bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personal sense of power, emotion and compliance in the workplace: a moderated mediation approach
Authors: Laslo-Roth Roni , Schmidt-Barad Tomer
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between personal sense of power (PSP) and compliance as a function of the interaction between negative emotion intensity and emotion regulation tactics.

Design/methodology/approach

First, hypotheses linking PSP to different emotional reactions and to different levels of compliance with two types of conflict management styles were formulated. Subsequently, data were collected in three waves with a five-week interval between them to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Results based on principle component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that workers with high PSP reported lower internalized negative emotions (negative emotions directed to the self) in the workplace and were less inclined to comply with harsh tactics, in comparison to workers with low PSP. The importance of emotional components (suppression and negative emotions in the workplace) was underscored by the moderated mediation model: internalized negative emotions mediated the association between PSP and compliance with harsh tactics as a function of level of suppression such that the link between negative affect and compliance was negative only under high suppression, but not under low suppression.

Research limitations/implications

The findings point to the deleterious influence of high emotional suppression of negative emotions on study behaviors, especially for employees with a low sense of power. Because the data were collected from a single source, which could raise concerns about common method variance and social desirability bias, future study should examine other-reports.

Practical implications

Recruitment and training of employees and managers should aim to create an open and safe organizational environment that encourages emotional expression and lessens emotional suppression.

Social implications

The findings can help develop empowering interventional programs to coach employees to use suppression in an adaptive manner.

Originality/value

The current study sheds new light on the relationships between PSP and compliance from the emotion regulation perspective.
In search of parkrun tourism: destabilising contradictions or progressive conceptual tensions?
Authors: McKendrick John Holland , Bowness James , Tulle Emmanuelle
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to reflect on the nature of “parkrun tourism” and the challenges this presents to the understanding of sports tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

The contradictions and contested terrain of sports tourism is discussed with the reference to three of the most widely used definitions for the field.

Findings

Parkrun tourism is introduced comprising four formats: spanning the domestic and global; the informal and formal; the organic and institutional; and the experience and commercial product.

Research limitations/implications

The particular challenges that parkrun tourism presents to existing understandings of sports tourism is considered. The conclusion discusses the prospect of future research, both empirical and theoretical, on parkrun tourism.

Practical implications

The authors outline a range of ways in which parkrun tourism affords opportunity for further inquiry for parkrun scholarship and sports tourism.

Originality/value

A new specification for sports tourism is proposed that accommodates parkrun tourism.
Renegotiating organisational crisis management in urban tourism: strategic imperatives of niche construction
Authors: Faisal Abrar , Albrecht Julia N. , Coetzee Willem J.L.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to respond to the strong calls for interdisciplinary solutions to address the many and varied challenges that major disasters create in urban (tourism) spaces, and provide a holistic conceptualisation of organisational responses to disruptions in the external business environment. It argues that organisations need to actively (re)formulate a sustainable business proposition to passively adapt to environmental conditions and modify the selective environment.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative approach to introducing and examining the concepts and theoretical constructs underpinning the proposed conceptual schemata. The content-driven inductive approach used here is based on an extensive review of the disaster recovery, crisis management, entrepreneurial strategy and urban tourism literature with a focus on organisational perspectives. It systematically brings together the theories and research findings from these separate strands of literature.

Findings

While the extant literature focuses on the importance of effective adaptability to survive and thrive in environmental uncertainties, some aspects of the relevant evolutionary processes are not addressed in the context of urban tourism. Indeed, a systematic approach that questions how urban tourism and hospitality businesses react to crises has been long overdue. This paper, therefore, introduces niche construction theory (NCT) as an alternative and proposes an integrated framework to understand the environmental conditions of urban tourism and organisational evolution during post-disaster turbulence.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed model emerging from a multidisciplinary literature review acknowledges boundary conditions in the tourism industry-specific interpretation of a crisis situation. The tenets of NCT need to be adopted flexibly rather than as part of a strictly prescriptive process to allow for all aspects of the related business responses to play out and become exposed to the emerging selection pressures.

Practical implications

The argument underpinned by the theoretical constructs of niche construction encourages and offers a framework for practitioners to actively (re)formulate business proposition and (re)construct organisational niche to survive post-disaster turbulence in the business environment and exert influence over their own evolution.

Originality/value

This paper offers different angles, filters and lenses for constructing and interpreting knowledge of organisational evolution in the context of crisis management. The conceptual schema (Figure 2) emerged as a novel contribution itself providing a necessary lens to interpret the empirical data and understand the complexities of the organisational responses to the disruptive post-disaster turbulence in an urban tourism business environment.
Testing for a common Phillips curve in common monetary area of Southern Africa
Authors: Damane Moeti , Sifat Imtiaz
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper sets out to investigate whether the four members of the common monetary area (CMA) regime experience similar inflation-unemployment dynamics as explained by the Phillips Curve phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a combination of seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) and Copula based marginal regression techniques to investigate existence of a common Phillips curve (PC) between members of the CMA. Model estimation was done using country specific annual time series data for inflation, unemployment and imports spanning from 1980 to 2014.

