bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organizational culture, perceived societal and organizational discrimination
Authors: Kartolo Arief Banindro , Kwantes Catherine T.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the perceived societal discrimination as an antecedent of perceived organizational discrimination, and investigating the impact of organizational culture (i.e. constructive, passive-defensive and aggressive-defensive culture norms) on perceptions of discrimination in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 176 American employees completed three surveys assessing perceived societal discrimination, perceived organizational discrimination and organizational culture online through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Data were analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression method.

Findings

Results suggest individuals’ perceptions of discrimination in the workplace are influenced by both perceived discrimination in society and perceptions of behavioral norms related to organizational culture. Findings in the current study indicated individuals’ attitudes and beliefs manifested in the societal context were carried into, and reflected in, the workplace. Additionally, beliefs related to organizational discrimination were found to be amplified or minimized depending on organizational culture; specifically, organizations dominated by culture norms reflecting behaviors related to individual security needs predicted higher levels, and culture norms reflecting behaviors related to meeting employee satisfaction needs predicted lower levels of perceived organizational discrimination.

Originality/value

This paper tested theoretical frameworks debated in the literature by exploring beyond institutional boundaries in the study of perceived discrimination by exploring perceived societal discrimination as an antecedent to perceived organizational discrimination. This project also is the first study (to authors’ knowledge) to investigate the impact of organizational culture on perceived organizational discrimination.
Involvement in consumer-generated advertising
Authors: Busser James A. , Shulga Lenna V.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine consumer involvement with a popular US-based coffee-shop brand consumer-generated advertising (CGA) and its effect on brand loyalty and trust, to test the influence of antecedents: organizational transparency and brand authenticity on CGA involvement, and to analyze differences among customers and non-customers of the brand.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded in the service-dominant logic and signaling theory, a scenario-based survey describing a contest to co-create a video commercial, as CGA, for a prominent US-based coffee-shop brand, yielded 492 responses from recent restaurant patrons. Structural equation modeling was used to test the effects of involvement in CGA on loyalty and trust. Multi-group comparison examined the differences between customers and non-customers of the brand.

Findings

Involvement in CGA had positive effects on loyalty and trust for both brand customers and non-customers. Transparency builds perceptions of brand authenticity; both authenticity and transparency significantly and positively affected trust, but only authenticity influenced loyalty. There was a stronger impact of involvement with CGA on loyalty for non-customers than brand customers. Non-customer perceptions of the brand’s authenticity influenced brand trust more significantly than customer perceptions.

Practical implications

Coffee-shop brand marketers should leverage online and physical brand exposure to involve both customers and non-customers in company-driven CGA, as a relationship management and marketing tool. Marketers should enhance transparency, which builds perceptions of brand authenticity, leading to greater CGA involvement.

Originality/value

This study contributes to hospitality research and literature, revealing that non-customers can be converted to brand customers through authenticity and indirect involvement with CGA, leading to long-term relational outcomes. The results identified consumers’ perception of organizational transparency is an antecedent of brand authenticity and established CGA contests as a relational marketing tool for hospitality brands.
Behind prison walls: HIV vulnerability of female Filipino prisoners
Authors: Palma Diana M. , Parr Jennifer
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The imprisoned population is increasing worldwide and is overrepresented in the HIV epidemic. The purpose of this paper is to explore the HIV vulnerability of female Filipinos who are pre-trial prisoners, as the specific needs of imprisoned women are poorly understood and fewer resources are granted to pre-trial detainees, especially in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Design/methodology/approach

This study was based on a Qualitative Descriptive Design. In total, 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted with prisoners and NGO directors. Data were analysed through Framework Analysis, using the individual, social and community categories of the Modified Socio-Ecological Model.

Findings

Results from this study suggest that the prison environment and management practices maximise the HIV vulnerability in the sample. This vulnerability is shaped by low HIV knowledge, combined with the existence of multiple social vulnerabilities prior to incarceration.

Social implications

HIV care in Filipino prisons needs urgent attention from government and international organisations, as it is a major public health and human rights concern. International goals of ending the epidemic by 2030 cannot be reached if efforts are not translated into action within this setting.

Originality/value

In the Philippines, few studies have addressed this issue and little is known about the conditions of Filipino prisons. This paper aims to fill a gap in literature regarding the vulnerability of imprisoned women in LMICs, which is even more limited in examining pre-trial detention.
The corporatisation of football and CSR reporting by professional football clubs in Europe
Authors: Ribeiro João , Branco Manuel Castelo , Ribeiro João Alves
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting on the websites of football clubs based in five European countries with different levels of football corporatisation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines CSR reporting on the internet by football clubs based in five European countries. Multiple regression analysis is used to analyse some factors which influence reporting and test a set of hypotheses.

