bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beyond Paradigms
Authors: Regilme Salvador Santino F.
Published: September 2018

Why did claimant states in the South China Sea (SCS) dispute, especially China, recently increase its militarization activities, in unprecedented ways that were relatively absent in the previous decades? Espousing an analytically eclectic explanation rather than using one single International Relations (IR) paradigm, this essay demonstrates three key exploratory arguments. First, the enduring Chinese military insecurity from American dominance in Southeast Asia has been recently amplified by the confluence of China’s economic rise, and more importantly, the power struggle in the current Xi Jinping-led regime. The article offers a domestic politics-oriented approach in explaining the strategic resolve of Beijing to militarize the disputed SCS region. Second, although many countries in the region uphold a ‘hedging foreign policy strategy’, which refers to their strategic engagement both with China and the USA, the Southeast Asian countries’ patterns of foreign policy behaviour and identity politics suggest that their longterm aspiration still relies on the USA as their primary security guarantor. Third, notwithstanding such perception of Southeast Asian states towards the USA, this article demonstrates that Washington’s long-term commitment of upholding its security guarantees to its Southeast Asian partners is hindered by the US interest to strategically engage with Beijing on broader issues of global governance.
Raciolinguistics and the aesthetic labourer
Authors: Ramjattan Vijay A
Published: September 2018

Select studies on aesthetic labour explore how race becomes a component in ‘looking good’ for customers. However, there is little mention of how race is also salient in ‘sounding right’. This article addresses this issue by exploring the impact of race on the vocal demands placed on aesthetic labourers. Using raciolinguistics, a field that investigates the interconnections between language and race, the article specifically notes how two sites of language-focused aesthetic labour, English language teaching and Indian call centres, reinforce conceptions of sounding right that privilege Whiteness. A review of the literature from these sites highlights how looking good and sounding right constitute one another. Indeed, while a White body in English language teaching signifies nativeness/clarity in English, Indian call centre agents make themselves look better in the minds of western callers by ‘whitening’ their voices. These examples act as a call to simultaneously examine the racialized body and voice in future aesthetic labour research.
“As if Nothing Happened”: Experiences of Bereaved Parents in Romania
Authors: Thieleman Kara , Cacciatore Joanne
Published: September 2018

Prior research has found high levels of distress in parents who experience the death of a child; however, Romanian parents, whose experiences are influenced by the nation’s shared historical trauma, have not been studied. This mixed-methods study found very high levels of distress in a sample of 237 bereaved parents in Romania, primarily women. Specifically, 89% of respondents scored above the clinical cutoff for trauma responses, 66% did so for anxious responses, and 82% did so for depressive responses. Qualitative analyses of respondents’ narratives suggest that, through complex interactions between political, social, and medical systems, the lack of care after the death of a child seems to incite additional distress in parents. These findings warrant further exploration of traumatic grief in Romania, especially in the context of historical and political trauma, and of ways in which support can be provided to grieving parents in this unique cultural milieu.
How to Mobilize Philanthropy to Advance Racial Equity? A Call to Action
Authors: Conrad Cecilia A.
Published: September 2018

Only 3% of the 1,904 submissions to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s historic competition for a single grant of US$100 million, 100&Change, proposed work to address racial equity in the United States. Through a close examination of these submissions, this 2018 Samuel V. Westerfield lecture presents a taxonomy of the work of nonprofits working to address racial equity and an analysis of the weaknesses in their submitted applications. The lecture concludes these applications would have been stronger if there were greater engagement between social sector organizations and academic economists. The lecture issues a call to action for economists to communicate beyond an academic audience, to form partnerships with nonprofit organizations, and to move beyond applied economics to translational economics.
UK newspaper reporting of the NHS cancer drugs fund, 2010 to 2015: a retrospective media analysis
Authors: Lewison Grant , Aggarwal Ajay , Roe Philip , Møller Henrik , Chamberlain Charlotte , Sullivan Richard
Published: September 2018

Objective

We wished to explore how UK national newspapers had covered the creation and operation of the Cancer Drugs Fund from 2010 to 2015. This was introduced to provide cancer patients in England with access to drugs not appraised or approved by the National Institute for health and Care Excellence.

Design

We sought stories in nine newspapers from the Factiva database, and copied their salient details to a spreadsheet. They were categorised by whether they were supportive or critical of the Cancer Drugs Fund and their main arguments, which drugs they mentioned and for which cancers.

Settings

Not applicable

Participants

Not applicable

Main outcome results

Press coverage was mainly very positive, arguing for the Cancer Drugs Fund's extension to Scotland and Wales, and a bigger budget, but neglecting the lack of patient benefit and the severe side effects that sometimes occurred. Leading this support was the Daily Mail, whose influence (measured by the product of number of stories and the paper's circulation) was almost greater than that of the other newspapers combined.

