bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ambulatory Care Fragmentation and Subsequent Hospitalization
Authors: Kern Lisa M. , Ringel Joanna B. , Rajan Mangala , Colantonio Lisandro D. , Casalino Lawrence P. , Pinheiro Laura C. , Reshetnyak Evgeniya , Safford Monika M.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Previous studies have suggested that highly fragmented ambulatory care increases the risk of subsequent hospitalization, but those studies used claims only and were not able to adjust for many clinical potential confounders.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine the association between fragmented ambulatory care and subsequent hospitalization, adjusting for demographics, medical conditions, medications, health behaviors, psychosocial variables, and physiological variables.

Design:

Longitudinal analysis of data (2003–2016) from the nationwide REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, linked to Medicare fee-for-service claims.

Subjects:

A total of 12,693 Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older from the REGARDS study who had at least 4 ambulatory visits in the first year of observation and did not have a hospitalization in the prior year.

Measures:

We defined high fragmentation as a reversed Bice-Boxerman score above the 75th percentile. We used Cox proportional hazards models to determine the association between fragmentation as a time-varying exposure and incident hospitalization in the 3 months following each exposure period.

Results:

The mean age was 70.4 years; 54% were women, and 33% were African American. During the first year of observation, participants with high fragmentation had a median of 8 ambulatory visits with 6 providers, whereas participants with low fragmentation had a median of 7 visits with 3 providers. Over 11.8 years of follow-up, 6947 participants (55%) had a hospitalization. High fragmentation was associated with an increased hazard of hospitalization (adjusted hazard ratio=1.18; 95% confidence interval: 1.12, 1.24).

Conclusion:

Highly fragmented ambulatory care is an independent risk factor for hospitalization.
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Hepatitis-associated Aplastic Anemia Following Liver Transplantation for Nonviral Hepatitis: A Retrospective Analysis and a Review of the Literature by the Severe Aplastic Anemia Working Party of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Mohseny Alexander B. , Eikema Dirk-Jan A. , Neven Benedicte , Kröger Nicolaus , Shaw Peter J. , Damaj Ghandi , Dalle Jean-Hugues , Bosman Paul V. , Delehaye Fanny , Lankester Arjan C. , Smiers Frans J. , Peffault de Latour Regis
Published: December 2020

Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (HAAA) has been reported in 23% to 33% of patients who received orthotopic liver transplantation (LT) for acute liver disease of unknown origin (nonviral hepatitis). In this situation, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) might be a curative option. Here the authors report on 6 patients who received HSCT after LT for nonviral HAAA hepatitis. The outcomes were interpreted in the context of recently reported immune suppressive therapy (IST) outcomes in 8 patients with HAAA and to HSCT outcomes in patients with HAAA who recovered from hepatitis without undergoing LT. All patients transplanted by using HLA-identical sibling donors (3 of 6) were alive and had normal liver function and hematopoiesis without graft versus host disease. Both patients receiving bone marrow from a matched unrelated donor (MUD) experienced extensive graft versus host disease that was fatal for one patient. Thereby, the authors conclude that HSCT can be considered as a first-choice treatment for this category of patients when HLA-identical donors are available. When no HLA-identical donor is available, IST should be applied as HSCT with other donor sources might be reserved for IST nonresponders or poor responders.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Evaluation and Management of Febrile Infants
Authors: Delacruz Nicolas , Malia Laurie , Dessie Almaz
Published: December 2020

Background

Febrile infants frequently present to the emergency department (ED) and account for a vulnerable population at significant risk for serious bacterial infection. Appropriate evaluation and management are key to favorable outcomes but can present challenges for providers, especially in EDs where ill children are infrequently seen and pediatric-trained staff may not be available. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is integrated into the care of adults in the ED but is less commonly used for infants.

Objective of Review

We present a review of the current literature and proposed approach to using POCUS for bladder catheterization, lumbar puncture (LP), and vascular access in the resuscitation and evaluation of febrile infants.

Discussion

Point-of-care ultrasound can be a useful adjunct in the evaluation of febrile infants by facilitating higher success rates of infant bladder catheterization, LP, and intraosseous and intravenous (IV) line placement. Ultrasound has been shown to be a reliable method of evaluating bladder volumes before the catheterization of infants, reducing the number of attempts needed to obtain an adequate urine sample for testing and culture. Point-of-care ultrasound has also been shown to improve the yield of LPs in infants. Ultrasound is a rapid and accurate way of identifying the appropriate location and depth of needle insertion. Point-of-care ultrasound has also been shown to facilitate obtaining IV access in infants as well as confirming the proper placement of intraosseous lines.

