Likelihood Of Acquisition Research Articles

Mini-review: Elucidating the psychological, physical, and sex-based interactions between HIV infection and stress

Stress is generally classified as any mental or emotional strain resulting from difficult circumstances, and can manifest in the form of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other neurocognitive disorders. Neurocognitive disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD are large contributors to disability worldwide, and continue to affect individuals and communities. Although these disorders affect men and women, women are disproportionately represented among those diagnosed with affective disorders, a result of both societal gender roles and physical differences. Furthermore, the incidence of these neurocognitive disorders is augmented among People Living with HIV (PLWH); the physical ramifications of stress increase the likelihood of HIV acquisition, pathogenesis, and treatment, as both stress and HIV infection are characterized by chronic inflammation, which creates a more opportunistic environment for HIV. Although the stress response is facilitated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, when the response involves a psychological component, additional brain regions are engaged. The impact of chronic stress exposure and the origin of individual variation in stress responses and resilience are at least in part attributable to regions outside the primary stress circuity, including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus. This review aims to elucidate the relationship between stress and HIV, how these interact with sex, and to understand the physical ramifications of these interactions.

Alcohol consumption, substance use, and depression in relation to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) nonadherence among gay, bisexual, and other men-who-have-sex-with-men

BackgroundAlthough HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) substantially diminishes the likelihood of HIV acquisition, poor adherence can decrease the HIV-protective benefits of PrEP. The present investigation sought to identify the extent to which alcohol consumption, substance use, and depression were linked to PrEP nonadherence among gay, bisexual, and other men-who-have-sex-with-men (gbMSM).MethodsgbMSM (age ≥ 18, prescribed PrEP for ≥3 months) were recruited from two clinics in Toronto, Canada for an e-survey assessing demographics; PrEP nonadherence (4-day PrEP-focused ACTG assessment); hazardous and harmful alcohol use (AUDIT scores of 8–15 and 16+, respectively); moderate/high risk substance use (NIDA M-ASSIST scores > 4); depression (CESD-10 scores ≥10); and other PrEP-relevant factors. The primary outcome, PrEP nonadherence, entailed missing one or more PrEP doses over the past 4 days. A linear-by-linear test of association assessed whether increasing severity of alcohol use (i.e., based on AUDIT categories) was linked to a greater occurrence of PrEP nonadherence. Univariate logistic regression was employed to determine factors associated with PrEP nonadherence, and factors demonstrating univariate associations at the p < .10 significance level were included in a multivariate logistic regression model. Additive and interactive effects involving key significant factors were assessed through logistic regression to evaluate potential syndemic-focused associations.ResultsA total of 141 gbMSM (Mean age = 37.9, white = 63.1%) completed the e-survey. Hazardous/harmful drinking (31.9%), moderate/high risk substance use (43.3%), and depression (23.7%) were common; and one in five participants (19.9%) reported PrEP nonadherence. Increasing alcohol use level was significantly associated with a greater likelihood of nonadherence (i.e., 15.6, 25.0, and 44.4% of low-risk, hazardous, and harmful drinkers reported nonadherence, respectively (χ2(1) = 4.79, p = .029)). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that harmful alcohol use (AOR = 6.72, 95%CI = 1.49–30.33, p = .013) and moderate/high risk cocaine use (AOR = 3.11, 95%CI = 1.01–9.59, p = .049) independently predicted nonadherence. Furthermore, an additive association emerged, wherein the likelihood of PrEP nonadherence was highest among those who were hazardous/harmful drinkers and moderate/high risk cocaine users (OR = 2.25, 95%CI = 1.19–4.25, p = .013). Depression was not associated with nonadherence.ConclusionsFindings highlight the need to integrate alcohol- and substance-focused initiatives into PrEP care for gbMSM. Such initiatives, in turn, may help improve PrEP adherence and reduce the potential for HIV acquisition among this group.

