bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the effect of insecticide-treated cattle on tsetse abundance and trypanosome transmission at the wildlife-livestock interface in Serengeti, Tanzania
Authors: Lord Jennifer Suzanne , Lea Rachel Sarah , Allan Fiona , Byamungu Mechtilda , Hall David , Lingley Jessica , Mramba Furaha , Paxton Edith , Vale Glyn , Hargrove John , Morrison Liam , Torr Stephen , Auty Harriet
Published: April 2020

In the absence of national control programmes against Rhodesian human African trypanosomiasis, farmer-led treatment of cattle with pyrethroid-based insecticides may be an effective strategy for foci at the edges of wildlife areas, but there is limited evidence to support this. We combined data on insecticide use by farmers, tsetse abundance and trypanosome prevalence with mathematical models to quantify the likely impact of insecticide-treated cattle. Sixteen percent of farmers reported treating cattle with a pyrethroid, and chemical analysis indicated 18% of individual cattle had been treated, in the previous week. Treatment of cattle was estimated to increase daily mortality of tsetse by 5 – 14%. Trypanosome prevalence in tsetse, predominantly from wildlife areas, was 1.25% for T. brucei s.l . and 0.03% for T. b. rhodesiense . For 750 cattle sampled from 48 herds, 2.3% were PCR positive for T. brucei s.l. and none for T. b. rhodesiense . Using mathematical models, we estimated there was 8 – 29% increase in mortality of tsetse in farming areas and this increase can explain the relatively low prevalence of T. brucei s.l. in cattle. Farmer-led treatment of cattle with pyrethroids is likely, in part, to be limiting the spill-over of human-infective trypanosomes from wildlife areas.
Gait analysis of healthy rhesus monkeys using a pressure-sensing walkway system
Authors: Won Jinyoung , Kim Keonwoo , Yeo Hyeon-Gu , Park Junghyung , Seo Jincheol , Kim Yu Gyeong , Park Sung-Hyun , Choi Won Seok , Jeon Chang-Yeop , Lim Kyung Seob , Huh Jae-Won , Kim Young-Hyun , Jeong Jinwoo , Choi Ji-Woong , Lee Youngjeon
Published: April 2020

Gait analysis in non-human primate models has been performed to elucidate the neural systems involved in controlling quadrupedal locomotor behavior. This study aimed to use a pressure-sensing walkway to identify characteristics of species-specific quadrupedal locomotion in rhesus monkeys. A total of nine healthy adult female rhesus monkeys(Macaca mulatta)were used for gait analysis. We measured the temporo-spatial and kinetic parameters of quadrupedal gait using a custom-built pressure-sensing walkway and compared the left- and right-side parameters to assess the symmetry of the gait pattern. All temporo-spatial and kinetic parameter values showed no significant differences among the nine rhesus monkeys for both the forelimbs and hindlimbs. However, significant differences were observed between forelimb and hindlimb kinetic parameters such as peak vertical force, vertical impulse, and the percentage of body weight distribution. All kinetic parameter values were higher for the forelimbs than for the hindlimbs. These data indicated that the center of gravity in healthy rhesus monkeys is located at the forelimbs rather than at the hindlimbs while walking. Furthermore, the symmetry indices considered for symmetric gait pattern showed a low variability. Most median symmetry index values were nearly zero, indicating no difference between the right and left sides. This study described valid methods for assessing gait parameters and demonstrated rhesus-specific characteristics of quadrupedal locomotion, providing a basis for the assessment of gait normality in rhesus monkeys.
Rapid and robust antibody Fab fragment crystallization utilizing edge-to-edge beta-sheet packing
Authors: Lieu Ricky , Antonysamy Stephen , Druzina Zhanna , Ho Carolyn , Kang Rebecca , Pustilnik Anna , Wang Jing , Atwell Shane
Published: April 2020

Antibody therapeutics are one of the most important classes of drugs. Antibody structures have become an integral part of predicting the behavior of potential therapeutics, either directly or as the basis of modeling. Structures of Fab:antigen complexes have even greater value. While the crystallization and structure determination of Fabs is easy relative to many other protein classes, especially membrane proteins, broad screening and optimization of crystalline hits is still necessary. Through a comprehensive review of rabbit Fab crystal contacts and their incompatibility with human Fab structures, we identified a small secondary structural element from the rabbit light chain constant domain potentially responsible for hindering the crystallization of human Fabs. Upon replacing the human kappa constant domain FG loop (HQGLSSP) with the two residue shorter rabbit loop (QGTTS), we dramatically improved the crystallization of human Fabs and Fab:antigen complexes. Our design, which we call “Crystal Kappa”, enables rapid crystallization of human fabs and fab complexes in a broad range of conditions, with less material in smaller screens or from dilute solutions.
Tissue tropisms of avian influenza A viruses affect their spillovers from wild birds to pigs
Authors: Zhang Xiaojian , Cummingham Frederick , Li Lei , Hanson-Dorr Katie , Liu Liyuan , Waters Kaitlyn , Guan Minhui , Olivier Alicia , Schmit Brandon , Nolting Jacqueline , Bowman Andrew , Torchetti Mia , DeLiberto Thomas , Wan Xiu-Feng
Published: April 2020

