bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“In these streets”: the saliency of place in an alternative black mental health resource centre
Authors: Wainwright John , McKeown Mick , Kinney Malcolm
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore experiences of survivors of the mental health system regularly attending a mental health resource centre predominantly but not exclusively focussed on needs of the BAME community.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 25 participants took part in a qualitative research study regarding their experiences of mental health and racism, alternative mental health support and struggles in the local black community.

Findings

Issues of race, place and space were central to the experiences of BAME mental health survivors. Participants emphasised the importance of place-based support in their everyday life, with the service provided engendering a sense of belonging conducive to coping with various struggles. Race and racism were also central to these daily struggles and the place of Liverpool 8 was at the core of notions of identity and belonging. The space within the centre provided a sanctuary from the combined discriminations and exclusions attendant on being BAME survivors of the mental health system.

Practical implications

Attention to matters of place and space appears crucial to the articulation of appropriate support.

Social implications

Place is salient to understanding the intersecting identities/experience of racism and mental health discrimination, constituting the basis for a concept of placism; associated with exclusions from feeling safe and included in everyday public places (including within the black community) with the exception of the welcoming and unconditionally accepting space of the centre.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to inquire into place-based experiences of alternative black mental health support. Placism is a novel construct that merits further inquiry and theoretical development.
Emanating the key factors of innovation performance: leveraging on the innovation culture among SMEs in Malaysia
Authors: Hanifah Haniruzila , Abdul Halim Hasliza , Ahmad Noor Hazlina , Vafaei-Zadeh Ali
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Innovation has become an approach to create value for the customer to remain competitive in the market. However, previous research on innovation performance particularly among Bumiputera small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) had received little intention. Hence, Bumiputera SMEs need to inculcate the innovation culture to generate innovation performance. As such, the purpose of this study is to examine the ambidextrous orientation and innovation strategy on innovation culture, and how innovation culture could mediate the relationship between ambidextrous orientation and innovation strategy and innovation performance. In addition, this study also examines the role of government support as the moderator between innovation culture and innovation performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 140 Bumiputera SMEs and analyzed using partial least square-structural equation modeling via Smart PLS.

Findings

Findings indicated that ambidextrous orientation (alignment and adaptability) and innovation strategy (proactive creativity strategy and growth risk orientation strategy) had a significant impact on innovation culture. Besides, innovation culture mediated the relationship between alignment, proactive creativity strategy, growth risk orientation strategy and innovation performance. Surprisingly, innovation culture does not significantly mediate the relationship between adaptability and innovation performance. However, government support plays an important role to support innovation culture and innovation performance in Bumiputera SMEs.

Originality/value

This study makes both theoretical and practical contributions, especially in identifying the significant role of Bumiputera SMEs in creating an innovation culture. Besides, it explained government support as an important role in strengthening the relationship between innovation culture and innovation performance. The findings of the study will provide great help to Bumiputera entrepreneurs in formulating innovation culture in Malaysian SMEs.
Innovative product marketing strategy: multinational companies in Bangladesh
Authors: Fregidou-Malama Maria , Chowdhury Ehsanul Huda , Hyder Akmal S.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with international marketing of products, analyzing how adaptation/standardization and network development are achieved when marketing products in Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach

By applying a qualitative method, the study was conducted at four multinationals, British American Tobacco, Perfetti Van Melle, Tetrapak and Reckitt Benckiser, operating in Bangladesh. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, direct observation and official documents. The analysis was conducted through construction of themes that were identified from the data set.

Findings

The study demonstrates that business relationships related to a local market should be adapted to customer preferences. The research suggests that a balanced combination of product quality and development of new, innovative products adapted to the needs of the market and the customers establishes trust and networks. Cultural and market context were found to influence multinational companies (MNCs)s to standardize the quality of the products and adapt marketing mix components to the needs of consumers.

Research limitations/implications

The paper contributes to international marketing literature with a model of product marketing based on context, trust, networks and adaptation/standardization. The model introduces the cultural dimension of femininity/ masculinity and the innovation of products and market structure. The study is limited to one emerging market. Further studies should explore other emerging market economies and MNCs.

Practical implications

The results suggest that to meet the challenges of emerging market economies and achieve success, managers should take people and market needs into consideration.

Originality/value

This paper extends product marketing literature by presenting a context-based model for MNCs’ product marketing.
The Islamic theory of consumer behaviour for ijarah home financing
Authors: Amin Hanudin
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This study aims to examine the factors that determine consumer behaviour of ijarah home financing using the Islamic theory of consumer behaviour (ITCB). In particular, the specific contract used is al-ijarah muntahia biltamleek. Subsequently, the term al-ijarah muntahia biltamleek home financing is used throughout the paper.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon the ITCB, the present study examines patronage factors for al-ijarah muntahia biltamleek home financing. This study’s data were drawn from valid 409 usable questionnaires.

