bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Zakahcompliance behavior among entrepreneurs: economic factors approach
Authors: Bin-Nashwan Saeed Awadh , Abdul-Jabbar Hijattulah , Aziz Saliza Abdul , Haladu Alhassan
Published: March 2020

Purpose

As one of the constituted main pillars of Islam,Zakahcompliance (ZC) is mandated upon Muslims from all studies of life. Taking the disappointingly low compliance level in developing countries, including Yemen, as its backdrop, the purpose of this study is to investigate ZC behavior among entrepreneurs, drawing on the economic approach perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a cross-sectional design based on a survey of entrepreneurs in Yemen. It used primary data collected via self-administered questionnaires, involving a sample of 500 participants. A variance-based structural modeling equation-partial least squares were used to measure the instruments and assess the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The findings affirmed the suitability of the economic factors approaches in the context of ZC in a developing country. Specifically, the study demonstrated thatZakahlaw complexity has a significant negative influence on ZC of entrepreneurs. It also found a significant positive relationship between religiosity and ZC among the study sample, whereas the study revealed that law enforcement has no influence on compliance behavior.

Practical implications

Policies and programs focused onZakahlaws and regulations could be formulated to make them less complex and simpler for acceptable levels of ZC. The result is further relevant to policymakers in Muslim communities to strengthen the religious faith of Zakah payers toward compliance with one of the fundamental religious obligations such asZakah.

Originality/value

This study enriches the limited previous studies on actual ZC from the perspective of developing communities, especially Yemen. Most importantly, the value was added to the limited literature internationally from an economic aspect.
Development of occupational therapy in Grangegorman hospital, Dublin: 1934-1954
Authors: Cahill Rebecca , Pettigrew Judith
Published: March 2020

Purpose

In the early to mid-twentieth century, psychiatrist-led occupational therapy departments emerged in Irish psychiatric hospitals. This marked a transition towards establishing rehabilitative services in institutional settings. This paper aims to examine the development of occupational therapy in Grangegorman Mental Hospital and its auxiliary hospital, Portrane Mental Hospital from 1934-1954.

Design/methodology/approach

Historical documentary research methods were used to analyse primary source data from Grangegorman Committee Minutes, Inspector of Mental Hospital Reports, Boroughs of Mental Hospitals, Department of Foreign Affairs documents and newspaper archives. The archival data was analysed using both a chronological and thematic approach.

Findings

The main key event emerged in 1935 when four Grangegorman nursing staff were sent to Cardiff Mental Hospital to undergo a six month training course in occupational therapy. The following themes emerged – “establishing occupational therapy in Grangegorman and Portrane”; “the role of short-course trained nursing staff in providing occupational therapy services” and “therapeutic rationales vs hospital management rationales”.

Originality/value

This study throws light on the early practitioners of occupational therapy in Grangegorman and highlights the complexities of occupational therapy’s role origins in mid-twentieth century Ireland. In line with contemporaneous psychiatric hospitals, the occupational therapy activities promoted in Grangegorman were mainly handicraft or productivity based. The absence of patients’ voices means there are limitations to determining the therapeutic nature of this early occupational therapy service.
Effect of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on for-profit hospitals in the USA
Authors: Koku Paul Sergius
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effect of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on for-profit hospitals in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the event study methodology to examine the stock market’s reaction to the passage of the PPACA.

Findings

The results of the analysis do not show a negative effect; on the contrary, the stock prices of for-profit hospitals increased, on average, by 6%. The cumulative abnormal returns were 5.64% with a generalized z-value of 3.851 with a significance level of 0.001 (two-tailed test). This translates into an average gain of $230,537,096 for the four days (dates) that a positive step was taken in making the Affordable Care Act (ACA) a law of the country.

Practical implications

Because the study suggests that for-profit hospitals will be profitable under the PPACA, one could expect to see growth or, at the minimum, expansion in for-profit hospitals under the Act. Furthermore, and consistent with the principles of marketing, one would expect all the for-profit hospitals, at this nascent stage of the ACA, to pull resources together to promote the benefits of having the ACA.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effect of the PPACA on the operations of for-profit hospitals.
Fuzzy synthetic evaluation of human resource management practices influencing construction labour productivity
Authors: Gurmu Argaw Tarekegn
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The main objective of this research is to identify the most important human resource management (HRM) practices, which have the potential to enhance labour productivity using fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a mixed-methods research design in which qualitative data were collected and analysed during Phase I and quantitative data were analysed during Phase II. Nineteen experts who have experience in building construction projects were involved in interviews conducted in Phase I. During Phase II, quantitative data were collected from contractors that were involved in the delivery of building projects using questionnaires and the data were analysed using FSE technique.

