bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection and Re-activation During Nucleos(t)ide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor–Sparing Antiretroviral Therapy in a High–HBV Endemicity Setting
Authors: Abdullahi Adam , Fopoussi Olga Mafotsing , Torimiro Judith , Atkins Mark , Kouanfack Charles , Geretti Anna Maria
Published: October 2018

Background

We monitored the evolution of markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in virologically suppressed HIV-positive patients switching to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)–sparing antiretroviral therapy within a randomized trial in Cameroon.

Methods

  HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), HBV DNA, and antibodies against surface (anti-HBs), core (total anti-HBc), and e-antigen (anti-HBe) were measured retrospectively in samples collected at study entry and over 48 weeks after NRTI discontinuation.

Results

Participants (n = 80, 75% females) had a plasma HIV-1 RNA <60 copies/mL, a median CD4 count of 466 cells/mm3, and undetectable HBsAg and HBV DNA at study entry. After NRTI discontinuation, 3/20 (15.0%) anti-HBc-negative patients showed evidence indicative or suggestive of incident HBV infection (163 cases/1000 person-years); 6/60 (10.0%) anti-HBc-positive patients showed evidence indicative or suggestive of HBV reactivation (109 cases/1000 person-years). In one case of reactivation, anti-HBs increased from 14 to >1000 IU/L; sequencing showed HBV genotype A3 and 3 escape mutations in surface (Y100C, K122R, Y161FY). Alongside new-onset detection of HBsAg or HBV DNA, 1 patient experienced acute hepatitis and 6 patients experienced mild or marginal increases in serum transaminase levels.

Conclusions

Evolving treatment strategies for sub-Saharan Africa must be accompanied by the formulation and implementation of policy to guide appropriate assessment and management of HBV status.
Risk factors for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a case–control study in China
Authors: Zhou Zheng , Nie Sheng-Dan , Jiang Bo , Wang Jun , Lv Pin
Published: October 2018

To investigate risk factors for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) in China. A total of 200 ECC cases and 200 matched control were included in the study. The presence of cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, choledocholithiasis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, liver fluke infection (Clonorchis sinensis), diabetes mellitus, was investigated through clinical records. Blood from all cases was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression. Compared with controls, ECC patients had a higher prevalence of cigarette smoking (61.0 vs. 47.0%, P=0.007), alcohol drinking (17.5 vs. 3.5%, P<0.000), and choledocholithiasis (6.0 vs. 1.0%, P=0.011). By multivariate analysis, the significant risk factors for the development of ECC were current smoking (OR=1.90, 95% CI=1.08–3.34), heavy alcohol drinking (OR=2.08, 95% CI=1.39–3.13), and choledocholithiasis (OR=6.68, 95% CI=1.48–30.27). The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection, diabetes mellitus were not significantly different between cases and controls. These findings suggest that smoking, alcohol drinking, and choledocholithiasis are positive risk factors for the development of ECC in China.
Pathophysiological Events Associated With Pancreatitis in Response to Tobacco
Authors: Luaces-Regueira María , Castiñeira-Alvariño Margarita , Castro-Manzanares María , Campos-Toimil Manuel , Domínguez-Muñoz J. Enrique
Published: October 2018

Objectives

The aim of this study was to comparatively analyze the effects of different concentrations of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC, a standardized tobacco extract) and ethanol on intracellular enzyme activation, cell necrosis, alteration of cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]c), and amylase secretion in pancreatic acinar cells.

Methods

The effects of CSC (1 μg/mL to 0.4 mg/mL) and ethanol (10–100 mM) on intracellular enzyme activity, cell necrosis, and [Ca2+]c were measured by fluorescence assays in isolated pancreatic acinar cells. Amylase secretion was evaluated by spectrophotometry. Supramaximal concentrations of cholecystokinin (10–100 nM) were used as positive control.

Results

Neither CSC nor ethanol induced trypsin or elastase activation. Both CSC (0.1–0.4 mg/mL) and ethanol (10–75 mM) significantly increased [Ca2+]c. Amylase secretion was increased only in CSC-treated cells (0.3 and 0.4 mg/mL). After 60 minutes, CSC (0.3 and 0.4 mg/mL) significantly increased acinar cell necrosis at a similar percentage to that induced by cholecystokinin. Ethanol did not induce any significant cell necrosis.

Conclusions

Cigarette smoke condensate induces acinar cell injury and increases [Ca2+]c and amylase secretion, independently of intracellular enzyme activation, suggesting that tobacco could induce several main early events of pancreatitis in pancreatic acinar cells. However, ethanol only induces increases [Ca2+]c, having no effect on cell injury, amylase secretion, or intracellular enzyme activation.
Prognostic Impact of Portal System Invasion in Pancreatic Cancer Based on Image Classification
Authors: Morimoto Daishi , Yamada Suguru , Murotani Kenta , Sonohara Fuminori , Takami Hideki , Suenaga Masaya , Hayashi Masamichi , Niwa Yukiko , Tashiro Mitsuru , Hattori Norifumi , Iwata Naoki , Kanda Mitsuro , Tanaka Chie , Kobayashi Daisuke , Nakayama Goro , Koike Masahiko , Fujiwara Michitaka , Fujii Tsutomu , Kodera Yasuhiro
Published: October 2018

Objectives

This study aimed to clarify the correlation between image classification and the pathological degree of portal system invasion (PSI) and to evaluate the prognostic impact of PSI in pancreatic cancer (PC).

