bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial neural networks applied for solidified soils data prediction: a bibliometric and systematic review
Authors: Pacheco Vinicius Luiz , Bragagnolo Lucimara , Thomé Antonio
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyze the state-of-the art in a systematic way, identifying the main research groups and their related topics. The types of studies found are fundamental for understanding the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in cemented soils and the potential for using the technique, as well as the feasibility of extrapolation to new geotechnical or civil and environmental engineering segments.

Design/methodology/approach

This work is characterized as being bibliometric and systematic research of an exploratory perspective of state-of-the-art. It also persuades the qualitative and quantitative data analysis of cemented soil improvement, biocemented or microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) soil improvement by prediction/modeling by ANN. This study sought to compile and study the state of the art of the topic which possibilities to have a critical view about the theme. To do so, two main databases were analyzed: Scopus and Web of Science. Systematic review techniques, as well as bibliometric indicators, were implemented.

Findings

This paper connected the network between the achievements of the researches and illustrated the main application of ANNs in soil improvement prediction, specifically on cemented-based soils and biocemented soils (e.g. MICP technique). Also, as a bibliometric and systematic review, this work could achieve the key points in the absence of researches involving soil-ANN, and it provided the understanding of the lack of exploratory studies to be approached in the near future.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the research topic the article suggested other applications of ANNs in geotechnical engineering, such as other tests not related to geomechanical resistance such as unconfined compression test test and triaxial test.

Practical implications

This article systematically and critically presents some interesting points in the direction of future research, such as the non-approach to the use of ANNs in biocementation processes, such as MICP.

Social implications

Regarding the social environment, the paper brings approaches on methods that somehow mitigate the computational use, or elements necessary for geotechnical improvement of the soil, thereby optimizing the same consequently.

Originality/value

Neural networks have been studied for a long time in engineering, but the current computational power has increased the implementation for several engineering applications. Besides that, soil cementation is a widespread technique and its prediction modes often require high computational strength, such parameters can be mitigated with the use of ANNs, because artificial intelligence seeks learning from the implementation of the data set, reducing computational cost and increasing accuracy.
Do different genders' knowledge sharing behaviors drive different innovative behavior? The moderating effect of social capital
Authors: Fatemi Seyedeh Zahra , Sadeghian Samaneh , Ganji S. Fatemeh Ghasempour , Johnson Lester W.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Considering the importance of innovation in organizations and the formation of innovative behaviors (IBs) in the life of the organization, the authors study the effect of moderating social capital (SC) and gender in the link between knowledge sharing (KS), including sharing best practices and sharing mistakes with IB.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, a random sampling method was used. A questionnaire was completed by 310 employees working in five prestigious companies in the energy sector located in Mashhad province, Iran.

Findings

The findings of the research indicate the influence of KS on IB. Also, SC moderates the effect of KS on IB. However, the moderating effect of gender was not significant, sharing best practices more likely to lead IB in women. Moreover, the men are more likely to show IB as they share their mistakes in comparison with women.

Originality/value

This research aims to break the black box on the link between employee KS and his/her own innovativeness, which is not frequently investigated. To the authors' best knowledge, there is a lack of deep empirical study that has delved into analyzing the impact of gender-groups and SC on this relation.
Prioritizing factors influencing the selection of a suitable quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients using Pareto-enhanced analytical hierarchy process
Authors: Zeferino Emanuel Fernando Samasseca , Makinde Olasumbo Ayodeji , Mpofu Khumbulani , Ramatsetse Boitumelo Innocent , Daniyan Ilesanmi Afolabi
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Selection of a suitable location for a quarantine infrastructure represents a complex decision problem, which requires a systematic appraisal of myriads of factors. Quarantine facility in this study is a facility that intends to harbour and treat individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 to prevent the widespread of the virus. COVID-19 is a very contagious pandemic disease, hence, the establishment of critical factors that will embrace the selection of a suitable quarantine facility is of high importance. This paper aims to ascertain the vital few factors that must be considered by decision makers in selecting a suitable quarantine facility.

Design/methodology/approach

The aim of this study was achieved through the numerical assessment of identified quarantine location selection factors using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and Pareto techniques. The factors, which influences the selection of a suitable quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients were first identified from the literature followed by the pairwise comparison of the factors and random consistency analyses, as well as the ranking of the alternatives based on facility location experts’ opinions.

Findings

The study revealed that security, skills availability, cost, readiness, proximity to necessary medical facilities and distance to border, with percentage weight scores of 18%, 16.7%, 15.6%, 10.3%, 9.8% and 6.6% were the critical factors that must be considered during the selection of a quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients.

