bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gas turbine gas-path fault identification using nested artificial neural networks
Authors: Fentaye Amare D. , Baheta Aklilu T. , Gilani Syed Ihtsham Ul-Haq
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a quantitative fault diagnostic technique for a two-shaft gas turbine engine applications.

Design/methodology/approach

Nested artificial neural networks (NANNs) were used to estimate the progressive deterioration of single and multiple gas-path components in terms of mass flow rate and isentropic efficiency indices. The data required to train and test this method are attained from a thermodynamic model of the engine under steady-state conditions. To evaluate the tolerance of the method against measurement uncertainties, Gaussian noise values were considered.

Findings

The test results revealed that this proposed method is capable of quantifying single, double and triple component faults with a sufficiently high degree of accuracy. Moreover, the authors confirmed that NANNs have derivable advantages over the single structure-based methods available in the public domain, particularly over those designed to perform single and multiple faults together.

Practical implications

This method can be used to assess engine’s health status to schedule its maintenance.

Originality/value

For complicated gas turbine diagnostic problems, the conventional single artificial neural network (ANN) structure-based fault diagnostic technique may not be enough to get robust and accurate results. The diagnostic task can rather be better done if it is divided and shared with multiple neural network structures. The authors thus used seven decentralized ANN structures to assess seven different component fault scenarios, which enhances the fault identification accuracy significantly.
Consumer supply-chain demands and challenges at farmers’ markets
Authors: Garner Benjamin , Ayala Cesar
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine consumer demands for local foods at a farmers’ market. This includes examining both what products consumers want more of at the market and also what factors influence consumers’ attendance for a weekday farmers’ market.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was based on open-ended comments from a market survey of 270 participants in a farmers’ market in the USA.

Findings

This study revealed that consumers want more products at the farmers’ market that require significant resources and time to grow, such as meat and fruit. Consumers reported that they would be more likely to attend a weekday market if it had better hours of operation and better selection. Consumer comments also revealed that consumers often perceive the market to run out of products and not have the full supply that they want to purchase.

Research limitations/implications

This research represents qualitative insights at one farmers’ market in the USA. While there are observations that may transfer to other markets, caution should be used when generalizing these findings.

Practical implications

This research is informative for farmers in providing them a list of consumer demands and also highlights the ways farmers need to make their market convenient to consumer work and life patterns.

Originality/value

This work adds value to the literature by expanding our understanding of specific foods customers see as limited in the farmers’ market, and it also provides much needed information regarding consumer behavior and weekday market attendance, which is not discussed as often in the literature.
Homoclinic breather waves, rogue waves and solitary waves for a (3 + 1)-dimensional generalized Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation
Authors: Feng Lian-Li , Zhang Tian-Tian
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find homoclinic breather waves, rogue waves and soliton waves for a (3 + 1)-dimensional generalized Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (gKP) equation, which can be used to describe the propagation of weakly nonlinear dispersive long waves on the surface of a fluid.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply the extended Bell polynomial approach, Hirota’s bilinear method and the homoclinic test technique to find the rogue waves, homoclinic breather waves and soliton waves of the (3 + 1)-dimensional gKP equation.

Findings

The results imply that the gKP equation admits rogue waves, homoclinic breather waves and soliton waves. Moreover, the authors also find that rogue waves can come from the extreme behavior of the breather solitary wave. The authors analyze the propagation and interaction properties of these solutions to better understand the dynamic behavior of these solutions.

Originality/value

These results may help us to further study the local structure and the interaction of waves in KP-type equations. It is hoped that the results can help enrich the dynamic behavior of such equations.
Unsteady MHD boundary layer flow of tangent hyperbolic two-phase nanofluid of moving stretched porous wedge
Authors: Mahdy A. , Chamkha Ali J.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the thermo-physical impacts of unsteady magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) boundary layer flow of non-Newtonian tangent hyperbolic nanofluid past a moving stretching wedge. To delineate the nanofluid, the boundary conditions for normal fluxes of the nanoparticle volume fraction are chosen to be vanish.

Design/methodology/approach

The local similarity transformation is implemented to reformulate the governing PDEs into coupled non-linear ODEs of higher order. Then, numerical solution is obtained for the simplified governing equations with the aid of finite difference technique.

Findings

Numerical calculations point out that pressure gradient parameter leads to improve all skin friction coefficient, rate of heat transfer and absolute value of rate of nanoparticle concentration. As well as, lager values of Weissenberg number tend to upgrade the skin friction coefficient, while power law index and velocity ratio parameter reduce the skin friction coefficient. Again, the horizontal velocity component enhances with upgrading power law index, unsteadiness parameter, velocity ratio parameter and Darcy number and it reduces with rising values of Weissenberg number.