Results

Press coverage was mainly very positive, arguing for the Cancer Drugs Fund’s extension to Scotland and Wales, and a bigger budget, but neglecting the lack of patient benefits and the severe side effects that sometimes occurred. Leading this support was the Daily Mail, whose influence (measured by the product of number of stories and the paper’s circulation) was almost greater than that of the other newspapers combined.

Conclusions

Although there was some critical analysis of the Cancer Drugs Fund, our analysis shows that most press coverage was largely positive and unrepresentative in comparison with the lack of overall benefits to patients and society. It is likely that it contributed to the Cancer Drugs Fund’s continuation despite mounting evidence of its ineffectiveness.
Primary cardiac natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, a very rare form of lymphoma
Authors: Farfán-Leal Frank , Esteban Amparo , Hinojar Rocío , García-Cosío Mónica , Contreras Francisco
Published: September 2018

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma is a rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is divided into nasal, non-nasal, and aggressive/leukemia subtypes, according to anatomic origin and clinical manifestations, with each subtype carrying a different prognosis. We present a case of primary cardiac natural killer/T-cell lymphoma with extension to other organs in a 38-year-old man, to highlight the role of imaging in categorizing nasal versus non-nasal types. This distinction has relevant implications for patient care because the non-nasal type has a much lower survival rate.
Nationalism imagined? Hidden impacts of the uprising of 1857
Authors: Srivastava Pramod Kumar
Published: September 2018

This article challenges the myth that Indian nationalism was a major cause of the Rebellion or Uprising of 1857, arguing rather that nationalism was its ultimate result. But it goes much further, demonstrating that this unsuccessful Uprising of 1857 generated a new consciousness, as it taught Indians about the need to learn to protect and represent themselves better. While the East India Company (EIC) swiftly regained control and transferred sovereignty to the British Crown on 1 November 1858, tightening the noose of colonial subjugation for almost another century, the article argues that significant loss of trust in the feudal lords in 1857 opened the door to a new form of consciousness about the need for more competence in self-rule. The analysis suggests, therefore, that a combination of declining medieval feudalism and growth of modern nationalism in India, guided in due course by better equipped elite members of the middle classes, began to germinate as a largely hidden, unintended consequence of the failure of the 1857 Revolt, a phenomenon noted, but underrated, by historical scholarship.
The effect of audiovisual speech training on the phonological skills of children with specific language impairment (SLI)
Authors: Heikkilä Jenni , Lonka Eila , Meronen Auli , Tuovinen Sisko , Eronen Raija , Leppänen Paavo HT , Richardson Ulla , Ahonen Timo , Tiippana Kaisa
Published: September 2018

We developed a computerized audiovisual training programme for school-aged children with specific language impairment (SLI) to improve their phonological skills. The programme included various tasks requiring phonological decisions. Spoken words, pictures, letters and written syllables were used as training material. Spoken words were presented either as audiovisual speech (together with the talking face), or as auditory speech (voice alone). Two groups (10 children/group) trained for six weeks, five days per week: the audiovisual group trained with audiovisual speech, and the other group received analogically the same training but with auditory speech. Before and after training, language skills and other cognitive skills were assessed. The audiovisual group improved in a non-word-repetition test. Such improvement was not observed with auditory training. This result suggests that audiovisual speech may be helpful in the rehabilitation of children with SLI.
Comparison between a novel knotless technique and the conventional single knot technique of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy by novice laparoscopists
Authors: Ye Jianfei , Lu Jian , Wang Guoliang , Ma Lulin
Published: September 2018

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate a novel knotless technique for novice laparoscopists in traditional laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Methods

We studied 68 patients who had a novel technique performed in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (knotless group) and 89 who had the conventional single knot technique (single knot group). The operations were all performed by novice laparoscopists with experience of fewer than 100 cases of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Knotless suture of the dorsal vein complex was conducted using a barbed self-retaining suture with three bites at the same location. The knotless urethrovesical anastomosis technique was conducted using a unidirectional single running fashion with a barbed self-retaining suture.

Results

There were no significant differences in the estimated blood loss, complication rate, postoperative hospital stay, anastomotic leakage rate, continence at 6 months after surgery, and positive margin rate between the two groups. The mean anastomotic time (24.9 vs. 44.2 min), operative time (168.1 vs. 201.8 min), and duration of catheter placement (12.8 vs. 19.8 days) were shorter in the knotless group than in the single-knot group.

Conclusions

The knotless technique of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a safe and effective procedure.
Safety and tolerability of sauna detoxification for the protracted withdrawal symptoms of substance abuse
Authors: Lennox Richard D , Cecchini-Sternquist Marie
Published: September 2018

Objective

Protracted drug withdrawal symptoms can last months or years after drug cessation, often precipitating a return to substance misuse. We evaluated the safety and preliminary health benefits of a unique chemical exposure regimen based on exercise, sauna and therapeutic nutrients.

