bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
As time goes by ... maintaining longitudinal satisfaction: a perspective of hedonic adaptation
Authors: Ying Yu , Jing Fengjie , Nguyen Bang , Chen Junsong
Published: February 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve our understanding of how firms can maintain longitudinal satisfaction. Previous research on longitudinal satisfaction demonstrates that the product attributes weight on satisfaction shifts over time. However, the existing literature lacks an understanding of the intervening mechanism. Inspired by the hedonic adaptation theory, this research first argues that the shift depends on the attribute’s variability. Then, it posits that hedonic adaptation might play a mediation role in connecting the attribute’s weight and longitudinal satisfaction. Finally, the research incorporates consumer intentional activities into the antecedents of longitudinal satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test a series of hypotheses across two studies. Using the Slope-shift Parameter Theory and Structural Equation Modeling, data collected from smartphone owners in four MBA classes (Study 1) and eight business venues in China (Study 2) are analyzed to confirm the research model.

Findings

The findings suggest that hedonic adaptation occurs during the ownership process. It is revealed that both the attribute’s variability and consumption behavior play important roles in sustaining long-term satisfaction, confirming the mediating effects of hedonic adaptation on the relationship above.

Originality/value

The hedonic adaptation theory is applied to study the mediating role of product attribute variability and consumption behavior in sustaining customer satisfaction over time. Three contributions are offered: First, hedonic adaptation occurs during the ownership process; second, the attribute’s variability and consumption behavior both play important roles in sustaining longitudinal satisfaction; third, the mediating effects of hedonic adaptation are confirmed for the relationship between attribute’s variability and sustaining satisfaction and consumption behavior and sustaining satisfaction.
Innovation creation, innovation adoption, and firm characteristics in the construction industry
Authors: Kamal Ernawati Mustafa , Yusof Nor'Aini , Iranmanesh Mohammad
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This study aims to assess the construction firm’s innovation orientation and to investigate its relationship with firm characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

– A structured survey was conducted among 105 firms in the Malaysian construction industry. The results of the factor analysis revealed two underlying dimensions of innovation, namely, innovation creation and innovation adoption. For the cluster analysis, the firms were segmented into four subgroups according to four dimensions, namely, non-innovative, innovation-creator, imitator and innovative firms.

Findings

– Firm’s business scale and age significantly affected the innovation orientation of construction firms.

Originality/value

– This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by adding a new firm characteristic, business scale, as a potential predictor of firms’ innovativeness. This study is the first to explore the effect of firm characteristics on the innovation orientation of firms.
Digital oases and digital deserts in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Wentrup Robert , Ström Patrik , Nakamura H. Richard
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate whether Sub-Saharan African countries are catching up with the rest of the world in terms of online usage. Online service usage is an important component of the discourse of the “digital divide”, an emblematic term for the inequality of information and communication technology access.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is a quantitative analysis of internet and Facebook penetration coupled with economic strength (GDP/capita), literacy and degree of rural population.

Findings

– The findings reveal a heterogeneous pattern with a few African countries being digital oases and close to European levels, whereas the majority of the countries are still digital deserts. A strong correlation is found between economic strength and internet penetration. A generalist picture that Sub-Saharan is on the trajectory of closing the digital divide is an imprecise reflection of the reality.

Research limitations/implications

– It is argued that instead of measuring supply-side data, which has been the trend till now, the use of demand-side elements such as online service usage tells more about digital inequalities between countries.

Practical implications

– The research encourages internet firms to open up their eyes for Sub-Saharan Africa as an investment opportunity with an untapped gap of online usage.

Social implications

– The three-billion internet users on the planet are unevenly spread and under-represented in Africa. By drawing a heterogeneous online usage landscape, digital policy can be accurately steered toward countries with the largest needs.

Originality/value

– There is a paucity of research going into the depth of online usage in Africa. The paper is a contribution to fill that gap.
Statistical process control application on service quality using SERVQUAL and QFD with a case study in trains’ services
Authors: Khorshidi Hadi Akbarzade , Nikfalazar Sanaz , Gunawan Indra
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to implement statistical process control (SPC) in service quality using three-level SERVQUAL, quality function deployment (QFD) and internal measure.

Design/methodology/approach

– The SERVQUAL questionnaire is developed according to internal services of train. Also, it is verified by reliability scale and factor analysis. QFD method is employed for translating SERVQUAL dimensions’ importance weights which are derived from Analytic Hierarchy Process into internal measures. Furthermore, the limits of the Zone of Tolerance are used to determine service quality specification limits based on normal distribution characteristics. Control charts and process capability indices are used to control service processes.

