bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corporate social responsibility in Vietnam: views from corporate and NGO executives
Authors: L. kane Victor , Akbari Mohammadreza , Nguyen Long Le Hoang , Nguyen Trung Quang
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The qualitative (focus group) portion of this study aims to examine the perceptions and opinions of corporate and nongovernmental organization (NGO) executives in Vietnam about corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, issues and priorities in Vietnam, the role of various external stakeholders in supporting CSR practices and how corporates and NGOs can work together to support each other’s CSR agendas. The quantitative (survey) portion of this study aims to examine how Vietnamese companies across different sectors prioritize CSR issues and goals, budget for CSR, report on CSR and centrally (or decentrally) manage CSR programs.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative and quantitative research study of executives in NGO, multinational and domestic-only firms operating in Vietnam. Qualitative (focus group) data were collected from 20 participants in three focus groups. Quantitative data were collected through an online survey of respondents from 186 companies throughout Vietnam.

Findings

The focus group findings support the research literature that CSR agenda and priorities amongst Vietnamese domestic companies are strongly influenced by long-standing norms, values and religious beliefs embedded in the Vietnamese culture that support their role in charitable giving and improving the welfare and well-being of Vietnamese citizens. The findings also indicate that CSR and sustainability programs are more fully funded and developed by multinational subsidiaries in Vietnam who have more capital and human resources to support their initiatives. The survey findings indicate that enhanced reputation, attracting new customers, securing more sustainable supply chains, developing innovative or new products/services and improving risk management are the top five business goals amongst the 186 companies surveyed.

Research limitations/implications

While the qualitative research uncovered important trends and issues in CSR amongst NGO and corporate participants, the focus was limited to the defined geographic areas of two main urban hubs.
Interfacial reaction between Ni particle reinforcements and liquid Sn-based eutectic solders
Authors: Lin Chung-Yung
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to derive a model of growth kinetics of the intermetallic compound (IMC) layer formed in the reaction between liquid Sn-based solders and Ni particle reinforcements and to compare with the experimental data to verify the effects of Sn concentration and alloying element.

Design/methodology/approach

A composite solder was manufactured by mechanically introducing Ni particle reinforcements into a solder matrix. The effect of the non-reactive alloying elements, Ag, Pb and Bi, on the growth kinetics of the IMC formed between liquid Sn-based eutectic solders and Ni particles, reacting this composite solder at 250°C–280°C was studied.

Findings

Experimental results showed that only the IMC Ni3Sn4 was present as a reaction product. Using the diffusion-controlled reaction mechanism, a kinetic equation quantifying both Sn concentration and alloying element effects was derived and verified by comparing the kinetic data obtained using four different solders with different concentrations of Sn and the alloying elements.

Originality/value

The similarity between the activation energies of these four solders confirms that the diffusion of Sn atoms through the IMC is the rate-controlling step. Besides, the kinetic values are independent of the geometry of Ni, whether spherical particle or flat substrate.
Experiencing historical empathy's humanizing lenses: adolescents' interpretative flights
Authors: Colby Sherri
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Defined as perceiving the past via the lens of former peoples, historical empathy engenders rich cognitive and affective understandings. Drawing on Ricoeur's hermeneutics (1981, 2004), this paper departs from previous work on historical empathy by conceiving empathy as dialogically mediated by sociocultural and narrative perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

This hermeneutic phenomenology explores eight adolescents' engagements with primary sources from the Second World War.

Findings

This study reveals the power of empathy to draw the students into the past and to investigate sources. Alternately, the students struggled with fanciful elaborations and overidentifications with historical figures.

Practical implications

Cultivating wise judgments begins with accepting the inherent link between students' historicity and historical empathy and then teaching students to wisely interpret.

Originality/value

This study broadens historical empathy's framework to include Ricoeur's hermeneutic philosophies of narrative and history.
Colonial governance and state incorporation of Chinese language: the case of the first Chinese language movement in Hong Kong
Authors: Fung Chi Keung Charles
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Despite the importance of the first Chinese language movement in the early 1970s that elevated the status of Chinese as an official language in British Hong Kong, the movement and the colonial state’s response remained under-explored. Drawing insights primarily from Bourdieu and Phillipson, this study aims to revisit the rationale and process of the colonial state’s incorporation of the Chinese language amid the 1970s.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a historical case study based on published news and declassified governmental documents.

Findings

The central tenet is that the colonial state’s cultural incorporation was the tactics that aimed to undermine the nationalistic appeal in Hong Kong society meanwhile contain the Chinese language movement from turning into political unrest. Incorporating the Chinese language into the official language regime, however, did not alter the pro-English linguistic hierarchy. Symbolic domination still prevailed as English was still considered as the more economically rewarding language comparing with Chinese, yet official recognition of Chinese language created a common linguistic ground amongst the Hong Kong Chinese and fostered a sense of local identity that based upon the use of the mother tongue, Cantonese. From the case of Hong Kong, it suggests that Bourdieu’s conceptualisation of state formation paid insufficient attention to the international context and the non-symbolic process of state-making itself could also shape the degree of the state’s symbolic power.

