bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using hybrid SEM – artificial intelligence
Authors: Abubakar A. Mohammed 
Published: December 2019

PurposeBoreout is a psychological state of intense boredom and apathy. Characterized by the absence of mental stimuli (i.e. menial tasks) required to keep employees conscious about their environment, and this incessant decline in mental stimuli may turn employees into “professional zombies.” The diversity in work needs and preferences across generations has become a key organizational factor, generational differences have been studied in Western countries, not much information is available about generational cohorts and satisfaction (i.e. career, life and job satisfaction) in developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to provide more insights on these phenomena.Design/methodology/approachDrawing upon conservation of resources theory, this paper examines the potential effects of boreout on important job outcomes (i.e. career, life and job satisfaction) conditioned by generation (Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers) in the service industry. Data analyses with Artificial Intelligence technique (i.e. artificial neural network) and structural equation modeling were conducted with data collated from Nigerian service employees.FindingsResults revealed that boreout has a negative impact on career, life and job satisfaction. The hypothesized relationships were significantly moderated by generation cohorts as Gen-Xers and Gen-Yers were found to be distinct cohorts.Originality/valueThis paper advocates that non-western organizations should avoid utmost service standardization and rigid stylization of work processes and procedures.
Coping and laughing in the face of broken promises: implications for creative behavior
Authors: De Clercq Dirk , Belausteguigoitia Imanol 
Published: December 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider how employees’ perceptions of psychological contract breach, due to their sense that their organization has not kept its promises, might diminish their creative behavior. Yet access to two critical personal resources – emotion regulation and humor skills – might buffer this negative relationship.Design/methodology/approachSurvey data were collected from employees in a large organization in the automobile sector.FindingsEmployees’ beliefs that their employer has not come through on its promises diminishes their engagement in creative activities. The effect is weaker among employees who can more easily control their emotions and who use humor in difficult situations.Practical implicationsFor organizations, the results show that the frustrations that come with a sense of broken promises can be contained more easily to the extent that their employee bases can rely on pertinent personal resources.Originality/valueThis investigation provides a more comprehensive understanding of when perceived contract breach steers employees away from productive work activities, in the form of creativity. This damaging effect is less prominent when employees possess skills that enable them to control negative emotions or can use humor to cope with workplace adversity.
Effect of ultrasonic vibration on interfacial reaction of Ni/Sn/Ni soldered joint
Authors: Liu Yun , Yu Weiyuan , Sun Xuemin , Wang Fengfeng 
Published: December 2019

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the effect of ultrasonic vibration (USV) on the evolution of intermetallic compounds (IMCs), grain morphology and shear strength of soldered Ni/Sn/Ni samples.Design/methodology/approachThe Ni/Sn/Ni joints were obtained through ultrasonic-assisted soldering. The formation of IMCs, their composition, grain morphology and the fractured-surface microstructures from shear tests were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy.FindingsWithout USV, a planar interfacial Ni3Sn4layer was formed at the Ni/Sn interface, and a few Ni3Sn4grains were distributed in the soldered joint. The morphology of these grains was needle-shaped. With USV, several grooves were formed at the interfacial Ni3Sn4layer due to ultrasonic cavitation. Some deepened grooves led to “neck” connections at the roots of the Ni3Sn4grains, which accelerated the strong detachment of Ni3Sn4from the substrate. In addition, two types of Ni3Sn4grains, needle-shaped and granular-shaped, were observed at the interface. Furthermore, the shear strength increased with longer USV time, which was attributed to the thinning of the interfacial IMC layers and dispersion strengthening from the Ni3Sn4particles distributed evenly in the joint.Originality/valueThe novelty of the paper is the detailed study of the effect of USV on the morphology, size changes of interfacial IMC and joint strength. This provides guidance for the application of ultrasonic-assisted soldering in electronics packaging.