Methods

This was a prospective evaluation of 109 individuals sequentially enrolled into a sauna detoxification component of a multi-modal, long-term residential substance abuse treatment centre.

Results

Data from medical charts, client self-reports and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) responses indicated that the Hubbard sauna detoxification method was well tolerated, with a 99% completion rate, including one human immunodeficiency virus and nine hepatitis C positive clients. There were no cases of dehydration, overhydration or heat illness. Statistically significant improvements were seen in both mental and physical SF-36 scores at regimen completion, as well as in Addiction Severity Index and Global Appraisal of Individual Needs Short Screener change scores at rehabilitation program discharge, compared with enrolment.

Conclusions

The regimen lacked serious adverse events, had a very low discontinuation rate and high client-reported satisfaction. The SF-36 data indicated improved physical and emotional symptoms. Therefore, broader investigation of this sauna-based treatment regimen is warranted.
Wisconsin’s ‘Standing Rock’: the proposed Back Forty mine
Authors: Gedicks Al
Published: September 2018

An environmental and indigenous rights campaigner describes the fight, led by the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and backed by numerous environmental groups, against the proposed Back Forty mine project which would not only destroy Native Nations’ sacred lands but also lead to widespread water contamination. The campaign recalls that of Standing Rock.
Using Qualitative Inquiry to Enhance a Child Neurology Residency
Authors: DiSabella Marc , Walsh Heather , Sarnacki Rachel , Goldman Ellen
Published: September 2018

The goal of medical residency programs is to provide educational opportunities to residents to facilitate their transformation into independent and competent health care practitioners. Despite an abundance of quantitative data on resident performance, qualitative data are lacking in published literature. Our study involved a standardized interview with all graduating child neurology residents to better understand their educational experiences during training. Qualitative data analysis resulted in 5 basic themes experienced by all trainees: (1) appreciation for faculty supportiveness, (2) appreciation for faculty receptiveness to feedback, (3) the difficulty of balancing clinical and academic demands during residency, (4) the benefit of structured mentorship and research, and (5) the value of independent and experiential learning. Our findings demonstrate that qualitative inquiry can be used to better understand the educational experience of child neurology residents. The themes identified through this qualitative analysis were useful targets for programmatic quality improvements.
Conjugation of vitamin E-TPGS and guar gum to carry borneol for enhancing blood–brain barrier permeability
Authors: Liu Yude , Rao Lian , Zhang Hongguan , Cen Yanyou , Cheng Kaili
Published: September 2018

Herb borneol is usually used in clinics for the treatment of central nervous system illness, for its ability of blood–brain barrier permeability, although its poor water solubility and poor bioavailability limit its clinical application to some degree. In this study, we developed a novel nanoparticle combining the benefits of vitamin E d-ɑ-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol) succinate (E-TPGS) (or TPGS) and guar gum to get TPGS-g-guar gum as a drug delivery system to carry borneol, which could improve the solubility of borneol and increase the drug-loading capacity efficiently. The results showed that TPGS-g-guar gum nanoparticles delivery system was suitable to carry borneol and release the drug effectively, and TPGS-g-guar gum/borneol nanoparticles would be a potential platform for improving the treatment of central nervous system illness and cerebrovascular disease.
“[It] does not explain everything … , nor does it explain nothing … it explains some things”: Australia's first female Prime Minister and the dilemma of gender
Authors: Sorrentino Jasmin , Augoustinos Martha , Le Couteur Amanda
Published: September 2018

Despite advances in the representation of women in positions of leadership, gender-based inequalities persist. A particular dilemma for female leaders concerns whether to acknowledge, or avoid talking about, their experiences of gender and gender inequality in public life. Routinely, women who confront such discrimination experience social and personal repercussions; however, those who remain silent are often criticised for failing to support women. This article takes a discursive psychological approach to accounts from Australia's first female Prime Minister of the role of gender in her leadership. Following her controversial ‘Sexism and Misogyny’ speech in the Australian parliament (2012), Julia Gillard addressed this topic repeatedly in public interviews and speeches, and these materials constitute the data for analysis. We describe the complex and flexible nature of the discursive work required in navigating topics of gender and discrimination, looking in detail at how Gillard routinely accounted for gender as relevant – or not – to her political leadership, and how her identity was constructed as part of that process.
Prediction accuracy of local and regional soil total carbon models, calibrated based on visible-near infrared spectra, in the Djerid arid region
Authors: Aichi Hamouda , Fouad Youssef , Lili Chabaane Zohra , Sanaa Mustapha , Walter Christian
Published: September 2018

