bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shariah governance practices at Islamic fund management companies
Authors: Hasan Amiratul Nadiah , Abdul-Rahman Aisyah , Yazid Zaleha
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the Shariah governance practices of Islamic fund management companies (IFMCs) in Malaysia, with the principal goal of reviewing the need for a comprehensive Shariah governance framework for the Islamic fund management industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was conducted using a qualitative approach via 14 semi-structured interviews with three companies (i.e. Company A, Company B and Company C) involving face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews and emails. Data from the interviews were recorded and later analysed using content analysis.

Findings

The study finds that Shariah governance processes among the IFMC examined are well-managed; and the current regulations issued by the regulators are sufficient to ensure the Shariah compliance of Islamic fund management industry. In spite of the absence of a comprehensive Shariah governance framework for the industry, most Shariah functions (i.e. Shariah risk management, Shariah review and Shariah audit) are performed by the parent company, except for Shariah research. Nevertheless, Shariah research is not an important function in Islamic fund management because the investment instruments are generally selected from a predetermined list of Shariah-compliant investment options.

Practical implications

The study offers an overview of Shariah governance practices in the Islamic fund management industry to policymakers and practitioners for the future development of Shariah governance practices among IFMC.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to study Shariah governance practices in the Islamic fund management industry in Malaysia.
Zakat management
Authors: Owoyemi Musa Yusuf
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to look at Zakat management and the crisis of confidence in the ability of the state and zakat agencies to dispense zakat to the rightful beneficiaries as mentioned in the Quran. Confidence is a very important element between the payers and collectors of zakat and when this is lost, it affects the willingness of the payers to give zakat to the zakat collectors (state or zakat agency). This crisis of confidence led to the need to look at the legality of the payer giving zakat directly to the beneficiaries and whether this is a sin as argued in certain quarters.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the qualitative method by using historical, analytical and critical tools, the research examines the concept of proximity in the distribution of zakat and based on this argues that giving zakat directly to the beneficiaries is a viable option when there is a crisis of confidence between the payer and the state or zakat agency.

Findings

Through the analysis of the opinions of scholars, the research affirms that scholars are divided on whether to pay zakat to the state or give it directly to the beneficiaries. Based on this, the research concludes that although the ideal is to give zakat to the state or zakat agency, but there is no sin in giving zakat directly to the beneficiaries especially where there is a problem of confidence in the state and/or zakat agency.

Research limitations/implications

The research discussed the legality of giving zakat to the recipients of zakat directly using the historical, analytical and critical tools. This shows that the research is qualitative in nature and is library based therefore limited in scope. Basically, this research is concerned with refuting the claim that it is a sin for zakat payers to give zakat directly to the recipients especially when there is a problem of trust in zakat agencies and a crisis of confidence in the ability of these agencies to do what is right with the zakat funds. This leaves room for further research on the issue.

Practical implications

It is important to create confidence in zakat agencies' collection and distribution of zakat so that it will encourage more Muslims to pay their zakat and allow it to reach as many people as possible. Encouraging the creation of a vetting organization by Muslim professional accountants and others that can help in making zakat agencies transparent and trustworthy.

Social implications

It emphasizes the importance of trust and confidence that institutions must project for the people to do business with them.

Originality/value

The research contributes to the body of knowledge on zakat collection and distribution. It shows the importance of trust and confidence in zakat management and recommended ways in which trust and confidence could be built in the effective collection and distribution of zakat.
Competency model for Shari’ah auditors in Islamic banks
Authors: Mohd Ali Nor Aishah , Shafii Zurina , Shahimi Shahida
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify the competencies required of Shari’ah auditor (SAR) in the Islamic banking environment.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach using a multiple-case study through the semi-structured interview was used. Data was gathered from a representative of Central Bank of Malaysia, and 30 other respondents consist of the Head of Shari’ah audit (HSA) and SAR from four types of banking institutions. A focus group discussion was later conducted to validate the model of competency proposed.

Findings

Results show a mixed practice on the recruitment of SAR. Most banking institutions prefer to use their existing internal auditors as opposed to recruiting fresh graduates or acquire experienced SAR from other financial institutions. Knowledge in Shari’ah, Islamic banking and Fiqh Muamalat is considered as the essential knowledge component for SAR, while auditing is revealed as the core skill that SAR should have to perform the Shari’ah audit effectively. The study also found that personal skills such as willingness to learn and teamwork as the complementing characteristics to the knowledge and skill components, as a package required for a competent SAR.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study would have both theoretical and practical contributions to the regulatory bodies, academicians and professionals. Theoretically, this study made a concerted effort to enhance prior studies on the qualification aspect of Shari’ah audit literature, emphasizing the elements necessary to recruit competent SARs in the Islamic financial institutions (IFIs). The element of “time” has been infused to the existing effective job performance theory add dynamics to the model, recognizing the need for years of experience as part of elements necessary to become competent SAR. In practice, the competency model is recommended to the industry players in pooling competent talents in the Islamic finance industry (R4) and (B5). In spite of its limitation to confine only to the IFIs, it sheds light on human resource management within the Islamic organizations.

