bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data Science Approach for Malware Detection
Authors: Choudhary Sunita , Sharma Anand
Published: March 2021

Large associations have a great deal of data moving all through their network. The data can begin from inward computer systems, IT infrastructures, and security mechanisms. In any case, these endpoints don’t speak with one another. The security innovation liable for detecting malware can’t generally observe the general image of attacks. The battle between security experts and malware designers is an endless fight with the intricacy of malware changing as fast as development develops. Present status of-the-workmanship research centers around the turn of events and utilization of machine learning (ML) methods for this malware detection because of its capacity to stay up with malware development. With the assistance of data science, security groups can detect malware with data driven tools and techniques. At last, data science empowered the malware detection to move from suspicion to realities. This paper depicts the utilization of data science approach for the malware detection.
Covid-19 Detection from Chest X-Ray using Convolution Neural Networks
Authors: Mahesh Pillalamarry , Prathyusha Yakkala Gnana , Sahithi Botlagunta , Nagendram S
Published: March 2021

A corona virus has infected more than 36,087,836 people and 1,055,387 Deaths since December 2019. As it rapidly spreads across the planet, scientists and public-health experts are racing to slow down the spreading and trying to find methodologies to detect it. To do that, they need to understand the new virus. It’s called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2. There are different ways to diagnose the COVID-19, but they are cost-effective and increasing the time taken to produce, buy using chest x-ray we can reduce cost and result in time. But to diagnose x-ray’s we need expert radiotherapists. Thus, we developed a model that automatically detect COVID and non-COVID X-rays. These days Deep Learning algorithms showing the foremost results in Disease classification. Also, features learned by pre-trained Convolution Neural Networks (CNN) models on large-scale datasets are much useful in image classification tasks. we train and test our model to analyze the images as COVID or normal. we analytically determine the optimal CNN model for the purpose. The accuracy metrics are used to validate the classification of the model.
Laser-induced processes with homonuclear diatomic molecules in orthogonally polarized two-color laser field
Authors: Habibović Dino , Gazibegović-Busuladžić Azra , Busuladžić Mustafa , Čerkić Aner , Milošević Dejan B
Published: March 2021

Using our theory which is based on the strong-field approximation we analyze high-order above-threshold ionization and high-order harmonic generation processes for the case of the homonuclear diatomic molecules exposed to an orthogonally polarized two-color (OTC) laser field. The OTC field represents a superposition of two linearly polarized fields with mutually orthogonal polarizations and different frequencies. We analyze the photoelectron energy spectra and the harmonic ellipticity as a function of the ratio of the intensities of the OTC laser-field components and the relative phase. Some combinations of the values of these parameters lead to the high-energy electrons, while the harmonic ellipticity depends strongly on the ratio of the intensities of the laser-field components. It is possible to find the value of this ratio for which the ellipticity of the emitted harmonics is large. The signes of ellipticity are opposite for the molecular orientations which are connected through the reflection with respect to the axis along the first OTC field component. This symmetry is explained using the expression which relates the T-matrix element and the harmonic ellipticity.
Effects of the boundaries on the scaling form of Hamiltonian walks on fractal lattices
Authors: Marčetić D , Elezović-Hadžić S , Živić I
Published: March 2021

Hamiltonian walks (HWs) on a lattice are random walks that visit each lattice site exactly once. They are commonly used to model compact polymer conformations. The scaling form for the number of HWs, on translationary invariant lattices, consists of the leading exponential factor with the power law and stretched exponential factor as corrections. The stretched exponential factor, with the exponent σ that depends on the lattice dimension only, is caused and determined by the boundary sites of the lattice and corresponds to the surface tension effects of the compact globule. On fractal lattices, on the contrary, the existence of the stretched exponential factor in the scaling form of HWs is not so straightforward, and such a correspondence cannot be drawn equivalently. In this paper, we reinvestigate the appearance of the stretched exponential factor in the scaling form of HWs on fractal lattices and consider the effects of some kind of ’boundary’ condition on it. In particular, in the case of 4-simplex lattice, we explicitly show that the introduction of only two extra links between the corner vertices of the largest generator, leads to complete disappearance of the stretched exponential factor. We also discuss impact of the boundaries on the scaling form of HWs on other fractal lattices.
Improvements of theoretical background and experiment on atomic spectra for high school and university students
Authors: Kujović V , Džaferović-Mašić E
Published: March 2021

The study of atomic spectra is one of the key subjects in teaching physics. It represents a combination of topics such as wave physics, atomic physics, particle physics, etc. Because of its complexity, it takes a well-prepared student and a very creative and resourceful teacher for this subject to be adequately understood and comprehended. This article presents theoretical background with key points in physics that help teachers to better organize their preparation for students and different experimental sets for this specific experiment, such as Nikola Tesla’s transformer or some other high-voltage transformers. Another point of view for this experiment is a variety of subexperiment possibilities to choose from in the execution of this practical exercise. This article also brings some difficulties that both teachers and students experience while preparing or doing this experiment, such as lack of more profound quantum physics knowledge since the conventional approach in teaching this specific topic in high schools and universities focuses on an introductory course in the history of this topic-oriented towards early years of the 20th century.
Computed tomography protocols optimization using non-prewhitening model observer
Authors: Đedović E , Faj D , Bokulić T
Published: March 2021

