bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring the implications of blockchain technology for brand–consumer relationships: a future research agenda
Authors: Boukis Achilleas 
Published: August 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this conceptual paper is to delve into the implications of blockchain technology adoption for brands and consumers. Drawing on the existing branding literature and real-life applications of blockchain, the challenges, risks and opportunities from blockchain adoption for four important areas of the branding literature are canvassed (i.e. brand positioning and corporate brand image, consumer–brand relationships, online brand communication and consumers’ trust in the brand). Also, a future-oriented discussion is provided that highlights some important avenues for researchers in the field.

Design/methodology/approach
This conceptual paper sheds light on the potential implications of blockchain technology for brand–consumer relationships. To do so, an analytical review of the blockchain literature is conducted, the nature of blockchain technology is presented and its unique features and functions for brand–consumer interactions are discussed.

Findings
This paper ignites an exploratory discussion around how blockchain applications and platforms can affect consumer–brand relationships, drawing on a number of real-life examples of blockchain adoption. This discussion sheds light on how blockchain features can impact on various areas of interest for strategic brand management, such as the adoption of digital currencies, brand storytelling, use of blockchain-enabled loyalty programmes, role of intermediaries in online advertising, counterfeit consumption, brand transparency and trust for brands in online marketplaces, amongst others.

Originality/value
This is one of the first conceptual efforts in the branding literature that draws on the scarce existing knowledge around blockchain adoption and discusses the potential implications of blockchain technology for brands and consumers whilst also providing directions for future research.
Preparation and characterization of polyurethane–silica hybrid films
Authors: Zhang Junrui , Jiang Guojun , Huang Tianhao , Xie Jun , Shi Da 
Published: August 2019

Purpose
The paper aims to provide a facile approach to the synthesis of polyurethane–silica nanocomposites by introducing self-made aqueous silica sols with different particle sizes into polyurethane materials. This paper investigates the effects of the silica nanoparticles on the polyester polyol, as well as the physical properties and transmittance of the hybrid polyurethane coatings.

Design/methodology/approach
Colloidal silica particles of different sizes were obtained using a sol–gel process and were then embedded into polyester polyol by in-situ polymerization. These polyester polyol–silica resins were synthesized using an azeotrope process, using xylene to remove the water generated in the system and present in the dispersion medium for the colloidal silica. The polyester polyol–silica resins were further cured using isocyanate trimers to form polyurethane–silica hybrid films.

Findings
The paper observed that the viscosity of the polyester polyol–silica nanocomposite resins increased and their appearance changed from transparent to ivory white as the particle size of the added silica was increased. It was found that increasing the hydroxyl content of the silica improved the film transmittance in the visible light region. However, the transmittance decreased sharply once the diameter of the silica particles reached 100 nm.

Research limitations/implications
Because of the limitation of experimental conditions, some performances have not been tested. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to conduct further tests.

Practical implications
The paper provides a method of preparing hybrid polyurethane film by using silica; the results indicate that the introduction of nano-silica can improve the wear resistance and glass transition temperature of polyurethane coatings.

Originality/value
The results obtained in this study will be extremely useful to enhance the understanding of organic–inorganic hybrid materials.
Measured accuracy improvement method of velocity and displacement based on adaptive Kalman filter
Authors: Xu Xiaobin , Luo Minzhou , Tan Zhiying , Zhang Min , Yang Hao 
Published: August 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the effect of unknown noise parameters of Kalman filter on velocity and displacement and to enhance the measured accuracy using adaptive Kalman filter with particle swarm optimization algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach
A novel method based on adaptive Kalman filter is proposed. Combined with the displacement measurement model, the standard Kalman filtering algorithm is established. The particle swarm optimization algorithm fused with Kalman is used to obtain the optimal noise parameter estimation using different fitness function.

Findings
The simulations and experimental results show that the adaptive Kalman filter algorithm fused with particle swarm optimization can improve the accuracy of the velocity and displacement.

Originality/value
The adaptive Kalman filter algorithm fused with particle swarm optimization can serve as a new method for optimal state estimation of moving target.
Prevalence of emm1 Streptococcus pyogenes having a novel type of genomic composition
Authors: Tatsuno Ichiro , Isaka Masanori , Matsumoto Masakado , Hasegawa Tadao 
Published: August 2019

