bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creating competitive advantage through network ties, entrepreneurial orientation and intellectual capital
Authors: Liu Chih-Hsing (Sam)
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study attempts to explore how a cultural and creative firm's competitive advantages can be maintained through the accumulation of intellectual capital and entrepreneurial orientation. Another goal of this study is to identify the different mechanisms of network ties to explore the interrelationships between organizational capital and competitive advantage in the context of Taiwan and China.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 and study 2 settings are applied, and 786 samples (i.e., 418 samples from Taiwan and 368 samples from China) are used to examine the proposed model.

Findings

Study 1 reveals that entrepreneurial orientation may influence the organization capital through human capital and social capital, which discloses the mutual relationships of intellectual capital. Further, the results of study 2 confirm the mediating role of intellectual capital that links the relationships between entrepreneurial orientation and competitive advantage. Specifically, this study also discovered that firms with more network or political ties (e.g. the Chinese samples) and business ties (e.g. the Taiwanese samples) tend to amplify the effects of organizational capital on competitive advantage.

Practical implications

According to our empirical results, cultural and creative managers should build a learning mechanism to encourage and develop entrepreneurial orientation and intellectual capital capacities and to provide means of understanding of customers' changing expectations. Hence, in enhancing entrepreneurial orientation and intellectual capital cultural and creative firms can develop a competitive advantage over competitors. Our findings also offer new insight to support further studies of the benefits of managerial ties for firms operating in Guanxi cultural settings in Chinese contexts.

Originality/value

Most previous studies on tourism strategies have disregarded the impacts and different roles of government (e.g. political ties) and business (e.g. business ties) forces on cultural and creative firms' competitive advantages, suggesting a need to address social network issues in response to dynamic tourism environments. Therefore, this study examines differences in network ties and the differences observed between China and Taiwan in the context of Chinese cultural and creative firms.
“It's all window dressing:” Canadian police officers' perceptions of mental health stigma in their workplace
Authors: Bikos Lesley J.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study will provide a preliminary, general overview of Canadian police officers' perception of stigma toward mental illness in their workplace culture and its impacts.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a mixed methods approach with two nationwide datasets: a self-report survey (N = 727) and 116 semi-structured interviews with police officers from 31 police services. Results are grounded in theories of stigma, masculinities and organizational culture.

Findings

Results indicate that most officers believe stigma toward mental illness in their workplace remains, despite senior management messaging and program implementation. Reporting mental illness was often seen as high risk, both personally and professionally. Policewomen, constables and those on leave reported statistically significant higher levels of perceived stigma and risk. Features of traditional masculinity were commonly reported, influencing the way individuals viewed themselves (self-stigma) and organizational response (structural stigma). Those with lived experience reported the highest levels of self and structural stigmatization, which often negatively impacted their recovery.

Originality/value

This study strengthens our understanding of how organizational culture and structure combine to contribute to the persistent presence of stigma in some Canadian police services (with implications for male-dominated occupations generally). Gender, rank, years of service and lived experience are additional areas of limited scholarship addressed by this study. The findings have important implications for effective program and policy evaluation and development.
Nerve guidance conduit promoted peripheral nerve regeneration in rats
Authors: Long Qingshan , Wu Bingshan , Yang Yu , Wang Shanhong , Shen Yiwen , Bao Qinghua , Xu Feng
Published: December 2020

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is important for peripheral nerve regeneration. However, its short half‐life and rapid diffusion in body fluids limit its clinical efficacy. Collagen has favorable biocompatibility and biodegradability, and weak immunogenicity. Because it possesses an NGF binding domain, we cross‐linked heparin to collagen tubes to construct nerve guidance conduits for delivering NGF. The conduits were implanted to bridge a facial nerve defect in rats. Histological and functional analyses were performed to assess the effect of the nerve guidance conduit on facial nerve regeneration. Heparin enhanced the binding of NGF to collagen while retaining its bioactivity. Also, the nerve guidance conduit significantly promoted axonal growth and Schwan cell proliferation at 12 weeks after surgery. The nerve regeneration and functional recovery outcomes using the nerve guidance conduit were similar to those of autologous nerve grafting. Therefore, the nerve guidance conduit may promote safer nerve regeneration.
Outcome after single‐site robotic cholecystectomy: An initial single center's experience
Authors: Ricciardiello Marco , Grottola Tommaso , Panaccio Paolo , Esposito Ludovica M , Montemitro Chiara , Mucilli Felice , Ciavarella Davide , di Sebastiano Pierluigi , di Mola Fabio Francesco
Published: December 2020

Background

Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard for symptomatic gallbladder disease, a single‐incision approach may be a new challenge in order to achieve minimization of surgical trauma. Single‐site robotic cholecystectomy (SSRC) is able to offset the ergonomic limitation of laparoscopic single‐site cholecystectomy and improves cosmesis.

Methods

We present a single‐institution initial experience of SSRC for cholecystolithiasis. Intra‐operative and post‐operative data of patients were reviewed to assess the technical feasibility and cosmetic outcome.

