bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The EACTS simulation-based training course for endoscopic mitral valve repair: an air-pilot training concept in action
Authors: Sardari Nia Peyman , Heuts Samuel , Daemen Jean H T , Olsthoorn Jules R , Chitwood W Randolph , Maessen Jos G
Published: January 2020

OBJECTIVES

We have developed a high-fidelity minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) simulator that provides a platform to train skills in an objective and reproducible manner, which has been incorporated in the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery (EACTS) endoscopic mitral valve repair course. The aim of the study is to provide data on the application of simulation-based training in MIMVS using an air-pilot training concept.

METHODS

The 2-day EACTS endoscopic mitral training course design was based on backwards chaining, pre- and post-assessment, performance feedback, hands-on training on MIMVS, theoretical content and follow-up. One hundred two participants who completed the full programme throughout 2016–2018 in the EACTS endoscopic mitral training courses were enrolled in the current study.

RESULTS

Of the 102 participants, 83 (83.3%) participants were staff/attending surgeons, 12 (11.8%) participants had finished residency and 5 (4.9%) participants were residents. Theoretical pre- and post-assessment showed that participants scored significantly higher on post-assessment (median score 58% vs 67%, P < 0.001). Pre- and post-assessment of skills on MIMVS showed that participants could work with long-shafted instruments more accurately (suture accuracy 43% vs 99%, P < 0.001) and faster (87 vs 42 s, P < 0.001). Follow-up, based on course evaluation and a survey, had a response rate of 55% (57 participants). Of all surveyed participants, 33.3% (n = 19) had started an endoscopic mitral programme successfully, while 66.7% (n = 38) did not yet start.

CONCLUSIONS

The MIMVS is a valuable tool for the development and assessment of endoscopic mitral repair skills. This EACTS course provides surgeons with theoretical knowledge and necessary skills to start an endoscopic mitral valve programme successfully.
The Application and Effectiveness of Prototype Theory in The New Oxford English-Chinese Dictionary
Authors: Lingzhen Dai , Yanyan Huang
Published: January 2020

The New Oxford English-Chinese Dictionary (NOECD) is a bilingualized dictionary based on the New Oxford Dictionary of English (NODE), which is likely the first dictionary to claim explicitly to put prototype theory into dictionary making. Assessments of the effectiveness of this move vary, but so far, no empirical study has been conducted to examine it. This paper reports two studies of the application of prototype theory in NOECD. The first regards the use of the theory in defining and sense organising, and the second concerns users’ perception of the effectiveness of the organisation of sense. The first study is qualitative, and it examines how prototype theory is exhibited in defining and sense organising. The second study is empirical and consists of a test of dictionary users’ vocabulary retention and some follow-up questions. In this second study, it was found that the prototype strategy adopted by NOECD, of identifying a core sense and grouping subsenses around it, contributed little to improving user efficiency in memorising word meanings. Several possible reasons are proposed to account for the ineffectiveness: the influence of L1, limitations of prototype theory, users’ inadequate dictionary skills and others. It is concluded that these challenges could be addressed by compiling nation-specific dictionaries for specific users. Dictionary training should be an inseparable part of language learning to improve users’ dictionary skills and awareness.
Strategies to implement community training to promote responsible self-medication in Indonesia: a qualitative study of trainers
Authors: Setiadi Adji P , Wibowo Yosi I , Setiawan Eko , Mulyono Ika , Wardhani Susilo A , Sunderland Bruce
Published: January 2020

Background

A community-based approach has been identified as one key strategy to improve the health of Indonesians. In 2015, the government initiated the ‘Smart Use of Medications Movement’ (GeMa CerMat) to promote responsible self-medication. This study aims to explore pharmacist/pharmacy staff trainers’ views on strategies to implement GeMa CerMat community training.

Methods

Four focus group discussions were conducted with 38 pharmacist/pharmacy staff trainers in Ngawi, Indonesia and a thematic analysis was used to obtain the key strategies.

Results

The identified key strategies were building community readiness via well-designed training (considering participant characteristics, training methods, and materials and resources); policy, regulation and organizational support; access to training in a cultural context; communication media to promote training and the inclusion of active-learning tools.

