bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The need to integrate in primary healthcare: nurse identity constructions of pharmacists as entrepreneurs
Authors: D'Souza Natalia , Scahill Shane
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study explores nurses' views as to whether they see community pharmacists as “entrepreneurial” and what this might mean for working together in primary care. Pharmacists are expected to fully integrate with their colleagues – particularly nurses – under the New Zealand health policy. Yet, there is scarce literature that examines multidisciplinary teamwork and integration through an entrepreneurial identity lens. This is particularly important since around the world, including New Zealand, community pharmacies are small businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

This was an exploratory qualitative study. A total of 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses from primary care, nursing professional bodies and academics from nursing schools. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Coding was undertaken through general inductive thematic analysis.

Findings

In total three key themes emerged through analysis: the entrepreneurial profile of the community pharmacist, the lack of entrepreneurship across the profession, and the role identity and value that community pharmacists hold, as viewed by nurses. There appeared to be pockets of entrepreneurship in community pharmacy; nurses did not express a blanket label of entrepreneurship across the whole sector. Nurses also discussed several forms of entrepreneurship including commercial-oriented, clinical and social entrepreneurship. The social entrepreneurship identity of community pharmacists sat most comfortably with nurse participants. Overall, nurses appeared to value community pharmacists but felt that they did not fully understand the roles that this profession took on.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes to the academic literature by identifying three domains of entrepreneurship relevant to community pharmacy as well as multi-level barriers that will need to be jointly tackled by professional bodies and policy-makers. Improving nurses' and other healthcare professionals' knowledge of community pharmacists' role and expertise is also likely to facilitate better inter-professional integration.

Originality/value

There is scarce literature that attempts to understand how entrepreneurial identity plays out in health organisation and management. This study adds to the knowledge base of factors influencing integration in healthcare.
Accounting, Foucault and debates about management and organizations
Authors: Bowden Bradley , Stevenson-Clarke Peta
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Postmodernist ideas – most particularly those of Foucault but also those of Latour, Derrida and Barthes – have had a much longer presence in accounting research than in other business disciplines. However, in large part, the debates in accounting history and management history, have moved in parallel but separate universes. The purpose of this study is therefore one of exploring not only critical accounting understandings that are significant for management history but also one of highlighting conceptual flaws that are common to the postmodernist literature in both accounting and management history.

Design/methodology/approach

Foucault has been seminal to the critical traditions that have emerged in both accounting research and management history. In exploring the usage of Foucault’s ideas, this paper argues that an over-reliance on a set of Foucauldian concepts – governmentality, “disciplinary society,” neo-liberalism – that were never conceived with an eye to the problems of accounting and management has resulted in not only in the drawing of some very longbows from Foucault’s formulations but also misrepresentations of the French philosophers’ ideas.

Findings

Many, if not most, of the intellectual positions associated with the “Historic Turn” and ANTi-History – that knowledge is inherently subjective, that management involves exercising power at distance, that history is a social construct that is used to legitimate capitalism and management – were argued in the critical accounting literature long before Clark and Rowlinson’s (2004) oft cited call. Indeed, the “call” for a “New Accounting History” issued by Miller et al. (1991) played a remarkably similar role to that made by Clark and Rowlinson in management and organizational studies more than a decade later.

Originality/value

This is the first study to explore the marked similarities between the critical accounting literature, most particularly that related to the “New Accounting History” and that associated with the “Historic Turn” and ANTi-History in management and organizational studies.
Research on the optimal equity of duo-ou enterprise based on data analysis
Authors: Ma TianLong , Zhang Huiping
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This study aims to disclose how the nature of corporate ownership, stock efficiency and wage level affect the optimal proportion of employee stock.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper studies three duopoly markets: two private enterprises, two state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and a private enterprise and an SOE. The competitions between the two parties are taken as a two-stage dynamic sequential game and studied through back-induction.

Findings

The results reveal that the enterprise ownership has a directly bearing on the optimal proportion of employee stock and determines whether to implement the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and the specific level of the plan. The optimal proportion of employee stock is positively correlated with its contribution to enterprise efficiency. There are many influencing factors on the effect of wage level on the optimal proportion of employee stock, namely, the ownership nature of ESOP implementer and efficiency difference of different nature stocks.

Social implications

The results of this study provide policy recommendations for companies preparing to implement ESOP.

Originality/value

The research findings provide policy implications for enterprises to prepare a suitable ESOP and the reform of national equities, especially the mixed-ownership reform in China.
The state of disclosures on Aboriginal engagement: an examination of Australian mining companies
Authors: Kaur Amanpreet , Qian Wei
Published: October 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the nature and level of disclosures on engagement with Aboriginal communities by Australian mining companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Content analysis of annual and sustainability reports of Australian Stock Exchange listed companies was undertaken to address the central research aim of this paper. An Aboriginal engagement framework was developed based on the five dimensions suggested by Reconciliation Australia.

