bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Docking mechanism design and dynamic analysis for the GEO tumbling satellite
Authors: Jianbin Huang , Zhi Li , Longfei Huang , Bo Meng , Xu Han , Yujia Pang
Published: January 2019

Purpose

According to the requirements of servicing and deorbiting the failure satellites, especially the tumbling ones on geosynchronous orbit, this paper aims to design a docking mechanism to capture these tumbling satellites in orbit, to analyze the dynamics of the docking system and to develop a new collision force-limited control method in various docking speeds.

Design/methodology/approach

The mechanism includes a cone-rod mechanism which captures the apogee engine with a full consideration of despinning and damping characteristics and a locking and releasing mechanism which rigidly connects the international standard interface ring (Marman rings, such as 937B, 1194 and 1194A mechanical interface). The docking mechanism was designed under-actuated, aimed to greatly reduce the difficulty of control and ensure the continuity, synchronization and force uniformity under the process of repeatedly capturing, despinning, locking and releasing the tumbling satellite. The dynamic model of docking mechanism was established, and the impact force was analyzed in the docking process. Furthermore, a collision detection and compliance control method is proposed by using the active force-limited Cartesian impedance control and passive damping mechanism design.

Findings

A variety of conditions were set for the docking kinematics and dynamics simulation. The simulation and low-speed docking experiment results showed that the force translation in the docking phase was stable, the mechanism design scheme was reasonable and feasible and the proposed force-limited Cartesian impedance control could detect the collision and keep the external force within the desired value.

Originality/value

The paper presents a universal docking mechanism and force-limited Cartesian impedance control approach to capture the tumbling non-cooperative satellite. The docking mechanism was designed under-actuated to greatly reduce the difficulty of control and ensure the continuity, synchronization and force uniformity. The dynamic model of docking mechanism was established. The impact force was controlled within desired value by using a combination of active force-limited control approach and passive damping mechanism.
Exchange rate effects on agricultural exports
Authors: Mao Rui
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend empirical investigations of the relationship between real exchange rates and agricultural exports to the firm-product-country level with the use of disaggregated panel data of China’s food industry. In particular, the study aims to explore heterogeneities in the export response to real exchange rates across firms, destinations and products, as well as to differentiate responses on the intensive and extensive margins.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper utilizes a merged panel data set of firm-product-country level transaction records of China’s agricultural exports with firm-level survey data of the food industry. Panel regression models are constructed to identify empirical relationships.

Findings

Real appreciations are found to reduce export quantities and the probability to enter destination markets. These impacts are enhanced in 2005 when China unexpectedly depegged yuan from the USD. In addition, real appreciations in 2005 also reduced the yuan-denominated export price and increased firms’ probability to exit destination markets. Taking the exchange rate reform as a natural experiment, evidence suggests that the negative exchange rate effects on exports are robust to the endogeneity issue. Finally, heterogeneous export responses are identified with respect to firm productivities and ownerships, income levels and locations of destination markets, as well as product groups.

Originality/value

This paper provides first-hand evidence on how real exchange rates influence agricultural exports at the firm-product-country level. A featured contribution is that China’s exchange rate reform in 2005 is utilized to alleviate the typical concern of endogeneity. Findings may benefit policy makers, for example, by identifying firms most vulnerable to real appreciations.
Driving social mobility? Competitive collaboration in degree apprenticeship development
Authors: Bradley Jessica , Newhouse Claire , Mirza Nadira
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Apprenticeship reforms have paved the way for higher education (HE) providers, including universities, to become Degree Apprenticeships (DA) training providers, creating new work-based HE routes. The changes aim to generate a new cohort of skilled individuals to support national economic growth, as well as improve levels of social mobility. The purpose of this paper is to focus on an HE partnership project which resulted in a number of collaborative models for development that address these aims.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focuses on qualitative interviews undertaken during the process of creating DAs through a consortium of HE providers. It considers the collaborative relationships which were built on and which developed across the course of the short-term project. It assesses the concept of competitive collaboration and its link to social mobility.

Findings

The paper considers the various manifestations of collaboration which supported the DA developments in a competitive environment: collaboration as embedded; collaboration as negotiation; and collaboration as a driver for social mobility and social equality.

Originality/value

Working collaboratively across HE providers sought to raise the status of apprenticeships, provide opportunities for the development of new degree apprenticeship curricula and enable practitioners to establish these as a new route into HE. This paper contributes to what is currently limited knowledge about the impact of degree apprenticeships on social mobility and equality.
Emergency department utilization among individuals with idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Authors: Murphy Sean , Friesner Daniel L. , Rosenman Robert , Waslo Carin S. , Au Johnathan , Tanne Emanuel
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) can be a debilitating disorder that is difficult to identify and treat. Failure to adequately manage IIH symptoms may force patients to present at emergency departments (EDs) seeking symptom relief. The purpose of this paper is to empirically characterize ED use by previously diagnosed IIH patients.

