bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Viscous shear effect in non-Newtonian lubrication of finite porous elastic bearings
Authors: Sakim Anas , Nabhani Mohamed , El Khlifi Mohamed
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the viscous shear effect on finite porous elastic journal bearings lubricated with non-Newtonian couple stress fluid.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on Stokes micro-continuum mechanics, the modified Reynolds equation including bearing deformation was derived. The porous flow was modeled by the complete Darcy–Brinkman equation. To show the viscous shear effects, bearing characteristics including load capacity and friction factor are compared to those obtained from Darcy model with Beavers–Joseph slip conditions (slip flow model [SFM]) by developing a computer program and discussed for different couple stress values, permeabilities and elastic deformation parameters.

Findings

It is found that the viscous shearing forces effects of the Brinkman model increase the load capacity and friction factor compared to those derived using SFM. Moreover, the couple stresses increase the load capacity while decreasing the friction factor for both models.

Originality/value

This study introduces for the first time the viscous effect on finite porous elastic journal bearings lubricated with couple stress fluid.
Coping with uncertainty in the internationalisation strategy
Authors: Magnani Giovanna , Zucchella Antonella
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore uncertainty-coping strategic actions in the internationalisation strategy of entrepreneurial ventures, encompassing born globals/international new ventures, enduring established internationalisers, old born globals, born-again globals and micro-multinationals.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a qualitative exploratory study applying a grounded theory approach to ten entrepreneurial firms to investigate the strategies they adopted to cope with Knightian uncertainty in international markets.

Findings

The global niche strategy emerged as a successful path to deal with uncertainty in smaller firms’ internationalisation. The authors uncover the components of this strategy, namely the creation of markets, the focus on global clients and the control of technology.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper consists in exploring how entrepreneurial firms cope with uncertainty through a global niche strategy and in outlining its main components. The authors develop a model of smaller entrepreneurial firms’ international strategising under this perspective. The research thus links together international marketing and strategy with (international) entrepreneurship studies.
Examining the role of perceived investment in employees’ development on work-engagement of liquid knowledge workers
Authors: Jha Jatinder Kumar , Pandey Jatin , Varkkey Biju
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between perceived investments in employees’ development (PIED) on work engagement and the moderating effects of psychological capital on this relationship for liquid knowledge workers, employed in the Indian cutting and polishing of diamond industry (CPD).

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire composed of established scales was administered to 134 liquid knowledge workers. Having established convergent and discriminant validity using structural equation modelling, the model was further analysed using the Process macro to check for direct and moderating effects.

Findings

The research findings suggest that the perceived investment in employee development and psychological contract enhancement (relational and transactional) made by CPD units for liquid knowledge workers positively influenced their work engagement level. The study also finds that relational contract (not transactional contract) positively moderates the relationship between perceived investment in employee development and work engagement.

Research limitations/implications

This is a cross-sectional single source study; future studies could look at longitudinal and multisource perspective.

Practical implications

The study presents a “star matrix of engagement” that guides the application of the two strategies of perceived employee development and psychological contract enhancement for liquid knowledge workers. This has implications for design and implementation of human resource management practices and policies for employee management.

Originality/value

The study makes significant contributions to existing literature on antecedents of work engagement of liquid knowledge workers by examining the direct and moderating influences.
Sustaining innovation and change in government sector organizations
Authors: Limba Rekson S. , Hutahayan Benny , Solimun Solimun , Fernandes Adji
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an examination of the processes involved in institutionalizing change in government organizations. Following the lens of organizational learning, the authors seek to delineate strategies for fashioning long-lasting change in government settings.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from a large body of literature in organizational studies and public administration, this paper presents arguments and propositions about how organizational politics can enhance learning in government. The paper integrates the concept of power into the organizational learning framework, taking the 4I learning framework as a point of departure.

Findings

The paper formulates insights into how specific power mechanisms can be combined to facilitate the development of flows of learning in government organizations that are in change management process, and concludes that government settings represent a good example of organizations where pathological patterns of learning will be preeminent.

Practical implications

The paper provides an extension to discussions of the political dynamics of organizational learning. In doing so, the paper highlights the importance of the often over-looked feedback process in organizational learning. It also brings to the fore the importance of strategic leadership in change management processes in government sector organizations.

Originality/value

The paper serves to add impetus to change management discourse in the public sector by presenting a framework for institutionalizing learning in government settings. The paper also sheds light on how different forms of power may be balanced at each stage of the learning process in order to enhance institutionalization.
Export knowledge
Authors: Di Fatta Davide , Gera Navneet , Tyagi Lokinder Kumar , Grisold Thomas
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to study the export knowledge to be the determinant of export strategy, export commitment and export performance in carpet Industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative–quantitative approach, the unit of analysis is the individual export venturing firm in India. More in detail, a qualitative analysis was conducted through a focus group interview to explore the challenges of carpet exports. A quantitative analysis was performed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and, because of covariate nature of the proposed research model, structural equation modeling to evaluate the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results emphasized that Indian carpet exports face major challenges, namely, issues of raw material that is wool, shortage of labor for weaving carpets and a lack of organization which has a negative impact on productivity and quality. Furthermore, this study shows that export knowledge directly influences the export strategy, export commitment and export performance.

