bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel facility location problem for taxi hailing platforms
Authors: Ma Hong , Shen Ni , Zhu Jing , Deng Mingrong
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Motivated by a problem in the context of DiDi Travel, the biggest taxi hailing platform in China, the purpose of this paper is to propose a novel facility location problem, specifically, the single source capacitated facility location problem with regional demand and time constraints, to help improve overall transportation efficiency and cost.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops a mathematical programming model, considering regional demand and time constraints. A novel two-stage neighborhood search heuristic algorithm is proposed and applied to solve instances based on data sets published by DiDi Travel.

Findings

The results of this study show that the model is adequate since new characteristics of demand can be deduced from large vehicle trajectory data sets. The proposed algorithm is effective and efficient on small and medium as well as large instances. The research also solves and presents a real instance in the urban area of Chengdu, China, with up to 30 facilities and demand deduced from 16m taxi trajectory data records covering around 16,000 drivers.

Research limitations/implications

This study examines an offline and single-period case of the problem. It does not consider multi-period or online cases with uncertainties, where decision makers need to dynamically remove out-of-service stations and add other stations to the selected group.

Originality/value

Prior studies have been quite limited. They have not yet considered demand in the form of vehicle trajectory data in facility location problems. This study takes into account new characteristics of demand, regional and time constrained, and proposes a new variant and its solution approach.
Continuance interaction intention in retailing
Authors: Foroudi Pantea , Cuomo Maria Teresa , Foroudi Mohammad M.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Social media as a competitive marketing tool deliver online platforms for retailers to get closer to their consumers/visitors/shoppers through continued interaction. The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize how customer values (functional, social and experimental) enhance satisfaction, loyalty and identification, and how such relationships, in turn, impact users’ continuance interaction intention.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method approach was designed to identify the consumers’ perception toward high-end retailers of worldwide brands. In all, 12 interviews with experts in retailing and a survey among 390 respondents were conducted. Structural equation modeling/AMOS was employed to gain insight into the various relationships and influences.

Findings

To augment users’ continuance interaction intention, the results indicate that retail managers should focus more on customer-based values when they design marketing strategies for brand pages on social media. The findings also provide guidelines for retail marketing and social media managers to generate consumer value in the retail environment via information quality, product-related learning and economic benefits (functional value); interaction, collaboration and social presence (social value); and experiential value (intellectual and effective value).

Originality/value

The paper offers critical managerial contributions by presenting a comprehensive picture of the condition in which a favorable brand social media page could be constructed within a brand to satisfy consumer value and achieve satisfaction, loyalty, identification and continuance interaction intention, all of which are critical objectives for every company. In other words, a clear knowledge of the dimensions of consumer value concepts can assist retail communication managers to improve consumers’/visitors’/shoppers’ intention to continue their interaction in a competitive market. The current study is one of the very few emerging research studies to have examined the relationships between consumers’/visitors’/shoppers’ functional values, social values and experimental values empirically, and to have further explored the relationships between the research constructs.
Social media brand engagement: dimensions, drivers and consequences
Authors: Chahal Hardeep , Wirtz Jochen , Verma Anu
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to advance the current understanding of social media (SM) brand engagement. Specifically, it validates the dimensionality of SM brand engagement, examines its drivers and explores the impact of SM brand engagement on brand equity.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted with 433 Generation Y (Gen Y) SM users.

Findings

The study results validate SM brand engagement as a multidimensional construct comprising utilitarian, hedonic and social dimensions. Three categories of SM engagement antecedents were identified: social factors (social identity and tie-strength), user-based factors (service, product and price information, hedonic motives and prior experience with SM) and firm-generated information (personalized advertising, mass advertising, promotional offers and price information). Finally, SM brand engagement was positively related to brand equity.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused on Gen Y SM users in India. This study should be replicated in other contexts to establish the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

A better understanding of the dimensionality and drivers of SM brand engagement can help managers to enhance their SM strategies to build brand equity.

Originality/value

This is the first study to provide a comprehensive examination of the dimensions, drivers and consequences of SM brand engagement.
Research in defense logistics: where are we and where are we going?
Authors: Zsidisin George A. , Bresler Amanda , Hazen Ben , Snider Keith F. , Wilkerson Taylor H.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight on high-interest areas of research in defense-related logistics and supply chain management and opportunities for advancing theory and practice in this domain.

Design/methodology/approach

A panel of experts provided their insight to several questions oriented toward examining research opportunities and gaps in defense logistics research at the 2018 Academic Research Symposium of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals annual conference on September 30, 2018.