Wild aquatic birds maintain a large genetically diverse pool of influenza A viruses (IAVs), which can be transmitted to lower mammals and ultimately humans. Through phenotypic analyses, only a small set of avian IAVs replicated well in the epithelial cells of swine upper respiratory tracts, and these viruses were shown to infect and cause virus shedding in pigs. Such a phenotypic trait appears to emerge randomly and are distributed among IAVs across multiple avian species, geographic and temporal orders, and is determined not by receptor binding preference but other markers across genomic segments, such as those in the ribonucleoprotein complex. This study demonstrates that phenotypic variants exist among avian IAVs, only a few of which may result in viral shedding in pigs upon infection, providing opportunities for these viruses to become pig adapted, thus posing a higher potential risk for creating novel variants or detrimental reassortants within pig populations.
A Deep Learning Pipeline for Nucleus Segmentation
Authors: Zaki George , Gudla Prabhakar R. , Lee Kyunghun , Kim Justin , Ozbun Laurent , Shachar Sigal , Gadkari Manasi , Sun Jing , Fraser Iain D.C. , Franco Luis M. , Misteli Tom , Pegoraro Gianluca
Published: April 2020

Deep learning is rapidly becoming the technique of choice for automated segmentation of nuclei in biological image analysis workflows. In order to evaluate the feasibility of training nuclear segmentation models on small, custom annotated image datasets that have been augmented, we have designed a computational pipeline to systematically compare different nuclear segmentation model architectures and model training strategies. Using this approach, we demonstrate that transfer learning and tuning of training parameters, such as the composition, size and pre-processing of the training image dataset, can lead to robust nuclear segmentation models, which match, and often exceed, the performance of existing, off-the-shelf deep learning models pre-trained on large image datasets. We envision a practical scenario where deep learning nuclear segmentation models trained in this way can be shared across a laboratory, facility, or institution, and continuously improved by training them on progressively larger and varied image datasets. Our work provides computational tools and a practical framework for deep learning-based biological image segmentation using small annotated image datasets.
Causes and consequences of bacteriophage diversification via genetic exchanges across lifestyles and bacterial taxa
Authors: Moura de Sousa Jorge A. , Pfeifer Eugen , Touchon Marie , Rocha Eduardo P.C.
Published: April 2020

Bacteriophages (phages) evolve rapidly by acquiring genes from other phages leading to mosaic genomes. Here, we identify numerous genetic transfers between distantly related phages and aim at understanding their frequency, consequences and the conditions favoring them. Gene flow tends to occur between phages that are enriched for recombinases, transposases and non-homologous end joining, suggesting that both homologous and illegitimate recombination contribute to gene flow. Phage family and host phyla are strong barriers to gene exchange, but phage lifestyle is not. We observe more exchanges between temperate phages even if they tend to have smaller genomes. These acquisitions often include transcription regulators and lysins. Yet, there is also extensive gene flow between temperate and virulent phages, or between the latter. These predominantly involve virulent phages with large genomes previously classed as low gene flux, and lead to the preferential transfer of genes encoding functions involved in cell energetics, nucleotide metabolism, DNA packaging and injection, and virion assembly. Such exchanges may explain the acquisition of genes in virulent phages, which tend to have the largest genomes. We used genetic transfers, which occur upon co-infection of a host, to compare phage host range. We found that virulent phages have broader host ranges and mediate genetic exchanges between narrow host range temperate phages infecting distant bacterial hosts, thus contributing to gene flow between virulent phages, as well as between temperate phages. This gene flow drastically expands the gene repertoires available for phage and bacterial evolution, including the transfer of functional innovations across taxa.
Prevention and Treatment of SHIVAD8 Infection in Rhesus Macaques by a Potent D-peptide HIV Entry Inhibitor
Authors: Nishimura Y. , Francis J.N. , Donau O. , Jesteadt E. , Sadjadpour R. , Smith A.R. , Seaman M.S. , Welch B.D. , Martin M.A. , Kay M.S.
Published: April 2020

Cholesterol-PIE12-trimer (CPT31) is a potent D-peptide HIV entry inhibitor that targets the highly conserved gp41 N-peptide pocket region. CPT31 exhibited strong inhibitory breadth against diverse panels of primary virus isolates. In a SHIV macaque model, CPT31 prevented infection from a single high-dose rectal challenge. In chronically infected animals, CPT31 monotherapy rapidly reduced viral load by ~2 logs before rebound occurred due to the emergence of drug resistance. In chronically infected animals with viremia initially controlled by combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), CPT31 monotherapy prevented viral rebound after discontinuation of cART. These data establish CPT31 as a promising new candidate for HIV prevention and treatment.
α-catenin switches between a slip and an asymmetric catch bond with F-actin to cooperatively regulate cell junction fluidity
Authors: Arbore C. , Sergides M , Gardini L. , Bianchi G. , Kashchuk A.V. , Pertici I. , Bianco P. , Pavone F.S. , Capitanio M.
Published: April 2020