Originality/value

A numerical treatment of unsteady MHD boundary layer flow of tangent hyperbolic nanofluid past a moving stretched wedge is obtained. The problem is original.
Maturing the lean capability of front-line operations supervisors
Authors: Sisson Julie A.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Research has shown that one of the reasons lean transformations fail is inadequate lean knowledge of supervisors. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the development of a lean training program for front-line manufacturing supervisors to provide them with the knowledge needed to engage their teams in daily continuous improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted on best practices in training design for positive transfer. Action research using qualitative methodologies was used to develop and pilot a new lean leadership training program for supervisors at one site within a case study company. The pilot was evaluated and continuously improved for future waves of training, consistent with action research, lean philosophies and training best practices.

Findings

Employee engagement has dramatically increased since the training class began and the number of lean improvements implemented in Operations at the case study company has increased 160 per cent. Manufacturing lead-time has also been reduced by more than 30 per cent. Because of the positive results from the training, it has been expanded at the pilot site and spread to other sites within the case study company.

Research limitations/implications

As with any case study, one must take care when attempting to generalize findings beyond the case being examined. However, the pilot training program was successfully extended to several sites across different business segments of the case study company, increasing the likelihood that similar results may apply in other cases.

Originality/value

The case provides empirical evidence of the development of an effective training program to mature the lean capability of supervisors. Other companies seeking to provide training to develop front-line lean leaders can benefit from the lessons learned from the case study.
Lessons from nearly a century of the brand management system
Authors: Aimé Isabelle , Berger-Remy Fabienne , Laporte Marie-Eve
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to perform a historical analysis of the brand management system (BMS) to understand why and how, over the past century, the BMS has become the dominant marketing organizational model across Western countries and sectors and what the lessons can be learned from history to enlighten its current changes in today’s digitized environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on Low and Fullerton’s work (1994), the paper traces the evolution of the BMS from its creation in the 1930s to the recent digital era. Data from various sources – research papers, historical business books, case studies, newspaper articles and internal documents – are analyzed to inform an intellectual historical analysis of the BMS’s development.

Findings

The paper uses the prism of institutional isomorphism to highlight four distinct periods that show that the BMS has gradually imposed itself on the Western world and managed to adapt to an ever-changing environment. Moreover, it shows that in the current digital age, the BMS is now torn between two opposing directions: the brand manager should act as both absolute expert and galvanic facilitator and the BMS needs to reinvent itself once again.

Originality/value

This paper provides a broad perspective on the BMS function to help marketing scholars, historians and practitioners gain a better understanding of the issues currently facing the BMS and its relevance in the digital age.
Correlational analysis of topic specificity and citations count of publication venues
Authors: Daud Ali , Amjad Tehmina , Siddiqui Muazzam Ahmed , Aljohani Naif Radi , Abbasi Rabeeh Ayaz , Aslam Muhammad Ahtisham
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Citation analysis is an important measure for the assessment of quality and impact of academic entities (authors, papers and publication venues) used for ranking of research articles, authors and publication venues. It is a common observation that high-level publication venues, with few exceptions (Nature, Science and PLOS ONE), are usually topic specific. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the claim correlation analysis between topic specificity and citation count of different types of publication venues (journals, conferences and workshops).

Design/methodology/approach

The topic specificity was calculated using the information theoretic measure of entropy (which tells us about the disorder of the system). The authors computed the entropy of the titles of the papers published in each venue type to investigate their topic specificity.

Findings

It was observed that venues usually with higher citations (high-level publication venues) have low entropy and venues with lesser citations (not-high-level publication venues) have high entropy. Low entropy means less disorder and more specific to topic and vice versa. The input data considered here were DBLP-V7 data set for the last 10 years. Experimental analysis shows that topic specificity and citation count of publication venues are negatively correlated to each other.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to discover correlation between topic sensitivity and citation counts of publication venues. It also used topic specificity as a feature to rank academic entities.
Characteristics of cereal flakes manufactured using date syrup in place of sugar
Authors: Aljobair Moneera Othman
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sensory properties and chemical composition of corn and sorghum flakes manufactured using 25, 50, 75 and 100 per cent date syrup (DS), instead of sugar.

Design/methodology/approach

Ten individuals assessed the overall acceptability, taste, texture and aroma of flakes. The chemical composition of each type of flake was determined, and these characteristics compared with those of control corn and sorghum flakes (without DS).

Findings

The overall acceptability of sorghum flakes ranged from 6.3 (100 per cent DS flakes) to 6.8 (25 per cent DS flakes); however, the difference was not significant. Values for taste, texture and aroma of sorghum flakes ranged from 5.3 (taste of 100 per cent DS flakes) to 7.2 (texture of 25 per cent DS flakes). For corn flakes, values ranged from 6.20 (aroma of 100 per cent DS flakes) to 7.20 (texture of 25 per cent DS flakes). For both sorghum and corn, the colors of 25-100 per cent DS flakes were significantly different from controls (p = 0.0002). The total carbohydrate, fat, protein and ash contents were 81.669 per cent, 1.545 per cent, 13.27 per cent and 3.52 per cent for corn flour, and 83.38-85.78 per cent, 1.7-2.0 per cent, 10.02-12.13 per cent and 2.36-3.92 per cent for sorghum flour, respectively. The total carbohydrate, fat, protein and ash contents were 81.63 per cent, 5.75 per cent, 9.80 per cent and 2.82 per cent for corn, and 86.31-84.99 per cent, 3.15-4.27 per cent, 7.64-7.94 per cent and 2.92-2.79 per cent for sorghum flakes, respectively.

