bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multimodal molecular analysis of an atypical small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type
Authors: David Marjorie P. , Venkatramani Rajkumar , Lopez-Terrada Dolores H. , Roy Angshumoy , Patil Ninad , Fisher Kevin E.
Published: October 2018

A 12-yr-old normocalcemic female treated for a ruptured ovarian juvenile granulosa cell tumor at an outside hospital presented for exploratory laparotomy and gross surgical debulking of pelvic recurrence. Morphologically, the tumor was composed of sheets and nests of small blue cells forming cysts of various sizes and focal mucinous differentiation. Epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), patchy inhibin, and strong and diffuse p53 immunoreactivity were also observed. A revised diagnosis of mixed sex cord stromal tumor with heterologous elements was favored because of the inhibin immunoreactivity. Targeted next-generation sequencing of the tumor revealed a SMARCA4 c.1141C>T, p.Arg381Ter (NM_001128849.1) nonsense mutation and an in-frame 18-bp TP53 deletion (c.594_611del18, p.Gly199_Glu204del, NM_001126112.2). Cytogenetic analysis revealed a normal 46,XX karyotype, and OncoScan single-nucleotide polymorphism array analysis demonstrated copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity (CN-LOH) of 19p13.3-19p13.2 and mosaic CN-LOH of 17p13.3-p11.2 encompassing the SMARCA4 and TP53 loci, respectively. Subsequent germline SMARCA4 sequencing confirmed a heterozygous SMARCA4 p.Arg381Ter mutation. In lieu of the molecular findings, the diagnosis was amended to small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT). The patient was treated aggressively with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and bevacizumab. She received an autologous stem cell transplant but died 5 mo after SCCOHT diagnosis secondary to complications of the transplant. This case expands the morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genomic spectrum of SCCOHT and highlights how multimodal molecular analysis can assist with the diagnosis and clinical management of SCCOHT patients.
Whole-exome sequencing enables correct diagnosis and surgical management of rare inherited childhood anemia
Authors: Khurana Monica , Edwards Donna , Rescorla Frederic , Miller Caroline , He Ying , Sierra Potchanant Elizabeth , Nalepa Grzegorz
Published: October 2018

Correct diagnosis of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes is a challenge because of the significant overlap in clinical presentation of these disorders. Establishing right genetic diagnosis is crucial for patients’ optimal clinical management and family counseling. A nondysmorphic infant reported here developed severe transfusion-dependent anemia and met clinical criteria for diagnosis of Diamond–Blackfan anemia (DBA). However, whole-exome sequencing demonstrated that the child was a compound heterozygote for a paternally inherited pathogenic truncating variant (SPTA1c.4975 C>T) and a novel maternally inherited missense variant of uncertain significance (SPTA1c.5029 G>A) within the spectrin gene, consistent with hereditary hemolytic anemia due to disruption of red blood cell (RBC) cytoskeleton. Ektacytometry demonstrated abnormal membrane flexibility of the child's RBCs. Scanning electron microscopy revealed morphological aberrations of the patient's RBCs. Both parents were found to have mild hereditary elliptocytosis. Importantly, patients with severe RBC membrane defects may be successfully managed with splenectomy to minimize peripheral destruction of misshapen RBCs, whereas patients with DBA require lifelong transfusions, steroid therapy, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. As suggested by the WES findings, splenectomy rendered our patient transfusion-independent, improving the family's quality of life and preventing transfusion-related iron overload. This case illustrates the utility of whole-exome sequencing in clinical care of children with genetic disorders of unclear presentation.
Biallelic variants in VARS in a family with two siblings with intellectual disability and microcephaly: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Okur Volkan , Ganapathi Mythily , Wilson Ashley , Chung Wendy K.
Published: October 2018

Two male siblings ages 15 and 10 yr old had similar features of intellectual disability, developmental delay, severe speech impairment, microcephaly, prematurity, and transient elevation of liver enzymes in infancy. Exome sequencing revealed one novel (c.65C>A; p.Ala22Asp) and one ultra-rare (c.3214T>C; p.Phe1072Leu) predicted damaging missense variant in trans in the gene encoding cytoplasmic valyl-tRNA synthetase (VARS). Biallelic variants in VARS have previously been associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by microcephaly, seizures, and cortical atrophy (NDMSCA; MIM #617802). Although our patients have no history of seizures or cortical atrophy, we suggest that the biallelic variants in VARS p.Ala22Asp and p.Phe1072Leu in this family are likely pathogenic and associated with NDMSCA, expanding the clinical phenotype of the condition.
DAPI Staining of Whole-Mount Mouse Embryos or Fetal Organs
Authors: Sandell Lisa , Inman Kimberly , Trainor Paul
Published: October 2018

