bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of Bone Defect Based on the Fusion of Osteoblasts and MSM/HA/PLGA Porous Scaffolds
Authors: huo weiling , Wu Xiaodong , zheng Yancheng , Cheng Jian , Xu Qiang , Li Pengpeng , Han Conghui , Li Zongyun
Published: April 2020

Reconstruction of bone defect is one of the difficult problems in orthopedic treatment, and bone tissue scaffold implantation is the most promising direction of bone defect reconstruction. In this study, we used the combination of HA (Hydroxyapatite) and PLGA [Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid)] in the construction of polymer scaffolds, and introduced bioactive MSM (Methyl sulfonyl methane) into polymer scaffolds to prepare porous scaffolds. The osteoblasts, isolated and cultured in vitro, were seeded in the porous scaffolds to construct tissue-engineered scaffolds. Meanwhile, the model of rabbit radius defect was constructed to evaluate the biological aspects of five tissue-engineered scaffolds, which provided experimental basis for the application of the porous scaffolds in bone tissue engineering. The SEM characterization showed the pore size of porous scaffolds was uniform and the porosity was about 90%. The results of contact Angle testing suggested that the hydrophobic porous scaffold surface could effectively promote cell adhesion and cell proliferation, while mechanical property test showed good machinability. The results of drug loading and release efficiency of MSM showed that porous scaffolds could load MSM efficiently and prolong the release time of MSM. In vitro incubation of porous scaffolds and osteoblasts showed that the addition of a small quantity of MSM could promote the infiltration and proliferation of osteoblasts on the porous scaffolds. Similar results were obtained by implanting the tissue-engineered scaffolds, fused with the osteoblasts and MSM/HA/PLGA porous scaffolds, into the rabbit radius defect, which provided experimental basis for the application of the MSM/HA/PLGA porous scaffolds in bone tissue engineering.
Human Ribosomal G-Quadruplexes Regulate Heme Bioavailability
Authors: Mestre-Fos Santi , Ito Chieri , Moore Courtney M. , Reddi Amit R. , Williams Loren Dean
Published: April 2020

Thein vitroformation of stable G-quadruplexes (G4s) in human ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was recently reported. However, their formation in cells and their cellular roles have not been resolved. Here, by taking a chemical biology approach that integrates results from immunofluorescence, G4 ligands, heme affinity reagents, and a genetically encoded fluorescent heme sensor, we report that human ribosomes can form G4sin vivothat regulate heme bioavailability. Immunofluorescence experiments indicate that the vast majority of extra-nuclear G4s are associated with rRNA. Moreover, titrating human cells with a G4 ligand alters the ability of ribosomes to bind heme and disrupts cellular heme bioavailability as measured by a genetically encoded fluorescent heme sensor. Overall, these results suggest ribosomes are central hubs of heme metabolism.
Multiple Bragg reflection by a thick mosaic crystal. II. Simplified transport equation solved on a grid
Authors: Bornemann Folkmar , Li Yun Yvonna , Wuttke Joachim
Published: April 2020

The generalized Darwin–Hamilton equations [Wuttke (2014). Acta Cryst. A70, 429–440] describe multiple Bragg reflection from a thick, ideally imperfect crystal. These equations are simplified by making full use of energy conservation, and it is demonstrated that the conventional two-ray Darwin–Hamilton equations are obtained as a first-order approximation. Then an efficient numeric solution method is presented, based on a transfer matrix for discretized directional distribution functions and on spectral collocation in the depth coordinate. Example solutions illustrate the orientational spread of multiply reflected rays and the distortion of rocking curves, especially if the detector only covers a finite solid angle.
Shareholder involvement and firm innovation performance
Authors: Zhang Feng , Zhu Lei , Wei Liqun
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Whether shareholders’ involvement in management benefits the organization’s performance remains inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to reconcile the conflicting results by exploring whether and under which contexts shareholder involvement may impact firm innovation performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study attempts to combine previous theoretical views (reactance and agency theories) to examine a curvilinear effect of shareholder involvement on firm innovation performance based on governance related to cost-benefit analysis. Drawing on data from 174 Chinese manufacturing firms, the hierarchical regressions were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The study finds that shareholder involvement has a U-shaped relationship with firm innovation performance. Moreover, ownership incentive strengthens the U-shaped relationship, while monitoring weakens it.

Originality/value

Examination of the U-shaped main effect of shareholder involvement and these contingent factors further explains the mixed empirical results concerning the link between shareholder activism and firm-level performance.
How to perform strategic change? A strategy as practice perspective
Authors: Wei Zelong , Zhang Linqian
Published: April 2020

Purpose

In spite of the significance of the strategic change, its high rate of failure inspires us to explore how to successfully enact new strategic change in a different environment. Based on strategy as practice perspective and effectuation theory, this study aims to extend extant literature by identifying two approaches performing strategic change (e.g. causation strategic change or effectuation strategic change) and investigating their effects on firm performance and also boundary conditions (e.g. market uncertainty or technological uncertainty).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a data set from 238 firms in China, the authors empirically test the hypotheses through regression analysis.