Originality/value

Corn and sorghum flakes produced with DS are acceptable to consumers, and their nutrient values indicate potential health benefits.
What the fake? Assessing the extent of networked political spamming and bots in the propagation of #fakenews on Twitter
Authors: Al-Rawi Ahmed , Groshek Jacob , Zhang Li
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine one of the largest data sets on the hashtag use of #fakenews that comprises over 14m tweets sent by more than 2.4m users.

Design/methodology/approach

Tweets referencing the hashtag (#fakenews) were collected for a period of over one year from January 3 to May 7 of 2018. Bot detection tools were employed, and the most retweeted posts, most mentions and most hashtags as well as the top 50 most active users in terms of the frequency of their tweets were analyzed.

Findings

The majority of the top 50 Twitter users are more likely to be automated bots, while certain users’ posts like that are sent by President Donald Trump dominate the most retweeted posts that always associate mainstream media with fake news. The most used words and hashtags show that major news organizations are frequently referenced with a focus on CNN that is often mentioned in negative ways.

Research limitations/implications

The research study is limited to the examination of Twitter data, while ethnographic methods like interviews or surveys are further needed to complement these findings. Though the data reported here do not prove direct effects, the implications of the research provide a vital framework for assessing and diagnosing the networked spammers and main actors that have been pivotal in shaping discourses around fake news on social media. These discourses, which are sometimes assisted by bots, can create a potential influence on audiences and their trust in mainstream media and understanding of what fake news is.

Originality/value

This paper offers results on one of the first empirical research studies on the propagation of fake news discourse on social media by shedding light on the most active Twitter users who discuss and mention the term “#fakenews” in connection to other news organizations, parties and related figures.
Biodiversity reporting and organised hypocrisy
Authors: Maroun Warren , Usher Kieran , Mansoor Hafsa
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to examine biodiversity reporting by South African food producers and retailers. It not only draws attention to the disconnect between reporting on an important environmental issue and the sense of commitment to environmental responsibility, but also shows that over time, organisations are becoming more proactive about biodiversity reporting.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses a content analysis of sustainability and integrated reports and organised hypocrisy as a theoretical framework for analysing biodiversity-related disclosures.

Findings

Consistent with an organised hypocrisy framework, the research finds that the several companies rely on corporate reporting to emphasise actions and internal management strategies that are already producing favourable results. In contrast, mission statements, firm policy commitments and forward-looking analysis are avoided. There is, however, evidence to suggest that the gaps between corporate reporting and action may be giving companies the time to reform their practices, align biodiversity disclosures with genuine corporate action and move towards truly integrated business models.

Research limitations/implications

Poor biodiversity reporting raises questions about the extent to which companies are managing serious environmental issues that can have a direct impact on their business models. Improvements in biodiversity reporting also suggest that corporate reporting is maturing and that some organisations are beginning to understand the need for managing their biodiversity impact.

Originality/value

The paper offers empirical evidence on how the disconnect between organisational rhetoric and action is used to manage stakeholder expectations and negate the need for environmental reforms. In this manner, organised hypocrisy is framed as a specific legitimisation strategy. The research also shows that organised hypocrisy is not absolute; despite the opportunity to engage in organised hypocrisy, some companies are taking a more proactive approach to biodiversity reporting. As a result, it may be appropriate to see organised hypocrisy as part of a transition to higher quality integrated or sustainability reporting.
In‐situ microbially induced Ca2+‐alginate polymeric sealant for seepage control in porous materials
Authors: Cheng Liang , Yang Yang , Chu Jian
Published: October 2018

This paper presents a novel approach of using in‐situ microbially induced Ca2+‐alginate polymeric sealant for seepage control in porous materials. This process comprises two steps: (i) generation of insoluble calcium carbonate inside the pores of porous materials (such as sand) through a microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) process in‐situ and (ii) injection of sodium alginate for in‐situ gelation via reaction between alginate and Ca2+ ions. The experimental results showed that the hydraulic conductivity/permeability of sand decreased with the increase in alginate concentration. When 5% alginate was used with a CaCO3 concentration of 0.18 g g−1 sand, the permeability of the alginate‐treated sand reduced from 5.0 × 10−4 to 2.2 × 10−9 m s−1. The scanning electron microscopy images revealed that a film‐type coating was formed around sand particles with spherical round crystals embedded. Furthermore, the in‐situ formed Ca‐alginate polymeric sealant can also be used for the removal of Cu2+ ion and suspended particles from contaminated water by more than 90%. Built on the current research, the envisioned practical application of the proposed method may include clogging fractured rock, reducing seepage and prevent piping through dams, excavation dewatering, and forming barriers for remediating specific contaminants.
Application of the uridine auxotrophic host and synthetic nucleosides for a rapid selection of hydrolases from metagenomic libraries
Authors: Urbelienė Nina , Kutanovas Simonas , Meškienė Rita , Gasparavičiūtė Renata , Tauraitė Daiva , Koplūnaitė Martyna , Meškys Rolandas
Published: October 2018

