bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strategic stakeholder management: investor relations in South Africa
Authors: Nel George Frederick , Van der Spuy Pieter Van Aardt 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThe study explores the use of professional investor relations (IR) practices in South African (SA) listed companies to understand which theories may be responsible for IR's adoption and growth in South Africa, an emerging economy. Therefore, this study evaluates shareholder value maximisation, stakeholder and legitimization theory and institutional isomorphism theory as possible theories to explain professional IR behaviour in SA listed companies.Design/methodology/approachThe study design is qualitative and exploratory, based on a questionnaire developed and sent to all companies listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE).FindingsThe results indicate evidence of isomorphic spread to SA environments from practices observed in the UK and the USA, which we find are mostly performed to promote shareholder interests. The data suggest some evidence that the communication needs of black economic empowerment and environmental, social and governance (ESG) investors are given priority, suggesting the utility of professional IR to obtain legitimisation from society. Contrary to expectation is that social media communication channels are not extensively used.Practical implicationsThe descriptive nature of this study may be valuable to IR practitioners to improve SA IR practises, while neglected legitimisation opportunities with regard to the needs of ESG and black economic empowerment shareholders may be fruitfully addressed by practitioners.Originality/valueThis study innovates in its use of legitimisation theory and isomorphism theory to develop the study's expectations. Social problems provide contextual elements unique to SA which provides a good opportunity to test the expectation of legitimisation theory's influence on professional IR practices.
Rescuing industrial memory: the industrial heritage of Isla Teja sixty years after the natural disaster
Authors: Arnet Virginia 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThis paper explores tools and methodologies associated with the recovery of industrial areas from a territorial and urban perspective.Design/methodology/approachThis study describes the theoretical foundations of a specific industrial reality, using the city of Valdivia as a case study. Intermediate cities are resilient urban areas that support the changes derived from deindustrialization. Here, we present the contextualization of a contemporary recovery tool in Valdivia. First, industrial and geographical antecedents are described. Then, essential aspects of memory, territory and society are defined. Finally, challenges and opportunities derived from the contextual approach of the proposed recovery model are discussed.FindingsThree thematic lines were used to design the proposed heritage recovery model: memory, territory and society. The recovery of industrial memory, a programmatic reconstruction that includes a contemporary and environmentally sensitive utilization of the territory, and the restoration of the lost connection between the city and the territory, proved to be essential in this task.Research limitations/implicationsThis proactive research allowed an in-depth analysis of the addressed topic and the exhaustive design of a tool for heritage recovery, following the provisions of the regional legislation. However, the authors acknowledge that the contextualization of the contextualization of the project actual project may limit the project execution.Originality/valueThis paper explores the development of a new tool for the evaluation, intervention, and preservation of the industrial heritage of intermediate cities, as an alternative to the traditional methods of intervention.
GCC countries' market risk premia and US monetary policy announcements
Authors: Wu Hong 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThis paper aims to examine if the market risk premiums of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are particularly higher on prescheduled US monetary policy announcement days. The findings shed light on the causality relationship from the state of the global economy to the GCC equity markets as well as their integration with the rest of the world.Design/methodology/approachThe author takes the standard event-study approach, following Fama et al. (1969). As the announcement days are prescheduled, the impact of the announcements on the GCC markets' risk premia allows for test of causality, while other studies address predictability and association.FindingsThe author finds that excess returns are higher, both economically and statistically, on announcement days in most individual GCC countries and the region overall. Moreover, additional compensations may not appear on the exact days of announcement in a few countries; rather, on the days right before or after announcements, possibly due to information leakage or gradual diffusion. My results show that there is a causal relationship from the state of the global economy to the GCC equity markets' risk premia. This new evidence supports integration between the Gulf region's and the world's financial markets.Practical implicationsThe evidence of risk–return transmission from US monetary policy announcements to GCC countries' equity indices supports integration between the region's and the world's financial markets. The study results will help guide investors' and corporations' investing, capital budgeting and portfolio evaluation decisions.Originality/valueThis paper extends the announcement literature (Savor and Wilson 2013, 2014) by examining the responses of the GCC countries, the major players of the global oil markets. The empirical analysis documents a causal relationship from the state of the global economy, as revealed by US monetary policy announcements, to the GCC equity indices. This new evidence supports increased integration between the Gulf region and the world, a finding that investors and corporations should consider when making investing, capital budgeting and portfolio evaluation decisions.
