bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Involvement of advillin in somatosensory neuron subtype-specific axon regeneration and neuropathic pain
Authors: Chuang Yu-Chia , Lee Cheng-Han , Sun Wei-Hsin , Chen Chih-Cheng
Published: August 2018

Significance

An estimated 20 million people in the United States have chronic neuropathic pain, but current analgesics are nonspecific or insufficiently effective. Here we show that advillin, a sensory neuron-specific protein, modulates axonal regeneration of a specific subset of pain-sensing afferent neurons (nociceptors) that binds with isolectin B4 and neuropathic pain. In addition, we identify the cell behavior of advillin shed-off from the growth cone in the context of axonal regeneration and thus detected advillin protein in the cerebrospinal fluid in mice with painful peripheral neuropathy. Advillin is a potential biosignature to diagnose the lesion cause of neuropathic pain associated with isolectin B4
+
nociceptors.
Monitoring food preference in
Drosophila
by oligonucleotide tagging
Authors: Park Annie , Tran Tracy , Atkinson Nigel S.
Published: August 2018

Significance

Quantifying the preference for particular foods is difficult in
Drosophila
because of the animal’s small meal size. It is common for fly feeding assays to induce or require starvation conditions. We have developed BARCODE, a method of tracking consumption preference by tagging foods with different oligonucleotides and later performing qPCR from the fly body to determine its feeding history. Because a fraction of the ingested oligomer persists for about a week, this assay provides a long-term record of the feeding pattern. We use this assay to study sexually dimorphic differences in ethanol consumption preference in
Drosophila
. BARCODE is also suitable for multiplex feeding studies in which the preference between more than two foods is simultaneously compared.
Hack weeks as a model for data science education and collaboration
Authors: Huppenkothen Daniela , Arendt Anthony , Hogg David W. , Ram Karthik , VanderPlas Jacob T. , Rokem Ariel
Published: August 2018

Significance

As scientific disciplines grapple with more datasets of rapidly increasing complexity and size, new approaches are urgently required to introduce new statistical and computational tools into research communities and improve the cross-disciplinary exchange of ideas. In this paper, we introduce a type of scientific workshop, called a hack week, which allows for fast dissemination of new methodologies into scientific communities and fosters exchange and collaboration within and between disciplines. We present implementations of this concept in astronomy, neuroscience, and geoscience and show that hack weeks produce positive learning outcomes, foster lasting collaborations, yield scientific results, and promote positive attitudes toward open science.
Multidecadally resolved polarity oscillations during a geomagnetic excursion
Authors: Chou Yu-Min , Jiang Xiuyang , Liu Qingsong , Hu Hsun-Ming , Wu Chung-Che , Liu Jianxing , Jiang Zhaoxia , Lee Teh-Quei , Wang Chun-Chieh , Song Yen-Fang , Chiang Cheng-Cheng , Tan Liangcheng , Lone Mahjoor A. , Pan Yongxin , Zhu Rixiang , He Yaoqi , Chou Yu-Chen , Tan An-Hung , Roberts Andrew P. , Zhao Xiang , Shen Chuan-Chou
Published: August 2018

Significance

A stalagmite-based paleomagnetic record of the post-Blake excursion reveals details of repeated centennial–millennial interhemispheric polarity drifts and saw-tooth inclination oscillations during periods of low geomagnetic field intensity at 100 thousand years before present. One surprisingly abrupt centennial reversal transition occurred in 144 ± 58 years (2σ) and provides unprecedented evidence that raises fundamental questions about the speed of geomagnetic field shifts. Such rapid polarity changes could severely affect satellites and human society in the future if the current geomagnetic field intensity continues to decrease.
Inflammasome-derived cytokine IL18 suppresses amyloid-induced seizures in Alzheimer-prone mice
Authors: Tzeng Te-Chen , Hasegawa Yuto , Iguchi Risa , Cheung Amy , Caffrey Daniel R. , Thatcher Elizabeth Jeanne , Mao Wenjie , Germain Gail , Tamburro Nelsy DePaula , Okabe Shigeo , Heneka Michael T. , Latz Eicke , Futai Kensuke , Golenbock Douglas T.
Published: August 2018

Significance

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe cognitive decline. The connection between neuroinflammation and the progressive loss of neurons is well known; however, the fact that most patients with AD suffer from concomitant seizure disorders is underappreciated. We have previously shown that the NLRP3 inflammasome, a major source of the proinflammatory cytokines IL1β and IL18, drives the pathology of AD in APP/PS1 mice. Here we report that surprisingly, IL18-deficient APP/PS1 mice develop a lethal seizure disorder due to an increase in neuronal network transmission. While targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome might be one potential method of halting AD progression, it should be recognized that specific cytokine inhibition in the brain may result in unintended deleterious consequences.
Militarization fails to enhance police safety or reduce crime but may harm police reputation
Authors: Mummolo Jonathan
Published: August 2018

