bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
National Parks in Developed Countries
Authors: Richardson Leslie , Peacock Bruce
Published: May 2018

Economics plays an important role not only in the management of national parks in developed countries, but also in demonstrating the contribution of these areas to societal well-being. The beneficial effect of park tourism on jobs and economic activity in communities near these protected areas has at times been a factor in their establishment. These economic impacts continue to be highlighted as a way to demonstrate the benefit and return on investment of national parks to local economies. However, the economic values supported by national parks extend far beyond local economic benefits. Parks provide unique recreation opportunities, health benefits, preservation of wildlife and habitat, and a wide range of ecosystem services that the public assigns an economic value to. In addition, value is derived from the existence of national parks and their preservation for future generations. These nonmarket benefits can be difficult to quantify, but they are essential for understanding and communicating the economic importance of parks. Economic methods used to estimate these values have been refined and tested for nearly seven decades, and they have come a long way in helping to elucidate the extent of the nonmarket benefits of protected areas.

In many developed countries, national parks have regulations and policies that outline a framework for the consideration of economic values in decision-making contexts. For instance, large oil spills in the United States, such as the Exxon Valdez spill of 1989 and the Deepwater Horizon spill of 2010, highlighted the need to better understand public values for affected park resources, leading to the extensive use of nonmarket values in natural resource damage assessments. Of course, rules and enforcement issues vary widely across countries, and the potential for economics to inform the day-to-day operations of national parks is much broader than what is currently outlined in such policies. While economics is only one piece of the puzzle in managing national parks, it provides a valuable tool for evaluating resource tradeoffs and for incorporating public preferences into the decision-making process, leading to greater transparency and assurance that national parks are managed for the benefit of society. Understanding the full extent of the economic benefits supported by national parks helps to further the mission of these protected areas in developed countries.
Working With Latino Immigrant Families in Schools
Authors: Robles Eden Hernandez , Johnson Crissy A. , Robles Joel Hernandez
Published: May 2018

Latino immigrant families and their students come with unique cultural and linguistic needs. Working effectively with Latino immigrants in schools is a challenge for social workers. Latino immigrant families represent a variety of racial, ethnic, historical, immigrant, gender, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. While scholars are able to identify aspects of culture and cultural values, their influence on education and how to integrate these values into intervention and prevention programs, or direct services, is still in need of further research. This article offers a portrait of the Latino immigrant population in the United States, discusses the definitions associated with the population, provides some considerations for social workers, and discusses interventions or preventions specific to Latino immigrant students that also include families.
Microbial genomic island discovery, visualization and analysis
Authors: Bertelli Claire , Tilley Keith E , Brinkman Fiona S L
Published: May 2018

Horizontal gene transfer (also called lateral gene transfer) is a major mechanism for microbial genome evolution, enabling rapid adaptation and survival in specific niches. Genomic islands (GIs), commonly defined as clusters of bacterial or archaeal genes of probable horizontal origin, are of particular medical, environmental and/or industrial interest, as they disproportionately encode virulence factors and some antimicrobial resistance genes and may harbor entire metabolic pathways that confer a specific adaptation (solvent resistance, symbiosis properties, etc). As large-scale analyses of microbial genomes increases, such as for genomic epidemiology investigations of infectious disease outbreaks in public health, there is increased appreciation of the need to accurately predict and track GIs. Over the past decade, numerous computational tools have been developed to tackle the challenges inherent in accurate GI prediction. We review here the main types of GI prediction methods and discuss their advantages and limitations for a routine analysis of microbial genomes in this era of rapid whole-genome sequencing. An assessment is provided of 20 GI prediction software methods that use sequence-composition bias to identify the GIs, using a reference GI data set from 104 genomes obtained using an independent comparative genomics approach. Finally, we present guidelines to assist researchers in effectively identifying these key genomic regions.
REGGAE: a novel approach for the identification of key transcriptional regulators
Authors: Kehl Tim , Schneider Lara , Kattler Kathrin , Stöckel Daniel , Wegert Jenny , Gerstner Nico , Ludwig Nicole , Distler Ute , Schick Markus , Keller Ulrich , Tenzer Stefan , Gessler Manfred , Walter Jörn , Keller Andreas , Graf Norbert , Meese Eckart , Lenhof Hans-Peter
Published: May 2018

Motivation

Transcriptional regulators play a major role in most biological processes. Alterations in their activities are associated with a variety of diseases and in particular with tumor development and progression. Hence, it is important to assess the effects of deregulated regulators on pathological processes.

Results

Here, we present REGulator-Gene Association Enrichment (REGGAE), a novel method for the identification of key transcriptional regulators that have a significant effect on the expression of a given set of genes, e.g. genes that are differentially expressed between two sample groups. REGGAE uses a Kolmogorov–Smirnov-like test statistic that implicitly combines associations between regulators and their target genes with an enrichment approach to prioritize the influence of transcriptional regulators. We evaluated our method in two different application scenarios, which demonstrate that REGGAE is well suited for uncovering the influence of transcriptional regulators and is a valuable tool for the elucidation of complex regulatory mechanisms.