Originality/value

Extant studies on the Chinese language movement are overwhelmingly movement centred, this paper instead brings the colonial state back in so to re-examine the role of the state in the incorporative process of the Chinese language in Hong Kong.
Which technology to which challenge in democratic governance? An approach using design science research
Authors: Anastasiadou Maria , Santos Vitor , Montargil Filipe
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Information systems (IS) play an important role in contemporary society, but critical questions remain on their potential use and impact on democracy. This study aims to contribute to the discussion on which technology can be adequate to which major challenge of democratic governance, through the identification and pairing of challenges of democratic governance with specific information technologies with the potential to be used in applications related to this challenge. This perspective can be considered positioned in the confluence between IS, political science and public administration.

Design/methodology/approach

Design science research, a research approach in IS, was used. The suggestion of a conceptual framework with pairs of challenges in democratic governance and information technologies was initially developed. In a subsequent phase, this framework was discussed and assessed through interviews with a panel of selected experts in e-government and IS, reaching a revised conceptual framework.

Findings

Results suggest that the conceptual pairing of challenges in democratic governance with IS’s solutions such as artificial intelligence, systems integration or blockchain technologies, for instance, if used in a critical, transparent and accountable way, can play a role in capacitating the delivery of better public services and contribute to encouraging citizen trust and political participation. These results may contribute to open a methodological agenda dedicated to the selection of adequate IS resources to address specific challenges of democratic governance, as well as to help in the development of public policies in the area.

Originality/value

Previous studies on digital government offer important insights on the impact of information and communication technologies-enabled public governance tools for government openness, public service efficiency and user-friendliness, and for citizen political participation and societal mobilization. But the literature still lacks a systematic conceptual framework mapping and assessing the role of distinctive IS instruments in democratic challenge-solving and specifying functional relationships between specific technology and democratic outcomes. This paper aims to contribute to filling this analytical gap.
Ten commandments for successful implementation of Design for Six Sigma
Authors: Gijo E.V. , Bhat Shreeranga , Antony Jiju , Park Sung H.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This article aims to provide Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) practitioners, researchers and academicians with Ten Commandments to successfully deploy projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The commandments are the brainchild of four authors' experience and expertise for more than 15 years of DFSS deployment in the spectrum of fields as a consultant, researcher, academic and Master Black Belt in Six Sigma and general quality management and engineering disciplines. Thus ascertained commandments were validated and classified through the “Delphi Study” to ensure its applicability.

Findings

The Ten Commandments from authors' perspective include: alignment of DFSS with organisational strategy; top management support and involvement; listening to the voice of the customers (VOC); effective training programme for right project teams; project selection and prioritisation; linking DFSS with ISO international standards; linking DFSS with organisational learning and innovation; linking DFSS with the 4th Industrial Revolution; effective use of DFSS methodology and the integrated tools within the methodology and reward and recognition schemes.

Research limitations/implications

The commandments presented in this article are the authors' personal experience in different industrial scenarios and settings and demographical locations. The authors are planning to conduct a longitudinal survey to understand further insights of these commandments with the input of several DFSS Black Belts and Master Black Belts, academicians and leading researchers from various countries.

Originality/value

All the organisation's stakeholders can use this article as general guidelines to ensure effective deployment of the DFSS approach.
ISO 9001 standard and their impact on school management and planning and support systems–Comparative study on perception between heads–teachers
Authors: Rodríguez-Mantilla Jesús Miguel , León Carrascosa Víctor , Martínez-Zarzuelo Angélica
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare how school heads and teachers perceived the impact of implementing ISO 9001 Standards on the dimensions management and planning and support and recognition.

Design/methodology/approach

The study included 2,192 subjects (86.2% teachers and 13.8% heads) belonging to 85 schools in four Spanish autonomous communities (Castilla y León, Community of Madrid, Andalusia and Community of Valencia). We used an instrument made up of 25 items evaluating both dimensions (Cronbach's α = 0.961). We conducted descriptive and differential analyses (applying ANOVA and calculating the effect size) overall and for the assessments by heads and teachers.

Findings

Results show a higher impact in small private schools with state subsidies, with 9–11 years of ISO implementation and receiving internal aid or none at all. The impact was medium–high on the management and planning system and medium–low on support and recognition, with heads evaluating at a significantly higher level the impact of ISO 9001 standards on improvement of preparation of classroom timetables, meetings, analysis of staff expectations and recognition of staff achievements.

