bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Financial inclusion and bank risk-taking nexus: evidence from China
Authors: Umar Muhammad , Akhtar Muhammad 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the relationship between financial inclusion and risk-taking by Chinese banks.Design/methodology/approachIt uses the panel data from Chinese banks ranging from 2011 to 2019 and applies system generalized method of moments to measure coefficients. To get in-depth understanding of the relationship between above-mentioned variables, the analysis for commercial, cooperative, listed, unlisted, small and large banks has been done. Financial inclusion index has been measured based on demographic and geographic aspects by using the principal component analysis, and bank risk-taking has been proxied by z-score.FindingsThe findings reveal an inverse relationship between financial inclusion and bank risk-taking which implies that an increase in financial inclusion results in lesser risk for the banks, i.e. diversification hypothesis applies. However, the results for unlisted and large banks show a different story where an increase in financial inclusion results in higher bank risk and vice versa.Originality/valueThe present study offers several valid and convincing implications for consumers, policymakers and banking sector regulators.
Rehabilitation project of Quang Tri Old Citadel in Vietnam: integrated analytical approach from material characterization to architectural heritage valorization
Authors: Carlorosi Cecilia , Giosuè Chiara , Le Ngoc Van Anh , Mobili Alessandra , Nguyen Vu Trong Thi , Nguyen Huu Long Phung , Pugnaloni Fausto , Tittarelli Francesca 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis paper presents the outcomes of the international project “Protecting Landscape Heritage: a requalification project as an instrument for the re-birth of Quang Tri Old Citadel in Vietnam”, achieved with scientific cooperation between the Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy) and Hue University of Sciences (Vietnam) funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam. The research focuses on the Quang Tri Citadel, founded in 1809 and now in an advanced state of degradation.Design/methodology/approachFor the purpose of rehabilitation, the wide multidisciplinary project first examined the historical context of the military model, the architectural aspects of the structure, the characterization of the existing materials, the degradation levels of different parts, and, finally, a proposal of the suggested interventions.FindingsThe original structure and geometry were extrapolated and studied. Building materials were produced with nearby raw materials. Firing temperatures of bricks ranged from 800 to 1,000 °C, hydraulic lime was supposed the binder of the mortar with a calcination temperature lower than 1,000 °C. Damage assessment was provided and after these analyses a requalification project was proposed so the cultural heritage can play a role for the future in the dialog between different cultures.Originality/valueThe requalification project achieved by an integrated analytical approach defines aspects in relation to the restoration of the structures, enabling compliance with the geometry, techniques, building materials used in the original construction and allowing its guardianship and management to align with the historical context of the architectural heritage.
Why were most wealth taxes abandoned and is this time different?
Authors: Perret Sarah 
Published: October 2021

AbstractWealth taxes are increasingly being considered as an option in policy and academic circles to collect additional revenue and address inequality. One objection that is often raised, however, is that they seem to have failed in countries that tried them, with most OECD countries abandoning their wealth taxes in recent decades. This paper gives an overview of OECD countries’ experiences with wealth taxes and explores the different factors that have led to their repeal in most countries. The paper also discusses whether the situation might be different today and what the implications for tax policy might be.
Reproductive responses of rice field rats (Rattus argentiventer) following treatment with the contraceptive hormones, quinestrol and levonorgestrol
Authors: STUART Alexander M. , HERAWATI Nur ‘Aini , RISNELLI  , SUDARMAJI  , LIU Ming , ZHANG Zhibin , LI Hongjun , SINGLETON Grant R. , HINDS Lyn A. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe rice field rat, Rattus argentiventer, is a significant pest of rice in Southeast Asia. Fertility control methods have the potential to provide safe and effective alternatives to control methods that often include indiscriminate use of rodenticides or electric barriers. The aim of this laboratory study was to assess uptake of bait coated with different concentrations of the contraceptive hormones, quinestrol (E) and levonorgestrel (P), delivered alone and in combination (i.e. EP‐1) and determine the short‐term effects on reproductive parameters of adult male and female R. argentiventer. In Experiment 1, 2 concentrations of E, P, and EP‐1 (10, 20 ppm) were fed to groups of wild‐caught rats for 7 days. In females, both E and EP‐1 induced uterine edema. In males, EP‐1 reduced epididymis and seminal vesicle weights and lowered sperm motility. However, these responses were inconsistent due to low bait acceptance, especially with increasing concentrations. In Experiment 2, EP‐1 (0, 20, 50, 100 ppm) was administered by oral gavage daily for 7 days to male R. argentiventer. There were significant reductions in epididymal and seminal vesicle weights for all oral doses of EP‐1, in sperm counts for the 50 ppm dose, and in sperm motility for the 20 and 50 ppm doses compared to the control group. To select the optimum dose of EP‐1, we must address the poor acceptance of contraceptive‐coated baits by rice field rats. Further research is required to improve the palatability of EP‐1 and to test its uptake under field conditions.
What to expect from alternative management strategies to conserve seabirds? Hints from a dynamic modelling framework applied to an endangered population
Authors: De la Cruz A. , Bastos R. , Silva E. , Cabral J. A. , Santos M. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe worldwide decline of seabird populations due to the combined effects of global and regional changes is creating immense challenges for managers and conservationists. Predicting population responses to proposed management strategies could provide the most effective tools to prevent, halt and reverse ongoing declines. System dynamic modelling frameworks are considered particularly relevant to interrelate biological, ecological and environmental characteristics and to predict population trends. A system dynamics model was designed, compiling diverse information concerning a relict population of the European Shag located in western Iberia, to outline the most effective management options for its conservation. The simulations demonstrate that mortality caused by invasive animals and bycatch mortality were the main reasons for the current population decline. Without management interventions, a decrease of 8% was projected for the next decade, which could be mitigated by specific conservation actions. The results show the usefulness of dynamic modelling frameworks to understand local cause‐effect relationships and species responses to ecosystem management under changing environmental conditions. We highlight that the framework proposed, after specific parameterization, could be easily adaptable to other species within similar socio‐ecological systems.
Understanding ideational fluency as a survival process
Authors: Dumas Denis , Dong Yixiao , Grajzel Katalin , Forthmann Boris , Doherty Michael 
Published: October 2021

