bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Brief Report of Immunohistochemical Markers to Identify Aggressive Hepatoblastoma
Authors: Singh Vivekanand , Manalang Michelle , Singh Meenal , Apte Udayan
Published: February 2017

Hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most common malignant liver tumor in children. Although survival of patients has improved significantly over the last 2 decades, a significant number of patients do not respond to standard chemotherapy. We conducted a pilot study to understand if there was immunophenotypic difference between tumors that respond well to chemotherapy versus that do not. We selected 10 cases of HB from children presenting at our hospital. All patients had initial tissue diagnosis, underwent chemotherapy followed by surgical resection. The cases were divided into 2 groups: aggressive group with 5 cases (all of which had a poor response to chemotherapy); and a good clinical outcome group with 5 cases (all of which responded well to chemotherapy). We excluded the small cell variant of HB from the study because its poor clinical outcome is well known. To be placed in the aggressive group we used the following criteria: <70% necrosis following chemotherapy or recurrence/distant metastasis following chemotherapy. From tissue obtained before chemotherapy, 1 representative block of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue was selected for immunohistochemistry. Following review of published literature, antibodies were selected to detect Survivin, PLK-1, Cytokeratin19 (CK19), N-Myc, Yap, Notch2, Hes1, Hes5, and C-Myc. Our results show that Survivin, CK19, and Yap have a diffuse (>75%) positive staining of tumor cells in the aggressive tumors compared with good outcome tumors. However, staining for Yap was weak. Interestingly, there was loss of nuclear expression of C-Myc in majority of tumor cells in aggressive tumors, whereas nuclear staining was retained in most tumor cells of good responders. The N-Myc and PLK-1 immunostains did not reveal any significant differences in the 2 groups of HB. The immunostains for Notch2, Hes1, and Hes5 showed weak to moderately strong staining in tumor cells, but there was no obvious difference in the 2 groups. Our pilot study suggests that in nonsmall cell HB, diffusely increased expression of Survivin and CK19, and loss of nuclear expression of C-Myc marks the tumors as having an aggressive course.
Brief Report: Low-Dose Hydrocortisone Has Acute Enhancing Effects on Verbal Learning in HIV-Infected Men
Authors: Rubin Leah H. , Phan K. Luan , Keating Sheila M. , Weber Kathleen M. , Maki Pauline M.
Published: February 2017

Objective:

Glucocorticoids are released in response to stress and alter cognition and brain function through both rapid nongenomic and slow genomic mechanisms. Administration of glucocorticoids in the form of hydrocortisone enhances aspects of learning and memory in individuals with PTSD but impairs these abilities in healthy individuals. We examine the time-dependent effects of glucocorticoids on cognition in HIV-infected men.

Methods:

In a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study, we examined the time-dependent effects of a single low dose of hydrocortisone [10 mg; low-dose hydrocortisone (LDH)] on cognition in 45 HIV-infected men. Participants were randomized to receive either LDH or placebo and one month later, were given the opposite treatment. At each intervention session, cognition was assessed 30 minutes (assessing nongenomic effects) and 4 hours (assessing genomic effects) after pill administration. Self-reported stress/anxiety and cortisol/cytokines in saliva were measured throughout each session.

Results:

Compared with placebo, LDH doubled salivary cortisol levels. Cortisol returned to baseline 4 hours postadministration. At the 30-minute assessment, LDH enhanced verbal learning compared with placebo. Greater increases in cortisol were associated with greater enhancements in verbal learning. LDH did not affect subjective stress/anxiety or any other cognitive outcomes at the 30-minute or 4-hour time point.

Conclusions:

The rapid effects of LDH on verbal learning suggests a nongenomic mechanism by which glucocorticoids can enhance cognition in HIV-infected men. The nonenduring nature of this enhancement may limit its clinical utility but provides insight into mechanisms underlying the effects of acute glucocorticoids on learning.
Antiviral Activity, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of Bictegravir as 10-Day Monotherapy in HIV-1–Infected Adults
Authors: Gallant Joel E. , Thompson Melanie , DeJesus Edwin , Voskuhl Gene W. , Wei Xuelian , Zhang Heather , White Kirsten , Cheng Andrew , Quirk Erin , Martin Hal
Published: February 2017

Objective:

To evaluate antiviral activity, safety, and pharmacokinetics of short-term monotherapy with bictegravir (BIC), a novel, potent HIV integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI).

Design:

Phase 1b, randomized, double-blinded, adaptive, sequential cohort, placebo-controlled study.

Methods:

HIV-infected adults not taking antiretroviral therapy were randomized to receive BIC (5, 25, 50, or 100 mg) or placebo once daily for 10 days. Primary endpoint was time-weighted average change from baseline to day 11 (DAVG11) for plasma HIV-1 RNA. HIV-1 RNA, adverse events (AEs), and laboratory assessments were evaluated through day 17.

