bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of ospemifene in postmenopausal women with moderate-to-severe vaginal dryness: a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial
Authors: Archer David F. , Goldstein Steven R. , Simon James A. , Waldbaum Arthur S. , Sussman Steven A. , Altomare Corrado , Zhu Julie , Yoshida Yuki , Schaffer Sam , Soulban Graziella
Published: January 2019

Objective:

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ospemifene for the treatment of moderate to severe vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA).

Methods:

This 12-week, multicenter, double-blind phase 3 study randomized postmenopausal women (aged 40-80 years) with VVA and moderate to severe vaginal dryness as their most bothersome symptom to daily oral ospemifene 60 mg or placebo. Coprimary efficacy endpoints included changes from baseline to week 12 in percentages of vaginal parabasal and superficial cells, vaginal pH, and vaginal dryness severity with ospemifene versus placebo; other secondary endpoints were evaluated (weeks 4, 8, and 12). Safety was assessed by treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and endometrial biopsies.

Results:

Women (n = 631; ospemifene [n = 316], placebo [n = 315]) had a mean age of 59.8 years, a mean body mass index of 27.2 kg/m2, and most were white. Ospemifene significantly improved (P < 0.0001) the percentages of parabasal and superficial cells, vaginal pH, and severity of vaginal dryness severity compared with placebo at week 12; significant between-group differences were noted by week 4. Secondary endpoints of dyspareunia (P < 0.001), maturation value (P < 0.0001), and the Female Sexual Function Index (P < 0.05) also significantly improved with ospemifene versus placebo at week 12. Significantly more women responded (31.5% vs 6.0%; P < 0.0001) or were satisfied (49.2% vs 33.8%; P = 0.0007) with ospemifene versus placebo at week 12. No unexpected TEAEs, treatment-related serious TEAEs, thrombotic events, or endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma were observed.

Conclusions:

Ospemifene was effective and well tolerated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women with VVA.
Prediction model for hepatocellular carcinoma risk in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis B patients receiving entecavir/tenofovir
Authors: Yu Jung Hwan , Suh Young Ju , Jin Young-Joo , Heo Nae-Yun , Jang Ji Woong , You Chan Ran , An Hyun Young , Lee Jin-Woo
Published: January 2019

Background/aim

Accurate assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving entecavir (ETV)/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is likely to play a pivotal role in post-treatment follow-up strategy. We aimed to develop a simple and reliable predictive model for HCC risk in these patients.

Patients and methods

A database of 1242 consecutive treatment-naive CHB patients who initially underwent ETV/TDF between February 2007 and January 2017 at four referral hospitals in South Korea was analyzed. The HCC risk model was constructed on the basis of a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model in the derivation dataset (n=944) and was validated using Harrell’s C-statistic in a validation dataset (n=298).

Results

The 3/5-year cumulative incidence rates of HCC were 3.9/6.5 and 4.2/11.6% in the derivation and the validation dataset, respectively (P=0.08). In the derivation dataset, we identified four factors associated with HCC, namely, age, albumin, sex, and liver cirrhosis. The AASL (age, albumin, sex, liver cirrhosis)-HCC scoring system was developed on the basis of these factors, and simplified to an integer scoring system. AASL-HCC scores were found to have high discriminating performance for the prediction of HCC development at 5 years in the derivation (C-statistics=0.802, 95% confidence interval: 0.716–0.888) and validation dataset (C-statistics=0.805, 95% confidence interval: 0.671–0.939). When AASL-HCC scores were classified as 5 or less, 6–19, and at least 20 (low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups, respectively), the 5-year cumulative incidence rates of HCC were 0, 4.2, and 17.6%, respectively, in the derivation dataset.

Conclusions

The AASL-HCC model was simple and reliable for HCC risk prediction in treatment-naive CHB patients receiving ETV/TDF, and is easily applicable in the clinical setting.
Risks and predictive biomarkers of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy patient
Authors: Ryvlin Philippe , Rheims Sylvain , Lhatoo Samden D.
Published: January 2019

Purpose of review

The current review updates our knowledge regarding sudden unexpected death in epilepsy patient (SUDEP) risks, risk factors, and investigations of putative biomarkers based on suspected mechanisms of SUDEP.

Recent findings

The overall incidence of SUDEP in adults with epilepsy is 1.2/1000 patient-years, with surprisingly comparable figures in children in recently published population-based studies. This risk was found to decrease over time in several cohorts at a rate of −7% per year, for unknown reasons. Well established risk factors include frequency of generalized tonic–clonic seizures, while adding antiepileptic treatment, nocturnal supervision and use of nocturnal listening device appear to be protective. In contrast, recent data failed to demonstrate the predictive value of heart rate variability, periictal cardiorespiratory dysfunction, and postictal generalized electroencephalography suppression. Preliminary findings suggest that brainstem and thalamic atrophy may be associated with a higher risk of SUDEP. Novel experimental and human data support the primary role of generalized tonic-clonic seizure-triggered respiratory dysfunction and the likely contribution of altered brainstem serotoninergic neurotransmission, in SUDEP pathophysiology.

