bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caesium propanoate monohydrate
Authors: Samolová Erika , Fábry Jan
Published: July 2020

Caesium propanoate monohydrate, Cs+·C3H5O2−·H2O, is composed of two symmetry-independent Cs+cations, which are situated on the special position 4eof space groupP\overline421m, one symmetry-independent propanoate molecule in a general position and a pair of water molecules also situated on special position 4e. Two pairs of these symmetry-independent cations, four propanoate molecules and two pairs of symmetry-independent water molecules form a repeat unit. These units form columns that are directed along thecaxis and possess symmetrymm2. There are four such columns passing through each unit cell. Each column is interconnected to its neighbours by four bifurcated three-centred Ow—H...Op(w = water, p = propanoate) hydrogen bonds of moderate strength. There are also four intramolecular Ow—H...Ophydrogen bonds of moderate strength within each column. One Cs+cation is coordinated by six oxygen atoms (two water and four carboxylate) in a trigonal–prismatic geometry, while the other Cs+cation is coordinated by four water and four carboxylate O atoms in a tetragonal–prismatic arrangement.
“He Iwi tahi tatou”: Aotearoa and the legacy of state-sponsored national narrative
Authors: Kinnear Susan Lilico
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the internal historical forces that shaped national identity in New Zealand and how state-sponsored ideographs and cultural narratives, played out in nation branding, government–public relations activity, film and the literature, contributed to the rise of present days’ racism and hostility towards non-Pakeha constructions of New Zealand’s self-imagining.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes a cultural materialist approach, coupled with postcolonial perspectives, to build an empirical framework to analyse specific historical texts and artefacts that were supported and promoted by the New Zealand Government at the point of decolonisation. Traditional constructions of cultural nationalism, communicated through state-sponsored advertising, public information films and national literature, are challenged and re-evaluated in the context of race, gender and socio-economic status.

Findings

A total of three major groupings or themes were identified: crew, core and counterdiscourse cultures that each projected a different construction of New Zealand’s national identity. These interwoven themes produced a wider interpretation of identity than traditional cultural nationalist constructions allowed, still contributing to exclusionary formations of identity that alienated non-Pakeha New Zealanders and encouraged racism and intolerance.

Research limitations/implications

The research study is empirical in nature and belongs to a larger project looking at a range of Pakeha constructions of identity. The article itself does not therefore fully consider Maori constructions of New Zealand’s identity.

Originality/value

The focus on combining cultural materialism, postcolonial approaches to analysis and counterdiscourse in order to analyse historical national narrative provides a unique perspective on the forces that contribute to racism and intolerance in New Zealand’s society. The framework developed can be used to evaluate the historical government communications activity and to better understand how nation branding leads to the exclusion of minority communities.
Two efficient computational technique for fractional nonlinear Hirota–Satsuma coupled KdV equations
Authors: Prakash Amit , Verma Vijay
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply an efficient hybrid computational numerical technique, namely, q-homotopy analysis Sumudu transform method (q-HASTM) and residual power series method (RPSM) for finding the analytical solution of the non-linear time-fractional Hirota–Satsuma coupled KdV (HS-cKdV) equations.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed technique q-HASTM is the graceful amalgamations of q-homotopy analysis method with Sumudu transform via Caputo fractional derivative, whereas RPSM depend on generalized formula of Taylors series along with residual error function.

Findings

To illustrate and validate the efficiency of the proposed technique, the authors analyzed the projected non-linear coupled equations in terms of fractional order. Moreover, the physical behavior of the attained solution has been captured in terms of plots and by examining the L2 and L∞ error norm for diverse value of fractional order.

Originality/value

The authors implemented two technique, q-HASTM and RPSM to obtain the solution of non-linear time-fractional HS-cKdV equations. The obtained results and comparison between q-HASTM and RPSM, shows that the proposed methods provide the solution of non-linear models in form of a convergent series, without using any restrictive assumption. Also, the proposed algorithm is easy to implement and highly efficient to analyze the behavior of non-linear coupled fractional differential equation arisen in various area of science and engineering.
Design information release under alternative design-construction modes
Authors: Kalach Mayssa , Abdul-Malak Mohamed-Asem , Srour Issam
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of schedule compression under alternative project delivery methods (APDMs) on the design information release (DIR). The objectives are to understand the dynamics and the respective implications of the DIR under alternative design-construction (DC) modes (e.g. fast-track).

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of work includes: (1) identifying the relevant factors that may impact the release of design deliverables under APDMs, (2) representing the selected APDMs with corresponding DC sequencing modes and (3) conceptualizing the possible alternative dynamics of the released deliverables.

