bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teachers calling for organizational support to digitalize teaching
Authors: Leino Lindell Tiina
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The digitalization of society places new demands on education. It is apparent since most countries have introduced curricula requirements to digitalize teaching. This study examines the organizational support teachers need to digitalize teaching. The study is being conducted in Sweden because they have experienced challenges with the introduction of new national digitalization requirements. Thus, this study explores the following research question: What organizational support do Swedish teachers describe they need to meet the curriculum requirements for digitalization?

Design/methodology/approach

Cultural–historical activity theory and qualitative methods have been used to explore the research aim and answer the question.

Findings

The results show that teachers need organizational support to gain equal and easy access to digital tools. Moreover, digital tools in an organization must be relevantly related to the requirements. Teachers also need support to increase their knowledge as well as the knowledge of the students. Also, organizations must support teachers by distributing the work of digitalization clearly and reasonably. These results, thus, show that teachers cannot be solely responsible for meeting these curriculum requirements. They need organizational support in the process.

Originality/value

The study reveals teachers' recurring problems concerning digitalized education and their need for organizational support. Thereby, the knowledge can be used to avoid similar problems, in organizations on different society levels. This contribution is useful for organizations, politicians, school leaders, principals and teachers who are introducing 1:1 and new curriculum requirements for digitalization of education.
Numerical model of two-phase mechanical face seal with shallow grooves based on finite volume method
Authors: Gao Wenbin , Huang Weifeng , Wang Tao , Liu Ying , Wang Zhihao , Wang Yuming
Published: July 2020

Purpose

By modeling and analyzing the two-phase mechanical seal of the fan-shaped groove end face, which is prone to phase change, an effective method to study the flow field of the mechanical seal when both cavitation and boiling exist simultaneously is found.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the finite volume method, a fluid model was developed to investigate a two-phase mechanical seal. The validity of the proposed model was verified by comparing with some classical models.

Findings

By modeling and analyzing the two-phase mechanical seal of the fan-shaped groove end face, which is prone to phase change, the analysis of the gap flow field of the mechanical seal was realized when cavitation and boiling existed simultaneously.

Originality/value

Based on the model proposed for different conditions, the pressure and phase states in the shallow groove sealing gap were compared. The phase change rate between the mechanical seal faces was also investigated.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-12-2019-0537/
Will Boeing soar again? Navigating a corporate recovery process
Authors: Welch James
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the prospects of a Boeing recovery following disasters in 2019 and 2020. While some companies have navigated successful journeys through the process of reputational recovery following self-inflicted pain, Boeing faces significant reputational and global complications which have greatly prolonged the recovery process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a case study approach examining the recovery process for Boeing, considering the safety issues of 2019 and the pandemic crisis during 2020. Although the Covid-19 spread was certainly a black swan event, Boeing had already inflicted a great deal of damage upon its business and reputation because of the 737 Max. This paper examines their recovery process thus far by using a four-step recovery model of replace, restructure, redevelop and re-brand that has been implemented in previous corporate recoveries.

Findings

When examining the corporate recovery process, though the four-step approach is a model that can work across industries, there are some challenges depending on corporate specifics. The major challenge with Boeing is the ongoing reputational concerns regarding safety combined with the new global reality because of the Covid-19 pandemic. A full corporate recovery will require attention to each of these four prongs of the process, stretched out over several years. Any missteps along the way will only prolong the pain for one of history’s most historic and influential manufacturers.

Originality/value

While several publicly traded companies have overcome significant obstacles over the past five years in the quest to regain trust within the marketplace, Boeing continues to face strong headwinds. Using previous examples of corporate recovery provides an interesting case analysis of what to do and what not to do during the corporate recovery process and provides a unique blueprint to what might bring Boeing back from the brink.
The effect of shared brand use on brand variety seeking in romantic relationships
Authors: Kara Selcan , Vredeveld Anna J.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to uncover the dimensions of shared brand use as a part of romantic relationships and examine the dynamics among shared brand use, brand preference similarity, brand variety seeking and relationship satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,820 MTurk respondents participated in four online surveys and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings of the study show that shared brand use has five use dimensions: special occasion, mundane, activity, nostalgia and relational identity expression; shared brand use leads to brand preference similarity that elicits increased brand variety seeking as a part of the relationship and relationship satisfaction moderates the effect of brand preference similarity on brand variety seeking.

