bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Migrant family entrepreneurship – mixed and multiple embeddedness of transgenerational Turkish family entrepreneurs in Berlin
Authors: Selcuk Gökay , Suwala Lech
Published: April 2020

Purpose

By combining manifold approaches from migrant entrepreneurship and family business studies, the purpose of the paper is to shed some light upon the contextual features of motivation, resources, generational pathways of Turkish migrant family entrepreneurs in Berlin – through the lens of a mixed and multiple embeddedness approach.

Design/methodology/approach

An explorative research design, based on an eclectic theoretical framework and on purposive sampling, combines qualitative in-depth interviews/content analysis and on-site observation resulting in an almost ethnographic assessment of selected case studies of Turkish migrant family entrepreneurs (concerning age (min. 20 years), size (15+ employees) and currently at a stage of succession).

Findings

The results show that despite specific strategies vary – four circumstances hold true for all cases: (1) firm trajectories were characterized by little strategic planning and mostly trail-and error processes in the past and business survival is highly dependent on owner families; (2) owner families heavily relied on personal, family and collective resources, not benefiting from promotion programmes or micro-funding measures for SMEs; (3) owner families have actively developed their (mixed) embeddings during the growth of their migrant business beyond the single ethnic group at various spatial scales; (4) succession adds another layer of context – what we call here multiple embeddedness – with ambivalent effects: emerging potentials and conflicts between the preceding and succeeding generation.

Practical implications

Results have shown that is it necessary to set up both: customized funding opportunities for migrant start-ups in general and succession consulting for migrant family entrepreneurs in particular. Given the magnitude of family migrant entrepreneurs and the accelerating migration patterns in most Western European countries, there is urgent need for such measures.

Originality/value

Family entrepreneurship has been often discussed without a migration perspective, neither taking a systematic look at pertinent motivation, resources, and future trajectories nor context. Migrant entrepreneurship studies barely take the family or family-specific issues (e.g. succession) into account, and mainly deal with the integration or economic aspects. Our mixed and multiple embeddedness approach allows for a holistic view on transgenerational migrant family entrepreneurship by integrating both socio-spatial (actor, family, network, micro, meso, macro) and multi-generational contexts (preceding, succeeding).
A family-enterprise collective certification trademark: consumer insight
Authors: Nikodemska-Wolowik Anna Maria , Zientara Piotr , Zamojska Anna
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to find out how consumers respond to a proposed family-enterprise collective certification trademark and how they perceive family firms in general.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper employs a quantitative approach. It draws on a questionnaire survey conducted among 1,091 Polish consumers in January 2018. Statistical methods, such as exploratory factor analysis, were applied.

Findings

Polish consumers responded positively to the proposed trademark. It also turned out that those who pay attention to the producer or the brand owner in a given sector also pay attention to the symbols placed on products or services from these sectors. There was a strong relationship between consumers' positive perceptions of family firms and their assessments of the proposed trademark. This did not extend to negative perceptions. The findings from this study may be generalisable to other post-communist societies.

Practical implications

Family firms should redouble their efforts to introduce a family-enterprise collective certification trademark (not only in Poland, but also in those countries where such a trademark is non-existent). This should be handled by umbrella bodies for family business.

Originality/value

Little research work, based on a large and representative sample, has so far focussed on the issue of how consumers respond to a family-enterprise identity. The value of this study lies in deepening understanding of the processes and mechanisms that underlie the organisation–consumer relationship within the context of family-enterprise operation.
Embracing imperfection: contemporary fashion communication and consumer well-being
Authors: Lai Yiwei , Perminiene Milda
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Fashion advertising as a contemporary ideological form has the power to deliver semiotic messages, which frames individuals' perception. Promoting perfection in consumer culture has resulted in the creation of unrealistic self-image and negative effects that led to psychological illnesses and pathological behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ideology behind the contemporary fashion advertising that embraces imperfection and is linked to consumer subjective well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

Nine fashion ads were selected based on the WGSN consumer report Embracing Imperfection. A sample of images was analysed applying semiotic analysis combined with the criteria of content analysis.

Findings

The results supported the notion that some contemporary fashion communication brands are challenging the conventional idea of perfection. Five themes were identified as the characteristics that bridged the visual surface of advertising with its hidden ideologies of imperfection. By supporting “anonymity”, fashion brand communication is against excessive self-focus and helps reducing anxiety due to being imperfect. By promoting “rawness”, it encourages authenticity and uniqueness. “Banality” rejects materialism and promotes the beauty of the boring day. “Ugliness” advocates for removal of the single standards and celebrate individual differences, and “spontaneity” is interchangeable for humanity, freedom, openness and acceptance of self.

