bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Running out of steam on emerging markets? The limits of MNE firm-specific advantages in China
Authors: Curran Louise , Ng Lee Keng
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which the firm-specific advantages (FSAs) which underlie international expansion have proved resilient for European multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in a key emerging market – China.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopt a qualitative, case study approach, using interview data to explore the companies’ FSAs on market entry, how they evolved over time and the strategies adopted to defend them. They undertook 15 in-depth interviews with decision makers in six companies addressing their experience since market entry. To control for sector-level effects, the authors focus on companies in the environmental protection sector.

Findings

The authors found examples of significant erosion of the FSAs among the case study companies, which undermined their position on the host market and their long-term competitiveness. The key sources of erosion were limitations in market access, exclusion from local networks and the emergence and upgrading of local competitors, often firms with whom the MNEs had collaborated in the past.

Research limitations/implications

The relatively small number of cases (six) limits the generalisability of the findings by the authors. However, the authors are convinced that, given that the case companies are generally large and have long experience in China, the conclusions made are well grounded. In addition, there was the high level of coherence in the reported experiences of the interviewees, providing further support for the findings.

Practical implications

The experience of these case study companies highlights that MNEs have difficulty retaining their unique FSAs when faced with rapidly evolving local competition in a key emerging market. Key strategies mobilised included focussing on a sub-sector of the market and localising both the company and their supply chains. The difficulties experiencing by these case study companies in retaining their FSAs underline the need for MNEs in emerging markets to avoid complacency and constantly innovate, but they also raise questions about their capacity to extend their international reach in the long term.

Originality/value

Very few studies have explored the FSAs of firms and how they evolve over time using a case study-based qualitative approach, especially in emerging markets.
Location choice, ownership structure and multinational performance
Authors: Gu Jinlong , Yang Yong , Strange Roger
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to link location choice and ownership structure to the debate on the multinationality–performance relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on a panel data set that covers 1,321 emerging economy multinational enterprises (EMNEs) and includes 4,227 observations from 44 emerging economies between 2004 and, 2013.

Findings

The empirical results find that multinationality has a positive effect on EMNEs’ performance, and that this positive effect is larger for their investments in developed countries than in developing countries. The study also finds that this positive effect of foreign operation in developed countries switch to negative at higher levels of multinationality for privately owned EMNEs than for state-owned EMNEs.

Originality/value

This paper provides new empirical evidence to support an institutional perspective of the internationalisation of EMNEs that are investing in developed countries, contributing to the multinationality-performance literature, highlighting the importance of foreign direct investment location decision and ownership structure.
The relationship between body weight, fiber and fluid intake status and functional constipation in young adults
Authors: Karabudak Efsun , Koksal Eda , Macit Melahat Sedanur
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The present study aims to determine the relationship between functional constipation and lifestyle patterns, eating habits and nutritional status in young adults.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted in 825 young adults between the age of 20 and 24 years in Ankara. Constipation was evaluated via self-reports and ROMA III criteria. Food and beverage consumption frequency and fluid intake were surveyed, and anthropometric measurements (weight and height) were evaluated. Physical activity was assessed using the brief physical activity assessment tool.

Findings

Participants reported themselves as constipated, not constipated and sometimes constipated in 7.8, 39.6 and 53.6 per cent of cases, respectively. These rates differed from those obtained using the ROMA III criteria: constipated 51.3 per cent and not constipated 48.7 per cent. Constipation rates were higher in females (54.4 per cent) than males (44.8 per cent) (p < 0.05). No association was found between daily water, total fluid and fiber intake and constipation (p > 0.05). However, water from foods have lowering effects on constipation (p < 0.05). Increased physical activity seems to have no effect on constipation. According to food frequency records, participants who consumed more whole grains, rice/pasta and vegetables had lower rates of constipation. Conversely, higher consumption of tea was associated with higher constipation rates (p < 0.05).

Originality/value

Young adults should be encouraged to consume foods rich in water such as fruits and vegetables against constipation, fiber-rich foods and fluids to meet the recommendations for healthy eating. Only a few studies have assessed the relationships between lifestyle, fluid and nutritional status and body mass index.
Flexural behavior of additively manufactured Ultem 1010: experiment and simulation
Authors: Taylor Gregory , Wang Xin , Mason Leah , Leu Ming C. , Chandrashekhara K. , Schniepp Timothy , Jones Ross
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the flexural behavior of additively manufacture Ultem 1010 parts. Fused deposition modeling (FDM) process has become one of most widely used additive manufacturing methods. The process provides the capability of fabricating complicated shapes through the extrusion of plastics onto a print surface in a layer-by-layer structure to build three-dimensional parts. The flexural behavior of FDM parts are critical for the evaluation and optimization of both material and process.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on the performance of FDM solid and sparse-build Ultem 1010 specimens. Flexure tests (three-point bend) are performed on solid-build coupons with varying build orientation and raster angle. These parameters are investigated through a full-factorial design of experiments (DOE) to determine optimal build parameters. Air gap, raster width and contour width are held constant. A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model is built to simulate the flexural behavior of the FDM parts.

