bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design aesthetics as drivers of value in mobile banking: does customer happiness matter?
Authors: Chaouali Walid , Lunardo Renaud , Ben Yahia Imene , Cyr Dianne , Triki Abdelfattah
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how customers derive value (functional, emotional, social and epistemic value) from the design aesthetics of mobile banking applications and then form intention to adopt mobile banking. Furthermore, this research investigates the moderating effect of happiness, which is predicted – and showed – to strengthen the effects of design aesthetics on value.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey using screenshots of mobile banking applications was administered to a sample of 281 bank customers. Data were analysed using SmartPLS.

Findings

The results show that design aesthetics have a positive effect on functional, emotional, social and epistemic value. In turn, these value dimensions positively affect intention to adopt mobile banking. The findings also demonstrate that happiness moderates the effects of design aesthetics on these value dimensions.

Practical implications

This work can be useful to designers of banking applications and other practitioners to improve their policies and strategies related to mobile applications.

Originality/value

This research represents an initial attempt to examine how customers derive functional, emotional, social and epistemic value from design aesthetics in mobile banking. In addition, this research demonstrates that happiness moderates – and more specifically strengthens – the effects of design aesthetics on customer value. The results provide a theoretical contribution to the importance of value in customer decision making, and in the current case, in the seldom-researched area of mobile banking.
Neutrality and satisfaction in the mediation session: party and mediator perspectives
Authors: Szejda Keri , Ebesu Hubbard Amy S.
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between perceptions of mediators acting symmetrically (treating parties equally) and transparently (providing an explanation of past or future behavior) with parties’ assessments of the neutrality of their mediator and satisfaction with the mediation process.

Design/methodology/approach

This mixed-method study surveyed parties and mediators from 35 naturally occurring mediation sessions at community mediation centers about their perceptions of neutrality, symmetry, transparency and satisfaction.

Findings

The results showed that parties overwhelmingly assessed their mediators as acting neutrally. Compared to parties’ assessments of mediator neutrality, mediators rated their own neutrality even higher. Symmetry and transparency were both positively correlated with parties’ assessment of mediator neutrality and also emerged as qualitative themes. Speaking order and talk time did not significantly correlate with perception of symmetry. Overall, symmetry appeared to be a more salient factor in parties’ assessment of mediator neutrality than transparency. Both neutrality and symmetry were positively correlated with party satisfaction with the mediation process, but transparency was not.

Research limitations/implications

The present study provides a foundation for future research in understanding neutrality from both parties and mediators’ perspectives. The primary limitation was a small sample size and possible selection bias in achieving the sample.

Practical implications

The study found that symmetry and transparency are useful strategies for managing party perceptions of mediator neutrality and party satisfaction with the mediation process.

Originality/value

This study is one of only a few empirical research studies that investigated the parties’ perspective of mediator neutrality. The study provides a foundation for future research in understanding neutrality from both parties and mediators’ perspectives.
Women on boards and CEO pay-performance link
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Farooq Muhammad Umar , Zhang Junrui , Dong Nanyan , Makki Muhammad Abdul Majid
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the crucial question of whether gender diversity in boardroom is associated with CEO pay and CEO pay-performance link.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used the data of companies listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange for a sample consisting of KSE-100 index companies for the period of five years. The authors used the ordinary least square regression technique to test the developed hypotheses. The authors also used the two-step Heckman selection model, two-stage least square regression and propensity score matching method to control the problem of endogeneity.

Findings

The authors find reliable evidence of a negative association between gender diversity and CEO pay and of board gender diversity’s strengthening the relationship between CEO pay and firm performance. The authors also find that women director are more effective in setting the optimal contract in non-family-owned firms and firms with dispersed ownership structure as compared to family-owned firms and firms with concentrated ownership structure. Moreover, results also reflect that the influence of board diversity on both CEO pay and CEO pay-performance link is stronger when gender diversity goes beyond tokenism.

Practical implications

The findings have implications in terms of providing the basis for policy makers to accord the same level of importance to gender diversity in the boardroom as well as contributing to the current debate on the desirability of mandating or recommending gender diversity on boardrooms.

Originality/value

This study is among the few studies which investigate the moderating role of boardroom gender diversity on the CEO pay-performance link. In addition, this study contributes to the institutional theory by providing the empirical evidence that the effect boardroom gender diversity on CEO pay and CEO pay-performance link varies by type of ownership.
Nurturing environmental citizenship by mapping the field of action
Authors: Avriel-Avni Noa , Gan Dafna
Published: July 2019

Purpose

Students' simplistic observations and uninspired solutions for social-ecological dilemmas were the motivation for this study. The purpose of this paper is to foster systemic thinking in students and study the role of the lecturers.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was designed as a self-study action-research (AR), which was carried out by the lecturers of an environmental citizenship course in a teachers' college. The paper describes three AR circuits, expressed in three stages of field mapping by students: group mapping at the beginning of the course, initial individual field mapping and field mapping prior to action design.