Originality/value

This study is among the few attempts to conduct semiotic analysis of fashion advertising images aiming to identify the visual components and ideologies that could potentially be linked to subjective well-being in fashion communication.
The effects of customer equity and religious motivation on customer retention and switching intention
Authors: Mostafa Rasha H.A. , Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud
Published: April 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations represented in religious motivation and customer equity (CE) drivers, respectively, and switching costs (SCs), on customer’s retention to conventional banks and their switching intention (SI) to Islamic ones in the context of the Egyptian banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature, a theoretical model is proposed and examined using structural equation modeling (AMOS) 24. Data were obtained using an intercept sample of 273 conventional bank customers in two major cities in Egypt, namely, Cairo and Giza.

Findings

The results supported the positive effect of CE and SCs on customer retention (CR) to conventional banks. Value equity has direct positive effect on CR. In addition, SC significantly mediated the relationship between relationship equity (RE) and service encounter employee’s equity (SEEE) and CR. Finally, religious motivations positively and significantly influence customers SI to Islamic banks.

Practical implications

CE, including all its drivers, namely, value, brand, relationship and SEEE, are the best force of CR in the Egyptian banking sector. The mediating role of SC in the relation between RE and SEEE and CR is perceived as a barrier to switch, instead of reflecting real desire from customers to stay tuned to their conventional banks. In addition, religious motivation should be considered while planning banking services because of its significant direct effect on customers SI from conventional banks to Islamic ones. Finally, both utilitarian extrinsic motivation and hedonic intrinsic ones are influencing customer’s retention and SI, respectively.

Originality/value

This paper develops and adds a fourth driver to previously examined and validated CE drivers, namely, SEEE. Further, it provides empirical analysis to the effect of religious motivation and CE drivers on SCs, CR and SI in a developing and Islamic dominating context, namely, Egypt. Moreover, it introduces a framework that could be examined and validated in other Islamic contexts to further comprehend bank customers' switching behavior. Yet, the current research focused on the Egyptian banking sector only, where the individual customers represent the sampling unit.
House prices and credit cycles: the case of Cyprus
Authors: Pontiggia Dario , Sivitanides Petros Stavrou
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess whether the rapid accumulation of bank deposits before the global financial crisis and their subsequent drastic reduction was the main driving force of the Cyprus house price cycle over the period 2006–2015.

Design/methodology/approach

To this aim we estimate a three-equation model in which house prices are determined by housing loans, among other factors, and housing loans are determined by bank deposits. All equations are estimated using partial adjustment model specifications.

Findings

Our findings indicate that housing loans, which capture the effect of credit availability on housing demand, had the smallest effect on house prices, thus providing little support to our proposition of a deposits-driven cycle in house prices.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation of the study is the use of the housing loan stock instead of the actual volume of housing loans in each period due to lack of such data. As a result our econometric estimates may not accurately capture the magnitude of the effect of housing loans on house prices.

Practical implications

The study has important practical implications for policy makers as it highlights the importance of availability of credit in supporting effective demand for housing during periods of economic growth. Furthermore, it highlights the key role of house price increases in combination with the collateral effect in driving the house price cycle.

Originality/value

This is among the few studies internationally and the first study in Cyprus that attempts to link econometrically the credit and house price cycles that were caused by the global financial crisis.
Second law analysis of MHD natural convection slip flow of Casson fluid through an inclined microchannel
Authors: Gireesha B.J. , Roja A.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Microfluidics is one of the interesting areas of the research in thermal and engineering fields due to its wide range of applications in a variety of heat transport problems such as micromixers, micropumps, cooling systems for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) micro heat exchangers, etc. Lower cost with better thermal performance is the main objective of these devices. Therefore, in this study, the entropy generation in an electrically conducting Casson fluid flow through an inclined microchannel with hydraulic slip and the convective condition hves been numerically investigated. Aspects of viscous dissipation, natural convection, joule heating, magnetic field and uniform heat source/sink are used

Design/methodology/approach

Suitable non-dimensional variables are used to reduce the non-linear system of ordinary differential equations, and then this system is solved numerically using Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg fourth fifth order method along with shooting technique. The obtained numerical solutions of the fluid velocity and temperature are used to characterize the entropy generation and Bejan number. Also, the Nusselt number and skin friction coefficient for various values of parameters are examined in detail through graphs. The obtained present results are compared with the existing one which is perfectly found to be in good agreement.

