bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and Analysis of Die for Brake Hose Bracket
Authors: Manohar Janaki , Ramesh Kannan C , Manivannan S , Vairamuthu J , Velmurugan P , Stalin B
Published: December 2020

One of the promising methods for the manufacture of complex shapes is the Sheet Metal Forming process. The Brake hose bracket is made using this process using several procedures for its manufacture. In this work, the processes carried out for the manufacturing of Brake hose bracket has been studied using Finite Element Analysis carried out using commercial analysis software, ANSYS. The making of the Die and Punch for the manufacture of the Sheet metal forming process of brake hose bracket. The bracket is made of mild steel material and the results were obtained and were in good agreement with that of the experimental values. The Stress distribution, Strain distribution and deformation experienced by the component and the die cavity during manufacturing process has been investigated and the conclusion were made. The FEM method proves to be efficient in understanding the stress and strain distribution in the component.
A Study On development of Induction Welding of Thermoplastic Composites
Authors: Velmurugan P , Manohar Janaki , Ramesh Kannan C , Manivannan S , Vairamuthu J , Stalin B
Published: December 2020

The inductive thermal method of welding has been used for heating metals most commonly by all the industries. This method of heating is actually a very efficient means of treating high speed fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites over past years for enormous applications. The present research work clarifies the thermoplastic welding process. The primary goal is to explain the nature of the inductive welding process and to identify a broad variety of research efforts. The focus is on the method of heat generation dynamics during the inductive heating process and the parameters governing the welding process (frequency, power, stress, time of residence). The experimental methodology is often outlined with focusing on experimental set-up.
Finite Element Analysis of Automotive Truck Chassis
Authors: Vijayakumar M D , Ramesh Kannan C , Manivannan S , Vairamuthu J , Tilahun Samuel , Bupathi Ram P M
Published: December 2020

The transportation industries at present world play a chief role in field of current commercial economy and developed countries. The usage of trucks is intensely increasing to carry the loads and materials. To enterprise a truck chassis many features to be considered including material selection, packaging, strength-to-weight ratio, stiffness. This paper mostly reviews on most research works and focuses on stress study of the truck chassis using four Finite Element Analysis (FEA) namely ANSYS. The result of this research paper gives the researcher instantaneous solution on modern and present developments in truck chassis field using FEA.
CNC Machining parameters optimization of AA7050 with reinforcement of ZrO2 composites
Authors: Mohanavel V , Vairamuthu J , Ramesh Kannan C , Stalin B , Balaji R , Venkatesha P , Suresh Kumar S
Published: December 2020

The foremost target of this evaluation is to optimize the impacts of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining factors of CNC turning machine for the AA7050/ZrO2 AMCs with response of material removal rate (CMRR) by utilizing Taguchi approach. The CNC turning aspects of this evaluation are Depth of cut, Speed and Feed rate. Taguchi route as L16 orthogonal array and 3 levels of machining factors are employed to guess the output like CMRR. The 16 samples of experiments are employed to determine the CMRR.
Investigations of tensile properties of modified epoxy-based composites reinforced with kenaf/hemp fibers for orthopaedic implants
Authors: Virupaksha Gouda H , Channabasavaraj S , Thimmana Gouda A , Siddesh G M
Published: December 2020

The aim of this work intense on study of Femur Bone and compilation of the strength and further parameters of bone and compare the investigational results of the 12%, 18% & 24% NFRPC material with the Femur bone. This study signifying the lowest-weight, lowest-Density and highest-strength Bio composite, biocompatible material utilizes or advises to the Orthopedic Implants particularly for Femur bone. From the investigational results of Tensile strength of all 12%, 18% & 24% NFRPC material will match with femur Bone strength fand recommended these polymers for Femur bone replacement.
Performance Analysis of Various Edge Detection Techniques in X-Ray Imaging
Authors: Sathish Kumar R , Karthikamani R
Published: December 2020

Edge detection is an image processing method used for discover the limitations of objects within the image. It works by sensing incoherence in illumination. Edge detection is used for image segmentation and data extraction in areas such as image processing, computer vision and machine vision. In these four techniques such as Sobel Operator, Robert Operator, Prewitt Operator, and Canny Operator are used for detection of edge detection in which the canny operator is the most effective manner of finding the edge detection using X-rays. The key aim of this task is to sense human minor leg bone fracture from X-Ray imageries. The suggested structure has two steps namely pre-processing segmentation and fracture detection. Canny method produces very effective image. This paper compares the various edge detection techniques for detecting the bone fracture of lower leg bone and finds effective. The performance of the four segmentation techniques are compared based on the execution time and accuracy. The execution speed of Canny operator is 32.5 seconds and accuracy is 88.7%.
Performance Evaluation of Domestic Refrigerator with Waste Heat Recovery System
Authors: Thangavel P , Mokesh S. , Reavanth SA. , Pragatheeswaran K.
Published: December 2020

