bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Value co-creation in an outsourcing arrangement between manufacturers and third party logistics providers: resource commitment, innovation and collaboration
Authors: Sinkovics Rudolf R. , Kuivalainen Olli , Roath Anthony S.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore value co-creation between manufacturing firms and third-party logistics providers (3PLs). The specific focus is on resources and value co-creation with the aim to examine a set of relationships among the 3PL’s resource commitment, collaboration and innovation, and their performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data consisting of 142 UK manufacturing firms are used to study the 3PL and manufacturing customer value co-creation. The confirmatory factor model (CFA) and subsequent structural equation model were tested using EQS 6.1.

Findings

The findings show that collaboration between the manufacturers and the 3PLs mediates the relationship between resource commitment and innovation, and performance. 3PLs are becoming much more of a collaborative partner which support the idea of value co-creation strategy.

Research limitations/implications

The study is cross-sectional; temporal evolution of value co-creation should be studied in the future.

Practical implications

When manufacturers and 3PLs collaborate to target efforts strategically, the 3PL’s resource commitment can be directed towards the development of new innovative approaches.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the discussion of forms of co-creation, and theoretical frameworks which would enable us to understand how customers and other actors engage with the companies in collaborative value creation activities.
Developing closed loop supply chains for environmental sustainability
Authors: Ashby Alison
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Forward and reverse supply chains form a “closed loop” when managed in a coordinated way and this “cradle to cradle” responsibility has strong relevance to addressing environmental sustainability in global supply chains. The extensive outsourcing of manufacturing has created highly fragmented supply chains, which is strongly evidenced within the UK clothing industry, and it presents major environmental challenges, particularly around waste and resource use. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how a closed loop supply chain (CLSC) can be successfully developed to address environmental sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The natural resource-based view (NRBV) acknowledges the importance of a firm’s tangible and intangible resources, as well as socially complex relationships, and provides three path-dependent strategies for achieving environmentally based competitive advantage. Via an in-depth case study of the UK-based clothing firm, the NRBV is employed as a framework for understanding the processes that a focal firm needs to engage in to develop a CLSC, and the contribution that is made by its resources and supplier relationships.

Findings

The findings illustrate the key importance of strategic resources and shared vision and principles between the focal firm and its suppliers, in order to progress from a more reactive pollution prevention strategy to a fully embedded CLSC response to environmental sustainability. The case study highlights the need to extend the current CLSC model to integrate the design function and end customer; the design function ensures that appropriate environmental practices can be implemented, and customers represent a key stakeholder as they enable the reverse flows required to maximise value and minimise waste.

Originality/value

The NRBV and its three path-dependent strategies are an established framework for understanding environmentally based competitive advantage, but has not previously been explicitly employed to investigate CLSCs. This research, therefore, provides valuable insight into the applicability of this model in the supply chain field, and the key role of tangible and intangible resources and socially complex supplier relationships in developing and achieving a CLSC.
A general approach to generate random variates for multivariate copulae
Authors: Tajvidi N. , Turlach B.A.
Published: March 2018

We suggest two methods for simulating from a multivariate copula in an arbitrary dimension. Although our main emphasis in this paper is on multivariate extreme value distributions, the proposed methods can be applied to any copula. The basic idea is to approximate the (unknown) density of the copula by a distribution that has a piece‐wise constant (histogram) density. This is achieved by partitioning the support of a given copula C into a large number of hyper‐rectangles and using them to generate random variates from an approximation of the copula. We suggest two methods for finding this approximation which correspond to either finding hyper‐rectangles which have equal probability mass with respect to C, or determining a partition using hyper‐squares of equal volume and finding the corresponding probability mass of each hyper‐square. We also discuss how the generated random variates can be used as proposals in a Metropolis–Hastings algorithm, when C is an absolutely continuous distribution function, to generate a sequence of random variates from C. An implementation of the proposed methodologies is provided for the statistical computing and graphics environment R in our package called SimCop.
A survey of high dimension low sample size asymptotics
Authors: Aoshima Makoto , Shen Dan , Shen Haipeng , Yata Kazuyoshi , Zhou Yi‐Hui , Marron J. S.
Published: March 2018

Peter Hall's work illuminated many aspects of statistical thought, some of which are very well known including the bootstrap and smoothing. However, he also explored many other lesser known aspects of mathematical statistics. This is a survey of one of those areas, initiated by a seminal paper in 2005, on high dimension low sample size asymptotics. An interesting characteristic of that first paper, and of many of the following papers, is that they contain deep and insightful concepts which are frequently surprising and counter‐intuitive, yet have mathematical underpinnings which tend to be direct and not difficult to prove.
The Great Opening up and the Roadmap for the Future: The Story of China's International Trade
Authors: Du Yan , Lu Yi
Published: March 2018

