bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of internal integration on SMEs’ performance: the role of external integration and ICT
Authors: Amoako Timothy , Huai Sheng Zhang , Dogbe Courage Simon Kofi , Pomegbe Wisdom Wise Kwabla
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The paper investigates the mediation role of external integration in the relationship between internal integration and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) performance. Information and communication technology (ICT) was used to moderate the relationship between internal and external, and external integration and SMEs performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross sectional method was used to distribute questionnaires to owners of SMEs in Abossey Okai business enclave to assess the various dimensions in the study. Structural equation modeling was employed to assess the relationship among the dimensions, based on 163 validated questionnaires. Analysis of Moment Structures (Amos) and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) were used in analyzing the data.

Findings

The results indicate that, external integration mediated the relationship between internal integration and SMEs performance. In addition, ICT had positive moderating effect in the relationship between internal and external integration, and external integration and SMEs performance.

Practical implications

Practically, this research informs owners and managers of SMEs to appreciate the importance of developing internal structures of a firm and further linking their operations with external partners. Additionally, findings will aid managers’ and owners’ leverage on ICT capabilities to enhance performance in their operations.

Originality/value

Engaging external integration to mediate the relationship between internal integration and SMEs performance and extending the relationship to include moderating role of ICT in both relationship that is internal and external integration on one side, and external and firm performance, the current study contributes to supply chain integration (SCI) and ICT available literature.
Improving internal logistics of a bus manufacturing using the lean techniques
Authors: Mourato José , Pinto Ferreira Luís , Sá José Carlos , Silva Francisco J.G. , Dieguez Teresa , Tjahjono Benny
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This study aims to improve the reception and positioning of materials in the warehouse, as well as the internal logistics of a bus manufacturing company by acting upon the processes of supply line management.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the action research methodology which, through a practical approach, intends to generate transferrable knowledge to other organizations whose situations are similar to that of this study. The practical actions and the knowledge acquired co-create the changes needed for the improvement processes.

Findings

Through these improvements, it is possible to standardize supply and eliminate the retention of picking carts on the line, simplify the management of materials provided in supermarket boxes, improve the control of materials and facilitate the process of picking and materials storage. A kanban card-based supply system was also expanded to the bus assembly line, allowing more control over valuable materials.

Originality/value

This study has demonstrated how the implementation of lean techniques on a bus assembly line can lead to increased consistency of supply to the line and improved working conditions, both in the production and warehouse areas. Furthermore, it has set a new standard of the internal logistics processes and the inclusion of process recording in the working instructions.
Proposing a new hybrid multi-criteria decision-making approach for road maintenance prioritization
Authors: Sayadinia Shakiba , Beheshtinia Mohammad Ali
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method, by combining the AHP, ELECTRE II, ELECTRE III, ELECTRE IV and Copeland techniques for road maintenance prioritization, in which the roads are evaluated and ranked based on various criteria. The proposed method is applied to four streets in Tehran, as a case study.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a set of criteria for road maintenance was determined and their weights were obtained using the AHP method. Four streets in Tehran, Iran were considered as alternatives and prioritized using the ELECTRE II, ELECTRE III and ELECTRE IV methods. Finally, the results of employing the three methods were integrated using the Copeland method and a final result was obtained.

Findings

The findings of the study suggested that “road safety” is the most important criterion in maintenance and “traffic volume” and “pavement quality index (PCI)” have the second and third rank in importance. Moreover, “The width of the street” is the least important criterion in road maintenance. Additionally, the streets' final ranking was obtained using the proposed method.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed method helps managers effectively assign their limited budget and resources to roads with higher maintenance priority and as the result, increase the roads efficiency.

Originality/value

In this research, eight main criteria were collected using previous researches and experts' opinions. Also, a new combination of different MCDM techniques is proposed in this research.
When does job burnout not hurt employee behaviours?
Authors: Turek Dariusz
Published: December 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to describe and explain the relationship between job burnout (JB), organisational citizenship behaviours (OCBs) and counterproductive workplace behaviours (CWBs). The job demands-resources theory was applied to test the moderating role of perceived organisational support (POS) in the relationship shared by JB, OCBs and CWBs.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted anonymously on a group of 253 telephone customer support services employees from companies operating in Poland. Moderation analyses for statistical verification were conducted with macro PROCESS version 3.3.

Findings

The research confirmed a significant statistical relationship between JB and all the studied variables: POS, OCBs and CWBs. It may be concluded that JB increases the probability of CWBs and decreases employee readiness for OCBs. When employees experienced POS, a reduction in tendency for counterproductive behaviours was observed, while citizenship behaviours remained unchanged. Thus, it might be concluded that POS levels off the intensity of the influence of JB on employees’ organisational behaviours.

Practical implications

Individuals who lack enough social resources to perform their job tasks limit their citizenship activity in the workplace within their behavioural strategy (helping, initiative, etc.). In order to protect their resources, they may also display strategies that are destructive for their organisational environment, e.g. incivility or production deviance. In the situations when the organisation and superiors provide employees with support and demonstrate concern for providing comfortable working conditions, such persons, even in the case of perceived emotional exhaustion, maintain a high level of job activity.

