bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Agent-based models help interpret patterns of clinical drug resistance by contextualizing competition between distinct drug failure modes
Authors: Leighow Scott M , Landry Benjamin , Lee Michael J. , Peyton Shelly R. , Pritchard Justin R.
Published: February 2022

Structured Abstract

Introduction

Modern targeted cancer therapies are carefully crafted small molecules. These exquisite technologies exhibit an astonishing diversity of failure modes (drug resistance mechanisms) in the clinic. This diversity is surprising because back of the envelope calculations and classic modeling results in evolutionary dynamics suggest that the diversity in the modes of clinical drug resistance should be considerably smaller than what is observed. These same calculations suggest that known microenvironmental resistance mechanisms should not be able to compete for outgrowth with genetic resistance within a tumor, and yet evidence of microenvironmental resistance is often observed in the clinic. Quantitatively understanding the underlying biological mechanisms of failure mode diversity may improve the next generation of targeted anticancer therapies. It also provides insights into how intratumoral heterogeneity might shape interpatient diversity during clinical relapse.

Materials and Methods

We employed spatial agent-based models to explore regimes where spatial constraints enable microenvironmental resistance to significantly compete with genetically resistant subclones. In order to parameterize a model of microenvironmental resistance, BT20 cells were cultured in the presence and absence of fibroblasts from 16 different tissues. The degree of resistance conferred by cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment was quantified by treating mono- and co-cultures with letrozole and then measuring the death rates.

Results and Discussion

Our simulations indicate that, even when a mutation is more drug resistant, its outgrowth can be delayed by abundant, low magnitude microenvironmental resistance across large regions of a tumor. These observations hold for different modes of microenvironmental resistance, including juxtacrine signaling, soluble secreted factors, and remodeled ECM. This result helps to explain the remarkable diversity of resistance mechanisms observed in solid tumors, which subverts the presumption that the failure mode that causes the quantitatively fastest growth in the presence of drug should occur most often in the clinic.

Conclusion

Our model results demonstrate that spatial effects can interact with low magnitude of resistance microenvironmental effects to successfully compete against genetic resistance that is orders of magnitude larger. Clinical outcomes of solid tumors are intrinsically connected to their spatial structure, and the tractability of spatial agent-based models like the ones presented here enable us to understand this relationship more completely.
Trophic strategies explain the ocean niches of small eukaryotic phytoplankton
Authors: Edwards Kyle F. , Li Qian , McBeain Kelsey A. , Schvarcz Christopher R. , Steward Grieg F.
Published: February 2022

A large fraction of marine primary production is performed by diverse small protists, and many of these phytoplankton are mixotrophs that also consume bacterial prey. However, the mechanisms structuring this diversity and its biogeochemical consequences remain poorly understood. Here we use isolates from seven major taxa to demonstrate tradeoffs between phototrophic and phagotrophic abilities. We then show that trophic strategy along the autotrophy-mixotrophy spectrum correlates strongly with global niche differences, across depths and across gradients of stratification and chlorophyll a. A model of competition shows that community shifts can be explained by greater fitness of faster-grazing mixotrophs when nutrients are scarce and light is plentiful. Our results illustrate how basic physiological constraints and principles of resource competition can organize complexity in the surface ocean ecosystem.
Why link diverse citizen science surveys? Widespread arboreal habits of a terrestrial amphibian revealed by mammalian tree surveys in Britain
Authors: Petrovan Silviu O. , Al-Fulaij Nida , Christie Alec , Andrews Henry
Published: February 2022

Terrestrial anurans, with their typically short limbs, heavy-set bodies and absent claws or toe pads are incongruous tree climbers, but even occasional arboreal locomotion could offer substantial advantages for evading predators or accessing new shelter or food resources. Despite recent interest, arboreal behaviour remains rarely and unsystematically described for terrestrial amphibians in Europe, likely due to fundamental differences in survey methods and therefore a lack of field data. However, other taxa surveys specifically target trees and tree cavities. We undertook collaborations and large-scale data searches with citizen science projects surveying for arboreal mammals in Britain to investigate potential tree climbing by amphibians at a national scale. Remarkably, we found widespread arboreal usage by amphibians in England and Wales, with occupancy of hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellenarius) nest boxes, tree cavities investigated as potential bat roosts and even a bird nest by common toads (Bufo bufo), but few additional records of frogs or newts. Toads are potentially attracted to tree cavities and arboreal nests because they provide safe and damp microenvironments which can support an abundance of invertebrate prey but the importance of such tree microhabitats for toad conservation remains unknown. Possible interactions with arboreal mammals are also unclear, but such mammals and even some birds may benefit from the occasional presence of toads if they feed on the mites and other arthropods that frequently infest their nests. We encourage expanding and linking of unrelated monitoring surveys and citizen science initiatives as valuable tools for investigating ecological traits and interactions.
Deciphering the developmental order and microstructural patterns of early white matter pathways in a diffusion MRI based fetal brain atlas
Authors: Chen Ruike , Sun Cong , Liu Tingting , Liao Yuhao , Wang Junyan , Sun Yi , Zhang Yi , Wang Guangbin , Wu Dan
Published: February 2022

