bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Growth and characterization of third-order nonlinear optical lithium hydrogen maleate dihydrate single-crystal
Authors: Karuna S. , Balu A. R. , Shyamala D. , Nagarethinam V. S. , Delci Z.
Published: December 2018

A third-order nonlinear optical crystal of lithium hydrogen maleate dihydrate (LHMD) is grown by the process of slow evaporation at room-temperature. The LHMD crystal system is orthorhombic and is a member of P space group. Using FTIR spectral investigation, the presence of main functional groups in LHMD crystal is identified. The optical behavior of the crystal is determined by UV-Visible spectroscopy. The bandgap energy of the LHMD crystal is calculated to be 3.4 eV. By Vickers microhardness measurements, the mechanical behavior has been assessed. The melting point of LHMD is determined by TG-DTA analysis. The defects present in the LHMD crystal are studied by dielectric loss and dielectric constant. SHG studies are performed for the LHMD crystal by Kurtz and Perry method. The third-order nonlinear characteristics of the LHMD crystal are analyzed by Z-scan technique. The laser damage threshold (LDT) study is carried out to verify the suitability of the crystal for laser applications.
Residual stress in underlying silicon at the fixed end of SiO2 microcantilevers — A micro-Raman study
Authors: Prabakar K. , Raghuramaiah M. , Balasubramanian S. , Midhya Sagnik , Avinash P. , Sundari S. Tripura
Published: December 2018

In this work, nature of the residual stress developed in the convex corners created in underlying Si at the fixed end of SiO2 microantilevers (MCs) fabricated by wet chemical etching method was investigated using micro-Raman spectroscopy with visible excitation. It revealed the presence of tensile stress near the sharp edge of the convex corner and is attributed to the localized stress generated in the neighborhood of the discontinuities, acting as stress concentration region. Residual stress estimated by micro-Raman technique across the convex corner was also validated by FEM simulations. Micro-Raman also revealed the presence of tensile stress on the etched Si surface, which is explained on the basis of stress induced by native oxide shells covering the etched features.
G20 Governance for an Inclusive Liberal Order
Authors: Kirton John
Published: December 2018

The Group of Twenty (G20) was created first at the ministerial level and later upgraded to the summit level as a response to the global financial crises that first erupted from Asia in 1997, and then from the US in 2008 and Europe in 2010. These crises called into question the core principles and practices of the liberal order based on the economic, social and political openness that had been progressively internationally institutionalized since 1944. The G20 was designed with a dual distinctive foundational mission to promote financial stability and to make globalization work for all. It combined all established and emerging economies with high capability and connectivity, to operate as equals, to protect all within their borders and those beyond. It increasingly did so since its first summit in 2008. Its performance spiked at the summit in Hangzhou, China, on 3–4 September, 2016, and again at Hamburg, Germany, on 7–8 July, 2017. The latter coped with the new populist, protectionist US president and UK prime minister, whose countries had hosted the first three summits. G20-supported initiatives and agreements for full free trade have advanced since the first summit in 2008. No other center of global summit governance has emerged to guide an increasingly globalized world. The G20 has also steadily become an effective governor of global security. As the forces that propelled this rise will intensify, the Argentinian-hosted G20 summit on 30 November–1 December, 2018, promises to proceed along this path. It is guided by a country again afflicted by a financial crisis but now dedicated to following the core liberal order and making it work better for all. The real test will arrive in 2019, when Japan as host must co-operate with Korea and China, its neighbouring Asian powers and previous G20 hosts, to provide a new center of inclusive, progressive, liberal global governance that the world badly needs.
Model-based Construction and Verification of Cyber-Physical Systems
Authors: Bu Lei , Zhang Tian , Chen Xin , Wang Linzhang , Zhao Jianhua , Li Xuandong
Published: December 2018

By combining communication, computation, and control (3C), Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)0tightly couple the physical world with the cyber-world, to enable more applications, enhance performance, increase dependability and etc. Among these goals, as CPS are widely used in the safety-critical area, guaranteeing the basic dependability/safety is after all the prerequisite and often the top concern.

However, the behavior of CPS is extremely complex. First of all, due to the existence of both discrete control modes transition and continuous real-time behavior in CPS, the behavior of CPS is a complex hybrid state space, which is difficult to understand and handle. Secondly, most CPS applications are working in the open environment and acquiring real-time data from the environment intensively to adjust their own behavior. The dynamic environment makes the behavior space more complex to reason.

When a system is too complex to analyze directly, building an abstract model of the system and then conducting analysis on the model to answer questions about the original system is an important and widely-used method. Meanwhile, a reasonable model also plays important roles in the phase of specification, design, development, testing, monitoring and so on. Therefore, it is an important topic of investigating how model-based methods can be applied in the context of CPS to increase the quality and dependability of the system.