Design/methodology/approach

Patients diagnosed with IIH, and who registered with the Intracranial Hypertension Registry by 2014, were solicited for study inclusion. A survey was designed to elicit ED use during the period 2010–2012. Information on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, IIH signs and symptoms, time since diagnosis, perspectives of ED use and quality of life was collected. Quality of life was assessed using an adaptation of the Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and nonparametric hypothesis tests.

Findings

In total, 39 percent of IIH patients used emergency services over the study period; those that did used the services intensely. These patients were more likely to be non-white, live in households making less than $25,000 annually, have public insurance and have received a diversional shunt procedure. Patients who used the ED were less likely to live in households making $100,000, or more, annually and have private insurance. Participants who used the ED had significantly lower quality-of-life scores, were younger and had been diagnosed with IIH for less time.

Originality/value

ED staff and outside physicians can utilize the information contained in this study to more effectively recognize the unique circumstances of IIH patients who present at EDs.
Chemotherapy scheduling template development using an optimization approach
Authors: Huang Yu-Li , Bach Sarah M. , Looker Sherry A.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a chemotherapy scheduling template that accounts for nurse resource availability and patient treatment needs to alleviate the mid-day patient load and provide quality services for patients.

Design/methodology/approach

Owing to treatment complexity in chemotherapy administration, nurses are required at the beginning, end and during treatment. When nurses are not available to continue treatment, the service is compromised, and the resource constraint is violated, which leads to inevitable delay that risks service quality. Consequently, an optimization method is used to create a scheduling template that minimizes the violation between resource assignment and treatment requirements, while leveling patient load throughout a day. A case study from a typical clinic day is presented to understand current scheduling issues, describe nursing resource constraints, and develop a constraint-based optimization model and leveling algorithm for the final template.

Findings

The approach is expected to reduce the variation in the system by 24 percent and result in five fewer chemo chairs used during peak hours. Adjusting staffing levels could further reduce resource constraint violations and more savings on chair occupancy. The actual implementation results indicate a 33 percent reduction on resource constraint violations and positive feedback from nursing staff for workload.

Research limitations/implications

Other delays, including laboratory test, physician visit and treatment assignment, are potential research areas.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates significant improvement in mid-day patient load and meeting treatment needs using optimization with a unique objective.
Non-performance of urinalysis among pregnant women in Brazil
Authors: Cesar Juraci A. , Marmitt Luana P. , Dziekaniak Alessandra C. , Leite Sabrina S. , Leão Otávio A. , Sauer Jéssica P.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to measure the prevalence, evaluate the trend and identify the factors associated with the non-performance of qualitative urine test (QUT) among pregnant women living in the extreme south of Brazil between 2007 and 2016.

Design/methodology/approach

All births occurred in the local maternity wards from January 1 to December 31 of 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016. Mothers were interviewed within 48h after delivery. The outcome was the non-performance of QUT during pregnancy. χ2 test was used to compare proportions and Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment for the multivariate analysis. The effect measure used was the prevalence ratio.

Findings

Of the 10,331 new mothers identified, 10,004 (96.8 percent) performed at least one prenatal visit. The prevalence of non-performance of QUT was 3.3 percent (95% CI 2.9–3.7 percent), ranging from 1.5 percent in 2007 to 5.3 percent in 2016 (p<0.001). The analysis showed that not living with a companion, having under four years of schooling, living with seven or more people in the household, having five or more children, having had one to three prenatal visits and not having been supplemented with ferrous sulfate during pregnancy showed a significantly higher prevalence rate to the non-performance of QUT.

Originality/value

The rate of non-performance of this test among pregnant women has clearly increased. Mothers at higher risk of unfavorable outcomes in pregnancy were the ones with the highest probability of not performing QUT. Increasing the number of prenatal visits is a high-impact measure toward the performance of this test.
Tactical capacity planning in hospital departments
Authors: Larsson Agneta , Fredriksson Anna
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore tactical planning potential within hospital departments. The study had two objectives: first, to develop a framework for tactical capacity planning in healthcare departments by identifying and structuring essential components for healthcare capacity management; and, second, to identify context-specific requirements and functionality demands on tactical planning processes within healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework for tactical capacity planning was developed through a literature review. Additionally, an exploratory multiple-case study was performed, with cases from three Swedish hospital departments, which provide the opportunity to study framework applicability in its natural context.

