bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of safety culture in healthcare institutions: case of an Algerian hospital
Authors: Boughaba Assia , Aberkane Salah , Fourar Youcef-Oussama , Djebabra Mébarek
Published: August 2019

Purpose

For many years, the concept of safety culture has attracted researchers from all over the world, and more particularly in the area of healthcare services. The purpose of this paper is to measure safety culture dimensions in order to improve and promote healthcare in Algeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The used approach consists of getting a better understanding of healthcare safety culture (HSC) by measuring the perception of healthcare professionals in order to guide promotion actions. For this, the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture questionnaire was used in a pilot hospital setting where it was distributed on a number of 114 health professionals chosen by stratified random sampling.

Findings

The results showed that the identified priority areas for HSC improvement help in establishing a trust culture and a non-punitive environment based on the system and not on the individual.

Originality/value

Safety is recognized as a key aspect of service quality, thus measuring the HSC can help establish an improvement plan. In Algerian health facilities, this study is considered the first to examine perceptions in this particular area. The current results provide a baseline of strengths and opportunities for healthcare safety improvement, allowing the managers of this type of facilities to take steps that are more effective.
Efficacy of physician associate delivered virtual outpatient clinic
Authors: Meehan Daniel , Balhareth Ameera , Gnanamoorthy Madhumitha , Burke John , McNamara Deborah A.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The capacity available to deliver outpatient surgical services is outweighed by the demand. Although additional investment is sometimes needed, better aligning resources, increasing operational efficiency and considering new processes all have a role in improving delivering these services. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the safety of a physician associate (PA) delivered virtual outpatient department (VOPD) consultation service that was established in a General and Colorectal Surgery Department at an Irish teaching hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of low-risk surgical patients were referred by senior surgeons to a PA delivered virtual clinic (VOPD). Medical records belonging to half the included patients were randomly selected for review by two doctors three months following discharge back to primary care to confirm appropriate standards of care and documentation and to audit any recorded adverse incidents or outcomes.

Findings

In total, 191 patients had been reviewed by the PA in the VOPD with 159 discharged directly back to primary care. Among the 95 medical records that were reviewed by the NCHDs, there were no recorded adverse incidents after discharge. Medical record keeping was deficient in 1 out of 95 reviewed cases.

Practical implications

Using a PA delivered VOPD consultation appears to have a role in following up patients who have undergone low-risk procedures irrespective of age or co-morbidity when selected appropriately. This may assist in reducing the demand on outpatient services by reducing unnecessary return visits, thereby increasing the capacity for new referrals.

Originality/value

While there are reported examples to date of virtual clinics, these relate to services delivered by registered medical practitioners. Here, the authors demonstrate the acceptability of this model of care in an Irish population as delivered by a PA.
Are overqualified employees bad apples? A dual-pathway model of cyberloafing
Authors: Zhang Junwei , Akhtar Muhammad Naseer , Zhang Yajun , Sun Shan
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Drawing from cognitive and emotional perspectives, the purpose of this paper is to theorize and test a dual-pathway model in which moral disengagement and anger toward organization act as two explanatory mechanisms of the association between perceived overqualification and employee cyberloafing. The authors further proposed that the strengths of these two mediating mechanisms depend on employee moral identity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used hierarchical linear modeling to examine the hypotheses by analyzing a sample of 294 employees working in 71 departments in China.

Findings

Results revealed that moral disengagement and anger toward organization mediated the positive link between perceived overqualification and cyberloafing beyond the influence of social exchange. Furthermore, moral identity attenuated the association between the mediators (i.e. moral disengagement and anger) and cyberloafing and the indirect relationship between perceived overqualification and cyberloafing.

Originality/value

Extant studies have examined the effects of perceived overqualification on employee behaviors in terms of task performance, organizational citizenship behavior, proactive behavior, as well as withdrawal behavior. The study expands this line of research by empirically investigating whether and how perceived overqualification influences cyberloafing.
What makes people send gifts via social network services? A mixed methods approach
Authors: Lee So-Hyun , Choi Su-Jin , Kim Hee-Woong
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Social network services (SNS) gifting is a new business model, but many SNS providers continue to face challenges as they explore ways to increase their revenues from gifting. The purpose of this paper is to examine the key factors involved in gift giving via SNS platforms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a mixed methods approach through qualitative and quantitative research. In the first stage (qualitative study), the authors extract factors from interviews with users of SNS gifting services. In the second stage (quantitative study), the authors interpret decisional factors explored in the first stage on the basis of customer value theory, develop a research model and empirically test it.

