bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anxiety and Fear Avoidance Beliefs and Behavior May Be Significant Risk Factors for Chronic Opioid Analgesic Therapy Reliance for Patients with Chronic Pain—Results from a Preliminary Study
Authors: Silva Marcelina Jasmine , Coffee Zhanette , Yu Chong Ho , Martel Marc O
Published: February 2021

Objective

To describe differences between patients with chronic, non-cancer pain (CNCP) who were successfully able to cease full mu agonist chronic opioid analgesic therapy (COAT), and those who exhibited refractory COAT reliance, among those who participated in a multidisciplinary program designed for COAT cessation.

Design

A retrospective review of electronic medical records (EMR) data was organized for preliminary analysis.

Setting

A multicenter private practice specializing in CNCP, which received patient referrals from the surrounding geographical area of primary and specialty care offices in Northern California.

Subjects

Data from 109 patients with CNCP who participated in a multidisciplinary program to cease COAT between the dates of October 2017 to December 2019 were examined.

Methods

EMR data, pre-COAT cessation, of oral morphine milligram equivalence (MME) and validated questionnaire responses assessing anxiety and fear-based beliefs and behavior, as well as opioid misuse, were extracted and compared between those who successfully ceased COAT and those who did not.

Results

Patients who were unsuccessful at COAT cessation reported significantly higher Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FAB) scores. No significant differences were found based on incoming MME amounts, Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) or Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK) scores. Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) scores showed a split pattern with unclear significance.

Conclusions

Results suggest that fear avoidance beliefs and behavior, as measured by the FAB, play a significant role in refractory COAT reliance for patients with CNCP.
Unusual Tumors of the Lung
Authors: Tsai Emily B. , Jude Cecilia M. , Mohammad Shaden F. , Deshmukh Monica , Patel Maitraya K. , Leung Ann N. C.
Published: February 2021

Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common histologic subtypes of lung cancer, comprising nearly 70% of primary lung neoplasms.1 The remaining subtypes consist of other uncommon epithelial tumors, including neuroendocrine tumors, salivary gland-type tumors, mesenchymal tumors, lymphohistiocytic tumors, and tumors of ectopic origin, as reclassified by the World Health Organization in 2015.2
Digital technology-enabled transformative consumer responsibilisation: a case study
Authors: Parth Shalini , Manoharan Bhupesh , Parthiban Rishikesan , Qureshi Israr , Bhatt Babita , Rakshit Krishanu
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how a socio-digital platform can facilitate consumer responsibilisation in food consumption to encourage sustained responsible consumption and uncovers its possible impacts on different stakeholders in the agricultural ecosystem.

Design/methodology/approach

Two-year-long case study of a socio-digital platform that aims to integrate consumers with the farming process; creating value for them and the farmers in India.

Findings

The process of consumer responsibilisation happens through three mechanisms; construction of a moral-material identity, vicarious self-artisanship and shared responsibilisation. Through these key mechanisms, the socio-digital platform could foster consumer responsibilisation and engender positive societal impacts by promoting both responsible production and consumption.

Research limitations/implications

This study shows how the construction of moral–material identity could move beyond an either-or choice between moralistic and material identity and allow space for the coexistence of both. This paper highlights how a socio-digital platform can be leveraged to facilitate responsible consumer engagement in an aestheticised farming process.

Practical implications

This paper aims to guide policymakers to design digitally-enabled human-centred innovation in facilitating consumer engagement with farming and cultivating responsible consumers in achieving sustainable development goals.

Social implications

This study shows how consumer responsibilisation can actually address market failures by enhancing the value created in the system, reducing wastage and cutting costs wherever possible, which drive better incomes for the farmers.

Originality/value

Previous studies have discussed heterogeneous motivations for responsible food consumption. However, this research explores the processes through which an individual reconnects to food production and the mechanisms that support this process in the long run.
Implicit-explicit power motives congruence and forgiveness in the workplace conflict: the mediating role of empathy
Authors: Ran Yaxuan , Liu Qiaowei , Cheng Qi , Zhang Yishi
Published: February 2021

Purpose

In the workplace, forgiveness can increase positive interactions between the victim and offender in the aftermath of a conflict. As an important intrapersonal factor in an organization, a victim’s power motives may shape one’s forgiveness. However, previous research shows inconsistent results because it only considers explicit power motives while ignoring the possible contingent role of implicit power motives in influencing forgiveness. This paper aims to consider both implicit and explicit power motives and aims to examine their joint effect on interpersonal forgiveness in the workplace conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

Polynomial regressions with response surface analysis were conducted with 415 Amazon Mechanical Turk users. Implicit power motives were measured by using a modified picture story exercise technique, whereas explicit power motives were measured via self-response scales.

