bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Case For Family-Centered Differentiated Service Delivery for HIV
Authors: Grimsrud Anna , Bygrave Helen , Wilkinson Lynne
Published: July 2018

Differentiated care, or differentiated service delivery (DSD), is increasingly being promoted as one of the possible ways to address and improve access, quality, and efficiency of HIV prevention, care, and treatment. Family-centered care has long been promoted within the provision of HIV services, but the full benefits have not necessarily been realized. In this article, we bring together these two approaches and make the case for how family-centered DSD can offer benefits to both people affected by HIV and the health system. Family-centered DSD approaches are presented for HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy (ART) delivery, referencing policies, best practice examples, and evidence from the field. With differentiated family-centered ART delivery, the potential efficiencies gained by extending ART refills can both benefit clients by reducing the frequency and intensity of contact with the health service and lead to health system gains by not requiring multiple providers to care for one family. A family-centered DSD approach should also be leveraged along the HIV care cascade in the provision of prevention technologies and mobilizing family members to receive regular HIV testing. Furthermore, a family-centered lens should be applied wherever DSD is implemented to ensure that, for example, adolescents who are pregnant receive an adapted package of quality care.
How Does Smoking Cessation Affect Disease Activity, Function Loss, and Quality of Life in Smokers With Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Authors: Dülger Seyhan , Aykurt Karlibel İlknur , Kasapoğlu Aksoy Meliha , Altan Lale , Şengören Dikiş Özlem , Yildiz Tekin
Published: July 2018

Background

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that can progressively restrict spinal mobility.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate how smoking cessation by AS patients affects disease activity and their psychological state, physical mobility, lung function, and quality of life.

Materials and Methods

This was a longitudinal, single-blind, controlled, and observational study on 92 AS patients. Pulmonary function test, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index, chest expansion, Short-Form 36, and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life were evaluated. The patients were divided into smokers (group 1 = 54) and nonsmokers (group 2 = 38). The smokers were divided further into subgroups of those who quit smoking (group 1a = 17) and those who did not (group 1b = 37). Groups 1a and 1b patients were compared in terms of their baseline data and data 6 months after smoking cessation. In addition, group 1a patients' baseline data and data 6 months after smoking cessation were compared statistically.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between groups 1a and 1b after 6 months in terms of the evaluated parameters, except for BASDAI. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index was significantly lower in group 1a than group 1b (p = 0.02), indicating that. When the baseline data and data after 6 months of group 1a were compared, a significant improvement was found in BASDAI (p = 0.001), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (p = 0.001), chest expansion (p = 0.001), ankylosing spondylitis quality of life (p = 0.003), and subparameters physical function (p = 0.015), physical role strength (p = 0.05), power/live/vitality (p = 0.025), social functioning (p = 0.039), pain (p = 0.036), and general health perception (p = 0.05) of Short-Form 36, as well as forced expiratory volume in the first second (p = 0.003) and forced vital capacity (p = 0.007).

Conclusions

We observed significant improvements in disease activity, physical mobility, and quality of life in AS patients who quit smoking.
Is Hepatectomy Justified for BRAF Mutant Colorectal Liver Metastases?
Authors: Gagnière Johan , Dupré Aurélien , Gholami Sepideh S. , Pezet Denis , Boerner Thomas , Gönen Mithat , Kingham Thomas P. , Allen Peter J. , Balachandran Vinod P. , De Matteo Ronald P. , Drebin Jeffrey A. , Yaeger Rona , Kemeny Nancy E. , Jarnagin William R. , D’Angelica Michael I.
Published: July 2018

Objective:

To analyze clinical outcomes and prognostic variables of patients undergoing hepatic resection for BRAF mutant (BRAF-mut) colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

Background:

Outcomes following hepatectomy for BRAF-mut CRLM have not been well studied.

Methods:

All patients who underwent hepatectomy for CRLM with complete resection and known BRAF status during 2001 to 2016 at 3 high-volume centers were analyzed.

Results:

Of 4124 patients who underwent hepatectomy for CRLM, 1497 had complete resection and known BRAF status. Thirty-five (2%) patients were BRAF-mut, with 71% of V600E mutation. Compared with BRAF wild-type (BRAF-wt), BRAF-mut patients were older, more commonly presented with higher ASA scores, synchronous, multiple and smaller CRLM, underwent more major hepatectomies, but had less extrahepatic disease. Median overall survival (OS) was 81 months for BRAF-wt and 40 months for BRAF-mut patients (P < 0.001). Median recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 22 and 10 months for BRAF-wt and BRAF-mut patients (P < 0.001). For BRAF-mut, factors associated with worse OS were node-positive primary tumor, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) >200 μg/L, and clinical risk score (CRS) ≥4. Factors associated with worse RFS were node-positive primary tumor, ≥4 CRLM, and positive hepatic margin. V600E mutations were not associated with worse OS or RFS. A case-control matching analysis on prognostic clinicopathologic factors confirmed shorter OS (P < 0.001) and RFS (P < 0.001) in BRAF-mut.

