bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Have financial statements lost their relevance? Empirical evidence from the frontier market of Kuwait
Authors: Alfraih Mishari M. 
Published: July 2016

Purpose
– Anecdotal concerns expressed regarding developed capital markets suggest that the information provided in financial statements has lost its value relevance to equity holders over time. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the issue from the perspective of Kuwait, which is a frontier market.

Design/methodology/approach
– Consistent with prior research, the design employs the price regression model. A total of 2,490 observations were collected from all firms listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) over a period of 21 years (1994-2014).

Findings
– Although this study documents a notable decline in both the value relevance of earnings and book value for equity holders over this period, the results suggest that the decline in the value relevance of earnings was deeper and more pronounced than that of book value.

Practical implications
– Because a fundamental prerequisite for the value relevance of accounting information is the quality of the financial reporting environment, the results are useful for regulators because they provide an assessment of the effectiveness of the current financial reporting environment. The results highlight the need for improvements because higher-quality information helps equity holders to determine value more precisely. As the timely dissemination of financial statements is an essential ingredient contributing to the relevance of financial statements, a direct implication of the study’s findings for the management of KSE companies is that timely reporting of financial statements may mitigate the observed decline of the value relevance of financial statements produced by KSE companies.

Originality/value
– This study contributes to the capital market research regarding changes in the value relevance of financial statement information through an empirical examination of a frontier capital market.
A TISM modeling of critical success factors of smartphone manufacturing ecosystem in India
Authors: Jena J , Fulzele Vijayta , Gupta Rachita , Sherwani Fahima , Shankar Ravi , Sidharth Sumati 
Published: July 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze various critical success factors (CSFs) that can facilitate smartphone manufacturing in India. This paper further aims to understand the mutual interactions among these CSFs through identification of the hierarchical relationships among them.

Design/methodology/approach
– A framework for a smartphone manufacturing system has been developed, wherein the hierarchical inter-relationships between identified CSFs have been presented and interpreted using total interpretive structural modeling (TISM). Cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification analysis has been further employed to identify the driving power as well as dependence power of these CSFs.

Findings
– In the present research, 15 CSFs have been identified through literature review and expert opinions. The hierarchical framework developed using TISM has revealed the inter-dependencies among these CSFs. This research further categorizes CSFs into three clusters. The first cluster comprises of CSFs having high dependence power, the second cluster identifies CSFs having high driving power and the third cluster identifies CSFs which act as linkages between the driver CSFs and dependent CSFs.

Research limitations/implications
– This study has implications for both practitioners and academia. It provides a comprehensive list of CSFs that are relevant to develop a smartphone ecosystem in India. In addition, this study will help decision makers to strategically focus on the main drivers of the ecosystem that requires the immediate attention of decision makers. The methodology employed in this study provides a mechanism to conduct an exploratory study by identifying the factors and analyzing their interactions through the development of a hierarchical framework.

Originality/value
– The proposed framework developed through qualitative modeling is an effort to understand relevant factors that can promote the smartphone manufacturing ecosystem. This study makes a significant contribution in the literature of smartphone manufacturing, which captures the perspective of different stakeholders.
Infection Risk From Conducted Electrical Weapon Probes: What Do We Know?
Authors: Kroll Mark W. , Ritter Mollie B. , Guilbault Richard A. , Panescu Dorin 
Published: July 2016

AbstractConcern has been raised over the infection risk of the TASER electrical weapon since the probes penetrate the skin. The manufacturing process produces unsterilized probes with a 5% rate of Staphylococcus aureus contamination. Voluntary recipients (n = 208) of probe exposures were surveyed and there were no self‐observations of infection. With over 3.3 million probe landings, there have been 10 case reports of penetrations of sensitive tissue with no reported infections. The electrical field was modeled and found that the electrical pulses generate a field of over 1200 V/mm on the dart portion. This is sufficient to sterilize the dart via electroporation. Electrical weapon probes appear to have a very low (possibly zero) rate of infection. The factors leading to this low infection rate appear to be a manufacturing process producing a low rate of bacterial contamination and the pulses sterilizing the dart via electroporation.
A novel polymorphism in protein kinase AMP‐activated catalytic subunit alpha 2 (PRKAA2) is associated with type 2 diabetes in the Han Chinese population
Authors: Shen Ji‐Zhong , Ge Wei‐Hong , Fang Yun , Liu Hang 
Published: July 2016

