bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Haunted by the past: transformations and daily challenges of China's prosthetics
Authors: Wang Chunchun
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the transformations of prosthetic practices in China, as well as the daily experiences and dilemmas arising from the everchanging practices since 1949. On the basis of materials, this paper explores an everyday perspective to review the history of technology.

Design/methodology/approach

Ethnography was collected with the application of participant observations, informal interviews and in-depth interviews during a 13-months study at a rehabilitation center in Chengdu, China. The literature on prosthetic manufacturing was also reviewed for this paper.

Findings

China's prosthetic technology seems to evolve from traditional to modern. However, this progressive narrative – innovation-based timeline (Edgerton, 2006, xi) – has been challenged by daily practices. Due to institutional pressures, prosthetists are in a dilemma of selectively using their knowledge to create one kind of device for all prosthesis users with a certain kind of disability, thereby regulating the physical and social experiences of prosthesis users. Besides, prosthesis users are accustomed to prostheses made with old techniques, and must correct themselves from old experiences to the daily practices recognized by the selected techniques.

Originality/value

This paper provides a cross-cultural case to reexamine Edgerton's criticism of the progressive and orderly innovation-centric technological narrative. More importantly, it reviews the history and practices of China's prosthetics from daily experiences rather than Edgerton's concentration on technology; therefore, it provides an everyday perspective for future research on technological transformations.
Building community at distance: a datathon during COVID-19
Authors: Fritz Samantha , Milligan Ian , Ruest Nick , Lin Jimmy
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to use the experience of an in-person event that was forced to go virtual in the wake of COVID-19 as an entryway into a discussion on the broader implications around transitioning events online. It gives both practical recommendation to event organizers as well as broader reflections on the role of digital libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on their personal experiences with the datathon, as well as a comprehensive review of literature. The authors provide a candid assessment of what approaches worked and which ones did not.

Findings

A series of best practices are provided, including factors for assessing whether an event can be run online; the mixture of synchronous versus asynchronous content; and important technical questions around delivery. Focusing on a detailed case study of the shift of the physical team-building exercise, the authors note how cloud-based platforms were able to successfully assemble teams and jumpstart online collaboration. The existing decision to use cloud-based infrastructure facilitated the event’s transition as well. The authors use these examples to provide some broader insights on meaningful content delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

Moving an event online during a novel pandemic is part of a broader shift within the digital libraries’ community. This paper thus provides a useful professional resource for others exploring this shift, as well as those exploring new program delivery in the post-pandemic period (both due to an emphasis on climate reduction as well as reduced travel budgets in a potential period of financial austerity).
The role of social capital in Iranian agricultural students' acquisition of generic skills
Authors: Gholami Hesamedin , Alambeigi Amir , Farrokhnia Mohammadreza , Noroozi Omid , Karbasioun Mostafa
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the role of social capital in Iranian agricultural students' acquisition of generic skills. For this purpose, the effect of various social capital dimensions on students' generic skills development was examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted among 190 third- and fourth-year undergraduate students in one of the colleges of agriculture and natural resources in Iran. The partial least square method was used to examine the relationships among various social capital dimensions (i.e. social values, social trust, social networks, social cohesion, social participation, social communications and information sharing) with students' generic skills.

Findings

The findings showed that social networks and social participation are effective factors in the generic skills development of students. A model designed for the development of students' generic skills based on their social capital level predicted up to 33% of generic skills' variances. Furthermore, the multi-group analysis showed that males and females vary on how various social capital dimensions affect their generic skills. In this respect, the social participation dimension had a significantly greater impact on female students' generic skills, whereas the generic skills of male students were influenced more by the social cohesion dimension.

Practical implications

Developing generic skills through social capital can be considered as an effective strategy in countries that do not have formal programs for developing students' generic skills. Additionally, higher education policymakers should present a more supportive approach for developing generic skills of female students through social participation in the campuses.

Originality/value

So far, no study has examined the relationships among various social capital dimensions and students' generic skills in Iran. The picture is even more unclear when it comes to the differences between male and female students. The results of this study confirmed the importance of social networks and social participation in the universities to support students and to improve their generic skills and, consequently, their employability competencies. Furthermore, it could be inferred that male and female students have similarities and also differences in terms of the effect of social capital on developing generic skills that can provide a path for future studies.
Does precarious employment ruin youth health and marriage? Evidence from Egypt using longitudinal data
Authors: Sharaf Mesbah Fathy , Rashad Ahmed Shoukry
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to analyze whether precarious employment is associated with youth mental health, self-rated health and happiness in marriage and whether this association differs by sex.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses longitudinal data from the Survey of Young People in Egypt conducted in 2009 and 2014 and estimates a fixed-effects model to control for time-invariant unobserved individual heterogeneity. The analysis is segregated by sex.