During the past decade, our research group at Nanjing University has devoted a lot of efforts into this mission. We conducted comprehensive research in a wide spectrum of CPS including model-driven design, verification, control, monitoring, and testing. In this paper, we will make a general review of the progress we made on these directions recently.
Teaching the Design-by-Contract Concept in a Software Engineering Course Using RESOLVE
Authors: Kraemer Eileen
Published: December 2018

Design by contract (DBC) is a key concept in software engineering. The RESOLVE language and environment support the teaching and learning of DBC concepts. However, students encounter obstacles in fully achieving the desired educational outcomes. Some of these obstacles are related to the complexity of the content. Additional appropriate exercises can help to address these obstacles. Other obstacles are related to features of the environment and documentation. We propose a variety of interventions to address these obstacles, including potential revisions to the environment, updates to the documentation, and the creation of additional instructional materials.
Reasoning About Concurrency
Authors: Kraemer Eileen , Lawson Aubrey
Published: December 2018

In computing, concurrency refers to the notion that different parts or units of a program or algorithm may be executed out-of-order or in partial order, without affecting the final outcome. Concurrency is historically a difficult topic for students. When confronted with non-deterministic systems, students are challenged to refine their reasoning about sequence, state, and what makes a program "correct". A number of problems in concurrency have been posed in the form of relatable examples, e.g. dining philosophers, an ornamental garden, a single lane bridge. These classical problems provide a "real-world" analogy that can be used to motivate student engagement and exploration. We explore the questions of whether the RESOLVE framework could support the concepts and operations needed to implement these classical problems, what additional features in RESOLVE would be required for specification and implementation and what related student activities might be developed.
An Exercise in Design
Authors: Asim Saad F.
Published: December 2018

The Binary Decision Diagram (BDD), a data structure used to efficiently represent Boolean formulas, enjoys use in the field of software verification. However, widely used implementations of the BDD are not themselves verifiable. This paper summarizes the design and implementation of a provably correct realization of the BDD as detailed in the author's master's thesis.
Common Tangents of Two Disjoint Polygons in Linear Time and Constant Workspace
Authors: Abrahamsen Mikkel , Walczak Bartosz
Published: December 2018

We provide a remarkably simple algorithm to compute all (at most four) common tangents of two disjoint simple polygons. Given each polygon as a read-only array of its corners in cyclic order, the algorithm runs in linear time and constant workspace and is the first to achieve the two complexity bounds simultaneously. The set of common tangents provides basic information about the convex hulls of the polygons—whether they are nested, overlapping, or disjoint—and our algorithm thus also decides this relationship.
Early myocardial changes induced by doxorubicin in the nonfailing dilated ventricle
Authors: Rodrigues Patricia G. , Miranda-Silva Daniela , Costa Sofia M. , Barros Carla , Hamdani Nazha , Moura Cláudia , Mendes Maria J. , Sousa-Mendes Cláudia , Trindade Fábio , Fontoura Dulce , Vitorino Rui , Linke Wolfgang A. , Leite-Moreira Adelino F. , Falcão-Pires Inês
Published: December 2018

Several studies have demonstrated that administration of doxorubicin (DOXO) results in cardiotoxicity, which eventually progresses to dilated cardiomyopathy. The present work aimed to evaluate the early myocardial changes of DOXO-induced cardiotoxicity. Male New Zealand White rabbits were injected intravenously with DOXO twice weekly for 8 wk [DOXO-induced heart failure (DOXO-HF)] or with an equivolumetric dose of saline (control). Echocardiographic evaluation was performed, and myocardial samples were collected to evaluate myocardial cellular and molecular modifications. The DOXO-HF group presented cardiac hypertrophy and higher left ventricular cavity diameters, showing a dilated phenotype but preserved ejection fraction. Concerning cardiomyocyte function, the DOXO-HF group presented a trend toward increased active tension without significant differences in passive tension. The myocardial GSSG-to-GSH ratio and interstitial fibrosis were increased and Bax-to- Bcl-2 ratio presented a trend toward an increase, suggesting the activation of apoptosis signaling pathways. The macromolecule titin shifted toward the more compliant isoform (N2BA), whereas the stiffer one (N2B) was shown to be hypophosphorylated. Differential protein analysis from the aggregate-enriched fraction through gel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed an increase in the histidine-rich glycoprotein fragment in DOXO-HF animals. This work describes novel and early myocardial effects of DOXO-induced cardiotoxicity. Thus, tracking these changes appears to be of extreme relevance for the early detection of cardiac damage (as soon as ventricular dilation becomes evident) before irreversible cardiac function deterioration occurs (reduced ejection fraction). Moreover, it allows for the adjustment of the therapeutic approach and thus the prevention of cardiomyopathy progression.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Identification of early myocardial effects of doxorubicin in the heart is essential to hinder the development of cardiac complications and adjust the therapeutic approach. This study describes doxorubicin-induced cellular and molecular modifications before the onset of dilated cardiomyopathy. Myocardial samples from doxorubicin-treated rabbits showed a tendency for higher cardiomyocyte active tension, titin isoform shift from N2B to N2BA, hypophosphorylation of N2B, increased apoptotic genes, left ventricular interstitial fibrosis, and increased aggregation of histidine-rich glycoprotein.
Anagrelide for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor
Authors: Pulkka Olli-Pekka , Gebreyohannes Yemarshet K. , Wozniak Agnieszka , Mpindi John-Patrick , Tynninen Olli , Icay Katherine , Cervera Alejandra , Keskitalo Salla , Murumägi Astrid , Kulesskiy Evgeny , Laaksonen Maria , Wennerberg Krister , Varjosalo Markku , Laakkonen Pirjo , Lehtonen Rainer , Hautaniemi Sampsa , Kallioniemi Olli , Schöffski Patrick , Sihto Harri , Joensuu Heikki
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a common type of soft-tissue sarcoma. Imatinib, an inhibitor of KIT, platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), and a few other tyrosine kinases, is highly effective for GIST, but advanced GISTs frequently progress on imatinib and other approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We investigated phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) as a potential therapeutic target in GIST cell lines and xenograft models.