Body-generated hydrodynamic flows influence male–male contests and female mate choice in a freshwater fish

The lateral line system of fishes is composed of neuromast mechanoreceptors that detect movement through vibration and changes in pressure gradients in the water. Although mechanosensory information has been shown to be important in the contexts of predator escape and foraging, little is known about the role of the lateral line system during intraspecific interactions, such as reproduction. However, many species of fish demonstrate complex courtship and aggressive repertoires that involve movement of the body and fins, resulting in local displacement of the surrounding water. This displacement has the potential to function as a signal that contains information about the sender. In this study, we conducted two behavioural experiments using fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, to test the hypothesis that the outcomes of male–male contests and male–female courtship interactions are influenced by hydrodynamic flows generated during conspecific interactions. In the first experiment, we pitted control males against those with an ablated lateral line system and assessed both overall aggression and the likelihood of territory acquisition. In the second experiment, we conducted dual-choice female mate choice experiments to determine whether control females and those without access to mechanosensory information (ablated females) differed in patterns of discrimination and the use of courtship as a criterion of choice. In experiment 1, control males won a significantly greater proportion of territorial contests than expected by chance and were more likely to use noncontact threat displays during aggressive interactions compared with ablated males. In experiment 2, females with access to the mechanosensory information channel showed enhanced mate discrimination compared to ablated females. These data are among the first to show that mechanosensory signals are an important criterion of territorial and reproductive success in fishes and are likely important contributors to multimodal communication in this group.

The ICEL Healthcare-Associated Infection Probability Equation

Backround: In American hospitals alone, the CDC estimates that hospital acquired infections (HAIs) account for an estimated 1.7 million infections and 99,000 associated deaths each year.1 Although the United states and most industrialized nations have made strides in lowering the overall HAI rate by taking critical steps to reduce HAIs, an overall formula that combines a global risk assessment per patient for HAI acquisition has yet to be established. To address this issue, we developed the ICEL equation. This equation uses a probabilistic argument to estimate the likelihood of HAI acquisition and to promote infection control dialogue among healthcare practitioners from diverse healthcare disciplines. Methods: We defined HAI risk using the ICEL acronym as follows: HAI risk = (I + C + E + L), where I is invasive devices present; C is patient-specific characteristics; E is the average number of pathogenic organisms in the patient environment; and L is the length of stay. A simple scale of 1–10 points is subjectively assigned for each of the following categories:I = (number of invasive devices / surgeries / % body surface areas open)C = Patient specific characteristics (immune system integrity / immunomodulators / radiation exposure / chemotherapy, etc)E = Environmental conditions / cleaning (average number of pathogenic bacteria in room, 100% hand hygiene compliance, patient / staff colonization, etc)L = Length of stay days risk, where 0–3 days is low risk, 4–7 is moderate risk, and 8–10+ is high riskSumming the points for each of the 4 categories, the greatest possible total is 40. A total score of 0–10 indicates low risk of HAI; 11–20 indicates low-to-medium risk of HAI; 20–30 indicates a high risk of HAI; and 30–40 indicates a very high risk of HAI. Results:This equation was designed to stimulate thought and encourage multidisciplinary cooperation among providers, nursing, environmental services, and facilities departments rather than provide an exact number for HAI risk. All of these categories are key players in the determining patient risk of acquiring an HAI. If any of the 4 hospital departments mentioned fails in their duties, the patient is at higher risk of HAI. Conclusions: This categorical HAI risk assessment relies on the subjective medical and environmental knowledge of the assessor to assign risk across the continuum of the healthcare environment. Although it is nearly impossible to provide exact numbers regarding total risk in these risk categories, the goal of the scoring system is to encourage clinical dialogue among hospital staff so that they communicate and collaborate within their specialties and with their peers to assure that each category poses as low a risk as possible, thus driving the total risk for HAI lower.1. https://www.cdc.gov/hai/data/portal/progress-report.htmlFunding: NoneDisclosures: None

A day in the life of frontline manufacturing personnel: A diary-based safety study

