bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling the drivers of the UK multi-let industrial property market: an exploratory study
Authors: Higgins David , Vincent Tsvetomira , Wood Peter
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Multi-let industrial (MLI) estates are an emerging £15 billion UK real estate asset class that can offer attractive returns, a diversified income base, constrained supply and extensive management opportunities to add value within an operational platform. This investment appeal is supported by the evolving MLI occupier market with the growth of small to medium enterprises (SME) requiring modern urban business space driven in part by technology advances offering new streams of supply chain connectivity between businesses and potential clients at a local level.

Design/methodology/approach

To understand more about MLI properties, this study utilises a hedonic pricing model to quantify property values as a function of defined variables. The dataset used for this research is a sample portfolio of 26 multi-let industrial properties. The dataset was analysed alongside eleven physical, financial and locational factors. Interestingly, the hedonic pricing model results showed that only four characteristics are value-affecting across the selected properties: namely (1) Granularity of the property income, (2) Distance from the nearest motorway, (3) Distance to the nearest town centre and (4) Gross internal floor area. A chi–test confirmed that there was no significant difference between the modelled values and the supplied property valuations.

Findings

This preliminary study offers valuable insight into MLI property market drivers and could easily form a simple decision-making tool to examine potential MLI opportunities in this developing real estate asset class.

Originality/value

In detailing these key MLI property features, current research is limited and focused primarily on market commentary. New knowledge on the MLI property market can provide a platform creating interesting opportunities for fund managers with an intensive management engagement strategy.
How to encourage collaboration and break down silos in remote teams?
Authors: Edwards Sarah
Published: June 2020

Purpose

One of the issues concerning businesses today, which are reconfiguring the workplace towards more remote working, is avoiding the build-up of “silos” – teams, which operate as sealed off windowless units within the business. These interfere with the creation and maintenance of a one-team culture within your organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

With everyone working from home, this situation can potentially become even more difficult to address. Teams may meet regularly over digital channels but they likely have less contact with the people in the wider organisation, who they do not work with directly. If you were to map the points of contact in your organisation, you would see that remote working in many organisations is very much reducing them and confining them to within teams. So, in remote teams, there is more of a need than ever for HR professionals and business leaders to work to break down silos to keep the one team culture.

Findings

Here are some tips from the author’s experience for breaking down silos in remote teams: create opportunities for more relaxed social interactions, focus on the customer experience and share information across the organisation.

Originality/value

There may be opportunities for these underused skills to be deployed in another area of the business. But if the resource availability is not visible, that is less likely to happen. Equally, if each team does not share what it is doing in an up to date and accessible way, other teams will end up stepping on their toes. So, having a way of sharing accurate, real-time information across the business underpins the effort of working together in a unified and efficient way.
Glucose oxidase-based biosensor for glucose detection from biological fluids
Authors: Mandpe Pankaj , Prabhakar Bala , Gupta Hunny , Shende Pravin
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The present study aims to summarize different non-invasive techniques for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in diabetic patients using glucose-oxidase biosensors. In diabetic patients, the self-monitoring of blood glucose (BG) levels through minimally invasive techniques provides a quick method of measuring their BG concentration, unlike conventional laboratory measurements. The drawbacks of minimally invasive techniques include physical pain, anxiety and reduced patient compliance. To overcome these limitations, researchers shifted their attention towards the development of a pain-free and non-invasive glucose monitoring system, which showed encouraging results.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviews the development of minimally and non-invasive method for continuous glucose level monitoring in diabetic or hyperglycemic patients. Specifically, glucose monitoring using non-invasive techniques, such as spectroscopy-based methods, polarimetry, fluorescence, electromagnetic variations, transdermal extraction-based methods and using body fluids, has been discussed. The various strategies adopted for improving the overall specificity and performance of biosensors are discussed.

Findings

In conclusion, the technology of glucose oxidase-based biosensors for glucose level monitoring is becoming a strong competitor, probably because of high specificity and selectivity, low cost and increased patient compliance. Many industries currently working in this field include Google, Novartis and Microsoft, which demonstrates the significance and strong market potential of self-monitored glucose-oxidase-based biosensors in the near future.

Originality/value

This review paper summarizes comprehensive strategies for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in diabetic patients using non-invasive glucose-oxidase biosensors. Non-invasive techniques received significant research interest because of high sensitivity and better patient compliance, unlike invasive ones. Although the results from these innovative devices require frequent calibration against direct BG data, they might be a preferable candidate for future CGM. However, the challenges associated with designing accurate level sensors to biomonitor BG data easily and painlessly needs to be addressed.
Critical types of knowledge loss in military organisations
Authors: Singh Mukesh Kumar , Gupta Vikas
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Premature departure of highly skilled and experienced soldiers is detrimental to the excellence of a military organisation. The organisation can achieve knowledge superiority over adversaries, only if it acknowledges the organisation’s critical knowledge and undertakes necessary steps to preserve it. The purpose of this paper is to find out the critical types of knowledge loss in military organisations when a soldier departs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses grounded theory methodology with purposive/theoretical sampling of experts from the Indian Air Force, coding and constant comparative analysis to construct different knowledge categories. ATLAS.ti 8 was used for data coding and analysis.