Findings

The findings indicate that causation and effectuation strategic changes can promote firm performance. However, the roles of the two approaches vary with the external environment. Specifically, market uncertainty strengthens while technological uncertainty weakens the positive effect of causation strategic change. In contrast, technological uncertainty strengthens the positive effect of effectuation strategic change on firm performance.

Originality/value

This study extends research literature of strategic change by identifying causation and effectuation strategic changes and investigating how their roles vary with market uncertainty and technological uncertainty. The findings guide firms to adopt a fit approach to perform a strategic change in different external environments.
Magnetic shielding of a thin Al/steel/Al composite
Authors: Clérico Paul , Mininger Xavier , Prévond Laurent , Baudin Thierry , Helbert Anne-Laure
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the efficiency of a laminated composite for shielding applications. The solution has to be efficient not only for the shield against static magnetic fields but also “for low-frequency ones, in order to be well-suited for applications with electromagnetic perturbations in the frequency range DC to 100 kHz.”

Design/methodology/approach

The composite constituted of a steel sheet taken in a sandwich between two aluminum (Al) sheets is produced by cold roll bonding. A good adherence between Al and steel sheets, ensuring a good mechanical resistance, is obtained with a specific process. A previous study has shown that the optimal trade-off between adherence and magnetic shielding effectiveness (SEH) is obtained with a 230 µm composite produced with an initial thickness of Al and steel sheets, respectively, of 250 and 100 µm. In this paper, the 230 µm Al/steel/Al composite is used in three applications modelized by two-dimensional numerical simulations. To obtain reasonable computation time for the simulations, a homogenization method is applied to the composite. Studied applications are a cylindrical box containing a coil, a square box under an external magnetic field and a high voltage cable.

Findings

In each application, SEH is calculated at low frequency and different materials (Al/steel/Al, Al, steel and copper) are compared. It is observed that, in each application, the composite presents higher SEH at equal mass, especially for frequencies between 5 and 100 kHz.

Originality/value

The proposed approach, from the material point of view to the system consideration, shows that the thin bimetallic composite is an innovative and promising solution for magnetic shielding in the case of applications with both DC and low-frequency perturbations.
When affirmative action is not enough: challenges in career development of persons with disability
Authors: Gupta Amit , Priyadarshi Pushpendra
Published: April 2020

Purpose

There is dearth of research pertaining to how persons with disability (PWDs) view their career and the issues they face in career development; past studies highlight either the organizational initiatives or individual factors in this regard. The present study bridges this gap by studying the PWDs' experiences and perceptions on challenges in their career development.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory study through interview of professionally qualified PWDs in India, who have a permanent employment.

Findings

PWDs experience that affirmative action has a negative fallout as it leads to positive discrimination and hence, adversely affects their confidence and development.

Research limitations/implications

The present study throws up new themes in the organizational climate that the PWDs face in career development, future studies can understand the aspirations of PWDs toward career and focus on the how the PWDs engage in shaping their career. Researchers can explore strategies that PWDs plan/adopt in creating a sustainable career for themselves. Scholars can also map the issues raised by PWDs with the career outcomes.

Social implications

The Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016, of Government of India introduces a social model of disability in India. This paper deploys the social model of disability to enhance our understanding of the disability climate in India from a new lens.

Originality/value

This study introduces new themes that depict the environmental factors and are related to the organizational climate rather than self-focused issues of PWDs. The paper introduces two new subjective criteria, voiced by PWDs, for career development – a well-crafted capability-based career path and role of inspirational platforms. It introduces hitherto undiscovered issues toward career development, faced by PWDs who have a secure employment and a professional career. This is the first exclusive study of PWDs employed in public sector and thus, brings uniqueness in the context.
Clarifying the disruptive innovation puzzle: a critical review
Authors: Martínez-Vergara Sucet Jimena , Valls-Pasola Jaume
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Disruptive innovation theory has attracted the interest of researchers and practitioners across many areas, resulting in the development of new business models and strategies. Despite the increasing scholarly attention, its definition has not yet been understood, the understanding of the term “disruptive” and the complex nature of this innovation has provoked some misinterpretations, and the meaning remains ambiguous. To address this confusion, this article undertakes a critical review of disruptive innovation in an attempt at providing a solid theoretical grounding.

Design/methodology/approach

The review examines the key issues of published articles, identified after conducting a search in the Web of Science scholarly database. The analysis highlights the basic definitions of disruptive innovation, showing its evolution, types and its characteristics. This article also examines the behaviours adopted by the actors associated with disruptive innovation (i.e. incumbents, entrants and customers).