Originality/value

The combination of variables presented in the research model explains the significance of the chosen determinants of behaviours that are key from the perspective of the organisation’s effectiveness and market competitiveness. This research extends knowledge pertaining to the relationship between JB and organisational behaviours.
Pickled olives neutralize vicine and convicine glycosides in Vicia faba and protect from favism
Authors: Koriem Khaled M. M. , Arbid Mahmoud S.S.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate hematological parameters, blood glutathione (GSH), serum glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6-PD) and liver function in favism animals' models after oral intake with a mixture of pickled olives and Vicia faba (V. faba) seeds.

Design/methodology/approach

Favism is a life-threatening hemolytic crisis. It results from the ingestion of V. faba by the individuals. The hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), serum glucose, blood GSH, serum G6-PD, serum thiobarbaturic acid reactive substances (TBARS), liver protein and liver function were evaluated after oral administration with a mixture of pickled olives with V. faba seeds in favism animals' models.

Findings

The favism-, vicine- and convicine-treated animals showed a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in Hb (6.42, 7.23 and 5.96 g/dl), Hct (25.4, 26.4 and 25.1%), RBCs (2.56, 2.45 and 2.60 106 cells/mm3, WBCs (4.35, 4.25 and 4.30 103 cells/mm3), serum glucose (95.8, 97.1 and 96.5 mg/dl), blood GSH (24.7, 26.6 and 23.8 mg/dl), serum G6-PD (15.8, 15.9 and 15.7 U/L), serum aspartate aminotransferase (6.35, 6.59 and 5.97 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (4.49, 4.61 and 4.50 U/L), total protein (6.54, 6.59 and 6.40 g/dl), albumin (3.84, 3.91 and 3.75 g/dl), globulin (2.70, 2.48 and 2.65 g/dl) and liver protein (3.37, 3.10 and 3.42 g/g tissue) but a significant increase (p < 0.01) in serum TBARS (38.7, 38.9 and 39.4 nmol/dl), alkaline phosphatase (275, 271 and 281 U/L) and total bilirubin (0.93, 0.89 and 0.91 mg/dl) compared to Hb (16.3 g/dl), Hct (45.3%), RBCs (5.80 106 cells/mm3), WBCs (9.45 103 cells/mm3), serum glucose (96.5 mg/dl), blood GSH (39.7 mg/dl), serum G6-PD (36.1 U/L), serum TBARS (18.0 nmol/dl), serum aspartate aminotransferase (19.8 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (9.23 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (214 U/L), total bilirubin (0.57 mg/dl), total protein (8.76 g/dl), albumin (4.85 g/dl), globulin (3.91 g/dl) and liver protein (6.28 g/g tissue) in control group. The oral administration with pickled olives + V. faba, pickled olives + vicine and pickled olives + convicine into favism animals' models, vicine-treated animals and convicine-treated animals, respectively pushed all the above-mentioned parameters to near the control levels.

Originality/value

V. faba contains vicine and convicine glycosides. Vicine and convicine glycosides in V. faba are hydrolyzed by intestinal microflora to aglycones divicine and isouramil, respectively. Divicine and isouramil are highly reactive compounds generating free radicals where divicine and isouramil are the main factors of favism. The ß-glucosidase in pickled olives converts both vicine and convicine glycosides into aglycones divicine and isouramil, respectively, in aerobic condition outside the human body (in inactive forms) and prevent these glycosides to cause favism.
Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors attenuate cardiac ischaemia–reperfusion injury in rats with diabetes mellitus type 2
Authors: Bradic Jovana , Milosavljevic Isidora , Bolevich Stefani , Litvitskiy Peter F , Jeremic Nevena , Bolevich Sergey , Zivkovic Vladimir , Srejovic Ivan , Jeremic Jovana , Jovicic Nemanja , Mitrovic Slobodanka , Jakovljevic Vladimir
Published: December 2020

