Standard Set Research Articles

Issues in sustainability reporting assurance: evidence from interviews

Purpose This paper aims to examine the processes of sustainability reporting assurance (SRA) and the influence they have on shaping perception from disclosures. Given the evidence of inconsistencies and ambiguities in assurance processes, this paper examines how legitimacy is attained and maintained at different stages of SRA. Design/methodology/approach Evidence collected from 23 semi-structured interviews with assurance providers (APs), consultants, professionals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (non-APs) was used to conduct a thematic analysis from the perspectives of interviewees. Findings APs and non-APs are united in recognising the value of SRA, although, perspectives on transparency between the two groups differ. Experience and industry knowledge are essential to SRA delivery with non-APs preferring accounting APs. Nevertheless, non-APs are concerned about the role of companies in deciding assurance scope, as it can affect scrutiny. APs favour data accuracy (as opposed to data relevance) assurance due to team dynamics and internal review influences, with the latter also restricting assurance innovation. APs are interested in accessing better evidence and stakeholder engagement evaluations. Providing advisory services was not rejected by all APs. The perspectives of APs and non-APs demonstrate how progress in SRA has gained pragmatic legitimacy with noticeable gaps that serve to undermine attainment of moral legitimacy. Research limitations/implications SRA is a developing practice that will adopt changes as it continues to mature; some of these changes could impact findings in this research. General perspectives on SRA were sought from interviewees, this affected the ability for an in-depth focus on any of the range of interesting SRA issues that arose over the course of the research. Interviews were conducted with relevant parties in the SRA space that operate in the UK. Perspectives from parties outside the UK were not solicited. Practical implications Companies make an important decision to commission SRA. Findings in this research have highlighted specific non-APs issues of concern that can be useful in structuring operations and reporting regimes to facilitate assurance procedures. The findings will also be helpful to APs as they can direct more emphasis on stakeholder concerns towards demonstrating greater stakeholder accountability. Regulatory and standard setters can enact appropriate policies that can potentially drive the practice forward for assessment of cognitive legitimacy. Social implications The findings provide relevant account of stakeholder voices on the quality of corporate disclosures that has a direct effect on the wellbeing of communities and sustainability of societies. Collective stakeholder input on expectations can shape sustainability discourse. Originality/value This research demonstrates the applicability of financial audit quality indicators in SRA processes, extends the debate around the effectiveness of new audit fields and highlights the challenges of maintaining legitimacy with different audiences.

Governance mediation in the era of disruptive technologies: unveiling new perspectives on the risk of material misstatements

Purpose This study aims to examine the mediating effects of corporate governance mechanisms like the board of directors on the association between disruptive technology adoption by audit clients and the risk of material misstatements, including inherent risk and control risk. In particular, the authors study the mediating effects of board characteristics such as board size, independence and gender diversity. Design/methodology/approach Based on a sample of 100 audit clients listed on the FTSE 100 from 2015 to 2021, this study uses structural equation modelling to test the research objectives. Findings The findings indicate a significant and negative association between disruptive technology adoption by audit clients and inherent risk. However, there is no significant evidence observed for control risk. The utilisation of disruptive technology by the audit client has a significant impact on the board characteristics, resulting in an increase in board size, greater independence and gender diversity. The authors also find strong evidence that board independence mediates the association between disruptive technology usage and both inherent risk and control risk. In addition, board size and gender exhibit distinct and differential mediating effects on the association and across the two types of risks. Research limitations/implications The study reveals that the significant role of using disruptive technology by audit clients in reducing the risk of material misstatements is closely associated with the board of directors, which makes audit clients place greater emphasis on the construction of effective corporate governance. Practical implications This study offers essential primary evidence that can assist policymakers and standard setters in formulating guidance and recommendations for board size, independence and gender quotas, ensuring the enhancement of effective governance and supporting the future of audit within the next generation of digital services. Social implications With respect to relevant stakeholders, it is imperative for audit clients to recognise that corporate governance represents a fundamental means of addressing the ramifications of applying disruptive technology, particularly as they pertain to inherent and control risks within the audit client. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing literature by investigating the joint impact of corporate governance and the utilisation of disruptive technology by audit clients on inherent risk and control risk, which has not been investigated by previous research.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Implement Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) into Marketing Materials: The ‘CONSIDER’ Framework

