bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Colonic Visualization of 99mTc-DMSA Due to Enterovesical Fistula
Authors: Telli Tuğçe , Kaya Gürsan , Işik Zeynep , Tuncel Murat 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
A 60-year-old woman with recurrent urinary tract infection who had several operations for colorectal carcinoma underwent 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy which showed an unexpected accumulation of radiotracer in the colon. When symptoms were reviewed, we noticed that she was suffering from pneumaturia and fecaluria which raised the suspicion of enterovesical fistula. Rectal contrast-enhanced computer tomography of pelvis demonstrated enterovesical and enterovaginal fistulas. Colonic radioactivity was considered to be related to retrograde peristalsis of 99mTc-DMSA from bladder activity via enterovesical fistula. In patients with pelvic surgeries and radiotherapy, radioactivity in the colon should raise the suspicion of enterovesical fistula.
Elevated 123I-MIBG Activity in Intramuscular Hemangioma
Authors: Wang Wei , Yang Xu , Yang Jigang 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
A 3-year-old boy with high-risk neuroblastoma underwent 123I-MIBG scan to evaluate the disease status after surgery and chemotherapy. 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT demonstrated liver metastasis. In addition, mildly increased uptake in the inferior left erector spinae was noted. Contrast-enhanced CT suggested intramuscular hemangioma. The 123I-MIBG accumulation in the intramuscular hemangioma persisted during the follow-up scan, whereas the abnormal activity in the liver was resolved.
68Ga–Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Solitary Base of Skull Prostate Adenocarcinoma Metastasis
Authors: Yip Joshua Wei Liang , Hilliar Luke , Le Ken , Loh Han , Mansberg Robert 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
A 74-year-old man with prostate adenocarcinoma (Gleason 7) was referred for 68Ga–prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA-HBED-CC) PET/CT scan for staging. Findings confirmed the prostate malignancy and demonstrated a solitary metastasis in the left skull base, with no evidence of regional or distant metastasis elsewhere. Solitary base of the skull metastasis may be subtle and easily overlooked, highlighting the need for thorough evaluation of the region.
Frontal Sinus Fracture Management Meta-analysis: Endoscopic Versus Open Repair
Authors: Le Paulina , Martinez Roberto , Black Jonathan 
Published: November 2020

Introduction:
Frontal sinus fracture management continues to be a point of controversy. Many systematic reviews have been done, but meta-analyses comparing various approaches to frontal sinus fractures are scarce. Our study focuses on open surgical repair versus endoscopic repair of frontal sinus fractures.

Materials and Methods:
A MEDLINE search was performed to identify prospective RCTs, non-RCTs, guidelines, case-control, and observational studies published in English before April 2019. Search terms included (1) frontal sinus, (2) skull fractures, (3) frontal bone, alone or in combination. An in-depth review was conducted to identify publications relevant to this analysis. Studies that included pediatric patients, case reports, and review articles without original data were excluded. Postoperative outcomes included were cosmesis, sinus function, mucocele, sinusitis, cerebrospinal fluid leak, meningitis, and brain abscess. Meta-analysis of proportions, Fisher exact test, and relative risks were calculated.

Results:
Seven studies were ultimately included in the meta-analysis. The assessment of heterogeneity indicated that the studies are comparable. The weighted outcome proportions of patients with postoperative cosmetic deformity and mucocele are found to be significantly higher in patients who underwent open repair compared to patients who received endoscopic treatment. No significant difference between the 2 intervention groups in regards to the other outcomes.

