bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revealing the unexplained wealth in Indonesian corporation
Authors: Lukito Anastasia Suhartati
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the unexplained wealth inside the corporation and to initiate and apply unexplained wealth order in the Indonesian corporation based on the Indonesian legal system and prevailing laws. An effective tool needs to be implemented because of the facts that numerous corporate illegal activities lead to economic and financial crime. Meanwhile, there are difficulties to implement the corporate criminal liability. Non-conviction-based asset forfeiture will be a way out to deal with the current condition.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper explores and analyzes the Indonesian legal system, particularly a non-conviction-based asset forfeiture for corporate illegal activities. This paper is based on the research paper conducted with the legal normative approach.

Findings

Non-conviction-based asset forfeiture through unexplained wealth order will be an effective tool and a revolutionary pattern in the crime prevention perspective dealing with corporate crime. Corporate criminal liability in anti-corruption regime can be viewed from two perspectives by combining and integrating crime prevention approach as well as the repressive approach. The Indonesian Supreme Court Regulation number 13 of 2016 is a breakthrough in the criminal justice system to redesign case handling procedure toward corporate crime. It needs to be supported by precise asset forfeiture law. Furthermore it is necessity to strengthening and built corporations with moral and ethical business values.

Practical implications

This paper can be a source to explore the unexplained wealth that can occur in the corporation and the way to overcome it through unexplained wealth order and non-conviction-based asset forfeiture.

Originality/value

This paper contributes by initiating a non-conviction-based asset forfeiture, which is implementing the in rem proceeding, to make sure the crime does not pay and the victim and society suffer less because of the corporate crime.
Sleep loss among Thai high school students smartphone users affected by smartphone electromagnetic pollution
Authors: Chongchitpaisan Wanna , Wiwatanadate Phongtape , Narkpongphun Assawin , Tanprawate Surat , Siripon Nipapon
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Adolescents being in a stage of growth need good sleep, but, today, they suffer from sleep deprivation due to such extrinsic factor as a smartphone which they enjoy spending time using the device. However, the effects of smartphone output power (SOP) on the duration of good sleep remains unclear. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the correlation of the SOP and sleep loss in high school students.

Design/methodology/approach

The time-series study was conducted among 145 high school students in Chiang Mai Province who completed a sleep diary which applied by the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. The SOP was corrected by a smartphone application and transmitted by e-mail to a researcher every day. The completed data set contains 12,969 entries. Headache, anxiety and depression were also assessed. Data were analyzed using the generalized estimating equation adjusted for demographic data, smartphone use and other factors.

Findings

Most of the study subjects are female, 17.4 years old on average. The prevalence of sleep loss (<8 h) was 52.9 percent with averagely 7.4 ±1.7 h of sleep duration and poor sleep at 32.1 percent. Anxiety, depression, headache had relationships with sleep loss. The daily dose, evening and nocturnal SOP in the range of ≥ 2.00 × 10‒5 mW had stronger relationships with sleep loss than their effects in the range of ≤ 1.79 × 10‒5 mW (ORadj1.32; 95% CI: 1.26–1.76, ORadj1.34; 95% CI: 1.07–1.17 and ORadj1.41; 95% CI: 1.07–1.17, respectively). Meanwhile, morning Lag_2 and daytime Lag_1 in the range of ≥ 2.00 × 10‒5 mW appeared to have a strong relationship with sleep loss (ORadj1.60; 95% CI: 1.26–1.76, ORadj1.36; 95% CI: 1.07–1.17). The relationship between Lag_4 daily dose and sleep loss took the form of a reverse dose-response.

Originality/value

Sleep loss in adolescents has an increasing trend of prevalence and has been found to be correlated with the highest SOP group (≥ 2.00 × 10‒5 mW range). These results confirmed that increased and longer smartphone use result in reduced sleep time. This causes them to be exposed to smartphone electromagnetic radiation and smartphone screen lighting. This disturbs brain waves and nervous system controlling sleep balance mechanisms. The findings recommended parents setting time and boundaries around technology use at home to reduce contact with electromagnetic radiation and smartphone screen lighting, thereby increasing sleeping time in order to create good sleep quality.
The necessity of anti-money laundering standards for Iranian auditors
Authors: Salehi Mahdi , Molla Imeny Vahid , Khaleghi Baygi Ahmad
Published: January 2020

Purpose

According to the last public statement of FATF (2018), Iran has some significant deficiencies in its anti-money laundering (AML) regime, especially in suspicious transaction reporting. In this research, the author tries to empirically show that Iranian auditors do not a response to AML cases effectively and adopting an AML standard is required for Iranian auditors. Therefore, it helps to improve one of the deficiencies of Iran’s AML regime.

Design/methodology/approach

To collect data, the author designed and developed a questionnaire and the questionnaire sent to all partners of Iranian auditing firms, which have authorization from the Iranian Association of Certified Public Accountants on December 2018.