Findings

Experimental results include flexure properties such as yield strength and modulus, as well as analysis of the effect of change in build parameters on material properties. The sparse-build FDM parts chosen from the experimental tests are simulated based on this developed model. Thermo-mechanical simulation results show that the finite element simulation and experimental tests are in good agreement. The simulation can be further extended to other complicated FDM parts.

Originality/value

From the DOE study, sparse-build coupons with specific build parameters are fabricated and tested for the validation of a finite element simulation.
Proof of concept of a novel combined consolidation and transfer mechanism for electrophotographic 3D printing
Authors: Benning Matthew James , Dalgarno Kenny
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to develop and then evaluate a novel consolidation and powder transfer mechanism for electrophotographic 3D printing, designed to overcome two longstanding limitations of electrophotographic 3D printing: fringing and a build height limitation.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of the electric field generated within electrophotographic printing was used to identify the underlying causes of the fringing and build height limitations. A prototype machine was then designed and manufactured to overcome these limitations, and a number of print runs were carried out as proof of concept studies.

Findings

The analysis suggested that a machine design which separated the electrostatic powder deposition of the print engine from the layer transfer and consolidation steps is required to overcome fringing and build height limitations. A machine with this build architecture was developed and proof of concept studies showed that the build height and fringing effects were no longer evident.

Research limitations/implications

Electrophotography (EP) was initially seen as a promising technology for 3D printing, largely because the potential for multi-material printing at high speed. As these limitations can now be overcome, there is still potential for EP to deliver a high-speed 3D printing system which can build parts consisting of multiple materials.

Originality/value

The analysis of EP, the new method for the transfer and consolidation of layers and the proof of concept study are all original and provide new information on how EP can be adopted for 3D printing.
A personalized mandibular implant with supporting and porous structures designed with topology optimization – a case study of canine
Authors: Cheng Kangjie , Liu Yunfeng , Yao Chunyan , Zhao Wenquan , Xu Xu
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to obtain a titanium mandibular implant that possesses a personalized external shape for appearance recovery, a supporting structure for physiological loading and numerous micro-pores for accelerating osseointegration.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-dimensional intact mandibular model of a beagle dog was created from cone-beam computerized tomography scans. A segment of the lower jaw bone was resected and replaced by a personalized implant with comprehensive structures including a customized external shape, supporting structures and micro-pores, which were designed by topology optimization. Then with FEM analysis, the stress, displacement distribution and compliance of the designed implant were compared with the non-optimized model. The weight of the optimized implant that was fabricated by SLM with titanium alloy powder was measured and contrasted with the predicted non-optimized model for evaluating the viability of the design.

Findings

The FEM results showed the peaks of von Mises stress and displacement on the optimized implant were much lower than those of the implant without optimization. With topology optimization, the compliance of the implant decreased significantly by 53.3 per cent, and a weight reduction of 37.2 per cent could be noticed.

Originality/value

A design strategy for personalized implant, with comprehensive structures and SLM as the fabrication method, has been developed and validated by taking a canine mandible as the case study. With comprehensive structures, the implant presented good biomechanical behaviors thanks to the most appropriate supporting structures obtained by optimal design. The topological optimal design combined with SLM printing proved to be an effective method for the design and fabrication of personalized implant with complex structures.
The impact of modular designs on new product development outcomes: the moderating effect of supply chain involvement
Authors: Ye Yuxiao , Huo Baofeng , Zhang Min , Wang Bill , Zhao Xiande
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impacts of product modularity (PM) and multiskilled employees (MEs) on new product development (NPD) outcomes and explore the moderating effect of supply chain involvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used data collected from 317 manufacturers to empirically examine the conceptual model and conducted hierarchical regression analysis to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results reveal that PM significantly improves NPD outcomes. The relationship between PM/MEs and NPD outcomes is strengthened when the level of supplier involvement is high, whereas the relationship between MEs and NPD outcomes is weakened when the level of customer involvement is high.

Research limitations implications

First, this study only focuses on PM and MEs as two types of modular designs. Second, the inter-relationship between modular designs and supply chain involvement might be contingent. Third, the authors use cross-sectional data that cannot reflect causal effects of modularity on NPD outcomes.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the understanding of the alignment between modular designs and supply chain involvement considering NPD outcomes. This study also contributes to the concept of modularity by identifying MEs as a type of modular design.
Developing open cavity solid-state laser for self-mixing sensor
Authors: Kou Ke , Lian Tianhong , Wang Cuo , Zhang Guanlei
Published: October 2018

Purpose

As an emerging measurement technique with the merit of easy alignment and high sensitivity, laser self-mixing interferometry (SMI) has wide applications in the detection of physical quantities. Considering that the characteristics of lasers have a determining influence on sensors’ performance, the authors have established an open cavity solid-state laser (SSL) with more adjustment flexibility to act as a laser source.

