bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of barriers to sustainable tourism management in a protected area
Authors: Yadav Nidhi , Sahu Naresh Chandra , Sahoo Dukhabandhu , Yadav Devendra K.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the barriers to sustainable tourism management (STM) implementation in a protected area (PA) of a developing country, India, by taking a case study of National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS).

Design/methodology/approach

This study develops a framework to analyse the interaction among a set of barriers of STM using the interpretive structural modelling approach.

Findings

In this study, 16 relevant barriers responsible for the failure of STM in Indian scenario have been selected. The lack of coordination among various stakeholders and the lack of government incentives are found as the most significant barriers among the selected barriers of STM implementation in the sanctuary.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides most influencing barriers and how these barriers hinder the sustainability efforts in NCS. The study’s main limitation is its generalisation. The problems in implementing sustainable practices may differ with the region.

Practical implications

This study provides strong practical inferences to both practitioners as well as academicians. The practitioners are suggested to focus on identified barriers and formulating strategies to achieve sustainability in the tourism sector. Academicians may propose the solutions and necessary interventions for identified barriers.

Originality/value

Identification and presentation of barriers to STM implementation in the context of a PA are rare to find in literature.
R&D portfolio management practices in Brazilian electric power utilities
Authors: Yamakawa Eduardo K. , Sousa-Zomer Thayla T. , Cauchick-Miguel Paulo A. , Killen Catherine P.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Project portfolio management (PPM) has been recognized as critical for the productivity of research and development (R&D) investments, but empirical research on PPM use and outcomes in non-commercial R&D environments is limited. The purpose of this paper is to investigate PPM processes and outcomes in a unique R&D context within Brazilian electric power utilities.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory best practice survey was used to collect data on PPM processes, methods and performance results in the power sector. Analysis of the data employs descriptive statistics and comparative analysis in the light of the literature.

Findings

The findings emphasize the importance of strategic value and the need for PPM to be customized for the specific context. The results also demonstrate the importance of adopting selection criteria and measures in accordance with the organizations strategic goals.

Practical implications

The findings may help organizations better understand how PPM can be tailored for the environment. PPM managers in utilities and other non-commercial R&D environments may find guidance in tailoring and improving their PPM approaches.

Originality/value

The contributions of this paper are twofold. First, it provides empirical findings to support PPM concepts on strategic alignment and the importance of context by demonstrating how PPM works to deliver strategy in a unique environment. Second, it contributes to the management of R&D projects and portfolios in power utilities, providing an example and analysis that may offer guidance. The contributions from this study may also offer insights that are valuable for R&D management in other utilities, or for R&D management in general.
A hierarchical model for quality management systems in global organizations
Authors: Bashan Aviva , Notea Amos
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the operations of the quality management systems (QMS) in multinational companies, and develop a framework for classifying the QMS features based on the global operational and marketing structures arising from their expansion process. This paper is based on doctoral research conducted at the Department of Statistics, University of Haifa, Israel in 2007–2015.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the innovative approach of adopting a systems perspective in analyzing the operation of a global QMS. In total 18 multinational companies at different levels of global expansion were studied in depth using observations, longitudinal studies, content analyses and depth interviews.

Findings

The result of this study is the global hierarchical model (GHM) that presents a classification of representative global operational and marketing structures deriving from the expansion process of multinational companies, and the extrapolated features of the respective global QMS.

Practical implications

This classification serves as a diagnostic tool for identifying the proper globalization level of a QMS, thereby helping plan global quality strategy and identifying the steps necessary for its effective implementation.

Originality/value

This research seeks to fill a lacuna in the field of global quality system development with regard to modes of competition and challenge. Integration of strategic, operational and marketing rationales into the QMS’s processes augments the functional level of management and supports the development of a strategy for global quality management that is derived from and supports the company’s global strategy.
The value of online surveys: a look back and a look ahead
Authors: Evans Joel R. , Mathur Anil
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a detailed and critical look at the evolution of online survey research since Evans and Mathur’s (2005) article on the value of online surveys. At that time, online survey research was in its early stages. Also covered are the present and future states of online research. Many conclusions and recommendations are presented.

Design/methodology/approach

The look back focuses on online surveys, strengths and weaknesses of online surveys, the literature on several aspects of online surveys and online survey best practices. The look ahead focuses on emerging survey technologies and methodologies, and new non-survey technologies and methodologies. Conclusions and recommendations are provided.

Findings

Online survey research is used more frequently and better accepted by researchers than in 2005. Yet, survey techniques are still regularly transformed by new technologies. Non-survey digital research is also more prominent than in 2005 and can better track actual behavior than surveys can. Hybrid surveys will be widespread in the future.

Practical implications

The paper aims to provide insights for researchers with different levels of online survey experience. And both academics and practitioners should gain insights.

Social implications

Adhering to a strong ethics code is vital to gain respondents’ trust and to produce valid results.

