bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalizability of “GWAS hits” in clinical populations: Lessons from childhood cancer survivors
Authors: Im Cindy , Qin Na , Wang Zhaoming , Qiu Weiyu , Howell Carrie R. , Sapkota Yadav , Moon Wonjong , Chemaitilly Wassim , Gibson Todd M. , Mulrooney Daniel A. , Ness Kirsten K. , Wilson Carmen L. , Morton Lindsay M. , Armstrong Gregory T. , Bhatia Smita , Zhang Jinghui , Hudson Melissa M. , Robison Leslie L. , Yasui Yutaka
Published: February 2020

With mounting interest in translating GWAS hits from large meta-analyses (meta-GWAS) in diverse clinical settings, evaluating their generalizability in target populations is crucial. Here we consider long-term survivors of childhood cancers from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study and show the limited generalizability of 1,376 robust SNP associations reported in the general population across 12 complex anthropometric and cardiometabolic phenotypes (N=2,231; observed-to-expected replication ratio=0.68,P=2.4×10−9). An examination of five comparable phenotypes in a second independent cohort of survivors from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study corroborated the overall limited generalizability of meta-GWAS hits to survivors (N=4,212, observed-to-expected replication ratio=0.53,P=1.1×10−16). Meta-GWAS hits were less likely to be replicated in survivors exposed to cancer therapies associated with phenotype risk. Examination of complementary DNA methylation data in a subset of survivors revealed that treatment-related methylation patterns at genomic sites linked to meta-GWAS hits may disrupt established genetic signals in survivors.
Targeted nanopore sequencing by real-time mapping of raw electrical signal with UNCALLED
Authors: Kovaka Sam , Fan Yunfan , Ni Bohan , Timp Winston , Schatz Michael C.
Published: February 2020

ReadUntil sequencing allows nanopore devices to selectively eject individual reads from the pore in real-time. This could enable purely computational targeted sequencing, however most mapping methods require basecalling, which is computationally intensive. Here we present UNCALLED (github.com/skovaka/UNCALLED), an open-source mapper that rapidly matches streaming nanopore current signals to a reference sequence. UNCALLED probabilistically considers k-mers that the signal could represent, and then prunes the candidates based on the reference encoded within an FM-index. We used UNCALLED to deplete sequencing of known bacterial genomes within a metagenomics community, enriching the remaining species by 4.46 fold. UNCALLED also enriched 148 human genes associated with hereditary cancers to 29.6x coverage using one MinION flowcell, enabling accurate detection of SNPs, indels, structural variants (SVs), and methylation in these genes. Twice as many SVs were detected compared to 50x coverage Illumina sequencing, all verified by whole-genome nanopore and PacBio HiFi sequencing.
Transcriptomics and Proteomics Methods for Xenopus Embryos and Tissues
Authors: Gilchrist Michael J. , Veenstra Gert Jan C. , Cho Ken W.Y.
Published: February 2020

The general field of quantitative biology has advanced significantly on the back of recent improvements in both sequencing technology and proteomics methods. The development of high-throughput, short-read sequencing has revolutionized RNA-based expression studies, while improvements in proteomics methods have enabled quantitative studies to attain better resolution. Here we introduce methods to undertake global analyses of gene expression through RNA and protein quantification in Xenopus embryos and tissues.
Human-computer interaction based on machine vision of a smart assembly workbench
Authors: Wu Shiqing , Wang Zhonghou , Shen Bin , Wang Jia-Hai , Dongdong Li
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to achieve multi-variety and small-batch assembly through direct cooperation between equipment and people and to improve assembly efficiency as well as flexibility.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, the concept of the human–computer interaction is designed. Secondly, the machine vision technology is studied theoretically. Skin color filter based on hue, saturation and value color model is put forward to screen out images that meet the skin color characteristics of the worker, and a multi-Gaussian weighted model is built to separate moving objects from its background. Both of them are combined to obtain the final images of the target objects. Then, the key technology is applied to the smart assembly workbench. Finally, experiments are conducted to evaluate the role of the human–computer interaction features in improving productivity for the smart assembly workbench.

Findings

The result shows that multi-variety and small-batch considerable increases assembly time and the developed human–computer interaction features, including prompting and introduction, effectively decrease assembly time.