Findings

The findings reveal that in contrast to the traditional one-time packaging of design deliverables, multiple DIR – with less certainty on their scope, timing, frequency and coordination quality – are released under alternative DC modes. This uncertainty mainly emanates from the deduced impact of the identified factors (e.g. DC overlapping intensity and degree of pressure by the builder) on the design deliverables dynamics.

Practical implications

This study can be of benefit to Architecture/Engineering (A/E) professionals as well as to project owners in better planning for their roles and responsibilities under each of the identified modes, as it helps raising their awareness on new issues brought about by APDMs. For instance, the presented analysis indirectly informs designers, design review professionals and project owners about a potentially increased liability exposure emanating from the reduced certainty on the DIR's coordination quality. Moreover, it informs design managers about the need for a design team's re-formation and/or re-structuring (i.e. of the involved staff) in order to accommodate for the hypothesized DIR dynamics.

Originality/value

This work offers a novel study that theorizes the impact of time-reduction-related factors, under alternative DC modes, on the release of design deliverables.
Carbon Roots International (CRI)
Authors: Altay Nezih , Pal Raktim
Published: July 2020

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes are as follows: successful students will demonstrate an understanding of challenges in producing and delivering a product in emerging economies; they will be able to analyze the tradeoffs in operational decisions of a social enterprise; and students will apply supply chain principles to solve social and environmental challenges.

Case overview/synopsis

Carbon Roots International is a social enterprise in Haiti producing and selling charcoal from sugar cane waste. Their operational challenge is designing a supply chain, which enables them to accomplish their social goals while building a profitable enterprise.

Complexity academic level

This case can be used in graduate operations management and supply chain management courses. The company in the case is a social enterprise.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 9: Operations and Logistics
Mentoring development at student international business case competitions
Authors: Damnjanovic Vesna , Proud William , Milosavljevic Milos
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Management education has received an immense amount of attention from both scholars and practitioners in the last few decades. Most research efforts have aimed at improving classroom education processes, programs and outcomes. Only a limited amount of research has focused on extracurricular activities such as mentoring top talented students for international business case competitions. This paper aims to examine the knowledge flow between mentors and strategic management undergraduates while they prepare for international business case competitions. This flow provides the opportunity for the development of phronetic skills, knowledge and leadership potential of undergraduates.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand the flow, 55 mentors worldwide were examined to provide evidence of their mentoring practices, perceived development of undergraduates and reverse learning of the business schools' top talents. For the analysis, the study used partial least squares–structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that extracurricular mentoring of business case competitors strongly affects their development and creates recursive effects on the development of mentoring activities.

Research limitations/implications

Given the parsimony of mentors for premier global case study competitions, the findings of this study cannot easily be generalized to mentoring as such.

Originality/value

Despite the importance of the topics, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, a study of this kind has never been conducted before. For the construct of the authors’ model, the study was inspired by the multistage mentoring process theory.
Camouflage detection with texture statistical characterization in autonomous systems
Authors: Chennamsetty Pulla Rao , Avula Guruvareddy , Chunduri buchhi Ramarao
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the research work is to detect camouflaged objects in autonomous systems of military applications and civilian applications such as detecting insects in paddy fields, identifying duplicate products in different texture environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Camouflaged objects detection is performed by smoothing texture with nonlinear models and characterizing with statistical methods to detect the objects.

Findings

There are few challenges in existing camouflaged objects detection due to the complexities involved in the detection process. This work proposes a constructive approach with texture statistical characterization for camouflage detection. The proposed technique is found to be better than existing methods while assessing its performance using precision and recall.

Research limitations/implications

Even though there is lot of research work carried, there are few challenges for autonomous systems in camouflage detection due to the complexities involved in the detection process such as texture modeling and dynamic background problems and environment conditions for autonomous system.

Practical implications

Camouflage detection finds potential applications in security systems, surveillance, military and autonomous systems. The proposed work is implemented in different environments for camouflage detection.

Social implications

Social problems such as image acquisition environment, time of day, desert, forest and grass fields of paddy.

Originality/value

The proposed method detects camouflaged objects in autonomous systems where it is applied for images of different kinds. It is found to be effective on images recorded in battlefield and challenging environments.
Does the origin matter? The effects of cross-border mergers and acquisitions in France
Authors: Carril-Caccia Federico
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The present article analyses the effects of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBM&As) on targets' total factor productivity (TFP), employment, wages and intangible-asset investment. The author investigates whether the impact of CBM&As differs depending on the origin of the investing multinational (MNE). The author distinguishes between CBM&As from European countries, other developed countries and emerging countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The author makes use of a unique firm-level data set of foreign direct investment in the French manufacturing sector. The authors applies propensity score matching and difference in differences to estimate the effect of CBM&As.