Results:

Twenty participants were enrolled (n = 4/group). Mean DAVG11 ranged from −0.92 to −1.61 across BIC doses versus −0.01 for placebo. Significant reductions in plasma HIV-1 RNA from baseline at day 11 were observed for all BIC doses compared with placebo (P < 0.001); mean decreases were 1.45–2.43 log10 copies/mL. Increased BIC exposures correlated with increased reduction in plasma HIV-1 RNA from baseline on day 11. Three participants on BIC (50 or 100 mg) achieved plasma HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL by end of study. Median Tmax ranged from 1.0 to 1.8 hours (day 1, postdose) and 1.3–2.7 hours (day 10), with median t1/2 ranging from 15.9 to 20.9 hours. No participant developed primary INSTI-R substitution through day 17. BIC was well tolerated, with no discontinuations because of adverse events.

Conclusions:

BIC is a novel, potent, unboosted INSTI that demonstrated rapid, dose-dependent declines in HIV-1 RNA after 10 days of monotherapy. BIC was well tolerated, and displayed rapid absorption and a half-life supportive of once-daily therapy in HIV-infected subjects.
Physical and Sexual Violence Affecting Female Sex Workers in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire: Prevalence, and the Relationship with the Work Environment, HIV, and Access to Health Services
Authors: Lyons Carrie E. , Grosso Ashley , Drame Fatou M. , Ketende Sosthenes , Diouf Daouda , Ba Ibrahima , Shannon Kate , Ezouatchi Rebecca , Bamba Amara , Kouame Abo , Baral Stefan
Published: February 2017

Background:

Violence is a human rights violation, and an important measure in understanding HIV among female sex workers (FSW). However, limited data exist regarding correlates of violence among FSW in Côte d'Ivoire. Characterizing prevalence and determinants of violence and the relationship with structural risks for HIV can inform development and implementation of comprehensive HIV prevention and treatment programs.

Methods:

FSW > 18 years were recruited through respondent driven sampling (RDS) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. In total, 466 participants completed a socio-behavioral questionnaire and HIV testing. Prevalence estimates of violence were calculated using crude and RDS-adjusted estimates. Relationships between structural risk factors and violence were analyzed using χ2 tests and multivariable logistic regression.

Results:

The prevalence of physical violence was 53.6% (250/466), and sexual violence was 43.2% (201/465) among FSW in this study. Police refusal of protection was associated with physical (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]: 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7 to 4.4) and sexual violence (aOR: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.9 to 4.8). Blackmail was associated with physical (aOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.5 to 4.2) and sexual violence (aOR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.5 to 4.0). Physical violence was associated with fear (aOR: 2.2; 95% CI: 1.3 to 3.1) and avoidance of seeking health services (aOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5 to 3.8).

Conclusions:

Violence is prevalent among FSW in Abidjan and associated with features of the work environment and access to care. These relationships highlight layers of rights violations affecting FSW, underscoring the need for structural interventions and policy reforms to improve work environments, and to address police harassment, stigma, and rights violations to reduce violence and improve access to HIV interventions.
Rapid Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain Without Susceptibility Artifacts
Authors: Merrem Andreas , Hofer Sabine , Voit Dirk , Merboldt K.-Dietmar , Klosowski Jakob , Untenberger Markus , Fleischhammer Julius , Frahm Jens
Published: February 2017

Objective

The aim of this study was to develop a rapid diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique for whole-brain studies without susceptibility artifacts and measuring times below 3 minutes.

Materials and Methods

The proposed method combines a DW spin-echo module with a single-shot stimulated echo acquisition mode MRI sequence. Previous deficiencies in image quality due to limited signal-to-noise ratio are compensated for (1) by radial undersampling to enhance the flip angle and thus the signal strength of stimulated echoes; (2) by defining the image reconstruction as a nonlinear inverse problem, which is solved by the iteratively regularized Gauss-Newton method; and (3) by denoising with use of a modified nonlocal means filter. The method was implemented on a 3 T MRI system (64-channel head coil, 80 mT · m gradients) and evaluated for 10 healthy subjects and 2 patients with an ischemic lesion and epidermoid cyst, respectively.

Results

High-quality mean DW images of the entire brain were obtained by acquiring 1 non-DW image and 6 DW images with different diffusion directions at b = 1000 s · mm. The achievable resolution for a total measuring time of 84 seconds was 1.5 mm in plane with a section thickness of 4 mm (55 sections). A measuring time of 168 seconds allowed for an in-plane resolution of 1.25 mm and a section thickness of 3 mm (54 sections). Apparent diffusion coefficient values were in agreement with literature data.

