bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repair of Large Hiatal Hernias With the Use of Mesh and Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma
Authors: Paranyak Mykola , Patel Rikesh , Grubnyk Viktor , Grubnik Volodymyr , Khadzhe Amina
Published: September 2021

Background:

According to recent studies, large hiatal hernias (HH) can be associated with a lower content of type-I and type-III collagen in the phrenoesophageal ligament (POL). We therefore hypothesize that the use of a mesh implant with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for repair of large HH would have a positive effect on long-term outcome.

The purpose of our study was to determine the level of type-I and type-III collagens in the POL of patients with large HH with the aim of improving the technique of HH repair.

Materials and Methods:

During the first phase of the study, the collagen content within the POL was assessed in 18 patients with HH and 14 cadaveric specimens without HH. During the second phase, 54 patients with large HH (defined as 10 to 20 cm2), that required surgery were recruited. Laparoscopic repair involved use of a nonabsorbable self-fixating ProGrip mesh infiltrated with 2 to 4 mL of autologous PRP was used for reinforcement of crural repair. Results were assessed using endoscopy, barium swallow, 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring and a quality of life gastroesophageal reflux disease-health related quality of life questionnaire.

Results:

The content of collagen within POL in patients with HH was significantly lower than in the cadaveric specimens without HH. Of the 54 patients undergoing HH repair, all procedures were performed laparoscopically and there were no mortalities in this group. At 48 months, only 2 HH recurrences (3.7%) were detected. During this period, the mean gastroesophageal reflux disease-health related quality of life score decreased from 15.7±5.5 to 5.9±0.6 (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

Our study has shown that the collagen content is reduced in patients with large HH; thus, it is advisable to use mesh for HH repair in such patients. Use of mesh infiltrated in PRP is safe and can have positive impact on results of HH repair.
Nasal high flow oxygen therapy during acute admissions or periods of worsening symptoms
Authors: Munsif Maitri , McDonald Christine , Goh Nicole , Smallwood Natasha
Published: September 2021

Purpose of review

Nasal high flow therapy (NHF) is increasingly used in acute care settings. In this review, we consider recent advances in the utilization of NHF in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), terminal cancer and symptom management. Considerations around NHF use during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic are also discussed.

Recent findings

NHF enables humidification and high flows to be provided together with titrated, supplemental oxygen therapy. Compared to conventional oxygen therapy, NHF improves respiratory physiology by reducing workload, enhancing muco-ciliary clearance and improving dead space washout. Some studies suggest that early use of NHF in people being cared for in the emergency department leads to lower rates of invasive ventilation and noninvasive ventilation. There is also emerging evidence for NHF use in people with COPD and chronic respiratory failure, and in palliative care. NHF is comfortable, well-tolerated and safe for use in the management of breathlessness in people with cancer. NHF can be delivered by face mask to patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, to ease the burden on critical care resources.

The evidence base for NHF is rapidly growing and offers promise in relieving troublesome symptoms and for people receiving palliative care.
Equitable partnerships between scientists and persons living with spinal cord injury will strengthen research scope, quality, and outcomes
Authors: Anderson Kim D.
Published: September 2021

Purpose of review

Partnerships across all stakeholders in the research process strengthen the outcomes and ultimate usability of research. The purpose of this review is to discuss the current level of inclusion of people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) in the research process, the science of engagement and benefits of partnerships in research, and emerging resources available to help promote ethical and effective partnerships in SCI research.

Recent findings

Significant strides have been made in interacting with people living with SCI to help identify the problem(s) that are important to study (i.e. the first step in the research process). The SCI research field is lagging in partnering with people living with SCI throughout the rest of the research process despite a plethora of evidence-based principles and strategies for effective partnerships in the broader context of research. There are several emerging resources specific to SCI to help researchers and the community begin to build meaningful partnerships throughout the entire cycle of research.

The SCI research field already values partnerships with clinicians and promotes the concept of ‘bench-to-bedside and back again’. Now is the time to take it a step further to ‘bench-to-bedside-to-community and back again’.
Controlling the topology of mammalian mitochondrial DNA
Authors: Menger Katja E. , Rodríguez-Luis Alejandro , Chapman James , Nicholls Thomas J.
Published: September 2021

The genome of mitochondria, called mtDNA, is a small circular DNA molecule present at thousands of copies per human cell. MtDNA is packaged into nucleoprotein complexes called nucleoids, and the density of mtDNA packaging affects mitochondrial gene expression. Genetic processes such as transcription, DNA replication and DNA packaging alter DNA topology, and these topological problems are solved by a family of enzymes called topoisomerases. Within mitochondria, topoisomerases are involved firstly in the regulation of mtDNA supercoiling and secondly in disentangling interlinked mtDNA molecules following mtDNA replication. The loss of mitochondrial topoisomerase activity leads to defects in mitochondrial function, and variants in the dual-localized type IA topoisomerase TOP3A have also been reported to cause human mitochondrial disease. We review the current knowledge on processes that alter mtDNA topology, how mtDNA topology is modulated by the action of topoisomerases, and the consequences of altered mtDNA topology for mitochondrial function and human health.
Multi-fidelity non-intrusive reduced-order modelling based on manifold alignment
Authors: Perron Christian , Rajaram Dushhyanth , Mavris Dimitri N.
Published: September 2021

