bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co-designing food waste services in the catering sector
Authors: Michalec Aleksandra , Fodor Martin , Hayes Enda , Longhurst James
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present results from the action research project, where sustainability professionals, local businesses and academic researchers collaborated on exploring barriers for food waste recycling in SMEs food outlets in order to inform local policy and business practices in Bristol, UK.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers conducted face-to-face, qualitative surveys of 79 catering businesses in three diverse areas of the city. The action research methodology was applied, where a range of co-researchers contributed towards study design and review.

Findings

The research reveals the main barriers to recycling and how such perceptions differ depending on whether the respondents do or do not recycle, with “convenience” and “cost” being the main issue according to the already recycling participants. On the other hand, participants who do not recycle state that their main reason is “not enough waste” and “lack of space”.

Practical implications

Participants recommended a range of measures, which could improve the current food waste services in Bristol. For example, they suggest that business engagement should address the barriers voiced by the participants applying the framings used by them, rather than assuming restaurants and cafes are not aware of the issue. By inviting a variety of non-academic stakeholders into the process of research design and analysis, the project addressed the imbalances in knowledge production and policy design.

Originality/value

Despite the local and qualitative focus of this paper, the results and research methodology could act as a useful guide for conducting food waste action research in the policy context.
Negotiating choice, deception and risk: teenagers’ perceptions of food safety
Authors: Elliott Charlene , Ellison Kirsten
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the teenager perspectives of the meaning of food safety, and the implications of those meanings.

Design/methodology/approach

Five focus groups were conducted with students (aged 12–14) from Calgary, AB. Participants were asked what food safety means to them and probed about their views on the relationship between food safety and packaged foods. Grounded theorizing informed the analysis.

Findings

Food safety was described as located within the system, located within the individual and located within the edible. Key to these teenagers’ understanding of food safety is the theme of food deception – a deception promulgated by food producers, manufacturers and advertisers who lack transparency about what they are actually selling. Teenagers draw attention to the risks associated with living in an industrialized food environment, and to the tension between safety and the industry-driven motive to sell.

Originality/value

Individuals start to make independent decisions around food preparation and consumption as teenagers; as present and future consumers, it is valuable to learn their perspectives and knowledge about food safety. More importantly, food safety is not only simply a health-related issue but also a semantic one. This study moves beyond the knowledge deficit approach characterizing most research on the topic. Instead, it probes the range of meanings associated with food safety and how they are worked out, revealing that the teenagers’ construction of food as “risk objects” reveals different links to harm than the food safety interventions typically directed to them.
Exploring demand for eco-labeled dairy product attributes in Vermont
Authors: Conner David , Irwin Emily , Simmen Maelle
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of eco-labels to help dairy farm viability as one partial solution to a complex problem. Specifically, it aims to understand which attributes are most likely to increase consumption and garner price premiums.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses key informant interviews and a convenience sample (n=203) of supermarket shoppers in Vermont. It uses Likert-type scales to measure the likelihood of increased purchase and paying price premiums based on a series attributes including animal welfare, fair labor standards, family farms and environmental stewardship. It calculates and compares mean ratings of each attribute and use an ordinal regression to measure the effect of demographic attributes on each attribute’s rating.

Findings

Interviewed stakeholders named low milk prices and evolving industry structure as harming dairy farm viability. They list supply control and improved promotion as potential solutions. Survey respondents say attributes supporting animal welfare, farm workers, family farms and healthy soil are most likely to garner increased consumption and price premiums.

Research limitations/implications

The authors use a convenience sample, so generalization to larger populations is not advisable.

Practical implications

Promotion around animal welfare, farm workers, family farms and healthy soil is most likely to be effective, based on the results of this study. The survey responses are very highly correlated, suggesting that a multi-attribute eco-label may garner the most support.

Social implications

This work can inform efforts to promote dairy farm viability, an important sector of the agricultural economy in Vermont and elsewhere in the USA.

Originality/value

This research provides the ranking of attributes which may appear on eco-labels by current consumers of dairy products in a state with an important dairy heritage and industry.
Metrics to improve universal-service fund disbursements
Authors: Samarajiva Rohan , Hurulle Gayani
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Many governments wishing to provide telecommunication services to those who are unconnected have chosen the Universal Service Fund (USF) as the principal policy instrument. However, there is evidence that monies directly or indirectly collected from users of telecommunication services are lying unspent in these funds. The purpose of this paper is to propose metrics for measuring the disbursement efficacy of funds across time and across countries as an essential element of improving the performance of the universal service funds.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes two metrics, the total disbursement rate (TDR) and the year-on-year disbursement rate (YDR), which can be used to assess the disbursement efficacy of universal service programs. It illustrates the value of the metrics by applying them to the USFs of India, Malaysia and Pakistan.

