bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the influence of background light on the accuracy of a three-dimensional coordinate measurement system based on dual-PSD
Authors: Lu Xiaohong , Zhou Yu , Qiao Jinhui , Luan Yihan , Wang Yongquan
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the measurement error of a three-dimensional coordinate measurement system based on dual-position-sensitive detector (PSD) under different background light.

Design/methodology/approach

The mind evolutionary algorithm (MEA)-back propagation (BP) neural network is used to predict the three-dimensional coordinates of the points, and the influence of the background light on the measurement accuracy of the three-dimensional coordinates based on PSD is obtained.

Findings

The influence of the background light on the measurement accuracy of the system is quantitatively calculated. The background light has a significant influence on the prediction accuracy of the three-dimensional coordinate measurement system. The optical method, electrical method and photoelectric compensation method are proposed to improve the measurement accuracy.

Originality/value

BP neural network based on MEA is applied to the coordinate prediction of the three-dimensional coordinate measurement system based on dual-PSD, and the influence of background light on the measurement accuracy is quantitatively analyzed.
Bankruptcy prediction using multivariate grey prediction models
Authors: Hu Yi-Chung , Jiang Peng , Jiang Hang , Tsai Jung-Fa
Published: June 2020

Purpose

In the face of complex and challenging economic and business environments, developing and implementing approaches to predict bankruptcy has become important for firms. Bankruptcy prediction can be regarded as a grey system problem because while factors such as the liquidity, solvency and profitability of a firm influence whether it goes bankrupt, the precise manner in which these factors influence the discrimination between failed and non-failed firms is uncertain. In view of the applicability of multivariate grey prediction models (MGPMs), this paper aimed to develop a grey bankruptcy prediction model (GBPM) based on the GM (1, N) (BP-GM (1, N)).

Design/methodology/approach

As the traditional GM (1, N) is designed for time series forecasting, it is better to find an appropriate permutation of firms in the financial data as if the resulting sequences are time series. To solve this challenging problem, this paper proposes GBPMs by integrating genetic algorithms (GAs) into the GM (1, N).

Findings

Experimental results obtained for the financial data of Taiwanese firms in the information technology industries demonstrated that the proposed BP-GM (1, N) performs well.

Practical implications

Among artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques, GBPMs are capable of explaining which of the financial ratios has a stronger impact on bankruptcy prediction by driving coefficients.

Originality/value

Applying MGPMs to a problem without relation to time series is challenging. This paper focused on bankruptcy prediction, a crucial issue in financial decision-making for businesses, and proposed several GBPMs.
Perceptions of transnational family responsibilities’ effects on subjective health and wellness – voices of Thai immigrant women
Authors: Pongthippat Weerati , Östlund Gunnel , Darvishpour Mehrdad , Kijsomporn Jureerat , Gustafsson Lena-Karin
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Globalisation provides new opportunities for immigrant women to supply financial benefits transnationally to uphold their families in their home countries. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of Thai immigrant women regarding transnational family responsibilities effects on their health and wellness.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 40 Thai immigrant women, of which 34 described having transnational family responsibilities. The transcribed data were analysed using a phenomenographic approach.

Findings

The findings revealed five structural aspects of transnational family responsibilities of Thai immigrant women: being a dutiful daughter, being a caring mother, being a kind relative, being a “giving” person and striving for a wealthy life. The interviewees seldom encountered enough support from the spouse in handling their transnational family responsibilities. In general, a transnational marriage includes family responsibilities that are continuous and that often is the cause of migration.

Practical implications

This paper illuminates the transnational responsibilities of marriage migration and argues for women’s rights of culturally congruent health care.

Originality/value

Traditionally Thai women’s values are based on how they handle family responsibilities and acknowledging own health needs are not. These interviewees perceived doubled burden in terms of family responsibilities and workload in employed work, which contributed to poor health and wellness.
Giving a fish or teaching to fish? Exploring the effects of home-country governmental support on foreign exit decisions
Authors: Tan Qun , Sousa Carlos M.P.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

To help firms with their international operations, governments often create policies and support mechanisms, but its influence on the firm's exit decision has so far been ignored. Hence, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of home-country governmental support on the firm's exit decision.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test their conceptual model using multiple informants as well as secondary data from China. The sample consists of 360 valid questionnaires from 180 firms. Binary logistics regression is used to test the conceptual framework.

Findings

By demonstrating that resource-based and institutional constructs are highly dependent, the authors show how home-country governmental support interacts with the foreign affiliate's past performance to explain the decision to remain or exit a foreign market. The results indicate that while governmental financial support reduces the likelihood of exiting a poorly performing business in the foreign market, governmental non-financial support surprisingly has an opposite effect.

