scholarly journals Fertility Outcomes, Heritability and Genomic Associations of In-Group Preference and In-Group Marriage

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Martin Fieder ◽  
Susanne Huber
Keyword(s):  
Positive Association ◽  
Group Behavior ◽  
Reproductive Outcome ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Religious Homogamy ◽  
Polygenic Scores ◽  
Group Preferences ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Selective Forces ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Using data from the Midlife Development in the USA (MIDUS) sample (3070 men and 3182 women) and the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS; 2240 men and 2346 women), we aimed to investigate whether religious, ethnic and racial in-group preferences as well as religious homogamy are associated with reproductive outcome in terms of number of children. Using data from the MIDUS twin sample, we further estimated the inherited genetic component of in-group attitudes. Additionally, we analyzed the association of ∼50 polygenic scores (PGSs) recently published for the WLS study and in-group attitudes as an indicator of potential pleiotropic effects. We found in both samples that, with one exception, religious though not other in-group attitudes are associated with a higher reproductive outcome. Also, religious homogamy is associated with higher average number of children. The inherited component of all in-group attitudes ranges from ∼21% to 45% (MIDUS twin sample). PGSs associated with religious behavior are significantly positively associated with religious in-group attitudes as well as family attitudes. Further associations are found with PGS on life satisfaction (work) and, negatively, with PGS for any sort of addiction (smoking, alcohol and cannabis use), indicating pleiotropy. We conclude that the positive association between religious in-group attitudes as well as religious homogamy and reproductive outcome may indicate selective forces on religious in-group behavior. As all investigated in-group attitudes, however, have a substantial inherited component, we further speculate that potential previous reproductive benefits of racial and ethnic in-group preferences, if they ever existed, might have been substituted by religious in-group preferences.

scholarly journals Genetic liability to schizophrenia is associated with exposure to traumatic events in childhood

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah M Sallis ◽  
Jazz Croft ◽  
Alexandra Havdahl ◽  
Hannah J Jones ◽  
Erin C Dunn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Trauma Exposure ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Genetic Liability ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Polygenic Scores ◽  
Using Data

AbstractBackgroundThere is a wealth of literature on the observed association between childhood trauma and psychotic illness. However, the relationship between childhood trauma and psychosis is complex and could be explained, in part, by gene-environment correlation.MethodsThe association between schizophrenia polygenic scores (PGS) and experiencing childhood trauma was investigated using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) and the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Schizophrenia PGS were derived in each cohort for children, mothers, and fathers where genetic data were available. Measures of trauma exposure were derived based on data collected throughout childhood and adolescence (0-17 years; ALSPAC) and at age 8 years (MoBa).ResultsWithin ALSPAC, we found a positive association between schizophrenia PGS and exposure to trauma across childhood and adolescence; effect sizes were consistent for both child or maternal PGS. We found evidence of an association between the schizophrenia PGS and the majority of trauma subtypes investigated, with the exception of bullying. These results were comparable in MoBa. Within ALSPAC, genetic liability to a range of additional psychiatric traits was also associated with a greater trauma exposure.ConclusionsResults from two international birth cohorts indicate that genetic liability for a range of psychiatric traits is associated with experiencing childhood trauma. GWAS of psychiatric phenotypes may also reflect risk factors for these phenotypes. Our findings also suggest that youth at higher genetic risk might require greater resources/support to ensure they grow-up in a healthy environment.