Originality/value

Building on the results, this paper suggests corrective measures, as well as required knowledge, to formulate a strategy and boost the export performance of the carpet sector.
The impact of social technologies on knowledge management processes
Authors: Haddadi Harandi Ali Akbar , Bokharaei Nia Mona , Valmohammadi Changiz
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The importance of e-literacy of staff in the digital life is fundamentally very crucial, to such an extent that it is considered as one of the primary conditions for successful utilization of knowledge management processes using social technologies within organizations. This study aims to explain and test a novel conceptual model to show the impact of applying social technologies on knowledge management (KM) processes in the context of Iranian organizations, considering the moderator role of e-literacy of employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on an in-depth study of the relevant literature, a questionnaire was designed. The sound questionnaires obtained from our sample size was 207 and respondents were experts in the field of information technology (IT) within the Central Office of Insurance companies in Tehran. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and path analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that the use of social technologies with the factor loading of 0.57 has the highest impact on knowledge exchange and 0.61 on knowledge utilization. In addition, the results indicate that e-literacy with the factor loadings of 0.69 and 0.74 has the highest impact on knowledge exchange and knowledge utilization, respectively. In addition, the impact of social technologies with the factor loading of 0.82 has the highest impact on e-literacy.

Research limitations/implications

One of the limitations of this study was the generalizability of the findings, which may be limited, as it is focused on one developing country. Also, the lack of full implementation of KM and the use of social technologies in the insurance industry may affect the obtained results.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the authors, this study is among the first of its kind which examines the impact of social technologies usage on the KM processes considering an important variable, i.e. e-literacy of employees.
Resveratrol supplementation and flow-mediated dilation: a systematic review
Authors: Emamat Hadi , Djafarian Kurosh , Tangestani Hadith , Hekmatdoost Azita , Shab-Bidar Sakineh
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to systematically review randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluated the effects of resveratrol on vascular flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

Design/methodology/approach

All published RCTs in English were systematically searched on PubMed and Scopus search engines up to October 2017. A total of 61 studies were found through search databases. The outcome variable of interest was FMD. Six articles which met inclusion criteria were included in this study.

Findings

From six studies, four showed a significant improvement in FMD after resveratrol supplementation acutely or chronically in subjects with cardio-metabolic risk factors. Two other studies did not show any significant effect of resveratrol on FMD.

Originality/value

The authors systematically reviewed the effectiveness of resveratrol supplementation on FMD for the first time. The findings suggest that pure resveratrol supplementation may have beneficial effects on endothelium dependent vasodilatation indicator, FMD.
Rage against the machine: moral anger in whistleblowing
Authors: Mason Chris , Simmons John
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer a theoretical framework of whistleblowing that gives due recognition to the emotional and reflexive processes that underpin it. Modes of anger are integrated into the model based on a reading of Geddes and Callister (2007), and developed by Lindebaum and Geddes (2016) work on moral anger.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is derived by interrogation of the extant literature on whistleblowing with due recognition accorded to emotional and reflexive dimensions that have been underrepresented in previous research. The model was tested by a qualitative study that uses memoir analysis to interrogate a board level whistle-blower’s account of the complex, traumatic and like-changing nature of his experience.

Findings

The paper identifies key stages in whistle-blower thinking before, during and subsequent to a decision to expose corporate wrongdoing. It demonstrates how emotional and reflexive processes influence a whistle-blower’s mode of anger expression, and how different perspectives by the whistle-blower and the focal organisation may view this expression as moral or deviant anger.

Research limitations/implications

The complexity of the whistleblowing process, together with possible alternative perspectives of it, makes identifying every influencing variable extremely challenging. Also, reliance on a whistle-blower’s own account of his experience means that recall may be partial or self-serving. The model can be used to analyse other whistle-blower accounts of their experience, and further confirm its applicability.

Originality/value

This is the first application of memoir analysis to a whistle-blower’s account of his experience that relates modes of anger expression to stages in the whistleblowing episode. It addresses a significant imbalance in whistleblowing research that hitherto has emphasised rationality in whistle-blower decision making and downplayed the influence of reflexivity and emotion.
Multi-solution nature of topology optimization and its application in design for additive manufacturing
Authors: Rezayat Hassan , Bell Jared Richard , Plotkowski Alex J. , Babu Sudarsanam S.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the multi-solution nature of topology optimization (TO) as a design tool for additive manufacturing (AM). The sensitivity of topologically optimized parts and manufacturing constraints to the initial starting point of the optimization process leading to structures with equivalent performance is explored.