Findings

The results show that the consequences of CBM&As differ strongly depending on the origin. CBM&As from European MNEs have a positive impact on TFP, wages and intangible-asset investment, and those from emerging countries seem to increase wages and intangible-asset investments. In contrast, CBM&As that originate from MNEs from other developed countries do not have a significant effect.

Originality/value

This article contributes to the growing literature on the effects of foreign direct investment that highlights the relevance of accounting for the MNEs' origin. In particular, it is the first to address the impact of emerging-country MNEs' CBM&As in Europe.
Social economic impact of COVID-19 outbreak in India
Authors: M. Sandeep Kumar , V. Maheshwari , J. Prabhu , M. Prasanna , P. Jayalakshmi , P. Suganya , M.B. Benjula Anbu Malar , Jothikumar R.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The situations of COVID-19 will certainly have an adverse effect over and above health care on factors of the internet of things (IoT) market. To overcome all the above issues, IoT devices and sensors can be used to track and monitor the movement of the people, so that necessary actions can be taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Mobile devices can be used for contact tracing of the affected person by analyzing the geomap of the travel history. This will prevent the spread and reset the economy to the normal condition.

Design/methodology/approach

To respond to the global COVID-19 outbreak, the social-economic implications of COVID-19 on specific dimensions of the global economy are analyzed in this study. The situations of COVID-19 will certainly have an adverse effect over and above health care on factors of the IoT market. To overcome these issues IoT devices and sensors can be used to track and monitor the movement of the people so that necessary actions can be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Mobile devices can be used for contact tracing of the affected person by analyzing the geomap of the travel history. This will prevent the spread and reset the economy to the normal condition. A few reviews, approaches, and guidelines are provided in this article along these lines. Moreover, insights about the effects of the pandemic on various sectors such as agriculture, medical industry, finance, information technology, manufacturing and many others are provided. These insights may support strategic decision making and policy framing activities for the top level management in private and government sectors.

Findings

With insecurities of a new recession and economic crisis, key moments such as these call for strong and powerful governance in health, business, government, and large society. Instant support measures have to be initiated and adapted for those who can drop through the cracks. Mid- and long-term strategies are required to stabilize and motivate the economy during this recession.

Originality/value

A comprehensive social-economic development strategy that consists of sector by sector schemes and infrastructure that supports business to ensure the success of those with reliable and sustainable business models is necessary. From the literature analysis and real world observations it is concluded that the IoT, sensors, wearable devices and computational technologies plays major role in preserving the economy of the country by preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Optimal constant-stress ADDT plan with one main effect and one interaction effect
Authors: Srivastava Preeti Wanti , Manisha Manisha , Agarwal Manju
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Degradation measurement of some products requires destructive inspection; that is, the degradation of each unit can be observed only once. For example, observation on the mechanical strength of interconnection bonds or on the dielectric strength of insulators requires destruction of the unit. Testing high-reliability items under normal operating conditions yields a small amount of degradation in a reasonable length of time. To overcome this problem, the items are tested at higher than normal stress level – an approach called an accelerated destructive degradation test (ADDT). The present paper deals with formulation of constant-stress ADDT (CSADDT) plan with the test specimens subject to stress induced by temperature and voltage.

Design/methodology/approach

The stress–life relationship between temperature and voltage is described using Zhurkov–Arrhenius model. The fractional factorial experiment has been used to determine optimal number of stress combinations. The product's degradation path follows Wiener process. The model parameters are estimated using method of maximum likelihood. The optimum plan consists in finding out optimum allocations at each inspection time corresponding to each stress combination by using variance optimality criterion.

Findings

The method developed has been explained using a numerical example wherein point estimates and confidence intervals for the model parameters have been obtained and likelihood ratio test has been used to test for the presence of interaction effect. It has been found that both the temperature and the interaction between temperature and voltage influence the quantile lifetime of the product. Sensitivity analysis is also carried out.

Originality/value

Most of the work in the literature on the design of ADDT plans focusses on only a single stress factor. An interaction exists among two or more stress factors if the effect of one factor on a response depends on the levels of other factors. In this paper, an optimal CSADDT plan is studied with one main effect and one interaction effect. The method developed can help engineers study the effect of elevated temperature and its interaction with another stress factor, say, voltage on quantile lifetime of a high-reliability unit likely to last for several years.
How does contract completeness affect tacit knowledge acquisition?
Authors: Wang Longwei , Song Meige , Zhang Min , Wang Li
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to empirically investigate the role of contracts in tacit knowledge acquisition in research and development (R&D) alliances. By combining the perspectives of sensemaking and transaction cost economics (TCE), this study proposes a model about the mechanisms through which shared goals and contract completeness jointly affect tacit knowledge acquisition.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a quantitative design and used the questionnaire survey method to collect data. The authors finally collected data on 196 R&D alliance samples in China. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

There is strong empirical support that contract completeness has a positive effect on shared goals and that shared goals have a positive effect on tacit knowledge acquisition. Meanwhile, contract completeness weakens the positive effect of shared goals on tacit knowledge acquisition. Therefore, this study reveals that contract completeness has an inverted U-shaped effect on tacit knowledge acquisition.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that managers should consider both the psychological and rational effects of contract governance simultaneously, thus recognizing the importance of a moderate level of contract completeness for tacit knowledge acquisition in R&D alliances.