CEO and CFO Equity Incentives and the Pricing of Audit Services

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Anthony Billings ◽  
Xinghua Gao ◽  
Yonghong Jia
Keyword(s):  
Positive Association ◽  
Audit Fees ◽  
Internal Controls ◽  
Audit Risk ◽  
Pricing Decisions ◽  
Equity Incentives ◽  
Accounting Scandals ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Distinctive Role

SUMMARY: The alleged perverse role of managerial incentives in accounting scandals, and the distinctive role of auditors in identifying and intervening in attempted earnings manipulation, highlight the importance of explicitly considering executive incentive plans by auditors in the auditing process. By empirically testing auditors' responses to CEO/CFO equity incentives in planning and pricing decisions using data from 2002 through 2009, we document compelling evidence that CFO equity incentives are positively associated with audit fees and CEO equity incentives are not statistically related to audit fees, suggesting that auditors perceive heightened audit risk associated with CFO equity incentives. Our further analyses reveal that the positive association between CFO equity incentives and audit fees is more pronounced in firms with weak internal controls, indicating heightened risk associated with CFO equity incentives in this setting perceived by auditors. JEL Classifications: G30, G34, M42, M52.

Neighborhood Engagement, Dogs, and Life Satisfaction in Older Adulthood

2020 ◽  
pp. 073346482095372
Author(s):  
Angela L. Curl ◽  
Jessica Bibbo ◽  
Rebecca A. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Dog Walking ◽  
Dog Ownership ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Indirect Relationship ◽  
Analysis Models ◽  
Retirement Study

Objectives This study examined the relationships between dog ownership, dog walking, and the emotional bond with a dog to neighborhood engagement and life satisfaction among those over age 50. Method Using data from the Health and Retirement Study ( N = 476), two path analysis models were conducted to test the research hypotheses. Results Findings indicated that dog ownership did not have a direct or indirect relationship on life satisfaction. However, time spent in dog walking was associated with frequency of social interactions, which itself had a positive association with life satisfaction. The bond with a dog was not directly associated with life satisfaction but was associated with dog walking. Discussion Dog walking is a promising strategy for simultaneously promoting better health and social engagement, and these factors in turn can promote greater life satisfaction of older adults.

scholarly journals Do Spousal Intimate Relationships Affect Fertility Intentions and Preferences?

2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110160
Author(s):  
Amir Erfani ◽  
Roya Jahanbakhsh
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
Mate Selection ◽  
Risk Profile ◽  
Fertility Intentions ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Social Forces ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Ideal Number ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Relationship

The fertility influence of spousal intimate relationships is unknown. Drawing on the Giddens’s theory of transformation of intimacy, this study proposed a hypothesis that couples supporting egalitarian intimate relationships, with a greater risk profile attached to the relationship, and having less attachments to the external normative pressures shaping marital relations, are more likely to have low-fertility intentions and preferences. Using data from a self-administered pilot survey ( n = 375 prospective grooms and brides) designed by the authors, and employing multivariate regression models, we found that the lower attachment to external social forces in mate selection was associated with the lower ideal number of children, and those with a greater spousal relational egalitarianism and a higher risk profile attached to their relationships preferred lower number of children and were less likely to intend to have children after marriage. The study sheds new light on the determinants of low fertility.

scholarly journals Three models for the regulation of polygenic scores in reproduction

2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-106588
Author(s):  
Sarah Munday ◽  
Julian Savulescu
Keyword(s):  
Human Genetics ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Embryo Selection ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Regulatory Regime ◽  
Polygenic Scores ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

The past few years have brought significant breakthroughs in understanding human genetics. This knowledge has been used to develop ‘polygenic scores’ (or ‘polygenic risk scores’) which provide probabilistic information about the development of polygenic conditions such as diabetes or schizophrenia. They are already being used in reproduction to select for embryos at lower risk of developing disease. Currently, the use of polygenic scores for embryo selection is subject to existing regulations concerning embryo testing and selection. Existing regulatory approaches include ‘disease-based' models which limit embryo selection to avoiding disease characteristics (employed in various formats in Australia, the UK, Italy, Switzerland and France, among others), and 'laissez-faire' or 'libertarian' models, under which embryo testing and selection remain unregulated (as in the USA). We introduce a novel 'Welfarist Model' which limits embryo selection according to the impact of the predicted trait on well-being. We compare the strengths and weaknesses of each model as a way of regulating polygenic scores. Polygenic scores create the potential for existing embryo selection technologies to be used to select for a wider range of predicted genetically influenced characteristics including continuous traits. Indeed, polygenic scores exist to predict future intelligence, and there have been suggestions that they will be used to make predictions within the normal range in the USA in embryo selection. We examine how these three models would apply to the prediction of non-disease traits such as intelligence. The genetics of intelligence remains controversial both scientifically and ethically. This paper does not attempt to resolve these issues. However, as with many biomedical advances, an effective regulatory regime must be in place as soon as the technology is available. If there is no regulation in place, then the market effectively decides ethical issues.