Mouse embryos and fetal organs have no pigmentation except for the retinal pigmented epithelium of the eye at subsequent stages of development. This makes it difficult to visualize and photodocument embryonic structures using conventional light microscopy. A simple method is provided here that uses fluorescent nuclear stains. At the relatively low magnifications of dissecting microscopes, the nuclei of embryonic tissues essentially become “pixels” of fluorescence that “paint” the embryo, providing images similar to those obtained by low-magnification scanning electron microcopy (SEM). This method can be applied to standardly fixed whole embryos at least up to embryonic Day 14.5 (E14.5), and to embryos that have been processed for whole-embryo in situ hybridization and immunostaining. Dissected tissues and organs (e.g., palate, heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract) may also be stained and visualized with this technique.
Quantification of DNA by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Authors: Green Michael R. , Sambrook Joseph
Published: October 2018

There are few differences between the experimental steps necessary for amplifying template DNA in a real-time thermocycler and a standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In real-time PCR, it is necessary, however, to optimize the concentration of primers and probe and to perform a standard curve. It is also important to consider the data analysis method that will be used.
Analysis and Normalization of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Experimental Data
Authors: Green Michael R. , Sambrook Joseph
Published: October 2018

In real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), also called quantitative real-time PCR [or simply quantitative PCR (qPCR)] or kinetic PCR, the amplification of DNA is monitored by the detection and quantitation of a fluorescent reporter signal, which increases in direct proportion to the amount of PCR product in the reaction. The fluorescent reporter is excited by light from the real-time PCR machine, a fluorescence-detecting thermocycler. By recording the amount of fluorescence emission at each cycle, the PCR can be monitored during the exponential phase when the first significant increase in the amount of PCR product correlates with the initial amount of target template. The ability to quantify the amplified DNA during the exponential phase of the PCR, when none of the components of the reaction is limiting, has resulted in dramatically improved precision in the quantitation of target sequences. In addition, because of the high sensitivity of fluorometric detection, real-time PCR is capable of measuring the initial concentration of target DNA over a vast dynamic range (up to eight or nine orders of magnitude) and with a high degree of sensitivity (as little as one copy of template DNA). Although it is a powerful technique, researchers often face challenges in reliability and reproducibility because of the lack of assay standardization. Therefore, it is critical to optimize the reagents and reaction conditions, include proper internal and external controls, and perform rigorous data analysis in order to generate accurate and reproducible results in real-time PCR experiments.
Information management in the smart city
Authors: Stone Merlin , Knapper Jonathan , Evans Geraint , Aravopoulou Eleni
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate information management in a smart city. It identifies the main trends in progress and how innovation in information technology is helping all those in the smart city ecosystem in terms of generating new sources of data and connecting them. It investigates how information management in the smart city may go through several phases, but contests the notion that the co-ordinated information management that is the dream of many city managers is an appropriate vision, given the tendency in the private sector for competing information platforms to develop, giving value in different ways.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper has been written by using a combination of academic insight and literature, extensive research of relevant grey literature (e.g. blogs and industry press) and interviews and interaction with some of the organisations involved in developing and implementing the smart city concept, including public transport organisations, other data providers, analysts and systems and sensor suppliers.

Findings

Smart city concepts are evolving in different ways, with divergence of views which involves centralisation and control of information by city authorities and a more democratic view in which the information is managed on different platforms between which smart city stakeholders can choose.

Research limitations/implications

The research method is exploratory. Validating the findings would require a more structured approach in which stakeholders of all kinds are consulted.

Practical implications

All organisational stakeholders in the idea and delivery of smart cities need to consider how their interests in smart city information and those of other stakeholders are evolving and to what extent they should be in partnership with other members of the ecosystem in generating and using the information.

Social implications

Individuals, whether workers, commuters, shoppers, tourists or others, will be greatly affected by the evolution of smart city information, and their choices about whether to be smart themselves will have an important effect on the benefits they receive from city smartening and on the viability of the smart cities.

Originality/value

Little research has been carried out into the different choices organisations and individuals have in terms of how they will relate to smart city information and how they can manage it. This research makes a start on this task.
A novel adaptive beamforming with reduced side lobe level using GSA
Authors: Sharma Abhinav , Mathur Sanjay
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and solve the problem of adaptive beamforming (ABF) for a uniform linear array (ULA) as an optimization problem. ABF mainly concerns with estimation of weights of antenna array so as to direct the major lobe in the direction of desired user and nulls in the direction of interfering signals with reduced side lobe level (SLL).