Significance

National debates over heavy-handed police tactics, including so-called “militarized” policing, are often framed as a trade-off between civil liberties and public safety, but the costs and benefits of controversial police practices remain unclear due to data limitations. Using an array of administrative data sources and original experiments I show that militarized “special weapons and tactics” (SWAT) teams are more often deployed in communities of color, and—contrary to claims by police administrators—provide no detectable benefits in terms of officer safety or violent crime reduction, on average. However, survey experiments suggest that seeing militarized police in news reports erodes opinion toward law enforcement. Taken together, these findings suggest that curtailing militarized policing may be in the interest of both police and citizens.
Lack of Sprouty 1 and 2 enhances survival of effector CD8
+
T cells and yields more protective memory cells
Authors: Shehata Hesham M. , Khan Shahzada , Chen Elise , Fields Patrick E. , Flavell Richard A. , Sanjabi Shomyseh
Published: August 2018

Significance

Sprouty (Spry) molecules are known regulators of the Erk signaling pathway. We determined how the absence of Spry 1 and Spry 2 affects the formation and function of effector and memory CD8
+
T cells. We found that absence of Spry1/2 enhances the survival of effector CD8
+
T cells and results in the formation of more polyfunctional memory cells. As increased numbers of memory CD8
+
T cells strongly correlate with enhanced protection against tumors and pathogenic infections, our findings identify the
Spry1
and
Spry2
loci as attractive targets for increasing the number, survival, and function of antigen-specific memory CD8
+
T cells. This may provide an opportunity for better future engineering of T cells against tumors and chronic viral infections.
Structural basis for antibiotic resistance mediated by the
Bacillus subtilis
ABCF ATPase VmlR
Authors: Crowe-McAuliffe Caillan , Graf Michael , Huter Paul , Takada Hiraku , Abdelshahid Maha , Nováček Jiří , Murina Victoriia , Atkinson Gemma C. , Hauryliuk Vasili , Wilson Daniel N.
Published: August 2018

Significance

The recent increase in multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria is limiting the utility of our current arsenal of clinically important antibiotics. The development of improved antibiotics would therefore benefit from a better understanding of the current resistance mechanisms employed by bacteria. Many Gram-positive bacteria, including pathogenic
Staphylococcus aureus
and
Enterococcus faecalis
, utilize ribosome protection proteins to confer resistance to medically relevant antibiotics, such as streptogramins A, lincosamides, and pleuromutilins. We have employed cryo-electron microscopy to reveal the structural basis for how the
Bacillus subtilis
VmlR protein binds to the ribosome to confer resistance to the streptogramin A antibiotic virginiamycin M, the lincosamide lincomycin, and the pleuromutilin tiamulin.
Enterotoxigenic
E. coli
virulence gene regulation in human infections
Authors: Crofts Alexander A. , Giovanetti Simone M. , Rubin Erica J. , Poly Frédéric M. , Gutiérrez Ramiro L. , Talaat Kawsar R. , Porter Chad K. , Riddle Mark S. , DeNearing Barbara , Brubaker Jessica , Maciel Milton , Alcala Ashley N. , Chakraborty Subhra , Prouty Michael G. , Savarino Stephen J. , Davies Bryan W. , Trent M. Stephen
Published: August 2018

Enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
(ETEC) is a global diarrheal pathogen that utilizes adhesins and secreted enterotoxins to cause disease in mammalian hosts. Decades of research on virulence factor regulation in ETEC has revealed a variety of environmental factors that influence gene expression, including bile, pH, bicarbonate, osmolarity, and glucose. However, other hallmarks of the intestinal tract, such as low oxygen availability, have not been examined. Further, determining how ETEC integrates these signals in the complex host environment is challenging. To address this, we characterized ETEC’s response to the human host using samples from a controlled human infection model. We found ETEC senses environmental oxygen to globally influence virulence factor expression via the oxygen-sensitive transcriptional regulator fumarate and nitrate reduction (FNR) regulator. In vitro anaerobic growth replicates the in vivo virulence factor expression profile, and deletion of
fnr
in ETEC strain H10407 results in a significant increase in expression of all classical virulence factors, including the colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I) adhesin operon and both heat-stable and heat-labile enterotoxins. These data depict a model of ETEC infection where FNR activity can globally influence virulence gene expression, and therefore proximity to the oxygenated zone bordering intestinal epithelial cells likely influences ETEC virulence gene expression in vivo. Outside of the host, ETEC biofilms are associated with seasonal ETEC epidemics, and we find FNR is a regulator of biofilm production. Together these data suggest FNR-dependent oxygen sensing in ETEC has implications for human infection inside and outside of the host.
Nonpoint source pollution: experiments on the average Pigouvian tax under costly communication
Authors: Sarr H , Bchir M A , Cochard F , Rozan A
Published: August 2018

