bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The moderating role of customer engagement experiences in customer satisfaction–loyalty relationship
Authors: Thakur Rakhi
Published: April 2019

Purpose

This study aims to examine the moderating role of customer engagement experiences in satisfaction–loyalty relationship in the digital business environment. This paper looks at mobile apps for shopping and travel planning to understand these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper includes the conceptualization and validation of the proposed relationship through multiple studies. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted to identify the relevant engagement experiences. Subsequently, multiple quantitative studies were conducted to examine the proposed relationships.

Findings

The effect of satisfaction on continuance intention is stronger among customers with higher levels of engagement. Further, the propensity to provide electronic word of mouth is non-linear in customers with higher levels of engagement and may not vary directly with satisfaction levels.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study contribute to the emerging literature on customer engagement and mobile app-usage domains. Future studies may examine such a relationship in different businesses and on varied digital platforms.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper may provide actionable insights to marketers, giving them a mechanism to segment customers based on engagement levels and using discretion while focusing on satisfaction levels among different segments.

Originality/value

This study validates the proposed moderating role of customer engagement in the satisfaction–loyalty relationship. The non-linear relationship between satisfaction and loyalty is also demonstrated.
Buy online collect in-store: exploring grocery click&collect using a national case study
Authors: Davies Alec , Dolega Les , Arribas-Bel Daniel
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Twenty-first century online retailing has reshaped the retail landscape. Grocery shopping is emerging as the next fastest growing category in online retailing in the UK, having implications for the channels we use to purchase goods. Using Sainsbury’s data, the authors create a bespoke set of grocery click&collect catchments. The resultant catchments allow an investigation of performance within the emerging channel of grocery click&collect. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The spatial interaction method of “Huff gravity modeling” is applied in a semi-automated approach, used to calculate grocery click&collect catchments for 95 Sainsbury’s stores in England. The catchments allow investigation of the spatial variation and particularly rural-urban differences. Store and catchment characteristics are extracted and explored using ordinary least squares regression applied to investigate “demand per day” (a confidentiality transformed revenue value) as a function of competition, performance and geodemographic factors.

Findings

The findings show that rural stores exhibit a larger catchment extent for grocery click&collect when compared with urban stores. Linear regression finds store characteristics as having the greatest impact on demand per day, adhering to wider retail competition literature. Conclusions display a need for further investigation (e.g. quantifying loyalty).

Originality/value

New insights are contributed at a national level for grocery click&collect, as well as e-commerce, multichannel shopping and retail geography. Areas for further investigation are identified, particularly quantitatively capturing brand loyalty. The research has commercial impact as the catchments are being applied by Sainsbury’s to decide the next 100 stores and plan for the next five years of their grocery click&collect offering.
Influence of temperature – viscosity effect on ring-journal speed ratio and stability for a hydrodynamic floating ring bearing
Authors: Guo Hong , Yang Shuai , Zhang Shaolin , Zhang Zebin
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of lubricant temperature-viscosity on the performance for a hydrodynamic journal floating ring bearing (FRB), including ring-journal speed ratio and stability.

Design/methodology/approach

The finite difference method was used to solve computational models of Reynolds equation, energy equation and temperature–viscosity equation. Dynamic coefficients were obtained based on the floating ring balance. The dynamic model of journal and floating ring was established to deduce the stability criterion of single mass symmetrical rigid FRB rotor system by the Routh–Hurwitz method. The outlet temperature and ring-journal speed ratio under different journal speeds were compared to experimental data.

Findings

The temperature–viscosity effect reduces the ring-journal speed ratio and stability of rotor system. According to theoretical and experimental results, the outlet temperature rises and ring-journal ratio drops when the journal speed rises.

Originality/value

The temperature–viscosity effect is combined with dynamic characteristics to analyze the stability of the rotor system and lubrication mechanism for an FRB. Influence of temperature–viscosity on the ring-journal ratio and multi-stable regions of system are studied.
Accountability dilemmas and identity struggles
Authors: Stockenstrand Anna-Karin
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to add to our understanding of how external factors such as funding and external accountabilities affect the organisational inner workings, especially identity issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a comparative case study of two professional chamber orchestras, one in Sweden and one in the UK. The two orchestras had significantly different funding conditions and had different relations with funders and were thus exposed to different kinds of accountability dilemmas. The two organisations were studied using and ethnographically inspired approach. The developments of various parts of the organisations were studied, such as funding, management, strategy, management control and identity issues.

Findings

The paper illustrates how the solution to accountability dilemmas in an organisation can, over time, result in the protection or the dilution of a perceived organisational core and thus in an identity struggle. Especially, management has to deal with the balance between financial and operational accountability, where organisational members could perceive the decisions to be confirming or rejecting what they perceived as being the higher purpose of their work.

Practical implications

This paper may help managers become more aware of the long ranging consequences of managerial decisions and how such decisions may affect the identity orientation of organisational members.