Conclusions

The proposed method for DW MRI offers immunity against susceptibility problems, high spatial resolution, adequate signal-to-noise ratio and clinically feasible scan times of less than 3 minutes for whole-brain studies. More extended clinical trials require accelerated computation and online reconstruction.
Incidentally Found Postoperative Spindle Cell Nodule of the Breast 6 Months After Ultrasound-Guided Vacuum-Assisted Excision
Authors: Kim Yeo Jin , Seo Mirinae , Sohn Yu-Mee , Shin So Youn
Published: February 2017

Postoperative spindle cell nodule (PSCN) is a very rare pathologic complication that can occur in association with a recent core needle biopsy, surgery, or trauma. Cases of PSCN have been reported in the lower genitourinary tract, endometrium, and thyroid but are rare in the breast. Herein, we report an ultrasound-guided biopsy-proven PSCN after ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision in the breast.
Response Adjusted for Days of Antibiotic Risk (RADAR): evaluation of a novel method to analyze antibiotic stewardship interventions
Authors: Schweitzer Valentijn A. , van Smeden Maarten , Postma Douwe F. , Oosterheert Jan Jelrik , Bonten Marc J.M. , van Werkhoven Cornelis H.
Published: February 2017

OBJECTIVES

The Response Adjusted for Days of Antibiotic Risk (RADAR)-statistic was proposed to improve efficiency of antibiotic stewardship trials. We studied the behavior of RADAR in a non-inferiority trial in which a beta-lactam monotherapy strategy (BL, n=656) was non-inferior to fluoroquinolone monotherapy (FQL, n=888) for moderately-severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients.

METHODS

Patients were ranked according to clinical outcome, using five or eight categories, and antibiotic use. RADAR was calculated as the probability that the BL group had a more favorable ranking than the FQL group. To investigate the sensitivity of RADAR to detrimental clinical outcome we simulated increasing rates of 90-day mortality in the BL group and performed the RADAR and non-inferiority analysis.

RESULTS

The RADAR of the BL-group compared to the FQL group was 60.3% (95% confidence interval 57.9%-62.7%) using five and 58.4% (95% CI 56.0%-60.9%) using eight clinical outcome categories, all in favor of BL. Sample sizes for RADAR were 250 and 580 patients per study arm using five or eight clinical outcome categories, respectively, reflecting 38% and 89% of the original non-inferiority sample size calculation. With simulated mortality rates, loss of non-inferiority of the BL-group occurred at a relative risk of 1.125 in the conventional analysis, whereas using RADAR the BL-group lost superiority at a relative risk of mortality of 1.25 and 1.5, with eight and five clinical outcome categories, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

RADAR favored BL over FQL therapy for CAP. Although RADAR required fewer patients than conventional non-inferiority analysis, the statistic was less sensitive to detrimental outcomes.
Digital dark matter within product service systems
Authors: Vendrell-Herrero Ferran , Myrthianos Vasileios , Parry Glenn , Bustinza Oscar F.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The unobserved benefits of digital technologies are described as digital dark matter. Product service systems (PSSs) are bundles of products and services that deliver value in use, which is unobserved but generates benefits. This paper aims to empirically quantify digital dark matter within PSSs and correlates that measure with national competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel methodology establishes the link between customer needs and a product and digital service portfolio offered across ten developed economies. The case context is the music industry where product and services are often substitutes – a cannibalistic PSS. Consumer information is obtained from a unique database of more than 18,000 consumer surveys. Consumer demand for digital formats is modelled and predicted through logistic regressions.

Findings

The work provides inverse estimations for digital dark matter within PSSs by calculating the gap between supply and demand for digital offers – described as the business model challenge. The USA has the lowest business model challenge; the home of major companies developing digital technologies. Digital dark matter is shown to be positively correlated with national competitiveness and manufacturing competitiveness indices.

Practical implications

The success of a cannibalistic PSS requires good understanding of market demand. Governments embarking on soft innovation policies might incentivise the development of service-orientated business models based on digital technologies.

Originality/value

Work expands theory on the concept of digital dark matter to the PSS literature. Empirically, a novel method is proposed to measure digital dark matter.
City Developments Limited: a journey in sustainable business development
Authors: Chiat Hwang Soo , Joshi Havovi
Published: February 2017

Subject area

Business development, sustainable business practices, corporate social responsibility.

Study level/applicability

Executive education, postgraduate, undergraduate.

Case overview

City Developments Limited (CDL) is one of Singapore's leading international property and hotel conglomerates, involved in real estate development and investment, hotel ownership and management, facilities management and the provision of hospitality solutions. The group has developed over 22,000 luxurious and quality homes in Singapore, catering to a wide range of market segments. CDL is widely recognised as a champion of sustainable practices in Singapore. It was the first company honoured with the President's Social Service Award and President's Award for the Environment in 2007. It was also the only developer to be accorded the Built Environment Leadership Platinum Award in 2009 and Green Mark Platinum Champion Award in 2011 by the Building and Construction Authority, the governing authority for Singapore's built environment. CDL was the first Singaporean company to be listed on all three of the world's top sustainability benchmarks – FTSE4Good Index Series since 2002, Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World since 2010 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes since 2011. This case discusses the many factors that have enabled CDL to successfully manage its journey in sustainable business development. It also creates an opportunity for students to discuss other steps or measures the company could take to further increase stakeholders' awareness and adoption of their sustainability vision.