Originality/value

This study proves that the machine vision technology studied in this paper can effectively eliminate the interferences of the environment to obtain the target image. By adopting the human–computer interaction features, including prompting and introduction, the efficiency of manual operation is improved greatly, especially for multi-variety and small-batch assembly.
How to capture the experience of mothers with alcohol problems involved in English family court proceedings – lessons from the field
Authors: Radcliffe Polly , Canfield Martha , Boreham Maggie , Marlow Sally , Gilchrist Gail
Published: February 2020

Purpose

It proved difficult to recruit sufficient mothers to a prospective cohort study designed to explore the factors and characteristics of mothers whose children are the subject of the public care system as a result of their drinking, retaining or losing care of their children. In conducting interviews instead with social workers in six local authorities, the repurposed study aimed to explore their views of the barriers and facilitators to involving this “hard to reach” population of mothers in research at the beginning of care proceedings.

Design/methodology/approach

For this study, 36 semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with child and family social workers and social work managers located in six English local authorities. Transcripts were analysed using Nvivo and coded thematically.

Findings

Workforce issues and social work workload, court timescales and the additional burden that participating in research at a time of enormous stress for mothers were described as barriers to recruitment. Social workers suggested that the criteria for including participants could be widened to include mothers in pre-proceedings and that recruitment could take place via substance use services with whom mothers do not have an antagonistic relationship.

Research limitations/implications

The perspective of social work practitioners and not mothers themselves on barriers to engagement in research is a limitation of the study. Innovative and flexible research design is needed to include the participation of mothers whose alcohol use has led to court proceedings in research.

Originality/value

Few studies have investigated the barriers and facilitators to engaging mothers in research at the point that care proceedings have been issued. The re-purposed study highlighted the particular stresses on mothers and social workers and made recommendations for alternative strategies for recruiting these mothers and representing their experience in research.
Social media and academic identity in food research
Authors: Regan Aine , Henchion Maeve
Published: February 2020

Purpose

With increasing emphasis on public engagement and scientific communication and dissemination, scientists are increasingly required to redefine their academic identity. Theoretical frameworks of academic identity and social media functionality were used to explore food researchers' attitudes towards social media.

Design/methodology/approach

An online study was carried out with 80 scientists working in publicly funded food research.

Findings

Commitment to scientific rigour, disseminating science to society, and being part of an academic community were important facets of academic identity and shaped participants' perceptions of social media functions. Functions offered by social media were most favourably viewed by the food research community for academic peer engagement and academic community building.

Social implications

Cultural and organisational changes are needed to mobilise food researchers to view public engagement as an important facet of academic identity.

Originality/value

The current study adds to the theoretical literature on academic identity and social media functionality by providing empirical evidence outlining how scientists working in publicly funded food research feel about engaging with social media within their professional role.
Residents’ perceptions of wine tourism on the rural destinations development
Authors: Vukovic Darko B. , Maiti Moinak , Vujko Aleksandra , Shams Riad
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of wine tourism on rural destination development. Consequently, this study attempts to develop contemporary insights on this under-researched area such as residents’ perceptions of wine tourism and its impact on the rural destination development.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors used a structured survey questionnaire from a random sample of 318 respondents based on the Fruška Gora Mountain in Serbia. Research also used structural equational modeling for empirical econometric testing in this data sample. This technique is appropriate for multivariate analysis.

Findings

Personal resident benefit associated with wineries is positively related to resident perceived economic impact (H1) R2=0.624; socio-cultural impact (H2) R2=0.685 and environmental impact (H3) R2=0.716 of wineries on local communities. Looking at the path diagram, the authors concluded that personal resident benefit associated with wineries is strongly related to resident perceived impact of wineries on local communities as regression weights are higher. Other findings relate those residents’ positive perceptions of wine tourism to increases in sales revenue, environmental protection, intrapersonal and interpersonal communication.

Research limitations/implications

The positive attitude of the local population is an essential link of development. Such understanding of residents’ perceptions optimizes destination management in the future and, more importantly, local sustainable development. This has high policy implications.

Originality/value

The present study contributes to the scientific circles by connecting perception research with wine tourism.
A novel Ka-band MMIC coupled filter with harmonic suppression
Authors: Guan Jin , Gong Min , Gao Bo
Published: February 2020

Purpose

A novel Ka-band compact parallel-coupled microstrip bandpass filter with harmonic suppression performance has been designed, implemented and tested on GaAs MMIC.

Design/methodology/approach

This proposed filter consists of modified coupled-line units with T-shaped open-stubs.

Findings

The proposed filter with T-shaped open-stubs is valuable in performance with low loss at fundamental frequency, suppression at harmonic frequencies and small size. The simulation is based on full-wave electromagnetic analysis and the measurement is based on chip test. It shows an insertion loss below 1.2 dB, return loss better than 20 dB in the pass band and high than 28 dB suppression at harmonic frequencies.

