bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Online grocery shopping adoption: do personality traits matter?
Authors: Piroth Philipp , Ritter Marc Sebastian , Rueger-Muck Edith
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study examines the relationship between personality traits and the willingness to buy groceries online. Our research is based on research on consumer values regarding online grocery shopping (OGS), and the authors argue that customer values are aggregated states of personality traits. The authors, therefore, propose the predictive power of personality traits toward OGS usage adoption.

Design/methodology/approach

For a more thorough evaluation of the matter, the authors conducted an online administered questionnaire resulting in N = 678 valid responses and conducted structural equation modeling using IBM AMOS (Vers. 25).

Findings

The authors found that none of the five personality traits had a significant influence on the attitude toward OGS. However, subjective norm had strong influence on attitude, and both subjective norm and attitude were solid predictors of purchase intention for groceries online. Unsurprisingly, the attitude toward OGS was higher for consumer groups with prior experience. The results indicate a high relevance of peer groups in the decision-making process of buying groceries online and the crucial importance of the initial purchase.

Practical implications

Practitioners, therefore, may resort to marketing the strategies to peer groups and initial purchasing behavior and address the level of experience with the usage of OGS, as well as situational aspects. This may be facilitated by precisely targeted online marketing activities and marketing service strategy adaptations.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine the influence of personality traits toward the willingness to conduct OGS with an emphasis on the lower overall adoption within Germany. The authors furthermore validate the predictive power of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) construct for the economically attractive market segment of OGS by adapting and enhancing the scope of previous research.
Cyberactivism as emergent language in Venezuela
Authors: Pirela Morillo Johann Enrique , Almarza Franco Yamely Margarita , Alhuay-Quispe Joel
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present a conceptual analysis to artistic manifestation represented through graphic and multimedia pieces that are available in social media networks as document-speeches in relation to protests in Venezuela during April-July, 2017. Also, this paper proposes the implementation of digital documentation tool that allows retrieval, organization, systematization and preservation of visual contents.

Design/methodology/approach

Semiotic analysis based on 44 artistic pieces (images and videos) posted on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to protest in Venezuela against the government of Nicolás Maduro in 2017. The authors defined a metadata group for content creation of multimedia and testing information retrieval from general data, textual contents, file formats and semiotic description using Omeka software.

Findings

The digital documentation of artivism proposed has the potential to sustain over time as documents likely to be studied. It also constitutes an important analysis and a historical reconstruction, which must be taken into consideration to conduct research in the future political and social process of Venezuela.

Social implications

Cyber-artivism, a concept related to online activism, is conceived as an artistic expression mediated by technologies and social media emerging in the context of social environments with a political–demographic character.

Originality/value

Digital preservation of multimedia contents by their semiotic and historic value as artistic cyber-activism.
Innovative design for sustainability
Authors: Zeng Ruochen , Chini Abdol , Ries Robert
Published: February 2020

Purpose

As green building movement is widespread throughout the world, low-energy building becomes the standard. A designer's selection of building systems and materials during early design phase becomes more important. It is essential that designers include embodied energy and emissions among other criteria they use in selecting materials during the design development phase of a building. The aim of this study is to develop a model to integrate the embodied energy, embodied emissions, and cost of the alternative structure and envelope systems of a building during the design development stage.

Design/methodology/approach

A conceptual model is proposed to integrate the embodied energy, embodied emissions, and cost of the alternative structure and envelope systems of a building. A case study is used to test the proposed model in predicting the embodied impacts and cost of structure and envelope systems for an educational building.

Findings

The proposed model can assist designers in making informed decisions at the early design stage and selecting alternative structure and envelope systems considering embodied impacts and costs.

Social implications

Designers consider reducing embodied impacts of buildings during early design phase as an important social responsibility, especially for megaprojects, which have great impact on our daily life.

Originality/value

Development of a model that can be used to support design decisions regarding sustainable design (embodied energy and embodied carbon emissions) and costs of buildings in early design phase.
Measuring the impact of learning at the workplace on organisational performance
Authors: Kopp Tobias , Kinkel Steffen , Schäfer Teresa , Kieslinger Barbara , Brown Alan John
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the importance of workplace learning in the context of performance measurement on an organisational level. It shows how workplace learning analytics can be grounded on professional identity transformation theory and integrated into performance measurement approaches to understand its organisation-wide impact.

Design/methodology/approach

In a conceptual approach, a framework to measure the organisation-wide impact of workplace learning interventions has been developed. As a basis for the description of the framework, related research on relevant concepts in the field of performance measurement approaches, workplace learning, professional identity transformation, workplace and social learning analytics are discussed. A case study in a European Public Employment Service is presented. The framework is validated by qualitative evaluation data from three case studies. Finally, theoretical as well as practical implications are discussed.