Findings

Analyzing the maps after each stage allowed for design modifications. The findings indicate that field mapping helped students better understand the complexity of a social-ecological system and their role within it. Lecturers were required to maintain a delicate balance between teaching and supporting the students' first-hand experience as environmental citizens.

Research limitations/implications

The study's conclusions are based on a case study and are therefore presented dialectically rather than as global generalizations.

Practical implications

Mapping the field of action can serve as a powerful tool in fostering a system approach to environmental citizenship in many educational settings.

Originality/value

The paper presents the use of Kurt Lewin's field theory for environmental education and for fostering environmental citizenship based on systemic and ecological thinking. The diversity of students' conceptualizations of the complexity of a social-ecological system, as revealed in this study, calls for further research of field-mapping as a teaching method.
Fatigue life-based reliability assessment of a heavy vehicle leaf spring
Authors: Abdullah Lennie , Karam Singh Salvinder Singh , Azman Abdul Hadi , Abdullah Shahrum , Mohd Ihsan Ahmad Kamal Ariffin , Kong Yat Sheng
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This study aims to determine the reliability assessment based on the predicted fatigue life of leaf spring under random strain loading.

Design/methodology/approach

Random loading data were extracted from three various road conditions at 200 Hz using a strain gauge for a duration of 100 s. The fatigue life was predicted using strain-life approaches of Coffin–Manson, Morrow and Smith–Watson–Topper (SWT) models.

Findings

The leaf spring had the highest fatigue life of 1,544 cycle/block under highway data compared uphill (1,299 cycle/block) and downhill (1,008 cycle/block) data. Besides that, the statistical properties of kurtosis showed that uphill data were the highest at 3.81 resulted in the presence of high amplitude in the strain loading data. For fatigue life-based reliability assessment, the SWT model provided a narrower shape compared to the Coffin–Manson and Morrow models using the Gumbel distribution. The SWT model had the lowest mean cycle to failure of 1,250 cycle/block followed by Morrow model (1,317 cycle/block) and the Coffin–Manson model (1,429 cycle/block). The SWT model considers the mean stress effects by interpreting the strain energy density that will influence the reliability assessment.

Research limitations/implications

The reliability assessment based on fatigue life prediction is conducted using the Gumbel distribution to investigate the behaviour of fatigue random loading, where most previous studies had concentrated on a Weibull distribution on random data.

Originality/value

Thus, this study proposes that the Gumbel distribution is suitable for analysing the reliability of random loading data in assessing with the fatigue life prediction of a heavy vehicle leaf spring.
Impacts of the monetary policy on the exchange rate: case study of Vietnam
Authors: Pham Van Anh
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and analyze impacts of the monetary policy (MP) – money aggregate and interest rate – on the exchange rate in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses data over the period of 2008–2018 and applies the vector autoregression model, namely recursive restriction and sign restriction approaches.

Findings

The main empirical findings are as follows: a contraction of the money aggregate significantly leads to the real effective exchange rate (REER) depreciating and then appreciating; a tightening of the interest rate immediately causes the REER appreciating and then depreciating; and both the money aggregate and the interest rate strongly determine fluctuations of the REER.

Originality/value

The quantitative results imply that the MP affects the REER considerably.
Explicit and implicit teaching Persian language structures and editing methods and translation performance of Iranian undergraduate translation students
Authors: Vasheghani Farahani Mehrdad , Rezaei Omid , Masoomzadeh Milad
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper (experimental–comparative research) is to investigate the possible impacts of explicit and implicit teaching Persian structures and editing methods on the translation performance of the Iranian undergraduate translation students.

Design/methodology/approach

This research enjoyed a quasi-experimental design. A quasi-experimental research design was used in this research, as it was impossible to assign random sampling to the subjects. In addition, this research was a comparative group study as there were two experimental groups with two different treatments and one control group with placebo. Table I represents the design of the research.

Findings

The results showed that before the treatment there were no significant differences between three groups in terms of translation performance; however, after treatment, the results indicated a statistically significant difference between two experimental groups and treatment group. Moreover, explicit instruction yielded more positive results than the implicit group.

Originality/value

Although research in the field of translation assessment and quality in relation to target language are prevalent and in spite of the abundance of research in the field of implicit/explicit instructions in second language teaching and learning, there is no research (to the best knowledge of authors) which looks at translation performance from teaching structures and editing methods of target language perspective with the focus of explicit and implicit (in an English–Persian context).
Developing Islamic crowdfunding website platform for startup companies in Indonesia
Authors: Hendratmi Achsania , Ryandono Muhamad Nafik Hadi , Sukmaningrum Puji Sucia
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This study aims to develop an Islamic crowdfunding model based on a website platform for startup companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Apart from reviewing related literature, specifically focus group discussion with 16 CEO of startup companies, in-depth interview with two crowdfunding provider, Fiqh expert and technology platform expert for the development of an Islamic crowdfunding website platform for startup companies.