Methods

Pancreatic cancer patients with surgical resections (head, n = 244; body and tail, n = 80) were enrolled in this study.

Results

Based on imaging findings, portal vein (PV) invasion was classified as type A (absent), B (unilateral narrowing), C (bilateral narrowing), or D (stenosis or obstruction with collaterals). Splenic vein (SPV) invasion was classified as type α (absent), β (stenosis), or γ (obstruction). The pathological grade of venous invasion was classified as grade 0 (no invasion), 1 (tunica adventitia), 2 (tunica media), or 3 (tunica intima). In PV and SPV invasions, image classification and pathological grade showed significant correlation (PV: ρ = 0.696; SPV: ρ = 0.681). Patients with PV invasion deeper than type B exhibited significantly poorer survival than type A (P < 0.0001). In contrast, there was no difference in survival among types α, β, and γ.

Conclusions

Image classification was correlated with the pathological grade of PSI in PC. Although not applicable for SPV invasion, image classification of PV invasion is a robust indicator for PC prognosis.
Dysbiosis in Snoring Children
Authors: Collado Maria Carmen , Katila Maija Kristiina , Vuorela Nina Maria , Saarenpää‐Heikkilä Outi , Salminen Seppo , Isolauri Erika
Published: October 2018

Background and Objectives:

Early microbial colonization has a key impact on infant health through nutritional, immunological, and metabolic programming. The origin of child snoring is multifactorial and complex, and may thereby also generate long‐term health problems. The link between child snoring and gut microbes remains unclear, although indirect evidence exists regarding this relationship. This study aimed to characterize the connection between gut microbiota and child snoring.

Methods:

In a prospective, observational CHILD‐SLEEP birth cohort study, gut microbiota in a subcohort of 43 of these children at 2 years of life was profiled with 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing.

Results:

A higher abundance of the Proteobacteria phylum, the Enterobacteriaceae family, and Erysipelotrichaceae family, as well as a higher ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes were detected in snorers as compared to controls. Furthermore, snorers showed significantly lower microbial diversity and richness than non‐snorers.

Conclusions:

The snoring children manifest different gut microbiota as compared with healthy children. Considering that snoring and sleep disorders can be a source of long‐term consequences, including cardiovascular, metabolic, immunological, neurocognitive and behavioral consequences, our results proposes early microbiota as a new treatment target.
Successful Treatment of an Adolescent Male With Severe Refractory Evans Syndrome Using Bortezomib-based Therapy
Authors: Knight Tristan , Ravindranath Yaddanapudi , Callaghan Michael U.
Published: October 2018

Evans syndrome is defined by bilineal autoimmune cytopenia, typically coombs positive hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment, with rituximab and/or mycophenolate mofetil often used in steroid-refractory cases. However, no treatment methodology has ever evaluated by a randomized clinical trial. We present a 15-year-old boy with Evans syndrome and common variable immunodeficiency who experienced a severe, refractory flare 16 months postsplenectomy. After failing to respond to multiple other agents, he achieved a durable response to a bortezomib-based regimen. Bortezomib may be a reasonable second or third line option, especially before high-morbidity therapies such as splenectomy or stem cell transplantation.
Distinct Dynamics of Stem and Progenitor Cells in Blood of Polytraumatized Patients
Authors: Vogel Mona , Christow Hannes , Manz Isabel , Denkinger Michael , Amoah Amanda , Schütz Desiree , Brown Andreas , Möhrle Bettina , Schaffer Annika , Kalbitz Miriam , Gebhard Florian , Mayer Benjamin , Huber-Lang Markus , Geiger Hartmut
Published: October 2018

Endogenously mobilized stem and progenitor cells (SPCs) or exogenously provided SPCs are thought to be beneficial for trauma therapy. However, still little is known about the synchronized dynamics of the number of SPCs in blood after severe injury and parameters like cytokine profiles that correlate with these numbers. We determined the number of hematopoietic stem cells, common myeloid progenitors, granulocyte-macrophage progenitors, and mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in peripheral blood (PB) 0 to 3, 8, 24, 48, and 120 h after polytrauma in individual patients (injury severity score ≥ 21). We found that the number of blood SPCs follows on average a synchronous, inverse bell-shaped distribution, with an increase at 0 to 3 h, followed by a strong decrease, with a nadir in SPC numbers in blood at 24 or 48 h. The change in numbers of SPCs in PB between 48 h and 120 h revealed two distinct patterns: Pattern 1 is characterized by an increase in the number of SPCs to a level higher than normal, pattern 2 is characterized by an almost absent increase in the number of SPCs compared to the nadir. Changes in the concentrations of the cytokines CK, MDC, IL-8, G-CSF Gro-α, VEGF, and MCP-1 correlated with changes in the number of SPCs in PB or were closely associated with Pattern 1 or Pattern 2. Our data provide novel rationale for investigations on the role of stem cell mobilization in polytraumatized patients and its likely positive impact on trauma outcome.
Psychological burden of haematological cancer on patient and family: is it time for a multisystem approach?
Authors: Statham Clare , Davis Carol
Published: October 2018