Results

We evaluated a series of 27 consecutive patients retrospectively analyzed and prospectively collected who underwent SSRC. One patient was excluded from the final analysis because they converted to open procedure. The female/male ratio was 17/9, with mean age of 48 ± 12 years. The body mass index mean value was 26.0 ± 4.2. The mean operative time was 99.6 ± 21.5 minutes. No intra‐ or post‐operative complications and readmissions were recorded. At 12 months follow up, every patient received the Body Image Questionnaire (BIQ) and a Photo Series Questionnaire. We recorded three patients (11.5%) with post‐operative incisional hernia. Scores of the BIQ subscale for body image perception were 6 ± 1.2, while the scores of scar cosmesis were 21.1 ± 3.0. A statistically significant improvement in scar self‐rating from T0 to T1 (P < .01) was found.

Conclusion

In our initial experience SSRC may be preferred to treat patients with higher needs in terms of cosmesis and body image perception. Lower costs for rent, maintenance and consumables may allow the spread of robotic surgery also for singe site cholecystectomy.
‘Lonely in my head’: The experiences of loneliness in individuals with brain injury
Authors: Lowe Niamh , Crawley Lorraine , Wilson Charlotte , Waldron Brian
Published: December 2020

Primary objective

This paper reports on the personal experiences of loneliness for individuals living with brain injury.

Research design

This is a qualitative research design, employing semi‐structured interviews and subsequent contextualist thematic analysis.

Methods and procedures

Eleven clients (two female and nine male, aged between 27 and 63 years) with brain injury participated in semi‐structured interviews. Thematic analysis was employed in the interpretation of the data.

Main outcomes and results

The interview data and subsequent analysis depicted three overarching themes in a healing process – ‘Internal Loneliness’, ‘Healing the Cracks’, and ‘Visible with Cracks’. Participants described five factors which contribute to their feeling of loneliness: trauma, social isolation, concealment, rejection of part of self, and invisibility of their disability. The participants’ accounts also detailed the necessity of a therapeutic intervention and relationship to deal with and address some of these issues.

Conclusions

This study highlights that processing the trauma, developing dialectical thinking, self‐compassion, and a degree of self‐acceptance assist in the movement of participants towards allowing themselves to be ‘Visible with Cracks’. This allowance of self to be fully seen appears to serve an important function for reconnection with self and others. These results may help to inform brain injury rehabilitative care, through developing their understanding of the internal loneliness factors that may be influencing an individual’s social isolation or social withdrawal.
Family‐centred early intervention: Comparing practitioners' actual and desired practices
Authors: García‐Ventura Simón , Mas Joana Maria , Balcells‐Balcells Anna , Giné Climent
Published: December 2020

Background

In Spain, as in other countries, there has been a deep and intense process of change towards the adoption and use of family‐centred practices (FCPs) on early intervention (EI). Despite that several international organizations have recommended FCPs be embedded in EI services, researchers on this field have highlighted a recommendation–implementation gap, as well as the need to point investigation on practitioners and intervention variables involved. Consequently, our goals were to describe and compare the practitioners' appraisals on actual and desired practices in Spain and to explore the relationships between practitioners and intervention characteristics and the use of recommended practices.

Methods

A survey including practitioner and intervention characteristics measures was used to obtain data needed. The actual and desired practices were explored through the Family Orientation of Community and Agency Services Scale. The participants were 119 EI Spanish practitioners whose programmes were in the first stages of different FCP implementation projects.

Results

Practitioners reported actual practices to be less family centred than they would like, moderately in line with FCP. They reported desired practices as quite close to recommended practices. Intervention characteristics were related to actual practices, whereas practitioner characteristics were not.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the recommendation–implementation gap still exists in our context, as well as in other countries. Intervention characteristics seem to be one of the key elements significantly influencing actual practices, though additional research is needed. A comprehensive framework for implementation is needed to bridge the gap between recommendation practices and the use of these practices.
Acral lymphomatoid papulosis: Report of five cases, differential diagnosis, and review
Authors: Machan Salma , Juárez Martín África , Cullen Aravena Daniella , Haro Rosario , Pielasinski Úrsula , Fuertes Laura , Córdoba Raúl , Santonja Carlos , Rodríguez‐Pinilla Socorro María , Requena Luis
Published: December 2020

Acral lymphomatoid papulosis (a‐LyP) is a rare clinical variant of LyP whose diagnosis may be challenging. A case series of a‐LyP was studied clinically, histopathologically, immunohistochemically, and from molecular point of view. Including ours, 25 cases of a‐LyP have so far been reported. Clinically, a‐LyP may present as acral involvement exclusively, in combination with mucosal lesions, (in itself a rare presentation), or in association with conventional LyP. The age of presentation was slightly higher than that of conventional LyP (55 vs 45 years) and a male predominance has been observed, as usually reported. Histopathologically, no morphological differences exclusively from conventional LyP were observed. LyP types A and E were the main variants. We describe for the first time one case of type D a‐LyP. Acral LyP is a rare entity and correct diagnosis can only be reached with clinical and histopathological correlation, to avoid aggressive treatment of this indolent lymphoproliferative disorder.
Checklist for the initial evaluation of oral and maxillofacial trauma
Authors: de Souza Glaciele M. , Fernandes Ighor A. , Galvão Endi L. , Falci Saulo G. M.
Published: December 2020

Background/Aim

The standardization of the maxillofacial examination using a validated checklist is highly important. A checklist can also be a valuable tool for epidemiological studies, as it provides all clinical information related to maxillofacial trauma. The aim of this study was to propose a new checklist for the initial evaluation of maxillofacial trauma.