Expected learning outcomes

This case discusses the concepts of sustainability and the reasons why companies believe in following sustainable practices. Through this case, students would get an opportunity to discuss the sustainable practices adopted by one of the well-known Singapore companies, CDL. They would understand the costs and benefits of being a champion of CSR, the benefits to the stakeholders of CDL, and the ways CSR provides a competitive advantage.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Predictors for e-government adoption: integrating TAM, TPB, trust and perceived risk
Authors: Xie Qijun , Song Wei , Peng Xiaobao , Shabbir Muhammad
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The present research aims to identify determinants for citizen’ behavioural adoption of e-government, explore relationships among these variables and investigate whether the proposed model can provide a more comprehensive manner to understand the adoption of e-government.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a survey is administered to collect data, then the Cronbach’s alpha is assessed for internal consistency of measurement scales; second, confirmatory factor analysis is conducted to evaluate the measurement model; finally, a structural equation model is used to test the proposed hypotheses and explore the determinants of e-government adoption.

Findings

Results indicate that the proposed model is a stable model with powerful explanatory of variation. In addition, some new relationships in the e-government context are found, whose disposition to trust has positive effect on social norms, whereas perceived risk negatively influences perceived behaviour control. Moreover, other key dominants have been investigated.

Originality/value

The findings have enabled us to better understand factors affecting intention and also provided a solid theoretical research model for future study.
WeChat Library: a new mode of mobile library service
Authors: Wei Qunyi , Yang Yang
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This study aims to introduce a new mode of mobile library service, named “WeChat Library”, developed under the WeChat (social media platform) public service platform. The design and realization of WeChat Library is also presented with Chongqing University Library taken as the example.

Design/methodology/approach

This study designed a new mobile library service system, WeChat Library of Chongqing University Library, analyzed its construction cost and usage statistics and discussed the advantages of the new service mode.

Findings

Investigation results showed that 84.6 per cent of the “985” universities opened up WeChat Libraries, which signified that WeChat Library has become one of the important mobile service modes for Chinese university libraries. WeChat Library received high appreciation from the patrons; in 20 months of operation, 20.3 per cent of patrons in Chongqing University had used WeChat Library. The five most commonly used services are OPAC retrieval, items borrowed, personal center, resource discovery and announcements. WeChat Library was found to have many advantages, such as low development cost, automatic cross-platform service, adaptive screen, low acceptance cost, easier promotion, strong user viscosity, strong interactivity and real-time consulting.

Practical implications

The functional design and technological architecture of WeChat Library was presented with Chongqing University Library taken as the example. The technical realization of several unique services, namely, QR code access, space reservation and overdue reminders, was also demonstrated. The study will provide favorable suggestions and references for other libraries that have also launched the WeChat Library.

Originality/value

The mainstream service mode of mobile libraries is application for mobile terminals (APP). Although mobile services are applied extensively in China, numerous small- and medium-sized libraries are still unable to provide mobile services for patrons primarily because the investment is too high to bear for some libraries. Therefore, mobile library services urgently need a more economical model of mobile services. The most prominent advantages of WeChat Library are its low development cost and low technology threshold. WeChat Library can provide a better solution for mobile library services.
Simplified model for polyurethane foaming in porous media
Authors: Sadrhosseini Hani , Bazkhane Saed
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to present a simplified model to replace the complicated foaming simulations for investigating the liquid polyurethane behavior just before solidification.

Design/methodology/approach

This model is inspired from the traveling heater method of crystallization because of the low injection velocity. Besides, the heat generated during the reaction is considered as a heat source function in the energy equation.

Findings

Various distributions of the heat generation function inside the geometry have been studied to choose the most realistic one. Effect of parameters such as the soil material and porosity on the temperature distribution and flow field are examined for different values of heat flux on the boundaries. Results show an almost linear dependency of pressure drop to the velocity, a uniform velocity profile and an expected temperature distribution compared to literature, which approves the suggested model.

Originality/value

A new model is presented in this study for foaming which replaces a heat generation function (exponential) in the source term of the energy equation instead of the heat produced at the exit boundary (the solid–liquid interface), and the traveling method is used instead of moving the geometry; besides, the growth ratio has been neglected; therefore, this model has been validated by a foaming simulation to confirm the suggested simplified idea.
Flow impingement on a perforated plate at an angle of attack
Authors: Bayazit Yilmaz , Sparrow Eph , Gorman John
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide both directly applicable fluid-flow results and fluid-mechanic fundamentals for flow impinging at an angle of attack on a perforated plate.