Originality/value

Implementation of quality management systems in education has increased significantly in the last decades, and it is thus necessary to find evidence on how the resulting improvements are generated in schools. This study provides conclusions to the scientific and professional community about how school heads and teachers perceived the impact of implementing ISO 9001 standards on the dimensions management and planning and support and recognition.
Experiential quality, experiential relationship quality and future experiential intentions in the Macau gaming industry
Authors: Wu Hung-Che , Ai Chi-Han , Chang Ya-Yuan , Wang De-Quan , Wu Tsung-Pao
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use the Macau gaming industry as a case study to discuss the multifaceted relationships involving experiential quality, experiential relationship quality and future experiential intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, 566 usable responses were collected from casino gamblers who had gaming experience in one casino of Macau.

Findings

According to the study results, the dimensions of experiential quality (hedonics, involvement, surprise, fun, gambler contact and physical environment) had a positive effect on experiential satisfaction, which in turn led to experiential trust. Both experiential trust and experiential satisfaction positively influenced experiential commitment. Moreover, experiential trust, experiential satisfaction and experiential commitment positively affected future experiential intentions.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this research is that it has added to the body of knowledge about the interplay between the dimensions of experiential quality, the dimension of experiential relationship quality and future experiential intentions, which can be fruitful for the gaming industry.
Skill-enhancing human resource practices and firm performance: the mediating role of innovativeness
Authors: Capelleras Joan-Lluís , Domi Shpresim , Belletti Giovanni
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the interplay of skill-enhancing human resources (HR) practices, innovativeness and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 211 valid cases were gathered through an online survey and face-to-face interviews with Albanian tourism firms. Structural equation modeling was implemented to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that HR training has a positive influence on innovativeness, which in turn affects positively firm performance. Thus, there is a mediation effect of innovativeness in the link between training and performance.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are in line with the strategic perspective on HR management, which suggests that HR practices are likely to indirectly affect firm performance. However, results should be interpreted with caution due to the cross-sectional nature of the data.

Practical implications

HR training practices may help tourism firms to increase their innovation orientation and ultimately improve their performance outcomes.

Originality/value

Investigating the mediation role of innovativeness on the relationship between skill-enhancing HR practices and firm performance within the tourism context is the core contribution.
Comparative Analysis of Chopper-Inverter Performances for Wind Conversion System Connected to Grid
Authors: Laabidi Houda , Jouini Houda , Mami Abdelkader
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose an efficient current control technique based on model predictive control (MPC) for grid-connected wind conversion system. This nonlinear strategy is applied for the chopper circuit and grid-tied inverter and compared with other two conventional schemes; a traditional proportional-integral (PI) and sliding mode controller (SMC) using the same switching frequency.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the MPC scheme uses the mathematical model to predict future behaviors of the controlled converter outputs for possible switching states. After that, the optimal voltage vector is selected by minimizing a cost function, which is defined as a sum of the absolute values of the controlled current errors. Then, the corresponding switching signals are applied to the converter switches in the next sampling period to track correctly the reference current. Thus, the MPC scheme ensures a minimal error between the predicted and reference trajectories of the considered variables.

Findings

The MPC-based algorithm presents several benefits in terms of high accuracy control, reduced DC-link voltage ripples during steady-state operation, faster transient response, lower overshoots and disturbance rejection and acceptable total harmonic distortion.

Originality/value

The authors introduce several simulation case studies, using PSIM software package, which prove the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed MPC scheme. Therefore, the MPC performances, during dynamic and steady-state condition, are compared with those obtained by a PI regulator and SMC to highlight the improvements, specifically the transfer of smooth power to the grid.
Simulation and experimental investigation of tool wear rate in dry and near-dry EDM process
Authors: Ganachari Vaibhav Sidraya , Chate Uday , Waghmode Laxman , Jadhav Prashant , Mullya Satish
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Many engineering applications in this era require new age materials; however, some classic alloys like spring steel are still used in critical applications such as aerospace, defense and automobile. To machine spring steel material, there exist various difficulties such as rapid tool wear rate, the rough surface formation of a workpiece and higher power consumption. The purpose of this paper is to address these issues, various approaches in addition to electrical discharge machines (EDM) are used such as dry EDM (DEDM) and near dry EDM (NDEDM).

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on these two approaches and their comparative analysis with respect to tool wear during machining of spring steel material. For this study, current, gap voltage, cycle time and dielectric medium pressure are considered input variables. This study shows that the near dry EDM approach yields better results. Hence, the thermo-electrical model for this approach is developed using ANSYS workbench, which is further validated by comparing with experimental results. This thermo-electrical model covers spark radius variation and formation of temperature profile due to electric discharge. Transient thermal analysis is used to simulate the electric discharge machining.

