bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A phase III double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study of dexamphetamine sulfate for fatigue in primary brain tumors patients: An ANOCEF trial (DXA)
Authors: Laigle-Donadey Florence , Ducray François , Boone Matthieu , Diallo Mamadou Hassimiou , Hajage David , Ramirez Carole , Chinot Olivier , Ricard Damien , Delattre Jean-Yves
Published: November 2019

Background

Most patients suffering from a primary brain tumor (PBT) complain of chronic fatigue affecting their quality of life (QOL). We hypothesized that dexamphetamine sulfate, a psychostimulant drug, could improve fatigue in PBT patients.

Methods

A double-blind, phase III, multi-institutional, placebo-controlled randomized trial (1:1 allocation) assessed the efficacy and tolerability of dexamphetamine at a dosage of 30 mg/day in PBT patients with stable disease who complained of severe fatigue, defined as a Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20) score ≥60. The primary outcome was the variation of the MFI 20 score between inclusion and the evaluation at 3 months in nonprogressive patients. Mood, QOL and cognitive function were also evaluated.

Results

From April 2013 to November 2016, 46 patients were enrolled in the study, 41 of whom were evaluable for analysis (dexamphetamine group: 22; placebo group: 19). Tolerance was generally good, with no treatment-related deaths and no grade 4 toxicity. Patients in the dexamphetamine arm complained more frequently of psychiatric side effects (mostly hyperactivity, anxiety, sleep disorder, and irritability) than patients in the placebo arm (P = .018). There were no statistically significant differences at 3 months between the dexamphetamine and placebo arms in any of the outcomes (MFI-20, Norris Visual Analog Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), QOL (EORTC QLQ-C30/BN 20), Marin’s Apathy Evaluation Scale, and cognitive evaluations).

Conclusion

Dexamphetamine at a dosage of up to 30 mg/day for 3 months has acceptable tolerability in PBT patients but does not improve fatigue, cognitive function, or QOL.
How Do Physical Therapists Approach Management of People With Early Knee Osteoarthritis? A Qualitative Study
Authors: MacKay Crystal , Hawker Gillian A , Jaglal Susan B
Published: November 2019

Background

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability. There is increasing emphasis on initiating treatment earlier in the disease. Physical therapists are central to the management of OA through the delivery of exercise programs. There is a paucity of research on physical therapists’ perceptions and clinical behaviors related to early knee OA management.

Objective

The study aimed to explore how physical therapists approached management of early knee OA, with a focus on evidence-based strategies. This is an important first step to begin to optimize care by physical therapists for this population.

Design

We used a qualitative, descriptive research design.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 33 physical therapists working with people with knee symptoms and/or diagnosed knee OA in community or outpatient settings in Canada. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Five main themes were constructed: (1) Physical therapists’ experience and training: clinical experiences and continuing professional development informed clinical decision-making. (2) Tailoring treatment from the physical therapist “toolbox:” participants described their toolbox of therapeutic interventions, highlighting the importance of tailoring treatments to people. (3) The central role of exercise and physical activity in management: exercise was consistently recommended by participants. (4) Variability in support for weight management: there was variation related to how participants addressed weight management. (5) Facilitating “buy-in” to management: physical therapists used a range of strategies to gain “buy-in.”

Limitations

Participants were recruited through a professional association specializing in orthopedic physical therapy and worked an average of 21 years.

Conclusions

Participants’ accounts emphasized tailoring of interventions, particularly exercises, which is an evidence-based strategy for OA. Findings illuminated variations in management that warrant further exploration to optimize early intervention (eg, weight management, behavior change techniques).
Cervical Sensorimotor Control Does Not Change Over Time and Is Not Related to Chronic Idiopathic Neck Pain Characteristics: A 6-Month Longitudinal Observational Study
Authors: de Zoete Rutger M J , Osmotherly Peter G , Rivett Darren A , Snodgrass Suzanne J
Published: November 2019

Background

Cervical sensorimotor control (CSMC) outcomes have been suggested to be important in the assessment of individuals with neck pain, despite the lack of consistent supporting evidence that CSMC skills are related to neck pain.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate whether CSMC changes over time in individuals with chronic idiopathic neck pain and whether neck pain characteristics are associated with CSMC.

Design

A longitudinal observational study was performed.

Methods

A total 50 participants with chronic idiopathic neck pain and 50 matched participants who were healthy (controls) completed 7 CSMC tests (including 14 test conditions): joint position error, postural balance, subjective visual vertical, head tilt response, The Fly, smooth pursuit neck torsion, and head steadiness. Neck pain characteristics included pain intensity (visual analog scale), pain duration, and neck disability (Neck Disability Index). Linear mixed models were used to investigate whether any factors were associated with changes in CSMC.

Results

Neck pain intensity was associated with 1 of 14 CSMC test conditions (balance with torsion and eyes open), and neck disability was associated with balance with eyes open and high-load head steadiness. Other factors, including sex, age, body mass index, physical activity levels, and neck pain duration, showed no association with CSMC.