Findings

The concept of Islamic crowdfunding is recommended as a funding solution for small and medium-sized enterprises and startup companies. Therefore, it was deemed crucial for this study to develop an Islamic crowdfunding model based on a website platform as a form of innovative acceleration to provide alternative funding for a startup company, which subsequently expands to a growing and sustainable business. Furthermore, the use of a website platform for the operation of a crowdfunding mechanism is deemed as an effective means to link cross-geographical investors with the startup company owners in Indonesia, specifically East Java.

Practical implications

Islamic crowdfunding website platform can be the solution for startup companies to obtain capital funds while startup companies are not able to provide collateral to attain financial assistance and experience problems. Expectedly, the government should provide legality, regulation, licensing and socialization matters pertaining to crowdfunding to obtain legal legality from the country.

Originality/value

There is still no research to develop the Islamic crowdfunding model using a website platform. This study was expected to provide essential insights on the effective development of an Islamic crowdfunding website platform integrated with startup companies, investors and Sharia committee.
Natural language processing applications in library and information science
Authors: Taskin Zehra , Al Umut
Published: July 2019

Purpose

With the recent developments in information technologies, natural language processing (NLP) practices have made tasks in many areas easier and more practical. Nowadays, especially when big data are used in most research, NLP provides fast and easy methods for processing these data. The purpose of this paper is to identify subfields of library and information science (LIS) where NLP can be used and to provide a guide based on bibliometrics and social network analyses for researchers who intend to study this subject.

Design/methodology/approach

Within the scope of this study, 6,607 publications, including NLP methods published in the field of LIS, are examined and visualized by social network analysis methods.

Findings

After evaluating the obtained results, the subject categories of publications, frequently used keywords in these publications and the relationships between these words are revealed. Finally, the core journals and articles are classified thematically for researchers working in the field of LIS and planning to apply NLP in their research.

Originality/value

The results of this paper draw a general framework for LIS field and guides researchers on new techniques that may be useful in the field.
Celebrating trailblazing women: Soar, Elinor lesson plan
Authors: Weber Carolyn Ann
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use Soar, Elinor, a 2011 NCSS notable trade book, to teach a short unit on remarkable women in traditionally male dominated fields. Students will research trailblazing women, create a project to teach others about their chosen trailblazer and represent their choice at a trailblazing women banquet.

Design/methodology/approach

Students will be supported in their research into trailblazing women through reading books about women who struggled to realize their dreams of succeeding in difficult professions.

Findings

This lesson plan gives students an opportunity to investigate the struggles of women throughout history to enter male dominated professions.

Originality/value

The value of this lesson plans is to provide students an opportunity to study women who have made a difference through breaking down barriers. Students will be able to learn about a variety of different women, who are not often studied in social studies classes.
Clinical differences between segmental nevus depigmentosus and segmental vitiligo
Authors: Roh Dongyoung , Shin Kihyuk , Kim Woo‐Il , Yang Min‐Young , Lee Won‐Ku , Kim Gun‐Wook , Kim Hoon-Soo , Ko Hyun‐Chang , Kim Byung‐Soo , Kim Moon‐Bum
Published: July 2019

Segmental nevus depigmentosus and segmental vitiligo can be difficult to differentiate from each other. Differential diagnosis of these two diseases is important because they have significantly different prognoses and psychological effects. The purpose of this study is to identify clinical clues that may be helpful in differentiating these two diseases. We enrolled 63 patients with segmental nevus depigmentosus and 149 patients with segmental vitiligo. Sex, age of onset, sites involved, dermatomal distribution, margin of lesion and presence of poliosis were evaluated in both groups. The age of onset was less than 10 years in 96.8% of segmental nevus depigmentosus and 28.9% of segmental vitiligo cases. Trunk (36.5%) and cervical (38.1%) dermatomes were the most commonly involved in segmental nevus depigmentosus and face (67.1%) and trigeminal (64.4%) dermatomes in segmental vitiligo. The average number of dermatomes involved in truncal lesions was different in segmental nevus depigmentosus and segmental vitiligo (2.71 vs 1.62, P = 0.001). Segmental vitiligo on the face, neck and trunk appeared closer to the axis than segmental nevus depigmentosus (P < 0.001). Segmental nevus depigmentosus and segmental vitiligo showed significantly different margins (90.5% and 41.6% serrated, respectively; P < 0.001). We observed clinical differences between patients with segmental nevus depigmentosus and those with segmental vitiligo. Distribution (site, distance to axis, dermatome), vertical width, margin of lesion and presence of poliosis can be helpful in differentiating segmental nevus depigmentosus and segmental vitiligo.
Not all surveillance data are created equal—A multi‐method dynamic occupancy approach to determine rabies elimination from wildlife
Authors: Davis Amy J. , Kirby Jordona D. , Chipman Richard B. , Nelson Kathleen M. , Xifara Tatiana , Webb Colleen T. , Wallace Ryan , Gilbert Amy T. , Pepin Kim M.
Published: July 2019

A necessary component of elimination programmes for wildlife disease is effective surveillance. The ability to distinguish between disease freedom and non‐detection can mean the difference between a successful elimination campaign and new epizootics. Understanding the contribution of different surveillance methods helps to optimize and better allocate effort and develop more effective surveillance programmes.