Availability and implementation

REGGAE is freely available at https://regulatortrail.bioinf.uni-sb.de.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Grouper: graph-based clustering and annotation for improved de novo transcriptome analysis
Authors: Malik Laraib , Almodaresi Fatemeh , Patro Rob
Published: May 2018

Motivation

De novo transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq offers a promising means to study gene expression in non-model organisms. Yet, the difficulty of transcriptome assembly means that the contigs provided by the assembler often represent a fractured and incomplete view of the transcriptome, complicating downstream analysis. We introduce Grouper, a new method for clustering contigs from de novo assemblies that are likely to belong to the same transcripts and genes; these groups can subsequently be analyzed more robustly. When provided with access to the genome of a related organism, Grouper can transfer annotations to the de novo assembly, further improving the clustering.

Results

On de novo assemblies from four different species, we show that Grouper is able to accurately cluster a larger number of contigs than the existing state-of-the-art method. The Grouper pipeline is able to map greater than 10% more reads against the contigs, leading to accurate downstream differential expression analyses. The labeling module, in the presence of a closely related annotated genome, can efficiently transfer annotations to the contigs and use this information to further improve clustering. Overall, Grouper provides a complete and efficient pipeline for processing de novo transcriptomic assemblies.

Availability and implementation

The Grouper software is freely available at https://github.com/COMBINE-lab/grouper under the 2-clause BSD license.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Optimal sampling rates for approximating analytic functions from pointwise samples
Authors: Adcock Ben , Platte Rodrigo B , Shadrin Alexei
Published: May 2018

We consider the problem of approximating an analytic function on a compact interval from its values at $M+1$ distinct points. When the points are equispaced, a recent result (the so-called impossibility theorem) has shown that the best possible convergence rate of a stable method is root-exponential in M, and that any method with faster exponential convergence must also be exponentially ill conditioned at a certain rate. This result hinges on a classical theorem of Coppersmith & Rivlin concerning the maximal behavior of polynomials bounded on an equispaced grid. In this paper, we first generalize this theorem to arbitrary point distributions. We then present an extension of the impossibility theorem valid for general nonequispaced points and apply it to the case of points that are equidistributed with respect to (modified) Jacobi weight functions. This leads to a necessary sampling rate for stable approximation from such points. We prove that this rate is also sufficient, and therefore exactly quantify (up to constants) the precise sampling rate for approximating analytic functions from such node distributions with stable methods. Numerical results—based on computing the maximal polynomial via a variant of the classical Remez algorithm—confirm our main theorems. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results for polynomial least-squares approximations. In particular, we theoretically confirm the well-known heuristic that stable least-squares approximation using polynomials of degree N < M is possible only once M is sufficiently large for there to be a subset of N of the nodes that mimic the behavior of the $N$th set of Chebyshev nodes.
Good intentions are not enough: how informatics interventions can worsen inequality
Authors: Veinot Tiffany C , Mitchell Hannah , Ancker Jessica S
Published: May 2018

Health informatics interventions are designed to help people avoid, recover from, or cope with disease and disability, or to improve the quality and safety of healthcare. Unfortunately, they pose a risk of producing intervention-generated inequalities (IGI) by disproportionately benefiting more advantaged people. In this perspective paper, we discuss characteristics of health-related interventions known to produce IGI, explain why health informatics interventions are particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon, and describe safeguards that can be implemented to improve health equity. We provide examples in which health informatics interventions produced inequality because they were more accessible to, heavily used by, adhered to, or effective for those from socioeconomically advantaged groups. We provide a brief outline of precautions that intervention developers and implementers can take to guard against creating or worsening inequality through health informatics. We conclude by discussing evaluation approaches that will ensure that IGIs are recognized and studied.
Military-Tailored Yoga for Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder†
Authors: Cushing Robin E , Braun Kathryn L , Alden, C-IAYT Susan W , Katz Alan R
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Among veterans of post-9/11 conflicts, estimates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) range from 9% shortly after returning from deployment to 31% a year after deployment. Clinical and pharmaceutically based treatments are underutilized. This could be due to concerns related to lost duty days, as well as PTSD patients’ fears of stigma of having a mental health condition. Yoga has been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms in the civilian population, but few studies have tested the impact of yoga on veterans of post-9/11 conflicts. The purpose of this study is to test the impact of yoga on post-9/11 veterans diagnosed with PTSD.