Limitations

Although all other tests involved computerized data collection, the joint position error test was administered manually, introducing the risk of researcher bias.

Conclusions

The few associations between test conditions and neck pain characteristics were at best weak; hence, these are likely to be chance findings. These results suggest that CSMC may not be associated with improvement/worsening of chronic idiopathic neck pain, spawning debate on the clinical usefulness of CSMC tests.
A Cayman Islands update on wills and trusts
Authors: Davern Raymond , Way Alex
Published: November 2019

This article looks at the principal provisions of two pieces of recent Cayman Islands legislation that are now in force and that are likely to be of interest generally to international private client practitioners: the Formal Validity of Wills (Persons Dying Abroad) Law, 2018 and the Trusts (Amendment) Law, 2019.
Spatial patterns of leptospirosis in Ecuador, 2013–2018
Authors: Núñez-González Solange , Gault Christopher , Granja Patricia , Simancas-Racines Daniel
Published: November 2019

Background

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that is considered an important public health problem in tropical regions and the world's poorest countries.

Methods

In this ecological study, we included cases of leptospirosis reported in Ecuador from 2013 to 2018. Spatial autocorrelation was evaluated through the global Moran I index and spatial-temporal scan statistics were used to identify high-risk clusters.

Results

In Ecuador, the leptospirosis incidence rates decreased from 3.3 cases per 100 000 population in 2013 to 0.8 cases per 100 000 population in 2018. The global Moran I index for the study period showed a positive spatial autocorrelation (0.68; p=0.001). We identified three significant spatial-temporal clusters for a high occurrence of leptospirosis incidence located in cantons of the Coast and Amazon regions.

Conclusions

The clusters identified could be targeted by policymakers and stakeholders in order to direct surveillance and understand the dynamics of the distribution of leptospirosis in Ecuador.
Overexpression of oxyR Increases Phenazine-1-Carboxylic Acid Biosynthesis via Small RNA phrS in the Rhizobacterium Strain Pseudomonas PA1201
Authors: Sun Shuang , Tan Loh Teng-Hern , Fang Yun-Ling , Jin Zi-Jing , Zhou Lian , Goh Bey-Hing , Lee Learn-Han , Zhou Jun , He Ya-Wen
Published: November 2019

Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) is the primary active component in the newly registered, commercial biopesticide Shenqinmycin and is produced during fermentation by the engineered rhizobacterium strain Pseudomonas PA1201. Both phz1 and phz2 gene clusters contribute to PCA biosynthesis. In this study, we evaluated the role of OxyR in the regulation of PCA biosynthesis in PA1201. We first showed a functional link between oxyR expression and PCA biosynthesis. Deletion of oxyR and overexpression of oxyR both increase PCA biosynthesis. The molecular mechanisms underlying OxyR regulation of PCA production were investigated using several approaches. OxyR acts divergently in phz1 and phz2. Overexpression of oxyR activated the expression of phz1 and phz1-dependent PCA production. However, overexpression of oxyR had little effect on phz2-dependent PCA biosynthesis, while deletion of oxyR promoted phz2-dependent PCA production and exerted a negative effect on phz2 expression. Further, OxyR directly bound to the phz2 promoter region. In addition, the regulation of PCA biosynthesis by OxyR was associated with quorum sensing (QS) systems. Overexpression of OxyR positively regulated pqs QS system. Finally, transcriptomic analysis and subsequent genetic analysis revealed the small RNA phrS plays a key role in OxyR-dependent PCA accumulation. Specifically, OxyR directly binds to the phrS promoter region to positively regulate phrS expression wherein PhrS regulates the PCA positive regulator MvfR in order to control PCA biosynthesis.
Talaromyces minioluteus: New Postharvest Fungal Pathogen in Serbia
Authors: Stošić Stefan , Ristić Danijela , Gašić Katarina , Starović Mira , Ljaljević Grbić Milica , Vukojević Jelena , Živković Svetlana
Published: November 2019

Talaromyces minioluteus is one of the important species of genus Talaromyces, which has cosmopolitan distribution and is encountered on a wide range of different habitats. This species has not been considered as an important plant pathogen, even though it has been isolated from various plant hosts. Fruits and vegetables with Penicillium-like mold symptoms were collected from 2015 to 2017 from markets in Serbia. Isolates originating from quince, tomato, and orange fruits, onion bulbs, and potato tubers were identified and characterized on a morphological, physiological, and molecular level. Morphological and physiological examination included observing micromorphology, testing growth on six different media and at five different temperatures, and production of three enzymes. Molecular identification and characterization were performed using four molecular markers: internal transcribed spacer, β-tubulin, calmodulin, and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II second largest subunit. The results of morphological and molecular analyses were in agreement, and they proved that the obtained isolates are T. minioluteus. In the pathogenicity assay, T. minioluteus was confirmed as a pathogen of all species tested with the exception of potato tubers. This is the first report of T. minioluteus as a postharvest plant pathogen on quince, tomato, and orange fruit and onion bulbs. Also, this is the first record of T. minioluteus in Serbia.
Corynespora cassiicola Isolates from Soybean in Alabama Detected with G143A Mutation in the Cytochrome b Gene
Authors: Rondon Marina Nunes , Lawrence Kathy S.
Published: November 2019