The astonishing surge in China's international trade is the result of comprehensive economic reforms in the 1980s and 1990s. Trade was further bolstered by China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. We examine several aspects of China's international trade that might help to explain its surprisingly fast growth and its ever‐growing role in the global economy. A large number of studies have analyzed how trade liberalization, the WTO accession in particular, has profoundly changed the Chinese economy. We survey notable contributions to this literature that analyze the effects of trade liberalization on Chinese firms, individuals and households. Meanwhile, China's exports have had various effects on importing countries and the enormous growth of China's exports is seen by some observers as posing a threat to China's trading partners. Therefore, we discuss the emerging literature on the effects of China's spectacular export growth on consumers, labor markets, innovation, media and politics in foreign countries. Given the new domestic and external circumstances, the Chinese Government is determined to push for the formation of a new trade structure characterized by broad opening up to transform China into a strong trading powerhouse.
Impact of Chinese Characteristics on the World Trade Organization: Challenges and Strategies
Authors: Li Siqi , Tu Xinquan
Published: March 2018

Following China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), it has been impossible to overlook the influence of its economy on the multilateral trading system. Many published studies have examined why China joined the WTO and the comprehensive impacts of WTO membership on China, but few studies have focused on China's impact on the WTO. This article attempts to fill this gap by examining China's changing role in the multilateral trading system from political and legal perspectives, seeking to shed light on how Chinese characteristics have reshaped the power structure and rule‐based system of the WTO. While its accession has made the WTO more relevant in regards to global trade governance, China has been accused of upsetting the WTO's rules‐based system because of its unique political and economic regime. The WTO and its members should take the Chinese characteristics into consideration and regulate China's practices through using the dispute settlement mechanism, promoting China's accession to plurilateral agreements and adopting a “soft law” approach.
S2k guidelines for the use of topical preparations on the skin
Authors: Wohlrab Johannes , Staubach Petra , Augustin Matthias , Eisert Lisa , Hünerbein Andreas , Nast Alexander , Reimann Holger , Strömer Klaus , Mahler Vera
Published: March 2018

The present guidelines are aimed at dermatology residents and board‐certified dermatologists as well as policymakers and insurance companies. Developed by dermatologists in collaboration with pharmacists using a formal consensus process (S2k), they include general aspects with respect to pharmacokinetics and regulatory terminology. Recommendations are provided on the various indications for extemporaneous preparations and their quality assurance. The importance of pharmaceutical vehicles and problems associated with substituting one vehicle for another are discussed. The guidelines include criteria for choosing a suitable pharmaceutical vehicle and for specific aspects in terms of treatment planning. In addition, recommendations are given for managing allergic reactions to vehicles or additives.
Across rather than between river genetic structure in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in north‐east Scotland, UK: potential causes and management implications
Authors: Cauwelier E. , Stewart D. C. , Millar C. P. , Gilbey J. , Middlemas S. J.
Published: March 2018

The aim of this study was to examine the genetic structuring, based on c. 4300 single nucleotide polymorphic markers, of juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar sampled from 11 rivers in north‐east Scotland, which form part of a radial drainage system. Within this area, sites in the upper mountainous and lower coastal sections of the different rivers were more closely related than sites from the upper and lower sections of the same river. Differentiation between fish from upper and lower sections was related to both distance from the sea and elevation, which were themselves correlated. The occurrence of such cross‐river genetic grouping appears to be the result of both similar selective pressures resulting in homologous adaptive differences within each river and also recent common ancestry between rivers. Examination of historical tagging information showed high rates (27·4%) of between‐river straying in this region that may help to maintain the across rather than between‐river structure. The existence of cross‐river groupings highlights the complex structuring of S. salar populations and may confound genetic identification of single‐river stocks. Furthermore, the results presented show that cross‐river structuring should also be an important consideration in managing S. salar stocks.
Effects of individual variation in length, condition and run‐time on return rates of wild‐reared Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts
Authors: Armstrong J. D. , McKelvey S. , Smith G. W. , Rycroft P. , Fryer R. J.
Published: March 2018

Groups of wild‐reared Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts were captured during their seaward migration on a tributary of the River Conon, Scotland, U.K., from 1999 to 2014 and tagged with passive integrated transponders (PIT). Fish that subsequently returned to the river after growing at sea were recorded automatically by a PIT‐detector in a fish pass. Return rate was related directly to length and condition and inversely to day of the year that the smolt was tagged. Over years, as the study progressed, there was a significant increase in the proportion of smolts returning after two or more years at sea and no trend in returns of salmon having spent one winter at sea. There was no trend in the date of return of salmon across the study period. Fish that had spent more winters at sea returned earlier in the year.
Low hydrogen contents in the cores of terrestrial planets
Authors: Clesi Vincent , Bouhifd Mohamed Ali , Bolfan-Casanova Nathalie , Manthilake Geeth , Schiavi Federica , Raepsaet Caroline , Bureau Hélène , Khodja Hicham , Andrault Denis
Published: March 2018