Conclusion:
Based on this meta-analysis, no definitive conclusions regarding superiority of one approach over the other can be made. There are currently no universally accepted algorithms that aid in the decision to proceed with either approach. It is likely that these 2 techniques will come to serve different roles in treatment, as they can each be utilized to achieve different goals. At this time, the only recommendation is to proceed with whichever technique can be safely performed based upon surgeon experience and fracture pattern.
Polysaccharides from the fungusInonotus obliquusactivate macrophages into a tumoricidal phenotype via interaction with TLR2, TLR4 and Dectin-1a
Authors: Wold CW , Christopoulos PF , Arias MA , Dzovor DE , Øynebråten I , Corthay A , Inngjerdingen KT 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundTumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) may both promote and suppress tumor development. Therefore, molecules that are able to activate and repolarize these cells into a tumoricidal phenotype could be of great interest as a new strategy for cancer immunotherapy. Fungal β-glucans have been suggested as a promising way of activating TAMs, but most of the research has been carried out on particulate β-glucans of large sizes (> 500 kDa), which potentially have different biological properties than smaller, water-soluble molecules with similar structures.MethodsBone marrow-derived mouse macrophages were treated with 6 different purified polysaccharides isolated from the medicinal fungusInonotus obliquus. Nitric oxide concentration was quantified using the Griess assay and by qPCR of iNOS mRNA. IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were quantified using Luminex ELISA technology (using human monocyte-derived macrophages and mouse bone-marrow derived macrophages). Growth inhibition of cancer cells was measured using radiolabeled thymidine. Receptor interaction was determined using HEK-Blue™ reporter cell lines and TLR4 KO macrophages.Main findingsThe acidic, water-soluble polysaccharides AcF1, AcF2 and AcF3 induced nitric oxide (NO) production by mouse macrophages when combined with IFN-γ, leading to a strong subsequent tumoricidal activity by the macrophages. Tumoricidal activity of AcF1 and AcF3 was fully retained in TLR4 knockout macrophages, demonstrating that the macrophage activation was not dependent on TLR4. Further, AcF3 induced high levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in human and mouse macrophages, independent of co-activation with IFN-γ. The polysaccharides were shown to bind TLR2, TLR4 and Dectin-1a to varying degrees, and these receptors were likely to be responsible for the macrophage activation. The acidic polysaccharides AcF1, AcF2 and AcF3 strongly activated TLR2, while AcF3 and AcF1 activated TLR4. The acidic polysaccharides had low affinity to Dectin-1a compared to the polysaccharides IWN, EWN and A1, which suggests that this receptor is not the main receptor for the pro-inflammatory activity observed.ConclusionFor the first time, this study demonstrates thatI. obliquuspolysaccharides are able to bind multiple pattern recognition receptors to activate macrophages into a pro-inflammatory anti-tumor phenotype. The induction of tumoricidal activity in the macrophages as well as the interaction with TLR2, TLR4 and Dectin-1a suggest that theI. obliquuspolysaccharides may have unique ways of interacting with macrophages, which could open up for new treatment options in cancer immunotherapy.
Cell autonomous TGF-beta signaling is essential for cell recruitment into degenerating tendons
Authors: Tan Guak-Kim , Pryce Brian A. , Stabio Anna , Keene Douglas R. , Tufa Sara F. , Schweitzer Ronen 
Published: November 2020

AbstractUnderstanding the role of cell recruitment in tendon disorders is critical for improvements in regenerative therapy. We recently reported that targeted disruption of TGFβ type II receptor in the tendon cell lineage (Tgfbr2ScxCre) resulted in tenocyte dedifferentiation and tendon degradation in post-natal stages. Here we extend the analysis and identify direct recruitment of stem/progenitor cells into the degenerative mutant tendons. Cre-lineage tracing indicates that these cells are not derived from tendon ensheathing tissues or from aScleraxis-lineage, and they turned on tendon markers only upon entering the mutant tendons. Through immunohistochemistry and inducible gene deletion, we further find that the recruited cells originated from aSox9-expressing lineage and their recruitment was dependent on cell-autonomous TGFβ signaling. These results thus differ from previous reports of cell recruitment into injured tendons, and suggest a critical role for TGFβ signaling and cell recruitment in the etiology and treatment of tendon degeneration.
Sense of belonging of sexual minority students participating in work-integrated learning programs
Authors: Drysdale Maureen T.B. , Callaghan Sarah A. , Dhanota Arpan 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThis study examined sexual minority status on perceived sense of belonging and compared sexual minority students and exclusively heterosexual students as a function of participating in work-integrated learning (WIL).Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional, quantitative design was used with participants grouped by sexual minority status and participation in WIL.FindingsSexual minority students (WIL and non-WIL) reported lower sense of belonging than exclusively heterosexual students (in WIL and non-WIL). Sexual minority students in WIL also reported significantly weaker sense of belonging compared to non-WIL sexual minority students suggesting that WIL presents some barriers to establishing a strong sense of belonging for sexual minority students.Originality/valueThe findings provide evidence for developing programs to ensure all students are in a safe environment where they can develop and strengthen their sense of belonging regardless of minority status. This is important given that a sense of belonging impacts mental health and overall well-being.
Variational principle and its fractal approximate solution for fractal Lane-Emden equation
Authors: Wang KangLe 
Published: November 2020

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the Lane–Emden equation by the fractal derivative and establish its variational principle by using the semi-inverse method. The variational principle is helpful to research the structure of the solution. The approximate analytical solution of the fractal Lane–Emden equation is obtained by the variational iteration method. The example illustrates that the suggested scheme is efficient and accurate for fractal models.

Design/methodology/approach
The author establishes the variational principle for fractal Lane–Emden equation, and its approximate analytical solution is obtained by the variational iteration method.

Findings
The variational iteration method is very fascinating in solving fractal differential equation.

