bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial intelligence assisted standard white light endoscopy accurately characters early colorectal cancer: a multicenter diagnostic study
Authors: Meng Sijun , Zheng Yueping , Su Ruizhang , Wang Wangyue , Zhang Yu , Xiao Hang , Han Zhaofang , Zhang Wen , Qin Wenjuan , Yang Chen , Yan Lichong , Xu Haineng , Bu Yemei , Zhong Yuhuan , Zhang Yi , He Yulong , Qiu Hesong , Xu Wen , Chen Hong , Wu Siqi , Jiang Zhenghua , Zhang Yongxiu , Dong Chao , Hu Yongchao , Xie Lizhong , Li Xugong , Jiang Jianping , Zhu Huafen , Li Wenxia , Wen Zhang , Zheng Xiaofang , Sun Yuanlong , Zhou Xiaolu , Ding Limin , Zhang Changhua , Pan Wensheng , Wu Shuisheng , Hu Yiqun
Published: February 2020

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third in incidence and mortality1 of cancer. Screening with colonoscopy has been shown to reduce mortality by 40-60%2. Challenge for screening indistinguishable precancerous and noninvasive lesion using conventional colonoscopy was still existing3. We propose to establish a propagable artificial intelligence assisted high malignant potential early CRC characterization system (ECRC-CAD). 4,390 endoscopic images of early CRC were used to establish the model. The diagnostic accuracy of high malignant potential early CRC was 0.963 (95% CI, 0.941-0.978) in the internal validation set and 0.835 (95% CI, 0.805-0.862) in external datasets. It achieved better performance than the expert endoscopists. Spreading of ECRC-CAD to regions with different medical levels can assist in CRC screening and prevention.
COVID-19 in Japan: What could happen in the future?
Authors: Shao Nian , Xuan Yan , Pan Hanshuang , Wang Shufen , Li Weijia , Yan Yue , Li Xingjie , Shen Christopher Y. , Chen Xu , Luo Xinyue , Chen Yu , Xu Boxi , Liu Keji , Zhong Min , Xu Xiang , Jiang Yu , Lu Shuai , Ding Guanghong , Cheng Jin , Chen Wenbin
Published: February 2020

COVID-19 has been impacting on the whole world critically and constantly Since December 2019. We have independently developed a novel statistical time delay dynamic model on the basis of the distribution models from CCDC. Based only on the numbers of confirmed cases in different regions in China, the model can clearly reveal that the containment of the epidemic highly depends on early and effective isolation. We apply the model on the epidemic in Japan and conclude that there could be a rapid outbreak in Japan if no effective quarantine measures are carried out immediately.
Regulated control of gene therapies with a drug induced switch
Authors: Monteys Alex Mas , Hundley Amiel A , Ranum Paul T , Lim Euyn , Tecedor Luis , Muehlmatt Amy , Davidson Beverly L
Published: February 2020

To date, gene therapies for human application rely on engineered promoters that cannot be finely controlled. Here, we report a universal switch element that allows precise control for gene silencing or gene replacement after exposure to a small molecule. Importantly, these small molecule inducers are in human use, are orally bioavailable when given to animals or humans, and can reach both peripheral tissues and the brain. Moreover, the switch system (Xon) does not require the co-expression of any regulatory proteins. Using Xon, translation of desired elements for gene knockdown or gene replacement occurs after a single oral dose, and expression levels can be controlled by drug dose or in waves with repeat drug intake. This universal switch can provide temporal control of gene editing machinery and gene addition cassettes that can be adapted to cell biology applications and animal studies. Additionally, due to the oral bioavailability and safety of the drugs employed, the Xonswitch provides an unprecedented opportunity to refine gene therapies for more appropriate human application.
An adaptive control scheme for Interleukin-2 therapy
Authors: Khailaie Sahamoddin , Montaseri Ghazal , Meyer-Hermann Michael
Published: February 2020

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are suppressor cells that control self-reactive and excessive effector conventional helper T cell (Tconv) responses. Breakdown of the balance between Tregs and Tconvs is a hallmark of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Due to the positive dependency of both populations on Interleukin-2 (IL-2), it is subtle leverage to restore the healthy immune balance. By employing a mechanistic mathematical model, we studied the IL-2 therapy in order to increase and stabilize Treg population and restrict inflammatory Tconv response. We introduced an adaptive control strategy to design the minimal IL-2 dosage. This adaptive strategy allows for an individualized therapy based on the feedback of immune kinetics of the patient. Ourin silicoresults suggest that a minimal Treg population is required to restrict the transient side-effect of IL-2 injections on the effector Tconv response. The combination of IL-2 and adoptive Treg transfer therapies is able to limit this side effect in our simulations. Implications of ourin silicoresults are discussed in the context of autoimmunity and transplantation.
Simulation of cavitation of spherically shaped hydrogen bubbles through a tube nozzle with stenosis
Authors: Ellahi Rahmat , Zeeshan Ahmad , Hussain Farooq , Safaei Mohammad Reza
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the monodisperse cavitation of bubbly mixture flow for water and hydrogen mixture flows through a nozzle having a stenosis on the wall.