This work presents the development of a multi-fidelity, parametric and non-intrusive reduced-order modelling method to tackle the problem of achieving an acceptable predictive accuracy under a limited computational budget, i.e. with expensive simulations and sparse training data. Traditional multi-fidelity surrogate models that predict scalar quantities address this issue by leveraging auxiliary data generated by a computationally cheaper lower fidelity code. However, for the prediction of field quantities, simulations of different fidelities may produce responses with inconsistent representations, rendering the direct application of common multi-fidelity techniques challenging. The proposed approach uses manifold alignment to fuse inconsistent fields from high- and low-fidelity simulations by individually projecting their solution onto a common latent space. Hence, simulations using incompatible grids or geometries can be combined into a single multi-fidelity reduced-order model without additional manipulation of the data. This method is applied to a variety of multi-fidelity scenarios using a transonic airfoil problem. In most cases, the new multi-fidelity reduced-order model achieves comparable predictive accuracy at a lower computational cost. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the proposed method can combine disparate fields without any adverse effect on predictive performance.
COVID-19 vaccination rates among health care workers by immigrant background. A nation-wide registry study from Norway
Authors: Kraft Kristian Bandlien , Elgersma Ingeborg , Lyngstad Trude Marie , Elstrøm Petter , Telle Kjetil
Published: September 2021

Background

Studies have suggested that some minority groups tend to have lower vaccination rates than the overall population. This study aims to examine COVID-19 vaccination rates among health care workers (HCWs) in Norway, according to immigrant background.

Methods

We used individual-level, nation-wide registry data from Norway to identify all HCWs employed full-time at 1 December 2020. We examined the relationship between country of birth and COVID-19 vaccination from December 2020 to August 2021, both crude and adjusted for e.g. age, sex, municipality of residence, and detailed occupation codes in logistic regression models.

Results

Among all HCWs in Norway, immigrants had a 9 percentage point lower vaccination rate (85%) than HCWs without an immigrant background (94%) at 31 August 2021. The overall vaccination rate varied by country of birth, with immigrants born in Russia (71%), Serbia (72%), Lithuania (72%), Romania (75%), Poland (76%), Eritrea (77%), and Somalia (78%) having the lowest crude vaccination rates. When we adjusted for demographics and detailed occupational codes, immigrant groups that more often worked as health care assistants, such as immigrants from Eritrea and Somalia, increased their vaccination rates.

Conclusion

Substantial differences in vaccination rates among immigrant groups employed in the health care sector in Norway indicate that measures to improve vaccine uptake should focus specific immigrant groups rather than all immigrants together. Lower vaccination rates in some immigrant groups appears to be largely driven by the occupational composition, suggesting that some of the differences in vaccine rates can be attributed to variation in vaccine access.
Alcohol consumption and telomere length: observational and Mendelian randomization approaches
Authors: Topiwala Anya , Taschler Bernd , Ebmeier Klaus P. , Smith Steve , Zhou Hang , Levey Daniel F , Codd Veryan , Samani Nilesh , Gelernter Joel , Nichols Thomas E. , Burgess Stephen
Published: September 2021

Alcohol’s impact on telomere length, a proposed marker of biological age, is unclear. We performed the largest observational study to date and compared findings with Mendelian randomization (MR) estimates. Two-sample MR used data from a recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) of telomere length. Genetic variants were selected on the basis of associations with alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Non-linear MR employed UK Biobank individual data. MR analyses suggest a causal relationship between alcohol and telomere length: both genetically predicted alcohol traits were inversely associated with telomere length. 1 S.D. higher genetically-predicted log-transformed alcoholic drinks weekly had a -0.07 S.D. effect on telomere length (95% confidence interval [CI]:-0.14 to -0.01); genetically-predicted AUD - 0.06 S.D. effect (CI:-0.10 to -0.02). Results were consistent across methods and independent from smoking. Non-linear analyses indicated a potential threshold relationship between alcohol and telomere length. Our findings have implications for potential aging-related disease prevention strategies.
Nepalese version of Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) questionnaire for Assessment of Neuropathic pain: A Validation Study
Authors: Shakya Bigen M , Shrestha Anil , Poudyal Amod K , Shrestha Ninadini , Acharya Binita , Gurung Renu , Shakya Sujata
Published: September 2021

Objective

This study aimed to translate and validate DN4 questionnaire into Nepalese version.

