bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A supply network governance framework: a case study of the South Australian mining industry
Authors: Statsenko Larissa , Gorod Alex , Ireland Vernon
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The competitiveness of mining regions largely depends on the performance of the regional supply chains that provide services to mining companies. These local supply chains are often highly intertwined and represent a regional supply network for the industry. Individual companies often use supply chain strategies that are sub-optimal to overall supply network performance. To effectively respond to an uncertain business environment, policy-makers and supply chain participants would benefit by a governance framework that would allow to incentivise the formation of supply networks structures enabling effective operations. The purpose of this paper is to offer an empirically grounded conceptual framework based on Complex Adaptive Systems (CASs) governance principles, which links network governance mechanisms with supply network structure and operational performance to incentivise the formation of adaptive and resilient supply networks in the mining industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed method research design and a case study of the South Australian mining sector were used to collect empirical data. Qualitative interviews and network analysis of the SA mining industry regional supply network structure were conducted. The relationships between network parameters were interpreted using CAS theory.

Findings

An empirically grounded conceptual framework based on CAS governance principles is developed. The case study revealed that supply chain strategies and governance mechanisms in the SA mining industry have led to the formation of a hierarchical, scale-free structure with insufficient horizontal connectivity which limits the adaptability, responsiveness and resilience of the regional supply network.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are drawn from a single case study. This limits generalisability of the findings and the proposed framework.

Practical implications

The proposed framework draws the attention of the policy-makers and supply chain participants towards the need for utilising CAS governance principles to facilitate the formation of adaptive, responsive and resilient regional supply networks in the mining industry.

Originality value

The proposed conceptual framework is an attempt to parameterise the governance of the regional supply networks in the mining industry.
Optimization of postponement process for a two stage modular manufacturer
Authors: Bagchi Shantanu Shankar , Gaur Jighyasu
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Firms have increasingly been using postponement as one of the supply chain strategies to respond to rapid changes in customers’ demands. The purpose of this study is to identify the optimum level of postponement in the context of two-stage modular manufacturing setting, given the information about trade-off between level of postponement and associated cost is known.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical ratio for the manufacturer to determine whether postponement process is to be continued or not is identified. An algebraic formula for the critical ratio is obtained using which managers can identify the optimal level of postponement using differential calculus.

Findings

The authors have analytically arrived at the solution which gives the manager the optimum level of postponement. Here, they identify the optimum level of postponement in the context of manufacturing, given the trade-off between level of postponement and associated cost. They calculate the expected total profit with different demand scenarios. The parametric analysis in this study shows that if price of the product decreases, then optimal amount of postponement also decreases.

Research limitations/implications

It is important for a manager to identify the optimum level of postponement. In practice, managers usually take this decision on the basis of their judgment and trivial analysis of trade-off between costs and benefits of postponement.

Originality/value

In this study, the authors find an optimum amount of postponement for a firm to find an optimal balance between the cost and the benefit garnered by the postponement process.
I can’t but we can!
Authors: Chaurasia Sushil S.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the impact of goal compatibility on value co-creation in a retailer–manufacturer outsourcing relationship. This paper also examines whether power balance, information symmetry and duration of engagement influence the above causal relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a structured questionnaire to test the relationship between goal compatibility and value co-creation through power balance and information symmetry, along with the moderating role of duration of the engagement. The instrument was administered to 230 top and senior management representatives from manufacturing firms located in 11 major Indian industrial cities.

Findings

Goal compatibility is significantly related to value co-creation. The results had also shown that power balance and information symmetry mediated the relationship between goal compatibility and value co-creation.

Research limitations/implications

Future researchers should examine these complex phenomena across more diverse industries and settings to enhance generalizability. Data should be gathered from both side of the channel dyad. Data should be also collected longitudinally to extend the current cross-sectional design.

Practical implications

Understanding the association between goal compatibility and value co-creation, with mediating and moderating factors can provide useful information to strengthen the inter-organizational relationship with maximizing mutual benefits.

Originality value

This research offers new insights into the links between goal compatibility and value co-creation. The retailers engaged in outsourcing can use these value drivers to understand their manufacturer and their respective priorities for value co-creation.
Aligning flexibility with uncertainty in software development arrangements through a contractual typology
Authors: Fink Lior , Wyss Simon , Lichtenstein Yossi
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify a typology of procurement contracts in the context of software development projects that allows firms to align design flexibility with design uncertainty at the project level. The theoretical lenses of contract theory and software engineering are used to explain why the five archetypes in the proposed typology provide gradually increasing levels of design flexibility and to develop hypotheses about the associations between design flexibility and a set of project cost dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested with objective contractual data from 270 software development contracts entered into by a leading international bank over a period of three years.

Findings

Data analysis confirms the existence of the proposed typology and shows that design flexibility is negatively associated with control and positively associated with coordination, trust, duration and price.