Corynespora cassiicola C.T. Wei is a widespread plant pathogenic fungus that causes target-shaped necrotic spots on plant leaves and on stems, roots, flowers, and fruits and has been recorded worldwide on up to 400 plant species. The disease is known as Corynespora leaf spot or target spot on cotton and soybean. A single DNA fragment (600 bp) was amplified using described primers, and based on cytb nucleotide sequences, four out of 12 isolates of C. cassiicola were found to have a mutation that replaces the codon for amino acid 143 from GGT to GCT, resulting in an amino acid change from glycine to alanine (G143A). All four isolates were sampled from soybean plants located in north (LIM14) and central (ELM04, ELM06, and ELM07) Alabama. No other point mutation on cytb was found for six C. cassiicola isolates sampled on cotton (BRW03, MAC01, FHP01, FHP22, HSV01, and HSV12) or on other two isolates sampled on soybean (LIM02 and LIM13). Other known mutations were found in our isolates. According to the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee, C. cassiicola rapidly developed resistance to fungicides and is an example of a pathogen that must be classified as a high risk of developing resistance to a different fungicide class. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to report a G143A mutant in C. cassiicola from field populations in the United States.
The inevitability of sphalerons in field theory
Authors: Manton N. S.
Published: November 2019

The topological structure of field theory often makes inevitable the existence of stable and unstable localized solutions of the field equations. These are minima and saddle points of the energy. Saddle point solutions occurring this way are known as sphalerons, and the most interesting one is in the electroweak theory of coupled
W
,
Z
and Higgs bosons. The topological ideas underpinning sphalerons are reviewed here.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Topological avatars of new physics’.
The MoEDAL experiment: a new light on the high-energy frontier
Authors: Pinfold James L.
Published: November 2019

MoEDAL is a pioneering LHC experiment designed to search for anomalously ionizing messengers of new physics, such as the magnetic monopole. After a test run at 8 TeV centre-of-mass energy (
E
cm
), it started official data taking at the LHC at an
E
cm
of 13 TeV, in 2015. Its groundbreaking physics program defines a number of scenarios that yield potentially revolutionary insights into such foundational questions as: are there extra dimensions or new symmetries; what is the mechanism for the generation of mass; does magnetic charge exist; do topological particles exist; and what is the nature of dark matter? After a brief introduction, MoEDAL's progress to date will be reported, including its past, current and expected future physics output. Additionally, an upgrade to the MoEDAL detector consisting of two new subdetectors: MAPP (MoEDAL Apparatus for Penetrating Particles) now being prototyped at IP8; and MALL (MoEDAL Apparatus for very long-lived particles), will be presented. Finally, a possible astroparticle extension to MoEDAL, called Cosmic-MoEDAL, will be briefly described. This high altitude detector will allow the search for magnetic monopoles to be continued from the TeV scale to the GUT scale.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Topological avatars of new physics’.
Integrated Sequencing & Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization in Familial Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Robak Laurie A. , Du Renqian , Yuan Bo , Gu Shen , Alfradique-Dunham Isabel , Kondapalli Vismaya , Hinojosa Evelyn , Stillwell Amanda , Young Emily , Zhang Chaofan , Song Xiaofei , Du Haowei , Gambin Tomasz , Jhangiani Shalini N. , Akdemir Zeynep Coban , Muzny Donna M. , Tejomurtula Anusha , Ross Owen A. , Shaw Chad , Jankovic Joseph , Bi Weimin , Posey Jennifer E. , Lupski James R. , Shulman Joshua M.
Published: November 2019

Background

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a genetically heterogeneous condition; both single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number variants (CNVs) are important genetic risk factors. We examined the utility of combining exome sequencing and genome-wide array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) for identification of PD genetic risk factors.

Methods

We performed exome sequencing on 110 subjects with PD and a positive family history; 99 subjects were also evaluated using genome-wide aCGH. We interrogated exome sequencing and array comparative genomic hybridization data for pathogenic SNVs and CNVs at Mendelian PD gene loci. SNVs were confirmed via Sanger sequencing. CNVs were confirmed with custom-designed high-density aCGH, droplet digital PCR, and breakpoint sequencing.

Results

Using exome sequencing, we discovered individuals with known pathogenic single nucleotide variants in GBA (p.E365K, p.T408M, p.N409S, p.L483P) and LRRK2 (p.R1441G and p.G2019S). Two subjects were each double heterozygotes for variants in GBA and LRRK2. Based on aCGH, we additionally discovered cases with an SNCA duplication and heterozygous intragenic GBA deletion. Five additional subjects harbored both SNVs (p.N52fs, p.T240M, p.P437L, p.W453*) and likely disrupting CNVs at the PARK2 locus, consistent with compound heterozygosity. In nearly all cases, breakpoint sequencing revealed microhomology, a mutational signature consistent with CNV formation due to DNA replication errors.