Purpose of review

Literature addressing the psychological impact of haematological cancers on patients and their families is sparse. New evidence might prompt a change in approach to the assessment and management of psychological burden.

Recent findings

The diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of haematological cancers often have a profound psychological impact on patients and their families and can result in clinically significant problems and increased carer stress. These may manifest at any stage from diagnosis to death or living as a survivor. Some high-risk subgroups have been identified.

The range of diagnostic groups, wide range of data analysis time-points relative to time of diagnosis, heterogeneity of outcome measures and differing methodologies (mainly prevalence studies) confound generalization of the findings. Targeted screening of the most at-risk subpopulations at times of greatest risk seems sensible to facilitate early intervention; further work is required to establish how often to screen and the best way of doing that. None of these articles define thresholds for intervention. Clearly more psychological support is needed for patients with haematological cancers and their families, but these articles do not provide evidence to suggest what this should comprise. There remains a need for large, longitudinal multicentre studies.
Levodopa’s effects on expression of reinforcement learning
Authors: J.P. Grogan , H.K. Isotalus , A. Howat , N. Irigoras Izagirre , L.E. Knight , E.J. Coulthard
Published: October 2018

Dopamine has been implicated in learning from rewards and punishment, and in the expression of this learning. However, many studies do not fully separate retrieval and decision mechanisms from learning and consolidation. Here, we investigated the effects of levodopa (dopamine precursor) on choice performance (isolated from learning or consolidation). We gave 31 healthy older adults 150mg of levodopa or placebo (double-blinded, randomised) 1 hour before testing them on stimuli they had learned the value of the previous day. We found that levodopa did not affect the overall accuracy of choices, nor the relative expression of positively or negatively reinforced values. This contradicts several studies and suggests that dopamine may not play a role in the choice performance for values learned through reinforcement learning in humans.
Multi-omic profiling of transcriptome and DNA methylome in single nuclei with molecular partitioning
Authors: Luo Chongyuan , Liu Hanqing , Wang Bang-An , Bartlett Anna , Rivkin Angeline , Nery Joseph R. , Ecker Joseph R.
Published: October 2018

Single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses provide powerful strategies for unbiased determination of cell types in mammalian tissues. Although previous studies have identified cell types using individual molecular signatures, the generation of consensus cell type classification requires the integration of multiple data types. Most existing single-cell techniques can only make one type of molecular measurement. Here we describe single-nucleus methylcytosine and transcriptome sequencing (snmCT-seq), a multi-omic method that requires no physical separation of DNA and RNA molecules. We demonstrated that snmCT-seq profiles generated from single cells or nuclei robustly distinguish human cell types and accurately measures cytosine DNA methylation and gene expression signatures of each cell type.
Unleashing floret fertility by a mutated homeobox gene improved grain yield during wheat evolution under domestication
Authors: Sakuma Shun , Golan Guy , Guo Zifeng , Ogawa Taiichi , Tagiri Akemi , Sugimoto Kazuhiko , Bernhardt Nadine , Brassac Jonathan , Mascher Martin , Hensel Goetz , Ohnishi Shizen , Jinno Hironobu , Yamashita Yoko , Ayalon Idan , Peleg Zvi , Schnurbusch Thorsten , Komatsuda Takao
Published: October 2018

Floret fertility is a key trait to determine the number of grains per inflorescence in cereals. During wheat (Triticum sp.) evolution, floret fertility has been increased and current bread wheat (T. aestivum L.) produces three to five grains per spikelet; however, little is known about the genetic basis controlling floret fertility. Here we identify the quantitative trait locus Grain Number Increase 1 (GNI1), encoding a homeodomain leucine zipper class I (HD-Zip I) transcription factor. GNI1 evolved in the Triticeae through gene duplication and functionalization. GNI1 was predominantly expressed in the most apical floret primordia and parts of the rachilla, suggesting that GNI1 inhibits rachilla growth and development. GNI1 expression decreased during wheat evolution, and as a consequence, more fertile florets and grains per spikelet are being produced. Genetic analysis revealed that the reduced-function allele of GNI1-A contributes to increase the number of fertile florets per spikelet. The knockdown of GNI1 in transgenic hexaploid wheat improved fertile floret and grain number. Furthermore, wheat plants carrying the impaired allele increased grain yield under field conditions. Our findings illuminate that gene duplication and functionalization generated evolutionary novelty for floret fertility (i.e. reducing floral numbers) while the mutations towards increased grain production were under selection during wheat evolution under domestication.