Practical implications

The study would contribute to the practitioners as a guideline to the Human Resource Department in recruiting their SAR and also for succession planning purposes.

Originality/value

A competency model for SAR was proposed focusing on building knowledge, core and personal skills that can be used as guidance in determining the criteria needed for a competent SAR, which is a new dimension for Islamic auditing literature. The sub-objective of determining the elements of competency, as well as understanding the current practice of recruiting the SAR became the input in the building of the competency model.
Exploring novel Islamic monetary system
Authors: Gundogdu Ahmet Suayb
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore an alternative Islamic monetary system in which money is created from supply chain grassroots based on work effort and is accessible to people as long as they offer goods and services demanded by others.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts the critical realism approach and highlights the challenges with the present monetary system. It also proposes to address these challenges through an alternative monetary system in which money creation starts from the grassroots of the supply chain. The proposed system extends the real-world complementary currency concept of barter to a holistic electronic trading platform, which includes chain barter alternatives, licensed warehouses and electronic warehouse receipts within the Islamic microfinance practice, thereby facilitating cross-border trade and international trade payments. An electronic currency, valued at the worth of goods produced in the supply chain, is introduced as the medium of exchange.

Findings

The problem with past monetary systems can be addressed through current information technology and supply chain management to enable a monetary system and money creation based on real economic transactions.

Originality/value

This study proposes an alternative monetary system, which is only possible by harnessing supply chain management with money creation. The proposed monetary system may be considered, should the present system fail or need to be improved.
Combating corruption in the Nigerian Civil Service
Authors: Salihu Habeeb Abdulrauf
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the treasury single account (TSA) policy in curbing corruption in some selected federal ministries and agencies in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used both primary and secondary sources of data and a cross-sectional survey research design. Purposive sampling was the technique adopted to select a total of 192 respondents. The questionnaire was the instrument used in data collection. The information gathered was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences in generating simple percentage and correlation analysis.

Findings

The results indicate a relationship between the implementation of TSA policy and reduction in the level of unregulated cash flow and leakages as well as decline in pilfering, embezzlement, fraud and forgery among employees of the selected institutions. In addition, it was also found that the TSA policy does not have substantial impact on the level of bribery and inflation of contracts and procurement.

Practical implications

The study suggests that other anti-corruption policies should be strengthened to support the TSA policy in eradicating other hidden corruption crimes in the Nigerian public sectors.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the few academic investigations that empirically explored the effectiveness of the TSA policy in curbing corruption crimes in Nigeria.
Hawalaas credit: recognizing howhawalasupports the business climate in Afghanistan
Authors: Rahimi Haroun
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the role ofhawalain supporting Afghanistan’s business climate. It illustrates the use ofhawalaas credit and its importance for the local merchant community.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data presented in this article draws from more than 83 semi-structured interviews with Afghan merchants, business leaders, hawaladarsand judicial officials, conducted between March and August 2017 in five major provinces of Afghanistan, namely, Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Nangarhar and Kandahar. These five provinces collectively represent half of Afghanistan’s economy, one-third of Afghanistan’s total population and more than four-fifth of Afghanistan’s urban population. The commercial courts that sit in these five provinces hear more than 90% of total commercial disputes in the country.

Findings

In Afghanistan, despite their reputation for being the bankers of terrorists and criminals,hawaladarsprimarily serve Afghan merchants – the overwhelming majority of their customers – helping them cope with an uncertain business climate. Within supply chains, Afghan importers rely on credit-hawalato protect themselves from the interruptions of cash flow that are prevalent throughout the Afghan economy.

Practical implications

Drawing on extensive field research, this article highlights howhawalastabilizes financing and markets in Afghanistan, arguing that whilehawalaregulations are necessary to counter abuse ofhawala, regulators must be cognizant of howhawalais used in financing of legitimate businesses, or they will exacerbate the problems of access to credit.