Materials and Methods

Participants were 18 yr of age or older and veterans of post-9/11 conflicts. They had subthreshold or diagnostic-level PTSD related to their combat military service, as determined by a score of 30 or higher on the PTSD Checklist-Military version (PCL-M). Veterans participated in 60-min weekly yoga sessions for 6 wk taught by a Warriors at Ease-trained yoga instructor who is a, post-9/11 veteran. The yoga sessions incorporated Vinyasa-style yoga and a trauma-sensitive, military-culture informed approach advocated by two separate organizations: Warriors at Ease and Meghan's Foundation. Data were collected at baseline and again after 7 wk. The primary outcome was PCL-M score. Participants also completed the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale at both time points.

Results

Eighteen Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn veterans completed the pre- and post-intervention self-report questionnaires. Age ranged from 26 to 62 yr (median = 43 yr), length of service ranged from 2 to 34 yr (median = 18.8 yr), and 13 (72.2%) had completed college. Decreased PTSD symptomatology was demonstrated in the three-symptom clusters represented in the PCL-M (i.e., hyperarousal, re-experiencing, and avoidance). In addition, the total score on the PCL-M decreased significantly, by both statistical and clinical measures. The participants also demonstrated improved mindfulness scores and reported decreased insomnia, depression, and anxiety symptoms.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that a trauma-sensitive yoga intervention may be effective for veterans with PTSD symptoms, whether as stand-alone or adjunctive therapy. The impressive decrease in PTSD symptomatology may be due to the tailored military-specific nature of this intervention and the fact that it was led by a veteran of post-9/11 conflicts. More research is needed with a larger sample and a more diverse veteran population.
Outcome After Clipping and Coiling for Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Clinical Practice in Europe, USA, and Australia
Authors: Lindgren Antti , Turner Ellie Bragan , Sillekens Tomas , Meretoja Atte , Lee Jin-Moo , Hemmen Thomas M , Koivisto Timo , Alberts Mark , Lemmens Robin , Jääskeläinen Juha E , Vergouwen Mervyn D I , Rinkel Gabriel J E ,   Stroke GOAL Group, Dr Foster Global Comparators Project, Dr Foster Ltd, Lemmens Robin , Rinkel Gabriel , Shaw Louise , Vaux Emma , Randall Marc , Spencer Mary , Lee Jin-Moo , Matzkiw Gudridur (“Peggy”) H , Rost Natalia , Hemmen Thomas , Alberts Mark , Tveiten Arnstein , Meretoja Atte ,   Dr Foster Unit at Imperial College London
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND

Within randomized clinical trials (RCTs), coiling of the ruptured aneurysm to prevent rebleeding results in better outcomes than clipping in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

OBJECTIVE

To study the association of coiling and clipping with outcome after aSAH in daily clinical practice.

METHODS

In this controlled, nonrandomized study, we compared outcomes after endovascular coiling and neurosurgical clipping of ruptured intracranial aneurysms in an administrative dataset of 7658 aSAH patients (22 tertiary care hospitals from Europe, USA, Australia; 2007-2013). Because the results contradicted those of the randomized trials, findings were further explored in a large clinical dataset from 2 European centers (2006-2016) of 1501 patients.

RESULTS

In the administrative dataset, the crude 14-d case-fatality rate was 6.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.6%-7.2%) after clipping and 8.2% (95% CI 7.4%-9.1%) after coiling. After adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidity/severity, the odds ratio (OR) for 14-d case-fatality after coiling compared to clipping was 1.32 (95% CI 1.10-1.58). In the clinical dataset crude 14-d case fatality rate was 5.7% (95% CI 4.2%-7.8%) for clipping and 9.0% (95% CI 7.3%-11.2%) for coiling. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the OR for 14-d case-fatality after coiling compared to clipping was 1.7 (95% CI 1.1–2.7), for 90-d case-fatality 1.28 (95% CI 0.91–1.82) and for 90-d poor functional outcome 0.78 (95% CI 0.6–1.01).

CONCLUSION

In clinical practice, coiling after aSAH is associated with higher 14-d case-fatality than clipping and nonsuperior outcomes at 90 d. Both options need to be considered in aSAH patients. Further studies should address the reasons for the discrepancy between current data and those from the RCTs.
Two-Year Clinical, Cerebral Hemodynamic, and Cognitive Outcomes of Adult Patients Undergoing Medication Alone for Symptomatically Ischemic Moyamoya Disease Without Cerebral Misery Perfusion: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Miyoshi Kenya , Chida Kohei , Kobayashi Masakazu , Kubo Yoshitaka , Yoshida Kenji , Terasaki Kazunori , Ogasawara Kuniaki
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND

In nonsurgical adult moyamoya disease (MMD) patients with ischemic onset and stable hemodynamics, the cerebral hemodynamic and cognitive course remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify, through a prospective cohort study, 2-yr clinical, cerebral hemodynamic, and cognitive outcomes of adult patients receiving medication alone for symptomatically ischemic MMD without cerebral misery perfusion.

