bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corporate accountability and stakeholder connectivity. A case study
Authors: Masiero Eleonora , Arkhipova Daria , Massaro Maurizio , Bagnoli Carlo 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate how relational connectivity can enhance accountability through non-financial reporting regulation in Europe. The paper contributes to the mandatory disclosure literature and provides practical implications for the application of the EU Directive 2014/95/EU.

Design/methodology/approach
A case study research methodology is used, analyzing how a listed Italian insurance company embraces a dialogic communication approach with stakeholders along 2018.

Findings
From a theoretical standpoint, this paper enhances the scholarly understanding of the relevance and role of the concept of relational connectivity as a mean for effectively enhancing accountability, providing some prerequisites for effectively implementing relational connectivity. From a practical perspective, results address the criticism related to the directive 2014/95/EU guidelines in effectively helping the organization toward enhancing accountability. Through a case study, results show how companies can achieve in practice the goal of enhancing corporate accountability.

Originality/value
The paper is original, as it addresses the topic of relational connectivity applied to the EU Directive 2014/95/EU. Results contribute to the development of the understanding of the mandatory disclosure in a dialogic perspective. Additionally, the paper addresses a case study showing how the analyzed company used relational connectivity to engage an effective dialogue with stakeholders.
Cross-border acquisition and financial leverage: the empirical evidence from acquisition in Asia
Authors: Novialdi Fadhil Rahmat , Wardhani Ratna 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
This study aims to find empirical evidence on the effect of cross-border acquisition (CBA) on the financial leverage of the acquirer from Asia. It also examines the moderating role of the target countries (developed or developing countries) and experience of the acquirer in the foreign market on the relationship between CBA and financial leverage.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses pooled data regression using 1,073 acquisition transactions by Asian Acquirer from 2012 to 2014.

Findings
The results show that before the acquisition, the leverage level of CBA firms is higher than the domestic acquisition firms and after the acquisition. CBA firms increase their leverage. This study also shows that the increasing leverage post the CBA is lower if the target comes from developed countries rather than developing countries and acquirer’s experience in international activities does not affect the impact of CBA on acquirer’s post-acquisition financial leverage.

Originality/value
The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the impact of CBA on leverage in the context of Asian countries. By contrast, most of the Asian countries are developing countries, and the institutional environment across countries in Asia is different from developed countries from other regions.
Parsing the effects of demography, climate and management on recurrent brucellosis outbreaks in elk
Authors: Cotterill Gavin G. , Cross Paul C. , Merkle Jerod A. , Rogerson Jared D. , Scurlock Brandon M. , du Toit Johan T. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Zoonotic pathogens can harm human health and well‐being directly or by impacting livestock. Pathogens that spillover from wildlife can also impair conservation efforts if humans perceive wildlife as pests. Brucellosis, caused by the bacterium Brucella abortus, circulates in elk and bison herds of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and poses a risk to cattle and humans. Our goal was to understand the relative effects of climatic drivers, host demography and management control programmes on disease dynamics.

Using >20 years of serologic, demographic and environmental data on brucellosis in elk, we built stochastic compartmental models to assess the influences of climate forcing, herd immunity, population turnover and management interventions on pathogen transmission. Data were collected at feedgrounds visited in winter by free‐ranging elk in Wyoming, USA.

Snowpack, hypothesized as a driver of elk aggregation and thus brucellosis transmission, was strongly correlated across feedgrounds. We expected this variable to drive synchronized disease dynamics across herds. Instead, we demonstrate asynchronous epizootics driven by variation in demographic rates.

We evaluated the effectiveness of test‐and‐slaughter of seropositive female elk at two feedgrounds. Test‐and‐slaughter temporarily reduced herd‐level seroprevalence but likely reduced herd immunity while removing few infectious individuals, resulting in subsequent outbreaks once the intervention ceased. We simulated an alternative strategy of removing seronegative female elk and found it would increase herd immunity, yielding fewer infections. We evaluated a second experimental treatment wherein feeding density was reduced at one feedground, but we found no evidence for an effect despite a decade of implementation.