Originality/value

Conclusions and recommendations are offered in these specific areas: defining concepts, understanding the future role of surveys, developing and implementing surveys and a survey code of ethics. The literature review cites more than 200 sources.
Workplace ostracism and cyberloafing: a moderated–mediation model
Authors: Koay Kian Yeik
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between workplace ostracism and cyberloafing, based on the premise of conservation of resources theory. Emotional exhaustion is tested as a mediator between workplace ostracism and cyberloafing, whereas facilitating conditions are predicted as a moderator that influences employees’ reaction to ostracism.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected via the online platform Amazon Mechanical Turk. Partial least squares analysis, a variance-based structural equation modelling, was utilised to verify the research model.

Findings

The results show that both workplace ostracism and emotional exhaustion have a significant positive relationship with cyberloafing. Likewise, emotional exhaustion partially mediates the relationship between workplace ostracism and cyberloafing. Interestingly, facilitating conditions do not moderate the emotional exhaustion–cyberloafing relationship but do moderate the ostracism–cyberloafing relationship. Counterintuitively, the relationship between workplace ostracism and cyberloafing becomes stronger when facilitating conditions are high. Apost hocanalysis has been conducted using PROCESS Macro to test the conditional indirect effect but was found not significant.

Originality/value

Previous studies have revealed the association between workplace ostracism with various negative work behaviours, such as knowledge hiding, knowledge hoarding and counterproductive work behaviours. This study has successfully identified that workplace ostracism can also result in cyberloafing, which has not been delved into previous works. This has subsequently provided managers with new perspectives regarding why employees engage in non-work-related online activities at work.
Determinants of non-performing loans in Chinese banks
Authors: Umar Muhammad , Sun Gang
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The study aims to explore macroeconomic and banking industry-specific determinants of non-performing loans (NPLs) for Chinese banks, spanning from 2005 to 2014.

Design/methodology/approach

It uses three different models to explore the determinants. The first model has only macroeconomic variables as regressors; the second model has only banking industry-specific variables as independent variables; and the third model has macroeconomic and banking industry-specific variables as explanatory variables. Furthermore, system generalized method of moments estimation technique has been used to measure the coefficients of independent variables.

Findings

Gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, effective interest rate, inflation rate, foreign exchange rate, type of bank, bank risk-taking behavior, ownership concentration, leverage and credit quality are significant determinants of NPLs in Chinese banks. Furthermore, the determinants of NPLs for listed and unlisted banks differ. Determinants of NPLs of listed banks include GDP, bank risk-taking behavior and credit quality. However, variation in NPLs of unlisted banks is explained by GDP, inflation rate, foreign exchange rate, bank risk-taking behavior, leverage and credit quality.

Originality/value

This study also finds that using only macroeconomic or banking industry-specific variables as regressors is not a right approach because it may lead to erroneous conclusions.
Does location matter in determining firms’ performance? A comparative analysis of domestic and multinational companies
Authors: Shah Said , Anwar Jamil , Hasnu SAF
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of internationalization of investment on corporate policies through multinational firms (MNFs) and thereby variation in financial performances when compared to domestic firms (DFs) using 10 years’ (2004-2013) secondary data of 153 firms listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applies regression and ratio analyses for testing of hypotheses and other statistics.

Findings

The results indicate that the performance of MNFs is better than that of DFs primarily because of internationalization of investments and inventory utilization. The rest of the factors included in the model, namely, cash conversion cycle and corporate governance (CG) indices, have less prominent role in determining firms’ performance.

Research limitations/implications

Sample size was restricted to 153 firms, as complete data for the period selected to carry out the study were available only for these firms. For determining the quality of CG, only sample average has been used as bench mark due to non-availability of industrial average.

Practical implications

The recommendations of the research can be used by economic planners and corporate experts as policy guidelines and bench mark for improving the corporate and economic performance of the country. Besides, these recommendations are beneficial for emerging economies particularly and developed economies generally across the globe.

Social implications

Economic and financial regulators can get guidance from the findings of the study to adjust national-level corporate planning. For example, State Bank of Pakistan (the central bank of the country) can amend its prudential regulations with regard to maintaining liquidity by corporate units according to the results of the study. Corporate units can directly get guidance and adopt the findings of the study in their corporate planning to improve their performance. The findings and methodology of the research can also be used by research students on further exploring the field.

Originality/value

Splitting the sample into domestic and multinationals firms, separately and jointly analyzing these firms and then comparing corporate strategies of these firms based on location are unique.
Violent women: treatment approaches and psychodynamic considerations
Authors: McKeown Annette , Harvey Ellen
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Some psychodynamic approaches conceptualise female violence as a communication of experiences too difficult to think about. As practitioners, understanding what may be too painful to be thought about is incredibly important in assessment and treatment of forensic populations. Incorporating psychodynamic concepts such as splitting, transference, projection and counter-transference into formulation can be extremely helpful in understanding and formulating women’s risk of violence. The purpose of this paper is to introduce how psychodynamic concepts can be incorporated into understanding, assessment, formulation and treatment with this complex client group. This paper will also outline treatment approaches with this population.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper will review existing psychodynamic literature and apply this knowledge to working with violent female offenders. Translating theory into reflective practice will be presented.