Recorded incidences of work-related illness and injury within the manufacturing sector remain significantly high, therefore, an awareness of the aetiology of accidents remains integral to any realistic prospect of safety improvement interventions within this complex industry. The epistemological stance adopted in safety behaviour development in research design and execution has largely focused on empirical outcome-based studies. Using personalised individual diaries to record real time data of safety-related events, including social cognitive contextual details, this study, for the first time qualitatively explores employee recorded incidents, permitting the identification of perceived latent conditions belying cognitive errors. The study revealed the most frequently occurring incident types were unsafe acts (38%) followed by unsafe conditions (28%), with a greater proportion of near misses (N = 46) in comparison to actual accidents (N = 13). Also apparent were inconsistencies in formal and informal reporting processes. Skill based errors were the most prevalent recorded human error type associated with distraction, alongside incompatible work environments. Violations were evident, to a lesser degree of recordable incidents. Across all human error types, qualitative accounts of safety climate concepts including leader violations and quality of leadership were described. The study thus made possible the capture of day-to-day safety behaviours and conditions, illuminating new perspectives on meaningful issues at both individual and systems levels. Adopting a systematically tailored approach to the exploration of suboptimal safety behaviour aetiology, there is a greater likelihood of knowledge acquisition of incidents or symptoms at an organisational level, which are then equipped to reflexively respond with a tailored address of these issues ‘in situ’.

Financial Market Friction and Corporate Restructuring Activities in China

ABSTRACT This study empirically investigates the effect of external financial market friction on restructuring activities, based on panel data of listed Chinese firms from 2004 to 2018. The results show that there is a positive correlation between financial market friction and the number of restructuring deals. We also find that high financial market friction increases preference for cash payments and the likelihood of mergers and acquisitions. These findings add to the restructuring literature by capturing heterogenous restructuring forms. They also deepen the understanding of the firm boundary theory, by suggesting that firms have incentives to increase their scopes when facing external market distress.

To See from Where You Stand: Supply Chain Network Positions and Merger and Acquisition Likelihood

Drawing on the proverb that says “where you stand determines what you see and how you do”, this study examines the effect of a firm’s supply chain network position on its M&As decisions and further examines the moderating effects of financial slack and innovational slack on the relationship between a firm’s supply chain network centrality and its M&As likelihood. Secondary data from different sources spanning from 2010 to 2017 are collected and analyzed to test our hypotheses. We find that there is U-shaped relationship between a firm’s supply chain network betweenness centrality and its M&As likelihood. Moreover, we also find significant evidence that the financial slack and innovational slack of a firm will positively moderate the effect of a firm’s supply chain network position on its M&As likelihood. This study advances extant literature on the antecedents of M&As by identifying supply chain network as a critical antecedent of a firm’s M&As. In addition, this study extends organizational slacks and M&As literature by identifying financial slack and innovational slack as contingencies to a firm’s M&As decision, which is different from conventional literature on slacks and M&As.

Performance of Ethnically Diverse Startup Teams: An Empirical Test

Extant literature suggests that network diversity can generate positive outcomes for startups. We examine the case of ethnic diversity as a driver of network diversity and hypothesize that ethnic diversity increases startup acquisition likelihood. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the positive relationship between ethnic diversity and acquisition likelihood increases for teams with greater professional experience. We find empirical support for our hypotheses using a dataset of startups that participated in the Techstars accelerator program between 2010 and 2018. The implication of this study is that ethnic diversity in startup teams drives acquisition likelihood through the mechanisms of cognitive and network diversity which lead to information processing advantages, but that this effect is present mainly for more experienced teams.