Design/methodology/approach

The potential of gravitational search algorithm is explored to optimize multi-objective fitness function for ABF using MATLAB software.

Findings

The performance of the algorithm has been compared by considering different number of interference signals at different power levels. The proposed algorithm presents good convergence rate and accurate steering of main lobe and nulls with reduced SLL compared to the well-known ABF technique, namely, minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) and previously reported results. The simulation results are presented in tabular form.

Research limitations/implications

The present work is limited to simulation. The researchers are encouraged to solve the problem of ABF using the proposed approach in hardware.

Originality/value

The application of proposed algorithm is to optimize multi-objective function for ABF with reduced SLL in linear antenna arrays.
Antecedents and consequences of trust on a virtual team leader
Authors: Flavian Carlos , Guinalíu Miguel , Jordan Pau
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine, among the possible causes, whether trust in the leader is one of the most relevant factors on the success of a virtual work team by analyzing different antecedents of the trust and its consequences.

Design/methodology/approach

The influence that certain physical and behavioral characteristics of the leader (attractiveness, empathy and justice) exert on the degree of trust is evaluated. On the other hand, the influence of trust on the efficiency of the team, in terms of organizational citizenship behavior and commitment, is analyzed. To test the model, a survey was conducted on real work teams and the data were analyzed through a model of structural equations.

Findings

The results support the hypotheses and consequently, the relevance of trust in the leader. Specifically, the leader’s physical and behavioral characteristics have a significant effect on the trust in the leader. This trust results in greater organizational efficiency.

Originality/value

Despite the undisputable growth in the number of companies using virtual teams, it is also true that many of these teams fail to perform. In this sense, this paper analyzes if certain factors related to leadership can be relevant when influencing the efficiency of a virtual work team. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the internal processes within a virtual team in order to maximize the chances of success in this type of organizations.
Information security practice in Saudi Arabia: case study on Saudi organizations
Authors: Alzamil Zakarya A.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Information security of an organization is influenced by the deployed policy and procedures. Information security policy reflects the organization’s attitude to the protection of its information assets. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the status of the information security policy at a subset of Saudi’s organizations by understanding the perceptions of their information technology’s employees.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive and statistical approach has been used to describe the collected data and characteristics of the IT employees and managers to understand the information security policy at the surveyed organizations. The author believes that understanding the IT employees’ views gives a better understanding of the organization’s status of information security policy.

Findings

It has been found that most of the surveyed organizations have established information security policy and deployed fair technology; however, many of such policies are not enforced and publicized effectively and efficiently which degraded the deployed technology for such protection. In addition, the clarity and the comprehensibility of such policies are questionable as indicated by most of the IT employees’ responses. A comparison with similar studies at Middle Eastern and European countries has shown similar findings and shares the same concerns.

Originality/value

The findings of this research suggest that the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission should develop a national framework for information security to guide the governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as the information security practitioners on the good information security practices in terms of policy and procedures to help the organizations to avoid any vulnerability that may lead to violations on the security of their information.
MMSPhiD: a phoneme based phishing verification model for persons with visual impairments
Authors: Sonowal Gunikhan , Kuppusamy KS
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a model entitled MMSPhiD (multidimensional similarity metrics model for screen reader user to phishing detection) that amalgamates multiple approaches to detect phishing URLs.

Design/methodology/approach

The model consists of three major components: machine learning-based approach, typosquatting-based approach and phoneme-based approach. The major objectives of the proposed model are detecting phishing URL, typosquatting and phoneme-based domain and suggesting the legitimate domain which is targeted by attackers.

Findings

The result of the experiment shows that the MMSPhiD model can successfully detect phishing with 99.03 per cent accuracy. In addition, this paper has analyzed 20 leading domains from Alexa and identified 1,861 registered typosquatting and 543 phoneme-based domains.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed model has used machine learning with the list-based approach. Building and maintaining the list shall be a limitation.

Practical implication

The results of the experiments demonstrate that the model achieved higher performance due to the incorporation of multi-dimensional filters.

Social implications

In addition, this paper has incorporated the accessibility needs of persons with visual impairments and provides an accessible anti-phishing approach.