Findings

This paper identifies eight types of knowledge categories in a military organisation and specifies the criticality of each category.

Research limitation/implication

This study has been piloted on a single organisation with a limited number of samples. However, the results can be used in future research on exploring generalisation. This study is unique in providing useful insights into the types of critical knowledge loss in a military organisation. Research infuses theoretical rigour to the knowledge management (KM) literature and provides impetus to study various aspects of KM in a military organisation.

Practical implication

This study provides the first set of guidelines for the leaders in military organisations to develop a KM strategy for knowledge loss. Research lists specific and actionable areas of knowledge for the commanders to act with considerable savings to exchequer, time and effort. The result could be reasonably generalised for other military setups in the world.

Originality/value

This paper is highly innovative and would significantly contribute to the under-explored area of KM in military organisations and the KM literature.
Top‐down effects from parasitoids may mediate plant defence and plant fitness
Authors: Tan Ching‐Wen , Peiffer Michelle L. , Ali Jared G. , Luthe Dawn S. , Felton Gary W.
Published: June 2020

Plants face many environmental stresses that can impact their survival, development and fitness. Insects are the most diverse, abundant and threatening herbivores in nature. As a consequence, plants produce direct chemical and physical defences to reduce herbivory. They also release volatiles to recruit natural enemies that indirectly protect them from herbivory. The recruitment of parasitic wasps can benefit plant fitness because they ultimately kill their insect hosts.

Recently, studies showed that parasitoids can indirectly mediate plant defences by modulating herbivore oral secretions. In addition to the direct benefits of parasitoids in terms of reducing herbivore survival, we tested if the reduction in induced defences by parasitized caterpillars compared to non‐parasitized caterpillars may reduce the costs associated with defence expression.

We provide evidence that tomato plants treated with saliva from parasitized caterpillars have significantly higher fitness parameters including increased flower numbers (16.3%) and heavier fruit weight (13.5%), compared to plants treated with saliva from non‐parasitized caterpillars. Since plants were grown without actual herbivores, the higher values for these fitness parameters were due to lower costs of induced defences and not due to reduced herbivory by parasitized caterpillars. Furthermore, the resulting seed germination time was shorter and the germination rate was higher when the maternal plants were previously exposed to parasitized herbivore treatment compared to control (non‐treated) plants.

Overall, application of saliva did not result in transgenerational priming of offspring defence responses. However, offspring of parents exposed to caterpillar saliva had lower constitutive levels and higher induced levels of trypsin inhibitor than offspring from unexposed parents.

This study shows that the saliva of parasitized caterpillars can modulate plant defences and further demonstrates that the lower induction of plant defences is associated with elevated plant fitness in the absence of herbivore feeding, suggesting that induced plant defences are costly.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Metabolome segregation of four strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces uvarum and Saccharomyces kudriavzevii conducted under low temperature oenological conditions
Authors: Minebois Romain , Pérez‐Torrado Roberto , Querol Amparo
Published: June 2020

The monitoring of fermentation at low temperatures (12–15°C) is a current practice in the winery for retention and enhancement of the flavour volatile content of wines. Among Saccharomyces species, Saccharomyces uvarum and Saccharomyces kudriavzevii have revealed interesting industrial properties, including better adaptation at low temperatures. To gather deeper knowledge of the fermentative metabolism at a low temperature of these species together with S. cerevisiae, we performed a comparative metabolomic analysis using four representative strains. We used batch cultures to obtain an exhaustive and dynamic image of the metabolome of strains passing through the sequential stresses related to the winemaking environment. A great variety of intra‐ and extracellular metabolites (>500 compounds) were quantified across fermentation using distinct chromatographic methods. Besides a global decrease in the lipid composition of the four strains when they entered into the stationary phase, we reported some strain‐specific high magnitude changes. Examples of these differences included divergent patterns of production of short‐chain fatty acids and erythritol in the S. uvarum strain. Strains also differed in expression for aromatic amino acid biosynthesis and sulphur metabolism, including the glutathione pathway. These data will allow us to refine and obtain the most value of fermentations with this alternative Saccharomyces species.
Surface sensing triggers a broad‐spectrum antimicrobial response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Gdaniec Bartosz Gerard , Allard Pierre‐Marie , Queiroz Emerson Ferreira , Wolfender Jean‐Luc , van Delden Christian , Köhler Thilo
Published: June 2020