Findings

The results indicate that precarious employment is significantly associated with poor mental health and less happiness in marriage for males and is positively associated with poor self-reported health for females. The adverse impact of precarious work is likely to be mediated through poor working conditions such as low salary, maltreatment at work, job insecurity and harassment from colleagues.

Social implications

Governmental policies that tackle job precariousness are expected to improve population health and marital welfare.

Originality/value

Egypt has witnessed a significant increase in the prevalence of precarious employment, particularly among youth, in recent decades, yet the evidence on its effect on the health and well-being of youth workers is sparse. This paper adds to the extant literature by providing new evidence on the social and health repercussions of job precariousness from an understudied region.
Detecting hate speech against politicians in Arabic community on social media
Authors: Guellil Imane , Adeel Ahsan , Azouaou Faical , Chennoufi Sara , Maafi Hanene , Hamitouche Thinhinane
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to propose an approach for hate speech detection against politicians in Arabic community on social media (e.g. Youtube). In the literature, similar works have been presented for other languages such as English. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, not much work has been conducted in the Arabic language.

Design/methodology/approach

This approach uses both classical algorithms of classification and deep learning algorithms. For the classical algorithms, the authors use Gaussian NB (GNB), Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), SGD Classifier (SGD) and Linear SVC (LSVC). For the deep learning classification, four different algorithms (convolutional neural network (CNN), multilayer perceptron (MLP), long- or short-term memory (LSTM) and bi-directional long- or short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) are applied. For extracting features, the authors use both Word2vec and FastText with their two implementations, namely, Skip Gram (SG) and Continuous Bag of Word (CBOW).

Findings

Simulation results demonstrate the best performance of LSVC, BiLSTM and MLP achieving an accuracy up to 91%, when it is associated to SG model. The results are also shown that the classification that has been done on balanced corpus are more accurate than those done on unbalanced corpus.

Originality/value

The principal originality of this paper is to construct a new hate speech corpus (Arabic_fr_en) which was annotated by three different annotators. This corpus contains the three languages used by Arabic people being Arabic, French and English. For Arabic, the corpus contains both script Arabic and Arabizi (i.e. Arabic words written with Latin letters). Another originality is to rely on both shallow and deep leaning classification by using different model for extraction features such as Word2vec and FastText with their two implementation SG and CBOW.
Constructing common height maps with various entropy-based similarity metrics and utilizing layering method for heterogeneous robot teams
Authors: Akay Mehmet Caner , Temeltaş Hakan
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Heterogeneous teams consisting of unmanned ground vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles are being used for different types of missions such as surveillance, tracking and exploration. Exploration missions with heterogeneous robot teams (HeRTs) should acquire a common map for understanding the surroundings better. The purpose of this paper is to provide a unique approach with cooperative use of agents that provides a well-detailed observation over the environment where challenging details and complex structures are involved. Also, this method is suitable for real-time applications and autonomous path planning for exploration.

Design/methodology/approach

Lidar odometry and mapping and various similarity metrics such as Shannon entropy, Kullback–Leibler divergence, Jeffrey divergence, K divergence, Topsoe divergence, Jensen–Shannon divergence and Jensen divergence are used to construct a common height map of the environment. Furthermore, the authors presented the layering method that provides more accuracy and a better understanding of the common map.

Findings

In summary, with the experiments, the authors observed features located beneath the trees or the roofed top areas and above them without any need for global positioning system signal. Additionally, a more effective common map that enables planning trajectories for both vehicles is obtained with the determined similarity metric and the layering method.

Originality/value

In this study, the authors present a unique solution that implements various entropy-based similarity metrics with the aim of constructing common maps of the environment with HeRTs. To create common maps, Shannon entropy–based similarity metrics can be used, as it is the only one that holds the chain rule of conditional probability precisely. Seven distinct similarity metrics are compared, and the most effective one is chosen for getting a more comprehensive and valid common map. Moreover, different from all the studies in literature, the layering method is used to compute the similarities of each local map obtained by a HeRT. This method also provides the accuracy of the merged common map, as robots’ sight of view prevents the same observations of the environment in features such as a roofed area or trees. This novel approach can also be used in global positioning system-denied and closed environments. The results are verified with experiments.
Unleashing a quantitative approach to manage admissions in engineering: a case of the North Indian state
Authors: Singh Bikram Jit , Sodhi Harsimran Singh , Rippin
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The growth and prosperity of a nation depends upon its ability to innovate technologically and engineering has erupted as a fundamental chauffer of this essence, since last couple of eras. But recent decline in engineering admissions triggers the downfall in skilled labor, which can cause recession in industries or can ultimately lead to economic crisis. This study tries to illustrate the present status of engineering-related education, particularly in India and tends to skim the various parameters that affect the enrollment of students among higher education institutes, directly or indirectly.