BackgroundWhen students generate ideas, important inter‐individual variance exists both in the quantity and the quality of ideas they are able to produce (e.g., perfectionists who have few highly creative ideas or mass producers who produce a lot of uncreative ideas). In educational psychology research on creativity, the relation between the quantity and quality of ideas has not been well understood, limiting progress in this area.AimsWe conceptualized Ideational Fluency as a phenomenon that requires participants to ‘survive’ to produce more ideas, and where dropping out of the ideational process was analogous to ‘dying’. Using this novel paradigm, we aimed to test the relations among Fluency (as a dependent variable); and creative Expertise, Originality and self‐reported Personality attributes (as independent variables).Sample and methodParticipants were drawn from three groups: those with demonstrated expertise in stage or screen acting (n = 104); undergraduates being trained in the same domain (n = 100), and adults with no acting training or experience (n = 92). Participants responded to the Alternate Uses Task; Non‐parametric and semi‐parametric survival models were fit to their Ideational Fluency; and average and maximum Originality scores, as well as self‐reported Personality attributes, were used as covariates.ResultsAcross all participants, the Ideational Fluency survival function showed an S‐shape, but the Expertise grouping interacted with that pattern. The survival rate of professional actors decreased more rapidly during the first few ideas, but after the 5th idea, professional actors displayed a clear advantage in survival rate. Participants who were less original on average but who showed a high maximum Originality, as well as those participants who reported more Assertiveness and less Industriousness, also survived further into the Ideational process.ConclusionsContrary to our hypothesis, professional actors’ advantage in Fluency did not manifest in the survival model until after the 5th idea generated. A quantity‐quality trade‐off was observed with average Originality being associated with shorter survival, but that trade‐off was not observed with maximum Originality, which was associated with longer survival.
Mechanical and thermophysical model of date palm fiber and beet pulp composite as natural thermal insulant
Authors: Farrokh Seyedeh Asal , Honarvar Masoud , Ahmadi Chenarbon Hossein 
Published: October 2021