AbstractStreptococcus pyogenes is a causative agent of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). The complete genome sequence of a S. pyogenes strain 10–85 isolated from a STSS patient was recently announced. In this study, the genome sequence was dissected and it was found that the genomic region around 200 kbp (region A) and the genomic region around 1600 kbp (region B) were replaced by each other in strain 10–85, when compared with those in reference strains SF370 and A20. In order to address whether this replacement is unique to 10–85, we further analyzed 163 emm1‐type strains. The results indicated that none of the strains isolated before 1990 had the replacement. In contrast, most of the strains isolated at least after 2000 appeared to have the 10–85‐type replacement.
Sudden Cardiac Deaths in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease with Structural Abnormalities: A Retrospective Review of Cases in the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office
Authors: Gitto Lorenzo , Serinelli Serenella , Arunkumar Ponni , White Steven M. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractSudden cardiac death is a significant cause of mortality in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office database was queried for cases of CHD as a cause of death in the period between July 2008 and April 2019. Twenty‐two cases were identified, including 11 decedents with simple defects and 10 decedents with complex defects. All of the subjects were in apparent good health at the time of death. In the absence of other obvious causes of death, simple defects were considered cases of sudden cardiac death. Significant cardiac morphological changes were common in complex defects. While 16 cases had known, diagnosed/treated CHD, 5 cases had no diagnosis prior to autopsy. In these cases, the ability to recognize CHD (sometimes subtle) helped in determining the causes of death. Therefore, forensic pathologists must be able to properly recognize various forms of CHD and request consultations, when needed.
Outcomes of radiologically inserted gastrostomy versus percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
Authors: Cherian Priya , Blake Claire , Appleyard Mark , Clouston John , Mott Nigel 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIntroductionGastrostomy insertion either via radiological (radiologically inserted gastrostomy, RIG) or endoscopic (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, PEG) approaches are widely practiced throughout Australia. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of inserted tubes and cost evaluation by both methods.MethodsA retrospective cohort study conducted on all‐cause gastrostomy insertions at a quaternary Australian Hospital, Royal Brisbane and Womens' Hospital (RBWH) between January 2012 and August 2015. Current referral pattern is first‐line gastrostomy and second‐line radiological insertion.ResultsA total of 402 gastrostomy tubes were inserted with a total of 307 PEG tubes and 95 RIG tubes, with follow‐up to one calendar year. Mean patient age was 61 years ± 14.2 years with 76% male patients. A total of 84% of patients were head and neck cancer patients; major indications for insertion include prophylaxis (58%), dysphagia (32%) and NBM (2.5%). Patient groups were heterogeneous with varied indications for insertion including prophylaxis, dysphagia, decompression, NBM and treatment side effects. Outcomes measured included the following: complications, premature tube failure prior to expected removal and, overall tube outcome/ disposition. A lower incidence of minor complications was observed with the RIG group than the PEG group without differences in major complications over time. Tube failure due to either blockage or dislodgement was assessed. Multivariate analysis of all‐cause dislodgement found 'method of insertion' a predictor of dislodgement with RIG 5.4(OR) times more likely to be dislodged than PEG. Competing risk analysis demonstrates equipment as a significant cause of dislodgement occurring more commonly with RIG than PEG tubes. Tubes were removed more often in the PEG group because a large volume were prophylactic. Tubes were replaced more often in the RIG group, with tube blockage and equipment as causes for tube replacement in this group. Replacements occur either in suite or bedside. Costing data were limited with only 94 patients’ costing data qualifying for a limited unit cost evaluation, with radiologically inserted tubes marginally more expensive than tubes inserted endoscopically.ConclusionsBoth are safe procedures, with improved techniques; radiologically inserted gastrostomies have an improved profile with respect to dislodgement rates than previously reported in the literature. Radiological tubes remain limited by equipment factors with balloon failure an ongoing issue. Cost analysis was hindered by poor documentation; however, the opportunity cost remains an important advantage of radiological insertion at peripheral sites, increasingly relevant for health service delivery in our geographically vast state.
Neurophysiological and Interpersonal Correlates of Emotional Face Processing in Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: Hoffman Lauren A. , Lewis Ben , Nixon Sara Jo 
Published: August 2019