Findings

Three overarching themes emerged from the panel discussion for advancing theory and practice in defense logistics and supply chain management, which are developing a central repository, creating publication opportunities and integrating research practice and knowledge with the greater academic community.

Originality/value

Logistics and supply chain research is critical for advancing knowledge and practice in the military, as well as industrial settings. The intention in this manuscript is to provide scholars and practitioners in both settings greater awareness and potential avenues for developing synergies and processes for advancing logistics and supply chain research.
Microfinance, entrepreneurship and institutional quality
Authors: Nair Malavika , Njolomole Martha
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the success and failure of microfinance institutions in generating economic growth over the past 30 years and propose a dual criterion of evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

It surveys the empirical literature on microfinance and finds that while there has been small and localized success in various countries in improving access to credit, at the same time there has been a broader failure to generate economic growth. The authors argue that this broader failure should be viewed from the viewpoint of institutional failure or the lack of supporting institutions such as private property rights and stable rule of law within developing countries.

Findings

Using Baumol’s (1968) theory of entrepreneurship, the authors argue that the broader failure of microfinance is a case of poor institutional quality leading to unproductive or even destructive entrepreneurship rather than productive entrepreneurship. The paper also suggests a link between the literature criticizing foreign aid and this view on microfinance.

Originality/value

The paper provides a survey of the empirical literature on micro finance as well as a novel framework that aids in understanding both the localized small-scale success as well as broader failure to generate economic growth.
Revisiting the relationship between unexpected inflation and output in the presence of indexation
Authors: Buryi Pavlo , Donou-Adonsou Ficawoyi
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between output and unanticipated inflation when wages are indexed for the loss of purchasing power. The authors argue that the monetary authority remains useful when firms that face rigid demand index wages to compensate for the loss of purchasing power, unlike Fischer (1977), who suggested that monetary policy loses effectiveness when firms index wages.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a simple theoretical model followed by an empirical investigation of the relationship between output and unanticipated inflation in the presence of indexation. The theoretical model assumes a perfectly competitive firm that produces a final good that has no close substitutes using one factor, labor. The demand for the product is rigid. The empirical work considers quarterly US data from 1982Q1 to 2017Q1 and uses the Generalized Method of Moments in which endogenous variables are instrumented using their own lags. This paper further considers the period before and after the recent global financial crisis.

Findings

This paper shows that unexpected inflation decreases the growth rate of output in the USA. The decrease is quantitatively and qualitatively stronger before the financial crisis than after the crisis. This finding suggests that the Federal Reserve should maintain higher expectations of inflation and then surprise the public with lower inflation rates. The results further suggest that regardless of how expectations are formed, firms and workers agree on the nominal wage that is equal to the realized marginal revenue product of labor.

Originality/value

This paper sheds light on the behavior of the central bank and its relative ineffectiveness in light of the recent economic recession.
Absence of the weekend effect and industry-style portfolios
Authors: Izadi Selma , Noman Abdullah
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The existence of the weekend effect has been reported from the 1950s to 1970s in the US stock markets. Recently, Robins and Smith (2016, Critical Finance Review, 5: 417-424) have argued that the weekend effect has disappeared after 1975. Using data on the market portfolio, they document existence of structural break before 1975 and absence of any weekend effects after that date. The purpose of this study is to contribute some new empirical evidences on the weekend effect for the industry-style portfolios in the US stock market using data over 90 years.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors re-examine persistence or reversal of the weekend effect in the industry portfolios consisting of The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), The American Stock Exchange (AMEX) and The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations exchange (NASDAQ) stocks using daily returns from 1926 to 2017. Our results confirm varying dates for structural breaks across industrial portfolios.

Findings

As for the existence of weekend effects, the authors get mixed results for different portfolios. However, the overall findings provide broad support for the absence of weekend effects in most of the industrial portfolios as reported in Robins and Smith (2016). In addition, structural breaks for other weekdays and days of the week effects for other days have also been documented in the paper.

Originality/value

As far as the authors are aware, this paper is the first research that analyzes weekend effect for the industry-style portfolios in the US stock market using data over 90 years.
Sigma ratings: adapting the credit rating agency model for the anti-money laundering world
Authors: Cash Daniel
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Sigma Ratings is a new entrant to the anti-money laundering (AML) marketplace and seeks to alleviate some of the inherent flaws within the AML regime. This paper aims to examine those flaws and ask whether Sigma may succeed in this bourgeoning marketplace.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based upon a normative methodology, which takes place after reviewing the relevant literature to examine the potential success for Sigma Ratings.

