bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficiency of the electricity sector in Mexico 2008-2015
Authors: Navarro-Chávez César Lenin , Delfín-Ortega Odette V. , Díaz-Pulido Atzimba
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the level of efficiency in the Mexico electricity industry during the 2008-2015 period.

Design/methodology/approach

A data envelopment analysis (DEA) network model is proposed, where technical efficiency is calculated. A factorial analysis using the principal components method was carried out first. Later, latent dimensions were calculated through the variance criterion and sedimentation graph, where four components were presented. After performing factor rotation, the nodes were grouped: generation, transmission, distribution and sales. It proceeded later to structure a DEA network model.

Findings

From the calculations made, the most efficient node was the transmission, while the North Gulf and East Center divisions were the only efficient.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations presented in this study were data collection.

Practical implications

The implications that were observed were that through the results obtained, proposals can be made to the Mexican electricity sector to improve each of the nodes, and have a better operation and reduce energy losses.

Social implications

The social impact of this type of study is that based on the results obtained, they present the basis for improving energy policy and users can have a better service that has better quality and coverage.

Originality/value

The originality of this study consists in the use of two methodologies, factor analysis methodology and DEA network model.
Cluster and forecasting analysis of the residential market in Turkey
Authors: Vatansever Metin , Demir İbrahim , Hepşen Ali
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to detect homogeneous housing market areas among 196 districts of 5 major cities of Turkey in terms of house sale price indices. The second purpose is to forecast these 196 house sale price indices.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors use the monthly house sale price indices of 196 districts of 5 major cities of Turkey. The authors propose an autoregressive (AR) model-based fuzzy clustering approach to detect homogeneous housing market areas and to forecast house price indices.

Findings

The AR model-based fuzzy clustering approach detects three numbers of homogenous property market areas among 196 districts of 5 major cities of Turkey where house sale price moves together (or with similar house sales dynamic). This approach also provides better forecasting results compared to standard AR models by higher data efficiency and lower model validation and maintenance effort.

Research limitations/implications

In this study, the authors could not use any district-based socioeconomic and consumption behavioral indicators and any discrete geographical and property characteristics because of the data limitation.

Practical implications

The finding of this study would help property investors for establishing more effective property management strategies by taking different geographical location conditions into account.

Social implications

From the government side, knowing future rises, falls and turning points of property prices in different locations can allow the government to monitor the property price changes and control the speculation activities that cause a dramatic change in the market.

Originality/value

There is no previous research paper focusing on neighborhood-based clusters and forecasting house sale price indices in Turkey. At this point, it is the first academic study.
Human resource system as innovation for organisations
Authors: Mauro Túlio Gomes , Borges-Andrade Jairo Eduardo
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to identify relevant aspects to achieve advantage of the innovative potential of a human resource information system (HRIS). The present study compared the system implementation professionals’ perception of the results expected from the system, its characteristics and how it should be implemented.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight information technology specialists and ten human resource (HR) professionals from four organisations at different stages of HRIS implementation, in which two had it fully implemented and two were undergoing the implementation process. The resulting data were submitted to four sets of content analyses and then compared.

Findings

Findings suggest specificities in the perception of these professionals. Critical aspects regarding the effective adoption of HRIS were addressed, such as characteristics of the systems, implementation process and human resource management model.

Originality/value

The implementation of an HRIS alone does not ensure the achievement of the obtained advantages. The results of the present study provide guidelines for implementation of HRIS as innovation for a strategic management of people. These guidelines come from different knowledge areas and from different stages of implementation. These findings corroborate models of innovation diffusion and technology acceptance.
Attracting prosocial lenders from different cultures to help others in microlending
Authors: Hong JungHwa (Jenny) , Byun Kyung-Ah (Kay)
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the role of culture and future orientation in lenders’ prosocial microlending behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experiments examine how different cultural backgrounds, either individualistic or collectivistic, influenced microlenders’ prosocial behaviors, including the amount of microlending, the willingness to help and the length of commitment. Further, the moderating role of future orientation among individualists is investigated.

Findings

Results indicate that cultural differences influence prosocial microlending differently such that individualists give less to people in need compared to collectivists. Further, the author found that future orientation helps lenders in individualistic culture to improve prosocial microlending behaviors.

Originality/value

This paper emphasizes the role of cultural background and future orientation in promoting lenders’ prosocial giving in the context of microlending. The results assist social marketers to understand how to motivate giving behaviors via microlending among lenders in different cultures depending on future orientation.
Openness and firm innovation performance: the moderating effect of ambidextrous knowledge search strategy
Authors: Wang Chunhsien , Chin Tachia , Lin Jie-Heng
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Openness to external knowledge has recently gained popularity as a means for firms to complement and leverage internal knowledge in the pursuit of innovation outcomes. However, conflicting evidence exists regarding the role of openness in external knowledge acquisition. This paper aims to propose that openness to external knowledge has a nonlinear effect on innovation performance and that this nonlinear relationship is contingent on an ambidextrous knowledge search strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on original large-scale survey of 246 interfirm collaborations in the high-technology industry, it is found that the impact of openness to external knowledge on innovation performance exhibits an inverted-U shape and that this relationship is affected by an ambidextrous knowledge search strategy.