Findings

Clear delegation of responsibility, stability of organisational structure and crew composition are found to be the three most important HRM practices that can enhance productivity in building construction projects. The findings of the study showed that the overall importance index computed using the FSE model is 3.65 (≈ 4) with an equivalent linguistic term of “very important”. The study also suggested that the top three HRM practices should be implemented conjointly as there is no significant difference among their weights.

Originality/value

The output of this research can provide important information regarding the HRM practices in the Australian construction industry. Thus, international developers or contractors who want to do construction business in Australia can implement the essential HRM practices so that the productivity of their construction projects will not be affected negatively.
Environmental responsibility of Croatian road freight transport enterprises
Authors: Kovac Ivan , Vuletic Ante , Mlinarić Danijel
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate corporate environmental responsibility of Croatian road freight transport companies. Additionally, enterprises' ecological responsibility is established in relation to company size.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data was collected through a questionnaire. For this research, 150 Croatian road freight companies were randomly selected, of which 58 completed the questionnaire. Regression and variance analyses were conducted to analyse the data.

Findings

The findings of the study revealed that the companies' level of ecological sustainability reflects their established organisational culture. Companies with more employees and higher revenues had a higher level of ecological responsibility.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the small sample size, the generalisability of the results is questionable. The results of the primary research confirmed that as the company size increased, so did its established organisational culture regarding ecological sustainability. A higher level of ecological sustainability would provide better financial results and other advantages for small companies.

Originality/value

The theoretical contribution of the paper is presented in the literature review, which provides a summary of the importance of establishing sustainable policy for transport companies. Due to the creation of the Croatian road freight market and pressures created by new competitors from the other member countries of European Union, Croatian road freight companies must understand the positive connection between ecological sustainability and an established organisational culture.
Kinematic investigation and fatigue life analysis of angular contact ball bearing in wide speed range based on raceway friction
Authors: Liu Yue
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between fatigue life and kinematics of angular contact ball bearing. It proposes a new modeling method of spin to roll ratio based on raceway friction, which is more accurate than the traditional raceway control theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The uniform model of spin to roll ratio based on raceway friction in a wide speed range is proposed using quasi-statics method, which considers centrifugal force, gyroscopic moment, friction force of raceway and other influencing factors. The accuracy is considerably improved compared with the static model without increasing too much computation.

Findings

A uniform model for spin to roll ratio of angular contact ball bearing based on raceway friction is established, and quite different relationships between fatigue life and speed under two operating conditions are found.

Research limitations/implications

The conclusion of this paper is based on the bearing basic fatigue life calculation theory provided by ISO/TS 16281; however, the accuracy of theory needs to be further verified.

Practical implications

This paper provides guidance for applying angular contact ball bearing, especially at a high speed.

Originality/value

This paper reveals the changing trend of fatigue life of angular contact ball bearing with the speed under different loads.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-01-2020-0030
Architectural award schemes
Authors: Chatzichristou Christakis , Kranos Elias
Published: March 2020

Purpose

By promoting certain design values and priorities, institutionalized award schemes are here seen as important agents in the production and management of a more contemporary form of cultural heritage. The research presented compares the claims and actions of the designers and the evaluating committees regarding bioclimatic considerations in the design of award-winning houses in Cyprus. The analysis looks at the way the basic principles of bioclimatic design have indeed influenced the design and classifies each house for each of the principles considered.

Design/methodology/approach

Highly specialized or quantitative analysis is avoided since what is finally sought after is an evaluation procedure that can be effectively used by a committee composed of practicing architects rather than experts in any field.

Findings

The results suggest that bioclimatic principles do not have a strong impact in the design or in the evaluation by the committee. What this means is that the award systems promote an architectural culture that may use catchy terminology referring to bioclimatic design and sustainability, but they do not give much weight to such criteria when judging the quality of a project.

Originality/value

The originality of the research is twofold: it considers architectural award schemes as agents that currently play a role previously performed by the vernacular in the creation of architectural culture; the analysis tools used are designed in such a way to also be used in the proposal for an improved evaluation procedure.
Knowledge sabotage as an extreme form of counterproductive knowledge behavior: the perspective of the target
Authors: Serenko Alexander
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to explore the existence of knowledge sabotage in the contemporary organization from the perspective of the target.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected and analyzed 172 critical incidents reported by 109 employees who were targets of knowledge sabotage in their organizations.

Findings

Over 50 per cent of employees experienced at least one knowledge sabotage incident. Knowledge sabotage is driven by three factors, namely, gratification, retaliation against other employees and one’s malevolent personality. Knowledge saboteurs are more likely to provide intangible than tangible knowledge. Knowledge sabotage results in extremely negative consequences for individuals, organizations and third parties. Organizations often indirectly facilitate knowledge sabotage among their employees. Both knowledge saboteurs and their targets believe in their innocence – saboteurs are certain that their action was a necessary response to targets’ inappropriate workplace behavior, whereas targets insist on their innocence and hold saboteurs solely responsible.