Findings

The finding shows most of the sample auditors’ claim that it is necessary to have an AML standard and it can be helpful for them. Furthermore, most of the Iranian auditors in money laundering cases, which companies are involved do nothing except filling the checklist of Anti-Money Laundering Implementing Regulations for Business and Non-business Companies (2012).

Originality/value

The results of the current research make clear the necessity of adopting an AML standard for Iranian auditors and recommend Iranian authorities to improve Iran’s AML regime.
Towards a theoretical framework on sensorial place brand identity
Authors: Rodrigues Clarinda , Skinner Heather , Dennis Charles , Melewar T.C.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new framework on sensorial place brand identity.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper draws from sensory marketing and brand identity theories to propose an integrative model to develop sensorial place brand identity.

Findings

By relying on a broad spectrum of the literature, the study supports the notion that sensorial place brand identity is a bottom-up approach to branding that involves several enactment stakeholders and key influences as co-creators in the process of delivering sensory place branding messages based on a strong and unique place brand identity. This leads to the presentation of a provisional framework linking sensorial place identity, experiencescapes and multisensory place brand image.

Originality/value

This novel approach to place brand identity follows a holistic approach by considering several enactment stakeholders and key influencers as co-creators in the process of branding a place through the senses.
Transformational leadership and communication
Authors: Cohrs Carina , Bormann Kai C. , Diebig Mathias , Millhoff Catrin , Pachocki Katharina , Rowold Jens
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and evaluate a leadership development program with focus on transformational leadership and communication. It is explored whether these aspects of leadership can be trained in the course of a two-day intervention. Furthermore, it is tested if pre-training differences among leaders have an influence on the effectiveness of participating in the leadership intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

In the study, 38 leaders took part in the two-day training session. The control group consisted of 59 leaders. Information was collected from participating leaders’ followers (n=356) on pre- and post-training measures of transformational leadership as well as on communication skills (attentive and impression-leaving style).

Findings

Results show that transformational leadership behaviors improved more after training in the experimental group (EG) than they did in the control group. Also, ratings of the attentive communication style improved more in the EG compared to the control group. Furthermore, participants of the leadership development program benefitted to different degrees from their training. Participants who initially had a medium score showed the best improvement.

Originality/value

The present study advances the scope of leadership development by also considering the trainability of communication skills. Also, insights on the contingency of training effects are provided.
Leader self-efficacy and role ambiguity and follower leader-member exchange
Authors: Kuvaas Bård , Buch Robert
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether leader self-efficacy and leader role ambiguity are related to follower leader-member exchange (LMX). In addition, the authors examine whether the relationship between follower LMX and turnover intention will be mediated by need satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using an electronic survey tool filled out by 109 leaders and 696 followers.

Findings

Leader role ambiguity was positively related to an economic LMX relationship and negatively related to a social LMX relationship. Furthermore, the links between social and economic LMX relationships and turnover intention were mediated by satisfaction of the needs for autonomy and relatedness.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the study is the cross-sectional nature of the data from the followers.

Practical implications

Provided that the findings are generalizable organizations should provide role clarification initiatives to leaders with high role ambiguity.

Originality/value

Despite the centrality of role theory in the development of LMX theory, prior research has not investigated whether the extent to which leaders perceive that they meet the expectations of their leadership roles affects followers’ perception of LMX relationships.
Bushfire investigations in Australia
Authors: DeSisto Marco , Cavanagh Jillian , Bartram Timothy
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the process of collective leadership in emergency management organisations. More specifically, the authors investigate the conditions that enable or prevent collective leadership amongst key actors in the emergency management network in bushfire investigations. We also examine how chief investigators facilitate the conditions to effectively distribute leadership and the role of social networks within this process.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study approach was undertaken, and 18 semi-structured interviews were carried out with chief investigators, 6 at each of three agencies in Australia. A framework for understanding collective leadership (Friedrich et al., 2016) was used to examine key leadership constructs, baseline leadership and outcomes relative to bushfire investigations.

Findings

Findings demonstrate that there is no evidence of collective leadership at the network level of bushfire investigations. There is mixed evidence of collective leadership within bushfire investigation departments, with the Arson Squad being the only government agency to engage in collective leadership. The authors found evidence that government bureaucracy and mandated protocols inhibited the ability of formal leaders to distribute leadership, gauge a clear understanding of the level of skill and expertise amongst chief investigators and poor communication that inhibited knowledge of investigations.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to three bushfire investigative agencies. A future study will be carried out with other stakeholders, such as fire investigators and firefighters in the field.

Practical implications

For the government, emergency management agencies and other stakeholders, a key enabler of collective leadership within the emergency management network is the presence of a formal leader within a network. That leader has the authority and political ability to distribute leadership to other experts.

Social implications

The paper contributes to developing a better understanding of the efficacy and challenges associated with the application of collective leadership theory in a complex government bureaucracy. There are positive implications for the safety of firefighters, the protection of the broader community, their properties and livestock.