Originality/value

This paper assists persons with visual impairments on detection phoneme-based phishing domains.
Is Giffen behaviour compatible with residential demand for cooking gas and kerosene?
Authors: Arawomo Damilola Felix
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the compatibility of Giffen behaviour with residential demand for kerosene and cooking gas.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 600 questionnaires were administered on selected households in Ondo State while 485 were retrieved. Both ordinary least square and instrumental variables (IVs) were estimated, while, the IV estimated result was preferred.

Findings

The result showed that Giffen behaviour is compatible with the demand for kerosene in Ondo State, but not for cooking gas. As regard to other factors, prices of the alternatives to kerosene and cooking gas have positive but insignificant impact on the demand for the respective products. Age of the household has a positive significant impact on the demand for kerosene and cooking gas. Household in which the heads has tertiary education demand for kerosene and cooking gas more than those without any form of education. Larger households consume more of both commodities than smaller households.

Research limitations/implications

Based on these findings, the authors recommend that government should continue to subsidize either the production or consumption of household kerosene.

Practical implications

Consumers should not mind the initial expenditure in purchasing cylinder for cooking gas as subsequent expenditure would be lower than that of kerosene.

Social implications

Regulators should brace to ensure that kerosene and cooking gas be made available at government-regulated prices, particularly by checkmating the activities of the “black-marketers.”

Originality/value

Two outstanding knowledge gaps that this paper filled are in the novelty of this paper regarding the application of Giffen behaviour to kerosene and cooking gas. Second, previous studies did not account for the potential endogeneity problem that is inherent in the joint demand for kerosene and cooking gas. This paper took care of this by estimating the model using IVs.
On hydrodynamic lubrication characteristics of ferrofluid film in a spiral groove mechanical seal
Authors: Zhang Penggao , Gu Boqin , Zhou Jianfeng , Wei Long
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the hydrodynamic lubrication characteristics of ferrofluid film for spiral groove mechanical seal in external electromagnetic field and to analyze the effects of the volume fraction of ferrofluid, parameters of the electromagnetic field, operating parameters and geometrical parameters of mechanical seal on the characteristics of ferrofluid film.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationship between the ferrofluid viscosity and the intensity of external electromagnetic field was established. Based on the Muijderman narrow groove theory, the pressure distribution was calculated with the trial method by trapezoid formula.

Findings

It was found that pressure, average viscosity, average density and opening force of ferrofluid between end faces increase with the increase in intensity of current, volume fraction of ferrofluid, rotating speed, pressure differential and spiral angle; decrease with the increase in temperature; and increase at first and then decrease with the increase in the ratio of groove width to weir and the groove length. All of them reach the maximum value when the ratio of width of groove to weir is 0.7 and the ratio of groove length is 0.6. Leakage of ferrofluid increases with an increase in intensity of current, volume fraction of ferrofluid, rotating speed, pressure differential, spiral angle and ratio of groove length; decreases with an increase in temperature; and increases at first and then decreases with the increase in the ratio of groove width to weir. The tendencies of characteristics of silicone oil are consistent with those of ferrofluid, and the characteristics of silicone oil are smaller than those of ferrofluid under the same condition.

Originality/value

The volume fraction of ferrofluid, rotating speed, spiral angle, ratio of groove width to weir, groove length and temperature have a significant influence on the characteristics of ferrofluid film; however, intensity of current and the pressure differential have slight influence on the characteristics of ferrofluid film. An analytical method for analyzing hydrodynamic lubrication characteristics of ferrofluid film in a spiral groove mechanical seal was proposed based on the Muijderman narrow groove theory.
Effect of structural parameters of oil groove on hydro-viscous drive torque with variable rotational speed
Authors: Xie Fangwei , Guo Xinjian , Wu Diancheng , Zhang Bing , Zheng Xudong , Wang Dengshuai , Wang Yun
Published: October 2018

Purpose

In this paper, a kind of an oil groove structure which could improve the transmission torque of an oil film was designed, i.e. the width and depth of oil groove gradually decrease with the increase in the radius.

Design/methodology/approach

Effects of the structural parameters of the oil groove on the hydro-viscous drive (HVD) characteristics with variable rotational speed were investigated by means of numerical calculation.