Design

An observational study design was adopted.

Setting

A tertiary level teaching hospital of Kathmandu, Nepal

Participants

We included 166 purposively selected patients visiting pain clinics of the hospital over one year time

Methods

The Nepalese version of the DN4 questionnaire was used to detect neuropathic pain among the chronic pain patients of the hospital. The English version of the questionnaire was translated into Nepali based on the standard guideline with the help of linguistic experts. The patients diagnosed with nociceptive or neuropathic pain were interviewed twice in two weeks interval. We analyzed test-retest reliability and strength of the test by using Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) Curve, respectively. Internal Consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha (∞). Diagnostic accuracy was assessed through measures like sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratio.

Results

The study showed a good test-retest reliability (ICC=0.877) and internal consistency reliability (∞=0.710). The AUC were 0.932 (0.894-0.971) for the first test, and 0.955 (0.921-0.990) for the second test. The sensitivity and specificity values were found highest at the 4 cut-off point (4 score out of 10), that are 75% and 95.3% for test 1, and 76.2% and 98.8% for test 2. Similarly positive and negative predictive values are 93.8% and 80.4% respectively for the first test and 98.4% and 81.7% respectively for the second test.

Conclusions

The Nepalese version of DN4 questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for the diagnosis of neuropathic pain. This can be used for screening neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain in clinical as well as epidemiological settings.

Article Summary

Strengths and Limitations of this Study

This study validated Nepalese version of DN4 questionnaire, so, it can be used as a standard tool to assess neuropathic pain among the Nepalese population.

As interview was conducted with the patients, this might minimize the reliability and validity issue.

This questionnaire is only applicable to those who can communicate properly in Nepalese language.

There can be problem of understanding among the participants as few words do not have exact Nepali words with the same meaning.
Planning and Conducting an Online Conference at the time of COVID-19: Lessons Learned from EGREPA 2021
Authors: Bentlage Ellen , Roekens Luca , Bußmann Lennart , Brach Michael
Published: September 2021

Background

This paper describes the realisation and evaluation of the EGREPA 2021 conference, in online format. As an example, and support for future conferences, the decision process to switch during the COVID-19 pandemic from onsite to online, the conception and tools, the experiences of the organisers and the feedback of the participants are described.

Methods

The CERN tool “Indico” served as the central conference management system including public homepage, submission and payment system, abstract review and decision platform, and conference material repository. Zoom, YouTube Live and Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) were utilised for keynotes and other presentation sessions, including livestreaming of pre-recorded presentations. Gather was implemented for poster sessions and individual meetings. An anonymous survey included Likert-type questions on acceptance and quality of the tools and instructions, open questions related to positive and negative issues, and ideas for the next online-conference.

Results

The event was evaluated well, with mostly fluently working technical solutions. A few participants indicated problems switching from YouTube to Zoom between presentations and discussions. Opinions on pre-recordings of talks were divided. Participants required more time for socialising. Guidelines and materials were mostly rated helpful.

Lessons Learned

Simplifying the livestreaming, presenter’s choice between pre-recording or presenting live, more time for socialising and breaks are discussed. Tools for conducting an online conference should be introduced to the participants in advance. Indico is rated as a very helpful tool for planning and conducting an online-conference.
TGS1: a novel regulator of β-cell mass and function
Authors: Blandino-Rosano Manuel , Llacer Pau Romaguera , Lin Ashley , Reddy Janardan K , Bernal-Mizrachi Ernesto
Published: September 2021

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disorder associated with abnormal glucose homeostasis and is characterized by intrinsic defects in β-cell function and mass. Trimethylguanosine synthase 1 (TGS1) is an evolutionarily conserved enzyme that methylates small nuclear and nucleolar RNAs (snRNAs and snoRNAs) and is involved in pre-mRNA splicing, transcription, and ribosome production. However, the role of TGS1 in β-cells and glucose homeostasis had not been explored. Here we show that TGS1 is upregulated by insulin and upregulated in islets from mice exposed to a high-fat diet and in human β-cells from T2D donors. Using mice with conditional (βTGS1KO and βTGS1Het) and inducible (MIP-CreERT-TGS1KO) TGS1 deletion, we determine that TGS1 regulates β-cell mass and function. Unbiased approaches allowed us to identify a link between TGS1 and ER stress and cell cycle arrest and how TGS1 regulates β-cell apoptosis. Deletion of TGS1 results in an increase in the unfolded protein response by increasing XBP-1, ATF-4, and the phosphorylation of eIF2α, and several changes in cell cycle inhibitors and activators such as p27 and Cyclin D2. This study establishes TGS1 as a key player regulating β-cell mass and function as well as playing a role in the adaptive β-cell function to a high-fat diet. These observations can be used as a stepping-stone for the design of novel strategies using TGS1 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetes.
A new guaninate hydrate K+·C5H4N5O−·H2O: crystal structure from 100 to 300 K in a comparison with 2Na+·C5H3N5O2−·7H2O
Authors: Gaydamaka Anna A. , Arkhipov Sergey G. , Boldyreva Elena V.
Published: September 2021

