bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transformation of accounting through digital standardisation
Authors: Troshani Indrit , Locke Joanne , Rowbottom Nick
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Corporate reporting infrastructure and communication are being transformed by the emergence of digital technologies. A key element of the digital accounting infrastructure underpinning international corporate reporting is the IFRS Taxonomy, a digital representation of international accounting standards that is required by firms to produce digital corporate reports. The purpose of this paper is to trace the development, governance and adoption of the IFRS Taxonomy to highlight the implications for accounting practice and standard-setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors mobilise Actor Network Theory and a model of transnational standardisation to analyse the process surrounding the formation and diffusion of the IFRS Taxonomy as a legitimate “reference” of the IFRS Standards. The authors trace the process using interview, observation and documentary evidence.

Findings

The analysis shows that while the taxonomy enables IFRS-based reporting in the digital age, tensions and detours result in the need for a realignment of the perspectives of both accounting standard-setters and taxonomy developers that have transformative implications for accounting practice and standard-setting.

Originality/value

The study explains how and why existing accounting standards are transformed by technology inscriptions with reflexive effects on the formation and diffusion of accounting standards. In doing so, the paper highlights the implications that arise as accounting practice adapts to the digitalisation of corporate reporting.
Determinants and academic achievement effect of Facebook use in educational communication among university students
Authors: Goh Chin Fei , Rasli Amran , Tan Owee Kowang , Choi Sang Long
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that drive students to use Facebook for educational communication and explore the impact of Facebook use for educational communication on perceived academic achievement.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted through a self-administered questionnaire to collect data from student Facebook users at a large technology and engineering university in Malaysia. Partial least squares path modeling was used to test the hypotheses in the research model.

Findings

This empirical study showed that Facebook use in educational communication is determined by subjective norms and purposive value. Facebook use in educational communication positively affected perceived academic achievement.

Practical implications

The findings provide useful insight for higher institutions and educators regarding the potential academic effects of integrating Facebook into higher education learning. Moreover, this study provides insight into the factors that drive Facebook use in educational communication.

Originality/value

Prior studies have largely investigated the determinants and the effects of Facebook use among university students. However, little research has focused on educational communication phenomena. This study investigated determinants and academic achievement effect of Facebook use in educational communication among university students.
Understanding refugee entrepreneurship incubation – an embeddedness perspective
Authors: Meister Alexander Dominik , Mauer René
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Recent years have seen a wave of immigration in western countries. Entrepreneurship can foster refugees’ integration in the labour market. Hence, the authors observe an emergence of incubators with social purpose, addressing the key challenges of refugee entrepreneurs. The purpose of this paper is to look at the particularities and the impact of business incubation on entrepreneurial development and embeddedness of refugee entrepreneurs in the host country by applying the theoretical lens of mixed embeddedness theory.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a qualitative case study approach exploring one business incubation model for refugee entrepreneurs in Germany. For a multi-stakeholder perspective, the data were collected through a participatory focus group workshop and semi-structured interviews of refugee entrepreneurs and incubator stakeholders (e.g. incubator management, mentors and partners) contributing to the incubation. The data collection extends over the duration of five months of the incubation programme.

Findings

The empirical results emphasise the impact of the business incubator on refugee entrepreneur’s development and embeddedness. In this analysis, the authors identify key themes of a particular incubation process addressing the lack of embeddedness and barriers to refugee entrepreneurs in the host country. From the results, the authors elaborate a particular business incubation process framework of refugee entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The findings enhance the understanding how business incubation contributes to the embeddedness of refugee entrepreneurs in their new hosting environment. Thus, this research contributes to the existing literature by extending incubation model frameworks towards refugee entrepreneurship and embeddedness perspectives. Furthermore, the study emphasises the role of the incubator in the context of the dimensions of the mixed embeddedness of the refugee entrepreneurs.
Sport and peacebuilding in post-conflict societies: the role of Open Fun Football Schools in Kosovo
Authors: Krasniqi Sanije , Krasniqi Besnik
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in the research literature on how sport can be used more productively as a peacebuilding device in post-conflict countries.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses interviewing method that includes both semi-structured and unstructured interviews with trainers, instructors and children involved in implementing Open Fun Football Schools (OFFSs) in Kosovo.

Findings

Findings show that OFFSs have played a vital role in peacebuilding in Kosovo by bringing together people from different ethnic backgrounds in Kosovo, which contributed to social inclusion of Albanians and Serbs, and other communities by changing their initial attitudes toward one another.

Research limitations/implications

The main research limitation is the usage of semi-structured and unstructured questionnaires instead of structured questionnaires, which would provide more generalized conclusions about the OFFSs. More research is needed on this topic to investigate the effect of similar programs in other country contexts.