Originality/value

This study enhances the current understanding of contract governance by integrating the sensemaking and TCE perspectives. The findings provide a possible explanation of how contracts affect tacit knowledge acquisition in R&D alliances. The authors expand the research on contract governance and alliance knowledge acquisition by revealing the inverted U-shaped relationship between contract governance and tacit knowledge acquisition.
Determinants of corporate corruption disclosures: evidence based on EU listed firms
Authors: Jaggi Bikki , Allini Alessandra , Ginesti Gianluca , Macchioni Riccardo
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of corporate board characteristics and country-level legal system on corruption disclosures mandated by the recent European Union (EU) Directive No. 95/2014.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a sample of 234 European listed companies and covering the 2017–2018 period, this study uses regression analyses to empirically test the association of independent directors, board gender diversity and country’s legal system with disclosure of corruption information.

Findings

The presence of independent directors and female directors is positively associated with corporate corruption disclosures. The association between independent directors and corruption disclosures is especially strong when firms are operating in the common law environments.

Research limitations/implications

This study is exclusively focused on larger European listed firms and therefore the findings may not be valid for small and medium firms.

Practical implications

This study provides important information to policymakers to have a better understanding of the factors that influence firms’ disclosure policy on corruption-related activities. It also offers useful information to investors because it shows firms’ propensity to disclose corruption information that would enable them to evaluate their risk and return better.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that evaluates firms’ response to the EU Directive No. 95/2014 in disclosing corruption information after its implementation in 2017. It documents the effective role played by female directors in influencing firms’ information disclosure policies. It also confirms that common law environment is more conducive to disclosures.
A passenger running west on a ship headed east: positioning Turkish HRM on the convergence and divergence continuum
Authors: Bayraktaroglu Serkan , Atay Erhan , Ilhan Habibe
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand whether circumstantial factors in Turkey create a unique approach to human resource management (HRM) determining its place on the convergence and divergence continuum.

Design/methodology/approach

Turkish HRM literature, based on 39 journal articles published between the years 1998 and 2018, are analyzed through an institutional theory lens using content analysis.

Findings

The ambiguity of the convergence and divergence issue in Turkey may be argued as HRM is still not considered as a primary management function in Turkey. There appear to be only a small number of original studies that preserve cultural values as well as follow new trends within the discipline.

Originality/value

This study broadens the understanding of the developmental trajectories of HRM by examining the context, history and advancement of HRM in Turkey as an example of developing economies.
Recognizing and realizing the value of customer-focused property management
Authors: Sanderson Danielle Claire , Read Dustin C.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to increase awareness of the value that can be derived from embracing customer service and ensuring tenant satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This literature review synthesizes the results of research conducted around the world to examine the value proposition of customer-focused property management. The literature was identified through a search of academic journal articles and industry publications, together with the authors' experience of working with industry practitioners. Drawing on these sources, the authors identify five emerging trends that are likely to make customer service an even more critical part of property managers' jobs and propose best practices to help property managers actualize the benefits.

Findings

Three themes emerge from the literature. First, property managers can add significant value to real estate portfolios by delivering high-quality customer service to tenants. Second, emerging trends in the real estate industry are creating new opportunities for property managers to participate in the value creation process. Third, there are a number of steps property managers can take to leverage customer service to benefit the real estate investors they represent.

Practical implications

Real estate investors, and the property managers working on their behalf, can realize the advantages of customer-focused property management by adopting a series of straightforward best practices, which are discussed in the paper.

Social implications

The trends identified and practical steps proposed are likely to be all the more relevant in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

This research should increase awareness of customer-focused property management and the mechanisms through which it can affect real estate returns. The ten best practices proposed should help property managers deliver effective service to tenants and achieve the associated financial benefits for investors.
Emerging treatments for atopic dermatitis
Authors: Katoh Norito
Published: July 2020

Increasing information on the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis (AD), accumulating data on cellular and molecular pathways in immunological reactions and inflammation, and the expansion of biotechnology and pharmacology have collectively contributed to the development of new pharmacological agents for AD. Novel pharmaceutical agents, including biologics targeting cytokines, which play pathogenetic roles in AD, for example, interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐13, IL‐31 and IL‐22, Janus kinase inhibitors, phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors and histamine H4 receptor antagonists, have been approved or are being developed. These agents are expected to be effective in AD patients with skin signs and/or symptoms that are refractory to conventional treatments. The development of novel drugs will accompany the use of predictive biomarkers for each agent in order to optimize treatment in each patient. Convenient tools that support self‐decision‐making by patients to reflect their preferences, which will increase treatment satisfaction and adherence, are also anticipated.
Public and Private Think Tank Visibility in the Danish Parliament and Media
Authors: Kelstrup Jesper Dahl , Blach‐Ørsten Mark
Published: July 2020