A new guanine salt hydrate, K+·C5H4N5O−·H2O, was obtained and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the temperature range 100 K–300 K and compared with that of the previously documented sodium salt hydrate (2Na+·C5H3N5O2−·7H2O) [Gur & Shimon (2015). Acta Cryst. E71, 281–283; Gaydamaka et al. (2019). CrystEngComm, 21, 4484–4492]. Both sodium and potassium salt hydrates have channels. However, the structure of the channels, the cation coordination, the protonation (and, respectively, the charge) of the guanine anions, as well as the role of water molecules in the crystal structure are different for the two salt hydrates. In the crystal structures of the potassium salt, the guanine anions are linked via hydrogen bonds into quartets that form open cylindrical channels in a honeycomb framework. Water molecules `line the walls' of the channels, whereas the potassium cations fill the intra-channel space. This contrasts with the structure of the sodium salt hydrate in which guanine anions form channels with water molecules filling in the channel space together with sodium cations coordinating them. The 1D anionic assembly generated through numerous hydrogen bonds and cation interactions with guanine anions and water molecules is energetically the most distinctive part of the structure of the potassium salt hydrate. In the case of the guanine sodium salt, the structure contains purely inorganic polymeric fragments – sodium cations coordinated to a water molecule forming a 1D polymeric structure and guanine anions interconnecting these polymers via hydrogen bonds with water molecules. The structural differences account for the difference in the anisotropy of strain on temperature variation for the two salt hydrates: whereas in both structures the values of the bulk thermal expansion coefficients are similar in the two structures and the major expansion is observed along the channel axes, the degree of anisotropy for the K salt is more than four times higher than that for the Na salt.
Investigating the probability of designing net-zero energy buildings with consideration of electric vehicles and renewable energy
Authors: Rezaei Nasab Seyed Sajad , Tayefi Nasrabadi Abbasali , Asadi Somayeh , Haj Seiyed Taghia Seiyed Ali
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Due to technological improvement and development of the vehicle-to-home (V2H) concept, electric vehicle (EV) can be considered as an active component of net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs). However, to achieve more dependable results, proper energy analysis is needed to take into consideration the stochastic behavior of renewable energy, energy consumption in the building and vehicle use pattern. This study aims to stochastically model a building integrating photovoltaic panels as a microgeneration technology and EVs to meet NZEB requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a multiobjective nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) was developed to optimize the building energy performance considering panels installed on the façade. Next, a dynamic solution is implemented in MATLAB to stochastically model electricity generation using solar panels as well as building and EV energy consumption. Besides, the Monte Carlo simulation method is used for quantifying the uncertainty of NZEB performance. To investigate the impact of weather on both energy consumption and generation, the model is tested in five different climatic zones in Iran.

Findings

The results show that the stochastic simulation provides building designers with a variety of convenient options to select the best design based on level of confidence and desired budget. Furthermore, economic evaluation signifies that investing in all studied cities is profitable.

Originality/value

Considering the uncertainty in building energy demand and PV power generation as well as EV mobility and the charging–discharging power profile for evaluating building energy performance is the main contribution of this study.
A multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis of housing market: a role of financial crises in developed economies
Authors: Raza Syed Ali , Shah Nida , Suleman Muhammad Tahir , Al Mamun Md
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the house price fluctuations in G7 countries by using the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) for the years 1970–2019. The study examined the market efficiency between the short-term and long-term in the full sample period, before and after the global financial crisis period.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the MF-DFA to analyze house price fluctuations.

Findings

The findings confirmed that the housing market series are multifractal. Furthermore, all the markets showed long-term persistence in both the short and long-term. The USA is identified as the most persistent house market in the short run and Japan in the long run. Moreover, in terms of efficiency, Canada is identified as the most efficient house market in the long run and the UK in the short run. Finally, the result of before and after the financial crisis period is consistent with the full sample result.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study in the literature is fourfold. This is the first study that has examined the house prices efficiency by using the MF-DFA technique given by Kantelhardt et al. (2002). Previously, the house market prices and efficiency has been investigated using generalized Hurst exponent (Liu et al., 2019), Quantile Regression Approach (Chae and Bera, 2019; Tiwari et al., 2019) but no study to the best of the knowledge has been done that has used the MF-DFA technique on the housing market. Second, this is the first study that has focused on the house markets of G7 countries. Third, this study explores the house market efficiency by dividing the market into two periods i.e. before and after the financial crisis. The study strives to investigate if the financial crisis determines the change in the degree of market efficiency or not. Finally, the study gives valuable insights to the investors that will help them in their investment decisions.
A comparative analysis of green-lean-six sigma enablers and environmental outcomes: a natural resource-based view
Authors: Farrukh Amna , Mathrani Sanjay , Sajjad Aymen
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Despite differing strategies towards environmental sustainability in developed and developing nations, the manufacturing sector in these regional domains faces substantial environmental issues. The purpose of this study is to examine the green-lean-six sigma (GLSS) enablers and outcomes for enhancing environmental sustainability of manufacturing firms in both, a developed and developing country context by using an environment-centric natural resource-based view (NRBV).