Practical implications

The most important practical implication of the research is that conflict mitigation through football sports programs and activities can be used in other similar contexts by donors and the international community. OFFSs offer a hope for peacebuilding, and if adequately implemented can contribute to peacebuilding in post-conflict societies similar to Kosovo’s context. The positive attitude changes as a result of participation in the OFFS programs shows that these joint programs can promote better ethnic relations. There is a need for the expansion of such programs to reach more people.

Originality/value

The study provides an original contribution as there has been almost no prior research which actually measured the effects of OFFSs on change of youth attitudes through the integrated sport programs with different ethnicity in Kosovo.
“Ethnographic” thematic phenomenography
Authors: Forster Marc
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The workplace is a context of increasing interest in information literacy research, if not necessarily the most visible (Cheuk, 2017). Several studies have described contextual, relationship-based experiences of this subjective, knowledge-development focussed phenomenon (Forster, 2017b). What research contexts and methods are likely to be most effective, especially in workplaces which contain professions of widely differing ontologies and epistemological realities? The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis and description of the value and validity of a “qualitative mixed methods” approach in which the thematic form of phenomenography is contextualised ethnographically.

Findings

This paper describes a new research design for investigation into information literacy in the workplace, and discusses key issues around sampling, data collection and analysis, suggesting solutions to predictable problems. Such an approach would be centred on thematic phenomenographic data from semi-structured interviews, contextualised by additional ethnographic methods of data collection. The latter’s findings are analysed in light of the interview data to contextualise that data and facilitate a workplace-wide analysis of information literacy and the information culture it creates.

Originality/value

Insights from recent research studies into information literacy in the workplace have suggested the possibility of an epistemologically justifiable, qualitative mixed methods design involving an ethnographic contextualisation of a thematic phenomenographic analysis of the information culture of an ontologically varied and complex workplace – with the potential for descriptive contextualisation, categorisation and generalisability.
Exports and job creation in South Korea: industry-level analysis
Authors: Whang Unjung
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The Korean manufacturing sector has undergone structural changes in a transition from labor- to capital-intensive industries. These changes seem to be relevant to the weakening of the export effect on employment that began in 1990. In light of the importance of exports in the Korean labor market, the purpose of this paper is to shed light on the primary reasons why export growth does not lead to sufficient job creation as it did in the past.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first use the growth accounting approach to show that the weakening of the linkage between exports and employment is closely related to the composition of export products, which has changed toward being more labor-saving. An empirical analysis (i.e. first difference A-B generalized method of moments estimator) on the employment effect of exports confirms that as the capital-intensity of exports increases employment effect decreases.

Findings

The main findings of the study can be summarized as follows. First, the reduction in the export effect on exports is highly correlated with changes in the composition of export products. Second, an increase in exports leads to an increase in manufacturing jobs, and the export elasticity of employment decreases as capital-intensity increases. Third, the export elasticity of employment tends to be higher when the export proportion of SMEs’ products is larger.

Originality/value

Despite the many literatures on the link between exports and employment, there is no consensus on this topic. However, it is generally agreed that the employment effect of exports has been considerably weakened, compared to that of the past, at least in Korea. Nevertheless, few studies attempt to address why this trend has occurred. In this paper, we focus on the structural factors that are the major cause of the weakening of the virtuous cycle between exports and employment. This allows us to provide valuable information to policy makers who are concerned with developing export policies that are related to effective job creation.
Stakeholder value-based place brand building
Authors: Donner Mechthild , Fort Fatiha
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the place brand building process based on multi-stakeholder perceived value. It contributes to an understanding of how place brands are developed, providing diverse benefits, and proposes a conceptual framework for place brand building and value measurement scales.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on the place brand Sud de France. Qualitative data from stakeholder interviews is used to investigate the main place brand value dimensions. A survey of consumers from the Languedoc-Roussillon region is conducted to measure consumer place brand values. Quantitative data is analyzed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results indicate that place brand value is a multiple-perspective and multidimensional construct that includes new measurement scales related to dimensions such as quality of life, a common local identity and local development. Brand identity is not only constructed on place identity, but should also incorporate stakeholder values and provide value to consumers.

Practical implications

For place brand managers, this study provides a methodology that helps identify the main place image and stakeholders values to be integrated into place brand identity construction. The place brand value measurement scales can be used to ensure a permanent match between brand identity and consumption trends.

Originality/value

Literature dealing with place equity has focused mostly on country-of-origin or destination image effects from a non-local consumer or tourist perspective. The originality of this study lies in analyzing the perceived benefits of a regional brand by its local stakeholders, leading to a new brand building framework and value measurement scales.
Effect of non-uniform heat source/sink on MHD boundary layer flow and melting heat transfer of Williamson nanofluid in porous medium
Authors: Konda Jayarami Reddy , N.P. Madhusudhana Reddy , Konijeti Ramakrishna , Dasore Abhishek
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of magnetic field on Williamson nanofluid embedded in a porous medium in the presence of non-uniform heat source/sink, chemical reaction and thermal radiation effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing physical problem is presented using the traditional Navier–Stokes theory. Consequential system of equations is transformed into a set of non-linear ordinary differential equations by means of scaling group of transformation, which are solved using the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method.