White matter of the fetal brain undergoes rapid development to form the early structural connections. Diffusion MRI has shown to be a useful tool to depict the fetal brain white matter in utero, and many studies have observed increasing fractional anisotropy and decreasing mean diffusivity in the fetal brain during the second-to-third trimester, whereas others reported non-monotonic changes. Unbiased diffusion MRI atlases of the fetal brain are important for characterizing developmental trajectories of white matter and providing normative references for in-utero diagnosis of prenatal abnormalities. To date, the sole fetal brain diffusion MRI atlas was collected from a Caucasian/mixed population, and was constructed based on the diffusion tensor model with limited spatial resolution.

In this work, we proposed a fiber orientation distribution (FOD) based pipeline for the generation of fetal brain diffusion MRI atlases, which showed better registration accuracy than diffusion tensor-based pipeline. Based on the FOD pipeline, we constructed the first Chinese fetal brain diffusion MRI atlas using 89 normal fetal diffusion MRI scans at GA between 24 and 38 weeks. Complex non-monotonic trends of tensor- and FOD-derived microstructural parameters in eight white matter tracts were observed, which jointly pointed to different phases of microstructural development. Specifically, we speculated that the turning point of the diffusivity trajectory may correspond to the starting point of pre-myelination, based on which, the developmental order of white matter tracts can be mapped and the order was in agreement with order of myelination from histological studies. The normative atlas also provided a reference for detection of abnormal white matter development, such as that in congenital heart disease. Therefore, the high-order fetal brain diffusion MRI atlas established in this study depicted the spatiotemporal pattern of early white matter development, and findings may help decipher the distinct microstructural events in utero.
A novel energetic cocrystal composed of CL-20 and 1-methyl-2,4,5-trinitroimidazole with high energy and low sensitivity
Authors: Lian Pengbao , Zhang Luyao , Su Hongping , Chen Jun , Chen Lizhen , Wang Jianlong
Published: February 2022

A cocrystal explosive comprising 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) and 1-methyl-2,4,5-trinitroimidazole (MTNI) (molar ratio, 1:1) was synthesized. The structure of the cocrystal was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Its structure was further determined by powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry which showed that its morphology was different from the morphology of the mechanical mixture of two raw materials. The decomposition temperature of the cocrystal is lower than that of CL-20 and MTNI. The calculated detonation performance is slightly lower than that of HMX, but the cocrystal has excellent sensitivity performance relative to that of CL-20, even lower than that of RDX. These features make this cocrystal ideal to be used in applications with low-sensitivity requirements.
Crystal structure, XANES and charge distribution investigation of krennerite and sylvanite: analysis of Au—Te and Te—Te bonds in Au1–x
Ag
x
Te2 group minerals
Authors: Kitahara Ginga , Yoshiasa Akira , Tokuda Makoto , Nespolo Massimo , Hongu Hidetomo , Momma Koichi , Miyawaki Ritsuro , Sugiyama Kazumasa
Published: February 2022

The structure refinement and XANES study of two gold–silver–tellurides [Au1+x
Ag
x
Te2, krennerite (x = 0.11–0.13) and sylvanite (x = 0.29–0.31)] are presented and the structures are compared with the prototype structure of calaverite (x = 0.08–0.10). Whereas the latter is well known for being incommensurately modulated at ambient conditions, neither krennerite nor sylvanite present any modulation. This is attributed to the presence of relatively strong Te—Te bonds (bond distances < 2.9 Å) in the two minerals, which are absent in calaverite (bond distances > 3.2 Å). In both tellurides, trivalent gold occurs in slightly distorted square planar coordination, whereas monovalent gold, partly substituted by monovalent silver, presents a 2+2+2 coordination, corresponding to distorted rhombic bipyramids. The differentiation between bonding and non-bonding contacts is obtained by computation of the Effective Coordination Number (ECoN). The CHARge DIstribution (CHARDI) analysis is satisfactory for both tellurides but suggests that the Te—Te bond in the [Te3]2− anion is not entirely homopolar. Both tellurides can therefore be described as Madelung-type compounds, despite the presence of Te–Te in both structures.
Experimental and theoretical investigations on a furan-2-carboxamide-bearing thiazole: synthesis, molecular characterization by IR/NMR/XRD, electronic characterization by DFT, Hirshfeld surface analysis and biological activity
Authors: Çakmak Şükriye , Koşar Kırca Başak , Veyisoğlu Aysel , Yakan Hasan , Ersanlı Cem Cüneyt , Kütük Halil
Published: February 2022

