bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The success of short-term study abroad programs: a social networks perspective
Authors: DeJordy Rich , Milevoj Emil , Schmidtke James M. , Bommer William H.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of individual difference variables and social relationships on student learning outcomes of short-term study abroad programs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a social network analysis (SNA) approach to examine the effects of friendship, advice and communication networks on student learning outcomes.

Findings

Results indicated that demographic characteristics (e.g. sex, years of work experience) did not influence learning outcomes nor the enjoyment of the experience. Social networks positively influenced students’ perceived improvement in managerial skills, their ability to reflect on their international experience and their intercultural sensitivity.

Research limitations/implications

Social relationships may be an important factor to consider in understanding the relationship between short-term study abroad programs and learning outcomes.

Practical implications

Program directors and faculty members need to consider the design of assignments and activities that may facilitate the development of specific types of social relationships (e.g. friendship, communication and advice). These specific social relationships may have unique influences on specific learning outcomes of short-term study abroad programs.

Originality/value

This study is the first study that examined the effects of different types of social relationships on learning outcomes for short-term study abroad programs. The results have important implications for both future research and the design of international study-abroad programs.
Drivers of brand credibility in consumer evaluation of global brands and domestic brands in an emerging market context
Authors: Srivastava Ankur , Dey Dipanjan Kumar , M.S. Balaji
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of brand credibility on purchase intentions toward global brands and domestic brands in an emerging market context. It further examines three drivers of brand credibility: perceived globalness, perceived local iconness and perceived authenticity.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Systematic random sampling using the mall intercept technique was used to collect cross-sectional data from 836 customers in India. Hypotheses were tested by using structural equation modeling with AMOS 21.

Findings

The results demonstrate the significance of brand credibility on purchase intentions. Furthermore, brand globalness differentially influence brand credibility for global and domestic brands.

Research limitations/implications

The findings provide key insights for marketers regarding consumer evaluation of global brands and domestic brands in emerging markets.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by proposing and testing the key role of brand credibility in consumer choice of global brands versus domestic brands in an emerging market context.
In-plane stability of shallow concrete arches under fire
Authors: Bouras Yanni , Vrcelj Zora
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Concrete arch structures are commonly constructed for various civil engineering applications. Despite their frequent use, there is a lack of research on the response and performance of concrete arches when subjected to fire loading. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the response and in-plane failure modes of shallow circular concrete arches subjected to mechanical and fire loading.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is conducted through the development of a three-dimensional finite element (FE) model in ANSYS. The FE model is verified by comparison to a non-discretisation numerical model derived herein and the reduced modulus buckling theory, both used for the non-linear inelastic analysis of shallow concrete arches subjected to uniformly distributed radial loading and uniform temperature field. Both anti-symmetric and symmetric buckling modes are examined, with analysis of the former requiring geometric imperfection obtained by an eigenvalue buckling analysis.

Findings

The FE results show that anti-symmetric bifurcation buckling is the dominant failure mode in shallow concrete arches under mechanical and fire loading. Additionally, parametric studies are presented which illustrate the influence of various parameters on fire resistance time.

Originality/value

Fire response of concrete arches has not been reported in the open literature. The authors have previously investigated the stability of shallow concrete arches subjected to mechanical and uniform thermal loading. It was found that temperature greatly reduced the buckling loads of concrete arches. However, this study was limited to the simplifying assumptions made which include elastic material behaviour and uniform temperature loading. The present study provides a realistic insight into the fire response and stability of shallow concrete arches. The findings herein may be adopted in the fire design of shallow concrete arches.
The philosophy of quality in education: a qualitative approach
Authors: Brinia Vasiliki , Poullou Vasiliki , Panagiotopoulou Angeliki-Rafailia
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the perceptions of pre-school educators for the application of total quality philosophy in kindergartens in the prefecture of Corinthia, Greece. Dimensions, such as the adoption of quality philosophy in the pre-school unit by the superiors, the active participation of teachers in decision-making and human resource management parameters, are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological approach of qualitative research was selected for the collection, processing and analysis of data based on the methodological tools of the interview with a semi-structured questionnaire and deliberate random sampling of kindergarten teachers serving in public units where they have teaching and/or administrative tasks.

Findings

The analysis of the data shows that there is no particular familiarity with the basic parameters of total quality philosophy in pre-school education and is related to empirical planning and lack of long-term vision. However, participatory decision-making and emotional intelligence are found as essential elements for ensuring an efficient and open-ended school culture.

Originality/value

The study is the first of its kind in Greece and abroad and its findings can be used to enrich the thematic scope of application of total quality management dimensions to pre-school education and in particular, those dimensions related to the leadership profile of teachers exercising responsibility tasks.
SMT assembly effects on organic substrate lifetime reduction
Authors: Huh Seok-Hwan
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is that the effects of surface mount technology (SMT) assembly process on the product lifetime of fine-pitch printed circuit boards (PCBs) were investigated under biased highly accelerated stress testing (HAST).