Design/methodology/approach

The fundamental structure of a SSL has been presented with an Nd:YAG rod severing as an active material and a birefringent filter inserted in the resonator as a mode selecting element. The power stability has been tested by a power meter, while the mode pattern has been inspected with a scanning Fabry–Perot interferometer, and the linewidth has been observed through a wavelength meter. A loudspeaker driven by a function generator is located in the extracavity to introduce phase modulation for SMI signal observation.

Findings

The established Nd:YAG SSL operates in a single longitudinal mode with the power stability of 0.2 mW and the linewidth less than 10 MHz. The SMI phenomenon occurs in the SSL, and the SMI signal obtained shows a fine signal-to-noise ratio of about 30 dB.

Originality/value

To the authors knowledge, SMI sensors using SSLs, especially in open cavity type, have rarely been reported, and they can find significant applications in designing high performance SMI sensors and instruments.
Information systems project teams: factors for high performance
Authors: Moura Isabel , Dominguez Caroline , Varajão João
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this research is twofold: identify and gain a better insight on factors that can influence high performance of Information Systems (IS) project teams from the perspective of IS professionals (i.e. team members and leaders), and thus contribute to the general discussion on high-performance project teams; and offer both IS project team members and their project managers some feedback on how to build and manage teams more constructively and to enhance team performance in today’s demanding business environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used an exploratory case study of a small-size holding company and a qualitative analysis of the data to address the research questions.

Findings

Results show a set of perceived factors that can influence high team performance in IS projects. Participants’ perceptions barely coincide. For instance, mutual trust was the only factor suggested as facilitating high team performance by 5 participants (out of 13). Differences may be because of participants’ characteristics (e.g. time on the job). All perceived factors are classified in the literature as nontechnical (i.e. having to do with behavioral and/or socio-organizational matters of project management).

Originality/value

This paper is among the very few empirical studies consolidating knowledge on high-performance IS project teams (e.g. it is still unclear if there are IS project team-specific factors that influence high performance). For the highly technical IS industry, this study came across human-centric factors transversal to different project teams.
The sacred elephant in the room: Ganesha cults in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Authors: AYUTTACORN ARRATEE , FERGUSON JANE
Published: October 2018

In recent years, Thai society has been portrayed as increasingly fractured along class, political and cultural lines. Meanwhile, a variety of religious cults have gathered devotees by promoting their practices as a means to ameliorate precarity or secure the future. Ganesha, the Hindu god of new beginnings and remover of obstacles, while long incorporated into and worshipped within Thai Buddhism, has recently increased in popularity. Through the study of two Ganesha‐focused institutions in Chiang Mai province, this article will explore how this Hindu god's meaning is constructed within the religious marketplace as well as how and why people are increasingly turning to Ganesha for certain worldly problems. As the article will show, there is a new, syncretic form of re‐enchantment taking place in Ganesha worship in Chiang Mai, which seeks to give people the tools to negotiate meaning and identity in a fractious political economy.
UNDERCOVER BOSS BLUES
Authors: Gershon Ilana
Published: October 2018

Undercover boss is a reality TV show designed for and by people who take capitalism for granted and who are reflecting on crises that are part and parcel of what it means to live under a capitalist system. Undercover boss was first launched on Channel 4 in the UK in 2009, and country‐specific spin‐offs have since appeared in 16 other countries, including Australia, Colombia and Poland. Like the other variants, the UK version is not only an exploration of workplaces inflected by neo‐liberal logics, but also an exploration of how businesses are responding to the financial crisis of 2008. In the UK version, the bosses agree to go undercover in the hope that low‐level employees might provide some insights from their structural position into how to improve the way the company responds to its customers. This is a show that revolves around revealing some of the ‘shoulds’ of business from a worker's perspective, but in doing so, it uncovers a few of the dilemmas generated when corporations put neo‐liberal principles into practice.
Preference for realistic art predicts support for Brexit
Authors: Carl Noah , Richards Lindsay , Heath Anthony
Published: October 2018

Following the UK’s EU referendum in June 2016, there has been considerable interest from scholars in understanding the characteristics that differentiate Leave supporters from Remain supporters. Since Leave supporters score higher on conscientiousness but lower on neuroticism and openness, and given their general proclivity toward conservatism, we hypothesized that preference for realistic art would predict support for Brexit. Data on a large nationally representative sample of the British population were obtained, and preference for realistic art was measured using a four‐item binary choice test. Controlling for a range of personal characteristics, we found that respondents who preferred all four realistic paintings were 15–20 percentage points more likely to support Leave than those who preferred zero or one realistic paintings. This effect was comparable to the difference in support between those with a degree and those with no education, and was robust to controlling for the respondent’s party identity.
The impact of work–family programs on work–family facilitation and role performance: the dual moderating effect of gender
Authors: Wu Ting , Chang Po‐Chien
Published: October 2018