Age of Sexual Debut among Young Gay-identified Sexual Minority Men: The P18 Cohort Study

ABSTRACT Age of sexual debut is a critical health indicator for young sexual minority men (YSMM), associated with an increased likelihood of HIV acquisition, use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances, and psychological distress. This study examined the age of same-sex sexual debut for five sexual behaviors in a sample of racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse gay-identified YSMM in New York City. The mean age of sexual debut of any behavior was 14.5 years old and 19% of the sample reported sexual debut prior to age 13. Overall, mutual masturbation occurred at the youngest mean age, followed by performed oral, received oral, receptive anal, and insertive anal intercourse. There were significant differences by race/ethnicity and perceived familial socioeconomic status (SES), such that Black and Hispanic/Latino men had earlier ages of debut for performed oral and receptive and insertive anal sex, while upper SES men had later ages of debut for receptive and insertive anal intercourse. These findings are relevant to trends in HIV incidence in the U.S., which are highest among Black and Hispanic/Latino YSMM and may be associated with earlier age of sexual debut. These findings also underscore a need for comprehensive and inclusive sex education at younger ages.

Customer Concentration and M&amp;amp;A Performance

This paper examines how the target’s customer concentration affects merger performance. We find that the acquirer purchasing a customer-concentrated firm experiences significantly lower stock market returns and worse long-run operating performance. The effect is more pronounced when customers face lower switching costs or the target undertakes a higher level of relationship-specific investments, exhibits higher cash volatility, or is acquired by a less well-known company. Further analysis shows that the negative association is mainly driven by corporate customers, while relatively safe government customers moderate the effect. We also find that shared major customers, overconfident CEOs, and poor corporate governance are more likely to increase the likelihood of customer-concentrated acquisitions. Overall, our findings suggest that higher customer concentration leads to lower value creation in mergers.

Diversified acquisitions in family firms: Restricted vs. extended family priorities

Through diversified acquisitions, family firms are able to grow their business in previously untapped markets. In the long term, diversification can enhance extended socioemotional wealth (SEW) priorities, as it reduces business risk and supports the goal of passing businesses on to future generations. However, diversified acquisitions may threaten restricted SEW priorities due to short-term financial and social constraints. Prior studies, therefore, show conflicting results regarding the likelihood of diversified acquisitions in family firms. With the aim of reconciling contradictory findings in the literature, we analyse how distinct configurations of family firms based on family ownership, family management, and family firm life cycle stage affect the likelihood of diversified acquisitions. Using on a hand-collected dataset including 404 strategic acquisitions made by 211 German family firms between 2010 and 2016, our study reveals that high family ownership is linked to a long-term perspective on and respectively extended SEW preferences in acquisition decisions, leading to a higher probability of a diversified acquisition. This effect is weakened in cases of high family management and particularly strong in cases of first-generation family firms. In later generations, family-dominated top management teams decrease the probability of diversified acquisitions, indicating that in these family configurations, a preference for pursuing short-term respectively restricted SEW goals is dominant.

Sold, not bought: Market orientation and technology as drivers of acquisitions of private biotechnology ventures

Acquisitions are an important exit strategy for technology entrepreneurs and investors, but what can technology ventures do to increase their chances of achieving an acquisition? We draw on signaling theory to examine the role that market orientation plays behind acquisitions. We test our hypotheses in a sample of young biotechnology ventures, and our findings are three-fold. First, we show that a target's market orientation is an important direct driver of acquisitions, thus incorporating a marketing perspective into a literature that has hitherto focused primarily on technological and reputational factors. Second, we find a substitutive interaction effect between market orientation and new product development stage, indicating that for exits through acquisitions, a high level of market orientation can compensate for an early stage of product development. Third, a fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) shows that in some contexts, the monopoly power afforded by patents can further amplify the positive effect of market orientation on acquisition likelihood. Taken together, our findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how different signals interact, and suggest that technology ventures should invest in market orientation early on in their life cycle.

CEO Tax Effects on Acquisition Structure and Value

ABSTRACTWe hypothesize that prior evidence of target shareholder capital gains tax liabilities affecting acquisition features is driven by the tax liabilities of the target firm CEO. To test this, we estimate CEOs' capital gains tax liabilities for a large sample of acquisitions and examine the effects of such liabilities on acquisition outcomes. Results indicate that the previously documented positive relations between shareholder-level capital gains tax rates and (1) the likelihood of a nontaxable acquisition (Ayers, Lefanowicz, and Robinson 2004), and (2) acquisition premiums (Ayers, Lefanowicz, and Robinson 2003) are largely driven by CEO tax effects. We also find evidence consistent with (1) CEOs' tax incentives leading to potential agency conflicts under certain conditions, and (2) acquisition structure or premium being adjusted in response to CEOs' taxes depending on the alternatives available to the acquirer. Our study contributes to our understanding of what and whose taxes affect acquisition structure and value.JEL Classifications: G34:, H24; H32: J33; M52.