Research limitations/implications

Although the findings are based on the contracting practices of a single, albeit sophisticated, organization, they shed light on the ability of firms to align flexibility with uncertainty at the onset of new projects by taking advantage of nuanced contractual mechanisms to produce a broader set of contractual archetypes.

Originality/value

This paper is the first in the outsourcing literature to analyze a nuanced contractual typology in software development projects through the perspectives of both contract theory and software engineering.
On the effectiveness of peer reporting policies
Authors: Lyons Brian D. , Bowling Nathan A.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Unlike general codes of conduct, little is known about whether peer reporting policies achieve their intended purpose – that is, to increase the base rate of peer reporting counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs). The purpose of this paper is to use a person-situation perspective to examine if and when peer reporting policies impact the base rate of peer reporting CWBs.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected data from 271 employed participants and used moderated regression to examine whether policy presence and strength (situational variables) enhanced the relationship between a subjective obligation to report CWBs (person variable) and the base rate of peer reporting CWBs. This study also explored whether these interactions differ by CWB target (i.e. the organization vs coworkers).

Findings

Both situational variables – policy presence and policy strength – moderated the relationship between an obligation to report CWBs and the base rate of peer reporting CWBs. The interactions also differed by CWB target.

Originality/value

This study represents one of the initial academic investigations into the effectiveness of peer reporting policies. It primarily draws on the person-situation perspective to explain why peer reporting policies should influence the base rate of peer reporting CWBs. The results support the impact of peer reporting policies, but also suggest the benefit of examining different targets of CWB to help clarify when peer reporting policies are actually effective.
Tunable shape recovery progress of thermoplastic polyurethane by solvents
Authors: Wang Changchun , Kou Bo , Hang Zusheng , Zhao Xuejuan , Lu Tianxuan , Wu Ziqi , Zhang Jin-Peng
Published: October 2017

Purpose

This study aims to present that the chemo-responsive shape recovery of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is tunable by solvents with different solubility parameters, and it is generic for chemo-responsive shape-memory polymer and its composites.

Design/methodology/approach

Two kinds of commercial TPU samples with different thicknesses were prepared by panel vulcanizer and injection molding (an industrial manner) to investigate their chemo-responsive shape memory properties in acetic ether and acetone.

Findings

Results showed that all of TPU films with different thicknesses can fully recover their original shapes weather they recover in acetic ether or acetone. But the recovery time of TPU films in acetone is greatly reduced, especially for the twisting samples. The residual strains of recovery TPU samples after extension reduce obviously.

Research limitations/implications

The great decrement of recovery time is related to two factors. One is due to the bigger solubility parameter of acetone with higher dipole moment compared with those of acetic ether, and the other is the remained internal stress of TPU films after preparation. The internal stress is identified to have an effect on the shape-memory properties by comparing the recovery process of samples with/without annealing. The reduced residual strains of recovery TPU samples after extension is due to the increasing mobility of polymer segments after molecules of acetic ether penetrates into the polymeric chains.

Originality/value

This is a universal strategy to control the recovery process of shape-memory materials or composites. The underlying mechanism is generic and should be applicable to chemo-responsive shape-memory polymers or their composites.
Multi-stimuli triggered self-healing of the conductive shape memory polymer composites
Authors: Luo Hongsheng , Zhou Xingdong , Xu Yuncheng , Wang Huaquan , Yao Yongtao , Yi Guobin , Hao Zhifeng
Published: October 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to exploit shape-memory polymers as self-healable materials. The underlying mechanism involved the thermal transitions as well as the enrichment of the healing reagents and the closure of the crack surfaces due to shape recovery. The multi-stimuli-triggered shape memory composite was capable of self-healing under not only direct thermal but also electrical stimulations.

Design/methodology/approach

The shape memory epoxy polymer composites comprising the AgNWs and poly (ε-caprolactone) were fabricated by dry transfer process. The morphologies of the composites were investigated by the optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrical conduction and the Joule heating effect were measured. Furthermore, the healing efficiency under the different stimuli was calculated, whose dependence on the compositions was also discussed.

Findings

The AgNWs network maintained most of the pathways for the electrons transportation after the dry transfer process, leading to a superior conduction and flexibility. Consequently, the composites could trigger the healing within several minutes, as applied with relatively low voltages. It was found that the composites having more the AgNWs content had better electrically triggered performance, while 50 per cent poly (ε-caprolactone) content endowed the materials with max healing efficiency under thermal or electrical stimuli.

Research limitations/implications

The findings may greatly benefit the application of the intelligent polymers in the fields of the multifunctional flexible electronics.

Originality/value

Most studies have by far emphasized on the direct thermal triggered cases. Herein, a novel, flexible and conductive shape memory-based composite, which was capable of self-healing under the thermal or electrical stimulations, has been proposed.
Recent development in electrospun polymer fiber and their composites with shape memory property: a review
Authors: Yao Yongtao , Xu Yuncheng , Wang Bing , Yin Weilong , Lu Haibao
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of recent systematic and comprehensive advancement in electrospun polymer fiber and their composites with shape memory property.

