bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Intimate Partner Violence, Mental Health, and Relational Resilience on Perinatal Health
Authors: Scrafford Kathryn E. , Grein Katherine , Miller‐Graff Laura E.
Published: July 2019

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during and prior to pregnancy has been linked to higher rates of pregnancy complications and early labor and delivery. However, to our knowledge, no studies have examined prenatal mental health problems and relational resilience as parallel mechanisms by which past‐year IPV exposure impacts pregnancy and labor. The current study aimed to (a) examine the contribution of IPV exposure to pregnancy complications and early labor and delivery, controlling for childhood adversity, and (b) assess prenatal mental health and relational resilience as mediators of the effect of IPV exposure on pregnancy complications and early labor and delivery. We hypothesized that IPV would predict higher levels of mental health problems and lower levels of relational resilience, each of which would contribute to women's risk of labor complications such that fewer mental health problems and higher levels of relational resilience would each be associated with fewer pregnancy complications and early labor and delivery. Participants were (n = 76) interviewed during pregnancy and 6 weeks postdelivery. No direct effect of IPV exposure on either pregnancy complications or labor complications was found. Parallel indirect effects of IPV on labor via prenatal mental health, indirect effect size = −.09; 95% CI [−.224, −.011]; and relational resilience, indirect effect size = .13, 95% CI [.036, .329] were found. Brief, empirically tested IPV screens at prenatal clinics may help healthcare providers better identify IPV‐exposed patients. Clinical interventions targeting prenatal mental health and relational resilience may help improve labor outcomes for IPV‐exposed mothers.
Patterns of Treatment Disengagement and Personality Traits Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Recent‐Era U.S. Veterans Receiving Cognitive Processing Therapy
Authors: Lamkin Joanna , Hundt Natalie , Ahearn Eileen P. , Stanley Melinda , Smith Tracey L.
Published: July 2019

Low treatment engagement is a barrier to implementation of empirically supported treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans. Understanding personality traits that predict dropout may help focus attempts to improve engagement. The current study included 90 veterans who served in recent conflicts in Iraq and/or Afghanistan and participated in a trial of cognitive processing therapy for PTSD. Goals were to characterize (a) personality correlates of PTSD, (b) patterns of engagement (i.e., attendance and homework completion), and (c) personality correlates of reduced engagement. Higher levels of PTSD symptoms were associated with a range of characteristics, including affective lability, r = .44 p < .001; anxiety, r = .38, p < .001; identity problems, r = .57, p < .001; intimacy problems, r = .34, p = .001; low affiliation, r = .33, p = .002; oppositionality, r = .36, p = .001; restricted expression, r = .35, p = .001; and suspiciousness, r = .50, p < .001. Notably, veterans with worse PTSD symptoms endorsed more cognitive dysregulation, r = .40, p < .001; and less insecure attachment, r = .14, p = .190, than expected. Only 52.2% of veterans completed the 12‐session course of treatment and 31.0% of participants completed fewer than six sessions. Personality traits did not predict attendance or homework completion. Disengagement continues to be a significant issue in trauma‐focused treatment for veterans with PTSD. Understanding veteran‐level factors, such as personality traits, may be useful considerations for future research seeking to understand and improve engagement.
Association of two BRM promoter polymorphisms and smoking status with malignant pleural mesothelioma risk and prognosis
Authors: Lee Min Joon , Kuehne Nathan , Hueniken Katrina , Liang Shermi , Rai Sudhir , Sorotsky Hadas , Herman Michael , Shepshelovich Daniel , Bruce Jeffrey , Liang Mindy , Patel Devalben , Cheng Dangxiao , Chen Zhuo , Eng Lawson , Brown M. Catherine , Cho John , Leighl Natasha B. , de Perrot Marc , Reisman David , Xu Wei , Bradbury Penelope A. , Liu Geoffrey
Published: July 2019

Brahma (BRM), of the SWI/SNF complex, has two 6 to 7 bp insertion promoter polymorphisms (BRM‐741/BRM‐1321) that cause epigenetic BRM suppression, and are associated with risk of multiple cancers. BRM polymorphisms were genotyped in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cases and asbestos‐exposed controls. Multivariable logistic regression (risk) and Cox regression (prognosis) were performed, including stratified analyses by smoking status to investigate the effect of polymorphisms on MPM risk and prognosis. Although there was no significant association overall between BRM‐741/BRM‐1321 and risk in patients with MPM, a differential effect by smoking status was observed (P‐interaction < .001), where homozygous variants were protective (aOR of 0.18‐0.28) in ever smokers, while never smokers had increased risk when carrying homozygous variants (aOR of 2.7‐4.4). While there was no association between BRM polymorphisms and OS in ever‐smokers, the aHR of carrying homozygous‐variants of BRM‐741, BRM‐1321 or both were 4.0 to 8.6 in never‐smokers when compared to wild‐type carriers. Mechanistically, lower mRNA expression of BRM was associated with poorer general cancer prognosis. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments (ChIP) revealed high BRM insertion variant homology to MEF2 regulatory binding sites. ChIP experimentation confirmed MEF2 binding only occurs in the presence of insertion variants. DNA‐affinity purification assays revealed YWHA scaffold proteins as vital to BRM mRNA expression. Never‐smokers who carry BRM homozygous variants have an increased chance of developing MPM, which results in worse prognosis. In contrast, in ever‐smokers, there may be a protective effect, with no difference in overall survival. Mechanisms for the interaction between BRM and smoking require further study.
Fixed margin price undercutting: An adequate entry strategy in a market with switching costs?
Authors: Bartholomae Florian W. , Morasch Karl , Seebode Rita Orsolya
Published: July 2019