Design/methodology/approach

First, a framework of GLSS enablers and outcomes aligned with the NRBV strategic capabilities is proposed through a systematic literature review. Second, this framework is used to empirically investigate the GLSS enablers and outcomes of manufacturing firms through in-depth interviews with lean six sigma and environmental consultants from New Zealand (NZ) and Pakistan (PK) (developed and developing nations).

Findings

Analysis from both regional domains highlights the use of GLSS enablers and outcomes under different NRBV capabilities of pollution prevention, product stewardship and sustainable development. A comparison reveals that NZ firms practice GLSS to comply with environmental regulatory requirements, avoid penalties and maintain their clean-green image. Conversely, Pakistani firms execute GLSS to reduce energy use, satisfy international customers and create a green image.

Practical implications

This paper provides new insights on GLSS for environmental sustainability which can assist industrial experts and academia for future strategies and research.

Originality/value

This is one of the early comparative studies that has used the NRBV to investigate GLSS enablers and outcomes in manufacturing firms for enhancing environmental performance comparing developed and developing nations
Manipulation and performance persistence: an examination of Iranian equity mutual fund performance
Authors: Hosseini Mahsa , Khodaei Valahzaghard Mohammad , Saeedi Ali
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to study manipulation and performance persistence in equity mutual funds. To this end, Manipulation-Proof Performance Measure (MPPM) and Doubt Ratio, along with a number of current performance measures are used to evaluate the performance of equity mutual funds in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors investigate performance manipulation by 1) comparing the results of the MPPM with the current performance measures, 2) checking the Doubt Ratio to detect suspicious funds. Additionally, the authors investigate performance persistence by forming and evaluating portfolios of the equity mutual funds at several time horizons.

Findings

The authors conclude that there is no evidence of performance manipulation in the equity mutual funds. Additionally, when comparing the performance of the upper (top) tertile portfolios and the lower tertile portfolios, in all of the studied 1, 3, 6 and 12-month horizons, the authors find performance persistence in the equity mutual funds.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first study to investigate the performance manipulation in the Iranian equity mutual funds, and also is the first study in Iran that uses the MPPM and the Doubt Ratio in addition to a number of current performance measures to investigate the performance persistence in the equity mutual funds at several time horizons.
Hot interpretations of difficult heritage: the Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre in China
Authors: Zhu Yujie
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the construction of national heritage through the interpretation of sites and events, with a particular focus on hot interpretation at difficult heritage sites. 

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines the processes of difficult heritage interpretation at the Memorial Hall of the Nanjing Massacre over the past 30 years, and examines the resulting political implications.

Findings

Aligning with contemporary national social and political agendas, heritage interpretation at the Memorial Hall actively serves as an authorised educational tool. Despite the hot interpretation techniques used to stimulate the emotional impact of visitor experiences, this particular traumatic past has been utilised in nation building practices that legitimise specific histories and form a national image on an international stage.

Research limitations/implications

Heritage interpretation of difficult history will benefit from open dialogue and assessment of the past from multiple perspectives. This requires all stakeholders to work together to develop interpretation strategies that acknowledge and prioritise the needs of post-conflict societies. Without this form of open dialogue and reflection, the official claims of heritage interpretation achieving reconciliation between conflicted peoples remain superficial. 

Originality/value

This study offers a novel contribution to the discussion of heritage interpretation. The results shed light on the cultural processes surrounding state interpretation of traumatic pasts for specific political uses. The study suggests ways in which heritage sectors and authorities can achieve social goals, such as public education, reconciliation and peacebuilding, through such processes of heritage interpretation.
Determinants of foreign direct investment inflow to the agricultural sector: a panel-data analysis
Authors: Zeytoonnejad Mousavian Seyed Reza , Mirdamadi Seyyed Mehdi , Farajallah Hosseini Seyed Jamal , Omidi NajafAbadi Maryam
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is an important means of boosting the agricultural sectors of developing economies. The first necessary step to formulate effective public policies to encourage agricultural FDI inflow to a host country is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the main determinants of FDI inflow to the agricultural sector, which is the main objective of the present study.

