bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Are human capital, intellectual property rights, and research and development expenditures really important for total factor productivity? An empirical analysis
Authors: Habib Misbah , Abbas Jawad , Noman Rahat
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of human capital (HC), intellectual property rights (IPRs) and research and development (R&D) expenditures on total factor productivity (TFP), which leads to economic growth.

Design/methodology/approach

The panel data technique is used on a sample of 16 countries categorized into two groups, namely Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and, in order to make a comparison for the time period of 2007–2015, the researchers used a fixed effect model as an estimation method for regression.

Findings

The results indicate that HC, IPRs and R&D expenditures appear to be statistically significant and are strong factors in determining changes in TFP and exhibit positive results in all sample sets. Moreover, IPRs alone do not accelerate growth in an economy, especially taking the case of emerging nations.

Originality/value

Considering the importance of CEE and BRIC countries, and inadequate research on these regions with respect to current study’s variables and techniques, the present research provides valuable insights about the importance of HC, IPR and R&D activities and their impact on TFP, which leads to economic growth. IPRs create a fertile environment for R&D activities, knowledge creation and economic development. Distinct nations can attain better economic status via HC, R&D activities, innovation, trade and FDI, although the relative significance of these channels is likely to differ across countries depending on their developmental levels.
Reflections on defining global brands, fragmentation and segmentation, and the emergence of richer brandscapes
Authors: Steenkamp Jan-Benedict
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a response to papers written by Professors Samiee, Belk and Özsomer as commentary pieces on my original paper, “The uncertain future of globalization: implications for global consumer culture and global brands.”

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is in the form of an essay.

Findings

The commentaries highlight many areas of agreement with the overall thrust of the original paper, and also pinpoint novel and important additional avenues for reflection and research.

Originality/value

The paper builds on the commentaries, identifying additional ways forward for the field.
When will consumers be ready? A psychological perspective on consumer engagement in social media brand communities
Authors: Liu Linlin , Liu Renjing , Lee Matthew , Chen Jiawen
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to explain whether consumer engagement in social media brand communities (SMBCs) motivates consumer brand loyalty; and second, to explore the antecedents of consumer engagement by developing a model based on personal engagement theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Online survey data from 279 brand community members of Weibo (one of the most popular social media websites in China) were used to test the proposed model. Structural equation modeling with partial least squares was performed to test both the measurement model and the structural model. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the interaction effects.

Findings

The findings show that three factors, namely, recognition, community identification and self-efficacy, had significant positive effects on consumer engagement in SMBCs, which consequently enhanced brand loyalty. Self-efficacy moderated the effects of both community identification and recognition on consumer engagement. The impacts of three factors on consumer engagement are contingent upon the type of SMBCs.

Originality/value

This study extends and advances the literature on consumer engagement by explaining consumer engagement in SMBCs from a new theoretical lens. This study also enriches personal engagement theory by investigating the effects of the interaction between different conditions of engagement. In addition, this study contributes to brand loyalty literature by providing empirical evidence of the impact of consumer engagement on brand loyalty. Finally, this study contributes to the online brand community study by introducing personal engagement theory into SMBC context, and examining the moderating role of SMBC types.
Preventing identity theft
Authors: Maitlo Abdullah , Ameen Nisreen , Peikari Hamid Reza , Shah Mahmood
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Knowledge-sharing (KS) for preventing identity theft has become a major challenge for organisations. The purpose of this paper is to fill a gap in the literature by investigating barriers to effective KS in preventing identity theft in online retail organisations.

Design/methodology/approach

A framework was proposed based on a reconceptualisation and extension of the KS enablers framework (Chong et al., 2011). A qualitative case study research method was used for the data collection. In total, 34 semi-structured interviews were conducted in three online retail organisations in the UK.

Findings

The findings suggest that the major barriers to effective KS for preventing identify theft in online retail organisations are: lack of leadership support; lack of employee willingness to share knowledge; lack of employee awareness of KS; inadequate learning opportunities; lack of trust in colleagues; insufficient information-sourcing opportunities and information and communications technology infrastructure; a weak KS culture; lack of feedback on performance; and lack of job rotation.

Practical implications

The research provides solutions for removing existing barriers to KS in preventing identity theft. This is important to reduce the number of cases of identity theft in the UK.

Originality/value

This research extends knowledge of KS in a new context: preventing identity theft in online retail organisations. The proposed framework extends the KS enablers framework by identifying major barriers to KS in the context of preventing identity theft.
Analysis of real estate management of lease service agreements by the public sector of a Latin American metropolis
Authors: Velho Júnior Vágner Egídio , Costa Melo Isotilia , Alves Junior Paulo Nocera , Rebelatto Daisy Aparecida do Nascimento
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to characterize real estate lease management of the São Paulo City Municipality (PMSP), the largest metropolitan region in Latin America, for the provision of public education, health and social assistance services.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition, the management was also evaluated by a direct analysis of the obtained data (lease paid, area of the property, agency, zone, region, neighborhood, contract date, etc.) and by statistical regressions.