Design/methodology/approach

A unique approach had been unleashed to tackle the nuisance of low admission among Indian engineering colleges or universities. Factors reviewed from the literature were further prioritized quantitatively after distributing suitable questionnaires among a relevant set of engineering aspirants. The “survey form” used was tactically designed on the basis of response surface methodology (RSM), which analyzed the data captured in Minitab statistical software and deducted logical inferences to optimize the “critical-to-admission” (CTA) factors, applicably.

Findings

A case study was successfully executed in a North Indian state to prove the efficacy of proposed methodology as far as downtrend in admission was concerned. This study was a rare blend of questionnaire-based work, where design of experiments principles had been utilized exclusively. It provided significant findings on how to earmark different admission-decisive factors along with their required prioritization.

Practical implications

It can further help the universities and higher education institutes to draft their indispensable professional policies and vision–mission statements, appropriately.

Originality/value

Quantitative studies in the service sector (like higher education) are quite rare to see. The present work is not only providing a roadmap for engineering institutions to boost their admissions in upcoming challenging times but it also acts as a light house for new students as it provides necessary guidelines for shortlisting colleges or universities while seeking admission for higher studies.
Practice ecology of knowledge management—connecting the formal, informal and personal
Authors: Värk Aare , Reino Anne
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the coexistence of formal, informal and personal knowledge management (KM) practices as they support employees' everyday work in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative study involving 12 in-depth interviews and 30 hours of observations in a small, quickly growing, knowledge-intensive company.

Findings

Formal, informal and personal KM practices were all found to be relevant and interconnected in supporting everyday work in the organization. This suggests a shift from understanding KM as an organizational approach to ecology, shaped by multiple actors and concerns and extending over the formal/informal as well as organizational/personal divides. Interrelationships between formal, informal and personal KM practices took various forms. Among each of these KM categories were practices that contributed in a unique way, without having a functional parallel in other categories. Some KM practices had a strong functional overlap and were competing. Moreover, some formal, informal and personal KM practices formed complementary relationships.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are based on fieldwork in only one organization.

Practical implications

Organizations would benefit from the formal, informal and personal KM practices being complementarily connected. As these connections are sustained by employees in everyday work, effective management of KM ecology needs a collective and distributed effort.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the very few empirical accounts that problematizes the coexistence of formal, informal and personal KM practices and suggests a practice-ecology perspective through which their interrelationships could be studied.
Family firm employees: identification, stewardship practices and citizenship behaviors
Authors: Medina-Craven Michele N. , Cooper Danielle , Penney Christopher , Caldas Miguel P.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the factors that influence employee organizational identification in family firms, and through identification, the willingness to engage in citizenship behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the stewardship theory, the authors develop a model to test the relationships between family relatedness and relational identification to the family firm owner, employee-focused stewardship practices, organizational identification and organizational citizenship behaviors. The authors test the hypotheses using regression and the Preacher and Hayes PROCESS macro on a sample of 292 family firm employees.

Findings

The findings suggest that both relational identification with the family firm owner and employee-focused stewardship practices positively influence organizational identification, and that familial ties to the family firm owner can influence relationships with citizenship behaviors for non-family employees.

Originality/value

The authors build on existing literature to investigate how employees identify themselves within a family firm and how stewardship practices from the employee's perspective (rather than managers' or founders' perspectives) can influence organizational identification and citizenship behaviors.
Financial inclusion and business cycles
Authors: Ozili Peterson K.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between financial inclusion and the business cycle.

Design/methodology/approach

Regression methodology is used to analyze the association between financial inclusion and the business cycle.

Findings

Using regression estimation, the findings reveal that the level of savings and the number of active formal account ownership are pro-cyclical with fluctuations in the business cycle. Also, savings by adults particularly for women and poor people declines during recessionary periods while the number of active formal account ownership declines for the adult population especially for women during recessionary periods. The findings also reveal that not all indicators of financial inclusion are pro-cyclical with fluctuating business cycles.

Practical implications

The implication of this observed pro-cyclical effect is that individuals and households will exit the formal financial sector during a recession, as banks become unwilling to lend money to individuals and households during bad times and this will lead to financial exclusion and vice versa. Policymakers seeking to increase the level of financial inclusion in their countries should focus on the timing of financial inclusion policies along the business cycle as the findings suggest that it might be more difficult to achieve financial inclusion objectives during recessions or periods of economic downturns.

Originality/value

The current debate on financial inclusion pays little attention to whether financial inclusion is pro-cyclical with the fluctuating business cycle. This study explores the association between financial inclusion and the business cycle.
Adopting a knowledge translation approach in healthcare co-production. A case study
Authors: Dal Mas Francesca , Biancuzzi Helena , Massaro Maurizio , Miceli Luca
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The paper aims to contribute to the debate concerning the use of knowledge translation for implementing co-production processes in the healthcare sector. The study investigates a case study, in which design was used to trigger knowledge translation and foster co-production.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a case study methodology by analysing the experience of “Oncology in Motion”, a co-production program devoted to the recovery of breast cancer patients carried on by the IRCCS C.R.O. of Aviano, Italy.