During planetary accretion, hydrogen behaves as a lithophile element and is unlikely to be a major element in planetary cores.
MHC class I in dopaminergic neurons suppresses relapse to reward seeking
Authors: Murakami Gen , Edamura Mitsuhiro , Furukawa Tomonori , Kawasaki Hideya , Kosugi Isao , Fukuda Atsuo , Iwashita Toshihide , Nakahara Daiichiro
Published: March 2018

Cocaine self-administration persistently reduces MHCI in dopamine neurons, resulting in relapse to cocaine seeking.
Manipulation of host and parasite microbiotas: Survival strategies during chronic nematode infection
Authors: White Emily C. , Houlden Ashley , Bancroft Allison J. , Hayes Kelly S. , Goldrick Marie , Grencis Richard K. , Roberts Ian S.
Published: March 2018

Intestinal parasite selects for its own intestinal microbiota from the host and modifies the host’s microbiota.
Brain-released alarmins and stress response synergize in accelerating atherosclerosis progression after stroke
Authors: Roth Stefan , Singh Vikramjeet , Tiedt Steffen , Schindler Lisa , Huber Georg , Geerlof Arie , Antoine Daniel J. , Anfray Antoine , Orset Cyrille , Gauberti Maxime , Fournier Antoine , Holdt Lesca M. , Harris Helena Erlandsson , Engelhardt Britta , Bianchi Marco E. , Vivien Denis , Haffner Christof , Bernhagen Jürgen , Dichgans Martin , Liesz Arthur
Published: March 2018

Atherosclerosis is exacerbated after stroke because of synergy of catecholaminergic stress response and alarmin-dependent signaling.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Yeast Vanrija humicola (Formerly Cryptococcus humicola) Strain UJ1, a Producer of
d
-Aspartate Oxidase
Authors: Imanishi Daiki , Abe Katsumasa , Kera Yoshio , Takahashi Shouji
Published: March 2018

Vanrija humicola
(
Cryptococcus humicola
) strain UJ1 is a basidiomycetous yeast that produces
d
-aspartate oxidase, which is highly specific to
d
-aspartate. Here, we report the 22.6-Mb draft genome sequence of
V. humicola
strain UJ1, which comprises 22.6 Mb in 46 scaffolds, with an overall G+C content of 62.82%, comprising 46 scaffolds with an
N
50
of 1.34 Mb.
Draft Genome Sequence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Strain VP14, Isolated from a Penaeus vannamei Culture Farm
Authors: Jangam Ashok Kumar , Bhuvaneswari T. , Krishnan A. Navaneeth , Katneni Vinaya Kumar , Avunje Satheesha , Grover Monendra , Kumar Sujeet , Alavandi S. V. , Vijayan K. K.
Published: March 2018

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of an isolate of
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
, VP14, recovered from the gut of
Penaeus vannamei
shrimp farmed in southern India. The genome of VP14 comprised 5,224,046 bp with a GC content of 45.3% and contained 5,326 genes, including 4,972 coding sequences.
Complete Genome Sequence of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Subgenotype 2a Strain CN10.2015.821, Isolated in Piedmont, Italy
Authors: Colitti B. , Nogarol C. , Bertolotti L. , Rosati S.
Published: March 2018

We sequenced the complete genome of noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type 2 strain CN10.2015.821. It belongs to the subgenotype 2a, and it was isolated from an immunotolerant and persistently infected calf identified during a serological investigation. The complete genome is composed of 12,273 nucleotides, organized as one open reading frame encoding 3,897 amino acids.
Universal Genotyping for Tuberculosis Prevention Programs: a 5-Year Comparison with On-Request Genotyping
Authors: Guthrie Jennifer L. , Kong Clare , Roth David , Jorgensen Danielle , Rodrigues Mabel , Tang Patrick , Thejoe Maichael , Elwood Kevin , Cook Victoria J. , Johnston James , Gardy Jennifer L.
Published: March 2018

Prospective universal genotyping of tuberculosis (TB) isolates is used by many laboratories to detect clusters of cases and inform contact investigations. Prior to universal genotyping, most TB prevention programs genotyped isolates on request only, relying on requests from public health professionals whose knowledge of a patient's clinical, demographic, and epidemiological characteristics suggested potential transmission. To justify the switch from on-request to universal genotyping—particularly in the public health domain, with its limited resources and competing priorities—it is important to demonstrate the additional benefit provided by a universal genotyping program. We compared the clustering patterns revealed by retrospective 24-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit–variable-number tandem repeat genotyping of all culture-positive isolates over a 5-year period to the patterns previously established by our genotyping-on-request program in the low-incidence setting of British Columbia, Canada. We found that 23.8% of isolates were requested during the study period, and while requested isolates had increased odds of belonging to a genotype cluster (adjusted odds ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 3.3), only 54.6% clustered with the requested comparator strain. Universal genotyping revealed 94 clusters ranging in size from 2 to 53 isolates (mean = 5) and involving 432 individuals. On-request genotyping missed 54 (57.4%) of these clusters and 130 (30.1%) clustered individuals. Our results underscore that TB patient networks are complex, with unrecognized linkages between patients, and a prospective province-wide universal genotyping program provides an informative, bias-free tool to explore transmission to a degree not possible with on-request genotyping.
Development of a gastroschisis core outcome set
Authors: Allin Benjamin Saul Raywood , Hall Nigel J , Ross Andrew R , Marven Sean S , Kurinczuk Jennifer J , Knight Marian
Published: March 2018