Findings

A move to push out funds has been observed in India in recent years. Pakistan had not reached the same momentum up to mid-2014. An improvement in Malaysia’s disbursement efficacy was observed until 2013, with nearly all of the funds collected in the previous year being disbursed. A significant proportion of the funds collected are lying unspent in the three USFs, nevertheless.

Originality/value

The proposed metrics are robust, objective and parsimonious indicators that allow comparison over time and across countries. They will enable productive, evidence-based conversations that will hold fund administrators accountable and will inform the design and implementation of more effective policy mechanisms.
Numerical treatment of mass continuity in pressure-correction methods for patient specific flow simulations
Authors: Skiadopoulos Anastasios , Neofytou Panagiotis , Housiadas Christos
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is the development of a robust numerical scheme for fluid flow simulations in complex domains with open boundaries.

Design/methodology/approach

A modified pressure correction algorithm is presented. The proposed modifications are derived through a step-by-step analysis of the importance of mass continuity enforcement in pressure correction methods, the boundary conditions of the pressure correction equation and the special nature of open boundaries.

Findings

The algorithm is validated by performing steady state laminar flow simulations in two backward facing step geometries with progressively truncated outlet channels. The efficiency of the methodology is demonstrated by simulating the pulsatile flow field in a patient specific iliac bifurcation reconstructed by medical imaging data.

Originality/value

The proposed numerical scheme provides accurate and mass conserving solutions in complex domains with open boundaries. The proposed methodology may be directly implemented in any computational domain without any prerequisites regarding the location or type of domain boundaries.
Stability analysis on the stagnation-point flow and heat transfer over a permeable stretching/shrinking sheet with heat source effect
Authors: Kamal Fatinnabila , Zaimi Khairy , Ishak Anuar , Pop Ioan
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the behavior of the stagnation-point flow and heat transfer over a permeable stretching/shrinking sheet in the presence of the viscous dissipation and heat source effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing partial differential equations are converted into ordinary differential equations by similarity transformations before being solved numerically using the bvp4c function built in Matlab software. Effects of suction/injection parameter and heat source parameter on the skin friction and heat transfer coefficients as well as the velocity and temperature profiles are presented in the forms of tables and graphs. A temporal stability analysis will be conducted to verify which solution is stable for the dual solutions exist for the shrinking case.

Findings

The analysis indicates that the skin friction coefficient and the local Nusselt number as well as the velocity and temperature were influenced by suction/injection parameter. In contrast, only the local Nusselt number, which represents heat transfer rate at the surface, was affected by heat source effect. Further, numerical results showed that dual solutions were found to exist for the certain range of shrinking case. Then, the stability analysis is performed, and it is confirmed that the first solution is linearly stable and has real physical implication, while the second solution is not.

Practical implications

In practice, the study of the steady two-dimensional stagnation-point flow and heat transfer past a permeable stretching/shrinking sheet in the presence of heat source effect is very crucial and useful. The problems involving fluid flow over stretching or shrinking surfaces can be found in many industrial manufacturing processes such as hot rolling, paper production and spinning of fibers. Owing to the numerous applications, the study of stretching/shrinking sheet was subsequently extended by many authors to explore various aspects of skin friction coefficient and heat transfer in a fluid. Besides that, the study of suction/injection on the boundary layer flow also has important applications in the field of aerodynamics and space science.

Originality/value

Although many studies on viscous fluid has been investigated, there is still limited discoveries found on the heat source and suction/injection effects. Indeed, this paper managed to obtain the second (dual) solutions and stability analysis is performed. The authors believe that all the results are original and have not been published elsewhere.
Effects of moving wall on the flow of micropolar fluid inside a right angle triangular cavity
Authors: Nazeer Mubbashar , Ali N. , Javed T.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to examine the effects of moving wall on the mixed convection flow and heat transfer in a right-angle triangular cavity filled with a micropolar fluid.

Design/methodology/approach

It is assumed that the bottom wall is uniformly heated and the right inclined wall is cold, whereas the vertical wall is adiabatic and moving with upward/downward velocity v0/−v0, respectively. The micropolar fluid is considered to satisfy the Boussinesq approximation. The governing equations and boundary conditions are solved using the Galerkin finite element method. The Penalty method is used to eliminate the pressure term from the momentum equations. To accomplish the consistent solution, the value of the penalty parameter is taken 107. The simulations are performed for a wide range of Richardson number, micropolar parameter, Prandtl number and Reynolds number.

Findings

The results are presented in the form of streamlines, isotherms and variations of average Nusselt number and fluid flow rate depending on the Richardson number, Prandtl number, micropolar parameter and direction of the moving wall. The flow field and temperature distribution in the cavity are affected by these parameters. An average Nusselt number into the cavity in both cases increase with increasing Prandtl and Richardson numbers and decreases with increasing micropolar parameter, and it has a maximum value when the lid is moving in the downward direction for all the physical parameters.