Findings

The findings suggest that clubs from countries in which the level of corporatisation is higher disclose more CSR information. Also, clubs with higher public visibility disclose a higher variety of CSR information.

Originality/value

This study adds to the scarce research on CSR reporting in professional sports leagues by providing new empirical data and by extending prior research comparing such practices within different international frameworks of CSR.
Standing out vs fitting in: luxury value perception and acculturation
Authors: Mo Tingting , Wong Nancy
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of American culture-oriented values, Chinese culture-oriented values and self-improvement values on luxury value perception through acculturation by examining an acculturated sample (Chinese living in the USA), a host cultural sample (Caucasian-American) and a home cultural sample (Mainland Chinese).

Design/methodology/approach

In order to examine the acculturative changes of Chinese living in the USA in terms of the influence of American and Chinese culture-oriented values and self-improvement values on their luxury value perception, data were collected via three online samples: host (American), home cultural (Chinese) and acculturated (Chinese living in the USA). Effects of acculturation were tested via comparisons between acculturated to host and home cultural samples.

Findings

Compared to that of Mainland Chinese and Caucasian-Americans, luxury value perception of Chinese living in the USA is jointly influenced by both American and Chinese culture-oriented values. The influence of cultural values on luxury value perception of Chinese living in the USA is not strengthened by their wish to integrate into the American culture or to maintain their Chinese culture. Nevertheless, Chinese living in the USA show more significant self-improvement (standing out) and conformity (fitting in) motives in luxury value perception when they wish to integrate into the mainstream culture.

Originality/value

The authors surveyed acculturated sample, host and home cultural samples to test the bidimensional acculturation model (Berry, 1997) in the context of luxury consumption. Although the conceptual model is not fully supported, this research broadens current understanding of the effect of acculturation on luxury value perception.
Encouraging people to embrace feedback-seeking in online learning
Authors: Wu Manli , Xu Xiaojuan , Kang Lele , Zhao J. Leon , Liang Liang
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of perceived informational value and perceived relational value on feedback-seeking intention in online communities of inquiry (OCoIs). To develop an integrated theoretical framework, the antecedents of perceived informational value and perceived relational value are also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

This study builds on the relational communication theory (RCT) and the social psychology perspective to develop an integrated research model regarding feedback-seeking. Hypotheses were empirically tested using data collected from 262 subjects who are members of OCoIs.

Findings

The results indicate that feedback-seeking intention is positively affected by perceived informational and relational value of feedback-seeking. Furthermore, perceived informational value partially mediates the effects of feedback-seeking self-efficacy and learning goal orientation on feedback-seeking intention; perceived relational value partially mediates the effects of social influence and social risk on feedback-seeking intention.

Practical implications

The results suggest that practitioners can promote feedback-seeking by enhancing learners’ informational and relational dependencies on OCoIs. To achieve effective online learning, practitioners should consider learners’ characteristics to provide personalized learning interventions.

Originality/value

This study advances RCT and the social psychology perspective to develop an integrated model for understanding feedback-seeking. The empirical results complement information-related explanations of feedback-seeking by finding that a relationship-related explanation is more important for promoting feedback-seeking in OCoIs. The proposed model also indicates that tolerance for ambiguity serves as a moderator in the relationship between perceived informational value and its antecedents.
Methodological research on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM)
Authors: Khan Gohar F. , Sarstedt Marko , Shiau Wen-Lung , Hair Joseph F. , Ringle Christian M. , Fritze Martin P.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the knowledge infrastructure of methodological research on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) from a network point of view. The analysis involves the structures of authors, institutions, countries and co-citation networks, and discloses trending developments in the field.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on bibliometric data downloaded from the Web of Science, the authors apply various social network analysis (SNA) and visualization tools to examine the structure of knowledge networks of the PLS-SEM domain. Specifically, the authors investigate the PLS-SEM knowledge network by analyzing 84 methodological studies published in 39 journals by 145 authors from 106 institutions.

Findings

The analysis reveals that specific authors dominate the network, whereas most authors work in isolated groups, loosely connected to the network’s focal authors. Besides presenting the results of a country level analysis, the research also identifies journals that play a key role in disseminating knowledge in the network. Finally, a burst detection analysis indicates that method comparisons and extensions, for example, to estimate common factor model data or to leverage PLS-SEM’s predictive capabilities, feature prominently in recent research.

Originality/value

Addressing the limitations of prior systematic literature reviews on the PLS-SEM method, this is the first study to apply SNA to reveal the interrelated structures and properties of PLS-SEM’s research domain.
Heuristics versus statistics in discriminant validity testing: a comparison of four procedures
Authors: Franke George , Sarstedt Marko
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review and extend recent simulation studies on discriminant validity measures, contrasting the use of cutoff values (i.e. heuristics) with inferential tests.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a simulation study, which considers different construct correlations, sample sizes, numbers of indicators and loading patterns, the authors assess each criterion’s sensitivity to type I and type II errors.