Conclusions

These identified multilevel strategies require collaboration among national bodies and the involvement of trusted community members (‘change agents’). A new strategy using ‘active learning tools’ was necessary to build critical thinking and understanding of the use of medications in everyday life. Future research should focus on process, impact and outcome evaluation involving GeMa CerMat training implementation and sustainability in Indonesia.
Attenuating seismic noise via incoherent dictionary learning
Authors: Wu Juan , Bai Min
Published: January 2020

We propose to apply an incoherent dictionary learning algorithm for reducing random noise in seismic data. The image denoising algorithm based on incoherent dictionary learning is proposed for solving the problem of losing partial texture information using traditional image denoising methods. The noisy image is firstly divided into different image patches, and those patches are extracted for dictionary learning. Then, we introduce the incoherent dictionary learning technology to update the dictionary. Finally, sparse representation problem is solved to obtain sparse representation coefficients by sparse coding algorithm. The denoised data can be obtained by reconstructing the image using the sparse coefficients. Application of the incoherent dictionary learning method to seismic images presents successful performance and demonstrates its superiority to the state-of-the-art denoising methods.
Adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer
Authors: Shien Tadahiko , Iwata Hiroji
Published: January 2020

Systemic therapies for operable breast cancer patients have improved outcomes and have thus become standard treatments. Recently, new molecular target drugs and regimens are being developed based on the predicted sensitivity for specific breast cancer histological types. Systemic therapy is selected according to recurrence risk, with the treatment for low-risk patients being de-escalated, while high-risk patients receive aggressive systemic treatment with an adequate dose and duration. Neoadjuvant systemic therapy has a different aim. The efficacy of systemic therapies, based on the sensitivities to drugs, is supported by improvements in the rate of breast-conserving therapy. The response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy is the most important factor for predicting outcomes and selecting the optimal adjuvant therapy. Novel biological markers unique to individual patients allow appropriate targeted therapy, which can achieve optimal efficacy.
Plant growth under suboptimal water conditions: early responses and methods to study them
Authors: Dubois Marieke , Inzé Dirk
Published: January 2020

Drought stress forms a major environmental constraint during the life cycle of plants, often decreasing plant yield and in extreme cases threatening survival. The molecular and physiological responses induced by drought have been the topic of extensive research during the past decades. Because soil-based approaches to studying drought responses are often challenging due to low throughput and insufficient control of the conditions, osmotic stress assays in plates were developed to mimic drought. Addition of compounds such as polyethylene glycol, mannitol, sorbitol, or NaCl to controlled growth media has become increasingly popular since it offers the advantage of accurate control of stress level and onset. These osmotic stress assays enabled the discovery of very early stress responses, occurring within seconds or minutes following osmotic stress exposure. In this review, we construct a detailed timeline of early responses to osmotic stress, with a focus on how they initiate plant growth arrest. We further discuss the specific responses triggered by different types and severities of osmotic stress. Finally, we compare short-term plant responses under osmotic stress versus in-soil drought and discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and future of these plate-based proxies for drought.
Aesthetic Emotions
Authors: Robinson Jenefer
Published: January 2020

This paper investigates what I call aesthetic emotions in the “traditional” sense going back to Burke and Kant. According to Kant, aesthetic pleasure is disinterested, and so maybe for Kant aesthetic emotions would be too, for Kant, but emotions by their very nature cannot be disinterested. After dismissing the idea that aesthetic emotions are a special kind of distanced emotions or refined emotions, I extract from the writings of Clive Bell, Peter Kivy, and Peter Lamarque the view that aesthetic emotions are positive, pleasurable, consummatory emotions—emotions of appreciation—which are noninstrumental and which take as their intentional objects the intrinsic qualities of an artwork, more particularly, its formal interrelationships and the way that the overall formal structure of an artwork molds its content.
Structural basis of the fanconi anemia-associated mutations within the FANCA and FANCG complex
Authors: Jeong Eunyoung , Lee Seong-Gyu , Kim Hyun-Suk , Yang Jihyeon , Shin Jinwoo , Kim Youngran , Kim Jihan , Schärer Orlando D , Kim Youngjin , Yeo Jung-Eun , Kim Ho Min , Cho Yunje
Published: January 2020

Monoubiquitination of the Fanconi anemia complementation group D2 (FANCD2) protein by the FA core ubiquitin ligase complex is the central event in the FA pathway. FANCA and FANCG play major roles in the nuclear localization of the FA core complex. Mutations of these two genes are the most frequently observed genetic alterations in FA patients, and most point mutations in FANCA are clustered in the C-terminal domain (CTD). To understand the basis of the FA-associated FANCA mutations, we determined the cryo-electron microscopy (EM) structures of Xenopus laevis FANCA alone at 3.35 Å and 3.46 Å resolution and two distinct FANCA–FANCG complexes at 4.59 and 4.84 Å resolution, respectively. The FANCA CTD adopts an arc-shaped solenoid structure that forms a pseudo-symmetric dimer through its outer surface. FA- and cancer-associated point mutations are widely distributed over the CTD. The two different complex structures capture independent interactions of FANCG with either FANCA C-terminal HEAT repeats, or the N-terminal region. We show that mutations that disturb either of these two interactions prevent the nuclear localization of FANCA, thereby leading to an FA pathway defect. The structure provides insights into the function of FANCA CTD, and provides a framework for understanding FA- and cancer-associated mutations.
SENEBLOC, a long non-coding RNA suppresses senescence via p53-dependent and independent mechanisms
Authors: Xu Cheng Lin , Sang Ben , Liu Guang Zhi , Li Jin Ming , Zhang Xu Dong , Liu Lian Xin , Thorne Rick F , Wu Mian
Published: January 2020