Design/methodology/approach

Two flow regions, namely, quasi-statically stable and quasi-statically unstable increase in the bubble radius, are considered. Different oscillating periods of bubbles in downstream corresponding to various values of Reynolds number are taken into account. The Range–Kutta method is used to tackle nonlinear coupled system of governing equations.

Findings

It is observed that for the larger values of Reynolds number, the void fraction at the upstream section, even at small values, yields instabilities at the downstream. Consequently, owing to sudden increase in the velocity, the bubbles strike the wall with high speed that eventually remove the existing stenosis. This process can be considered as an effective cardiac surgery for arteries with semi-blockage.

Originality/value

Original research work and to the best of author’s knowledge, this model is reported for the first time.
Governance and public health: implications for targeting smoking in the United States
Authors: Khanijahani Ahmad
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this viewpoint is to discuss and analyze three major governance tools that have been implemented in the United States to target tobacco smoking as a major public health concern.

Design/methodology/approach

The author highlights the negative consequences of smoking as a global and U.S public health concern and discusses three categories of governance tools implemented in the U.S. Additionally, emerging challenges in the U.S. and different sides of story in developing countries are underscored.

Findings

Although some success has been reached in controlling smoking-related mortalities and morbidities in the U.S. and most of the countries, long-term and sustainable improvement require active surveillance and constant implementation of evidence-based policies and programs.

Practical implications

This viewpoint discusses the governance tools that can be implemented to decrease smoking-related preventable mortalities and morbidities. Similar tools with some tuning can be used to target smoking in other nations. Additionally, these tools can be modified to target other public health-related wicked problems such as obesity, alcohol consumption, and traffic accidents.

Originality/value

This viewpoint highlights the magnitude of smoking as a major public health concern and underscores the necessity of using governance tools in targeting this issue. Additionally, it provides application examples from the United States implementable in other countries with some contextual justifications and tuning.
Assessing customer intention use of mobile money application and the antecedent of perceived value, economic trust and service trust
Authors: Hariguna Taqwa , Adiandari Ade Maharini , Ruangkanjanases Athapol
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of trust and perceived value (PV) in customer intentions to adopt mobile money application (MMA) services. Trust and PV were broken down into various dimensions. This study investigated the two-component base trusts, namely, economic and service, and also PV as an antecedent.

Design/methodology/approach

This study involved 402 respondents selected through the interception and online survey approach and had five hypotheses. The structural equation model was used to test the hypothesis of this study.

Findings

The findings showed that the PV was related to the customer’s intention to use MMA services and economy-based trust. Trust in service providers and economic-based trust were positively related to customer intentions to use MMA services.

Research limitations/implications

Although the concept of MMA has been explored in several literatures, the role of trust and PV in the use of MMA has not been of much concern among researchers. In addition, this study described PV as a construction with five supporting dimensions. The current literature showed that the integration of PV with construct trust was still lacking in attention from researchers especially the study of MMA.

Practical implications

For practitioners, these findings confirmed that MMA service providers need to convince customers of protection to money and personal information. Also, providers need to ensure that the use of MMA provides cost and time effectiveness. Besides, it is important to ensure the services provided to customers are the fastest way to carry out financial transactions, in this case, including payment and retail purchases. This finding also showed that PV related to MMA services needs to be studied from a customer perspective, focusing on four aspects of ethics, playfulness, customer return of investment and excellent service. Therefore, handling PV in these services requires specific strategies to deal with these various aspects.

Originality/value

This study integrated two dimensions of trust, thus economic trust and service trust, the authors also integrated dimension of PV as the antecedent of two dimensions of trust, to understand the dimension of intention use MMA.
Does switching trading venues create value? Evidence from Hong Kong
Authors: Kwok Johnny K.H.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study whether switching trading venues create value in the Hong Kong stock market.

Design/methodology/approach

By using an event study, the paper investigates the abnormal returns (AR) earned by firms in the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) relating to switching to the Main Board (MB). Two measures, turnover of the stock and Amihud’s (2002) illiquidity ratio, are used to examine the liquidity effects.

