bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of corporate governance on the cost of equity
Authors: Ali Syed Tauseef , Yang Zhen , Sarwar Zahid , Ali Farman
Published: December 2019

Purpose

In view of organizational inertia, with the occurrence of a major event, though resource rigidity minimizes, however simultaneously, it increases process rigidity, which creates difficulties in motivating managers and dealing with the agency problem. Therefore, keeping in mind the high demand created by the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor and Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme in the cement sector of Pakistan, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of corporate governance (CG) on the cost of equity (COE) in the cement sector, to deal with the problems surging during and after the completion of these projects and highlight further opportunities for the cement sector of Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

CG is a qualitative concept therefore, eight proxies have been used to measure it along with the two control variables. This study uses balance panel data of six years from 2012 to 2017, collected from 18 companies of the cement sector of Pakistan. Descriptive statistics have been used to describe the data, correlation matrix to see the nature of the relationship, and Pooled OLS as the estimation technique, while to analyze the data a statistical package 13 has been used. To measure the COE, the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) has been used.

Findings

Regression results suggest that block ownership, insider ownership and the board size are insignificant, while CEO tenure is negatively and significantly associated with the COE. Non-executive directors, independence and CEO duality are insignificant; however, diversity is positively and significantly associated with the COE. Moreover, the mean value of the COE is 8.22 percent for the cement sector, while the coefficient of determination of the model under study is 74 percent.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is based on the data from the cement sector of Pakistan only. Therefore, this is the reason that these results cannot be generalized on the whole economy of Pakistan.

Practical implications

This study helps in finding out the COE value specific to the cement sector, which will help this sector to evaluate the capital budgeting decision more precisely and accurately than before. Moreover, the association of diversity as positive, while independence as negative with the COE highlights a room for improvement in the implementation of CG codes by SECP. This study also helps to mitigate the impact of inertia, the after-effects of high demand, and managing the agency problem in the cement sector.

Originality/value

This is the first study using CG data collected just after the revised promulgation of CG codes in 2012, along with a wide range of eight proxies measuring CG and its impact on the COE in the cement sector.
Effects of Singles’ Day atmosphere stimuli and Confucian values on consumer purchase intention
Authors: Chen Chuanhong , Li Xueyan
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Singles’ Day Online Shopping Festival was originated in China and is characterized by gathering promotions to create consumer shopping atmosphere. Its rapid rise has affected Asia and the world, becoming the world’s largest shopping festival beyond Black Friday. The success of Singles’ Day Online Shopping Festival demonstrates Chinese experience of online shopping festive atmosphere marketing. The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of Singles’ Day Online Shopping Festival atmosphere and Chinese cultural background, especially Confucian values, on Chinese consumers’ purchase intention in Singles’ Day Online Shopping Festival.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper conceptualized consumers’ most perceptive atmosphere characteristics as the three dimensions of perceived economic temptation, perceived festival entertainment and perceived mass participation. Taking Confucian values as moderators, based on the stimulus-response theory, this study constructed an influencing factor model of consumer purchase intention in online shopping festival, collected data of 398 Chinese consumers by questionnaire, and used structural equation modeling for hypotheses testing.

Findings

The results showed that online shopping festival atmosphere and Confucian values affect purchase intention; the two factors of “keeping face” and “listening to others” of Confucian values play moderating roles in the effect of online shopping festival atmosphere on purchase intention.

Research limitations/implications

The sample of this study was biased toward the young and well-educated consumers; besides, this study focused on young consumers’ purchase intention of online shopping festival, rather than their actual consumption behaviors.

Practical implications

Confucian values have deeply influenced China and other Asian countries, especially East and Southeast Asian countries. Meanwhile they are the fastest growing regions of e-commerce in the world, the paper provides theoretical basis and reference for the e-commerce enterprises in the Confucian cultural societies to improve the atmosphere marketing of online shopping festivals, and attracts consumers to shop online, having particular significance in shedding light on the Asian “e-commerce Miracle.”

Social implications

This study found that Singles’ Day purchase intention is dependent on online shopping festival atmosphere stimuli, Confucian values and their interaction. Marketing researchers should consider both online shopping festival atmosphere as a marketing tool and the influence of consumer cultural values, so as to help e-commerce platforms and e-commerce merchants establish shopping festival marketing strategies that suit consumers’ cultural values.

Originality/value

This paper addressed an interesting practical issue related to the effects of online shopping festival atmosphere stimuli and cultural values on consumer online purchase intention.
Marx’s monetary theory and its practical value
Authors: Wang Guogang
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Marx’s monetary theory is an important part of Marxist economics and an irreplaceable milestone in the intellectual history of the monetary theory. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the main content of Marx’s monetary theory from three aspects: the source and nature of money, the function of money and the historical significance of money.

