bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The causality link between political risk and stock prices
Authors: Wang Huiqiang
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Prior studies have paid close attention to the impact of political risk on financial markets. Following this strand of literature, this paper aims to focus on the causality link between political shocks and their impacts on emerging stock markets.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper highlights an innovative counterfactual model for political risk assessment. Based on a natural experiment, i.e. the Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1995-1996, this study utilizes one data-driven approach, e.g. the synthetic control methods (SCMs), to estimate causal impact of this political shock on Taiwan’s stock market.

Findings

Major findings in this study are consistent with existing literature on the price of political risk, e.g. political uncertainty commands a risk premium. The SCM estimations suggest that Taiwan’s stock prices dramatically underperformed its newly industrialized peers and other developed markets during the crisis. The SCM results are statistically significant and robust to various cross-validation tests.

Research limitations/implications

Findings in this study indicate that political risks could generate enormous impacts on emerging financial markets. In particular, political uncertainty following new geopolitical dynamics requires proper identification and assessment.

Originality/value

To the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first rigorous counterfactual study to the causality relationship between political uncertainty and stock prices in emerging markets. This paper is distinct from previous studies in applying a data-driven approach to combine the features of learning from others (cross-sectional) and learning from the past (time series).
Corpus linguistics, newspaper archives and historical research methods
Authors: Tumbe Chinmay
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the utility of corpus linguistics and digitised newspaper archives in management and organisational history.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws its inferences from Google NGram Viewer and five digitised historical newspaper databases – The Times of India, The Financial Times, The Economist, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal – that contain prints from the nineteenth century.

Findings

The paper argues that corpus linguistics or the quantitative and qualitative analysis of large-scale real-world machine-readable text can be an important method of historical research in management studies, especially for discourse analysis. It shows how this method can be fruitfully used for research in management and organisational history, using term count and cluster analysis. In particular, historical databases of digitised newspapers serve as important corpora to understand the evolution of specific words and concepts. Corpus linguistics using newspaper archives can potentially serve as a method for periodisation and triangulation in corporate, analytically structured and serial histories and also foster cross-country comparisons in the evolution of management concepts.

Research limitations/implications

The paper also shows the limitation of the research method and potential robustness checks while using the method.

Practical implications

Findings of this paper can stimulate new ways of conducting research in management history.

Originality/value

The paper for the first time introduces corpus linguistics as a research method in management history.
Research Watch: can adversity make you stronger?
Authors: Holttum Sue
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine what helps people come through difficult events and circumstances.

Design/methodology/approach

A search was carried out for recent papers on adversity and thriving.

Findings

One paper reviewed 27 studies of coping and wellbeing after adversities. Maybe some kinds of adversity can help us get stronger, but people’s social contexts were not considered and the studies measured different things that may not be as easily compared as first appears. A second paper examined wellbeing at work, and reported that a certain type of supervisor is important for preventing burnout. The final paper reported on 55 people who survived depression. Many (though not all) participants felt their life was better than before. Surviving was assisted by practical and social support rather than pills.

Originality/value

The review of research on adversity highlights that patterns of data may look similar but may not tell us as much as we hoped. The study of workplace thriving highlighted how supervisors might support people to do their best work while preventing burnout. The study on surviving depression suggested that social resources were key to a good outcome and a better life. Social inclusion is likely to be important.
Cultural intelligence effects on expatriates’ adjustment and turnover intentions in Mainland China
Authors: Akhal Khalid , Liu Shimin
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment is one of the crucial factors for multi-national corporations’ (MNCs’) global success, which if neglected can lead to poor performance and increased turnover rates. On the other hand, cultural intelligence (CQ) is an important perspective for understanding international business success. Utilizing a relatively large sample of foreign professionals (n= 402) working in Mainland China, this study aims to test the effects of cultural intelligence on expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment and their turnover intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via a cross-sectional survey, and the hierarchical multiple regression technique was used to test the hypotheses. The facets of cross-cultural adjustment were treated as potential predictors of turnover intentions and mediators in the relationship between CQ and turnover intentions.

Findings

With the exception of CQ-behavioral, the other three dimensions of CQ had varying positive effects on the three facets of expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment. When the variable of turnover intentions was regressed on the four dimensions of CQ, the motivational dimension was the only predictor. Also, general and work adjustment facets had strong effects on turnover intentions, thus when they entered in the third step after CQ-motivational, they provided full mediation.

Practical implications

Given the strong and positive effects of all CQ dimensions on all facets of cross-cultural adjustment, MNCs should assess and select individuals with high CQ levels for international assignments. Based on the correlations of the control variables, age and level of education, MNCs should keep an eye on those who are young and those with higher levels of education as they are more likely to leave their international assignments prematurely. Expatriates themselves should set long-term personal plans for acquiring the needed cultural knowledge.