α-catenin is a crucial protein at cell junctions that provides connection between the actin cytoskeleton and the cell membrane. At adherens junctions (AJs), α-catenin forms heterodimers with β-catenin that are believed to resist force on F-actin. Outside AJs, α-catenin forms homodimers that directly connect the cell membrane to the actin cytoskeleton, but their mechanosensitive properties are inherently unknown.

Surprisingly, by using ultra-fast laser tweezers we found that a single α-β-catenin heterodimer does not resist force but instead slips along F-actin in the direction of force. Conversely, the action of 5 to 10 α-β-catenin heterodimers together with force applied toward F-actin pointed end engaged a molecular switch in α-catenin, which unfolded and strongly bound F-actin as a cooperative catch bond. Similarly, an α-catenin homodimer formed an asymmetric catch bond with F-actin triggered by protein unfolding under force. Our data suggest that α-catenin clustering together with intracellular tension engage a fluid-to-solid phase transition at the membrane-cytoskeleton interface.
Epigenome-wide association meta-analysis of DNA methylation with coffee and tea consumption
Authors: Karabegović Irma , Portilla-Fernandez Eliana , Li Yang , Ma Jiantao , Maas Silvana C.E. , Sun Daokun , Hu Emily A. , Kühnel Brigitte , Zhang Yan , Ambatipudi Srikant , Fiorito Giovanni , Huang Jian , Castillo-Fernandez Juan E. , Wiggins Kerri L. , de Klein Niek , Grioni Sara , Swenson Brenton R. , Polidoro Silvia , Treur Jorien L. , Cuenin Cyrille , Tsai Pei-Chien , Costeira Ricardo , Chajes Veronique , Braun Kim , Verweij Niek , Kretschmer Anja , Franke Lude , van Meurs Joyce B.J. , Uitterlinden André G. , de Knegt Robert J. , Ikram M. Arfan , Dehghan Abbas , Peters Annette , Schöttker Ben , Gharib Sina A. , Sotoodehnia Nona , Bell Jordana T. , Elliott Paul , Vineis Paolo , Relton Caroline , Herceg Zdenko , Brenner Hermann , Waldenberger Melanie , Rebholz Casey M. , Voortman Trudy , Pan Qiuwei , Fornage Myriam , Levy Daniel , Kayser Manfred , Ghanbari Mohsen
Published: April 2020

Coffee and tea are extensively consumed beverages worldwide. Observational studies have shown contradictory findings for the association between consumption of these beverages and different health outcomes. Epigenetics is suggested as a mechanism mediating the effects of dietary and lifestyle factors on disease onset. We conducted epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) on coffee and tea consumptions in 15,789 participants of European and African-American ancestries from 15 cohorts. EWAS meta-analysis revealed 11 CpG sites significantly associated with coffee consumption (P-value <1.1×10-7), nine of them annotated to the genesAHRR, F2RL3, FLJ43663, HDAC4, GFI1andPHGDH, and two CpGs suggestively associated with tea consumption (P-value<5.0×10-6). Among these, cg14476101 was significantly associated with expression of its annotated genePHGDHand risk of fatty liver disease. Knockdown ofPHGDHexpression in liver cells showed a correlation with expression levels of lipid-associated genes, suggesting a role ofPHGDHin hepatic-lipid metabolism. Collectively, this study indicates that coffee consumption is associated with differential DNA methylation levels at multiple CpGs, and that coffee-associated epigenetic variations may explain the mechanism of action of coffee consumption in conferring disease risk.
X-ray pulse stretching after diffraction
Authors: Hrdý Jaromír
Published: April 2020

The development of ultrashort X-ray pulse sources requires optics that keep the pulse length as short as possible. One source of pulse stretching is the penetration of the pulse into a crystal during diffraction. Another source is the inclination of the intensity front when the diffraction is asymmetric. The theory of short X-ray pulse diffraction has been well developed by many authors. As it is rather complicated, it is sometimes difficult to foresee the pulse behavior (mainly stretching) during diffraction in various crystal arrangements. In this article, a simple model is suggested that gives a qualitatively similar shape to the diffracted pulse which follows from exact theory. It allows proposal of what experimental arrangement is optimal to minimize the pulse stretching during diffraction. First, the effect of pulse stretching due to penetration into a crystal surface is studied. On the basis of this, the pulse profile change during diffraction by two crystals, either symmetric or asymmetric, is predicted.
When love becomes hate: how different consumer-brand relationships interact with crises to influence consumers' reactions
Authors: Ma Liang
Published: April 2020

Purpose

A well-accepted proposition in the literature of corporate strategic communication and public relations is that consumer-brand relationships (CBRs) affect corporate crisis communication. However, it is inconclusive whether CBRs protect or work against brands, because both buffering effects and love-becomes-hate effects have been found. This study attempts to explain and bridge the seemingly inconsistent findings by clarifying the effects of different types of CBRs in different brand transgressions.