Originality/value

While the historical studies ofhawalareveal its inextricable link with trade financing, the currenthawalaliterature completely neglectshawalasystems’ contemporary financing role. Instead, the literature is completely dominated by the globalization trend of terrorism, money laundering and worker migration. Neglecting the trade financing role ofhawalacauses policymakers not to appreciate the impacts ofhawalaregulations on the trade fully. Overlookinghawalas’ role in financing transnational trade also results in the exclusion of an important group of stakeholders – namely, merchant-users ofhawalaservices who are the main beneficiaries ofhawaladars’ financing services – from the process of regulation ofhawalasystems. The main reason thathawalaregulations have failed to gain tractions in countries such as Afghanistan is that these regulations have not been cognizant of the multifaceted functions ofhawalamarkets and do not include all stakeholders in the regulation process.
Does corruption adversely affect economic growth in Tunisia? ARDL approach
Authors: Al Qudah Anas , Zouaoui Azzouz , Aboelsoud Mostafa E.
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to better understand the phenomenon of corruption in Tunisia in relation to its impact on economic development. The period of study is 1995 to 2014. The auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) model is adopted to examine the existence of a long-term relationship between the above-mentioned variables and also the direct and indirect consequences of corruption on economic development in Tunisia.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a modern econometric technique to estimating the long-term relationship (e.g. the co-integration) between corruption and economic development; using this technique also allows us to investigate the impact of corruption on economic growth.

Findings

The empirical results show that corruption has a negative effect on per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in Tunisia for the period under review. This effect is described as a direct effect of corruption in the long term; specifically, declines are observed in per capita GDP, over the long run, by almost 1 per cent, following a 1 per cent increase in the level of corruption. The results also show that corruption has indirect effects via transmission channels, such as investment in physical capital, which is positively significant in the presence of corruption. The same observation is made at the level of government expenditure during the previous year, while for those of the current year, the coefficient becomes negative but not significant. With respect to human capital, the impact of corruption on education expenditures is insignificant.

Originality/value

The paper begins with an overview of previous literature in this area. Given the nature of corruption and the differences in the meanings attributed to it, from one country to another and from one culture to another, the paper moves on to study the impact of corruption in Tunisia as a case study for one country with one socio-cultural environment. The authors then propose several methods and possible solutions, which could be implemented to deal with this problem.
Factors influencing Malaysian small and medium enterprises adoption of electronic government procurement
Authors: Soong Kai-Kit , Ahmed Elsadig Musa , Tan Khong Sin
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to examine Malaysian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Adoption of electronic government procurement (EGP) in the post-introduction phase as the portal was introduced in the early year 2000.

Design/methodology/approach

This study integrated electronic public services into two acceptance theories (the technology acceptance model [TAM] and unified theory of acceptance and use of technology [UTAUT] framework) and having a direct measurement of the criterion. Both TAM and UTAUT models measure the behaviour intention to use and indirectly measure the criterion of actual usage along with behavioural intention. Besides, this study conducted a systematic sampling survey in SMEs located in Klang Valley (the business hub in Malaysia).

Findings

The results confirm that effort expectancy, performance expectancy and social influences had a direct effect on the adoption of EGP in the private sector. Rather than the original UTAUT setup, the behavioural intention would influence user behaviour.

Social implications

The implications and policy recommendations of these findings will be used by both SMEs and the government to improve the EGP delivery.

Originality/value

The gap with this study is at the time the Malaysian Government introduced e-procurement. The SMEs were quite new and had limited knowledge in the e-procurement during the introduction phase. Both SMEs and the government will use the implications and policy recommendations of these findings to improve the EGP delivery in the current post introduction phase.
Trapped in a service encounter
Authors: Fliess Sabine , Volkers Maarten
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the reasons why customers often cannot or do not exit a negative service encounter (lock-in) and to discuss how this affects their well-being and coping responses. This contributes to the research on how negative service encounters emerge and evolve and how such encounters impact customer well-being and subsequent responses.

Design/methodology/approach

An inductive, exploratory approach was used. Interviews with 20 service customers yielded over 90 detailed lock-in experiences across 25 different services. A multi-step, iterative coding process was used with a mixture of coding techniques that stem from a grounded theory approach.

Findings

Four categories of factors that caused customers to endure a negative event were identified (physical lock-in, dependency on the service, social lock-in and psychological lock-in). Customers either experienced inner turmoil (if they perceived having the option to stay or leave) or felt captive; both impacted their well-being and coping strategies in different ways. Three characteristics of negative events that caused lock-in to persist over time were identified.

Research limitations/implications

This is a qualitative study that aims to identify factors behind customer lock-in, reduced well-being and coping strategies across different types of service encounters. Future research may build on these themes to investigate lock-in during specific service encounters in greater depth.

Practical implications

This research provides insights regarding how service providers can anticipate lock-in situations. In addition, the findings point to several ways in which frontline employees can assist customers with the coping process, during lock-in.