Findings

The findings of the study report an overall low level of disclosures on Aboriginal engagement by mining companies and reveal that corporate disclosures largely focus on Land and Native title agreements, Aboriginal employment and corporate investment in Aboriginal socio-economic development. The least reported issues include Aboriginal immersion experience, Aboriginal inclusion in leadership roles and commitment to the reconciliation process. The findings of the study suggest that although corporate engagement practices have started to recognise and incorporate marginalised stakeholder rights and issues, only a few companies have created necessary avenues to empower Aboriginal communities. Regarding the reconciliation process, the findings reveal that the companies are mostly reporting on only three out of the five dimensions of the framework.

Practical implications

This study provides a better understanding of the current state of Aboriginal engagement practices in the mining sector, in particular the issues and gaps in reporting Aboriginal engagement to align it with the national reconciliation process, which will be useful for policymakers and, possibly, standard setters to develop future Aboriginal engagement and disclosure policies.

Originality/value

In spite of the rapid development of corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure, disclosure of corporate impacts on Aboriginal people and reconciliation with Aboriginal communities has been given little attention in business CSR practice and previous CSR disclosure literature. This research fills this gap and investigates the increasing uptake of Aboriginal engagement disclosures by business corporations.
Models & misadventures: the perfectible machine fallacy
Authors: Martin Roger L.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The author argues that the model for the management of the U.S. economy and businesses – one that assumes that they can be run like machines –is producing outcomes that neither were anticipated nor are desired.

Design/methodology/approach

The model of a perfectible machine needs to be supplanted by a model of a complex adaptive system in order to turnaround the performance of the economy and its companies.

Findings

In businesses, unrestrained pursuit of efficiency has had an unexpected and unintended effect.

Practical implications

One important way to design for complexity is to adopt multiple internally contradictory proxies for success.

Originality/value

Offers a critical insight for corporate leaders: The U.S. economy is not a perfectible machine: it is a complex adaptive system. Companies are not perfectible machines: they are complex adaptive systems. To produce better outcomes, leaders need to design for each element – complexity, adaptability and systemic nature.
Efficacy and safety of DPP‐IV inhibitors combined with basal insulin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Pan Zhenhong , Yang Yan , Zhang Jingjing
Published: October 2020

Background

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP‐IV) inhibitors when added to insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exploring the efficacy or safety of DPP‐IV inhibitors in T2DM patients. The quality of the included RCTs was assessed with the Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool. For outcomes, odds ratios or weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% CIs were calculated using both random‐ and fixed‐effects models.

Results

A total of 16 studies were included in the meta‐analysis with 5418 participants. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was significantly decreased in the DPP‐IV inhibitors with insulin (DPP‐IVi/INS) group compared with the insulin‐alone (with or without placebo) group (WMD = −0.62%; 95% CI: −0.74, −0.49; P < .05). Consistent with this finding, the fasting blood glucose (FBG)‐lowering effect (WMD = −0.61 mmol/L; 95% CI: −0.77, −0.45; P < .05) and 2‐hour postprandial glucose (2hPPG)‐lowering efficacy (WMD = −2.39 mmol/L; 95% CI: −2.81, −1.97; P < .05) in the DPP‐IVi/INS group were also significantly better than in the insulin‐alone group. Regarding safety indicators, compared with the insulin‐alone group, DPP‐IVi/INS treatments had no association with the risk of adverse effects, including hypoglycemia, adverse events (AEs), and serious adverse events (SAEs).

Conclusions

Compared with insulin treatment alone, treatment with DPP‐IVi/INS improved HbA1c, FBG, and 2hPPG without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia, AEs, or SAEs.
Biodistribution of andrographolide to assess the interior‐exterior relationship between the lung and intestine using microPET
Authors: Zhang Qi , Cui Qingxin
Published: October 2020

Background

One classic traditional Chinese medicine theory is that the “lung and intestine are exterior‐interiorly related”; however, this has not been confirmed experimentally. The aim of this study was to provide a biological basis for the theory by measuring the tissue distribution of andrographolide.

Methods

Acute pneumonia was induced in a mouse model by repeated stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. The distribution of andrographolide in mice was observed by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [18F]‐labeled andrographolide, and changes in the in vivo distribution before and after modeling were compared. Subsequently, the consistency of pathological changes in lung and intestine was confirmed by observation of pathological sections. Finally, the results were verified by cytokine detection.