Conclusions

Integrated exome sequencing and aCGH yielded a genetic diagnosis in 19.3% of our familial PD cohort. Our analyses highlight potential mechanisms for SNCA and PARK2 CNV formation, uncover multilocus pathogenic variation, and identify novel SNVs and CNVs for further investigation as potential PD risk alleles.
Broadly neutralizing plasma antibodies effective against diverse autologous circulating viruses in infants with multivariant HIV-1 infection
Authors: Mishra Nitesh , Sharma Shaifali , Dobhal Ayushman , Kumar Sanjeev , Chawla Himanshi , Singh Ravinder , Makhdoomi Muzamil Ashraf , Das Bimal Kumar , Lodha Rakesh , Kabra Sushil Kumar , Luthra Kalpana
Published: November 2019

Due to the extensive antigenic diversity of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1), broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) develop in a subset of infected individuals over 2-3 years of infection. Interestingly, infected infants have been shown to develop plasma bnAbs frequently and as early as one-year post-infection, with features atypical than adult bnAbs, suggesting that the factors governing bnAb induction in infants are distinct from that in adults. Understanding the viral characteristics in infected infants with early bnAb responses will provide key information on the antigenic triggers driving B cell maturation pathways towards the induction of bnAbs. Herein, we evaluated the presence of plasma bnAbs in a cohort of 51 HIV-1 clade C perinatally infected infants of Indian origin and identified viral factors associated with early bnAb responses. Plasma bnAbs targeting V2-apex on the env were predominant in infant elite and broad neutralizers. Circulating viral variants in infant elite neutralizers were susceptible to known bnAbs against V2-apex while varied resistance profile to other bnAb classes was observed. In infant elite neutralizers, multivariant infection was associated with plasma bnAbs targeting diverse autologous viruses. Our data provides information supportive of polyvalent vaccination approaches capable of inducing V2-apex bnAbs against HIV-1.
Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscopy with Scanning Non-diffracting Beams
Authors: Kafian Hosein , Lalenejad Meelad , Moradi-Mehr Sahar , Akbari Birgani Shiva , Abdollahpour Daryoush
Published: November 2019

Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) has now become a unique technique in different fields ranging from three-dimensional (3D) tissue imaging to real-time functional imaging of neuronal activities. Nevertheless, obtaining high-quality artifact-free images from large, dense and inhomogeneous samples is the main challenge of the method that still needs to be adequately addressed. Here, we demonstrate significant enhancement of LSFM image qualities by using scanning non-diffracting illuminating beams, both through experimental and numerical investigations. The effect of static and scanning illumination with several beams are analyzed and compared, and it is shown that scanning 2D Airy light sheet is minimally affected by the artifacts, and provide higher contrasts and uniform resolution over a wide field-of-view, due to its reduced spatial coherence, self-healing feature and higher penetration depth. Further, the capabilities of the illumination scheme is utilized for both single and double wavelength 3D imaging of a large and dense mammospheres of cancer tumor cells as complex inhomogeneous biological samples.
The Hippo pathway origin and its oncogenic alteration in evolution
Authors: Chen Yuxuan , Han Han , Seo Gayoung , Vargas Rebecca , Yang Bing , Chuc Kimberly , Zhao Huabin , Wang Wenqi
Published: November 2019

The Hippo pathway is a central regulator of organ size and a key tumor suppressor via coordinating cell proliferation and death. Initially discovered in Drosophila, the Hippo pathway has been implicated as an evolutionarily conserved pathway in mammals; however, how this pathway was evolved to be functional from its origin is still largely unknown. In this study, we traced the Hippo pathway in premetazoan species, characterized the intrinsic functions of its ancestor components, and unveiled the evolutionary history of this key signaling pathway from its unicellular origin. In addition, we elucidated the paralogous gene history for the mammalian Hippo pathway components and characterized their cancer-derived somatic mutations from an evolutionary perspective. Taken together, our findings not only traced the conserved function of the Hippo pathway to its unicellular ancestor components, but also provided novel evolutionary insights into the Hippo pathway organization and oncogenic alteration.
Supplemented nutrition increases immunity and drug efficacy in a natural host-helminth system
Authors: Sweeny Amy R. , Clerc Melanie , Pontifes Paulina A. , Venkatesan Saudamini , Babayan Simon A. , Pedersen Amy B.
Published: November 2019

Gastrointestinal helminths are common parasites of humans, wildlife, and livestock, leading to chronic infections in large parts of the world. In humans, there is also an overlap in the incidence of malnutrition and helminth infections which can predispose individuals to higher infection burdens and reduced anthelmintic efficacy due to compromised immunity. This relationship has been well-studied in laboratory models by testing for the impact of dramatic reductions of specific nutrients on infection outcomes. However, much less is known about the benefits of whole-diet supplementation in natural host-helminth systems. We experimentally supplemented the diet of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) and measured resistance to the gastrointestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus and anthelmintic treatment efficacy in both natural and captive populations. Supplemented wood mice were more resistant to H. polygyrus infection, cleared worms more efficiently after treatment, produced stronger general and parasite-specific antibody responses, and maintained better body condition. In addition, supplemented nutrition in conjunction with anthelminthic treatment significantly reduced H. polygyrus transmission potential. These large-scale improvements in condition and immunity of supplemented nutrition found in controlled and wild environments show the rapid and extensive benefits of a well-balanced diet and have important implications for using diet interventions to improve disease control programmes.