Material and Methods

The development and validation of the new checklist were performed in four consecutive phases: (a) determination of items and development of the checklist; (b) analysis by experts; (c) pre‐test; and (d) pilot study. The checklist was designed as follows: (a) Specific signs and symptoms (Part 1); (b) Specific signs and symptoms (Part 2); (c) Intraoral signs and symptoms; and (d) Imaging examination.

Results

A good level of agreement was found among the experts and no items were excluded during the validation step. The administration of the instrument to the target population revealed the lack of some important aspects of the clinical evaluation, such as halitosis, otorrhea, petechiae, eyelid ptosis, hypo/hyperacusis, and temporomandibular join sounds. These missing signs were included in the final version.

Conclusions

This checklist is a practical guide that can be used by specialists or students in oral and maxillofacial surgery and it can contribute to the quality of health care at outpatient and oral‐maxillofacial surgery services for patients with maxillofacial trauma.
A case of Melkersson‐Rosenthal syndrome with endocrine disorders: Extraordinary efficiency of hydroxychloroquine and mechanism hypothesis
Authors: Wang Shimeng , Wang Hongmei , Shi Xueke , Wu Fanglong , Lv Ling , Hu Mingjia , Sun Wanxin , Wu Lanyan , Zhou Hongmei
Published: December 2020

Background and purpose

Melkersson‐Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare neuro‐mucocutaneous disease. In addition to the traditional clinical triad, there is also a diversity of clinical signs, and it may be related to other systemic diseases.

Methods

In the present study, we report a case of MRS with endocrine disorders that exhibits extraordinary therapeutic efficiency by using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), explore whether there is an internal connection between MRS and endocrine disorders, and discuss the mechanism of the therapeutic efficiency of using HCQ. The hypothesis proposed for the first time is that MRS may essentially be a systemic granulomatous disease.

Results

The physical examination revealed orofacial swelling and fissured tongue. The histopathologic examination showed epithelioid granulomas. Combined with the other examination, this case was diagnosed as incomplete MRS. HCQ and local drugs were introduced. The patient achieved clinical recovery and psychological cure by the 18‐week follow‐up, and the 1‐year follow‐up found no reactivation of MRS. Moreover, the levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic were within normal ranges.

Conclusions

After the drug therapy was targeted at granuloma, not only did all of the symptoms related to MRS disappear, but the endocrine system also returned to normal. It is speculated that the endocrine disorder in this patient may be related to MRS. We further propose the first‐time hypothesis that MRS may essentially be a systemic granulomatous disease. It provides a new medication method with high‐level efficiency.
Effect of head and tail rope‐assisted recovery of horses after elective and emergency surgery under general anaesthesia
Authors: Nicolaisen A.‐S. Kock , Bendix Nygaard A. , Christophersen M. T. , Jensen D. B. , Lindegaard C.
Published: December 2020

The recovery phase is a critical period during equine anaesthesia. In an attempt to reduce the risk of recovery, several recovery systems, including head and tail ropes, have been developed over time. However, the clinical safety and efficacy of these systems have not been compared to a nonassisted group in a larger study. The objective of this comparative, retrospective, nonrandomised single‐centre study was to determine whether the risk of developing fatal and nonfatal complications after general anaesthesia is reduced in horses assisted with head and tail ropes during recovery compared with horses recovering unassisted. Included were all horses undergoing general anaesthesia at the Large Animal Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, from 2010 to 2019. Analysed data included age, body mass, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade of physical status (ASA score), type of surgery and anaesthetic duration. Complications were divided into none, fatal and nonfatal. Logistic regression was performed to analyse the risk and predictors of fatal and nonfatal complications using the built‐in R function ‘step’. Tukey’s honest significance difference test was applied to determine significance, set at P<0.05, within the categorical variables of the reduced models. The study included 1252 horses: 662 recovered with assistance (group A) and 590 without (group NA). Overall recovery‐associated mortality was 1.4%: 0.6% in group A and 2.2% in group NA. Both emergency abdominal surgery (P = 0.004) and duration of surgery (P = 0.0001) affected the risk of fatal complications negatively. Assisted recovery (P = 0.02) significantly reduced the risk of fatal complications after emergency abdominal surgery. The limitation of the study was a lack of randomisation and potentially a larger proportion of sedation among assisted horses. It was concluded that emergency abdominal surgery and duration of anaesthesia are significant risk factors for fatal complications during recovery. Head and tail rope‐assisted recovery is a significant factor of reducing fatal complications during recovery after emergency abdominal surgery.
Bacteria and virulence factors in periapical lesions associated with teeth following primary and secondary root canal treatment
Authors: Bronzato J. D. , Davidian M. E. S. , de Castro M. , de‐Jesus‐Soares A. , Ferraz C. C. R. , Almeida J. F. A. , Marciano M. A. , Gomes B. P. F. A.
Published: December 2020

Aim

This cross‐sectional study aimed to investigate the microbial profile and to quantify the levels of endotoxins (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) present in periapical lesions associated with root filled teeth and those that had received root canal retreatment. It also aimed to investigate the association between microorganisms and their virulence factors with clinical and radiographic features.