Design/methodology/approach

SMT assembly from a semiconductor SMT assembly process was replicated to test PCBs under the same conditions as SMT-assembled PCBs. The median lives µ and standard deviation s of the test PCBs were calculated from the log-normal distribution. The failure analysis of current leakages was conducted by the focused ion beam, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Using the inverse power law and modified Peck-H’s relationship, the PCB lives at accelerated (by SMT assembly stress) and user conditions were calculated.

Findings

The failure analysis demonstrated that SiO2 and BaSO4 fillers added for stiffening organic materials promote current leakage failure. Therefore, the hydrophobicity of these fillers is believed to be necessary to suppress the current leakage failure under biased HAST. The inverse power law model indicates that the acceleration life model with SMT assembly stress can be given as follows: L(V) = 271.9(S)−0.5031. From modified Peck-H’s relationship, after the third SMT assembly, the time required to attain 0.96 per cent failures at 35°C/60 per cent RH/1.9 V and 130°C/85 per cent RH/3.5 V are 129 y and 69.5 h, respectively. The biased HAST at 130°C/85 per cent/3.5 V after the third SMT assembly for 69.5 h on 238 samples could be recommended as an early quality-monitoring procedure.

Research limitations/implications

In the future, the failure modes in an early stage of a bathtub should be analyzed and the life prediction model should be studied accordingly.

Originality/value

Through this study, the lifetime prediction model and early quality-monitoring procedure for organic substrates because of SMT assembly stress were obtained.
A framework for Crosby’s quality principles using ISM and MICMAC approaches
Authors: Agrawal Nishant
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine Philip B. Crosby’s 14 quality principles and analyze the interaction between them. Hitherto no research has been published on the implementation of total quality management (TQM) using Crosby’s 14 principles. To fill this gap, interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and Matrix Impact Cross-Reference Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) analysis have been designed to prioritize, sequence and categorize variables to find both the dependence and driving power of these variables.

Design/methodology/approach

At the initial stage experts from industry as well as from academia were contacted to provide an input for ISM methodology and examine interactions between identified variables. In this approach, interpretations of the interrelationships among variables have been discussed, whereas MICMAC analysis is used to discover dependence and driving power.

Findings

The results of the investigation revealed that “Management Commitment,” “Quality Improvement Team,” “Quality Awareness,” “Supervisor Training,” “Goal Setting” and “Cost of Quality Evaluation” are strategic requirements; “Corrective Action,” “Zero Defects Day” and “Error Cause Removal” are tactical requirements. “Recognition,” “Quality Measurement,” “Quality Councils” and “Do It Over Again” are operational requirements for TQM applications.

Originality/value

ISM is used as a part of this research to provide valuable insights into interrelationships among Crosby’s quality principles through a systematic framework. The research opens up a new focus area on the implementation of TQM for services as well as for the manufacturing industry.
Downregulation of circular RNA circPVT1 restricts cell growth of hepatocellular carcinoma through downregulation of Sirtuin 7 via microRNA‐3666
Authors: Li Yong , Shi Haitao , Yuan Jia , Qiao Lu , Dong Lei , Wang Yan
Published: February 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified recently as pivotal regulators in the development and progression of cancers, generally by acting as competing endogenous RNAs of microRNAs (miRNAs) to regulate gene expression. The dysregulation of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has attracted much attention, but the precise role of circRNAs in HCC remains largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of circular RNA PVT1 (circPVT1), a newly identified cancer‐related circRNA, in HCC. Herein, we found that circPVT1 expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of circPVT1 significantly reduced the growth and colony formation, and increased cell apoptosis, of HCC cells. Our results further identified circPVT1 as a sponge for miR‐3666. Knockdown of circPVT1 significantly increased miR‐3666 expression in HCC cells. Moreover, miR‐3666 expression was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues and was inversely correlated with circPVT1 expression. In addition, the overexpression of miR‐3666 inhibited the growth of HCC cells by targeting Sirtuin 7 (SIRT7). Notably, miR‐3666 inhibition or SIRT7 overexpression partially reversed the circPVT1 knockdown‐mediated inhibitory effect on HCC cell growth. Overall, these results demonstrate that downregulation of circPVT1 represses HCC cell growth by upregulating miR‐3666 to inhibit SIRT7, suggesting circPVT1 as a potential therapeutic target for HCC. Our study highlights the involvement of circPVT1/miR‐3666/SIRT7 in regulating HCC cell growth.
Synthesis, physicochemical properties, and health aspects of structured lipids: A review
Authors: Guo Yalong , Cai Zhixiang , Xie Yanping , Ma Aiqin , Zhang Hongbin , Rao Pingfan , Wang Qiang
Published: February 2020