Conclusions

A growing body of evidence suggests that POCUS is a useful adjunct in the initial evaluation and resuscitation of febrile infants. It is the position of both the American Academy or Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, and the authors of this article that emergency physicians should be familiar with the indications and applications of POCUS in children. This technology should be used as an adjunct to improve success rates when performing bladder catheterization, LP, and obtaining intravenous/intraosseous access for infants.
Impact of the Number of Cores on the Prostate Cancer Detection Rate in Men Undergoing in-Bore Magnetic Resonance Imaging–Guided Targeted Biopsies
Authors: Subramanian Naveen , Recchimuzzi Debora Z. , Xi Yin , Diaz de Leon Alberto , Chen Heng , Xie Donglu , Goldberg Kenneth , Rofsky Neil M. , Pedrosa Ivan , Costa Daniel N.
Published: December 2020

Objective

To determine the incremental detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) provided by sequential cores during in-bore magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided prostate biopsies.

Methods

Single-center, retrospective interpretation of prospectively acquired data in men without previous diagnosis of csPCa who underwent in-bore MRI-guided prostate biopsy between May 2017 and December 2019. Endpoints included detection of csPCa (grade group [GG] ≥ 2) and rate of GG upgrade provided by additional cores. Descriptive statistics presented as mean and standard deviation for the continuous variables, and frequency and percentage for the categorical variables.

Results

Four hundred and forty-three men with 747 lesions met eligibility criteria. Clinically significant prostate cancer was detected in 43.1% (322/747) of the biopsied lesions and GG 2 PCa or greater was identified by the first core in 78.3% (252/322) of them. On a per-core basis, cores 2, 3, 4, and 5 found new csPCa in 6% (42/744), 4% (26/719), 1% (2/137), and 0% (0/11) of the cases. Core biopsy 2, 3, 4, and 5 resulted in GG upgrade in 12% (91/744), 7% (49/719), 7% (9/137), and 0% (0/11) of the lesions, respectively. Each additional core was associated with a mean increase of 5 minutes in the duration of the biopsy.

Conclusions

In men undergoing in-bore MRI-guided prostate biopsies, 3 targeted cores per lesion provide an optimal trade-off between detection of clinically significant tumors and biopsy duration.
Evaluation of the Peripheral Rim Instability of the Discoid Meniscus in Children by Using Weight-Bearing Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Jin Bo , Zhen Junping , Wei Xiaochun , Zhou Yukun , Bian Wenjin , Yang Jie , Fan Zhichang
Published: December 2020

Objective

The aim of the study was to assess the peripheral rim instability and the clinical value of discoid meniscus.

Methods

We retrospectively studied 79 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of discoid meniscus from May 2017 to September 2019. The patient symptoms and physical findings were documented. The patients underwent “dedicated” 0.25 T supine and weight-bearing MRI examination. Finally, all patients underwent arthroscopy.

Results

Sound/clicking during motion (P = 0.009) and limited extension (P = 0.044) of subjective symptoms, clunk during motion (P = 0.035), and flexion contracture (P = 0.012) of physical findings were significant predictors of peripheral rim instability. The comparison of the weight-bearing MRI with the supine position MRI demonstrated that the disformed discoid meniscus was shifted significantly and that no shift was displaced centrally (P = 0.001). A correlation between discoid meniscal displacement and the presence of peripheral rim instability in arthroscopy was noted (P < 0.001) using weight-bearing MRI.

Conclusions

The clinical symptoms of the patients combined with weight-bearing MRI can determine peripheral rim instability optimally.
Common computational principle for vibro-tactile pitch perception in mouse and human
Authors: Prsa Mario , Kilicel Deniz , Nourizonoz Ali , Lee Kuo-Sheng , Huber Daniel
Published: December 2020

We live surrounded by vibrations generated by moving objects. These oscillatory stimuli can produce sound (i.e. airborne waves) and propagate through solid substrates. Pitch is the main perceptual characteristic of sound, and a similar perceptual attribute seems to exist in the case of substrate vibrations: vibro-tactile pitch. Here, we establish a mechanistic relationship between vibro-tactile pitch perception and the actual physical properties of vibrations using behavioral tasks, in which vibratory stimuli were delivered to the human fingertip or the mouse forelimb. The resulting perceptual reports were analyzed with a model demonstrating that physically different combinations of vibration frequencies and amplitudes can produce equal pitch perception. We found that the perceptually indistinguishable but physically different stimuli follow a common computational principle in mouse and human. It dictates that vibro-tactile pitch perception is shifted with increases in amplitude toward the frequency of highest vibrotactile sensitivity. These findings suggest the existence of a fundamental relationship between the seemingly unrelated concepts of spectral sensitivity and pitch perception.
Sexual differentiation of neural mechanisms of stress sensitivity during puberty
Authors: Wright Emily C. , Zakharenkov Hannah C. , Godoy Alexandra Serna , Lake Alyssa A. , Prince Zhana D. , Sekar Shwetha , Culkin Hannah I. , Luo Pei X. , Ramirez Alison V. , Dwyer Tjien , Kapoor Amita , Corbett Cody , Tian Lin , Fox Andrew S. , Trainor Brian C.
Published: December 2020