Originality/value

This Ka-band MMIC filter with harmonic suppression is attractive for the millimeter-wave system.
Feature mining and analysis of gray privacy products
Authors: Xia Huosong , Meng Yuting , An Wuyue , Chen Zixuan , Zhang Zuopeng
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Excavating valuable outlier information of gray privacy products, the purpose of this study takes the online reviews of women’s underwear as an example, explores the outlier characteristics of online commentary data, and analyzes the online consumer behavior of consumers’ gray privacy products.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts the social network analysis method to analyze online reviews. Based on the online reviews collected from women’s underwear flagship store Victoria’s Secret at Tmall, this study performs word segmentation and word frequency analysis. Using the fuzzy query method, the research builds the corresponding co-word matrix and conducts co-occurrence analysis to summarize the factors affecting consumers’ purchase behavior of female underwear.

Findings

Establishing a formal framework of gray privacy products, this paper confirms the commonalities among consumers with respect to their perceptions of gray privacy products, shows that consumers have high privacy concerns about the disclosure or secondary use of personal private information when shopping gray privacy products, and demonstrates the big difference between online reviews of gray privacy products and their consumer descriptions.

Originality/value

The research lays a solid foundation for future research in gray privacy products. The factors identified in this study provide a practical reference for the continuous improvement of gray privacy products and services.
Reflections on the learning objectives for sustainable development in the higher education curricula – three cases from the University of Belgrade
Authors: Orlovic Lovren Violeta , Maruna Marija , Stanarevic Svetlana
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This purpose of this study is to explore the integration of the sustainable development concept and goals into the curriculum of higher education studies using the example of three faculties of the University of Belgrade.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative content analysis has been applied on two levels: the evaluation of the sustainability of courses starting from the criteria defined using the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (ASHE, 2017), and the analysis of the outcomes defined in the curricula of subjects within the three faculties using the UNESCO learning objectives related to selected sustainable development goals (SDGs) as a criteria.

Findings

While the largest number of courses were analyzed from the Faculty of Architecture, the highest proportion of sustainability courses was found in the Faculty of Security Studies. Both study areas reflect a stronger interdisciplinary orientation, although it should be strengthened in the case of the Andragogy study program. Based on the experience of the Faculty of Architecture, the courses implemented by linking theory and practice may significantly contribute to achieving the LOs and to implementing the education for sustainable development. At the University of Belgrade, strategic documents are missing that would encourage and oblige the faculties to apply the concept of sustainability.

Originality/value

This is the first study to apply this type of curricula analysis at the University of Belgrade. It is performed by teachers from the university, coming from different disciplinary fields but oriented towards an interdisciplinary perspective. Although performed in three specific study areas within a single university, the identified gaps and trends may be useful for planning interventions toward accelerating the implementation of SDGs in the higher education curricula.
Fruit picking robots: has their time come?
Authors: Bogue Robert
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe recent fruit picking robot developments with an emphasis on corporate activity rather than academic research. It also aims to provide a view on the commercial prospects for these developments.

Design/methodology/approach

Following a short introduction, this first discusses strawberry and other soft fruit picking robot developments conducted principally by commercial organisations. It then provides similar details of robots for harvesting apples and other hard fruits. This is followed by a discussion and concluding comments.

Findings

The shortage of seasonal fruit pickers has stimulated the need for automation. Accordingly, a growing community of companies, many founded in the past five years, are developing fruit picking robots. These are aimed at both soft and hard fruits, such as strawberries and apples, respectively, and exploit advanced vision systems, image processing techniques and AI. Some products are already on the market, whereas many more are due for commercial release during the next two years into what is expected to be a highly competitive market.

Originality/value

This provides details of the emerging fruit picking robot business by describing the products and manufacturing companies.
When oilfield service companies enter developing economies: a new model for efficiency
Authors: Ulanov Vladimir Leonidovich , Simonov Kirill
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the most effective operational model for oilfield service companies in developing markets (e.g. Russian market). It proposes the comparative analysis of oilfield service industry regulation in several developed and developing markets, specifies industry and interaction between energy and service companies and advises the effective operation model applicable to the Russian market.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper’s methodology is based on collecting information and generalizing the experience of international oilfield service companies in developed and developing markets, thus identifying types of service company’s operational models and factors that determine the choice of strategy and operational model in different countries and markets, as well as identifying the most effective model for the developing market (e.g. Russian market).