Design/methodology/approach

The nanofiber manufacture technique is initially reviewed. Then, the influence of electrospinning parameters and actuation method has been discussed. Finally, the study concludes with a brief review of recent development in potential applications.

Findings

Shape memory polymer (SMP) nanofibers are a type of smart materials which can change shape under external stimuli (e.g. temperature, electricity, magnetism, solvent). In general, such SMP nanofibers could be easily fabricated by mature electrospinning technique. The nanofiber morphology is mainly affected by the electrospinning parameters, including applied voltage, tip-to-collector distance, viscosity of solution, humidity and molecular weight. For actuation method, most SMP nanofibers and their composites can change their shapes in response to heat, magnetic field or solvent, while few can be driven by electricity. Compared with the block SMPs, electrospun SMP nanofibers’ mat with porosity and low mechanical property have a wide potential application field including tissue engineering, drug delivery, filtration, catalysis.

Originality/value

This paper provides a detailed review of shape memory nanofibers: fabrication, actuation and potential application, in the near future.
Research on microwave pad dyeing process for wool fabric
Authors: Zhao Xue
Published: October 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to study microwave pad dyeing process for wool fabric. Influences of various dyeing process conditions including galactomannan dosage, urea dosage, sodium bisulphite dosage, pH value, microwave irradiation power, treating time and cold batching time before microwave fixation on K/S values were analysed. The colour yield, fixation and levelness were compared between microwave fixation and cold batching fixation.

Design/methodology/approach

Colour yield (K/S values) was calculated using a Datacolor SF650 colour measuring and matching instrument (10° standard observer, CIE D65 light source Measuring; Datacolor, USA) and was used to determine the depth of the shade of dyed wool fabrics. Levelness of dyeing was evaluated also using the Datacolor SF650 colour measuring and matching instrument by measuring average deviation (S), range (P) of the maximum and the minimum for lightness (L), chroma (C) and hue (h), and balanced colour difference (ΔE) at 20 specified uniform locations on the wool fabrics. The colour difference was calculated as per the equationΔE=(ΔL2+Δa2+Δb2)1/2as appearing in the Experimental section. Fixation was determined using a Datacolor SF650 colour measuring and matching instrument by measuring ratio the of K/S for wool fabrics that were rinsed, washed, neutralised and then dried, and wool fabrics that were dried after fixation without washing. The pH of the padding solution was evaluated using a PHSJ-4A PH meter (Datacolor, USA). SEM analysis was done on JEOL JSM-5600LV machine (JEOL Ltd, Japan).

Findings

This study is based on application of microwave technology in the processing of silk.

Originality/value

It was found in laboratory experiments that uniform dyeing and deeper colour can be achieved throughout the microwave pad dyeing process for wool by using galactomannan. The novel process could reduce the dyeing time and the energy consumption of the traditional cold pad-batch dyeing process for wool fabric.
A tensile study of fancy multicount yarn sections
Authors: Iqbal Shakeel , Pramanik P.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

No study was published about the tensile properties of different sections of multicount yarn. Hence there was a need to conduct a detailed section-wise tensile study of fancy multicounty yarn. The purpose of this study is to identify the different sections of the same multicount yarn and test them separately.

Design/methodology/approach

Multicount yarn with slubs were prepared on a ring frame with the Amsler Textile Effect System. Different yarn sections from each multicount yarn are identified as fine normal, fine slub, medium normal, medium slub, coarse normal, coarse slub and the changeover sections. These sections are tested for the breaking load and breaking elongation. Broken ends of the yarn sections are also studied, and these broken ends are classified as sharp broken end, tapered broken end and slipped broken end. A study is also conducted on the location of break or the place of break at the changeover sections.

Findings

It was found that the twist of yarn at slub sections was lower than the twist at normal sections. In spite of the low yarn twist at slub sections, the breaking load of the yarn was higher at slub sections than at normal sections by 12 to 30 per cent owing to the presence of more number of fibres that share the breaking load. The breaking load at the changeover section (normal to slub and slub to normal) was found to be higher than that at normal section and lower than at slub sections. No significant difference was found between the breaking load of the two changeover sections (normal to slub and slub to normal). The majority of breaks in normal yarn sections were of the tapered broken end type and the majority of breaks in slub yarn sections were slipped broken ends.