Findings

The findings of the simulation study provide further evidence for the robustness of the heterotrait–monotrait (HTMT) ratio of correlations criterion as an estimator of disattenuated (perfectly reliable) correlations between constructs, whose performance parallels that of the standard constrained PHI approach. Furthermore, the authors identify situations in which both methods fail and suggest an alternative criterion.

Originality/value

Addressing the limitations of prior simulation studies, the authors use both directional comparisons (i.e. heuristics) and inferential tests to facilitate the comparison of the HTMT and PHI methods. Furthermore, the simulation considers criteria that have not been assessed in prior research.
A grounded theory approach to understand the Portuguese emerging adult self-initiated expatriates’ cross-cultural adaptation in the United Kingdom
Authors: Farcas Diana , Gonçalves Marta
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to inductively develop a model of cross-cultural adaptation for emerging adult self-initiated expatriates (SIEs).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 Portuguese emerging adult SIEs, aged between 18 and 29 years, residing in the UK from 5 months to 2 years. The analysis of these interviews through a grounded theory, using computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (Atlas.ti), allowed describing what constitutes participants’ cross-cultural adaptation and what are its determinants.

Findings

Five dimensions of cross-cultural adaptation emerged (cultural, emotional, social, practical and work), along with 18 determinants related with four different levels: personal, interpersonal, societal and situational. These determinants are related with the pre- and post-relocation phases of participants’ expatriation experience and some of them act as buffers, capturing a more integrative picture of the cross-cultural adaption process.

Research limitations/implications

In order to enhance the validity of the inductively identified relationships between cross-cultural adaptation and its determinants, the authors consider that they could be empirically tested.

Originality/value

This study points to several contributions in the fields of cross-cultural adaptation, emerging adulthood and self-initiated expatriation. By considering this study’s sample, the authors contributed to Farcas and Gonçalves’ (2016) call for more research focusing on emerging adult SIEs. In doing so, the authors simultaneously addressed the gap in the emerging adulthood literature regarding the focus on non-university samples of emerging adults. The methodology of this study can also be considered a contribution. By conducting interviews with emerging adult SIEs and analyzing them through a grounded theory approach, the authors were able to develop a model of cross-cultural adaptation. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first model which was inductively developed, enabling a broad understanding of emerging adult SIEs’ cross-cultural adaptation, in terms of what constitutes and influences it.
Barriers, practices, methods and knowledge management tools in startups
Authors: Oliva Fábio Lotti , Kotabe Masaaki
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the main barriers, practices, methods and knowledge management tools in startups that are characterized as agile organizations with dynamic capabilities to meet the demands of a business environment of high volatility, uncertainties, complexity and ambiguity.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual basis of the research focused on the triad: agile organization, dynamic capabilities and knowledge management. Field research began by interviewing experts to identify the barriers, practices, methods and knowledge management tools in startups. Based on the theoretical review, on the desk research and on the result of interviews with experts, a quantitative research was carried out with the leading startups coworking of São Paulo city. The obtained data made it possible to develop descriptive analyses and run linear regressions and cluster analysis for exploratory research.

Findings

Startups with higher maturity in innovation level, solution development level, and scalability development level, present a higher degree of utilization of the practices, methods and tools dedicated to knowledge management.

Practical implications

It is expected that results of the research presented in detail will be able to illustrate concrete examples of practices, methods, and knowledge management tools for large established companies seeking the organizational agility of startups.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the identification of barriers, practices, methods and tools of management of knowledge in startups, through the conceptual triad: agile organization, dynamic capabilities and knowledge management.
How to leverage artificial intelligence to meet your diversity goals
Authors: Cohen Tammy
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to provide insights into how artificial intelligence can be used to eliminate bias in employee screening.

Design/methodology/approach

Industry use cases and expert analytics were used in conducting this paper.

Findings

Artificial intelligence if used correctly can help to build more diverse and inclusive teams and eliminate bias.

Originality/value

This paper shows how leveraging new technologies such as AI can cut down on bias across employee screenings.
University entrepreneurship in Brazil
Authors: Marques Humberto Rodrigues , Oliveira Thays Aparecida de , Andrade Daniela Meirelles , Zambalde Andre Luiz
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Universities, as providers of knowledge and technology, have a key role in society based on knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe the technological innovation centers (TICs) of the federal universities of Minas Gerais, Brazil, verifying if federal institutions of higher education in the state are meeting the attributions outlined in the Innovation Act.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve the proposed objective, each one of the public and federal universities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, was outlined as analysis units. The data sources used for this study are intrinsically secondary and were collected from the websites and TICs of each university.