Findings

It is established that the production of the entropy can be improved with the aspects of joule heating, viscous dissipation and internal heat source/sink. The entropy generation enhances for increasing values of Casson Parameter (β) and Biot number (Bi). Furthermore, it is interestingly noticed that the enhancement of Reynolds number and uniform heat source/sink shows the dual behaviour of the entropy generation due to significant influence of the viscous forces in the region close to the channel walls. It was observed that increasing behaviour of the heat transfer rate for enhancement values of the Eckert number and heat source/sink ratio parameter and the drag force are retarded with higher estimations of Reynolds number.

Originality/value

Entropy generation analysis on MHD Casson fluid flow through an inclined microchannel with the aspects of convective, Joule heating, viscous dissipation, magnetism, hydraulic slip and internal heat source/sink has been numerically investigated.
Variable viscosity and thermal conductivity effects on Williamson fluid flow over a slendering stretching sheet
Authors: Dada Moses Sunday , Onwubuoya Cletus
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider heat and mass transfer on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) Williamson fluid flow over a slendering stretching sheet with variable thickness in the presence of radiation and chemical reaction. All pertinent flow parameters are discussed and their influence on the hydrodynamics, thermal and concentration boundary layer are presented with the aid of the diagram.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing partial differential equations are reduced into a system of ordinary differential equations with the help of suitable similarity variables. A discrete version of the homotopy analysis method (HAM) called the spectral homotopy analysis method (SHAM) was used to solve the transformed equations. SHAM is efficient, and it converges faster than the HAM. The SHAM provides flexibility when solving linear ordinary differential equations with the use of the Chebyshev spectral collocation method.

Findings

The findings revealed that an increase in the variable thermal conductivity hike the temperature and the thermal boundary layer thickness, whereas the reverse is the case for velocity close to the wall.

Originality/value

The uniqueness of this paper is the exploration of combined effects of heat and mass transfer on MHD Williamson fluid flow over a slendering stretching sheet. The Williamson fluid term in the momentum equation is expressed as a linear function and the viscosity and thermal conductivity are considered to vary in the boundary layer.
The Role of the Legal System in the Flint Water Crisis
Authors: JACOBSON PETER D. , BOUFIDES COLLEEN HEALY , CHRYSLER DENISE , BERNSTEIN JENNIFER , CITRIN TOBY
Published: April 2020

Policy Points

A major factor explaining government actors’ failure to mitigate or avert the Flint, Michigan, water crisis is the sheer complexity of the laws regulating how governmental agencies maintain and monitor safe drinking water. Coordination across agencies is essential in dealing with multiple legal arrangements.

Public health legal authority and intervention mechanisms are not self‐executing. Legal preparedness is essential to efficiently navigating complex legal frameworks to address public health threats.

The Flint water crisis demonstrates the importance of democracy for protecting the public's health. Laws responding to municipal fiscal distress must be consistent with expected norms of democracy and require consideration of public health in decision making.

Context

The Flint, Michigan, water crisis resulted from a state‐appointed emergency financial manager's cost‐driven decision to switch Flint's water source to the Flint River. Ostensibly designed to address Flint's long‐standing financial crisis, the switch instead created a public health emergency. A major factor explaining why the crisis unfolded as it did is the complex array of laws regulating how governmental agencies maintain and monitor safe drinking water.

Methods

We analyzed these legal arrangements to identify what legal authority state, local, and federal public health and environmental agencies could have used to avert or mitigate the crisis and recommend changes to relevant laws and their implementation. First, we mapped the legal authority and roles of federal, state, and local agencies responsible for safe drinking water and the public's health—that is, the existing legal environment. Then we examined how Michigan's emergency manager law altered the existing legal arrangements, leading to decisions that ignored the community's long‐term health. Juxtaposed on those factors, we considered how federalism and the relationship between state and local governments influenced public officials during the crisis.

Findings

The complex legal arrangements governing public health and safe drinking water, combined with a lack of legal preparedness (the capacity to use law effectively) among governmental officials, impeded timely and effective actions to mitigate or avert the crisis. The emergency manager's virtually unfettered legal authority in Flint exacerbated the existing complexity and deprived residents of a democratically accountable local government.

Conclusions

Our analysis reveals flaws in both the legal structure and how the laws were implemented that simultaneously failed to stop and substantially exacerbated the crisis. Policymakers need to examine the legal framework in their jurisdictions and take appropriate steps to avoid similar disasters. Addressing the implementation failures, including legal preparedness, should likewise be a priority for preventing future similar crises.
Effect of oral plaque control on postoperative pneumonia following lung cancer surgery
Authors: Jia Chunling , Sun Mingxia , Wang Weizhi , Li Cuirong , Li Xibo , Zhang Xiaoying
Published: April 2020

Background

There have been few studies on the relationship between oral status and postoperative pneumonia (POP) in patients with lung cancer, and whether improving their oral condition assists with a lower incidence of POP before lung cancer surgery remains controversial. This retrospective study was conducted by a stomatologist to assess the effect of controlling oral pathogenic bacteria of patients with lung cancer to prevent POP.