Findings

– SPC is used for service quality through a structured framework. Also, an adapted SERVQUAL questionnaire is created for measuring quality of train’s internal services. In the case study, it is shown that reliability is the most important dimension in internal services of train for the passengers. Also, the service process is not capable to perform in acceptable level.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed algorithm is practically applied to control the quality of a train’s services. Internal measure is improved for continuous data collection and process monitoring. Also, it provides an opportunity to apply SPC on intangible attributes of the services. In the other word, SPC is used to control the qualitative specifications of the service processes which have been measured by SERVQUAL.

Originality/value

– Since SPC is usually used for manufacturing processes, this paper develops a model to use SPC in services in presence of qualitative criteria. To reach this goal, this model combines SERVQUAL, QFD, normal probability distribution, control charts, and process capability. In addition, it is a novel research on internal services of train with regard to service quality evaluation and process control.
TOPSIS approach to prioritize critical success factors of TQM
Authors: Mehralian Gholamhossein , Nazari Jamal A , Rasekh Hamid Reza , Hosseini Sajjad
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The pharmaceutical industry has a critical impact on health promotion. It is essential to identify and prioritize the critical success factors (CSFs) within this industry to ensure successful implementation of total quality management (TQM). Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritize CSFs that affect TQM successful implementation in the pharmaceutical industry.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on a thorough review of the literature and building on the earlier studies, a valid questionnaire was developed and sent to 320 managers in pharmaceutical sector. In total, 210 completed questionnaires were returned. The technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) was used to rank and prioritize CSFs.

Findings

– Results of the data analyses showed that information and analysis, management commitment, relationship with suppliers, and customer focus are the top four CSFs for the successful implementation of TQM in the pharmaceutical sector.

Originality/value

– Using TOPSIS approach, this is the first study that determines CSFs that have impact on successful implementation of TQM in the pharmaceutical sector. There have been limited studies investigating the CSFs in developing countries. The findings will be useful in helping manager to successfully implement TQM in emerging markets. The approach will help future studies to examine the impact of successful implementation of TQM on firm performance in other industries and in emerging markets.
Capability for continuous improvement
Authors: Gonzalez Rodrigo Valio Dominguez , Martins Manoel Fernando
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The current state of the art on continuous improvement takes into consideration that capabilities and organizational behaviors are more important elements for conduction and sustainability than the technical aspects. This set of capabilities and behaviors, initially addressed by Bessant and Caffyn in the 1990s, essentially considers that organizations should build an environment focussed on continuous learning. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the development of capabilities that support continuous improvement programs in two distinct productive environments: the automotive sector and the custom made capital goods sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– From a theoretical reference on the subject, a set of capabilities that are related to the practice of continuous improvement is raised and, through a qualitative approach, four companies of the two sectors considered are analyzed using a case study strategy.

Findings

– The research results suggest that the companies researched in the automotive sector have a higher level of employee engagement in relation to continuous improvement programs compared to the companies in the capital goods sector, which is justified by the strategy adopted by the organizations.

Research limitations/implications

– As any qualitative approach, this research presents restrictions regarding the generalization of the results for the studied sectors.

Originality/value

– The contribution of this paper can be divided into two parts. The first one refers to the identification of a current framework of capabilities that support continuous improvement, and the second one is the evaluation of the development of these capabilities in two sectors with different productive contexts (automotive and custom made capital goods).
Perception of TQM benefits, practices and obstacles
Authors: Jaeger Martin , Adair Desmond
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the perception of total quality management (TQM) benefits, practices and obstacles in Kuwaiti industrial organizations certified against ISO 9001:2000 (or later) and following a TQM approach. A discrepancy in perception between project managers (PMs) and quality management representatives (QMRs) of organizations in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries has already been identified (Jaeger and Adair, 2013), and this study compares the perception of these two groups in more depth.

Design/methodology/approach

– Extensive representatives of both groups have been individually interviewed, a classification system for TQM benefits, practices and obstacles has been developed, and interview responses have been analyzed against this classification system.

Findings

– It emerges that all responses matched one of the benefits, obstacles and practices of the classification system. Comparing the total group of PMs with the total group of QMRs, it was found that both groups agree on their perception of the most important practice (i.e. an implemented management system) and, the biggest obstacle (i.e. lack of employee involvement). However, they disagree on their perception of the most important TQM benefit (i.e. PMs prefer quality of products and services, and QMRs prefer productivity).