Impact of general trust on bank risk-taking: the moderating effect of confidence in banks
Authors: Masoud Heba , Albaity Mohamed 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThis study examines the effect of general trust (GT) and confidence in banks (CIB) on bank risk-taking. Besides, it explores the moderating role of CIB on the relationship between GT and bank risk-taking.Design/methodology/approachSecondary data was obtained from the World Value Survey, World Bank and BankFocus from 2011 to 2018. Two-step system GMM estimator was used to examine the links between the GT and CIB with bank risk-taking in MENA region.FindingsResults indicated that both GT and CIB negatively influenced bank risk-taking. Moreover, CIB weakened the negative relationship between GT and bank risk-taking. However, the results were different for MENA region as compared to the full sample.Originality/valueThe studies on the link between trust and bank risk-taking are either carried out on an international sample or using a developed economies sample. However, the authors believe that developing economies might exhibit different relationships due to cultural and structural differences present in developed countries. Besides, the authors believe that testing the moderating effect of CIB could shed more light on the differences between developing and developed countries.
The future of farm tourism in the Philippines: challenges, strategies and insights
Authors: Yamagishi Kafferine , Gantalao Cecil , Ocampo Lanndon 
Published: March 2021

PurposeThis study aims to draw observations on the current status and potentials of the Philippines as a farm tourism destination and identify the underlying factors that inhibit farm tourism development. It intends to gauge the challenges that Filipino farmers face in diversifying farms and operating farm sites and uses these challenges in crafting strategies and policies for relevant stakeholders. It also provides Philippine farm tourism literature to address the limitations of references in the topic.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts an exploratory type of inquiry method and secondary data collection from various sources, such as published journal articles, news articles and reports, to gain insights and relevant information on farm tourism. The study also uses a threats, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths analysis approach to develop competitive farm tourism strategies.FindingsThe Philippines, with vast agricultural land, has the necessary base for farm tourism, and the enactment of the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016 bridges this potential. With low agricultural outputs, the country draws relevance for farm tourism as a farm diversification strategy to supplement income in rural communities. While having these potentials, crucial initiatives in physical characteristics, product development, education and training, management and entrepreneurship, marketing and customer relations and government support must be implemented. Farmers' lack of skills, training and capital investment potential to convert their farms into farm tourism sites serves as the major drawback. Thus, developing entrepreneurial and hospitality skills is crucial.Originality/valueThis work presents a historical narrative of initiatives and measures of the Philippine farm tourism sector. It also provides a holistic discussion and in-depth analysis of the current state, potentials, strategies and forward insights for farm tourism development.
Identification of trans‐AT polyketide clusters in two marine bacteria reveals cryptic similarities between distinct symbiosis factors
Authors: Kačar Dina , Cañedo Librada M. , Rodríguez Pilar , González Elena G. , Galán Beatriz , Schleissner Carmen , Leopold‐Messer Stefan , Piel Jörn , Cuevas Carmen , de la Calle Fernando , García José L. 