Findings

The paper provides the case study for operational models implementation and calculation of their financial effect. It suggests that the integrated operational model is the most effective solution in developing markets in the case of operational risks and financial effect.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the great number of segments, types of works and projects in international oilfield service industry, only the drilling segment was chosen as the analysis object. This segment is the key segment in oilfield sector with 35% global share of total oilfield works.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils an identified need to study how oilfield service companies are able to increase profitability and decrease market access barriers using correct operational models that reflect different market specifics.
Object oriented design of safety critical programmable equipment systems
Authors: Borer John
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide a method for designing the software for a process control system that avoids difficulties that lead to safety problems.

Design/methodology/approach

Design of real-time software for safety critical programmable equipment systems (PES) such as process control or shutdown systems needs to be approached quite differently compared to any other software. It must be designed by those who understand the equipment system not by software engineers who do not. Following the ‘Piper Alpha’ disaster in the North Sea in the late 1980s, it was realised that the software of safety critical PES, such as the shut-down system on an oil rig, was proving very unreliable. Earlier hardwired relay-based shut-down systems were designed by process control engineers who understood the functions the equipment was required to perform; however, by the 1980s, such systems had been replaced by PES designed by system analysts who did not understand the technologies involved. The safety critical real-time software for a programmable equipment system will only be reliable when it is designed by control engineers who understand the functions it has to perform.

Findings

Bottom-up design of software is necessary to avoid safety issues and this can only be achieved using object-oriented methods.

Originality/value

This paper describes an entirely original idea of the author based on experience of managing the design and construction of the process control, emergency shut-down and fire and gas and communication systems for a major oil and gas platform in the North Sea around the time of the Piper Alpha disaster.
Antecedents and consequences of staff related fraud in the Ghanaian banking industry
Authors: Asmah Alexander Ekow , Atuilik Williams Abayaawien , Ofori Dominic
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the antecedents and consequences of employee fraud, focusing on the banking industry in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A major bank was selected for the case study analysis. The researchers employed qualitative data analysis for the study. Content analysis of investigation reports and interviews of employees from different functional areas were used as the main data collection tools.

Findings

This study found that loans contracted by bank employees with huge repayment amounts put financial pressure on them to commit fraud. The study also found that inadequate controls in some areas of the bank can fuel the commission of fraud. In addition, aggrieved employees have highly chances of committing fraud. Huge punitive consequences were noted to exist for the employee who perpetrates the fraud and shareholders are also affected by the fraudulent behaviour of employees.

Research limitations/implications

Findings shown in the study confirm the hypotheses of the fraud triangle theory on the causes of fraud in spite of its criticisms. The findings are also consistent with extant studies on the antecedents and consequences of fraud. The use of one bank for the case study analysis as well as the three-year analysis period imposes a limitation on the study. Future studies can explore fraud using other different theoretical lenses. Gathering data from more than one bank and for a longer period of analysis may provide more accurate results.

Practical implications

This study provides some recommendations for fraud prevention in the banking industry in Ghana. The major one is the need for the central bank to collaborate with financial institutions to set up an effective credit worthiness system that will aid the monitoring of activities of the banks. Banks should also ensure that systems of controls are reviewed regularly to identify and deal with fraud.

Originality/value

This study is original, as it focuses on an industry that is highly susceptible to fraud because of issues of confidentiality with data and with the scanty literature on fraud.
Self-reported income data: are people telling the truth?
Authors: González Fernando Antonio Ignacio
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to detect anomalous data in income reports of Argentina, including personal income – from a sample of households – and statements of public officials.

Design/methodology/approach

A widely known technique in forensic accounting – such as Benford’s Law – is used. The Chi-square test and the absolute mean deviation are used for verification. The databases consulted include the income declared by households in the Permanent Household Survey – for the 2003-2017 period – and the capital declarations of high-ranking public officials – for the period 1999-2017.

Findings

The results suggest that income reported in the Encuesta Permanente de Hogares do not follow a Benford´s distribution, and the degree of conformity with this decreases significantly between 2007 and 2015 – coincident with the intervention period of the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos. Patrimonial statements of public officials present an acceptable level of compliance with Benford’s law, especially among those of the legislative branch (in more than 90% of cases) although to a lesser extent among officials of the executive branch.

Practical implications

The results suggest that income reports from the Permanent Household Survey, for the period 2007-2015, should be used with reservations because of their possible manipulation.