Findings

The switch is accompanied by a long-term increase in stock price for low liquidity firms only. High liquidity firms underperform with persistent negative excess returns after switching, while the transient negative excess returns in low liquidity firms reverse gradually. The results further show a significant increase in trading activity for low liquidity firms following the switch, while there is a significant decline in both trading activity and liquidity in firms with high liquidity. The overall results suggest that moving from GEM to the MB is beneficial to low liquidity firms but detrimental to high liquidity firms.

Originality/value

This study is the first to investigate whether moving from GEM to the MB creates value in the Hong Kong stock market.
Survival in a new industry: marijuana, venture structure and outcomes
Authors: Nicholas Karen , Sproul Curtis R. , Cox Kevin
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore how new firms enter a new industry and which structure will support survival. Essentially, the study examines the extent to which new firms choose to be broad with regard to the industry supply chain and deep with regard to their market presence. Based on these two structural decisions, each one is examined independently and in conjunction to discover which aspects support survival.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was adopted, consisting of using data supplied by the state of Colorado. More specifically, the study draws on empirical data that identifies which license type (grower, manufacturer and retailer) each firm chose to get and how many retail outlets the firm chose to operate.

Findings

The findings reveal that firms that cover the breadth of the supply chain are twice as likely to survive, while a broad market presence increases the risk of exit by 2.5 times. When the two factors were combined, it was firms with broad integration and deep market presence that had the highest chance of survival, as opposed to firms with intuition. A deep market presence seemed to accentuate the effect of integration, increasing the risk when the firm was not integrated, while increasing the survival rate when the firm was integrated.

Research limitations/implications

This industry is quite new and afforded a unique opportunity to examine the impact of firm structure on survival. However, it may not be generalizable to other industries.

Practical implications

The present analysis argues that firms must adopt a holistic approach to their firm structure, because there are combinatorial effects at play. That is, while one specific strategy may increase survival, other strategies may impact firm survival. Examining and understanding the interplay of firm decisions are critical for firm survival.

Originality/value

Because of the lack of the formation of new industries, the authors’ understanding of the impact of firm structure on survival is limited. This unique context afforded the opportunity to empirically examine how firms can increase their chance of survival based on two aspects of firm structure: the breadth of the supply chain and the depth of the firm’s market presence.
Determinates of Islamic banks liquidity
Authors: Al-Harbi Ahmad
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the determinants of Islam banks (IBs) liquidity.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the author uses a generalized least square fixed effect model on an unbalanced panel data set of all IBs operating in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation countries over the period 1989-2008.

Findings

The estimation results show that all the determinants have statistically significant relationships with IBs’ liquidity but with different signs. On the one hand, foreign ownership, credit risk, profitability, inflation rate, monetary policy and deposit insurance negatively affected IBs liquidity. On the other hand, capital ratio, size gross domestic product growth and concentration have a positive nexus with IBs’ liquidity.

Originality/value

According to the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first empirical study to investigate the determinants of IBs liquidity using cross-country data with a large sample of IBs (110 banks) and over a long period (19 years). Also, the paper included variables that had not been discussed on the previous studies, which used cross-country data, such as efficiency, deposit insurance, monetary policy, concentration and market capitalization.
Duration model for maturity gap risk management in Islamic banks
Authors: Shah Syed Alamdar Ali , Sukmana Raditya , Fianto Bayu Arie
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose models of duration for maturity gap risk management in Islamic banks.

Design/methodology/approach

A thorough review of literature on duration modeling, duration measurement in Islamic banks andShariahcompliance has been conducted to set parameters to developShariah-compliant maturity gap risk management mechanism.

Findings

Models based on durations of earning assets and return bearing liabilities using various rates of return earned and paid, benchmark rates and industry standards commonly used by Islamic and conventional banks.

Practical implications

IncreasedShariahcompliance has threefold impact. Firstly, it will increase trust of customers. Secondly, it will help improve profitability by reducing non-Shariahcompliance penalties from the regulators. And finally, it will enhance market capitalization and returns stability to investors because of enhanced customer base, increased level of trust and increased profitability.

Originality/value

This research proposesShariah-compliant maturity gap risk management models based on the concept of duration according to recommendations of Bank for International Settlements. As there is no such maturity gap risk management mechanism that meets the requirements ofShariahusing benchmarks that are common between Islamic and conventional banks; therefore, this research presents risk management solutions that can be applied simultaneously in the entire banking sector.
A model of policing strategy choice
Authors: Basilio Marcio Pereira , Brum Gabrielle Souza , Pereira Valdecy
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for the discovery of knowledge in emergency response databases based on police incident reports, generating information that identifies local criminal demands that allow the selection of the appropriate policing strategies portfolio to solve the problem.

Design/methodology/approach

The developed model uses a methodology for the discovery of knowledge involving text mining techniques using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) integrated with the ELECTRE I multicriteria method.