Findings

The results indicate that an ambidextrous knowledge strategy that addresses the depth and breadth of external knowledge significantly influences a firm’s ability to derive benefits from increased openness to external knowledge. Empirically, the authors provide an original contribution to high-technology firms by exploring how and why an ambidextrous knowledge strategy can be a critical catalyst spurring innovation performance.

Research limitations/implications

The research scope is limited to a single industry. Further research could extend the theoretical framework to multiple industries, which may increase the likelihood of innovation theory development.

Practical implications

The results suggest that firms opening up the boundaries of their innovation activity to engage in external knowledge are able to leverage their in-house innovation to enhance their innovation performance. The authors advocate that in innovation management domains, greater emphasis is needed on how openness to external knowledge has more positive impacts not only on innovation performance but also on innovation implemented management.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to investigate the ambidextrous knowledge search effect on the external knowledge of high-technology firms. This paper contributes to the theoretical and practical literature concerning openness innovation and knowledge management by reflecting on the ambidextrous knowledge search strategy.
Money laundering through raw diamonds
Authors: Teichmann Fabian Maximilian Johannes , Falker Marie-Christin
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to illustrate how illegally obtained funds are laundered through raw diamonds in Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Design/methodology/approach

To identify specific money laundering techniques involving raw diamonds, this study used a qualitative content analysis of data collected from 60 semi-standardized interviews with both criminals and prevention experts and a quantitative survey of 200 compliance officers.

Findings

Raw diamonds are extraordinarily suitable for money laundering in European German-speaking countries. In particular, they may be used in all three stages of the laundering process, namely, placement, layering and integration.

Research limitations/implications

Because the qualitative findings are based on semi-standardized interviews, their insights are limited to the perspectives of the 60 interviewees.

Practical implications

Identifying gaps in existing anti-money laundering mechanisms should provide compliance officers, law enforcement agencies and legislators with valuable insights into how criminals operate.

Originality/value

While prior studies focus on the methods used by organizations to combat money laundering and how to improve anti-money laundering measures, this paper investigates how money launderers operate to avoid detection, thereby illustrating authentic experiences. Its findings provide valuable insights into the minds of money launderers and combines criminal perspective with that of prevention experts.
Money laundering through exchange offices
Authors: Teichmann Fabian Maximilian Johannes , Falker Marie-Christin
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how money launderers circumvent compliance measures by using exchange offices to launder incriminated funds.

Design/methodology/approach

The three-step process entailed carrying out unofficial interviews with money launderers, which gave first insight into the issue, followed by expert interviews that were reviewed by means of a qualitative study. The findings of the qualitative study were processed during the subsequent quantitative research.

Findings

Although exchange offices are a known threat to anti-money laundering efforts, they continue to be highly applicable. As exchange offices are responsible for their own compliance measures, compliance officers employed by other institutions do not encounter money laundering through exchange offices regularly.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of the study are limited to the experiences of the interviewed experts, which, naturally, are highly subjective. Further, they are geographically limited, as certain areas were not represented in the study.

Practical implications

During the literature review, a research gap was identified. The present study attempts to partially fill the same. The illustrated findings aimed at facilitating an improvement of anti-money laundering measures. The insights into the minds of money launderers provide valuable information for legislators, compliance officers and authorities.

Originality/value

Presently, the majority of the literature focuses on the issue of money laundering from a compliance perspective. However, accurately understanding how money launderers circumvent the existing prevention measures requires an exploration of their approaches. To effectively inhibit money laundering, it is necessary to gain a holistic overview of the issue, which entails the observation of both perspectives.
Acquisition of private ownership over land plots in Russia by virtue of acquisitive prescription
Authors: Anisimov Aleksey , Ryzhenkov Anatoliy , Menis Elena
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to clarify the scope of the legal procedure of the acquisitive prescription in Russia.

Design/methodology/approach

Dialectical method, historical method and system analysis method have been used.

Findings

The authors consistently prove the inadmissibility of applying acquisitive prescription to land plots in private, state or municipal ownership. One of the features of Russia as an emerging market economy is that, the major part of state lands is in so-called “non-delineated state ownership.” Plots included in such lands are not registered in the cadaster or transferred to particular public owners. That is why, the authors prove that the procedure of acquisitive prescription must be applied only in relation to land plots that are in non-delineated state ownership and have been occupied by citizens and legal entities for 15 years.