Findings

We find evidence of contemporaneous correlation between the residuals of individual CMA PC equations and a statistically significant trade-off between inflation and unemployment for all CMA countries. Wald test results of cross-equation restrictions reveal a 9.94% chance of a common unemployment coefficient for CMA countries.

Originality/value

Together, the results of the SUR and Gaussian Copula techniques provide mixed and inconclusive evidence to support the existence of a common PC among CMA member states. This study is the first of its kind in examining this phenomenon for currency board regimes like CMA, and one of the very few among emerging market economies.
Transnational regulatory networks: a study in compliance and legitimacy in counter-terrorist financing
Authors: Goldbarsht Doron , Harris Hannah
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the case of counter-terrorist financing (CTF) within the transnational regulatory network (TRN) of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The paper demonstrates how the structure and operation of the FATF reflect those of a TRN and shows how the FATF has been successful in securing formal compliance with CTF policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper stresses that formal compliance does not guarantee actual compliance or effective enforcement. It is argued that the FATF and the CTF regime must balance concerns for legitimacy with those of flexibility and efficiency. Traditionally, TRNs have focused on flexibility, efficiency and informal cooperation over legitimacy. This paper demonstrates that legitimacy concerns cannot be ignored.

Findings

A lack of legitimacy may ultimately result in non-compliance and ineffectiveness. On this basis, current efforts to build legitimacy through the FATF are noted but deemed insufficient. If this balance is not struck, the FATF may be doomed to failure through an overreliance on coercive methods. Particularly in the case of CTF, coercion is insufficient for meaningful compliance. Global enforcement by diverse states is a necessary condition for the success of the regime.

Originality/value

This paper will fill the gaps existing in the literature by examining CTF, as well as the FATF as an example of TRN. This approach differs from other literature in the field, which deals solely with the effectiveness of the FATF and the global CTF without considering the effect of legitimacy on compliance.
Differences in personality and the sharing of managerial tacit knowledge: an empirical analysis of public sector managers in Malaysia
Authors: Abdul Manaf Halimah , Harvey William S. , Armstrong Steven J. , Lawton Alan
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to identify differences in knowledge-sharing mechanisms and personality among expert, typical and novice managers within the Malaysian public sector. Strengthening knowledge sharing function is essential for enabling public institutions around the world to be more productive.

Design/methodology/approach

This quantitative study involves 308 employees from management and professional groups within 98 local authorities in the Malaysian local government. Stratified random sampling techniques were used and the sampling frame comprised 1,000 staff using postal surveys. Data analyses were carried out using analysis of variance and correlations to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The findings reveal that expert managers are more proactive in sharing their knowledge, particularly those with the personality traits of conscientiousness and openness. These two personality traits were also related to expert behaviours such as thoroughness, responsibility and persistence, which led to work competency and managerial success.

Originality/value

This study provides theoretical insights into how managerial tacit knowledge differs and can accumulate, depending on the personality traits of middle managers. The paper shows the different mechanisms of knowledge sharing, tacit knowledge and personality among expert, typical and novice managers. Practically, this study is important for guiding senior managers in their attempts to identify the most appropriate personalities of their middle managers. This study found that the expert group was higher in conscientiousness, openness and overall personality traits compared with the typical and novice groups. The paper also highlights the value of sharing managerial tacit knowledge effectively.
Exploring development of smart city research through perspectives of governance and information systems: a scientometric analysis using CiteSpace
Authors: Zhou Shuling , Zhang Xi , Liu Juan , Zhang Kaihua , Zhao Yuqing
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Smart cities show a “booming” trend both in the academia and the industry in recent years. Scholars across the world have been investigating how new technologies are applied to develop new services to the inhabitants and cities all over the world also address the “smart cities” challenges by promoting policymaking and governance. This paper aims to conduct in-depth research on smart cities by combining the study of governance policy study and information technology study.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper empirically mapped the trends of smart city development, outstanding scholars and hot topics about smart cities by analyzing important references using CiteSpace. The authors visualized references and topics to analyze smart city research, based on empirical data from Web of Science. Furthermore, two most important research branches – topics from smart city governance research and those from information systems (IS) research were studied, respectively.