Design/methodology/approach

Re-conceptualizing CBRs into non-identifying relationships and identifying relationships, this study examined the possible interaction effects of CBRs and crises on consumers' attitudes and emotions, which then influence their behavioral intentions. A three-step multi-group structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data collected from an online experiment with nearly 900 consumers of two brands.

Findings

Although non-identifying relationships offer buffering effects, identifying relationships primarily offer love-becomes-hate effects by intensifying negative emotions such as anger and disappointment, which in turn affect consumers' behavioral intentions. Such patterns hold regardless of whether a crisis directly threatens the core meaning of the brand.

Originality/value

This study clarifies the effects of different types of CBRs in crises and shows that deep psychological connections (i.e. identifying relationships) offer love-becomes-hate effects. It suggests that one promising future research direction for crisis communication and public relations scholars is to examine how to mitigate such love-becomes-hate effects so that brands can keep their loyal consumers.
Managerial control mechanisms and their influence on project performance: an investigation of the moderating role of complexity risk
Authors: Maqsoom Ahsen , Hamad Muhammad , Ashraf Hassan , Thaheem Muhammad Jamaluddin , Umer Muhammad
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Despite the efforts of project managers and the widespread use of project management methodologies, most of the projects remain unfulfilling in terms of delivering targeted performance. This for most part can be attributed to the inability of an organization to implement control mechanisms and ineffective management of complexity risk. Keeping in view the aforementioned problem, the objective of this study is to investigate the association between control modes and project performance. Moreover, this study also examines the moderating role of complexity risk on the association among various control modes and project performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 171 construction projects through a postal questionnaire survey. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was utilized for testing the hypothesized relationships of the research model.

Findings

This study found significant positive relation between formal and informal control mechanisms and project performance. It is found that complexity risk significantly moderates the relationship between control modes and project performance. The results indicate that complexity risk positively moderates the relationship between outcome control and clan control with project performance. Furthermore, complexity risks negatively moderates the relationship between behavior control and project performance. However, the association between self-control and project performance is found insignificant in the presence of complexity risk.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to study the relationship of control mechanisms, complexity risk and project performance in the construction industry.
Workplace fiddles in the shipping industry
Authors: Devereux Helen , Wadsworth Emma , Bhattacharya Syamantak
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which workers employ rule breaking, rule bending and deviations from management defined norms in the workplace and the impact this has on their occupational health and safety (OHS) experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted with 37 seafarers working on board four vessels engaged in international trade. The data were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed using NVivo software.

Findings

The findings indicate that seafarers utilised workplace fiddles – which included rule breaking, rule bending and deviating from management defined norms – in order to engender a workable system in which they could remain safe but also profitable to those who controlled their labour. Moreover, the findings suggest that shore-side management deflected the responsibility for rule violations by deferring many of the decisions regarding features of life on board – such as the scheduling of work hours – to the senior officers on board.

Originality/value

The paper sheds light on where, in practice, responsibility for OHS lies in the international shipping industry, an industry in which workers experience relatively high rates of work-related fatalities, injuries and mental health conditions.
Robot with humanoid hands cooks food better?
Authors: Zhu Dong Hong , Chang Ya Ping
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Robotic chefs are starting to replace human chefs in restaurant industry. Whether customers have a good food quality prediction may have an important effect on their patronage decision. Based on the stereotype content model, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of robotic chef anthropomorphism on food quality prediction through warmth and competence.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical analysis was done to test the theoretical model by using the SmartPLS software. A nonhuman-like robotic chef and a robotic chef with humanoid hands were used as background materials in the questionnaire. The effective sample was 221.

Findings

Robotic chef anthropomorphism affects food quality prediction through the sequential mediators of warmth and competence. Age is a significant control variable.

Research limitations/implications

Robotic chef anthropomorphism positively affects food quality prediction. The halo effect of warmth perception on competence perception should be considered in the context of robot anthropomorphism.

Practical implications

Restaurants which feature robotic chefs should use robotic chefs with anthropomorphic designs and promote the anthropomorphic elements of robotic chefs in advertisements.