Published: March 2021

SummaryGlutarimide‐containing polyketides are known as potent antitumoral and antimetastatic agents. The associated gene clusters have only been identified in a few Streptomyces producers and Burkholderia gladioli symbiont. The new glutarimide‐family polyketides, denominated sesbanimides D, E and F along with the previously known sesbanimide A and C, were isolated from two marine alphaproteobacteria Stappia indica PHM037 and Labrenzia aggregata PHM038. Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on 1D and 2D homo and heteronuclear NMR analyses and ESI‐MS spectrometry. All compounds exhibited strong antitumor activity in lung, breast and colorectal cancer cell lines. Subsequent whole genome sequencing and genome mining revealed the presence of the trans‐AT PKS gene cluster responsible for the sesbanimide biosynthesis, described as sbn cluster. Strikingly, the modular architecture of downstream mixed type PKS/NRPS, SbnQ, revealed high similarity to PedH in pederin and Lab13 in labrenzin gene clusters, although those clusters are responsible for the production of structurally completely different molecules. The unexpected presence of SbnQ homologues in unrelated polyketide gene clusters across phylogenetically distant bacteria, raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary relationship between glutarimide‐like and pederin‐like pathways, as well as the functionality of their synthetic products.
Characterization of key odor‐active compounds in sweet Petit Manseng (Vitis vinifera L.) wine by gas chromatography–olfactometry, aroma reconstitution, and omission tests
Authors: Lan Yibin , Guo Jingxian , Qian Xu , Zhu Baoqing , Shi Ying , Wu Guangfeng , Duan Changqing 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPetit Manseng (Vitis vinifera L.) has become a popular variety in China for the production of semisweet and sweet wines. However, few studies focused on investigating the molecular odor code of its key odorants. In this study, the key odor‐active compounds of Chinese sweet Petit Manseng wine were identified by gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC–O) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Fifty‐five odorous zones were sniffed and identified by application of aroma extraction dilution analysis on a distillate prepared by liquid–liquid extraction and solvent‐assisted flavor evaporation. Among them, isoamyl alcohol, ethyl octanoate, isovaleric acid, (E)‐β‐damascenone, and phenylethanol particularly displayed with highest flavor dilution factors above 1024. The quantification of volatiles by headspace solid‐phase microextraction coupled with GC–MS and GC coupled with triple quadrupole MS/MS and a calculation of odor activity values (OAVs) indicated 23 volatiles with OAVs above 1. Ethyl hexanoate showed the highest OAV with 208.8, followed by (E)‐β‐damascenone (189.0), 3‐mercaptohexanol (60.3), isoamyl acetate (45.4), and furaneol (40.1). The aroma of the sweet wine was successfully reconstituted by combining 42 aroma compounds in a model wine solution. 3‐Mercaptohexanol, (E)‐β‐damascenone, furaneol, γ‐octalactone + γ‐decalactone + γ‐hexalactone, and ethyl cinnamate had important influence on the aroma of sweet Petit Manseng wine assessed by omission tests. Moreover, the discrimination of wines from three regions was successfully achieved by partial least squares discriminant analysis based on quantitative results of key odorants. 3‐Mercaptohexanol was considered as the most responsible for the region discrimination and had highest concentrations in Petit Manseng wines from Jiaodong Peninsula.Practical ApplicationUnderstanding of the knowledge in key odorants of Petit Manseng wines could be useful to improve wine quality through viticultural and enological practices.
Safety and utility of performing CT‐guided biopsies of pulmonary lesions that arise after radiotherapy
Authors: Ohta Kengo , Shimohira Masashi , Ogino Hiroyuki , Nagai Keiichi , Sawada Yusuke , Nakayama Keita , Shibamoto Yuta 
Published: March 2021

SummaryThis study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and usefulness of performing computed tomography (CT)‐guided biopsies of pulmonary lesions that arise after radiotherapy. Seventeen patients (14 males and 3 females; median age: 69 years, range: 48–84 years) underwent CT‐guided biopsies of pulmonary lesions that occurred in lung regions that had previously been treated with radiotherapy. Three patients underwent CT‐guided biopsies twice, and thus, the total number of procedures was 20. We reviewed the subjects’ medical records and images, and evaluated the rate for obtaining pathological diagnosis with the biopsy sample, subsequent clinical course, and complications associated with the procedure. In 19 of 20 procedures (95%), the CT‐guided biopsy resulted in a pathological diagnosis being obtained. In 14 procedures, the pathological results were consistent with the patients’ clinical courses. In the remaining 5 procedures, the lesions were pathologically diagnosed as benign, but they increased in size thereafter; so the lesions were considered to be clinically malignant. The results were considered to represent sampling errors. There were 3 minor complications (slight pneumothorax which did not require drainage) (3/20, 15%), and there were no major complications. In conclusion, performing CT‐guided biopsies of pulmonary lesions that arise after radiotherapy appears to be feasible, safe and useful.