Findings

Results show how design could help to translate knowledge from various stakeholders with different skills (e.g. scientists, physicians, nurses) and emotional engagement (e.g. patients and patients' associations) during all the phases of a co-production project to support breast cancer patients in a recovery path. Stewardship theory is used to show that oncology represents a specific research context.

Practical implications

The paper highlights the vast practical contribution that design can have in empowering knowledge translation at different levels and in a variety of co-production phases, among different stakeholders, facilitating their engagement and the achievement of the desired outcomes.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature on knowledge translation in co-production projects in the healthcare sector showing how design can be effectively implemented.
Iraqi Kurdistan Region: from paradiplomacy to protodiplomacy
Authors: Ababakr Yasin Mahmood
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the secessionist orientation of Kurdistan Region’s paradiplomacy in the context of two main variables: the internal structural variables in Iraq after 2003 and the nationalism variable.

Design/methodology/approach

This study relies on the theory of neoliberalism to explain the transformation of Kurdistan’s paradiplomacy to protodiplomacy. It also relies on legal approach through using the Iraqi constitution and the draft constitution for the Kurdistan Region.

Findings

The internal structural variables are one of the main variables to motivate the region with advanced nationalism to pursue a protodiplomacy. Secession or forming an independent state of Kurds is a historic requirement supported by the advanced nationalism of Iraqi Kurds.

Practical implications

This study encourages focusing on the crucial role of the internal structural variables that drive the regions, especially with the advanced nationalism to pursue a protodiplomacy. Also, this study recommends giving more focus on the external variables and Kurdistan’s secession.

Originality/value

This paper reveals the reality of Kurdistan’s protodiplomacy.
Beta 1 adrenoceptor blockade promotes angiogenesis in hypertrophied myocardium of transverse aortic constricted mice
Authors: Kakaraparthi Ajith , Godwin Potnuri Ajay , Allakonda Lingesh
Published: August 2020

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an adaptive structural remodelling consequent to uncontrolled blood pressure. Impaired angiogenesis plays a vital role in transiting LVH into cardiac failure. Catecholamines modulate myocardial function through beta adrenoceptors, and their blockers (β‐AR) reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by decelerating the LVH progression. Nonetheless, the effect of β‐AR blockers on myocardial vascular bed remains largely obscure. Hence, this study is focussed on analysing the possible outcomes of β‐AR blockers on myocardial vascular remodelling using a surgically induced LVH mice model. Transverse aortic constricted mice and sham‐operated mice were administered with metoprolol at a dose of 30 mg/kg/d for 60 days and myocardial vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) alpha levels, GSH/GSSG ratio, myocardial protein carbonyl content, hypertrophy index and global myocardial function, trans‐aortic fluid dynamics and expression pattern of angiopoietin‐1 and VEGF alpha were assessed. These findings were further confirmed by histochemical analysis for myocardial capillary density, perivascular fibrosis ratio and intimal thickening. Sub‐ chronic β‐AR blockade reduced the oxidative stress, hypertrophic index, intimal thickening and perivascular fibrosis ratio. A marked increase in myocardial VEGF, angiopoietin 1, global myocardial function and myocardial capillary density was also observed. There was a reduction in the LVH and upregulation of myocardial angiogenesis concluding that β‐AR blockers prevent adverse vascular remodelling which might underlie its concealed mechanism of action.
Introduction to Special Issue: Think Tanks in the Nordic Countries
Authors: Kelstrup Jesper Dahl
Published: August 2020

Think tanks in the Nordic countries are now frequently referred to in national media, among decision‐makers as well as in academic communities. Based on the literature on think tanks, a consensual and adversarial perspective on their development is advanced. In support of a consensual perspective, the special issue shows that a number of policy think tanks, which play consensual roles in different policy niches, have emerged in the Nordic countries in recent decades. In support of an adversarial perspective, think tank landscapes in the Nordic countries now include advocacy think tanks from both sides of the political spectrum. The mixed think tank landscapes found in the Nordic countries do not constitute a break with consensual policy‐making traditions. Nevertheless, a number of privately funded think tanks, which have increased competition for funding, media visibility and political influence, have supplemented established publicly funded think tanks in particular in Scandinavia.
Transcription factor CncC potentially regulates the expression of multiple detoxification genes that mediate indoxacarb resistance in Spodoptera litura
Authors: Shi Li , Shi Yao , Liu Meng‐Fei , Zhang Ya , Liao Xiao‐Lan
Published: August 2020