Author Summary

Gastrointestinal helminths are ubiquitous parasites which cause chronic infections and debilitating symptoms worldwide for human and animal populations alike. Efforts to control helminth infections rely primarily on deworming drugs. However, despite high availability and low cost of these drugs, reinfection is common and helminths remain a substantial problem in many areas of the world. One factor which contributes to the persistence of helminth infections is co-occurrence of malnutrition. Extensive work in model laboratory systems has shown that deficiencies in both macro- and micronutrients can impair host immune responses to helminth infections, but how this relationship translates to natural host-helminth systems and drug efficacy is still poorly understood. Here, we used a combination of experimental nutrition supplementation and deworming treatment in paired wood mouse populations in both wild and captive environments to determine the role of a well-balanced diet for infection control in a natural host-helminth system. We found that mice on a supplemented diet had lower burden of infection and increased drug efficacy, body condition, and immune responses. We also found that supplementation lowered transmission potential of hosts. These broad and rapid effects of increased nutrition quality have important implications for the benefits of diet interventions alongside deworming drugs.
Chemical identification of 18-hydroxycarlactonoic acid as an LjMAX1 product and conversion of 18-hydroxylcarlactonoates to canonical and non-canonical strigolactones in Lotus japonicus
Authors: Mori Narumi , Sado Aika , Xie Xiaonan , Yoneyama Kaori , Asami Kei , Seto Yoshiya , Nomura Takahito , Yamaguchi Shinjiro , Yoneyama Koichi , Akiyama Kohki
Published: November 2019

Strigolactones (SLs) are a group of plant apocarotenoids that act as rhizosphere signaling molecules for both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and root parasitic plants. They also regulate plant architecture as phytohormones. The model legume Lotus japonicus produces canonical 5-deoxystrigol (5DS) and non-canonical lotuslactone (LL). The biosynthesis pathways of the two SLs remain elusive. In this study, we characterized the L. japonicus MAX1 homolog, LjMAX1, found in the Lotus japonicus genome assembly build 2.5. The L. japonicus max1 LORE1 insertion mutant was deficient in 5DS and LL production. A recombinant LjMAX1 protein expressed in yeast microsomes converted carlactone (CL) to 18-hydroxycarlactonoic acid (18-HO-CLA) via carlactonoic acid (CLA). Identity of 18-HO-CLA was confirmed by comparison of the methyl ester derivative of the MAX1 product with the chemically synthesized methyl 18-hydroycarlactonoate (18-HO-MeCLA) using LC-MS/MS. (11R)-CL was detected as an endogenous compound in the root of L. japonicus.13C-labeled CL, CLA, and 18-HO-MeCLA were converted to [13C]-5DS and LL in plant feeding experiments using L. japonicus WT. These results showed that LjMAX1 is the crucial enzyme in the biosynthesis of Lotus SLs and that 18-hydroxylated carlactonoates are precursors for SL biosynthesis in L. japonicus.
ClinCNV: novel method for allele-specific somatic copy-number alterations detection
Authors: Demidov German , Ossowski Stephan
Published: November 2019

Motivation

Large somatic copy number alterations (CNA), short indels and single nucleotide variants (SNVs) are playing important role in cancer development and can serve as a predictor for targeted therapy selection as well as prognostic factor. Genomic microarrays, FISH, MLPA and many other technologies are widely used for detection of CNAs. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS), whole-exome sequencing (WES) and targeted panel sequencing (TPS) are well established, highly accurate tools for detection of SNVs and small indels, but detection of larger structural variants using WGS, WES and TPS data remains challenging. We developed a tool for high-resolution allele-specific detection of somatic CNAs in NGS data using statistical approach.

Results

We have developed a new method for read-depth and B-allele frequency (BAF) based multi-sample detection of copy-number changes in paired normal-tumor NGS data and showed its performance using large cohorts of WES and TPS sequenced samples.