Design/methodology/approach

A modified bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization (BESO) code was used as the numerical approach to optimize a cantilever beam problem and reduce the mass by 50 per cent. Several optimized structures with relatively equivalent mechanical performance were generated by changing the initial starting point of the TO algorithm. These optimized structures were manufactured using fused deposition modeling (FDM). The equivalence of strain distribution in FDM parts was tested with the digital image correlation (DIC) technique and compared with that from the modified BESO code.

Findings

The results confirm that TO could lead to a wide variety of non-unique solutions based on loading and manufacturability constraints. The modified BESO code was able to reduce the support structure needed to build the simple two-dimensional cantilever beam by 15 per cent while keeping the mechanical performance at the same level.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper lies in introduction and application of the multi-solution nature of TO for AM as a design tool for optimizing structures with minimized features in the overhang condition and the need for support structures.
Modeling and analysis of the on-demand spare parts supply using additive manufacturing
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Jedeck Stefan , Yang Li , Bai Lihui
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Despite the widespread expectation that additive manufacturing (AM) will become a disruptive technology to transform the spare parts supply chain, very limited research has been devoted to the quantitative modeling and analysis on how AM could fulfill the on-demand spare parts supply. On the other hand, the choice of using AM as a spare parts supply strategy over traditional inventory is a rising decision faced by manufacturers and requires quantitative analysis for their AM-or-stock decisions. The purpose of this paper is to develop a quantitative performance model for a generic powder bed fusion AM system in a spare parts supply chain, thus providing insights into this less-explored area in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, analysis based on a discrete event simulation was carried out for the use of AM in replacement of traditional warehouse inventory for an on-demand spare parts supply system. Generic powder bed fusion AM system was used in the model, and the same modeling approach could be applied to other types of AM processes. Using this model, the impact of both spare parts demand characteristics (e.g. part size attributes, demand rates) and the AM operations characteristics (e.g. machine size and postpone strategy) on the performance of using AM to supply spare parts was studied.

Findings

The simulation results show that in many cases the AM operation is not as cost competitive compared to the traditional warehouse-based spare parts supply operation, and that the spare parts size characteristics could significantly affect the overall performance of the AM operations. For some scenarios of the arrival process of spare parts demand, the use of the batched AM production could potentially result in significant delay in parts delivery, which necessitates further investigations of production optimization strategies.

Originality/value

The findings demonstrate that the proposed simulation tool can not only provide insights on the performance characteristics of using AM in the spare parts supply chain, especially in comparison to the traditional warehousing system, but also can be used toward decision making for both the AM manufacturers and the spare parts service providers.
Hoshin Kanri and A3: a proposal for integrating variability into the policy deployment process
Authors: Tortorella Guilherme , Cauchick-Miguel Paulo A. , Gaiardelli Paolo
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology to support the Hoshin Kanri (HK) process taking into account the variance of senior managers’ perspective regarding the relationships among objectives, key performance indicators and continuous improvement (CI) projects.

Design/methodology/approach

A four-step methodology incorporates the A3 report into the HK, whose deployment was weighted by the variability among managers’ perception about the importance of each decision. This methodology was applied in a market-leader Mexican auto parts manufacturing company that is undergoing a Lean Manufacturing (LM) implementation.

Findings

The results indicate that the proposed methodology provides an easier approach to consolidate different perspectives and weight the importance of CI projects. Moreover, it minimizes the possibility of managerial conflicts or the influence of a determined senior manager on others’ opinions during the deployment and prioritization.

Practical implications

This work may be of great interest to managers, consultants and professionals who deal with the implementation of LM and wish to prioritize the importance of CI projects within the perspective of HK.

Originality/value

HK provides a systematic approach to integrate strategic management with daily routine management through an adequate deployment of organizational policies to all levels. However, companies usually struggle with several issues such as the style of senior managers and consensus establishment among different opinions, which emphasizes the relevance of the proposed methodology in this study.
Reconceptualising Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in global public policy
Authors: Nayak Bhabani Shankar
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The paper provides historical outlook on different trends in PPPs in global public policy. The purpose of this paper is to reject the essentialist and neoliberal approach to PPPs by critically evaluating both normative and empirical arguments within existing literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws its methodological lineages to nonlinear historical narrative around the concept and construction of the idea and language of “PPPs”. The paper follows discourse analysis (Fairclough, 2003) to locate the way in which PPPs were incorporated within the language of global public policy.

Findings

The paper finds that most of the existing literature looks at managerial, operational, functional and essentialist aspects of PPPs. Therefore, the paper argues that critical success of PPPs depends on its social value for the common good with an emancipatory outlook.