Findings

The results showed that the following: real estate properties with the greatest discrepancy of amounts paid (when compared to other amounts paid by the city and the market) are in a pulverized category, called “Others”; PMSP faces difficulties tracking expiration dates, 18.9% of the assets are still in use, though present expired contracts; the category “Education” is the most expressive in expenses; there is a limit to the correlation between the size of the real estate and the lease price paid, and very large real estate do not have proportionally higher leases; the location only directly affects the lease value if it is in the central region of the Metropolis. There is no explicit relationship for leases in other regions.

Originality/value

This work is groundbreaking for helping to consolidate the literature on real estate management in developing countries. Factors that integrate and influence the management of real estate leases for government agencies in a Latin American metropolitan area have never before been reported in the literature.
The curvilinear relationship between corporate social performance and financial performance
Authors: Maqbool Shafat , Bakr Abu
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance (FP) has bourgeoned widespread debate among researchers. In recent years, the debate has explored more dynamic links, one of which is the curvilinear relationship, between CSR and FP. This paper aims to empirically test the curvilinear relationship between CSR and FP in the context of Indian companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper empirically tests the curvilinear relationship between CSR and FP in the context of Indian companies. The study used a panel data of 43 listed companies over a period of ten years from 2008 to 2017. A correlation and panel regression were carried out to examine the possible link.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that a curvilinear relationship exists between CSR and FP, suggesting that two long competing viewpoints may be complementary.

Research limitations/implications

The study mainly focuses on top companies, so the generalizations of results to other small companies are unwanted.

Practical implications

An immediate managerial implication of the findings suggests that to serve the interests of the shareholders, a long-run planning and considerable resources should be dedicated at this direction, given that CSR expenditure does not pay off immediately.

Originality/value

In the Indian context, very few studies have analyzed the linkages between CSR and FP. Using an improved and distinctive approach, the study empirically tests the relationship between CSR and FP from non-linear perspective.
The relationship between demographic factors and managers’ perception of unethical tone at the top
Authors: Lašáková Anna , Remišová Anna
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Unethical tone at the top (UTAT) carries a lot of risks and unsolicited results for both the people and companies. The purpose of this paper is to uncover the systematic differences in managers’ perception of UTAT based on their demographic characteristics, and subsequently to specify some useful recommendations to inform how companies can assist in increasing managers’ sensitivity to the harmful top-down practices and thus support ethicality in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

Eight demographic factors that, based on prior findings from the literature, might play a role in varying perception of UTAT were examined on data from 772 management professionals working in diverse industries. The Kruskal-Wallis test statistics was utilised to infer significant differences in perceptions of UTAT among managers.

Findings

Findings suggest that male managers tended to perceive UTAT as significantly less harmful than did their female counterparts. Similarly, top managers inclined to perceive UTAT as less detrimental than the middle and line management levels. Managers with higher tenure (10+ years of managerial experience) perceived UTAT as more detrimental in contributing to unethical leadership decisions and workplace culture. Respondents who have studied business-oriented programs perceived UTAT to be less harmful for the company than the non-business students. Interestingly, age, level of education, span of control and even the ethics training received during career were all found to be not relevant in this respect.

Originality/value

Based on solid empirical findings this study fills the gap in literature on the tone at the top and helps in understanding what can be done in organisational practice to improve managers’ awareness of the damaging effects of UTAT and thus to minimise threats to an ethical workplace culture.
State survival bureaucracy (SSB): state sustainability after Arab revolutions
Authors: Almashat Abdulmonem , Thabet Salwa
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Non-politicized bureaucracy plays a fundamental role in the survival of states during times of transition and drastic change. Moreover, non-politicized bureaucracy protects state institutions from failing. In fact, state survival bureaucracy (SSB), as an alternative to Deep State, obtains all mechanisms for the sustainability of the state, both its entity and identity. In case of resistance to the elected officials and executives’ abrupt decisions, professionals and experts came up with Deep State to reflect the elements of rejection.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses both system and function approaches in analyzing the role of bureaucracy in states going through transition. It also draws comparisons from the harsh experiences in the Arab region after Arab revolutions where most of the states collapsed while Tunisia and Egypt survived. The authors will use the available literature in reviewing different arguments regarding the role of bureaucracy in addition to the own observations as scholars who were engaged in the political process in Egypt for sometimes and during the drastic changes since January 25, 2011 and the knowledge about political process in Tunisia and other Arab states.

Findings

In the study of the collapse of a number of Arab states and the survival of Tunisia and Egypt, it was found out that it is SSB which holds state together in cases of drastic changes or tangible threats. SSB includes bureaucrats and policy implementing agencies that are committed to both entity and identity of the state. The role of SSB emerges clearly in a state of utmost survival crisis of the state. SSB does inherently obtain self-correcting mechanisms that help states face, experience drastic change and cope with it.

