bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental conditions, subsidiaries’ autonomy and global innovation in multinational enterprises
Authors: Pereira Rafael Morais , Borini Felipe Mendes , Santos Leandro Lima , Oliveira Jr Moacir de Miranda
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of environmental conditions of the subsidiaries’ host country in the process of developing global innovation. It is argued that, even though the local environment in which subsidiaries are placed must be taken into account, this is not the only important factor to directly create global innovation, but it also becomes necessary for the subsidiaries to be endowed with autonomy, in this sense allowing them to enjoy the local conditions for innovation purposes.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach is opted for the research development, while the hypotheses were evaluated from the analysis of the relationship between four constructs: global innovation, local market conditions, local competitive dynamics and autonomy to innovate. The structural equation modeling technique is applied, using data from 172 foreign subsidiaries located in Brazil.

Findings

The validity and reliability parameters analyzed in the proposed model were suitable (average variance extracted, Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability and discriminant validity). H1 (the better the market conditions of the host country, the greater the subsidiary’s autonomy to innovate) was not supported. However, both H2 and H3 were supported, suggesting the influence of local competitive dynamics on autonomy to innovate, and also the influence of autonomy to innovate on global innovation, respectively.

Originality/value

This paper provides some contributions for the advance in researches about the global innovation management, considering the subsidiaries’ perspective, showing the relevance of the subsidiary’s autonomy for the development of global innovation given a favorable local competitive dynamic.
Coordinating character and curriculum for learning and development
Authors: Margerison Charles J. , Ravenscroft Michelle D.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This paper considers how online character education applications can be applied by educational practitioners within the school environment to meet curriculum requirements and increase the learning opportunities for citizenship education.

Design/methodology/approach

The Draft Curriculum for Wales 2022 is used as an example of how this can be achieved through innovative applications that are linked to the areas of personal development within the Margerison C-Model.

Findings

The five aspects of the framework focus on how practical applications can be used by teachers to enable individual development of character strengths. In particular, reference is made on how technology plays an increasing role in enabling both students and teachers to access learning opportunities.

Practical implications

The paper suggests practical applications to enable the integration of technology into personal and social learning.

Social implications

This aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, (SDG4), which highlights social–emotional development and learning as a specific area of educational importance.

Originality/value

The paper indicates ways to enhance identity and life-long learning.
Revenue structure of the dual-role as investor-contractors in PPP project
Authors: Liu Jiaqi , Liu Jicai , Ruan Lujie
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discuss the phenomenon of dual-role participants in public-private partnership (PPP) projects. Contractors who are also investors hold a dual-role that can improve project financing and technical ability. However, speculation without effort from the dual-role subjects can result in serious conflicts of interest between pure and dual-role investors. The authors considered contractors’ decisions regarding whether to invest and exert effort and discussed the distribution of interests between pure and dual-role investors based on different strategy combinations. The authors also analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of the dual-role phenomenon through the income model.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on game theory, this study constructed four types of revenue structure models for pure and dual-role investors in different decision-making choices. Then, the authors performed a comparative analysis of the dual-role participant’s income in different models.

Findings

When the contractor becomes a dual-role subject and expends significant effort (m1*), the revenue of stakeholders can be increased, which can achieve a win-win outcome. Meanwhile, the level of effort of the contractor can be guaranteed when the government or project company limits the investment proportion,rj. For a contractor, the channel of becoming a dual-role subject and expending effort is suggested for maximizing investment return.

Originality/value

The study optimized the PPP project system and investment structure and offered specific governance instruments for a PPP project company to prevent speculation by dual-role subject. Concretely, a dual-role subject was discussed in the context of PPPs; this discussion offers new insight for researchers. Four revenue models based on different contractor strategies were established, a finding that is beneficial for further improving the revenue governance of PPP projects. Finally, the study used a quantitative model to validate the advantages of the dual-role phenomenon, and the authors found that the proportion of equity can impact a dual-role investor’s effort level, thereby curbing speculation to produce a win-win outcome.
Conceptualizing corporate identity in a dynamic environment
Authors: Tourky Marwa , Foroudi Pantea , Gupta Suraksha , Shaalan Ahmed
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aims to revisits the meaning of corporate identity (CI) in practice to identify its key dimensions and the interrelationships between them and to provide insights on how to operationalize the construct.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a comprehensive literature review and qualitative research consisting of 22 semi-structured interviews with senior managers from 11 UK-leading companies, and three in-depth interviews with corporate brand consultants who worked closely with these firms in cognate areas.

Findings

The study identifies the following six key dimensions of CI in the UK industry: communication, visual identity, behavior, organizational culture, stakeholder management and founder value-based leadership.

Research limitations/implications

The focus on UK leading companies limits the generalizability of the results. Further studies should be conducted in other sectors and country settings to examine the relationships identified in the current study.