Practical implications

The results of this paper will help the government and decision makers in locating the quarantine sites for people who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Originality/value

The present study focuses on the application of the decision technique to ascertain critical factors that embrace suitable quarantine facility selection. Combination of AHP and Pareto techniques for prioritization of conflicting factors to be considered in selecting the most suitable location for a quarantine facility has not been reported by existing literature.
Linking authentic leadership and management capability to public hospital performance: the role of work engagement
Authors: Aboramadan Mohammed , Alolayyan Main Naser , Turkmenoglu Mehmet Ali , Cicek Berat , Farao Caterina
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a model of the effect of both authentic leadership and management capability on hospital performance. This model proposes work engagement as an intervening mechanism between the aforesaid links.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 380 medical staff working in Jordanian Public hospitals and were analysed using the structural equation modelling analysis technique.

Findings

The results suggest that both authentic leadership and management capability have a positive effect on hospital performance. Although positive, the direct effect of management capability on performance was not significant. Furthermore, work engagement demonstrated to play a full mediation effect between management capability and hospital performance and a partial mediation effect between authentic leadership and hospital performance.

Practical implications

This study may be of use for public medical services providers in general and other services sectors in terms of the role authentic leadership and management resources can play in contributing to positive work-related outcomes at the individual and organisational levels.

Originality/value

Considering the mainstream literature in health-care management, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to date to integrate the impact of both authentic leadership and management capabilities in the public health-care sector. Further, the research model has not previously been introduced when taking into account the role that work engagement can play between the examined variables.
Anger and fear: effects of negative emotions on hotel employees' information technology adoption
Authors: Zheng Lili , Montargot Nathalie
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The use of information technology (IT) in the hospitality industry is driven by the need to improve and refine customer service. However, it is unlikely that new IT will be successfully implemented if employees' roles and emotions are overlooked. The purpose of this study is to examine the interplay of negative emotions (anger and fear), coping strategies (venting anger and psychological distancing), perceptions of an IT innovation and intention toward adopting it.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model is developed based on the cognitive appraisal theory of emotion, coping theory and innovation diffusion theory. An online survey was conducted among employees working for hotels that had deployed a new reservation system, and 234 responses were collected.

Findings

The results indicate that employees' negative emotions (anger and fear) have negative and significant effects on their perceptions of adopting a new reservation system through coping strategies (i.e. venting anger and psychological distancing). Furthermore, employees' perceptions of adopting an innovative reservation system have a positive effect on their adoption intention toward the system.

Originality/value

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first research to address the impact of distinct emotions on IT innovation adoption, as well as explaining the relation between affective and cognitive effects. The findings demonstrate the importance of examining negative emotions in IT innovation adoption. In addition, the model developed in this study confirms that an appraisal tendency approach better specifies the conditions under which different emotions are triggered to predict and explain how emotions relate to IT use through adaptation behaviors when compared with a valence-based approach.
Incorporating green building into architectural education: what can we learn from the value-belief-norm theory?
Authors: Xie Xiaohuan , Qin Shiyu , Gou Zhonghua , Yi Ming
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Aiming to find out how to incorporate green building into the architectural curriculum, this study aims to explore the psychological path for cultivating architectural students’ awareness and motivation to learn the green design concepts and related technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a global review of relevant architectural courses in universities, a set of green building learning behaviors was proposed and a survey was conducted in architectural schools in South China to verify the “value-belief-norm” theory through the lens of green building learning behaviors. The psychological path that affects students’ green building learning behaviors was analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results showed that biospheric and altruistic values could directly affect students’ motivation to learn green building, while personal norms served as the mediating condition for personal values and beliefs, and ultimately improved motivation.

Practical implications

The study suggests that the cultivation of environmental awareness and a sense of the ecological crisis should be developed through foundation courses, by establishing an ecological architecture curriculum, to more effectively guide students to learn and practice green building.

Originality/value

This study, for the first time, applied the “value-belief-norm” theory, which was developed to explain the psychological path for pro-environmental behaviors, to green building learning behaviors of architectural students.
SAE based unified double JPEG compression detection system for Web image forensics
Authors: Wang Zhifeng , Zuo Chi , Zeng Chunyan
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Recently, the double joint photographic experts group (JPEG) compression detection tasks have been paid much more attention in the field of Web image forensics. Although there are several useful methods proposed for double JPEG compression detection when the quantization matrices are different in the primary and secondary compression processes, it is still a difficult problem when the quantization matrices are the same. Moreover, those methods for the different or the same quantization matrices are implemented in independent ways. The paper aims to build a new unified framework for detecting the doubly JPEG compression.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the Y channel of JPEG images is cut into 8 × 8 nonoverlapping blocks, and two groups of features that characterize the artifacts caused by doubly JPEG compression with the same and the different quantization matrices are extracted on those blocks. Then, the Riemannian manifold learning is applied for dimensionality reduction while preserving the local intrinsic structure of the features. Finally, a deep stack autoencoder network with seven layers is designed to detect the doubly JPEG compression.

