bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistent Low-level Viremia Predicts Subsequent Virologic Failure: Is It Time to Change the Third 90?
Authors: Esber Allahna , Polyak Christina , Kiweewa Francis , Maswai Jonah , Owuoth John , Maganga Lucas , Adamu Yakubu , Hickey Patrick W , Ake Julie A , Crowell Trevor A
Published: November 2018

Background

World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines identify human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load <1000 copies/mL as the goal of antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, the clinical implications of viremia below this threshold are unclear in the African context. We examined factors associated with persistent low-level viremia (pLLV) and quantified the risk of subsequent virologic.

Methods

The African Cohort Study enrolled HIV-infected adults at clinics in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria, with assessments every 6 months. We evaluated participants prescribed ART for at least 6 months without virologic failure for pLLV. We used multinomial logistic regression to evaluate associations between prespecified factors of interest and 3 levels of pLLV (<200, 200–499, and 500–999 copies/mL). We used Anderson-Gill extended Cox proportional hazards to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for viremia category associations with time to failure.

Results

We included 1511 participants with 4382 person-years of follow-up. PLLV <200 copies/mL was observed at 20% of visits while 2% of visits had pLLV 200–499 and 500–999 copies/mL each, with substantial variation by site. Protease inhibitor–containing ART was associated with increased risk of pLLV. Compared to undetectable viral load, pLLV ≥200 copies/mL doubled the risk of developing virologic failure (pLLV 200–499: HR, 1.81 [95% CI, 1.08–3.02]); pLLV 500–999: HR, 2.36 [95% CI, 1.52–3.67]).

Conclusions

Participants with pLLV ≥200 copies/mL were at increased risk of subsequent virologic failure. Optimized HIV care in this setting should target viral suppression <200 copies/mL.
Surplus country adjustment: revisiting the post-World War II Scarce Currency Clause
Authors: Patalano Rosario
Published: November 2018

The Scarce Currency Clause (SCC) in the IMF’s Articles of Agreement (Article VII) was originally designed to establish an effective, automatic mechanism to stimulate the surplus countries to adopt adjustment policies and to correct chronic imbalances. The clause formally authorises countries with a chronic deficit to apply trade discrimination against a surplus country, by imposing tariffs and other restrictions on its exports. But the SCC has never been applied, and its permanence in the IMF’s Articles of Agreement appears today as a relic of the past, an example of post-war international cooperation. This paper presents an analytical survey of the debate on the SCC in the first decade of the IMF, exploring the contemporary opinions on the possibility that this instrument could be effectively used to correct the chronic imbalances in the post-war world and to resolve the problem of dollar shortage. More recently, the persistence of current global trade imbalances has stimulated a renewed reflection on the automatic instrument for encouraging or compelling countries to undertake necessary adjustments. The paper is focusing on recent proposals for correcting imbalances against surplus countries.
Chronic pain is associated with increased health care use among community-dwelling older adults in Brazil: the Pain in the Elderly (PAINEL) Study
Authors: Torres Juliana L , da Silva Silvia L A , Ferreira Fabiane R , Mendes Liliane P S , Machado Luciana A
Published: November 2018

Background

Chronic pain is known to increase health care use in high-income countries, but in Brazil, little is known.

Objective

To investigate the association between chronic pain and health care use among Brazilian older adults and explore the relationship between pain severity and health care use.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was derived from the population-based study Frailty in Brazilian Older People-FIBRA. Chronic pain, pain intensity and pain-related disability were assessed through additional telephone interviews. Health care use was measured by the number of doctor visits, hospitalization events and high health care use (highest quartile of the distribution for number of doctor visits) in the last 12 months. Associations were tested in regression analyses adjusted for predisposing, enabling and illness-level components from the Andersen Model.

Results

The 383 participants were predominantly female (71.0%), mean age was 75.6 (6.1 SD). The prevalence of chronic pain was 30.0%. Chronic pain was associated with number of doctor visits [unstandardized B coefficient 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.35–2.62] and high health care use [odds ratios (OR) = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.39–3.72]. Pain intensity was associated with high health care use in univariate (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.06–1.20) but not multivariate analysis (OR = 1.12; 95% CI = 0.94–1.33). Pain-related disability was not associated with any outcome.

Conclusion

Chronic pain increased health care use among Brazilian older adults. Improving the quality of primary care management of individuals at greater risk of chronic pain should be a cornerstone of health policies directed towards reducing the personal and societal burden of ageing.
Plasma kidney injury molecule-1 (p-KIM-1) levels and deterioration of kidney function over 16 years
Authors: Schulz Christina-Alexandra , Engström Gunnar , Nilsson Jan , Almgren Peter , Petkovic Marinka , Christensson Anders , Nilsson Peter M , Melander Olle , Orho-Melander Marju
Published: November 2018

Background

The kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) has previously been associated with kidney function in rodents and humans. Yet its role as a predictive marker for future decline in kidney function has remained less clear.