Findings

The working fluid is examined for several sundry parameters graphically and in a tabular form. It is noticed that with an increase in Eckert number, there is an increase in velocity and temperature along with a decrease in shear stress and heat transfer rate.

Originality/value

A good agreement of the present results has been observed by comparing with the existing literature results.
Reimagining organizational storytelling research as archeological story analysis
Authors: Luhman John Teta
Published: November 2018

Purpose

We should understand stories told in organizational settings in relation to the time, space and process of their telling. This, however, is problematic since many researchers, as a matter of habit, take organizational stories out of their context and process because they tend to collect their stories through interviews. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to accept organizational stories taken out of context and process, the author looks toward archeology and its method of interpretation of artifacts as a metaphor to guide future storytelling analysis. The author argues that storytelling researchers need the analogy of archeological interpretation of artifacts to be more convincing in their quest to discover meaning.

Findings

If one sees stories as artifacts from past utterances that are lost to the moment in which they were uttered, which the metaphor of archeology allows one to do, then the goal is to reason out a coherent narrative out of the stories collected by describing their formal attributes, their spatial attributes and their chronological inference. After which, one might fit the collected stories within the broader cultural contexts of the organization under study.

Originality/value

The author offers the idea of “archeological story analysis” as a three-step method of story analysis, which allows organizational storytelling researchers to more convincingly analyze stories collected out of their context and process. The first two steps are in the interpretation of the formal attributes and spatial attributes of the stories, while the third step (chronological inference) is an attempt to analyze storytelling intent and impact on the life of the organization.
Mitochondrial Degeneration, Depletion of NADH, and Oxidative Stress Decrease Color Stability of Wet‐Aged Beef Longissimus Steaks
Authors: Mitacek Rachel M. , Ke Yiling , Prenni Jessica E. , Jadeja Ravirajsinh , VanOverbeke Deborah L. , Mafi Gretchen G. , Ramanathan Ranjith
Published: November 2018

Interrelationship between mitochondria and myoglobin function influence beef color. NADH level in postmortem muscle is an important determinant of mitochondrial activity and metmyoglobin reduction. Increased aging time promotes discoloration of steaks; however, the mechanism of this effect is not clear. The objective was to characterize the role of wet‐aging in beef longissimus lumborum muscle mitochondrial function and to characterize the global metabolome to determine the mechanism of that can regenerate NADH. Beef longissimus lumborum muscles were randomly assigned to 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days aging periods. Surface color, biochemical, mitochondrial, and metabolite profiles were determined at each aging period and at the end of 6‐day display. During 6‐day display, sections aged for 28 days had 30.4% decrease in redness than sections aged for 3 days. Aging time decreased (P <0.05) muscle oxygen consumption, mitochondrial protein content, and antioxidant capacity. Metabolites such as fumaric acid, creatinine, and fructose, that can take part in glycolytic/TCA cycle and regenerate NADH decreased (P <0.05) with aging and display time. In support, NADH levels also decreased (P <0.05) with aging time, but aging time had no effect (P = 0.44) on NADH‐dependent reductase activity. The results suggest that decreased color stability in aged beef can be attributed to increased mitochondrial damage, depletion of metabolites that can regenerate NADH, and increased oxidative stress.

Practical Application

Beef aging time results in increased discoloration of steaks under retail display. The current research determines the fundamental basis of lower color stability in aged beef. The results indicate that mitochondrial degeneration, depletion of metabolites that produce NADH, and increased oxidative stress can limit shelf‐life of aged steaks. Hence, application of post‐harvest strategies to minimize mitochondrial damage and oxidative changes may have the potential to increase shelf‐life of aged beef.
An Application of the T‐TEL Assessment Method to Evaluate Connectivity in a Lake‐Dominated Watershed after Drought
Authors: Spence C. , Ali G. , Oswald C.J. , Wellen C.
Published: November 2018

Lakes are landscape features that influence connectivity of mass and energy by being foci for the reception, mixing, and provision of water and material. Where lake fractions are high, they influence hydrological connectivity. This behavior was exemplified in the Baker Creek watershed in Canada's Northwest Territories during a two‐year drought in which many lake levels declined below outlet elevations. This study evaluated how lakes controlled surface runoff connectivity reestablishment following the drought using a new assessment method, T‐TEL (time scales — thresholds, excesses, losses). Analysis of daily data showed that during a summer period following the drought, connectivity occurred between 0% and 41% of the time. The size of run‐of‐the‐river lakes relative to their upstream watershed area, and the upstream lake fraction, are two factors for connectivity. These terms represent a lake's ability to control the size of storage deficits relative to rainfall, and evaporation and storage losses along pathways. The connectivity magnitude–duration curve only aligned with the watershed flow duration curve during high‐water conditions, implying lakes functioned as individuals rather than as part of a perennial watercourse during much of the study. The T‐TEL method can be used to quantify consistent metrics of hydrologic connectivity that can be used for regionalization exercises and understanding hydrologic controls on material transport.
Instant domestication process of European chestnut cultivars
Authors: Pereira‐Lorenzo Santiago , Ramos‐Cabrer Ana M. , Barreneche Teresa , Mattioni Claudia , Villani Fiorella , Díaz‐Hernández Belén , Martín Luis M. , Robles‐Loma Aurelio , Cáceres Yonatan , Martín Angela
Published: November 2018