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in marketing– defined as the composition of an organisation’s marketing reflects diverse, equitable representation of its consumer base, especially with respect to the use of inclusive, bias-free imagery, language and messaging among underrepresented, underserved and marginalised consumer segments – has led to the advancement of AI-enabled technologies to aid marketers improve the DEI of their marketing materials. To ensure DEI marketing strategies are fully considered and that the use of AI is implemented effectively, we suggest marketers to utilise our CONSIDER framework (comprehend current state, operationalise with openness, nurture dynamic relevance, set standards, involve stakeholders, diversify data, elevate literacy and regular monitoring). We then highlight the pros and cons for using AI to implement DEI into marketing materials and provide several AI-enabled metrics (accessibility, allyship, cultural sensitivity, diversity, gender parity, inclusivity intersectionality and representation) that offer a more objective and quantitative approach for marketers to assess how well they are meeting their DEI goals and identifying gaps in representation to make changes to improve the DEI of their marketing materials.

Management Risk Appetite, Internal Control and Corporate Financialization: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies

This paper examines the impact of management risk appetite on corporate financialization among non-financial firms listed on the Chinese A-share market over the period 2009-2021. The empirical analysis shows that there is a significant positive relationship between management risk appetite and corporate financialization. In addition, the moderation effect results highlight that firms' internal controls play a negative moderating role between management risk appetite and financialization. These findings have far-reaching implications for regulators, standard setters and corporate governance bodies, as they highlight the need for effective internal control systems to ensure financial stability.

227 Spine-tuned Natural Language Models and Bespoke Regular Expression Classifiers for Automated Spinal Surgery Registry Development

INTRODUCTION: Surgical research demands the development of clinical registries, often through time-intensive manual chart review. Natural language processing (NLP) may accelerate registry development, and an ideal automatic registry (autoregistry) algorithm would be highly accurate while requiring minimal manual data annotation. NLP approaches including bespoke Regular Expression (RegEx) classifiers and Large Language Models (LLM) possess distinct strengths and weaknesses and have not been compared in the setting of autoregistry development. METHODS: We used an institutional data lake to retrieve 31,502 neurosurgical operative notes. A standardized set of spinal procedures was chosen for inclusion in the autoregistry. 200 manually annotated notes were used for training and testing purposes. RegEx classifiers were engineered to retrieve procedural info from unprocessed notes. A family of 110-million parameter BERT models, including LLM pre-trained on clinical text, was fine-tuned for the same tasks. We also tested a open-source 7-billion parameter LLM chatbot, Vicuna, without fine-tuning. RESULTS: The RegEx classifiers were able to identify spinal procedures and associated vertebral levels in nearly 99% of operative notes. Fine-tuned LLM identified common procedures (e.g. spinal fusion and laminectomy) with greater than 95% accuracy but performed poorly for rarer procedures (e.g. XLIF, corpectomy) and vertebral body identification. Qualitative evaluation of the Vicuna chatbot showed potential for the same tasks, following iteratively refined prompting. CONCLUSIONS: The goal of autoregistry development is to minimize time- and labor-intensive manual chart review. We found that fine-tuned LLM could not match the accuracy and efficiency of the RegEx classifier. However, LLM may be well-suited to expand existing clinical databases that provide a robust training set. Further work combining NLP approaches will attempt to develop a pipeline for autoregistry development from natural language (plain English) queries.