A thiazole-based heterocyclic amide, namely, N-(thiazol-2-yl)furan-2-carboxamide, C8H6N2O2S, was synthesized and investigated for its antimicrobial activity. The structure was characterized by elemental analysis and IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The molecular and electronic structures were investigated experimentally by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) and theoretically by density functional theory (DFT) modelling. The compound crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/n and the asymmetric unit contains two symmetrically independent molecules. Several noncovalent interactions were recorded by XRD and analysed with Hirshfeld surface analysis (HSA) calculations. Natural bond orbital, molecular electrostatic potential, second-order nonlinear optical and thermodynamic property analyses were also carried out using the DFT/B3LYP method. The title compound was evaluated for antimicrobial activity against eight microorganisms consisting of Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. The compound showed good antimicrobial activity against the eight tested microorganisms. This suggests that the compound merits further study for potential pharmacological and medical applications.
Conformational flexibility in the zinc solute-binding protein ZnuA
Authors: Yekwa Elsie Laban , Serrano Fred Allen , Yukl Erik
Published: February 2022

Zinc is an essential metal for all kingdoms of life, making its transport across the cell membrane a critical function. In bacteria, high-affinity zinc import is accomplished by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, which rely on extracellular solute-binding proteins (SBPs) of cluster A-I to acquire the metal and deliver it to the membrane permease. These systems are important for survival and virulence, making them attractive targets for the development of novel antibiotics. Citrobacter koseri is an emerging pathogen with extensive antibiotic resistance. High-affinity zinc binding to the C. koseri cluster A-I SBP ZnuA has been characterized and the structure of the zinc-bound (holo) form has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Remarkably, despite 95% sequence identity to the ZnuA homologue from Salmonella enterica, C. koseri ZnuA exhibits a different zinc-coordination environment and a closed rather than an open conformation. Comparison with structures of another close ZnuA homologue from Escherichia coli suggests a surprisingly flexible conformational landscape that may be important for efficient zinc binding and/or delivery to the membrane permease.
A model about students’ behavioural intention to use university WeChat Library
Authors: Zhang Qian , Xi Qingkui
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to build a model about students’ behavioural intention (BI) to use the university WeChat Library (WL).

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, after the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model was modified, a modified theory of acceptance and use of technology (MTAUT) model is built; a questionnaire survey, in which 1,003 valid observations are randomly collected from six universities in a city in eastern China, is performed; and then the results of the survey are used to build the model about students’ BI to use the WL based on regression analysis.

Findings

This study finds five factors, which are information quality (IQ), effort expectancy (EE), facilitating conditions (FC), performance expectancy (PE) and social influence (SI), that constitute independent variables of the model about students’ BI to use the university WL. And IQ has the greatest effect on students’ BI to use the WL, followed by EE, FC, PE and SI.

Originality/value

This study builds and tests a MTAUT model about students’ BI to use the university WL.
Impacts of COVID-19 outbreaks on the lower-income groups and attainments of SDGs: a study of the fast-growing commercial capital city, Chittagong, Bangladesh
Authors: Fattah Md. Abdul , Morshed Syed Riad , Hoque Md. Mojammel , Rabbi Md. Fazle , Dola Irin Akter
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The emergence of COVID-19 and its spread led to severe social, economic and livelihood impacts around the world. This study documented the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdown on the lower-income groups. Also illustrated the impacts on the attainment of SDGs in the context of the slums of Chittagong City.

Design/methodology/approach

Both qualitative and quantitative data have been collected from the 150 respondents through questionnaire surveys in the slums.

Findings

The lockdown led to the decrease of 90% of the respondents' income level and affected the livelihoods of 97.33% of the respondents, with an overall score of 3.22 ± 0.67 on a four-point Likert-type scale. About 96.67% of respondents' psychological conditions have been affected high to extreme, with an overall score of 3.19 ± 0.68. The pandemic affected 74.67% of respondents' food habits, 95.33% of respondents' child education, increased domestic violence and deteriorated social security, basic service facilities and hygiene practices among the slum dwellers. The severity of COVID-19 outbreaks on the lower-income people makes it critical for the government to attain the SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5 (Target 5.1, 5.2) SDG 6 and SDG 16.