An exploratory study of verbal feedback on occupational performance for improving self‐awareness in people with traumatic brain injury
Authors: Fleming Jennifer , Tsi Hui Goh Amelia , Lannin Natasha A. , Ownsworth Tamara , Schmidt Julia 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroductionImpaired self‐awareness negatively impacts on how well persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) learn and use strategies needed in daily life. Verbal feedback is a component of metacognitive strategy training recommended for addressing impaired self‐awareness in TBI rehabilitation. Yet, it remains unknown how effectively verbal feedback on occupational performance improves self‐awareness for the specific occupation involved. This study investigated the effect of verbal feedback on task‐specific self‐awareness for individuals with TBI.MethodsA secondary analysis was conducted on selected data extracted from a randomised, assessor‐blinded controlled trial in which 36 participants with impaired self‐awareness post‐TBI were allocated into two feedback intervention groups, verbal feedback and a control condition of experiential feedback only. All participants engaged in four sessions of meal preparation with an occupational therapist using a metacognitive strategy training approach. Participants in the verbal feedback group received feedback on their performance in a discussion with the occupational therapist following each session. Task‐specific self‐awareness was measured using discrepancy scores (therapist ratings minus self‐ratings) on a Meal Independence Rating Scale (MIRS). Data were analysed using a mixed 2 × 2 analysis of variance.ResultsPositive MIRS discrepancy scores at pre‐intervention reflected the propensity of participants to over‐estimate their abilities There was a significant main effect of time, indicating overall gains in task‐specific self‐awareness at post‐intervention (p = .01), but no significant group‐by‐time interaction. Changes in participants’ self‐ratings post‐intervention were minimal. Instead, reduced MIRS discrepancy scores resulted largely from changes in therapists’ ratings, indicating improvement in occupational performance.ConclusionParticipants in both groups demonstrated improvements in occupational performance, but this did not correspond with changes in task‐specific self‐awareness. In this small sample, there was no statistically significant improvement in self‐awareness associated with the provision of verbal feedback after occupational performance over and above the benefits of experiential feedback.
Clemaichinenoside protects renal tubular epithelial cells from hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in vitro through activating the Nrf2/HO‐1 signalling pathway
Authors: Feng Jie , Kong Ranran , Xie Liyi , Lu Wanhong , Zhang Yali , Dong Hongjuan , Jiang Hongli 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRenal ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a major cause of acute renal failure with increased morbidity, mortality, and prolonged hospitalizations. Clematichinenoside (AR), a triterpenoid saponin isolated from the roots of Clematis chinensis, was reported to possess a protective effect against I/R injury. However, the effect of AR on renal I/R injury has not been evaluated. This study aims to examine the effect of AR on an in vitro I/R model in human proximal tubular epithelial cells HK‐2. HK‐2 cells were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) stimulation to mimic I/R in vitro. The results showed that AR improved cell viability of H/R‐stimulated HK‐2 cells. AR pretreatment resulted in decreased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as increased in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in H/R‐stimulated HK‐2 cells. In addition, AR also presented an anti‐inflammatory activity, as evidenced by decreased secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines including IL‐6, IL‐1β, and TNF‐α. Moreover, apoptotic rate was markedly decreased in HK‐2 cells pretreated with AR. The bax expression was decreased, while bcl‐2 expression was increased by AR pretreatment. Furthermore, AR enhanced the H/R‐stimulated activation of the Nrf2/HO‐1 signalling pathway in HK‐2 cells. In conclusion, these findings indicated that AR protected HK‐2 cells from H/R‐induced cell injury via regulating the Nrf2/HO‐1 signalling pathway.