Findings

It is observed from this study that discharge environment parameters such as debris concentration and fluid viscosity largely influences the dielectric fluid pressure value. Experimental results revealed that NDEDM yields better results in comparison with DEDM as it shows a 25% lesser tool wear rate in NDEDM.

Originality/value

The range of predicted results and the experimental results are in close agreement, authenticating the model.
Prior knowledge and social entrepreneurial venture creation: the mediating role of novelty ecosystem
Authors: Nsereko Isa , Mayanja Samuel S. , Balunywa Waswa
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the mediating role of novelty ecosystem in the relationship between prior knowledge and social entrepreneurial venture creation (SEVC) among community-based organizations (CBOs) in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is cross sectional and quantitative. Data were collected from CBO owner-managers. Mean, standard deviations, correlations and structural equation modeling were conducted to check the relationships among variables.

Findings

Results show that both prior knowledge and novelty ecosystem are significantly associated with SEVC. Results further indicate that novelty ecosystem partially mediates the relationship between prior knowledge and SEVC.

Research limitations/implications

The design was cross sectional in nature, thus limiting monitoring changes in knowledge and its effect on SEVC. The results should be interpreted as they are because there could be some endogeneity biases, which were not detected like measurement errors and failure to identify appropriate instruments.

Originality/value

This study provides an initial empirical evidence on the relationship between prior knowledge, novelty ecosystem and SEVC using evidence from a developing African country – Uganda. Mostly, this provides an initial evidence of the mediation role of novelty ecosystem in the relationship between prior knowledge and SEVC.
Normolipemic xanthomatized Sweet’s syndrome: A variant of Sweet’s syndrome with myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Kamimura Anna , Yanagisawa Hiroto , Tsunemi Yuichiro , Kusano Takeru , Arai Eiichi , Tsuchida Tetsuya , Nakamura Koichiro
Published: February 2021

We report a rare case of xanthomatized Sweet's syndrome with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in a patient who presented with erythematous plaques on his chest that were elevated and became yellowish. A diagnosis of MDS with single lineage dysplasia was made during the development of the eruption. Bone marrow biopsy showed an increased number of megakaryoblasts. Histopathologically, there was neutrophil infiltration with leukocytoclasia and the infiltration of xanthomatous cells. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the xanthomatized cells were predominantly CD163 positive. We propose that our case of xanthomatized neutrophilic dermatosis is a rare clinicopathological variant of Sweet's syndrome associated with a hematologic disorder.
Surgical feasibility and long‐term outcome of superior vena cava replacement for advanced thymoma in patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Yu Zhen , Yu Lei , Yu Tao , Yang Xing‐guo , Zhang Bao‐xun , Du Xin
Published: February 2021

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the long‐term outcome of superior vena cava (SVC) replacement after chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for advanced thymoma.

Methods

The medical information of patients with advanced thymoma who underwent thymoma resection and SVC replacement in Beijing Tongren Hospital from 2002 to 2017 were reviewed. We compared surgical outcomes, postoperative complications and long‐term prognosis in the chemoradiotherapy + surgery group (CRT + surgery group, 19 cases) and the surgery group (26 cases).

Results

The operation time (486.05 ± 148.01 vs. 370.77 ± 124.32 min; p = 0.007) and intraoperative blood loss (1400 ml [IQR 1125–2105 ml] vs. 855 ml [IQR 555–1682.5 ml], p = 0.036), poor wound healing (three cases [15.79%] vs. zero cases [0.0%], p = 0.036) in the CRT + surgery group were significantly higher than those of the surgery group. There was no significant difference between the CRT + surgery group and the surgery group in postoperative chest tube drainage time, hospitalization time, postoperative arrhythmia and incidence of pneumonia. Kaplan Meier analysis showed that the recurrence‐free survival (RFS) curves of the CRT + surgery group patients were better than those of the surgery group (p = 0.031). However, overall survival (OS) between the two groups was not significantly different (p = 0.069).

Conclusions

Thymoma resection and SVC replacement is feasible for patients undergoing preoperative induction chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for advanced thymoma. Although patients in the CRT + surgery group had a longer operation time and increased intraoperative bleeding, the RFS rate seemed to be better than that in the surgery group.
Prospective study to validate the clinical utility of DNA diagnosis of peritoneal fluid cytology test in gastric cancer
Authors: Harada Hiroki , Soeno Takafumi , Nishizawa Nobuyuki , Washio Marie , Sakuraya Mikiko , Ushiku Hideki , Niihara Masahiro , Hosoda Kei , Kumamoto Yusuke , Naitoh Takeshi , Sangai Takafumi , Hiki Naoki , Yamashita Keishi
Published: February 2021