Findings

First, congruence in power motives was associated with higher empathy and forgiveness than incongruence. In addition, high-implicit/high explicit power motives led to higher level of empathy and forgiveness than low-implicit/low-explicit power motives. Furthermore, directional power motive incongruence had an additive effect on forgiveness, such that discrepantly low-implicit/high-explicit power motives were more detrimental to empathy and forgiveness than discrepantly high-implicit/low-explicit power motives. Finally, empathy underlies the combined effect of implicit and explicit power motives on forgiveness.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that in a workplace conflict, managers should consider an employee’s explicit and implicit motives. To build the harmony group work climate, managers can improve intrapersonal implicit–explicit power motive congruence by providing developmental support and training focusing on self-enhancement and self-affirmation with the low-explicit-powerful employees. Further, to promote forgiveness in a conflict, organizations can use empathy-based exercise and provide team building activities to increase employees’ empathy and perspective-taking toward others.

Originality/value

By integrating implicit–explicit framework, this paper conciliates previous studies investigating the relationship between power and forgiveness by proposing that the two types of power motives, implicit and explicit power motives, jointly influences a victim’s forgiving tendency. This study serves as a meaningful touchstone for future research to consider both implicit and explicit power motives into the organizational conflict framework.
Foreign capital inflows and housing market in Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Rafiq , Jawaid Syed Tehseen , Khalil Samina
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Housing prices have been increasing tremendously in Pakistan, there should be many reasons but the haphazard urbanization and rapidly growing population. To find out the causes of this price rise, this study aims to assess the impact of the foreign capital inflow and some domestic factors on housing prices.

Design/methodology/approach

To get the benefits of high-frequency data, it has been converted into a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis. The unit root is performed to see the stationarity, Johansen test is used for cointegration and coefficients are obtained through the ordinary least squares technique. The robustness of the results is checked with dynamic ordinary least squares and the Chow breakpoint test is used to detect structural breaks.

Findings

The housing prices have increased over time; this has been reflected in all the data sets under observation. The country has observed a rapid growth in population and urbanization that has badly affected almost every activity of city life. The impact of foreign capital inflow is positive on the house price appreciation. There is a dire need to divert such foreign funds in the housing sector so that it cannot create an artificial price hike. The government should regularly publish a housing policy for the guidance of investors and the public at large. Also, public authorities should provide housing finance facility.

Originality/value

This is a novel work to the best of the authors’ knowledge because no one has studied the impact of foreign capital inflow on the housing market for the economy of Pakistan. Furthermore, this study is different in the sense that it has disaggregated annual data into a monthly and quarterly basis to get the benefits of high-frequency data.
Empirical study on improving international dry port competitiveness based on logistics supply chain integration: evidence from China
Authors: Li Qian , Yan Ru , Zhang Lei , Yan Borui
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The importance of international dry port integration in the supply chain has received a great deal of attention and been widely discussed in the literature. This study empirically examines the relationship among dry port logistics supply chain integration (DPLSCI), its operational performance (OP) and dry port competitiveness (DPC) in the context of China.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed a structured questionnaire based on the supply chain integration (SCI) theory and resource-based view, and collected data from the dry port operation enterprises and their stakeholders in central and western China. A structural equation model (SEM) is used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results demonstrate that DPLSCI has a positive effect on logistics cost performance (LCP) and service quality performance (SQP), which further improves DPC. Meanwhile, OP (LCP and SQP) is a full mediator between DPLSCI and DPC.

Practical implications

This paper provides guidelines for dry port operators and their stakeholders to integrate supply chain resources and develop the OP for improving the overall competitiveness of an international dry port. The government could also invest in physical infrastructure and system platform to strengthen the OP of a dry port and further enhance its competitiveness.

Originality/value

The authors emphasise that the international dry port is a proactive and integrated system in providing a supply chain logistics service. This study fills up a research gap in the extant literature on theoretically proposing and empirically testing a new theoretical model. It also contributes to dry port stakeholders by providing useful guidelines to enhance OP and dry port competitiveness.
Are financial derivatives tax havens? Evidence from China
Authors: Chen Wanyi
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the use of financial derivatives by business enterprises can avoid taxes and whether tax authorities can detect and effectively enforce measures regarding this emerging tax avoidance method.

Design/methodology/approach

Using panel data from the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchange listed companies from 2008 to 2019, this study used the Heckman self-selection two-stage model and a cross-sectional analysis to test a total of 22,578 samples. Moreover, propensity score matching (PSM), instrumental variable and Heckman MLE methods were conducted in the robustness test.

