bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A bi-level programming for transportation services procurement based on combinatorial auction with fuzzy random parameters
Authors: Yan Fang , Ma Yanfang , Feng Cuiying
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study a transportation service procurement bid construction problem from a less than a full truckload perspective. It seeks to establish stochastic mixed integer programming to allow for the proper bundle of loads to be chosen based on price, which could improve the likelihood that carrier can earn its maximum utility.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors proposes a bi-level programming that integrates the bid selection and winner determination and a discrete particle swarm optimization (PSO) solution algorithm is then developed, and a numerical simulation is used to make model and algorithm analysis.

Findings

The algorithm comparison shows that although GA could find a little more Pareto solutions than PSO, it takes a longer time and the quality of these solutions is not dominant. The model analysis shows that compared with traditional approach, our model could promote the likelihood of winning bids and the decision effectiveness of the whole system because it considers the reaction of the shipper.

Originality/value

The highlights of this paper are considering the likelihood of winning the business and describing the conflicting and cooperative relationship between the carrier and the shipper by using a stochastic mixed integer programming, which has been rarely examined in previous research.
Can diversification explain financial performance in agribusiness co-operatives?
Authors: Martins Fellipe Silva , Lucato Wagner Cezar , Da Silva Dirceu
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to integrate Brazilian agro-industrial co-operatives’ horizontal, lateral and vertical integration diversification and expansion strategies, such as operation area and membership, with financial models. Several studies have tried to assess the importance of diversification on the financial outcomes in agricultural co-operatives with limited success.

Design/methodology/approach

The three main concepts were combined in a working model. A survey was developed to gather data on financial, diversification and expansion strategies from 67 co-operatives (44 per cent return rate). Data were processed using a partial least squares structural equation model.

Findings

The findings suggest that expansion is directly responsible for both the financial output and diversification strategy; however, no hard evidence supports the view that the diversification of production in some agro-industrial co-operatives leads to positive financial results.

Research limitations/implications

Only larger Brazilian co-operatives (>$50m in annual revenues) were considered. Co-operatives facing other scenarios or smaller co-operatives could have different outcomes.

Practical implications

Besides diversifying their co-operatives for financial reasons, managers should also consider risk aversion and adapting to new farmers’ portfolios as probable reasons.

Originality/value

Extant literature asserts that diversification leads to financial growth; as the co-operatives studied show no such causal relationship, it follows that they diversify their portfolios for other purposes.
Heterogeneity in client motives for utilizing management consulting
Authors: Mattila Jukka , Tukiainen Sampo , Kajalo Sami
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The paper advances research on the heterogeneity of client behavior and the understanding of “the client” as a key topic in the research of management consulting. First, this issue is addressed by summarizing the clients’ reasons for acquiring and utilizing management consulting services. Second, the purpose of this paper is to examine the ways in which these reasons vary in four key client groups.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on 1,127 responses to a survey questionnaire, the clients’ motives for acquiring and using management consulting are examined in four different client groups. Principal component analysis with an eigenvalue greater than one and varimax rotation method was used to discern the motives for acquiring and using consulting.

Findings

The analysis identifies two co-existing factors as key reasons for acquiring and utilizing management consulting: “Impact” and “Significance.” This typology is used to show that the reasons for acquiring management consulting services are dependent on the hierarchical level of the client. While reasons related to “Impact” are consistently emphasized in the four examined client groups, reasons related to “Significance” show greater variance and are emphasized less higher up in the organizational hierarchy.

Research limitations/implications

The paper argues for the need to reconsider the conventionally marginal and subordinate position of subjective motivations in the management consulting literature. The paper creates bridges between previously contending paradigms by developing a holistic and comprehensive framework of the client motives for utilizing management consulting.

Practical implications

For practitioners, the results complement prior understandings of client purchase decision making. More fundamentally, this paper provides elements for restructuring the overall discourse on the roles and uses of consultants.

Originality/value

The paper is the first large-sample examination of client heterogeneity, developing an empirically verified typology of the reasons for utilizing management consulting. More importantly, the paper specifies how these reasons vary among four key client groups. The primary contributions of the paper are: the paper posits a robust typology on the previously multivocal and fragmented reasons for utilizing management consulting. The paper specifies how the reasons vary in four key client groups, developing a more nuanced understanding of the heterogeneity of “the client.”
Do boundary preferences, work-family self-efficacy and proactive personality predict job satisfaction? The mediating role of work-family enrichment
Authors: Premchandran Rajesh , Priyadarshi Pushpendra
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of personality and individual differences as an antecedent to work-family enrichment (WFE) and consequently with job satisfaction. This study address gaps in WFE literature by looking at proactivity, work-family self-efficacy (WFSE) and family permeability as antecedent variables that have received scant attention from researchers. By addressing these gaps, the study seeks to advance theory on WFE and its relation to job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors do this through the exploration of pathways through WFE and studying 508 married individuals, with at least one child, working in the IT/ITES sector in India. The authors use structural equation modeling to analyze different pathways from personality based antecedents and WFE as mediator.