Originality/value

Non-politicized bureaucracy plays a fundamental role in the survival of states during times of transition and drastic change. Moreover, non-politicized bureaucracy protects state institutions from failing. In fact, SSB as an alternative to Deep State, as defined in this paper, obtains all mechanisms for the sustainability of the state, both its entity and identity. The analysis will show how SSB is a constructive mechanism for the survival of the state when its entity and identity as well as well-established national interests are under tangible threats.
Effects of various biodiesel blends on LHR engine
Authors: N.S. Senthur , T.S. Ravikumar
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to compare the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of E20 biodiesel with diesel-water emulsion and eucalyptus water emulsion.

Design/methodology/approach

This research expounds the trans-esterification process apparently. Various biodiesel blends were made to go through the trans-esterification process to make it suitable for feeding them into the low heat rejection (LHR) engine. E20 biodiesel – 20% of eucalyptus oil by volume with diesel was chosen to carry out the research as it was found to be the best blend with diesel. The volume of water content in diesel water emulsions was varied by 5, 10 and 15% in DWM1 (Diesel Water Mixture1), DWM2 (Diesel Water Mixture2) and DWM3 (Diesel Water Mixture3), respectively. Similarly, the volume of water content in eucalyptus water emulsions was varied with emulsification ratio of E20 biodiesel. Partially stabilized zirconia was coated over top surface of the piston and valve facing of the LHR engine.

Findings

From the researches carried out, DWM3 (Diesel Water Mixture3) was found to be superior when compared with other diesel-water emulsions in LHR engine. The overall efficiency was found to be higher for EWM3 than other biofuels tested the in LHR engine.

Originality/value

This investigational experiment can be further extended to multi-cylinder engine and to improve the cetane number, Di ethyl ester (DEE) fuel additives can be added.
Clonal change of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients with impetigo in Kagawa, Japan
Authors: Sasai Nao , Nakaminami Hidemasa , Iwasaki Manami , Iwao Miku , Misegawa Kotaro , Hasui Mikiko , Sato Minoru , Yamamoto Shinji , Yoshida Tomoko , Asano Takashi , Senoue Mitsura , Ikeda Masami , Noguchi Norihisa
Published: February 2019

Recently, the USA300 clone, which is a Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL)‐positive clonal complex 8‐staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type IV (CC8‐IV) community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA‐MRSA) strain, emerged in community and hospital settings in Japan. Hence, clonal types of CA‐MRSA strains are predicted to be changing. Nonetheless, long‐term surveillance of CA‐MRSA has not been conducted in Japan. Here, we investigated the transition and current status of CA‐MRSA strains isolated from outpatients with impetigo; the samples were collected between 2007 and 2016 in Kagawa, Japan. The detection rate (22.8%, 488/2139 strains) of MRSA slightly decreased in these 10 years. Molecular epidemiological analyses showed that the prevalence of the CC89‐II clone, which is a typical CA‐MRSA genotype of causative agents of impetigo, significantly decreased from 48.0% (48/100 strains) in 2007–2009 to 21.9% (16/73 strains) in 2013–2016. By contrast, a non‐USA300 CC8‐IV clone, which is a highly pathogenic CA‐MRSA/J clone, significantly increased in prevalence from 9.0% (9/100 strains) to 32.9% (24/73 strains). The prevalence of PVL‐positive CA‐MRSA strains increased annually from 2012 (0%) to 2015 (6.7%), whereas only one of these strains turned out to be the USA300 clone. Antibiotic susceptibility data revealed that the rates of resistance to gentamicin and clindamycin among CA‐MRSA strains decreased along with the decreased prevalence of the CC89‐II clone and increased prevalence of the CA‐MRSA/J clone. Our data strongly suggest that the clonal types and antibiotic susceptibility of CA‐MRSA isolated from patients with impetigo dramatically changed during the last 10 years in Japan.
Adaptation of Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20 to perchlorate, a specific inhibitor of sulfate reduction
Authors: Mehta‐Kolte Misha G. , Stoeva Magdalena K. , Mehra Anchal , Redford Steven A. , Youngblut Matthew D. , Zane Grant , Grégoire Patrick , Carlson Hans K. , Wall Judy , Coates John D.
Published: February 2019

