bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Efficacy and Patient Perceptions of Pyogenic Granuloma Excision Using Diode Laser Versus Conventional Surgical Techniques
Authors: Isola Gaetano , Matarese Giovanni , Cervino Gabriele , Matarese Marco , Ramaglia Luca , Cicciù Marco 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
The use of laser in oral surgery and periodontology is a matter of debate, mainly because of the lack of consensual therapeutic protocols. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical advantages of diode laser versus traditional surgery with a cold blade for the surgical excision of pyogenic granuloma (PG). Twenty-one patients (10 males, 11 females, aged 19–66 years; mean age: 46.5 years), requiring PG excision, were enrolled in the study. Through a randomized clinical trial design, all patients were randomly subjected to PG surgical excision with either diode laser or cold blade. Parameters analyzed were the speed of incision, time of intervention, intraoperative bleeding, number of stitches, and patient compliance. Histologic examination was performed before and after surgical excision of the lesions. Patients compiled a subjective evaluation questionnaire. Both treatments were successful in surgical excision of PG. However, the mean speed of incision was significantly reduced in diode laser group (0.61 ± 0.29 mm/s) compared with cold blade group (1.47 ± 1.23 mm/s) (P < 0.05). The mean lengths of time for the whole surgical intervention were significantly lower in diode laser group (221.15 ± 220.89 s) compared with cold blade group (316.10 ± 248.69 s) (P < 0.05). Moreover, diode laser induced a reduced intrasurgical bleeding, and a better gingival healing compared with cold blade surgical treatment. This study demonstrated that the use of diode laser showed additional advantages compared with cold blade in terms of less postoperative discomfort and pain for surgical removal of PG.
Treatment of hormone-naïve metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Hamilou Zineb , Saad Fred , Fizazi Karim 
Published: July 2018

Purpose of review
Until 2015, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone was the standard-of-care for metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer (mHNPC). In the last decade, important landmark therapeutic advances occurred in the management of these patients permitting improvement of their survival.

Recent findings
At least two prospective randomized trials proved upfront docetaxel (DOC) + ADT benefit consequently providing strong evidence for guidelines modifications. Second, similar benefit results were demonstrated when using upfront abiraterone acetate + ADT in mHNPC.

Summary
Both DOC-based chemotherapy and abiraterone acetate provide survival improvement when added to ADT in mHNPC. In the current article, we review the evidence behind this progress and discuss ongoing clinical controversies.
Datamining a medieval medical text reveals patterns in ingredient choice that reflect biological activity against the causative agents of specified infections
Authors: Connelly Erin , del Genio Charo I. , Harrison Freya 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe pharmacopeia used by physicians and lay people in medieval Europe has largely been dismissed as placebo or superstition. While we now recognise that some of themateria medicaused by medieval physicians could have had useful biological properties, research in this area is limited by the labour-intensive process of searching and interpreting historical medical texts. Here, we demonstrate the potential power of turning medieval medical texts into contextualised electronic databases amenable to exploration by algorithm. We use established methodologies from network science to reveal statistically significant patterns in ingredient selection and usage in a key text, the fifteenth-centuryLylye of Medicynes, focusing on remedies to treat symptoms of microbial infection. We discuss the potential that these patterns reflect rational medical decisions. In providing a worked example of data-driven textual analysis, we demonstrate the potential of this approach to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and to shine a new light on the ethnopharmacology of historical medical texts.
Illuminating spatial A-to-I RNA editing signatures within the Drosophila brain
Authors: Sapiro Anne L. , Shmueli Anat , Henry Gilbert Lee , Li Qin , Shalit Tali , Yaron Orly , Paas Yoav , Li Jin Billy , Shohat-Ophir Galit 
Published: July 2018

SummaryAdenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing, catalyzed by ADAR enzymes, is a ubiquitous mechanism that generates transcriptomic diversity. This process is particularly important for proper neuronal function; however, little is known about how RNA editing is dynamically regulated between the many functionally distinct neuronal populations of the brain. In this resource paper, we present a spatial RNA editing map in the Drosophila brain and show that different neuronal populations possess distinct RNA editing signatures. After purifying and sequencing RNA from genetically marked neuronal nuclei, we identified a large number of novel editing sites and compared editing levels in hundreds of transcripts across nine functionally different neuronal populations. We found distinct editing repertoires for each population, including novel sites in repeat regions of the transcriptome and differential editing in highly conserved and likely functional regions of transcripts that encode essential neuronal genes. These changes are site-specific and not driven by changes in Adar expression, suggesting a complex, targeted regulation of editing levels in key transcripts. This fine-tuning of the transcriptome between different neurons by RNA editing may account for functional differences between distinct populations in the brain.Significance StatementA fundamental question in contemporary neuroscience is how the remarkable cellular diversity required for the intricate function of the nervous system is achieved. In this manuscript, we bridge the gap between a cellular machinery that is known to diversify the transcriptome and the existence of distinct neuronal populations that compose Drosophila brain. Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA-editing is a ubiquitous mechanism that generates transcriptomic diversity in cells by recoding certain adenosines within the pre-mRNA sequence into inosines. We present a spatial map of RNA editing across different neuronal populations in Drosophila brain. Each neuronal population has a distinct editing signature, with the majority of differential editing occurring in highly conserved regions of transcripts that encode ion channels and other essential neuronal genes.
Parameterized expertise: Evidence for gradations of musical expertise from electroencephalographic monitoring of auditory decision-making
Authors: Sherwin Jason Samuel , Sajda Paul 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA musician’s nervous system is thought to specialize to their mode of music production. For instance, the pianist’s control of hands and arms develops to facilitate greater dexterity at the keyboard, while the cellist develops control to play notes using both the fret board and/or bow. Our previous work, employing an anomalous musical event (AME) detection task, identified neural and behavioral correlates that differentiated between a specific class of musicians, cellists, and those without professional musical training and expertise. Here we investigate a fine-grain differentiation between musicians having different modes of musical production, specifically in terms of how these differences are manifested in the neural correlates identified in the AME task. We show, using electroencephalography (EEG), that both event related potentials (ERPs) and single-trial analysis of the EEG can grade musical expertise by mode of sound production. Important is that these fine-grained EEG correlates are observable absent any motor response or active music production by the individuals. We find evidence that these grades of expertise are mediated by different sensory-motor interactions emblematic of the sound production mode. More broadly, our results show that neural markers can both define types of musical expertise and decompose their source components when behavioral differences are either minute or indistinguishable.
Tensional homeostasis in multicellular clusters: effects of geometry and traction force dynamics
Authors: Li J. , Barbone P. E. , Smith M. L. , Stamenović D. 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTThe ability of cells to maintain a constant level of their cytoskeletal tension in response to external and internal disturbances is referred to as tensional homeostasis. It is essential for the normal physiological function of cells and tissues, and for protection against disease progression, including atherosclerosis and cancer. It has been shown recently that some cell types, such as endothelial cells, can maintain tensional homeostasis only when they form multicellular clusters, whereas other cell types, such as fibroblasts, do not require clustering for tensional homeostasis. For example, measurements of cell-extracellular matrix traction forces have shown that temporal fluctuations of the traction field in clusters of endothelial cells become progressively attenuated with increasing number of cells in the cluster, whereas in fibroblasts cell clustering does not influence traction field variability. Mechanisms that are responsible for these observations are largely unknown. In this study, a theoretical analysis and mathematical modeling have been applied to analyze experimental data obtained previously from traction microscopy measurements in order to investigate possible physical mechanisms that influence temporal variability of the traction field in multicellular forms. The focus of the analysis is on the contribution of dynamics and distribution of focal adhesion traction forces in conjunction with geometrical shape and size of multicellular clusters. Results of the analysis revealed that cluster size, magnitude and temporal fluctuations of focal adhesion traction forces have a major influence on traction field variability, whereas the influence of cluster shape appears to be minor.
Exploring how structural and cognitive social capital influence preventive health behavior
Authors: Limbu Yam B. , Jayachandran C. , McKinley Christopher , Choi Jeonghwan 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
People living on poverty-level incomes in developing nations face unique health challenges as compared to those in developed nations. New insights emerge from a bottom of the pyramid context (India) where culture-based health notions, preventive orientation and health resources differ from developed western health orientations and resources. The purpose of this paper is to explore how structural and cognitive social capital indirectly influence preventive health behavior (PHB) through perceived health value.

Design/methodology/approach
The participants for this study include rural people from Tamil Nadu, a state of India who are classified as those living below poverty level based on a per capita/per day consumption expenditure of Rupees 22.50 (an equivalent of US$0.40 a per capita/per day) (Planning Commission, Government of India, 2012). The study included a total number of 635 participants (312 males and 323 females). Relatively a high response rate (79 percent) was achieved through personal contacts and telephone solicitation, cash incentive and multiple follow-ups. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing structural and cognitive social capital, preventative health behavior, perceived health value, and health locus of control (HLC).