Originality/value

While there has been an increasing number of firms exiting foreign markets, this area of research is still limited. The study also contributes to the literature by focusing on home-country governmental financial and non-financial support to explain the firm's exit decision – an issue that has been ignored and is expected to be particularly relevant for firms from emerging economies.
Market-scanning and market-shaping: why are firms blindsided by market-shaping acts?
Authors: Diaz Ruiz Carlos A. , Baker Jonathan J. , Mason Katy , Tierney Kieran
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate two seminal market-scanning frameworks – the five-forces analysis and PESTEL environmental scanning tool – to assess their readiness for anticipating market-shaping acts.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the market-shaping literature that conceptualizes markets as complex adaptive systems, this conceptual paper interrogates the underlying assumptions and “blind spots” in two seminal market-scanning frameworks. The paper showcases three illustrative vignettes in which non-industry actors catalyzed market change in ways that these market-scanning frameworks would not be able to anticipate.

Findings

Marketing strategists can be “blindsided” as seminal market-scanning frameworks have either too narrow an interpretation of market change or are too broad to anticipate specific types of market-shaping acts. The assumptions about markets that underpin these market-scanning frameworks contribute to incumbents being slow to realize market-shaping acts are taking place.

Research limitations/implications

The authors extend market-scanning to include a type of managerial myopia that fails to register the socially embedded, systemic nature of complex contemporary markets. Furthermore, the paper provides an “actors-agendas-outcomes” scanning framework that offers awareness of market-shaping acts.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to consider market-scanning frameworks from a market-shaping perspective.
Human-like communication in conversational agents: a literature review and research agenda
Authors: Van Pinxteren Michelle M.E. , Pluymaekers Mark , Lemmink Jos G.A.M.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Conversational agents (chatbots, avatars and robots) are increasingly substituting human employees in service encounters. Their presence offers many potential benefits, but customers are reluctant to engage with them. A possible explanation is that conversational agents do not make optimal use of communicative behaviors that enhance relational outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to identify which human-like communicative behaviors used by conversational agents have positive effects on relational outcomes and which additional behaviors could be investigated in future research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a systematic review of 61 articles that investigated the effects of communicative behaviors used by conversational agents on relational outcomes. A taxonomy is created of all behaviors investigated in these studies, and a research agenda is constructed on the basis of an analysis of their effects and a comparison with the literature on human-to-human service encounters.

Findings

The communicative behaviors can be classified along two dimensions: modality (verbal, nonverbal, appearance) and footing (similarity, responsiveness). Regarding the research agenda, it is noteworthy that some categories of behaviors show mixed results and some behaviors that are effective in human-to-human interactions have not yet been investigated in conversational agents.

Practical implications

By identifying potentially effective communicative behaviors in conversational agents, this study assists managers in optimizing encounters between conversational agents and customers.

Originality/value

This is the first study that develops a taxonomy of communicative behaviors in conversational agents and uses it to identify avenues for future research.
Utility analysis of character assessment in employee placement
Authors: Seijts Gerard , Espinoza Jose A. , Carswell Julie
Published: June 2020

Purpose

There has been a surge of interest in leader character and a push to bring character into mainstream management theory and practice. Research has shown that CEOs and board members have many questions about the construct of leader character. For example, they like to see hard data indicating to what extent character contributes to organizational performance. Human resource management professionals are often confronted with the need to discuss and demonstrate the value of training and development initiatives. The question as to whether such interventions have a dollars-and-cents return on the investment is an important one to consider for any organizational decision-maker, especially given the demand for increased accountability, the push for transparency and tightening budgets in organizations. The authors investigated the potential dollar impact associated with the placement of managers based on the assessment of leader character, and they used utility analysis to estimate the dollar value associated with the use of one instrument – the Leader Character Insight Assessment or LCIA – to measure leader character.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used field data collected for purposes of succession planning in a large Canadian manufacturing organization. The focus was on identifying senior management candidates suitable for placement into the most senior levels of leadership in the organization. Peers completed the LCIA to obtain leader character ratings of the candidates. The LCIA is a behaviorally based and validated instrument to assess leader character. Performance assessments of the candidates were obtained through supervisor ratings.

Findings

The correlation between the leader character measure provided by peers and performance assessed by the supervisor was 0.30 (p < 0.01). Using the data required to calculate ΔU from the Brogden-Cronbach-Gleser model leads to an estimate of CAD $564,128 for the use of the LCIA over the expected tenure of 15 years, which is equivalent to CAD $37,609 yearly; and CAD $375,285 over an expected tenure of 10 years, which is equivalent to CAD $37,529 yearly. The results of the study also indicate that there is still a positive and sizeable return on investment or ROI associated with the LCIA in employee placement even with highly conservative adjustments to the basic utility analysis formula.