Interspecies bacterial competition may occur via cell‐associated or secreted determinants and is key to successful niche colonization. We previously evolved Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus and identified mutations in the Wsp surface‐sensing signalling system. Surprisingly, a ΔwspF mutant, characterized by increased c‐di‐GMP levels and biofilm formation capacity, showed potent killing activity towards S. aureus in its culture supernatant. Here, we used an unbiased metabolomic analysis of culture supernatants to identify rhamnolipids, alkyl quinoline N‐oxides and two siderophores as members of four chemical clusters, which were more abundant in the ΔwspF mutant supernatants. Killing activities were quorum‐sensing controlled but independent of c‐di‐GMP levels. Based on the metabolomic analysis, we formulated a synthetic cocktail of four compounds, showing broad‐spectrum anti‐bacterial killing, including both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. The combination of quorum‐sensing‐controlled killing and Wsp‐system mediated biofilm formation endows P. aeruginosa with capacities essential for niche establishment and host colonization.
Preschool phonological, morphological and semantic skills explain it all: following reading development through a 9‐year period
Authors: Lyster Solveig‐Alma Halaas , Snowling Margaret J. , Hulme Charles , Lervåg Arne Ola
Published: June 2020

Background

There is increasing recognition of the contribution of morphological skills to the development of reading fluency. However, theoretical models and recent research raise questions about how different language skills influence reading development.

Methods

The present study was designed to follow the reading development of a large sample of Norwegian children (N = 323) from preschool to Grade 9, assessing their performance on a wide range of language‐related and reading skills including morphological awareness. We employed confirmatory factor analyses of the cognitive, linguistic and reading variables prior to modelling the contribution of the preschool language variables to reading comprehension in Grades 1, 2 and 9.

Results

Preschool measures of phonological, morphological and semantic skills were best represented by a single language latent variable. Reading in Grades 1 and 2, assessed by measures of both decoding and comprehension, was also best represented by a single latent variable. Preschool language skills have long‐range direct and indirect effects on the development of reading comprehension. Overall, preschool language abilities accounted for 69.2% of the variance in reading comprehension 9 years later.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate the powerful influence of early language on later reading and suggest that language intervention programmes, combining phonological, morphological and semantic activities, may help to reduce the incidence of reading problems.
Virtual reality for acute pain in outpatient hysteroscopy: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Deo N , Khan KS , Mak J , Allotey J , Gonzalez Carreras FJ , Fusari G , Benn J
Published: June 2020

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality as a distraction technique in the management of acute pain and anxiety during outpatient hysteroscopy.

Design

Parallel group, prospective randomised controlled trial.

Setting

UK University Hospital.

Methods

Forty consenting, eligible women were randomised to virtual reality intervention (immersive video content as a distraction method) or standard care during outpatient hysteroscopy from August to October 2018.

Main outcome measures

Pain and anxiety outcomes were measured as a numeric rating score (scale 0–10).

Results

Compared with standard care, women with virtual reality intervention experienced less average pain (score 6.0 versus 3.7, mean difference 2.3, 95% CI 0.61–3.99, P = 0.009) and anxiety (score 5.45 versus 3.3, mean difference 2.15, 95% CI 0.38–3.92, P = 0.02).

Conclusion

Virtual reality was effective in reducing pain and anxiety during outpatient hysteroscopy in a mixed‐methods randomised control trial. Its wide potential role in ambulatory gynaecological procedures needs further evaluation.

Tweetable abstract

Virtual reality can be used as a part of a multimodal strategy to reduce acute pain and anxiety in patients undergoing outpatient hysteroscopy.
Birds of a feather flock together? The survival of underrepresented groups within parliamentary parties, 1991–2015
Authors: van de WARDT MARC , van WITTELOOSTUIJN ARJEN , CHAMBERS ANTHONY , WAUTERS BRAM
Published: June 2020

This study focuses on the exit of MPs of underrepresented groups – that is, women, visible minorities and the lower educated– from parliamentary parties. Research has mostly focused on what brings these politicians into parliament, but not on what determines their survival within parliamentary parties. Based on the economic and sociological literature on organisations, we develop the homophily hypothesis, positing that MPs from underrepresented groups will be more likely to exit their parliamentary party if their share within the parliamentary party is low. Utilising the PATHWAYS dataset, based on 5,889 unique MPs that served during 37 legislative periods across eight Western European countries between 1991 and 2015, this hypothesis is confirmed. These findings have important implications for the literature on descriptive representation and legislative turnover.
Application of ozone for degradation of mycotoxins in food: A review
Authors: Afsah‐Hejri Leili , Hajeb Parvaneh , Ehsani Reza J.
Published: June 2020