Findings

The results demonstrate the mediating role of WFE in the relationship between antecedents (WFSE, family permeability and proactive personality) and job satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to existing research on WFE and personality by showing that WFE is a significant pathway toward job satisfaction and how personality variables influence satisfaction.

Originality/value

It is also the first study to use proactivity and WFSE as antecedents to test out the influence of WFE on job satisfaction. This is also the first study to look at only married individuals with children in a WFE study forced on the services sector. Consequently, these findings have significant implications in the way organizations deal with work-life situations, especially in the 30+ age bracket in India.
Free convection heat transfer and entropy generation analysis of water-Fe3O4/CNT hybrid nanofluid in a concentric annulus
Authors: Shahsavar Amin , Talebizadeh Sardari Pouyan , Toghraie D.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to numerically investigate the heat transfer and entropy generation characteristics of water-based hybrid nanofluid in natural convection flow inside a concentric horizontal annulus.

Design/methodology/approach

The hybrid nanofluid is prepared by suspending tetramethylammonium hydroxide-coated Fe3O4 (magnetite) nanoparticles and gum arabic (GA)-coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in water. The effects of nanoparticle volume concentration and Rayleigh number on the streamlines, isotherms, average Nusselt number and the thermal, frictional and total entropy generation rates are investigated comprehensively.

Findings

Results show the advantageous effect of hybrid nanofluid on the average Nusselt number. Furthermore, the study of entropy generation shows the increment of both frictional and thermal entropy generation rates by increasing Fe3O4 and CNT concentrations at various Rayleigh numbers. Increasing Rayleigh number from 103 to 105, at Fe3O4 concentration of 0.9 per cent and CNT concentration of 1.35 per cent, increases the average Nusselt number, thermal entropy generation rate and frictional entropy generation rate by 224.95, 224.65 and 155.25 per cent, respectively. Moreover, increasing the Fe3O4 concentration from 0.5 to 0.9 per cent, at Rayleigh number of 105 and CNT concentration of 1.35 per cent, intensifies the average Nusselt number, thermal entropy generation rate and frictional entropy generation rate by 18.36, 22.78 and 72.7 per cent, respectively.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the authors, there are not any archival publications considering the detailed behaviour of the natural convective heat transfer and entropy generation of hybrid nanofluid in a concentric annulus.
Effect of MoS2 on transfer film formation and friction coefficients in NAO friction material
Authors: Chung Jin Oh , Go Sang Ryul , Kim Jeong Hee , Choi Jong Geun , Kim Hyang Rae , Choi Hee Bum
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate surroundings for transfer film formation and removal, the effect of the transfer film formation on friction coefficients, the effect of four different abrasive components, ZrO2, ZrSiO4, Al2O3 and Fe3O4, on transfer film formation and the effect of lubricating component MoS2 on transfer film formation and friction coefficients.

Design/methodology/approach

Two different MoS2 contents of 5.5 and 8.5 per cent were added to friction materials with no MoS2 content, which have four different abrasive components, ZrO2, ZrSiO4, Al2O3, Fe3O4. Friction tests composed of three different stages were conducted for those materials, and the friction surfaces of the counterpart disks were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to access the formation of transfer film at each stage.

Findings

For the transfer film formation, high temperature was a prerequisite, but the magnitude of deceleration rate was not important. The effect of the transfer film formation was to reduce the friction coefficients for most friction materials. Friction coefficients of materials which contain lubricating component MoS2 were higher than those which contain no MoS2 for most friction materials. The effect of the lubricating component MoS2 was to suppress the formation of transfer film, thus resulting in increase in friction coefficients.

Research limitations/implications

The transfer film was rather thin, with thickness of 1-2 µm for most friction materials. That hindered the examination of mechanical properties of the transfer film, such as hardness.

Practical implications

This research explained the surroundings for transfer film formation, and its effect on friction coefficients. The research suggests to suppress the formation of transfer film to make friction materials with high friction coefficient, and the lubricating component MoS2 can be used for the purpose.

Social implications

Development of high-friction-brake materials conventionally depends on the use of strong abrasive components, which may induce attacking of counterpart disks. The enhancement of friction coefficients with addition of MoS2 content is expected to open a new prospect in development of high-performance friction materials, which can be applicable to brake pads for racing cars.

Originality/value

The study is in pursuit of the transfer film formation in successive friction stages, which revealed the conditions for transfer film generation and removal. Specimen preparation for SEM observation of cross section of friction surface was painstaking to not damage the developed friction surface. The study revealed the effect of different abrasive components on transfer film formation and the effect of lubrication contents of MoS2 on transfer film formation and friction coefficients.
Thermal-fluid-solid coupling deformation of hydrostatic thrust bearing friction pairs
Authors: Yu Mubing , Yu Xiaodong , Zheng Xuhang , Jiang Hui
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study thermal-fluid-solid coupling deformation and friction failure mechanism of bearing friction pairs under the working conditions of high speed and heavy load.