Findings

Overall, this article finds that disruptive innovation has its own elements to be identified, requiring an in-depth analysis to avoid confusing with other innovation approaches. The findings suggest that disruptive innovation affects businesses and sectors in varied and complex ways because customers from low-end market and mainstream market appreciate this innovation. Further, its impact on practice is huge and incites further efforts in establishing a stronger theoretical grounding.

Originality/value

Our research contributes on the evolution of this theory, helping to better understand the phenomenon of disruption and can be used for different types of research settings.
Parameters of ICT-associated deviant behaviour among Omani undergraduates
Authors: Al-Nuaimi Mariam Nasser , Bouazza Abdelmajid , Abu-Hilal Maher M.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper examines associations among the socio-psychological determinants of information and communication technologies (ICT)-assisted deviance-related practices within a group of Omani undergraduates. Moreover, this study aims to evaluate the explanatory burdens of such socio-psychological factors on actual behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

The study implements a predictive research design applied to a cross-sectional sample. At the outset, a theoretical model was built based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Thereafter, structural equation modelling was implemented to test the TPB model on the response data collected from a cluster sample of undergraduates from six universities in the Sultanate of Oman.

Findings

The results of the path diagram overwhelmingly support the TPB hypotheses. Specifically, intention is the most influential and immediate predictor of behaviour, while at the same time partially, though markedly, mediating the influence of cognition on behaviour.

Practical implications

This study has implications for the design of inclusive measures of the intrinsic dimensions of ethical self-efficacy as designated by the social cognitive theory of moral thought and conduct, which include moral judgment, self-monitoring of conduct and affective reactions to conduct. As the study reveals the importance of the explanatory power of cognition to explain variance in intention and behaviour, it has implications on the development of ICT-ethics-education.

Originality/value

This study fills a gap in the empirical literature on how intention mediates the relationship between ICT-ethics-connected cognition and behaviour. Moreover, the study addresses the direct relationship between cognition and behaviour – a relationship that is considered equivocal in both theories of planned behaviour and reasoned action.
A novel movies recommendation algorithm based on reinforcement learning with DDPG policy
Authors: Zhou Qiaoling
Published: April 2020

Purpose

English original movies played an important role in English learning and communication. In order to find the required movies for us from a large number of English original movies and reviews, this paper proposed an improved deep reinforcement learning algorithm for the recommendation of movies. In fact, although the conventional movies recommendation algorithms have solved the problem of information overload, they still have their limitations in the case of cold start-up and sparse data.

Design/methodology/approach

To solve the aforementioned problems of conventional movies recommendation algorithms, this paper proposed a recommendation algorithm based on the theory of deep reinforcement learning, which uses the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm to solve the cold starting and sparse data problems and uses Item2vec to transform discrete action space into a continuous one. Meanwhile, a reward function combining with cosine distance and Euclidean distance is proposed to ensure that the neural network does not converge to local optimum prematurely.

Findings

In order to verify the feasibility and validity of the proposed algorithm, the state of the art and the proposed algorithm are compared in indexes of RMSE, recall rate and accuracy based on the MovieLens English original movie data set for the experiments. Experimental results have shown that the proposed algorithm is superior to the conventional algorithm in various indicators.

Originality/value

Applying the proposed algorithm to recommend English original movies, DDPG policy produces better recommendation results and alleviates the impact of cold start and sparse data.
The role of fashion retail buyers in China and the buyer decision-making process
Authors: Zhong Yingtong , Mitra Sovan
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The Chinese fashion market is becoming increasingly important in terms of consumption volume and value. A critical aspect of the Chinese fashion market is the role of the fashion retail buyer; however, there exists little literature on their role and their decision-making process. This paper, therefore, explores the role of Chinese fashion retail buyers, their decision-making process as well as the key factors that influence the retail buyer's decision-making process.

Design/methodology/approach

Informed by the inductive approach within Sheth's (1981) framework, in-depth interviews with a number of retail buyers in nine leading fashion companies in China were carried out to explore fashion retail buyers' decision-making processes.

Findings

The results show that management mentality, type of merchandise and type of decision context were the most influencing factors regarding merchandise requirements (MRs). Fashion retail buyers in China are substantially restricted by the management style of the firm, which also influences the product mix choice. To evaluate merchandise, fashion buyers take into account consumer demand, company position, geographical differences and fashion trends. In regards to supplier selection, production stability coupled with quality and cost factors become paramount. The study also demonstrates that country of origin (COO) is a less significant factor in the fashion buyer's decision-making process.