Enhancing Demand Forecasting Accuracy for Electronic Components: A Case Study of PT Omron Indonesia

In the dynamic realm of manufacturing, precise demand forecasting is crucial for optimizing supply chains and production processes. This study addresses PT Omron Indonesia's challenge of inaccurate demand forecasts leading to production disruptions. Utilizing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, alongside Multiplicative Decomposition methods, the research aims to improve forecasting accuracy. Results indicate that the Multiplicative Decomposition - Centered Moving Average method yields a lower Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), though refinement is needed to meet set standards. The estimated demand for the next period is 1308 units, with a MAPE of 140%. The study concludes that iterative refinement of the selected method is essential for achieving higher forecasting accuracy. This research contributes to enhancing production efficiency and mitigating the impact of part shortages in the electronics industry.

IoT and Machine Learning in Smart Kitchen Monitoring for Enhanced Worker Health

The significance of occupational health in culinary settings, particularly kitchens, is paramount due to the inherent health risks associated with these environments. This study addresses the necessity of maintaining optimal environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and air quality, in kitchens to safeguard worker health. To achieve this, the study advocates for the implementation of sophisticated ventilation and air conditioning systems. The core focus of the research is the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and advanced machine learning algorithms for the real-time monitoring and assessment of kitchen environments. Specifically, the study fine-tunes and evaluates several classification algorithms, including Decision Trees (DT), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), aiming to accurately predict and manage kitchen conditions. The comparative analysis reveals that the DT algorithm outperforms others, demonstrating exceptional accuracy (97.41%), precision (95.35%), and proficiency in identifying relevant scenarios (88.57%). In contrast, the KNN algorithm registers the lowest accuracy (75.12%), while the SVM algorithm, despite being the least precise (86.55%), shows a relatively higher capability in recognizing pertinent cases (86.55%) compared to KNN (72.33%). This study underscores the potential of integrating IoT and machine learning in enhancing occupational health standards in kitchen settings.

A method and optical references for compensating signal drift in a fluorescent microarray reader

A point-of-need fluorescent microarray assay is a promising tool for on-site high-throughput and multiplex detection. However, its low-cost and portable read-out system, based on an image sensor, suffers from temporal and spatial signal variations caused by measurement drifts. This work presents a method to compensate for these variations without the need for an additional sensor. The method utilizes two inexpensive fluorescent references specifically designed to mitigate the variations while offering cost-saving benefits and broad portable applicability. This method relies on employing a representative signal instead of raw signals. Relevant systems with both variations were conducted to validate and demonstrate the method's effectiveness by varying light-source temperatures and analysis areas. Under investigation of different International Organization for Standardization (ISO) settings, shutter speeds, and light-source intensities, the method significantly reduced the influence of the variations, enhancing detection repeatability by up to a factor of 26-fold.

Urine Metabolite Profiles after the Consumption of a Low- and a High-Digestible Protein Meal, and Comparison of Urine Normalization Techniques

In the context of dietary transition toward plant proteins, it is necessary to ensure protein security in populations. It would thus be of interest to identify biomarkers of altered protein digestibility in populations. We examined the association between urinary metabolites and the acute intake of low- or highly digestible protein in healthy volunteers. The urine samples were collected before and 9 h after the ingestion of a meal containing either no protein, zein (low-digestible) or whey protein isolate (highly digestible). The liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry metabolomics approach was used for the profiling of the urinary metabolites. For the standardization of metabolomics data sets, osmolality-based, standard normal variates (SNV) and probabilistic quotient normalization (PQN) techniques were used. The ANOVA-based factorial method, AComDim_ICA, was used for chemometrics analysis. The osmolality adjustment has a beneficial effect and the subsequent mathematical normalization improves the chemometric analysis further. Some changes in the urinary metabolomes were observed 9 h after the meal in the three groups. However, there was no difference in the urine metabolome between groups. No biomarker of protein digestibility can be identified after the ingestion of a single meal, even when marked differences in the digestion efficiency of protein have been observed.

Dosage Evaluation and Antioxidant Activity Test of Lotion of Ethanol Extract of Belimbing Wuluh Leaf (Averrhoa Bilimbi L.)