Originality/value

This study identifies the salient dimensions of CI and, for the first time, the role of founder transformational leadership, employee identification and top management behavioral leadership as key dimensions and sub-dimensions of CI. The study also provides novel insights about the measurements for these dimensions. Additionally, this study introduces a model for the interrelationships between CI dimensions and their influence on corporate image, based on rigorous theoretical underpinnings, which lays the foundation for future empirical testing.
Electronic word of mouth in tourism and hospitality consumer behaviour: state of the art
Authors: Pourfakhimi Shahab , Duncan Tara , Coetzee Willem J.L.
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Despite its volume, the academic research on the impact of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on tourism and hospitality consumer behaviour is fragmented and largely limited to investigating a small scope of its impact. The purpose of this paper is to bridge this gap by synthesising the existing literature, providing a conceptual framework for the various dimensions of this impact.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the meta-synthesis and a critical conceptual analysis of relevant academic literature identified using a keyword search of papers via the Web of Science and Scopus databases, followed by a snowballing process comprising tracking the citations to the resources referred to in the identified papers.

Findings

This conceptual analysis illustrates how the full spectrum of the impact of eWOM on tourist behaviour spans well beyond the limited scope traditionally focussed on by tourism and hospitality researchers. This scope, encompassing multiple cognitive, normative and affective dimensions, is illustrated in an evidence-based conceptual framework proposed in this paper, providing a systematic tool to identify the less-studied aspects of this important phenomenon.

Originality/value

This paper synthesises the large and fragmented body of literature on eWOM and proposes a novel conceptual framework, illustrating the vast scope of the various cognitive, affective and normative mechanisms through which eWOM affects consumers’ choice of tourism and hospitality products. Furthermore, this paper provides a synthesis of the state-of-the-art of research in this field, highlights the existing gaps and provides researchers with a systematic tool to identify pathways towards breaking the status-quo in progressing beyond the current boundaries of academic research in this field.
The future of Airbnb in China: industry perspective from hospitality leaders
Authors: Qiu Dujun , Lin Pearl M.C. , Feng Sandra Yanping , Peng Kang-Lin , Fan Daisy
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the development of Airbnb in China from the perspective of hospitality leaders by identifying the positive and negative effects of Airbnb development in the country.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was adopted to explore the current development of sharing accommodation service in China. Focus group discussions were conducted with the managers and top executives of hotels in China.

Findings

Most of the participants affirmed that the experience of local culture and authenticity are the advantages of staying in this type of informal accommodation. From the viewpoint of hoteliers, traditional accommodation is necessary to rethink their strategies by providing authentic experiences. By contrast, Airbnb service may not seamlessly fit into Chinese culture. The result also indicated that there is a need for government to regulate the informal accommodation platforms.

Practical implications

This study provides views towards Airbnb from the traditional accommodation sector in Mainland China, which can contribute to the future regulation of informal accommodation services.

Originality/value

Chinese market is the leading sector in tourism industry. With the popularity of Airbnb development around the world, Airbnb is still in a developing stage in Mainland China. This study is based on 45 hoteliers and industry professionals in China, who share their views on Airbnb development and how it should move forward. The findings of this study shed light on the informal accommodation service and its future directions in China.
Biotransformation of struvite by Aspergillus niger: phosphate release and magnesium biomineralization as glushinskite
Authors: Suyamud Bongkotrat , Ferrier John , Csetenyi Laszlo , Inthorn Duangrat , Gadd Geoffrey Michael
Published: February 2020

Struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate‐MgNH4PO4·6H2O), which can extensively crystallize in wastewater treatments, is a potential source of N and P as fertilizer, as well as a means of P conservation. However, little is known of microbial interactions with struvite which would result in element release. In this work, the geoactive fungus Aspergillus niger was investigated for struvite transformation on solid and in liquid media. Aspergillus niger was capable of solubilizing natural (fragments and powder) and synthetic struvite when incorporated into solid medium, with accompanying acidification of the media, and extensive precipitation of magnesium oxalate dihydrate (glushinskite, Mg(C2O4).2H2O) occurring under growing colonies. In liquid media, A. niger was able to solubilize natural and synthetic struvite releasing mobile phosphate (PO43−) and magnesium (Mg2+), the latter reacting with excreted oxalate resulting in precipitation of magnesium oxalate dihydrate which also accumulated within the mycelial pellets. Struvite was also found to influence the morphology of A. niger mycelial pellets. These findings contribute further understanding of struvite solubilization, element release and secondary oxalate formation, relevant to the biogeochemical cycling of phosphate minerals, and further directions utilizing these mechanisms in environmental biotechnologies such as element biorecovery and biofertilizer applications.
The auxin‐inducible phosphate transporter AsPT5 mediates phosphate transport and is indispensable for arbuscule formation in Chinese milk vetch at moderately high phosphate supply
Authors: Fan Xiaoning , Che Xianrong , Lai Wenzhen , Wang Sijia , Hu Wentao , Chen Hui , Zhao Bin , Tang Ming , Xie Xianan
Published: February 2020