Methodology

Patients with periapical lesions in teeth with post‐treatment endodontic disease following primary root canal treatment (n = 19) and unsuccessful root canal retreatment (n = 13) were treatment planned for endodontic microsurgery, where the periapical lesions were collected. Clinical and radiographic data were also collected. For microbiological analysis, nested polymerase chain reaction was used to detect 17 bacterial species. Levels of LPS and LTA were determined using limulus amebocyte lysate and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, respectively. The Student t‐test or Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney tests were applied to compare the data on LPS and LTA with clinical and radiographic features. The associations between the clinical and radiographic features and the bacterial species were analysed using the Fisher’s exact test. A significance level of 5% was adopted.

Results

Bacterial DNA, LPS and LTA were detected in all samples. Parvimonas micra was the most commonly detected species in all groups, followed by Enterococcus faecalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas endodontalis. The type of endodontic treatment, whether a primary root canal treatment or retreatment, was not associated with the presence of any bacterial species in periapical lesions. The levels of LPS and LTA in periapical lesions of root filled teeth were not significantly different from those that had been retreated. Associations between the levels of LPS and LTA with clinical signs and symptoms were found. No association was found between specific bacteria and clinical features.

Conclusion

Periapical lesions associated with teeth after primary root canal treatment and retreatment had similar polymicrobial composition. The levels of LPS and LTA in periapical lesions associated with teeth after primary root canal treatment and retreatment were similar, and both were associated with the same symptomatology.
Adjacent relations of primary phase fields and invariant reactions of the system CaO‐SiO2‐Nb2O5‐La2O3
Authors: Liu Chengjun , Qiu Jiyu , Liu Zhengyue , Zhu Deying , Wang Yeguang , Jiang Maofa
Published: December 2020

The adjacent relation of primary phase fields and corresponding invariant reactions of the system CaO‐SiO2‐Nb2O5‐La2O3 are of great importance for the study on its phase diagram. In the present work, the phase equilibrium in the high w(La2O3) region of CaO‐SiO2‐Nb2O5‐La2O3 system was studied by thermodynamic equilibrium experiment. The adjacent relation of primary phase fields was determined and represented in the form of adjacent tetrahedrons. The Alkemade Rule applicable to quaternary phase diagram was deduced, which can be used to infer the liquidus temperature trend on univariant curves. The rule was then used to determine the possible temperature range of invariant reactions corresponding to the adjacent tetrahedron in CaO‐SiO2‐Nb2O5‐La2O3 system, and the result was shown in the form of Schairer diagram. Finally, the reaction types of five invariant points were determined according to the Lever Rule for quaternary phase diagram, including:

① L1+CaO·3SiO2·2La2O3→CaO·SiO2+SiO2+La2O3·Nb2O5,

② L2→CaO·SiO2+La2O3·Nb2O5+SiO2+CaO·Nb2O5,

③ L3+CaO·3SiO2·2La2O3+2CaO·Nb2O5→10CaO·6SiO2·Nb2O5+La2O3·Nb2O5,

④ L4+10CaO·6SiO2·Nb2O5→CaO·SiO2+2CaO·Nb2O5+La2O3·Nb2O5,

⑤ L5+2CaO·Nb2O5→CaO·Nb2O5+La2O3·Nb2O5+CaO·SiO2.
Associations of atrial fibrillation progression with clinical risk factors and clinical prognosis: A report from the Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry study
Authors: Yang Wang‐Yang , Du Xin , Fawzy Ameenathul M. , He Liu , Li Hong‐Wei , Dong Jian‐Zeng , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Ma Chang‐Sheng ,   The Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry Study Group
Published: December 2020

Background

An understanding of the risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) progression and the associated impacts on clinical prognosis are important for the future management of this common arrhythmia. We aimed to investigate the rate of progression from paroxysmal (PAF) to more sustained subtypes of AF (SAF), the associated risk factors for this progression, and its impact on adverse clinical outcomes.

Methods and Results

Using data from the Chinese trial Fibrillation Registry study, we included 8290 PAF patients. Half of them underwent initial AF ablation at enrollment. The main outcomes were ischemic stroke/systemic embolism (IS/SE), cardiovascular hospitalization, cardiovascular death, and all‐cause mortality. The median follow‐up duration was 1091 (704, 1634) days, and progression from PAF to SAF occurred in 881 (22.5%) nonablated patients, while 130 (3.0%) ablated patients had AF recurrence and developed SAF. The incidence rate of AF progression for the cohort was 3.87 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.64–4.12) per 100 patient‐years, being higher in nonablated compared to ablated patients. Older age, longer AF history, heart failure, hypertension, coronary artery disease, respiratory diseases, and larger atrial diameter were associated with a higher incidence of AF progression, while antiarrhythmic drug use and AF ablation were inversely related to it. For nonablated patients, AF progression was independently associated with an increased risk of IS/SE (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.15–2.01) and cardiovascular hospitalizations (HR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.23–1.58).