This study investigates the influence of work–family programs on employee role performance and suggests that work–family facilitation mediates this relationship. The study then broadens to consider whether gender has an influence on the relationship. The results show that work–family programs benefit employee role performance by improving work–family facilitation. Moreover, the way in which work–family programs benefit role performance varies with employees’ gender – that is, the relationship among work–family programs, work–family facilitation and role performance is stronger for female employees. The findings support the effectiveness of work–family programs and highlight the importance for management to make them accessible to all employees for greater competitiveness. The study makes suggestions for future research and discusses implications for practice.
Effect of high‐fat, standard, and functional food meals on esophageal and gastric pH in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and healthy subjects
Authors: Fan Wen Juan , Hou Yuan Tao , Sun Xiao Hong , Li Xiao Qing , Wang Zhi Feng , Guo Meng , Zhu Li Ming , Wang Ning , Yu Kang , Li Jing Nan , Ke Mei Yun , Fang Xiu Cai
Published: October 2018

Objectives

To investigate the effects of different test meals on esophageal and intragastric pH in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and healthy subjects and to demonstrate the relationship between esophageal acid exposure (EAE) and gastric pH.

Methods

We enrolled patients with reflux esophagitis (RE; n = 15), nonerosive reflux disease (NERD; n = 12) and healthy subjects (n = 10). Four pH electrodes were used to monitor the pH of the distal esophagus, upper border of the lower esophageal sphincter, gastric fundus, and gastric body for 26 hours. Isocaloric and isovolumetric high‐fat, standard, and functional meals were supplied randomly to the participants. The EAE and gastric acidity of each meal in fasting and postprandial states were compared.

Results

High‐fat meals significantly increased postprandial EAE in patients with RE and NERD. EAE was higher after a high‐fat meal than after a standard or functional food meals at the fourth hour postprandially in patients with RE (P < 0.05). Patients with NERD reported fewer symptoms after a functional food meal than after high‐fat and standard meals (0 [interquartile range {IQR} 0–1] vs 1 [IQR 0–2] vs 3 [IQR 1–4], P = 0.014). Compared with high‐fat and standard meals, functional food meal significantly decreased gastric acidity in patients with RE. EAE was significantly related to gastric acidity in patients with RE.

Conclusions

High‐fat meals increased EAE in patients with RE and NERD. Functional food could serve as adjuvant therapy in GERD patients. EAE was related to gastric acidity in RE patients.
Oncogenic HBXIP enhances ZEB1 through Sp1 to accelerate breast cancer growth
Authors: Jiang Yang , Wang Dan , Ren Hui , Shi Ying , Gao Yufei
Published: October 2018

Background

There is abundant evidence to indicate that HBXIP functions as an oncoprotein and transcription co‐activator during the development and promotion of cancers. In multiple cancers, ZEB1 serves as a transcription activator to regulate gene expression. We explored the roles of ZEB1 in HBXIP‐induced breast cancer growth.

Methods

HBXIP regulation of ZEB1 was evaluated by reverse transcription PCR and immunoblotting. The stimulation of ZEB1 promoter by HBXIP and/or Sp1 was tested using luciferase reporter gene analysis. The alteration of cell proliferation mediated by HBXIP‐induced ZEB1 was tested using methyl‐thiazolyl‐tetrazolium and 5‐Ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation analysis. ZEB1 and HBXIP expression in human breast cancer tissues was analyzed using quantitative real‐time PCR. The relationship between HBXIP and ZEB1 was confirmed by Pearson's correlation coefficient.

Results

We observed dose‐dependent upregulation of ZEB1 by HBXIP in breast cancer cells. HBXIP can activate the ZEB1 promoter by interacting with transcription factor Sp1. Cell viability and EdU incorporation analysis showed that HBXIP could drive cell proliferation by enhancing ZEB1 in breast cancer. Using quantitative real‐time PCR, ZEB1 overexpression and a positive relationship between ZEB1 and HBXIP were observed in clinical breast cancer samples.

Conclusion

Oncogenic HBXIP controls the transcription regulation of ZEB1 by co‐activating Sp1, thereby accelerating breast cancer growth.
LRH1 as a promising prognostic biomarker and predictor of metastasis in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Liu Yuechao , Xing Ying , Wang Hongmei , Yan Shi , Wang Xinzhu , Cai Li
Published: October 2018

Background

LRH1, which promotes the malignant transformation of carcinoma, has recently been documented in several types of malignancies. However, LRH1 has not been assessed as a potential clinical biomarker in any cancer.