The xenobiotic transcription factor cap ‘n’ collar isoform C (CncC) is considered the central regulator of antioxidant and detoxification genes. Previous research indicated that CncC regulates three‐phase enzymes responsible for insecticide resistance. In this study, the SlituCncC gene from Spodoptera litura was obtained and characterized. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis showed that SlituCncC was expressed in all developmental stages and tissues, but was highly expressed in 3rd‐ and 4th‐instar larvae, and in the Malpighian tubule, fat body, and midgut. In addition, SlituCncC was up‐regulated and more highly induced with indoxacarb treatment in the indoxacarb‐resistant strains compared with the susceptible strain. RNA interference‐mediated gene silencing of SlituCncC significantly increased mortality of S. litura when exposed to indoxacarb. Furthermore, comparative transcriptome analysis showed that 842 genes were down‐regulated and 127 genes were up‐regulated in SlituCncC knockdown S. litura. Further analysis indicated that 18 three‐phase enzymes were identified in the down‐regulated genes, of which seven were associated with indoxacarb resistance in S. litura. qPCR analysis confirmed that expression of six of these seven genes was consistent with RNA sequencing data. All six detoxification genes were induced by indoxacarb, and the expression patterns were similar to that of SlituCncC. Finally, the CncC–Maf binding site was predicted in all six gene promoters. This study indicates that the transcription factor SlituCncC may regulate multiple detoxification genes that mediate indoxacarb resistance in S. litura.
Modelling the built environment: Spatial patterns, siting techniques and layout works of non‐monumental architecture in Early Bronze Age Eastern Arabia
Authors: Azzarà Valentina Maria
Published: August 2020

Interest in the built environment of Early Bronze Age (EBA) Eastern Arabia is rapidly increasing with the emergence of new field data from the excavation of settlement sites. However, little is known about architectural planning and spatial patterns in the region. This article explores non‐monumental architecture throughout the third millennium BCE. A series of methods (Pythagorean triples, modular grids, interception of circles) were used to assess the geometric and metric characteristics of buildings, and to stress regularities and variation in the long term. The results of these analyses suggest the application of specific techniques in layout and construction works: the intersection of circles during the Hafit occupations, and more sophisticated techniques, combining the properties of circles and triangles, during the Umm an‐Nar period. The diachronic approach allowed by the temporal span of the occupations highlights a firm progression of architectural paradigms and building crafts throughout the EBA. The evidence hints at the existence of a specialised workforce since the dawn of the Bronze Age, and reveals a sharp increase of technicity and standardisation towards the end of the third millennium.
Food‐specific antibodies in oesophageal secretions: association with trigger foods in eosinophilic oesophagitis
Authors: Peterson Kathryn , Lin Edwin , Saffari Hedieh , Qeadan Fares , Pyne Ashley , Firszt Rafael , Robson Jacob , Gleich Gerald
Published: August 2020

Background

Food antigens are clearly implicated in the induction and persistence of eosinophilic oesophagitis. Dietary elimination to identify triggers is tedious and expensive. Alternatives that can mitigate cost and improve patient quality of life during this process are needed.

Aims

To test the hypothesis that antibodies against foods that trigger eosinophilic oesophagitis are secreted into the oesophageal lumen where they can be collected by oesophageal brushings.

Methods

We evaluated food‐specific immune responses within brushings in 68 patients undergoing endoscopy (12 controls, 13 resolved eosinophilic oesophagitis and 43 active eosinophilic oesophagitis). Seventeen participants identified their trigger foods via food elimination diets. Immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G4 antibodies against the four most common eosinophilic oesophagitis food triggers were measured using the ImmunoCAP assay in the oesophageal brushings. Food‐specific antibody values were compared between active eosinophilic oesophagitis, resolved eosinophilic oesophagitis and controls.

Results

Patients with active eosinophilic oesophagitis (>15 eosinophils/hpf) demonstrated increased immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G4 levels to common eosinophilic oesophagitis triggers compared to controls (327 ± 380 vs 150 ± 130 for immunoglobulin A, and 1534 ± 3346 vs 178 ± 123 for immunoglobulin G4, P < 0.003). Specific trigger foods were associated with elevated immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G4 responses compared to foods that did not trigger oesophageal eosinophilia (733 ± 469 vs 142 ± 64, P < 0.001 immunoglobulin A and 2620 ± 3228 vs 526 ± 1050, P < 0.001 immunoglobulin G4).