Originality/value

Customer lock-in during a service encounter is a common, yet unexplored phenomenon. This research contributes to a better understanding of why customers endure negative events and how such perceptions are reflected in their experiences and behaviors.
External behavior of small states in light of theories of international relations
Authors: Galal Abdelraouf Mostafa
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the hypotheses of main international theories (realism, liberalism and constructivism) and the development of these theories toward the behavior of foreign policy of small states in the developing world. The theories of international relations, especially the realistic theory, face a theoretical debate and a fundamental criticism. The hypotheses of these theories are not able to explain the external behavior of some small states, especially those in the developing world such as Qatar. In particular, these small states do not have the elements of physical power through which they can play this role. However, they are based on the internal determinants (such as political leadership and the variable of perception) and non-physical dimensions of power to play an effective and influential external role.

Design/methodology/approach

This topic sheds light on the hypotheses of theories of main international relations, which explain the behavior of foreign policy of small states. This is due to the increased number of such states after the disintegration of Soviet Union, the practice of some countries an effective foreign role and the transformation of the concept of power from the hard power to soft power, and then to smart power

Findings

The theories of international relations, especially the realistic theory, face a theoretical debate and a fundamental criticism. The hypotheses of these theories are not able to explain the external behavior of some small states, especially those in the developing world such as Qatar. In particular, these small states do not have the elements of physical power through which they can play this role. However, they are based on the internal determinants (such as political leadership and the variable of perception) and non-physical dimensions of power to play an effective and influential external role.

Originality/value

The importance of the study comes from its interest in small countries in general and the Qatar situation in particular. The small country emerged as a player independent of the Gulf Cooperation Council, unlike what prevailed before, which led to the discussion of a regional role for Qatar despite its small power compared to the strength and size of other factions in the region such as Turkey, Israel and Iran.
3D bioprinting of tissue engineering scaffold for cell culture
Authors: Wu Li , Li Xinxin , Guan Tianmin , Chen Yong , Qi Chunwei
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The 3 D bioprinting technology is used to prepare the tissue engineering scaffold with precise structures for the cell proliferation and differentiation.

Design/methodology/approach

According to the characteristics of the ideal tissue engineering scaffold, the microstructural design of the tissue engineering scaffold is carried out. The bioprinter is used to fabricate the tissue engineering scaffold with different structures and spacing sizes. Finally, the scaffold with good connectivity is achieved and used to cell PC12 culture.

Findings

The results show that the pore structure with the line spacing of 1 mm was the best for cell culture, and the survival rate of the inoculated cells PC12 is as high as 90%. The influence of the pore shape on the cell survival is not evidence.

Originality/value

This study shows that tissue engineering scaffolds prepared by 3 D bioprinting have graded structure for three-dimensional cell culture, which lays the foundation for the later detection of drug resistance.
Capabilities, Opportunities, Resources and Environments (CORE): Using the CORE approach for inclusive, occupation‐centred practice
Authors: Pereira Robert B. , Whiteford Gail , Hyett Nerida , Weekes Gemma , Di Tommaso Amelia , Naismith James
Published: January 2020

Background/Aim

Occupational participation is often claimed as a human right and determinant of health by occupational science and therapy scholars. Yet, maintaining occupation at the centre of practice is a challenge. The Capabilities, Opportunities, Resources and Environments (CORE) approach provides a mechanism for occupational therapists to address this challenge by viewing their practice through an inclusive lens, and enacting inclusive, occupation‐centred occupational therapy. This paper presents applications of the CORE approach via three case narratives. The aim is to increase occupational therapists’ understanding of how to apply the CORE approach and to facilitate research‐to‐practice knowledge translation.

Methods

The CORE approach is introduced and applied through three case narratives, each highlighting one of the CORE elements within the context of the broader approach.

Findings

The narratives contain critical reflective case narratives on the application of the CORE approach in the context of three different practice settings in Australia based on the authors’ experiences. Practice settings include working within the National Disability Insurance Scheme, in a secure forensic mental health facility, and in rural community health. The forensic health case narrative documents findings from the authors’ research which applied the CORE approach as an analytical tool, providing an additional layer of analysis of the identified themes from the original study.

Conclusion

This paper provides occupational therapists with a practical understanding of how to apply the CORE approach through diverse case narrative examples. The practical “how to” questions that guided the development of the case narratives can be used by occupational therapists and occupational therapy students in individual or group critical reflection to support development and application of socially inclusive and occupation‐centred praxis. If occupational therapists are to claim expertise in enabling occupation and social inclusion, then using the CORE approach is vital to designing and implementing inclusive, occupation‐centred interventions.
Nitrate reductase activities in plants from different ecological and taxonomic groups grown in Japan
Authors: Koyama Lina A. , Terai Masakazu , Tokuchi Naoko
Published: January 2020