Although significant progress has been made during the past year in the understanding of SUDEP mechanisms and investigation of numerous potential biomarkers, we are still missing reliable predictors of SUDEP beyond the well established clinical risk factors.
Regular cycling between representations of alternatives in the hippocampus
Authors: Kay Kenneth , Chung Jason E. , Sosa Marielena , Schor Jonathan S. , Karlsson Mattias P. , Larkin Margaret C. , Liu Daniel F. , Frank Loren M.
Published: January 2019

Cognitive faculties such as imagination, planning, and decision-making require the ability to represent alternative scenarios. In animals, split-second decision-making implies that the brain can represent alternatives at a commensurate speed. Yet despite this insight, it has remained unknown whether there exists neural activity that can consistently represent alternatives in <1 s. Here we report that neural activity in the hippocampus, a brain structure vital to cognition, can regularly cycle between representations of alternative locations (bifurcating paths in a maze) at 8 Hz. This cycling dynamic was paced by the internally generated 8 Hz theta rhythm, often occurred in the absence of overt deliberative behavior, and unexpectedly also governed an additional hippocampal representation defined by alternatives (heading direction). These findings implicate a fast, regular, and generalized neural mechanism underlying the representation of competing possibilities.
Structural basis of glycerophosphodiester recognition by theMycobacterium tuberculosissubstrate-binding protein UgpB
Authors: Fenn Jonathan , Nepravishta Ridvan , Guy Collette S , Harrison James , Angulo Jesus , Cameron Alexander D , Fullam Elizabeth
Published: January 2019

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)is the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB) and has evolved an incredible ability to survive latently within the human host for decades. TheMtbpathogen encodes for a low number of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) importers for the acquisition of carbohydrates that may reflect the nutrient poor environment within the host macrophages.MtbUgpB (Rv2833) is the substrate binding domain of the UgpABCE transporter that recognises glycerophosphocholine (GPC) indicating a potential role in glycerophospholipid recycling. By using a combination of saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR and X-ray crystallography we report the structural analysis ofMtbUgpB complexed with GPC and have identified thatMtbUgpB is promiscuous for other glycerophosphodiesters. Complementary biochemical analyses and site-directed mutagenesis define the molecular basis and specificity of glycerophosphodiester recognition. Our results provide critical insights into the structural and functional role of theMtbUgpB transporter and reveal that the specificity of this ABC-transporter is not limited to GPC therefore optimising the ability ofMtbto scavenge scarce nutrients and essential glycerophospholipid metabolites during intracellular infection.
Association betweenApoEpolymorphism and type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis of 59 studies
Authors: Chen Dawei , Shi Jikang , Li Yun , Yang Yu , Yang Hui , Ren Shuping
Published: January 2019

(1)

Aims

Due to the ever increasing incidence of T2DM, it is estimated that only half of the 79 million adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) will have adequate access to insulin by 2030 if the current levels of access is not improved. It is urgent to identify the important risk factors for T2DM and develop effective strategies to address the problem of T2DM. Our study aimed to evaluate the association between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genetic polymorphism and type 2 diabetes, and to provide clues for the etiology of T2DM and even molecular marker of targeted therapy for the treatment of T2DM.

(2)

Methods

Case-control studies of ApoE polymorphism and T2DM, which were included in PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, WanFang, VIP, and CNKI databases, were selected and evaluated according to criteria of inclusion and exclusion. Eligible data were extracted and pooled, and were analyzed and assessed using R soft-ware (version 3.4.3). Random-effect models were used when heterogeneity existed in between-study, and fixed-effect models were applied otherwise.

(3)

Results

A total of 59 studies that consisted of 6,872 cases with T2DM and 8,250 controls were selected. Alleles and genotypes ofApoEbetween cases and controls were compared. ForApoEalleles, we observed the contrast of ε4 versus ε3 allele yielding a pooled OR of 1.18 (95%CI:1.09-1.28;P<0.001). ForApoEgenotypes, compared with ε3/ε3 genotype, ε2/ε2 genotype showed a possible association with T2DM (OR=1.46; 95%CI:1.11-1.93;P=0.007), ε3/ε4 genotype had a 1.11-fold risk of developing T2DM (OR=1.11; 95%CI:1.01-1.22;P=0.039), and ε4/ε4 genotype had a 1.71-fold risk of developing T2DM (OR=1.71; 95%CI:1.33-2.19;P<0.001).