Findings

As a result, it was found that all universities have TICs, and are inserted into the State Intellectual Property Network. Those aspects show that the universities have been searching for structure themselves by the new entrepreneurial mission of today’s educational institutions.

Originality/value

As noted in the literature, more research is needed to examine the efficiency and professionalism of TICs in the entrepreneurial activity of universities because the institutionalization of TICs is still recent and many TICs are currently in an improvement phase of their activities.
Biological invasion: The influence of the hidden side of the (epi)genome
Authors: Marin Pierre , Genitoni Julien , Barloy Dominique , Maury Stéphane , Gibert Patricia , Ghalambor Cameron K. , Vieira Cristina
Published: February 2019

Understanding the mechanisms underlying biological invasions and rapid adaptation to global change remains a fundamental challenge, particularly in small populations lacking in genetic variation. Two understudied mechanisms that could facilitate adaptive evolution and adaptive plasticity are the increased genetic variation due to transposable elements (TEs), and associated or independent modification of gene expression through epigenetic changes.

Here, we focus on the potential role of these genetic and non‐genetic mechanisms for facilitating invasion success. Because novel or stressful environments are known to induce both epigenetic changes and TE activity, these mechanisms may play an underappreciated role in generating phenotypic and genetic variation for selection to act on. We review how these mechanisms operate, the evidence for how they respond to novel or stressful environments, and how these mechanisms can contribute to the success of biological invasions by facilitating adaptive evolution and phenotypic plasticity.

Because genetic and phenotypic variations due to TEs and epigenetic changes are often well regulated or “hidden” in the native environment, the independent and combined contribution of these mechanisms may only become important when populations colonize novel environments. A focus on the mechanisms that generate and control the expression of this variation in new environments may provide insights into biological invasions that would otherwise not be obvious.

Global changes and human activities impact on ecosystems and allow new opportunities for biological invasions. Invasive species succeed by adapting rapidly to new environments. The degree to which rapid responses to environmental change could be mediated by the epigenome—the regulatory system that integrates how environmental and genomic variation jointly shape phenotypic variation—requires greater attention if we want to understand the mechanisms by which populations successfully colonize and adapt to new environments.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Demographic responses underlying eco‐evolutionary dynamics as revealed with inverse modelling
Authors: Bruijning Marjolein , Jongejans Eelke , Turcotte Martin M.
Published: February 2019

Changes in population dynamics due to interacting evolutionary and ecological processes are the direct result of responses in vital rates, that is stage‐specific growth, survival and fecundity. Quantifying through which vital rates population fitness is affected, instead of focusing on population trends only, can give a more mechanistic understanding of eco‐evolutionary dynamics.

The aim of this study was to estimate the underlying demographic rates of aphid (Myzus persicae) populations. We analysed unpublished stage‐structure population dynamics data of a field experiment with caged and uncaged populations in which rapid evolutionary dynamics were observed, as well as unpublished results from an individual life table experiment performed in a glasshouse.

Using data on changes in population abundance and stage distributions over time, we estimated transition matrices with inverse modelling techniques, in a Bayesian framework. The model used to fit across all experimental treatments included density as well as clone‐specific caging effects. We additionally used individual life table data to inform the model on survival, growth and reproduction.

Results suggest that clones varied considerably in vital rates, and imply trade‐offs between reproduction and survival. Responses to densities also varied between clones. Negative density dependence was found in growth and reproduction, and the presence of predators and competitors further decreased these two vital rates, while survival estimates increased. Under uncaged conditions, population growth rates of the evolving populations were increased compared to the expectation based on the pure clones.

Our inverse modelling approach revealed how much vital rates contributed to the eco‐evolutionary dynamics. The decomposition analysis showed that variation in population growth rates in the evolving populations was to a large extent shaped by plant size. Yet, it also revealed an impact of evolutionary changes in clonal composition. Finally, we discuss that inverse modelling is a complex problem, as multiple combinations of individual rates can result in the same dynamics. We discuss assumptions and limitations, as well as opportunities, of this approach.
Competition and predation as possible causes of bacterial rarity
Authors: Kurm Viola , van der Putten Wim H. , Weidner Simone , Geisen Stefan , Snoek Basten L. , Bakx Tanja , Hol Wilhelmina H. Gera
Published: February 2019

We assembled communities of bacteria and exposed them to different nutrient concentrations with or without predation by protists. Taxa that were rare in the field were less abundant at low nutrient concentrations than common taxa, independent of predation. However, some taxa that were rare in the field became highly abundant in the assembled communities, especially under ample nutrient availability. This high abundance points at a possible competitive advantage of some rare bacterial taxa under nutrient‐rich conditions. In contrast, the abundance of most rare bacterial taxa decreased at low resource availability. Since low resource availability will be the prevailing situation in most soils, our data suggests that under those conditions poor competitiveness for limiting resources may contribute to bacterial rarity. Interestingly, taxa that were rare in the field and most successful under predator‐free conditions in the lab also tended to be more reduced by predation than common taxa. This suggests that predation contributes to rarity of bacterial taxa in the field. We further discuss whether there may be a trade‐off between competitiveness and predation resistance. The substantial variability among taxa in their responses to competition and predation suggests that other factors, for example abiotic conditions and dispersal ability, also influence the local abundance of soil bacteria.
Un/familiar connections: on the relevance of a sociology of personal life for exploring egg and sperm donation
Authors: Nordqvist Petra
Published: February 2019