Conclusion

AF progression was common in its natural course. It was related to comorbidities and whether rhythm control strategies were used, and was associated with an increased risk of IS/SE and cardiovascular hospitalization.
Clinical impact of eliminating nonpulmonary vein triggers of atrial fibrillation and nonpulmonary vein premature atrial contractions at initial ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation
Authors: Tohoku Shota , Fukunaga Masato , Nagashima Michio , Korai Kengo , Hirokami Jun , Yamamoto Kei , Takeo Ayaka , Niu Harushi , Ando Kenji , Hiroshima Kenichi
Published: December 2020

Background

The role of nonpulmonary vein (PV) triggers ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation (PEAF) was suggested but it is still under debate.

Objectives

We aimed to assess the effectiveness of non‐PV trigger‐targeted ablation for patients with PEAF.

Methods

Consecutive patients with PEAF undergoing catheter ablation (CA) between January 2015 and April 2017 were enrolled. Isoproterenol plus adenosine challenge was performed to provoke non‐PV triggers. Non‐PV triggers were defined as the trigger beats inducing AF (non‐PV AF triggers) and/or frequent premature contractions (non‐PV PACs) from other than PVs. Three groups were defined: Group 1 (n = 186) without non‐PV triggers; Group 2 (n = 65) with non‐PV triggers that could be completely eliminated with CA; Group 3 (n = 49) with non‐PV triggers still inducible after CA. The primary endpoint was freedom from any atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATa) recurrence.

Results

A total of 300 patients (230 males, age 64 ± 10) were enrolled. The mean follow‐up period was 27 ± 10 months. Freedom from ATa recurrence at 1 and 2 years were significantly lower in Group 3 compared to the other two groups (Group 1; 74.7%, 67.2% vs. Group 2; 75.8%, 68.3% vs. Group 3: 52.1%, 38.6%, p = .0005), irrespective of the type of non‐PV triggers (non‐PV AF triggers vs. non‐PV PACs). On multivariate analysis, unsuccessful elimination of non‐PV triggers was an independent predictor for ATa recurrence (hazard ratio = 1.80, 95% confidence interval = 1.07–2.95, p = .026).

Conclusion

Successful non‐PV triggers elimination can improve the ATa recurrence rate in PEAF ablation. ATa recurrence rate is higher, if non‐PV AF triggers or even non‐PV PACs remain in patients with PEAF.
Is social capital a determinant of board gender diversity?
Authors: Oyotode‐Adebile Renee , Ujah Nacasius U.
Published: December 2020

We examine the impact of social capital on board gender diversity among U.S. firms. We test whether trust and social networks in a county lead to an increase in female board representation. We find that firms headquartered in high‐social‐capital counties have higher diversity in their corporate board. Economically, we estimate that a 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in social capital leads to a 0.042 SD increase in board gender diversity. We contribute to the literature by extending the evidence on board gender diversity determinants to informal institutions.
Population dynamics of Rhizoctonia, Oculimacula, and Microdochium species in soil, roots, and stems of English wheat crops
Authors: Brown Matthew , Woodhall James W. , Nielsen Linda K. , Tomlinson Daniel , Farooqi Arifa , Ray Rumiana V.
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to elucidate the population dynamics of Rhizoctonia, Oculimacula, and Microdochium species, causing the stem base disease complex of sharp eyespot, eyespot, and brown foot rot in cereals. Pathogen DNA in soil, roots, and stem fractions, and disease expression were quantified in 102 English wheat fields in two seasons. Weather data for each site was collected to determine patterns that correlate with assessed diseases. Oculimacula spp. (66%) and R. solani AG 2‐1 (63%) were most frequently detected in soil, followed by R. cerealis (54%) and Microdochium spp. (33%). Oculimacula spp. (89%) and R. cerealis (56%) predominated on roots and soil but were not associated with root rot symptoms, suggesting that these species used soil and roots for survival and as inoculum source. M. nivale was more frequently detected than M. majus on stems up to GS 21–30 and co‐occurred on plant samples with O. acuformis. O. yallundae had higher DNA concentration than O. acuformis at the lower 5 cm basal region at GS 37–45. R. cerealis predominated in the upper 15 cm above the base beyond stem extension. Brown foot rot by Microdochium spp. was favoured by cool and wet autumns/winters and dominated in English wheat. Eyespot and sharp eyespot disease index by Oculimacula spp. and R. cerealis, respectively, correlated with wet/humid springs and summers. Results suggested that stem base pathogens generally coexisted; however, their abundance in time and space was influenced by favourable weather patterns and host development, with niche differentiation after stem extension.
Analysis goals, error‐cost sensitivity, and analysis hacking: Essential considerations in hypothesis testing and multiple comparisons
Authors: Greenland Sander
Published: December 2020

The “replication crisis” has been attributed to perverse incentives that lead to selective reporting and misinterpretations of P‐values and confidence intervals. A crude fix offered for this problem is to lower testing cut‐offs (α levels), either directly or in the form of null‐biased multiple comparisons procedures such as naïve Bonferroni adjustments. Methodologists and statisticians have expressed positions that range from condemning all such procedures to demanding their application in almost all analyses. Navigating between these unjustifiable extremes requires defining analysis goals precisely enough to separate inappropriate from appropriate adjustments. To meet this need, I here review issues arising in single‐parameter inference (such as error costs and loss functions) that are often skipped in basic statistics, yet are crucial to understanding controversies in testing and multiple comparisons.