Results

The value of organ uptake, pathological changes and inflammatory factor expression of the lung and intestine were consistent. The concentration of andrographolide in the lung and intestine increased significantly, and was confirmed by pathology and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Conclusions

Micro‐positron emission tomography (microPET) can be used to visually observe the distribution of medicinal ingredients in vivo, and [18F]‐andrographolide can be used as a tool to assess the interior‐exterior relationship between the lung and intestine.
Perviy Kanal's Trotsky and the “Atlanticisation” of Leon Trotsky's Legacy*
Authors: McCallum Alasdair
Published: October 2020

Trotsky, an eight‐part miniseries made in 2017 for the centenary of the Russian Revolution, has recently been made available on Netflix for global audiences. This article analyses Trotsky through the theoretical lens of neo‐Eurasianism, especially as developed by the political theorist Aleksandr Dugin. Dugin's philosophy posits a civilisational divide between the “Atlantic” values of secularism, open markets, cosmopolitanism and sexual profligacy represented by the Anglo‐Atlantic cultural sphere, and the “Eurasian” values of authoritarianism, cultural conservatism and religious nationalism present in a revived Russia. I argue that Trotsky's interpretation of Leon Trotsky's legacy reflects the popularisation of Dugin's neo‐Eurasianist political philosophy in Russia. The article covers some of the key historical events depicted in Trotsky, discussing their accuracy with reference to existing academic biographies of Leon Trotsky. I then discuss the series’ apparent fixation on the Jewish heritage of Trotsky (who was born Lev Bronstein), which has been the focus of much of the media coverage of the series, before addressing the fraught place that Trotsky occupies in Russian historical memory. I then move on to a discussion of the political philosophy of neo‐Eurasianism and its relevance and application to the political climate of modern Russia. Finally, I consider what Dugin has said about Trotsky himself. Despite (or perhaps because of) its distortions of history, the series serves as a fascinating reflection of the values and political climate of modern Russia.
Conservatives Divided: Defending Rhodesia Against Malcolm Fraser 1976‐1978
Authors: Lee Alexander
Published: October 2020

Understanding the conflict between pro‐ and anti‐Rhodesian government parliamentarians is the only way to understand how and why Australia struggled to formulate a coherent Rhodesia policy. It reveals the extent to which Malcolm Fraser had to struggle against his own party in this matter and adds needed nuance to this period. Fraser's opinion that Rhodesia was a racist and immoral project caused a schism in the Coalition parties. Despite Fraser's open antipathy towards Rhodesia, Rhodesia's interests in Australia were largely safeguarded. This reflects the reality that the Liberal and National Country Parties contained sizeable blocs of parliamentarians who openly and publicly saw Rhodesia as a fraternal country, not a dangerous pariah. They did not hold these beliefs passively and actively sought to resist any moves made by Fraser to damage Rhodesia and its interests. By following the development of Fraser's Rhodesia policy in the late 1970s the power of Rhodesia's allies in the Australian parliament becomes clear. Opposing Rhodesia was touted by Fraser as one of the greatest achievements of his government, yet the issue was divisive and caused bitter infighting.
Predicting flooding tolerance of native tree species to restore flooded forests
Authors: Meli Paula , Bettinardi Mariana , Brancalion Pedro H. S.
Published: October 2020

Aim

Flooded forests are critically important for supplying water‐related ecosystem services, but their restoration has been severely limited by low seedling performance due to flooding stress. We classified the flooding tolerance of 15 native tree species in a nursery‐based method to guide species selection for restoring a flooded forest.

Location

Atlantic Forest, São Paulo State, Brazil.

Methods

We first exposed 15 native tree species typical of flooded forests to four flooding conditions (i.e., normoxia and three increasing hypoxia levels): no flooding, up to the middle of the root system, up to the root collar, and 2 cm above the root collar. After nine months, we evaluated seedling survival, growth (height and stem diameter), and the occurrence of hypertrophied lenticels and adventitious roots. Seedling survival and growth data were combined to create a flooding tolerance index. Further, we planted the same species in two degraded swampy areas under three soil preparation methods: planting seedlings in regular planting holes, on mounds, and in between furrows. We assessed seedling survival and stem diameter of these seedlings after one year.

Results

Flooding tolerance index was significantly correlated to the occurrence of hypertrophied lenticels, but not of adventitious roots. Classifying flooding tolerance of tree species was effective in predicting species growth, but not seedling survival, in restoration plantations. Overall, seedling performance in restoration plantations was highly influenced by species identity, but not by soil preparation methods.