Practical implications

Organizations should recruit employees with compatible personalities and working styles, introduce inter-employee conflict prevention and resolution procedures, develop anti-knowledge sabotage policies, clearly articulate the individual and organizational consequences of knowledge sabotage and eliminate zero-sum game-based incentives and rewards.

Originality/value

This is the first study documenting knowledge sabotage from the target’s perspective.
Challenges of accountability and development in Nigeria
Authors: Matthew Oluwatoyin Augustina , Babajide Abiola Ayopo , Osabohien Romanus , Adeniji Anthonia , Ewetan Olabanji Olukayode , Adu Omobola , Adegboye Folasade , Olokoyo Felicia Omowunmi , Adediran Oluwasogo , Urhie Ese , Edafe Oluwatosin , Itua Osayande
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges of accountability and development in Nigeria. In the literature, corruption is seen as an indicator of a lack of political accountability in most countries of the world, especially in less developed countries such as Nigeria. The Nigerian Government has taken several actions to address the problems of bad governance and corruption that have impeded economic development, but unfortunately these measures have not yielded the desired results.

Design/methodology/approach

Thus, this study examined accountability and developmental issues in Nigeria using secondary data and then made use of the auto-regressive distributed lag econometric technique to analyze the data.

Findings

The results from the study found that a rise in total government expenditure poses a danger of reducing Nigeria’s economic development in the long run and that control of corruption and political (the institutional variables) has a direct and significant effect on Nigeria’s economic development.

Originality/value

Therefore, upon these findings, this paper recommended that for Nigeria to experience development, corruption should be eliminated, and the Nigerian Government should spend on viable projects and economic activities that will be beneficial to the populace and the society at large and hence bring about economic development. Accountability is the hallmark of a prudent government that ensures efficient management of resources and transparency in the utilization of funds by the government. The absence of accountability mechanism allows corruption to thrive, which hinders the developmental process.
Looking forward instead of backward
Authors: Ng Desmond
Published: March 2020

Purpose

According to behavioral research, aspirations influence a firm's search – exploitive and explorative – for solutions that satisfy a firm's goals. Yet, such goal seeking behavior is adaptive to a firm's past experiences and not to a manager's expectations of its firm's future. A manager's expectations are often explained in terms of their confidence in future events. The purpose of this study is to address the following research question: how does a manager's confidence influence its expectations of a firm's future performance and goals; and how do these future expectations influence a firm's exploitive/explorative search?

Design/methodology/approach

In drawing on cognition and legitimacy research, a conceptual model was developed to explain the antecedents and outcomes of a firm's “forward-looking” aspirations. The antecedents to a firm's forward-looking aspirations are attributed to a manager's overconfidence – anchoring, confirmation and availability – biases. In using strategic legitimacy explanations, these biases introduce distinct types of forward-looking (exploitive/explorative) search that legitimize/de-legitimize a manager's forward-looking aspirations.

Findings

A key finding of this study is that it introduces a strategic decision-making process in which a firm's exploitive/ explorative search is adaptive toward its forward-looking aspirations.

Research limitations/implications

This forward-looking strategic decision-making process offers research implications to understand how a firm's future goals and expectations can offer new understandings of their past experiences and traditions and explains how a manager's overconfidence biases can influence the assessment of a firm's social aspirational groups.

Practical implications

In addition, this study also offers practical implications in which illustrative examples are used to explain this study's forward-looking strategic decision-making process.

Originality/value

A distinct contribution of this study is that it introduces a forward-looking orientation that has not been previously examined the backward focus of behavioral research.
A multi-DOF rotary 3D printer: machine design, performance analysis and process planning of curved layer fused deposition modeling (CLFDM)
Authors: Zhao Donghua , Li Tianqi , Shen Beijun , Jiang Yicheng , Guo Weizhong , Gao Feng
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design and develop a rotary three-dimensional (3D) printer for curved layer fused deposition modeling (CLFDM), and discuss some technical challenges in the development.

Design/methodology/approach

Some technical challenges include, but are not limited to, the machine design and control system, motion analysis and simulation, workspace and printing process analysis, curved layer slicing and tool path planning. Moreover, preliminary experiments are carried out to prove the feasibility of the design.

Findings

A rotary 3D printer for CLFDM has been designed and developed. Moreover, this printer can function as a polar 3D printer for flat layer additive manufacturing (AM). Compared with flat layer AM, CLFDM weakens the staircase effect and improves geometrical accuracy and mechanical properties. Hence, CLFDM is more suitable for parts with curved surfaces.

Research limitations/implications

Double extruders have brought improved build speed. However, this paper is restricted to complex process planning and mechanical structures, which may lead to collisions during printing. Meanwhile, the rotation range of the nozzle is limited by mechanical structures, affecting the manufacturing capability of complex curved surfaces.