Originality/value

The findings of the study will help governments, policymakers, international organizations to adopt measures to mitigate the effects of the outbreaks.
A mixed faster R-CNN and positioning coordinates method for recognition of suit button arrangement with small sample sizes
Authors: Yang Yanwen , Jiang Yuping , Zhang Qingqi , Zou Fengyuan , Du Lei
Published: February 2022

Purpose

It is an important style classification way to sort out suits according to the button arrangement. However, since the different dressing ways of suit cause the buttons to be easily occluded, the traditional identification methods are difficult to identify the details of suits, and the recognition accuracy is not ideal. The purpose of this paper is to solve the problem of fine-grained classification of suit by button arrangement. Taking men's suits as an example, a method of coordinate position discrimination algorithm combined faster region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN) algorithm is proposed to achieve accurate batch classification of suit styles under different dressing modes.

Design/methodology/approach

The detection algorithm of suit buttons proposed in this paper includes faster R-CNN algorithm and coordinate position discrimination algorithm. Firstly, a small sample base was established, which includes six suit styles in different dressing states. Secondly, buttons and buttonholes in the image were marked, and the image features were extracted by the residual network to identify the object. The anchors regression coordinates in the sample were obtained through convolution, pooling and other operations. Finally, the position coordinate relation of buttons and buttonholes was used to accurately judge and distinguish suit styles under different dressing ways, so as to eliminate the wrong results of direct classification by the network and achieve accurate classification.

Findings

The experimental results show that this method could be used to accurately classify suits based on small samples. The recognition accuracy rate reaches 95.42%. It can effectively solve the problem of machine misjudgment of suit style due to the cover of buttons, which provides an effective method for the fine-grained classification of suit style.

Originality/value

A method combining coordinate position discrimination algorithm with convolutional neural network was proposed for the first time to realize the fine-grained classification of suit style. It solves the problem of machine misreading, which is easily caused by buttons occluded in different suits.
Supply chain disruptions: flexibility measures when encountering capacity problems in a port conflict
Authors: Rogerson Sara , Svanberg Martin , Santén Vendela
Published: February 2022

Purpose

There can be many negative effects from a disruption in a central node of companies' supply chains, such as a port conflict that reduces capacity. Strategies for disruption management include flexibility and redundancy. This paper aims to analyse a supply chain disruption from flexibility and capacity perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was conducted of the supply chain disruption caused by the port conflict in 2016–2017 in Gothenburg, in which the port operated at a reduced capacity. Companies importing and exporting goods, freight forwarders, hauliers, train operators, ports, shipping companies and their agents were interviewed.

Findings

Various capacity problems (ports, links, container chassis, empty containers) were encountered due to the port conflict. Flexibility measures such as node, mode and fleet flexibility can be used in response to changes in capacity. Difficulties with applying flexibility are discussed.

Research limitations/implications

Although based on a Swedish case, findings are relevant for disruptions or other types of disturbances in ports elsewhere and also in other important nodes in companies' supply chains.

Practical implications

Actors influenced by disturbances in a port can increase their understanding of potential capacity problems and flexibility measures. Readiness and timely action are important due to competition regarding capacity.

Originality/value

The implications on the transport network surrounding a port, including many actors, are explained, illustrating how capacity problems propagate, but there is some flexibility to manage the problems.
Coping with the postponement boundary problem: an empirical investigation in global food supply chains
Authors: Prataviera Lorenzo Bruno , Moretti Emilio , Tappia Elena
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The postponement boundary problem entails that duties and cross-border trade complexity can lead companies to geographically postpone operations to downstream global facilities. The present study aims at investigating the problem to provide insights into the drivers behind the choice of different postponement strategies for global food supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

A single case study was conducted considering an Italian company exporting olive oil toward the United States. Two global postponement strategies, previously formalized in the literature, were tailored for food supply chains. A multi-methodological approach was adopted, combining data obtained through exploratory case research with empirically grounded analytical modeling. A sensitivity analysis was also performed, to investigate outcomes related to the considered problem when changing key parameters.

Findings

Bulky and heavy packing materials account for a big percentage of finished products' volume and weight, and this can deeply affect strategies' cost-effectiveness. Postponing packaging operations could allow for taking advantage of lower tariffs levied on bulk goods, contributing to significantly lower duties to be paid. However, important trade-offs could arise related to the required investments, and the fiscal regulatory frameworks must be carefully examined.