Phosphorus is a macronutrient that is essential for plant survival. Most land plants have evolved the ability to form a mutualistic symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which enhances phosphate (Pi) acquisition. Modulation of Pi transporter systems is the master strategy used by mycorrhizal plants to adapt to ambient Pi concentrations. However, the specific functions of PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER 1 (PHT1) genes, which are Pi transporters that are responsive to high Pi availability, are largely unknown. Here, we report that AsPT5, an Astragalus sinicus (Chinese milk vetch) member of the PHT1 gene family, is conserved across dicotyledons and is constitutively expressed in a broad range of tissues independently of Pi supply, but is remarkably induced by indole‐3‐acetic acid (auxin) treatment under moderately high Pi conditions. Subcellular localization experiments indicated that AsPT5 localizes to the plasma membrane of plant cells. Using reverse genetics, we showed that AsPT5 not only mediates Pi transport and remodels root system architecture but is also essential for arbuscule formation in A. sinicus under moderately high Pi concentrations. Overall, our study provides insight into the function of AsPT5 in Pi transport, AM development and the cross‐talk between Pi nutrition and auxin signalling in mycorrhizal plants.
Employer silencing in a context of voice regulations: Case studies of non‐compliance
Authors: Hickland Eugene , Cullinane Niall , Dobbins Tony , Dundon Tony , Donaghey Jimmy
Published: February 2020

This article, drawing on the latest insights into organisational silence, considers how employers seek to withhold information and circumvent meaningful workplace voice when confronted with regulatory requirements. It offers novel theoretical insights by redefining employer silencing as characterised by the withholding of information and the restriction of workplace dialogue. In outlining three principal routes of non‐compliance—avoidance, suppression, and neglect—we empirically illustrate the path to silence in the regulatory context of the European Union Directive establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees. Rather than considering how employers utilised the regulations, as existing research considers, we look at how employers circumvented the regulatory space in three case studies in the United Kingdom and Ireland and the significant role of employer silencing as a tool for explaining this dynamic.
Vesicovaginal fistula following pelvic surgery: Our experiences and recommendations for diagnosis and prompt referral
Authors: Thayalan Krishanthy , Parghi Sneha , Krause Hannah , Goh Judith
Published: February 2020

Background

Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) is an uncommon but known complication of pelvic surgery. Post‐operative urine leakage should generate a high index of clinical suspicion for early diagnosis of VVF.

Aims

This study aims to identify areas for improvement and provide recommendations for timely and accurate diagnosis of VVF to minimise patient morbidity.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective observational study of all patients who underwent VVF repairs unrelated to malignancies in a ten‐year period at two primary referral centres in Brisbane was performed to review the aetiology, performance of investigative tests and management of these cases.

Results

A total of 56 patients were studied with the identification of significant delays to diagnosis and referral, the performance of multiple unnecessary tests and low rates of primary surgeon referral.

Conclusions

Early recognition of VVF and assessment by outpatient methylene blue dye test can provide quick same‐day diagnosis and minimise patient suffering. We hope this will alert gynaecologists and provide guidelines for diagnosis and improved management to allow for prompt referral and repair of genitourinary fistula.
Autonomic dysfunction in cardiac amyloidosis assessed by heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence
Authors: Yamada Shinya , Yoshihisa Akiomi , Hijioka Naoko , Kamioka Masashi , Kaneshiro Takashi , Yokokawa Tetsuro , Misaka Tomofumi , Ishida Takafumi , Takeishi Yasuchika
Published: February 2020

Background

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and autonomic nervous imbalance due to amyloid infiltration. However, autonomic dysfunction is often seen in heart failure (HF) with LVH from other etiologies. We aimed to characterize autonomic dysfunction in CA from other etiologies of LVH.

Methods

Fifty‐five HF patients with LVH (35 males, mean age 65 ± 16 years) were enrolled. LVH was defined as left ventricular mass index measured by echocardiography >95 g/m2 in women and 115 g/m2 in men. The etiology was as follows: amyloid light chain (AL)‐CA, n = 14; hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, n = 21; and aortic stenosis (AS), n = 20. With the patient in a clinically stable condition, heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT), which reflect autonomic dysfunction, were measured using Holter monitoring and compared among the three groups.

Results

Brain natriuretic peptide levels, LVH severity, left ventricular ejection fraction, and tissue Doppler index E/e′ did not differ among the three groups. However, severe abnormalities of HRV and HRT were obtained in AL‐CA. In the ROC analysis to identify AL‐CA in HF with LVH, the best cutoff value for standard deviation of all R‐R intervals, standard deviation of the 5‐min mean R‐R intervals, turbulence onset, and turbulence slope were 68.5 ms (AUC: 0.865), 58.5 ms (AUC: 0.834), 0.25% (AUC: 0.813), and 1.00 ms/RR (AUC 0.736), respectively.

