bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The nexus between firm size, growth and profitability: new panel data evidence from Asia–Pacific markets
Authors: Yadav Inder Sekhar , Pahi Debasis , Gangakhedkar Rajesh
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the correlation between firm size, growth and profitability along with other firm-specific variables (like leverage, competition and asset tangibility), macroeconomic variable (like GDP growth-business cycle) and stock market development variable (like MCR).

Design/methodology/approach

Using the COMPUSTAT Global database this work uses panel dynamic fixed effects model for nearly 12,001 unique non-financial listed and active firms from 1995 to 2016 for 12 industrial and emerging Asia–Pacific economies. This interrelationship was also examined for small, medium and large size companies classified based on three alternate measures such as total assets, net sales and MCR of firms.

Findings

The persistence of profits coefficient was found to be positive and modest. There is evidence of a negative size-profitability and positive growth-profitability relationship suggesting that initially profitability increases with the growth of the firm but eventually, overtime, gains in profit rates reduce, as size increases indicting that large size breeds inefficiency. The relationship between firm's leverage ratio and its asset tangibility is found to be negative with profitability. The business cycle and stock market development variables suggest a positive relationship with the profitability of firms. However, the significance of estimated coefficients was mixed and varied among different selected Asia–Pacific economies.

Practical implications

The study has economic implications on issues such as industrial concentration, risk and optimum size of firms for practicing managers of modern enterprise in emerging markets.

Originality/value

The analysis of the relationship between the firm size, growth and profitability is uniquely determined under a dynamic panel fixed effects framework using firm-specific variables along with macroeconomic and financial development determinants of profitability. This relationship is estimated for a large and new data set of 12 industrial and emerging Asia–Pacific economies.
How firms strategically navigate informal and formal copyright practices: insights from Nollywood
Authors: Uzo Uchenna , Mair Johanna , Adewusi Adedeji
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explain how and why firms configure copyright practices when confronted with state-sanctioned laws and informal customs projected by local ethnic or religious communities.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-case inductive study of four film-producing organizations within the Nigerian film industry (i.e. Nollywood) was conducted. Specifically considered were firms that started their operations around the same time with similar founding conditions, experiences, resources and technical competencies. Field observations and multiple rounds of in-depth interviews were conducted to achieve the research objectives.

Findings

The study found that firms adopted dominant or hybrid configurations when interacting with informality and formality. Dominant configurations represent the exclusive adoption of informal copyright practices while hybrid configurations refer to the blended use of informal and formal copyright practices. The second set of findings revealed that each firm’s strategic intent affected the type of interactional configuration that unfolded in the firm. Specifically, firms with social intents tended to adopt dominant configurations, whereas firms with socio-economic intents tended to adopt hybrid configurations.

Practical implications

The study implies that firms may profit from strategically focusing on when and in what circumstances to adopt informality. Strategic intents that blend social and economic rationales may secure more positive interactive outcomes from internal and external stakeholders promoting formality and informality.

Social implications

This study highlights the fact that firms embedded in local religious and ethnic communities use organizational practices to solve social and institutional problems of their members. The copyright practices of these organizations encourage apprenticeship, youth empowerment and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that goes beyond macro-level analysis to investigate the interactional dynamics between formality and informality at the firm, community, and state levels. The study is also first of its kind to use copyright practices as an analytical lens to explore the interaction between informality and formality.
Don’t be a waster! Student perceptions of recycling strategies at an English University’s halls of residence
Authors: Dixon Joseph , Parker Jonathan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore student perceptions of recycling and explore whether one university’s strategy helped or hindered student recycling in their university's halls of residence. There is near-universal acknowledgement of the urgency of the climate crisis, yet household recycling rates remain low at 45.2%. Student-recycling rates have been suggested to be even lower. After a brief consideration of the recent history of sustainability and recycling, this paper identifies the actions required to increase student recycling, including peer influence, education and information, physical structures and attitudes and motivations.

Design/methodology/approach

Twelve in-depth, semi-structured interviews were undertaken at one Southern English university. The rich, qualitative data obtained were then analysed thematically. The theory of environmentally significant behaviour provided a framework for understanding perceptions and behaviours in that site.

Findings

Confirming aspects of existing literature, students’ recycling behaviours were found to be limited through lack of perceived ability, lack of facilities and unconfident knowledge. Students were also found to be limiting their own actions. A holistic approach including peer influence, education and information, physical structures and attitudes and motivations was recommended.