Originality/value

The paper combines the concept of identity with the concept of accountability, something that has not been done to a large extent in previous research.
“My bad”: investigating service failure effects in self-service and full-service settings
Authors: Köcher Sören , Paluch Stefanie
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Companies in diverse branches offer a variety of service alternatives that typically differ in terms of the degree to which customers are actively involved in service delivery processes. The purpose of this paper is to explore potential differences in consumers’ reactions to service failures across services provided by a service employee (i.e. full-services) and services that require customers’ active involvement (i.e. self-services).

Design/methodology/approach

Two 2 (full-service vs self-service) × 2 (no service failure vs service failure) scenario-based experiments in technological and non-technological contexts (i.e. ticket purchase and furniture assembly) were conducted.

Findings

Study results reveal that although service failures have a similar negative impact on satisfaction across both full-services and self-services, in the self-service context, the negative effect on the willingness to use the same service delivery mode again is attenuated.

Research limitations/implications

By emphasizing the role of customers’ active involvement in the service delivery process, the study extends previous knowledge regarding customer response to service failures in different service settings.

Practical implications

By highlighting that self-service customers’ future behavioral intentions are less severely affected by service failures, the authors present an additional feature of customer involvement in service delivery processes that goes beyond the previously recognized advantages.

Originality/value

Despite the abundance of research on the effects of failure attributions, previous studies have predominantly examined main effects of attributions on customer responses, such that insights into potential moderating effects of failure attributions on established relationships – as investigated in this study – are still scarce.
Donation appeals rewarding fitness in the context of CSR initiatives
Authors: Choi Sungwoo , Mattila Anna S. , Quadri-Felitti Donna
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the donation appeals requiring physical effort on consumers’ willingness to donate in the context of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Moreover, this paper investigates the moderating role of donation proximity on consumers’ attitudinal and behavioral responses to CSR initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies were conducted using a 2 (donation appeal type: fitness vs general) by 2 (donation proximity: nearby vs faraway) between-subjects experimental design. The authors recruited 234 participants from Qualtrics’ online panel (Study 1) and 122 participants from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (Study 2).

Findings

The study findings indicate that the consumers tend to perceive the company to be more socially responsible (i.e. perceived CSR engagement) when the donation appeal involves local beneficiaries and rewards fitness (i.e. fitness appeal). The positive impact of the fitness appeal was not observed when the donation involved faraway targets. Additionally, the mediation analyses indicate that the perceived CSR engagement has a spillover effect on behavioral outcomes (e.g. willingness to donate) when the initiative supports local beneficiaries.

Originality/value

This study provides several theoretical contributions to the services marketing literature by examining the role of fitness appeals in enhancing perceived CSR engagement and investigating the moderating role of donation proximity on customers’ willingness to donate to charities.
Structuring stock investment funds with a limited number of qualified students
Authors: DeBoeuf David A.
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to outline the problems encountered by a student-managed investment program (SMIP) when the pool of qualified finance majors is limited in number. Restructuring the program to a single-semester course and opening the class to motivated/intelligent non-finance majors increased the number of applicants, but resulted in alternative difficulties, particularly time constraints and inadequate student preparedness. A prerequisite exam and regimented classroom structure were the solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses the problems encountered and solutions devised to address the early year difficulties experienced by a newly developed SMIP at a relatively small university. The core of the paper chronicles the classroom approach to solving the main problem of a single-semester portfolio management course, the handling of an investment learning curve in a short period of time.

Findings

Though empirically limited due to the program’s infancy, portfolio performance has been encouraging and student feedback exceptional. Regarding the former, stocks purchased by the fund have created greater wealth in total than that of equal dollar investments in an S&P500 index fund.

Practical implications

Universities interested in running a student-managed fund should feel secure in a one-semester approach, regardless of talent pool size, as measured by the number of motivated, intelligent finance majors.

Originality/value

Aside from the uniqueness of requiring a mastery of entrance exam investing materials prior to the first class, this paper’s outline of core portfolio management activities includes several strategies and methods meant to streamline the process within a groupthink design.
Researching a sensitive topic in an unstable environment
Authors: Saeed Muhammad , Griffin Gabriele
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore fieldwork dilemmas for a Pakhtun researcher, educated in the West, to research family or domestic violence in the unstable, hostile environment of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

A gender studies approach is here combined with masculinities studies, and a critical qualitative research methodology is used in this study.

Findings

The paper argues that unstable regions dominated by certain forms of masculinity require specific research approaches when conducting research and addressing a topic that is culturally taboo.

Practical implications

The paper suggests how the insider–outsider dynamic plays out for researchers who come from a particular field and return to it under changed circumstances. It also indicates how a taboo topic in a context where direct questioning is not possible might be approached through the use of vignettes.

Social implications

The paper suggests how the contradictory position of a masculinity, simultaneously bearing traces of the hegemonic and of marginalization, may be negotiated in the field.