Synthesis and applications. Positive serostatus is often weakly correlated with infectiousness but is nevertheless used to make management decisions including lethal removal in wildlife disease systems. We show how this can have adverse consequences whereas efforts that maintain herd immunity can have longer‐term protective effects. Climatic drivers may not result in synchronous disease dynamics across populations unless vital rates are also similar because demographic factors have a large influence on disease patterns.
Structure and ecological function of the soil microbiome affecting plant–soil feedbacks in the presence of a soil‐borne pathogen
Authors: Hannula S. Emilia , Ma Hai‐kun , Pérez‐Jaramillo Juan E. , Pineda Ana , Bezemer T. Martijn 
Published: December 2019

SummaryInteractions between plants and soil microbes are important for plant growth and resistance. Through plant–soil‐feedbacks, growth of a plant is influenced by the previous plant that was growing in the same soil. We performed a plant–soil feedback study with 37 grass, forb and legume species, to condition the soil and then tested the effects of plant‐induced changes in soil microbiomes on the growth of the commercially important cut‐flower Chrysanthemum in presence and absence of a pathogen. We analysed the fungal and bacterial communities in these soils using next‐generation sequencing and examined their relationship with plant growth in inoculated soils with or without the root pathogen, Pythium ultimum. We show that a large part of the soil microbiome is plant species‐specific while a smaller part is conserved at the plant family level. We further identified clusters of plant species creating plant growth promoting microbiomes that suppress concomitantly plant pathogens. Especially soil inocula with higher relative abundances of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi caused positive effects on the Chrysanthemum growth when exposed to the pathogen. We conclude that plants differ greatly in how they influence the soil microbiome and that plant growth and protection against pathogens is associated with a complex soil microbial community.
LncRNA SNHG1 influences cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of non‐small cell lung cancer cells via the miR‐361‐3p/FRAT1 axis
Authors: Li Xiaomei , Zheng Hong 
Published: December 2019