Mycotoxins such as aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA) fumonisins (FMN), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), and patulin are stable at regular food process practices. Ozone (O3) is a strong oxidizer and generally considered as a safe antimicrobial agent in food industries. Ozone disrupts fungal cells through oxidizing sulfhydryl and amino acid groups of enzymes or attacks the polyunsaturated fatty acids of the cell wall. Fusarium is the most sensitive mycotoxigenic fungi to ozonation followed by Aspergillus and Penicillium. Studies have shown complete inactivation of Fusarium and Aspergillus by O3 gas. Spore germination and toxin production have also been reduced after ozone fumigation. Both naturally and artificially, mycotoxin‐contaminated samples have shown significant mycotoxin reduction after ozonation. Although the mechanism of detoxification is not very clear for some mycotoxins, it is believed that ozone reacts with the functional groups in the mycotoxin molecules, changes their molecular structures, and forms products with lower molecular weight, less double bonds, and less toxicity. Although some minor physicochemical changes were observed in some ozone‐treated foods, these changes may or may not affect the use of the ozonated product depending on the further application of it. The effectiveness of the ozonation process depends on the exposure time, ozone concentration, temperature, moisture content of the product, and relative humidity. Due to its strong oxidizing property and corrosiveness, there are strict limits for O3 gas exposure. O3 gas has limited penetration and decomposes quickly. However, ozone treatment can be used as a safe and green technology for food preservation and control of contaminants.
Effectiveness of bacterial cellulose in controlling purge accumulation and improving physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial properties of vacuum‐packaged beef
Authors: Gedarawatte Shamika T. G. , Ravensdale Joshua T. , Johns Michael L. , Azizi Azlinda , Al‐Salami Hani , Dykes Gary A. , Coorey Ranil
Published: June 2020

The application of bacterial cellulose (BC) as a wrapping material for vacuum‐packaged beef was studied and compared against unwrapped beef for up to 3 weeks. The impact of BC wrap on the weight loss, purge accumulation, and drip loss were assessed along with low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance, physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial evaluations. The BC wrap significantly (P < 0.05) reduced purge accumulation in vacuum packages which was confirmed by an increased swelling ratio and scanning electron microscopy images. Colorimetric measurements showed significantly (P < 0.05) increased redness and yellowness values in wrapped samples compared to unwrapped samples. BC wrap did not affect pH, tenderness, and odor of meat, but significantly (P < 0.05) increased lipid oxidation, and numbers of lactic acid bacteria and Brochothrix thermosphacta counts. This study shows that BC wrap has potential as a purge absorbent in vacuum packaged meat.

Practical Application

Bacteria cellulose has good water holding capacity that can be utilized to absorb purge exudate from beef. It helps to improve the appearance and consequently consumer acceptance of vacuum packed beef.
Polyglycolic acid sheets decrease post‐endoscopic submucosal dissection bleeding in early gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Li De Feng , Xiong Feng , Xu Zheng Lei , Zhang Ding Guo , Yao Jun , Wang Li Sheng
Published: June 2020

Objective

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the standard treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC). However, post‐ESD bleeding remains a serious issue, particularly in patients treated with an antithrombotic agent or those have had a large mucosal resection (≥4 cm). Whether covering the ulcer bed induced by ESD with polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets can prevent post‐ESD bleeding remains to be questioned. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of PGA sheets on preventing post‐ESD bleeding in patients with early gastric cancer (EGC) at a high risk of post‐ESD bleeding.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases were searched for studies on the effect of PGA sheets shielding on inpatients with EGC and at a high risk of bleeding using post‐ESD bleeding rate as the primary outcome.

Results

Among the four included studies (212 lesions in the PGA sheet group and 208 in the control group), post‐ESD bleeding rate was significantly lower in the PGA sheet group than in the control group (4.9% vs 13.7%, risk ratio [RR] 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18‐0.72, P = 0.004). A subgroup analysis showed that the application of PGA sheets effectively reduced the post‐ESD bleeding rate in patients receiving antithrombotic agents (5.5% vs 15.2%; RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17‐0.79, P = 0.01). Although the application of PGA sheets tended to decrease the post‐ESD bleeding rate in patients who had undergone large mucosal resections, the difference was not significant (4.5% vs 9.6%; RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.15‐1.78, P = 0.29).

Conclusions

PGA sheets can effectively prevent post‐ESD bleeding in patients receiving antithrombotic agents. Further studies are needed to confirm whether PGA sheets can decrease post‐ESD bleeding in patients underwent large mucosal resection.
Intravenous Ethanol Administration and Operant Self‐Administration Alter Extracellular Norepinephrine Concentration in the Mesocorticolimbic Systems of Male Long Evans Rats
Authors: Jaime Saul , Vena Ashley A. , Gonzales Rueben A.
Published: June 2020

Background

Norepinephrine has been suggested to regulate ethanol (EtOH)‐related behaviors, but little is known about the effects of EtOH on norepinephrine release in mesocortical and mesolimbic brain areas that are targets of EtOH actions.

Methods

We used in vivo microdialysis to examine the effects of EtOH on extracellular norepinephrine concentrations in mesocorticolimbic brain regions of male Long Evans rats. We determined the effects of intravenous infusion of saline or EtOH in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the basal forebrain. We also measured dialysate norepinephrine concentrations during operant self‐administration of EtOH in the mPFC.