Findings
The results show that perceived health value mediates the relationship between cognitive social capital and PHB. Specifically, cognitive social capital influences BoP people’s assessment of benefits of engaging in PHB, that, in turn, influences PHB. In addition, the findings showed that HLC moderates the effect of social capital on PHB. Social capital positively related to enhanced PHB only among those who believe that health outcomes are controllable.

Originality/value
The authors findings indicate that cognitive social capital has enormous potential in promoting health intervention and the health of poor communities, a sentiment shared by prior researchers (Glenane-Antoniadis et al., 2003; Fisher et al., 2004; Martin et al., 2004; Weitzman and Kawachi, 2000). Overall, from a theoretical, empirical and methodological perspective, the current study offers a unique contribution to the social capital and PHB literature. First, drawing from the HBM and HLC, the findings provide a more nuanced explanation of how distinct aspects of social capital predict PHB. Specifically, the relationship between social capital and PHB is qualified by the extent one perceives personal control over her health. In addition, the cognitive component of social capital influences PHB through perceptions of health value.
Rapid video assessment for monitoring testing facility fraud
Authors: Souza Rosembergue Pereira , Carmo Luiz Fernando Rust da Costa , Pirmez Luci 
Published: July 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a procedure for finding unusual patterns in accredited tests using a rapid processing method for analyzing video records. The procedure uses the temporal differencing technique for object tracking and considers only frames not identified as statistically redundant.Design/methodology/approachAn accreditation organization is responsible for accrediting facilities to undertake testing and calibration activities. Periodically, such organizations evaluate accredited testing facilities. These evaluations could use video records and photographs of the tests performed by the facility to judge their conformity to technical requirements. To validate the proposed procedure, a real-world data set with video records from accredited testing facilities in the field of vehicle safety in Brazil was used. The processing time of this proposed procedure was compared with the time needed to process the video records in a traditional fashion.FindingsWith an appropriate threshold value, the proposed procedure could successfully identify video records of fraudulent services. Processing time was faster than when a traditional method was employed.Originality/valueManually evaluating video records is time consuming and tedious. This paper proposes a procedure to rapidly find unusual patterns in videos of accredited tests with a minimum of manual effort.
Strategic human resource management and its impact on performance – do Chinese organizations adopt appropriate HRM policies?
Authors: Szierbowski-Seibel Klaas 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
This paper aims to separately consider studies from the three major economies, the USA, Europe and China, to illustrate differences and similarities. A comparison of these three clusters allows the author to conclude that the US human resource management (HRM) model was adopted by European and, subsequently, Chinese organizations through the mechanism of mimetic isomorphism. In addition, the majority of studies have confirmed that certain HR procedures have a positive impact on organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach
The essay reviews and reappraises existing empirical studies in the field of HRM and organizational performance.

Findings
As European organizations adopted HRM configurations and the notion that HR should play a more strategic role from US organizations, the review suggests that Chinese organizations are now imitating US and European HRM. In all summarized studies, there is robust empirical evidence that the HR function is able to directly add value and improve organizational performance.

Originality/value
The study compares Chinese to Western HR functions and examines the effectiveness of strategic HRM by evaluating the existing research. At a minimum, in response to the title of the manuscript and the question, “do Chinese organizations adopt appropriate HRM policies?”, the general answer is yes. Given the mechanism of mimetic isomorphism, it can be assumed that Chinese organizations adopt the most efficient HR configurations from Western organizations. The summarized studies also support the prediction that subsidiaries of Western multinational organizations accelerate the development of the Chinese HR functions.
Concurrent direct assessment of foundation skills for general education
Authors: Rhodes Anthony , Danaher Maurice , Ater Kranov Ashley 
Published: July 2018

Purpose
There is considerable agreement around the foundation skills required by employers that will enable graduates to integrate and devise promising solutions for the challenges faced by knowledge and globalized societies. These are life skills (communication skills, teamwork and leadership skills, language skills in reading and writing and information literacy), transferable skills (such as problem-solving, including critical thinking, creativity and quantitative reasoning) and technology skills (search for knowledge and build upon it). Foundation skills, however, are recognized to be difficult both to teach and assess. This paper aims to describe a performance assessment method to assess and measure these skills in a uniquely concurrent way – the General Education Foundation Skills Assessment (GEFSA).