Experimental Design:

The GIST gene expression profile was interrogated in the MediSapiens IST Online transcriptome database comprising human tissue and cancer samples, and PDE3A and PDE3B expression was studied using IHC on tissue microarrays (TMA) consisting of 630 formalin-fixed human tissue samples. GIST cell lines were screened for sensitivity to 217 anticancer compounds, and the efficacy of PDE inhibitors on GIST was further studied in GIST cell lines and patient-derived mouse xenograft models.

Results:

GISTs expressed PDE3A and PDE3B frequently compared with other human normal or cancerous tissues both in the in silico database and the TMAs. Anagrelide was identified as the most potent of the PDE3 modulators evaluated. It reduced cell viability, promoted cell death, and influenced cell signaling in GIST cell lines. Anagrelide inhibited tumor growth in GIST xenograft mouse models. Anagrelide was also effective in a GIST xenograft mouse model with KIT exon 9 mutation that may pose a therapeutic challenge, as these GISTs require a high daily dose of imatinib.

Conclusions:

PDE3A and PDE3B are frequently expressed in GIST. Anagrelide had anticancer efficacy in GIST xenograft models and warrants further testing in clinical trials.
Proteinuria, Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and Urinary Retinol-Binding Protein as Clinical Predictors of Long-Term Allograft Outcomes in Transplant Glomerulopathy
Authors: Li Xue , Chen Jinsong , Cheng Dongrui , Wang Rong , Wang Wei , Zhang Mingchao , Xu Feng , Wen Jiqiu , Tang Zheng
Published: December 2018

Background/Aims: We aimed to explore the associations between clinical parameters and long-term allograft outcomes in transplant glomerulopathy (TG) in a large retrospective cohort with long follow-up. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data at biopsy from 180 cases of TG with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)> 15ml/min/1.73m2 from January 2004 to December 2016 at our center were retrospectively analyzed. The main outcome of this study was initiation of replacement therapy or an eGFR declined to < 15 ml/min/1.73m2. Results: During a median follow-up of 5 years (interquartile range 2.6-8.2 years), 117 cases (65.0%) achieved the combined event. Kaplan-Meier method yielded the 1-year and 5-year cumulative renal allograft survival rates after a histopathologic diagnosis of TG were 84% (95% confidence interval [CI] 81-87%) and 33% (95% CI 27–39%) respectively. In univariate analysis, allograft outcome differed significantly by eGFR, proteinuria, blood hemoglobin level, urinary retinol-binding protein (urRBP) and urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (urNAG) level at the time of biopsy. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that a higher level of eGFR was the most powerful predictor of allograft survival. Compared with those with eGFR≥60, the hazard ratio (HR) increased from 4.50 (95% CI: 1.03-19.71, p=0.0462) for patients with eGFR between 30 and 59 ml/min/1.73m2 to 9.14 (95% CI 1.97-42.45, P=0.0047) when eGFR decreased to 15 to 29 ml/min/1.73m2. Additionally, proteinuria and higher urRBP values (≥2.85mg/dl) were found to confer much worse survival rates for TG patients in multivariate Cox analysis. Male sex (HR 0.48, P=0.02) and HCV infection (HR 1.78, P=0.0499) were also found to be independent risk factors for worse allograft survival. Conclusion: Five clinical features—impaired renal function, higher proteinuria, higher urRBP level, male sex and HCV infection—are independent predictors of an unfavorable renal allograft outcome. urRBP is a simple and useful parameter that can add invaluable information for the clinical follow-up of patients with TG.
Generations and Protest in Eastern Germany: Between Revolution and Apathy
Authors: Joly Philippe
Published: December 2018