Originality/value

A novel rotary 3D printer, which has four degrees of freedom and double extruders, has been designed and manufactured. The investigation on the prototype has proved its capability of CLFDM. Besides, this rotary 3D printer has two working modes, which brings the possibility of flat layer AM and CLFDM.
Determining the antecedents of dynamic supply chain capabilities
Authors: Aslam Haris , Blome Constantin , Roscoe Samuel , Azhar Tashfeen Mehmood
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the antecedents of dynamic supply chain capabilities (DSCCs). The authors test entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and supply chain learning orientation (SCLO) as two antecedents of DSCCs.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses structural equation modelling to test a hypothetical model. Data are gathered from a survey of 275 operations managers in Pakistan’s turbulent manufacturing industry.

Findings

The findings suggest that the weaker direct effects of EO, in comparison to the indirect effects, indicate that an SCLO mediates the relationship between EO and DSCCs.

Research limitations/implications

It is widely accepted that firms do not compete with each other, instead, it is end-to-end supply chains that fight for market dominance. Many scholars use the dynamic capabilities view to understand supply chain level competition. However, the dynamic capabilities view is firm-centric in its examination of how companies transform internal resources to compete in the external environment. The theoretical contribution of this paper is a roadmap of how to build dynamic, supply-chain level and capabilities by determining the key antecedents. This paper explains that DSCCs emerge when buyers and suppliers share strategic orientations. Firms with an EO and the ability to learn with supply chain partners are well-positioned to develop DSCCs. This provides a new angle to theory testing by indicating that dynamic capabilities are enabled by an EO and an ability to learn with supply chain partners.

Practical implications

Managers are given the building blocks of DSCCs, starting with fostering an entrepreneurially-oriented mindset in the company and then learning with supply chain partners. Entrepreneurially-oriented managers are encouraged to take risks and co-develop innovative ideas with suppliers during the supply chain learning process.

Originality/value

This study is one of the earliest efforts to determine the strategic orientations that antecede the emergence of DSCCs.
How leading CEOs drive a differentiating advantage through AI, data analytics and insight
Authors: Berman Saul , Marshall Anthony , Ikeda Kazuaki
Published: March 2020

Purpose

IBM’s latest Global C-suite Study asked 2,131 top executives around the globe about the value they derive from data, how they intend to turn data into a differentiating advantage and how far they have progressed with their plans.

Design/methodology/approach

During the course of the research, researchers identified four distinct kinds of enterprises – torchbearers, aspirationals, explorers and builders – each at a different stage on the path to data leadership. Comparing Torchbearer CEOs with Aspirational CEOs reveals pronounced variations in the performance of the enterprises they run. An example is innovation: 79 percent of Torchbearer CEOs head organizations with a history of operating at the leading edge, versus just 25 percent of Aspirational CEOs.

Findings

The efforts of the leading CEOs to drive a differentiating advantage through AI, data analytics and insight have paid off handsomely: 64 percent of Torchbearer CEOs have presided over superior revenue growth, and 66 percent have delivered outsized profits.

Practical implications

The article offers practitioners guidelines for three key initiatives: 1 Automate intelligently. 2. Strategize with ecosystems. 3. Extract value through new models.

Originality/value

The Torchbearer CEOs in the study show what it takes to become a data leader. These CEOs use AI and intelligent automation to inform their decisions. They promote a culture of belief in data. They make ecosystems a core part of their business strategy. They share data judiciously to gain the benefits of networking without giving away their competitive edge. And they use data to develop new business models with the potential for outsized returns. 10; 10;
Older people’s involvement in healthcare education: views and experiences of older experts by experience
Authors: Thompson Juliana , Tiplady Sue , Cook Glenda
Published: March 2020

Purpose

“Experts by experience' (EBE) involvement in professional health-care education programmes contributes to developing students” caring skills by supporting students’ understanding of the lived experience and reality of service-users’ situations. Also, involvement in health-care education is a beneficial experience for EBEs themselves. This study aims to explore specifically older people’s experiences and perceptions of their involvement of EBE in gerontological education to generate insight into their understanding of this experience.

Design/methodology/approach

In this qualitative study, EBEs contributing to delivery of health-care professional education programmes at a UK university took part in focus groups (n = 14) to discuss their views and experiences of involvement in EBE teaching. Data were analysed using open coding.

Findings

Four themes emerged from the data, suggesting that older EBEs’ involvement in education may be beneficial for their well-being. The four themes were “contributing to improved care”, “having a purpose”, “being included” and “feeling appreciated”.

Practical implications

Findings support the requirement for nurse educators to develop EBE programmes that involve older people as not only a teaching strategy for students but also a method of promoting the health and well-being of the older EBEs.