Originality/value

The paper argues to move beyond functional aspects of PPPs and locate emancipatory possibilities within the praxis of global public policy.
Species‐specific spatiotemporal patterns of leopard, lion and tiger attacks on humans
Authors: Packer Craig , Shivakumar Shweta , Athreya Vidya , Craft Meggan E. , Dhanwatey Harshawardhan , Dhanwatey Poonam , Gurung Bhim , Joshi Anup , Kushnir Hadas , Linnell John D. C. , Fountain‐Jones Nicholas M.
Published: November 2018

Large carnivores of the genus Panthera can pose serious threats to public safety. Although the annual number of attacks on humans is rare compared to livestock depredation, such incidents undermine popular support for wildlife conservation and require immediate responses to protect human life.

We used a space–time scan method to perform a novel spatiotemporal analysis of 908 attacks on humans by lions, leopards, and tigers to estimate the risks of further attacks in the same locales.

We found that a substantial proportion of attacks were clustered in time and space, but the dimension of these outbreaks varied between species. Lion outbreaks included more human fatalities, persisted for longer periods of time, and extended over larger areas than tiger or leopard outbreaks.

Synthesis and applications. Our analysis reveals the typical spatiotemporal patterns of past lion, leopard, and tiger attacks on humans. In future, this technique could be used by relevant agencies to warn local people of risks from further attacks within a certain time and distance following an initial incident by each species. Furthermore, the approach can help identify areas requiring management interventions to address such threats.
Vaginal progesterone, oral progesterone, 17‐OHPC, cerclage, and pessary for preventing preterm birth in at‐risk singleton pregnancies: an updated systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Jarde A , Lutsiv O , Beyene J , McDonald SD
Published: November 2018

Background

Recent progesterone trials call for an update of previous syntheses of interventions to prevent preterm birth.

Objectives

To compare the relative effects of different types and routes of administration of progesterone, cerclage, and pessary at preventing preterm birth in at‐risk women overall and in specific populations.

Search strategy

We searched Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science up to 1 January 2018.

Selection criteria

We included randomised trials of progesterone, cerclage or pessary for preventing preterm birth in at‐risk singleton pregnancies.

Data collection and analysis

We used a piloted data extraction form and performed Bayesian random‐effects network meta‐analyses with 95% credibility intervals (CrI), as well as pairwise meta‐analyses, rating the quality of the evidence using GRADE.

Main results

We included 40 trials (11 311 women). In at‐risk women overall, vaginal progesterone reduced preterm birth <34 (OR 0.43, 95% CrI 0.20–0.81) and <37 weeks (OR 0.51, 95% CrI 0.34–0.74), and neonatal death (OR 0.41, 95% CrI 0.20–0.83). In women with a previous preterm birth, vaginal progesterone reduced preterm birth <34 (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.12–0.68) and <37 weeks (OR 0.43, 95% CrI 0.23–0.74), and 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone caproate reduced preterm birth <37 weeks (OR 0.53, 95% CrI 0.27–0.95) and neonatal death (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.16–0.95). In women with a short cervix (≤25 mm), vaginal progesterone reduced preterm birth <34 weeks (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.24–0.84).

Conclusions

Vaginal progesterone was the only intervention with consistent effectiveness for preventing preterm birth in singleton at‐risk pregnancies overall and in those with a previous preterm birth.

Tweetable abstract

In updated NMA, vaginal progesterone consistently reduced PTB in overall at‐risk pregnancies and in women with previous PTB.
Global Value Chains and Product Differentiation: Changing the Politics of Trade
Authors: Baccini Leonardo , Dür Andreas
Published: November 2018

Both global value chains and trade in differentiated goods have become increasingly important in the international economy. We argue that these two developments interact in changing the political economy of trade. For finished goods, product differentiation facilitates trade liberalization because the adjustment costs of liberalization are lower when countries trade varieties of the same good. By contrast, for goods that are used as inputs in the production process, product differentiation makes trade liberalization more difficult. We find support for this argument in two tests. On the one hand, we look at patterns of lobbying on US preferential trade agreements (PTAs). On the other hand, we use a data set with highly disaggregated tariff data from 61 PTAs signed between 1995 and 2013. The paper contributes to the long‐standing debates on endogenous tariff formation and the consequences of intra‐industry trade, and a nascent literature on the relationship between global value chains and trade policy.
When the State Brings Itself Back into GVC: The Case of the Indonesian Palm Oil Pledge
Authors: Dermawan Ahmad , Hospes Otto
Published: November 2018