Design/methodology/approach

The deformation is simulated based on thermal-fluid-solid coupling method, its deformation distribution law is revealed and the relationships of deformation of friction pairs, rotational speed and bearing weight are obtained.

Findings

The results prove that the oil film temperature rises sharply, the lubricating oil viscosity decreases rapidly, the film thickness becomes thinner, the deformation increases, the whole deformation is uneven and the boundary lubrication or dry friction are caused with the increase in rotational speed and bearing load.

Originality/value

The conclusions provide theoretical method for deformation solution and friction failure mechanism of hydrostatic thrust bearing.
Chinese construction worker reluctance toward vocational skill training
Authors: Wang Xiaoli , Wang Xincheng , Huang Yu
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Though most construction workers in China possess minimal skillset, they are reluctant to attend vocational skill training sponsored by the government or enterprises. This paper aims to examine their willingness to attend the training from workers’ individual perspectives.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors interviewed 492 construction workers on topics concerning their age, education, work tenure, technological level, daily wages, apprenticeship duration, apprentice channels and training experience; this information was then logistically analyzed to reveal if it influences construction workers’ willingness to attend training courses.

Findings

The results show that in a variety of possible influencing factors, technological level, apprenticeship duration and education are the most significant ones that affect construction workers’ willingness to attend vocational training. Technological level makes the greatest contribution to workers’ willingness to attend training, yet the effect of training experience and daily wages is minimal.

Practical implications

To achieve sustainability in construction labor management, it is important to shed light on what influences worker’s willingness to attend training programs and take some efficient steps to address these issues.

Originality/value

This paper provides a new insight into the workers’ willingness to attend vocational skill training programs in the Chinse construction industry and suggests some practical implications for professionals and policymakers. Furthermore, the findings could prove valuable to other countries or industries, especially those sharing similarities to the Chinese construction industry.
An integrated sustainable supplier selection approach using compensatory and non-compensatory decision methods
Authors: Yu Chunxia , Zhao Wenfan , Li Ming
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Due to the increasing awareness of environmental and social issues, many practitioners and researchers have paid attention to sustainable supply chain management. As the performance of suppliers determines the success of supply chains, sustainable supplier selection becomes more and more important. Existing sustainable supplier selection models evaluated the sustainability of suppliers in three aspects (economic, environmental and social) and assumed that values on different criteria can completely compensate for each other directly. However, in reality, criteria in economic, environmental and social aspects are heterogeneous, and the decision-maker’s preferences on criteria belonging to different aspects are different. In this case, values on criteria belonging to different aspects are not allowed to completely compensate for each other directly. To solve this problem, this paper aims to propose a hybrid sustainable supplier selection approach integrating compensatory and non-compensatory decision rules.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed approach, the compensatory decision method Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution is used to evaluate performances of suppliers with respect to economic, environmental and social aspects. The non-compensatory decision method Elimination and Choice Translating Reality is used to evaluate performances of suppliers on sustainable criteria comprehensively. Through the proposed approach, only criteria belonging to the same aspects are allowed to compensate for each other directly. Finally, experimental results show that the proposed integrated approach is effective and efficient to help the decision-maker select optimal sustainable suppliers.

Findings

This is an original approach that integrates compensatory and non-compensatory decision rules, which can benefit from the two kinds of decision rules simultaneously. The integrated approach can be used as an aid for companies to select the best sustainable suppliers.

Originality/value

This paper presents an original integrated sustainable supplier selection approach using both compensatory and non-compensatory methods. It can benefit from the advantages of both compensatory and non-compensatory methods. The proposed approach can express preferences of the decision-maker on sustainable criteria sufficiently and maximize economic benefits while meeting environmental needs.
Benefits and challenges of BIBFRAME
Authors: Park Jung-Ran , Richards Lorraine L. , Brenza Andrew
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the potential strengths and weaknesses of the BIBFRAME bibliographic model and outline its purpose and key features. In addition, it discusses specific aspects of the model with respect to the pre-existing models of bibliographic description.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of source and secondary materials regarding BIBFRAME was undertaken, and a comparison of the conclusions derived from this literature was made to the pre-existing models of bibliographic description.

Findings

If the BIBFRAME Initiative can overcome what will likely be some significant challenges to the development and implementation of the model, BIBFRAME appears to be poised to become the next standard of bibliographic description and exchange for the library community.

Research limitations/implications

The findings and conclusions of this paper are based upon an in-depth literature review, not on theoretical or empirical derivations or examples. As a result, further research of both theoretical and empirical natures need to be developed.

Practical implications

BIBFRAME may well become the next standard of bibliographic description and exchange for the library community, leading to significant changes in cataloging practices over the years.

