bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How does primary, secondary and tertiary education affect global terrorism? Fresh evidence with international panel data
Authors: Rajput Sheraz Mustafa 
Published: June 2020

Purpose
This paper aims to assess the effects of different levels of education, namely, primary, secondary and tertiary, on global terrorism, measured by incidence of global terrorism.

Design/methodology/approach
Based on annual panel data covering 120 countries from 1990 to 2017, zero-inflated negative binomial regression (NBR) model is applied to estimate relationship between education and terrorism.

Findings
The findings reveal that higher attainment of education at primary and secondary level lowers terrorism worldwide. The findings strongly hold across the most affected regions of the world including Middle East and North Africa, South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. Drawing a comparison between the OECD and non-OECD countries, the results are substantially supported throughout.

Research limitations/implications
This study highlights the significance of education, at least up to secondary level, as an effective measure to reduce the extent of terrorist activities worldwide. Apart from this, more focus on education is recommended across the most affected regions (Middle East and North Africa, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa), specifically and the world, generally. Furthermore, as this study focuses at macro level, the future research may focus on factors enforcing individuals to resort to terrorism at individual and group level.

Originality/value
Unlike previous studies, this study contributes to existing literature through investigating the impact of terrorism at different levels of education.
Re-examining the government expenditure–growth nexus in ECOWAS countries
Authors: Olaoye Olumide Olusegun , Orisadare Monica , Okorie Ukafor Ukafor , Abanikanda Ezekiel 
Published: June 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of government expenditure on economic growth in 15 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries over the period of 2005–2017. More precisely, this paper investigates whether institutional environment influences the effect of government spending on economic growth.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopts the generalized method of moments-system method of estimation to address the problem of dynamic endogeneity inherent in the relationship. Similarly, unlike previous studies which assume that the disturbances of a panel model are cross-sectionally independent, we account for cross-section dependency and cross-country heterogeneity inherent in empirical modeling using Driscoll and Kraay's nonparametric covariance matrix estimator, adjusted for use with both balanced and unbalanced panels along with Monte Carlo simulations.FindingsThe authors find that though, government spending has a positive impact on economic growth but the level of institutional quality adversely affect that positive impact. This suggests that the institutional environment in ECOWAS countries is a drag and not a push factor for government fiscal operations and/policies. Thus, the results provide empirical evidence that there is a conditional relationship between government spending and economic growth in African countries. That is, the effect of government spending on economic growth is dependent on the quality of institutions. Lastly, these findings suggest that in order for government spending to contribute to economic growth, African countries must develop a strong institutional environment.Originality/valueUnlike previous time series studies for African countries which concentrated on the two variable case, we include institutional quality as a third variable to underline the potential importance of institutional quality for economic growth in ECOWAS countries.
Testing the influence of real-time performance feedback on employees in digital services
Authors: Lechermeier Jonas , Fassnacht Martin , Wagner Tillmann 
Published: June 2020

PurposeWhile digital media changed the nature of communication in service contexts, often allowing customers to interact instantly with service providers, the implications and opportunities for managing service employees are widely unknown. This is surprising, given that service employees are an important determinant of service firms’ success. This article examines the effects of real-time performance feedback on employees’ service performance and investigates both how and under what conditions timely feedback encourages employees’ engagement.Design/methodology/approachTwo experiments test the conceptual model and the proposed hypotheses. A field experiment uses real customer feedback gathered after interaction with the app-chat of a large telecommunications provider. It tests the effect of feedback timing on service employees’ performance and also examines the effect of feedback timing on their engagement. A subsequent scenario-based experiment then investigates the influence of selected moderators on the feedback timing–engagement relationship.FindingsThis article finds that real-time feedback leads to greater service performance than subsequent feedback. Furthermore, real-time feedback positively affects service employee engagement through the perceived controllability of the feedback and the service situation. Finally, feedback valence, task goals, individuals’ need for closure (NCL), and gender interact with feedback timing to influence employee engagement.Originality/valueThis research investigates the potential of real-time performance feedback for service firms, combines and extends a variety of literature streams, and provides recommendations for the future management of service employees.
Crowdfunded and then? The role of intellectual capital in the growth of equity-crowdfunded companies
Authors: Troise Ciro , Matricano Diego , Candelo Elena , Sorrentino Mario 
Published: June 2020

