bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone Fracture Detection by Electrical Bioimpedance: First Non-Invasive Measurements in Ex-Vivo Mammalian Femur
Authors: Dell’Osa A. H. , Concu A. , Dobarro F. R. , Felice J. C.
Published: April 2019

The fracture of long bones is one of the pathologies of greater demand of systems of medical emergencies, the method used for the diagnosis, the radiology of X-rays, produces damages to the patients and to the hospitals environment. For these reasons, our group is studying the implementation of a new diagnostic technique for the detection of bone fractures by bioimpedance measurements. To simulate a limb, two phantom of bovine femurs (the one with an entire bone and the other with a sawn bone) were constructed and non-invasive Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy measurements were taken on them in order to identify differences in their respective Cole Cole diagrams. Impedance spectroscopy was performed by a frequency sweep between 1 Hz and 65 kHz at a fixed current of 1 mA. The results obtained show wide differences in the Cole Cole diagrams of both phantoms (entire and fractured bone), especially concerning the real component of the, which latter, around the bones section corresponding to that of the lesion in both femurs, was always lower in the fractured femur than the entire one. These first superficial (non-invasive) measurements correspond to the electrical impedance spectroscopy bases and these could -in turn- correspond to what occurs in mammals immediately after the fracture happens, i. e. a dramatic increase in electrical conductivity due to diffusion into the fracture site of more conductive materials such as the blood and the extravascular fluids.
An elastic-net logistic regression approach to generate classifiers and gene signatures for types of immune cells and T helper cell subsets
Authors: Torang Arezo , Gupta Paraag , Klinke David J.
Published: April 2019

Background

Host immune response is coordinated by a variety of different specialized cell types that vary in time and location. While host immune response can be studied using conventional low-dimensional approaches, advances in transcriptomics analysis may provide a less biased view. Yet, leveraging transcriptomics data to identify immune cell subtypes presents challenges for extracting informative gene signatures hidden within a high dimensional transcriptomics space characterized by low sample numbers with noisy and missing values. To address these challenges, we explore using machine learning methods to select gene subsets and estimate gene coefficients simultaneously.

Results

Elastic-net logistic regression, a type of machine learning, was used to construct separate classifiers for ten different types of immune cell and for five T helper cell subsets. The resulting classifiers were then used to develop gene signatures that best discriminate among immune cell types and T helper cell subsets using RNA-seq datasets. We validated the approach using single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) datasets, which gave consistent results. In addition, we classified cell types that were previously unannotated. Finally, we benchmarked the proposed gene signatures against other existing gene signatures.

Conclusions

Developed classifiers can be used as priors in predicting the extent and functional orientation of the host immune response in diseases, such as cancer, where transcriptomic profiling of bulk tissue samples and single cells are routinely employed. Information that can provide insight into the mechanistic basis of disease and therapeutic response. The source code and documentation are available through GitHub: https://github.com/KlinkeLab/ImmClass2019.
Autoregulation of pre-mRNA processing for buffering noisy gene expression
Authors: Smith Madeline , Ghusinga Khem Raj , Singh Abhyudai
Published: April 2019

Stochastic variation in the level of a protein among cells of the same population is ubiquitous across cell types and organisms. These random variations are a consequence of low-copy numbers, amplified by the characteristically probabilistic nature of biochemical reactions associated with gene-expression. We systematically compare and contrast negative feedback architectures in their ability to regulate random fluctuations in protein levels. Our stochastic model consists of gene synthesizing pre-mRNAs in transcriptional bursts. Each pre-mRNA transcript is exported to the cytoplasm and is subsequently translated into protein molecules. In this setup, three feedbacks architectures are implemented: protein inhibiting transcription of its own gene (I), protein enhancing the nuclear pre-mRNA decay rate (II), and protein inhibiting the export of pre-mRNAs (III). Explicit analytic expressions are developed to quantify the protein noise levels for each feedback strategy. Mathematically controlled comparisons provide insights into the noise-suppression properties of these feedbacks. For example, when the protein half-life is long, or the pre-mRNA decay is fast, then feedback architecture I provides the best noise attenuation. In contrast, when the timescales of export, mRNA, and protein turnover are similar, then III is superior to both II and I. We finally discuss biological relevance of these findings in context of noise suppression in an HIV cell-fate decision circuit.
The ebb and flow of heteroplasmy during intra-species hybridization inCaenorhabditis briggsae
Authors: Adineh Shadi , Ross Joseph A.
Published: April 2019