Research limitations/implications

The present investigation is conducted for the steady, two-dimensional mixed convective flow in a right-angle triangular cavity filled with micropolar fluid. An extension of the present study with the effects of cavity inclination, square cavity, rectangular, trapezoidal and wavy cavity will be the interest of future work.

Originality/value

This work studies the effects of moving wall, micropolar parameter, Richardson number, Prandtl number and Reynolds number parameter in a right-angle triangular cavity filled with a micropolar fluid on the fluid flow and heat transfer. This study might be useful to flows of biological fluids in thin vessels, polymeric suspensions, liquid crystals, slurries, colloidal suspensions, exotic lubricants, solar engineering for construction of triangular solar collector, construction of thermal insulation structure and geophysical fluid mechanics, etc.
A series solution of the boundary value problem arising in the application of fluid mechanics
Authors: Khan Yasir
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to study the two-dimensional steady magneto-hydrodynamic flow of a second-grade fluid in a porous channel using the homotopy perturbation method (HPM).

Design/methodology/approach

The governing Navier–Stokes equations of the flow are reduced to a third-order nonlinear ordinary differential equation by a suitable similarity transformation. Analytic solution of the resulting differential equation is obtained using the HPM. Mathematica software is used to visualize the flow behavior. The effects of the various parameters on velocity field are analyzed through appropriate graphs.

Findings

It is found that x component of the velocity increases with the increase of the Hartman number when the transverse direction variable ranges from 0 to 0.2 and the reverse behavior is observed when transverse direction variable takes values between 0.2 and 0.5. It is noted that the y component of the velocity increases rapidly with the increase of the transverse direction variable. The y component of the velocity increases marginally with the increase of the Hartman number M. The effect of the Reynolds number R on the x and y components of the velocity is quite opposite to the effect of the Hartman number on the x and y components of the velocity and the effect of the parameter on the x and y components of the velocity is similar to that of the Reynolds number.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, nobody had tried before two-dimensional steady magneto-hydrodynamic flow of a second-grade fluid in a porous channel using the HPM.
Does experiential advertising impact credibility?
Authors: Rajaobelina Lova , Lacroix Caroline , St-Onge Anik
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of five dimensions of experiential advertising (cognitive, emotional, sensory, relational and behavioural) on advertising credibility in the banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 277 undergraduate students were asked to complete a questionnaire after viewing two versions of a bank advertisement. Results were analysed using structural modelling equations (EQS 6.2).

Findings

Findings show that all dimensions of experiential advertising positively impact advertisement credibility. Cognitive/emotional/sensory advertisements exert the greatest impact, followed by relational and then behavioural advertisements which have only a marginal impact. Post hoc results show that the impact of experiential advertising on advertising credibility varies according to both actor and respondent gender.

Originality/value

This study enhances the literature on experiential marketing and credibility, especially banking sector advertising, and provides more in-depth insight into the role of respondent and actor gender in influencing responses. Financial services practitioners would be well advised to devote particular attention to the formulation of experiential strategies when developing advertising campaigns.
Understanding the relationship among resources, social media use and hotel performance
Authors: Kim Woo-Hyuk , Chae Bongsug (Kevin)
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the use of social networking sites (SNSs) by hotels. Specifically, drawn upon a resource and capability-based perspective, this study addresses two research questions: (1) the relationship between a hotel’s resources and its use of Twitter and (2) the relationship between the use of Twitter by hotels and their RevPAR.

Design/methodology/approach

The research data include the hotel chain scales, Twitter user profiles and Twitter activities of the hotel parent companies in the USA and the hotels’ RevPAR. To more clearly understand the effect of the use of SNSs, the study uses two dimensions: electronic word-of-mouth and customer engagement. The two dimensions of the hotels’ Twitter use are calculated based on the data extracted from their Twitter user profiles and historical tweets. For a practical purpose, a social media index (SMI), which combines electronic word-of-mouth and the customer engagement score, was used to determine the overall level of Twitter use by hotels.

Findings

ForRQ1, the results indicate there is a positive association between a hotel’s resources and Twitter use. ForRQ2, this study shows there is also a positive association between Twitter use by hotels and their RevPAR.

Practical implications

Twitter use appears to be associated with hotels’ resources. In turn, Twitter use is positively associated with hotel RevPAR. Thus, hotels should look at Twitter as a potential strategic tool for business operation and attempt to increase their ability to leverage Twitter (and other SNSs) for organizational goals (e.g. sales, promotion, customer service).