The non-prewhitening model observer with eye filter (NPWE) allows assessing of performances of a whole imaging system, taking into account specific aspects of a considered clinical task and also the aspects of human visual system. The aim of this work is to determine the exposure parameters for computed tomography (CT) scan protocols so that they produce the satisfied performances of a human observer (HO). For each of the chosen scan protocols, the assessment of image quality parameters, based on the Fourier metric, as well as the volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) measurements, have been performed. The scan protocols using the smooth reconstruction kernel, for an object diameter of 3 mm, 7 mm and 10 mm, and a contrast level of 20 Hounsfield units (HU) and 40 HU, gave the values of the area under curve (AUC) greater than 0.75 for CTDIvol > 7.16 mGy. For a sharp kernel, all AUC values were smaller than 0.75 for all investigated scan protocols, object diameters and contrast levels. Through this work it was shown that the NPWE model-observer can be used as an effective and comprehensive optimization tool suitable for application in the various clinical tasks, considering also CTDIvol values.
Reducing mod 𝑝 complex representations of finite reductive groups
Authors: Lusztig G.
Published: March 2021

We state a conjecture on the reduction modulo the defining characteristic of a unipotent representation of a finite reductive group.
A note on the normal subgroup lattice of ultraproducts of finite quasisimple groups
Authors: Schneider Jakob , Thom Andreas
Published: March 2021

Abel Stolz and Andreas Thom [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc. 108 (2014), pp. 73–102] stated that the lattice of normal subgroups of an ultraproduct of finite simple groups is always linearly ordered. This is false in this form in most cases for classical groups of Lie type. We correct the statement in this case and point out a version of \enquote*relative bounded normal generation for classical quasisimple groups and its implications on the structure of the lattice of normal subgroups of an ultraproduct of such groups.
QuArray: an application for tissue array whole slide image export and signal analysis
Authors: Arthurs Callum , Ahmed Aamir
Published: March 2021

Motivation

Tissue array (TA) staining, combined with whole slide imaging (WSI) methods facilitate discovery of biomarkers for diagnosis, prognostication and disease stratification. A key impediment in TA WSI analysis is handling missing tissue and artefacts when identifying tissue cores before quantitative, standardized downstream analysis. There is a need for an open access, user friendly, integrated analysis of the WSI generated using TAs in clinical and scientific research laboratories.

Results

We have developed QuArray (Quantitative Array Application) for image export and signal analysis of TAs using WSI. The application input is a WSI and a corresponding TA configuration file. QuArray identifies and exports core images and analyses chromogen staining in a simple graphical user interface. Output data is saved to file for further analysis including indexed data.

Availabilityand implementation

Available for download from https://github.com/c-arthurs/QuArray under an MIT licence.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
An Automated Correction Algorithm (ALPACA) for ddPCR Data Using Adaptive Limit of Blank and Correction of False Positive Events Improves Specificity of Mutation Detection
Authors: Vessies Daan C L , Linders Theodora C , Lanfermeijer Mirthe , Ramkisoensing Kalpana L , van der Noort Vincent , Schouten Robert D , Meijer Gerrit A , van den Heuvel Michel M , Monkhorst Kim , van den Broek Daan
Published: March 2021

Background

Bio-Rad droplet-digital PCR is a highly sensitive method that can be used to detect tumor mutations in circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) of patients with cancer. Correct interpretation of ddPCR results is important for optimal sensitivity and specificity. Despite its widespread use, no standardized method to interpret ddPCR data is available, nor have technical artifacts affecting ddPCR results been widely studied.

Methods

False positive rates were determined for 6 ddPCR assays at variable amounts of input DNA, revealing polymerase induced false positive events (PIFs) and other false positives. An in silico correction algorithm, known as the adaptive LoB and PIFs: an automated correction algorithm (ALPACA), was developed to remove PIFs and apply an adaptive limit of blank (LoB) to individual samples. Performance of ALPACA was compared to a standard strategy (no PIF correction and static LoB = 3) using data from commercial reference DNA, healthy volunteer cfDNA, and cfDNA from a real-life cohort of 209 patients with stage IV nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumor and cfDNA had been molecularly profiled.

Results

Applying ALPACA reduced false positive results in healthy cfDNA compared to the standard strategy (specificity 98 vs 88%, P = 10−5) and stage IV NSCLC patient cfDNA (99 vs 93%, P = 10−11), while not affecting sensitivity in commercial reference DNA (70 vs 68% P = 0.77) or patient cfDNA (82 vs 88%, P = 0.13). Overall accuracy in patient samples was improved (98 vs 92%, P = 10−7).

