bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Children and the dynamics of poverty and social exclusion: empirical evidence for Portugal
Authors: Bastos Amélia , Machado Carla
Published: August 2018

Purpose

While the literature commonly analyses child poverty and social exclusion data covering a single year, less is known about children who fall in and out of poverty over a longer period. The present research intends to address this gap by investigating the dynamics of child poverty and social exclusion in Portugal. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate child poverty and social exclusion trajectories; and second to examine their association with specific socio-demographic and economic factors.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying the definition of “at risk of poverty or social exclusion” given by Statistical Office of the European Communities (EUROSTAT), the analysis extends beyond the concept of income poverty. The authors apply Portuguese data sourced from the European Statistics on Income and Living Conditions for the period 2008–2011 to suggest a longitudinal poverty and social exclusion typology to analyse child poverty and social exclusion dynamics.

Findings

The findings report that children constitute the age group experiencing the worst poverty and social exclusion trajectories. Furthermore, the presence of children in the household seems to be an increasing factor of poverty and social exclusion. This information is relevant to improving the design of children and family-focussed social policies as well as contributing to the setting of targets in order to achieve EU 2020 goals including the alleviation of poverty in general and of child poverty in particular.

Originality/value

The main contribution to child poverty studies derives from our analysis of the dynamics driving child poverty and social exclusion. The authors apply a methodological framework that is applicable to other EU member states and can thus enable an international comparison of poverty and social exclusion trajectories.
Performance of microfinance institutions in the MENA region: a comparative analysis
Authors: Ben Abdelkader Ines , Mansouri Faysal
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide preliminary efficiency assessment of Arab microfinance institutions (MFIs) within the period 2002–2012. Microfinance is defined as the provision of financial services to poor and low-income households and their microenterprises on a sustainable basis.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors first present the main features of microfinance in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Second, based on a simple of 72 microfinance institutions issued from ten countries of the region, they develop a bootstrap–data envelopment analysis (bootstrap–DEA) framework to measure Arab MFIs’ efficiency. Finally, they apply parametric and non-parametric tests to compare the performance and identify factors that contribute to the efficiency of Arab Islamic microfinance institutions.

Findings

Efficiency scores of the MENA region exhibit high variability, both across time and countries. Significant difference in efficiency was found due to MFI age or regulation. Results also reveal the ability of Arab MFIs to combine social and financial performance and their solidity in time of crisis.

Originality/value

In this paper, the authors apply DEA–bootstrap method on a large sample of Arab MFI with special look at the peer group differences. Unlike most previous relevant studies, the paper overcomes many of the drawbacks of the DEA method by using, in addition to the DEA–bootstrap approach, a test of return to scale and a combination of three procedures to detect outliers. Furthermore, this paper analyses the efficiency of MFI in the MENA region in the light of financial crises and Arab Spring.
Citizens’ intention to use and recommend e-participation
Authors: Naranjo-Zolotov Mijail , Oliveira Tiago , Casteleyn Sven
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how citizens’ perception of empowerment can influence the intention to use and intention to recommend e-participation.

Design/methodology/approach

A research model is evaluated using structural equation modelling. An online survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 210 users of e-participation.

Findings

The results show that psychological empowerment influences the intention to use and recommend e-participation. Performance expectancy and facilitating conditions were the strongest predictors of intention to use; effort expectancy and social influence had no significant effect on the prediction of intention to use e-participation.

Research limitations/implications

The use of psychological empowerment as a higher-order multidimensional construct is still insufficiently researched. Future research may explore the effect of each dimension of psychological empowerment in different scenarios of e-participation adoption. Caution is needed when generalising our findings towards the adoption of e-participation in different locations or with different participants.

Practical implications

The findings can help the local governments to design strategies for the promotion and diffusion of e-participation amongst the citizenry. Those strategies should focus on citizens’ perception of empowerment, thereby creating a positive attitude towards intention to use and recommend e-participation.

Originality/value

An innovative research model integrates the unified theory of acceptance, use of technology and psychological empowerment; the last as a higher-order construct.
Examining employee security violations: moral disengagement and its environmental influences
Authors: Herath Tejaswini , Yim Myung-Seong , D’Arcy John , Nam Kichan , Rao H.R.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Employee security behaviors are the cornerstone for achieving holistic organizational information security. Recent studies in the information systems (IS) security literature have used neutralization and moral disengagement (MD) perspectives to examine employee rationalizations of noncompliant security behaviors. Extending this prior work, the purpose of this paper is to identify mechanisms of security education, training, and awareness (SETA) programs and deterrence as well as employees’ organizational commitment in influencing MD of security policy violations and develop a theoretical model to test the proposed relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors validate and test the model using the data collected from six large multinational organizations in Korea using survey-based methodology. The model was empirically analyzed by structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results suggest that security policy awareness (PA) plays a central role in reducing MD of security policy violations and that the certainty of punishment and immediacy of enforcing penalties are instrumental toward reducing such MD; however, the higher severity of penalties does not have an influence. The findings also suggest that SETA programs are an important mechanism in creating security PA.