Findings

The results showed that enterprises could use financial derivatives to avoid taxation. The greater the tax effort is, the more obvious the effect of the company's use of financial derivatives for tax avoidance, which proves challenging for tax authorities to identify and manage.

Originality/value

This study expands on research on corporate tax avoidance and provides a new perspective for the study of financial derivatives. Moreover, it improves relevant research in the field of tax regulation, offering practical guidance for tax authorities to govern the use of financial instruments to prevent potential risks effectively.
The role of evidence-based design in informing health-care architects
Authors: Mahmood Fouad Jalal
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to trace the relationship between the evidence-based design (EBD) process and decision-making during the architectural design process, the barriers to informing health-care architects and possible methods to overcome these barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to explore the barriers to the EBD process during the design process by reviewing the relevant literature and future steps to overcome these barriers and support design decisions.

Findings

The study shows that EBD is a relevant, useful tool for providing evidence that positively affects design decisions. This study divides EBD barriers into simple barriers and complex barriers, depending on the nature of the barrier. Additionally, methods to overcome these barriers are discussed to ensure the best use of EBD findings with a significant impact on health-care design decisions, as they are core elements in informing architects, especially when combined with the traditional design process. This study investigates how likely it is for the EBD to contribute optimally to design decisions depending on architects’ skills and cooperation with researchers.

Originality/value

This study can apprize health-care architects of the need to consider the role of EBD in improving the quality of design decisions, and the importance of combining EBD with the traditional design process to implement optimal design decisions.
John Dewey and continuing management education: problem-based learning for organizational sustainability
Authors: Thomassen Anja Overgaard , Jørgensen Kenneth Mølbjerg
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how Dewey’s notions of experience, inquiry and reflection can increase managers’ capacity to cope with sustainability transitions.

Design/methodology/approach

Problem-based learning is discussed as an approach for enabling sustainable management learning. Dewey’s concepts of experience, inquiry and reflection are used to conceptualize learning as an iterative “self-corrective” learning process toward sustainability. Two public managers’ experiences of a personal development module in a management education program are used to discuss how Dewey’s concepts work to integrate practice and theory.

Findings

Dewey’s problem-based learning framework has the potential to increase managers’ capability to cope with complex and multifaceted challenges such as sustainability because of its focus on problem-solving.

Practical implications

Management is a social practice. Management education can support management learning if management is perceived as a practice.

Originality/value

Sustainable management learning is presented as an iterative and gradual learning process aimed toward settled inquiry that emerges when sustainable solutions work satisfactory in relation to the multiple and contradictory forces, which are in play in real-life situations.
Biocolorant “prodigiosin” interferes with the growth of biofouling bacteria: an in vitro and in silico approach
Authors: Mousavi Seyedeh Maryam , Archangi Bita , Zolgharnein Hosein , Zamani Isaac
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to identify Serratia marcescens to extract and purify prodigiosin pigment to evaluate the antibacterial potential of the pigment.

Design/methodology/approach

Samples were collected from shrimp aquaculture ponds. Species identification was conducted using morphological, biochemical and molecular tests. Pigment extraction and purification were carried out using column chromatography. The antibacterial effect of crude and purified prodigiosin pigment was evaluated on Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus as biofouling bacteria. In addition, the interaction between prodigiosin and proteins involved in biofilm formation was evaluated using molecular docking.

Findings

The results of prodigiosin extraction with solvents showed the highest percentage of pigment presence with methanol solvent in the second day of culture. The chemical structure of pure prodigiosin obtained from the column chromatography was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Both crude and purified pigments exhibited antibacterial effects against selected bacterial strains. The antibacterial effect of the purified pigment was higher, and the highest antibacterial effect was observed on B. subtilis. Prodigiosin docking was carried out with all target proteins, and the docked energy in all of them was at an acceptable level.

Originality/value

Prodigiosin extracted from S. marcescens can be used as a bioactive compound to design and manufacture of anti-biofouling and anti-biofilm formation products to use extensively for industrial applications as a natural color in marine industries, food industry, cosmetics and textile productions.
Thermal comfort perception of hijab usage among young Muslim women for sports activity
Authors: Mohd Yusof Intan Nadirah , Ahmad Mohd Rozi , Yusof Nur Ain , Yahya Mohamad Faizul , Hussain Ibiwani Alisa , Raja Azidin Raja Mohammed Firhad , Che Muhamed Ahmad Munir
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the perceived thermal comfort experienced by active Muslim women (AMW) wearing hijabs determined by their experience of comfort sensation while doing sports activities or regular exercises. This study also examines whether the casual hijabs which are widely used among AMW are able to supply the appropriate comfort for active purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the quantitative method using survey questionnaires to collect 100 primary data obtained from AMW respondents who are university students located around the Klang Valley region in Malaysia.