Findings

Findings illustrate how an active tactical planning process can facilitate adjustments to capacity. However, the multiple-case study shows that there are contextual differences between departments, depending on available treatments and resources that affect capacity adjustments, and how the planning process activities should be structured.

Originality/value

This project develops a framework for a tactical capacity-planning process adapted to healthcare provider contexts. By developing the framework, based on the literature and tactical level planning processes within three Swedish hospital case studies, the authors bridge gaps between theory and application regarding healthcare capacity planning.
When do firms evaluate further training measures?
Authors: Bächmann Ann-Christin , Abraham Martin , Huber Martina
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Increased investments in employee further training have resulted in a growing interest in ensuring and improving the quality of these measures. However, little is known about the operational decision to initiate an evaluation of further training. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate under which circumstances firms decide to evaluate training measures.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyzes the evaluation decision of firms and external suppliers, and differentiates between internal and external further trainings. Theoretically, two goals of evaluations – monitoring and feedback – and their relevance for the decision makers are considered. Using a unique linked employer–employee data set, the study employs multi-level models to analyze three influencing factors on the evaluation decision: characteristics of the further training measure itself, the employees and the employers.

Findings

The results show that evaluation decisions are not based on general organizational practices but on case-by-case cost-benefit considerations. Interestingly, firms are more likely to evaluate internal further training measures than external ones. Therefore, evaluations seem to be more frequently used as a feedback instrument than for the purpose of monitoring. For external further training measures, firms seem to trust market mechanisms as a monitoring instrument, instead of conducting an internal evaluation.

Originality/value

Although further training has become increasingly important, little is known about firms’ quality management in this respect. This paper provides a theoretical framework for the usage of evaluation procedures and analyzes firms’ strategies for ensuring quality based on a large set of variables to give new insight into the organizational decision-making processes.
Criminogenic isomorphism and groupthink in the business context
Authors: Glebovskiy Alexander
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the criminogenic nature of isomorphism and groupthink in business organisations with a view to developing a conceptual model of the criminalisation process leading to criminal behaviour within businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on institutional theory and social psychology theory to discuss how isomorphic and groupthink processes may lead to criminal behaviour in the corporate world. The paper is based on a rigorous review of the relevant literature and theoretical frameworks regarding isomorphic dynamics, processes, factors, forces and mechanisms in the business context. The review was guided by a question of how isomorphic and groupthink processes can transform business organisations and its members into offenders. The approach applied was to transfer the existing theories of isomorphism and groupthink into the field of criminology, in order to devise a new model of the process of criminalisation.

Findings

The effects of isomorphic and groupthink processes can have a criminogenic effect on businesses and individuals in organisational settings which may coerce agents to engage in criminal behaviour. In crime-facilitative circumstances, isomorphism and groupthink foster criminal activity by cultivating homogeneous behaviour, conformity, resemblance, shared values and identical ways of thinking across and within firms. This herd behaviour can be regarded as one of the explanations for the pervasiveness of criminal and unethical behaviour in the corporate world, the consequences of which could be devastating.

Research limitations/implications

This is a theoretical analysis, not one based on empirical findings, though it does suggest a model for future testing.

Practical implications

This study explains the criminogenic nature of isomorphic and groupthink processes and contributes to the debate on the casualisation of corporate crime. This has important implications for the deterrence of illegal and unethical activities at both the organisational and institutional levels.

Originality/value

This study provides a conceptual model of the criminalisation process in businesses fostered by criminogenic isomorphism and groupthink.
Holistic spiritual capital: definition and its measurement
Authors: Mas-Machuca Marta , Marimon Frederic
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define a new and broader concept of spirituality called holistic spiritual capital (HSpC), which encompasses and identifies the dimensions proposed by various authors and to propose a metric scale for HSpC and its validation.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on a survey of 201 residents of Spain administered in May, 2015. Exploratory factor analysis and a subsequent confirmatory analysis were conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques with EQS software.

Findings

Four dimensions reflect the latent construct of HSpC in different ways: health, creativity, morality and religiosity.

Practical implications

The measurement of HSpC should be considered relevant to organizations, but not merely because it may be a tool to increase productivity. Ethical climate influenced organizational commitment and hence it enhances performance indicators.

Originality/value

The proposed scale encompasses in a unique instrument some dimensions considered previously in the literature independently.
Antecedents and consequences of self-congruity: replication and extension
Authors: Aw Eugene Cheng-Xi , Flynn Leisa Reinecke , Chong Han Xi
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose and empirically test a framework encompassing self-congruity with its antecedents and consequences. This study also aims to test the mediating role of perceived value and its dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire-based survey was conducted using a purposive sampling technique. In total, 310 useable responses were collected and data were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling.