Conclusions:

Patients with resectable BRAF-mut CRLM are rare among patients selected for surgery and more commonly present with multiple synchronous tumors. BRAF mutation is associated with worse prognosis; however, long-term survival is possible and associated with node-negative primary tumors, CEA ≤ 200 μg/L and CRS < 4.
The leading-edge vortex on a rotating wing changes markedly beyond a certain central body size
Authors: Bhat Shantanu S. , Zhao Jisheng , Sheridan John , Hourigan Kerry , Thompson Mark C.
Published: July 2018

Stable attachment of a leading-edge vortex (LEV) plays a key role in generating the high lift on rotating wings with a central body. The central body size can affect the LEV structure broadly in two ways. First, an overall change in the size changes the Reynolds number, which is known to have an influence on the LEV structure. Second, it may affect the Coriolis acceleration acting across the wing, depending on the wing-offset from the axis of rotation. To investigate this, the effects of Reynolds number and the wing-offset are independently studied for a rotating wing. The three-dimensional LEV structure is mapped using a scanning particle image velocimetry technique. The rapid acquisition of images and their correlation are carefully validated. The results presented in this paper show that the LEV structure changes mainly with the Reynolds number. The LEV-split is found to be only minimally affected by changing the central body radius in the range of small offsets, which interestingly includes the range for most insects. However, beyond this small offset range, the LEV-split is found to change dramatically.
A rapid microwave synthesis of green-emissive carbon dots with solid-state fluorescence and pH-sensitive properties
Authors: Yu Tingting , Wang Haijiao , Guo Chongzheng , Zhai Yanli , Yang Jianzhou , Yuan Jianhui
Published: July 2018

The emerging carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have been attracting significant attention for their prominent fluorescence, excellent stability and outstanding biocompatibility. Here, we report a facile one-step synthesis of highly fluorescent CQDs by using phthalic acid and triethylenediamine hexahydrate as precursors through a simple microwave-assisted method. The reaction time needed is only 60 s, which is less time-consuming than most previous reports. The phthalic acid with a benzene ring can improve the photoluminescence properties of CQDs as it can provide foreign
sp
2
conjugating units, and then finally result in long-wavelength emission. The synthesized CQDs were fully characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Besides, the impacts of different freed ratio on physical and chemical properties of CQDs were investigated in detail. The prepared CQDs exhibited strong green fluorescence with a broad maximum emission wavelength. The quantum yields of the CQDs can reach 16.1% in aqueous solution and they were successfully used in cell imaging with good biocompatibility. Moreover, in solid state, the CQDs with the feed ratio of 1 : 0.5 showed a strong green–yellow fluorescence which may have great potential to fabricate optoelectronic devices. Furthermore, the prepared CQDs also showed high pH sensitivity and can act as a fluorescence nanosensor for pH sensing.
Analytical solution for bending vibration of a thin-walled cylinder rolling on a time-varying force
Authors: Le Bot A. , Duval G. , Klein P. , Lelong J.
Published: July 2018

This paper presents the analytical solution of radial vibration of a rolling cylinder submitted to a time-varying point force. In the simplest situation of simply supported edges and zero in-plane vibration, the cylinder is equivalent to an orthotropic pre-stressed plate resting on a visco-elastic foundation. We give the closed-form solution of vibration as a series of normal modes whose coefficients are explicitly calculated. Cases of both deterministic and random forces are examined. We analyse the effect of rolling speed on merging of vibrational energy induced by Doppler's effect for the example of rolling tyre.
Highly efficient triazolone/metal ion/polydopamine/MCM-41 sustained release system with pH sensitivity for pesticide delivery
Authors: Chen Huayao , Huang Guozhi , Zhou Hongjun , Zhou Xinhua , Xu Hua
Published: July 2018

MCM-41 was prepared through the sol–gel method and encapsulated by polydopamine (PDA) before being coordinated with metal ions to form a highly efficient sustained release system (M-PDA–MCM-41) for triazolone delivery. The characterization results confirmed the existence of the coordination bond between the PDA layer and triazolone through the bridge effect from metal ions, which enhanced the interaction between PDA–MCM-41 and triazolone. The adsorption capacity of Fe-PDA–MCM-41 increased up to 173 mg g
–1
, which was 160% more than that of MCM-41. The sustained release performance of M-PDA–MCM-41 in different pH values was investigated. Under the conditions of pH ≤7, the release speed of triazolone increased with pH decreasing, whereas its release speed in the weak base condition was slower than in the neutral condition. Therefore, the as-synthesized system showed significant pH-sensitivity in the sustained release process, indicating that the sustained release system can be well stored in the neutral or basic environment and activated in the acid environment. Their sustained release curves described by the Korsmeyer–Peppas equation at pH 7 showed the same behaviour, indicating that PDA decoration or metal ion coordination only increases the steric hindrance and the interaction between carrier and triazolone instead of changing the original structure of the pure MCM material in accordance with X-ray diffraction and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis results.
Metabolic adaptability in metastatic breast cancer by AKR1B10-dependent balancing of glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation
Authors: van Weverwijk Antoinette , Koundouros Nikolaos , Iravani Marjan , Ashenden Matthew , Gao Qiong , Poulogiannis George , Jungwirth Ute , Isacke Clare M.
Published: July 2018