The aim of our study was to assess and compare the effects of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors, saxagliptin and sitagliptin, on metabolic control of disease and cardiac function in rats with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM). This research would provide novel understanding into the potentially protective effects of DPP4 inhibitors in helping salvage of the heart exposed to ischaemia–reperfusion (I–R) injury. Forty‐eight Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups: CTRL, Control healthy group; T2DM, rats with T2DM; T2DM + Sit, rats with T2DM treated with 0.6 mg/kg of sitagliptin; T2DM + Sax, rats with T2DM treated with 0.45 mg/kg of saxagliptin for 3 weeks. At the end of the protocol, in vivo cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography, while in the blood samples glucose and insulin were determined. Additionally, ex vivo heart function was estimated on a model of I–R injury using Langendorff apparatus. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to determine the degree of myocardial apoptosis and necrosis, while DPP4 staining was performed to assess the cardiac DPP4 expression. Data were analyzed using a one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the post hoc Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons. Improved glycoregulation was noticed in rats that received DPP4 inhibitors compared to untreated diabetic rats (P < .05). Moreover, better in vivo systolic function was observed in rats treated with both DPP4 inhibitors as evidenced by an increase in fractional shortening when compared to T2DM (P < .05). Most parameters of cardiac function in treated rats remained unaltered during reperfusion, thus suggesting that both drugs protected myocardium during flow restoration. Better effects on coronary circulation were achieved after sitagliptin application. Additionally, both DPP4 inhibitors showed similar potential to attenuate cardiac necrosis and apoptosis. Saxagliptin and sitagliptin might be efficient in preserving myocardial function and morphology in ex vivo induced I‐R cardiac injury in rats with T2DM.
Monochloramine effects on gallbladder contractility
Authors: Hernández‐Moreno David , Morales Sara , Camello‐Almaraz Cristina , Pozo María J. , Camello Pedro J.
Published: December 2020

Digestive inflammatory processes induce motility alterations associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species production, including monochloramine (NH2Cl). The aim of the study was to characterize the effects of the naturally occurring oxidant monochloramine in the guinea pig gallbladder. We used standard in vitro contractility technique to record guinea pig gallbladder strips contractions. NH2Cl caused a concentration‐dependent contraction which was reduced by inhibition of extracellular Ca2+ influx and tyrosine kinase pathways. The PKC antagonist GF109203X also reduced the response but not after previous tyrosine kinase inhibition, suggesting that PKC is activated by tyrosine kinase activity. The NH2Cl contractile effect was also reduced by inhibitors of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), nitric oxide synthase, phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase. In addition, NH2Cl impaired the responses to CCK, tissue depolarization and electrical field stimulation. In conclusion, we present new evidence that monochloramine impairs not only the gallbladder response to CCK but also to membrane depolarization and nervous plexus stimulation, and that tyrosine kinase, PKC, MAPK and NO pathways are involved in the contractile direct effect of monochloramine.
Replacing Corporate Income Tax with a Cash Flow Tax
Authors: Garnaut Ross , Emerson Craig , Finighan Reuben , Anthony Stephen
Published: December 2020

We design a parsimonious cash flow tax for Australia and estimate revenue effects. It allows immediate deduction of all capital expenditures, denies deductions of interest payments, and compensates negative cash flows at the same rate and time as it taxes positive cash flows. It allows taxpayer timing choice on implementation over 10 years. It has incentive effects comparable to lowering the corporate income tax rate to zero. It removes distortions that artificially favour debt over equity, short‐ over long‐term investments, rents over competitive returns, large, established over small and new businesses, and conventional over innovative investments. It closes international tax evasion loopholes. Its spur to investment and timing of revenue impacts favours implementation in recession.
Polyploid engineering by increasing mutant gene dosage in yeasts
Authors: Fukuda Nobuo , Honda Shinya , Fujiwara Maki , Yoshimura Yuko , Nakamura Tsutomu
Published: December 2020

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, widely used for ethanol production, is one of the best‐understood biological systems. Diploid strains of S. cerevisiae are preferred for industrial use due to the better fermentation efficiency, in terms of vitality and endurance as compared to those of haploid strains. Whole‐genome duplications is known to promote adaptive mutations in microorganisms, and allelic variations considerably contribute to the product composition in ethanol fermentation. Although fermentation can be regulated using various strains of yeast, it is quite difficult to make fine adjustment of each component in final products. In this study, we demonstrate the use of polyploids with varying gene dosage (the number of copies of a particular gene present in a genome) in the regulation of ethanol fermentation. Ethyl caproate is one of the major flavouring agents in a Japanese alcoholic beverage called sake. A point mutation in FAS2 encoding the α subunit of fatty acid synthetase induces an increase in the amount of caproic acid, a precursor of ethyl caproate. Using the FAS2 as a model, we generated and evaluated yeast strains with varying mutant gene dosage. We demonstrated the possibility to increase mutant gene dosage via loss of heterozygosity in diploid and tetraploid strains. Productivity of ethyl caproate gradually increased with mutant gene dosage among tetraploid strains. This approach can potentially be applied to a variety of yeast strain development via growth‐based screening.
Solicited diary methods with urban refugee women: Ethical and practical considerations
Authors: Linn Sarah
Published: December 2020

