bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Doppler Interrogation of the Femoral Vein in the Critically Ill Patient: The Fastest Potential Acoustic Window to Diagnose Right Ventricular Dysfunction?
Authors: Denault André Y. , Aldred Matthew P. , Hammoud Ali , Zeng Yu Hao , Beaubien-Souligny William , Couture Etienne J. , Jarry Stéphanie , Gebhard Caroline E. , Langevin Stephane , Lamarche Yoan , Robillard Pierre
Published: September 2020

Objectives:

To report the use of common femoral vein Doppler interrogation as a simple technique to diagnose right ventricular dysfunction.

Design:

Case report.

Setting:

Cardiac surgical ICU.

Patients:

Postoperative cardiac surgical patients.

Interventions:

Common femoral pulsed-wave and color Doppler examination associated with hepatic, portal, and renal venous Doppler measurement were obtained in both patients and before and after treatment in patient number 1. In addition, right ventricular pressure waveform examination was obtained in patient number 2.

Measurements and Main Results:

The technique to obtain common femoral venous Doppler is described. Two cases of patients presenting with right ventricular dysfunction and fluid overload with portal and renal venous congestion in the perioperative period undergoing complex multivalvular cardiac surgery are presented. Hemodynamic waveform monitoring was performed alongside echocardiographic, hepatic, and renal venous flow Doppler assessment, and spectral Doppler profiles of the common femoral veins were examined. Those findings were useful in confirming our diagnosis and guiding our response to treatment. An algorithm was developed and tested on two additional hemodynamically unstable patients.

Conclusions:

Doppler examination of the common femoral vein is a simple, fast, and noninvasive technique that could be useful to rule in the presence of right ventricular dysfunction with venous congestion and help guide the management of such patients.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Retrieval in Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Case-Series of 19 Patients Supported at a High-Volume Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Center
Authors: Riera Jordi , Argudo Eduard , Martínez-Martínez María , García Sandra , García-de-Acilu Marina , Santafé Manel , Díaz Cándido , Contreras Sofía , Cortina Alexandra , Bonilla Camilo , Pacheco Andrés , Resta Paula , Palmer Neiser , Castro Miguel Ángel , Ferrer Ricard
Published: September 2020

Objective:

To evaluate the performance of the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation retrieval team at a high-volume extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Design:

Observational study including all adult patients with confirmed infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 cannulated at other centers and transported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to the ICU of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital between 15 March and 10 June 2020.

Setting:

The ICU (capacity expanded to 200 during the pandemic) of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (a 1,100-bed public university hospital in Barcelona), the referral center for extracorporeal respiratory support in Catalonia (7.5 million inhabitants).

Patients:

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was considered if the Pao
2/Fio
2 ratio less than 80 mm Hg (refractory to prone position) and/or Paco
2 greater than 80 mm Hg and pH less than 7.25 for more than 6 hours, and no contraindications for extracorporeal support were present.

Interventions:

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated in the primary center. Then, patients were transferred to the ICU of the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital where they received support until respiratory improvement. After decannulation, patients were discharged for rehabilitation at the primary center.

Measurements and Main Results:

Nineteen patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection and with a mean Pao
2/Fio
2 ratio of 71 mm Hg (57–118 mm Hg) despite prone positioning and a mean Paco
2 of 70 mm Hg (47–110 mm Hg) were transferred to our center from their primary hospital after cannulation and received venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Prior to cannulation, six patients (31.5%) presented vascular thrombosis, and nine (47.4%) were already receiving anticoagulant therapy. Eighteen transfers were carried out with no significant complications. While on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, thrombotic events were recorded in nine patients (47.4%) and hemorrhagic events in 13 (68.4%). Thirteen patients (68.4%) were successfully weaned, and 12 (63.1%) were discharged home.

Conclusions:

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation retrieval can rescue young, previously healthy patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 in whom all the conventional respiratory measures have failed. Thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications are frequent in this cohort.
A Novel Approach to ICU Survivor Care: A Population Health Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Snell Kenneth P. , Beiter Cynthia L. , Hall Erin L. , Junod Anthony S. , Wilson Bradley J. , Lepone Daniel K. , McIntyre Jeremy R. , Swartz Danielle Phelps , Berger Andrea L. , Kirchner H. Lester , Tomcavage Janet F. , Korzick Karen A.
Published: September 2020

Objectives:

Deliver a novel interdisciplinary care process for ICU survivor care and their primary family caregivers, and assess mortality, readmission rates, and economic impact compared with usual care.

Design:

Population health quality improvement comparative study with retrospective data analysis.

Setting:

A single tertiary care rural hospital with medical/surgical, neuroscience, trauma, and cardiac ICUs.

Patients:

ICU survivors.

