bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What happens to the stock market during the COVID-19 pandemic? A systematic literature review
Authors: Anggraini Puspita Ghaniy , Utami Evy Rahman , Wulandari Eva
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate papers that discuss the stock market during the COVID-19 pandemic to discover lessons that may be beneficial for coping with similar situations in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the review procedures following Hoque (2014) with modifications, including co-words analysis to map themes. The articles to be reviewed were identified by entering the search keywords “capital market” AND “Covid” and “stock market” AND “Covid” in the Scopus database. After applying a set of criteria, 89 articles were used in the subsequent analysis. The country setting and study findings are recognized, and the lessons learned are further determined.

Findings

As COVID-19 has been designated a global pandemic by the WHO, and its impact is seen in many countries, the setting adopted by many researchers includes two or more countries (i.e., “International”). Six clusters of themes are identified, namely, market responses, spillover/contagion, investor sentiment, investor herding, policy and asset intensity. In this way, the lessons gained cover several stock market elements, including the market, industry, investors, government and companies.

Originality/value

Given the importance of understanding the COVID-19 pandemic and the relevance of the stock market in indicating its severity, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there has been no literature review research on the stock market during COVID-19. Furthermore, this study also defines what lessons can be drawn.
Constrained optimization algorithms for the computation of investable portfolios analytics: evaluation of economic-capital parameters for performance measurement and improvement
Authors: Al Janabi Mazin A.M.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically test, from a regulatory portfolio management standpoint, the application of liquidity-adjusted risk techniques in the process of getting optimum and investable economic-capital structures in the Gulf Cooperation Council financial markets, subject to applying various operational and financial optimization restrictions under crisis outlooks.

Design/methodology/approach

The author implements a robust methodology to assess regulatory economic-capital allocation in a liquidity-adjusted value at risk (LVaR) context, mostly from the standpoint of investable portfolios analytics that have long- and short-sales asset allocation or for those portfolios that contain long-only asset allocation. The optimization route is accomplished by controlling the nonlinear quadratic objective risk function with certain regulatory constraints along with LVaR-GARCH-M (1,1) procedure to forecast conditional risk parameters and expected returns for multiple asset classes.

Findings

The author’s conclusions emphasize that the attained investable economic-capital portfolios lie-off the efficient frontier, yet those long-only portfolios seem to lie near the efficient frontier than portfolios with long- and short-sales assets allocation. In effect, the newly observed market microstructures forms and derived deductions were not apparent in prior research studies (Al Janabi, 2013).

Practical implications

The attained empirical results are quite interesting for practical portfolio optimization, within the environments of big data analytics, reinforcement machine learning, expert systems and smart financial applications. Furthermore, it is quite promising for multiple-asset portfolio management techniques, performance measurement and improvement analytics, reinforcement machine learning and operations research algorithms in financial institutions operations, above all after the consequences of the 2007–2009 financial crisis.

Originality/value

While this paper builds on Al Janabi’s (2013) optimization algorithms and modeling techniques, it varies in the sense that it covers the outcomes of a multi-asset portfolio optimization method under severe event market scenarios and by allowing for both long-only and combinations of long-/short-sales multiple asset. The achieved empirical results, optimization parameters and efficient and investable economic-capital figures were not apparent in Al Janabi’s (2013) paper because the prior evaluation were performed under normal market circumstances and without bearing in mind the impacts of the 2007–2009 global financial crunch.
Analysis of optimized response time in a new disaster management model by applying metaheuristic and exact methods
Authors: Mahmoodi Armin , Jasemi Zergani Milad , Hashemi Leila , Millar Richard
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to maximize the total demand covered by the established additive manufacturing and distribution centers and maximize the total literal weight assigned to the drones.

Design/methodology/approach

Disaster management or humanitarian supply chains (HSCs) differ from commercial supply chains in the fact that the aim of HSCs is to minimize the response time to a disaster as compared to the profit maximization goal of commercial supply chains. In this paper, the authors develop a relief chain structure that accommodates emerging technologies in humanitarian logistics into the two phases of disaster management – the preparedness stage and the response stage.

Findings

Solving the model by the genetic and the cuckoo optimization algorithm (COA) and comparing the results with the ones obtained by The General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) clear that genetic algorithm overcomes other options as it has led to objective functions that are 1.6% and 24.1% better comparing to GAMS and COA, respectively.