Findings

Partial least square results suggest that the role of iman, Islamic mortgage support and maqasid consumer index are significantly related to consumer behaviour. In turn, consumer behaviour is instrumental in determining religious satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Two limitations were observed that provide direction for future studies. Firstly, the current study is only tested in one particular Islamic home financing product that may explain why the generalisation is an issue. Secondly, the theory is still in its infancy stage, which, of course leads to some criticisms pertinent to its parsimony and applicability to other settings. Despite these limitations, however, this study aims to suggest a so-called Islamic model of factors that can explain consumer behaviour of a particular Islamic home financing product. In particular, scrutinising the product acceptance from the context of the ITCB can open a new debate in this area.

Practical implications

This study indeed reduces the theory–practice gap by suggesting new indicators that are workable to improve consumers’ positive perception of Islamic home financing. Given the results obtained, the ITCB provides a better prediction for consumer behaviour of al-ijarah muntahia biltamleek home financing.

Originality/value

This study expands the applicability of the ITCB to include al-ijarah muntahia biltamleek home financing.
Sovereign credit ratings and bond yield spreads in emerging markets
Authors: Thazhugal Govindan Nair Saji
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper, using the model suggested by Cantor and Pecker (1996), aims to explore the relations between sovereign ratings and bond yield spreads in emerging markets.

Design/methodology/approach

The ordinary least square regression procedure administered on the most recent sovereign ratings of 46 countries demonstrates how the macroeconomic information embody in the sovereign rating scores predict their bond yield spreads relative to the yield on US Treasury bond.

Findings

The research finds that the assigned rating scores do not herald the complete elites of the macroeconomic conditions in emerging markets, and there is more incremental information in the publicly available macroeconomic variables, which is much useful in predicting bond yield spreads than that embedded into the sovereign ratings.

Practical implications

The outcomes of the research have strategic implications for global investors and policymakers. The use of credit rating scores along with the macroeconomic fundamentals in emerging economies produces better predictions than the benchmark predictions solely based on the rating scores suggested by the previous research.

Originality/value

This study is the first one to address the issues related to sovereign ratings and bond yield spread in developing and emerging markets using the most recent ratings during the period of the economic recoveries, following the global financial crisis of 2008.
Trend analysis of online travel review text mining over time
Authors: Zhang Kaile , Koshijima Ichiro
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The reviews of online tourism have not been taken advantage of effectively because the text data of such reviews is enormous and its current, in-depth research is still in infancy. Therefore, it is expected that the text data could be processed by the method of text mining to better understand the implicit information. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to tourism practitioners and tourists to conveniently use the texts through appropriate visualization processing techniques. In particular, time-changing reviews can be used to reflect the changes in tourists’ feedback and concerns.

Design/methodology/approach

Latent semantic analysis is a new branch of semantics. Every term in the document can be regarded as a single point in multi-dimensional space. When a document with semantics comes into such space, the distribution of the document is not random, but will obey some type of semantic structure.

Findings

First, overall grasping for the big data is applicable. Second, propose a direct method is proposed that allows more non-language processing researchers or proprietors to use the data. Lastly, the results of changes in different spans of times are investigated.

Originality/value

This paper proposes an approach to disclose a significant number of travel comments from different years that may generate new ideas for tourism. The authors put forward a processing approach to deal with large amounts of texts of comments. Using the case study of Mt. Lushan, the various changes of travel reviews over the years are successfully visualized and displayed.
Effect of spalling on predicted temperature gradients and flexural capacity: numerical model
Authors: Lakhani Hitesh , Hofmann Jan
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The paper aims to present an advanced 2 D transient heat transfer analysis capable of accounting for the effect of spalling in terms of amount, location and time. The model accounts for moving thermal boundary conditions to comply with the changing member cross section. The discussed numerical model provides a tool to quantify the effect of spalling on the flexural capacity of reinforced concrete beams.

Design/methodology/approach

The implementation of the presented numerical model in an in-house code and its validation has been discussed. The thermal subroutine has been sequentially coupled with the mechanical subroutine (sectional-analysis) to compute the variation of sectional moment carrying capacity with exposure time.

Findings

The temperatures predicted while considering spalling were in good agreement with experiments available in literature. The presented results also emphasise the importance of considering the time of spalling. The results also show that the fire rating of simply supported beams is also affected by spalling in the compression zone.

Research limitations/implications

It should be acknowledged that the model does not predict spalling, rather is developed as a tool to study the effect of spalling. The model takes the information related to spalling in terms of the location, amount and time, as user input.