BackgroundA growing literature suggests deficient emotional facial expression (EFE) processing among recently abstinent individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Further investigation is needed to clarify valence‐related discrepancies and elucidate neural and psychosocial correlates. We examined neurobehavioral indices of EFE processing and interpersonal problems in treatment seekers with AUDs and healthy community controls (CCs).MethodsThirty‐four individuals with AUDs and 39 CCs completed an emotion judgment task (EJT), requiring discrimination between happy, angry, and sad EFEs. A second task requiring discrimination of male and female faces with neutral expressions served as the control task (i.e., sex judgment task, SJT). Neurophysiological (i.e., N170 and P3) and behavioral measures were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM). Interpersonal problems were assessed with the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems‐64 (IIP‐64). The relationship of IIP‐64 and EJT performance was investigated via within‐group correlations.ResultsAnalysis of the SJT revealed no group differences in behavioral measures, N170 amplitude, or P3 latency. P3 amplitudes, however, were significantly lower in the AUD group. For the EJT, initial observations of group differences in P3 amplitude were accounted for by differences in the control task. Behavioral analyses indicated that the AUD group was significantly less accurate than the CC group. Hypothesis‐driven analyses using GLMM‐estimated group differences indicated that anger processing was affected to a greater degree than were other emotions. Significant EJT/IIP‐64 correlations were observed for anger processing within the AUD group and were confined to IIP‐64 subscales with relatively high ratings on the affiliation dimension.ConclusionsFindings provide partial support for an emotion‐specific processing deficit in persons with AUDs. Anger processing was more robustly affected than other emotions and was associated with interpersonal problems characterized by being overly needy, nonassertive, and overly accommodating. Results extend prior reports and reinforce the need for comprehensive study of emotion processing and its real‐world implications.
Live birth and miscarriage rate following intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection vs intracytoplasmic sperm injection: An updated systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Duran‐Retamal Montserrat , Morris Guy , Achilli Chiara , Gaunt Matthew , Theodorou Efstathios , Saab Wael , Serhal Paul , Seshadri Srividya 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIntroductionIntracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) is one of the sperm selection techniques used for assisted reproduction which has been applied for a variety of indications including previously failed fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A Cochrane review1 found no difference in outcomes between either modality of sperm selection. Since the Cochrane review was published there have been a further two randomized controlled trials comparing IMSI and ICSI. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to compare IMSI with ICSI as insemination methods regarding live birth rate and miscarriage rate.Material and methodsSystematic review of randomized controlled trials, observational studies and similar reviews in electronic databases published before January 2018.ResultsWe found nine randomized controlled trials, evaluating 1610 cycles of in vitro fertilization and 15 observational studies evaluating 1243 cycles of in vitro fertilization. Meta‐analysis of the included randomized controlled trials showed no difference in the live birth rate or miscarriage rate between the ICSI and IMSI groups. Meta‐analysis of five observational studies showed a significantly higher number of live births in the IMSI group than ICSI group (live birth rate odds ratio 1.47, 95% confidence interval 1.16‐4.07), with a moderate degree of heterogeneity (I2 = 41%). Additionally, from six observational studies, a significantly lower miscarriage rate was observed in the IMSI group than in the ICSI group (odds ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.37‐0.70, I2 = 0%).ConclusionsMeta‐analysis of randomized studies comparing IMSI to ICSI has not shown any difference in live birth rate and miscarriage rate. Meta‐analysis of observational studies, which must be interpreted with caution, revealed an increased live birth rate and decreased miscarriage rate with IMSI vs ICSI.
Protecting Job Performance and Well‐Being in the Demanding Work Context: The Moderating Effect of Psychological Detachment for Chinese Employees
Authors: Lu Luo , Chou Chun Yi 
Published: August 2019

The aim of this study was twofold: first, to examine the lasting effects of working hours on later job performance and well‐being (i.e. emotional exhaustion and work engagement); second, to delineate the protective role of psychological detachment in the highly demanding Chinese work setting featuring long working hours. We employed a panel design in which all variables were measured twice, with six months in between the waves. Data were obtained from 323 Chinese employees working in diverse industries in Taiwan. Analysing the panel data with structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques, we found that working hours were positively associated with emotional exhaustion and negatively associated with work engagement and job performance, measured six months later. Detachment moderated the effects of working hours on later work engagement and job performance. Specifically, detachment attenuated the negative relationships between working hours and work engagement and job performance. The present study extends the recovery research in the West by demonstrating the protective role of detachment in the East Asian societies with important managerial implications.
Role of the CLOCK protein in liver detoxification
Authors: Zhao Mengjing , Zhao Huan , Deng Jiangming , Guo Lianxia , Wu Baojian 
Published: August 2019