Conclusions

Correction of PIFs and application of an adaptive LoB increases specificity without a loss of sensitivity in ddPCR, leading to a higher accuracy in a real-life cohort of patients with stage IV NSCLC.
Virtual Termination amid COVID-19: Strategies for School Social Work Interns and Field Instructors
Authors: Grumbach Giesela , Johnson Annette H , Engel Erik , Campos-Moreira Linda D
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the natural rhythm of the school year, affecting the way services are rendered. This shift has implications for the termination of services and the guidance of school social work interns through the termination process. This article provides lessons learned from the rapid transition from face-to-face practice to telemental health services in schools. The authors present strategies for supervising the termination process in a remote environment. In keeping with social work’s professional mandate, field instructors must guide interns on conducting termination services properly and engage interns in this reflective process. This article also addresses issues of equity and access for students and their families. Attention is given to the impact of termination on student clients, families, school social work interns, and field instructors. Telemental health demonstrates promise in supporting a model of practice that provides opportunities for innovation. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to continue this discourse for engaging in and developing best practices for telemental health services, termination of services, and supervision of social work interns in the school setting. The school social work profession must continue to augment policies related to the provision of telemental health services in school settings.
‘Free to act by your own lights’: Agency and Predestination in Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead Novels
Authors: Mouw Alex
Published: March 2021

This article explores Marilynne Robinson’s attempt to reconcile the doctrine of predestination with a commitment to human agency by reading her novels Gilead, Home, Lila, and Jack alongside their intertextual companion, John Calvin. I argue that, rather than attempting to penetrate the enigma of predestination and agency through theological treatises, Robinson embodies the tension between them in fiction. Rather than defining a solution to the problem, she meaningfully charts the lived experience of it. Indeed, in the Gilead novels the experience of agency is itself agency within a universe defined by God’s omnipotence. At the same time, characters’ freedom to act otherwise than habit or impulse would dictate depends on right perception. Robinson’s unique contribution to an American literary and theological legacy is to animate these tensions as only fiction can. Her novels offer a theological vista that cannot be separated from their fictional content, and so things that seem like tautologies grow profound through narration.
Trust in Spain?
Authors: Botello Hermosa Pedro Ignacio , Malumián Nicolás
Published: March 2021

Spain has no trust regulations at the national level. However, there are inheritance legal schemes with similar effects. Furthermore, certain autonomous regions of Spain could enact their own inheritance law regulations and provide legal institutions that are analogous to trusts. In this article, we review these institutions from both an academic and practical point of view.
Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation
Authors: Drwal Kariann R. , Wakefield Bonnie J. , Forman Daniel E. , Wu Wen-Chih , Haraldsson Bjarni , El Accaoui Ramzi N.
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

The conceptual utility of home-based cardiac rehabilitation (HBCR) is widely acknowledged. However, data substantiating its effectiveness and safety are limited. This study evaluated effectiveness and safety of the Veterans Affairs (VA) national HBCR program.

Methods:

Veterans completed a 12-wk HBCR program over 18 mo at 25 geographically dispersed VA hospitals. Pre- to post-changes were compared using paired t tests. Patient satisfaction and adverse events were also summarized descriptively.

Results:

Of the 923 Veterans with a mean age of 67.3 ± 10.6 yr enrolled in the HBCR program, 572 (62%) completed it. Findings included significant improvements in exercise capacity (6-min walk test distance: 355 vs 398 m; P < .05; Duke Activity Status Index: 27.1 vs 33.5; P < .05; self-reported steps/d: 3150 vs 4166; P < .05); depression measured by Patient Health Questionnaire (6.4 vs 4.9; P < .0001); cardiac self-efficacy (33.1 vs 39.2; P < .0001); body mass index (31.5 vs 31.1 kg/m2; P = .0001); and eating habits measured by Rate Your Plate, Heart (47.2 vs 51.1; P < .05). No safety issues were related to HBCR participation. Participants were highly satisfied.

Conclusions:

The VA HBCR program demonstrates strong evidence of effectiveness and safety to a wide range of patients, including those with high clinical complexity and risk. HBCR provides an adjunct to site-based programs and access to cardiac rehabilitation. Additional research is needed to assess long-term effects, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of the model.
Cross-species data integration to prioritize causal genes in lipid metabolism
Authors: Votava James A. , Parks Brian W.
Published: March 2021

Purpose of review

More than one hundred loci have been identified from human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for blood lipids. Despite the success of GWAS in identifying loci, subsequent prioritization of causal genes related to these loci remains a challenge. To address this challenge, recent work suggests that candidate causal genes within loci can be prioritized through cross-species integration using genome-wide data from the mouse.