Originality/value

The paper quantitatively presents the effect of spalling on the predicted temperature variation across the beam cross section and the moment carrying capacity.
Second generation involvement and corporate innovation: evidence from China
Authors: Huang Haijie , Lyu Changjiang , Zhu Xiaowen
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of second generation involvement on corporate innovation in Chinese family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the manually collected sample of listed Chinese family firms from 2003 to 2014, the study empirically examines the impact of second generation involvement on corporate innovation. The authors apply a difference-in-differences research design and a Heckman two-stage least squares regression to relieve the endogeneity concerns.

Findings

The research finds a positive relationship between second generation involvement and corporate innovation. This effect is more pronounced among the firms appointing second generation family members with overseas training experience and firms with weak external monitoring. Further analysis shows that the curtailment of related party transactions and the improvement of accounting information quality are important channels.

Practical implications

The findings provide several practical implications for Chinese family firms to survive the succession process and maintain competitive advantages across generations.

Originality/value

First, this study is helpful to understand the strategies adopted by family firms to maintain their long-term competitiveness and pursue continuing growth across generations. Second, the findings are also consistent with the transfer cost hypothesis of Fan et al. (2012) and Bennedsen et al. (2015). Finally, the findings imply that second generation involvement has a substitutive effect for external monitoring mechanisms.
Flame-retardancy, thermal and coating properties of P-containing poly-acrylate resin cured with MF resin
Authors: Liang Xinyue , Qiao Hui , Xu Guilong , Zhang Yanchong , Liang Yun , Hu Jian
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The flammability of poly-acrylate (PA) resin is a major disadvantage in applications that require flame resistance. Many studies, including the authors’ previous study, have proved that covalent-incorporated phosphorous-containing (P-containing) monomer onto the PA resin can exhibit better flame resistance than that by an additive approach. However, other properties such as thermal stability, coating properties are still deteriorated. To further improve the flame-retardancy and other comprehensive properties of the P-containing PA resin, in this study, melamine formaldehyde(MF) resin was used not only as a curing agent to enhance the coating properties of the PA resin, but also as a nitrogen-containing (N-containing) resin to form a P-N synergistic effect and therefore further improve its flame retardancy.

Design/methodology/approach

Epoxy resin phosphorous acid-modified (EPPA-modified) PA (EPPA-PA) resin was first prepared and then using MF resin as curing agent. The flame retardancy of the cured resin was tested by the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL 94 methods. The thermal stability of the cured resin was studied by TGA. The coating technology such as adhesion property, pencil hardness and anti-solvent properties were characterized according to methods of International Standards ISO2409-1992, ISO 15184-1998 and ISO-15184-2012, respectively. The micro-char morphology of the char residue was observed by SEM.

Findings

The results showed that by using MF resin as curing agent has provided the PA resin with excellent coating properties and thermal stability, but also gave a P-N synergistic effect which has greatly enhanced the flame retardancy of the cured resin. The cured resin system containing only 1.7 Wt.% P content and 5.3 Wt.% N content can reach a LOI of 26.9 per cent and pass the V-0 rating in the UL-94 test.

Research limitations/implications

This resin system releases formaldehyde due to the MF resin.

Practical implications

It is expected that the large-scale production of this EPPA-PA resin cured by MF resin system will enable practical industrial applications.

Originality/value

This method for the synthesis of a P- and N-containing PA resin system is newfangled.
The effect of CSR commitment on firms’ level of internationalization
Authors: Khojastehpour Morteza , Saleh Md Abu
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has received considerable research attention globally over the past decade. Although a growing number of prior studies have investigated the various dimensions of CSR in general terms, few studies have investigated the critical role that CSR can play in the internationalization process of firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Using S&P 500 companies during 2004-2014, the authors found that the level of CSR commitment raises the level of reliability of firm and allows further international penetration. Moreover, better regulatory quality of host country is at actual support of internationalization only when considering the short term.

Findings

Better regulatory quality of host country is at actual support of internationalization only when considering the short term.

Originality/value

The authors build on internationalization theory and CSR and examine the relationship between firms’ level of internationalization and CSR commitment.
The role of biotic interactions in determining metal hyperaccumulation in plants
Authors: Mohiley Anubhav , Tielbörger Katja , Seifan Merav , Gruntman Michal
Published: December 2019

Heavy metal hyperaccumulation (MH) is a rare trait found in plant species that inhabit metal‐contaminated soils. Two main hypotheses proposed to explain the selective advantage of MH are the elemental defence hypothesis and elemental allelopathy hypothesis. The elemental defence hypothesis suggests that MH functions as defence against herbivores while the elemental allelopathy hypothesis suggests that MH acts to inhibit the growth of neighbours. Nevertheless, these hypotheses are not likely to be mutually exclusive. Here, we present the first study to test both hypotheses simultaneously. We examined these hypotheses with the Cd hyperaccumulator, Arabidopsis halleri, which inhabits both metalliferous and non‐metalliferous soils, thus providing an opportunity to test the hypotheses of both habitats.