Purpose

We try to determine the best strategy for entering a market with switching costs that is initially served by a monopolistic incumbent.

Findings

We show that an offer to undercut the incumbent by a fixed margin (FM) dominates traditional entry with a binding price offer (BO) as this conditional pricing strategy restrains the ability of the incumbent to block entry by limit pricing. Combining FM with a price ceiling (PC) insures customers against future price increases and turns out to be optimal for markets with elastic demand as long as cost uncertainty is not an issue.

Conclusion

Using a more elaborate entry strategy may facilitate entry in markets with switching costs. However, as these strategies may decrease welfare, they should be closely monitored by antitrust authorities.
Laser‐driven radiation: Biomarkers for molecular imaging of high dose‐rate effects
Authors: Asavei Theodor , Bobeica Mariana , Nastasa Viorel , Manda Gina , Naftanaila Florin , Bratu Ovidiu , Mischianu Dan , Cernaianu Mihail O. , Ghenuche Petru , Savu Diana , Stutman Dan , Tanaka Kazuo A. , Radu Mihai , Doria Domenico , Vasos Paul R.
Published: July 2019

Recently developed short‐pulsed laser sources garner high dose‐rate beams such as energetic ions and electrons, x rays, and gamma rays. The biological effects of laser‐generated ion beams observed in recent studies are different from those triggered by radiation generated using classical accelerators or sources, and this difference can be used to develop new strategies for cancer radiotherapy. High‐power lasers can now deliver particles in doses of up to several Gy within nanoseconds. The fast interaction of laser‐generated particles with cells alters cell viability via distinct molecular pathways compared to traditional, prolonged radiation exposure. The emerging consensus of recent literature is that the differences are due to the timescales on which reactive molecules are generated and persist, in various forms. Suitable molecular markers have to be adopted to monitor radiation effects, addressing relevant endogenous molecules that are accessible for investigation by noninvasive procedures and enable translation to clinical imaging. High sensitivity has to be attained for imaging molecular biomarkers in cells and in vivo to follow radiation‐induced functional changes. Signal‐enhanced MRI biomarkers enriched with stable magnetic nuclear isotopes can be used to monitor radiation effects, as demonstrated recently by the use of dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) for biomolecular observations in vivo. In this context, nanoparticles can also be used as radiation enhancers or biomarker carriers. The radiobiology‐relevant features of high dose‐rate secondary radiation generated using high‐power lasers and the importance of noninvasive biomarkers for real‐time monitoring the biological effects of radiation early on during radiation pulse sequences are discussed.
Factors Affecting Postrelease Survival of Coded-Wire-Tagged Lake Trout in Lake Michigan at Four Historical Spawning Locations
Authors: Kornis Matthew S. , Bronte Charles R. , Holey Mark E. , Hanson S. Dale , Treska Theodore J. , Jonas Jory L. , Madenjian Charles P. , Claramunt Randall M. , Robillard Steven R. , Breidert Brian , Donner Kevin C. , Lenart Stephen J. , Martell Archie W. , McKee Patrick C. , Olsen Erik J.
Published: July 2019

Since the 1950s, fishery agencies on Lake Michigan have pursued Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush rehabilitation through Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus control, harvest regulations, and stocking millions of fish annually. Stocking was prioritized at four historically important spawning locations beginning in 1985, and coded wire tags (CWTs) were used to help evaluate performance. We used data from coded-wire-tagged fish captured in fishery-independent surveys from 1998 to 2014 to evaluate relative postrelease survival of Lake Trout, estimated by CPUE and corrected for the number of fish stocked, across 173 CWT lots of the 1994–2003 year-classes stocked at the four locations. Boosted regression tree models were used to assess the relative influence of four variables on Lake Trout CPUE in two age-groups (ages 4–5 and ages 6–10) and were paired with ANOVAs to test for statistical significance. Genetic strain (29.1%), stocking location (27.8%), mortality at release (23.1%), and predator density (19.9%) had similar influences on the relative survival of younger fish, whereas the relative survival of older fish was heavily influenced by stocking location (79.8%). Survival of both age-groups was lowest for fish stocked in the Northern Refuge, where the age structure was truncated due to fishery harvest and Sea Lamprey predation. Survival of stocked fish was higher at the Southern Refuge, Clay Banks, and Julian's Reef, where mortality from Sea Lamprey and harvest was lower and where increases in wild Lake Trout have been observed in recent years. Stocked Lake Michigan remnant genetic strains also appeared to survive better than strains from other lakes at these three locations, but strain effects could not be fully disentangled from the effects of stocking location, and the continued stocking of multiple genetic strains may provide resiliency to future selection pressures. Continued progress toward rehabilitation will require reducing fishing and Sea Lamprey-induced mortality in northern Lake Michigan to build parental stocks of advanced ages as well as balancing efforts among competing management goals.
3D DEM simulation of principal stress rotation in different planes of cross‐anisotropic granular materials
Authors: Xue Long , Kruyt Niels P. , Wang Rui , Zhang Jian‐Min
Published: July 2019