Anxiety disorders are more common in women than men, and this difference arises during puberty. Increased secretion of gonadal hormones during puberty influences brain structure and function, but the extent to which hormones modulate anxiety-related brain circuits is unclear. The slow developing California mouse (Peromyscus californicus) is an ideal species for studying the effects of hormones on brain function during adolescence. In adults social defeat stress reduces social approach and increases vigilance in females but not males. Here we show this sex difference is absent in juvenile mice, and that prepubertal castration sensitizes adult males to social defeat. Since adult castration has no effect on stress sensitivity, our data show that gonadal hormones act during puberty to program behavioral responses to stress later in life. In adults, calcium imaging in the medioventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis shows that threatening social contexts increase calcium transients. Furthermore, prepubertal castration generalizes these responses to less threatening social contexts. Prepubertal treatment with the non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone acts in males and females to reduce sensitivity to social defeat in adults. Together, these data indicate activation of androgen receptors during puberty are critical for programing behavioral responses to stress in adulthood, highlighting a possible mechanism contributing to sex differences in anxiety.

Significance Statement

Puberty is a key period when sex differences in anxiety emerges. Gonadal hormone release increases during this time but it is largely unknown how they impact brain circuits and behavior. We show that androgens play a key role in programming behavioral responses to social defeat stress. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis responds to social threats and these responses are more generalized in males without gonadal hormone exposure during puberty. Our findings highlight the importance of pubertal androgens in determining adult behavioral responses to social stress.
Nucleated Cell Death by a Single Hole Generated by C5b-9
Authors: Chauhan Anil K.
Published: December 2020

Cell death is essential for tissue regeneration and removal of pathogenic cells. Immunological cell death is caused by membrane attack complex (MAC) or bacterial perforins. A complete understanding of nucleated cell death or bacterial cell death by MAC is essential for therapeutic interventions. The mechanism of MAC mediated cell death in nucleated cell is controversial. We know show that MAC causes cell death in nucleated cells by creating a large single hole in the membrane. Our results are contrary to the current paradigm that states “MAC kills nucleated cell by multiple hits”. MAC deposition on the cell membrane also trigger clustering of membrane rafts, which will have relevant consequences for enhanced cell signaling.

Significance Statement

Proteins of late complement pathway that form membrane attack complex, cause death of undesirable nucleated cells such as lymphocytes. The structure of these proteins and their similarity to bacterial cytolysins has been studied. How C9 pore forming protein assemble with rest of C5b-8 on nucleated cell membrane remains controversial. We thus examined and now show the structures formed by these proteins on nucleated cell membranes. Formation of MAC occurs during complement activation during infection and autoimmunity. Largely, our current knowledge of the membrane pore formation is gained using ghost cells, lipid micelles, and erythrocytes. Understanding of how MAC kills nucleated cells will enhance our ability to design new therapies for selective killing of pathogens.
Historical and cross-disciplinary trends in the biological and social sciences reveal an accelerating adoption of advanced analytics
Authors: Bolt Taylor , Nomi Jason S. , Bzdok Danilo , Uddin Lucina Q.
Published: December 2020

Methods for data analysis in the biomedical, life and social sciences are developing at a rapid pace. At the same time, there is increasing concern that education in quantitative methods is failing to adequately prepare students for contemporary research. These trends have led to calls for educational reform to undergraduate and graduate quantitative research method curricula. We argue that such reform should be based on data-driven insights into within- and cross-disciplinary use of research methods. Our survey of peer-reviewed literature screened ∼3.5 million openly available research articles to monitor the cross-disciplinary usage of research methods in the past decade. We applied data-driven text-mining analyses to the methods and materials section of a large subset of this corpus to identify method trends shared across disciplines, as well as those unique to each discipline. As a whole, usage ofT-test, analysis of variance, and other classical regression-based methods has declined in the published literature over the past 10 years. Machine-learning approaches, such as artificial neural networks, have seen a significant increase in the total share of scientific publications. We find unique groupings of research methods associated with each biomedical, life and social science discipline, such as the use of structural equation modeling in psychology, survival models in oncology, and manifold learning in ecology. We discuss the implications of these findings for education in statistics and research methods, as well as within- and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Phosphorylation of AMPA receptor subunit GluA1 regulates clathrin-mediated receptor endocytosis
Authors: Sathler Matheus F. , Khatri Latika , Roberts Jessica P. , Kubrusly Regina C.C. , Ziff Edward B. , Kim Seonil
Published: December 2020