Originality/value

Building on extant literature on branding, variety seeking and shared consumption, the authors develop a measure that captures different facets of shared brand use as a part of romantic relationships, move beyond the existing research on variety seeking in the context of experiential purchases to show how romantic relationship partners engage in purposeful brand variety seeking as a part of their romantic relationships and document that relationship satisfaction is an important factor that influences how partners purposefully engage in brand variety seeking.
The intention of religious leaders to use Islamic banking services: the case of Indonesia
Authors: Janah Nasitotul , Medias Fahmi , Pratiwi Eko Kurniasih
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to ascertain the factors that influence the use of Islamic banking (IB) services by religious leaders in Indonesia using the theory of reasoned action. Customers of sharia banks consist of Muslims and other religions. Based on this fact, this paper analyzes the influence of attitude (ATT), community influence (CI), religious obligation (RO) and subjective norms (SN) to predict the intentions of religious leaders in using IB services in Indonesia.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were randomly obtained from 119 religious’ leaders with the structural equation modeling technique used for analysis.

Findings

The empirical analysis data suggest that attitude (ATT) and religious obligations (RO) show a significant impact on the intentions of religious leaders to use IB services, while community influence and subjective norms have a negative impact on the intentions of Indonesian religious leaders in using IB services.

Practical implications

This study aims to assist Islamic bank managers in Indonesia to formulate appropriate Islamic marketing strategies and policies to increase customer trust through comprehensive socialization to religious communities. The strategy is a necessity, especially because the government is targeting a 10% growth by 2020. Furthermore, bank managers need to develop in-depth insights into their operations to attract religious leaders’ intentions. The fact shows that the stronger the understanding of individual religion, the greater their intention in using IB services.

Originality/value

Because of the increasing interest in adopting IB in Indonesia, this study claims three essential contributions. Firstly, it aims to examine the intention of religious leaders, namely, Islam, Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism, in assisting IB managers to design a strategy better than conventional banks. Secondly, the study findings are expected to benefit the development of literature in accordance with the economic conditions of certain religions. Thirdly, this study provides an insight into the inclusive attitude of religious leaders and their intention to adopt the economic structure of other religions.
Application of a gender perspective in tourism research: a theoretical and practical approach
Authors: Figueroa-Domecq Cristina , Segovia-Perez Mónica
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present a conceptual model that identifies and relates the different approaches and thematic areas in the research area of tourism and gender.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the conceptual model is based on a critical review of the literature and the evolution of feminist paradigms and theories.

Findings

The aforementioned theoretical frameworks are the basis for the further development of feminist studies and a gender perspective in the tourism industry research area, including research design, objectives, methodologies, analysis and result’s presentation.

Research limitations/implications

Based on literature review, is theoretical.

Originality/value

Presentation of a conceptual model around the gender perspective in tourism, that leads to the identification of important research opportunities in this area.
Universities and research in times of crisis: the getting of wisdom
Authors: Ling Lorraine
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In a time of the COVID-19, pandemic universities and researchers have been faced with unprecedented issues and challenges, and the purpose of this paper is to explore those challenges and issues.

Design/methodology/approach

In this article the role of universities and research in times of crisis and emergency is explored.

Findings

COVID-19 has impacted upon universities and their staff and students in a range of ways involving course delivery, staff location and limited campus access and university income. The decline in the amount of funding provided by the federal government to Australian universities over several decades has caused a heavy reliance on international student enrolments; thus, the decrease in international students’ numbers, especially, has had a dramatic effect on university budgets. . Research and researchers are shown to be most vulnerable at a time when their expertise, knowledge and wisdom are arguably most required.

Originality/value

This sudden and unpredicted decline in funds available in universities due to the COVID-19 pandemic along with the disruption of normal university business, poses major problems for all the activities of universities. In this article the current Australian university context is used as a vehicle to explore the role that universities have during crises with particular reference to the role of research and researchers across all discipline areas.
Reporting misdemeanors in the workplace: analysing enablers using modified TISM approach
Authors: Gupta Smita , Bhal Kanika T.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In the scope of the immense growth of corporate frauds and scandals, reporting unethical practices could be considered as an important mechanism to control them and ultimately improve organizational quality. To this end, this study proposes the conceptual framework comprising the enablers impacting employees' tendencies and behaviors to reporting misdemeanor in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic review of literature has been carried out. To understand the complexities among various enablers and to analyze their driving power and contingencies, a modified total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach has been adopted.

Findings

The findings indicate that enablers such as moral identity (MI) and job satisfaction (JS) having higher driving power (come at the bottom of the hierarchy) are relatively more important. Furthermore, perceived personal cost (PC), moral courage (MC), self-efficacy (SE) and anger have high dependent power of factors. Finally, the paper provides two paths that can lead to whistleblower's ethical decision.

Research limitations/implications

A conceptual framework delivered in this paper requires to test against the field data. However, the conceptual understanding of driving enablers paves the way to top management in recruiting and hiring people in the workplace.