The different stages of the metastatic cascade present distinct metabolic challenges to tumour cells and an altered tumour metabolism associated with successful metastatic colonisation provides a therapeutic vulnerability in disseminated disease. We identify the aldo-keto reductase AKR1B10 as a metastasis enhancer that has little impact on primary tumour growth or dissemination but promotes effective tumour growth in secondary sites and, in human disease, is associated with an increased risk of distant metastatic relapse. AKR1B10Hightumour cells have reduced glycolytic capacity and dependency on glucose as fuel source but increased utilisation of fatty acid oxidation. Conversely, in both 3D tumour spheroid assays andin vivometastasis assays, inhibition of fatty acid oxidation blocks AKR1B10High-enhanced metastatic colonisation with no impact on AKR1B10Lowcells. Finally, mechanistic analysis supports a model in which AKR1B10 serves to limit the toxic side effects of oxidative stress thereby sustaining fatty acid oxidation in metabolically challenging metastatic environments.
The role of meaning in visual memory: Face-selective brain activity predicts memory for ambiguous face stimuli
Authors: Brady Timothy F. , Alvarez George A. , Störmer Viola S.
Published: July 2018

How people process images is known to affect memory for those images, but these effects have typically been studied using explicit task instructions to vary encoding. Here, we investigate the effects of intrinsic variation in processing on subsequent memory, testing whether recognizing an ambiguous stimulus as meaningful (as a face vs. as shape blobs) predicts subsequent visual memory even when matching the perceptual features and the encoding strategy between subsequently remembered and subsequently forgotten items. We show that single trial EEG activity can predict whether participants will subsequently remember an ambiguous Mooney face image (e.g., an image that will sometimes be seen as a face and sometimes not be seen as a face). In addition, we show that a classifier trained only to discriminate between whether participants perceive a face vs. non-face can generalize to predict whether an ambiguous image is subsequently remembered. Furthermore, when we examine the N170, an ERP index of face processing, we find that images that elicit larger N170s are more likely to be remembered than those that elicit smaller N170s, even when the exact same image elicited larger or smaller N170s across participants. Thus, images processed as meaningful – in this case as a face–during encoding are better remembered than identical images that are not processed as a face. This provides strong evidence that understanding the meaning of a stimulus during encoding plays a critical role in visual memory.

Significance Statement

Is visual memory inherently visual or does meaning and other conceptual information necessarily play a role even in memory for detailed visual information? Here we show that it’s easier to remember an image when it’s processed in a meaningful way -- as indexed by the amount of category-specific brain activity it elicits. In particular, we use single-trial EEG activity to predict whether an image will be subsequently remembered, and show that the main driver of this prediction ability is whether or not an image is seen as meaningful or non-meaningful. This shows that the extent to which an image is processed as meaningful can be used to predict subsequent memory even when controlling for perceptual factors and encoding strategies that typically differ across images.
Polymorphism within the mitochondrial genome of the ctenophore, Pleurobrachia bachei and its ongoing rapid evolution
Authors: Kohn Andrea B. , Moroz Leonid L.
Published: July 2018

The mitochondrial genomes in ctenophores are among the most compact in the animal kingdom with multiple rearrangements and examples of gene loss. Here, by resequencing of the Pleurobrachia bachei mitochondrial genome, we show that the high level of polymorphism (>10%) in Pleurobrachia might contribute to the ongoing fast evolution of ctenophores including the presence of truncated versions of apparently canonical genes such as cox1. Second, the codon interpretations in ctenophores, without robust proteomic data related to mitochondrial genes, is still a challenging issue, which is open for future experimental analyses.
Association of Facial Aging with DNA Methylation and Epigenetic Age Predictions
Authors: Marioni Riccardo E , Belsky Daniel W , Deary Ian J , Wagner Wolfgang
Published: July 2018