Originality/value

Efforts are taken to identify different sections of the same multicount yarn with the help of specially designed square black board and tensile study of these sections are carried out.
Current Status of Hepatitis C Virus‐Infected Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients in Japan
Authors: Abe Takaya , Oomori Sou , Obara Wataru
Published: October 2017

Complete recovery using interferon therapy in Japanese hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected dialysis patients is difficult to achieve because >70 % of the HCV genotypes observed in Japan are type 1. In 2016, new direct‐acting antiviral drugs against HCV genotype 1 were reported to be effective and safe for HCV‐infected hemodialysis patients. Although new direct antiviral therapy has become available, no large‐scale studies evaluating the status of HCV infection in Japanese hemodialysis patients have been conducted since 2007. Therefore, we conducted a questionnaire survey to determine the current status of HCV infection in patients. Our results indicated that the HCV antibody prevalence was 5.02 %, and HCV RNA prevalence was 72.3 %. Genotype testing revealed that 62.1 % of patients had HCV genotype 1. New direct antiviral therapy may improve the survival of Japanese HCV‐infected dialysis patients.
A Framework for Incorporating the Impact of Water Quality on Water Supply Stress: An Example from Louisiana, USA
Authors: Borrok David M. , Chen Jian , Eldardiry Hisham , Habib Emad
Published: October 2017

Water of poor quality can directly impact the budget of water available for key user groups. Despite this importance, methods for quantifying the impact of water quality on water availability remain elusive. Here, we develop a new framework for incorporating the impact of water quality on water supply by modifying the Water Supply Stress Index (WaSSI). We demonstrate the usefulness of the framework by investigating the impact of high salinity waters on the availability of irrigation water for agriculture in Louisiana. The WaSSI was deconstructed into sectoral components such that the total available water supply could be reduced for a particular demand sector (agricultural irrigation in this example) based on available water quality information. The results for Louisiana highlight substantial impacts on water supply stress for farmers attributable to the landward encroachment of saline surface water and groundwater near the coast. Areas of high salinity near the coast also increased the competition for freshwater resources among the industrial, municipal, and agricultural demand sectors in the vicinities of the municipal areas of Lake Charles, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The framework developed here is easily adaptable for other water quality concerns and for other demand sectors, and as such can serve as a useful tool for water managers.
Zinc supplementation in prediabetes: A randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Ranasinghe Priyanga , Wathurapatha Wasundara S. , Galappatthy Priyadarshani , Katulanda Prasad , Jayawardena Ranil , Constantine Godwin R.
Published: October 2017

Background

This study evaluated the effects of zinc supplementation on glycemic control, other cardiometabolic and anthropometric parameters, and disease progression in prediabetes.

Methods

A randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled Phase 2 clinical trial was conducted over a 12‐month period in 200 subjects (43% male; mean [± SD] age 51.8 ± 7.3 years), randomly assigned (1:  1) to the treatment or control group. The treatment group received zinc (20 mg daily). Subjects were evaluated at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The primary outcome was the change in glycemic control from baseline. Multiple regression analyses were performed, with change in outcome variables after intervention from baseline used as continuous dependent variables.

Results

In both groups, mean serum zinc concentrations prior to the trial were below normal (15.29–21.41 μmol/L). During the 12‐month follow‐up, a significantly higher percentage of participants developed type 2 diabetes in the control compared with zinc‐treated group (25.0% vs 11.0% respectively; P = 0.016). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2‐h glucose levels in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), total cholesterol (TC), and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) were significantly lower in the treated group, with significant improvement in β‐cell function. In all four regression models, the best predictor of the dependent variables (i.e. change in FPG, 2‐h glucose in the OGTT, HOMA‐IR, and homeostatic model assessment of β‐cell function) was zinc treatment.

Conclusions

Zinc supplementation reduced blood glucose and insulin resistance while improving β‐cell function. Furthermore, supplementation reduced disease progression to diabetes and had beneficial effects on TC and LDL‐C.
National survey on image‐guided radiotherapy practice in New Zealand
Authors: Padayachee Jerusha , Loh Jasmin , Tiong Albert , Lao Louis
Published: October 2017

Introduction

This survey aimed to assess the use of image‐guided radiotherapy (IGRT) within New Zealand (NZ) and evaluate the quality of IGRT delivery.

Method

All nine centres in NZ were invited to participate in an online survey in November 2015. Questions were asked on type of IGRT technologies available, IGRT use by tumour site and frequency of imaging. In addition, questions were asked in reference to the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) White Paper recommendations on safe practice of IGRT.

Results

Seven of the nine centres (78%) responded. Kilovoltage cone‐beam CT (CBCT), kilovoltage planar imaging and megavoltage electronic portal imaging were the most commonly used IGRT technologies. CBCT was most frequently used in gynaecology (100%), genitourinary (86%) and head and neck (86%) sites. Despite the availability of similar IGRT technologies, there was significant variation in their application between centres. All centres used online IGRT; however, the frequency of imaging varied across the tumour sites and individual centres. Daily online IGRT use ranged from 43% to 86% across the tumour sites. Overall, there was good compliance by the NZ centres to the White Paper recommendations, with at least 71% reached for each element. However, the compliance rates for the individual centres ranged between 50% and 100%. The most commonly identified barrier to IGRT use was lack of guidelines/education (43%).