The ‘average Pigouvian tax’ (APT) was proposed to reduce the financial burden imposed by the standard ambient tax. This instrument consists of a standard ambient tax divided by the number of firms and it requires polluters to cooperate in order to achieve the social optimum. To enable polluters to cooperate, communication is allowed in most of the experimental treatments. We introduce different types of communication: cheap talk, exogenous costly communication and endogenous costly communication. Our experiment confirms that under cheap talk, the APT promotes a reduction in polluters’ emissions. In contrast, under costly communication, the APT reduces group emissions to a lesser extent.
UBS AG v. IRC, DB Group Services (UK) Ltd v. IRC: Fiscal Nullity and the Supreme Court*
Authors: Ohms Chris , Olesen Karin
Published: August 2018

In this article, the application of the UK doctrine of fiscal nullity by the Supreme Court is considered in light of the twin decisions in the cases of UBS AG v. IRC1 and DB Group Services (UK) Ltd v. IRC.2 This article argues that fiscal nullity is not a separate doctrine of taxation but can be explained in the way the facts are proven in a tax case, in the way that legal transactions are characterized and how the legislation is interpreted and applied. Using this as the conceptual framework of the paper, prior fiscal nullity cases have been analysed and decisions explained with a focus on different stages of the framework. UBS and DB Group Services findings relate to all three stages of the conceptual framework. Stage 1 requires that the court view the background ‘matrix of fact’ in a very objective manner. Stage 2 is the construction of the legal relations and the application of the statute particularly around the concept of ‘restricted security.’ Stage 3 concerns the purposive interpretation of ‘restricted security’ within the meaning of the legislation (section 425(2) ITEPA (UK)). Consequently, the decision in these two cases is not a departure from prior decisions.
Clinical research with adolescents: barriers and how to overcome them
Authors: Sokkary Nancy , Yoost Jennie
Published: August 2018

Purpose of review

This review aims to emphasize the importance of including adolescents in research, outline current standards and evaluate barriers that prevent adolescent research. We also hope to provide some guidance and call for much needed additional direction in the field.

Recent findings

The absolute necessity for including adolescents in research has been an area of focus within the community of adolescent providers and care takers. Recent policy and support from major organizations has emphasized the importance of including this population in research but also pointed out many of the complexities.

Adolescent research is imperative to guiding policy and promoting evidence-based care. Current standards provide both guidance and barriers, yet more research is needed to further guide conduct of ethical research in this population.
Enterprise Cybersecurity: Building a Successful Defense Program
Authors: Reagin Michael J. , Gentry Michael V.
Published: August 2018

Cybersecurity is no longer an option or an afterthought—it is a strategic asset that every organization must address, especially in healthcare. The impact of modern cyberattacks extends well beyond privacy breaches and damage to brand or reputation; it can also affect the safe delivery of care. In 2017, a global security incident affected National Health Service hospitals in England and Scotland, preventing them from providing services to patients and causing thousands of appointments to be canceled. Such serious cyberattacks are becoming more prevalent, and their impact has dramatically changed from impeding back-office operations to threatening patient safety and the financial viability of healthcare organizations. This era of increased cybersecurity risks has compelled successful organizations to rapidly adapt their information security strategies and develop world-class cyber defense programs.
“THINK” Before You Order: Multidisciplinary Initiative to Reduce Unnecessary Lab Testing
Authors: Shinwa Masih , Bossert Adam , Chen Iris , Cushing Anna , Dunn Andrew S. , Poeran Jashvant , Weinstein Sally , Cho Hyung J.
Published: August 2018

Inappropriate daily lab testing can have adverse effects on patients, including anemia, pain, and interruption of sleep. We implemented a student-led, multifaceted intervention featuring clinician education, publicity campaign, gamification, and system changes, including a novel nurse-driven protocol to reduce unnecessary daily lab testing in a teaching hospital. We applied a quasi-experimental interrupted time series design with a segmented regression analysis to estimate changes before and after our 14-month intervention with a comparison to a control surgical unit. There was an increasing trend in the baseline period, which was mitigated by the intervention (postintervention effect estimate −0.04 labs per patient day/month, p < .05), which was not seen in the control unit. Estimated cost savings was $94,269 ($6,734/month). A student-led, multidisciplinary campaign involving nurse-driven pathway, education, publicity, gamification, and system changes was effective in reducing daily lab testing.
Audiometric and cVEMP Thresholds Show Little Correlation With Symptoms in Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence Syndrome
Authors: Noij Kimberley S. , Wong Kevin , Duarte Maria J. , Masud Salwa , Dewyer Nicholas A. , Herrmann Barbara S. , Guinan John J. , Kozin Elliott D. , Jung David H. , Rauch Steven D. , Lee Daniel J.
Published: August 2018

Objective:

Evaluate the relationship between objective audiometric and vestibular tests and patient symptoms in superior canal dehiscence (SCD) syndrome.

Study Design:

Retrospective chart review.

Setting:

Tertiary care center.

Patients:

Ninety-eight patients with SCD, preoperative threshold audiograms, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) thresholds, and computed tomography (CT) imaging were included. Clinical reports were reviewed for self-reported SCD symptoms. Twenty-five patients completed the Hearing Handicap Inventory (HHI), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Autophony Index (AI), and the 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36).

