bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconnecting governance configuration variables to enterprises contingency factors for optimizing productivity at the start-up level
Authors: Amedzro St-Hilaire Walter
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The article broaches the important topic of the relationships between governance operationalizations and productivity at the start-up level. It proposes a new approach to reconnect the contingency factors to the optimization of productivity. This helps us to identify the changing characteristics that influence the determinants of decisions, actions and management of the technological projects of the mainly innovative enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses techniques that effectively solve unobserved endogeneity and heterogeneity problems in enterprises: an empirical–structural design. With this method, this study enables rich empirical conceptualization and helps with extending theory. However, there is a need to further the research by taking into account the system analysis and the complexity of the research object: one of the options might be to explore a possible follow-up of the research through drawing on ethnostatistics and qualimetrics.

Findings

The analysis reveals that the phenomenon of technological project productivity in operational governance context is thus manifested by the coexistence of the applied governance configuration variables, the contingency factors operationalization, the optimizing productivity mechanisms and this with the secular innovation and stagnation and stagnation. Ceteris paribus, the governance operationalizations have an important role in the productivity of technological projects of the innovative enterprises.

Originality/value

This research is the first to mobilize as major determinants of the operationalization of governance, the oversight of the capital, the dividend strategy and the system control, the managerial follow-up, the detection of opportunistic behaviours and the application of governing incentives (among others) as governance configuration variables in order to highlight their interactions with productivity in the innovative firm technological projects. For this reason alone, the paper will be referenced by other authors in the future.
University-centred entrepreneurial ecosystems in resource-constrained contexts
Authors: Bedő Zsolt , Erdős Katalin , Pittaway Luke
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Research on entrepreneurial ecosystems has advanced over recent years and has become a popular topic. Despite the interest, previous work has focused on entrepreneurial ecosystems in large cities in the United States. Ecosystems in small cities, underpopulated rural areas, university towns and outside the USA have not been considered much. This paper begins to address this deficit by reviewing three groups of literature.

Design/methodology/approach

From the review, the paper builds a conceptual framework to consider entrepreneurial ecosystems led by universities. After summarizing the literature on entrepreneurial ecosystems, entrepreneurial universities and entrepreneurship education, the paper suggests a conceptual framework outlying the structure, components and mechanisms that enable universities to operate as catalysts in the creation of entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Findings

It is evident that on many of the “ingredients” of a successful entrepreneurial ecosystem, a resource-constrained environment would have many gaps. Building an entrepreneurship ecosystem in such contexts would be inherently challenging. The model presented suggests that the presence of a university in such locations should enhance the prospects of progress but that the nature of the university itself would impact any outcomes. Universities that make concerted efforts to be entrepreneurial and that have entrepreneurship programmes have strategies available to them that can enhance entrepreneurship ecosystems over time.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is to show “how” a university and its entrepreneurship programme can operationally address deficits in a local ecosystem and how it might bring about positive change. The paper also opens new avenues for entrepreneurship education researchers.
“Too much of a good thing?”: exploring the dark side of empowering leadership by linking it with unethical pro-organizational behavior
Authors: Zhang Xue , Tian Guyang , Ma Chao , Tian Yezhuang , Li Zhongqiu , Liang Liang
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Grounded in social exchange theory (SET), the purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between empowering leadership and unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB), as mediated by duty orientation (including duty to members, duty to mission and duty to codes). Further, this study proposes that perceived leader expediency moderates indirectly between empowering leadership and UPB.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper tests this social exchange model across a survey study using time-lagged data collections from 215 employees of a service company in China.

Findings

The results show that duty orientation mediates the relationship between empowering leadership and UPB. In addition, perceived leader expediency moderates the indirect relationship between empowering leadership and UPB through duty orientation (i.e. duty to members and duty to missions).

Originality/value

This research aids in understanding the impact of empowering leadership on follower outcomes by investigating the dark side of empowering leadership and examining the relationships between empowering leadership, duty orientation and UPB. The present study also challenges the notion that the phrase “the greater the empowerment, the better the outcomes” suggests that organizations should offer a conditional approach to the empowerment of followers by their leaders.
Determining the informativeness of comments: a natural language study of F1000Research open peer review reports
Authors: Rashidi Kianoosh , Sotudeh Hajar , Mirzabeigi Mahdieh , Nikseresht Alireza
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Social comments are rich in information and useful in evaluating, ranking or retrieving different kinds of materials. However, their merits in representing or providing added values to scientific articles have not yet been studied. Therefore, the present study investigates the informativeness of open review reports as a kind of social comments in a scholarly setting.

Design/methodology/approach

A test collection was built consisting of 100 randomly selected queries, 1,962 reviewed documents and their reviewers' open reports from F1000Research. They were analyzed using natural language techniques. The comments' salient words were compared to the documents' and also to the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) salient words. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to test the accuracy of the comments in representing their related articles.