Three‐dimensional Discrete Element Method simulations have been performed to study the deformation of cross‐anisotropic granular materials under principal stress rotation (PSR), for rotation planes oriented at different angles θ with respect to the bedding plane. The simulations have been conducted with a novel technique for applying specified stresses at three‐dimensional boundaries. The results are qualitatively in agreement with experimental results from literature. Cumulative volume contraction is always observed under continuous PSR and increases with increasing θ. The dilatancy rate decreases with increasing number of PSR cycles, tending to zero. The noncoaxiality angle between the strain increment and the stress in the PSR plane increases with increasing number of cycles, reaching the same asymptotic value for samples of various densities and for various θ. Periodic oscillations of the dilatancy rate and noncoaxiality angle within each PSR cycle are observed with an increasing oscillation magnitude with increasing θ, due to the larger fabric anisotropy within the PSR plane. When θ = 30 or 60°, significant noncoaxial strain accumulation occurs in the plane perpendicular to the PSR plane due to the oblique angle between the PSR plane and the bedding plane, echoing the major principal fabric direction's being neither parallel nor perpendicular to the PSR plane. The macroscopic behavior of the samples is related to the microscopic parameters including coordination number and fabric anisotropy. With increasing number of cycles, the difference between normalized stress/strain/fabric increment tensors tends to become constant, with only a small lag between each pair, irrespective of θ.
Affective organizational commitment among nursing home employees: A longitudinal study on the influence of a health‐promoting work environment
Authors: Grødal Karoline , Innstrand Siw Tone , Haugan Gørill , André Beate
Published: July 2019

Aim

To investigate whether affective organizational commitment (AOC) among nursing home employees is enhanced by a health‐promoting work environment, conceptualized as high levels of job resources, work‐related sense of coherence (work‐SOC) and low levels of job demands.

Design

This study used a longitudinal design. Survey data were collected with a 1‐year interval between 2015/2016–2016/2017 among nursing home employees in Norway.

Methods

Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the longitudinal data (N = 166) and cross‐sectional data from the first time point (N = 558).

Results

The results supported that work‐SOC was strongly and positively related to AOC. Job resources and job demands were positively and negatively related, respectively, to work‐SOC but were not related to future AOC. The indirect effects of autonomy and supervisor support on AOC, via work‐SOC, were significant. The indirect effects regarding social community at work, emotional demands and role conflict were unclear.
A simulative overview on fiber predictions models for discontinuous long fiber composites
Authors: Kuhn Christoph , Koerner Enrico , Taeger Olaf
Published: July 2019

During the molding of fiber reinforced plastics, complex behavior of long fibers are observed which lead to significant changes in fiber orientation and fiber content distribution as compared to short fiber reinforced plastics. In earlier publications, a direct fiber simulation approach with a mechanistic model has been presented to display the complex fiber behavior inside simple geometries, which is mainly influenced by fiber interactions during flow. In this article, the prediction with the mechanistic model is evaluated in a complex geometry and compared to commercially available direct fiber simulation as well as traditional simulation tools. In this overview, the fiber parameters of fiber orientation and fiber content distribution are analyzed and compared to experimental data. Conclusively, it is shown that the predictions with a mechanistic model show the most accurate results regarding fiber orientation and fiber content distribution, with the downside of a significantly longer computational time.
Peer Sociometric Status and Personality Development from Middle Childhood to Preadolescence
Authors: Ilmarinen Ville–Juhani , Vainikainen Mari–Pauliina , Verkasalo Markku , Lönnqvist Jan–Erik
Published: July 2019

Sociometric status, the regard that other group members confer to an individual, is one of the most ubiquitous and behaviourally relevant attributes assigned to the person by the social environment. Despite this, its contribution to personality development has received little attention. The present three–wave longitudinal study, spanning the age range 7–13 years ( n = 1222), sought to fill this gap by examining the transactional pathways between peer sociometric status (measured by peer nominations) and Five–Factor personality traits (measured by self–ratings and parent and teacher ratings). Sociometric status prospectively predicted the development of extraversion. By contrast, agreeableness and neuroticism prospectively predicted the development of sociometric status. Furthermore, individual–level stability in extraversion was associated with individual–level stability in sociometric status. The results were robust across different sources of personality ratings. We argue that peer sociometric status in the school classroom is the type of environmental effect that has potential to explain personality development. Because of its stability, broadness, and possible impact across a variety of personality processes, sociometric status can both repetitiously and simultaneously influence the network of multiple inter–correlated micro–level personality processes, potentially leading to a new network equilibrium that manifests in changes at the level of the broad personality trait. © 2019 European Association of Personality Psychology
Introducing a heuristic approach to enhance the reliability of system safety assessment
Authors: Yazdi Mohammad
Published: July 2019