Urban refugee women are a challenging research population to contact as they typically prefer to remain discreet and anonymous in their host cities due to concerns over their status and security. Building trust and rapport can be challenging and researchers need to balance issues such as negotiating gatekeepers and time scales alongside ethical demands to do no harm and avoid extractive and exploitative research. As a result, refugee women’s individual and quotidian experiences are rarely examined and foregrounded and their emotional responses to their host cities and host communities are overlooked. In light of this, considered methods, such as solicited diaries, which allow refugees the space and time to reflect on their emotional experiences and these associations with space and place, could be beneficial. However, there has been little written on the use of this method with refugee participants in deeply marginalised circumstances. Alongside some practical and ethical considerations of using solicited diary methods with urban refugee women, this paper considers two main issues. First, the practical role that instructions play in guiding participant responses and engagement in the diary process, and second the ways in which diaries can illuminate the relationship between emotion and spatiality. Diaries were found to have much to offer in advocating refugees as knowledge holders, whereby written excerpts act as “evidence” of their experiences. Analysed alongside other qualitative methods, and if used appropriately and considerately with refugee participants, diaries have the potential to be insightful, empowering, and cathartic.
Climate change migration in the post‐conflict state: Understanding Cambodian migration narratives through geopolitical history and land struggles
Authors: Chann Sopheak
Published: December 2020

While there has been increasing scholarship exploring the social, cultural, and political dimensions of climate change migration, there is to date limited research situating climate migration studies within geopolitical history and land struggles, particularly in post‐conflict states like Cambodia. Four decades after the Khmer Rouge genocide (1975–1979) ended, rural migration and land struggles remain a central aspect of Cambodia's political and economic life. Since the beginning of the Cambodian civil war (1970), rural populations have repeatedly been forced to move from their land. However, the geopolitical dimension of land has not been widely considered in current climate change migration literature. To explore these dynamic relationships between land, migration, and geopolitical history, this paper investigates both historical narratives and everyday relationships with land of land(less) migrants in Veal Veaeng District, Western Cambodia, a former war zone and a Khmer Rouge stronghold during the 1980s and 1990s. This paper argues that political history plays a vital role in defining migration trajectories in Cambodia, especially how historical factors define land struggles. Through exploring migrants and land frontier dynamics, this paper discovers that poor peasants have been forced between labour markets and land frontiers.
Maternity care for refugees living in Greek refugee camps: What are the challenges to provision?
Authors: Scott Hannah M. , Wallis Nicola
Published: December 2020

Background

Over a two‐year period between 2015 and 2016, unprecedented numbers of people arrived in Greece fleeing conflict, persecution, and poverty. With new arrivals every day, there is a significant unmet need for health care provision, posing a challenge to the Greek Healthcare System. For pregnant refugees, a known vulnerable group, this has resulted in a complex partnership of shared maternity care between humanitarian organizations, the Greek national health care system, and European multi‐state initiatives. Our aim was to understand the challenges to providing maternity care services in Greek refugee camps as perceived by health care providers.

Methods

A qualitative study comprising observation and semi‐structured interviews with health care providers working with pregnant refugees was conducted in five refugee camps in May 2017. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed with thematic coding.

Results

Twenty‐one health care providers were interviewed and field notes taken from observational study of services in five refugee camps. Health care providers describe difficult cross‐cultural communication to be their biggest challenge to caring for pregnant refugee women. The limited availability of female only safe spaces is also identified as a barrier. Lastly, the overburdened Greek public health system limits their ability to provide care.

Conclusions

Our research supports other literature describing difficult communication and the overburdened Greek health system as significant health care barriers for pregnant refugees in Greece. There is limited literature examining the role of “safe space,” and further research is needed. Stakeholders providing maternity care to refugees should look to tackle these key issues as they seek to provide care to this population.
The potential diversity of vegetative compatibility types in the population of Cryphonectria parasitica in Turkey
Authors: Erincik Birsen Geçioğlu , Erincik Ömer , Açıkgöz Serap
Published: December 2020

The diversity of vegetative compatibility (vc) types of chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, has been reported to be very low in all of Turkey, except in the eastern Black Sea Region. However, risk for increase in vc type diversity has been pointed out regarding the emergence of new vc types as recombinants during sexual reproduction. In this study, the potential increase in the diversity of vc types in Turkish populations of C. parasitica was demonstrated by experimental mating crosses between the two dominant vc types, EU‐1 and EU‐12. Two local isolates of C. parasitica, K5‐5 (EU‐1) and A‐2490 (EU‐12), were used setting crosses on autoclaved chestnut wood. Among the offspring from the crosses, two parental (EU‐1 and EU‐12) and 14 non‐parental vc types (EU‐2, EU‐3, EU‐4, EU‐7, EU‐8, EU‐11, EU‐14, EU‐17, EU‐22, EU‐25, EU‐26, EU‐28, EU‐29 and EU‐30) were detected by a routine test based on co‐culturing. Sixteen vc genotypes were confirmed by a PCR assay using specific primers targeting the alleles of six vic loci in C. parasitica. In field studies, no evidence of new vc types as recombinants was found in western Turkey whereas 14 different vc types were detected among single ascospore isolates isolated from field‐collected perithecia, which were sampled from the eastern Black Sea region. The results of this study indicate that the potential increase in vc type diversity in Turkish population of C. parasitica is high under the conditions where C. parasitica reproduces sexually.
First report ofLecanosticta acicolaon pine and non‐pine hosts in Turkey
Authors: Oskay Funda , Laas Marili , Mullett Martin , Lehtijärvi Asko , Doğmuş‐Lehtijärvi Hatice Tuğba , Woodward Steve , Drenkhan Rein
Published: December 2020