Hydrogen sulfide produced by sulfate‐reducing microorganisms (SRM) poses significant health and economic risks, particularly during oil recovery. Previous studies identified perchlorate as a specific inhibitor of SRM. However, constant inhibitor addition to natural systems results in new selective pressures. Consequently, we investigated the ability of Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20 to evolve perchlorate resistance. Serial transfers in increasing concentrations of perchlorate led to robust growth in the presence of 100 mM inhibitor. Isolated adapted strains demonstrated a threefold increase in perchlorate resistance compared to the wild‐type ancestor. Whole genome sequencing revealed a single base substitution in Dde_2265, the sulfate adenylyltransferase (sat). We purified and biochemically characterized the Sat from both wild‐type and adapted strains, and showed that the adapted Sat was approximately threefold more resistant to perchlorate inhibition, mirroring whole cell results. The ability of this mutation to confer resistance across other inhibitors of sulfidogenesis was also assayed. The generalizability of this mutation was confirmed in multiple evolving G20 cultures and in another SRM, D. vulgaris Hildenborough. This work demonstrates that a single nucleotide polymorphism in Sat can have a significant impact on developing perchlorate resistance and emphasizes the value of adaptive laboratory evolution for understanding microbial responses to environmental perturbations.
Towards understanding the biosynthetic pathway for ustilaginoidin mycotoxins in Ustilaginoidea virens
Authors: Li Yuejiao , Wang Ming , Liu Zhaohui , Zhang Kang , Cui Fuhao , Sun Wenxian
Published: February 2019

Ustilaginoidins, toxic to plants, animals and human, are one of major types of mycotoxins produced by Ustilaginoidea virens. In this study, a gene cluster containing the polyketide synthase gene UvPKS1 was analysed via gene replacement and biochemical studies to determine ustilaginoidin biosynthetic pathway in U. virens. UvPKS1 was first proven to be responsible for the first step of ustilaginoidin biosynthesis, since neither ustilaginoidin derivatives nor intermediates were produced when UvPKS1 was deleted. Replacement of ugsO greatly reduced ustilaginoidin production but increased the ratios of dehydrogenated/hydrogenated ustilagioidin derivatives. The enhanced growth rate of the ΔugsO mutant indicates that accumulation of certain ustilaginoidin derivatives may adversely affect mycelial growth in U. virens. Deletion of ugsT encoding a putative MFS transporter disrupted the ability to generate ustilaginoidins. The ustilaginoidin derivatives produced in the ΔugsJ mutant all lack C3‐methyl, indicating that UgsJ is responsible for C3‐methylation. Only monomeric intermediates, such as 3‐methyl‐dihydro‐nor‐rubrofusarin, but no ustilaginoidin derivatives were generated in the ΔugsL mutant, indicating that UgsL is responsible for the dimerization of nor‐rubrofusarin derivatives to produce ustilaginoidins. However, ugsR2 deletion had no dramatic effect on ustilaginoidin biosynthesis. Together, biochemical analyses with bioinformatics and chemoinformatics uncover a multiple‐step enzyme‐catalysed pathway for ustilaginoidin biosynthesis in U. virens.
Towards Robust Hybrid Democracy in Scandinavian Municipalities?
Authors: Sørensen Eva , Torfing Jacob
Published: February 2019

This article calls for the development of democratic hybrids that combine elements of representative democracy with elements of participatory and deliberative democracy. It presents and evaluates an empirical model of hybrid democracy from a Danish municipality and tests whether the positive Danish experiences can be transferred to a Norwegian municipality with less favorable local conditions. The finding is that the hybrid model of democracy is relatively robust in the face of context variation, not least due to conducive local dynamics in the Norwegian case. The relative robustness of the so‐called ‘Gentofte model’ may stimulate its diffusion in countries sharing key elements of the Scandinavian model and inspire municipalities in other countries to experiment with the development of hybrid democracy. The diffusion of hybrid democracy helps to enhance the overall performance of local democracy and reduce the inherent tension between democratic leadership and democratic equality.
Estimating Individual Contributions to Complex DNA SNP Mixtures.,
Authors: Ricke Darrell O. , Fremont‐Smith Philip , Watkins James , Stankiewicz Sara , Boettcher Tara , Schwoebel Eric
Published: February 2019

High‐throughput sequencing (HTS) of large panels of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) provides an alternative or complimentary approach to short tandem repeats (STRs) panels for the analysis of complex DNA mixture forensic samples. For STRs, methods to estimate individual contribution concentrations compare capillary electrophoresis peak heights, peak areas, or HTS allele read counts within a mixture. This article introduces three approaches (mean, median, and slope methods) for estimating individual DNA contributions to forensic mixtures for HTS/massively parallel sequencing (MPS) SNP panels. For SNPs, the major:minor allele ratios or counts, unique to each contributor, were compared to estimate contributor proportion within the mixture using the mean, median, and slope intercept for these alleles. The estimates for these three methods were typically within 5% of planned experimental contributions for defined mixtures.
Burden of primary care‐type emergency department presentations using clinical assessment by general practitioners: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Whyatt David , Tuson Matthew , Haynes Emma , Mountain David , Nagree Yusuf , Vickery Alistair W
Published: February 2019

Objective

To compare methods of assessment of the burden of primary care‐type ED (PCTED) presentations against clinical assessment by general practitioners (GPs) in ED.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study involving clinical assessment of patients presenting to four EDs in Western Australia. The GPs assessed patients who were likely to be discharged home from ED, and considered whether they could be managed in general practice. Patient presentations were defined by the GPs as: PCTED; PCTED if additional primary care resources were available; or not PCTED.