Design/methodology/approach

In view of this, we take a comprehensive approach to exploring the macroeconomic and institutional determinants of FDI inflow to the agricultural sector by examining a large panel data set on agricultural FDI inflows of 37 countries, investigating both groups of developed and developing countries, incorporating a large list of potentially relevant macroeconomic and institutional variables, and applying panel-data econometric models and estimation structures, including pooled, fixed-effects and random-effects regression models.

Findings

The general pattern of our findings implies that the degree of openness of an economy has a negative effect on FDI inflows to agricultural sectors, suggesting that the higher the degree of openness in an economy, the lower the level of agricultural protection against foreign trade and imports, and thus the less incentive for FDI to inflow to the agricultural sector of the economy. Additionally, our results show that economic growth (as an indicator of the rate of market-size growth in the host economy) and per-capita real GDP (as an indicator of the standard of living in the host country) are both positively related to FDI inflows to agricultural sectors. Our other results suggest that agricultural FDI tends to flow more to developing countries in general and more to those with higher standards of living and income levels in particular.

Originality/value

FDI inflow has not received much attention with respect to the identification of its main determinants in the context of agricultural sectors. Additionally, there are very few panel-data studies on the determinants of FDI, and even more surprisingly, there are no such studies on the main determinants of FDI inflow to the agricultural sector. We have taken a comprehensive approach by studying FDI inflow variations across countries as well as over time.
Job satisfaction, expected retirement financial insufficiency, and the expected retirement age of the entrepreneurs: an attraction-selection-attrition theory perspective
Authors: Qu Jingjing
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Underpinned by the attraction-selection-attrition theory, this paper aims to investigate the impact of entrepreneurship on an individual’s expected retirement age and explore how job satisfaction and expected retirement financial insufficiency (ERFI) as key factors can explain that.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework including direct and indirect relationships among key factors is empirically tested by using a pooled data sets consists of 13,420 individuals from the UK Household Longitudinal Survey, the analysis uses the entropy balance matching method and combined with quasi-bayesian monte Carlo method and hierarchy regressions to enhance the robustness of results.

Findings

The research finds entrepreneurs plan to retire later than organizational employees. In addition, a strong mediating impact of job satisfaction and moderating role of ERFI on the relationship between entrepreneurship and expected retirement age is verified.

Originality/value

The theoretical perspective and findings offer a novel insight into the research on entrepreneurs’ decision of retirement. The findings suggest entrepreneurs as crucial policy stakeholders contribute to retirement deferment should be valued. Effective interventions could be delicately designed in the future to unleash the potential of entrepreneurship in dealing with aging challenges.
Fashioning tourism future for visiting large cities
Authors: Lee Louisa Yee Sum
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Large cities are and will continue to become important tourism destinations in foreseeable future. Tourists' motives of the present is the prognosis for their future tourists' behavior. In respond to the longstanding critics in city tourism study, the present research aims to examine the underlying motives of tourists visiting large cities and offer insights into fashioning tourism future for visiting large cities. The identified motives inform three distinct implications fashioning tourism future of large cities.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative investigation was performed by surveying city tourists. Measurements on the survey form were derived from both scholarly and grey literature in relation to tourists' motivations. 326 valid questionnaires were netted to attain the study aim. Three-quarters of respondents were from Europe, Australia and Pacific. Descriptive analysis and exploratory factor analysis were conducted to achieve the research aims.

Findings

Five underlying motives of tourists visiting large cities were revealed: shopping indulgence, urban commons, city icons, cultural and lifestyle and personal advancement. Mapping the findings with a conceptual scheme depicting tourism product in destination, the author revealed a new dimension, urbanity and offered critical reflection on three implications for the tourism future of large cities.

Originality/value

Literature examining city tourists' motives neglect the context-specific measurements while administering the investigation. The research design embraces the urban-specific measurements in the data collection tool, contributing to deeper understanding on how tourism functions in cities. A new dimension, urbanity, which illustrates tourists' motives exclusive in large cities, was identified. Furthermore, three implications fashioning tourism future of large cities are revealed with the support of empirical evidence.
Austerity, skill, and gendered work in Kazakhstan's heavy industry
Authors: Kesküla Eeva
Published: September 2021

Earlier analyses have demonstrated the loss of industrial worker autonomy and the rise of deskilling after production is automated. But what happens to autonomy and skill in times of austerity, when automation breaks down? Through studying the labour process in a Kazakhstani coal processing plant, I explore how the lack of investment in machinery and staff influences the way female workers conduct their everyday work. Workers are simultaneously reskilled and exhausted by invisible extra maintenance work, with their gendered dispositions drawn on as a resource. Ethnographies of the economic crisis and austerity have so far paid little attention to the transformation of everyday industrial work. This ethnography makes a distinctive contribution by shifting the focus on to an embodied and detailed analysis of industrial work in austerity, developing ideas of gendered maintenance, repair, and skill.
Metastatic invasive lobular breast cancer presenting as linitis plastica of the colon: Tumour characterization using [18F]FES PET/MRI
Authors: Tsujikawa Tetsuya , Takahashi Mizuho , Maeda Hiroyuki , Mori Tetsuya , Makino Akira , Kiyono Yasushi , Imamura Yoshiaki , Goi Takanori , Okazawa Hidehiko
Published: September 2021