Originality/value

The authors propose new guarantees of the rights of private and public land owners. Clarification of the scope of the acquisitive prescription procedure will streamline the turnover of real estate in Russia.
Scheduling mechanisms in the cloud environment: a methodological analysis
Authors: Zhang Guan-hong , Odbal Odbal , Abnoosian Karlo
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Today, with the rapid growth of cloud computing (CC), there exist several users that require to execute their tasks by the available resources to obtain the best performance, reduce response time and use resources. However, despite the significance of the scheduling issue in CC, as far as the authors know, there is not any systematic and inclusive paper about studying and analyzing the recent methods. This paper aims to review the current mechanisms and techniques, which can be addressed in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

The central purpose of this paper refers to offering a complete study of the state-of-the-art planning algorithms in the cloud and also instructions for future research. Besides, this paper offers a methodological analysis of the scheduling mechanisms in the cloud environment.

Findings

The central role of this paper is to present a summary of the present issues related to scheduling in the cloud environment, providing a structure of some popular techniques in cloud scheduling scope and defining key areas for the development of cloud scheduling techniques in the future research.

Research limitations/implications

In this paper, scheduling mechanisms are classified into two main categories include deterministic and non-deterministic algorithms; however, it can also be classified into different categories. In addition, the selection of all related papers could not be ensured. It is possible that some appropriate and related papers were removed in the search process.

Practical implications

According to the results of this paper, the requirement for more suitable algorithms exists to allocate tasks for resources in cloud environments. In addition, some principal rules in cloud scheduling should be re-evaluated to achieve maximum productivity and minimize wasted expense and effort. In this direction, to stay away from overloading and under loading of components and resources, the proposed method should execute workloads in an adaptable and scalable way. As the number of users increased in cloud environments, the number of tasks in the cloud that needed to be scheduled proportionally increased. Thus, an efficient mechanism is needed for scheduling tasks in these environments.

Originality/value

The general information gathered in this study makes the researchers acquainted with the state-of-the-art scheduling area of the cloud. Entirely, the answers to the research questions summarized the main objective of scheduling, current challenges, mechanisms and methods in the cloud systems. The authors hope that the results of this paper lead researchers to present more efficient scheduling techniques in cloud systems.
Geographical diversification and corporate liquidity in Malaysia: a quantile regression approach
Authors: Wasiuzzaman Shaista
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of geographical diversification on corporate liquidity in Malaysian firms. Liquidity is represented by both cash and working capital.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this study is collected from a total of 735 firms over a period of five years, from 2010 to 2014, resulting in a total of 2,904 firm-year observations. The effect of geographical diversification on the cash and working capital of the firms is analyzed by using the ordinary least squares (OLS) with standard errors adjusted for firm level clustering and the quantile regression (QR) analyses. Control variables which represent the characteristics of the firms are also considered.

Findings

Analysis using the OLS regression technique indicates that geographical diversification has a highly significant positive influence on corporate cash holdings, while the influence of working capital is negative and its significance is only at the 10 per cent level. However, when QR is used to analyze the relationships, it is found that geographical diversification is only significant in positively influencing cash holdings for firms with low cash holdings, but the relationship is insignificant at high levels of cash holdings. Additionally, working capital is significantly influenced by geographical diversification at high levels of working capital but not at low levels.

Originality/value

To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the influence of geographical diversification on liquidity by considering both cash and working capital. The effect of diversification on liquidity is mostly studied in developed countries, whereas this study is focused on a developing country. Additionally, this study uses QR to analyze relationships at different levels rather than at aggregate level as done in OLS regression analysis.
Modified nonlocal theory for investigation the specific aspects of nonlinear behavior of carbon nanotube as a nano-resonator
Authors: Shayanmehr Mahdi , Basiri Omid
Published: January 2020

Purpose

In this paper, the important aspects of vibration analysis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as nano-resonators are studied. This study has covered the important nonlinear phenomena such as jump super-harmonic and chaotic behavior. CNT is modeled by using the modified nonlocal theory (MNT).

Design/methodology/approach

In previous research studies, the effects of CNT’s rotary inertia, stiffness and shear modulus of the medium were neglected. So by considering these terms in MNT, a comprehensive model of vibrational behavior of carbon nanotube as a nanosensor is presented. The nanotube is modeled as a nonlocal nonlinear beam. The first eigenmode of an undamped simply supported beam is used to extract the nonlinear equation of CNT. Harmonic balance method is used to solve the equation, while to study its super-harmonic behavior, higher-order harmonic terms were used.

Findings

In light of frequency response equation, jump phenomenon and chaotic behavior of the nanotube with respect to the amplitude of excitation are investigated. Also in each section of the study, the effects of elastic medium and nonlocal parameters on the vibration behavior of nanotube are investigated. Furthermore, parts of the results in linear and nonlinear cases were compared with results of other references.