Arabidopsis halleri plants originating from several populations in both metalliferous and non‐metalliferous soils were grown in a greenhouse in soils with or without cadmium (Cd). Their leaves were used in a feeding experiment with a specialist herbivore and in a set of leaf‐leachate experiments that tested their effect on seed germination and seedling establishment of species co‐occurring with A. halleri. Finally, a field survey in several A. halleri populations was conducted to compare herbivore load between A. halleri and neighbours from metalliferous versus non‐metalliferous soils.

Results of the feeding experiment and field survey suggest that Cd accumulation in A. halleri leaves could provide it with defence against herbivores. Results of the leaf‐leachate experiments reveal that Cd accumulation has no effect on seed germination of neighbouring species but inhibits seedling establishment, particularly of plant species originating from non‐metalliferous soils.

Our results suggest that both herbivores and competing neighbours may jointly select for MH in plants. Moreover, MH could provide a selective advantage particularly in non‐metalliferous soils, where neighbouring plants lack metal tolerance. These results highlight the importance of including different origins and populations of both the target species and its neighbouring plant species when studying the ecological role of MH.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Conserving the holobiont
Authors: Carthey Alexandra J. R. , Blumstein Daniel T. , Gallagher Rachael V. , Tetu Sasha G. , Gillings Michael R.
Published: December 2019

Organismal biology has undergone a dramatic paradigm shift in the last decade. The realization that host cells and genes are outnumbered by symbiotic microbial cells and their genes has forced us to rethink our focus on ‘individuals’. It is also becoming increasingly clear that the ecology and biology of animals and plants are intimately connected with their microbial partners. In the context of conserving functioning species, such revelatory insights beg the question—what exactly should we be trying to conserve?

Here, we review how an understanding of host–microbe interactions can benefit conservation biology. We propose a way forward for conservation biologists, to gather evidence of the potential effects of changes to plant and animal microbiomes, and to incorporate the holobiont concept into applied conservation practice.

In humans, microbes influence physiology, health, behaviour and psychology. In animals and plants, microbes similarly influence critically important components of health, communication and (in animals) behaviour. Together, the animal or plant and all of its associated micro‐organisms are termed the holobiont.

At the same time, humans are now the strongest evolutionary force on the planet, causing global change at unprecedented scale. We know that microbial diversity in humans has been compromised in urban societies, with a growing list of consequences for health and function. While we still have limited evidence for similar effects in plants and animals, anthropogenic factors that affect diversity are also likely to affect animal and plant microbiomes, with similar associated effects on host function and health.

Microbiome research is still in its relative infancy, particularly in its application to plants and animals, yet the tools are becoming more widely available and affordable. Forward‐looking conservation biologists could harness such tools and apply them to the study of plant and animal microbiomes with the goal of understanding which microbiota might be required to ensure future viability of conserved host populations.

For now, the precautionary principle applies. We suggest that, to meaningfully and effectively conserve a species, we must also consider how to conserve the bacteria, viruses, fungi and other symbionts intimately associated with that macro‐organism.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
High‐resolution unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic surveys for mineral exploration targets
Authors: Walter C. , Braun A. , Fotopoulos G.
Published: December 2019

Recent advancements in geophysical exploration have been realized through reliably integrating unmanned aerial vehicle platforms with lightweight, high‐resolution magnetometer payloads. Unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic surveys can provide a contemporary data product between the two end‐members of coverage and resolution attained using manned airborne and terrestrial magnetic surveys. This new data product is achievable because unmanned aerial vehicle platforms can safely traverse with magnetometer payloads at flight elevations closer to ground targets than manned airborne surveys, while also delivering an increased coverage rate compared to walking conventional terrestrial surveys. This is a promising new development for geophysical and mineral exploration applications, especially in variable terrains. A three‐dimensional unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic survey was conducted within the Shebandowan Greenstone Belt, northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, in July 2017. A series of two‐dimensional grids (∼500 m × 700 m) were flown at approximate elevations of 35, 45 and 70 m above ground level using a Dà‐Jiāng Innovations multi‐rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (S900) and a GEM Systems, Inc., Potassium Vapour Magnetometer (GSMP‐35U). In total, over 48 line‐km of unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic data were flown with a line spacing of 25 m. The collected aeromagnetic data were compared to a regional heliborne aeromagnetic survey flown at an elevation of approximately 85 m above the terrain, with a line spacing of 100 m, as well as a follow‐up terrestrial magnetic survey. The first vertical derivative of the gathered unmanned aerial vehicle total magnetic field data was calculated both directly between each of the different flight elevations, and indirectly by calculating the values predicted using upward continuation. This case study demonstrates that low flight elevation unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic surveys can reliably collect industry standard total magnetic field measurements at an increased resolution when compared to manned airborne magnetic surveys. The enhanced interpretation potential provided by this approach also aided in delineating structural controls and hydrothermal fluid migration pathways (a pair of adjacent shear zones) related to gold mineralization on site. These structural features were not clearly resolved in the regional manned airborne magnetic data alone, further demonstrating the utility of applying high‐resolution unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic surveys to mineral exploration applications. The conclusions and interpretations drawn from the unmanned aerial vehicle aeromagnetic data, coupled with historical data, were applied to make a new gold mineralization discovery on the site, assayed at 15.7 g/t.
Inhibition of REV‐ERBs stimulates microglial amyloid‐beta clearance and reduces amyloid plaque deposition in the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Lee Jiyeon , Kim Do Eon , Griffin Percy , Sheehan Patrick W. , Kim Dong‐Hou , Musiek Erik S , Yoon Seung‐Yong
Published: December 2019