Findings

This paper presents the value of incorporating psychodynamic considerations into existing strategies of understanding and working with violent female offenders. Ways forwards and research directions are proposed.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is focussed primarily on psychodynamic approaches to understanding this population

Practical implications

Psychodynamic concepts can add an additional dimension to formulation, supervision and treatment approaches with this population. Examining the meaning of violence perpetrated by women as well as enactments can improve practitioner’s depth of understanding. Empirical research examining the benefits of psychoanalytic supervision would be extremely useful to explore the impact on formulation, treatment approaches, treatment effectiveness, staff well-being and staff retention.

Originality/value

There is a lack of literature considering the application of psychodynamic constructs to help formulation of complex female offenders in the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway for women.
Exploring competitive strategic performance consistency in service organizations
Authors: Gomes Carlos F. , Najjar Mohammad , Yasin Mahmoud M.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

As service organizations move toward the open system strategic customer orientation, they need to ensure consistency among competitive methods, performance measures and strategies utilized. This paper aims to examine the relationships among these important facets of today’s service organizations. The study at hand examines the relationship among competitive methods, implicit strategy and performance measures used by Portuguese service organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a survey-based methodology. Factor analysis, cluster analysis and regression analysis procedures are used to analyze the collected data from Portuguese service organizations.

Findings

Based on the results of this study, it appears that some of the studied service organizations are steadily moving toward the open system mode of strategy, competitive methods and performance measurement. However, the majority of the service organizations examined appeared to be in a state of strategic confusion, as they appear to lack the consistency among competitive methods, performance measures and desired strategic orientations.

Research limitations/implications

The sample used in this study is specific in nature, as it includes only Portuguese service organizations. Therefore, the results of this study should be interpreted with caution. Future research in other cultural service settings is recommended. Such research should emphasize the exploration of theoretical frameworks, which tend to practically integrate competitive methods, performance measures and strategic orientation.

Practical implications

This study has direct practical implications for service managers, as they attempt to integrate their organizational systems. As such, the research in this study paves the way toward the practical integration and consistency among competitive methods, performance measures and strategic orientations needed to enhance the customer orientation. In this context, such integration and consistency are essential to enhance the strategic competitiveness of today’s service organizations operating in a dynamic marketplace.

Originality/value

This research combines bodies of knowledge dealing with competitive methods, performance measures and their impact on strategic orientations. The conceptual framework offered in this research attempts to facilitate the understanding for consistent practice pertaining to the competitiveness of the open system service organization in a dynamic environment. Such consistency is essential to the competitiveness of the organization in a dynamic environment.
High dispersal ability is related to fast life‐history strategies
Authors: Beckman Noelle G. , Bullock James M. , Salguero‐Gómez Roberto
Published: June 2018

Seed dispersal is an essential, yet often overlooked process in plant ecology and evolution, affecting adaptation capacity, population persistence and invasiveness. A species’ ability to disperse is expected to covary with other life‐history traits to form dispersal syndromes. Dispersal might be linked to the rate of life history, fecundity or generation time, depending on the relative selection pressures of bet‐hedging, kin competition or maintaining gene flow. However, the linkage between dispersal and plant life‐history strategies remains unknown because it is difficult to observe, quantify and manipulate the influence of dispersal over large spatiotemporal scales.

We integrate datasets describing plant vital rates, dispersal and functional traits to incorporate dispersal explicitly into the rich spectra of plant life‐history strategies. For 141 plant species, we estimated dispersal ability by predicting maximum dispersal distances using allometric relationships based on growth form, dispersal mode, terminal velocity and seed mass. We derived life‐history traits from matrix population models parameterized with field data from the COMPADRE Plant Matrix Database. We analysed the covariation in dispersal ability and life‐history traits using multivariate techniques.

We found that three main axes of variation described plant dispersal syndromes: the fast‐slow life‐history continuum, the dispersal strategy axis and the reproductive strategy axis. On the dispersal strategy axis, species’ dispersal abilities were positively correlated with aspects of fast life histories. Species with a high net reproductive rate, a long window of reproduction, low likelihood of escaping senescence and low shrinkage tendencies disperse their seeds further. The overall phylogenetic signal in our multidimensional analyses was low (Pagel's λ < 0.24), implying a high degree of taxonomic generality in our findings.