While the number of think tanks in Denmark has increased considerably in recent decades, our knowledge about their visibility in political arenas is limited. The article explores how and why the mentions of private and public think tanks in the parliamentary and media arenas has developed from 2005 to 2018. Building on insights from previous studies of think tanks, publicly funded think tanks are expected to achieve more parliamentary mentions than private think tanks because they are expected to be more heavily influenced by institutionalized norms to target inside actors through parliament. By contrast, privately funded think tanks are expected to achieve more media mentions than public think tanks, because they are policymaking outsiders and emphasize public advocacy over direct influence. Although publicly funded think tanks have been more visible in the parliamentary arena than private think tanks, their visibility has declined. Private think tanks are more visible than public think tanks, but media visibility for privately funded think tanks also drops towards the end of the period. The article concludes that public or private funding cannot fully explain changes in think tank visibility in the two arenas over time. Instead media and parliamentary mentions are driven by a handful of think tanks while most think tanks struggle to achieve and maintain parliamentary and media visibility over time.
Distinct determinants of muscle wasting in nonobese heart failure patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Yano Toshiyuki , Katano Satoshi , Kouzu Hidemichi , Nagaoka Ryohei , Inoue Takuya , Takamura Yuhei , Ishigo Tomoyuki , Watanabe Ayako , Ohori Katsuhiko , Koyama Masayuki , Nagano Nobutaka , Fujito Takefumi , Nishikawa Ryo , Hashimoto Akiyoshi , Miura Tetsuji
Published: July 2020

Background

Muscle wasting, that is, reduction in muscle mass, is frequently observed in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

We retrospectively examined 185 patients with CHF (median age of 71 years [interquartile range, 61‐78 years]; 64% male) who received a dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry scan for assessment of appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI).

Results

Seventy patients with CHF (38%) had DM. Patients with DM had higher prevalences of ischemic heart disease and hypertension, lower levels of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and ASMI, and higher levels of plasma renin activity (PRA) than did patients without DM. In simple regression analyses, ASMI was positively correlated with the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA‐SF) score and levels of hemoglobin, eGFR, and fasting plasma insulin and was negatively correlated with levels of N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide, PRA, and cortisol. In multiple linear regression analyses, age, MNA‐SF score, DM, fasting plasma insulin level, and PRA were independently associated with ASMI. When multiple linear regression analyses were separately performed in a non‐DM group and a DM group, MNA‐SF score and fasting plasma insulin level were independent variables for ASMI in both groups. PRA was independently associated with ASMI in the DM group but not in the non‐DM group, whereas cortisol concentration was independently associated with ASMI only in the non‐DM group.

Conclusions

In addition to malnutrition and reduction in plasma insulin, renin‐angiotensin system activation may be responsible for the development of muscle wasting in CHF patients with DM.
Outcome of biopsy‐proven lupus nephritis with low glomerular filtration rate at presentation
Authors: Haridasan Satish , Rathi Manish , Sharma Aman , Nada Ritambhra , Kumar Sachin , Ramachandran Raja , Kohli Harbir Singh
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Currently, there is limited data regarding the outcomes of lupus nephritis (LN) with moderate to severe renal failure at presentation (defined by low glomerular filtration rate; GFR <30 mL/min).

Methods

Sixty‐four patients with biopsy‐proven LN and estimated GFR (eGFR) <30 mL/min were prospectively analyzed. Outcome measure of persistently low eGFR, end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) or death at 365 days were grouped as Major Adverse Kidney Events (MAKE365).

Results

Diagnosis of lupus was simultaneous with onset of renal disease in 60% of cases. Histologically, 82.3% (n = 51) were class IV, the median serum creatinine was 4 mg/dL (interquartile range [IQR] 3.1‐5.9 mg/dL), median eGFR was 13.75 mL/min (IQR 9.25‐19 mL/min) and 42.2% (n = 27) required dialysis at presentation. Induction regimens included National Institute of Health (68.2%), Eurolupus protocol (10.9%) and mycophenolate mofetil (8%). Over 365 days, 23 (37.5%) subjects died, while 41 (62.5%) survived. The majority of deaths were due to infection and sepsis (14/23). Among the survivors, 70.7% had good renal outcome, 12.1% had persistently low GFR (<30 mL/min), while 17% developed ESRD. In this group, treatment response rate was 84.6% (complete response 25.6%, partial response 59%). Those with a better renal function at presentation had a good treatment response (100% vs. 40%). Altogether, n = 35 (54.6%) were included in the MAKE365 category. Between the renal survival group (n = 29) versus the MAKE365 group (n = 35) there was no difference in clinical or histological parameters.