Findings

Research results show that with the decrease of the width and depth of the oil groove at the outer diameter, transmission torque increases, while the temperature is almost unchanged. Keeping the effective area unchanged, comparing the transmitted torque under the oil groove angle θ2 = 0.5° and θ2 = 4.5°, the former was almost 200 per cent of the latter; the torque transmitted with h2 = 0.05 mm was almost 150 per cent of that with h2 = 0.2 mm.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors analyze the friction surface of the friction plate between the oil groove, oil distribution and oil film transfer torque from the oil groove structure parameters and found methods to improve the transmission torque. For the first time, the influence of the structural parameters of oil groove on the characteristics of HVD was studied under the condition of variable rotational speed, and a better method to improve the transmission torque was proposed.
Corporate social responsibility and financial performance nexus
Authors: Nyeadi Joseph Dery , Ibrahim Muazu , Sare Yakubu Awudu
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate empirically the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on financial performance in South African listed firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses panel corrected standard errors to estimate the effect of CSR on firm financial performance and thus addresses contemporaneous cross-correlations across the panel cross sections. The study uses a broad base measure of CSR created by the Public Investment Corporation data set and the combination of accounting and economic means of measuring firm financial performance.

Findings

CSR is found to have a strong positive impact on firm financial performance in South Africa. When CSR is decomposed further into its major components, governance performance positively impacts a firm’s financial performance with no evidence of any relationship between social components and firm performance and between environmental components and firm performance. The positive impact of CSR on firm performance is greater in big firms. At the industry level, CSR is noticed to impact positively on financial performance in the extractive industry via good governance and responsible environmental behaviors. It however has no impact on firm performance in the financial sector.

Research limitations/implications

The results should be interpreted with caution and some limitations. Due to the limiting nature of the Public Investment Corporation data set (the survey was carried out on selected firms on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for three years spanning from 2011 to 2013). This resulted in a sample of 56 firms. It is therefore very problematic to generalize the findings to a larger population over a long period of time. This is more limiting especially on individual sector studies where the sample has further shrunk to a smaller sample. As a result of the smaller sample size, the authors were unable to explore some other sectors which could have given more revealing findings. The authors recommend that future research should explore other data sets or use primary data approach that can allow for more sample size and elongated time period for a more holistic view and for easy generalization of the findings. The authors also identify an important lacuna necessitating further research effort. It would be interesting to empirically examine the threshold point of firms’ size beyond which CSR damages firms’ performance. Knowledge of this will guide managers of firms in their strategic CSR decision.

Practical implications

This study does not only serve as a reference work for subsequent investigations into the impact of CSR on firm performance in sub-Saharan Africa but also serves as a guide to policymakers on the financial impact of CSR adoption.

Originality/value

This study is one of the pioneering works that comprehensively examines the effect of CSR on financial performance amongst South African firms via size and sector and also controls for contemporaneous cross-correlation effects from the firms in the panel set.
The perspective of religious and spiritual tourism research: a systematic mapping study
Authors: Heidari Ali , Yazdani Hamid Reza , Saghafi Fatemeh , Jalilvand Mohammad Reza
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Religious tourism is a form of tourism where people of a particular faith travel to visit places of religious significance in their faith. Previous research into the various aspects of religious and spiritual tourism (RST) has been noticeably extended. The purpose of this study is to perform systematic mapping to provide trends and classification regarding the recent publications in the area of RST.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected 181 papers from five scientific databases, from which 122 were selected to be classified according to six properties: research type, research focus, research method, investigated religion, publication type and time.

Findings

The analysis of these data resulted in a map of the research field, which was presented under three perspectives: the distribution and trends over time of each classification property and the relationship between them. Besides the visual map, the full list of classified papers is available. The results showed that the number of publications is increasing every year, which shows a growing interest in this field. Moreover, the primary research focuses were destination, demand and marketing. Top three journals were found to beInternational Journal of Tourism Research,Tourism Recreation ResearchandJournal of Heritage Tourism. Furthermore, evaluation research, solution proposals and opinion papers were the main research types in the area. In addition, the majority of studies focused on Christianity and Islam. Finally, survey, discussion paper, interview and case study were the predominantly used research methods.

Originality/value

The mapping study delivers the first systematic summary of RST research.
The effects of social capital on knowledge heterogeneity
Authors: Tsai Fu-Sheng , Hsu I-Chieh
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influences of social capital on knowledge heterogeneity in order to advance the understanding of the effects and to reconcile existing inconsistent findings.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data collected from 105 new product development (NPD) projects were analyzed with regression-based methods.

Findings

The results indicated that trust, centralization and shared vision as the three social capital dimensions generally have negative impacts on the domain and presentation dimensions of knowledge heterogeneity. However, the three dimensions of social capital do not exhibit consistent influences on the tacitness heterogeneity (i.e. an epistemological dimension of knowledge heterogeneity).