Synaptic strength is altered during synaptic plasticity by controlling the number of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) at excitatory synapses. In particular, during long-term potentiation and synaptic up-scaling, AMPARs are accumulated at synapses to increase synaptic strength. Neuronal activity leads to activity-dependent phosphorylation of AMPAR subunit GluA1, and subsequent increases in GluA1 surface expression, which can be achieved by either an increase in exocytosis or a decrease in endocytosis of the receptors. However, the molecular pathways underlying GluA1 phosphorylation-induced elevation of surface AMPAR expression are not completely understood. Here, we first employ fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) to reveal that phosphorylation of GluA1 Serine 845 (S845) plays a more important role in receptor endocytosis than exocytosis during synaptic plasticity. Notably, endocytosis of AMPARs depends upon the clathrin adaptor, AP2, which recruits cargo proteins into endocytic clathrin coated pits. Importantly, the KRMK (Lysine-Arginine-Methionine-Lysine) motif in the carboxyl-terminus of GluA1 is suggested to be an AP2 binding site, but the exact function has not been defined. Moreover, the GluA1 KRMK motif is closely located to one of GluA1 phosphorylation sites, serine 845 (S845), and GluA1 S845 dephosphorylation is suggested to enhance endocytosis during long-term depression. In fact, we show that an increase in GluA1 S845 phosphorylation by two distinct forms of synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation and synaptic up-scaling, diminishes the binding of the AP2 adaptor. This reduces endocytosis, resulting in elevation of GluA1 surface expression. We thus demonstrate a mechanism of GluA1 phosphorylation-regulated clathrin-mediated endocytosis of AMPARs.
A hierarchy of linguistic predictions during natural language comprehension
Authors: Heilbron Micha , Armeni Kristijan , Schoffelen Jan-Mathijs , Hagoort Peter , de Lange Floris P.
Published: December 2020

Understanding spoken language requires transforming ambiguous acoustic streams into a hierarchy of representations, from phonemes to meaning. It has been suggested that the brain uses prediction to guide the interpretation of incoming input. However, the role of prediction in language processing remains disputed, with disagreement about both the ubiquity and representational nature of predictions. Here, we address both issues by analysing brain recordings of participants listening to audiobooks, and using a deep neural network (GPT-2) to precisely quantify contextual predictions. First, we establish that brain responses to words are modulated by ubiquitous, probabilistic predictions. Next, we disentangle model-based predictions into distinct dimensions, revealing dissociable signatures of syntactic, phonemic and semantic predictions. Finally, we show that high-level (word) predictions inform low-level (phoneme) predictions, supporting hierarchical predictive processing. Together, these results underscore the ubiquity of prediction in language processing, showing that the brain spontaneously predicts upcoming language at multiple levels of abstraction.
Phenotype bias determines how natural RNA structures occupy the morphospace of all possible shapes
Authors: Dingle Kamaludin , Ghaddar Fatme , Šulc Petr , Louis Ard A.
Published: December 2020

Morphospaces representations of phenotypic characteristics are often populated unevenly, leaving large parts unoccupied. Such patterns are typically ascribed to contingency, or else to natural selection disfavouring certain parts of the morphospace. The extent to which developmental bias, the tendency of certain phenotypes to preferentially appear as potential variation, also explains these patterns is hotly debated. Here we demonstrate quantitatively that developmental bias is the primary explanation for the occupation of the morphospace of RNA secondary structure (SS) shapes. Upon random mutations, some RNA SS shapes (the frequent ones) are much more likely to appear than others. By using the RNAshapes method to define coarse-grained SS classes, we can directly compare the frequencies that non-coding RNA SS shapes appear in the RNAcentral database to frequencies obtained upon random sampling of sequences. We show that: a) Only the most frequent structures appear in nature; the vast majority of possible structures in the morphospace have not yet been explored. b) Remarkably small numbers of random sequences are needed to produce all the RNA SS shapes found in nature so far. c) Perhaps most surprisingly, the natural frequencies are accurately predicted, over several orders of magnitude in variation, by the likelihood that structures appear upon uniform random sampling of sequences. The ultimate cause of these patterns is not natural selection, but rather strong phenotype bias in the RNA genotype-phenotype map, a type of developmental bias or “findability constraint”, which limits evolutionary dynamics to a hugely reduced subset of structures that are easy to “find”.
Crystal structure and halogen–hydrogen bonding of a Delépine reaction intermediate
Authors: Mulrooney David Z. T. , Müller-Bunz Helge , Keene Tony D.
Published: December 2020