Findings

Experimental results with different quality factors have shown that the proposed approach performs much better than the state-of-the-art approaches.

Practical implications

To verify the integrity and authenticity of Web images, the research of double JPEG compression detection is increasingly paid more attentions.

Originality/value

This paper aims to propose a unified framework to detect the double JPEG compression in the scenario whether the quantization matrix is different or not, which means this approach can be applied in more practical Web forensics tasks.
The level of individual social capital and social activity among librarians and managerial personnel
Authors: Wojciechowska Maja Dorota
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper i to determine which group – the managerial personnel or the directors of libraries – had a more extensive social network and were more eager to engage in cooperation, in other words – had the qualities believed to be important in managerial positions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the results of research on the levels of individual social capital, as well as the social activity among librarians in 20 countries across the world, which are important for integration with the local community and development of library services.

Findings

The research confirmed that library directors are more active than managerial personnel or line workers, although there were areas in which line workers and managers scored higher than directors. In some areas of civic activity, line workers and managers, rather than directors, led the way.

Research limitations/implications

This is the first research into the social capital and social activity of the managerial personnel of libraries conducted on such a large scale – in 20 countries across the world. The electronic survey resulted in the total of 6,593 valid responses, which were analysed statistically. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics were calculated, and the chi-square test of independence and the Mann–Whitney U test were applied. The level of individual social capital was calculated on the basis of a resource generator – Questionnaire for the Measurement of Individual Social Capital (KPIKS).

Originality/value

This is the first research into the social capital and social activity of the managerial personnel of libraries conducted on such a large scale – in 20 countries across the world. The electronic survey resulted in the total of 6,593 valid responses, which were analysed statistically. The one-way ANOVA statistics were calculated, and the chi-square test of independence and the Mann–Whitney U test were applied. The level of individual social capital was calculated on the basis of a resource generator – Questionnaire for the Measurement of Individual Social Capital (KPIKS).
Taking advantage of institutional weakness? Political stability and foreign subsidiary survival in primary industries
Authors: Lupton Nathaniel C. , Behnam Donya , Jiménez Alfredo
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the extent to which locating primary industry subsidiaries in politically unstable countries impacts their survival. The authors argue that foreign multinational enterprises in less stable political environments can shape policies that are impactful on the costs of operating in primary industries and avoid compliance with more stringent policies at home.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 753 primary sector investments of Japanese multinational enterprises during the period 1986 to 2013, the authors conduct a parametric survival analysis of the relationship between political stability and subsidiary survival.

Findings

Political instability has a slight, curvilinear relationship with subsidiary survival, such that both high and low stability are associated with lower exit hazard, while moderate levels of stability increased exit hazard. This nonlinear relationship is stronger for efficiency-seeking subsidiaries, and weaker for market-seeking subsidiaries.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the debate around the pros and cons of globalization by examining the extent to which firms benefit by offshoring primary sector investments to avoid more costly legal requirements at home. The results suggest that this non-market strategy should be mitigated through appropriate policy measures and provides evidence that those policies already implemented are effective.
Association between health-related fitness, perceived stress, and metabolic syndrome prevalence in a sample of law enforcement officers
Authors: Chase Benjamin , Brusseau Timothy , Burns Ryan , Hannon James , Henderson Hester , Kehoe Brian
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between components of metabolic syndrome with health-related fitness (HRF) and perceived stress in a sample of law enforcement officers.

Design/methodology/approach

Law enforcement officers (N = 28) from the Mountain West region of the US reported their HRF scores (1.5 mile run, push-up, and sit-ups), had their blood drawn (glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)) and had their waist circumference and blood pressure measured in a fasted state. Officers also completed a short questionnaire to assess health-enhancing physical activity (SQUASH) and both the Organizational and Operational Police Stress Questionnaires (PSQ-Org, PSQ-Op).

Findings

Linear regression models revealed a positive linear relationship between glucose levels and 1.5 mile run times (beta = 0.560, p = 0.021, R2 = 0.24). A bivariate positive linear relationship between waist circumference and 1.5 mile run times was found to be significant (R2 = 0.17, p = 0.041). For every minute increase in 1.5-mile run times, PSQ-Org scores significantly increased by 0.543 standard deviations (p = 0.022) with 25% of the variance explained (R2 = 0.25). There were no statistically significant parameter estimates from the logistic regression equations when dependent variables were treated on the categorical measurement scale using recommended cut-points.

Research limitations/implications

In conclusion, those who performed better on the 1.5 mile run were more likely to have lower fasting glucose levels, experience less stress and have a smaller waist circumference.

Practical implications

Therefore, according to these findings, it is imperative for those in law enforcement to improve their cardiorespiratory endurance to minimize stress and reduce their risk of metabolic syndrome.