Significance Statement

Grain number is a fundamental trait for cereal grain yield; but its underlying genetic basis is mainly unknown in wheat. Here we show for the first time a direct link between increased floret fertility, higher grain number per spike and higher plot-yields of wheat in the field. We have identified GNI1 gene encoding an HD-Zip I transcription factor responsible for increased floret fertility. The wild type allele imposes an inhibitory role specifically during rachilla development, indicating that expression of this protein actively shuts-down grain yield potential; whereas, the reduced-function allele enables more florets and grains to be produced. GNI1 evolved through gene duplication in Triticeae and its mutations were under parallel human selection during wheat and barley evolution under domestication.
ZIC3 controls the transition from naïve to primed pluripotency.
Authors: Yang Shen-Hsi , Andrabi Munazah , Biss Rebecca , Murtuza Baker Syed , Iqbal Mudassar , Sharrocks Andrew
Published: October 2018

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent in nature, meaning that they have the capacity to differentiate into any cell in the body. However, to do so they must transition through a series of intermediate cell states before becoming terminally differentiated. A lot is known about how ESCs maintain their pluripotent state but comparatively less about how they exit this state and begin the transition towards differentiated cells. Here we investigated the earliest events in this transition by determining the changes in the open chromatin landscape as naïve mouse ESCs transition to epiblast-like cells (EpiLCs). Motif enrichment analysis of the newly opening regions coupled with expression analysis identified ZIC3 as a potential regulator of this cell fate transition. Chromatin binding and genome-wide transcriptional profiling confirmed ZIC3 as an important regulatory transcription factor and among its targets are genes encoding a number of transcription factors. Among these is GRHL2 which acts through enhancer switching to maintain the expression of a subset of genes from the ESC state. Our data therefore place ZIC3 at the top of a cascade of transcriptional regulators and provide an important advance in our understanding of the regulatory factors governing the earliest steps in ESC differentiation.
Behavioral flexibility in an OCD mouse model: Impaired Pavlovian reversal learning in SAPAP3 mutants
Authors: van den Boom Bastijn J. G. , Mooij Adriana H. , Misevičiūtė Ieva , Denys Damiaan , Willuhn Ingo
Published: October 2018

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessive thinking, compulsive behavior, and anxiety, and is often accompanied by cognitive deficits. The neuropathology of OCD involves dysregulation of cortical-striatal circuits. Similar to OCD patients, SAPAP3 knockout mice 3 (SAPAP3−/−) exhibit compulsive behavior (grooming), anxiety, and dysregulated cortical-striatal function. However, it is unknown whether SAPAP3−/− display cognitive deficits and how these different behavioral traits relate to one another. SAPAP3−/− and wild-type littermates (WT) were trained in a Pavlovian conditioning task pairing the delivery of visual cues with that of sucrose solution. After mice learned to discriminate between a reward-predicting conditioned stimulus (CS+) and a non-reward stimulus (CS−), contingencies were reversed (CS+ became CS− and vice versa). Additionally, we assessed grooming, anxiety, and general activity. SAPAP3−/− acquired Pavlovian approach behavior similarly to WT, albeit less vigorously and with a different strategy. However, unlike WT, SAPAP3−/− were unable to adapt their behavior after contingency reversal, exemplified by a lack of re-establishing CS+ approach behavior (sign tracking). Surprisingly, such behavioral inflexibility, decreased vigor, compulsive grooming, and anxiety were unrelated. This study demonstrates that SAPAP3−/− are capable of Pavlovian learning, but lack flexibility to adapt associated conditioned approach behavior. Thus, SAPAP3−/− do not only display compulsive-like behavior and anxiety, but also cognitive deficits, confirming and extending the validity of SAPAP3−/− as a suitable model for OCD. The observation that compulsive-like behavior, anxiety, and behavioral inflexibility were unrelated suggests a non-causal relationship between these traits and may be of clinical relevance for OCD patients.
Single-cell integrative analysis of CAR-T cell activation reveals a predominantly TH1/TH2 mixed response independent of differentiation
Authors: Xhangolli Iva , Dura Burak , Lee GeeHee , Kim Dongjoo , Xiao Yang , Fan Rong
Published: October 2018