Originality/value

– The results of the total groups and sub-groups give new insights regarding the different perceptions of PMs and QMRs. Also, the results enable practitioners of these two functions to discuss the differences and align their perceptions. This should increase the effectiveness of the TQM approach in their organizations. Finally, the results allow management consultants to focus on areas with high potential for improvements.
Qualitative assessment of public facilities: the “public bus”
Authors: Das Shreya , Pandit Debapratim
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a method to benchmark the service quality of any public facility based on users’ perception, by taking the case of “bus design”. While some researchers have defined level of service (LOS) for highways, transit system and pedestrian facility to measure their service quality, limited attempt has been made to measure users’ perception of service quality for other public facilities which cannot be described by quantitative service levels.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this research, an average weighted scoring technique has been integrated with the method of successive interval scaling to develop a five graded LOS scale that benchmarks users’ perception of service quality for “bus design”. The method has been exemplified by taking five types of buses currently operating in Kolkata that represent five types of “bus design”. This method can be applied for other public facilities.

Findings

– By applying the method an LOS scale from LOS A to LOS E was developed for “bus design” in Kolkata that represent users’ perception from “very good” to “very poor”. “Bus design” has been described by a list of attributes identified in this research. “Degree of criticality” of different design attributes based on users’ requirements was used to identify the key attributes for improvement which was also found to vary for different bus user groups in Kolkata.

Originality/value

– This research is the first ever attempt to benchmark service quality of a qualitative facility like “bus design” based on users’ perception instead of expert opinion as used by previous researchers.
Eros in the Field? Bourdieu's Double Account of Socialized Desire
Authors: Aarseth Helene
Published: February 2016

In his later works, Bourdieu draws extensively on psychoanalytic approaches in accounting for his concept of socialized subjectivity as bound to the social world by an intense affective grip. This emotional turn holds potential for further developing Bourdieu's account of subjectivity as a formation of socialized desire. However, in accounting for this socialized desire, Bourdieu relapses into a dualism of subjective and objective structures, incompatible with the Merleau-Pontyian roots of his practice theory. Tracing this problem to the antagonism between desire and culture in the psychoanalytic accounts that Bourdieu draws on, I propose that the psychoanalytic scholar Hans Loewald's account of Eros may enable a move beyond this impasse, offering a promising conceptual basis for taking further the account of socialized subjectivity and socialized desire in Bourdieu's practice theory.
Suppressive Effects of Barley β‐Glucans with Different Molecular Weight on 3T3‐L1 Adipocyte Differentiation
Authors: Zhu Yingying , Yao Yang , Gao Yue , Hu Yibo , Shi Zhenxing , Ren Guixing
Published: February 2016

In this study, 2 β‐glucans with different molecular weight were prepared and purified from hull‐less barley bran. The aim was to evaluate their effects on the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 pre‐adipocytes. Results showed that barley β‐glucans inhibited the differentiation of 3T3‐L1 pre‐adipocytes induced by differentiation medium in a dose‐dependent manner, the suppressive effect of high‐molecular‐weight barley β‐glucans (552 kDa, BGH) was stronger (P < 0.05) than that of low‐molecular‐weight barley β‐glucan (32 kDa, BGL), evidenced by the significantly decrease (P < 0.05) of Oil‐red O staining and intracellular triglyceride content in the mature adipocytes. Besides, gene expression analysis and Western Blot analysis revealed that both BGH and BGL inhibited the mRNA and protein levels of adipogenesis related transcription factors peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT‐enhancer‐binding protein α (C/EBPα) which are principal regulators of adipogenesis. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ target genes in adipose tissue including adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (ap2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), uncoupling protein‐2 (UCP‐2), and glucose‐transporter 4 (Glut4) in 3T3‐L1 cells was also markedly downregulated (P < 0.05). These findings were anticipated to help develop barley β‐glucans based functional food for the management of obesity.
Clinicopathological features of primary gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms: A single‐center analysis
Authors: Xu Tian Ming , Wang Chun Sai'er , Jia Cong Wei , Qian Jia Ming , Li Jing Nan
Published: February 2016

Objective

To assess the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and therapeutic modalities for gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (GNENs) among the Chinese population in a single institution.

Methods

A total of 57 patients with histologically confirmed GNENs, who were diagnosed between 1995 and 2015 at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical, imaging and histopathologic characteristics as well as the treatments of GNENs were collected and analyzed.