Design/methodology/approach

Moreover, this paper also gives an extended understanding of Marx’s monetary theory from four perspectives: the endogenous credit mechanism of money, the functions of money and demands for money, the financial function of money and the economic and social functions of money.

Findings

Lastly, the present paper discusses the practical significance of Marx’s monetary theory from three perspectives, namely, the inspection of “Bitcoin” from the nature and function of money, the definition of demands and the division of supplies at the monetary level, and the prevention of systemic financial risks and the focus of financial supervision.

Originality/value

Marx’s monetary theory is an important part of Marxist economics and an irreplaceable milestone in the intellectual history of the monetary theory. However, for a long time, the contribution of Marx has rarely been mentioned in the intellectual history of monetary theory. Even the book, Political Economy (On Capitalism), has been only summarily concerned with the source and function of money in Marx’s monetary theory, rather than revealing Marx’s outstanding contribution in the monetary theory and the financial connotation of Marx’s monetary theory, and expounding its practical significance.
Technology used as a weapon to fight informality: the success of the SCOP
Authors: Amesquita Fidel Edgard , Morales Oswaldo
Published: December 2019

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes are as follows: to understand the problem of informality and how it develops, taking advantage of the control flaws of public and private institutions and its growth by the legitimacy of society; to analyze the role of the regulatory body in its fight against informality from the area of its influence, which is the energy sector; to analyze the economic and social impact of a solution like the one proposed in the case; to analyze the impact at the level of public policies of solutions such as the one proposed in the case; and to review the strategy of the hand of technology that can achieve the development of original solutions to fight against informality.

Case overview/synopsis

The case study was written on the basis of a real success story that explains the development of a technological solution that allowed the Supervisory Agency of Energy and Mining of Peru to effectively deal with informality in the commercialization of fuels, which became a reference in the region. The story begins by recreating the system that existed for the commercialization of fuels and how the shortcomings of this system itself encouraged the appearance of informal merchants who benefited from the situation. It also explains how the regulatory authority decides to deal with this problem by creating a special unit that confronts this issue and how, after some failures, an original strategy was able to be designed with the help of technology to control informality.

Complexity academic level

Business schools, where different aspects can be analyzed, such as the strategy used in the supply chain of informal or formal commerce. It is also recommended for use in master’s programs in specific sectors, such as public management or energy management. Finally, it can also be used in entrepreneurship, given that informal entrepreneurship is considered as a new line of research in this field.

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.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
Is polychronicity a panacea for innovative work behavior among nursing staff? Job embeddedness and moderating role of decentralization
Authors: Yousaf Zahid , Majid Abdul , Yasir Muhammad
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how polychronicity enables the possibility for nurses to behave in an innovative way through job embeddedness (JE). The notion of polychronicity remained an unexplored topic, especially in healthcare sector. This paper also investigates the moderating role of decentralization.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is drawn from a survey research based on a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 117 doctors (supervisors) and their sub-ordinates (576 nurses) from public sector hospitals. To analyze the relationship among variables, this study used descriptive, correlation and hierarchical multiple-regression approach.

Findings

Results showed that polychronic behavior of nurses positively affects their innovative work behaviors (IWB). Furthermore, JE acts as a bridge in the relationship of polychronicity and IWB. Moreover, decentralization strengthens the relationship between polychronicity and IWB.

Originality/value

This research significantly contributes to existing literature by adding new knowledge about the positive impact of polychronicity on IWB. Moreover, this study adds to literature by analyzing the mediating role of JE in the relationship between polychronicity and IWB.
Critical literacies on the university campus
Authors: Boyd Ashley S. , Darragh Janine J.
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how preservice teachers conceive of and implement social actions on their college campuses related to a chosen social problem developed in a young adult novel and to examine how social action projects develop teacher candidates’ critical literacies.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative exploratory multiple case study (Stake, 2005) investigated 70 pre-service teachers on two college campuses over two semesters as they engaged in social action projects. The researchers engaged in layers of open and thematic coding through the theoretical lens of critical literacies.

Findings

Preservice teachers engaged in a range of direct and indirect action and, as a result, experienced varying levels of self-efficacy and impact. While most felt their endeavors were successful, those who conducted awareness campaigns noted an inability to measure the effects they had on their communities. Their development of critical literacies through social action was evidenced in the partnerships across campus they established as well as their levels of engagement with peers and local officials.