Originality/value

This study represents the first attempt to apply TISM for whistleblowing phenomenon. It provides a comprehensive conceptual framework in order to address the relative importance of various individual enablers in developing reporting tendencies against misdemeanors.
Dysphagia following non‐traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage: A prospective pilot study
Authors: Dunn Katrina , Rumbach Anna , Finch Emma
Published: July 2020

Background

Whilst dysphagia is a commonly reported complication of stroke, it has received relatively little attention in the literature for patients following non‐traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

Aims

To investigate dysphagia incidence, risk factors, clinical progression and recovery in patients following non‐traumatic SAH.

Methods & Procedures

A prospective cohort study of 49 patients admitted to a tertiary neurosurgical referral unit with non‐traumatic SAH over a 12‐month period was conducted. Swallowing function was assessed by a speech–language pathologist within 72 h of medical stability and monitored throughout the acute inpatient admission.

Outcomes & Results

Dysphagia incidence was 16.33% (n = 8/49). Risk factors associated with dysphagia included; Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission, need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, length of ICU stay, need for intubation and ventilation, and hydrocephalus. Participants with dysphagia were admitted to hospital 1.9 times longer than those without dysphagia (p < 0.05) and were more likely to be transferred to another inpatient facility for ongoing care (p < 0.05). Dysphagia remained present at hospital discharge for over half (62.5%) of participants who developed this complication.

Conclusions & Implications

Care pathways for patients admitted to hospital with non‐traumatic SAH should include early screening for dysphagia risk. Further research using a larger prospective cohort is required to validate dysphagia incidence and risk factors in this patient cohort.

What this paper adds

What is already known on this subject

Dysphagia is a negative complication following non‐traumatic SAH, and can occur as a result of primary injury or secondary to treatment complications (e.g., intubation and ventilation, surgical intervention). However, limited evidence regarding its incidence, risk factors, clinical progression and recovery in a prospective cohort exists.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge

This study is the first to examine prospectively patients with non‐traumatic SAH within 72 h of medical stability. It identifies dysphagia incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics and recovery during the acute hospital admission for this patient cohort.

What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?

Early and regular screening for dysphagia in the presence of associated risk factors is essential for patients admitted with non‐traumatic SAH. Speech–language pathologist resources in the neurocritical care context should be available to support the assessment and management of dysphagia in this cohort.
Non‐Standard Employment and Wage Growth in Australia
Authors: Laß Inga , Wooden Mark
Published: July 2020

Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, and after restricting attention to employees, we observe an increase over time in the non‐standard employment share, all of which is concentrated in the period since 2009. Further, we find clear evidence that employees in non‐standard forms of employment have experienced relatively low rates of growth in hourly wages when compared with permanent full‐time employees. Nevertheless, decomposition analysis suggests that changes in workforce composition by employment type have had a very small (and insignificant) impact on the overall rate of wage growth in recent years.
A Case Against Crippling Compensation in International Law of State Responsibility
Authors: Paparinskis Martins
Published: July 2020

The obligation of States to provide full reparation for internationally wrongful acts, including by full compensation, is one of the bedrock principles of international law. The article challenges this principle for cases where compensation is crippling for the responsible State or its peoples, which can occur when State responsibility is implemented before international courts and tribunals. The International Law Commission's decision not to qualify full reparation for instances of crippling compensation in its influential Articles on State responsibility was an unpersuasive legal position to adopt in 2001, and its rationale has aged badly. However, the failure by States and other actors to challenge it in the following two decades signified its endorsement by the international legal process. Nevertheless, the case against the permissibility of crippling compensation in modern international law can still be made, both on a case‐by‐case basis and at the level of customary secondary rules of State responsibility.
Effect of exercise on hepatic steatosis: Are benefits seen without dietary intervention? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Baker Callum John , Martinez‐Huenchullan Sergio Francisco , D'Souza Mario , Xu Yu , Li Mian , Bi Yufang , Johnson Nathan Anthony , Twigg Stephen Morris
Published: July 2020

Background

Interventions involving both exercise and dietary modification are effective in reducing steatosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, exercise alone may reduce liver fat and is known to have other positive effects on health. The primary aim of this study was to systematically review the effect of exercise alone without dietary intervention on NAFLD and to examine correlations across changes in liver fat and metabolic markers during exercise.

Methods

Relevant online databases were searched from earliest records to May 2020 by two researchers. Studies were included where the trial was a randomized controlled trial, participants were adults, exercise intervention was longer than 4 weeks, no dietary intervention occurred, and the effect of the intervention on liver fat was quantified via magnetic resonance imaging/proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Results

Of 21 597 studies retrieved, 16 were included involving 706 participants. Exercise was found to have a beneficial effect on liver fat without dietary modification (−2.4%, −3.13 to −1.66) (mean, 95% CI). Pearson correlation showed significant relationships between change in liver fat and change in weight (r = 0.67, P = .007), liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (r = 0.76, P = .002) and alanine aminotransferase (r = 0.91, P < .001), and cardiorespiratory fitness VO2peak (peak volume oxygen consumption) (r = −0.88, P = .004). By multivariate regression, change in weight and change in VO2peak significantly contributed to change in liver fat (R2 = 0.84, P = .01).