Structured lipids (SLs) refer to a new type of functional lipids obtained by chemically, enzymatically, or genetically modifying the composition and/or distribution of fatty acids in the glycerol backbone. Due to the unique physicochemical characteristics and health benefits of SLs (for example, calorie reduction, immune function improvement, and reduction in serum triacylglycerols), there is increasing interest in the research and application of novel SLs in the food industry. The chemical structures and molecular architectures of SLs define mainly their physicochemical properties and nutritional values, which are also affected by the processing conditions. In this regard, this holistic review provides coverage of the latest developments and applications of SLs in terms of synthesis strategies, physicochemical properties, health aspects, and potential food applications. Enzymatic synthesis of SLs particularly with immobilized lipases is presented with a short introduction to the genetic engineering approach. Some physical features such as solid fat content, crystallization and melting behavior, rheology and interfacial properties, as well as oxidative stability are discussed as influenced by chemical structures and processing conditions. Health‐related considerations of SLs including their metabolic characteristics, biopolymer‐based lipid digestion modulation, and oleogelation of liquid oils are also explored. Finally, potential food applications of SLs are shortly introduced. Major challenges and future trends in the industrial production of SLs, physicochemical properties, and digestion behavior of SLs in complex food systems, as well as further exploration of SL‐based oleogels and their food application are also discussed.
Alteration of cell junctions during viral infection
Authors: Dong Dan , Xie Wei , Liu Min
Published: February 2020

Cell junctions serve as a protective barrier for cells and provide an important channel for information transmission between cells and the surrounding environment. Viruses are parasites that invade and commandeer components of host cells in order to survive and replicate, and they have evolved various mechanisms to alter cell junctions to facilitate viral infection. In this review, we examined the current state of knowledge on the action of viruses on host cell junctions. The existing evidence suggests that targeting the molecules involved in the virus‐cell junction interaction can prevent the spread of viral diseases.
Microglia imaging in methamphetamine use disorder: a positron emission tomography study with the 18 kDa translocator protein radioligand [F‐18]FEPPA
Authors: Rathitharan Gausiha , Truong Jennifer , Tong Junchao , McCluskey Tina , Meyer Jeffrey H. , Mizrahi Romina , Warsh Jerry , Rusjan Pablo , Kennedy James L. , Houle Sylvain , Kish Stephen J. , Boileau Isabelle
Published: February 2020

Activation of brain microglial cells, microgliosis, has been linked to methamphetamine (MA)–seeking behavior, suggesting that microglia could be a new therapeutic target for MA use disorder. Animal data show marked brain microglial activation following acute high‐dose MA, but microglial status in human MA users is uncertain, with one positron emission tomography (PET) investigation reporting massively and globally increased translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO; [C‐11](R)‐PK11195) binding, a biomarker for microgliosis, in MA users. Our aim was to measure binding of a second‐generation TSPO radioligand, [F‐18]FEPPA, in brain of human chronic MA users. Regional total volume of distribution (VT) of [F‐18]FEPPA was estimated with a two‐tissue compartment model with arterial plasma input function for 10 regions of interest in 11 actively using MA users and 26 controls. A RM‐ANOVA corrected for TSPO rs6971 polymorphism was employed to test significance. There was no main effect of group on [F‐18]FEPPA VT (P = .81). No significant correlations between [F‐18]FEPPA VT and MA use duration, weekly dosage, blood MA concentrations, regional brain volumes, and self‐reported craving were observed. Our preliminary findings, consistent with our earlier postmortem data, do not suggest substantial brain microgliosis in MA use disorder but do not rule out microglia as a therapeutic target in MA addiction. Absence of increased [F‐18]FEPPA TSPO binding might be related to insufficient MA dose or blunting of microglial response following repeated MA exposure, as suggested by some animal data.
The Free Trade Philosophy of Sir George Paish
Authors: Ulrich Jennifer Bolan
Published: February 2020

Sir George Paish (1867–1957) was a British economist whose unique position as a journalist, political advisor, and international traveler gave him access to significant world events and leaders. Paish wrote for and edited the financial magazine The Statist and earned recognition as an expert on British and American railways. He lectured and wrote on economics and international finance throughout his adult life and advised David Lloyd George on economic subjects between 1909–1915. Paish's written works provide insight to early 20th‐century economic affairs through the lens of his liberal, free trade philosophy. This article examines many of Paish's most relevant reflections on free trade, following the chronology of his life.
Free Trade Agreements Between Peru, Colombia, and the United States
Authors: Lombana Monica P.
Published: February 2020