Findings

Professional identity transformation theory provides a suitable theoretical framework to gain new insights into various dimensions of workplace learning. Workplace learning analytics can reasonably be combined with classical performance management approaches to demonstrate its organisation-wide impact. A holistic and streamlined framework is perceived as beneficial by practitioners from several European Public Employment Services.

Research limitations/implications

Empirical data originates from three case studies in the non-profit sector only. The presented framework needs to be further evaluated in different organisations and settings.

Practical implications

The presented framework enables non-profit organisations to integrate workplace learning analytics in their organisation-wide performance measurement, which raises awareness for the importance of social learning at the workplace.

Originality/value

The paper enriches the scarce research base about workplace learning analytics and its potential links to organisation-wide performance measurement approaches. In contrast to most previous literature, a thorough conceptualisation of workplace learning as a process of professional identity transformation is used.
Dynamic testing resource allocation modeling for multi-release software using optimal control theory and genetic algorithm
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Sahni Ramita
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The use of software is overpowering our modern society. Advancement in technology is directly proportional to an increase in user demand which further leads to an increase in the burden on software firms to develop high-quality and reliable software. To meet the demands, software firms need to upgrade existing versions. The upgrade process of software may lead to additional faults in successive versions of the software. The faults that remain undetected in the previous version are passed on to the new release. As this process is complicated and time-consuming, it is important for firms to allocate resources optimally during the testing phase of software development life cycle (SDLC). Resource allocation task becomes more challenging when the testing is carried out in a dynamic nature.

Design/methodology/approach

The model presented in this paper explains the methodology to estimate the testing efforts in a dynamic environment with the assumption that debugging cost corresponding to each release follows learning curve phenomenon. We have used optimal control theoretic approach to find the optimal policies and genetic algorithm to estimate the testing effort. Further, numerical illustration has been given to validate the applicability of the proposed model using a real-life software failure data set.

Findings

The paper yields several substantive insights for software managers. The study shows that estimated testing efforts as well as the faults detected for both the releases are closer to the real data set.

Originality /value

We have proposed a dynamic resource allocation model for multirelease of software with the objective to minimize the total testing cost using the flexible software reliability growth model (SRGM).
Optimized 3D laser point cloud reconstruction by gradient descent technique
Authors: Singh Ravinder , Khurana Archana , Kumar Sunil
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aims to develop an optimized 3D laser point reconstruction using Descent Gradient algorithm. Precise and accurate reconstruction of 3D laser point cloud of the complex environment/object is a key solution for many industries such as construction, gaming, automobiles, aerial navigation, architecture and automation. A 2D laser scanner along with a servo motor/pan tilt/inertial measurement unit is used for generating 3D point cloud (either environment/object or both) by acquiring the real-time data from sensors. However, while generating the 3D laser point cloud, various problems related to time synchronization problem between laser and servomotor and torque variation in servomotors arise, which causes misalignment in stacking the 2D laser scan for generating the 3D point cloud of the environment. Because of the misalignment in stacking, the 2D laser scan corresponding to the erroneous angular and position information by the servomotor and the 3D laser point cloud become distorted in terms of inconsistency for measuring the dimension of the objects.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper addresses a modified 3D laser system assembled from a 2D laser scanner coupled with a servomotor (dynamixel motor) for developing an efficient 3D laser point cloud with the implementation of an optimization technique: descent gradient filter (DGT). The proposed approach reduces the cost function (error) in the angular and position coordinates of the servo motor caused because of torque variation and time synchronization, which resulted in enhancing the accuracy in 3D point cloud mapping for the accurate measurement of the object’s dimensions.

Findings

Various real-world experiments are performed with the proposed DGT filter linked with laser scanner and servomotor and an improvement of 6.5 per cent in measuring the accurate dimension of object is obtained while comparing with conventional approaches for generating a 3D laser point cloud.

Originality/value

This proposed technique may be applicable for various industrial applications that are based on robotics arms (such as painting, welding and cutting) in the automobile industry, the optimized measurement of object, efficient mobile robot navigation, precise 3D reconstruction of environment/object in construction, architecture applications, airborne applications and aerial navigation.
Conflict management in dual distribution channel systems: the moderating role of learning capabilities
Authors: Ishii Ryuta
Published: February 2020

Purpose

In dual distribution channel systems, integrated channels (manufacturer-owned) and independent channels (distributor-owned) are likely to adopt destructive behaviours. To suppress such behaviours, manufacturers need to implement conflict management systems. The purpose of this study is to examine the moderating role of conflict-learning capability (CLC) in the relationship between conflict management system and destructive behaviour. This study also investigates whether interactions between conflict management systems and CLC improve the overall channel performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using survey data from 157 Japanese industrial manufacturers, this study conducted regression analyses and mediation analyses.