Originality/value

There is little research into student recycling behaviours and limited literature concerning halls of residence, especially in the UK. This paper draws on one case to add to nascent understandings. While limited to one site and by sample size, a number of recommendations are made, covering university facilities, student empowerment and individual responsibility to increase future recycling.
Environmental service-learning approach in higher education – a descriptive case study on student-led life cycle assessments of university cafeteria meals
Authors: Johannisson Jonas , Hiete Michael
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to share experiences of an easy to adapt service-learning approach in a graduate course on life cycle assessment (LCA). Specifically, it reports on how students helped the university’s cafeteria to assess meals by conducting an LCA for 25 meals and identifying environmental hotspots.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive case study of a graduate course at Ulm University is presented. The course included lectures and problem-based exercises, both theoretical and software assisted. A course evaluation was conducted during the course and one year after completion to poll improvement potentials, as well as its impacts on students’ everyday life.

Findings

It was found that although it was the first LCA for all students, the resulting LCA information of 25 different meals were homogeneous, comparable to the scientific literature and beneficial to the cafeteria’s sustainable development strategy. The concept of service-learning had a higher impact on students’ motivation than a good grade and active-learning is explicitly requested by students. The course design sensitized students to the real-life problems of LCA and made their consumption patterns more elaborate and ecological. Furthermore, this digitization of higher education could be carried out with only minor changes in the present COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Originality/value

As the subject of service-learning in natural sciences is still expandable, this study presents an easy to adapt case study on how to integrate such an approach into university curricula dominated by traditional learning. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this case study presents the first published LCA university course explicitly describing and evaluating a service-learning approach. The topic touches the everyday lives of students, allows comparisons between different student groups, is easily scalable to different group sizes and credits, and supports learning both how to study in small groups and cooperation between groups to ensure comparability of LCA results.
Triggering changes in corporate governance: before and after external whistleblowing
Authors: Smaili Nadia , Arroyo Paulina
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a change of corporate governance occurs after financial crimes in Canada revealed through external whistleblowing.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the methodology of Smaili and Arroyo (2019), the authors implement a qualitative research framework to examine 11 alleged Canadian corporate financial statement fraud cases publicly exposed during the 1995–2012 period.

Findings

The analysis suggests that firms had a weak traditional corporate governance mechanism before the external whistleblowing occurred. In almost every case, the chief executive officer (CEO) was also the chair of the board of directors. Although the reports by Dey and Saucier recommend that independent directors make up at least 75% of Canadian boards, we note that the percentage of independent directors was under 70% in six cases. Moreover, only two firms had a whistleblowing policy in place, and seven firms had a major shareholder. Regarding the consequences for corporate governance after whistleblowing, the analysis shows that the companies that survived the whistleblowing had enhanced their internal corporate governance by the third year after the whistleblowing. In fact, at all the surviving companies, the CEO was no longer the chair, and the percentage of independent directors had increased to 80%. However, for those survival companies that did not have a whistleblowing policy before the event, the situation did not change quickly, and they only implemented a policy after the enforcement of the new regulation in the year 2003.

Originality/value

This paper adds new insights to the research on financial crime by investigating the relation between corporate governance and whistleblowing.
Fit in your genes: an introduction to genes and epigenetics for forensic practitioners
Authors: Walton Jamie Stephen
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a brief and accessible introduction to genetics and epigenetics for forensic practitioners. It provides two primers which define key genetic concepts and explain what epigenetic mechanisms actually are. The primers are provided alongside sections that focus on genetic research relevant to forensic practice, with a range of key messages that support the call to contextualise harmful behaviour and build better awareness of gene-environment relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an opinion paper.

Findings

Select and seminal studies from the genetic literature that have forensic practice relevance are cited. These include studies from candidate gene research and epigenetic research. They highlight a number of key themes, including the way neurodevelopment and behaviour are contextually adjusted to fit certain environments, with epigenetic changes being an underpinning biological mechanism that facilitates this.

Research limitations/implications

This article aims to introduce forensic practitioners to basic concepts in genetics and epigenetics so that they are able to engage with the relevant literature and understand the far-reaching implications for forensic practice.

Practical implications

It is becoming increasingly useful for forensic practitioners to appreciate how life experiences are encoded into biology through epigenetics. This paper highlights the potential of genetic and epigenetic research to provide major contributions to real-world practice in the coming years. It provides a modern biopsychosocial perspective on harmful behaviour and helps deepen the understanding of our efforts to support behaviour change. It offers ways to think of social and rehabilitative initiatives in biological terms.