Originality/value

The authors address the lack of literature on effective leadership processes amongst emergency management agencies. The paper contributes to extending collective leadership theory by unpacking the processes through which leadership is distributed to team members and the role of institutions (i.e. fire investigation bureaucracy) on social networks within this integrative process. The authors provide new insights into the practice of collective leadership in complex bureaucratic organisations.
Contested ideas and possible futures for the university
Authors: Conway Maree
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to identify and explore the nature of ideas of the university in the present to demonstrate how the ideas both enable and constrain the emergence of its possible futures.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated literature review of work on the western university was undertaken to identify the defining elements of ideas discussed in the literature – purpose, social legitimacy and embedded future – for the university in each idea.

Findings

Four contested and co-existing ideas of the university in the present were identified, and the nature of their co-existence and their underpinning assumptions about the purpose and social legitimacy and the embedded future held by each idea are made explicit.

Research limitations/implications

The paper focuses only on public, non-profit western universities as they exist in Australia, Europe, the UK, Canada and the USA in the present. Whether other forms of the university such as private non-profit and private for-profit “fit” into the four ideas and university types identified here was not explored and is a topic for future research.

Originality/value

The paper draws on an extensive literature to identify a new frame to understand the evolution of multiple ideas of the university, the impact of these ideas on the empirical organisational form of the university and how they shape assumptions about the university’s possible futures.
Institutional quality and foreign direct investment in Ghana
Authors: Yakubu Ibrahim Nandom
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of institutional quality on foreign direct investment (FDI) in Ghana for the period 1985-2016.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to examine the relationship between institutional quality along with other controlled variables and FDI.

Findings

Evidence from the ARDL framework establishes a positive significant effect of institutional quality on FDI irrespective of the time horizon. The results also reveal a significant impact of inflation on FDI in both short and long run, while GDP per capita growth and trade are significant determinants only in the short run.

Practical implications

The study recommends the instigation of effective policies and strategies that seek to strengthen the quality of institutions, as this provides a conducive investment climate to attract FDI. Specifically, policies that are focused on promoting transparent legal regimes, regulatory reforms, non-corrupt institutions and political stability should be the precedence of policymakers.

Originality/value

In addition to being a pioneering work on the impact of institutional quality on FDI in Ghana, the main contribution of the study lies in its application of the principal component analysis to generate a single measure of institutional quality based on a number of institutional factors.
Extension of tube wave detection for quality evaluation of pile foundation
Authors: Yang Jun , Li Xue‐wen , Sun Xiao‐li
Published: January 2020

Based on the theory of tube wave propagation in a fluid‐filled borehole, this paper proposes a new method for detecting the integrity of pile foundation and overcomes some limitations of the existing pile integrity tests. The basic principle of detecting the pile integrity by the tube wave, testing equipment and concrete quality evaluation of piles are introduced. The feasibility of the tube wave detection for geological exploration of a bridge pile in a karst development area is verified by field tests. Through some test cases of prestressed high strength concrete pipe piles, cast‐in‐place piles and rock‐socketed piles with defects, the accuracy of the tube wave detection and other methods is compared. Then, some issues of the application of the tube wave for detecting pile defects are discussed. Finally, the content of this paper is summarized, and some suggestions on further research are put forward.
Sex Differences in Korsakoff's Syndrome for Inhibition but Not for Episodic Memory or Flexibility
Authors: El Haj Mohamad , Kessels Roy P.C. , Nandrino Jean‐Louis
Published: January 2020

Background and Objectives

While sex differences in cognitive abilities have been extensively studied in healthy populations, little is known about these differences in patients with Korsakoff syndrome (KS).

Methods

We investigated sex differences in verbal episodic memory, inhibition, and flexibility in 25 patients with KS and 25 control participants.

Results

The analysis demonstrated no significant differences between women with KS and men with KS on episodic memory and flexibility, but higher inhibition was observed in women with KS compared with men with KS. Regarding control participants, no significant differences were observed between women and men on inhibition or flexibility, but higher verbal episodic memory was observed in women compared with men. Verbal episodic memory and flexibility seem to be equally affected in women and men with KS, whereas inhibition seems to be more affected in men than in women with KS.

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

Our findings highlight cognitive sex differences in KS in executive function. Critically, our findings are the first quantitative data about episodic performances (and cognitive performances in general) of women and men with KS. (Am J Addict 2020;29:129–133)
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: impact of baseline resistance‐associated substitutions on the efficacy of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir among chronic hepatitis C patients
Authors: Singh Achintya D. , Maitra Souvik , Singh Nita , Tyagi Payal , Ashraf Anzar , Kumar Ramesh , Shalimar
Published: January 2020

Background

The effect of baseline resistance‐associated substitutions (RAS) on the sustained virologic response at 12 weeks (SVR12) among chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients receiving the second generation, pan‐genotypic glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) regimen is unclear.