Evaluation of biological age, as opposed to chronological age, is of high relevance for interventions to increase healthy aging. Highly reproducible age-associated DNA methylation (DNAm) changes can be integrated into algorithms for epigenetic age predictions. These predictors have mostly been trained to correlate with chronological age, but they are also indicative for biological aging. For example accelerated epigenetic age of blood is associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality in later life. The perceived age of facial images (face-age) is also associated with all-cause mortality and other aging-associated traits. In this study, we therefore tested the hypothesis that an epigenetic predictor for biological age might be trained on face-age as surrogate for biological age, rather than on chronological age. Our data demonstrate that facial aging and DNAm changes in blood provide two independent measures for biological aging.
Evolutionary dynamics of specialization in herbivorous stick insects
Authors: Chloé Larose , Sergio Rasmann , Tanja Schwander
Published: July 2018

Understanding the evolutionary dynamics underlying herbivorous insect mega-diversity requires investigating the ability of insects to shift and adapt to different host plants. Feeding experiments with nine related stick insect species revealed that insects retain the ability to use ancestral host plants after shifting to novel hosts, with host plant shifts generating fundamental feeding niche expansions. These expansions were not accompanied by expansions of the realized feeding niches however, as species on novel hosts are generally ecologically specialized. For shifts from angiosperm to chemically challenging conifer hosts, generalist fundamental feeding niches even evolved jointly with strong host plant specialization, indicating that host plant specialization is more likely driven by species interactions than by constraints imposed by plant chemistry. By coupling analyses of plant chemical compounds, fundamental and ecological feeding niches in multiple insect species, we provide novel insights into the evolutionary dynamics of host range expansion and contraction in herbivorous insects.
Consumer emotional brand attachment with social media brands and social media brand equity
Authors: Dwivedi Abhishek , Johnson Lester W. , Wilkie Dean Charles , De Araujo-Gil Luciana
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The ever-growing popularity of social media platforms is evidence of consumers engaging emotionally with these brands. Given the prominence of social media in society, the purpose of this paper is to understand social media platforms from a “brand” perspective through examining the effect of consumers’ emotional attachment on social media consumer-based brand equity (CBBE).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper develops a model that outlines how emotional brand attachment with social media explains social media CBBE via shaping consumer perceptions of brand credibility and consumer satisfaction. An online survey of 340 Australian social media consumers provided data for empirical testing. The inclusion of multiple context-relevant covariates and use of a method-variance-adjusted data matrix, as well as an examination of an alternative model, adds robustness to the results.

Findings

The findings of this paper support the conceptual model, and the authors identify strong relationships between the focal variables. A phantom model analysis explicates specific indirect effects of emotional brand attachment on CBBE. The authors also find support for a fully mediated effect of emotional brand attachment on social media brand equity. Further, they broaden the nomological network of emotional brand attachment, outlining key outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

This paper offers a conceptual mechanism (a chain-of-effects) of how consumer emotional brand attachment with social media brands translates into social media CBBE. It also finds that a brand’s credibility as well as its ability to perform against consumer expectations (i.e. satisfaction) are equally effective in translating emotional brand attachment into social media CBBE.

Practical implications

Social media brands are constantly challenged by rapid change and ongoing criticism over such issues as data privacy. The implications from this paper suggest that managers should make investments in creating (reinforcing) emotional connections with social media consumers, as this will favorably impact CBBE by way of a relational mechanism, that is, via enhancing credibility and consumer satisfaction.

Social implications

Lately, social media in general has suffered from a crisis of trust in society. The enhanced credibility of social media brands resulting from consumers’ emotional attachments will potentially serve to enhance its acceptance as a credible form of media in society.

Originality/value

Social media platforms are often examined as brand-building platforms. This paper adopts a different perspective, examining social media platforms as brands per se and the effects of emotional attachments that consumers develop towards these. This paper offers valuable insights into how consumers’ emotional attachments drive vital brand judgments such as credibility and satisfaction, ultimately culminating into social media CBBE.
Research on construction and application of an evaluation system for regional road traffic safety
Authors: Cao Bing-ru , Cao Hui-Hui , Liu Yong
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct a novel grey incidence evaluation model to investigate a scientific and effective evaluation system of regional road traffic safety.

Design/methodology/approach

To provide a method for the evaluation of regional road traffic safety, the grey incidence feature vector method is employed to construct the evaluation index system for regional road traffic safety and then the index weights are calculated with Shannon entropy method. In this paper, the grey incidence feature vector method and grey incidence analysis are utilised to construct evaluation index systems for regional road traffic safety and determine the index weights. Then a grey incidence-ideal point method is used to establish a novel evaluation model for regional road traffic safety. To thoroughly investigate the road traffic safety in one region, the data of 13 cities in Jiangsu province is gathered, using the grey clustering and grey incidence-ideal point method to obtain the ranking results of the 13 cities.

Findings

The results provide a basic analysis of the present situation and show the differences for these regions based on the proposed model, according to which several solutions are proposed, aiming to improve regional road traffic safety situation.

Practical implications

The method exposed in the paper can be used to deal with the problems of the evaluation of regional road traffic safety.