Findings

The paper finds that there is indeed a position for Sigma Ratings in the marketplace, and that it may alleviate key issues within the AML regime.

Originality/value

The paper presents Sigma Ratings to the literature for the first time and positions this against an examination of the role of banks within AML – Sigma’s main demographic.
Inclusion and exclusion of sexual minorities at organisations
Authors: Aydin Erhan , Ozeren Emir
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the inclusion and exclusion of LGBT individuals at organisations towards providing evidence from LGBT non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Turkey and the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve this aim, 40 semi-structured qualitative in-depth interviews (20 in each country) were conducted. The empirical dimension of this study was invigorated by thematic analysis of interviews that composed of the individuals and members who work in LGBT organisations in Turkey and the UK.

Findings

The significance and the role of context in shaping public discourse, policies and practices of LGBT organisations in Turkey and the UK were explored in greater details. Based on the coding and thematic analysis of the interviews, three main findings were presented, which are “inclusion and exclusion at work”, “inclusion and exclusion in politics” and “inclusion in LGBT organisations”.

Originality/value

The originality of this research comes from its unique nature with a comparative approach on the contrary of current LGBT research that mostly focusses on an individual level of analysis and workplace discrimination. Research evidence demonstrates that there are a number of complexities, contradictions and tensions based on the specific characteristics of each country setting where various cultural, societal, political and legislative/regulative forces come into play in LGBT inclusion at organisations. Consequently, this research provides valuable insights for the inclusion of sexual minorities drawing on the evidence from LGBT NGOs in Turkey and the UK.
Managers’ experiences as recipients: impact on organizational change
Authors: Ozawa Kazuhiko
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Drawing on insights from change experience research, the purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of managers’ experiences, as change recipients, on organizational change implemented by the managers.

Design/methodology/approach

Since the Japanese sports context fits well with the aims of this research, longitudinal data of Japanese baseball are used to test the hypotheses. The data set was created using resources such as books published by Japanese baseball institutions. Following previous research, teams are regarded as organizations, and the number of changed players in teams per year is considered. The hypotheses have been tested using regression analysis on a yearly basis.

Findings

Managers’ experiences as change recipients are an essential determinant of organizational change. The findings show that the amount of change these managers experience is associated with the magnitude of organizational change they implement. Past change experiences in each organization positively moderates this relationship.

Originality/value

Previous studies examined managers’ experience after their appointment, and showed its influence on organizational change. However, scarce research examines the effect of managers’ experiences as change recipients on the organizational change they implement. Thus, this is the first study to analyze and test the effects of such experiences on organizational change.
Narratives: the rhetoric of intentional action
Authors: Bonet Eduard
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to clarify that narratives have a rhetorical dimension, whose study has to be considered an important part of rhetoric (this claim is not accepted by important scholars). The arguments are based on the properties that narratives are very persuasive and that they are implicitly involved in the three species of rhetoric (deliberative, judicial and celebrative) introduced by Aristotle in his Rhetoric. Second, narratives are strongly related to the concept of intentional action or human action that has a purpose, a mental project and the execution of the act, such it is defined in the classical paper by Alfred Schutz common-sense and scientific interpretation of human action (1953). This property relates narratives with phenomenology, epistemology of social sciences and management research and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is a theoretical work based on the study of central concepts of rhetoric, narratives, historiography and epistemology of social sciences and it uncovers the narrative aspects involved in intentional action. As a theoretical study, it does not include empirical studies, but it points out some kinds of management activities, such as creating projects and case studies.

Findings

It uncovers the relationships between rhetoric and narratives, and between narratives and intentional action. If offers a new conceptual frame that can be very productive.

Originality/value

This conceptual approach is new. It clarifies important misunderstandings about narrativity, facts, meanings and interpretations.
Leading from the middle: its nature, origins and importance
Authors: Hargreaves Andy , Shirley Dennis
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to cover a 10-year period in ten of Ontario’s 72 school districts on the nature, origins and importance of “leading from the middle” (LfM) within and across the districts.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a self-selected but also representative sample of ten Ontario school districts. It undertook three-day site visits in each of the districts, transcribed all the interviews and compiled an analysis into detailed case studies.

Findings

LfM is defined by a philosophy, structure and culture that promotes collaboration, initiative and responsiveness to the needs of each district along with collective responsibility for all students’ success.

Research limitations/implications

To be sustainable in Ontario, LfM needs support and resourcing from the top. The current environment of economic austerity therefore threatens sustainability. Globally, examples of LfM are emerging in at least three other systems. The analysis does not have identical questions or respondents in phases 1 and 2. Ontario’s version of LfM may differ from others. The collaborative design may downplay criticisms of LfM.