A promising new therapeutic target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the circadian system. Although patients with AD are known to have abnormal circadian rhythms and suffer sleep disturbances, the role of the molecular clock in regulating amyloid‐beta (Aβ) pathology is still poorly understood. Here, we explored how the circadian repressors REV‐ERBα and β affected Aβ clearance in mouse microglia. We discovered that, at Circadian time 4 (CT4), microglia expressed higher levels of the master clock protein BMAL1 and more rapidly phagocytosed fibrillary Aβ1‐42 (fAβ1‐42) than at CT12. BMAL1 directly drives transcription of REV‐ERB proteins, which are implicated in microglial activation. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition of REV‐ERBs with the small molecule antagonist SR8278 or genetic knockdown of REV‐ERBs‐accelerated microglial uptake of fAβ1‐42 and increased transcription of BMAL1. SR8278 also promoted microglia polarization toward a phagocytic M2‐like phenotype with increased P2Y12 receptor expression. Finally, constitutive deletion of Rev‐erbα in the 5XFAD model of AD decreased amyloid plaque number and size and prevented plaque‐associated increases in disease‐associated microglia markers including TREM2, CD45, and Clec7a. Altogether, our work suggests a novel strategy for controlling Aβ clearance and neuroinflammation by targeting REV‐ERBs and provides new insights into the role of REV‐ERBs in AD.
Chorionic villus sampling experience of a reference perinatal medicine center
Authors: Beksaç M. Sinan , Unal Canan , Tanacan Atakan , Fadiloglu Erdem , Çakar Ayşe Nur
Published: December 2019

Aim

To share the chorionic villus sampling (CVS) experience of a single surgeon in our institution.

Methods

This retrospective study consists of CVS cases performed between 2000 and 2018. A total of 66 types of indications were classified under two main categories, the screening group (SG) and the inherited disease group (IDG). The SG and IDG were compared in terms of clinical characteristics of the patients, Beksaç obstetrics index (BOI), timing of CVS in terms of gestational week, and complications and termination of pregnancy (TOP) rate.

Results

CVS was performed at 656 women, 69 and 587 of whom were included in the SG and IDG, respectively. CVS indications of the SG were determined as advanced maternal age, high risk in combined test, fetal anomaly suspicion in ultrasonography, and increased nuchal translucency in 23, 23, 14 and 9 cases, respectively. On the other hand, CVS indications of the IDG were hereditary disorders related to hematological, muscular, and metabolic systems for 233, 179, and 116 cases, respectively. Furthermore, 32 patients had a single‐gene disorder and 14 had a neurodegenerative disease. According to the results of CVS, 359 fetuses were found to be normal (54.73%), while 205 (31.25%) and 92 (14.02%) fetuses were found to be disorder‐positive or carriers, respectively. Two hundred pregnant women accepted TOP. Eight (1.2%) pregnancies ended with abortion after CVS. Statistically significant differences were observed in BOI and TOP rate between SG and IDG (p: 0.042 and 0.013).