METHODS

Seventy patients without cerebral misery perfusion on the first 15O gas positron emission tomography (PET) were clinically followed up for 2 yr. The second PET was performed at the end of the 2-yr follow-up. Neuropsychological tests were also performed at the study entry and the end of the 2-yr follow-up.

RESULTS

During the 2-yr follow-up period, 2 patients (3%) developed further cerebral ischemic symptoms and showed new cerebral misery perfusion on PET performed at recurrence. None of the 68 patients without further ischemic symptoms showed cerebral misery perfusion on second PET. All 66 patients who underwent the first and second neuropsychological tests displayed unchanged interval cognition at the 2-yr follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Among adult patients receiving medication alone for symptomatically ischemic MMD without cerebral misery perfusion, the incidence of recurrent ischemic events was 3% per 2 yr. In patients without recurrent ischemic events, cerebral hemodynamics and cognitive function had not deteriorated by 2 yr after the last event.
Virtual Reality Exploration and Planning for Precision Colorectal Surgery
Authors: Guerriero Ludovica , Quero Giuseppe , Diana Michele , Soler Luc , Agnus Vincent , Marescaux Jacques , Corcione Francesco
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND:

Medical software can build a digital clone of the patient with 3-dimensional reconstruction of Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine images. The virtual clone can be manipulated (rotations, zooms, etc), and the various organs can be selectively displayed or hidden to facilitate a virtual reality preoperative surgical exploration and planning.

OBJECTIVE:

We present preliminary cases showing the potential interest of virtual reality in colorectal surgery for both cases of diverticular disease and colonic neoplasms.

DESIGN:

This was a single-center feasibility study.

SETTINGS:

The study was conducted at a tertiary care institution.

PATIENTS:

Two patients underwent a laparoscopic left hemicolectomy for diverticular disease, and 1 patient underwent a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for cancer. The 3-dimensional virtual models were obtained from preoperative CT scans. The virtual model was used to perform preoperative exploration and planning. Intraoperatively, one of the surgeons was manipulating the virtual reality model, using the touch screen of a tablet, which was interactively displayed to the surgical team.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

The main outcome was evaluation of the precision of virtual reality in colorectal surgery planning and exploration.

RESULTS:

In 1 patient undergoing laparoscopic left hemicolectomy, an abnormal origin of the left colic artery beginning as an extremely short common trunk from the inferior mesenteric artery was clearly seen in the virtual reality model. This finding was missed by the radiologist on CT scan. The precise identification of this vascular variant granted a safe and adequate surgery. In the remaining cases, the virtual reality model helped to precisely estimate the vascular anatomy, providing key landmarks for a safer dissection.

LIMITATIONS:

A larger sample size would be necessary to definitively assess the efficacy of virtual reality in colorectal surgery.

CONCLUSIONS:

Virtual reality can provide an enhanced understanding of crucial anatomical details, both preoperatively and intraoperatively, which could contribute to improve safety in colorectal surgery.
Antegrade Enema After Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer: The Last Chance to Avoid Definitive Colostomy for Refractory Low Anterior Resection Syndrome and Fecal Incontinence
Authors: Didailler Romain , Denost Quentin , Loughlin Paula , Chabrun Edouard , Ricard Julie , Picard Flor , Zerbib Frank , Rullier Eric
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND:

Total mesorectal excision and preoperative radiotherapy in mid and low rectal cancer allow us to achieve very good oncological results. However, major and refractory low anterior resection syndrome and fecal incontinence alter the quality of life of patients with a long expected life span.

OBJECTIVE:

We assessed the functional results of patients treated by antegrade enema for refractory low anterior resection syndrome and fecal incontinence after total mesorectal excision.

DESIGN:

This is a prospective monocentric study from 2012 to 2016.

PATIENTS:

Patients who underwent percutaneous endoscopic cecostomy for refractory low anterior resection syndrome and fecal incontinence after total mesorectal excision were prospectively analyzed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

We assessed the morbidity of the procedure and compared low anterior resection syndrome score, Wexner score, and Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index before and after the use of antegrade enema.

RESULTS:

Of 25 patients treated by antegrade enema over the study period, 6 (24%) had a low anterior resection, 18 (72%) had a coloanal anastomosis, and 1 (4%) had a perineal colostomy. Postoperatively, the rate of local abscess was 8%, all treated by antibiotics. Low anterior resection syndrome score (33 vs 4, p < 0.001), Wexner score (16 vs 4, p <0.001), and Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (73 vs 104, p < 0.001) were all significantly improved after antegrade enema. The 2 main symptoms reported by patients were sweating (28%) and local pain (36%). At the end of the follow-up, 16% (n = 4) catheters were removed, and the rate of definitive colostomy was 12% (n = 3).

LIMITATIONS:

The main limitations of this study are the monocentric features and the sample size.