Findings

The papers' contents and comments have a considerable number of salient words in common. The comments' salient words are also largely found in the MeSH, signifying their consistency with the knowledge tree and their potential to add some complementary features to their related items. The ROC curves confirm the accuracy of the comments in retrieving their related papers.

Originality/value

This research is the first to reveal the merits of open review reports on scientific papers, in terms of their relatedness to their mother articles, in specific, and to the knowledge tree, in general. They are found informative in not only representing the reviewed papers but also in adding values to the contents of the papers.
Transformational leadership and employee championing behavior during organizational change: the mediating effect of work engagement
Authors: Islam M. Nazmul , Furuoka Fumitaka , Idris Aida
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The research aims to investigate the impact of transformational leadership on employee championing behavior and to determine the mediating effect of work engagement in the context of organizational change.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a quantitative approach, which is based on cross-sectional data. In total, 300 available cases are processed through structural equation modeling in order to infer the results.

Findings

The results indicate that transformational leadership is significantly related to championing behavior during organizational change. Moreover, work engagement fully mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and championing behavior in the context of organizational change.

Practical implications

Managers should emphasize the practice of the transformational leadership approach, as well as should stress the antecedents of work engagement in order to foster the employee championing behavior in the context of organizational change.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the change management and human resource management literature by providing a plausible explanation of the mediating role of work engagement in connecting transformational leadership and employee championing behavior in the context of organizational change.
Portable high‐resolution automated 3D imaging for footwear and tire impression capture
Authors: Liao Yi‐Hong , Hyun Jae‐Sang , Feller Michael , Bell Tyler , Bortins Ian , Wolfe James , Baldwin David , Zhang Song
Published: October 2020

The forensic science community raised the need for improved evidence recognition, collection, and visualization analytical instrumentation for field and laboratory use. While the 3D optical techniques for imaging static objects have been extensively studied, there is still a major gap between current knowledge and collecting high‐quality footwear and tire impression evidence. Among optical means for 3D imaging, digital fringe projection (DFP) techniques reconstruct 3D shape from phase information, achieving camera‐pixel spatial resolution. This paper presents a high‐resolution 3D imaging technology using DFP techniques dedicated to footwear and tire impression capture. We developed fully automated software algorithms and a graphical user interface (GUI) that allow anyone without training to operate for high‐quality 3D data capture. We performed accuracy evaluations and comparisons comparing with the commercial high‐end 3D scanner and carried out qualitative tests for various impressions comparing with the current practices. Overall, our technology achieves similar levels of accuracy and resolution with a high‐end commercially available 3D scanner, while having the merits of being (1) more affordable; (2) much easier to operate; and (3) more robust. Compared with the current practice of casting, our technology demonstrates its superiority because it (1) is non‐destructive; (2) collects more evidence detail than casts, especially when an impression is fragile; (3) requires less time and money to collect each piece of evidence; and (4) results in a digital file that can easily be shared with other examiners.
Race, ethnicity, and social change: The democratization of middle‐class crime*
Authors: Benson Michael L. , Feldmeyer Ben , Gabbidon Shaun L. , Chio Hei Lam
Published: October 2020

Since the mid‐1970s, the percentage of non‐White people convicted of white‐collar type crimes in the federal judicial system has been growing steadily. In 2015, non‐Whites accounted for more than half of all convictions for certain white‐collar type crimes, but the increase in non‐White participation has not occurred evenly across all race and ethnic groups. Asians and Latinos have increased their participation in white‐collar crime more so than Blacks. Using data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the U.S. Census, we investigate whether the differential increase among race and ethnic groups in white‐collar type crimes can be explained by their differential increase in middle‐class occupations. The findings have implications for opportunity, cultural, and race‐centered perspectives on crime, as well as institutional anomie theory, and they suggest that low‐level white‐collar crimes are being democratized along lines of race and ethnicity.
A New Growth Model of Fault Attributes in a Strike‐Slip Fault System in the Tarim Basin
Authors: ZHANG Yintao , WU Guanghui , WANG Junfang , LI Guohui , WAN Xiaoguo , YANG Tianyi
Published: October 2020

Fault attributes generally display a consistent power–law‐scaling relationship. Based on new 3D seismic data, however, we found some exceptional fault attribute relationships of lengths (L)–throw (T) (vertical component of displacement), overlap zone length (Lo)–width (Wo) from a strike‐slip fault system of the Ordovician carbonates in the Tarim Basin. The L–T relationship shows two linear segments with breakup at ∼40 km in fault length. This presents an exceptional throw increase in the second stage, which is attributed to a localization of vertical displacement and deformation in overlapping zones other than the different fault scales in a mature fault zone. The Lo–Wo relationship in the overlapping zones shows multiply stepped‐shape patterns, suggesting multiple fault differential growth and periodic increase in fault size. Therefore, we propose a new alternative growth model of fault attributes in strike‐slip fault zones, in which the overlapping zones accumulated localized displacement and deformation in the intracratonic strike‐slip fault zone.
Common datastream permutations of animal social network data are not appropriate for hypothesis testing using regression models
Authors: Weiss Michael N. , Franks Daniel W. , Brent Lauren J. N. , Ellis Samuel , Silk Matthew J. , Croft Darren P.
Published: October 2020