Originality/value

Utility analysis is a quantitative and robust method of evaluating human resource programs. The authors provide an illustration of the potential utility of the LCIA in a selection process for senior managers. They assert that selecting and promoting managers on leader character and developing their character-based leadership will not only leverage their own contributions to the organization but also contribute to a trickle-down effect on employees below them.
Soret, Dufour and radiation effects of a viscoelastic fluid on an exponentially stretching surface using the Catteneo–Christov heat flux model
Authors: Kasali Kazeem Babawale , Tijani Yusuf Olatunji , Lawal Matthew Oluwafemi , Lawal Yussuff Titilope
Published: June 2020

Purpose

In this paper, we studied the steady flow of a radiative magnetohydrodynamics viscoelastic fluid over an exponentially stretching sheet. This present work incorporated the effects of Soret, Dufour, thermal radiation and chemical reaction.

Design/methodology/approach

An appropriate semi-analytical technique called homotopy analysis method (HAM) was used to solve the resulting nonlinear dimensionless boundary value problem, and the method was validated numerically using a finite difference scheme implemented on Maple software.

Findings

It was observed that apart from excellence agreement with the results in literature, the results obtained gave further insights into the behaviour of the system.

Originality/value

The purpose of this research is to investigate heat and mass transfer profiles of a MHD viscoelastic fluid flow over an exponentially stretching sheet in the influence of chemical reaction, thermal radiation and cross-diffusion which are hitherto neglected in previous studies.
A study of truss sub-structured materials
Authors: El-Zahab Samer M. , Fares Nabil , Ghanem Hassan , Dandashli Tarek
Published: June 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to introduce a new concept in engineered materials and that is truss substructured materials (TSMs). These materials would be engineered to express mechanical abilities that are seldom found in nature.

Design/methodology/approach

This article starts with defining TSMs and how to classify and name TSMs. The article also introduces the theoretical modeling of TSMs, the software developed for analyzing TSMs and the parametric studies performed.

Findings

After these studies, new materials are introduced that have abilities such as negative Poisson ratio in X and Y direction, negative Poisson ratio in one direction (either x or y), self-remodeling under stress.

Research limitations/implications

The research is done in 2D, further studies in 3D using 3D printing are required to make the suggested materials a viable real-world solution.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this research work is the proposed nomenclature that creates a system for researchers to experiment and create novel and unique versions of the proposed materials. Furthermore, some of the materials developed exhibit some unique properties that may create advances in engineering with further development.
Failure characterization of PLA parts fabricated by fused deposition modeling using acoustic emission
Authors: Li Feng , Yu Zhonghua , Yang Zhensheng
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on investigating the failure mode of fused deposition modeling (FDM) fabricated parts by using acoustic emission (AE) technique.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the special prototyping way of FDM, the failure modes of FDM-fabricated parts were investigated experimentally. One test was carried out and the other two describe what has been observed on this basis. Acoustic emissions are obtained during the tensile process. AE features of peak frequency, energy and amplitude are extracted and preliminarily analyzed. Then, the unsupervised clustering method of k-means is applied to explore the relationship between the failure modes and the AE signals.

Findings

Failure modes of filament debonding and breakage can be successfully recognized by the pattern recognition technique of k-means.

Practical implications

The results obtained can help us understand the failure process of FDM printed parts. This will provide an available monitoring method in the application of FDM-fabricated parts.

Originality/value

This paper has investigated and characterized the failure modes of FDM fabricated parts for the first time.
Synthesizing e-government maturity model: a public value paradigm towards digital Pakistan
Authors: Chohan Sohail Raza , Hu Guangwei , Si Wenfeng , Pasha Ahmad Tisman
Published: June 2020

Purpose

This study aims to fulfill the research gap by suggesting an appropriate and adaptable e-government (e-gov) maturity model for Pakistan not just in the abstract pattern relatively but also in a practical solution assured by the industry experts.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative research approach using key informants from the public sector domain; furthermore, e-gov performance artifacts were verified by the citizens through the process of focus group interviews.

Findings

The major finding of the study is the development of e-gov maturity model with implementations artifacts in proposed stages as follows: availability, interaction, integration, transactions and public participation.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes a qualitative meta-synthesis in the field of e-gov maturity models and could support researchers who are in a quest of knowledge and references to develop new maturity models for their specific countries by providing them with useful resources for further investigation and study.

Practical implications

This maturity model will strengthen the argument that the e-gov services are necessary for the acceptance behaviour of the citizens and the prosperous public administration by the Government in Pakistan. This research strengthens the science-policy interface that has prevented governments from delivering changes on the ground to the public, and it will also identify diversified opportunities for the e-gov sector that can reverse the lack of investment in this domain.

Social implications

The study intends to provide directions to policymakers for the development of e-gov services for the citizens. Additionally, the public value of e-gov can be better understood in the form of citizens’ expectations from the government and this model will integrate public participation in the development of e-gov service.