Conclusion

Image‐guided radiotherapy is widely used in NZ; however, there is a wide variation in its application between centres. Detailed tumour site‐specific, imaging modality‐specific national guidelines will allow standardization of IGRT practices.
Do Political Connections Weaken Tax Enforcement Effectiveness?
Authors: Lin Kenny Z. , Mills Lillian F. , Zhang Fang , Li Yongbo
Published: October 2017

This paper examines whether ties to politicians by corporate boards of directors weaken the effectiveness of tax authorities in constraining tax avoidance in China. We use a unique data set to measure geographic time‐variant tax enforcement, including the probability of income tax audit, the expertise of tax officers, and the consequences of underreporting tax liabilities. Based on a sample of 11,121 firm‐years from 2003 to 2013, we find that the deterrent effect of the probability that a firm's taxable income understatement will be detected and lead to heavy penalties is significantly undermined if the board is politically connected. To enhance our analysis, we use opportunities for income shifting, the most likely mechanism through which Chinese firms avoid taxes on an ongoing basis, to illustrate how connected boards exert power to unwind the constraining effect of tax enforcement. Overall, our results suggest that a board's ties to politicians can be a significant challenge to the effective enforcement of tax compliance in a politically controlled economy.
Price shock transmission: evidence from the wheat‐bread market value chain in Ethiopia
Authors: Haile Mekbib G. , Kalkuhl Matthias , Algieri Bernardina , Gebreselassie Samuel
Published: October 2017

This study assesses the degree of vertical price transmission along the wheat‐bread value chain in Ethiopia. This is pursued by applying a vector error correction model and an impulse response analysis using monthly price data for the period 2000–2015. Our analysis considers transmission of price shocks across different market levels, including from the international and domestic wheat grain markets at the upstream to the domestic wheat bread market at the downstream of the value chain. The empirical findings indicate that significant cointegration exists across prices of the different market stages. There is a transmission from international prices to domestic prices at downstream markets, in particular to flour and bread prices. Prices at upstream markets are largely influenced by the domestic wholesale market. In general, the speed of adjustment is quite slow with a half‐life of about one year for restoring the equilibrium price relationship. As price margins between the different market stages in the value chain have substantially decreased in the last 15 years, higher transmission, and thus exposure to international market shocks, can be expected in the future. The results also show that causal relationships exist between prices at different market stages—with the wholesale market identified as the key market level where prices and price expectations are formed.
Local recurrence is correlated with decreased overall survival in patients with intermediate high‐grade localized primary soft tissue sarcoma of extremity and abdominothoracic wall
Authors: Zhao Ruping , Yu Xiaoli , Feng Yan , Yang Zhaozhi , Chen Xingxing , Wand Jian , Ma Shenglin , Zhang Zhen , Guo Xiaomao
Published: October 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of local recurrence on overall survival in patients with intermediate high‐grade localized primary soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of extremity and abdominothoracic wall.

Methods

This retrospective study identified 133 consecutive patients with intermediate high‐grade localized primary STS of extremity and abdominothoracic wall from January 2000 to July 2010. Survival curves were constructed by the Kaplan–Meier method and log‐rank test was used to assess statistical significance. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated based on multivariable Cox logistic regression method.

Results

The 5‐year cumulative incidence of local recurrence was 26.0% with a median follow‐up of 68 months (range, 5–127 months). The univariate analysis showed that local recurrence was associated with decreased overall survival, with 5‐year overall survival of 80.5% and 53.6% in the no local recurrence patients and local recurrence patients, respectively (P = 0.001). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that local recurrence was a negative prognostic factor for overall survival (HR = 2.115, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.036–4.319, P = 0.040). Radiotherapy significantly reduced local recurrence compared with surgery alone (HR = 0.387, 95% CI 0.180–0.877, P = 0.019), while larger tumor size (HR = 3.184, 95% CI 1.351–7.506 P = 0.008) was correlated with higher rate of local recurrence.

Conclusion

Local recurrence in patients with intermediate high‐grade localized primary STS is associated with decreased overall survival.
Clinical characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with normal serum alpha‐fetoprotein level: A study of 112 consecutive cases
Authors: Li Li , Chen Jinglong , Xu Weiran , Ding Xiaosheng , Wang Xiangyi , Liang Jun
Published: October 2017

Background

Serum alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) level is normal in 30–40% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and knowledge on its characteristics and clinical outcome is limited. The purpose of this observational study was to determine the clinical presentation, biological behavior and outcome of HCC patients with normal AFP level.

Methods

Data of 112 consecutive HCC patients with normal AFP level were analyzed retrospectively. Statistical analysis including survival and factors associated with serum AFP level were performed by Kaplan‐Meier method and t‐test, respectively.