Probabilistic risk assessment techniques are the important tools which can considerably improve the safety performance of the studied system and reduce the risk to an acceptable level. Typically, decision‐making process is an important part of risk assessment methods that accordingly bring the ambiguity inside. Decision makers as experts commonly express their subjective opinions about the occurrence of the root events in order to obtain the probability of the undesired event. Subsequently, the critical root events are identified, and possible intervention is performed to reduce the probability of the critical events. However, the serious point is the viability of the obtained probabilities and priority ranking of the critical events. In this study, a heuristic optimization model of linear mathematical programming using triangular intuitionistic fuzzy number (TrIFN) is proposed to obtain the feasible, optimum, and reliable results compared with available methods. The Spearman correlation is performed to examine the reliability and behavior of the proposed model. In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach, it is applied on a real case study. The application of the model confirms its robustness to prioritize critical root events over the conventional one.
On the pth moment integral input‐to‐state stability and input‐to‐state stability criteria for impulsive stochastic functional differential equations
Authors: Hu Wei , Zhu Quanxin , Karimi Hamid Reza
Published: July 2019

In this paper, several new Razumikhin‐type theorems for impulsive stochastic functional differential equations are studied by applying stochastic analysis techniques and Razumikhin stability approach. By developing a new comparison principle for stochastic version, some novel criteria of the pth moment integral input‐to‐state stability and input‐to‐state stability are derived for the related systems. The feature of the criteria shows that time‐derivatives of the Razumikhin functions are allowed to be indefinite, even unbounded, which can loosen the constraints of the existing results. Finally, some examples are given to illustrate the usefulness and significance of the theoretical results.
Binary and Ternary Zinc(II) Complexes of Acyl Pyrazolones: Synthesis, Spectroscopic Analysis, Crystal Structure and Antimalarial Activity
Authors: Shaikh Irfan U. , Patel Rajesh K. , Mevada Vishal A. , Gupta Vivek K. , Jadeja Rajendrasinh N.
Published: July 2019

A new series of ZnII metal complexes of ligands 4‐(4‐chlorobenzoyl)‐5‐methyl‐2‐phenyl‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrazol‐3‐one (PCBPMP) and 4‐(4‐chlorobenzoyl)‐5‐methyl‐2‐(p‐tolyl)‐2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐pyrazol‐3‐one (PCBTPMP) were prepared and characterized. The nature of bonding and the stereochemistry of the complexes were deduced from 1H and 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Molar conductivity measurements and Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The analyses indicated that complexes 1, 2 and 3 are mononuclear and exhibited octahedral geometry around ZnII. The potential in silico and in vitro antimalarial activity inhibits Plasmodium falciparum and the same was exhibited by Ligands and Zinc complexes. This would be the first report of the antimalarial activity of Zinc complexes of acyl pyrazolones ligand.
Identification of Ferric Ions Using a Palmatine@Q[8] Fluorescent Probe
Authors: Deng Xin Yu , Lü Li Bin , Zhu Qian Jiang , Tao Zhu , Chen Kai
Published: July 2019

In the present work, we investigated guest‐host interactions between the palmatine guest and the Q[8] host. The results revealed the formation of a 1:2 host‐guest inclusion complex accompanied by strong fluorescence emission. Using the palmatine@Q[8] inclusion complex as a fluorescent probe, we detect various metal cations, including alkali (A+), alkaline earth (AE2+), transition (Trn+) and lanthanides (Ln3+) metal cations. The probe underwent fluorescence quenching only with ferric metal cations, demonstrating its ability to specifically detect Fe3+ions.
On Command Drug Delivery via Cell‐Conveyed Phototherapeutics
Authors: Marvin Christina M. , Ding Song , White Rachel E. , Orlova Natalia , Wang Qunzhao , Zywot Emilia M. , Vickerman Brianna M. , Harr Lauren , Tarrant Teresa K. , Dayton Paul A. , Lawrence David S.
Published: July 2019