Originality/value

The paper expands the literature in IS security that has examined the role of moral evaluations. Drawing upon MD theory and social cognitive theory, the paper points to the central role of SETA and security PA in reducing MD of security policy violations, and ultimately the likelihood of this behavior. The paper not only contributes to theory but also provides important insights for practice.
Moving beyond the hard boundary
Authors: Egberts Linde
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the consequences of a nature-culture divide in spatial policy on cultural heritage in the Dutch Wadden Sea area, which is protected by UNESCO for its ecological assets.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates this by discussing the international and national policy frameworks and regional examples of the consequences of the divide.

Findings

The effects of the nature-culture divide appear to be negative for the landscape. Approaching the Wadden Sea Region as an agricultural-maritime landscape could help overcome the fixation on nature vs culture and the hardness of the sea dikes as spatial boundaries between the two domains. A reconsideration of the trilateral Wadden Sea region as a mixed World Heritage Site could lead to a more integrated perspective.

Originality/value

These findings inform policy development and the management of landscape and heritage in the region. This case forms an example for other European coastal regions that struggle with conflicting natural and cultural-historical interests.
Stimulating growth and improving the delivery of housing microfinance interventions
Authors: Bondinuba Francis Kwesi , Opoku Alex , Owusu-Manu Degraft , Donkor-Hyiaman Kenneth Appiah
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The emergence of housing microfinance (HMF) as a response to the low-income groups’ inability to access traditional housing finance is an innovative strategy by creative Microfinance Institutions. Yet, low-income groups’ still face barriers in accessing these innovative products, particularly in Ghana. This paper aims to examine the critical demand barriers and how to develop and improve the design and delivery of HMF interventions in the low-income housing market in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper achieves its aim by adopting a focus-group discussion strategy to examine the constraints to the demand for HMF among low-income groups’ in Ghana.

Findings

Nine factors constrained the design, delivery and demand for HMF – affordability issues; risk; land tenure insecurity; high interest rate; collateralization and insurance challenges; unfavourable HMF loan conditions; lack of social capital; high cost of land and building materials; and ineffective consumer protection.

Research limitations/implications

Although limited to low-income groups, strategies to stimulate demand for HMF should focus on three broad problems – affordability, macroeconomic management and institutional development and government intervention.

Social implications

The paper makes significant contributions to the body of knowledge, regarding understanding the low-income housing market and its financing in the context of a developing country.

Originality/value

The novelty of the paper is founded on the premise of the research methodology adopted to unearthed the barriers to the demand of HMF in Ghana. Future research effort should be directed at exploring the motivations behind low-income groups’ decision to demand HMF and the risk associated with the use of HMF in the context of Ghana.
Change readiness as fluid trajectories: a longitudinal multiple-case study
Authors: Hemme Florian , Bowers Matthew T. , Todd Janice S.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze change process perceptions of public service employees and document how change readiness belief salience fluctuates and evolves throughout the implementation of a major organizational restructuring effort.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is a longitudinal multiple-case study of a major transformation initiative in a large North American public recreation organization. Over the course of 15 months, the authors conducted four rounds of personal interviews with 19 participants (65 interviews in total, each lasting 25–45 min). Additionally, the authors analyzed internal e-mail correspondence, memos, and meeting agendas, as well as external stakeholder communication. Finally, the primary researcher spent a significant amount of time collecting field notes while shadowing high-level managers and employees and attending meetings.

Findings

Overall, the authors documented a clear hierarchy of change readiness dimensions. The relative strength and temporal persistence of these dimensions can be traced back to various public organizing particularities. Moreover, the authors found that an initial focus on some readiness dimensions facilitated subsequent sensemaking processes whereas others hindered such engagement with the change project.

Research limitations/implications

This research is the first to empirically document temporal fluidity of change readiness dimensions and salience. Moreover, it offers a rare in-depth look at a changing public service organization.

Practical implications

This research helps change agents in developing tailored change messages and to better understand potential sources of frustration and resistance to change efforts.