Results

Hepatitis B virus infection exited in 83.0% of all 112 HCC patients with normal AFP level. During a mean 52 ± 20 months (range 5–85 months) follow‐up, the 1‐, 2‐, 3‐year overall survival (OS) rate was 97.2%, 85.3% and 81.7%, respectively. The OS rates at 3 years stratified by stages at diagnosis were 100%, 96.2%, 85.7%, 11.1% and 0%, respectively for Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0–D diseases. Significant difference in OS was observed among patients with BCLC stage 0–D diseases, P < 0.05. Using 8.78 ng/mL as the cut off value, serum AFP level elevated beyond normal figure during follow‐up (AFP conversion) in 16 patients, which related with deterioration of liver function, quantitative changes of T helper cell subsets, rapid tumor progression and shorter survival. Patients with sustained normal AFP level had better survival than patients with AFP conversion, P < 0.05. There was significant difference between the time of diagnosis with HCC to serum AFP level elevation and the time of AFP elevation to death, P < 0.05.

Conclusion

Prognosis of HCC patients with normal AFP level was relatively optimal. Serum AFP level elevation during follow‐up was significantly associated with clinical outcome in terms of OS.
RItA: The Italian severe/uncontrolled asthma registry
Authors: Maio S. , Baldacci S. , Bresciani M. , Simoni M. , Latorre M. , Murgia N. , Spinozzi F. , Braschi M. , Antonicelli L. , Brunetto B. , Iacovacci P. , Roazzi P. , Pini C. , Pata M. , La Grasta L. , Paggiaro P. , Viegi G. ,   the AGAVE group
Published: October 2017

Background

The Italian severe/uncontrolled asthma (SUA) web‐based registry encompasses demographic, clinical, functional, and inflammatory data; it aims to raise SUA awareness, identifying specific phenotypes and promoting optimal care.

Methods

Four hundred and ninety three adult patients from 27 Italian centers (recruited in 2011‐2014) were analyzed.

Results

Mean age was 53.8 years. SUA patients were more frequently female (60.6%), with allergic asthma (83.1%). About 30% showed late onset of asthma diagnosis/symptoms (>40 years); the mean age for asthma symptoms onset was 30.2 years and for asthma diagnosis 34.4 years. 97.1% used ICS (dose 2000 BDP), 93.6% LABA in association with ICS, 53.3% LTRAs, 64.1% anti‐IgE, 10.7% theophylline, and 16.0% oral corticosteroids. Mean FEV1% pred of 75.1%, median values of 300/mm3 of blood eosinophil count, 323 kU/L of serum total IgE, and 24 ppb of FENO were shown. Most common comorbidities were allergic rhinitis (62.4%), gastroesophageal reflux (42.1%), sinusitis (37.9%), nasal polyposis (30.2%), and allergic conjunctivitis (30.2%). 55.7% of SUA patients had exacerbations in the last 12 months, 9.7% emergency department visits, and 7.3% hospitalizations. Factors associated with exacerbation risk were obesity (OR, 95% CI 2.46, 1.11‐5.41), psychic disorders (2.87, 0.89‐9.30—borderline), nasal polyps (1.86, 0.88‐3.89—borderline), partial/poor asthma treatment adherence (2.54, 0.97‐6.67—borderline), and anti‐IgE use in a protective way (0.26, 0.12‐0.53). Comparisons to severe asthma multicenter studies and available registries showed data consistency across European and American populations.

Conclusions

An international effort in the implementation of SUA patients’ registries could help to better understand the clinical features and to manage severe asthma, representing a non‐negligible socioeconomic burden for health services.
Rural landscape status, functions and human factors in the transboundary Nemunas delta region
Authors: Verkulevičiūtė‐Kriukienė Daiva , Bučienė Angelija , Beteika Laimonas
Published: October 2017

The geography of border regions is not only determined by geopolitical issues, but also by physical factors, cultural traditions, economic activities and demographic change. Twenty‐five years ago, the rural landscapes in the Šilutė (Lithuania) and Slavsk (Russia) administrative districts, which are located in the Nemunas river delta area, were dominated by agriculture, based on polder systems. Subsequently, agriculture has shrunk and some agricultural land has been abandoned. As a result of migration, the total and rural populations in Slavsk district have remained the same as 25 years ago. In Šilutė district, the total and rural populations have been decreasing each year since 1990–1991. Traditional agriculture in Šilutė district is supplemented by organic farms and, in parallel with commercial fisheries, recreational fishing has increased. Rural tourism, water and nature tourism and other recreational activities have also increased, particularly in Rusnė Island and Nemunas Delta Regional Park territory (Lithuania's part of the delta). Protected areas have increased four‐fold since 1991–1992, while there has been a negligible increase in built‐up areas in the whole delta region. Though recreation and tourism are less developed in Slavsk district, and small and medium enterprises are fewer than in Šilutė district, the rural landscape is evidently changing in the whole region. It is transforming from a traditional agricultural–fishery region to a multifunctional region that is focused on increasing conservation and recreational activities.
Urinalysis of MMX‐mesalazine as a tool to monitor 5‐ASA adherence in daily IBD practice
Authors: Römkens Tessa E. H. , te Morsche Rene , Peters Wilbert , Burger David M. , Hoentjen Frank , Drenth Joost P. H.
Published: October 2017