Visible-near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (vis-NIR DRS) is recognized as a promising tool for predicting various soil physico-chemical and biological properties. However, models’ applicability, transferability, and scaling are still questionable. Our objective was to study, for total carbon, these aspects in arid context. QuickBird satellite images enabled us to establish parsimonious soil sampling strategies over three different sites selected in Djerid arid region. For each site, a spectral local database was built and merging them allowed us to obtain a regional database. The principal component analysis enabled us to select independent calibration and validation sets. Local spectral models were performing well for two sites and poorly for the site with high salinity. In cross-transfer, local models showed limited geographic robustness. The regional model was less efficient than one of the local models, yet quite satisfactory ( r2 = 0.67, bias = 0.18%, RMSEP = 0.93% and REP = 1.72). The choice of local or regional model should depend not only on performance of the model but also on the purpose of the intended application and the required precision.
Risk–Return Relationship in BRIC Equity Markets: Evidence from Markov Regime Switching Model with Time-varying Transition Probabilities
Authors: Singh Amanjot , Singh Manjit
Published: September 2018

A rich literature supports the existence of both positive and negative relationship between the risk and return in the developed equity markets. However, the present study attempts to capture the risk–return relationship in the most promising and opportunities-instilled emerging market club, the “BRIC” equity markets, by employing a Markov regime switching model with time-varying transition probabilities, further taking St. Louis Fed Financial Stress Index (the US financial market stress) as an economic variable. The weekly benchmark index values are used in the analysis, spanning from the year 2004 to 2013. The results report the existence of time-varying transition probabilities with respect to the Brazilian and Indian markets only and fixed transition probabilities for the other countries undertaken. The Markov results support the existence of two regimes, wherein regime-1 reports a positive risk–return relationship, and regime-2 reports a negative relationship between the risk and return. Ironically, the Chinese equity market is found to be the riskiest but a perfect hedge instrument amongst others, considering its risk–return interactions in both the regimes. Furthermore, a lower level of financial stress in the US financial market is associated with a higher probability of remaining in the “Bullish” regime-1 in the Indian market as well as Brazilian market. Moreover, there is a positive co-movement between the US financial stress and the expected time-varying duration of remaining in the “Bearish” regime. This shows that due to the growing interdependence among the worldwide economies, a financial stress in one economy does have an impact on the other markets and risk–return relationship in their equity markets. An understanding of the risk–return dynamics coupled with the impact of exogenous variables is an imperative task that a portfolio manager must undertake so as to justify and manage the investments made in the equity markets.
Ranking Operational Causes of Bullwhip Effect in Supply Chain Using AHP: Perception of Managers in FMCG Sector
Authors: Khan Maaz Hasan , Ahmad Salma
Published: September 2018

Bullwhip effect (BWE), which refers to the phenomenon wherein the variance in demand orders increases as one moves up the supply chain (SC), has been a source of concern for most of the SC managers as it has serious implications in the SC. Problems can vary from inefficient ordering and inventory policies (IP) to higher total cost of SC with extreme cases of stock-out and disruptions in the SC. The literature on this topic suggests various factors which cause BWE and these have further been divided into two broad groups, namely, “operational causes” and “behavioural causes.” This study focuses on the operational factors identified through the survey of literature from 1990 to 2013 and suggests 18 factors which contribute to the BWE. Further, from an analysis of literature, based on a number of articles and their citations, and responses from field experts through a questionnaire, a refined list of seven factors has been taken up for the study. These factors have been ranked using the “analytical hierarchy process” (AHP). The ranking is based on pairwise comparisons based on the perception of the SC managers in the manufacturing sector in north India.

The article is divided into five sections. The first section deals with the introduction and identification of the BWE. The second section identifies the various factors which cause this effect under the two broad categories, namely, the operational and behavioural factors. The third section discusses AHP and the methodology used in the article to rank the operational factors. The fourth section presents the results in a tabular and graphical form. Order batching (OB) is found to be the biggest contributor of BWE in manufacturing sector in the aforementioned region followed by demand signal processing (DSP), lead time (LT), IP, price fluctuation (PF), lack of trust (LOT), and number of echelons (NOE). The fifth and final section undertakes a discussion and presents guidelines for future research.
A Comparative Study of Work Culture, Job Performance, and Subjective Well-being of Private and Public Sector Banks
Authors: Sharma Devina , Joshi Uma
Published: September 2018

The research article compares the work culture (openness, confrontation, trust, authenticity, proactivity, autonomy, collaboration, and experimentation [OCTAPACE]), job performance, and subjective well-being (SWB) as perceived by the employees of private and public sector banks. This research was based on 400 officers and middle-level managers of four private sector banks (Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and ING Vysya Bank) and four public sector banks (Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, and State Bank of India) from different cities of Uttar Pradesh (Agra, Kanpur, and Lucknow) and Delhi. Using Student’s t-test ( t), analysis of variance (ANOVA; F-ratio), Pearson product–moment correlation ( r), and multiple regression ( R), it was established that the employees of public sector banks scored significantly higher in perceived work culture, job performance, and SWB (and in their respective components) than the employees of private sector banks. A high positive inter-correlation was observed amongst them. Work culture positively influenced job performance and SWB. The biggest determinant of SWB was job performance, and work culture has the least role in it.
Book Review: Pritam Singh, Asha Bhandarker, and Snigdha Rai. 2016. The Leadership Odyssey: From Darkness to Light
Authors: Kumar Pankaj , Vachhrajani Mit Chandresh
Published: September 2018