Conclusion

Autonomic dysfunction is a hallmark of AL‐CA, and its noninvasive assessment by Holter monitoring may be a useful tool for differential diagnosis of HF with LVH.
To what extent can online mapping be decolonial? A journey throughout Indigenous cartography in Canada
Authors: McGurk Thomas J. , Caquard Sébastien
Published: February 2020

In this paper, we describe and reflect upon our journey through Indigenous online mapping in Canada. This journey has been planned according to an academic goal: assessing the potential of online cartography for decolonial purposes. To reach this goal, we have followed methodological directions provided by Indigenous scholar Linda Tuhiwai Smith to review 18 Indigenous web‐mapping sites across Canada. Supported by a series of ten interviews, this content analysis enabled us to sketch some of the contours of contemporary Indigenous cartography. On one hand, Indigenous communities largely control the data that are shared on these websites. They also partially control the way these data are represented through the mobilization of digital storytelling technologies that are better aligned with Indigenous ways of envisioning relationships to places than conventional maps. On the other hand, they do not have much control over the technological aspects of these projects, for which they remain heavily dependent on non‐Indigenous partners. Throughout this journey, we noticed that women's voices remained marginal in most of these mapping projects, but we also identified evidence supporting the idea that these voices are starting to play a vital role in the on‐going effort of decolonizing mapping processes.
Theorizing postfeminist communities: How gender‐inclusive meetups address gender inequity in high‐tech industries
Authors: Petrucci Larissa
Published: February 2020

Through a qualitative analysis of gender‐inclusive meetup groups in the US technology sector, this article offers a theory of postfeminist communities to identify how community organizing can take a postfeminist turn. Gender‐inclusive meetups are public, often free groups or organizations where participants have access to training, mentorship and support. Groups import postfeminist values of choice, empowerment, individualism and entrepreneurship into their community organizing efforts to address workplace gender inequities. Groups employ three strategies to improve the status of women and non‐binary people in the tech industry: (i) organizing a supportive community rooted in professionalism and entrepreneurialism; (ii) offering skills development in a safe environment; and (iii) training participants on how to take individual action against discrimination. While postfeminist communities are able to successfully cultivate supportive groups of participants who organize outside of the workplace, strategies focused on individual‐level changes ultimately do little to disrupt organization‐level gender inequities.
Settler‐State Borders and the Question of Indigenous Immigrant Identity
Authors: Reed‐Sandoval Amy
Published: February 2020

Indigenous migration from Latin America to the United States has been on the rise over the past decades. There has also been an increase in Indigenous self‐identification amongst people in the United States who previously self‐identified as Hispanic or Latina/o on census forms. Though Latin American Indigenous migration to the United States has been steadily on the rise since the 1990s, there remains a lack of resources—philosophical, political, and bureaucratic—to account for this migrant group. My goal in this article is to explore in greater depth why Latin American Indigenous migration is hermeneutically marginalised. First, I argue that we problematically fail to understand settler‐state borders—particularly the Mexico‐US border—as, in part, Indigenous spaces. Second, and relatedly, I argue that our failure to understand borders as Indigenous spaces is connected to the widespread, inaccurate presumption that Indigenous peoples ‘lose their authenticity’ (and, in turn, their very Indigenous identities) upon crossing settler‐state borders. Contrary to what I describe as the dominant view of borders as de‐Indigenised or non‐Indigenous spaces, I argue in that many settler‐state borders are spaces where Indigenous peoples, including Indigenous migrants, may experience their Indigenous identities intimately, and even publicly articulate and defend them. Importantly, this does not mean that settler‐state borders do not also harm Indigenous peoples by threating Indigenous sovereignty. I end by arguing that addressing the hermeneutical marginalisation of Latin American Indigenous migration requires a rigorous reconceptualisation of borders themselves as Indigenous spaces.
The unique contribution of blushing to the development of social anxiety disorder symptoms: results from a longitudinal study
Authors: Nikolić Milica , Majdandžić Mirjana , Colonnesi Cristina , de Vente Wieke , Möller Eline , Bögels Susan
Published: February 2020

Background

Self‐conscious emotional reactivity and its physiological marker – blushing has been proposed to be an etiological mechanism of social anxiety disorder (SAD), but so far, untested in longitudinal designs. This study tested, for the first time, whether self‐conscious emotional reactivity (indexed as physiological blushing) contributes to the development of SAD symptoms over and above social behavioral inhibition (BI), which has been identified as the strongest predictor of SAD development in early childhood.