Conclusions

Food‐specific antibodies are easily collected along the oesophageal lumen of eosinophilic oesophagitis patients. Further studies are needed to validate our preliminary findings to determine whether these antibodies can be used to guide elimination diet therapy.
Lake Baikal highstand during MIS 3 recorded by palaeo‐shorelines on Bolshoi Ushkanii Island
Authors: Arzhannikov Sergey , Arzhannikova Anastasia , Ivanov Alexei , Demonterova Elena , Yakhnenko Alena , Gorovoy Victor , Jansen John
Published: August 2020

The debate regarding the history of water‐level fluctuations in Lake Baikal extends back to the late 19th century and is rooted in the interpretation of the sequence of palaeo‐shoreline terraces observed around the Baikal trough. Modern studies identify terraces up to 200 m above and down to 40 m below the present‐day Lake Baikal water level, and opinions are split between (i) those who regard the lake‐level fluctuations as a function of shifts in water balance associated with glacial and interglacial periods, and (ii) those who attribute the changes to predominantly tectonic factors, permitting water‐balance fluctuations of not more than a few tens of metres. In either case, a definitive lake‐level scheme must also constrain the relative elevation of the Baikal's outlet, which has not been fixed over time. Here, we focus upon the lake‐level changes over the past 50 000 years with a new set of observations from an outstanding sequence of palaeo‐shoreline terraces on Bolshoi Ushkanii Island located in central Lake Baikal. By determining the 14C age of soils rapidly buried by beach deposits on two terraces, we provide direct evidence of lake‐level highstands at ~120–122 and ~72–83 m during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 (Karginsk interstadial). By integrating these results with the repeated subsidence of Baikal's outlet threshold since MIS 5e, we show that lake‐level fluctuations closely align with swings in glacial and interglacial climate.
Narrative Matters: Understanding The Virgin Suicides – myth, memory and the medical gaze
Authors: Hayes‐Brady Clare , Barrett Elizabeth
Published: August 2020

This essay explores representations of adolescent suicide in contemporary culture, arguing that the novel The Virgin Suicides highlights a resistance to the idea of agency and self‐reflection in young women that inhibits understanding of mental health issues. The essay argues that the novel presents adolescent suicide as unknowable, using mythic and clinical language to distance the reader from the girls' experience and working to mystify and decontextualise suicide. Tracing patterns of representative language through the novel, the essay shows how the sisters of the title are prevented from speaking and being heard, contributing to their suicides. The essay further argues that this representation underscores the need for adolescents to feel heard in medical contexts and that the inclusion of fiction and popular literature in medical education and training may help provide a frame to explore issues related to adolescent mental health and suicide.
Development of Analogical Reasoning: A Novel Perspective From Cross‐Cultural Studies
Authors: Christie Stella , Gao Yang , Ma Qiuchen
Published: August 2020

Analogical reasoning allows children to generate new abstractions from experience, which drives early learning. But our current understanding of analogical learning is based primarily on evidence from the West, and new data from Asia seem to call into question that information. In this article, we describe our finding that East Asian children do not share their Western peers’ strong bias for object similarity—often cited as the major reason for difficulties in relational reasoning. We analyze how this difference affects the ways analogy shapes learning in different cultures, such as what children use as base analogs and their likelihood of using comparison that results in relational abstraction. We also address cross‐cultural differences, which are evident in classroom contexts, since teachers from the United States and East Asia use analogy differently. Overall, cross‐cultural data are necessary to answer critical questions in theories of analogical learning; in this article, we chart pressing research questions and look ahead at directions for the field.
Prognostic factors in medically inoperable early stage lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR): Turkish Radiation Oncology Society Multicentric Study
Authors: Sahin Bilgehan , Atalar Banu , Kaytan Saglam Esra , Akgun Zuleyha , Abacioglu Ufuk , Arifoglu Alptekin , Ozyar Enis , Yaprak Gokhan , Ozseker Isik Naciye , Guney Yıldız , Caglar Hale Basak , Karaman Sule , Igdem Sefik , Selek Ugur , Berber Tanju , Oner Dincbas Fazilet , Sengoz Meric , Yucel Serap , Demiral Ayşe Nur , Akyurek Serap
Published: August 2020

Objective

We identified factors influencing outcomes in patients with medically inoperable early stage lung cancer (MIESLC) treated with stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) at 14 centers in Turkey.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 431 patients with stage I‐II MIESLC treated with SABR from 2009 through 2017. Age; sex; performance score; imaging technique; tumor histology and size; disease stage radiation dose, fraction and biologically effective dose with an α/β ratio of 10 (BED10); tumor location and treatment center were evaluated for associations with overall survival (OS), local control (LC) and toxicity.

Results

Median follow‐up time was 27 months (range 1‐115); median SABR dose was 54 Gy (range 30‐70) given in a median three fractions (range 1‐10); median BED10 was 151 Gy (range 48‐180). Tumors were peripheral in 285 patients (66.1%), central in 69 (16%) and <1 cm from mediastinal structures in 77 (17.9%). Response was evaluated with PET/CT in most cases at a median 3 months after SABR. Response rates were: 48% complete, 36.7% partial, 7.9% stable and 7.4% progression. LC rates were 97.1% at 1 year, 92.6% at 2 years and 91.2% at 3 years; corresponding OS rates were 92.6%, 80.6% and 72.7%. On multivariate analysis, BED10 > 100 Gy (P = .011), adenocarcinoma (P = .025) and complete response on first evaluation (P = .007) predicted favorable LC. BED10 > 120 Gy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1‐3.2, P = .019) and tumor size (<2 cm HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3‐3, P = .003) predicted favorable OS. No grade 4‐5 acute side effects were observed; late effects were grade ≤3 pneumonitis (18 [4.2%]), chest wall pain (11 [2.5%]) and rib fracture (1 [0.2%]).