Pritam Singh, Asha Bhandarker, and Snigdha Rai. 2016. The Leadership Odyssey: From Darkness to Light. New Delhi: SAGE Publications, 322 pp., ₹ 975, ISBN: 978-93-515-0736-9
Impact of Good Governance on Indian Manufacturing Growth: A System Dynamics Analysis
Authors: Ojha Ravindra , Vrat Prem
Published: September 2018

The quality of governance is influenced by and also has far-reaching implications on the political, economic, social, and technological growth of a nation. Good governance can be a significant player in accelerating India’s manufacturing growth plan. Government effectiveness is a critical element of good governance and is a function of the nation’s political stability, macroeconomic health, and the government’s reform-related decision-making capacity to drive the manufacturing growth rate. In order to study the impact of the quality of governance and its factors on the nation’s manufacturing growth, a system dynamics (SD) approach has been adopted in the article. The meaningful simulations carried out using the SD modelling, under the current economic environment, are expected to provide insights to the policymakers and strategic planners for evolving strategies in good governance for growth.
The Journey of a Wild Berry: A Story of Rise, Fall, and Revival
Authors: Awasthi Maya Kant , Dwivedi Sanjai K.
Published: September 2018

Case discuss experience of value chain development process of a wild berry grown in the Himalyan region of India. Case identify different stakeholders involved in a typical agribusiness chain development process in developing countries context and explains dynamics of relationship across these stakeholders i.e, how they communicate and interact with each other? How they react to each other’s action? How their interaction shapes business environment? How business environment then impact business strategies? Case help in identifying critical issues at different stages of product development, distribution, promotion and marketing. It explains vulnerabilities and probable exploitations of socio economically marginalised poor in such partnership of unequal’s where there is information and capability asymmetry across partners. Case also illustrate pros and cons of customisation of product as per taste and preferences of certain market segments.
Building Customer-based Brand Equity of Domestic Brands: Role of Brand Equity Dimensions
Authors: Sharma Rajesh
Published: September 2018

The purpose of this study is to develop a reliable scale for measuring the customer-based brand equity (CBBE) and empirically test Aaker’s model for determining the role of CBBE dimensions in building brand equity for local brands in the Indian smartphone market. A multistep study involving exploratory factor analysis and linear regression was used. A total of 288 actual Indian smartphone users evaluated different smartphone brands, that is, both local and international. The empirical findings suggest that CBBE for smartphones consists of four dimensions, that is, brand association, brand awareness, brand loyalty, and perceived quality, and that Aaker’s model of CBBE is generally supported. The findings suggest that brand awareness, brand association, perceived quality, and brand loyalty are not all influential dimensions of brand equity in the Indian smartphone market. Perceived quality and brand associations were found to have a positive and significant impact on brand equity with the impact of perceived quality being more profound than brand associations. Brand awareness and brand loyalty were not significant contributors to brand equity. Significant differences were found between perceived brand equity dimensions of local and global brands. This study adds value to the growing body of literature on CBBE and its creation by incorporating brand personality measures. The reliable measures developed in this study will help scholars and managers to monitor brand equity on a continuous basis.
Book Review: Vijay Mahajan. 2016. Rise of Rural Consumers in Developing Countries
Authors: Awasthi Maya Kant
Published: September 2018

Vijay Mahajan. 2016. Rise of Rural Consumers in Developing Countries. New Delhi: SAGE Publications, 169 pp., ₹ 795, ISBN: 978-93-860-4232-3
Exploring the Causal Relationship Between Stock Returns, Volume, and Turnover across Sectoral Indices in Indian Stock Market
Authors: Narayan Parab , Reddy Y. V.
Published: September 2018

The traditional saying “Market Discounts Everything” is applicable to stock returns, trading volume, and turnover as well. The present study is an analytical attempt to examine the causal relationship between stock returns, trading volume, and turnover across 10 sectoral indices of National Stock Exchange (NSE) for the period 2006–2016. To critically examine this relation, the study uses various statistical techniques such as descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and econometric tests such as Granger causality test and augmented Dickey–Fuller test. The required analyses have been performed using statistical software E-views, SPSS, and Microsoft Excel. The study noticed a weak positive relationship between stock returns and turnover for Nifty Auto Index, Nifty Bank Index, Nifty Financial Services Index, Nifty Media Index, Nifty Metal Index, and Nifty Private Bank Index. The study also found a significant impact of turnover on stock returns in the case of Nifty Auto Index, Nifty Bank Index, Nifty FMCG Index, Nifty Metal Index, and Nifty Pharma Index and a significant impact of volume on stock returns in the case of Nifty Bank Index, Nifty FMCG Index, and Nifty Pharma Index. Augmented Dickey–Fuller test suggests that there exists no unit root in the data ( p < 1) and the data are stationary. It is evident from the study that the causal relationship between stock returns, turnover, and volume varies across the sectoral indices.
Influence of Behavioural Factors Affecting Investment Decision—An AHP Analysis
Authors: Antony Anu , Joseph Ansted Iype
Published: September 2018