Objective

Outcome reporting heterogeneity impedes identification of gold standard treatments for children born with gastroschisis. Use of core outcome sets (COSs) in research reduces outcome reporting heterogeneity and ensures that studies are relevant to patients. The aim of this study was to develop a gastroschisis COS.

Design and setting

Systematic reviews and stakeholder nomination were used to identify candidate outcomes that were subsequently prioritised by key stakeholders in a three-phase online Delphi process and face-to-face consensus meeting using a 9-point Likert scale. In phases two and three of the Delphi process, participants were shown graphical and numerical representations of their own, and all panels scores for each outcome respectively and asked to review their previous score in light of this information. Outcomes were carried forward to the consensus meeting if prioritised by two or three stakeholder panels in the third phase of the Delphi process. The COS was formed from outcomes where ≥70% of consensus meeting participants scored the outcome 7–9 and <15% of participants scored it 1–3.

Results

71 participants (84%) completed all phases of the Delphi process, during which 87 outcomes were assessed. Eight outcomes, mortality, sepsis, growth, number of operations, severe gastrointestinal complication, time on parenteral nutrition, liver disease and quality of life for the child, met criteria for inclusion in the COS.

Conclusions

Eight outcomes have been included in the gastroschisis COS as a result of their importance to key stakeholders. Implementing use of the COS will increase the potential for identification of gold standard treatments for the management of children born with gastroschisis.
Synergistic effects of blood pressure-lowering drugs and statins: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sundström Johan , Gulliksson Gullik , Wirén Marcus
Published: March 2018

Background

Synergistic effects of blood pressure-lowering drugs and statins are unknown, but are key to risk-based treatment decision strategies and fixed-combination polypills.

Objective

We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to test the hypothesis that the combined relative effects of blood pressure-lowering drugs and statins on cardiovascular outcomes are multiplicative.

Study selection

Two persons independently searched five data sources and hand-searched reference lists from earliest available to December 2017. We included factorial trials with at least two randomised interventions including one statin versus placebo factor and one blood pressure-lowering drug/more intense blood pressure-lowering regimen versus placebo/less intense regimen factor, and reported cardiovascular events or mortality as outcomes. We tested interactions as departures from additivity or multiplicativity using mixed-effects logistic regression models.

Findings

Seven out of 1017 screened studies fulfilled the selection criteria, contributing a total of 27 020 patients with 857 major cardiovascular events and 725 deaths. The relative risk reduction of major cardiovascular events with active/more intense blood pressure-lowering regimen was not materially different in subgroups randomised to statins (risk ratio 0.81, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.00) or placebo (0.94, 0.79 to 1.11). Likewise, statin effects were not substantially different in subgroups randomised to active/more intense blood pressure-lowering regimen (0.69, 0.57 to 0.85) or placebo/less intense regimen (0.80, 0.67 to 0.96). No departures from either additivity or multiplicativity were observed. Heterogeneity was low.

Conclusions

The combined relative effects of blood pressure-lowering drugs and statins on cardiovascular events were multiplicative. This supports risk-based treatment decision strategies and fixed-combination polypills.
Macroeconomic costs of the unmet burden of surgical disease in Sierra Leone: a retrospective economic analysis
Authors: Grimes Caris E , Quaife Matthew , Kamara Thaim B , Lavy Christopher B D , Leather Andy J M , Bolkan Håkon A
Published: March 2018

Objectives

The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery estimated that low/middle-income countries will lose an estimated cumulative loss of US$12.3 trillion from gross domestic product (GDP) due to the unmet burden of surgical disease. However, no country-specific data currently exist. We aimed to estimate the costs to the Sierra Leone economy from death and disability which may have been averted by surgical care.

Design

We used estimates of total, met and unmet need from two main sources—a cluster randomised, cross-sectional, countrywide survey and a retrospective, nationwide study on surgery in Sierra Leone. We calculated estimated disability-adjusted life years from morbidity and mortality for the estimated unmet burden and modelled the likely economic impact using three different methods—gross national income per capita, lifetime earnings foregone and value of a statistical life.