Findings

Based on the overall results, this study suggests that the common hijabs that are used for casual applications do not offer sufficient comfort to Muslim women while performing sports activities or regular exercises.

Research limitations/implications

The outcome of this study will help to gain a better understanding on hijab preferences and comfort experienced from the viewpoint of regular hijab users. The information will assist industries to consider the selection of the right materials when developing sportswear hijabs to provide better comfort for more AMW in the near future. The method used in this study is useful to gain information on consumer’s profile and value-added details about the discomfort aspects of hijab which are scarce in the existing literature on thermal comfort.

Originality/value

This study was conducted to explore the type of hijabs commonly worn by AMW while performing sports activities and to obtain their views on the perceived thermal comfort.
A functional modeling approach for quality assurance in metal additive manufacturing
Authors: Seo Gijeong , Ahsan Md. RU , Lee Yousub , Shin Jong-Ho , Park Hyungjun , Kim Duck Bong
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Due to the complexity of and variations in additive manufacturing (AM) processes, there is a level of uncertainty that creates critical issues in quality assurance (QA), which must be addressed by time-consuming and cost-intensive tasks. This deteriorates the process repeatability, reliability and part reproducibility. So far, many AM efforts have been performed in an isolated and scattered way over several decades. In this paper, a systematically integrated holistic view is proposed to achieve QA for AM.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematically integrated view is presented to ensure the predefined part properties before/during/after the AM process. It consists of four stages, namely, QA plan, prospective validation, concurrent validation and retrospective validation. As a foundation for QA planning, a functional workflow and the required information flows are proposed by using functional design models: Icam DEFinition for Function Modeling.

Findings

The functional design model of the QA plan provides the systematically integrated view that can be the basis for inspection of AM processes for the repeatability and qualification of AM parts for reproducibility.

Research limitations/implications

A powder bed fusion process was used to validate the feasibility of this QA plan. Feasibility was demonstrated under many assumptions; real validation is not included in this study.

Social implications

This study provides an innovative and transformative methodology that can lead to greater productivity and improved quality of AM parts across industries. Furthermore, the QA guidelines and functional design models provide the foundation for the development of a QA architecture and management system.

Originality/value

This systematically integrated view and the corresponding QA plan can pose fundamental questions to the AM community and initiate new research efforts in the in-situ digital inspection of AM processes and parts.
Full-service restaurants as learning organizations: a multiple-site case study
Authors: Boccia Mark , Cseh Maria
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore how Watkins and Marsick’s learning organization framework was enacted in the practices, structures and policies of non-chain US restaurants.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from this multiple-site case study were collected from 52 employees in three full-service restaurants from the dimensions of the learning organization questionnaire (DLOQ), focus group interviews, observations and document collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and constant comparative analysis.

Findings

Interviews elucidated and confirmed DLOQ findings. Pre-shift briefings, managers’ role-modeling and restaurant-generated documentation revealed employees’ tacit learning. Continuously fostered experimentation and knowledge sharing promoted a learning culture. Experimentation differed across restaurants owing to different leadership approaches and organizational cultures.

Research limitations/implications

Future research with subsegments of full-service restaurants having similar leadership approaches and organizational cultures, post COVID-19, and the applicability of the DLOQ to study learning in these types of restaurants both in the USA and in other countries is recommended.

Practical implications

Restaurateurs should capitalize on continuous life and work experiences of employees and codify learning practices by incorporating reflections in learning in pre-shift briefings and by fostering a culture of experimentation and knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the learning organization literature by providing the first multiple-site case study account of learning practices in non-chain, full-service restaurants.
Exploring the dark side of Lean: a systematic review of the lean factors that influence social outcomes
Authors: Salentijn Willem , Beijer Susanne , Antony Jiju
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Lean has shifted over the years from a set of tools to implement to a human-centric approach concerning both hard and soft factors. However, there is a limited research on these soft factors and how they influence companies performance and social outcomes on the one hand and how they enable the hard factors on the other hand. Taking this as a valuable opportunity, the purpose of this paper is to present the key motivating factors and key gaps in the literature as an agenda for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic methodology to identifying the literature on social outcomes and factors in Lean is presented. Web of Science, EBSCO, Emerald, Science Direct, Google Scholar and the top journals were searched, and 158 papers were identified.

Findings

The systematic review helped the authors to identify the evolution, current trends, research gaps and an agenda for future research for exploring social outcomes in Lean and the factors mediating them. These factors are grouped and presented.

Practical implications

The implications of this work include understanding for managers and professionals how both soft and hard factors in Lean are related and that for a sustainable implementation, the whole system must be observed. This work could serve as a valuable resource that depending on the execution of Lean, either positive outcomes will emerge or even negative outcomes, referred to as “The Dark Side”.