Originality/value

No similar efforts exist to document the underlying dynamism of evolving change readiness perceptions.
A new grey relational model based on discrete Fourier transform and its application on Chinese marine economic
Authors: Li Xuemei , Zhang Ya , Yin Kedong
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The traditional grey relational models directly describe the behavioural characteristics of the systems based on the sample point connections. Few grey relational models can measure the dynamic periodic fluctuation rules of the objects, and most of these models do not have affinities, which results in instabilities of the relational results because of sequence translation. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Fourier transform functions are used to fit the system behaviour curves, redefine the area difference between the curves and construct a grey relational model based on discrete Fourier transform (DFTGRA).

Findings

To verify its validity, feasibility and superiority, DFTGRA is applied to research on the correlation between macroeconomic growth and marine economic growth in China coastal areas. It is proved that DFTGRA has the superior properties of affinity, symmetry, uniqueness, etc., and wide applicability.

Originality/value

DFTGRA can not only be applied to equidistant and equal time sequences but also be adopted for non-equidistant and unequal time sequences. DFTGRA can measure both the global relational degree and the dynamic correlation of the variable cyclical fluctuation between sequences.
The efficiency of corporate boards and firms’ audit fees: the case of the FTSE financial institutions
Authors: Nehme Rabih , Jizi Mohammad
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The quality of financial reporting for the financial institutions is vital for the public, as the negative consequences of manipulated financial statements will not only affect shareholders but also the regulators’ reputation and the society at large. The purpose of this paper is to assess the association between different corporate governance mechanisms and their impact on audit and reporting quality. The gender factor is introduced from a diverse boards’ perspective to highlight any impact of female presence on the quality of financial statements.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine a sample of financial institutions listed on the FTSE-350 index for the years 2011 to 2015. The financial sector has its own and different regulations, and financial reporting framework and auditors are expected to behave into more scrutiny. Bloomberg database is used to obtain governance and financial data, while firms’ annual reports are used to collect audit fees and audit committee information. A panel data regression is used to test hypotheses. The authors also control for unobservable heterogeneity, reverse causality and endogeneity.

Findings

The results suggest that boards with larger size and higher independence pay higher audit fees to enhance the monitoring capacity and protect the wider group of stakeholders. The results also show that women on boards are likely to reduce the risk of manipulated financial statements, as women are more inclined toward truthfulness, cautiousness and conservatism. In addition, the reported results show that audit committees with more independent members are more inclined toward obtaining higher quality audit to enhance firm’s reporting quality.

Originality/value

Given the recent governments’ intervention to avoid financial institutions’ negative impact on the economy, this study is relevant and provide policymakers insights into the existing relationships between audit fees and financial institutions’ governance structure.
Creating optimal patrol areas using the P-median model
Authors: Wheeler Andrew Palmer
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the use of the p-median model to construct optimal patrol areas. This can improve both time spent traveling to calls, as well as equalize call load between patrol areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides an introduction to the use of integer linear programs to create optimal patrol areas, as many analysts and researchers in the author’s field will not be familiar with such models. The analysis then introduces a set of linear constraints to the p-median problem that are applicable to police agencies, such as constraining call loads to be equal and making patrol areas geographically contiguous.

Findings

The analysis illustrates the technique on simplified simulated examples. The analysis then demonstrates the utility of the technique by showing how patrol areas in Carrollton, TX can be made both more efficient and equalize the call loads given the same number of patrol beats as currently in place.

Originality/value

Unlike prior applications of creating patrol areas, this paper introduces linear constraints into the p-median problem, making it much easier to solve than programs that have non-linear or multiple objective functions. Supplementary code using open source software is also provided, allowing other analysts or researchers to apply the model to their own data.
Factors affecting accessibility to property data in an opaque market
Authors: Olapade Daramola Thompson , Olaleye Abel
Published: August 2018

Purpose

With a focus on Lagos property market, the purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence accessibility to data for valuation and investment analysis in Nigeria. This was with a view to improving accessibility to property data in the market, thereby enhancing investment appraisal practice.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data utilized for the study were sourced through the use of questionnaire administered on property practitioners (referred to as estate surveying and valuation (ESV) firms) in Lagos property market. A total of 190 ESV firms were selected using stratified random sampling based on their geographical location. Relative significance index (RSI), frequency distribution and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed for data analysis.

Findings

A total of 19 factors were identified as affecting accessibility to data. Confidentiality attached to property data by practitioners was ranked as the most significant factor with RSI of 0.81. The next three factors were lack of cooperation within members of professional body (0.79), accuracy of data (0.76) and duty of care to client (0.75), while the least ranked factor was duplication of data set (0.63). All the 19 variables were further grouped into six principal factors using PCA, namely, economic, attitudinal, ethical, legal, administrative and technical factors; with each factor explaining the following variance, 16.75, 16.1, 13.64, 12.78, 10.51 and 7.95, respectively.