We evaluated the probability of rabies virus elimination (disease freedom) in an enzootic area with active management using dynamic occupancy modelling of 10 years of raccoon rabies virus (RABV) surveillance data (2006–2015) collected from three states in the eastern United States. We estimated detection probability of RABV cases for each surveillance method (e.g. strange acting reports, roadkill, surveillance‐trapped animals, nuisance animals and public health samples) used by the USDA National Rabies Management Program.

Strange acting, found dead and public health animals were the most likely to detect RABV when it was present, and generally detectability was higher in fall–winter compared to spring–summer. Found dead animals in fall–winter had the highest detection at 0.33 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.48). Nuisance animals had the lowest detection probabilities (~0.02).

Areas with oral rabies vaccination (ORV) management had reduced occurrence probability compared to enzootic areas without ORV management. RABV occurrence was positively associated with deciduous and mixed forests and medium to high developed areas, which are also areas with higher raccoon (Procyon lotor) densities. By combining occupancy and detection estimates we can create a probability of elimination surface that can be updated seasonally to provide guidance on areas managed for wildlife disease.

Synthesis and applications. Wildlife disease surveillance is often comprised of a combination of targeted and convenience‐based methods. Using a multi‐method analytical approach allows us to compare the relative strengths of these methods, providing guidance on resource allocation for surveillance actions. Applying this multi‐method approach in conjunction with dynamic occupancy analyses better informs management decisions by understanding ecological drivers of disease occurrence.
Salt Intake from Processed Meat Products: Benefits, Risks and Evolving Practices
Authors: Petit Gaëlle , Jury Vanessa , de Lamballerie Marie , Duranton Frédérique , Pottier Laurence , Martin Jean‐Luc
Published: July 2019

Currently, there is major consumer concern about dietary salt intake worldwide. However, even with the development of contemporary preservation practices, sodium chloride is still essential in processed meat products. Despite a long history of use, salt is now seriously controversial in food due to health concerns that are mostly related to high blood pressure and cardiovascular risks. Changes in meat processing methods have reduced those potential risks, but different perceptions continue to shape how consumers and society view dietary salt. The current consumer demand for additive‐free food, such as the clean‐label movement, has renewed consumer willingness for naturalness in food products.
Greater Reliance on Major Customers and Auditor Going‐Concern Opinions
Authors: Dhaliwal Dan , Michas Paul N. , Naiker Vic , Sharma Divesh
Published: July 2019

In this study, we predict and provide evidence that distressed firms that rely more heavily on major customers for sales have a comparatively higher incidence of receiving going‐concern opinions (GCOs). Moreover, we find that the effect of increased reliance on major customers is driven by firms that are more distressed. We also theorize that variations in key characteristics of the relationship between a distressed firm and its largest major customer are incrementally linked to GCOs, and present evidence consistent with this. Specifically, we find that the effect of greater reliance on major customers is driven by firms that are relatively smaller than their largest major customer. Additionally, we find that greater reliance on major customers is positively (negatively) associated with GCOs when firms are in a shorter (longer) relationship with their major customer and when firms have a different auditor to (same auditor as) the largest major customer. Overall, our study indicates that supply chain relationships are relevant business risks associated with auditors' going‐concern assessments.
The Role of Narcissistic Hypocrisy in the Development of Accounting Estimates
Authors: Hayes Matthew J. , Reckers Philip M. J.
Published: July 2019

In an experiment including experienced managers, we investigate how supervisor and subordinate narcissism influence a supervisor's review of a subordinate's accounting estimate. While narcissistic supervisors express greater liking for narcissistic subordinates (narcissistic tolerance), they nonetheless reject and revise the accounting estimates of narcissistic subordinates to a greater extent than they reject estimates of non‐narcissistic subordinates (narcissistic hypocrisy), even when doing so inhibits the supervisor's ability to reach a profit target. Our findings contribute to extant research in accounting and psychology. We demonstrate that narcissistic hypocrisy extends beyond the evaluation of others and alters narcissists' willingness to rely on other narcissists in a meaningful financial reporting decision. We also find that narcissistic hypocrisy is robust across age, gender, and supervisory experience.
T‐NDX Diagram: Educational Technology Used to Teach Diagnostic Reasoning Based on Nursing Theories
Authors: Oliveira Pitta Lopes Rafael , Caniçali Primo Cândida , Santos de Andrade Martins Jaqueline , Faria Campos Juliana , Souza Barbosa Genesis , de Abreu Pinto Peixoto Mauricio , Antônio Gomes Brandão Marcos
Published: July 2019

PURPOSE

To describe an educational technology to be applied to the teaching and learning of diagnostic judgment based on nursing theories.