Methods

At baseline (1991–1994), fasting plasma KIM-1 (p-KIM-1) was measured in 4739 participants of the population-based Malmö Diet and Cancer Study. Creatinine and cystatin C were used to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) according to Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) Collaboration 2012 creatinine–cystatin C equation at baseline and follow-up examination (2007–2012). Incident CKD was defined as an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at follow-up.

Results

During a mean follow-up time of 16.6 years, high p-KIM-1 levels were associated with a greater decline in eGFR (quartile 1 −1.36 versus quartile 4 −1.54 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, the risk for incident CKD at the follow-up examination was higher among participants with baseline p-KIM-1 levels in the highest quartile {odds ratio [OR] 1.45 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–1.92]} compared with those within the lowest quartile. The relative impact of baseline p-KIM-1 on incidence of CKD [OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.08–1.33) per 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in p-KIM-1] was comparable to those of age and systolic blood pressure (SBP) [OR 1.55 (95% CI 1.38–1.74) and OR 1.21 (95% CI 1.09–1.35) per 1 SD increase, respectively]. Adding p-KIM-1 to a conventional risk model resulted in significantly improved C-statistics (P = 0.04) and reclassified 9% of the individuals into the correct risk direction (continuous net reclassification improvement P = 0.02). Furthermore, the risk for hospitalization due to impaired renal function increased with increasing baseline p-KIM-1 [hazard ratio per 1 SD 1.43; (95% CI 1.18–1.74)] during a mean follow-up time of 19.2 years.

Conclusion

Our results show that p-KIM-1 predicts the future decline of eGFR and risk of CKD in healthy middle-aged participants. Whether p-KIM-1 can be used to prioritize preventive action that needs to be further investigated.
Negative correlation between retirement age and length of contribution?
Authors: Granseth Erik , Keck Wolfgang , Nagl Wolfgang , Simonovits András , Tir Melinda
Published: November 2018

Though never stated explicitly, there is a hidden hypothesis that in a normal pension system, the retirement age and the length of contribution are strongly and positively correlated. We compare the time paths of male and female correlation coefficients in Austria, Germany, Hungary and Sweden for several years and categories; and obtain a mixed picture. Hungary and Austria stand out with their strong negative correlation but the remaining two countries cannot boast with strongly positive correlation, either. Further work is needed to understand the significance of our findings but they signal some problems with these systems: heterogeneously fragmented careers and unfair benefit rules.
Hermite integrator for high-order mesh-free schemes
Authors: Yamamoto Satoko , Makino Junichiro
Published: November 2018

In most mesh-free methods, the calculation of interactions between sample points or “particles” is the most time-consuming. When we use mesh-free methods with high spatial orders, the order of the time integration should also be high. If we use usual Runge–Kutta schemes, we need to perform the interaction calculation multiple times per time step. One way to reduce the number of interaction calculations is to use Hermite schemes, which use the time derivatives of the right-hand side of differential equations, since Hermite schemes require a smaller number of interaction calculations than Runge–Kutta schemes do to achieve the same order. In this paper, we construct a Hermite scheme for a mesh-free method with high spatial orders. We performed several numerical tests with fourth-order Hermite schemes and Runge–Kutta schemes. We found that, for both Hermite and Runge–Kutta schemes, the overall error is determined by the error of spatial derivatives, for time steps smaller than the stability limit. The calculation cost at the time-step size of the stability limit is smaller for Hermite schemes. Therefore, we conclude that Hermite schemes are more efficient than Runge–Kutta schemes and thus useful for high-order mesh-free methods for Lagrangian hydrodynamics.
KN scattering amplitude revisited in a chiral unitary approach and a possible broad resonance in S = +1 channel
Authors: Aoki Kenji , Jido Daisuke
Published: November 2018

We revisit the $KN$ scattering amplitude in order to investigate the possibility of the existence of a broad resonance in the $I=0$$KN$ channel around the energy of 1617 MeV with 305 MeV width. We use the chiral unitary model to describe the $KN$ scattering amplitudes and determine the model parameters so as to reproduce the differential cross sections of the $K^{+}N$ scatterings and the $I=0$ and 1 total cross sections up to $p_{\rm lab} = 800$ MeV/c, from which inelastic contributions start to be significant. Performing analytic continuation of the determined amplitude to the complex energy plane, we find a pole for a broad resonance state. We point out that the rapid increase appearing in the $I=0$ total cross section around $p_{\rm lab}=500$ MeV/c is a hint of the possible broad resonance of strangeness $S=+1$.
Prediabetes
Authors: Rariden Christina
Published: November 2018

Prediabetes continues to be a national and worldwide health concern, affecting 84 million adults in the US. Early identification and intervention have been successful in delaying and/or preventing the progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Nonpharmacologic treatment of prediabetes is paramount, although pharmacologic treatment is appropriate in high-risk patients. In an attempt to curb the increasing prevalence of T2DM, recognizing the importance of identifying and managing prediabetes should remain in the national healthcare forefront.
Current Cardiac Imaging Approaches in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Poonja Sabrina , Power Alyssa , Mah Jean K. , Fine Nowell M. , Greenway Steven C.
Published: November 2018