Conclusions

This systematic review found that exercise without dietary intervention improves liver fat and that clinical markers may be useful proxies for quantifying liver fat changes.
Understanding Film Co‐Production in the Era of Globalization: A Value Chain Approach
Authors: Parc Jimmyn
Published: July 2020

The film industry is closely linked to the nation’s culture and economy. With globalization, however, it has become more engaged in international operations through film co‐production. Paradoxically, this instrument emerged as a type of discriminatory measure as well as reflected growing interest in regionalism, notably among European countries facing the dominance of US films. To strengthen this scheme, state subsidies have been widely offered, which has led to it being positively adopted in Europe and beyond. Given this political context, the double‐facet of co‐production should be carefully understood when this scheme is implemented to promote the film industry. In this regard, it is important to understand clearly how co‐production functions and crucially its real impact on the film industry. This paper reveals that in contrast to the common perception, co‐production leads easily to cultural paucity, rather than cultural diversity across various aspects. Additionally, subsidies to promote co‐production distort it further and make it easier to be exploited. Therefore, such a consideration should be taken into account when redesigning the co‐production scheme if governments wish to help promote the national film industry and cultural diversity in the era of globalization.
Successful osimertinib retreatment after extremely early onset severe pneumonitis in first‐line treatment of lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ahn June Hong
Published: July 2020

Drug‐induced pneumonitis is rare, and can result in death. Here, we present a report of a patient with adenocarcinoma harboring EGFR exon 19 deletion mutation treated with osimertinib as first‐line treatment. After six days of treatment, extremely early onset severe pneumonitis was diagnosed. Discontinuation of osimertinib as well as administration of corticosteroid, and retreatment with osimertinib were successful. This case report highlights that extremely early onset severe pneumonitis can occur after osimertinib administration, and retreatment of osimertinib may be a useful treatment option after resolution of pneumonitis.
A customizable, low‐cost optomotor apparatus: A powerful tool for behaviourally measuring visual capability
Authors: Caves Eleanor M. , Troscianko Jolyon , Kelley Laura A.
Published: July 2020

Vision is the dominant sense for many animals, and there is an enormous diversity in visual capabilities. Understanding the visual abilities of a given species can therefore be key for investigating its behaviour and evolution. However, many techniques for quantifying visual capability are expensive, require specialized equipment or are terminal for the animal.

Here, we discuss how to measure the optomotor (or optokinetic) response, an innate response that can be elicited without any training in a wide range of taxa, and which is quantifiable, accessible and non‐invasive, and provide guidance for carrying out optomotor experiments.

We provide instructions for building a customizable, programmable optomotor apparatus using 3D‐printed and low‐cost materials, discuss experimental design considerations for optomotor assays, including a guide that calculates the dimensions of stimuli of varying spatial frequency, and provide a table summarizing experimental parameters in prior optomotor experiments across a range of species.

Ultimately, making this simple technique more accessible will allow more researchers to incorporate measures of visual capability into their work. Additionally, the low cost and ease of construction of our apparatus will allow educators in a variety of settings to include optomotor assays in classroom activities or demonstrations. Although here we focus on using optomotor to measure visual acuity—the ability to perceive detail—the apparatus and stimuli described here can be adapted to measure visual capabilities including spectral, contrast and polarization sensitivity, as well as motion detection, among others.
Nudging farmers in crop choice using price information: Evidence from Ethiopian Commodity Exchange
Authors: Belay Dagim G. , Ayalew Hailemariam
Published: July 2020

The lack of reference price information is often regarded as one of the most pervasive aspects of incomplete commodity markets in developing countries. Previous studies on the effects of price information emphasize the market participation and performance of rural households. This paper argues that access to reference price information influences farmers’ crop choice decisions, the most important decision in farming activity. The study exploits the variation in timing and spatial distance of the publicly run Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) price tickers as an indicator for variation in the intensity of access to reference price information among rural villages in Ethiopia. The paper finds that access to price information increases the average farm‐gate prices for traded commodities and incentivizes farmers to allocate more land, fertilizer and improved seeds to commodities traded in the ECX. It also nudges farmers to produce more of the traded commodities, increasing the output share of ECX‐traded commodities.
Constructing an “Iron” Unity: The Statue of Unity and India’s Nationalist Historiography
Authors: Davis* Alexander E. , Gamble Ruth
Published: July 2020