Mitochondria are typically maternally inherited. In many species, this transmission pattern is produced by sperm-borne mitochondria being eliminated either from sperm before fertilization or from the embryo after fertilization. In the nematodeCaenorhabditis briggsae, repeatedly backcrossing hybrids to genetically diverse males can elicit paternal mitochondrial transmission. Studies of other taxa also suggest that hybridization increases paternal mitochondrial transmission. Thus, hybrid genotypes might disrupt the systems that normally prevent paternal mitochondrial transmission. Given the reliance of a number of genetic analyses on the assumption of purely maternal mitochondrial inheritance, it would be broadly valuable to learn more about the processes embryos employ to prevent sperm-borne mitochondria from persisting in offspring, as well as the circumstances under which paternal transmission might be expected to occur. To quantify the tempo of paternal mitochondrial transmission in hybrids, we assessed the presence of paternal mitotypes in replicate lines at three timepoints spanning fifteen generations. All lines exhibited paternal mitochondrial transmission. However, this heteroplasmy always then resolved to homoplasmy for the maternal mitotype. Additionally, one nuclear locus exhibited allele transmission ratio distortion that might reflect mito-nuclear co-evolution. This study frames the genetic architecture of a hybrid genetic incompatibility that leads to paternal mitochondrial transmission and to a reduction in hybrid fitness.
Free circular introns with an unusual branchpoint in neuronal projections
Authors: Saini Harleen , Bicknell Alicia A. , Eddy Sean R. , Moore Melissa J.
Published: April 2019

The polarized structure of axons and dendrites in neuronal cells depends in part on RNA localization. Previous studies have looked at which polyadenylated RNAs are enriched in neuronal projections or at synapses, but less is known about the distribution of non-adenylated RNAs. By physically dissecting projections from cell bodies of primary rat hippocampal neurons and sequencing total RNA, we found an unexpected set of free circular introns with a non-canonical branchpoint enriched in neuronal projections. These introns appear to be tailless lariats that escape debranching. They lack ribosome occupancy, sequence conservation, and known localization signals, and their function, if any, is not known. Nonetheless, their enrichment in projections has important implications for our understanding of the mechanisms by which RNAs reach distal compartments of asymmetric cells.
Stabilization of α-synuclein oligomers using formaldehyde
Authors: Ruesink Harm , Reimer Lasse , Gregersen Emil , Moeller Arne , Betzer Cristine , Jensen Poul Henning
Published: April 2019

The group of neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA) all exhibit inclusions containing amyloid-type α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates within degenerating brain cells. α-syn also exists as soluble oligomeric species that are hypothesized to represent intermediates between its native and aggregated states. These oligomers are present in brain extracts from patients suffering from synucleinopathies and hold great potential as biomarkers. Although easily prepared in vitro, oligomers are metastable and dissociate over time, thereby complicating α-syn oligomer research. Using the small amine-reactive cross-linker, formaldehyde (FA), we successfully stabilized α-syn oligomers without affecting their size, overall structure or antigenicity towards aggregate-conformation specific α-syn antibodies FILA and MJFR-14-6-4-2. Further, cross-linked α-syn oligomers show resistance towards denaturant like urea and SDS treatment and remain fully functional as internal standard in an aggregation-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) despite prior incubation with urea. We propose that FA cross-linked α-syn oligomers could serve as important calibrators to facilitate comparative and standardized α-syn biomarker studies going forward.
Characterization and function of medium and large extracellular vesicles from plasma and urine by surface antigens and Annexin V
Authors: Igami Ko , Uchiumi Takeshi , Ueda Saori , Kamioka Kazuyuki , Setoyama Daiki , Gotoh Kazuhito , Akimoto Masaru , Matsumoto Shinya , Kang Dongchon
Published: April 2019

Medium/large extracellular vesicles (m/lEVs) are released by most cell types and are involved in multiple basic biological processes. Analysis of m/lEV levels in blood or urine may help unravel pathophysiological findings in many diseases. However, it remains unclear how many naturally-occurring m/lEV subtypes exist as well as how their characteristics and functions differ from one another. Here, we identified m/lEVs pelleted from plasma and urine samples by differential centrifugation and showed by flow cytometry that they typically possessed diameters between 200 nm and 800 nm. Using proteomic profiling, we identified several proteins involved in m/lEV biogenesis including adhesion molecules, peptidases and exocytosis regulatory proteins. In healthy human plasma, we could distinguish m/lEVs derived from platelets, erythrocytes, monocytes/macrophages, T and B cells, and vascular endothelial cells using various surface antigens. m/lEVs derived from erythrocytes and monocytes were Annexin V positive. In urine, 50% of m/lEVs were Annexin V negative but contained various membrane peptidases derived from renal tubular villi. Urinary m/lEVs, but not plasma m/lEVs, showed peptidase activity. The method we have developed to characterize cell-derived m/lEVs suggests the possibility of clinical applications.
Predicting and Designing therapeutics against the Nipah virus
Authors: Sen Neeladri , Kanitkar Tejashree Rajaram , Roy Ankit Animesh , Soni Neelesh , Amritkar Kaustubh , Supekar Shreyas , Nair Sanjana , Singh Gulzar , Madhusudhan M.S.
Published: April 2019