Results

Intravenous infusion (1 or 0.25 ml/min) of 1.0 g/kg EtOH stimulated an increase in dialysate norepinephrine in mPFC and in basal forebrain. In the basal forebrain, an infusion of 0.5 g/kg EtOH did not stimulate dialysate norepinephrine concentrations. In both regions, saline infusions did not increase dialysate norepinephrine concentrations. In the behavioral experiment, 1 week of experience with operant self‐administration of sweetened EtOH resulted in an apparent reduction in basal dialysate norepinephrine concentrations in the mPFC relative to the sucrose control. Dialysate norepinephrine increased during the transfer from home cage to the operant chamber in all groups.

Conclusions

We conclude that acute EtOH stimulates both the locus coeruleus (which projects to the mPFC) and the nucleus tractus solitarius (which projects to the basal forebrain) noradrenergic neurons. Additionally, limited EtOH self‐administration experience alters dialysate norepinephrine in the mPFC in a manner consistent with a decrease in tonic norepinephrine release. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms by which EtOH exerts these variable effects.
Genetic aberrations involved in relapse of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia: A literature review
Authors: Zafar Naveera , Ghias Kulsoom , Fadoo Zehra
Published: June 2020

Globally, 15‐20% of all children diagnosed with leukemia suffer from acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a rapidly progressive, clinically and biologically heterogeneous disease leading to the impaired differentiation of myeloid blast cells. Although 80% of patients achieve complete remission after induction chemotherapy, many relapse, negatively affecting overall out comes. The mechanisms underlying relapse have not been fully elucidated. This review aims to provide an overview of genetic aberrations involved in relapse of disease.

A literature review on molecular mechanisms implicated in pediatric AML relapse spanning from 2003 to 2017 was conducted. PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar were interrogated using relevant search terms. Of note, we examined a total of final 10 research papers from four large study groups that have utilized whole genome sequencing and molecular targeting of trio or paired samples of initial diagnosis, remission, and relapse. Their findings reveal that the genomic landscape of pediatric AML varies from diagnosis to relapse in different populations. Pediatric AML relapse is a systemic evolutionary illness accompanied by synchronized mutational hits impairing differentiation function. The irregular proliferative function is a consequence of mutations in signal transduction genes such as FLT3, RAS, PTPN11, and c‐KIT and genes that code for transcription factors such as CEBPα, WT1, SATB1, GFI1, KLF2, and TBP are associated with relapse of disease. Identification of molecular markers unique to different stages of the disease in distinct populations can provide valuable information about disease prognosis and management.
End of life experiences of patients with advanced cancer in Myanmar: Results from the APPROACH study
Authors: Mon Ssu Wynn , Ozdemir Semra , Zu Wah Wah Myint , Win Han , Maw Myo Myint , Win Khin Cho , Thant Kyaw Zin , Teo Irene , Krishnan Anirudh , Goh Cynthia Ruth , Finkelstein Eric A. , Malhotra Chetna
Published: June 2020

Background

Access to palliative care services is essential for attaining universal health coverage for patients with a terminal cancer. Despite this, many patients with advanced cancer in low‐income countries, such as Myanmar, suffer at the end of life (EOL) due to little or no access to palliative care. However, actual evidence on EOL experiences of cancer patients in Myanmar is lacking. This paper aims to describe various dimensions of EOL experiences among patients with an advanced cancer from the largest public hospital in Myanmar.

Methods

We surveyed 195 patients with stage IV cancer seeking care from outpatient oncology clinics to assess their quality of life, pain severity, pain medications taken, quality of communication with doctors, nursing care and health care coordination, and desire to end life sooner. We assessed socioeconomic status (SES) differences in each patient outcome using separate multivariate linear/logistic regressions.

Results

Forty‐one percent of the patients in our sample reported that they wish their life would end sooner. Low SES cancer patients had significantly worse quality of life, reported poor health care coordination and were more likely to report severe pain compared to high SES cancer patients visiting the same hospital.

Conclusion

To improve quality of life and pain management and to reduce EOL distress among patients with advanced cancer, there is a pressing need to develop and invest in hospital and community‐level palliative care services in Myanmar.
Validity and reliability of the MD Anderson dysphagia inventory in English and Chinese in head and neck cancer patients
Authors: Yee Kaisin , Wong Seng Mun , Teo Irene , Loy Jamie , Roche Elizabeth , Tan Yee Pin , Tan Hiang Khoon , Tan Ngian Chye , Iyer N Gopalakrishna
Published: June 2020

Aims

Patient‐reported outcome measures are important in assessing the impact of dysphagia on quality of life. Our aim was to adapt and examine the cultural validity and reliability of a swallowing‐related quality of life measure, the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI), in English and Chinese, with head and neck cancer patients.