Originality/value

While the results of conducting social action with youth in secondary classrooms are well established in the literature, lesser well known are ways to engage preservice teachers in such endeavors. This study illustrates not only how teacher candidates can engage in social action as aligned with young adult literature but also offers insights gained from those processes.
Can change leadership impact on staff organizational citizenship behavior? A scenario from Malaysia
Authors: Ghavifekr Simin , Adewale Adebayo Saheed
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of change leadership on staff organizational citizenship behavior in a university setting. Moreover, the study aims to explore forces that influencing on staff organizational citizenship behavior in higher education institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a qualitative research design. An interview protocol along with field notes were used as major approaches for collecting in-depth data. Coding and categorizing approach were used to analyze interview transcriptions to help for emerging the study’s themes.

Findings

The findings reveal that change leadership builds confidence of staff, motivate them and helps to ensure trust. Moreover, results show that staff organizational citizenship behavior is influenced by personal, organizational, social-cultural and economic forces. To increase the organizational citizenship behavior of staff in higher education institutions, there is a need for leaders to use appropriate change-oriented style in leading their organizations. Findings also revealed that change leaders must serve as role-model to their subordinates as a way on enhancing staff organizational citizenship behavior.

Research limitations/implications

Academic leaders are the pivot of change in higher education institutions. Accordingly, the effectiveness of higher education institution, staff and students are depending on the effectiveness of the leadership. In this regard, academic leaders’ willingness to change is the most effective factor that not only sets the credibility of the organization, but, more importantly, influence on staff organizational behavior.

Practical implications

It is hoped that the outcome of this research will contribute to the current knowledge of change leadership and organizational behavior in universities.

Originality/value

This is an original research and makes a great contribution to higher education in Asian countries.
Why discontinue operations? Interrelated elements of the corporate focus hypothesis
Authors: Lord Richard A. , Saito Yoshie
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reexamine the corporate focus hypothesis to establish the characteristics of firms that discontinue operations. The authors concentrate on four interrelated elements of the hypothesis, diversification, performance, financial constraint and market-based risk measures. The authors also examine whether firms reporting positive- or negative-valued discontinued operations have different characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Analyzing discontinued operations provides a broad sample of strategically important exit decisions using a variety of different disposal methods. The authors use logistic regression models to explore whether the elements of the corporate focus hypotheses, and interactions between them, explain decisions to discontinue operations, and also the differences between firms making negative- and positive-valued announcements.

Findings

Firms that discontinue operations are more diverse, with weak operating performance, higher financial constraints and perform poorly in financial markets. Interrelationships between these factors strongly affect exit decisions. Companies reporting negative-valued discontinued operations are smaller, make lower capital investments and face greater cash constraints and market risk. Those announcing positive-valued discontinuations are larger and make higher payouts and capital expenditures. Their overall performance is weaker than for control firms, but clearly superior to companies discontinuing negative-valued operations.

Originality/value

Discounted operations represent a wide range of exit decisions. They provide a much larger sample than most previous studies of divestitures. The authors includeβ, the Sharpe ratio, cash holdings, payouts to shareholders, capital expenditures and also cross-product terms between the elements of the corporate focus hypothesis, all of which have received little attention in prior research. There are significant differences between firms announcing positive and negative-valued discontinued operations.
Making any difference? Conceptualising the impact of safeguarding adults boards
Authors: Preston-Shoot Michael
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Criticisms of the effectiveness of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) led to legislative reform in the shape of the Children and Social Work Act 2017. Given parallels between the mandates for LSCBs and Safeguarding Adults Boards (SABs), the onus is on SABs to demonstrate their effectiveness. The purpose of this paper is to explore how SABs might more effectively demonstrate their impact across the range of their mandated responsibilities.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on definitions of impact from social work education, healthcare and from university research, exploring their relevance for capturing different types of data regarding the outcomes and impact of SAB activity. The paper also draws on frameworks for the process of capturing data and for implementing strategies designed to change practice and develop adult safeguarding services.

Findings

The paper argues that SABs have struggled to identify their impact and need to consider what types of impact they are seeking to demonstrate before choosing methods of seeking to capture that information. The paper also argues that SABs may have given insufficient thought to the process of change management, to the components needed to ensure that desired outcomes are embedded in procedural and practice change.

Research limitations/implications

This paper explores the challenges for SABs of identifying their impact and offers some theoretical frameworks that have defined different types of impact. The paper also draws on frameworks that identify the different components that are necessary for achieving change. This paper offers a contribution to theory building and is a response to the challenge of demonstrating the value that SABs add to adult safeguarding policy and practice.

Practical implications

A case study reviews the findings of the longitudinal service development and practice change initiative to embed making safeguarding personal in adult safeguarding. The findings of that initiative are mapped against the frameworks for identifying impact. Experience of implementing the initiative is mapped against the frameworks for effective implementation of change.