How is the protest behavior of citizens in new democracies influenced by their experience of the past? Certain theories of political socialization hold that cohorts reaching political maturity under dictatorship are subject to apathy. Yet, it remains unclear whether mobilization during the transition can counterbalance this effect. This article examines the protest behavior of citizens socialized in Eastern Germany, a region marked by two legacies: a legacy of autocracy and, following the 1989-90 revolution, a legacy of transitional mobilization. Using age-period-cohort models with data from the European Social Survey, the analysis assesses the evolution of gaps in protest across generations and time between East and West Germans. The results demonstrate that participation in demonstrations, petitions, and boycotts is lower for East Germans socialized under communism in comparison with West Germans from the same cohorts. This participation deficit remains stable over time and even increases for certain protest activities.
Elitist, Populist or Prophetic?A Critique of Public Theologizing in Democratic South Africa
Authors: Urbaniak Jakub
Published: December 2018

Much has been already written about public theology’s prophetic role in democratic South Africa. This study seeks to offer a reality check. By probing some of Nico Koopman’s views on justice and reconciliation I draw tentative conclusions regarding the shortcomings characteristic of the prevalent discourses that have developed in South Africa under the umbrella of public theology since the mid-1990s. I seek to explain why liberation theologies—be it black, feminist or queer—may and should constructively disrupt these discourses. I also point to some promising (prophetically-loaded) insights coming from the chosen public theologians that revolve around the tension between civic spirit and public anger. Lastly, I suggest that one essential aspect of public theologians’ navigating between a populist temptation and a prophetic calling may be found in the need to rethink their theological accountability whereby grooving with people’s anger appears as a sine qua non condition for prophetic theologizing.
A new genus and species of Solenoceridae (Crustacea, Decapoda, Dendrobranchiata) from the Cretaceous (Aptian/Albian) of the Araripe Sedimentary Basin, Brazil
Authors: ALENCAR DAMARES RIBEIRO , PINHEIRO ALLYSSON PONTES , SARAIVA ANTÔNIO ÁLAMO FEITOSA , DE OLIVEIRA GUSTAVO RIBEIRO , SANTANA WILLIAM
Published: December 2018

The first fossil Solenoceridae found from the Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) is described in the Araripe Sedimentary basin, Priorhyncha feitosai n. gen. n. sp. The material was collected in the strata of the Romualdo Formation, municipality of Trindade, Pernambuco. Characters that permit placement of the new species in Solenoceridae are: a short, dorsally serrated rostrum; a marked cervical groove; and the presence of an antennal spine. Those characters are also diagnostic for Priorhyncha feitosai n. gen. n. sp. when compared to the other Dendrobranchiata shrimp described from this basin.
Dual-Polarized Radar Coverage in Terminal Airspaces and Its Effect on Interpretation of Winter Weather Signatures: Current Capabilities and Future Recommendations
Authors: Reeves Heather Dawn , Waters Jacqueline
Published: December 2018

This is a feasibility study on the use of dual-polarized radars to infer icing in terminal airspaces (TASs) of commercial airports. The amount and quality of radar coverage in each TAS is quantified as a function of its location, traffic, and vulnerability to icing. No airport has 100% of the TAS covered, but most high-traffic or high-icing airports have comparatively good coverage (between 70% and 90%). A common occurrence during icing is anomalous propagation as 79% of events had an inversion within the TAS. This leads to overestimates in the elevations of icing layers and can cause significant ground-clutter contamination, which can overwhelm the echo produced by precipitation. The effects of beam broadening were also considered. Typical dendrite growth and melting layers can only be resolved in part of the TAS part of the time, or not at all, as these layers are often shallower than the radar beam. Because most airports have coverage from multiple radars, use of a three-dimensional mosaic was investigated. This allows for an increase in the TAS coverage (generally between 5% and 15%) and partly mitigates some of the resolution issues, but the maxima within individual layers are somewhat reduced in the interpolation process. A series of recommendations is made to address the concerns raised by this investigation. These include using only icing tops (not bottoms) to identify areas of icing, use of data mining to retrieve precipitation echo in the presence of ground clutter, and including the beamwidth in radar mosaics.
The Circulation Response to Volcanic Eruptions: The Key Roles of Stratospheric Warming and Eddy Interactions
Authors: DallaSanta Kevin , Gerber Edwin P. , Toohey Matthew
Published: December 2018

Proxy data and observations suggest that large tropical volcanic eruptions induce a poleward shift of the North Atlantic jet stream in boreal winter. However, there is far from universal agreement in models on this effect and its mechanism, and the possibilities of a corresponding jet shift in the Southern Hemisphere or the summer season have received little attention. Using a hierarchy of simplified atmospheric models, this study examines the impact of stratospheric aerosol on the extratropical circulation over the annual cycle. In particular, the models allow the separation of the dominant shortwave (surface cooling) and longwave (stratospheric warming) impacts of volcanic aerosol. It is found that stratospheric warming shifts the jet poleward in both the summer and winter hemispheres. The experiments cannot definitively rule out the role of surface cooling, but they provide no evidence that it shifts the jet poleward. Further study with simplified models demonstrates that the response to stratospheric warming is remarkably generic and does not depend critically on the boundary conditions (e.g., the planetary wave forcing) or the atmospheric physics (e.g., the treatment of radiative transfer and moist processes). It does, however, fundamentally involve both zonal-mean and eddy circulation feedbacks. The time scales, seasonality, and structure of the response provide further insight into the mechanism, as well as its connection to modes of intrinsic natural variability. These findings have implications for the interpretation of comprehensive model studies and for postvolcanic prediction.
Dalit Question and Communalism in Uttar Pradesh in the 2000s
Authors: Pai Sudha
Published: December 2018