Originality/value

Finally, the presented model has been solved with three methods including one exact method and two metaheuristic methods. Results of implementation show that Non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) has better performance in finding the optimal solutions.
Intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity of PIK3CA mutations in extramammary Paget’s disease
Authors: Kusaba Yudo , Kajihara Ikko , Myangat Tselmeg Mijiddorj , Tanaka Kenichiro , Sakamoto Ryoko , Maeda‐Otsuka Saki , Yamada‐Kanazawa Saori , Sawamura Soichiro , Kanemaru Hisashi , Nishimura Yuki , Nakamura‐Kashiwada Kayo , Makino Katsunari , Miyashita Azusa , Aoi Jun , Masuguchi Shinichi , Fukushima Satoshi
Published: March 2022

Although the prognosis of patients with extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD) treated with radical resection is good, the prognosis of EMPD with distant metastasis is very poor. PIK3CA mutations predict a good response to PIK3CA inhibitors. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence rate of PIK3CA mutations (including multiple mutations [MM]) related to the intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity in EMPD and to evaluate the correlation between these mutations and clinical parameters of EMPD. We performed droplet digital polymerase chain reaction to detect PIK3CA mutations (E542K, E545K, H1047R, and MM) in 68 patients with EMPD. In addition, we investigated the presence of PIK3CA mutations at multiple sites in 16 patients with PIK3CA mutations to assess the intratumor heterogeneity of PIK3CA mutations in EMPD. The frequency of one or more PIK3CA mutations in patients with EMPD was 30.8% (21/68). The frequency of E542K, E545K, H1047R, and MM were 10.2% (7/68), 13.2% (9/68), 11.7% (8/68), and 4.4% (3/68), respectively. No significant correlation was found between PIK3CA mutation patterns and clinical parameters. Of the 21 patients with PIK3CA mutations, 16 with tissue samples that could be analyzed at multiple sites were examined. The proportion of patients with the same PIK3CA mutations at all sites was 12.5% (2/16). The proportion of patients with the same PIK3CA mutations at least two or more sites, but not at all sites, was 31.2% (5/16). The proportion of patients with no PIK3CA mutations at other sites was 37.5% (6/16). The proportion of patients with other PIK3CA mutations at other sites was 18.7% (3/16). There is intertumor and intratumor heterogeneity of PIK3CA mutations. PIK3CA mutations in EMPD may be progressor mutations in EMPD.
Pre‐dispersal seed predation could help explain premature fruit drop in a tropical forest
Authors: Jackson Eleanor E. , Wright S. Joseph , Calderón Osvaldo , Bullock James M. , Oliver Tom , Gripenberg Sofia
Published: March 2022

Pre‐dispersal seed mortality caused by premature fruit drop is a potentially important source of plant mortality, but one which has rarely been studied in the context of tropical forest plants. Of particular interest is premature fruit drop triggered by enemies, which—if density dependent—could contribute to species coexistence in tropical forest plant communities.

We used a long‐term (31 year) dataset on seed and fruit fall obtained through weekly collections from a network of seed traps in a lowland tropical forest (Barro Colorado Island, Panama) to estimate the proportion of seeds prematurely abscised for 201 woody plant species. To determine whether enemy attack might contribute to premature fruit drop, we tested whether plant species abscise more of their fruit prematurely if they (a) have attributes hypothesised to be associated with high levels of enemy attack and (b) are known to be attacked by one enemy group (insect seed predators). We also tested (c) whether mean rates of premature fruit drop for plant species are phylogenetically conserved.

Overall rates of premature fruit drop were high in the plant community. Across all species, 39% of seeds were abscised before completing their development. Rates of premature seed abscission varied considerably among species and could not be explained by phylogeny. Premature seed abscission rates were higher in species which are known to host pre‐dispersal insect seed predators and species with attributes that were hypothesised to make them more susceptible to attack by pre‐dispersal enemies, namely species which (a) have larger seeds, (b) have a greater average height, (c) have temporally predictable fruiting patterns and (d) are more abundant at the study site.

Synthesis. Premature fruit drop is likely to be a major source of seed mortality for many plant species on Barro Colorado Island. It is plausible that pre‐dispersal seed enemies, such as insect seed predators, contribute to community‐level patterns of premature fruit drop and have the potential to mediate species coexistence through stabilising negative density dependence. Our study suggests that the role of pre‐dispersal enemies in structuring tropical plant communities should be considered alongside the more commonly studied post‐dispersal seed and seedling enemies.
Discovery of the non‐cosmopolitan lineages in Candidatus Thermoprofundales
Authors: Liu Yi‐Fan , Yang Liu , Liu Zhong‐Lin , Chen Jing , Fang Bo , Zhou Lei , Liu Jin‐Feng , Yang Shi‐Zhong , Gu Ji‐Dong , Mu Bo‐Zhong
Published: March 2022

The recently proposed order Candidatus Thermoprofundales, currently containing only one family‐level lineage Marine Benthic Group‐D (MBG‐D), is distributed in global subsurface ecosystems and ecologically important, but its diversity, evolution and metabolism remain largely unknown. Here we described two novel family‐level specialized lineages in Ca. Thermoprofundales, JdFR‐43 and HyVt, which are restricted to specific biotopes (primarily in marine hydrothermal vents and occasionally in oil reservoirs and hot springs) in contrast to the cosmopolitan lineage MBG‐D. The comparative genomics revealed that the specialized lineages have streamlined genomes, higher GC contents, enriched genes associated with nucleotide biosynthesis, ribosome biogenesis and DNA repair and additional thermostable aminopeptidases, enabling them to adapt to high‐temperature habitats such as marine hydrothermal vents, deep subsurface oil reservoirs and hot springs. On the contrary, the unique metabolic traits of the cosmopolitan MBG‐D, motility, glycolysis, butanoate metabolism, secondary metabolites production and additional genes for specific peptides and carbohydrates degradation potentially enhance its response to environmental change. Substrate preference is found for most MAGs across all lineages with the ability to utilize both polysaccharides (chitin and starch) and proteinaceous substances, whereas JdFR‐43 members from oil reservoirs can only utilize proteins. These results expand the diversity of Ca. Thermoprofundales significantly and further improve our understandings of the adaptations of Ca. Thermoprofundales to various environments.
The association between serum cystatin C and residual renal function in peritoneal dialysis patients
Authors: Zhang Suojian , Li Haitao , Cai Xiaoqin , Zhao Caixia , Cao Juan
Published: March 2022