Originality/value

Social research on the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan is rarely conducted and reported due to the unrest in this region. The paper thus contributes original insights from fieldwork carried out there. It also contributes to the limited but growing literature on conducting fieldwork in hostile environments.
Sharing economy: becoming an Uber driver in a developing country
Authors: Valente Eduardo , Patrus Roberto , Córdova Guimarães Rosana
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze why people have become suppliers in the sharing economy (SE) as Uber drivers in a developing country.

Design/methodology/approach

From a background on SE, car sharing and gig economy, the authors carried out a qualitative research. The analysis was based on 20 semi-structured interviews conducted with Uber drivers, and on the authors’ participant observation as Uber drivers and passengers in the third largest Brazilian city, Belo Horizonte.

Findings

Empirical evidence shows that becoming an Uber driver is more a matter of solving unemployment on a more permanent way rather than a search for a temporary and flexible work to supplement income. Although there are benefits related to flexibility, income and social interactions, negative externalities identified herein lead to the conclusion that the overall work relations and conditions are negative.

Originality/value

Much in the literature of the SE is focused on understanding consumer behavior; this research, on the contrary, is focused on understanding producers, which indicates an incipient perspective. The contributions of this paper show that the SE merges into different distributive decentralized means of production that are seeing as profit/income generated from shareable assets.
Unique or ubiquitous: information literacy instruction outside academia
Authors: Matteson Miriam L. , Gersch Beate
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how US public libraries offer information literacy (IL) instruction to their patrons.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a content analysis of eight library websites to determine passive IL instruction and active literacy instruction.

Findings

Library web guides offer passive IL instruction by highlighting resources patrons may wish to access to resolve information inquiries. Further, the authors found that a little less than 50 per cent of library programming offers some IL instruction, the majority of which relates to helping patrons learn to use tools to create information products.

Originality/value

IL is the ability to recognize the need for information, to effectively find information to meet that need and to use information for some purpose or goal. Academic, school and public libraries believe that understanding and using information critically and effectively bring gains to an individual and to society. However, they diverge in how and why they engage in IL instruction. The authors’ findings suggest that less than half of the libraries surveyed are providing active IL instruction, despite the recognition of the benefits IL provides.
Facebook’s power: factors influencing followers’ visit intentions
Authors: Blasco-Lopez Francisca , Recuero Virto Nuria , Aldas Manzano Joaquin , Cruz Delgado Daniela
Published: April 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role that Facebook Fan Pages (FFPs) play in the generation of visit intention. The study has three objectives: first, to examine the effects of museum-generated content (MGC) on perceived information quality and perceived customer service and perceived information quality and perceived customer service on visit intention and, second, to test the model with two samples to make comparisons that provide useful insights.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through an online survey that achieved 308 valid responses. A multi-group analysis was conducted to compare the results from two groups: users of the Frida Kahlo museum and Anahuacalli museum FFPs.

Findings

The results reveal that there are significant differences between the two samples regarding the direct effects of perceived information quality on visit intention and perceived customer service on visit intention. The authors also noted a slight difference between the two museums’ FFPs in the relationship between MGC and perceived information quality.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is needed to examine other FFP factors that influence visit intention to clarify the results obtained from the two samples and to analyse the proposed model in other settings. This research contributes to the literature concerning the impact of online platforms on visit intention.

Originality/value

The findings provide useful insights for managers as to how to increase their FFP followers’ intention to visit their establishments.
Changes in screening colonoscopy following Medicare reimbursement and cost‐sharing changes
Authors: Song Lina D. , Newhouse Joseph P. , Garcia‐De‐Albeniz Xabier , Hsu John
Published: April 2019

Objectives

To compare existing algorithms for classifying screening vs diagnostic colonoscopies and to quantify the increase in screening colonoscopy rates when Medicare began reimbursement in 2001 and when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) eliminated cost‐sharing.

Data Sources

Twenty percent random sample of fee‐for‐service (FFS) Medicare claims, 2000‐2012.

Study Design

Using recent administrative codes as tarnished gold standards, we examined the sensitivity and specificity of five published algorithms for classifying colonoscopies and calculated annual screening colonoscopy rates. We estimated the change in rates after Medicare began reimbursement and used difference‐in‐differences analysis to estimate the effects of eliminating cost‐sharing by comparing states with and without a mandate to cover screening colonoscopy prior to the ACA.

Findings

Model‐based algorithms have higher sensitivity (0.53‐0.99) than expert‐based algorithms (0.35‐0.39), but lower specificity (0.43‐0.65 vs 0.79‐0.88). All algorithms detected increases in screening from both Medicare's reimbursement change (range: 24‐93/10 000) and the 2011 cost‐sharing change (range: 1.1‐34/10 000). Difference‐in‐difference estimates of the ACA's effect varied from 51 to 155 tests per 10 000 depending on the algorithm.