Originality/value

This paper is one of few modern texts that focusses on the relevance of genetic and epigenetic research in applied forensic practice. It aims to introduce relevant concepts in an accessible manor. It intends to introduce biologically informed ways of understanding harmful behaviour within context and with attention to its function. It contributes to a de-pathologising narrative.
Assessing environmental efficiency of China’s industry system using two-stage range-adjusted measure model
Authors: Wang Meiqiang , Chen Yingwen , Zhou Zhixiang
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the industrial production efficiency, pollution treatment efficiency, total factor energy efficiency and water efficiency in China with the consideration of technological innovation. This study also explores the distribution proportion of technological innovation between industrial production substage and pollution treatment substage.

Design/methodology/approach

A nonparametric method, data envelopment analysis (DEA), is used as the model foundation of this study. Specifically, a novel two-stage range-adjusted measure (RAM-DEA) with shared inputs is constructed to analyze the China’s industrial system. In this study, the panel data of 30 provinces from 2008 to 2015 are used.

Findings

This study found that although the current environmental regulation reduced the efficiency of industrial production, it could significantly improve the pollution treatment level. However, the lack of pollution treatment capacity was still an obstacle for development of China's industrial system. Compared with the total factor energy efficiency, the total factor water efficiency had more room for improvement. The optimal distribution of technological innovation in the two substages performed little change and the distribution roughly followed the “three-seven principle”.

Practical implications

More attention should be paid to improve the pollution treatment level and total factor water efficiency. And more R&D expenditure should be used in the industrial production substage in the eastern coastal areas, while in the inland areas, more R&D expenditure should be used in the pollution treatment substage.

Originality/value

This study proposed a model to environmental efficiency score with considering interval data under two-stage evaluation structure, which could strengthen the theory and expand the application scope of DEA approach.
How cultural distance affects the formation of international strategic alliance – an explanation of the transaction costs theory
Authors: Xiong Ming Ning , Wang Tao , Zhao Peng
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Based on the transaction cost theory, this paper aims to investigate the impact of cultural distance on international strategic alliance formation and its underlying mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the investment of foreign firms in the Chinese Venture Capital market as an empirical background, Obtaining VC data from Zero2IPO Private Equity, CVsource Investment Database (2001–2015). This paper chooses the Logit regression method, according to Lind’s three-step method to test the inverted U-shaped relationship.

Findings

The empirical analysis of foreign venture capital firms invested in China revealed that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between cultural distance and the possibility of international strategic alliances. This relationship is the result of two opposing mechanisms, which are the need and the feasibility of international strategic alliances. In addition, this study further examined the moderating effects of social embeddedness and social reputation, revealing the boundary effects on the complex relationship between cultural distance and possible international strategic alliance formation.

Originality/value

This study focuses on cultural difference, which is a key factor leading to a firm’s transaction costs. Based on the transaction cost theory, this paper investigates the impact of cultural distance on international strategic alliance formation and its underlying mechanisms.
Creating novel furniture through topology optimization and advanced manufacturing
Authors: Ma Jiaming , Li Zhi , Zhao Zi-Long , Xie Yi Min
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Furniture plays a significant role in daily life. Advanced computational and manufacturing technologies provide new opportunities to create novel, high-performance and customized furniture. This paper aims to enhance furniture design and production by developing a new workflow in which computer graphics, topology optimization and advanced manufacturing are integrated to achieve innovative outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Workflow development is conducted by exploring state-of-the-art computational and manufacturing technologies to improve furniture design and production. Structural design and fabrication using the workflow are implemented.

Findings

An efficient transdisciplinary workflow is developed, in which computer graphics, topology optimization and advanced manufacturing are combined. The workflow consists of the initial design, the optimization of the initial design, the postprocessing of the optimized results and the manufacturing and surface treatment of the physical prototypes. Novel chairs and tables, including flat pack designs, are produced using this workflow. The design and fabrication processes are simple, efficient and low-cost. Both additive manufacturing and subtractive manufacturing are used.

Practical implications

The research outcomes are directly applicable to the creation of novel furniture, as well as many other structures and devices.

Originality/value

A new workflow is developed by taking advantage of the latest topology optimization methods and advanced manufacturing techniques for furniture design and fabrication. Several pieces of innovative furniture are designed and fabricated as examples of the presented workflow.
Something beyond paycheque to boosting employee retention: evidence from a South Indian hospital
Authors: Bharath M.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to emphasize the need for a strategic approach to employee retention beyond financial benefits. This is directly proportional to employee retention. Bringing out the retention measures preferred by employees, depicting the relationship of demographic profile with employee retention tendency and exploring implications giving importance to beyond paycheque factors are the objectives of the study.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses applied qualitative approach with a realistic view to collect the details of retention measures and practices from purposively selected 36 health-care experts by the conduct of interview using a one-to-one discussion with written notes. With quantitative approach, opinion survey was administered to receive the perceived opinion of randomly selected 350 health-care employees on paycheque and on beyond paycheque factors boosting their intention to stay. Bhattacharya and Ramachandran’s health-care study framework on retention was applied for the identification of the factors.