CONCLUSION:

Antegrade enema for major and refractory low anterior resection syndrome and fecal incontinence after total mesorectal excision appears to be a promising treatment to avoid definitive colostomy. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A608.
Alternatives to Biologics in Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hassan Fadi , Murrell William D. , Refalo Andrew , Maffulli Nicola
Published: May 2018

Background:

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common condition encountered by physicians. KOA is addressed by a wide array of modalities including a number of nonbiological treatments.

Methods:

PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus were searched for level 1 to 4 studies published from inception to August 2017.

Results:

A total of 18 studies were evaluated and results demonstrated moderate supporting evidence for prolotherapy and limited evidence for botulinum toxin type A, sodium bicarbonate and calcium gluconate, and low–molecular weight fraction of 5% human serum albumin. Evidence for local anesthetic agents was conflicting.

Conclusion:

There is moderate supportive evidence for the effectiveness of prolotherapy in improving pain and function in both, short-term and long-term. Limited supporting evidence found for botulinum toxin type A, sodium bicarbonate and calcium gluconate, and low–molecular weight fraction of 5% human serum albumin in improving pain and function. There is conflicting evidence for the use of local anesthetic agents in patients with KOA.
ACL Allograft: Advantages and When to Use
Authors: Brown Matthew J. , Carter Thomas
Published: May 2018

It is commonly recommended to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament in active patients; however, there is no consensus concerning the tissue source to use for the reconstruction. Bone-patellar tendon-bone and hamstring (semitendinosis +/− gracilis) autografts are most commonly used, with allografts being another option. Each tissue has its pros and cons, with allografts often cited as having higher failure rates. However, review of the literature comparing autografts and allografts have showed similar outcomes in age-matched adult populations. Some authors have had particular concern with using allografts in patients under 25 years of age, with several studies showing significantly higher failure rates with allografts versus autografts. More recent literature has shown than allografts can successfully be used in this younger age group with proper graft processing and compliance with a slower rehabilitation protocol.
bigSCale: an analytical framework for big-scale single-cell data
Authors: Iacono Giovanni , Mereu Elisabetta , Guillaumet-Adkins Amy , Corominas Roser , Cuscó Ivon , Rodríguez-Esteban Gustavo , Gut Marta , Pérez-Jurado Luis Alberto , Gut Ivo , Heyn Holger
Published: May 2018

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has significantly deepened our insights into complex tissues, with the latest techniques capable of processing tens of thousands of cells simultaneously. Analyzing increasing numbers of cells, however, generates extremely large data sets, extending processing time and challenging computing resources. Current scRNA-seq analysis tools are not designed to interrogate large data sets and often lack sensitivity to identify marker genes. With bigSCale, we provide a scalable analytical framework to analyze millions of cells, which addresses the challenges associated with large data sets. To handle the noise and sparsity of scRNA-seq data, bigSCale uses large sample sizes to estimate an accurate numerical model of noise. The framework further includes modules for differential expression analysis, cell clustering, and marker identification. A directed convolution strategy allows processing of extremely large data sets, while preserving transcript information from individual cells. We evaluated the performance of bigSCale using both a biological model of aberrant gene expression in patient-derived neuronal progenitor cells and simulated data sets, which underlines the speed and accuracy in differential expression analysis. To test its applicability for large data sets, we applied bigSCale to assess 1.3 million cells from the mouse developing forebrain. Its directed down-sampling strategy accumulates information from single cells into index cell transcriptomes, thereby defining cellular clusters with improved resolution. Accordingly, index cell clusters identified rare populations, such as reelin (Reln)-positive Cajal-Retzius neurons, for which we report previously unrecognized heterogeneity associated with distinct differentiation stages, spatial organization, and cellular function. Together, bigSCale presents a solution to address future challenges of large single-cell data sets.
Processing and analysis of X-ray photoelectron diffraction data using IGOR Pro
Authors: Liang Xihui , Lubin Christophe , Mathieu Claire , Barrett Nicholas
Published: May 2018

A software package is presented for nearly real-time display of diffractograms during X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD) data acquisition and for processing and analysis after an experiment. During the experiment, the package is able to automatically read X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data, perform initial data processing and project intensity values as XPD diffractograms. Four display modes are supported. After the experiment, the package is able to open, process and analyze XPD patterns. The processing functions include rotation, cropping, creating a full 2π pattern using symmetry operations, smoothing and converting a pattern to an image suitable for publication. The analysis functions include displaying polar angles, azimuthal angles, intensity, the core level spectrum at a selected angular data point, and azimuthal and radial profiles. The package also integrates fitting functions for core level spectra. The package is developed using the IGOR Pro scripting language. A graphical user interface has been developed to allow all the operations just by mouse clicking. The package is designed to interface directly with an XPD system at the Saclay center of the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Authority, but the algorithms are generally applicable and can be readily adapted to other XPD systems.
c-Oriented YBa2Cu3O7−δ film with embedded a-oriented grains grown by liquid phase epitaxy under fine-tuning supersaturation
Authors: Xiang Hui , Qian Jun , Wang Wei , Wan Yan , Yao Xin , Zhou Ligang
Published: May 2018