Research limitations/implications

More research is needed to explore the role of social capital dimensions in developing a range of knowledge attributes of NPD teams, among which knowledge heterogeneity is one. The various dimensions of knowledge an NPD team possesses should have performance implications and deserve future investigation.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first documented attempts to demonstrate contingencies in the relationship between social capital and knowledge heterogeneity. The effect of social capital on knowledge heterogeneity should be understood at the level of dimensions of the two respective constructs.
Fenugreek proteins and their hydrolysates prevent hypercholesterolemia and enhance the HDL antioxidant properties in rats
Authors: Allaoui Amine , Barranquero Cristina , Yahia Sanaa , Herrera-Marcos Luis Vicente , Benomar Souhila , Jridi Mourad , Navarro María Ángeles , Rodriguez-Yoldi Maria Jesús , Nasri Moncef , Osada Jesús , Boualga Ahmed
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the in vivo hypocholesterolemic property of fenugreek proteins (FP), Purafect-fenugreek protein hydrolysate (PFPH) and Esperase-fenugreek protein hydrolysate (EFPH) on high cholesterol (HC)-fed rats.

Design/methodology/approach

Rats were randomized into five groups: four were fed for four weeks a hypercholesterolemic diet and the tested products were given by gavage. The fifth group was taken as control (C) receiving the same diet without cholesterol.

Findings

Results showed that the elevated aspartate aminotransferase activity in HC group plasma was significantly corrected by FP and EFPH administration (−33 per cent; p = 0.0003). HC liver lipids and total cholesterol (TC) contents were not markedly affected by FP and EFPH. However, liver triglycerides (TG) contents trended to decrease in FP rats vs HC (p = 0.07), while, the TG decrease was significant in groups fed the proteins hydrolysates (p = 0.02). On the other hand, serum TC and TG decreased by 53 per cent (p = 0.0003) and 20 per cent (p = 0.04), respectively, in FP treated rats compared to HC group. This decrease was associated with a high fecal cholesterol excretion (2.5-fold higher in FP vs HC; p = 0.0001). Likewise, EFPH-treated rats exhibited lower TC compared to HC rats (p = 0.004). The very low density lipoprotins was the main affected fraction in these two groups, while there were no significant difference in apolipoproteins (Apo) B, A-I and A-IV contents between the different groups, except in FP group, where Apo A-I and A-IV decreased by 26 and 17 per cent, respectively, compared to C rats (p = 0.02). The high density lipoproteins (HDL) of rats treated with proteins hydrolysates showed a better antioxidant property compared to those of HC rats, which was accompanied with an increase in paraoxonase activity when compared to HC group.

Originality/value

Unlike PFPH which had almost no effect, FPs and EFPH could constitute a nutraceutical ingredient in cardiovascular disease management.
Assessment of iodine intake and deficiency in school-age children in Morocco
Authors: Saeid Naima , Rami Anass , Mounach Samir , Hamrani Abdeslam , El Hamdouchi Asmaa , Mouzouni Fatima Zahra , Baddou Issad , Elkari Khalid , Aguenaou Hassan , El Mzibri Mohammed
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Iodine deficiency has several adverse effects on human growth and development and it is categorized collectively as iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs). Recent estimations showed that 29.8 per cent of school-age children have insufficient iodine intake. Salt iodization is widely accepted as the best method for increasing iodine intake. In 1995, Morocco adopted the universal salt iodization strategy to reduce iodine deficiency and consequently prevent and control IDDs. This study aims to determine the benefit of this strategy on schoolchildren and adolescent by assessing iodine intake and evaluating iodine deficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

This transversal study was conducted on 131 children and adolescents. Iodine intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Iodine status was evaluated on 24-h urine samples and the creatinine excretion was used to validate completeness of urine collection.

Findings

The medians of urinary iodine excretion and concentration were 77 µg/day and 96 µg/L, respectively. Overall, 72.5 per cent are deficient, so mild and moderate iodine deficiencies were reported in 58 per cent and 14.5 per cent, respectively, and no child exhibited severe deficiency. A significant difference was reported between iodine deficiency and, sex and age; iodine deficiency was more pronounced in boys and children under eight years. In this study, iodine status in deficient children does not change with the consumption pattern of dairy products and eggs, and results showed no significant association (p > 0.05). However, fish consumption was significantly associated to urinary iodine concentration = 100 µg/L (p = 0.044). Average UIC in school-aged children is still inadequate and consumption of foods high in iodine remains very insufficient. Therefore, additional efforts must focus on nutritional education of Moroccan school-aged children.