Introduction

This study evaluated the association between serum cystatin C and residual renal function (RRF) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods

The ability of cystatin C to predict RRF was assessed. Multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to measure the impact of particular factors on serum cystatin C levels.

Results

The study included 141 PD patients. Serum creatinine and cystatin C were negatively correlated with RRF (p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that serum creatinine and cystatin C could both predict RRF status (p < 0.05), but serum cystatin C had a larger area AUC than creatinine (0.893 vs. 0.757, respectively), p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that RRF Kt/V and Ccr were independent factors affecting serum cystatin C levels (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Serum cystatin C levels were closely associated with RRF in PD patients and could reliably predict RRF status. Serum cystatin C levels were determined by RRF, not by PD.
Improving medical student education in radiation oncology: Integrating and evaluating an experiential interdisciplinary workshop into the medical student curriculum
Authors: Swanton Carmen , Morris Lucinda , Agustin Cherry , Brown Alison , Turner Sandra
Published: March 2022

Introduction

To evaluate a novel interactive educational workshop designed to improve medical student knowledge and awareness of radiation oncology (RO).

Method

A 2.5‐h pilot workshop in RO was introduced in 2018 for one teaching hospital cohort of postgraduate medical students. Students participated in a voluntary interactive programme of learning ‘stations’ situated in the RO department, introducing students to practical aspects of RO planning, delivery and patient care. Students were surveyed before and immediately after the workshop to assess their perceptions of its educational value and the impact on RO knowledge and awareness.

Results

Forty‐four of 51 students participated in the RO workshop with 44 students (100%) completing the preworkshop survey and 38 students completing postworkshop survey (86%). Twenty‐three of 44 students had prior RO teaching, and 11/23 students (48%) had received between 30 and 60 min of teaching with only 4/44 (9%) confident in their knowledge of RO. Following the workshop, 22/38 (58%) felt their knowledge now met expectations for their level of training. Preworkshop, objective RO knowledge was low, regarding optimal use of RT (25%) and bone pain response (41%) and improved to 100% and 86% respectively. Overall, feedback around workshop value was highly positive with regard to enjoyment (97%) and students commented on the enthusiasm and multidisciplinarity of teachers.

Conclusion

There remain large gaps in medical student knowledge and confidence in RO, and intervention is necessary to address these discrepancies. A novel interactive RO workshop for medical students has demonstrated improved awareness and knowledge with high levels of self‐reported learner satisfaction.
Effect of mode of rotation on apical extrusion of debris with four different single‐file endodontic instrumentation systems: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Zubair , Sadaf Durre , MacBain Marcy McCall , Merdad Khalid A.
Published: March 2022

This systematic review and meta‐analysis evaluated whether single‐file endodontic instrumentation systems with the reciprocating type of motion are responsible for more debris extrusion than single‐file endodontic instrumentation systems with the full rotational type of motion. Electronic and manual searches were performed following the recommendations of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis – PRISMA. We included studies comparing rotary (Neoniti and/ OneShape) versus reciprocating (WaveOne and/ Reciproc) systems. We evaluated the quality of studies and performed statistical analysis using R‐Project software. Eight studies of high quality were included to perform the meta‐analysis. Subgroup analysis was also done. The overall risk of bias was too low. In conclusion, single‐file reciprocating systems tend to generate more extrusion of debris than single‐file rotary systems.
Application of computer‐assisted dynamic navigation in complex root canal treatments: Report of two cases of calcified canals
Authors: Villa‐Machado Paula Andrea , Restrepo‐Restrepo Felipe Augusto , Sousa‐Dias Hugo , Tobón‐Arroyave Sergio Iván
Published: March 2022