We present the first comprehensive portrait of single-cell level transcriptional and cytokine signatures of anti-CD19 4-1BB/CD28/CD3ζ CAR-T cells upon antigen-specific stimulation. Both CD4+‘helper’ and CD8+cytotoxic CAR-T cells are equally effective in directly killing target tumor cells and their cytotoxic activity is associated with the elevation of a range of TH1 and TH2 signature cytokines (e.g., IFNγ, TNFα, IL5, and IL13), as confirmed by the expression of master transcription factors TBX21 (T-bet) and GATA3. However, rather than conforming to stringent TH1 or TH2 subtypes, single-cell analysis reveals that the predominant response is a highly mixed TH1/TH2 function in the same cell and the regulatory T cell (Treg) activity, although observed in a small fraction of activated cells, emerges from this hybrid TH1/TH2 population. GM-CSF is produced from the majority of cells regardless of the polarization states, further contrasting CAR-T to classic T cells. Surprisingly, the cytokine response is minimally associated with differentiation status although all major differentiation subsets such as naïve, central memory, effector memory and effector are detected. All these suggest that the activation of CAR-engineered T cells is a canonical process that leads to a highly mixed response combining both type 1 and type 2 cytokines together with GMCSF, supporting the notion that ‘polyfunctional’ CAR-T cells correlate with objective response of patients in clinical trials. This work provides new insights to the mechanism of CAR activation and implies the necessity for cellular function assays to characterize the quality of CAR-T infusion products and monitor therapeutic responses in patients.
Non-fragile consensus control of networked robotic manipulators with topology-dependent memory
Authors: Ma Chao , Li Rui , Qiao Hong
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to solve the non-fragile consensus problem of networked robotic manipulators over communication networks by using information from topology-dependent memory.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes a topology-dependent memory protocol with distributed consensus controllers for multiple networked robotic manipulators.

Findings

The distributed controller gain fluctuations are taken into account with sampled data information exchanges. By the derived results of model transformation, the topology-dependent memory protocol is investigated using sufficient consensus criteria in the form of linear matrix inequalities.

Originality/value

A novel consensus protocol with topology-dependent memory is designed, which can potentially improve consensus performance and deal with the controller gain fluctuations of the robotic manipulators in practical applications.
The learning-based optimization algorithm for robotic dual peg-in-hole assembly
Authors: Hou Zhimin , Philipp Markus , Zhang Kuangen , Guan Yong , Chen Ken , Xu Jing
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present an optimization algorithm combined with the impedance control strategy to optimize the robotic dual peg-in-hole assembly task, and to reduce the assembly time and smooth the contact forces during assembly process with a small number of experiments.

Design/methodology/approach

Support vector regression is used to predict the fitness of genes in evolutionary algorithm, which can reduce the number of real-world experiments. The control parameters of the impedance control strategy are defined as genes, and the assembly time is defined as the fitness of genes to evaluate the performance of the selected parameters.

Findings

The learning-based evolutionary algorithm is proposed to optimize the dual peg-in-hole assembly process only requiring little prior knowledge instead of modeling for the complex contact states. A virtual simulation and real-world experiments are implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Practical implications

The proposed algorithm is quite useful for the real-world industrial applications, especially the scenarios only allowing a small number of trials.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new solution for applying optimization techniques in real-world tasks. The learning component can solve the data efficiency of the model-free optimization algorithms.
Medical undergraduate students’ perception towards the use and non-use of e-books: a case from Pakistan
Authors: Rafiq Sadaf , Warraich Nosheen Fatima
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the perception of medical undergraduate students regarding their behavior towards use and non-use of e-books. It also elucidates their preferences between print and electronic book format.

Design/methodology/approach

It is a quantitative study based on survey method. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from final year medical students of three medical colleges of Lahore, Pakistan. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse 232 useable questionnaires.

Findings

The findings indicate that the use and non-use of e-books is almost equal among students. The students who use e-books mostly access them through Google books, and they used e-books for academic purpose. Users were convinced about the benefits of e-books such as easy access, 24/7 availability and up-to-date information. However, users and non-users of e-books preferred to use printed version of books. Non-users identified that e-books often distract them because of different links on the website, and they do not want to change their habit of reading printed books. Moreover, they are satisfied with printed books available in their libraries and hesitant to read on screen.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is limited to the medical sciences; its results cannot be generalizing to other academic disciplines.

Practical implications

The findings of the study will assist the medical libraries to improve their e-books collection and also negotiate the publishers for its licence issues. The study will also encourage the librarians to acquire handheld devices and load them with e-books for their users.

Originality/value

This is believed to be the first study on the use of e-books in the perspective of medical students in Pakistan.
Twenty years of S&T priority setting in Russia: lessons learned
Authors: Sokolova Anna , Grebenyuk Anna , Sokolov Alexander
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present a retrospective analysis of the experience gained in the course of 20 years’ history of S&T priority setting and critical technologies’ identification, in terms of expected and actually achieved effects and lessons learned.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is based on analysing project documentation and reports, as well as on interviewing project team members. Each project’s effects are evaluated in terms of the six key foresight functions.

Findings

The key factors affecting success of priority S&T areas and critical technologies’ selection and implementation have been identified. They include focusing on practical implementation, linking S&T with socio-economic goals, combining thematic priorities with infrastructural and functional ones, as well as integrating priority selection in the S&T policy process.