Plants generally use soil inorganic nitrogen, ammonium (NH4+–N), and nitrate (NO3−–N) as sources of nitrogen, an essential nutrient. The assimilation processes after uptake differ considerably from ammonium to nitrate. Nitrate must be reduced to ammonium in plant tissue before it is synthesized to amino acids, while ammonium is directly and immediately synthesized to amino acids after its uptake. Nitrate reductase is an enzyme that catalyzes the first and rate‐limiting step of nitrate assimilation, reducing nitrate to nitrite. It is a substrate‐inducible enzyme, and the capacity to induce nitrate reductase varies greatly among plant species. In vivo nitrate reductase activity (NRA) is generally measured as a nitrite production rate during incubation using fine cut pieces of plant tissue, and it is applicable as an indicator on plant nitrate use. Here we present in vivo NRA of leaves from a total of 108 species including arboreal trees, small trees, shrubs, herbs, a vine and a moss. For 75 of the species, NRA in fine roots was also determined. At least 20 species in sampled plants were imported and planted for scientific or industrial purposes, but most sampled species were native to Japan. Several inventory studies of plant NRA have been conducted, mainly in Europe, and they provided information on the species‐specific capacity of nitrate use by plants in Europe. However, to our best knowledge, there has been hitherto no published inventory of the NRA of plants in Japan where many endemic species are distributed. Our dataset contains plant NRA with species, family name, life form, leaf lifespan (evergreen or deciduous), growth stage, the season of sample collection, growth conditions (natural or cultivated) and other treatments/conditions when applicable. The data provided by this study may contribute to future works that require information regarding the plant species characteristics for nitrate use capacity or nitrate preference.

The complete data set for this abstract published in the Data Paper section of the journal is available in electronic format in MetaCat in JaLTER athttp://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP-2019-06.1/jalter-en. [Correction added on 7 September 2020, after first online publication: JaLTER URL has been updated.]
Comparative Capitalisms and Energy Transitions: Renewable Energy in the European Union
Authors: Allen Maria L. , Allen Matthew M. C. , Cumming Douglas , Johan Sofia
Published: January 2020

We develop new theory pertaining to the institutional determinants of renewable energy usage across countries and over time. Building on key strands of the comparative capitalisms literature, we introduce new hypotheses relating to the 2009 Directive from the European Union (EU) on energy generation, as well as the impact of labour market regimes, national stock markets and merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, as well as ‘doing business’ conditions across countries. Based on renewable energy data from 27 EU countries over a period of 11 years, we provide new tests of the determinants of renewable energy usage. The data show strong and robust evidence of a causal impact of institutional determinants on renewable energy usage, consistent with a positive impact of the EU's 2009 Directive and other specific institutional factors. We discuss the implications for policy and practice.
Understanding the mobility chances of children from working‐class backgrounds in Britain: How important are cognitive ability and locus of control?
Authors: Betthäuser Bastian A. , Bourne Mollie , Bukodi Erzsébet
Published: January 2020

Research in social stratification has shown that children from working‐class backgrounds tend to obtain substantially lower levels of educational attainment and lower labor market positions than children from higher social class backgrounds. However, we still know relatively little about the micro‐level processes that account for this empirical regularity. Our study examines the roles of two individual‐level characteristics—cognitive ability and locus of control—in mediating the effect of individuals’ parental class background on their educational attainment and social class position in Britain. We find that cognitive ability mediates only about 35% of the total parental class effect on educational attainment and only about 20% of the total parental class effect on respondents’ social class position, net of their educational attainment. These findings contradict existing claims that differences in the life chances of children from different social class backgrounds are largely due to differences in cognitive ability. Moreover, we find that although individuals’ locus of control plays some role in mediating the parental class effect, its role is substantially smaller than the mediating role of cognitive ability. We measure individuals’ social class positions at different points in their careers—at labor market entry and at occupational maturity—and find that the mediating roles of cognitive ability and locus of control are remarkably stable across individuals’ working lives.
Impact of music therapy before first‐trimester instrumental termination of pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Belloeil V , Tessier Cazeneuve C , Leclercq A , Mercier MB , Legendre G , Corroenne R
Published: January 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of preoperative Music Therapy (MT) on pain in first‐trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP) under local anaesthesia.

Design

Randomised controlled trial comparing women undergoing a first‐trimester TOP under local anaesthesia with or without a preoperative MT session.

Setting

University Hospital of Angers from November 2016 to August 2017.

Population

Women who underwent first‐trimester TOP under local anaesthesia.

Methods

Women allocated to the MT group underwent a preoperative 20‐minute session of MT.

Main outcome measures

Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) just before the procedure, during the procedure, at the end of the procedure and upon returning to the ward.