Conclusions

Screening colonoscopy rates increased after eliminating cost‐sharing in 2011, but the increase's size varied depending on the algorithm used to classify the indication. Improvements are needed in Medicare coding for screening.
Psychostimulant Use and Fatal Stroke in Young Adults
Authors: Darke Shane , Duflou Johan , Kaye Sharlene , Farrell Michael , Lappin Julia
Published: April 2019

Psychostimulant use is associated with increased stroke risk. To determine the proportion of psychostimulant users among fatal strokes in young adults (15–44 years), all cases were retrieved from the National Coronial Information System (1/1/2009–31/12/2016). A total of 279 cases were identified: hemorrhagic (259), ischemic (8), thrombotic (8), and mycotic (4). Fifty (17.9%) were identified as psychostimulant users. Psychostimulants in blood were detected in 37/45 where toxicology was available, predominantly methamphetamine (32/45). Hemorrhagic strokes in the psychostimulant group were more likely to be intraparenchymal (OR 2.33). Psychostimulant users were less likely to be obese (OR 0.31), but more likely to have a history of tobacco use (OR 2.64). No psychostimulant user had a previous stroke history, was gravid/postpartum, or diagnosed with cerebral vasculitis or endocarditis. The work illustrates the substantial role of psychostimulant use in fatal strokes among young adults. In cases of hemorrhagic stroke among young adults, psychostimulant use should be considered.
One‐Year Impact of Kidney Transplantation on Cardiac Abnormalities and Blood Pressure in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Fujii Hideki , Watanabe Shuhei , Kono Keiji , Watanabe Kentaro , Goto Shunsuke , Ishimura Takeshi , Fujisawa Masato , Nishi Shinichi
Published: April 2019

Cardiac abnormalities, including left ventricular hypertrophy and systolic dysfunction, are frequently observed among patients with CKD, including kidney transplant recipients; they are closely linked to cardiovascular disease and mortality. Although several studies have been performed for elucidating changes and mechanisms of cardiac abnormalities after kidney transplantation, details remain unclear. This study included 43 consecutive patients who underwent HD and received kidney transplantation between 2008 and 2012 at our institution. All subjects underwent echocardiography before and 1 year after kidney transplantation. One year after kidney transplantation, left ventricular mass index, cardiac chamber sizes, BP, and the number of antihypertensive agents were reduced. Although the percentage of patients with concentric hypertrophy did not change, the percentage of those with eccentric hypertrophy significantly decreased after kidney transplantation. Volume reduction due to the recovery of kidney function may be primarily attributed to the improvement of cardiac abnormalities, including left ventricular hypertrophy.
Resting heart rate is associated with metabolic syndrome and predicted 10‐year risk of cardiovascular disease: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Wu Xueyan , Du Rui , Hu Chunyan , Cheng Di , Ma Lina , Li Mian , Xu Yu , Xu Min , Chen Yuhong , Li Donghui , Bi Yufang , Wang Weiqing , Ning Guang , Lu Jieli
Published: April 2019

Background

This study examined whether resting heart rate (RHR) was associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the 10‐year predicted risk of cardiovascular disease in a Chinese population.

Methods

The associations of RHR with MetS and 10‐year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) was examined in a cross‐sectional study conducted in Shanghai, China (n = 9486).

Results

Compared with individuals in the lowest RHR quintile (≤71 b.p.m.), those in the highest quintile (≥91 b.p.m.) had a higher prevalence of MetS (21.2% vs 32.6%, respectively; P < 0.001). Logistic regression analyses showed that the multivariate‐adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for MetS was 1.13 (1.08‐1.18) for each 10‐b.p.m. increment of RHR (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, RHR was strongly associated with the prevalence of hypertension, high blood glucose, and dyslipidemia, but not with central obesity. A stronger association of RHR with MetS was observed among individuals aged <65 years, male, with a body mass index <24 kg/m2, without diabetes, hypertension, abnormal lipids, and insulin resistance than among their counterparts (P < 0.05 for all). A significantly higher 10‐year risk for ASCVD was observed with each 10‐b.p.m. increment in RHR in both men and women (ORs [95% CIs] 1.20 [1.07‐1.33] and 1.28 [1.17‐1.39], respectively; Ptrend = 0.002 and < 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions

In this study, RHR was associated with a higher prevalence of MetS and elevated 10‐year predicted risk of ASCVD in both Chinese men and women. Whether RHR may serve as an indicator for MetS among relatively healthy individuals requires further investigation.
What does a zero mean? Understanding false, random and structural zeros in ecology
Authors: Blasco‐Moreno Anabel , Pérez‐Casany Marta , Puig Pedro , Morante Maria , Castells Eva
Published: April 2019

Zeros (i.e. events that do not happen) are the source of two common phenomena in count data: overdispersion and zero‐inflation. Zeros have multiple origins in a dataset: false zeros occur due to errors in the experimental design or the observer; structural zeros are related to the ecological or evolutionary restrictions of the system under study; and random zeros are the result of the sampling variability. Identifying the type of zeros and their relation with overdispersion and/or zero inflation is key to select the most appropriate statistical model.