Originality/value

This is the first study that explores the fashion retail buyer's decision-making processes in the Chinese market. The results show Chinese fashion buyers' decision-making processes differ significantly from other markets. This paper offers guidelines for an efficient and effective fashion retail buying process in China. The findings offer important avenues for further research and provide insights for fashion professionals in the Chinese and other emerging markets contexts.
Human and social capital as influencers on women’s careers
Authors: Monserrat Silvia Ines , Simmers Claire A.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

In 1979, Rosemary Pledger became the first female President of the Academy of Management (AOM). AOM, through scholarship and teaching about management and organizations, is well known for its contributions to the development of modern management theory. The purpose of this paper is to understand and analyze the human and social influencers which enabled Pledger’s career success. She climbed to the top of her profession and became a role model for other professional women, especially in the academic field; she successfully cracked the glass ceiling.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a qualitative methodology as most appropriate to examine the research question of how Pledger used human and social skills to overcome barriers to career success. In addition to her biographical data, the authors analyzed 1,593 pages of documents from the AOM Archives at the Khell Center, Martin P. Catherwood Library, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

Findings

Pledger succeeded because she developed strong human and social capital critical for career success and career mobility. Becoming part of the top management team in three organizations – the AOM, the Southwestern AOM and the University of Houston – Clear Lake City is evidence of her skill in using her capital to crack the glass ceiling.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of author interpretation of secondary data is recognized.

Practical implications

This work illustrates the appropriateness of qualitative research, specifically, in placing important management figures in context, and it makes clear how human and social capital factors are critical to career success for women.

Originality/value

AOM’s contribution to the development of modern management theory is widely recognized; however, there is a lack of studies related to the career successes of AOM’s female leaders. This paper chronicles the career life of Rosemary Pledger who became the first female president of the AOM and a successful Dean and examines the factors that contributed to her career success despite the presence of a glass ceiling.
The relationship between sustainable innovation and product or service innovation: a survey in companies in Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Severo Eliana Andréa , Perin Marcia Marisa Santanna , De Guimarães Julio Cesar Ferro , Taufer Elaine
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Environmental problems and natural resources scarcity are changing contemporary organizations management. The current society quest sustainable companies, mostly concern with the consumption and efficient management of natural resources; those innovative and sustainable companies have the capacity to create innovations and beneficial outcomes for the environment and society. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relevance of sustainable innovation on products and services innovation, in companies in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil).

Design/methodology/approach

In the research, the authors applied a descriptive and quantitative method, through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), with the use of varimax rotation and multiple linear regression. The final sample of the survey consists of 107 respondents.

Findings

The results indicate that sustainable innovation (SI) has an influence on products and services innovations in the organizations, moreover the process innovations can provide reduced energy consumption and waste emissions, indicating the awareness regarding the environmental issues.

Research limitations/implications

It is emphasized that environmental issues must be linked to investments in environmental education projects in organizations, thus enabling a systemic and effective vision on this issue.

Practical implications

This research presents managerial and academic contributions, as it has developed a scale to measure the importance of SI on products and services innovation.

Originality/value

The study developed a measurement model, with observable variables based on the specialized literature. The measurement model consists of the constructs of product/service innovation and SI, which were statistically validated through the tests of normality, reliability and EFA.
Embryonic and post‐embryonic responses to high‐elevation hypoxia in a low‐elevation lizard
Authors: LI Xinghan , WU Pengfei , MA Liang , HUEBNER Christopher , SUN Baojun , LI Shuran
Published: April 2020

Low‐elevation species can migrate toward higher elevations to survive in a warming world. However, animals’ responses to hypoxia when migrating to high elevations have rarely been addressed. To identify the response of low‐elevation lizards to high‐elevation hypoxia, we collected field body temperatures (Tfb) and operative temperatures (Te) of lizards (Eremias argus) from a low‐elevation population (1036 m) and a high‐elevation population (2036 m), and then determined adult thermal physiology, embryonic development, and hatchling phenotypes after acclimating low‐elevation lizards and incubating their eggs in conditions mimicking the low‐elevation oxygen condition (18.5% O2) and high‐elevation oxygen (hypoxic) condition (16.5% O2). Our study revealed that Tfb and Te were higher for the low‐elevation population compared to the high‐elevation population. We also found adults from low elevation acclimated to hypoxia preferred lower body temperatures, but did not show changes in locomotor performance or growth. In addition, hypoxia did not affect embryonic development (hatching time and success) or hatchling phenotypes (body size and locomotor performance). These results suggest that adult lizards from low elevations can respond to hypoxia‐induced stress when migrating to high elevations by behaviorally thermoregulating to lower body temperatures in order to sustain normal functions. Similarly, low‐elevation embryos can develop normally (with unchanged hatching success and offspring phenotypes) under the high‐elevation hypoxic condition. This study highlights that low‐elevation populations of a species that inhabits a range of elevations can buffer the impact of high‐elevation hypoxic conditions to some degree and thus attain similar fitness to the source population.
The movement dynamics of autotomized lizards and their tails reveal functional costs of caudal autotomy
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ‐RODRÍGUEZ Irene , BRAÑA Florentino
Published: April 2020

