bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Concurrent Prolapse Surgery on Stress Urinary Incontinence Outcomes After TVTO
Authors: Rapp David E. , Dolat Mary Ellen , Wiley Joshua , Rowe Bruce
Published: January 2017

Objectives

A variety of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgeries are performed concomitant to midurethral sling (MUS) placement. It is unknown whether differing POP surgeries may affect stress urinary incontinence outcomes after MUS placement.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients undergoing TVT obturator system in conjunction with a variety of POP repair (cystocele with mesh graft, cystocele with cadaveric fascia, colpocleisis, and sacrocolpopexy). Primary outcomes included validated measures of stress urinary incontinence (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms), measured preoperatively and at 6 week, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included validated questionnaire items focused on obstructive and irritative symptoms. Multivariate analyses using mixed-effects regressions were used to assess for differences in outcomes based on POP repair type.

Results

A total of 102 patients were identified for study analysis (cystocele with mesh graft, n = 45; cystocele with cadaveric fascia, n = 37; sacrocolpopexy, n = 16; colpocleisis, n = 4). Four patients undergoing colpocleisis were excluded from primary analysis given lack of sufficient cohort size. When adjusted for effects of covariates, significant improvements in primary and secondary outcomes were seen throughout follow-up in comparison with baseline. In general, multivariate analysis demonstrated no significant differences between surgeries when assessing primary and secondary outcomes. The only statistically significant difference in change over time comprised CM, which demonstrated superior improvement in International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (preoperative vs 2 year, P = 0.04).

Conclusions

Regardless of POP surgery type, patients demonstrate improvements in validated SUI outcomes through 2 years. Multivariate analysis suggests that there is little difference in SUI outcomes after TVT obturator system across several different POP repair types.
Trends in Ambulatory Management of Urinary Incontinence in Women in the United States
Authors: Forde James C. , Chughtai Bilal , Cea Meagan , Stone Benjamin V. , Te Alexis , Bishop Tara F.
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition, but despite the availability of guidelines, variations exist in the care of patients. We sought to assess the changes in assessment and management of women with UI over time in the United States.

Methods

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey are annual surveys from a nationally representative sample of visits to physicians. From 1999 through 2010, we identified visits by women to physicians where the chief complaint was UI using reason-for-visit and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes.

Results

Using 2-year intervals between 1999–2000 and 2009–2010, the number of visits by women with UI to physicians increased (5.3 million to 6.8 million). There was no difference in patient age, race/ethnicity, or physician specialty (primary care, urology, gynecology). The majority did not have their incontinence characterized (42.4%–47.4%). The use of urinalysis significantly decreased (53%–37.2%, P = 0.02), whereas antimuscarinic use significantly increased (16.7%–35%, P = 0.006). There was an overall increased trend in number of referrals to another physician (5.8%–14.7%, P = 0.06). Urologists had a significant increase in antimuscarinic use (23.5%–44.2%, P = 0.003). All physician specialties demonstrated a decreased trend in use of urinalysis between 1999 and 2010. Although imaging rates were low, they were at highest rates among urologists.

Conclusions

The majority of women do not have the type of UI characterized, whereas there is underutilization of urinalysis. Given the widespread prevalence of UI and its implications on quality of life, greater adherence to guidelines is warranted.
Neutrophil Gelatinase–Associated Lipocalin Biomarker and Urinary Tract Infections: A Diagnostic Case-Control Study (NUTI Study)
Authors: Price Jameca Renee , Guran Larissa , Lim Jeong Youn , Megli Christina J. , Clark Amanda L. , Edwards Sharon Renee , Denman Mary Anna , Gregory W. Thomas
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in women is often treated based on symptoms alone. Urinary tract infection symptoms are highly sensitive but lack specificity and result in overuse of antibiotics. We sought to determine if urine neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (uNGAL) levels in urine can accurately discriminate between UTI and healthy women.

Methods

We recruited adult women aged 18 to 85 years presenting in the ambulatory setting from November 2014 to January 2016. Cases were defined as women with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–defined UTI symptoms and a positive urine culture of more than 105 organisms/mL on a midstream clean-catch specimen. Women without UTI symptoms were matched by age and menopausal status as control subjects. Exclusion criteria were no UTIs within 8 weeks, urinary tract anomalies, renal disease, pregnancy, or diabetes. Clean-catch urine samples were obtained for measuring uNGAL, prior to antibiotic treatment of cases. We used Mann-Whitney U test to compare the 2 groups. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to compare the performance of uNGAL to established urinary markers.

Results

We enrolled 50 UTI cases and 50 control subjects. Urine NGAL levels were higher in the UTI group than in the control subjects (P < 0.0001). Using a cutoff of 23.9 ng/mL, NGAL achieved 98% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The receiver operating characteristic curve had an area under the curve of 0.97 (95% confidence interval, 0.93–1.00), which was significantly high and showed that uNGAL can identify UTI.