(4)

Conclusions

There is an association betweenApoEpolymorphism and T2DM: allele ε4 and genotypes (ε2/ε2, ε3/ε4, and ε4/ε4) are associated with the increased risk for the development of T2DM, and they may be risk factors for T2DM.
Spatio-temporal structure of single neuron subthalamic activity in Tourette Syndrome explored during DBS procedures
Authors: Vissani Matteo , Cordella Roberto , Micera Silvestro , Romito Luigi M. , Mazzoni Alberto
Published: January 2019

Basal ganglia dysfunctions have been suggested to play a causal role in the pathophysiology of most motor and non-motor symptoms of movement disorders as Tourette Syndrome (TS) or Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Intra/post-operative recordings from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) during Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) procedures in PD patients have highlighted specific pathological patterns of neural activity. Spatial and temporal patterns of STN neural activity in TS are still unknown due to the lack of direct microrecordings in humans. Here, we describe for the first time specific neural activities of sensorimotor STN in TS patients, as recorded during intraoperative microrecordings. We analyzed 125 single units at 0.5 mm-spaced depths from the STN of anesthetized TS patients and we observed a large fraction of units (39/125, 31.2%) intensely bursting in the delta band (<4 Hz). In anesthetized PD patients we found similar average firing rate and spectral density of STN units, but differently to TS patients, only 4/54 (7.4%) of the units displayed bursting. Remarkably, bursting units in TS STN were not homogeneously distributed over the dorso-ventral trajectory of the recording: the highest density of bursting units was reliably found at the depth for which the clinical effect was maximal. Our results provide an unprecedented characterization of STN functional architecture and single units dynamics in TS patients, paving the way to an understanding of the role of STN subterritories in TS.

Key Points

Single neuron activity in Subthalamic Nucleus (STN) of patients with Tourette Syndrome (TS) was analyzed for the first time in literature.

Firing rate and spectral content of single STN neurons in TS patients were found to be similar to those of anesthetized PD patients, while the analysis of arrhythmic bursting activity revealed that in TS patients the STN is characterized by a larger fraction of bursting neurons and more intense bursts

Bursting activity in TS was widespread across the whole STN, but with a higher density at the optimal lead location depth for DBS
Accelerating surveillance and research of antimicrobial resistance – an online repository for sharing of antimicrobial susceptibility data associated with whole genome sequences
Authors: Matamoros Sébastien , Hendriksen Rene. S. , Pataki Balint , Pakseresht Nima , Rossello Marc , Silvester Nicole , Amid Clara ,   COMPARE ML- AMR group, Cochrane Guy , Csabai Istvan , Lund Ole , Schultsz Constance
Published: January 2019

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an emerging threat to modern medicine. Improved diagnostics and surveillance of resistant bacteria require the development of next generation analysis tools and collaboration between international partners. Here, we present the “AMR data hub”, an online infrastructure for storage and sharing of structured phenotypic AMR data linked to bacterial genome sequences.

Leveraging infrastructure built by the European COMPARE Consortium and structured around the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA), the AMR data hub already provides an extensive data collection for some 500 isolates with linked genome and AMR data. Representing these data in standardized formats, we provide tools for the validation and submission of new data and services supporting search, browse and retrieval.

The current collection was created through a collaboration by several partners from the European COMPARE Consortium, demonstrating the capacities and utility of the AMR data hub and its associated tools. We anticipate growth of content and offer the hub as a basis for future research into methods to explore and predict AMR.
Phytoremediation of heavy metals in spent engine oil-polluted soil by Senna alata L.
Authors: Emmanuel C. Ugwu , Alfreda O. Nwadinigwe , Benita C. Agbo
Published: January 2019

Senna alata L. was used to remediate heavy metals in soil polluted with spent engine oil (SEO). One hundred and twenty polythene bags filled with 20 kg of soil each were separated into parts A and B. Part A contained S. alata seedlings while part B had no plant. They were set up in completely randomized design. To simulate spillage, 0.15% v/w, 0.75% v/w and 3.75% v/w concentrations of SEO were used to pollute soil planted with seeds of S. alata, 57 days after planting. These treatments were repeated in soil without seeds. Control had no pollution. Heavy metal analyses of SEO, vegetated and non-vegetated soil, leaves, stems and roots of S. alata were determined using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, 106 days after pollution. Vegetative and reproductive parameters were also determined. Copper, Lead, Zinc, Iron and Aluminium were detected in SEO. Concentrations of heavy metals in vegetated soils were significantly (P < 0.05) less than those of non-vegetated soils. Cu accumulation in stem was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of leaves and roots. Zn and Al were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in root than those in leaves and stems. Fe and Pb were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in leaves than in stems and roots. Aerial roots were formed by S. alata which increased significantly with increase in concentrations of SEO applied. However, many vegetative parameters such as plant height, number of pinnules, number of roots, leaf area and stem circumference increased significantly (P < 0.05) but some reproductive parameters such as number of inflorescence and dry weight of seeds decreased after pollution. Hence, S. alata is suitable for phytoremediation and in particular, phytoaccumulation of heavy metals in SEO contaminated soil.
Dynamic CRMP2 regulation of CaV2.2 in the prefrontal cortex contributes to the reinstatement of cocaine seeking
Authors: Buchta William C. , Moutal Aubin , Hines Bethany , Garcia-Keller Constanza , Smith Alexander C.W. , Kalivas Peter , Khanna Rajesh , Riegel Arthur C.
Published: January 2019