Practical implications

The paper’s results will enable stakeholders to address the challenges to data accessibility in Lagos property market and similar opaque markets elsewhere thereby enhancing property data accessibility and investment analysis.

Originality/value

The paper is an attempt to examine the factors affecting accessibility to data identified in different studies holistically together in a single study and from the perspective of an emerging property market like Nigeria.
Empowering communities? Exploring roles in facilitated social enterprise
Authors: Finlayson Eilidh , Roy Michael James
Published: August 2018

Purpose

States and development bodies are increasingly stimulating social enterprise activity in communities as an empowering social and economic development intervention. This type of development initiative is often facilitated by actors who are external to communities, and the role of community members is not clear. This paper aims to explore whether facilitated social enterprise benefits or disempowers communities.

Design/methodology/approach

The focus is a case study of a project based in Scotland designed to stimulate the creation of social enterprises involved in community growing. The case study approach involved a mix of methods, including formal (semi-structured) interviews, participant observation and analysis of documentary evidence. Analysis of findings was undertaken using Muñoz and Steinerowski’s (2012) theory of social entrepreneurial behaviour.

Findings

Findings suggest that social enterprise that originates outside communities and is facilitated by external actors is potentially disempowering, particularly when social enterprise development does not necessarily align with community needs. The paper reiterates findings in previous studies that certain roles in facilitated social enterprise require to be community-led. Projects that do attempt to facilitate social enterprise would benefit from community participation at the project planning stage.

Originality/value

If facilitated social enterprise is increasingly promoted as an empowering development intervention, this paper provides insight about how facilitated social enterprise occurs in practice and gives preliminary information about possible barriers to empowerment using this approach to development.
Tourism information technology research trends: 1990-2016
Authors: Yuan Yulan , Tseng Yuen-Hsien , Ho Chaang-Iuan
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The advancement of data analysis tools makes analyzing a huge amount of literature possible. This paper aims to identify tourism information technology research trends with the assistance of Toolkit for Academic Research (CATAR) to answer two research questions: the status of tourism information technology (IT) articles published in these selected journals from 1990 to 2016, and whether the number of Tourism IT articles is increasing or decreasing, and the main research topics studied in these articles from 1990 to 2016, and whether those have shifted over the 27 years.

Design/methodology/approach

Selected keywords identified by researchers that were used to extract Tourism IT articles published in Web of Science database. CATAR was used to carry out two analyses, namely, overview analysis and breakdown analysis. Overview analysis is performed to apply citation analysis to identify the general trend and the most cited reference of Tourism IT research represented by the selected articles. Breakdown analysis is based on bibliographic coupling (BC) analysis.

Findings

The number of Tourism IT publications grew rapidly in the second half of the 2000s, as mobile phones with touch screens became increasingly popular. It signals changes in the way of information searching behaviors. A total of 769 authors from 44 countries contributed to Tourism IT research. The USA, China, UK and Australia are the countries contributing the most. Six subject areas were revealed, namely, the interaction of people and organization; interaction of people and information; interaction of people and technology; technological implementation; the interaction of organization and information; and interaction of organization and technology.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation of this study must be considered – the use of data merely derived from WoS database. The BC analysis makes a comparison between references of the given articles. This analysis requires the citation sources with better data quality, which is mainly based on the accuracy and standardization of databases. WoS is the database currently fit this requirement. The emergence of the new citation tools will enable scholars to pull data from new databases and to clean the data. Incorporating data from those new databases will reveal more accurate and comprehensive picture of Tourism IT research trend.

Originality/value

This paper revealed the research trend and major research subject areas of Tourism IT research for the past 16 years. The results can assist scholars to quickly grasp the Tourism IT research. This paper also provides an alternative approach to conduct literature review with computer-assisted analysis program.
Frequency dependence of pollinator visitation rates suggests that pollination niches can allow plant species coexistence
Authors: Benadi Gita , Pauw Anton
Published: August 2018

How do many species coexist within a trophic level? Resource niches are the classical answer, but in plants which share a small set of abiotic resources, the possibilities for resource partitioning are limited. One possible explanation is that plant species have different pollination niches, with each species specialized to a subset of the available animal species. If this pollinator partitioning results in negative frequency dependence such that each plant species’ reproduction is reduced when it becomes abundant, pollination niches could maintain plant diversity, provided that the strength of negative frequency dependence is sufficient to overcome fitness inequalities between species.

We tested this idea by quantifying the effect of species relative abundance on pollinator visitation rate in a 7,000 m2plot of South African Fynbos vegetation. In addition, we quantified the effect of intraspecific abundance variation at a smaller spatial scale (9 m2plots), documented species’ pollination niches, and tested the importance of pollinators for seed set in a subset of the plant species.