Conclusions

Species selection to improve restoration performance of flooded forests can be guided by simple and fast screenings performed in nurseries before planting. Pioneer trees may facilitate the establishment of species less tolerant to flooding by reducing water saturation of superficial soil layers and enhancing micro‐relief heterogeneity by litter deposition. Only a few native species should initially be used in the restoration of flooded forests with high water tables.
Valproic acid reverses sorafenib resistance through inhibiting activated Notch/Akt signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yang Xu , Liu Jing , Liang Qing , Sun Guangchun
Published: October 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common lethal human malignancies worldwide. Sorafenib is the first‐line drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for HCC. However, the acquired resistance to sorafenib reduces its beneficial effects and limits clinical use. In this study, we established a sorafenib‐resistant HCC cell line HepG2‐SR by low‐concentration gradient induction. Compared with the parental cell HepG2, the proliferation and anti‐apoptosis were increased in drug‐resistant cell HepG2‐SR. Thorough comparisons of the molecular changes between parental HepG2 and sorafenib‐resistant HepG2‐SR cells indicated that the Notch signaling pathway and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway were associated with sorafenib resistance mechanisms. Notch1 and Akt were upregulated in sorafenib‐resistant cells. However, we surprisingly found that valproic acid (VPA) combined with sorafenib could enhance the sensitivity of drug‐resistant cells and reverse the increased levels of Notch1 and Akt in sorafenib‐resistant HCC cells. Moreover, Akt inhibitor could suppress Notch1 expression, whereas the level of Akt phosphorylation decreased along with increasing dose of Notch inhibitor. Besides, we found that knockdown of Akt resulted in Notch1 reduction, whereas Notch1 reduction also led to a significant reduction in the phosphorylation of Akt. Collectively, our results indicated that Notch1 and Akt might play vital roles in sorafenib resistance in HCC cells and VPA might overcome the drug resistance to enhance the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib through suppressing Notch/Akt signaling pathway. VPA combined with sorafenib may provide a potential targeting therapeutic regimen for clinically to solve the problem of sorafenib resistance.
Effectiveness of blood glucose control protocol for open heart surgery patients
Authors: Yoo Hye Jin , Suh Eunyoung E. , Shim JaeLan
Published: October 2020

Aims

To evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored blood glucose control protocol for postoperative cardiac surgery patients treated in intensive care.

Design

Retrospective study.

Methods

Data for the control group (non‐tailored protocol) were collected from medical records at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea between April–July 2015. Data for the experimental group (tailored protocol) were obtained from medical records between April–July 2016. After adjusting the target blood glucose range, eliminating single‐dose insulin administration and extending the blood glucose measurement time interval, data for blood glucose measurements, time for reaching and maintaining target blood glucose, mean number of daily blood glucose measurements and insulin dose adjustments for the experimental group were collected.

Results

In the experimental group (where the target blood glucose rate was increased) the hypoglycaemia rate and the variation in blood glucose decreased significantly compared with the control group. In particular, the experimental group maintained relatively stable blood glucose levels by retaining a small variation range in glucose, regardless of the presence of diabetes. Time required for maintaining target blood glucose, mean number of daily blood glucose measurements and insulin dose adjustments per patient decreased.

Conclusion

The tailored protocol contributes to the safe and effective control of blood glucose in critical care patients after cardiac surgery and to the efficiency of nurses administering it.

Impact

This study has two significant impacts. The application of the tailored protocol has a positive impact on patients’ blood glucose management, a critical component of treatment for postoperative cardiac patients in intensive care units. It also has a positive impact on the efficiency of nurses applying it. The results of this study are thus expected to facilitate successful implementation of clinical protocols for critical care after heart surgery.
The Role of Emotion Processing in the Association between Parental Discipline and Adolescent Socio‐Emotional Development
Authors: Li Zhi , Sturge‐Apple Melissa L. , Russell Justin D. , Martin Meredith J. , Davies Patrick T.
Published: October 2020

This research investigated whether biases in processing threatening emotional cues operate as an indirect pathway through which parental harsh discipline is associated with adolescent socio‐emotional functioning. Participants were 192 adolescents (M age = 12.4), and their parents assessed over two years. Findings revealed two significant indirect pathways involving fear processing. Greater parental harsh discipline was linked to more emotional response inhibition difficulty for fear, which was linked to more depressive symptoms in the following year. Greater parental harsh discipline was also associated with more emotional response inhibition difficulty for fear, and thereby, more peer problems later. Findings suggest that adolescent emotional processing operated as an indirect pathway linking parental harsh discipline and adolescent socio‐emotional functioning within the broader social context.
We should address residential relocation to improve patient care
Authors: Fernandez Albert M , Rice Timothy R , Post Stephen G
Published: October 2020

Moving, or residential relocation, occurs frequently in childhood and adolescence as well as in adulthood, yet little scientific consensus exists on its impact upon health outcomes. This paper summarises the available literature on this broad topic and explores the currently known factors of importance surrounding residential relocation. There is already evidence to support an increased risk of suicidal ideation, psychiatric disorders including substance use disorders, functional impairments and future general medical health impairments in children, adolescents and adults with histories of residential relocation. Intrapersonal factors, such as personality type and the availability of coping skills, as well as interpersonal factors, such as family composition and system strengths, attenuate risk and are integral to additionally assess. While there is support for the contribution of residential relocation in the onset of youth psychopathology that warrant consideration of residential relocation in the standard assessment of a patient, further studies are needed to better explore this factor in select populations.
Probing the nature of extraterrestrial dust reaching the Earth’s surface collected from the Maitri station, Antarctica
Authors: Rudraswami N. G. , Fernandes D. , Pandey M.
Published: October 2020