Results

GP researchers determined that 80% of patients assessed were PCTED presentations, with one‐third of these considered PCTED presentations if additional resources were available. A high proportion of identified PCTED presentations included categories excluded by previous methods. Analysis of linked data found the cohort assessed to be of lower urgency, younger, and with a shorter length of stay than the average patient being discharged from ED. After accounting for potential bias, it is suggested that 20–40% of all ED presentations could be PCTED presentations.

Conclusions

Previous methods determining the burden of PCTED presentations have not been validated. Many presentations excluded by previous methods were identified as manageable in general practice by GPs clinically assessing patients in ED. Improved validation of criteria used to identify PCTED presentations will enable appropriately designed interventions to reduce such events.
The Transparency Trap: Non‐Financial Disclosure and the Responsibility of Business to Respect Human Rights
Authors: Hess David
Published: February 2019

This article examines the potential for transparency programs to improve corporations’ human rights performance. The primary focus is on “general” transparency programs such as the inclusion of human rights issues in sustainability reports. Regulators increasingly rely on such programs, one of which is the EU Directive on the Disclosure of Non‐financial Information, which many commentators view as a model for legislation in other countries and for a business and human rights treaty. This article identifies several problems with this approach. The human rights metrics used in current sustainability reporting standards often lack validity or are based upon data that is most easily collected, rather than most important. Moreover, the empirical evidence on sustainability reporting shows continued problems of selective disclosure, impression management, incomparable disclosures, and the use of disclosure as an end in itself (as opposed to a process that leads to organizational change). To move forward, regulators should shift focus to a model grounded in regulatory pluralism. Under this approach, regulators would combine a selection of targeted transparency mechanisms to create a more complete regulatory system that corrects for one disclosure mechanism's weaknesses by including others that have complementary strengths.
Belief v. Belief: Resolving LGBTQ Rights Conflicts in the Religious Workplace
Authors: Brown Elizabeth , Scott Inara
Published: February 2019

Employment disputes are increasingly centered on the conflicting moral and religious values of corporations, their employees, and their customers. These conflicts are especially challenging when they involve the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) employees and customers contraposed against the religious beliefs of corporations and their owners. When religious values compete with civil rights in the employment context, a complex web of legal protections renders the outcome unclear. Conflicts over these competing rights can involve a number of broad, thorny legal disputes, including those concerning the First Amendment and Title VII, fights between secular and religious beliefs, and competition between religious beliefs and equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. This article illustrates the reasons for this growing tension between the beliefs of business owners and the beliefs of their employees. It explores recent conflicts between religion and rights in the workplace particularly in the context of LGBTQ rights, the ways in which state‐level regulation complicates these conflicts, and the potential impact of recent cases addressing these concerns. It also identifies examples of potential specific conflicts in the context of LGBTQ rights and suggests the principles that should guide the resolution of these cases, offering a framework for assessing the hierarchy that a court may use in resolving cases in which values conflict with rights in the workplace. Finally, it addresses some of the troubling implications that arise as a result of the resolution of the potential specific conflicts.
Spatial variation in the response of tiger gene flow to landscape features and limiting factors
Authors: Reddy P. A. , Puyravaud J.‐P. , Cushman S. A. , Segu H.
Published: February 2019

Integrated landscape management of key population areas along with the corridors linking them is important for tiger conservation in the Indian subcontinent. Relationships between gene flow and landscape patterns, however, cannot be generalized given that different limiting factors influence movement in different spatial contexts. Here, we study the landscape features affecting tiger gene flow in the Western Ghats, and examine how and why limiting landscape features differ between Central India and the Western Ghats. We also assess whether these landscape features have been altered by land use changes in the last five decades. Our study area covers 30 000 km2 from Bhadra Tiger Reserve to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in India. We used genetic data of 115 tigers and landscape resistance model optimization to create a resistance surface to gene flow in the Western Ghats. Tiger gene flow, both in Central India and the Western Ghats, is primarily related to topographic roughness and secondarily to diffuse disturbance, however these relations are inverted in the two landscapes ‐ in Central India, gene flow correlates with rough terrain, whereas in the Western Ghats, it correlates with smooth, forested terrain with minimal human disturbance. Topographic complexity is an important factor affecting tiger dispersal, but tiger's response to topography seems to be dependent upon interactions with human‐related disturbance. Tigers in Central India favor rough terrain for dispersal primarily because it is the only part of the landscape without heavy human footprint and the last refuge for natural vegetation, whereas in the Western Ghats, forest cover is more extensive in flatter terrain and human footprint is generally lower.
Neural cue reactivity during acute abstinence predicts short‐term smoking relapse
Authors: Allenby Cheyenne , Falcone Mary , Wileyto E. Paul , Cao Wen , Bernardo Leah , Ashare Rebecca L. , Janes Amy , Loughead James , Lerman Caryn
Published: February 2019