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study empirically investigating the use of SNSs by hotels with the data drawn from actual firm-generated content (e.g. tweets, retweets) and hotels’ user profile information from Twitter.
Research on decision making of energy utilization project in China based on benefit evaluation
Authors: Niu Dongxiao , Zhao Weibo , Song Zongyun
Published: October 2018

Purpose

There are thousands of areas excluded from using electrical energy in China. It is mainly because that these places, which are away from towns, have the characteristics of scattered living and low-power consumption and are difficult to construct the power grid. The utilization of energy in remote areas could improve the level of education and quality of life for people living in there, which has great social significance. However, how to choose the optimal power generation model quantitatively according to local energy advantages is a difficult problem.

Design/methodology/approach

To carry out a better assessment of the energy benefits of Chinese rural areas to assist the decision-making of energy utilization project, this paper takes Sunan Yugu Autonomous County in Gansu Province as an example. Four feasible energy utilization scenarios are proposed by analyzing its geographical conditions and re-source advantage, respectively, are photovoltaic power generation, biomass power generation, wind power generation and power grid extension. Based on the above scenarios, the evaluation index system of comprehensive utilization of energy in remote areas is constructed, and the comprehensive benefit of each model is evaluated by adopting entropy-based fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model.

Findings

Evaluation results show that the comprehensive benefits of photovoltaic power generation is the best, followed by power grid extension. Thus, preference should be given to the two models in the energy utilization in Sunan County. This evaluation model can provide a scientific reference for the selection decision-making of energy utilization project, which is helpful to provide the feasibility and efficiency of the construction of energy utilization project.

Originality/value

The authors construct the comprehensive benefit evaluation index system and evaluate the comprehensive benefits of different scenarios are by using entropy - fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model. Then the qualitative problem can be analyzed quantitatively. The purpose of this study is to support the decision-making of energy investment. Simultaneously, the paper also has some practical significance in improving the credibility of the government and the quality of local people’s life.
Characteristics of UK higher education institutions that disclose sustainability reports
Authors: Sassen Remmer , Dienes Dominik , Wedemeier Johanna
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to focus on the following research question: Which institutional characteristics are associated with sustainability reporting by UK higher education institutions?

Design/methodology/approach

To answer the aforementioned research question, this study uses logistic regression.

Findings

The results show that 17 per cent of the UK higher education institutions report on their sustainability (July 2014). In line with legitimacy and stakeholder theory, logistic regressions provide evidence that the larger the size of the institution, the higher the probability of reporting. By contrast, high public funding decreases this probability.

Research limitations/implications

The findings show characteristics of higher education institutions that support or hamper sustainability reporting. Overall, the findings imply a lack of institutionalisation of sustainability reporting among higher education institutions.

Originality/value

Although a lot of research has been done on corporate sustainability reporting, only a small number of studies have addressed the issues of sustainability reporting of higher education institutions. This study covers all sustainability reports disclosed among the 160 UK higher education institutions. It is the first study that investigates characteristics of higher education institutions that disclose a sustainability report.
Studying the lubricity of new eco-friendly cutting oil formulation in metal working fluid
Authors: Noor El-Din M.R. , Mishrif Marwa R. , V. Kailas Satish , P.S. Suvin , Mannekote Jagadeesh K.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to formulate a new metal working fluid (MWF) composition including some eco-friendly emulsifiers, corrosion inhibitor, biocide, and non- edible vegetable oil (castor oil) as the base oil. To achieve this aim, five MWFs with different hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) value as 10, 9.5, 9, 8.5 and 8 were prepared to identify the optimum HLB value that gives a highly stable oil-in-water emulsion. The performance of castor oil based MWF was evaluated using tool chip tribometer and drill dynamometer. The surface morphology of steel disc and friction pin was performed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and 3D profilometer. The results revealed that the use of the prepared cutting fluid (E1) caused the cutting force to decrease from 500 N for dry high-speed steel sample to 280N, while the same value for a commercial cutting fluid (COM) was recorded as 340 N at drilling speed and cutting feed force as 1120 rpm and 4 mm/min., respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

A castor oil-based metalworking fluid was prepared using nonionic surfactants. The composition of the metalworking fluid was further optimized by adding performance-enhancing additives. The performance of castor oil based MWF was analyzed using Tool chip tribometer and Drill dynamometer. The surface morphology of steel ball and a disc was done using 3D profilometer and SEM.

Findings

Studies revealed that castor oil-based MWF having Monoethanolamine (MEA) as corrosion inhibitor was found to be highly stable. The drilling dynamometer and tool chip tribometer studies showed that castor oil-based MWF performance was comparable to that of commercial MWF.

Research limitations/implications

This study aims to explore the performance of the castor oil based metalworking fluid (MWF) using tool chip tribometer and drill dynamometer.

Practical implications

The conventional MWFs are petroleum derives and are unsustainable. Use of non-edible plant-based oils for preparing the MWF will not only be conserved environment but also add value addition to agricultural crops.

Social implications

The social Implications is aiming to decrease the environmental impact that results from the using of mineral cutting fluids.