Findings

The results show that five factors – convenience of SNS gifting, symbolic representation of SNS gifting, relationship support of SNS gifting, pleasure of SNS gifting, and an SNS gifting norm – directly or indirectly affect SNS gifting decisions.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to electronic commerce research by extending the customer value theory and adding to the literature on SNS gifting and gift giving in general.

Practical implications

The study informs SNS providers regarding the promotion of SNS gifting services for revenue generation.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to comprehensively examine decision-making in SNS gifting through the lens of customer value theory.
Iranian doctoral students’ perceptions of publication in English
Authors: Rezaei Saeed , Seyri Haniye
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the English for publication purpose practices of doctoral students in Iran. The overall objective was to explore their motives, hurdles and strategies in academic writing.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study draws on a narrative inquiry to explore nine science and engineering doctoral students’ perceptions of academic publication. The data were analyzed through a hybrid process of inductive and deductive thematic analysis.

Findings

The qualitative results showed three dominant themes, namely: motives for publication, hurdles to publication and strategies for dealing with these challenges were extracted. The main sources of motives were students’ desire to publish their works for their graduation, improve their resume, satiate the universities’ evaluation system, and finally share their knowledge worldwide. Their hurdles included: political reasons, language-related problems, center-periphery priorities and the lack of academic writing instruction. In order to overcome these hurdles, the participants employed some strategies in academic writing.

Research limitations/implications

Due to qualitative nature of this study, only nine PhD students were recruited and therefore the research results are not intended to render generalizability. Besides, only narratives were employed to collect the required data. Future researchers can use surveys to collect more data.

Practical implications

The findings are discussed within English for academic purposes discourse and some recommendations are provided to alleviate the plights of non-native-English-speaking academic writers.

Originality/value

The methodology and the higher education context in which this paper was conducted are new to the literature.
Hedonic or utilitarian
Authors: Zhu Yimin , Lin Peipei
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how the product type (hedonic product and utilitarian product) and reward type (hedonic gift and utilitarian gift) influence customer referral likelihood in referral reward program.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test the effect of the product type and reward type on referral likelihood through two studies. Study 1 produces a 2 (product type: hedonic product and utilitarian product) × 2 (reward type: hedonic gift and utilitarian gift) factorial design to test H1, H2 and H3, that is, the effect of the product type and reward type on referral likelihood and their interaction effect. On the basis of study 1, study 2 will select different subjects, different products and different incentive allocation schemes to test H1, H2 and H3 again.

Findings

The results are as follow: first, the product type has significant influences on referral likelihood. Compared with a utilitarian product, customers are more likely to make referrals when consuming a hedonic product. Second, the product type and reward type have significant interactions to referral likelihood. When rewarded a hedonic gift, customers who consumed the hedonic product have great willing to make referrals; however, when rewarded the utilitarian gift, customer who consumed the utilitarian product have great willing to make referrals.

Originality/value

The authors’ findings contribute to the literature of consumers’ recommendation in the following aspects. First, from the perspective of enterprises which launch referral reward program, the present research demonstrates the product type (hedonic product and utilitarian product) and reward type (hedonic gift and utilitarian gift) influence customer referral likelihood. Previous studies discuss attributes of product that influence consumers’ referral likelihood, such as product sensitivity (Kornish and Li, 2010), product involvement (Zhu et al., 2011), brand strength (Ryu and Feick, 2007) and price (Xiao et al., 2011). However, few studies focus on the hedonic and utilitarian attributes of products and explore their impact on the willingness to recommend. This paper makes a useful supplement to the research gap. Most previous studies simply divide the type of reward into tangible and intangible (Shi and Wojnicki, 2007), cash and coupon (Wang, 2010) or cash and gift (Huang et al., 2013). This paper enriches the research on reward types and refines the types of gifts in a referral reward program. The present research divides the type of reward into hedonic gifts and utilitarian gifts, and applies benefit congruency frameworks (Chandon et al., 2000), attitude theory (Eagly and Chaiken, 1993) and over-justification effect (Deci and Ryan, 1985).
A low-cost and autonomous tracking device for Alzheimer’s patients
Authors: Hegde Niharika , Muralidhara Shishir , Ashoka D.V.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

Alzheimer’s is the most commonly occurring neurodegenerative disease and progressive cognitive impairment is its major symptom due to which the patients tend to wander and get lost in unfamiliar places. This is a constant cause of worry for caretakers and a source of distress to the patients themselves. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a low-cost, autonomous, embedded systems-based wearable device for real-time location tracking using GPS and the concept of geo-fencing. The system provides real-time updates in the form of a text message sent to the mobile number of a family member or caregiver.