Interventions:

Reorganization of existing post discharge health care delivery resources to form an ICU survivor clinic care process and compare this new process to post discharge usual care process.

Measurements and Main Results:

Demographic data, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV scores, and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores were extracted from the electronic health record. Additional data was extracted from the care manager database. Economic data were extracted from the Geisinger Health Plan database and analyzed by a health economist. During 13-month period analyzed, patients in the ICU survivor care had reduced mortality compared with usual care, as determined by the Kaplan-Meier method (ICU survivor care 0.89 vs usual care 0.71; log-rank p = 0.0108) and risk-adjusted stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting (hazard ratio, 0.157; 95% CI, 0.058–0.427). Readmission for ICU survivor care versus usual care: at 30 days (10.4% vs 26.3%; stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting hazard ratio, 0.539; 95% CI, 0.224–1.297) and at 60 days (16.7% vs 34.7%; stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting hazard ratio, 0.525; 95% CI, 0.240–1.145). Financial data analysis indicates estimated annual cost savings to Geisinger Health Plan ranges from $247,052 to $424,846 during the time period analyzed.

Conclusions:

Our ICU survivor care process results in decreased mortality and a net annual cost savings to the insurer compared with usual care processes. There was no statistically significant difference in readmission rates.
Effect of sex hormones on coronavirus disease 2019: an analysis of 5,061 laboratory-confirmed cases in South Korea
Authors: Lee Jae Hoon , Kim Yong Chan , Cho Si Hyun , Lee Jinae , You Seng Chan , Song Young Goo , Won Young Bin , Choi Young Sik , Park Yun Soo
Published: September 2020

Objective:

To evaluate the effect of female sex hormones on the clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 patients using national claims data.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study used the Health Insurance Review and Assessment data of 5,061 adult patients with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 in South Korea from January 20 to April 8, 2020. To evaluate the effect of hormone therapy on clinical outcomes among women, subgroup analyses using age-matched case-control data were performed.

Results:

Coronavirus disease 2019 was most prevalent in women in the 20-39 years age group (1,250 [44.14%]). Men were more likely to receive oxygen therapy (144 [6.46%] vs 131 [4.63%], P = 0.004), be admitted to the intensive care unit (60 [2.69%] vs 53 [1.87%], P = 0.049), and have a longer length of stay after admission to the intensive care unit (19.70 ± 11.80 vs 14.75 ± 9.23, P = 0.016). However, there was no significant difference in the mortality rate (men vs women: 42 [1.88%] vs 42 [1.48%], P = 0.267). In the multivariable Cox analysis, older age and underlying comorbidities, but not sex, were independent risk factors for mortality. Hormone therapy was not significantly associated with clinical outcomes.

Conclusions:

This study, using nationwide data, suggests that female sex hormones are not associated with the morbidity and clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in South Korea.
Influence of Oxidative Stress-Related Genes on Susceptibility to Fibromyalgia
Authors: Rus Alma , Robles-Fernandez Inmaculada , Martinez-Gonzalez Luis Javier , Carmona Ramon , Alvarez-Cubero Maria Jesus
Published: September 2020

Background

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex syndrome to diagnose and treat because of its unknown etiology. However, previous studies reported that patients with FM experience oxidative stress.

Objectives

In this study, we investigated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding enzymes involved in oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase 1 [SOD1], catalase, and NADPH oxidase [CYBA]) in patients with FM and in healthy subjects, as well as the possible relation with demographic and clinical manifestations of FM.

Methods

A total of 141 patients with FM and 73 healthy subjects participated in this case–control study. For DNA extraction, buccal swabs were collected from patients with FM, and a peripheral blood sample was extracted from controls. We analyzed SNPs in genes related to oxidative stress (rs10432782 in SOD1, rs1001179 in catalase, and rs4673 in CYBA) using TaqMan probes. In patients with FM, severity of FM, fatigue, and pain were assessed by Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively. Physical (PCS-12) and mental (MCS-12) health statuses were evaluated by the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey.

Results

The selected SNPs did not show significant differences between patients with FM and controls. The rs10432782 (SOD1) was associated with Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire scores in patients with FM, whereas the rs4673 (CYBA) was associated with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory score, MCS-12 score, and duration of the disease.

Discussion

We have identified significant correlations between SOD1 and CYBA variants with clinical manifestations of FM. These results provide new insights into the pathogenesis of FM that could be useful for guiding future studies along the way to find the cause(s) of this syndrome.
Optimizing Rapid Sequence Intubation for Medical and Trauma Patients in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Bennett Berkeley L. , Scherzer Daniel , Gold Delia , Buckingham Don , McClain Andrew , Hill Elaise , Andoh Adjoa , Christman Joseph , Shonk Andrew , Spencer Sandra P.
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is a critical procedure for severely ill and injured patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department (PED). This procedure has a high risk of complications, and multiple attempts increase this risk. We aimed to increase successful intubation within two attempts, focusing on medical and trauma patients separately to identify improvement barriers for each group.