This article evaluates the process of negotiating and implementing the U.S.‐Peru and U.S.‐Colombia free trade agreements (FTAs) and analyzes the impact of these agreements on foreign direct investment (FDI) and export diversification in Peru and Colombia. The main finding is that institutional elements in each country uniquely impacted the process of negotiation, implementation, and the outcomes of these FTAs. Colombia benefited from the initial advantage of better institutional capacity and negotiating expertise, while Peru benefited from stronger political leadership and commitment to a bilateral trade agreement with the United States. Both Peru and Colombia have benefited from structured consultation mechanisms with the private sector and non‐government agents, continuity in trade policies throughout different political administrations, and strong political commitment to develop the institutional capacity needed to take full advantage of these FTAs. Furthermore, the implementation of these FTAs has coincided with an expansion of non‐traditional exports from Peru and Colombia, and an increase in FDI into sectors other than commodities such as oil, natural gas, and minerals.
The African Continental Free Trade Area
Authors: Obeng‐Odoom Franklin
Published: February 2020

Monopolies continue to dominate world trade by controlling global production and distribution chains. Neither free trade nor fair trade has transformed this system; the recent rise in nativism and pseudo‐protectionism has not, and cannot, address these problems either. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the largest free trade area in the world, promises to be different. AfCFTA rejects classical, neoclassical, and Marxist theories of trade, appealing, instead, to non‐aligned pan‐Africanism. It advocates continental free trade as a way to overcome the lingering effects of slavery, colonialism, and neocolonialism. However, its exclusive focus on continental Africa, its disinterest in systemic redistribution, and encouragement of the private appropriation of socially created land rents prevents AfCFTA from achieving its goals. In fact, AfCFTA might actually foster inequality—progress alongside of poverty—and in so doing, undermine the very essence of this trade regime. What Henry George (1886) called “true free trade,” a theory based on making land common by socializing land rent, offers a more promising and powerful model through which to achieve the pan‐African agenda. Indeed, only true free trade can definitively decolonize global trade.
Using Geographic Density of Firms to Identify the Effect of Board Size on Firm Value and Corporate Policies
Authors: Chintrakarn Pandej , Tong Shenghui , Jiraporn Pornsit , Kim Young Sang
Published: February 2020

Prior research shows that firms tend to recruit directors from the geographically proximate area. Due to a limited supply of qualified individuals in a given area, firms located in close proximity have to share a limited pool of talented individuals. As a result, the more firms there are in the same area, the fewer directors each firm in the area is able to obtain on average. We exploit the variation in the numbers of firms across zip codes and estimate the effects of board size on various corporate outcomes: accounting profitability, leverage, dividend payouts, and merger and acquisitions.
Memories of an Imperial City: Race, Gender, and Birmingham, Alabama
Authors: Meché Brittany
Published: February 2020

September 15, 2013, marked the 50thanniversary of the 16thStreet Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. The bombing remains one of the most infamous events in the history of white supremacist violence in the United States. While conventional accounts of the event and its aftermath often consider the legal restructuring of the US state following the passage of subsequent Civil Rights legislation, little has been written about the transnational significance of Birmingham in shaping the character of US power abroad. This article argues that memorialisation and cultural architecture of Birmingham represent a significant crucible forging a particular style of liberal empire. Tracing a cultural genealogy of Birmingham through the writings of former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and famed scholar‐activist Angela Davis, I demonstrate how Birmingham, as a site of historic black struggle, has been remembered alongside the place‐making of empire.
Perennial plant patches are sinks for seeds in semi‐arid woodlands in varying condition
Authors: Val James , Travers Samantha K. , Oliver Ian , Eldridge David J.
Published: February 2020

Questions

Understanding the processes that influence resilience in semi‐arid woodland communities is of critical importance in landscapes where livestock grazing is the dominant land use and an important driver of site condition. Seed banks are a critical component of site resilience as their persistence can be crucial for recovering from disturbances. We predicted that site condition and landscape structural elements (perennial plant patches) would strongly influence the richness and density of the soil seed bank.

Location

New South Wales, Australia.

Methods

We conducted a seedling emergence study to investigate the germinable seed bank in semi‐arid woodland. Soil samples were collected from three woodland communities (Cypress pine, Black box, Red gum) from sites in three levels of site condition (poor, average, good) and from four patch types (tree, shrub, grass, open). Seed bank species were assigned to three plant trait groups based on: (a) origin; (b) lifespan; and (c) palatability. We used linear models to assess the effects of community, site condition and patch type on the richness and seed density of the germinable seed bank.