In smokers, neural responses to smoking cues can be sensitive to acute abstinence, but the degree to which abstinence‐related cue reactivity contributes to relapse is not fully understood. This study addressed this question in a sample of 75 smokers who were motivated to quit smoking. Participants underwent blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during presentation of visual smoking cues and neutral stimuli on two occasions: once during smoking satiety and once following 24‐hour abstinence (order counterbalanced). Following the imaging sessions, participants received brief smoking cessation counseling prior to a short‐term (7‐day) quit attempt. The primary smoking cessation outcome was biochemically confirmed 7‐day relapse. The secondary smoking cessation outcome measure was total number of self‐reported days of abstinence. During abstinence (vs satiety), smoking cue reactivity was significantly increased only in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC); other regions showing a cue (vs neutral) response did not exhibit an abstinence effect in the stringent whole‐brain analysis. Participants who showed greater smoking cue reactivity in the ACC during acute abstinence (compared with smoking satiety) were more likely to relapse (OR = 2.10 per standard deviation increase in percent signal change [abstinence minus smoking satiety], 95% CI: 1.05 to 4.20, P = 0.036). Greater abstinence‐induced change in ACC activation also predicted fewer total days abstinent (β = −0.63, 95% CI = 0.43 to 0.66, P < 0.0001). This study provides the first evidence that changes in smoking cue reactivity in the ACC during acute abstinence predict smoking relapse, thereby improving our understanding of the neurobiology of smoking cessation.
Intimate partner violence in emerging adulthood and subsequent substance use disorders: findings from a longitudinal study
Authors: Ahmadabadi Zohre , Najman Jackob M. , Williams Gail M. , Clavarino Alexandra M. , d'Abbs Peter , Smirnov Andrew
Published: February 2019

Aims

To examine the temporal association between the experience of different types of intimate partner violence (IPV) in early adulthood (21 years) and substance use disorders in young adulthood (30 years).

Design

Prospective birth cohort study using data from the Mater‐University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy (MUSP).

Setting

Brisbane, Australia.

Participants

A total of 1353 people (822 females and 531 males).

Measurements

IPV was measured using the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS) and alcohol, substance and nicotine use disorders were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).

Findings

In females, the experience of different forms of IPV at 21 years remained a robust risk factor for subsequent alcohol use disorder [adjusted odds ratios (aORs) ranged from 1.6 to 2.6 (all P < 0.05)], substance use disorder [aORs ranged from 2.1 to 4.0 (all P < 0.001)] and nicotine use disorder [aORs ranged from 2.0 to 2.4 (all P < 0.05)] at 30 years, even after controlling for antecedent substance disorders. However, in males only physical and emotional abuse (but not harassment) were significant in predicting alcohol use disorder [aORs ranged from 1.4 to 1.8 (all P < 0.05)] and drug use disorder [aORs ranged from 1.6 to 2.0 (all P < 0.05)] in the fully adjusted model.

Conclusion

Intimate partner violence (IPV) in early adulthood is robustly associated with alcohol, substance and nicotine use disorders in women, whereas in men the association is clear for only some forms of IPV and types of disorder.
Prospective evaluation of clinical outcomes between pre‐cut corneal grafts prepared using a manual or automated technique: with one‐year follow‐up
Authors: Muijzer Marc B. , van Luijk Chantal M. , van den Bogaerdt Antoon J. , Kruit Piet J. , Groeneveld‐van Beek Esther , Melles Gerrit R.J. , Wisse Robert P.L.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Posterior lamellar corneal surgery is considered the standard of care for irreversible endothelial cell dysfunction. Pre‐cut grafts can be prepared either manually (Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty; DSEK) or mechanically (Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty; DSAEK). We performed a head‐to‐head clinical comparison between DSEK and DSAEK grafts.

Methods

All DSEK and DSAEK procedures performed by two corneal specialists at the University Medical Center Utrecht from 1 January 2016 through 31 October 2016 were prospectively included. Pre‐cut grafts were delivered by two eye banks, which either exclusively prepared the DSEK or DSAEK grafts. Preoperative and postoperative measurements were obtained, and all surgical events and adverse events were recorded.

Results

A total of 21 DSEK and 53 DSAEK procedures were included for analysis; the two groups were similar at baseline, with the exception of graft endothelial cell density, which was 2531 ± 67 versus 2748 ± 148 cells/mm2, respectively (p < 0.001). At the one‐year follow‐up visit, corrected distance visual acuity and endothelial cell loss were similar between the groups. Mean pachymetry was significantly lower in the DSEK group (521 ± 39 versus 588 ± 59 μm; p < 0.001), whereas the rebubbling rate was significantly higher in the DSEK group (47.6% versus 18.9%; p = 0.001). Finally, three grafts in the DSEK group experienced failure compared to one graft in the DSAEK group (14% versus 1.9%, respectively).

