SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Chicken egg quality assessment from visible/near infrared observations

Egg is a fragile component within the human diet. Important changes occur in egg during storage. Prediction of these changes is critical in order to grade the eggs upon their quality and freshness. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the application of visible and near infrared spectroscopy as a non-destructive method for the assessment of egg quality and freshness. Therefore, visible and near infrared transmittance spectral data ranging from 350 to 2500 nm was collected with the help of a radiospectrometer on 360 freshly laid eggs. A partial least squares model was built in order to link the spectral data with the most widely used destructive methods, namely Haugh Units and albumen pH in terms of egg quality and the number of storage days in terms of egg freshness. The ability of maximum R2 method to select the relevant wavelengths in order to build a partial least squares (PLS) predictive model was investigated in the first part of the study. The results showed that this method improved the predictive ability of the model. Coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) were calculated in order to select sets of wavelengths to build the model with the best predictive ability. The second part of the study was based on building calibration models for predicting egg freshness in terms of number of storage day and egg quality in terms of Haugh Units and albumen pH. The results showed that the models had good predictive ability and R2 for number of storage days, Haugh Units and albumen pH were 0.89, 0.79 and 0.90, respectively. RMSECV for these three parameters were 1.65, 5.05 and 0.06, respectively.L'oeuf est un composant fragile dans le regime alimentaire humain. Des changements importants arrivent dans loeuf pendant le stockage. La prediction de ces changements eat ctitique pour classer les oeufs selon leur qualité et leur fraîcheur. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient d'évaluer l'application méthode basée sur la spectroscopie visible et infra-rouge proche comme une method non destructive pour l'évaluation de la qualité et la fraîcheur des oeufs. Donc, la transmission visible et infra rouge proche des données spectrales aux limites de 350 à 2500 nm ont été exécutées à l'aide d'un radiosectromètre sur 360 oeufs récemment pondus. Un modèle des moindres carrées partiels (MCP) a été construit afin de lier les données soectrakes avec les méthodes destructives les plus utilisées, à savoir Unité de Haugh at le pH d'albumen en termes de qualité d'oeufs et le nombre de jours de stoclage en termees de fraîcheur d'oeufs. La première étude a traité de la capacité de la méthode maximum R2 à choisir les longueurs d'onde appropriées afin d'établir un modèle des moindres carrés partiels (MCP). Les résultats ont révélé combien cette méthode a été un bon outil dans le choix des longueurs d'onde instructives et dans l'amélioration de la capacité prédictive du modèle. Le coefficient de détermination (R2) et les erreurs de la racine carrée moyenne (ERCM) ont été calculés afin de choisir des ensembles de longueurs d'onde, lesquels aident le mieux à construire le modèle qui possède la meilleure capacité prédictive. La seconde étude a visé l'établissement des modèles prédictifs de la fraîcheur d'oeufs en fonction du

The type of earnings management in France and the effect of employee share ownership

International audienceThis article investigates earnings management from a corporate governance perspective on a sample of 133 French listed companies. Following Jiraporn et al. (2008)’s model to reveal the type of earnings management, we find a positive relationship between discretionary accruals and agency costs, implying that managers of French companies manage earnings rather opportunistically than beneficially. We also find evidence that the implementation and the level of employee share ownership plans are negatively linked to the level of opportunistic earnings management. Additionally, employee share ownership moderates the relationship between the level of discretionary accruals and agency costs. These results suggest that (1) ESO decreases the level of opportunistic earnings management, and that (2) its implementation makes the use of earnings management less opportunistic

L'actionnariat salarié réduit-il les coûts d'agence? Le cas des entreprises françaises cotées

International audienceEmployee stock ownership (ESO) is often associated with decreases in agency costs because it increases employees’ satisfaction and attachment to their company and aligns the employees’ and their firm’s interests. Another stream of research argues that ESO may have the opposite effect on agency costs because it serves as a management entrenchment tool and leads to divergence between stakeholders. This paper examines the relationship between ESO and agency costs in France, a leading European country for ESO. Using a panel database of 125 firms over the period 2002–2016, we find an inverted U-shaped relationship between ESO and agency costs. This evidence highlights that low levels of ESO increase agency costs, consistent with managerial entrenchment mechanisms. The findings also suggest that beyond a certain point, ESO reduces agency problems because it links employees’ wealth to their firm’s success.L'actionnariat salarié (AS) est souvent associé à une diminution des coûts d'agence car il augmente la satisfaction des salariés et leur attachement à leur entreprise et aligne leurs intérêts avec ceux de l'entreprise. Un autre courant de recherche suggère que l'AS peut avoir l'effet inverse sur les coûts d'agence en servant l’enracinement des dirigeants. Il entraînerait une divergence entre les parties prenantes et diminuerait la valeur actionnariale. Cet article étudie la relation entre AS et coûts d'agence en France, un pays leader européen en matière d’AS. Nos analyses sur des données issues de 125 entreprises françaises cotées sur la période 2002-2016 mettent en évidence une relation en U inversé entre l'AS et les coûts d'agence. Nos résultats indiquent que des niveaux faibles ou élevés d’AS sont associés à des coûts d'agence élevés en raison de l’enracinement des dirigeants. Les résultats suggèrent aussi qu’au-delà d’un certain seuil, l'AS réduit les problèmes d'agence en liant le patrimoine des salariés à la performance de leur entreprise

The type of earnings management in France and the effect of employee share ownership

International audienceThis article investigates earnings management from a corporate governance perspective on a sample of 133 French listed companies. Following Jiraporn et al. (2008)’s model to reveal the type of earnings management, we find a positive relationship between discretionary accruals and agency costs, implying that managers of French companies manage earnings rather opportunistically than beneficially. We also find evidence that the implementation and the level of employee share ownership plans are negatively linked to the level of opportunistic earnings management. Additionally, employee share ownership moderates the relationship between the level of discretionary accruals and agency costs. These results suggest that (1) ESO decreases the level of opportunistic earnings management, and that (2) its implementation makes the use of earnings management less opportunistic

Employee stock ownership and voluntary carbon disclosure in France

International audienceThis paper investigates the relationship between Employee Stock Ownership (ESO) and voluntary carbon disclosures. Given that previous research has shown the beneficial effects of ESO on work attitudes and corporate performance, we link ESO and board representation with the attributes of voluntary climate-related disclosures. We use three proxies to capture these attributes: corporate decisions to respond to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) annual questionnaire; corporate decisions to make responses publicly available, and the quality of a firm’s disclosures on climate-change-related risks and strategies to mitigate them. Our results show a positive association between ESO and decisions to both answer the CDP questionnaire, and make responses publicly available. In contrast, ESO does not seem to impact carbon disclosure quality. The findings contribute to the ongoing debate on the determinants of voluntary climate change disclosures, highlighting the importance of ESO to enhance the transparency of voluntary disclosures of climate change business impacts

Employee Stock Ownership and Voluntary Carbon Disclosure in France

International audienc

Employee stock ownership and voluntary carbon disclosure in Europe

International audienc