AbstractFor the transport of frozen products, it is necessary to preserve their quality and enhance their longevity. It aimed to assess the insulation performance of the composite containing date palm fiber and beet pulp in maintaining low temperature during the transport of frozen products. Therefore, this study investigated the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of date palm fiber and beet pulp composites for different mass fractions of 0, 2.5, 7.5, and 10%, both as stand‐alone and as compounds added to hemihydrate gypsum by using the response surface method to state an optimized system. Results showed that by increasing the fractions of date palm fiber and beet pulp, the density of composite samples reduced from 880.02 kg/m3 to 785 kg/m3; however, water absorption increased significantly (by 101.39%). The highest flexural and compressive strengths of the control were, respectively, 4.6 and 26.67 MPa, whereas the lowest of said strengths were, respectively, 3.5 and 42.91 MPa in samples containing 10% palm fiber and 10% beet pulp. Additionally, for the same fiber ratios, the thermal conductivity of composite samples was reduced by 67% compared to the control sample. After optimization, the best mass ratios for palm fiber and sugar beet bagasse were, respectively, 3.05% and 10%. For these samples, water absorption was 96.69%; flexural and compressive strengths were, respectively, 6.27 and 3.87 MPa; thermal conductivity was 0.51 W/mK; and density was 844.15 kg/m3. These properties show that a composite insulant containing date palm fiber and beet pulp are a good candidate for developing thermal insulants.Practical applicationsReducing microbic growth and delaying fat and protein oxidation during the storage can increase the durability of food and agriculture products, particularly different types of meats and dairies. To this end, a safe cold cycle is necessary for proper preservation during transport and storage. Cold transport is the main part of the cold chain required for preserving the quality of freshly frozen degradable products. Therefore, in addition to cold storages and refrigerated transport vehicles, the packages are also important. The goal of this research is the progressing of a natural biocomposite that is used as thermal insulant.
The reliability and validity of triceps surae muscle volume assessment using freehand three‐dimensional ultrasound in typically developing infants
Authors: Williams Sîan A. , Bell Matthew , Kim Hyun K. , Salim Al Masruri Ghaliya , Stott N. Susan , Fernandez Justin , Mirjalili S. Ali 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThis study assessed the intra‐acquirer, intra‐ and inter‐processor reliability, and validity of the in vivo assessment of the medial gastrocnemius (MG), lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and soleus (SOL) muscle volumes using freehand 3D ultrasound (3DUS) in typically developing infants. Reliability assessments of freehand 3DUS were undertaken in infants across three ages groups: three, six and twelve months of age, with validity testing completed against magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in infants at 3 months of age. Freehand 3DUS scanning was carried out by a single acquirer, with two independent processors manually segmenting images to render volumes. MRI images were segmented independently by a separate processor, with the volumes compared to those obtained via freehand 3DUS. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation (ICC), coefficient of variance (CV) and minimal detectable change (MDC) across each assessment time point. Validity was assessed using the limits of agreement. ICCs for intra‐acquirer reliability of the acquisition process for freehand 3DUS ranged from 0.91 to 0.99 across all muscles. ICCs for intra‐processor and inter‐processor reliability for the segmentation process of freehand 3DUS ranged from 0.80 to 0.98 across all muscles. Acceptable levels of agreement between muscle volume obtained by freehand 3DUS and MRI were found for all muscles; however, freehand 3DUS overestimated muscle volume of MG and LG and underestimate the SOL compared with MRI, with average absolute differences of MG = 0.3 ml, LG = 0.3 ml and Sol = 1.2 ml. Freehand 3DUS is a reliable method for measuring in vivo triceps surae muscle volume in typically developing infants. We conclude that freehand 3DUS is a useful tool to assess changes in muscle volume in response to growth and interventions in infants.
Infrared thermometers and infants: The device is hot the baby maybe not
Authors: Tham Doris , Davis Conor , Hopper Sandy M 
Published: October 2021

AimThe risk of serious illness in febrile infants (<60 days old) is high, and so fever often warrants aggressive management. Infrared thermometers are unreliable in young infants despite their ubiquity. We aim to describe the: (i) frequency of infrared thermometer usage; (ii) progression to documented fever in the emergency department (ED) and (iii) rate of serious illness (meningitis, urinary tract infection and bacteremia).MethodsIn this single‐centre retrospective chart review at The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, we audited medical records of infants (<60 days old) presenting to the ED with pre‐hospital fever on history over a 12‐month period. We described the type of thermometer used at home (tympanic or forehead, ‘infrared’ vs. axillary or rectal, ‘direct’) correlated to peak temperature in ED, investigations, treatment and diagnosis. The primary outcome was subsequent fever in ED.ResultsOf 159 infants, two of three had infrared temperature measurement at home. Fifty‐one (32.1%) developed fever in ED (direct 28/54, 52% vs. infrared 23/105, 22% RR 2.36 (95% CI 1.52–3.69)). Investigations (75%) and admission (60%) were common. Pre‐hospital fever alone was less likely to be associated with serious illness, with fever in ED a much stronger predictor.ConclusionsIn young infants, infrared thermometer use is common and less likely to predict subsequent fever. Twenty‐two percent of infants with fever via infrared measurement had fever in ED. History of fever without confirmation is less likely to signal serious illness. Education to public and health‐care providers is required to avoid usage of infrared devices in this population.
Clarifying and Defining the Concept of Liquid Democracy
Authors: Valsangiacomo Chiara 
Published: October 2021