Cocaine addiction is a major health concern with limited effective treatment options. A better understanding of mechanisms underlying relapse may help inform the development of new pharmacotherapies. Emerging evidence suggests that collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) regulates presynaptic excitatory neurotransmission and contributes to pathological changes during diseases, such as neuropathic pain and substance use disorders. We examined the role of CRMP2 and its interactions with a known binding partner, CaV2.2, in cocaine-seeking behavior. We employed the rodent self-administration model of relapse to drug-seeking and focused on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) for its well-established role in reinstatement behaviors. Our results indicated that repeated cocaine self-administration resulted in a dynamic and persistent alteration in the PFC expression of CRMP2 and its binding partner, the CaV2.2 (N-type) voltage-gated calcium channel. Following cocaine self-administration and extinction training, the expression of both CRMP2 and CaV2.2 was reduced relative to Yoked saline controls. By contrast, cued-reinstatement potentiated CRMP2 expression and increased CaV2.2 expression above extinction levels. Lastly, we utilized the recently developed peptide myr-TAT-CBD3 to disrupt the interaction between CRMP2 and CaV2.2 in vivo. We assessed the reinstatement behavior after infusing this peptide directly into the medial PFC and found that it decreased cue-induced reinstatement of cocaine seeking. Taken together, these data suggest that neuroadaptations in the CRMP2/CaV2.2 signaling cascade in the PFC can facilitate drug seeking behavior. Targeting such interactions has implications for the treatment of cocaine relapse behavior.
Cell type classification and unsupervised morphological phenotype identification from low-res images with deep learning
Authors: Yao Kai , Rochman Nash D. , Sun Sean X.
Published: January 2019

Convolutional neural networks (ConvNets) have been used for both classification and semantic segmentation of cellular images. Here we establish a method for cell type classification utilizing images taken on a benchtop microscope directly from cell culture flasks eliminating the need for a dedicated imaging platform. Significant flask-to-flask heterogeneity was discovered and overcome to support network generalization to novel data. Cell density was found to be a prominent source of heterogeneity even within the single-cell regime indicating the presence of morphological effects due to diffusion-mediated cell-cell interaction. Expert classification was poor for single-cell images and excellent for multi-cell images suggesting experts rely on the identification of characteristic phenotypes within subsets of each population and not ubiquitous identifiers. Finally we introduce Self-Label Clustering, an unsupervised clustering method relying on ConvNet feature extraction able to identify distinct morphological phenotypes within a cell type, some of which are observed to be cell density dependent.

Author summary

K.Y., N.D.R., and S.X.S. designed experiments and computational analysis. K.Y. performed experiments and ConvNets design/training, K.Y., N.D.R and S.X.S wrote the paper.
Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum 15-1 and fructooligosaccharide on the response of broilers to pathogenic Escherichia coli O78 challenge
Authors: Ding Sujuan , Wang Yongwei , Yan Wenxin , Li Aike , Jiang Hongmei , Fang Jun
Published: January 2019

One-day-old broilers were randomly allocated to 5 treatments: basal diet challenged by saline (negative control, n-control); basal diet and challenged by E.coil O78 (positive control, p-control); supplementation with L. plantarum 15-1 at 1×108 CFU/kg challenged with E.coil O78 (LP); supplementation with FOS at 5 g/kg challenged with E.coil O78 (FOS); supplementation with L. plantarum 15-1 and FOS challenged with E.coil O78 (LP+FOS). L. plantarum 15-1 or FOS had a lowered effect (P<0.05) on crypt depth on d 14 compared with two controls, and L. plantarum 15-1, FOS and L. plantarum 15-1+FOS also reduced relative to p-control on d 21. L. plantarum 15-1 reduced the level of diamine oxidase (DAO) at d 14 and 21 compared with p-control (P<0.05), the broilers with L. plantarum 15-1 and FOS increased the concentration of IgA and IgG relative to two control, and decreased diamine oxidase (DAO) compared with p-control (P 0.05). L. plantarum 15-1 increased the concentration of acetic acid and total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) in comparison with p-control at d 14 (P<0.05), FOS improved the level of valeric acid and total SCFA relative to p-control at d 21 (P<0.001), the broilers fed L. plantarum 15-1 and FOS were increased the level of butyric acid at d 14 (P<0.05). FOS enhanced bursal index of broilers at d 21 (P<0.05). L. plantarum 15-1 and FOS did no effect on the growth performance. In conclusion, FOS can promote average daily gain, L. plantarum 15-1 and FOS can improve intestinal morphology, and increase the concentration of SCFA in cecal contents in broilers challenged with E.coil O78. These results suggest that L. plantarum 15-1 and FOS have effective mitigation to E. coil O78 via lowing reducing the intestinal injury and enhancing the immune responses.
Signatures of recent positive selection in enhancers across 41 human tissues
Authors: Moon Jiyun M. , Capra John A. , Abbot Patrick , Rokas Antonis
Published: January 2019