Social implications

To the extent that BIBFRAME can expand discovery mechanisms, the vast array of information currently available to information seekers will open up in previously unthought of ways.

Originality/value

This paper synthesizes a literature that was developed during a more preliminary design of the bibliographic model BIBFRAME and adds to the literature by discussing newer capabilities that have been designed into BIBFRAME 2.0.
Big data for business management in the retail industry
Authors: Santoro Gabriele , Fiano Fabio , Bertoldi Bernardo , Ciampi Francesco
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on how big data deployment transforms organizational practices, thereby generating potential benefits, in a specific industry: retail.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the paper’s goal, the authors have conducted several semi-structured interviews with marketing managers of four retailers in Italy, and researched secondary data to get a broader picture of big data deployment in the organizations.

Findings

Data analysis helped identify specific aspects related to big data deployment, data gathering methods, required competences and data sharing approaches.

Originality/value

Despite the growing interest in big data in various fields of research, there are still few empirical studies on big data deployment in organizations in the management field, and even fewer on specific sectors. This research provides evidence of specific areas of analysis concerning big data in the retail industry.
The relation between entrepreneurship and rural poverty alleviation in China
Authors: Naminse Eric Yaw , Zhuang Jincai , Zhu Fangyang
Published: November 2018

Purpose

There is a recent growing interest to find a lasting intervention to rural poverty (RP) in developing countries based on farmer entrepreneurship and innovation. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to examine the relation between entrepreneurship and RP alleviation in two resource-constrained provinces of China. This paper assesses the influence of three capabilities of farm entrepreneurs – educational, economic and socio-cultural – on farmer entrepreneurship growth and how these, in turn, impact alleviation of RP.

Design/methodology/approach

Household survey data comprising 363 respondents were taken from four deprived communities in two provinces of China. The paper employed structural equation modeling (SEM), using AMOS 21.0 alongside SPSS 20.0 to test the relations between the constructs.

Findings

The results show that a statistically significant and positive relation exists between entrepreneurship and RP alleviation in China. The findings of the study further reveal that qualitative growth of entrepreneurship has a stronger positive influence on RP alleviation than on quantitative growth, and socio-cultural capabilities of respondents significantly and positively affect entrepreneurial growth of farmers, rather than education and economic capabilities.

Research limitations/implications

The use of data from four communities in two provinces tends to limit the ability to generalize the findings of the study. Furthermore, the survey did not collect information on non-farm entrepreneurs, making it impossible to compare the findings from farm entrepreneurs with non-farm entrepreneurs.

Practical implications

The findings have practical implications for policy makers in rural China toward addressing targeted RP. This paper, therefore, suggests that entrepreneurship should be pursued vigorously among farmers in rural areas of China to help solve poverty. The paper also presents a useful lesson for various stakeholders in poverty alleviation programs in other developing countries.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the academic literature on the entrepreneurship–RP alleviation nexus by combining the theory of capability and SEM in the analysis of an emerging economy such as China.
Research on the performance of a novel SPR sensor based on graded index multimode fiber
Authors: Liu Chunlan , Wei Yong , Su Yudong , Liu Hao , Zhang Yonghui , Nie Xiangfei
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to propose and demonstrate a novel surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-sensing approach by using the fundamental mode beam based on a graded index multimode fiber (GIF). The proposed SPR sensor has high sensitivity and controllable working dynamic range, which expects to solve the two bottlenecks of fiber SPR sensor, including low sensitivity and the difficulty in multichannel detection.

Design/methodology/approach

The low-order mode of the GIF to SPR sense, which keeps the sensitivity advantage of the single-mode fiber SPR sensor, is used. By using this new SPR sensor, the effect of light incident angle and gold film thickness on working dynamic range was studied. According to the study results, the smaller is the incident angle, the larger is the SPR working dynamic range and the longer is the resonance wavelength with a fixed gold film thickness; the larger is the gold film thickness, the longer is the resonance wavelength with a fixed grinding angle. After the parameter optimization, the sensitivity of these two parameter-adjusting methods reach 4,442 and 3031 nm/RIU.

Originality/value

When the grinding angle of the GIF increases, the dynamic range of the resonance wavelength increases and has a redshift, sensitivity increases, and the resonance valley becomes more unobvious with a fixed gold film thickness. Similarly, when gold film thickness increases, the dynamic range of the resonance wavelength increases and has a redshift, sensitivity increases, and the resonance valley becomes more unobvious with a fixed grinding angle. These adjusting performance aforementioned lay the foundation for solving of the fiber-based SPR multichannel detection and increasing of the fiber-based SPR sensor sensitivity, which has a good application value.
Residents’ perceptions and attitudes towards future tourism development
Authors: Cardoso Carla , Silva Mónica
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present the results of a quantitative survey among 140 residents of the city of Porto.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is a revision of literature and illustration of results of empirical study.