Design/methodology/approach

A physical situation was modeled with high fidelity, and the model was implemented by numerical simulation. The simulations spanned all possible flow regimes including laminar, intermittent (transitional) and turbulent, and the Reynolds numbers that defined each flow regime were definitively determined. The Reynolds numbers ranged from 0.1 to 30,000, the angles of attack included 0, 5, 15 and 22.5° and the host duct dimensions varied appropriately.

Findings

It was found that the perforated-plate pressure drop decreased moderately with an increasing angle of attack, an outcome directly relevant to design. The pattern of fluid flow caused by the presence of the plate was dominated by a large recirculation zone situated downstream of the plate in a corner between the plate and an adjacent wall. The recirculation zone played the role of a blockage which deflected the flow emerging from the apertures in the plate toward the opposite wall.

Originality/value

(a) Pressure drop information directly applicable to design, (b) downstream distance from the plate at which the plate-created flow disturbance disappears, (c) account taken of the intermittent flow regime between laminar and turbulent, (d) implementation of a new metric to characterize the strength of turbulence.
The use of educational game design and play in higher education to influence sustainable behaviour
Authors: Mercer Theresa G. , Kythreotis Andrew P. , Robinson Zoe P. , Stolte Terje , George Sharon M. , Haywood Stephanie K.
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss a novel life cycle approach to education for sustainable development (ESD) where the students become “design thinkers”.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study on the creation, development and utilisation of educational games by university students is presented. The paper discusses the case study in the context of Kolb’s experiential learning and dynamic matching model, Perry’s stages of intellectual development and Beech and Macintosh’s processual learning model. The data used were from questionnaire feedback from the pupils who played the games and students who designed the games. Further qualitative feedback was collected from local schools involved in playing the games created by the students.

Findings

Overall, the students responded positively to the assessment and would like to see more of this type of assessment. They enjoyed the creativity involved and the process of developing the games. For the majority of the skill sets measured, most students found that their skills improved slightly. Many students felt that they had learnt a lot about effectively communicating science. The school children involved in playing the student-created games found them accessible with variable degrees of effectiveness as engaging learning tools dependent on the game.

Originality/value

This paper contributes a new approach to ESD which incorporates learner-centred arrangements within a full life cycle of game creation, delivery, playing and back to creation. The games can be used as a tool for enhancing knowledge and influencing behaviours in school children whilst enhancing ESD capacity in schools. The assessment also helps forge important links between the academic and local communities to enhance sustainable development.
Universities’ intermediary role in the “design for sustainability” field
Authors: Küçüksayraç Elif , Wever Renee , Brezet Han
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the intermediary role of universities in spreading design for sustainability into industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Three case studies were undertaken on Delft University of Technology, Design for Sustainability Program from The Netherlands; a center on sustainable consumption and production; and Prof. Göksel Demirer from Middle East Technical University, Environmental Engineering Department from Turkey.

Findings

The process and evolution of the intermediary roles of the cases are explained. Three types of structures, through which universities undertake intermediary role, are investigated via the cases studies, a program, a center and an individual scientist.

Originality/value

This study is a first attempt to investigate the intermediary role of universities in the design for sustainability field.
Content trends in sustainable business education: an analysis of introductory courses in the USA
Authors: Landrum Nancy E. , Ohsowski Brian
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This study aims to identify the content in introductory business sustainability courses in the USA to determine the most frequently assigned reading material and its sustainability orientation.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 81 introductory sustainable business course syllabi reading lists were analyzed from 51 US colleges and universities. The study utilized frequency counts for authors and readings and R analysis of key words to classify readings along the sustainability spectrum.

Findings

The study reveals the most frequently assigned authors and readings in US sustainable business courses (by program type) and places them along the sustainability spectrum from weak to strong. In total, 55 per cent of the top readings assigned in the sample advocate a weak sustainability paradigm, and 29 per cent of the top readings advocate a strong sustainability paradigm.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused on reading lists of introductory courses in the USA; cases, videos and supplemental materials were excluded, and the study does not analyze non-US courses.

Practical implications

The findings of this study can inform instructors of the most commonly assigned authors and readings and identify readings that align with weak sustainability and strong sustainability. Instructors are now able to select sustainable business readings consistent with peers and which advance a weak or strong sustainability orientation.

Originality/value

This is the first research to identify the most commonly assigned authors and readings to aid in course planning. This is also the first research to guide instructors in identifying which readings represent weak versus strong sustainability.
Education and capacity building with research: a possible case for Future Earth
Authors: Fukushima Yasuhiro , Ishimura Gakushi , Komasinski Andrew James , Omoto Reiko , Managi Shunsuke
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to suggest the structure of a platform for education and capacity building for Future Earth, which is an intensive program open to the eight stakeholders and which utilizes existing research programs/facilities associated with Future Earth. An intention of this paper is to facilitate a policy brief for projects associated with Future Earth.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviewed backgrounds and necessary items for education and capacity buildings in Future Earth projects by implementing three main priorities in Future Earth and current surrounding environments.