Methods

One hundred fifteen children (45% boys) and their mothers and fathers participated at ages 2.5, 4.5, and 7.5 years. Social BI was observed at all time points in a stranger approach task, and physiological blushing (blood volume, blood pulse amplitude, and temperature increases) was measured during a public performance (singing) and watching back the performance at ages 4.5 and 7.5. Child early social anxiety was reported by both parents at 4.5 years, and SAD symptoms were diagnosed by clinicians and reported by both parents at 7.5 years.

Results

Higher social BI at 2.5 and 4.5 years predicted greater social anxiety at 4.5 years, which, in turn, predicted SAD symptoms at 7.5 years. Blushing (temperature increase) at 4.5 years predicted SAD symptoms at 7.5 years over and above the influence of social BI and early social anxiety.

Conclusions

That blushing uniquely contributes to the development of SAD symptoms over and above social BI suggests two pathways to childhood SAD: one that entails early high social BI and an early onset of social anxiety symptoms, and the other that consists of heightened self‐conscious emotional reactivity (i.e. blushing) in early childhood.
Effects of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Xing Baodi , Zhao Yuhang , Dong Bingzi , Zhou Yue , Lv Wenshan , Zhao Wenjuan
Published: February 2020

Aims/Introduction

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasingly common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Currently, some studies have found that sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, a new hypoglycemic drug, can improve non‐alcoholic fatty liver in addition to its hypoglycemic effect. Thus, we undertook a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors on the treatment of NAFLD.

Materials and Methods

PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with NAFLD and type 2 diabetes mellitus up to 1 October 2019. Differences were expressed as weight mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for continuous outcomes. The I2 statistic was applied to evaluate the heterogeneity of studies.

Results

A total of six trials including 309 patients were selected into our meta‐analysis. SGLT2 inhibitors could reduce alanine aminotransferase (WMD −11.05 IU/L, 95% CI −19.85, −2.25, P = 0.01) and magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (WMD −2.07%, 95% CI −3.86, −0.28, P = 0.02). However, SGLT2 inhibitors did not reduce aspartate aminotransferase (WMD −1.11 IU/L, 95% CI −2.39, 0.17, P = 0.09). In addition, secondary outcomes, such as bodyweight and visceral fat area, were also reduced (WMD −1.62 kg, 95% CI −2.02, −1.23, P < 0.00001; WMD −19.98 cm2, 95% CI −27.18, −12.79, P < 0.00001, respectively).

Conclusions

SGLT2 inhibitors can significantly decrease alanine aminotransferase and liver fat, accompanied with weight loss, which might have a positive effect on fatty liver in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The limitation is that the sample size of the studies was small. Therefore, more large randomized controlled trials specified on NAFLD are required to evaluate these results.
Time course of metabolic status in pregnant women: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Sasaki Hatoko , Arata Naoko , Tomotaki Ai , Yamamoto‐Hanada Kiwako , Mezawa Hidetoshi , Konishi Mizuho , Ishitsuka Kazue , Saito‐Abe Mayako , Sato Miori , Nishizato Minaho , Saito Hirohisa , Ohya Yukihiro ,   Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group
Published: February 2020

Aims/Introduction

We aimed to evaluate the metabolic status of pregnant women by assessing metabolic biomarkers of participants in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study, a nationwide, multicenter, pregnancy and birth cohort.

Materials and Methods

Pregnant women aged 14–50 years were studied in 15 centers across Japan. Clinical information was obtained using self‐administered questionnaires. Blood samples were taken during the first two trimesters to measure metabolic biomarkers. Samples were divided into seven groups according to the weeks of pregnancy.

Results

Among 82,972 pregnant women, 43 had only type 1 diabetes, 78 had only type 2 diabetes, 2,315 had only gestational diabetes and 354 had only dyslipidemia. Glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride across all the percentiles increased as prepregnancy body mass index increased, whereas high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels across all the percentiles decreased as body mass index increased. Glycated hemoglobin was high in participants with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes only, but not in those with gestational diabetes or hyperlipidemia only. Participants with type 2 diabetes or dyslipidemia only had high triglyceride in the first trimester, which then decreased in the second trimester. Participants with type 2 diabetes only also showed low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas participants with dyslipidemia only showed high total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol throughout.

Conclusions

Metabolic biomarkers were affected by blood sample timing and underlying metabolic disease. The Japan Environment and Children’s Study will clarify the influences of metabolic status during pregnancy on the health and development of the offspring in future studies.
Prospective evaluation of treatment response and disease reversibility of paediatric localized scleroderma (morphoea) to steroids and methotrexate using multi‐modal imaging
Authors: Weibel L. , Theiler M. , Howell K.J. , Denton C.P. , Waelchli R. , Atherton D. , Woo P. , Harper J.I.
Published: February 2020

Background

Paediatric localized scleroderma is a severe inflammatory disorder associated with tissue atrophy, often leading to disability. Assessing disease activity and response to treatment has always been challenging and remains an important difficulty in clinical practice.