Aim

To assess the effect of RAS on the SVR12 in CHC patients treated with G/P regimen.

Methods

The EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane central register of controlled trials databases were searched for relevant studies published before 1 March 2019. The principal outcome was to compare the SVR12 in CHC patients with and without baseline RAS, particularly in genotype‐1, genotype‐3 and direct‐acting anti‐virals (DAAs) failure patients. The outcomes were pooled using a random‐effects model and odds ratio (OR) was calculated. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tools for randomised and nonrandomised interventional studies.

Results

After initially identifying 410 studies, 3302 patients from 17 studies were included. Among 50 cases of virologic failures, 48% had genotype‐3 infection, 44% genotype‐1 infection and 36% DAA‐failure patients. Baseline RAS were present in 44(88%) patients. The most common NS5a and NS3 mutations were Y93H and A166S respectively. The odds of SVR12 were significantly reduced in patients with any baseline RAS (NS3 and/or NS5a) (OR 0.32, 95%C I[0.15, 0.65], I2 = 0%) and NS5a substitutions (OR 0.36, 95%CI [0.18,0.73]). The impact of RAS on SVR12 was significant among genotype‐3 patients, but not among genotype‐1 or DAA‐failure cases. The presence of Y93H and A30K mutations significantly impacted SVR12 rates in genotype‐3 patients.

Conclusion

Baseline NS3 or NS5a RAS, especially the NS5a substitutions—A30K, Y93H, decrease the odds of achieving SVR12 in genotype‐3 CHC patients.
Influence of feeding methods on blood biochemical parameters of Japanese Black breeding herd
Authors: Watanabe Takayuki , Akama Ryoko , Konishi Kazuyuki , Inoue Keiichi
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different feeding methods on blood biochemical parameters by using a total of 32 Japanese Black breeding cows. The diet (silage) was distributed at a rough estimate for 18 days (FN period), and stanchions were not used in this period. After the FN period, the cows were separated in stanchions for feeding and were fed specified amount of silage by using scales on a feeder wagon, which was determined according to the diet formulation and average body weight of cows, for 30 days (FW period). On the last day of the two experiment periods, the body weight of all cows was recorded and blood samples were collected from 10 randomly selected cows. β‐hydroxybutyric acid and albumin (Alb) levels were significantly higher after the FW period than after FN period. The variation of glucose, Alb, calcium and lactic acid was significantly smaller after the FW period. Several blood parameters of the FW period were approximately the appropriate range of a Japanese Black breeding herd in the dry period. Our results suggest that the feeding method by use of a stanchion and proper diet formulation affects blood biochemical parameters and improves nutritional conditions for breeding cows.
A role for classical music in veterinary practice: does exposure to classical music reduce stress in hospitalised dogs?
Authors: McDonald CI , Zaki S
Published: January 2020

Clinical scenario

Classical music has been extensively studied and acknowledged for its ability to reduce stress and improve patient outcomes in human medicine. It has also been shown to influence the disposition of many captive species within the animal kingdom. Some studies have hypothesised that classical music can also benefit dogs, offering the potential to provide a simple and cost‐effective method to improve patient outcomes and canine welfare when dogs are placed in unfamiliar and potentially stressful environments. This critical appraisal examines the current evidence available on the use of classical music for the purpose of stress reduction in hospitalised dogs.

Clinical bottom line

Based on six experimental studies, there is only weak evidence which demonstrates that exposure to classical music reduces stress in hospitalised dogs undergoing veterinary intervention. However; it was shown that classical music has the ability to significantly influence specific behaviours and physiological parameters that have been associated with the canine stress response such as heart rate variability, level of vocalisation and time spent resting.
Behind Migrant and Non‐Migrant Worktime Inequality in Europe: Institutional and Cultural Factors Explaining Differences
Authors: Ortlieb Renate , Winterheller Julian
Published: January 2020

Migrants often work longer hours than their non‐migrant counterparts. In this article, we examine reasons behind this inequality, arguing that institutional working time configurations at the country level have impact on worktime inequality. Our cross‐country comparative study uses data from the European Labour Force Survey. We focus on France, Sweden, Austria and the UK as archetypal examples of working time configurations and breadwinner models in Europe. Our findings indicate that institutional and cultural factors play a role in working hour differences between migrants and non‐migrants. We conclude that more centralized worktime regulation and bargaining foster equality, and we suggest several avenues for future research.
Environmental impacts and implications of tropical carrageenophyte seaweed farming
Authors: Kelly Emily L.A. , Cannon Abigail L. , Smith Jennifer E.
Published: January 2020