METHODS

A methodological study with 10 stages for the development of educational technology.

FINDINGS

An innovative educational technology is proposed to incorporate theoretical and methodological domains in a V‐shaped diagram for the diagnosis judgment.

CONCLUSIONS

The technology is innovative in integrating theory and method in a more comprehensive and original way, considering the philosophies and world views of students throughout the reasoning process.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

T‐NDx Diagram may be useful in enhancing the integration of philosophical and theoretical knowledge and diagnostic judgment, especially for nursing undergraduate students.
Accurate prediction of glaucoma from colour fundus images with a convolutional neural network that relies on active and transfer learning
Authors: Hemelings Ruben , Elen Bart , Barbosa-Breda João , Lemmens Sophie , Meire Maarten , Pourjavan Sayeh , Vandewalle Evelien , Van de Veire Sara , Blaschko Matthew B. , De Boever Patrick , Stalmans Ingeborg
Published: July 2019

Purpose

To assess the use of deep learning (DL) for computer‐assisted glaucoma identification, and the impact of training using images selected by an active learning strategy, which minimizes labelling cost. Additionally, this study focuses on the explainability of the glaucoma classifier.

Methods

This original investigation pooled 8433 retrospectively collected and anonymized colour optic disc‐centred fundus images, in order to develop a deep learning‐based classifier for glaucoma diagnosis. The labels of the various deep learning models were compared with the clinical assessment by glaucoma experts. Data were analysed between March and October 2018. Sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and amount of data used for discriminating between glaucomatous and non‐glaucomatous fundus images, on both image and patient level.

Results

Trained using 2072 colour fundus images, representing 42% of the original training data, the trained DL model achieved an AUC of 0.995, sensitivity and specificity of, respectively, 98.0% (CI 95.5%–99.4%) and 91% (CI 84.0%–96.0%), for glaucoma versus non‐glaucoma patient referral.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate the benefits of deep learning for automated glaucoma detection based on optic disc‐centred fundus images. The combined use of transfer and active learning in the medical community can optimize performance of DL models, while minimizing the labelling cost of domain‐specific mavens. Glaucoma experts are able to make use of heat maps generated by the deep learning classifier to assess its decision, which seems to be related to inferior and superior neuroretinal rim (within ONH), and RNFL in superotemporal and inferotemporal zones (outside ONH).
Physiological regulation of reactive oxygen species in organisms based on their physicochemical properties
Authors: Huang Mei‐Zhou , Li Jian‐Yong
Published: July 2019

Oxidative stress is recognized as free radical dyshomeostasis, which has damaging effects on proteins, lipids and DNA. However, during cell differentiation and proliferation and other normal physiological processes, free radicals play a pivotal role in message transmission and are considered important messengers. Organisms maintain free radical homeostasis through a sophisticated regulatory system in which these “2‐faced” molecules play appropriate roles under physiological and pathological conditions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including a large number of free radicals, act as redox signalling molecules in essential cellular signalling pathways, including cell differentiation and proliferation. However, excessive ROS levels can induce oxidative stress, which is an important risk factor for diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. An overall comprehensive understanding of ROS is beneficial for understanding the pathogenesis of certain diseases and finding new therapeutic treatments. This review primarily focuses on ROS cellular localization, sources, chemistry and molecular targets to determine how to distinguish between the roles of ROS as messengers and in oxidative stress.
L‐serine: a neglected amino acid with a potential therapeutic role in diabetes
Authors: Holm Laurits J. , Buschard Karsten
Published: July 2019

L‐serine is classified as a non‐essential amino acid; however, L‐serine is indispensable having a central role in a broad range of cellular processes. Growing evidence suggests a role for L‐serine in the development of diabetes mellitus and its related complications, with L‐serine being positively correlated to insulin secretion and sensitivity. L‐serine metabolism is altered in type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, and L‐serine supplementations improve glucose homeostasis and mitochondrial function, and reduce neuronal death. Additionally, L‐serine lowers the incidence of autoimmune diabetes in NOD mice. Dietary supplementations of L‐serine are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA. Therefore, we believe that L‐serine should be considered as an emerging therapeutic option in diabetes, although work remains in order to fully understand the role of L‐serine in diabetes.
Abnormalities of mucosal serotonin metabolism and 5‐HT3 receptor subunit 3C polymorphism in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea predict responsiveness to ondansetron
Authors: Gunn David , Garsed Klara , Lam Ching , Singh Gulzar , Lingaya Melanie , Wahl Verena , Niesler Beate , Henry Amanda , Hall Ian P. , Whorwell Peter , Spiller Robin
Published: July 2019

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS‐D) is a common condition, greatly reducing the quality of life with few effective treatment options available.