Originality/value

This paper presents an extended survey on the factors in Lean mediating both companies’ performance and social outcomes. The authors also believe that this is possibly the most comprehensive systematic literature review on the topic and will set the foundation for various research avenues based on the key findings of this study.
Image transfer between mega business event, hosting destination and country and its effects on exhibitors’ behavioral intention
Authors: Zhang Hongmei , Liu Shanshan , Bai Billy
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the image transfer and its effects on exhibitors’ behavioral intention. Specifically, the study attempted to examine the effect of mega business event image on destination and country image from exhibitors’ perspective and the effect of mega business event image on exhibitors’ behavioral intention toward the event.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were collected through an on-site survey. Based on a sample of 393 respondents, structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results showed that business event image has a stronger effect on country image than on destination image; event image has a significant effect on exhibitor’s behavioral intention toward the event directly and indirectly through the mediating role of country image; and country image has a significant influence on destination image.

Practical implications

The event organizer should improve the exhibitor’s perceptions of the event experience from providing a clear and attractive theme for the target audiences; exhibiting the products with the most cutting-edge technologies and offering various opportunities for forums and promotions; and planning and organizing the event in every detail carefully including the facilities, layout of booths, ambience and other related services.

Originality/value

The study expands the event type to business events, explores the image transfer process between event, destination and country and examines the effects of such image transfer on the exhibitors’ behavioral intention. The results confirm the explanatory power of image transfer theory. Attribution theory and halo effect are viewed as the mechanisms of image transfer.
Expanding the Right to Remain as a Trafficked Person under Article 4 ECHR and the ECAT
Authors: Grundler Maja
Published: February 2021

MS (Pakistan) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, the first human trafficking case related to non‐removal to reach the UK Supreme Court, clarifies the effects of the interplay between the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (ECAT) and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The decision expands the right to remain for trafficked persons under Article 4 ECHR with reference to the obligation to investigate trafficking under the ECAT. Trafficked persons cannot be removed while their trafficking experience is being investigated and tribunals have the power to decide whether a person was trafficked. Thus, MS (Pakistan) strengthens the influence of international law, and the role of courts and tribunals. This note argues that, based on MS (Pakistan), other obligations under the ECAT, besides the obligation to investigate trafficking, may in the future be raised in trafficked persons’ appeals against removal.
Half of all hospitalised children treated with antibiotics for pneumonia did not fulfil radiological, microbiological or laboratory criteria
Authors: Selvåg Maren , Thaulow Christian Magnus
Published: February 2021

Aim

Evaluating the management of paediatric pneumonia is important. We aimed to estimate the proportion of children receiving antibiotics for suspected community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) that were likely to have a bacterial infection. Furthermore, we described antibiotic use in relation to guidelines.

Methods

We conducted a prospective observational study from a paediatric department in Norway. During 2017, all admitted children aged 0–17 years receiving antibiotics for CAP were enrolled in the study. We collected relevant data and defined likely CAP as one or more of the following: radiologically confirmed pneumonia, c‐reactive protein of at least 100 mg/L, positive bacterial culture from blood or pleura, detection of bacteria from the nasopharynx associated with atypical pneumonia.

Results

In total, 70 episodes of suspected CAP were included. Median age was 41.5 months, and 36 (51%) were girls. Of all treatments, 38 (54%) fulfilled our criteria for likely CAP. Median duration of treatment was 10 days. Of empirical treatments, 36 (57%) only involved penicillin. None of the children had neutropenia or complications, and only two needed intensive care.

Conclusion

Only half of children receiving antibiotics for suspected CAP were likely to have bacterial infection. Despite no obvious reason, antibiotic treatment was longer than currently recommended.
The sociometer theory at work: Exploring the organizational interpersonal roots of self‐esteem
Authors: Perinelli Enrico , Alessandri Guido , Cepale Gianluca , Fraccaroli Franco
Published: February 2021

The sociometer theory of self‐esteem (STS) argues that one's self‐esteem is affected by one's perception of the quality of one's relationships with significant others. Although the STS has been widely used in individual differences research there have been few investigations of its validity and value in organizational settings. Here we provide a systematic review of articles published in organizational journals that took STS as their main theoretical framework (N = 8). We then drew on STS principles in an investigation of the validity of a model in which organizational socialization longitudinally mediates the link between workers' quality of relationships with colleagues and their levels of self‐esteem. A complete cohort of 320 workers (Mage = 23.02, SDage = 2.23) over a three‐year period completed a battery of questionnaires once a year for three consecutive years. Structural equation analyses corroborated our hypotheses. This contribution highlights the utility and validity of the STS in organizational contexts and should encourage researchers and practitioners to pay more attention to workers' perception of their interpersonal environment at work (in particular during the socialization and adjustment process to a new workplace) given that it may exert a significant impact on sense of personal self‐worth.
Epidermal T cell subsets—Effect of age and antigen exposure in humans and mice
Authors: Gadsbøll Anne‐Sofie Østergaard , Jee Mia Hamilton , Ahlström Malin Glindvad , Dyring‐Andersen Beatrice , Woetmann Anders , Ødum Niels , Johansen Jeanne Duus , Geisler Carsten , Bonefeld Charlotte Menné
Published: February 2021