Bipolar disorder and cannabis use: A bidirectional two‐sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Jefsen Oskar Hougaard , Speed Maria , Speed Doug , Østergaard Søren Dinesen 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCannabis use is associated with a number of psychiatric disorders; however, the causal nature of these associations has been difficult to establish. Mendelian randomization (MR) offers a way to infer causality between exposures with known genetic predictors (genome‐wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]) and outcomes of interest. MR has previously been applied to investigate the relationship between lifetime cannabis use (having ever used cannabis) and schizophrenia, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but not bipolar disorder, representing a gap in the literature. We conducted a two‐sample bidirectional MR study on the relationship between bipolar disorder and lifetime cannabis use. Genetic instruments (SNPs) were obtained from the summary statistics of recent large genome‐wide association studies (GWAS). We conducted a two‐sample bidirectional MR study on the relationship between bipolar disorder and lifetime cannabis use using inverse variance weighted regression, weighted median regression, and Egger regression. Genetic liability to bipolar disorder was significantly associated with an increased risk of lifetime cannabis use; however, genetic liability to lifetime cannabis use showed no association with the risk of bipolar disorder. The sensitivity analyses showed no evidence for pleiotropic effects. The present findings support a causal effect of liability to bipolar disorder on the risk of using cannabis at least once. No evidence was found for a causal effect of liability to cannabis use on the risk of bipolar disorder. These findings add important new knowledge to the understanding of the complex relationship between cannabis use and psychiatric disorders.
SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, COVID‐19 and timing of elective surgery
Authors: El‐Boghdadly K. , Cook T. M. , Goodacre T. , Kua J. , Blake L. , Denmark S. , McNally S. , Mercer N. , Moonesinghe S. R. , Summerton D. J. 
Published: March 2021

SummaryThe scale of the COVID‐19 pandemic means that a significant number of patients who have previously been infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 will require surgery. Given the potential for multisystem involvement, timing of surgery needs to be carefully considered to plan for safe surgery. This consensus statement uses evidence from a systematic review and expert opinion to highlight key principles in the timing of surgery. Shared decision‐making regarding timing of surgery after SARS‐CoV‐2 infection must account for severity of the initial infection; ongoing symptoms of COVID‐19; comorbid and functional status; clinical priority and risk of disease progression; and complexity of surgery. For the protection of staff, other patients and the public, planned surgery should not be considered during the period that a patient may be infectious. Precautions should be undertaken to prevent pre‐ and peri‐operative infection, especially in higher risk patients. Elective surgery should not be scheduled within 7 weeks of a diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection unless the risks of deferring surgery outweigh the risk of postoperative morbidity or mortality associated with COVID‐19. SARS‐CoV‐2 causes either transient or asymptomatic disease for most patients, who require no additional precautions beyond a 7‐week delay, but those who have persistent symptoms or have been hospitalised require special attention. Patients with persistent symptoms of COVID‐19 are at increased risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality even after 7 weeks. The time before surgery should be used for functional assessment, prehabilitation and multidisciplinary optimisation. Vaccination several weeks before surgery will reduce risk to patients and might lessen the risk of nosocomial SARS‐CoV‐2 infection of other patients and staff. National vaccine committees should consider whether such patients can be prioritised for vaccination. As further data emerge, these recommendations may need to be revised, but the principles presented should be considered to ensure safety of patients, the public and staff.