Knockdown of TMEM45A overcomes multidrug resistance and epithelial–mesenchymal transition in human colorectal cancer cells through inhibition of TGF‐β signalling pathway
Authors: Zhu Mo , Jiang Baofei , Yan Dongsheng , Wang Xiaopeng , Ge Hengfa , Sun Yueming 
Published: December 2019

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC), a leading cause of cancer death, has recently been known as the most prevalent malignancy worldwide. Although chemotherapy is an important therapeutic option for CRC patients, multidrug resistance (MDR) still remains a major cause of chemotherapy failure. Transmembrane protein 45A (TMEM45A) has been found highly expressed in various cancers, and is also proposed as an interesting biomarker for chemoresistance. However, the association between TMEM45A and MDR in CRC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the key role of TMEM45A in CRC by knockdown of its expression in 5‐FU‐resistant CRC cells (HCT‐8/5‐FU and SW480/5‐FU) and their parental cells (HCT‐8 and SW480). Data showed that TMEM45A was significantly up‐regulated in HCT‐8/5‐FU and SW480/5‐FU cells in comparison with their parental HCT‐8 and SW480 cells. Knockdown of TMEM45A enhanced 5‐FU sensitivity and 5‐FU‐induced apoptosis in HCT‐8/5‐FU and SW480/5‐FU cells. It was also found that inhibition of TMEM45A increased the intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine‐123 and down‐regulated the expression of MDR1 in HCT‐8/5‐FU and SW480/5‐FU cells. In addition, knockdown of TMEM45A suppressed migration and invasion of HCT‐8/5‐FU and SW480/5‐FU cells. Furthermore, knockdown of TMEM45A not only attenuated MDR‐enhanced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), but also suppressed MDR‐enhanced activation of the TGF‐β signalling pathway in HCT‐8/5‐FU and SW480/5‐FU cells. Taken together, our study suggests that knockdown of TMEM45A can effectively overcome MDR and inhibit EMT via suppression of the TGF‐β signalling pathway in human CRC cells, and that targeting TMEM45A will be a potential strategy in the treatment of MDR in CRC.
The Economics of Ageing—What do you Face?
Authors: McDonald Ian M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe economics of ageing is the study of economic decision‐making by individuals and government aimed at fostering well‐being in old age. These decisions include preparing for old age and dealing with the risks of old age. The risks are substantial. Using the life‐cycle model, this article considers the risks for well‐being that people face in retirement and the role of government and private insurance in meeting those risks. The perspective of the life‐cycle model is also used to consider the gender gap in wealth on retirement.
From Friction to Free Trade Negotiations: Australia's Engagement with the European Union
Authors: Murray Philomena 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFollowing decades of skirmishes, Australia's relationship with the European Union (EU) has finally come of age. With the commencement of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement, the outlook is promising for enhanced cooperation. Yet there are distinctive—and at times diverging—hierarchies of interests. This article argues that, although the EU and Australia regard each other as like‐minded partners, their interests and domestic pressures do not necessarily denote comprehensive convergence. This is due to the burden of memory, divergent concerns and values, some mutual neglect and an element of mutual misunderstanding.
Australian Trade Policy in the Twenty‐First Century
Authors: Pomfret Richard 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn the 1980s and 1990s, Australia moved from a protectionist trade policy to very open trade policies. This paper analyses the evolution of these policies in the twenty‐first century: first signing bilateral agreements in the 2000s and then participating in negotiation of mega‐regional agreements (TPP/CPTPP and RCEP). To some extent these shifts have reflected stasis in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and its inability to make agreements on new areas. Underlying drivers of Australia's beyond‐WTO trade agreements have been the fragmentation of trade along global value chains and the emergence of new trade technologies associated with the spread of the internet.
Australia's National Electricity Market after Twenty Years
Authors: Rai Alan , Nelson Tim 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe Hilmer reforms served electricity consumers well over the first post‐reform decade. However, three key issues emerged from the mid‐2000s: (i) a significant and largely unnecessary rise in network expenditures; (ii) emissions policy discontinuity; and (iii) a large increase in wholesale prices due to rising fuel prices and the sudden exit of generators. The consequence was a doubling in retail prices. Deficiencies in cost‐recovery mechanisms have meant price increases have disproportionately affected low‐income households. We propose three key reforms as rectification: (i) integrating emissions reduction and energy policies; (ii) boosting network capacity utilisation; and (iii) improving cost recovery mechanisms.