Conclusions

Urine NGAL has the potential as a biomarker for diagnosing UTIs in adult women.
Outcomes of Rectovaginal Fistula Repair
Authors: Byrnes Jenifer N. , Schmitt Jennifer J. , Faustich Benjamin M. , Mara Kristin C. , Weaver Amy L. , Chua Heidi K. , Occhino John A.
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Rectovaginal fistulae (RVF) often represent surgical challenges, and treatment must be individualized. We describe outcomes after primary surgical repair stratified by fistula etiology and surgical approach.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included women who underwent surgical management of RVF at a tertiary care center between July 1, 2001 and December 31, 2013. Cases were stratified according to the following etiology: cancer (RVF-C), inflammatory bowel disease or infectious (RVF-I), and other (RVF-O). Patients with prior surgical treatment of RVF were excluded. Surgical approaches included local (seton, plug), transvaginal or endorectal, abdominal, diversion alone, or definitive (completion proctocolectomy with permanent colostomy or pelvic exenteration). Recurrence-free survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and comparisons between subgroups were evaluated based on fitting Cox proportional hazards models. Censoring occurred at last relevant clinical follow-up. Factors contributing to recurrence-free survival were evaluated including age, body mass index, smoking status, fistula etiology, ileostomy, and surgical approach.

Results

During the study period, 107 women underwent surgical repair of RVF. The most common fistula etiology was RVF-I (54.2%), followed by RVF-O (23.4%), and RVF-C (22.4%). Ninety-four women underwent fistula repair by the local (29.9%), transvaginal/endorectal (25.2%), abdominal approach (19.6%), or diversion alone (13.1%), whereas 13 underwent definitive surgery (12.2%). Recurrence-free survival was significantly different depending on surgical approach (P < 0.001), but not etiology (P = 0.71). Recurrence-free survival (95% confidence interval) at 1 year after surgery was 35.2% (21.8%–56.9%) for the local approach, 55.6% (37.0%–83.3%) for the transvaginal or endorectal approach, 95% (85.9%–100%) for the abdominal approach, and 33.3% (15%–74.2%) for those with diversion only.

Conclusions

Recurrence rates after RVF repair are high and did not differ by fistula etiology. Abdominal repair of RVF had significantly fewer recurrences.
Transurethral Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Injection Therapy in Women Not Eligible for Midurethral Sling Surgery
Authors: Altman Daniel , Ghilotti Francesca , Bellocco Rino , Zetterström Jan , Kopp Kallner Helena
Published: January 2017

Objectives

This study aims to determine the effects of transurethral polyacrylamide hydrogel injection in patients considered ineligible for midurethral sling surgery.

Methods

In this prospective observational study, 81 patients received treatment with transurethral polyacrylamide hydrogel injection. Patients were considered ineligible for placement of a midurethral sling based on significant comorbidity (48%), 1 or more previously failed invasive treatments (16%), mixed urinary incontinence (27%), continuous incontinence (5%), or previous pelvic radiation therapy (4%). Longitudinal assessment of subjective treatment outcomes was performed using the validated Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI) and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire at baseline, 2, and 6 months. To deal with repeated measurements, mixed linear models were used to assess changes in the outcomes over time.

Results

There was a significant improvement in the overall UDI score from baseline to month 2 follow-up (FU) (P<0.001). No major differences between the month 2 and 6 FUs were observed. The largest difference in effect was observed for the irritative and stress subscales. Twenty-five patients (33%) requested a second injection at the month 2 FU visit. At month 6 FU, the UDI scores for patients having had only 1 injection were largely unchanged, whereas all UDI domains worsened further for patients having had a second injection at the month 2 visit. After the injection, there were 3 minor adverse events (3.7%) and no serious adverse events.

Conclusions

In patients considered ineligible for midurethral sling surgery, transurethral injection with polyacrylamide hydrogel may alleviate urinary incontinence symptoms. Repeat injections did not improve outcomes in this complicated group of patients.
Audience affects decision-making in a marmoset communication network
Authors: Toarmino Camille R. , Wong Lauren , Miller Cory T.
Published: January 2017