The reaction of 1,5-dibromopentane with urotropine results in crystals of the title molecular salt, 5-bromourotropinium bromide [systematic name: 1-(5-bromopentyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniatricyclo[3.3.1.13,7]decane bromide], C11H22BrN4
+·Br− (1), crystallizing in space group P21/n. The packing in compound 1 is directed mainly by H...H van der Waals interactions and C—H...Br hydrogen bonds, as revealed by Hirshfeld surface analysis. Comparison with literature examples of alkylurotropinium halides shows that the interactions in 1 are consistent with those in other bromides and simple chloride and iodide species.
Accounting services quality: a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis
Authors: Azzari Vitor , Mainardes Emerson Wagner , Costa Fábio Moraes da
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the literature related to accounting and auditing services quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors performed a systematic literature review that considered 22 papers on the topic. The authors also applied a bibliometric analysis in order to identify the main characteristics of these studies to discuss and provide research opportunities in this field.

Findings

The bibliometric results indicate that most papers were published in services and marketing journals. The accounting service quality theme has been rarely researched in accounting field. In addition, based on our review, it was possible to identify that most papers use quantitative methods, such as surveys. The papers' conclusions diverge from each other, demonstrating a still fragmented literature.

Research limitations/implications

Taken together, the paper shows how accounting services quality is relevant and emerging topic that demands future research about accounting professionals' skills, their activities and how their customers perceive quality in an environment of constant change.

Originality/value

The analyses indicate that there are six broad areas for future research on this topic: successes and failures of accounting services providers; the role of “client centricity”; digital accounting services; services quality and accounting education; services quality when considering different types of accounting and auditing services and development of a measurement scale and a theoretical model for accounting services quality. This paper contributes for the ongoing debate about how competition, technology and innovation are changing the landscape for accounting and auditing services providers.
Job characteristics theory and mentoring: the influence of cognitive tasks and educational leadership on mentoring provided
Authors: Waaland Torbjørn
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of cognitive tasks on mentoring provided and the moderating influence of having an educational leadership position.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional survey was based on a questionnaire sent to 435 employees of 29 preschools in Norway. A total of 284 responses were returned, with a response rate of 65.3%. A total of three research hypotheses were formulated. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to develop three measurement models, and structural equation modelling (SEM) based on the multigroup analysis was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Results revealed that cognitive tasks increase the occurrence of mentoring provided at work for employees with and without an educational leadership position. Furthermore, educational leadership moderates the relationship between cognitive tasks and mentoring provided.

Research limitations/implications

The use of convenience sampling and self-reports are discussed, especially related to representativeness and reporting biases. Implications for practice and future research are also discussed.

Originality/value

This is an understudied area, and no previous research has used a confirmatory approach to investigate how cognitive tasks and educational leadership influence the occurrence of mentoring provided.
Trust in leaders, work satisfaction and work engagement in public hospitals
Authors: Håvold Ole Kristian Sandnes , Håvold Jon Ivar , Glavee-Geo Richard
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To investigate the relationship between trust in leaders and work satisfaction on work engagement in public hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from 137 employees working in two medium-sized public hospitals. A model based on a review of the literature was developed and tested using variance-based structural equation technique.

Findings

Work engagement is significantly influenced by trust in leaders and work satisfaction. Work satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between trust in leaders and work engagement. Furthermore, personal development, affiliation and belonging and basic needs for job fulfilment significantly influence work satisfaction. Likewise, basic needs for job fulfilment and co-workers' empathy significantly influence trust in leaders.

Practical implications

This study indicates that in public hospitals satisfaction and trust in a leader have a substantial influence on work engagement, highlighting the importance of a good trust relationship in the workplace. It is also important for leaders to understand that increased work engagement leads to a well-motivated workforce, improved work performance, low absence from work due to sick leave and a good patient experience.

Originality/value

Not much research has been done on the direct effects of trust and satisfaction on engagement. Moreover, the study contributes to the existing literature through the development and testing of the “work engagement model”.
Sports and urban development: an introduction
Authors: Dickson Geoff , Zhang James Jianhui
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Although both sports and cities have transformed over the last century, research on the intersection of sports and urban development remains scarce. This special issue was designed to advance a research agenda in relation to sports and urban development. The sports and urban development special issue of International Journal of Sport Marketing and Sponsorship brings together a collection of conceptual, empirical and commentary papers from four continents. Themes explored in this special issue include legacy, governance, image, climate change and sustainability. We encourage collaborative approaches between sport researchers and those with a focus on urban development, urban design and urban governance. Understanding the role of sports in the development of smart cities is an excellent opportunity for these collaborations to occur.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive review of literature was undertaken to assess the literature related to sports and urban development.

Findings

In addition to this introductory article, there are ten manuscripts selected for this special issue investigating sports and urban development.