Findings

Both paycheque and beyond paycheque benefits are important for retention. Most respondents prefer beyond paycheque factors practiced at sampled hospital. Age, marital status and residence of employees are significantly associated with retention. The strategic initiatives of the sampled hospital to retention concerning motivational needs of employees in the workplace are thank you board, camp head, ad act camp, success corner and so forth.

Research limitations/implications

Addressing health-care work and relationship-related issues in terms of employee retention giving importance to beyond paycheque benefits – remedy for compassion fatigue health-care employees face in routine works, meeting promises made by management regarding paycheque or beyond paycheque benefits, employees participative in decisions in medical, clinical and in functional areas, reducing workload and role stress by the conduct of role analysis.

Originality/value

Many research studies are emphasizing the contribution of financial benefits to employee retention. Only a few studies have been carried out exploring and emphasizing the importance of beyond financial benefits motivating employee retention. This is the study of evidence from a hospital that gives strategic importance to beyond paycheque elements as well as paycheque elements.
Short‐ and long‐term effects of nutrient enrichment on salt marsh plant production and microbial community structure
Authors: Hanley Torrance C. , Bowen Jennifer L. , Kearns Patrick J. , Hughes A. Randall
Published: August 2021

Nutrient enrichment impacts ecosystems globally. Population history, especially past resource environments, of numerically dominant plant species may affect their responses to subsequent changes in nutrient availability. Eutrophication can also alter plant–microbe interactions via direct effects on associated microbial communities or indirect effects on dominant species’ biomass production/allocation as a result of modified plant–soil interactions.

We combined a greenhouse common garden and a field reciprocal transplant of a salt marsh foundation species (Spartina alterniflora) within a long‐term, whole‐ecosystem, nutrient‐enrichment study to determine whether enrichment affects plant production and microbial community structure differently depending on plant population history. For the greenhouse portion, we collected 20 S. alterniflora genotypes—10 from an enriched creek that had received elevated nutrient inputs for 10 years and 10 from an unenriched reference creek—and reared them in a common garden for 1 year. For the field portion, we conducted a 2‐year, fully crossed reciprocal transplant experiment with two gardens each at the enriched and unenriched sites; we examined the effects of source site (i.e. population history), garden site and plant genotype.

After 2 years, plants in enriched gardens had higher above‐ground biomass and altered below‐ground allocation compared to plants in unenriched gardens. However, performance also depended on plant population history: plants from the enriched site had decreased above‐ground and rhizome production compared to plants from the unenriched site, most notably in unenriched gardens. In addition, almost all above‐ and below‐ground traits varied depending on plant genotypic identity.

Effects of nutrient enrichment on the associated microbial community were also pronounced. Following 1 year in common garden, microbial community structure varied by plant population history and S. alterniflora genotypic identity. However, at the end of the reciprocal transplant, microbial communities differed primarily between enriched and unenriched gardens.

Synthesis. Nutrient enrichment can impact plant foundation species and associated soil microbes in the short term. Most importantly, nutrient enrichment can also have long‐lasting effects on plant populations and associated microbial communities that potentially compromise their ability to respond to changing resource conditions in the future.
Gestational age and birth growth parameters as early predictors of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Authors: Hasken Julie M. , Marais Anna‐Susan , de Vries Marlene , Joubert Belinda , Cloete Marise , Botha Isobel , Symington Sumien Roux , Kalberg Wendy O. , Buckley David , Robinson Luther K. , Manning Melanie A. , Parry Charles D. H. , Seedat Soraya , Hoyme H. Eugene , May Philip A.
Published: August 2021

Objective

To investigate gestational age and growth at birth as predictors of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).

Methods

The sample analyzed here comprises 737 randomly selected children who were assessed for growth, dysmorphology, and neurobehavior at 7 years of age. Maternal interviews were conducted to ascertain prenatal alcohol exposure and other maternal risk factors. Birth data originated from clinic records and the data at 7 years of age originated from population‐based, in‐school studies. Binary linear regression assessed the relationship between preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA), and their combination on the odds of a specific FASD diagnosis or any FASD.