I also review considerations that should be made when examining arguments for and against modifications of decision cut‐offs and adjustments for multiple comparisons. The goal is to provide researchers a better understanding of what is assumed by each side and to enable recognition of hidden assumptions. Basic issues of goal specification and error costs are illustrated with simple fixed cut‐off hypothesis testing scenarios. These illustrations show how adjustment choices are extremely sensitive to implicit decision costs, making it inevitable that different stakeholders will vehemently disagree about what is necessary or appropriate. Because decisions cannot be justified without explicit costs, resolution of inference controversies is impossible without recognising this sensitivity. Pre‐analysis statements of funding, scientific goals, and analysis plans can help counter demands for inappropriate adjustments, and can provide guidance as to what adjustments are advisable. Hierarchical (multilevel) regression methods (including Bayesian, semi‐Bayes, and empirical‐Bayes methods) provide preferable alternatives to conventional adjustments, insofar as they facilitate use of background information in the analysis model, and thus can provide better‐informed estimates on which to base inferences and decisions.
FRN and P3 during the Iowa gambling task: The importance of gender
Authors: Garrido‐Chaves Ruth , Perez‐Alarcón Mario , Perez Vanesa , Hidalgo Vanesa , Pulopulos Matias M. , Salvador Alicia
Published: December 2020

Previous research has shown gender‐related psychobiological differences in risky and competitive strategies that affect win and loss outcomes. In addition, some studies have found differences in the decision‐making process, with women taking longer to reach the same performance as men. However, the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate gender differences in behavioral performance and neural correlates during a decision‐making task, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Forty healthy young adults (23 men and 17 women) performed the IGT while the feedback‐related negativity (FRN) and P3 were recorded as neural correlates of feedback processing. No gender differences were observed in the behavioral performance on the IGT after 100 and 150 trials, or in the P3 component. In women, but not in men, the FRN component showed a greater amplitude for losses than for wins. There were no significant gender‐related differences in behavioral performance, and men and women revealed a similar learning process on the IGT. At the neural level, no direct differences between men and women were observed in the feedback processing stage for the FRN or P3. However, our results indicate that women showed greater sensitivity to losses than to wins during the decision‐making task, as reflected in the FRN component.
Impact of Covid‐19 epidemic on the activities of a blood centre, transfusion support for infected patients and clinical outcomes
Authors: Quaglietta Anna , Nicolucci Antonio , Posata Raffaella , Frattari Antonella , Parruti Giustino , Accorsi Patrizia
Published: December 2020

Objectives

We evaluated how the Severe Acute Respiratory disease from Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) epidemic impacted transfusion services, transfusion support required by Covid‐19 patients and their clinical outcome.

Background

In Italy, the first confirmed case of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was registered on 21 February 2020. As of 20 April, about 250 000 cases were registered, 1143 of which were in the province of Pescara.

Methods

We compared transfusion services provided by the blood centre of Pescara between 1 March and 20 April 2019 and between 1 March and 20 April 2020. We assessed the number and type of blood components donated, those transfused in the various hospital departments and those transfused to Covid‐19 patients.

Results

Compared to 2019, we documented a decrease of 32% in the number of donations. The number of transfusions increased by 139% in the infectious diseases department (IDD), dedicated to Covid‐19 patients, and by 76% in the intensive care unit (ICU), whereas it markedly decreased in the other departments. Of 299 patients with Covid‐19, 60 were transfused (20.1%). Transfused patients in the ICU were significantly younger than those in IDD and had a lower number of lymphocytes, lower post‐transfusion increment of haemoglobin levels and higher D‐dimer and C reactive protein values. Mortality rate was 60.7% among transfused patients in the ICU and 39.0% among those in the IDD (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

The Covid‐19 epidemic had a profound impact on transfusion activities. The important blood demand for Covid‐19 patients was satisfied because of the reduction in activities in other hospital wards. Covid‐19‐positive transfused patients showed a very poor prognosis.
Evaluation of effect of scheduled fresh frozen plasma on ECMO circuit life: A randomized pilot trial
Authors: McMichael Ali B.V. , Zimmerman Kanecia O. , Kumar Karan R. , Ozment Caroline P.
Published: December 2020

Background

Factor consumption is common during ECMO complicating the balance of pro and anticoagulation factors. This study sought to determine whether transfusion of coagulation factors using fresh frozen plasma (FFP) increased ECMO circuit life and decreased blood product transfusion. Secondly, it analyzed the association between FFP transfusion and hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications.