Autotomy has evolved independently several times in different animal lineages. It frequently involves immediate functional costs, so regeneration evolved in many instances to restore the functionality of that body part. Caudal autotomy is a widespread antipredator strategy in lizards, although it may affect energy storage, locomotion dynamics, or survival in future encounters with predators. Here, we assessed the effect of tail loss on the locomotor performance of wall lizards (Podarcis muralis), as well as the recovery of locomotor functionality of lizards with regenerated tails, and the movement dynamics of shed tails that were either intact or having regenerated portions. Tail loss had no effect on locomotion over unhindered spaces, possibly due to compensation between a negative effect on the stride of front limbs, and a positive effect of losing mass and friction force. We found a clear negative impact of tail loss on locomotion in spaces with interspersed obstacles, in which tailed lizards jumped larger distances when leaving the obstacles. Besides, lizards that used the tail to push off the ground were able to approach the obstacles from further, so that the tail seemed to be useful when used during jumping. Regeneration fully restores lizard's locomotor capacities, but tail antipredator value, as indicated by the intensity of post‐autotomic movements, is only partially retrieved. From these results, we propose that, together with the recovery of post‐autotomy antipredator capacities, the restoration of the organismal locomotor performance may have been an important, yet frequently neglected factor in the evolution of lizard's regeneration ability.
Update on disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of primary Sjögren’s syndrome
Authors: Wang Jing , Zhou Lingyan , Liu Bin
Published: April 2020

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a typical multisystem disease, characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands leading to glandular dysfunction. Multiple systemic manifestations occur in those of serious conditions, with different courses and outcomes. Its pathogenesis is complex, and its diagnosis and management are being constantly updated and improved. We have failed to have much progress in targeted immunotherapy for pSS, and as yet this is still based on empirical treatment. Many studies have tried to define pSS more accurately, to study its pathogenesis, to find effective treatment strategies, opening up new avenues for early diagnosis and precise management of pSS.
Aspirin‐targeted PD‐L1 in lung cancer growth inhibition
Authors: Zhang Yixiang , Lv Changsheng , Dong Yan , Yang Qingkai
Published: April 2020

Background

Aspirin is a classic anti‐inflammatory drug and its anticancer effect has been previously explored in many types of cancer including colorectal cancer therapy. Programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) is widely expressed in tumor cells and displays an inhibitory role in antitumor immunity. This study aimed to clarify the role of PD‐L1 in aspirin‐suppressed lung cancer.

Methods

The inhibitory effect of aspirin on lung cancer cell proliferation was assessed using an MTT cell viability assay. The role of aspirin in the modulation of PD‐L1 expression was analyzed by western blot or RT‐PCR assays. In lung cancer cells, the influence of aspirin on PD‐L1 promoter activity was detected using a luciferase reporter assay. The interaction of TAZ with PD‐L1 promoter in the cells, with or without aspirin administration, was tested via chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis. The function of PD‐L1 in aspirin‐mediated growth inhibition of lung cancer was examined using a cell viability assay.

Results

Following treatment with aspirin, lung cancer cell growth was markedly suppressed. Aspirin was able to markedly decrease the expression of PD‐L1 at the mRNA and protein levels in lung cancer cells. For the mechanism study, we found that the promoter of PD‐L1 was inactivated by aspirin via TAZ transcriptional coactivator in the cells. With regard to the functional investigation, aspirin was capable of resisting cell proliferation and PD‐L1 overexpression abolished aspirin‐depressed cell proliferation in lung cancer.

Conclusions

Aspirin suppressed the growth of lung cancer cells via targeting the TAZ/PD‐L1 axis.
Parasitoid associated with Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) outbreaks in tomato fields in Brazil
Authors: Lopes Mayara C. , Costa Thiago L. , Ramos Rodrigo S. , Farias Elizeu S. , Arcanjo Lucas P. , Ribeiro Arthur V. , Santos Abraão A. , Picanço Marcelo C.
Published: April 2020

The knowledge of natural factors that affect pest populations is essential in predicting the occurrence of pest outbreaks and in developing integrated pest management programmes. Natural enemies, climatic elements and host plants are among the most important factors affecting pest dynamics.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is the second most consumed vegetable worldwide. The pea leaf miner Liriomyza huidobrensis (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is a major pest to the tomato in Brazil.

This study aimed to determine the main natural factors that regulate L. huidobrensis populations in tomato fields in Brazil.

Liriomyza huidobrensis densities were evaluated by directly counting the number of active mines on the basal leaf of the middle section of the plant canopy, and predators and parasitoids were assessed using the leaf‐beating‐against‐a‐tray technique. Eight commercial tomato fields were assessed over two years. The phenological growth stages of the tomato plants (vegetative and reproductive) were noted during the assessments.