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked neuromuscular condition caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene leading to skeletal muscle weakness and dilated cardiomyopathy. The prevalence of DMD-related cardiomyopathy increases with age and is almost universal by the third decade of life. Myocardial fibrosis and progressive left ventricular dysfunction lead to the development of heart failure and premature death. With modern advances in medical and surgical management for patients with DMD increasing their life expectancy, cardiac dysfunction represents an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Early diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy before symptom development enables the initiation of potentially disease-modifying therapies, but requires regular dedicated imaging surveillance with sufficient sensitivity to detect subclinical changes in cardiac structure and function. Currently, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) are commonly used and have complementary roles. TTE is rapid and readily available, whereas CMR is the gold standard for the quantification of ventricular structure and function and can detect the presence and extent of myocardial fibrosis, an increasingly appreciated marker for early disease. This review describes the clinical applications, advantages, and disadvantages of cardiac imaging screening and surveillance for the myocardial manifestations of DMD, with a particular focus on TTE and CMR.
Repeatability of Meibomian Gland Contrast, a Potential Indicator of Meibomian Gland Function
Authors: Yeh Thao N. , Lin Meng C.
Published: November 2018

Purpose:

Meibomian gland contrast may be a potential indicator of gland health, especially among isotretinoin users. We aimed to develop a repeatable and reliable method for measuring Meibomian gland contrast from meibography images.

Methods:

Lower lid (LL) and upper lid (UL) meibography were captured with the OCULUS Keratograph 5M (OCULUS, Inc) at 2 visits under the following 4 conditions: face centered with room lights on (C), left-turned face (L), right-turned face (R), and face centered with room lights off (CLO). Contrast was measured with Fiji (v2.0.0-rc-59). Coefficient of repeatability and limits of agreement (LOA) were determined using Bland-Altman plots.

Results:

A total of 512 meibography images from 16 subjects (age ± SD = 24.8 ± 5.2 years; 13 female patients) were collected. Coefficient of repeatability between visits was 10.5 for UL and 14.9 for LL. Lower and upper LOA, respectively, for UL, compared with condition C, were −10.9 [95% confidence interval (CI), −13.5 to −8.3] and 6.2 (95% CI, 3.6–8.8) for L; −11.0 (95% CI, −13.8 to −8.1) and 7.0 (95% CI, 4.2–9.8) for R; and −9.0 (95% CI, −11.6 to −6.5) and 7.2 (95% CI, 4.7–9.8) for CLO. Lower and upper LOA, respectively, for LL, compared with condition C, were −18.1 (95% CI, −22.6 to −13.5) and 11.0 (95% CI, 6.5–15.5) for L; −15.3 (95% CI, −19.2 to −11.3) and 9.9 (95% CI, 6.0–13.9) for R; and −12.0 (95% CI, −15.1 to −8.8) and 8.2 (95% CI, 5.0–11.3) for CLO.

Conclusions:

Meibomian gland contrast is a repeatable and reliable measure for changes in Meibomian gland contrast greater than 11 in the UL and 18 in the LL.
Successful Treatment of Granulomatous Mastitis Associated With Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii With Prolonged Antimicrobial Therapy
Authors: Waldron Ruth , Mohamed Aia , Boyle Breida , Al-Azawi Dhafir , O'Connell Brian
Published: November 2018

Granulomatous mastitis is a rare breast disease that classically occurs in parous women of reproductive age. In recent years, an association has been reported between this condition and Corynebacterium species, which are gram-positive bacilli that are endogenous to the skin. We describe a case of granulomatous mastitis associated with Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii, a lipophilic organism with an affinity for the lipid-rich mammary glands. We highlight the need to consider this pathogen to guide investigation and describe the diagnostic challenges related to isolation and identification of the organism. In addition, we report on successful treatment of the patient with a prolonged course of a combination of clarithromycin and rifampin.
A Comparison of Methods for Classifying and Modeling Respondents Who Endorse Multiple Racial/Ethnic Categories
Authors: Klein David J. , Elliott Marc N. , Haviland Amelia M. , Morrison Peter A. , Orr Nate , Gaillot Sarah , Weech-Maldonado Robert
Published: November 2018

Background:

Race/ethnicity information is vital for measuring disparities across groups, and self-report is the gold standard. Many surveys assign simplified race/ethnicity based on responses to separate questions about Hispanic ethnicity and race and instruct respondents to “check all that apply.” When multiple races are endorsed, standard classification methods either create a single heterogenous multiracial group, or attempt to impute the single choice that would have been selected had only one choice been allowed.

Objectives:

To compare 3 options for classifying race/ethnicity: (a) hierarchical, classifying Hispanics as such regardless of racial identification, and grouping together all non-Hispanic multiracial individuals; (b) a newly proposed additive model, retaining all original endorsements plus a multiracial indicator; (c) an all-combinations approach, separately categorizing every observed combination of endorsements.

Research Design:

Cross-sectional comparison of racial/ethnic distributions of patient experience scores; using weighted linear regression, we model patient experience by race/ethnicity using 3 classification systems.

Subjects:

In total, 259,763 Medicare beneficiaries age 65+ who responded to the 2017 Medicare Consumer Assessments of Healthcare Providers and Systems Survey and reported race/ethnicity.