Conclusion

SABR produced encouraging results, with satisfactory LC and OS and minimal toxicity. BED10 > 120 Gy was needed for better LC and OS for large, non‐adenocarcinoma tumors.
Predictive value of neuron‐specific enolase, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte‐ratio and lymph node metastasis for distant metastasis in small cell lung cancer
Authors: Xia Xiaofang , Li Kejie , Wu Ruoqi , Lv Qiyuan , Deng Xia , Fei Zhenghua , Zou Changlin , Yang Xujing
Published: August 2020

Objective

To investigate the value of neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymph node metastasis in predicating distant metastasis in patients with limited‐stage small cell lung cancer (LD‐SCLC).

Methods

Clinical pathological data of LD‐SCLC patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between August 2009 and October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The age, gender, smoking, TNM, NSE, NLR, chemotherapy cycle, radiotherapy, surgery and new metastasis of lymph nodes of 47 cases with distant metastasis and 47 cases without distant metastasis in 1 year were compared. Finally, factors influencing distant metastasis were determined as the predictors. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve model was established based on logistic regression analysis of the factors obtained.

Results

Distant metastasis mainly involved brain (17/47), liver (17/47) and bone (17/47). Univariate analysis showed that patients with new lymph node metastasis, high NSE, pretreatment hilar lymph node metastasis and NLR were more prone to have distant metastasis. Multivariate analysis showed that new lymph node metastasis, high NSE, NLR and pretreatment hilar lymph node metastasis were independent predictors. The predictive model established using these predictors had an AUC of 0.872 (95%CI: 0.803‐0.941), a sensitivity of 76.60% and a speciality of 80.85%.

Conclusion

The new lymph node metastasis, NLR and NSE are predictors of distant metastasis, and thus, may have a profound impact on treatment decision making. Patients with lower NLR and NSE expression levels and less new metastasis of lymph nodes have a lower distant metastasis rate.
EBUS‐TBNA versus EUS‐B‐FNA for the evaluation of undiagnosed mediastinal lymphadenopathy: The TEAM randomized controlled trial
Authors: Madan Karan , Mittal Saurabh , Madan Neha Kawatra , Tiwari Pavan , Jain Deepali , Arava Sudheer , Hadda Vijay , Mohan Anant , Garg Pramod , Guleria Randeep
Published: August 2020

Background

Endobronchial Ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA) is a standard of care modality for the evaluation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Transesophageal Bronchoscopic Ultrasound‐Guided Fine Needle Aspiration (EUS‐B‐FNA), wherein one introduces the EBUS bronchoscope through the esophageal route, is also a safe and efficacious diagnostic modality for sampling the mediastinal lymph nodes. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield and patient comfort with these two available approaches.

Methods

We randomized subjects with predominant subcarinal or lower left paratracheal mediastinal lymph node enlargement to either EBUS‐TBNA or EUS‐B‐FNA (50 to each group). Co‐Primary objectives were the comparison of adequate and diagnostic aspirates between groups. Key secondary objectives were a comparison of Operator rated cough and Operator rated procedural comfort on Visual Analog scale (VAS), procedure duration and complications between the groups.

Results

Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. The proportion of adequate (EBUS‐TBNA 46/50; 92% and EUS‐B‐FNA 48/50;96%, P = 0.4) and diagnostic aspirates (EBUS‐TBNA 38/50; 76% and EUS‐B‐FNA 36/50;74%, P = 0.4) were similar between the two groups. Operator rated cough was significantly less, and Operator rated patient comfort significantly higher with the EUS‐B‐FNA approach. Procedure duration was significantly shorter with EUS‐B‐FNA [18.1(14.4) minutes versus 16.4 (49.6) minutes, P < 0.001]. Minor complications occurred in one patient in the EBUS‐TBNA group and none in the EUS‐B‐FNA group.

Conclusion

During the endosonographic evaluation for undiagnosed mediastinal lymphadenopathy located at predominantly the subcarinal or lower left paratracheal stations, EUS‐B‐FNA as compared with EBUS‐TBNA provides greater patient comfort with a similar diagnostic yield.
Evaluating resilience as a predictor of outcomes in lung transplant candidates
Authors: Bui Yvonne Tran , Hathcock Matthew A. , Benzo Roberto P. , Budev Marie M. , Chandrashekaran Satish , Erasmus David B. , Lease Erika D. , Levine Deborah J. , Thompson Karin L. , Johnson Bradley K. , Jowsey‐Gregoire Sheila G. , Kennedy Cassie C.
Published: August 2020

Background

Resilience represents the capacity to adapt to adversity. Resilience can improve following behavioral interventions. We examined lung transplant candidates’ resilience as a novel predictor using the Connor‐Davidson Resilience Scale (RISC‐10).