Though every outbreak of the Nipah Virus has resulted in high mortality rates (>70% in Southeast Asia), there are no licensed drugs against it. In this study we have considered all 9 Nipah proteins as potential therapeutic targets and computationally identified putative peptides (against G, F, and M proteins) and small molecules inhibitors (against F, G, M, N, and P proteins). The computations include extensive homology/ab initio modelling, peptide design and small molecule docking. An important contribution of this study is the increased structural characterization of Nipah proteins by approximately 90% of what is deposited in the PDB. In addition, we have carried out molecular dynamics simulations on all the designed protein-peptide complexes to check for stability and to estimate binding strengths. Details, including atomic coordinates of all the proteins and their ligand bound complexes, can be accessed at http://cospi.iiserpune.ac.in/Nipah. Our strategy was to tackle the development of therapeutics on a proteome wide scale and the lead compounds identified could be attractive starting points for drug development. To this end, we have designed 4 peptide inhibitors and predicted 70 small molecules (13 with high confidence) against 3 and 5 Nipah proteins respectively. To counter the threat of drug resistance, we have analyzed the sequences of the viral strains from different outbreaks, to check whether they would be sensitive to the binding of the proposed inhibitors.

Author Summary

Nipah virus infections have killed 72-86% of the infected individuals in Bangladesh and India. The infections are spread via bodily secretions of bats, pigs and other infected individuals. Even though, the disease was first detected in the human population in 1998, there are no approved drugs/vaccines against it. In this study, we have tried to model the 3D structures of the Nipah virus proteins. We have then used these models to design/predict small inhibitory molecules that would bind them and prevent their function. We have also analyzed the different strains of the virus to identify conservation patterns of amino acids in the proteins, which in turn informs us of the efficacy of the drugs. The designed/docked compounds as well as the protein models are freely accessible for experimental validation and hypothesis testing.
Selective brain hypothermia ameliorates focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via inhibiting Fis1 in rats
Authors: Tang Yanan , Chen Huailong , Sun Xiaopeng , Qin Weiwei , Shi Fei , Sun Lixin , Xu Xiaona , Zhang Gaofeng , Wang Mingshan
Published: April 2019

Mitochondrial immoderate fission induces neuronal apoptosis following focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. With fewer complications, selective brain hypothermia (SBH) is considered an effective treatment against neuronal injury after stroke. However, the specific mechanism by which SBH influences mitochondrial fission remains unknown. Mitochondrial fission 1 protein (Fis1), a key factor of the mitochondrial fission system, regulates mitochondrial dynamics. This study aimed to investigate whether SBH regulates Fis1 expression in focal cerebral I/R injury. In this study, rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models were established. After 2 h of occlusion, cold saline or normal saline was pumped into rats in different groups through the carotid artery, followed by restoration of blood perfusion. Cortical and rectal temperatures showed that the cold saline treatment achieved SBH. Cerebral I/R injury increased neurological deficit scores (NDS); neuronal apoptosis; Fis1 protein and mRNA expression; cytosolic cytochrome c (cyto-Cyto c) protein expression at 6, 24 and 48 h postreperfusion; and cerebral infarct volumes at 24 h postreperfusion. Interestingly, SBH inhibited Fis1 protein and mRNA expression, blocked cyto-Cyto c protein expression, preserved neuronal cell integrity, and reduced neuronal apoptosis. However, normal saline treatment rarely resulted in positive outcomes. Based on these results, SBH inhibited Fis1 expression, thus ameliorating focal cerebral I/R injury in rats.
Identification of a role for an E6-like 1 gene in early pollen-stigma interactions in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Doucet Jennifer , Truong Christina , Frank-Webb Elizabeth , Lee Hyun Kyung , Daneva Anna , Gao Zhen , Nowack Moritz K. , Goring Daphne R.
Published: April 2019

In Arabidopsis, successful pollen-stigma interactions are dependent on rapid recognition of compatible pollen by the stigmatic papillae located on the surface of the pistil and the subsequent regulation of pollen hydration and germination, and followed by the growth of pollen tubes through the stigma surface. Here we have described the function of a novel gene, E6-like 1 (E6L1), that was identified through the analysis of transcriptome datasets, as one of highest-expressed genes in the stigma, and furthermore, its expression was largely restricted to the stigma and trichomes. The first E6 gene was initially identified as a highly-expressed gene during cotton fiber development, and related E6-like predicted proteins are found throughout the Angiosperms. To date, no orthologous genes have been assigned a biological function. Both the Arabidopsis E6L1 and cotton E6 proteins are predicted to be secreted, and this was confirmed using an E6L1:RFP fusion construct. To further investigate E6L1’s function, one T-DNA and two independent CRISPR-generated mutants were analyzed for compatible pollen-stigma interactions, and pollen hydration, pollen adhesion and seed set were mildly impaired for the e6l1 mutants. This work identifies E6L1 as a novel stigmatic factor that plays a role during the early post-pollination stages in Arabidopsis.