Metastatic invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) to the colon is rare and usually ER‐positive. We present an ER‐negative case of metastatic ILC presenting as linitis plastica of the colon where [18F]FES PET/MRI allowed the evaluation of the ER phenotypic transformation in the colonic metastasis from the ER‐positive breast ILC in vivo.
Drone Use for COVID‐19 Related Problems: Techno‐solutionism and its Societal Implications
Authors: Martins Bruno Oliveira , Lavallée Chantal , Silkoset Andrea
Published: September 2021

Drones have been widely used by public authorities during the COVID‐19 pandemic for pandemic‐related problems. As an innovative tool with a wide range of potentialities, they have been deemed suitable for an exceptional situation marked by the persistence of social distance. Yet, the turn to new technology to solve complex problems is a political decision that has broad societal implications, especially in the context of declared states of emergency. In the article we argue that the extensive use of drones by national authorities during the COVID‐19 pandemic has generated a new socio‐technical assemblage of actors, technologies and practices. Building on the three main uses of drones as responses to specific pandemic‐related challenges (disinfection, delivery, and surveillance), we analyse the actors and the practices involved in this new socio‐technical assemblage. From the empirical material, we explore potential effects of drone uses on key issues such as the technology regulatory processes, public acceptance, and security and safety concerns.
“For the Historic Record”: Memoirs, History, and Australian Political Culture
Authors: Black Joshua
Published: September 2021

Genres of written communication do not take place in a vacuum; rather they are fundamentally influenced by historical context and socio‐political circumstance. In recent years, the political memoir genre in Australia has moved away from its tradition of personalised narrative towards a more assertive mode of historical representation. Drawing on empirical and oral history research, this article examines recent alterations in the genre as manifest in six political memoirs produced by senior members of the Rudd–Gillard Labor government. I conclude that Australia's embittered and combative political culture has driven changes in the aesthetic and epistemological features of the genre itself. This research demonstrates that the “trust deficit” embedded in contemporary democracies is manifest not only in the daily ephemera of public discourse, but also in long‐form modes and genres of political communication.
Fast computation of deep neural network and its real‐time implementation for image recognition
Authors: Hsia Shih‐Chang , Wang Szu‐Hong , Kuo Feng‐Yang
Published: September 2021

The convolution is widely used for deep neural networks to extract the key features, which requires many additions and multiplications. In this study, the fast computational algorithm is presented to reduce the number of arithmetic when the accuracy is kept. The order of deep convolution is alternative to save the computational operators. To verify the performance, the proposed algorithm is embedded to the typical deep neural network VggNet. The structure of VggNet is further modified using the proposed summation and concatenation techniques to improve the computational accuracy and to reduce the processing time. Compared with the original VggNet, the simulations show that the operational FLOPs can be greatly reduced at least 50% with various datasets testing. Besides, the training time with epoch per batch can save about 10%–20%. The proposed fast algorithm can lessen the parameters and the mode size over 90%. The recognition accuracy can be improved with 1%–4% from various datasets testing. Based on the fast network, real‐time FPGA had been realized, which the hardware performance can achieve 371 GOPs with 642 DSP cores. The processing speed can achieve near to 1 k frames per second, and the real‐time recognition rate can achieve over 90%.
Leaning to the disadvantaged or pursuing maximum utility? The allocation of intergenerational relationship resources in Chinese families with multiple children
Authors: Li Ting , Jin Yongai
Published: September 2021

Objective

This study examines the general patterns of intergenerational relationships in Chinese extended families and tests two competing viewpoints that explain how intergenerational relationship resources are coordinated within the family: pursuing maximum economic utility versus leaning toward the disadvantaged family members.

Methods

By using a national representative survey of older population, we constructed four intergenerational relationship types and conducted hierarchical multinomial logistic analyses to test the hypotheses.

Results

The results showed that tightknit and loose relationship types shared 72% of the four types, reflecting a strong intergenerational solidarity among Chinese families. Parents with higher socioeconomic and health status tend to form closer relationships with their less accomplished children. However, when parents have poorer status in either socioeconomic or health factors, they would have a tighter relationship with their more accomplished children.

Conclusions

These results support the second viewpoint that Chinese families primarily respond to the immediate needs of vulnerable members with a possible sacrifice of economic efficiency. The finding further suggests that Chinese extended families still serve as safety nets to guarantee the basic needs of its members and provide important resources to manage external social risks.