During the last decades the role of the state in governance of Global Value Chains (GVC) for sustainability has been largely ignored. This paper contributes to the re‐centering the state in GVC analysis. We provide an analysis of the rise and fall of the Indonesian Palm Oil Pledge (IPOP). IPOP is a commitment of some biggest palm oil companies towards zero‐deforestation in Indonesia, but was dissolved after serious critique from the Government of Indonesia (GoI). Our question is: why and how did the GoI decide to put an end to the IPOP? We show that the GoI orchestrated the IPOP's demise by framing it as a danger to smallholder development, as not acknowledging public standards, and as an illegal cartel. The GoI's counter‐framing re‐asserts its sovereignty over producers, rule‐making and economic organization. We argue that when a state perceives that when non‐state‐driven GVC governance threatens its sovereignty over producers, rule‐making and economic organization, it will engage in discursive power struggle with non‐state actors. More specifically, collective action of non‐state actors can particularly trigger a state to engage in discursive power struggle with non‐state actors.
The importance of cash flow disclosure and cost of capital
Authors: Kent Richard Anthony , Bu Di
Published: November 2018

We examine whether the choice of cash flow disclosure under International Accounting Standard 7 has an influence on the cost of capital incurred by Australian listed companies. Results indicate that indirect method companies incur a significantly higher ex‐ante cost of equity than direct method companies using a combined equity model approach. We also demonstrate that using an optimal weighted combination of equity models reduces model variance and bias compared to using a single equity model. Our findings support mandating the direct method and have the potential to induce companies to report the direct method to increase company value.
Missing canines: a novel aetiology
Authors: Roberts SM , Currell SD , Abdalla Y
Published: November 2018

Infant oral mutilation is the practice of removing developing tooth germs, commonly the mandibular canine, in infants up to the age of 1 year. Subsequent complications include missing, impacted or hypoplastic permanent anterior and canine teeth. We report on a case of bilaterally missing lower canines thought to be due to infant oral mutilation. It is important that general dental practitioners are aware of this practice and resulting complications when treating families from sub‐Saharan East Africa.
Semiparametric model averaging prediction: a Bayesian approach
Authors: Wang Jingli , Li Jialiang
Published: November 2018

We present a novel model averaging method to construct a prediction function in semi‐parametric form. The weighted sum of candidate semi‐parametric models is taken as a prediction of the mean response. Marginal non‐parametric regression models are approximated by spline basis functions and we apply a Bayesian Monte Carlo approach to fit such models. The optimal model weight parameters are estimated by minimising the least squares criterion with an explicit form. We implement our method in extensive simulation studies and illustrate its use with two real medical data examples. Our methods are demonstrated to be more accurate than both classical parametric model averaging methods and existing semi‐parametric regression models.
The role of trust in global health research collaborations
Authors: Kerasidou Angeliki
Published: November 2018

Collaborations in global health research are on the rise because they enhance productivity, facilitate capacity building, accelerate output and make tackling big, multifactorial research questions possible. In this paper, I examine the concepts of trust and reliance in scientific collaborations in general, but also in the particular context of collaborations in global health research between high‐income countries and low‐and‐middle income countries (LMIC). I propose and defend the argument that given the particular characteristics of collaborations and demands of trust relationships, reliance is a better relational mode for successful collaborations. Although reliance can be difficult to establish in situations where asymmetry of power exists, trust should not be the only relational mode available to LMIC researchers because of the type of vulnerability it introduces to the relationship. I conclude that the promotion of good collaborations requires addressing the power imbalances between partners, and establishing an even playing field in global health research.
Glucose levels and diabetes are not associated with the risk of venous thrombosis: results from the MEGA case‐control study
Authors: Li‐Gao Ruifang , Morelli Vânia M. , Lijfering Willem M. , Cannegieter Suzanne C. , Rosendaal Frits R. , van Hylckama Vlieg Astrid
Published: November 2018

It is unclear whether hyperglycaemia or diabetes mellitus are risk factors for a first venous thrombosis (VT). Self‐reported diabetes status and fasting glucose (FG) measures were collected from the Multiple Environmental and Genetic Assessment (MEGA) study to confirm these associations. FG levels were categorized based on the World Health Organization criteria [<6·1 (reference), 6·1–7·0 (2nd), ≥7·0 (3rd) mmol/l]. Logistic regression was performed to quantify the associations. Neither increased FG levels [Odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 0·98 (0·69–1·37) 2nd vs. reference, 0·97 (0·58–1·63) 3rd vs. reference] nor self‐reported diabetes [1·12 (0·80–1·58)] were associated with an increased risk of a first VT.
Synthesis, anticancer activity and cytotoxicity of 7‐O‐β‐d‐galactosyl‐polyethylene glycol‐epothilone B
Authors: Huang Shiyu , Huang Gangliang
Published: November 2018

Epothilone, the macrolide compound produced by Sorangium cellulosum, has antitumor activity. Its anti‐tumor mechanism is similar to that of paclitaxel, which promotes the polymerization of tubulin and induces apoptosis. Herein, 7‐O‐β‐d‐galactosyl‐polyethylene glycol‐epothilone B 6 was synthesized. It showed that the toxicity of the synthesized compound was 1/182 of the epothilone B. In addition, compound 6 also had significant anticancer activity under the action of enzyme.
887. NICOTIANA EXCELSIOR
Authors: Chase Mark W. , Christenhusz Maarten J. M.
Published: November 2018