Originality/value

The paper presents frameworks for identifying the different types of outcomes and impact that SABs may achieve through their strategic business plans and for ensuring that the different components are present for the successful implementation and maintenance of change. The paper argues that the legal, policy and financial context within which SABs are located presents challenges as well as opportunities with respect to achieving and demonstrating impactful change. However, it also suggests that a more informed understanding of different types of impact may generate different approaches to data collection in order to capture what has been achieved.
Decision support system toward evaluation of resilient supplier
Authors: Wang Wei , Huang Li , Zhu Yuliang , Jiang Liupeng , Sahu Anoop Kumar , Sahu Atul Kumar , Sahu Nitin Kumar
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Supplier evaluation is a part of logistic management. In the present era, resilient supply chain performance (RSCP) assessment of the vendor enterprise is respected as a hot topic. The purpose of this paper is to enable the managers to map the performance in percentage system and also enabling managers for identifying the weak indices-metrics, which need to be improved up to ideal or standard level and strong indices-metrics.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors found two research gaps via a literature survey. The first research gap revealed that the performance of a resilient supplier is computed solely in terms of a fuzzy mathematical scale. The articles are not yet published, which could measure the RSCP in percentage. The second research gap argued about the mitigation of the multi-level hierarchical resilient vendor/supplier evaluation framework for materializing RSCP and identifying weak and strong performing indices-metrics. To compensate the both research gaps, the authors developed a novel fuzzy gain-loss evolutionary computational approach to assess the performance of a firm in percentage. Next, a revised ranking technique coupled with trapezoidal fuzzy set based fuzzy performance importance index is implemented on the framework to seek weak and strong indices-metrics. The performance loss of each metric using the ideal solution concept considering the attitude of decision makers is also revealed.

Findings

The authors found the RSC performance of supplier firm 74 per cent, whereas performance loss 26 per cent, while actual performance is compared with standard fuzzy performance index (SFPI). Performance loss 26 per cent can be compensated by improving the performance of weak indices-metrics.

Originality/value

The novelty of the paper is that the authors used the ideal solution concept to compute the SFPI and compare it with actual FPI for evaluating the gain and loss of resilient supplier firm in percentage and identify weak and strong indices so that managers can improve the performance of weak indices. The work possesses the significant for all organizations, as research work enables the managers to map and improve the RSC performance of any vendor firm in future. The presented work considers the case of an automobile parts supplier industry to validate the developed approach.
Motivations, work–family enrichment and job satisfaction: an indirect effects model
Authors: Roche Maree , Haar Jarrod
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Increasingly, leaders are faced with complex, difficult and demanding situations that challenge their very sense of self, including their workplace wellbeing. It has been suggested that this challenge can be mitigated for leaders by pursuing goals and activities that reflect their beliefs, interests and values. As such, leaders whose motivations reflect intrinsic and self-congruent beliefs and values are likely to experience beneficial wellbeing, yet, reviewing this from a self-determination theory (SDT) lens, the authors find this assertion remains to be fully tested. Concurrently, the work–family enrichment (WFE) literature highlights that potential positive synergies exist between work and home. The authors further argue that this synergy may also provide greater insight and understanding into the quality of leaders’ motivation and wellbeing, and as such also requires attention. As such, the purpose of this paper is to examine the path to wellbeing for leaders and includes leaders’ “whole lives” (including enrichment) and not just their work lives (motivations).

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative research including two studies of 386 junior/senior leaders and 205 CEOs, investigated the role of motivation as defined by SDT and WFE towards leaders’ job satisfaction. Hypotheses were tested using SEM in AMOS to assess the direct and meditational effects of the study variables.

Findings

A partial mediation model was found to best fit the data for both studies. In study 1, the effects of self-determined motivation dimensions on job satisfaction were fully mediated by WFE and family–work enrichment (FWE). However, the non-self-determined dimensions of SDT motivations were directly and negatively related to job satisfaction and enrichment. In study 2, self-determined forms of motivation were positively related to WFE and FWE and job satisfaction, while only WFE was positively related to job satisfaction. The non-self-determined dimensions of SDT motivations were directly and negatively related to WFE and job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Overall, both studies show that the influence of motivations on job satisfaction of leaders is better understood through enrichment. As such organisations are encouraged to enhance both leader’s motivations, and enrichment, in order to facilitate a path to job satisfaction.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to test over two studies and levels of leadership, motivation and enrichment for leaders. As such this paper provides a novel “path” to wellbeing that includes aspects of the leaders’ motivation, as well as the importance of leaders’ enrichment and home domain. Overall the authors suggest that leaders’ “whole” lives play a role in their job satisfaction, and this is important to understand as the authors try to resource leaders, who work in an increasingly demanding workplace environment.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, are we ready for Gen-Z in marketplace? A study of smart retailing technology in Malaysia
Authors: Ng Siew Imm , Ho Jo Ann , Lim Xin Jean , Chong Kee Lin , Latiff Khairunnisak
Published: December 2019

Purpose

In this digitalization age, smart technologies are on the cusp of changing all business sector including retailing. Today’s consumers desire to shop in a smart store where the physical products on display are connected to the internet world. This study aims to propose a model for investigating Generation Z (Gen-Z) consumers’ expectations towards the smart retail technology (SRT) in the Malaysian context through the application of the stimulus-organism-response framework.