AbstractBackgroundIt has been proposed that the energy‐sensing enzyme AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key agent in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The gene encoding protein kinase AMP‐activated catalytic subunit alpha 2 (PRKAA2) is located at one of the Asian T2DM loci (1p32). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to test for the association of common variants in PRKAA2 with T2DM in the Han Chinese population.MethodsWe genotyped 221 T2DM patients and 111 controls to assess possible associations of two tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) in the PRKAA2 gene with T2DM.ResultsThe clinical characteristics of T2DM cases compared with controls differed significantly. No significant association was observed with the rs2143754 polymorphism whereas the rs2746342 polymorphism exhibited a highly significant association with T2DM. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of subjects carrying the G/G genotype of the rs2746342 polymorphism was higher than that of subjects carrying the T allele (P = 0.0049). These associations were magnified in the presence of the G/G genotype of the rs2143754 polymorphism.ConclusionsThe rs2746342 polymorphism is significantly associated with susceptibility to T2DM and seems to interact with the rs2143754 polymorphism in the modulation of FPG in the Han Chinese population.
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block after total hip arthroplasty: a randomised trial
Authors: Thybo K. H. , Mathiesen O. , Dahl J. B. , Schmidt H. , Hägi‐Pedersen D. 
Published: July 2016

BackgroundPeripheral regional nerve blocks are commonly used for pain management after lower extremity surgery, but motor blockade can be a significant concern. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) is a purely sensory nerve from the lumbar plexus. We hypothesised that an LFCN block would reduce movement‐related pain after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with moderate‐to‐severe pain.MethodsSixty patients with visual analogue scale (VAS) score > 40 mm during 30‐degree active flexion of the hip on either the first or second postoperative day after THA were included in this prospective, randomised, blinded, placebo‐controlled trial. Group A received an LFCN block with 8 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine followed after 45 min by an additional LFCN block with 8 ml of saline. Group B received an LFCN block with 8 ml of saline followed after 45 min by an additional LFCN block with 8 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine.ResultsWe found a difference of 17 mm (95% CI, 4–31 mm; P < 0.02) in VAS pain score during 30‐degree flexion of the hip 45 min after the first block (primary outcome) in favour of group A. No other significant difference between groups regarding pain during mobilisation and at rest was found. The overall non‐responder rate (< 15 mm pain reduction) was 42%.ConclusionsLFCN block reduced movement‐related pain in patients with moderate‐to‐severe pain after THA. The substantial non‐responder rate limits recommendations of this block as part of a standard analgesic treatment regimen.
The economic costs of mental health‐related discrimination
Authors: Osumili B. , Henderson C. , Corker E. , Hamilton S. , Pinfold V. , Thornicroft G. , McCrone P. 
Published: July 2016

ObjectiveTo estimate and compare the economic costs of mental health‐related discrimination in the domains of health care, relationships and participation in leisure activities in England between 2011 and 2014.MethodA subsample of the Viewpoint survey was interviewed using the Costs of Discrimination Assessment Questionnaire in 2011 and 2014. Information on the impact of discrimination on healthcare use, help seeking from family and friends and participation in leisure activities was recorded. Pattern of contacts, costs and predictor of costs were examined.ResultsOur findings showed higher costs of health service use for individuals who reported experiences of discrimination in healthcare settings in 2011 compared with those who did not (mean difference £625, P‐value 0.019). Individuals who reported experiences of discrimination in relationships in 2014 had higher healthcare costs than those who did not (mean difference £418, P ‐value 0.034). There was some evidence of a reduction in overall levels of healthcare use, leisure activities and support from families over time. Discrimination did not significantly affect help seeking from family/friends or leisure activities.ConclusionThere is some evidence that discrimination is related to increased healthcare costs. A prospective study is needed to better understand the consequences of these effects.
Mapping the four‐horned locus and testing the polled locus in three Chinese sheep breeds
Authors: He Xiaohong , Zhou Zhengkui , Pu Yabin , Chen Xiaofei , Ma Yuehui , Jiang Lin 
Published: July 2016