Originality/value

The paper succeeds in understanding the status quo and implementing effective road traffic safety management based on the proposed model.
Leveraging informational and relational capabilities for performance
Authors: Yang Jie , Xie Hongming , Liu Haiwei , Duan Haoran
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the antecedents and consequences of operational collaboration of a buyer and its key supplier in economic exchanges in a supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The analyses of the sample data collected from Chinese manufacturers in this study include measurement model and structural model using structural equation modeling.

Findings

It shows that firm IT capabilities and supplier relationship management are positively associated with operational collaboration, which in turn enhances dyadic quality performance through improved process efficiency.

Research limitations/implications

Drawn upon the resource-based view and social contagion theory, it explained the intention of forming an operational collaboration in a buyer – supplier relationship employing a motivation-opportunity scheme. Second, the findings greatly advance our understanding of the indirect linkage between IT capability and quality conformance of the dyads.

Practical implications

This study suggests that practitioners should enhance the IT capability of their firms as well as implement supplier relationship management program in the organizations so that the buying firms can exchange cost information, provide assistance and pursue joint investments with their suppliers with the facilitation of advanced IT capabilities.

Social implications

Emerging market manufacturers are suggested to take measures to reduce transaction cost and cycle time uncertainty for quality assurance.

Originality/value

First, this study empirically explored the determinants of effective operational collaboration from the lens of motivation-opportunity scheme through integrating resource-based view and social contagion theory. Second, it examined the effect of operational collaboration on dyadic quality performance for both buyers and suppliers. Third, it examined the drivers of effective operational collaboration in the context of Chinese manufacturers.
Marketing Pinotage to South African student millennials
Authors: Vannevel Margaux , Vink Nick , Brand Jeanne , Panzeri Valeria
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relevance of expert opinions as a marketing tool for Pinotage amongst young South African student millennials by means of sensory hedonic testing.

Design/methodology/approach

Sensory hedonic testing was used because it is necessary to examine the extent to which extrinsic cues influence a wine’s intrinsic merit, as this can influence future purchase decisions. Thus, it combines marketing factors and sensory science and explores the sensory liking of food products by consumers. A total of 126 South African student millennial consumers were analysed.

Findings

The results confirm that expert opinions are an effective marketing tool. While positive expert opinions did not reinforce perceived quality for already generally liked wines, they increased perceived quality for wines that were not liked. Female student millennials specifically seem to be influenced by expert opinions and packaging, even though they show a relative dislike for Pinotage under blind tasting. These results are useful in the design of marketing strategies.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen research approach, it may be difficult to generalize the research results. However, future research could apply this methodology to investigate the perceived quality of wine and other food products in different countries. Furthermore, replicating this study could provide interesting comparative results.

Originality/value

Little is known about the liking for Pinotage wines by young South African consumers or about the cues that make them respond positively to marketing.
Consumer wine knowledge: components and segments
Authors: Ellis Debbie , Caruana Albert
Published: July 2018

Purpose

What consumers know about a product affects many aspects of their behaviour and is particularly important for marketers to understand when it comes to developing marketing strategy. The purpose of this paper is to understand the components of consumer knowledge of wine and to investigate these as a potential basis for wine market segmentation and targeting.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative, descriptive research design is adopted. An online survey consisting of three sections, measuring objective knowledge, subjective knowledge and classificatory variables, was developed and fielded, and data were collected from US wine consumers via Amazon.com’s MTurk platform. The psychometric properties of the measures used were determined, and a two-dimensional segmentation typology was developed.

Findings

The study supported the positive relationship between objective and subjective wine knowledge, while the combination of the two components led to the identification of four groups of consumers titled: neophytes, snobs, modest and experts.

Practical implications

In a market that is highly fragmented, consumer knowledge about wine has been shown to provide a useful basis for wine market segmentation allowing for different marketing activities to target the four groups identified.

Originality/value

While other research has considered either objective or subjective knowledge on its own, this study’s major contribution is the investigation of the wine consumer segments on the basis of the combination of objective and subjective consumer knowledge. A consumer knowledge type grid is developed that has implications for marketing segmentation and targeting. Implications of this new typology for future research are identified.
Studying coopetition in a wine industry context: directions for future research
Authors: Crick James M.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the theoretical and methodological value of studying coopetition (the interplay between cooperation and competition) in a wine industry context.

Design/methodology/approach

Key publications surrounding wine industries across multiple countries were reviewed to understand how the wine industry is a highly appropriate empirical context to investigate coopetition.

Findings

The findings revealed that the wine industry is a highly suitable empirical context for researchers to explore coopetition. Specifically, being a highly cooperative and competitive market, the wine industry provides a unique outlook into how coopetition is managed.