Findings

This paper then suggested a possible structure, competencies, contents and human resources for education and capacity building and education for Future Earth.

Originality/value

The suggestions can be implemented in capacity building and education programs associated with Future Earth.
Education for sustainability using a campus eco-garden as a learning environment
Authors: Cheang Chi Chiu , So Wing-Mui Winnie , Zhan Ying , Tsoi Kwok Ho
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore stakeholder perspectives of the role of a campus eco-garden in education for sustainability (EfS). It will combine the perspectives to highlight a powerful learning environment (PLE) for university students to realize the concept of EfS.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted to reveal stakeholder understandings of a campus eco-garden, as well as its associated expectations of learning activities and education outcomes. Three stakeholder groups were interviewed; designers, educators and environmental and non-environmental subject-related students.

Findings

All three stakeholder groups expected cognitive learning of EfS to be enhanced by the eco-garden. The use of affective learning was not strongly expected by the stakeholders. Psychomotor learning was believed to be the most difficult to realize. To fulfill the potential of the eco-garden in EfS, all stakeholders suggested learning activities and roles for both students and teachers. The combined perspectives of the stakeholders helped to visualize a PLE to aid EfS.

Practical implications

This study underlines the importance of effective communication of expectations between stakeholders. It underlines the importance of integrating educational activities with the eco-garden as a PLE, highlighting the roles of teachers and students. It also sheds light on the importance of introducing a cultural component to the EfS program.

Originality/value

This is the first study to apply the PLE theory to enhance EfS with the aid of infrastructure. Both users and designers reveal their views on the planning of the campus eco-garden, especially in its educational function. The study is possibly the first to reveal the differences in expectations between designers and other stakeholder groups (teachers and students) using Köningset al.’s (2005) combination-of-perspectives model.
Grey prediction with residual modification using functional-link net and its application to energy demand forecasting
Authors: Hu Yi-Chung
Published: February 2017

Purpose

Energy demand is an important economic index, and demand forecasting has a significant role when devising energy development plans for cities or countries. GM(1,1) model has become popular because it needs only a few data points to construct a time-series model without statistical assumptions. Several methods have been developed to improve prediction accuracy of the original GM(1,1) model by only estimating the sign of each residual. This study aims to address that this is too tight a restriction for the modification range.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the predicted residual, this study uses the functional-link net (FLN) with genetic-algorithm-based learning to estimate the modification range for its corresponding predicted value obtained from the original GM(1,1) model.

Findings

The forecasting ability of the proposed grey prediction model is verified using real energy demand cases from China. Experimental results show that the proposed prediction model performs well compared to other grey residual modification models with sign estimation.

Originality/value

The proposed FLNGM(1,1) model can improve prediction accuracy of the original GM(1,1) model using residual modification. The distinctive feature of the proposed model is to use an FLN to estimate sign and modification range simultaneously for the predicted value based on its corresponding predicted residual obtained from the residual GM(1,1) model.
Words fly away, writings remain – paradoxes in and around documents
Authors: Michaud Valérie
Published: February 2017

Purpose

This paper makes a case for the investigation of organizational paradoxes through the analysis of documents. After having presented what paradoxes are and the methodological challenges of studying them, the paper turns to document research, with emphasis on its potential contribution to paradox research. More specifically, document research typically provides ready-to-code data in a nonintrusive manner, allowing for the potential longitudinal, multilevel and multivoice analysis of organizational paradoxes and their management, in practice. To illustrate this, the purpose of this paper is to explore exemplar research based on multiple approaches to the study of different paradoxes in/around various documents and sets a research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

Exemplar research on paradoxes using organizational documents as central data are presented. This highlights the range of documents and analytical strategies that can be used to explore organizations’ discursive management of paradoxes, as well as the roles documents can play in organizational contexts marked by different types of paradoxes.

Findings

A research agenda is developed, formulated around the needs to study paradoxes within documents and around them; grasp the discursive strategies deployed in documents to deal with paradoxes and/or the action of documents in contexts marked by paradoxes; follow the organizational processes involving documents, paying special attention to the paradoxes surrounding the development, adoption and appropriation of documents; and compare paradoxes in documents and those around the documents’ mobilization.