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as important biological tuners. Here, we reveal the role of an uncharacterized lncRNA we call SENEBLOC that is expressed by both normal and transformed cells under homeostatic conditions. SENEBLOC was shown to block the induction of cellular senescence through dual mechanisms that converge to repress the expression of p21. SENEBLOC facilitates the association of p53 with MDM2 by acting as a scaffold to promote p53 turnover and decrease p21 transactivation. Alternatively, SENEBLOC was shown to affect epigenetic silencing of the p21 gene promoter through regulation of HDAC5. Thus SENEBLOC drives both p53-dependent and p53-independent mechanisms that contribute to p21 repression. Moreover, SENEBLOC was shown to be involved in both oncogenic and replicative senescence, and from the perspective of senolytic agents we show that the antagonistic actions of rapamycin on senescence are dependent on SENEBLOC expression.
Identifying critically important cardiovascular outcomes for trials in hemodialysis: an international survey with patients, caregivers and health professionals
Authors: O’Lone Emma , Howell Martin , Viecelli Andrea K , Craig Jonathan C , Tong Allison , Sautenet Benedicte , Herrington William G , Herzog Charles A , Jafar Tazeen H , Jardine Meg , Krane Vera , Levin Adeera , Malyszko Jolanta , Rocco Michael V , Strippoli Giovanni , Tonelli Marcello , Wang Angela Yee-Moon , Wanner Christoph , Zannad Faiez , Winkelmayer Wolfgang C , Wheeler David C
Published: January 2020

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in people on hemodialysis (HD). Cardiovascular outcomes are reported infrequently and inconsistently across trials in HD. This study aimed to identify the priorities of patients/caregivers and health professionals (HPs) for CVD outcomes to be incorporated into a core outcome set reported in all HD trials.

Methods

In an international online survey, participants rated the absolute importance of 10 cardiovascular outcomes (derived from a systematic review) on a 9-point Likert scale, with 7–9 being critically important. The relative importance was determined using a best–worst scale. Likert means, medians and proportions and best–worst preference scores were calculated for each outcome. Comments were thematically analyzed.

Results

Participants included 127 (19%) patients/caregivers and 549 (81%) HPs from 53 countries, of whom 530 (78%) completed the survey in English and 146 (22%) in Chinese. All but one cardiovascular outcome (‘valve replacement’) was rated as critically important (Likert 7–9) by all participants; ‘sudden cardiac death’, ‘heart attack’, ‘stroke’ and ‘heart failure’ were all rated at the top by patients/caregivers (median Likert score 9). Patients/caregivers ranked the same four outcomes as the most important outcomes with mean preference scores of 6.2 (95% confidence interval 4.8–7.5), 5.9 (4.6–7.2), 5.3 (4.0–6.6) and 4.9 (3.6–6.3), respectively. The same four outcomes were ranked most highly by HPs. We identified five themes underpinning the prioritization of outcomes: ‘clinical equipoise and potential for intervention’, ‘specific or attributable to HD’, ‘severity or impact on the quality of life’, ‘strengthen knowledge and education’, and ‘inextricably linked burden and risk’.

Conclusions

Patients and HPs believe that all cardiovascular outcomes are of critical importance but consistently identify sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure as the most important outcomes to be measured in all HD trials.
Sodium, volume and pressure control in haemodialysis patients for improved cardiovascular outcomes
Authors: Pinter Jule , Chazot Charles , Stuard Stefano , Moissl Ulrich , Canaud Bernard
Published: January 2020