Measures:

Self-reported race/ethnicity, 4 patient experience measures.

Results:

Additive and hierarchical models produce similar classifications for non-Hispanic single-race respondents, but differ for Hispanic and multiracial respondents. Relative to the gold standard of the all-combinations model, the additive model better captures ratings of health care experiences and response tendencies that differ by race/ethnicity than does the hierarchical model. Differences between models are smaller with more specific measures.

Conclusions:

Additive models of race/ethnicity may afford more useful measures of disparities in health care and other domains. Our results have particular relevance for populations with a higher prevalence of multiracial identification.
Patients’ Evaluation of a Preparatory Online Communication Tool for Older Patients With Cancer Preceding Chemotherapy
Authors: Driesenaar Jeanine A. , van Dulmen Sandra , van Weert Julia C. M. , Noordman Janneke
Published: November 2018

Background

The online tool PatientVOICE has been developed to enhance older patients’ participation during educational nursing encounters preceding chemotherapy and to increase their information recall.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate perceived usefulness, usability, satisfaction with emotional support, language use, attractiveness, and visit intention of PatientVOICE by older (ex-)patients with cancer.

Methods

Older (ex-)patients with cancer were invited to evaluate the website via an online questionnaire. Perceived usefulness, usability, and satisfaction with emotional support were measured using evaluation statements, the System Usability Scale, and an adapted subscale of the Website Satisfaction Scale, respectively. Questions were also included about language use and attractiveness of the website and patients’ intention to visit the website.

Results

A total of 44 questionnaires were analyzed. Many patients evaluated the provided information and other integrated techniques (such as the question prompt sheet, video fragments, and the audio facility) positively on aspects as usefulness and helpfulness. The usability was considered good (mean scale score, 74.3). Most patients (84.9%) considered the language use on the website clear, and 63.6% of the patients found the website attractive. Many patients (71.9%) would visit the website if they would like to gather information on the encounter preceding chemotherapy, and 62.5% of the patients would do this for information about chemotherapy.

Conclusions

PatientVOICE is evaluated as a useful and user-friendly tool, enabling patients to prepare themselves for the nursing encounter preceding chemotherapy and to gather information about chemotherapy.

Implications for Practice

Preparatory online tools, such as PatientVOICE, can be implemented in hospitals to offer patients extra support.
Therapy Adherence and Emotional Awareness and Regulation in Persons With Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Sofia Sonia A. , Lysaker Paul H. , Smith Elizabeth , Celesia Benedetto M. , Dimaggio Giancarlo
Published: November 2018

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a key issue for people with human immunodeficiency virus. Optimal adherence leads to benefits in terms of survival and quality of life, which do not occur with incomplete adherence. One factor that may influence adherence to ART is emotional unawareness deficits. To explore this possibility, we assessed emotional deficits and measured adherence in 100 adults using both self-report and viral load testing. Results showed that people classified as adherent in both measurements were more likely to have a greater awareness of their own emotions. Participants classified as nonadherent were more likely to have a reduced ability to recognize the emotions of others. Difficulty in recognizing one's own emotions, otherwise known as alexithymia, and impairment of the ability to recognize other's emotions may contribute to nonadherence to ART. Consequently, after repeated studies to confirm the findings, it can be considered a target for psychological therapies aimed at increasing adherence.
A newly identified mutation in the PEX26 gene is associated with a milder form of Zellweger spectrum disorder
Authors: Tanaka Akemi J. , Okumoto Kanji , Tamura Shigehiko , Abe Yuichi , Hirsch Yoel , Deng Liyong , Ekstein Joseph , Chung Wendy K. , Fujiki Yukio
Published: November 2018

Using clinical exome sequencing (ES), we identified an autosomal recessive missense variant, c.153C>A (p.F51L), in the peroxisome biogenesis factor 26 gene (PEX26) in a 19-yr-old female of Ashkenazi Jewish descent who was referred for moderate to severe hearing loss. The proband and three affected siblings are all homozygous for the c.153C>A variant. Skin fibroblasts from this patient show normal morphology in immunostaining of matrix proteins, although the level of catalase was elevated. Import rate of matrix proteins was significantly decreased in the patient-derived fibroblasts. Binding of Pex26-F51L to the AAA ATPase peroxins, Pex1 and Pex6, is severely impaired and affects peroxisome assembly. Moreover, Pex26 in the patient's fibroblasts is reduced to ∼30% of the control, suggesting that Pex26-F51L is unstable in cells. In the patient's fibroblasts, peroxisome-targeting signal 1 (PTS1) proteins, PTS2 protein 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, and catalase are present in a punctate staining pattern at 37°C and in a diffuse pattern at 42°C, suggesting that these matrix proteins are not imported to peroxisomes in a temperature-sensitive manner. Analysis of peroxisomal metabolism in the patient's fibroblasts showed that the level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (C22:6n-3) in ether phospholipids is decreased, whereas other lipid metabolism, including peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation, is normal. Collectively, the functional data support the mild phenotype of nonsyndromic hearing loss in patients harboring the F51L variant in PEX26.
A water-cooled monochromator for the B16 Test beamline at the Diamond Light Source: capabilities and performance characterization
Authors: Dolbnya Igor P. , Sawhney Kawal J. S. , Scott Stewart M. , Dent Andy J. , Cibin Giannantonio , Preece Geoff M. , Pedersen Ulrik K. , Kelly Jon , Murray Paul
Published: November 2018