Investors exhibit irrational behaviour in their decision-making. The decision-making process itself is considered to be a cognitive process as the investors have to make a decision based on various alternatives available to them. The researchers have found that the investors’ decision-making was adversely affected by the various psychological/behavioural factors. The current study was carried forward to identify the effect of the behavioural factors affecting the investment decision of the investors. Five behavioural factors, namely overconfidence bias, representative bias, regret aversion, mental accounting, and herd behaviour, were considered to study the behavioural biases of the investors. The study sample was taken from investors of Kerala, and the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to analyse the intensity of behavioural factors affecting the investment decision. Based on the priority vector, it was found that the investors of Kerala were highly influenced with overconfidence bias and regret aversion. Herd behaviour had less effect on their decision-making.
Rural and Agricultural Employment Conundrum
Authors: Deshpande R. S. , Subramanian S.
Published: September 2018

The changing employment scenario is opening a few puzzles. While cultivators are declining, the number of operational holding is increasing very fast. Similarly, agricultural labourers are increasing but farmers indicate almost unanimously non-availability of farm labour. Age cohorts’ analysis indicates increasing average age of cultivators for future too. The central theme of this article is to bring forth this dual puzzle and decipher the changes. Our attempt here is to highlight three issues, namely, disappearing cultivators, increasing non-cultivating holdings and increasing farmers’ average age. Besides, even with increasing number of agricultural labourers, farmers indicate non-availability of farm hands. These posers are highlighted with the help of Census data data.

JEL: J08, J18, J21
Investigation of the super healing theory in continuum damage and healing mechanics
Authors: Oucif Chahmi , Voyiadjis George Z , Kattan Peter I , Rabczuk Timon
Published: September 2018

Self-healing is the capability of a material to heal (repair) damages autogenously and autonomously. New theoretical investigation extended from the healing material which represents a strengthening material was recently proposed. It concerns the theory of super healing. The healing in this case continues beyond what is necessary to recover the original stiffness of the material, and the material becomes able to strengthen itself. In the present work, the definition of the super healing theory is extended and defined based on the elastic stiffness variation. It concerns the degradation, recovery, and strengthening of the elastic stiffness in the case of damage, healing, and super healing materials, respectively. Comparison of the healing and super healing efficiencies between the hypotheses of the elastic strain and elastic energy equivalence is carried out. The classical super healing definition is also extended to generalized nonlinear and quadratic super healing based on elastic stiffness strengthening, and comparison of the super healing behavior in each theory is performed. It is found that the hypothesis of the elastic energy equivalence overestimates both the generalized nonlinear and quadratic super healed elastic stiffness strengthening. In addition, the generalized nonlinear super healing theory gives a high strengthening of the super healed elastic stiffness compared to the quadratic super healing theory in both equivalence hypotheses. It is also demonstrated that both the generalized nonlinear and quadratic super healing theories can be applied in the case of plane stress.
Placental Histology After Minor Trauma in Pregnancy: A Pilot Study
Authors: van der Knoop BJ , van der Voorn JP , Nikkels PGJ , Zonnenberg IA , van Weissenbruch MM , Vermeulen RJ , de Vries JIP
Published: September 2018

Objective

Trauma in pregnancy may cause placental abruption. Consequences of moderate placental injury on neurodevelopment are unknown. The aim was to evaluate placental histology after maternal trauma.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted at 2 tertiary medical centers in the Netherlands. Placentas from women exposed to maternal trauma ≥ 20 weeks’ gestational age were histologically examined. Neurological follow-up of the infants was performed at 1 year of age by means of Alberta Infant Motor Scale. Histological findings were compared to placentas from pregnancies without trauma.

Principal Results

Thirteen placentas were investigated in the trauma group. The control group consisted of 15 placentas. Placental pathology was seen more often in the trauma cases (11 of the 13) than in the controls (6 of the 15), P = .024. Neurological follow-up was normal.

Conclusions

In this small population, majority of the placentas showed pathology after minor trauma in pregnancy without consequences for neurodevelopment at 1 year.
Dislocation of large-diameter head metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty and hip resurfacing arthroplasty
Authors: Miettinen Simo S A , Mäkinen Tatu J , Laaksonen Inari , Mäkelä Keijo , Huhtala Heini , Kettunen Jukka S , Remes Ville
Published: September 2018

Introduction:

Dislocation of large-diameter head (LDH) metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) is a rare complication. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for dislocation of LDH MoM THAs and HRAs.