Findings

An alert is sent whenever the patient moves out of a certain “safe zone” area and sends subsequent updates after every 5 min of such an event. The system supports caregivers of patients with early and moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Social implications

Alzheimer’s patients are prone to disorientation, confusion and tend to wander off. Since the device eliminates the need for the patients to operate it and is instead at the discretion of the system itself, the chances of it failing to help are minimized. Hence, with this project, the authors address the need for an autonomous device that can assist caretakers in tracking Alzheimer’s patients.

Originality/value

The various existing technologies that are in use now for tracking are often high in price, not tailored to Alzheimer’s and are non-autonomous. To overcome this, the authors utilized easily accessible technology into developing this system, which not only be affordable, but also addresses the major flaw in existing systems – which is that they rely on being operated by the patients themselves.
How to get more with less? Scarce resources and high social ambition: effectuation as KM tool in social entrepreneurial projects
Authors: Malsch Florence , Guieu Gilles
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to integrate research on KM with the effectuation approach. This paper will add to the understanding of effectuation as a KM tool in the context of social entrepreneurial networks. Although researchers agree that the lack of resources is a structural point for the context of social entrepreneurship and that knowledge is crucial in social entrepreneurship, only few studies deal with trying to understand how resources and knowledge are obtained, transformed and managed. An effectual approach seems to be particularly appropriate to work on this subject.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review leads to a theoretical model that is tested in a single-case study of a French entrepreneurial project.

Findings

The empirical study not only shows the legitimacy of using an effectual approach but also puts forward three concepts that enable a better understanding of the access to resources and knowledge and their use in the context of social entrepreneurship. This study contributes to the knowledge management literature in identifying the process of gathering and sharing external resources and knowledge through an effectual process led by the entrepreneur and by the network.

Research limitations/implications

The results complement the extant KM literature on the following points: identify the cumulative and absorptive process of knowledge from the network, contributing to the question of KM for growth and corporate entrepreneurship; answer to the claim from Durst and Runar Edvardsson (2012) to develop a greater understanding of knowledge identification, storage and utilization in small businesses; add to the topics of knowledge sharing, knowledge transfer and knowledge creation; and show that stages of creating, identifying, sharing and absorbing knowledge from/with the network are embedded in an effectual approach.

Practical implications

The lack of resources should not lead the entrepreneur to a dead end, but rather invite him/her to better raise following questions: Who can help me to get the missing resource? How could I develop the project without these resources and knowledge? The entrepreneur is invited to search more flexibility in the making of the project, and to seek more support from the network. A second important implication is a guideline that can be followed by business incubators to give better advice and guidance to social entrepreneurs.

Originality/value

The paper links effectuation, KM and social entrepreneurship literatures. The identification of the role of the network in knowledge creation, identification and sharing is valuable for both researchers and practitioners.
Remarkable Lives: John McManus in conversation with Jerome Carson
Authors: McManus John , Carson Jerome
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of John McManus.

Design/methodology/approach

John provides a short life history and is then interviewed by Jerome.

Findings

John tells us about the insidious development of his illness and how for many years it was masked by substance abuse.

Research limitations/implications

As Patricia Deegan has stated, “Each person’s journey of recovery is unique” (Deegan, 1996). That is why we can learn so much from case studies like John’s.

Practical implications

John’s account shows the value of Early Intervention Teams. The service he received from his local team was “second to none”.

Social implications

John talks about the value of volunteering and how it helped him believe that he could once more play a constructive role in life.

Originality/value

There is no doubt that John benefitted from support from professionals, experts by experience and his family. Equally he was also open to all these sources of support.
Experimental reduction of plant abundance changes interaction frequency of a tri‐trophic micro‐food web: contrasting responses of generalists and specialists
Authors: Xi Xinqiang , Zhang Beibei , Wang Ying , Vázquez Diego P. , Dong Yuran , Sun Shucun
Published: August 2019

Species abundance is vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic impact. Although numerous studies have examined the food web response to species loss, their response (e.g. in network topology and interaction frequency) to changes in species abundance has received little attention.

We experimentally reduced the abundance (by c. 60%) of one host plant species (Saussurea nigrescens) in a tri‐trophic micro‐food web consisting of two common Asteraceae species (S. nigrescens and Anaphalis flavescens), their pre‐dispersal seed predators (tephritid flies) and the parasitoid wasps that feed on these seed predators.

The neutral process hypothesis posits that network topology and interaction frequency are determined by the relative abundances of the participating species. Accordingly, we hypothesized that interaction frequency (indicated by the rate of flies infesting plants and of parasitoid wasps parasitizing flies) would decrease with decreasing abundance of host plant abundance.