In recent decades, reproductive medicine has become a widespread global phenomenon. Within the field, donor conception, and the use of donated eggs, sperm or embryos from a third party, plays a key role. Despite the importance of those individuals who donate, there has been scant research exploring their experiences. Seeking to contribute to the growing, albeit still small, body of research on donors, this paper advocates bringing the process of donating into dialogue with a sociology of personal life. It suggests that important new insights about the donor experience can be achieved by utilising such a theoretical perspective. The paper applies a broad framework of a sociology of personal life to demonstrate that the decision to donate reverberates within donors’ everyday lives and relationships, and explores, primarily theoretically, how it is that acts of donation bring such issues into play. To this end, the paper examines in detail three ways in which donating interacts with dimensions that are integral to personal life: “living” genetic connectedness, relationality and the intimate body. Ultimately, the paper suggests that a sociology of personal life shows light on new, unexplored questions for this field that demand greater scholarly attention.
The Rule of Law and Automation of Government Decision‐Making
Authors: Zalnieriute Monika , Moses Lyria Bennett , Williams George
Published: February 2019

Governments around the world are deploying automation tools in making decisions that affect rights and entitlements. The interests affected are very broad, ranging from time spent in detention to the receipt of social security benefits. This article focusses on the impact on rule of law values of automation using: (1) pre‐programmed rules (for example, expert systems); and (2) predictive inferencing whereby rules are derived from historic data (such by applying supervised machine learning). The article examines the use of these systems across a range of nations. It explores the tension between the rule of law and rapid technological change and concludes with observations on how the automation of government decision‐making can both enhance and detract from rule of law values.
A Review of Hyperspectral Imaging for Chicken Meat Safety and Quality Evaluation: Application, Hardware, and Software
Authors: Fu Xiaping , Chen Jinchao
Published: February 2019

Food quality and safety issues have received widespread attention around the world. Traditional analytical methods are cumbersome, time consuming, and disruptive. Consumers and businesses are in desperate need of a fast, nondestructive test to evaluate the safety and quality of food. Chicken is an important food source for the human diet and has a high consumption rate. Its quality and safety issues are especially important. The hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technique combines the main characteristics of the spectroscopy technique and the imaging technique to achieve fast, nondestructive testing and demonstrates great potential for evaluating the food safety and quality of chicken. For the past few years, there have been many studies on the HSI technique for the detection and evaluation of chicken meat safety and quality. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide a detailed overview of the HSI technique for microbiological safety detection and quality attribute assessments of chicken meat. In addition, the hardware and software used in the HSI systems are also summarized and compared. Finally, some opinions on the focus of future research and its applications in the modern poultry industry are presented.
Gallic Acid‐Loaded Zein Nanoparticles by Electrospraying Process
Authors: Tapia‐Hernández José Agustín , Del‐Toro‐Sánchez Carmen Lizette , Cinco‐Moroyoqui Francisco Javier , Ruiz‐Cruz Saúl , Juárez Josué , Castro‐Enríquez Daniela Denisse , Barreras‐Urbina Carlos Gregorio , López‐Ahumada Guadalupe Amanda , Rodríguez‐Félix Francisco
Published: February 2019

Currently, electrospraying is a novel process for obtaining the nanoparticles from biopolymers. Zein nanoparticles have been obtained by this method and used to protect both hydrophilic and hydrophobic antioxidant molecules from environmental factors. The objective of this work was to prepare and characterize gallic acid‐loaded zein nanoparticles obtained by the electrospraying process to provide protection to gallic acid from environmental factors. Thus, it was related to the concentration of gallic acid in physicochemical and rheological properties of the electrosprayed solution, and also to equipment parameters, such as voltage, flow rate, and distance of the collector in morphology, and particle size. The physicochemical properties showed a relationship in the formation of a Taylor cone, in which at a low concentration of gallic acid (1% w/v), low viscosity (0.00464 ± 0.00001 Pa·s), and density (0.886 ± 0.00002 g/cm3), as well as high electrical conductivity (369 ± 4.3 µs/cm), forms a stable cone‐jet mode. The rheological properties and the Power Law model of the gallic acid‐zein electrosprayed solution demonstrated Newtonian behavior (n = 1). The morphology and size of the particle were dependent on the concentration of gallic acid. Electrosprayed parameters with high voltage (15 kV), low flow rate (0.1 mL/hr), and short distance (10 cm) exhibited a smaller diameter and spherical morphology. FT–IR showed interaction in the gallic acid‐loaded zein nanoparticle by hydrogen bonds. Therefore, the electrospraying process is a feasible technique for obtaining gallic acid‐loaded zein nanoparticles and providing potential protection to gallic acid from environmental factors.
HapMap‐based study: CYP2A13 may be a potential key metabolic enzyme gene in the carcinogenesis of lung cancer in non‐smokers
Authors: Hua Feng , Guo Yonglu , Sun Qiang , Yang Leizhou , Gao Fang
Published: February 2019