Practical implications

LfM provides a clear design for leading in complex times. Compared to top-down leadership the whole system can address the whole of students’ learning and well-being. LfM is suited to systems and cultures that support local democracy, community responsiveness and professional empowerment and engagement.

Originality/value

LfM is an inclusive, democratic and professionally empowering and responsive process that differs from other middle level strategies which treat the middle merely as a way of connecting the top and bottom to get government policies implemented more efficiently and coherently.
Learning is a social activity
Authors: Goodhart Charles
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Learning often requires little or no expenditure in income; its real cost is that it takes time. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Since time is scarce, most people normally decide not to learn about many aspects of modern life, but rather to specialise on certain limited areas. When a matter arises outside our specialisation, we tend to follow others whose narratives we trust.

Findings

So, learning in many cases arises from social interaction, not from individual study. Consequently, informational contagion is baked into our social and economic systems.

Originality/value

Treating time, not income or wealth, as the ultimate constraint improves analysis of the learning process, clarifying its essential social nature.
Export behavior and corporate governance
Authors: Lukason Oliver , Vissak Tiia
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to study how firms’ export behavior is associated with their corporate governance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses whole population data of Estonian small and medium-sized enterprises: 9,530 exporters and 73,619 non-exporters. Several theory-driven corporate governance variables and exporting variables (based on previous studies) are used. Binary logistic regression is applied to study how exporters’ corporate governance differs from that of non-exporters. Eight additional continuous dependent variables are used to portray exporters’ internationalization with ordinary least squares regression. The robustness of the obtained base results is checked for younger/older and smaller/larger firms.

Findings

Having female board members did not lead to a higher likelihood of export activities. Experience – tenure’s length, board members’ age and other board memberships – provided mixed results. Having a larger board was associated with a higher export propensity and larger exports but a lower export share. A larger share of a chief executive officer’s shareholding was associated with lower export propensity, exporting less overall and activities on a smaller number of markets. The presence of a majority owner was associated with larger export share and export turnover, but more focus on the main export market. Firm age and size affected the results.

Originality/value

Previous studies about the interconnection of corporate governance and exporting have relied on varied theoretical explanations and limited sets of variables. This paper provides an extensive insight by using corporate governance variables emergent from various theoretical explanations accompanied by a large set of dependent exporting variables. The latter enables obtaining a more holistic view of the interconnection between the two phenomena.
Rationales for integrated reporting adoption and factors impacting on the extent of adoption
Authors: Robertson Fiona Ann , Samy Martin
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate rationales for integrated reporting () adoption and factors that impact on the extent of adoption in the UK early adopter organisations. Diffusion of innovation theory was used as a guiding theoretical lens

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with 36 senior executives actively involved in IR in finance, sustainability, communications and legal functions within seventeen organisations. A content analysis of the interviews was undertaken using qualitative coding techniques within Nvivo 11 software.

Findings

Organisations drew on a wide range of rationales for adoption, with a predominance of sociological over economic rationales, both of which offered organisations a relative advantage over existing practices. Economically,  emerged as an incremental process, which filled a performance gap is predominantly manufacturing and utility industries with significant impacts on the environment/society. Predominant sociological rationales were: external pressures, primarily due to perceptions of shifts in societal expectations; and internal aspirations relating to enhancing reputation. Findings also revealed that the  framework was not fully adopted by the majority of organisations, primarily due to incompatibility with organisational requirements and/or perceived complexity of the framework.

Research limitations/implications

This research study was limited by the small sample of organisations that participated, although significant efforts were made to ensure that the sample incorporated the majority of early adopter UK organisations who demonstrated best practice in .

Practical implications

Recommendations on how the adoption of  may be further enhanced in the future are outlined.

Social implications

Research that provides recommendations to inform policy and practice regarding how  could be more widely adopted, and its practices further diffused, within organisations is important given  has the potential to contribute to societal and environmental well-being.

Originality/value

This study is significant as research into  adoption decision motivations and subsequent extent of adoption is scant, particularly in the UK. It responds to the call by Dumay et al. (2016) for  researchers to engage more with practice. It further enriches prior research on the adoption of management innovations where an extensive body of innovation literature has focussed on the rationale for organisational adoption of management innovations but has neglected the subsequent extent of adoption.
Pulse plated Sn-Cu solder coatings from stannate bath
Authors: Sharma Ashutosh , Ahn Byungmin
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of pulse plating current density on the morphology and solderability of Pb-free Sn-Cu solder coatings prepared from alkaline stannate baths.