Methods

LRH1 expression was tested in fresh‐frozen tissue samples with quantitative real‐time PCR and Western blot analysis. Surgically resected tumor tissues were collected from 156 non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients: 75 with adenocarcinoma and 81 with squamous cell carcinoma. Subsequently, the immunohistochemical expression of LRH1 was examined, and its clinical significance was evaluated.

Results

LRH1 overexpression was observed in NSCLC carcinoma tissues compared to adjacent normal lung tissues. LRH1 expression was correlated with poorer differentiation (P = 0.023), pathological tumor classification (P < 0.001), advanced pathological tumor node metastasis stage (P = 0.017), adenocarcinoma subtype (P = 0.031), and positive lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that LRH1 expression status was an independent prognostic factor for overall (hazard ratio 1.372, 95% confidence interval 1.225–1.617; P = 0.003) and disease‐free survival (hazard ratio 1.497, 95% confidence interval 1.059–2.115; P = 0.011) in patients who suffered from resectable NSCLC.

Conclusion

The results of our study indicate that LRH1 predicts NSCLC progression, metastasis, and a dismal prognosis, emphasizing its promising role as a novel target in NSCLC therapies.
Optimistic Disclosure Tone and Conservative Debt Policy
Authors: Ataullah Ali , Vivian Andrew , Xu Bin
Published: October 2018

We examine the relationship between managerial optimism and debt conservatism (i.e., the low‐leverage puzzle). Our analysis demonstrates that optimistic tone, our time‐varying optimism measure, significantly decreases leverage. This evidence supports the proposition that optimistic managers who consider external financing as unduly costly use debt conservatively. This reduced reliance on external financing can be explained by further evidence that optimistic tone significantly increases cash holdings and decreases dividend payment. The negative tone–leverage relation is stronger in the presence of high insider purchase of own stocks, which confirms that optimistic tone reflects managerial optimism. This study suggests that managerial optimism can help explain the low‐leverage puzzle.
The Maudsley Staging Method as predictor of electroconvulsive therapy effectiveness in depression
Authors: van Diermen Linda , Hebbrecht Kaat , Schrijvers Didier , Sabbe Bernard C. G. , Fransen Erik , Birkenhäger Tom K.
Published: October 2018

Objective

To investigate the potential role of the Maudsley Staging Method (MSM) in the prediction of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) outcome in severely depressed adults.

Method

Between August 2015 and August 2017, 73 consecutive patients with a major depressive episode (DSM‐IV‐TR) scheduled for ECT were recruited. Prior to their first ECT session, the MSM was completed to assess the level of therapy resistance. To determine the reduction in depression severity and response and remission rates, symptom severity was assessed at baseline and within one week after the last ECT session using the 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS17).

Results

The percentage of symptom reduction following ECT was best predicted by the MSM episode duration and depression severity factors (R2 completer sample 0.24). Episode duration alone was the best predictor of remission (area under the ROC curve for completers: 0.72). Adding age to the models increased their predictive capacity.

Conclusion

An adapted version of the MSM gauging shorter episode duration, more severe depressive symptoms and older age is significantly associated with ECT effectiveness in adults with severe recurrent depression and is thus highly suitable for use in clinical practice, promoting the shared treatment decision‐making process.
Effect on the mechanical properties of human and bovine dentine of intracanal medicaments and irrigants
Authors: Cochrane S , Burrow MF , Parashos P
Published: October 2018

Background

Evidence is lacking concerning the suitability of using bovine dentine in endodontic research. This study compared the mechanical properties of human and bovine root dentine using endodontic medicaments and irrigants.

Methods

Standardized human and bovine dentine bars were allocated to six experimental groups (n = 15): calcium hydroxide paste (Calasept® Plus); Odontopaste®; 0.5% and 1% NaOCl gels; 1% and 4% NaOCl solutions. The bars were exposed to the materials for 7 days and then immediately subjected to a three‐point bend test and Vickers microhardness test. Data were analysed using analysis of variance with Fisher's pairwise comparisons, with P < 0.05.

Results

Human dentine displayed a significantly higher modulus of elasticity (P = 0.001), higher microhardness (P < 0.001), and lower flexural strength (P = 0.004) compared with bovine dentine. Calcium hydroxide and Odontopaste® did not result in a significant change to the mechanical properties of human dentine. In human dentine, 0.5% NaOCl gel caused a significant decrease in flexural strength (P < 0.001) and microhardness (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Bovine dentine was a suitable substrate relative to human dentine. The use of a 0.5% or 1% NaOCl gel as an intracanal medicament is not supported by this study.
National and subnational mortality of urological cancers in Iran, 1990–2015
Authors: Pishgar Farhad , Amini Erfan , Gohari Kimiya , Aminorroaya Arya , Sheidaei Ali , Rostamabadi Yasna , Ebrahimi Hooman , Yoosefi Moein , Naderimagham Shohreh , Rezaei Nazila , Modirian Mitra , Namazi Shabestari Alireza , Kompani Farzad , Farzadfar Farshad
Published: October 2018

Purpose

To study trends of urological cancers mortalities in Iran between 1990 and 2015 as a part of a larger project named national and subnational burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors.