Originality/value

The originality of this work is to replace the mineral oil and synthetic oil based cutting fluids with more eco-friendly alternatives one. In addition, the investigation will focus on developing functional additives required for cutting fluids which are environmentally benign.
Building business models through simple rules
Authors: Sun Sunny Li , Xiao Jianqiang , Zhang Yanli , Zhao Xia
Published: October 2018

Purpose

How do entrepreneurs use simple rules to build their business models? Based on an inductive study of three Chinese Internet and technology firms, the authors find that business models emerge from simple rules that entrepreneurs learn from their experience. Simple rules also guide entrepreneurs to actualize and exploit opportunities in the marketplace, and they can help business models evolve through market feedback, especially in internationalization. This paper aims to delve into the black box of entrepreneurial decision-making and offer a better depiction of the business model development process in uncertain and fast-changing environments and thus provide guidance for future entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the case method (Eisenhardt, 1989; Yin, 2003), the authors first present a thick description of characteristics of three companies and the dynamics of their business models. They then code these descriptions into first-order measures. Finally, they aggregate these measures into abstract constructs. They constantly compare the theoretical constructs and the emerging theory with the existing literature on business models.

Findings

The authors generate three key insights from the findings: business models emerge from simple rules learned from entrepreneurs’ experience, simple rules help entrepreneurs exploit and actualize opportunities in the marketplace and simple rules help businesses expand and evolve business models through market feedback, especially in internationalization.

Originality/value

This paper falls into the intersection of strategy and entrepreneurship – an emerging new field of strategic entrepreneurship – and is concerned with how businesses create and sustain a competitive advantage while simultaneously identifying and exploiting new opportunities. The authors bring people – the individual decision-makers for businesses – back in strategy research and depict a more realistic picture of the behavior of successful entrepreneurs and their business model development process.
Embracing qualitative research: an act of strategic essentialism
Authors: Mir Raza
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to argue that rather than contest the artificial schism produced by social scientists between “qualitative” and “quantitative” research, we should to accept this binary, however, contingently, and use it productively. This would be an act of “strategic essentialism” that would allow us to be productive in the research and inquiry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses postcolonial theory to make a case for contingent representation, i.e. using artificial categories to carve out a space for heterodox theoretical approaches.

Findings

Researchers devoted to qualitative research must resist thinking, speaking and evaluating that research using quantitative thinking. Also, while ethical considerations are paramount in qualitative research, we need to debunk the narrow understanding of ethics as “following rules.” Also, qualitative researchers need to be aware of the institutional pulls that the research will be subject to, and also be ready to resist them.

Originality/value

This paper discusses how good research resists the siren call of institutionalization. It challenges the “common sense” assumptions of the field and brings them into the realm of the questionable. It seeks to theorize the untheorizable, and anthropologize the dominant.
An atoxigenic L‐strain of Aspergillus flavus (Eurotiales: Trichocomaceae) is pathogenic to the coffee twig borer, Xylosandrus compactus (Coleoptera: Curculionidea: Scolytinae)
Authors: Mukasa Yosia , Kyamanywa Samuel , Sserumaga Julius P. , Otim Michael , Tumuhaise Venansio , Erbaugh Mark , Egonyu James P.
Published: October 2018

This study isolated and evaluated virulence of fungal entomopathogens of Xylosandrus compactus – an important pest of Robusta coffee in Sub‐Saharan Africa. A survey was conducted in five farming systems in Uganda to isolate entomopathogens associated with X. compactus. Four fungal isolates were screened for virulence against X. compactus in the laboratory at 1 × 107 conidia ml−1 where an atoxigenic L‐strain of A. flavus killed 70%–100% of all stages of X. compactus compared with other unidentified isolates which caused 20%–70% mortalities. The time taken by A. flavus to kill 50% of X. compactus eggs, larvae, pupae and adults in the laboratory was 2–3 days; whereas the other unidentified fungal isolates took 4–7 days. The concentrations of A. flavus that killed 50% of different stages of X. compactus were 5 × 105, 12 × 105, 17 × 105 and 30 × 105 conidia ml−1 for larvae, eggs, pupae and adults respectively. A formulation of A. flavus in oil caused higher mortalities of X. compactus larvae, pupae and adults in the field (71%–79%) than its formulation in water (33%–47%). The atoxigenic strain of A. flavus could therefore be developed into a safe biopesticide against X. compactus.
Neural basis of smoking‐induced relief of craving and negative affect: Contribution of nicotine
Authors: Faulkner Paul , Ghahremani Dara G. , Tyndale Rachel F. , Paterson Neil E. , Cox Chelsea , Ginder Nathaniel , Hellemann Gerhard , London Edythe D.
Published: October 2018