Findings

The developed method allowed the identification of the most common criminal demands that occurred from January 1 to December 31, 2016, in the policing areas studied. One of the crimes does not occur homogeneously in a particular locality. In this study, it was initially observed that 40 per cent of the crimes identified in the Integrated Public Safety Area 5, or AISP-5, (historical city center of RJ) had no correlation with AISP-19 (Copacabana - RJ), and 33 per cent of crimes crimes in AISP-19 were not identified in AISP-5. This finding guided the second part of the method that sought to identify which portfolio of policing strategies would be most appropriate for the identified demands. In this sense, using the ELECTRE I method, eight different scenarios were constructed where it can be identified that for each specific criminal demand set there is a set of policing strategies to be applied.

Research limitations/implications

The collected data represent the social dynamics of neighbourhoods in the central and southern zones of the city of Rio de Janeiro during the specific period from January 2013 to December 2016. This limitation implies that the results cannot be generalised to areas with different characteristics.

Practical implications

The developed methodology contributes in a complementary way to the identification of criminal practices and their characteristics based on reports of police occurrences stored in emergency response databases. The knowledge generated through the identification of criminal demands allows law enforcement decision makers to evaluate and choose among the available policing strategies, which best suit the reality they study, and produce the reduction of criminal indices.

Social implications

It is possible to infer that by choosing appropriate strategies to combat local crime, the proposed model will increase the population’s sense of safety through an effective reduction in crime.

Originality/value

The originality of the study lies in the integration of text mining techniques, LDA and the ELECTRE I method for detecting crime in a given location based on crime reports stored in emergency response databases, enabling identification and choice, from customized policing strategies to particular criminal demands.
Conceptualizing the digital employee experience
Authors: Gheidar Yasaman , ShamiZanjani Mehdi
Published: February 2020

Purpose

One of the hottest topics in today’s professional and academic debates is digital transformation; some even prefer to use the term “digital business transformation” that is more in line with the business aspects of transformation. On the other hand, in today’s workplaces, human resource (HR) approaches have come into a new era named employee experience (EX). The digital employee experience (DEX), one of the outcomes of entrancing digital transformation in workplaces, has revolutionized the business world by shifting the priorities of organizations from focusing solely on the needs of managers to focusing on all the employees and their experiences in the workplace. Despite the importance of this concept, there is not a unified and complete definition for it. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the DEX.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a systematic literature review was conducted in academic and professional databases, and then to complete and confirm the definition, 11 academic and professional experts in the field of HR and digital transformation in the country were interviewed.

Findings

A definition of the DEX was provided that covers previous gaps about defining this concept.

Research limitations/implications

It should be noted that research on conceptualizing EX rather than DEX has been conducted on academic grounds, and in the professional world, there have been some initial attempts on conceptualizing the DEX. Therefore, this study was defined as the need to provide a definition of the DEX.

Originality/value

The importance of implementing the positive DEX, on the one hand, and failing to conduct comprehensive studies to understand this concept and provide a precise definition of it, on the other hand, have become critical issues in organizations.
The role of elaboration likelihood routes in relationships between user-generated content and willingness to pay more
Authors: Dedeoğlu Bekir Bora , Bilgihan Anil , Ye Ben Haobin , Wang Yajun , Okumus Fevzi
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of social media sharing on tourists’ willingness to pay more (WPM) at destinations. The moderating effects of tourists’ preferred route in decision-making or obtaining information (i.e. central or peripheral routes) were also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model was developed and tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Moderating effects of central and peripheral routes were tested using PLS multi-group analysis. Data were collected from 478 tourists in Antalya, Turkey, a sea, sun and sand tourist destination.

Findings

Findings indicate that importance attached to participant sharing (IPS) and importance attached to non-participant sharing (INPS) are significant antecedents of tourists’ WPM intentions. Moderating effects of tourists’ preferred route in decision-making reveal that the effect of IPS on WPM intention is more influential for those with high central route preferences than those with low central route preferences. While the effects of INPS and IPS on WPM intention is more determinative for those with higher peripheral route preferences.

Practical implications

Although it is known by the practitioners that consumer-generated contents are important, this research suggests and supports that these contents trigger tourists to pay higher prices.