Herein, the use of red blood cells (RBCs) as carriers of cytoplasmically interned phototherapeutic agents is described. Photolysis promotes drug release from the RBC carrier thereby providing the means to target specific diseased sites. This strategy is realized with a vitamin B12‐taxane conjugate (B12‐TAX), in which the drug is linked to the vitamin via a photolabile CoC bond. The conjugate is introduced into mouse RBCs (mRBCs) via a pore‐forming/pore‐resealing procedure and is cytoplasmically retained due to the membrane impermeability of B12. Photolysis separates the taxane from the B12 cytoplasmic anchor, enabling the drug to exit the RBC carrier. A covalently appended Cy5 antenna sensitizes the conjugate (Cy5‐B12‐TAX) to far red light, thereby circumventing the intense light absorbing properties of hemoglobin (350–600 nm). Microscopy and imaging flow cytometry reveal that Cy5‐B12‐TAX‐loaded mRBCs act as drug carriers. Furthermore, intravital imaging of mice furnish a real time assessment of circulating phototherapeutic‐loaded mRBCs as well as evidence of the targeted photorelease of the taxane upon photolysis. Histopathology confirms that drug release occurs in a well resolved spatiotemporal fashion. Finally, acoustic angiography is employed to assess the consequences of taxane release at the tumor site in Nu/Nu‐tumor‐bearing mice.
Atomic Carbon Layers Supported Pt Nanoparticles for Minimized CO Poisoning and Maximized Methanol Oxidation
Authors: Bai Gailing , Liu Chang , Gao Zhe , Lu Baoying , Tong Xili , Guo Xiangyun , Yang Nianjun
Published: July 2019

Maximizing activity of Pt catalysts toward methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) together with minimized poisoning of adsorbed CO during MOR still remains a big challenge. In the present work, uniform and well‐distributed Pt nanoparticles (NPs) grown on an atomic carbon layer, that is in situ formed by means of dry‐etching of silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiC NPs) with CCl4 gas, are explored as potential catalysts for MOR. Significantly, as‐synthesized catalysts exhibit remarkably higher MOR catalytic activity (e.g., 647.63 mA mg−1 at a peak potential of 0.85 V vs RHE) and much improved anti‐CO poisoning ability than the commercial Pt/C catalysts, Pt/carbon nanotubes, and Pt/graphene catalysts. Moreover, the amount of expensive Pt is a few times lower than that of the commercial and reported catalyst systems. As confirmed from density functional theory (DFT) calculations and X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements, such high performance is due to reduced adsorption energy of CO on the Pt NPs and an increased amount of adsorbed energy OH species that remove adsorbed CO fast and efficiently. Therefore, these catalysts can be utilized for the development of large‐scale and industry‐orientated direct methanol fuel cells.
Soil ionization effects on surge characteristics of grounding electrodes
Authors: Zhang Fan , Tanaka Hiroki , Baba Yoshihiro , Nagaoka Naoto
Published: July 2019

For finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) simulations, Ala et al. (2008) proposed a simplified engineering soil ionization model on the basis of the dynamic soil‐resistivity model of Liew and Darveniza (1974), and tested its validity against experiments on a 0.61‐m single vertical grounding conductor. In the model, the resistivity of each soil‐representing cell is controlled by the instantaneous value of the electric field there and time. In this article, to test the validity of this model, it was applied to FDTD simulations of the surge responses of different grounding electrodes: an 8.1‐m single horizontal grounding cylindrical electrode buried at a depth of 1 m in a homogeneous soil, and a 1.5‐m single vertical grounding cylindrical electrode in a homogeneous soil. The FDTD‐computed responses agree reasonably well with the corresponding ones measured by Sekioka et al. (1998) and Asaoka et al. (2005). Also, influences of ground‐surface soil ionization, direction‐dependent or direction‐independent resistivity, and three parameters (ionization constant, deionization constant, and critical electric field) of the model were investigated. Surface ionization has a non‐negligible influence only on a short grounding electrode buried in a relatively high‐resistivity soil. Direction‐dependent resistivity yields a little higher voltage and an acute ionization zone near the tip of electrode. Both ionization constant and critical electric field have significant effects: the voltage generated decreases with decreasing ionization constant and/or critical electric field. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An active frequency drift method for island problem of grid‐connected photovoltaic power generation system
Authors: Xu Ji , Zhou Hong , Fang Yanjun
Published: July 2019

Island problem in grid‐connected photovoltaic power generation system has a large influence on the safety and reliability of system, which needs to be timely detected. In this article, the photovoltaic grid‐connected generation and island problems were briefly introduced, and then active frequency drift (AFD) method for island detection was studied. It was found that AFD might affect the quality of output current. Therefore, an improved AFD method was proposed, which added a phase shift change to the original reference current. The simulation experiment suggested that the improved AFD method proposed in this article could detect the islanding problem in 0.1 s, and the total harmonic distortion of the output current was 1.62%, much less than that of the AFD method. The experimental results show that the improved AFD method has better performance in island detection, with high security and reliability, and is worth popularizing widely in photovoltaic grid‐connected power generation systems. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The efficacy of talent management in international business: The case of European multinationals
Authors: Kabwe Chitalu , Okorie Chukwuneke
Published: July 2019