Originality/value

This research is novel according to a recent PubMed search using the keywords “law enforcement,” “Metabolic Syndrome” and “fitness testing.”
Do foreign direct investments help to bolster economic growth? New insights from Asian and Middle East economies
Authors: Hussain Mumtaz , Bashir Muhammad Farhan , Shahzad Umer
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The prime objective of this study is to offer fruitful implications about allocation and directing foreign direct investment (FDI) to gain maximum economic advantage. The study offers innovative findings by contributing to a new angle.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the annual data of 24 countries, for the period of 1995–2016 and employed quantile regression and GMM as main estimation techniques. For robustness of empirical findings and to check income effect, the study divided the countries as high income, low-income panels.

Findings

Overall, the findings reported very interesting and surprising results as regional analysis. The results show the sensitivity of FDI for Middle East and high-income group of countries, inferring that there might several other factors due to which FDI is adversely affecting growth and these countries need to reform institutional quality.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is restricted for 24 countries of Asia and Middle East, based on the data availability.

Practical implications

The high-income countries should put more efforts to attract funds. The Asian and Middle East countries countries can update trade regulations to encourage entrepreneurs and reduce trade tariffs.

Originality/value

The present study investigated the role of FDI for economic growth in the context of Belt and Road Initiative countries of Middle East and Asian regions. The paper reviewed the past literature and identified regional analysis as a research gap to focus on Belt and Road Initiative in Asia and Middle East region.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of marine microbial communities following a Phaeocystis bloom: biogeography and co‐occurrence patterns
Authors: Xu Sha , He Cheng , Song Shuqun , Li Caiwen
Published: February 2021

Marine microbes play important roles in the development of phytoplankton blooms. The diversity and composition of free living (FL) and particle attached (PA) microbial communities have been well studied, while little is known about their geographic and co‐occurrence patterns, especially during the subsiding process of Phaeocystis globosa blooms. Herein, the beta‐diversity of FL and PA microbial communities in both the surface and bottom layers of different habitats were comprehensively examined during succession of a P. globosa bloom event. The results showed that microbial communities from bloom and non‐bloom sites exhibited distinct community compositions. Among the different sampling sites, the community similarities decreased with spatial distance, in which the FL communities' similarity in bottom waters was more influenced by spatial variation. The variation of microbial communities was mostly attributed to environmental selection, spatial distance, and the abundance of P. globosa successively. The co‐occurrence networks of microbial communities in bloom and non‐bloom waters differed in terms of structure and composition, and the bloom network had more links and closer relationships between genera than the non‐bloom network. The correlation among genera and modules suggested that the bloom microbes were likely driven by high environmental selection and low competitive effect between each other.
Hallmarks and detection techniques of cellular senescence and cellular ageing in immune cells
Authors: Zhou Dingxi , Borsa Mariana , Simon Anna Katharina
Published: February 2021

The ageing of the global population brings about unprecedented challenges. Chronic age‐related diseases in an increasing number of people represent an enormous burden for health and social care. The immune system deteriorates during ageing and contributes to many of these age‐associated diseases due to its pivotal role in pathogen clearance, tissue homeostasis and maintenance. Moreover, in order to develop treatments for COVID‐19, we urgently need to acquire more knowledge about the aged immune system, as older adults are disproportionally and more severely affected. Changes with age lead to impaired responses to infections, malignancies and vaccination, and are accompanied by chronic, low‐degree inflammation, which together is termed immunosenescence. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie immunosenescence, termed immune cell senescence, are mostly unknown. Cellular senescence, characterised by an irreversible cell cycle arrest, is thought to be the cause of tissue and organismal ageing. Thus, better understanding of cellular senescence in immune populations at single‐cell level may provide us with insight into how immune cell senescence develops over the life time of an individual. In this review, we will briefly introduce the phenotypic characterisation of aged innate and adaptive immune cells, which also contributes to overall immunosenescence, including subsets and function. Next, we will focus on the different hallmarks of cellular senescence and cellular ageing, and the detection techniques most suitable for immune cells. Applying these techniques will deepen our understanding of immune cell senescence and to discover potential druggable pathways, which can be modulated to reverse immune ageing.
Peer‐reported bullying, rejection and hallucinatory experiences in childhood
Authors: Steenkamp Lisa R. , Tiemeier Henning , Bolhuis Koen , Hillegers Manon H. J. , Kushner Steven A. , Blanken Laura M. E.
Published: February 2021

Objective

Psychotic experiences, such as hallucinations, occur commonly in children and have been related to bullying victimization. However, whether bullying perpetration, peer rejection, or peer acceptance are related to hallucinatory experiences has remained under‐examined. We used a novel peer nomination method to examine whether (i) bullying perpetration and (ii) social positions within peer networks were associated with future hallucinatory experiences.