After widespread violent riots following the Ram Janma Bhoomi Babri Masjid (RJBBM) Movement and the destruction of the Babri Masjid in December 1992, there were no major riots in Uttar Pradesh (UP) in the second half of the 1990s. Political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), attempted to use the Ram Mandir issue during elections in the late 1990s but did not get a response. However, during the 2000s, the state witnessed a new ‘saffron wave’. Riots took place in the eastern districts of Mau in 2005, Gorakhpur in 2007 and there was a spurt of communal tension in some western districts from 2011 leading to violent riots in Muzaffarnagar and surrounding districts in September 2013. Based on a study of the communal riots mentioned earlier (Pai & Kumar, 2018, Everyday Communalism: Riots in Contemporary Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi: Oxford University Press), it is argued that during the 2000s, UP experienced a post-Ayodhya phase of communalism, markedly different from the earlier phase during the RJBBM period. Our study points to a clear shift in the theory and praxis of Hindutva and thereby, from older forms of communalism to newer ones, more suited to the contemporary socio-economic and political context. The riots enabled the BJP to create deep-seated communal polarisation, consolidate the Hindu vote and win elections, at the centre and later in UP. In this article, the focus is on one significant aspect of the riots in eastern and western UP, which differentiates it from earlier riots––the Dalit Question, its relationship to communalism and the part played by dalits. Election studies and data suggest that some sections of the dalits––who do not form a homogeneous group––supported the BJP during the 2014 and 2017 elections in UP simultaneously a section were co-opted into the ambit of the larger identity of Hindu. The BJP leadership reworked their ideology and strategies of Hindutva to mobilise dalits in order to gain their support and win power. Yet, paradoxically from 2015, and more stridently in 2018, we find large sections of dalits opposing the BJP.
Revolutionary Love and Alter-globalisation: Towards a New Development Ethic
Authors: York Matt
Published: December 2018

Neoliberal globalisation has increased inequalities, injustices, and violations of freedoms on an unprecedented scale, whilst creating a fertile environment for the rise of far-right xenophobic nationalism and authoritarianism. In parallel, the emergence of the alter-globalisation movement has responded with a growing popular resistance to neoliberal policy and practice. The experience of social movements over the last century confirms the pressing need for a framework of unity within this current movement wave which avoids the dominations and hierarchies of previous structures, maintains its constituent diversity and yet allows for the construction of a cohesive collective identity.

This article positions love as a key concept in political theory/philosophy and for performing a central role in the revolutionary transformation of contemporary global capitalism, exploring how new love-based political subjectivities, practices, and group formations might emerge via a more than human material-psychosocio-affective commons, with opportunities for a reimagining of the frame within which an alter-globalisation might occur.
Following the Fukushima Disaster on (and against) Wikipedia: A Methodological Note about STS Research and Online Platforms
Authors: Moats David
Published: December 2018

Science and technology studies is famous for questioning conceptual and material boundaries by following controversies that cut across them. However, it has recently been argued that in research involving online platforms (Wikipedia, Facebook, Twitter, etc.), there are also more practical boundaries to negotiate that are created by the variable availability, visibility, and structuring of data. In this paper, I highlight a potential tension between our inclination toward following controversies and “following the medium” and suggest that sometimes following controversies might involve going “against platforms” as well as with them. I will illustrate this dilemma through an analysis of the controversy over the coverage of the Fukushima disaster on English language Wikipedia, which concerns boundaries between expert and lay knowledge but also the social and technical functioning of Wikipedia itself. For this reason, I show that following the controversy might mean making use of less formatted and less obvious data than Wikipedia normally provides. While this is not an argument against the use of automated digital research tools such as scrapers, I suggest that both quantitative and qualitative researchers need to be more willing to tweak their approaches based on the specificities of the case.
Case report: Tenesmus and the role of superior hypogastric plexus blocks
Authors: Liu Weiyang Christopher , Flamer David
Published: December 2018

Background:

Tenesmus is the unpleasant sensation of incomplete emptying of the rectum and it may be a distressing symptom for patients who suffer from rectal masses. Unlike nociceptive pain or visceral pain, little is understood about the pathway for this pain phenotype. There are also few studies examining the palliative treatment of this symptom.

Case Presentation:

In this case report, we describe a patient who presented with severe and refractory tenesmus secondary to a metastatic rectal lesion.

Case Management:

To address the patient’s refractory tenesmus, a superior hypogastric plexus neurolytic block was performed with alcohol under fluoroscopic guidance.