Root canal treatment and non‐vital bleaching of teeth with pulp canal obliteration may represent a complex challenge to the clinician. This report describes the usefulness of the computer‐assisted dynamic navigation system for the root canal treatment of two cases of teeth with a history of traumatic injury, extensively obliterated root canals and crown discoloration. Clinical and cone‐beam computed tomographic evaluations were completed prior to procedures and 12 months after treatment. Both cases were treated using a computer‐assisted dynamic navigation system coupled to a high‐speed handpiece in order to establish the location and orientation of the partially obliterated canal and endodontic access route planning. The system allowed an accurate localisation of the root canal with a conservative access cavity. At the 12‐month recall examination, the patients continue to be symptom‐free, with a normal appearance of the mucogingival complex, adequate restoration of the tooth colour and intact periapical structures.
Single‐cell RNA sequencing of mycosis fungoides reveals a cluster of actively proliferating lymphocytes
Authors: Kita Kanako , Nakatani‐Kusakabe Minori , Nagai Makoto , Yamanishi Kiyofumi , Natsuaki Masaru , Imai Yasutomo , Kanazawa Nobuo
Published: March 2022

A 70‐year‐old man’s chronic erythematous skin lesion in the extremity had developed into a tumour one year before his first visit at our hospital. A biopsy showed atypical lymphocyte‐like cells, and immunostaining identified atypical cells as CD3+, CD4+, CD5+ and FOXP3+. Single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq) analysis using BD Rhapsody revealed the higher expression of CD3, CD4, CD5 and FOXP3 genes in a group of cells that highly expressed genes, such as PCNA, in the S/M phase, which is in agreement with immunofluorescence staining results. The use of scRNA‐seq analysis data is expected to promote personalised medicine for cutaneous lymphoma.
Humoral immune response of BBIBP COVID‐19 vaccination before and after the booster immunization
Authors: Cheng Zhangkai J. , Huang Huimin , Zheng Peiyan , Xue Mingshan , Ma Jing , Zhan Zhiqing , Gan Hui , Zeng Yifeng , Lin Runpei , Li Shiyun , Zhong Ruifen , Li Siping , Wang Hongman , Sun Baoqing
Published: March 2022

Background

The inactivated Sinopharm/BBIBP COVID‐19 vaccine has been widely used in the world and has joined the COVAX vaccine supply program for developing countries. It is also well adapted for usage in low‐ and middle‐income nations due to their low storage requirements.

Objective

This study aims to report on the kinetics, durability, and neutralizing ability of the induced immunity of the BBIBP vaccine, and the intensified antibody response elicited by the booster.

Methods

A total of 353 healthy adult participants, aged 20–74 years, were recruited in this multicenter study. A standard dose of the BBIBP vaccine was administered (Month 0), followed by a second standard dose (Month 1), and a booster dose (after Month 7). Vaccine‐induced virus‐specific antibody levels (SARS‐CoV‐2‐IgA/IgM/IgG), conventional virus neutralization test (cVNT), pseudovirus neutralization test (pVNT), and surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) were monitored over multiple time points.

Results

Neutralizing titers induced by the two doses of inactivated vaccine for COVID‐19 peaked at Month 2 and declined to 33.89% at Month 6. Following the booster dose, elevated levels of antibodies were induced for IgA, IgG, and neutralizing antibodies, with neutralizing titer reaching 13.2 times that of before the booster.

Conclusion

By monitoring the antibody titer levels postvaccination, this study has shown that serum antibody levels will decrease over time, but a notable spike in antibody levels postbooster highlights the anamnestic immune response. This signifies that the protection capability has increased following the injection of booster immunization.
T‐cell receptor sequencing specifies psoriasis as a systemic and atopic dermatitis as a skin‐focused, allergen‐driven disease
Authors: Roesner Lennart M. , Farag Ahmed K. , Pospich Rebecca , Traidl Stephan , Werfel Thomas
Published: March 2022

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis represent two of the most common inflammatory skin diseases in developed countries. A hallmark of both diseases is T‐cell infiltration into the skin. However, it is still not clarified to what extent these infiltrating T cells are antigen‐specific skin‐homing T cells or unspecific heterogeneous bystander cells.

Methods

To elucidate this, T cells from lesional skin and from blood of 9 AD and 10 psoriasis patients were compared by receptor (TCR) sequencing. Therefore, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cell‐sorted according to expression of the cutaneous leukocyte antigen (CLA) into skin‐homing (CLA+) and non‐skin‐homing (CLA−) subfractions. Aeroallergen‐specific T‐cell lines were grown from AD patients’ PBMC in parallel.

Results

Intra‐individual comparison of TCRB CDR3 regions revealed that clonally expanded T cells in skin lesions of both AD and psoriasis patients corresponded to skin‐homing circulating T cells. However, in psoriasis patients, these T‐cell clones were also detectable to a larger extent among CLA− circulating T cells. Up to 28% of infiltrating cells in AD skin were identified as allergen‐specific by overlapping TCR sequences.