Methods

The primary dataset of this project comprises data of national death registration system. Cause‐specific mortality fraction for each age, sex, province, and year group was calculated using a two‐stage mixed effects and spatiotemporal models, and then these fractions were applied to all‐cause mortality rates, obtained from a parallel study to estimate mortality rates attributable to each cause.

Results

In 2015, urological cancers constituted 8% of cancer‐related deaths in Iran, and number of deaths due to prostate, bladder, testicular, and kidney and other urinary organs cancers were estimated as 2,128 (1,565–2,891), 297 (230–385), 301 (144–639), and 195 (143–267), respectively. Our estimates show that age‐standardized death rates (ASDRs) of these cancers reached 6.8 (5–9.23), 0.47 (0.37–0.61), 0.96 (0.46–2.04), and 0.24 (0.18–0.33) deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2015, a reduction in the three latter cancers, from 4.09 (2.92–5.76), 13.04 (10.04–16.95), 1.23 (0.46–3.34), and 1.76 (1.28–2.42) deaths per 100,000 individuals in 1990, respectively.

Conclusions

In conclusion, despite disparities among different provinces, overall mortality rate of urological cancers decreased significantly since 1990s in Iran.
The impact and indications for Oncotype DX on adjuvant treatment recommendations when third‐party funding is unavailable
Authors: Chin‐Lenn L. , De Boer R. H. , Segelov E. , Marx G. M. , Hughes T. M. , McCarthy N. J. , White S. C. , Foo S. S. , Rutovitz J. J. , Della‐Fiorentina S. , Jennens R. , Antill Y. C. , Tsoi D. , Cronk M. F. , Lombard J. M. , Kiely B. E. , Chirgwin J. H. , Gorelik A. , Mann G. B.
Published: October 2018

Objectives

Industry‐supported decision impact studies demonstrate that Oncotype Dx (ODX) changes treatment recommendations (TR) in 24–40% of hormone receptor+/HER2− patients. ODX is not reimbursed by third‐party payers in Australia, potentially resulting in more selective use. We sought to evaluate the impact of self‐funded ODX on TRs.

Methods

Data collected included demographics, tumor characteristics, indication for ODX and pre‐ and post‐recurrence score (RS) TR. Primary endpoint was frequency of TR change and associations with TR change were sought.

Results

Eighteen physicians contributed 382 patients (median age 54). A total of 232 (61%) of tumors were T1 and were grade 1, 2 and 3 in 49 (13%), 252 (66%) and 79 (21%). A total of 257 (67%) were node negative. Assay indications were: confirm need for chemotherapy (CT) (36%), confirm omission of CT (40%) and genuine equipoise (24%). RS was low (≤17) in 55%, intermediate (18‐31) in 36% and high (≥32) in 9%. Thirty‐eight percent of patients had TR change post‐ODX. Sixty‐five percent of patients recommended CT pre‐ODX changed to hormone therapy alone (HT)—more likely if lower grade and if ER and/or PR > 10%. Fourteen percent of patients with pre‐ODX TR for HT added CT—more likely if ER and/or PR ≤10% and if Ki67 > 15% Overall, TR for CT decreased from 47% to 24%.

Conclusion

Patient‐funded ODX changed TRs in 38% of patients, de‐escalating 65% from CT to HT and adding CT to 14% of those recommended HT. These changes were greater than an industry‐funded study suggesting that physicians can identify situations where the assay may influence decisions.
The prognostic significance of the expression of monocarboxylate transporter 4 in patients with right‐ or left‐sided colorectal cancer
Authors: Abe Yukio , Nakayama Yoshifumi , Katsuki Takefumi , Inoue Yuzuru , Minagawa Noritaka , Torigoe Takayuki , Higure Aiichiro , Sako Tatsuhiko , Nagata Naoki , Hirata Keiji
Published: October 2018

Aim

Monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) is a proton pump that exchanges lactate through the plasma membrane. The present study investigated the clinical significance of the expression of MCT4 in patients with right‐ or left‐sided colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

Surgical specimens from 237 CRC patients were immunohistochemically stained with polyclonal anti‐MCT4 antibodies. The relationships among the MCT4 expression, the clinicopathological factors, and the prognosis were evaluated.