Design/methodology/approach

By using a purposive sampling technique, a self-administered questionnaire was conducted. A total of 220 usable responses were collected from Gen-Z consumers who had experience in using SRT. The data were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

This study underscores the role of perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment and perceived value on Gen-Z consumers’ attitude and word-of-mouth (WOM). Expectations on usefulness, enjoyment and value provide some ideas on Gen-Z consumers’ value who put a high emphasis on functional value, fun value and value for money when adopting the SRT. On the other hand, the result also demonstrates the mediating role of consumers’ attitude in connecting perceived value and perceived enjoyment on WOM towards SRT.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide beneficial insights for a retailer who desire to pursue a smart-related acquisition strategy. Retailers are recommended to embrace on the following three key features: innovative solution (high usefulness), reliable benefits (high perceived value) and fun experience (high enjoyment) to provide Gen-Z consumers with compelling experiences. Additionally, retailers are suggested to acknowledge the importance of managing consumers’ attitude in driving positive WOM evaluations.

Originality/value

This paper responds to Tinget al.’s(2018) call in uncovering values and lifestyles of generation in details. In Malaysia, retailers ought to incorporate of the high level of usefulness, value and enjoyment when designing their SRT to constitute the Gen-Z consumers’ expectations. Moreover, similar to Ting’s conclusion, this cohort members are very much into technologies and they tend to embrace SRT in their lifestyles.
Simultaneous joint migration inversion for high‐resolution imaging/inversion of time‐lapse seismic datasets
Authors: Qu Shan , Verschuur Dirk Jacob
Published: December 2019

The current time‐lapse practice is to exactly repeat well‐sampled acquisition geometries to mitigate acquisition effects on the time‐lapse differences. In order to relax the rigid requirements on acquisition effects, we propose simultaneous joint migration inversion as an effective time‐lapse tool for reservoir monitoring, which combines a joint time‐lapse data processing strategy with the joint migration inversion method. Joint migration inversion is a full‐wavefield inversion method that explains the measured reflection data using a parameterization in terms of reflectivity and propagation velocity. Both the inversion process inside the imaging/inversion scheme and the extra illumination provided by including multiples in joint migration inversion makes the obtained velocity and reflectivity operator largely independent of the utilized acquisition geometry and, thereby, relaxes the strong requirement of non‐repeatability during the monitoring. Because simultaneous joint migration inversion inverts for all datasets simultaneously and utilizes various constraints on the estimated reflectivities and velocity, the obtained time‐lapse differences have much higher accuracy compared to inverting each dataset separately. It allows the baseline and monitor parameters to communicate with each other dynamically during inversion via a user‐defined spatial weighting operator. In order to get more localized time‐lapse velocity differences, we further extend the regular simultaneous joint migration inversion to a robust high‐resolution simultaneous joint migration inversion process using the time‐lapse reflectivity difference as an extra constraint for the velocity estimation during inversion. This constraint makes a link between the reflectivity‐ and the velocity difference by exploiting the relationship between them. We demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method with a highly realistic synthetic model based on the Grane field offshore Norway and a time‐lapse field dataset from the Troll Field.
A coaching partnership: resource teachers and classroom teachers teaching collaboratively in regular classrooms
Authors: Kirkpatrick Lori , Searle Michelle , Smyth Rachael E. , Specht Jacqueline
Published: December 2019

The purpose of this study was to determine how resource teachers (n = 13) and classroom teachers (n = 12) experience a coaching partnership, in which both teachers work in the regular classroom to support students with special educational needs. The focus of the partnerships was to build classroom teacher capacity around inclusionary practices. Classroom teachers and resource teachers completed questionnaires about the partnerships and their impact. Results indicated that both groups of teachers found the partnerships to be valuable. The partnerships were supported by coaching principles, as well as relationship, attitudes, understanding of students, and time spent together. Benefits of the model included increased support for students; increased learning for students; learning of different approaches, for classroom teachers and resource teachers; shared responsibility for students, between classroom and resource teachers; feeling more valued, for resource teachers; and seeing a model of collaboration, for students, teachers and the community.
Language Games in the Ivory Tower: Comparing the Philosophical Investigations with Hermann Hesse’s The Glass Bead Game
Authors: Edwards Georgina
Published: December 2019