Social implications

The anthropomorphic design of robot chefs will facilitate the development of artificial intelligence in restaurants in the future.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first to focus on how robotic chef anthropomorphism affects food quality prediction and reveals the roles of warmth and competence in the influence of robotic chef anthropomorphism on food quality prediction.
Institutional adoption of blended learning on a budget
Authors: Abusalim Nimer , Rayyan Mohammad , Jarrah Marwan , Sharab Moayad
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This research paper aims to explore blended learning implementation in universities that are on a low budget, essentially determining the more important steps to invest during the initial stage of implementation and investing in costly IT infrastructure or training faculty for student-centred learning and relevant pedagogies.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 254 students at the University of Jordan (UJ) has been administered. Student satisfaction with blended learning is related to the two main variables of IT infrastructure and teacher training for blended learning strategies.

Findings

The results indicate that faculty training has a significantly higher impact on predictability of satisfaction than IT infrastructure. Therefore, low-budget institutions should focus first on helping instructors shift to student-centred styles of pedagogies before making large investments in IT infrastructure.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the fact that the chosen setting did not completely lack IT infrastructure, the results may need to be retested with at least two individual institutions, one where advanced IT infrastructure is available and one where it is completely lacking. More can also be done to vary the limited location of the study.

Practical implications

This paper suggests that making costly investments into technology is not a necessary first step during the initial stages of blended learning adoption in developing countries.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the need for more research on blended learning adoption in developing countries with scarce finances and lack of resources sufficient to achieve faculty training and IT infrastructure improvement together. Several universities make costly investments only to lack sufficient blended learning pedagogies which often results in failed blended learning implementation.
Application of Six Sigma methodology in an Indian chemical company
Authors: Patyal Vishal Singh , Modgil Sachin , Koilakuntla Maddulety
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to deploy Six Sigma (SS) methodology for addressing the customer complaints pertaining to Chemical-X in an Indian chemical company.

Design/methodology/approach

The study followed a structured Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) approach to address the customer complaints. The complaints have been classified into different categories along with a project charter in the define phase. In the measure phase, measurement system analysis (MSA) and supplier, input, process, output and control (SIPOC) have been applied. In the analyze and improve phase, why–why analysis, process capability study, how–how analysis, Gage repeatability and reproducibility and Taguchi design have been applied to optimize the manufacturing process parameters for Chemical-X. Lastly, in the control phase, validation of 20 batches has been piloted to validate the optimized parameters.

Findings

The findings of this study highlight the optimization and prioritization of the process parameters. It shows that humidity has the least impact on the manufacturing of Chemical-X, whereas shift type has the maximum impact. The experimental output indicates that the 1st Shift, the holding time after grinding should be twenty-four hours, and the temperature after grinding should be 40 °C to reduce the customer complaints concerning lumps formation in Chemical-X.

Research limitations/implications

The study is performed for a single product (Chemical-X). It has focused only from the manufacturing process view and not from the transportation, suppliers and downstream supply chain view.

Originality/value

A systematic and data-driven approach of the SS methodology ensured that the customer complaints due to lumps formation reduced from 5% (approx.) to 1% (approx.) which resulted in the cost saving of INR 4 million (approx.) annually.
Impact of self-service technologies in retail banking on cross-buying and word-of-mouth
Authors: Mukerjee Kaushik
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to study the influence of self-service technologies (SST) on cross-buying and word-of-mouth. This study tests the direct impact of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on cross-buying and word-of-mouth. Further, this study also tests the mediating role of e-service quality for the aforementioned relationships. The study has been undertaken in the context of retail banking in an emerging market, India.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey research design was used to collect data from 235 customers of retail banks in India. The data were analysed using IBM AMOS 23.0 taking structural equation modelling (SEM) approach to test the hypothesised relationships.

Findings

The findings of the study suggest that both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use influence cross-buying and word-of-mouth. E-service quality partially mediates the relationship between perceived usefulness on cross-buying and word-of-mouth. E-service quality partially mediates the relationship between perceived ease of use and cross-buying but does not mediate the relationship between perceived ease of use and word-of-mouth.

Practical implications

This study shows that managers need to focus on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use in order to ensure cross-buying and promote word-of-mouth recommendations by customers. Also, managers will be able to enhance cross-buying and promote word-of-mouth recommendations if e-service quality delivered by the bank is perceived to be good by customers.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on SST and offers empirical evidence to show that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use can influence cross-buying as well as word-of-mouth. Previous studies have shown that SST usage can foster loyalty, and the present study offers new evidence on the outcomes of behavioural loyalty. The study has been undertaken through responses taken from retail bank customers in an emerging market. This study also contributes to the literature on SST by testing the mediating effect of e-service quality for the above-mentioned relationships.
Towards a unified theory of toxic behavior in video games
Authors: Kordyaka Bastian , Jahn Katharina , Niehaves Bjoern
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Toxic behavior in multiplayer video games diminishes the potential revenue of gaming companies by spreading a bad mood, negatively affecting game play, and subsequently leading to the churn of players. However, research investigating why toxic behavior occurs is still scarce. To address this issue, this study disjunctively tests three different theoretical approaches (social cognitive theory, theory of planned behavior, and online disinhibition effect) to explain toxic behavior and propose a unified theory of toxic behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 320 respondents participated in a questionnaire study. This study analyzes the data with covariance-based statistics (i.e. regression analysis and structural equation modelling), and the approach is twofold. First, the hypotheses of three theories are disjunctively tested. Second, a unified theory of toxic behavior is proposed.