Results

Among children diagnosed with FASD at 7 years of age (n = 255), a review of birth records indicated that 18.4% were born preterm, 51.4% were SGA, and 5.9% were both preterm and SGA. When compared to non‐FASD controls (n = 482), the birth percentages born preterm, SGA, and both preterm and SGA were respectively 12.0%, 27.7%, and 0.5%. Mothers of children with FASD reported more drinking during all trimesters, higher gravidity, lower educational attainment, and older age at pregnancy. After controlling for usual drinks per drinking day in the first trimester, number of trimesters of drinking, maternal education, tobacco use, and maternal age, the odds ratio of an FASD diagnosis by age 7 was significantly associated with SGA (OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.35 to 3.45). SGA was also significantly associated with each of the 3 most common specific diagnoses within the FASD continuum: fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS; OR = 3.1), partial FAS (OR = 2.1), and alcohol‐related neurodevelopmental disorder (OR = 2.0).

Conclusion

SGA is a robust early indicator for FASD in this random sample of children assessed at 7 years of age.
Maternal choline supplementation mitigates alcohol exposure effects on neonatal brain volumes
Authors: Warton Fleur L. , Molteno Christopher D. , Warton Christopher M. R. , Wintermark Pia , Lindinger Nadine M. , Dodge Neil C. , Zöllei Lilla , van der Kouwe Andre J.W. , Carter R. Colin , Jacobson Joseph L. , Jacobson Sandra W. , Meintjes Ernesta M.
Published: August 2021

Background

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is associated with smaller regional and global brain volumes. In rats, gestational choline supplementation mitigates adverse developmental effects of ethanol exposure. Our recent randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled maternal choline supplementation trial showed improved somatic and functional outcomes in infants at 6.5 and 12 months postpartum. Here, we examined whether maternal choline supplementation protected the newborn brain from PAE‐related volume reductions and, if so, whether these volume changes were associated with improved infant recognition memory.

Methods

Fifty‐two infants born to heavy‐drinking women who had participated in a choline supplementation trial during pregnancy underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging with a multi‐echo FLASH protocol on a 3T Siemens Allegra MRI (median age = 2.8 weeks postpartum). Subcortical regions were manually segmented. Recognition memory was assessed at 12 months on the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence (FTII). We examined the effects of choline on regional brain volumes, whether choline‐related volume increases were associated with higher FTII scores, and the degree to which the regional volume increases mediated the effects of choline on the FTII.

Results

Usable MRI data were acquired in 50 infants (choline: n = 27; placebo: n = 23). Normalized volumes were larger in six of 12 regions in the choline than placebo arm (t ≥ 2.05, p ≤ 0.05) and were correlated with the degree of maternal choline adherence (β ≥ 0.28, p ≤ 0.04). Larger right putamen and corpus callosum were related to higher FTII scores (r = 0.36, p = 0.02) with a trend toward partial mediation of the choline effect on recognition memory.

Conclusions

High‐dose choline supplementation during pregnancy mitigated PAE‐related regional volume reductions, with larger volumes associated with improved 12‐month recognition memory. These results provide the first evidence that choline may be neuroprotective against PAE‐related brain structural deficits in humans.
Disruptions in global network segregation and integration in adolescents and young adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Authors: Rodriguez Carlos I. , Vergara Victor M. , Calhoun Vince D. , Savage Daniel D. , Hamilton Derek A. , Tesche Claudia D. , Stephen Julia M.
Published: August 2021

Background

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a significant public health problem that is associated with a broad range of physical, neurocognitive, and behavioral effects resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been an important tool for advancing our knowledge of abnormal brain structure and function in individuals with FASD. However, whereas only a small number of studies have applied graph theory‐based network analysis to resting‐state functional MRI (fMRI) data in individuals with FASD additional research in this area is needed.

Methods

Resting‐state fMRI data were collected from adolescent and young adult participants (ages 12–22) with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or alcohol‐related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) and neurotypically developing controls (CNTRL) from previous studies. Group independent components analysis (gICA) was applied to fMRI data to extract components representing functional brain networks. Functional network connectivity (FNC), measured by Pearson correlation of the average independent component (IC) time series, was analyzed under a graph theory framework to compare network modularity, the average clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and global efficiency between groups. Cognitive intelligence, measured by the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI), was compared and correlated to global network measures.

Results

Group comparisons revealed significant differences in the average clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, and global efficiency. Modularity was not significantly different between groups. The FAS and ARND groups scored significantly lower than the CNTRL group on Full Scale IQ (FS‐IQ) and the Vocabulary subtest, but not the Matrix Reasoning subtest. No significant associations between intelligence and graph theory measures were detected.