Wittgenstein explores learning through practice in the Philosophical Investigations by means of an extended analogy with games. However, does this concern with learning also necessarily extend to education, in our institutional understanding of the word? While Wittgenstein's examples of language learning and use are always shared or social, he does not discuss formal educational institutions as such. He does not wish to found a ‘school of thought’, and is suspicious of philosophy acting as a theory that can be applied to other areas of life. While Wittgenstein's focus on developing independent thinking was neither individualistic nor anti-institutional, it did, however, focus on developing the thinking of his students rather than theorising about how this could be applied on a large scale. An analysis of Hermann Hesse's novel, The Glass Bead Game will help us to pick up where Wittgenstein deliberately left off—thinking about how (or if) one can institutionalise learning methods that encourage thinking for oneself. These differences in the writers’ treatment of education will become evident in the differences between their game analogies. While language-games combat our ‘craving for generality’ in Philosophical Investigations, the Glass Bead Game represents this craving, and how it manifests itself throughout history in disciplines other than logic and philosophy of language. It also represents the potential for institutions to become insular, exclusive communities.
Three‐Dimensional Prediction of the Nose for Facial Approximation in a Thai Population
Authors: Thitiorul Sumon , Mahakkanukrauh Pasuk , Prasitwattanaseree Sukon , Sitthiseripratip Kriskrai , Iamaroon Anak , Na Lampang Sakarat , Prapayasatok Sangsom
Published: December 2019

Most of the previous studies about nose prediction were concentrated only some landmarks of the nose. This study aimed to generate prediction equations for ten landmarks of the nose in the midline and alar regions for forensic facial approximation. The six midline landmarks were the sellion, nasion–pronasale posterior, nasion–pronasale anterior, pronasale, nasal drop, and subnasale. The four landmarks of the alar region were the alare, superior alar groove, posterior alar groove, and inferior alar groove. We used the skull landmarks in the nasal, zygomatic, and maxillary bone to predict the landmarks of the nose. Cone‐beam computed tomography scans of 108 Thai subjects with normal BMI and age ranging from 21.0 to 50.9 years were obtained in a sitting position. The data were converted into three‐dimensional (3‐D) images of the skull and face. The Cartesian coordinates of the landmarks of the skull and nose were used to formulate the multiple regression equations. The formulated equations were tested in 24 new subjects. The mean differences in the predicted midline landmarks varied between −0.4 mm and 0.5 mm, whereas those for bilateral landmarks varied between −1.0 mm and 1.4 mm. In conclusion, the prediction equations formulated here will be beneficial for facial approximation of the nose in a Thai population.
A Mini‐Review on Brewer's Spent Grain Protein: Isolation, Physicochemical Properties, Application of Protein, and Functional Properties of Hydrolysates
Authors: Wen Chaoting , Zhang Jixian , Duan Yuqing , Zhang Haihui , Ma Haile
Published: December 2019

There is a growing demand in reusing agro‐industrial waste to enrich food proteins and develop new protein‐related products. Brewer's spent grain (BSG), the byproducts generated from the processing of beer‐brewing industry, is rich in abundant protein (26 to 30%) with good physicochemical properties and nutritional benefits. BSG is mainly composed of four proteins including hordein, gluten, globulin, and albumin. The methods for extracting protein from BSG mainly include alkali extraction, ultrasonic‐assisted extraction, and organic solvent extraction, among others. However, little researches have described the functional properties of Brewer's spent grain protein (BSGP) and how it can be improved by enzymatic modification. Additionally, BSG protein hydrolysates (BSGPHs) have good bioactivities, mainly including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and angiotensin‐I–converting enzyme inhibitory activities, among others. Based on the above situation, this review provides a comprehensive overview about the isolation, physicochemical features, application of the BSGP. In addition, the functional properties and biological activities of BSGPHs are also emphasized. The purpose of this review is to provide an up‐to‐date summary of BSGP research, and to broaden the market potential of this emerging protein in food industry. Besides, this review provides a reference to study the use of BSGP or hydrolysates for a variety of purposes in‐depth, including pharmaceutical, food, and industrial applications.
Measuring biological aging in humans: A quest
Authors: Ferrucci Luigi , Gonzalez‐Freire Marta , Fabbri Elisa , Simonsick Eleanor , Tanaka Toshiko , Moore Zenobia , Salimi Shabnam , Sierra Felipe , de Cabo Rafael
Published: December 2019