BackgroundNon‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most lethal type of cancer. Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as crucial regulators in the development of NSCLC. The aim of our study was to explore the molecular mechanism of SNHG1 to enable better treatment for NSCLC patients.MethodsQuantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was performed to detect the expression of Small nucleolar RNA host gene 1 (SNHG1), miR‐361‐3p and frequently rearranged in advanced T‐cell lymphomas 1 (FRAT1). The protein level of FRAT1 was measured by western blot assay. Cell proliferation was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry assay. The number of migrated and invaded cells were counted by transwell assay. The relationship between miR‐361‐3p and SNHG1 or FRAT1 was confirmed by dual‐luciferase reporter assay.ResultsOur results indicated that SNHG1 and FRAT1 were highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cells. SNHG1 silencing inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis and blocked migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Also, FRAT1 downregulation suppressed proliferation, promoted apoptosis and hindered migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Further, FRAT1 could recover the effects of SNHG1 silencing on proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. SNHG1 sponged miR‐361‐3p and negatively regulated miR‐361‐3p expression. Meanwhile, miR‐361‐3p targeted FRAT1 and inversely modulated FRAT1 expression. In addition, miR‐361‐3p inhibition abated the effect of SNHG1 knockdown on FRAT1 expression.ConclusionIn conclusion, LncRNA SNHG1 promoted the proliferation, repressed apoptosis and enhanced migration and invasion of NSCLC cells by regulating FRAT1 expression via sponging miR‐361‐3p.
Laparoscopic EndoClose fixation of a peritoneal catheter reduces migration
Authors: Rouse Michael , Choi Julian , Bakhit Jacqueline , Soh Brian , Chan Steven 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundWith the introduction of laparoscopic Tenckhoff catheter insertion in the early 1990s, catheter malposition resulting in malfunction remains a frequent complication, often requiring surgical or radiological intervention. In this pioneer study, we describe the technique of suturing the Tenckhoff catheter using an EndoClose (Medtronic, Macquarie Park, NSW, Australia) device to the anterior abdominal wall during laparoscopic insertion and compare its outcomes with those not sutured.MethodsThis is a retrospective study of all patients who underwent laparoscopic Tenckhoff catheter insertion at Western Health from January 2013 to June 2018. All procedures were undertaken or supervised by one surgeon. The primary outcome was catheter malposition requiring surgical revision. Secondary outcomes were time to malposition and complications. Peri‐ and post‐operative factors were analysed to adjust for confounders using the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test.ResultsThere were 82 patients in the sutured group and 63 patients in the non‐sutured group. Catheter malposition occurred in 7.32% in the sutured group and 19.05% in the non‐sutured group (P = 0.034; 95% confidence interval for the difference 0.007–0.237). There was an overall reduction in the odds of catheter malposition of 63% in favour of the sutured group. The median time‐to‐malposition was 128 and 182 days for the non‐sutured and sutured group, respectively, but not statistically different. No differences were found for the number of post‐operative complications.ConclusionSuturing of Tenckhoff catheter with an EndoClose device to the anterior abdominal wall during laparoscopic insertion is a simple, safe and useful method of reducing catheter malposition.
Low complication rate in immunocompromised children with varicella‐zoster virus infections in a single centre
Authors: Shamriz Oded , Ben‐Ami Roni , Averbuch Diana , Reif Shimon 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAimRecent studies focusing on morbidity and mortality rates of immunocompromised children with varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) infections are scarce. We aimed to summarise our experience.MethodsThe study was a retrospective analysis of the medical records of children, who were admitted to Hadassah‐Hebrew University Medical Centre, Jerusalem, Israel, during the period of 2008‐2016. Data regarding baseline characteristics, treatment and outcome were extracted from patient's medical files.ResultsWe enrolled 74 patients (43% males) with a mean age of 8 (1‐19) years. Most patients (72%) had no reported complications. Clinical outcome was favourable with 73 (99%) patients who had completely recovered and none died. Multivariable analysis identified the presence of fever (P = .005 and 0.02; hazard ratio (HR) 7.72 and 17.61, for total and herpes zoster groups, respectively) and prolonged interval period from clinical presentation to treatment onset (P = .021 and 0.025; HR 1.68 and 2.26, respectively), as associated with higher rates of complications.ConclusionOur results found low complication rate of VZV‐associated infections in immunocompromised children admitted to a single centre. This should encourage conducting further large multicentre studies evaluating management of low‐risk patients with oral acyclovir treatment.
Abortion is incommensurable with fetal alcohol syndrome
