bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conceptualising the therapeutic alliance: exploring the relevance of Bordin’s model for adults with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Cameron Sarah , Swanton James , Dagnan Dave
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the applicability of Bordin’s model of therapeutic alliance in talking therapies for people with intellectual disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

People with intellectual disabilities and therapists in six therapy dyads were interviewed using a qualitative methodology. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to explore how people with learning disabilities constructed the dimensions of therapeutic alliance. Content analysis was then used to focus on therapy bond, therapy tasks and goals to explore the agreement on these dimensions between the therapist and client.

Findings

People with intellectual disabilities reported their experience of therapy in a way that initially validates the alliance dimensions of Bordin’s model. There was clear overlap within most dyads in the description of the characteristics of the bond, the tasks undertaken and the goals of therapy. Some therapists described additional goals based on their therapeutic model that were not clearly described by the client working with them.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited by only including six therapy dyads; however, the results suggest further research on the impact of therapy alliance and how goals and tasks are agreed would be valuable.

Originality/value

Very few studies have explicitly examined the client’s view of therapy alliance.
Board capital and earnings quality with different controlling shareholders
Authors: Kontesa Maria , Lako Andreas , Wendy Wendy
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between board capital and firm earnings quality with different controlling shareholders for a sample of 252 listed firms in Indonesia over the period 2011–2017.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a two-step dynamic generalized method of moments panel regression to estimate the board capital effect on earnings quality. The board capital measure is constructed from educational capital, networking capital and experience capital. Meanwhile, discretionary accrual is used as the proxy for earnings quality. All financial data is from the annual report. Board capital data is a combination of an annual report, RelSci data, Linkedin searching and Bloomberg data.

Findings

The findings of this study report that board capital has a significant effect on earnings quality. Higher board capital may result in better earnings quality. In further investigation, this study finds that firms with higher education backgrounds tend to have better earnings quality. Meanwhile, firms with higher experienced board members tend to have bad earnings quality. Additionally, networking capital does not have any impact on earnings quality. The findings of this study also document a strong size effect of controlling shareholders in moderating the relationship between board capital and earnings quality.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to upper-echelon, institutional, positive accounting and agency theory. It implies that agency cost plays an important role in that relationship. In a more deep analysis, this study records different board capital effects on earnings quality across controlling shareholders.

Practical implications

Shareholders should elect board directors following their competencies and should note that not all competencies will give a quality earning report. The educational background of board members will enhance earnings quality, but the experience of a board member will reduce the earnings quality. Further, the relationship between board capital and earnings quality is significantly moderated by controlling shareholders, implying that different controlling shareholders need different board capital.

Originality/value

This study examines board capital effects on earnings quality with different controlling shareholders using four major theories. The board capital measure is tedious and detailed allowing to capture the comprehensive human capital.
Modeling and implementation of spin diode based on two dimensional materials using Monte Carlo sampling method
Authors: Makdey Swapnali , Patrikar Rajendra , Hashmi Mohammad Farukh
Published: August 2020

Purpose

A “spin-diode” is the spintronics equivalent of an electrical diode: applying an external magnetic field greater than the limit of spin-diode BT flips the spin-diode between an isolating state and a conducting state [1]. While conventional electrical diodes are two-terminal devices with electrical current between the two terminals modulated by an electrical field, these two-terminal magneto resistive devices can generally be referred to as “spin-diodes” in which a magnetic field modulates the electrical current between the two terminals.

Design/methodology/approach

Current modulation and rectification are an important subject of electronics as well as spintronics spin diode is two-terminal magnetoresistive devices in which change in resistance in response to an applied magnetic field; this magnetoresistance occurs due to a variety of phenomena and with varying magnitudes and directions.

Findings

In this paper, an efficient rectifying spin diode is introduced. The resulting spin diode is formed from graphene gallium and indium quantum dots and antimony-doped molybdenum disulfide. Converting an alternating bias voltage to direct current is the main achievement of this model device with an additional profit of rectified spin-current. The non-equilibrium density functional theory with a Monte Carlo sampling method is used to evaluate the flow of electrons and rectification ratio of the system.

Originality/value

The results indicate that spin diode displaying both spin-current and charge-current rectification should be possible and may find practical application in nanoscale devices that combine logic and memory functions.
LibraryCraft – how the COVID-19 pandemic led to the growth of the WA libraries public Minecraft server
Authors: Cleave Jayne , Geijsman John
Published: August 2020

Purpose

LibraryCraft was created to bring communities together across Western Australia (WA) in a safe, structured and moderated way so that players could stretch their creativity and imagination. LibraryCraft uses the features of Minecraft that stretch users’ innovation and creative thinking, develops their STEAM skills and builds social and life skills such as collaboration, negotiation, economic management and civic engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

In late 2019, the Fremantle Library launched a small, local Minecraft server for the local community of young people. After several months of testing and upgrades, LibraryCraft was made available to all players aged 7–17 across WA, and WA local governments were invited to participate.