scholarly journals The impact of late-career job loss and genetic risk on body mass index: Evidence from variance polygenic scores

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren L. Schmitz ◽  
Julia Goodwin ◽  
Jiacheng Miao ◽  
Qiongshi Lu ◽  
Dalton Conley
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Complex Traits ◽  
Job Loss ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Polygenic Scores ◽  
Show Evidence ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

AbstractUnemployment shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic have reignited concerns over the long-term effects of job loss on population health. Past research has highlighted the corrosive effects of unemployment on health and health behaviors. This study examines whether the effects of job loss on changes in body mass index (BMI) are moderated by genetic predisposition using data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS). To improve detection of gene-by-environment (G × E) interplay, we interacted layoffs from business closures—a plausibly exogenous environmental exposure—with whole-genome polygenic scores (PGSs) that capture genetic contributions to both the population mean (mPGS) and variance (vPGS) of BMI. Results show evidence of genetic moderation using a vPGS (as opposed to an mPGS) and indicate genome-wide summary measures of phenotypic plasticity may further our understanding of how environmental stimuli modify the distribution of complex traits in a population.

scholarly journals Types of surgical patients enrolled in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs in the USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunitha M. Singh ◽  
Asha Liverpool ◽  
Jamie L. Romeiser ◽  
Julie Thacker ◽  
Tong J. Gan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Residency Program ◽  
Enhanced Recovery ◽  
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Surgical Oncology ◽  
Surgical Service ◽  
Significant Positive Association ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Surgery Residency Program

Abstract Background Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs have gained traction across US hospitals in the past two decades. Initially implemented for elective colorectal surgical procedures, ERAS has expanded to a variety of surgical service lines. There is little information regarding the extent to which various surgical service lines use ERAS. Methods A survey was performed to describe the prevalence of ERAS programs across surgical service lines in the USA. The survey had questions regarding the number of ERAS programs, operating rooms (ORs) and presence of anesthesia and/or surgery residency program at an institution. The survey was administered electronically to members of the American Society for Enhanced Recovery (ASER) and manually to participants at the 2018 Perioperative Quality and Enhanced Recovery Conference in San Francisco, CA. Results Responses were received from 88 unique institutions. The most commonly reported surgical service lines were colorectal (87%), gynecology (51%), orthopedic (49%), surgical oncology (39%), and urology (35%). A significant positive association was observed between the number of ORs and the number ERAS programs (Spearman’s Rho 0.5, p<0.0001). Furthermore, institutions that reported an anesthesia and/or surgery residency program had more ERAS programs (mean 5.0 ± 3.2) compared to those that did not (mean 2.0 ± 2.0) (Wilcoxon rank sum p< 0.001). Conclusions ERAS has expanded to a large extent outside of the colorectal surgery service line with increases notable in orthopedic surgery, obstetric/gynecology, surgical oncology, and urology procedures. Institutions with a higher number of ORs and the presence of an anesthesia and/or surgery residency program are associated with an increased number of ERAS programs.