Originality/value

How WPM is motivated by others’ social media sharing was not very clear in the literature. Therefore, this research gap was addressed in part by examining the social media sharing structure in terms of whether others posted on organization-related sites or on personal sites.
A Method to Interpolate Osteon Volume Designed for Histological Age Estimation Research
Authors: Michener Suzanna , Bell Lynne S. , Schuurman Nadine C. , Swanlund David
Published: February 2020

Aging adult skeletal material is a crucial component of building the biological profile of unknown skeletal remains, but many macro‐ and microscopic methods have challenges regarding accuracy, precision, and replicability. This study developed a volumetric method to visualize and quantify histological remodeling events in three dimensions, using a two‐dimensional serialized approach that applied circular polarizing microscopy and geographic information systems protocols. This approach was designed as a tool to extend current histological aging methodologies. Three serial transverse sections were obtained from a human femoral midshaft. A total sample size of 6847 complete osteons from the three sections was identified; 1229 osteons connected between all sections. The volume of all connected osteons was interpolated using ArcGIS area calculations and truncated cone geometric functions. Each section was divided into octants, and two random samples of 100 and of 30 connected osteons from each octant were generated. Osteon volume was compared between the octants for each random sample using ANOVA. Results indicated that the medial aspect had relative uniformity in osteon volume, whereas the lateral aspect showed high variability. The anterolateral–lateral octant had significantly smaller osteon volume, whereas the posterior–posterolateral octant had significantly larger osteon volume. Results also indicated that a minimum of 100 osteons is statistically more robust and more representative of normal osteon distribution and volume; the use of 30 osteons is insufficient. This research has demonstrated that osteon volume can be interpolated using spatial geometry and GIS applications and may be a tool to incorporate into adult age‐at‐death estimation techniques.
Are expiratory radiographs more sensitive than inspiratory radiographs for the diagnosis of pneumothorax in the emergency department? A retrospective observational study
Authors: Stokes Philip , Ballard Emma , McKeating Caoimhe , Belcher Joanna , Furlong Karen , Hocking Julia , Forristal Catherine
Published: February 2020

Objectives

Expiratory radiographs are sometimes performed in addition to inspiratory radiographs when a diagnosis of pneumothorax is suspected. There is little published evidence to support this practice and most studies suggest the additional radiograph does not confer any benefit in terms of increased sensitivity. The present study is the first to assess if specialist emergency physicians are more likely to detect a pneumothorax on an inspiratory radiograph compared to an expiratory radiograph.

Methods

Across two urban district EDs 103 paired radiographs positive for pneumothorax and 112 negative controls were identified for inclusion in the study. These were reviewed by three specialist emergency physicians who rated them as either positive or negative for pneumothorax.

Results

The mean sensitivity for the three reviewers was 84.8% (95% CI 82.0–87.5) for the inspiratory radiographs and 91.9% (95% CI 88.2–95.6) for the expiratory radiographs, a mean absolute difference of 7.1% (95% CI 2.2–12.1, P = 0.025) in favour of expiratory radiographs.

Conclusions

When reviewed by emergency physicians the present study found expiratory radiographs confer an increase in sensitivity for the diagnosis of pneumothorax compared with inspiratory radiographs. In certain patients where the clinical suspicion for pneumothorax is high performing an expiratory radiograph may increase the likelihood of the diagnosis being made in the ED.
Volatile market condition, institutional constraints, and IPO anomaly: evidence from the Chinese market
Authors: Li Mingsheng , Liu Desheng , Zhang Jing , Zhang Luxiu
Published: February 2020

We provide a holistic view of factors affecting IPO underpricing and aftermarket trading of Chinese initial public offerings (IPOs) over 23 years. The subscription ratio and offer amount are among the top three most important determinants of underpricing when stock markets are less volatile. However, the recent IPOs’ initial return and institutional constraints on offer price and aftermarket trading price are the driving forces in volatile markets. The underpricing (the first‐day trading price limit) is the most important factor affecting IPO aftermarket trading when stock markets are less (more) volatile, suggesting how factors affect IPO underpricing and aftermarket trading depends on stock market conditions.
Does oligopsony power matter in price support policy design? Empirical evidence from the Thai Jasmine rice market
Authors: Kumse Kaittisak , Suzuki Nobuhiro , Sato Takeshi
Published: February 2020

In the oligopsony market, farmers may receive low prices and policy analysis assuming perfect competition can yield serious bias results. In this paper, we estimate oligopsony power between processors and farmers and evaluate the welfare impact of the paddy pledging program (PPP), a generous price support program in the Thai Jasmine rice market, with an imperfect competition model. We develop a model that consists of rice supply equation and derived demand equation. We then simultaneously estimate these equations using system estimation methods to recover oligopsony power parameters. Finally, we use these parameters to assess the welfare impact of the price support program. Using annual panel data running from crop marketing year 2001/2002–2015/2016 and exploiting the institutional feature of the PPP, we find strong evidence of some oligopsony power, a moderate level of oligopsony price distortion, and a negative relationship between price support and oligopsony power. We also find that the PPP is inefficient but effective in income redistribution. Moreover, the program benefits both farmers and consumers. With better policymaking decisions, the PPP can be efficient by setting a suitable support price. Therefore, our results show that in the case of the Thai Jasmine rice market, the generally accepted “wisdom” about agricultural price support policy does not necessarily hold, and price support can be designed to improve the efficiency of the market.
Welfare impacts of new demand‐enhancing agricultural products: The case of Honeycrisp apples
Authors: Wang Yanghao , Çakır Metin
Published: February 2020