Results

Patients with GNENs mostly presented with non‐specific symptoms. Gastric body was the most common site of involvement. The choice of imaging modality, such as endoscopy and computed tomography depended on the tumor subtype. Chromogranin A (CgA) and synaptophysin were indispensable immunohistochemical markers for diagnosis. Significant inter‐group differences in the positivity rate of CD56 were observed among the three grades (G1, G2 and G3). Therapeutic modalities included endoscopic intervention, surgical resection and pharmacotherapy, which were largely guided by the tumor subtype and the presence or absence of distant metastasis or tumor recurrence.

Conclusions

Routine endoscopic examination is recommended for the early diagnosis of GNENs. Histopathological examination can make the definite diagnosis of GNENs and clarify the nature of gastric polyps. A multidisciplinary approach is important in the management of patients with GNENs.
Temporal Trends in the Spatial Distribution of Impervious Cover Relative to Stream Location
Authors: Wickham J. , Neale A. , Mehaffey M. , Jarnagin T. , Norton D.
Published: February 2016

Use of impervious cover is transitioning from an indicator of surface water condition to one that also guides and informs watershed planning and management, including Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq.) reporting. Whether it is for understanding surface water condition or planning and management, impervious cover is most commonly expressed as summary measurement (e.g., percentage watershed in impervious cover). We use the National Land Cover Database to estimate impervious cover in the vicinity of surface waters for three time periods (2001, 2006, 2011). We also compare impervious cover in the vicinity of surface waters to watershed summary estimates of impervious cover for classifying the spatial pattern of impervious cover. Between 2001 and 2011, surface water shorelines (streams and water bodies) in the vicinity of impervious cover increased nearly 10,000 km. Across all time periods, approximately 27% of the watersheds in the continental United States had proximally distributed impervious cover, i.e., the percentage of impervious cover in the vicinity of surface waters was higher than its watershed summary expression. We discuss how impervious cover spatial pattern can be used to inform watershed planning and management, including reporting under the Clean Water Act.
Eco‐hydraulic Evaluation of a Whitewater Park as a Fish Passage Barrier
Authors: Fox Brian D. , Bledsoe Brian P. , Kolden Eleanor , Kondratieff Matthew C. , Myrick Christopher A.
Published: February 2016

Whitewater parks (WWPs) typically consist of instream structures that enhance recreational boating by constricting flow into a steep chute that generates a hydraulic jump in a downstream pool. Concerns have been raised that high velocities resulting from WWPs may be inhibiting fish movement during critical life stages. We evaluated the effects of WWPs on upstream fish passage by concurrently monitoring fish movement and hydraulic conditions at three WWP structures and three adjacent natural control (CR) sites in a wadeable river in northern Colorado. Fish movement was tracked with a network of Passive Integrated Transponder antennas over a 14‐month period. Individual fishes (n = 1,639), including brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), were tagged and released within WWP and CR sites. Detailed hydraulic conditions occurring during the study period were evaluated with a fully 3D model. Results reveal the WWPs monitored in this study are not a complete barrier to upstream salmonid movement, but differences in passage efficiency from release location range from 29 to 44% in WWP sites and 37 to 63% for CR sites and the suppression of movement is related to body length. Small numbers of monitored nonsalmonids were inadequate to directly observe effects on their movement; however, it is highly probable that movement of smaller native fishes is also suppressed. Hydraulic modeling helps in the design of WWP structures that protect fish passage.
Land use, rangeland degradation and ecological changes in the southern Kalahari, Botswana
Authors: Dougill Andrew J. , Akanyang Lawrence , Perkins Jeremy S. , Eckardt Frank D. , Stringer Lindsay C. , Favretto Nicola , Atlhopheng Julius , Mulale Kutlwano
Published: February 2016

Dual‐scale analyses assessing farm‐scale patterns of ecological change and landscape‐scale patterns of change in vegetation cover and animal distribution are presented from ecological transect studies away from waterpoints, regional remotely sensed analysis of vegetation cover and animal numbers across the southern Kalahari, Botswana. Bush encroachment is prevalent in semi‐arid sites where Acacia mellifera Benth. is widespread in communal areas and private ranches, showing that land tenure changes over the last 40 years have not avoided rangeland degradation. Herbaceous cover is dominated in intensively grazed areas by the annual grass Schmidtia kalahariensis Stent and in moderately grazed areas by the perennial grass Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees. Nutritious perennial grass species including Eragrostis pallens Hack. Ex Schinz remain prevalent in Wildlife Management Areas. Other ecological changes include the invasion of the exotic Prosopis glandulosa Torr. and dense stands of Rhigozum trichotomum Kuntze. in the arid southwest. Regional patterns of wildlife species show that the expansion of cattleposts and fenced ranches has led to large areas of low wildlife conservation value even in areas where cattle production is not practiced. Findings show the need for integrated landscape‐scale planning of land use if the ecological value and biodiversity of the southern Kalahari is to be retained.
Palliative treatment of anal fistulas in Crohn's disease
Authors: Hermann Jacek , Eder Piotr , Banasiewicz Tomasz , Kołodziejczak Barbara , Łykowska‐Szuber Liliana
Published: February 2016