Association between E-cigarette use and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in non-asthmatic adults in the USA

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Godfred O Antwi ◽  
Darson L Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
Sex Education ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Potential Link ◽  
Using Data

Abstract Background Concern about the health impacts of e-cigarette use is growing; however, limited research exists regarding potential long-term health effects of this behavior. This study explored the relationship between e-cigarette use and COPD in a sample of US adults. Methods A secondary data analysis using data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey in the USA was computed to examine associations between e-cigarette use and COPD controlling for conventional cigarette smoking status, past month leisure physical activity and demographic characteristics including age, sex, education, race, marital status and body mass index. Results Significant associations between e-cigarette use and COPD among former combustible cigarette smokers and those who reported never using combustible cigarettes were found. Compared with never e-cigarette users, the odds of having COPD were significantly greater for daily e-cigarette users (OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.11–2.03), occasional users (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.13–1.80) and former users (OR = 1.46 95% CI: 1.28–1.67). Conclusions Findings from this study indicate a potential link between e-cigarette use and COPD. Further research to explore the potential effects of e-cigarette on COPD is recommended.

Multi-stakeholder initiatives and the divergent construction and implementation of sustainable agriculture in the USA

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (04) ◽  
pp. 293-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Konefal ◽  
Maki Hatanaka ◽  
Douglas H. Constance
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Ecological Systems ◽  
Agricultural Sustainability ◽  
Power Relationships ◽  
Specialty Crops ◽  
Institutional Approach ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

AbstractMulti-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) have emerged as a leading institutional approach for advancing sustainability globally. This paper examines three prominent MSIs that have developed sustainability metrics and a standard for US agriculture: Field to Market, the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops and the National Sustainable Agricultural Standard Initiative. Using data from interviews and content analysis of initiative reports, two sets of analyses are presented. First, building on Paul Thompson's tri-partite theorization of sustainability, how each initiative is conceptualizing agricultural sustainability is analyzed. We find that two contrasting visions of sustainable agriculture for the USA have emerged from the three MSIs. One vision is a resource sufficiency approach focused on eco-efficiencies and the other vision is a functional integrity approach that emphasizes the maintenance of resilient agricultural and ecological systems. Second, we examine the governance practices of the MSIs to explain why such divergent conceptualizations of sustainability have been mapped out. We find that far from being a neutral forum, the internal dynamics of MSIs often reflect and reproduce existing power relationships among stakeholders. In concluding, we suggest that incremental improvements in sustainability can be achieved using MSIs, but more transformative changes may require other forms of governance.

Are atheist consumers less ethical? Investigating the role of religiosity and atheism on consumer ethics

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Denni Arli ◽  
Tuyet-Mai Nguyen ◽  
Phong Tuan Nham
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Ethics ◽  
Intrinsic Religiosity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Behaviors ◽  
Segmentation Analysis ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Unethical Behaviors ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact

Purpose There is a perception that non-religious consumers are less ethical than religious consumers. Studies found prejudices against atheists around the world and assumed that those who committed unethical behavior were more likely to be atheists. Hence, first, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of consumers’ intrinsic religiosity, extrinsic religiosity and atheism on consumers’ ethical beliefs. Second, this study attempts to segment consumers and identify differences between these segments. Design/methodology/approach Using data from 235 study participants in the USA and 531 in Vietnam. Subsequently, a two-step cluster approach was used to identify segments within these samples. Findings The study results show consumers’ intrinsic religiosity negatively influences all consumers’ unethical beliefs. Similarly, atheism also negatively influences all consumers’ unethical beliefs. This study also complements other studies exploring consumer ethics in developing countries. In addition, the segmentation analysis produced unique segments. The results from both samples (USA and Vietnam) indicated that non-religious consumers are less likely to accept various unethical behaviors compared to religious consumers. Religious consumers are not necessarily more ethical and atheism consumers are not necessarily less ethical. In the end, are implications for business ethics, religious and non-religious leaders on how to view the impact of beliefs on consumer ethical behaviors. Originality/value This is one of the first few studies investigating the impact of atheism on consumer ethics. The results of this study further extend the knowledge of study in consumer ethics by comparing consumers’ religiosity and atheism.

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