Results

Site condition did not affect the seed bank density or richness, except for a lower density of highly palatable species at poor‐condition sites. Across all communities the importance of patch type on the soil seed bank density and richness varied with plant traits. The seed bank of perennial plant patches had a greater density of perennial species, a lower density of low palatability plants, and a greater richness of native and perennial species than interspaces.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that the germinable soil seed bank in semi‐arid woodlands can be relatively resilient to degradation. This suggests that disturbed sites where perennial patches remain, may still have the ability to recover, because these patches act as important seed reservoirs.
Barriers and facilitators to obesity prevention dissemination and implementation efforts in the childcare centre setting from the provider perspective
Authors: Lebron Cynthia N. , Ofori Ashley , Sardinas Krystal , Luaces Maria , Natale Ruby , Messiah Sarah E.
Published: February 2020

Background

It has been established that the childcare centre (CCC) is a setting suitable for healthy weight promotion efforts. As the field advances, it is important to understand the barriers and facilitators to early childhood obesity prevention implementation and dissemination efforts from the CCC providers' perspective. This is especially true among those who serve low‐income and diverse populations to maximize scalability success.

Methods

Focus groups were held in English or Spanish with CCC providers across six CCCs who implemented healthy caregivers–healthy children (HC2), an early childhood healthy weight promotion programme targeting 2‐ to 5‐year‐olds from low‐resource backgrounds. Centres represented both rural and urban environments. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and coded. A thematic analysis that combined a deductive and inductive approach was conducted. Codes were analysed using Dedoose to identify general themes and subthemes.

Results

CCC providers stated that (a) children understood the nutritional benefits of healthy foods; (b) improved cognitive development as a result of HC2; (c) parents were barriers to HC2 implementation efforts, particularly in terms of cooperative healthy lifestyle efforts; and (d) modelling healthy eating and making healthy CCC environmental changes facilitated HC2 implementation. Overall, HC2 was well received by CCC teachers, and they shared creative classroom HC2 adaptions and improvements.

Conclusions

CCC providers can provide valuable insight to guide early childhood healthy weight promotion programme dissemination and implementation efforts. Although they value the implementation of HC2 programme in their classroom settings, they perceive parents as somewhat obstructive. This information is critical to informing future healthy weight promotion efforts in this setting, especially among low‐resource families. It is important to continue to include the CCC provider viewpoint in future obesity prevention efforts to maximize scalability and sustainability efforts.
Bypass and hyperbole in soil research: Worrisome practices critically reviewed through examples
Authors: Baveye Philippe C.
Published: February 2020

Almost 30 years ago, a distinguished soil physical‐chemist, Grant W. Thomas, voiced serious concern about what he saw in the soil science literature as more a preoccupation with style than with substance. The present article argues that, similarly, there are reasons to be worried at the moment because of a tendency in much of the literature on soils, both within and outwith soil science, to systematically ignore certain bodies of “old” literature, even when they are extremely relevant, and also to unduly inflate the potential significance of research achievements. These two practices, referred to as “bypass” and “hyperbole”, are illustrated by several examples dealing, respectively, with soil “aggregates”, soil quality/health, soil “contributions to ecosystem services” and whole‐soil metagenomics, in the case of bypass, and with biochar, the “4 per 1000” initiative, and the role of soils in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, in the case of hyperbole. It is hoped that the present review article will lead to a healthy debate on where our discipline stands at the moment in terms of how we build on the achievements of our predecessors and how accurately we describe the significance of our work. This debate should allow soil science to evolve to meet the daunting challenges it faces in the years ahead.

Highlights

The literature on soils seems characterized by a significant amount of bypass and hyperbole

Bypass is described, related to soil “aggregates”, soil quality/health, soil “contributions to ecosystem services” and whole‐soil metagenomics

Hyperbole is described in connection with the research on biochar, the “4 per 1000” initiative, and the role of soils in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

The need to curb these deviances is stressed.
The potential role of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) single‐tablet regimen in the expanding spectrum of fixed‐dose combination therapy for HIV
Authors: Stellbrink H‐J , Lazzarin A , Woolley I , Llibre JM
Published: February 2020

Single‐tablet regimens (STRs) of highly safe and effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) have had a significant beneficial impact on the clinical outcomes and lives of people living with HIV (PLHIV). As a consequence, healthcare professionals caring for PLHIV in high‐income countries have increasingly focused on issues beyond those related to HIV itself, i.e. HIV‐related neurological disease, or associated opportunistic infections, which include co‐infections, and primarily age‐ and lifestyle‐related comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, renal impairment, osteoporosis and frailty. This review considers drug side effects and comorbidities seen in PLHIV and evaluates the role of a recently licensed STR – bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) – in mitigating some of those challenges. Factors that need to be evaluated for initial cART regimens include: pretreatment CD4 cell count; plasma HIV RNA; HIV drug resistance; hepatitis B co‐infection; HLA‐B*5701 status; drug‐drug interactions; pregnancy and pregnancy potential; psychiatric and physical comorbidities such as renal or bone disease, as well as simplicity and adherence‐friendliness, all of which need to be considered in all lines of therapy. BIC/FTC/TAF constitutes a new STR that includes an unboosted integrase strand transfer inhibitor with a high barrier against resistance with TAF and FTC. Its virological efficacy was non‐inferior to dolutegravir‐based regimens previously recommended by most guidelines for treatment initiation in large double‐blind, randomised clinical trials in treatment‐naïve or switch patients over 96 weeks. Tolerability and pharmacological properties of the regimen make it a useful tool to address several of the clinical management issues raised above.
Involving community pharmacists in transfer of care from hospital: Indications of reduced 30-day hospital readmission rates for patients in Cornwall
Authors: Wilcock Michael , Sibley Andrew , Blackwell Richard , Kluettgens Bettina , Robens Sarah , Bastian Liam
Published: February 2020

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine any benefit from a discharge transfer of care service from hospital to community pharmacy.