This study presents the results of the first genetic analysis of ancient chestnut trees (Castanea sativa Mill.) in Italy and in the Iberian Peninsula to better understand the effect of grafting on the domestication process of chestnut and to investigate the impacts of early selection and improvement on the genetic diversity retained. We evaluated 105 giant ancient trees from Italy, Spain and Portugal and compared them with the European Union (EU) database of chestnut cultivars by using a set of 24 simple sequence repeats (SSRs; microsatellite markers). We measured the perimeter (girth) at the diameter at breast height (DBH). Samples from both the canopy and the roots of each tree were analysed to distinguish which trees were self‐rooted and which were grafted. Diversity was compared using standard metrics and model‐based approaches based on the expected heterozygosity (He) at equilibrium. We could differentiate 91 new genotypes; 9.6% matched known chestnut cultivars. We found the first evidences of cultivation, that is, grafting to produce “instant domestication” in Galicia and in the Douro Valley in trees of 14‐m perimeter (15th century) and in the Basque Country (first report in that area) in a tree of 11.5‐m perimeter (16th century). In Italy, the cultivar “Marrone Fiorentino” was found in some giant trees with perimeters of 8 and 9 m (17th‐18th centuries) in the Toscana and Umbria. Those findings matched with written references in Portugal from the 16th century and from the 18th century in Spain. “Instant domestication” could be dated back to the 15th century and was related to the wild populations existing in the same areas where cultivars are being propagated, without a different genetic structure for wild chestnut trees and with a high diversity maintained through the initiation of domestication.
Evaluating radium‐223 response in metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer with imaging
Authors: Iizuka Junpei
Published: November 2018

Radium‐223 is a first‐in‐class targeted alpha therapy indicated for treating bone metastases from metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) without visceral metastases. Imaging plays an important role in the selection of patients eligible for radium‐223 therapy. In the ALSYMPCA trial protocol, bone scintigraphy was used to detect lesions, essentially osteoblastic bone metastases, whereas computed tomography (CT) was used to exclude visceral metastases, with no interim imaging until treatment completion unless clinically indicated. Yet, questions remain: How can we monitor treatment progress more closely and evaluate treatment response more precisely? In the cases discussed herein, interim evaluation of response to radium‐223 showed discordance between bone scintigraphy and 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in the patterns of bone lesions observed, that is more lesions were detected on PET/CT. It is postulated that the additional lesions may be attributed to bone marrow metastases that were not effectively targeted by radium‐223 as its alpha radiation do not reach deep into the bone marrow. Although the clinical significance of the discordance requires further clarification, it makes sense to consider radium‐223 early on in the course of mCRPC, when marrow involvement is minimal, so as to optimize treatment outcomes.
Chemohormonal therapy for metastatic hormone‐sensitive prostate cancer: An Asian perspective
Authors: Teoh Jeremy Yuen‐Chun , Ng Chi‐Fai , Poon Darren Ming‐Chun
Published: November 2018

The treatment of metastatic hormone‐sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) has been rapidly evolving. In the past, the use of chemotherapy was reserved for metastatic prostate cancer patients who developed castration resistance. Subsequently, there were three well‐designed randomized controlled trials investigating the use of chemotherapy together with androgen deprivation therapy as the first‐line treatment for metastatic hormone‐sensitive prostate cancer. The GETUG‐AFU 15 study was a negative trial, but the subsequent CHAARTED and STAMPEDE studies demonstrated magnificent survival benefit in the mHSPC setting. Since then, the use of chemohormonal therapy has become accepted and popularized worldwide. However, these results were largely based on Caucasians. Because of the genetic and physiological differences between different ethnicities, there has been concern over whether these results could be readily translated to the Asian population. Would Asians in general have a different tolerability towards chemohormonal therapy? Would prostate cancer in the Asian population have a different biological response towards chemohormonal therapy? In this review paper, we will present the available data regarding the use of chemohormonal therapy for mHSPC and discuss their implications from an Asian perspective.
A review of wildlife camera trapping trends across Africa
Authors: Agha Mickey , Batter Tom , Bolas Ellen C. , Collins Amy C. , Gomes da Rocha Daniel , Monteza‐Moreno Claudio M. , Preckler‐Quisquater Sophie , Sollmann Rahel
Published: November 2018