Synthesis. Dispersal has been largely neglected in comparative demographic studies, despite its pivotal importance for populations. Our explicit incorporation of dispersal in a comparative life‐history framework provides key insights to bridge the gap between dispersal ecology and life‐history traits. Species with fast life‐history strategies disperse their seeds further than slow‐living plants, suggesting that longer dispersal distances may allow these species to take advantage of habitats varying unpredictably in space and time as a bet‐hedging strategy.
How Can Business Share Responsibility for Disaster Resilience?
Authors: Hunt Susan , Eburn Michael
Published: June 2018

This paper contributes to knowledge of disaster resilience policy implementation in Australia and proposes measures to strengthen partnerships between government and the business sector to enhance national disaster resilience capacity. In Australia, business makes a significant contribution to disaster relief and recovery. Even so, there are unexplored opportunities to enhance the role of business in disaster resilience, particularly through partnerships with government. The extent that state, regional and local‐level disaster plans engage business in disaster relief and recovery is described and their relatively less prominent involvement in disaster resilience is discussed. Examples of disaster resilience policies and their capacity to influence business practices to support disaster resilience are introduced with suggestions for how they can be enhanced. Some potential benefits and pitfalls of public–private sector collaboration are explored and it is noted that, in disaster resilience settings, these risks can be ameliorated through appropriate implementation.
Comparison of thermal and plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition of niobium oxide thin films
Authors: Basuvalingam Saravana Balaji , Macco Bart , Knoops Harm C. M. , Melskens Jimmy , Kessels Wilhelmus M. M. (Erwin) , Bol Ageeth A.
Published: June 2018

Niobium pentoxide was deposited using tBuN=Nb(NEt2)3 as niobium precursor by both thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) and plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE-ALD) with H2O and O2 plasma as coreactants, respectively. The deposition temperature was varied between 150 and 350 °C in both ALD processes. Amorphous films were obtained in all cases. Self-limiting saturated growth was confirmed for both ALD processes along with high uniformity over a 200 mm Si wafer. The PE-ALD process enabled a higher growth per cycle (GPC) than the thermal ALD process (0.56 Å vs 0.38 Å at 200 °C, respectively), while the GPC decreases with increasing temperature in both cases. The high purity of the film was confirmed using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, elastic recoil detection, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, while the latter technique also confirmed the Nb+5 oxidation state of the niobium oxide films. The thermal ALD deposited films were substoichiometric due to the presence of oxygen vacancies (VO), of which a more dominant presence was observed with increasing deposition temperature. The PE-ALD deposited films were found to be near stoichiometric for all investigated deposition temperatures.
Assessing the relationship between intimate partner violence, externally-decided pregnancy and unintended pregnancies among women in slum communities in Mumbai, India
Authors: Dasgupta Anindita , Raj Anita , Nair Saritha , Naik Dattaram , Saggurti Niranjan , Donta Balaiah , Silverman Jay G
Published: June 2018

Background

India contends with a high rate of intimate partner violence (IPV), which is associated with unintended pregnancy and reflects low levels of women’s decision-making control in relation to their reproductive health. Few studies from South Asia have examined the relationship between pregnancy decision-making, IPV and unintended pregnancy.

Aim

This study examined associations between unintended (mistimed and unwanted) pregnancy, women’s reports of pregnancy decided externally by husband or in-laws, and IPV, among a sample of married, postpartum women.

Methods

Data from the ‘Mechanisms for Relations of Domestic Violence to Poor Maternal and Infant Health in India’ study were analysed. Descriptive comparisons between levels of unintended pregnancy were run on all major variables. Unadjusted and adjusted multinomial logistic regression analyses assessed women’s reports of having externally-decided pregnancies and IPV victimisation in the year prior to pregnancy as factors in mistimed and unwanted pregnancies.

Results

Mistimed and unwanted pregnancies were reported by 12.2% and 7.2% of women, respectively. Externally-decided pregnancies were reported by 8.8% of women. Some 29.4% of women reported experiencing physical and/or sexual IPV in the year prior to pregnancy. Women reporting externally-decided pregnancies were significantly more likely to have had mistimed pregnancies than intended pregnancies, as were women reporting IPV. Neither external pregnancy control nor IPV were associated with unwanted pregnancy.

Conclusions

Women’s exclusion from pregnancy decision-making and violence from husbands relate to their ability to time their pregnancies as they wish. The lack of significant association between external decision-making and IPV with unwanted pregnancy may be due to low reporting of unwanted pregnancy. The overall findings highlight the importance of integrating women’s involvement in reproductive health decision-making and IPV reduction messaging in programming for the women’s health sector.
Randomised controlled trial of adjunctive inspiratory muscle training for patients with COPD
Authors: Charususin Noppawan , Gosselink Rik , Decramer Marc , Demeyer Heleen , McConnell Alison , Saey Didier , Maltais François , Derom Eric , Vermeersch Stefanie , Heijdra Yvonne F , van Helvoort Hanneke , Garms Linda , Schneeberger Tessa , Kenn Klaus , Gloeckl Rainer , Langer Daniel
Published: June 2018

Background

This study aimed to investigate whether adjunctive inspiratory muscle training (IMT) can enhance the well-established benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with COPD.