Agricultural research and development programs on new demand‐enhancing products have become increasingly important over the past decade. Large numbers of new agricultural products have been developed and commercialized in the United States to meet consumers’ increasingly diverse expectations for food quality. However, little is known about their economic benefits. Focusing on the apple market, we investigate the welfare impacts of the introduction of Honeycrisp apples in a market equilibrium framework. We use market data on apple sales from 61 cities across the United States between 2009 and 2015. We find the introduction of Honeycrisp increased consumer welfare, which is mainly explained by the increased number of total apple varieties. We also find that the introduction of Honeycrisp apples has increased overall market size and total apple sales. To extrapolate our results to the entire U.S. apple market, we perform a back‐of‐the‐envelope analysis and find that the introduction of Honeycrisp apples has increased total consumer welfare by about 859 million dollars during the study period. This corresponds to approximately 19% of the annual average domestic expenditures on public food and agricultural R&D.
Postnatal development of metallophilic macrophages in the rat thymus
Authors: Lalić Ivana M. , Miljković Miloš , Labudović‐Borović Milica , Milić Nataša , Milićević Novica M.
Published: February 2020

Metallophilic macrophages (MMs) are a distinct cell type of the rodent thymus. Our previous research has focused on the morphological characteristics of MMs, as well as on the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and tissue positioning of these cells. However, the postnatal development of MMs has not been sufficiently studied. In the present study, we investigated the positioning of MMs in the rat thymus between postnatal day 0 (P0) and P30. On P0, MMs were evenly distributed all over the thymic tissue—that is, the cortex, cortico‐medullary zone and medulla. From P0 to P15, the number of MMs in the thymic cortex significantly decreased, and after P15, this number did not change. Thus, the present study shows that on P15, MMs almost completely disappear from the thymic cortex and show their adult position in the cortico‐medullary zone and in the medulla.
Initial experiences of an in‐reach service providing iron infusions in residential aged care facilities
Authors: Zinsaz Hamed , Calder Georgina , Corallo Carmela , Gibson Peter R. , Poojary Suma , Moran Chris
Published: February 2020

Objective

To examine the feasibility of developing an in‐reach parenteral iron infusion service to residents of residential aged care facilities (RACFs).

Methods

An audit comparing the use of iron infusions in RACFs prior to and following the introduction of an in‐reach iron infusion service.

Results

Of the 738 inpatient iron infusions administered to inpatients ≥65 years in the 12 months prior to the in‐reach service, 52 (7%) lived in an RACF, with no significant adverse events reported. After implementation of an in‐reach service, a total of 37 RACF residents received parenteral iron in the first 12 months of the service, with no significant adverse events reported.

Conclusion

It is possible to safely provide parenteral iron through an in‐reach service to residents in RACF. Further research is required to identify the person‐level benefits achieved by this service.
Association between perioperative intraperitoneal local anaesthetic infusion and long‐term survival and cancer recurrence after colectomy: follow‐up analysis of a previous randomized controlled trial
Authors: MacFater Wiremu S. , Xia Weisi , Barazanchi Ahmed W. H. , MacFater Hoani S. , Lightfoot Nicholas , Svirskis Darren , Kahokehr Arman A. , Hill Andrew G.
Published: February 2020

Background

High concentrations of local anaesthetic have an anti‐proliferative effect on colonic cancer in vitro. Intraperitoneal local anaesthetic (IPLA) has shown analgesic benefit and improved recovery in the perioperative setting. The long‐term effects of IPLA in colon cancer resection have not been examined. This study aims to review the survival and oncological outcomes of a previously conducted trial that compared perioperative IPLA with placebo.

Methods

Sixty patients underwent colonic resection for benign and malignant disease as part of a double‐blinded, randomized, placebo‐controlled study between September 2008 and November 2009. The IPLA group received instillation of intraperitoneal ropivacaine before dissection followed by a 3‐day infusion. The placebo group was treated identically but with 0.9% saline solution. A follow‐up analysis was conducted to evaluate overall survival, disease‐free survival and recurrence specifically for patients undergoing resection for stages I–III colon cancer. Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed, and the log‐rank test was used to evaluate difference in survival between groups.

Results

Thirty‐seven of the 60 patients had stages I–III colon cancer and were included in this analysis. Nineteen patients were in the placebo group. There was no significant difference in overall survival or all‐cause mortality. There was a higher incidence of cancer‐specific mortality in the local anaesthetic group (P < 0.046).