Conclusions

Our data show that in line with the systemic nature of psoriasis, T‐cell clones that infiltrate psoriatic skin lesions do not exclusively possess skin‐homing ability and are therefore most probably specific to antigens that are not exclusively expressed or located in the skin. T cells driving AD skin inflammation appear to home nearly exclusively to the skin and are, to a certain extent, specific to aeroallergens.
Strange Seeds: Ethnohistorical Testimonies of the Clandestine Culture of Sacred Plants in Colonial Ecuador
Authors: Corr Rachel
Published: March 2022

The “plant turn” in anthropology, while controversial, has led to a renewed focus on how humans relate to different species of plants. In this article, I aim to contribute to our knowledge of human‐plant relationships by analyzing how historical actors used sacred plants in past ritual settings. I study criminal and civil cases involving shamans in late colonial Ecuador, with a focus on plant use. Legal records from 1782, 1793, 1800, and 1802 reveal information about the use of fragrant plants believed to have transformative properties, the use of entheogens for non‐visionary purposes, and even the incorporation of the sacred wanduc (Brugmansia sp) into the punishment of one shaman. This plant‐focused approach to the reading of ethnohistorical documents provides a history of particular plants as they were used by individual actors in specific geographic and historical contexts, and sheds light on people’s understanding of human‐plant‐spirit relationships.
New scientific analyses reveal mixing of copper sources in the early Iron Age metal production at Ili, western China
Authors: Liu Cheng , Liu Ruiliang , Zhu Siying , Wu Jie , Pollard A. Mark , Cui Jianfeng , Tong Jianyi , Huan Limin , Hsu Yiu‐Kang
Published: March 2022

The crucial role that Xinjiang played in cultural communication across the Eurasian steppe in prehistory is evidenced by the large number of copper‐based objects that represent the early metallurgical technologies found across this region. Our research adds new chemical and isotopic analyses of 44 copper‐based objects dated to the early Iron Age of Ili in Xinjiang, western China. As noted in a number of publications, tin bronze and arsenic copper/bronze were the dominant alloying types across Xinjiang during the second and first millennium BC, whereas some specific types of objects such as cauldrons are often made from pure copper. The western Tianshan Mountain, including the well‐known mining site Nulasai, is the most likely copper source for the Ili metalworking. Meanwhile, a combination of lead isotopes, lead concentrations and trace elemental data reveals new evidence for the mixing and recycling of different sources of copper.
Provenance analysis of Roman limestone artefacts from Colonia Iulia Emona (Marof archaeological site, Slovenia)
Authors: Žvab Rožič Petra , Rožič Boštjan , Gale Luka , Brajkovič Rok
Published: March 2022

The Marof archaeological site, which dates back to the 1st–5th centuries ce, lies 10 km SE of the Roman settlement of Emona of Regio X (Venetia and Histria). In addition to other artefacts, several stone blocks were recovered. The blocks include worked (shaped) and unworked (natural forms) objects. The provenance of these stones was determined based on their lithological characteristics. The analysis shows that the stone is of Early Jurassic age. While the worked blocks are lithologically diverse and extracted from several sources located within a 10 km radius, the unworked blocks are lithologically homogeneous and originate from the site.
Laparoscopic intraperitoneal mesh repair of an incisional hernia after transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap reconstruction for breast cancer
Authors: Nitta Toshikatsu , Suga Keiji , Ohta Masato , Kataoka Jun , Ishii Masatsugu , Ueda Masahiko , Senpuku Sadakatsu , Iida Ryo , Ishibashi Takashi
Published: March 2022

Breast reconstruction with transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap is performed for the treatment of large defects of the breast. However, this may result in an abdominal wall hernia or bulging. A 53‐year‐old Japanese woman with left breast cancer underwent left skin‐sparing mastectomy, sentinel node lymph node dissection, and immediate reconstruction with a contralateral pedicled TRAM flap. Thirty‐two months following surgery, right lower abdominal wall hernia (15.5 × 12 cm) and bulging were observed at the suprapubic region. The patient was diagnosed with an incisional hernia and was scheduled for laparoscopic intraperitoneal mesh repair. The mesh was coated with an absorbable hydrogel barrier and was trimmed to 26 × 22 cm, with a 5 cm overlap around the defect. The patient demonstrated a good postoperative course. In conclusion, intraperitoneal onlay mesh with hernia repair closure (IPOM‐Plus) is a simple and useful method for hernia repair following TRAM flap reconstruction.
COVID‐19 Disclosures and Market Uncertainty: Evidence from 10‐Q Filings
Authors: Hao Jie , Pham Viet T.
Published: March 2022

We examine whether the quarterly filing COVID‐19 disclosures reduce uncertainty for investors and analysts. We find a negative relationship between COVID‐19 disclosure and return volatility, suggesting COVID‐19 disclosure reduces investor uncertainty. This reduction effect concentrates mainly during the short window following 10‐Q releases and phases out over time. We then detect that industry‐wide COVID‐19 disclosure dispersion is positively associated with return volatility, suggesting high variation of industry‐wide COVID‐19 disclosures reduces information comparability across firms, resulting in increased investor uncertainty. Moreover, we find that COVID‐19 disclosures are positively associated with analysts’ downward earnings forecast revisions and negatively associated with analyst forecast dispersion after 10‐Q releases, suggesting the disclosures reduce information risk even for sophisticated market participants. Further analyses show that COVID‐19 disclosures are negatively associated with future financial and operational performances (i.e., sales, operating cash flow, operating income and ROA). Lastly, we find that the low readability of COVID‐19 disclosure attenuates the negative relation between COVID‐19 disclosure and market volatility. Collectively, our findings suggest that 10‐Q COVID‐19 disclosures contain value‐relevant information that temporarily assists market participants in evaluating the changes in firms’ values in the time of a crisis.
Efficacy of monoclonal antibodies in neuromyelitis optica: An updated systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Luitel Prajjwol , Ghimire Anup , Upadhyay Devansh , Ojha Rajeev
Published: March 2022