Results

A total of 159 women were randomised (80 in the MT group, and 79 in the control group). Two women were excluded from the control group and six from the MT group. Therefore, 77 women were analysed in the control group and 74 in the MT group. The intensity of pain was similar in the two groups just before the procedure (VAS 4.0 ± 2.9 versus 3.6 ± 2.5; P = 0.78), during the procedure (VAS 5.3 ± 2.5 versus 4.9 ± 2.9; P = 0.78), at the end of the procedure (VAS 2.7 ± 2.4 versus 2.6 ± 2.4; P = 0.43) and upon returning to the ward (VAS 1.8 ± 2.0 versus 1.5 ± 2.0; P = 0.84). The difference in pain between entering the department and returning to the room after the procedure was similar between the MT and control groups (difference in VAS 0.3 ± 2.5 versus 0.3 ± 2.4; P = 0.92).

Conclusion

An MT session before a TOP under local anaesthesia procedure resulted in no improvement in patient perception of pain during a first‐trimester TOP.

Tweetable abstract

Music therapy before first‐trimester termination of pregnancy under local anaesthesia did not improve the perception of pain.
Reduced‐sodium cheeses: Implications of reducing sodium chloride on cheese quality and safety
Authors: Bansal Venus , Mishra Santosh Kumar
Published: January 2020

Sodium chloride (NaCl) universally well‐known as table salt is an ancient food additive, which is broadly used to increase the storage stability and the palatability of foods. Though, in recent decades, use of table salt in foods is a major concern among the health agencies of the world owing to ill effects of sodium (Na) that are mostly linked to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. As a result, food scientists are working to decrease the sodium content in food either by decreasing the rate of NaCl addition or by partial or full replacement of NaCl with other suitable salts like potassium chloride (KCl), calcium chloride (CaCl2), or magnesium chloride (MgCl2). However, in cheese, salt reduction is difficult to accomplish owing to its multifaceted role in cheese making. Considering the significant contribution in dietary salt intake (DSI) from cheese, researchers across the globe are exploring various technical interventions to develop reduced‐sodium cheeses (RSCs) without jeopardizing the quality and safety of cheeses. Thus, the purpose of this study is to provide an insight of NaCl reduction on sensory, physicochemical, and technofunctional attributes of RSCs with an aim to explore various strategies for salt reduction without affecting the cheese quality and safety. The relationship between salt reduction and survival of pathogenic and spoilage‐causing microorganisms and growth of RSCs microflora is also discussed. Based on the understanding of conceptual and applied information on the complex changes that occur in the development of RSCs, the quality and safety of RSCs can be accomplished effectively in order to reduce the DSI from cheese.
Does facility type and location impact upon patient experiences in emergency departments? Secondary analysis of a state‐wide, cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Bull Claudia , Crilly Julia , Chaboyer Wendy , Spain David , Mulhern Brendan , Fitzgerald Gerard , Scuffham Paul , Byrnes Joshua
Published: January 2020

Objective

To identify the extent to which patient experiences in the ED differ depending on facility type (based on bed numbers, services available and annual separations), and location (level of remoteness).

Methods

Data from a 2015 state‐wide (Queensland, Australia) public ED patient experience survey were linked to sociodemographic and presentation‐related characteristics data. Survey items were individually scored (from 0 to 100), and averaged across 13 pre‐determined patient experience topic areas. Descriptive statistics were used to report on patient sociodemographic and presentation‐related characteristics. One‐way analysis of variance tests were used to identify associations between patient‐reported experience scores, facility types and location.

Results

A total of 10 553 patients over the age of 16 years completed the survey. All patients reported scores above 75 for 7 of the 13 patient experience topic areas (0 = lowest score, 100 = highest score). Patients from very remote and outer regional EDs reported the highest scores for the topic Environment and facilities, and remote facility patients reported the highest scores for the topic Leaving the ED – Delays. The same two topic areas were scored most highly by patients from smaller facilities in comparison to principal referral hospital EDs.

Conclusions

Patients attending smaller and more rurally located EDs reported more positive experiences than those attending larger, metropolitan EDs on two of the 13 topic areas. However, these differences were marginal. Future research should aim to determine what constitutes clinically meaningful differences between groups when comparing patient‐reported experience scores, and understand the characteristics of small and rural EDs that may be associated with better patient experiences.
Surgical management of ground glass opacities of the lung
Authors: Sihoe Alan D.L.
Published: January 2020

Emerging evidence for the efficacy of low‐dose CT thorax screening for lung cancer is undoubtedly good news for patients. However, the by‐product is increasing incidental detection of lung lesions know as ground‐glass opacities (GGOs). Because these may or may not develop into lung cancer, a number of guidelines currently exist to help clinicians decide how to manage them. These guidelines are characterized by a reliance on CT imaging alone, an inherent aversion to surgery, and a failure to recognize the possibility of variance in GGO pathology between populations in different parts of the world. As a result, surgeons in particular are inadequately served by these guidelines. This article explores how recent advanced in thoracic surgery may play important roles in shaping GGO management, and how surgery may need to feature more prominently in future guidelines.
Structure of ant assemblages on street trees in urban Busan, Korea
Authors: Park Sang‐Hyun , Moon Tae‐Young
Published: January 2020