Originality/value

There is limited research regarding specifically older EBEs’ experiences of involvement in gerontological education. This is an important area of study because involvement in education may constitute a means of engaging in social, community and voluntary activities for older people, which recent UK health policies advocate as methods of promoting and facilitating healthy ageing.
Brand engagement in self-concept (BESC), value consciousness and brand loyalty: a study of generation Z consumers in Malaysia
Authors: Ismail Ahmed Rageh , Nguyen Bang , Chen Junsong , Melewar T.C. , Mohamad Bahtiar
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between brand engagement in self-concept (BESC), value consciousness (VC) and brand loyalty among Generation Z consumers. In addition, the study aims to segment the Generation Z consumers based on BESC and VC and examine the differences between the segments.

Design/methodology/approach

A self-administered questionnaire was developed and administered to a sample of 346 undergraduate students in Malaysia. The hypothesized structural models are tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The study also uses cluster analysis to segment the Generation Z consumers.

Findings

The results reveal that among Generation Z consumers both BESC and VC have a positive effect on brand loyalty. Additionally, the mediation analysis established that BESC plays a mediating role in the relationship between VC and brand loyalty. The study also identified four consumer groups – attentive group, dedicated group, prospective group and switchers group. Furthermore, consumer classification according to BESC can be used by marketers and managers in marketing strategy development.

Originality/value

The study has originality and value in developing and testing a new model linking BESC with VC and brand loyalty. Further, market segmentation on the basis of BESC and VC has been rarely studied. Even less, has been studied among Generation Z consumers and this study fills this important gap.
Expression of small RNAs of Bordetella pertussis colonizing murine tracheas
Authors: Hiramatsu Yukihiro , Suzuki Koichiro , Motooka Daisuke , Nakamura Shota , Horiguchi Yasuhiko
Published: March 2020

We performed RNA sequencing on Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, and identified nine novel small RNAs (sRNAs) that were transcribed during the bacterial colonization of murine tracheas. Among them, four sRNAs were more strongly expressed in vivo than in vitro. Moreover, the expression of eight sRNAs was not regulated by the BvgAS two‐component system, which is the master regulator for the expression of genes contributing to the bacterial infection. The present results suggest a BvgAS‐independent gene regulatory system involving the sRNAs that is active during B. pertussis infection.
Comparable space use by lions between hunting concessions and national parks in West Africa
Authors: Mills Kirby L. , Harissou Yahou , Gnoumou Isaac T. , Abdel‐Nasser Yaye I. , Doamba Benoit , Harris Nyeema C.
Published: March 2020

Spatially varied resources and threats govern the persistence of African lions across dynamic protected areas. An important precursor to effective conservation for lions requires assessing trade‐offs in space use due to heterogeneity in habitat, resources and human presence between national parks (NPs) and hunting areas, the dominant land‐use classifications across their range.

We conducted a large camera survey in West Africa, encompassing three NPs and 11 hunting concessions (HCs) in Burkina Faso and Niger. This equates to half of the 26,500‐km2 transboundary W‐Arly‐Pendjari protected area complex. We combined occupancy and structural equation modelling to disentangle the relative effects of environmental, ecological and anthropogenic variables influencing space use of Critically Endangered lions across 21,430 trap‐nights from 2016 to 2018.

National parks are intended to serve as refuges from human pressures, and thus we expect higher lion occupancy in NPs compared to neighbouring HCs. But because prey availability drove lion occupancy and was comparable between NPs and HCs, lions exhibited no spatial response to management type. Prey availability was primarily influenced by edge effects and natural water availability. Furthermore, water availability and habitat diversity were higher in HCs, possibly outweighing disturbances from higher human occupancy and road density and contributing to comparable lion space use between management types.

Synthesis and applications. We found that lions exhibited no avoidance hunting concessions, despite higher human occupancy than in neighbouring national parks. This may be due to the lions’ heavy reliance on depleted prey populations and preferred habitat characteristics in hunting concessions. We offer potential management interventions to indirectly influence lion space use, such as enhancing water availability and reducing human disturbance at park edges. Our findings provide insight into lion habitat preferences in a system degraded by human pressures and prey depletion, aiding in the understanding of the management's role in the ecology and conservation of apex predators and hunted species.
Predicting postmortem interval based on microbial community sequences and machine learning algorithms
Authors: Liu Ruina , Gu Yuexi , Shen Mingwang , Li Huan , Zhang Kai , Wang Qi , Wei Xin , Zhang Haohui , Wu Di , Yu Kai , Cai Wumin , Wang Gongji , Zhang Siruo , Sun Qinru , Huang Ping , Wang Zhenyuan
Published: March 2020