Micrometeorites (MMs) are extraterrestrial dust particles, in the size range of tens of µm to mm, recovered from the Earth’s surface primarily from deep‐sea sediments, Antarctica, and also from space. The present collection of MMs (>50 µm) obtained by melting ~50 t of ice near the Maitri station, Antarctica, has allowed us to investigate the abundance and properties of the particles by an unbiased collection technique. The collection reveals a large quantity of extraterrestrial material in the ~80−140 µm size range. Previous collections have shown an abundance of particles at diameter ~200 µm, which is in contrast to our findings. This can either be explained by movement of material within the ice or a recent influx of smaller particles. The smaller particles (<80 µm) typically undergo atmospheric entry heating, contrary to earlier observations, which have suggested that they reach the Earth’s surface unmelted. Chondrules and refractory inclusions are rare in the collected MMs indicating that their contribution is only a small percentage. The Maitri station collection does not have a well‐constrained ice accumulation rate and terrestrial age. Nevertheless, based on matching the previous well‐documented flux calculation of Antarctica, we suggest a slow ice accumulation rate of <1.0 g cm−2 yr−1 near Maitri station.
Intramedullary capillary hemangioma mimicking myelitis with longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions
Authors: Matsumoto Yasuko , Yamaguchi Kazuyoshi , Fujisawa Hironori
Published: October 2020

A 64‐year‐old man presented with back pain and dysesthesia in the arms. Neurological examination results were unremarkable. T2‐weighted MRI revealed an abnormal intensity mimicking myelitis with longitudinally extensive spinal cord lesions. Contrast‐enhanced T1‐weighted MRI revealed an enhanced intramedullary mass at the Th7 level. CSF showed slight pleocytosis and elevated protein levels. CT and PET of the whole body showed no significant findings. The lesion was removed surgically and was compatible with capillary hemangioma histologically. Postoperatively, his symptoms and the long cord lesion were resolved. This case indicates that marked edema mimicking myelitis can be caused by intramedullary capillary hemangioma.
Small invertebrate consumers produce consistent size spectra across reef habitats and climatic zones
Authors: Fraser K. M. , Stuart‐Smith R. D. , Ling S. D. , Edgar G. J.
Published: October 2020

Changes in invertebrate body size‐distributions that follow loss of habitat‐forming species can potentially affect a range of ecological processes, including predation and competition. In the marine environment, small crustaceans and other mobile invertebrates (‘epifauna') represent a basal component in reef food webs, with a pivotal secondary production role that is strongly influenced by their body size‐distribution. Ongoing degradation of reef habitats that affect invertebrate size‐distributions, particularly transformation of coral and kelp habitat to algal turf, may thus fundamentally affect secondary production. Here we explored variation in size spectra of shallow epifaunal assemblages (i.e. the slope and intercept of the linear relationship between log abundance and body size at the assemblage level) across 21 reef microhabitats distributed along an extensive eastern Australian climatic gradient from the tropical northern Great Barrier Reef to cool temperate Tasmania. When aggregated across microhabitats at the site scale, invertebrate body size spectra (0.125–8 mm range) were consistently log‐linear (R2 ranging 0.87–0.98). Size spectra differed between, but not within, major groups of microhabitats, and exhibited little variability between tropical and temperate biomes. Nevertheless, size spectra showed significant tropical/temperate differences in slopes for epifauna sampled on macroalgal habitats, and in elevation for soft coral and sponge habitats. Our results reveal epifaunal size spectra to be a highly predictable macro‐ecological feature. Given that variation in epifaunal size spectra among groups of microhabitats was greater than variation between tropical and temperate biomes, we postulate that ocean warming will not greatly alter epifaunal size spectra directly. However, transformation of tropical coral and temperate macroalgal habitats to algal turfs due to warming will alter reef food web dynamics through redistribution of the size of prey available to fishes.
Prognostic Significance of Thrombomodulin mRNA in High‐Grade Soft Tissue Sarcomas after 10 years
Authors: Asanuma Kunihiro , Nakamura Tomoki , Asanuma Yumiko , Okamoto Takayuki , Kakimoto Takuya , Yada Yuki , Hagi Tomohito , Kita Kouji , Nakamura Koichi , Matsumine Akihiko , Sudo Akihiro
Published: October 2020

Objective

To elucidate the correlation between expression of thrombomodulin (TM) mRNA from 83 benign soft tissue tumors or soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and clinicopathological parameters and to analyze the outcome of high‐grade STS patients after 10 years.

Methods

Total RNA was extracted from 83 primary soft tissue tumors (15 benign tumors, 68 STS). TM mRNA normalized to glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase was measured with real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and compared to various clinicopathological parameters. The log‐rank test and Cox proportional hazard analysis were used to evaluate recurrence‐free survival, metastasis‐free survival, and overall survival.