Key Message

We describe a function for a novel Arabidopsis gene, E6-like 1 (E6L1), that was identified as a highly-expressed gene in the stigma and plays a role in early post-pollination stages.
Multi-scale Computational Modeling of Tubulin-Tubulin Lateral Interaction
Authors: Hemmat M. , Castle B.T. , Sachs J.N. , Odde D.J.
Published: April 2019

Microtubules are multi-stranded polymers in eukaryotic cells that support key cellular functions such as chromosome segregation, motor-based cargo transport, and maintenance of cell polarity. Microtubules self-assemble via “dynamic instability,” where the dynamic plus ends switch stochastically between alternating phases of polymerization and depolymerization. A key question in the field is what are the atomistic origins of this switching, i.e. what is different between the GTP- and GDP-tubulin states that enables microtubule growth and shortening, respectively? More generally, a major challenge in biology is how to connect theoretical frameworks across length-time scales, from atoms to cellular behavior. In this study, we describe a multi-scale model by linking atomistic molecular dynamics (MD), molecular Brownian dynamics (BD), and cellular-level thermo-kinetic (TK) modeling of microtubules. Here we investigated the underlying interaction energy landscape when tubulin dimers associate laterally by performing all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. We found that the lateral free energy is not significantly different among three nucleotide states of tubulin, GTP, GDP, and GMPCPP, and is estimated to be ≅−11 kBT. Furthermore, using MD potential energy in our BD simulations of tubulin dimers in solution confirms that the lateral bond is weak on its own with a mean lifetime of ~0.1 μs, implying that the longitudinal bond is required for microtubule assembly. We conclude that nucleotide-dependent lateral bond strength is not the key mediator microtubule dynamic instability, implying that GTP acts elsewhere to exert its stabilizing influence on microtubule polymer. Furthermore the estimated bond strength is well-aligned with earlier estimates based on thermokinetic (TK) modeling and light microscopy measurements (VanBuren et al., PNAS, 2002). Thus, we have computationally connected atomistic level structural information, obtained by cryo-electron microscopy, to cellular scale microtubule assembly dynamics using a combination of MD, BD, and TK models to bridge from Ångstroms to micrometers and from femtoseconds to minutes.
Individual responses to competing accountability pressures in hybrid organisations
Authors: Gebreiter Florian , Hidayah Nunung Nurul
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine conflicting institutional demands on individual frontline employees in hybrid public sector organisations. Specifically, it examines the competing accountability pressures professional and commercial logics exerted on academics at a business school, how individual lecturers responded to such pressures, and what drove these responses.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a case study of an English business school and is informed by the literatures on institutional logics and hybrid organisations.

Findings

The paper shows that the co-existence of professional and commercial logics at the case organisation exerted competing accountability pressures on lecturers. It moreover shows that sometimes deliberately and purposefully, sometimes ad hoc or even coincidentally, lecturers drew on a wide range of responses to these conflicting pressures, including compliance, defiance, combination and compartmentalisation.

Originality/value

The paper sheds light on individual level responses to competing institutional logics and associated accountability pressures, as well as on their drivers. It also highlights the drawbacks of user, customer or citizen accountability mechanisms, showing that a strong emphasis on them in knowledge-intensive public organisations can have severe dysfunctional effects.
Long-term prediction on atmospheric corrosion data series of carbon steel in China based on NGBM(1,1) model and genetic algorithm
Authors: Zhi Yuanjie , Fu Dongmei , Yang Tao , Zhang Dawei , Li Xiaogang , Pei Zibo
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This study aims to achieve long-term prediction on a specific monotonic data series of atmospheric corrosion rate vs time.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a new method, used to the collected corrosion data of carbon steel provided by the China Gateway to Corrosion and Protection, that combines non-linear gray Bernoulli model (NGBM(1,1) with genetic algorithm to attain the purpose of this study.

Findings

Results of the experiments showed that the present study’s method is more accurate than other algorithms. In particular, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and the root mean square error (RMSE) of the proposed method in data sets are 9.15 per cent and 1.23 µm/a, respectively. Furthermore, this study illustrates that model parameter can be used to evaluate the similarity of curve tendency between two carbon steel data sets.

Originality/value

Corrosion data are part of a typical small-sample data set, and these also belong to a gray system because corrosion has a clear outcome and an uncertainly occurrence mechanism. In this work, a new gray forecast model was proposed to achieve the goal of long-term prediction of carbon steel in China.
Dyslexia and policing
Authors: Macdonald Stephen J. , Cosgrove Faye
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of officers/civilians with dyslexia serving in the police service in England and Wales. Although there has been a growing body of research which has analysed the experiences of offenders and victims with dyslexia, there have been few studies focusing on the experiences of police officers/civilians with this condition. This study employs the social model of disability to conceptualise the experiences of these police officers/civilians from a disability rights perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

This applies a quantitative methodology to analyse data on disabling environments experienced by officers/civilians serving in a police service situated in the North of England. The paper collected data from 56 police employees previously diagnosed with dyslexia.