The objective of the article is to study the performance of domestic refrigerator with waste heat recovery system. The usage of domestic refrigeration systems are increasing every day due to the requirement. During the operation of domestic refrigeration system, heat is rejected through the condensing coil to the atmosphere and leads to thermal pollution. Hence this heat can be recovered by suitable waste heat recovery system and employed for useful domestic applications. Hot chamber box has been fabricated and assembled with the domestic refrigerator. Experimental analysis has been carried out under air cooled condenser and hot chamber condenser with different loading conditions like no load, 1 litre, 3 litres, 5 litres, and 10 litres of water in the evaporator unit. COP is calculated for all the loading conditions and compared with air cooled condenser and hot chamber condenser. COP of all the loading conditions is maintained almost in the same range value. COP value is obtained in the range of 5 to 5.5 for the air cooled and hot chamber condensation modes. Hence the performance of domestic refrigerator is not changed due to the running of hot chamber box. Due to installation of hot chamber box waste heat is recovered from the condenser coil. The maximum heat recovery is arrived in the range of 31.15 to 33.66 kJ/kg.
Anti Fungal Studies of Tea Leaf mediated Silver Nano Colloid
Authors: Heera S. , Dhanya I. , Varghese LiyaMariya , Krishna Malathy , Renji Reny
Published: December 2020

Silver nano colloids are prepared using Tea leaf as reducing and stabilizing agent. Samples with different concentrations of the reducing agents are irradiated with gamma rays of various doses. Transmission Electron Microscope images of the samples show agglomerated clusters of nano particles before irradiation while the images of after irradiation show chain free individual nano particles with reduced size and spherical morphology. The Selected Area Electron Diffraction pattern confirms the crystal nature and face centred cubic structure of nano silver. UV-Visible spectroscopy gives absorption peaks in the blue region. Gamma irradiation results in the reduction in peak intensity without any change in wavelength. A statistical approach is done on treating the gamma irradiated colloidal sample with the as prepared silver nano colloid for measuring the affected area of fungal infection on a potato-agar medium. It is found that the fungal growth is declined rapidly with the introduction of gamma irradiated silver nano colloid than the as prepared colloid.
Particle swarm optimization of tensile strength on treated Bermuda grass Fiber as reinforcement in polyester composites
Authors: Raghunah M. , Nijandhan K. , Sukesh P , Nishanth A , Megantha P
Published: December 2020

The tensile strength of chemical treated Bermuda grass fiber reinforced polymer composites were assessed in this work. This investigation enhanced the binding nature of the Bermuda grass fiber through NaOH treatment, which is used as reinforcement in composite material. The difficult of reduced compatibility among fiber and the resin matrix has been diluted by creating rough surface of Bermuda grass fiber through sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. The result of surface modification parameters on the tensile strength of Bermuda grass-polyester composite was analyzed and found that it influence majorly in the tensile strength of composites. The value of 19 MPa, was found as maximum tensile strength through NaOH alkali treatment. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) approach was used to model the mechanical strength of treated Bermuda Grass-polyester composites. The mathematical equation formed using RSM and the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique is used to find the better mechanical properties.
Flow conditions analysis of Gas Turbine Combustor
Authors: Abinaya R , Rohini D , Soundarya B , Balakrishnan S , Dakshinamurthy B , Rajeshwari P
Published: December 2020

Gas turbines are equipped for working effectively on a wide assortment of energizes. Combustor is directed to a great extent by the requirement for its length and frontal territory to stay inside the cut-off points set by other motor segments by the need for a diffuser to limit pressure problems, another issue of expanding significance is that acoustic reverberation. The decrease of combustor size and weight is another significant necessity for air motors. The aim of the present work is to analyse the combustion chamber geometry using FINE/OPEN of NUMECA software and to predict the hot and cold total pressure loss, (circumferential and radial) pattern factors and combustion efficiency. This paper mainly work towards understanding the effect of cold and hot flow in a practical combustor systems using CFD and to estimate the various parameters like pressure loss, pattern factor (circumferential and radial), velocity distribution through diffuser, dome, swirler, three zones and combustor holes. The flow analysis is further extended to investigate the effects of temperature distribution of the flow that reaches the turbine inlet. The combustor model is created using CATIA and parts are then cleaned individual using CADfix suitable for meshing. The performance of the turbulence model is analysed and compared. Present work deals with the implementation of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for three-dimensional analysis of flow in an annular combustor of an aero gas turbine engine. FINE/OPEN of NUMECA commercial code will be used to analyse the Combustion chamber geometry. The analysis is carried out both in FLUENT and NUMECA and the results are compared.
Design of a separation machine using pneumatic system combined with sieve vibration for removing parchment coffee from Robusta green coffee bean
Authors: Limmun W , Chungcharoen T
Published: December 2020