Findings

The results show that boundary and compensation systems have different effects on destructive behaviours. On the one hand, compensation systems with strong CLC have a larger impact, although those with weak CLC can also suppress destructive behaviours to some degree. On the other hand, boundary systems with strong CLC suppress destructive behaviours, but those with weak CLC do not. In addition, this study reveals that manufacturers with strong CLC can indirectly improve overall channel performance by implementing conflict management systems and suppressing destructive behaviours.

Originality/value

Previous studies reveal that boundary and compensation systems suppress destructive behaviours. However, these studies neglect the importance of organisational capability in the successful implementation of conflict management systems. By focusing on CLC, this study advances our understanding of dual distribution and channel conflict.
“Swimming against the tide”: conditional discharge from medium secure care
Authors: McDonnaugh Tanya , Underwood Alan , Williams Amanda
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the experiences of mentally disordered offenders (MDOs) conditionally discharged from secure hospitals on a restrictive Section of the Mental Health Act (Section 37/41).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were derived from seven semi-structured interviews from three forensic community teams.

Findings

Thematic analysis identified seven predominant themes: (1) the uncertainty of the discharge timeframe; (2) fear of jeopardising discharge; (3) progress; (4) engagement with community life; (5) barriers to social engagement; (6) evolving identity and (7) someone to turn to. Findings are discussed in relation to the recovery model and the good lives model.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the importance of fostering trust between MDOs and their care teams to encourage help-seeking. They also suggest that resources should be sequenced appropriately throughout the discharge process, to match the “window of engagement” and maximize impact and effectiveness.

Originality/value

This research gained rarely obtained first-hand perspectives from MDOs, with the findings contributing to a more effective evaluation of the discharge pathway.
Sustainable efficiency assessment of private diagnostic laboratories under uncertainty
Authors: Ghafari Someh Niloufar , Pishvaee Mir Saman , Sadjadi Seyed Jafar , Soltani Roya
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Assessing the performance of medical laboratories plays an important role in the quality of health services. However, because of imprecise data, reliable results from laboratory performance cannot be obtained easily. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the use of interval network data envelopment analysis (INDEA) based on sustainable development indicators under uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, each medical diagnostic laboratory is considered as a decision-making unit (DMU) and an INDEA model is used for calculating the efficiency of each medical diagnostic laboratory under imprecise inputs and outputs. The proposed model helps provide managers with effective performance scores for deficiencies and business improvements. The proposed model with realistic efficiency scores can help administrators manage their deficiencies and ultimately improve their business.

Findings

The results indicate that uncertainty can lead to changes in performance scores, rankings and performance classifications. Therefore, the use of DEA models under certainty can be potentially misleading.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study provides useful insights into the use of INDEA as a modeling tool to aid managerial decision-making in assessing efficiency of medical diagnostic laboratories based on sustainable development indicators under uncertainty.
Brexit referendum and European stock markets: a sector analysis
Authors: Kenourgios Dimitris , Dadinakis Evangelos , Tsakalos Ioannis
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the reaction of European stock markets after the UK's EU membership referendum (“Brexit”) on June 23, 2016.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis focuses on asector level by using non-aggregate stock indices across EU-28, the UK and several country subsamples. An event study is performed in order to measure cumulative abnormal returns during the post-referendum announcement period.

Findings

The results indicate an unexpected small number of affected sectors across the country samples. A negative effect is observed in the financial sector across both the EU-28 and eurozone samples, whereas basic materials and health care sectors are influenced positively across the European region. Most of the sectors in the UK display a long-lasting positive effect, while the close trade relationships between the UK and selected European countries seem to partly constitute a driving force of sectors' abnormal stock returns after the referendum.

Practical implications

The results are useful for global investors, traders and portfolio managers in terms of whether short-term gains from investment choices across sectors can be achieved during periods of increased political uncertainty and whether investors distinguished between sectors.

Originality/value

This paper extends the Brexit literature by using, for the first time, European non-aggregate stock indices. It also contributes to the sector-specific contagion studies by identifying which sectors with similar and/or different industrial composition are more prone to political uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote.
Research on the construction mechanism of the core competence of Chinese enterprises in the transition period
Authors: Lan Hailin , Liu Shuo , Huang Manli , Zeng Ping
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The past 40 years of reform and opening up have seen the role of core competence receive unprecedented attention because of the impact of the new normal economy as well as the pressure of transformation and upgrading. Few Chinese enterprises have effectively constructed core competence, and there is also a lack of strategic perspective and contextual embedding of its construction process in theory. This study aims to analyse the unique contextual characteristics of China in the transitional period and the impact on the core competence construction of Chinese enterprises and proposes its construction mechanism for Chinese enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

Through theoretical deduction and speculation, this paper analyses the process of concept formation, clarifies the concept, analyses its connotations and structure and emphasises its relativity. Based on a review of the theoretical research on the core competence construction process and an analysis of dual contextual impact, this paper puts forward a mechanism for core competence construction.