Findings

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a cancellation of Fremantle Library in-person programmes; LibraryCraft, as a purely online programme, was scaled up, and in a few weeks, had more than tripled its player base. At the time of writing, LibraryCraft brings together 20 WA local councils, reaches over 100 players from Derby-West Kimberley to Albany and sees hundreds of play hours logged each week. Players have created new friendships across the state and are regularly working collaboratively on challenges and exploration.

Originality/value

While Minecraft servers operated by libraries are far from new, LibraryCraft is unique. No groups of libraries have run Minecraft servers collaboratively in Australia before, and none is available state wide. The programme is highly valued with families in WA, providing a safe social outlet for players stuck at home in isolation.
The socio-technical assemblages of blockchain system: how blockchains are framed and how the framing reflects societal contexts
Authors: Shin Donghee , Ibahrine Mohammed
Published: August 2020

Purpose

With the conceptualization of the blockchain as a socio-technical assemblage, this study aims to critically examine the blockchain initiatives in Korea in terms of the opportunities, risks and challenges embedded in their development.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes blockchain design and development from socioecological views: social, technological and cultural phenomena that represent the strategic interaction among people, technology and society. The qualitative data were collected from a variety of sources and diverse means.

Findings

The results imply that blockchain needs a close socio-technical examination to avoid simplistic assumptions of its promises and pitfalls. The development of blockchains in Korea will need to consider a range of socio-technical issues to facilitate the best outcomes for blockchain in society.

Research limitations/implications

Despite proactive drives, new risks, such as security, privacy and transparency, emerge as critical concerns of the social implications of the blockchain and their impact on the new digital environment. Questions are raised as to how to govern blockchains, and how to address the unexpected outcomes that such a policy choice may have on society and industry.

Originality/value

The sociopolitical implications of Korean blockchains are examined to identify key concerns and issues as the country progresses rapidly toward a blockchain-driven society.
Knowledge-sharing behaviour in public service organisations: determinants and the roles of affective commitment and normative commitment
Authors: Mohd Rasdi Roziah , Tangaraja Gangeswari
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Compared with the extensive research on knowledge management in the Western context, relatively little research has emerged in Asia. This study aims to report an investigation of the predictors of knowledge-sharing behaviour (KSB) of Malaysian public service administrators.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys were designed based on established instruments and yielded 231 responses from administrators of various managerial grades.

Findings

The findings indicated that KSB was predicted by intrinsic motivational factors, time availability and organisational socialisation. Further, the findings showed that affective commitment towards the organisations is the key intermediate factor to enable intrinsically motivated administrators to engage in KSB.

Research limitations/implications

This study examined motivational factors among the public sector administrators only. Thus, it limits the findings generalisation to other groups of employees such as from the private sector and non-governmental organisations.

Practical implications

The findings of this study shall enlighten organisations particularly the public sector organisations, in strategies and plan of action towards enhancing and advancing knowledge management practice among employees.

Originality/value

This paper offers new insight into the significance of intrinsic motivational factors which enhanced with employees’ commitment to fostering KSB in organisations.
Discretionary transfers in Indian federal finance: a panel data analysis
Authors: Nayak Chittaranjan , Satpathy Priyabrata
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Despite existence of a constitutional demarcation of functions and finances between the centre and the states, it is alleged that the centre-state funds transfer systems in India have a political bargaining aspect that goes beyond the normative considerations. This paper makes an attempt to investigate if the political system allows to evolve a simple, equitable, objective and rule-based system of transfers. The aim of this paper is to explore the political economic determinants of discretionary fiscal transfers in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a panel data set of 28 Indian states for the period 2001–2014. After diagnostic checking for fixed effects/random effects, the authors prefer to use fixed effects regression with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors and Arellano–Bover/Blundel and Bond system estimation model that uses moment conditions in which lagged first differences of the dependent variable are instruments for the level equation.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal that fiscal performance, economic capacity and political alliance are significant but some other political determinants such as bargaining power and election years are not significant in influencing discretionary transfers.