Microbes play an essential role in the decomposition process but were poorly understood in their succession and behaviour. Previous researches have shown that microbes show predictable behaviour that starts at death and changes during the decomposition process. Research of such behaviour enhances the understanding of decomposition and benefits estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) in forensic investigations, which is critical but faces multiple challenges. In this study, we combined microbial community characterization, microbiome sequencing from different organs (i.e. brain, heart and cecum) and machine learning algorithms [random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM) and artificial neural network (ANN)] to investigate microbial succession pattern during corpse decomposition and estimate PMI in a mouse corpse system. Microbial communities exhibited significant differences between the death point and advanced decay stages. Enterococcus faecalis, Anaerosalibacter bizertensis, Lactobacillus reuteri, and so forth were identified as the most informative species in the decomposition process. Furthermore, the ANN model combined with the postmortem microbial data set from the cecum, which was the best combination among all candidates, yielded a mean absolute error of 1.5 ± 0.8 h within 24‐h decomposition and 14.5 ± 4.4 h within 15‐day decomposition. This integrated model can serve as a reliable and accurate technology in PMI estimation.
“Who generates this city”? Socialist strategy in contemporary London
Authors: Mukherjee Jacob
Published: March 2020

This essay, based on a “militant ethnography” of the attempts of the small radical grassroots activist group, Our London (a pseudonym), to mobilize a collective oppositional politics through activities around an election campaign, engages critically with E. Laclau and C. Mouffe's arguments on discourse and collectivity in Hegemony and Socialist Strategy (London: Verso, 1985). I argue, on the basis of my findings, that while their model does provide insights that help describe the process of building collectivity from among disparate perspectives and identities, we need to go beyond a focus on discourse alone and consider the ways politics is shaped by material contexts. This is necessary if we are to understand the continued appeal of class politics as well as the difficulties in mobilizing collectivity in highly unequal and fragmented cities. From an activist perspective, the essay also highlights how developing a conception of collective interests and a critique of overarching systems of exploitation can be important in building political unity.
Exosome‐derived uterine miR‐218 isolated from cows with endometritis regulates the release of cytokines and chemokines
Authors: Wang Xiangguo , Yao Xinxin , Xie Tongtong , Chang Zhenyu , Guo Yong , Ni Hemin
Published: March 2020

As an inflammation of the endometrium, endometritis can affect fertility and lead to serious economic losses in the dairy industry. Widely found in various tissues and body fluids, exosomes and exosome micro (mi)RNAs have been shown to play an important regulatory role in the immune responses. As one of differentially expressed exosome miRNAs, miR‐218 is involved in the pathogenesis of bovine endometritis. The mechanisms of miR‐218 in regulating the release of cytokines and chemokines in endometritis, however, are poorly understood. Exosomes were isolated from bovine uterine cavity fluid and verified by transmission electron microscopy. An in vitro lipopolysaccharide‐treated cell model for bovine endometritis was then established to evaluate the correlation between exosome‐derived miR‐218 and the immune responses. We demonstrated that exosomes could be used to deliver miR‐218 from endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) into the uterine microenvironment and adjacent recipient cells to modulate local immune responses. miR‐218 packaged in the exosomes secreted from EECs acts as an inhibitor by blocking immune factors such as interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐1β, tumour necrosis factor‐α, the chemokines macrophage inflammatory genes (MIP)‐1α and MIP‐1β to maintain the immune balance in the uterus. However, uterine inflammation altered the immunoregulatory mechanism of exosome miR‐218. MiR‐218 is a potential biomarker for the detection of endometritis. Our findings also revealed a new mechanism for the development of endometritis in cows.
The influence of maternal obesity on pregnancy intention: A cross‐sectional analysis
Authors: Berkemeier Sophia , Cheney Kate , Farber Rachel , Sim Kyra A. , Black Kirsten I.
Published: March 2020

This prospective cross‐sectional study of 1498 pregnant women in early pregnancy sought to investigate the prevalence of pregnancy intention between women of differing body mass index (BMI) categories. There was no difference in the risk of unintended pregnancy between women who were in the healthy weight, overweight or obesity BMI categories. The study identifies and highlights the potential missed opportunities for all women to engage in healthy reproductive life planning behaviours to support health in pregnancy and beyond.
Letter: immunogenicity of infliximab—ready for routine prediction? Authors' reply
Authors: Wilson Aze , Peel Celeste , Wang Qian , Pananos A. Demetri , Kim Richard B.
Published: March 2020

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Wilson et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15563 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15584.
Child maltreatment is linked to difficulties in identifying with social groups as a young adult
Authors: Sani Fabio , Herrera Marina , Bielawska Karolina
Published: March 2020

Subjective feelings of disconnectedness from social groups have been found to be detrimental to mental health. However, little is known about the factors determining people’s ability to attach to groups. We contend that child maltreatment will impair people’s ability to group identification across the lifespan, and present a cross‐sectional study involving 396 young adults from Spain, aimed at testing this hypothesis. Results reveal that, as expected, a greater degree of maltreatment received before the age of 14 is linked to a lower number of social groups one identifies with, even after controlling for current levels of depression, anxiety, and borderline personality.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Experiencing a subjective sense of identification with groups promotes well‐being and psychological adjustment.

Subjective feelings of disconnectedness from social groups are detrimental to mental health.

What does this study add?