Conclusion

Our results partially agree with previous studies examining global graph theory metrics in children and adolescents with FASD and suggest that the exposure to alcohol during prenatal development leads to disruptions in aspects of functional network segregation and integration.
Consideration of an upper‐bound continuous maximum drinks measure for adolescent binge and high‐intensity drinking prevalence
Authors: Patrick Megan E. , Terry‐McElrath Yvonne M.
Published: August 2021

Background

The degree to which binge and high‐intensity drinking prevalence estimates vary from fixed threshold frequency and continuous maximum drinks measures is unknown. The current study compared prevalence estimates for adolescent binge and high‐intensity drinking (5+ drinks, 10+ drinks, respectively) and sex‐specific thresholds using fixed threshold frequency and continuous maximum drinks measures.

Methods

Data were obtained from 7911 respondents participating in the 2018 and 2019 nationally representative Monitoring the Future 12th‐grade surveys. Comparisons of frequency prevalence (e.g., any occasions of 5+ drinking using the frequency measure) versus maximum drinks prevalence (e.g., reporting 5 or more drinks using the maximum number of drinks measure) were made using all respondents and then separately within males and females.

Results

Among the sample overall and within sex, binge drinking estimates from the 5+ frequency prevalence and 5+ maximum drinks prevalence measures evidenced overlapping confidence intervals (estimates were slightly higher for frequency prevalence); similar results were observed for high‐intensity drinking 10+ frequency prevalence and 10+ maximum drinks prevalence. For example, among the sample overall, 5+ frequency prevalence was 11.4% [95% CI 10.3, 12.6]; 5+ maximum drinks prevalence was 10.7% [9.6, 11.8]; 10+ frequency prevalence was 5.1% [4.4, 5.8]; and 10+ maximum drinks prevalence was 4.1% [3.5, 4.7]. Using sex‐specific thresholds (i.e., 4+ drinks for females and 5+ drinks for males), binge frequency and maximum drinks levels also had overlapping confidence intervals. Binge drinking prevalence estimates for females were approximately 1.5 times higher using sex‐specific (4+) versus universal (5+) thresholds.

Conclusions

In this nationally representative sample of 12th‐grade students, prevalence levels for 5+ and 10+ drinking did not differ significantly when using frequency versus maximum drinks measures. Among females, binge drinking prevalence was higher using sex‐specific versus universal thresholds. Both the frequency and maximum drinks measures provided comparable estimates of binge and high‐intensity drinking prevalence among older adolescents.
A longitudinal analysis of smoke‐free laws and smoking initiation disparities among young adults in the United States
Authors: Titus Andrea R. , Xie Yanmei , Thrasher James F. , Levy David T. , Elliott Michael R. , Patrick Megan E. , Fleischer Nancy L.
Published: August 2021

Background and Aims

Tobacco control policies may differentially impact smoking initiation among socio‐demographic groups. We measured longitudinal associations between exposure to smoke‐free laws in grade 12 (modal age 18 years) and patterns of smoking initiation in the United States.

Design

Prospective longitudinal analysis.

Setting and Participants

We used data on US young adults sampled at modal age 18 years from the Monitoring the Future Survey. Baseline data were collected between 2000 and 2017, with the last year of follow‐up in 2018. The sample number varied by outcome and time‐point, ranging from 7314 to 17 702.

Measurements

Smoke‐free law coverage in work‐places and hospitality venues (restaurants/bars) was measured as the percentage of the county population covered by each type of law. We examined associations with any past 30‐day smoking initiation and daily smoking initiation at modal ages 19/20, 21/22 and 23/24, using Poisson regression and calculating average marginal effects. We explored effect modification by sex, race/ethnicity and parental education by testing the significance of interaction terms.

Findings

Work‐place law coverage at modal age 18 was associated with a lower probability of daily smoking initiation at modal ages 21/22 [−2.4 percentage points (p.p.); 95% confidence interval (CI) = −3.9, –0.9] and 23/24 (−2.0 p.p.; 95% CI = −3.9, –0.2). Hospitality law coverage was associated with a lower probability of daily smoking initiation at modal ages 19/20 (−1.6 p.p.; 95% CI = −2.8, –0.4), 21/22 (−2.3 p.p.; 95% CI = −3.7, –0.9) and 23/24 (−1.8 p.p.; 95% CI = −3.6, –0.0). Findings were inconclusive with regard to associations with any past 30‐day smoking initiation and with regard to effect modification, after adjusting for multiple testing.