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether and to what extent equity crowdfunding (ECF) is able to build enduring businesses. This research explores the post-campaign growth of equity-crowdfunded companies and analyses the impact of intellectual capital (IC) on their growth. To achieve the above aim, we provide a theoretical framework that includes the three well-known dimensions of IC – i.e. human, structural and relational capital – as independent variables and company growth, meant as sales and employment growth, as dependent variable.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a quantitative methodology based on two regression analyses. The authors use hand-collected data on 51 successful equity-crowdfunded projects listed on seven Italian platforms.FindingsThe authors find that three variables, namely prior industry experience (human-capital), product innovation (structural-capital) and equity offered (relational-capital) are significant and positively related to the growth of equity-crowdfunded companies. In particular, prior industry experience positively influences sales growth; product innovation positively influences employment growth. Equity offered, instead, has a strong positive impact on both sales and employment growth. Companies that offer a larger percentage of equity during the campaign disclose higher probabilities of growth.Practical implicationsThe study has useful implications for several stakeholders, in particular, founders, platform managers, crowdfunders, policy makers and authorities.Originality/valueThe results shed some light on the nascent research field related to post-campaign scenarios of equity-crowdfunded companies. This paper is the first to explore the impact of IC on the growth of companies funded through ECF.
Immunodepression induced by influenza A virus (H1N1) in lymphoid organs functions as a pathogenic mechanism
Authors: Xiang Li , Hu Xiaoyan , Zhang Jinping , She Junping , Li Mingyuan , Zhou Tiejun 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn recent years, the frequency of influenza epidemics around the world has posed a great threat to the lives of people, especially those in developing countries. However, it is unclear which organs are the targets of influenza A viruses (IAVs) and what histopathology is caused by IAVs. In this study, BALB/c female mice were infected with H1N1 by nasal inoculation for 5 days. After euthanasia, the brain, heart, lungs, thymus, liver, spleen, hilar lymph nodes, pancreas, kidneys, and adrenal glands were collected. Among these organs, only the lungs, thymus, spleen, and hilar lymph nodes showed lesions. Lung histopathology was characterized by widening of the septum, lymphocyte infiltration, alveolar effusion, and alveolar hyaline membrane formation. The thymus and spleen exhibited atrophy due to the apoptosis of numerous lymphocytes. Although the hilar lymph nodes were enlarged, lymphocyte apoptosis still occurred. The nucleocapsid protein (NP) of IAVs was present not only in the lungs but also in the thymus, spleen, and hilar lymph nodes. In peripheral blood, CD19+B lymphocyte levels clearly decreased whileCD3+CD8+T and CD3+CD4+T lymphocyte levels temporarily decreased but subsequently increased. These results demonstrate that H1N1 in the lungs could reach lymphoid organs, induce the depletion of B and T lymphocytes in peripheral blood and lymphoid organs, and suppress adaptive immunity.
Synthesis, characterization, biological activity and electrochemistry studies of iron(III) complex with curcumin‐oxime ligand
Authors: Özbolat Gülüzar , Alizadeh Yegani Arash 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIron overload is a key target in drug development. This study aimed to investigate the coordination of Fe(III) ions with a curcumin‐oxime ligand that may be used in the treatment of iron overload. The synthesis of the curcumin‐oxime ligand and curcumin‐oxime‐Fe(III) complex was successfully made and characterized in its solid‐state and solution‐state using FT‐IR, UV‐Vis, elemental analysis, and 1H‐NMR. However, in this study, we investigated the apoptotic effects of the curcumin‐oxime Fe (III) complex on SW480. SW480 cells were exposed to 99.2% medium for 48 hours. After 48 hours, the incubation period, cells were harvested by centrifugation and washed in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) and lysed in radio‐immunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) buffer for 20 minutes and supernatants were taken and pellets were discarded. ELISA test was used to examine the expression, and activity of cleaved caspase‐3, Bax, and Bcl‐2 proteins in SW480 cells. ELISA test results indicated that the activities of apoptotic proteins Bax, caspase 3 and Bcl‐2 in human SW480 cell lines significantly increased in 48 hours treatment. Also, the activity of Bcl‐2 was observed to decrease significantly. Catalase activities of the complex were investigated. The findings showed that the complex has a catalase activity. The findings suggest that this type of complex may constitute a new and interesting basis for the future search of new and more potent drugs. The SOD activity of the result showed that the complexes possessed a considerable SOD activity with an IC50 value of 7.685 µM. Also, when compared with the control, a complex increased the SOD levels (P < .05). Electrochemistry studies in the literature have shown that the Fe3+/Fe2+couple redox process occurs in low potential. This value is within the range of compounds that are expected to show superoxide dismutase activity. The Ipc/Ipashows that one electron transport takes place in the complex. Our results suggest that curcumin‐oxime may represent a new approach in the treatment of iron overload.
Characterization and target gene analysis of microRNAs in the antennae of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator
Authors: Shan Shuang , Wang Shan‐Ning , Song Xuan , Khashaveh Adel , Lu Zi‐Yun , Dhiloo Khalid Hussain , Li Rui‐Jun , Gao Xi‐Wu , Zhang Yong‐Jun 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of non‐coding single‐strand RNA molecules encoded by endogenous genes, are about 21–24 nucleotides long and are involved in the post‐transcriptional regulation of gene expression in plants and animals. Generally, the types and quantities of miRNAs in the different tissues of an organism are diverse, and these divergences may be related to their specific functions. Here we have identified 296 known miRNAs and 46 novel miRNAs in the antennae of the parasitoid wasp Microplitis mediator by high‐throughput sequencing. Thirty‐three miRNAs were predicted to target olfactory‐associated genes, including odorant binding proteins (OBPs), chemosensory proteins, odorant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs) and gustatory receptors. Among these, 17 miRNAs were significantly highly expressed in the antennae, four miRNAs were highly expressed both in the antennae and head or wings, while the remaining 12 miRNAs were mainly expressed in the head, thorax, abdomen, legs and wings. Notably, miR‐9a‐5p and miR‐2525‐3p were highly expressed in male antennae, whereas miR‐1000‐5p and novel‐miR‐13 were enriched in female antennae. The 17 miRNAs highly expressed in antennae are likely to be associated with olfaction, and were predicted to target one OBP (targeted by miR‐3751‐3p), one IR (targeted by miR‐7‐5p) and 14 ORs (targeted by 15 miRNAs including miR‐6‐3p, miR‐9a‐5p, miR‐9b‐5p, miR‐29‐5p, miR‐71‐5p, miR‐275‐3p, miR‐1000‐5p, miR‐1000‐3p, miR‐2525‐3p, miR‐6012‐3p, miR‐9719‐3p, novel‐miR‐10, novel‐miR‐13, novel‐miR‐14 and novel‐miR‐28). These candidate olfactory‐associated miRNAs are all likely to be involved in chemoreception through the regulation of chemosensory gene expression in the antennae of M. mediator.
Correlation among PME activity, viscoelastic, and structural parameters for Carica papaya edible tissue along ripening
Authors: Sanchez Nestor , Gutiérrez‐López Gustavo F. , Cáez‐Ramírez Gabriela 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPapaya fruit, widely consumed around the world, is mechanically and structurally affected by several enzymatic processes during ripening, where pectin methylesterase plays a key role. Hence, the aim of this work was to evaluate possible correlations among physicochemical changes, mechanical parameters, viscoelastic behavior, and enzyme activity of pectin methylesterase to provide information about the softening phenomenon by applying the Maxwell and Peleg models. Mechanical parameters were estimated by texture profile analysis, enzyme activity by Michaelis–Menten parameters, and viscoelastic behavior by relaxation test responses fitted to these models. The Maxwell model described properly mechanical changes during ripening, displaying a better adjustment (R2 > 0.97) than the Peleg model (0.80 < R2 < 0.84). Pearson correlation analysis (P ≤ 0.01) indicated an inversely proportional relation among firmness, total soluble solids, and the first elastic element of the Maxwell model. Besides, the PME Michaelis–Menten affinity constant showed a correlation between the first elastic element and the first viscoelastic element of the Maxwell model. Findings of this work pointed out that the first Maxwell elastic element could explain structural changes as papaya ripening advance, associated with pectin methylesterase activity, cell wall disruption, and cell assembling into the tissue.Practical ApplicationMechanical and viscoelastic behavior of papaya fruit tissue were described by the Maxwell model associating both viscous and elastic elements to the softening process. The results provide background and practical knowledge to describe structural changes during the ripening process of papaya depending on its enzymatic activity. Outcomes could be further applied to understand changes in other fruits or food matrixes that soften during postharvest, storage, and food chain supply processes.
Overall and chemotherapy‐free survival following stereotactic body radiation therapy for abdominopelvic oligometastases
Authors: Shahi Jeevin , Peng Jonathan , Donovan Elysia , Vansantvoort Jasmin , Wong Raimond , Tsakiridis Theodoros , Quan Kimmen , Parpia Sameer , Swaminath Anand 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntroductionLimited data establish the efficacy and safety of SBRT in the abdominopelvic (AP) space, where SBRT delivery is challenging due to the proximity of radiosensitive luminal gastrointestinal (GI) organs. The aim of this study was to assess clinical outcomes in patients with AP OM treated with SBRT.MethodsEligible patients were those with OM (defined as metastases in ≤3 total sites) in the AP space (excluding liver) treated with SBRT. Descriptive statistics and Kaplan–Meier estimates of (LC), progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and chemotherapy‐free survival (CFS) were performed.ResultsFifty‐one patients with 58 AP OM received SBRT between 2011 and 2015. Median follow‐up was 21.9 months. All SBRT treatments were delivered in 5 fractions with a median dose of 35 Gy (25–40 Gy). Progression post‐SBRT occurred in 38/51 patients (75%), with a median PFS of 4.9 months (95% CI: 2.5–7.5), and 2‐year PFS of 29%. Rates of 2‐and 4‐year LC were 74% and 69%, respectively. Median OS was 42.6 months (95% CI: 31–55). Oligometastatic progression occurred in 21/38 patients, and of those, 48% (10/21) received further SBRT. Resulting 2‐ and 4‐year CFS were 47% and 37%, respectively (median 15.1 months). Nineteen patients (37%) experienced a grade 1 or 2 acute toxicity. One grade 3 (acute) toxicity was observed. No grade 4 or 5 toxicities were detected.ConclusionsSBRT to AP OM was associated with sustained LC, excellent OS and minimal toxicity. The use of SBRT allowed for prolonged CFS and the salvage of limited‐burden distant failures.
Contracting with private rewards
Authors: Kirkegaard René 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe canonical moral hazard model is extended to allow the agent to face endogenous and noncontractible uncertainty. The agent works for the principal and simultaneously pursues outside rewards. The contract offered by the principal thus manipulates the agent's work–life balance. The participation constraint is slack whenever it is optimal to distort the agent's work–life balance away from life compared to a symmetric‐information benchmark. Then, the agent's expected utility is high and he faces flatter incentives. Such contracts may be optimal when the two activities are strong substitutes in the agent's cost function or when reservation utility is low.
Influences of seasons and dietary composition on diurnal raptor habitat use in Chembe Bird Sanctuary, Zambia: Implications for conservation
Authors: Nyirenda Vincent R. , Yambayamba Arthur M. , Chisha‐Kasumu Exildah 
Published: June 2020