Objective

This is a critical review of studies aiming to assess the safety and efficacy of monoclonal antibodies as compared with the classical regimen in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Methods

Various electronic databases were searched for original articles reporting results from the use of monoclonal antibodies in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. The Expanded Disability Status Scale and annualized relapse rate score before and after treatment were the primary effect measures. The pooled standardized mean difference with 95% CI was calculated using the random effects model. The heterogeneity of the included studies was calculated using Cochran's Q test and I2 statistics.

Results

Of 36 included studies, meta‐analysis was carried out from 27 studies. The pooled analysis of 1010 patients showed a mean reduction in the mean annualized relapse rate ratio after tocilizumab therapy −2.45 (95% CI −3.13 to −1.77) to be higher compared with rituximab −1.49 (95% CI −1.81 to −1.17). Likewise, the mean reduction in the Expanded Disability Status Scale after tocilizumab was higher −1.10 (95% CI −1.75 to −0.44) compared with rituximab −0.80 (95% CI −1.11 to −0.48).

Conclusion

Tocilizumab has a greater effect than rituximab in terms of the reduction of the annualized relapse rate and Expanded Disability Status Scale in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients. The greater efficacy of tocilizumab could result from its multiple dynamic pharmacodynamics (i.e. its effect on interleukin‐6‐dependent inflammatory processes, involving CD20‐negative plasmablasts, pathogenic T cells and regulatory T cells) and to some degree due to heterogeneity in our study. Satralizumab (monotherapy or add‐on), eculizumab and inebilizumab (monotherapy) are effective in aquaporin‐4‐positive cases with good safety profiles. Ublituximab, bortezomib, bevacizumab and C1‐esterase inhibitors are both effective and safe add‐on drugs.
CEO origin and stock price crash risk: Insider versus outsider CEOs
Authors: Choi Heeick , Karim Khondkar , Tao Anqi
Published: March 2022

Research question/issue

The recent market trend in the United States has drawn attention to the fact that new chief executive officers (CEOs) are increasingly being recruited from outside rather than getting promoted from within. This study examines the influence of CEO origin on stock price crash risk.

Research findings/insights

Using a sample of 13,331 firm‐year observations during the 1997–2017 period, we find that CEOs promoted from inside the firm are less likely to trigger stock price crashes than CEOs hired from outside. Further, we show that the negative relation between insider CEOs and stock price crash risk is more pronounced for firms with more conservative accounting policies. Additional analyses document that the difference in stock price crash risk between insider and outsider CEOs is stronger in the early years of their tenure and for CEOs with higher pay‐for‐performance sensitivity and higher turnover risk.

Theoretical/academic implications

Our study contributes to the research on stock price crash risk, especially the recent studies investigating the impact of managerial behavior and traits on stock price skewness. The findings are consistent with the bad news hoarding theory of stock price crashes. Our findings also lend further empirical support to the horizon problem of CEO origin by showing that the relatively short average horizon for outsider CEOs incentivizes them to withhold bad news, leading to higher stock price crash risk.

Practitioner/policy implications

Our study adds to the debate on whether to choose a CEO from inside or outside the firm. The potential higher risk of stock price crashes might help boards of directors rethink their approaches to succession.
Predicted changes in the functional structure of earthworm assemblages in France driven by climate change
Authors: Fourcade Yoan , Vercauteren Mathias
Published: March 2022

Aim

Species shift their ranges as a consequence of climate change, hence modifying the structure of local assemblages. This may have important consequences for ecosystem functioning in the case of ecosystem engineers such as earthworms, especially when community restructuring leads to an alteration of their functional diversity. Here, we aimed to model the potential modification of the functional diversity of French earthworm assemblages in a context of climate change.

Location

Metropolitan France.

Methods

We fitted boosted regression trees to earthworm data collected using a standardized protocol across France in the 1960s. We used model projections constrained by a macroecological model of species richness to predict the composition of earthworm assemblages in the present and in two scenarios of climate change and two future time periods. We coupled these results with a large set of species traits to calculate predicted changes in functional diversity, which we summarized by ecoregion.

Results

Models predicted a clear decline in functional richness between the period of sampling and nowadays which are expected to continue in the future, with substantial differences depending on ecoregions and on whether species will be able to disperse or not. However, predicted changes in functional evenness and divergence are much weaker, suggesting that climate change will not affect all facets of functional diversity in the same way.