An audience can have a profound effect on the dynamics of communicative interactions. As a result, non-human primates often adjust their social decision-making strategies depending on the audience composition at a given time. Here we sought to test how the unique vocal behaviour of multiple audience members affected decisions to communicate. To address this issue, we developed a novel experimental paradigm in which common marmosets directly interacted with multiple ‘virtual monkeys’ (VMs), each of whom represented an individual marmoset with distinct vocal behaviour. This active social signalling paradigm provided subjects an opportunity to interact with and learn about the behaviour of each VM in the network and apply this knowledge in subsequent communicative decisions. We found that subjects' propensity to interact with particular VMs was determined by the behaviour of each VM in the audience and suggests that marmoset social decision-making strategies are highly adaptive to nuances of the immediate communication network.
Insights into resource consumption, cross-feeding, system collapse, stability and biodiversity from an artificial ecosystem
Authors: Liu Yu , Sumpter David
Published: January 2017

Community ecosystems at very different levels of biological organization often have similar properties. Coexistence of multiple species, cross-feeding, biodiversity and fluctuating population dynamics are just a few of the properties that arise in a range of ecological settings. Here we develop a bottom-up model of consumer–resource interactions, in the form of an artificial ecosystem ‘number soup’, which reflects basic properties of many bacterial and other community ecologies. We demonstrate four key properties of the number soup model: (i) communities self-organize so that all available resources are fully consumed; (ii) reciprocal cross-feeding is a common evolutionary outcome, which evolves in a number of stages, and many transitional species are involved; (iii) the evolved ecosystems are often ‘robust yet fragile’, with keystone species required to prevent the whole system from collapsing; (iv) non-equilibrium dynamics and chaotic patterns are general properties, readily generating rich biodiversity. These properties have been observed in empirical ecosystems, ranging from bacteria to rainforests. Establishing similar properties in an evolutionary model as simple as the number soup suggests that these four properties are ubiquitous features of all community ecosystems, and raises questions about how we interpret ecosystem structure in the context of natural selection.
An integrated modelling framework for neural circuits with multiple neuromodulators
Authors: Joshi Alok , Youssofzadeh Vahab , Vemana Vinith , McGinnity T. M. , Prasad Girijesh , Wong-Lin KongFatt
Published: January 2017

Neuromodulators are endogenous neurochemicals that regulate biophysical and biochemical processes, which control brain function and behaviour, and are often the targets of neuropharmacological drugs. Neuromodulator effects are generally complex partly owing to the involvement of broad innervation, co-release of neuromodulators, complex intra- and extrasynaptic mechanism, existence of multiple receptor subtypes and high interconnectivity within the brain. In this work, we propose an efficient yet sufficiently realistic computational neural modelling framework to study some of these complex behaviours. Specifically, we propose a novel dynamical neural circuit model that integrates the effective neuromodulator-induced currents based on various experimental data (e.g. electrophysiology, neuropharmacology and voltammetry). The model can incorporate multiple interacting brain regions, including neuromodulator sources, simulate efficiently and easily extendable to large-scale brain models, e.g. for neuroimaging purposes. As an example, we model a network of mutually interacting neural populations in the lateral hypothalamus, dorsal raphe nucleus and locus coeruleus, which are major sources of neuromodulator orexin/hypocretin, serotonin and norepinephrine/noradrenaline, respectively, and which play significant roles in regulating many physiological functions. We demonstrate that such a model can provide predictions of systemic drug effects of the popular antidepressants (e.g. reuptake inhibitors), neuromodulator antagonists or their combinations. Finally, we developed user-friendly graphical user interface software for model simulation and visualization for both fundamental sciences and pharmacological studies.
A mathematical model of tumour angiogenesis: growth, regression and regrowth
Authors: Vilanova Guillermo , Colominas Ignasi , Gomez Hector
Published: January 2017

Cancerous tumours have the ability to recruit new blood vessels through a process called angiogenesis. By stimulating vascular growth, tumours get connected to the circulatory system, receive nutrients and open a way to colonize distant organs. Tumour-induced vascular networks become unstable in the absence of tumour angiogenic factors (TAFs). They may undergo alternating stages of growth, regression and regrowth. Following a phase-field methodology, we propose a model of tumour angiogenesis that reproduces the aforementioned features and highlights the importance of vascular regression and regrowth. In contrast with previous theories which focus on vessel remodelling due to the absence of flow, we model an alternative regression mechanism based on the dependency of tumour-induced vascular networks on TAFs. The model captures capillaries at full scale, the plastic dynamics of tumour-induced vessel networks at long time scales, and shows the key role played by filopodia during angiogenesis. The predictions of our model are in agreement within vivoexperiments and may prove useful for the design of antiangiogenic therapies.
Territorial battles between fiddler crab species
Authors: Clark H. L. , Backwell P. R. Y.
Published: January 2017