Adult obstructive sleep apnoea: Pathogenesis, importance, diagnosis and imaging
Authors: Whyte Andy , Gibson Daren 
Published: December 2019

SummaryObstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a serious worldwide health problem. Moderate‐to‐severe OSA has been found in up to 50% of men and 25% of women in the middle‐aged population. It results in a fourfold increase in all causes of mortality. The prevalence of OSA is underestimated, partly due to absence of symptoms but also lack of knowledge amongst the population at large as well as sectors of the medical profession. Imaging, performed predominantly by clinicians and research scientists, has been integral to evaluating the anatomical basis of OSA. Increased nasal resistance and a narrowed and elongated oropharynx lead to increased collapsibility of the upper airway, predisposing to airway collapse and apnoea during sleep when there is reduction in tone of the pharyngeal dilator muscles. Unfortunately, a significantly narrowed upper airway is usually ignored by radiologists: it is not part of their reporting ‘check‐list’. The imaging findings in the upper airway that are strongly associated with OSA and its sequelae in various organ systems are discussed. Imaging can strongly suggest OSA; the diagnosis requires a polysomnogram for confirmation. Treatment of moderate‐to‐severe disease is primarily with positive airway pressure applied by a nasal or oral mask which splints the upper airway. Although highly effective, compliance is limited and other treatment modalities are increasingly being utilized.
Is inguinal hernia mesh safe? A prospective study
Authors: Watson Bridget , Roberts Jessica , Dobbs Bruce , Roberts Ross 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundHernia repair surgery using synthetic mesh is the standard of care in modern surgery. Complications from uro‐gynaecological mesh have been reported in the New Zealand media and there is public concern regarding the use of any mesh for any reason. This study reports long‐term outcomes in inguinal hernia surgery in a large cohort of elective operations using mesh.MethodsA prospective database of patients having inguinal hernia mesh repairs was maintained in a private two surgeon practice from 2002 to 2016. Patient demographics, method of repair, the pre‐operative and post‐operative pain scores and complications following surgery were recorded.ResultsA total of 1711 hernia in 1366 patients were repaired from 2002 to 2016. One thousand and forty‐seven repairs were laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (LTEP), 333 were open. Post‐operative pain scores were significantly lower than pre‐operative scores in inguinal hernia repair by any method. Only 22% of patients described no pain pre‐operatively and this rose to 76% post‐operatively; conversely 7.9% described severe pain pre‐operatively and this reduced to 1% post‐operatively. The recurrence rate for open inguinal hernia was zero and for LTEP repair was 0.81%.ConclusionInguinal hernia repair using mesh does not appear to produce significant rates of chronic pain long term. Overall, the complications from open or LTEP inguinal hernia repair with mesh are low.
Long‐term radiographic appearance of a bioabsorbable biocomposite tibial tuberosity advancement cage implant
Authors: Ferrell CL , Barnhart MD , Watson AT , Barron‐Chapman ML , Naber SJ 
Published: December 2019

ObjectiveTo report the radiographic appearance of a bioabsorbable biocomposite tibial tuberosity advancement cage at least 1 year after implantation.Design Retrospective case series.MethodsMedical records (February 2014–March 2015) of dogs receiving a biocomposite tibial tuberosity advancement cage were reviewed. Cases were selected if they had undergone surgery at least 1 year before the selection, no additional surgeries were performed, and no known surgical site infection had occurred. Medical record information assessed included signalment, body weight (kg), affected stifle joint (left or right), date of original surgery and the size of biocomposite cage used (9 or 12 mm). Radiographs were evaluated by two blinded radiologists who calculated percentages of osteolucency present in five zones around the cage and assigned a numerical score based on these calculations. Variables were evaluated statistically for effect on lucency percentage and numerical score.ResultsFifty dogs were included. Zone 5 (caudoproximal area) was found to have the lowest lucency percentage and score and zone 3 (distal area) had the highest lucency percentage and score. Twelve‐millimetre cages were significantly associated with a higher lucency numerical score than 9 mm cages.ConclusionA biocomposite tibial tuberosity advancement cage was found to have variable amounts of radiographically apparent osseous integration at least 1 year after implantation.