Field‐based cultivation of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma seaweeds is widespread across the tropics and is largely done to extract the polysaccharide carrageenan, which is used in commercial applications. Although such seaweed farming has been cited as a sustainable alternative livelihood to destructive fishing, there has not been a comprehensive review of its environmental impacts to assess its potential conservation benefit. We reviewed the peer‐reviewed and industry gray literature to determine what is known about seaweed farming techniques and their impacts on local ecosystems, organisms, and ecosystem services. We identified 43 tropical or subtropical countries that are currently cultivating or have cultivated carrageenophytes. Ecosystem impacts of seaweed farming were measured directly in 33 publications with variable results. Placement of seaweed farms above seagrass beds led to reduced productivity and shoot density in 5 studies and reduced or altered meiofaunal abundance and diversity in 6 studies. On coral reefs, overgrowth of corals by farmed seaweed species was documented in 8 cases. Two studies showed changes to herbivorous fish communities in adjacent areas because seaweed farms changed the environment, whereas in 2 studies measures of overall abundance or diversity did not change. The impacts of seaweed farming may not be as destructive as some other human activities, but they should still be considered when establishing new farms or managing existing farm sites. Our findings are consistent with suggestions to mitigate impact on local ecosystems by shifting seaweed farms to deeper, sandy‐bottom areas. However, some of these changes may adversely affect farmers and associated communities.
Just How Much Does the Tail Wag the Dog? Altering Inventory to Manage Earnings
Authors: Cook Kirsten A. , Huston G. Ryan , Kinney Michael R. , Smith Jeffery S.
Published: January 2020

Using absorption costing, manufacturing firms can alter production (relative to sales) to shift fixed costs between cost of goods sold and inventory accounts, thereby managing earnings either upward or downward. The accounting‐oriented benefits of such a strategy are met with operations‐oriented costs (e.g., carrying costs, inventory obsolescence, and/or stock outages), creating business frictions between accounting and operations. We use a large sample of manufacturing firms to study how production cost structure and inventory valuation method affect this strategy. Thus, the goal of this investigation is less about whether firms manage earnings in general and more about examining the impact of firm characteristics on the likelihood of altering inventory to manage earnings. Our results indicate that firms with high fixed‐cost ratios (FCRs) are more likely to alter inventory but make smaller abnormal inventory changes than companies with low FCRs. Because Last‐In‐First‐Out (LIFO) firms in the manufacturing sector also may manage earnings by liquidating LIFO layers and releasing the LIFO reserve into earnings, these firms are less likely than other companies to manage earnings by shifting fixed costs between COGS and inventory. Finally, we examine our findings in a multi‐period context, determining that when firms have greater abnormal inventory changes in period t, they are less inclined to alter inventory in period t + 1. These results suggest that manufacturing firms alter inventory levels to reach accounting earnings targets, but they tend to do so when the strategy is relatively less costly.
Enrolment criteria for diabetes cardiovascular outcome trials do not inform on generalizability to clinical practice: The case of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists
Authors: Sciannameo Veronica , Berchialla Paola , Orsi Emanuela , Lamacchia Olga , Morano Susanna , Querci Fabrizio , Consoli Agostino , Avogaro Angelo , Fadini Gian Paolo ,   the DARWIN‐T2D study
Published: January 2020

Aim

To evaluate the generalizability of cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) on glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists (GLP‐1RAs), we assessed what proportion of real‐world patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) constitute true CVOT‐like populations.

Materials and Methods

We applied inclusion/exclusion (I/E) criteria of each GLP‐1RA CVOT to a cross‐sectional database of 281 380 T2D patients from Italian diabetes outpatient clinics. We calculated the proportion of patients eligible for each CVOT and compared their clinical characteristics with those of trial patients. In addition, we used a Bayesian network‐based method to sample the greatest subsets of real‐world patients yielding true CVOT‐like populations.

Results

Between 98 725 and 124 164 T2D patients could be evaluated for CVOT eligibility. After excluding patients who were already on GLP‐1RAs and applying I/E criteria, 35.8% of patients would be eligible for REWIND, 34.1% for PIONEER‐6, 13.4% for EXSCEL, 10.1% for SUSTAIN‐6, 9.5% for HARMONY and 9.4% for LEADER. Overall, 45.4% of patients could be eligible for at least one of the CVOTs. These patients, however, were extremely different to trial patients in most of the clinical characteristics, including demographics, concomitant medications and complications. The greatest CVOT‐like subsets of real‐world patients were 0.5% for SUSTAIN‐6, 1.0% for EXSCEL, 1.2% for LEADER, 1.8% for PIONEER‐6 and 7.9% for REWIND.

Conclusions

A very small proportion of real‐world patients constitute true CVOT‐like populations. These findings question whether any meaningful information can be drawn from applying trial enrolment criteria to real‐world T2D patients.
Echocardiographic parameters differentiating heart failure with preserved ejection fraction from asymptomatic left ventricular diastolic dysfunction
Authors: Ibrahim Ismail Mohamed , Hafez Hesham , Al‐Shair Mohamad Hossam Aldin , El Zayat Ahmed
Published: January 2020

Background

(LVDD) either remains latent or manifests as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Little is known about echocardiographic parameters associated with symptomatic phenotype.

Objective

To investigate echocardiographic parameters associated with symptomatic state in LVDD.