Study Design and Methods

Thirty‐one pediatric ECMO patients between October 2013 and January 2016 at a quaternary care institution were included. Patients were randomized to FFP every 48 hours or usual care. The primary outcome was ECMO circuit change. Secondary outcomes included blood product transfusion, survival to decannulation, hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications, and ECMO costs.

Results

Median (interquartile range [IQR]) number of circuit changes was 0 (0, 1). No difference was seen in percent days without a circuit change between intervention and control group, P = .53. Intervention group patients received median platelets of 15.5 mL/kg/d IQR (3.7, 26.8) vs 24.8 mL/kg/d (12.2, 30.8) for the control group (P = .16), and median packed red blood cells (pRBC) of 7.7 mL/kg/d (3.3, 16.3) vs 5.9 mL/kg/d (3.4, 18.7) for the control group, P = .60. FFP transfusions were similar with 10.2 mL/kg/d (5.0, 13.9) in the intervention group vs 8.8 (2.5, 17.7) for the control group, P = .98.

Conclusion

In this pilot randomized study, scheduled FFP did not increase circuit life. There was no difference in blood product transfusion of platelets, pRBCs, and FFP between groups. Further studies are needed to examine the association of scheduled FFP with blood product transfusion.
Effect of antimicrobial use and production system on Campylobacter spp., Staphylococcus spp. and Salmonella spp. resistance in Spanish swine: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Mencía‐Ares Oscar , Argüello Héctor , Puente Héctor , Gómez‐García Manuel , Álvarez‐Ordóñez Avelino , Manzanilla Edgar G. , Carvajal Ana , Rubio Pedro
Published: December 2020

Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide public health threat; hence, current trends tend to reduce antimicrobial use in food‐producing animals and to monitor resistance in primary production. This study aimed at evaluating the impact of antimicrobial use and production system on swine farms in the antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter, Salmonella and Staphylococcus, the main zoonotic pathogens in pig herds, in order to assess their potential value as sentinel microorganisms in antimicrobial resistance surveillance schemes. A total of 37 Spanish swine farms, 18 intensive and 19 organic/extensive farms, were included in the study. The antimicrobial resistance of 104 Campylobacter, 84 Staphylococcus and 17 Salmonella isolates was evaluated using Sensititre plates following the EUCAST guidelines. Mixed‐effects logistic regression was used to evaluate the influence of production system and antimicrobial use in resistant and multidrug‐resistant (MDR) phenotypes to the antimicrobials tested. The results showed that antimicrobial use was higher (p < .001) on intensive farms than on organic/extensive farms. MDR in Campylobacter and Staphylococcus was lower on organic/extensive farms (OR < .01p < .001). Antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter and Staphylococcus isolates was, also for most of the antimicrobials studied, significantly higher in intensive than organic/extensive pig herds. Tetracycline resistance was associated with total antimicrobial consumption in both microbial species (p < .05), and some cross‐associations between distinct antimicrobial substances were established, for instance resistance to erythromycin was associated with macrolide and phenicol consumption. No significant associations could be established for Salmonella isolates. The results demonstrate the link between antimicrobial consumption and resistance in zoonotic bacteria and evidence the potential value of using Campylobacter and Staphylococcus species in monitoring activities aimed at determining the impact of antimicrobials use/reduction on the occurrence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
POST-SECONDARY PAW PATROL: Effects of Animal-Assisted Activities on Students’ Stress, Happiness and Well-being
Authors: Sokal Laura , Martin Taylor
Published: December 2020

Two hundred forty-two students, including 76 college students and 166 university students from Canadian post-secondary schools, participated in a pre-post study of the effects of animal-assisted activities on their stress, happiness, and well-being. Findings showed that those students who had recently experienced a negative event showed significantly greater positive effects of the animal-assisted activities on all three dependent variables when compared with other students, although all students benefitted from participating in terms of desired effects on their stress, happiness, and well-being. In keeping with Keyes’ model of mental wellness, these school-based, animal-assisted activities are supported as low-cost, low-stigma, universal approaches to mental health promotion.
A Hemodynamic Comparison of Myocardial Bridging and Coronary Atherosclerotic Stenosis: A Computational Model With Experimental Evaluation
Authors: Sharzehee Mohammadali , Seddighi Yasamin , Sprague Eugene A. , Finol Ender A. , Han Hai-Chao
Published: December 2020