Methods:

This retrospective analysis considered 4038 cementless LDH MoM THAs and HRAs, 3207 THAs in 2912 patients and 831 HRAs in 757 patients. The end of follow-up was revision due to dislocation. Incidence of dislocation was evaluated from this study population of 4038, and study groups were formed. The study was designed as a case-control study, and a threefold stratified randomised control group was formed. Demographic data were collected and radiological analyses were performed in the study groups.

Results:

There were 26/3207 (0.8%) early dislocations in the THA group, and 6/831 (0.7%) in the HRA group ( p = 0.9). Most LDH THA dislocations occurred in a group with head size ⩽ 38 mm (18/26) ( p < 0.001). In dislocated hips, there were more dysplastic acetabula and post-traumatic hips than in the control group ( p = 0.036). In the dislocation group, the mean acetabulum component anteversion angle was 19.6° (standard deviation [SD] 13.4°) and in the control group it was 23.2° (SD 10.4°) ( p = 0.006); 7/32 (21.8%) of dislocated THAs needed revision surgery, and mean time to revision from the index surgery was 1.2 (SD 2.6) years.

Discussion:

Dislocations occurred more often in THAs of head size ⩽ 38 mm and with a smaller anteversion angle of the acetabulum component. Hip dysplasia and post-traumatic osteoarthritis were more common in patients with dislocation.
Ionizing radiation shielding effectiveness of decorative building materials (porcelain and ceramic tiles) used in Bangladeshi dwellings
Authors: Yasmin Sabina , Khandaker Mayeen Uddin , Barua Bijoy Sonker , Mustafa Md Nurul , Chowdhury Faruque-Uz-Zaman , Rashid M. A. , Bradley D. A.
Published: September 2018

Samples of several brands of tiles popularly used in Bangladeshi dwellings have been evaluated in terms of their efficacy towards shielding of ionizing radiation. These decorative tile samples, differing in material composition, colour, thickness and density, were collected from home and abroad. Using a well-shielded high-purity germanium γ-ray spectrometer, evaluation was made of the attenuation coefficients of the investigated tiles for various photon energies, 59 keV, 661 keV, 1173 keV and 1332 keV. In addition, use was also made of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, both techniques being applied in characterizing dosimetric properties of these tiles. The associated shielding parameters of half-value layer, radiation protection efficiency and effective atomic number (Zeff) were calculated. Among the basic building materials such as brick, concrete, marble, tiles etc., the tiles under study have shown better indices as ionizing radiation shielding materials, being comparable with steel. The Zeff values of the studied tiles are comparable with that of the commercially available dosimeter TLD-200, and thus can be considered a potential material for use in environmental radiation monitoring.
Field measurement and influence mechanism analysis of the albedo for a typical urban concrete surface
Authors: Xu Kuo , Long Enshen , Li Jin , Xu Luting
Published: September 2018

There has been an increase in impervious surfaces due to urbanization, which has led to a general decline in the albedo and an increase in radiative heat gain, thereby intensifying the urban heat island effect. Albedos of the urban underlying surfaces have a significant influence on the urban microclimate and building environment, but relevant studies have been inadequate. Field measurements were conducted on the temporal variation of the albedo by targeting on the common concrete roof, in variable weather conditions, such as during cloudy, sunny and rainy days. Five potential influencing factors were analysed by Pearson correlation, which showed a significant correlation of the surface albedo conditions with the solar altitude angle, diffusive solar radiation, diffusive radiation ratio and relative temperature. A fitting formula for the albedo conditions was developed by applying the multivariable regression method, and this was verified by experimental data. The results showed that the weighted average albedo of the concrete surface was 0.240 during the field measurement, but albedo values of similar surfaces presented in former studies varied from 0.110 to 0.406. The fitting formula (fitting R2 of 0.807) allows an accurate interpretation on the impact rule of multiple factors on the albedo.
Book Review: Barnett, M.N., editor. 2017: Paternalism beyond Borders
Authors: Macias-Arteaga Jazmin
Published: September 2018

Barnett, M.N., editor. 2017: Paternalism beyond Borders. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. x + 353 pp. £64.99. ISBN: 978 1 107 17690 4 (hardback). £22.99. ISBN: 978 1 316 62571 2 (paperback). £14.04. ISBN: 1107176905 (e-book).
An application of the Fama–French three-factor model to lodging REITs: A 20-year analysis
Authors: Jackson Leonard A
Published: September 2018