A high‐throughput method (≥ 106 of clones can be analysed on a single agar plate) for the selection of ester‐hydrolysing enzymes was developed based on the uridine auxotrophy of Escherichia coli strain DH10B ΔpyrFEC and the acylated derivatives 2′,3′,5′‐O‐tri‐acetyluridine and 2′,3′,5′‐O‐tri‐hexanoyluridine as the sole source of uridine. The proposed approach permits the selection of hydrolases belonging to different families and active towards different substrates. Moreover, the ester group of the substrate used for the selection, at least partly, determined the specificity of the selected enzymes.
Retrenchment as a Screening Mechanism: Power Shifts, Strategic Withdrawal, and Credible Signals
Authors: Yoder Brandon K.
Published: October 2018

Both advocates and opponents of retrenchment have treated it as an undesirable, last‐ditch strategy for states that have already experienced severe decline. This article presents a formal model that identifies an unrecognized benefit of retrenchment: It can provide declining states with valuable information about rising states' future intentions. By removing constraints over the behavior of rising states in a particular region, a declining state can induce hostile risers to attempt revision of the regional order. This, in turn, makes a riser's cooperative behavior more credible as a signal of benign intentions, allowing the decliner to oppose hostile types while accommodating benign ones. In contrast to the existing focus on retrenchment as a desperate strategy taken from a position of weakness, this article suggests that the informational benefits of retrenchment are greatest when it is undertaken early, from a position of strength.
Aviation‐based teamwork skills work for surgeons: time for an ‘aviation bundle’?
Authors: Pal Atanu , Lal Roshan , Frizelle Frank
Published: October 2018

Background

Aviation systems were developed to improve safety and have achieved remarkable results. Medicine has looked to replicate these systems; however, the gap in outcomes between the two industries remains vast. Bridging this chasm requires an in‐depth analysis of the applicability of the aviation safety model in surgery. This study uses qualitative methods to explore how aviation‐based practices may be adapted and applied more effectively in theatre.

Methods

Data were collected using multiprofessional focus groups in a single centre. The focus groups involved discussion around teamwork and aviation‐based non‐technical skills. With consent, audio recordings were anonymized and transcribed. Qualitative (thematic) analysis was used to identify themes.

Results

Five focus groups were conducted. Eight themes emerged, with a total of 18 sub‐themes. Themes were: current practice, customization, applicability, team performance, human factors, analogy, incidents and integration of skills. Extent and limitations of the aviation surgery analogy also emerged.

Conclusions

The new insights gained through this qualitative analysis highlight the need to tailor aviation‐based practices to the operating theatre. To achieve this, we propose the ‘aviation bundle’ of non‐technical skills. This blueprint aims to promote a culture of safety and efficiency in surgical practice and could be developed into a training programme for theatre staff.
Clinical value of preoperative CA19‐9 levels in evaluating resectability of gallbladder carcinoma
Authors: Liu Fei , Wang Jun‐Ke , Ma Wen‐Jie , Yang Qin , Hu Hai‐Jie , Li Fu‐Yu
Published: October 2018

Background

This study evaluated the predictive ability of preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 (CA19‐9) level in assessing tumour resectability in patients with gallbladder carcinoma (GBC).

Methods

We retrospectively analysed preoperative serum levels of CA19‐9 in 292 patients with potentially resectable GBC between January 2000 and March 2016 in our institution. All final diagnoses were confirmed by pathological examination. The optimal cut‐off point of the CA19‐9 for predicting resectability was determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve. The univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression model were applied to assess the relationship between the parameters to resectability.

Results

A total of 292 patients with surgical treatment were included, of whom 195 were identified as curative resection (R0 resection), 69 were classified as R1/2 resection and the remaining 28 patients were operated on with palliative surgery. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis calculated the best CA19‐9 cut‐off point of 98.91 U/mL in the prediction of resectability. Meanwhile, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 76.3%, 70.8%, 85.7% and 56.5%, respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, CA19‐9 >98.91 U/mL (odds ratio (OR) 6.339, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.562–11.284, P < 0.001), tumour located on hepatic side (OR 1.787, 95% CI 1.022–3.123, P = 0.042) and advanced American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (OR 2.156, 95% CI 1.180–3.940, P = 0.013) were independent determinants of resectability in patients diagnosed as GBC.