Results

Thrombomodulin mRNA levels were not significantly different between benign tumors and STS. In STS, TM mRNA levels were not significantly different between histologically high‐grade (n = 57) and low‐grade (n = 11) tumors. Following analysis of high‐grade STS at the 10‐year follow‐up, 21 patients had experienced a recurrence, 22 patients had experienced metastasis, and 23 patients had died of disease (DOD). TM levels were significantly higher in patients with metastasis or DOD patients. Receiver operating characteristic analysis for identifying 5‐year and 10‐year DOD determined the threshold for best sensitivity and specificity as 0.283. We divided patients into those with high (<0.283) and low (≤0.283) TM mRNA levels. Based on Kaplan–Meier analysis, a significant difference between the two groups was seen for recurrence‐free survival (5 years: low = 76.6%, high = 53.1%, 10 years: low: 67.0%, high 39.8%, P = 0.0122) and metastasis‐free survival (5 years: low = 86.3%, high = 40.2%, 10 years: low: 73.3%, high: 35.2%, P = 0.00023). Furthermore, the high TM group showed significantly worse prognosis than the low TM group (5 years: low = 90.1%, high = 42.3%, 10 years: low: 76.4%, high 31.3%, P = 0.00031). Thus, high levels of TM mRNA are associated with highly recurrent and metastatic potential and lead to poor prognosis. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, only high TM showed a significant difference in metastasis‐free survival (hazard ratio: 4.33, 95% confidence interval 1.61–11.6, P = 0.00359) and overall survival (hazard ratio: 3.69, 95% confidence interval 1.49–10.5, P = 0.00569).

Conclusion

High levels of TM mRNA may be a significant predictor of recurrence, metastasis, and a poor outcome in STS patients after 10 years. TM is a candidate molecular marker and may be clinically useful for devising a therapeutic treatment strategy by prediction of prognosis.
Parametric versus nonparametric: The fitness coefficient
Authors: Mazo Gildas , Portier François
Published: October 2020

Olkin and Spiegelman introduced a semiparametric estimator of the density defined as a mixture between the maximum likelihood estimator and the kernel density estimator. Due to the absence of any leave‐one‐out strategy and the hardness of estimating the Kullback–Leibler loss of kernel density estimate, their approach produces unsatisfactory results. This article investigates an alternative approach in which only the kernel density estimate is modified. From a theoretical perspective, the estimated mixture parameter is shown to converge in probability to one if the parametric model is true and to zero otherwise. From a practical perspective, the utility of the approach is illustrated on real and simulated data sets.
Gender, class, and paradoxical mobilities of Thai marriage migrants in Austria
Authors: Butratana Kosita , Trupp Alexander
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we investigate whether marriage‐related migration promotes socioeconomic mobility and how class belonging and educational background affects Thai women's migration experience and socioeconomic mobility. Drawing on qualitative interviews, supported by a questionnaire survey with Thai women living in Austria and who are in a relationship with a Western male citizen, we seek to dismantle simplistic notions about hypergamy and question common assumption about marrying up or down in migration contexts. We compare socioeconomic indicators such as formal education, occupation, and income before and after the migration and analyse migrants’ experiences in Austria. The results show a complex picture of upward and downward socioeconomic mobilities. Two distinct scenarios of paradoxical mobilities have been identified. On the one hand, some migrants feel empowered (when experiencing economic downward mobility) as they enjoy the freedom of living in Austria, while on the other hand, those migrants experiencing upward mobility feel a loss of their personal autonomy.
Does mixed vs separate sheep and cattle grazing reduce soil compaction?
Authors: Jordon Matthew William
Published: October 2020

Degradation of soil in the United Kingdom (UK) is compromising the ecosystem services that flow from this natural capital asset, including water flow regulation. Soil compacted by grazing livestock, for example, results in an increase in overland flow following rainfall and is thought to be one of the key factors contributing to increased severity of UK winter flooding in recent years. Practical farm‐scale changes in livestock management that lead to improvements in water flow regulation therefore need to be identified. This pilot study aimed to assess the impact of (i) changing stocking composition, and (ii) temporary grazing exclusions, on soil natural capital quality on a sheep and beef cattle farm in Northumberland, England. I found evidence of improved soil bulk density under mixed sheep and cattle grazing compared to cattle‐only grazing over a 3‐month summer grazing season; bulk density in 'cattle‐only' pastures increased from 0.836 to 0.875 g cm−3 from June to September 2017, compared with a small decrease of 0.875–0.871 g cm−3 in 'cattle to mixed sheep and cattle' pastures (difference significant at p < .05 level). Changing from sheep‐only grazing to mixed grazing, and exclusion of grazing, did not significantly influence bulk density change (p > .05). This study indicates that rapid improvements in soil physical properties can be achieved through realistic changes to livestock management. If this finding can be confirmed over multiple grazing seasons, this potentially offers a straightforward means to enhance soil health on grazed land in the UK, improving delivery of water flow regulation and other ecosystem services.
Faculty development review: Improving learning in the operating theatre
Authors: Kent Frances , McGregor Euan , Jamieson Russell W.
Published: October 2020

Background

Undergraduate medical students’ time is precious, and with increasingly limited exposure to surgery, learning at every opportunity needs to be facilitated. The operating theatre is a unique classroom and factors related to this environment could impact on learning opportunities. We aim to help surgical faculty overcome these barriers and develop the operating theatre’s potential as a learning environment.