AbstractDiurnal raptor habitat use has conservation implications due to environmental and anthropogenic interactions. Three tree‐nesting diurnal raptors, black kites (Milvus milvus), steppe buzzards (Buteo vulpinus) and African fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer), were studied from December 2016 to October 2017. The objective was to determine factors influencing diurnal raptor habitat selection and use in and around Chembe Bird Sanctuary of Kalulushi district, Zambia. We surveyed for birds in ten randomly selected 200 × 200 m sample plots in each of the five stratified sampling units (miombo woodland, grasslands, human settlements, Lake Chembe and marsh). Seasons and dietary composition variably influenced the distribution, habitat selection and use by raptors. The three raptors devised a suit of behaviours to curtail challenges associated with seasonal food and water availability, and anthropogenic disturbances. There is a need to promote multi‐stakeholder engagement and involvement in raptor conservation.
Implementation of advanced radiotherapy technology to improve clinical outcomes in rural NSW
Authors: Banjade Dilli , Allan Julaine , Thuraisingam Kandeepan , Mishra Ajeet , Newham Ben , Tan Shiaw Juen (Eugene) , Renshaw Amy , Hammond Rodney , Stevens Graham , Warr George 
Published: June 2020

AbstractProblemAvailability of advanced radiotherapy technology to treat cancer is limited in regional Australia. At Central West Cancer Care Centre, the utilisation rate of intensity‐modulated radiotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy was significantly lower compared to other NSW public health services. Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatment was not available at Central West Cancer Care Centre.DesignTo increase the intensity‐modulated radiotherapy/volumetric modulated arc therapy utilisation rate and to make stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatment available through quality improvement projects with multi‐disciplinary collaboration.SettingCentral West Cancer Care Centre is part of Western NSW Local health District. Central West Cancer Care Centre has two linear accelerators for delivering intensity‐modulated radiotherapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatments, and a computed tomography simulator with 4D computed tomography capability.Key measures for improvement