Here we review the different modelling options in relation to the presence of overdispersion and zero inflation, tested through the dispersion and zero inflation indices. We then examine the theory of the zero‐inflated (ZI) models and the use of the score tests to assess overdispersion and zero inflation over a model.

In order to choose an adequate model when analysing count data we suggest the following protocol: Step 1) classify the zeros and minimize the presence of false zeros; Step 2) identify suitable covariates; Step 3) test the data for overdispersion and zero‐inflation and Step 4) choose the most adequate model based on the results of step 3 and use score tests to determine whether more complex models should be implemented.

We applied the recommended protocol on a real dataset on plant–herbivore interactions to evaluate the suitability of six different models (Poisson, NB and their zero‐inflated versions—ZIP, ZINB). Our data were overdispersed and zero‐inflated, and the ZINB was the model with the best fit, as predicted.

Ignoring overdispersion and/or zero inflation during data analyses caused biased estimates of the statistical parameters and serious errors in the interpretation of the results. Our results are a clear example on how the conclusions of an ecological hypothesis can change depending on the model applied. Understanding how zeros arise in count data, for example identifying the potential sources of structural zeros, is essential to select the best statistical design. A good model not only fits the data correctly but also takes into account the idiosyncrasies of the biological system.
Development and Content Validation of a NOC‐Based Instrument for Measuring Dietary Knowledge in Patients with Diabetes: CoNOCidiet‐Diabetes
Authors: Brito‐Brito Pedro Ruymán , Martín‐García Ángel , Oter‐Quintana Cristina , Paloma‐Castro Olga , Romero‐Sánchez José Manuel ,   CoNOCidiet‐Diabetes Research Group
Published: April 2019

PURPOSE

To construct a questionnaire for measuring knowledge of a diabetic diet and validate its contents.

METHODS

This study was carried out in three stages: (a) generation of items, (b) apparent and content validation, (c) cognitive pilot test.

FINDINGS

An 88‐item questionnaire was obtained with a content validity index and a representativeness index of 0.87. The experts modified the items that did not reach the preset values. The cognitive test was shown to be feasible, with good exploratory values of reliability and concurrent validity.

CONCLUSIONS

The CoNOCidiet‐Diabetes questionnaire was obtained from the NOC outcome “Knowledge: Prescribed Diet” and its contents were validated.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

This research shows the usefulness of the NOC for generating tools to measure health outcomes sensitive to nursing interventions.
Fibroblast growth factor 23 levels decline following sleeve gastrectomy
Authors: Billington Emma O. , Murphy Rinki , Gamble Greg D. , Callon Karen , Davies Naomi , Plank Lindsay D. , Booth Michael , Reid Ian R.
Published: April 2019

Objective

Levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) have been positively associated with measures of adiposity, cardiovascular disease and mortality. It is unclear whether the relationship of FGF23 with cardiovascular disease and mortality is confounded by obesity. We aimed to determine whether FGF23 concentrations decline following a reduction in adiposity after sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

Design

The effect of SG on FGF23 was evaluated in 22 obese adults (59% male) with type 2 diabetes. Fat mass, weight, BMI, plasma intact FGF23, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and leptin were determined at baseline and at 12 months following SG.

Results

At baseline, median (IQR) age was 51 (43‐54) years, fat mass 47.8 (41.0‐59.4) kg, BMI 40.9 (36.9‐46.9) kg/m2 and FGF23 66.2 (55.3‐82.9) pg/mL. Significant changes in median BMI (−10.8 kg/m2, 95% CI: −12.9 to −7.2, P < 0.0001), fat mass (−20.0 kg, 95% CI: −26.7 to −12.4, P < 0.0001) and weight (−34.7 kg, 95% CI −40.0 to −23.1, P < 0.0001) were observed after SG. FGF23 (−12.4 pg/mL, 95% CI: −19.5 to 2.0, P = 0.005), PTH (−1.1 pmol/L, 95% CI: −1.7 to 0.2, P = 0.009) and leptin (−1687 pg/mL, 95% CI −4524 to −563, P = 0.01) declined following SG. Change in FGF23 was not significantly associated with change in measures of adiposity, PTH or leptin.

Conclusions

FGF23 concentrations decline in the setting of significant weight loss following SG, implying that increased FGF23 concentrations are a downstream consequence of obesity, which may confound its association with cardiometabolic dysfunction. Mediators of the relationship between adiposity and FGF23 require further elucidation.
Urothelial carcinoma arising from the transplanted kidney: A single‐center experience and literature review
Authors: Bellini Maria Irene , Gopal Jeevan Prakash , Hill Peter , Nicol David , Gibbons Norma
Published: April 2019