Background

Epidermal T cells play a central role in immune surveillance and in inflammatory skin diseases. Major differences in the epidermal T cell composition are found between adult humans and antigen‐inexperienced laboratory mice. Whether this is due to inborn species differences, to different environmental exposures, or a combination of the two is a matter of debate.

Objectives

To investigate the role of age and exposure to antigens on epidermal T cell subsets in human and mouse skin.

Methods

We isolated T cells from the epidermis from 19 infants and 26 adults, and determined the frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ αβ T cells and γδ T cells by flow cytometry. In addition, we determined the epidermal T cell composition in antigen‐inexperienced and antigen‐experienced mice.

Results

We found that humans are born with very few epidermal T cells. The number increases and the composition changes with age. In antigen‐inexperienced mice, the epidermal T cell composition is unaffected by age, but it is dramatically affected by antigen exposure.

Conclusion

Taken together, we show that antigen exposure, as opposed to age, is the major factor determining the composition of epidermal T cells, suggesting that the skin of antigen‐experienced mice better reflects the immunological conditions in human skin.
Memory T helper cells identify patients with nickel, cobalt, and chromium metal allergy
Authors: Blom Lars H. , Elrefaii Sali A. , Zachariae Claus , Thyssen Jacob P. , Poulsen Lars K. , Johansen Jeanne D.
Published: February 2021

Background

Patch testing is the gold standard for identifying culprit allergens in allergic contact dermatitis; however, it is laborious and positive reactions are difficult to quantitate. Development of complementary in vitro tests is, therefore, of great importance.

Objectives

This study aimed to improve the in vitro lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) to detect allergic responses to nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and chromium (Cr).

Methods

Twenty‐one metal allergic patients with a positive patch test to Ni (n=16), Co (n=8), and Cr (n=3) and 13 controls were included. All were tested by a flow cytometric LPT.

Results

Metal‐reactive cells were identified as T helper (Th) cells with high expression of the memory marker CD45RO. Skin‐homing (cutaneous lymphocyte‐associated antigen positive [CLA+]) Ni‐reactive memory Th (Thmemhi) cells identified individuals with a positive patch test for Ni with 100% sensitivity (95% confidence interval [CI] 81%‐100%) and 92% specificity (95% CI 67%‐100%). Moreover, Co‐specific Thmemhi cells expressing CCR6 identified patients with a positive patch test for Co with 63% sensitivity (95% CI 31%‐86%) and 100% specificity (95% CI 77%‐100%). In Cr allergic individuals, Cr‐reactive Thmemhi cells tended to increased CLA and CCR6 expression.

Conclusion

Metal‐reactive Th cells with high expression of CD45RO and coexpression of CLA and CCR6 improved the LPT, making it an attractive supplement to the patch test.
A simulation study of the economic and health impact of a diabetes prevention programme in Ireland
Authors: Pierse Tom , O'Neill Stephen , Dinneen Sean F. , O'Neill Ciaran
Published: February 2021

Aims

Type 2 diabetes is a major public health issue that has a large effect on society including its health and social services. The aims of this paper are to generate a projection of the number of cases and explore the potential impact of a preventive intervention targeted at people with pre‐diabetes on disease prevalence, complications, mortality and cost.

Methods

A Markov simulation model of diabetes and pre‐diabetes in Ireland, for the period 1991 to 2036, was generated based on international epidemiological data. The simulation was calibrated with the available Irish data on the prevalence of pre‐diabetes, diabetes and diabetic complications. The economic and health impact of a hypothetical nationwide preventive intervention programme, which reduces the incidence by a factor consistent with the international literature, was estimated under three scenarios of alternative effectiveness and uptake.

Results

The estimated number of people over 40 years of age with type 2 diabetes in Ireland is projected to increase from 216,000 in 2020 to 414,000 in 2036. A prevention programme, based on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, is estimated to result in a reduction of between 2000 (0.5%) and 19,000 (4.6%) in the number of prevalent cases of diabetes in 2036 resulting in substantial health and quality of life benefits.