Methods

A total of 235 patients with lung cancer who underwent lobectomy by open thoracotomy between July 2015 and December 2018 were selected and given the choice of being in the experimental or control group. A total of 122 participants in the experimental group received professional oral plaque control, and 113 participants in the control group did not receive plaque control. All clinical data of participants in both groups were retrospectively studied to determine the incidence of POP at the thirtieth day of discharge from hospital.

Results

Eight in the experimental group and six in the control group were excluded from the study. It was found that four of 114 patients suffered from POP in the experimental group (incidence = 3.51%). A total of 17 of 107 patients in the control group had pulmonary infection (incidence = 15.89%). Odds ratio was 0.19. The incidence of POP in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Professional oral plaque control is associated with a lower incidence of POP following lung cancer surgery and is therefore a favorable factor for preventing POP, and should be carried out before the surgical treatment of lung cancer.

Key points

Professional oral plaque control was associated with a lower incidence of POP following lung cancer surgery, and it is recommended this should be carried out before the surgical treatment of lung cancer.
Index cholecystectomy rates in mild gallstone pancreatitis: a single‐centre experience
Authors: Butler Reuban J. , Grieve David A.
Published: April 2020

Background

Gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) has evidence‐based guidelines regarding management. Both the International Association of Pancreatology/American Pancreatology Association and American College of Gastroenterology recommend index admission cholecystectomy (IAC) in patients presenting with mild GSP. The aim of this study was to examine guideline adherence and GSP recurrence rate when IAC was not performed. A comparison between admitting specialty was also performed to examine the difference in compliance rates.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients who presented to the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service with GSP from December 2013 to December 2016. Patient demographics, timing of surgery, admitting specialty, laboratory and imaging results were recorded.

Results

A total of 95 patients were identified with a first presentation of mild GSP during the study period. Of whom, 66 (69.5%) underwent IAC and 29 (30.5%) were discharged prior to cholecystectomy with 10 of those patients receiving index admission endoscopic sphincterotomy. Five patients (17%) who did not receive IAC were readmitted with gallstone‐related complications with the mean time to re‐presentation of 12.8 days (range 7–21 days). Patients were more likely to receive IAC when admitted under surgery compared with gastroenterology (76% versus 20%, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Two out of three patients presenting with mild GSP underwent IAC in accordance with evidence‐based management guidelines. Patients should be admitted under a surgical service to prevent delay in definitive management.
Editorial: fluticasone propionate orally disintegrating tablets—interesting concept but is it going anywhere?
Authors: Richter Joel E.
Published: April 2020

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Hirano et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15670 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15713.
Letter: the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and coronary heart disease
Authors: Zhang Chao , Li Ningfeng , An Yi
Published: April 2020

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Rajilic‐Stojanovic et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15650.
Drug repurposing in Raynaud's phenomenon through adverse event signature matching in the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database
Authors: Zaza Putkaradze , Matthieu Roustit , Jean‐Luc Cracowski , Charles Khouri
Published: April 2020

Aims

Several pharmacological treatments are recommended for Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) secondary to systemic sclerosis, but they only have modest efficacy. A way to efficiently identify new drugs is drug repurposing, which can be based on signature matching. The signature could be derived from chemical structures, pharmacological affinity or adverse event profiles. We propose to use the World Health Organization (WHO) pharmacovigilance database to generate repositioning hypotheses for treatments of RP through adverse event signature matching.

Methods

We first screened all drugs associated with at least 1 case of erythromelalgia, an adverse effect opposite to RP. In parallel, to define the adverse event signature of drugs recommended in secondary RP from the WHO pharmacovigilance database, we selected the 14 most representative adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Lastly, we performed a hierarchical cluster analysis to identify drugs with similar ADR signature to vasodilatory drugs used in RP.

Results

In total, 179 drugs were associated with erythromelalgia; they were related to 860 334 adverse events representative of RP drugs in the WHO pharmacovigilance database. Hierarchical cluster analysis allowed identification of 6 clusters. The most stable cluster contained 7 drugs, among which 5 are recommended in secondary RP, or pertain to the same drug class: epoprostenol, nifedipine, nicardipine, lacidipine and israpidine. The 2 remaining drugs were alemtuzumab and fumaric acid.