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a malignancy predominantly arising in the bladder. Upper tract UC (UUC) is uncommon, accounting only for 5‐10% of the cases. High incidence of neoplasms is associated with immunosuppressive therapy; thus, UCs of the transplanted grafts often lead to a more aggressive treatment, in order to withdraw completely the immunosuppression. It significantly affects the patient quality of life, meaning return to dialysis, along with the worse life expectancy. We present our single‐institution experience of this rare malignancy in two mid‐age kidney transplant recipients, with UCs successfully treated with radical nephroureterectomy: G3 pT3 N0 + G3 pT1 N0 in the first patient and G3 pT2 N0 in the second one. We also review the previous literature focusing on stage of presentation and treatment for the affected kidney transplant patients.
Giant clams discriminate threats along a risk gradient and display varying habituation rates to different stimuli
Authors: Dehaudt Bastien , Nguyen My , Vadlamudi Arjun , Blumstein Daniel T.
Published: April 2019

It is often beneficial for animals to discriminate between different threats and to habituate to repeated exposures of benign stimuli. While much is known about risk perception in vertebrates and some invertebrates, risk perception in marine invertebrates is less extensively studied. One method to study risk perception is to habituate animals to a series of exposures to one stimulus, and then present a novel stimulus to test if it transfers habituation. Transfer of habituation is seen as a continued decrease in response while lack of transfer is seen either by having a similar or greater magnitude response. We asked whether giant clams (Tridacna maxima) discriminate between biologically relevant types of threats along a risk gradient. Giant clams retract their mantle and close their shell upon detecting a threat. While closed, they neither feed nor photosynthesize, and prior work has shown that the cost of being closed increases as the duration of their response increases. We recorded a clam's latency to emerge after simulated threats chosen to represent a risk gradient: exposure to a small shading event, a medium shading event, a large shading event (chosen to simulate fish swimming above them), tapping on their shell and touching their mantle (chosen to simulate different degrees of direct attack). Although these stimuli are initially perceived as threatening, we expected clams to habituate to them because they are ultimately non‐damaging and it would be costly for clams to remain closed for extended periods of time when there is no threat present. Clams had different initial latencies to emerge and different habituation rates to these treatments, and they did not transfer habituation to higher risk stimuli and to some lower risk stimuli. These results suggest that clams discriminated between these stimuli along a risk gradient and the lack of habituation transfer shows that the new stimulus was perceived as a potential threat. This study demonstrates that sessile bivalves can discern between levels of predatory threat. These photosynthetic clams may benefit from being able to categorize predator cues for efficient energy allocation.
Assessment of the gluten toxicity of wheat and naan in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China
Authors: Min Fangfang , You Yijiao , Yu Fenglian , Yuan Juanli , Mu Peiyuan , Sang Wei , Han Xinnian , Wu Yong , Gao Jinyan , Chen Hongbing
Published: April 2019

Xinjiang is a high‐risk area for celiac disease (CD) regardless of genetic or environmental factors. However, no case has been reported yet in people living in Xinjiang. This study aims to explore the potential connection between diet and occurrence of CD in the Xinjiang population. To this end, the levels of T‐cell stimulatory epitopes in 164 accessions of Xinjiang wheat were tested by using Western blot with monoclonal antibodies against α‐gliadin epitopes Glia‐α9 and Glia‐α20. Three wheat varieties with remarkably low amounts of T‐cell stimulatory epitopes were obtained. Western blot and R5 competitive ELISA were performed for the assessment of potential toxicity related to CD of naan. Results showed a reduction of gluten toxicity after wheat flour was processed into naan, suggesting it may have the potential to help to reduce the risk of CD for the genetically predisposed individuals.
Electrofulguration in the advanced management of antibiotic‐refractory recurrent urinary tract infections in women
Authors: Crivelli Joseph J , Alhalabi Feras , Zimmern Philippe E
Published: April 2019

Objective

To evaluate the long‐term efficacy of electrofulguration in women with recurrent urinary tract infections.

Methods

After institutional review board approval, a retrospective study of women who underwent electrofulguration alone was carried out. All patients had recurrent urinary tract infections defined as three or more urinary tract infections/year, and a preoperative office cystoscopy showing inflammatory lesions, categorized by location: urethra, bladder neck, trigone and beyond the trigone. All lesions were cauterized during outpatient electrofulguration under anesthesia. On 6‐month postoperative office cystoscopy, endoscopic success was defined as resolution of all lesions previously seen and no new lesions. The primary outcome was urinary tract infections/year, with urinary tract infection defined as antibiotic treatment for urinary tract infection‐like symptoms and/or for positive urine culture. Clinical cure was defined as no further urinary tract infections, clinical improvement as less than three urinary tract infections/year, and clinical failure as three or more urinary tract infections/year.