Conclusion

Hereditary disorders were the most common CVS indications and the acceptance of TOP was significantly higher in this group.
Does the @realDonaldTrump Really Matter to Financial Markets?
Authors: Benton Allyson L. , Philips Andrew Q.
Published: December 2019

Does the @realDonaldTrump really matter to financial markets? Research shows that new information about the likely future policy direction of government affects financial markets. In contrast, we argue that new information can also arise about the likely future government's resolve in following through with its policy goals, affecting financial markets as well. We test our argument using data on U.S. President Donald J. Trump's Mexico‐related policy tweets and the U.S. dollar/Mexican peso exchange rate. We find that Trump's Mexico‐related tweets raised Mexican peso volatility while his policy views were unknown as well as thereafter, as they signaled his resolve in carrying out his Mexico‐related agenda. By helping politicians disseminate policy information to voters, and since voters hold governments accountable for their policy performance, social media allows investors to gather information about the likely policy direction and policy resolve of government, especially those of newcomers whose direction and resolve are unknown.
Estimating average treatment effects with a double‐index propensity score
Authors: Cheng David , Chakrabortty Abhishek , Ananthakrishnan Ashwin N. , Cai Tianxi
Published: December 2019

We consider estimating average treatment effects (ATE) of a binary treatment in observational data when data‐driven variable selection is needed to select relevant covariates from a moderately large number of available covariates . To leverage covariates among predictive of the outcome for efficiency gain while using regularization to fit a parametric propensity score (PS) model, we consider a dimension reduction of based on fitting both working PS and outcome models using adaptive LASSO. A novel PS estimator, the Double‐index Propensity Score (DiPS), is proposed, in which the treatment status is smoothed over the linear predictors for from both the initial working models. The ATE is estimated by using the DiPS in a normalized inverse probability weighting estimator, which is found to maintain double robustness and also local semiparametric efficiency with a fixed number of covariates p. Under misspecification of working models, the smoothing step leads to gains in efficiency and robustness over traditional doubly robust estimators. These results are extended to the case where p diverges with sample size and working models are sparse. Simulations show the benefits of the approach in finite samples. We illustrate the method by estimating the ATE of statins on colorectal cancer risk in an electronic medical record study and the effect of smoking on C‐reactive protein in the Framingham Offspring Study.
Opting Out, Collective Contracts and Labour Flexibility: Firm‐Level Evidence for The Italian Case
Authors: Damiani Mirella , Pompei Fabrizio , Ricci Andrea
Published: December 2019

This article analyses the role of deviations from higher level collective agreements adopted in firm‐level bargaining to regain higher labour mobility, net positive employment effects and a resurgence of labour productivity. Using Italian firm‐level data, after performing preliminary pooled ordinary least squares and fixed effects estimates, we adopt a difference‐in‐difference approach combined with a propensity score matching. All the estimations show that opting out clauses notably increases both hiring and separations, but without significant variations in terms of net employment. In addition, no significant labour productivity gains are obtained. The only significant change concerns the increase in the share of temporary workers.
c‐Src promotes tumor progression through downregulation of microRNA‐129‐1‐3p
Authors: Okuzaki Daisuke , Yamauchi Tomoe , Mitani Fumie , Miyata Mamiko , Ninomiya Yuichi , Watanabe Risayo , Akamatsu Hiroki , Oneyama Chitose
Published: December 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) fine‐tune cellular signaling by regulating expression of signaling proteins, and aberrant expression of miRNAs is observed in many cancers. The tyrosine kinase c‐Src is upregulated in various human cancers, but the molecular mechanisms underlying c‐Src‐mediated tumor progression remain unclear. In previous investigations of miRNA‐mediated control of c‐Src‐related oncogenic pathways, we identified miRNAs that were downregulated in association with c‐Src transformation and uncovered the signaling networks by predicting their target genes, which might act cooperatively to control tumor progression. Here, to further elucidate the process of cell transformation driven by c‐Src, we analyzed the expression profiles of miRNAs in a doxycycline‐inducible Src expression system. We found that miRNA (miR)‐129‐1‐3p was downregulated in the early phase of c‐Src‐induced cell transformation, and that reexpression of miR‐129‐1‐3p disrupted c‐Src‐induced cell transformation. In addition, miR‐129‐1‐3p downregulation was tightly associated with tumor progression in human colon cancer cells/tissues. Expression of miR‐129‐1‐3p in human colon cancer cells caused morphological changes and suppressed tumor growth, cell adhesion, and invasion. We also identified c‐Src and its critical substrate Fer, and c‐Yes, a member of the Src family of kinases, as novel targets of miR‐129‐1‐3p. Furthermore, we found that miR‐129‐1‐3p‐mediated regulation of c‐Src/Fer and c‐Yes is important for controlling cell adhesion and invasion. Downregulation of miR‐129‐1‐3p by early activation of c‐Src increases expression of these target genes and synergistically promotes c‐Src‐related oncogenic signaling. Thus, c‐Src‐miR‐129‐1‐3p circuits serve as critical triggers for tumor progression in many human cancers that harbor upregulation of c‐Src.
Measurement and prediction of drilling force in fresh human cadaver mandibles: A pilot study
Authors: Yu Dedong , Liu Chang , Wu Yiqun , An Qinglong
Published: December 2019

Background

Bone drilling is a vital procedure in implant surgery and dental implant training systems based on virtual reality technology.