Nicotiana excelsior is a species restricted to central Australia. It is illustrated here from plants grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, from seeds collected at Kata‐Tjuta‐Uluru National Park in the Northern Territory. It is a very attractive species and makes an excellent horticultural subject. Its ecology, etymology, traditional use and cultivation are discussed.
889. NICOTIANA UMBRATICA
Authors: Chase Mark W. , Christenhusz Maarten J. M.
Published: November 2018

Nicotiana umbratica is described and illustrated from plants collected from the Pilbara Region of Western Australia and cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Its ecology, etymology, cytology and cultivation are discussed.
894. NICOTIANA STENOCARPA
Authors: Chase Mark W. , Christenhusz Maarten J. M.
Published: November 2018

Nicotiana stenocarpa has long been considered a synonym of N. rosulata subsp. rosulata, to which it is only distantly related. It grows in the Goldfields area of Western Australia, often sympatrically with N. rosulata subsp. rosulata. The plant illustrated here was collected on the Leonora–Agnew Road in Western Australia and cultivated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Its ecology, cytology and cultivation are discussed.
Justice and global care chains: Lessons from Singapore
Authors: Jecker Nancy S. , Chin Jacqueline Joon‐Lin
Published: November 2018

Growing demand for direct care workers to assist care‐dependent elderly people has created an opening for migrant workers from low‐ income nations to sell their services to middle and high‐income nations. Using Singapore as a case example, we draw on capability theory to make the case that receiving nations that import direct care workers should be held to global justice standards that protect workers’ floor level human capabilities. Specifically, we (1) show that Singapore and other receiving nations fail to protect human capabilities at a threshold level required by dignity; (2) identify specific human capabilities placed at risk; and (3) recommend standards for receiving nations that support central capabilities. As populations in both developed and developing nations are rapidly aging, these concerns could not be timelier.
Administrative databases to monitor the prevalence of cerebral palsy
Authors: Sellier Elodie
Published: November 2018

This commentary is on the original article by Li et al. on pages 593–600 of this issue.
Biodiversity growth on the volcanic ocean islands and the roles of in situ cladogenesis and immigration: case with the reptiles
Authors: Ali Jason R. , Meiri Shai
Published: November 2018

Models for biodiversity growth on the remote oceanic islands assume that in situ cladogenesis is a major contributor. To test this, we compiled occurrence data for 194 terrestrial reptile species on 53 volcanically‐constructed middle‐ to low‐latitude landmasses worldwide. Despite 273 native island‐species records, there are only 8–12 cases of the phenomenon, including just two radiations. Diversification frequencies are largely uncorrelated with island area, age, maximum altitude, and isolation. Furthermore, there is no indication that the presence of non‐sister congeners on an island stymies the process. Diversity on individual oceanic islands therefore results primarily from immigration and anageneis, but this is not a simple matter. Clusters that are difficult to reach (far or challenging to get to) or thrive upon (e.g. Canaries, Galápagos) have relatively few clades (3–8), some of which have many species (6–14), and all host at least one endemic genus. In these settings, diversity grows mainly by intra‐archipelago transfer followed by within‐island anagenetic speciation. In contrast, those island groups that are easier to disperse to (characterized by short distances and conducive transit conditions) and harbour more benign habitats (e.g. Comoros, Lesser Antilles) have been settled by many ancestor‐colonizers (≥ 14), but each clade has few derived species (≤ 4). These archipelagoes lack especially distinctive lineages. Models explaining the assembly and growth of terrestrial biotic suites on the volcanic ocean islands thus need to accommodate these new insights.
Transdiagnostic school‐based intervention for adolescents with early persistent psychiatric symptoms: An initial single‐group effect study
Authors: el Bouhaddani Saliha , Veling Wim , Schaefer Barbara , Doreleijers Theo , van Domburgh Lieke
Published: November 2018

Aim

Mental health intervention programs for adolescents generally focus on specific symptoms, such as anxiety or depression. Psychiatric symptoms in adolescence are often heterogeneous, transient and shift over time. These characteristics require a transdiagnostic approach with emphasis on positive psychological development. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of Mastermind, a novel transdiagnostic intervention targeting general underlying mechanisms of psychiatric symptoms in adolescents.

Methods

Adolescents were screened for psychiatric symptoms with the Strengths and Difficulties Scale in a school‐based program in two consecutive years. Adolescents were eligible for the intervention when they had psychiatric symptoms at both screening assessments. Participants received an 8 weeks program containing elements of empowerment and attention bias modification. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed before the start of the intervention, immediately after the intervention and at 6‐month follow‐up.