The performance of superconductor films is related to their crystallographic orientations, which are strongly dependent on the supersaturation (σ) in the solution used for liquid phase epitaxy (LPE). To date, except for two extreme states, low and high σ for the preparation of a- and c-axis-oriented YBa2Cu3O7−δ films, respectively, little attention has been directed toward intermediate σ, which is of great importance for achieving a variety of artificial microstructures that are in principle difficult to obtain by existing crystal growth methods. Here, a further step is taken towards the comprehension of how the crystallographic orientations and microstructure are correlated with supersaturation. Fine-tuning of σ to an intermediate state is realized by introducing an additional factor, namely the holding time, that adjusts the initially uncertain state to a certain and stable one. This factor is controlled along with the commonly used variables of the amount of fresh solvent material and the melting time. Consequently, for the first time, a composite epitaxial microstructure of a c-axis-oriented YBa2Cu3O7−δ film with embedded a-axis grains on a (110) NdGaO3 substrate was successfully grown by LPE. The epitaxial interface between a- and c-axis grains potentially serves as a flux pinning site. This work provides further insights into how control of artificial microstructures can be used to enhance superconducting properties.
Evolution of agriculture finance in India: a historical perspective
Authors: Bharti Nisha
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Lack of access to finance is one of the major contributing to low profitability in agriculture. Various policy interventions were performed for promoting access to finance. However, access to finance always remained one of the biggest challenges to Indian policymakers. The purpose of this paper is to explore the policy interventions in the areas of agriculture finance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper makes an attempt to explore the relation of earlier policy initiatives with the current microfinance industry as well. The data for the paper are collected from Reserve Bank of India Archive Museum at Pune. This Museum is having huge collection of archives of policy documents of the Indian financial sector and is one of its kinds in India.

Findings

The study concludes that many of the interventions of today were earlier experimented or proposed in the past but, due to some or the other reason those, interventions were not successful. The study concludes that if those interventions had been implemented that time, it would have taken India in one of the tops in the list of financial inclusion.

Originality/value

This paper is a unique in its feature as it has tried to link the evolution of agriculture finance and the microfinance industry of India as microfinance is an integral part of agricultural finance in India.
Locus of legitimacy and startup resource acquisition strategies
Authors: Yang Yi Ling , Lee Sungho , Kim Sahangsoon
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Theoretically, the paper aims to provide locus of legitimacy as a framework to not only introduce a multidimensional perspective on legitimacy but also expand the understanding about resource acquisition strategies of social enterprises. Empirically, the authors test the theoretical predictions by using cases from South Korea and Taiwan. Practically, the authors intend to assist chief executive officers (CEOs) of social enterprises in their effort to secure valuable resources and provide policy implications so that both South Korea and Taiwan learn from each other.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use case methods to find evidence of the proposed theoretical framework. The initial search for target companies showed that social enterprises in South Korea and Taiwan were ideal samples. In-person, email and phone interviews were conducted on CEOs, and archival data on institutional environments and various aspects of social enterprises were collected. Collected data were analyzed using the locus of legitimacy framework to find out how different emphasis on locus of legitimacy impacted critical decisions of social enterprise, such as human, financial and network resources.

Findings

As predicted in the locus of the legitimacy framework, the analyses confirmed that locus of legitimacy did explain critical decisions of social enterprises in South Korea and Taiwan. First, significant institutional forces existed, shaping social enterprises behavior. For example, Taiwanese Jinu showed that greater emphasis was given to internal legitimacy, while South Korean Sohwa was higher in external locus of legitimacy. Such differences systematically impacted choices made on resource acquisition strategies. Jinu showed a greater similarity to those of for-profit companies, aligning key decisions of resource acquisition strategies to achieve financial viability as a top priority. However, Sohwa, though financial performance was still important, put more emphasis on meeting institutional demands from South Korean Government.

Originality/value

This study is one of early studies that attempts to understand the structure of legitimacy faced by social enterprises. The authors argue that organizations can play a more proactive role in securing legitimacy. The authors believe that locus of legitimacy framework complements the existing understanding about legitimacy in institutional theory. By introducing a multidimensional perspective about legitimacy, the authors add additional explanations about how firms exposed to different institutional forces can have diverse alternatives in resource acquisition strategies.
Japanese government venture capital: what should we know?
Authors: Kirihata Tetsuya
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the implication of Japanese government venture capital (VC) policies for future research and to provide basis for policymakers and practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an academic literature review of available peer-reviewed publications on government VC policies. This paper discusses and analyses the current state and issues of the Japanese government VC policies regarding three research questions: What do Japanese government VCs do? Do they contribute to their portfolios? and Do they contribute to the development of VC market?