Adherence is pivotal but challenging in ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment. Many methods to assess adherence are subjective or have limitations. (Nac‐)5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) urinalysis by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) seems feasible and reproducible in healthy volunteers. We performed a prospective study in adult quiescent UC patients to evaluate the feasibility of spot (Nac‐)5‐ASA urinalysis by HPLC to assess adherence in daily inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care. Twenty‐nine patients (51.7% male, mean age 52 ± 11 years) were included (median FU 9 months) and weekly spot urine samples were collected. We found large variation in spot (Nac‐)5‐ASA urinary excretion that was unrelated to brand, dosing schedule or dosage of 5‐ASA. In conclusion, spot (Nac‐)5‐ASA urinalysis is not applicable to assess 5‐ASA adherence in daily IBD care.
Cox Regression Model with Doubly Truncated Data
Authors: Rennert Lior , Xie Sharon X.
Published: October 2017

Truncation is a well-known phenomenon that may be present in observational studies of time-to-event data. While many methods exist to adjust for either left or right truncation, there are very few methods that adjust for simultaneous left and right truncation, also known as double truncation. We propose a Cox regression model to adjust for this double truncation using a weighted estimating equation approach, where the weights are estimated from the data both parametrically and nonparametrically, and are inversely proportional to the probability that a subject is observed. The resulting weighted estimators of the hazard ratio are consistent. The parametric weighted estimator is asymptotically normal and a consistent estimator of the asymptotic variance is provided. For the nonparametric weighted estimator, we apply the bootstrap technique to estimate the variance and confidence intervals. We demonstrate through extensive simulations that the proposed estimators greatly reduce the bias compared to the unweighted Cox regression estimator which ignores truncation. We illustrate our approach in an analysis of autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer's disease patients to assess the effect of education on survival.
The Political Effects of Accounting Normalization on Trade Unions: An Analysis of Financial Transparency Reform in France
Authors: Bourguignon Rémi , Yon Karel
Published: October 2017

The law of 20 August 2008 reformed the representativeness of French unions by imposing an obligation for ‘financial transparency’. Building on exploratory research, we address the question of the organizational and political effects of the new regulation, which point to a traditional debate in union democracy studies: how do administrative and representative rationalities combine within trade union organizations? Drawing on interviews with union leaders and finance officers at various levels in three major labour confederations (CGT, CFDT and CGT‐FO), we describe the different ways unionists have received the new accounting requirements and translated them into organizational practices and norms. Going beyond the traditional theses of compatibility and colonization, we make use of the body of work in critical legal and management studies to develop an endogenous approach of the relationships between trade unions and accounting management.
Unforgiveness: Refining theory and measurement of an understudied construct
Authors: Stackhouse Madelynn R. D. , Jones Ross Rachel W. , Boon Susan D.
Published: October 2017

This research presents a multidimensional conceptualization of unforgiveness and the development and validation of the unforgiveness measure (UFM). The scale was developed based on a qualitative study of people's experiences of unforgiven interpersonal offences (Study 1). Three dimensions of unforgiveness emerged (Study 2): emotional‐ruminative unforgiveness, cognitive‐evaluative unforgiveness, and offender reconstrual. We supported the scale's factor structure, reliability, and validity (Study 3). We also established the convergent and discriminant validity of the UFM with measures of negative affect, rumination, forgiveness, cognitive reappraisal, and emotional suppression (Study 4). Together, our results suggest that the UFM can capture variability in victims’ unforgiving experiences in the aftermath of interpersonal transgressions. Implications for understanding the construct of unforgiveness and directions for future research are discussed.
Use of long‐term data to evaluate loss and endangerment status of Natura 2000 habitats and effects of protected areas
Authors: Biró Marianna , Bölöni János , Molnár Zsolt
Published: October 2017