Recent findings

Mouse model systems provide unparalleled access to primary tissues, like the liver, that are not readily available for human studies. Given the key role the liver plays in controlling blood lipid levels and the wealth of liver genome-wide transcript and protein data available in the mouse, these data can be leveraged. Using coexpression network analysis approaches with mouse genome-wide data, coupled with cross-species analysis of human lipid GWAS, causal genes within lipid loci can be prioritized. Prioritization through both mouse and human along with biochemical validation provide a systematic and valuable method to discover lipid metabolism genes.

The prioritization of causal lipid genes within GWAS loci is a challenging process requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Integration of data types across species, such as the mouse, can aid in causal gene prioritization.
Nasal vestibule and columella cancer: a therapeutic and reconstructive conundrum
Authors: Iyer Subramania , Akali Nisha R. , Rao N. Nageswara
Published: March 2021

Purpose of review

Nasal vestibular cancers are rare entities among the head and neck cancers. The treatment options are varied. Although surgical treatment plays an important role, postablative defects are difficult to reconstruct. This review aims to discuss the current views in the management of these cancers and issues related to the reconstruction of the complex surgical defects.

Recent findings

Nasal vestibular cancers are a distinct rare entity of head and neck cancers. These cancers are staged using the AJCC-TNM system for nonmelanoma cutaneous cancers of head and neck or the Wang classification. Early lesions are best treated by either surgery or radiation giving excellent cure rates. Advanced stages tumours need combined treatment with surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy. Primary radiation therapy can be offered by external beam or interstitial brachytherapy. Surgical treatment varies from endonasal resections, Mohs’ chemosurgery to open excisions.

Even though the Wang system of classification is used by majority of reports due its clinical utility, it has a drawback of not taking into account the tumour size as done by the AJCC system. Brachytherapy has been reported to be offering excellent cure rates with low morbidity in early tumours. Surgical treatment is also effective in early lesions, but its role is more established in advanced lesions. Reconstruction of the surgical defects is often a challenge, to preserve functional integrity and cosmesis. Various techniques, including skin grafts, local flaps, free flaps and prosthetics, form part of the reconstructive armamentarium.
COVID-19
Authors: Rolandi Stefano , Villa Giulia , D'Aloia Pasqualino , Gengo Valentina , Negro Alessandra , Manara Duilio Fiorenzo
Published: March 2021

Novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a new respiratory disease that has spread widely throughout the world. On February 20, 2020, the first Italian case of COVID-19 was reported. The infection rapidly spread across the country, and by August 11, 2020, a total of 250 566 official cases with 32 205 deaths (12.8%) were reported in Italy, counting a total of 96 884 positive cases and 16 833 deaths (17.3%) in the Lombardy region only. A huge demand to handle the COVID-19 outbreak challenged both the health care providers and the ordinary work in the hospital. From the beginning of the crisis, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, a 1318-bed tertiary care university hospital located in Lombardy, Northern Italy, has played a major role in supporting the national health care system for the treatment of COVID-19 cases, and a significant reorganization of the hospital was immediately required. The reorganization was carried out both structurally and with regard to the distribution of medical and nonmedical staff. This article aims to highlight the management strategies for the health care staff subsequent to the pandemic intense workload in San Raffaele Scientific Institute.
Experience of Comprehensive Three Dimensional Epicanthoplasty With Upper Blepharoplasty in Asian Patients
Authors: Aung Zin Mar , Yang Xianxian , Chen Xiaojun , Jun Mooi Wei , Zhang Yan , Han Dong , Chai Gang , Xu Haisong
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To introduce the experience of comprehensive 3-dimensional epicanthoplsty with upper blepharoplasty in Asian patients.

Methods

The patients who underwent comprehensive 3-dimensional epicanthoplsty with upper blepharoplasty at the Shanghai Ninth People's hospital from January 2018 to January 2019 were included in our study. The interepicanthal distance was evaluated preoperatively and 6 months after the surgery, scar visibility and patient's satisfaction were documented 6 months after the surgery.

Results

A total of 72 patients (144 eyelids) were included in this study with ages ranging from 18 to 37 years (mean, 23.83 ± 4.64 years) and follow-up duration ranging from 6 to 12 months (mean, 7.82 ± 1.92 months). All patients were female and achieved esthetically favorable results without serious complications. No patients required revision surgery showing high patient satisfaction (score, 4.4). The preoperative mean interepicanthal distance was 33.13 ± 2.25 mm and decreased to 29.28 ± 2.26 mm postoperatively showing statistical significance (P < 0.001). Twenty-nine (40.3%) patients had no visible scarring, and 42 (58.3%) patients had minimal scarring, which was accepted by the patients.

Conclusions

The comprehensive 3-dimensional epicanthoplasty with upper blepharoplasty is a surgical technique that is easy to perform, reliable, and effective in treatment of all types of epicanthal folds except type 4 with increase intercanthal distance, less visible scar, and high patient satisfaction in Asian patients.
Reduction Malarplasty With Subperiosteal Lift Via a Single Limited Temporal Incision
Authors: Gao Wei , Qiu Yajing , Zou Yun , Qiao Congzhen , Chang Lei , Jin Yunbo , Chen Hui , Lin Xiaoxi
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Different from Western culture, prominent zygoma and rectangular facial contour are deemed as unaesthetic and masculine in Asians. To achieve an ideal oval facial shape, reduction malarplasty is often performed.