Chronic volume overload is pervasive in patients on chronic haemodialysis and substantially increases the risk of cardiovascular death. The rediscovery of the three-compartment model in sodium metabolism revolutionizes our understanding of sodium (patho-)physiology and is an effect modifier that still needs to be understood in the context of hypertension and end-stage kidney disease. Assessment of fluid overload in haemodialysis patients is central yet difficult to achieve, because traditional clinical signs of volume overload lack sensitivity and specificity. The highest all-cause mortality risk may be found in haemodialysis patients presenting with high fluid overload but low blood pressure before haemodialysis treatment. The second highest risk may be found in patients with both high blood pressure and fluid overload, while high blood pressure but normal fluid overload may only relate to moderate risk. Optimization of fluid overload in haemodialysis patients should be guided by combining the traditional clinical evaluation with objective measurements such as bioimpedance spectroscopy in assessing the risk of fluid overload. To overcome the tide of extracellular fluid, the concept of time-averaged fluid overload during the interdialytic period has been established and requires possible readjustment of a negative target post-dialysis weight. 23Na-magnetic resonance imaging studies will help to quantitate sodium accumulation and keep prescribed haemodialytic sodium mass balance on the radar. Cluster-randomization trials (e.g. on sodium removal) are underway to improve our therapeutic approach to cardioprotective haemodialysis management.
Two Weeks of Smoking Cessation Reverse Cigarette Smoke-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Mice
Authors: Ajime Tom Tanjeko , Serré Jef , Wüst Rob C I , Messa Guy Anselme Mpaka , Poffé Chiel , Swaminathan Anandini , Maes Karen , Janssens Wim , Troosters Thierry , Degens Hans , Gayan-Ramirez Ghislaine
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Apart from its adverse effects on the respiratory system, cigarette smoking also induces skeletal muscle atrophy and dysfunction. Whether short-term smoking cessation can restore muscle mass and function is unknown. We, therefore, studied the impact of 1- and 2-week smoking cessation on skeletal muscles in a mouse model.

Methods

Male mice were divided into four groups: Air-exposed (14 weeks); cigarette smoke (CS)-exposed (14 weeks); CS-exposed (13 weeks) followed by 1-week cessation; CS-exposed (12 weeks) followed by 2 weeks cessation to examine exercise capacity, physical activity levels, body composition, muscle function, capillarization, mitochondrial function and protein expression in the soleus, plantaris, and diaphragm muscles.

Results

CS-induced loss of body and muscle mass was significantly improved within 1 week of cessation due to increased lean and fat mass. Mitochondrial respiration and protein levels of the respiratory complexes in the soleus were lower in CS-exposed mice, but similar to control values after 2 weeks of cessation. Exposing isolated soleus muscles to CS extracts reduced mitochondrial respiration that was reversed after removing the extract. While physical activity was reduced in all groups, exercise capacity, limb muscle force, fatigue resistance, fiber size and capillarization, and diaphragm cytoplasmic HIF-1α were unaltered by CS-exposure. However, CS-induced diaphragm atrophy and increased capillary density were not seen after 2 weeks of smoking cessation.

Conclusion

In male mice, 2 weeks of smoking cessation reversed smoking-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, limb muscle mass loss, and diaphragm muscle atrophy, highlighting immediate benefits of cessation on skeletal muscles.

Implications

Our study demonstrates that CS-induced skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction and atrophy are significantly improved by 2 weeks of cessation in male mice. We show for the first time that smoking cessation as short as 1 to 2 weeks is associated with immediate beneficial effects on skeletal muscle structure and function with the diaphragm being particularly sensitive to CS-exposure and cessation. This could help motivate smokers to quit smoking as early as possible. The knowledge that smoking cessation has potential positive extrapulmonary effects is particularly relevant for patients referred to rehabilitation programs and those admitted to hospitals suffering from acute or chronic muscle deterioration yet struggling with smoking cessation.
Learning from Our Mistakes: Public Management Reform and the Hope of Open Government
Authors: Ingrams Alex , Piotrowski Suzanne , Berliner Daniel
Published: January 2020

In public administration today, many new reform ideas mingle, offering new diagnoses of governmental problems and courses of action. But scholars have highlighted reasons why we should doubt the optimistic claims of reformists. A new set of policy tools called “open government” arrived nearly a decade ago, and scholars have not yet explained its origins or prospects as specific approach to management reform. In this article, we address this lacuna. We compare open government with three other historic reforms, and analyze how likely its ideas are to bear fruit. In so doing, we introduce a framework for evaluating risks inherent in any new reform approach. We conclude that the challenges faced by open government are both new and old, but—like all reform approaches—they result from management challenges in reconciling competing interests and values that raise tensions and can lead to unexpected consequences. We argue that these will need careful attention if the open government approach is to have any hope of succeeding.
A new Canadian inception cohort for juvenile idiopathic arthritis: The Canadian Alliance of Pediatric Rheumatology Investigators Registry
Authors: Batthish Michelle , Berard Roberta , Cabral David , Bolaria Roxana , Chédeville Gaëlle , Duffy Ciaran , Gerhold Kerstin , Gerschman Tommy , Huber Adam , Proulx-Gauthier Jean-Philippe , Rosenberg Alan , Rumsey Dax , Schmeling Heinrike , Shiff Natalie , Soon Gordon , Bruns Alessandra , Tucker Lori , Guzman Jaime ,   for The Canadian Alliance of Pediatric Rheumatology Investigators
Published: January 2020

Objectives

The aim was to describe the design, methods and initial findings of a new Canadian inception cohort of children with JIA, The Canadian Alliance of Pediatric Rheumatology Investigators (CAPRI) JIA Registry.