Design/methodology/approach

Sn-Cu solder coatings were produced from a plating solution containing sodium stannate, copper stannate, sodium hydroxide and sorbitol additive on copper substrates. The pulse plating experiments were conducted in galvanostatic mode. The plating current density was varied from 5 to 25 mA/cm2, and the morphology of the coatings was studied. The solderability of the coatings was assessed by spread ratio measurement after reflowing the solder coatings at 250°C.

Findings

The composition control of eutectic solders is always a challenge in plating. The findings show that Sn-Cu coatings prepared by pulse plating are composed of tetragonal ß-Sn structure and Cu6Sn5 compounds irrespective of bath composition and conditions. The final coatings were very dense and smooth with nodular morphology. It was shown that a eutectic composition can be achieved if we apply a current density of ∼15-20 mA/cm2. The solderability studies suggest that solder coatings plated at and beyond 15 mA/cm2 are more suitable for solder finish applications.

Originality/value

The work presents key issues in pulse electroplating of Sn-Cu solder coatings from an alkaline bath. Possible strategies to control the eutectic Sn-Cu composition by plating process are recommended.
The journey of team learning since “The Fifth Discipline”
Authors: Rebelo Teresa , Lourenço Paulo Renato , Dimas Isabel Dórdio
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper is focused on team learning, the fourth discipline proposed by Senge (1990) in his seminal book The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. This paper aims to provide a reflection upon the journey that this construct has made since this book’s publication, in terms of conceptualization, research and its link to organizational learning and learning organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a review of Senge’s (1990) conceptualization of team learning and on a literature review of team learning research that has been produced since then.

Findings

Since the first edition of Senge’s book in 1990, team learning has been growing as an autonomous research topic with numerous papers centered on learning at this level of analysis. Senge’s proposals concerning team learning remain present in the way team learning is now conceptualized, but this research stream has led to advancements in its conceptualization and on the understanding of its antecedents and consequences. Nevertheless, the authors observed a lack of research centered on the link between team learning and organizational learning, as well as between team learning and the concept of the learning organization.

Originality/value

This paper offers a review of research on team learning, suggesting some avenues for further research on this topic and its contribution to learning organizations. As teams are nowadays the building blocks of most organizational structures, and learning is a key process for effectiveness, research on learning at this level of analysis will remain valuable.
Residents’ destination image: a perspective article
Authors: Stylidis Dimitrios
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the development up to now in the field of residents’ destination image and propose new avenues for research that will help the field to mature.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a thorough review of the relevant academic literature. However, owing to the very tight word limit (1,000), only few representatives studies were mentioned in the manuscript.

Findings

In spite of its contribution, the restricted and descriptive nature of much of the research calls for a more theoretically informed approach. A lack of consensus is also apparent with regard to the conceptualization and operationalization of the resident destination image construct. Most studies did not commonly provide a definition, and an interchangeable use of “place image” and “destination image” is noted. Equally, great variation is observed in the measurement items used to capture image – the scales used are often readily adopted from tourist studies – while there is limited attempt for scale development. Within this realm, the vast majority of previous research used quantitative methods. Next, despite the strong theoretical rationale, there is limited empirical evidence documenting the importance of residents’ destination image on tourists’ own image formulation. Little is also known about the inner motives that lead some residents to act as ambassadors of their place.

Originality/value

The need to expand our knowledge and understanding of residents’ destination image in the future is established. The paper also briefly presented the first era of research on residents’ destination image and critiqued its predominantly descriptive nature. Areas that seek further attention have been highlighted along with directions for future research.
Differences in sex expression and mating systems in three pollination morphs of Cimicifuga simplex
Authors: Toji Tsubasa , Itino Takao
Published: January 2020

Cimicifuga simplex (Ranunculaceae) has three genetically distinct pollination morphs. Here, we report that each of the three pollination morphs of C. simplex differs from the others with regard to sex expression and mating system: morph I consists mostly of ramets with hermaphroditic flowers and ramets with only female flowers, morph II consists of ramets with hermaphroditic flowers and ramets with hermaphroditic and male flowers, and morph III consists mostly of ramets with hermaphroditic flowers. A microsatellite analysis of seed DNA showed that morph III has a high self‐fertilization rate. Flowering season and flower visitor assemblages, which also differ among the three morphs, may influence the evolution and maintenance of the differences in sex expression and mating systems in the morphs.
With or without the camera running: the work of Inuit film‐making
Authors: Wachowich Nancy
Published: January 2020