The hulling process for coffee bean extraction may not effectively release the bean from parchment. This might negatively affect the aroma or taste of coffee in the coffee beans roasting process. Consequently, the objectives of this work were to design and construct a machine for separating parchment coffee from Robusta green coffee bean using a pneumatic separation system combined with sieve vibration. The performance of the separation machine was investigated under different operating conditions such as air velocity, vibration frequency, and the angle of sieve inclination. The samples were fed into the machine at a feed rate of 20 kg/h. The testing conditions were set at air velocities of 2 to 4 m/s, vibration frequencies of 36 to 40 Hz, and sieve inclination angle of 4° to 8°. The results showed that the purity and separation efficiency of parchment increased with increasing air velocity. Conversely, decreasing vibration frequency and sieve angle increased the purity and separation efficiency. The appropriate conditions for parchment coffee separation from Robusta green coffee bean using a pneumatic-sieve vibration system were 4 m/s air velocity, 36 Hz vibration frequency, and 8° sieve angle with the highest overall effectiveness of 92%.
An outbreak of multiply antibiotic-resistant ST49:ST128:KL11:OCL8Acinetobacter baumanniiisolates at a Sydney hospital
Authors: Hamidian Mohammad , Ambrose Stephanie J , Blackwell Grace A , Nigro Steven J , Hall Ruth M
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To understand the acquisition of resistance genes by a non-GC1, non-GC2 Acinetobacter baumannii strain responsible for a 4 year outbreak at a Sydney hospital.

Methods

Representative isolates were screened for resistance to antibiotics. Three were subjected to WGS using Illumina HiSeq. One genome was completed with MinION long reads. Resistance regions were compared with known sequences using bioinformatics.

Results

Isolates were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, gentamicin and tobramycin, sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin. Sequenced isolates were ST49 (Institut Pasteur scheme) and ST128 (Oxford scheme) and carried KL11 at the capsule locus and OCL8 at the lipooligosaccharide outer core locus. The complete genome of isolate J9 revealed that the resistance genes were all in plasmids; pRAY* contained aadB, and a large plasmid, pJ9-3, contained sul2 and floR genes and a dif module containing the mph(E)-msr(E) macrolide resistance genes. Transposon Tn6168, consisting of a second copy of the chromosomal ampC gene region flanked by ISAba1s, confers resistance to third-generation cephalosporins. Tn6168 is located inside the mph(E)-msr(E) dif module. pJ9-3 includes a set of four dif modules and the orientation of the pdif sites, XerC-XerD or XerD-XerC, alternates. A large transposon, Tn6175, containing tniCABDE transposition genes and genes annotated as being involved in heavy metal metabolism, uptake or export was found in the comM gene. Other ST49:ST128:KL11:OCL8 genomes found in the GenBank WGS database carried Tn6175 but neither of the plasmids carrying the resistance genes.

Conclusions

An early carbapenem-susceptible A. baumannii outbreak recorded in Australia was caused by an unusual clone that had acquired plasmids carrying antibiotic resistance genes.
Cefotaxime resistance in invasive Haemophilus influenzae isolates in Germany 2016–19: prevalence, epidemiology and relevance of PBP3 substitutions
Authors: Nürnberg Sebastian , Claus Heike , Krone Manuel , Vogel Ulrich , Lâm Thiên-Trí
Published: December 2020

Background

Haemophilus influenzae can cause invasive infections, in which cefotaxime is among the first-line antibiotics for treatment. The prevalence of cefotaxime-resistant H. influenzae in Europe is reported to be on a low level. Nevertheless, systematic studies with a large set of invasive isolates are scarce.

Objectives

To provide prevalence data for cefotaxime resistance in invasive H. influenzae isolates in Germany 2016–19 and investigate the epidemiological relevance of PBP3 mutations known to elevate the cefotaxime MIC.

Methods

Cefotaxime susceptibility of invasive H. influenzae isolates, collected in the national laboratory surveillance programme, was examined by gradient agar diffusion (GAD) testing. Cefotaxime resistance was determined according to EUCAST guidelines (resistance breakpoint MIC >0.125 mg/L). Therefore, the MIC for all resistant isolates was verified by broth microdilution method (BMD). WGS was performed to investigate the genetic relationship of cefotaxime-resistant isolates and to analyse alterations in the PBP3. An analysis of the geographic distribution of the resistant isolates was performed.

Results

From 2016 to 2019, the German National Reference Laboratory for Meningococci and H. influenzae received 2432 invasive H. influenzae isolates from blood and CSF. According to GAD results, 27 strains were resistant to cefotaxime. BMD confirmed the resistance in 22 of these isolates, which equals a prevalence of cefotaxime resistance of 0.90% in invasive H. influenzae in Germany. Among cefotaxime-resistant isolates cgMLST revealed three clusters. PBP3 analysis showed previously described mutations in our strains. In comparison with cefotaxime-susceptible strains, the alterations L389F and Y557H were significantly associated with cefotaxime resistance, but were not present in all resistant strains. Geographic analysis showed that the disease cases with cefotaxime-resistant H. influenzae were evenly spread throughout the population in Germany.