Main Conclusions

Our results mostly pointed to a potential reduction of the functional richness of earthworm communities in the future, but this predicted loss of diversity could be weaker if species are able to colonize new suitable sites or to persist in microclimate refugia. There are concerns, though, that these changes lead to an alteration of soil processes and of the ecosystem services they provide.
Translocation experiment gives new insights into the navigation capacity of an African duck
Authors: Cumming Graeme S. , Henry Dominic A. W. , Reynolds Chevonne
Published: March 2022

Aim

Movement is integral to the distribution and abundance of wildlife. We undertook an experimental test of the navigation capacity of Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiacus to better understand the movements of moult‐migratory waterfowl and the implications of navigation capacity for their ecology.

Location

Southern Africa. In June 2015, we translocated six post‐flightless moult Egyptian Geese 1250 km south, from north‐west South Africa (Barberspan) to the south‐west coast (Strandfontein). We compared their movements to those of 29 previously tracked resident Egyptian Geese from the source and translocation sites, and three additional sites (Voelvlei; Jozini Dam; Lake Manyame, north‐central Zimbabwe).

Methods

We used solar‐powered satellite GPS to track movement patterns and compared the movement paths of different birds using net‐squared displacement analysis and multiple regression analysis of different measures of movement paths.

Results

Over time periods up to 658 days, none of the translocated Egyptian Geese returned to Barberspan and only one appeared to fly towards it. Translocated birds showed some novel and risky behaviours. Longer, searching‐type movements were evident with the onset of both the breeding and moulting seasons. Quantitative comparisons suggested that translocated birds retained elements of learned behaviours.

Main conclusions

Navigation by Egyptian Geese appears to have a strong learned (internal) element, with long‐distance movement triggered by internal states such as the need to moult. Translocated animals modified their movement patterns in ways that mostly allowed them to survive. Our results have interesting implications for understanding the dynamics of individual populations; a strong reliance on learned behaviours may explain the unresolved conundrum of why no African duck species has colonized Europe without human assistance. Our analysis demonstrates the complexity of influences on animal movement and highlights the importance of navigation capacity for conservation biogeography.
Complex connections: A young man presenting with shortness of breath, hypoxemia, right lumbar pain and left limb swelling
Authors: Filomena Domenico , Monosilio Sara , Sannino Michele , Cimino Sara , Maestrini Viviana , Bruno Emanuele , Miraldi Fabio , Fedele Francesco , Vizza Carmine Dario , Agati Luciano
Published: March 2022

A 43‐year‐old Caucasian man was admitted to hospital due to shortness of breath, right lumbar pain and lower left limb swelling. Arterial blood gas sample showed mild hypoxemia and respiratory alkalosis. CT scan confirmed pulmonary embolism, splenic and bilateral renal ischemic lesions. Echocardiography showed right ventricular and coronary sinus (CS) dilatation. Using contrast echocardiography, a superior sinus venous atrial septal defect and persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) draining in CS were suspected. Cardiac CT confirmed the diagnosis and showed overriding right superior vena cava (RSVC) draining in both atria. The patient underwent successful surgical correction.
Gypsum application lowers cadmium uptake in cacao in soils with high cation exchange capacity only: A soil chemical analysis
Authors: Argüello David , Dekeyrel Jesse , Chavez Eduardo , Smolders Erik
Published: March 2022

Soil liming to lower cadmium (Cd) bioavailability is challenged in perennial cacao orchards by the low penetration of lime in soils, not reaching deeper roots. Some studies suggest that gypsum (CaSO4) could reduce Cd uptake by enhanced Ca2+:Cd2+ competition at the root surface. A pot experiment was conducted to identify soil conditions affecting gypsum efficacy in cacao plantlets (5‐month‐old CCN‐51). Plants grew for 115 days in soils sampled from six locations with variable cation exchange capacity (CEC, 6–50 cmolc.kg−1) and soil solution Ca2+ (1.3–17 mM). Soils were either mixed or not mixed with a dose equivalent to 4.0 Mg gypsum ha−1. Leaf Cd concentration in plants grown on gypsum applied soils was statistically lower compared to unamended soils in only one of the six soils. The reduction factor of leaf Cd concentrations due to gypsum (RF = control/amended Cd concentration ratio) ranged from 2.32 (high effect) to 0.76 (no effect), and it was positively correlated with the Ca2+ in the solution of the unamended soil (R2 = 0.58) and with increasing CEC (R2 = 0.52), that is, gypsum only reduced Cd bioavailability in high CEC soils, confirming a trend found in earlier publications. Soil solution analyses showed that gypsum application enhanced total dissolved Cd by forming CdSO40 complexes with, in some cases, even enhanced Cd2+ ion activities, likely related to Ca2+‐induced Cd2+ mobilisation. Data suggest that Ca2+ derived from gypsum has counteracting effects on Cd mobilisation and ion competition at the root surface. The former reactions are less pronounced in high CEC soils. More research is needed to unravel gypsum effects on high Ca2+ soils to corroborate our findings.

Highlights

The effect of soil properties on the efficacy of gypsum to reduce Cd uptake in cacao was studied.

Gypsum only reduced Cd uptake in cacao in the soil sample with highest CEC and highest Ca in solution.

