. In addition, we assessed changes in seasonal precipitation, nest abundance and the annual hatching success of leatherbacks over time. The results show that prolonged precipitation significantly influenced hatching success. Protracted rainfall increased the water table levels and sand moisture in some places, which consequently increased egg mortality in deeper nests. These effects may be higher considering the expected increase in storm frequency. Thus, the assessment of the effects of these extreme events on nesting grounds is necessary to predict the potential extinction risk of sea turtle populations.
The price of success: integrative long‐term study reveals ecotourism impacts on a flagship species at a UNESCO site
Authors: Monti F. , Duriez O. , Dominici J.‐M. , Sforzi A. , Robert A. , Fusani L. , Grémillet D.
Published: February 2018

Disturbance of wildlife by ecotourism has become a major concern in the last decades. In the Mediterranean, sea‐based tourism and related recreational activities are increasing rapidly, especially within marine protected areas (MPAs) hosting emblematic biodiversity. We investigated the impact of ecotourism in the Scandola MPA (UNESCO World Heritage Site, Corsica island), on the population of a conservation flagship, the Osprey Pandion haliaetus. Over the 37‐year study period, tourists flow increased sharply. Osprey breeding performance initially increased, but then dropped for pairs nesting within the MPA compared to those breeding elsewhere in Corsica. We examined several hypotheses that could explain such reduction in breeding performance. Recent osprey breeding failures in the MPA are not caused by food scarcity. Using underwater fish surveys, we showed that fish consumed by ospreys were more numerous within the MPA. Focal observation at nests revealed that the overall number of boat passages within 250 m of osprey nests were three times higher inside the MPA compared to a control area. Elevated boat traffic significantly modified osprey time‐budgets, by decreasing prey provisioning rate by males, and increasing time spent alarming and flying off the nest in females. This caused stress, and corticosterone levels in chick feathers were three times higher in high‐traffic areas compared to places with lower touristic flow in Corsica, the Balearic Islands and Italy. Overall, our integrative, long‐term study demonstrates the negative impact of sea‐based ecotourism on the Corsican osprey population. This stresses the worldwide importance of rigorously implementing sustainable ecotourism, within well‐enforced MPAs.
Lysophosphatidic acid‐induced increase in adult hippocampal neurogenesis facilitates the forgetting of cocaine‐contextual memory
Authors: Ladrón de Guevara‐Miranda David , Moreno‐Fernández Román Darío , Gil‐Rodríguez Sara , Rosell‐Valle Cristina , Estivill‐Torrús Guillermo , Serrano Antonia , Pavón Francisco J. , Rodríguez de Fonseca Fernando , Santín Luis J. , Castilla‐Ortega Estela
Published: February 2018

Erasing memories of cocaine–stimuli associations might have important clinical implications for addiction therapy. Stimulating hippocampal plasticity by enhancing adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) is a promising strategy because the addition of new neurons may not only facilitate new learning but also modify previous connections and weaken retrograde memories. To investigate whether increasing AHN prompted the forgetting of previous contextual cocaine associations, mice trained in a cocaine‐induced conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm were administered chronic intracerebroventricular infusions of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA, an endogenous lysophospholipid with pro‐neurogenic actions), ki16425 (an LPA1/3 receptor antagonist) or a vehicle solution, and they were tested 23 days later for CPP retention and extinction. The results of immunohistochemical experiments showed that the LPA‐treated mice exhibited reduced long‐term CPP retention and an approximately twofold increase in the number of adult‐born hippocampal cells that differentiated into mature neurons. Importantly, mediation analyses confirmed a causal role of AHN in reducing CPP maintenance. In contrast, the ki16425‐treated mice displayed aberrant responses, with initially decreased CPP retention that progressively increased across the extinction sessions, leading to no effect on AHN. The pharmacological treatments did not affect locomotion or general exploratory or anxiety‐like responses. In a second experiment, normal and LPA1‐receptor‐deficient mice were acutely infused with LPA, which revealed that LPA1‐mediated signaling was required for LPA‐induced proliferative actions. These results suggest that the LPA/LPA1 pathway acts as a potent in vivo modulator of AHN and highlight the potential usefulness of pro‐AHN strategies to treat aberrant cognition in those addicted to cocaine.
Baclofen: its effectiveness in reducing harmful drinking, craving, and negative mood. A meta‐analysis
Authors: Rose Abigail K. , Jones Andrew
Published: February 2018