Conclusion

The current treatment protocols had a good response rate in patients with LN even with severe kidney injury at presentation. However, the risk of serious infections and subsequent mortality was high.
Three‐dimensional printed polyether‐ether‐ketone implant for extensive chest wall reconstruction: A case report
Authors: Wang Lei , Liu Xi , Jiang Tao , Huang Lijun
Published: July 2020

Three‐dimensional printed (3DP) implant offers a valid option with perfect anatomic fitting in individual and skeletal reconstruction of the chest wall. Herein, we present the case of a patient with a large chest wall tumor, where an extensive chest wall defect was repaired using 3DP polyether‐ether‐ketone (PEEK) implants. Surgical treatment planning was performed according to the computed tomography (CT) images in DICOM format. A 3DP implant was then design and fabricated. A wide excision of the chest wall tumor was performed, including the entire sternum, 2–6 costal cartilage and ribs, and parietal pleura. Furthermore, a skeletal reconstruction was carried out using a 3DP PEEK implant. The patient recovered well without surgical complications or tumor recurrence in the following year. In general, 3DP PEEK implant is an appropriate alternative for chest wall reconstruction.

Key points

Significant findings of the study

Skeletal reconstruction after wide excision of the chest wall remains a challenging problem for clinicians.

What this study adds

3DP PEEK implant is an appropriate alternative for chest wall reconstruction.
Prescription patterns of psychotropics in patients receiving synthetic glucocorticoids
Authors: Yatomi T. , Uchida T. , Takeuchi H. , Kuramochi S. , Yoshimura K. , Mimura M. , Uchida H.
Published: July 2020

Objective

Synthetic glucocorticoids cause various psychiatric symptoms. Prescription of psychotropic drugs could be considered to be a proxy for manifestation of psychiatric symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the prescriptions of psychotropics in outpatients receiving synthetic glucocorticoids.

Methods

We used the claims sampling data during January 2015 from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan made by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare in Japan. We compared the prescription rates of psychotropics between outpatients receiving oral synthetic glucocorticoids and age‐ and sex‐matched controls and the prescription rates of psychotropics among the eight dosage groups of synthetic glucocorticoids by chi‐squared test, and chlorpromazine/imipramine/diazepam equivalent doses (or daily defined doses) of respective psychotropics among these groups using Welch's t‐test.

Results

Synthetic glucocorticoids were prescribed to 3.1% (n = 18 122) of 581 990 patients. The prescription rates of psychotropics were significantly higher among the synthetic glucocorticoid recipients than among the non‐recipients: antipsychotics, 1.8% (n = 321) vs. 1.1% (n = 201) (P = 1.4 × 10−7); antidepressants, 4.0% (n = 724) vs. 2.0% (n = 359) (P = 8.7 × 10−30); anxiolytics/hypnotics, 16.7% (n = 3029) vs. 10.2% (n = 1841) (P = 2.7 × 10−75); and mood stabilizers, 1.3% (n = 238) vs. 0.7% (n = 120) (P = 3.6 × 10−10) respectively. There was no significant difference in the prescription rates of any psychotropic drugs, other than anxiolytics/hypnotics, among the eight synthetic glucocorticoid dosage groups.

Conclusion

Prescriptions of oral synthetic glucocorticoids were found to be associated with the use of any of the types of psychotropic drugs, other than anxiolytics/hypnotics, although a causal relationship could not be confirmed due to the retrospective and cross‐sectional nature of this study.
Risk to health from COVID‐19 for anaesthetists and intensivists – a narrative review
Authors: Cook T. M.
Published: July 2020

Healthcare workers are at an increased risk of infection, harm and death from COVID‐19. Close and prolonged exposure to individuals infectious with SARS‐CoV‐2 leads to infection. A person’s individual characteristics (age, sex, ethnicity and comorbidities) then influence the subsequent risk of COVID‐19 leading to hospitalisation, critical care admission or death. While relative risk is often reported as a measure of individual danger, absolute risk is more important and dynamic, particularly in the healthcare setting. Individual risk interacts with exposure and environmental risk‐factors, and the extent of mitigation to determine overall risk. Hospitals are a unique environment in which there is a significantly increased risk of infection for all healthcare workers. Anaesthetists and intensivists particularly are at high risk of exposure to SARS‐CoV‐2 infected patients due to their working environments and exposure to certain patient groups. However, the available evidence suggests that the risk for this group of individuals is not currently increased. This review examines factors associated with increased risk of infection with SARS‐CoV‐2, increasing severity of COVID‐19 and death. A risk tool is proposed that includes personal, environmental and mitigating factors, and enables an individualised dynamic ‘point‐of‐time’ risk assessment.
In utero exposure to thiopurines/anti‐TNF agents and long‐term health outcomes during childhood and adolescence in Denmark
Authors: Nørgård Bente Mertz , Nielsen Jan , Friedman Sonia
Published: July 2020

Background

Data on long‐term health outcomes of children exposed in utero to thiopurines and anti‐TNF medications are lacking.