Built to Last, Flip or Profit? Exploration-Exploitation and the Survival, Acquisition, and Profitability of Start-ups

Exploration-exploitation research to date has understudied the issue of multiple performance dimensions and their potential trade-offs, which leaves the application of its theory to the context of start-ups exposed to blind spots. The importance of acquisition likelihood as a performance outcome in the new venture context calls for nuance in the temporal logic of exploration-exploitation theory, because in this context exploration may be associated with short-term rather than only long-term benefits. In this paper for the first time we investigate the relationship between the exploration-exploitation continuum and profitability, survival and acquisition likelihood simultaneously, and investigate potential trade-offs between these performance dimensions. Using the Kauffman Firm Survey dataset, our results support a balance-is-best approach to exploration for the acquisition likelihood and survival likelihood of high-tech start-ups, and for the profitability of low and medium tech start-ups, but the relationship is linearly negative for the profitability of high-tech start-ups and the survival likelihoods of low and medium tech start-ups.

Sex Without Contraceptives in a Multicenter Study of Adolescent Emergency Department Patients.

In the United States, rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain exceptionally high, and racial and ethnic disparities persist. Emergency departments (EDs) care for over 19 million adolescents each year, the majority being minority and low socioeconomic status. Single-center studies demonstrate infrequent use of contraceptives among adolescent ED patients and an association between risky sex and behaviors such as alcohol and drug use; however, no multicenter ED data exist. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the prevalence of sex without contraceptives in a large multicenter adolescent ED study and 2) assess patient demographic and risky behaviors associated with sex without contraceptives. Participants aged 14 to 17years (n=3,247) in 16 pediatric EDs across the United States completed an electronic survey. Questions focused on validated measures of risky sex; use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs; and depression and violence. In this secondary analysis, we constructed univariable and multivariable models to identify demographic and behavioral factors associated with sex without contraceptives (our primary outcome), separately for adolescent males and females. In the prior year, 17.4% (236/1,356) of males and 15.8% (299/1,891) of females had sex without contraceptives. In the multivariable model, sex without contraceptives for both genders was more likely among teens who were black, with conduct problems and participated in casual sex, binge drinking, or cannabis use. Sex without contraceptives was also more likely among Hispanic and cigarette-smoking males, as well as depressed females. Adolescent ED patients across the United States are participating in risky sexual behaviors that increase their likelihood of pregnancy and STI acquisition. These adolescents report a number of problem behaviors, including substance use, which are strongly correlated with unprotected sex. The ED visit may be an opportunity to identify at-risk adolescent patients, address risky behaviors, and intervene to improve adolescent health.

Investigating the Movement Components of Host Preference in a Highly Mobile Insect Herbivore, Nephotettix cincticeps (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae).

Effective insect management strategies require a firm understanding of the factors determining host preference, particularly in highly mobile insect herbivores. Host preference studies commonly employ average or first position as a proxy for preference. Yet few studies have explored host preference in relation to transitory attraction and leaving rates, yet these are both components of host plant selection. We investigated the transitory dynamics of preference by the green rice leafhopper, Nephotettix cincticeps (Uhler) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) by conducting experiments on groups of females, males, or mixed-sex leafhoppers, and recording their position over time between low-N and normal-N rice plants. Utilizing a log-linear model and variants of a biostatistical model we used these positional data to extract attraction, leaving and tenure rates to better understand the process of host-plant selection. We found a general preference for normal-N over low-N plants at equilibrium. However, between sexes there was variation in the relative significance of attraction or leaving rates on that preference. Female leafhoppers were more attracted to host plants with higher nitrogen content. Male leafhoppers were less discriminate in their initial attraction to hosts but left low-N hosts at a faster rate. Whereas estimated tenure times on both normal- and low-N plants exceeded transmission times for the leafhopper-transmitted rice dwarf virus, longer tenure on normal-N plants likely increases the likelihood of virus acquisition from these plants. Our findings support previous recommendations that growers can mitigate the risks of leafhopper damage and pathogen transmission by optimizing their application of nitrogenous fertilizers.