Camera traps (CTs) are used for wildlife monitoring globally. How CTs are used in wildlife studies across Africa, however, remains unknown. We provide the first literature review of CT studies conducted across Africa, to describe where, to what end, and by whom CTs are used, and to identify apparent gaps in the use of CTs. We found 172 CT studies published across 60 scientific journals, conducted in 30 of 55 African countries from 2005 to 2017. Most studies were conducted over a single year/season (74%) and primarily addressed habitat use/species distribution (43%), species presence/richness (38.4%), behaviour (35.5%) or demographics (29.7%). Most studies took place in forest (52%), woodland (33%) and grassland (33%) habitat types, and focused on a single species (45.3%). Carnivores were the most commonly studied species group (86%), followed by large herbivores (58%) and primates (38%). Our results suggest that camera trapping is rapidly increasing in use across Africa and potentially driven by country‐based economic factors; however, there is room for improvement. CTs could be expanded in use for studies on underrepresented taxa (i.e. small mammals, reptiles and birds), investigations of human–wildlife conflict and understudied ecoregions (i.e. Sahara Desert).
Evaluating relative abundance indices for terrestrial herbivores from large‐scale camera trap surveys
Authors: Palmer Meredith S. , Swanson Alexandra , Kosmala Margaret , Arnold Todd , Packer Craig
Published: November 2018

The ability to directly monitor animal populations across time and space is a key element of wildlife conservation and management, but logistically difficult to achieve. Photographic capture rates from camera trap surveys can provide relative abundance indices (RAIs) for a wide variety of medium‐ to large‐bodied wildlife species. RAIs are less complex than other estimation methods and are commonly used when true abundance is difficult or costly to measure. However, this method is controversial as it does not account for potential bias arising from imperfect detection. Here, we evaluate the reliability and precision of RAI estimates drawn from a large‐scale camera trap survey for ten African herbivore species by comparing them against preexisting aerial survey data. RAIs correlated strongly with independent estimates, particularly when indices were derived from counts of all photographed animals. RAIs were most reliable for species that were nonmigratory, occurred in open habitats and had high rates of daily movement. Increasing survey coverage and duration both had strong but comparable effects on improving RAI precision. Our results suggest that RAIs from camera traps hold substantial promise as a tool for monitoring herbivore relative abundances, and we provide guidelines on the utility of this approach for ecological inference.
Optimal Design of Multiple-Objective Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) Plans
Authors: Duarte Belmiro P.M. , Wong Weng Kee
Published: November 2018

Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) plans are widely used for health monitoring purposes. We propose a systematic approach to design multiple-objective LQAS plans that meet user-specified type 1 and 2 error rates and targets for selected diagnostic accuracy metrics. These metrics may include sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in high or low anticipated prevalence rate populations. We use Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) tools to implement our design methodology. Our approach is flexible in that it can directly generate classic LQAS plans that control error rates only and find optimal LQAS plans that meet multiple objectives in terms of diagnostic metrics. We give examples, compare results with the classic LQAS and provide an application using a malaria outcome indicator survey in Mozambique.
Augmented antitumor activity of 5‐fluorouracil by double knockdown of MDM4 and MDM2 in colon and gastric cancer cells
Authors: Imanishi Mamiko , Yamamoto Yoshiyuki , Wang Xiaoxuan , Sugaya Akinori , Hirose Mitsuaki , Endo Shinji , Natori Yukikazu , Yamato Kenji , Hyodo Ichinosuke
Published: November 2018

Inactivation of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene is essential during cancer development and progression. Mutations of TP53 are often missense and occur in various human cancers. In some fraction of wild‐type (wt) TP53 tumors, p53 is inactivated by upregulated murine double minute homolog 2 (MDM2) and MDM4. We previously reported that simultaneous knockdown of MDM4 and MDM2 using synthetic DNA‐modified siRNAs revived p53 activity and synergistically inhibited in vitro cell growth in cancer cells with wt TP53 and high MDM4 expression (wtTP53/highMDM4). In the present study, MDM4/MDM2 double knockdown with the siRNAs enhanced 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU)‐induced p53 activation, arrested the cell cycle at G1 phase, and potentiated the antitumor effect of 5‐FU in wtTP53/highMDM4 human colon (HCT116 and LoVo) and gastric (SNU‐1 and NUGC‐4) cancer cells. Exposure to 5‐FU alone induced MDM2 as well as p21 and PUMA by p53 activation. As p53‐MDM2 forms a negative feedback loop, enhancement of the antitumor effect of 5‐FU by MDM4/MDM2 double knockdown could be attributed to blocking of the feedback mechanism in addition to direct suppression of these p53 antagonists. Intratumor injection of the MDM4/MDM2 siRNAs suppressed in vivo tumor growth and boosted the antitumor effect of 5‐FU in an athymic mouse xenograft model using HCT116 cells. These results suggest that a combination of MDM4/MDM2 knockdown and conventional cytotoxic drugs could be a promising treatment strategy for wtTP53/highMDM4 gastrointestinal cancers.
The effect of ultraviolet‐curable water‐borne polyurethane acrylate binder concentration on the printing performance of synthetic leather
Authors: Baysal Gülçin , Kalav Berdan , Karagüzel Kayaoğlu Burçak
Published: November 2018