Conclusions

Exposure to smoke‐free laws at age 18 appears to be prospectively associated with reduced daily smoking initiation 1–6 years later.
EAACI guidelines: Anaphylaxis (2021 update)
Authors: Muraro Antonella , Worm Margitta , Alviani Cherry , Cardona Victoria , DunnGalvin Audrey , Garvey Lene Heise , Riggioni Carmen , de Silva Debra , Angier Elizabeth , Arasi Stefania , Bellou Abdelouahab , Beyer Kirsten , Bijlhout Diola , Bilò Maria Beatrice , Bindslev‐Jensen Carsten , Brockow Knut , Fernandez‐Rivas Montserrat , Halken Susanne , Jensen Britt , Khaleva Ekaterina , Michaelis Louise J. , Oude Elberink Hanneke N. G. , Regent Lynne , Sanchez Angel , Vlieg‐Boerstra Berber J. , Roberts Graham ,   European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Food Allergy, Anaphylaxis Guidelines Group
Published: August 2021

Anaphylaxis is a clinical emergency which all healthcare professionals need to be able to recognize and manage. The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Anaphylaxis multidisciplinary Task Force has updated the 2014 guideline. The guideline was developed using the AGREE II framework and the GRADE approach. The evidence was systematically reviewed and recommendations were created by weighing up benefits and harms. The guideline was peer‐reviewed by external experts and reviewed in a public consultation. The use of clinical criteria to identify anaphylaxis is suggested with blood sampling for the later measurement of tryptase. The prompt use of intramuscular adrenaline as first‐line management is recommended with the availability of adrenaline autoinjectors to patients in the community. Pharmacokinetic data should be provided for adrenaline autoinjector devices. Structured, comprehensive training for people at risk of anaphylaxis is recommended. Simulation training and visual prompts for healthcare professionals are suggested to improve the management of anaphylaxis. It is suggested that school policies reflect anaphylaxis guidelines. The evidence for the management of anaphylaxis remains mostly at a very low level. There is an urgent need to prioritize clinical trials with the potential to improve the management of patients at risk of anaphylaxis.
Usefulness of intraoperative contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography in laparoscopic enucleation of small pancreatic metastases from renal cell carcinoma: A case report
Authors: Kai Kengo , Imamura Naoya , Hiyoshi Masahide , Hamada Takeomi , Uchise Yukako , Hatada Hiroshi , Kawakami Hiroshi , Mukai Shoichiro , Kamoto Toshiyuki , Nanashima Atsushi
Published: August 2021

Pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is relatively rare. Surgical resection of the lesion is recommended if no residual tumor remains. Although there is no clear standard for surgical procedures, enucleation can be considered for small lesions. Lesion identification is important for enucleation, and contrast‐enhanced ultrasound which takes advantage of the characteristics of hypervascular lesions was useful in a 68‐year‐old woman who underwent a left nephrectomy for RCC 11 years ago that was pathologically diagnosed as clear cell carcinoma. Recent computed tomography checkup showed a hypervascular tumor of 6 mm in the uncinated process and 10 mm in the pancreatic tail. Endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided fine‐needle aspiration was performed for the tail lesion, a diagnosis of clear cell carcinoma was made, and laparoscopic enucleation of the pancreatic tumors was performed aided by intraoperative contrast‐enhanced ultrasound. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no pancreatic fistula occurred.
Treatment of a mycobacterial infection in an Eastern Long‐neck turtle (Chelodina longicollis)
Authors: Doneley RJT
Published: August 2021

Background

Mycobacterial infections are uncommonly diagnosed in reptiles. These infections are often systemic, chronic, and well advanced before presentation and diagnosis. Turtles, both marine and freshwater, appear to have a higher prevalence of the disease than other reptiles, perhaps because of their aquatic environment.

Case report

An Eastern Long‐neck turtle (Chelodina longicollis) was diagnosed with an apparently localised mycobacterial infection in the right foot. Biopsy, culture and PCR were used to make the diagnosis. Treatment with clarithromycin and rifampicin given orally for 9 months appeared to successfully resolve the infection.

Conclusion

Antemortem diagnosis is difficult although molecular diagnostic techniques are improving the rates of diagnosis. Treatment of mycobacteria is lengthy, difficult and challenging to the patient, the owner and the veterinarian. For this reason, and because of the potential for zoonotic infection, it is infrequently undertaken.
Fimepinostat (CUDC‐907) in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell and high‐grade B‐cell lymphoma: report of a phase 2 trial and exploratory biomarker analyses
Authors: Landsburg Daniel J. , Barta Stefan K. , Ramchandren Radhakrishnan , Batlevi Connie , Iyer Swaminathan , Kelly Kevin , Micallef Ivana N. , Smith Sonali M. , Stevens Don A. , Alvarez Mariano , Califano Andrea , Shen Yao , Bosker Gideon , Parker Jefferson , Soikes Raul , Martinez Elizabeth , von Roemeling Reinhard , Martell Robert E. , Oki Yasuhiro
Published: August 2021