Availability

ClinCNV is freely available on https://github.com/imgag/ClinCNV.
Electronic structure variations of polar and nonpolar ZnO lattices with nitrogen-ion bombardment using synchrotron-basedin situphotoemission and X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Huang Yuyang , Li Yaping , Wu Meng , Wang Hui-Qiong , Yuan Xuebin , Gholam Turghunjan , Zeng Hui , Wang Jia-Ou , Wu Rui , Qian Hai-Jie , Zhang Yufeng , Kang Junyong
Published: November 2019

Surface polarity with different crystal orientations has been demonstrated as a crucial parameter in determining the physical properties and device applications in many transition metal oxide and semiconductor compound systems. The influences of surface polarity on electronic structures in nitrogen-incorporated ZnO lattices have been investigated in the present work. The successful doping of nitrogen atoms in ZnO lattices is suggested by the existence of N-related chemical bonds obtained from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis where a pronounced N–Zn peak intensity has been observed in the (000\bar 1)-terminated polar ZnO compound compared with the (10\bar 10)-terminated nonpolar ZnO compound. An energy shift of the valence band maximum towards the Fermi level has been resolved for both polar and nonpolar ZnO lattices, whereas a charge redistribution of the O 2phybridized states is only resolved foro-plane ZnO with a polar surface. Angular-dependent X-ray absorption analyses at the OK-edge reveal enhanced surface-state contributions and asymmetric O 2porbital occupations in the (000\bar 1)-terminatedo-plane ZnO compound. The results shed light on the efficient nitrogen doping in ZnO lattices with polar surfaces. The comprehensive electronic structure investigations of correlations between impurity doping and surface polarity in ZnO lattices may also offer guidance for the material design in other transition metal oxide and semiconductor systems.
Iterative energy self-calibration of Fe XANES spectra
Authors: Jones Michael W. M. , Mallmann Guilherme , Wykes Jeremy L. , Knafelc Joseph , Bryan Scott E. , Howard Daryl L.
Published: November 2019

Determining the oxidation state of Fe through parameterization of X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectral features is highly dependent on accurate and repeatable energy calibration between spectra. Small errors in energy calibration can lead to vastly different interpretations. While simultaneous measurement of a reference foil is often undertaken on X-ray spectroscopy beamlines, other beamlines measure XANES spectra without a reference foil and therefore lack a method for correcting energy drift. Here a method is proposed that combines two measures of Fe oxidation state taken from different parts of the spectrum to iteratively correct for an unknown energy offset between spectra, showing successful iterative self-calibration not only during individual beam time but also across different beamlines.
Systematized literature review on financial inclusion and exclusion in developed countries
Authors: Fernández-Olit Beatriz , Martín Martín José María , Porras González Eva
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic literature review of the research published on financial inclusion (FI) and financial exclusion (FE) in developed countries using key terms and strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 52 papers were deemed to be relevant to the analysis. These works were critiqued using a framework that addressed geographical contexts, topics, methodologies and theoretical frameworks.

Findings

This review highlights the uneven level of development of the academic debate between North America, the UK and continental Europe, and identifies the different theoretical frameworks that construe the body of literature in each region. In addition, the findings show the scant offer of work on the impact that the digital economy has on FE, as well as the reduced number of studies which have focused on certain vulnerable groups and the access to some financial services.

Social implications

The studies reviewed have not analyzed the specific needs of vulnerable groups while considering the different contexts and pathways to exclusion. The evaluation of solutions and strategies to achieve inclusion is one of the least addressed aspects in the literature.

Originality/value

The paper synthesizes the main contributions of the top literature on the redefinition of FI/FE in developed countries, the role of fringe services and new determinants of exclusion. The proliferation of studies regarding FI in low- and middle-income countries has generated a great amount of meta-analysis and systematized reviews of asymmetric results. However, no systematized literature review on the broad scope of FI/FE in developed countries has been published in the last decade. This work sheds light over poorly analyzed areas of research that refer to notable social problems.
The “dark side” of organisational career growth
Authors: Spagnoli Paola , Lo Presti Alessandro , Buono Carmela
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of organisational career growth (OCG) in the process linking organisational work–family support and work–family conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

Since previous contributions reported theoretical and empirical evidence of possible gender differences in this process, a moderated mediation model was examined including gender as moderating variable of both direct and indirect effects. Conditional process analysis was used to test the hypotheses on a sample of 507 Italian employees who were also parents.

Findings

Results showed a significant mediation effect of OCG in the relationship between organisational work–family support and work–family conflict. Furthermore, evidence of a moderated effect of gender was found in the way that the negative direct effect of organisational work–family support on work–family conflict was stronger among women, whereas the direct effect of OCG on work–family conflict was significant only for men.

Originality/value

This is the first study addressing the possible negative effect of OCG on a specific target of employees.
Investigating visitors’ perception of smart city dimensions for city branding in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Chung Shing , Peters Mike , Pikkemaat Birgit
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the perceptions of visitors in terms of multiple aspects of smart cities to allow wise decisions to be made about smart tourist destinations by municipal governments and tourism authorities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study takes a sample of inbound visitors (n=205) from Hong Kong as an empirical questionnaire-based survey on visitors’ perceptions of these smart city attributes, which are collected from literature, and framed in Cohen’s Smart City Wheel.