Findings

First, the authors mapped the development of research and divided the development into three different stages. Second, the authors explored important, influential and instructive publications and publications’ attributes including authors, institutions, journals and topics. Third, the authors found there are different characteristics between the IS group and the governance group in publication situations, influential institutions, journals and authors, although the research points of the two branches are overlapping and fragmented. Finally, the authors proposed important topics, which include “internet of things (IoT)”, “big data”, “smart city systems” and “smart city management” and the authors predicted that “IoT” and “smart city challenge” would be future trends in recent years.

Originality/value

This study is an innovative research of its category because it visualized the development of smart city research, analyzed both governance and technology branches of smart city research synthetically using CiteSpace and forecasted future trends of smart city research by topics analysis and visualization of evolution.
Applied bibliometrics and information visualization for decision-making processes in higher education institutions
Authors: Vílchez-Román Carlos , Sanguinetti Sol , Mauricio-Salas Mariela
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse how using bibliometrics and information visualization can provide a “picture at glance” from which decision-makers can structure processes, thus organizing outputs/outcomes from inception.

Design/methodology/approach

This study carried out a bibliometric-oriented review on studies on higher education students' retention; 1,962 records were downloaded from Scopus and grouped into three five-year intervals: 2002–2006 (n = 236), 2007–2011 (n = 584) and 2012–2016 (n = 1,142). Centrality measures and text-mining techniques were used to analyse data.

Findings

Clusters of academic networks were identified by using co-citation analysis. Also, terms with high semantic value were ranked and grouped by using automatic term extraction and co-word analysis.

Practical implications

The bibliometric approach used in this study identifies clusters of authors specialized in student retention, as well as detects the primary terms within this research field.

Originality/value

This paper provides evidence that a bibliometric approach in conjunction with data visualization can be a valuable complement to in-depth literature reviews for the decision-making process.
Repackaging LIS professionals and libraries for the fourth industrial revolution
Authors: Tella Adeyinka
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the need for African Library Schools to repackage their curriculum to be able to produce graduates that will match up with jobs demand in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) era. The discussion argued for the review of African Library Schools, identified the technologies that drive the 4IRs which LIS graduates will be working with, if employed, and relevant skills needed for functionality in the era.

Design/methodology/approach

This viewpoint adopts discussion method with reference to some review of literature to argue the pints.

Findings

This viewpoint finds out that to be relevant in the 4IR, LIS graduate will have to possess the required skills relevant to function in the 4IR. The skills identified among other are information curation, in-depth research, digital scanning, preservation, cloud data expansion, collaboration, teaching and facilitation, analytical thinking and innovation, active learning and learning strategies.

Originality/value

This paper is an original idea from the author and has been published or submitted to any platform. This paper is original because it has been able to emphasise that African LIS schools should work closely with the employer to make sure their courses and curriculum are designed in such a way to teach employability skills. Moreover, this paper is important, as it made it clear that there is need to ensure removal of barriers to implementing better assessment and training and providing much-needed funding and resources to support the efforts. LIS graduates or those in training should also work to develop in-demand skills and learn to use tools that reveal their capabilities to their potential employers.
Consumer Electronics Show 2020, Las Vegas, conference report, Part 1
Authors: Kesselman Martin A. , Esquivel Wilson
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present Consumer Electronics Show Review – Part 1 of 2 papers.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a conference report.

Findings

Conference topics of interest to libraries were found.

Originality/value

This manuscript is totally original. One photo is included that CES gives permission to use in publication with attribution (photo of Ivanka Trump).
Selective laser sintered nano-HA/PDLLA composite microspheres for bone scaffolds applications
Authors: Lin Kesheng , Liu Jie , Wu Jia-Min , Sun Yunlong , Li Feng , Zhou Yan , Shi Yusheng
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The main cause of aseptic inflammation after an in vivo implantation is that Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and Poly(D-lactide) have a slower degradation and absorption rate, while Poly(D, L-lactide) (PDLLA) has a much faster degradation rate than PLLA because of its amorphous structure. Also, the hydrolyzate of Hydroxyapatite (HA) is alkaline, which can neutralize local tissue peracid caused by hydrolysis of Polylactic acid.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the selective laser sintering (SLS) technique was chosen to prepare bone scaffolds using nano-HA/PDLLA composite microspheres, which were prepared by the solid-in-oil-in-water (S/O/W) method. First, the SLS parameters range of bulk was determined by the result of a single-layer experiment and the optimized parameters were then obtained by the orthogonal experiment. The tensile property, hydrophobicity, biocompatibility, biological toxicity and in vitro degradation of the samples with optimized SLS parameters were characterized.

Findings

As a result, the samples showed a lower tensile strength because of the many holes in their interior, which was conducive to better cell adhesion and nutrient transport. In addition, the samples retained their inherent properties after SLS and the hydrophobicity was improved after adding nano-HA because of the OH group. Furthermore, the samples showed good biocompatibility with the large number of cells adhering to the material through pseudopods and there was no significant difference between the pure PDLLA and 10% HA/PDLLA in terms of biological toxicity. Finally, the degradation rate of the composites could be tailored by the amount of nano-HA.