Results

Reports in the literature frequently mention the emotional aspects of attending theatre and trying to fit in with the surgical team, and often report negative feelings such as feeling unwelcome. Students also report feeling confused about what they should be hoping to learn from their theatre experience, and what their role is in theatre.

Conclusion

We suggest ways in which surgical faculty can help the student fit into the theatre environment and hope that this will improve undergraduate surgical education and enthusiasm for surgery.
Response, Localization, and Rupture of Anisotropic Tubes Under Combined Pressure and Tension
Authors: Scales Martin , Chen Kelin , Kyriakides Stelios
Published: October 2020

The inelastic response and failure of Al-6061-T6 tubes under combined internal pressure and tension is investigated as part of a broader study of ductile failure of Al-alloys. A custom experimental setup is used to load thin-walled tubes to failure under radial paths in the axial-hoop stress space. All loading paths achieve nominal stress maxima beyond which deformation localizes into a narrow band. 3D digital image correlation (DIC) was used to monitor the deformations in the test section and successfully captured the rapid growth of strain within the localization bands where they burst. The biaxial stress states generated are first used to calibrate the nonquadratic anisotropic Yld04-3D yield function (Barlat et al., 2005, “Linear Transformation-based Anisotropic Yield Functions,” Int. J. Plasticity, 21(5), pp. 1009–1039). The constitutive model is then incorporated through a UMAT into a finite element analysis and used to simulate numerically the experiments. The same calculations were performed using von Mises (VM) and an isotropic nonquadratic yield function. The material hardening responses adopted were extracted for each constitutive model from the necked zone of a tensile test using an inverse method. The use of solid elements captures the evolution of local deformation deep into the localizing part of the response, producing strain levels that are required in the application of failure criteria. The results demonstrate that the adoption of a nonquadratic yield function, together with a correct material hardening response are essential for large deformation predictions in localizing zones in Al-alloys. Including the anisotropy in such a constitutive model produces results that are closest to the experiments.
Pressurized SOFC System Fuelled by Biogas: Control Approaches and Degradation Impact
Authors: Ferrari Mario L. , Zaccaria Valentina , Kyprianidis Konstantinos
Published: October 2020

This paper shows control approaches for managing a pressurized solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system fuelled by biogas. This is an advanced solution to integrate the high efficiency benefits of a pressurized SOFC with a renewable source. The operative conditions of these analyses are based on the matching with an emulator rig including a T100 machine for tests in cyber-physical mode. So, this paper presents a real-time model including the fuel cell, the off-gas burner (OFB), and the recirculation lines. Although the microturbine components are planned to be evaluated with the hardware devices, the model includes also the T100 expander for machine control reasons. The simulations shown in this paper regard the assessment of an innovative control tool based on the model predictive control (MPC) technology. This controller and an additional tool based on the coupling of MPC and proportional integral derivative (PID) approaches were assessed against the application of PID controllers. The control targets consider both steady-state and dynamic aspects. Moreover, different control solutions are presented to operate the system during fuel cell degradation. The results include the system response to load variations, and SOFC voltage decrease. Considering the simulations including SOFC degradation, the MPC was able to decrease the thermal stress, but it was not able to compensate the degradation. On the other hand, the tool based on the coupling of the MPC and the PID approaches produced the best results in terms of set-point matching, and SOFC thermal stress containment.
Preliminary Investigation on the Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Hyalomma marginatum (Acari: Ixodidae) in Turkey