Main Outcome Measures:

Correlations between preoperative low-frequency air-bone gap (ABG), cVEMP thresholds, and symptoms (including HHI, DHI, AI, and SF-36). Symptoms included hearing loss, aural fullness, autophony, hyperacusis, tinnitus, vertigo, imbalance and sound-, pressure and exercise provoked dizziness. Secondary outcome measure: Correlations between changes of objective and subjective measures before and after surgery.

Results:

Patients who reported hearing loss had larger ABGs at 250 Hz than patients without subjective hearing loss (p = 0.001). ABGs and cVEMP thresholds did not correlate with any other symptom. No significant correlation was found between ABG or cVEMP threshold and the HHI, DHI, AI or Health Utility Value (derived from the SF-36 quality of life score). Following SCD surgery, ABG decreased (p < 0.001), cVEMP thresholds increased (p < 0.001) and overall symptoms, handicap scores and quality-of-life improved; however, there was no significant relationship between these measures.

Conclusion:

While threshold audiometry and cVEMP are important tools to diagnose SCD and monitor surgical outcomes, these measures showed no significant correlation with vestibular and most auditory symptoms or their severity.
Dynamic coagulability after injury: Is delaying venous thromboembolism chemoprophylaxis worth the wait?
Authors: Sumislawski Joshua J. , Kornblith Lucy Z. , Conroy Amanda S. , Callcut Rachael A. , Cohen Mitchell Jay
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND

Severely injured patients often progress from early hypocoagulable to normal and eventually hypercoagulable states, developing increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Prophylactic anticoagulation can decrease this risk, but its initiation is frequently delayed for extended periods due to concerns for bleeding. To facilitate timely introduction of VTE chemoprophylaxis, we characterized the transition from hypo- to hypercoagulability and hypothesized that trauma-induced coagulopathy resolves within 24 hours after injury.

METHODS

Serial blood samples were collected prospectively from critically injured patients for 120 hours after arrival at an urban Level I trauma center. Extrinsic thromboelastometry maximum clot firmness was used to classify patients as hypocoagulable (HYPO, <49 mm), normocoagulable (NORM, 49–71 mm), or hypercoagulable (HYPER, >71 mm) at each time point. Changes in coagulability over hospital course, VTE occurrence, and timing of prophylaxis initiation were analyzed.

RESULTS

898 patients (median Injury Severity Score, 13; mortality, 12%; VTE, 8%) were enrolled. Upon arrival, 3% were HYPO (90% NORM, 7% HYPER), which increased to 9% at 6 hours before down-trending. Ninety-seven percent were NORM by 24 hours, and 53% were HYPER at 120 hours. Median maximum clot firmness began in the NORM range, up-trended gradually, and entered the HYPER range at 120 hours. Patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) followed a similar course and were not more HYPO at any time point than those without TBI. Failure to initiate prophylaxis by 72 hours was predicted by TBI and associated with VTE development (27% vs 16%, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of injury pattern, trauma-induced coagulopathy largely resolves within 24 hours, after which hypercoagulability becomes increasingly more prevalent. Deferring initiation of chemoprophylaxis, which is often biased toward patients with intracranial injuries, is associated with VTE development.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic study, level III; Therapeutic, level IV.
A review of discrete element simulation of ice–structure interaction
Authors: Tuhkuri Jukka , Polojärvi Arttu
Published: August 2018

Sea ice loads on marine structures are caused by the failure process of ice against the structure. The failure process is affected by both the structure and the ice, thus is called ice–structure interaction. Many ice failure processes, including ice failure against inclined or vertical offshore structures, are composed of large numbers of discrete failure events which lead to the formation of piles of ice blocks. Such failure processes have been successfully studied by using the discrete element method (DEM). In addition, ice appears in nature often as discrete floes; either as single floes, ice floe fields or as parts of ridges. DEM has also been successfully applied to study the formation and deformation of these ice features, and the interactions of ships and structures with them. This paper gives a review of the use of DEM in studying ice–structure interaction, with emphasis on the lessons learned about the behaviour of sea ice as a discontinuous medium.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling of sea-ice phenomena’.
A fresh look at how ocean waves and sea ice interact
Authors: Squire Vernon A.
Published: August 2018

Because of their capacity to alter floe size distribution and concentration and consequently to influence atmosphere-ocean fluxes, there is a compelling justification and demand to include waves in ice/ocean models and earth system models. Similarly, global wave forecasting models like WAVEWATCH III
®
need better parametrizations to capture the effects of a sea ice cover such as the marginal ice zone on incoming wave energy. Most parametrizations of wave propagation in sea ice assume without question that the frequency-dependent attenuation which is observed to occur with distance
x
travelled is exponential, i.e.
A
 = 
A
0
 e

−
αx

. This is the solution of the simple first-order linear ordinary differential equation d
A
/d
x
 = − 
αA
, which follows from an Airy wave mode ansatz