Conclusions

A wide range of initiatives with uncertain outcomes will be required to reduce the impact of obesity and type 2 diabetes. A diabetes prevention programme seems likely to be worth pursuing as one element of this set of initiatives.
Impact of ambivalent attitudes on green purchase intentions: The role of negative moods
Authors: Wang Dahai , Weisstein Fei L. , Duan Shen , Choi Pilsik
Published: February 2021

While negative moods (e.g., anxiety and depression) deriving from environmental problems have become a common public concern, little is known about how consumers’ negative mood states affect their green purchase intentions, especially when consumers hold ambivalent attitudes toward buying green products. This paper addresses these issues through four studies of Chinese consumers. Our findings demonstrate that highly ambivalent attitudes toward green products decrease green purchase intentions (Study 1). This negative effect is weakened when consumers are in a more (as opposed to less) anxious mood (Studies 2 and 3) but strengthened when consumers are in a more (as opposed to less) depressed mood (Study 4). Both effects are more prominent among low‐ambivalence consumers than high‐ambivalence consumers. This research shows that not all negative mood states have the same influence on consumers’ green purchase decision making.
Collective Agents and Global Structural Injustice: An Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Smith Leonie , Friedlaender Christina
Published: February 2021

This article links to the Special Issue on Collective Agents and Global Structural Injustice.
From Empire to Tompkins Square: Celebrating the Legacy of Janet Abu‐Lughod
Authors: Fernández‐Kelly Patricia
Published: February 2021

This essay is part of a special section entitled “Legacies of Sociology’s Past." My work addresses the contributions of Janet Abu‐Lughod.
Environmental Conscious Design: An Introduction to EDST
Authors: Yu Steven Y. , Zhang Hong-Chao , Ertas Atila
Published: February 2021

Industrial companies are facing more pressure to improve the recyclability performance of their new designed products. The concept of Environmental Conscious Design (ECD) has been adopted to assist more concerning about the environmental impact of the products at the early stage of designing. This new trend requires that the design strategy should be modified to integrate environmental constraints. This paper develops an Environmental Design Support Tool (EDST) to help designers improve their product in aspect of the environment. The proposed EDST is capable of evaluating the new designed product in terms of environmental sustainability, i.e., material selection, recyclability evaluation, and disassemblability analyses.
CAD Training Using Interactive Computer Sessions Emphasizing Design Intent
Authors: Rodriguez Jorge , Ridge James , Dickinson Amy
Published: February 2021

This project addresses the need to train CAD users on proper modeling methodology. New CAD software empowers designers with the flexibility of parametric or variational design. These feature-based parametric modeling packages allow modification of a solid model by changing its dimensional parameters; however, incorrect modeling methodology may cause failure in the design stage. Failures occur when modified dimensions cause a conflict within the geometry of the model. An option being used is to train designers on capturing the Design Intent of a system through proven techniques in the modeling process. This training is based on interactive computer sessions that guide the designer and allow him/her to explore what-if scenarios. This project sought to identify proven techniques in the modeling process for capturing the Design Intent of mechanical systems. The familiar components of a bicycle provided a basis for exploration. Pro/Enginner™ software was used in this study. Nine lessons were created and tested by professionals. Beta testing was conducted at Steelcase-Chair Division with positive feedback from novice and advanced CAD users.
Object-Oriented Implementation of Finite Element Methodology
Authors: Kumar Ashok V. , Yu Lichao
Published: February 2021

A modular object-oriented framework for finite element method is presented. The framework represents an abstract implementation of the finite element methodology. This ensures that minimal changes are required when extending the software to add new element type and analysis capability. The modular nature of the framework enables easy maintanence and reuse of the software. Furthermore, it ensures that the changes required for extension and maintanence of the software are local in nature. The framework was implemented to show the effectiveness of the approach and tested by implementing simple elements and solvers. The potential for easy extension of the software to cover all varieties of boundary value problems and solver algorithms is discussed.
Computational Modeling for the Dynamic Simulation of Paper and its Application to Some Paper Handling Problems
Authors: Sekimoto Shinya , Ukai Makoto
Published: February 2021

This paper deals with the paper handling problems in highspeed labor saving machines. Non-linear finite element analyses are done for a lightweight and flexible plate or beam leaping from a sliding constraint and colliding against a rigid wall. The fluid force of air and the paper elasticity are taken into account. The elastic property of paper is identified by comparing the “self-bending test” and the finite element analysis. The effect of geometrical stiffness with an initial deformation is studied. The change of the flying orbit is shown with flat paper and geometrically stiffened paper. The behavior of paper after colliding against a rigid wall is also simulated with the parameters of the paper velocity and the friction coefficient between the paper and the wall. The simulation results agree well with the designers’ experiences and help the designers design new machines with higher speed.
FACILE: A Clean Interface for Design and Fabrication
Authors: Jerard Robert B. , Cox Stanley J.
Published: February 2021