Methods

Waitlisted candidates at six centers were mailed questionnaires from 9/16/2015 to 10/1/2019. Follow‐up surveys were collected annually and post‐transplant. Outcomes were recorded through February 17, 2020. Primary outcome was pre‐transplant death/delisting. Analyses included t test or chi‐square for group comparisons, Pearson's correlation coefficients for strength of relationships, and Cox proportional‐hazard models to evaluate associations with outcomes, adjusting for age, sex, and mood.

Results

Participation was 55.3% (N = 199). Baseline RISC‐10 averaged 32.0 ± 5.6 and did not differ by demographics, primary transplant diagnosis, or disease severity markers. RISC‐10 did not correlate to the commonly utilized Psychosocial Assessment of Candidates for Transplant [PACT] or Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation [SIPAT] tools. Scores < 26.3 (representing > 1 standard deviation below population average) occurred in 16% and were associated with pre‐transplant death or delisting, adjusted Hazard Ratio of 2.60 (95% Confidence Interval 1.23‐5.77; P = .01).

Conclusion

One in six lung candidates had low resilience, predicting increased pre‐transplant death/delisting. RISC‐10 did not correlate with PACT or SIPAT; resilience may represent a novel risk factor.
The Stagnant Export Upgrading in Northeast China: Evidence from Value‐added Tax Reform
Authors: Du Yan , Yang Mengkai , Li Jing , Li Yunong
Published: August 2020

China's 2004 value‐added tax (VAT) pilot reform in the Northeast region, which changed the VAT from production type to consumption type, introduced a sizable tax credit for fixed investment in manufacturing industries, leading to more investment and higher productivity at firm level. This paper, however, uses difference‐in‐difference estimation and finds a negative structural effect; that is, the VAT pilot reform leads to a reduction in the export sophistication of Northeast cities relative to other cities in China, and the results hold for a battery of robustness checks. It is found that resources are reallocated towards less‐sophisticated industries. As the products with higher export sophistication are more skill and research and development (R&D) intensive, the shortfalls of skilled labor and R&D spending hinder the upgrading process. With a new round of revitalization plans in the Northeast, policymakers should be cautious with similar structural effects and focus on increasing skilled labor supply and R&D investment.
Blind assessment of vertebrate taxonomic diversity across spatial scales by clustering environmental DNA metabarcoding sequences
Authors: Marques Virginie , Guérin Pierre‐Édouard , Rocle Mathieu , Valentini Alice , Manel Stéphanie , Mouillot David , Dejean Tony
Published: August 2020

Human activities impact all ecosystems on Earth, which urges scientists to better understand biodiversity changes across temporal and spatial scales. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is a promising non‐invasive method to assess species composition in a wide range of ecosystems. Yet, this method requires the completeness of a reference database, i.e. a list of DNA sequences attached to each species of the regional pool, which is rarely met. As an alternative, molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) can be extracted as clusters of sequences. However, the extent to which the diversity of MOTUs can predict the diversity of species across spatial scales is unknown. Here, we used 196 samples along the Rhone river (France) for which the reference database is complete to assess whether a blind eDNA approach can reliably predict the ground‐truth number of species at different spatial scales. Using the 12S rDNA teleo primer, we curated and clustered 60 million sequences into MOTUs using a new assembled bioinformatic pipeline. We show that stringent quality filters were necessary to remove artefact noise, notably MOTUs present in a single PCR replicate, which represented 55% of MOTUs (103). Post‐clustering cleaning also removed 19 additional erroneous MOTUs and only discarded one truly present species. We then show that the diversity of retained fish MOTUs accurately predicted the local (α, r = 0.98) and regional (γ) ground‐truth species diversity (67 MOTUs versus 63 species), but also the species dissimilarity between samples (β‐diversity, r = 0.98). This work paves the way towards extending the use of eDNA metabarcoding in community ecology and biogeography despite major gaps in genetic reference databases.
Assessment in the Service of Student Learning: Three Cases in Point
Authors: Bond Lloyd
Published: August 2020

Three examples of extant testing practices (i.e., a classroom instructor's use of a simple pre‐post design, the practice of teaching to the test, and the think aloud verbal protocol) are discussed to illustrate the contention that assessment in the service of testing and learning does not necessarily involve radically different assessment practices. It is demonstrated that activities already familiar to teachers and assessment specialists can powerfully inform student learning and teaching practice.