Social network methods have become a key tool for describing, modelling and testing hypotheses about the social structures of animals. However, due to the non‐independence of network data and the presence of confounds, specialised statistical techniques are often needed to test hypotheses in these networks. Datastream permutations, originally developed to test the null hypothesis of random social structure, have become a popular tool for testing a wide array of null hypotheses in animal social networks. In particular, they have been used to test whether exogenous factors are related to network structure by interfacing these permutations with regression models.

Here, we show that these datastream permutations typically do not represent the null hypothesis of interest to researchers interfacing animal social network analysis with regression modelling, and use simulations to demonstrate the potential pitfalls of using this methodology.

Our simulations show that, if used to indicate whether a relationship exists between network structure and a covariate, datastream permutations can result in extremely high type I error rates, in some cases approaching 50%. In the same set of simulations, traditional node‐label permutations produced appropriate type I error rates (~5%).

Our analysis shows that datastream permutations do not represent the appropriate null hypothesis for these analyses. We suggest that potential alternatives to this procedure may be found in regarding the problems of non‐independence of network data and unreliability of observations separately. If biases introduced during data collection can be corrected, either prior to model fitting or within the model itself, node‐label permutations then serve as a useful test for interfacing animal social network analysis with regression modelling.
The Value of Work: Rethinking Labor Productivity in Times of COVID‐19 and Automation
Authors: Chebly Juan , Schiano Austin , Mehra Divya
Published: October 2020

This article provides a new perspective on the value of work and recommends ways to respond to labor market failures exacerbated by the COVID‐19 pandemic and by increased automation. We consider the human right to work, the dangers of pursuing short‐term efficiency, and the use of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for inclusive economic innovation. We conclude with recommended policies to build forward and achieve inclusive development.
The contents, organisation, and functions of living historical memory in Egypt and Morocco
Authors: Bou Zeineddine Fouad , Qumseya Tamara
Published: October 2020

The contents and structure of shared collective historical memories among Egyptians and Moroccans were explored by examining their aggregate perceptions of the three most important historical events in living memory. Egyptian living historical memory (LHM) was preoccupied with recent political instability and military history. Moroccan LHM was broader in the domains and events incorporated. Research on institutionalised collective memory and critical consciousness has suggested contradictory relationships between LHM and system justification, national identification, and political engagement. We argue that these sociopolitical functions of LHM are not mutually exclusive but contingent on national context. Latent class analysis of participants’ historical memories showed that both countries split into two groups of people, with one more preoccupied by the foundational history of the nation and the other emphasising modern events. Moroccans in the foundational history group showed higher system justification whereas Egyptians in the foundational history group showed higher identification with their communities. Egyptians whose memories were more historical overall also identified more strongly with their nation. LHM was not related to political engagement in either nation. The social and political implications of these results are discussed.
The nexus between zakat and poverty reduction, is the effective utilization of zakat necessary for achieving SDGs: A multidimensional poverty index approach
Authors: Aziz Yasir , Mansor Fadillah , Waqar Shujaa , Haji Abdullah Luqman
Published: October 2020

This study develops and validates a comprehensive mechanism for evaluating the effect of zakat (obligatory alms‐giving) on reducing poverty and attaining some of the prominent Sustainable Development Goals. The study unconventionally analyzes the effect of macrolevel data on microlevel data on district level of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Microlevel data are utilized from a renowned national survey, Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM) from which the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) has been computed, whereas the macrolevel data have been collected from Zakat & Usher Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Based on the nature of nested data set, we have used a multilevel model to counter intra‐class correlation. The findings confirmed and validated that the novel aspect of the zakat negatively affects the multidimensional poverty and portray significant contribution in targeting several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Pakistan. Based on the empirical evidence, Zakat being as an obligatory arm which equips individuals to fulfill their necessities, this paper suggests necessary strategies toward zakat disbursement. The mechanism should be refined to stimulate economic growth and pursue SDGs via financial empowerment of less advantaged class of society by reducing poverty in developing countries like Pakistan. Moreover, the methodology adopted in the study opens doors for more enabling and conducive research practices in order to decompose the results and design policies accordingly.
Immersive virtual reality in K‐12 and higher education: A 10‐year systematic review of empirical research
Authors: Di Natale Anna Flavia , Repetto Claudia , Riva Giuseppe , Villani Daniela
Published: October 2020

Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) systems offer several learning affordances, that is, characteristics that can elicit learning behaviors promoting learning outcomes in educational contexts. In particular, the immersive and interactive properties of these systems represent a strong opportunity to support the effective learning experiences. The present review aims at mapping IVR systems’ use in K‐12 and higher educational contexts and investigating their effectiveness in facilitating learning in terms of knowledge attainment and retention and motivational outcomes. The synthesis of the reviewed studies (n = 18) show that IVR can support a number of activities and experiences that in turn improve learning and motivate students to fulfill educational goals by eliciting their interest and engagement with the learning materials. The main advantage of IVR seems related to the possibility for users to have first‐hand experiences that would not be possible in the real world, simultaneously offering unique opportunities for experiential and situated learning, as well as promoting students’ motivation and engagement. Despite the promising findings, the reviewed studies present several methodological flaws: non‐randomized trials, small sample sizes, unbalanced samples and non‐validated measures. This in turn makes it difficult to generalize from these results. Future research is needed to investigate the unique opportunities of IVR in education.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic?

There is an increasing use of immersive virtual reality (IVR) in different fields, including education.

Experiences in IVR promote sense of presence, sense of embodiment, while supporting attentional and emotional engagement.

What this paper adds?

The paper outlines the learning affordances of IVR both at cognitive and affective level.

The results of our systematic review show that IVR is a promising technology that can positively influence the students’ learning achievements and motivation to learn.

The paper presents also a critical analysis of the included papers, which results in recommendation for future research and practice.

Implication for practice and/or policy.

The paper makes evidence‐based recommendations for teachers as well as researchers in the field.

It introduces affordable and easy‐to‐use devices that meet the affordances of IVR for improving learning.
UK consensus statement on the diagnosis of inducible laryngeal obstruction in light of the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Haines Jemma , Esposito Karen , Slinger Claire , Pargeter Nicola , Murphy Jennifer , Selby Julia , Prior Kathryn , Mansur Adel , Vyas Aashish , Stanton Andrew E. , Sabroe Ian , Hull James H. , Fowler Stephen J.
Published: October 2020

Prior to the COVID‐19 pandemic, laryngoscopy was the mandatory gold standard for the accurate assessment and diagnosis of inducible laryngeal obstruction. However, upper airway endoscopy is considered an aerosol‐generating procedure in professional guidelines, meaning routine procedures are highly challenging and the availability of laryngoscopy is reduced. In response, we have convened a multidisciplinary panel with broad experience in managing this disease and agreed a recommended strategy for presumptive diagnosis in patients who cannot have laryngoscopy performed due to pandemic restrictions. To maintain clinical standards whilst ensuring patient safety, we discuss the importance of triage, information gathering, symptom assessment and early review of response to treatment. The consensus recommendations will also be potentially relevant to other future situations where access to laryngoscopy is restricted, although we emphasize that this investigation remains the gold standard.
Inclusion bodies are not uncommon in angioleiomyoma
Authors: Kishibe Mari , Igawa Satomi , Kanno Kyoko , Matsuo Risa , Ishida‐Yamamoto Akemi
Published: October 2020

Background

Leiomyomas with eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies have been described in the urinary bladder, brain, gastrointestinal tract, uterus, and oral cavity but not in the skin. Prompted by our recent experience with a case of cutaneous angioleiomyoma with many inclusion bodies, we hypothesized that similar cases might have been previously overlooked.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 30 cases of angioleiomyoma and 10 cases of piloleiomyoma focusing on inclusion bodies.

Results

More than 18 inclusion bodies per 250 μm squared were detected in five cases of angioleiomyoma, fewer than 11 bodies in 20 cases, and none in five cases. For the case with numerous inclusion bodies throughout the specimen, special staining was needed to make a diagnosis. No inclusion bodies were found in the piloleiomyomas.

Conclusion

Inclusion bodies are relatively common in angioleiomyomas and can occasionally be numerous. They may serve as a point of distinction from piloleiomyomas. Because the presence of multiple eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions can result in a rhabdoid appearance and make diagnosis challenging, we should be aware of this feature in angioleiomyomas.
Cutaneous lymphohistiocytic infiltrates with foamy macrophages: A novel histopathological clue to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia septicemia
Authors: Saggini Andrea , Gorkiewicz Gregor , Cerroni Lorenzo
Published: October 2020

The best‐known cutaneous manifestations of septicemia in the skin are the so‐called “septic vasculitis” and “septic vasculopathy,” which represent two sides of the same pathogenetic process. The spectrum of cutaneous presentations of septicemia is, however, more complex, extending beyond septic vasculitis/vasculopathy. We describe the exceptional histopathological findings of skin lesions associated with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia septicemia, featuring a lymphohistiocytic infiltrate characterized by predominance of foamy macrophages containing granular basophilic material negative for PAS, Gram, Fite, and Grocott. Albeit an uncommon occurrence, S. maltophilia septicemia should be included in the broad differential diagnosis of cutaneous lesions occurring in immunocompromised individuals with worsening general conditions. Awareness of these histopathological findings may facilitate the identification of this insidious infectious agent as a source of nosocomial septicemia.
Safe technique of steroid injection utilizing submersion in saline to prevent stricture after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: Nagami Yasuaki , Ominami Masaki , Fujiwara Yasuhiro
Published: October 2020

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State‐oriented service‐delivery partnership with civil society organizations in the context of counter‐terrorism in Nigeria
Authors: Njoku Emeka Thaddues
Published: October 2020

Motivation

Little is known about how partnerships between the state and civil society organizations (CSOs) to deliver services as part of counter‐terrorism measures (CTMs) work in practice; nor how CSOs make sense of such partnerships and their implications.