Findings

A majority of hypotheses were supported. Avoidance of similarity and status consumption positively influenced self-congruity, replicating an earlier study. Self-congruity positively influenced overall perceived value and its dimensions, as well as revisit intention. Overall perceived value and its dimensions positively influenced revisit intention. Finally, overall perceived value and its dimensions were found to have a mediating effect on the relationship between self-congruity and revisit intention.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence for the antecedents and consequences of self-congruity with a service and expands understanding of the mediating role of overall perceived value and its dimensions in predicting intention.
Children’s CBT skills, metacognition, empathy, and theory of mind
Authors: Jones Jonathan , Souchay Céline , Moulin Chris , Reynolds Shirley , Adlam Anna-Lynne
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment for common mental health problems that affect children, young people and adults. The suitability of CBT for children has been questioned because it requires children to think about their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to investigate which cognitive and affective capacities predict children’s ability to relate thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 59 typically developing children aged between 8 and 11 years took part in the study. CBT skills were assessed on a story task that required children to relate the character’s thoughts to their feelings and behaviours. Children also completed an assessment of IQ, a feeling-of-knowing metamemory task that assessed metacognition, and a higher-order theory of mind task. Furthermore, parents rated their child’s empathy on the children’s empathy quotient.

Findings

The findings suggest that CBT is developmentally appropriate for 8–11 year old children; however, young children and children with mental health problems may have impaired metacognition and CBT skills. Metacognition and empathy may moderate the efficacy of child CBT and warrant further investigation in clinical trials.

Originality/value

This study provides evidence for the cognitive and affective skills that might predict the outcome of CBT in children. Metacognition and empathy predict children’s ability to relate thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and therefore may moderate the efficacy of CBT.
A dynamic model of an insurer: loss shocks, capacity constraints and underwriting cycles
Authors: Wang Ning , Murdock Maryna
Published: January 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to revisit the assumption of the cyclicality of the property-liability insurance market and identify a scenario in which the so-called underwriting cycles are unpredictable, according to a dynamic cash flow model which generates non-cyclical output dynamics.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is on the intersection of real business cycle models and financial cycles. The authors construct a dynamic model of an insurer’s cash flows with stochastic loss shocks and capacity constraints, in which loss shocks have a dual impact on both underwriting profits and access to external capital. They simulate the insurer’s optimal output responses to loss shocks, including output movements in underwriting coverage and external capital, to explore the source of unpredictable underwriting cycles through linear quadratic approximation in the model economy.

Findings

The authors find that the effect of loss shocks on the insurer’s cash flows could spread out and amplify over time because of the dynamic interaction between its underwriting capability and ability to raise external capital. This dynamic interaction can generate a non-cyclical pattern of changes in underwriting coverage and access to external capital in the benchmark economy. Applied to different experimental economies, the simulation results reveal that the determinants of the level of output fluctuations include the size of loss shocks, the sensitivity of capital market to loss shocks and the tightness of capital market.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there has been no attempt to study insurance output cyclicality with a dynamic cash flow model based upon the real business cycle literature, in which the dynamic interaction between underwriting and access to external capital because of loss shocks has an amplifying effect on output markets. This paper contributes to the current body of research by being able to simulate and show the insurance output dynamics resulting from the amplifying effect under capacity constraints.
The TrkB‐T1 receptor mediates BDNF‐induced migration of aged cardiac microvascular endothelial cells by recruiting Willin
Authors: Wang Zhefeng , Chen Yilin , Chen Xuwei , Zheng Xin , Xu Ganlin , Yuan Ziqiang , Zhao Hui , Chen Wensheng , Li Lilin , Zheng Nianjue , Shen Xiaotao , Li Yanmei , Qi Xufeng , Cai Dongqing
Published: January 2019