Liriomyza huidobrensis populations peaked between the middle and end of the planting season.

Opius sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was the main natural enemy of L. huidobrensis.

Our results suggest that phenological growth stage and Opius sp. are associated with population dynamics of L. huidobrensis in tomato fields.

Therefore, integrated pest management programmes should aim to preserve populations of the parasitoid Opius sp.
Dietary habits in Japanese patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria
Authors: Matano Yoko , Morita Takashi , Ito Michiko , Okazaki Shizuka , Koto Mototaka , Ichikawa Yuri , Takayama Ryoko , Hoashi Toshihiko , Saeki Hidehisa , Kanda Naoko
Published: April 2020

Background

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is defined as the spontaneously appearing weals and/or angioedema for more than 6 weeks. Dietary habits can modulate the pathogenesis of CSU. However, dietary intakes of nutrients or food in CSU patients, compared with healthy controls, have not been examined in quality and quantity.

Methods

We evaluated dietary habits in adult Japanese patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria using a validated, brief‐type self‐administered diet history questionnaire and compared the results to those of age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. The severity of CSU was evaluated using the Urticaria Control Test.

Results

Japanese CSU patients showed higher body mass indices, higher intakes of eggs, vegetables other than green/yellow vegetables/mushrooms/algae, cholesterol, folic acid, dietary fibres, vitamin D, vitamin K, Cu, Fe, Pi, Ca, Mg, Na and salt, and lower intake of alcohol, compared to controls. The logistic regression analysis showed that CSU was associated with high body mass index and high intake of eggs. The intake of beverages was higher in uncontrolled CSU patients (Urticaria Control Test ≦11 points) than in controlled patients. The logistic regression analysis showed that uncontrolled CSU was associated with high intake of beverages. The intake of coffee, caffeine‐rich and non‐alcohol beverage, in uncontrolled CSU patients was higher than that in controlled patients.

Conclusions

Chronic spontaneous urticaria was associated with high body mass index and high intake of eggs. Uncontrolled CSU was associated with high intake of beverages. Further studies should elucidate the relationships of these results with the development or exacerbation of CSU.
Economic and Noneconomic Factors Influencing Geographic Differentials in Homelessness: An Exploratory State‐Level Analysis
Authors: Cebula Richard J. , Alexander Gigi M.
Published: April 2020

In this exploratory state‐level empirical study for the United States, the authors estimate a pooled time‐series/cross‐section framework, with control variables for population size and population growth, for the years 2015–2016. Within this context, the least squares estimates lead to the following tentative findings: (1) homelessness is positively associated with the overall cost of living, on the one hand, and the average rent level, on the other hand; (2) homelessness appears to be an increasing function of the percent of the population without a high school diploma but a decreasing function of the percent of the population with a bachelor’s degree or a higher level of formal education; (3) homelessness is a decreasing function of labor market freedoms reflecting the degree of union density and union power, on the one hand, and excessive government employment beyond that needed solely for productive and protective services, on the other hand; (4) homelessness is positively associated with personal freedom from incarceration and arrest; and (5) homelessness is negatively associated with income, as higher income reduces homelessness. Based on these findings, preliminary policy implications are also provided.
Visible Homelessness in a “Liveable City”: Municipal Responses to Homelessness in Melbourne
Authors: Petty James , Young Alison
Published: April 2020

Despite considerable national and urban prosperity, significant numbers of Australians are homeless. How local governments engage with homelessness has significant implications for the homeless population. In recent years, municipal strategies have inclined towards the maintenance of public order at the cost of the rights of homeless individuals. In this article, we investigate the approach to homelessness proposed by the City of Melbourne in 2017, which centered on the expansion of powers to remove individuals and the confiscation of possessions, testing the council’s claims as to the impact of visible homelessness upon local businesses and upon other users of public spaces.
Cyclical Housing Markets and Homelessness
Authors: Harrison Fred
Published: April 2020

The fundamental explanation of homelessness has eluded governments that claim to operate with “evidence‐based policies.” The underlying cause of most homelessness is inherent in land markets, which are subject to wide swings of speculative manias followed by debilitating depressions. Rather than seeking to rectify the economic roots of homelessness by altering the tax treatment of real estate, governments focus on ameliorative strategies that are destined to fail. Cycles of boom and bust in land markets have persisted since the 19th century. They exacerbate homelessness by pricing low‐income renters out of the market during the upswing, as land prices rise, and by generating massive foreclosures and evictions during the downswing. The most important action government could take to remedy the problem of homelessness is to devise policies to dampen the swings in land prices.
Reflections on Working with Homeless People
Authors: Cobb Jonathan
Published: April 2020