Conclusions

Cefotaxime is still well suited for the treatment of invasive H. influenzae infections. Rarely occurring cefotaxime resistance is caused by sporadic mutations. The role of PBP3 mutations needs further investigation.
Humanitarian Remains: Erasure and the Everyday of Camp Life in Northern Uganda
Authors: Blackmore Kara
Published: December 2020

The impacts of protracted displacement can be understood through the spatial and material afterlives of war. In the context of Northern Uganda, the experiences of conflict that are interpreted in memorialisation are often reflected of how governments and aid agencies administered life during war. This article examines leftover aid rations, archives, former displacement camp sites and even unmarked graves as evidence to better understand what happens when people try to return “to normal” after decades of war between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army. It asks what narrative and material erasure implies for survivors who seek to create memorials to reflect on the war and have come to find that the past has been destroyed. Understanding how forgetting occurs, whether intentional or not, illuminates the difficulty of using archival material or artefacts as tools for remembrance projects. The article undertakes an examination of the everyday experiences of displacement and traces of aid assistance to show how memorial efforts can better make sense the past in the present.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannula-related chronic wound with a retained suture in a neonate
Authors: Eiben Inez , Eiben Paola , Syed Mobinula
Published: December 2020

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is often employed to manage persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn where non-invasive therapies have failed. Delivery of ECMO requires insertion of indwelling catheters into central or peripheral vasculature; and this predisposes the recipient to development of catheter-associated skin infection; however, chronic non-healing wounds with granuloma formation are rare. We describe a case of an 8-month-old child who presented to our Plastic Surgery Services with a chronic left groin wound at ECMO cannula insertion site that failed medical management. The patient underwent wound exploration and debridement during which an old non-absorbable suture localized at the base of the wound was discovered. The foreign material as well as granuloma was removed, leading to the resolution of the chronic skin lesion and patient recovery without major complications. To our knowledge, this is the first case report describing an ECMO-associated paediatric chronic wound.
Music Theory’s White Racial Frame
Authors: Ewell Philip
Published: December 2020

For over twenty years, music theory has tried to diversify with respect to race, yet the field today remains remarkably white, not only in the people who practice music theory but also in the race of the composers and theorists whose work music theory privileges. In this article, I offer a few explanations for why this is so. I posit a music-theoretical “white racial frame” that is structural and institutionalized, and argue that only through a deframing and reframing of this white racial frame will we begin to see positive racial changes in music theory.
Transforming science and society? Methodological lessons from and for transformation research
Authors: Hölscher Katharina , Wittmayer Julia M , Hirschnitz-Garbers Martin , Olfert Alfred , Walther Jörg , Schiller Georg , Brunnow Benjamin
Published: December 2020

Transformation research has in the past years emerged as a shared lens to study and support radical societal change towards sustainability. Given the nascent and exploratory—yet highly normative and ambitious—character of transformation research, we aim to enhance the understanding of transformation research: when do research designs qualify as transformation research, what is needed for putting transformation research into practice, and what are results? To this end, we develop a framework that identifies criteria for designing and reflecting on research results, design and processes as transformation research. We employ this framework to reflect on our work in a research project that was designed in the spirit of transformation research: The TRAFIS (Transformations towards resource-conserving and climate-resilient coupled infrastructures) project sought to understand and support the development of innovative coupled infrastructures to mobilize their critical role in achieving sustainability transformations. Our results yield lessons and recommendations about what transformation research looks like in practice and how it can be strengthened, focussing on 1, redefining and re-valuing research for societal impact; 2, redesigning research to integrate perspectives on radical societal change; and 3, re-equipping researchers and research partners for social learning. We conclude that while transformation research already contributes to framing and generating knowledge about real-world sustainability challenges, its transformative impact is still limited. Practicing transformation research requires far-reaching changes in the science system, but also continuous reflection about legitimacy, power relations, and impacts.
Early phase studies of JAK1 selective inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Avci Ali Berkant , Feist Eugen , Burmester Gerd Rüdiger
Published: December 2020

The first approved Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for treatment of RA targeted more than one JAK molecule. Although this brings an advantage of simultaneous blocking of more cytokines involved in RA, it may also carry an increased risk of toxicity. Subsequently, more selective JAK inhibitors were developed with the aim of improving the safety–efficacy profile and to further increase drug maintenance. With this proposal, early phase trials of selective JAK1 inhibitors, namely upadacitinib, filgotinib and itacitinib, were initiated in recent years to identify the efficacy and adverse effects of these agents and to define their potential role in treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Early phase (Phase I–II) studies of upadacitinib and filgotinib provided evidence for efficacy and safety of the selective JAK1 inhibitors in refractory populations of RA patients and allowed informed selection of the appropriate dose by balancing the optimal benefit–risk profile for further evaluation in the later successfully performed Phase III trials. Although itacitinib also demonstrated a good efficacy and safety in a Phase II trial in RA patients, it is mainly in development for haematologic and oncologic conditions.
Association Between Peripheral Blood Cell Count Abnormalities and Health-Related Quality of Life in the General Population
Authors: Wouters Hanneke J. C. M. , van Zeventer Isabelle A. , van der Klauw Melanie M. , Wolffenbuttel Bruce H. R. , Huls Gerwin
Published: December 2020