Findings

The majority of Porto residents consider that tourism brings significant economic benefits and supports the wider social and cultural development of the city, and they consider the overall impact of tourism to be beneficial.

Practical implications

The paper identifies potential issues and problems and possible mitigating measures.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights based on a quantitative survey among 140 residents of the city of Porto.
Choice of processing techniques among rice processors in Nigeria
Authors: Obisesan Omobolaji Olubukunmi , Salman Kabir Kayode , Adenegan Kemisola O. , Obi-Egbedi Ghene Oghenerueme
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Rice processing, an important feature in rice production involving the transformation of harvested paddy into edible rice, is dependent on the type of rice processing techniques used. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the choice of processing techniques among rice processors in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was carried out in Nigeria using structured questionnaires among 410 rice processors selected from four states (Ebonyi, Ekiti, Ogun and Nasarawa) from three geo-political zones (Southeast, Southwest and North-central) of Nigeria. Information on socio-economic characteristics (age, sex, household size, marital status and education) and processing characteristics (experience, paddy source, processing activities, processing techniques, credit and distance) were obtained. Data were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression model at 0.05.

Findings

The mean age of processors was 47.8±9.9 years, mean household size was 6.5±4.2 persons and 88.7 percent were married. In total, 73.6 percent had formal education and mean years of experience was 16.4±9.2 years. Main processing activities were parboiling and drying (50.0 percent); milling (40.0 percent); and de-stoning (10.0 percent). In all, 65.7, 20.4 and 13.9 percent used traditional and modern techniques (TMTs), traditional techniques (TTs) and purely modern techniques (PMTs), respectively. The probability of choice of TT relative to TMT reduced by years of education (4.5 percent), paddy source (1.8 percent) and distance to processing center (4.4 percent), while probability of choice of PMT relative to TMT increased for male processors (7.3 percent), membership of association(18.0 percent) and other income sources (6.2 percent).

Research limitations/implications

Level of education of processors and reduction in the distance taken to paddy source reduced choice of TTs.

Practical implications

Other income sources increased the choice of PMTs of rice processing in Nigeria.

Social implications

Processors with high level of education, who also engage in other income generating activities, were able to choose modern processing techniques.

Originality/value

This research was an original research carried out among rice processors in Nigeria.
Prepregnancy maternal body mass index and venous thromboembolism: a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Butwick AJ , Bentley J , Leonard SA , Carmichael SL , El‐Sayed YY , Stephansson O , Guo N
Published: November 2018

Objective

To assess the relation between maternal body mass index (BMI) and pregnancy‐related venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Design

Cohort study.

Setting and population

A total of 2 449 133 women with singleton pregnancies who underwent delivery hospitalisation in California between 2008 and 2012.

Methods

Association of pre‐pregnancy BMI and the risk of an antepartum and postpartum VTE was examined using logistic regression, with normal BMI as reference.

Main outcome measures

Antepartum and postpartum VTE‐related hospitalisation.

Results

The prevalence of antepartum and postpartum VTE increased with increasing BMI (antepartum: 2.3, 3.0, 3.8, 4.2, 4.7, and 10.6 per 10 000 women for underweight, normal BMI, overweight, obesity class I, II, and III, respectively, P < 0.001; postpartum: 2.0, 3.1, 3.9, 5.6, 9.0, and 13.2 per 10 000 women, P < 0.01). The adjusted odds of antepartum and postpartum VTE increased progressively with increasing BMI, with obesity class III women having the highest risk of pregnancy‐related VTE compared with normal BMI women: adjusted odds ratio for antepartum VTE: 2.9; 95% CI 2.2–3.8 and adjusted odds ratio for postpartum VTE: 3.6; 95% CI 2.9–4.6.

Conclusions

Our findings clearly demonstrate an increasing risk of pregnancy‐related VTE with increasing BMI.

Tweetable abstract

Obesity was associated with increased odds of antepartum and postpartum venous thromboembolism.
Founder relationships and conservation management: empirical kinships reveal the effect on breeding programmes when founders are assumed to be unrelated
Authors: Hogg C. J. , Wright B. , Morris K. M. , Lee A. V. , Ivy J. A. , Grueber C. E. , Belov K.
Published: November 2018