Methods

Twenty-two eligible patients who underwent reduction malarplasty between November 2008 and December 2018 were reviewed. The reduction malarplasty involved repositioning of the osteotomized zygomatic arch and subperiosteal lift via a limited temporal incision. Photographs were collected both preoperatively and postoperatively. Complications and postoperative outcomes were evaluated.

Results

Twenty-two patients underwent reduction malarplasty with subperiosteal lift between November 2008 and December 2018. Their mean age was 35 ± 2.30 years. Prominent zygoma and facial contour were significantly improved after surgery. Patients demonstrated satisfaction with outcome (73.77 ± 6.83) and with facial appearance (75.00 ± 5.60). No cheek drooping and major complications were observed during the long-term follow-up.

Conclusions

Prominent zygoma treated with reduction malarplasty with subperiosteal lift via limited temporal incision has a stable and long-lasting effect. This approach can be regarded as a true alternative for facial contour reshaping.
Clinical course and outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients in two successive pandemic waves
Authors: Chalkias Athanasios , Pantazopoulos Ioannis , Papagiannakis Nikolaos , Skoulakis Anargyros , Laou Eleni , Kolonia Konstantina , Ntalarizou Nicoletta , Ragias Dimitrios , Kampolis Christos , García de Guadiana Romualdo Luis , Tourlakopoulos Konstantinos , Pagonis Athanasios , Hayek Salim S , Eugen-Olsen Jesper , Gourgoulianis Konstantinos , Arnaoutoglou Eleni
Published: March 2021

Rationale

The progress of COVID-19 from moderate to severe may be precipitous, while the heterogenous characteristics of the disease pose challenges to the management of these patients.

Objectives

To characterize the clinical course and outcomes of critically ill patients with COVID-19 during two successive waves.

Methods

We leveraged the multi-center SuPAR in Adult Patients With COVID-19 (SPARCOL) study and collected data from consecutive patients requiring admission to the intensive care unit from April 1st to December 31st, 2020.

Measurements and Main Results

Of 252 patients, 81 (32%) required intubation and mechanical ventilation. Of them, 17 (20.9%) were intubated during the first wave, while 64 (79%) during the second wave. The most prominent difference between the two waves was the overall survival (first wave 58.9% vs. second wave 15.6%, adjusted p-value=0.006). This difference is reflected in the prolonged hospitalization during the first wave. The mean ICU length of stay (19.1 vs. 11.7 days, p=0.022), hospital length of stay (28.5 vs. 17.1 days, p=0.012), and days on ventilator (16.7 vs. 11.5, p=0.13) were higher during the first wave. A significant difference between the two waves was the development of bradycardia. In the first wave, 2 (11.7%) patients developed sinus bradycardia only after admission to the intensive care unit, while in the second wave, 63 (98.4%) patients developed sinus bradycardia during hospitalization.

Conclusions

Survival of critically ill patients with COVID-19 was significantly lower during the second wave. The majority of these patients developed sinus bradycardia during hospitalization.
What matters for employees’ daily interpersonal behaviors?
Authors: Park In-Jo , Kim Peter B. , Hai Shenayang , Zhang Xiaomin
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of service employees’ agreeableness personality and daily self-esteem on their daily interpersonal behaviors in terms of interpersonal harmony and counterproductive work behavior toward other individuals (CWB-I). Furthermore, this study examines whether the impact of daily self-esteem on daily interpersonal behaviors is moderated by the quality of service employees’ relationship with their manager and leader–member exchange (LMX).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 111 restaurant employees in China who took daily surveys with 1,412 ratings for 10 consecutive days, a longitudinal analysis was conducted to test the research hypotheses using hierarchical linear modeling.

Findings

The results show that agreeableness personality predicted daily interpersonal harmony but had no significant effect on daily CWB-I. It was also found that daily self-esteem predicted both daily interpersonal harmony and daily CWB-I, and LMX moderated the effect of daily self-esteem on daily interpersonal behaviors.

Practical implications

Given the fluctuation of employees’ interpersonal behaviors, organizations should guide the variability of interpersonal behaviors in the positive direction. To promote daily interpersonal harmony and reduce daily CWB-I, managers could focus on recruiting employees with agreeableness, offering daily self-esteem training and enhancing the quality of LMX.

Originality/value

This research is unique in its objectives to examine what influences service employees’ interpersonal behaviors on a daily basis and its methods to implement a longitudinal approach unlike previous studies that often relied on cross-sectional designs to enhance the ecological validity of the findings.
COVID-19 and lack of socialization: does service innovation become an imperative for universities?
Authors: Easa Nasser Fathi , Bazzi Ayman Mahmoud
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the moderated mediation effect of the lack of students’ socialization (as one of the COVID-19 consequences) and the university reputation on the relationship between the service innovation and students satisfaction. The relationship between students satisfaction and their loyalty is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a quantitative research approach, whereas the study population consists of all universities’ students in Lebanon. Data were collected from 201 students, elected depending on snowballing sample technique. A questionnaire was used to gather data, whereby partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to check the proposed scales validity and the relationships between the study variables.