Smoking‐induced relief of craving and withdrawal promotes continued cigarette use. Understanding how relief is produced and the role of nicotine in this process may facilitate development of new smoking‐cessation therapies. As the US Food and Drug Administration considers setting a standard for reduced nicotine content in cigarettes to improve public health, knowledge of how nicotine contributes to relief also can inform policy. We assessed effects of nicotine using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and behavioral assessments of craving and negative affect. Twenty‐one young (18–25 years old) daily smokers underwent overnight abstinence on 4 days. On each of the following mornings, they self‐rated their cigarette craving and negative affect and underwent resting‐state functional MRI (fMRI) before and after smoking a cigarette that delivered 0.027, 0.110, 0.231, or 0.763 mg of nicotine. Functional connectivity between the anterior insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and between the nucleus accumbens and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) was assessed. Smoking reduced craving, negative affect, and nucleus accumbens‐OFC connectivity irrespective of nicotine dose, with positive correlations of the effects on behavioral and connectivity measures. Only the highest nicotine dose (0.763 mg) reduced right anterior insula‐ACC connectivity; this reduction was positively correlated with the behavioral effects of the 0.763‐mg dose only. While nicotine‐based therapies may act on right anterior insula‐ACC functional circuits to facilitate smoking cessation, non‐nicotine (eg, the conditioned and sensorimotor) aspects of smoking may promote cessation by reducing OFC‐accumbens connectivity to alleviate withdrawal.
Topical haemostatic powder as a novel endoscopic therapy for severe colonic diverticular bleeding
Authors: Ng Jia Lin , Marican Musfirah , Mathew Ronnie
Published: October 2018

Background

Although most diverticular bleeding resolve spontaneously, up to 30% can bleed torrentially, necessitating angioembolization, endoscopic or surgical intervention. Non‐contact endoscopic therapies, such as topical haemostatic powders, do not require precise targeting and are attractive because identification of specific culprit diverticulum is difficult. While their use in non‐variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding is well established, its role in lower gastrointestinal bleeding remains unclear. We used topical Hemospray in a novel setting of severe diverticular bleeding, evaluating its efficacy in achieving haemostasis, reducing re‐bleeding and the need for re‐intervention.

Methods

Consecutive patients from a tertiary colorectal unit who underwent colonoscopy and Hemospray for severe diverticular bleeding from November 2016 to October 2017 were included. Hemospray was endoscopically applied to colonic segments with major stigmata of recent haemorrhage.

Results

Ten patients had a median time to colonoscopy of 22 h (range: 8–54) from admission. Median of 3.5 units (range: 0–10) of packed cells were transfused pre‐endoscopy. All achieved immediate haemostasis without further haemodynamic instability or re‐bleeding. No endoscopic, radiological or surgical re‐intervention was required. Patients were fit for discharge within a median of 3 days (range: 2–7) following Hemospray. There were no morbidities, mortalities or readmissions for diverticular bleeding after a median follow‐up of 9.5 months (range: 3–16).

Conclusion

This feasibility study shows that topical haemostatic powders can offer a safe and effective therapeutic endoscopic option in severe diverticular bleeding with high haemostatic rate. Prospective controlled trials are required to establish its efficacy compared to conventional therapy.
Serum M2BPGi level and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma after oral anti‐viral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Hsu Yao‐Chun , Jun Tomi , Huang Yen‐Tsung , Yeh Ming‐Lun , Lee Chia‐Long , Ogawa Shintaro , Cho Shu‐Hsien , Lin Jaw‐Town , Yu Ming‐Lung , Nguyen Mindie H. , Tanaka Yasuhito
Published: October 2018

Background

Mac‐2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) is an emerging biomarker for risk prediction of liver disease, but data remain sparse for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who are treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA).

Aim

To clarify serial changes in M2BPGi and its association with subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in NA‐treated CHB patients.

Methods

We enrolled 384 previously untreated CHB patients who received NAs. Among them, 195 had baseline cirrhosis (n = 142:48:5 for Child A:B:C). Sera were collected at NA initiation, and after 1 and 2 years. Serum M2BPGi levels were measured and expressed as cut‐off index (COI) at different time points. The association between M2BPGi and HCC was evaluated by the Cox proportional hazard model.

Results

The median M2BPGi levels significantly decreased from 1.68 COI at baseline, to 1.0 at year 1, and 0.88 at year 2. During median follow‐up of 72.7 months, HCC occurred in 37 patients, 36 of whom had cirrhosis. In patients with cirrhosis, baseline M2BPGi level was associated with HCC risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.07 per COI; 95% CI, 1.01‐1.14) on the multivariable Cox analysis, whereas levels at year 1 or 2 were not independently predictive. A risk score for HCC was developed using baseline M2BPGi, age and body mass index with c statistics of 0.77, 0.79 and 0.87 at 3, 5 and 10 years, respectively.