Methods:

A multifaceted intervention was implemented using quality improvement methods. The analysis included adherence to the standardized process, successful intubation within two attempts, and frequency of oxygen saturations <92% during laryngoscopy. Trauma and medical patients were analyzed separately as team composition differed for each.

Results:

This project began in February 2018, and we included 290 patients between April 2018 and December 2019. Adherence to the standardized process was sustained at 91% for medical patients and a baseline of 55% for trauma patients with a trend toward improvement. In May 2018, we observed and sustained special cause variations for medical patients’ successful intubations within two attempts (77–89%). In September 2018, special cause variation was observed and sustained for the successful intubation of trauma patients within two attempts (89–96%). The frequency of oxygen saturation of <92% was 21% for medical patients; only one trauma patient experienced oxygen desaturation.

Conclusion:

Implementation of a standardized process significantly improved successful intubations within two attempts for medical and trauma patients. Trauma teams had more gradual adherence to the standardized process, which may be related to the relative infrequency of intubations and variable team composition.
Quetiapine Relieved Pisa Syndrome in Patient With Parkinson Disease
Authors: Zhao Junwu , Wang Quan , Sun Hairong , Liu Xiaoxiao , Leng Bing , Wang Tong
Published: September 2020

Objectives

The aim of the study was to report quetiapine-relieved Pisa syndrome in a patient with Parkinson disease and to discuss the pathogenesis and treatment of Pisa syndrome.

Methods

We report a 74-year-old female patient with a history of Parkinson disease for 7 years. Pisa syndrome, lateral deviation of the spine and leaning to one side, appeared more than a year ago; adjusting levodopa was ineffective. After treatment with quetiapine for visual hallucinations, the patient's right side tilt was completely relieved after taking the drug for 1 month.

Conclusions

Drug-related Pisa syndrome may be associated with the imbalance in dopamine-choline. Pisa syndrome may have similar mechanisms and treatment options to dystonia.

This is the first report of quetiapine relieving Pisa syndrome in a patient with Parkinson disease.
ACP-MHCNN: An Accurate Multi-Headed Deep-Convolutional Neural Network to Predict Anticancer peptides
Authors: Ahmed Sajid , Muhammod Rafsanjani , Adilina Sheikh , Khan Zahid Hossain , Shatabda Swakkhar , Dehzangi Abdollah
Published: September 2020

Although advancing the therapeutic alternatives for treating deadly cancers has gained much attention globally, still the primary methods such as chemotherapy have significant downsides and low specificity. Most recently, Anticancer peptides (ACPs) have emerged as a potential alternative to therapeutic alternatives with much fewer negative side-effects. However, the identification of ACPs through wet-lab experiments is expensive and time-consuming. Hence, computational methods have emerged as viable alternatives. During the past few years, several computational ACP identification techniques using hand-engineered features have been proposed to solve this problem. In this study, we propose a new multi headed deep convolutional neural network model called ACP-MHCNN, for extracting and combining discriminative features from different information sources in an interactive way. Our model extracts sequence, physicochemical, and evolutionary based features for ACP identification through simultaneous interaction with different numerical peptide representations while restraining parameter overhead. It is evident through rigorous experiments using cross-validation and independent-dataset that ACP-MHCNN outperforms other models for anticancer peptide identification by a substantial margin. ACP-MHCNN outperforms state-of-the-art model by 6.3%, 8.6%, 3.7%, 4.0%, and 0.20 in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and MCC respectively. ACP-MHCNN and its relevant codes and datasets are publicly available at:https://github.com/mrzResearchArena/Anticancer-Peptides-CNN.
Single-cell RNA-seq of the stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue reveals lineage-specific changes in cancer-related lymphedema
Authors: Liu Xuanyu , Yuan Meng , Xiang Qinqin , Chen Wen , Li Zhujun , Chen Jie , Huang Jiuzuo , Yu Nanze , Long Xiao , Zhou Zhou
Published: September 2020