Originality/value

The present modification of the nonlocal theory is so important and useful for accurate investigation of the vibrational behavior of nano structures such as a nano-resonator.
Border Problems: Mapping the Third Border
Authors: Allen Jason Grant , Lastra Rosa María
Published: January 2020

The Internet has become the site of economically relevant objects, events and actions, as well as the source of potential risks to the financial systems. This article builds on a metaphor of ‘border problems’ in financial regulation, exploring a ‘third border’ between the ‘real world’ and ‘cyberspace’—a virtual domain of human interaction facilitated and conditioned by digital communications systems. Reviewing the ‘cyber‐sovereignty’ debate and surveying the divergent approaches now emerging along geo‐political faultlines, we argue that sovereign states still have a unique and irreplaceable role in guarding financial stability which must be reflected in the law of Internet jurisdiction: an emerging lex cryptographica financiera. We conclude with a few observations on how this could affect the design of financial regulation in the coming decade.
Does de‐escalation training work?
Authors: Engel Robin S. , McManus Hannah D. , Herold Tamara D.
Published: January 2020

Research Summary

De‐escalation training has been widely implemented by U.S. police agencies in the wake of adverse public reaction to recent controversial police use‐of‐force incidents. Despite vast promotion from politicians, academics, expert panels, and the public, we know little about the effects of de‐escalation training on officers and police–citizen interactions. In this article, we offer findings from a multidisciplinary systematic literature review that demonstrate limited knowledge concerning the impact of de‐escalation training across all professions. We identified 64 de‐escalation training evaluations conducted over a 40‐year period, primarily in the fields of nursing and psychiatry.

Policy Implications

Although assessment outcomes reveal few adverse consequences and provide some confidence that de‐escalation trainings lead to slight‐to‐moderate individual and organizational improvements, conclusions concerning the effectiveness of de‐escalation training are limited by the questionable quality of almost all evaluation research designs. As such, important questions regarding the impact of de‐escalation training for police remain. Given the critical impact that de‐escalation training could have on officers and the public they serve, we conclude with a direct call to academics, practitioners, and funders across the field of policing to prioritize as soon as possible the testing of de‐escalation and other police use‐of‐force policies, tactics, and training.
Responses to mass shooting events
Authors: Croitoru Arie , Kien Sara , Mahabir Ron , Radzikowski Jacek , Crooks Andrew , Schuchard Ross , Begay Tatyanna , Lee Ashley , Bettios Alex , Stefanidis Anthony
Published: January 2020

Research Summary

Public mass shootings tend to capture the public's attention and receive substantial coverage in both traditional media and online social networks (OSNs) and have become a salient topic in them. Motivated by this, the overarching objective of this paper is to advance our understanding of how the public responds to mass shooting events in such media outlets. Specifically, it aims to examine whether distinct information seeking patterns emerge over time and space, and whether associations between public mass shooting events emerge in online activities and discourse. Towards this objective, we study a sequence of five public mass shooting events that have occurred in the United States between October 2017 and May 2018 across three major dimensions: the public's online information seeking activities, the media coverage, and the discourse that emerges in a prominent OSN. To capture these dimensions, respectively, data was collected and analyzed from Google Trends, LexisNexis, Wikipedia Page views, and Twitter. The results of our analysis suggest that distinct temporal patterns emerge in the public's information seeking activities across different platforms, and that associations between an event and its preceding events emerge both in the media coverage and in OSNs.

Policy Implication

Studying the evolution of discourse in OSNs provides a valuable lens to observe how society's views on public mass shooting events are formed and evolved over time and space. The ability to analyze such data allows tapping into the dynamics of reshaping and reframing public mass shooting events in the public sphere and enable it to be closely studied and modeled. A deeper understanding of this process, along with the emerging associations drawn between such events, can then provide policy and decision‐makers with opportunities to better design policies and communicate the significance of their goals and objectives to the public.
Community structure of Korean fir (Abies koreana) snag‐dwelling arthropods on Hallasan National Park, Jeju Island, Korea
Authors: Kim Hyunjung , Na Sumi , Doh Jisun , Yi Hoonbok
Published: January 2020

We executed this research to understand the importance of decaying woods as the diverse arthropods' habitat inAbies koreanaforests of Mt. Hallasan, Korea, from 2013 April to 2014 July. We discriminated theAbies koreanaforests into one live stage and three decay stages in three blocks (Sungpanak, Yeongsil, Donnaeko) with three replicates and collected arthropods using an emergence trap per tree. We also used the different slope, altitude, decay stage and characteristics of dead wood as statistical variables. As A result, a total of six classes 23 orders 99 families 224 species (69,674 individuals) were collected from 282 emergence traps. We found that there were significant differences in abundance among decay stages and study sites. Our research results would be relevant for developing the ecologically sustainable forest management strategies and we expect these results would be used as the basic data for the forest management plans ofAbies koreana.
Fractional Integration and the Persistence of UK Inflation, 1210–2016
Authors: Caporale Guglielmo Maria , Gil‐Alana Luis Alberiko
Published: January 2020