Findings

There are mainly two findings in this paper: It is effective to establish a complementary relationship with private VCs for Japanese government VCs to contribute to their portfolios; Japanese government should simultaneously continue to make and review policies for the VC market, the stock market, the entrepreneur sector and the environment surrounding them by its strategic long-term commitment to contribute to the development of VC market and new technology-based firms in Japan.

Originality/value

As there are only a few studies on recently strengthened Japanese government VC policies, this paper provides an in-depth discussion on these Japanese VC policies, which can be used for future research and as a valuable resource for policymakers and practitioners.
Examining the effects of interorganizational learning on performance: a meta-analysis
Authors: Rajala Anni
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Relationship learning is viewed as an important factor in enhancing competitiveness and an important determinant of profitability in relationships. Prior studies have acknowledged the positive effects of interorganizational learning on performance, but the performance measures applied have varied. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between interorganizational learning and different types of performance. The paper also goes beyond direct effects by investigating the moderating effects of different research designs.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper applies a meta-analytic approach to systematically analyze 21 independent studies (N = 4,618) to reveal the relationship between interorganizational learning and performance.

Findings

The findings indicate that interorganizational learning is an important predictor of performance, and that the effects of interorganizational learning on performance differ in magnitude under different research conditions.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focuses on interorganizational learning, and during the data collection, some related topics were excluded from the data search to retain the focus on learning.

Practical implications

The study evinces the breadth of the field of interorganizational learning and how different research designs affect research results. Moreover, this meta-analysis indicates the need for greater clarity when defining the concepts used in studies and for definitions of the concepts applied in the field of interorganizational learning to be unified.

Originality/value

This study is the first to meta-analytically synthesize literature on interorganizational learning. It also illuminates new perspectives for future studies within this field.
Factors affecting operation and maintenance cost of hotels
Authors: Ihsan Bakhter , Alshibani Adel
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify, assess, rank, and compare the most influencing factors in three-, four-, and five-star hotels in the Eastern Province in Saudi Arabia.

Design/methodology/approach

A combination of literature and interviewing of ten local experts have resulted in the identification of 46 factors. Through a web-based questionnaire survey, the identified factors were ranked. A total of 23 responses were gathered from the full population of the 47 hotels (14 five-star, 15 four-star and 18 three-star hotels) in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. A reliable overall response rate of 50 percent was achieved.

Findings

The most important factors affecting the operating and maintenance cost of five-star hotels are “climatic conditions” followed by “availability of the materials,” “annual energy consumption rate,” and “efficient energy consuming equipment.” Regarding four-star hotels, those factors are “star rating of the hotel” followed by “customer satisfaction,” “occupancy rate,” and “efficient energy consuming equipment.” Finally, the top-ranked factors for three-star hotels are “climatic conditions” followed by “floor area,” “glass and non-glass façade,” and “occupancy rate.”

Research limitations/implications

The most important factors affecting the operating and maintenance cost of five-star hotels are “climatic conditions” followed by “availability of the materials,” “annual energy consumption rate,” and “efficient energy consuming equipment.” Regarding four-star hotels, those factors are “star rating of the hotel” chased by “customer satisfaction,” “occupancy rate,” and “efficient energy consuming equipment.” Finally, the top-ranked factors for three-star hotels are “climatic conditions” followed by “floor area,” “glass and non-glass façade,” and “occupancy rate.” The shared concern point between the respondents of all three groups of hotels is relevant to the energy department, which keeps the facility running.

Originality/value

This paper is original in the sense that the areas of knowledge and practice covered in the identified factors were distributed and not available in one source. The factors are derived from personal interviews with the selected operation and maintenance/engineering managers of all three classes of hotels, and from the relevant literature.
Bart's syndrome in a family affected three consecutive generations with mutation c.6007G>A in COL7A1
Authors: Chen Zhiming , Bu Wenbo , Feng Suying , Wang Hongsheng
Published: May 2018

Bart's syndrome (BS), characterized by aplasia cutis congenita (ACC, also called congenital localized absence of skin) and epidermolysis bullosa (EB), is diagnosed clinically based on the disorder's unique signs and symptoms. We report the case of a family, three members of which presented with ACC at birth and one had blisters on the mucous membranes. The patient was treated conservatively with topical antibacterial ointment and wet gauze dressing. Periodic follow up showed complete healing with minimal scarring. Whole‐exome sequencing confirmed a heterozygous mutation (rs121912832, c.6007G>A, p.G2003R) within exon 73 of COL7A1, which was confirmed by the only two genetic studies available, is suggested to be the molecular basis for the family's disorder. As a consequence, we suggest that c.6007G>A within exon 73 of COL7A1 could be a specific mutation for BS in antenatal screening. It is of great value to extend the genetic test among affected families and uncover the mechanism behind this unique syndrome.
S‐wave kinematics in acoustic transversely isotropic media with a vertical symmetry axis
Authors: Jin Song , Stovas Alexey
Published: May 2018