Lymphedema is a chronic tissue edema that frequently occurs following lymph node resection for cancer treatment, and is characterized by progressive swelling, chronic inflammation, excessive fibrosis and adipose deposition in the affected limbs. We still lack targeted medical therapies for this disease due to the incomplete understanding of the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis. Here, we performed single-cell RNA-seq of 70,209 cells of the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of subcutaneous adipose tissue from patients with cancer-related lymphedema and healthy donors. Unbiased clustering revealed 21 cell clusters, which were assigned to 10 cell lineages. One of the four ASC subpopulations, c3, was significantly expanded in lymphedema, which may be related to the fibrosis and pathologic mineralization of adipose tissues in lymphedema. Dysregulated pathways and genes of ASCs in lymphedema were identified through gene set enrichment analysis and differential regulatory network analysis, which reflect the pathophysiological changes in ASCs in lymphedema: enhanced fibrosis, mineralization and proliferation as well as compromised immunosuppression capacity. In addition, we characterized the three subpopulations of macrophages, and found that the adipose tissue of lymphedema displayed immunological dysfunction characterized by a striking depletion of anti-inflammatory macrophages, i.e.,LYVE+resident-like macrophages. Cell-cell communication analysis revealed a perivascular ligand-receptor interaction module among ASCs, macrophages and vascular endothelial cells in adipose tissue. Communication changes for ASCs in lymphedema were identified. For example, PDGFD-PDGFR complex interactions were significantly enhanced between a number of lineages and ASCs, reflecting the role of PDGFD signaling in the pathophysiological changes in ASCs. Finally, we mapped the previously reported candidate genes predisposing to cancer-related lymphedema to cell subpopulations in the SVF, and found thatGJC2, the most likely causal gene was highly expressed in the lymphedema-associated ASC subpopulation c3. In summary, we provided the first comprehensive analysis of cellular heterogeneity, lineage-specific regulatory changes and intercellular communication alterations of the SVF in adipose tissues from cancer-related lymphedema at a single-cell resolution. The lymphedema-associated cell subpopulations and dysregulated pathways may serve as potential targets for medical therapies. Our large-scale dataset constitutes a valuable resource for further investigations of the mechanism of cancer-related lymphedema.
Genome-Wide Asymptomatic B-Cell, CD4+and CD8+T-Cell Epitopes, that are Highly Conserved Between Human and Animal Coronaviruses, Identified from SARS-CoV-2 as Immune Targets for Pre-Emptive Pan-Coronavirus Vaccines
Authors: Prakash Swayam , Srivastava Ruchi , Coulon Pierre-Gregoire , Dhanushkodi Nisha R. , Chentoufi Aziz A. , Tifrea Delia F. , Edwards Robert A. , Figueroa Cesar J. , Schubl Sebastian D. , Hsieh Lanny , Buchmeier Michael J. , Bouziane Mohammed , Nesburn Anthony B. , Kuppermann Baruch D. , BenMohamed Lbachir
Published: September 2020

Over the last two decades, there have been three deadly human outbreaks of Coronaviruses (CoVs) caused by emerging zoonotic CoVs: SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and the latest highly transmissible and deadly SARS-CoV-2, which has caused the current COVID-19 global pandemic. All three deadly CoVs originated from bats, the natural hosts, and transmitted to humansviavarious intermediate animal reservoirs. Because there is currently no universal pan-Coronavirus vaccine available, two worst-case scenarios remain highly possible: (1) SARS-CoV-2 mutates and transforms into a seasonal “flu-like” global pandemic; and/or (2) Other global COVID-like pandemics will emerge in the coming years, caused by yet another spillover of an unknown zoonotic bat-derived SARS-like Coronavirus (SL-CoV) into an unvaccinated human population. Determining the antigen and epitope landscapes that are conserved among human and animal Coronaviruses as well as the repertoire, phenotype and function of B cells and CD4+and CD8+T cells that correlate with resistance seen in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients should inform in the development of pan-Coronavirus vaccines1. In the present study, using several immuno-informatics and sequence alignment approaches, we identified several human B-cell, CD4+and CD8+T cell epitopes that are highly conserved in: (i) greater than 81,000 SARS-CoV-2 human strains identified to date in 190 countries on six continents; (ii) six circulating CoVs that caused previous human outbreaks of the “Common Cold”; (iii) five SL-CoVs isolated from bats; (iv) five SL-CoV isolated from pangolins; (v) three SL-CoVs isolated from Civet Cats; and (vi) four MERS strains isolated from camels. Furthermore, we identified cross-reactive asymptomatic epitopes that: (i) recalled B cell, CD4+and CD8+T cell responses from both asymptomatic COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals who were never exposed to SARS-CoV-2; and (ii) induced strong B cell and T cell responses in “humanized” Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-DR/HLA-A*02:01 double transgenic mice. The findings herein pave the way to develop a pre-emptive multi-epitope pan-Coronavirus vaccine to protect against past, current, and potential future outbreaks.
Divergent selection on behavioral and chemical traits contributes to isolation between populations ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Jin Bozhou , Barbash Daniel A. , Castillo Dean M
Published: September 2020