Background and PurposeWhether and how circadian clock proteins regulate drug detoxification are not known. Here, we have assessed the effects of CLOCK (a core circadian clock protein) on drug metabolism and detoxification.Experimental ApproachRegulation by CLOCK protein of drug‐metabolizing enzymes was assessed using Clock knockout (Clock−/−) mice and Hepa‐1c1c7/AML‐12 cells. The relative mRNA and protein levels were determined by qPCR and Western blotting respectively. Toxicity and pharmacokinetic experiments were performed with Clock−/− and wild‐type mice after intraperitoneal injection of coumarin or cyclophosphamide. Transcriptional gene regulation was investigated using luciferase reporter, mobility shift, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays.Key ResultsClock deletion disrupted hepatic diurnal expressions of a number of drug‐metabolizing enzymes in mice. In particular, CYP2A4/5 expressions were markedly down‐regulated, whereas CYP2B10 was up‐regulated. Positive regulation of Cyp2a4/5 and negative regulation of Cyp2b10 by CLOCK were confirmed in Hepa‐1c1c7 and AML‐12 cells. Based on a combination of luciferase reporter, mobility shift, and ChIP assays, we found that CLOCK activated Cyp2a4/5 transcription via specific binding to E‐box elements in promoter region and repressed Cyp2b10 transcription through REV‐ERBα/β (two target genes of CLOCK and transcriptional repressors of Cyp2b10). Furthermore, Clock ablation sensitized mice to coumarin toxicity by down‐regulating CYP2A4/5‐mediated metabolism (a detoxification pathway) and to cyclophosphamide toxicity by up‐regulating CYP2B10‐mediated metabolism (generating the toxic metabolite 4‐hydroxycyclophosphamide).Conclusion and ImplicationsCLOCK protein regulates metabolism by the cytochrome P450 family and drug detoxification. The findings improve our understanding of the crosstalk between circadian clock and drug detoxification.
Dense Point‐to‐Point Correspondences Between Genus‐Zero Shapes
Authors: Lee Sing Chun , Kazhdan Misha 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe describe a novel approach that addresses the problem of establishing correspondences between non‐rigidly deformed shapes by performing the registration over the unit sphere. In a pre‐processing step, each shape is conformally parametrized over the sphere, centered to remove Möbius inversion ambiguity, and authalically evolved to expand regions that are excessively compressed by the conformal parametrization. Then, for each pair of shapes, we perform fast SO(3) correlation to find the optimal rotational alignment and refine the registration using optical flow. We evaluate our approach on the TOSCA dataset, demonstrating that our approach compares favorably to state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Hierarchical Functional Maps between Subdivision Surfaces
Authors: Shoham Meged , Vaxman Amir , Ben‐Chen Mirela 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe propose a novel approach for computing correspondences between subdivision surfaces with different control polygons. Our main observation is that the multi‐resolution spectral basis functions that are open used for computing a functional correspondence can be compactly represented on subdivision surfaces, and therefore can be efficiently computed. Furthermore, the reconstruction of a pointwise map from a functional correspondence also greatly benefits from the subdivision structure. Leveraging these observations, we suggest a hierarchical pipeline for functional map inference, allowing us to compute correspondences between surfaces at fine subdivision levels, with hundreds of thousands of polygons, an order of magnitude faster than existing correspondence methods. We demonstrate the applicability of our results by transferring high‐resolution sculpting displacement maps and textures between subdivision models.
Structural Design Using Laplacian Shells
Authors: Ulu E. , McCann J. , Kara L. B. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe introduce a method to design lightweight shell objects that are structurally robust under the external forces they may experience during use. Given an input 3D model and a general description of the external forces, our algorithm generates a structurally‐sound minimum weight shell object. Our approach works by altering the local shell thickness repeatedly based on the stresses that develop inside the object. A key issue in shell design is that large thickness values might result in self‐intersections on the inner boundary creating a significant computational challenge during optimization. To address this, we propose a shape parametrization based on the solution to the Laplace's equation that guarantees smooth and intersection‐free shell boundaries. Combined with our gradient‐free optimization algorithm, our method provides a practical solution to the structural design of hollow objects with a single inner cavity. We demonstrate our method on a variety of problems with arbitrary 3D models under complex force configurations and validate its performance with physical experiments.
A Convolutional Decoder for Point Clouds using Adaptive Instance Normalization
Authors: Lim Isaak , Ibing Moritz , Kobbelt Leif 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAutomatic synthesis of high quality 3D shapes is an ongoing and challenging area of research. While several data‐driven methods have been proposed that make use of neural networks to generate 3D shapes, none of them reach the level of quality that deep learning synthesis approaches for images provide. In this work we present a method for a convolutional point cloud decoder/generator that makes use of recent advances in the domain of image synthesis. Namely, we use Adaptive Instance Normalization and offer an intuition on why it can improve training. Furthermore, we propose extensions to the minimization of the commonly used Chamfer distance for auto‐encoding point clouds. In addition, we show that careful sampling is important both for the input geometry and in our point cloud generation process to improve results. The results are evaluated in an auto‐encoding setup to offer both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The proposed decoder is validated by an extensive ablation study and is able to outperform current state of the art results in a number of experiments. We show the applicability of our method in the fields of point cloud upsampling, single view reconstruction, and shape synthesis.