Methods

We adapted the MDADI to Chinese through formal forward‐backward translation. Sixty‐six head and neck cancer survivors completed the MDADI, Swallowing Quality of Life (SWAL‐QOL) questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in English or Chinese. Swallowing status was scored on the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). Seventy‐four percent (n = 49) of participants completed a repeat administration of the MDADI for test–retest reliability analysis.

Results

The MDADI showed high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's α , 0.82 ≤ α ≤ 0.94), and test–retest reliability in both English (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC = 0.81) and Chinese (ICC = 0.72). Criterion validity was established through moderate to strong correlations with relevant SWAL‐QOL domains. Convergent validity was determined by significant correlations to the HADS and FOIS. Divergent validity was determined by nonsignificant association to the SWAL‐QOL Sleep domain. The MDADI also presented as hypothesised to most known‐group theoretical constructs.

Conclusions

The MDADI showed good psychometric properties in English and Chinese. This avails a reliable and psychometrically valid MDADI for Chinese speakers.
Lessons learned from the Czech uterus transplant trial related to surgical technique that may affect reproductive success
Authors: Chmel Roman , Novackova Marta , Pastor Zlatko
Published: June 2020

Uterus transplantation is an experimental method in the treatment of infertility in women with congenital or acquired absence of uterus. The majority of uterus transplants worldwide have been performed in women with Mayer‐Rokitansky‐Küster‐Hauser syndrome, with neovagina and absent uterus. We report two aspects affecting reproductive success related to the surgical technique of transplantation. The first is the stenosis of vaginal‐neovaginal anastomosis between the graft’s vaginal rim and the recipient’s neovagina. The second is a firm fixation of the uterus close to the pubic symphysis. Both these aspects contribute to the technical difficulty of embryo transfer to the transplanted uterus.
Carbon management strategy and carbon disclosures: An exploratory study
Authors: Dhanda Kanwalroop Kathy , Malik Mahfuja
Published: June 2020

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a concept aimed to ensure that corporations conduct their business in an ethical manner by taking care of their environment and human resources in addition to their economic impact. Often times, CSR refers to the steps undertaken by a corporation to measure its efforts to improve the environment and social well‐being. One of the aspects of CSR pertains to the disclosure of emission information and carbon management strategy (CMS). Carbon Management refers to analyzing and focusing on those areas within the corporation where cost reductions can be made via energy reductions, waste management, and reduced resource consumption. In this article, we examine the role of an effective CMS on the emission disclosure behavior of firms. We utilize the carbon disclosure project surveys to find that firms adopting an effective CMS are more likely to disclose the information about both direct and indirect emissions.
Daily emotional well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Lades Leonhard K. , Laffan Kate , Daly Michael , Delaney Liam
Published: June 2020

The COVID‐19 outbreak has become one of the largest public health crises of our time. Governments have responded by implementing self‐isolation and physical distancing measures that have profoundly impacted daily life throughout the world. In this study, we aimed to investigate how people experience the activities, interactions, and settings of their lives during the pandemic. The sample (N = 604) was assessed in Ireland on the 25 March 2020, following the closure of schools and non‐essential businesses. We examined within‐person variance in emotional well‐being and how people spend their time. We found that while most time was spent in the home (74%), time spent outdoors (8%) was associated with markedly raised positive affect and reduced negative emotions. Exercising, going for walks, gardening, pursuing hobbies, and taking care of children were the activities associated with the greatest affective benefits. Home‐schooling children and obtaining information about COVID‐19 were ranked lowest of all activities in terms of emotional experience. These findings highlight activities that may play a protective role in relation to well‐being during the pandemic, the importance of setting limits for exposure to COVID‐19‐related media coverage, and the need for greater educational supports to facilitate home‐schooling during this challenging period.
Antimetastatic effects of thalidomide by inducing the functional maturation of peripheral natural killer cells
Authors: Miyazato Kiho , Tahara Hideaki , Hayakawa Yoshihiro
Published: June 2020

Thalidomide and its analogues are known as immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) that possess direct antimyeloma effects, in addition to other secondary effects, including antiangiogenic, antiinflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Although the involvement of natural killer (NK) cells in the antitumor effects of IMiDs has been reported, it is unclear whether IMiDs inhibit cancer cell metastasis by regulating the antitumor function of NK cells. In this study, we examined the protective effects of thalidomide against cancer metastasis by focusing on its immunomodulatory effects through NK cells. Using experimental lung metastasis models, we found that pharmacological effects of thalidomide on host cells, but not its direct anticancer tumor effects, are responsible for the inhibition of lung metastases. To exert the antimetastatic effects of thalidomide, both γ‐interferon (IFN‐γ) production and direct cytotoxicity of NK cells were essential, without notable contribution from T cells. In thalidomide‐treated mice, there was a significant increase in the terminally differentiated mature CD27lo NK cells in the peripheral tissues and NK cells in thalidomide‐treated mice showed significantly higher cytotoxicity and IFN‐γ production. The NK cell expression of T‐bet was upregulated by thalidomide treatment and the downregulation of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β expression was observed in thalidomide‐treated NK cells. Collectively, our study suggests that thalidomide induces the functional maturation of peripheral NK cells through alteration of T‐bet expression to inhibit lung metastasis of cancer cells.
Students’ Occupational Aspirations: Can Family Relationships Account for Differences Between Immigrant and Socioeconomic Groups?
Authors: Plenty Stephanie M. , Jonsson Jan O.
Published: June 2020