Originality/value

This study combined the S/O/W and SLS technique and provides a theoretical future basis for the preparation of drug-loaded microsphere scaffolds through SLS using HA/PDLLA composites.
Leading from below? Decisions, responsibility and creativity as a group dynamic
Authors: Hinshelwood Robert Douglas
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to bring back into view some of the original ideas from which the Therapeutic Community (TC) developed today. If we forget the origins of therapeutic communities way back in the past, we cannot be in the best position to make decisions for the present. The underlying principles of the TC are a combination of social science ideas, psychotherapeutic practices and a political urgency to do something for disadvantaged people. There is a need to try to keep all branches of the past roots in play together.

Design/methodology/approach

Learning from the past.

Findings

The past has a relevance that must not be forgotten in present reflection.

Originality/value

This is a reflective exercise at the heart of the therapeutic community practice.
Predictors for the adoption of e-democracy: an empirical evaluation based on a citizen-centric approach
Authors: Hujran Omar , Abu-Shanab Emad , Aljaafreh Ali
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the factors influencing the intention to use e-democracy. The literature depicted conflicting results regarding such domain and especially in the Middle East, where the authors aim at establishing a solid view of the discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model was developed based on the theory of planned behavior, technology acceptance model and unified theory for acceptance and use of technology-2. The model hypothesized that perceived public value (PPV), ease of use and enjoyment are major antecedents of attitudes, and subjective norms (SNs), perceived behavioral control (PBC) and attitudes are significant predictors of behavioral intentions. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used. A questionnaire was used to explore Jordanian citizens’ perceptions regarding the research model constructs. A sample of 302 Jordanian citizens filled the surveys based on their awareness of e-democracy concepts and their willingness to participate in the study. This study uses the structural equation modeling approach with partial least square as an analysis method.

Findings

Findings indicated that PPV, perceived ease of use and enjoyment jointly determine the attitudes of citizens toward e-democracy. Results also suggest that attitudes, PBC and SNs have a significant effect on citizen’s intention to use e-democracy. Finally, this research supported the role of enjoyment as the most significant determinant of citizen’s attitude toward using e-democracy.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited by its small sample size and newly developed Arabic instrument. Still, results imply that more research is needed to replicate and validate the instrument and support the role of the selected research constructs. Public institutions are required to make e-democracy applications enjoyable and easy to use. They also need to demonstrate its value to the public.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the few studies to explore e-democracy and the first to conduct an empirical study (survey-based) in Jordan. The foundation of the study depended on three robust theories in the technology adoption theories.
Knowledge cannibalism in the European ICT sector
Authors: Kiisk Valeria , Rungi Mait
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Based on the sample of the European information and communications technology (ICT) companies, this paper aims to identify which strategy of knowledge generation is most beneficial for companies: internal knowledge development or absorption of knowledge external to the company through corporate acquisition or merger.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a longitudinal analysis of European ICT companies was conducted, contrasting internal knowledge creation, in the form of patent accumulation and research and development (R&D) efforts, with external learning through merger-and-acquisition (M&A) activities to uncover the best strategies for performance maximization.

Findings

Results suggest that the two knowledge generation strategies are not complementary and demonstrate only marginal impact on organizational performance. However, intriguing patterns in combining the two became apparent. It was found that patent accumulation improves learning achieved through M&A activities, while also acting as a protection against corporate takeover. At the same time, the internal knowledge generation strategy was found to have a negative impact on financial performance, with external knowledge generation demonstrating somewhat mixed results.

Practical implications

This paper provides practical insights into the patterns of internal and external knowledge generation activities. The two strategies were found not to be complementary, implying that companies must carefully choose their preferences.

Originality/value

This large-scale study tackles the interplay between internal and external knowledge generation strategies, which are mostly studied separately. It reveals new patterns in corporate acquisition and divestment strategies as sources of new knowledge. It also ties the knowledge paradigm to organizational performance.
Viewing learning organizations through an ethical lens: interview with Robin Snell
Authors: Hong Jacky
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the ethical foundations and principles underpinning the learning organization (LO) concept.

Design/methodology/approach

By interviewing one thought leader in the field, Professor Robin Snell, this paper traces how his early days in academia shaped the development of an ethics-driven research agenda on LO.

Findings

An ethical perspective advocates the importance of establishing a covenant or constitutional foundation of rights that would enable and empower organizational members at all levels to enact the processes of LOs, thus signifying the importance of employee development and a more sustainable approach for developing LO.