Complete blood cell counts, including differentials, are widely available and change on aging. Peripheral blood cell counts outside the normal range have previously been associated with increased mortality rates and a number of comorbid conditions. However, data about the association between blood cell count abnormalities, other than anemia, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are scarce. We investigated the association between abnormalities in (differential) blood cell counts and HRQoL in 143 191 community-dwelling individuals from the prospective population-based Lifelines cohort. HRQoL was measured using the RAND 36-Item Health Survey. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the effect of blood cell count abnormalities on the odds of having a lower score than an age- and sex-specific reference value for each domain. Leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and a high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio were associated with impaired HRQoL across multiple domains, both for younger and older (≥60 years) individuals. Using multivariable models, we confirmed that these associations were independent of the potential confounding factors obesity, smoking, alcohol use, number of medications (as a measure of comorbidity), anemia, and mean corpuscular volume. The impact on HRQoL was most pronounced for high neutrophil levels. Further, high white blood cell counts proved to be a better marker for inferior HRQoL as compared to elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. Decreased HRQoL in several domains was also observed for individuals with monocytosis, lymphocytosis, and thrombocytosis. Taken together, the present study demonstrates an association between inflammatory and myeloid-skewed blood cell counts and inferior HRQoL in community-dwelling individuals.
Two-bed SPECT/CT versus planar bone scintigraphy: prospective comparison of reproducibility and diagnostic performance
Authors: Mostafa Rehab , Abdelhafez Yasser G. , Abougabal Mahasen , Nardo Lorenzo , Elkareem Maha A.
Published: December 2020

Objective

To evaluate the reproducibility and diagnostic performance of two-bed single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) images (TBSCT), compared to conventional planar bone scintigraphy (PBS) for the diagnosis of osseous metastasis.

Methods

Patients with known solid tumor, referred to perform PBS, were included in this prospective study. PBS acquisition was followed by TBSCT images, covering at least the chest, abdomen and pelvis. Each modality was interpreted during a separate session by two independent nuclear medicine physicians with 12- and 3-year experience. Reference standard was formulated on the basis of subsequent clinical/imaging/histopathological evidence.

Results

One-hundred and six patients were finally included in our study. A moderate agreement between the two physicians was seen for PBS readings [k = 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.61–0.86] which increased to 0.87 (95% CI, 0.77–0.96) for TBSCT. PBS readings were inconclusive in 29/106, compared to 6 for TBSCT. For each reader, TBSCT showed significantly greater sensitivity and accuracy compared to PBS. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity, specificity or accuracy of both modalities in patients with the breast cancer group, whereas TBSCT images have shown significant higher sensitivity and accuracy compared to PBS (P = 0.02 and 0.002, respectively) in nonbreast cancer patients.

Conclusion

TBSCT demonstrated higher reproducibility and significantly decreased the proportion of inconclusive readings of PBS. TBSCT resulted in significant gain in sensitivity and accuracy in the unselected group of patients with solid tumors. However, that gain may be better appreciated in patients with nonbreast cancer.
Impact of COVID-19 on nuclear medicine in the UK
Authors: Dizdarevic Sabina , Abdulla Mahdi , Sewedy Taha , Weston Charlotte , Oxley Caroline , Croasdale Jilly , Redman Stewart , Vinjamuri Sobhan , Mayes Christopher , Flux Glen , Ward Mike , Graham Richard , Buscombe John
Published: December 2020

Purpose

COVID-19 brought about unprecedented challenges to healthcare, with nuclear medicine (NM) being no exception. The British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS) COVID-19 survey assessed the impact of the first wave of pandemic on NM services in the UK. With COVID-19 resurge compounded by seasonal winter pressures, we reflect and share lessons learnt from the first wave of pandemic to guide future strategy.

Methods

A questionnaire consisting of 34 questions was sent out to all BNMS members over 2 weeks in May 2020, to evaluate the impact of ‘lockdown’.

Results

One hundred thirty-eight members (92 sites) from a multidisciplinary background responded. There was a 65% reduction across all services; 97.6% of respondents reported some reduction in diagnostic procedures and 71.3% reduction in therapies; 85% worked with a reduced workforce. The North East of England, Greater London and South East and Wessex were most affected by staff absences. The North East reported the highest number of COVID-19 positive staff; London reported the greatest lack of testing. The reported time required to clear the backlog was 1–12 months. Seventy-one percent of participants used BNMS COVID-19 guidance.