Objectives

To investigate prospectively the efficacy of systemic treatment with corticosteroids and methotrexate in children with localized scleroderma and the validity of infrared thermography, laser Doppler flowmetry and high‐frequency ultrasound in assessing disease activity.

Methods

Children with localized scleroderma were prospectively treated with corticosteroids (initially pulsed IV methylprednisolone 30 mg/kg/day, maximum 500 mg/day and/or oral prednisolone 0.5–1 mg/kg/day) and methotrexate (15 mg/m2 weekly). Treatment response was evaluated using a clinical activity score. Skin temperature, blood flow, dermal thickness and dermal echogenicity of clinically active skin lesions were determined in relation to the unaffected contralateral site at baseline and after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. Patient charts were later reviewed for long‐term follow‐up.

Results

Twenty‐two patients were included [age 6.0 (0.2–14.4] years; female‐to‐male ratio 3.4 : 1) All responded well to therapy. Disease reversibility was demonstrated in the majority of children with partial resolution of skin sclerosis and regrowth of hair. Laser Doppler flowmetry and high‐frequency ultrasound findings correlated with disease activity at baseline. Thermography had no added value in this cohort. The recurrence rate was 36% in the follow‐up period.

Conclusions

Corticosteroids and methotrexate are highly effective as first‐line therapy in paediatric localized scleroderma, leading to partial reversal of skin manifestations. However, the recurrence rate is substantial and affected children require long‐term follow‐up. Laser Doppler flowmetry and high‐frequency ultrasound correlate with disease activity in the acute phase and may assist decision‐making in these patients.
Do stroke clinical practice guideline recommendations for the intervention of thickened liquids for aspiration support evidence based decision making? A systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: McCurtin Arlene , Boland Pauline , Kavanagh Maeve , Lisiecka Dominika , Roche Caoimhe , Galvin Rose
Published: February 2020

Rationale

Aspiration is a common sequela post stroke as a result of oropharyngeal dysphagia. It is primarily managed using the poorly empirically supported intervention of thickened liquids. Where evidence is limited, clinicians may rely on clinical practice guidelines to support decision making. The purpose of this systematic review and narrative synthesis was to evaluate the evidentiary bases of recommendations made by stroke clinical practice guidelines regarding the thickened liquids intervention.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted on stroke clinical guidelines retrieved via searches conducted across a range of databases including Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library as well as through association websites. Guidelines were eligible for inclusion if they focused on adult stroke populations, made recommendations relating to the thickened liquid intervention and were published between January 2010 and December 2018. Four independent reviewers rated methodological quality using the AGREE‐II instrument. Intervention recommendations were extracted and analysed using the Criteria for Levels of Evidence Reported from the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations and a novel framework examining the appropriateness of the supporting evidence.

Results

Thirteen clinical guidelines were included in the review. Methodological quality was variable with seven rating as good‐excellent overall. Thirty recommendations regarding the intervention were extracted. Of these, 16 recommendations were classed as a recommendation to use the treatment and all guidelines made this recommendation. Much of the evidence used to scaffold recommendations did not directly support the intervention.

Conclusions

Despite the limited evidence base for the thickened liquid intervention, there was consensus among stroke guidelines in recommending it. This is despite limited empirical support. Furthermore, much of the evidence used to support recommendations was not appropriate, suggesting less than satisfactory evidence‐based practices in formulating recommendations. In this case, clinical guidelines may not be reliable decision‐support tools for facilitating clinical decision making.
Physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of bael fruit
Authors: Sonawane Akshay , Pathak Sumit Sudhir , Pradhan Rama Chandra
Published: February 2020

The physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of bael fruit were discussed in this paper. The properties of bael fruit were studied in term of its dimensional, gravimetric, frictional properties, and color values, whereas thermal properties were evaluated by determining the glass transition temperature of bael fruit pulp powder. The effect of the direction of orientation and temperature treatment on the mechanical properties of bael fruit were studied. The sphericity of bael fruit is considered to be spherical. The average length, width, and thickness of bael fruit were 8.92, 8.22, and 7.95 cm, respectively. The bulk density, true density, and porosity were found to be 0.470, 1.067, and 55.96 g/cm3, respectively. The specific heat of bael fruit pulp was 3.2512 kJ/kg °K. The glass transition temperature of the pulp powder was 277.15 °K, with a specific heat of 0.429 J/g °K. The orientation of bael fruit along the thickness required minimum rupture force than orientation along the length and width. The minimum rupture force required to puncture bael fruit along its thickness was 431.14 KN for freezing treatment. The results obtained from this study would help in manufacturing the handling and processing machineries for the commercial production of bael fruit products.