Originality/value

Despite growing interest in organizational paradoxes, reflections on methodological approaches to exploring them remain scarce and alternative methods largely unexplored. This paper makes the following proposition: organizational documents (strategic plans, annual reports, policies, websites, etc.) can provide a valuable entry point to explore organizational paradoxes.
Resistant to change? The transition to parenthood among married adults in China
Authors: Tong Yuying , Piotrowski Martin , Zhang Yueyun
Published: February 2017

Using retrospective life history data from the 2008 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) and discrete time event history analysis, this study investigates the transition to parenthood of adult males and females for the 1965 to 2004 marriage cohorts. We find that Chinese people generally prefer to become parents soon after marriage. We also find that more recent marriage cohorts are less likely to become parents compared to earlier cohort for males, but this is not the case for women. This indicates that economic or role incompatibility in general does not prevent women from becoming mothers, which in general supports the idea that there are alternative resources available for women to balance the role incompatibility in China's context. The extended family is an important resource for married couples to rely upon to raise young children. This study sheds light on China's family therapy practice, which should take into consideration the demographic trends and cultural factors in understanding the role conflict within the family, such as intergenerational relations and gender ideology.

Practitioner points

Role incompatibility of having children can be relieved by extended family, so therapy programmes dealing with intergenerational relationship should be developed

Family therapists should consider the pace of gender ideology change in child rearing during negotiation of the husband‐wife relationship

Training programmes can be more specific to the extended family for dealing with child rearing skills and potential conflict resolutions.
Coexistence of Subdural Hematoma and a Rare Cardiopathy in an Infant: Etiological and French Medicolegal Discussion
Authors: Tuchtan Lucile , Lebreton‐Chakour Catherine , Tosello Barthélemy , Oger Marjolaine , Piercecchi‐Marti Marie‐Dominique , Bartoli Christophe
Published: February 2017

During legal proceedings following the unexpected death of an infant, the magistrate calls on an expert to clarify the causes of death and to decide on the course to be taken. A report was made following the death of a 7‐month‐old baby girl after recovery from cardiac arrest when investigations of the cause revealed a subdural hematoma (SDH). We discuss the interconnection of these two entities and their role in the lethal process. In this infant, two distinct lesions with medicolegal implications were simultaneously present: on the one hand histiocytoid cardiopathy, and on the other hand SDH, which could result from ill‐treatment. The case of this infant reminds us that the role of the pediatrician is to report the suspicion, whereas the role of the medical expert is to inform the magistrate as to the reality of abuse and its implication in the lethal process.
Differences in Clinical and Pathological Features of Renal Cell Carcinoma Between Japanese Patients After Kidney Transplantation and Those on Hemodialysis
Authors: Takagi Toshio , Kondo Tsunenori , Okumi Masayoshi , Ishida Hideki , Tanabe Kazunari
Published: February 2017

We compared the clinical features, pathological features, and prognoses of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) arising in the native kidney after kidney transplantation (RCC‐transplant) or on hemodialysis (RCC‐HD), and analyzed predictive factors for survival at a Japanese single institution. This cohort included 42 patients in the RCC‐transplant group and 467 patients in the RCC‐HD group. RCC‐transplant patients were younger (53 years vs. 56 years, P = 0.0358) and had less frequent symptoms (12% vs. 27%, P = 0.0344) than RCC‐HD patients. Although tumor size, tumor stage, and histological subtype were not significantly different, the RCC‐transplant group had less frequent multifocal occurrences and ACDK. Overall 5‐year survival (RCC‐transplant, 80%; RCC‐hemodialysis, 76%; P = 0.3217) and 5‐year cancer‐specific survival (CSS; RCC‐transplant, 84%; RCC‐hemodialysis, 89%; P = 0.8916) were not significantly different between the two groups. Tumor stage and grade were significant predictors for CSS. Although kidney transplantation and hemodialysis were not associated with CSS, tumor stage was an independent predictor of CSS.
Antioxidant Extracts from Acorns (Quercus ilex L.) Effectively Protect Ready‐to‐Eat (RTE) Chicken Patties Irrespective of Packaging Atmosphere
Authors: Ferreira Valquíria C. S. , Morcuende David , Hérnandez‐López Silvia H. , Madruga Marta S. , Silva Fábio A. P. , Estévez Mario
Published: February 2017

This study evaluated the impact of a phenolic‐rich acorn extract (200 ppm gallic acid equivalents) and the concentration of oxygen in the packaging system (low‐oxygen modified atmosphere; 5% vs. normal‐oxygen; 21%) on lipid and protein oxidation and consumers acceptance of the ready‐to‐eat chicken patties. Samples were subjected to cooking (electric oven, 170 °C/16 min), cold storage (14 d at 4 °C), and reheating (microwave, 600 mW/1 min). Samples treated with acorn extract kept thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances numbers and lipid‐derived volatiles at basal levels throughout the whole processing irrespective of the oxygen concentration in the packaging atmosphere. Consistently, treated patties had lower protein carbonyls than control ones. The acorn extract also controlled color and texture deterioration during chilled storage and reheating and improved the color and odor acceptance of the products. Formulating with acorn extract is a feasible strategy to inhibit the oxidation‐driven changes and preserve the quality of reheated samples as if there were freshly cooked. Compared to the effect of the antioxidant extract, the concentration of oxygen in the packaging system was negligible in terms of quality preservation.
Microdiversity shapes the traits, niche space, and biogeography of microbial taxa
Authors: Larkin Alyse A. , Martiny Adam C.
Published: February 2017