Acoustic transversely isotropic models are widely used in seismic exploration for P‐wave processing and analysis. In isotropic acoustic media only P‐wave can propagate, while in an acoustic transversely isotropic medium both P and S waves propagate. In this paper, we focus on kinematic properties of S‐wave in acoustic transversely isotropic media. We define new parameters better suited for S‐wave kinematics analysis. We also establish the travel time and relative geometrical spreading equations and analyse their properties. To illustrate the behaviour of the S‐wave in multi‐layered acoustic transversely isotropic media, we define the Dix‐type equations that are different from the ones widely used for the P‐wave propagation.
Simultaneous Determination of 13 Anticoagulant Rodenticidesin Human Blood by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry and its Application in Three Poisoning Cases
Authors: Qiao Zheng , Xiang Ping , Shen Baohua , Shen Min , Yan Hui
Published: May 2018

Anticoagulant rodenticides are widely used for rodent control around the world. A rapid and sensitive method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 13 anticoagulant rodenticides (coumafuryl, pindone, valone, warfarin, coumatetralyl, coumachlor, diphacinone, dicumarol, chlorophacinone, bromadiolone, difenacoum, flocoumafen, and brodifacoum) in human blood by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. After liquid–liquid extraction, the anticoagulant rodenticides were separated on an Eclipse Plus C18 column. Linearities were observed for each analyte in blood ranging from 0.5 to 50 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients over 0.99. The limits of detection ranged from 0.01 to 0.2 ng/mL, and the limits of quantification were 0.5 ng/mL for all analytes. The intraday and interday precisions were <15%, and accuracies ranged from 80.3% to 111.0%. This validated method with high sensitivity has been applied in three anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning cases and has been used successfully in monitoring blood concentrations for months.
Prevention of post‐sphincterotomy bleeding by proton pump inhibitor: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Leung Wai K , But David YK , Wong Siu‐Yin , Tong Teresa SM , Liu Kevin SH , Cheung Ka‐Shing , Tsang Simon HY , Chok Kenneth SH , Poon Ronnie TP , Hung Ivan FN
Published: May 2018

OBJECTIVE

Post‐endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) bleeding is one of the most frequent complications of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Although the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduces the risk of peptic ulcer bleeding, their role in preventing EST bleeding has not been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the use of pre‐emptive PPIs in patients undergoing EST.

METHODS

This was an investigator‐initiated, open‐label, randomized study. Consecutive patients scheduled to undergo ERCP and EST were enrolled after excluding those who had previous EST or used acid‐suppression agents. Eligible patients were randomized to receive either PPI or standard care. The PPI group received intravenous esomeprazole 4 h before the EST and then every 12 h for 1 day, followed by high‐dose oral esomeprazole for 10 days. All patients were followed up for 30 days. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with combined immediate and delayed overt post‐EST bleeding.

RESULTS

Altogether 125 patients (60 in the PPI arm and 65 in the standard care arm) who had undergone EST were analyzed. Immediate bleeding was noted in nine (15.0%) patients in the PPI group and four (6.2%) in the standard care group (P = 0.14). Overt delayed post‐EST bleeding was seen in two (3.3%) and five (7.7%) patients in PPI and standard care arms, respectively (P = 0.44). There were no significant differences in other outcomes, including a decrease in hemoglobin of >20 g/L, the need for blood transfusion, length of hospital stay and 30‐day mortality.

CONCLUSION

Pre‐emptive PPI did not reduce the risk of post‐EST bleeding.
Will housing tenure drive unequal outcomes for Consumer‐Directed Care recipients?
Authors: Cornell Victoria
Published: May 2018

Initiatives to promote consumer choice are increasingly a feature of Australian welfare policies and programs. Consumer Directed Care (CDC) for older people and the National Disability Insurance Scheme for people younger than 65 years with a disability are two examples of this move towards consumer choice in policy and program development. The ability for service users to benefit from these programs is premised on the fact that their housing is stable and suitable. Yet, there is evidence that this is not the case, and many older people and people with disabilities experience significant housing challenges and stress. This article focuses on CDC and its implications for one particular group under housing stress – low‐income older renters. Might they be at risk of limited access to home care services, and what are the broader local neighbourhood implications of this policy?
Hydroxychloroquine retinal toxicity in two patients with dermatological conditions
Authors: Kowalski Tanya , Baker Christopher , Mack Heather G
Published: May 2018

Two patients with dermatological conditions developed retinal toxicity after treatment with hydroxychloroquine that exceeded dosing recommendations. There is no treatment for hydroxychloroquine retinal toxicity and associated visual loss, so appropriate monitoring is imperative. All members of a patient's multidisciplinary team should be aware of the ocular risks of hydroxychloroquine, the importance of dosing within recommended guidelines and appropriate monitoring in reducing the risk of visual loss.