Findings

The results of this study indicate that online disinhibition best explains toxic behavior, whereby toxic behavior victimization, attitude, and behavioral control also play an important role.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study offer an opportunity to better understand a contemporary and especially meaningful form of negative behavior online.

Practical implications

To maintain revenue and popularity, the computer game industry can use the findings of this study to prevent and better address toxic behavior and its negative consequences.

Originality/value

Toxic behavior among video game players is a relatively new and unexplored phenomenon; therefore, this study makes a valuable contribution to the research field by testing the explanatory power of three theoretical approaches and proposing a unified theory of toxic behavior.
Structural, optical and sensing properties of ZnS thick films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering technique at different powers
Authors: Abdallah Bassam , Kakhia Mahmoud , Zetoune Walaa
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This study aims to carry out the deposition of zinc sulfide (ZnS) thick films on glass and silicon (100) substrates using radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method at different powers. Film structure has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD); the patterns showed that the films possesses a cubic structure with (111) preferred orientation. Photoluminance (PL) intensity of the films has been related to the crystallinity, which is varied with the power.

Design/methodology/approach

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images have been used to discover the films’ morphology. The stoichiometry has been confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis. MicroRaman spectroscopy has been used to validate the film structure. Gas-sensing studies were carried out by means of a static gas chamber to sense acetone, ethanol, methanol, H2O and NH3 vapor in air ambient.

Findings

ZnS has a stoichiometric and cubic structure. The band gaps and photoluminance intensity of the films are correlated with the crystallinity, which is varied with the power. The EDX analysis approved the stoichiometry of the prepared films. Acetone, ethanol, humidity (H2O), methanol and NH3 vapor gases were used to justify the sensing properties at 25°C of the thickest ZnS film.

Originality/value

High-quality ZnS films have been obtained at different powers without annealing. Gases sensing properties at 25°C are justified for deposited ZnS films using acetone, ethanol, humidity (H2O), methanol and NH3 vapor gases. It reveals good response for NH3 and humidity vapors at room temperature; the sensing functioning at this temperature was attractive in recent research.
Relationship between rosacea and sleep
Authors: Wang Zhiqiang , Xie Hongfu , Gong Yihuan , Ouyang Yuyan , Deng Faming , Tang Yan , Li Ji
Published: April 2020

Rosacea is a chronic facial skin disease involved in neurovascular dysregulation and neurogenic inflammation. Behavioral factors such as stress, anxiety, depression and sleep were identified to be associated with other inflammatory skin diseases. Few studies have reported sleep status in rosacea. Aiming to investigate the relationship between rosacea and sleep, a case–control survey was conducted, enrolling 608 rosacea patients and 608 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy controls. Sleep quality was assessed through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Diagnosis and severity grading of rosacea were evaluated under the standard guidelines of the National Rosacea Society. More rosacea patients (52.3%, n = 318) suffered poor sleep quality (PSQI, >5) than the healthy controls (24.0%, n = 146), displaying a much higher PSQI score (rosacea vs control, 6.20 vs 3.95). There was a strong association between sleep quality and rosacea (odds ratio [OR], 3.525; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.759–4.519). Moreover, the severity of rosacea was also associated with sleep quality (OR, 1.847; 95% CI, 1.332–2.570). Single nucleotide polymorphisms in hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A and adrenoceptor‐β1 genes, which are associated with sleep behaviour, were detected and revealed to be associated with rosacea. Furthermore, the LL‐37‐induced rosacea‐like phenotype and sleep‐deprivation mice models were applied, revealing that sleep deprivation aggravated the rosacea‐like phenotype in mice, with higher expression of matrix metallopeptidase 9, Toll‐like receptor 2, cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide and vascular endothelial growth factor. In conclusion, rosacea patients presented poorer sleep quality, as well as a higher propability of genetic background with sleep disturbance. In addition, poor sleep might aggravate rosacea through regulating inflammatory factors, contributing to a vicious cycle in the progression of disease.
Epidemiological survey of 42 403 dermatophytosis cases examined at Nagasaki University Hospital from 1966 to 2015
Authors: Takenaka Motoi , Murota Hideyuki , Nishimoto Katsutaro
Published: April 2020