Implications

The study contributes to the theoretical literature by adopting a collective family perspective and advances the understanding of how Chinese extended families are organized. It also has important implications that policies aiming to strengthen family solidarity should be adopted to support long‐term development of families, which is crucial for Chinese society to cope with the challenges of rapid population aging.
The Crisis of the Critical Criminology Crisis in Brazil: Epistemological, Methodological and Political Challenges in Authoritarian Times
Authors: de CARVALHO SALO , MATOS LUCAS VIANNA
Published: September 2021

Our objective in this article is to outline the current state of critical criminology in Brazil. Our starting point is the recognition that critical criminology in Latin America has produced significant contributions to the development of global criminology and poses acute questions about the current deadlock in the field. The crisis of critical criminology triggered in the 1980s is being called into question because of the current political reality, notably in the face of the advance of a new type of authoritarianism. Thus, focusing the discussion on Brazil, this article seeks to identify contemporary movements of external and internal critique in the field, organising the debate in epistemological, methodological and political terms. It seeks to present the challenges of criminological criticism in Brazil and point out strategic avenues for academic critique and emancipatory movements in order to build a unified resistance to the authoritarianism.
Parent and interdisciplinary professional perceptions of family‐centered care in Thai NICU: A qualitative study
Authors: Vetcho Siriporn , Ullman Amanda J , Petsky Helen , Wiroonpanich Wantanee , Cooke Marie
Published: September 2021

Background

Family‐centered care (FCC) has been successfully incorporated into daily practice in many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) worldwide. However, the implementation of FCC in lower‐resourced settings, such as Thailand, can be challenging and needs to be further explored.

Aims

To identify parents' and interdisciplinary professionals' perceptions of FCC and to describe the opportunities to improve FCC in a Thai NICU.

Design

An exploratory qualitative approach was used.

Methods

The data were collected through face‐to‐face, semi‐structured, individual interviews based on an interview guide. This study was conducted before the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (February 2020) in a hospital in southern Thailand. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse interview data.

Results

Participants were parents (n = 9) and interdisciplinary professionals (n = 8). The results revealed four key themes: (a) Recognizing and responding to individual families' different readiness and their rights and values, (b) working in a parent‐interdisciplinary partnership to provide care, (c) lacking resources and motivation and (d) understanding of care requirements and providing help/sympathy.

Conclusions

The interdisciplinary professionals accepted that FCC is necessary for clinical practice, but there are some challenges in the Thai NICUs context because of the system of health care delivery. The findings highlighted that interdisciplinary professionals often viewed parents' involvement as an obstacle to providing neonatal care.

Relevance to clinical practice

Further research is recommended to investigate how FCC is operationalized by interdisciplinary professionals and how hospital administrators can be supported to implement the FCC approach into clinical practice in Thai NICUs.
Predictors of patient and graft survival following pediatric liver transplantation: Long‐term analysis of more than 300 cases from single centre
Authors: Alnagar Amr , Daradka Khaled , Kyrana Eirini , Mtegha Marumbo , Palaniswamy Karthikeyan , Rajwal Sanjay , Mulla Jamila , O’meara Moira , Karam Mohamed , Shawky Ahmed , Hakeem Abdul Rahman , Upasani Vivek , Dhakshinamoorthy Vijayanand , Prasad Raj , Attia Magdy
Published: September 2021

Background

Pediatric liver transplant (PLT) activity has flourished over time although with limited expansion in the graft pool. The study aims to identify pre‐transplant factors that predict post‐transplant patient and graft survival in the PLT population.

Methods

Retrospective review of PLTs at a single tertiary transplant unit from 2000 to 2019. Univariate and multivariate analyses of pre‐transplant factors were performed to identify predictors of patient and graft survival.

Results

Two hundred and seventy‐six patients received 320 PLTs. The most common cause of graft loss was hepatic artery thrombosis (n = 13, 29.6%). The most common cause of mortality was sepsis (n = 11, 29.7%). Univariate analysis showed that the following variables had a significant (p < .05) impact on patient survival: recipient age, weight, height, graft type (technical variant graft), transplant category (acute liver failure), the era of transplant, and invasive ventilation. The following variables had a significant (p < .05) impact on graft survival: recipient age, weight, height, transplant category (acute liver failure), and the era of transplant. Multivariate analysis precluded the era of transplant as the only significant factor for patient survival; patients transplanted after 2005 had significantly higher patient survival. No independent factor predicting graft survival was identified. For children transplanted after 2005, the only factor that predicted patient survival was pre‐transplant invasive ventilation.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that the learning curve and pre‐transplant invasive ventilation in the recipient have a significant impact on patient survival. The traditional view of worse outcomes of smaller PLT candidates should be changed.