HCV in the haemodialysis population: Treat now or later?

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains commoner in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) than the population at large1 . In the hemodialysis (HD) population HCV infection in part reflects acquisition of infection within dialysis units where its transmission can be effectively prevented by meticulous attention to body fluid precautions 2 . A series of studies have confirmed that HCV transmission on HD reflects lack of adherence to these precautions 3 . In contrast to the prevention of hepatitis B transmission in this setting, dedicated dialysis machines for HCV infected patients are not recommended4 . The likelihood of HCV acquisition while on HD is increased in units with a higher background prevalence of HCV infection so an infected HD patient also places others at risk.

The Burden of the National Debt: Evidence from Mergers and Acquisitions

We examine the impact of changes in national debt on the mergers and acquisitions (M&As) activity. Although increases in government debt reduces the acquisition likelihood, we find no evidence for the traditional interest rate mechanism. Instead, we document that upsurges in national debt depress M&A activity through increases in fiscal policy related uncertainty (taxes, discretionary spending, entitlement programs etc.). During periods of increasing national debt, acquirers decrease stock-based financing relative to cash-based financing and reduce the acquisition of targets with a higher degree of investment irreversibility. In such periods, announced deals are associated with lower premiums and lower synergistic gains.

The Impact of Scientist Mobility on Acquisition Likelihood

This paper investigates the relationship between scientist mobility and acquisitions in high-tech industries. Mobile scientists serve as conduits for spillover of proprietary knowledge and tacit sk...

Antibiotics with activity against intestinal anaerobes and the hazard of acquired colonization with ceftriaxone-resistant Gram-negative pathogens in ICU patients: a propensity score-based analysis.

Intestinal colonization resistance is mainly exerted by commensal anaerobes. To assess whether exposure to non-carbapenem antibiotics with activity against intestinal anaerobes (namely, piperacillin/tazobactam, amoxicillin/clavulanate and metronidazole) may promote the acquisition of gut colonization with ceftriaxone-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CFR-GNB) in ICU patients. All patients with a first stay >3 days in a single surgical ICU over a 30 month period were retrospectively included. Rectal carriage of CFR-GNB (i.e. ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, AmpC-hyperproducing Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and CFR Acinetobacter baumannii) was routinely screened for at admission then weekly. The impact of anti-anaerobe antibiotics was investigated in propensity score (PS)-matched cohorts of patients exposed and not exposed to these drugs and through PS-based inverse probability of treatment weighting on the whole study cohort, treating in-ICU death or discharge as competing risks for CFR-GNB acquisition. Among the 352 included patients [median ICU stay 16 (9-30) days, in-ICU mortality 12.2%], 120 (34.1%) acquired one or more CFR-GNB, mostly AmpC-hyperproducing Enterobacteriaceae (17.6%) and P. aeruginosa (14.8%). Exposure to anti-anaerobe antibiotics was the main predictor of CFR-GNB acquisition in both the PS-matched cohorts [adjusted HR (aHR) 3.92, 95% CI 1.12-13.7, P = 0.03] and the whole study cohort (aHR 4.30, 95% CI 1.46-12.63, P = 0.01). Exposure to other antimicrobials-especially ceftriaxone and imipenem/meropenem-exerted no independent impact on the likelihood of CFR-GNB acquisition. Exposure to non-carbapenem antibiotics with activity against intestinal anaerobes may predispose to CFR-GNB acquisition in ICU patients. Restricting the use of these drugs appears to be an antibiotic stewardship opportunity.