Methods

219 patients with COPD (FEV1: 42%±16% predicted) with inspiratory muscle weakness (PImax: 51±15 cm H2O) were randomised into an intervention group (IMT+PR; n=110) or a control group (Sham-IMT+PR; n=109) in this double-blind, multicentre randomised controlled trial between February 2012 and October 2016 (ClinicalTrials.govNCT01397396). Improvement in 6 min walking distance (6MWD) was a priori defined as the primary outcome. Prespecified secondary outcomes included respiratory muscle function and endurance cycling time.

Findings

No significant differences between the intervention group (n=89) and the control group (n=85) in improvements in 6MWD were observed (0.3 m, 95% CI −13 to 14, p=0.967). Patients who completed assessments in the intervention group achieved larger gains in inspiratory muscle strength (effect size: 1.07, p<0.001) and endurance (effect size: 0.79, p<0.001) than patients in the control group. 75 s additional improvement in endurance cycling time (95% CI 1 to 149, p=0.048) and significant reductions in Borg dyspnoea score at isotime during the cycling test (95% CI −1.5 to −0.01, p=0.049) were observed in the intervention group.

Interpretation

Improvements in respiratory muscle function after adjunctive IMT did not translate into additional improvements in 6MWD (primary outcome). Additional gains in endurance time and reductions in symptoms of dyspnoea were observed during an endurance cycling test (secondary outcome)

Trial registration number

NCT01397396; Results.
Analytical model for consolidation settlements under centrifuge environment
Authors: Bharat Tadikonda Venkata , Ubaid Mohammad
Published: June 2018

Accurate estimation of consolidation settlements is of great engineering interest to address the problem of ground subsidence. Centrifuge consolidation testing in the laboratory is gaining importance due to the requirement of shorter testing time in predicting consolidation settlement. An analytical model is presented for estimating the rate of consolidation settlements using a one-dimensional large-strain consolidation framework in a centrifuge environment. The model accounts for soil self-weight, relative velocity of the fluid and solid phases, different soil compressibility and hydraulic conductivities, and variation of acceleration factor along the specimen length. Development of the proposed model is first presented and is followed by a numerical solution of the model for different drainage boundary conditions using the finite-difference approach. A comparison of the proposed model with the currently available piecewise-linear model, CC1, on Singapore marine clay data shows that the proposed model uses very large time steps in the time marching process after satisfying the stability and convergence criteria. The proposed model is computationally superior to the existing fully numerical approach. Numerical simulations with different centrifuge parameters show that the approximation of the constant acceleration factor over the sample depth overestimates the settlements nearly 45% for a chosen initial specimen height and at a given centrifuge time. The proposed model is capable of simulating consolidation settlements of different clays whose constitutive parameters vary widely.
The same strain of Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV-1) is involved in the development of different, but related, diseases in Atlantic and Pacific Salmon in British Columbia
Authors: Di Cicco Emiliano , Ferguson Hugh W. , Kaukinen Karia H. , Schulze Angela D. , Li Shaorong , Tabata Amy , Günther Oliver P. , Mordecai Gideon , Suttle Curtis A. , Miller Kristina M.
Published: June 2018

Piscine orthoreovirus Strain PRV-1 is the causative agent of heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) in Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar Linnaeus, 1758). Given its high prevalence in net pen salmon, debate has arisen on whether PRV poses a risk to migratory salmon, especially in British Columbia (BC) where commercially important wild Pacific salmon are in decline. Various strains of PRV have been associated with diseases in Pacific salmon, including erythrocytic inclusion body syndrome (EIBS), HSMI-like disease, and jaundice/anemia in Japan, Norway, Chile and Canada. We examined the developmental pathway of HSMI and jaundice/anemia associated with PRV-1 in farmed Atlantic and chinook ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum, 1792)) salmon in BC, respectively. In situ hybridization localized PRV-1 within developing lesions in both diseases. The two diseases showed dissimilar pathological pathways, with inflammatory lesions in heart and skeletal muscle in Atlantic salmon and degenerative-necrotic lesions in kidney and liver in chinook salmon, plausibly explained by differences in PRV load tolerance in red blood cells. Viral genome sequencing revealed no consistent differences in PRV-1 variants intimately involved in the development of both diseases suggesting that migratory chinook salmon may be at more than a minimal risk of disease from exposure to the high levels of PRV occurring in salmon farms.
Influence of drive current and ambient temperature on intensity and wavelength of RGB LEDs for displays
Authors: Su Kang , Li Jing , Lu Xingdong , Ge Chang , Wang Guohong
Published: June 2018

The optical performance of RGB LEDs used in displays is highly sensitive to the drive current and ambient temperature. The emitting intensity and dominant wavelength of RGB LEDs are investigated with the various currents and temperatures, and then the relevant mathematic models are proposed and summarized. Hence, the emitting intensity and dominant wavelength of RGB LEDs under any operating condition can be known from these models.
Interaction of the localized states near nonlinear repulsive media border
Authors: Savotchenko S. E.
Published: June 2018