The focus of this study is on the efficacy of talent management (TM) practices to the performance and operations of international businesses. There are relatively limited dedicated studies on the value and effectiveness of TM as an identifiable international practice and its contribution to international business. Anecdotal research and consultants' reports have argued for an increase in the return on investment where TM practices are aligned with the business strategy. Conceptually, human capital theory is adopted to explain investment in high potentials in addition to the resource‐based view, which help explain the development of internal sources of competitive advantage, which are rare, inimitable, nonsubstitutable, and valuable. This article builds on knowledge by qualitatively examining managerial experiences of TM practices within 17 European internationally operating businesses with employees ranging from 800 to 200,000. An exploratory qualitative approach is adopted, with semistructured interviews as the main data collection tool. Findings accentuate the significance of developing the most valuable source of competitive advantage—people. We argue that, if TM is effectively implemented can result in the development of unique competences, which can ease the burdens of cross‐border business challenges and lead to sustainable competitive advantage.
Method evaluation, parameterization, and result validation in unsupervised data mining: A critical survey
Authors: Zimmermann Albrecht
Published: July 2019

Machine Learning (ML) and Data Mining (DM) build tools intended to help users solve data‐related problems that are infeasible for “unaugmented” humans. Tools need manuals, however, and in the case of ML/DM methods, this means guidance with respect to which technique to choose, how to parameterize it, and how to interpret derived results to arrive at knowledge about the phenomena underlying the data. While such information is available in the literature, it has not yet been collected in one place. We survey three types of work for clustering and pattern mining: (1) comparisons of existing techniques, (2) evaluations of different parameterization options and studies providing guidance for setting parameter values, and (3) work comparing mining results with the ground truth. We find that although interesting results exist, as a whole the body of work on these questions is too limited. In addition, we survey recent studies in the field of community detection, as a contrasting example. We argue that an objective obstacle for performing needed studies is a lack of data and survey the state of available data, pointing out certain limitations. As a solution, we propose to augment existing data by artificially generated data, review the state‐of‐the‐art in data generation in unsupervised mining, and identify shortcomings. In more general terms, we call for the development of a true “Data Science” that—based on work in other domains, results in ML, and existing tools—develops needed data generators and builds up the knowledge needed to effectively employ unsupervised mining techniques.

This article is categorized under:

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Key Design Issues in Data Mining

Ensemble Methods > Structure Discovery

Internet > Society and Culture

Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Motivation and Emergence of Data Mining
Training penguins to interact with enrichment devices for lasting effects
Authors: Fernandez Eduardo J. , Kinley Rickey C. , Timberlake William
Published: July 2019

The modern zoo has brought about two major advances in the behavioral welfare of their exhibited animals: (a) The use of environmental enrichment to promote naturalistic behaviors and (b) the use of training to improve voluntary husbandry care. Whereas training itself has been talked about as an effective enrichment strategy, little has been done to combine training procedures with enrichment. Typically, enrichment is treated as a trial and error process, where potential enrichment items or procedures are cycled through until successful enrichment is found. The use of shaping or other training techniques has seldom been documented to increase engagement with possible enrichment items or procedures. The following study examined the possibility of combining training and enrichment to produce continued interactions with enrichment devices. Two species of penguin, Magellanic and southern rockhopper penguins, were studied. Two measures were taken: Time spent swimming and contact with enrichment devices. The enrichment devices could be manipulated by placing fish within and hanging out of each device. During baseline sessions, no hits to either device were observed. During training sessions, several hits were recorded when fish were in the devices and overall swimming time increased during these conditions. When baseline was reintroduced without fish in the devices, contact with the enrichment devices rapidly declined and swimming time for the rockhopper penguins decreased. When the devices were reintroduced with fish but without training, the greatest number of enrichment device contacts and the highest percentage of time spent swimming were observed for the rockhopper penguins.
Articulating Journalists’ Emotional Experiences of Crisis: Touching Down
Authors: Kotišová Johana
Published: July 2019

In the chapter, the author illustrates and criticizes the ways in which the journalists’ emotional experience is shaped by the Foucauldian complex of the socio-material technologies of crisis news production, the work with words and images, the journalistic professional ideology and managerial practices, and, above all, journalists’ work on their selves, stimulating certain emotional reactions and suppressing others. Kotišová shows how the matrices of practical reason telling people how successful professionals should conduct themselves and operate their bodies, souls, and thoughts construct the forms of subjectivity that are most appropriate to the practice of crisis reporting. The fictional narrative revolves around James’ growing nervousness: he focuses more and more on his professional task and his experience becomes gradually determined by his job.
Creative Nonfiction and the Research Method
Authors: Kotišová Johana
Published: July 2019

The first part of the methodological chapter explains in detail how and why the style of writing bringing together empirical material and fiction, termed “creative nonfiction,” was employed, and illustrates its main functions: illustrative, allegorical, organizing, effective, and reflexive. The author also explains most of the metaphors used in the research monograph including the character of James, the fictional journalist, and argues that the book profits precisely from the intersections of the factual and fictional narratives. The second part of the chapter re-tells the ethnographic research process, following four stages: establishing the field, immersion in the research problem, disentanglement, and return to the field. Kotišová also addresses the epistemology and methodology of studying emotions, and the opportunistic, multi-sited, and participatory logic of the research design.
Towards an UV fixed point in CDT gravity
Authors: Ambjørn J. , Gizbert-Studnicki J. , Görlich A. , Jurkiewicz J. , Németh D.
Published: July 2019