Originality/value

This study offers an empirical investigation of the postponement boundary problem, which is largely unexplored in the current literature. It also tackles an understudied empirical context as global food supply chains. It summarizes the drivers behind and explores the costs related to the implementation of different strategies, offering an original quantitative approach that could support practitioners' decision-making. Lastly, it formalizes five propositions that could pave the way for further research inquiries.
Reducing the environmental impact of food service in universities using life cycle assessment
Authors: Sherry Jesse , Tivona Shannon
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to use life cycle assessment to determine the environmental impact of food purchases at a small, liberal arts college. The authors also use the results to develop a simple decision-making tool for college and university dining services administrators, attempting to make their food purchases more sustainable.

Design/methodology/approach

Life cycle assessment was used to analyze the global warming potential (GWP) of all food products purchased at a college café during a four-month study period.

Findings

The authors found the top ten highest impact products accounted for 40% of orders by weight, but 80% of the GWP. In particular, beef and cheese exhibited the highest GWP/kg. These findings highlight the importance of considering the carbon intensity of food products when making purchasing decisions. The authors also examined the carbon intensity and cost of common meal options and developed a carbon intensity comparison heuristic that can assist in making food purchasing decisions with the goal of lowering the GWP of food purchases.

Practical implications

The results of this study show that life cycle assessment is a useful tool for university food service operations seeking to reduce environmental impact. The carbon intensity food comparison heuristic based upon this data serves as a helpful decision-making tool in guiding food service to reduce GWP.

Originality/value

While life cycle assessment has typically been used to analyze individual food products, this study demonstrates its use as a decision-making tool to guide purchasing decisions across an entire array of food purchases.
Just a little bit of history repeating: the recurring and fatal consequences of lacking professional knowledge of acquired brain injury
Authors: Holloway Mark , Norman Alyson
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review safeguarding adult reviews (SARs) pertaining to individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) since 2014. This extended literature review also explores the lessons and recommendations from these reviews in relation to social work practice within the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

The literature review reported and discussed findings across reviews and then used a thematic analysis to synthesise the findings and recommendations from the SARs reviews.

Findings

This paper identified four main themes: a lack of awareness of the needs of those with ABI and their families and around the symptoms and nuances of brain injury, particularly executive impairment and mental capacity, among social workers; poor interdisciplinarity led to a lack of shared communication and decision-making with professionals with such knowledge; a poor understanding of aspects of the mental capacity legislation, particularly surrounding unwise decisions, led to inappropriate or absent mental capacity assessments; and a lack of professional curiosity led to a lack of action where intervention or assessment was required.

Research limitations/implications

This review identifies significant shortcomings in social work practice, education and training within the UK with regards to ABI.

Practical implications

This paper provides recommendations to current social work practice and highlights the need for significant improvements in pre-qualification and post-qualification training and supervision of social workers.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, while there have been extensive reviews conducted on SARs, this is the only review that has focused solely on ABI.
Improved iterative methods for solving risk parity portfolio
Authors: Choi Jaehyuk , Chen Rong
Published: February 2022

Risk parity, also known as equal risk contribution, has recently gained increasing attention as a portfolio allocation method. However, solving portfolio weights must resort to numerical methods as the analytic solution is not available. This study improves two existing iterative methods: the cyclical coordinate descent (CCD) and Newton methods. The authors enhance the CCD method by simplifying the formulation using a correlation matrix and imposing an additional rescaling step. The authors also suggest an improved initial guess inspired by the CCD method for the Newton method. Numerical experiments show that the improved CCD method performs the best and is approximately three times faster than the original CCD method, saving more than 40% of the iterations.
Buying US products and services: religiosity, animosity, and ethnocentrism of young consumers
Authors: Sadiq  , Ahmad Muhammad Salman
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The aim of this empirical study is to examine how religiosity, animosity and ethnocentrism interact to influence judgment about US products and purchase actions of young consumers in a conservative Islamic country like Pakistan. Many studies have been conducted before in progressive Islamic countries such as Malaysia, Jordan, Turkey and Tunisia but not in conservative Islamic countries like Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

A validated questionnaire derived from literature is used for data collection. Data were collected from 381 college students in four provincial capital cities of Pakistan (Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar). Structural equation modeling is used to test the framework.

Findings

This study reveals key significant cause and effect relationships like consumers religiosity on foreign product judgment, consumers animosity on foreign product judgment, consumers religiosity on ethnocentric tendencies of consumers, consumers ethnocentric tendencies on foreign product judgment and foreign product judgment on purchase action of consumers.