Systematic studies of the performance of a water-cooled X-ray monochromator, designed and built for the B16 Test beamline at the Diamond Light Source, UK, are presented. A technical description of the monochromator is given and the results of commissioning measurements are discussed. Overall, the monochromator satisfies the original specifications well and meets all the major requirements of the versatile beamline. Following its successful implementation on B16, the basic monochromator design has been reproduced and adapted on other Diamond Light Source beamlines, including B18 and B21.
Proposal of X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetic circular dichroism using broadband free-electron lasers
Authors: Deng Bangjie , Yan Jiawei , Zhang Qingmin , Sang Yaodong , Deng Haixiao
Published: November 2018

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) have been widely used for applications such as X-ray crystallography and magnetic spin probes because of their unprecedented performance. Recently, time-resolved X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) with ultrafast XFEL pulses have made it possible to achieve an instantaneous view of atomic de-excitation. However, owing to the narrow bandwidth and coherence of XFELs, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and XMCD are time- and effort-consuming for both machine scientists and users of XFELs. In this work, an efficient scheme using a broadband XFEL pulse and single-shot X-ray spectrometer is proposed, in which the XAS and XMCD measurements can be accomplished with the same machine conditions. An evolutionary multi-objective optimization algorithm is used to maximize the XFEL bandwidth offered by the Shanghai Soft X-ray FEL user facility without additional hardware. A numerical example using MnO is demonstrated, showing that, by using approximately 1000 consecutive XFEL shots with a central photon energy of 650 eV and full bandwidth of 4.4%, precise spectral measurements for XAS and XMCD can be achieved. Additional considerations related to single-shot XAS and XMCD are discussed.
Synthesis, molecular structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (4-methoxyphenyl)[2-(methylsulfanyl)thiophen-3-yl]methanone
Authors: Nagaraju S. , Sridhar M. A. , Pradeepa Kumara C.S. , Sadashiva M. P. , Lakshminarayana B. N. , Lokanath N. K.
Published: November 2018

The title compound, C13H12O2S2, crystallizes in the triclinic space group P\overline{1}. The molecular structure is substantially twisted, with a dihedral angle of 43.70 (2)° between the 2-(methylsulfanyl)thiophene and 4-methoxyphenyl rings. In the crystal, molecules are linked through C—H...O interactions and form a bifurcated layer stacking along the b-axis direction and enclosing R
2
2(10) ring motifs. The phenyl rings are involved in π–π interactions with a centroid–centroid separation of 3.760 (2) Å. The Hirshfeld surfaces were studied and the contributions of the various intermolecular interactions were quantified.
Leakage flow analysis in the gas turbine shroud gap
Authors: Wasilczuk Filip , Flaszynski Pawel , Kaczynski Piotr , Szwaba Ryszard , Doerffer Piotr , Marugi Krzysztof
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to measure the mass flow in the flow through the labyrinth seal of the gas turbine and compare it to the results of numerical simulation. Moreover the capability of two turbulence models to reflect the phenomenon will be assessed. The studied case will later be used as a reference case for the new, original design of flow control method to limit the leakage flow through the labyrinth seal.

Design/methodology/approach

Experimental measurements were conducted, measuring the mass flow and the pressure in the model of the labyrinth seal. It was compared to the results of numerical simulation performed in ANSYS/Fluent commercial code for the same geometry.

Findings

The precise machining of parts was identified as crucial for obtaining correct results in the experiment. The model characteristics were documented, allowing for its future use as the reference case for testing the new labyrinth seal geometry. Experimentally validated numerical model of the flow in the labyrinth seal was developed.

Research limitations/implications

The research studies the basic case, future research on the case with a new labyrinth seal geometry is planned. Research is conducted on simplified case without rotation and the impact of the turbine main channel.

Practical implications

Importance of machining accuracy up to 0.01 mm was found to be important for measuring leakage in small gaps and decision making on the optimal configuration selection.

Originality/value

The research is an important step in the development of original modification of the labyrinth seal, resulting in leakage reduction, by serving as a reference case.
Moisture-dependent thermo-mechanical constitutive modeling of wood
Authors: Fleischhauer Robert , Hartig Jens U. , Haller Peer , Kaliske Michael
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is the numerical investigation of densification and molding processes of wood. Providing theoretical and numerical approaches with respect to a consistent multi-physical finite element method framework are further goals of this research.

Design/methodology/approach

Constitutive phenomenological descriptions of the thermo-mechanical and moisture-dependent material characteristics of wood are introduced. Special focus is given to a consistent hygro-thermo-mechanical modeling at finite deformations to capture the realistic material behavior of wood, especially when it is subjected to densification and molding processes.

Findings

Realistic theoretical formulations of different hygro-thermo-mechanical processes are provided. A successful numerical modeling is demonstrated for beech wood by validation at experimental findings.