Purpose

Predict and update drilling force in real time based on a virtual dental implant training system and lay the foundation for realizing force feedback in dental implant training instruments.

Materials and Methods

An experimental platform was established to measure the drilling force for human mandibles from donors of different ages. Response surface methodology was applied to analyze the drilling force.

Results

Force regression equations for different age groups were acquired. The order of the effects (from greatest to least) of the drilling parameters on the drilling force was the drill bit diameter, feed rate, and rotational speed. To obtain the minimum force, higher rotational speeds, lower feed rates, and smaller diameters were preferred within the range of commonly used medical reference parameters of bone drilling.

Conclusion

The experimental data were confirmed to be scientific for the predicted models of drilling force.
The effects of non‐invasive mechanic ventilator modes on intraocular pressure in COPD patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure
Authors: Aytekin Fuat , Yildiz Gulhan Pınar , Teberik Kuddusi , Gulec Balbay Ege , Iritas Ilter , Ercelik Merve , Elverisli Mehmet Fatih , Balbay Oner Abidin
Published: December 2019

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not fully reversible disease that is characterized by progressive restricting airflow. Non‐invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) treatment can be used in COPD patients who had type 2 respiratory failure. This study aimed to determine the effect of BPAP S/T and AVAPS modes on intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT) in 40 type 2 respiratory failure patients with COPD.

Methods

Forty patients with type 2 respiratory failure who were hospitalized between June and December 2018 with the diagnosis of COPD exacerbations were included to the study. Patients followed up without NIMV for 12 hours after the end of exacerbations treatments end. After IOP, visual acuity and CCT were measured in all patients at the same time (11.00 am), same NIMV treatment was applied to the patients for 4 hours (AVAPS‐BPAP S/T). Then the measurements were repeated. The effects of these NIMV modes on IOP were evaluated.

Results

After NIMV treatment, it was observed that the mean IOP increased statistically significantly (13.3 vs 12.3 mm Hg; P = 0.001). After treatment with NIMV, there was a decrease for CCT close to statistical significance (P = 0.057)

Conclusion

As a result; increased IOP and thinning of CCT after NIMV treatment has been shown. The type of NIMV and the level of inspiratory pressure needed in hypercapnic respiratory failure seem to affect IOP and it should be cautiously used to increase IOP.
Current state of education and training for endoscopic submucosal dissection: Translating strategy and success to the USA
Authors: McCarty Thomas R. , Aihara Hiroyuki
Published: December 2019

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is a rigorous and technically sophisticated method for removal of lesions within the gastrointestinal tract. Despite having advantages of en‐bloc resection of lesions, regardless of size, and widespread use in Japan and Asia, ESD has not become widely adopted in the USA for a variety of reasons. Based upon Japanese education and the master‐apprentice model, modification to the education system and additional techniques designed to facilitate broader adoption are required for trainees in the USA. This article will review the current state of education and training for ESD in the USA.
A low‐cost laboratory‐based method for predicting newly diagnosed biopsy‐proven diabetic nephropathy in people with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Yu D. , Shang J. , Cai Y. , Wang Z. , Zhao B. , Zhao Z. , Simmons D.
Published: December 2019

Aims

To identify significant prognostic factors for newly diagnosed biopsy‐proven diabetic nephropathy using routine laboratory measures, from which to derive a low‐cost explanatory model, and to use this model to examine associations between the potential low‐cost test panels and the risk of diabetic nephropathy in people with type 2 diabetes with normal kidney function.

Method

A population‐based case–control study was undertaken to test the association between diabetic nephropathy and 47 laboratory variables using a ‘hypothesis‐free’ strategy and five routinely recorded factors in diabetes care (BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, fasting glucose). Factors that were significant after Bonferroni correction were included in different test panels and used to develop diabetic nephropathy (outcome) explanatory models. Models were derived using risk‐set sampling among 950 biopsy‐proven diabetic nephropathy cases newly diagnosed in the period between 2012 and 2018 and among 4750 age‐ and gender‐matched controls.

Results

A total of 15 Bonferroni‐corrected significant laboratory predictors in the three test panels (blood cell, serum electrolytes and blood coagulation) were identified through multivariable analysis and used to develop the three explanatory models. The optimism‐adjusted C‐statistics and calibration slope were 0.725 (95% CI 0.723–0.728) and 0.978 (95% CI 0.912–0.999) for the blood cell model, 0.688 (95% CI 0.686–0.690) and 0.923 (95% CI 0.706–0.977) for the serum electrolytes model, 0.648 (95% CI 0.639–0.658) and 0.914 (95% CI 0.641–1.115) for the blood coagulation model, respectively.