Originality/value

This research extends the relationship between CQ and cross-cultural adjustment to expatriates’ turnover intentions, a very costly problem for MNCs, yet barely researched in the context of CQ. This study also extends the geographical validity of CQ to Mainland China, a very lucrative market for global MNCs, yet a challenge for Western expatriates in particular.
Stock market stress from the central counterparty’s perspective
Authors: Dömötör Barbara , Váradi Kata
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the possibility of monitoring stress on stock markets from the perspective of a central counterparty (CCP). Due to their balanced positions, CCPs are exposed to extreme price movements in both directions; thus, the major risk for them derives from extreme returns and market illiquidity. The authors examined the connection of the stress alarms of return- and liquidity-based measures to find an objective basis for stress measurement.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors defined two types of stress measures: indicators based on extreme returns and liquidity. It is suggested that the stress indicators should be based on the existing risk management methodology that examines different risk measure oversteps. The stress signals of the past nine years on the German stock market were analyzed. The authors investigated the connection between the chosen stress measures to obtain a robust measure for alarming stress.

Findings

Although extreme returns and illiquidity are both characteristics of stress, the correlation of returns- and liquidity-based stress indicators is low when taking daily values. On the other hand, the moving averages of the indicators correlate significantly in the case of measures of downward and upward extreme returns and liquidity measured by the relative spread. The results are robust enough to be used for monitoring stress periods.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to understanding the characteristics of stress periods and points to the fact that stress signals measured by different aspects can also differ within the same asset class. The moving averages of returns- and relative spread-based indicators, however, could provide a cost-effective quantitative support for the risk management of a CCP and make the margin calculation predictable for clearing members as well.
Investment performance and emotions: an international study
Authors: Kaplanski Guy , Levy Haim
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to expand the peer effect analysis to investments in the stock market, where neither direct competition nor interaction with other investors exists.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 772 subjects dwelling in six countries completed a questionnaire about their satisfaction with the performance of their hypothetical investment in the stock market. They were informed about the performance of the local stock market and the performance of their peer group, referred to in the questionnaire as their “friends.”

Findings

Only 5 per cent of subjects are indifferent to their friends’ investment performance, as advocates by expected utility paradigm. Most subjects are happier when their friends earn lower rather than higher returns. On average, subjects are better off losing rather than gaining money as long as their friends lose more money, which violates the univariate monotonicity axiom. A negligible number of subjects exhibit a consistent favorable response, which is a necessary condition for pure economic altruism. Hostility is greater in less-wealthy countries. No link is found with regard to economic inequality.

Originality/value

This paper shows that when a conflict between absolute wealth and relative wealth arises, the latter dominates, even when the comparison is not with an opponent or a colleague but with the subject’s friends. The astonishing result is that subjects prefer having less wealth as long as their friends lose more, despite no direct competition between subjects as in ultimatum games and despite the performance being equal to market performance.
A flexible, efficient and low-cost experimental platform for FMCW radars
Authors: Wang Tao , Li Ping , Wang Mingfang , Yang DanDan , Shi Chaoyu
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper proposes a design of an efficient and automated experimental platform for frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radars. The platform can quickly flexibly generate the waveform that meets measurement requirements and significantly improve experimental efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

This platform not only includes radio frequency devices but also integrates a programmable transmitter based on field programmable gate array. By configuring the waveform data, the experimental platform can generate waveforms with adjustable parameters and realize automatic emission, reception and processing of signals. Different from traditional fast Fourier transform, this paper uses a discrete-time Fourier transform to process low-frequency signals to get more accurate results.

Findings

The authors demonstrate the effectiveness of the platform through a single-path cable experiment, an indoor ranging experiment by using different modulating waveforms and a speed measurement experiment. With complete functions and strong flexibility, the platform can operate effectively in various conditions and greatly improve the efficiency of research and study.

Practical implications

The platform can accelerate the research studies and applications of FMCW radars in the fields of automatic drive, through-wall detection and health-care applications.

Originality/value

Cost and functionality are taken into account in the platform, which can significantly improve the efficiency of research. The proposed signal processing method improves the accuracy while its computation complexity does not increase significantly.
The effects of microcrystalline cellulose on the flammability and thermal behaviours of flame retarded natural fibre epoxy composite
Authors: Khalili Pooria , Liu Xiao Ling , Tshai Kim Yeow , Kong Ing , Rudd Chris , Yi Xiao Su
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to fabricate and characterize the natural fibre (NF) reinforced epoxy composites containing flame retardants (FRs) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in terms of flammability, thermal properties and dynamic mechanical performances.

Design/methodology/approach

The FRs used in this study were ammonium polyphosphate and alumina trihydrate.

Findings

The results demonstrated that the addition of MCC particles into the flame retardant composite (control) further enhanced the self-extinguishing properties of composites, in particular, the burn length. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the mass residue improved with every addition of MCC particles at 700 °C. For instance, the residual weight enhanced from 28.4 Wt.% to 33 Wt.% for the control and the composite with 7 Wt.% MCCs, respectively. As obtained from the dynamic mechanical analysis, the glass transition temperature of composites increased upon increasing inclusion of MCC particles. For example, this parameter was 77.1 °C and 86.8 °C for the control and composite loaded with 7 Wt.% MCC, respectively.