Practical Applications

Bael is an underprocessed indigenous fruit despite its high nutritional and medicinal properties. Knowledge about the physical, thermal, and mechanical properties of bael fruit will encourage researchers to develop and modernize the design of equipment used for sorting, grading, puncturing, pulping, conveying, packaging, transporting, and storing of fruits.
Disability and Recovery After Hospitalization for Medical Illness Among Community‐Living Older Persons: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Dharmarajan Kumar , Han Ling , Gahbauer Evelyne A. , Leo‐Summers Linda S. , Gill Thomas M.
Published: February 2020

Objectives

To determine for each basic, instrumental, and mobility activity after hospitalization for acute medical illness: (1) disability prevalence immediately before and monthly for 6 months after hospitalization; (2) disability incidence 1 month after hospitalization; and (3) recovery time from incident disability during months 2 to 6 after hospitalization.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

New Haven, Connecticut.

Participants

A total of 515 community‐living persons, mean age 82.7 years, hospitalized for acute noncritical medical illness and alive within 1 month of hospital discharge.

Measurements

Disability was defined monthly for each basic (bathing, dressing, walking, transferring), instrumental (shopping, housework, meal preparation, taking medications, managing finances), and mobility activity (walking a quarter mile, climbing flight of stairs, lifting/carrying 10 pounds, driving) if help was needed to perform the activity or if a car was not driven in the prior month.

Results

Disability was common 1 and 6 months after hospitalization for activities frequently involved in leaving the home to access care including walking a quarter mile (prevalence 65% and 53%, respectively) and driving (65% and 61%). Disability was also common for activities involved in self‐managing chronic health conditions including meal preparation (53% and 41%) and taking medications (41% and 31%). New disability was common and often prolonged. For example, 43% had new disability walking a quarter mile, and 30% had new disability taking medications, with mean recovery time of 1.9 months and 1.7 months, respectively. Findings were similar for the subgroup of persons residing at home (ie, not in a nursing home) at the first monthly follow‐up interview after hospitalization.

Conclusion

Disability in specific functional activities important to leaving home to access care and self‐managing health conditions is common, often new, and present for prolonged time periods after hospitalization for acute medical illness. Post‐discharge care should support patients through extended periods of vulnerability beyond the immediate transitional period. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:486–495, 2020
Early Oligocene fruits and leaves ofBurretiodendron(Malvaceae s.l.) from South China
Authors: Xu Sheng‐Lan , Kodrul Tatiana M. , Wu Yan , Maslova Natalia P. , Jin Jian‐Hua
Published: February 2020

The genusBurretiodendronRehder is currently endemic to an area near the China–Vietnam border and the limestone mountains of Thailand and Myanmar. The fossil records of this genus were previously found only from the Miocene of Yunnan, Southwest China, and the Oligocene of Guangxi, South China. Here, we describe fossil fruits and associated leaves ofBurretiodendron, which were discovered in the lower Oligocene Shangcun Formation of the Maoming Basin, Guangdong, South China. Morphological comparison with extant and fossilBurretiodendrontaxa indicates that fruit fossils belong to the speciesBurretiodendron parvifructumJ. Lebreton Anberrée & Z. K. Zhou. This is one of the earliest fossil records of the genus, providing additional evidence for the early biogeographic history of this genus and supporting the inference that the genus originated in South China. According to the habitat conditions of modern species, we speculate that there were limestone mountains around the Maoming Basin in the early Oligocene.
Coping with stalking and harassment victimization: Exploring the coping approaches of young male and female adults in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Heng Choon (Oliver) , Sheridan Lorraine
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Most stalking studies have been conducted on Western samples. Little is known about victims of stalking and harassment outside the Western Hemisphere generally, and victim coping approaches have so far gone unexamined within populations of Asian victims.

Methods

Using a sample of 198 self‐reported victims of stalking or harassment drawn from a large sample of university students (N = 2,496) aged between 18 and 40, this study explores the incidence of these phenomena and the gendered distribution of different coping methods (i.e., avoidant, proactive, passive, compliance, and aggressive).

Results

A total of 7.9% of respondents reported experience of stalking or harassment in their lifetime, and the incidence of various stalking behaviours is reported. In general, passive (or moving away) and avoidant (or moving inward) approaches were the most frequently reported victim coping approaches, while compliance (or moving towards or with) was the least employed coping strategy. Males were considerably more likely than females to employ compliance and aggressive coping strategies. Multivariate analyses indicate that females were less likely to adopt a proactive coping approach, while all victims were more likely to employ the aggressive, proactive, and compliance approaches if they had been targeted for more than a month.