Originality/value

The public value of e-gov can be better understood in the form citizens’ expectations from the government through this maturity model, furthermore, it can be recommended that the government can improve the relationship between the citizens and the state through the use of information and communication technologies which will strengthen the democratic process in Pakistan.
House price history, biased expectations, and credit cycles: The role of housing investors
Authors: De Stefani Alessia
Published: June 2020

Using the Michigan Survey, I show that consumers' house price expectations depend upon the recent history of house price developments in their city of residence. Forecast errors are predictable: people systematically underestimate momentum and neglect mean reversion, remaining over‐optimistic for several quarters after a prolonged trend of house price growth, and vice versa. Housing appreciation also increases the share of consumers who believe that real estate is a good investment. Combining loan‐level data from Freddie Mac to regional measures of housing sentiment, I show that an exogenous shift in house price expectations leads to an increase in leverage on new mortgage originations. The effect is concentrated on investment properties and among prime borrowers in nonrecourse states.
Effect of anti‐interleukin‐1 treatment on quality of life in children with colchicine‐resistant familial Mediterranean fever: A single‐center experience
Authors: Kurt Tuba , Aydın Fatma , Nilüfer Tekgöz P. , Sezer Müge , Uncu Nermin , Çelikel Acar Banu
Published: June 2020

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical parameters, acute‐phase reactants, side effects, genetic mutations among colchicine‐resistant Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients who received anti‐interleukin‐1 (anti‐IL‐1) treatment. We also evaluate the quality of life and school attendance among colchicine‐resistant FMF patients, in relation to treatment with anti‐IL‐1.

Introductıon

Familial Mediterranean fever is the most common inherited autoinflammatory disorder. Although the main treatment of FMF is colchicine, a small group of patients are resistant to colchicine treatment. Anti‐IL‐1 treatment is promising in colchicine‐resistant patients due to excessive IL‐1β production in pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of life and school attendance rates among colchicine‐resistant FMF patients after anti‐IL‐1 treatment.

Methods

This is a single center retrospective study of 25 pediatric colchicine‐resistant FMF patients treated with anti‐IL‐1 treatment. Autoinflammatory Disease Activity Index (AIDAI) was used for disease activity assessment. School attendance rates were evaluated before and after treatment.

Results

There were 25 patients with FMF (11 M/14 F) who were treated with anakinra or canakinumab for various indications (colchicine‐resistant recurrent febrile attacks in 20, colchicine‐related side effects in 2, subclinical inflammation in 3 patients). Only 3 patients developed side effects with anakinra (2 headache, 1 urticarial rash). There was a significant decrease in the frequency of attacks, acute‐phase reactants (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C‐reactive protein), AIDAI and physician's and patient's global assessment scores and improvement in school attendance rates. At the last follow‐up, all patients were in remission, and only 3 had subclinical inflammation.

Conclusıon

Anti‐IL‐1 treatment is quite effective in children with colchicine‐resistant FMF patients, proven with improved AIDAI scores and school attendance rates. In the long term by lowering disease activation even development of amyloidosis may be prevented.
Species diversity in bee flies and hover flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae and Syrphidae) in the horticultural environments of the Blue Mountains, Australia
Authors: Robertson Alexander R , Finch Jonathan T D , Young Andrew D , Spooner‐Hart Robert N , Outim Soraya K M , Cook James M
Published: June 2020

Flies (Diptera) are one of the most important groups of insect pollinators. Families Bombyliidae (bee flies) and Syrphidae (hover flies) are globally distributed with aproximately 5000 and 6200 described species, respectively. Many studies have attempted to quantify Syrphidae diversity in natural and agricultural environments, due to their perceived value as pollinators, decomposers of organic waste and agents of pest control. However, to date, there have been only two studies of Syrphidae communities in Australia, both of which focused on arable crops. Meanwhile, there have been very few studies of Bombyliidae diversity and none in Australia, despite the fact that bombyliid diversity can be high, far exceeding that of Syrphidae in some ecosystems. We aimed to learn more about Australia's anthophilous Diptera and their diversity in agricultural and native ecosystems. Using a combination of pan trapping and observation plot surveys, we assessed bombyliid and syrphid diversity at Bilpin, New South Wales, Australia, an important horticultural area within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Five syrphid species made up 62% of all individuals collected, while 22 species made up the remaining 32%, including nine species of Bombyliidae. The hover fly Melangyna viridiceps alone accounted for a third of all captured specimens. The larvae of the five most commonly encountered species are all aphidophagous. As such, aphidophagous species appear to be numerically dominant, and this is consistent with previous studies in south‐east Australian agroecosystems. M. viridiceps and Triglyphus fulvicornis were frequent visitors to flowering fruit trees and may therefore contribute to the pollination of these crops. However, most visited flowers were introduced weeds or escaped crop plants. The maintenance of diverse floral resources, which may include weeds, is important for sustaining populations of aphidophagous Syrphidae, which may contribute to both pollination and pest control. As a consequence, we recommend a more tolerant approach to weed management in orchards to better facilitate the ecosystem services provided by Diptera.
Role of rural general surgeons in managing vascular surgical emergencies
Authors: Ang Zhen H. , Brown Kilian , Rice Mark , Fisher Dean
Published: June 2020