Findings

The findings reveal that a significant number of officers were reluctant to disclose that they had dyslexia to their police service. The choice to disclose was a key concern for officers/civilians, as this was directly linked to their experiences of stigmatisation, as well as the risk of their competences being questioned at work. The analysis presents evidence that, although officers/civilians have legal protections under the Equality Act 2010 (c15) in the UK, very few had experienced any form of “reasonable adjustment” in the workplace.

Originality/value

Drawing on the social model of disability, the paper concludes that the police service must improve access to reasonable adjustment, for example, through the use of assistive technologies, to create a more inclusive and supportive working environment for their employees.
Improving the soft skills of engineering undergraduates in Malaysia through problem-based approaches and e-learning applications
Authors: Deep Sadia , Salleh Berhannudin Mohd , Othman Hussain
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Various studies around the globe indicate lack of soft skills in engineering students, graduating from universities, although the bulk of studies in various disciplines indicate an improvement in various skills through implementation of a problem-based learning (PBL) approach. The purpose of this paper is therefore to identify and determine the effects of PBL in improving and developing soft skills, conflict resolution traits and aspects of enhancing group learning in undergraduates.

Design/methodology/approach

A study with mixed methods was used, involving questionnaire, observation and document analysis. A total of 57 students from different faculties participated in the semester-long study. Pre-tests and post-tests were administered at the beginning and end of the study. The researcher attended all the classes to observe systematically the teaching-learning process and its outcomes.

Findings

The findings revealed that PBL has a significant effect on improving students’ soft skills and enhancing group learning, including overcoming communication conflicts.

Practical implications

Practical implications of the study involve the enhancement of generic skills of the engineering graduates with the student-centered and interactive methodologies like PBL and e-learning applications.

Originality/value

This research endeavor stands unique due to its usage of e-learning tools in the PBL classroom learning such as Schoology, Padlet, videos, internet surfing. Another unique feature of this research is the holistic nature of the study, i.e. the measurement of a number of soft skills, traits and group learning skills that are not focused in other studies of engineering.
Hygrothermal simulation of cathedral ceiling roofs with ventilated roofing tiles
Authors: Kölsch Philipp
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The surface temperature of the sub-roof beneath the ventilation layer and the tiles is one of the most important factors for the hygrothermal performance of pitched roofs. The air layer between tiles and sub-roof and the air exchange with the outdoor air influence the heat transfer and therefore affect the moisture level inside the roof construction. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides the results of a research project performed at Fraunhofer-Institute for Building Physics, based on field test results. The investigations analyze the thermal behavior of different vented and ventilated roof constructions.

Findings

It was found that for a detailed model with roof cladding and ventilated air layer normally too many parameters are unknown. For that reason a simplified approach was set up, especially to consider the radiation exchange between the tiles and the underlay as well as the effects of the ventilation.

Originality/value

Now, effective surface transfer parameters can substitute both cladding and air layer in the simulation, while the approach still provides a high accordance with the measured values. The paper provides characteristic values for different roofing situations to simulate ventilated roofs by means of hygrothermal simulation in a simplified way.
Co-innovation toolbox for demand-supply chain synchronisation
Authors: Salmela Erno , Huiskonen Janne
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to promote decision-making structures between the customer and the supplier in a highly uncertain environment. This phenomenon of demand-supply chain synchronisation includes sharing of high-quality and timely demand and supply information in order to improve the quality and speed of decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was carried out as an abductive case study, which started from empirical observations that did not match the prior theoretical framework. Through abductive reasoning and empirical experiments, the prior framework was extended to a new synchronisation model and tools that better accommodate the observed need.

Findings

A new co-innovation toolbox was developed to create common understanding of demand-supply chain synchronisation between the customer and the supplier. The toolbox includes Demand Visibility Point-Demand Penetration Point, Supply Visibility Point–Supply Penetration Point and Integrative Synchronisation tools.

Research limitations/implications

The study extends the current models and tools of demand-supply chain synchronisation. With the new toolbox, the development needs of decision-making structures can be identified more comprehensively than with the current tools.

Practical implications

The developed visual toolbox helps partners create a common understanding of problems and development possibilities in demand-supply chain synchronisation in a highly uncertain environment. Common understanding is a starting point for changing decision-making structures to improve the overall performance of a demand-supply chain.

Originality/value

The new toolbox is both more comprehensive and more detailed than the previous tools.
An evaluation of used objects in bank TV commercials in Ramadan
Authors: Aydin Oguzhan , Hasiloglu Selcuk Burak
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to find the most effective objects used in Ramadan TV ads of banks operated in Turkey and to determine superiority of the objects among these ads.

Design/methodology/approach

This research examines used objects in bank TV advertisements for the month of Ramadan by applying content analysis and fuzzy logic method.