Originality/value

The constitutive laws and numerical findings are new, as they govern a multi-physical large deformation framework and are applied to the advanced technology of densification and molding of wood.
Debt financing puzzle and internationalization
Authors: Khaw Karren Lee-Hwei
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relation between long-term debt and internationalization in the presence of the agency costs of debt and business risk.

Design/methodology/approach

Sample firms consist of 517 non-financial listed firms in Malaysia, with 4,197 firm-year observations from the year 2000 to 2014. This study uses panel data regressions and a series of robustness tests to examine the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that multinational corporations (MNCs) are more likely to sustain less long-term debt than domestic corporations (DCs) to mitigate the costs related to agency problem and firm risk. Meanwhile, foreign-based MNCs maintain less long-term debt than local-based firms, and the finding is more significant at a higher degree of internationalization. Robustness tests confirm the negative relations.

Research limitations/implications

The findings indicate that the ongoing debate on the debt financing puzzle can be explained by internationalization. Moreover, the findings suggest that in addition to the systematic differences between MNCs and DCs, studies on the debt financing and internationalization should also account for the systematic differences among MNCs such as the local-based MNCs, foreign-based MNCs and DCs that later expand their business operations abroad.

Practical implications

MNCs have to be responsive to the diverse institutional environments as they diversify their business operations geographically. When the adverse effects of internationalization outweigh the benefits, MNCs could use the long-term debt financing decision to mitigate the costs of doing business abroad. This is because debt financing is also a primary concern in the corporate financial decisions for the maximization of shareholders’ wealth.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the debt financing literature from the international perspective by providing evidence from an emerging market. In addition, this study highlights the importance of recognizing firms by their firm-specific characteristics, such as internationalization, given the systematic differences among firms.
Outward FDI from India and its impact on the performance of firms in the home country
Authors: Roy Indrajit , K. Narayanan
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the change in performance of parent Indian firms (home effects) who have invested in overseas locations in recent times.

Design/methodology/approach

Difference-in-difference (DiD) estimate of home effects using farm level data.

Findings

Home effects of Indian outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), in general, are insignificant. However, in the case of OFDI directed only to non-offshore financial centre (OFC), some firms did enjoy beneficial home effects with respect to turnover, current ratio and leverage ratio. In the case of OFDI directed purely to OFC locations, some of the parameters exhibited negative home effects. In the subsample of Indian OFDI directed to combination of OFC and non-OFC locations, the results show positive home effects with respect to export, operating profit margin and forex earnings; however, impact on turnover seems to be negative for all the quartiles.

Research limitations/implications

Estimation of home effects using data over longer horizon may yield robust outcome.

Practical implications

These results make a strong case to draw a distinction among OFDIs to OFC, non-OFC and combination of OFC and non-OFC locations in studying the beneficial home effects of OFDI.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper which estimates home effects of different groups of Indian firms (based on their investment locations and size class) using difference-in-difference estimate.
Contribution of cultural intelligence to adaptive selling and customer-oriented selling of salespeople at international trade shows: does cultural similarity matter?
Authors: Pandey Arti , Charoensukmongkol Peerayuth
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This study aims to examine the contribution of cultural intelligence (CQ) to the level of adaptive selling behavior and customer-oriented selling behavior of salespeople in a cross-cultural selling context.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected data from a total of 210 Thai salespeople who had been assigned to work at trade shows in Japan (n = 110) and in Vietnam (n = 100).

Findings

The findings show that salespeople with higher CQ tend to demonstrate a higher degree of adaptive selling behavior and customer-oriented selling behavior in both countries. The moderating effect analysis shows that the positive relationship between CQ and adaptive selling behavior is significantly higher for Thai salespeople in Japanese trade shows than in Vietnamese trade shows.

Research limitations/implications

This study uses cross-sectional data collection; therefore, the results have been interpreted as associations, but not causations.

Practical implications

The study suggests that CQ development programs could be considered as part of the training that organizations provide to salespeople to develop cross-cultural competencies to deal effectively with foreign customers.

Originality/value

This study provides additional evidence concerning the benefits of CQ in an occupational area that has not been previously explored. More importantly, the result regarding the positive linkage between CQ and adaptive selling behavior was significantly stronger in the country characterized by higher cultural differences. This also contributed to CQ research by showing that differences in a cultural context might also influence the benefits of CQ in relation to the outcome variables.
A world free of hunger
Authors: Sholeye Oluwafolahan Oluwagbemiga , Animasahun Victor Jide , Salako Albert Adekunle
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Nutrition is a widely known determinant of health and well-being of individuals. Adequate nutrition is dependent on food availability and optimal dietary intake. Rural communities are known to be disadvantaged in comparison with their urban counterparts This study therefore assessed food security and dietary diversity among adults in a rural community in Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the cross-sectional study were collected using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and a 24-h dietary recall. Data were analyzed with SPSS 20. The relevant descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Participation was fully voluntary.