Originality/value

During the intervention of the official statistics institute in Argentina (2007-2015), the idea of lack of credibility of its reports has been disseminated. To date, however, there is no empirical evidence to support it related to income.
Assessment on health care service quality and patients’ satisfaction in Ghana
Authors: Ampaw Enock Mintah , Chai Junwu , Liang Biru , Tsai Sang-Bing , Frempong Joseph
Published: February 2020

Purpose

With the exigencies of health-care service quality to actualize sustainable socio-economic and developmental aspirations, in both peripheral and core countries, this paper aims to provide empirical evidence on health-care service quality and its precursor – patients’ satisfaction, and continuous service utilization.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 398 screened questionnaires were analyzed from selected hospitals of the Koforidua, Ghana. Findings from the structural equation modeling showed a significant association among perceived quality, patients’ satisfaction and tangibility. Contrary to the expectations, the results did not show a significant association among the constructs – perceived quality, safety and empathy. Again, the model fit indices collaboratively showed that the hypothesized model overwhelmingly “fit” the sample data, and further proved the predictive robustness of the model.

Findings

The results of the analysis demonstrate that patients were discontent with empathy and safety measures at the hospitals. However, tangible and perceived quality were identified as significant predictors of patients’ satisfaction.

Originality/value

There is a dearth of empirical investigations on the assessment of health-care service quality and patients’ satisfaction in developing economies such as Ghana. Therefore, the implication of the study will equip the top hierarchy of the Health System of Ghana in achieving their mission, and objectives in line with quality service delivery. In particular, MoH and GHS can embark on a routine exercise to audit the hospitals for re-accreditation, and provide CCT cameras to improve safety and security conditions at the hospitals, while enforcing the culture of receptive hospital environment to improve empathy.
Synaptic plasticity of TiO2nanowire transistor
Authors: Qi Hongxia , Wu Ying
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The emulation of synapses is essential to neuromorphic computing systems. Despite remarkable progress has been made in the two-terminal device (memristor), three-terminal transistors evoke greater attention because of the controlled conductance between the source and drain. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the synaptic plasticity of the TiO2nanowire transistor.

Design/methodology/approach

TiO2nanowire transistor was assembled by dielectrophoresis, and the synaptic plasticity such as paired-pulse facilitation, learning behaviors and high-pass filter were studied.

Findings

Facilitation index decreases with the increasing pulse interval. A bigger response current is obtained at the pulses with higher amplitude and smaller intervals, which is similar to the consolidated memory at the deeply and frequently learning. The increased current at the higher stimulus frequency demonstrates a promising application in the high-pass filter.

Originality/value

TiO2nanowire transistors possess broad application prospects in the future neural network.
Academic logics in changing performance measurement systems
Authors: Guarini Enrico , Magli Francesca , Francesconi Andrea
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse how academic staff cope with the new culture of performance measurement and assessment in universities. In particular, the study aims to shed light on how external pressures related to measurement of research performance are translated into organisational and individual academic responses within the university and the extent to which these responses are related specifically to the operational features of performance measurement systems (PMS).

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a case study conducted in an Italian public university and based on interviews with a cross-disciplinary sample of faculty members.

Findings

The study provides insights into how linking financial incentives and career progression to research performance metrics at the system and organisational levels may have important reorientation effects on individual behaviours and epistemic consequences for the academic work.

Research limitations/implications

The study is based on interviews, so one limitation is related to the risk of researcher and interviewee personal bias. Moreover, this study is focused on one single case of a specific university setting, which cannot be fully representative of the experiences of others.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the literature on management accounting by exploring the factors that might explain why the unintended effects of PMS on academics’ behaviour reported by several studies might occur. From a practitioner’s point of view, it shows features of PMS that may produce unintended effects on academic activities. It also highlights the need to rethink PMS for the evaluation of university performance through the involvement of different stakeholders.
3D printing of composites: design parameters and flexural performance
Authors: Korkees Feras , Allenby James , Dorrington Peter
Published: February 2020

Purpose

3D printing of composites has a high degree of design freedom, which allows for the manufacture of complex shapes that cannot be achieved with conventional manufacturing processes. This paper aims to assess the design variables that might affect the mechanical properties of 3D-printed fibre-reinforced composites.

Design/methodology/approach

Markforged Mark-Two printers were used to manufacture samples using nylon 6 and carbon fibres. The effect of fibre volume fraction, fibre layer location and fibre orientation has been studied using three-point flexural testing.

Findings

The flexural strength and stiffness of the 3D-printed composites increased with increasing the fibre volume fraction. The flexural properties were altered by the position of the fibre layers. The highest strength and stiffness were observed with the reinforcement evenly distributed about the neutral axis of the sample. Moreover, unidirectional fibres provided the best flexural performance compared to the other orientations. 3D printed composites also showed various failure modes under bending loads.