This note examines the degree of persistence of UK inflation by applying fractional integration methods to historical data spanning the period 1210–2016; the chosen approach is more general than the popular ARMA models based on the classical I(0) vs. I(1) dichotomy. The full‐sample results do not suggest that UK inflation is a persistent process; however, the recursive analysis indicates an increase in the degree of persistence in the 16th century and more recently after WWI and in the last quarter of the 20th century. On the whole, monetary and exchange rate regime changes do not appear to have had a significant impact on the stochastic behaviour of inflation if one takes a long‐run, historical perspective.
A unified local objective function for optimally selecting SNPs on arrays for agricultural genomics applications
Authors: Wu X‐L. , Li H. , Ferretti R. , Simpson B. , Walker J. , Parham J. , Mastro L. , Qiu J. , Schultz T. , Tait R. G. , Bauck S.
Published: January 2020

Over the years, ad‐hoc procedures were used for designing SNP arrays, but the procedures and strategies varied considerably case by case. Recently, a multiple‐objective, local optimization (MOLO) algorithm was proposed to select SNPs for SNP arrays, which maximizes the adjusted SNP information (E score) under multiple constraints, e.g. on MAF, uniformness of SNP locations (U score), the inclusion of obligatory SNPs and the number and size of gaps. In the MOLO, each chromosome is split into equally spaced segments and local optima are selected as the SNPs having the highest adjusted E score within each segment, conditional on the presence of obligatory SNPs. The computation of the adjusted E score, however, is empirical, and it does not scale well between the uniformness of SNP locations and SNP informativeness. In addition, the MOLO objective function does not accommodate the selection of uniformly distributed SNPs. In the present study, we proposed a unified local function for optimally selecting SNPs, as an amendment to the MOLO algorithm. This new local function takes scalable weights between the uniformness and informativeness of SNPs, which allows the selection of SNPs under varied scenarios. The results showed that the weighting between the U and the E scores led to a higher imputation concordance rate than the U score or E score alone. The results from the evaluation of six commercial bovine SNP chips further confirmed this conclusion.
An analysis of the effectiveness outcomes of economic studies evaluating ophthalmic drugs: a systematic review
Authors: Ribeiro Inês , Batel Marques Francisco , Alves Dalila , Alves Carlos
Published: January 2020

Purpose

To characterize the effectiveness measures of cost‐effectiveness studies (CES) of ophthalmic drugs.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted in PubMed/Embase until October 2019. Cost‐effectiveness studies (CES) evaluating ophthalmic drugs were included. Sources of effectiveness measures were extracted. Data on study design and study outcomes were extracted from sources of effectiveness measures. The adequacy of the sample size of the clinical studies used as sources of effectiveness measures was assessed. If CES have retrieved effectiveness data from multiple sources, the appropriateness of the method to combine the results was analysed.

Results

Forty‐five CES were included. Thirty‐one (68.9%) retrieved their effectiveness measures from experimental studies, five (11.1%) from observational studies and nine (20%) from other type of data sources. Eight (17.8%) CES used data from a primary outcome of a study as an effectiveness measure, eight (17.8%) used data from secondary outcomes, seven (15.6%) used data from the both primary and secondary outcomes and for 22 (48.9%) it was not possible to identify the outcomes used. From the 23 (51.1%) CES based on a single clinical study, three (6.7%) included data from clinical studies which had an adequate sample size to detect significant differences in the clinical outcomes used as effectiveness measures. From the 17 (37.8%) CES based on multiple clinical studies, only one (2.2%) used and/or reported an adequate method of quantitative synthesis (meta‐analysis).

Conclusion

A considerable number of CES in ophthalmology were not based on clinical studies with adequate sample sizes and report results from effectiveness measures not assessed as primary outcomes.
Episcleral hemangioma distribution patterns could be an indicator of trabeculotomy prognosis in young SWS patients
Authors: Wu Yue , Peng Cheng , Ding Xuming , Zeng Changjuan , Cui Chang , Xu Li , Du Na , Guo Wenyi
Published: January 2020

Purpose

To explore the relationships between episcleral hemangioma distribution patterns and trabeculotomy prognosis in young Sturge–Weber syndrome (SWS) patients.

Methods

Sturge–Weber syndrome‐induced glaucoma patients less than 4 years of age who underwent trabeculotomy in our Ophthalmology Department from February 2016 to June 2017 were included. Every patient could be divided into simple episcleral vascular abnormal network (SEVAN) or multiple episcleral vascular abnormal network (MEVAN) groups according to their episcleral hemangioma patterns. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was recorded during follow‐up until the last visit.