In this paper, synthetic leather samples were screen printed with pigmented pastes including two types of photoinitiators and three different concentrations of ultraviolet (UV)‐curable water‐borne polyurethane acrylate binder. The curing process was conducted under different combinations of lamps (gallium, mercury, gallium/mercury and gallium/gallium/mercury) at three power levels. Abrasion resistance, crock fastness, hardness and colour strength were investigated. Chemical changes in the clear and pigmented film structures because of UV curing were analysed by Fourier Transform‐infrared spectroscopy measurements. In hardness measurements, the highest hardness values were obtained with clear and pigmented formulations which have the highest solid content (57%). In colour measurements, higher K/S values were obtained in samples printed with the formulation having a binder concentration of 46%. Wet crock fastness values improved as the energy level increased during curing, and the highest values were obtained with a formulation which had a binder concentration of 57%. Greater amounts of binder in the formulations and increased amounts of energy applied to the surface during curing increased the hardness value of the prints, thus better abrasion resistance was obtained. Overall results suggested that the highest hardness, crock fastness and abrasion resistance values were obtained with the formulation with a binder concentration of 57%. However, for ease of application, printing efficiency and colour strength, the formulation with a binder concentration of 46% is recommended for printing, and curing under consecutive passes with gallium and mercury lamps at 120 W/cm is proposed in terms of energy efficiency and printing performance.
Do childhood psychotic experiences improve the prediction of adolescent psychopathology? A longitudinal population‐based study
Authors: Healy Colm , Gordon Aoife A. , Coughlan Helen , Clarke Mary , Kelleher Ian , Cannon Mary
Published: November 2018

Aims

(a) To investigate the utility of childhood PE as a predictor of adolescent psychopathology while accounting for three known risk factors: childhood mental disorder; traumatic experiences and poor childhood functioning, and (b) to investigate the additive effects of including childhood PE in predictive clinical model of adolescent psychopathology.

Method

The study sample comprised of 86 Irish youths who completed two waves of the “Adolescent Brain Development” study (baseline age: 11.7 and follow‐up age: 15.7). At baseline, participants completed a clinical interview assessing for PE, mental disorders, traumatic experiences and global functioning in childhood. The internalizing and externalizing problems sub‐scales from the Youth Self Report questionnaire were used as follow‐up outcomes variables in adolescence.

Results

Logistic regression analyses revealed that childhood PE was the only predictor significantly associated with both internalizing (univariate OR: 7.58, CI: 2.59‐22.15; multivariate OR: 5.43, CI: 1.53‐19.29) and externalizing (univariate OR: 11.76, CI: 3.70‐37.41; multivariate OR: 30.39, CI: 5.28‐174.80) problems in adolescence. All predictive models with PE significantly predicted adolescent outcomes (area under the curve range: 0.70‐0.81; all P < 0.05) and adding PE to the models improved the predictive value for externalizing problems (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Childhood PE is a powerful predictor of adolescent psychopathology, particularly for externalizing problems. Routine assessment of PE and targeted support for children who report PE may reduce the incidence of mental disorder in adolescence.
Allometry of fine roots in forest ecosystems
Authors: Chen Guangshui , Hobbie Sarah E. , Reich Peter B. , Yang Yusheng , Robinson David
Published: November 2018

Theoretical predictions regarding fine root production are needed in many ecosystem models but are lacking. Here, we expand the classic pipe model to fine roots and predict isometric scaling relationships between leaf and fine root biomass and among all major biomass production components of individual trees. We also predict that fine root production scales more slowly against increases in leaf production across global forest ecosystems at the stand level. Using meta‐analysis, we show fine root biomass scales isometrically against leaf biomass both at the individual tree and stand level. However, despite isometric scaling between stem and coarse root production, fine root production scales against leaf production with a slope of about 0.8 at the stand level, which probably results from more rapid increase of turnover rate in leaves than in fine roots. These analyses help to improve our understandings of allometric theory and controls of belowground C processes.
R‐Ras regulates vascular permeability, but not overall healing in skin wounds
Authors: Ketomäki Tuomo , Vähätupa Maria , May Ulrike , Pemmari Toini , Ruikka Ella , Hietamo Jussi , Kaipiainen Pirkka , Barker Harlan , Parkkila Seppo , Uusitalo‐Järvinen Hannele , Järvinen Tero A. H.
Published: November 2018