Evolutionary changes in enhancers are widely associated with variation in human traits and diseases. However, studies comprehensively quantifying levels of selection on enhancers at multiple evolutionary time points during recent human evolution and how enhancer evolution varies across human tissues are lacking. To address these questions, we integrated a dataset of 41,561 transcribed enhancers active in 41 different human tissues (FANTOM Consortium) with whole genome sequences of 1,668 individuals from the African, Asian, and European populations (1000 Genomes Project). Our analyses based on four different metrics (Tajima’s D, FST, H12, nSL) showed that ~5.90% of enhancers considered showed evidence of recent positive selection and that genes associated with enhancers under positive selection are enriched for diverse immune-related functions. The distributions of these metrics for brain and testis enhancers were often statistically significantly different compared to those of other tissues; the same was true for brain and testis enhancers that are tissue-specific compared to those that are tissue-broad and for testis enhancers associated with tissue-enriched and non-tissue-enriched genes. These differences varied considerably across metrics and tissues and were generally due to changes in distributions’ shapes rather than shifts in their values. These results suggest that many human enhancers experienced recent positive selection throughout multiple time periods in human evolutionary history, that this selection occurred in a tissue-dependent and immune-related functional context, and that much like the evolution of their coding counterparts, the evolution of brain and testis enhancers has been markedly different from that of enhancers in other tissues.
GAMer 2: A System for 3D Mesh Processing of Cellular Electron Micrographs
Authors: Lee Christopher T. , Laughlin Justin G. , Beaumelle Nils Angliviel de La , Amaro Rommie E. , McCammon J. Andrew , Ramamoorthi Ravi , Holst Michael J. , Rangamani Padmini
Published: January 2019

Objective

Recent advances in electron microscopy have, for the first time, enabled imaging of single cells in 3D at a nanometer length scale resolution. An uncharted frontier for in silico biology is the ability to simulate cellular processes using these observed geometries. However, this will require a system for going from EM images to 3D volume meshes which can be used in finite element simulations.

Methods

In this paper, we develop an end-to-end pipeline for this task by adapting and extending computer graphics mesh processing and smoothing algorithms. Our workflow makes use of our recently rewritten mesh processing software, GAMer 2, which implements several mesh conditioning algorithms and serves as a platform to connect different pipeline steps.

Results

We apply this pipeline to a series of electron micrographs of dendrite morphology explored at three different length scales and show that the resultant meshes are suitable for finite element simulations.

Conclusion

Our pipeline, which consists of free and open-source community driven tools, is a step towards routine physical simulations of biological processes in realistic geometries.

Significance

We posit that a new frontier at the intersection of computational technologies and single cell biology is now open. Innovations in algorithms to reconstruct and simulate cellular length scale phenomena based on emerging structural data will enable realistic physical models and advance discovery.
A new two-dimensional ZnII coordination polymer based on 1,3-bis(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene and 5-nitrobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid: synthesis, crystal structure and physical properties
Authors: Chen Ning-Ning , Ni Jian-Ning , Wang Jun , Tao Jian-Qing
Published: January 2019

A novel two-dimensional (2D) ZnII coordination framework, poly[[μ-1,3-bis(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene](μ-5-nitrobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylato)zinc(II)], [Zn(C8H3NO6)(C14H14N4)]
n
or [Zn(NO2-BDC)(1,3-BMIB)]
n
[1,3-BMIB is 1,3-bis(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene and NO2-H2BDC is 5-nitrobenzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid], has been prepared and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, thermal analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the compound is a new 2D polymer with a 63 topology parallel to the (10\overline{2}) crystal planes based on left-handed helices, right-handed helical NO2-BDC–Zn chains and [Zn2(1,3-BMIB)2]
n
clusters. In the crystal, adjacent layers are further connected by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, C—H...π interactions, C—O...π interactions and N—O...π interactions to form a three-dimensional structure in the solid state. In addition, the compound exhibits strong fluorescence emissions in the solid state at room temperature.
The role of autonomy, competence and relatedness
Authors: Ahn Jiseon , Back Ki-Joon
Published: January 2019

Purpose

This study aims to apply the perspective of self-determination theory to investigate the effects of needs satisfaction on customers’ emotional bond and perceived fit with the integrated resort brand.

Design/methodology/approach

To provide empirical evidence, this study uses an online survey analyzed with structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results suggest how integrated resort experiences enhance the needs satisfaction for autonomy, competence and relatedness, and that customers are likely to have an attachment and compatibility with the brand. This study also documents that strong attachments and compatibility are predictive of behavioral intention.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a theoretical perspective through self-determination theory for explaining how needs satisfaction impacts customers’ brand-related attitude, which can be used to guide future studies. Insights from this research will be used to design and evaluate customers’ experience in tourism and hospitality industry.