Originality/value

This special issue seeks to promote more research on sports and urban development, ultimately ultimately advancing theories and providing solutions.
The professionalisation of domiciliary care for the elderly: a comparison between public and private care service providers in Belgium
Authors: Giordano Chiara
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The objective is to explore how the professionalisation of care jobs is constructed in the public and private sectors and to discuss whether the instruments used by public and private care providers contribute to solve the ambiguities linked to this type of work and which are the consequences for caregivers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper compares the way in which the professionalisation of home care services for elderly people is achieved in the public and private sectors in the region of Brussels. The findings are based on the analysis of interviews with professional actors working in the care sector in Brussels.

Findings

The analysis shows that there is no agreement over the best way of professionalising home care services for the elderly and that the efforts made by public and private providers are profoundly different.

Originality/value

The divergencies are not only the result of the strict institutional framework to which public care providers are bound, in opposition to the relative freedom of the private sector, but they also derive from a different understanding of care work.
Social backgrounds, oral behaviors and dental service utilization among Thai older adults: data from the national oral health survey
Authors: Harirugsakul Punkanit , Kaewkamnerdpong Issarapong , Krisdapong Sudaduang , Prasertsom Piyada , Niyomsilp Kornkamol , Vejvithee Warangkana
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The number of older adults in Thailand is currently increasing. To create the appropriate oral health service for this age group requires an understanding of the factors that are associated with their dental service utilization. This study aimed to determine the associations between social backgrounds, oral behaviors and dental service utilization among Thai older adults.

Design/methodology/approach

This was a cross-sectional study on a representative sample of older adults in the 8th Thai National Oral Health Survey (TNOHS). Data of 4,130 Thai older adults were collected through interviews. The association between social backgrounds, oral behaviors and dental service utilization were investigated using chi-square and logistic regression models.

Findings

Of the older adults aged 60–74 years old, 38.4% had used dental services in the last 12 months. Smokers used dental services the least (32.1%). Location, income, education and social welfare were significantly associated with dental service utilization. Among the oral behaviors evaluated, smoking was significantly associated with low dental service utilization.

Originality/value

Thai older adults with a poor social background including location, income, education, entitlement to the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) and smoking made less use of dental services.
An exploration of the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation for communication professionals
Authors: López Jiménez Eduardo Alejandro , Ouariachi Tania
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are currently changing human life with a great implication in the communication field. This research focusses on understanding the current and growing impact of AI and automation in the role of communication professionals to identify what skills and training are needed to face its impacts leading to a recommendation.

Design/methodology/approach

The research involves methodological triangulation, analysing and comparing data gathered from consulting with experts using the Delphi method, focus group with communication students, and literature review.

Findings

Findings show that the likely impacts are on the one hand the enhancing of efficiency and productivity, as well as freeing communication professionals to focus on the creative side, strategy and analytical thinking, on the other hand, repetitive and low-level jobs could be lost, being higher position jobs or those involving creativity and decision making harder to automate. Two types of training are needed: to gather experience with the current AI and automated tools, and to focus on developing human qualities that AI cannot replicate.

Originality/value

The outcomes of this research are valuable to help current and future communication practitioners, as well as organisations, to be one step ahead and survive the age AI and automation, being aware of its current and near-future impacts. The paper offers a list of recommended soft and technical skills, as well as training needed, categorizing them in low, medium and high priority.
AACSB assurance for STUST quality and competitiveness: balanced scorecard roadmap
Authors: Zaki Fouad Mohamed Tamer , Chang Chia-Hua , Huang Yu-Chuan
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role of international quality assurance and accreditation on higher education quality improvement and competitiveness, as well as assessing the associated benefits and challenges in the Asian context with reference to Taiwan.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper used a qualitative approach to examine the case study of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (STUST) accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The paper collected survey responses from service providers (i.e. STUST faculty and AACSB) and focus group discussions with students to bridge the perception-expectation gap.

Findings

The qualitative results highlighted 10 key success factors and performance indicators which were later used to build a balanced scorecard (BSC) strategy for STUST quality improvement and competitiveness. Findings show that education quality assurance (via AACSB process) can directly influence the competitive advantage (i.e. for AACSB, STUST and Students) or indirectly via education quality enhancement. The results from faculty and students are consistent with the value co-creation trend to achieve continuous quality improvement more effectively and efficiently.