Conclusions

Serum M2BPGi level significantly decreases after NA treatment in CHB patients. Baseline level can be factored into the risk prediction of HCC in NA‐treated patients with cirrhosis.
How do peri‐implant biologic parameters correspond with implant survival and peri‐implantitis? A critical review
Authors: Doornewaard Ron , Jacquet Wolfgang , Cosyn Jan , De Bruyn Hugo
Published: October 2018

Objectives

The aim of this critical review was to evaluate whether commonly used biologic diagnostic parameters correspond to implant survival and peri‐implantitis prevalence.

Materials and methods

Publications from 2011 to 2017 were selected by an electronic search using the Pubmed database of the US National Library of Medicine. Prospective and retrospective studies with a mean follow‐up time of at least 5 years and reporting prevalence of peri‐implantitis as well as mean bone loss and standard deviation were selected. The correlation between reported prevalence of peri‐implantitis and reported implant survival, mean follow‐up time, mean bone loss, mean probing depth, and mean bleeding on probing was calculated. Mean bone loss and standard deviation were used for estimation of proportion of implants with bone loss exceeding 1, 2, and 3 mm.

Results

Full‐text analysis was performed for 255 papers from 4,173 available ones, and 41 met all the inclusion criteria. The overall mean weighted survival rate was 96.9% (89.9%–100%) and the reported prevalence of peri‐implantitis ranged between 0% and 39.7%, based on 15 different case definitions. The overall weighted bone loss was 1.1 mm based on 8,182 implants and an average mean loading time ranging from 5 to 20 years. No correlation was found between mean bone loss and the reported prevalence of peri‐implantitis. The estimated prevalence of implants with bone loss above 2 mm was 23%. The overall weighted mean probing depth was 3.3 mm, and mean weighted bleeding was 52.2%. Only a weak correlation was found between survival and function time (r = −0.49). There was no relation between the probing depth or bleeding and the mean bone loss, mean follow‐up time, and reported prevalence of peri‐implantitis.

Conclusion

Biologic parameters mean probing depth and mean bleeding on probing do not correlate with mean bone loss and this irrespective of follow‐up. Case definition for peri‐implantitis varied significantly between studies indicating that an unambiguous definition based on a specified threshold for bone loss is not agreed upon in the literature.
The effect of antiresorptive drugs on implant therapy: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Stavropoulos Andreas , Bertl Kristina , Pietschmann Peter , Pandis Nikolaos , Schiødt Morten , Klinge Björn
Published: October 2018

Objectives

A considerable portion of the adult population has received and/or is receiving treatment with antiresorptive drugs (ARDs). It is thus relevant to assess possible side effects of ARD intake in connection to various aspects of implant therapy. The aim of this study was to answer the focused question “In patients with systemic intake of ARDs, what is the outcome and complication rate of implant therapy including associated bone grafting procedures comparing to patients without systemic intake of ARDs?”

Materials and Methods

Original studies fulfilled predefined inclusion criteria (e.g., case series, cohort studies, case–control studies, and controlled and/or randomized controlled clinical trials; retro‐ or prospective design; and ≥10 patients with systemic intake of ARDs). Various patient‐, medication‐, and intervention‐related parameters [i.e., implant loss, grafting procedure complication/failure, peri‐implant marginal bone levels/loss, medication‐related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ), and peri‐implantitis] were extracted, and meta‐analyses and quality assessment were performed.

Results

Twenty‐four studies with bisphosphonate (BP) intake (mainly low dose for osteoporosis treatment) and seven studies on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), including ≥10 patients, and controls not taking the medication were identified. Furthermore, seven studies on MRONJ associated with implants were included. Meta‐analyses based on four studies reporting on patient level and eight studies reporting on implant level showed no significant differences in terms of implant loss between patients on BPs (mainly low dose for osteoporosis treatment) and controls. Furthermore, low‐dose BP intake did not compromise peri‐implant marginal bone levels. Based on two studies, no negative effect of HRT was observed on the implant level, while HRT appeared to exert a marginally significant negative effect regarding implant survival on the patient level and regarding peri‐implant marginal bone levels. Based on six studies reporting single‐patient data, MRONJ in patients on BP for osteoporosis appeared in 70% of the cases >36 months after start of drug intake, while in patients with cancer, MRONJ appeared in 64% of the cases ≤36 months after first BP intake.

Conclusion

Low‐dose oral BP intake for osteoporosis treatment, in general, does not compromise implant therapy, that is, patients on ARDs do not lose more implants nor get more implant‐related complications/failures comparing to implant patients without BP intake. There is almost no information available on the possible effect on implant therapy of high‐dose BPs or other widely used ARDs (e.g., denosumab), or on the success or safety of bone grafting procedures. Patients with high‐dose ARD intake for management of malignancies, patients on oral BP over a longer period of time, and patients with comorbidities should be considered as high‐risk patients for MRONJ.
Implant‐supported cantilevered fixed dental rehabilitations in fully edentulous patients: Systematic review of the literature. Part II
Authors: Storelli Stefano , Del Fabbro Massimo , Scanferla Massimo , Palandrani Giulia , Romeo Eugenio
Published: October 2018

Aim

To investigate fully edentulous patients rehabilitated with cantilever‐fixed implant‐supported restorations and to analyse which complications are reported for this type of treatment.