In this paper, the new type of coupled states localized near the nonlinear boundary media and propagating along it are considered. The boundary of nonlinear media with different parameters of anharmonicity of interatomic interaction creates a disturbance of medium characteristic. It is expected that the particle has a complex linear law of dispersion with several branches of different parameters in a model proposed in this paper. The problem is reduced to the solution of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with boundary conditions for a special kind. Explicit solutions of nonlinear Schrödinger equations satisfying the boundary conditions were found. It is shown that the existence of nonlinear localized excitations of several types is possible. They have a soliton-like profile in the direction perpendicular to the boundary. The structure and shape of the localized states is determined by the anharmonicity parameters and the intensity of interaction of the excitations with the plane defect. The equations determining the energy of the wave localized along the media boundary for a fixed direction of its wave vector are derived. Dependences of the wave numbers from the parameters of the system for localized states in various private cases are explicitly expressed.
Preparation and properties of CNT reinforced Fe–Ni–P composites fabricated by liquid phase sintering
Authors: Mao Luyao , Cui Guodong , Jiang Runjian , Wang Qingxiang , Zhang Chengsong , Wei Renchu , Wang Shen
Published: June 2018

The Fe–Ni–P matrix composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared by means of liquid phase sintering at 950[Formula: see text]C. The effects of the mass fraction of CNTs on the microstructures and properties of the composites were investigated. It is noteworthy that the structures of CNTs were hardly damaged during the sintering process via evaluation of microstructures on as-sintered composites. The strength and ductility increased gradually with the increase of CNT content while the saturation magnetization decreased gradually. The sample containing 1 wt.% CNTs showed a good combination of a compression ratio of 60% and a compressive strength of approximately 3800 MPa, which indicated its potential application in modern power generation systems.
Renormalizing gravity: A new insight into an old problem
Authors: Das Saurya , Faizal Mir , Vagenas Elias C.
Published: June 2018

It is well known that perturbative quantum gravity is nonrenormalizable. The metric or vierbein has generally been used as the variable to quantize in perturbative quantum gravity. In this paper, we show that one can use the spin connection instead, in which case it is possible to obtain a ghost-free renormalizable theory of quantum gravity. Furthermore in this approach, gravitational analogs of particle physics phenomena can be studied. In particular, we study the gravitational Higgs mechanism using spin connection as a gauge field, and show that this provides a mechanism for the effective reduction in the dimensionality of spacetime.
(2,n)-ideals of commutative rings
Authors: Tamekkante Mohammed , Bouba El Mehdi
Published: June 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be commutative ring with [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we introduce a subclass of the class of [Formula: see text]-absorbing primary ideals called the class of [Formula: see text]-ideals. An ideal [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] is called [Formula: see text]-ideal if whenever [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. Many examples and results are given to disclose the relations between this new concept and others that already exist. Namely, the prime ideals, the primary ideals, the 2-absorbing primary ideals, and the [Formula: see text]-ideals. Also, we use the [Formula: see text]-ideals to characterize some kind of rings.
Piezoelectric properties and related parameters of a novel 3–0-type composite
Authors: Borzov Petr A. , Filippov Sergei E. , Topolov Vitaly Yu. , Brill Olga E. , Panich Anatoly E.
Published: June 2018

The piezo-active 3–0-type composite that contains the ferroelectric ceramic of the PZT type (main piezoelectric component) and corundum ceramic as a component with a large elastic stiffness is first studied within a range of small volume fractions [Formula: see text] of the corundum component. In the composite samples, almost equal volume fractions of corundum [Formula: see text] and air pores [Formula: see text]are detected at [Formula: see text], and this has no analogies among the studied 3–0-type composites. Results on the piezoelectric response, anisotropy of the piezoelectric coefficients [Formula: see text] and electromechanical coupling factors [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] are interpreted within the framework of models put forward, and agreement between the evaluated and experimental parameters at [Formula: see text] is observed. The studied composite can be suitable for transducer, ultrasonic and other applications.
Fully Polynomial-Time Parameterized Computations for Graphs and Matrices of Low Treewidth
Authors: Fomin Fedor V. , Lokshtanov Daniel , Saurabh Saket , Pilipczuk MichaŁ , Wrochna Marcin
Published: June 2018

We investigate the complexity of several fundamental polynomial-time solvable problems on graphs and on matrices, when the given instance has low treewidth; in the case of matrices, we consider the treewidth of the graph formed by non-zero entries. In each of the considered cases, the best known algorithms working on general graphs run in polynomial time; however, the exponent of the polynomial is large. Therefore, our main goal is to construct algorithms with running time of the form poly(
k
)⋅
n
or poly(
k
)⋅
n
log
n
, where
k
is the width of the tree decomposition given on the input. Such procedures would outperform the best known algorithms for the considered problems already for moderate values of the treewidth, like
O
(
n

1/
c

) for a constant
c
.