Intensity‐modulated radiotherapy/volumetric modulated arc therapy utilisation rate increases to > 65%

Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy available to Central West Cancer Care Centre patients

Strategy for changeA multi‐disciplinary active of team radiation oncologists, medical physics specialists and radiation therapists developed an implementation plan for each treatment technique.Effect of changeThere was a significant increase in use of advanced techniques. The impact on patients included the following:

Fewer side effects and improved control of disease as the advanced techniques directed the dose to the tumour and reduced the radiation dose to organ at risk.
Treatment completed sooner than conventional radiotherapy, as the required dose required fewer trips to the hospital.
Rural and remote patients were not required to travel to a metropolitan centre to have stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatment.
Lessons learntStrong commitment from a trained team and a collaborative approach is important for the implementation of advanced technology in regional centres.
Video‐assisted thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy in a patient with a displaced bronchus and vascular abnormalities
Authors: Momose Naoya , Takahashi Tsuyoshi , Sugimura Aya , Sekihara Keigo , Nagasaka Satoshi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBronchial abnormalities are rare, and they are infrequently associated with pulmonary vascular abnormalities. It is important to identify such abnormal anatomical structures before lobectomy of the lung under thoracoscopy. There have been only three reports on video‐assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in patients with anomalous bronchi and vascular abnormalities to date. Here, we present a report of video‐assisted thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy performed in a patient with bronchial and vascular abnormalities. Both preoperative imaging and intraoperative findings revealed a displaced anomalous B2 bronchus arising from the bronchus intermedius, as well as abnormal distribution of the aberrant vein V2 draining into vein V6. It is critical to understand the precise anatomical structures preoperatively to perform video‐assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary lobectomy safely.