Originality/value

This study attempts to add value to the existing literature on consumer behavior, especially the role of religiosity, animosity and ethnocentrism in young consumers. This study is the first of its kind on examining religiosity, animosity and ethnocentrism among young consumers in Pakistan. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study will guide the marketing managers to formulate appropriate strategies when targeting young consumers, especially when they decide to boycott US products.
The invisible leash: when human brands hijack corporate brands' consumer relationships
Authors: Giertz Johann N. , Hollebeek Linda D. , Weiger Welf H. , Hammerschmidt Maik
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Corporate brands increasingly use influential, high reach human brands (e.g. influencers, celebrities), who have strong parasocial relationships with their followers and audiences, to promote their offerings. However, despite emerging understanding of the benefits arising from human brand-based campaigns, knowledge about their potentially negative effects on the corporate brand remains limited. Addressing this gap, this paper deepens insight into the potential risk human brands pose to corporate brands.

Design/methodology/approach

To explore these issues, this conceptual paper reviews and integrates literature on consumer brand engagement, human brands, brand hijacking and parasocial relationships.

Findings

Though consumers' favorable human brand associations can be used to improve corporate brand outcomes, they rely on consumers' relationship with the endorsing human brand. Given the dependency of these brands, human brand-based marketing bears the risk that the human brand (vs the firm) “owns” the consumer's corporate brand relationship, which the authors coin relationship hijacking. This phenomenon can severely impair consumers' engagement and relationship with the corporate brand.

Originality/value

This paper sheds light on the role of human brands in strategic brand management. Though prior research has highlighted the positive outcomes accruing to the use of human brands, the authors identify its potential dark sides, thus exposing pivotal insight.
How isolation leads to purchasing luxury brands: the moderating effects of COVID-19 anxiety and social capital
Authors: Thapa Sajani , Guzmán Francisco , Paswan Audhesh K.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how consumers’ luxury purchase behavior has been affected by COVID-19. A theoretical framework is proposed to determine how isolation leads to intention to purchase luxury brands through bandwagon luxury consumption behavior. Additionally, the moderating effects of COVID-19 anxiety and social capital on the relationship between bandwagon luxury consumption behavior and subjective well-being and intention to purchase luxury brands are tested.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey responses from a national sample of 261 luxury consumers in the USA were collected. The data were analyzed using a covariance-based structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

The results confirm that the feeling of isolation leads to a higher intention to purchase luxury brands. Both COVID-19 anxiety and social capital moderate the relationship between bandwagon luxury consumption behavior and intention to purchase luxury brands/subjective well-being related to the luxury brand purchase.

Research limitations/implications

Luxury marketers should focus on highlighting bandwagon elements of their brands, such as their popularity and how they enhance social connectedness when tailoring their brand communication to isolated consumers. The data is limited to luxury consumers in the USA; thus, the findings are specific to the US market.

Originality/value

Given the paucity of research on luxury consumption for isolated consumers, this study adds to the literature on luxury brands by examining how the feeling of isolation affects the intention to purchase luxury brands.
A structured framework for performance optimization using JBLTO, FCOPRAS and FCODAS methodologies
Authors: Gopal Nand , Panchal Dilbagh
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The proposed hybridized framework provides a new performance optimization-based paradigm for analysing the failure behaviour of paneer unit (PU) in the dairy industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel fuzzy Jaya-based Lambda–Tau Optimization (JBLTO) approach-based mathematical modelling was developed for calculating various reliability indices of the considered unit. Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) was carried using qualitative information gathered from system's expert opinions. Fuzzy-complex proportional assessment (FCOPRAS) approach was integrated within FMEA to recognize the most critical failure causes associated with various subsystem/components.

Findings

The availability of the unit falls by 0.053% as the uncertainty level increases from ±15 to ±25% and further decreases to 0.323% as the uncertainty level increases from ±25 to ±60%. Failure causes, namely wearing in gears of gearbox (MST4), an impeller's cavitation and/or corrosion (CFP4), winding failure of electric motor (WS9), were recognized as the most critical failure causes with FCOPRAS final performance scores of 100, 100 and 100 and fuzzy combinative distance-based assessment (FCODAS) resultant assessment score of 0.5997, 1.1898 and 1.6135.