Conclusions

These findings show that experiences of stalking or harassment were not uncommon among the sample and that the type of victim coping approach was in part influenced by victim demographics and by stalking dynamics.
“Two sides of the same coin?” Coaching and mentoring and the agentic role of context
Authors: Stokes Paul , Fatien Diochon Pauline , Otter Ken
Published: February 2020

Our article
depicts and interrogates the claims for seeing coaching and mentoring as being distinct from each other, and rather suggests that context is agentic in determining which aspects of these two helping orientations are likely to be used by practitioners. To start with, our article traces the development of coaching and mentoring as two separate discourses. Traditionally, coaching has been associated with a shorter term performance focus, with the coach portrayed as a process‐ rather than a content knowledge−based expert. By contrast, mentoring has a longer‐term holistic focus, where the mentor has direct experience and knowledge in the setting that the mentee is operating in. Then, we discuss some limitations of seeking conceptual distinctiveness in purely theoretical terms, including accentuating differences of practices that cannot easily be disentangled from each other in practice. Therefore, on the basis of a case study, where coaching and mentoring behaviors are used by leaders and managers, we argue that context plays an agentic role and influences which of the helping orientations is used by practitioners. We conclude that, context being multifaceted, it leads to a kaleidoscope of coaching/mentoring behaviors, which supports a practice‐based approach to the debate.
Risk for physical dependence in community‐dwelling older adults: The role of fear of falling, falls and fall‐related injuries
Authors: Pereira Catarina , Bravo Jorge , Raimundo Armando , Tomas‐Carus Pablo , Mendes Felismina , Baptista Fátima
Published: February 2020

Background

Falls and fall‐related injuries along with fear of falling (FoF) seem to restrict activities of daily living (ADL), resulting in physical dependence. However, it is still unclear how falls and related injuries or FoF by themselves explain general and specific ADL dependence.

Objectives

To investigate the relationships between falls and related injuries, FoF and physical dependence on ADL in community‐dwelling older adults, controlling for age, gender, physical activity and physical fitness as confounders.

Methods

This cross‐sectional descriptive study assessed 588 community‐dwelling older adults. Falls and fall‐related injuries, ADL dependence on basic, instrumental and advanced activities, FoF, demographic characteristics and health conditions were assessed through a questionnaire. Physical activity was measured through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Physical fitness was assessed by the Senior Fitness Test and the Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale. Body composition was measured through bioimpedance.

Results

Severe injuries occurrence increased the likelihood of moderate and high physical dependence by 3 and 6 times, while FoF increased this likelihood by 3 and 7 times, respectively. Also, the occurrence of previous falls, resulting in severe injuries, increased the likelihood of dependence in two instrumental ADL (3 and 4 times), while FoF increased this likelihood in numerous basic, instrumental and advanced ADL (2–3 times). The FoF was shown to explain overall physical functioning dependence, by itself, representing a constraint on the performance of most basic, instrumental and advanced ADL.

Conclusion

The FoF showed to be a greater threat to ADL dependence than falls and related injuries. Assessment guidelines for older adults living in the community should include the FoF in clinical evaluation.

Implications for practice

Understand the isolated interplay of FoF and previous falls and injuries on ADL dependence among older adults allows healthcare professionals to perform more accurate clinical evaluations and develop more successful interventions to prevent further dependence.
Factors playing a role in the development of emotional labor behavior of clinical nurses
Authors: Baksi Altun , Arda Sürücü Hamdiye
Published: February 2020

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate spirituality, sociodemographic features, and occupational features as predictors of nurses' emotional labor.

Design and Methods

The study is descriptive cross‐sectional and correlational research.

Findings

The results demonstrated that there was a statistically significant positive relationship between the nurses' spirituality and the subdimension of intimate behavior (r = .545) (P < .05). Regarding the nurses' in‐depth behaviors, the study found that spirituality (β = .550) and the number of patients that the nurses were responsible for (β = −.154) were statistically significant predictors (P < .05). The subdimensions of superficial behavior, spirituality (β = .498), and rechoosing the profession (β = −.142) were statistically significant predictors as well (P < .05).

Practice Implications

For the development of emotional labor in clinical nurses, administrators should be sensitive to nurses' spiritual values.
The role of psychological detachment in burnout and depression: A longitudinal study of Malaysian workers
Authors: Muhamad Nasharudin Nurfazreen Aina , Idris Mohd Awang , Loh May Young , Tuckey Michelle
Published: February 2020

The current study aimed to examine the role of psychological detachment in the relationship between working conditions and burnout and depression. First, the study proposed that job demands would increase burnout after four months but not depression. Second, it proposed that psychological detachment would moderate the impact of job demands and job resources on burnout and depression. Third, it was proposed that the interaction between job demands, job resources and psychological detachment would predict burnout and depression. The longitudinal study design involved 345 workers (at both Time 1 and Time 2). The hierarchical regression analysis showed that increasing psychological detachment reduced the negative relationship between physical demands and depression four months later. In contrast, high psychological detachment increased the negative association between emotional resources and burnout, but not between emotional resources and depression. Overall, this study, in its discovery of the impact of working conditions on psychological health, has made a new contribution to psychological detachment studies by using different sub‐constructs of job demands and job resources (i.e., emotional and physical) with four‐month gaps, as previous studies did not address the impact within this time frame.