Originality/value

Considering the limited availability of literature on federal finance, the present paper is an addition to the existing research, especially on a crucial issue concerning extra-constitutional fiscal transfers in India. Analysing a balanced panel comprising all the Indian states and examining the role of various political-economic determinants makes this paper topical.
Organisation size, innovativeness, self-organisation and inter-organisational coordination
Authors: Mutebi Henry , Muhwezi Moses , Ntayi Joseph Mpeera , Munene John C. Kigozi
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine how humanitarian organisation size affects inter-organisational coordination and further tested the mediating role of organisational innovativeness, self-organisation in the relationship between humanitarian organisation size and inter-organisational coordination among humanitarian organisations in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on cross-sectional survey; data was collected from 101 humanitarian organisations. The analysis of the proposed hypotheses was done with the help of PLS-SEM using SmartPLS version 3.3.0 for professionals.

Findings

The results show that humanitarian organisation size significantly relates with inter-organisational coordination. In addition, self-organisation and organisational innovativeness play a complementary role between humanitarian organisation size and inter-organisational coordination.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this research provide useful insights into the role of humanitarian organisation size in boosting inter-organisational coordination in humanitarian relief delivery. High levels of self-organisation and organisational innovativeness not only improve inter-organisational coordination in humanitarian relief delivery but also enhance the transformation of humanitarian organisation size benefits into inter-organisational coordination.

Originality/value

This research is one of the few studies that investigated the effect of humanitarian organisation size and inter-organisational coordination. It also brings into the limelight the mediating role of self-organisation and organisational innovativeness between humanitarian organisation size and inter-organisational ordination in humanitarian relief delivery.
Developing a Sharīʿah-compliant equity-based crowdfunding framework for entrepreneurship development in Malaysia
Authors: Rahman Maya Puspa , Mohd Thas Thaker Mohamed Asmy , Duasa Jarita
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Crowdfunding has become one of the preferred mechanisms to raise funds by startups and small entrepreneurs. As such, this paper aims to develop an appropriate framework for Sharīʿah-compliant equity-based crowdfunding (SEC) for entrepreneurship development in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The research begins by analyzing the intention of 200 entrepreneurs in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor regarding the use of crowdfunding to raise capital. The analysis is based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA), which is also associated with the technology acceptance model (TAM) and is effected by using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings

The entrepreneurs agree on the ease of use of crowdfunding in raising capital, although it appeared that they are quite reluctant to share their business ideas online. Subsequently, an SEC framework is proposed, to further enhance entrepreneurship development in Malaysia particularly in meeting the need for raising funds in line with Sharīʿah (Islamic law) principles.

Practical implications

This paper aims to contribute more to the development of a blueprint for an SEC platform for market players and regulators in Malaysia.

Social implications

This paper also aims to highlight the growing needs of entrepreneurs, particularly in Malaysia to have a Sharīʿah-compliant alternative to raise funds via crowdfunding.

Originality/value

This paper makes two main contributions. First, it provides evidence on Malaysian entrepreneurs’ intention to use crowdfunding for fundraising through TAM and SEM analysis. Second, it proposes an SEC framework for the development of entrepreneurs in Malaysia.
Exploring the impact of workplace spirituality on nurse work engagement: an empirical study on Indonesian government hospitals
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad , Adawiyah Wiwiek Rabiatul , Suroso Agus , Wihuda Faizal
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Highlighting the prominence of spirituality at work, this paper aims to scrutinize the mediating role of perceived person-organization fit (P-O fit) on the relationship between workplace spirituality and nurse work engagement in the context of two Indonesian government hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional survey data of 138 nursing staff from two government hospitals operating in Indonesia were analyzed using structural equation modeling to estimate the mediation effects of perceived P-O fit on the relationship between workplace spirituality and nurse engagement.

Findings

The results of the research proved the positive effect of workplace spirituality on nurse work engagement. Likewise, P-O fit act as a mechanism through which workplace spirituality affects nurse engagement.

Research limitations/implications

This study only uses a sample of two government hospitals, which may limit the generalizability of the outcomes. Despite of the small sample, the result of this inquiry provides new insights into the advancement of human behavior theory in hospital service, especially on the factors that influence nurse work engagement. On a broader sense, top management might set a necessary program to wholly nurture nurse spiritual potential as a step to convalesce their spiritual awareness.

Practical implications

Based on the discovery, the study presents strong theoretical and managerial implications that can be used by health care institutions to evaluate the importance of workplace spirituality on employee engagement among nurses. This paper contributes by fulfilling the fissure in the management literature of health care, in which empirical studies on workplace spirituality in the relationship with employee engagement have been scarce until now.