Results

In 2012, estimated, discounted lifetime losses to the Sierra Leone economy from the unmet burden of surgical disease was between US$1.1 and US$3.8 billion, depending on the economic method used. These lifetime losses equate to between 23% and 100% of the annual GDP for Sierra Leone. 80% of economic losses were due to mortality. The incremental losses averted by scale up of surgical provision to the Lancet Commission target of 80% were calculated to be between US$360 million and US$2.9 billion.

Conclusion

There is a large economic loss from the unmet need for surgical care in Sierra Leone. There is an immediate need for massive investment to counteract ongoing economic losses.
Clinical effectiveness of patella mobilisation therapy versus a waiting list control for knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a pragmatic randomised clinical trial
Authors: Sit Regina Wing Shan , Chan Keith Kwok Wai , Yip Benjamin Hon Kei , Zhang Daisy Dexing , Reeves Kenneth Dean , Chan Ying Ho , Chung Vincent Chi Ho , Wong Samuel Yeung Shan
Published: March 2018

Introduction

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common, disabling and costly medical condition. The patellofemoral joint is a critical source of pain in individuals with KOA, and coexistence of patellofemoral osteoarthritis (PFOA) and tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (TFOA) is sometimes observed. The identification of subgroups with PFOA and customised interventions to correct underlying pathomechanics is beneficial for individuals with KOA. This study aims to evaluate whether a clinic-based patella mobilisation therapy (PMT) leads to significant improvement in pain, physical function and quality of life of individuals with KOA.

Methods and analysis

A total of 208 participants with coexistence of PFOA and TFOA will be recruited. A pragmatic randomised clinical trial will be conducted, and participants will be randomised into the PMT and waiting list groups. For the PMT group, three manual mobilisation sessions, along with home-based vastus medialis oblique muscle exercise, will be conducted at 2-month intervals. The waiting list group will continue to receive their usual care, and as an incentive the waiting list group will be offered PMT after the study period is over. The primary outcome is the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale, and secondary outcomes include the WOMAC function and stiffness subscales, scores for objective physical function tests (the 30 s chair stand, 40-metre fast-paced walk test, the Timed Up and Go Test), and the EuroQol-5D scores. All outcomes will be evaluated at baseline and 6 months using intention-to-treat and incorporating covariate analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval has been obtained (CREC no: 2014.379). Results of the trial will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR-IPC-15006618; Pre-results.
Undergraduate medical students’ behavioural intentions towards medical errors and how to handle them: a qualitative vignette study
Authors: Kiesewetter Isabel , Könings Karen D , Kager Moritz , Kiesewetter Jan
Published: March 2018

Objectives

In undergraduate medical education, the topics of errors in medicine and patient safety are under-represented. The aim of this study was to explore undergraduate medical students’ behavioural intentions when confronted with an error.

Design

A qualitative case vignette survey was conducted including one of six randomly distributed case scenarios in which a hypothetical but realistic medical error occurred. The six scenarios differed regarding (1) who caused the error, (2) the presence of witnesses and (3) the consequences of the error for the patient. Participants were asked: ‘What would you do?”. Answers were collected as written free texts and analysed according to qualitative content analysis.

Setting

Students from German medical schools participated anonymously through an online questionnaire tool.

Participants

Altogether, n=159 students answered a case scenario. Participants were on average 24.6 years old (SD=7.9) and 69% were female. They were undergraduate medical students in their first or second year (n=27), third, fourth or fifth year (n=107) or final year (n=21).

Results

During the inductive coding process, 19 categories emerged from the original data and were clustered into four themes: (1) considering communication; (2) considering reporting; (3) considering consequences; and (4) emotional responsiveness. When the student him/herself caused the error in the scenario, participants did mention communication with colleagues and taking preventive action less frequently than if someone else had caused the error. When a witness was present, participants more frequently mentioned disclosure of the error and taking actions than in the absence of a witness. When the outcome was significant to the patient, participants more often showed an emotional response than if there were no consequences.

Conclusions

The study highlights the importance of coping strategies for healthcare professionals to adequately deal with errors. Educators need to introduce knowledge and skills on how to deal with errors and emotional preparedness for errors into undergraduate medical education.
Is exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation effective? A systematic review and meta-analysis to re-examine the evidence
Authors: Powell Richard , McGregor Gordon , Ennis Stuart , Kimani Peter K , Underwood Martin
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To determine the contemporary effectiveness of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in terms of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality and hospital admissions.

Data sources

Studies included in or meeting the entry criteria for the 2016 Cochrane review of exercise-based CR in patients with coronary artery disease.

Study eligibility criteria

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise-based CR versus a no-exercise control whose participants were recruited after the year 2000.

Study appraisal and synthesis methods

Two separate reviewers independently screened the characteristics of studies. One reviewer quality appraised any new studies and assessed their risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration’s recommended risk of bias tool. Data were reported as the risk difference (95% CI).