The clinical efficacy of DNA cytology test (CY) in gastric cancer (GC) has been retrospectively proposed using cancer‐specific methylation of cysteine dioxygenase type 1 (CDO1). We confirmed the clinical utility of DNA CY in a prospective cohort. Four hundred GC samples were prospectively collected for washing cytology (UMIN000026191), and detection of the DNA methylation of CDO1 was assessed by quantitative methylation‐specific PCR in the sediments. Endpoint was defined as the match rate between conventional CY1 and DNA CY1 (diagnostic sensitivity), and the DNA CY0 rate (diagnostic specificity) in pStage IA. DNA CY1 was detected in 45 cases (12.5%), while CY1 was seen in 31 cases (8.6%) of 361 chemotherapy‐naïve samples, where the sensitivity and specificity of the DNA CY in the peritoneal solutions were 74.2% and 96.5%, respectively. The DNA CY was positive for 3.5/0/4.9/11.4/58.8% in pStage IA/IB/II/III/IV, respectively (P < .01). In the multivariate analysis, DNA CY1 was independently correlated with pathological tumor depth (pT) (P = .0012), female gender (P = .0099), CY1 (P = .0135), P1 (P = .019), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (P = .036). The combination of DNA CY1 and P factor nearly all covered the potential peritoneal dissemination (P1 and/or CY1 and/or DNA CY1) (58/61:95.1%). DNA CY1 had a significantly poorer prognosis than DNA CY0 in GC patients (P < .0001). DNA CY1 detected by CDO1 promoter DNA methylation has a great value to detect minimal residual disease of the peritoneum in GC clinics, representing poor prognosis as a novel single DNA marker.
Effects of testosterone treatment, with and without exercise training, on ambulatory blood pressure in middle‐aged and older men
Authors: Chasland Lauren C. , Green Daniel J. , Schlaich Markus P. , Maiorana Andrew J. , Cooke Brian R. , Cox Kay L. , Naylor Louise H. , Yeap Bu B.
Published: February 2021

Context

With age, testosterone (T) and physical activity levels often decline in parallel. The effect of combining T treatment and exercise training on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) is unclear.

Objective

To assess T and exercise effects, alone and in combination, on ABP in men aged 50–70 years, waist circumference ≥ 95 cm and low‐normal serum T (6–14 nmol/L), without organic hypogonadism.

Design

A 2 × 2 factorial randomised, placebo‐controlled study.

Intervention

Randomization to daily transdermal AndroForte5® (Testosterone 5.0%w/v, 100 mg in 2 ml) cream (T), or matching placebo (P) (double‐blind), and to supervised exercise (Ex) or no additional exercise (NEx), for 12 weeks.

Results

Average 24‐h systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased with T treatment (testosterone*time, p = .035). Average 24‐h SBP increased in T+Ex (T+Ex:+3.0 vs. P+NEx: −3.0 mmHg, p = .026) driven by day‐time changes (T+Ex:+3.5 vs. P+NEx: −3.0 mmHg, p = .026). There was an effect of T for 24‐h average diastolic blood pressure (DBP, testosterone*time, p = .044) driven by the decrease in P+Ex (P+Ex: −3.9 vs. T+NEx: −0.5 mmHg, p = .015). Night‐time DBP was lower with exercise (P+Ex: −4.0 vs. P+NEx: +0.7 mmHg, p = .032). The effect of exercise to lower night‐time DBP was not apparent in the presence of T (T+Ex: −0.4 vs. P+NEx: +0.7 mmHg, p > .05). Ex increased average 24‐h pulse pressure (PP, exercise*time, p = .022), largely during daytime hours (exercise*time, p = .013).

Conclusions

There was a main effect of T to increase 24‐h SBP, primarily seen when T was combined with Ex. Exercise alone decreased 24‐h and night‐time DBP; an effect attenuated by T. BP should be carefully assessed and monitored, when prescribing T treatment to middle‐aged and older men, especially when combined with exercise training.
Peak nasal inspiratory airflow measurements for assessing laryngopharyngeal reflux treatment
Authors: Ceylan Seyit M. , Kanmaz Mahmut A. , Disikirik Ilyas , Karadeniz Pinar G.
Published: February 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and antireflux treatment on peak nasal inspiratory airflow (PNIF).

Design

Prospective observational study was conducted.

Setting

Tertiary otorhinolaryngology clinic.

Participants

Adults with LPR and healthy controls.

Main outcome measures

PNIF measurements were performed on 60 patients who applied with complaints suggestive of LPR having higher Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) (>13) and Reflux Finding Scores (RFS) scores (>7). Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment was started and PNIF measurements were repeated two months later. A total of 100 patients without any history of LPR and sinonasal disease were included in the study.