Research limitations implications

The task of evaluating priority setting exercises over a long period requires a substantial information base to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis. The projects considered in the paper also need to be analysed in a context of socio-economic development.

Practical implications

The lessons learned presented in the paper could contribute to further development of approaches to selecting science and technology priorities and critical technologies, and their more efficient implementation.

Originality value

Priority setting has significant influence on policymaking and decision-making at the national and industry level. The evaluation of a unique 20-year experience provides substantial information and practical hints for further increasing efficacy of this instrument.
Effect of roller dynamic unbalance on cage stress of high-speed cylindrical roller bearing
Authors: Cui Yongcun , Deng Sier , Ni Yanguang , Chen Guoding
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of roller dynamic unbalance on cage stress.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the impact of roller dynamic unbalance, the dynamic analysis model of high-speed cylindrical roller bearing is established. And then the results of dynamic model are used as the boundary conditions for the finite element analysis model of roller and cage to obtain the cage stress.

Findings

Roller dynamic unbalance affects the contact status between roller and cage pocket and causes the overall increase in cage stress. The most significant impact on cage stress is roller dynamic unbalance in angular direction of roller axis, followed by radial and axial directions. Smaller radial clearance of bearing and a reasonable range of pocket clearance are beneficial to reduce the impact of roller dynamic unbalance on cage stress; the larger cage guide clearance is a disadvantage to decrease cage stress. The impact of roller dynamic unbalance on cage stress under high-speed condition is greater than that in low-speed conditions.

Originality/value

The research can provide some theoretical guidance for the design and manufacture of bearing in high-speed cylindrical roller bearing.
Analysis of dynamic characteristics of spiral groove liquid film seal considering cavitation
Authors: Hao Mu-ming , Yang Wen-jing , Cao Heng-chao , Xu Lu-shuai , Wang Yun-lei , Li Yong-fan
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dynamic characteristics of a spiral groove liquid film seal considering the effect of cavitation.

Design/methodology/approach

A mathematical model of a spiral groove liquid film seal was established based on the mass-conserving Jakobsson–Floberg–Olsson cavitation boundary condition. The film rupture and film reformation boundaries were assumed to be unchanged under infinitesimal perturbation conditions. Governing equations under steady and perturbed states were solved by the finite element method, and then the dynamic characteristics of the spiral groove liquid film seal were theoretically investigated considering the effect of cavitation.

Findings

The results indicate that dynamic coefficients considering cavitation are smaller than those neglecting cavitation. The difference value is consistent with the change in cavitation area. The liquid film seal does not suffer axial instability whether considering cavitation, but its angular instability is more likely to occur when cavitation is considered.

Originality/value

For liquid lubricated non-contacting mechanical seals, the dynamic characteristics considering cavitation are investigated. The results are expected to provide a theoretical basis for improving the design method of liquid film seals.
Impacts of classic transaction cost-related factors on partner’s cooperative and opportunistic behaviour in joint ventures
Authors: Xue Jinjie , Yuan Hongping , Geng Zizhen
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate impacts of classic transaction cost-related factors (i.e. partner selection cost, specific asset investment and extorting rent cost) on joint venture (JV) partner’s cooperative and opportunistic behaviour, from the perspective of transaction cost economics.

Design/methodology/approach

Item measurements, based on which the questionnaire was developed, were derived according to a thorough search and review of related literature. In all, 226 valid responses from manufacturing enterprises in China were collected. A structural equation modelling approach was used to analyse the data and examine the fitness of the proposed model.

Findings

This study shows that partner selection cost, specific asset investment and extorting rent cost are positively related to a JV partner’s cooperative behaviour. Specific asset investment exerts the most significant influence on partner’s cooperative behaviour. The results also reveal that partner’s opportunistic behaviour is not significantly affected by specific asset investment but is negatively influenced by extorting rent cost. Both partner selection cost and extorting rent cost show positive impacts on specific asset investment.

Research limitations/implications

The investigation focused on only manufacturing enterprises in one country. Future research could be directed to investigating other countries to increase the generalizability of the findings.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that increasing the extorting rent cost to promote the probability of specific asset investment is a core element to enhance JV partner cooperation.

Originality/value

The study not only empirically investigates the relative importance of classic transaction cost-related factors on JV partner opportunism and cooperation, but also enables a deeper understanding of the interrelationship among the classic transaction cost-related factors and their influences on partner cooperation and opportunism.
Factors influencing the quality of life among Indonesian elderly
Authors: Pramesona Bayu Anggileo , Taneepanichskul Surasak
Published: October 2018

Purpose

In spite of being a significant public health concern, quality of life (QoL) amongst elderly in nursing home (NH) settings is rarely analyzed. The purpose of this paper is to examine the level of QoL and factors influencing QoL amongst elderly NH residents in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted amongst 181 elderly at three NHs in three districts in Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. Purposive sampling was used for the study site and sample collection. Face-to-face interviews were performed using the WHO Quality of Life BREF Indonesian version questionnaire to assess elderly QoL. Multivariate linear regression was performed to determine the factors influencing the QoL amongst elderly NH residents.