This article argues for the critical evaluation of indigenous media, art, and aesthetic practices within local trajectories of meaning‐making. Drawing on ethnographic research in Arctic Canada with a notable Inuit video and film production company, Igloolik Isuma Productions, I emphasize the value of focusing on locally defined processes of filmic production and on relational bounties accrued outside the camera's field of vision. Indigenous media‐making emerges as a collaborative, adaptive, intercultural, and improvisational practice, one akin to Inuit traditions of hunting, carving, garment‐sewing, tool‐making, and story‐telling, and celebrated for its ability to foster unique environmental relationships, material practices, and perceptual orientations. Exploring the compound and relational workings of indigenous media invites critical reconsideration of the generative potentials it holds for the practitioner‐inhabitants of indigenous communities, anthropologists, and mainstream audiences more broadly.
Amyloid deposition in thymic extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue in a patient with myasthenia gravis: A case report
Authors: You Seulgi , Sun Joo S. , Park Kyung J. , Koh Young W.
Published: January 2020

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in the thymus is a rare disease. Furthermore, amyloid deposition in thymic MALT lymphoma has not been previously described. Here, we report a case of a 35‐year‐old man with thymic MALT lymphoma with amyloid deposition and myasthenia gravis. Chest computed tomography revealed an anterior mediastinal mass with internal cystic component and extensive calcification. Total thymectomy was performed and histopathologic findings were compatible with a diffuse amyloid deposition in extranodal marginal zone MALT lymphoma. The results indicate that thymic MALT lymphoma should be considered as a possible diagnosis in patients with a solid and cystic thymic mass and autoimmune disease, including myasthenia gravis.
Analysis of Environmental Total Factor Productivity Evolution in European Agricultural Sector
Authors: Baležentis Tomas , Blancard Stéphane , Shen Zhiyang , Štreimikienė Dalia
Published: January 2020

Productivity analysis has been an important avenue for economic research. Therefore, medleys of quantitative techniques have been proposed to operationalize productivity analysis. In this article, an extended by‐production model is discussed and applied to ensure a link between the production and the pollution‐generating subtechnologies. The corresponding dual formulations are provided to interpret the economic role of pollution‐generating inputs in the subtechnologies. Finally, we integrate the proposed model with the environmental Luenberger–Hicks–Moorsteen productivity indicator based upon input and output directional distance functions. The proposed model is applied to measure the green economic growth of agricultural sectors of the selected European countries.
Subclinical involvement of the heart and its associated factors in patients with sarcoidosis with normal systolic function using 2D speckle tracking
Authors: Bayat Fariba , Fahimi Asieh , Tavana Sasan , Tabary Mohammadreza , Khaheshi Isa
Published: January 2020

Background

Cardiac involvement by sarcoidosis may affect any part of the heart such as the pericardium, atriums, ventricles, and papillary muscles. In this regard, the use of two‐dimensional speckle‐tracking strain has been reported to be valuable in detecting heart sarcoidosis and its distinction from cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate subclinical cardiac involvement using 2D speckle tracking and its associated factors in patients with normal systolic function by 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Methods

In this study, 55 patients with extra‐cardiac sarcoidosis and 21 normal people were evaluated by 2D speckle tracking. The mean longitudinal global strain for the left ventricle was calculated as an average of 16 segments per patient.

Results

The comparison of the mean 2D speckle‐tracking indices including GCS (global circumferential strain) SAXA, GCSSAXM, Average GCS, AP2LS, AP3LS, AP4LS, and also Average GLS (global longitudinal strain) showed a significant difference between the two groups. Also, the evaluation of each of the above indices with a specific cutoff point as well as a high sensitivity and acceptable specificity predicted the presence of sarcoidosis. The occurrence of changes in the above indices was independent of ventricular function by 2D echocardiography in these patients.

Conclusions

The marked changes in the 2D speckle‐tracking parameters in patients with extra‐cardiac sarcoidosis can be of great value in the prediction of cardiac involvement. The occurrence of the abovementioned cardiac changes can be completely independent of the involvement of left ventricular function and is therefore predictable in patients with normal ventricular function.
Frayme: Building the structure to support the international spread of integrated youth services
Authors: Halsall Tanya , Manion Ian , Mathias Steve , Robeson Paula , Benlamri Meriem , Helfrich Warren , Iyer Srividya N. , Purcell Rosie , Henderson Joanna
Published: January 2020

Aim

Frayme is a Canadian‐based international network designed to accelerate the adoption and scaling up of integrated youth services (IYS). This is done through the synthesis of evidence from a variety of sources and a commitment to integrated knowledge mobilization (KMb) to inform research policy and practice. Frayme is utilizing innovative approaches to stakeholder engagement (youth, families, policy makers, funders, researchers and practitioners) and KMb in order to co‐design system change. The purpose of this article describes the overall Frayme strategy and presents findings from a participatory needs assessment implemented to inform policy‐related priorities.