Originality/value

Despite multiple studies available on 3D-printed composites, there does not seem to be a clear understanding and consensus on how the location of the fibre layers can affect the mechanical properties and printing versatility. Therefore, this study covered this design parameter and evaluated different locations in terms of mechanical properties and printing characteristics. This is to draw final conclusions on how 3D printing may be used to manufacture cost-effective, high-quality parts with excellent mechanical performance.
Comparing mechanical properties of impact modified polypropylene-copolymer (IMPP) from injection molding (IM) and fused layer modeling (FLM) processes
Authors: Sanders J. Elliott , Wang Lu , Gardner Douglas J.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to produce dimensionally accurate and reliable fused layer modeling (FLM) feedstock composed of an impact modified polypropylene matrix, compounded with a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) reinforcement and coupled by a maleic anhydride coupling agent to produce comparable mechanical properties in comparison to the industry-standard method of injection molding (IM).

Design/methodology/approach

A spray dried CNF (SDCNF) was compounded with the polymer matrix using a masterbatch method. The composite was diluted with neat polymer and extruded into a filament and then printed into standardized mechanical testing samples. For comparison, the filament was chopped and standardized samples were produced with IM.

Findings

A loss in mechanical properties of up to 30% was observed in FLM samples. If normalized to reflect improved density from a part consolidation method, losses are reduced to 15% or show improvements in the neat polymer matrix.

Originality/value

Limited research has been done on producing FLM feedstock, reporting mechanical property results based on standardized testing and comparing the same material with IM.
The road to develop prisoners’ skills and attitudes: an analytical study of contemporary prison-based rehabilitation programme in Sri Lanka
Authors: Sachitra Vilani , Wijewardhana Neranji
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The place of rehabilitation programmes in the reformation and transformation of prison inmates has continued to be on the front burner of professionals such as educators, counsellors, social workers, psychologists and medical doctors. Analysis has taken something of a top-down approach, and consideration has been placed on how the organizational context of individual prisoners interact with those rehabilitation programmes has been neglected. Drawing on interview data, this study aims to add to our understanding how rehabilitation programme affects inmates’ skills and attitudes in Sri Lankan prisons.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an inductive qualitative case study approach as it requires a deep understanding of the effect of rehabilitation programme on inmates’ skills and attitudes and how inmates view rehabilitation programmes.

Findings

The study identified seven views of inmates regarding rehabilitation programmes conducted and understood that rehabilitation programme facilitates inmates to acquire strong self-assurance of future career options and deal with potentially destructive feeling such as anger, frustration and loneliness. However, inmates who showed a strong propensity to suffer injustice and internalized blame have found no substantial impact on their skills and attitude through the programme.

Practical implications

It is arguable that operation of meaningful prison-based rehabilitation programme is influenced by comprehensive picture of the profile of the prison population, shortages in resources, the attitudes of prison staffs, inability to meet real world settings and network building with a wide range of private, public or voluntary providers.

Originality/value

This study represents the first prison-based study to understand the inmates view on the rehabilitation programmes in Sri Lanka.
Production of rebaudioside D from stevioside using a UGTSL2 Asn358Phe mutant in a multi‐enzyme system
Authors: Chen Liangliang , Cai Ruxin , Weng Jingyuan , Li Yan , Jia Honghua , Chen Kequan , Yan Ming , Ouyang Pingkai
Published: February 2020

Rebaudioside D is a sweetener from Stevia rebaudiana with superior sweetness and organoleptic properties, but its production is limited by its minute abundance in S. rebaudiana leaves. In this study, we established a multi‐enzyme reaction system with S. rebaudiana UDP‐glycosyltransferases UGT76G1, Solanum lycopersicum UGTSL2 and Solanum tuberosum sucrose synthase StSUS1, achieving a two‐step glycosylation of stevioside to produce rebaudioside D. However, an increase in the accumulation of rebaudioside D required the optimization of UGTSL2 catalytic activity towards glucosylation of rebaudioside A and reducing the formation of the side‐product rebaudioside M2. On the basis of homology modelling and structural analysis, Asn358 in UGTSL2 was subjected to saturating mutagenesis, and the Asn358Phe mutant was used instead of wild‐type UGTSL2 for bioconversion. The established multi‐enzyme reaction system employing the Asn358Phe mutant produced 14.4 g l−1 (1.6 times of wild‐type UGTSL2) rebaudioside D from 20 g l−1 stevioside after reaction for 24 h. This system is useful for large‐scale rebaudioside D production and expands our understanding of the pathways involved in its synthesis.
Mobilization‐based transplantation of young‐donor hematopoietic stem cells extends lifespan in mice
Authors: Guderyon Michael J. , Chen Cang , Bhattacharjee Anindita , Ge Guo , Fernandez Roman A. , Gelfond Jonathan A. L. , Gorena Karla M. , Cheng Catherine J. , Li Yang , Nelson James F. , Strong Randy J. , Hornsby Peter J. , Clark Robert A. , Li Senlin
Published: February 2020