Originality/value

The present perceived P-O fit in the relation between the spirituality of the workplace and nurse engagement enhances human behavior theory in the health care context.
Ethics in Islamic economics: microfoundations for an ethical endogeneity
Authors: Furqani Hafas , Adnan Gunawan , Mulyany Ratna
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore ethics in Islamic economics by establishing the micro-foundations of Islamic economics. This is done by conceptualizing the behavioural assumptions of the individual in an Islamic framework. It also argues that ethical positions that attached endogenously in individual behaviour would have implications in the macro-socio realm influencing society, institution and organization in an Islamic economic system.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is qualitative-based research. It explores the literature on ethics in Islamic economics to understand and analyse the concept of individual behaviour in the Islamic perspective that will be the micro-foundations of Islamic economic analysis.

Findings

It is found that the ethical commitment of individuals (as envisaged in the micro-foundations of Islamic economics) would bring socio-macro implications in the practical realm. The micro-foundations of Islamic economics would function as the basis of the economic explanation of the aggregate relationship of individual, state and society. It also serves as the basis in explaining socio-macro dynamics influencing individuals, society, as well as organizations and institutions.

Research limitations/implications

The paper limits its analysis of developing the concept of ethical endogeneity in Islamic man behaviour to be the micro-foundations of Islamic economics and its macro-implications.

Originality/value

This study attempts to show that ethics should not only be inseparable in an economic framework but also an endogenous dimension in individual behaviour. The micro-foundations of Islamic economics are developed based on Islamic values on the characteristics and behaviour of an individual that would not only describe the true nature of man but also support his well-being.
Consumer financial distress during economic downturn: evidence from five provinces of Zimbabwe
Authors: Chamboko Richard , Chamboko Rumbidzai K.T.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Despite the inescapable picture of hardships and circumstances in Zimbabwe, there has not been dedicated research focused on understanding the management of household finances, particularly to assess financial distress and how it varies among Zimbabweans. This study aims to use survey data to measure financial distress and ascertain the socioeconomic, demographic and behavioural factors associated with it among Zimbabweans.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 1,006 survey respondents from five provinces of Zimbabwe was used. The principal component analysis approach was used to create a composite financial distress score. The t-test for the equality of means and analysis of variance were used to test for the difference in financial distress between groups, whilst the ordinary least squares regression was used to determine the factors associated with financial distress after controlling for other factors.

Findings

The study found that consumer financial distress was mainly explained by locality (urban/rural and province), frequency and level of income (informality) and age. Having saved in the past 12 months did not significantly differentiate savers from non-savers on financial distress. The study also found that gender, level of education, marital status, role in household financial decision-making and role in household provisioning were not significant predictors of financial distress.

Research limitations/implications

The findings have policy implications, especially for the government of Zimbabwe, its agencies and local authorities. Enacting policies that create opportunities for inclusive and sustainable livelihoods and economic growth should be the priority. In addition, instituting favourable policies that allow informal business to grow, formalise and integrate with the formal economy may help to sustainably grow the economy and alleviate the financial hardships among consumers. For consumers, adopting financial behaviours that ensure that they live within their means cannot be over emphasised.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to profile the socioeconomic, demographic and behavioural factors associated with financial distress during the economic downturn among the impoverished Zimbabweans.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-10-2019-0640.
Therapeutic institutions of violence: conceptualising the biographical narratives of mental health service users/survivors accessing long term “treatment” in England
Authors: Macdonald Stephen J.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to conceptualise the residential and psychiatric hospital as a space where criminality and social harms can emerge. Because of recent media scandals over the past 10 years concerning privately-owned hospitals, this study examines the lived experiences of service users/survivors, family members and practitioners to examine historic and contemporary encounters of distress and violence in hospital settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consists of 16 biographical accounts exploring issues of dehumanising and harmful practices, such as practices of restraint and rituals of coercive violence. A biographical methodology has been used to analyse the life stories of service users/survivors (n = 9), family members (n = 3) and professional health-care employees (n = 4). Service users/survivors in this study have experienced over 40 years of short-term and long-term periods of hospitalisation.

Findings

The study discovered that institutional forms of violence had changed after the deinstitutionalisation of care. Practitioners recalled comprehensive experiences of violence within historic mental hospitals, although violence that may be considered criminal appeared to disappear from hospitals after the Mental Health Act (1983). These reports of criminal violence and coercive abuse appeared to be replaced with dehumanising and harmful procedures, such as practices of restraint.