Originality/value

Thus, the combination of MCC and FR had been proved to be a promising flame retardant system for NF reinforced epoxy.
Study on flexural performance of fabricated natural fiber hybrid polypropylene composite: an experimental investigation through designed experiments
Authors: Kumar Rajendra , Singh Ravi Pratap , Kataria Ravinder
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the flexural properties i.e. the flexural strength and the flexural modulus under the influence of selected input variables, namely; fiber type, fiber loading and fiber size in fabricated natural fiber polymeric composites through using Taguchi’s design of experiment methodology.

Design/methodology/approach

The Taguchi’s design of experiment approach has been used to scheme a suitable combination to fabricate the polymeric composites. Pure polypropylene (PP) has been chosen as a matrix material, whereas two types of fibers, namely; wood powder (WP) i.e. sawdust and rice husk powder (RHP), have been used as a reinforcement in the matrix. Microstructure analysis of fabricated and tested samples has also been evaluated and analyzed using a scanning electron microscope. This analysis has divulged that at moderate fiber size and higher fiber loading, no gap or cavities presented between the fillers and matrix particles, which illustrates the good interfacial bonding between the materials.

Findings

The flexural strength of the wood powder pure polypropylene (WPPP) composite decreases if the fiber content gets increased beyond 20 Wt.%. In addition, the flexural strength of hybrid composite (WPRHPPP) has been revealed to get improved more in comparison to composites with single fiber as reinforcement. Furthermore, the flexural modulus of WPPP composite has also increased with the increase in fiber loading. It has been concluded that reinforcement size plays an imperative role in influencing the flexural modulus. The optimum parametric setting for the flexural strength and the flexural modulus has been devised as; fiber type – WPRHP, fiber loading – 10 Wt.% and fiber size – 600 µm; and fiber type – WP, fiber loading – 30 Wt.% and fiber size – 1,180 µm, respectively. The microstructure images clearly revealed that during conducted flexural tests, some particles get disturbed from their bonded position that mainly represents the plastic deformation.

Social implications

The fabricated polymer materials proposed in the research work are green and environmentally friendly.

Originality/value

The natural fiber-based composites are possessing wide-spread requirements in today’s competitive structure of manufacturing and industrial applications. The fabrication of the natural fiber-based composites has also been planned through the designed experiments (namely; Taguchi Methodology- L9 orthogonal array matrix), which, further, makes the analysis more fruitful and qualitative too. The fabricated polymer materials proposed in the research work are green and environmentally friendly. Shisham WP has been rarely used in the past researches; therefore, this factor has been included for the present work. The injection molding process is used to fabricate the three different polymer composite by varying the fiber weight percentage and fiber size.
Seismic behavior evaluation of zipper braced steel frames based on push-over and incremental dynamic analyses
Authors: Esfandiari J. , Khezeli Y.
Published: May 2019

Purpose

An analytical investigation is performed on zipper-braced frames. Zipper-braced frames are an innovative bracing system for steel structures. Conventional inverted-V-braced frames exhibit a design problem arising from the unbalanced vertical force generated by the lower story braces when one of them buckles. This adverse effect can be mitigated by adding zipper columns or vertical members connecting the intersection points of the braces above the first floor.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper critically evaluates over strength, ductility and response modification factors of these structures. To achieve the purpose of this research, several buildings of different stories are considered. Static pushover analysis, linear dynamic analysis and nonlinear incremental dynamic analysis are performed by OpenSees software concerning ten records of past earthquakes.

Findings

Also, ductility factor, over strength factor and response modification factor, has been calculated for zipper-braced frames system. The values of 3.5 and 5 are suggested for response modification factor in ultimate limit state and allowable stress methods, respectively.

Originality/value

The fragility curves were plotted for the first time for such kind of braces. It should be mentioned that these curves play significant roles in evaluating seismic damage of buildings.
F‐box proteins MoFwd1, MoCdc4 and MoFbx15 regulate development and pathogenicity in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Shi Huan‐Bin , Chen Nan , Zhu Xue‐Ming , Liang Shuang , Li Lin , Wang Jiao‐Yu , Lu Jian‐Ping , Lin Fu‐Cheng , Liu Xiao‐Hong
Published: May 2019

The Skp1‐Cul1‐F‐box‐protein (SCF) ubiquitin ligases are important parts of the ubiquitin system controlling many cellular biological processes in eukaryotes. However, the roles of SCF ubiquitin ligases remain unclear in phytopathogenic Magnaporthe oryzae. Here, we cloned 24 F‐box proteins and confirmed that 17 proteins could interact with MoSkp1, showing their potential to participate in SCF complexes. To determine their functions, null mutants of 21 F‐box‐containing genes were created. Among them, the F‐box proteins MoFwd1, MoCdc4 and MoFbx15 were found to be required for growth, development and full virulence. Fluorescent‐microscopy observations demonstrated that both MoFbx15 and MoCdc4 were localized to the nucleus, compared with MoFwd1, which was distributed in the cytosol. MoCdc4 and MoFwd1 bound to MoSkp1 via the F‐box domain, the deletion of which abrogated their function. Race tube and qRT‐PCR assays confirmed that MoFwd1 was involved in circadian rhythm by regulating transcription and protein stability of the core circadian clock regulator MoFRQ. Moreover, MoFWD1 also orchestrates conidial germination by influencing conidial amino acids pools and oxidative stress release. Overall, our results indicate that SCF ubiquitin ligases play indispensable roles in development and pathogenicity in M. oryzae.
The status of Mycoplasma bovis infection in clinical mastitis cases in China
Authors: Wen Jing , Zhang Jianhua , Hao Yongqing
Published: May 2019