Mammalian aging is associated with reduced tissue regeneration and loss of physiological integrity. With age, stem cells diminish in their ability to regenerate adult tissues, likely contributing to age‐related morbidity. Thus, we replaced aged hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with young‐donor HSCs using a novel mobilization‐enabled hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) technology as an alternative to the highly toxic conditioning regimens used in conventional HSCT. Using this approach, we are the first to report an increase in median lifespan (12%) and a decrease in overall mortality hazard (HR: 0.42, CI: 0.273–0.638) in aged mice following transplantation of young‐donor HSCs. The increase in longevity was accompanied by reductions of frailty measures and increases in food intake and body weight of aged recipients. Young‐donor HSCs not only preserved youthful function within the aged bone marrow stroma, but also at least partially ameliorated dysfunctional hematopoietic phenotypes of aged recipients. This compelling evidence that mammalian health and lifespan can be extended through stem cell therapy adds a new category to the very limited list of successful anti‐aging/life‐extending interventions. Our findings have implications for further development of stem cell therapies for increasing health and lifespan.
Confidence at 100%: Characteristics of Likelihood Ratio Confidence Intervals in the Emergency Medicine Diagnostics Literature
Authors: Friedman Ari B. , Berning Aric W. , Marill Keith A.
Published: February 2020

Objective

We hypothesized that “perfect” 100% sample sensitivity or specificity (PSSS) is common in the emergency medicine (EM) literature. When results yield PSSS, calculating the likelihood ratio (LR) 95% confidence interval (CI) has been challenging. Consequently, we also hypothesized that studies with PSSS would be less likely to report the LR and associated CI, and those that did would use imperfect methods.

Methods

We searched PubMed or Scopus for all articles reporting diagnostic test results in the 20 top EM journals from 2011 to 2016 and randomly sampled 124 articles. Trained researchers coded the articles as having PSSS or not (“controls”). We separately sampled 100 articles with PSSS and compared them to 100 controls in terms of their reporting of diagnostic tests and associated CIs.

Results

Of the 124 articles, 19.4% (95% CI = 13% to 27.6%) feature a diagnostic test with PSSS. The LR is reported significantly less often in PSSS studies versus control studies: 18 of 100 articles (18% [95% CI = 11.3% to 27.2%]) versus 34 of 100 articles (34% [95% CI = 25% to 44.2%]), with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.43 (95% CI = 0.21 to 0.86). The LR 95% CI is also reported less often in PSSS versus control studies: five of 100 articles (5% [95% CI = 1.9% to 11.8%]) versus 27 of 100 articles (27% [95% CI = 18.8% to 37%]), with an OR of 0.11 (95% CI = 0.02 to 0.44). Five articles with perfect sample sensitivity reported their negative LR CI. The bootstrap method resulted in CIs that were 42.7% smaller on average (range = 16.6% to 63.6%).

Conclusion

This analysis provides systematic evidence of diagnostic test reporting in the EM literature. Sample sensitivity or specificity of 100% is common. LRs and their associated 95% CIs are infrequently reported, particularly for PSSS samples. When the LR CI is reported in this scenario, it is overly wide. Improved reporting and methods can enhance the utility and confidence in diagnostic tests in EM.
The Political Consequences of External Economic Shocks: Evidence from Poland
Authors: Ahlquist John , Copelovitch Mark , Walter Stefanie
Published: February 2020

How do external economic shocks influence domestic politics? We argue that those materially exposed to the shock will display systematic differences in policy preferences and voting behavior compared to the unexposed, and political parties can exploit these circumstances. Empirically, we take advantage of the 2015 surprise revaluation of the Swiss franc to identify the Polish citizens with direct economic exposure to this exogenous event. Using an original survey fielded prior to the 2015 elections and an embedded survey experiment, we show that exposed individuals were more likely to demand government support and more likely to desert the government and vote for the largest opposition party, which was able to use the shock to expand its electoral coalition without alienating its core voters. Our article clarifies the connection between international shocks, voters’ policy preferences, partisan policy responses, and, ultimately, voting decisions.
Partial least squares for functional joint models with applications to the Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative study
Authors: Wang Yue , Ibrahim Joseph G. , Zhu Hongtu
Published: February 2020