Results

We included 22 studies with 4834 participants (mean age 59.5 years, 78.4% male). We found no differences in outcomes between exercise-based CR and a no-exercise control at their longest follow-up period for: all-cause mortality (19 studies; n=4194; risk difference 0.00, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.01, P=0.38) or cardiovascular mortality (9 studies; n=1182; risk difference −0.01, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.01, P=0.25). We found a small reduction in hospital admissions of borderline statistical significance (11 studies; n=1768; risk difference −0.05, 95% CI −0.10 to −0.00, P=0.05).

Conclusions and implications of key findings

Our analysis indicates conclusively that the current approach to exercise-based CR has no effect on all-cause mortality or cardiovascular mortality, when compared with a no-exercise control. There may be a small reduction in hospital admissions following exercise-based CR that is unlikely to be clinically important.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017073616.
Impact of violence against women on severe acute maternal morbidity in the intensive care unit, including neonatal outcomes: a case–control study protocol in a tertiary healthcare facility in Lima, Peru
Authors: Ayala Quintanilla Beatriz Paulina , Pollock Wendy E , McDonald Susan J , Taft Angela J
Published: March 2018

Introduction

Preventing and reducing violence against women (VAW) and maternal mortality are Sustainable Development Goals. Worldwide, the maternal mortality ratio has fallen about 44% in the last 25 years, and for one maternal death there are many women affected by severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM) requiring management in the intensive care unit (ICU). These women represent the most critically ill obstetric patients of the maternal morbidity spectrum and should be studied to complement the review of maternal mortality. VAW has been associated with all-cause maternal deaths, and since many women (30%) endure violence usually exerted by their intimate partners and this abuse can be severe during pregnancy, it is important to determine whether it impacts SAMM. Thus, this study aims to investigate the impact of VAW on SAMM in the ICU.

Methods and analysis

This will be a prospective case-control study undertaken in a tertiary healthcare facility in Lima-Peru, with a sample size of 109 cases (obstetric patients admitted to the ICU) and 109 controls (obstetric patients not admitted to the ICU selected by systematic random sampling). Data on social determinants, medical and obstetric characteristics, VAW, pregnancy and neonatal outcome will be collected through interviews and by extracting information from the medical records using a pretested form. Main outcome will be VAW rate and neonatal mortality rate between cases and controls. VAW will be assessed by using the WHO instrument. Binary logistic followed by stepwise multivariate regression and goodness of fit test will assess any association between VAW and SAMM.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been granted by the La Trobe University, Melbourne-Australia and the tertiary healthcare facility in Lima-Peru. This research follows the WHO ethical and safety recommendations for research on VAW. Findings will be presented at conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Exposure to physical and psychosocial stressors in relation to symptoms of common mental disorders among European professional football referees: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Kilic Özgür , Johnson Urban , Kerkhoffs Gino M M J , Rosier Philippe , Gouttebarge Vincent
Published: March 2018

Objectives

The study aim was to explore the association of physical and psychosocial stressors (severe injuries, surgeries, recent life events, social support) with one-season onset of symptoms of common mental disorders (CMDs) among European professional football referees.

Methods

An observational prospective cohort study over a follow-up period of one season (2015–2016) was conducted among professional football referees from Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Russia, Scotland and Sweden. Based on physical and psychosocial stressors as well as symptoms of CMD, an electronic questionnaire in English and French was set up and distributed by eight football federations involved.

Results

The prevalence of symptoms of CMD ranged from 5.9% for distress to 19.2% for eating disorders. A higher number of severe injuries and a lower degree of satisfaction about social support were significantly related to the occurrence of symptoms of CMD with an OR of 2.63 and an OR of 1.10, respectively.

Conclusion

A higher number of severe injuries and a lower degree on satisfaction about social support were found to be significantly associated with the onset of symptoms of CMD among European professional football referees. Referees suffering from severe injuries were nearly three times more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression. Referees who reported a low satisfaction of social support were significantly more likely to report symptoms of eating disorder.
Physician–patient interactions and communication with conscious patients during simulated cath lab procedures: an exploratory study
Authors: Kelay Tanika , Ako Emmanuel , Cook Christopher , Yasin Mohammad , Gold Matthew , Chan Kah Leong , Bello Fernando , Kneebone Roger K , Malik Iqbal S
Published: March 2018

Background

This exploratory study investigates the feasibility for observing and evaluating intraoperative communication practices using simulation techniques. Complex procedures are increasingly performed on patients under local anaesthesia, where patients are fully conscious. Interventional cardiac procedures are one such example where patients have reported high levels of anxiety undergoing procedures. Although communication styles can serve to alleviate patient anxiety during interventions, leading to a better patient experience, there has been little observational research on communication, while patient perspectives in intraoperative contexts have been underexplored.