Originality/value

The data findings offer a unique interpretation, both historical and contemporary, of dehumanising psychiatric rituals experienced by service users/survivors, which are relevant to criminology and MAD studies. The study concludes by challenging oppressive psychiatric “harms” to promote social justice for service users/survivors currently being “treated” within the contemporary psychiatric system. The study intends to conceptualise residential and psychiatric hospitals as a space where criminality and social harms can emerge. The three aims of the study examined risk factors concerning criminality and social harms, oppressive and harmful practices within hospitals and evidence that violence occurs within these institutionalised settings. The study discovered that institutional forms of violence had changed after the deinstitutionalisation of care. These reports of violence include dehumanising attitudes, practices of restraint and coercive abuse.
From data to knowledge: the relationships between vocabularies, linked data and knowledge graphs
Authors: Jia Junzhi
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the concepts, component parts and relationships between vocabularies, linked data and knowledge graphs (KGs) from the perspectives of data and knowledge transitions.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses conceptual analysis methods. This study focuses on distinguishing concepts and analyzing composition and intercorrelations to explore data and knowledge transitions.

Findings

Vocabularies are the cornerstone for accurately building understanding of the meaning of data. Vocabularies provide for a data-sharing model and play an important role in supporting the semantic expression of linked data and defining the schema layer; they are also used for entity recognition, alignment and linkage for KGs. KGs, which consist of a schema layer and a data layer, are presented as cubes that organically combine vocabularies, linked data and big data.

Originality/value

This paper first describes the composition of vocabularies, linked data and KGs. More importantly, this paper innovatively analyzes and summarizes the interrelatedness of these factors, which comes from frequent interactions between data and knowledge. The three factors empower each other and can ultimately empower the Semantic Web.
Investigations on printing path dependent properties of additively manufactured samples using micro computed tomography
Authors: Englert Lukas , Dietrich Stefan , Pinter Pascal
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between defect properties and the tool path used for generating additively manufactured parts. The correlation between processing strategy and porosity architecture is one of the key aspects for a precise understanding of defect formation and possibilities for defect reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present a new combined geometry, processing path and porosity analysis procedure based on the use of x-ray computed micro tomography image data and numerical control programming code. The procedure allows for a covisualisation of the track of the respective processing head with the three-dimensional microstructure data.

Findings

The presented method yields statistical results about defect distribution and morphologies introduced by the respective process characteristics in parts. The functionality of the proposed procedure is demonstrated on an aluminum (AlSi10Mg) and a polylactide test sample to show the additional insight found for both additive manufacturing processes and the resulting microstructural properties.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper is the analysis of the porosity with respect to the underlying additive process zone and the sample geometry.
Seed germination traits of Ailanthus altissima, Phytolacca americana and Robinia pseudoacacia in response to different thermal and light requirements
Authors: Pepe Maria , Gratani Loretta , Fabrini Giuseppe , Varone Laura
Published: August 2020

Invasion of alien plant species (IAS) represents a serious environmental problem, particularly in Europe, where it mainly pertains to urban areas. Seed germination traits contribute to clarification of invasion dynamics. The objective of this research was to analyze how different light conditions (i.e., 12‐hr light/12‐hr darkness and continuous darkness) and temperature regimes (i.e., 15/6°C, 20/10°C and 30/20°C) trigger seed germination of Ailanthus altissima (AA), Phytolacca americana (PA) and Robinia pseudoacacia (RP). The relationship between seed germination and seed morphometric traits was also analyzed. Our findings highlight that temperature rather than light was the main environmental factor affecting germination. RP germinated at all tested temperatures, whereas at 15/6°C seeds of AA and PA showed physiological dormancy. RP had a higher germination capacity at a lower temperature, unlike AA and PA, which performed better at the highest temperatures. Light had a minor role in seed germination of the three species. Light promoted germination only for seeds of PA, and final germination percentage was 1.5‐fold higher in light than in continuous darkness. Seed morphometric traits (thickness [T], area [A] and volume [V]) had a significant role in explaining germination trait variations. The results highlight the importance of increasing our knowledge on seed germination requirements to predict future invasiveness trends. The increase in global temperature could further advantage AA and PA in terms of germinated seeds, as well as RP by enhancing the germination velocity, therefore compensating for a lower germination percentage of this species at the highest temperatures.
Impact of preoperative arterial and venous diameter on achievement of the adequate blood flow in arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis
Authors: Gjorgjievski Nikola , Dzekova‐Vidimliski Pavlina , Trajcheska Lada , Stojanoska Ana , Selim Gjulshen , Rambabova‐Bushljetik Irena , Nikolov Igor , Gjorgievska Juija , Janevski Zoran , Muharremi Shkleqim , Dejanov Petar , Spasovski Goce , Sikole Aleksandar , Ivanovski Ninoslav
Published: August 2020