Methods

This prospective study was embedded in the population‐based Generation R Study. Bullying perpetration, peer rejection, and peer acceptance were assessed using peer nominations at age 7 years (N = 925). Using a social network analysis, we estimated social positions within peer rejection and acceptance networks. Bullying victimization was assessed using self‐reports. Self‐reported hallucinatory experiences were assessed at age 10 years. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic covariates.

Results

Higher levels of bullying perpetration were prospectively associated with an increased burden of hallucinatory experiences (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.05–1.43, p = 0.011). Bullies had a 50% higher, and bully‐victims had a 89% higher odds, of endorsing hallucinatory experiences three years later than children who were not involved in bullying (ORbully = 1.50, 95% CI 1.01–2.24, p = 0.045; ORbully‐victim = 1.89, 95% CI 1.15–3.10, p = 0.012). Unfavorable positions within peer rejection networks, but not peer acceptance networks, were associated with an increased risk for hallucinatory experiences (ORpeer rejection = 1.24, 95% CI 1.07–1.44, pFDR‐corrected = 0.024).

Conclusion

Using peer reports, we observed that bullies and socially rejected children have a higher likelihood to report hallucinatory experiences in pre‐adolescence. Children who are both a bully and a victim of bullying (ie, bully‐victims) may be particularly vulnerable for psychotic experiences.
Conservative vs radical bowel surgery for endometriosis: A systematic analysis of complications
Authors: Heinz‐Partington Sean , Costa Walter , Martins Wellington P. , Condous George
Published: February 2021

Background

Endometriosis of the bowel can be associated with significant morbidity. Surgery to remove it carries risks. Options include conservative shaving or discoid resection and more radical segmental bowel resection.

Aims

To determine if more conservative shaving or discoid bowel resection is associated with fewer risks than more radical segmental resection.

Material and Methods

This study is a systematic review. We considered eligible any cohort, observational or randomised controlled trial (RCT) study of at least ten women per arm comparing conservative vs radical bowel surgery for endometriosis. We divided complications into two groups, major and minor. One additional article was added due to its significance in answering our study question as well as the high quality of the study design as an RCT.

Results

There were 3041 studies screened. Eleven studies were included (n = 1648). For major complications, the risk ratio for shaving and disc excision vs segmental resection is 0.31 (95% CI 0.21–0.46), while the risk difference is −0.25 (95% CI −0.41 to 0.10). For minor complications, the risk ratio is 0.63 (95% CI 0.36–1.09), while the risk difference is −0.03 (95% CI −0.12 to 0.05).

Conclusions

Conservative shaving or discoid excision surgery is associated with reduced complications. Previous studies demonstrated a trend toward this finding, but suffered from relatively low participant numbers, increasing the risk of type one statistical error. Our results allow surgeons to make informed choices about potential complications when deciding how to approach bowel endometriosis. The results also allow patients to have more information about the risks. However, outcomes in the studies analysed are heterogenous and are from low‐quality evidence.
The impact of cardiovascular diseases on maternal deaths in the Nordic countries
Authors: Nyfløt Lill T. , Johansen Marianne , Mulic‐Lutvica Ajlana , Gissler Mika , Bødker Birgit , Bremme Katarina , Ellingsen Liv , Vangen Siri
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases have become increasingly important as a cause of maternal death in the Nordic countries. This is likely to be associated with a rising incidence of pregnant women with congenital and acquired cardiac diseases. Through audits, we aim to prevent future maternal deaths by identifying causes of death and suboptimal factors in the clinical management.

Material and methods

Maternal deaths in the Nordic countries from 2005 to 2017 were identified through linked registers. The national audit groups performed case assessments based on hospital records, classified the cause of death, and evaluated the standards of clinical care provided. Key messages were prepared to improve treatment.

Results

We identified 227 maternal deaths, giving a maternal mortality rate of 5.98 deaths per 100 000 live births. The most common cause of death was cardiovascular disease (n = 36 deaths). Aortic dissection/rupture, myocardial disease, and ischemic heart disease were the most common diagnoses. In nearly 60% of the cases, the disease was not recognized before death. In more than half of the deaths, substandard care was identified (59%). In 11 deaths (31%), improvements to care that may have made a difference to the outcome were identified.