Method

A cross-sectional cohort design was used to compare actioned and non-actioned transfers of care.

Key Findings

Of the 1130 transfers of care referrals to pharmacies in 2017, 365 patients received an actioned community pharmacy service after discharge. The 30-day readmission rate was 8.5% (31/365) in those who received an actioned community pharmacist service compared to 23.3% (178/765) in those who did not. Odds ratio for readmission at 30 days was 3.26 (95% CI 2.04 to 4.59, P < 0.0001), significantly higher in those not receiving an actioned transfer of care service.

Conclusion

Involving community pharmacy at patient discharge appears to contribute to lower rates of readmission.
The effectiveness of music therapy for patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Yanfei , Xing Xin , Shi Xiue , Yan Peijing , Chen Yajing , Li Meixuan , Zhang Weiyi , Li Xiuxia , Yang Kehu
Published: February 2020

Aims

To assess the effectiveness of music therapy on the quality of life, anxiety, depression and pain of patients with cancer.

Design

Systematic review.

Data Sources

Five electronic databases were searched in September 2018 for randomized controlled trials evaluating music therapy for patients with cancer.

Review Methods

The quality of the studies was assessed using the risk of bias tool recommended by the Cochrane Handbook Version 5.1.0 and the Revman version 5.3 software was used to perform the meta‐analysis. The outcomes were overall quality of life, anxiety, depression and pain.

Results

A total of 19 trials evaluating 1,548 patients were included in this study, of which 765 were in the control group and 783 in the experimental group. Compared with standard care, music therapy can significantly increase the score of the overall quality of life in patients with cancer. In addition, music therapy was found to be more effective for decreasing the score of anxiety, depression and pain.

Conclusion

Music therapy can improve the overall quality of life of patients with cancer, with an observed optimal intervention duration of 1–2 months. Meanwhile, anxiety, depression and pain are improved as well. Nevertheless, high‐quality trials are still needed to further determine the effects of music intervention in supportive cancer care.
Advanced Nurse Practitioners' (Emergency) perceptions of their role, positionality and professional identity: A narrative inquiry
Authors: Kerr Lisa , Macaskill Ann
Published: February 2020

Aims

To explore Advanced Nurse Practitioners' (ANP) (Emergency) perceptions of their role, positionality and professional identity.

Background

Advanced nursing practice was formally established in the Republic of Ireland in 2001 with 336 ANPs currently registered, projection increasing to a critical mass of 750 by 2021. Advanced practitioners (Emergency) give full emergency care for a specific cohort of clients with unscheduled, undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions.

Design

Qualitative narrative inquiry using Bourdieu's concepts of habitus, field and capital as the theoretical framework was undertaken.

Methods

Data were collected in 10 in‐depth interviews and thematic analysis applied.

Results

Five key themes emerged: participants' career pathways, personal and professional transitions, role dimensions and core concepts, and position in the organization and emergent professional identity. Role transitioning and a change in habitus, field and capital revealed the uniqueness of their nursing role. Minimizing waiting times, timely patient care and patient satisfaction were key performance indicators. A heightened awareness regarding higher‐level decision‐making, autonomy and accountability is integral to advanced practice.

Conclusion

This study presents unique insights into the ANP role covering recruitment, organizational culture changes required and support to ease transition emerged.

Impact

Better understanding the motivation to undertake the role, the transition experience and use of advanced practice skills sets will inform the targets for the future recruitment and retention of ANPs are met nationally and internationally. Dissatisfaction with previous management roles and wanting to be clinically close to patients were motivations to follow an advanced practice clinical career trajectory. Positionality and emergent professional identity are key enablers ensuring that advanced practitioners' roles demonstrate the attributes of advanced practice. Educators could use the findings to develop recruitment, retention and progression strategies. Disseminating the role and scopes of practice could positively influence collaborative models of service delivery and policy development.
What Makes Logistics Integration More Effective? Governance from Contractual and Relational Perspectives
Authors: Wang Qianwen , Huo Baofeng , Zhao Xiande
Published: February 2020