As a housing case manager in a homeless shelter, I work closely with homeless people every day. While there is an important place for the tools of social science in understanding the challenges they face, we should not distance ourselves emotionally from the homeless and treat them as stereotypes rather than as unique individuals. My main task in the shelter is to help the guests find their way through the almost impenetrable maze of government programs that are supposed to assist them in finding housing and work. Yet, about one‐third of homeless people struggle with some form of mental illness, which adds to the complexity of serving them in a shelter. Physical disabilities, substance abuse, and criminal backgrounds create additional obstacles for a large number of homeless people. Those problems are often caused or compounded by homelessness. The primary cause of homelessness does not lie in the people themselves but in the capitalist system. Homelessness will remain a chronic problem until we create a society and economy in which accountability is localized, and communities on the scale of neighborhoods are strengthened to the point that they can respond to problems humanely.
Homelessness and Inequality
Authors: Cleveland Mary
Published: April 2020

Homelessness and housing insecurity in the United States are not so much a housing problem or a poverty problem as a visible sign that growing wealth inequality has left millions of people unable to earn enough to afford adequate housing. The classical economists David Ricardo and Henry George linked wealth inequality by arbitrage to unequal income and wages. The greater the inequality of wealth, the greater the inequality of income and the lower the wages at the bottom. Neoclassical economics has largely obscured this relationship. Consequently, proposals from both conservatives and liberals to address homelessness focus narrowly on housing. Ultimately, reducing wealth inequality requires national tax reform and a return to vigorous antitrust enforcement. However, cities can reduce local inequality by making property tax assessments uniform, or, better yet, by shifting to taxing land only.
The Churning of Skid Row: A Genealogy of Development, Gentrification, and Displacement
Authors: Chananiah Pesach
Published: April 2020

The last two decades have seen striking changes to downtown Los Angeles's population. While phrases like “renewal” or “revitalization” pepper the discourse around new urban investment, the reality has been a shocking displacement of those living in single room occupancy (SRO) hotel units—and in tents throughout the area known as Skid Row. Beneath the competing interests of affordable housing advocates, on the one hand, and the public relations campaigns of the private and public sectors, on the other, lie the very real material and discursive forces that are taking the lead. Collective memory is often too short to see historic trends, yet to approximate a grasp of them is to gain ground in a seemingly chaotic present. Through a depth approach to journalistic sources, power analyses, and stakeholder interviews, this article investigates and interrogates the various discourses at play in gentrification media—government, financial interests, individual actors, and judicial bodies. Its purpose is to illustrate systemic causes of urban oppression and trauma in order to inform future attempts to both understand and intervene in the uprooting of communities.
Flow‐controlled fluoroscopic angiography for the assessment of vascular integrity in bioengineered kidneys
Authors: Cohen Shahar , Soffer‐Hirschberg Sarit , Partouche Shirly , Hovav Benny , Gurevich Michael , Mezhybovsky Vadym , Tennak Vladimir , Eisner Sigal , Nesher Eviatar , Mor Eytan , Atar Eli
Published: April 2020

Perfusion decellularization has been proposed as a promising method for generating nonimmunogenic organs from allogeneic or xenogeneic donors. Several imaging modalities have been used to assess vascular integrity in bioengineered organs with no consistency in the methodology used. Here, we studied the use of fluoroscopic angiography performed under controlled flow conditions for vascular integrity assessment in bioengineered kidneys. Porcine kidneys underwent ex vivo angiography before and after perfusion decellularization. Arterial and venous patencies were defined as visualization of contrast medium (CM) in distal capillaries and renal vein, respectively. Changes in vascular permeability were visualized and quantified. No differences in patency were detected in decellularized kidneys compared with native kidneys. However, focal parenchymal opacities and significant delay in CM clearance were detected in decellularized kidneys, indicating increased permeability. Biopsy‐induced leakage was visualized in both groups, with digital subtraction angiography revealing minimal CM leakage earlier than nonsubtracted fluoroscopy. In summary, quantitative assessment of vascular permeability should be coupled with patency when studying the effect of perfusion decellularization on kidney vasculature. Flow‐controlled angiography should be considered as the method of choice for vascular assessment in bioengineered kidneys. Adopting this methodology for organs premodified ex vivo under normothermic machine perfusion settings is also suggested.
Accurate non‐invasive diagnosis and staging of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease using the urinary steroid metabolome
Authors: Moolla Ahmad , de Boer Jasper , Pavlov David , Amin Amin , Taylor Angela , Gilligan Lorna , Hughes Beverly , Ryan John , Barnes Eleanor , Hassan‐Smith Zaki , Grove Jane , Aithal Guruprasad P. , Verrijken An , Francque Sven , Van Gaal Luc , Armstrong Matthew J. , Newsome Phillip N. , Cobbold Jeremy F. , Arlt Wiebke , Biehl Michael , Tomlinson Jeremy W.
Published: April 2020

Background

The development of accurate, non‐invasive markers to diagnose and stage non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is critical to reduce the need for an invasive liver biopsy and to identify patients who are at the highest risk of hepatic and cardio‐metabolic complications. Disruption of steroid hormone metabolic pathways has been described in patients with NAFLD.