Many species worldwide are impacted by habitat loss. This may result in increased competition both within species and between species. Many studies have demonstrated that when two previously non-overlapping species are forced to compete over a resource, one species is likely to become dominant over the other. This study explores the impact a larger species of fiddler crab (
Tabuca elegans
—previously known as
Uca elegans
) has when invading an area previously used solely by a smaller species (
Austruca mjoebergi
—previously known as
Uca mjoebergi
). Here we show that, while there are some detrimental effects of living next to a heterospecific, they are relatively minor. New heterospecific neighbours fight more regularly with resident crabs, but each fight is no longer or more escalated than those between the resident and a new conspecific male. The residents are not specifically targeted by intruding heterospecifics, thus, given the large advantage of having a heterospecific neighbour in terms of lowered competition for females, the overall impact of species mixing is probably not as negative as might have been predicted.
Early development of abstract language knowledge: evidence from perception–production transfer of birth-language memory
Authors: Choi Jiyoun , Cutler Anne , Broersma Mirjam
Published: January 2017

Children adopted early in life into another linguistic community typically forget their birth language but retain, unaware, relevant linguistic knowledge that may facilitate (re)learning of birth-language patterns. Understanding the nature of this knowledge can shed light on how language is acquired. Here, international adoptees from Korea with Dutch as their current language, and matched Dutch-native controls, provided speech production data on a Korean consonantal distinction unlike any Dutch distinctions, at the outset and end of an intensive perceptual training. The productions, elicited in a repetition task, were identified and rated by Korean listeners. Adoptees' production scores improved significantly more across the training period than control participants' scores, and, for adoptees only, relative production success correlated significantly with the rate of learning in perception (which had, as predicted, also surpassed that of the controls). Of the adoptee group, half had been adopted at 17 months or older (when talking would have begun), while half had been prelinguistic (under six months). The former group, with production experience, showed no advantage over the group without. Thus the adoptees' retained knowledge of Korean transferred from perception to production and appears to be abstract in nature rather than dependent on the amount of experience.
Morphology captures diet and locomotor types in rodents
Authors: Verde Arregoitia Luis D. , Fisher Diana O. , Schweizer Manuel
Published: January 2017

To understand the functional meaning of morphological features, we need to relate what we know about morphology and ecology in a meaningful, quantitative framework. Closely related species usually share more phenotypic features than distant ones, but close relatives do not necessarily have the same ecologies. Rodents are the most diverse group of living mammals, with impressive ecomorphological diversification. We used museum collections and ecological literature to gather data on morphology, diet and locomotion for 208 species of rodents from different bioregions to investigate how morphological similarity and phylogenetic relatedness are associated with ecology. After considering differences in body size and shared evolutionary history, we find that unrelated species with similar ecologies can be characterized by a well-defined suite of morphological features. Our results validate the hypothesized ecological relevance of the chosen traits. These cranial, dental and external (e.g. ears) characters predicted diet and locomotion and showed consistent differences among species with different feeding and substrate use strategies. We conclude that when ecological characters do not show strong phylogenetic patterns, we cannot simply assume that close relatives are ecologically similar. Museum specimens are valuable records of species' phenotypes and with the characters proposed here, morphology can reflect functional similarity, an important component of community ecology and macroevolution.
Transcriptome analysis of genetically matched human induced pluripotent stem cells disomic or trisomic for chromosome 21
Authors: Gonzales Patrick , Fonte Gin , Roberts Christine , Jacobsen Connor , Stein Gretchen H. , Link Christopher D.
Published: January 2017

Trisomy of chromosome 21, the genetic cause of Down syndrome, has the potential to alter expression of genes on chromosome 21, as well as other locations throughout the genome. These transcriptome changes are likely to underlie the Down syndrome clinical phenotypes. We have employed RNA-seq to undertake an in-depth analysis of transcriptome changes resulting from trisomy of chromosome 21, using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from a single individual with Down syndrome. These cells were originally derived by Li et al, who genetically targeted chromosome 21 in trisomic iPSCs, allowing selection of disomic sibling iPSC clones. Analyses were conducted on trisomic/disomic cell pairs maintained as iPSCs or differentiated into cortical neuronal cultures. In addition to characterization of gene expression levels, we have also investigated patterns of RNA adenosine-to-inosine editing, alternative splicing, and repetitive element expression, aspects of the transcriptome that have not been significantly characterized in the context of Down syndrome. We identified significant changes in transcript accumulation associated with chromosome 21 trisomy, as well as changes in alternative splicing and repetitive element transcripts. Unexpectedly, the trisomic iPSCs we characterized expressed higher levels of neuronal transcripts than control disomic iPSCs, and readily differentiated into cortical neurons, in contrast to another reported study. Comparison of our transcriptome data with similar studies of trisomic iPSCs suggests that trisomy of chromosome 21 may not intrinsically limit neuronal differentiation, but instead may interfere with the maintenance of pluripotency.
Signs of host genetic regulation in the microbiome composition in cattle
Authors: Gonzalez-Recio O. , Zubiria I. , García-Rodríguez A. , Hurtado A. , Atxaerandio R.
Published: January 2017