Retrospective cohort study of paediatric splenic injuries at a major adult trauma centre in South Africa identifies areas of success and improvement
Authors: Conradie Bernike , Kong Victor , Cheung Cynthia , Varghese Chris , Elsabagh Abdallah , Rajaretnam Nigel , Bruce John , Clarke Damian , Laing Grant , Bekker Wanda 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundOver the last 50 years, the gold standard for paediatric trauma management has grown to be non‐operative management. This study reviews a South African experience with paediatric splenic trauma in order to benchmark this against the international standard and to identify discrepancies in access to care and in surgical outcomes.MethodsThis was a retrospective study conducted at a major trauma centre in South Africa. All children less than 18 years of age who were admitted to our trauma centre following trauma between December 2012 and October 2020 were identified and all those who sustained splenic trauma were reviewed.ResultsOf the 66 patients reviewed, 48 (72%) were male, and the median age was 12 years (0–18 years). Thirty‐three (51%) were of rural origin and 61 (93%) sustained blunt trauma. Only eight (12%) had an isolated splenic injury, while the remaining 58 (88%) had other associated injuries. Forty‐five patients (68%) were managed non‐operatively whilst the remainder were subjected to laparotomy. Five (7%) required a splenectomy and one required angio‐embolisation. Twenty‐six patients (39%) required intensive care unit (ICU) admission: 15 (37%) in the non‐operative cohort required ICU admission and eight (40%) in the laparotomy group required ICU admission. Twenty‐eight (42%) patients required ventilatory support. Median length of stay was 5.5 days. Four (6%) patients died.ConclusionsAlthough non‐operative management of paediatric splenic trauma can be undertaken successfully by adult trauma surgeons in a middle‐income country such as South Africa, there remains room for improvement. To achieve splenic salvage rates comparable to those in dedicated paediatric trauma centres in high‐income countries will require systematic quality improvement programmes.
A prospective multicentre study of intravitreal injections and ocular surface in 219 patients: IVIS study
Authors: Verrecchia Sarah , Chiambaretta Fredéric , Kodjikian Laurent , Nakouri Yasemin , El Chehab Hussam , Mathis Thibaud , Badri Yannis , Chudzinski Roman , Levron Antoine , Chaperon Mayeul , Agard Emilie , Pradat Pierre , Dot Corinne 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPurposeTo assess the impact of intravitreal injections (IVTI) on ocular surface of patients treated with multiple injections.MethodsProspective, tricentric study conducted in patients treated with unilateral IVTI. An asepsis protocol with povidone‐iodine was used for all patients during IVTI. The primary endpoint was the difference between the pre‐IVTI Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI 1) score and that measured on day one (D1) post‐IVTI (OSDI 2). Secondary endpoints were the evaluation of predictive factors for OSDI scores, pain assessment on D1, and the Lacrydiag® analysis of tears from the injected eye versus contralateral eye before IVTI.ResultsTwo hundred and nineteen patients with a mean age of 75.9 ± 10 years were included. The mean OSDI2‐OSDI1 difference was 19.2 ± 20.6 (p < 0.001). The mean noninvasive tear break‐up time was 6.41 ± 4.59 seconds in the injected eye versus 7.36 ± 4.36 seconds in the contralateral eye (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, the factors significantly associated with the OSDI 2 score were the OSDI 1 score (p < 0.001), the pain score on D1 (p < 0.001) the number of instilled glaucoma eye drop (p = 0.01) and a centre effect (centres 2 and 3 versus centre 1, p < 0.001).ConclusionOur results confirm the impairment of the ocular surface and quality of life immediately after an IVTI. These results suggest 3 levels of action to improve the immediate tolerance: improving the basal status of the ocular surface, reducing the contact time with povidone‐iodine that might be toxic to the surface, and improving immediate post‐IVTI treatment.