Findings

The mean age of respondents was 46.7 ± 19.0 years. Only 43.6 per cent of the respondents were food secure; 43.4 per cent were severely food insecure; 30.3 per cent were moderately food insecure, while 26.3 per cent were mildly food insecure. Low dietary diversity was reported among 55.2 per cent of respondents; 41.0 per cent had medium dietary diversity, while 3.8 per cent had high dietary diversity.

Research implications/limitations

This study was entirely quantitative and facility-based, so could not explore some themes to a greater depth. It however adds to the body of knowledge on dietary diversity and food security among patients accessing primary care services at Ode-Remo and its health implications.

Originality/value

Food security among respondents was low and dietary diversity was sub-optimal, a risk factor for both hidden hunger and multi-nutrient under-nutrition. Dietary diversity was significantly different between food secure and food insecure respondents. Community-directed efforts at improving residents’ food security status and dietary diversification efforts will be most appropriate and sustainable, thereby promoting self-reliance and wellbeing.
Interpretation of non‐verbal cues by people with and without TBI: understanding relationship intentions
Authors: Evans Kelli J. , Evans David L.
Published: November 2018

Background

Although long‐term social challenges following traumatic brain injury (TBI) are well documented, the challenges of establishing new relationships following TBI are less understood.

Aims

To examine how the type of non‐verbal cues produced by an unfamiliar communication partner impacts feelings of relationship closeness by people with and without TBI.

Methods & Procedures

In this quasi‐experimental comparative mixed‐group design, participants included 12 male heterosexual adults with moderate/severe TBI and 10 typical comparison peers. An adaptation of the Relationship Closeness Induction Task (RCIT), a 29‐item questionnaire, was completed by all participants to induce relationship closeness through reciprocal self‐disclosure during conversation. Participants completed the RCIT three separate times in counterbalanced order. Conversational partners for the RCIT were three female actors trained to convey similar verbal answers to the RCIT questions, but to produce different non‐verbal cues: solicitation (i.e., flirting), neutral and rejecting. Following each conversation, the participants completed a 10‐item Likert‐type questionnaire about the experience.

Outcomes & Results

Between‐ and within‐group non‐parametric statistical analysis of Likert questions showed non‐significant differences between the two participant groups such that both groups consistently rated the female actor who used flirting non‐verbal cues higher than the actor who used rejecting non‐verbal cues.

Conclusions & Implications

These results suggest a small sample of heterosexual males with TBI interpret non‐verbal relationship cues in real‐time conversations with unfamiliar partners as well as comparison peers. Clinical implications include the need to consider real‐time conversation in assessment and treatment planning for social communication goals related to cognitive–communication impairment.
Does poverty cause dental caries?
Authors: Foley M , Akers HF
Published: November 2018

Dental caries generates significant health, financial and social costs to individuals and communities, but risk factors are not spread randomly and evenly throughout populations. People from lower socio‐economic status (SES) and disadvantaged groups suffer a disproportionately greater disease burden. Clinicians and public health experts view this problem through a different lens. Dentists at the clinical coalface consider individual risk factors and behaviours, for example sugar consumption, cariogenic bacteria and poor oral hygiene, as major causes of dental caries. However, considerable evidence suggests that low SES, via traditional individual risk factors as mediators and through additional independent pathways, is another significant cause. Progressive clinical practice uses education, prevention and treatment to reduce the impact of individual risk factors. Policy‐makers and health administrators use population‐based approaches to improve the health of societies. The authors use literature review to argue for both a greater awareness of the upstream socio‐economic causes of dental caries, and action from key community sectors to redress the societal inequalities contributing to dental health inequalities.
The Fetishes of Consent: Signatures, Paper, and Writing in Research Ethics Review
Authors: Wynn L. L. , Israel Mark
Published: November 2018

Many ethics review bureaucracies present signed, written forms administered at a single point in time as the default, best‐practice method for obtaining and documenting consent to participate in research. The demand is emblematic of ethics review committees’ insistence on form over function, their failure to understand the cultural contexts of field research, and erroneous assumptions about research methods. Ethnographers responding to an international survey argued that written consent may not protect participants, may mask unethical research, and may often be inappropriate for legal, cultural, political or historical reasons. We suggest the dominance of written consent reflects culturally specific views of paper, writing, signatures, and contracts grounded in particular historical imaginations of the authenticity of the signature and the power of writing and forms. Construed by ethics review institutions as culturally universal, the signed consent form has come to take on the qualities of a fetish. [research ethics, informed consent, signatures, forms, research ethics committees, institutional review boards]
The prevalence and risk predictors of cesarean scar defect at 6 weeks postpartum in Shanghai, China: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Pan Hongjie , Zeng Ming , Xu Tianyi , Li Dong , Mol Ben W. J. , Sun Jing , Zhang Jian
Published: November 2018

Introduction

The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and predictors of cesarean scar defect (CSD) at 6 weeks postpartum in Shanghai, China.

Material and methods

Women scheduled to receive a cesarean section (CS) were recruited from a university hospital. Surgery‐related factors, pregnancy complications, routine examinations, perioperative medications, and physical signs were collected and transvaginal ultrasonography was performed to assess the presence of a CSD at 6 weeks postpartum. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to identify the predictors for CSD.