Findings

The results reveal that four specific characteristics of entrepreneurs in balancing and coping with the dual nature of external context constitute the key driving force for a Chinese enterprises’ core competence construction; under the influence of this driving force, the core competence construction mechanism includes process mode, knowledge source, management mode and key success factors.

Originality/value

Approaching it from a Chinese context, this study deepens the concept of core competence; enriches and develops the research related to the core strategic research proposition of its construction; and provides positive significance for Chinese enterprises to effectively build, develop and strengthen core competence and enhance their international competitiveness.
Creating a participative global workplace: A DEMS based approach
Authors: Patnaik Bignya , Shukla Mahendra Kumar
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a strategic change from the traditionally understood human resource management perspective. Through this paper, the authors attempt to present a diversity and equality based model of managing human resources for global companies for best outcomes through developing an environment of participation within the company.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Findings

Through this paper, the authors show that DEMS has immense potential for modern day global organizations. However, it must be noted that adoption and adaptation are to be contextualized with the organization and matched with the overall goals. This paper provides a validation to the research by Ali & Konrad (2017) and empirically proves that migration from present practices to DEMS might take time, but organizations that have adopted DEMS practices have evolved into being participative in nature and have experienced sustainable competitive advantage, leading to superior organisational performance.

Originality/value

The briefing saves busy executives, strategists and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.
Optimizing laser triangulation displacement sensor of 3D positioning and posture using COA Based BPNN
Authors: Selami Yassine , Lv Na , Tao Wei , Yang Hongwei , Zhao Hui
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose cuckoo optimization algorithm (COA)-based back propagation neural network (BPNN) to reduce the effect of the nonlinearities presented in laser triangulation displacement sensors. The 3D positioning and posture sensor allows access to the third dimension through depth measurement; the performance of the sensor varies according to the level of nonlinearities presented in the system, which leads to inaccuracies in measurement.

Design/methodology/approach

While applying optimization approach, the mathematical model and the relationship between the key parameters in the laser triangulation ranging and the indexes of the measuring system were analyzed.

Findings

Based on the performance of the parametric optimization method, the measurement repeatability reached 0.5 µm with an STD value within 0.17 µm, an expanded uncertainty of measurement was within 5 µm, the angle error variation of the object’s rotational plane was within 0.031 degrees and nonlinearity was recorded within 0.006 per cent in a full scale. The proposed approach reduced the effect of the nonlinearity presented in the sensor. Thus, the accuracy and speed of the sensor were greatly increased. The specifications of the optimized sensor meet the requirements for high-accuracy devices and allow wide range of industrial application.

Originality/value

In this paper, COA-based BPNN is proposed for laser triangulation displacement sensor optimization, on the basis of the mathematical model, clarifying the working space and working angle on the measurement system.
Genotype and phenotype analysis of patients with pediatric cutaneous mastocytosis, especially wild‐type KIT patients
Authors: Arase Noriko , Wataya‐Kaneda Mari , Murota Hiroyuki , Nakagawa Yukinobu , Yamaoka Toshifumi , Itoi‐Ochi Saori , Hirayasu Kouyuki , Arase Hisashi , Fujimoto Manabu , Katayama Ichiro
Published: February 2020

Pediatric cutaneous mastocytosis (CM) is mainly attributed to gain‐of‐function mutations in KIT in mast cells. On the other hand, growing evidence suggests that CM patients exist without KIT mutations. To date, the association between the KIT mutation status and clinical phenotype has not been elucidated in pediatric CM, especially in patients with wild‐type KIT. Nevertheless, genetic analysis has yet to be performed with whole KIT sequence of mast cells in Japanese patients with pediatric CM. In the present study, 11 Japanese patients with pediatric CM were analyzed to determine whether they had KIT mutations in their skin, and their clinical phenotypes were observed. The approximate frequency of patients with KIT mutation and that of wild‐type KIT was almost consistent with the European analysis. The distribution of overall macules was similar between the patients with and without KIT mutations.
Assessing speech at three years of age in the cleft palate population: a scoping review of assessment practices
Authors: Fitzpatrick Beth , Coad Jane , Sell Debbie , Rihtman Tanya
Published: February 2020

Background

There is no consensus in the UK regarding the types of speech samples or parameters of speech that should be assessed at 3 years of age in children with cleft palate ± cleft lip (CP±L), despite cleft units routinely assessing speech at this age. The standardization of assessment practices would facilitate comparisons of outcomes across UK cleft units; earlier identification of speech impairments—which could support more timely treatments; and more reliable recording of therapy impacts and surgical interventions.