Little is known about the factors determining people’s ability to identify with groups. Child maltreatment is analysed as an important distal determinant of this ability.

Child maltreatment thwarts people’s ability to develop a sense of belonging to social groups.

A greater degree of maltreatment received before the age of 14 is linked to a lower number of social groups young adults identifies with, after controlling for core mental health dimensions.
Ternary complex formation of AFN‐1252 with Acinetobacter baumannii FabI and NADH: Crystallographic and biochemical studies
Authors: Rao Narasimha K , Nataraj Vijayashankar , Ravi Mohan , Panchariya Love , Palai Kirttija , Talapati Sumalatha R. , Lakshminarasimhan Anirudha , Ramachandra Murali , Antony Thomas
Published: March 2020

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic Gram‐negative bacterial pathogen, associated mostly with hospital‐acquired infections. The emergence of drug resistance strains made it necessary to explore new pathways for the development of more effective antibiotics. Enoyl CoA reductase (FabI), a key enzyme in the fatty acid biosynthesis (FAS) pathway, has emerged as a potential target for antibacterial drug development. Earlier reports show that the lead SaFabI inhibitor AFN‐1252 can inhibit FabI from other organisms including Escherichia coli and Burkholderia pseudomallei, but with differential potency. In the present work, we show that AFN‐1252 is a moderate inhibitor of AbFabI with an IC50 of 216 nM. AFN‐1252 stabilized AbFabI with a 4.2°C increase in the melting temperature (Tm) and, interestingly, the stabilization effect was significantly increased in presence of the cofactor NADH (∆Tm = 17°C), suggesting the formation of a ternary complex AbFabI: AFN‐1252: NADH. X‐ray crystallography studies of AbFabI co‐crystalized with AFN‐1252 and NADH confirmed the ternary complex formation. The critical interactions of AFN‐1252 with AbFabI and NADH identified from the co‐crystal structure may facilitate the design and development of new drugs against A. baumannii infections by targeting the FAS pathway.
Children's perspectives on their economic activity—Diversity, motivations and parental awareness
Authors: Xolocotzin Ulises , Jay Tim
Published: March 2020

This research investigates how children from an affluent city in the UK exercise agency to construct their economic worlds. A survey (n = 484) showed that children (ages 10 to 14 years) conduct a range of monetary and non‐monetary activities. A second study (n = 83) with diaries, self‐documentation, and parental questionnaires, showed that children's economic activity involves individual and social motivations, occurs in formal and informal contexts, and is often self‐regulated. Parents acknowledge children's monetary activities and neglect non‐monetary activities. The results suggest that children's agency unfolds in diverse economic activities shaped by contextual factors and interactions with peers and parents, thereby supporting a relational view of children's agency.
Should China Join the New Trans‐Pacific Partnership?
Authors: Petri Peter A. , Plummer Michael G.
Published: March 2020

After President Donald Trump's ill‐advised pullout from the Trans‐Pacific Partnership (TPP) and despite the absence of the US, the remaining 11 Asian and Pacific countries agreed on a deal, renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans‐Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The accord took effect on 30 December 2018 and provides rigorous, up‐to‐date rules for Asia‐Pacific trade, but excludes the region's two biggest economies: the US and China. In this paper, we calculate that Chinese membership in the CPTPP would yield large economic and political benefits to China and other members. The CPTPP, in its current form, would generate global income gains estimated at US$147bn annually. If China were to join, these gains would quadruple to US$632bn, or a quarter more than in the original TPP with the US. But to join the CPTPP, China would have to undertake unprecedented reforms and manage complex political challenges.
Empagliflozin reduces the risk of mortality and hospitalization for heart failure across Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction Risk Score for Heart Failure in Diabetes categories: Post hoc analysis of the EMPA‐REG OUTCOME trial
Authors: Verma Subodh , Sharma Abhinav , Zinman Bernard , Ofstad Anne Pernille , Fitchett David , Brueckmann Martina , Wanner Christoph , Zwiener Isabella , George Jyothis T. , Inzucchi Silvio E. , Butler Javed , Mazer C. David
Published: March 2020

Aim

To investigate the association of the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) Risk Score for Heart Failure in Diabetes (TRS‐HFDM) with mortality using data from the EMPA‐REG OUTCOME trial.

Materials and Methods

In EMPA‐REG OUTCOME, patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) disease (N = 7020) received the sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitor, empagliflozin, 10 or 25 mg or placebo. Post hoc, patients were stratified into risk categories (low‐intermediate, high, very‐high risk scores) using baseline TRS‐HFDM. Cox regression analyses evaluated the association of TRS‐HFDM categories with all‐cause mortality (ACM), CV death, hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) and CV death (excluding fatal stroke) or HHF, and whether empagliflozin reduced the risk of CV outcomes across these risk categories.