Speciation is driven by traits that can act to prohibit mating between nascent lineages, including male courtship and female preference for male traits. Mating barriers involving these traits evolve quickly because there is strong selection on males and females to maximize reproductive success, and the tight co-evolution of mating interactions can lead to rapid diversification of sexual behavior. Using lineages ofD. melanogasterthat show strong asymmetrical reproductive isolation, we ask two key questions: which specific male traits are females selecting, and are these traits under divergent sexual selection? These questions have proven extremely challenging to answer, because even in closely related lineages males often differ in multiple traits related to mating behavior. We address these questions by estimating selection gradients for male courtship and cuticular hydrocarbons for two different female genotypes. We identify specific behaviors and particular cuticular hydrocarbons that are under divergent sexual selection and likely contribute to reproductive isolation. Additionally, we discovered that a subset of these traits are plastic; males adjust these traits based on the identity of the female genotype they interact with. These results suggest that even when male courtship is not fixed between lineages, ongoing selection can contribute to reproductive isolation.
Instrument-model refinement in normalized reciprocal-vector space for X-ray Laue diffraction
Authors: Kamiński Radosław , Szarejko Dariusz , Pedersen Martin N. , Hatcher Lauren E. , Łaski Piotr , Raithby Paul R. , Wulff Michael , Jarzembska Katarzyna N.
Published: September 2020

A simple yet efficient instrument-model refinement method for X-ray diffraction data is presented and discussed. The method is based on least-squares minimization of differences between respective normalized (i.e.unit length) reciprocal vectors computed for adjacent frames. The approach was primarily designed to work with synchrotron X-ray Laue diffraction data collected for small-molecule single-crystal samples. The method has been shown to work well on both simulated and experimental data. Tests performed on simulated data sets for small-molecule and protein crystals confirmed the validity of the proposed instrument-model refinement approach. Finally, examination of data sets collected at both BioCARS 14-ID-B (Advanced Photon Source) and ID09 (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) beamlines indicated that the approach is capable of retrieving goniometer parameters (e.g.detector distance or primary X-ray beam centre) reliably, even when their initial estimates are rather inaccurate.
The impact of collective brand personification on happiness and brand loyalty
Authors: Braxton Dominique , Lau-Gesk Loraine
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Frontline service providers are a key touchpoint in a customer’s overall experience with a brand. Though they are recognized as important contributors to brand experiences, service providers have received relatively little attention in both experienced marketing and branding research. This paper aims to illuminate the importance of understanding factors that contribute to the role services providers play within the environmental context of the customer’s brand journey.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses two experimental studies to show that greater customer happiness and customer loyalty could be achieved through collective brand personification whereby the frontline service provider’s identity and core values align with those of the brand persona and store environment.

Findings

Specifically, findings reveal that customer happiness increases because of feelings of belongingness and greater brand authenticity when the service provider aligns with the retailer’s brand persona and store environment.

Research limitations/implications

While this study gets us closer to understanding how managers can leverage human capital in the retail service environment, there are opportunities to further explore issues such as the impact of collective brand personification on the employee.

Practical implications

Given the strong desire companies have to bolster customer happiness to increase brand loyalty, the findings bolster the importance of understanding the influential factors associated with frontline service providers. Their role in creating optimal customer experiences should not be underestimated.

Social implications

As an important cautionary note, firms should take care when creating the appearance and personality-based occupational qualifications by considering social norms and the impact on societal well-being (e.g. self-consciousness and exclusion can lead to serious illnesses and including depression). Study shows that people have an inherent need to feel accepted and belong to social groups that help to construct and affirm their self-concept, and appreciate opportunities that empower them to seize control against exclusion. Therefore, appearance and personality-based occupational qualifications should be strategically aligned with the image and goals of the firm, and not subject to management bias from an unconscious reaction to an applicant’s physical and interpersonal presentation.

Originality/value

The present study builds on both customer experience and branding literature by examining the relationship between customer happiness and collective brand personification – where the frontline service provider’s identity and core values align with those of the brand. Two experiments test the hypotheses that customer happiness increases because of feelings of belongingness with the brand and the consumer’s perception of the brand’s authenticity when the customer service provider aligns with the brand’s identity and core values.
Research on the influence of product differentiation and emission reduction policy on CO2emissions of China’s iron and steel industry
Authors: Duan Ye , Han Zenglin , Mu Hailin
Published: September 2020

Purpose

There are certain differences in the production products of enterprises. What are the impacts of product differentiation on the iron and steel industry? Based on the macro background of CO2emission reduction, this paper aims to analyze the economic benefits and environmental changes of the iron and steel industry under the dual influence of CO2emission reduction policy and product differentiation policy.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking the basic data of iron and steel industry in six regions of China as an example, this paper constructed an extended two-stage dynamic game model to analyze the impact of product differentiation and carbon tax policy on the production, economic indicators and CO2emission levels for the overall industry and regional enterprises.

Findings

As the CO2emission reduction target increased, the unit carbon tax and total tax increased, whereas the macro-environmental losses, social welfare, consumer surplus and outputs decrease. Emission reduction pressures and other economic indicators showed obvious regional differences. Differentiated products promoted various indicators of enterprises and industries; higher degrees of product differentiation resulted in greater promoting effects on economic indicators.