Aim(s)

To assess the hypothesis that assessment of the urinary steroid metabolome may provide a novel, non‐invasive biomarker strategy to stage NAFLD.

Methods

We analysed the urinary steroid metabolome in 275 subjects (121 with biopsy‐proven NAFLD, 48 with alcohol‐related cirrhosis and 106 controls), using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) coupled with machine learning‐based Generalised Matrix Learning Vector Quantisation (GMLVQ) analysis.

Results

Generalised Matrix Learning Vector Quantisation analysis achieved excellent separation of early (F0‐F2) from advanced (F3‐F4) fibrosis (AUC receiver operating characteristics [ROC]: 0.92 [0.91‐0.94]). Furthermore, there was near perfect separation of controls from patients with advanced fibrotic NAFLD (AUC ROC = 0.99 [0.98‐0.99]) and from those with NAFLD cirrhosis (AUC ROC = 1.0 [1.0‐1.0]). This approach was also able to distinguish patients with NAFLD cirrhosis from those with alcohol‐related cirrhosis (AUC ROC = 0.83 [0.81‐0.85]).

Conclusions

Unbiased GMLVQ analysis of the urinary steroid metabolome offers excellent potential as a non‐invasive biomarker approach to stage NAFLD fibrosis as well as to screen for NAFLD. A highly sensitive and specific urinary biomarker is likely to have clinical utility both in secondary care and in the broader general population within primary care and could significantly decrease the need for liver biopsy.
HHpXRF study of recent zinc and lead pollution on lava stepping stones from Pompeii: Tourist footfall, tyre dust and leaded petrol
Authors: Worthing M. , Bosworth L. , Papandrea M. , Poehler E. , Ellis S. , Laurence R.
Published: April 2020

A helium‐enabled Niton X‐ray analyser (HHpXRF) study of 296 lava stepping stones from ancient Pompeii showed that their surfaces were contaminated with superficial deposits of Zn and Pb. Recent research has shown that concentrations of these elements are highest in urban areas, where they were attributed to tyre dust and leaded petrol, respectively. The distribution of these elements on the stepping stones is represented on maps of the site. Zn pollution is most abundant in areas visited by tourists and is attributed mostly to wear from their rubber‐soled footwear. Pb pollution is attributed to the movement of onsite vehicles using leaded petrol.
The effect of “co‐creation with consumers” claims on purchase intention: The moderating role of product category performance information
Authors: Zuniga Huertas Melby Karina , Pergentino Ingrid
Published: April 2020

This paper tests whether consumer co‐creation claims affect consumer responses, given context information related to the product category performance. The hypothesis is that when there is negative context information related to the product category performance, those exposed to a product claiming co‐creation, will have higher purchase intentions than those exposed to a product developed by the firm. Two experimental studies supported the paper's hypothesis. Negative context information about the product category performance would improve the evaluation of a product claiming co‐creation in comparison to a product that does not. Results suggest that negative product category performance must be induced or evoked to increase the effect of a co‐creation claim on purchase intention. These findings determine contextual boundaries for the co‐creation with consumers claim effect as an advertising appeal, providing explanations based on Context Information theory. It is proposed and proved that the co‐creation claim effect on purchase intention is moderated by the context information about the product category performance.
Individual learning goal orientations in self‐managed team‐based organizations: A study on individual and contextual variables
Authors: Annosi Maria Carmela , Monti Alberto , Martini Antonella
Published: April 2020

Previous research has shown the importance of individual learning goal orientation for both job and task performance and consequently organizational performance. Despite its importance, knowledge on the antecedents of learning goal orientation remains scarce, especially in the context of self‐managing team‐based organizations. In fact, most of the research on goal orientation antecedents has been focused on individual characteristics, belief, and ability, while the contextual factors that might influence them remain unspecified. We build on and further extend earlier studies by jointly exploring the role of individual and contextual factors affecting individual learning orientation. In particular, this study combines individual informal social network, self‐efficacy, performance feedbacks, and team identification into a model that explains individuals' learning goal orientation within self‐managing team‐based organizations. The model was empirically tested on a sample of 104 individuals belonging to an R&D organization relying on self‐managing teams. Results show that performance feedback has a negative direct effect, while team identification has a positive direct effect on individual learning goal orientation. In addition, we found that individual self‐efficacy is a mediator of the relationships between performance feedback and brokerage in the advice network and individual learning goal orientation. Finally, we did not find a relationship between centrality in the friendship network and individual learning goal orientation.