Originality/value

This research paper is unique as the first qualitative in-depth study to discuss assurance related factors that positively or negatively affect competitiveness and quality improvement for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Asia and Taiwan. The paper also contributed by designing a BSC framework and strategy-map applicable to HEIs.
Intention to use mobile banking services: an Islamic banking customers’ perspective from Sri Lanka
Authors: Samsudeen Sabraz Nawaz , Selvaratnam Gunapalan , Hayathu Mohamed Ahamed Hilmy
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the determinants of the intention to use mobile banking services among Islamic Banking customers in Sri Lanka. The study was carried out based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT 2). The predictor variables of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation and habit were used to predict the variable of behavioural intention to use. The moderating variables entail age, gender and experience.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative method with questionnaire survey was used. Data collection relied on the questionnaire survey method of which items were derived and adapted from past literatures. The responses were captured using the seven-point Likert scale. The study population consisted of Islamic Banking customers in Sri Lanka. A total of 594 questionnaires were returned of which 582 were found usable for analysis. Data analysis was conducted using the partial least square structural equation modelling along with SmartPLS 3.

Findings

The analysis results demonstrated the significant effect of all the variables on the Islamic Banking customers’ intention to use m-banking services along with the significant effect of the moderating variables as initially hypothesized.

Practical implications

As the first study of its kind in the context of Islamic banking customers in Sri Lanka, this study offers decision makers valuable guidelines for when they intend to re-engineer their m-banking applications and promote them to the public.

Originality/value

Following a comprehensive literature review, this study is identified as the pioneering effort in the investigation of m-banking usage intention among Islamic Banking customers in Sri Lanka. Therefore, this study contributes new knowledge and insights to the existing body of literature by confirming the viability of the UTAUT2 model in driving m-banking usage adoption among Islamic Banking customers in Sri Lanka.
Active disturbance rejection sliding mode control for robot manipulation
Authors: Mou Fangli , Wu Dan
Published: December 2020

Purpose

In recent years, owing to the rapidly increasing labor costs, the demand for robots in daily services and industrial operations has been increased significantly. For further applications and human–robot interaction in an unstructured open environment, fast and accurate tracking and strong disturbance rejection ability are required. However, utilizing a conventional controller can make it difficult for the robot to meet these demands, and when a robot is required to perform at a high-speed and large range of motion, conventional controllers may not perform effectively or even lead to the instability.

Design/methodology/approach

The main idea is to develop the control law by combining the SMC feedback with the ADRC control architecture to improve the robustness and control quality of a conventional SMC controller. The problem is formulated and solved in the framework of ADRC. For better estimation and control performance, a generalized proportional integral observer (GPIO) technique is employed to estimate and compensate for unmodeled dynamics and other unknown time-varying disturbances. And benefiting from the usage of GPIO, a new SMC law can be designed by synthesizing the estimation and its history.

Findings

The employed methodology introduced a significant improvement in handling the uncertainties of the system parameters without compromising the nominal system control quality and intuitiveness of the conventional ADRC design. First, the proposed method combines the advantages of the ADRC and SMC method, which achieved the best tracking performance among these controllers. Second, the proposed controller is sufficiently robust to various disturbances and results in smaller tracking errors. Third, the proposed control method is insensitive to control parameters which indicates a good application potential.

Originality/value

High-performance robot tracking control is the basis for further robot applications in open environments and human–robot interfaces, which require high tracking accuracy and strong disturbance rejection. However, both the varied dynamics of the system and rapidly changing nonlinear coupling characteristic significantly increase the control difficulty. The proposed method gives a new replacement of PID controller in robot systems, which does not require an accurate dynamic system model, is insensitive to control parameters and can perform promisingly for response rapidity and steady-state accuracy, as well as in the presence of strong unknown disturbances.
Social impact reporting in the public interest: the case of accounting standardisation
Authors: Adams Sarah , Tweedie Dale , Muir Kristy
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the extent to which accounting standards for social impact reporting are in the public interest. This study aims to explore what the public interest means for social impact reporting by charities; and assess the extent to which the accounting standardisation of social impact reporting supports the public interest so defined.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducts a case study of how stakeholders in Australian charities conceptualise the public interest when discussing accounting standardisation. This paper distinguishes three concepts of the public interest from prior research, namely, aggregative, processual and common good. For each, this paper analyses the implications for accounting and how accountants serve the public interest, and how they align with stakeholder views.

Findings

Stakeholder views align with the aggregative and processual concepts of public interest, however this was contested and partial. Accounting standards for social impact reporting will only serve the public interest if they also capture and implement the common good approach.

Practical implications

Clarifying how key stakeholders interpret the public interest can help standard-setters and governments design (or withhold) accounting standards on social impact reporting. This paper also distinguishes different practical roles for accountants in this domain – information merchants, umpires or advocates, which each public interest concept implies.