We found that visitation rate indeed declined sharply across the 33 plant species with increasing abundance, but visitation rate was also somewhat depressed in very rare species such that the resulting relationship between visitation rate and relative abundance was hump‐shaped. Pollinator niche partitioning among plant species was evident, but less pronounced than in many other studies. Visitation rate was slightly higher in more generalized species, suggesting that they have access to a larger pollination resource. At the intraspecific level and smaller spatial scale, results were less clear and varied among species. Pollinators enhanced seed set in most species.

Synthesis. The results imply that, above an abundance threshold, intraspecific competition for pollination could limit the reproduction of common species, thus promoting plant species coexistence. However, the rarest plant species could become extinct due to pollen limitation, that is, an Allee effect. In addition, interactions with pollinators may introduce frequency‐independent fitness differences between plant species, thereby increasing the strength of negative frequency dependence required for stable coexistence. These findings shed new light on the role of the pollination niche in plant coexistence.
Lubrication during root canal treatment
Authors: Chandler Nicholas , Chellappa Deepak
Published: August 2018

Lubrication is involved in all root canal treatment phases, from dental dam placement to canal obturation. Most often associated with instrumentation, lubrication is required to facilitate the mechanical action of hand/rotary files and to help emulsify and suspend the debris produced. Aqueous irrigation solutions such as sodium hypochlorite and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) should be regarded as lubricants, but paste‐type substances are marketed specifically for this purpose. As more patients demand the retention of challenging teeth with narrow and curved root canals, the importance of lubrication in all aspects of root canal treatment must be acknowledged.
Post‐treatment apical periodontitis related to the technical quality of root fillings and restorations in Thai population
Authors: Thampibul Panupong , Jantarat Jeeraphat , Arayasantiparb Raweewan
Published: August 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the post‐treatment apical periodontitis in endodontically treated teeth related to the technical quality of root fillings and restorations in Thai population. Full‐mouth periapical radiographs from Thai patients attending the Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, Thailand were examined. The periapical status, quality of root fillings and coronal restorations, existence of intraradicular post and its relationship to the root fillings were evaluated. Among 1586 patients, 37.4% presented endodontically treated teeth. The total number of endodontically treated teeth was 1511, and 35% presented apical periodontitis. Combined data for root filling and coronal restoration qualities revealed significantly better outcome in teeth with adequate qualities of both parameters than the other combinations (P < 0.001). The prevalence of post‐treatment apical periodontitis among Thai population was relatively high and significantly associated with substandard technical quality of root fillings and restorations.
Effect of different protocols of eugenol removal on the bond strength between the fibre post and root dentin
Authors: de Oliveira Emanuele , Cecchin Doglas , Miyagaki Daniela C. , de Moura Ana L. C. , Disarz Alana , Souza Matheus A. , Farina Ana P.
Published: August 2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bond strength between the fibre post and root dentin after different cleaning protocols to remove eugenol from dentin. The residues and elemental composition of dentin were analysed using SEM and EDS. Bovine incisor roots were obturated with eugenol‐based sealer. The post space was prepared, and the roots were divided into the following groups according to the cleaning protocol: unfilled (negative control), saline solution (positive control), 70% ethanol, acetone and 70% isopropyl alcohol. The fibre posts were cemented and push‐out test realised. Chemical analysis of the dentin was performed using SEM and EDS. The bond strength values were analysed by anova/Fisher's and were as follows: negative control (7.30 ± 2.77) = 70% ethanol (6.64 ± 2.91) = 70% isopropyl alcohol (5.01 ± 3.15) = acetone (4.42 ± 1.53) >positive control (1.29 ± 0.56). It was concluded that 70% ethanol may be a good cleaning protocol to remove eugenol from dentin.
Is infertility a disease and does it matter?
Authors: Maung Hane Htut
Published: August 2018

Claims about whether or not infertility is a disease are sometimes invoked to defend or criticize the provision of state‐funded treatment for infertility. In this paper, I suggest that this strategy is problematic. By exploring infertility through key approaches to disease in the philosophy of medicine, I show that there are deep theoretical disagreements regarding what subtypes of infertility qualify as diseases. Given that infertility’s disease status remains unclear, one cannot uncontroversially justify or undermine its claim to medical treatment by claiming that it is or is not a disease. Instead of focusing on disease status, a preferable strategy to approach the debate about state‐funded treatment is to explicitly address the specific ethical considerations raised by infertility. I show how this alternative strategy can be supported by a recent theoretical framework in the philosophy of medicine which avoids the problems associated with the concepts of health and disease.
An ecological approach to modeling disability
Authors: Nathan Marco J. , Brown Jeffrey M.
Published: August 2018