Introduction

Anal fistula in Crohn's disease is frequently an intractable condition. Methods of treatment are still debated because the results of various procedures are unsatisfactory. Available studies show that results can be improved using a combination of surgical and medical methods. Most patients undergo rather palliative than radical, curative procedures such as incision and drainage of abscesses and prolonged non‐cutting seton placement. Surgery is combined today with biological therapy using infliximab, a murine‐human chimeric monoclonal antibody against TNF‐α or adalimumab a human monoclonal anti‐TNF antibody to increase the healing process and in an attempt to prevent fistula recurrence.

Methods

Medical records of 23 patients who were treated for anal fistulas in Crohn's disease between 2012 and 2014 were retrospectively evaluated.

Results

There were 10 (43%) males and 13 females. The mean age was 39 years (range 29–60 years). Median duration of CD before present treatment was 6 years (range 1–15 years). Closure of all fistulas in 6 months was achieved in eight (35%) patients, whereas reduction of at least 50% from base line in the number of draining fistulas occurred in four (17%) patients.

Conclusion

Palliative and combined therapy for anal fistulas in Crohn's disease with surgery and infliximab or adalimumab therapy is an effective treatment for some patients.
MED12 exon 2 mutation as a highly sensitive and specific marker in distinguishing phyllodes tumours from other spindle neoplasms of the breast
Authors: Lien Huang‐Chun , Huang Chiun‐Sheng , Yang Ya‐Wen , Jeng Yung‐Ming
Published: February 2016

Spindle neoplasms of the breast (SNB) primarily include metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC), phyllodes tumour (PT), fibromatosis and primary nonspecific sarcoma (PNS). Mutations in MED12 exon 2 have been reported in PTs. Because spindle tumour components are shared by SNB, we assessed the diagnostic use of MED12 exon 2 mutation in SNB. We investigated MED12 exon 2 mutations in a total of 91 samples of SNB, including 49 PT cases that have been previously analysed. Mutations were identified using direct sequencing. MED12 exon 2 mutation was absent in all cases of MBC, fibromatosis and PNS, in contrast to the 71.4% positivity in PTs. MED12 mutations were identified in four of six previously diagnosed monophasic sarcomatous MCB cases, however, these four cases were revised as malignant PT based on additional bcl‐2 staining, albeit very focal. Consistence in the MED12 mutational status between a paired core biopsy and a surgical specimen was observed in all 20 tested PT cases. In conclusion, we demonstrated the restriction of MED12 exon 2 mutation to PTs (73.6%, 39/53) and its absence in other SNB. MED12 exon 2 mutational analysis can be included in the differential diagnosis between PT and other SNB, especially with limited specimen where diagnostic clues are not evident.
Impact of Childhood Socioeconomic Position on Self‐Rated Health Trajectories of South Korean Adults
Authors: Yoo Joan P. , Yoo Min Sang
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) on adult health trajectory in South Korea. Seven waves of data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS, 2007–2012; Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, ) were analyzed using latent growth curve analysis. Health condition was measured by self‐assessment. The major independent variables were indicators of childhood and adult SEP. The findings suggest that those who perceive their childhood economic condition to be more affluent are more likely to assess their health to be better at the intercept. The insignificant effect of childhood economic condition on the slope and the quadratic term suggest that the initial gap remains over time. On the other hand, a disruption in education as a result of poverty was significantly associated with the intercept, slope, and quadratic term. The results suggest that although the large gap at wave 1 somewhat decreases, the gap in health remains because of the significant quadratic term. Childhood SEP has a a lasting effect on adult health trajectories, after controlling for adult SEP. Significant findings support policies and programs that are targeted to reduce socioeconomic disparities in childhood to enhance equality and public health.
Effect of aspirin on models of retinal pigment epithelium pathology
Authors: Goyal Sunali , Lyzogubov Valeriy V , Ali Omair , Bora Puran S , Bora Nalini S , Uwaydat Sami H
Published: February 2016

Background

To characterize the effect of aspirin (ASA) in mouse models of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and retinal degeneration.