Conclusion

Our ADR signature matching approach suggests that alemtuzumab and fumaric acid could be effective treatments of secondary RP. The latter is currently being investigated as a treatment of pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis.
Predisposition to prolonged neutropenia after chemotherapy for paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia is associated with better prognosis in the Japanese Paediatric Leukaemia/Lymphoma Study Group AML‐05 study
Authors: Aoki Takahiro , Takahashi Hiroyuki , Tanaka Shiro , Shiba Norio , Hasegawa Daiichiro , Iwamoto Shotaro , Terui Kiminori , Moritake Hiroshi , Nakayama Hideki , Shimada Akira , Koh Katsuyoshi , Goto Hiroaki , Kosaka Yoshiyuki , Saito Akiko M. , Horibe Keizo , Kinoshita Akitoshi , Tawa Akio , Taga Takashi , Adachi Souichi , Tomizawa Daisuke
Published: April 2020

The variability in myelosuppression after chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) can affect its prognosis; however, the underlying mechanism remains controversial. In the Japanese Paediatric Leukaemia/Lymphoma Study Group AML‐05 study, we showed that prolonged neutropenia was associated with high overall survival (P = 0·011) and low frequency of relapse (P = 0·042) in patients without granulocyte‐colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) who completed the indicated treatment protocol. Our data indicate that predisposition to prolonged neutropenia after chemotherapy is correlated with a better outcome of AML treatment. Our results promote the usage of individualised drug dosing strategies to improve the therapeutic outcome in AML patients.
Transcriptomic analysis of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells identifies new potential therapeutic targets for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Gorr Matthew W. , Sriram Krishna , Muthusamy Abinaya , Insel Paul A.
Published: April 2020

Background and Purpose

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH, type 1 pulmonary hypertension) has a 3‐year survival of ~50% and is in need of new, effective therapies. In PAH, remodelling of the pulmonary artery (PA) increases pulmonary vascular resistance and can result in right heart dysfunction and failure. Genetic mutations can cause PAH but it can also be idiopathic (IPAH). Enhanced contractility and proliferation of PA smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) are key contributors to the pathophysiology of PAH, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.

Experimental Approach

We utilized RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐seq) of IPAH and control patient‐derived PASMCs as an unbiased approach to define differentially expressed (DE) genes that may identify new biology and potential therapeutic targets.

Key Results

Analysis of DE genes for shared gene pathways revealed increases in genes involved in cell proliferation and mitosis and decreases in a variety of gene sets, including response to cytokine signalling. ADGRG6/GPR126, an adhesion G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR), was increased in IPAH‐PASMCs compared to control‐PASMCs. Increased expression of this GPCR in control‐PASMCs decreased their proliferation; siRNA knockdown of ADGRG6/GPR126 in IPAH‐PASMCs tended to increase proliferation.

Conclusion and Implications

These data provide insights regarding the expression of current and experimental PAH drug targets, GPCRs and GPCR‐related genes as potentially new therapeutic targets in PAH‐PASMCs. Overall, the findings identify genes and pathways that may contribute to IPAH‐PASMC function and suggest that ADGRG6/GPR126 is a novel therapeutic target for IPAH.
Comparison of food availability and performances of first‐feeding alevins through spring with the occurrence of a flood
Authors: Arevalo Elorri , Larrañaga Aitor , Bardonnet Agnès
Published: April 2020

Climate change will increase the temperature of rivers and will lead to more extreme events, such as floods. Temperature increases and floods will likely alter the phenology of freshwater species differently and have the potential to significantly disturb prey–predator interactions. In spring, an increase in temperature triggers an increase in primary production and controls the timing of the emergence in brown trout (Salmo trutta L.). Hydrology regulates the abundance of invertebrates, which are the main food source for newborn alevins. As such, climate change may desynchronise the relationship between fish emergence and invertebrate production, resulting in a negative impact on the performance of newly emerged alevins. In the present study, we quantified the abundance of invertebrates and the performance (survival and growth) of newborn alevins in early spring (March) compared to late spring (April/May) in 8 enclosures in a semi‐natural channel. In addition, we simulated a flood in 4 enclosures in late spring. Our results revealed that survival and growth of alevins in early spring were limited due to low invertebrate abundance. In late spring, there was a decrease in the survival of alevins placed in the flooded enclosures, likely due to the reduction of food availability. However, the growth of survivors increased, probably because of the increase in the abundance of Chironomidae after the flood and a reduced competition between congeners. Our results demonstrate that when emergence and flooding happen simultaneously, they can limit resources which will impact the survival and growth of young salmonids in running waters.
Communal egg‐laying behaviour and the consequences of egg aggregation in the brown anole (Anolis sagrei)
Authors: Dees Allison , Wilson Kayla , Reali Chanel , Pruett Jenna E. , Hall Joshua M. , Brandt Renata , Warner Daniel A.
Published: April 2020