Background

A rural general surgeon has historically been required to perform a wide variety of subspecialist procedures. Increasingly sub‐specialized training programs have restricted younger surgeons' experience in the general surgery‐associated subspecialties. Time critical vascular surgical emergencies are frequently encountered by rural general surgeons. This study aims to audit the prevalence of vascular surgical emergencies at a geographically remote regional centre and define the role of the general surgeon in managing these patients.

Methods

A single‐centre, retrospective study was performed to analyse the outcomes of the patients who presented to Dubbo Base Hospital with an emergency vascular pathology or developed such a condition during admission, between October 2010 and June 2019. Patients were identified by relevant International classification of diseases (ICD) (10th revision) diagnostic codes for vascular emergencies. Acute complications following surgery for haemodialysis access were excluded.

Results

A total of 134 patients were identified during the study period and the majority were transferred to a tertiary centre for surgical intervention. Sixteen patients underwent emergency vascular surgery locally due to concerns about potential loss of life or limb if intervention was delayed by transfer; 69% of patients who underwent surgery locally survived with limb salvation.

Conclusion

While most patients can safely be transferred to a tertiary centre, some require surgery locally in order to maximize chance of life or limb preservation. There is a strong argument for exposure of general surgical trainees with an interest in rural surgery to vascular surgery and other subspecialties.
Minority‐ versus Majority‐Status Group Intentions to Transgress the Law When Oppression Is Perceived
Authors: Lobato Roberto M. , Moya Miguel , Trujillo Humberto M.
Published: June 2020

Oppression, frustration, and humiliation are some of the most critical variables when predicting political violence. There are, however, other factors, such as group support and violent narratives/ideologies, involved in this relationship. Moreover, contextual and group characteristics should also be taken into account. Thus, we conduct an empirical study in the context of Catalonia versus Spain conflict, taking into account group status and other related variables proposed by the 3N model of radicalization. Based on the principles of significance quest theory and identity fusion theory, the following four hypotheses were proposed: (H1) fused individuals will be more prone to engage in different forms of progroup behavior, as well as (H2) more sensitive to collective losses of significance; (H3) the collective loss of significance will mediate the relationship between identity fusion and progroup behaviors; and (H4) majority/minority‐status will moderate these functional relationships. The results indicated that identity fusion predicted intentions of activism through perceived oppression in the majority‐ and minority‐status groups, while identity fusion predicted the intentions of radicalism through perceived oppression in the minority‐ but not in the majority‐status group. The theoretical and contextual implications of the findings are discussed.
Harnessing inflammation resolving‐based therapeutic agents to treat pulmonary viral infections: What can the future offer to COVID‐19?
Authors: Sousa Lirlândia P. , Pinho Vanessa , Teixeira Mauro M.
Published: June 2020

Inflammation is generally accepted as a component of the host defence system and a protective response in the context of infectious diseases. However, altered inflammatory responses can contribute to disease in infected individuals. Many endogenous mediators that drive the resolution of inflammation are now known. Overall, mediators of resolution tend to decrease inflammatory responses and provide normal or greater ability of the host to deal with infection. In the lung, it seems that pro‐resolution molecules, or strategies that promote their increase, tend to suppress inflammation and lung injury and facilitate control of bacterial or viral burden. Here, we argue that the demonstrated anti‐inflammatory, pro‐resolving, anti‐thrombogenic and anti‐microbial effects of such endogenous mediators of resolution may be useful in the treatment of the late stages of the disease in patients with COVID‐19.
The Motor skills At Playtime intervention improves children's locomotor skills: A feasibility study
Authors: Palmer Kara K. , Miller Alison L. , Meehan Sean K. , Robinson Leah E.
Published: June 2020

Background

Interventions are needed to teach fundamental motor skills (FMS) to preschoolers. There is a need to design more practical and effective interventions that can be successfully implemented by non‐motor experts and fit within the existing gross motor opportunities such as outdoor free play at the preschool. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a non‐motor expert FMS intervention that was implemented during outdoor free play, Motor skills At Playtime (MAP).

Methods

Participants were preschoolers from two Head Start centres (N = 46; Mage = 4.7 ± 0.46 years; 41% boys) and were divided into a MAP (n = 30) or control (outdoor free play; n = 16) group. Children completed either a 1,350‐min MAP intervention or control condition (outdoor free play) from January to April of 2018. FMS were assessed before and after each programme using both the Test of Gross Motor Development–3rd Edition and skill outcome measures (running speed, hopping speed, jump distance, throwing speed, kicking speed and catching percentage). Intervention implementation feasibility was measured through daily fidelity checks. Fidelity was evaluated as the percentage of intervention sessions that included all explicit intervention criteria. FMS data were analysed using linear mixed modelling. Models were fit with fixed effects of time and treatment, covariates of sex and height, and a random intercept for each individual.