Originality/value
The author first proposes the variational iteration method for solving fractal differential equation. The example shows the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed method. The variational iteration method is valid for other nonlinear fractal models as well.
Trade and FDI thresholds of CO2emissions for a Green economy in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Asongu Simplice , Odhiambo Nicholas M. 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThis study aims to focus on assessing how improving openness influences carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).Design/methodology/approachThis study focusses on 49 countries in SSA for the period 2000–2018 divided into: 44 countries in SSA for the period 2000–2012; and 49 countries for the period 2006–2018. Openness is measured in terms of trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows. The empirical evidence is based on the generalised method of moments.FindingsThe following main findings are established. First, enhancing trade openness has a net positive impact on CO2emissions, while increasing FDI has a net negative impact. Second, the relationship between CO2emissions and trade is a Kuznets shape, while the nexus between CO2emissions and FDI inflows is a U-shape. Third, a minimum trade openness (imports plus exports) threshold of 100 (% of gross domestic product (GDP)) and 200 (% of GDP) is beneficial in promoting a green economy for the first and second samples, respectively. Fourth, FDI is beneficial for the green economy below critical masses of 28.571 of net FDI inflows (% of GDP) and 33.333 of net FDI inflows (% of GDP) for first and second samples, respectively. It follows from findings that while FDI can be effectively managed to reduce CO2emissions, this may not be the case with trade openness because the corresponding thresholds for trade openness are closer to the maximum limit.Originality/valueThis study complements the extant literature by providing critical masses of trade and FDI that are relevant in promoting the green economy in SSA.
Collaborative e-business efforts and firm performance
Authors: Alsheyadi Anwar 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how e-business (EB) practices and performance are directly and indirectly related, and to examine the complementary effects of adopting various types of EB practices on both business and operational performance, where the latter is conceptualized as a mediator between EB practices and business performance.Design/methodology/approachThe structural equation modelling was used to examine the conceptual model using data collected through a survey of 108 Omani manufacturing firms. EB was conceptualized as a second-order factor resulted from a production of a simultaneous adoption of three distinct groups of EB practices to examine the complementarity effect of EB practices on performance.FindingsControlling for the variations of firm size and age effects, the empirical analysis of this study found support for the superior effects of the complementarities amongst various EB practices on business performance, but this effect will be indirect through the operational performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe research findings may lack generalisability due to the possible effects of other contextual factors which should be considered by future research studies.Practical implicationsSeveral implications are highlighted for the effective deployment of collective EB competencies, and for the role of operational performance on achieving higher business benefits.Originality/valueThis paper satisfies the need to validate the complementarity effects model in different contexts such as EB, and the need to investigate the mediating effect of other factors on EB practices and business performance.
Allowing wine and strong beer in grocery stores: the tale of Tennessee
Authors: Maisch John , Nica Mihai , Oller Jeremy David 
Published: November 2020

Purpose
This study aims to examine whether the introduction of wine or regular strength beer (B) sales in Tennessee grocery stores significantly increased the number of alcoholic beverages (AB) consumed or excise taxes collected in the state.

Design/methodology/approach
This study uses both a time series and a model-based approach to assess if a significant change in alcoholic beverage excise tax collections occurred after the natural experiment. The study evaluates monthly tax collections from B, mixed drinks and AB between January 1968 and September 2018 published by the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

Findings
The findings suggest that neither alcoholic beverage consumption nor excise taxes collected increased substantially in Tennessee as a result of the introduction of wine and regular strength B in grocery stores. It is likely, however, that some changes inside the industry were significant.

Originality/value
This study assists policymakers and analysts in determining whether allowing the sale of wine and regular strength B in grocery stores will have a substantial impact on the total amount of AB consumed or excise taxes collected by the jurisdiction.
Effect of misalignment and rarefaction effect on the comprehensive characteristic of MEMS gas bearing
Authors: Li Liangliang , Xie Yonghui 
Published: November 2020

Purpose
Owing to the development of the smaller-sized rotational machinery, the demand for the high-speed and low-resistance gas bearing increases rapidly. The research of micro gas bearing in the condition of rarefied gas state is still not satisfied. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to present a numerical investigation of the effect of misalignment and rarefaction effect on the comprehensive performance of micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) gas bearing.

Design/methodology/approach
The Fukui and Kaneko model is expanded to 2D solution domain to describe the flow field parameters. The finite element method is used to discretize the equation. Newton–Raphson method is used to solve the nonlinear equations for the static performance of gas bearing, and partial deviation method is adopted for the solution of dynamic equations.