Findings

The response rate was 66.3 percent. A total of 64.1 percent of elderly had a fair level of QoL, whereas 16.6 percent still had a poor level of QoL. A total of 86.7 percent of elderly lived in an NH due to compulsion, and more than half (53.6 percent) perceived inadequacy of care. The QoL was significantly low amongst those who live in NHs due to compulsion, no social support resources, not receiving any kind of support, having three chronic diseases and perceived inadequacy of care (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that perceived adequacy of care reasons for living in NH was associated with QoL (p<0.001).

Originality/value

Perceived adequacy of care and reason for living in an NH were highlighted as predictors of QoL amongst elderly NH residents. Improving adequate healthcare services and developing treatment strategies to enforce the adaptation process is required in order to maintain the QoL in elderly NH residents.
A Bi-objective Covering Location Problem
Authors: El Itani Bilal , Ben Abdelaziz Fouad , Masri Hatem
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Ambulance response time is an important factor in saving lives and is highly linked with the ambulance location problem. The Maximum Expected Covering Location Problem (MEXCLP), introduced by Daskin (1983), is one of the most used ambulance location models that maximize the probability of stratifying demands for emergency medical service (EMS) centers. Due to huge increase in the operational costs of EMS centers, ambulance location models must consider the cost of coverage and the opportunity to use other companies’ private ambulances to answer emergency calls. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors propose to extend the MEXCLP to a bi-objective optimization problem where the cost of satisfying emergency calls is minimized.

Findings

The proposed model is tested using data retrieved from the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) in Beirut capital of Lebanon. The reported findings show significant enhancements in the results where the LRC can fully satisfy the perceived demands from all areas in Beirut within 9 min with an affordable cost.

Originality/value

The model is a first attempt to reduce operational costs of EMS centers while constraining the response time to satisfy emergency calls at an acceptable rate.
Intangibles and performance in oil and gas industry
Authors: Dženopoljac Vladimir , Muhammed Shahnawaz , Janošević Stevo
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which financial and market performance of companies in the oil and gas sector can be attributed to the value of their intangibles.

Design/methodology/approach

The research utilized publicly available data on global oil and gas companies from 2000 to 2015. Panel data analysis was used to assess the relationship between intangibles (measured by Calculated Intangible Value (CIV)) and financial and market performance of these companies.

Findings

Results show that intangibles had a significant impact on firm performance in multiple financial measures. Firms’ intangibles also influence their market capitalization, indicating that the financial markets discount such information in their pricing.

Research limitations/implications

Although the impact of intangibles on corporate performance is found to be significant, the size of that impact is small, suggesting that significant increase in the size of intangibles would only lead to a modest increase in corporate performance. Additionally, the research sample was limited to the top oil and gas firms listed in the Fortune 2000 global list and limits the generalization of the findings. Despite these limitations, the research provides greater confidence in using CIV to assess intangibles in organizations.

Practical implications

This research highlights the importance and ways of measurement of intangibles for managers in oil and gas companies and its significance for their firms’ performance.

Originality/value

The paper fills the gap in the literature in the assessment of intangibles in the oil and gas sector, as well as in the assessment of using CIV to measure the impact of intangibles on company performance.
Coordination, control, or charade? The role of board interlocks among business group members
Authors: Zona Fabio , Boyd Brian Keane , Takacs Haynes Katalin
Published: October 2018

Purpose

How do business groups manage their internal processes? The purpose of this paper is to explore how board interlocks between members serve as control and coordination mechanisms within business groups. The authors propose that centrality of groups’ affiliates in the group network of interlocking directorates is shaped by agency and resource dependence forces. In particular, the authors examine the role of international board ties as a resource and information conduit.

Design/methodology/approach

This study leverages proprietary information on firm-to-firm transaction ties among all 155 affiliates belonging to a large Italian business group. The authors use network analysis to develop multiple measures of the centrality of each group member, and link these to resource transactions, ownership patterns and geographic distributions. The authors test the hypotheses in a structural equation model using LISREL.

Findings

The results demonstrate that both resource exchanges and the presence of cross-national relations increase an affiliate’s central position in the group’s network of board ties. In contrast, ownership ties between members were unrelated to affiliate centrality.

Originality/value

Internal governance mechanisms of business groups are rarely studied. While groups are often portrayed as inefficient or value-destroying, the analysis of proprietary firm data suggests a very different scenario: inter-unit ties are much more supportive of a model of business groups as strategic portfolios, using internal ties to share information and resources.
Continuous linear multistep method for the general solution of first order initial value problems for Volterra integro-differential equations
Authors: Kamoh Nathaniel Mahwash , Aboiyar Terhemen
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a block method of order five for the general solution of the first-order initial value problems for Volterra integro-differential equations (VIDEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A collocation approximation method is adopted using the shifted Legendre polynomial as the basis function, and the developed method is applied as simultaneous integrators on the first-order VIDEs.