Originality/value

A personal reflection of Robin Snell on his own academic career development and research trajectory offers some insights into how an ethical perspective of LO evolved and flourished as a field of study.
Hydrogeochemistry of River Water in the Upper Reaches of the Datong River Basin, China: Implications of Anthropogenic Inputs and Chemical Weathering
Authors: WANG Zhenxing , LI Xiangquan , HOU Xinwei
Published: June 2020

This research investigated anthropogenic inputs and chemical weathering in the upper reaches of the Datong River Basin, a tributary of the upper Yellow River, NW China. Multiple approaches were applied to data from 52 water and 12 soil samples from the Muli, Jiangcang, and Mole basins to estimate the chemical component concentrations and to analyze hydrochemical characteristics, distribution patterns, and origins in this coal mining‐affected river basin. Coal mining has enhanced the weathering of the lithosphere in the study region. The total dissolved solids in the river range from 145.4 to 701.9 mg/L, which is higher than the global average for rivers. Ion concentration spatial distributions increase around mining areas. River geochemistry is mainly controlled by coal mining activity, carbonate weathering, and silicate weathering, with variances of 33.4%, 26.2%, and 21.3%, respectively. Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3− are mainly due to the dissolution of carbonate minerals (calcite > dolomite); Si and K+ are mainly from potassium (sodium) feldspar weathering; and Na+ and SO42‐ mainly from coal mine production. A conceptual model of the river water ion origins from the study area is presented and management implications for improving the adverse effects of coal mining are proposed. These results provide an important standard reference for water resource and environmental management in the study region.
A 602‐year Reconstruction of July‐June Streamflow in the Kuqa River, China, Reveals the Changing Hydrological Signals of the Tarim Basin
Authors: SHANG Huaming , CHEN Feng , WEI Wenshou , MAO Weiyi , ZHANG Ruibo , ZHANG Tongwen , YU Shulong
Published: June 2020

A regional tree‐ring width chronology of Schrenk spruce(Picea schrenkiana)was used to determine the annual (previous July to current June) streamflow of the Kuqa River in Xinjiang, China, for the period of 1414–2015. A linear transformation of the tree‐ring data accounted for 63.9% of the total variance when regressed against instrumental streamflow during 1957–2006. The model was validated by comparing the regression estimates against independent data. High streamflow periods with a streamflow above the 602‐year mean occurred from 1430–1442, 1466–1492, 1557–1586, 1603–1615, 1687–1717, 1748–1767, 1795–1819, 1834–1856, 1888–1910 and 1989–2015. Low streamflow periods (streamflow below the mean) occurred from 1419–1429, 1443–1465, 1493–1556, 1587–1602, 1616–1686, 1720–1747, 1768–1794, 1820–1833, 1857–1887 and 1911–1988. The reconstruction compares well with the tree‐ring‐based streamflow series of the Tizinafu River from the Kunlun Mountains; both show well‐known severe drought events. The streamflow reconstruction also shows highly synchronous upward trends since the 1980s, suggesting that streamflow is related to Central Asian warming and humidification. Thus, the influences of the extremes and the persistence of low streamflows on local society may be considerable. Climatic changes in the watershed may be responsible for the change in the hydrologic regime of the Tarim Basin observed during the late twentieth century.
Reserve size, dispersal and population viability in wide ranging carnivores: the case of jaguars in Emas National Park, Brazil
Authors: Finnegan S. P. , Galvez‐Bravo L. , Silveira L. , Tôrres N. M. , Jácomo A. T. A , Alves G. B. , Dalerum F.
Published: June 2020

Protected areas may be important refuges for large carnivores, but many are not large enough to sustain viable populations. Without sufficient dispersal between protected areas, large carnivore populations inside them are at risk of becoming genetically isolated and demographically vulnerable. In this study, we use the jaguar population in and around Emas National Park in the Brazilian Cerrado as a case study to evaluate the demographic sustainability of a large carnivore population within a small and potentially isolated protected area. We used camera trapping data and spatially explicit capture‐recapture models to estimate density and corresponding population size of jaguars in Emas National Park. We then used a matrix‐based age and sex structured stochastic population model to evaluate the demographic viability of jaguar populations across a range of population sizes, including those estimated for Emas. We detected 10 individual jaguars during our survey with a total of 74 detections. Our density estimation became unbiased using a buffer width of 30 km and produced a density of 0.17 jaguars per 100 km2. The estimated population sizes of 10–60 animals suffered extinction risks of 70–90% without net immigration. However, only a low number of immigrants were required to suppress extinction risk towards zero. Our density estimate for jaguars was lower than in previous studies, and our simulations suggested that this population may have a substantial extinction risk. Ensuring dispersal and connectivity outside of protected areas, through the implementation of habitat corridors, can greatly reduce this extinction risk, and we suggest that this scenario is potentially applicable to many other large carnivore populations.
Opportunistic use of radiological measures of visceral adiposity for assessment of risk of colorectal adenoma
Authors: Ng Zi Qin , Wijesuriya Ruwan , Misur Philip , Tan Jih Huei , Moe Kyaw Soe , Theophilus Mary
Published: June 2020

Background

Recent evidence suggested that radiological measures of visceral adiposity are a better tool for risk assessment of colorectal adenomas. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of visceral adiposity with the development of colorectal adenomas.