Originality/value

This paper helps scholars to appreciate the theoretical and methodological benefits of using a wine industry context to evaluate coopetition. Hence, scholars should use the wine industry to obtain rich empirical data surrounding coopetition. The paper ends with a set of recommendations for future research.
Motion and path planning of a novel multi-mode mobile parallel robot based on chessboard-shaped grid division
Authors: Wang Zhaotian , Li Yezhuo , Yao Yan-An
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to put forward a rolling assistant robot with two rolling modes, and the multi-mode rolling motion strategy with path planning algorithm, which is suitable to this multi-mode mobile robot, is proposed based on chessboard-shaped grid division (CGD).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the kinematic analysis and motion properties of the mobile parallel robot, the motion strategy based on CGD path planning algorithm of a mobile robot with two rolling modes moving to a target position is divided into two parts, which are local self-motion planning and global path planning. In the first part, the mobile parallel robot can move by switching and combining the two rolling modes; and in the second part, the specific algorithm of the global path planning is proposed according to the CGD of the moving ground.

Findings

The assistant robot, which is a novel 4-RSR mobile parallel robot (where R denotes a revolute joint and S denotes a spherical joint) integrating operation and rolling locomotion (Watt linkage rolling mode and 6R linkage rolling mode), can work as a moving spotlight or worktable. A series of simulation and prototype experiment results are presented to verify the CGD path planning strategy of the robot, and the performance of the path planning experiments in simulations and practices shows the validation of the path planning analysis.

Originality/value

The work presented in this paper is a further exploration to apply parallel mechanisms with two rolling modes to the field of assistant rolling robots by proposing the CGD path planning strategy. It is also a new attempt to use the specific path planning algorithm in the field of mobile robots for operating tasks.
Bondholder reorganization of systemically important financial institutions
Authors: Gjerstad Steven D.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to describe a resolution process for faltering financial firms that quickly allocates losses to bondholders and transfers ownership of the firm to them. This process overcomes the most serious flaws in resolution plans submitted by banks under Dodd–Frank Title I and in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) receivership procedure in Dodd–Frank Title II by restoring the balance sheet of a failing financial institution and immediately replacing the management and board of directors who allowed its demise.

Design/methodology/approach

Feasibility of the proposed resolution procedure is assessed by comparing long-term bonds outstanding for the largest American banks just before the 2008 crisis to the capital needed by these banks to restore their balance sheets after their losses prior to and during the crisis.

Findings

In almost all bank failures, this process would eliminate the need for government involvement beyond court certification of the reorganization. The procedure overcomes the serious incentive distortions and inefficiencies created by bailouts, and avoids the destruction of value and financial market turmoil that would result from the bankruptcies and liquidations that Dodd–Frank requires for distressed and failing banks.

Originality/value

Title II of the Dodd–Frank Act would require liquidation of any banks that enter into its resolution process. The case of Lehman Brothers indicates the severity of losses to investors that liquidation imposes and the disruption to financial markets and the economy. The procedure developed in this paper would avoid the disruptions that Dodd–Frank requires, preserving core functions of faltering financial firms and maintaining them as going concerns, even in a severe financial crisis.
The effect of IC components on innovation performance in Serbian companies
Authors: Cabrilo Sladjana , Kianto Aino , Milic Bojana
Published: July 2018

Purpose

In investigating the linkage between intellectual capital (IC) and innovation, it is important not only to explore how IC as a whole is associated with organizations’ innovative performance but also to gain a deep understanding of the role of different IC components (groups of intangibles) in companies’ innovation performance, which is the purpose of this paper in the context of Serbian companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on survey data collected from 100 Serbian companies with at least 100 employees during 2014/2015. Six IC components were analyzed (human, structural, internal relational, external relational, renewal and entrepreneurial) in terms of their effect on innovation performance. Analyses were conducted using structural equation modeling and correlation analysis.

Findings

Findings demonstrate that renewal capital, internal relational capital and structural capital have statistically significant positive effects on overall innovative performance in Serbian companies.

Practical implications

The outcomes reveal potential and barriers within IC that are crucial to innovation performance in Serbian companies. In this way, this study enables a deeper understanding of intangible drivers of innovation and highlights possibilities to foster intangible innovation potential in Serbian companies.