An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) remains the best choice of vascular access (VA) for hemodialysis (HD). The aim of the study was to determine the factors associated with the achievement of adequate blood flow (BF) of AVFs at the 4th week after creation. Created AVFs in 63 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4/5 and CKD stage 5 on hemodialysis (CKD5D) were analyzed in a prospective study. Doppler ultrasound (DUS) was used for measuring the diameter of the radial artery, the brachial artery and the cephalic vein before AVF creation. The BF of AVF was calculated by DUS at the 4th week after creation and adequate BF was defined as ≥ 600 mL/min. The average age of patients was 61.31 ± 12.9 years. An adequate BF of AVF at the 4th week after creation was achieved in 43.54% of patients. The BF of AVF measured in male patients was significantly higher compared to the BF of AVF obtained in females (576.03 mL/min vs 375.12 mL/min, P = 0.004). The diameter of the blood vessels with achieved adequate BF was significantly larger compared to the diameter of the blood vessels without adequate BF (radial artery: 2.45 mm vs 2.03 mm, P = 0.000; brachial artery: 4.78 mm vs 4.06 mm, P = 0.001 and cephalic vein: 3.12 mm vs 2.83 mm P =  0.018). The gender and the diameter of the blood vessels before AVF creation were significantly associated with achievement of adequate BF of AVF at the 4th week of creation.
Topographic changes in NiTi rotary instruments after the clinical use
Authors: Karamifar Kasra , Samavi Sama , Saghiri Mohammad Ali
Published: August 2020

Surface alterations of instruments were investigated after single and multiple uses in the root canals. XP‐endo Shaper (n = 5) and WaveOne GOLD (n = 5) files were used until the separation of the instruments occurred. The apical 3‐mm and separated fragments were analysed by SEM to determine the changes in the instruments and the cross‐sections of the separated fragments. Each group was divided into five subgroups: control, first, second, third and fourth molar. The results were reported descriptively for each group. In the XP‐endo Shaper group, microcracks started to appear after the second use, and pitting and galvanic corrosion occurred after the third use. During the fourth use, microcracks propagated, resulting in ductile fracture while it happened after the third use in the second group. The single use of XP‐endo Shaper and WaveOne GOLD was safe without any major changes on their surfaces. Reciprocating motion was not necessarily superior to full rotation motion.
Assessing the Role of Ordering in Sequential English Auctions – Evidence from the Online Western Video Market Auction
Authors: Li Yunhan , Shonkwiler J. Scott
Published: August 2020

In a sequential English auction, where multiple homogenous objects are offered, it is often found that the price tends to decrease over the course of the auction, which is referred to as the “declining price anomaly”. This article studies the price trend in a sequential online live cattle auction. Motivated by the fact that in an English first‐price auction, the winning price is the maximum among all the bids offered, we examined the existence of the declining price anomaly by introducing the Generalized Extreme Value theory framework, and nesting it within a hedonic regression, where the price of cattle relates to the market values for cattle attributes. Empirical results indicate that the unit price difference between the first and the last lot sold ranges from $7.82 to $2.31, depending on the average animal weight in that lot. On average, the unit price of a stocker cattle lot sold in the last position of a typical sale is $5/cwt (or 3%) less than if it was sold in the first place, regardless of the scale of the sale and keeping all other factors constant. Based on the theoretical framework developed by Brendstrup and Paarsch (2006), we find that the buyer's maximum valuation on the subsequent object actually declines as he wins more objects, which provides a plausible explanation for the declining prices anomaly in sequential auctions.
FRAIL scale: Predictive validity and diagnostic test accuracy
Authors: Thompson Mark Q. , Theou Olga , Tucker Graeme R. , Adams Robert J. , Visvanathan Renuka
Published: August 2020

Objective

To examine the predictive validity of the FRAIL scale for mortality, and diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) against the frailty phenotype (FP).

Measurement

Frailty was measured in 846 community‐dwelling adults (mean age 74.3 [SD 6.3] years, 54.8% female) using a modified FRAIL scale and modified FP. Mortality was matched to death records.

Results

The FRAIL scale demonstrated significant predictive validity for mortality up to 10 years (Frail adjHR: 2.60, P < .001). DTA findings were acceptable for specificity (86.8%) and Youden index (0.50), but not sensitivity (63.6%), or area under the receiver operator curve (auROC) (0.75). DTA estimates were more acceptable when a cut‐point of ≥2 characteristics was used rather than ≥3 in the primary DTA analysis.