Findings

The most prominent of the findings, as a result of the research, are kids and the elder objects in bank TV commercials. The research findings also reveal the importance of religious objects of Ramadan ads.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this research is non-generalization of the results because of sample size. Future research could explore the impact of objects used in TV ads on consumers with a larger sample size.

Practical implications

The banks are eager to look for opportunities by launching campaigns during the period of Ramadan. Special occasions such as religious holidays are seen as a new market that should not to be missed by the finance sector, and therefore, the number of bank TV commercials increase dramatically in this term. However, it is important for banks to know which objects are more effective. In this study, it is revealed that objects used in TV ads are more effective.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine bank TV commercials during the period of Ramadan. It is also important to reflect Turkish consumers’ perspective and banks’ promotion activities in a Muslim country.
Intersectional history: exploring intersectionality over time
Authors: Shaffner Ellen C. , Mills Albert J. , Helms Mills Jean
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to outline the possibilities of intersectional history as a novel method for management history. Intersectional history combines intersectionality and the study of the past to examine discrimination in organizations over time. This paper explores the need for intersectional work in management history, outlines the vision for intersectional history and provides a brief example analyzing the treatment of Australian Aboriginal people in a historical account of Qantas Airways.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper contends that intersectionality is a discursive practice, and it adopts a relational approach to the study of the past to inform the method. This paper focuses on the social construction of identities and the enduring nature of traces of the powerful in organizations over time.

Findings

The example of Qantas Airways demonstrates that intersectional history can be used to interrogate powerful traces of the past to reveal novel insights about marginalized peoples over time.

Originality/value

Intersectional history is a specific and reflexive method that allows for the surfacing of identity-based marginalization over time. The paper’s concentration on identity as socially constructed allows a particular focus on notions or representations of the marginalized in traces of the past. These traces may otherwise mask the existence and importance of marginalized groups in organizations’ dominant histories.
Evidence-based asset management applied to maintenance function control
Authors: Herrera Galán Michael
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Every day a large volume of information is generated in the maintenance department relating to its business assets whose detailed analysis has a direct impact on the effectiveness of the company. Taking into account the aforementioned, it is necessary to develop and implement a set of indicators that allow a practical evaluation of the maintenance function in any firm. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the maintenance function through a thorough analysis of historical data of a biotechnology sector firm.

Design/methodology/approach

The method used to evaluate the maintenance function of a Cuban company is based on the quantification of a set of indicators, represented graphically. The data processed in this paper were obtained through an informatics application, designed to computerize the maintenance function in the firm. This application is validated and is part of the company quality management system, which is audited every two years by the national regulatory authority CECMED (Centro para el Control Estatal de Medicamentos, Equipos y Dispositivos Médicos de Cuba, by its Spanish acronym), for issuing the certificates of sanitary license and good manufacturing practices.

Findings

Evidence-based control alternatives were used to evaluate the adequacy of the maintenance function in a biotechnology company. The results demonstrate graphically the maintenance operations of the National Center for Scientific Research, production department, during a period from January 2013 to December 2017. Finally, based on the analysis, it was discovered that the performance of the maintenance department was inadequate and had poor effectiveness, and a new maintenance strategy was established to be followed for the next quinquennium.

Originality/value

The research proposal provides information on how to evaluate the proactive and reactive maintenance actions through graphical indicators. The results obtained together with traditional maintenance indicators such as availability, maintainability and reliability could be interesting to technicians or engineers who decide to evaluate directly the effectiveness of a maintenance department.
Understanding non-private label consumers’ switching intention in emerging market
Authors: Aw Eugene Cheng-Xi , Chong Han Xi
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose and empirically test a research model encompassing marketing mix activities as antecedents of non-private label consumers’ switching intention, particularly from an emerging market perspective. The study also aims to test the moderating role of general neophobia and gender.

Design/methodology/approach

Focusing on non-private label consumers, the study analyzed a total of 211 questionnaire responses. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test the research model.

Findings

The results suggested that marketing mix activities, particularly advertising, in-store communication, and monetary promotion positively influenced private label brand attitude. Attitude positively influenced switching intention. The proposed moderating effects of general neophobia and gender in the relationship between private label brand attitude and switching intention were supported.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence to the effects of marketing practices on private label brand attitude from an emerging market perspective, complementing previous research which largely focused on developed market. The findings offer managerial ideas in targeting non-private label consumers. The test of moderating variables expands the understanding on attitude-intention link.
Simulative analysis of turbulent flow through a circular conduit with uniform wall temperature and constant heat flux boundary conditions
Authors: Belhocine Ali , Wan Omar Wan Zaidi
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This study aims to investigate numerically a two-dimensional fully developed mean turbulent fluid flow, and heat transfer in a circular duct is numerically investigated using FORTRAN 95 code that applies the finite difference method to solve the thermal problem for the two thermal boundary conditions, constant surface temperature, constant heat and steady, axisymmetric flow. Several important results have been drawn and discussed from thermal analysis. Finally, the numerical results of the model developed in the document have been validated in good accuracy by comparing them with some correlation results available in the specialized literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of solving the thermal problem is based on the equation of energy for a fluid of constant properties while taking into consideration the hypothesis of the axisymmetric and fully developed pipe flow in steady state. The global equation and the initial and boundary conditions acting on the problem have been configured here in dimensionless form to predict the turbulent behavior of the fluid inside the tube. Thus, using Thomas' algorithm, a program in FORTRAN version 95 was developed to numerically solve the discretized form of the system of equations describing the problem.