Results

A statistically significant increase was observed in PNIF values after proton pump inhibitor treatment. The mean PNIF values of the LPR patients were 133.83 ± 27.99 L/min and 149.92 ± 23.23 L/min before and after treatment, respectively. The mean PNIF value in the control group was 145.0 ± 25.92 L/min. PNIF values were significantly lower in the LPR relative to the control group (P < .05).

Conclusion

Laryngopharyngeal reflux decreases PNIF. This negative effect on PNIF disappears after antireflux medication. The results of the study indicate that PNIF measurements may be an appropriate method for clinical diagnosis of LPR and evaluation of treatment results.
Effect of chemotherapy on survival in patients with stage T3‐4N0M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Pan Xin‐Bin , Qu Song , Li Ling , Chen Long , Liang Shi‐Xiong , Zhu Xiao‐Dong
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To identify whether chemoradiotherapy improves survival in patients with stage T3‐4N0M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Materials and methods

The data of patients with stage T3‐4N0M0 NPC were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2004 and 2016. The patients were divided into radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy groups. Overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) were assessed using the Kaplan‐Meier method and propensity score matching (PSM) analyses.

Results

We examined 496 patients: 88 who received radiotherapy and 408 who received chemoradiotherapy. Before PSM, chemoradiotherapy was associated with a better 5‐year OS (52.58% vs. 38.13%; P = .005) and similar CSS (63.62% vs. 59.26%; P = .196) compared to those associated with radiotherapy. However, chemoradiotherapy was not an independent prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR)=0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68‐1.32; P = .760] or CSS (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.66‐1.56; P = .935). After PSM, similar OS (45.15% vs. 42.78%; P = .626) and CSS (58.22% vs. 60.37%; P = .730) were found between the radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy groups.

Conclusion

Radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy are associated with similar OS and CSS in patients with stage T3‐4N0M0 NPC.
Understanding public support for Canadian aid to developing countries: The role of information
Authors: Henson Spencer , Davis John‐Michael , Swiss Liam
Published: February 2021

Motivation

The public needs to be better informed on the reasons for providing aid, especially that which supports the Sustainable Development Goals. How aid is framed by donors directly affects levels of public support.

Purpose

The article investigates support for aid among English‐speaking Canadians, and how this varies by the framing of aid spending, socioeconomic markers, personal values and political engagement.

Approach and methods

Statistical analysis is undertaken of data from a representative survey of English‐speaking Canadians on their knowledge and attitudes with respect to aid to developing countries. A particular focus of the analysis is the influence of the framing of aid spending on public support for aid spending, while controlling for the influence of socioeconomic factors.

Findings

Support for increased spending rises when spending is framed relative to the size of the economy, whether in dollar or percentage terms, rather than when framed relative to government taxation or spending. Providing information on the current level of aid spending also raises support for increased aid spending. Overall, when informed about the level of aid spending, most respondents support maintaining or increasing aid. Views on aid vary little by age, education and other socioeconomic markers. People’s values, however, did affect support for aid. Respondents who believe in “Canada first” were considerably more likely to support aid cuts than others. Those who see kindness as part of Canadian identity tend to favour aid, while those who see economic prosperity as part of national identity tend to want aid cuts. While voting intention does not affect views on aid, respondents who have been either politically active or involved in collective action on media/social media are a little more likely to favour increased aid.

Policy implications

The findings confirm the importance of the framing of aid spending for designing and implementing programmes to inform, engage and elicit support from the public. Given how values influence public support for aid, engagement needs to be tailored to different target audiences.
Building‐up fit muscles for the future
Authors: Beleza Jorge , Stevanović‐Silva Jelena , Coxito Pedro , Costa Rui Carlos , Ascensão António , Torrella Joan Ramon , Magalhães José
Published: February 2021

‘Special issue ‐ In Utero and Early Life Programming of Aging and Disease’. Skeletal muscle (SM) adaptations to physical exercise (PE) have been extensively studied due, not only to the relevance of its in situ plasticity, but also to the SM endocrine‐like effects in noncontractile tissues, such as brain, liver or adipocytes. Regular PE has been considered a pleiotropic nonpharmacological strategy to prevent and counteract the deleterious consequences of several metabolic, cardiovascular, oncological and neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, PE performed by parents seems to have a direct impact in the offspring through the transgenerational programming of different tissues, such as SM. In fact, SM offspring programming mechanisms seems to be orchestrated, at least in part, by epigenetic machinery conditioning transcriptional or post‐transcriptional processes. Ultimately, PE performed in the early in life is also a critical window of opportunity to positively modulate the juvenile and adult phenotype. Parental PE has a positive impact in several health‐related offspring outcomes, such as SM metabolism, differentiation, morphology and ultimately in offspring exercise volition and endurance. Also, early‐life PE counteracts conceptional‐related adverse effects and induces long‐lasting healthy benefits throughout adulthood. Additionally, epigenetics mechanisms seem to play a key role in the PE‐induced SM adaptations. Despite the undoubtedly positive role of parental and early‐life PE on SM phenotype, a strong research effort is still needed to better understand the mechanisms that positively regulate PE‐induced SM programming.
Artificial intelligence methods for a Bayesian epistemology‐powered evidence evaluation
Authors: De Pretis Francesco , Landes Jürgen , Peden William
Published: February 2021