Background and Aims

There are a limited number of pharmacotherapies licensed for alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Baclofen is a γ‐aminobutyric acid B (GABA‐B) agonist which is used increasingly as an off‐label treatment. A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to determine the efficacy of baclofen in reducing drinking behaviour, craving, depression and anxiety compared with placebo.

Methods

Random‐effects meta‐analyses were computed on outcome data from 12 RCTs comparing baclofen with placebo. Included RCTs provided data on at least one of the primary outcome measures (drinking‐related: heavy drinking days, abstinent days, abstinence rates) or secondary outcome measures (craving, anxiety, depression).

Results

Baclofen had a significant effect on abstinence rates when using intention‐to‐treat analysis [total n baclofen = 307, total n control = 283: odds ratio (OR) = 2.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03, 6.93; Z = 2.01, P = 0.04, I2 = 76%, number needed to treat = 8]. No other significant effects of treatment efficacy [e.g. heavy drinking days: standardized mean differences (SMD) = −0.26, 95% CI = –0.68, 0.15; Z = 1.24, P = 0.21, I2 = 95%] or mechanism of action (e.g. craving: SMD = −0.13, 95% CI = −0.36, 0.09; Z = 1.18, P = 0.24, I2 = 87%) were observed. There was substantial heterogeneity in effect sizes across each analysis.

Conclusions

As a treatment for alcohol use disorders, baclofen is associated with higher rates of abstinence than placebo. However, there is no superior effect of baclofen on increasing number of abstinent days, or decreasing heavy drinking, craving, anxiety or depression. These results suggest that the current increasing use of baclofen as a treatment for alcohol use disorders is premature.
Making the most of by‐catch data: Assessing the feasibility of utilising non‐target camera trap data for occupancy modelling of a large felid
Authors: Edwards Sarah , Cooper Sue , Uiseb Kenneth , Hayward Matt , Wachter Bettina , Melzheimer Joerg
Published: February 2018

Camera traps are an increasingly used tool in ecology, having the ability to capture large numbers of photographic records in short survey periods. For many surveys, the number of non‐target records outweighs those of focal species, making them a potentially rich and often under‐utilised data source. Occupancy analysis of non‐target data represents a potential way to optimise survey output, whilst increasing “return on investment.” This study assessed the feasibility of using non‐target data from a Hartmann's mountain zebra Equus zebra hartmannae survey in Gondwana Canyon Park, southern Namibia, for occupancy analysis on leopard Panthera pardus. Using a survey design with 15 camera traps at water sources, 26 leopard events were detected over 72 days. Model fit was adequate and produced a model‐averaged occupancy of 0.64 (SE 0.36) and a detection probability of 0.24 (SE 0.07). Whilst there was a lack of precision in the final occupancy estimate, the study provided valuable pilot data for future surveys. The results highlight the ability of camera traps to obtain information‐rich datasets, which, when properly archived, can be used for providing information on a number of ecological topics, ranging far beyond that which the traps were originally deployed for.
The dawn of a new ice age: social egg freezing
Authors: Jones Benjamin P. , Saso Srdjan , Mania Anastasia , Smith J. Richard , Serhal Paul , Ben Nagi Jara
Published: February 2018