Aim

To report the beneficial response shown in our trial with the 5‐hydroyxtryptamine (5‐HT) receptor 3 antagonist, ondansetron in IBS‐D

Methods

A randomised, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over trial of 5 weeks of ondansetron versus placebo in 125 patients meeting modified Rome III criteria for IBS‐D as previously described. Patients were compared to 21 healthy controls. 5‐HT and 5‐HIAA were measured in rectal biopsies. Whole gut transit time was assessed using a radio‐opaque marker technique. Whole blood DNA was genotyped for an insertion polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4, as well as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the tryptophan hydroxylase gene TPH1 and 5‐HT3 receptor genes HTR3A, C and E.

Results

Patients’ biopsies showed significantly higher 5‐HIAA levels (2.1 (1.2‐4.2) pmol/mg protein vs 1.1 (0.4‐1.5) in controls, P < .0001). 39 patients used < 4 mg/d (“super‐responders”) while 55 required ≥ 4 mg/d. 5‐HT concentrations in rectal biopsies were significantly lower in super‐responders (21.3 (17.0‐31.8) vs 37.7 (21.4‐61.4), P = .0357) and the increase in transit time on ondansetron was significantly greater (15.6 (1.8‐31) hours vs 3.9 (−5.1‐17.9) hours). Stool consistency responders were more likely to carry the CC genotype of the SNP p.N163K rs6766410 of the HTR3C gene (33% vs 14%, P = .0066).

Conclusion

IBS‐D patients have significant abnormalities in mucosal 5‐HT metabolism. Those with the lowest concentration of 5‐HT in rectal biopsies showed the greatest responsiveness to ondansetron.
The reduction of faecal calprotectin during exclusive enteral nutrition is lost rapidly after food re‐introduction
Authors: Logan Michael , Clark Clare M. , Ijaz Umer Zeeshan , Gervais Lisa , Duncan Hazel , Garrick Vikki , Curtis Lee , Buchanan Elaine , Cardigan Tracey , Armstrong Lawrence , Delahunty Caroline , Flynn Diana M. , Barclay Andrew R. , Tayler Rachel , McDonald Elizabeth , Milling Simon , Hansen Richard , Gerasimidis Konstantinos , Russell Richard K.
Published: July 2019

Background

Faecal calprotectin decreases during exclusive enteral nutrition in children with active Crohn's disease. It is unknown how faecal calprotectin changes during food re‐introduction and the influence of maintenance enteral nutrition.

Aims

To study changes to faecal calprotectin during exclusive enteral nutrition and at food reintroduction, and explore associations with maintenance enteral nutrition.

Methods

Children with Crohn's disease were followed during exclusive enteral nutrition and during food‐reintroduction. Faecal calprotectin was measured before, at 33 and 54 days of exclusive enteral nutrition, and at 17, 52 and 72 days after food‐reintroduction. Maintenance enteral nutrition use was recorded with estimated weight food diaries. Data are presented with medians and Q1:Q3.

Results

Sixty‐six patients started exclusive enteral nutrition and 41 (62%) achieved clinical remission (weighted paediatric Crohn's disease activity index <12.5). Baseline faecal calprotectin (mg/kg) decreased after 4 and 8 weeks of exclusive enteral nutrition (Start: 1433 [Q1: 946, Q3: 1820] vs 33 days: 844 [314, 1438] vs 54 days: 453 [165, 1100]; P < .001). Within 17 days of food reintroduction, faecal calprotectin increased to 953 [Q1: 519, Q3: 1611] and by 52 days to 1094 [660, 1625] (both P < .02). Fifteen of 41 (37%) children in remission used maintenance enteral nutrition (333 kcal or 18% of energy intake). At 17 days of food reintroduction, faecal calprotectin was lower in maintenance enteral nutrition users than non‐users (651 [Q1: 271, Q3: 1781] vs 1238 [749, 2102], P = .049) and correlated inversely with maintenance enteral nutrition volume (rho: −0.573, P = .041), kcals (rho: −0.584, P = .036) and % energy intake (rho: −0.649, P = .016). Maintenance enteral nutrition use was not associated with longer periods of remission (P = .7). Faecal calprotectin at the end of exclusive enteral nutrition did not predict length of remission.