The mechanism of age‐related decline in the angiogenic potential of the myocardium is not yet fully understood. Our previous report revealed that the aging of cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) led to changes in their expression of receptor Trk isoforms: among the three isoforms (TrkB‐FL, TrkB‐T1 and TrkB‐T2), only the truncated TrkB‐T1 isoform continued to be expressed in aged CMECs, which led to decreased migration of CMECs in aging hearts. Thus far, how BDNF induces signalling through the truncated TrkB‐T1 isoform in aged CMECs remains unclear. Here, we first demonstrated that aged CMECs utilize BDNF–TrkB‐T1 signalling to recruit Willin as a downstream effector to further activate the Hippo pathway, which then promotes migration. These findings suggest that the aging process shifts the phenotype of aged CMECs that express TrkB‐T1 receptors by transducing BDNF signals via the BDNF–TrkB‐T1–Willin–Hippo pathway and that this change might be an important mechanism and therapeutic target of the dysfunctional cardiac angiogenesis observed in aged hearts.
Eicosanoid mediator profiles in different phenotypes of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug‐induced urticaria
Authors: Doña Inmaculada , Jurado‐Escobar Raquel , Perkins James R. , Ayuso Pedro , Plaza‐Serón María Carmen , Pérez‐Sánchez Natalia , Campo Paloma , Bogas‐Herrera Gador , Bartra Joan , Torres María José , Sanak Marek , Cornejo‐García José Antonio
Published: January 2019

Background

The role of arachidonic acid metabolites in NSAID‐induced hypersensitivity has been studied in depth for NSAID‐exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD) and NSAID‐exacerbated cutaneous disease (NECD). However, no information is available for NSAID‐induced urticarial/angioedema (NIUA), despite it being the most frequent clinical entity induced by NSAID hypersensitivity. We evaluated changes in leukotriene and prostaglandin metabolites for NIUA patients, using patients with NECD and single‐NSAID‐induced urticaria/angioedema or anaphylaxis (SNIUAA) for comparison.

Methods

Urine samples were taken from patients with confirmed NSAID‐induced urticaria and healthy controls, at baseline and at various time intervals after ASA administration. Eicosanoid measurement was performed using high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry.

Results

No differences were found between groups at baseline. Following ASA administration, LTE4 and 9α,11β‐PGF2 levels were increased in both NIUA and NECD patients compared to baseline, rising initially, before decreasing toward initial levels. In addition, the levels of these metabolites were higher in NIUA and NECD when compared with the SNIUAA and control groups after ASA administration. No changes were found with respect to baseline values for SNIUAA and control groups.

Conclusions

We present for the first time data regarding the role of COX‐1 inhibition in NIUA. Patients with this entity show a similar pattern eicosanoid levels following ASA challenge to those with NECD. Further studies will help ascertain the cell populations involved and the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Effects of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor ronopterin (VAS203) on renal function in healthy volunteers
Authors: Ott Christian , Bosch Agnes , Winzer Nicole , Friedrich Stephanie , Schinzel Reinhard , Tegtmeier Frank , Schmieder Roland E.
Published: January 2019

Aims

Reduced nitric oxide (NO) availability may adversely affect renal perfusion and glomerular filtration. The aim of the present study was to characterize in detail the pharmacological effects of VAS203, an inhibitor of NO synthase, on renal haemodynamics in humans.

Methods

This double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over phase‐I‐study comprised 18 healthy men. Renal haemodynamics were assessed with constant‐infusion input‐clearance technique with p‐aminohippurate and inulin for renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), respectively. After baseline measurement, a constant infusion of the tetrahydrobiopterin analogue ronopterin (VAS203, total 10 mg/kg body weight) or placebo was administered at random order for 6 hours additionally. After a wash‐out phase of 28 days, the second course was applied. In parallel, markers of early kidney injury and renal function were assessed repeatedly up to 48 hours after starting VAS203/placebo‐infusion.

Results

VAS203‐infusion resulted in a significant decrease of RPF (P < .0001) and GFR (P < .001) compared to placebo, but magnitude was within the physiological range. RPF and GFR recovered partly 2 hours after end of VAS203‐infusion and was normal at beginning of the second infusion period. Compared to placebo, preglomerular resistance (P < .0001), and to lesser extent postglomerular resistance (P < .0001) increased, resulting in a decrease of intraglomerular pressure (P < .01). No treatment related effect on markers of early kidney injury, and on renal function (P for all >.20) have been observed.

Conclusions

Our phase‐I‐study in healthy humans indicates that VAS203 (10 mg/kg body weight) reduces renal perfusion and glomerular function within the physiological range mainly due to vasoconstriction at the preglomerular site.
Combined comparative molecular field analysis, comparative molecular similarity indices analysis, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies of histone deacetylase 6 inhibitors
Authors: Sharma Monika , Jha Prakash , Verma Priyanka , Chopra Madhu
Published: January 2019