In October 2018, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated a pet project, the “Statue of Unity”, in Gujarat, India. The world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity cost USD416.67 million to construct, and depicts India’s first deputy prime minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as the “Iron Man of India”, staring resolutely out over the controversial Sardar Sarovar Dam. This article examines the meanings of the statue as a political project of memorialisation. We argue that the statue is an attempt to reimagine India’s nationalist historiography around Patel, taking the emphasis off the secular, socialist first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. In doing so, the statue constructs a hyper‐masculine idea of India centred on an assimilatory idea of “unity”. The statue’s construction materially enforced this symbolism by pushing aside the site’s previous Adivasi owners, and presents an ordered, majoritarian, business‐led vision of public space in Modi’s India. Within this space, the statue materialises Patel as the image of Indian identity. He is made from the stuff of progress, concrete and reinforced steel, and coated in bronze, which links his image with India’s long history of religious statue‐making. The project then circulates these ideas through tourist marketing and visitor experience.
Hypothermic preservation of endothelialized gas‐exchange membranes
Authors: Pflaum Michael , Merhej Hayan , Peredo Ariana , De Adim , Dipresa Daniele , Wiegmann Bettina , Wolkers Willem , Haverich Axel , Korossis Sotirios
Published: July 2020

Endothelialization of the blood contacting surfaces of blood‐contacting medical devices, such as cardiovascular prostheses or biohybrid oxygenators, represents a plausible strategy for increasing their hemocompatibility. Nevertheless, isolation and expansion of autologous endothelial cells (ECs) usually requires multiple processing steps and time to obtain sufficient cell numbers. This excludes endothelialization from application in acute situations. Off‐the‐shelf availability of cell‐seeded biohybrid devices could be potentially facilitated by hypothermic storage. In this study, the survival of cord‐blood‐derived endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs) that were seeded onto polymethylpentene (PMP) gas‐exchange membranes and stored for up to 2 weeks in different commercially available and commonly used preservation media was measured. While storage at 4°C in normal growth medium (EGM‐2) for 3 days resulted in massive disruption of the ECFC monolayer and a significant decline in viability, ECFC monolayers preserved in Chillprotec could recover after up to 14 days with negligible effects on their integrity and viability. ECFC monolayers preserved in Celsior, HTS‐FRS, or Rokepie medium showed a significant decrease in viability after 7 days or longer periods. These results demonstrated the feasibility of hypothermic preservation of ECFC monolayers on gas‐exchange membranes for up to 2 weeks, with potential application on the preservation of pre‐endothelialized oxygenators and further biohybrid cardiovascular devices.
Resilience, Social Support, and Coping as Mediators between COVID‐19‐related Stressful Experiences and Acute Stress Disorder among College Students in China
Authors: Ye Zhi , Yang Xueying , Zeng Chengbo , Wang Yuyan , Shen Zijiao , Li Xiaoming , Lin Danhua
Published: July 2020

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic outbreak might induce acute stress disorder (ASD) to people living in the epidemic regions. The current study aims to investigate the association of COVID‐19‐related stressful experiences with ASD and possible psychological mechanisms of the association among college students.

Methods

Data were collected from 7,800 college students via an online survey during the initial stage of the COVID‐19 outbreak in China (from 31 January to 11 February 2020). Existing scales were adapted to measure stressful experiences, resilience, coping, social support, and ASD symptoms. Path analysis was employed to examine the research hypotheses.

Results

Among the 7,800 college students, 61.53% were women and their mean age was 20.54 years. Both direct and indirect effects from COVID‐19‐related stressful experiences to ASD symptoms were significant. The relationship between COVID‐19‐related stressful experiences and ASD could be mediated by resilience (β = 0.01, p < .001), adaptive coping strategies (β = 0.02, p < .001), and social support (β = 0.01, p < .001); while not being significantly mediated by maladaptive coping strategies.

Conclusion

The findings presented the ASD symptoms related to the COVID‐19 outbreak and the mediating role of interpersonal and intrapersonal factors in the association. Identifying the risk and protective factors is important to reduce acute psychological responses.
On the similarity of tree‐ring patterns: Assessing the influence of semi‐synchronous growth changes on the Gleichläufigkeitskoeffizient for big tree‐ring data sets
Authors: Visser R. M.
Published: July 2020