Immigrant background and disadvantaged socioeconomic background are two key predictors of poorer school achievement in Europe. However, the former is associated with higher while the latter is associated with lower aspirations. This study asks whether family relationships account for this difference. Data come from 5,926 students in Germany and Sweden, eliciting indicators of family background and relationships at age 14–15 years (2011) and occupational aspirations 1 year later. High aspirations were found among students of non‐European background and students with higher parental occupational status. Structural equation models showed that while immigrant families had greater parental aspirations and encouragement, family cohesion, and parental monitoring, only parental aspirations mediated the effects of family background.
Protocolized exercise improves frailty parameters and lower extremity impairment: A promising prehabilitation strategy for kidney transplant candidates
Authors: Lorenz Elizabeth C. , Hickson LaTonya J. , Weatherly Renee M. , Thompson Karin L. , Walker Heidi A. , Rasmussen Judy M. , Stewart Tara L. , Garrett James K. , Amer Hatem , Kennedy Cassie C.
Published: June 2020

Background

Frailty and decreased functional status are risk factors for adverse kidney transplant (KT) outcomes. Our objective was to examine the efficacy of an exercise intervention on frailty and decreased functional status in a cohort of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

We conducted a prospective study involving 21 adults with ≥stage 4 CKD who were (a) frail or pre‐frail by Fried phenotype and/or (b) had lower extremity impairment [short physical performance battery score ≤10]. The intervention consisted of two supervised outpatient exercise sessions per week for 8 weeks.

Results

Among our cohort, median participant age was 62 years (interquartile range, 53‐67) and 85.7% had been evaluated for KT. Following the study, participants reported satisfaction with the intervention and multiple frailty parameters improved significantly, including fatigue, physical activity, walking time, and grip strength. Lower extremity impairment also improved (90.5%‐61.9%, P = .03). No study‐related adverse events occurred.

Conclusions

Preliminary data from this study suggest that a supervised, outpatient exercise intervention is safe, acceptable, feasible, and associated with improved frailty parameters, and lower extremity function, in patients with advanced CKD. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and determine whether this prehabilitation strategy improves KT outcomes.
Hematopoietic cell transplant outcomes after myeloablative conditioning with fludarabine, busulfan, low‐dose total body irradiation, and rabbit antithymocyte globulin
Authors: Ousia Samar , Kalra Amit , Williamson Tyler S. , Prokopishyn Nicole , Dharmani‐Khan Poonam , Khan Faisal M. , Jimenez‐Zepeda Victor , Jamani Kareem , Duggan Peter R. , Daly Andrew , Russell James A. , Storek Jan
Published: June 2020

Optimal conditioning and graft‐vs‐host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) are unknown. Here, we report on outcomes after low toxicity, myeloablative conditioning consisting of fludarabine, busulfan, and 4 Gy total body irradiation, in combination with thymoglobulin and post‐transplant methotrexate and cyclosporine. We retrospectively studied 700 patients with hematologic malignancies who received blood stem cells from 7 to 8/8 HLA‐matched unrelated or related donors. Median follow‐up of surviving patients was 5 years. At 5 years, overall survival (OS), relapse‐free survival (RFS), and chronic GVHD/relapse‐free survival (cGRFS) were 58%, 55%, and 40%. Risk factors for poor OS, RFS, and cGRFS were (1). high to very high disease risk index (DRI), (2). high recipient age, and (3). cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐seropositive recipient with seronegative donor (D−R+). The latter risk factor applied particularly to patients with lymphoid malignancies. Neither donor other than HLA‐matched sibling (7‐8/8 unrelated) nor one HLA allele mismatch was risk factors for poor OS, RFS, or cGRFS. In conclusion, the above regimen results in excellent long‐term outcomes. The outcomes are negatively impacted by older age, high or very high DRI, and CMV D−R+ serostatus, but not by donor unrelatedness or one HLA allele mismatch.
Survey methods and characteristics of a sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non‐Indigenous people who have recently used methamphetamine: the NIMAC survey
Authors: Reilly Rachel , Wand Handan , McKetin Rebecca , Quinn Brendan , Ezard Nadine , Dunlop Adrian , Conigrave Kate , Treloar Carla , Roe Yvette , Gray Dennis , Stephens Jacqueline , Ward James ,   on the behalf of the NIMAC Community Researchers and Partner Sites
Published: June 2020

Introduction and Aims

There is a need for detailed information on methamphetamine use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We describe a national survey on methamphetamine use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non‐Indigenous people.