Conclusions

Between 2005 and 2017, cardiovascular diseases were the most common causes of maternal deaths in the Nordic countries. There appears to be a clear potential for a further reduction in these maternal deaths. Increased awareness of cardiac symptoms in pregnant women seems warranted.
Comparison of apportionment methods for assigning trip data to rezoned traffic analysis zones: A case study of Toronto, Canada
Authors: Yao Hong , Chen DongMei
Published: February 2021

Due to regional development impacts, existing traffic analysis zones may be rezoned. Apportioning data to new traffic analysis zones is essential to ensure data analysis consistency and comparability. The traditional method uses area to apportion data. This study introduces six methods in apportioning trip data, including the traditional method (M1); the residential land use counted method (M2); the population counted at the dissemination area (DA) level method (M3); the integrated method using both residential land use and the population in DAs (M4); the population counted at the dissemination block (DB) level method (M5); and the integrated method using both residential land use and the population in DBs (M6). These methods are demonstrated in the case of Toronto, Canada using trip data from 2001 and 2016. Results from the six methods are compared and analyzed using mapping, Getis‐Ord Gi* hot‐spot analysis, and the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. Our findings show that the traditional method and the population counted in DAs method are significantly different (p < 0.05) from the residential land use counted method and the integrated method using both residential land use and the population in DAs and the integrated method using both residential land use and the population in DBs. These results provide references for selecting appropriate apportionment methods, which is the basis for transportation planning and policymaking.
Epstein‐Barr virus latent membrane protein‐1 upregulates autophagy and promotes viability in Hodgkin lymphoma: Implications for targeted therapy
Authors: Lin Hui‐Chen , Chang Yao , Chen Ruo‐Yu , Hung Liang‐Yi , Chen Paul Chih‐Hsueh , Chen Ya‐Ping , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , Chiang Po‐Min , Chang Kung‐Chao
Published: February 2021

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is composed of neoplastic Hodgkin and Reed‐Sternberg cells in an inflammatory background. The neoplastic cells are derived from germinal center B cells that, in most cases, are infected by Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV), which may play a role in tumorigenesis. Given that EBV‐latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) regulates autophagy in B cells, we explored the role of autophagy mediated by EBV or LMP1 in HL. We found that EBV‐LMP1 transfection in HL cells induced a modest increase in autophagy signals, attenuated starvation‐induced autophagic stress, and alleviated autophagy inhibition‐ or doxorubicin‐induced cell death. LMP1 knockdown leads to decreased autophagy LC3 signals. A xenograft mouse model further showed that EBV infection significantly increased expression of the autophagy marker LC3 in HL cells. Clinically, LC3 was expressed in 15% (19/127) of HL samples, but was absent in all cases of nodular lymphocyte‐predominant and lymphocyte‐rich classic HL cases. Although expression of LC3 was not correlated with EBV status or clinical outcome, autophagic blockade effectively eradicated LMP1‐positive HL xenografts with better efficacy than LMP1‐negative HL xenografts. Collectively, these results suggest that EBV‐LMP1 enhances autophagy and promotes the viability of HL cells. Autophagic inhibition may be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating patients with HL, especially EBV‐positive cases.
Influence of dialysis duration on outcomes of simultaneous pancreas‐kidney transplant
Authors: Dong Yinlei , Zhou Jie , Li Zhiwei , Xiang Jie , Mei Shengmin , Gu Yangjun , Zheng Huilin , Chen Zheng , Huang Zhichao , Xu Fangshen , Hu Zhenhua
Published: February 2021

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess how pre‐transplant dialysis duration affects transplant outcomes after simultaneous pancreas‐kidney transplant (SPK) in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Methods

Data of 6887 T1DM patients who underwent SPK transplantation between 2008 and 2018 were obtained from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database. According to pre‐transplant dialysis duration, the patients were divided into the preemptive SPK, 0‐2 years, 2‐5 years, and >5 years dialysis groups. Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis was performed to compare patient and graft survival among the groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify predictors of transplant outcomes.

Results

The mean follow‐up period was 56.7 ± 34.7 months. Compared with no dialysis or preemptive SPK, dialysis for 0‐2 years was not significantly associated with patient or kidney graft survival, while long‐term dialysis of 2‐5 years and >5 years was significantly associated with increased risk of death and kidney graft failure. However, the duration of dialysis was not associated with pancreas graft survival.

Conclusion

Long‐term dialysis duration before SPK transplant is an independent predictor of patient death and kidney graft failure in T1DM patients.
Consistent improvements in short‐ and long‐term survival following heart transplantation over the past three decades
Authors: Reul Ross M. , Zhang Theodore S. , Rana Abbas A. , Rosengart Todd K. , Goss John A.
Published: February 2021

Background

Despite noted improvements in short‐term survival outcomes following orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT), review of the relevant literature suggests little improvement in long‐term outcomes for patients surviving beyond 1 year.

Methods

All OHT cases performed between 1989 and 2019 within the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database were reviewed. Adults who underwent isolated OHT were included in a 1‐year survival analysis. Those who survived at least 1 year post‐transplant were included in a long‐term survival analysis. Demographic factors were assessed using Students’ t test and chi‐square analysis. Survival trends and risk factors were assessed using the Kaplan‐Meier and the Cox regression analysis, respectively.