This study applied the Fama–French three-factor model to model the returns of 33 US publicly traded lodging real estate investment trusts over a 20-year period. Results indicated that lodging real estate investment trusts that were significantly correlated with all the three factors had the greatest number of years in the market and the highest mean market capitalization, while those that were not significantly correlated with any of the three factors existed in the market for shorter periods and had the lowest mean market capitalization. Findings also indicated that the higher the market capitalization of real estate investment trusts, the more exposure they faced in the market. Results also suggest that the longer lodging real estate investment trusts existed in the marketplace, the greater their exposure to market risk. Overall, empirical results of this research are reasonably consistent with the Fama–French three-factor model as there is evidence of market, size, and book-to-value factors in the lodging real estate investment trusts market.
“It’s a disease of families”: Neurologists’ insights on how to improve communication and quality of life for families of Parkinson’s disease patients
Authors: Schwartz Rachel , Zulman Donna , Gray Caroline , Goldstein Mary K , Trivedi Ranak
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Parkinson’s disease presents an evolving challenge for patients and families due to an unpredictable disease trajectory and symptoms that complicate social interactions. In this study, we explore neurologists’ perspectives on the challenges Parkinson’s disease presents for families and the strategies they use to improve communication and quality of life.

Methods

We conducted hour-long semi-structured interviews with 16 neurologists at 4 care delivery institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area, focusing on techniques neurologists use to support families through the Parkinson’s disease journey.

Results

Neurologists identified strategies for addressing caregiver–patient disagreements around symptom accuracy and negotiating driving safety. Family education is needed to contextualize patient symptoms and to identify psychosocial support resources. Unmet caregiver needs remain, particularly in the form of psychosocial support, respite care and support for unequal gender dynamics in the Parkinson’s disease caregiving experience.

Discussion

Family members of Parkinson’s disease patients face unique caregiving and interpersonal challenges due to the nature of the disease. Targeted education and structural support are needed to alleviate current burdens and allow for improved patient- and family-centered care.
Effect of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in TRPV1 on burning pain and capsaicin sensitivity in Japanese adults
Authors: Okamoto Nozomu , Okumura Masayo , Tadokoro Osamu , Sogawa Norio , Tomida Mihoko , Kondo Eiji
Published: September 2018

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a nonselective cation channel that is expressed in the sensory neurons and responds to various noxious stimuli including heat and capsaicin. The molecular properties of TRPV1 have been clearly examined; however, there are obvious individual differences in human sensitivity to thermal stimuli and capsaicin. Here, we examined the possibility that different genome sequence of human TRPV1 caused the different sensitivity to heat or capsaicin. The sensitivities to burning pain and capsaicin of Japanese adult subjects were compared with their TRPV1 genome sequence, and we detected 6 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms related to burning pain and capsaicin sensitivity, respectively. In particular, homozygous I585V, a single-nucleotide polymorphism with amino acid substitution, significantly related to higher capsaicin sensitivity.
An evidence-based review of enhanced recovery after surgery in total knee replacement surgery
Authors: Ghosh Arijit , Chatterji Urjit
Published: September 2018

Rationale: Enhanced recovery after surgery is gaining popularity among orthopaedic surgeons across the globe and hence a strong evidence base had to be reviewed to make an evidence-based sustainable protocol.

Methods

The following databases, PubMed, OVID, Cochrane database and EMBASE were searched. The search was limited to 15 components of enhanced recovery after surgery programme which is divided into preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative phases. Inclusion criteria were restricted to articles published in English within the last 15 years and articles comprising of unicompartmental arthroplasty, revision knee arthroplasty, bilateral simultaneous knee arthroplasty and only hip arthroplasty excluded. The full texts were analysed and controversies and limitations of various studies were summarised.

Discussion

Each component of the programme was thoroughly reviewed and strength and weaknesses of the evidence base summarised. The strength of the evidence was assessed by critically appraising the study methodology and justifying the appropriateness of the inclusion in enhanced recovery after surgery protocol.

Conclusion

Enhanced recovery after surgery has already been used successfully in various surgical specialities. Enhanced recovery after surgery programmes in knee arthroplasty are yet to be established as a universal practice to be adopted globally. This evidence-based review provides an insight into the best evidence linked to each component and their rationale for inclusion in the proposed enhanced recovery after surgery protocol.
Multi-disciplinary approach to perioperative risk assessment and post-transplant management for liver transplantation in a patient at risk for Brugada syndrome
Authors: Ward Rachael A. , Ajayi Teminioluwa , Aylward Tanya , Byrns Jennifer , Summers Bryant B , Wilder Julius
Published: September 2018

Brugada syndrome, an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, is characterised by abnormal electrocardiogram findings and increased risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Our report describes the multi-disciplinary perioperative management of a 28-year-old patient presenting to the Duke Transplant Center with a familial sodium channel gene SCN51 mutation concerning Brugada syndrome. We discuss the preparatory work-up, medication review and appropriate post-surgical follow-up for patients undergoing liver transplant surgery with cardiac monitoring.