Findings

The findings reveal a significant direct effect for university’s service innovation on students satisfaction and an indirect effect through the mediation role for university reputation. Moreover, an evidence for weak negative significant effect for lack of socialization on students satisfaction exists. Whereby, lack of socialization does not moderate the relationship between university service innovation and students satisfaction. Finally, students satisfaction has a significant positive effect on their loyalty.

Originality/value

This paper advances the service innovation literature in the higher education sector. In addition, the paper might be the first paper to address the influence of lack of socialization as one of the COVID-19 consequences on students satisfaction. Furthermore, areas for future research are suggested.
A perspective of making India robot ready: case study on Sakrobotix lab pvt. ltd.
Authors: Mishra Siwalik , Bhattacharya Sonali
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify and understand key strategies relating to the staffing, employee experience and employer branding of an inventive startup in robotics training and consumer robotics manufacturing space, keeping in mind the constraints and challenges faced by the company right from the beginning to date.

Design/methodology/approach

A case-based method approach has been used. The Founder-Chief executive officer was interviewed multiple times. Interviews were transcribed for further analysis. Data was also sourced from the company website, news and digital media reports.

Findings

Human resource strategies used by the company in venturing out in this niche market were explored and linked to the concepts of staffing, employee experience and employer branding. This case can be used for teaching the human resource challenges of a growing start-up.

Practical implications

With the help of this case, readers may be able to appreciate the practice of critical concepts of staffing and employee experience in a growing startup.

Originality/value

The premise of a budding start-up in a niche industry, such as robotics training in educational institutions and manufacturing of small-scale consumer robotics, adds to the novelty of the case.
Insurance and economic growth in Ghana
Authors: Osei-Bonsu Andrews , Abotsi Anselm Komla , Carsamer Emmanuel
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The Ghanaian insurance industry has been transformed significantly from state-led to a market-driven one over the past decades. The empirical literature on the causal relationship between insurance and economic growth has been mixed, but little study on this has been done in Ghana. This study therefore empirically examines the effect of the growing insurance industry on the economic growth in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative research design was deployed in the study. The study used Johansen–Juselius cointegration test and vector error correction model. The study deployed quarterly data from the first quarter of 2006 to the second quarter of 2018 sourced from the World Bank (World Development Indicators), National Insurance Commission, Ghana Statistical Service and Bank of Ghana.

Findings

Findings revealed that there is a significant and positive short and long-run relationship between insurance and economic growth in Ghana, bidirectional causality between insurance and economic growth and also a long-run effect of innovations (shocks) in insurance on economic growth.

Research limitations/implications

One of the limitations of the study is the unavailability of quarterly data of some of the variables.

Practical implications

The study recommends the development and implementation of policies that promote an increase in coverage and access to insurance products to enhance economic growth.

Originality/value

The study finds a bidirectional causality running from insurance premium to economic growth and from economic growth to insurance which is consistent with the feedback hypothesis in the case of Ghana. Impulse response functions and the variance decompositions revealed that innovation (shock) in the insurance industry has a positive impact on economic growth.
Determinants of Islamic banking products and services adoption in Morocco: a conceptual framework
Authors: El Mallouli Amal , Sassi Hassan
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The Moroccan monetary authorities have implemented an Islamic banking system since 2017 as an alternative to the conventional system. However, the adoption of Islamic banking products and services is not widely accepted by customers. The purpose of this study is to propose a conceptual framework to understand the determinants of Islamic banking products and services adoption in Morocco.

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops a conceptual framework based on the diffusion of innovation theory (DOI). Thus, with reference to an extensive literature review done regarding adoption studies, the proposed research model integrates perceived attributes of innovation (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity and observability) suggested by the DOI theory. It also integrates other relevant variables that should be considered in the context of this study. These include knowledge, perceived risk and customer involvement.

Findings

The proposed conceptual framework demonstrates and justifies the relevance and the applicability of Rogers’ DOI to understand consumer decisions to adopt an innovation in general as well as Islamic banks in particular.