Results

A total of 241 adolescents were eligible for the intervention, of whom 80 participated (mean age 12.5 years). Generalized Estimating Equations, adjusted for gender and educational level, showed a decrease of negative attention bias, psychotic, anxiety, depression and behavioural symptoms immediately after intervention. The effects remained at follow‐up. Overall risk for psychiatric disorders, distress and low self‐esteem had decreased at follow‐up.

Conclusions

A simple two‐step school‐based screening can identify adolescents with persistent psychiatric symptoms. The Mastermind transdiagnostic group intervention may be effective to reduce psychiatric symptoms, enhance self‐esteem and lower the risk for developing psychiatric disorders.
Epidemiology of status epilepticus in adults: A population‐based study on incidence, causes, and outcomes
Authors: Leitinger Markus , Trinka Eugen , Giovannini Giada , Zimmermann Georg , Florea Cristina , Rohracher Alexandra , Kalss Gudrun , Neuray Caroline , Kreidenhuber Rudolf , Höfler Julia , Kuchukhidze Giorgi , Granbichler Claudia , Dobesberger Judith , Novak Helmut F. , Pilz Georg , Meletti Stefano , Siebert Uwe
Published: November 2018

Objective

In 2015, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) proposed a new definition of status epilepticus (SE): 5 minutes of ongoing seizure activity to diagnose convulsive SE (CSE, ie, bilateral tonic–clonic SE) and 10 minutes for focal SE and absence SE, rather than the earlier criterion of 30 minutes. Based on semiology, several types of SE with prominent motor phenomena at any time (including CSE) were distinguished from those without (ie, nonconvulsive SE, NCSE). We present the first population‐based incidence study applying the new 2015 ILAE definition and classification of SE and report the impact of the evolution of semiology and level of consciousness (LOC) on outcome.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective population‐based incidence study of all adult patients with SE residing in the city of Salzburg between January 2011 and December 2015. Patients with hypoxic encephalopathy were excluded. SE was defined and classified according to the ILAE 2015.

Results

We identified 221 patients with a median age of 69 years (range 20‐99 years). The age‐ and sex‐adjusted incidence of a first episode of SE, NCSE, and SE with prominent motor phenomena (including CSE) was 36.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 26.2‐48.5), 12.1 (95% CI 6.8‐20.0), and 24.0 (95% CI 16.0‐34.5; including CSE 15.8 [95% CI 9.4‐24.8]) per 100 000 adults per year, respectively. None of the patients whose SE ended with or consisted of only bilateral tonic–clonic activity died. In all other clinical presentations, case fatality was lower in awake patients (8.2%) compared with patients with impaired consciousness (33%).

Significance

This first population‐based study using the ILAE 2015 definition and classification of SE found an increase of incidence of 10% compared to previous definitions. We also provide epidemiologic evidence that different patterns of status evolution and LOCs have strong prognostic implications.
Homomeric Kv7.2 current suppression is a common feature in KCNQ2 epileptic encephalopathy
Authors: Gomis‐Pérez Carolina , Urrutia Janire , Marcé‐Grau Anna , Malo Covadonga , López‐Laso Eduardo , Felipe‐Rucián Ana , Raspall‐Chaure Miquel , Macaya Alfons , Villarroel Alvaro
Published: November 2018

Objective

To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying KCNQ2 encephalopathy by examining the electrophysiologic properties of mutant Kv7.2 channels in different multimeric configurations.

Methods

We analyzed the genotype‐phenotype relationship in 4 patients with KCNQ2 encephalopathy and performed electrophysiologic analysis of M‐currents mediated by homomeric Kv7.2 or heteromeric Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels.

Results

Negligible or no current was recorded in cells expressing homomeric E130K, W270R, or G281R de novo mutants, and it was reduced by more than 90% for the L243F maternally inherited mutant. The E130K and G281R mutants presented a marked dominant‐negative behavior, whereas the current density was partially reduced (L243F) or not affected (W270R) when coexpressed with wild‐type Kv7.2 subunits. In contrast, the extent of Kv7.3 “rescue,” which yields negligible currents on its own, followed the sequence E130K > L243F > W270R, whereas no rescue was observed with the G281R mutant. No significant effects on current density were observed when subunits were expressed in a 0.5:0.5:1.0 (Kv7.2:mutant:Kv7.3) DNA ratio to mimic the genetic balance. There was an increase in sensitivity to phosphatidylinositol 4,5‐bisphosphate (PIP2) depletion for W270R/Kv7.3, but no substantial differences were observed when the mutated subunits were coexpressed with Kv7.2 or both Kv7.2 and Kv7.3.