Findings

The profiles of the solutions are provided from which the authors infer that the numerical and literature correlation agreed very well. Another result that they obtained from this study is the number of Nusselt in the thermal entrance region to which a parametric study based on Reynolds and Peclet numbers, and the longitudinal coordinate, was carried out and discussed well for the impact of the scientific contribution.

Originality/value

The novelty of the work is the application of the finite difference method programed on the FORTRAN code, as a sequential numerical method of an ODEs system, to determine the number of Nusselt in both uniform wall temperature and wall heat flux uniform.
Demography of a high‐density tiger population and its implications for tiger recovery
Authors: Bisht Shikha , Banerjee Sudip , Qureshi Qamar , Jhala Yadavendradev
Published: April 2019

Prioritizing conservation of source populations within landscapes is proposed as a strategy for recovering tigers globally. We studied population dynamics of tigers in Corbett National Park (CNP) in Indian Terai, which harbours the largest and highest density tiger population in any protected area of the world. Through population viability models, we demonstrate the importance of CNP in tiger recovery within western Terai.

We camera trapped 521 km2 of CNP using open population capture–mark–recapture framework between 2010 and 2015 to estimate annual abundance, spatially explicit density, survival, recruitment, temporary movements, sex ratio and proportion of females breeding. We model metapopulation persistence with and without Corbett as a source within western Terai landscape at different levels of poaching and habitat connectivity.

In 6 years, we recorded 6,202 photo‐captures of 307 individual tigers. Annual tiger abundance and density were stable at 120 (SE 19) and 14 (SE 3) per 100 km2 respectively. Detection probability of tigers was 0.18 (SE 0.03) and detection‐corrected male:female sex ratio was female biased (0.80 SE 0.13). Apparent annual survival probability was 0.79 (SE 0.05) for females and 0.60 (SE 0.04) for males. Survival of tigers in CNP (0.68 SE 0.12) was lower than that reported for other populations. CNP tigers showed high reproduction with 54.8 (SE 5.1)% females breeding and with addition of 35 (SE 8)% as new recruits to the population each year. Small tiger populations in western Terai with moderate poaching could only persist through dispersal from CNP.

Synthesis and applications. Corbett tiger population was characterized by a stable high density, high reproductive rate and low survival, resulting in high turnover rates (32%–48%) between successive years. Such source populations could sustain low‐level poaching and with habitat connectivity, recover tiger populations across the landscape. This study establishes potential thresholds that can likely be achieved by tiger populations under optimal natural conditions and highlights the importance of prioritizing conservation of source populations within tiger landscapes. This information can be used to plan and implement realistic tiger recovery programmes globally.
Patients’ preferences over care settings for minor illnesses and injuries
Authors: Mukamel Dana B. , Ladd Heather , Amin Alpesh , Sorkin Dara H.
Published: April 2019

Objectives

To identify consumers’ preferences over care settings, such as physicians’ offices, emergency rooms (ERs), urgent care centers, retail clinics, and virtual physicians on smartphones, for minor illnesses.

Data Sources

A survey conducted between 9/27/16 and 12/7/16 emailed to all University of California, Irvine employees.

Study Design

Participants were presented with 10 clinical scenarios and asked to choose the setting in which they wanted to receive care. We estimated multinomial conditional logit regression models, conditioning the choice on out‐of‐pocket costs, wait time, travel time, and chooser characteristics.

Data Collection

5451 out of 21 037 employees responded.

Principal findings

Out‐of‐pocket costs and wait time had minimal impact on patient's preference for site of care. Choices were driven primarily by the clinical scenario and patient characteristics. For chronic conditions and children's well‐visits, the doctor's office was the preferred choice by a strong majority, but for most acute conditions, either the ER (for high severity) or urgent care clinics (for lower severity) were preferred to the office setting, particularly among younger patients and those with less education.

Conclusions

Patients have several alternatives to traditional physicians’ offices and ERs. The low impact of out‐of‐pocket costs suggests that insurers interested in encouraging increased utilization of alternatives would need to consider substantial changes to benefit structure.
Effects of improvements in the CPS on the estimated prevalence of medical financial burdens
Authors: Hill Steven C. , Solomon Keisha T. , Maclean Johanna Catherine , Pesko Michael F.
Published: April 2019

Objective

To measure the effects of questionnaire and imputation improvements in the Current Population Survey (CPS) on the estimated prevalence of high medical financial burden, that is, families spending more than 10 percent of income on medical care.