Consistent with the neutral process hypothesis, abundance reduction significantly decreased the rate of generalist flies infesting the manipulated plant host species, but increased the rate on unmanipulated plant species. In contrast, abundance reduction significantly increased the rate of specialist flies infesting the manipulated species, but it had no demonstrable effect on the specialists on the unmanipulated plant host.

Moreover, abundance reduction significantly increased the rate of parasitoid wasps (as a species group) parasitizing flies in the manipulated species, but decreased the rate of the unmanipulated species. These results were not attributable to neutral processes, but can be explained by adaptive foraging theory. In addition, experimental manipulation did not shift the qualitative presence–absence of the linkages in the micro‐food web, and the change in the abundance of both fly and wasp species was smaller than the abundance changes of the manipulated plant species.

Synthesis. Our results indicate that both neutral processes and/or adaptive foraging likely contributed to food web stability in responses to changes in species abundance. Because species abundance is vulnerable to abiotic and biotic environmental changes, we suggest more research should be conducted to understand how food webs respond to climate change and anthropogenic disturbance.
Alpha‐Tocopherol during lactation and after weaning alters the programming effect of prenatal high salt intake on cardiac and renal functions of adult male offspring
Authors: Cabral Edjair V. , Vieira Leucio D. , Sant'Helena Bruna R. M. , Ribeiro Valdilene S. , Farias Juliane S. , Aires Regina S. , Paz Silvania T. , Muzi‐Filho Humberto , Paixão Ana D. , Vieyra Adalberto
Published: August 2019

Maternal salt overload programs cardiovascular and renal alterations in the offspring. However, beneficial and harmful effects of high dose vitamin E supplementation have been described in humans and animals. We investigated the hypothesis as to whether cardiac and renal alterations can be programmed by gestational salt overload, and can become further modified during lactation and after weaning. Male Wistar rats were used, being the offspring of mothers that drank either tap water or 0.3 mol/L NaCl for 20 days before and during pregnancy. α‐Tocopherol (0.35 g/kg) was administered to mothers daily during lactation or to their offspring for 3 weeks post‐weaning. Systolic blood pressure (tcSBP) was measured in juvenile rats aged 210 days. The response of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) to intravenous infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II) was also examined. Left ventricle plasma membrane (PMCA) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase (SERCA) activities, and certain parameters of renal function, were measured. Maternal saline programmed for increased body mass and kidney mass/body mass ratio, increased tcSBP, increased mean arterial pressure and heart rate with anomalous response to infused Ang II. In the heart, saline increased PMCA and α‐Tocopherol per se increased PMCA/SERCA. In the kidney, the most remarkable result was the silent saline programming of CrCl, which was sensitized for a sharp decrease after α‐Tocopherol. In conclusion, the combination of maternal saline overload and high α‐Tocopherol immediately after birth leads to simultaneous cardiovascular and renal alterations in the young offspring, like those encountered in type V cardiorenal syndrome.
Handmaids of God: Images of Service in the Lives of Merovingian Female Saints
Authors: Bailey Lisa Kaaren
Published: August 2019

Merovingian hagiographies make extensive use of the metaphor of service to demonstrate the sanctity of their subjects. These religious images emerged from a society in which slaves and servants were both ubiquitous and demeaned, and the metaphors were embedded in the social realities of service. This article examines the Lives of three elite female saints who were depicted as slaves, or engaged in acts of servitude: Radegund, Balthild, and Austreberta. It argues that although service as a religious motif was central to each of these texts, the authors engaged with the image in strikingly different ways and to quite different ends, depending on the social world of the text.
Electrical Pulse Generated Upon Discharging a Firearm and Its Implication for Gunshot Residue Analysis
Authors: Choban Ella , Starn Tim
Published: August 2019

Ammunition primers consisting of a mixture of lead styphnate, barium nitrate, and antimony (III) sulfide, upon deflagration, lead to the formation of inorganic gunshot residue (GSR). The cations, from their predeflagration form, undergo reduction reactions during burning to form the classic spheroidal, micron‐sized particles indicative of GSR. However, the rapidly changing pressure and temperature of the reaction zone implies that the reactions cannot go to completion. In this study, we use a conductivity detector to show that GSR produces an electrical pulse which corroborates the incomplete redox chemistry. We find that the shape of some GSR formed in an electric field also suggests its nonneutral character. Tantalizingly, the formation of GSR might be a result of Coulombic repulsion shattering the molten droplets in to smaller spheroids. Lastly, we suggest that deposition or transfer of GSR could be influenced by static electricity, an area which should be further studied.
Applying Blockchain to the Australian Carbon Market
Authors: Hartmann Sam , Thomas Sebastian
Published: August 2019