SummaryFour‐horned sheep are an ideal animal model for illuminating the genetic basis of horn development. The objective of this study was to locate the genetic region responsible for the four‐horned phenotype and to verify a previously reported polled locus in three Chinese breeds. A genome‐wide association study (GWAS) was performed using 34 two‐horned and 32 four‐horned sheep from three Chinese indigenous breeds: Altay, Mongolian and Sishui Fur sheep. The top two significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the four‐horned phenotype were both located in a region spanning positions 132.6 to 132.7 Mb on sheep chromosome 2. Similar locations for the four‐horned trait were previously identified in Jacob, Navajo‐Churro, Damara and Sishui Fur sheep, suggesting a common genetic component underlying the four‐horned phenotype. The two identified SNPs were both downstream of the metaxin 2 (MTX2) gene and the HOXD gene cluster. For the top SNP—OAR2:g.132619300G>A—the strong associations of the AA and AG genotypes with the four‐horned phenotype and the GG genotype with the two‐horned phenotype indicated the dominant inheritance of the four‐horned trait. No significant SNPs for the polled phenotype were identified in the GWAS analysis, and a PCR analysis for the detection of the 1.8‐kb insertion associated with polled sheep in other breeds failed to verify the association with polledness in the three Chinese breeds. This study supports the hypothesis that two different loci are responsible for horn existence and number. This study contributes to the understanding of the molecular regulation of horn development and enriches the knowledge of qualitative traits in domestic animals.
Too many, too few, or too unsafe? Impact of inappropriate prescribing on mortality, and hospitalization in a cohort of community‐dwelling oldest old
Authors: Wauters Maarten , Elseviers Monique , Vaes Bert , Degryse Jan , Dalleur Olivia , Vander Stichele Robert , Christiaens Thierry , Azermai Majda 
Published: July 2016

AimsLittle is known about the impact of inappropriate prescribing (IP) in community‐dwelling adults, aged 80 years and older. The prevalence at baseline (November 2008September 2009) and impact of IP (misuse and underuse) after 18 months on mortality and hospitalization in a cohort of community‐dwelling adults, aged 80 years and older (n = 503) was studied.MethodsScreening Tool of Older People's Prescriptions (STOPP‐2, misuse) and Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment (START‐2, underuse) criteria were cross‐referenced and linked to the medication use (in Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical coding) and clinical problems. Survival analysis until death or first hospitalization was performed at 18 months after inclusion using Kaplan–Meier, with Cox regression to control for covariates.ResultsMean age was 84.4 (range 80–102) years. Mean number of medications prescribed was 5 (range 0–16). Polypharmacy (≥5 medications, 58%), underuse (67%) and misuse (56%) were high. Underuse and misuse coexisted in 40% and were absent in 17% of the population. A higher number of prescribed medications was correlated with more misused medications (rs = .51, P < 0.001) and underused medications (rs = .26, P < 0.001).Mortality and hospitalization rate were 8.9%, and 31.0%, respectively. After adjustment for number of medications and misused medications, there was an increased risk of mortality (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.10, 1.76) and hospitalization (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.10, 1.45) for every additional underused medication. Associations with misuse were less clear.ConclusionIP (polypharmacy, underuse and misuse) was highly prevalent in adults, aged 80 years and older. Surprisingly, underuse and not misuse had strong associations with mortality and hospitalization.
Hypoglycaemia when adding sulphonylurea to metformin: a systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Andersen Stig Ejdrup , Christensen Mikkel 
Published: July 2016