Results

Fifty eyes (forty‐six patients) of SWS were included. Mean age of surgery was 12.6 ± 15.1 months (range 1–47 months). Twenty‐six eyes were in the SEVAN group, while 24 eyes were in the MEVAN group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in demographic data before surgery (p > 0.05). IOPs at 12 months (p = 0.013) and 24 months (p = 0.002) were significantly different between the two groups. At the 24‐month follow‐up, the cumulative proportions of trabeculotomy success in the SEVAN and MEVAN groups were 89.7% and 36.0%, respectively. Patients with MEVAN and larger preoperative corneal diameter (per 0.5 mm) were more likely to experience failed trabeculotomy (hazards ratio [HR], 7.997 [95% CI, 1.640–38.996], p = 0.010; 1.853 [95% CI, 1.128–3.042], p = 0.015).

Conclusion

Hemangiomas exhibited different distribution patterns between SEVAN and MEVAN. Trabeculotomy had a poorer prognosis in young SWS patients with MEVAN than in those with SEVAN. In addition to anterior chamber angle anomalies, vascular factors may contribute to the aetiology of SWS early‐onset glaucoma.
Long‐term oral budesonide treatment and risk of osteoporotic fractures in patients with microscopic colitis
Authors: Reilev Mette , Hallas Jesper , Thomsen Ernst Martin , Nielsen Gunnar Lauge , Bonderup Ole K.
Published: January 2020

Background

Due to a substantial first‐pass metabolism of oral budesonide, systemic bioavailability is low compared to other oral corticosteroids, thereby possibly avoiding adverse effects of systemic corticosteroid use.

Aim

To determine whether use of oral budesonide is associated with osteoporotic fractures in patients with microscopic colitis (MC).

Methods

Applying data from the Danish nationwide health registries, we conducted a case‐control study nested within a cohort of patients with MC from 2004 to 2012. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between budesonide use and osteoporotic fractures (hip, wrist and spinal fractures).

Results

We identified 417 cases with a first occurrence of an osteoporotic fracture. Eighty‐six per cent were women and the median age was 78 years. The OR for the overall association between ever‐use of budesonide and any osteoporotic fractures did not reach statistical significance (OR 1.13, CI: 0.88‐1.47). The highest risk was observed for spinal fractures (OR 1.98, CI: 0.94‐4.17), where a dose‐response association seemed to exist, followed by hip and wrist fractures (OR 1.17 [CI: 0.79‐1.73] and OR 0.99 [CI: 0.66‐1.47] respectively). We generally found modestly increased ORs across subgroups at suspected high or low risk of fractures (1.00‐2.49). No overall dose‐response association was evident (OR for doubling of cumulative dose 0.93 (CI: 0.84‐1.03).

Conclusion

No overall association between use of oral budesonide and osteoporotic fractures was demonstrated among individuals with MC. There seemed to be an isolated adverse effect of budesonide on the risk of spinal fractures, which appears to be dose related.
Distinctive and common features of moderate aplastic anaemia
Authors: Patel Bhumika J. , Barot Shimoli V. , Kuzmanovic Teodora , Kerr Cassandra , Przychodzen Bartlomiej P. , Thota Swapna , Lee Sarah , Patel Saurabh , Radivoyevitch Tomas , Lichtin Alan , Advani Anjali , Kalaycio Matt , Sekeres Mikkael A. , Carraway Hetty E. , Maciejewski Jaroslaw P.
Published: January 2020

The therapy algorithm for severe aplastic anaemia (sAA) is established but moderate AA (mAA), which likely reflects a more diverse pathogenic mechanism, often represents a treatment/management conundrum. A cohort of AA patients (n = 325) was queried for those with non‐severe disease using stringent criteria including bone marrow hypocellularity and chronic persistence of moderately depressed blood counts. As a result, we have identified and analyzed pathological and clinical features in 85 mAA patients. Progression to sAA and direct clonal evolution (paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria/acute myeloid leukaemia; PNH/AML) occurred in 16%, 11% and 1% of mAA cases respectively. Of the mAA patients who received immunosuppressive therapy, 67% responded irrespective of time of initiation of therapy while conservatively managed patients showed no spontaneous remissions. Genomic analysis of mAA identified evidence of clonal haematopoiesis with both persisting and remitting patterns at low allelic frequencies; with more pronounced mutational burden in sAA. Most of the mAA patients have autoimmune pathogenesis similar to those with sAA, but mAA contains a mix of patients with diverse aetiologies. Although progression rates differed between mAA and sAA (P = 0·003), cumulative incidences of mortalities were only marginally different (P = 0·095). Our results provide guidance for diagnosis/management of mAA, a condition for which no current standard of care is established.
Effects of pre‐orogenic tectonic structures on the Cenozoic evolution of Andean deformed belts: Evidence from the Salar de Punta Negra Basin in the Central Andes of Northern Chile
Authors: Martínez Fernando , López Cristopher , Parra Mauricio
Published: January 2020