Brown spot needle blight, caused byLecanosticta acicola, is a serious disease of pines worldwide and has become of great concern in Europe over the last decade, with significantly increased outbreaks in pine forests. We examined native and non‐native Pinaceae taxa (fourCedrusand 24Pinus) in the Atatürk Arboretum, Istanbul, Turkey, for the presence ofL. acicola. Needles were sampled from 37 trees at least twice between March 2017 and July 2018. Symptomatic occurrence of the disease was confirmed by isolations, followed by molecular identification via sequencing of the ITS region.Lecanosticta acicolawas isolated from symptomatic needles of 10 trees from seven host taxa (Cedrusand sixPinus). Molecular diagnostics of isolates confirmed the identification ofL. acicolaonCedrus libani,Pinus sylvestris,P. nigrasubsp.nigra,P. nigrasubsp.laricio,P. nigrasubsp.pallasiana,P. nigrasubsp.pallasianavar.fastigiataandP. nigrasubsp.pallasianavar.pallasianaf.şenerianain the arboretum.

This paper is the first report ofL. acicolaonC. libaniand also the first report of the pathogen infecting a genus other than aPinusspp. under natural conditions. Additionally, it is also the first report ofL. acicolaoccurring in Turkey. The pathogen was clearly able to cause severe damage on native TurkishPinustaxa, includingP. sylvestrisandP. nigrasubsp.pallasiana, and endangered endemic forms of the host in Turkey.
Multidecadal changes in fish growth rates estimated from tagging data: A case study from the Eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua, Gadidae)
Authors: Mion Monica , Haase Stefanie , Hemmer‐Hansen Jakob , Hilvarsson Annelie , Hüssy Karin , Krüger‐Johnsen Maria , Krumme Uwe , McQueen Kate , Plikshs Maris , Radtke Krzysztof , Schade Franziska Maria , Vitale Francesca , Casini Michele
Published: December 2020

Long time series of reliable individual growth estimates are crucial for understanding the status of a fish stock and deciding upon appropriate management. Tagging data provide valuable information about fish growth, and are especially useful when age‐based growth estimates and stock assessments are compromised by age‐determination uncertainties. However, in the literature there is a lack of studies assessing possible changes in growth over time using tagging data. Here, data from tagging experiments performed in the Baltic Sea between 1971 and 2019 were added to those previously analysed for 1955–1970 to build the most extensive tagging dataset available for Eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua, Gadidae), a threatened stock with severe age‐determination problems. Two length‐based methods, the GROTAG model (based on the von Bertalanffy growth function) and a Generalized Additive Model, were used to assess for the first time the potential long‐term changes in cod growth using age‐independent data. Both methods showed strong changes in growth with an increase until the end of the 1980s (8.6–10.6 cm/year for a 40 cm cod depending on the model) followed by a sharp decline. This study also revealed that the current growth of cod is the lowest observed in the past 7 decades (4.3–5.1 cm/year for a 40 cm cod depending on the model), indicating very low productivity. This study provides the first example of the use of tagging data to estimate multidecadal changes in growth rates in wild fish. This methodology can also be applied to other species, especially in those cases where severe age‐determination problems exist.
Critical language awareness and L2 learners of Spanish: An action‐research study
Authors: Quan Tracy
Published: December 2020

This action‐research study describes a course that emphasized critical language awareness (CLA)—an understanding of how language intersects with identity and power—for additional language (L2) learners of Spanish. As L2 learners have been shown to reproduce racist and monolingual discourses, educating them to recognize and question language ideologies are crucial. First, this paper explores the current state of Spanish language curricula in the United States and how CLA is a necessary, yet missing, component of L2 Spanish instruction. Second, the article describes a course that integrated critical service learning, structured reflection, and CLA to encourage participants to reflect on their beliefs about Spanish, bilingualism, and Hispanics in the United States. Next, survey and written reflection data are presented and analyzed to investigate how participating in a critically oriented course develops L2 Spanish learners' CLA.
The effect of dentin age on the microshear bond strength and microleakage of glass‐ionomer cements
Authors: Techa‐ungkul Chutima , Sakoolnamarka Rangsima
Published: December 2020

Objective

To compare the microshear bond strength (µSBS) and microleakage of glass‐ionomer cements when bonded to aged and young dentin.

Background

Glass‐ionomer cement (GIC) is frequently used to restore root caries in elders. Many studies of GIC have been conducted using young dentin; however, few studies have assessed adhesion and microleakage of GICs to aged dentin.