Significance

There was a marked disparity of the impact of these mutations on Kv7.2 function, which varied on association with Kv7.2 or Kv7.3 subunits. Current density of homomeric channels was the most reliable property relating Kv7.2 function to encephalopathy, but other factors are required to explain the milder phenotype for some individuals carrying the maternally inherited L243F mutation. We hypothesize that the role of homomeric Kv7.2 channels for fine‐tuning neuronal connections during development is critical for the severity of the KCNQ2 encephalopathy.
Alterations in the hippocampal‐thalamic pathway underlying secondarily generalized tonic–clonic seizures in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: A diffusion tensor imaging study
Authors: Chen Cong , Li Hong , Ding Fang , Yang Linglin , Huang Peiyu , Wang Shan , Jin Bo , Xu Cenglin , Wang Yi , Ding Meiping , Chen Zhong , Wang Shuang
Published: November 2018

Objective

The epileptogenic network underlying secondarily generalized tonic–clonic seizures (sGTCS) in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is not well understood. Here, we investigated alterations in the probabilistic hippocampal‐thalamic pathway (pHTP) underlying sGTCS using diffusion tensor imaging and resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging in a cohort of TLE patients with hippocampal sclerosis (HS).

Methods

We consecutively recruited 51 unilateral TLE‐HS patients (26 with and 25 without sGTCS) and 22 healthy controls. Probabilistic tractography was used to track the pHTP. Raw fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of the pHTP were corrected by the FA/MD of the hemispheric white matter on the same side. The volume of the thalamic subregion connected to the hippocampus (TSCH) was investigated. Fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations of the hippocampus, the TSCH, and the thalamic subregion unconnected to the hippocampus in resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging were also calculated.

Results

After correction, the sGTCS group showed lower FA than the non‐sGTCS group (P = 0.03), and lower FA as well as higher MD than controls in the ipsilateral pHTP. The non‐sGTCS group only showed higher corrected MD in the ipsilateral pHTP relative to controls. Corrected FA or MD in the contralateral pHTP did not differ among groups. The TSCH was located in the mesial aspect of the thalamus, and it was atrophied in the sGTCS group compared to the non‐sGTCS group and controls. The sGTCS group had lower fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations in the ipsilateral hippocampus and TSCH compared to controls.

Significance

In TLE‐HS, sGTCS was associated with impaired integrity of the pHTP as well as structural and functional abnormalities in the medial thalamus. The medial thalamus is important in seizure generalization in mTLE.
A comprehensive assessment of inbreeding and laboratory adaptation in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
Authors: Ross Perran A. , Endersby‐Harshman Nancy M. , Hoffmann Ary A.
Published: November 2018

Modified Aedes aegypti mosquitoes reared in laboratories are being released around the world to control wild mosquito populations and the diseases they transmit. Several efforts have failed due to poor competitiveness of the released mosquitoes. We hypothesized that colonized mosquito populations could suffer from inbreeding depression and adapt to laboratory conditions, reducing their performance in the field. We established replicate populations of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes collected from Queensland, Australia, and maintained them in the laboratory for twelve generations at different census sizes. Mosquito colonies maintained at small census sizes (≤100 individuals) suffered from inbreeding depression due to low effective population sizes which were only 25% of the census size as estimated by SNP markers. Populations that underwent full‐sib mating for nine consecutive generations had greatly reduced performance across all traits measured. We compared the established laboratory populations with their ancestral population resurrected from quiescent eggs for evidence of laboratory adaptation. The overall performance of laboratory populations maintained at a large census size (400 individuals) increased, potentially reflecting adaptation to artificial rearing conditions. However, most individual traits were unaffected, and patterns of adaptation were not consistent across populations. Differences between replicate populations may indicate that founder effects and drift affect experimental outcomes. Though we find limited evidence of laboratory adaptation, mosquitoes maintained at low population sizes can clearly suffer fitness costs, compromising the success of “rear‐and‐release” strategies for arbovirus control.
Membrane‐enriched solute carrier family 2 member 1 (SLC2A1/GLUT1) in psoriatic keratinocytes confers sensitivity to 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (2‐DG) treatment
Authors: Huang Xiaoyan , Chen Junchen , Zeng Weiqi , Wu Xiang , Chen Mingliang , Chen Xiang
Published: November 2018

Psoriasis is a common chronic disease with accelerated epidermal cell growth. Solute carrier family 2 member 1 (SLC2A1), also named GLUT1, transports glucose and its analogues into cells. With elevated membrane‐bound GLUT1, psoriatic keratinocytes uptake more glucose with increased glucose metabolism. Competition between glucose and its analogues can serve as a strategy to inhibit glycolysis as well as proliferation. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of GLUT1 in keratinocytes in the human psoriasis vulgaris and imiquimod‐induced psoriasis model, and determined that the glucose metabolism inhibitor 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (2‐DG) can relieve the psoriatic lesions. We found membrane‐enriched GLUT1 in psoriasis keratinocytes, which suggested some potential for glucose metabolic target therapy based on the glycolytic microenvironment. Furthermore, 2‐DG was able to relieve the psoriatic lesions in an in vivo animal model which provides a new possible therapeutic strategy.