Wounds close by keratinocytes migrating from the edge of the wound and re‐epithelializing the epidermis. It has been proposed that the major stimuli for wound closure are blood‐derived growth factors, chemokines and cytokines. The small GTPase R‐Ras, a known integrin activator, also regulates vascular permeability during angiogenesis, and blood vessels lacking R‐Ras leak plasma proteins constantly. We explored whether the access to blood‐derived proteins influences skin wound healing in R‐Ras knockout (KO) mice. In skin wounds, R‐Ras expression was mostly restricted to the vasculature in the granulation tissue. Angiogenic blood vessels in the R‐Ras KO mice were significantly more permeable than in wild‐type (WT) controls. Although the distances between epidermal tongues, and the panniculus carnosus muscles, were significantly longer in R‐Ras KO than WT controls before the granulation tissue formation took place, there were no differences in the wound closure or re‐epithelialization rates or granulation tissue formation. These findings were also corroborated in a special splint excision wound model. Our study shows that although R‐Ras does not influence the skin wound healing itself, the blood vessels lacking R‐Ras are leaky and thus could facilitate the access of blood‐derived proteins to the wound.
Evidence for lack of direct causality between pain and affective disturbances in a rat peripheral neuropathy model
Authors: Guimarães Marco R. , Soares Ana R. , Cunha Ana M. , Esteves Madalena , Borges Sónia , Magalhães Ricardo , Moreira Pedro S. , Rodrigues Ana J. , Sousa Nuno , Almeida Armando , Leite‐Almeida Hugo
Published: November 2018

Chronic pain is frequently accompanied by the manifestation of emotional disturbances and cognitive deficits. While a causality relation between pain and emotional/cognitive disturbances is generally assumed, several observations suggest a temporal dissociation and independent mechanisms. We therefore studied Sprague‐Dawley rats that presented a natural resistance to pain manifestation in a neuropathy model (spared nerve injury [SNI]) and compared their performance in a battery of behavioral paradigms—anxiety, depression and fear memory—with animals that presented a pain phenotype. Afterward, we performed an extensive volumetric analysis across prefrontal, orbitofrontal and insular cortical areas. The majority of SNI animals manifested mechanical allodynia (low threshold [LT]), but 13% were similar to Sham controls (high threshold [HT]). Readouts of spontaneous hypersensivity (paw flinches) were also significantly reduced in HT and correlated with allodynia. To increase the specificity of our findings, we segregated the SNI animals in those with left (SNI‐L) and right (SNI‐R) lesions and the lack of association between pain and behavior still remains. Left‐lesioned animals, independent of the LT or HT phenotype, presented increased anxiety‐like behaviors and decreased well‐being. In contrast, we found that the insular cortex (agranular division) was significantly smaller in HT than in LT. To conclude, pain and emotional disturbances observed following nerve injury are to some extent segregated phenomena. Also, HT and LT SNI presented differences in insular volumes, an area vastly implicated in pain perception, suggesting a supraspinal involvement in the manifestation of these phenotypes.
Virtualizing diaspora: new digital technologies in the emerging transnational space
Authors: RODIMA‐TAYLOR DAIVI , GRIMES WILLIAM W.
Published: November 2018

Since new distributed ledger technologies hold out a promise to restructure cross‐border flows of people and material resources, they affect globalization and alter transnational spaces. Their capacity to facilitate secure and disintermediated value transfer through crypto‐code and smart contracts enables novel forms of remittance transfer, resource management and digital identity verification – and may also generate new vulnerabilities. In this article, we examine the use of emerging blockchain applications in various migration and diaspora related initiatives in the emerging economies of Africa, Asia and Europe. By building on existing social networks of mutual obligation and quasi‐ethnic affinities, blockchain technologies may facilitate the ability to enlarge the scope of diasporas and change the nature of belonging, sovereignty, migration and statehood. Through exploring the selective foregrounding of mutuality and materiality in such alternative value transfer systems, we seek to explain the dynamics of trust and agency that these networks generate to extend commitments and loyalties in the transnational space.
Analytical variation in factor VIII one‐stage and chromogenic assays: Experiences from the ECAT external quality assessment programme
Authors: van Moort Iris , Meijer Piet , Priem‐Visser Debby , van Gammeren Adriaan J. , Péquériaux Nathalie C. V. , Leebeek Frank W. G. , Cnossen Marjon H. , de Maat Moniek P. M.
Published: November 2018

Background

Both one‐stage (OSA) and chromogenic substrate assays (CSA) are used to measure factor VIII (FVIII) activity. Factors explaining analytical variation in FVIII activity levels are still to be completely elucidated.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate and quantify the analytical variation in OSA and CSA.

Methods

Factors determining analytical variation were studied in sixteen lyophilized plasma samples (FVIII activity <0.01‐1.94 IU/mL) and distributed by the ECAT surveys. To elucidate the causes of OSA variation, we exchanged deficient plasma between three company set‐ups.