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between CYP2A13 polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility using the HapMap database.

Methods

A case‐control analysis of 532 subjects with lung cancer and 614 controls with no personal history of the disease was performed. The tag SNPs rs1645690 and rs8192789 for CYP2A13 were selected, and the genetic polymorphisms were confirmed experimentally through real‐time PCR, cloning, and sequencing assay.

Results

SNP frequency in this study was consistent with the HapMap Project database of Han‐Chinese and lung cancer risk was associated with CYP2A13 polymorphisms in non‐smokers. CYP2A13 shares a 93.5% identity with CYP2A6 in the amino acid sequence and the homologous sequences may interfere with the study of SNPs of CYP2A13.

Conclusions

CYP2A13 may be a potential key metabolic enzyme gene in the carcinogenesis of lung cancer in non‐smokers. The common polymorphisms of CYP2A13 may be candidate biomarkers for lung cancer susceptibility in Han‐Chinese.
Acceleration of drinking pace throughout the evening among frequently drinking young adults in the Netherlands
Authors: Groefsema Martine , Kuntsche Emmanuel
Published: February 2019

Background and Aims

Previous studies have found that in some countries ‘drinking pace’ (number of drinks consumed per hour) increases during the course of an evening. We aimed to provide evidence of this acceleration from a culture in which binge drinking is prevalent and to test whether this is consistent across gender, day of week and in high‐risk drinkers.

Design

Event‐level data collected on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings over 5 consecutive weeks.

Setting

The Netherlands.

Participants

A total of 197 young adult frequent drinkers (48.7% women, mean age = 20.8).

Measurements

High‐risk drinking (assessed by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and gender were measured at baseline, and questionnaires were sent to participants’ smartphones every hour between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. A total of 7185 questionnaires during 1589 evenings were used for the analyses.

Findings

Multi‐level latent growth curve models revealed an acceleration in drinking on days of the week tested [throughout all evenings; b = 0.430, standard error (SE) = 0.045, P < 0.001], which stabilized as the evening progressed (b = −0.072, SE = 0.008, P < 0.001). The temporal pattern did not differ between the days or gender, but men started with a higher number of drinks at the beginning of the evening (b = 0.465, SE = 0.099, P < 0.001). High‐risk drinking was related to more alcoholic drinks at the beginning of an evening (b = 0.032, SE = 0.011, P = 0.003) and a steeper acceleration during the subsequent hours (b = 0.021, SE = 0.009, P = 0.024).

Conclusions

Young adults in the Netherlands appear to show an increase in drinking pace during the course of an evening's drinking, with high‐risk drinkers showing a greater increase.
The relationship between discharge medications and falls in post‐hospitalised older adults: A 6‐month follow‐up
Authors: Lam Kenneth , Lee Den‐Ching A. , Lalor Aislinn F. , Stolwyk Rene , Russell Grant , Brown Ted , McDermott Fiona , Haines Terry P.
Published: February 2019

Objective

To identify discharge medications, especially psychotropic medications that are associated with falls, amongst older adults within 6 months following hospitalisation.

Methods

Negative binomial regression was used to examine relationships between discharge medications and falls in older post‐hospitalised adults. Multiple regression that considered falls risk factors at discharge was performed.

Results

Data for 267 participants showed that discharge medications were not independently associated with falls postdischarge after adjustment for other falls risk factors. Male gender (adjusted incidence rate ratio [95% confidence interval, CI]) 2.15 [1.36‐3.40]), higher depression scores (1.14 [1.05‐1.25]) and co‐morbidity of neurological disease other than stroke (5.98 [3.08‐11.60]) were independently associated with an increased rate of falls. Higher depression scores (1.20 [1.11‐1.31]) and co‐morbidity of cancer (1.97 [1.20‐3.25]) were independently associated with an increased rate of injurious falls in the 6 months postdischarge.