Findings
The static and dynamic characteristics of MEMS gas bearing are calculated, and the comparison is made to study the influence of rarefaction effect and misalignment. The results show that the rarefaction effect will decrease bearing load capacity compared with traditional solution of Reynolds equation, and the misalignment will reduce the stability of bearing. The influence of misalignment on gas film thickness is also analyzed in this paper.

Originality/value
The investigation of this paper emerges the change regularity of comprehensive performance of MEMS gas bearing considering rarefaction effect and misalignment, which provides a reference for the actual manufacturing of MEMS gas bearing and for the safety operation of micro dynamic machinery.

Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-01-2020-0023/
How does internet usage affect the credit consumption among Chinese college students? A mediation model of social comparison and materialism
Authors: Zhu Xiaowen , Ren Wei , Chen Qiang , Evans Richard 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThe use of consumer credit by Chinese citizens has risen rapidly in the Internet era. The purpose of this paper is to predict a mechanism for credit consumption through Internet usage, with social comparison and materialism as mediators. Four types of Internet usage (social use, entertainment use, informational use, and online shopping) were identified to investigate whether different types of Internet usage influence credit consumption differently and whether the influencing mechanisms vary.Design/methodology/approachA structured online survey involving 558 valid responses from Chinese college students was completed, with structural equation modeling being applied to analyze the collected data.FindingsAmong the four types of Internet activities, online shopping was found to be the most significant predictor of credit consumption; results show that it influences credit consumption through two indirect pathways: materialism and a combination of social comparison and materialism. Social use was found to only affect credit consumption through materialism. In contrast, the influences of both informational use and entertainment use on credit consumption were insignificant.Originality/valueBy testing the concurrent mediating effects of social comparison and materialism, this study broadens our understanding of how Internet usage and credit consumption are connected. While most studies empirically test overall Internet usage and focus on direct relationships, we identify four types of Internet activities and demonstrate the mechanisms by which different types of Internet usage influence credit consumption, and how consumption varies based on Internet activity.
Roles of information propagation of Chinese microblogging users in epidemics: a crisis management perspective
Authors: Sun Li , Pang Patrick Cheong-Iao , Si Yain-Whar 
Published: November 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to investigate the usage characteristics and the information propagation patterns of Chinese microblogs in different stages of an epidemic, given that the microblogging in China is different from other parts of the world. In addition, the authors aim to conceptualize the roles of different users and provide insights for using microblogging platforms to disseminate information in this context.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted an analysis on Sina Weibo microblogs about the African Swine Fever epidemic from August to October 2018. The authors firstly applied a label propagation algorithm to classify users into government, media, verified users and nonverified users. The authors analyzed several user metrics, traced the information propagation patterns of their microblogs and calculated the average speed of information propagation using computational approaches.FindingsThe authors’ findings show that different types of users played different roles, such as supplying information, amplifying information, relaying information and engaging with other users. The microblogs posted by media dominated the propagation in most cases, but general users can propagate information faster. The direction of information propagation is one-way for the majority of microblogs, and few users repost earlier information. Additionally, microblogs attract more attention at the beginning and the middle phases of an epidemic. In the context of managing epidemics, the authors recommend governments and other verified users can work together to use microblogging platforms efficiently.Originality/valueThis research is one of the few studies to investigate information propagation patterns of different user categories on a Chinese microblogging platform during an epidemic. The authors’ work can be used by government agencies and public health authorities for disseminating information efficiently during epidemics or emergencies, especially in the early stages.
Do profitability and authenticity co-exist? A model of sales promotion stereotype content and its perception differences among groups
Authors: Lu Changbao , Li Hang , Xu Taoran 
Published: November 2020

PurposeAlmost every consumer has many experiences of sales promotion and different stereotypes of it. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the model of sales promotion stereotype content (model of SPSC) and its perception differences among groups.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the methods testifying stereotype content model and mixed stereotype proposed by Fiske et al. (2002), the authors decomposed the SPSC model into two dimensions, namely, the profitability and authenticity of sales promotion, and developed a multidimensional scale for profitability and authenticity. Then a survey that examined 765 participants was conducted to test the reliability of profitability and authenticity as the two primary dimensions of the model of SPSC and perception differences among consumer groups.FindingsThe model which consists of two dimensions, authenticity and profitability, was shown to be reliable and valid. Furthermore, the authors find that the profitability and the authenticity reflect consumers' evaluation (perception) of an enterprise's intention and its ability to enact the intention of sales promotion. In addition, mixed stereotypes of promotion can also explain consumers' entanglement when making promotion decisions.Originality/valueThis paper fills the gap in the existing literature of which the single dimension stereotype of sales promotion by the model of SPSC. In addition, the results show that consumers' stereotype of promotion varied in demographics and psychographic characteristics. Furthermore, this paper provides a basis for exploring the social stereotypes of specific things and related marketing activities.