In this study, ELISA and PCR were used to examine paired serum and milk samples (n = 850) from China and milk samples (n = 860) from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2008 to 2015. The annual proportion of Mycoplasma bovis‐positive mastitis samples in China and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region fluctuated inexplicably, with total average positivity value of 53.0% and 34.2%, respectively. We propose that the monthly variation in the proportion of M. bovis‐positive mastitis milk in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is related to the pathogen's survival in the environment, which requires further confirmation. The results highlight the severity of M. bovis infection in clinical mastitis in China.
Overview of the local production process of raw milk butter in Wallonia (Belgium)
Authors: Soundous El‐Hajjaji , Amaury Gérard , Juliette De Laubier , Sybille Di Tanna , Aurélie Lainé , Viviane Patz , Marianne Sindic
Published: May 2019

This study aims to describe the procedures and practices used in local production of raw milk butter. The demand for local products is increasing; hence, there is a need to describe the practices used in the artisanal production of raw milk butter. Therefore, a survey of 147 raw milk butter producers was carried out. The results from the survey indicate that there is not one single way to produce butter at artisanal level. In terms of maturation, six temperature sequences were distinguished. Attention is required at every step of production starting from breeding.
Comparison of heat stability of cow's milk subjected to ultra‐high temperature and in‐container sterilisation
Authors: Chen Bi Ye , Ren Fei Yue , Grandison Alistair S , Lewis Michael J
Published: May 2019

Cow's milk of different fat contents with or without stabilising salts was sterilised by in‐container and UHT sterilisation. Heat stability decreased with increasing fat content following both UHT and in‐container sterilisation. Adding small amounts of stabilising salts (6.4 mM) increased heat stability in UHT‐treated milk, while excessive addition (12.8 mM) decreased heat stability. In contrast, increasing stabilising salts from 6.4 to 12.8 mM caused a decrease in heat stability after in‐container sterilisation. Increasing in‐container sterilisation time from 10 to 30 min caused a decrease in heat stability arising from an increase in particle size. This study confirmed discrepancies in heat stability for two sterilisation procedures.
Hypofractionated proton beam therapy for centrally located lung cancer
Authors: Nakamura Naoki , Hotta Kenji , Zenda Sadamoto , Baba Hiromi , Kito Satoe , Akita Tsunemichi , Motegi Atsushi , Hojo Hidehiro , Nakamura Masaki , Parshuram Raturi Vijay , Okumura Masayuki , Akimoto Tetsuo
Published: May 2019

Introduction

To clarify the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated proton beam therapy (PBT) for centrally located lung cancer.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 39 patients who received hypofractionated [≧3 Gy (relative biological effectiveness: RBE)/fraction] PBT for centrally located cT1‐2N0M0 (8th edition) lung cancer between 1999 and 2015. A tumour within 2 cm of the proximal bronchial tree was defined as a centrally located tumour.

Results

Twenty‐four patients (62%) were treated with 80 Gy (RBE) in 20 fractions (112 Gy10), whereas eight (21%) were treated with 66 Gy (RBE) in 10 fractions (109.56 Gy10). The median follow‐up period for censored patients was 48 months (range: 4–140). The 2‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 86 and 100% for T1 disease and 56 and 94% for T2 disease, respectively. Patients who received 110 Gy10 or higher showed significantly better PFS than those who received less than 110 Gy10, while no significant difference was noted in OS between the two groups. The sites of the first progression were local in six patients (27%), regional in seven (32%), distant in seven (32%), and local and distant in two (9%). Among the 13 patients with loco‐regional recurrence, only two (15%) received treatments with curative intent. Dyspnoea of grade 3 was noted in one patient (3%), and pneumonitis of grade 2 was noted in four patients (10%).

Conclusion

Hypofractionated PBT may be a very safe and effective treatment option for centrally located early lung cancer.
Characteristics and Controlling Factors of Shale Oil Reservoir Spaces in the Bohai Bay Basin
Authors: DENG Yuan , CHEN Shiyue , PU Xiugang , YAN Jihua
Published: May 2019