Methods

The Frayme leadership team facilitated a participatory needs assessment with major stakeholder groups that applied a modified problem‐solving activity. The needs assessment was on a designed to support diverse stakeholder perspectives on ways to improve knowledge mobilization of IYS. Qualitative data were analysed using a thematic analysis.

Results

The four themes identified through the needs assessment were: (a) traditional scientific practices, (b) organizational obstacles, (c) change aversion, and (d) pre‐established stakeholder hierarchies.

Conclusions

Through the recognition of these challenges, Frayme has developed a set of major objectives to inform projects, opportunities for knowledge sharing, implementation of evidence and scaling up of efforts. The Frayme integrated KMb model represents a unique applied example of an evidence‐informed approach to practice collaboration in KMb to promote system change. The findings from this research also contribute to the expanding knowledge base with regard to complex evaluation and system transformation.
Clinical gait features are associated with MRI findings in patients with haemophilic ankle arthropathy
Authors: Eerdekens Maarten , Peerlinck Kathelijne , Staes Filip , Pialat Jean‐Baptiste , Hermans Cédric , Lobet Sébastien , Deschamps Kevin
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Haemophilic ankle arthropathy due to repeated joint bleeds often leads to altered gait in adult patients with haemophilia.

Aim

To investigate the association between clinical gait features and blood‐induced ankle joint damage scored using MRI findings in patients with haemophilic ankle arthropathy.

Methods

This observational study investigated 48 ankles of 24 patients with severe haemophilia (median age of 33 years). Blood‐induced ankle joint damage was scored by an experienced radiologist using the International Prophylaxis Study Group (IPSG‐)MRI score which evaluates the presence or absence of effusion, synovial hypertrophy, haemosiderin, surface erosions, subchondral cysts and cartilage degeneration. Using 3D gait analysis, peak ankle joint power generation and absorption (W/kg) were measured for each ankle since these are surrogate measures for joint loading during walking. Associations between MRI findings and these two clinical gait features were calculated using Spearman's ρ correlation with an α‐level correction (α = 0.01) for multiple tests.

Results

We found large negative associations between ankle joint peak power generation and IPSG‐MRI score (ρ = −0.631; P = <.001), IPSG‐MRI osteochondral subscore (ρ = −0.701; P = <.001), severity of synovial hypertrophy (ρ = −0.507; P = <.001) and haemosiderin (ρ = −0.400; P = .005). Associations were also found for ankle joint peak power absorption and IPSG‐MRI score (ρ = −0.425; P = .003) and IPSG‐MRI osteochondral subscore (ρ = −0.556; P = <.001).

Conclusion

Severe blood‐induced ankle joint damage relates to a lowered tolerance towards ankle joint mechanical loading during walking in patients with haemophilia.
Does glyceryl trinitrate cause central sympatholytic effects? Insights from a case of baroreflex failure
Authors: Tan Sarah , Xie Lin , Anderson Robert , Hammond Andrew , Fong Angelina Y. , Lim Seok , Allen Andrew M. , Harrap Stephen B.
Published: January 2020

Whether part of the blood pressure lowering effects of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) is the result of centrally mediated reduction in sympathetic activity is debated. In humans, baroreflex activity potentially obscures the central sympatholytic effects of GTN. We examined this in a routine clinical tilt test in a patient with baroreflex failure secondary to previous neck radiotherapy. With reduced baroreflex function we observed an exaggerated fall in blood pressure and reduced sympathetic activity with GTN, supporting a peripheral vasodilation and central sympatholytic effect.
Asymmetric impact of earnings news on investor uncertainty
Authors: Peng Zihang , Johnstone David , Christodoulou Demetris
Published: January 2020

We describe a model that predicts an asymmetric impact of disclosure on investor uncertainty. We show that good news tends to resolve more uncertainty than bad news, and that uncertainty can be revised upwards if the investors' prior belief is sufficiently strong and the signal is sufficiently bad. This result is in contrast to classical disclosure models, where new information always resolves uncertainty and the change in uncertainty depends only on the relative precision of the news. Using option‐implied volatility as a proxy for uncertainty, we find strong support for our predictions. We also show that our results are robust to competing explanations, notably to the leverage effect and volatility feedback, as well as to the jump risk induced in anticipation of the earnings announcements.
Blood pressure and glucose control and the prevalence of albuminuria and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension and diabetes
Authors: Zhang Wei , Liu Chang‐Yuan , Ji Li‐Nong , Wang Ji‐Guang ,   For the ATTEND investigators
Published: January 2020