Results

Thirty‐six (62.1%) of 58 patients with right‐sided CRC and 95 (53.1%) of 179 patients with left‐sided CRC showed the high expression of MCT4. The MCT4 expression was significantly correlated with gender and lymph node metastasis in patients with right‐sided CRC, and size, depth of invasion, distant metastasis, and tumor‐node‐metastasis stage in patients with left‐sided CRC. A univariate analysis demonstrated that the expression of MCT4 was a significant prognostic factor in both right‐ and left‐sided CRC patients. A multivariate analysis demonstrated the expression of MCT4 was a significantly independent prognostic factor in patients with left‐sided CRC, but not in those with right‐sided CRC.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the high expression of MCT4 is a useful marker for tumor progression and a poor prognosis in CRC patients, especially those with left‐sided CRC.
Influence of termites on the soil seed bank in an African savannah
Authors: Masocha Mhosisi , Dube Timothy
Published: October 2018

In savannah ecosystems, termites drive key ecosystem processes, such as primary production through creation of patchiness in soil nutrients availability around their nests. In this study, we evaluated the role of termites in altering the soil seed bank size, an important ecosystem component that has often been overlooked in previous work. Data on above ground vegetation and soil seed bank samples were collected from four microhabitats, that is, the wooded mound, unwooded mound, tree sub‐canopy and the open grassland matrix in a protected game reserve in south‐central Zimbabwe. The seedling emergence method was then used to identify species present in the soil samples. One‐way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's multiple comparison tests was executed to test for significant differences in plant species richness among the four microhabitats. The results indicate that plant species richness was high on wooded termite mound but did not differ between the unwooded and the sub‐canopy microhabitats. The open grassland microhabitat had the lowest plant species richness. The influence of termites on the soil seed bank composition was also life form specific. The herb and woody life forms had significantly (α = 0.05) higher species richness in the soil seed bank at wooded and unwooded termite mounds when compared to the other two microhabitats. Overall, these results imply that termites alter the soil seed bank and the findings enhance our understanding of the significant role termites play in regulating processes in savannah ecosystem.
“An opportunity to hope and dream”: Disaster Politics and the Emergence of Possibility through Community‐Led Recovery
Authors: Cretney Raven
Published: October 2018

Recent awareness of the role of neoliberalism in fostering tactics of de‐politicisation has cultivated recognition of a narrowing of democratic possibilities. Disaster, as a time of disruption can provoke a heightened awareness of dynamics of power and contestation. This provides a fertile ground to understand the possibility for de‐politicisation alongside that of resistance and hope. This paper weaves together and contextualises these ideas within a case study of community‐led disaster recovery in the city of Ōtautahi Christchurch in Aotearoa New Zealand following a series of devastating earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. In exploring the entangled relationship between crisis and hope I discuss how forms of de‐politicisation can emerge in the disaster context as well as the resistance that also emerges at the grassroots and everyday scale. I emphasise the need to see post politics as present‐yet‐incomplete alongside the potential for participatory and radical forms of social change at the grassroots scale.
Children and Adults Selectively Attribute Shared Cultural Knowledge to Speakers of the Same Language
Authors: Soley Gaye , Aldan Pınar
Published: October 2018

Children's and adults’ attributions of shared knowledge of and shared preference for songs were investigated across two prominent social categories: language and gender. Both attributions indicate similarity among individuals but shared cultural knowledge can be more informative about common social history than shared preference, as it is mainly transferred through social interactions within cultures, while preferences can have various sources. Both 5‐ to 6‐year‐old children (N = 60) and adults (N = 160) generalized knowledge of songs across individuals who speak the same‐language rather than same‐gender individuals. In contrast, preference for songs was not systematically generalized across either category. Thus, individuals selectively infer shared cultural knowledge among same‐language speakers, suggesting an early emerging link between shared knowledge and cultural boundaries.
Does studying abroad enhance employability?
Authors: Liwiński Jacek
Published: October 2018

Over 200,000 European students study abroad under the Erasmus programme. It appears that studying abroad may impart skills which are helpful for professional careers after graduation. Approximately, 54% of European students report that participation in the Erasmus exchange programme helped them to obtain a first job; however, interestingly, those from Central and Eastern European countries report it much more often—in 73% of cases. The aim of this paper is to find out whether studying abroad enhances the employability of higher education graduates in Poland. Using the propensity score matching method and data from a nationwide tracer survey of Polish graduates, we find that Polish students who completed at least one semester of their studies abroad do not benefit in terms of a higher employment rate after graduation.
Seasonal migration and fine‐scale movement of invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in a Great Lakes tributary
Authors: Blair Scott G. , May Chelsea , Morrison Brian , Fox Michael G.
Published: October 2018