Human histone deacetylase isoform 6 (HDAC6) has been shown to have an immense role in cell motility and aggresome formation and is being an attractive selective target for the treatment of multiple tumour types and neurodegenerative conditions. The discovery of selective HDAC6 inhibitors with new chemical functionalities is therefore of utmost interest to researchers. In order to examine the structural requirements for HDAC6‐specific inhibitors and to derive predictive model which can be used for designing new selective HDAC6 inhibitors, a three‐dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship study was carried out on a diverse set of ligands using common feature‐based pharmacophore alignment followed by employing comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) techniques. The models displayed high correlation of 0.978 and 0.991 for best CoMFA and CoMSIA models, respectively, and a good statistical significance. The model could be used for predicting activities of the test set compounds as well as for deriving useful information regarding steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic properties of the molecules used in this study. Further, the training and test set molecules were docked into the HDAC6 binding site and molecular dynamics was carried out to suggest structural requirements for design of new inhibitors.
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of 4‐aminopyrimidine or 4,6‐diaminopyrimidine derivatives as beta amyloid cleaving enzyme‐1 inhibitors
Authors: Xu Xiufeng , Lü Peng , Wang Junjie , Xu Fengrong , Liang Lei , Wang Chao , Niu Yan , Xu Ping
Published: January 2019

A series of novel aminopyrimidine and diaminopyrimidine derivatives were designed and optimized to improve their potency and permeability relative to lead compound 1 (IC50 = 37.4 μM), which was discovered in a previous virtual screening. The potency of the optimized compound, 13g (IC50 = 1.4 μM), was 26‐fold greater than that of 1 based on a fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay, and a parallel artificial membrane permeability assay suggested that it could pass through the blood‐brain barrier. Additionally, several compounds containing selenium showed good potencies and deserve further investigation as anti‐Alzheimer's agents.
Distinguishing pustular psoriasis and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis on the basis of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and MxA protein
Authors: Vyas Nikki S. , Charifa Ahmad , Desman Garrett T. , McNiff Jennifer M.
Published: January 2019

Background

Distinguishing acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) and pustular psoriasis (PS) can be challenging. Staining for plasmacytoid dendritic cells, or PDCs (producer of IFN‐α/β), and MxA (an IFN‐α/β inducible protein) may help discriminate these entities.

Methods

Forty‐three cases of AGEP and PS were compiled from two academic institutions. All cases were examined for CD123+ PDCs, eosinophils, acanthosis, papillomatosis, suprapapillary plate thinning, tortuous dilated capillaries, single necrotic keratinocytes, papillary dermal edema, vasculitis, eosinophil exocytosis, intraepidermal pustules, and subcorneal pustules. A subset of cases (n = 26) was stained for MxA.

Results

Perivascular and intraepidermal PDCs, dilated tortuous vessels, and MxA expression in the dermal inflammatory infiltrate were significantly (P < 0.05) in favor of a diagnosis of PS. The absence of PDCs and presence of eosinophils favored a diagnosis of AGEP (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

We found compelling evidence for the use of CD123 to highlight PDCs in these cases. The presence of PDCs and expression of MxA in dermal inflammatory infiltrate, as well as absence of eosinophils and presence of tortuous dilated capillaries favored a diagnosis of PS. Expression of MxA in the dermal infiltrate corresponds with a Th1 pathway in PS and may indicate a Th1 component in the early initial phase of AGEP.
Positive Parenting and Parental Conflict: Contributions to Resilient Coparenting During Divorce
Authors: Becher Emily H. , Kim Hyunjun , Cronin Sarah E. , Deenanath Veronica , McGuire Jenifer K. , McCann Ellie M. , Powell Sharon
Published: January 2019

Objective

To examine the influence of positive parenting and parental conflict on the coparenting alliance.

Background

Research indicates that child and family outcomes after divorce are affected by the quality of the coparenting relationship between parents, with many divorce education programs focusing on coparenting as a core programmatic component. Less is known about how positive parenting and parental conflict affect the coparenting alliance.

Method

This study collected online survey data from a convenience sample of divorcing parents (N = 430). Participants completed measures of parenting, parental conflict, and coparenting alliance. Regression and simple slope analyses were performed with parental conflict and positive parenting as predictors of coparenting alliance.

Results

Positive parenting and parenting conflict both predicted the coparenting alliance. Low levels of conflict predicted high levels of coparenting when positive parenting was high and moderate; however, conflict did not predict alliance when positive parenting was low.

Conclusion

Parents who engaged in moderate to high positive parenting had the anticipated negative relationship between conflict and coparenting alliance, but this did not hold true for parents who engaged in below average positive parenting, suggesting that both parenting and conflict play a role in a resilient coparenting alliance.