Given the age‐related decline in ovarian reserve and oocyte quality, it is unsurprising the global trend of deferring motherhood has resulted in increased levels of involuntary childlessness. The development of oocyte vitrification, with pregnancy and livebirth rates now comparable to using fresh oocytes, has provided an opportunity to cryopreserve oocytes electively for future use, empowering women with the capacity to delay their childbearing years. While it enhances reproductive autonomy, age‐related obstetric complications, economic implications and the risk of unsuccessful future treatment make this a controversial therapeutic option. However, some women have no reasonable alternative, such as single women approaching their late thirties, in whom egg freezing, although not a guarantee against involuntary childlessness, offers hope by extending the window of opportunity to find a partner. Given the upward trend in women electively cryopreserving their eggs, it would appear that a new ice age, from a fertility perspective, is upon us.
24‐hour oxygen saturation recordings in preterm infants: editing artefact
Authors: Wellington Grace , Elder Dawn , Campbell Angela
Published: February 2018

Aim

To create editing guidelines for artefact removal in preterm infant pulse oximetry recordings.

Methods

38 preterm infants ready for discharge home from the neonatal intensive care unit underwent 24‐hour pulse oximetry recording using the Masimo® Rad‐8 device. An expert panel determined editing rules based on clinical protocols. For each recording, three reports were generated, ‘raw’ no editing, ‘auto’ using the software editing feature and ‘manual’ reviewed and edited according to the rules. Primary outcome measures were desaturation indices including desaturation index 3% and 4%. Secondary measures included heart rate, mean oxygen saturation and time below 90%.

Results

While all oximetry outcomes differed significantly between editing modes, the majority were not considered likely to influence clinical management. Use of the auto editing compared to no editing did alter by >5%: Time spent <90% oxygen saturation and Desaturation index 4% >10 seconds. The use of manual editing removed extremely low pulse values that were considered unphysiological in this group of otherwise healthy infants.

Conclusion

We recommend that oximetry recordings to determine cardiorespiratory stability in newborn infants ready for discharge from the neonatal unit have software editing features applied. This will remove artefact without consuming time in a busy unit.
The α2 isoform Na,K‐ATPase modulates contraction of rat mesenteric small artery via cSrc‐dependent Ca2+ sensitization
Authors: Bouzinova E. V. , Hangaard L. , Staehr C. , Mazur A. , Ferreira A. , Chibalin A. V. , Sandow S. L. , Xie Z. , Aalkjaer C. , Matchkov V. V.
Published: February 2018

Aims

The Na,K‐ATPase is involved in a large number of regulatory activities including cSrc‐dependent signalling. Upon inhibition of the Na,K‐ATPase with ouabain, cSrc activation is shown to occur in many cell types. This study tests the hypothesis that acute potentiation of agonist‐induced contraction by ouabain is mediated through Na,K‐ATPase‐cSrc signalling‐dependent sensitization of vascular smooth muscle cells to Ca2+.

Methods

Agonist‐induced rat mesenteric small artery contraction was examined in vitro under isometric conditions and in vivo in anaesthetized rats. Arterial wall tension and [Ca2+]i in vascular smooth muscle cells were measured simultaneously. Changes in cSrc and myosin phosphatase targeting protein 1 (MYPT1) phosphorylation were analysed by Western blot. Protein expression was examined with immunohistochemistry. The α1 and α2 isoforms of the Na,K‐ATPase were transiently downregulated by siRNA transfection in vivo.

Results

Ten micromolar ouabain, but not digoxin, potentiated contraction to noradrenaline. This effect was not endothelium‐dependent. Ouabain sensitized smooth muscle cells to Ca2+, and this was associated with increased phosphorylation of cSrc and MYPT1. Inhibition of tyrosine kinase by genistein, PP2 or pNaKtide abolished the potentiating effect of ouabain on arterial contraction and Ca2+ sensitization. Downregulation of the Na,K‐ATPase α2 isoform made arterial contraction insensitive to ouabain and tyrosine kinase inhibition.

Conclusion

Data suggest that micromolar ouabain potentiates agonist‐induced contraction of rat mesenteric small artery via Na,K‐ATPase‐dependent cSrc activation, which increases Ca2+ sensitization of vascular smooth muscle cells by MYPT1 phosphorylation. This mechanism may be critical for acute control of vascular tone.