<div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><p><em>This study aims to make and evaluate the lotion formula from ethanol extract of star fruit leaves (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) and test the antioxidant activity of the lotion. The research method used is experimental, making lotions and testing antioxidant activity from July to October 2023 at the Semi-Solid Preparation Technology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Poltekkes Kemenkes Medan, and Research Laboratory, University of North Sumatra. In the preparation stage, star fruit leaf simplisia was extracted by maceration using a 95% ethanol solvent. The lotion formula was made with ingredients such as PEG 4000, stearyl alcohol, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, coconut oil, nipagin, and distillate water, with varying concentrations of ethanol extract of star fruit leaves. The formulation was evaluated through organoleptic, homogeneity, pH, spreadability, and viscosity tests. The results showed that the lotion produced had a homogeneous shape and aroma to the concentration of ethanol extract. In addition, the pH of the lotion is also within the safe range for human skin. The spreadability test showed the lotion's ability to spread on the skin, which met the requirements for lotions with spreadability values between 5 and 7 cm. The viscosity of the lotion was also by the set standards. Stability tests were conducted to monitor the physical and chemical changes of the lotion over four weeks. The results showed that lotions with 1% and 3% ethanol extract concentrations were stable during the study period. However, the 5% concentration experienced inhomogeneity changes in the third week. In conclusion, lotion with ethanol extract of star fruit leaves at 1% and 3% concentration can produce a good and stable formula. However, the antioxidant activity of the lotion is still in the weak to moderate category. This research contributes to developing plant-based natural cosmetic products for skin care.</em><em></em></p><p><em> </em></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><strong><em>Keywords:  Antioxidant Activity, Belimbing Wuluh, Ethanol Extract, Evaluation, Lotion</em></strong></p>

Features of regulatory support for social security of a modern state

The article aims to elucidate the features of regulatory support for the social security of a modern state, examining these through the criteria for appropriate regulatory support for the social security of modern Ukraine. The author identifies that effective legal and regulatory support for the social security of a modern state relies on a set of standards. The legal regulation of the social security of the state should primarily be conducted by entities vested with the requisite rule-making powers, and these powers must be exercised in accordance with the procedures stipulated by law. Rulemaking activities and the legal framework for the social security of the state must align with the principles of law, ensuring legal certainty in the provisions of regulatory legal acts pertaining to social security. Regulatory and legal support for the social security of the state, as an integral component of the legal framework, should adhere to the provisions outlined in the Constitution of Ukraine, current social standards, and consider the international legal obligations of the state, which also emanate from the European integration objectives of Ukraine. The regulatory support for the social security of a modern state must incorporate norms with direct applicability and establish an institutional foundation for the effective implementation of legislation on social security. The regulatory framework for the social security of the state must be coordinated, consistent, flexible, and adaptive, while also being subject to an assessment of its impact on the field of social security. Moreover, in the context of democratizing the socio-legal regime for ensuring the social security of modern Ukraine, the process of legal regulation of social security involves the active participation of interested entities, including civil society actors. The conclusion of the article succinctly summarizes the results of the study.

A validity study of COMLEX-USA Level 3 with the new test design.