Results

On average, 206 (range 164‐230) laboratories used the OSA to measure FVIII activity and 30 (range 12‐51) used CSA. The coefficient of variation of OSA and CSA increased with lower FVIII levels (FVIII <0.05 IU/mL). This resulted in misclassification of a severe haemophilia A sample into a moderate or mild haemophilia A sample in 4/30 (13.3%) of CSA measurements, while this was 37/139 (26.6%) for OSA. OSA measurements performed with reagents and equipment from Werfen showed slightly lower FVIII activity (0.93, IQR 0.88‐0.98 IU/mL) compared to measurements with Stago (1.07, IQR 1.02‐1.14 IU/mL) and Siemens (1.03, IQR 0.97‐1.07 IU/mL). Part of this difference is explained by the value of the calibrator. For CSA, the measured FVIII levels were similar using the different kits.

Conclusions

In the lower range (<0.05 IU/mL), analytical variation of FVIII measurements is high in both OSA and CSA measurements. The variation in FVIII activity levels was partly explained by specific manufacturers. Further standardization of FVIII measurements and understanding of analytical variation is required.
The phenotypic and molecular diversity of hemoglobinopathies in India: A review of 15 years at a referral center
Authors: Nadkarni Anita H. , Gorakshakar Ajit C. , Sawant Pratibha M. , Italia Khushnooma Y. , Upadhye Dipti S. , Gorivale Manju S. , Mehta Pallavi R. , Hariharan Priya , Ghosh Kanjaksha , Colah Roshan B.
Published: November 2018

Introduction

The hemoglobinopathies pose a significant health burden in India. Apart from the β thalassemias and sickle cell disorders, α thalassemias and structural hemoglobin variants are also common. Here we have reviewed the phenotypic and molecular diversity of hemoglobinopathies encountered at a referral center in western India over a period of 15 years.

Materials and Methods

Screening for hemoglobinopathies was done using HPLC and cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Molecular characterization was done using Covalent Reverse Dot Blot Hybridization (CRDB), Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS), GAP PCR and direct DNA sequencing.

Results

The study includes 31 075 individuals who were referred for diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies and prenatal diagnosis. Of these 14 423 individuals showed various hemoglobin abnormalities. Beta genotyping in 5615 individuals showed the presence of 49 β thalassemia mutations. 143 β thalassemia heterozygotes had normal or borderline HbA2 levels. We identified three δ gene mutations (HbA2 Pellendri, HbA2 St.George, HbA2 Saurashtra) in β thalassemia heterozygotes leading to normal HbA2 levels. The commonest defects among the raised Hb F determinants were Gγ(Αγδβ)0 Indian inversion and the HPFH‐3 Indian deletion. A total of 312 individuals showed the presence of α thalassemia, of which 12.0% had a single α gene deletion (−α/αα). HbH disease was identified in 29 cases with 10 different genotypes. Alpha globin gene triplication was seen in 2.1% of β thalassemia heterozygotes with a thalassemia intermedia phenotype. Seven unusual α chain variants and eight uncommon β chain variants were identified.

Conclusion

The repertoire of molecular defects seen in the different globin genes will be valuable for management and control of these disorders both in India as well as in other countries where there is a huge influx of migrant populations from India.
Wartime logistics model for multi‐support unit location–allocation problem with frontline changes
Authors: Koo Hyejung , Moon Ilkyeong
Published: November 2018

To reflect a realistic, changing front line, wartime logistics are illustrated by a dynamic location–allocation model. In this paper, a mixed integer programming (MIP) model is developed for use in deciding the timing of unit relocation for continuous resupply, safe locations for support units, and delivery amounts that minimize total risk to the logistics service. Total risk in wartime logistics is represented by unsatisfied demand, hazard at the support site, and the number of relocations. The proposed MIP model reflects realistic factors in battle situations, such as maximum distance, vehicle capacity, basic load carried by combat units, and limited supplies during unit relocation. Furthermore, special operators for crossover and mutation are developed to maintain feasibility of possible solutions, and an efficient hybrid genetic algorithm is proposed to find optimal and near‐optimal solutions.
Accelerated ISAV replication detection by cell culture methods combined with time‐monitoring RT‐qPCR
Authors: Arseneau Jean‐René , Gautreau Chantal , Boston Linda , Goguen Michel L. , Laflamme Mark
Published: November 2018

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is a viral disease that affects farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.), often leading to mass mortalities. A quick detection of the ISA virus (ISAV) is crucial for decision‐making and can prevent the occurrence of future outbreaks. Screening done by Canada's National Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory System (NAAHLS) uses quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT‐qPCR) followed by sequencing of PCR amplicons. As neither technique provides information regarding the infectivity of the virus, suspected virulent strains are subsequently tested using viral isolation. However, this stepwise process can require significant time to deliver results. To speed up this delivery, we have improved on these pre‐existing techniques by combining the use of cell culture with RT‐qPCR to detect replicative virus in as little as 5 days. Preliminary assays enabled the establishment of a minimal shift in Ct values over time, which is representative of viral replication in cultured cells. Subsequent blind panel analyses allowed the establishment of the optimal sampling days, as well as diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) and specificity (DSp) estimates. This method could be adopted not only by laboratories conducting diagnostic analyses for ISAV, but also for other slow‐replicating viral agents that replicate through a budding mechanism.