Abstract

CDT is an attempt to formulate a non-perturbative lattice theory of quantum gravity. We describe the phase diagram and analyse the phase transition between phase B and phase C (which is the analogue of the de Sitter phase observed for the spherical spatial topology). This transition is accessible to ordinary Monte Carlo simulations when the topology of space is toroidal. We find that the transition is most likely first order, but with unusual properties. The end points of the transition line are candidates for second order phase transition points where an UV continuum limit might exist.
A Causal Power Semantics for Generic Sentences
Authors: van Rooij Robert , Schulz Katrin
Published: July 2019

Many generic sentences express stable inductive generalizations. Stable inductive generalizations are typically true for a causal reason. In this paper we investigate to what extent this is also the case for the generalizations expressed by generic sentences. More in particular, we discuss the possibility that many generic sentences of the form ‘ks have featuree’ are true because (members of) kindkhave the causal power to ‘produce’ featuree. We will argue that such an analysis is quite close to a probabilistic based analysis of generic sentences according to which ‘relatively many’ks have featuree, and that, in fact, this latter type of analysis can be ‘grounded’ in terms of causal powers. We will argue, moreover, that the causal power analysis is sometimes preferred to a correlation-based analysis, because it takes the causal structure that gives rise to the probabilistic data into account.
A Case Series that Supports the Application of the S2AI Technique for Fractures and Failures after Lumbosacral Fusion
Authors: Weinreb Jeffrey H. , Iweala Uchechi , Matteini Lauren E. , Yu Warren D. , O'Brien Joseph R.
Published: July 2019

Background

Sacral fractures and failures are uncommon after lumbosacral fusion but have received increasing attention in the surgical literature. They can be difficult to diagnose, making timely treatment difficult. No consensus has been reached on the characteristics of these complications or on optimal treatment.

Questions/Purposes

The goal of this retrospective case series is to contribute additional cases of these uncommon complications of lumbosacral fusion to the surgical literature to help clinicians to anticipate, diagnose, characterize, manage, and treat sacral fractures and failures after lumbosacral fusion.

Methods

The medical records of five patients who experienced a sacral fracture or failure after lumbosacral fusion between January 2012 and November 2017 were identified and reviewed retrospectively. Records were reviewed for age, sex, clinical presentation, previous management, outpatient clinical records, imaging, and post-operative course.

Results

Four patients in the series experienced a sacral fracture and one experienced hardware failure. All patients presented with elevated pain and underwent revision surgery. Radiographic detection of the fracture or failure occurred at a mean of 11.2 weeks (range, 3 to 24 weeks) after initial surgery, and the mean age of patients was 68.2 years (range, 63 to 80 years). Of the five patients, four were female; two had been diagnosed with osteoporosis and two with osteopenia. In our case series, the S2–alar–iliac (S2AI) technique was used with success in all five cases.

Conclusion

Fractures and failures after lumbosacral fusion can be difficult to diagnose because of delayed presentation, nonspecific presenting symptoms, and a lack of identifiable mechanism. A high index of suspicion is required to detect these uncommon complications, and patients have responded well to both conservative and surgical treatments.
Added value of amyloid PET in individualized risk predictions for MCI patients
Authors: van Maurik Ingrid S. , van der Kall Laura M. , de Wilde Arno , Bouwman Femke H. , Scheltens Philip , van Berckel Bart N.M. , Berkhof Johannes , van der Flier Wiesje M. ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: July 2019

Introduction

To construct a prognostic model based on amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) to predict clinical progression in individual patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods

We included 411 MCI patients from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Prognostic models were constructed with Cox regression with demographics, magnetic resonance imaging, and/or amyloid PET to predict progression to Alzheimer's disease dementia. The models were validated in the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort.

Results

The combined model (Harrell's C = 0.82 [0.78–0.86]) was significantly superior to demographics (β = 0.100, P < .001), magnetic resonance imaging (β = 0.037, P = .011), and PET only models (β = 0.053, P = .003).The models can be used to calculate individualized risk, for example, a female MCI patient (age = 60, APOE ε4 positive, Mini‐Mental State Examination = 25, hippocampal volume = 5.8 cm3, amyloid PET positive) has 35% (19–57) risk in one year and 85% (64–97) risk in three years. Model performances in the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort were reasonable.

Discussion

The present study facilitates the interpretation of an amyloid PET result in the context of a patient's own characteristics and clinical assessment.
Sexual Dysfunction in Menopausal Women
Authors: Dąbrowska-Galas Magdalena , Dąbrowska Jolanta , Michalski Bogdan
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Hormone-related changes in menopause may negatively affect sexual function.

Aim

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate sexual functioning in Polish women with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The secondary aim was to evaluate the major factors affecting sexual functions in middle-aged Polish women.

Methods

The Menopause Rating Scale was used to assess the menopausal symptoms. The Polish translation of the FSFI was used to assess sexual function.

Outcomes

69.73% of respondents had sexual dysfunction according to FSFI (FSFI score ≤ 26.55).