Methods

The CAPRI JIA Registry was started in 2017 to collect information prospectively on children enrolled within 3 months of JIA diagnosis across Canada. The registry has a non-traditional modular design, with no artificially set times for registry visits to occur, streamlined multi-method data collection that requires 2–4 min per visit, and reports cumulative incidence of treatments, outcomes and adverse events calculated by Kaplan–Meier survival methods.

Results

A total of 166 patients, enrolled a median of 6 weeks after JIA diagnosis at 10 centres, were included. The median age at diagnosis was 9 years [interquartile range (IQR) 3, 13], 61% were female and 51% had oligoarticular JIA. The median three-variable clinical Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score was 6.5 (IQR 4, 10) at enrolment, and the median time to first attainment of clinically inactive disease (CID) was 24 weeks (by 1 year, 81%). Within 1 year of diagnosis, 70% of patients had started a DMARD and 35% a biologic agent. The rates of adverse events and serious adverse events were 60 and 5.8 per 100 patient-years, respectively.

Conclusion

This streamlined and flexible registry minimizes the burden of data collection and interference with clinic operations. Initial findings suggest that treatments for newly diagnosed patients with JIA in Canada have intensified, and now 81% of patients attain CID within 1 year of diagnosis.
A mathematical model for simulating the transmission of Wuhan novel Coronavirus
Authors: Chen Tianmu , Rui Jia , Wang Qiupeng , Zhao Zeyu , Cui Jing-An , Yin Ling
Published: January 2020

As reported by the World Health Organization, a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified as the causative virus of Wuhan pneumonia of unknown etiology by Chinese authorities on 7 January, 2020. In this study, we developed a Bats-Hosts-Reservoir-People transmission network model for simulating the potential transmission from the infection source (probable be bats) to the human infection. Since the Bats-Hosts-Reservoir network was hard to explore clearly and public concerns were focusing on the transmission from a seafood market (reservoir) to people, we simplified the model as Reservoir-People transmission network model. The basic reproduction number (R0) was calculated from the RP model to assess the transmissibility of the 2019-nCoV.
Lung type II alveolar epithelial cells collaborate with CCR2+inflammatory monocytes in host defense against an acute vaccinia infection in the lungs
Authors: Yang Ning , Luna Joseph M. , Dai Peihong , Wang Yi , Rice Charles M. , Deng Liang
Published: January 2020

The pulmonary immune system consists of a network of tissue-resident cells as well as immune cells that are recruited to the lungs during infection and/or inflammation. How the two immune components cross-talk during an acute viral infection is not well understood. Intranasal infection of mice with vaccinia virus causes lethal pneumonia and systemic dissemination. Here we report that vaccinia host range protein C7 is a critical virulence factor. Vaccinia virus with deletion of C7 (VACVΔC7L) is non-pathogenic in wild-type C57BL/6J mice, but it gains virulence in mice lacking STAT2, or IFNAR1, or MDA5/STING. We provide evidence that lung type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) provide first-line of defense against VACVΔC7L infection by inducing IFN-β and IFN-stimulated genes via the activation of the MDA5 and STING-mediated nucleic acid-sensing pathways. This leads to recruitment of CCR2+inflammatory monocytes into the lungs to fight against viral dissemination.
The US federal crop insurance program: a case study in rent seeking
Authors: Smith Vincent H.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Rent seeking is endemic to the process through which any policy or regulatory initiative is developed in the USA. The purpose of this paper is to show how farm and other interest groups have formed coalitions to benefit themselves at the expense of the federal government by examining the legislative history of the federal crop insurance program.

Design/methodology/approach

The federal crop insurance legislation and the way in which the USDA Risk Management Agency manages federal crop insurance program are replete with complex and subtle policy initiatives. Using a new theoretical framework, the study examines how, since 1980, three major legislative initiatives – the 1980 Federal Crop Insurance Act, the 1994 Crop Insurance Reform Act and the 2000 Agricultural Risk Protection Act – were designed to jointly benefit farm interest groups and the agricultural insurance industry, largely through increases in government subsidies.

Findings

Each of the three legislative initiatives examined here included provisions that, when considered individually, benefitted farmers and adversely affected the insurance industry, and vice versa. However, the joint effects of the multiple adjustments included in each of those legislative initiatives generated net benefits for both sets of interest groups. The evidence, therefore, indicates that coalitions formed between the farm and insurance lobbies to obtain policy changes that, when aggregated, benefited both groups, as well as banks with agricultural lending portfolios. However, those benefits came at an increasingly substantial cost to taxpayers through federal government subsidies.