Results

Of 95 women who met the study criteria between 2004 and 2016, 62 (65%) were endoscopically successful, and 33 (35%) were endoscopic failures based on postoperative cystoscopy. Among all patients, over a median follow‐up period of 4.9 years, the median number of urinary tract infections/year was 0.8. Endoscopically successful patients had fewer urinary tract infections/year compared with endoscopic failures (0.6 vs 0.9, P = 0.03). Clinically, 14 (15%) patients were cured, 69 (73%) were improved and 12 (13%) failed. Compared with clinically improved patients, clinical failures were more likely to have infections with multiple organisms (92% vs 35%, P < 0.001) and highly resistant organisms (92% vs 23%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In our experience, nearly two‐thirds of women with recurrent urinary tract infection can be successfully treated with electrofulguration, and >80% experience long‐term clinical cure or improvement in urinary tract infections.
Impact of multiple co‐occurring emotional and behavioural conditions on children with autism and their families
Authors: Dovgan Kristen , Mazurek Micah O.
Published: April 2019

Background

Comorbid conditions are very common in children and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can affect school performance, adaptive skills and peer relationships. Comorbid conditions place strain on the family as well as the individual with ASD. This project aimed to determine the affect of comorbid conditions over and above child and family characteristics.

Methods

The present authors examined 3,055 cases of children with ASD who had varying numbers of comorbid conditions (i.e., ADHD, depression, anxiety or behaviour problems).

Results

Multiple comorbid conditions did have a unique impact on difficulties accessing services. A greater number of comorbid conditions impacted daily activity participation, but not a family's receipt of mental health care or respite, work changes or number of weekly hours dedicated to caring for a child with ASD.

Conclusions

Families, practitioners, paraprofessionals and educators of children with autism should address comorbid conditions to ensure both child and family well‐being.
Pharmacological doses of melatonin impede cognitive decline in tau‐related Alzheimer models, once tauopathy is initiated, by restoring the autophagic flux
Authors: Luengo Enrique , Buendia Izaskun , Fernández‐Mendívil Cristina , Trigo‐Alonso Paula , Negredo Pilar , Michalska Patrycja , Hernández‐García Borja , Sánchez‐Ramos Cristina , Bernal Juan A. , Ikezu Tsuneya , León Rafael , López Manuela G.
Published: April 2019

Alterations in autophagy are increasingly being recognized in the pathogenesis of proteinopathies like Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study was conducted to evaluate whether melatonin treatment could provide beneficial effects in an Alzheimer model related to tauopathy by improving the autophagic flux and, thereby, prevent cognitive decline. The injection of AAV‐hTauP301L viral vectors and treatment/injection with okadaic acid were used to achieve mouse and human ex vivo, and in vivo tau‐related models. Melatonin (10 μmol/L) impeded oxidative stress, tau hyperphosphorylation, and cell death by restoring autophagy flux in the ex vivo models. In the in vivo studies, intracerebroventricular injection of AAV‐hTauP301L increased oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and tau hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampus 7 days after the injection, without inducing cognitive impairment; however, when animals were maintained for 28 days, cognitive decline was apparent. Interestingly, late melatonin treatment (10 mg/kg), starting once the alterations mentioned above were established (from day 7 to day 28), reduced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, tau hyperphosphorylation, and caspase‐3 activation; these observations correlated with restoration of the autophagy flux and memory improvement. This study highlights the importance of autophagic dysregulation in tauopathy and how administration of pharmacological doses of melatonin, once tauopathy is initiated, can restore the autophagy flux, reduce proteinopathy, and prevent cognitive decline. We therefore propose exogenous melatonin supplementation or the development of melatonin derivatives to improve autophagy flux for the treatment of proteinopathies like AD.
Flexible and Robust Mixed Poisson INGARCH Models
Authors: Silva Rodrigo B. , Barreto‐Souza Wagner
Published: April 2019

In this article, we propose a general class of INteger‐valued Generalized AutoRegressive Conditional Heteroskedastic (INGARCH) models based on a flexible family of mixed Poisson (MP) distributions. Our proposed class of count time series models contains the negative binomial (NB) INGARCH process as particular case and open the possibility to introduce new models such as the Poisson‐inverse Gaussian (PIG) and Poisson generalized hyperbolic secant processes. In particular, the PIG INGARCH model is an interesting and robust alternative to the NB model. We explore first‐order and second‐order stationary properties of our MPINGARCH models and provide expressions for the autocorrelation function and mean and variance marginals. Conditions to ensure strict stationarity and ergodicity properties for our class of INGARCH models are established. We propose an Expectation‐Maximization algorithm to estimate the parameters and obtain the associated information matrix. Further, we discuss two additional estimation methods. Monte Carlo simulation studies are considered to evaluate the finite‐sample performance of the proposed estimators. We illustrate the flexibility and robustness of the MPINGARCH models through two real‐data applications about number of cases ofEscherichia coliandCampylobacterinfections. This article contains a Supporting Information.
Behavioural weight management interventions for postnatal women: A systematic review of systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Ferguson Janice A. , Daley Amanda J. , Parretti Helen M.
Published: April 2019