Rationale, aims and objectives

The diversity of types of evidence (eg, case reports, animal studies and observational studies) makes the assessment of a drug's safety profile into a formidable challenge. While frequentist uncertain inference struggles in aggregating these signals, the more flexible Bayesian approaches seem better suited for this quest. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers great promise to these approaches for information retrieval, decision support, and learning probabilities from data.

Methods

E‐Synthesis is a Bayesian framework for drug safety assessments built on philosophical principles and considerations. It aims to aggregate all the available information, in order to provide a Bayesian probability of a drug causing an adverse reaction. AI systems are being developed for evidence aggregation in medicine, which increasingly are automated.

Results

We find that AI can help E‐Synthesis with information retrieval, usability (graphical decision‐making aids), learning Bayes factors from historical data, assessing quality of information and determining conditional probabilities for the so‐called ‘indicators’ of causation for E‐Synthesis. Vice versa, E‐Synthesis offers a solid methodological basis for (semi‐)automated evidence aggregation with AI systems.

Conclusions

Properly applied, AI can help the transition of philosophical principles and considerations concerning evidence aggregation for drug safety to a tool that can be used in practice.
Elevated river discharge enhances the immigration of juvenile catadromous and amphidromous fishes into temperate coastal rivers
Authors: Amtstaetter Frank , Yen Jian D.L. , Hale Robin , Koster Wayne , O'Connor Justin , Stuart Ivor , Tonkin Zeb
Published: February 2021

Anthropogenic alterations to river flow regimes threaten freshwater biodiversity globally, with potentially disproportionate impacts on species that rely on flow cues to trigger critical life history processes, such as migration for diadromous fishes. This study investigates the influence of river discharge on the abundance of juvenile fish moving into rivers by four temperate catadromous or amphidromous species (common galaxias Galaxias maculatus, spotted galaxias Galaxias truttaceus, climbing galaxias Galaxias brevipinnis and the threatened Australian grayling Prototroctes maraena). Fyke netting or fishway trapping was used to catch juvenile fish moving from estuaries into freshwater in five coastal waterways in south‐eastern Australia during the spring migratory period. There was a positive relationship between the probability of high catch rates and mean discharge in September. We also found a positive relationship between discharge and the number of recruits captured 22–30 days later in a flow stressed system. In addition, day‐of‐year had a strong influence on catch rates, with the peak abundance of juveniles for three species most likely to occur midway through the sampling period (spotted galaxias in October, climbing galaxias in late October and Australian grayling in late October and early November). Our study shows that higher magnitudes of river discharge were associated with increased catches of juvenile catadromous and amphidromous fishes. With a limited supply of environmental water, environmental flows used to enhance immigration of these fishes may be best targeted to maintain small amounts of immigration into freshwater populations in waterways or years when discharges are low and stable. When there are natural, large discharge volumes, relatively large numbers of juvenile fish can be expected to enter coastal waterways and during these times environmental flows may not be required to promote immigration.
Mannose‐6‐phosphate complex and improvement in biomechanical properties of the skin
Authors: Meunier Marie , Chapuis Emilie , Lapierre Laura , Auriol Pascale , Paulus Chantal , Elbaum Boris , Don Simoni Eglantine , Sandré Jérôme , Auriol Daniel , Scandolera Amandine , Reynaud Romain
Published: February 2021

Background

The dermis is composed of a tangle of macromolecules that provides the skin its biomechanical properties. During chronological aging, fibroblasts lose their ability to synthesize collagen and an accumulation of matrix metalloproteinases leads to an increase in collagen degradation. As a result, there is a decline in the biomechanical properties of the skin. Skin aging is accelerated by external factors such as UV radiation and pollution, which induce accumulation of oxidants, and so of oxidized proteins in the skin.

Aims

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has emerged as an alternative method for studying the biomechanical properties of skin cells and tissues.

Methods/Results

Thus, we identified mannose‐6‐phosphate complex as a new powerful molecule capable of reversing the visible signs of aging by reorganizing the collagen network of the dermis and by improving the skin biomechanical properties. This effect was correlated with clinical studies that showed a marked antiaging effect through a reduction in the number of crow's feet and in the depth and size of neck wrinkles.