This article develops an analysis of disability according to which disabling conditions are properties of organisms embedded in sets of environments. We begin by presenting the three mainstream accounts of disability—the medical, social, and interactionist models—and rehearsing some known limitations. We argue that, because of their primary focus on etiology, all three models share, more or less implicitly, a problematic assumption. This is the tenet that disabilities are individual properties. The second part of the essay presents an “ecological” interpretation of disability, inspired by classic and contemporary research on biological niches. Our proposal preserves many insights underlying extant approaches, while allowing a more accurate characterization of the nature and experience of disability. We conclude by drawing some general implications of our analysis.
Knowledge and degree of training of primary education teachers in relation to ICT taught to students with disabilities
Authors: Fernández‐Batanero José María , Cabero Julio , López Eloy
Published: August 2018

The integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into the inclusive classroom requires competent teaching staff from both the technological and pedagogical points of view. Within this context, and with the aim of looking at one of these theoretical premises, this study aimed to identify the degree of training and technological knowledge of primary school teachers in Spain with respect to the use of ICT with individuals with disabilities (functional diversity). A descriptive ex post‐facto research method was used, where the sample comprised 777 teachers. An ad‐hoc questionnaire was used as the data‐collection instrument. The results revealed the low skill levels of the teachers with respect to the use of ICT with students with disabilities, where the level of training of the teaching staff was determined by personal (gender, age), professional (teaching experience) or educational (qualifications) variables. The findings of this study point to the need for teacher training that instructs teachers on the use of ICT in order to favour the learning and educational innovation of students with disabilities.
Molecular dynamic simulations of the catalytic subunit of calpains 1, 2, 5, and 10: Structural analysis with an aim toward drug design
Authors: Romo‐Mancillas Antonio , Lemus Roselyn , Pérez‐Estrada Raúl , Kuribreña‐Romero de Terreros Francisco , Domínguez‐Ramírez Lenin
Published: August 2018

Calpains are cysteine proteases involved in the development of several human chronic illnesses such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, and obesity which constitutes them into possible therapeutic targets. Here, using molecular dynamic simulations and docking, we studied the binding of known inhibitors to representative members of classical and nonclassical calpains. Our aim is to gain better understanding on the inhibition mechanism of calpains and to develop better and more specific inhibitors. Our atomistic models confirmed the importance of calcium ions for the structure of calpains and, as a consequence, their functionality. With these models and their subsequent use in molecular docking, essential structural requirements were identified for the binding of ligands to the calpain catalytic site that provide useful information for the design of new selective calpain inhibitors.
Costimulatory checkpoint SLAMF8 is an independent prognosis factor in glioma
Authors: Zou Cun‐Yi , Guan Ge‐Fei , Zhu Chen , Liu Tian‐Qi , Guo Qing , Cheng Wen , Wu An‐Hua
Published: August 2018

Aims

Immune checkpoint blockade has made breakthroughs in immunotherapy for glioma. However, current immunotherapy has therapeutic benefits only in a subset of patients and accompanied by immune‐related side effects. SLAMF8 is a costimulatory molecule that affects the activation of macrophages in inflammation. The study of SLAMF8 may provide new information for immunological research and treatment of glioma.

Methods

CGGA and TCGA cohorts of 946 patients with RNA sequencing data and full clinical information were analyzed using R language and GraphPad Prism 7.

Results

SLAMF8 was overexpressed along with malignancy progression and was a biomarker of mesenchymal subtype. As an independent prognostic factor, high SLAMF8 conferred reduced overall survival and chemotherapy resistance. SLAMF8 implied lower proportion of cancer cells along with increasing enrichment of monocytic lineage, myeloid dendritic cells. Functional analysis showed higher SLAMF8 indicated activation of antigen processing and presenting and the IFN‐γ/TNF/TLR‐mediated signaling. Meanwhile, coexpressing with classical checkpoint SLAMF8 aggravated immunosuppression and enhanced inflammation response.