Originality/value

Although the concept of needs satisfaction has studied on the employees’ behavior, a scarcity of research has been offered to explain customers’ behavior. Thus, this study makes a significant contribution to the hospitality and tourism research by testing the needs satisfaction as an antecedent of customers’ brand-related behavior.
Ethics in third sector–school partnerships: a conceptual framework
Authors: Eyal Ori , Berkovich Izhak
Published: January 2019

Purpose

In recent years, third sector–school partnerships have become more common and received increasing research attention. Yet, the ethical aspects of third sector–school partnerships have not been discussed in-depth. As a result, the field lacks a conceptual framework that makes possible in-depth understanding of the ethical characteristics involved in partnerships between public schools and the third sector. The purpose of this paper is to fill this lacuna.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrative review of the general literature on stakeholder theory, corporate social responsibility, cross-sector partnerships (CSP) and strategic alliances, as well as of empirical studies on partnerships between schools and the third sector, offers insights on ethical conduct in these partnerships and their antecedents.

Findings

Based on the general literature on CSP and the educational literature on third sector–school partnerships, the authors offer a conceptual model and propositions about ethical conduct in these partnerships and its antecedents.

Originality/value

The innovative conceptual model makes possible a re-evaluation of existing knowledge on third sector–school partnerships, and can support direct research of ethical aspects in these partnerships. In addition, the model provides conceptual language for administrators for managing practical ethical dilemmas in these partnerships.
Integration of expectation confirmation theory and self-determination theory in internet banking continuance intention
Authors: Rahi Samar , Abd. Ghani Mazuri
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The expansion of information technology (IT) has become a great challenge in the business world today. Benefits from IT investment are only realized through sustained usage, rather than initial acceptance. Therefore, designing strategies continuously attracting user retention is the most critical and general question in IT global market. This paper aims to develop an integrated model that combines two well-known theories expectation confirmation theory (ECT) and self-determination theory (SDT) to determine customer’s continuance intention toward use internet banking.

Design/methodology/approach

A total number of 398 customers of commercial banks participated in this research. The research model was empirically tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings reveal that both ECT and SDT have significant influence in a customer’s continuance usage intention. The integrated model has good explanatory power (76.3%) to predict customer’s continuance intention toward use of internet banking. Additionally, importance performance matrix analysis indicates that intrinsic regulation and customer’s satisfaction are the most important factors to determine internet banking user’s continuance intention.

Practical implication

Internet banking users will be intrinsically motivated only for those activities that generate intrinsic interest for them, activities that have the charm of novelty, challenge or aesthetic significance. Thus, understanding banking customer intrinsic values should be a priority for managers and policymakers. Theoretically, integration of two well-known theories, ECT and SDT, provide basis for further refinement of technology continuance model in emerging e-payment domain.

Originality/value

This study is different from several traditional studies that had investigated initial acceptance of internet banking. In contrast, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of customer’s behavior in continuance intention context with technology (ECT) and motivational factors (SDT).
Factors and “illusions” influencing the choice of PFI-type public private partnerships
Authors: McQuaid Ronald
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically assess some of the micro- and macro-economic reasons for using public finance initiative types of public–private partnerships (PPPs) and how a lack of transparency may result in an “illusion” of making optimal, rational decisions related to them. A series of balances that decision makers need to make in order to choose whether or not to use PPPs are set out, as well as 15 potential “illusions” may affect such decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper synthesizes published evidence and develops a framework for analyzing PPPs.

Findings

A wide range of factors influence the choice of PPPs, including: budget enlargement; efficiency and value for money; certainty of expenditure and delivery; flexibility; financing costs; risk sharing; procurement process and transaction costs; legacy and public assets; and the wider impacts on the local economy. However, reasons why PPPs can provide improved infrastructure and services may not be realised due to in-built incentives, behavioural biases and implementation shortcomings. Necessary support for PPPs includes strong, robust and transparent regulatory and governance systems, the dissemination of good practice to all partners, consideration of alternative funding models and high-quality advice and training.

Research limitations/implications

The paper sets out a number of reasons for using PPPs, and also assesses potential drawbacks and identifies areas where greater research is required. A number of potential “illusions” are identified, whereby decisions may be affected by factors not explicitly or transparently considered, hence giving the decision an “illusion” being rational.

Practical implications

PPPs are significantly influenced by the socio-economic, legal, legislative and financial system they are embedded in. A clear process for approving projects and recognising all the costs and benefits of PPPs is needed, including developing criteria and instruments to measure each phase of a PPP and its overall value added to the economy and society over its lifetime. Full transparency, having suitable support and explicitly taking account of potential “illusions” affecting decisions, could lead to different decisions, including the decision not to progress the project or to use alternative funding and development methods.

Social implications

Decisions on PPPs should be based on a clear and transparent long-term basis which includes the perspectives of the full range of stakeholders to help improve the appropriate operation and social sustainability of a PPP.