Conservation breeding programmes have become widespread as natural habitats shrink, and have been historically managed using pedigree data and an assumption that population founders are unrelated. Molecular genotyping is able to determine founder relatedness, but is rarely used. To empirically test the impact of assuming founders to be unrelated, we utilized data from 203 founding individuals and 11 subsequent years of breeding records for the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) insurance population. We integrated molecular data (N = 119 founders) and detailed trapping information (N = 203 founders) to test how founder relationship assumptions impacted the genetic characteristics of the population over time (N = 942 unique individuals). We developed a method to combine molecular kinship (using the TrioML estimator), year of birth and trapping location, and integrated the resulting empirical kinship estimates into population management software. We tested the effect of using pedigree data only, versus our integrated approach, on population outcomes. Inbreeding coefficients evaluated using the integrated approach were significantly higher than pedigree‐only inbreeding coefficients in the first few years following population establishment. A geographic distance‐only approach showed an association between kinship and probability of successful breeding. Our results show the value in using field and/or molecular data combined with pedigree data in conservation breeding programmes to provide new information for managing crucial populations and improving their success. We caution population managers against commencing expensive conservation breeding programmes in the absence of understanding founder relatedness, especially when wild augmentation is a goal. Long‐term costs of assuming founders are unrelated include financial costs, reduced productivity and release of potentially highly inbred individuals.
“Documenting Tragedy”: Ethnography and the (Hidden) Costs of Bearing Witness
Authors: Bonet Sally Wesley , McWilliams Julia Ann
Published: November 2018

This article examines the affective registers of conducting research with vulnerable populations. We examine the challenges of conducting ethnographies with peoples that are living in conditions of chronic poverty, oppression, and political upheaval. Reversing the ethnographic lens from the participant onto the researcher, we investigate the humanity and the vulnerability of the anthropologist to highlight the emotional journey that accompanies such work.
Pre‐operative fasting in adults and children: clinical practice and guidelines
Authors: Fawcett W. J. , Thomas M.
Published: November 2018

It is widely recognised that prolonged fasting for elective surgery in both children and adults serves no purpose, adversely affects patient well‐being and can be detrimental. Although advised fasting times for solids remain unchanged, there is good evidence to support a 1‐h fast for children, with no increase in risk of pulmonary aspiration. In adults, a major focus has been the introduction of carbohydrate loading before anaesthesia, so that patients arrive for surgery not only hydrated but also in a more normal metabolic state. The latter attenuates some of the physiological responses to surgery, such as insulin resistance. As in children, there is no increase in risk of pulmonary aspiration. Further data are required to guide best practice in patients with diabetes.
Validation of data submitted by the treating surgeon in the Victorian Audit of Surgical Mortality
Authors: Hansen Dylan , Hansen Emma , Retegan Claudia , Morphet Julia , Beiles Charles Barry
Published: November 2018

Background

The Victorian Audit of Surgical Mortality (VASM) seeks to peer review all deaths associated with surgical care in Victoria, Australia. The effectiveness of the VASM as an educational and quality improvement tool is dependent on the accuracy of source data it receives. We aimed to examine the accuracy and quality of source data provided by the treating surgeon for peer review, and the inter‐rater concordance level between the external validator findings and the treating surgeon.

Methods

Of the 629 cases that completed the VASM audit second‐line peer review process over a 4‐year period (from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2016), a total of 32 (5%) were randomly selected for the external validation process. The blinded external validator was impartial to the VASM audit, and was provided only de‐identified patient medical records. The analysis for the checked and validated data points and their concordance was determined using Gwet's agreement coefficient, which provides a stable inter‐rater reliability coefficient not affected by prevalence and marginal probability.

Results

The inter‐rater concordance analysis suggested that there is a high level of agreement (82.9% overall) between the treating surgeon and external validator. The use of thromboembolism deterrent stockings was the only variable where agreement was poor (52.4%) with a Gwet score of 0.10 (−0.40 to 0.60).

Conclusion

The inter‐rater concordance analysis results support the validity of the VASM process, which is dependent on the accuracy of data submitted by the treating surgeon.
Glove change to reduce the risk of surgical site infection or prosthetic joint infection in arthroplasty surgeries: a systematic review
Authors: Kim Katy , Zhu Mark , Munro Jacob T. , Young Simon W.
Published: November 2018

Background

Microbiological contamination of surgical gloves occurs during surgery, which may warrant glove change during orthopaedic surgeries. However, no systematic review of this topic has previously been published. Therefore, this review evaluated whether changing gloves during arthroplasty surgeries reduces the risk of surgical site infection/prosthetic joint infection (SSI/PJI) and the optimal frequency of glove change.

Methods

Search terms such as surgical gloves, surgical site infections, prosthesis‐related infections, arthroplasty were used, including Medical Subject Headings terms. Of the 89 articles screened, 12 articles were included for qualitative synthesis.

Results

No studies measured the direct effect of glove change on PJI rate. Therefore, microbiological contamination and perforation rate of gloves were used as surrogate outcomes. Eight studies evaluated microbiological contamination of surgical gloves, with rates ranging from 3.4 to 30%. Five contamination studies recommended changing gloves after draping and before handling implants. One randomized controlled trial also recommended changing gloves at least once an hour regardless of surgical stages. Five studies recommended changing gloves to prevent perforation, with recommendations ranging from 20 to 90 min. Furthermore, one study advised change of gloves after resection of bone and before implantation.