Communal nesting is a behaviour that involves multiple females laying eggs in the same nest or nesting site. This behaviour may be a consequence of a shortage of preferable nest sites (constraint hypothesis) or an adaptation generated by fitness benefits associated with egg aggregation (adaptive hypothesis). Experimental tests of these hypotheses require information about maternal nest site choice and its fitness consequences. To address these, we studied a lizard (brown anole; Anolis sagrei) that produces single‐egg clutches, but often aggregates eggs in nest sites. In a lab study, females were given the option of nesting in (a) soil previously used as nest substrate vs. fresh soil and (b) soil with eggshells vs. without eggshells. We also experimentally examined the effects of egg aggregation by incubating eggs singly, in groups of four, and in groups of nine. We recorded egg surface temperature, water uptake, and hatchling morphology. Females were more likely to nest in pots with used soil and with eggshells than in pots with fresh soil or without eggshells. We observed no effects of egg aggregation on egg survival, egg temperature, or most measures of hatchling morphology. However, singly‐incubated eggs absorbed more water than eggs incubated in the four and nine egg aggregations and this resulted in offspring with greater body condition (i.e. heavier for their length) at hatching. The behavioural experiment demonstrates that females actively choose nest sites that have been used previously (as expected under the adaptive hypothesis), but the egg‐aggregation experiment shows no benefits to offspring based on the variables measured. Thus, results of the behaviour study support the adaptive hypothesis; however, results from our egg‐incubation study do not. Likely, the adaptive and constraint hypotheses are not mutually exclusive, and a diversity of factors influence the evolution of communal nesting behaviour.
Making the user useful? How translation processes managerialize voice in public organizations
Authors: Reilley Jacob , Balep Nathalie Iloga , Huber Christian
Published: April 2020

One of the most pervasive topics in public management discussions in recent decades is the notion of user orientation. More than ever, external stakeholders expect public organizations to “get closer” to users and to treat citizens as knowledgeable consumers of public services with a view and a voice. Existing literature highlights how, through a wide range of calculative practices, information gathered from and about public service users is assembled into descriptions of organizational activity that are useful for managers in addressing issues of surveillance and internal control as well as legitimation. In our multiple case study of hospitals and prisons in Germany, we introduce a two‐step model of translation for explaining how user voice is transformed into management objects, which are then further translated into organizationally “useful” information. In doing so, we make three contributions to further our understanding of how user views are formatted to organizational activity and put to use by managers in the public sector. First, we developed a model of translation that highlights how user voices and the prospect of user orientation are enacted across diverse organizational contexts. Second, we found that different types of organizations deploy distinct methods of accounting, which nevertheless make user feedback useful in similar ways: to develop information that helps construct an image of performance, gain financial leverage, and enact compliance. Third, we found that in addition to quantitative forms of accounting, narrative accounting techniques played important roles in making users “useful” in public organizations.
Historical, human, and environmental drivers of genetic diversity in the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) invading the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Acevedo‐Limón Lucía , Oficialdegui Francisco J. , Sánchez Marta I. , Clavero Miguel
Published: April 2020

Patterns of genetic diversity in invasive populations can be modulated by a range of factors acting at different stages of the invasion process, including the genetic composition of the source population(s), the introduction history (e.g. propagule pressure), the environmental suitability of recipient areas, and the features of secondary introductions.

The North American red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, is one of the most widely introduced freshwater species worldwide. It was legally introduced into Spain twice, near the city of Badajoz in 1973 and in the Guadalquivir marshes in 1974. Thereafter the species rapidly colonised almost the entire Iberian Peninsula.

We used seven nuclear microsatellites to describe the genetic diversity and structure of 28 locations distributed across the Iberian Peninsula and to explain the expansion process of the red swamp crayfish. Additionally, we analysed the relationship between environmental suitability and genetic diversity of the studied locations.

The red swamp crayfish had a clear spatial genetic structure in the Iberian Peninsula, probably determined by the two independent introduction events in the 1970s, which produced two main clusters separated spatially, one of which was dominant in Portugal and the other in Spain.

The human‐mediated dispersal process seemed to have involved invasion hubs, hosting highly genetically diverse areas and acting as sources for subsequent introductions. Genetic diversity also tended to be higher in more suitable environments across the Iberian Peninsula.