. Yet, in point of fact, it now appears that exponential decay may not be observed consistently and a more general equation of the type d
A
/d
x
 = − 
αA

n

is proposed to allow for a broader range of attenuation behaviours should this be necessary to fit data.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling of sea-ice phenomena’.
Variational problems in the theory of hydroelastic waves
Authors: Plotnikov P. I. , Toland J. F.
Published: August 2018

This paper outlines a mathematical approach to steady periodic waves which propagate with constant velocity and without change of form on the surface of a three-dimensional expanse of fluid which is at rest at infinite depth and moving irrotationally under gravity, bounded above by a frictionless elastic sheet. The elastic sheet is supposed to have gravitational potential energy, bending energy proportional to the square integral of its mean curvature (its Willmore functional), and stretching energy determined by the position of its particles relative to a reference configuration. The equations and boundary conditions governing the wave shape are derived by formulating the problem, in the language of geometry of surfaces, as one for critical points of a natural Lagrangian, and a proof of the existence of solutions is sketched.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling of sea-ice phenomena’.
Multiple-gene targeting and mismatch tolerance can confound analysis of genome-wide pooled CRISPR screens
Authors: Fortin Jean-Philippe , Gascoigne Karen E. , Haverty Peter M. , Forrest William F. , Costa Michael R. , Martin Scott E.
Published: August 2018

Genome-wide loss-of-function screens using the CRISPR/Cas9 system allow the efficient discovery of cancer cell vulnerabilities. While several studies have focused on correcting for DNA cleavage toxicity biases associated with copy number alterations, the effects of sgRNAs co-targeting multiple genomic loci in CRISPR screens have not been discussed yet. In this work, we analyze CRISPR essentiality screen data from 391 cancer cell lines to characterize biases induced by multi-target sgRNAs. We investigate two types of multi-targets: on-targets predicted through perfect sequence complementarity, and off-targets predicted through sequence complementarity with up to two nucleotide mismatches. We found that the number of on-targets and off-targets both increase sgRNA activity in a cell line-specific manner, and that existing additive models of gene knockout effects fail at capturing genetic interactions that may occur between co-targeted genes. We use synthetic lethality between paralog genes to show that genetic interactions can introduce biases in essentiality scores estimated from multi-target sgRNAs. We further show that single-mismatch tolerant sgRNAs can confound the analysis of gene essentiality and lead to incorrect co-essentiality functional networks.
Compression-Assisted Arthrocentesis of the Knee as a Quality Improvement Intervention
Authors: Bennett James F. , Sibbitt Wilmer L. , Band Philip A. , Yaqub Sabeen , Emil N. Suzanne , Fangtham Monthida , Fields Roderick A. , Hayward William A. , Kettwich Selma D. , Bankhurst Arthur D.
Published: August 2018

Objective

The present study reports the introduction of mechanical compression of the knee for arthrocentesis as quality improvement intervention in a procedure clinic.

Methods

430 consecutive symptomatic osteoarthritic knees underwent arthrocentesis followed by corticosteroid injection (1mg/kg of triamcinolone acetonide). The first 215 consecutive knees underwent conventional arthrocentesis and injection; the quality intervention of a mechanical compression brace was introduced, and the next 215 consecutive knees underwent mechanical compression-assisted arthrocentesis follow by injection. Pain scores, arthrocentesis success, fluid yield, time-to-next-intervention, injections/year, and medical costs were measured.

Results

No serious adverse events occurred in 430 subjects. Diagnostic synovial fluid (≥2 ml) was obtained in 9.3% (20/215) without compression and 40.9% (88/215) with compression (p=0.00001, z for 95% CI= 1.96, Pierson). Mechanical compression was associated with a 231% increase in mean arthrocentesis volume: compression 5.3±11.2 ml, conventional 1.6±6.4 ml (CI of difference 2.0 <3.7< 5.4; p=0.00001). Time-to-next-intervention after compression-assisted arthrocentesis was longer: 6.9±3.5 months compared to conventional: 5.1±2.7 months (p<0.00001, 95% CI of difference 1.2 <1.8< 2.3). Mechanical compression was associated with a reduction in the number of corticosteroid injections administered per year: mechanical compression: 1.7±0.9 injections/year; conventional: 2.4±0.5 injections/year (p<0.00001, 95% CI of difference −0.83 < −0.70< −0.56). Mechanical compression did not increase overall yearly costs associated with management of the symptomatic knee (mechanical compression: $293.30/year/knee, conventional: $373.29/year/knee) (p<0.0001, 95% CI of difference 47 <80< 112).

Conclusions

Routine mechanical compression of the knee for arthrocentesis and injection is an effective bioengineering quality improvement intervention in a procedure clinic.
Evaluating effectiveness of rainfall index insurance
Authors: Zhou Rui , Li Johnny Siu-Hang , Pai Jeffrey
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the reduction of crop yield uncertainty using rainfall index insurances. The insurance payouts are determined by a transparent rainfall index rather than actual crop yield of any producer, thereby circumventing problems of adverse selection and moral hazard. The authors consider insurances on rainfall indexes of various months and derive an optimal insurance portfolio that minimizes the income variance for a crop producer.