Conclusion

The first wave caused a major disruption of NM service delivery and impacted on the workforce. The departmental strategies should tailor services to evolving local and regional differences in prevalence of COVID-19. A blanket shutdown of services with a ‘one size fits all’ strategy would likely have a severe impact on future delivery of NM and health services in general. Timely testing of staff and patients remains of paramount importance.
What motivates consumers to purchase organic food in an emerging market? An empirical study from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mohammed Abdul Alem
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of perceived values (hedonic and utilitarian), trust and subjective norms on consumers' purchasing intentions of organic food in Saudi Arabia; it also explores the moderating influence of availability on the relationship between the intentions of consumers and their actual purchasing behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey with 236 consumers of organic food in Saudi Arabia was carried out. The convergent and discriminant validity of latent variables was confirmed. The relationships among them were tested using Partial Least Square Modelling (PLS).

Findings

The results indicate that utilitarian and hedonic values, trust and subjective norms positively affect consumer purchase intention. They also reveal the moderating effect of availability on the relationship between consumers' purchasing intention and their actual behaviour in the Saudi Arabian context.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to knowledge about the relationships among perceived values, trust, subjective norms, availability and consumer purchasing intentions of organic food, and their actual behaviour in an emerging market. The results enlarge the understanding of consumers' purchasing behaviour in the Saudi Arabian organic food market and point out some opportunities for future research.

Originality/value

The study is original in investigating the factors that influence customers' intention and their actual purchasing behaviour toward organic food in Saudi Arabia. It is a first attempt to test the moderating influence of availability on the relationship between purchase intention and actual purchasing behaviour toward organic food products in an emerging market.
A multicase study approach in Indian manufacturing SMEs to investigate the effect of Lean manufacturing practices on sustainability performance
Authors: M.P. Sajan , P.R. Shalij
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the adoption of Lean manufacturing (LM) contributes towards the sustainability performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a multi-case study approach conducted among five independent Indian manufacturing SMEs. The information from direct observation, structured questionnaire interviews with key persons and archival data are used to analyse and cross-check the relationship. An assessment tool, developed using the variables collected from the previous works, is used to measure the relationship.

Findings

The study provides a solid basis for the contribution and positive influence of LM towards the sustainability performance in SMEs. The manufacturing SMEs that have adopted Lean principles and practices are benefited more towards their economic, environmental and social sustainability performances, irrespective of their operational characteristics such as firm size and final product.

Research limitations/implications

This is a limited study conducted in a particular state in India by selecting only five independent case companies with divergent operational characteristics such as size of the firms, product and manufacturing process.

Originality/value

The study contributes by authorising the contribution of LM towards sustainability performance of SMEs. The findings will inspire academic community and industrial practitioners to expend for the adoption of Lean principles looking forward the sustainable development of the SMEs.
Determinants of bank profitability: evidence from 47 Asian countries
Authors: Saif-Alyousfi Abdulazeez Y.H.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The paper examines the effect of bank-specific, financial structure and macroeconomic factors on the profitability of banks in Asian economies during 1995–2017.

Design/methodology/approach

It uses the data of 2,446 banks across 47 Asian countries between 1995 and 2017 (41,582 year observations). The static and dynamic panel generalized methods of moments (GMM) estimation techniques are applied.

Findings

The results show that banks that are highly dependent on nontraditional activities have lower net interest revenue and net interest margin but higher return on assets, return on equity and profit before tax. Higher opportunity cost, capitalization, demand deposits and market risk result in a better bank profits. Furthermore, banks with higher loan exposure and growth have more profit. However, nonperforming loans have negative and significant impact on bank profitability. Asian banks do not suffer from diseconomies of scale and scope. The author also finds that banks located in countries with high gross domestic product, inflation rates and high rates of interest or in financially developed economies offer better profits. High credit to the private sector reduces the bank profitability. This study finds evidence to support the structure-conduct-performance (SCP) hypothesis. It also provides evidence that the impact of financial turmoil on the profitability of the Asian banking sector is negative and significant and has severely weakened the Asian banking system.

Originality/value

As Asia has become an important economic area and the Asian topic has not earned enough discussions, this paper is the first to examine Asian banks with the latest and a wider range of panel data that cover 2,446 banks at 47 Asian countries over the period 1995–2017. The present study is among the first to address the influence of financial turmoil on bank profitability in this region. It also studies new variables, such as demand deposits, opportunity cost and off-balance sheet activities, which have not been examined in relation to bank profitability. It also applies both static techniques and dynamic panel estimation techniques to analyze the data.
Distribution characteristics of star ratings in online consumer reviews
Authors: Venkatesakumar R. , Vijayakumar Sudhakar , Riasudeen S. , Madhavan S. , Rajeswari B.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The star rating summarises the review content and conveys the message faster than other review components. Star ratings influence helpfulness of the reviews, and extreme reviews are considered as less helpful in the decision process. However, literature has rarely addressed variations in star ratings across product categories and variations between two online retailers. In this paper, the authors have compared the distribution of star ratings across 11 products and among the retailers.