Aims

To explore assessment practices used to assess speech in 3‐year‐old children with CP±L, including speech parameters, methods of assessment and the nature of the speech sample used.

Methods & Procedures

A broad examination of the literature was undertaken through the use of a scoping review conducted in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Search terms were generated from a preliminary search and then used in the main search (Medline, CINAHL, Embase, AMED and PsycINFO).

Main Contribution

A combination of approaches (medical, linguistic, developmental and functional) is required to assess CP±L speech at age 3. A developmental approach is recommended at this age, considering the complexity of speech profiles at age 3, in which typically developing speech processes may occur alongside cleft speech characteristics. A combined measure for both nasal emission and turbulence, and an overall measure for velopharyngeal function for speech, show potential for assessment at this age. Categorical ordinal scales are frequently used; the use of continuous scales has yet to be fully explored at age 3. Although single‐word assessments, including a subset of words developed for cross‐linguistic comparisons, are frequently used, more than one type of speech sample may be needed to assess speech at this age validly. The lack of consensus regarding speech samples highlights a need for further research into the types of speech samples 3‐year‐olds can complete; the impact of incomplete speech samples on outcome measures (particularly relevant at this age when children may be less able to complete a full sample); the impact of different speech samples on the validity of assessments; and the reliability of listener judgements.

Conclusions & Implications

Whilst a medical model and linguistic approaches are often central in assessments of age‐3 cleft speech, this review highlights the importance of developmental and functional approaches to assessment. Cross‐linguistic single‐word assessments show potential, and would facilitate the comparison of UK speech outcomes with other countries. Further research should explore the impact of different speech samples and rating scales on assessment validity and listener reliability.
The extreme plant‐growth‐promoting properties ofPantoea phytobeneficialisMSR2 revealed by functional and genomic analysis
Authors: Nascimento Francisco X. , Hernandez Anabel G. , Glick Bernard R. , Rossi Márcio J.
Published: February 2020

NumerousPantoeastrains are important because of the benefit they provide in the facilitation of plant growth. However,Pantoeahave a high level of genotypic diversity and not much is understood regarding their ability to function in a plant beneficial manner. In the work reported here, the plant growth promotion activities and the genomic properties of the unusualPantoea phytobeneficialisMSR2 are elaborated, emphasizing the genetic mechanisms involved in plant colonization and growth promotion. Detailed analysis revealed that strain MSR2 belongs to a rare group ofPantoeastrains possessing an astonishing number of plant growth promotion genes, including those involved in nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid deaminase activity, indoleacetic acid and cytokinin biosynthesis, and jasmonic acid metabolism. Moreover, the genome of this bacterium also contains genes involved in the metabolism of lignin and other plant cell wall compounds, quorum‐sensing mechanisms, metabolism of plant root exudates, bacterial attachment to plant surfaces and resistance to plant defences. Importantly, the analysis revealed that most of these genes are present on accessory plasmids that are found within a small subset ofPantoeagenomes, reinforcing the idea thatPantoeaevolution is largely mediated by plasmids, providing new insights into the evolution of beneficial plant‐associatedPantoea.
It Ain't Necessarily So: A Legal Realist Perspective on the Law of Agency Work
Authors: Paz‐Fuchs Amir
Published: February 2020

Analysis of UK employment and labour law is often characterised by a curious dissonance. The overarching narrative mandates that labour law is a countervailing force to the inequality of bargaining power, embedded with values and assumptions concerning the nature of employment relations and the role of labour law. And yet, labour law jurisprudence tends to treat with respect, and seeks to decipher, abstract statutory concepts and tests derived from judicial pronouncements as if they were, indeed, a ‘brooding omnipresence in the sky’. This paper seeks to bridge that gap, by offering a legal realist account of the legal doctrine that governs the employment of agency workers, focusing on the ‘necessity’ and ‘sham’ tests. It assesses the legitimacy of importing legal tests from one (commercial) context to another (employment) context; questions the courts’ protestations that their use is mandated by precedent; and outlines the real implications for the status and rights of agency workers in the UK.
Desalted duck egg white peptides promoted osteogenesis via wnt/β‐catenin signal pathway
Authors: Guo Danjun , He Hui , Zhao Mengge , Zhang Guoqing , Hou Tao
Published: February 2020

Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease that threatens bone health of the elderly (especially postmenopausal women). Since osteoporosis is important to prevent, the aim of this study was to investigate the regulation of desalted duck egg white peptides (DPs) on osteoporosis. In this study, the effects of DPs on bone formation were evaluated using MC3T3‐E1 cells and ovariectomized (OVX) rats. DPs significantly enhanced the preosteoblasts proliferation, differentiation, and matrix mineralization via the upregulation of wnt3a expression, low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein‐5 (LRP‐5), β‐catenin, runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and osteoprotegerin (OPG) (P < 0.05). The intracellular calcium concentration was significantly elevated by DPs (P < 0.05), which is attributed to calcium influx and L‐type calcium channels. Additionally, OVX rat model experiment indicated that DPs (600 mg/kg bw) had a superior effect against bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency, as it significantly declined bone turnover markers, and significantly increased biomechanical parameters (P < 0.05). Mineralized bone surfaces and bone microstructure were also obviously improved by DPs treatment. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that receptor activator of nuclear factor κ B (RANK) expression of tibia in DPs group was significantly reduced compared with the model group (P < 0.05). Our results demonstrated that DPs could enhance preosteoblasts differentiation and antiosteoporosis via wnt/β‐catenin signal pathway and several key osteogenic transcription factors such as Runx2 and OPG.

Practical Application

High‐value utilization of salted duck egg white, a byproduct of food industry, is worthy of in‐depth study. Desalted duck egg white peptides (DPs) were proved to promote bone formation, which suggests the potentials of DPs as cofactors in osteoporosis prevention.
Number of metastatic organs negatively affects the treatment sequence in patients with EGFR‐TKI failure
Authors: Mizuno Takaaki , Horinouchi Hidehito , Watanabe Sho , Sato Jun , Morita Ryo , Murakami Shuji , Goto Yasushi , Kanda Shintaro , Fujiwara Yutaka , Yamamoto Noboru , Ohe Yuichiro
Published: February 2020

Background

Several studies have previously demonstrated the survival benefit of both EGFR‐TKI treatment and chemotherapy in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutations. The aim of the present study was to clarify the factors influencing the treatment sequence after failure of EGFR‐TKI therapy, focusing on the number of organs with metastasis (hereafter, metastatic organs).

Methods

Between January 2010 and December 2016, consecutive patients with EGFR‐mutated NSCLC who were started on first‐line EGFR‐TKI were reviewed. The factors influencing withholding systemic chemotherapy and the post‐progression survival (PPS) after failure of EGFR‐TKI were investigated.

Results

A total of 393 patients were started on first‐line EGFR‐TKI during the study period. After excluding patients maintained on EGFR‐TKI or who received osimertinib targeting secondary EGFR T790M, 297 patients were included in the analysis. Among these, 180 (60.6%) received chemotherapy after failure of EGFR‐TKI (TKI‐Ct group), while the remaining 117 (39.4%) received no chemotherapy (TKI‐only group). Multivariate analysis identified older age (≥75 years: odds ratio [OR] = 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11–0.43, P < 0.001), poor performance status (PS) (≥2: OR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.03–0.15, P < 0.001), and three or more metastatic organs (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.22–0.80, P = 0.008) as being significantly associated with withholding of chemotherapy after failure of EGFR‐TKI.

Conclusion

A relatively large number of metastatic organs and a poor PS were associated with the withholding of subsequent chemotherapy after failure of EGFR‐TKI in EGFR‐mutated NSCLC patients. Further research for patients with such a poor prognosis should be investigated in the future.
Pathologic complete response to preoperative immunotherapy in a lung adenocarcinoma patient with bone metastasis: A case report
Authors: Tang Yong , Li Yadan , Zhang Lei , Tong Guihui , Ou Zhu'an , Wang Zhuocai , Zhang Henghui , Qiao Guibin
Published: February 2020

Anti‐programmed cell death 1 (PD‐1) and its ligand (PD‐L1) has emerged as a novel immunotherapy for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the proportion of patients who may benefit from immunotherapy is limited and the factors sensitive or resistant to immunotherapy are not completely clear. Therefore, to identify reliable biomarkers as predictors of clinical response and resistance to anti‐PD‐1/PD‐L1 therapies have become increasingly important. Here, we report a case of a patient with bone metastatic NSCLC, who achieved a pathologic complete response after preoperative pembrolizumab treatment. Postoperative pathological examination found no viable cancer cells in the resected pulmonary nodules and lymph nodes. Several high‐frequency DNA damage response and repair (DDR) gene mutations including two germline mutations were identified in the primary lesion. Moreover, high PD‐L1 expression, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) combined with tumor protein 53 (TP53) mutations without epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) driver alterations, high infiltration level of CD8‐positive cells and M1 macrophages were observed, which were favorable characteristics for immunotherapy. We explored the possible factors related to an excellent response to immune checkpoint inhibitor in this patient and determined that preoperative use of anti‐PD‐1 therapy might apply to late‐stage lung adenocarcinoma patients with multidimensional advantageous biomarkers for treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Key points

We characterized the genomic features and immune microenvironment signature of a lung adenocarcinoma in a patient with bone metastasis who achieved pathologic complete response after pembrolizumab treatment.