The Gleichläufigkeitskoeffizient (GLK), or the percentage of parallel variation (%PV), is an often used non‐parametric similarity measure in dendrochronological research. However, when analysing big data sets using the GLK, this measure has some issues. The main problem is that it includes not only synchronous but also semi‐synchronous growth changes. These are years in which the growth in one of the compared series does not change in two subsequent years. This influences the GLK, often only slightly, but the larger the data set the stronger the effect. The similarity between tree‐ring series can be more objectively expressed by replacing the GLK with the synchronous (SGC) and semi‐synchronous growth changes (SSGC). The calculation is similar, since GLK = SGC + SSGC/2. Large values of the SSGC are indicative of possible anomalies or even errors. The SGC is much better suited than the GLK to describe similarity. The SGC should therefore be used to analyse big data sets, for clustering and/or dendroprovenance studies. It is recommended to combine the SGC with parametric measures.
The affordances of AI‐enabled automatic scoring applications on learners’ continuous learning intention: An empirical study in China
Authors: Fu Shixuan , Gu Huimin , Yang Bo
Published: July 2020

Traditional educational giants and natural language processing companies have launched several artificial intelligence (AI)‐enabled digital learning applications to facilitate language learning. One typical application of AI in digital language education is the automatic scoring application that provides feedback on pronunciation repeat outcomes. This research is motivated by the usage of automatic scoring‐empowered digital learning tools by language learners, and set out to uncover the influencing mechanisms of AI‐enabled automatic scoring application affordances on learners’ continuous learning intention. Specifically, based on affordance theory, we found several automatic scoring application affordances through in‐depth interviews. Considering the current lack of investigations on the mechanisms underlying automatic scoring application and its implications for learners’ learning behaviors, we built a model to examine the role of automatic scoring application affordances on cognitive/emotional engagement and following continuous learning intention. We further examined the moderation role of in‐job learners and student learners on the above relationships. The model was tested using a survey of 260 Chinese foreign language learners who used AI‐empowered learning tools to facilitate their language learning practices. This study explores why learners continuously use AI‐enabled automatic scoring applications by identifying the affordances that differentiate it from traditional educational technologies. Practitioners could take the identified affordances into account when designing AI‐enabled language learning applications.
Neutropenic sepsis rates in patients receiving bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin chemotherapy using olanzapine and reduced doses of dexamethasone compared to a standard antiemetic regimen
Authors: Gjafa Ernese , Ng Kenrick , Grunewald Tami , Galazi Myria , Skyllberg Erik , Wilson Peter , Alifrangis Constantine , Shamash Jonathan
Published: July 2020

Objective

To investigate whether the use of a steroid‐sparing antiemetic protocol (substituting dexamethasone with olanzapine) affects the incidence of neutropenia and associated hospital admissions in patients receiving bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy.

Patients and Methods

Records from 108 patients who received BEP at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London were divided into two groups according to antiemetic regimen. Group 1 (treated 2008–2013) were treated with a steroid‐containing antiemetic protocol and group 2 (treated 2014–2017) were treated according to a steroid‐sparing protocol, i.e. using olanzapine. Outcomes included incidence of neutropenia at nadir blood count, severity of neutropenia, hospital admissions attributable to febrile neutropenia (FN) and baseline risk factors associated with FN. Statistical analyses were performed using two‐sided chi‐squared tests.

Results

The baseline characteristics of the two groups were balanced with regard to age, gender, histology, and proportion of patients with International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group poor‐risk disease. The incidence of neutropenia of any grade (group 1, 96.2%; group 2, 98.1%) was similar, although group 2 had more patients with severe neutropenia than group 2 (77.7% vs 88.8%). There was a significant difference in FN incidence (group 1, 22%; group 2 7.5%; P = 0.030). Most cases of FN occurred in cycle 1. Two baseline characteristics were over‐represented in patients who developed FN: female sex and age ≥50 years.

Conclusion

By comparing two cohorts who received prophylactic antibiotics, our audit suggests that rates of FN‐related admissions were lower in the cohort of patients in whom we employed a steroid‐sparing antiemetic protocol.
Debate: #Together despite the distance
Authors: Chrisman Allan K.
Published: July 2020

The pandemic COVID‐19 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has had a major global impact on the healthcare systems worldwide as they deal with the surge of critically ill persons. Additionally, the preventative measure of stay‐at‐home orders and closure of nonessential businesses has caused the disruption of entire communities. The child/youth mental health workforce bears the additional burden of the disruption of the systems‐based practice crucial to the successful provision of mental health services. Major sources of stress for the workforce include: (a) a threat to the worker’s personal/family health and life (traumatic injury), (b) a loss of colleagues or threat to professional mastery and identity (grief injury), (c) an inner conflict between ones’ values and aspirations and what they are able to accomplish in their work (moral injury), and (d) fatigue, simply feeling worn out by the relentless work and need, without time for rest and recovery (fatigue injury). The rapid transformation of the in‐person to virtual practice by the implementation of telehealth/telephonic sessions has eroded the boundary between personal/professional life and created a new Zoom fatigue.
Accumulation of amyloid beta in human glioblastomas
Authors: Zayas-Santiago A , Díaz-García A , Nuñez-Rodríguez R , Inyushin M
Published: July 2020