Findings

This paper identifies the distinctive factors for branding Hong Kong as a smart city. The results from the factor analysis identify four factors for determining what a smart city is from the perspective of visitors, namely, the quality of a smart society: energy consumption in an urban environment, smart city governance and smart city livelihood. The first two factors further become the determinants of a successful smart city brand considered by visitors, which contribute to their locational decisions and thus the strategies and policies of smart destination branding.

Research limitations/implications

The results obtained can serve as insights for tourism policy makers and destination marketers when considering significant information and communication technology, or other smart and sustainable attributes for city branding (e.g. Buhalis and Amaranggana, 2014; Marine-Roig and Anton Clavé, 2015), as well as common investment and resource allocation for shared benefits in similar metropolises.

Practical implications

The smartness factors represent important dimensions of urban smartness as prioritized areas for further development, innovation and marketing of tourism industries and enterprises in Hong Kong, as a mature urban destination incorporating the branding of a proposed smart district as a strategy of urban development.

Originality/value

Smart urban development and tourism development have increasingly become inseparable, especially when visitors utilize cities as tourist destinations but share other urban resources and spaces with local citizens. Unlike the development of smart tourist attractions, smart tourist destinations should have a wider scope of smartness. A smart tourist destination may carry similar and overlapping characteristics of smart cities, which may be interpreted by visitors and may eventually affect their perceived image of a city.
Collaborative inquiry play
Authors: Saleh Asmalina , Hmelo-Silver Cindy E. , Glazewski Krista D. , Mott Bradford , Chen Yuxin , Rowe Jonathan P. , Lester James C.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to present a model of collaborative inquiry play: rule-based imaginary situations that provide challenging problems and support agentic multiplayer interactions (c.f., Vygotsky, 1967; Salen and Zimmerman, 2003). Drawing on problem-based learning (PBL, Hmelo-Silver, 2004), this paper provides a design case to articulate the relationship between the design goals and the game-based learning environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on conjecture mapping (Sandoval, 2014), this paper presents an iterative development of the conjecture map forcrystal island: ecojourneysand highlights the development of the story and tools incrystal island: ecojourneys, an immersive game based on PBL pedagogy. By articulating this development, the authors highlight the affordances and constraints of designing for collaborative inquiry play and address challenges in supporting learner agency.

Findings

The PBL inquiry process served as the foundation of collaborative inquiry play. Attending to the rules of inquiry fostered student agency, and in turn, playful engagement in the game-based learning environment. Agency however meant holding students accountable to actions undertaken, especially as it pertained to generating group-based explanations and reflecting on productive collaboration. Moreover, socially shared regulation of learning and systems thinking concepts (i.e. phenomenon, mechanisms, and components) must also be externalized in representations and interactions in the game such that students have the agency to decide on their learning paths.

Originality/value

This paper presents the model of collaborative inquiry play and highlights how to support player agency and design content-rich play environments which are not always completely open.
Psychological factors affecting the behavioral intention of the tourist visiting Southeastern Anatolia
Authors: Çelik Sedat , Dedeoğlu Bekir Bora
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the relationship between personality traits, travel motivations, perceived destination quality, overall destination satisfaction and behavioral intentions of domestic tourists.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative research method was used in the study. A survey technique was used to collect data. Data were applied to incoming domestic tourist to Gaziantep and Sanliurfa cities in Southeast Anatolia of Turkey. The data obtained were analyzed by structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study showed that personal traits “agreeableness” and “conscientiousness” positively affect relaxation motivation. Cultural and relaxation motivations had a positive impact on satisfaction, whereas pleasure-seeking motivation has a negative impact on satisfaction. In addition, overall destination satisfaction is positively affected by destination quality perceptions and affects loyalty in a positive way.

Research limitations/implications

During the literature review phase, no scale was found according to different destination characteristics (cultural, nature and sea destinations). In this regard, developing new scales to measure destination quality in accordance with different destination types would allow comprehending the subject in a more clear and detailed way.

Practical implications

The establishment of relationship between variable examined by this study ensures that product and services provided by the destination reach the correct target audience, which brings along the success to destination. For instance, destination management organizations could get information from travel agencies they work with about the characteristics, and motivations of tourists, and could develop their strategies, and plans, accordingly.

Originality/value

This study has three important contributions. First, revealing the role of personality in tourist behavior; second, their behaviors and attitude before (motivation and personality) during (destination quality and satisfaction) and after visiting (behavioral intentions) were examined; and third, personality, travel motivation, destination quality and satisfaction are discussed together as a model in this study.
Empirical assessment of mobile device users’ information security behavior towards data breach
Authors: Giwah Anthony Duke , Wang Ling , Levy Yair , Hur Inkyoung
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the information security behavior of mobile device users in the context of data breach. Much of the previous research done in user information security behavior have been in broad contexts, therefore creating needs of research that focuses on specific emerging technologies and trends such as mobile technology.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was an empirical study that gathered survey data from 390 mobile users. Delphi study and pilot study were conducted prior to the main survey study. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyze the survey data after conducting pre-analysis data screening.