Results

The non‐motor expert was feasibly able to implement MAP with high fidelity (>93%). There was a significant treatment effect for MAP on process and product locomotor FMS (P < 0.05) and a trend for a treatment effect for MAP on total process FMS (P = 0.07).

Conclusion

Results support that MAP was successfully implemented by a non‐motor expert and led to improvements in children's FMS, especially locomotor FMS.
Regenerative efficacy of fibroblast growth factor for the treatment of aged vocal fold: From animal model to clinical application
Authors: Ban Myung Jin , Lee Seung Chul , Park Jae Hong , Park Ki Nam , Kim Hee Kyung , Lee Seung Won
Published: June 2020

Objectives

We assessed fibroblast growth factor (FGF) regenerative efficacy in an aged vocal fold rat model and confirmed it in a prospective clinical trial.

Design, setting, and participants

For animal experiments, 48 Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into two groups: 24 six‐month‐olds (young group) and 24 twenty‐four‐month‐olds (old group). FGF was injected once a week thrice into the left vocal fold of the old group, dividing them into two sub‐groups (injected [left] and uninjected [right]). Additionally, we conducted a prospective clinical trial for 38 patients with aged atrophic vocal fold.

Main outcome measures

A month post‐injection, excised larynx from the three groups was subjected to comparative histopathological (ratio of relative lamina propria to total vocal fold) and mRNA expression analysis (of procollagen I, hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS)‐2 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2) by real‐time PCR. We performed perceptual, stroboscopic, acoustic aerodynamic test and Voice Handicap Index survey prior to and 1, 6 and 12 months after FGF injection.

Results

In rats, the relative lamina propria ratio increased after FGF injection. Procollagen I mRNA level decreased, whereas that of HAS‐2 and MMP‐2 increased significantly in the injected compared to the uninjected old group. Enrolled patients showed improved subjective and objective voice parameters after FGF injection, and these were maintained for a year. Potential side effects were not observed.

Conclusions

Animal experiments and prospective clinical trial suggest that FGF injection to vocal fold can significantly improve voice quality until one year, without complications, and is effective for aged atrophic vocal fold treatment.
HOXD3 was negatively regulated by YY1 recruiting HDAC1 to suppress progression of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via ITGA2 pathway
Authors: Wang Lumin , Gao Yi , Zhao Xiaoge , Guo Chen , Wang Xiaofei , Yang Yang , Han Cong , Zhao Lingyu , Qin Yannan , Liu Liying , Huang Chen , Wang Wenjing
Published: June 2020

Objectives

HOXD3 is associated with progression of multiple types of cancer. This study aimed to identify the association of YY1 with HOXD3‐ITGA2 axis in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Materials and Methods

Bioinformatics assay was used to identify the effect of YY1, HOXD3 and ITGA2 expression in HCC tissues. The function of YY1 and HOXD3 in HCCs was determined by qRT‐PCR, MTT, apoptosis, Western blotting, colony formation, immunohistochemistry, and wound‐healing and transwell invasion assays. The relationship between YY1 and HOXD3 or HOXD3 and ITGA2 was explored by RNA‐Seq, ChIP‐PCR, dual luciferase reports and Pearson's assays. The interactions between YY1 and HDAC1 were determined by immunofluorescence microscopy and Co‐IP.

Results

Herein, we showed that the expression of YY1, HOXD3 and ITGA2 associated with the histologic and pathologic stages of HCC. Moreover, YY1, recruiting HDAC1, can directly target HOXD3 to regulate progression of HCCs. The relationship between YY1 and HOXD3 was unknown until uncovered by our present investigation. Furthermore, HOXD3 bound to promoter region of ITGA2 and up‐regulated the expression, thus activating the ERK1/2 signalling and inducing HCCs proliferation, metastasis and migration in the vitro and vivo.

Conclusions

Therefore, HOXD3, a target of YY1, facilitates HCC progression via activation of the ERK1/2 signalling by promoting ITGA2. This finding provides a new whole way to HCC therapy by serving YY1‐HOXD3‐ITGA2 regulatory axis as a potential therapeutic target for HCC therapy.
Trends in medical cannabis licensure, Israel, 2013–2018
Authors: Sznitman Sharon R.
Published: June 2020

Introduction and Aims

Since 2011, the Israeli Ministry of Health has been working towards increased regulation of its medical cannabis (MC) program by ensuring that MC licensing procedures adhere to the basic principles and practices of the medical profession. The aim of this study is to examine trends in MC licensing in Israel during this period of increasing MC regulation.