Originality/value

The paper sets out some key arguments for and against the use of PPPs in different circumstances, including why non-optimal decisions may be made.
Fast estimation of prestack common reflection surface parameters
Authors: Waldeland Anders U. , Coimbra Tiago A. , Faccipieri Jorge H. , Solberg Anne H. Schistad , Gelius Leiv‐J.
Published: January 2019

We present a method for fast estimation of finite offset common reflection surface parameters. Firstly, the derivatives with respect to offset are derived from the velocity guide. Secondly, we apply structure tensors to extract the derivatives with respect to midpoint from stacked common offset sections. Finally, the mixed derivative is estimated using a one‐parametric semblance search. The proposed method is compared to the global five‐parametric semblance search and the pragmatic sequential two‐parametric semblance search on one synthetic and one real data set. The experiments show that the proposed method is more robust against noise than the pragmatic search and have comparable robustness with the global search. The proposed method smoothes parameter estimates in a local window, and the window size is set to give the best trade‐off between detail and robustness. Since the proposed method is dependent on a velocity guide, the quality of the other parameter estimates may be influenced by any inaccuracies in the guide. The main advantage of the proposed method is the computational efficiency. When compared with a gridded implementation of the semblance search, the proposed method is 10 and 400 times faster than the pragmatic and global search. Alternative search strategies significantly reduce the computational cost of the global search. However, since more than 99% of the computational cost of the proposed method comes from the semblance search to estimate the mixed derivative, it is expected that such techniques also reduce the computational cost for the proposed method.
Patients’ autonomy as a negotiated order: an ethnographic perspective on the clinical management of childhood obesity
Authors: Lutz Andrea Giovanni
Published: January 2019

The principle of patients’ autonomy has assumed a central place in healthcare. Patients are encouraged to play an active role in the management of their health, especially when they are affected by chronic illnesses that require long‐term follow‐up. In this article, we analyse patients’ and professionals’ conceptions of patients’ autonomy in the context of childhood obesity management. Based on the results of an ethnographic study that we conducted within a paediatric hospital in French‐speaking Switzerland, we put into perspective the discourses that professionals, parents and children construct around their experiences of the therapy. Our study reveals that the conceptions that these three different actors have of patients’ autonomy converge on several points, but they also diverge on many others. While the rise of autonomy in healthcare has mostly been analysed as a form of empowerment of patients, our results show that this principle also introduces new forms of social control over patients’ lives, and it creates new tensions for patients who are unable to match with the normative expectations of professionals in terms of self‐management and self‐care.
Informalization of the State: Reflections from an Urban World of Translations
Authors: Boudreau Julie‐Anne
Published: January 2019

The project of globalizing informality requires the circulation of concepts and theories from the ‘South’ to the ‘North’. It also relies on intertextuality and exchanges across languages and sites of academic production. This essay is a reaction to the collection of papers presented in this forum. It argues for more academic conversations between languages and cities in order to contribute to a general state theory.
Juggling Legitimacies: Informal Places for Burials and Worship in Hong Kong
Authors: Fokdal Josefine
Published: January 2019

The Hong Kong government's neoliberal approach regarding land development and urbanization affects not only the housing market but also burial places, increasing inequality for both the living and the dead. The urgency of tackling the issue of places for burial is all the more pressing given current demographic changes and an existing backlog of public burial places in inner‐city locations. Against this backdrop, this paper focuses on the cultural practices around burial and worship among the inhabitants of Hong Kong, and on their struggle to maintain these practices. It illustrates various forms and means of legitimacy (e.g. pragmatic, normative and cognitive) being applied by all actors, and shows how the continuing practices around worship and burial lead to the production of informality. The main argument is that socially constructed legitimacy can be gained and lost by various actors in a dynamic negotiation process based on belief systems, rules and norms (following Suchman, 1995). Thus, it should be understood as a strategic mode both within and outside the state. This perspective of legitimacy provides a better understanding of how and by what means resources and power are being negotiated in order to draw lessons from informal dynamics.
The Myth of Formality in the Global North: Informality‐as‐Innovation in Dutch Governance
Authors: Jaffe Rivke , Koster Martijn
Published: January 2019

Why has urban informality in the global North received so little attention? We suggest that this neglect can be explained in part by the tendency of scholarship to reproduce the myth of Northern formality: the widely held belief that informality occurs only in corrupt and clientelist ‘developing countries’. This myth has allowed activities and connections that would generally be framed as clientelist or corrupt in the global South to be rebranded as policy innovation in Western Europe and North America. In this brief paper, we challenge the myth of Northern formality by focusing on two empirical cases of informality in Dutch governance that demonstrate how the state frames the toleration and deliberate use of informality as policy innovations. Specifically, we focus on strategic, uncodified and non‐transparent deviation from legal procedure in order to achieve compliance and/or effectiveness. Relying on ethnographic methods and secondary sources, we discuss firstly the governance of Amsterdam's red light district and secondly participatory infrastructure projects in the surrounding province of North Holland. The first case highlights the strategic non‐enforcement or non‐application of laws, while the second case points to the use of personalized relationships and non‐transparency in participatory governance.
The Disciplinary Role of Financial Statements: Evidence from Mergers and Acquisitions of Privately Held Targets
Authors: CHEN CIAO‐WEI
Published: January 2019