Methods

In this mixed-methods study, observational analysis was conducted on 20 video-recorded simulated scenarios, featuring physician operators (of varied experience levels), communication and interactions with a simulated patient (trained actor), in a controlled and highly realistic catheter laboratory setting. Two independent raters and the simulated patient embedded in scenarios retrospectively rated physician communication styles and interactions with the patient via four key parameters. Patient perspectives of communication were further explored via a quantitative measure of anxiety and semistructured qualitative interviews.

Results

While independent ratings of physician–patient communications demonstrated few discernible differences according to physicians’ experience level, patient ratings were consistently higher for experienced physicians and lower for novice physicians for the four interaction styles. Furthermore, the patient’s anxiety scores were differentiable according to operators’ experience level. Thematic analysis provided further insights into how patient perspectives, including affective dimensions are characterised, and how physician interactions can amplify or attenuate feelings of anxiety through tone of voice, continuity in communication during the procedure, communicating while multitasking and connecting with the patient.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate underlying patient assumptions about physicians’ experience levels, intraoperative communication styles and impact on anxiety. While observational methods can be applied to simulated intraoperative clinical contexts, evaluation techniques such as observational rating tools need to incorporate patient perspectives about undergoing conscious surgery.
Standardising assessment and documentation of pouchoscopy
Authors: van der Ploeg Valerie Annerijn , Maeda Yasuko , Faiz Omar D , Hart Ailsa L , Clark Susan K
Published: March 2018

Background/aims

Variation in quality of reporting on endoscopic procedures is a common clinical problem. Findings are not documented in a standardised manner and there is a tendency towards reporting abnormal findings only. This study aimed to review quality of flexible pouchoscopy reports and to develop a standardised reporting template.

Methods

Ileo-anal-pouch experts (n=5) compiled a list of items that should be documented at flexible pouchoscopy. Reports were reviewed retrospectively for their completeness compared with the template. The template was then introduced and quality of reports was analysed prospectively.

Results

One hundred and twenty-one reports produced between March 2015 and June 2015 were reviewed. Between August 2015 and November 2015, the template was introduced and reports were analysed. There was significant improvement in documentation of anus and perianal area (before template (B) 12% to after template (A) 51%, p<0.0001), rectal cuff (B: 55% to A: 75%, p=0.01), pouch-anal anastomosis (B: 37% to A: 67%, p=0.0002) and pouch inlet (B: 13% to A: 41%, p<0.0001). Pouch body was described in high percentage regardless of introduction of the template (B: 98% to A: 97%, p=0.61).

Conclusions

Documentation of pouchoscopy findings was suboptimal and introduction of a template improved documentation of flexible pouchoscopy significantly.
Association of nursery and early school attendance with later health behaviours, biomedical risk factors, and mortality: evidence from four decades of follow-up of participants in the 1958 birth cohort study
Authors: Batty G David , Ploubidis George B , Goodman Alissa , Bann David
Published: March 2018

Background

Although early life education for improved long-term health and the amelioration of socioeconomically generated inequalities in chronic disease is advocated in influential policy statements, the evidence base is very modest.

Aims

To address this dearth of evidence using data from a representative UK national birth cohort study.

Methods

The analytical sample comprised men and women in the 1958 birth cohort study with prospectively gathered data on attendance at nursery or primary school before the age of 5 years who had gone on to participate in social survey at 42 years (n=11 374), or a biomedical survey at 44/5 years of age (n=9210), or had data on vital status from 18 to 55 years (n=17 657).

Results

Relative to study members who had not attended nursery, in those who had, there was in fact a higher prevalence of smoking and high alcohol intake in middle age. Conversely, nursery attenders had more favourable levels of lung function and systolic blood pressure in middle age. This apparent association between nursery attendance and lower systolic blood pressure was confined to study members from more deprived social backgrounds of origin (P value for interaction 0.030). There was no apparent link between early school attendance and any behavioural or biological risk factor. Neither nursery nor early school attendance was clearly related to mortality risk.

Conclusions

We found no clear evidence for an association of either attendance at nursery or primary school before the age of 5 years and health outcomes around four decades later.
Sinonasal adenocarcinoma following styrene exposure in the reinforced plastics industry
Authors: Nissen Mette Schou , Stokholm Zara Ann , Christensen Mette Skovgaard , Schlünssen Vivi , Vestergaard Jesper Medom , Iversen Inge Brosbøl , Kolstad Henrik Albert
Published: March 2018

Background

Sinonasal adenocarcinoma is a rare disease expected to have rare causes and potential for strong risk factors as reflected by the strong association with occupational wood dust exposure. High level styrene exposure is a rare and suspected carcinogen, and this study examines the exposure–response relation between occupational styrene exposure, sinonasal adenocarcinoma and other subtypes.

Methods

We followed 73 092 styrene-exposed workers from 1968 to 2011 and identified sinonasal cancers in the Danish Cancer Registry. We modelled cumulative styrene exposure and estimated incidence rates and age, sex and wood-industry adjusted ORs.