The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) administers the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA), a three-level examination designed for licensure for the practice of osteopathic medicine. The examination design for COMLEX-USA Level 3 (L3) was changed in September 2018 to a two-day computer-based examination with two components: a multiple-choice question (MCQ) component with single best answer and a clinical decision-making (CDM) case component with extended multiple-choice (EMC) and short answer (SA) questions. Continued validation of the L3 examination, especially with the new design, is essential for the appropriate interpretation and use of the test scores. The purpose of this study is to gather evidence to support the validity of the L3 examination scores under the new design utilizing sources of evidence based on Kane's validity framework. Kane's validity framework contains four components of evidence to support the validity argument: Scoring, Generalization, Extrapolation, and Implication/Decision. In this study, we gathered data from various sources and conducted analyses to provide evidence that the L3 examination is validly measuring what it is supposed to measure. These include reviewing content coverage of the L3 examination, documenting scoring and reporting processes, estimating the reliability and decision accuracy/consistency of the scores, quantifying associations between the scores from the MCQ and CDM components and between scores from different competency domains of the L3 examination, exploring the relationships between L3 scores and scores from a performance-based assessment that measures related constructs, performing subgroup comparisons, and describing and justifying the criterion-referenced standard setting process. The analysis data contains first-attempt testscores for 8,366 candidates who took the L3 examination between September 2018 and December 2019. The performance-based assessment utilized as a criterion measure in this study is COMLEX-USA Level 2 Performance Evaluation (L2-PE). All assessment forms were built through the automated test assembly (ATA) procedure to maximize parallelism in terms of content coverage and statistical properties across the forms. Scoring and reporting follows industry-standard quality-control procedures. The inter-rater reliability of SA rating, decision accuracy, and decision consistency for pass/fail classifications are all very high. There is a statistically significant positive association between the MCQ and the CDM components of the L3 examination. The patterns of associations, both within the L3 subscores and with L2-PE domain scores, fit with what is being measured. The subgroup comparisons by gender, race, and first language showed expected small differences in mean scores between the subgroups within each category and yielded findings that are consistent with those described in the literature. The L3 pass/fail standard was established through implementation of a defensible criterion-referenced procedure. This study provides some additional validity evidence for the L3 examination based on Kane's validity framework. The validity of any measurement must be established through ongoing evaluation of the related evidence. The NBOME will continue to collect evidence to support validity arguments for the COMLEX-USA examination series.

Over half a decade into the adoption of IFRS 9: a systematic literature review

PurposeIn 2018, the International Financial Reporting Standard 9-Financial Instruments became mandatory, effectively changing the underlying accounting principles of financial instruments. This paper systematically reviews the academic literature on the implementation effects of IFRS 9, providing a coherent picture of the state of the empirical literature on IFRS 9.Design/methodology/approachThe study thrives on a systematic review approach by analyzing existing academic studies along the following three broad categories: adoption and implementation, impact on financial reporting, and risk management and provisioning. The study concludes by providing research prospects to fill the identified gaps.FindingsWe document data-related issues, forecasting uncertainties and the interaction of IFRS 9 with other regulatory standards as implementation challenges encountered. Also, we observe cross-country heterogeneity in reporting quality. Furthermore, contrary to pre-implementation expectations, we find improvement in risk management. This suggests that despite the complexities of the new regulatory standard on financial instruments, it appears to be more successful in achieving the intended objective of enhancing better market discipline and transparency rather than being a regulatory overreach.Originality/valueAs the literature on IFRS 9 is burgeoning, we provide state-of-the-art guidance and direction for researchers with a keen interest in the economic significance and implications of IFRS 9 adoption. The study identifies gaps in the literature that require further research, specifically, IFRS 9 adoption and firm’s hedging activities, IFRS 9 implications on non-financial firms. Lastly, existing studies are mostly focused on Europe and underscore the need for more research in under-researched jurisdictions, particularly in Asia and Africa. Also, to standard setters, policymakers and practitioners, we provide some insight to aid the formulation and application of standards.

Are we gaining valid consent for dental extractions? A retrospective audit on restorability assessment at one dental institution.

Introduction This paper explores the widely relevant topic of obtaining valid consent in dental practice, focusing on assessing restorability of teeth planned for extraction. The General Dental Council stresses discussing treatment options, benefits and risks for informed decision-making. The study evaluates if pertinent factors, including tooth structure, endodontic status, periodontal health and patient considerations, are considered before consent.Aim To ensure restorability has been assessed and all options communicated with patients for completeness of the consent process before tooth extraction.Objective To assist clinicians in their systematic assessment of a tooth's restorability and provide a framework for contemporaneous documentation.Materials and methods A two-week retrospective audit of oral surgery outpatients at a dental hospital in London was conducted, analysing the frequency of restorability discussions and patient involvement in decision-making. A simplified restorability guide and educational interventions were introduced to target the set standard of 100% of consenting clinicians to discuss restorability with patients.Results Results from two audit cycles show a significant increase in documented restorability discussions and consideration of patient factors.Discussion The study recognised restorability assessment subjectivity, thus creating a simplified tool for clinicians. Patients may lack awareness of restorability options, consequences of edentulism, future costs and tooth replacement considerations, emphasising the importance of documented discussions.Conclusion Educational interventions and a simplified restorability guide proved beneficial and showed significant improvement in communication with patients regarding restorability and gaining valid consent. Further consideration should be given to barriers patients face when opting for tooth extraction of their restorable teeth, including discussions regarding long-term consequences.