Conclusion

Our study highlighted the important role of SLAMF8 in malignancy progression, shortened survival, and immune disorders. Further research on SLAMF8 in immunosuppression and inflammation response to glioma cells could aid immunotherapy for glioma.
Adolescent bariatric surgery: a qualitative exploratory study of US patient perspectives
Authors: Childerhose J. E. , Eneli I. , Steele K. E.
Published: August 2018

Bariatric surgery is a safe and effective intervention to treat severe obesity and related comorbidities in adolescents. No qualitative studies have explored the perspectives of US adolescent weight‐loss patients on their bariatric surgery motivations, decision‐making or experiences. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory study was to explore the perspectives of adolescent patients seeking bariatric surgery while enrolled in a medical weight management programme. Eligible participants 13–21 years old were recruited through a weight management programme at a tertiary care children's hospital in the US Midwest. Interviews were conducted remotely using a video chat medium. An initial 60‐min semi‐structured interview was conducted with seven participants who were 16–21 years old: one deciding on bariatric surgery, one pre‐operative and five post‐operative. A brief follow‐up interview was conducted 1 month later with four participants. Interviews were transcribed and coded using Atlas.ti software. Three broad themes emerged from participants’ reflections: the long journey to surgery, time scarcity and be ready for change. The decision to pursue bariatric surgery takes place after struggling with obesity and failed weight‐loss attempts since early childhood. Post‐operative participants described bariatric surgery as life‐changing, but determining when to schedule surgery is a challenge for adolescents.
Solvatochromism and quantum mechanical investigation of disazo pyridone dye
Authors: Mijin Dušan , Božić Bojan , Lađarević Jelena , Matović Luka , Ušćumlić Gordana , Vitnik Vesna , Vitnik Željko
Published: August 2018

Disazo pyridone dye, 4‐methyl‐2,6‐dioxo‐5‐(2‐(4‐(phenyldiazenyl)phenyl)hydrazono)‐1,2,5,6‐tetrahydropyridine‐3‐carbonitrile, is synthesised and thoroughly characterised by a combination of experimental and computational approaches. Fourier Transform‐infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra prove the existence of the hydrazone form in the solid state and in dimethyl sulphoxide, which is also supported by vibrational and NMR theoretical studies. Ultraviolet (UV) spectral properties, as well as solvatochromism in 19 solvents of different polarity, are investigated. In most of the solvents, the dye is solely present in the hydrazone form, whereas in certain solvents, an acid–base equilibrium exists. Excellent agreement between computational and experimental UV–visible data was established. Frontier Molecular Orbital analysis was performed and proved the existence of intramolecular charge transfer through the dye molecule. A molecular electrostatic potential surface was plotted over the optimised geometry to lighten the reactivity of the investigated molecule.
Sclerosing odontogenic carcinoma in the mandible of a horse
Authors: Barceló Oliver F. , Kelly P. , Sharpe S. J. , Ayoub A. , Patterson‐Kane J. C. , Pollock P. J.
Published: August 2018

A 15‐year‐old Cob mare was presented for investigation of a mandibular mass. Radiography identified an oval‐shaped mass occupying the intramandibular space, with a heterogeneous osseous opacity throughout the left hemimandible. Histopathology combined with immunohistochemistry was consistent with a diagnosis of sclerosing odontogenic carcinoma, which to date has only been described, rarely, in human patients. The mass was removed using a mandibular‐sparing surgical technique allowing preservation of the dental arcade. Follow‐up 5 years after surgery confirmed no signs of regrowth. This case report describes the successful treatment of a previously unreported mandibular neoplasm in the horse.
Venographic evaluation of the circumflex vessels and lamellar circumflex junction in laminitic horses
Authors: Kramer J. , Rucker A. , Leise B.
Published: August 2018

Venograms provide information about areas of vascular compression or damage within the hoof. Key areas of the venogram to evaluate include the circumflex vessels, papillae and lamellar circumflex junction. This article describes and illustrates the appearance of the circumflex vessels, papillae and lamellar circumflex junction in sound and laminitic horses.
Sexual Passion in Committed Relationships: Measurement and Conceptual Issues
Authors: Busby Dean M. , Chiu Hsin‐Yao , Leonhardt Nathan D. , Iliff Emilie
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this study is to discuss the need for a new triadic model of sexual passion in relationships and to present the preliminary psychometric properties of a scale designed to measure these three approaches to passion (harmonious, obsessive, and inhibited) for use in clinical and scholarly work. Existing theory and measures of general passion are based on a dualistic model of passion that includes the harmonious and obsessive approaches to passion. We added the inhibited approach to passion from the sexuality research and develop measures for assessing sexual passion in relationships. We utilized an Amazon Mechanical Turk sample of 1,421 individuals in committed relationships to test this measure. Reliability analyses and confirmatory factory analyses evinced that these three approaches to sexual passion were unique constructs and distinct from sexual satisfaction. Sexual passion showed predictive validity above and beyond relationship length, sexual desire toward a partner, and a broader variable of sexual drive. Harmonious sexual passion robustly predicted higher sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction, and inhibited sexual passion moderately predicted lower sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction. Obsessive sexual passion had minimal associations with either outcome. These new constructs, especially harmonious and inhibited sexual passion, may help scholars and practitioners improve their understanding of sexual satisfaction and overall relationship satisfaction.
A Spatial Price Determination Model for Multi‐Market Heterogeneously Distributed Resources: An Application to Forestry Markets in Sweden
Authors: Ouraich Ismail , Lundmark Robert
Published: August 2018