Originality/value

JBLTO approach-based reliability results were compared with traditional particle swarm optimization-based Lambda–Tau (PSOBLT) and traditional fuzzy Lambda–Tau (FLT) approaches for confirming the downward trend in the system's availability. The ranking results of qualitative analysis are compared with the implementation of FCODAS technique. Sensitivity analysis was executed to evaluate the robustness of the proposed hybridized framework.
Long-lasting heuristics principles for efficient investment decisions
Authors: Gadzinski Gregory , Schuller Markus , Mousavi Shabnam
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Behavioral solutions to our cognitive biases have long been studied in the literature. However, there is still ample evidence of behavioral biases in decision-making, with only limited improvement in the medium/long term even when debiasing methods are applied. The purpose of this paper is to describe how financial investors could benefit from a proactive management of emotions combined with a set of learning and decision-making heuristics to make more efficient investments in the long run.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors offer a classification of the appropriate quantitative and qualitative methodologies to use in different ecological environments. Then, the authors offer a list of detailed heuristics to be implemented as behavioral principles intended to induce more long-lasting changes than the original rules offered by the adaptive toolbox literature. Finally, the authors provide guidelines on how to embed artificial intelligence and cognitive diversity within the investment decision architecture.

Findings

Improvements in decision skills involve changes that rarely succeed through a single event but through a succession of steps that must be habitualized. This paper argues that implementing a more conscious set of personal and group principles is necessary for long-lasting changes and provides guidelines on how to minimize systematic errors with adaptive heuristics. To maximize their positive effects, the principles outlined in this paper should be embedded in an architecture that fosters cognitively diverse teams. Moreover, when using artificial intelligence, the authors advise to maximize the interpretability/accuracy ratio in building decision support systems.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a theoretical reflection on the field of behavioral research and decision-making in finance, where the chief goal is to offer practical advices to investors. The literature on debiasing cognitive biases is limited to the detection and correction of immediate effects. The authors go beyond the traditional three building blocks developed by the behavioral finance literature (search rules, stopping rules and decision rules) and aim at helping investors who are interested in finding long-term solutions to their cognitive biases.
Strategic responses to sustainability reporting regulation and multiple stakeholder demands: an analysis of the Spanish EU non-financial reporting directive transposition
Authors: Esteban-Arrea Rosa , Garcia-Torea Nicolas
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to study companies’ strategic responses to regulative institutional pressures on sustainability reporting. Particularly, it investigates the role of multiple stakeholder demands in shaping corporate responses to Law 11/2018 that transposes the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

Informed by Oliver’s framework, the study analyzes the 2018 non-financial information of Spanish listed companies mandated to report under Law 11/2018 to explore the relationship between adopting a particular strategic response and companies’ stakeholder configuration.

Findings

Companies facing multiple stakeholder pressures tend to use a compromise strategy favoring the disclosure of relevant topics to a specific stakeholder type. Specifically, environmentalists are the most influential stakeholder in determining the coverage of sustainability topics to the detriment of other stakeholders when companies suffer from regulatory pressures.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to disentangling the factors determining how companies respond to sustainability reporting regulation. Future research could perform longitudinal and large multinational analyses to study the evolutionary process of corporate responses.

Practical implications

The study is relevant to managers and policymakers as it highlights that sustainability reporting regulation should promote the coverage of relevant topics to less influential stakeholders.

Social implications

The study explores the extent to which current sustainability reporting regulation can increase transparency on sustainability issues for all stakeholders.

Originality/value

In contrast to previous literature exploring the extent to which firms comply with regulation, the study considers that companies can respond more actively to mandatory sustainability reporting requirements.
The use of web-based translation software in translating religious terms
Authors: Mahdi Hassan Saleh
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The integration of the Internet in translation creates several opportunities for translators. This study aims at examining the impact of using web-based translation (WBT) on translating religious texts.

Design/methodology/approach

The study followed a quasi-experimental study design. Sixty students enrolled in English Department, University of Bisha, participated in this study. The participants were divided randomly into three groups (i.e. words group, sentences group and passages group). The data was collected through a translation test and a questionnaire.

Findings

The results indicated that WBT is more beneficial in translating words than translating sentences or passages. In addition, WBT is more beneficial when words are translated from English into Arabic as well as from Arabic into English. The results from the questionnaire revealed positive attitudes toward using WBT in the process of translation.

Originality/value

This use of technology in translation has been examined in many studies (e.g. Bundgaard et al., 2016). WBT can be used to translate any field of knowledge. One of these fields is religious translation. According to O'Connor (2021), the study of religious translation has expanded greatly in recent years from its strong textual tradition and a constant focus on equivalence and translatability. However, very little has been done to examine the impact of WBT on translating religious texts. Therefore, this study aims at exploring the impact of WBT on translating religious texts with special reference to Islamic texts.
Development of systemic lupus erythematosus after dupilumab treatment in a case of atopic dermatitis
Authors: Okune Mari , Okiyama Naoko , Fukuzono Maki , Sasaki Katsuhito , Nomura Toshifumi
Published: February 2022