Foster the application of ISO standards on climate change adaptation in cities

A set of ISO standards on climate change adaptation exist that are relevant for the application by cities. However, the knowledge of these is limited among the target groups as well as support is needed to foster their application at city level. The CitISOsCA research project addressed these aspects by different engagement activities using mainly surveys and workshops. The main outcomes of this research are seven verified elements to support applying a standard at city level, and aspects to consider when start the application of a CCA standard in a city. The research fills the gap in literature, which lacks on information on how the application of standards can be fostered.

Health-related quality of life after hysterectomy for endometrial cancer: the impact of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) shifting paradigm.

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols provide well-known benefits in the immediate recovery with a shorter length of stay (LOS) also in gynecological surgery. However, the impact of ERAS has not been clearly showed yet regarding long-term consequences and health-related quality of life (HRQL). The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of ERAS on HRQL after hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Observational retrospective study with propensity score matching (PSM). Participants We administered the SF-36 validated questionnaire to women underwent hysterectomy and lymph nodal staging before and after introducing ERAS protocol, getting, respectively, a standard practice (SP) and ERAS group Settings Academic hospital Methods We collected demographic, clinical, surgical and postoperative data and performed a PSM of the baseline coufouders. We administered the questionnaire four weeks after the surgery. The SF-36 measures HRQL using eight scales: physical functioning (PF), role physical (RLP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (Vt), social functioning (SF), role emotional (RLE) and mental health (MH). Results After PSM, we enrolled a total of 154 patients, 77 in each group (SP and ERA). The two groups were similar in terms of age, BMI, anaesthesiologic risk, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and surgical technique (minimally invasive versus open access). Median LOS was shorter for ERAS group (5 versus 3 days; p = 0.02), while no significant differences were registered in the rates of postoperative complications (16.9% versus 17.4%; p = 0.66). Response rates to SF-36 questionnaire were 89% and 92%, respectively, in SP and ERAS group. At multivariate analyzes, the mean scores of SF-36 questionnaire, registered at 28 days weeks after surgery (range 26-32 days), were significantly higher in ERAS group for PF (73.3 vs 91.6; p < 0.00), RLP (median 58.3 vs 81.2; p = 0.02) and SF (37.5 versus 58.3; p = 0.01) domains, when compared to SP patients. Limitations Further follow-up was not possible due to the anonymized data derived from clinical audit. Conclusions ERAS significantly increases HRQL of women underwent surgery for endometrial cancer. HRQL assessment should be routinary implemented in the ERAS protocol.

Pathways to IEC Standards for Heliostat Design Qualification and Site Acceptance in Central Receiver CSP Applications

This paper surveys the existing landscape of standards relevant to heliostats, identifies their gaps, and proposes a path forward to a comprehensive set of heliostat guidelines, technical specifications, and standards under the framework of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) TC 117. Gaps in existing guidelines and standards are surveyed using a three-tiered taxonomy: component-level, heliostat-level, and field-level. At each level, the gap analysis is followed by a proposal for a coordinated path forward on the development of standards. At the component level, advances in the understanding of wind loading should inform a technical specification for drives and structures. Reflectors require consolidation of measurement guidelines into existing standards documents. Communications &amp; controls require technical standards to inform their selection and secure implementation. At the heliostat level, IEC 62817 (solar trackers) adequately characterizes drive systems, structures, and electronics, but requires adaptation to heliostats’ use patterns, operating modes, and expected life cycles. IEC 62817 does not address heliostat beam quality and pointing accuracy, but the process for determining both is elaborated in the SolarPACES Guideline for Heliostat Performance Testing.  This SolarPACES document requires two main modifications: adaptation to IEC language and inclusion of testing after heliostats which have undergone accelerated weathering and mechanical cycling (to understand performance degradation). At the field level, IEC 62862-4-2 addresses the function and control of heliostat fields but does not cover the statistically rigorous testing of heliostat groups, or field performance factors like security and soiling. The addition of documents under IEC-62862-4 is proposed to address this gap.