Conclusion

It does not appear that IPLA is associated with a significant survival benefit in patients with colonic malignancy undergoing colectomy. Other studies are needed to analyse the long‐term outcomes.
Salmonella in captive and wild Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) in Tasmania
Authors: Michael SA , Harlock M , Peck SJ , Lazenby B , Pemberton D
Published: February 2020

Translocation of Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a common strategy for recovery of the species as carried out by the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program. Dasyurids including the endangered Tasmanian devil are well known to asymptomatically harbour the zoonotic bacteria Salmonella enterica in their intestinal tracts. Testing for Salmonella is a routine component of pretranslocation health testing, so a statewide microbiological survey of captive and wild devils was implemented in order to understand prevalence and common Salmonella serotypes, and inform decision‐making when positive cultures are identified. This preliminary study identified a significantly higher proportion of Salmonella isolations in wild compared with captive devils. Mississippi and Typhimurium were the most common serotypes, followed by Lexington, Bovismorbificans, Kottbus and Amsterdam. Given the common finding of Salmonella in wild devils and the range of serotypes involved, in addition to numerous isolations in domestic species and humans, it is unlikely that the release of small numbers of captive devils to the wild in Tasmania poses a significant risk to the destination ecosystem. Ongoing monitoring of devils is required as the stress of acclimatisation could predispose devils to clinical disease. Appropriate personal protective attire is pertinent to protect personnel handling animals from this zoonotic infection.
Minimal or reasonable? Considering the ethical threshold for research risks to nonconsenting bystanders and implications for nonconsenting participants
Authors: Fernandez Lynch Holly
Published: February 2020

When research poses risks to non‐participant bystanders, it is not always practicable to obtain their consent. One approach to assessing how much research risk may be imposed on nonconsenting bystanders is to examine analogous circumstances, including risk thresholds deemed acceptable for nonconsenting research participants and for nonconsensual risks imposed outside the research setting. For nonconsenting participants, US research regulations typically limit risks to those deemed to be “minimal.” Outside the research context, US tort law tolerates a more flexible “reasonable” risk threshold. This article advances a preliminary case that nonconsenting participants and nonconsenting bystanders exposed to similar research risks may be entitled to the same level of protection, but that risks generated by research may not be special in kind. Thus, limiting research risks to those that are “reasonable,” rather than demanding that they be held to the “minimal” standard, may be the best approach for both nonconsenting participants and nonconsenting bystanders. Further work is needed to establish whether the descriptive standards used to support the analogies relied on here are normatively justifiable, as well as the extent to which the minimal risk standard and the reasonable risk standard would lead to meaningfully different outcomes in practice.
Variable selection in joint frailty models of recurrent and terminal events
Authors: Han Dongxiao , Su Xiaogang , Sun Liuquan , Zhang Zhou , Liu Lei
Published: February 2020

Recurrent event data are commonly encountered in biomedical studies. In many situations, they are subject to an informative terminal event, for example, death. Joint modeling of recurrent and terminal events has attracted substantial recent research interests. On the other hand, there may exist a large number of covariates in such data. How to conduct variable selection for joint frailty proportional hazards models has become a challenge in practical data analysis. We tackle this issue on the basis of the “minimum approximated information criterion” method. The proposed method can be conveniently implemented in SAS Proc NLMIXED for commonly used frailty distributions. Its finite‐sample behavior is evaluated through simulation studies. We apply the proposed method to model recurrent opportunistic diseases in the presence of death in an AIDS study.
Paradigm Shift or Business as Usual? Workers’ Views on Multi‐stakeholder Initiatives in Bangladesh
Authors: Kabeer Naila , Huq Lopita , Sulaiman Munshi
Published: February 2020

The scale of the tragedy at Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, in which more than 1,000 garment factory workers died when the building collapsed in April 2013, galvanized a range of stakeholders to take action to prevent future disasters and to acknowledge that business as usual was not an option. Prominent in these efforts were the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh (hereafter the Accord) and the Alliance for Bangladesh Workers’ Safety (hereafter the Alliance), two multi‐stakeholder agreements that brought global buyers together in a coordinated effort to improve health and safety conditions in the ready‐made garment industry. These agreements represented a move away from the buyer‐driven, compliance‐based model, which hitherto dominated corporate social responsibility initiatives, to a new cooperation‐based approach. The Accord in particular, which included global union federations and their local union partners as signatories and held global firms legally accountable, was described as a ‘paradigm shift’ with the potential to improve industrial democracy in Bangladesh. This article is concerned with the experiences and perceptions of workers in the Bangladesh garment industry regarding these new initiatives. It uses a purposively designed survey to explore the extent to which these initiatives brought about improvements in wages and working conditions in the garment industry, to identify where change was slowest or absent and to ask whether the initiatives did indeed represent a paradigm shift in efforts to enforce the rights of workers.
Progressive long‐term spatial memory loss following repeat concussive and subconcussive brain injury in mice, associated with dorsal hippocampal neuron loss, microglial phenotype shift, and vascular abnormalities
Authors: Honig Marcia G. , Dorian Conor C. , Worthen John D. , Micetich Anthony C. , Mulder Isabelle A. , Sanchez Katelyn B. , Pierce William F. , Del Mar Nobel A. , Reiner Anton
Published: February 2020