Third‐party logistics (3PL) user–provider integration is attracting increasing attention from both academics and practitioners. However, it remains unclear how best to adopt governance mechanisms to safeguard 3PL user–provider integration (e.g., information sharing and process coordination). Based on transaction cost economics and social exchange theory, this study examined the individual and joint effects of contractual (e.g., detailed contracts and contract application) and relational governance (e.g., trust and relational norms) on 3PL user–provider integration for operational performance. We conducted a survey involving 247 3PL service users and analyzed the conceptual model using the method of structural equation modeling. The results showed that process coordination improved operational performance, while information sharing alone did not significantly improve operational performance but complemented the role of process coordination in improving operational performance. In addition, having detailed contracts was positively related to process coordination, while contract application was positively related to information sharing. Trust was not significantly related to information sharing or process coordination, while relational norms were positively related to both. Finally, three joint effects on 3PL user–provider integration were found. Two of them were substitutional (detailed contracts and relational norms; contract application and trust), and one was complementary (detailed contracts and trust). This study makes several theoretical contributions and provides novel guidelines for 3PL relationship development.
Platelets as inflammatory mediators in a murine model of periodontitis
Authors: Zhan Yalin , Lu Ruifang , Meng Huanxin , Hou Jianxia , Huang Wenxue , Wang Xian'e , Hu Wenjie
Published: February 2020

Aim

To investigate the role of platelets during the development of ligature‐induced experimental periodontitis in mice.

Materials and Methods

Experimental periodontitis was induced by placement of sterilized 5‐0 cotton ligatures around the maxillary and mandibular second molars of C57BL/6 wild‐type mice. Flow cytometry was used to analyse platelet activation and platelet–leucocyte aggregate formation, and histologic analysis was used to evaluate inflammation and localization of platelets and leucocytes in periodontal tissues during the development of experimental periodontitis and in experimental periodontitis with and without antiplatelet drug treatment.

Results

Experimental periodontitis induced platelet activation and platelet–leucocyte interaction. Platelets and leucocytes gradually infiltrated in inflammatory gingival tissues during the development of experimental periodontitis. The inhibition of platelet activation via drug therapy led to significant inhibition of leucocyte migration and marked reduction in periodontal inflammation.

Conclusion

This study revealed that platelets are critical for inflammation and tissue injury in periodontitis and serve as mediators of inflammation in periodontal tissue.
Cybervictimization in adolescence and its association with subsequent suicidal ideation/attempt beyond face‐to‐face victimization: a longitudinal population‐based study
Authors: Perret Lea C. , Orri Massimiliano , Boivin Michel , Ouellet‐Morin Isabelle , Denault Anne‐Sophie , Côté Sylvana M. , Tremblay Richard E. , Renaud Johanne , Turecki Gustavo , Geoffroy Marie‐Claude
Published: February 2020

Background

Cross‐sectional associations have been documented between cybervictimization and suicidal risk; however, prospective associations remain unclear.

Methods

Participants were members of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development (QLSCD), a prospective birth cohort of 2,120 individuals followed from birth (1997/98) to age 17 years (2014/15). Cybervictimization and face‐to‐face victimization experienced since the beginning of the school year, as well as serious suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempt were self‐reported at ages 13, 15 and 17 years.

Results

In cross‐sectional analyses at 13, 15 and 17 years, adolescents cybervictimized at least once had, respectively, 2.3 (95% CI = 1.64–3.19), 4.2 (95% CI = 3.27–5.41) and 3.5 (95% CI = 2.57–4.66) higher odds of suicidal ideation/attempt after adjusting for confounders including face‐to‐face victimization, prior mental health symptoms and family hardship. Sensitivity analyses suggested that cybervictimization only and both cyber‐ and face‐to‐face victimization were associated with a higher risk of suicidal ideation/attempt compared to face‐to‐face victimization only and no victimization; however, analyses were based on small n. In prospective analyses, cybervictimization was not associated with suicidal ideation/attempt 2 years later after accounting for baseline suicidal ideation/attempt and other confounders. In contrast, face‐to‐face victimization was associated with suicidal ideation/attempt 2 years later in the fully adjusted model, including cybervictimization.

Conclusions

The cross‐sectional association between cybervictimization and suicidal ideation/attempt is independent from face‐to‐face victimization. The absence of a prospective association suggested short‐term effects of cybervictimization on suicidal ideation/attempt.
Early pubertal timing predicts onset and recurrence of depressive episodes in boys and girls
Authors: Hamlat Elissa J. , McCormick Kathleen C. , Young Jami F. , Hankin Benjamin L.
Published: February 2020

Background

Recurrent depressive episodes during adolescence result in significant impairment and increased risk for subsequent adverse outcomes throughout the life span. Evidence suggests that early pubertal timing predicts the onset of depressive episodes (particularly for girls); however, it is not known if pubertal timing prospectively predicts recurrent depressive episodes in youth.