The global population of individuals over the age of 65 is growing at an unprecedented rate and is expected to reach 1.6 billion by 2050. Most older individuals are affected by multiple chronic diseases, leading to complex drug treatments and increased risk of physical and cognitive disability. Improving or preserving the health and quality of life of these individuals is challenging due to a lack of well‐established clinical guidelines. Physicians are often forced to engage in cycles of “trial and error” that are centered on palliative treatment of symptoms rather than the root cause, often resulting in dubious outcomes. Recently, geroscience challenged this view, proposing that the underlying biological mechanisms of aging are central to the global increase in susceptibility to disease and disability that occurs with aging. In fact, strong correlations have recently been revealed between health dimensions and phenotypes that are typical of aging, especially with autophagy, mitochondrial function, cellular senescence, and DNA methylation. Current research focuses on measuring the pace of aging to identify individuals who are “aging faster” to test and develop interventions that could prevent or delay the progression of multimorbidity and disability with aging. Understanding how the underlying biological mechanisms of aging connect to and impact longitudinal changes in health trajectories offers a unique opportunity to identify resilience mechanisms, their dynamic changes, and their impact on stress responses. Harnessing how to evoke and control resilience mechanisms in individuals with successful aging could lead to writing a new chapter in human medicine.
Behavioral sensitization and cellular responses to psychostimulants are reduced in D2R knockout mice
Authors: Solís Oscar , García‐Sanz Patricia , Martín Ana B. , Granado Noelia , Sanz‐Magro Adrián , Podlesniy Petar , Trullas Ramón , Murer M. Gustavo , Maldonado Rafael , Moratalla Rosario
Published: December 2019

Repeated cocaine exposure causes long‐lasting neuroadaptations that involve alterations in cellular signaling and gene expression mediated by dopamine in different brain regions, such as the striatum. Previous studies have pointed out to the dopamine D1 receptor as one major player in psychostimulants‐induced behavioral, cellular, and molecular changes. However, the role of other dopamine receptors has not been fully characterized. Here we used dopamine D2 receptor knockout (D2−/−) mice to explore the role of D2 receptor (D2R) in behavioral sensitization and its associated gene expression after acute and chronic cocaine and amphetamine administration. We also studied the impact of D2R elimination in D1R‐mediated responses. We found that cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐induced behavioral sensitization is deficient in D2−/−mice. The expression of dynorphin, primarily regulated by D1R and a marker of direct‐pathway striatal neurons, is attenuated in naïve‐ and in cocaine‐ or amphetamine‐treated D2−/−mice. Moreover, c‐Fos expression observed in D2−/−mice was reduced in acutely but not in chronically treated animals. Interestingly, inactivation of D2R increased c‐Fos expression in neurons of the striatopallidal pathway. Finally, elimination of D2R blunted the locomotor and striatal c‐Fos response to the full D1 agonist SKF81297. In conclusion, D2R is critical for the development of behavioral sensitization and the associated gene expression, after cocaine administration, and it is required for the locomotor responses promoted by D1R activation.
Titrated baclofen for high‐risk alcohol consumption: a randomized placebo‐controlled trial in out‐patients with 1‐year follow‐up
Authors: Rigal Laurent , Sidorkiewicz Stéphanie , Tréluyer Jean‐Marc , Perrodeau Elodie , Le Jeunne Claire , Porcher Raphaël , Jaury Philippe
Published: December 2019

Background and Aims

Baclofen is a promising drug for treating patients with alcohol‐related disorders. Nevertheless, the first randomized clinical trials (mainly with target doses) reported inconsistent efficacy, possibly because of the effective dose widely varying between patients. The Bacloville study aimed to test the efficacy of titrated baclofen for achieving low‐risk alcohol consumption.

Design

Twelve‐month multicenter pragmatic double‐blind randomized clinical trial from June 2012 to June 2014.

Setting

Sixty‐two French primary care centers.

Participants

Out‐patients with high‐risk alcohol consumption (> 40 g/day for women and > 60 g/day for men).

Intervention and comparator

Patients were randomly assigned (1 : 1 ratio) to receive titrated baclofen up to 300 mg/day or placebo for 12 months. Switching to open‐label baclofen was allowed in cases of perceived inefficacy.

Measurements

The primary outcome defined success as no or low‐risk alcohol consumption (≤ 20 g/day for women and ≤ 40 g/day for men) during the last month of the 1‐year follow up, with patients who switched to open‐label baclofen classified as failures.