Originality/value

As context (economic and cultural) has emerged as a relevant factor in researching IC, this study is original in investigating IC effect on innovation within the Serbian business environment. Additionally, the broad sexpartite taxonomy of IC contributes to a wider understanding of knowledge and its linkages to innovation.
Predicting online repurchase intentions with e-satisfaction as mediator: a study on Gen Y
Authors: Trivedi Shrawan Kumar , Yadav Mohit
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Shopping online is a fast-growing phenomenon. A look into the rapid exponential growth of the primary players in this sector shows huge market potential for e-commerce. Given the convenience of internet shopping, e-commerce is seen as an emerging trend among consumers, specifically the younger generation (Gen Y). The popularity of e-commerce and online shopping has captured the attention of e-retailers, encouraging researchers to focus on this area. This paper aims to examine the relationship between online repurchase intention and other variables such as security, privacy concerns, trust and ease of use (EOU), mediated by e-satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered survey method is used, and students aged between 20 and 35 years at universities in northern India are selected as subjects. To test the hypotheses of this study, an online questionnaire is distributed to participants, with 309 legitimate responses received. The data are analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and AMOS version 20.0. Structural equation modeling is used to examine the model and to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results of this study show that security, privacy concerns, trust and EOU have a positive significant relationship with repurchase intention. The findings also reveal that e-satisfaction has a full mediation effect between security and repurchase intention and also between trust and repurchase intention. In addition, a partial mediation effect of e-satisfaction is noted between EOU and repurchase intention and between privacy concerns and repurchase intention.

Practical implications

The results show that security, trust, EOU and privacy concerns are the factors that have most impact on consumer purchasing behavior. In terms of the repurchase intention of Gen Y consumers, what is needed are strong security features, an easy-to-use interface, a trusted privacy policy and the creation of trust. Furthermore, it may be beneficial to observe e-satisfaction as a mediator when identifying potential problems; online satisfaction is important for the group in this study, and the results show that it impacts on the relation between repurchase intention and other factors.

Social implications

In terms of the repurchase intention of Gen Y consumers, what is needed are strong security features, an easy-to-use interface, a trusted privacy policy and the creation of trust. Furthermore, it may be beneficial to observe e-satisfaction as a mediator when identifying potential problems; online satisfaction is important for the group in this study, and the results show that it impacts on the relation between repurchase intention and other factors.

Originality/value

This research determines the impact of security, privacy concerns, EOU and trust on the online repurchasing behavior of Gen Y in India. The mediation effect of e-satisfaction is also determined.
Synovial GATA1 mediates rheumatoid arthritis progression via transcriptional activation of NOS2 signaling
Authors: Liu Huan , Wei Shu‐Ping , Zhi Li‐Qin , Liu Li‐Ping , Cao Tuan‐Ping , Wang Su‐Zhi , Chen Qing‐Ping , Liu Dan
Published: July 2018

Transcriptional regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is critically involved in the pathogenesis and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, the specific transcription factors that control this process remain largely unidentified. In the present study, it was discovered that expression of the key erythroid factor, globin transcription factor 1 (GATA1), is significantly greater in human RA synovial tissues than in osteoarthritis (OA) tissues. IL 6 was found to induce synovial GATA1 expression in a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3‐dependent manner. Functionally, knockdown of GATA1 expression using specific small interfering RNA treatment was found to compromise immunoreaction‐elicited expression of proinflammatory cytokines and thus impair invasiveness of the human fibroblast‐like synovial cell line MH7A, whereas introduction of exogenous GATA1 was found to promote production of proinflammatory cytokines, leading to greater aggressiveness of MH7A cells. Mechanistically, GATA1 acts as the transcriptional coactivator of NOS2 (the gene encoding iNOS) transcription. Collectively, these data suggest that synovial GATA1 is an essential contributor to development and exacerbation of RA, presumably by inducing NOS2 transcription.
DNA Barcoding in Forensic Entomology – Establishing a DNA Reference Library of Potentially Forensic Relevant Arthropod Species,
Authors: Chimeno Caroline , Morinière Jérôme , Podhorna Jana , Hardulak Laura , Hausmann Axel , Reckel Frank , Grunwald Jan E. , Penning Randolph , Haszprunar Gerhard
Published: July 2018

Throughout the years, DNA barcoding has gained in importance in forensic entomology as it leads to fast and reliable species determination. High‐quality results, however, can only be achieved with a comprehensive DNA barcode reference database at hand. In collaboration with the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office, we have initiated at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology the establishment of a reference library containing arthropods of potential forensic relevance to be used for DNA barcoding applications. CO1‐5P’ DNA barcode sequences of hundreds of arthropods were obtained via DNA extraction, PCR and Sanger Sequencing, leading to the establishment of a database containing 502 high‐quality sequences which provide coverage for 88 arthropod species. Furthermore, we demonstrate an application example of this library using it as a backbone to a high throughput sequencing analysis of arthropod bulk samples collected from human corpses, which enabled the identification of 31 different arthropod Barcode Index Numbers.
First report of foregut microbial community in proboscis monkeys: are diverse forests a reservoir for diverse microbiomes?
Authors: Hayakawa Takashi , Nathan Senthilvel K. S. S. , Stark Danica J. , Saldivar Diana A. Ramirez , Sipangkui Rosa , Goossens Benoit , Tuuga Augustine , Clauss Marcus , Sawada Akiko , Fukuda Shinji , Imai Hiroo , Matsuda Ikki
Published: July 2018