Purpose

This article examines patterns in partnerships between the state and CSOs to deliver services. It investigates how CSOs perceive this partnership and the socio‐political and policy implications.

Approach and Methods

Faith‐based, youth/children CSOs, women’s and human rights groups engaged in capacity building, technical assistance and advocacy in counter‐terrorism operations in northeast Nigeria were studied. A mixed‐method design was adopted to examine the experiences and perspectives of CSO managers and field staff, as well as the views of government officials, including security agents involved in counter‐terrorism.

Findings

The state contracted the CSOs to deliver services, but not to engage in political advocacy. Thus, the state controlled the political realm and influenced the non‐political arena. CSOs believed that the service‐delivery partnership impinged on their organizational principles and capacity to demand government accountability and transparency.

Policy implications

CSOs should be engaged as vital and equal partners in addressing security issues. Excluding advocacy‐oriented CSOs from security measures is counter‐productive. It potentially silences public demands for transparency, accountability and justice, thereby entrenching insecurity and impinging on humanitarian interventions. Restricting CSOs to service delivery undercuts their ability to connect government and society.
Differences in the reproductive behaviour and larval development of two Canthon rutilans subspecies reinforce their thermal regional segregation
Authors: Carpintero Hensen Maristela , Miguel Lobo Jorge , Hernández Malva Isabel Medina
Published: October 2020

Two dung beetle subspecies of Canthon rutilans Castelnau (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae), C. rutilans rutilans and C. rutilans cyanescens, inhabit different environmental temperature conditions in southern Brazil. We developed a laboratory breeding experiment with 60 pairs of individuals of the two subspecies at five temperature conditions (from 15 to 35 °C) to compare the influence of temperature on the behaviour of adults and the development of larvae. The behavioural patterns of the adults in both subspecies differ according to temperature. The size of food balls was smaller and lighter in C. rutilans cyanescens. Although temperature did not influence the feeding behaviour (measured as the number of food balls made), reproductive behaviour (measured as the number of brood balls made by pair) was significantly lower at 15 °C for both subspecies. Besides that, brood balls from C. rutilans rutilans were bigger and heavier at lower temperatures. The number of offspring and the time of emergence depend on temperature too. However, the weight of the offspring and the longevity of adults depend on the subspecies and temperature treatment. These results demonstrate that the subspecies have different thermal adaptations: C. rutilans rutilans has reproductive behaviour adapted to living under colder and broader conditions than C. rutilans cyanescens.
Molecular pathogenesis of cutaneous lymphoma–Future directions
Authors: Stadler Rudolf , Hain Carsten , Cieslak Cassandra , Stranzenbach René
Published: October 2020

The pathogenesis of cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas is not clear. In recent years, the genetic changes in CTCL were explored. The detected mutations showed a great deal of heterogeneity between individual patients. The studies documented various copy number variations (CNV) and single nucleotide variations (SNV) in multiple genes involved in multiple signalling pathways. Recurrently mutated signalling pathways include JAK‐STAT, MAPK, T‐cell receptor, TNF receptor and NFκB signalling. In the period between 2018 and today, additional studies towards the genetic changes in CTCL were carried out. Genetic changes in gamma delta T‐cell lymphoma are also shown in genes of the JAK‐STAT, MAPK, MYC and chromatin signalling pathways. These studies might indicate a shift away from targeted sequencing approaches towards whole‐genome sequencing. This approach demands additional resources in terms of funding but has the advantage of finding mutations in non‐coding regions. These mutations were neglected for a long time, but as shown in contemporary research these regions harbour highly recurrent mutations affecting gene expression and regulation.