Design/methodology/approach

Various regression models are considered to relate crop yield to monthly mean temperature and monthly cumulative precipitation. A bootstrapping method is used to simulate weather indexes and corn yield in a future year with the correlation between precipitation and temperature incorporated. Based on the simulated scenarios, the optimal insurance portfolio that minimizes the income variance for a crop producer is obtained. In addition, the impact of correlation between temperature and precipitation, availability of temperature index insurance and geographical basis risk on the effectiveness of rainfall index insurance is examined.

Findings

The authors illustrate the approach with the corn yield in Illinois east crop reporting district and weather data of a city in the same district. The analysis shows that corn yield in this district is negatively influenced by excessive precipitation in May and drought in June–August. Rainfall index insurance portfolio can reduce the income variance by up to 51.84 percent. Failing to incorporate the correlation between temperature and precipitation decreases variance reduction by 11.6 percent. The presence of geographical basis risk decreases variance reduction by a striking 24.11 percent. Allowing for the purchase of both rainfall and temperature index insurances increases variance reduction by 13.67 percent.

Originality/value

By including precipitation shortfall into explanatory variables, the extended crop yield model explains more fluctuation in crop yield than existing models. The authors use a bootstrapping method instead of complex parametric models to simulate weather indexes and crop yield for a future year and assess the effectiveness of rainfall index insurance. The optimal insurance portfolio obtained provides insights on the practical development of rainfall insurance for corn producers, from the selection of triggering index to the demand of the insurance.
Value-added statement as a trigger to organizational unlearning
Authors: Sharma Shubham , Lenka Usha
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Organizational unlearning is easier said than done. Organizations are usually not cognizant of the ripe time to start questioning and discarding their existing paradigms and past success formulas. This paper aims to recommend the use of a financial metric, i.e. value-added statement, as a trigger to unlearning in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a review of existing literature on organizational unlearning to highlight that although prescriptive studies on unlearning are abundant, “how” and “when” organizations should contemplate and discard the obsolete knowledge and routines is still inconspicuous.

Findings

Value-added statement is an adequate reporting measure that incorporates the contribution of organization toward not only its shareholders but also other stakeholders such as employees, providers of long-term finance, government, and public. It supplements income statement and provides an insight of how organizations are serving its interest groups. A decline in value addition by an organization in a reporting period can serve as a trigger to question the existing practices and break organization’s over-dependence on “one size fits all” approach.

Originality/value

Unlearning is considered as a means to attain financial performance in an organization. This paper attempts to recommend a financial metric which incorporates the economic, social, and environmental aspects of business, i.e. value-added statement. The rationale for not recommending other financial metrics as a trigger for unlearning is based on grounds of possible manipulation. Moreover, these financial statements are affected by legal, political, and economic context of a nation.
Waiting for politics at the mercy of river: case study of an enduring community
Authors: Bari Sarwar
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the power of protest in quasi-democratic politics and feudal societies; consider deep-rooted impacts of illiteracy, inequality, marginalisation and powerlessness on poor peoples’ behaviour; and analyse how these turn them to believe in fatalism.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper narrates 12 years of work with isolated and poor communities, which are prone to annual flooding and riverbank erosion. Reflections are based on the years of NGOs’ workers experiences and conclusions.

Findings

Poor governance stems from deep-rooted multiple inequalities – land/resources, religious knowledge, education, social hierarchies, cultural norms and political power. This leads to fatalism which deters the poor from making the powerful accountable. An outside catalyst is essential to break the ice. Disasters do create opportunities to act against injustices.

Research limitations/implications

The paper narrates 12 years of work with isolated and poor communities which are prone to annual flooding and riverbank erosion.

Practical implications

The old community is gone. The Ahmadies constitutionally declared non-Muslims have rebuilt their village. Meanwhile, other families have gone elsewhere. They may have a house of sorts but are landless and have no sustainable income. With spurs, the river may go back and leave their land. Reclaiming their land will be a huge task.

Social implications

There is a serious need to link civil society based in urban centres with those who live in remote areas, isolated and oppressed, in order to transform a quasi-democracy into a participatory and social democracy.

Originality/value

When floods hit, erosion accelerates and makes people homeless and landless. Yet, erosion is not considered a disaster. The country lacks public policy to address the issue. This study highlights of the urgent issue of riverbank erosion that could shift policy.
A systematic approach for public-private partnership projects CSFs evaluation
Authors: Wang Liping , Zhang Pu , Zhang Pei , Li Rongbo , Zhang Yanke , Wu Yueqiu
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Public–private partnership (PPP) projects are increasingly significant in many countries. The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of critical success factors (CSFs) on PPP projects and comprehensively consider the interrelations and interaction among dimensions and factors to achieve a better understanding of PPP project management.