Results

During 1 585 772 person-years, we observed nine cases of adenocarcinoma, corresponding to a fivefold non-significantly increased OR for estimates of high versus low cumulative styrene exposure (OR 5.11, 95% CI 0.58 to 45.12). The increased risk was confined to exposure received during the recent 15 years. The other histological subtypes showed no increased risk.

Conclusion

This study suggests increased risk of sinonasal adenocarcinoma following styrene exposure. The observations are, however, few, confounding from wood dust exposure cannot be ruled out, and additional studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.
On the equivalence between different canonical forms of F(R) theory of gravity
Authors: Sk Nayem , Sanyal Abhik Kumar
Published: March 2018

Classical equivalence between Jordan’s and Einstein’s frame counterparts of [Formula: see text] theory of gravity has recently been questioned, since the two produce different Noether symmetries, which could not be translated back and forth using transformation relations. Here we add the Hamiltonian constraint equation, which is essentially the time–time component of Einstein’s equation, through a Lagrange multiplier to the existence condition for Noether symmetry and show that all the three different canonical structures of [Formula: see text] theory of gravity, including the one which follows from Lagrange multiplier technique, admit each and every available symmetry independently. This establishes classical equivalence.
Experiment and Simulation Study on Vibration Control of an Ancient Pagoda with Damping Devices
Authors: Li Tao , Wang Sheliang , Yang Tao
Published: March 2018

In order to choose an effective method for improving the seismic performance of an ancient pagoda called the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, 12 damping devices of varying properties are developed. They are made of shape memory alloy-suspension pendulum damping systems (SMA-SPDSs) based on the restoring force of the SMA wires. By means of the shaking table test, the frequency, equivalent damping and equivalent damping force of the SMA-SPDS are analyzed first to acquire their respective trend of influence. Then, four shock absorption plans (one without SMA-SPDS) are analyzed numerically, and the frequency, displacement and acceleration amplitude, inter-story displacement angle and inter-story shear force calculated are compared with those of the experiment. The results show that the shock absorption rate of Plan 3 is better than all the others, and the simulation results are in agreement with the corresponding experimental results, which also prove that the simulation presented in this paper is feasible, which can be used to verify the rationality and applicability of the device (SMA-SPDS). Therefore, it provides a theoretical means for conducting the strengthening and repairing work of the pagoda concerned.
Dialect recognition for low resource language using an adaptive filter bank
Authors: Nisar Shibli , Tariq Muhammad
Published: March 2018

Dialect recognition of low resource languages is the next stage in the technological advancement in speech recognition. Traditional methods for dialects recognition such as mel frequency cesptral coefficients (MFCC) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT) work better for high resource languages, however, the performance is low when applied in low resource languages. This paper presents a new approach for Pashto dialects recognition using an adaptive filter bank with MFCC and DWT. In this approach, features are extracted using adaptive filter bank in MFCC and DWT followed by classification through hidden Markov model (HMM), support vector machines (SVM) and K-nearest neighbors (KNN). The results obtained from the proposed method are very satisfactory with an overall dialect recognition accuracy of [Formula: see text].
Premetric representation of mechanics, electromagnetism and gravity
Authors: Itin Yakov
Published: March 2018

The premetric formalism is an alternative representation of a classical field theory in which the field equations are formulated without the spacetime metric. Only the constitutive relations between the basic field variables can involve the metric of the underlying manifold. In this paper, we present a brief pedagogical review of the premetric formalism in mechanics, electromagnetism, and gravity.
Almost pseudo-Q-symmetric semi-Riemannian manifolds
Authors: Velimirović Ljubica , Majhi Pradip , De Uday Chand
Published: March 2018

The object of the present paper is to study almost pseudo-[Formula: see text]-symmetric manifolds [Formula: see text]. Some geometric properties have been studied which recover some known results of pseudo [Formula: see text]-symmetric manifolds. We obtain a necessary and sufficient condition for the [Formula: see text]-curvature tensor to be recurrent in [Formula: see text]. Also, we provide several interesting results. Among others, we prove that a Ricci symmetric [Formula: see text] is an Einstein manifold under certain condition. Moreover we deal with [Formula: see text]-flat perfect fluid, dust fluid and radiation era perfect fluid spacetimes respectively. As a consequence, we obtain some important results. Finally, we consider [Formula: see text]-spacetimes.
Certain Types of Fuzzy Soft Graphs
Authors: Al-Masarwah Anas , Abu Qamar Majdoleen
Published: March 2018

In this paper, we introduce the concepts of uniform vertex fuzzy soft graphs, uniform edge fuzzy soft graphs, degree of a vertex, total degree of a vertex and complement fuzzy soft graphs with some examples. Also, we study regular and totally regular fuzzy soft graphs, and the conditions under which the complement of regular fuzzy soft graph becomes regular as well as totally regular are discussed. Also, we obtain some results related to regular, totally regular and complete fuzzy soft graphs.