Originality/value

This paper constructed multiple emission reduction and production backgrounds, and discusses the impact of the comprehensive implementation of these policies, which has been practically absent in previous studies. The results of this study are consistent with the current industrial policy for stable production and environmental protection, and also provides a reference for the formulation of detailed policies in the future.
Airbnb and hotels: friends, enemies or frenemies?
Authors: Mhlanga Oswald
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the intricate relationship between the flagship of the sharing economy, Airbnb and hotel revenue per available room (RevPAR) in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

To identify the impact of Airbnb on hotel RevPAR, the paper used a triple difference-in-differences framework that compares changes in cities in South Africa where Airbnb started operating relative to areas without Airbnb. A total of 569 hotels were analysed.

Findings

While the study finds no evidence of adverse impacts of Airbnb on hotel RevPAR, the findings show that the entry of Airbnb led to a decrease in RevPAR of budget hotels. However, its impact is more pronounced during periods of peak demand, consequently, disrupting the pricing power of hotels.

Research limitations/implications

The research was based on the impact of Airbnb on hotel RevPAR in hotels situated in specific cities in South Africa. Caution is therefore required when generalising the findings of this study to other hotels in other geographic areas. Moreover, if a longer time series data set of hotels in the post-Airbnb time period could become available, it would be interesting to further investigate the time-varying dynamic effects of Airbnb on hotel RevPAR. However, the findings underscore the notion that innovations are not intrinsically disruptive but only relative to another product. In so doing, the study adds to the limited body of work in the field on disruptive innovation and to the academic discourse on innovation in tourism more broadly.

Practical implications

First, the findings suggest the impact on hotels tends towards Airbnb generally playing a largely complementary role rather than a diversionary one. However, to increase RevPAR, hotels should systematically change their pricing models to account for flexible capacity by rethinking the wisdom of seasonal pricing and reduce prices during peak seasons to avoid inviting more competition from Airbnb.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the first to explore the relationship between Airbnb and hotel markets using a triple difference methodology.
A framework for quality assurance for archives and records management education in an open distance e-learning environment in Eswatini
Authors: Tsabedze Vusi , Ngoepe Mpho
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine quality assurance for archives and records management (ARM) education in an open distance e-learning (ODeL) environment in Eswatini with a view to conceptualise a framework for quality assurance in the development and implementation of an ARM programme in the context of ODeL.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is anchored on the interpretive research paradigm, which surrounds a systematic literature review. The researcher searched for literature online, using scientific databases such as Ebsco, Scopus and Google Scholar. The search applied the publications from 2005 to 2019. The main search keywords are “archives”, “records management”, “open distance e-learning” and “quality assurance”. A total of 15 articles, which included documents, journal articles, reports, web pages and monographs, were retrieved, reviewed and analysed in this study. This conceptual study was preliminary, and the researcher hopes that further empirical studies based on the findings of this study could be pursued in future.

Findings

ARM as a form of study and delivered on ODeL platforms have been proposed in Eswatini. The major concern among stakeholders is how to ensure the quality of such programmes.

Research limitations/implications

This conceptual study was preliminary, and the researcher hopes that further empirical studies based on the findings of this study could be pursued in future.

Practical implications

The findings and recommendations will help in the development of ARM programmes to be offered effectively by way of ODeL, there is a need to develop a transparent quality assurance framework for such an application and its implementation.

Originality/value

This is the first study on quality assurance for ARM education in an ODeL environment in Eswatini. As part of the study, a quality assurance framework was designed for the implementation of ARM education on an ODeL platform. This quality assurance framework is intended to help higher education institutions in Eswatini such as the University of Eswatini as well as stakeholders such as the Eswatini National Archives and others to design ARM education and deliver it on an ODeL platform in a manner that guarantees adequate quality.
Rethinking and reinventing learning, education and collaboration in the digital age—from creating technologies to transforming cultures
Authors: Fischer Gerhard , Lundin Johan , Lindberg J. Ola
Published: September 2020