Conclusion

Manually dissected and microkeratome‐dissected grafts performed similarly with respect to vision and endothelial cell loss assessed one year after surgery. The higher incidence of graft failure among manually dissected (i.e. DSEK) grafts may be attributable to reduced relative thickness compared to DSAEK grafts and/or the resulting differences in tissue handling and the surgeon's learning curve.
Molecular typing of Clostridioides difficile isolates from clinical and non‐clinical samples in Iran
Authors: Kouhsari Ebrahim , Douraghi Masoumeh , Fakhre Yaseri Hashem , Talebi Malihe , Ahmadi Alireza , Sholeh Mohammad , Amirmozafari Nour
Published: February 2019

Clostridioides difficile is a major cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients throughout the world. We aimed to characterize C. difficile isolates among hospitalized patients, hospital staffs, and hospital environment samples obtained in three tertiary care hospitals of Iran with regard to their molecular types between June 2016 and November 2017. The toxigenicity of C. difficile isolates was determined by toxigenic culture and multiplex‐PCR. Toxigenic C. difficile isolates collected were ribotyped using capillary gel electrophoresis‐based PCR and the database of WEBRIBO (http://webribo.ages.at). Of 500 clinical and non‐clinical samples, toxigenic C. difficile were identified in 35 of 250 stool samples (14%) and in 3 of 250 swabs (1.2%). The most frequently found ribotypes (RTs) were 039, AI‐12, and AI‐21 (15.8, 10.52, and 10.52% of all isolates, respectively). Further RTs were: 017, 001, AI‐3, AI‐15, AI‐18, AI‐10, AI‐4, and PR21195 (as new ribotype). The epidemic RTs (027 and 078) seen in the Europe, North America, and Asia were completely absent in this study.
Downregulation of the cytochrome P450 4B1 protein confers a poor prognostic factor in patients with urothelial carcinomas of upper urinary tracts and urinary bladder
Authors: Lin Jen‐Tai , Chan Ti‐Chun , Li Chien‐Feng , Huan Steven K.H. , Tian Yu‐Feng , Liang Peir‐In , Pan Cheng‐Tang , Shiue Yow‐Ling
Published: February 2019

The objective of this study was to examine the expression level of cytochrome P450 4B1 (CYP4B1) protein and its clinical significance in specimens from patients with urothelial carcinomas (UC) including upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC, n = 340) and urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma (UBUC, n = 295). Data mining on public domains identified five potential candidate transcripts which were downregulated in advanced UBUCs, indicating that it might implicate in UC progression. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the CYP4B1 protein levels on 635 tissues from UC patients retrospectively. Immunoexpression of CYP4B1 was further estimated using the H‐score method. Correlations between CYP4B1 H‐score and important clinicopathological factors, as well as the significance of CYP4B1 expression level for disease‐specific and metastasis‐free survivals were evaluated. In UTUCs and UBUCs, 118 (34.7%) and 92 (31.2%) patients, respectively, were identified to be of CYP4B1 downregulation. The CYP4B1 expression level was found to be associated with several clinicopathological factors and patient survivals. Downregulation of CYP4B1 protein was correlated to advanced primary tumor (p < 0.001), nodal metastasis (p < 0.001), high histological grade (p = 0.001), vascular invasion (p < 0.001), perineural invasion (p = 0.017) and mitotic rate (p = 0.036) in UTUCs and/or UBUCs. Low CYP4B1 protein level independently predicted inferior disease‐specific (p = 0.009; p < 0.001) and metastasis‐free (p = 0.035; p < 0.001) survivals in UTUC and UBUC patients. Our findings showed that downregulation of CYP4B1 protein level is an independent unfavorable prognosticator. Loss of the CYP4B1 gene expression may play an important role in UC progression.
Lung alveolar tissue destruction and protein citrullination in diesel exhaust‐exposed mouse lungs
Authors: Kulvinskiene Ieva , Raudoniute Jovile , Bagdonas Edvardas , Ciuzas Darius , Poliakovaite Karina , Stasiulaitiene Inga , Zabulyte Danguole , Bironaite Daiva , Rimantas Venskutonis Petras , Martuzevicius Dainius , Aldonyte Ruta
Published: February 2019