Conclusions

The effect of exclusive enteral nutrition on faecal calprotectin is diminished early during food reintroduction. Maintenance enteral nutrition at ~18% of energy intake is associated with a lower faecal calprotectin at the early phase of food reintroduction but is ineffective in maintaining longer term remission.
Beyond evidence‐based treatment of bipolar disorder: Rational pragmatic approaches to management
Authors: Post Robert M. , Yatham Lakshmi N. , Vieta Eduard , Berk Michael , Nierenberg Andrew A.
Published: July 2019

The evidence for efficacy of many currently available treatments for bipolar disorder is based on studies of nonrefractory patients with bipolar disorder. Therefore, not surprisingly, most treatment recommendations and guidelines for the treatment of bipolar disorder and its many comorbidities depend heavily on data from placebo controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs), but these RCTs provide little direction for the clinician as to what next steps might be optimal in non‐ or partial‐responders and in those with ongoing medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Given this and the paucity of RCTs at later treatment junctures, we thought it appropriate to begin a discussion of the quality of the data that some experts in the field might consider using in choosing and sequencing drugs and their combination. We acknowledge that many other clinical investigators may prefer very different sequences, but thought the suggestions offered here might be useful to some clinicians in the field, might start discussions of other options in the literature, and, at the same time, provide a preliminary outline for a new round of much‐needed clinical trials to better inform clinical practice. Given the very wide range of the quality of the data and clinical principles on which the current suggestions are based, only minimal references are included and a comprehensive review of the literature supporting each option would be outside the scope of this manuscript.
Psychosis and the Desire for Externalization in the Individual Psyche and Neo‐Liberal Society
Authors: Morgan David
Published: July 2019

Psychoanalysts have written about working with psychotic and severely disturbed people, but most of this work comes from the 1970s. Since then, there has been a notable absence of this pioneering clinical work. Reflecting on why this may have occurred, the author also suggests that many of these valuable theories around psychosis and its causes, such as trauma or unrecognized trans‐generational pain, are applicable to some of the current political and social malaise that confronts our time.
IT‐enabled idea competitions for organizational innovation: An inquiry into breakdowns in adaptation
Authors: Nicolajsen Hanne Westh , Mathiassen Lars , Scupola Ada
Published: July 2019

Idea competitions can help organizations innovate and IT support can make it easier to enrol participants, facilitate collaboration and manage the process. Thus far, the literature on IT‐enabled idea competitions has focused mainly on engaging external actors; consequently, we know less about the internal engagement of employees. Moreover, although the literature reveals several challenges in managing internal IT‐enabled idea competitions, there are no comprehensive empirical accounts of how these challenges manifest in organizational contexts. Against this backdrop, we investigate how an engineering consultancy adapted an IT‐enabled idea competition to support innovation, innovation awareness and knowledge sharing. This descriptive case study provides a detailed analysis of the breakdowns that manifested, what triggered the breakdowns, and how the organization responded. Our analysis reveals that the system required substantial adaptation, and, although it addressed well‐known challenges in managing idea competitions, other challenges surfaced. We combine these empirical insights with extant literature to propose a model for understanding and explaining how our case organization handled the breakdowns that occurred while implementing the idea competition system.
Adequacy of endosonography‐derived samples from peribronchial or periesophageal intrapulmonary lesions for the molecular profiling of lung cancer
Authors: Livi Vanina , Ardizzoni Andrea , Cancellieri Alessandra , Natali Filippo , Ferrari Marco , Paioli Daniela , De Biase Dario , Capizzi Elisa , Tallini Giovanni , Fiorentino Michelangelo , Trisolini Rocco
Published: July 2019

Introduction and Objectives

Endosonography is increasingly used for the diagnosis of centrally located, bronchoscopically invisible intrapulmonary lesions, but data regarding its utility for molecular profiling are lacking. We aimed to assess the suitability of endosonography samples obtained from intrapulmonary lesions for cancer genotyping and programmed‐death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) testing.

Methods

A prospectively collected database regarding 99 consecutive patients undergoing endosonography for the diagnosis of an intrapulmonary lesion was retrospectively reviewed. Genotyping ± PD‐L1 testing was carried out in the 53 patients with advanced lung cancer and was classified as complete if all clinically indicated tests could be performed, incomplete if at least one test could not be carried out, and unsuccessful if the sample was unsuitable for molecular analysis.

Results

All clinically indicated biomarkers could be tested in 44 (83%) patients, whereas the molecular profiling was classified as incomplete in 6 (11.3%), and unsuccessful in 3 (5.7%). Thirty‐seven genetic alterations (KRASmutation,17; EGFRmutation, 17;ALKrearrangement, 3) and 2 cases of PD‐L1 expression >50% were found in 31 (58%) patients.EGFRwas successfully analysed in 94.1% of cases,KRASin 93.9%,ALKin 89%,ROS1in 90% and PD‐L1 in 63.1%.

Conclusion

Endosonography‐derived samples from intrapulmonary lesions were suitable for a thorough molecular profiling in most patients. The few cases of incomplete accomplishment of the testing algorithm were related to the failure of PD‐L1 analysis due to the exhaustion of the sample or the lack of sufficient tumour cells in the paraffin‐embedded material.
Improving the uptake: Barriers and facilitators to pulmonary rehabilitation
Authors: McCarron Eamon P. , Bailey Melanie , Leonard Breige , McManus Terence E.
Published: July 2019

Background

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a well‐established therapeutic management programme for patients with chronic lung disease. Despite good clinical evidence, patient engagement can be poor.