Conclusion

The FRAIL scale is a valid predictor of mortality. DTA estimates depend on FRAIL scale cut‐point used. This instrument is a potentially useful frailty screening tool.
Elephants, Hunters, and Others: Integrating Biological Anthropology and Multispecies Ethnography in a Conservation Zone
Authors: Remis Melissa J. , Jost Robinson Carolyn A.
Published: August 2020

Popular and scholarly accounts lament the demise of African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) and the loss of biodiversity across the Congo Basin, but there has been less appreciation of the consequences of restricted forest access for human communities in conservation contexts. We demonstrate the usefulness of biological anthropology in combination with multispecies ethnography for anchoring the futures of BaAka foragers and African forest elephants. Tuma elephant hunters have long negotiated their communities’ relationships with elephants and others who have relied on the BaAka to navigate the forest. Tracing multispecies interactions along a transnational network of elephant trails (bembo) helps us understand the ways that elephants have shaped forest structure and the fabric of existence for tuma and others. Bembo facilitate movement across watersheds and may prove a critical tool in the development of culturally relevant conservation practices. [foragers, elephants, multispecies, BaAka, Congo Basin]
Hemodynamics inside the neo‐ and native sinus after TAVR: Effects of implant depth and cardiac output on flow field and coronary flow
Authors: Pott Desiree , Sedaghat Alexander , Schmitz Christoph , Werner Nikos , Schmitz‐Rode Thomas , Steinseifer Ulrich , Jansen Sebastian Victor
Published: August 2020

Abstr act

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a widely used therapy for aortic valve diseases. With TAVR, flow hemodynamics may change leading to areas of flow stagnation prone to thrombosis risk. The neo‐sinus, created by introducing a prosthesis inside the diseased native valve, may prompt leaflet thrombosis due to areas of flow stasis. This study attempted to understand the effect of different prosthesis implant depths on the flow field within the neo‐ and native sinus and on the coronary perfusion. Experiments were performed inside an in vitro pulse duplicator producing physiological conditions according to ISO 5840‐1:2015 standard. Flow fields were obtained for two cardiac outputs (CO) using particle image velocimetry (PIV). Washout was calculated as a measure of flow stasis. The two main results are: a lower implant position and a lower CO/frequency led to better native sinus washout, but worsened neo‐sinus washout. In contrast, a higher implant position led to higher coronary flow (for higher CO/frequency). No significant effect of implant depth on coronary flow was observed for lower CO/frequency. In summary, a higher implant position using this self‐expanding prosthesis is associated with reduced neo‐sinus flow stasis. Hereby, washout of the native sinus, as well as coronary flow, are dependent on cardiac output.
Changes of the tear film lipid layer thickness after cataract surgery in patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Zhang Keke , Zhang Shaohua , Yu Jifeng , Lu Yi , Zhu Xiangjia
Published: August 2020

Purpose

To evaluate changes in the tear film lipid layer thickness (LLT) in cataract patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) after cataract surgery.

Methods

We recruited consecutive cataract patients and recorded data regarding DM condition. Lipid layer thickness (LLT) and partial blinks rates measured with the LipiView interferometer, tear break‐up time (TBUT) and Schirmer’s tests, and dry eye symptoms evaluated with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire were conducted before and one month after cataract surgery.

Results

Finally, 38 age‐related cataract (ARC) and 31 diabetic cataract (DC) patients were available for analysis. No significant difference in preoperative LLT and partial blink rates was found between ARC and DC group. However, preoperative TBUT and Schirmer’s test results were significantly lower in DC group compared to ARC group (both p < 0.001). DC group showed higher preoperative OSDI score with no significant difference than ARC group (p = 0.279). In DC group, LLT was significantly thinner in cases with longer duration of DM (over 10 years) than in those with shorter duration (p < 0.001). One month after surgery, LLT of DC group was significantly thinner than at baseline (pre: 65.7 ± 23.3, post: 51.3 ± 17.1, p = 0.002). While in ARC group, LLT had no significant difference before and after cataract surgery (pre: 67.1 ± 23.4, post: 60.2 ± 21.1, p = 0.078). Compared to baseline data, there was no statistically significant difference between two groups in the partial blink rates, TBUT and Schirmer’s test results after cataract surgery (p > 0.05). Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) scores were significantly higher after surgery than at baseline in both ARC (pre: 8.9 ± 8.4, post: 12.4 ± 8.5, p = 0.003) and DC group (pre: 11.4 ± 10.3, post: 18.5 ± 8.5, p = 0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed OSDI scores were associated with LLT either before or after cataract surgery (β = −0.862, p < 0.001 and β = −0.592, p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

The tear film LLT is correlated with duration of DM and becomes significantly thinner one month after cataract surgery, leading to the aggravation of dry eye symptoms.
Role of core body temperature in nephrolithiasis
Authors: Srirangapatanam Sudarshan , Wiener Scott , Stoller Marshall L.
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To assess the role of core body temperature in urinary stone formation using a large clinical dataset.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively collected 14 519 039 individual temperature measurements from 580 416 patients with medical history, laboratory values and medication history between 2013 and 2018 at a single institution. After exclusions and matching 2:1 (controls:cases) to account for confounding variables, 7104 patients with a history of urinary stones were identified.