Conclusion

Falls prevention strategies, other than hospital discharge medication management in the postdischarge older adults, warrant investigation.
Analgesic impact of intra‐operative opioids vs. opioid‐free anaesthesia: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Frauenknecht J. , Kirkham K. R. , Jacot‐Guillarmod A. , Albrecht E.
Published: February 2019

Opioids are administered peri‐operatively for postoperative analgesia, and intra‐operatively to control the sympathetic response to surgical stimuli, frequently as a surrogate for presumed pain. However, opioid use during surgery is a matter of dispute in contemporary practice and carries the risk of side‐effects such as postoperative nausea and vomiting. This meta‐analysis investigated whether opioid‐inclusive, compared with opioid‐free anaesthesia, would reduce postoperative pain, without increasing the rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The electronic databases Medline and PubMed were searched until June 2018. We included trials investigating pain outcomes and comparing any type of intra‐operative opioid administration with placebo injection or no intra‐operative opioid. Most meta‐analyses were performed using a random effects model. We rated the quality of evidence for each outcome. The primary outcome was pain score at rest (analogue scale, 0–10) at two postoperative hours. Our secondary outcomes included the rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting within the first 24 postoperative hours and length of stay in the recovery area. Twenty‐three randomised controlled trials, including 1304 patients, were identified. Pain scores at rest at two postoperative hours were equivalent in the opioid‐inclusive and opioid‐free groups with a mean difference (95%CI) of 0.2 (−0.2 to 0.5), I2 = 83%, p = 0.38 and a high quality of evidence. Similarly, there was high‐quality evidence that the rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting was reduced in the opioid‐free group, with a risk ratio (95%CI) of 0.77 (0.61–0.97), I2 = 16%, p = 0.03 and high‐quality evidence for a similar length of stay in the recovery area, the mean difference (95%CI) being 0.6 (−8.2 to 9.3), min, I2 = 60%, p = 0.90. As there is strong evidence that opioid‐inclusive anaesthesia does not reduce postoperative pain, but is associated with more postoperative nausea and vomiting, when compared with opioid‐free anaesthesia, we suggest that anaesthetists should reconsider their intra‐operative opioid choices on a case‐by‐case basis.
Initial experience with laparoscopic and robotic surgery for the treatment of periampullary tumours: single institution experience with the first 30 consecutive cases
Authors: Goh Brian K. P. , Low Tze‐Yi , Kam Juinn‐Huar , Lee Ser‐Yee , Chan Chung‐Yip
Published: February 2019

Background

Concerns have been raised about the safety of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) during the early learning phase. In this study, we present our initial experience with MIS for periampullary tumours.

Methods

Retrospective review of the first 30 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic (LS)/robotic surgery (RS) for periampullary tumours between 2014 and 2017.

Results

Twenty‐seven patients underwent PD, including three total pancreatectomies (TPs) and three underwent palliative bypasses. Twenty underwent LS, of which 18 were hybrid PDs, including two TPs and two bypasses. Ten patients underwent RS, of which nine were PDs, including one TP and one bypass. Five of 10 RSs were totally MIS procedures. There were four PDs with venous resection, of which three were by RS. There were four (13.3%) open conversions all in the LS cohort. There were five (16.7%) major (>grade 2) morbidities, including three pancreatic fistulas (two grade B and one grade C). There was no 30‐day and one (3.3%) 90‐day mortality. Comparison between RS and LS demonstrated that RS had a higher likelihood of being completed via totally MIS (five (50%) versus 0, P = 0.002), tended to have a shorter post‐operative stay (eight (range 6–36) versus 14.5 (range 6–62) days, P = 0.058) but tended to be associated with a longer operation time (670 (range 500–930) versus 577 (range 235–715) min, P = 0.056).

Conclusion

Our initial experience demonstrated that both LS and RS can be safely adopted for the treatment of periampullary tumours. The learning curve for RS seemed to be shorter than LS as we could transition more quickly from hybrid PDs to totally MIS safely.
Clinical decision analysis and model‐based economic evaluation studies in perinatology: A systematic review
Authors: D'Souza Rohan , Bonasia Kyra , Shah Prakesh S. , Murphy Kellie E. , Sander Beate
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Perinatology, the study of two individuals that constitute the mother‐fetus dyad, poses unique challenges to the conduct of clinical decision analysis (CDA) and economic evaluation (EE) studies. Our objective was systematically to review CDA and model‐based EE studies in pregnant women to better understand how these studies have been conducted and reported in perinatology.

Material and methods

MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and clinicaltrials.gov were searched as of October 2018. The indexing terms “pregnancy”, “decision trees”, “Markov models” and “economic models” were used. The search was limited to human data and the English language. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts. Data extraction and assessment of reporting quality were performed in duplicate for 10% of studies and reached 100% agreement. The remainder was carried out by a single reviewer. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD 42016047206).