Authors: Pickard Claire 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA recent article argued for the immorality of abortion regardless of personhood status by comparing the impairment caused by fetal alcohol syndrome to the impairment caused by abortion. I argue that two of the premises in this argument fail and that, as such, one cannot reasonably attribute moral harms to abortion on the basis of the moral harms caused by fetal alcohol syndrome. The impairment argument relies on an inconsistent instantiation, which undermines the claim that personhood is irrelevant, and it does not fulfill its own ceteris paribus clause, which demands that no additional benefit be gained from abortion that would not be gained from causing fetal alcohol syndrome.
Qualitative transcriptional signature for predicting pathological response of colorectal cancer to FOLFOX therapy
Authors: He Jun , Cheng Jun , Guan Qingzhou , Yan Haidan , Li Yawei , Zhao Wenyuan , Guo Zheng , Wang Xianlong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFOLFOX (5‐fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin) is one of the main chemotherapy regimens for colorectal cancer (CRC), but only half of CRC patients respond to this regimen. Using gene expression profiles of 96 metastatic CRC patients treated with FOLFOX, we first selected gene pairs whose within‐sample relative expression orderings (REO) were significantly associated with the response to FOLFOX using the exact binomial test. Then, from these gene pairs, we applied an optimization procedure to obtain a subset that achieved the largest F‐score in predicting pathological response of CRC to FOLFOX. The REO‐based qualitative transcriptional signature, consisting of five gene pairs, was developed in the training dataset consisting of 96 samples with an F‐score of 0.90. In an independent test dataset consisting of 25 samples with the response information, an F‐score of 0.82 was obtained. In three other independent survival datasets, the predicted responders showed significantly better progression‐free survival than the predicted non‐responders. In addition, the signature showed a better predictive performance than two published FOLFOX signatures across different datasets and is more suitable for CRC patients treated with FOLFOX than 5‐fluorouracil‐based signatures. In conclusion, the REO‐based qualitative transcriptional signature can accurately identify metastatic CRC patients who may benefit from the FOLFOX regimen.
Unaccompanied refugee minors and foster care: A narrative literature review
Authors: Van Holen Frank , Trogh Lenny , Carlier Elke , Gypen Laura , Vanderfaeillie Johan 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThis article describes the results of a narrative literature review on empirical research examining the outcomes and/or experiences of unaccompanied refugee minors in family foster care. The limited research' in which only 17 references were identified' suggests that family foster care is an important type of care for this group and is associated with better health and psychosocial outcomes compared to other types of care. Nevertheless' breakdown of family foster care placements is a cause for concern. Four groups of factors that influence the course of family foster care placements are discussed' namely' foster family characteristics' differences in expectations between foster parents and refugee youth' cultural differences' and contextual factors. Furthermore' practical implications and suggestions for further research are described.
Child protection social workers' constructions of children and childhood: An integrative review
Authors: Jensen Ida Bruheim , Studsrød Ingunn , Ellingsen Ingunn T. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSocial workers' constructions of children and childhood are central to how professionals interact with children and support their needs. The aim of this integrative review was to provide a comprehensive portrayal of child protection social workers' constructions of children and childhood. We analysed and synthesized 35 empirical studies with samples of social workers in the child protection domain where issues regarding the child or the child's situation were the study focus. The findings show that children and youth are constructed as a generalized group viewed in light of their parents. We see a fragmented and context‐free child produced by causal shortcuts strongly informed by specific and, at times, simplified and biased psychological knowledge. Moreover, we identify constructions of the child in need of protection and thereby position children as objects for intervention, separating that from children as subjects in their own rights. Although the participatory child is visible in the data material, the actual practice of involving children seems arbitrary.
Antiperiodic dynamical behaviors of discontinuous neutral‐type Cohen‐Grossberg neural networks with mixed time delays
Authors: Kong Fanchao , Zhu Quanxin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThis article presents a class of neutral‐type Cohen‐Grossberg neural networks with discontinuous activations and mixed time delays. Based on the functional differential inclusions theory, inequality technique, and nonsmooth analysis theory with Lyapunovlike approach, some new sufficient criteria are given to ascertain the existence, uniqueness, and globally exponential stability of the antiperiodic solution. Finally, two topical numerical examples and the corresponding computer simulations are delineated to substantiate the correctness of our theoretical predictions. The obtained results of this article are new and complement some related earlier works.
Cytological diagnosis of primary pineal germ cell tumour with a yolk sac component in cerebrospinal fluid
Authors: Kalogeraki Alexandra , Tamiolakis Dimitrios , Katzilakis Nikolaos , Pelagiadis Iordanis , Raissaki Maria , Stiakaki Eftichia 
Published: December 2019