This finding implies a possible competition between Ca2+ and Cd2+ for root uptake in cacao.
Clinical outcomes in transient epileptic amnesia: A 10‐year follow‐up cohort study of 47 cases
Authors: Savage Sharon A. , Baker John , Milton Fraser , Butler Christopher , Zeman Adam
Published: March 2022

Objective

Transient epileptic amnesia (TEA) is a form of adult‐onset epilepsy where presenting features are well described, but little is known regarding prognosis. This study aimed to elucidate the long‐term prognosis of TEA regarding seizure control, memory, medical comorbidities, and life expectancy.

Methods

Up‐to‐date clinical information was collected for 47 people diagnosed with TEA who had joined the The Impairment of Memory in Epilepsy (TIME) study 10 years earlier. At entry to the study, information about comorbid conditions was systematically collected. Details regarding subsequent diagnoses, seizure activity, changes to treatment, or reports of cognitive impairment were obtained through the family doctor. The variables of interest were compared with UK population data.

Results

Mortality in the cohort was 21 of 47 (45%), with an average age at death of 82.5 years. Seizures remained well controlled for the majority but medications required adjustments in dose and type for some (28%). A small number (three cases) remained seizure‐free without medication. History of cardiovascular disorders was frequent (78.7%), typically involving hypertension (55.3%). Autoimmune disorders (25.5%), cancer (23.4%), and depression (21.3%) were also commonly reported. Although persisting memory problems were often noted, dementia was diagnosed in seven cases (14.9%). Life expectancy and comorbidities in TEA did not differ from available population norms.

Significance

Results suggest that life expectancy is not reduced in TEA. Although TEA does not appear to be a self‐limiting form of epilepsy, seizures are typically well controlled via medication. Because adjustments to medication may be required, even after long periods of stability, ongoing medical monitoring is recommended. Comorbid vascular disorders are frequent but appear similar to general population estimates. Monitoring mood may be important, given that people with chronic conditions are often vulnerable to depression. Because of persisting memory difficulties, the development of effective memory interventions for people with TEA is warranted.
Advocacy services for survivors of intimate partner violence: Pivots and lessons learned during the COVID‐19 quarantine in Tacoma, Washington
Authors: Moyer Rachel A. , Beck Connie J. , Van Atter Nadia , McLane Abi
Published: March 2022

The Crystal Judson Family Justice Center (CJFJC), like many advocacy programs for survivors of intimate partner violence, transformed its structure and operating procedures amid the COVID‐19 pandemic. The first confirmed case of COVID‐19 in the United States was in Washington State, where CJFJC is located, and Governor Jay Inslee acted quickly with a strict stay‐at‐home order. This paper describes the pre‐pandemic, in‐person service model used at CJFJC and then the transition to a fully online service model utilizing phone, email and online procedures and platforms. The rapid transition posed many opportunities to learn how to provide services during public pandemics, and how to provide services virtually. We conclude with detailed lessons learned from the experiences of filing domestic violence protection orders online, Zoom court hearings, innovation surrounding community partnerships, and information technology development.
Informing Nature‐based Climate Solutions for the United States with the best‐available science
Authors: Novick Kimberly A. , Metzger Stefan , Anderegg William R. L. , Barnes Mallory , Cala Daniela S. , Guan Kaiyu , Hemes Kyle S. , Hollinger David Y. , Kumar Jitendra , Litvak Marcy , Lombardozzi Danica , Normile Caroline P. , Oikawa Patty , Runkle Benjamin R. K. , Torn Margaret , Wiesner Susanne
Published: March 2022

Nature‐based Climate Solutions (NbCS) are managed alterations to ecosystems designed to increase carbon sequestration or reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While they have growing public and private support, the realizable benefits and unintended consequences of NbCS are not well understood. At regional scales where policy decisions are often made, NbCS benefits are estimated from soil and tree survey data that can miss important carbon sources and sinks within an ecosystem, and do not reveal the biophysical impacts of NbCS for local water and energy cycles. The only direct observations of ecosystem‐scale carbon fluxes, for example, by eddy covariance flux towers, have not yet been systematically assessed for what they can tell us about NbCS potentials, and state‐of‐the‐art remote sensing products and land‐surface models are not yet being widely used to inform NbCS policymaking or implementation. As a result, there is a critical mismatch between the point‐ and tree‐scale data most often used to assess NbCS benefits and impacts, the ecosystem and landscape scales where NbCS projects are implemented, and the regional to continental scales most relevant to policymaking. Here, we propose a research agenda to confront these gaps using data and tools that have long been used to understand the mechanisms driving ecosystem carbon and energy cycling, but have not yet been widely applied to NbCS. We outline steps for creating robust NbCS assessments at both local to regional scales that are informed by ecosystem‐scale observations, and which consider concurrent biophysical impacts, future climate feedbacks, and the need for equitable and inclusive NbCS implementation strategies. We contend that these research goals can largely be accomplished by shifting the scales at which pre‐existing tools are applied and blended together, although we also highlight some opportunities for more radical shifts in approach.