Originality/value

Several studies have examined the factors influencing the adoption of Islamic banks; however, those carried out in the Moroccan context remain very limited. The majority of these studies examine the intention to adopt in the future, whereas the present study seeks to establish a conceptual research model that examines the determinants of current adoption of Islamic banking in Morocco and the continuity of this adoption over time. The novelty of this study is to develop a modified model based on DOI theory which, according to the existing literature, has not yet been tested in the Moroccan context.
Germination and emergence of Astrodaucus orientalis (L.) Drude populations influenced by environmental factors and seed burial depth
Authors: Amini Rouhollah , Ebrahimi Atefeh , Dabbagh Mohammadi Nasab Adel
Published: March 2021

Astrodaucus orientalis is a weed species in cropping systems and rangelands in Iran. The effects of temperature, light, NaCl concentration, water potential, seed burial depth and crop residue cover were assessed on seed germination and seedling emergence of two populations of A. orientalis from Ardabil (Meshginshahr population) and East Azarbayjan (Tabriz population) provinces of Iran. The A. orientalis populations indicated different responses to environmental factors and burial depth. In the Tabriz population the greatest germination (88.5%) was observed in 20/12°C day/night temperature but in the Meshginshahr population (83.2%) it was obtained in 24/16°C day/night temperature. Over a broad range of light period (10–24 hr light) germination was 74–83%, but it decreased (less than 37%) under 24 hr dark in both A. orientalis populations. With respect to water potential, the C50 parameters were −0.62 and − 0.49 MPa for Tabriz and Meshginshahr populations, respectively. The D50 parameters (the burial depth that caused 50% decrease in emergence) for Tabriz and Meshginshahr populations were 2.42 and 3.13 cm, respectively. Generally, the results showed that emergence of both populations of A. orientalis was delayed as depth of burial increased up to 4 cm and in cropping systems a shallow tillage that locates the seeds to >4 cm of depth in soil could be used in order to suppress seedling emergence. Our findings also could be useful in integrated management of A. orientalis in winter annual crops and rangelands.
Alcohol policy and gender: a modelling study estimating gender‐specific effects of alcohol pricing policies
Authors: Meier Petra S. , Holmes John , Brennan Alan , Angus Colin
Published: March 2021

Aims

To describe gender differences in alcohol consumption, purchasing preferences and alcohol‐attributable harm. To model the effects of alcohol pricing policies on male and female consumption and hospitalizations.

Design

Epidemiological simulation using the Sheffield Alcohol Policy Model version 4.

Setting and Participants

Adults aged 18+ years, England.

Interventions

Three alcohol pricing policies: 10% duty increase and minimum unit prices (MUP) of £0.50 and £0.70 per UK unit.

Measures

Gender‐specific baseline and key outcomes data: annual beverage‐specific units of alcohol consumed and beverage‐specific alcohol expenditure (household surveys). Alcohol‐attributable hospital admissions (administrative data). Key model parameters: literature‐based own‐ and cross‐price elasticities for 10 beverage‐by‐location categories (e.g. off‐trade beer). Sensitivity analysis with new gender‐specific elasticities. Literature‐based risk functions linking consumption and harm, gender‐disaggregated where evidence was available. Population subgroups: 120 subgroups defined by gender (primary focus), age, deprivation quintile and baseline weekly consumption.

Findings

Women consumed 59.7% of their alcohol as off‐trade wine while men consumed 49.7% as beer. Women drinkers consumed fewer units annually than men (494 versus 895) and a smaller proportion of women were high‐risk drinkers (4.8 versus 7.2%). Moderate drinking women had lower hospital admission rates than men (44 versus 547 per 100 000), but rates were similar for high‐risk drinking women and men (14 294 versus 13 167 per 100 000). All three policies led to larger estimated reductions in consumption and admission rates among men than women. For example, a £0.50 MUP led to a 5.3% reduction in consumption and a 4.1% reduction in admissions for men but a 0.7% reduction in consumption and a 1.6% reduction in hospitalizations for women.

Conclusion

Alcohol consumption, purchasing preferences and harm show strong gender patterns among adult drinkers in England. Alcohol pricing policies are estimated to be more effective at reducing consumption and harm for men than women.
The Transition from Small to Large Farms in Developing Economies: A Welfare Analysis
Authors: Ma Meilin , Lin Jessie , Sexton Richard J.
Published: March 2021

Promoting smallholder production systems as a growth and poverty‐reduction strategy versus supporting an institutional framework that enables endogenous and voluntary consolidation of smallholder farms into larger operations is a central debate for economic development and food security in low‐ and middle‐income countries. We propose an integrated conceptual framework to compare the two alternative farming systems for producing a domestic staple commodity, focusing on key economic factors that differentiate them, including labor inefficiency of larger farms, credit constraints for smallholders, and differences in farm–retail price spreads. We derive equilibrium expressions for economic welfare for smallholder farmers and urban consumers under the two farming systems, and parameterize the model based on publicly available data and recent empirical literature. An extensive simulation analysis reveals several key results from transforming to a large‐farm equilibrium: (a) rural household welfare almost always declines; (b) total production of the staple almost always increases; (c) the sum of urban and rural household welfare almost always increases, often by substantial amounts; and (d) rural employment does not decrease, even with modest increases in capital intensity on large farms. Policies to promote farm consolidation, while protecting rural households from welfare losses, for example through income transfers, can achieve Pareto improvements for nearly all of the comparative equilibria studied.
Relationship of hemoglobin level and plasma coproporphyrin‐I concentrations as an endogenous probe for phenotyping OATP1B
Authors: Suzuki Yosuke , Sasamoto Yuri , Koyama Teruhide , Yoshijima Chisato , Oda Ayako , Nakatochi Masahiro , Kubo Michiaki , Momozawa Yukihide , Uehara Ritei , Ohno Keiko
Published: March 2021