The Cenozoic continental strata of the Bohai Bay Basin are rich in shale oil resources, and they contain various types of reservoir spaces that are controlled by complex factors. Using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), automatic mineral identification and characterization system (AMICS), CO2 and N2 gas adsorption, and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB‐SEM), the types of shale reservoir spaces in the Bohai Bay Basin are summarized, the spatial distribution and connectivity of the various types of pores are described in detail, the microscopic pore structures are characterized, and the key geological mechanisms affecting the formation and evolution of the reservoir spaces are determined. Three conclusions can be drawn in the present study. First, the shale reservoir spaces in the Bohai Bay Basin can be divided into three broad categories, including mineral matrix pores, organic matter pores, and micro fractures. Those spaces can be subdivided into seven categories and fourteen sub‐categories based on the distribution and formation mechanisms of the pores. Second, the complex pore‐throat structures of the shale reservoir can be divided into two types based on the shape of the adsorption hysteresis loop. The pore structures mainly include wedge‐shaped, flat slit‐shaped, and ink bottle‐shaped pores. The mesopores and micropores are the main contributors to pore volume and specific surface area, respectively. The macropores provide a portion of the pore volume, but they do not significantly contribute to the specific surface area. Third, the factors controlling the development of microscopic pores in the shale are complex. The sedimentary environment determines the composition and structure of the shale and provides the material basis for pore development. Diagenesis controls the types and characteristics of the pores. In addition, the thermal evolution of the organic matter is closely related to inorganic diagenesis and drives the formation and evolution of the pores.
Radioactive Genesis of Hydrogen Gas under Geological Conditions: an Experimental Study
Authors: WANG Wenqing , LIU Chiyang , ZHANG Dongdong , LIU Wenhui , CHEN Li , LIU Wei
Published: May 2019

The coexistence of hydrogen‐containing materials and radioactive substances in source rocks is universal. Few documents have researched whether the latter can radiate the former to generate hydrogen gas (H2) as well as the factors controlling this process. This work conducted a series of radiation experiments to address this issue. Samples were placed in sealed Pyrex glass containers and subject to cobalt (60Co) γ irradiation and components and contents of resultant gases were analyzed using gas‐chromatography. The results show that all the samples released variable amounts of H2 after irradiation and that the yield (H2) of decane is lower than that of 3‐tetradecylthiophene but higher than that of distilled water, which implies that a weaker H‐X bond energy (X indicates O, C or other element) in homogeneous materials corresponds with increased yield (H2). The yields (H2) of samples decreased with the decreasing solutions concentrations in sequence from mixed salts solution, KCl solution, Yellow Sea water, oil field water, gypsum solution to distilled water. The experimental results also show that the yield (H2) of distilled water with montmorillonite is higher than that of distilled water with kaolinite, because due to the larger specific surface area, ion exchange capacity and more effective energy transfer effect of montmorillonite. Meanwhile, the irradiation of oxygen‐ and carbon‐containing materials also releases O2 and CH4. The production of H2 via the irradiation of hydrogen‐containing materials makes the involvement of exogenous H2 into hydrocarbon generation possible, which can enhance the hydrocarbon volume and optimize crude oil.
Organic Geochemical and Petrographic Characteristics of the Coal Measure Source Rocks of Pinghu Formation in the Xihu Sag of the East China Sea Shelf Basin: Implications for Coal Measure Gas Potential
Authors: WANG Yang , QIN Yong , YANG Liu , LIU Shimin , ELSWORTH Derek , ZHANG Rui
Published: May 2019

Coal measure source rocks, located in the Xihu Sag of the East China Sea Shelf Basin, were analyzed to define the hydrocarbon generation potential, organic geochemistry/petrology characteristics, and coal preservation conditions. The Pinghu source rocks in the Xihu Sag are mainly gas‐prone accompany with condensate oil generation. The coals and shales of the Pinghu Formation are classified from “fair” to “excellent” source rocks with total organic carbon (TOC) contents ranging from 25.2% to 77.2% and 1.29% to 20.9%, respectively. The coals are richer in TOC and S1+S2 than the shales, indicating that the coals have more generation potential per unit mass. Moreover, the kerogen type of the organic matter consists of types II‐III and III, which the maturity Ro ranges from 0.59% to 0.83%. Petrographically, the coals and shales are dominated by vitrinite macerals (69.1%–96.8%) with minor proportions of liptinite (2.5%–17.55%) and inertinite (0.2%–6.2%). The correlation between maceral composition and S1+S2 indicates that the main contributor to the generation potential is vitrinite. Therefore, the coals and shales of the Pinghu Formation has good hydrocarbon generation potential, which provided a good foundation for coal measure gas accumulation. Furthermore, coal facies models indicates that the Pinghu coal was deposited in limno‐telmatic environment under high water levels, with low tree density (mainly herbaceous) and with low‐moderate nutrient supply. Fluctuating water levels and intermittent flooding during the deposition of peat resulted in the inter‐layering of coal, shale and sandstone, which potentially providing favorable preservation conditions for coal measure gas.
Real‐world data on EGFR/ALK gene status and first‐line targeted therapy rate in newly diagnosed advanced non‐small cell lung cancer patients in Northern China: A prospective observational study
Authors: Liang Hongge , Song Xia , Zhang Yuhui , Zhang Shucai , Li Fang , Fang Jian , Li Junling , Liang Li , Nie Ligong , Ma Kewei , Zhang Liangming , Wang Xiaohong , Xu Junjun , Wei Yanxia , Wang Jinghui , Song Qi , Tian Guangming , Mu Yuxin , Gu Yangchun , Yang Lei , Sun Ping , Zhong Wei , Zhao Jing , Xu Yan , Chen Minjiang , Wang Mengzhao
Published: May 2019

Background

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can significantly prolong overall survival for patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐mutation or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)‐rearrangement. However, the real‐world evaluation status of ALK/EGFR in China remains unclear.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study including 1134 patients with cytologically or histologically confirmed advanced NSCLC (stage IIIb–IV) at 12 Chinese hospitals.