Many biomedical studies have identified important imaging biomarkers that are associated with both repeated clinical measures and a survival outcome. The functional joint model (FJM) framework, proposed by Li and Luo in 2017, investigates the association between repeated clinical measures and survival data, while adjusting for both high‐dimensional images and low‐dimensional covariates based on the functional principal component analysis (FPCA). In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm for the estimation of FJM based on the functional partial least squares (FPLS). Our numerical studies demonstrate that, compared to FPCA, the proposed FPLS algorithm can yield more accurate and robust estimation and prediction performance in many important scenarios. We apply the proposed FPLS algorithm to a neuroimaging study. Data used in preparation of this article were obtained from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database.
Positive surgical margin during radical prostatectomy: overview of sampling methods for frozen sections and techniques for the secondary resection of the neurovascular bundles
Authors: Sighinolfi Maria Chiara , Eissa Ahmed , Spandri Valentina , Puliatti Stefano , Micali Salvatore , Reggiani Bonetti Luca , Bertoni Laura , Bianchi Giampaolo , Rocco Bernardo
Published: February 2020

Objective

The aim of the paper is to provide an overview of intraoperative sampling methods for frozen section (FS) analysis and of surgical techniques for a secondary neurovascular bundle (NVB) resection, as the method of surgical margin (SM) sampling and the management of a positive SM (PSM) at the nerve‐sparing (NS) area are under evaluated issues. FS analysis during radical prostatectomy (RP) can help to tailor the plane of dissection based on cancer extension and thus extend the indications for NS surgery.

Evidence Acquisition

We performed a PubMed/Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Elton B. Stephens Co. (EBSCO)host search to include articles published in the last decade, evaluating FS analysis in the NS area and surgical attempts to convert a PSM to a negative status.

Evidence Synthesis

Overall, 19 papers met our inclusion criteria. The ways to collect samples for FS analysis included: systematic (analysing the whole posterolateral aspect of the prostate specimen, i.e., neurovascular structure‐adjacent frozen‐section examination [NeuroSAFE]); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐guided (biopsies from MRI‐suspicious areas, retrieved by the surgeon in a cognitive way); and random biopsies from the soft periprostatic tissues.

Techniques to address a PSM in the NS area included: full resection of the spared NVB, from its caudal to cranial aspect, often including the rectolateral part of the Denonvilliers’ fascia; partial resection of the NVB, in cases where sampling attempts to localise a PSM; incremental approach, meaning a partial or full resection that extends until no prostate tissue is found in the soft periprostatic environment.

Conclusions

There is no homogeneity in prostate sampling for FS analysis, although most recent evidence is moving toward a systematic sampling of the entire NS area. The management of a PSM is variable and can be affected by the sampling strategy (difficult localisation of the persisting tumour at the NVB). The difficult identification of the exact soft tissue location contiguous to a PSM could be considered as the critical point of FS analysis and of spared‐NVB management.
Suppression of KIF3A inhibits triple negative breast cancer growth and metastasis by repressing Rb‐E2F signaling and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition
Authors: Wang Weilin , Zhang Runze , Wang Xiao , Wang Ning , Zhao Jing , Wei Zhimin , Xiang Fenggang , Wang Chengqin
Published: February 2020

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) displays higher heterogeneity, stronger invasiveness, higher risk of metastasis and poorer prognosis compared with major breast cancer subtypes. KIF3A, a member of the kinesin family of motor proteins, serves as a microtubule‐directed motor subunit and has been found to regulate early development, ciliogenesis and tumorigenesis. To explore the expression, regulation and mechanism of KIF3A in TNBC, 3 TNBC cell lines, 98 cases of primary TNBC and paired adjacent tissues were examined. Immunohistochemistry, real‐time PCR, western blot, flow cytometry, short hairpin RNA (shRNA) interference, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation techniques, transwell assays, scratch tests, and xenograft mice models were used. We found that KIF3A was overexpressed in TNBC and such high KIF3A expression was also associated with tumor recurrence and lymph node metastasis. Silencing of KIF3A suppressed TNBC cell proliferation by repressing the Rb‐E2F signaling pathway and inhibited migration and invasion by repressing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition. The tumor size was smaller and the number of lung metastatic nodules was lower in KIF3A depletion MDA‐MB‐231 cell xenograft mice than in the negative control group. In addition, KIF3A overexpression correlated with chemoresistance. These results suggested that high expression of KIF3A in TNBC was associated with the tumor progression and metastasis.