Blockchain is a distributed digital ledger system that establishes transparent contract processes and facilitates secure but trusted business transactions. Policy‐makers around the world are intrigued by the potential of this emerging technology to solve policy problems, including the challenges of the transition away from centralised, linear models of energy generation and consumption towards decentralised and distributed energy systems. Blockchain has also been promoted as a mechanism to transform carbon markets, yet the focus in this area to date has been on using blockchain to create new carbon market schemes. This paper addresses an important research gap by asking how blockchain could be applied to an existing carbon market. To answer this question, the study uses an established design process to develop an Australian carbon market blockchain design. The paper finds that this design could improve the efficiency, equity and effectiveness of the Australian carbon market. This paper makes an important research contribution to carbon market policy development by developing a blockchain design that could improve how an existing carbon market functions, and the findings presented here are relevant to government and industry stakeholders globally.
How to estimate complementarity and selection effects from an incomplete sample of species
Authors: Clark Adam Thomas , Barry Kathryn E. , Roscher Christiane , Buchmann Tina , Loreau Michel , Harpole W. Stanley
Published: August 2019

Declines in global biodiversity have inspired a generation of studies that seek to characterize relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. The metrics for complementarity and selection effects derived by Loreau and Hector in 2001 remain some of the most influential and widely used statistics for studying these relationships. These metrics quantify the degree to which the effect of biodiversity on a given ecosystem function depends on only a few species that perform well in monoculture and in mixture (the selection effect) or if the effect of biodiversity on a given ecosystem function is independent of monoculture performance (the complementarity effect). This distinction may be useful in determining the consequences of the loss of rare versus common or dominant species in natural systems. However, because these metrics require observations of all species in a community in monoculture, applications in natural systems have been limited.

Here, we derive a statistical augmentation of the original partition, which can be applied to incomplete random samples of species drawn from a larger pool. This augmentation controls for the bias introduced by using only a subsample of species in monocultures rather than having monocultures of all species.

Using simulated and empirical examples, we demonstrate the robustness of these metrics, and provide source code for calculating them. We find that these augmentations provide a reliable estimate of complementarity and selection effects as long as approximately 50% of the species present in mixture are present in monoculture and these species represent a random subset of the mixture.

We foresee two primary applications for this method: (a) estimating complementarity and selection effects for experimentally assembled communities where monoculture data are lacking for some species, and (b) extrapolating results from biodiversity experiments to diverse natural systems.
Chronic Alcohol Consumption, but not Acute Intoxication, Decreases In Vitro Skeletal Muscle Contractile Function
Authors: Crowell Kristin T. , Laufenberg Lacee J. , Lang Charles H.
Published: August 2019

Background

Skeletal muscle myopathy accompanying chronic alcohol misuse results in part from a decrease in protein synthesis typically observed in type II‐rich muscles that leads to muscle weakness. However, there is a paucity of studies investigating whether the alcohol‐induced weakness is intrinsic to the muscle or results primarily from the loss of muscle mass. The present study determines whether acute alcohol (ethanol) intoxication or chronic alcohol consumption decreases the intrinsic contractile function of muscle.

Methods

Adult male mice were randomly assigned to the chronic alcohol group or given a binge dose of alcohol, and contractile characteristics of the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) were determined in vitro.

Results

The weight and physiological cross‐sectional area (PCSA) of the EDL were decreased in alcohol‐fed mice. Maximum twitch and tetanic tension were also reduced, and there was a downward shift of the absolute force–frequency curve in alcohol‐fed mice. However, no alcohol‐induced changes were noted when these contractile parameters were normalized for the lower PCSA. Alcohol‐fed mice demonstrated greater fatigability, and alcohol‐induced decreases in postfatigue specific twitch and tetanic force were independent of a decreased PCSA. Furthermore, postfatigue recovery of muscle force over time was reduced. While alcohol did not alter the content of high‐energy phosphates or oxidative phosphorylation complexes I‐V, it did reduce myosin heavy chain and troponin‐T content. In contrast, contractile properties were not altered when examined 2 hours after binge alcohol.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate chronic alcohol consumption decreases isometric and tetanic tension development due to a reduction in muscle CSA, whereas the increased fatigability observed was independent of muscle mass. As none of the functional changes were produced by acute alcohol, which produced higher blood alcohol levels than chronic ingestion, our data suggest defects in intrinsic muscle contractility require sustained intake and appear independent of defects in basal energy production.
Effect of two different temperatures on resistance to cyclic fatigue of one Curve, EdgeFile, HyFlex CM and ProTaper next files
Authors: Topçuoğlu Hüseyin Sinan , Topçuoğlu Gamze , Kafdağ Özgür , Balkaya Hacer
Published: August 2019