Order boundedness and order continuity properties of positive operator semigroups

Relatively uniformly continuous (ruc) semigroups were recently introduced and studied by Kandic, Kramar-Fijavž, and the second-named author, in order to make the theory of one-parameter operator semigroups available in the setting of vector lattices, where no norm is present in general. In this article, we return to the more standard Banach lattice setting – where both ruc semigroups and C 0 -semigroups are well-defined concepts – and compare both notions. We show that the ruc semigroups are precisely those positive C 0 -semigroups whose orbits are order bounded for small times. We then relate this result to three different topics: (i) equality of the spectral and the growth bound for positive C 0 -semigroups; (ii) a uniform order boundedness principle which holds for all operator families between Banach lattices; and (iii) a description of unbounded order convergence in terms of almost everywhere convergence for nets which have an uncountable index set containing a co-final sequence.

Understanding the determinants of household cooking-fuel choice in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from Nigeria

Abstract Overreliance on traditional cooking fuels by agricultural households poses a significant obstacle to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 by 2030 in Nigeria. Despite the emerging recognition of remittances as a crucial factor influencing cooking-fuel choices in the energy-transition literature, there is a paucity of studies examining this influence in Nigeria. Using data from 4400 agricultural households sourced from the fourth wave of the Nigerian Living Standard Measurement Survey data sets, this study examined the influence of remittances on cooking-fuel choices, among other factors in Nigeria. Employing descriptive statistics and the multinomial logit regression model, the analysis reveals that traditional cooking fuels, including wood, crop residue and animal dung, continue to dominate the cooking-fuel landscape. The empirical result of the multinomial logit model showed that households that receive remittances are more likely to use modern cooking fuels. Furthermore, wealthier, more educated households with access to electricity are more likely to use modern and transitional cooking fuels than traditional cooking fuels. Based on the findings, the study suggests the incentivization of remittances into the country through the reduction in associated transaction costs and accelerated public infrastructural investment in affordable electricity and good road networks to connect rural areas to gas-supply networks to drive the transition to modern cooking energy. Additionally, educational and awareness campaigns about the health risks associated with traditional cooking energy, particularly indoor air pollution, should be encouraged, especially in rural areas.

Scoping Review with Topic Modeling on the Diagnostic Criteria for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

This study is a scoping review. There is a broad variability in the definition of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and no standardized set of diagnostic criteria to date. We interrogated the Myelopathy.org database, a hand-indexed database of primary clinical studies conducted exclusively on DCM in humans between 2005-2021. The DCM inclusion criteria used in these studies were inputted into 3 topic modeling algorithms: Hierarchical Dirichlet Process (HDP), Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), and BERtopic. The emerging topics were subjected to manual labeling and interpretation. Of 1676 reports, 120 papers (7.16%) had well-defined inclusion criteria and were subjected to topic modeling. Four topics emerged from the HDP model: disturbance from extremity weakness and motor signs; fine-motor and sensory disturbance of upper extremity; a combination of imaging and clinical findings is required for the diagnosis; and "reinforcing" (or modifying) factors that can aid in the diagnosis in borderline cases. The LDA model showed the following topics: disturbance to the patient is required for the diagnosis; reinforcing factors can aid in the diagnosis in borderline cases; clinical findings from the extremities; and a combination of imaging and clinical findings is required for the diagnosis. BERTopic identified the following topics: imaging abnormality, typical clinical features, range of objective criteria, and presence of clinical findings. This review provides quantifiable data that only a minority of past studies in DCM provided meaningful inclusion criteria. The items and patterns found here are very useful for the development of diagnostic criteria for DCM.