Previous studies have revealed certain genetic control by the host over the microbiome composition, although in many species the host genetic link controlling microbial composition is yet unknown. This potential association is important in livestock to study all factors and interactions that rule the effect of the microbiome in complex traits. This report aims to study whether the host genotype exerts any genetic control on the microbiome composition of the rumen in cattle. Data on 16S and 18S rRNA gene-based analysis of the rumen microbiome in 18 dairy cows from two different breeds (Holstein and Brown Swiss) were used. The effect of the genetic background of the animal (through the breed and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms; SNP) on the relative abundance (RA) of archaea, bacteria and ciliates (with average relative abundance per breed >0.1%) was analysed using Bayesian statistics. In total, 13 genera were analysed for bacteria (5), archaea (1), and ciliates (7). All these bacteria and archaea genera showed association to the host genetic background both for breed and SNP markers, except RA for the generaButyrivibrioandRuminococcusthat showed association with the SNP markers but not with the breed composition. Relative abundance of 57% (4/7) of ciliate analysed showed to be associated to the genetic background of the host. This host genetic link was observed in some genus ofTrichostomatiafamily. For instance, the breed had a significant effect onIsotricha,OphryoscolexandPolyplastron, and the SNP markers onEntodinium,OphryoscolexandPolyplastron. In total, 77% (10/13) of microbes analysed showed to be associated to the host genetic background (either by breed or SNP genotypes). Further, the results showed a significant association between DGAT1, ACSF3, AGPAT3 and STC2 genes with the relative abundancePrevotellagenus with a false discovery rate lower than 15%. The results in this study support the hypothesis and provide some evidence that there exist a host genetic component in cattle that can partially regulate the composition of the microbiome.
MCF-7 breast cancer cell line PacBio generated transcriptome has ~300 novel transcribed regions, un-annotated in both RefSeq and GENCODE, and absent in the liver, heart and brain transcriptomes
Authors: Chakraborty Sandeep
Published: January 2017

Illuminating the ‘dark’ regions of the human genome remains an ongoing effort, a decade and a half after the human genome was sequenced - RefSeq and GENCODE being two of the major annotation databases. Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) has provided open access to the transcriptome of MCF-7, a breast cancer cell line that has provided significant therapeutic advancement in breast cancer research since the 1970s. PacBio sequencing generates much longer reads compared to second-generation sequencing technologies, with a trade-off of lower throughput, higher error rate and more cost per base. Here, this transcriptome was analyzed using the YeATS pipeline, with additionally introduced kmer based algorithms, reducing computational times to a few hours on a simple workstation. Out of ~300 transcripts that have no match in both RefSeq and GENCODE, ~250 are absent in the transcriptomes of the heart, liver and brain, also provided by PacBio. Also, ~200 transcripts are absent in a recent catalogue of un-annotated long non-coding RNAs from 6,503 samples (~43 Terabases of sequence data) [1], and among 2,556 novel transcripts reported in an experimental workflow RACE-Seq [2]. 65 transcripts have >100 amino acid open reading frames, and have the potential of being protein coding genes. ORF based annotation also identified few bacterial transcripts in the PacBio database mapped to the human genome, and one human transcript that has been annotated as bacterial in the NCBI database. The current work reiterates the under-utilization of transcriptomes for annotating genomes. It also provides new leads for investigating breast cancer by virtue of exclusively expressed transcripts not expressed in other tissues, which have the prospects of breast cancer biomarkers based on further investigations.
Translation reprogramming is an evolutionarily conserved driver of phenotypic plasticity and therapeutic resistance in melanoma
Authors: Falletta Paola , Sanchez-del-Campo Luis , Chauhan Jagat , Effern Maike , Kenyon Amy , Kershaw Christopher J. , Siddaway Robert , Lisle Richard , Freter Rasmus , Daniels Matthew J. , Lu Xin , Tüting Thomas , Middleton Mark , Buffa Francesca M. , Willis Anne E. , Pavitt Graham , Ronai Ze'ev A. , Sauka-Spengler Tatjana , Hölzel Michael , Goding Colin R.
Published: January 2017