Purpose

The digitalization of society results in challenges and opportunities for learning and education. This paper describes exemplary transformations from current to future practices. It illustrates multi-dimensional aspects of learning which complement and transcend current frameworks of learning focused on schools. While digital technologies are necessary for these transformations, they are not sufficient. The paper briefly illustrates the applicability of the conceptual framework to the COVID-19 pandemic. It concludes that design opportunities and design trade-offs in relation to digital technologies and learning should be explored by envisioning the cultural transformation that are desirable for making learning a part of life.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the work conducted at the symposium “Rethinking and Reinventing Learning, Education, and Collaboration in the Digital Age—From Creating Technologies to Transforming Cultures” that took place in Engeltofta outside of Gävle, Sweden in September 2019. The symposium invited scholars in collaborative analysis of design opportunities and design trade-offs in relation to digital technologies and learning and explored design strategies for systematically and proactively increasing digital technology's contributions to learning and collaborating. The paper first provides a condensed introduction of a conceptual framework summarizing current practices, their problems and promising alternatives. Multi-dimensional aspects of learning and lifelong learning will be briefly described as promising future alternatives to school learning. Examples of transformative practices are supporting the major argument of the paper that creating new technologies is an important prerequisite to address the fundamental challenge of transforming cultures. The unanticipated but fundamental event of the occurrence of COVID-19 will be briefly described to provide further evidence for the need and the applicability of our conceptual framework for rethinking and reinventing learning, education and collaboration in the digital age.

Findings

The paper provides a condensed introduction of a conceptual framework summarizing current practices, their problems and promising alternatives. The framework includes multi-dimensional aspects of learning and lifelong learning as a promising future alternative to a focus on school learning.

Originality/value

This paper describes exemplary transformations from current to future practices. It illustrates multi-dimensional aspects of learning which complement and transcend current frameworks of learning focused on schools.
General public’s attitude toward governments implementing digital contact tracing to curb COVID-19 – a study based on natural language processing
Authors: S.V. Praveen , Ittamalla Rajesh
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Governments worldwide are taking various measures to prevent the spreading of COVID virus. One such effort is digital contact tracing. However, the aspect of digital contact tracing was met with criticism, as many critics view this as an attempt of the government to control people and a fundamental breach of privacy. Using machine learning techniques, this study aims to deal with understanding the general public’s emotions toward contact tracing and determining whether there is a change in the attitude of the general public toward digital contact tracing in various months of crises. This study also analyzes the significant concerns voiced out by the general public regarding digital contact tracing.

Design/methodology/approach

For the analysis, data were collected from Reddit. Reddit posts discussing the digital contact tracing during COVID-19 crises were collected from February 2020 to July 2020. A total of 5,025 original Reddit posts were used for this study. Natural language processing, which is a part of machine learning, was used for this study to understand the sentiments of the general public about contact tracing. Latent Dirichlet allocation was used to understand the significant issues voiced out by the general public while discussing contact tracing.

Findings

This study was conducted in two parts. Study 1 results show that the percentage of general public viewing the aspect of contact tracing positively had not changed throughout the time period of Data frame (March 2020 to July 2020). However, compared to the initial month of the crises, the later months saw a considerable increase in negative sentiments and a decrease in neutral sentiments regarding the digital contact tracing. Study 2 finds out the significant issues public voices out in their negative sentiments are a violation of privacy, fear of safety and lack of trust in government.

Originality/value

Although numerous studies were conducted on how to implement contact tracing effectively, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study conducted with an objective of understanding the general public’s perception of contact tracing.
Study of the psychometric properties and population norms of the C-SHARP in a representative French population
Authors: Oubrahim Leïla , Combalbert Nicolas
Published: September 2020

Purpose

To fill this gap, this paper aims to translate the children’s scale of hostility and aggression: reactive/proactive (C-SHARP) into French and then tested its psychometric properties and established the first French standards.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper assess the aggressive behavior of 305 children and adolescents with intellectual disability (ID). This paper tested the scale’s factor structure (confirmatory factor analysis), internal consistency and inter-rater reliability.

Findings

The results support a factor structure similar to the US version. Factor analysis yielded a five-factor solution, namely, verbal aggression (12 items), bullying (12 items), covert aggression (11 items), hostility (9 items) and physical aggression (8 items). The French-speaking version of the C-SHARP shows good reliability (internal consistency) and good inter-rater reliability. The French version demonstrated encouraging evidence of validity. This paper also established French norms that were similar to US norms. This paper concludes that the French-speaking version of the C-SHARP must benefit from additional psychometric analyzes to confirm its adaptation for research and the clinic.

Originality/value

There is no tool currently available in France for the evaluation of aggressive behavior in children and adolescents with ID. The C-SHARP (Farmer and Aman, 2009) is the only questionnaire that specifically assesses aggression in children and adolescents with ID, its form, frequency and its proactive or reactive qualities. The French version of the C-SHARP could be a useful diagnostic tool to assess aggressive behavior in children and adolescents with ID and to identify and set up appropriate support strategies.
Cleaning control of stencil printing subject to performance deterioration
Authors: Xi Rui , Yu Jiangyou , Cao Le , Zheng Xiaojiang , Guo Jun
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Most solder paste printers are configured to periodically clean the stencil to maintain printing quality. However, a periodical cleaning control may result in excessive cleaning operations. The purpose of this paper is to develop a control method to schedule stencil cleaning operations appropriately.