Aim

The aim of the study was to determine the number of patients who are referred to PR at a District General Hospital, explore barriers and facilitators to attending and completing and identify strategies for improvement.

Methods

All patients invited to attend PR in the calendar year 2016 were included in an analysis (N = 281). A structured questionnaire composed of barriers and facilitators was administered to patients that did not attend (non‐attenders, N = 20) and those that attended but did not complete the programme (non‐completers/“drop‐outs,” N = 13). Improvement strategies were identified and implemented followed by analysis of patients invited to attend in 2017 and 2018.

Results

Age, sex and smoking status are factors that affect both attendance and completion rates of patients attending PR. In our analysis, we were able to demonstrate that lack of awareness and low perceived benefits were important barriers for non‐attendance. In addition, overall uptake rate was improved but at the expense of completion rate.

Conclusion

Our local non‐attendance rate in 2016 was 42%, with strategies aimed at improving patient and physician information, this was reduced to 11% (2018), below the national United Kingdom average. Unexpectedly, there was a worsening of completion rates and this raises questions about both appropriateness of referrals and whether completion rate rather than non‐attendance rate should be used as a performance indicator and standard.
Reconstruction under siege: the Gaza Strip since 2007
Authors: Barakat Sultan , Milton Sansom , Elkahlout Ghassan
Published: July 2019

This paper examines the siege of the Gaza Strip, a self‐governing Palestinian territory, since 2007. Research on sieges tends to concentrate on the coping strategies of besieged communities, humanitarian issues associated with the impacts, humanitarian access, and the prioritisation of needs, with little or no attention paid to reconstruction. However, Gaza is unusual as a siege environment within which reconstruction has become a high priority in the aftermath of its three destructive wars with Israel. Following an overview of research on sieges in contemporary warfare and a brief contextualisation of Gaza, this paper examines why reconstruction outcomes have varied over time through the application of a theoretical framework that stipulates the importance of four key factors: time; needs; scarcity; and political context. Based on an analysis of these variables, Gaza was found to be a most‐likely case for reconstruction under siege. Nonetheless, the large‐scale reconstruction necessary to transform Gaza has not been actualised.
Listing for change? Exploring the politics of relief lists in Bangladesh after Cyclone Sidr
Authors: Aase Maren
Published: July 2019

Ideal notions of efficient aid are challenged continuously by realities on the ground in the wake of major disasters, such as dire needs, limited resources, and opportunism. This paper demonstrates how ‘relief lists’ can be productive entry points for a systematic inquiry into the pervasive politics of disaster assistance. Through an analysis of qualitative data collected during the five years after Cyclone Sidr struck Bangladesh on 15 November 2007, it examines how relief lists featured in both physical and phantom forms and then developed beyond their transparency‐making aims, becoming elevated sites of struggle for post‐disaster resources. Three list processes, selected to indicate the temporal, material, and spatial dynamics of relief encounters, are assessed in depth. Although recipients of cyclone relief appreciated its value, the paper argues that list politics also stimulated structures of vulnerability, including inequality. Gradually, relief, as governed after Sidr, also served to restore the differential vulnerability of the country's coastal poor.
Long‐term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review
Authors: Tedroff Kristina , Hägglund Gunnar , Miller Freeman
Published: July 2019

Aim

To evaluate the long‐term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) 10 years or more after the procedure and complications observed any time after SDR in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method

Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched from their individual dates of inception through 1st June 2018 for full‐text original articles in English that described long‐term follow‐up after SDR in children with CP. The authors independently screened publications to determine whether they met inclusion criteria; thereafter all authors extracted data on patient characteristics, the proportion of the original cohort being followed‐up, and the reported outcomes.

Results

Of the 199 studies identified, 16 were included in this evaluation: 14 were case series and two studies reported a retrospectively assigned comparison group. Evidence concerning function was limited by study design differences, clinical variability, loss to follow‐up, and heterogeneity across trials.

Interpretation

At 10 years or more follow‐up, available studies generate low‐level evidence with considerable bias. No functional improvement of SDR over routine therapy is documented. Furthermore, the long‐term effects of SDR with respect to spasticity reduction is unclear, with many studies reporting a high amount of add‐on spasticity treatment. More long‐term follow‐up using robust scientific protocols is required before it can be decided whether the use of SDR as routine therapy for children with CP is to be recommended or not.

What this paper adds

Ten years after selective dorsal rhizotomy, available studies supply inconclusive evidence on functional outcomes.

The long‐term effect on spasticity is uncertain, studies reported a substantial need for add‐on treatment.

Short‐ and long‐term complications seem frequent but are not reported in a consistent manner.