The intratumor microenvironment generates phenotypically distinct but interconvertible malignant cell subpopulations that fuel metastatic spread and therapeutic resistance. Whether different microenvironmental cues impose invasive or therapy-resistant phenotypes via a common mechanism is unknown. In melanoma, low expression of the lineage survival oncogene microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) correlates with invasion, senescence, and drug resistance. However, how MITF is suppressed in vivo and how MITF-low cells in tumors escape senescence are poorly understood. Here we show that microenvironmental cues, including inflammation-mediated resistance to adoptive T-cell immunotherapy, transcriptionally repress MITF via ATF4 in response to inhibition of translation initiation factor eIF2B. ATF4, a key transcription mediator of the integrated stress response, also activates AXL and suppresses senescence to impose the MITF-low/AXL-high drug-resistant phenotype observed in human tumors. However, unexpectedly, without translation reprogramming an ATF4-high/MITF-low state is insufficient to drive invasion. Importantly, translation reprogramming dramatically enhances tumorigenesis and is linked to a previously unexplained gene expression program associated with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy resistance. Since we show that inhibition of eIF2B also drives neural crest migration and yeast invasiveness, our results suggest that translation reprogramming, an evolutionarily conserved starvation response, has been hijacked by microenvironmental stress signals in melanoma to drive phenotypic plasticity and invasion and determine therapeutic outcome.
A reminder of extinction reduces relapse in an animal model of voluntary behavior
Authors: Nieto Javier , Uengoer Metin , Bernal-Gamboa Rodolfo
Published: January 2017

One experiment with rats explored whether an extinction-cue prevents the recovery of extinguished lever-pressing responses. Initially, rats were trained to perform one instrumental response (R1) for food in Context A, and a different instrumental response (R2) in Context B. Then, responses were extinguished each in the alternate context (R1 in Context B; R2 in Context A). For one group, extinction of both responses was conducted in the presence of an extinction-cue, whereas in a second group, the extinction-cue only accompanied extinction of R1. During a final test, we observed that returning the rats to the initial acquisition context renewed performance and that response recovery was attenuated in the presence of the cue that accompanied extinction of the response. The impact of the extinction-cue, however, was not transferred to the response that has been extinguished without the cue. Our results are consistent with the idea that extinction established an inhibitory cue-response association.
Thinking style across cultures: an interview with Richard Nisbett
Authors: Lee Hyun-Jung
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain some insights from a leading scholar of the cross-cultural cognitive social psychology field on how cultural differences are viewed, understood, and dealt with, and thus to contribute to enrich the way cultural differences are framed in cross-cultural management research.

Design/methodology/approach

The author conducts a formal, semi-structured interview with Richard Nisbett for a duration of 90 minutes. The author extracts the key message from the interview and re-structures the conversation in a meaningful manner.

Findings

From his cognitive social psychology lens, Richard Nisbett views that any cross-cultural contact between different thinking styles is advantageous because differences help address the limitations of one’s own thinking style.

Research limitations/implications

The insights from cross-cultural cognitive social psychology encourage cross-cultural management researchers to further investigate the positive consequences of cultural differences.

Originality/value

Richard Nisbett’s own journey from a young scientist who describes himself as an extreme universalist, to a mature intellectual who understands and appreciates different thinking style, is itself a concrete example of how differences can lead to the positive. The author summarizes three factors that are key to a positive outcome of cultural differences: curiosity and openness to cultural differences; habit of critical thinking; and intense interaction with culturally different others.
The upside of cultural differences
Authors: Stahl Günter K. , Miska Christof , Lee Hyun-Jung , De Luque Mary Sully
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to encourage scholars to look at commonly considered phenomena in international business and cross-cultural research in new ways and to theorize and explore how cultural diversity, distance, and foreignness create value for global organizations. These considerations should result in a more balanced treatment of culture in cross-cultural management (CCM) research.

Design/methodology/approach

The idea that there are negative consequences associated with cultural differences is pervasive in hypotheses formulation and empirical testing in international business and CCM literature, as reflected in widely used constructs such as “cultural distance,” “cultural misfit,” “foreignness,” and related concepts. Consistent with a Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) perspective on culture and cultural differences, the authors emphasize the positive role of distance and diversity across national, cultural, institutional, and organizational dimensions. In addition, they provide an overview of the contributions to the special issue.

Findings

Examining the positive side of culture is not only beneficial theoretically in terms of filling the existing gaps in the literature, but is also crucial for the practice of international and global business. Accordingly, the contributions to the special issue highlight how explicitly considering positive phenomena can help better understand when and how cultural diversity, distance, and foreignness can enhance organizational effectiveness and performance at multiple levels. They include five research papers, a Distinguished Scholar Essay by Kim Cameron, the Founder of the POS movement, and an interview piece with Richard Nisbett, a Pioneer Researcher in culture and cognition.