With rapidly improving sequencing technologies, scientists have recently gained the ability to examine diverse microbial communities at high genomic resolution, revealing that both free‐living and host‐associated microbes partition their environment at fine phylogenetic scales. This ‘microdiversity,’ or closely related (> 97% similar 16S rRNA gene) but ecologically and physiologically distinct sub‐taxonomic groups, appears to be an intrinsic property of microorganisms. However, the functional implications of microdiversity as well as its effects on microbial biogeography are poorly understood. Here, we present two theoretical models outlining the evolutionary mechanisms that drive the formation of microdiverse ‘sub‐taxa.’ Additionally, we review recent literature and reveal that microdiversity influences a wide range of functional traits across diverse ecosystems and microbes. Moving to higher levels of organization, we use laboratory data from marine, soil, and host‐associated bacteria to demonstrate that the aggregated trait‐based response of microdiverse sub‐taxa modifies the fundamental niche of microbes. The correspondence between microdiversity and niche space represents a critical tool for future studies of microbial ecology. By combining growth experiments on diverse isolates with examinations of environmental abundance patterns, researchers can better quantify the fundamental and realized niches of microbes and improve understanding of microbial biogeography and response to future environmental change.
Stagewise Generalized Estimating Equations with Grouped Variables
Authors: Vaughan Gregory , Aseltine Robert , Chen Kun , Yan Jun
Published: February 2017

Forward stagewise estimation is a revived slow-brewing approach for model building that is particularly attractive in dealing with complex data structures for both its computational efficiency and its intrinsic connections with penalized estimation. Under the framework of generalized estimating equations, we study general stagewise estimation approaches that can handle clustered data and non-Gaussian/non-linear models in the presence of prior variable grouping structure. As the grouping structure is often not ideal in that even the important groups may contain irrelevant variables, the key is to simultaneously conduct group selection and within-group variable selection, that is, bi-level selection. We propose two approaches to address the challenge. The first is a bi-level stagewise estimating equations (BiSEE) approach, which is shown to correspond to the sparse group lasso penalized regression. The second is a hierarchical stagewise estimating equations (HiSEE) approach to handle more general hierarchical grouping structure, in which each stagewise estimation step itself is executed as a hierarchical selection process based on the grouping structure. Simulation studies show that BiSEE and HiSEE yield competitive model selection and predictive performance compared to existing approaches. We apply the proposed approaches to study the association between the suicide-related hospitalization rates of the 15–19 age group and the characteristics of the school districts in the State of Connecticut.
Ways of encoding somatic information and their effects on retrospective symptom reporting
Authors: Walentynowicz Marta , Van Diest Ilse , Raes Filip , Van den Bergh Omer
Published: February 2017

Objectives

Retrospective symptom reports tend to overestimate actual symptom intensity. This study explored how focusing on sensory‐perceptual or on affective‐motivational aspects of a somatic experience influenced retrospective symptom reports in high and low habitual symptom reporters (HSR). We hypothesized that a focus on affective‐motivational aspects of somatic episodes contributes to retrospective overestimation compared to a focus on sensory‐perceptual aspects.

Design

Dyspnoea (rebreathing) and pain (cold pain) were induced during two experimental sessions in healthy women: 21 high and 24 low HSR, selected using cut‐off scores on a symptom checklist. Within‐subject manipulation of sensory and affective processing focus (PF) took place at the encoding phase before symptom induction.

Methods

Dyspnoea and pain ratings were collected immediately after the symptom inductions and after 2 weeks. Breathing behaviour was recorded during dyspnoea trials, while affective state and symptom measures were collected after each trial.

Results

Compared to pain, dyspnoea induction was perceived as more unpleasant, arousing, and threatening (ps < .001). Affective PF led to higher arousal (p < .01) and threat ratings (p = .01) than sensory PF. Affective PF also led to an increase in retrospective dyspnoea ratings over the course of 2 weeks (p = .039), which was not observed for pain, nor for dyspnoea after sensory PF. The effects of PF on symptom ratings were independent of the HSR levels.

Conclusions

The PF during symptom encoding may explain previously observed bias in retrospective symptom reporting. The results are relevant to understand the mechanisms underlying symptom overreporting.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Retrospective symptom ratings are often biased when compared to the momentary assessments.

Attending to either sensory or affective aspects of the somatic experience is one of the factors affecting self‐reported symptoms.

What does this study add?

Focusing on affective aspects elicited by the somatic experience led to an increase in retrospective symptom ratings over time.

This is particularly so for more aversive somatic experiences.

Directing the processing focus to sensory aspects during symptom encoding can attenuate bias in retrospective symptom reporting.