Our results include the following:

— an algorithm for computing the determinant and the rank of an
n
×
n
matrix using
O
(
k
3
⋅
n
) time and arithmetic operations;

—an algorithm for solving a system of linear equations using
O
(
k
3
⋅
n
) time and arithmetic operations;

—an
O
(
k
3
⋅
n
log
n
)-time randomized algorithm for finding the cardinality of a maximum matching in a graph;

—an
O
(
k
4
⋅
n
log
2
n
)-time randomized algorithm for constructing a maximum matching in a graph;

—an
O
(
k
2
⋅
n
log
n
)-time algorithm for finding a maximum vertex flow in a directed graph.

Moreover, we give an approximation algorithm for treewidth with time complexity suited to the running times as above. Namely, the algorithm, when given a graph
G
and integer
k
, runs in time
O
(
k
7
⋅
n
log
n
) and either correctly reports that the treewidth of
G
is larger than
k
, or constructs a tree decomposition of
G
of width
O
(
k
2
).

The above results stand in contrast with the recent work of Abboud et al. (SODA 2016), which shows that the existence of algorithms with similar running times is unlikely for the problems of finding the diameter and the radius of a graph of low treewidth.
The Endosomal Protein CEMIP Links WNT Signaling to MEK1–ERK1/2 Activation in Selumetinib-Resistant Intestinal Organoids
Authors: Duong Hong Quan , Nemazanyy Ivan , Rambow Florian , Tang Seng Chuan , Delaunay Sylvain , Tharun Lars , Florin Alexandra , Büttner Reinhard , Vandaele Daniel , Close Pierre , Marine Jean-Christophe , Shostak Kateryna , Chariot Alain
Published: June 2018

MAPK signaling pathways are constitutively active in colon cancer and also promote acquired resistance to MEK1 inhibition. Here, we demonstrate that BRAFV600E-mutated colorectal cancers acquire resistance to MEK1 inhibition by inducing expression of the scaffold protein CEMIP through a β-catenin– and FRA-1–dependent pathway. CEMIP was found in endosomes and bound MEK1 to sustain ERK1/2 activation in MEK1 inhibitor–resistant BRAFV600E-mutated colorectal cancers. The CEMIP-dependent pathway maintained c-Myc protein levels through ERK1/2 and provided metabolic advantage in resistant cells, potentially by sustaining amino acids synthesis. CEMIP silencing circumvented resistance to MEK1 inhibition, partly, through a decrease of both ERK1/2 signaling and c-Myc. Together, our data identify a cross-talk between Wnt and MAPK signaling cascades, which involves CEMIP. Activation of this pathway promotes survival by potentially regulating levels of specific amino acids via a Myc-associated cascade. Targeting this node may provide a promising avenue for treatment of colon cancers that have acquired resistance to targeted therapies.

Significance: MEK1 inhibitor–resistant colorectal cancer relies on the scaffold and endosomal protein CEMIP to maintain ERK1/2 signaling and Myc-driven transcription. Cancer Res; 78(16); 4533–48. ©2018 AACR.
Radiomics Signature on Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Association with Disease-Free Survival in Patients with Invasive Breast Cancer
Authors: Park Hyunjin , Lim Yaeji , Ko Eun Sook , Cho Hwan-ho , Lee Jeong Eon , Han Boo-Kyung , Ko Eun Young , Choi Ji Soo , Park Ko Woon
Published: June 2018

Purpose: To develop a radiomics signature based on preoperative MRI to estimate disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with invasive breast cancer and to establish a radiomics nomogram that incorporates the radiomics signature and MRI and clinicopathological findings.

Experimental Design: We identified 294 patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent preoperative MRI. Patients were randomly divided into training (n = 194) and validation (n = 100) sets. A radiomics signature (Rad-score) was generated using an elastic net in the training set, and the cutoff point of the radiomics signature to divide the patients into high- and low-risk groups was determined using receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan–Meier analysis were used to determine the association of the radiomics signature, MRI findings, and clinicopathological variables with DFS. A radiomics nomogram combining the Rad-score and MRI and clinicopathological findings was constructed to validate the radiomic signatures for individualized DFS estimation.

Results: Higher Rad-scores were significantly associated with worse DFS in both the training and validation sets (P = 0.002 and 0.036, respectively). The radiomics nomogram estimated DFS [C-index, 0.76; 95% confidence interval (CI); 0.74–0.77] better than the clinicopathological (C-index, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.70–0.74) or Rad-score–only nomograms (C-index, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.65–0.69).