Case Outcome:

Immediately after the procedure, the patient reported complete abolishment of her tenesmus symptom. This effect endured for 3 months after which the patient.

Conclusion:

Superior hypogastric plexus block may be an effective procedure for the management of tenesmus. The successful abolishment of tenesmus following the block alludes that the nerve fibers carrying sensation of tenesmus either synapses or passes through the superior hypogastric plexus. Future studies should consider examining the neural pathway of tenesmus.
Are Multinational Retailers Really Selling at Lower Prices Than Domestic Chains? Evidence from Three Sectors
Authors: Caraballo-Cueto José
Published: December 2018

Currently, there is no systematic evidence showing that, 15 years or more after entry, all multinational retailers provide lower prices than domestic buying groups. In the short term, some multinational retailers may lower prices to deter local competitors and attract consumers in a ‘loss leader’ strategy. However, domestic competitors can integrate buying groups to share the benefit of economies of scale with multinational retailers, while holding lower profitability requirements and overhead costs than multinational retailers. We compared multinational retailers to domestic buying groups in a jurisdiction that had one of the highest proportions of Walgreens and Walmart stores in the world. Despite their market power, in our representative samples of goods, there is no evidence that the prices of multinational retailers in the sectors of pharmacies, supermarkets and hardware stores are lower than domestic chains.

JEL Codes: M3, R1, L8, F2
Pharmacists’ Perspectives on Practice, Availability, and Barriers Related to Opioids in Georgia
Authors: Lal Ashima , Bai Jinbing , Basri Danny , Yeager Katherine A.
Published: December 2018

Objectives:

To explore pharmacists’ perspectives on practice, availability, and barriers related to opioids.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study evaluated pharmacists’ perspectives on practice, availability, and barriers related to opioids. Electronic surveys were distributed to pharmacists practicing in Georgia via Survey Monkey. The χ2 or Fisher Exact test was used to test differences in practice, availability, and barriers with respect to type of pharmacy and location of pharmacy.

Results:

Most participating pharmacists practiced in an independent (47%) or community chain pharmacies (37%). The majority checked the Prescription Drug-Monitoring Program (PDMP) on a regular basis (73%), and about a third reported contacting the prescriber prior to dispensing. The most common barrier included concerns about diversion (82%) and illicit use (90%). About two-thirds reported experiencing a shortage of opioids. Significant differences ( P < .05) were found between types of pharmacy in dispensing practices, availability, and barriers. No significant differences were found with respect to pharmacy location.

Conclusion:

Findings suggest that pharmacists are facing challenges in availability of opioids and are employing stewardship approaches to optimize dispensing practices. This research provides insight regarding broken links in the “pain relief chain” and identifies opportunities to improve the accessibility of opioids when medically indicated. Pharmacists can play an important role in addressing the opioid crisis as well as providing quality care to patients with cancer seeking pain relief.
Correlation Between the Sites of Onset of Basal Cell Carcinoma and the Embryonic Fusion Planes in the Auricle
Authors: Nicoletti Giovanni , Tresoldi Marco Mario , Malovini Alberto , Prigent Sebastien , Agozzino Manuela , Faga Angela
Published: December 2018

Objectives:

This study aims at the identification of the distribution of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) in the auricle in correlation with the currently most credited sites of the embryonic fusion planes of the auricle.

Methods:

An overall number of 69 patients with 72 BCCs of the auricle were enrolled in the study over a period of 14 years, from June 2003 to October 2017. All the cases underwent medical preoperative digital photography and the specific location of each BCC was coded on an original full-size anatomical diagram of the auricle derived from the reports by Streeter, Wood-Jones, Park, Porter, and Minoux showing the currently most credited sites of the embryonic fusion planes arbitrarily featured as two 5-mm-wide ribbon-like areas: (1) the hyoid-mandibular fusion plane (HM-FP) running from the upper margin of the tragus toward the concha and then deflecting toward the lower margin of the tragus and (2) the free ear fold-hyoid fusion plane (FEFH-FP) running from the cranial-most portion of the helix to the mid-portion of the ascending helix. The latter fusion planes were comprehensively termed embryological fusion planes (EFP) while all of the remaining surface of the auricle was comprehensively termed non-fusion area (NFA). The surfaces of all of the latter areas were calculated using the ImageJ software.

Results:

According to our data, the greatest number of BCCs was observed within the currently most credited sites of the embryonic fusion planes of the auricle. The latter sites displayed a 12-fold increased tumor incidence in comparison with the remaining surface of the ear.