Humanity faces an increasing impact of air pollution worldwide, including threats to human health. Air pollutants prompt and promote chronic inflammation, tumourigenesis, autoimmune and other destructive processes in the human body. Post‐translational modification of proteins, for example citrullination, results from damaging attacks of pollutants, including smoking, air pollution and others, rendering host tissues immunogenic. Citrullinated proteins and citrullinating enzymes, deiminases, are more prevalent in patients with COPD and correlate with ongoing inflammation and oxidative stress. In this study, we installed an in‐house–designed diesel exhaust delivery and cannabidiol vaporization system where mice were exposed to relevant, urban traffic–related levels of diesel exhaust for 14 days and assessed integrity of alveolar tissue, gene expression shifts and changes in protein content in the lungs and other tissues of exposed mice. Systemic presence of modified proteins was also tested. The protective effect of phytocannabinoids was investigated as well. Data obtained in our study show subacute effects of diesel exhaust on mouse lung integrity and protein content. Emphysematous changes are documented in exposed mouse lungs. In parallel, increased levels of citrulline were detected in the alveolar lung tissue and peripheral blood of exposed mice. Pre‐treatment with vaporized cannabidiol ameliorated some damaging effects. Results reported hereby provide new insights into subacute lung tissue changes that follow diesel exhaust exposure and suggest possible dietary and/or other therapeutic interventions for maintaining lung health and healthy ageing.
Assessment of the use of the Internet and social media among people with bladder cancer and their carers, and the quality of available patient‐centric online resources: a systematic review
Authors: Tariq Amina , Khan Shanchita R. , Vela Ian , Williams Elizabeth D.
Published: February 2019

Objective

To conduct a systematic synthesis of the literature evaluating the use of the Internet and social media by people with bladder cancer (BCa) and their carers, and to synthesize the evidence on the quality of available online resources for patients with BCa.

Methods

We selected studies published between January 2000 and September 2018, written in the English language and meeting the inclusion criteria. Data sources included PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus.

Results

A total of 15 studies were included in the review. Four studies explored patterns of Internet use among patients with BCa, five studies investigated social media use related to BCa and six studies evaluated the quality of online resources available for patients with BCa. Evidence in all these three dimensions was limited in its ability to establish rigorously if use of the Internet, social media and online resources for BCa is effective in improving the care outcomes for patients with BCa.

Conclusion

Our review emphasizes the forgotten status of BCa by establishing that, despite its high global incidence, it remains underrepresented in the building of evidence on patient information needs and the possible role of online spaces. Our synthesis establishes that further research is needed to examine the full impact of online information and social media use on the health management of people with BCa.
Lowland tapirs facilitate seed dispersal in degraded Amazonian forests
Authors: Paolucci Lucas N. , Pereira Rogério L. , Rattis Ludmila , Silvério Divino V. , Marques Nubia C. S. , Macedo Marcia N. , Brando Paulo M.
Published: February 2019

The forests of southeastern Amazonia are highly threatened by disturbances such as fragmentation, understory fires, and extreme climatic events. Large‐bodied frugivores such as the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris) have the potential to offset this process, supporting natural forest regeneration by dispersing a variety of seeds over long distances to disturbed forests. However, we know little about their effectiveness as seed dispersers in degraded forest landscapes. Here, we investigate the seed dispersal function of lowland tapirs in Amazonian forests subject to a range of human (fire and fragmentation) and natural (extreme droughts and windstorms) disturbances, using a combination of field observations, camera traps, and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. Tapirs travel and defecate more often in degraded forests, dispersing much more seeds in these areas [9,822 seeds per ha/year (CI95% = 9,106; 11,838)] than in undisturbed forests [2,950 seeds per ha/year (CI95% = 2,961; 3,771)]. By effectively dispersing seeds across disturbed forests, tapirs may contribute to natural forest regeneration—the cheapest and usually the most feasible way to achieve large‐scale restoration of tropical forests. Through the dispersal of large‐seeded species that eventually become large trees, such frugivores also contribute indirectly to maintaining forest carbon stocks. These functions may be critical in helping tropical countries to achieve their goals to maintain and restore biodiversity and its ecosystem services. Ultimately, preserving these animals along with their habitats may help in the process of natural recovery of degraded forests throughout the tropics.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Connectivity with primary forest determines the value of secondary tropical forests for bird conservation
Authors: Mayhew Rebekah J. , Tobias Joseph A. , Bunnefeld Lynsey , Dent Daisy H.
Published: February 2019

Species extinctions caused by the destruction and degradation of tropical primary forest may be at least partially mitigated by the expansion of regenerating secondary forest. However, the conservation value of secondary forest remains controversial, and potentially underestimated, since most previous studies have focused on young, single‐aged, or isolated stands. Here, we use point‐count surveys to compare tropical forest bird communities in 20–120‐year‐old secondary forest with primary forest stands in central Panama, with varying connectivity between secondary forest sites and extensive primary forest. We found that species richness and other metrics of ecological diversity, as well as the combined population density of all birds, reached a peak in younger (20‐year‐old) secondary forests and appeared to decline in older secondary forest stands. This counter‐intuitive result can be explained by the greater connectivity between younger secondary forests and extensive primary forests at our study site, compared with older secondary forests that are either (a) more isolated or (b) connected to primary forests that are themselves small and isolated. Our results suggest that connectivity with extensive primary forest is a more important determinant of avian species richness and community structure than forest age, and highlight the vital contribution secondary forests can make in conserving tropical bird diversity, so long as extensive primary habitats are adjacent and spatially connected.Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.