Originality/value

This is the first analysis of the US federal crop insurance program to examine the issue of coalition formation.
Hydrodynamic and thermal analysis of water, ethylene glycol and water-ethylene glycol as base fluids dispersed by aluminum oxide nano-sized solid particles
Authors: Menni Younes , Chamkha Ali J. , Massarotti Nicola , Ameur Houari , Kaid Noureddine , Bensafi Mohammed
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to carry out a hydrodynamic and thermal analysis of turbulent forced-convection flows of pure water, pure ethylene glycol and water-ethylene glycol mixture, as base fluids dispersed by Al2O3 nano-sized solid particles, through a constant temperature-surfaced rectangular cross-section channel with detached and attached obstacles, using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. Effects of various base fluids and different Al2O3 nano-sized solid particle solid volume fractions with Reynolds numbers ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 were analyzed. The contour plots of dynamic pressure, stream-function, velocity-magnitude, axial velocity, transverse velocity, turbulent intensity, turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent viscosity and temperature fields, the axial velocity profiles, the local and average Nusselt numbers, as well as the local and average coefficients of skin friction, were obtained and investigated numerically.

Design/methodology/approach

The fluid flow and temperature fields were simulated using the Commercial CFD Software FLUENT. The same package included a preprocessor GAMBIT which was used to create the mesh needed for the solver. The RANS equations, along with the standard k-epsilon turbulence model and the energy equation were used to control the channel flow model. All the equations were discretized by the finite volume method using a two-dimensional formulation, using the semi-implicit method for pressure-linked equations pressure-velocity coupling algorithm. With regard to the flow characteristics, the interpolation QUICK scheme was applied, and a second-order upwind scheme was used for the pressure terms. The under-relaxation was changed between the values 0.3 and 1.0 to control the update of the computed variables at each iteration. Moreover, various grid systems were tested to analyze the effect of the grid size on the numerical solution. Then, the solutions are said to be converging when the normalized residuals are smaller than 10-12 and 10-9 for the energy equation and the other variables, respectively. The equations were iterated by the solver till it reached the needed residuals or when it stabilized at a fixed value.

Findings

The result analysis showed that the pure ethylene glycol with Al2O3 nanoparticles showed a significant heat transfer enhancement, in terms of local and average Nusselt numbers, compared with other pure or mixed fluid-based nanofluids, with low-pressure losses in terms of local and average skin friction coefficients.

Originality/value

The present research ended up at interesting results which constitute a valuable contribution to the improvement of the knowledge basis of professional work through research related to turbulent flow forced-convection within channels supplied with obstacles, and especially inside heat exchangers and solar flat plate collectors.
Three-way formal concept clustering technique for matrix completion in recommender system
Authors: G. Chemmalar Selvi , G.G. Lakshmi Priya
Published: January 2020

Purpose

In today’s world, the recommender systems are very valuable systems for the online users, as the World Wide Web is loaded with plenty of available information causing the online users to spend more time and money. The recommender systems suggest some possible and relevant recommendation to the online users by applying the recommendation filtering techniques to the available source of information. The recommendation filtering techniques take the input data denoted as the matrix representation which is generally very sparse and high dimensional data in nature. Hence, the sparse data matrix is completed by filling the unknown or missing entries by using many matrix completion techniques. One of the most popular techniques used is the matrix factorization (MF) which aims to decompose the sparse data matrix into two new and small dimensional data matrix and whose dot product completes the matrix by filling the logical values. However, the MF technique failed to retain the loss of original information when it tried to decompose the matrix, and the error rate is relatively high which clearly shows the loss of such valuable information.

Design/methodology/approach

To alleviate the problem of data loss and data sparsity, the new algorithm from formal concept analysis (FCA), a mathematical model, is proposed for matrix completion which aims at filling the unknown or missing entries without loss of valuable information to a greater extent. The proposed matrix completion algorithm uses the clustering technique where the users who have commonly rated the items and have not commonly rated the items are captured into two classes. The matrix completion algorithm fills the mean cluster value of the unknown entries which well completes the matrix without actually decomposing the matrix.

Findings

The experiment was conducted on the available public data set, MovieLens, whose result shows the prediction error rate is minimal, and the comparison with the existing algorithms is also studied. Thus, the application of FCA in recommender systems proves minimum or no data loss and improvement in the prediction accuracy of rating score.

Social implications

The proposed matrix completion algorithm using FCA performs good recommendation which will be more useful for today’s online users in making decision with regard to the online purchasing of products.

Originality/value

This paper presents the new technique of matrix completion adopting the vital properties from FCA which is applied in the recommender systems. Hence, the proposed algorithm performs well when compared to other existing algorithms in terms of prediction accuracy.
An examination of talent management processes in Australian higher education
Authors: Mohammed Atheer Abdullah , Baig Abdul Hafeez , Gururajan Raj
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the best processes that are currently used in managing talent in Australian higher education (HE) and to examine the policies in terms of talent management processes (TMPs) that are derived from objective one. Pragmatic benefits for academic institutions focused on enhancing talent.