Conclusion

Preoperative CA19‐9 predicts resectability in patients with radiological resectable GBC. Increased preoperative CA19‐9 is related to poor resectability rate.
The Impact of Autonomy‐Framed and Control‐Framed Implementation Intentions on Snacking Behaviour: The Moderating Effect of Eating Self‐Efficacy
Authors: Churchill Susan , Pavey Louisa , Sparks Paul
Published: October 2018

Background

Autonomy‐supportive implementation intention exercises have been shown to facilitate goal‐directed behaviour (Koestner et al., ). The current study explored whether eating self‐efficacy moderated the impact of autonomy‐framed versus control‐framed implementation intentions to reduce high‐calorie snack intake.

Methods

The study employed a randomised prospective design, involving two waves of data collection conducted in 2016. At Time 1, UK participants (N = 300) completed an online questionnaire which asked them to report their snacking behaviour over the previous 7 days. Participants were subsequently asked to form either an autonomy‐framed implementation intention or a control‐framed implementation intention. Seven days later, participants reported their consumption of high‐calorie snacks and completed a measure of eating self‐efficacy.

Results

Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that eating self‐efficacy moderated the effects of implementation intention framing. Autonomy‐framed implementation intentions had a greater impact on the avoidance of snacking for high eating self‐efficacy participants than did control‐framed implementation intentions. In contrast, for low eating self‐efficacy participants, control‐framed implementation intentions had more impact than did autonomy‐framed implementation intentions.

Conclusions

The results suggest that if implementation intentions to promote healthy diet are to be effective, the role of eating self‐efficacy should be considered, and the design of interventions adapted accordingly.
Rational targeting Cdc42 restrains Th2 cell differentiation and prevents allergic airway inflammation
Authors: Yang Jun‐Qi , Kalim Khalid W. , Li Yuan , Duan Xin , Nguyen Phuong , Khurana Hershey Gurjit K. , Kroner John , Ruff Brandy , Zhang Li , Salomonis Nathan , Rochman Mark , Wen Ting , Zheng Yi , Guo Fukun
Published: October 2018

Background

Asthma is an allergic airway inflammation‐driven disease that affects more than 300 million people world‐wide. Targeted therapies for asthma are largely lacking. Although asthma symptoms can be prevented from worsening, asthma development cannot be prevented. Cdc42 GTPase has been shown to regulate actin cytoskeleton, cell proliferation and survival.

Objectives

To investigate the role and targeting of Cdc42 in Th2 cell differentiation and Th2‐mediated allergic airway inflammation.

Methods

Post‐thymic Cdc42‐deficient mice were generated by crossing Cdc42flox/flox mice with dLckicre transgenic mice in which Cre expression is driven by distal Lck promoter. Effects of post‐thymic Cdc42 deletion and pharmacological targeting Cdc42 on Th2 cell differentiation were evaluated in vitro under Th2‐polarized culture conditions. Effects of post‐thymic Cdc42 deletion and pharmacological targeting Cdc42 on allergic airway inflammation were evaluated in ovalbumin‐ and/or house dust mite‐induced mouse models of asthma.

Results

Post‐thymic deletion of Cdc42 led to reduced peripheral CD8+ T cells and attenuated Th2 cell differentiation, with no effect on closely related Th1, Th17 and induced regulatory T (iTreg) cells. Post‐thymic Cdc42 deficiency ameliorated allergic airway inflammation. The selective inhibition of Th2 cell differentiation by post‐thymic deletion of Cdc42 was recapitulated by pharmacological targeting of Cdc42 with CASIN, a Cdc42 activity‐specific chemical inhibitor. CASIN also alleviated allergic airway inflammation. CASIN‐treated Cdc42‐deficient mice showed comparable allergic airway inflammation to vehicle‐treated Cdc42‐deficient mice, indicative of negligible off‐target effect of CASIN. CASIN had no effect on established allergic airway inflammation.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

Cdc42 is required for Th2 cell differentiation and allergic airway inflammation, and rational targeting Cdc42 may serve as a preventive but not therapeutic approach for asthma control.
Prolonged hospital stay and readmission rate in an enhanced recovery after surgery cohort undergoing colorectal cancer surgery
Authors: Bennedsen A. L. B. , Eriksen J. R. , Gögenur I.
Published: October 2018

Aim

The present database study aimed to identify patients with a longer postoperative length of stay (LOS) or patients readmitted and to characterize both groups based on perioperative factors.

Method

A retrospective review of the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group database and a local database was performed of all patients undergoing elective resection for colorectal cancer in a 25‐month period. The primary outcome was the number of patients with a prolonged hospital stay (LOS ≥ 10 days after the primary operation) and readmissions within 30 days after discharge.

Results

A total of 372 patients with colon resection and 215 patients with rectal resection were included. Patients undergoing colonic resection had a rate of prolonged hospital stay of 10.6% and a readmission rate of 13.7%; prolonged hospital stay was significantly associated with age ≥ 76 years and those who underwent a conversion from a laparoscopic procedure. Patients undergoing rectal cancer resection had a rate of prolonged hospital stay of 17.7% and a readmission rate of 14.0%; Charlson comorbidity score (CCS) ≥ 2, total mesorectal excision (TME) and laparoscopic conversion were significantly associated with prolonged hospital stay, and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥ 3, TME and a duration of surgery ≥ 300 min were significantly associated with readmission.