Design/methodology/approach

An evaluation index system for PPP projects such as the presented case study is proposed based on a literature review and a survey. Then, interpretative structural modeling is used to transform the CSFs dimension into a multi-level hierarchical model to reflect the driven-dependency relation of each dimension; the fuzzy analytic network process model optimized by moment estimation theory is used to investigate the impact of CSFs by considering their internal impact.

Findings

Regarding the project used as the case study, the driving force and dependence for driving layer and dependent layer are determined. Moreover, in driving layer, efficient and well-structured payment mechanism is the most important CSF if considering the internship and interaction among CSFs, and efficient and well-structured payment mechanism and good governance provide most positive interaction; in dependent layer, population of beneficiaries is the most important CSF if considering the internship and interaction among CSFs, and public client’s satisfaction provides most positive interaction.

Originality/value

This paper developed an evaluation model to explore the interrelationships of dimensions and factors and then determine the impact of CSFs. The model propose in this paper relaxes the independence assumptions of traditional methods and is more in line with reality; besides, weighting method is optimized to obtain more objective and reasonable evaluation results. Through an empirical study, the validity of the model has been verified; therefore, the study can help project stakeholders better understand the CSFs and further improve project performance.
Searching for the “sacred cow”: a conceptual analysis of the term in nursing literature
Authors: Hallyburton Ann , Biswas Paromita
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The idiom “sacred cow” is problematic due to its inaccuracy and cultural insensitivity. The purpose of this paper is to examine the term’s meaning within the nursing literature, describe connotations in religious contexts, explore subject headings applied to research using the phrase, and discuss alternative terminology.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs Rodgers’ evolutionary concept analysis methodology to identify the concept “sacred cow” and surrogate terms, collect and analyze sample articles and headings, explore an exemplary case, and look for concept implications.

Findings

The term “sacred cow” appears frequently in the healthcare literature, particularly within the nursing literature. Its meaning within this literature pertains primarily to practices not supported by empirical evidence and performed to maintain a status quo. Headings applied to the relevant literature do not describe this concept, and more accurate headings could not be found within widely used controlled vocabularies.

Research limitations/implications

“Sacred cow” is an inaccurate descriptor for practices not supported by evidence as these practices do not usually apply to holiness or cattle. The term’s implied meaning comes only when viewed within a context satirizing beliefs considered as “other.”

Originality/value

This paper appears to be the first to methodically explore the concept of “sacred cow” within the nursing literature. The paper breaks ground in proposing solutions for the lack of applicable controlled vocabulary. By exploring these topics, it is hoped future authors use more accurate, culturally neutral terminology when discussing non-evidence-based practices and indexers increase discoverability by using more descriptive headings.
Challenges for an SNS-based public sphere in 2016
Authors: Lorenzano Kyle John , Sari Miles , Storm Colin Harrell , Rhodes Samuel , Borah Porismita
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Political polarization and incivility manifested itself online throughout the 2016 US presidential election. The purpose of this paper is to understand how features of social media platforms (e.g. reacting, sharing) impacted the online public sphere during the 2016 election.

Design/methodology/approach

After conducting in-depth interviews with politically interested young people and applying deductive coding procedures to transcripts of the interviews, Dahlberg’s (2004) six normative conditions for the public sphere were used to empirically examine this interview data.

Findings

While some participants described strategies for productive political discussion on Social Networking Sites (SNS) and a willingness to use them to discuss politics, many users’ experiences largely fall short of Dahlberg’s (2004) normative criteria for the public sphere.

Research limitations/implications

The period in which these interviews were conducted in could have contributed to a more pessimistic view of political discussion in general.

Practical implications

Scholars and the public should recognize that the affordances of SNS for political discussion are not distributed evenly between different platforms, both for the sake of empirical studies of SNS moving forward and the state of democratic deliberation.

Originality/value

Although previous research has examined online and SNS-based political discussion as it relates to the public sphere, few attempts have been made understand how specific communicative practices or platform-specific features of SNS have contributed to or detracted from a healthy public sphere.
Adolescent adjustment to maternal cancer: an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)
Authors: Rodriguez Leonor , Groarke Ann Marie , Dolan Pat , MacNeela Padraig
Published: August 2018

Purpose

As an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth understanding of adolescent experiences of maternal cancer to identify the individual and contextual factors that shape adolescent experiences and evaluates the potential applicability of the Family Ecology Model to the illness context.

Design/methodology/approach

This analysis is focussed on three female adolescents who completed semi-structured interviews, which were subjected to IPA. Maternal illness is a challenge for adolescents, which can be improved or undermined by their contexts. The analysis yielded three sub-themes: family structure, social supports, experiencing maternal cancer at a time of transition and the lasting impact of cancer.