Results

In placebo patients, increasing risk category was associated with a higher risk of ACM, CV death, and HHF. Empagliflozin reduced the risk of ACM (low‐intermediate HR 0.68 [95% CI 0.48, 0.97] and very‐high 0.69 [0.52, 0.91]), CV death (0.75 [0.48, 1.18] and 0.56 [0.41, 0.78]), HHF (0.53 [0.28, 1.01] and 0.67 [0.48, 0.96]), and CV death or HHF (0.69 [0.46, 1.03]) and (0.64 [0.49, 0.82]) across all risk categories versus placebo. Higher absolute risk reductions (ARRs) were observed for CV death in the very‐high versus low‐intermediate category (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Applied to EMPA‐REG OUTCOME, higher TRS‐HFDM was associated with increased HHF and mortality risk. Empagliflozin reduced CV outcomes across TRS‐HFDM categories. Higher ARRs were associated with higher risk scores.
Semaglutide improves health‐related quality of life versus placebo when added to standard of care in patients with type 2 diabetes at high cardiovascular risk (SUSTAIN 6)
Authors: Jódar Esteban , Michelsen Marie , Polonsky William , Réa Rosangela , Sandberg Anna , Vilsbøll Tina , Warren Mark , Harring Signe , Ziegler Uwe , Bain Stephen
Published: March 2020

Aim

To assess what drives change in health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in type 2 diabetes in the SUSTAIN 6 trial and identify potential mediators of the treatment effect of semaglutide on HRQoL scores.

Materials and Methods

The Short Form (SF)‐36v2® questionnaire [comprising physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS)] was used to assess changes in HRQoL from baseline to week 104, by treatment, in a prespecified analysis. This post‐hoc analysis assessed change in PCS and MCS using the following factors as parameter/covariate, using descriptive statistics and linear regressions: major adverse cardiac events, hypoglycaemia, gastrointestinal adverse events, at least one episode of nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea, and change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight, blood pressure, heart rate and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

Results

Mean change in overall PCS score was +1.0 with semaglutide versus +0.4 with placebo, and +0.5 versus −0.2 for MCS. The treatment effect of semaglutide versus placebo (unadjusted estimate) was 0.7 [(95% confidence interval 0.1, 1.2); P = 0.018] on PCS and this was reduced when adjusted for change in HbA1c [0.4 (−0.2, 1.0), P = .167] and body weight [0.3 (−0.3, 0.9), P = .314]. The unadjusted treatment effect on MCS [0.7 (−0.0, 1.5), P = .054] was only reduced when adjusted for change in HbA1c [0.3 (−0.4, 1.1), P = .397]. When adjusting for all other parameters separately, the estimated effect of semaglutide on PCS and MCS qualitatively did not change.

Conclusions

Semaglutide improved HRQoL versus placebo; greater improvements with semaglutide versus placebo were possibly mediated, in part, by change in HbA1c and body weight.

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01720446 (SUSTAIN 6).
Cognitive processing speed in multiple sclerosis clinical practice: association with patient‐reported outcomes, employment and magnetic resonance imaging metrics
Authors: Macaron G. , Baldassari L. E. , Nakamura K. , Rao S. M. , McGinley M. P. , Moss B. P. , Li H. , Miller D. M. , Jones S. E. , Bermel R. A. , Cohen J. A. , Ontaneda D. , Conway D. S.
Published: March 2020

Background and purpose

To analyze the relationship between cognitive processing speed, patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs), employment and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metrics in a large multiple sclerosis cohort.

Methods

Cross‐sectional clinical data, PROMs, employment and MRI studies within 90 days of completion of the Processing Speed Test (PST), a technology‐enabled adaptation of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, were collected. MRI was analyzed using semi‐automated methods. Correlations of PST score with PROMs and MRI metrics were examined using Spearman’s rho. Wilcoxon rank sum testing compared MRI metrics across PST score quartiles and linear regression models identified predictors of PST performance. Effects of employment and depression were also investigated.

Results

In 721 patients (mean age 47.6 ± 11.4 years), PST scores were significantly correlated with all MRI metrics, including cord atrophy and deep gray matter volumes. Linear regression demonstrated self‐reported physical disability, cognitive function, fatigue and social domains (adjusted R2 = 0.44, P < 0.001) as the strongest clinical predictors of PST score, whereas that of MRI variables included T2 lesion volume, whole‐brain fraction and cord atrophy (adjusted R2 = 0.42, P < 0.001). An inclusive model identified T2 lesion volume, whole‐brain fraction, self‐reported upper extremity function, cognition and social participation as the strongest predictors of PST score (adjusted R2 = 0.51, P < 0.001). There was significant effect modification by depression on the relationship between self‐reported cognition and PST performance. Employment status was associated with PST scores independent of age and physical disability.

Conclusion

The PST score correlates with PROMs, MRI measures of focal and diffuse brain injury, and employment. The PST score is a feasible and meaningful measure for routine multiple sclerosis care.