This study compared the cyclic fatigue resistance (CFR) of three controlled memory (CM) nickel‐titanium rotary files (One Curve, EdgeFile and HyFlex CM) in comparison with a file (ProTaper Next) made from M‐wire nickel‐titanium alloy at two different temperatures (room and intracanal) in an s‐shaped canal. One hundred and sixty files were tested to determine the CFR of OneCurve, EdgeFile, HyFlex CM and ProTaper Next in an artificial canal at room and at intracanal temperature. The number of cycles to failure was recorded, and data were analysed. At both temperatures, ProTaper Next exhibited the lowest CFR compared with the other files (P < 0.05). At room temperature, there was no difference among the three CM files regarding CFR (P > 0.05). At intracanal temperature, OneCurve and EdgeFile exhibited more CFR than the HyFlex CM (P < 0.05). Testing at intracanal temperature caused a significant decrease in CFR of all tested files compared with testing at room temperature.
How do informal farmland rental markets affect smallholders’ well‐being? Evidence from a matched tenant–landlord survey in Malawi
Authors: Ricker‐Gilbert Jacob , Chamberlin Jordan , Kanyamuka Joseph , Jumbe Charles B.L. , Lunduka Rodney , Kaiyatsa Stevier
Published: August 2019

We estimate the efficiency and equity returns to farmland rental markets in Malawi using a matched tenant–landlord survey of smallholder farm households in four districts. Our sample allows us to more fully observe the landlord side of the rental market, which is almost always missing in previous studies. Our results suggest that land rental markets promote efficiency by facilitating a net transfer of land to more productive farmers. We also find that land rental markets promote equity as conventionally defined in the land markets literature, that is, by transferring land from land‐rich households to land‐poor households, and from labor‐poor to labor‐rich households. However, our study identifies some important challenges for land rental markets in this context. First, we find that tenants in our sample are wealthier than their landlord counterpart on average in all dimensions other than landholding. In addition, most landlords report the motive for renting out their land as either the need for immediate cash, or the lack of labor and/or capital to cultivate the plot that was rented out. These findings align with concerns about potential “stress renting” by poor landlords and suggest the value of defining equity along a broader set of dimensions other than simply equalizing the distribution of farmland and labor.
A human rights approach to low data reporting in clinical trials of psychiatric deep brain stimulation
Authors: Cabrera Laura Y.
Published: August 2019

The reporting of clinical trial data is necessary not only for doctors to determine treatment efficacy, but also to explore new questions without unnecessarily repeating trials, and to protect patients and the public from dangers when data are withheld. This issue is particularly salient in those trials involving invasive neurosurgical interventions, such as deep brain stimulation (DBS), for ‘treatment refractory’ psychiatric disorders. Using the federal database ClinicalTrials.gov, it was discovered that out of the completed or unknown‐status trials related to psychiatric DBS up to November 2018, only two had submitted results to ClinicalTrials.gov. These results suggest that, despite federal requirements to report clinical trial data, reporting on psychiatric DBS trials is problematically minimal. It is argued that a human rights approach to this problem establishes a legal and ethical foundation for the need to report clinical trial results in this area.
Praziquantel ameliorates CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting TGF‐β/Smad signalling via up‐regulating Smad7 in hepatic stellate cells
Authors: Liu Jinfeng , Kong Delong , Qiu Jingfan , Xie Yanci , Lu Zhongkui , Zhou Chunlei , Liu Xinjian , Zhang Rong , Wang Yong
Published: August 2019

Background and Purpose

Praziquantel is a schistosomicide, which has been used for more than 30 years due to its efficiency, safety, and mild side effects. Previous studies showed that prolonged treatment with praziquantel suppressed the development of liver fibrosis in mice with schistosomiasis. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanisms underlying the antifibrotic effects of praziquantel.

Experimental Approach

To avoid the effect of schistosomicidal activity of praziquantel against liver fibrosis induced by Schistosoma japonicum infection, we established a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced liver fibrosis for in vivo studies and used TGF‐β1‐stimulated human hepatic stellate cell line (LX‐2) in addition to other fibroblast‐like cell line (MES13) and fibroblast cell line (NIH3T3) in vitro. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real‐time PCR, siRNA, and immunofluorescence staining were utilized to assess the expression of key molecules in liver fibrosis and the TGF‐β/Smad pathway.

Key Results

Praziquantel significantly attenuated CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and expression of collagen matrix via enhancement of Smad7 expression, which were confirmed in LX‐2, MES13, and NIH3T3 cells in vitro. In contrast, knockdown of Smad7 in LX‐2 cells prevented praziquantel‐mediated inhibition of LX‐2 cell activation and TGF‐β1‐mediated collagen type I α1 induction, revealing the critical role of Smad7 in the antifibrotic effect of praziquantel during liver fibrosis.