Data Source

Matched longitudinal sample of CPS data for 2013 and 2014 calendar years.

Study Design

The CPS used a split‐sample design to field traditional and redesigned questions about 2013 income, and old and new out‐of‐pocket premium imputation procedures, respectively. For both samples, CPS data for 2014 were from the redesigned income questions and the new imputation procedures. We quantify the effects of the combined survey improvements using differences‐in‐differences methods.

Principal Findings

The improvements were not associated with changes in the estimate of burden in the full sample. Estimated prevalence increased by 2.6 percentage points among nonelderly adults with private insurance, decreased by 6.6 percentage points among nonelderly adults with public coverage, and decreased by 5.8 percentage points among elderly adults with Medicare and no private coverage.

Conclusions

Improvements in the CPS changed the estimated prevalence of high medical financial burden among key subgroups. Researchers should use caution when tracking burden across the time‐period in which these improvements were implemented.
Age‐ and gender‐specific disease distribution and the diagnostic accuracy of CT for resected anterior mediastinal lesions
Authors: Nam Ju Gang , Goo Jin Mo , Park Chang Min , Lee Hyun‐Ju , Lee Chang Hyun , Yoon Soon Ho
Published: April 2019

Background

Anterior mediastinal lesions account for approximately half of all mediastinal masses and computed tomography (CT) is known to exhibit limited differentiating performance. Our aim was to evaluate the age‐ and gender‐specific distribution of anterior mediastinal lesions and the diagnostic accuracy of multi‐detector CT (MDCT).

Methods

This retrospective study included 549 consecutive patients with proven anterior mediastinal lesions and diagnostic MDCT scans. The age‐ and gender‐specific distribution of proven diagnoses and diagnostic accuracy were reviewed. The CT features of malignant and benign diseases having the lowest accuracy were compared with those of the most commonly misdiagnosed diseases.

Results

The proportion of malignancy showed a V‐shape relationship with age (lowest, 52.7% [50s]). The most prevalent malignancies were lymphoma (20s), lymphoma/thymoma (30s), thymoma (40s–50s), and thymoma/thymic carcinoma (≥60s). The most prevalent benign diseases were thymic remnant/hyperplasia (20s–30s), and thymic bed cyst (≥40s). The first‐choice diagnostic accuracy of MDCT decreased with age regardless of gender: 75.4% (20s), 75.0% (30s), 67.8% (40s), 58.5% (50s), and 53.4% (≥60s), primarily due to incorrect diagnoses of thymic bed cyst and thymic carcinoma (accuracy, 42.3% and 30.5%), which were prevalent in older patients and mostly misdiagnosed as thymoma. The most powerful differentiating MDCT features were water attenuation (≤20 HU) (OR, 42.7 [95%CI, 8.8–‐208.3], P < 0.001) for thymic bed cyst and mediastinal lymphadenopathy (6.8 [1.7–27.2], P = 0.006) for thymic carcinoma, but both showed low sensitivity (34.5% and 18.6%, respectively).

Conclusions

MDCT accuracy depended on age, owing to the age‐specific distribution of thymic carcinoma and thymic bed cyst, which frequently lacks distinguishable CT features from thymoma.
Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas in children: Hacettepe experience
Authors: Yalçın Bilgehan , Yağcı‐Küpeli Begül , Ekinci Saniye , Orhan Diclehan , Oğuz Berna , Varan Ali , Kutluk Tezer , Akyüz Canan
Published: April 2019

Background

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas (SPNP) is mostly seen in young women in the second and third decades of life; it is quite uncommon in children. We aimed to review our institutional experience with SPNP in children.

Methods

Hospital charts of children <18 years of age diagnosed to have SPNP were reviewed for demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms, diagnostic interventions, physical examination findings, radiological data, extent of disease, diagnostic and management strategies and final outcome.

Results

Nineteen cases were diagnosed as SPNP between 1992 and 2017 (female: male, 16:3; median age 13 years, range 8.5–16.5). The most common symptom was abdominal pain. Physical examination was normal in 12/19 cases. Three cases were diagnosed incidentally. The most common tumour localization was the head of the pancreas. Median tumour diameter was 5 cm (1.4–15). One patient had abdominal disseminated disease, and others had localized disease. Surgical interventions were enucleations in nine, distal pancreatectomies in four and total resection in two patients; three underwent no surgery following diagnosis. Only one patient received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. One patient died, one was lost to follow‐up at 164 months and 17 were under follow‐up with no events at a median of 60 months (20–308 months).

Conclusion

In childen, SPNP demonstrates different clinical features. Complete resection is curative in most patients. In children, the optimal surgical strategy for SPNP is still debatable. Instead of radical resections, limited pancreatic resections, such as enucleations, with negative surgical margins should be attempted. For unresectable or recurrent tumours, cisplatin and 5‐FU‐based chemotherapy might be considered.