Authors: Hekimoglu Olcay , Kuyucu Arda Cem , Ozer Nurdan
Published: October 2020

The hard tick Hyalomma marginatum Koch, 1844 is the main vector of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Although this disease is a serious public health concern in Turkey, there is still no information about population structure and genetic diversity of this tick species. In this study, the genetic structure of H. marginatum populations collected from nine different locations of Turkey were evaluated using five microsatellite markers. A total of 75 H. marginatum samples were collected from domestic animals and genotyped. We hypothesized that localities which have high CCHF incidence rates (Bayburt, Amasya and Tokat) might be genetically distinct from the localities with low incidence rates. All approaches used in this study (DAPC, STRUCTURE and FST) showed low levels of genetic diversity. Although, no genetic pattern was observed between localities that can be associated with CCHF incidence rates, there was moderate genetic differentiation between Igdir and Tekirdag populations (FST = 0.142) and also between Igdir and Mugla populations (FST = 0.128). DAPC confirmed this finding, as Igdir, Mugla and Tekirdag populations were found to be genetically different when compared to other populations. The mechanisms underlying overall observed low genetic variation and only moderate differentiation between some of these populations should be investigated in further studies in the context of other host-parasite-vector system regulating factors such as antropogenic transports of livestock, environmental conditions and the role of migratory routes of birds.
Plasmonic nitriding of graphene on a graphite substrate via gold nanoparticles and NH3/Ar plasma
Authors: Kitajima Takeshi , Miyake Machiko , Katoh Ryo , Nakano Toshiki
Published: October 2020

In this work, the optical response of the gold nanoparticles is used for low-damage nitridation of graphene over a graphite substrate. Nitrogen-doped graphene with high two-dimensional crystallinity is successfully formed via radicals and light from a low-temperature, low-pressure, inductively coupled argon-diluted ammonia plasma. The graphene over a graphite substrate is covered with gold nanoparticles with an average diameter of 6.2 nm and irradiated with light and NHx radicals produced by the plasma. The use of an ion shield to prevent ion bombardment enabled a high quaternary N site density with significant Raman 2D signal. The intensity ratio of 2D to G reaches seven in some samples. Nitrogen doping with low damage to the graphene lattice is promoted by hot-electron injection from photoexcited gold nanoparticle plasmons into the adsorbed state of NHx radicals. With the addition of ion bombardment, a high pyridinic N density is achieved, along with the production of a graphene edge. The optical response of the gold nanoparticles provides supporting evidence for the preferential nitridation of the graphene edge. It can be inferred that hot electrons supplied by surface plasmon resonance, which is unique to the gold nanoparticles, or photoemission by ultraviolet rays promote the reaction between NHx radicals and the substrate surface.
Extracting Green's functions between ships of opportunity using a vertical array
Authors: Byun Gihoon , Song H. C.
Published: October 2020

A theoretical method for estimating the Green's function between two points in an acoustic waveguide was proposed using a vertical source array that spans sufficient waveguide depth [Roux and Fink, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 113, 1406–1416 (2003)]. This paper shows that by reversing the role of sources and receivers, the Green's function between two ships (sources) can be extracted using a vertical receiver array with a limited aperture. First, the Green's functions from each ship are estimated along the array via blind deconvolution. Then the Green's function between two ships is obtained by either correlation or convolution of the individual Green's functions summed over the array, depending on the array position with respect to the ships. The feasibility of extracting Green's functions between ships of opportunity radiating random broadband (100–500 Hz) noise is demonstrated using a 56.25-m aperture vertical array in approximately 100-m shallow water.
Maxwell stress excitation of wire vibrations at difference and sum frequencies of electric currents in separate circuits
Authors: Smith Sterling M. , Daniel Timothy D. , Marston Philip L.
Published: October 2020

Oscillating electric currents through a wire under tension can excite transverse vibrational modes of the wire when a perpendicular static magnetic field is present and the frequency of the current is close to the natural frequency of the mode of interest. The excitation of the mode is associated with temporally oscillating Maxwell stresses on the wire, often also known as oscillating Lorentz forces. That excitation process is sometimes demonstrated in educational contexts. The investigation here concerns situations where a temporally oscillating magnetic field generated by oscillating electric currents in a cylindrical coil replaces the imposed perpendicular static magnetic field. The frequencies of the currents in the wire and in the coil are related to the frequency of the oscillating stress. In this experiment, this effect is documented for sum-frequency excitation (with input frequencies in the range of half that of the excited lowest vibrational mode of the wire) and the difference-frequency excitation (with input frequencies an order-of-magnitude larger than the mode frequency). This coupling may be useful when it is desirable to use only high-frequency currents. The experiment uses tone-burst stress excitation and a differential photodiode for detecting transverse low-amplitude wire oscillations. Signal envelopes decayed exponentially after the tone-burst.
Rectal Acquisition of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) SIVmac239 Infection despite Vaccine-Induced Immune Responses against the Entire SIV Proteome
Authors: Martins Mauricio A. , Gonzalez-Nieto Lucas , Ricciardi Michael J. , Bailey Varian K. , Dang Christine M. , Bischof Georg F. , Pedreño-Lopez Nuria , Pauthner Matthias G. , Burton Dennis R. , Parks Christopher L. , Earl Patricia , Moss Bernard , Rakasz Eva G. , Lifson Jeffrey D. , Desrosiers Ronald C. , Watkins David I.
Published: October 2020

Our results are relevant to HIV vaccine development efforts because they suggest that increasing the number of booster immunizations or delivering additional viral antigens may not necessarily improve vaccine efficacy against immunodeficiency virus infection.