The spatial dimension is a key paradigm in price determination, as attested by recent studies in the literature that highlighted the differential in market behavior between spatial and non‐spatial pricing settings. In this paper, we develop a model of spatial pricing for multi‐market heterogeneously distributed resources, with an application to the Swedish forestry sector. The focus of the model is to estimate the impact of spatial interaction on the demand for resources in terms of resource allocation, competition, and pricing. In its core, the pricing mechanism relies on a supply–demand framework. Using disaggregated data at the gridcell level for forest feedstock supply and harvesting costs in Sweden, we construct regional supply curves for each gridcell assuming a maximum transportation distance to delimit the potential market. Demand nodes are exogenously determined and are adjusted using a distance‐decay model to assess demand pressure across locations. We apply the model empirically to assess the impact on forest feedstock prices of a 20 TWh increase in biofuel production.
PPIENSENLo: A Novel Mnemonics in Spanish for Alarm Criteria in Secondary Headaches in Children
Authors: Marfil Alejandro , DeLaGarza‐Pineda Oscar , Barrera‐Barrera Silvia A.
Published: August 2018

We present the first mnemonic in Spanish, “PPIENSENLo,” for alarm criteria in secondary headaches in children in order to facilitate their identification, diagnosis, and treatment. A search was performed across different electronic databases for a mnemonics that applied to clinical alarm criteria in secondary headaches in children. None were found in English or Spanish. This tool is perhaps useful both for clinical and teaching purposes.
Pathogenic genes related to the progression of actinic keratoses to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Lianbo , Qin Haiyan , Wu Zhuoxia , Chen Wanying , Zhang Guang
Published: August 2018

Background

Actinic keratosis (AK) is an incipient form of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Understanding the differentially expressed genes between AK and cSCC states would be helpful for the early prevention and treatment of cSCC. Consequently, this study aimed to screen the key genes associated with the progression of AK to cSCC.

Methods

The microarray dataset GSE45216 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus, which included 10 AK and 30 primary cSCC skin tissue samples. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in cSCC samples, compared to those in AK, were identified. Gene co‐expression relationships were investigated, followed by miRNA prediction. The potential functions of the co‐expressed genes were predicted by gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses. In addition, the transcription factors and drug molecules, significantly related to the co‐expressed genes, were obtained.

Results

A total of 320 DEGs were identified in the cSCC group, relative to the AK group. Moreover, 96 DEGs and 2,390 connecting edges were identified in the gene co‐expression network. An miRNA regulatory network was constructed, including 96 DEGs and 16 miRNAs. In addition, three co‐expression network modules were obtained; EIF4EBP1, SNX17, PRPF4, NXT1, and UBA5 were significant nodes in the modules.

Conclusions

EIF4EBP1, SNX17, PRPF4, NXT1, and UBA5 may be the pathogenic genes contributing to the development of cSCC from AK.
Combining microneedling with other minimally invasive procedures for facial rejuvenation: a split‐face comparative study
Authors: El‐Domyati Moetaz , Abdel‐Wahab Hossam , Hossam Aliaa
Published: August 2018

Background

The introduction of minimally invasive procedures has increased acceptance due to their efficacy, safety, and relatively long‐lasting and natural results. At least two different and unrelated modalities are employed to consider a combination treatment.

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate and compare the use and effectiveness of combined microneedling with platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) or trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peeling for facial rejuvenation.

Patients/methods

Twenty‐four volunteers with photoaging were randomly divided into three equal groups according to performed procedure on each side of the face (microneedling by dermaroller alone or combined with PRP or TCA 15% peeling). They had received one session every 2 weeks for six sessions of treatment. Photography and punch biopsies were performed before and after 3 months of treatment for clinical, histometrical, and histological evaluation.

Results

Combined treatment of dermaroller and PRP or dermaroller and TCA showed significant improvement when compared with dermaroller alone. Significant increase in epidermal thickness was apparent in studied groups, especially after combined treatment with TCA. Organized collagen bundles with newly formed collagen formation and markedly decreased abnormal elastic fibers were noticed in the three studied groups. However, improvement of dermal structures was better demonstrated after combined treatment of Dermaroller and PRP than Dermaroller and TCA 15%.

Conclusions

Most volunteers showed significant clinical improvement after treatment supported by the histometrical and histochemical evaluation; however, the combined use of dermaroller with PRP is apparently more beneficial for facial rejuvenation.