Methods

Three hundred and thirty patients with definite diagnosis of LVDD (according to ASE/EACVI recommendations 2016) were included and divided into asymptomatic LVDD and HFpEF groups according to presence of dyspnea and brain natriuretic peptide levels. We excluded patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <50%, significant valvular heart disease, chronic lung disease, or renal dysfunction.

Results

Mean age was 61.2 ± 8.3 years; 71% were females. Both groups were matched regarding age, gender, comorbidities, and drug history. HFpEF group showed significantly larger BMI (P = .04), significantly higher IVS thickness (P < .001), LA diameter (P < .001), LA volume index (P = .004), E velocity (P = .001), TR jet velocity (P = .03), and average E/e' ratio (P < .001).On the contrary, lateral e' velocity was significantly lower in HFpEF group (P < .001). By regression analysis, lateral e' velocity was the best independent predictor of symptomatic state. Area under ROC curve of lateral e' velocity was 0.789 (0.667‐0.911, P < .001) to predict symptomatic state in LVDD with the best cutoff value of ≤8.2 cm/s (76% sensitivity and 79% specificity). Moreover, lateral e' velocity was significantly negatively correlated with NYHA class in HFpEF group.

Conclusion

Reduced lateral e' velocity was associated with symptomatic state in LVDD. Moreover, it was significantly negatively correlated with NYHA class in HFpEF.
Early predictors of mental health in mid‐adulthood
Authors: Pijnenburg Lisa J. , de Haan Lieuwe , Smith Lauren , Rabinowitz Jonathan , Levine Stephen Z. , Reichenberg Abraham , Velthorst Eva
Published: January 2020

Aim

Substantial research has focused on the examination of factors that contribute to the development of psychiatric problems. However, much less is known about factors early in life that may protect from poor mental health outcomes in midlife. This study aimed to identify the extent to which a set of key perinatal demographic variables and adolescent academic performance were associated with good mental health in mid‐adulthood.

Methods

In a sample of 525 individuals (aged 34‐44, 55.4% male) born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel (STREAM study) we attempted to differentiate those who did and did not report psychiatric symptoms in mid‐adulthood. Using χ2 and regression analysis, we explored birth factors (year of birth, sex, birth weight, and number of older siblings, data on parental immigration and socioeconomic status), academic achievement in eighth grade and contemporaneous measures of lifestyle factors, personality traits, and perceived resilience.

Results

Participants with good mental health were more often male (P = .005) and had better academic performance already at adolescence than participants who reported psychiatric symptoms in midlife (P < .001). They reported fewer physical complaints (P = .008), were less likely to smoke (P = .001) and considered themselves to be more “resilient” (P < .001).

Conclusions

The results showed that better academic performance in adolescence may be associated with better stress‐coping strategies, resulting in fewer psychiatric complaints, more perceived resilience, and less stress‐related behaviours in mid‐adulthood. Future studies confirming this hypothesis could inform public mental health interventions.
ArA*summarizer: An Arabic text summarization system based on subtopic segmentation and using an A* algorithm for reduction
Authors: Bahloul Belahcene , Aliane Hassina , Benmohammed Mohamed
Published: January 2020

Automatic text summarization is a field situated at the intersection of natural language processing and information retrieval. Its main objective is to automatically produce a condensed representative form of documents. This paper presents ArA*summarizer, an automatic system for Arabic single document summarization. The system is based on an unsupervised hybrid approach that combines statistical, cluster‐based, and graph‐based techniques. The main idea is to divide text into subtopics then select the most relevant sentences in the most relevant subtopics. The selection process is done by an A* algorithm executed on a graph representing the different lexical–semantic relationships between sentences. Experimentation is conducted on Essex Arabic summaries corpus and using recall‐oriented understudy for gisting evaluation, automatic summarization engineering, merged model graphs, and n‐gram graph powered evaluation via regression evaluation metrics. The evaluation results showed the good performance of our system compared with existing works.
Evidence‐poor medicine: just how evidence‐based are Australian clinical practice guidelines?
Authors: Venus Cameron , Jamrozik Euzebiusz
Published: January 2020

Background

Clinical practice guidelines aim to assist medical practitioners in making efficient evidence‐based decisions in daily practice. However, international studies have shown that the majority of recommendations in American and European guidelines are not based on strong evidence.

Aims

To review Australian clinical practice guidelines across a broad range of high‐impact conditions and determine how evidence‐based they are.

Methods

Australian guidelines published from January 2010 to May 2018 relating to the top 10 causes of death in Australia were identified from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) clinical practice guideline database and other relevant sources. The graded recommendations in these guidelines were extracted for analysis and the systems used for grading the recommendations were recorded.

Results

Ten relevant Australian guidelines were identified, containing a total of 748 graded recommendations. All 10 guidelines used either the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) or NHMRC systems to assess recommendations. However, only 18% (n = 136) of these recommendations were based on Level I (or equivalent) evidence; 25% (n = 185) were based on Level II evidence, 29% (n = 218) on Level III, and 9% (n = 66) on Level IV. Consensus‐based recommendations accounted for 19% (n = 143) of all recommendations.