Design/methodology/approach

This study selects the mixed method as its research design. In the qualitative study, there were three methods: brainstorming, focus group and individual interviews, followed by the quantitative questionnaire study. The sample consisted of 6 participants for brainstorming, 11 in focus group, 6 individual interviews and 286 participants for the quantitative questionnaire, all conducted in nine Australian universities.

Findings

Three key themes: talent retention, talent development and talent attraction were explored by the qualitative study. The quantitative study tests the level of an importance regarding the three TMPs explored.

Practical implications

This empirical research is one of the first few studies that extended the previous investigation of TMPs in various industries to the HE sector. This research provides more debates for adding more new ideas in the Australian education strategic plans for HE.

Originality/value

This study offers a value-add to talent management literature through designing a quantitative measurement of TMPs for the educational sector. Consequently, there is a deficiency of pragmatic evidence in terms of TMPs in the aforementioned sector. Furthermore, this study provides a clear and comprehensive outline of the extant scholarly research of TMPs from the period 2006–2018.
Business zakat compliance behavioral intention in a developing country
Authors: Saad Ram Al Jaffri , Farouk Abubakar Umar , Abdul Kadir Dzarfan
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the factors influencing the intention to comply with business zakat in a developing country.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 700 small and medium scale businessmen was drawn using the random sampling method. A total of 524 responses was analyzed using the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique.

Findings

Results indicate attitudes toward zakat evasion, attitudes toward moral reasoning, peer influence, zakat knowledge, zakat distribution and perceived zakat board capital positively and significantly influence intention to pay zakat. Interestingly, the enforcement of zakat law was found to significantly influence intention but in a negative direction.

Practical implications

Accordingly, it was recommended for policymakers to pay more attention to policy formulation to the identified factors in line with the results so that zakat collection could be increased.

Originality/value

The study contributes generally to zakat compliance knowledge and specifically to zakat on business wealth in Muslim majority states in developing countries that are fighting against poverty. The PLS-SEM method and its application in the Islamic field study, especially on zakat payment has a limited discussion in previous studies, which is a unique contribution of this study.
A model to improve corn productivity and production
Authors: Suryani Erma , Dewi Lily Puspa , Junaedi Lukman , Hendrawan Rully Agus
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to address the corn productivity and production problem under the environmental dynamics to improve the productivity and production through the use of models and scenarios.

Design/methodology/approach

System dynamics simulation model is implemented to develop harvested area, productivity and production models. To improve productivity and production, several scenarios have been developed by modifying the model’s structures and parameters.

Findings

Some factors affecting productivity include soil nutrition, planting patterns, corn quality, irrigation, technology, climate, disease and pest attacks. Corn production after land expansion and intensification depends on the harvested area, productivity and rendement.

Research limitations/implications

The data and information used in this study were obtained from East Java Agricultural Department.

Practical implications

Corn productivity after land intensification would achieve 73.68 quintals/ha as the impact of structural and non-structural approaches implementation. Corn production after land intensification and expansion would achieve 10.2 M tons in 2030. Fulfillment ratio is above 100 per cent; however, the trend continues declining due to demand growth of 5 per cent and production growth of only 2.8 per cent.

Originality/value

The model development provides useful directions for modelers and holistic perspective to accommodate all problem elements. The case selected in this study (East Java) can be extended to other areas. Furthermore, the practical implications can facilitate decision makers in agricultural systems to improve the land productivity and corn production.
Balancing anti-money laundering measures and financial inclusion
Authors: Esoimeme Ehi Eric
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the anti-money laundering measures of the UK and Nigeria, to determine what the best approach is. The best approach is likely the one that strikes a fair balance between protecting the financial system against money laundering and promoting financial inclusion.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper relies mainly on primary and secondary data drawn from the public domain. It also relies on documentary research.

Findings

This paper critically analysed the anti-money laundering measures of the UK and Nigeria to determine that the anti-money laundering measures of Nigeria does not strike a fair balance between protecting the financial system against money laundering and promoting financial inclusion because it does not expressly provide for verification of a customer’s identity at the account opening stage for low risk accounts. The paper, however, determined that the anti-money laundering measures of the UK does strike a fair balance between protecting the financial system against money laundering and promoting financial inclusion because it requires customer identification and verification before the establishment of a business relationship for customers who want to open a basic bank account.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focuses on the anti-money laundering and financial inclusion measures in the UK’s Payment Accounts Regulations 2015 and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism in Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria) Regulations, 2013.