We integrated new field observations, two‐dimensional (2‐D) seismic profiles and new and previously reported chronological data to understand the effects of pre‐orogenic structures on the tectonic evolution of the Salar de Punta Negra in the Central Andes. For first time a series of restored geological cross‐sections are presented, thus showing the pre‐orogenic tectonic architecture of the region and new ideas about the tectonic evolution of the inner forearc of the Central Andes. Our results show a series of east‐dipping normal faults as the main pre‐orogenic structures in the region, which resulted from lithospheric stretching of the western continental margin during the Paleozoic to Mesozoic (Triassic–Jurassic). These were later incorporated into the Andean orogen by tectonic inversion, forming west‐verging inversion anticlines. The beginning of the tectonic inversion is constrained by the first on‐lap of the Upper Cretaceous‐Palaeocene syn‐kinematic deposits on the top of the Mesozoic syn‐rift successions, highlighting that inversion occurred during this period. These syn‐kinematic deposits display zircons with older age peaks between ca. 200 and 300 Ma, thus indicating that some Carboniferous to Triassic sources of sediments were eroded during the uplift of the orogen. Other basement reverse faults affect the footwalls of normal inverted faults and the shoulders of ancient half‐graben structures. These truncate and decapitate previous inverted faults and completely cut the infill of the basin, leading to exhumation of the pre‐rift basement rocks. We propose that the propagation of these structures was favoured by the modified thermal‐tectonic state of the lithosphere from the eastward migration of the volcanic arc, and not by the previous pre‐orogenic structures. The structural and stratigraphic relationships recognized both in the field and 2‐D seismic profiles indicate that many reverse faults originated after the initial tectonic inversion and continued to be active from the Eocene until the Pleistocene period.
“Everyday” Scottish and Finnish child protection work in an age of austerity: A practitioner perspective
Authors: Lohvansuu Jenni , Emond Ruth
Published: January 2020

This article examines the accounts given by child protection practitioners of how the current economic climate has impacted on their practice. We build our discussion on empirical findings emerging from a small but rigorous qualitative research project conducted by one of the authors. This original study examined Scottish and Finnish social workers' perceptions of their abilities to engage effectively with children and families in what many have described as an “age of austerity.” It set out to explore challenges encountered in daily practice through a cross‐national comparative thematic analysis. The paper illuminates practitioners' shared reality of frontline practice in Scottish and Finnish contexts. Despite differing socio‐political environments, participating practitioners found austerity measures to impact negatively on both their professional resources and on the communities they work with. Significantly, practitioners regarded themselves as the key resource, taking individual responsibility to ensure families received a quality service. For many, austerity had resulted in greater empathy for families and awareness of the wider economic and structural impact on their lives. The increased centrality of social justice was pivotal to everyday practice.
Identification of FOXH1 mutations in patients with sporadic conotruncal heart defect
Authors: Wei Wei , Li Bojian , Li Fen , Sun Kun , Jiang Xuechao , Xu Rang
Published: January 2020

Conotruncal heart defects (CTD) are an important subtype of congenital heart disease that occur due to abnormality in the development of the cardiac outflow tract (OFT). FOXH1 is a transcription factor that participates in the morphogenesis of the right ventricle and OFT. In this study, we confirmed the expression of FOXH1 in mouse and human embryos during OFT development. We also scanned the coding exons and splicing regions of theFOXH1gene in 605 patients with sporadic CTD and 300 unaffected controls, from which we identified seven heterozygousFOXH1gene mutations. According to bioinformatics analysis results, they were predicted potentially deleterious at conserved amino acid sites. Western blot was used to show that all the variants decreased the expression of FOXH1 protein, while dual‐luciferase reporter assay showed that six of them, with an exception of p.P35R, had enhanced abilities to modulate the expression ofMEF2C, which interacts with NKX2.5 and is involved in cardiac growth. The electrophoretic mobility shift assays result showed that two mutations altered DNA‐binding abilities of mutant FOXH1 proteins. Phenotype heterogeneity was found in patients with the same mutation. These results indicate thatFOXH1mutations lead to disease‐causing functional changes that contribute to the occurrence of CTD.
CYP2C9 and CYP2C19: Deep Mutational Scanning and Functional Characterization of Genomic Missense Variants
Authors: Zhang Lingxin , Sarangi Vivekananda , Moon Irene , Yu Jia , Liu Duan , Devarajan Sandhya , Reid Joel M. , Kalari Krishna R. , Wang Liewei , Weinshilboum Richard
Published: January 2020