This systematic review of systematic reviews investigated the effectiveness of lifestyle weight management interventions for postnatal women. We systematically reviewed Medline (PubMed), Embase, CINAHL Plus, The Cochrane Library, and Scopus from 2000 until January 2018, to identify systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of behavioural lifestyle interventions for weight management in postnatal women. Results were summarized both descriptively and statistically using a mega meta‐analysis of data from randomized controlled trials included in previous systematic reviews. Nine systematic reviews met our inclusion criteria. Overall the reviews concluded that lifestyle interventions involving physical activity and/or dietary changes resulted in a reduction in postnatal weight. Results from the overall mega meta‐analysis confirmed this finding with a mean difference of −1.7 kg (95% CI, −2.3 to −1.1). Findings for subgroup analyses gave mean differences of −1.9 kg (95% CI, −2.9 to −1.0) for combined diet and physical activity interventions, −1.6 kg (95% CI, −2.1 to −1.2) for physical activity–only interventions, and −9.3 kg (95% CI, −16.5 to −2.1) for diet‐only interventions (one study). Heterogeneity varied from 0% to 68%. Interventions involving lifestyle interventions appeared to be effective in reducing weight in postnatal women, although these findings should be interpreted with some caution due to statistical heterogeneity.
Cognitive decline reduces household spending among older people
Authors: Oba Hikaru , Kadoya Yoshihiko , Matsuoka Teruyuki , Narumoto Jin
Published: April 2019

Aim

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of cognitive decline on household spending.

Methods

The panel data covered the years 2007–2009 and were taken from the Japanese Study of Aging and Retirement, with data extracted for 253 participants aged 65 years and over. Sociodemographic characteristics, functional status, depressive symptoms, and monthly household spending excluding spending for shelter (e.g. mortgage) were used in the analysis. Cognitive function was evaluated by delayed recall and serial 7s and represented by the sum of both scores. Changes in spending and cognitive function scores were calculated by subtracting 2007 scores from 2009 scores. Participants were divided into two groups: cognitive decline and no cognitive decline. The effect of cognitive decline on changes in household spending was estimated.

Results

Although the cognitive decline group had more severe depressive symptoms than the no cognitive decline group in 2009, cognitive decline was the only factor related to change in household spending.

Conclusion

The results imply that cognitive decline may cause a decline in household spending in older people. Focusing on changes in household spending behaviour might help detect cognitive impairment in older people.
The Mean, Variance and Correlation for Bivariate Recurrent Event Data with a Terminal Event
Authors: Scheike Thomas H. , Eriksson Frank , Tribler Siri
Published: April 2019

Recurrent events in the presence of a terminal event are often encountered in a biomedical setting. The marginal mean of the number of recurrent events in a specified time period is a useful non-parametric summary of recurrent events data also in the presence of a terminal event. Other useful non-parametric summaries, that are simple to compute, are the distribution function of the number of recurrent events for each point in time and the variance of the number of recurrent events. For bivariate recurrent events, still in the presence of a terminal event, we suggest a simple non-parametric estimator of the covariance or correlation of the marginal number of events for both processes. When there is no terminal event the correlation is useful, but when there is an important terminal event we suggest an adjustment for correlation induced by the terminal event to obtain a measure that reflects the dependence in the recurrent event processes among survivors only. Our estimators can be used for deciding whether the two recurrent events are correlated and in what way. We provide large sample properties of our estimators and show their performance in small samples by simulations. The estimators are applied in a study of catheter complications among patients receiving home parenteral nutrition through a central venous catheter, and we show a positive correlation between the number of infections and the number of occlusion defects.
Protein kinase A‐mediated phosphorylation of naked cuticle homolog 2 stimulates cell‐surface delivery of transforming growth factor‐α for epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation
Authors: Cao Zheng , Singh Bhuminder , Li Cunxi , Markham Nicholas O. , Carrington Léolène J. , Franklin Jeffrey L. , Graves‐Deal Ramona , Kennedy Eileen J. , Goldenring James R. , Coffey Robert J.
Published: April 2019

The classic mode of G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR)‐mediated transactivation of the receptor tyrosine kinase epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation occurs via matrix metalloprotease (MMP)‐mediated cleavage of plasma membrane‐anchored EGFR ligands. Herein, we show that the Gαs‐activating GPCR ligands vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) transactivate EGFR through increased cell‐surface delivery of the EGFR ligand transforming growth factor‐α (TGFα) in polarizing madin‐darby canine kidney (MDCK) and Caco‐2 cells. This is achieved by PKA‐mediated phosphorylation of naked cuticle homolog 2 (NKD2), previously shown to bind TGFα and direct delivery of TGFα‐containing vesicles to the basolateral surface of polarized epithelial cells. VIP and PGE2 rapidly activate protein kinase A (PKA) that then phosphorylates NKD2 at Ser‐223, a process that is facilitated by the molecular scaffold A‐kinase anchoring protein 12 (AKAP12). This phosphorylation stabilized NKD2, ensuring efficient cell‐surface delivery of TGFα and increased EGFR activation. Thus, GPCR‐triggered, PKA/AKAP12/NKD2‐regulated targeting of TGFα to the cell surface represents a new mode of EGFR transactivation that occurs proximal to ligand cleavage by MMPs.