To determine whether invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) from Lake Ontario were establishing a year‐round population in a tributary stream or migrating to the lake, we assessed population and individual movement patterns using mark–recapture assessment generated from weekly backpack electrofishing from May until November 2016. Round goby abundance was low in spring, peaked in summer and decreased again in autumn, suggesting seasonal inward stream migration and outward migration back to the lake. Adult round goby movement patterns were positively associated with changes in water temperature, but this was not the case for juveniles. Juveniles displayed a preference for shallow, upstream habitats. Observations of reproductive individuals coupled with a peak in juvenile abundance following the peak in adult abundance indicate that the tributary was used for reproduction and recruitment. The individual movement was primarily upstream in spring, and there was little net movement in summer, likely during reproduction. Downstream movement occurred in autumn over a short time period, suggesting rapid outmigration to the lake. The combined observations of seasonal population structure and individual movement suggest that tributary streams connected to large, infested waterbodies can be used for round goby reproduction and recruitment, rather than year‐round residence. This study provides evidence of round goby seasonal migration and their individual movement patterns within tributary streams, which complements an earlier study in Lake Erie tributaries and may be a common occurrence in other Great Lakes tributaries.
Mate pair sequencing improves detection of genomic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Aypar Umut , Smoley Stephanie A. , Pitel Beth A. , Pearce Kathryn E. , Zenka Roman M. , Vasmatzis George , Johnson Sarah H. , Smadbeck James B. , Peterson Jess F. , Geiersbach Katherine B. , Van Dyke Daniel L. , Thorland Erik C. , Jenkins Robert B. , Ketterling Rhett P. , Greipp Patricia T. , Kearney Hutton M. , Hoppman Nicole L. , Baughn Linda B.
Published: October 2018

Objective

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can be subtyped based on recurrent cytogenetic and molecular genetic abnormalities with diagnostic and prognostic significance. Although cytogenetic characterization classically involves conventional chromosome and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays, limitations of these techniques include poor resolution and the inability to precisely identify breakpoints.

Method

We evaluated whether an NGS‐based methodology that detects structural abnormalities and copy number changes using mate pair sequencing (MPseq) can enhance the diagnostic yield for patients with AML.

Results

Using 68 known abnormal and 20 karyotypically normal AML samples, each recurrent primary AML‐specific abnormality previously identified in the abnormal samples was confirmed using MPseq. Importantly, in eight cases with abnormalities that could not be resolved by conventional cytogenetic studies, MPseq was utilized to molecularly define eight recurrent AML‐fusion events. In addition, MPseq uncovered two cryptic abnormalities that were missed by conventional cytogenetic studies. Thus, MPseq improved the diagnostic yield in the detection of AML‐specific structural rearrangements in 10/88 (11%) of cases analyzed.

Conclusion

Utilization of MPseq represents a precise, molecular‐based technique that can be used as an alternative to conventional cytogenetic studies for newly diagnosed AML patients with the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis of hematologic malignancies.
ERBB2 signaling drives supporting cell proliferation in vitro and apparent supernumerary hair cell formation in vivo in the neonatal mouse cochlea
Authors: Zhang Jingyuan , Wang Quan , Abdul‐Aziz Dunia , Mattiacio Jonelle , Edge Albert S. B. , White Patricia M.
Published: October 2018

In mammals, cochlear hair cells are not regenerated once they are lost, leading to permanent hearing deficits. In other vertebrates, the adjacent supporting cells act as a stem cell compartment, in that they both proliferate and differentiate into de novo auditory hair cells. Although there is evidence that mammalian cochlear supporting cells can differentiate into new hair cells, the signals that regulate this process are poorly characterized. We hypothesize that signaling from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family may play a role in cochlear regeneration. We focus on one such member, ERBB2, and report the effects of expressing a constitutively active ERBB2 receptor in neonatal mouse cochlear supporting cells, using viruses and transgenic expression. Lineage tracing with fluorescent reporter proteins was used to determine the relationships between cells with active ERBB2 signaling and cells that divided or differentiated into hair cells. In vitro, individual supporting cells harbouring a constitutively active ERBB2 receptor appeared to signal to their neighbouring supporting cells, inducing them to down‐regulate a supporting cell marker and to proliferate. In vivo, we found supernumerary hair cell‐like cells near supporting cells that expressed ERBB2 receptors. Both supporting cell proliferation and hair cell differentiation were largely reproduced in vitro using small molecules that we show also activate ERBB2. Our data suggest that signaling from the receptor tyrosine kinase ERBB2 can drive the activation of secondary signaling pathways to regulate regeneration, suggesting a new model where an interplay of cell signaling regulates regeneration by endogenous stem‐like cells.
Circadian regulation in the retina: From molecules to network
Authors: Ko Gladys Y.‐P.
Published: October 2018

The mammalian retina is the most unique tissue among those that display robust circadian/diurnal oscillations. The retina is not only a light sensing tissue that relays light information to the brain, it has its own circadian “system” independent from any influence from other circadian oscillators. While all retinal cells and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) possess circadian oscillators, these oscillators integrate by means of neural synapses, electrical coupling (gap junctions), and released neurochemicals (such as dopamine, melatonin, adenosine, and ATP), so the whole retina functions as an integrated circadian system. Dysregulation of retinal clocks not only causes retinal or ocular diseases, it also impacts the circadian rhythm of the whole body, as the light information transmitted from the retina entrains the brain clock that governs the body circadian rhythms. In this review, how circadian oscillations in various retinal cells are integrated, and how retinal diseases affect daily rhythms.