Findings

This study found that adolescent experiences of maternal cancer depend on their contexts from an ecological perspective the type and quality of adolescent interactions determine coping and adjustment. Maternal cancer can be difficult as adolescents are already facing specific developmental challenges. Future research can benefit from adopting an ecological perspective to further understand adolescent experiences to support adolescent that may be more vulnerable and benefit from additional supports. This is not a generalisable piece of research but it provides a very deep and detailed understanding of the impact of maternal cancer on adolescents’ developmental course and determines how the complexity of their contexts can serve as a risk or a protective factor at this challenging time.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the body of research by providing a comprehensive understanding of adolescents facing maternal cancer. The Ecological Model supports the findings of this research and proves to be a good model to understand the complex interplay between adolescents and their environments when facing a difficult challenge like maternal cancer is.
Trump is Here to Stay
Authors: Birnbaum Norman
Published: August 2018

The rest of the world worries about Trump's bellicosity, ignorance, and patronising arrogance. In the US he presents a clear and present danger to civility and democracy. His xenophobia and racism, his deep resentment of our educated elites and his ignorance of and contempt for much of our history mark his politics. He has found a supportive public, perhaps about 40 per cent of the electorate, in what the experts politely termed ‘low information voters’. Many are white working‐class citizens who think themselves left behind by the economy (rightly) and suffering disadvantages as compared to allegedly favoured immigrants, Afro‐Americans and Latinos. A large charge of anger at the independence of women accompanies this complex. Trump, schooled in the most vulgar aspects of television, keeps attention on his antics whilst a piratical gang of ideologues and political operatives staff his government. They are proceeding with systematic intensity to the destruction of our regulatory state and the eventual destruction of our welfare state. Perhaps the special prosecutor will bring down Trump; perhaps we face a severe constitutional crisis as he defies the juridical system. Trumpism will not disappear with Trump. He has brought to the centre of our politics the entire spectrum of our social pathologies, has seized the Republican party and neutralised a Democratic party which cannot quite escape nostalgia for its better day and is, above all, incapable of presenting solutions to the twenty‐first century problems of the nation.
Superior mesenteric venous thrombophlebitis: A rare complication of a common disease
Authors: Wong Leo Chun‐Hei , Lee Kit‐Fai , Lai Paul Bo‐San , Chong Charing Ching‐Ning
Published: August 2018

We would like to report a case of acute appendicitis complicated with superior mesenteric venous (SMV) thrombophlebitis. A 61‐year‐old gentleman presented with abdominal pain and high fever with elevated white cell count and slightly deranged liver function and clotting profile. Besides features of acute appendicitis, a thrombus in superior mesenteric vein was demonstrated on computed tomography (CT). Patient was treated with emergency laparoscopic appendectomy, a course of antibiotics and subcutaneous enoxaparin. CT 2 months after operation showed features of resolving SMV thrombophlebitis. Mesenteric venous thrombophlebitis is difficult to diagnose as the clinical presentation is often nonspecific and it depends on the site and timing of thrombus formation. Such rare complication has to be suspected if the patient presents late or when there were high fever and deranged liver function. Prompt appendectomy and antibiotics therapy remain the essential components of treatment for acute appendicitis. The need of additional anticoagulation therapy and its optimal duration for SMV thrombophlebitis remains unclear. Nevertheless, the use of anticoagulation therapy should be weighed against the risk of bleeding complication.
Alcohol outlet density and alcohol related hospital admissions in England: a national small‐area level ecological study
Authors: Maheswaran Ravi , Green Mark A. , Strong Mark , Brindley Paul , Angus Colin , Holmes John
Published: August 2018

Background and aims

Excessive alcohol consumption has a substantial impact on public health services. A key element determining alcohol availability is alcohol outlet density. This study investigated the relationship between on‐trade and off‐trade outlets and hospital admission rates in local neighbourhoods.

Design

National small‐area level ecological study.

Setting and participants

All 32 482 lower layer super output census areas (LSOAs) in England (42 227 108 million people aged 15+ years). Densities for six outlet categories (outlets within a 1‐km radius of residential postcode centroids, averaged for all postcodes within each LSOA) were calculated.

Measurements

Main outcome measures were admissions due to acute or chronic conditions wholly or partially attributable to alcohol consumption from 2002/03 to 2013/14.

Findings

There were 1 007 137 admissions wholly, and 2 153 874 admissions partially, attributable to alcohol over 12 years. After adjustment for confounding, higher densities of on‐trade outlets (pubs, bars and nightclubs; restaurants licensed to sell alcohol; other on‐trade outlets) and convenience stores were associated with higher admission rate ratios for acute and chronic wholly attributable conditions. For acute wholly attributable conditions, admission rate ratios were 13% (95% confidence interval = 11–15%), 9% (7–10%), 12% (10–14%) and 10% (9–12%) higher, respectively, in the highest relative to the lowest density categories by quartile. For chronic wholly attributable conditions, rate ratios were 22% (21–24%), 9% (7–11%), 19% (17–21%) and 7% (6–9%) higher, respectively. Supermarket density was associated with modestly higher acute and chronic admissions but other off‐trade outlet density was associated only with higher admissions for chronic wholly attributable conditions. For partially attributable conditions, there were no strong patterns of association with outlet densities.

Conclusions

In England, higher densities of several categories of alcohol outlets appear to be associated with higher hospital admission rates for conditions wholly attributable to alcohol consumption.