Street trees planted in urban areas are one of the smallest urban green habitats; however, their role as a valuable refuge for local biota is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate urban street trees as habitat for ants. We found ants on 195 (92%) of 211 street trees studied. Seventeen ant species were collected from five tree species. The two most common ant species were Tetramorium tsushimae (on 112 trees) and Lasius japonicus (on 93 trees). The number of ant species found per tree ranged from 0 to 5, with a mean of 1.55 ± 0.92. The species composition differed significantly among tree species. Nine ant species (Camponotus vitiosus, Lasius alienus, L. japonicus, Nylanderia flavipes, Crematogaster matsumurai, Crematogaster vagula, Monomorium intrudens, T. tsushimae, and Brachyponera chinensis) nested on the trees, mostly in the root zone. Nests were found on 150 trees but were relatively rare on trees with diameter at breast height of less than 40 cm.
Dual sgRNA‐directed gene deletion in basidiomycete Ganoderma lucidum using the CRISPR/Cas9 system
Authors: Liu Ke , Sun Bin , You Hao , Tu Jun‐Liang , Yu Xuya , Zhao Peng , Xu Jun‐Wei
Published: January 2020

Ganoderma lucidum is an important medicinal mushroom in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the lack of adequate genetic tools has hindered molecular genetic research in and the genetic modification of this species. Here, we report that the presence of an intron is necessary for the efficient expression of the heterologous phosphinothricin‐resistance and green fluorescent protein genes in G. lucidum. Moreover, we improved the CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated gene disruption frequency in G. lucidum by adding an intron upstream of the Cas9 gene. Our results showed that the disruption frequency of the orotidine 5’‐monophosphate decarboxylase gene (ura3) in transformants containing the glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase gene intron in the Cas9 plasmid is 14–18 in 107 protoplasts, which is 10.6 times higher than that in transformants without any intron sequence. Furthermore, genomic fragment deletions in the ura3 and GL17624 genes were achieved via a dual sgRNA‐directed CRISPR/Cas9 system in G. lucidum. We achieved a ura3 deletion frequency of 36.7% in G. lucidum. The developed method provides a powerful platform to generate gene deletion mutants and will facilitate functional genomic studies in G. lucidum.
Intermittent Ethanol Access Increases Sensitivity to Social Defeat Stress
Authors: Nennig Sadie E. , Fulenwider Hannah D. , Eskew Jacob E. , Whiting Kimberly E. , Cotton Mallory R. , McGinty Gabrielle E. , Solomon Matthew G. , Schank Jesse R.
Published: January 2020

Background

Comorbidity between alcoholism and depression is extremely common. Recent evidence supports a relationship between alcohol exposure and stress sensitivity, an underlying factor in the development of depression. Our laboratory has recently shown that chronic alcohol gavage increases sensitivity to social defeat stress (SDS). However, the effects of voluntary alcohol consumption, resulting from protocols such as intermittent ethanol access (IEA), on defeat stress sensitivity have yet to be elucidated.

Methods

We first assessed the effects of 4 weeks of IEA to 20% alcohol on sensitivity to subthreshold SDS exposure. Next, to examine neuroinflammatory mechanisms, we analyzed gene expression of inhibitor of NFkB (IkB) following IEA or chronic alcohol exposure (10 days of 3.0 g/kg alcohol via intragastric gavage). Then, we quantified NFkB activation via β‐galactosidase immunohistochemistry following IEA or chronic alcohol gavage in NFkB‐LacZ mice.

Results

IEA‐exposed mice displayed an increase in sensitivity to subthreshold SDS compared to water‐drinking controls. We also found that IkB gene expression was decreased in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) and amygdala (AMY) following IEA but was not altered following chronic alcohol gavage. Finally, we observed increased NFkB activity in the central amygdala (CEA), basolateral amygdala (BLA), and medial amygdala (MEA) after IEA, and increased NFkB activity solely in the CEA following chronic alcohol gavage.