Results

80.61% of women experienced menopausal symptoms during the 4-week period of study. Psychological and urogenital symptoms were the most frequently reported among all the women enrolled in the study (78.23% and 77.21%). Sexual problems were observed in women who did not use hormone therapy (β = 0.09, t = −1.97, P = .048) and showed no somatic symptoms (β = 0.03, t = 2.95, P = .002).

Clinical Implications

It is important for health care providers to ask women about this problem and understand the factors that may influence sexual problems in menopause.

Strengths & Limitations

A validated survey tool was used. The limitation was selection of participants in the clinical setting and sample population size.

Conclusion

Sexual problems were much more common in women who did not use hormone therapy and showed no somatic symptoms.
How does the automotive industry benefit from 3D metal printing?
Authors: Nichols Megan R.
Published: July 2019

3D printing is no longer the sole purview of hobbyists and DIYers. It’s quickly evolving and changing nearly every industry on the planet. The automotive industry is no stranger to automation, but 3D printing may change the way manufacturers construct commercial and personal vehicles, making them more affordable and available than ever before. How will 3D metal printing benefit the automotive industry now and in the future?
“Owl’s Eye” Sign in Acute Flaccid Paralysis
Authors: Ding Joy Zhuo , McMillan Hugh J.
Published: July 2019

A 4-year-old boy presented with asymmetric acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) of his right arm and both legs. He was alert with no oculobulbar weakness or incontinence. He had fever and diarrhea 5 days earlier. He was fully immunized with no travel history.
Should You Invest in an Old Bottle of Whisky or in a Bottle of Old Whisky? A Hedonic Analysis of Vintage Single Malt Scotch Whisky Prices
Authors: Moroz David , Pecchioli Bruno
Published: July 2019

This article examines the main determinants of differences in ask prices set by investors for single malt whiskies from Islay in Scotland using an original dataset collected from a web trading platform specializing in whisky investment. We find strong evidence that the vintage age (the number of years between the distillation date and the data collection date) positively affects investor asking prices. More precisely, given that the characteristics of whisky, unlike wine, do not change over time once bottled, we disentangle the vintage age effect by subdividing the vintage age into whisky age (the time spent in the cask) and bottle age (the time spent in the bottle). Our results show that whisky age has a more pronounced impact (8.9% per year on average) than bottle age (6.7%). Other findings include the significant influence of distillery reputation, with a moderating effect for independent bottling (i.e., not in-house by the distiller itself) and a positive impact for cask strength whiskies compared to diluted ones. (JEL Classifications: G11, L15, Q11)
‘Bad character’, tragic errors and deep ignorance
Authors: Levanon Liat
Published: July 2019

This paper proposes new grounds for the legal ambivalence about ‘bad character evidence’. It is suggested that errors based on such evidence are profoundly tragic in the Aristotelian sense: the defendant who previously committed crime is likely to reoffend; nevertheless, she beats the odds and refrains from further crime commission – only to then be falsely convicted based on the very odds she has almost heroically managed to beat. It is further proposed that the tragic nature of such false convictions might make them particularly unfair to the defendant. It is, however, submitted that the likelihood of errors based on such evidence is unknown and probably also unknowable. Accordingly, the maximin rule for decision in conditions of deep ignorance is applied, leading to the conclusion that exclusion is to be preferred.
On the Role of Historical Myths in Nation-State Building: The Case of Ukraine
Authors: Oleinik Anton
Published: July 2019

This article offers an overview of myths that may become a foundation of for shared memories of the Ukrainian nation’s past. According to Anthony Smith, common historical myths play a key role in the “ethnic” model of nationhood that constitutes the East European path to building a nation-state. The list of key myths that help constitute the Ukrainian identity includes Cossackdom, freedom, national independence, individualism, and democracy. It is argued that the existing historical myths have to be carefully assessed and adapted to the needs of nation-state building.
Melanin and Curls: Evaluation of Black Women Candidates
Authors: Lemi Danielle Casarez , Brown Nadia E.
Published: July 2019

Research on candidate evaluation has delved into questions of how voters evaluate women candidates, Black male candidates, as well as how candidates’ appearances may condition electoral opportunities. Combined, this scholarship has tended to focus on how race, gender, and skin tone privilege or undermine evaluations of Black male or White women candidates. We intervene to study Black women candidates and draw on research on colorism and Black women's hairstyles and ask: How does variation in skin tone and hairstyle affect Black voter evaluations of Black women candidates? We develop and test two hypotheses: the empowerment hypothesis and the internal discrimination hypothesis. We mostly find support for the latter. Importantly, we find that the interaction of dark skin and non-straight hair has mostly negative effects on Black men and women's trait evaluations, but a positive effect on Black women's willingness to vote for the candidate. Furthermore, this research shows that hair texture is an important aspect of responses to Black women candidates—hair is not just hair for Black women candidates. This research shows that understanding the effects of candidate appearance on voter behavior necessitates considering the intersection of racial and gender phenotypes.