Conclusion

As microbiological contamination rates of gloves increase with duration of surgery, glove changes are recommended at least once per hour. Furthermore, gloves should be changed after draping, before handling implants and if visible perforation is seen to reduce contamination. Due to the lack of studies with SSI/PJI as primary outcomes, we cannot draw a definitive conclusion regarding the effectiveness of changing gloves in reducing the risk of SSI/PJI in arthroplasty.
Examining the relationship between complications and perioperative mortality following radical cystectomy: a population‐based analysis
Authors: Mossanen Matthew , Krasnow Ross E. , Zlatev Dimitar V. , Tan Wei Shen , Preston Mark A. , Trinh Quoc‐Dien , Kibel Adam S. , Sonpavde Guru , Schrag Deborah , Chung Benjamin I. , Chang Steven L.
Published: November 2018

Objective

To examine the incidence of perioperative complications after radical cystectomy (RC) and assess their impact on 90‐day postoperative mortality during the index stay and upon readmission.

Patients and methods

A total of 57 553 patients with bladder cancer (unweighted cohort: 9137 patients) treated with RC, at 360 hospitals in the USA between 2005 and 2013 within the Premier Healthcare Database, were used for analysis. The 90‐day perioperative mortality was the primary outcome. Multivariable regression was used to predict the probability of mortality; models were adjusted for patient, hospital, and surgical characteristics.

Results

An increase in the number of complications resulted in an increasing predicted probability of mortality, with a precipitous increase if patients had four or more complications compared to one complication during hospitalisation following RC (index stay; 1.0–9.7%, P < 0.001) and during readmission (2.0–13.1%, P < 0.001). A readmission complication nearly doubled the predicted probability of postoperative mortality as compared to an initial complication (3.9% vs 7.4%, P < 0.001). During the initial hospitalisation cardiac‐ (odds ratio [OR] 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9–5.1), pulmonary‐ (OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.8–8.4), and renal‐related (OR 3.6, 95% CI 2–6.7) complications had the most significant impact on the odds of mortality across categories examined.

Conclusions

The number and nature of complications have a distinct impact on mortality after RC. As complications increase there is an associated increase in perioperative mortality.
Detection of circulating tumor cells with a novel microfluidic system in malignant pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Yoneda Kazue , Kuwata Taiji , Chikaishi Yasuhiro , Mori Masataka , Kanayama Masatoshi , Takenaka Masaru , Oka Soichi , Hirai Ayako , Imanishi Naoko , Kuroda Koji , Ichiki Yoshinobu , Ohnaga Takashi , Tanaka Fumihiro
Published: November 2018

Detection of rare tumor cells circulating in the blood (CTCs) presents technical challenges. CellSearch, the only approved system for clinical use, fails to capture epithelial cell adhesion molecule‐negative CTCs such as malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). We have developed a novel microfluidic device (CTC‐chip) in which any Ab to capture CTCs is conjugated. The CTC‐chip was coated with an Ab against podoplanin that is abundantly expressed on MPM. Circulating tumor cell‐detection performance was evaluated in experimental models in which MPM cells were spiked in blood sampled from a healthy volunteer and in clinical samples drawn from MPM patients. The CTC‐chip showed superior CTC‐detection performance over CellSearch in experimental models (sensitivity, 63.3%‐64.5% vs 0%‐1.1%; P < .001) and in clinical samples (CTC‐positivity, 68.8% vs 6.3%; P < .001). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the CTC test provided a significant diagnostic performance in discrimination of unresectable disease from resectable disease (area under the ROC curve, 0.851; P = .003). The higher CTC count (≥2 cells/mL) was significantly associated with a poor prognosis (P = .030). The novel CTC‐chip enabled sensitive detection of CTCs, which provided significant diagnostic and prognostic information in MPM.
Cyclohexanone curcumin analogs inhibit the progression of castration‐resistant prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Mapoung Sariya , Suzuki Shugo , Fuji Satoshi , Naiki‐Ito Aya , Kato Hiroyuki , Yodkeeree Supachai , Ovatlarnporn Chitchamai , Takahashi Satoru , Limtrakul (Dejkriengkraikul) Pornngarm
Published: November 2018

Many prostate cancer patients develop resistance to treatment called castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) which is the major cause of recurrence and death. In the present study, four cyclohexanone curcumin analogs were synthesized. Additionally, their anticancer progression activity on CRPC cell lines, PC3 and PLS10 cells, was examined. We first determined their anti‐metastasis properties and found that 2,6‐bis‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐benzylidene)‐cyclohexanone (2A) and 2,6‐bis‐(3,4‐dihydroxy‐benzylidene)‐cyclohexanone (2F) showed higher anti‐invasion properties against CRPC cells than curcumin. Analog 2A inhibited both MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 secretions and activities, whereas analog 2F reduced only MMP activities. These findings suggest that the compounds may inhibit CRPC cell metastasis by decreased extracellular matrix degradation. Analog 2A, the most potent analog, was then subjected to an in vivo study. Similar to curcumin, analog 2A was detectable in the serum of mice at 30 and 60 minutes after i.p. injections. Analog 2A and curcumin (30 mg/kg bodyweight) showed a similar ability to reduce tumor area in lungs of mice that were i.v. injected with PLS10 cells. Additionally, analog 2A showed superior growth inhibitory effect on PLS10 cells than that of curcumin both in vitro and in vivo. The compound inhibited PLS10 cells growth by induction of G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in vitro. Interestingly, analog 2A significantly decreased tumor growth with downregulation of cell proliferation and angiogenesis in PLS10‐bearing mice. Taken together, we could summarize that analog 2A showed promising activities in inhibiting CRPC progression both in vitro and in vivo.
Lymph node resection induces the activation of tumor cells in the lungs
Authors: Sukhbaatar Ariunbuyan , Mori Shiro , Saiki Yuriko , Takahashi Tetsu , Horii Akira , Kodama Tetsuya
Published: November 2018