Design/methodology/approach

A hybrid failure rate model of the stencil printing process with age reduction factor and failure rate increase factor is presented. A stencil cleaning policy based on system reliability is introduced. An optimization model used to derive the optimal stencil cleaning schedule is provided.

Findings

An aperiodic stencil cleaning control with good adaptability is achieved. A comparative analysis indicates that aperiodic control has better printing system reliability than traditional periodical control under the same cleaning resource consumption.

Originality/value

Periodical cleaning control commonly used in industrial printing process often results in excessive cleaning operations. By incorporating the printing system reliability, this paper develops an aperiodic stencil cleaning control method based on hybrid failure rate model of the stencil printing process. It helps to reduce unnecessary cleaning operations while keeping printing quality stable.
Statistics at The Zoo
Authors: Holmes Lisa , Edwards Katie , Moss Andy , Tollington Simon , Fowler Anna , Hughes David , Sudell Maria
Published: September 2020

At Chester Zoo, it is not only the keepers who are taking care of the animals. Statistical methods are used to promote animal welfare and to preserve and protect endangered species.
“Statistics Help us See The World Clearly if We're Willing to Look”
Authors: Tarran Brian
Published: September 2020

Brian Tarran interviews Tim Harford, the More or Less presenter and Financial Times columnist, about his new book, How to Make the World Add Up
Evaluation and modeling of changes in color, firmness, and physicochemical shelf life of cut pineapple (Ananas comosus) slices in equilibrium‐modified atmosphere packaging
Authors: Gómez José M. , Mendoza Sandra M. , Herrera Aníbal O. , Castellanos Diego A.
Published: September 2020

In this study cut, pineapple slices of 1 cm thick were packaged and stored at different temperatures and equilibrium modified atmosphere packages (EMAPs) to determine changes of color and firmness over time to represent physicochemical shelf life. From the experimental data, a variance analysis was performed to determine the effect of temperature and O2 level on the evolution of color (CIELAB coordinates) and firmness. It was observed that the evolution in L*, a*, and b* coordinates is independent on O2 concentration in the EMAP system. After that, suitable models were adjusted to represent the change of the quality properties as a function of temperature by using first‐order models to represent color and a power model for firmness. Likewise, a modified normal distribution function was adjusted to represent the coefficient of firmness loss depending on the O2 level besides the temperature effect. The firmness model was used to obtain a suitable equation to predict shelf life of the pineapple slices for different EMAP systems. Finally, a validation experiment was performed at 8 °C obtaining a high capacity of prediction (R2adj > 0.90) compared with the experimental data. The adjusted model can be used to configure a satisfactory EMAP system for the best preservation of minimally processed pineapple from the predicted evolution of color, firmness, and shelf life depending on temperature and O2 concentration.

Practical Application

In this work, we built a mathematical model to simulate the shelf life of pineapple cut into slices based on changes in color and firmness and as a function of temperature and oxygen level. These properties are truly relevant because they are very clear evidence of the fruit deterioration, and for that reason, we chose them for the model. The model we developed can be applied in retail and supermarket systems to determine precisely how long the product on the shelf can last before being disposed of, reducing material losses.
Multi‐modular engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for high‐titre production of tyrosol and salidroside
Authors: Liu Huayi , Tian Yujuan , Zhou Yi , Kan Yeyi , Wu Tingting , Xiao Wenhai , Luo Yunzi
Published: September 2020

Tyrosol and its glycosylated product salidroside are important ingredients in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmetics. Despite the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to naturally synthesize tyrosol, high yield from de novo synthesis remains a challenge. Here, we used metabolic engineering strategies to construct S. cerevisiae strains for high‐level production of tyrosol and salidroside from glucose. First, tyrosol production was unlocked from feedback inhibition. Then, transketolase and ribose‐5‐phosphate ketol‐isomerase were overexpressed to balance the supply of precursors. Next, chorismate synthase and chorismate mutase were overexpressed to maximize the aromatic amino acid flux towards tyrosol synthesis. Finally, the competing pathway was knocked out to further direct the carbon flux into tyrosol synthesis. Through a combination of these interventions, tyrosol titres reached 702.30 ± 0.41 mg l−1 in shake flasks, which were approximately 26‐fold greater than that of the WT strain. RrU8GT33 from Rhodiola rosea was also applied to cells and maximized salidroside production from tyrosol in S. cerevisiae. Salidroside titres of 1575.45 ± 19.35 mg l−1 were accomplished in shake flasks. Furthermore, titres of 9.90 ± 0.06 g l−1 of tyrosol and 26.55 ± 0.43 g l−1 of salidroside were achieved in 5 l bioreactors, both are the highest titres reported to date. The synergistic engineering strategies presented in this study could be further applied to increase the production of high value‐added aromatic compounds derived from the aromatic amino acid biosynthesis pathway in S. cerevisiae.