Habitat loss is a key driver of biodiversity loss. However, hardly any long‐term time series analyses of habitat loss are available above the local scale for finer‐level habitat categories. We analysed, from a long‐term perspective, the habitat specificity of habitat‐area loss, the change in trends in habitat loss since 1989 (dissolution of the communist state), and the impact of protected areas on habitat loss in Hungary. We studied 20 seminatural habitat types in 5000 randomly selected localities over 7 periods from 1783 to 2013 based on historical maps, archival and recent aerial photos and satellite imagery, botanical descriptions, and field data. We developed a method for estimating habitat types based on information transfer between historical sources (i.e., information from a source was used to interpret or enrich information from another source). Trends in habitat loss over time were habitat specific. We identified 7 types of habitat loss over time regarding functional form: linear, exponential, linear and exponential, delayed, minimum, maximum, and disappearance. Most habitats had continuous loss from period to period. After 1986 the average annual rates of habitat loss increased, but the trend reversed after 2002. Nature conservation measures significantly affected habitat loss; net loss was halted, albeit only inside protected areas. When calculating the degree of endangerment based on short‐term data (52 years), we classified only 1 habitat as critically endangered, but based on long‐term data (230 years), this increased to 7 (including habitat that no longer existed). Hungary will probably reach the global Convention on Biological Diversity Target 5 but will probably not achieve the EU Biodiversity Strategy target of halting habitat loss by 2020. Long‐term trend data were highly useful when we examined recent habitat‐loss data in a wider context. Our method could be applied effectively in other countries to augment shorter‐term data sets on trends in habitat area.
Determining significance of input neurons for probabilistic neural network by sensitivity analysis procedure
Authors: Kowalski Piotr A. , Kusy Maciej
Published: October 2017

In classical feedforward neural networks such as multilayer perceptron, radial basis function network, or counter‐propagation network, the neurons in the input layer correspond to features of the training patterns. The number of these features may be large, and their meaningfulness can be various. Therefore, the selection of appropriate input neurons should be regarded. The aim of this paper is to present a complete step‐by‐step algorithm for determining the significance of particular input neurons of the probabilistic neural network (PNN). It is based on the sensitivity analysis procedure applied to a trained PNN. The proposed algorithm is utilized in the task of reduction of the input layer of the considered network, which is achieved by removing appropriately indicated features from the data set. For comparison purposes, the PNN's input neuron significance is established by using the ReliefF and variable importance procedures that provide the relevance of the input features in the data set. The performance of the reduced PNN is verified against a full structure network in classification problems using real benchmark data sets from an available machine learning repository. The achieved results are also referred to the ones attained by entropy‐based algorithms. The prediction ability expressed in terms of misclassifications is obtained by means of a 10‐fold cross‐validation procedure. Received outcomes point out interesting properties of the proposed algorithm. It is shown that the efficiency determined by all tested reduction methods is comparable.
Top‐down contextual knowledge guides visual attention in infancy
Authors: Tummeltshammer Kristen , Amso Dima
Published: October 2017

The visual context in which an object or face resides can provide useful top‐down information for guiding attention orienting, object recognition, and visual search. Although infants have demonstrated sensitivity to covariation in spatial arrays, it is presently unclear whether they can use rapidly acquired contextual knowledge to guide attention during visual search. In this eye‐tracking experiment, 6‐ and 10‐month‐old infants searched for a target face hidden among colorful distracter shapes. Targets appeared in Old or New visual contexts, depending on whether the visual search arrays (defined by the spatial configuration, shape and color of component items in the search display) were repeated or newly generated throughout the experiment. Targets in Old contexts appeared in the same location within the same configuration, such that context covaried with target location. Both 6‐ and 10‐month‐olds successfully distinguished between Old and New contexts, exhibiting faster search times, fewer looks at distracters, and more anticipation of targets when contexts repeated. This initial demonstration of contextual cueing effects in infants indicates that they can use top‐down information to facilitate orienting during memory‐guided visual search.
Coaptation Triangle and Golden Proportion in mitral valve anatomy. Does nature play with geometry?
Authors: Deorsola Luca , Bellone Alessandra
Published: October 2017

Introduction

The Coaptation Triangle, or Tenting Area, can be identified on long‐axis 2D images. Its assessment is a routine practice during echocardiographic mitral evaluation. The Golden Proportion is a particular geometric ratio between two segments. Its value is an irrational number, commonly rounded to 0.618 and showing unique geometrical/mathematical properties. Interestingly, its presence has been documented in an extremely variable number of natural settings. Hypothesizing the presence of the Golden Proportion in normal mitral anatomy, we examined the Coaptation Triangle of healthy valves to investigate such a theory.

Methods and Results

A total of 41 healthy adults, with normal mitral valves, underwent 2D echocardiography. Adequate images were chosen and loaded into custom software. Firstly, the Coaptation Triangle was manually drawn by the operator. Then, a second Coaptation Triangle, with the same base, but based on Golden Proportion, was automatically built by the software. Eventually, the two triangles were analyzed and compared. All retrieved measurements were investigated for differences and correlations. Ratios close to the Golden Proportion were found in several locations of the manually drawn Coaptation Triangle. On the other hand, comparing the manually drawn Coaptation Triangle with the automatically built one, no significant differences were revealed, and very strong correlations were demonstrated.

Conclusion

The Golden Proportion appears present in the geometry of normal mitral valves. Studying such an aspect and identifying disruption in anatomical proportions could improve early diagnosis of mitral alterations, and allows a more standardized follow‐up and help surgeons to plan a repair strategy, particularly quantifying the needed surgical modifications.