Implications

Divorcing parents' parenting skills may be important to consider when deciding on prevention and intervention efforts aimed at supporting their coparenting alliance. Therefore, divorce education programs may benefit from incorporating content related to positive parenting and parents with weaker parenting practices may need different types of intervention.
Headaches Attributed to Ischemic Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack
Authors: Oliveira Felipe Araujo Andrade , Sampaio Rocha‐Filho Pedro Augusto
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Although headaches attributed to ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attack occur frequently, they are often overlooked and underdiagnosed as manifestations of cerebrovascular disease.

Method

This is a narrative review.

Results

The prevalence of headache attributed to ischemic stroke varies between 7.4% and 34% of cases and of headache attributed to transient ischemic attack, from 26% to 36%. Headache attributed to ischemic stroke is more frequent in younger patients, in migraineurs, in those who have suffered a larger stroke, a posterior circulation infarction, or a cortical infarction, and is less frequent in lacunar infarctions. The most common pattern of headache attributed to ischemic stroke is a mild to moderate bilateral pain, not associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, or phonophobia. This headache usually has a concomitant onset with focal neurologic deficit and improves over time. The few studies that have assessed the value of headache for a prognosis of ischemic strokes have demonstrated conflicting results. There are no clinical trials on pain management or prophylactic treatment of persistent headache attributed to ischemic stroke.

Conclusion

Headache attributed to ischemic stroke is frequent and usually has a tension‐type headache pattern. Its frequency varies according to the stroke’s etiology. Further studies are required on pain management, prophylactic treatment, and characteristics of this headache.
FISCAL STIMULUS WITH LEARNING‐BY‐DOING
Authors: D'Alessandro Antonello , Fella Giulio , Melosi Leonardo
Published: January 2019

Using a Bayesian structural vector autoregression analysis, we document that an increase in government purchases raises private consumption, the real wage, and total factor productivity (TFP) while reducing inflation. These three facts are hard to reconcile with both neoclassical and New Keynesian models. We extend a standard New Keynesian model to allow for skill accumulation through past work experience. An increase in government spending increases hours and induces skill accumulation and higher measured TFP and real wages in subsequent periods. Future marginal costs fall lowering expected inflation and, through the monetary policy rule, the real interest rate. Consumption increases as a result.
Cross‐National Solidarity and Political Sustainability in the EU after the Crisis
Authors: Ferrera Maurizio , Burelli Carlo
Published: January 2019

The recent economic shocks have severely tested the EU's political sustainability. The deep‐rooted and unending succession of existential crises demonstrates the sharp misalignment between the high degree of integration reached by the EU, its authority structure, and the absence of solidarity to sustain this structure. The contribution unfolds as follows: first, we claim that the Union has become a complex adaptive system and that attempts to restore thestatus quo anteare unrealistic. Section II shows that its authority structure is ill‐suited to steering the complex system because it lacks adequate instruments for addressing common risks and democratic externalities. Section III argues that contemporary EU leaders are failing to promote the principles of solidarity which, according to its founding father are required to disarm centrifugal tendencies. Section IV presents empirical evidence which signals the existence of considerable popular support for these pan‐European forms of solidarity.
Measuring cortisol, the major stress hormone in fishes
Authors: Sadoul Bastien , Geffroy Benjamin
Published: January 2019

Stress in teleosts is an increasingly studied topic because of its interaction with growth, reproduction, immune system and ultimately fitness of the animal. Whether it is for evaluating welfare in aquaculture, adaptive capacities in fish ecology, or to investigate effects of human‐induced rapid environmental change, new experimental methods to describe stress physiology in captive or wild fish have flourished. Cortisol has proven to be a reliable indicator of stress and is considered the major stress hormone. Initially principally measured in blood, cortisol measurement methods are now evolving towards lower invasiveness and to allow repeated measurements over time. We present an overview of recent achievements in the field of cortisol measurement in fishes, discussing new alternatives to blood, whole body and eggs as matrices for cortisol measurement, notably mucus, faeces, water, scales and fins. In parallel, new analytical tools are being developed to increase specificity, sensitivity and automation of the measure. The review provides the founding principles of these techniques and introduces their potential as continuous monitoring tools. Finally, we consider promising avenues of research that could be prioritised in the field of stress physiology of fishes.
Perceived HIV‐related physical fatigue, sociodemographic characteristics and physical activity: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Bergamaschi Alessandro , d'Arripe‐Longueville Fabienne , Gray Laura L. , Colson Serge S. , Goujard Cecile , Ferez Sylvain , Rouanet Isabelle , Durant Jacques , Rosenthal Eric , Pradier Christian , Duracinsky Martin , Schuft Laura
Published: January 2019

Aims and objectives

To get a deeper understanding of correlates of perceived HIV‐related fatigue by exploring its associations with sociodemographic characteristics and physical activity level of HIV‐infected people.