Originality/value

The overemphasis on adverse outcomes associated with cultural differences in existing research has hindered the understanding of the processes and conditions that help organizations leverage the benefits of cultural differences in a wide range of contexts. This introductory paper together with the contributions included in the special issue showcases the positive dynamics and outcomes associated with cultural differences, distance, and diversity in a wide range of international business contexts.
Effects of woven liners treated by LaCl3 or CeO2 solution on film formation mechanisms of self-lubricating radial spherical plain bearings
Authors: Qiu Ming , Miao Yanwei , Li Yingchun , Chen Long , Hu Rensong , Lu Jianjun
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The fabric self-lubricating liners are the key factors impacting the performances of self-lubricating spherical plain bearings. The purpose of this paper is to improve the friction and wear properties of self-lubricating radial spherical plain bearings by modification of the liners.

Design/methodology/approach

The liners of hybrid woven PTFE/Kevlar fabrics were treated respectively by the LaCl3 and CeO2 solutions. The tribological properties of self-lubricating spherical plain bearings with treated or untreated liners under continuous swaying conditions were investigated with the bearing tester at the swaying frequency of 2.5 Hz and the swaying angle of ±10°. The film formation and wear mechanisms were analyzed based on the observation of worn surfaces with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS).

Findings

Results show that the tribological properties of the bearings treated by the LaCl3 or CeO2 solution were improved compared with those of the untreated bearings. In particular, the wear resistance of bearings treated by the CeO2 solution was remarkably improved under higher swaying cycles, but the anti-friction properties and cooling effects of bearings treated by the LaCl3 solution were better under lower swaying cycles. Through SEM analysis, the reasons were analyzed. The bearings with treated liners only produced slight adhesive and abrasive wear, but the bearings with untreated liners produced more serious adhesive and abrasive wear under higher swaying cycles.

Originality/value

The paper proposed a new pretreatment process for the self-lubricating liners. The investigation on the friction and wear behaviors of the bearings is beneficial for prolonging the service lives of the radial spherical plain bearings.
A comparative study on simulation and experiment of oil-air lubrication unit for high speed bearing
Authors: Zeng Qunfeng , Zhang Jinhua , Hong Jun , Liu Cheng
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design an oil-air lubrication system with low temperature rise, vibration and noise simplifies the spindle configuration. The oil-air lubrication unit is a key component for high-speed grinding machine tools. The development of oil-air lubrication unit suitable for high/ultrahigh rotational speed is a daunting task owing to the lubrication challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper emphasizes three main issues: the analysis of oil-air two-phase flow for tradition oil-air lubrication unit with the simulation method; the design of new oil-air lubrication unit for the high/ultrahigh-speed grinding machine tools and the comparative experiment research of tradition and new oil-air lubrication unit. The optimum structure parameters that create the optimum flow pattern and operating conditions resulting in low temperature increase, vibration and noise of oil-air lubricated spindle can be achieved by the simulation method and experiments.

Findings

The simulation and experimental results show that new oil-air lubrication unit lubricating a high speed electric spindle has a better performance with a small temperature increase and vibration, which means that our proposed method is an effective design method for oil-air lubrication system.

Originality/value

A design method suitable for high-speed oil-air lubrication unit is proposed. New oil-air lubrication unit is expected to apply for high/ultrahigh rotational speed grinding machine tools.
Effect of recess configuration on the performances of high-speed hybrid journal bearing
Authors: Lin Qiyin , Wei Zhengying , Wang Ning , Zhang Yubin
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influences of recess configurations on the performances of high-speed hybrid journal bearing. Hybrid journal bearing earns increasing attention in high-speed machine tool spindle owing to its intrinsic outstanding performances of low temperature rise and high stability.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the coupled effects of temperature, turbulence and the interaction between lubricant and journal/bearing bush, a thermal fluid-structure interaction approach is presented and validated by the experimental results.

Findings

Ladder-type recess has excellent tribological characteristics in decreasing temperature rise, improving stability and inhibiting cavitation, which are all beneficial to improve the performances of high-speed spindle system.

Originality/value

This work can be a valuable guide for the future high-speed hybrid journal bearing design.
Investigations on transitions of lubrication states for water lubricated bearing. Part II: further insight into the film thickness ratio lambda
Authors: Xie Zhongliang , Rao Zhu-shi , Ta Na , Liu Ling
Published: January 2017

Purpose

As the companion paper of Part I, this paper aims to get more insight into the essence of lambda and to reveal its nature and role in the transition of lubrication states. Mixed lubrication (ML) model with micro-asperities contacts has been discussed in details in Part I.

Design/methodology/approach

Mimetic algorithm is used to get numerical solutions. Relationships between film thickness ratios and lubrication states transition with different external loads, rotating speeds, radial clearances, elastic modulus, surface hardness and roughness parameters are obtained.

Findings

The characteristic parameters of transitions from boundary lubrication (BL) to ML and ML to hydrodynamic lubrication (HL) are studied to determine how these parameters change with above factors. Finally, the essence and major influencing factors of lambda are summarized for such bearings.