AimsThe risk of hypoglycaemia may differ among sulphonylureas (SUs), but evidence from head‐to‐head comparisons is sparse. Performing a network meta‐analysis to use indirect evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we compared the relative risk of hypoglycaemia with newer generation SUs when added to metformin.MethodsA systematic review identified RCTs lasting 12–52 weeks and evaluating SUs added to inadequate metformin monotherapy (≥1000 mg/day) in type 2 diabetes. Adding RCTs investigating the active comparators from the identified SU trials, we established a coherent network. Hypoglycaemia of any severity was the primary end point.ResultsThirteen trials of SUs and 14 of oral non‐SU antihyperglycaemic agents (16 260 patients) were included. All reported hypoglycaemia only as adverse events. Producing comparable reductions in HbA1C of −0.66 to −0.84% (−7 to −9 mmol/mol), the risk of hypoglycaemia was lowest with gliclazide compared to glipizide (OR 0.22, CrI: 0.05 to 0.96), glimepiride (OR 0.40, CrI: 0.13 to 1.27), and glibenclamide (OR 0.21, CrI: 0.03 to 1.48). A major limitation is varying definitions of hypoglycaemia across studies.ConclusionsWhen added to metformin, gliclazide was associated with the lowest risk of hypoglycaemia between the newer generation SUs. Clinicians should consider the risk of hypoglycaemia agent‐specific when selecting an SU agent.
Phylogenetic reconstruction based on COI reshuffles the taxonomy of hyalosphenid shelled (testate) amoebae and reveals the convoluted evolution of shell plate shapes
Authors: Kosakyan Anush , Lahr Daniel J. G. , Mulot Matthieu , Meisterfeld Ralf , Mitchell Edward A. D. , Lara Enrique 
Published: July 2016

AbstractSpecies diversity in most protistan groups has been underestimated. Many morpho‐species are in fact complexes that require detailed morphometric studies to be discriminated. However, which traits can be used for species descriptions remains in many cases unclear. The testate amoeba genus Quadrulella produces self‐secreted, siliceous plates with a very characteristic square shape—such plates were assumed to be synapomorphic of the genus. Here we demonstrate that Quadrulella symmetrica (the most common Holarctic species) is not monophyletic. Square plate size and arrangement, test size and general shape are efficient criteria for species discrimination. Based on morphology and sequence data, we describe Quadrulella variabilis sp. nov. from Switzerland, and Quadrulella madibai sp. nov. from South Africa, and confirm the validity of Q. alata. The former species Q. subcarinata does not belong to the genus Quadrulella. We therefore transfer this species to the new genus Mrabella gen. nov. Our results show that hyalosphenids presenting siliceous square shell plates do not form a monophyletic clade. Several possible hypotheses about the origins of square plates are discussed. Additionally, this comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the family Hyalospheniidae confirms that the genus Nebela is paraphyletic and needs to be divided into genera based on general shell shape: Nebela sensu stricto, Longinebela gen. nov., Planocarina gen. nov., Gibbocarina gen. nov., Cornutheca gen. nov. and Mrabella gen. nov.
Impulse control disorder related behaviours during long‐term rotigotine treatment: a post hoc analysis
Authors: Antonini A. , Chaudhuri K. R. , Boroojerdi B. , Asgharnejad M. , Bauer L. , Grieger F. , Weintraub D. 
Published: July 2016