Aims

To examine the association between in utero exposure to thiopurines and anti‐TNF medications and child health outcomes of site‐specific groups of infections, using a composite endpoint including psychiatric diagnoses/autism spectrum disorder (ASD)/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and malignancies during childhood/adolescence.

Methods

A nationwide cohort study based on Danish health registries included 1 311 009 live born children during 1995 through 2015. Outcomes were based on hospital diagnoses (in‐patients/out‐patients/emergency department contacts).

Results

In total, 1048 children were exposed in utero to thiopurines and 1 309 961 were unexposed. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for site‐specific groups of infections in the first 3 years of life were close to unity. The adjusted HR of psychiatric diagnoses/ASD/ADHD was 1.11 (95% CI 0.81‐1.52). The HR of malignancies was not calculated (only two events among the exposed). In total, 493 children were exposed in utero to anti‐TNF medications and 728 055 were unexposed. Within the first year of life, the adjusted HR of respiratory, urological/gynaecological infections and other infections were 1.34 (95% CI 1.03‐1.74), 2.36 (95% CI 1.15‐4.81) and 1.61 (95% CI 1.21‐2.13), respectively. We found no increased risk of other adverse outcomes.

Conclusions

After in utero exposure to thiopurines, we found no increased risk of infections, psychiatric diagnoses/ASD/ADHD, or malignancies during childhood/adolescence. After in utero exposure to anti‐TNF medications, the risk of respiratory, urological/gynaecological infections and other infections was increased during the first year of life.
Robotic diaphragmatic plication for eventration: A retrospective analysis of efficacy, safety, and feasibility
Authors: Bin Asaf Belal , Kodaganur Gopinath Srinivas , Kumar Arvind , Puri Harsh Vardhan , Pulle Mohan V. , Bishnoi Sukhram
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Eventration of the diaphragm results in impaired respiratory mechanics, which leads to symptoms of dyspnea. Robotic diaphragmatic plication is a recently reported technique that has had good immediate outcomes. The aim of this study was to describe our transthoracic and transabdominal plication techniques and to analyze the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of robotic diaphragmatic plication in an Indian setting.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted at a large tertiary care center in a dedicated thoracic surgery unit. To measure the efficacy of plication, we administered a pulmonary function test to each patient at baseline and 6 months postoperatively and then compared the results.

Results

Eighteen patients underwent robotic diaphragmatic plication during the study period. Of these 18 patients, 12 underwent surgery via a transabdominal approach, and 6 underwent surgery via a transthoracic approach. Surgery was completed robotically in 17 patients. The comparison of the preoperative and postoperative pulmonary function test results showed that the mean ± SD increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 19.9 ± 22.0% (P = .002) and the mean increase in FEV1/forced vital capacity was 5.7 ± 2.5 % (P = .225), indicating a significant improvement in FEV1 after surgery.

Conclusion

Robotic diaphragmatic plication can be performed transthoracically or transabdominally with good surgical outcomes. It is safe, effective, and feasible.
Evaluation of cryopreserved boar semen after supplementation sericin form silkworm (Bombyx mori) in semen extender
Authors: Ratchamak Ruthaiporn , Ratsiri Thanaporn , Kheawkanha Theerapat , Vongpralub Thevin , Boonkum Wuttigrai , Chankitisakul Vibuntita
Published: July 2020

Boar cryopreserved semen is scarcely used for artificial insemination due to its quality which is largely reduced by membrane lipid peroxidation. This present study was designed to improve the post‐thawed boar semen quality by determining the optimal level of sericin supplementation (antioxidants) in semen extender. Five levels of sericin supplementation between 0% and 1% (w/v) were examined. Semen was frozen by the liquid nitrogen vapor method, thawed slowly at 5°C for 5 min, and used for the evaluation of sperm quality. The results indicated 0.5%–1% sericin supplementation was more effective on maintenance of sperm viability, acrosome integrity, and mitochondrial functions during freezing–thawing. Moreover, 0.75% sericin supplementation was most protective toward total sperm motility and sperm progressive motility. Additionally, 0.25%–0.75% sericin supplementation significantly suppressed increases in the index of lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, 0.75% sericin is recommended as an alternative component of the freezing extender to improve cryopreserved boar semen. However, further research using AI will be necessary to demonstrate that this indication can be applied to the production of offspring in the farms.
Effects of a concept mapping‐based problem‐posing approach on students’ learning achievements and critical thinking tendency: An application in Classical Chinese learning contexts
Authors: Hwang Gwo‐Jen , Huang Hsin , Wang Ruo‐Xuan , Zhu Li‐Li
Published: July 2020