Originality/value

This paper offers a critical analysis of the anti-money laundering and financial inclusion measures of the UK and Nigeria as provided in the UK’s Payment Accounts Regulations 2015 and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism in Banks and Other Financial Institutions in Nigeria) Regulations, 2013. The paper will provide recommendations on how the measures could be strengthened. This is the only article to adopt this kind of approach.
Disclosing anti-money launderers through CSR regulation – a new way to combat money laundering
Authors: Rose Kalle Johannes
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Recent research questions the innocence of companies outside the current EU money laundering regulation in terms of contributing to the externality problem of money laundering. The purpose of this paper is to examine how including anti-money laundering as an element of the EU corporate social responsibilities (CSR) directive can contribute to solving the externality problem of money laundering. Based on the principles of CSR and the economic effects of disclosure duties, this paper analyzes the implications an introduction of anti-money laundering policies and disclosure duties can have on corporate clients and the combatting against money laundering. Furthermore, it is the intention of this paper to argue how such a regulatory change can help the financial companies dividing “good” and “bad” clients to prevent money laundering from happening.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of this paper is a functional approach to law and economics. It seeks to enhance the efficiency of the regulatory framework combatting money laundering by including economic incentive theory.

Findings

Based on the regulatory framework of the fourth anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing directive and the directive on criminalizing money laundering, this paper argues that inclusion of anti-money laundering in the EU CSR directive will contribute to solving the externality problem of money laundering in the EU. Additionally, the expansion of the regulatory framework can start a culture, where corporate clients to the financial sector will take active steps toward combatting money laundering.

Originality/value

The paper identifies a way to change the corporate perception of anti-money laundering prevention from having an incentive of minimal compliance/“race-to-the-bottom” to be a possible element of competition between companies through their CSR strategy. While most research focuses on the financial sector in terms of money laundering, this paper takes the next step and includes corporate clients in the financial sector.
Knowledge management approaches of small and medium-sized firms: a cluster analysis
Authors: Alexandru Vlad Andrei , Bolisani Ettore , Andrei Andreia Gabriela , Cegarra-Navarro Juan Gabriel , Martínez Martínez Aurora , Paiola Marco , Scarso Enrico , Vătămănescu Elena-Mădălina , Zieba Malgorzata
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to categorise the approaches to knowledge management (KM) by companies. In the literature, there is no consensus on a universal or “best” approach to KM. Especially, this paper singles out and discusses the variegated features that characterise the implementation of KM by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) having different characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

A cluster analysis was used to detect the possible distinct traits of companies that have different approaches to KM. The unit of analysis is represented by small- and medium-sized knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) firms. Data were collected by means of an extensive survey of 223 companies in different European countries and sectors.

Findings

Three clusters were identified: Companies showing a relative “unconscious” attention to KM and implementing KM practices without particular awareness; Companies adopting a more conscious approach and using a significant number of KM practices; and companies with a marginal propensity towards KM.

Research limitations/implications

This study considers only KIBS, and future research should include other economic sectors. In addition, a convenience sample was used.

Practical implications

This paper improves awareness of managers of small companies concerning different KM approaches that can be adopted. It highlights that a conscious adoption of a KM strategy involves the introduction of a set of consistent practices.

Originality/value

The topic of KM approaches by small companies is still underdeveloped in the literature. Also, the paper proposes a multi-contextual investigation that makes it possible to highlight the transversality of KM approaches across different countries or sectors.
Research status in Halal: a review and bibliometric analysis
Authors: Haleem Abid , Khan Mohd Imran , Khan Shahbaz , Jami Abdur Rahman
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Halal is an emerging business sector and is steadily gaining popularity among scholars and practitioners. The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate and review the reported literature in the broad area of Halal using bibliometric technique and network analysis tools. Moreover, this paper also proposes future research directions in the field of Halal.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employed a systematic review technique followed by bibliometric analysis to gain insight and to evaluate the research area associated with Halal. Furthermore, data mining techniques are used for analysing the concerned article title, keywords and abstract of 946 research articles obtained through the Scopus database. Finally, network analysis is used to identify significant research clusters.

Findings

This study reports top authors contributing to this area, the key sub-research areas and the influential works based on citations and PageRank. We identified from the citation analysis that major influential works of Halal are from the subject area of biological science and related areas. Further, this study reports established and emerging research clusters, which provide future research directions.

Research limitations/implications

Scopus database is used to conduct a systematic review and corresponding bibliometric study; the authors might have missed some peer-reviewed studies not reported in Scopus. The selection of keywords for article search may not be accurate for the multi-disciplinary Halal area. Also, the authors have not considered the banking/financial aspects of Halal. The proposed four research clusters may inform potential researcher towards supporting the industry.

Originality/value

The novelty of the study is that no published study has reported the bibliometric study and network analysis techniques in the area of Halal.