There is considerable concern about the long‐term deleterious effects of repeat head trauma on cognition, but little is known about underlying mechanisms and pathology. To examine this, we delivered four air blasts to the left side of the mouse cranium, a week apart, with an intensity that causes deficits when delivered singly and considered “concussive,” or an intensity that does not yield significant deficits when delivered singly and considered “subconcussive.” Neither repeat concussive nor subconcussive blast produced spatial memory deficits at 4 months, but both yielded deficits at 14 months, and dorsal hippocampal neuron loss. Hierarchical cluster analysis of dorsal hippocampal microglia across the three groups based on morphology and expression of MHCII, CX3CR1, CD68 and IBA1 revealed five distinct phenotypes. Types 1A and 1B microglia were more common in sham mice, linked to better neuron survival and memory, and appeared mildly activated. By contrast, 2B and 2C microglia were more common in repeat concussive and subconcussive mice, linked to poorer neuron survival and memory, and characterized by low expression levels and attenuated processes, suggesting they were de‐activated and dysfunctional. In addition, endothelial cells in repeat concussive mice exhibited reduced CD31 and eNOS expression, which was correlated with the prevalence of type 2B and 2C microglia. Our findings suggest that both repeat concussive and subconcussive head injury engender progressive pathogenic processes, possibly through sustained effects on microglia that over time lead to increased prevalence of dysfunctional microglia, adversely affecting neurons and blood vessels, and thereby driving neurodegeneration and memory decline.
Intratesticular mepivacaine versus lidocaine in anaesthetised horses undergoing Henderson castration
Authors: Crandall Alycia , Hopster Klaus , Grove Annie , Levine David
Published: February 2020

Background

In horses undergoing castration, direct comparison of intratesticular lidocaine vs mepivacaine as analgesic adjuncts has not yet been analysed.

Objective

To compare the effects of intratesticular lidocaine and mepivacaine during equine castration using the Henderson drill under total intravenous anesthesia.

Study design

Randomised, double‐blinded clinical study.

Methods

Thirty‐four stallions were anaesthetised using xylazine‐ketamine and randomly selected to receive 10 mL either lidocaine or mepivacaine injected into each testicle. Both surgeon and anaesthetist were blinded to the selected treatment. A total of 5 minutes were required to pass between injection and first incision. Routine castration using a Henderson drill was performed. Heart rate, respiratory rate and SpO2 were serially recorded. Total surgical time, time prior to clamping of each testicle and time to second incision were recorded. Cremaster muscle relaxation, surgical quality scores, number of additional ketamine boluses, recovery time and recovery quality were assessed between groups.

Results

Cremaster relaxation scores were significantly better for the mepivacaine group over the lidocaine group on a 1‐3 scoring system (1 being most relaxed, 3 being least). The average cremaster relaxation score on both testicles treated with mepivacaine was 1 compared to the lidocaine treatment averaging 2 [P = .03 first testicle; P = .04 second testicle]. The lidocaine group had an increased number of horses requiring additional ketamine (25% of horses) compared to the mepivacaine group (16% of horses). No other significant differences were observed between the groups.

Main limitations

The use of only one injection method and lack of post‐operative pain scoring limit the conclusions that can be drawn from these results.

Conclusion

Intratesticular mepivacaine when compared with intratesticular lidocaine results in improved cremaster muscle relaxation when only waiting five min prior to the start of the procedure.
The effect of privatization on the characteristics of innovation
Authors: Somé Hyacinthe Y. , Cano‐Kollmann Marcelo , Mudambi Ram , Cosset Jean‐Claude
Published: February 2020

We investigate the role of privatization on the dynamics of innovation. We hypothesize that privatized firms will focus on a narrower set of technologies as a response to increased pressure for profitability and short‐term results, and that privatization will also increase the degree to which they engage in collaborations with external inventors, both locally and abroad. Using a sample of privatized firms in 25 countries, we find strong evidence supporting these hypotheses. Importantly, we find that overall patenting activities and, in particular, overseas collaboration in technological innovation are associated with greater firm performance, but only after privatization.