The causative species of a total of 42 403 dermatophytosis cases that occurred during 1966–2015 were surveyed. The most prevalent clinical type was tinea pedis, followed by tinea unguium, corporis, cruris, manus, faciei and capitis. The prevalence of tinea faciei and capitis has increased since the late 1990s and the late 2000s, respectively. The most prevalent dermatophyte species was Trichophyton rubrum, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (the majority of the isolates were Trichophyton interdigitale in the latest nomenclature). These dermatophytes were detected in over 80% of the isolates identified in tinea pedis, unguium, cruris and manus cases. Recently, Microsporum canis and Trichophyton tonsurans have been increasingly identified. The frequency of M. canis isolated from tinea corporis, faciei and capitis cases started to rise in the early 1990s. T. tonsurans was first identified in Nagasaki in 2003. T. rubrum was the most commonly isolated pathogen in tinea faciei and corporis cases. However, the proportion of cases attributed to it has decreased since the early 1990s, whereas M. canis and T. tonsurans are being increasingly isolated since the early 2000s. In tinea capitis cases, the proportion of each pathogen isolated has changed dramatically. M. canis was first identified in the late 1970s, with an increasing prevalence up to the early 1990s. In contrast, the prevalence of T. tonsurans has increased since the early 2000s. In the 2010s, the most common fungus causing tinea capitis was T. tonsurans, followed by M. canis and T. rubrum.
From more‐than‐human solidarity to multi‐species biographical value: insights from a veterinary school about ethical dilemmas in One Health promotion
Authors: Rock Melanie J. , Degeling Chris , Adams Cindy L.
Published: April 2020

This article features a partnership between a veterinary school and a charity that aims to enhance the wellbeing of low‐income people. Through this partnership, the charity periodically hosts veterinary clinics for clients and their pets. Even as the veterinarians and veterinary students duly examine people's pets, these pop‐up clinics aim to help people and their pets. Hence our analysis revolves around the ethics of ‘more‐than‐human solidarity’. By ‘more‐than‐human solidarity’, we mean efforts to help others that either center on or that implicate non‐human beings. To delve into the ethical and sociological implications of subsidised veterinary services, and to assist with program planning, we conducted several in‐depth interviews with veterinarians. Most substantively, we found that the veterinary school's outreach clinics give rise to multi‐species biographical value, which is prized as a pedagogical resource for veterinary students. The veterinarians whom we interviewed felt troubled by the extent to which the pop‐up clinics ultimately benefited the veterinary school, but also by the shortage of subsidised veterinary services in the vicinity. Based on these interviews and our own reflections, we invite more scholarship on cultural, economic and political influences that shape the lives of human beings and non‐human animals alike.
Foreign aid and the rule of law: Institutional diffusion versus legal reach
Authors: Dawson Andrew , Swiss Liam
Published: April 2020

Abstract

This paper examines the role of bilateral foreign aid in supporting the diffusion and enactment of common models and institutions of the rule of law among aid‐recipient low‐ and middle‐income countries. We ask whether aid targeted at security‐sector reform and the rule of law influences the adoption of constitutional and legal reforms over time (institutional diffusion), and whether aid also supports more effective implementation of the rule of law, writ large (legal reach). We use event history and fixed‐effects panel regression models to examine a sample of 154 countries between 1995 and 2013 to answer these questions. Our findings suggest that aid does increase the likelihood of adopting several rule of law reforms, but its effect on increasing the depth or quality of rule of law over time within countries is much less substantial. These findings suggest that though aid may play a role in supporting the diffusion of models contributing to state isomorphism among countries, it is less effective at increasing the pervasiveness and quality of such model’s implementation. This discrepancy between the effectiveness of bilateral aid in promoting law on the books versus law in action in aid recipient countries calls into question the current approach to rule of law reforms.
Strategic Subsidiary Disclosure
Authors: DYRENG SCOTT D. , HOOPES JEFFREY L. , LANGETIEG PATRICK , WILDE JARON H.
Published: April 2020

Although subsidiary disclosures in firms’ filings with the Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC; Exhibit 21) represent the most granular required public disclosure of a firm's geographic footprint, little is understood about the quality of the disclosure, and anecdotal evidence suggests firms may not fully comply with the disclosure requirements. We use data provided by multinational firms to the Internal Revenue Service regarding their foreign subsidiary locations to explore the accuracy of public subsidiary disclosures on Exhibit 21 of Form 10‐K per SEC rules. The overall incidence of nondisclosure is low, suggesting that most firms comply with Exhibit 21 disclosure rules, and that for most applications, Exhibit 21 disclosures provide a reasonable proxy for locations of significant subsidiaries. Nevertheless, there is some evidence of nondisclosure, particularly when subsidiaries are in tax havens, when the firm is more highly scrutinized in the media, or when the firm has other characteristics consistent with low‐quality disclosures such as SEC comment letters.
Management of malignant submandibular gland tumour: 20‐year experience in a single institution
Authors: Yau Wai Ming , Chan Yu Wai
Published: April 2020

Aim

Our primary objective is to establish the epidemiology of submandibular gland malignant tumour in Hong Kong. Our second objective is to investigate the correlation of positive surgical margin and survival in patients with primary malignant submandibular gland tumour. Our third objective is to review the accuracy of fine needle aspiration in histological diagnosis.