Originality/value

In the author’s knowledge, this is the first study evaluating schoolchildren iodine status by 24-h iodine collection; the study reported association of iodine deficiency with dietary habit concerning sources of food rich on iodine.
Educating future corporate managers for a sustainable world: recommendations for a paradigm shift in business education
Authors: Üçok Hughes Mine , Upadhyaya Shikha , Houston Rika
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to argue for a need for a paradigm shift in business education that would move the focus of curriculum away from profit maximization at all costs to incorporation of principles of sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper that argues for a major shift in business education, one that not only incorporates diversity and interdisciplinarity and integrative learning at its core, but also does not superficially conflate sustainability with corporate social responsibility and/or business ethics.

Findings

This paper discusses the broader concepts of diversity, integrative learning and interdisciplinarity related to curriculum design and several approaches for integrating a broadened definition of sustainability through business school curricula and pedagogy.

Research limitations/implications

The paper only discusses a few of the many factors that are needed for the argued need for change in business school curriculum.

Social implications

It is important to educate future managers with consciousness of sustainability not only for the sake of the communities of today and future generations but also for corporations to stay sustainable in the future when some of the natural resources they use today will be much scarcer.

Originality/value

A typical business school in the twenty-first century is not educating future managers and entrepreneurs for the realities of a business life today, let alone getting them ready for the world of tomorrow in which obtaining resources and addressing supply chain and waste management issues will be remarkably different. Therefore, it has become imperative for business schools to start a paradigm shift that moves the focus of business school education away from the historical one of profit-maximization toward one that has sustainability at its core.
Preparation and selective laser sintering of a new nylon elastomer powder
Authors: Shi Yunsong , Zhu Wei , Yan Chunze , Yang Jinsong , Xia Zhidao
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to report the preparation, selective laser sintering (SLS) processing and properties of a new nylon elastomer powder. The effects of solvent, dissolution temperature and time and cooling method and speed on the particle size and morphologies of the prepared nylon elastomer powder are investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

The prepared nylon elastomer power possesses the particle size of around 50 mm and is spherical in shape, indicating that this study provides the feasible dissolution-precipitation process, a distillation cooling method and a suitable solvent to prepare nylon elastomer powders.

Findings

Compared to pure nylon 12, the nylon elastomer has a lower part bed temperature and a wider sintering window for the SLS process. The wider sintering window indicates the better SLS processibility. The lower part bed temperature is beneficial to the recycling of material and the decrease in the requirement of SLS equipment.

Originality/value

The nylon elastomer in this study has a lower part bed temperature and a wider sintering window for the SLS process. The wider sintering window indicates better SLS processibility. The lower part bed temperature is beneficial to the recycling of material and the decrease in the requirement of SLS equipment.
Guardians of the hallways? School resource officers and bullying
Authors: Broll Ryan , Lafferty Robin
Published: October 2018

Purpose

School resource officers (SROs) have become commonplace in schools across the USA. Although their visibility may allow them to function as capable guardians, little research has examined their impact on less serious but more common forms of school violence, like bullying. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the presence, quantity and roles of SROs and the frequency of bullying.

Design/methodology/approach

Data come from the nationally representative 2006 School Survey on Crime and Safety. The relationship between SROs and bullying, controlling for other guardians, motivated offenders and school characteristics, was assessed using ordered logistic regression. Separate models were estimated for middle and high schools.

Findings

There was no association between the presence, quantity or role of SROs and bullying in middle or high schools; however, teacher training was associated with less frequent bullying, especially in middle schools, and the presence of motivated offenders was associated with more frequent bullying.

Research limitations/implications

Whether SROs reduce school violence is contested; this study found no association between SROs and bullying, a less serious but more common form of school violence. Future research should consider the roles of SROs in schools and the credibility of capable guardians.

Practical implications

The results caution against continuing to divert educational and social service resources to law enforcement in schools. Continued training for teachers may provide more effective guardianship against bullying.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the developing literature on the effect of SROs on less serious but more common forms of school violence, like bullying.
Supply chain management in Latin America: current research and future directions
Authors: Tanco Martin , Escuder Matias , Heckmann Gerardo , Jurburg Daniel , Velazquez Josue
Published: October 2018

Purpose

For the past 20 years, Latin American countries have gone from being a low-cost region to significant players in the world economy, with five of its countries ranked among the world’s 50th largest by gross domestic product. This paper aims to study the contribution of Latin American researchers in the field of supply chain management (SCM) to aid an understanding of the Latin American impact within global supply chains (SCs).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors present a study which includes a bibliometric analysis of the papers authored by Latin American researchers in the SCM field and which were exclusively published in journals included in the Journal Citation Reports. In addition, the authors conducted a survey to Latin American researchers and consultants to gain greater understanding of the main difficulties, which in their opinion, have negatively affected the SCM area in Latin America within the past five years, and identify possible misalignment between Latin American research and the challenges for SC in the region.