Conclusions: The radiomics signature is an independent biomarker for the estimation of DFS in patients with invasive breast cancer. Combining the radiomics nomogram improved individualized DFS estimation. Clin Cancer Res; 24(19); 4705–14. ©2018 AACR.
Zinc Metallochaperones Reactivate Mutant p53 Using an ON/OFF Switch Mechanism: A New Paradigm in Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Yu Xin , Kogan Samuel , Chen Ying , Tsang Ashley T. , Withers Tracy , Lin Hongxia , Gilleran John , Buckley Brian , Moore Dirk , Bertino Joseph , Chan Chang , Kimball S. David , Loh Stewart N. , Carpizo Darren R.
Published: June 2018

Purpose: Zinc metallochaperones (ZMC) are a new class of anticancer drugs that reactivate zinc-deficient mutant p53 by raising and buffering intracellular zinc levels sufficiently to restore zinc binding. In vitro pharmacodynamics of ZMCs indicate that p53-mutant activity is ON by 4–6 hours and is OFF by 24. We sought to understand the mechanism of this regulation and to translate these findings preclinically. We further sought to innovate the formulation of ZMCs to improve efficacy.

Experimental Design: We performed in vitro mechanistic studies to determine the role of cellular zinc homeostatic mechanisms in the transient pharmacodynamics of ZMCs. We conducted preclinical pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and efficacy studies using a genetically engineered murine pancreatic cancer model (KPC) to translate these mechanistic findings and investigate a novel ZMC formulation.

Results: In vitro, cellular zinc homeostatic mechanisms that restore zinc to its physiologic levels function as the OFF switch in ZMC pharmacodynamics. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies indicate that ZMCs have a short half-life (< 30 minutes), which is sufficient to significantly improve survival in mice expressing a zinc-deficient allele (p53R172H) while having no effect in mice expressing a non–zinc-deficient allele (p53R270H). We synthesized a novel formulation of the drug in complex with zinc and demonstrate this significantly improves survival over ZMC1.

Conclusions: Cellular zinc homeostatic mechanisms function as an OFF switch in ZMC pharmacodynamics, indicating that a brief period of p53-mutant reactivation is sufficient for on-target efficacy. ZMCs synthesized in complex with zinc are an improved formulation. Clin Cancer Res; 24(18); 4505–17. ©2018 AACR.
Novel Trifluoromethylated Enobosarm Analogues with Potent Antiandrogenic Activity In Vitro and Tissue Selectivity In Vivo
Authors: Dart D. Alwyn , Kandil Sahar , Tommasini-Ghelfi Serena , Serrano de Almeida Gilberto , Bevan Charlotte L. , Jiang Wenguo , Westwell Andrew D.
Published: June 2018

Prostate cancer often develops antiandrogen resistance, possibly via androgen receptor (AR) mutations, which change antagonists to agonists. Novel therapies with increased anticancer activity, while overcoming current drug resistance are urgently needed. Enobosarm has anabolic effects on muscle and bone while having no effect on the prostate. Here, we describe the activity of novel chemically modified enobosarm analogues. The rational addition of bis-trifluoromethyl groups into ring B of enobosarm, profoundly modified their activity, pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution profiles. These chemical structural modifications resulted in an improved AR binding affinity—by increasing the molecular occupational volume near helix 12 of AR. In vitro, the analogues SK33 and SK51 showed very potent antiandrogenic activity, monitored using LNCaP/AR-Luciferase cells where growth, PSA and luciferase activity were used as AR activity measurements. These compounds were 10-fold more potent than bicalutamide and 100-fold more potent than enobosarm within the LNCaP model. These compounds were also active in LNCaP/BicR cells with acquired bicalutamide resistance. In vivo, using the AR-Luc reporter mice, these drugs showed potent AR inhibitory activity in the prostate and other AR-expressing tissues, e.g., testes, seminal vesicles, and brain. These compounds do not inhibit AR activity in the skeletal muscle, and spleen, thus indicating a selective tissue inhibitory profile. These compounds were also active in vivo in the Pb-Pten deletion model. SK33 and SK51 have significantly different and enhanced activity profiles compared with enobosarm and are ideal candidates for further development for prostate cancer therapy with potentially fewer side effects. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(9); 1846–58. ©2018 AACR.
Disparities in the Presentation and Management of Cutaneous Melanoma That Required Admission
Authors: Al-Qurayshi Zaid , Srivastav Sudesh , Wang Alun , Boh Erin , Hamner John , Hassan Mohamed , Kandil Emad
Published: June 2018

Objective: In this study, we aimed to examine the association of demographic and socioeconomic factors with cutaneous melanoma that required admission. Methods: A cross-sectional study utilizing the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, 2003–2009, was merged with County Health Rankings Data. Results: A total of 2,765 discharge ­records were included. Men were more likely to have melanoma in the head, neck, and trunk regions (p < 0.001), while extremities melanoma was more common in women (p < 0.001). Males had a higher risk of lymph node metastasis on presentation (OR 1.54, 95% CI [1.27–1.89]). Blacks and Hispanics were more likely to present with extremities melanoma. Patients with low annual income were more likely to be treated by low-volume surgeons and in hospitals located in high-risk communities (p < 0.05 each). Patients with Medicaid coverage were twice as likely to present with distant metastasis and were more likely to be managed by low-volume surgeons (p < 0.05 each). Conclusions: The presentation and outcomes of cutaneous melanoma have a distinct pattern of distribution based on patients’ characteristics.