AbstractLiquid Democracy (LD) is a recent phenomenon that could radically affect our understanding of democracy. Yet, there remains significant semantic confusion surrounding this concept, and researchers in the social sciences, as well as in political theory, currently lack a general definition that is broadly accepted as a standard reference. Therefore, this article addresses the following question: What is LD and how can we best define it? Following a classical, semantic approach to concept formation in the tradition of Giovanni Sartori and John Gerring, the article advances a new, minimal definition: LD is a decision‐making scheme characterized by liquidity—that is the systemic and flexible mix of direct and representative democracy—and essentially based on the principles of voluntary delegation and proxy voting. This definition can serve as a starting point from which further theoretical and normative studies of LD could be conducted in the future.
Optimization of pyrolysis regime for chicken manure treatment and biochar production
Authors: Kuryntseva Polina , Galitskaya Polina , Selivanovskaya Svetlana 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPyrolysis processes and products have yet to be studied fully, and information about chicken‐manure (CM) pyrolysis is especially poor. In the present study, biochar obtained from two CM samples at different residence times (1–4 h) and peak temperatures (400–800°C) was investigated. It was found that pH ranged between 6.8–10.3 and 6.6–11.6; EC between 1.8–3.9 and 1.2–11.9 mSm/cm; CEC between 30.0–65.6 and 15.2–146.9 cmol/kg; C, N, P, and K contents between 9.5–25.6% and 15.7–61.2%, 0.7–2.8% and 1.5–6.4%, 1.7–2.7% and 2.5–5.6%, 0.9–2.1% and 1.3–3.6%, respectively; ecotoxicity (LID10) towards aquatic organisms between 1–40 and 1–66; germination indices between 189–353% and 54–265%; and surface areas between 0.1–0.7 and 0.1–0.3 m2/cm3 for the second and first samples of CM, correspondingly. The multiobjective optimization method was used to analyse the results obtained and to choose the pyrolysis regimes that result in the biochar with the highest fertilizing ability.
Prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled trial comparing the seroclearance of HBsAg between combination therapy of peg-interferon alpha and tenofovir with tenofovir monotherapy in nucleos(t)ide analogue-experienced patients with HBV-related liver fibrosis: a study protocol
Authors: Zhu Shu , Wu Lina , Mei Yongyu , Liu Zhihua , Lin Luping , Yuan Jing , Li Jianguo , Li Xuejun , Peng Liang 
Published: October 2021

IntroductionCombination antiviral therapy of nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) and pegylated interferon alpha (peg-IFN alpha) decrease hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) levels to achieve functional cure and improve long-term prognosis in chronic hepatitis B patients. However, for hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis, studies on combination of these two medicines are limited. This study was designed to compare the efficacy between peg-IFN alpha combined with tenofovir (TDF) and TDF monotherapy for the clearance of HBsAg in NA-experienced patients with HBV-related liver fibrosis.Methods and analysisThis study was designed to be a prospective, multicentre, open, randomised controlled study. A total of 272 patients with HBV-related liver fibrosis will be randomised into the combination therapy group or the monotherapy group at a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the combination group will receive subcutaneous injections of peg-IFN alpha 180 µg per week for 48 weeks combined with oral TDF 300 mg daily. Participants in the monotherapy group will receive 300 mg oral TDF daily alone. All participants will undergo long-term treatment with TDF and will be followed up at the outpatient department for 144 weeks after randomisation. Clinical symptoms, laboratory tests and examination indicators will be collected at each follow-up time point, and adverse events will be recorded. The primary endpoint is serological clearance rate of HBsAg at 48 weeks.Ethics and disseminationThe ethics committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital at Sun Yat-sen University approved this study (Approval Number: (2020)02-183-01). The results of the study will be presented at relevant meetings and published in an appropriate journal after the completion of the trial and the analysis of the data.Trial registration numberNCT04640129.
School reintegration following hospitalisation for children with medical complexity and chronic disease diagnoses: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Burns Samantha , Doering Katie , Koller Donna , Stratton Catherine 
Published: October 2021

IntroductionSchools play a significant role in children’s social, emotional and intellectual well-being. For children with medical complexity (CMC) and chronic disease diagnoses (CDD), an absence from school due to prolonged hospitalisation places them at risk for greater social exclusion and poorer academic outcomes than their healthy counterparts. Processes that support the school reintegration of children with complex and chronic medical conditions currently lack consistency and identified evidence-based practices. This scoping review aims to integrate the relevant literature on current reintegration procedures as well as assess stakeholders’ perceived challenges related to children with CMC and CDD’s return to school following hospitalisation. Finally, information will be synthesised regarding parental and child involvement in reintegration strategies.Methods and analysisThe current scoping review follows the five-stage framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley (2005). The search syntax will be applied in Medline, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Education Resource, ERIC, CINAHL and SocIndex. Peer-reviewed journal articles will be included without the restriction of publication year or language. However, only children and adolescents aged 4–18 with CMC and CDD, who have been out of school for 2 weeks or more and reintegrated into a non-hospital school setting will be included. Articles will be screened by two authors based on the outlined eligibility criteria. Data will be summarised qualitatively and where applicable, visualisation techniques such as tables, graphs and figures will be implemented to address approaches, strategies and outcomes related to reintegration to school following hospitalisation.Ethics and disseminationThe current study comprises available publications and does not collect primary data. For this reason, ethics approval is not necessary. The results of this scoping review will be prepared and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at future conferences to key stakeholders focusing on educational accessibility and inclusion.