Conclusions

Despite the enthusiasm of the evidence‐based medicine movement and its documented successes, contemporary medicine appears to remain largely evidence‐poor, not evidence‐based. Future research should aim to provide reliable descriptions of what constitutes valid clinical reasoning in evidence‐poor situations.
Hospital infection control: old problem – evolving challenges
Authors: Gilbert Gwendolyn L. , Kerridge Ian
Published: January 2020

Hospital infection prevention and control (IPC) is often regarded by doctors as mundane and unnecessarily rigid, but the continued occurrence of preventable healthcare‐associated infections, increasing antimicrobial resistance (to which hospitals are major contributors) and rare, but potentially devastating hospital outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, suggest that IPC must be taken seriously. Healthcare professionals often fail to comply with effective, evidence‐based IPC practices and there is ample evidence that doctors, generally, do so less consistently than nurses. However, doctors' practices are highly variable, apparently because of a perceived entitlement to clinical autonomy. In practice, most doctors observe safe IPC practices, most of the time. However, some are ignorant or dismissive of IPC policies and some respond angrily, when reminded. Among a small proportion of senior consultants, negative attitudes to IPC are perceived by their peers to correlate with a more general failure to meet their public hospital commitments, apparently because of conflicting demands, including private practice. The fact that breaches of IPC practice have significant, although often hidden, consequences indicates a need for continued improvement based on new strategies that might include: better surveillance, to identify and inform doctors of the true burdens of healthcare‐associated infections; professional self‐reflection on falsely dichotomous claims of medical professionalism namely: clinical autonomy versus regard for patient welfare by complying with ‘rules’ designed to protect them; and review of the consequences of recent changes in healthcare delivery, including proliferation of multiple, part‐time consultant contracts at the expense of public hospital culture and status.
Review of gout clinic in a tertiary hospital setting
Authors: Leonardo Nieves , Lester Susan , Whittle Samuel , Rischmueller Maureen
Published: January 2020

Although updated consensus guidelines, and effective therapies, are available for management of gout, suboptimal management remains an issue. Barriers were identified and addressed as part of a dedicated, structured gout clinic. More frequent appointments resulted in a faster rate of serum urate reduction, and the clinic provided the opportunity for the education of both patients and general practitioners in the management of gout.
Wilson disease: copper deficiency and iatrogenic neurological complications with zinc therapy
Authors: Wu Landy M. , Ekladious Adel , Wheeler Luke , Mohamad Abdulrazak A.
Published: January 2020

A 17‐year‐old female was diagnosed with Wilson disease and commenced on oral zinc therapy. She re‐presented 6 months later with a fall and had classical signs of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord confirmed on nerve conduction studies, as a result of zinc‐induced copper deficiency. After 6 months of copper therapy, she made a complete recovery with no residual neurological deficits. Early detection of zinc‐induced copper deficiency and stringent follow‐up mechanisms are crucial. Early initiation of copper replacement may both limit and completely reverse neurological deficits.
Plastid ribosomal protein LPE2 is involved in photosynthesis and the response to C/N balance in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Dong Xiaoxiao , Duan Sujuan , Wang Hong‐Bin , Jin Hong‐Lei
Published: January 2020

The balance between cellular carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) must be tightly coordinated to sustain optimal growth and development in plants. In chloroplasts, photosynthesis converts inorganic C to organic C, which is important for maintenance of C content in plant cells. However, little is known about the role of chloroplasts in C/N balance. Here, we identified a nuclear‐encoded protein LOW PHOTOSYNTHETIC EFFICIENCY2 (LPE2) that it is required for photosynthesis and C/N balance in Arabidopsis. LPE2 is specifically localized in the chloroplast. Both loss‐of‐function mutants, lpe2‐1 and lpe2‐2, showed lower photosynthetic activity, characterized by slower electron transport and lower PSII quantum yield than the wild type. Notably, LPE2 is predicted to encode the plastid ribosomal protein S21 (RPS21). Deficiency of LPE2 significantly perturbed the thylakoid membrane composition and plastid protein accumulation, although the transcription of plastid genes is not affected obviously. More interestingly, transcriptome analysis indicated that the loss of LPE2 altered the expression of C and N response related genes in nucleus, which is confirmed by quantitative real‐time‐polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, deficiency of LPE2 suppressed the response of C/N balance in physiological level. Taken together, our findings suggest that LPE2 plays dual roles in photosynthesis and the response to C/N balance.
Effects of differences in wiping pressure applied by nurses during daily bed baths on skin barrier function, cleanliness, and subjective evaluations
Authors: Konya Issei , Yamaguchi Shinya , Sugimura Naotaka , Matsuno Chiyomi , Yano Rika
Published: January 2020

Aim

To clarify the actual condition and examine the effects of differences in wiping pressure applied by clinical nurses during daily bed baths on skin barrier function, cleanliness, and subjective evaluations.