Foregut fermentation is well known to occur in a wide range of mammalian species and in a single bird species. Yet, the foregut microbial community of free‐ranging, foregut‐fermenting monkeys, that is, colobines, has not been investigated so far. We analysed the foregut microbiomes in four free‐ranging proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) from two different tropical habitats with varying plant diversity (mangrove and riverine forests), in an individual from a semi‐free‐ranging setting with supplemental feeding, and in an individual from captivity, using high‐throughput sequencing based on 16S ribosomal RNA genes. We found a decrease in foregut microbial diversity from a diverse natural habitat (riverine forest) to a low diverse natural habitat (mangrove forest), to human‐related environments. Of a total of 2700 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) detected in all environments, only 153 OTUs were shared across all individuals, suggesting that they were not influenced by diet or habitat. These OTUs were dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The relative abundance of the habitat‐specific microbial communities showed a wide range of differences among living environments, although such bacterial communities appeared to be dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, suggesting that those phyla are key to understanding the adaptive strategy in proboscis monkeys living in different habitats.
A systematic review of local excision followed by adjuvant therapy in early rectal cancer: are pT1 tumours the limit?
Authors: Cutting J. E. , Hallam S. E. , Thomas M. G. , Messenger D. E.
Published: July 2018

Aim

Total mesorectal excision remains the cornerstone of treatment for rectal cancer. Significant morbidity means local excision may be more appropriate in selected patients. Adjuvant therapy reduces local recurrence and improves survival; however, there is a paucity of data on its impact following local excision, which this systematic review aims to address.

Methods

A systematic search of the MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane databases using validated terms for rectal cancer, adjuvant therapy and local excision was performed. Included studies focused on local excision with adjuvant therapy for adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Primary outcome measures were local recurrence, survival and morbidity. Studies providing neoadjuvant therapy or local excision alone were excluded.

Results

Twenty‐two studies described 804 patients. Indications for local excision included favourable histology, patient choice and comorbidities. T1, T2 and T3 tumours accounted for 35.1%, 58.0% and 6.9% of cases, respectively. The most frequent local excision technique was transanal excision (77.7%). Adjuvant therapy included long‐course chemoradiation or radiotherapy. Median follow‐up was 51 months (range 1–165). The pooled local recurrence was 5.8% (95% CI 3.0–9.5) for pT1, 13.8% (95% CI 10.1–17.9) for pT2 and 33.7% (95% CI 19.2–50.1) for pT3 tumours. The overall median disease‐free survival was 88% (range 50%–100%) with a pooled overall morbidity of 15.1% (95% CI 11.0–18.7).

Conclusions

This area remains highly relevant to modern clinical practice. The data suggest that local excision followed by adjuvant therapy can achieve acceptable long‐term outcomes in high‐risk pT1 tumours, but not in T2 tumours and above in whom radical surgery should be offered.
Associations of community programs and policies with children's dietary intakes: the Healthy Communities Study
Authors: Ritchie L. D. , Woodward‐Lopez G. , Au L. E. , Loria C. M. , Collie‐Akers V. , Wilson D. K. , Frongillo E. A. , Strauss W. J. , Landgraf A. J. , Nagaraja J. , Sagatov R. D. F. , Nicastro H. L. , Nebeling L. C. , Webb K. L. ,   on behalf of the Healthy Communities Study Team
Published: July 2018

Background

The impact of community‐based obesity prevention efforts on child nutrition has not been adequately studied.

Objective

Examine relationships between number, type and intensity of community programs and policies (CPPs) and child nutrition.

Methods

An observational study of 5138 children (grades K–8) in 130 U.S. communities was conducted in 2013–2015. CPPs were identified by 10–14 key informant interviews per community. CPPs were characterized based on: count, intensity, number of different strategies used and number of different behaviours targeted. Scores for the prior 6 years were calculated separately for CPPs that addressed primarily nutrition, primarily physical activity (PA) or total combined. Child intakes were calculated from a dietary screener and dietary behaviours were based on survey responses. Multi‐level statistical models assessed associations between CPP indices and nutrition measures, adjusting for child and community‐level covariates.

Results

Implementing more types of strategies across all CPPs was related to lower intakes of total added sugar (when CPPs addressed primarily PA), sugar‐sweetened beverages (for nutrition and PA CPPs) and energy‐dense foods of minimal nutritional value (for total CPPs). Addressing more behaviours was related to higher intakes of fruit and vegetables (for nutrition and total CPPs) and fibre (total CPPs). Higher count and intensity (PA and total CPPs) were related to more consumption of lower fat compared with higher fat milk. A higher count (PA CPPs) was related to fewer energy‐dense foods and whole grains. No other relationships were significant atP < 0.05.

Conclusion

Multiple characteristics of CPPs to prevent obesity appear important to improve children's diets.