Our results showed that the complex and human‐mediated expansion of the red swamp crayfish in the Iberian Peninsula has involved several long‐ and short‐distance movements and that both ecological and anthropogenic factors have shaped the genetic diversity patterns resulting from this invasion process. Early detection of potential invasion hubs may help to halt multiple short‐distance translocations and thus the rapid expansion of highly prolific invasive species over non‐native areas.
Short term efficacy of recombinant porcine factor VIII in patients with factor VIII inhibitors
Authors: Abou‐Ismail Mouhamed Yazan , Vuyyala Sowjanya , Prunty Jeremy , Schmaier Alvin H. , Nayak Lalitha
Published: April 2020

Background

Antibodies against factor VIII (FVIII), seen in acquired (AHA) and congenital haemophilia A, lead to severe bleeding diatheses. Current first‐line treatment includes bypass agents. Recombinant porcine sequence FVIII (rpFVIII) was developed as an alternative therapy.

Aim

To describe our institutional experience with the use of rpFVIII.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of five patients treated with rpVIII between 2016 and 2019.

Results

Five patients (four AHA, one congenital haemophilia with inhibitors) were treated with rpFVIII. No patient had an adverse event during infusion. All patients initially exhibited a response evidenced by increased FVIII levels from baseline <1% to 81%‐170%, normalization of the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and resolution of bleeding. However, all five patients were subsequently noted to have decreasing peak FVIII levels and aPTT prolongation, either within the initial treatment course or upon later re‐administration. Resistance to rpFVIII was recognized after an average of 12.4 exposure days. Porcine FVIII inhibitor levels measured afterwards were present (detectable—170 Bethesda units) in all patients. Three out of four AHA subjects also developed an increase in the anti‐human FVIII inhibitor titres after receiving rpFVIII.

Conclusion

rpFVIII was safe and initially effective in all patients. However, its use is associated with development of an inhibitor to rpFVIII, decreasing its efficacy and duration of effect. Further, rpFVIII use may lead to an increase in patient anti‐human FVIII inhibitor titres. A larger study is necessary to appropriately assess the incidence of these outcomes.
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 expression in apical periodontitis in mice
Authors: De Rossi A. , Huamán S. D. , León J. E. , Saraiva M. C. P. , Fukada S. Y. , da Silva R. A. B. , de Carvalho F. , Nelson‐Filho P.
Published: April 2020

Aim

To investigate the presence, localization and the possible correlation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor‐2 (FGFR2) with inflammatory resorption of cementum, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone during development of apical periodontitis in mice.

Methodology

Apical periodontitis was experimentally induced in mandibular first molars of mice by pulp exposure to the oral environment. Healthy teeth without pulp exposure were used as controls. At 7, 21 and 42 days following pulp exposure, the animals were euthanized and the jaws were prepared for analysis under conventional and fluorescence microscopy, immunohistochemistry (FGFR2), RT‐PCR (RNAm levels of RANK, RANKL, OPG, Runx2 and cathepsin K) and enzyme histochemistry (cementoclasts and osteoclasts). Statistical analysis was performed by Kruskal–Wallis tests and Dunn’s post hoc tests for multiple comparisons (α = 0.05) using SAS 9.4 software.

Results

FGFR2‐positive cells were not observed in the tissues surrounding healthy teeth but were observed in teeth with periapical lesions from seven days after root canal contamination. At days 21 and 42 after endodontic infection, the increase in periapical lesion size was accompanied by significantly enhanced expression of FGFR2 (P < 0.0001), significantly increased intensity of inflammatory cells, number of osteoclasts (P < 0.0001) and cementoclasts (P < 0.0001), and significantly enhanced RNAm levels of RANK/RANKL/OPG, Runx2 and cathepsin K compared to day 0 (P < 0.0001). At 21 and 42 days, FGFR2 was also expressed on osteoblasts, fibroblasts and inside enlarged lacunae of cementocytes along with acute and chronic inflammatory cells (macrophages, plasma cells and neutrophils). At all periods and cells, FGFR2 expression was observed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm, but not in the nucleus.

Conclusion

In mice, FGFR2 was not expressed in tissues surrounding healthy teeth but was expressed in apical periodontitis, specifically in the membrane and cytoplasm of osteoblasts, fibroblasts, lacunae of cementocytes, and acute and chronic inflammatory cells (macrophages, plasma cells and neutrophils). Its expression was correlated with the size of the periapical lesions.
Hematological performance of a last generation automated blood cell counter: The Mindray BC‐6800 Plus
Authors: Zini Gina , Cantelli Federica , Scavone Fernando , Barbagallo Ombretta , Ciminello Angela
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Hematology analyzers produce reliable, reproducible, precise, accurate results, as well as a premicroscopic characterization of abnormal samples. We have evaluated the clinical performance of a new blood cell counter, which has been temporarily made available to our hematology laboratory.