hVFL3/CCDC61 is a component of mother centriole subdistal appendages required for centrosome cohesion and positioning
Authors: Pizon Véronique , Gaudin Noémie , Poteau Marion , Cifuentes‐Diaz Carmen , Demdou Roland , Heyer Vincent , Reina San Martin Bernardo , Azimzadeh Juliette 
Published: December 2019

BackgroundThe centrosome regulates cell spatial organisation by controlling the architecture of the microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton. Conversely, the position of the centrosome within the cell depends on cytoskeletal networks it helps organizing. In mammalian cells, centrosome positioning involves a population of MT stably anchored at centrioles, the core components of the centrosome. An MT‐anchoring complex containing the proteins ninein and Cep170 is enriched at subdistal appendages (SAP) that decorate the older centriole (called mother centriole) and at centriole proximal ends. Here, we studied the role played at the centrosome by hVFL3/CCDC61, the human ortholog of proteins required for anchoring distinct sets of cytoskeletal fibres to centrioles in unicellular eukaryotes.ResultsWe show that hVFL3 co‐localises at SAP and at centriole proximal ends with components of the MT‐anchoring complex, and physically interacts with Cep170. Depletion of hVFL3 increased the distance between mother and daughter centrioles without affecting the assembly of a filamentous linker that tethers the centrioles and contains the proteins rootletin and C‐Nap1. When the linker was disrupted by inactivating C‐Nap1, hVFL3‐depletion exacerbated centriole splitting, a phenotype also observed following depletion of other SAP components. This supported that hVFL3 is required for SAP function, which we further established by showing that centrosome positioning is perturbed in hVFL3‐depleted interphase cells. Finally, we found that hVFL3 is an MT‐binding protein.Conclusions and significanceTogether, our results support that hVFL3 is required for anchoring MT at SAP during interphase and ensuring proper centrosome cohesion and positioning. The role of the VFL3 family of proteins thus appears to have been conserved in evolution despite the great variation in the shape of centriole appendages in different eukaryotic species.
Oestrogen amplifies pre‐existing atopy‐associated Th2 bias in an experimental asthma model
Authors: Lauzon‐Joset Jean Francois , Mincham Kyle T. , Abad Ana P. , Short Braden P. , Holt Patrick G. , Strickland Deborah H. , Leffler Jonatan 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence and severity of asthma, particularly the most common (atopic) form of the disease, increase amongst females but not males after puberty, and asthma activity also changes throughout the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. The contribution of female sex hormones to asthma pathogenesis is incompletely understood.ObjectiveTo obtain insight into the role of oestrogen (E2) in experimental atopic asthma, and guide future research on sex‐related variations in atopic asthma susceptibility/intensity in humans.MethodsWe utilized an experimental model comprising rat strains expressing dichotomous Th2‐high vs Th2‐low immunophenotypes exemplified by eosinophilia, mirroring differences between human atopics/non‐atopics. We compared the efficiency of Th2‐associated immunoinflammatory mechanisms, which differed markedly between the two strains, and between sexes in the Th2‐high strain, and determined the effects of E2 administration on these differences.ResultsUnique to the Th2‐high strain, eosinophil: neutrophil ratios in the airways at baseline and following sensitization/aeroallergen challenge were logfold higher in females relative to males, and this was reflected by higher baseline blood eosinophil numbers in females. Pretreatment of Th2‐high males with E2 abrogated this sex difference by selectively boosting Th2‐associated genes in the airways and eosinophilia, but was without corresponding effect in the Th2‐low strain. In contrast, parallel E2 effects on myeloid and lymphoid cell populations were relatively modest.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceE2 acts to amplify the eosinophilic component of pre‐existing Th2‐high immunophenotype, possibly acting at the level of the common eosinophil/neutrophil precursor in bone marrow to preferentially drive eosinophil differentiation. Constitutive granulocyte profiles in which the balance between eosinophils and neutrophils is skewed towards eosinophils have been identified in independent cohort studies as markers of asthma risk, and these findings suggest that more detailed studies on the role of E2 in this context, and in relation to asthma pathogenesis in post‐pubertal females in particular, appear warranted.