Background

Previous studies on HIV‐related fatigue have mainly focused on physiological and psychological characteristics, but few have considered its associations with sociodemographic variables. In addition, while physical activity has been found to reduce acute fatigue among HIV‐infected people, its links with chronic HIV‐related fatigue remain to be explored.

Design

The study employed an observational and cross‐sectional survey design. The manuscript was organised according to STROBE guidelines.

Method

A total of 560 people living with HIV in France completed a measure of perceived physical fatigue using the Fatigue Intensity Scale. The predictors targeted sociodemographic characteristics and two measures of individuals' reported level of physical activity. Data were analysed by a stepwise multiple regression model.

Results

The results showed that lower age, higher physical activity level and socio‐economic status were significantly associated with reduced perceived physical fatigue, explaining 25% of the variance.

Conclusions

The results highlighted the importance of considering sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics to better characterise HIV‐related fatigue, in particular in an era where HIV as a chronic illness challenges questions of quality of life throughout increasingly longer lifespans.

Relevance to clinical practice

The results of this study have implications for HIV care professionals in terms of improving strategies for managing chronic fatigue or promoting physical activity according to more specific profiles of HIV‐infected people.
Patients’ experience with heart failure treatment and self‐care—A qualitative study exploring the burden of treatment
Authors: Nordfonn Oda Karin , Morken Ingvild Margreta , Bru Lars Edvin , Husebø Anne Marie Lunde
Published: January 2019

Aims and objectives

To explore chronic heart failure patients’ perceptions of the burden related to treatment and self‐care.

Background

Living with chronic heart failure entails following a demanding treatment regimen, with daily self‐care, which could make patients vulnerable to experiencing treatment burden. Burden of treatment is defined as the “work” the healthcare system passes on to the patients with respect to self‐care at home, and the impact this has on well‐being and quality of life. However, the burden of treatment is an emergent framework, and further research exploring burden among heart failure patients is required.

Design

Qualitative study employing semi‐structured interviews and content analysis. The study complied with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).

Methods

A sample of 17 heart failure patients recruited from an outpatient clinic in Norway. Interview transcripts were coded in Nvivo 11 and analysed using Malterud's systematic text condensation.

Results

Two main themes “emotional challenge” and “troublesome self‐care” emerged from the analysis. The first theme contained the following subthemes: “a new life situation,” “monitoring body signals,” “difficult transitions” and “feelings of guilt.” The second theme consisted of the subthemes “poor care coordination,” “lack of information and education” and “troublesome medication.”

Conclusion

Heart failure treatment constitutes challenges related both to self‐care and to emotional burden. The latter not previously clearly articulated in the concept of burden of treatment. Many patients are struggling emotionally, and this affects their self‐care ability in addition to affecting their well‐being and quality of life.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Nurses are in a strategic position to play a pivotal role in identifying and responding to the emotional burden of treatment in heart failure patients, furthermore to guide and support in discharge planning and in outpatient setting to reduce the patients’ emotional distress and fear of failing.
Self‐Control, Effort Procrastination, and Competitive Equilibrium in Insurance Markets
Authors: Ai Jing , Zhao Lin , Zhu Wei
Published: January 2019

This article studies consumers’ self‐control problems in precautionary activities, their contract choices, and the welfare implications in a competitive insurance market. Present bias and consumer naivete both induce consumers to procrastinate or eventually give up precautionary efforts. In consequence, self‐control problems disrupt the monotonicity of consumers’ indifference curve on contract choices, leading to a pooling equilibrium or an absence of risk–coverage correlation, in addition to the classic result of adverse selection. Compulsory insurance raises all consumers’ welfare only in adverse selection, but not in other equilibrium patterns.
Origin and evolution of sex‐determination systems in the brown algae
Authors: Coelho Susana M. , Mignerot Laure , Cock J. Mark
Published: January 2019

Sexual reproduction is a nearly universal feature of eukaryotic organisms. Meiosis appears to have had a single ancient origin, but the mechanisms underlying male or female sex determination are diverse and have emerged repeatedly and independently in the different eukaryotic groups. The brown algae are a group of multicellular photosynthetic eukaryotes that have a distinct evolutionary history compared with animals and plants, as they have been evolving independently for over 1 billion yr. Here, we review recent work using the brown alga Ectocarpus as a model organism to study haploid sex chromosomes, and highlight how the diversity of reproductive and life cycle features of the brown algae offer unique opportunities to characterize the evolutionary forces and the mechanisms underlying the evolution of sex determination.