Dupilumab, a monoclonal antibody that specifically inhibits signal transductions by interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐13, has been used to treat T‐helper (Th)2‐type allergic disorders, including atopic dermatitis and asthma. We report a 21‐year‐old female patient with atopic dermatitis who developed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) unexpectedly after dupilumab treatment. Her skin lesions partially improved after dupilumab treatment; however, a part of her skin lesions on the face, nape, and upper extremities were refractory even after a 15‐month period of dupilumab treatment. These dupilumab‐refractory skin lesions were histopathologically diagnosed as cutaneous lupus erythematosus, moreover, subsequent phenomenons, diffuse alopecia, joint pain, lymphopaenia, hypocomplementemia, and positivities for anti‐nuclear, anti‐double‐stranded DNA, anti‐U1 ribonucleoprotein, anti‐Smith, and anti‐Sjögren's syndrome‐related antigen A antibodies made a diagnosis of SLE. Our retrospective investigations on her serum samples indicted that these abnormalities of laboratory examinations had not appeared at the initiation of dupilumab treatment. Our case at least indicated that dupilumab was not effective in treating SLE. Moreover, inhibition of Th2‐type immune responses by dupilumab may accelerate the pathogenesis of Th1‐related inflammatory disorders, including SLE, as observed in our case. Our case also presented another possibility that dupilumab has no effect on the progression of underlying SLE. Because a significant relationship exists between atopic dermatitis/asthma and the risk of SLE, the utility of dupilumab should be carefully considered for each case.
Improving Australia's trade balance: A case study of agro‐forest and fish products
Authors: Kashem Mohammad Abul , Rahman Mohammad Mafizur , Khanam Rasheda
Published: February 2022

The impact of the exchange rate (ER) on the trade balance (TB) has been discussed for many years. However, the issue has not been discussed in sufficient depth, especially in relation to the TB of agricultural products. This paper will gauge this impact on Australia, which has much potential for agro‐based trade in the world market. We have applied the Bahmani‐Oskooee and Hosny's approach of the linear autoregressive distributed lag model to estimate the Marshall–Lerner condition (MLC) regarding the trade of Australian agro‐forest and fish (AFF) products with its five major partner countries. Quarterly data will be used for the period 1988Q1–2020Q4. Our findings support the MLC in case of the major share of Australian AFF trade. The implication is that if the market force depreciates Australian ER, the country's AFF TB will improve in the long‐run.
An initial Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or less does not define severe brain injury
Authors: Fitzgerald Mark , Tan Terence , Rosenfeld Jeffrey V , Noonan Michael , Tee Jin , Ng Evan , Mathew Joseph , Broderick Shane , Kim Yesul , Groombridge Christopher , Udy Andrew , Mitra Biswadev
Published: February 2022

The wide‐spread use of an initial ‘Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 8 or less’ to define and dichotomise ‘severe’ from ‘mild’ or ‘moderate’ traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an out‐dated research heuristic that has become an epidemiological convenience transfixing clinical care. Triaging based on GCS can delay the care of patients who have rapidly evolving injuries. Sole reliance on the initial GCS can therefore provide a false sense of security to caregivers and fail to provide timely care for patients presenting with GCS greater than 8. Nearly 50 years after the development of the GCS – and the resultant misplaced clinical and statistical definitions – TBI remains a heterogeneous entity, in which ‘best practice’ and ‘prognoses’ are poorly stratified by GCS alone. There is an urgent need for a paradigm shift towards more effective initial assessment of TBI.
The association between quarter length, forecast errors, and firms’ voluntary disclosures
Authors: Hillegeist Stephen A. , Kavourakis James P. , Pinnuck Matthew
Published: February 2022

Approximately 60 percent of adjacent fiscal quarters contain a different number of calendar days. In preliminary analyses, we find the change in quarter length is significantly associated with the changes in sales and earnings and that analysts condition on the prior quarter's results when making their forecasts. These results indicate that it is important for analysts to adjust for changes in quarter length when making forecasts. However, we find the quarterly change in days is positively associated with analysts’ sales and earnings forecasts errors, where forecast error equals the actual earnings minus the forecasted earnings. These results indicate that analysts systematically underestimate (overestimate) performance when quarter length increases (decreases). We find evidence indicating investors make similar errors as returns around earnings announcements are positively associated with the change in quarter length, but only when changes in firm performance is more sensitive to changes in quarter length. Corroborating these findings, managers are more (less) likely to discuss quarter length during conference calls when quarter length decreases (increases). These results are consistent with managers’ strategic disclosure incentives. In summary, our evidence suggests analysts and investors fail to fully take account of the quasi‐mechanical effect that quarter length has on firm performance and managers strategically alter their voluntary disclosures to take advantage of these failures.