To evaluate multidimensional advantageous biomarkers for immunotherapy.
Risk preferences of commodity crop producers and specialty crop producers: An application of prospect theory
Authors: Zhao Shuoli , Yue Chengyan
Published: February 2020

Producers’ decisions, such as crop insurance, contract agreement, and technology adoption, involve considerable risk and uncertainty. Particularly, specialty crop production is more vulnerable to risk and requires more intensive management than commodity crop production, while risk mitigation tools for specialty crop production are comparatively limited. We apply Prospect Theory (PT) to analyze risk preferences of U.S. producers, and further compare the preference differences between commodity crop and specialty crop producers. Reference dependent, diminishing sensitivity, loss aversion, and probability weighting, as well as certain farm characteristics and producer demographics, are found to have a significant impact on grower risk attitudes. In addition, we do not observe significant differences in the base PT estimates between commodity crop and specialty crop producers. However, the relationships between risk behavior and individual characteristics vary between the two types of producers, which shed lights on the development of agricultural policies and provide implications for the design of contract and insurance.
Homozygous in‐frame variant of SCL6A3 causes dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome in a consanguineous family
Authors: Heidari Erfan , Razmara Ehsan , Hosseinpour Sareh , Tavasoli Ali Reza , Garshasbi Masoud
Published: February 2020

The human dopamine transporter (hDAT) participates in dopamine homeostasis by clearing dopamine from the extracellular space using secondary active transport. Dysregulation of hDAT has been reported to be associated with different neuropsychiatric disorders. Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome (DTDS) is a complex disease caused by defects in dopamine uptake within the synaptic cleft and patients manifest parkinsonian features. The extracellular loops are crucial for DAT activity and defects in these regions disturb dopamine transport. In the present study, a 3.5‐year‐old female in a consanguineous Iranian family with an initial diagnosis of gait imbalance and speech delay has been identified. We utilized whole‐exome sequencing (WES) to identify the possible genetic defect(s). WES identified a novel homozygous in‐frame indel variant, c.1139_1150del; p.(Gly380_Lys384delinsGlu), in the SLC6A3 gene (NM_001044.4), as the most likely disease‐susceptibility variant. This variant is located in extracellular loop 4 (EL4) of the DAT protein. Our study highlights the role of extracellular loops and shows the EL4 of hDAT as a critical region for the protein activity. The identified variant in the EL4 region of DAT is predicted to compromise DAT function and may lead to DTDS in this case. However, complementary studies are required to confirm.
Clinical characteristics of 140 patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 in Wuhan, China
Authors: Zhang Jin-jin , Dong Xiang , Cao Yi-yuan , Yuan Ya-dong , Yang Yi-bin , Yan You-qin , Akdis Cezmi A. , Gao Ya-dong
Published: February 2020

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection has been widely spread. We aim to investigate the clinical characteristic and allergy status of patients infected with SARS‐CoV‐2.

Methods

Electronic medical records including demographics, clinical manifestation, comorbidities, laboratory data, and radiological materials of 140 hospitalized COVID‐19 patients, with confirmed result of SARS‐CoV‐2 viral infection, were extracted and analyzed.

Results

An approximately 1:1 ratio of male (50.7%) and female COVID‐19 patients was found, with an overall median age of 57.0 years. All patients were community‐acquired cases. Fever (91.7%), cough (75.0%), fatigue (75.0%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (39.6%) were the most common clinical manifestations, whereas hypertension (30.0%) and diabetes mellitus (12.1%) were the most common comorbidities. Drug hypersensitivity (11.4%) and urticaria (1.4%) were self‐reported by several patients. Asthma or other allergic diseases were not reported by any of the patients. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 1.4%) patients and current smokers (1.4%) were rare. Bilateral ground‐glass or patchy opacity (89.6%) was the most common sign of radiological finding. Lymphopenia (75.4%) and eosinopenia (52.9%) were observed in most patients. Blood eosinophil counts correlate positively with lymphocyte counts in severe (r = .486, P < .001) and nonsevere (r = .469, P < .001) patients after hospital admission. Significantly higher levels of D‐dimer, C‐reactive protein, and procalcitonin were associated with severe patients compared to nonsevere patients (all P < .001).