Fimepinostat (CUDC‐907), a first‐in‐class oral small‐molecule inhibitor of histone deacetylase and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase, demonstrated efficacy in a phase 1 study of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large and high‐grade B‐cell lymphomas (DLBCL/HGBL), particularly those with increased MYC protein expression and/orMYCgene rearrangement/copy number gain (MYC‐altered disease). Therefore, a phase 2 study of fimepinostat was conducted in this patient population with 66 eligible patients treated. The primary end‐point of overall response (OR) rate for patients with MYC‐IHC ≥40% (n = 46) was 15%. Subsequently, exploratory pooled analyses were performed including patients treated on both the phase 1 and 2 studies based upon the presence of MYC‐altered disease as well as a biomarker identified by Virtual Inference of Protein activity by Enriched Regulon analysis (VIPER). For these patients with MYC‐altered disease (n = 63), the overall response (OR) rate was 22% with seven responding patients remaining on treatment for approximately two years or longer, and VIPER yielded a three‐protein biomarker classification with positive and negative predictive values of ≥85%. Prolonged durations of response were achieved by patients with MYC‐altered R/R DLBCL/HGBL treated with single‐agent fimepinostat. Combination therapies and/or biomarker‐based patient selection strategies may lead to higher response rates in future clinical trials.
The Emergence of a Brain Network for Numerical Thinking
Authors: Hyde Daniel C.
Published: August 2021

Educated adults and children engage a network of frontal and parietal brain regions for numerical thinking. Recent studies document some prominent changes as this network emerges over development, including a unilateral right to bilateral shift in number‐selective parietal brain activity, a strengthening of intra‐ and interhemispheric parietal connections, reduced engagement of prefrontal regions, and decoupling between prefrontal and parietal regions. Based on these findings, it appears that right parietal regions form an innate or early‐emerging basis for representing numerical magnitudes, whereas left parietal regions support the representation of culturally acquired symbolic numbers that begin to emerge over childhood. Functional connections between parietal hemispheres and the parietal and prefrontal cortex likely support associations between magnitudes and symbols, as they are associated with numerical proficiency. Prefrontal regions appear to provide general cognitive resources to support these associations, engaging and correlating positively during the learning process and disengaging and correlating negatively after mastery.
Why Developmental Research on Social Categorization Needs Intersectionality
Authors: Lei Ryan F. , Rhodes Marjorie
Published: August 2021

Children develop rich concepts of social categories throughout early and middle childhood. Whereas we know much about the development and consequences of many social categories individually, we know less about the development of representations at the intersection of multiple categories—for instance, how children think about race and gender together. This is a critical issue because every person a child meets holds membership in multiple social categories. Thus, overlooking how children integrate information about multiple categories causes a major gap in our understanding of the development of social cognition. An intersectional framework, which considers both how group‐based bias is expressed toward people with one versus multiple minoritized identities and how power structures shape these processes, can help address this issue. In this article, we review research on children's use of race and gender, and describe how an intersectional framework can address gaps in knowledge and advance both equity and theory.
Congenital limb deficiency: Genetic investigation of 44 individuals presenting mainly longitudinal defects in isolated or syndromic forms
Authors: da Rocha Letícia Alves , Pires Lucas Vieira Lacerda , Yamamoto Guilherme Lopes , Magliocco Ceroni José Ricardo , Honjo Rachel Sayuri , de Novaes França Bisneto Edgard , Oliveira Luiz Antônio Nunes , Rosenberg Carla , Krepischi Ana Cristina Victorino , Passos‐Bueno Maria Rita , Kim Chong Ae , Bertola Débora Romeo
Published: August 2021

Congenital limb deficiency (CLD), one of the most common congenital anomalies, is characterized by hypoplasia/aplasia of one or more limb bones and can be isolated or syndromic. The etiology in CLD is heterogeneous, including environmental and genetic factors. A fraction remains with no etiological factor identified. We report the study of 44 Brazilian individuals presenting isolated or syndromic CLD, mainly with longitudinal defects. Genetic investigation included particularly next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and/or chromosomal microarray. The overall diagnostic yield was 45.7%, ranging from 60.9% in the syndromic to 16.7% in the non‐syndromic group. In TAR syndrome, a common variant in 3´UTR of RBM8A, in trans with 1q21.1 microdeletion, was detected, corroborating the importance of this recently reported variant in individuals of African ancestry. NGS established a diagnosis in three individuals in syndromes recently reported or still under delineation (an acrofacial dysostosis, Coats plus and Verheij syndromes), suggesting a broader phenotypic spectrum in these disorders. Although a low rate of molecular detection in non‐syndromic forms was observed, it is still possible that variants in non‐coding regions and small CNVs, not detected by the techniques applied in this study, could play a role in the etiology of CLD.