Methods

A retrospective review of all cases of computed tomography‐confirmed acute diverticulitis from November 2015 to April 2018 was performed. Data collated included basic demographics, computed tomography scan results (uncomplicated versus complicated diverticulitis), treatment modality (conservative versus intervention), outcomes and follow‐up colonoscopy results within 12 months of presentation. The patients were divided into no adenoma (A) and adenoma (B) groups. Visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and VFA/SFA ratio (V/S) were measured at L4/L5 level. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluation the association of VFA, SFA, V/S and different thresholds with the risk of adenoma formation.

Results

A total of 169 patients were included in this study (A:B = 123:46). The mean ± standard deviation for VFA was higher in group B (201 ± 87 cm2 versus 176 ± 79 cm2) with a trend towards statistical significance (P = 0.08). There was no difference in SFA and V/S in both groups. When the VFA >200 cm2 was analysed, it was associated with a threefold risk of adenoma formation (odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.35–5.50, P = 0.006). Subgroup analysis of gender with VFA, SFA and V/S found that males have a significantly higher VFA in group B (220.0 ± 95.2 cm2 versus 187.3 ± 69.2 cm2; P = 0.05).

Conclusions

The radiological measurement of visceral adiposity is a useful tool for opportunistic assessment of risk of colorectal adenoma.
Evolution of neuronal and glial tau isoforms in chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Authors: Cherry Jonathan D. , Kim Soong Ho , Stein Thor D. , Pothast Morgan J. , Nicks Raymond , Meng Gaoyuan , Huber Bertrand R. , Mez Jesse , Alosco Michael L. , Tripodis Yorghos , Farrell Kurt , Alvarez Victor E. , McKee Ann C. , Crary John F.
Published: June 2020

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative tauopathy characterized by accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau (p‐tau) in perivascular aggregates in neurons and glia at the depths of neocortical sulci and progresses to diffuse neocortical, allocortical and brainstem structures. The strongest risk factor is exposure to repetitive head impacts acquired most commonly through contact sports and military service. Given that CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death, a better understanding of the cellular and molecular changes in CTE brains may lead to identification of mechanisms that could be used for novel biomarkers, monitoring progression or therapeutic development. Disruption of alternative pre‐mRNA splicing of tau mRNA plays a pathogenic role in tauopathy, with multiple characteristic patterns of isoform accumulation varying among tauopathies. Limited data are available on CTE, particularly at early stages. Using biochemical and histological approaches, we performed a detailed characterization of tau isoform signatures in post‐mortem human brain tissue from individuals with a range of CTE stages (n = 99). In immunoblot analyses, severity was associated with decreased total monomeric tau and increased total oligomeric tau. Immunoblot with isoform‐specific antisera revealed that oligomeric tau with three and four microtubule binding domain repeats (3R and 4R) also increased with CTE severity. Similarly, immunohistochemical studies revealed p‐tau accumulation consisting of both 3R and 4R in perivascular lesions. When the ratio of 4R:3R was analyzed, there was mixed expression throughout CTE stages, although 4R predominated in early CTE stages (I‐II), a 3R shift was observed in later stages (III‐IV). While neurons were found to contain both 3R and 4R, astrocytes only contained 4R. These 4R‐positive cells were exclusively neuronal at early stages. Overall, these findings demonstrate that CTE is a mixed 4R/3R tauopathy. Furthermore, histologic analysis reveals a progressive shift in tau isoforms that correlates with CTE stage and extent of neuronal pathology.
An empirical model in intrusion detection systems using principal component analysis and deep learning models
Authors: Rajadurai Hariharan , Gandhi Usha Devi
Published: June 2020

Data are a main resource of a computer system, which can be transmitted over network from source to destination. While transmitting, it faces lot of security issues such as virus, malware, infection, error, and data loss. The security issues are the attacks that have to be detected and eliminated in efficient way to guarantee the secure transmission. The attack detection rates of existing Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are low, because the number of unknown attacks are high when compared to the known attacks in the network. Thus, recent researchers focus more on evaluation of known attacks attributes, that will help in identification of the attacks. But the difficulty here is the nature of the IDS datasets. The difficulty in any IDS dataset is to, too many attributes, irrelevant and unstructured in nature. So analyzing such attributes leads to a time consuming process and that produces an inefficient result. This article presents a combined approach Principle Component Analysis and Deep learning (PCA‐DL) model to address above issues. The proposed PCA‐DL method has achieved the accuracy 92.6% on detecting the attacks correctly.
Prevalence of primary aldosteronism in hypertensive kidney transplant recipients: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Garg Neetika , Votruba Cassandra D. , Aziz Fahad , Parajuli Sandesh , Mohamed Maha , Djamali Arjang , Mandelbrot Didier A.
Published: June 2020