Results

Patients with a history of urinary stones (cases) had an elevated mean (SD) oral temperature compared to matched controls, at 36.666 (0.17) vs 36.659 (0.20)°C (P = 0.012). Logistic regression of matched samples showed that higher core body temperature was predictive of a history of nephrolithiasis (odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.4; P = 0.015).

Conclusion

Core body temperature was significantly higher in patients with a history of urinary stones compared to matched controls, contrary to the anticipated thermodynamic considerations leading to crystal aggregation. Given that the core body temperature is elevated, rather than decreased, thermodynamic process driving stone formation is unlikely.
Personalized prediction of daily eczema severity scores using a mechanistic machine learning model
Authors: Hurault Guillem , Domínguez‐Hüttinger Elisa , Langan Sinéad M. , Williams Hywel C. , Tanaka Reiko J.
Published: August 2020

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with periods of flares and remission. Designing personalized treatment strategies for AD is challenging, given the apparent unpredictability and large variation in AD symptoms and treatment responses within and across individuals. Better prediction of AD severity over time for individual patients could help to select optimum timing and type of treatment for improving disease control.

Objective

We aimed to develop a proof of principle mechanistic machine learning model that predicts the patient‐specific evolution of AD severity scores on a daily basis.

Methods

We designed a probabilistic predictive model and trained it using Bayesian inference with the longitudinal data from two published clinical studies. The data consisted of daily recordings of AD severity scores and treatments used by 59 and 334 AD children over 6 months and 16 weeks, respectively. Validation of the predictive model was conducted in a forward‐chaining setting.

Results

Our model was able to predict future severity scores at the individual level and improved chance‐level forecast by 60%. Heterogeneous patterns in severity trajectories were captured with patient‐specific parameters such as the short‐term persistence of AD severity and responsiveness to topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors and step‐up treatment.

Conclusions

Our proof of principle model successfully predicted the daily evolution of AD severity scores at an individual level and could inform the design of personalized treatment strategies that can be tested in future studies. Our model‐based approach can be applied to other diseases with apparent unpredictability and large variation in symptoms and treatment responses such as asthma.
Indications and clinical outcomes of indwelling pleural catheter placement in patients with malignant pleural effusion in a cancer setting hospital
Authors: Akram Muhammad Junaid , Khalid Usman , Bakar Muhammad Abu , Butt Faheem Mahmood , Ashraf Mohammad Bilal , Khan Faheem
Published: August 2020

Background

The placement of indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) is an effective outpatient approach for the management of malignant pleural effusions (MPE).

Aims

The indications and outcome of IPC in patients with MPE.

Risk stratifications, prevention and management of IPC‐related complications.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients with MPE who underwent IPC insertion from July 2011 to July 2019. The multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the independent risk factors associated with IPC infection and the Kaplan–Meier method to determine the overall survival.

Results

A total of 102 patients underwent IPC insertion during the stipulated period and the mean age was 50.49 ± 14.36 years. Seventy‐one (69.6%) were females. The indications were Trap Lung in 38 (37.3%), failed talc pleurodesis in 28 (27.5%) and as a primary intervention in 36 (35.3%). The infection rate was 25.5%, of which 65.4% patients had nosocomial infections. Post‐IPC overall median survival time was 9.0 ± 2.50 weeks with highest in patients with trap lung (18 ± 1.50 weeks). In multivariable analysis, following variables were identified as a significant independent risk factor for IPC infection: Multiloculated MPE (AOR 2.80; 95%CI (1.00‐9.93), 0.04), trap lung (AOR 7.57; 95%CI (1.39‐41.25), 0.01), febrile neutropenia (FN) (AOR 28.55; 95%CI (4.23‐19.74), 0.001), IPC domiciliary education (AOR 0.18; 95%CI (0.05‐0.66), 0.001) and length of hospital stay (AOR 1.16; 95%CI (1.01‐1.33), 0.03).

Conclusion

IPC insertion is an effective management for MPE with reasonable survival benefits. Infection is the most common complication, of which mostly are nosocomial infections with higher incidence in multiloculated effusions, trap lung, FN and with lack of domiciliary IPC care education.