Conclusions

A total of 15 predictors were significantly associated with newly diagnosed biopsy‐proven diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes. The blood cell model appeared to be the low‐cost model with the best predictive ability.
Behaviour change in diabetes: behavioural science advancements to support the use of theory
Authors: McSharry J. , Byrne M. , Casey B. , Dinneen S. F. , Fredrix M. , Hynes L. , Lake A. J. , Morrissey E.
Published: December 2019

Behaviour is central to the management of diabetes, both for people living with diabetes and for healthcare professionals delivering evidence‐based care. This review outlines the evolution of behavioural science and the application of theoretical models in diabetes care over the past 25 years. There has been a particular advancement in the development of tools and techniques to support researchers, healthcare professionals and policymakers in taking a theory‐based approach, and to enhance the development, reporting and replication of successful interventions. Systematic guidance, theoretical frameworks and lists of behavioural techniques provide the tools to specify target behaviours, identify why ideal behaviours are not implemented, systematically develop theory‐based interventions, describe intervention content using shared terminology, and evaluate their effects. Several examples from a range of diabetes‐related behaviours (clinic attendance, self‐monitoring of blood glucose, retinal screening, setting collaborative goals in diabetes) and populations (people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, healthcare professionals) illustrate the potential for these approaches to be widely translated into diabetes care. The behavioural science approaches outlined in this review give healthcare professionals, researchers and policymakers the tools to deliver care and design interventions with an evidence‐based understanding of behaviour. The challenge for the next 25 years is to refine the tools to increase their use and advocate for the role of theoretical models and behavioural science in the commissioning, funding and delivery of diabetes care.
Sex differences in resilience: Experiential factors and their mechanisms
Authors: Fallon Isabella P. , Tanner Margaret K. , Greenwood Benjamin N. , Baratta Michael V.
Published: December 2019

Adverse life events can lead to stable changes in brain structure and function and are considered primary sources of risk for post‐traumatic stress disorder, depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. However, most individuals do not develop these conditions following exposure to traumatic experiences, and research efforts have identified a number of experiential factors associated with an individual's ability to withstand, adapt to and facilitate recovery from adversity. While multiple animal models of stress resilience exist, so that the detailed biological mechanisms can be explored, studies have been disproportionately conducted in male subjects even though the prevalence and presentation of stress‐linked disorders differ between sexes. This review focuses on (a) the mechanisms by which experiential factors (behavioral control over a stressor, exercise) reduce the impact of adverse events as studied in males; (b) whether other manipulations (ketamine) that buffer against stress‐induced sequelae engage the same circuit features; and (c) whether these processes operate similarly in females. We argue that investigation of experiential factors that produce resistance/resilience rather than vulnerability to adversity will generate a unique set of biological mechanisms that potentially underlie sex differences in mood disorders.
Space use and the evolution of social monogamy in eastern rock sengis
Authors: Hoffmann Sasha , Bennett Nigel C. , Jansen van Vuuren Bettine , Lutermann Heike
Published: December 2019

Limiting resources often differ between males and females. Reproductive success in females is constrained by resources such as food and shelter, while the availability of receptive females determines male reproductive success. In addition to limiting resources, low intra‐sexual tolerances among females can affect their spacing. High intolerances coinciding with low population densities have been suggested as a cause for the evolution of monogamy in mammals, but the evidence for female intolerance is limited. We investigated long‐term space use patterns (measured as home range sizes and centers of activity) in a wild population of eastern rock sengis (Elephantulus myurus) from Limpopo, South Africa. Between March 2012 and March 2016, we recorded capture locations for 93 sengis and home range size for 22 sengis and evaluated the contributions of study year, sex, and season on these measures. Sex had no significant effect on home range size, but ranges were significantly greater during the breeding compared to the non‐breeding season, consistent with the increased energetic demands during reproduction. We found corroborative support for the role of energetic demands on home range size fluctuations. The activity centers of female–female dyads were further apart than those of male–male or mixed‐sex dyads, suggesting lower female–female tolerances in the study species. Our results offer evidence that intolerances may affect female spacing behavior and may have contributed to the evolution of monogamy in sengis.
The Donovan report as evidence‐based policy
Authors: Brown William
Published: December 2019

The Donovan Royal Commission set new standards in evidence‐based policy making. The paper puts the Commission's research programme in its 1960s context of disorderly workplace labour relations. It reviews each of the studies, concluding that they were innovative and had a powerful influence over the Commission's recommendations. In retrospect, the scope of topics researched was too narrow to engage with major future challenges. That apart, the precedent of research based on case studies, surveys and historical analysis has continued to enhance employment‐related policy making.