Due to high prevalence of primary aldosteronism (PA) in the general hypertensive population, and its association with worse cardiovascular and renal outcomes, the 2016 Endocrine Society Guidelines explicitly recognize PA as a major public health issue requiring urgent attention. Its prevalence in hypertensive kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is unknown. In this cross‐sectional study, we screened KTRs with hypertension who were on ≥4 antihypertensive medications, on 3 antihypertensive medications with BP ≥ 140/90, and on potassium supplements, or were hypokalemic. 172 of 280 eligible patients successfully completed the testing. A positive screen for PA defined by an aldosterone‐to‐renin ratio of ≥20 and a plasma aldosterone concentration of >15 ng/dL yielded a prevalence of 15.7%. Potassium supplement requirement (52% vs 27%, P = .01) and hypokalemia (25.9% vs 4.8%, P < .01) were more common in patients who screened positive compared with those who screened negative. 67% of patients who screened positive were on potassium supplements and/or were hypokalemic. Our study is the first to systematically explore the prevalence of PA among the hypertensive KTR population, which has inherently high cardiovascular risk. Further studies are needed to determine the cardiovascular and renal risk attributable to PA, and define optimal therapy for KTRs with PA.
Can Time–Space Compression Promote Urban Economic Growth? Evidence from China's High‐speed Rail Projects
Authors: Yao Shujie , Fang Jing , He Hongbo
Published: June 2020

This paper studies the effect of high‐speed rail (HSR) on urban economic growth using a panel data comprising 285 Chinese cities in 2007–2017. Combining the endogenous growth model with a difference‐in‐difference analysis, we extend the horse‐mass theory to explain how China may use HSR to avoid the so‐called middle‐income trap. The paper also examines the efficient boundaries of HSR and simultaneously studies HSR time–space compression as well as the city neighboring effects on economic growth. It is found that HSR's efficient boundaries are within the range of 200–1,200 km for provincial capitals and 50–300 km for prefecture‐level cities. HSR stimulates economic growth by approximately 0.6 percent, and the neighboring effect accounts for one‐quarter of economic growth. Three policy implications are drawn: (i) China needs to further reduce the travel times between the inland provincial cities and Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou; (ii) China should build a denser HSR network to maximize its economic impact on the vast majority of cities; (iii) China needs to develop some powerful economic growth centers in the inland areas to lead the development of their neighboring cities.
Remote Sensing, Land Quotas and Mass Relocation: China's Governance of Farmland
Authors: Du Yue
Published: June 2020

There is increasing interest in understanding China's environmental governance through the lens of governmentality. This article contributes to that discussion by using the Foucauldian analytical apparatuses of discipline and security to understand China's governance of farmland. It argues that the Chinese state applies these two apparatuses simultaneously: on the one hand, it disciplines and deters local states from illegal land grabs by utilizing surveillance tools such as remote sensing and national land surveys; on the other hand, it relies on indirect governance through the land quota market to achieve grain security, transforming both local states and peasants into autonomous market players, and reconstructing China's rural landscape by launching mass peasant relocation programmes. The study also reveals the contingent effects of those power tactics: the state's governance is compromised by the local states’ counter‐conduct, such as data fabrication and concealment, and by the peasants’ denial of their new subjectivity as market players. When the tactics are effective, as in the case of local states actively assuming roles of land quota producers and traders, the villages and peasant households suffer from deprivation of land rights.
Substance use in youth at‐risk for serious mental illness
Authors: Farris Megan S. , Shakeel Mohammed K. , MacQueen Glenda , Goldstein Benjamin I. , Wang JianLi , Kennedy Sidney H. , Bray Signe , Lebel Catherine , Addington Jean
Published: June 2020

Aim

The aim of this paper is to describe the substance use of participants who are at‐risk for serious mental illness (SMI).

Method

The Canadian Psychiatric Risk and Outcome study (PROCAN) is a two‐site study of 243 youth and young adults aged 13 to 25 years, categorized into four groups: healthy controls (n = 42), stage 0 (asymptomatic individuals with risk of SMI typically family high risk; n = 41), stage 1a (distress disorder or mild symptoms of anxiety or depression; n = 53) and stage 1b (attenuated syndromes, including bipolar disorder or psychosis; n = 107). Substance use measures were administered at baseline, 6‐ and 12‐months.