Conclusions:

A correspondence between the sites of onset of BCCs and the sites of merging and/or fusion of embryonal processes was demonstrated in the auricle. Therefore, the latter sites might be considered as high-risk areas for the development of a BCC. Such an evidence provides further support to the hypothesis of an embryological pathogenesis of BCC.
Taking a stand: The embodied, enacted and emplaced work of relational critique
Authors: Bell Emma , de Gama Nadia
Published: December 2018

We reflect here on our experience as critical scholars in an academic organization when confronted with an expectation that we remain value-neutral about a political act which we, and many others, found reprehensible. Our experience relates to the Academy of Management response to the travel ban implemented by President Trump in January 2017 which denied US entry to citizens from seven Muslim majority countries. By exploring how the concept of ‘taking a stand’ was used by the Academy of Management leadership to try to silence politics, and the response that this generated within the critical management studies community, we draw attention to the impossibility of separating management scholarship from questions of ethics and politics. We highlight the gendered nature of struggles to be critical in uncritical spaces and draw attention to the importance of embodied, enacted and emplaced work as the basis for developing relational practices of critique.
Understanding the impacts of corporate social responsibility and brand attributes on brand equity in the restaurant industry
Authors: Lin Michael S , Chung Yeasun K
Published: December 2018

This study aims to understand how corporate social responsibility (CSR) toward food, environment, employment, and community affects the dimensions of brand equity. It also examines the roles of size, segment, and brand identity in the relationship between CSR and brand equity in the restaurant industry. A set of five surveys with hypothetical CSR situations was used. The results of analyses indicate that CSR has a positive impact on brand equity depending on brand size, segment, and identity as well as a type of CSR. This study suggests that restaurants’ social responsibilities should not be simplified with a single measure of CSR as each type of CSR builds a particular aspect of brand equity. Brand attributes such as brand size, segment, and identity also extend the understanding of the CSR-brand equity relationship.
Press performance amid threats of terror: Exploring reporting thresholds and criticism in elite coverage of an Identity Cards Bill
Authors: Matthews Julian , Cameron Sarah
Published: December 2018

It is now commonplace to suggest that acts of terrorism on home soil impact the media’s ability to challenge the anti-terror policies that follow immediately from them. Still, complex contexts can emerge, and this article focuses on one that shapes a media response to a proposed UK anti-terror policy in 2006. It observes how proposed legislation for an identity card scheme, following closely after the 2005 London bombings, is reported in the elite press according to different ‘thresholds’. Emerging from an initial (1) observing of political conflict and a (2) detailing of claims made about the policy are (3) moments of performed criticism of the policy as a ‘threat’ to the British public’s ‘civil liberties’ by these newspapers. This verbally ‘empowered’ coverage provides an important exception to the previously observed media passivity in response to anti-terror policies/propaganda. Furthermore, the article argues that this is instigated by a complex context of political contest and reproduced cultural associations that encourage the performance of these newspapers’ ‘fourth estate’ role.
Indoor localization algorithm based on artificial neural network and radio-frequency identification reference tags
Authors: Wen Quangang , Liang Yanchun , Wu Chunguo , Tavares Adriano , Han Xiaosong
Published: December 2018

With the development of Internet of Things technology, radio-frequency identification localization methods have been widely applied due to their low cost and ease of deployment. The indoor radio-frequency identification localization algorithm based on received signal strength indication technology is a currently hot topic. Because the received signal strength is highly dependent on environments, the classic algorithms may result in large errors in localization accuracy. This article proposed a new radio-frequency identification localization algorithm, named BP_LANDMARC, by utilizing the back propagation neural network, which is designed to address nonlinear changes in radio-frequency signals. A strategy for selecting different working parameters in variable environments is presented. The evaluation methods of root mean square error and cumulative distribution function are used to compare the proposed algorithm with some existing algorithms. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm remarkably improves the localization accuracy of both absolute distance and cumulative probability. Moreover, the proposed algorithm performs effectively and efficiently when it is applied to a logistics warehouse management system.
Where We Walk Is What We See: Foundational Concepts and Analytical Techniques of Space Syntax
Authors: Haq Saif
Published: December 2018

The most difficult issue in writing a methods paper on Space Syntax is that it is not simply a method. It is a theory on which a methodology has been built. In the 40 years since introduction, both its theory and its methods have advanced, including the creation and development of computerized software. Essentially Space Syntax investigates layouts, seen in plan drawings; but this is done from mature theoretical arguments about function in those spaces. While theories of society were at the genesis of Space Syntax, it has branched into cognition, transportation, economics, and so on, and has been used to investigate buildings, cities, and regions. In the last decade or so, Space Syntax has been used in different ways to investigate healthcare facilities. This article concentrates on explaining the analytical techniques of Space Syntax. The theoretical underpinnings are minimally described—just enough for the reader to understand the basis of the methods. All examples provided are based on the same hypothetical hospital floor layout for ease of comprehension and comparison. Also, all Space Syntax concepts are italicized for identification. Since the theoretical aspects are not treated in detail, the reader is advised to pay particular attention to the citations for advanced comprehension. This cannot be overemphasized.
The National Pain Audit for specialist pain services in England and Wales 2010–2014
Authors: Price Cathy , de C Williams Amanda C , Smith Blair H , Bottle Alex
Published: December 2018

Introduction:

Numerous reports highlight variations in pain clinic provision between services, particularly in the provision of multidisciplinary services and length of waiting times. A National Audit aims to identify and quantify these variations, to facilitate raising standards of care in identified areas of need. This article describes a Quality Improvement Programme cycle covering England and Wales that used such an approach to remedy the paucity of data on the current state of UK pain clinics.