Design and Methods

Participants aged 16 years or older who reported using methamphetamine in the past year were recruited for a cross‐sectional survey through 10 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Surveys were completed anonymously on electronic tablets. Measures included the Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile, the Severity of Dependence Scale, subscales from Opiate Treatment Index and the Kessler 10. A Chronic Stress Scale was used to assess culturally situated chronic stress factors.

Results

Of the 734 participants, 416 (59%) were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 331 (45%) were female. In the previous year, most participants reported smoking (48.7%) or injecting (34%) methamphetamine and 17.4% reported daily use. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people did not differ significantly from non‐Indigenous participants on methamphetamine use patterns (age at first use, frequency of use, main mode of use, injecting risk, poly drug use). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants felt less able to access health care (32% vs. 48%, P < 0.001), including mental health services (19% vs. 29%, P < 0.002), were less likely to report a mental health diagnosis (50% vs. 60%, P < 0.002) and were more likely to turn to family for support (52% vs. 34%, P < 0.001).

Discussion and Conclusions

We recruited and surveyed a large sample of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from which we can derive detailed comparative data on methamphetamine use and related health service needs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non‐Indigenous Australians.
The Sino‐centric Capital Export Regime: State‐backed and Flexible Capital in the Philippines
Authors: Camba Alvin
Published: June 2020

There is an ongoing debate as to whether Chinese capital can be described as developmental. While some argue that Chinese capital is simply a tool of the Chinese state to exploit the global South, others claim that Chinese capital opens new development opportunities. Rather than advancing a framework based upon either an exploitative or an egalitarian mode of development, this article argues that China's current crisis of overaccumulation has led to a so‐called Sino‐centric capital export regime, which sends out two types of capital to the global South. First, state‐backed capital imposes a development model by modifying ‘local orders’, attempting to make host states legible by creating maps of peoples and terrains that surround China. These maps aim to improve China's ability to manage inter‐state disputes. Second, flexible capital is interested in extricating itself from the conditions imposed on it in China. By moving into the global South, flexible capital breaks through the barriers placed by the Chinese state. As a by‐product of this quest for extrication, flexible capital can generate new venues of accumulation and novel ways of organizing production. This article demonstrates these two types of capital using examples from Rodrigo Duterte's Philippines — the Kaliwa Dam project and online gambling — drawing on original field research and a newly generated dataset.
Lidocaine spray versus viscous lidocaine solution for pharyngeal local anesthesia in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Watanabe Jun , Ikegami Yusuke , Tsuda Ayumi , Kakehi Eiichi , Kanno Takeshi , Ishikawa Shizukiyo , Kataoka Yuki
Published: June 2020

Objectives

There are two major methods for local anesthesia by lidocaine before upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: simple spray and viscous solution. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety by meta‐analysis between these two methods.

Methods

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases through October 2019 to perform meta‐analyses using random‐effects models. The primary outcomes were participants' pain/discomfort, satisfaction, and anaphylactic shock. Three reviewers independently searched for articles, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. We evaluated the certainty of evidence based on the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020155611).

Results

We included seven randomized controlled trials (2667 participants). The participants' pain/discomfort may be similar between the lidocaine spray and viscous solution [standardized mean difference 0.03, 95% confidence intervals (CI) −0.37 to 0.42; I2 = 93%; low certainty of evidence]. The lidocaine spray probably increased participants' satisfaction compared with the viscous solution (relative risk 1.22; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.47; I2 = 47%; moderate certainty of evidence). No anaphylactic shock occurred in four studies (low certainty of evidence). Four studies had high risks of selection bias.

Conclusion

The use of lidocaine spray for local anesthesia provided better satisfaction scores than the viscous solution, and both methods have the same effect with regards to the control of discomfort and pain. Further studies in large multicenter randomized controlled trials with a pre‐registration protocol are needed.
Links between screen use and depressive symptoms in adolescents over 16 years: Is there evidence for increased harm?
Authors: Ferguson Christopher J.
Published: June 2020

Recent scholarship has been divided on whether an observed increase in suicides in the United States among teenagers and preteens (12–18) can be attributed to an increased use in social screen media beginning in 2009. If these concerns are accurate effect sizes for the relationship between screen use and suicide should increase over the 16 years since 2001. The current study used the Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (n = 45,992) from 2001 to 2017, to track effect sizes for screen/depression correlations, controlling for age and gender. A second dataset from the UK Understanding Society dataset (ns for each wave ranged between 3,536 and 4,850) was used to study associations between time spent on social media and emotional problems. Metaregression was be used to examine whether effect sizes increase across time. Results generally did not support the hypothesis that effect sizes between screen and social media use are increasing over time. Aside from the trends over time, for any given year, most effect sizes were below ther = .10 threshold used for interpretation with the exception of computer use which was just at that threshold. It is concluded that screens and social media use are unlikely to bear major responsibility for youth suicide trends. A video abstract of this article can be viewed athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76S7cxiaU88.