This study examines whether requiring the disclosure of audited financial statements disciplines managers’ mergers and acquisitions (M&As) decisions. When an M&A transaction meets certain disclosure thresholds, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires the public acquirer to disclose the target's audited financial statements after the merger is completed. Using hand‐collected data, I find that the disclosure of private targets’ financial statements is associated with better acquisition decisions. Furthermore, I find that this disciplining effect of disclosure is more pronounced when monitoring by outside capital providers is more difficult and costly, and when other disciplining mechanisms are weaker. Finally, these findings are robust to several alternative explanations, such as monitoring from blockholders and voluntary disclosures. In sum, the evidence suggests that the ex post mandatory disclosure of private targets’ accounting information disciplines managers’ acquisition decisions and improves acquisition efficiency.
Endoscopic features of sessile serrated adenoma/polyps under narrowband imaging: A retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Xin Tian , Zhang Qing Wei , Liu Fei , Lin Xiao Lu , Chen Jin Nan , Li Xiao Bo
Published: January 2019

Objective

Sessile serrated adenoma/polyps (SSA/P) are recognized as precancerous lesions in the colon and resemble hyperplastic polyps (HP). Definite endoscopic features under narrow band imaging (NBI) with or without magnification may help differentiate these two lesions. Our study aimed to identify specific endoscopic features of SSA/P by NBI.

Methods

A total of 199 patients with histopathologically proven colorectal SSA/P or HP after a polypectomy were enrolled. Magnifying and non‐magnifying NBI pictures of 206 matching lesions were evaluated by one expert and two non‐expert endoscopists using various endoscopic characteristics retrospectively.

Results

Multivariate analysis indicated that a clouded surface (odds ratio [OR] 6.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.72‐15.44, P = 0.000) and dilated and branching vessels (DBV) (OR 7.95, 95% CI 3.71‐17.02, P = 0.000) were significant endoscopic features for diagnosing SSA/P compared with HP. The combination of these two features could improve diagnostic specificity to 96%, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.749. However, it seemed that the presence of dark spots (OR 1.93, 95% CI 0.94‐4.00, P = 0.075) was not a definite feature in differentiating these two lesions. Neither a mucus cap nor CP‐II meshed capillary vessels showed statistical significance in differentiating SSA/P from HP (P = 0.590 and 0.293, respectively).

Conclusions

A clouded surface and DBV were two indicators for diagnosing SSA/P. Combining these two factors together under NBI with or without magnification achieved better diagnostic performance than when they were used alone.
Does one size fit all? Evidence on XBRL adoption and 10‐K filing lag
Authors: Zhou Jie
Published: January 2019

This paper examines how XBRL adoption is associated with 10‐K filing timeliness. Using a sample of 10‐K filings from 2007 to 2016, we find that 10‐K filing lag decreases for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 accelerated filers following the XBRL mandate. For Tier 3 smaller reporting companies, however, filing lag increases significantly in the post‐XBRL period. Results from a difference‐in‐differences specification as well as using an alternative measure of filing timeliness produce similar inferences. We then investigate factors associated with the delay. We find that 10‐K filing lag increases with XBRL filing complexity, whereas the deployment of a more experienced service provider can mitigate the lag. Overall, this study provides evidence that XBRL mandate improves preparer efficiency for most firms; however, our finding that the effect for smaller reporting companies goes in the opposite direction leads to the question whether XBRL can be viewed as a one‐size‐fits‐all solution to financial reporting.
Prices, use restrictions and electronic cigarette use—evidence from wave 1 (2016) US data of the ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey
Authors: Cheng Kai‐Wen , Chaloupka Frank J. , Shang Ce , Ngo Anh , Fong Geoffrey T. , Borland Ron , Heckman Bryan W. , Levy David T. , Cummings K. Michael
Published: January 2019

Aims

To determine if there are associations between changes in the explicit (i.e. price) and implicit (i.e. use restrictions in public places) costs of cigarettes and nicotine vaping products (NVPs) and their use patterns in the United States.

Methods

Data came from wave 1 (2016) US data of the ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey (ITC US 4CV1) and Nielsen Scanner Track database. A multiple logistic regression model was applied to estimate the likelihoods of NVP use (vaping at least monthly), cigarette/NVP concurrent use (vaping and smoking at least monthly) and switch from cigarettes to NVPs (had quit smoking < 24 months and currently vape) among ever smokers, conditioning upon cigarette/NVP prices, use restrictions and socio‐demographics.

Results

Living in places where vaping is allowed in smoke‐free areas was significantly associated with an increase in the likelihood of vaping [marginal effect (ME) = 0.17; P < 0.05] and the concurrent use of cigarettes and NVPs (ME = 0.11; P < 0.05). Higher NVP prices were associated with decreased likelihood of NVP use, concurrent use, and complete switch (P > 0.05). Higher cigarette prices were associated with greater likelihood of cigarette and NVP concurrent use (P > 0.05). Working in places where vaping is banned is associated with lower likelihood of vaping and NVP and cigarette concurrent use (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Higher prices for nicotine vaping products (NVPs) and vaping restrictions in public places are associated with less NVP use and less concurrent use of vaping and smoking. Public policies that increase prices for vaping devices and supplies (i.e. regulations, taxes) and restrict where vaping is allowed are likely to suppress vaping.