Background and purposeDopamine agonists in Parkinson's disease (PD) are associated with impulse control disorders (ICDs) and other compulsive behaviours (together called ICD behaviours). The frequency of ICD behaviours reported as adverse events (AEs) in long‐term studies of rotigotine transdermal patch in PD was evaluated.MethodsThis was a post hoc analysis of six open‐label extension studies up to 6 years in duration. Analyses included patients treated with rotigotine for at least 6 months and administered the modified Minnesota Impulse Disorders Interview. ICD behaviours reported as AEs were identified and categorized.ResultsFor 786 patients, the mean (±SD) exposure to rotigotine was 49.4 ± 17.6 months. 71 (9.0%) patients reported 106 ICD AEs cumulatively. Occurrence was similar across categories: 2.5% patients reported ‘compulsive sexual behaviour’, 2.3% ‘buying disorder’, 2.0% ‘compulsive gambling’, 1.7% ‘compulsive eating’ and 1.7% ‘punding behaviour’. Examining at 6‐month intervals, the incidence was relatively low during the first 30 months; it was higher over the next 30 months, peaking in the 54–60‐month period. No ICD AEs were serious, and 97% were mild or moderate in intensity. Study discontinuation occurred in seven (9.9%) patients with ICD AEs; these then resolved in five patients. Dose reduction occurred for 23 AEs, with the majority (73.9%) resolving.ConclusionsIn this analysis of >750 patients with PD treated with rotigotine, the frequency of ICD behaviour AEs was 9.0%, with a specific incidence timeline observed. Active surveillance as duration of treatment increases may help early identification and management; once ICD behaviours are present rotigotine dose reduction may be considered.
Fatigue performance of dual‐phase steels for automotive wheel application
Authors: Majumdar S. , Roy S. , Ray K. K. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractFatigue performance of ferrite–martensite (FM) and ferrite–bainite (FB) dual‐phase (DP) steels used in automotive wheels has been compared in terms of (i) high‐cycle fatigue performance and failure mechanisms and (b) low‐cycle fatigue performance (Δεt/2 = 0.002 to 0.01) and associated deformation mechanisms. FBDP steel exhibits moderately better high‐cycle fatigue performance, owing to delay in microcrack initiation. In FBDP steel, microcracks initiate predominantly along ferrite grain boundaries, while that at FB interface is significantly delayed in comparison with FMDP steel, where few microcracks appear at FM interface even below the endurance limit. During low‐cycle fatigue, however, FMDP steel performs considerably better than FBDP steel till Δεt/2 ≤ 0.005 attributed to initial cyclic hardening, followed by cyclically stable behaviour exhibited by FMDP steel. In sharp contrast, at all Δεt/2 > 0.002, FBDP steel undergoes continuous cyclic softening. The latter may cause undesirable deformation of wheels in service.
Association between circulating fibroblast growth factor‐23 and age‐related cardiovascular–renal parameters in a healthy Chinese population
Authors: Wang Nan , Bai Xiaojuan , Jin Bo , Han Wen , Sun Xuefeng , Chen Xiangmei 
Published: July 2016

AimPrevious studies showed that circulating fibroblast growth factor‐23 (FGF23) is a new biomarker linked to cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Here, we explored the association between serum FGF23 and aging‐related cardiovascular–renal parameters in a healthy Chinese population.MethodsA total of 314 healthy participants aged 36–87 years were enrolled. Cardiovascular structure and function were assessed by the left ventricular ejection fraction, the ratio of early diastolic peak flow velocity to late diastolic peak flow velocity at the mitral leaflet tips, carotid intima‐media thickness, the diameter of the bilateral common carotid artery, blood systolic peak and end diastolic velocities, which were measured by M‐mode ultrasonography. Glomerular filtration rate was evaluated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation for Asians. Serum FGF23, 1, 25‐dihydroxy vitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.ResultsFor all participants, intima‐media thickness/diameter of the bilateral common carotid artery gradually decreased with the progression from low to high FGF23 concentration (P < 0.05). After adjusting for all possible confounders, FGF23 remained significantly associated with intima‐media thickness/diameter of the bilateral common carotid artery (P = 0.016). In women, serum FGF23 was significantly associated with serum creatinine, cystatin C and estimated glomerular filtration rate in the Spearman correlation analysis. FGF23 remained significantly associated with serum creatinine (P = 0.046) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.034) after full adjustment. However, no such relationship was apparent in men.ConclusionsSerum FGF23 was correlated with aging‐related cardiovascular–renal parameters even in healthy people. Measurement of serum FGF23 can provide valuable information to predict cardiovascular–renal function in healthy people, especially in older female adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1221–1231.