Results

Seventy‐seven studies met eligibility criteria and fulfilled between 40% and 91% of relevant attributes on the checklist for critical appraisal of CDA models. There was considerable variation in study reporting. A total of 53% of studies included maternal and offspring outcomes, 14% described using weighted means, meta‐analyses or health administrative databases to estimate probabilities and 13% considered outcomes over the lifetime of mother and offspring. Patient preferences (utilities) were used in 47% of the studies. Of these, 10% were elicited from healthcare providers alone and not from pregnant women or the public. Of the EE studies, 25% described a societal analytic perspective. Where relevant, 42% described discounting for costs and benefits, and 30% reported using probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

Despite long‐term implications of perinatal decisions to mother and offspring, CDA and model‐based EE studies in perinatology frequently do not consider lifetime horizons and patient‐preferences for outcomes related to mother and offspring. They also often fail to adhere to guidelines regarding conduct and reporting.
Future developments: In vitro growth (IVG) of human ovarian follicles
Authors: Telfer Evelyn E.
Published: February 2019

Removal and storage of ovarian cortical tissue is currently offered to young female cancer patients undergoing potentially sterilizing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. For patients at high risk of reintroduction of malignancy through auto‐transplantation, the ultimate aim is to achieve complete oocyte development from this tissue in vitro. The ability to develop human oocytes from the earliest follicular stages through to maturation and fertilization in vitro would revolutionize fertility preservation practice. This has been achieved in mice where in vitro grown oocytes from primordial follicles have resulted in the production of live offspring. Systems that support growth and development of oocytes from human ovarian cortex are being developed by several groups. This review focuses on the steps required to recapitulate in vitro the process of human oocyte development from the primordial stage and the systems currently available to support this.
Finite element study of functionally graded porous femoral stems incorporating body‐centered cubic structure
Authors: Alkhatib Sami E. , Tarlochan Faris , Mehboob Hassan , Singh Ramesh , Kadirgama Kumaran , Harun Wan Sharuzi Bin Wan
Published: February 2019

The mismatch between stiffness of the femoral dense stem and host bone causes complications to patients, such as aseptic loosening and bone resorption. Three‐dimensional finite‐element models of homogeneous porous (HGP) and functionally graded porous (FGP) stems incorporating body‐centered cubic (BCC) structures are proposed in this article as an alternative to the dense stems. The relationship between the porosity and strut thickness of the BCC structure was developed to construct the finite‐element models. Three levels of porosities (20%, 50%, and 80%) were modeled in HGP and FGP stems. The porosity of the stems was decreased distally according to the sigmoid function (n = 0.1, n = 1 and n = 10) with 3 grading exponents. The results showed that FGP stems transferred 120%‐170% higher stresses to the femur (Gruen zone 7) as compared to the solid stem. Conversely, the stresses in HGP and FGP stems were 12%‐34% lower than the dense stem. The highest micromotions (105‐147 µm) were observed for stems of 80% overall porosity, and the lowest (42‐46 µm) was for stems of 20% overall porosity. Finally, FGP stems with a grading exponent of n = 10 resulted in an 11%‐28% reduction in micromotions.
Functional MRI reveals effects of high intraocular pressure on central nervous system in high‐tension glaucoma patients
Authors: Wang Yi , Lu Weizhao , Yan Tingqin , Zhou Jian , Xie Yuanzhong , Yuan Jiumin , Liu Guangling , Teng Yufang , Han Wenhui , Chen Di , Qiu Jianfeng
Published: February 2019

Purpose

To evaluate the effects of high intraocular pressure (IOP) on central nervous system in patients with high‐tension glaucoma (HTG) by using resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI).

Methods

Thirty‐six patients with HTG and twenty age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls (HCs) were recruited and underwent IOP measurement and rs‐fMRI scan. The whole brain regional homogeneity (ReHo) value was calculated among the enrolled subjects. Two‐sample t tests with permutation test and threshold‐free cluster enhancement was performed between HTG group and HCs. Correlation analyses between IOP and ReHo values were conducted.

Results

Compared with HCs, HTG group showed increased ReHo values in the left lobule 8 of cerebellar hemisphere, left lobule 4 and 5 of cerebellar hemisphere and left fusiform gyrus (FG) (p < 0.05). HTG group showed decreased ReHo value in the left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) (p < 0.05). Intraocular pressure of the left eye in HTG group experienced a significant positive correlation with ReHo value of the left FG (r = 0.370, p = 0.026), IOP of the right eye in HTG group showed a significant negative correlation with ReHo value in the left MFG (r = −0.421, p = 0.011).

Conclusion

Resting‐state fMRI ReHo analyses associated elevated IOP with abnormal regional activity in several brain regions related to higher visual function and visual memory consolidation. High‐tension glaucoma patients also showed diminished integration of visual information and cerebellar function. These results may provide imaging support for pathophysiological research of HTG and may reveal new targets for the accurate treatment of HTG.