Design/methodology/approach

Online reviews for 11 product categories have collected, and the authors compared the distribution of star ratings across 11 products and retailers. Correspondence analysis has been applied to show the association between star ratings and product categories for the e-retail firms.

Findings

The Amazon site contains proportionately more number of 1-star rated reviews than Flipkart. In Amazon reviews, few product categories are closely associated with 1-star and 2-star reviews, whereas no product categories are closely associated with 1-star and 2-star reviews in Flipkart reviews. The results indicate two distinct communication strategies followed by the firms in managing online consumer reviews.

Research limitations/implications

The authors did not analyse data across demographic details because of access restriction policies of the websites.

Practical implications

Understanding the distribution of review characteristics will improve the consumer’s decision-making ability and using online review content judiciously.

Social implications

This study’s results show significant insights on online retailing by providing cues in using shopping sites and online review characteristics of two prominent retailers.

Originality/value

This paper has brought out a distinct distribution pattern of online review between Amazon and Flipkart. Amazon allows a higher degree of negative contents, whereas Flipkart allows more number of positive reviews.
Income inequality and natural gas consumption in China: Do heterogeneous and threshold effects exist?
Authors: Zhao Jun , Jiang Qingzhe , Dong Kangyin
Published: December 2020

To test whether income inequality affects natural gas consumption in China, this study investigates the causal nexus between income inequality and natural gas consumption based on panel data of China's 30 provinces from 2005 to 2017. Fully considering the potential cross‐sectional dependence and endogeneity issues, the system generalised method of moments (SYS‐GMM) is selected as the benchmark estimation approach. Furthermore, the threshold effect and regional heterogeneity are further analysed. The results indicate that the impact of income inequality on natural gas consumption depends on the level of economic development in China; specifically, a significant inverted U‐shaped relationship is found between income inequality and natural gas consumption. Notably, at the current stage of economic development, income inequality has a significant and negative influence on natural gas consumption. Furthermore, the causality analysis for the three major regions in the country confirms the existence of significant regional differences, revealing that, only for the central region, unidirectional causality runs from natural gas consumption to income inequality.
A qualitative study of emergency department patients who survived an opioid overdose: Perspectives on treatment and unmet needs
Authors: Hawk Kathryn , Grau Lauretta E. , Fiellin David A. , Chawarski Marek , O’Connor Patrick G. , Cirillo Nikolas , Breen Chris , D’Onofrio Gail
Published: December 2020

Objective

Emergency medicine clinicians are uniquely positioned to deliver interventions to enhance linkage to evidence‐based treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) in the acute overdose period, yet little is known about patient perspectives to effectively engage patients immediately following opioid overdose. Our objective was to explore patients’ perspectives on substance use treatment, perceived needs, and contextual factors that shape the choice of patients seen in the emergency department (ED) to engage with treatment and other patient support services in the acute post–opioid overdose period.

Methods

We administered a brief quantitative survey and conducted semistructured interviews with 24 adult ED patients receiving care after an acute opioid overdose between June 2016 and August 2017 in an urban, academic ED. We used constant comparison method and thematic analysis to identify themes across four levels of a modified social ecologic model (individual, interpersonal, organizational, and structural).

Results

The mean (±SD) age of the sample was 33.5 (±9.33) years; 83% were White and 12% were Black; 67% were male; and 83% were diagnosed with OUD, with a mean (±SD) of 3.25 (±2.64) self‐reported lifetime opioid overdoses. Eight themes were identified as influencing participants’ consideration of OUD treatment and other services: (1) perceptions about control of drug use, (2) personal experience with substance use treatment, (3) role of interpersonal relationships, (4) provider communication skills, (5) stigma, (6) availability of ED resources, (7) impact of treatment policies, and (8) support for unmet basic needs.

Conclusions

Patients receiving ED care following overdose in our ED are willing to discuss their opioid use and its treatment in the ED and report a variety of unmet needs. This work supports a role for ED‐based research evaluating a patient‐oriented approach to engage patients after opioid overdose.
Assessment of medication adherence in children and adults with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and the impact of knowledge and self‐management
Authors: Ekbom Kerstin , Strandqvist Anna , Lajic Svetlana , Hirschberg Angelica L , Falhammar Henrik , Nordenström Anna
Published: December 2020

Background

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is caused by a deficiency of one of the enzymes required for cortisol biosynthesis. The disease is classified as either classic (severe phenotype), subdivided into simple virilizing (SV) and salt‐wasting (SW), or non‐classic (NC) CAH. The treatment regime involves life‐long glucocorticoid replacement, especially in classic phenotype.