Results

At baseline, the most commonly reported substance used in the past month was alcohol (43.6%), followed by cannabis (14.4%) and tobacco (12.4%). There were no significant group differences in use. 42.4% of all participants reported ever using cannabis in their lifetime, whereas 21.4% reported currently using cannabis. There were no group differences in ever having used cannabis. Regarding lifetime substance abuse disorders, cannabis use disorder (5.7%) and alcohol use disorder (4.5%) were the most common and more often reported in stage 1b participants relative to other groups. Furthermore, alcohol, cannabis and tobacco use remained relatively consistent at 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐ups when compared to baseline use.

Conclusion

Alcohol was the most commonly used substance followed by cannabis and tobacco. Although substance use did not differ between those at different stages of risk, overall prevention strategies are still warranted for youth at‐risk for SMI, especially those who are more symptomatic and potentially at greater risk of developing an SMI.
Mass‐balance approach to quantify water distribution in soils based on X‐ray computed tomography images
Authors: Guber Andrey , Kutlu Turgut , Rivers Mark , Kravchenko Alexandra
Published: June 2020

X‐ray computed tomography (CT) is commonly used in soil science to quantify distributions of pores, water and solids within soil samples. Particularly promising for liquid visualization is dual‐energy scanning of samples with added dopant solutions. The approach uses solutions of heavy elements as a proxy for the soil water and utilizes the abrupt increase of the mass attenuation coefficient of heavy elements when crossing an X‐ray absorption edge, detectable by dual‐energy CT scanning. However, a key step in visualization of the added liquid is image segmentation. In partially saturated soils, the X‐ray CT images consist of voxels with the presence of solid, liquid and gaseous phases in different ratios. These ratios are generally ignored by the traditional image segmentation methods, which separate image voxels into groups with either zero or complete saturation by either prevailing phase. The objective of this study was to develop and test a new physically based segmentation approach that accounts for partial saturation of image voxels by liquids. We combined a theoretical equation for detected photon intensity with the mass conservation equation to compute saturation of image voxels by dopant solution applied to the soil. This approach was tested on soil micro‐columns with potassium iodide (KI) solutions. The proposed approach outperformed the traditional segmentation methods, particularly at low and intermediate water contents. Tests conducted for KI solutions in the concentration ranges from 2 to 20% revealed deterioration of the method accuracy with decreasing dopant concentration in the soil. Based on the results of this study we recommend 10 wt% KI solution for quantifying spatial distribution of liquids in soils using dual‐energy X‐ray microtomography.

Highlights

We developed a new approach to quantify soil water distribution based on X‐ray CT.

This approach accounts for partial saturation of image voxels by liquids.

This approach outperforms the standard image segmentation methods.

Its application is limited to using dual energy monochromatic X‐ray beams.
A systematic review of neurological manifestations of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection: the devil is hidden in the details
Authors: Romoli M. , Jelcic I. , Bernard‐Valnet R. , García Azorín D. , Mancinelli L. , Akhvlediani T. , Monaco S. , Taba P. , Sellner J. ,   for the Infectious Disease Panel of the European Academy of Neurology
Published: June 2020

Background and purpose

We systematically reviewed available evidence for reports of neurological signs and symptoms in patients with COVID‐19 to identify cases with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV)‐2 infection or immune‐mediated reaction in the nervous system.

Methods

We followed PRISMA guidelines and used the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, MedRxiv and ChinaXiv databases to search for articles on COVID‐19 and nervous system involvement that were published from 1 January to 24 April 2020. Data on design, sample size, neurological assessment and related work‐up were extracted. Biases were assessed with the Newcastle–Ottawa scale.

Results

We analysed 27 publications on potential neuroinvasive or parainfectious neurological complications of COVID‐19. The reports focused on smell and taste (n = 5) and evaluation of neurological symptoms and signs in cohorts (n = 5). There were cases of Guillain‐Barré syndrome/Miller‐Fisher syndrome/cranial neuropathy (seven cases), meningitis/encephalitis (nine cases) and various other conditions (five cases). The number of patients with examination of cerebrospinal fluid and, in particular, SARS‐CoV‐2 polymerase chain reaction was negligible. Two had a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 polymerase chain reaction examination of cerebrospinal fluid specimen. Study of potential parenchymal involvement with magnetic resonance imaging was rare. Only four reports received a rating of the highest quality standards.

Conclusions

This systematic review failed to establish comprehensive insights into nervous system manifestations of COVID‐19 beyond immune‐mediated complications in the aftermath of respiratory symptoms. The authors therefore provide guidance for more careful clinical, diagnostic and epidemiological studies to characterize the manifestations and burden of neurological disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 on behalf of the Infectious Disease Panel of the European Academy of Neurology.