Currently, it is possible to buy almost anything from books (Amazon.com) to airplane tickets (travelocity.com) using the world wide web. The purpose of this project is to explore the use of the web for the fabrication of mechanical prototype parts, i.e. parts that can be fabricated using standard machine tools like milling machines. The current mechanism for production of prototype parts requires a process of part description preparation, bidding, contract award, and finally fabrication and delivery of the part. This is a substantially more complex process than buying a book or an airplane ticket. In order to achieve “e-commerce” in this field it will be necessary to develop a “clean interface” between the design and fabrication of mechanical prototype parts. This requires an unambiguous description of the part along with an automated method for bidding on the job. A new system called FACILE (Fast Associative Clean Interface Language and Environment) has been proposed to meet this need.
Virtual Assembly Using Two-Handed Interaction Techniques on the Virtual Workbench™
Authors: Antonishek Brian , Egts David D. , Obeysekare Upul R.
Published: February 2021

Virtually prototyping and verifying products before their manufacture reduces the time to create cost-effective products. This paper describes an environment in which a developer uses two-handed gesture techniques, tracked contact gloves, and the horizontal display of the CTC Virtual Workbench™ to intuitively interact with and verify complex product assemblies. Details are provided for implementation of a virtual assembly application, lessons learned from using it with two assembly scenarios, and suggestions for future enhancements.
A Bi-Directional Reflectance Function for Woven Textiles
Authors: Hunting Brad , Derby Stephen , Puffer Raymond
Published: February 2021

This paper presents a novel bi-directional reflectance function for woven textile substrates. The new reflectance function models a broad class of woven substrates, including substrates with significant anisotropic reflectance. Isotropic behavior is handled as a special case of the anisotropic model. The new model recognizes fiber surface properties, thread geometry, and weave geometry. Experimental reflectance data is presented.
Application of an Evolutionary Modeling Approach to Automotive Bumper System Design and Analysis
Authors: Lu Stephen C.-Y. , Ge Christine Ping , Wang Nanxin
Published: February 2021

Both empirical and mechanistic models are needed to design complex engineering systems. Empirical models play a particularly important role in design especially at the early stage. Large amounts of information, in terms of prior knowledge and experimental data, are needed for statistical analysis and machine learning methods to build empirical models with high quality. However, in some engineering domains, such as vehicle bumper system design, information is very limited due to the time/cost constraints and unknown physics of the problem. Methods are needed to construct reliable empirical models with limited amounts of available information. An Evolutionary Modeling Approach (EMA) has been developed as a first attempt to address this problem. In this approach, empirical model construction is viewed as a multistage, iterative learning process, in which the inaccurate and/or incomplete models gradually evolve into more accurate ones through a heuristically guided data selection procedure. This paper describes the EMA methodology and its initial application to an automotive bumper design and analysis problem.
A Heuristic Search Approach for Deadlock-Free Scheduling in FMSS Using Petri Nets and AI Techniques
Authors: ElMekkawy Tarek Y. , Abdallah Imed Ben , ElMaraghy Hoda A.
Published: February 2021

A performance evaluation of a developed search algorithm using Petri nets, extended with dispatching rules and AI techniques, is conducted. The search algorithm is based on the branch-and-bound principle and backtracking. A user control factor, based on AI techniques, is defined and added to the search algorithm to provide a trade-off between the solution quality and the search effort. The effects of extending the algorithm with dispatching rules and the user control factor (UCF) on the system and search performances are investigated. Two examples from the literature are used for illustration and comparison.
Robustness Optimization of FMS Under Production Plan Variations: Preliminary Results
Authors: Saitou Kazuhiro , Qvam Helge
Published: February 2021

A method for robustness optimization of flexible manufacturing systems is presented which undergoes forecasted product plan variations. A configuration of an FMS is modeled by a colored Petri net and the associated transition firing sequence. The robustness optimization of the colored Petri net model is formulated as an multi-objective optimization problem which minimizes production costs under multiple production plans, and reconfiguration cost due to production plan changes. As a first attempt, machines with limited flexibility are considered, and a genetic algorithm, coupled with a simple FIFO dispatching rule, is used to simultaneously find an semi-optimal resource allocation and event-driven schedule of a colored Petri net. The resulting Petri nets are then compared with the Petri nets optimized for a particular production plan in order to address the effectiveness of the robustness optimization for simultaneous production of products with different similarities. The simulation results suggest that the robustness optimization should be considered when the products are moderately different in their manufacturing processes.