Myocardial bridging (MB) and coronary atherosclerotic stenosis can impair coronary blood flow and may cause myocardial ischemia or even heart attack. It remains unclear how MB and stenosis are similar or different regarding their impacts on coronary hemodynamics. The purpose of this study was to compare the hemodynamic effects of coronary stenosis and MB using experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approaches. For CFD modeling, three MB patients with different levels of lumen obstruction, mild, moderate, and severe were selected. Patient-specific left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery models were reconstructed from biplane angiograms. For each MB patient, the virtually healthy and stenotic models were also simulated for comparison. In addition, an in vitro flow-loop was developed, and the pressure drop was measured for comparison. The CFD simulations results demonstrated that the difference between MB and stenosis increased with increasing MB/stenosis severity and flowrate. Experimental results showed that increasing the MB length (by 140%) only had significant impact on the pressure drop in the severe MB (39% increase at the exercise), but increasing the stenosis length dramatically increased the pressure drop in both moderate and severe stenoses at all flow rates (31% and 93% increase at the exercise, respectively). Both CFD and experimental results confirmed that the MB had a higher maximum and a lower mean pressure drop in comparison with the stenosis, regardless of the degree of lumen obstruction. A better understanding of MB and atherosclerotic stenosis may improve the therapeutic strategies in coronary disease patients and prevent acute coronary syndromes.
Simulations of X-59 low-booms propagated through measured atmospheric profiles in Galveston, Texas
Authors: Doebler William
Published: December 2020

During NASA's Quiet Supersonic Flights 2018 (QSF18) test, residents of Galveston, Texas and surrounding communities were exposed to low amplitude sonic booms for a community noise survey. Despite the flight test lasting only 11 days, substantial weather variability occurred including snow and record high temperatures. Similar atmospheric variability could occur in future community noise flight tests with the X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology aircraft that is currently being constructed. X-59 is designed to have a Stevens Mark VII Perceived Level (PL) of 75 dB in a standard atmosphere. In this work, X-59's low-boom performance in real atmospheres was tested by using NASA's PCBoom code to simulate propagation of its nearfield pressure through the atmospheric profiles measured during QSF18. Results indicate undertrack booms would not exceed 75 PLdB in these atmospheres. A range of about 8.5 PLdB between the loudest and quietest undertrack boom was observed indicating adjustments to the X-59 flight condition may be needed to achieve target loudness levels during future sonic boom community noise surveys. Attenuation rate, ray tube area, path length and other quantities throughout propagation of the loudest and quietest booms are presented, which indicate humidity differences below 15kft were a primary driver of the PL differences.
The precedence effect: Is it the same for interaural time and interaural level differences?
Authors: Dye Raymond H. , Darnell Sarah E.
Published: December 2020

Until recently, it was believed that the precedence effect operated for both interaural time and interaural level differences (ITDs and ILDs). Stecker and Brown (2010) demonstrated the absence of precedence effects for ILDs under conditions producing strong effects for ITDs. In order to provide a quantitative measure of the precedence effect, echo weights were measured using a correlational analysis as a function of echo delay for both ITDs and ILDs in 14 individuals for judgments based on binaural cues presented by the echo pulse. Stimuli were pairs of 3000-Hz 4-ms Gaussian pulses presented with echo delays between 4 and 96 ms. Echo weights at short echo delays (4 ms) were significantly higher for ILDs (M = 0.445) than ITDs (M = 0.196). Additional data were collected for conditions in which an ITD followed an ILD versus an ILD followed an ITD. Performance was far superior at short echo delays for ILDs following ITDs, with the leading ITD barely exerting any influence on subsequent processing of ILDs. We speculate that the mechanism by which ILDs are extracted (integration of sound pressure over time) makes later non-zero ILDs informative whereas later arriving ITDs provide little information about the location of sound sources.
Internal acoustic energy of fluid scattering centers: Application to metamaterials
Authors: Alcaras Jose R. , Martinez Alexandre S.
Published: December 2020

From its origins, scattering theory seeks to understand the way scattering patterns are related to scattering centers, in the far-field region. However, important information about the scattering object can be obtained via near and/or internal fields. Here, we calculate analytically the amount of energy stored inside fluid spheres and cylinders upon the single scattering of an incident monochromatic plane wave. First, we compute the internal scattering coefficients of the wave inside the scattering center, which can be a sphere or cylinder. Second, using this quantity, along with well established formulas, we calculate the potential and kinetic energy inside the scatterer. We expect to set up a method for theoretically obtaining standard parameters when measuring stability and structural nature of several types of scattering materials. Using scattering theory as means to study properties of materials, we expect to help further developing of acoustic metamaterials and improving the technological advances of this field.
Benefits of extended high-frequency hearing for speech perception
Authors: Monson Brian B.
Published: December 2020

Each species has a frequency range of hearing tailored to meet the demands placed upon that species by its environment and experiences. Why have humans retained extended high-frequency (EHF) hearing (i.e., sensitivity to acoustical energy beyond 8 kHz)? In this talk I will provide an overview of EHF hearing and report on studies from our lab revealing the utility of EHF hearing for speech perception. Historically, speech energy beyond 8 kHz was deemed unnecessary for applications of interest (i.e., telephony), and has often been neglected by tradition. We find, however, that speech energy beyond 13 kHz is audible for healthy young adult listeners. Access to EHFs improves (1) listeners' judgements of a talker's head orientation, and (2) speech recognition scores in a listening scenario where the target talker faces the listener, but masker talkers face away from the listener. This improvement is likely due to the directional nature of EHF energy radiating from the mouth and has some reliance on EHF spectral detail. Our results indicate that EHF energy in speech is audible and provides useful information about the speech signal.