Design and Methods

Publicly available data on MC licences, collected by the Ministry of Health, were used to examine trends between 2013 and 2018. The number of MC licences, new MC licence requests and rate of MC licence requests accepted were plotted over time. Gender and age distributions and the medical indicators for which MC licences were approved were also examined.

Results

Absolute numbers of MC licences and MC licence requests increased during the study period while no parallel increase in the rate at which new MC licences were granted was observed. MC licences for post‐traumatic stress disorder increased substantially during the study period. The majority of MC patients in Israel are male, over the age of 40, and used MC for chronic pain.

Conclusions

The observed increase in MC licences is likely driven by an increase in patient demand. This study suggests that social forces (e.g. positive media reporting and public attitudes towards MC), beyond MC regulation, are influencing trends in MC licensing in Israel. Studies that examine the skewed gender distribution of MC licences, and the efficacy of MC for post‐traumatic stress disorder, are urgently needed.
γ‐aminobutyric acid stimulates β‐cell proliferation through the mTORC1/p70S6K pathway, an effect amplified by Ly49, a novel γ‐aminobutyric acid type A receptor positive allosteric modulator
Authors: Untereiner Ashley , Xu Jie , Bhattacharjee Alpana , Cabrera Over , Hu Cheng , Dai Feihan F. , Wheeler Michael B.
Published: June 2020

Aim

To examine the mechanism of action of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) on β‐cell proliferation and investigate if co‐treatment with Ly49, a novel GABA type A receptor positive allosteric modulator (GABAA‐R PAM), amplifies this effect.

Methods

Human or mouse islets were co‐treated for 4‐5 days with GABA and selected receptor or cell signalling pathway modulators. Immunofluorescence was used to determine protein co‐localization, cell number or proliferation, and islet size. Osmotic minipumps were surgically implanted in mice to assess Ly49 effects on pancreatic β‐cells.

Results

Amplification of GABAA‐R signalling enhanced GABA‐stimulated β‐cell proliferation in cultured mouse islets. Co‐treatment of GABA with an inhibitor specific for PI3K, mTORC1/2, or p70S6K, abolished GABA‐stimulated β‐cell proliferation in mouse and human islets. Nuclear p‐AktSer473 and p‐p70S6KThr421/Ser424 expression in pancreatic β‐cells was increased in GABA‐treated mice compared with vehicle‐treated mice, an effect augmented with GABA and Ly49 co‐treatment. Mice co‐treated with GABA and Ly49 exhibited enhanced β‐cell area and proliferation compared with GABA‐treated mice. Furthermore, S961 injection (an insulin receptor antagonist) resulted in enhanced plasma insulin in GABA and Ly49 co‐treated mice compared with GABA‐treated mice. Importantly, GABA co‐treated with Ly49 increased β‐cell proliferation in human islets providing a potential application for human subjects.

Conclusions

We show that GABA stimulates β‐cell proliferation via the PI3K/mTORC1/p70S6K pathway in both mouse and human islets. Furthermore, we show that Ly49 enhances the β‐cell regenerative effects of GABA, showing potential in the intervention of diabetes.
The effect of mirabegron on energy expenditure and brown adipose tissue in healthy lean South Asian and Europid men
Authors: Nahon Kimberly J. , Janssen Laura G. M. , Sardjoe Mishre Aashley S. D. , Bilsen Manu P. , van der Eijk Jari A. , Botani Kani , Overduin Lisanne A. , Ruiz Jonatan R. , Burakiewicz Jedrzej , Dzyubachyk Oleh , Webb Andrew G. , Kan Hermien E. , Berbée Jimmy F. P. , van Klinken Jan‐Bert , van Dijk Ko Willems , van Weeghel Michel , Vaz Frédéric M. , Coskun Tamer , Jazet Ingrid M. , Kooijman Sander , Martinez‐Tellez Borja , Boon Mariëtte R. , Rensen Patrick C. N.
Published: June 2020

Aim

To compare the effects of cold exposure and the β3‐adrenergic receptor agonist mirabegron on plasma lipids, energy expenditure and brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity in South Asians versus Europids.

Materials and Methods

Ten lean Dutch South Asian (aged 18‐30 years; body mass index [BMI] 18‐25 kg/m2) and 10 age‐ and BMI‐matched Europid men participated in a randomized, double‐blinded, cross‐over study consisting of three interventions: short‐term (~ 2 hours) cold exposure, mirabegron (200 mg one dose p.o.) and placebo. Before and after each intervention, we performed lipidomic analysis in serum, assessed resting energy expenditure (REE) and skin temperature, and measured BAT fat fraction by magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

In both ethnicities, cold exposure increased the levels of several serum lipid species, whereas mirabegron only increased free fatty acids. Cold exposure increased lipid oxidation in both ethnicities, while mirabegron increased lipid oxidation in Europids only. Cold exposure and mirabegron enhanced supraclavicular skin temperature in both ethnicities. Cold exposure decreased BAT fat fraction in both ethnicities. After the combination of data from both ethnicities, mirabegron decreased BAT fat fraction compared with placebo.