Results

The most common evaluation methods were amplification‐refractory mutation system for EGFR status and immunohistochemistry targeting D5F3 for ALK status. Among patients with non‐squamous, the EGFR mutation rate was 44.1% and the ALK rearrangement rate was 10.0%. Among patients with squamous cell carcinoma, the EGFR mutation rate was 8.3% and the ALK rearrangement rate was 3.7%. Among all patients, gender (HR = 1.7, 95%CI = 1.2–2.4, P = 0.006), smoking history (HR = 1.8, 95%CI = 1.3–2.7, P = 0.001), histology (HR = 5.0, 95%CI = 2.4–10.1, P < 0.001), and brain metastases (HR = 1.5, 95%CI = 1.1–2.2, P = 0.017) were independent predictors of EGFR mutation, while age (HR = 2.6, 95%CI = 1.7–4.1, P < 0.001) was an independent predictor of ALK rearrangement. The median time from tumor diagnosis to EGFR or ALK status confirmation was 7 and 5 days, respectively. Targeted therapy rate was 73.8% in EGFR‐positive patients and 51.4% in ALK‐positive patients. There was a negative correlation between the first‐line targeted therapy rate and the EGFR mutation detection period (r = −0.152, P = 0.02), while no significant correlation among patients with ALK rearrangement (r = −0.179, P = 0.076).

Conclusion

Squamous NSCLC patients should also be routinely tested to determine their EGFR/ALK statuses. The first‐line targeted therapy rate remains low in Chinese patients with NSCLC.
CpG‐related SNPs in the MS4A region have a dose‐dependent effect on risk of late–onset Alzheimer disease
Authors: Ma Yiyi , Jun Gyungah R. , Chung Jaeyoon , Zhang Xiaoling , Kunkle Brian W. , Naj Adam C. , White Charles C. , Bennett David A , De Jager Philip L. ,   Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Consortium, Mayeux Richard , Haines Jonathan L. , Pericak‐Vance Margaret A. , Schellenberg Gerard D. , Farrer Lindsay A. , Lunetta Kathryn L.
Published: May 2019

CpG‐related single nucleotide polymorphisms (CGS) have the potential to perturb DNA methylation; however, their effects on Alzheimer disease (AD) risk have not been evaluated systematically. We conducted a genome‐wide association study using a sliding‐window approach to measure the combined effects of CGSes on AD risk in a discovery sample of 24 European ancestry cohorts (12,181 cases, 12,601 controls) from the Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Consortium (ADGC) and replication sample of seven European ancestry cohorts (7,554 cases, 27,382 controls) from the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project (IGAP). The potential functional relevance of significant associations was evaluated by analysis of methylation and expression levels in brain tissue of the Religious Orders Study and the Rush Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP), and in whole blood of Framingham Heart Study participants (FHS). Genome‐wide significant (p < 5 × 10−8) associations were identified with 171 1.0 kb‐length windows spanning 932 kb in the APOE region (top p < 2.2 × 10−308), five windows at BIN1 (top p = 1.3 × 10−13), two windows at MS4A6A (top p = 2.7 × 10−10), two windows near MS4A4A (top p = 6.4 × 10−10), and one window at PICALM (p = 6.3 × 10‐9). The total number of CGS‐derived CpG dinucleotides in the window near MS4A4A was associated with AD risk (p = 2.67 × 10−10), brain DNA methylation (p = 2.15 × 10−10), and gene expression in brain (p = 0.03) and blood (p = 2.53 × 10−4). Pathway analysis of the genes responsive to changes in the methylation quantitative trait locus signal at MS4A4A (cg14750746) showed an enrichment of methyltransferase functions. We confirm the importance of CGS in AD and the potential for creating a functional CpG dosage‐derived genetic score to predict AD risk.
Pragmatic care for an aging compromised dentition
Authors: Allen Finbarr
Published: May 2019

As our population ages, dentists face challenges in maintaining compromised teeth in aging patients. For the most part, elderly patients (i.e., over 65 years of age) prefer to keep their natural teeth and in some cases, avoid removable dentures altogether. Ideally, patients should not be rendered edentate late in life, as they are unlikely to successfully adapt to the limitations of complete replacement dentures. However, this is not always possible and care should ideally be planned to avoid edentulism, or at least, to carefully manage the transition to the edentate state. In the course of planning care, the dentist needs to recognise the need for age appropriate care, factoring in the impact of the elderly patient's health status and social circumstances. For elderly patients with a compromised dentition, the dentist should try to provide care which is minimally invasive and with as low a burden of maintenance as possible. In this paper, principles of pragmatic care for elderly patients with a compromised dentition will be outlined using clinical cases. Three pathways will be outlined: (i) maintenance of a functional natural dentition using adhesive restorative techniques; (ii) use of overlay prostheses and complete replacement overdentures to manage toothwear and toothloss, complete replacement overdentures, and; (iii) staging a transition to the edentate state using transitional removable partial dentures.
“Setting the scene in early childhood” – an MID approach for life
Authors: Tham J , Calache H , Hallett KB
Published: May 2019