Single nucleotide variants in the open reading frames (ORFs) of pharmacogenes are important causes of interindividual variability in drug response. The functional characterization of variants of unknown significance within ORFs remains a major challenge for pharmacogenomics. Deep mutational scanning (DMS) is a high‐throughput technique that makes it possible to analyze the functional effect of hundreds of variants in a parallel and scalable fashion. We adapted a “landing pad” DMS system to study the function of missense variants in the ORFs of cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 9 (CYP2C9) and cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 19 (CYP2C19). We studied 230 observed missense variants in the CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 ORFs and found that 19 of 109 CYP2C9 and 36 of 121 CYP2C19 variants displayed less than ~ 25% of the wild‐type protein expression, a level that may have clinical relevance. Our results support DMS as an efficient method for the identification of damaging ORF variants that might have potential clinical pharmacogenomic application.
Use of family disability service by families with young children with disabilities
Authors: Russell Matthew J , Zhang Yunqi , Cui Xinjie , Tough Suzanne , Zwicker Jennifer D
Published: January 2020

Aim

To investigate which families with young children with disabilities used disability services and when they used services to inform policy on service delivery.

Method

We used linked administrative data from different ministries in Alberta to describe families’ use of disability services when their children were between the ages of 3 and 8 years old. Disability was investigated on the basis of the presence of a severe special education code for children, and level of special education code. The outcome was the use of family disability services.

Results

Of 31 346 children, 24 761 (79.0%) had no special education code, 3982 (12.7%) had a mild special education code, and 2603 (8.3%) had a severe special education code. Level of special education code was associated with child characteristics and service use. Children with severe special education codes generally were more likely to report service use and have poor outcomes than those with less severe codes. Of note, 26% of children with severe special education codes used family disability services. In addition, among children with severe special education codes, many years of severe coding (compared with fewer years) had the strongest association with family disability service use (prevalence ratio 5.50; 95% confidence interval 4.10–7.37). Associations with family disability service use were seen with mental health, health care, and educational achievement. Interactions between child characteristics and service use were observed.

Interpretation

This study provides evidence that families were more likely to use disability services when they were involved with other services, and that use interacts with various factors. The findings highlight the importance of considering service eligibility, referral, and integration.

What this paper adds

Children with severe special education codes were more likely to use services than those with less severe codes.

They were also more likely to have poor outcomes than those with less severe codes.

Fewer families used disability services early (age 3y) compared with later on.

Families’ use of disability services corresponded with other service use.

The study elucidated potential barriers and facilitators to disability service use.
Efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin plus saxagliptin versus insulin glargine over 52 weeks as add‐on to metformin with or without sulphonylurea in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, parallel‐design, open‐label, Phase 3 trial
Authors: Vilsbøll Tina , Ekholm Ella , Johnsson Eva , Garcia‐Sanchez Ricardo , Dronamraju Nalina , Jabbour Serge A. , Lind Marcus
Published: January 2020

Aim

Efficacy and safety of dapagliflozin plus saxagliptin (DAPA + SAXA) were compared with insulin glargine (INS) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a 52‐week extension study.

Materials and methods

This international Phase 3 study randomized adults with T2D on metformin with/without sulphonylurea. They received DAPA + SAXA or INS for 24 weeks (short‐term) with a 28‐week (long‐term) extension. Week 52 exploratory endpoints included adjusted mean change from baseline in glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and body weight, and a proportion of patients achieving optimal glycaemic response without hypoglycaemia and without requiring rescue medication.

Results

Of the 1163 patients enrolled, 643 received treatment; 600 (DAPA + SAXA, 306; INS, 294) entered the long‐term phase. At 52 weeks, HbA1c [adjusted least squares (LS) mean; 95% confidence interval (CI)] decreased more with DAPA + SAXA (−1.5% [−1.6%, −1.4%]) than with INS (−1.3% [−1.4%, −1.1%]); the LS mean difference (95% CI) was −0.25% (−0.4%, −0.1%; P = 0.009). Total body weight reduced with DAPA + SAXA [LS mean (95% CI): −1.8 kg (−2.4, −1.3)] and increased with INS [LS mean (95% CI): +2.8 kg (2.2, 3.3)]. More patients on DAPA + SAXA (17.6%) achieved HbA1c <7.0% without hypoglycaemia versus those on INS (9.1%). Rescue medication was required by 77 patients (23.8%) and 97 patients (30.4%) in the DAPA + SAXA and INS groups, respectively.

Conclusion

DAPA + SAXA treatment was non‐inferior to INS in reducing HbA1c and body weight, and in achieving optimal glycaemic control without hypoglycaemia in patients with T2D 52 weeks after initiation.