Originality/value

This paper extends prior research on accounting for the public interest to social impact reporting. The paper empirically demonstrates the salience of the common good concept of public interest and demonstrates the diversity of views on the standardisation of social impact reporting by charities.
Role of Big Five personality traits in regulatory-focused job crafting
Authors: Sameer Sanjeet Kumar , Priyadarshi Pushpendra
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study examines the role of Big Five personality traits namely openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism in regulatory-focused job crafting, i.e. promotion- and prevention-focused job crafting and their inter-relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data collected from 444 executives of Indian public sector energy companies were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

Big Five personality traits differentially influence individuals' ways of managing job demands through promotion- and prevention-focused job crafting. These influences are easily identifiable in case of openness to experience, conscientiousness and neuroticism.

Practical implications

Findings of the study may help organizations in developing an effective recruitment, job designing and job allocation process, devise a framework for uncertainty management, encourage their employees to undertake personality-aligned job crafting to manage their ever-emerging jobs and enhance person–job fit.

Originality/value

This study, for the first time, provided a comparative influence of Big Five personality traits on both forms of regulatory-focused job crafting. These findings may be relevant for job demand management in a dynamic business environment.
Examining partial proportional odds model in analyzing severity of high-speed railway accident
Authors: Wang Jing , Wang Yinghan , Peng Yichuan , Lu Jian John
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The operation safety of the high-speed railway has been widely concerned. Due to the joint influence of the environment, equipment, personnel and other factors, accidents are inevitable in the operation process. However, few studies focused on identifying contributing factors affecting the severity of high-speed railway accidents because of the difficulty in obtaining field data. This study aims to investigate the impact factors affecting the severity of the general high-speed railway.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 14 potential factors were examined from 475 data. The severity level is categorized into four levels by delay time and the number of subsequent trains that are affected by the accident. The partial proportional odds model was constructed to relax the constraint of the parallel line assumption.

Findings

The results show that 10 factors are found to significantly affect accident severity. Moreover, the factors including automation train protection (ATP) system fault, platform screen door and train door fault, traction converter fault and railway clearance intrusion by objects have an effect on reducing the severity level. On the contrary, the accidents caused by objects hanging on the catenary, pantograph fault, passenger misconducting or sudden illness, personnel intrusion of railway clearance, driving on heavy rain or snow and train collision against objects tend to be more severe.

Originality/value

The research results are very useful for mitigating the consequences of high-speed rail accidents.
Treatment of pediatric periorificial dermatitis with topical calcineurin inhibitor and topical/oral metronidazole
Authors: Lee Hanjae , Kim Kyu Han
Published: December 2020

Pediatric periorificial dermatitis is a papulopustular eruption found around the facial orifices in children. Although the treatment of the disease has been largely anecdotal and experience‐based, studies have shown that topical calcineurin inhibitors, as well as other topical and oral antibiotics, such as metronidazole, can be effective treatment options. However, most of the studies with a sizable number of patients have been based on the Caucasian population. Herein, we evaluated the clinical efficacy of topical calcineurin inhibitors and topical/oral metronidazole in 24 Korean patients with pediatric periorificial dermatitis. The majority of the patients showed a complete response to treatment.
Association of e‐cigarette advertising with e‐cigarette and cigarette use among US adults
Authors: Ali Fatma Romeh M. , Dave Dhaval M. , Colman Gregory J. , Wang Xu , Saffer Henry , Marynak Kristy L. , Dench Daniel , Grossman Michael
Published: December 2020

Aims

To estimate the association of e‐cigarette advertisement exposure with e‐cigarette and cigarette use behavior among US adults.

Design

Data from the 2013–14 National Adult Tobacco Survey (NATS) were linked to Kantar Media and National Consumer Study data to construct measures of e‐cigarette advertisements on TV and in magazines. The relationship between advertisement measures and outcomes was estimated using logistic and Poisson regressions, controlling for socio‐demographics, state cigarette taxes and state and year fixed‐effects.

Setting

United States.

Participants/cases

A total of 98 746 adults aged ≥ 18 years who responded to the 2013–14 NATS.

Measurements

The independent variables of interest were the number of e‐cigarette advertisements in magazines to which an adult was exposed in the past 6 months and the number of e‐cigarette advertisements on TV to which an adult was exposed in the past 6 months. Outcomes were awareness of e‐cigarettes, ever e‐cigarette use, current e‐cigarette use, current cigarette use and number of cigarettes smoked per month.

Findings

Exposure to one additional e‐cigarette advertisement on TV was associated with a 0.18, 0.13 and 0.03 percentage point increase, respectively, in awareness, ever use and current use of e‐cigarettes among all adults (P < 0.05). This exposure also was associated with a 0.11 percentage point increase in current cigarette use among all adults and an increase in cigarette consumption of 2.24 cigarettes per month among adults aged ≥ 45 (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Exposure to e‐cigarette advertising appears to be positively associated with the use of e‐cigarettes and cigarettes among adults of all ages, and with increased cigarette consumption among older adults.