This article presents a discussion paper for both consideration and implementation of Minimal Intervention Dentistry (MID) principles by the general dental practitioner. It argues that if these concepts can be adopted in early childhood by both the community and the profession, “Teeth for Life” can become a reality for all. Oral Health promoting behaviours can be nurtured and supported from infancy and developed into everyday living practice for a lifetime thereby maintaining an optimal quality of life. MID techniques have become more refined and supported by scientific research in the recent times and should be considered an essential clinical guideline for the future disease management.
Leptin modulates olfactory discrimination and neural activity in the olfactory bulb
Authors: Sun Changcheng , Tang Keke , Wu Jing , Xu Han , Zhang Wenfeng , Cao Tiantian , Zhou Yang , Yu Tian , Li Anan
Published: May 2019

Aim

Leptin is an important peptide hormone that regulates food intake and plays a crucial role in modulating olfactory function. Although a few previous studies have investigated the effect of leptin on odor perception and discrimination in rodents, research on the neural basis underlying the behavioral changes is lacking. Here we study how leptin affects behavioral performance during a go/no‐go task and how it modulates neural activity of mitral/tufted cells in the olfactory bulb, which plays an important role in odor information processing and representation.

Methods

A go/no‐go odor discrimination task was used in the behavioral test. For in vivo studies, single unit recordings, local field potential recordings and fiber photometry recordings were used. For in vitro studies, we performed patch clamp recordings in the slice of the olfactory bulb.

Results

Behaviorally, leptin affects performance and reaction time in a difficult odor‐discrimination task. Leptin decreases the spontaneous firing of single mitral/tufted cells, decreases the odor‐evoked beta and high gamma local field potential response, and has bidirectional effects on the odor‐evoked responses of single mitral/tufted cells. Leptin also inhibits the population calcium activity in genetically identified mitral/tufted cells and granule cells. Furthermore, in vitro slice recordings reveal that leptin inhibits mitral cell activity through direct modulation of the voltage‐sensitive potassium channel.

Conclusions

The behavioral reduction in odor discrimination observed after leptin administration is likely due to decreased neural activity in mitral/tufted cells, caused by modulation of potassium channels in these cells.
Prediction of significant estimated glomerular filtration rate decline after renal unit removal to aid in the clinical choice between radical and partial nephrectomy in patients with a renal mass and normal renal function
Authors: McIntosh Andrew G. , Parker Daniel C. , Egleston Brian L. , Uzzo Robert G. , Haseebuddin Mohammed , Joshi Shreyas S. , Viterbo Rosalia , Greenberg Richard E. , Chen David Y. T. , Smaldone Marc C. , Kutikov Alexander
Published: May 2019

Objectives

To develop a clinically applicable predictive model to quantitate the risk of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline to ≤45 mL/min/1.73 m2 after radical nephrectomy (RN) to better inform decisions between RN and partial nephrectomy (PN).

Patients and Methods

Our prospectively maintained kidney cancer registry was reviewed for patients with a preoperative eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m2 who underwent RN for a localized renal mass. New baseline renal function was indexed. We used multivariable logistic regression to develop a predictive nomogram and evaluated it using receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Decision‐curve analysis was used to assess the net clinical benefit.

Results

A total of 668 patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 183 (27%) experienced a decline in eGFR to ≤45 mL/min/1.73 m2. On multivariable analysis, increasing age (P = 0.001), female gender (P < 0.001), and increasing preoperative creatinine level (P < 0.001) were associated with functional decline. We constructed a predictive nomogram that included these variables in addition to comorbidities with a known association with kidney disease, but found that a simplified model excluding comorbidities was equally robust (cross‐validated area under the ROC curve was 0.78). Decision‐curve analysis showed the net clinical benefit at probabilities >~11%.

Conclusions

The decision to perform RN vs PN is multifaceted. We have provided a simple quantitative tool to help identify patients at risk of a postoperative eGFR of ≤45 mL/min/1.73 m2, who may be stronger candidates for nephron preservation.
Association of intestinal oxalate‐degrading bacteria with recurrent calcium kidney stone formation and hyperoxaluria: a case–control study
Authors: Tavasoli Sanaz , Alebouyeh Masoud , Naji Mohammad , Shakiba majd Ghazaleh , Shabani Nashtaei Maryam , Broumandnia Nasrin , Basiri Abbas
Published: May 2019

Objectives

To investigate potential oxalate‐degrading bacteria, including Oxalobacter formigenes, Lactobacillus (Lac) and Bifidobacterium (Bif) genera, and Oxalyl‐CoA decarboxylase (oxc) encoding Lac (LX) and Bif (BX) species in participants with recurrent calcium kidney stones, and their correlation with 24‐h urine oxalate.

Participants and Methods

Stool and 24‐h urine samples were collected from 58 patients with urolithiasis (29 cases with and 29 without hyperoxaluria) and 29 healthy controls. Absolute quantitation and relative abundance of the bacteria were measured by real‐time PCR. The relationship between the investigated bacteria and 24‐h urine oxalate were assessed statistically.