Originality/value

In Part II, the authors believe that the paper presents for the first time: further insight into the essence of the lambda ratio, and its role in the lubrication states transition are given; the determinations of the characteristic parameters of transition from BL to ML and ML to HL are investigated for the first time; the characteristic parameters of transitions from BL to ML and ML to HL are also studied to determine how parameters (external load, rotating speed, radial clearance, elastic modulus, surface hardness and roughness parameter) change with above factors; a summary of the essence and major influencing factors of lambda for such bearings is given.
Antecedents of word of mouth behaviour among female grocery shoppers in Iran
Authors: Harris Patricia , Khatami Nasim Alsadat
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to report on research on the antecedents of word of mouth (WOM) behaviour among Iranian women in the context of grocery shopping.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a survey instrument, the authors empirically test the conceptual model of De Matos and Rossi.

Findings

This paper finds support for the model and finds satisfaction, commitment, loyalty, trust, perceived value and quality to be significant antecedents of WOM. Commitment is found to be the most significant predictor of WOM.

Research limitations/implications

This paper examines only factors affecting the initiation of positive WOM; future research should examine also drivers of negative WOM. The study sample consists of female shoppers at Tehran branches of one grocery retailer. There is scope to extend the research to shoppers of other grocery retailers and to other parts of Iran.

Practical implications

The findings provide useful insight for practitioners in identifying the relative importance of drivers of WOM. This research suggests that satisfaction is the weakest predictor of WOM, and therefore, it is dangerous for grocery retail managers to rely on customer satisfaction metrics as indicators of WOM initiation.

Originality/value

This research appears to be the first study of WOM in the context of Iranian grocery retailing, a sector which is both fast growing and undergoing structural change.
Effect of religiosity on luxury consumer behavior: the case of the Tunisian Muslim
Authors: Dekhil Fawzi , Boulebech Hajer , Bouslama Neji
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the effects of religiosity on attitude and personal orientation toward luxury brands and on purchase and repurchase intentions. Determining the effects of religiosity on the consumers’ behavior toward luxury has proved to be a crucial matter. As far as the authors know, academic research on this topic is almost non-existent. This is an exploratory study at the level of the direct effects of religiosity. Following a literature review, a model was constructed to represent the various interrelationships between the variables investigated in this research.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative study was conducted among 227 individuals having varying levels of religiosity. The authors verified, before, that those interviewed have purchased a luxury brand.

Findings

The findings show that religiosity does not hinder the consumption of luxury brands. Indeed, the authors detected a positive relationship between attitude and personal orientation toward luxury brands and the level of religiosity. The effect of religiosity on attitude and personal orientation is stronger for persons having higher incomes. Moreover, this effect is slight more marked among women.

Research limitations/implications

Just as for all other research work, it is important to identify the limitations of this study. The authors need only to acknowledge its exploratory nature for these relationships to be identified as preliminary ones and as the first elements of proof rather than as a conclusive demonstration. This research suffers from certain other limitations, especially concerning its convenience sampling and the fact that it covered only a limited geographical area, namely, the capital, Tunis, and its adjacent suburbs.

Practical implications

This research has shown that whatever the level of religiosity, its effect is stronger among persons having a high income. Therefore, Muslims, whatever their religiosity, can be a target for marketers and luxury brand.

Social implications

Islam is not against luxury brand but against ostentation.

Originality/value

It is the first research, as the authors know, that study the relationship between religiosity and consumer luxury behavior, especially among Muslims.
Boycotting foreign products: a study of Indonesian Muslim consumers
Authors: Sari Dessy Kurnia , Mizerski Dick , Liu Fang
Published: January 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the motivations behind Muslim consumers’ boycotting of foreign products. The act of boycotting foreign products has become increasingly common among Muslim consumers. Products from different countries-of-origin are their boycott targets.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus-group discussions for data collection. A total of 36 Indonesian subjects participated in the study, representing the “university student” and “non-university student” samples. Leximancer, a qualitative analytical tool, was used to identify important motivations for boycotting behaviour among Muslim consumers.

Findings

Contrary to previous findings, this study found that Muslim consumers do not boycott solely for religious reasons. For example, most participants reported they boycotted Chinese products because they would like to protect their local products, along with the religious-based motivation of rejecting uncertainty about the halal certification of the products. Thus, the motivations identified from this study were not related exclusively to religion.

Practical implications

The present study offers new insights into the religious and secular motivations of Muslim consumers’ boycotts. Foreign products should adopt localised strategies such as repeatedly reminding consumers of the true halal nature of their products and their contribution to the local people.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the recognition of new insights into Muslim motivation to boycott product. The results develop important concepts surrounding the issue of boycotting foreign products. A concept map has been produced to offer a more comprehensive picture of Muslim’s boycotting behaviour.