Conclusion

In patients with colon cancer, older age and conversion to open surgery were associated with prolonged hospital stay. In patients with rectal cancer, CCS ≥ 2, TME and conversion were associated with prolonged hospital stay, and a preoperative ASA score ≥ 3, TME and a duration of surgery ≥ 300 min were associated with readmission.
Metabolic syndrome is associated with decreased heart rate variability in a sex‐dependent manner: a comparison between 252 men and 249 women
Authors: Kangas Pauliina , Tikkakoski Antti , Uitto Marko , Viik Jari , Bouquin Heidi , Niemelä Onni , Mustonen Jukka , Pörsti Ilkka
Published: October 2018

Impaired heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but evidence regarding alterations of HRV in metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains elusive. In order to examine HRV in MetS, we subjected 501 volunteers without atherosclerosis, diabetes or antihypertensive medication, mean age 48 years, to passive head‐up tilt. The subjects were divided to control men (n = 131), men with MetS (n = 121), control women (n = 191) and women with MetS (n = 58) according to the criteria by Alberti et al. (Circulation, 2009, 120, 1640). In unadjusted analyses (i) men and women with MetS had lower total power and high‐frequency (HF) power of HRV than controls whether supine or upright (P<0·05 for all). (ii) Supine low‐frequency (LF) power of HRV was lower in men (P = 0·012) but not in women (P = 0·064) with MetS than in controls, while men and women with MetS had lower upright LF power of HRV than controls (P <0·01 for both). (iii) The LF:HF ratio did not differ between subjects with and without MetS. After adjustment for age, smoking habits, alcohol intake, height, heart rate and breathing frequency, only the differences in upright total power and HF power of HRV between women with MetS and control women remained significant (P<0·05). In conclusion, reduced total and HF power of HRV in the upright position may partially explain why the relative increase in cardiovascular risk associated with MetS is greater in women than in men. Additionally, the present results emphasize that the confounding factors must be carefully taken into consideration when evaluating HRV.
Emotion‐aware polarity lexicons for Twitter sentiment analysis
Authors: Bandhakavi Anil , Wiratunga Nirmalie , Massie Stewart , P. Deepak
Published: October 2018

Theoretical frameworks in psychology map the relationships between emotions and sentiments. In this paper, we study the role of such mapping for computational emotion detection from text (e.g., social media) with an aim to understand the usefulness of an emotion‐rich corpus of documents (e.g., tweets) to learn polarity lexicons for sentiment analysis. We propose two different methods that leverage a corpus of emotion‐labelled tweets to learn word‐polarity lexicons. The proposed methods model the emotion corpus using a generative unigram mixture model, combined with the emotion‐sentiment mapping proposed in psychology for automated generation of word‐polarity lexicons that capture emotion‐rich vocabulary. We comparatively evaluate the quality of the proposed mixture model in learning emotion‐aware sentiment lexicons with those generated using supervised latent dirichlet allocation (sLDA) and word‐document‐frequency (WDF) statistics. Sentiment analysis experiments on benchmark Twitter data sets confirm the quality of our proposed lexicons. Further, a comparative analysis with sLDA, WDF‐based emotion‐aware lexicons, and standard sentiment lexicons that are agnostic to emotion knowledge suggests that the proposed lexicons lead to a significantly better performance in both sentiment classification and sentiment intensity prediction tasks.
Characteristics of the essential pathogenicity factor Rv1828, a MerR family transcription regulator from Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Singh Suruchi , Sevalkar Ritesh Rajesh , Sarkar Dibyendu , Karthikeyan Subramanian
Published: October 2018

The gene Rv1828 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is shown to be essential for the pathogen and encodes for an uncharacterized protein. In this study, we have carried out biochemical and structural characterization of Rv1828 at the molecular level to understand its mechanism of action. The Rv1828 is annotated as helix‐turn‐helix (HTH)‐type MerR family transcription regulator based on its N‐terminal amino acid sequence similarity. The MerR family protein binds to a specific DNA sequence in the spacer region between −35 and −10 elements of a promoter through its N‐terminal domain (NTD) and acts as transcriptional repressor or activator depending on the absence or presence of effector that binds to its C‐terminal domain (CTD). A characteristic feature of MerR family protein is its ability to bind to 19 ± 1 bp DNA sequence in the spacer region between −35 and −10 elements which is otherwise a suboptimal length for transcription initiation by RNA polymerase. Here, we show the Rv1828 through its NTD binds to a specific DNA sequence that exists on its own as well as in other promoter regions. Moreover, the crystal structure of CTD of Rv1828, determined by single‐wavelength anomalous diffraction method, reveals a distinctive dimerization. The biochemical and structural analysis reveals that Rv1828 specifically binds to an everted repeat through its winged‐HTH motif. Taken together, we demonstrate that the Rv1828 encodes for a MerR family transcription regulator.
Single‐stage repair of obliterated anterior urethral strictures using buccal mucosa graft and dorsal penile skin flap
Authors: Kojovic Vladimir , Djordjevic Miroslav L , Vuksanovic Aleksandar
Published: October 2018

Objective

To present a single‐stage repair of obliterative urethral strictures by simultaneous use of a buccal mucosa graft and longitudinal dorsal penile skin flap.