Results

The count per gram of stool and relative abundance of O. formigenes, Lac, Bif, LX and BX and the number of participants carrying O. formigenes, LX and BX bacteria were not significantly different between the groups; however, the relative abundance of O. formigenes in the kidney stone group was lower than in healthy controls (P = 0.035). More healthy controls were O. formigenes‐positive compared with participants in the kidney stone group (P = 0.052). The results of the linear regression model, including all study participants, showed that the presence of O. formigenes could decrease 24‐h urine oxalate (β = −8.4, P = 0.047). Neither Lac and Bif genera nor LX and BX species were correlated with calcium stones or urine oxalate.

Conclusion

These results emphasize the role of O. formigenes in kidney stone formation and its role in hyperoxaluria, which may be independent of kidney stone disease. Moreover, our results suggest that, although some Lac and Bif strains have oxalate‐degrading potential, they may not be among the major oxalate‐degrading bacteria of the gut microbiome.
Sediment provenance and routing evolution in the Late Cretaceous–Eocene Ager Basin, south‐central Pyrenees, Spain
Authors: Thomson Kelly D. , Stockli Daniel F. , Odlum Margaret L. , Tolentino Pauline , Puigdefàbregas Cai , Clark Julian , Fildani Andrea
Published: May 2019

This study constrains the sediment provenance for the Late Cretaceous–Eocene strata of the Ager Basin, Spain, and reconstructs the interplay between foreland basin subsidence and sediment routing within the south‐central Pyrenean foreland basin during the early phases of crustal shortening using detrital zircon (DZ) U‐Pb‐He double dating. Here we present and interpret 837 new DZ U‐Pb ages, 113 of which are new DZ (U‐Th)/He double‐dated zircons. U‐Pb‐He double dating results allow for a clear differentiation between different foreland and hinterland sources of Variscan zircons (280–350 Ma) by leveraging the contrasting thermal histories of the Ebro Massif and Pyrenean orogen, recorded by the zircon (U‐Th)/He (ZHe) ages, despite their indistinguishable U‐Pb age signatures. Cretaceous–Paleocene sedimentary rocks, dominated by Variscan DZ U‐Pb age components with Permian–Triassic (200–300 Ma) ZHe cooling ages, were sourced from the Ebro Massif south of the Ager Basin. A provenance shift occurred at the base of the Early Eocene Baronia Formation (ca. 53 Ma) to an eastern Pyrenean source (north‐east of the Ager Basin) as evidenced by an abrupt change in paleocurrents, a change in DZ U‐Pb signatures to age distributions dominated by Cambro‐Silurian (420–520 Ma), Cadomian (520–700 Ma), and Proterozoic–Archean (>700 Ma) age components, and the prominent emergence of Cretaceous–Paleogene (<90 Ma) ZHe cooling ages. The Eocene Corçà Formation (ca. 50 Ma), characterized by the arrival of fully reset ZHe ages with very short lag times, signals the accumulation of sediment derived from the rapidly exhuming Pyrenean thrust sheets. While ZHe ages from the Corçà Formation are fully reset, zircon fission track (ZFT) ages preserve older inherited cooling ages, bracketing the exhumation level within the thrust sheets to ca. 6–8 km in the Early Eocene. These DZ ZHe ages yield exhumation rate estimates of ca. 0.03 km/Myr during the Late Cretaceous–Paleocene for the Ebro Massif and ca. 0.2–0.4 km/Myr during the Eocene for the eastern Pyrenees.
Optimal wound closure techniques for thyroid and parathyroid surgery: A systematic review of cosmetic outcomes
Authors: Lee Kristina , Ward Nicholas , Oremule Babatunde , Mani Navin
Published: May 2019

Objectives

Cosmesis after surgical wound closure is an important outcome. This is relevant after thyroid and parathyroid surgery as anterior neck scars are visible and often of concern to patients. We aimed to investigate whether wound closure method influences cosmetic outcome in thyroid and parathyroid surgery, in particular using sutures, staples, steri‐strips and glue.

Design

We performed a systematic review of MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane focusing on wound cosmesis following thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Searches were conducted using combinations of the search terms: thyroid/parathyroid surgery, wound/skin closure and suture, staples, clips, glue and steri‐strips, using appropriate MESH terms and Boolean operators.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcome was wound cosmesis. Secondary measures were also extracted.

Results

Initial search found 304 papers and after systematic review, a total of 10 studies compared different closure methods and cosmetic outcomes. There were nine randomised controlled trials and one cohort study, with a total of 712 patients. Three studies compared staples vs glue; three compared sutures vs clips; two compared suture vs steri‐strips and two studies for suture vs glue. In general, short‐term cosmesis was better with subcuticular sutures compared to glue or clips, long‐term cosmetic outcomes were not influenced by closure method.

Conclusions

We found closure with subcuticular suture or steri‐strips produced superior short‐term cosmetic outcomes. Although long‐term cosmetic outcome is not influenced by closure method, given the superior cosmetic outcome and advantage of not needing removal, we recommend subcuticular sutures should be performed for wound closure in thyroid and parathyroid surgery.