Conclusions and Implications

PZQ exhibited a strong efficacy against liver fibrosis by inhibiting activation of HSCs via Smad7 up‐regulation, suggesting potential broad utility in treatment of diseases characterized by liver fibrosis.
Mapping the spatial pattern of the uncertain data in urban areas: The disadvantaged predict global nonresponse rate in the National Household Survey
Authors: Bell Scott , Sidloski Michaela , Shah Tayyab Ikram
Published: August 2019

High levels of survey nonresponse potentially produce unreliable data due to the often indeterminable possibility of such data being subject to nonresponse bias. In this paper, spatial patterns of global nonresponse rate are analyzed in order to identify whether systemic bias exists across urban spaces with regard to survey nonresponse. Forward stepwise regression is used in combination with spatial regression analysis to build models enabling the prediction of global nonresponse rates in the voluntary 2011 National Household Survey based on explanatory employment, housing, income, and other variables within 11 Canadian cities. The modelling process underscores the inequity of global nonresponse rates; places with high unemployment, high rates of rental properties, a higher proportion of Aboriginal residents, and lower educational attainment have lower compliance with the voluntary survey. Such a pattern has the potential to dramatically influence the ability of government, non‐governmental organizations, and other service providers to address the needs of residents of such urban areas.
Holding policy makers to account: Monitoring voting patterns on alcohol and tobacco policy in the Lithuanian Parliament
Authors: Štelemėkas Mindaugas , Galkus Lukas , Liutkutė Gumarov Vaida , Goštautaitė Midttun Nijolė , Miščikienė Laura
Published: August 2019

Introduction and Aims

Systematic monitoring of the parliamentary legislative processes, including voting of members of the Parliament (MPs) and factions, allows better understanding of the mechanisms for adoption of public health policies. The aim of this paper is to present a tool for monitoring voting on tobacco and alcohol control policies in the Lithuanian Parliament and consequent rating of MPs based on their voting.

Design and Methods

MP rating included the collection of voting data, qualitative assessment of the proposed amendments based on their potentially positive or negative impact on public health, and finally quantitative analysis of voting by applying certain weight coefficients.

Results

Analysis included 159 voting episodes. More than half (60%) of the MPs received low scores in the 2012–2016 Parliament′s term, and only a small proportion (3%) consistently supported evidence‐based alcohol and tobacco control policies. In contrast, only 26.5% MPs received low scores in the 2016–2018 half‐term. Significantly higher scores in the 2016–2018 half‐term reflect increased political support towards evidence‐based public health policies among the new political majority in Lithuania.

Discussion and Conclusions

MP rating has a potential to become a valuable tool used by various stakeholders for more objective assessment of specific public health commitments of political parties and individual politicians.
Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of Allan–Herndon–Dudley syndrome in patients with SLC16A2 mutations
Authors: Remerand Ganaelle , Boespflug‐Tanguy Odile , Tonduti Davide , Touraine Renaud , Rodriguez Diana , Curie Aurore , Perreton Nathalie , Des Portes Vincent , Sarret Catherine ,   RMLX/AHDS Study Group
Published: August 2019

The aim of the study was to redefine the phenotype of Allan–Herndon–Dudley syndrome (AHDS), which is caused by mutations in the SLC16A2 gene that encodes the brain transporter of thyroid hormones. Clinical phenotypes, brain imaging, thyroid hormone profiles, and genetic data were compared to the existing literature. Twenty‐four males aged 11 months to 29 years had a mutation in SLC16A2, including 12 novel mutations and five previously described mutations. Sixteen patients presented with profound developmental delay, three had severe intellectual disability with poor language and walking with an aid, four had moderate intellectual disability with language and walking abilities, and one had mild intellectual disability with hypotonia. Overall, eight had learned to walk, all had hypotonia, 17 had spasticity, 18 had dystonia, 12 had choreoathetosis, 19 had hypomyelination, and 10 had brain atrophy. Kyphoscoliosis (n=12), seizures (n=7), and pneumopathies (n=5) were the most severe complications. This study extends the phenotypic spectrum of AHDS to a mild intellectual disability with hypotonia. Developmental delay, hypotonia, hypomyelination, and thyroid hormone profile help to diagnose patients. Clinical course depends on initial severity, with stable acquisition after infancy; this may be adversely affected by neuro‐orthopaedic, pulmonary, and epileptic complications.

What this paper adds

Mild intellectual disability is associated with SLC16A2 mutations.

A thyroid hormone profile with a free T3/T4 ratio higher than 0.75 can help diagnose patients.