Findings

The results show that Latin American research on SCM in the past nine years is not significant for the field considering the number of papers, citations and the papers published in top journals. Another interesting finding is the lack of collaboration among researchers from different Latin American countries, as well as with corporate. Finally, survey results reveal significant differences regarding the main difficulties each country perceived as relevant.

Practical implications

Comparing results from both analyses, relevant misalignments stand out between published research and the main difficulties detected. These suggest a challenging opportunity for Latin America, emphasizing the need to increase research contribution of the scientific community, through collaboration and alignment toward overcoming the most troublesome difficulties for Latin America. Therefore, the authors suggest future regional research directions which could also help global companies to tackle the challenges faced and optimize performance of their Latin American SCs.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous research on the quality and impact of Latin American research in SCM has been conducted. Also, misalignments between researchers and practitioners in the region, which allow identifying weaknesses of Latin American SCs, have not been studied before.
Humiliating the Brazilian poor: The iconoclasm of former president Lula
Authors: BÄHRE ERIK , GOMES FABÍOLA
Published: October 2018

Circulating in Brazil's social media today are many vicious attacks against presidential candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known simply as Lula. Widely and enthusiastically shared memes humiliate Lula by depicting him as a poor, uneducated drunkard who deserves to be in jail, thus criminalizing his class background and political biography. What do the memes and conversations reveal about the roots of this aggression against him? Brazil has been plagued by a large corruption scandal called ‘Operation Car Wash’, for which many hold Lula partly responsible. The attacks are also an attempt to discredit Lula as a presidential candidate, which has placed his candidacy in the balance. But the memes also suggest a deep and genuine fear of poverty and the poor, which is related to fragile consumer‐oriented class relations. The iconoclasm of Lula and the destruction of his dignity reflect this anguish. The memes serve to create a symbolic line between ‘us’ – the ‘middle class’, the ‘good people’ (pessoas do bem) – and ‘them’ – the poor, who are depicted as immoral drunkards who have no dignity.
Maternal near‐miss and death among women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: a secondary analysis of the Nigeria Near‐miss and Maternal Death Survey
Authors: Adamu AN , Okusanya BO , Tukur J , Ashimi AO , Oguntayo OA , Tunau KA , Ekele BA , Oladapo OT
Published: October 2018

Objective

To investigate life‐threatening maternal complications related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in Nigerian public tertiary hospitals.

Design

Secondary analysis of a nationwide cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Forty‐two tertiary hospitals.

Population

Women admitted for pregnancy, childbirth or puerperal complications.

Method

All cases of severe maternal outcome (SMO: maternal near‐miss or maternal death) due to HDP were prospectively identified using the WHO criteria over a 1‐year period.

Main outcome measures

Incidence of SMO, health service events, case fatality rate, and mortality index (% of maternal death/SMO).

Results

Out of 100 107 admissions for maternal complications, 6753 (6.8%) women had HDP. Pre‐eclampsia (PE) (54.5%) and eclampsia (E) (30.4%) were the most common HDP recorded. SMO occurred in 587 women with HDP: 298 maternal near‐misses and 289 maternal deaths. The majority (93%) of the women with SMO due to HDP were admitted in a critical condition. The median diagnosis–definitive intervention interval was over 4 hours in a quarter of women who died from HDP. For PE and E, case fatality rates were 1.9 and 10.4%, respectively, although both conditions had a similar mortality index of 49.3%. Lack of antenatal care and place of residence further than 5 km from the hospital were associated with maternal death.

Conclusions

Severe maternal outcomes from HDP were due to late presentations and health system challenges. To reduce maternal deaths from HDP, health system strengthening that would engender early hospital presentation and prompt treatment is recommended.

Funding

The original research that generated the data for this secondary analysis was funded by the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), a co‐sponsored programme executed by the World Health Organization (WHO). We have no other funding issue to declare for our study.

Tweetable abstract

Eclampsia is the leading cause of maternal death in Nigerian hospitals.