Conclusion

Mannose‐6‐phosphate complex appeared to be able to protect proteins in the dermis scaffold against oxidation and degradation, allowing an improvement in the skin biomechanical properties.
Institutionalization or interaction: Which organizational factors help community‐based initiatives acquire government support?
Authors: Igalla Malika , Edelenbos Jurian , van Meerkerk Ingmar
Published: February 2021

Increasingly, Western local governments are dealing with community‐based initiatives (CBIs) of citizens providing public services. Municipalities possess critical resources CBIs generally lack, including subsidies, buildings, and exposure. There is still little knowledge on CBIs' factors for government support. Therefore, this study adopts an organizational perspective distinguishing among institutionalization (intraorganizational, e.g., organizational size and democratic legitimacy) and interaction (interorganizational, e.g., boundary spanning leadership [BSL]) factors for the support CBIs obtain from local government. Analyzing large N data (N = 2331) from CBIs in six countries by using structural equation modeling, we found that interaction factors are related to more government support, whereas institutionalization factors are less significant. More specifically, we found stronger relationships for BSL and linking social capital than for the factors related to the formalization and development of organizational infrastructure, including the much‐discussed democratic legitimacy of CBIs, suggesting a limited interest of governments in this topic as a factor for support.
Chronic non‐medical prescription opioid use and empathy for pain: Does pain make the difference?
Authors: Kroll Sara L. , Thayer Julian F. , Williams DeWayne P. , Pfabigan Daniela M. , Baumgartner Markus R. , Lamm Claus , Quednow Boris B.
Published: February 2021

Non‐medical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) is at the heart of the opioid epidemic in the United States. Although chronic opioid use is commonly accompanied by deficits in social functioning, little is known about the impact of chronic NMPOU on social cognitive functions. Social neuroscience models suggest that empathy activates similar or even equivalent neural structures as those underpinning the first‐hand experience in that emotional state (e.g., pain). Therefore, we measured subjective and psychophysiological responses during an empathy‐for‐pain task in 23 individuals with NMPOU, objectively confirmed by hair and urine testing, and compared them with 29 opioid‐naïve healthy controls. NMPOU individuals showed lower other‐related and self‐related unpleasantness ratings when seeing others in pain than controls. No differences between the control and NMPOU group were found in skin conductance responses and heart rate variability (HRV) assessed by root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) in response to the task. However, RMSSD‐HRV was strongly negatively correlated with self‐related unpleasantness and craving in the NMPOU group. A subsequent mediation analysis showed a total effect of RMSSD‐HRV on self‐related unpleasantness with no mediation of craving. This indicates that stronger emotion regulation indexed by high RMSSD‐HRV might have downregulating effects on sharing others’ pain in NMPOU individuals but not in healthy controls, which was further accompanied by decreased ratings ofpersonal distressandempathetic concern. These results contribute to a better understanding of social functioning in chronic opioid users, suggesting adequate emotion regulation and empathy trainings as therapeutic targets for future interventions of opioid use disorders and long‐term pain treatment with opioids.
Biochar and zeolites did not improve phosphorus uptake or crop productivity in a field trial performed in an irrigated intensive farming system
Authors: Arrobas Margarida , Decker João V. , Feix Bruna L. , Godoy Wilson I. , Casali Carlos A. , Correia Carlos M. , Ângelo Rodrigues Manuel
Published: February 2021

Soil conditioners, such as biochar and zeolites, may play an important role in agriculture if they increase nutrient use efficiency, in particular, that of phosphorus (P), due to the depletion of phosphate rocks from which P‐fertilizers are manufactured. This study report results from a field trial, where maize was grown in summer and oats in winter, and from a pot experiment with maize. In the field, the use of biochar and zeolites, along with an untreated control in combination with various P rates (0, 50, 100 and 200 kg P2O5 ha−1), was tested. In the pot experiment, six treatments were included, biochar, zeolites and a non‐amended control with and without P application. Soil conditioners did not significantly influence tissue elemental composition or the dry matter (DM) yield of maize and oats in the field trial, nor the DM yield of maize in the pots. In the field trial, average maize DM yields varied from 14.3 to 15.6 t ha−1 and 11.8 to 13.7 t ha−1 and average oats DM yields from 2.1 to 2.4 t ha−1 and 3.0 to 3.2 t ha−1, respectively, in 2018 and 2019. Biochar only significantly increased total organic carbon (C); and zeolites the levels of potassium (K) in the soil, a result of their initial composition. P application increased DM yield of maize in the second year and oats in the two years of the field trial and also the DM yield of potted maize. In the pots, P application also influenced the concentration of P and several other nutrients in plant tissues and increased the labile soil P fraction. This study showed that the biochar and zeolite soil conditioners applied may not be suitable for short‐term increase of crop production in soil with high agricultural potential and under intensive irrigated farming systems.