Plasma coproporphyrin‐I (CP‐I) concentration is used as a sensitive and selective endogenous probe for phenotyping organic anion transporting polypeptides 1B (OATP1B) activity in many studies. CP‐I is produced in the process of heme synthesis, but the relationship between plasma CP‐I concentrations and heme synthesis activity is unknown. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between plasma CP‐I concentration and hemoglobin level as a biomarker of heme synthesis activity. The data of 391 subjects selected from the Japanese general population were analyzed. One hundred twenty‐six participants had OATP1B1*15 allele, 11 of whom were homozygous (OATP1B1*15/*15). Multiple regression analysis identified hemoglobin level as an independent variable associated with plasma CP‐I concentration (p < 0.0001). A significant positive correlation was observed between hemoglobin level and plasma CP‐I concentration in participants without OATP1B1*15 allele (n = 265; rs = 0.35, p < 0.0001) and with OATP1B1*15 allele (n = 126; rs =0.27, p = 0.0022). However, Kruskal–Wallis test showed no large difference in Kruskal–Wallis statistics between the distribution of plasma CP‐I concentrations and that of ratio of plasma CP‐I to hemoglobin among six OATP1B1 polymorphism groups. These findings suggest that the hemoglobin level seems to reflect biosynthesis of CP‐I. However, correction by hemoglobin level is not required when using basal plasma CP‐I concentration for phenotyping OATP1B activity.
The impact of COVID‐19 restrictions on accelerometer‐assessed physical activity and sleep in individuals with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Rowlands Alex V. , Henson Joseph J. , Coull Nicole A. , Edwardson Charlotte L. , Brady Emer , Hall Andrew , Khunti Kamlesh , Davies Melanie , Yates Tom
Published: March 2021

Aims

Restrictions during the COVID‐19 crisis will have impacted on opportunities to be active. We aimed to (a) quantify the impact of COVID‐19 restrictions on accelerometer‐assessed physical activity and sleep in people with type 2 diabetes and (b) identify predictors of physical activity during COVID‐19 restrictions.

Methods

Participants were from the UK Chronotype of Patients with type 2 diabetes and Effect on Glycaemic Control (CODEC) observational study. Participants wore an accelerometer on their wrist for 8 days before and during COVID‐19 restrictions. Accelerometer outcomes included the following: overall physical activity, moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA), time spent inactive, days/week with ≥30‐minute continuous MVPA and sleep. Predictors of change in physical activity taken pre‐COVID included the following: age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), socio‐economic status and medical history.

Results

In all, 165 participants (age (mean±S.D = 64.2 ± 8.3 years, BMI=31.4 ± 5.4 kg/m2, 45% women) were included. During restrictions, overall physical activity was lower by 1.7 mg (~800 steps/day) and inactive time 21.9 minutes/day higher, but time in MVPA and sleep did not statistically significantly change. In contrast, the percentage of people with ≥1 day/week with ≥30‐minute continuous MVPA was higher (34% cf. 24%). Consistent predictors of lower physical activity and/or higher inactive time were higher BMI and/or being a woman. Being older and/or from ethnic minorities groups was associated with higher inactive time.

Conclusions

Overall physical activity, but not MVPA, was lower in adults with type 2 diabetes during COVID‐19 restrictions. Women and individuals who were heavier, older, inactive and/or from ethnic minority groups were most at risk of lower physical activity during restrictions.
On the performance of monopile weldments under service loading conditions and fatigue damage prediction
Authors: Biswal Romali , Al Mamun Abdullah , Mehmanparast Ali
Published: March 2021

Thick weldments used in offshore structures frequently act as fatigue crack initiation sites due to stress concentration at weld toe as well as weld residual stress fields. This paper investigates the cyclic deformation behavior of S355 G10+M steel, which is predominantly used in offshore wind applications. Owing to the vast size difference of monopile structure and weld cross‐section, a global–local finite element (FE) method was used, and the weld geometry was adopted from circumferential weld joints used in offshore wind turbine monopile foundations. Realistic service loads collected using supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and wave buoy techniques were used in the FE model. A nonlinear isotropic–kinematic hardening model was calibrated using the strain controlled cyclic deformation results obtained from base metal (BM) as well as cross‐weld specimen tests. The tests revealed that the S355 G10+M BM and weld metal (WM) undergo continuous cyclic stress relaxation. Fatigue damage over a period of 20 years of operation was predicted using the local stress at the root of the weldments as the life limiting criterion. This study helps in quantifying the level of conservatism in the current monopile design approaches and has implications towards making wind energy more economic.