Objectives

We aimed to assess medication adherence, endocrine knowledge and self‐management in patients with CAH and to compare patients’ and physicians’ assessments of medication adherence.

Methods

A prospective cross‐sectional study of 108 patients with CAH (52 children and 56 adults) and 45 parents/caregivers. Two adherence measures were used, a self‐reported questionnaire named Adherence Starts with Knowledge (ASK‐12) with a cut‐off level > 22 defined as poor adherence rate, and an assessment by a physician based on growth rate, 17‐hydroxyprogesterone profile, and medical history, ranked using a five‐point Likert scale.

Measurements of the patients’/parents’ knowledge and self‐management were performed using Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Results

Self‐reported medication adherence was good with 74% of the participants reported good adherence with higher adherence in patients with the SW form. The highest endocrine knowledge and self‐management were found in parents compared with children and adults with classic CAH. There was 30% discordance between the assessments by a physician and the self‐reported ASK‐12 scores independent of the severity of CAH.

Conclusion

Patients and endocrinologists reported high medication adherence, however, discordance was found in 30% of the studied patients. Patients with the more severe form of CAH had higher adherence rates and demonstrated good endocrine knowledge/self‐management.
Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection andHIVamong people who inject drugs in Iran
Authors: Radfar Seyed Ramin , Nematollahi Pardis , Tayeri Katayoun , Dehghan Hamidreza , Janani Majid , Higgs Peter , Mohsenifar Setareh , Noroozi Alireza
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Iran has an human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) epidemic that is concentrated among people who inject drugs (PWID), who have higher risks of progression from latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) to active disease. The aim of this study is to measure prevalence of LTBI, HIV infection and any risk behaviors among PWID in Iran.

Methods

The cross‐sectional study was conducted from August to December 2013 in six cities across Iran. A total of 420 PWID were recruited from drop‐in centres using convenience sampling. Trained interviewers collected data on socio‐demographic characteristics, drug use history and drug‐related risk behaviors across the study sites. A tuberculin skin test (TST) was performed, and HIV infection was assessed by a rapid test. Multivariable modified Poisson regression and logistic regression were used for data analysis.

Results

Prevalence of positive TST and HIV positivity was 35.7% and 8.6%, respectively. The prevalence of LTBI and HIV was significantly different across the cities of this study. Positive TST was independently associated with older age (APR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01, 1.05) and being HIV positive (APR 1.89, 95% CI 1.45, 2.47). HIV infection was associated with lifetime history of sharing syringes (AOR 3.28, 95% CI 1.44, 10.71) and lifetime number of imprisonment (AOR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.14).

Discussion and Conclusions

Prevalence of LTBI infections among PWID is high and independently associated with HIV infection. Given that there are currently no TB services available within drop‐in centres, programs which integrate TB case finding, TB preventive therapy, referral and care services for PWID are urgently needed.
Blast size‐specific flowcytometric ploidy assessment using FxCycleTM Violet dye and its correlation with conventional cytogenetic ploidy in pediatric precursor B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients
Authors: Bommannan Karthik , Arumugam Jhansi Rani , Koshy Teena , Radhakrishnan Venkatraman , Sagar Tenali Gnana , Sundersingh Shirley
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Numerical chromosomal abnormalities (aneuploidies), present in approximately 30%‐50% of pediatric precursor B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL) patients, are commonly identified through a laborious conventional cytogenetic (CG) technique. Flow cytometry (FCM) can identify both physical and fluorescent properties of cells together, and by using fluorescent nucleic‐acid‐binding dyes, FCM can identify variations in total nucleic‐acid content of cells. FxCycleTM Violet dye (FxCV) is a selective DNA‐binding dye which permits simultaneous multiparametric immunophenotyping and cell‐cycle/ploidy assessment in a single assay. To date, only two studies have demonstrated the feasibility of FxCV‐aided FCM‐ploidy analysis in B‐ALL patients and only one of these studies have compared their results with CG‐ploidy.

Methodology

Blast size‐specific FCM‐ploidy was prospectively analyzed using FxCV‐dye in 109 pediatric B‐ALL patients, and the results were compared with concurrent CG‐ploidy status.

Results

FCM‐ploidy categorization was feasible in 98% of samples tested and the results were 82% concordant with CG‐ploidy status. We observed significant correlation between DNA content and blast size (r = .823, P < .001) and could demonstrate size differences between diploid vs low‐hyperdiploid (P = .025), diploid vs high‐hyperdiploid (P < .001) and low‐ vs high‐hyperdiploid blasts (P = .007).

Conclusion

FCM‐ploidy assessment using FxCV dye is a reliable assay and the results closely concur with CG‐based ploidy stratification and risk assessment. Using blast size‐assisted DNA content analysis, the results of FCM‐ploidy analysis can be further fine‐tuned.