Results

A total of 53 265 and 46 372 recipients were included in the short‐term and long‐term cohorts, respectively. In an adjusted analysis, the reference implant era 2014‐2019 had significantly better short‐term survival outcomes when compared with earlier implant eras: 1989‐1993 (HR: 2.92), 1994‐1998 (HR: 1.53), 1999‐2003 (HR: 1.27), 2004‐2008 (HR: 1.11), and 2009‐2013 (HR: 1.02). The same trend was recognized for long‐term outcomes: 1989‐1993 (HR: 1.87), 1994‐1998 (HR: 1.27), 1999‐2003 (HR: 1.09), and 2004‐2008 (HR: 1.03).

Conclusions

Despite increases in multiple traditional risk factors, both short‐term and long‐term survival outcomes have consistently improved over the past 30 years, suggesting other factors are contributing to improved outcomes in recent eras.
Economic assessment of African horse sickness vaccine impact
Authors: Redmond Elizabeth F. , Jones Derrick , Rushton Jonathan
Published: February 2021

Background

African horse sickness (AHS) is endemic in sub‐Saharan Africa posing a threat to equine populations in non‐endemic regions. Available vaccine technologies have limitations, creating barriers to horse movement, AHS control and, in non‐endemic areas or countries, rapid elimination of virus after incursion. The literature lacks an economic assessment of the benefits of bringing a new, more effective AHS vaccine to market.

Objectives

The study assesses the economic impact of AHS and tests the hypothesis that investment in a safer, more effective AHS vaccine would give an economic return.

Study design

Cost‐benefit analysis.

Methods

Primary and secondary data were collected to populate the cost‐benefit analysis model. A literature review was followed by a questionnaire survey and interviews to gather primary data. At‐risk populations were defined and qualitative assessment completed to narrow the target populations for quantitative assessment. A deterministic cost‐benefit model was developed in Excel and different scenarios tested. Break‐even and sensitivity analysis were conducted on key parameters.

Results

The economic impact of AHS was estimated to be US$95 million per annum, and this was mainly in endemic regions with domestic equine industries and involved in international trade. Investment required to bring a new AHS vaccine to market was estimated to be up to US$3.5 million, which was very small relative to the benefits estimated in this study. The economic return on investment in bringing a new AHS vaccine to market was predicted to be positive and the analysis demonstrates this result was robust.

Main limitations

Data for the analysis were scarce, requiring expert opinion and extrapolation by the authors. Sensitivity analysis with the deterministic modelling structure indicated there was no justification for stochastic modelling, given the robustness of the return on investment.

Conclusions

The analysis predicts a strong and robust economic return on the investment in bringing a new AHS vaccine to market. Main economic beneficiaries would be the high value horse sectors, specifically the equine industries in Republic of South Africa (RSA) and in non‐endemic countries. In addition, major benefits would be captured in poor communities in sub‐Saharan Africa where working equids are of high economic and social importance.
A phytic acid analogue INS‐3001 prevents ectopic calcification in an Abcc6−/− mouse model of pseudoxanthoma elasticum
Authors: Jacobs Ida Joely , Li Diana , Ivarsson Mattias E. , Uitto Jouni , Li Qiaoli
Published: February 2021

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a prototype of heritable ectopic calcification disorders, affects the skin, eyes and the cardiovascular system due to inactivating mutations in the ABCC6 gene. There is no effective treatment for the systemic manifestations of PXE. In this study, the efficacy of INS‐3001, an analogue of phytic acid, was tested for inhibition of ectopic calcification in an Abcc6−/− mouse model of PXE. In prevention study, Abcc6−/− mice, at 6 weeks of age, the time of onset of ectopic calcification, were treated with INS‐3001 with 0.16, 0.8, 4, 20 or 100 mg/kg/day administered by subcutaneous implantation of osmotic pumps, as well as 4 mg/kg/day by subcutaneous injection thrice weekly or 14, 4 and 0.8 mg/kg/day once weekly subcutaneous injection. Mice were necropsied at 12 weeks of age. Histologic examination and quantitative calcium assay revealed that mice receiving 6 weeks of continuous INS‐3001 administration via osmotic pumps showed dose‐dependent inhibition of muzzle skin calcification with complete response at 4 mg/kg/day and a minimum effective dose at 0.8 mg/kg/day. INS‐3001 plasma concentrations were dose‐dependent and largely consistent during treatment for each dose. thrice weekly and once weekly subcutaneous injections of INS‐3001 also prevented calcification. In established disease study, 12‐week‐old Abcc6−/− mice with extensive calcification were continuously administered INS‐3001 at 4 mg/kg/day for a follow‐up of 12 weeks. INS‐3001 treatment was found to stabilize existing calcification that had developed at start of treatment. These results suggest that INS‐3001 may provide a promising preventive treatment strategy for PXE, a currently intractable ectopic calcification disorder.
Melittin sensitizes skin squamous carcinoma cells to 5‐fluorouracil by affecting cell proliferation and survival
Authors: Ombredane Alicia S. , de Andrade Laise R. , Bonadio Raphael S. , Pinheiro Willie O. , de Azevedo Ricardo B. , Joanitti Graziella A.
Published: February 2021