In language courses, it is important to foster students’ systematic thinking and to develop their competence to express, appreciate, criticize and reflect, in particular in such courses as classical Chinese, which aim to develop students’ cultural and literature knowledge. Problem posing is a promising strategy to achieve this objective. However, without sufficient supports, students could feel frustrated since problem posing is a challenging task, in particular for young students. In this study, a fill‐in concept mapping‐based problem‐posing approach was proposed to address this problem. A learning system was developed based on the proposed approach and a quasi‐experiment was conducted on an eighth‐grade classical Chinese course to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. The experimental results show that the concept mapping‐based problem‐posing approach improved the students’ learning achievement, critical thinking tendency and problem‐posing quality. The interview results further show that the students perceived the approach as being effective from the perspectives of “Improving article comprehension,” “Improving problem‐posing performances,” and “Boosting diverse thinking.”
Ibrutinib for central nervous system lymphoma: the Australasian Lymphoma Alliance/MD Anderson Cancer Center experience
Authors: Lewis Katharine L. , Chin Collin K. , Manos Kate , Casey John , Hamad Nada , Crawford Julie , Ho Shir‐Jing , Issa Samar , Grigg Andrew , Wood Peter , Gandhi Maher K. , Do Bryan , Nastoupil Loretta , Hawkes Eliza A. , Cheah Chan Y.
Published: July 2020

Primary and secondary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSL/SCNSL) are aggressive rare malignancies with dismal outcomes. Encouraging data have emerged from Phase I/II clinical trials treating relapsed/refractory PCNSL/SCNSL with ibrutinib. We analysed 33 patients who received ibrutinib, alone or with other therapies, for PCNSL (n = 9) or SCNSL (n = 24). The objective response rate was 58% (complete response 55%). The median progression‐free survival and overall survival for patients with PCNSL were both 3·1 months; for SCNSL, 10·2 and 11·5 months respectively. Only one invasive fungal infection was observed, despite concurrent or recent use of dexamethasone 8–16 mg daily in 14 patients (42%). Ibrutinib has encouraging activity in these aggressive malignancies.
Increased CD95 (Fas) and PD‐1 expression in peripheral blood T lymphocytes in COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Bellesi Silvia , Metafuni Elisabetta , Hohaus Stefan , Maiolo Elena , Marchionni Federica , D’Innocenzo Simone , La Sorda Marilena , Ferraironi Manuela , Ramundo Francesco , Fantoni Massimo , Murri Rita , Cingolani Antonella , Sica Simona , Gasbarrini Antonio , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Chiusolo Patrizia , De Stefano Valerio
Published: July 2020

A low count of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes is a hallmark laboratory finding in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Using flow cytometry, we observed significantly higher CD95 (Fas) and PD‐1 expression on both CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in 42 COVID‐19 patients when compared to controls. Higher CD95 expression in CD4+ cells correlated with lower CD4+ counts. A higher expression of CD95 in CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes correlated with a lower percentage of naive events. Our results might suggest a shift to antigen‐activated T cells, expressing molecules increasing their propensity to apoptosis and exhaustion during COVID‐19 infection.
Mechanism of tumor‐suppressive cell competition in flies
Authors: Kanda Hiroshi , Igaki Tatsushi
Published: July 2020

Oncogenic mutations often trigger antitumor cellular response such as induction of apoptosis or cellular senescence. Studies in the last decade have identified the presence of the third guardian against mutation‐induced tumorigenesis, namely “cell competition.” Cell competition is a context‐dependent cell elimination whereby cells with higher fitness eliminate neighboring cells with lower fitness by inducing cell death. While oncogene‐induced apoptosis or oncogene‐induced senescence acts as a cell‐autonomous tumor suppressor, cell competition protects the tissue from tumorigenesis via cell‐cell communication. For instance, in Drosophila epithelium, oncogenic cells with cell polarity mutations overproliferate and develop into tumors on their own but are eliminated from the tissue when surrounded by wild‐type cells. Genetic studies in flies have unraveled that such tumor‐suppressive cell competition is regulated by at least three mechanisms: direct cell‐cell interaction between polarity‐deficient cells and wild‐type cells, secreted factors from epithelial cells, and systemic factors from distant organs. Molecular manipulation of tumor‐suppressive cell competition could provide a novel therapeutic strategy against human cancers.