Conclusion

Detailed clinical investigation of 140 hospitalized COVID‐19 cases suggests eosinopenia together with lymphopenia may be a potential indicator for diagnosis. Allergic diseases, asthma, and COPD are not risk factors for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Older age, high number of comorbidities, and more prominent laboratory abnormalities were associated with severe patients.
Fixing flammable Forest: The scalar politics of peatland governance and restoration in Indonesia
Authors: Astuti Rini
Published: February 2020

Peatland fires and the impact of transboundary haze are often intertwined with socio‐environmental externalities of neoliberal forest governance and overlapping systems of resource property rights in Indonesia. New peatland governance strategies are emerging to address fires and haze by reorganising peatland management using a more ecologically relevant scale that territorialises peatland according to its hydrological characteristics. Employing the concept of the eco‐scalar fix, this paper interrogates rescaling peatland governance as a strategy to address the socio‐ecological crisis associated with the conversion of peatland into mono‐agricultural land. However, rescaling peatland governance entails the risk of merely displacing socio‐environmental crises to areas considered less ecologically important rather than addressing them. Drawing on a case study of a peatland restoration in Riau, Indonesia, this paper shows how emerging hybrid forms of peatland governance can address the environmental externalities that have unintentionally been created. This hybrid form of peatland governance has pressured actors across multiple types of property to rework the ways that environmental commons are controlled and accessed.
Shift from Input‐based Growth to Productivity‐based Growth in Korean Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Wu Chao , Kim Taegi , Oh Keunyeob
Published: February 2020

The Korean economy has entered a period of relatively sluggish growth after experiencing very dynamic and high economic growth since the 1970s. The recent growth rate has been around 3 percent, which is similar to that in many advanced countries. According to growth accounting, economic growth is possible because of input increases and productivity increases. Productivity growth is much more important than input increases for long‐term economic growth. We investigated whether there was a structural break in the Korean manufacturing industry and whether the main factor contributing to economic growth shifted from input to productivity. Using various econometric methods, we tested this question and found some interesting results. First, there was an important change in the 1990s, and the productivity trend seemed to show a big structural break at that time. Second, an input increase was the main factor contributing to economic growth before the break and productivity became more important after the break. Third, there was also a major change in the relationship between international trade and productivity.
Convergence and Intercountry Inequality within Asia: A Combined Approach Using Decomposition Techniques and Transitional Dynamics Analysis
Authors: Wang Lafang , Cheong Tsun Se , Wu Yanrui , Wu Jianxin
Published: February 2020

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of intercountry inequality and convergence in Asia by using a combined approach that is based on decomposition techniques and transitional dynamics analysis. The research is divided into three stages. First, decomposition by regional subgroups is conducted to estimate the contributions of the interregional component and the five spatial groupings to overall inequality to reveal the development of inequality in Asia. Second, the technique of decomposition by income sources is used to evaluate the relative significance of the agricultural, industrial and service sectors to facilitate formulation of industrial policy for economic development. Finally, the present study analyses the evolution of regional inequality and assesses the possibility of convergence.
Population pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of moxetumomab pasudotox in patients with relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukaemia
Authors: Kuruvilla Denison , Chia Yen Lin , Balic Kemal , Yao Nai Shun , Kreitman Robert J. , Pastan Ira , Li Xia , Standifer Nathan , Liang Meina , Tseng Chih‐Ming , Faggioni Raffaella , Roskos Lorin
Published: February 2020

Aims

To characterize the pharmacokinetics (PK) of moxetumomab pasudotox, an anti‐CD22 recombinant immunotoxin, in adults with relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukaemia, we examined data from a phase 1 study (Study 1001; n = 49) and from the pivotal clinical study (Study 1053; n = 74).

Methods

Data from both studies were pooled (n = 123) to develop a population PK model. Covariates included demographics, disease state, liver and kidney function, prior treatment, and antidrug antibodies (ADAs). Exposure–response and exposure–safety were analysed separately by study. A 1‐compartment model with linear elimination from the central compartment and 2 clearance (CL) rates was developed.

Results

Moxetumomab pasudotox was cleared more rapidly after cycle 1, day 1 (CL1 = 24.7 L/h) than subsequently (CL2 = 3.76 L/h), with high interindividual variability (116 and 109%, respectively). In Study 1053, patients with ADA titres >10 240 showed ~4‐fold increase in CL. Higher exposures (≥median) were related to higher response rates, capillary leak syndrome and increased creatinine (Study 1053 only), or grade ≥3 adverse events (Study 1001 only). Clinical benefits were still observed in patients with lower exposure or high ADA titres.

Conclusion

Despite a high incidence of immunogenicity with increased clearance, moxetumomab pasudotox demonstrated efficacy in hairy cell leukaemia.