Combined 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) and melittin (MEL) is believed to enhance cytotoxic effects on skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, the rationale underlying cytotoxicity is fundamentally important for a proper design of combination chemotherapy, and to provide translational insights for future therapeutics in the dermatology field. The aim was to elucidate the effects of 5‐FU/MEL combination on the viability, proliferation and key structures of human squamous cell carcinoma (A431). Morphology, plasma membrane, DNA, mitochondria, oxidative stress, cell viability, proliferation and cell death pathways were targeted for investigation by microscopy, MTT, trypan blue assay, flow cytometry and real‐time cell analysis. 5‐FU/MEL (0.25 µM/0.52 µM) enhanced the cytotoxic effect in A431 cells (74.46%, p < .001) after 72 h exposure, showing greater cytotoxic effect when compared to each isolated compound (45.55% 5‐FU and 61.78% MEL). The results suggest that MEL induces plasma membrane alterations that culminate in a loss of integrity at subsequent times, sensitizing the cell to 5‐FU action. DNA fragmentation, S and G2/M arrest, disruption of mitochondrial metabolism, and alterations in cell morphology culminated in proliferation blockage and apoptosis. 5‐FU/MEL combination design optimizes the cytotoxic effects of each drug at lower concentrations, which may represent an innovative strategy for SCC therapy.
Socio‐demographic characteristics affect health information seeking on the Internet in Turkey
Authors: Demirci Şenol , Uğurluoğlu Özgür , Konca Murat , Çakmak Cuma
Published: February 2021

Objective

The objective of this paper was to determine the effects of certain socio‐demographic characteristics of Turkish individuals who seek health information on the Internet.

Methods

This study was granted permission to use data obtained by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TSI) in 2018 under their Household Information Technology Use (HITU) study. The original sample for this research comprised 19,389 participants.

Results

Age, gender, educational level, place of residence and frequency of Internet use were all found to impact the participants’ health information seeking behaviour on the Internet. Health information was sought more frequently by women than men, by younger than older people and by those with higher levels of education. Also, health information searches were conducted more often in developed regions than in less‐developed regions. In addition, it was also found that the habit of seeking health information was more common among those who use the Internet more frequently.

Conclusion

Several socio‐demographic characteristics of individuals affect their health information seeking behaviour on the Internet. All individuals should be granted equivalent access to reliable health information by taking sociodemographic characteristics and discrepancies into consideration.
Evaporation behavior of SiO2 glass doped with various transition metal oxides
Authors: Cheng Chunyu , Xie Wei , Li Hejun , Fu Qiangang
Published: February 2021

To investigate the effect of transition metal oxides on the evaporation characteristic of SiO2 glass at 1700°C, nine transition metal oxides were added to SiO2 glass. The results show that V2O5, MoO3, and WO3 have little effect on the high‐temperature stability of SiO2 glass due to their evaporation at 1500‐1700°C. Besides, Nb2O5 and Ta2O5 reduce the evaporation of SiO2 by covering the surface of the sample. Moreover, by improving the content of cristobalite, the evaporation of the SiO2‐Cr2O3 sample decreases. Meanwhile, TiO2, ZrO2, and HfO2 are beneficial to decreasing the evaporation of SiO2 glass because Ti, Zr, and Hf diffuse into c‐SiO2. Meanwhile, the SiO2‐HfO2 sample possesses the least evaporation.
Luminescent properties of doped amorphous and polycrystalline Y3Al5O12‐Al2O3
Authors: Zheng Guojun , Wu Jianhong , Xu Zhousu , Fang Zaijin , Liu Xiaofeng , Qiu Jianrong
Published: February 2021

Transparent polycrystalline ceramics (TPCs) are crystalline materials with single‐crystal‐like transparency, which, however, have to rely on fabrication processes with a relatively high cost. Here, we produced lab‐scale TPCs based on the typical refractory Y2O3‐Al2O3 system, through full congruent crystallization of the parent glass prepared by aerodynamic levitation melting method. Doping of the glass and TPCs by rare‐earth (RE) ions (Ce3+, Tb3+, Nd3+, and Yb3+) and transition‐metal (TM) ions (Cr3+) results in strong visible and near‐infrared (NIR) photoluminescence with high quantum yield. The dominance of Stark splitting of the emission band for RE and TM ions in the TPCs as compared with that of the glass confirms crystallization of the parent glasses.