Many cancer types are intrinsically associated with specific types of amyloidosis, in which amyloid is accumulated locally inside tumors or systemically. Usually, this condition relates to the hyperproduction of specific amylogenic proteins. Recently, we found that the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide immunofluorescence is linked to glioma cells in mouse tumors. Here we report that amyloid-specific histochemical dyes reveal amyloid accumulation in all human glioma samples. Application of two different antibodies against Aβ peptide (a polyclonal antibody against human Aβ1–42 and a monoclonal pan-specific mAb-2 antibody against Aβ) showed that the amyloid in glioma samples contains Aβ. Amyloid was linked to glioma cells expressing glial-specific fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and to glioma blood vessels. Astrocytes close to the glioma site and to affected vessels also accumulated Aβ. We discuss whether amyloid is produced by glioma cells or is the result of systemic production of Aβ in response to glioma development due to an innate immunity reaction. We conclude that amyloid build-up in glioma tumors is a part of the tumor environment, and may be used as a target for developing a novel class of anti-tumor drugs and as an antigen for glioma visualization.
Biallelic variants in PPP1R13L cause paediatric dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Robinson H.K. , Zaklyazminskaya E. , Povolotskaya I. , Surikova Y. , Mallin L. , Armstrong C. , Mabin D. , Benke P.J. , Chrisant M.R. , McDonald M. , Marboe C.C. , Agre K.E. , Deyle D.R. , McWalter K. , Douglas G. , Balashova M.S. , Kaimonov V. , Shirokova N. , Pomerantseva E. , Turner C.L. , Ellard S.
Published: July 2020

Childhood dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of heart failure requiring cardiac transplantation and approximately 5% of cases result in sudden death. Knowledge of the underlying genetic cause can aid prognostication and clinical management and enables accurate recurrence risk counselling for the family. Here we used genomic sequencing to identify the causative genetic variant(s) in families with children affected by severe DCM. In an international collaborative effort facilitated by GeneMatcher, biallelic variants in PPP1R13L were identified in seven children with severe DCM from five unrelated families following exome or genome sequencing and inheritance‐based variant filtering. PPP1R13L encodes inhibitor of apoptosis‐stimulating protein of p53 protein (iASPP). In addition to roles in apoptosis, iASPP acts as a regulator of desmosomes and has been implicated in inflammatory pathways. DCM presented early (mean: 2 years 10 months; range: 3 months‐9 years) and was progressive, resulting in death (n = 3) or transplant (n = 3), with one child currently awaiting transplant. Genomic sequencing technologies are valuable for the identification of novel and emerging candidate genes. Biallelic variants in PPP1R13L were previously reported in a single consanguineous family with paediatric DCM. The identification here of a further five families now provides sufficient evidence to support a robust gene‐disease association between PPP1R13L and severe paediatric DCM. The PPP1R13L gene should be included in panel‐based genetic testing for paediatric DCM.
A homozygous HOXA11 variation as a potential novel cause of autosomal recessive congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract
Authors: Saygili Seha , Atayar Emine , Canpolat Nur , Elicevik Mehmet , Kurugoglu Sebuh , Sever Lale , Caliskan Salim , Ozaltin Fatih
Published: July 2020

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) is the leading cause of end‐stage kidney disease in children. Until now, more than 50 monogenic causes for CAKUT have been described, all of which only explain 10% to 20% of all patients with CAKUT, suggesting the presence of additional genes that cause CAKUT when mutated. Herein, we report two siblings of a consanguineous family with CAKUT, both of which rapidly progressed to chronic kidney disease in early childhood. Whole‐exome sequencing followed by homozygosity mapping identified a homozygous variation in HOXA11. We therefore showed for the first time an association between a homozygous HOXA11 variation with CAKUT in humans, expanding the genetic spectrum of the disease.
FISCAL EXPENDITURE AND INDUSTRIAL LAND PRICE IN CHINA: THEORY AND EVIDENCE
Authors: Tsai Pi‐Han , Huang Chien‐Yu , Chiang Tsun‐Feng
Published: July 2020

This paper aims to discover the mechanism behind the positive correlation between local fiscal expenditure and industrial land price in China, a stylized fact discovered by bivariate and regression analyses. The model shows that if the positive externality of government expenditure on growth is sufficiently high, the local government has an incentive to increase public spending in exchange for the reduced demand for industrial land by charging a higher markup and driving up the industrial land price. Therefore, we observe a positive correlation between the local fiscal expenditure and industrial land price. (JEL D42, H72, R51)
Artificial intelligence‐based novel scheme for location area planning in cellular networks
Authors: Vimal Vrince , Singh Teekam , Qamar Shamimul , Nautiyal Bhaskar , Udham Singh Kamred , Kumar Abhishek
Published: July 2020