Nevertheless, the detection of specific molecular changes in known pathways enables considerations for targeted therapies.
Does virtual discussion of a retail space affect the economic outcomes of the retail stores? The dynamics among retail environment, economic performances, and the perceived characteristics of the traditional retail markets by bloggers in Seoul
Authors: Yi Yun‐Myong , Gim Tae‐Hyoung Tommy
Published: October 2020

Using texts from online blogs, this study aimed to analyze the effect of perceived characteristics of a place in the virtual space and their influence on its economic performance. Specifically, this study analyzed old retail space (traditional markets) in Seoul by empirically examining the relationship among the perceived characteristics, economic performances, and the physical and operative conditions of the markets’ facilities. The perceived characteristics by the bloggers were analyzed by the text‐mining of the blog posts. Next, the associations among the multiple factors including the perceived characteristics, economic measures, were analyzed by PLS‐SEM. Three types of characteristics were found from the texts: (a) value shopping, (b) novelty & food, and (c) affective sentiments. Among them, novelty & food have significant positive effects on annual sales growth and the vacancy reduction rates of the markets. The improved physical condition also had a positive direct effect on annual sales growth, which can be partially explained by its positive mediating effects on Novelty & Food. The operating condition had no significant relationship with the perceived characteristics but had significant effects on the four economic measures. The results imply that renovation projects could diminish certain characteristics of the space (i.e., affective sentiments), but it enhanced other place characteristics (i.e., food and novelty) following economic gains.
A faster decline of residual kidney function and erythropoietin stimulating agent hyporesponsiveness in incident hemodialysis patients
Authors: Kimura Hiroshi , Sy John , Okuda Yusuke , Wenziger Cachet , Hanna Ramy , Obi Yoshitsugu , Rhee Connie M. , Kovesdy Csaba P. , Kalantar‐Zadeh Kamyar , Streja Elani
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESA) hyporesposiveness has been associated with increased mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, the impact of decline of residual kidney function (RKF) on ESA hyporesposiveness has not been adequately elucidated among patients receiving HD.

Methods

The associations of RKF decline with erythropoietin resistance index (ERI; average weekly ESA dose [units])/post‐dialysis body weight [kg]/hemoglobin [g/dL]) were retrospectively examined across four strata of annual change in RKF (residual renal urea clearance [KRU] < −3.0, −3.0 to <−1.5, −1.5 to <0, ≥0 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year; urinary volume < −600, −600 to<−300, −300 to <0, ≥0 mL/day per year) using logistic regression models adjusted for clinical characteristics and laboratory variables in 5239 incident HD patients in a large US dialysis organization between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2011.

Findings

The median values of the annual change in KRU and urinary volume were −1.2 (interquartile range [IQR]: −2.8 to 0.1) mL/min/1.73 m2 per year and −250 (IQR: −600 to 100) mL/day per year. A faster KRU decline in the first year of HD was associated with higher odds for ESA hyporesponsiveness: KRU decline of <−3.0, −3.0 to <−1.5, and −1.5 to <0/min/1.73 m2 per year were associated with adjusted odds ratios (OR) of 2.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.66–2.58), 1.54 (95%CI: 1.28–1.85), and 1.26 (95%CI: 1.07–1.49), respectively (reference: ≥0 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year). These associations were consistent across strata of baseline KRU, age, sex, race, diabetes, congestive heart failure, hemoglobin, and serum albumin. Sensitivity analyses using urinary volume as another index of RKF showed consistent associations.

Discussion

A faster RKF decline during the first year of dialysis was associated with ESA hyporesponsiveness and low hemoglobin levels among incident HD patients.
A multistart biased random key genetic algorithm for the flexible job shop scheduling problem with transportation
Authors: Homayouni S. Mahdi , Fontes Dalila B. M. M. , Gonçalves José F.
Published: October 2020

This work addresses the flexible job shop scheduling problem with transportation (FJSPT), which can be seen as an extension of both the flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSP) and the job shop scheduling problem with transportation (JSPT). Regarding the former case, the FJSPT additionally considers that the jobs need to be transported to the machines on which they are processed on, while in the latter, the specific machine processing each operation also needs to be decided. The FJSPT is NP‐hard since it extends NP‐hard problems. Good‐quality solutions are efficiently found by an operation‐based multistart biased random key genetic algorithm (BRKGA) coupled with greedy heuristics to select the machine processing each operation and the vehicles transporting the jobs to operations. The proposed approach outperforms state‐of‐the‐art solution approaches since it finds very good quality solutions in a short time. Such solutions are optimal for most problem instances. In addition, the approach is robust, which is a very important characteristic in practical applications. Finally, due to its modular structure, the multistart BRKGA can be easily adapted to solve other similar scheduling problems, as shown in the computational experiments reported in this paper.
Association of double product and pulse pressure with cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality in the LURIC study
Authors: Yazdani Babak , Kleber Marcus E. , Yücel Gökhan , Delgado Graciela E. , Benck Urs , Krüger Bernd , März Winfried , Krämer Bernhard K.
Published: October 2020

Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) are risk factors for cardiovascular mortality (CVM). Pulse pressure (PP) is considered as an easily available marker of vascular stiffness and the double product (DP) as a marker of cardiac workload. Therefore, we have examined the predictive value of PP and DP in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health study, a monocentric cohort study of 3316 patients referred to coronary angiography. An increase of SBP or PP by 1mmHg increased the risk of CVM with hazard ratios of 1.009 (95% CI, 1.005‐1.012) and 1.016 (1.012‐1.020), respectively. Increasing DP by 100 mm Hg/min was associated with a 1.010 (1.007‐1.013) higher risk of CVM. In patient subgroups with coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure (HF), PP and DP predicted CVM better than SBP or MAP. In a multivariate analysis adjusted for sex, BMI, diabetes, eGFR, hazard ratios for CVM for z‐standardized PP, DP, SBP, and HR were 1.20, 1.16, 1.12, and 1.14. After adding age to the multivariate analysis, only DP and HR remained significant. We provide evidence that PP and DP are powerful predictors of CVM and all‐cause mortality in a CV medium‐ to high‐risk population, especially in patients with CAD and HF. While DP proved to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality also in multivariate analysis, PP was no independent predictor in our cohort with widespread antihypertensive treatment (>85%). PP is associated with age, presence of diabetes, obesity, and impaired renal function.
GW0742 activates miR‐17‐5p and inhibits TXNIP/NLRP3‐mediated inflammation after hypoxic‐ischaemic injury in rats and in PC12 cells
Authors: Gamdzyk Marcin , Doycheva Desislava Met , Kang Ruiqing , Tang Hong , Travis Zackary D. , Tang Jiping , Zhang John H.
Published: October 2020

This study aimed to investigate the effects of PPAR‐β/δ receptor agonist GW0742 on neuroinflammation in a rat model of hypoxia‐ischaemia (HI) and in PC12 cells in OGD model. HI was induced by ligating the common carotid artery and inducing hypoxia for 150 minutes. Immunofluorescence was used for quantification of microglia activation and for determining cellular localization of PPAR‐β/δ. Expression of proteins was measured by Western blot. Activation of miR‐17‐5p by GW0742 was assessed in PC12 cells by Dual‐Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay. The endogenous expression of TXNIP, NLRP3, cleaved caspase‐1 and IL‐1β was increased after HI. GW0742 treatment significantly reduced the number of activated pro‐inflammatory microglia in ipsilateral hemisphere after HI. Mechanistically, GW0742 significantly decreased the expression of TXNIP, NLRP3, IL‐6 and TNF‐α. Either PPAR‐β/δ antagonist GSK3787, miR‐17‐5p inhibitor, or TXNIP CRISPR activation abolished the anti‐inflammatory effects of GW0742. Activation of PPAR‐β/δ by GW0742 activated miR‐17‐5p expression in PC12 cells and increased cell viability after OGD, which was accompanied by decreased expression of TXNIP and reduced secretion of IL‐1β and TNF‐α. In conclusion, GW0742 may be a promising neurotherapeutic for the management of HI patients.
Regulation of splenic contraction persists as a vestigial trait in white‐blooded Antarctic fishes
Authors: Joyce William , Axelsson Michael
Published: October 2020

In fishes, the spleen can function as an important reservoir for red blood cells (RBCs), which, following splenic contraction, may be released into the circulation to increase haematocrit during energy‐demanding activities. This trait is particularly pronounced in red‐blooded Antarctic fishes in which the spleen can sequester a large proportion of RBCs during rest, thereby reducing blood viscosity, which may serve as an adaptation to life in cold environments. In one species, Pagothenia borchgrevinki, it has previously been shown that splenic contraction primarily depends on cholinergic stimulation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the regulation of splenic contraction in five other Antarctic fish species, three red‐blooded notothenioids (Dissostichus mawsoni Norman, 1937, Gobionotothen gibberifrons Lönnberg, 1905, Notothenia coriiceps Richardson 1844) and two white‐blooded “icefish” (Chaenocephalus aceratus Lönnberg, 1906 and Champsocephalus gunnari Lönnberg, 1905), which lack haemoglobin and RBCs, but nevertheless possess a large spleen. In all species, splenic strips constricted in response to both cholinergic (carbachol) and adrenergic (adrenaline) agonists. Surprisingly, in the two species of icefish, the spleen responded with similar sensitivity to red‐blooded species, despite contraction being of little obvious benefit for releasing RBCs into the circulation. Although the icefish lineage lost functional haemoglobin before diversifying over the past 7.8–4.8 millions of years, they retain the capacity to contract the spleen, likely as a vestige inherited from their red‐blooded ancestors.
Relations between electron yield and temperature rise under low‐energy electron irradiation for Au element
Authors: ZHANG P. , ZHANG L.D.
Published: October 2020