Materials and methods

Seventy‐eight non‐carious human molars (patient age 16‐30 = 39; patient age ≥ 65 = 39) were tested with three GICs (Fuji II LC, Equia Forte Fil and Fuji BULK). For µSBS, teeth were horizontally sectioned, embedded in resin and three tubes attached to the sectioned surface. Materials were mixed and injected into the tubes, allowed to set and the tubes removed leaving the GIC cylinders. Specimens were stored in deionised water for 24 hours and tested in a universal testing machine. For microleakage, a buccocervical cavity was prepared, restored with GIC and stored in deionised water. The specimens were polished, coated with varnish, placed in 0.5% basic fuchsin for 24 hours, sectioned at the midpoint and evaluated for microleakage under a stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope.

Results

For µSBS, Fuji II LC showed the highest bond strength among three products. There was no significant difference between age groups. (P = .93) For microleakage, Fuji II LC had more dye penetration (P < .01) and there was significant difference between age groups.

Conclusion

After bonding of GICs, aged dentin showed no difference in µSBS but less microleakage when compared to young dentin.
Providing culturally safe care to Indigenous people living with diabetes: Identifying barriers and enablers from different perspectives
Authors: Tremblay Marie‐Claude , Bradette‐Laplante Maude , Witteman Holly O. , Dogba Maman Joyce , Breault Pascale , Paquette Jean‐Sébastien , Careau Emmanuelle , Echaquan Sandro
Published: December 2020

In recent years, cultural safety has been proposed as a transformative approach to health care allowing improved consideration of Indigenous patient needs, expectations, rights and identities. This community‐based participatory study aimed to identify potential barriers and enablers to cultural safety in health care provided to Atikamekw living with diabetes in Québec, Canada. Based on a qualitative descriptive design, the study uses talking circles as a data collection strategy. Three talking circles were conducted with Atikamekw living with diabetes and caregivers, as well as with health professionals of the family medicine teaching clinic providing services to the community. Two team members performed deductive thematic analysis based on key dimensions of cultural safety. Results highlight four categories of barriers and enablers to cultural safety for Atikamekw living with diabetes, related to social determinants of health (including colonialism), health services organization, language and communication, as well as Atikamekw traditional practices and cultural perspectives of health. This study is one of the few that provides concrete suggestions to address key aspects of diabetes care in a culturally respectful way. Our findings indicate that potential enablers of cultural safety reside at different (from individual to structural) levels of change. Solutions in this matter will require strong political will and policy support to ensure intervention sustainability.

Patient or public contribution

Partners and patients have been involved in identifying the need for this study, framing the research question, developing the data collection tools, recruiting participants and interpreting results.
Clinicopathological and molecular characterisation of papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity and its renal papillary adenoma analogue
Authors: Chang Hsin‐Yi , Hang Jen‐Fan , Wu Chih‐Ying , Lin Tzu‐Ping , Chung Hsiao‐Jen , Chang Yen‐Hwa , Pan Chin‐Chen
Published: December 2020

Aims

Papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity (PRNRP) is a newly defined entity with distinct histomorphology and recurrent KRAS mutation. It has been estimated to constitute 4% of previously diagnosed papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC). Renal papillary adenoma (PA) is suggested to be the precursor of PRCC. This study aimed to investigate the association between PRNRP and PA, particularly the morphologically similar type D PA.

Methods and results

Nephrectomy specimens of PRCC and PA from our 10‐year pathology archives were retrieved and reviewed. GATA3 immunohistochemistry and RAS/BRAF testing were performed in all cases reclassified as PRNRP and all PAs with sufficient materials. Overall, PRNRP accounted for 9.1% (10 of 110) of PRCC and there was no recurrence/metastasis with a mean follow‐up period of 39 months. Three novel morphological features were described, including clear cell change, mast cell infiltration and metaplastic ossification. Nine of the 10 PRNRPs showed diffuse and strong GATA3 expression and KRAS missense mutations at codon 12. One case exhibited moderate GATA3 staining on 80% of the tumour cells and RAS/BRAF wild‐type. In a total of 73 PAs, 11 were classified as type D. GATA3 expression was significantly more frequent in type D versus non‐type D PAs (100 versus 35%, P < 0.01). KRAS missense mutations were identified in six of eight (75%) of the type D PAs but none of the 18 non‐type D PAs.

Conclusions

Type D PA was different from other types of PA and represented an analogue or a small‐sized PRNRP for their identical morphology, immunophenotype and molecular signature.
Return to learn: An ethnographic study of adolescent young adults returning to school post‐concussion
Authors: Wan Anna N. , Nasr Annette S.
Published: December 2020

Background and purpose

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 3.8 million concussions occur in the United States each year. Concussion symptoms can negatively impact the academic performance of adolescents after they return to school. The purpose of this study was to better understand the perceptions of parent‐adolescent dyads as male and female adolescents returned to learn after sustaining a concussion.

Methods

A qualitative ethnographic study of 10, English‐speaking, parent–adolescent dyads was conducted, following the adolescents return to school after a recent concussion. Dyads were recruited from a Concussion Clinic in Menlo Park, California between October 2018 and October 2019. Adolescents were aged 14–16 years old. Each dyad participated in a semistructured interview. Interviews were subsequently transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. This qualitative study design utilised COREQ (File S1). This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and ethics committee.