Conclusions

These findings further corroborate that prior alcohol exposure, in this case intermittent voluntary consumption, can impact development of depressive‐like behavior by altering stress sensitivity. Furthermore, our results suggest the CEA as a potential mediator of alcohol's effects on stress sensitivity, as NFkB was activated in this region following both IEA and chronic alcohol gavage. Thus, this study provides novel insight on alterations in the NFkB pathway and identifies specific regions to target in future experiments assessing the functional role of NFkB in these processes.
Density and Dichotomous Family History Measures of Alcohol Use Disorder as Predictors of Behavioral and Neural Phenotypes: A Comparative Study Across Gender and Race/Ethnicity
Authors: Pandey Gayathri , Seay Michael J. , Meyers Jacquelyn L. , Chorlian David B. , Pandey Ashwini K. , Kamarajan Chella , Ehrenberg Morton , Pitti Daniel , Kinreich Sivan , Subbie‐Saenz de Viteri Stacey , Acion Laura , Anokhin Andrey , Bauer Lance , Chan Grace , Edenberg Howard , Hesselbrock Victor , Kuperman Samuel , McCutcheon Vivia V. , Bucholz Kathleen K. , Schuckit Marc , Porjesz Bernice
Published: January 2020

Background

Family history (FH) is an important risk factor for the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). A variety of dichotomous and density measures of FH have been used to predict alcohol outcomes; yet, a systematic comparison of these FH measures is lacking. We compared 4 density and 4 commonly used dichotomous FH measures and examined variations by gender and race/ethnicity in their associations with age of onset of regular drinking, parietal P3 amplitude to visual target, and likelihood of developing AUD.

Methods

Data from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) were utilized to compute the density and dichotomous measures. Only subjects and their family members with DSM‐5 AUD diagnostic information obtained through direct interviews using theSemi‐Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism(SSAGA) were included in the study. Area under receiver operating characteristic curves were used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of FH measures at classifying DSM‐5 AUD diagnosis. Logistic and linear regression models were used to examine associations of FH measures with alcohol outcomes.

Results

Density measures had greater diagnostic accuracy at classifying AUD diagnosis, whereas dichotomous measures presented diagnostic accuracy closer to random chance. Both dichotomous and density measures were significantly associated with likelihood of AUD, early onset of regular drinking, and low parietal P3 amplitude, but density measures presented consistently more robust associations. Further, variations in these associations were observed such that among males (vs. females) and Whites (vs. Blacks), associations of alcohol outcomes with density (vs. dichotomous) measures were greater in magnitude.

Conclusions

Density (vs. dichotomous) measures seem to present more robust associations with alcohol outcomes. However, associations of dichotomous and density FH measures with different alcohol outcomes (behavioral vs. neural) varied across gender and race/ethnicity. These findings have great applicability for alcohol research examining FH of AUD.
The prevalence of loot boxes in mobile and desktop games
Authors: Zendle David , Meyer Rachel , Cairns Paul , Waters Stuart , Ballou Nick
Published: January 2020

Background and Aims

Loot boxes are items in video games that may be bought for real‐world money but provide randomized rewards. Formal similarities between loot boxes and gambling have led to concerns that they may provide a ‘gateway’ to gambling amongst children. However, the availability of loot boxes is unclear. This study aimed to determine what proportion of top‐grossing video games contained loot boxes, and how many of those games were available to children.

Design, setting and cases

Survey of the 100 top‐grossing games on both the Google Play store and the Apple App store, and the top 50 most‐played games on Steam according to the data aggregator SteamSpy.

Measurements

The prevalence of loot boxes was measured for each platform outlined above, split by age rating.

Findings

A total of 58.0% of the top games on the Google Play store contained loot boxes, 59.0% of the top iPhone games contained loot boxes and 36.0% of the top games on the Steam store contained loot boxes; 93.1% of the Android games that featured loot boxes and 94.9% of the iPhone games that featured loot boxes were deemed suitable for children aged 12+. Age ratings were more conservative for desktop games. Only 38.8% of desktop games that featured loot boxes were available to children aged 12+.

Conclusions

Loot boxes appear to be prevalent in video games that are deemed suitable for children, especially on mobile platforms.
Open transanal resection of low rectal stromal tumor following neoadjuvant therapy of imatinib mesylate: Report of 11 cases and review of literature
Authors: Sun Qiang , Su Ning , Li Xinxing , Hu Zhiqian , Wang Weijun
Published: January 2020

Objective

The global burden of rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is increasing. However, a limited number of reports hinder our ability to reach a definitive conclusion regarding the current treatment and prognosis. In this study, we outline our experience with open transanal resection of rectal GIST following neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib mesylate (IM).

Patients and methods

We retrospectively analyzed 11 patients with rectal GISTs treated with neoadjuvant IM therapy and open transanal resection between April 2011 and April 2017 in Shanghai Changzheng Hospital.

Results

The patients had 400–600 mg/day IM once daily for a median of 7 months (range: 3–9 months). Tumor size, distance from the lower margin of the tumor to the anal verge (AV), mitotic rates and mutation analysis were assessed on pretreatment biopsy. After reassessment, all 11 patients underwent transanal R0 resection. With median follow‐up of 28 months (range: 8–80 months), there was no tumor recurrence or metastasis.

Conclusion

Open transanal resection of rectal GIST after neoadjuvant treatment with IM has good surgical and survival outcomes.