Results

A CSD was detected in 223 of 514 women (43.4%, 95% CI 39.1%‐47.7%) by transvaginal ultrasonography. Of women with normal temperature (T < 37.5°C, CSD prevalence 33.9%, 95% CI 28.4%‐39.5%), women with postpartum fever (T ≥ 38°C, CSD 44.1%, 95% CI 31.0%‐57.1%), and women who were subfebrile in the postpartum (37.5 ≤ T ≤ 38.0°C, CSD 58.3%, 95% CI 50.9%‐65.7%), the latter two had significantly increased risk for CSD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.7, 95% CI 1.3‐5.2 and aOR 3.3, 95% CI 2.1‐5.3, respectively). In comparison to single‐dose antibiotic administration (CSD 49.0%, 95% CI 43.8%‐54.3%), multi‐dose antibiotic administration (CSD 31.1%, 95% CI 23.8%‐38.3%) had a protective effect (aOR 0.4, 95% CI 0.3‐0.7). Postpartum fever, intrapartum infection, emergency CS, and cervical dilation ≥ 3 cm were found to be the main predictors of multi‐dose antibiotics management. Low platelet count postpartum (defined as ≤ 150 × 109/L) and high fibrinogen pre‐CS (defined as ≥ 4.5 g/L) increased CSD risk (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1‐3.6 and 1.7, 95% CI 1.1‐2.5, respectively).

Conclusions

The prevalence of CSD in the Chinese population is high enough to be a concern. Perioperative infection and hypercoagulability should be considered CSD predictors, and multi‐dose antibiotics have a protective effect.
Net energy of oat bran, wheat bran, and palm kernel expellers fed to growing pigs using indirect calorimetry
Authors: Lyu Zhiqian , Huang Bingbing , Li Zhongchao , Wang Zhenyu , Chen Yifan , Zhang Shuai , Lai Changhua
Published: November 2018

The objectives of this experiment were to (a) determine the effects of fiber increase in diets on heat production (HP), (b) determine the net energy (NE) of oat bran (OB), wheat bran (WB), and palm kernel expellers (PKE) fed to growing pigs using indirect calorimetry (IC). Twenty‐four growing barrows (29.2 ± 2.6 kg) were randomly allotted to one of four diets with six replicate pigs per diet. Diets included a corn‐soybean meal basal diet and three test diets containing 30% OB, WB or PKE, respectively. During each period, pigs were individually housed in metabolism crates for 20 days, including 14 days to adapt to the diets. On day (d) 15, pigs were transferred to the open‐circuit respiration chambers for determination of daily total HP and were fed one of the four diets at 2.3MJ ME/kg body weight (BW)0.6/day. Total feces and urine were collected for the determination of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) and daily total HP was measured from d 15 to d 19 and fasted on day 20 for the measurement of fasting heat production (FHP). The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), and organic matter (OM) were greater (p < 0.01) in pigs fed the basal diet compared with those fed the test diets. The ATTD of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was lower (p < 0.01) in pigs fed the WB diet compared with those fed the basal, OB, or PKE diets. The ATTD of ether extract (EE) in pigs fed the PKE diet was greater (p < 0.01) compared with those fed the other diets. The average total HP and FHP in pigs fed the four diets were 1261 and 787 kJ/kg BW0.6/d, respectively, and were not significantly affected by diet characteristics. The NE:ME ratio for diets ranged from 78.1 to 80.9%. The NE contents of OB, WB, and PKE were 10.93, 7.47, and 8.71 MJ/kg DM, respectively.
SET alpha and SET beta mRNA isoforms in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Authors: Brander Danielle M. , Friedman Daphne R. , Volkheimer Alicia D. , Christensen Dale J. , Rassenti Laura Z. , Kipps Thomas J. , Guadalupe Eross , Chen Youwei , Zhang Dadong , Wang Xi , Davis Carter , Owzar Kouros , Weinberg J. Brice
Published: November 2018

Alteration in RNA splicing is implicated in carcinogenesis and progression. Mutations in spliceosome genes and alternative splicing of other genes have been noted in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), a common B cell malignancy with heterogeneous outcomes. We previously demonstrated that differences in the amount of SET oncoprotein (a physiological inhibitor of the serine/threonine phosphatase, PP2A) is associated with clinical aggressiveness in patients with CLL. It is unknown if alternative splicing of gene transcripts regulating kinases and phosphatases affects disease pathobiology and CLL progression. We show here for the first time that mRNA levels of the alternatively spliced SET isoforms, SETA and SETB (SETα and SETβ), significantly correlate with disease severity (overall survival and time‐to‐first‐treatment) in CLL patients. In addition, we demonstrate that relative increase of SETA to SETB mRNA can discriminate patients with a more aggressive disease course within the otherwise favourable CLL risk classifications of IGHV mutated and favourable hierarchical fluorescence in situ hybridisation groups. We validate our finding by showing comparable relationships of SET mRNA with disease outcomes using samples from an independent CLL cohort from a separate institution. These findings indicate that alternative splicing of SET, and potentially other signalling cascade molecules, influences CLL biology and patient outcomes.