Methods

At baseline, 603 youth (56% female, at baseline: Mage = 12.09, SD = 2.35) reported on their pubertal development. Youth and their parents completed a semistructured diagnostic interview to assess depressive episodes at baseline and then evaluated for onset repeatedly every 6 months for a period of 36 months.

Results

Controlling for past history of depression, Cox proportional hazards models examined whether earlier pubertal timing predicted (a) days to first depressive episode from baseline and (b) days to a second (recurrent) depressive episode from the end of the first episode. Early pubertal timing predicted the onset of the first depressive episode after baseline (b = .19, Wald = 5.36, p = .02, HR = 1.21), as well as a recurrent episode during course of study follow‐up episode (b = .32, Wald = 6.16, p = .01, HR = 1.38).

Conclusions

Findings reinforce the importance of considering the impact of early pubertal timing on depression risk. Investigation on how pubertal timing interacts with other risk factors to predict depression recurrence is needed.
Effect of peeling treatment on the physicochemical properties of quinoa flour
Authors: Wang Ying , Gong Xue , Zhang Yu , Geng Dong‐Hui , Cao Longkui , Ruan Changqing , Yu Lihe , Zhang Dongjie , Tong Li‐Tao
Published: February 2020

To explore the effects of peeling treatment on the properties of quinoa flour, changes in the physical and chemical properties of quinoa flour before and after peeling treatment and the existing grinding process (full and traditional flour) were carried out. The peeling treatment reduced the contents of saponins, phytic acids, ash, and insoluble dietary fiber, but the protein, starch and soluble dietary fiber contents increased compared to full flour (p < .05). The peeling treatment increased the contents of total phenol and mineral elements compared to traditional flour (p < .05). The water‐holding capacity, transparency, freeze–thaw stability, and condensation characteristics of the peeled quinoa flour increased compared with full flour and traditional flour (p < .05). Similarly, reconstituability, and processing quality were all significantly improved compared to full flour and traditional flour (p < .05), even though some indexes were better than traditional flour. After extrusion and puffing to make puffed flour, the agglomeration of the peeled flour and viscosity of the quinoa paste decreased and the dextrose equivalent value increased (p < .05). These results indicated that the peeling treatment retained more of the nutrients of quinoa flour and improved the processing characteristics of quinoa flour.

Practical applications

To explore the effects of peeling treatment on the properties of quinoa flour, changes in the physical and chemical properties of quinoa flour before and after peeling treatment and the existing grinding process (full and traditional flour) were carried out. This study provided a theoretical basis for solving the contradiction between the poor taste of full flour and poor nutrition of traditional flour in quinoa processing products, to retain the maximum nutrient composition of quinoa, and to improve the taste, color, and texture of the product.
The Effect of the APOE ε2ε4 Genotype on the Development of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in Non‐Latino Whites
Authors: Ren Dianxu , Lopez Oscar L. , Lingler Jennifer H. , Conley Yvette
Published: February 2020

OBJECTIVES

To examine the associations of APOE ε2ε4 with the development of Alzheimerʼs disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in non‐Latino whites.

DESIGN

Prospective longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING

Uniform Data Set from the National Alzheimerʼs Coordinating Center (NACC) between 2005 and August 2018 (data freeze in September 2018).

PARTICIPANTS

Participants who were non‐Latino white, had an APOE genotype available, first visit with dementia free for AD cohort and both dementia and MCI free for MCI cohort, and had a minimum of one follow‐up visit (n = 11 871 for AD cohort, and n = 8305 for MCI cohort).

MEASUREMENTS

The incidences of AD and MCI were determined based on consensus meetings at each Alzheimerʼs disease center. We used NACC‐derived variables to define individuals experiencing incidents of AD and MCI at the initial visit as well as the follow‐up visits.

RESULTS

Among participants in the AD cohort (N = 11 871), ε2ε4 accounted for 2.5%, ε2ε2 accounted for 0.4%, ε2ε3 accounted for 11.0%, ε4ε4 accounted for 4.4%, ε3ε4 accounted for 27.3%, and ε3ε3 accounted for 54.4%. Over an average of 4.6 years follow‐up, 1857 (15.6%) developed AD dementia, with the range from 6.0% to 35.2% across the six groups. Compared to ε3ε3 carriers, ε2ε4 carriers exhibited an increased risk of incident AD (18.4% vs 11.7%; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.32‐2.30; P < .0001). Among participants in the MCI cohort (N = 8305), the average follow‐up was 4.7 years, and 1912 (23.0%) developed MCI, with the range from 20.4% to 33.9% across the six groups. Compared to ε3ε3 carriers, ε2ε4 carriers exhibited an increased risk of incident MCI (27.5% vs 21.5%; aHR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.15‐1.99; P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

The APOE ε2ε4 genotype is associated with the increased risk of AD and MCI in non‐Latino whites. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1044–1049, 2020