Patients with SLC16A2 mutations present a broad spectrum of neurological phenotypes that are also observed in other hypomyelinating disorders.

Axial hypotonia is a consistent feature of Allan–Herndon–Dudley syndrome and leads to specific complications.
Partnering capacities for inclusive development in food provisioning
Authors: Vellema Sietze , Schouten Greetje , Van Tulder Rob
Published: August 2019

Context

This article focuses on partnerships working on inclusive development and food security in agri‐food chains and agribusiness clusters that may feature institutional arrangements reinforcing inequality or inducing exclusion.

Research question

The article develops a theory‐driven capacity framework for investigating how intervention strategies related to partnering generate developmental outcomes.

Methods

Building on action–research and drawing on complementary literature streams, the framework distinguishes four specific capacities that individually and in configuration contribute to processes of inclusive development triggered by partnering processes. The framework is applied to two case examples targeting inclusive development in agri‐food chains and agribusiness clusters in domestic food markets in Benin and Nigeria.

Results

Four capacities that enable partnerships to contribute to inclusive development are distinguished: deliberative, alignment, transformative and fitting capacity. Processes of inclusive development emerge from mobilizing and combining these complementary capacities. Capacities emerging in evolving joint actions, negotiations and deliberations in partnering processes generate developmental outcomes, which are not self‐evident results of partnerships. Presence of the four capacities propels the partnership’s influence on transforming the terms of inclusion for specific groups.

Policy implications

The differentiation of specific capacities embedded in partnering processes contrasts with generic partnership formulas focusing on the formalized and organizational features of partnerships and emphasizing sharing of resources and inputs. For partnerships to make a development impact, new capacities need to be developed and mobilized. This underscores the importance of skilful and experienced facilitators.
Survival of early posthematopoietic stem cell transplantation relapse of myeloid malignancies
Authors: de Jong Greta , Janssen Jeroen J. W. M. , Biemond Bart J. , Zeerleder Sacha S. , Ossenkoppele Gert J. , Visser Otto , Nur Erfan , Meijer Ellen , Hazenberg Mette D.
Published: August 2019

Objective

Relapse of AML after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has a poor prognosis, and standard of care therapy is lacking. Early (<6 months) relapse is associated with dismal outcome, while the majority of relapses occur early after transplantation. A more precise indication which patients could benefit from reinduction therapy is warranted.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of 83 patients with postallogeneic HSCT relapse. Patients were divided based on intention to treat (curative vs supportive care).

Results

Of the 50 patients treated with curative intent, 44% reached complete remission (CR) upon reinduction chemotherapy, and of these patients, 50% survived. Two survivors reached CR after immunotherapy (donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI), without reinduction chemotherapy). Sixty‐nine percent of the survivors had received high‐intensity cytarabine treatment, followed by immunologic consolidation. Relapse <3 months after transplantation was predictive for adverse survival (P = .004), but relapse <6 months was not. In fact, >50% of the survivors had a relapse <6 months.

Conclusion

We confirmed the dismal prognosis of postallogeneic HSCT relapse. Importantly, our data demonstrate that patients fit enough to receive high‐dose chemotherapy, even when relapse occurred <6 months, had the best chance to obtain durable remissions, in particular when immunologic consolidation was performed after reaching CR.
Kettin, the large actin‐binding protein with multiple immunoglobulin domains, is essential for sarcomeric actin assembly and larval development in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Ono Kanako , Qin Zhaozhao , Johnsen Robert C. , Baillie David L. , Ono Shoichiro
Published: August 2019

Among many essential genes in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, let‐330 is located on the left arm of chromosome V and was identified as the largest target of a mutagen in this region. However, let‐330 gene has not been characterized at the molecular level. Here, we report that two sequenced let‐330 alleles are nonsense mutations of ketn‐1, a previously characterized gene encoding kettin. Kettin is a large actin‐binding protein of 472 kDa with 31 immunoglobulin domains and is expressed in muscle cells in C. elegans. let‐330/ketn‐1 mutants are homozygous lethal at the first larval stage with mild defects in body elongation. These mutants have severe defects in sarcomeric actin and myosin assembly in striated muscle. However, α‐actinin and vinculin, which are components of the dense bodies anchoring actin to the membranes, were not significantly disorganized by let‐330/ketn‐1 mutation. Kettin localizes to embryonic myofibrils before α‐actinin is expressed, and α‐actinin deficiency does not affect kettin localization in larval muscle. Depletion of vinculin minimally affects kettin localization but significantly reduces colocalization of actin with kettin in embryonic muscle cells. These results indicate that kettin is an essential protein for sarcomeric assembly of actin filaments in muscle cells.