Conclusions

In South Asians and Europids, cold exposure and mirabegron induced beneficial metabolic effects. When combining both ethnicities, cold exposure and mirabegron increased REE and lipid oxidation, coinciding with a higher supraclavicular skin temperature and lower BAT fat fraction.
Formicidae (Hymenoptera) community in corpses at different altitudes in a semiarid wild environment in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Pérez‐Marcos María , López‐Gallego Elena , Arnaldos María Isabel , Martínez‐Ibáñez Dolores , García María Dolores
Published: June 2020

The Formicidae are considered crucial components of the entomosarcosaprophagous fauna because they can delay the decomposition process, cause tissue postmortem damage and produce bloodstain patterns that may confuse investigations. Moreover, some studies suggest that the Formicidae can act as environmental and seasonal indicators. However, studies on this group on vertebrate carcasses are scarce, especially in the Iberian Peninsula and the southwest of Europe. Thus, comparative studies at different altitudes in a protected wild mountain area could provide useful information on its composition in such environmental conditions, their role as environmental indicators and their forensic implications. For this reason, the Formicidae sarcosaprophagous community was studied at three different altitudes, between 400 and 1,500 m, in a wild mountainous area in the southeast of Spain using a modified Schoenly trap, with two pitfall traps inside, baited with 5 kg piglets (Sus scrofa L.). This work illustrates an approach to the community of the Formicidae, as a representative of the sarcosaprophagous community in an altitudinal gradient, showing a great variability in its composition. Furthermore, when comparing our results with other studies carried out in the Iberian Peninsula, we are able to suggest certain species with a potential utility as geographic and environmental indicators. Thus, Iberoformica subrufa, Lasius brunneus, Lasius cinereus and Camponotus sylvaticus are species of special interest as they appeared in either one of the sampled areas or in the same region.
The consequences of paradigm change and poorly validated science: The example of the value of mangroves to fisheries
Authors: Sheaves Marcus , Abrantes Kátya , Barnett Adam , Benham Claudia , Dale Patricia , Mattone Carlo , Sheaves Alison , Waltham Nathan , Bradley Michael
Published: June 2020

Accuracy in representing, communicating and reporting science is critical to the translation of science into knowledge. Any lack of accuracy degrades the quality and reliability of consequent decisions. One common cause of inaccuracy is the use of superseded paradigmatic concepts with a lack of careful validation. This leads to evidentiary dissonance (an apparent abundance of evidence with little basis in actual reported scientific findings). We illustrate the nature and consequences of evidentiary dissonance using the example of estimates of the value of mangroves to fisheries, which are key motivators of decision‐making around land‐use activities in mangroves systems, mangrove restoration and disturbance offset initiatives. Causes include the use of inappropriate or inaccurate data and inadequate support for reasoning used to develop estimates of fisheries value. Evidentiary dissonance in linking estimates to scientific understanding has produced a citable and cited body of work with tenuous foundations in current ecological understanding, and a body of literature that is likely to lead to unrealistic expectations, misdirected and wasted resources, and perverse management outcomes.
An electrical resistance degradation model for thin film under fatigue loading
Authors: Cheng Jiaxing , Li Zhaoxia
Published: June 2020

While flexible electronics are ready for the market, keeping their good electric conductivity in long‐term operation is still one of the inevitable challenges. This paper aims to develop a resistance degradation model based on the analysis of the observed fatigue behaviour of thin films and the premature electric failure of thin films. The material deterioration process due to fatigue is represented by the defined fatigue damage variation based on cracks initiation and growth, which establishes a connective relationship with electric resistance degradation. The developed model is validated to compare with experimental results, and numerical results show that it can accurately predict the fatigue life and electrical resistance degradation of thin films of different thicknesses; therefore, it could be a means to assess the electrical performance of thin films on flexible substrates.
Independent director compensation, corruption, and monitoring
Authors: Burns Natasha , Kapalczynski Anna , Wald John K.
Published: June 2020

We find that independent directors in more corrupt countries receive greater pay. This relation could reflect outside directors in corrupt countries expropriating firm value, or it could reflect higher compensation for the additional effort required to lessen the negative effects of corruption. Acquirer acquisition announcement returns are lower in more corrupt countries, and this relation is mitigated by higher director pay. Higher director pay is also associated with greater sensitivity of CEO turnover to firm performance and moderates the negative effects of country‐level corruption on firm value. This evidence is consistent with higher director pay in corrupt countries incentivizing effort.