Findings

The new block method possessed the desirable feature of the Runge–Kutta method of being self-starting, hence eliminating the use of predictors.

Originality/value

In this paper, some information about solving VIDEs is provided. The authors have presented and illustrated the collocation approximation method using the shifted Legendre polynomial as the basis function to investigate solving an initial value problem in the class of VIDEs, which are very difficult, if not impossible, to solve analytically. With the block approach, the non-self-starting nature associated with the predictor corrector method has been eliminated. Unlike the approach in the predictor corrector method where additional equations are supplied from a different formulation, all the additional equations are from the same continuous formulation which shows the beauty of the method. However, the absolute stability region showed that the method is A-stable, and the application of this method to practical problems revealed that the method is more accurate than earlier methods.
Distributional analyses of word frequency effects in Chinese sentence reading and lexical decision tasks
Authors: Ma Guojie , Zhuang Xiangling
Published: October 2018

Previous studies used the ex‐Gaussian fitting technique to examine the distribution of word frequency effects in English sentence reading and lexical decision tasks. It was found that word frequency influences reaction times and eye fixation durations by both shifting the distribution to the right and increasing the skew for the low‐frequency target words. We used the same method to examine the distributional effects of word frequency through a Chinese sentence reading task in Experiment 1 and a lexical decision task in Experiment 2. Experiment 1 showed that word frequency only significantly influenced rightward skew for first fixation duration, while Experiment 2 showed that word frequency influenced reaction times by both shifting the distribution to the right and increasing the skew. Our data reveal both similarities and differences between Chinese and English word recognition on the distributional level, which has certain theoretical implications for modelling Chinese reading.
The British financial revolution and the empire of credit in St. Kitts and Nevis, 1706–21*
Authors: Graham Aaron
Published: October 2018

The British ‘financial revolution’ was a colonial as well as a metropolitan phenomenon. Yet the structures used by colonists to participate in it have rarely been studied in their own right. A close examination of the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, which received almost £100,000 in government debentures between 1706 and 1721, confirms that they used the same types of networks and agents as their counterparts in Britain and Ireland to overcome the problems of distance and to manage their investments. In functional terms, the new ‘empire of credit’ was therefore merely an extension of the British financial revolution.
Ethnic disparities in relationships of obesity indices with telomere length in Asians with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Gurung Resham Lal , M Yiamunaa , Liu Sylvia , Liu Jian‐Jun , Chan Si Min , Moh Mei Chung , Ang Keven , Tang Wern Ee , Sum Chee Fang , Tavintharan Subramaniam , Lim Su Chi ,   For The SMART2D Study
Published: October 2018

Background

Obesity and shorter telomeres increase the risk for diabetes complications and mortality. However, the relationship between obesity and telomere length in diverse Asian populations with type 2 diabetes (T2D) is not well understood. This study examined the association of baseline and changes in obesity indices with telomere length in multiethnic Asian populations with T2D.

Methods

Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the SMART2D cohort (n = 1431 at baseline, n = 1039 after 3.2 years median follow‐up). Associations between obesity indices and LTL were assessed by linear regression.

Results

Compared with Chinese, LTL was longer in Malays (P < 0.0001) and similar in Indians. Cross‐sectionally, body mass index (BMI)‐adjusted (residual) visceral fat area (VFA; β = −0.004, P = 0.006), and waist‐to‐hip ratio (β = −1.95, P = 0.030) were significantly associated with LTL in Chinese but not in Malays and Indians. Changes in BMI (r = −0.080; P = 0.053) and VFA (r = −0.126; P = 0.002) were inversely correlated with changes in LTL only in Chinese. Furthermore, in Chinese, 1‐SD incremental changes in BMI (β = −0.070; P = 0.040) and VFA (β = −0.088, P = 0.028) were significantly associated with larger telomere attrition, independent of age, sex, diabetes condition, baseline LTL, obesity, and inflammation markers.

Conclusions

Three‐year changes in BMI and VFA were associated with telomere dynamics in Chinese but not in Malays and Indians with T2D. Reducing obesity may reduce the risk of diabetes complications associated with shorter LTL in the Chinese population.
Dynamic price competition in auto insurance brokerage
Authors: Braido Luis H.B. , Ledo Bruno C.A.
Published: October 2018

We analyze Brazilian data on auto insurance and document that (a) about 20% of policies are sold without brokerage commission; (b) over 40% are sold at the highest fee allowed; and (c) the remaining contracts are associated with a spread‐out distribution of fees. Static models cannot rationalize these findings. We develop a dynamic model of price competition with search and switching costs that reproduces them. We use the equilibrium structure to estimate the model parameters and infer the brokers' expected earnings, the frequency that insurees switch brokers, and the counterfactual effects of a price ceiling policy.