Materials and Methods

Two operators screened the literature (MEDLINE, EMBASE) and performed a hand search on the main journals dealing with implantology and prosthetics until 31 December 2017. Only articles that considered cantilever implant‐fixed restorations with at least 10 patients and with a mean follow‐up of at least 5 years were selected. The outcome variables were survival of implants and prosthesis, mechanical, technical and biological complications, marginal bone loss. The review was performed according to the PRISMA statements. The risk of bias was evaluated for each article. Failure and complication rates were analysed using random effect Poisson regression models to obtain summary estimate of 5‐ and 10‐year survival and complication rates.

Results

Fourteen papers for fully edentulous patients were selected. The estimated 5 to 10 years survival rate was calculated to be 99.00% and 96.7% for the implants and the prosthesis, respectively. A total of 299 complications (technical and biological) were reported with a cumulative 5–10 years complication rate of 44.41% and 39.46% for the patients and for the prosthesis, respectively.

Conclusions

There is evidence that cantilever can be successful treatment in fully edentulous patients.
Implant supported cantilevered fixed dental rehabilitations in partially edentulous patients: Systematic review of the literature. Part I.
Authors: Storelli Stefano , Del Fabbro Massimo , Scanferla Massimo , Palandrani Giulia , Romeo Eugenio
Published: October 2018

Objectives

To investigate in which clinical situations a cantilever fixed implant supported restorations can be a treatment alternative and which complications are reported.

Materials and Methods

Two operators screened the literature (MEDLINE, EMBASE) and performed a hand search on the main journals dealing with implantology and prosthetics until 31 December 2017. Only articles that considered cantilever implant fixed restorations with at least 10 patients and with a mean follow‐up of at least 5 year were selected. The outcome variables were survival of implants and prosthesis, mechanical, technical and biological complications, marginal bone loss. The review was performed according to the PRISMA statements. Risk of bias assessment was evaluated. Failure and complication rates were analysed using random effect Poisson regression models to obtain summary estimate of 5‐ and 10‐year survival and complication rates.

Results

A total of nine papers were selected for partially edentulous patients and reported high survival rate of the prosthesis. The estimated survival rate for 5–10 years was calculated to be 98.4% for the implants and 99.2% for the rehabilitations. Mechanical, technical and biological complications were reported with a cumulative 5–10 years complication rate of 28.66% and 26.57% for the patients and for the prosthesis, respectively. Two papers for single implant supporting 2‐unit cantilever were not sufficient to draw conclusions.

Conclusions

There is evidence that cantilever can be successful treatment in partially edentulous patients. In two adjacent edentulous sites, data are not yet sufficient.
Amazonian deforestation and soil biodiversity
Authors: Franco André L.C. , Sobral Bruno W. , Silva Artur L.C. , Wall Diana H.
Published: October 2018

Clearance and perturbation of Amazonian forests are one of the greatest threats to tropical biodiversity conservation of our times. A better understanding of how soil communities respond to Amazonian deforestation is crucially needed to inform policy interventions that effectively protect biodiversity and the essential ecosystem services it provides. We assessed the impact of deforestation and ecosystem conversion to arable land on Amazonian soil biodiversity through a meta‐analysis. We analyzed 274 pairwise comparisons of soil biodiversity in Amazonian primary forests and sites under different stages of deforestation and land‐use conversion: disturbed (wildfire and selective logging) and slash‐and‐burnt forests, pastures, and cropping systems. Overall, 60% and 51% of responses of soil macrofauna and microbial community attributes (i.e., abundance, biomass, richness, and diversity indexes) to deforestation were negative, respectively. We found few studies on mesofauna (e.g., microarthropods) and microfauna (e.g., protozoa and nematodes), so those groups could not be analyzed. Macrofauna abundance and biomass were more vulnerable to the displacement of forests by pastures than by agricultural fields, whereas microbes showed the opposite pattern. Effects of Amazonian deforestation on macrofauna were more detrimental at sites with mean annual precipitation >1900 mm, and higher losses of microbes occurred in highly acidic soils (pH < 4.5). Limited geographic coverage, omission of meso‐ and microfauna, and low taxonomic resolution were main factors impairing generalizations from the data set. Few studies assessed the impacts of within‐forest disturbance (wildfires and selective logging) on soil species in Amazonia, where logging operations rapidly expand across public lands and more frequent severe dry seasons are increasing the prevalence of wildfires.