Methods

For the purposes of the present quasi‐experimental interventional study, “wiping pressure” was defined as the “force applied vertically to the skin surface during bed baths.” Two types of bed baths, one using ordinary wiping (pressure: 23–25 mmHg) and the other using weak wiping (pressure: 12–14 mmHg), were performed on the forearms (right and left) of 30 healthy adult men and women, and the effects on transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, cleanliness, and subjective evaluations were examined.

Results

The results showed no differences between ordinary and weak wiping pressure in regard to the effects on skin barrier function and cleanliness. In terms of subjective evaluations, a significant association was seen between wiping pressure and the “sensation of having dirt removed” (P = .036). Regarding “degree of pain,” some participants reported that the wiping pressure felt “slightly painful” under both conditions (ordinary: 31.1%; weak: 10.7%), while some with sensitive skin reported feeling pain even during weak wiping pressure.

Conclusions

The results of the present study suggest that skin assessments should be performed before and after bed baths, and that wiping pressure should be controlled and evaluated while considering the patient's feelings.
Mad about Austerity? The Effect of Fiscal Consolidation on Public Opinion
Authors: KALBHENN ANNA , STRACCA LIVIO
Published: January 2020

We explore the impact of fiscal austerity on three different dimensions of public opinion in 26 European Union countries (consumer confidence, attitude toward national authorities, and European institutions) on annual data between 1997 and 2017. Our main finding is that the independent effect of a tighter fiscal stance on public opinion is not large and, when present, seems to closely follow the impact of fiscal austerity on economic activity. Our results therefore are inconsistent with the view that fiscal austerity necessarily implies a negative effect on public opinion and a decline in popularity of national and European institutions.
Central‐line‐associated bloodstream infections in a surgical paediatric intensive care unit: Risk factors and prevention with chlorhexidine bathing
Authors: Martinez Thibault , Baugnon Thomas , Vergnaud Estelle , Duracher Caroline , Perie Anne C , Bustarret Olivier , Jugie Myriam , Rubinsztajn Robert , Frange Pierre , Meyer Philippe , Orliaguet Gilles , Blanot Stéphane
Published: January 2020

Aim

The aims of the study are to evaluate the impact of a 4% chlorhexidine (CHG4%) bathing on the occurrence of central‐line‐associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and to identify risk factors (RFs) for CLABSI in our population. This is a retrospective monocentric cohort study in the paediatric surgical intensive care unit at the Necker Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France.

Methods

All hospitalised patients with central venous catheters (CVCs) in 2015 were included. CHG4% bathing was prescribed in CLABSI high‐risk patients, defined by the presence of exposition factors (EFs): constitutive or acquired immunosuppression, presence of an invasive medical device (IMD) and the carriage of Staphylococcus aureus. The overall 2015 CLABSI incidence rate was compared with 2014 CLABSI incidence rate (before CHG4% bathing).

Results

In all, 775 patients were analysed. Some 182 had at least one EF, and 49 received CHG4%. The incidence rates of CLABSI in 2014 and 2015 were, respectively, 6.1 and 2.3/1000 days CVC (P < 0.01). The presence of at least one EF was associated with the CLABSI's occurrence: odds ratio = 15.13 (95% confidence interval: 4.26–53.71; P < 0.0001), particularly acquired immunosuppression, IMD and S. aureus colonisation. Other RFs were age <1 year and carrying duration >16 days.

Conclusions

This study showed a significant reduction in incidence of CLABSI after introduction of a targeted CHG4% bathing protocol. Presence of IMD, S. aureus colonisation, immunosuppression, age <1 year and carrying duration >16 days were CLABSI RFs. Regarding the literature, the presence of IMD seems to be underestimated in CLABSI prevention.
A LuxR‐type regulator, AcrR, regulates flagellar assembly and contributes to virulence, motility, biofilm formation, and growth ability of Acidovorax citrulli
Authors: Guan Wei , Wang Tielin , Huang Qi , Tian Eryuan , Liu Bo , Yang Yuwen , Zhao Tingchang
Published: January 2020

LuxR‐type regulators regulate many bacterial processes and play important roles in bacterial motility and virulence. Acidovorax citrulli is a seedborne bacterial pathogen responsible for bacterial fruit blotch, which causes great losses in melon and watermelon worldwide. We identified a LuxR‐type, nonquorum sensing‐related regulator, AcrR, in the group II strain Aac‐5 of A. citrulli. We found that the acrR mutant lost twitching and swimming motilities, and flagellar formation. It also showed reduced virulence, but increased biofilm formation and growth ability. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 394 genes were differentially expressed in the acrR mutant of A. citrulli, including 33 genes involved in flagellar assembly. Our results suggest that AcrR may act as a global regulator affecting multiple important biological functions of A. citrulli.