Design/methodology/approach
The GEFSA framework comprises a scenario/case describing an unresolved contemporary issue, which engages student groups in online discussions, and a task-specific analytic rubric to concurrently assess the extent to which students have attained the targeted foundation skills. The method was applied in three semesters – during 2016 and 2017. These students were non-native English speaking students in a General Education program at a university in the UAE.

Findings
Results obtained from the rubric for each foundation skill were analyzed and interpreted to ensure robustness of method and tool usability and reliability, provide insight into, and commentary on, the respective skill attainment levels and assist in establishing realistic target ranges for General Education student skill attainment. The results showed that the method is valid and provides valuable data for curriculum development.

Originality/value
This is the first method in published literature that directly assesses the foundation skills for General Education students simultaneously, thus providing educators with valuable data on the skill level of the students. Additionally, repeated use of the method is a valuable way of teaching skills.
Does the level of assurance statement on environmental disclosure affect investor assessment?
Authors: Rivière-Giordano Géraldine , Giordano-Spring Sophie , Cho Charles H. 
Published: July 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine whether different levels of assurance statements of environmental disclosures affect investment choices in the French context where environmental assurance was voluntary until 2012 and became regulated and mandatory since then.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted an experiment during the voluntary context – which represents the vast majority of countries – on a sample of 108 financial analysts.FindingsEnvironmental disclosure has a positive impact on investment recommendations. More surprisingly, financial analysts are less likely to give recommendations in favor of a company that displays environmental disclosure with low-level assurance than for a company with no assurance statement at all.Research limitations/implicationsWhen assurance is voluntary and there are at least two levels, this study results suggest that firms should avoid selecting the lowest level of assurance because it negatively affects investor decisions. From this perspective, firms should devote sufficient effort and resources to obtain at least Level 2 environmental disclosure assurance.Practical implicationsGiven the recommendations made by financial analysts, the authors could expect that firms may prefer to engage in a higher level of assurance or to provide no assurance rather than minimize their financial efforts and resources to select a lower level of voluntary assurance regarding environmental disclosure.Social implicationsThis study has implications for the voluntary assurance practices of environmental disclosure and can provide support to regulators to promote higher standards in environmental assurance. It documents the relevance to increase the level of requested assurance for environmental disclosure.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, very few studies have examined the additional effect of assurance on environmental disclosure in investors’ decisions. The experiment is conducted with financial analysts in the context of voluntary assurance.
The Measure of a Nation
Authors: Hampshire James 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn his ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, and in several speeches in subsequent years, Enoch Powell claimed that immigration was an ‘issue of numbers’. Britain could not, he believed, accommodate a significant number of non‐white people without threatening the existence of the nation. I argue that Powell's opposition to immigration, and his numerical framing of it, rested upon his racialised conception of British, or English, nationhood. As he was shunned by political elites, Powell articulated an increasingly populist nationalism. Drawing repeated references to Britain's wartime experiences, Powell claimed that the British, or more often the English, were being attacked by an immigrant enemy without, and betrayed by an establishment enemy within. I conclude with some reflections on the similarities between Powellite nationalism and contemporary discourses about national identity during and since the European Union referendum.
The Monitoring Effectiveness of Co‐opted Audit Committees
Authors: Cassell Cory A. , Myers Linda A. , Schmardebeck Roy , Zhou Jian 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTWe investigate the relation between audit committee co‐option and financial reporting quality, where audit committee co‐option is measured as the proportion of audit committee members who joined the board after the appointment of the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Because CEOs are often actively involved in the director nomination and selection process, we expect that higher levels of audit committee co‐option will be associated with less effective monitoring, as evidenced by more financial statement misstatements and greater absolute discretionary accruals. Consistent with our expectations, we find a positive relation between audit committee co‐option and misstatements as well as between audit committee co‐option and absolute discretionary accruals. Our findings should be of interest to regulators, investors, and other stakeholders because we provide new evidence about how potential CEO influence on director nominations and audit committee appointments impacts the effectiveness of monitoring by the audit committee.
The Information Content of Short Selling Around Close Supply Chain Relationships
Authors: Evans Jocelyn D. , Outlaw Dominique G. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractClose supply chain relationships are sometimes detrimental to the partnering firms, and short sellers recognize this before the rest of the market. Suppliers and customers that are in linked, close supply chain relationships have higher short interest on average. Further, higher short interest increases the likelihood of large, linked customers reporting negative earnings surprises, whereas suppliers with high short interest are more likely to report negative earnings surprises, irrespective of the supply chain structure. Short selling is informative to capital markets because these suboptimal relationships eventually lead to dependent suppliers being delisted from a stock exchange for financial distress reasons.