Conclusions

Three categories were identified: adolescents feeling misunderstood by school staff about their injuries, adolescents feeling overwhelmed by their injuries, and academic accommodations lacking clarity and implementation. The overarching theme that emerged was clear: Parents and adolescents lacked consistent guidelines for the adolescents’ return to learn after a concussion.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Post‐concussion syndrome as a result of head injury is a complex condition that requires a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. This treatment should be individualised and appropriately adjusted to provide the adolescent with the most optimal environment for recovery. This study provides data to suggest that more guidance from the medical provider or treatment team is needed for teachers and school administrators in order to create an ideal return to learn environment for the adolescent who is recovering from a head injury.
Does enteral zinc supplementation improve growth and clinical outcome in preterm babies <37 weeks?
Authors: Tee Pei Sen
Published: December 2020

Aim

To review the literature of the benefits of enteral zinc supplementation in preterm population <37 weeks to improve growth and clinical outcome.

Methods

PubMed database was searched for relevant articles. Studies not in English were excluded.

Results

A total of 2678 results were identified. Duplicates were removed and titles were screened. References were reviewed to find other papers. Studies which include term infants were not examined although studies involving low birthweight infants with a defined percentage of preterm participants were examined. Thirty‐four studies were subsequently reviewed, and nine studies were included as relevant to structured clinical question.

Conclusion

There are various levels of evidence suggesting benefits of enteral zinc supplementation in preterm babies. While the available trial findings are encouraging, there is currently limited evidence to address the effects of zinc supplementation in preterm infants in the setting of their typically long stay in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A larger multi‐centre trial is required to establish optimal timing of initiation, dosage, duration and its effect on growth, development and acute morbidity and mortality.
Articulating Persian identities between Iran and Israel: On nationality, diasporas, and lived ethnicities in online media
Authors: Yadlin‐Segal Aya
Published: December 2020

This study focuses on nationality and ethnicity in the context of diaspora and media studies. By exploring the ways members of the Persian community in Israel (migrants from Iran to Israel) negotiate their ethnic Persian identification, I discuss the unique role online spaces play in the community's cultural, political, and social life. I draw on the case study to propose the term “Lived Ethnicity” as a digitally mediated identity construction process that works towards sociopolitical inclusion on two levels. First, as a user‐based participatory process, this type of self‐articulation pushes against cultural and political oppressions on a local–national level, within dominant oppressive discourses of nationality. Second, as a process performed via global online platforms, this type of self‐articulation becomes a unique catalyst for communal expressions that are based on trans‐national cultures and identifications. The study's novelty is its focus on the ways online platforms allow ethno‐national minorities to both subvert oppressive national structures and maintain them, all while taking part in global political and cultural discussions that were relatively closed to them thus far.
The neonatal Fc receptor in mucosal immune regulation
Authors: Aaen Kristin Hovden , Anthi Aina Karen , Sandlie Inger , Nilsen Jeannette , Mester Simone , Andersen Jan Terje
Published: December 2020

The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) was first recognized for its role in transfer of maternal IgG to the foetus or newborn, providing passive immunity early in life. However, it has become clear that the receptor is versatile, widely expressed and plays an indispensable role in both immunological and non‐immunological processes throughout life. The receptor rescues immunoglobulin G (IgG) and albumin from intracellular degradation and shuttles the ligands across polarized cell barriers, in all cases via a pH‐dependent binding‐and‐release mechanism. These processes secure distribution and high levels of both IgG and albumin throughout the body. At mucosal sites, FcRn transports IgG across polarized epithelial cells where it retrieves IgG in complex with luminal antigens that is delivered to tissue‐localized immune cells. In dendritic cells (DCs), FcRn orchestrates processing of IgG‐opsonized immune complexes (ICs) in concert with classical Fcγ receptors, which results in antigen presentation and cross‐presentation of antigenic peptides on MHC class II and I to CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, respectively. Hence, FcRn regulates transport of the ligands within and across different types of cells, but also processing of IgG‐ICs by immune cells. As such, the receptor is involved in immune surveillance and protection against infections. In this brief review, we highlight how FcRn expressed by hematopoietic and non‐hematopoietic cells contributes to immune regulation at mucosal barriers—biology that can be utilized in development of biologics and subunit vaccines for non‐invasive delivery.
Dissociation of humoral and cellular immune responses in kidney transplant recipients with EBV mucocutaneous ulcer
Authors: Isnard Pierre , Bruneau Julie , Sberro‐Soussan Rebecca , Wendum Dominique , Legendre Christophe , Molina Thierry , Chatenoud Lucienne , Hermine Olivier , Rossignol Julien
Published: December 2020