Patients and Methods

A retrospective study was conducted. Patients who underwent surgery and were discharged from Queen Mary Hospital and Tung Wah Hospital from December 31, 1997‐December 31, 2017 were included. Data was analysed by Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics 25.

Result

There were 239 patients with submandibular gland removal between 1997‐2017 in the Queen Mary and Tung Wah Hospitals. Among this group, 32 patients were diagnosed with malignant submandibular gland. Data of these 32 patients were reviewed and analysed. The male‐to‐female ratio was 3:1. The median age at diagnosis was 55.5. Mean follow up time was 44.8 months. Patients presented with various histological subtypes of submandibular gland tumour, the most common being lymphoepithelioma‐like carcinoma and adenocystic carcinoma (28.1% each), followed by carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (12.5%), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (9.4%), salivary duct carcinoma (9.4%), undifferentiated carcinoma (6.3%) and squamous cell carcinoma (6.3%). The tumour histological subtype was unknown in 40.6% of patients at the time of surgery. The positive surgical margin rate was 50%. The overall 5‐year locoregional control rate, disease‐free survival and overall survival were 81.83%, 75.14% and 76.57% respectively.

Conclusion

Lack of preoperative histological diagnosis is identified as the only predictor of positive surgical margin, OR 7.22, P < 0.0163. It is concluded that TNM staging and lymphovascular invasion are the two significant prognostic factors in management of malignant submandibular gland tumour. However, we cannot draw a statistically significant conclusion on whether positive surgical margin would affect the overall survival or locoregional control or disease‐free survival. (P < 0.997, P < 0.74, P < 0.950 respectively).
Imaging response assessment following stereotactic body radiotherapy for solid tumour metastases of the spine: Current challenges and future directions
Authors: O’Sullivan Siobhra , McDermott Ronan , Keys Maeve , O’Sullivan Maeve , Armstrong John , Faul Clare
Published: April 2020

Patients with metastatic disease are routinely serially imaged to assess disease burden and response to systemic and local therapies, which places ever‐expanding demands on our healthcare resources. Image interpretation following stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for spine metastases can be challenging; however, appropriate and accurate assessment is critical to ensure patients are managed correctly and resources are optimised. Here, we take a critical review of the merits and pitfalls of various imaging modalities, current response assessment guidelines, and explore novel imaging approaches and the potential for radiomics to add value in imaging assessment.
High MAF of EGFR mutations and high ratio of T790M sensitizing mutations in ctDNA predict better third‐generation TKI outcomes
Authors: Li Yan , Zhang Fanshuang , Yuan Pei , Guo Lei , Jianming Ying , He Jie
Published: April 2020

Background

Clinical detection of EGFR‐TKI resistance mechanism through tissue can be really challenging due to risks associated with the procedure. Thus, liquid biopsy, especially circulation tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis, can be an adequate source for biomarker testing in targeted therapy. Our study was aimed at clinical validation of liquid biopsy next‐generation sequencing (NGS) by comparison with tissue biopsy, and we also investigated clinical utility of ctDNA NGS on the prediction of TKI outcomes.

Methods

Using hybrid capture panel NGS, we compared the concordance, sensitivity, and specificity of ctDNA using 39 paired plasma and tissue biopsy, and investigated the association between ctDNA genomic alterations of 147 first‐generation TKI‐relapsed patients and their response to first‐ and third‐generation TKIs.

Results

The concordance for ctDNA and tissue biopsy was 84.62% among all patients, and even higher among late stage patients (88.24%). Among 147 EGFR‐TKI‐relapsed patients, T790M was the most common reason for resistance (40.13%). Compared with T790M‐positive patients, patients only detected with sensitizing mutations (sensi‐mutations) had lower mutant allele frequency (MAF) of sensi‐mutations (P = 0.031). TP53 mutation showed negative impact on TKI treatments. In survival analysis of third‐generation TKI, we found a positive correlation between ratio of T790M sensi‐mutation and PFS (P = 0.018); also, higher MAFs of both sensi‐mutation and T790M were observed in the PR group than the SD + PD group.

Conclusions

Both ratio of T790M sensi‐mutations and MAFs of EGFR mutations were associated with third‐generation TKI outcomes. Thus, incorporation of high‐throughput NGS into clinical trials may be crucial to identifying the response to osimertinib, as it provides more comprehensive genomic information.

Key points

High concordance of ctDNA and tissue biopsy was observed. NGS of ctDNA from 147 TKI‐relapsed patients showed that both high ratio of T790M sensitizing mutation (sensi‐mutation) and high MAFs of mutations were all associated with better third generation TKI treatment outcomes.

The quantification of both MAFs and T790M sensi‐mutation ratio should be taken into consideration in some clinical situations, and incorporation of high‐throughput NGS into clinical trials may be crucial to identifying the response to osimertinib, as it provides more comprehensive genomic information.