Findings

A total of 320 patients were randomized, 162 to baclofen and 158 to placebo (consumption 129 g/day in both arms). Discontinuation rates were 30 and 34% in the baclofen and placebo arms, respectively, and return rates of the last‐month diaries were 42 and 34%, respectively. Primary success rates were 57 and 36% in the baclofen and placebo arms, respectively [difference: 21 percentage points, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 8–34, P = 0.003]. When switchers were not classified as failures unless they failed, the success rates were 62 versus 55% (difference: 6 percentage points, 95% CI = –7 to 20). Over 12 months, daily consumption differed between both arms (11 g less in the baclofen arm), as did the number of abstinence days (3.3 days more in the baclofen arm). Adverse events were more frequent with baclofen than placebo and were mostly drowsiness, fatigue and insomnia. Serious adverse events occurred in 85 (seven deaths) and 36 (three deaths) patients with baclofen and placebo, respectively.

Conclusions

Baclofen was more effective than placebo in reducing alcohol consumption to low‐risk levels. The number of adverse events and more serious adverse events was greater with baclofen than placebo.
Marijuana use trends among college students in states with and without legalization of recreational use: initial and longer‐term changes from 2008 to 2018
Authors: Bae Harold , Kerr David C. R.
Published: December 2019

Background and aims

Young adult college students in the United States are likely to be affected by marijuana liberalization trends. However, changes in students’ marijuana use following recreational marijuana legalization (RML) have not been examined in more than one RML state at a time, or beyond 1–2 years post‐legalization.

Design

Cross‐sectional National College Health Assessment survey administered twice yearly from 2008 to 2018.

Setting

A total of 587 4‐year colleges and universities in 48 US states.

Participants

Undergraduates aged 18–26 years attending college in US states that did (n = 234 669 in seven states) or did not (n = 599 605 in 41 states) enact RML between 2008 and 2018.

Measurements

Self‐reported marijuana use (past 30 days) and individual and contextual covariates, institution‐provided institutional and community covariates and publicly available dates when states enacted RML.

Findings

Adjusting for covariates, state differences and state‐specific linear time trends (accounting for pre‐RML trends), prevalence of 30‐day marijuana use increased more among students exposed to RML [odds ratio (OR) = 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.19–1.28, P < 0.001] than among non‐RML state students throughout the same time‐period; the results were similar for frequent use (≥ 20 days) (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.10–1.27, P < 0.001). Interaction models supported stronger RML effects among students who were female, residing off‐campus and aged 21 years and older; sexual orientation did not moderate RML effects. In the earliest states to enact RML (2012) there were increases in use prevalence in the second through the sixth year post‐RML compared to pre‐RML. In the second legalization group (2015) there were increases in the first and second year post‐RML, and greater increases in the third year. In the later states (2016–17), increases were observed in both years after RML.

Conclusions

In US states that enacted recreational marijuana legislation from 2012 to 2017 there was evidence for a general trend towards greater increases in marijuana use by college students and differential impact by gender, legal using age and campus residence.
Predictors for trifecta achievement of robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy in high‐complexity tumors (Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical score ≥10)
Authors: Takahara Kiyoshi , Sumitomo Makoto , Fukaya Kosuke , Jyoudai Takahito , Nishino Masashi , Hikichi Masaru , Nukaya Takuhisa , Zennami Kenji , Ichino Manabu , Fukami Naohiko , Sasaki Hitomi , Kusaka Mamoru , Shiroki Ryoichi
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is emerging as an effective treatment oncologically and functionally for clinically localized renal tumors. However, RAPN in high‐complexity tumors with a Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical score ≥10 remains challenging. In this study, the feasibility of RAPN for high‐complexity tumors was assessed.

Methods

The study cohort consisted of 177 cases with clinically localized renal cell carcinoma who had undergone RAPN at our hospital from July 2010 to February 2018. They were assessed for perioperative parameters and trifecta achievement (ie, negative surgical margins, warm ischemia time <25 minutes, and no complications).

Results

Among the 177 cases who had undergone RAPN, 60 had high‐complexity tumors, and 117 had non‐high‐complexity (ie, intermediate‐ or low‐complexity) tumors. There were no significant differences in the operative and console times between the cohorts, but estimated intraoperative blood loss was much lower in the non‐high‐complexity group. Although the average warm ischemia time was less than 25 minutes in both groups, it was significantly shorter in the non‐high‐complexity group. Trifecta achievement rates significantly differed between the high‐ and non‐high‐complexity groups (68.3% vs 86.3%). Comparisons of four operative parameters (ie, BMI, tumor size, endophytic properties, and hilar tumor) using univariate analysis in the 60 high‐complexity tumor cases showed that BMI and tumor size were independent factors (P = 0.05 and 0.018, respectively). In multivariate analysis, tumor size was the only factor directly associated with trifecta achievement (P = 0.029).

Conclusion

The trifecta achievement rate was significantly lower in the high‐complexity group. Only tumor size affected trifecta achievement during RAPN in cases with high‐complexity tumors (Preoperative Aspects and Dimensions Used for an Anatomical score ≥10).