EBV‐positive mucocutaneous ulcer (EBV‐MCU) is a rare EBV‐positive B‐cell lymphoproliferative disorder occurring in immunocompromised patients such as patients with solid organ or hematopoietic stem cells transplantation. EBV‐MCU often consists of an isolated and circumscribed cutaneous or mucosal ulcerative lesion with a self‐limited growth potential and a high regression rate upon immunosuppressive treatment withdrawal or rituximab therapy. Nevertheless, the pathophysiology of this latent infection leading to clonal lymphoproliferation is not well established. We report here two cases of EBV‐MCU in kidney transplant recipients with a dissociated immune response to EBV with the absence of EBV‐related antibodies and a positive T‐cell response to EBV suggesting a potential specific oncogenic mechanism in this lymphoproliferative disorder.
Design and Construction of a New Haptic Interface
Authors: Kunz Andreas M. , Burri Adrian
Published: December 2020

Virtual Reality becomes more and more important within the product development process. It enables the engineer to realize constraints or mistakes in the product design at a very early stage by viewing the digital geometric prototype. Beside viewing the design of a product, additional functionalities like simulation of assembling, the physically correct behavior of a machine or the machine control come into focus of interest. Therefore, the interaction modality of haptic feedback gains more and more importance for simulation tasks in virtual environments. However there are only a few portable haptic interfaces with which the user can experience in a natural way the sensation of force feedback.

The scope of this paper is to present a new passive haptic interface that is lightweight and easy to use. Furthermore it has no constraints in the workspace and applies high forces to the fingertips of the user by blocking the natural grasping.
Functionality to Facilitate Assembly of Heavy Machines in a Virtual Environment
Authors: Taylor Frank , Jayaram S. , Jayaram U. , Mitsui Tatsuki
Published: December 2020

This paper describes a methodology for simulating the virtual assembly of heavy machinery. Heavy machinery or parts are described in this paper as objects too heavy to safely lift with two hands. Virtual assembly of heavy machinery poses special problems that are not seen in assemblies composed of parts easily manipulated with human hands. This paper identifies some of the difficulties associated with real-time virtual assembly of heavy machinery, and proposes methods for addressing these problems. We describe a method for reorganizing the assembly tree outside of traditional CAD systems to better simulate assemblies with numerous parts. This allows the user to control the assembly sequences, which are simulated in the virtual environment without changing the assembly hierarchy of the original CAD model. This paper also proposes methods for simulation of overhead cranes and the physical modeling of crane-part interactions, providing real-time virtual manipulation of heavy objects.
Fast Product Development Capabilities With Efficient Management and Use of Product Requirements
Authors: Ahrens Gritt , Tegel Oliver
Published: December 2020

Short time to market is a key for success. Information management in product development is one factor for it’s influence. In this paper, the need for a methodology and an IT support for the collection and management of product requirements from identification of customer demands up to the preparation of the final design documents is highlighted. For this, triggers for time consuming iterations are identified and the basic reasons for iterations determined. The lacks of existing approaches in the U.S. and Germany for collecting and handling requirements are discussed, and an integrated concept for requirements management and an appropriate IT support for it are presented.
Adaptive Process Control and Optimization in Intelligent Manufacturing Systems
Authors: Lin Chang-Pin , Chuang Hsin-Yuan
Published: December 2020

Modern manufacturing systems have incorporated various “intelligent” decision support techniques and algorithms in the form of rules-based systems which have been promoted extensively because of the recent development in fuzzy inference, artificial neural network, machine learning and optimization algorithms, and etc. The basic elements of a modern manufacturing system include design automation (CAD and CAPP), production automation (CAM and MRP II), and shop floor automation (SFC and FMS), which must then be integrated into a coherent system through information automation (distributed DBMS and workflow automation) to form a fully automated factory. Therefore, considerable amount of rule-based systems have been developed and implemented fully or partially into each of the above areas of automation. To build a robust rule-based system requires a suitable modeling and analysis tool and a systematic design methodology. By incorporating neural network concept and associated learning algorithm, we present in this paper a Petri net based modeling methodology which can be used to design and implement adaptive rule-based systems for control and optimization in intelligent manufacturing systems. Demonstration is done on parametric design and optimization in manufacturing processes.
A Distributed Product Realization Environment for Design and Manufacturing
Authors: Gerhard Jonathan F. , Rosen David , Allen Janet K. , Mistree Farrokh
Published: December 2020

Increased competition is forcing product realization to change: to become faster and to leverage facilities and expertise, wherever they may be. Geographically distributed engineers must collaboratively develop, build and test solutions to design-manufacture problems to be competitive in the global marketplace. Software systems to support design and manufacturing activities must continuously evolve to accommodate rapid acquisition and use of knowledge throughout a global manufacturing enterprise. Engineers must operate in a distributed system in which separate entities communicate cooperatively — ideas and information requests can be generated anywhere within the system, rapid turn-around is essential, and multiple projects must be handled simultaneously. Thus we want to provide a platform-independent framework to integrate distributed and heterogeneous software resources to support the computationally intensive activities in the product realization process. In this paper, we present a prototype platform-independent framework based on an experimental event-based communications model and describe its usage in a distributed product realization environment, the Rapid Tooling TestBed.