Findings

This study shows that information security training programs must be designed by practitioners to target the mobile self-efficacy (MSE) of device users. It also reveals that practitioners must design mobile device management systems along with processes and procedures that guides users to take practical steps at protecting their devices. This study shows the high impact of MSE on users’ protection motivation (PM) to protect their mobile devices. Additionally, this study reveals that the PM of users influences their usage of mobile device security.

Originality/value

This study makes theoretical contributions to the existing information security literature. It confirms PM theory’s power to predict user behavior within the context of mobile device security usage. Additionally, this study investigates mobile users’ actual security usage. Thus, it goes beyond users’ intention.
Quick start guide: how to review teaching cases
Authors: Foster Mary Kuchta
Published: November 2019

Theoretical basis

Metacognition, learning how to learn, peer feedback and peer review.

Research methodology

Essay based on experience as a reviewer and editor and best practices.

Case overview/synopsis

This quick start guide provides a tutorial on how to review teaching cases and the associated instructor’s manual or teaching note. The purpose of this guide is to help develop the confidence and skill of novice reviewers and refresh and refocus experienced reviewers. Case writers may also use this guide to anticipate peer reviewer feedback and assess or refine their cases before submitting them to a journal. Reviewing is essential to the Academy – without peer reviews there would be no peer reviewed journal articles, a pillar of the tenure process. Reviewing is also a valuable way to learn, to keep current in a field and to be a good citizen – contributing to one’s professional community. This guide will help scholars become even more effective reviewers, writers and contributors to the Academy.

Complexity academic level

For academics interested in developing their case reviewing skills.
Exploring the relationship between resilience and practice education placement success in occupational therapy students
Authors: Brown Ted , Yu Mong‐Lin , Hewitt Alana E. , Isbel Stephen T. , Bevitt Thomas , Etherington Jamie
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Practice education is a fundamental component of health professional students’ education and many personal, social and professional factors impact on students’ performance. This study investigated the relationship between measures of resilience and practice education performance in occupational therapy students.

Methods

A quantitative cross‐sectional study was used to collect the data. In all, 149 occupational therapy students completed a self‐report questionnaire comprised of demographic questions and two standardised scales: Resilience at University (RAU) and Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA). Students’ practice education performance was measured by the Student Practice Evaluation Form–Revised (SPEF–R). Multi‐linear regression analyses with bootstrapping were completed to identify resilience factors that were predictive of occupational therapy students’ practice performance.

Results

Overall, occupational therapy students reported high levels of resilience based on the RAU and RSA subscale scores. “Managing Stress,” “Find Your Calling” and “Living Authentically” were strong predictors of a range of key fieldwork performance SPEF–R factors, including “Professional Behaviours,” “Self‐management Skills,” “Co‐worker Communication” and “Communication Skills.”

Conclusion

The resilience factors identified as being significant predictors of practice education performance outcomes in occupational therapy students represent notable findings. They suggest that students’ capabilities in managing their stress levels, finding meaning in their chosen profession, and engaging self‐care daily activities outside of the work environment that are meaningful, authentic and fit with one's personal values and beliefs can act as buffers against the challenges experienced by students who are completing practice education placements. The findings will assist academic and practice educators in identifying and targeting vulnerable students and strengthening resilience strategies through proactive pre‐practice placement initiatives. Qualitative studies are recommended to further explore the relationship between resilience and practice education performance in occupational therapy students.
Diversity of foliicolous lichens in isolated montane rainforests (Brejos) of northeastern Brazil and their biogeography in a neotropical context
Authors: Santos Viviane M. , da Silva Cáceres Marcela E. , Lücking Robert
Published: November 2019

Foliicolous lichenized fungi (FLF) are widely distributed in tropical forests. The Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, one of the most diverse rainforest biomes, has multiple phyto‐physiognomies. Montane forest fragments or forest refuges, so‐called “Brejos,” are located within the semiarid Caatinga in Northeast Brazil. Our objective was to determine the FLF diversity within five Brejos and to analyze their biogeographic affinities within the Neotropics. The FLF biota of the Brejos was compared with that of 21 sites belonging to seven other rainforest biomes, ranging from the Atlantic rainforest in Argentina, to montane rainforests in Ecuador, to the Amazonia basin, and rainforests in Central America. One hundred and fifty‐six species were identified in the Brejos. This biota is most similar to that of the Atlantic rainforest and eastern Amazonia, while that of western Amazonia is more similar to that of the Andes and rainforests in Central America (Chocó). Multiple species identified in the Brejos have a wide distribution in tropical America, and only 11 are potentially endemic. Few other species have also a restricted distribution. The FLF biota of the Chocó and western Amazon is substantially richer than that of eastern Amazon, the Atlantic rainforest and the Brejos. This suggests that the biota of the latter areas is largely a depauperate subset of the Chocó and the western Amazon region. We argue that the major differences between the two large regions are related to the Pleistocene and Pliocene, when paleoclimatic and geological changes caused the isolation of the Brejos and the temporary fragmentation particularly of eastern Amazonia.