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) is a widely used tool for analysing the micro/nanoscale structural information. In the process of the SEM imaging, the temperature rise caused by the electron beam bombardment has already become an issue because the SEM results might thus be modified by it as the specimen downsizes. This work aims to explore the relationship between the total electron yield (TEY) and the temperature rise in order to directly evaluate the heat accumulation inside the solid during the imaging using a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. The rules of profiles of the TEY and the temperature rise integral with various primary electron (PE) beam energies and incident angles were first investigated focusing on a semi‐infinite gold (Au) bulk. Based on this rule, it is concluded that, with the increase of the TEY, the temperature rise integral decreases almost linearly (As the PE energy getting larger, the linear correlation is more obvious). In addition, this result was also applied to evaluate the heat built up for two specific SEM imaging examples: nanoscale Au balls and arbitrary shaped Au particles on a carbon (C) substrate. Their temperature contour maps present an almost inverse contrast compared with their respective SEM images. Furthermore, the influence of external electric field (full extraction and no extraction modes) for thermal effect was discussed. It is concluded that the full extraction mode can effectively avoid the local overheating. The mechanism of these observations was explained in detail. On the one hand, this work gives a better elucidation and understanding for physical mechanism of electron‐beam‐induced deposition, of which reliability, process control and performance can thus be greatly improved. On the other hand, because some damages caused by nonuniform heat accumulation in various local geometric structures of specimen during imaging process could be effectively analysed and even reduced, this work thus greatly benefits for the analysis of the correlation between thermal effect and the structures of samples.
A case of hemorrhagic shock occurred during dienogest therapy for uterine adenomyosis
Authors: Takamura Masashi , Koga Kaori , Harada Miyuki , Hirota Yasushi , Fujii Tomoyuki , Osuga Yutaka
Published: October 2020

We present a case of hemorrhagic shock occurred during dienogest therapy for uterine adenomyosis which necessitated an emergency hysterectomy. The patient was a 45‐year‐old woman with adenomyosis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed type I adenomyosis measuring 10 cm. She had a history of intimal thrombectomy of pulmonary embolism and had been receiving warfarin and aspirin until the onset of the hemorrhagic shock. Following 6‐month of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogue, dienogest was commenced. Nine months after switching to dienogest, the patient experienced a persistent abnormal uterine bleeding for 2 weeks, eventually causing a massive bleeding and was transferred to our emergency room. A diagnosis of hemorrhagic shock with a severe anemia (hemoglobin 3.6 g/dL) was made. Despite blood transfusion and warfarin antagonization, continuous bleeding ≥150 g/h was not controlled. Emergent hysterectomy was opted and enabled hemostasis. Although the number of patients with adenomyosis who can avoid surgery by dienogest is increasing, care must be taken during dienogest therapy, especially in patients with anticoagulants and after gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogue treatment. To prevent such a critical event, careful management including patient education should be carried out.
ZmSKS13, a cupredoxin domain‐containing protein, is required for maize kernel development via modulation of redox homeostasis
Authors: Zhang Ke , Wang Fei , Liu Baiyu , Xu Changzheng , He Qiuxia , Cheng Wen , Zhao Xiangyu , Ding Zhaohua , Zhang Wei , Zhang Kewei , Li Kunpeng
Published: October 2020

The SKU5 similar (SKS) genes encode a family of multi‐copper‐oxidase‐like proteins with cupredoxin domains similar to those in laccase and ascorbate oxidase. Although SKS proteins are known to function in root growth and cotyledon vascular patterning in Arabidopsis, their role in plant reproductive processes is poorly understood.

Here, we identified a seed mutant of maize (Zea mays), generated by ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis, that we designated defective kernel‐zk1 (dek‐zk1). The mutant produced small, shriveled kernels with an aberrant basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL) and placento‐chalazal (PC) layer and irregular starch granules.

Map‐based cloning revealed that Dek‐zk1 encodes an SKU5 similar 13 (GenBank: ONM36900.1), so it was named ZmSKS13. ZmSKS13 comprises a paralogous pair with Zm00001d012524, but the transcript abundance of ZmSKS13 in developing kernels is 15 times higher than that of Zm00001d012524, resulting in dek‐zk1 mutation conveying a distinct kernel phenotype. ZmSKS13 loss of function led to overaccumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and severe DNA damage in the nucellus and BETL and PC layer cells, and exogenous antioxidants significantly alleviated the defects of the mutant kernels.

Our results thus demonstrate that ZmSKS13 is a novel regulator that plays a crucial role in kernel development in maize through the modulation of ROS homeostasis.
Mindfulness and GAIN: The solution to burnout in medicine?
Authors: Hammer Gregory B.
Published: October 2020

Burnout is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion associated with internal and external stressors. Drivers of burnout include the expectation that we as physicians place our patients first, ahead of our own self‐care; that seeking help is a sign of weakness in the culture of medicine; practice inefficiencies, including those imposed by electronic medical records; and a lack of personal resilience suffered by many physicians. The costs of burnout are high, including a decrement in the quality of care, increased turnover, and physician suicide. Changes in the culture of medicine and practice efficiency will rely on excellent leadership. On the other hand, we are individually responsible for our personal resilience. We can enhance our resilience with a variety of tools, including meditation and mindfulness practice. Fortunately, these practices are becoming more mainstream and readily available to us. This article will briefly review the problem of burnout, including drivers and costs, and then focus on meditation and mindfulness practices that we may embrace in order to become more resilient.