Methods

Between February 2007 and October 2016, 51 patients with obliterative anterior urethral stricture underwent single‐stage substitution urethroplasty. A buccal mucosa graft was harvested and fixed to the corpora cavernosa as the dorsal part of the neourethra, and a vascularized dorsal penile skin flap was created, transposed ventrally and sutured to the buccal mucosa graft to form ventral part of the neourethra.

Results

The follow‐up period was 12–129 months (mean 49 months). The mean age of the patients was 48 years (range 15–71 years). The mean length of the obliterated urethral segment, measured during the operative procedure, was 5.2 cm. The etiology of strictures was: unknown, hypospadias and trauma in 19, 27 and five patients, respectively. Five patients were lost to follow up, and 46 patients were analyzed for the outcome. At the end of the follow‐up period, recurrence of the stricture occurred in seven (15.2%) patients, whereas 39 (84.8%) patients did not develop stricture. An additional three (6.5%) patients developed fistula, resulting in overall successful voiding in 36 (78.3%) patients.

Conclusions

A combined buccal mucosa graft and longitudinal dorsal penile skin flap could be a good choice for one‐stage substitution urethroplasty in complex obliterative urethral strictures, with an acceptable complication rate.
Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are not associated with worse renal functional outcome after partial nephrectomy in patients with normal baseline kidney function
Authors: Beksac Alp Tuna , Reddy Balaji N , Martini Alberto , Paulucci David J , Moshier Erin , Abaza Ronney , Eun Daniel D , Hemal Ashok K , Badani Ketan K
Published: October 2018

Objective

To analyze the association of hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus on renal function after partial nephrectomy in patients with normal baseline kidney function.

Methods

We identified 453 patients with baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 that underwent robotic partial nephrectomy for a cT1 renal mass from 2008 to 2014 using a multi‐institutional database. The association between estimated glomerular filtration rate and time (pre‐partial nephrectomy to 24 months post‐partial nephrectomy) was compared between 269 (59.4%) patients with preoperative hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus and 184 (40.6%) patients with neither hypertension nor diabetes mellitus using a multivariable model adjusting for confounders.

Results

The estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly decreased over time for both groups compared with baseline (average units/month: 1.8974 hypertension/diabetes mellitus, 1.2163 no hypertension/diabetes mellitus; P < 0.0001), and the estimated glomerular filtration rate decrease per month reduced over time (P < 0.0001). The estimated glomerular filtration rate began to increase at approximately 12 months for the hypertension/diabetes mellitus group, and at approximately 18 months for the no hypertension/diabetes mellitus group. Although a greater initial decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate after partial nephrectomy was observed for the hypertension/diabetes mellitus group (0.68 units/month), this was not statistically significant (P = 0.0842); and while the rate of recovery from this decline was faster for the hypertension/diabetes mellitus group, this also was not statistically significant (P = 0.0653). The predicted estimated glomerular filtration rate was similar (83 mL/min/1.73 m2) for both groups 24 months after partial nephrectomy.

Conclusions

There seems to be no significant association between hypertension, diabetes mellitus and renal functional outcome after partial nephrectomy in patients with normal baseline glomerular filtration rate. Renal function declines after partial nephrectomy, but then it recovers, irrespective of the presence of hypertension or diabetes mellitus.
Uncertainty and Fiscal Cliffs
Authors: DAVIG TROY , FOERSTER ANDREW
Published: October 2018

Large pending fiscal policy changes, such as in the United States in 2012 or in Japan with consumption taxes, often generate considerable uncertainty. “Fiscal cliff” episodes have several features: an announced possible future change, a skewed set of possible outcomes, the possibility that implementation may not actually occur, and a known resolution date. This paper develops a model capturing these features and studies their impact. Fiscal cliff uncertainty shocks have immediate impact, with a magnitude that depends on the probability of implementation, which generates economic volatility. The possibility of fiscal cliffs lowers economic activity even in periods of relative certainty.
Hypoxia‐mediated alteration in cholesterol oxidation and raft dynamics regulates BDNF signalling and neurodegeneration in hippocampus
Authors: Sharma Deepti , Barhwal Kalpana Kumari , Biswal Surya Narayan , Srivastava Anup Kumar , Bhardwaj Pushpendar , Kumar Ashish , Chaurasia Om Prakash , Hota Sunil Kumar
Published: October 2018