Methods:

Clinics were audited over a 4-year period using standards developed by the Faculty of Pain Medicine of The Royal College of Anaesthetists. Reporting was according to guidance from a recent systematic review of national surveys of pain clinics. A range of quality improvement measures was introduced via a series of roadshows led by the British Pain Society.

Results:

94% of clinics responded to the first audit and 83% responded to the second. Per annum, 0.4% of the total national population was estimated to attend a specialist pain service. A significant improvement in multidisciplinary staffing was found (35–56%, p < 0.001) over the 4-year audit programme, although this still requires improvement. Very few clinics achieved recommended evidence-based waiting times, although only 2.5% fell outside government targets; this did not improve. Safety standards were generally met. Clinicians often failed to code diagnoses.

Conclusion:

A National Audit found that while generally safe many specialist pain services in England and Wales fell below recommended standards of care. Waiting times and staffing require improvement if patients are to get effective and timely care. Diagnostic coding also requires improvement.
The multifaceted role of fibrinogen in tissue injury and inflammation
Authors: Luyendyk James P. , Schoenecker Jonathan G. , Flick Matthew J.
Published: December 2018

The canonical role of the hemostatic and fibrinolytic systems is to maintain vascular integrity. Perturbations in either system can prompt primary pathological end points of hemorrhage or thrombosis with vessel occlusion. However, fibrin(ogen) and proteases controlling its deposition and clearance, including (pro)thrombin and plasmin(ogen), have powerful roles in driving acute and reparative inflammatory pathways that affect the spectrum of tissue injury, remodeling, and repair. Indeed, fibrin(ogen) deposits are a near-universal feature of tissue injury, regardless of the nature of the inciting event, including injuries driven by mechanical insult, infection, or immunological derangements. Fibrin can modify multiple aspects of inflammatory cell function by engaging leukocytes through a variety of cellular receptors and mechanisms. Studies on the role of coagulation system activation and fibrin(ogen) deposition in models of inflammatory disease and tissue injury have revealed points of commonality, as well as context-dependent contributions of coagulation and fibrinolytic factors. However, there remains a critical need to define the precise temporal and spatial mechanisms by which fibrinogen-directed inflammatory events may dictate the severity of tissue injury and coordinate the remodeling and repair events essential to restore normal organ function. Current research trends suggest that future studies will give way to the identification of novel hemostatic factor-targeted therapies for a range of tissue injuries and disease.
The Primacy of “What” over “How Much”: How Type and Quantity Shape Healthiness Perceptions of Food Portions
Authors: Liu Peggy J. , Haws Kelly L. , Scherr Karen , Redden Joseph P. , Bettman James R. , Fitzsimons Gavan J.
Published: December 2018

Healthy eating goals influence many consumer choices, such that evaluating the healthiness of food portions is important. Given that both the type and quantity of food jointly contribute to weight and overall health, evaluations of a food portion’s healthiness ought to consider both type and quantity. However, existing literature tends to examine food type and food quantity separately. Across seven studies, we show that consumers treat type as a primary dimension and quantity as a secondary dimension, such that a change in type (versus quantity) has a greater impact on perceived healthiness or health goal impact, even when holding objective impact constant in terms of calories. We also examine whether one reason this effect occurs is because most consumers consider type (a categorical attribute) before quantity (a continuous attribute). We conclude by discussing extensions of these ideas to other perceptual assessments involving both type and quantity (e.g., price perceptions).

The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2018.3098 .

This paper was accepted by Yuval Rottenstreich, decision analysis.
REKONSTRUKSI PENDIDIKAN KARAKTER DALAM RISĀLAH “ḤAYY BIN YAQẒĀN” KARYA IBN ṬUFAIL (Analisis Resepsi Sastra)
Authors: Latifi Yulia Nasrul
Published: December 2018

In the middle of  seeking  the concept of character education recently, risālah “Ḥayy bin Yaqẓān” offers an  inclusive and holistic alternative  in  literature perspective. The risālah describes the life of  the main character, Ḥayy,  whose life is  full of knowledge, wisdom, and values from  chilhood to death. This research aims to show the reconstruction of character education pillars  and  the process of character  education building. The material object of this research is a risālah entitled  Ḥayy bin Yaqẓān written by Ibn Ṭufayl. The formal object is the reconstruction of character education. The theory  applied here is  a  reception  by Iser,  using a content analysis method. The results of this analysis reveals that the risālah consist of reconstruction of education pillars reflected on the character of Ḥayy. They are a willingness to learn, proactive and has a positive contribution  to his neigborhood,  emphaty and compassionate, cognitive  intelligence combined with a strength of soul, and be  faithful in God. The reconstruction of the process of character  education building is the internal factors (family), the external factors (millieu), and the principle of character education is a life long education.