Lymph node (LN) dissection is a crucial procedure for cancer staging, diagnosis and treatment, and for predicting patient survival. Activation of lung metastatic lesions after LN dissection has been described for head and neck cancer and breast cancer. Preclinical studies have reported that dissection of a tumor‐bearing LN is involved in the activation and rapid growth of latent tumor metastases in distant organs, but it is also important to understand how normal (non‐tumor‐bearing) LN resection influences secondary cancer formation. Here, we describe how the resection of tumor‐bearing and non‐tumor‐bearing LN affects distant metastases in MXH10/Mo‐lpr/lpr mice. Tumor cells were administered intravenously and/or intranodally into the right subiliac lymph node (SiLN) to create a mouse model of lung metastasis. Luciferase imaging revealed that tumor cells in the lung were activated after resection of the SiLN, irrespective of whether it contained tumor cells. No luciferase activity was detected in the lungs of mice that did not undergo LN resection (excluding the intravenous inoculation group). Our results indicate that resection of an LN can activate distant metastases regardless of whether the LN contains tumor cells. Hence, lung metastatic lesions are suppressed while metastatic LN are present but activated after LN resection. If this phenomenon occurs in patients with cancer, it is likely that lung metastatic lesions may be activated by elective LN dissection in clinical N0 cases. The development of minimally invasive cancer therapy without surgery would help to minimize the risk of activation of distant metastatic lesions by LN resection.
Induction of a thoracolumbar supernumerary rib in rat developmental toxicity studies: A short discussion on the critical window
Authors: Kuwagata Makiko , Senuma Mika , Todoroki Mai , Kumagai Fumiaki , Kumamoto Takayuki , Ogawa Tetsuo
Published: November 2018

Thoracolumbar supernumerary ribs (TSRs) are classified as less severe skeletal anomalies in rat developmental toxicity studies, although their incidence is relatively high in rodent studies. To investigate the characteristics of the critical window for chemically‐induced TSR, in this study, rats were administered 5‐fluorocytocine (5‐FC) or sodium salicylate (SAL) at one of three time periods on gestational day (GD) 9, early morning (7:00 am), midday (12:00 pm to 1:00 pm), or late afternoon (4:00 pm or 7:00 pm). The incidence of TSR and other anomalies were assessed in GD20 fetuses. A single treatment with both chemicals on GD9‐induced TSR, with the incidence highest when administered at 7:00 Am, decreasing gradually when administered later. This trajectory was clearer in rats treated with 5‐FC than with SAL. The critical period of TSR induction is shorter in rats administered 5‐FC than SAL. The characteristics of the critical window may cause variability in the incidence of TSR observed in developmental toxicity studies.
THE EFFECT OF MARIJUANA DISPENSARY OPENINGS ON HOUSING PRICES
Authors: Burkhardt Jesse , Flyr Matthew
Published: November 2018

We evaluate the effect of medical and recreational dispensary openings on housing prices in Denver, Colorado. Using an event study approach, we find that the introduction of a new dispensary within a half‐mile radius of a new home increases home prices by approximately 7.7% on average. The effect diminishes for homes further from new dispensaries but is consistent over time. Our results provide important and timely empirical evidence on the socioeconomic impacts of marijuana legalization. (JEL R32, R38, R5)
Digital cytopathology: A constant evolution (Comments on Capitanio et al. Digital cytology: A short review of technical and methodological approaches and applications)
Authors: Van Es Simone L. , White Vanessa , Ross Jennifer , Greaves Janelle , Gay Stephanie , Holzhauser Derek , Badrick Tony
Published: November 2018

Capitanio et al provide a succinct review of digital cytopathology technology with particularly good overviews of scanner focusing methodologies as well as explanations of deep focusing techniques. The aim of this letter to the editor is to briefly comment and expand on some of the information provided by these authors.
Unprecedented problems and troubleshooting during over‐the‐scope clip system use: Suction error and suture cutting procedure
Authors: Tashima Tomoaki , Nonaka Kouichi , Ryozawa Shomei
Published: November 2018

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