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which is primarily associated with neuronal survivability, differentiation and synaptic plasticity has been reported to mediate neurodegeneration in hypoxia through its p75 Neurotrophin receptors (p75NTR). The molecular events promoting BDNF‐mediated pro‐death signalling in hypoxia, however, still remain an enigma. This study attempts towards deciphering the signalling cascades involved in alteration of BDNF isoforms and its cognate receptor subtypes leading to neurodegeneration in hypoxia. Adult Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to global hypobaric hypoxia simulating an altitude of 7620 m at standard temperature and humidity. Chronic hypoxic exposure for 7 days resulted in higher expression of pro‐BDNF and alteration in N‐linked glycosylation in hippocampus along with increased expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers viz., glucose‐regulated protein (Grp78), calnexin and changes in the endoplasmic reticulum morphology. Our findings reveal enriched expression of p75NTR in lipid rafts and higher expression of tyrosine receptor kinase β (Trkβ) in non‐raft regions following hypoxic exposure. Further investigations on membrane properties revealed decline in membrane fluidity along with increased cholesterol oxidation resulting in reduced translocation of Trkβ from non‐raft to raft regions. Supplementation of vitamin E during hypoxic exposure on the other hand reduced cholesterol oxidation and increased translocation of Trkβ from non‐raft to raft regions and promoted neuronal survival. Hence, our findings suggest a novel mechanism of cholesterol oxidation‐induced alteration in raft dynamics which is promotes p75 receptor‐mediated death signalling in hippocampal neurons during chronic hypoxia.

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Sticky Expectations and the Profitability Anomaly
Authors: BOUCHAUD JEAN‐PHILIPPE , KRÜGER PHILIPP , LANDIER AUGUSTIN , THESMAR DAVID
Published: October 2018

We propose a theory of the “profitability” anomaly. In our model, investors forecast future profits using a signal and sticky belief dynamics. In this model, past profits forecast future returns (the profitability anomaly). Using analyst forecast data, we measure expectation stickiness at the firm level and find strong support for three additional model predictions: (1) analysts are on average too pessimistic regarding the future profits of high‐profit firms, (2) the profitability anomaly is stronger for stocks that are followed by stickier analysts, and (3) the profitability anomaly is stronger for stocks with more persistent profits.
Correlates of Patient‐Centered Medical Home Recognition in School‐Based Health Centers
Authors: Gregg Abbey , Chen Li‐Wu , Kim Jungyoon
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

The patient‐centered medical home (PCMH) is promoted as a way to improve access to care, health care outcomes, and control costs. The organizational, environmental, and patient characteristics associated with school‐based health centers (SBHCs) obtaining PCMH recognition is currently unknown. A multitheoretical approach was used to explore the correlates of formal PCMH recognition in SBHCs.

METHODS

The 2013‐2014 National Census of School‐Based Health Centers was used as the primary data source for this analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the odds of an SBHC obtaining any type of PCMH recognition, and obtaining national PCMH recognition.

RESULTS

Only 29% of SBHCs had received any type of recognition as a PCMH and 17% reported receiving national‐level recognition. School‐based health centers that were managed care preferred providers, received Health Resources and Services Administration SBHC Capital Funding, and based in schools without adolescents had greater odds of both types of PCMH recognition outcomes. High levels of revenue from patient billing and more staff were also associated with national PCMH recognition.

CONCLUSIONS

Financial and personnel resources are needed for national‐level PCMH recognition, and managed care is supportive of PCMH implementation. Efforts should be made to increase medical home activity in SBHCs that serve adolescents.
Evaluation of the Process of Implementing an Outdoor School Ground Smoking Ban at Secondary Schools
Authors: Rozema Andrea D. , Mathijssen Jolanda J.P. , van Oers Hans A.M. , Jansen Maria W.J.
Published: October 2018

BACKGROUND

Although outdoor smoking bans at school are becoming important, it remains unclear whether successful implementation is feasible and what conditions promote it. Therefore, this study evaluates the implementation process by identifying important factors.

METHODS

Interviews were held with directors of 24 secondary schools that had decided to implement an outdoor school ground smoking ban, to identify important factors during implementation. Additionally, observations were made before and (about 4 weeks) after implementation to evaluate adherence to guidelines. Data were analyzed using a thematic approach.

RESULTS

During implementation, the following items were important: smoking ban (eg, guidelines), school (eg, policy, enforcement, environmental factors, resources, etc), and external factors (eg, social environment). Four schools were unable to implement the ban, 20 schools implemented the ban but student adherence was low, and at 4 schools, staff members still smoked on school grounds.

CONCLUSIONS

Although implementation is feasible, there are challenges. Schools need to apply a phased/dynamic process with ample lead time and clear communication of the policy. Directors should deal with offenders by strictly enforcing the ban and helping them stop smoking. This study offers information to help institutes implement an outdoor smoking ban to further protect adolescents from the harm of smoking.