Planning of location area (LA) in cellular networks plays a vital role in utilizing the resources efficiently and economically. Location update and paging costs directly affect the cost to the service provider. When the size of the Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) is large, the paging cost becomes maximum. Though, no location update is required for this case. On the contrary, paging cost shoots high if each cell forms individual LA, but in this case, location update cost shoots to the maximum value. Therefore, deducing the network to the optimal amount of LA's is an intractable combinatorial optimization problem. In this paper, we intend to optimize the partitions of the MSC service area into an optimal number of LA, to curtail the total location management cost. We propose a novel scheme bearing in mind cell attributes of the network to deduce an optimum number of location areas, leading to minimum cost per call. It is revealed by the results of this work, attained after simulating the scenario on MATLAB 2018a that Cell Attributes Based Algorithm is a very promising scheme for cellular networks, and it outperforms the existing algorithms in a practical scenario.
Interventional cytopathology in the COVID‐19 era
Authors: Ronchi Andrea , Pagliuca Francesca , Zito Marino Federica , Montella Marco , Franco Renato , Cozzolino Immacolata
Published: July 2020

Introduction

The dramatic spread of COVID‐19 has raised many questions about cytological procedures performed in and out of the laboratories all over the world.

Methods

We report a heterogeneous series of fine needle aspirations performed during the period of phase 1 of the lockdown for the COVID‐19 pandemic to describe our experience and measures taken during this period.

Results

A total of 48 fine needle aspirations (ultrasound, computed tomography and endoscopic ultrasound guided) were processed and reported.

Conclusions

Pre‐existing procedures have been modified to allow healthcare professionals to work safely ensuring patients the necessary assistance with samples suitable for cellularity, fixation and staining for an accurate cytological diagnosis.
An introduction to the history of infectious diseases, epidemics and the early phases of the long‐run decline in mortality†
Authors: Shaw‐Taylor Leigh
Published: July 2020

This article, written during the COVID‐19 epidemic, provides a general introduction to the long‐term history of infectious diseases, epidemics and the early phases of the spectacular long‐term improvements in life expectancy since 1750, primarily with reference to English history. The story is a fundamentally optimistic one. In 2019 global life expectancy was approaching 73 years. In 1800 it was probably about 30. To understand the origins of this transition, we have to look at the historical sequence by which so many causes of premature death have been vanquished over time. In England that story begins much earlier than often supposed, in the years around 1600. The first two ‘victories’ were over famine and plague. However, economic changes with negative influences on mortality meant that, despite this, life expectancies were either falling or stable between the late sixteenth and mid eighteenth centuries. The late eighteenth and early nineteenth century saw major declines in deaths from smallpox, malaria and typhus and the beginnings of the long‐run increases in life expectancy. The period also saw urban areas become capable of demographic growth without a constant stream of migrants from the countryside: a necessary precondition for the global urbanization of the last two centuries and for modern economic growth. Since 1840 the highest national life expectancy globally has increased by three years in every decade.
Integrin expression and adhesivity to fibronectin in primary acute myeloid leukemia cells: Impact of NPM1 and FLT3 mutations
Authors: Kuželová Kateřina , Obr Adam , Marková Jana , Gašová Zdenka
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Interaction of leukemia cells with the bone marrow extracellular matrix promotes cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy. In this work, we analyzed integrin expression and adhesivity to fibronectin in primary cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Methods

Surface expression of integrins β1 and αVβ3 on primary leukemia cells (N = 46) was correlated with the stem cell marker CD34, as well as with cell adhesivity to fibronectin. The results were analyzed with regard to the mutational status of NPM1 and FLT3 genes.

Results

The integrin β1 was omnipresent, whereas αVβ3 was often more expressed on CD34‐positive cells. In particular, higher αVβ3 expression on CD34+ cells was associated with NPM1 mutation (P = .0018). Monocytic leukemias had significantly higher αVβ3 expression compared to less maturated cases (P = .0008). Cells from patients with internal tandem duplications in FLT3 (FLT3‐ITD) had lower adhesivity to fibronectin compared to cells with wild‐type FLT3 (P = .031), specifically in less differentiated myeloblasts. Inhibition of a putative FLT3‐ITD target, EZH2, increased cell adhesivity in MV4‐11 cell line (P = .024).

Conclusions

The integrin αVβ3 is expressed in particular on CD34+ cells with NPM1 mutation and might have a prognostic value in patients with mutated NPM1. FLT3‐ITD is associated with lower cell adhesivity, especially in patients with less differentiated leukemias.