We report the clinicocytopathological and immunocytopathological findings of a 13 year old male with mixed germ cell tumor including yolk sac elements. This case was diagnosed by cytology and confirmed by immunocytochemistry in cerebrospinal fluid smears. MRI findings favored malignancy such as lymphoma and germinoma. As beta‐ΗCG was elevated in serum and cerebrospinal fluid, lymphoma was ruled out and histological confirmation of the diagnosis of germinoma was not necessary. The presence of AFP positive, βHCG positive, c‐kit positive, and PLAP positive cells, established the diagnosis.
Are the cardiovascular and kidney benefits of empagliflozin influenced by baseline glucose‐lowering therapy?
Authors: Inzucchi Silvio E. , Fitchett David , Jurišić‐Eržen Dubravka , Woo Vincent , Hantel Stefan , Janista Christina , Kaspers Stefan , George Jyothis T. , Zinman Bernard ,   on behalf of the EMPA‐REG OUTCOME® Investigators
Published: December 2019

AbstractAimsIn the EMPA‐REG OUTCOME® trial, the sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin when given in addition to standard care improved cardiovascular (CV) and renal outcomes, and reduced mortality. Trial participants were on a variety of glucose‐lowering therapies at baseline, some of which could potentially affect CV risk. This analysis investigated whether the use of background diabetes therapy affected the risk of CV death, hospitalizations for heart failure, and progression of chronic kidney disease, among patients treated with empagliflozin.Materials and methodsPatients meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized to placebo, empagliflozin 10 mg or empagliflozin 25 mg; glucose‐lowering therapy was to remain unchanged for 12 weeks and then adjusted to achieve glycaemic control according to local guidelines. Differences in risk of cardio‐renal outcomes between empagliflozin and placebo by baseline use of metformin, sulphonylurea (SU) and insulin were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsOf 7020 eligible patients, 74% were receiving metformin, 43% SU and 48% insulin at baseline (each alone or in combination); the most common regimens were metformin plus SU (20%) and metformin plus insulin (20%). Empagliflozin reduced the risk of CV death irrespective of the use of: metformin [with: hazard ratio (HR) 0.71 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.54–0.94); without: 0.46 (0.32–0.68); Pinteraction = 0.07]; SU [with: HR 0.64 (0.44–0.92); without: 0.61 (0.46–0.81); Pinteraction = 0.85]; or insulin [with: HR 0.63 (0.46–0.85); without: 0.61 (0.44–0.85); Pinteraction = 0.92]. Reductions in three‐point major adverse CV events, hospitalizations for heart failure, and all‐cause mortality were consistent across subgroups of baseline therapies. Empagliflozin reduced the risks of incident or worsening nephropathy versus placebo irrespective of the use of SU or insulin at baseline (Pinteraction > 0.05), but there was a greater reduction in this risk for patients not using metformin [HR 0.47 (95% CI 0.37–0.59)] versus those using metformin [HR 0.68 (95% CI 0.58–0.79)] at baseline (Pinteraction = 0.01).ConclusionsThe addition of empagliflozin to antihyperglycaemic regimens of patients with type 2 diabetes and CV disease consistently reduced their risks of adverse CV outcomes and mortality irrespective of baseline use of metformin, SU or insulin. For chronic kidney disease progression, there may be a larger benefit from empagliflozin in those patients who are not using metformin.
Electrophysiological evidence of the differential modulation of approach‐related processes toward attractive foods by immersive or mindful viewing conditions
Authors: Baquedano Constanza , Lopez Vladimir , Cosmelli Diego , Lutz Antoine 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAwareness of mental events as mere representations rather than as accurate depictions of reality, also known as dereification, is one of the key features of mindfulness meditation. Dereification is juxtaposed to subjective realism, the process of being lost or totally immersed in the contents of one's mind. Excessive subjective realism is a hallmark of several psychiatric disorders. Here, we investigated whether a “mindful” (dereified) compared with an “immersed” (highly subjectively real) attitude, induced by instructions, differentially modulates approach‐avoidance tendencies when processing visual stimuli. We presented novices and experienced meditators with neutral and attractive food images under both mindful and immersed states. Then, participants performed an approach–avoidance Task (AAT) during which we obtained behavioral data, salivary volume, EEG recordings, and self‐report measures. The approach bias toward attractive food was correlated with N2 amplitude, a marker of response inhibition, and the regulation of this bias by the mindful instruction compared to the immersed instruction was associated with a modulation of the visual N1 amplitude, a marker of early selective attention. Individuals with more expertise in mindfulness meditation engaged in less late affective reappraisal during mindfulness than during immersion, as measured by lower amplitude in the late positive potential (LPP). Additionally, the ERPs sensitive to the AAT manipulation was also associated to self‐report measures of subjective realism, food bias, and mindfulness meditation expertise but not to salivation measures. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms by which mindfulness‐based interventions could be effective in a range of psychiatric conditions.