Methods

Over four months, we analyzed with the Mindray BC‐6800 Plus more than 1000 samples with a high incidence of hematological abnormalities, using recommended ICSH and CLSI protocols. We have also assessed flagging efficiency for abnormal cells and scattergram cell distribution.

Results

From a quantitative point of view, our assessment has identified state‐of‐the‐art level reproducibility, excellent linearity, stability over 48°C at 4°C for the conventional parameters, lack of carry‐over (<0.2%), and comparability with the routine instruments. These features would make the instrument suitable for immediate and smooth introduction in the hematology laboratory. Flags for abnormal cells are efficient; flag for blast cells has high sensitivity and predictive value of negative results. Additional benefits are provided by a competent interpretation of cell distribution scattergrams in samples from patients with specific hematological disorders.

Conclusion

We have demonstrated good analytical and useful diagnostic performance of this new instrument, including effective selection of abnormal samples for informed microscope morphological analysis.
Flagpoling: Inter‐provincial Mobility of International Migrants within Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program
Authors: Knott Christine , Marschke Melissa
Published: April 2020

The temporary foreign worker programme (TFWP) is widely used in many sectors in Canada. Research on the TFWP in Canada has documented multiple types of abuse within the programme, often related to worker lack of access to citizenship and social benefits. Less is known about how mobile and often precarious migrant workers are able to navigate negative, challenging situations identified within the Canadian literature. Flagpoling, a process used by international migrants in Canada to gain mobility in situations where their movement may be constrained, is not talked about in the mobilities and labour agency literature. Drawing from a case study of migrant workers in Atlantic Canada's seafood processing plants, this paper pulls together the mobilities, labour agency and precarity literature to explore how migrant workers are able to extradite themselves from workplaces that are less than ideal and better position themselves towards gaining citizenship status.
Permanent left bundle branch area pacing in a child with a third‐degree atrioventricular block: A case report
Authors: Huang Jing , Zhou Runze , Pan Yesheng , Yang Bing
Published: April 2020

Permanent left bundle branch area pacing (LBBP) is a promising physiological pacing technique that has emerged in recent years. However, LBBP is almost exclusively clinically applied in adult patients. The feasibility and safety of the use of LBBP in children have not been well‐assessed. Here, we report the case of a 6‐year‐old child with a third‐degree atrioventricular block after surgical aortic valve replacement who successfully received a permanent LBBP.
Identification of a metabolic gene panel to predict the prognosis of myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Hu Fang , Chen Si‐liang , Dai Yu‐jun , Wang Yun , Qin Zhe‐yuan , Li Huan , Shu Ling‐ling , Li Jin‐yuan , Huang Han‐ying , Liang Yang
Published: April 2020

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is clonal disease featured by ineffective haematopoiesis and potential progression into acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). At present, the risk stratification and prognosis of MDS need to be further optimized. A prognostic model was constructed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis for MDS patients based on the identified metabolic gene panel in training cohort, followed by external validation in an independent cohort. The patients with lower risk had better prognosis than patients with higher risk. The constructed model was verified as an independent prognostic factor for MDS patients with hazard ratios of 3.721 (1.814‐7.630) and 2.047 (1.013‐4.138) in the training cohort and validation cohort, respectively. The AUC of 3‐year overall survival was 0.846 and 0.743 in the training cohort and validation cohort, respectively. The high‐risk score was significantly related to other clinical prognostic characteristics, including higher bone marrow blast cells and lower absolute neutrophil count. Moreover, gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA) showed several significantly enriched pathways, with potential indication of the pathogenesis. In this study, we identified a novel stable metabolic panel, which might not only reveal the dysregulated metabolic microenvironment, but can be used to predict the prognosis of MDS.
Developing High‐Quality Data Infrastructure for Legal Analytics: Introducing the Israeli Supreme Court Database
Authors: Weinshall Keren , Epstein Lee
Published: April 2020

Driving discovery in the study of law and legal institutions often requires infrastructure in the form of databases and other tools. The challenge is how to build the infrastructure. For obvious reasons, transplanting coding rules and variables from one dataset to the next is perilous; specialized knowledge of local conditions is necessary before one piece of datum is collected. Also required is adherence to a universal set of principles that distinguish high‐quality infrastructure; namely, that the tool is capable of addressing real‐world problems, accessible, reproducible and reliable, sustainable and updatable, and foundational. These principles guided construction of the Israeli Supreme Court Database, new and original infrastructure encoding information from all panel cases opened between 2010 and 2018 in the Israeli Supreme Court.