We investigated association between blood pressure and glucose control and the prevalence of albuminuria and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with hypertension and diabetes. Our study participants were treated patients with both diseases, enrolled in a China nationwide registry. The 773 patients were classified into four groups according to the control status of hypertension (systolic/diastolic blood pressure [BP] ≤140/90 mm Hg) and diabetes (HbA1c <7.0%): both uncontrolled (n = 208), only diabetes (n = 175) or hypertension controlled (n = 172), and both controlled (n = 218). Albuminuria was defined as a urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio of ≥30 mg/g. LVH was assessed by the electrocardiogram Cornell product method. Antihypertensive therapy was not different between the four groups (P ≥ .48). The use of insulin alone or insulin plus oral antidiabetic agents was significantly higher than those with both diseases controlled (P ≤ .02). Patients with controlled hypertension and diabetes had a significantly (P < .0001) lower prevalence of albuminuria (odds ratio 0.22, 95% confidence interval 0.11‐0.43) than those with both diseases uncontrolled. Intensive BP control to <130/80 mm Hg was associated with lower risks of albuminuria in all patients (P = .001) and patients with HbA1c <7.0% (P = .048). Intensive glycemic control to HbA1c <6.5% was also associated with a significantly lower risk of albuminuria in all patients (P = .01), but not those with controlled BP (P = .43). Similar trends were observed for LVH, but statistical significance was not achieved on either intensive control condition (P ≥ .07). In patients with hypertension and diabetes, blood pressure and glucose control were associated with a lower prevalence of albuminuria and LVH, especially when achieving a more stringent target.
Water dynamics and microbial communities of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) during simulated cold chain logistics
Authors: Wang Xin‐Yun , Xie Jing
Published: January 2020

This study investigated changes in the physicochemical indexes, water dynamics, and microbial communities of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) during simulated cold chain logistics. With increasing storage time, the color and water activity decreased gradually, while drip loss gradually increased, and pH increased with a fluctuating pattern. The trend of bound water content was not obvious, trapped water declined, and free water increased with fluctuations over time, according to low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐1H NMR). High‐throughput sequencing results indicated that fluctuating temperatures inhibited Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas and promoted Pelomonas, Psychrobacter, and Shewanella. Principal component analysis and redundancy analysis revealed significantly different microbial community interactions among the four groups, and environmental factors had distinct effects on bacterial community assemblages. LF‐NMR and high‐throughput sequencing can be used to monitor dynamic quality changes in bigeye tuna during simulated cold chain logistics with fluctuating temperatures.
Extension of shelf life of pasteurized trim milk using ultraviolet treatment
Authors: Ansari Jawaad Ahmed , Ismail Marliya , Farid Mohammed
Published: January 2020

The demand for minimally processed foods has increased in the last few years and gains high acceptability among consumers as it has better nutritional value than highly processed foods. Pasteurized milk is minimally processed and consumed largely for its fresh taste and higher nutritional value compared to ultrahigh temperature (UHT) and powdered milk. However, one of the constraints is its limited shelf life under refrigeration, as it cannot retain quality and safety for more than 14 days. Nonthermal technologies can extend the shelf life of milk while using low energy. Ultraviolet (UV‐C) is well known to inactivate spores as well as vegetative cells. In this study, it was shown that 2.64 J/ml of UV‐C treatment applied on pasteurized trim milk can extend shelf life up to 53 days under refrigeration. This finding was also supported by the inactivation of 3.40 ± 0.14 log of thermoresistant Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores (ATCC 7953) in UHT (or sterilized) trim milk with similar UV‐C operating conditions. Therefore, microbial study together with physicochemical properties demonstrated that pasteurization followed by UV‐C can enhance the shelf life of trim milk considerably.
Musical adaptation as phonological evidence: Case studies from textsetting, rhyme, and musical surrogates
Authors: McPherson Laura
Published: January 2020

Music and language are both inherently human, rule‐governed systems. Language‐based music, including vocal music and musical surrogate languages, offers the opportunity to look at how musical and linguistic grammars interact and how linguistic structure is adapted to another modality. This article focuses on how this musical adaptation of language can provide valuable evidence for phonological structure and theory, drawing on case studies from textsetting (tonal and non‐tonal), rhyme, and musical surrogate languages.