Methods

In vivo: Male C57BL/6 mice were given ASA in food or regular rodent diet. CNV was induced by argon laser photocoagulation. Subretinal injections of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG‐400) were administered to induce retinal degeneration. CNV size, laser spot area and mean intensity of VEGF in the laser injured zones were measured. In the PEG injected eyes the thickness of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid was measured. In vitro: Human ARPE‐19 cells were treated with 0.5 or 2.0 mM/L of ASA for 72 h. ELISA was used to measure the concentration of VEGF and CCL‐2 in the supernatants. Additionally, damaged RPE monolayer was treated with ASA (0.5 or 2.0 mM/L) and vehicle separately. Size of damaged area was measured. ELISA was used to measure secretion of VEGF‐A and CCL‐2 by damaged cells after 24 h.

Results

No statistically significant effect of ASA on CNV size, laser spot size or VEGF expression was noted in CNV model. In the PEG model, ASA did not have any effect on RPE and choroid thickness; however, a significant increase in RPE atrophy was observed (P = 0.02 + 38%). In addition, ASA had a significant effect on the ability of the RPE cells to regenerate and become confluent after mechanical damage.

Conclusions

ASA at doses consumed clinically for various medical causes may not worsen CNV in human subjects. However, ASA may increase RPE atrophy when consumed over long periods of time.
DT270‐326, a Truncated Diphtheria Toxin, Increases Blood–Tumor Barrier Permeability by Upregulating the Expression of Caveolin‐1
Authors: Lin Yang , Wang Ping , Liu Yun‐Hui , Shang Xiu‐Li , Chen Liang‐Yu , Xue Yi‐Xue
Published: February 2016

Aim

The nontoxic mutant of diphtheria toxin (DT) has been demonstrated to act as a receptor‐specific carrier protein to delivery drug into brain. Recent research showed that the truncated “receptorless” DT was still capable of being internalized into cells. This study investigated the effects and potential mechanisms of DT270‐326, a truncated “receptorless” DT, on the permeability of the blood–tumor barrier (BTB).

Methods

BTB and GECs were subjected to DT270‐326 treatment. HRP flux assays, immunofluorescent, co‐immunoprecipitation, Western blot, CCK‐8, and Flow cytometry analysis were used to evaluate the effects of DT270‐326 administration.

Results

Our results revealed that 5 μM of DT270‐326 significantly increased the permeability of BTBin vitro, which reached its peak at 6 h. The permeability was reduced by pretreatment with filipinIII. DT270‐326 co‐localized and interacted with caveolin‐1 via its caveolin‐binding motif. The mRNA and protein expression levels of caveolin‐1 were identical with the changes of BTB permeability. The upregulated expression of caveolin‐1 was associated with Src kinase‐dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin‐1, which subsequently induced phosphorylation and inactivation of the transcription factor Egr‐1. The combination of DT270‐326 with doxorubicin significantly enhanced the loss of cell viability and apoptosis of U87 glioma cells in contrast to doxorubicin alone. Conclusions: DT270‐326 might provide a novel strategy to increase the delivery of macromolecular therapeutic agents across the BTB.
Measurement of health‐related quality of life in adult patients with birch pollen‐associated food allergy
Authors: Beyer Susanne , Franke Annegret , Simon Jan Christoph , Treudler Regina
Published: February 2016

Background

The “Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire – Adult Form” (FAQLQ‐AF) is the first freely available questionnaire for the assessment of health‐related quality of life (HRQL) in adults with food allergy (FA). We present validation data for the German version as well as data on HRQL in patients with birch pollen‐associated FA.

Patients and Methods

The Dutch FAQLQ‐AF (scale from 1–7, no impairment – maximum impairment) was translated into German. Subsequently, 73 consecutive patients with a history of birch pollen‐associated FA (52 women, median age 43 years) were surveyed using questions regarding triggers and symptoms of their FA as well as questions contained in the FAQLQ‐AF. Construct validity, internal consistency, and discriminative ability were analyzed.

Results

The foods most frequently reported to elicit allergic reactions included apple (78 %), hazelnut (75 %), soy drinks (55 %), and carrot (52 %). Thirty percent of patients exclusively reported symptoms consistent with oral allergy syndrome (OAS). Sixty‐four percent reported OAS combined with systemic symptoms, and only 6 % were exclusively affected by non‐OAS symptoms. The German FAQLQ‐AF showed good construct validity (correlation with the food allergy‐independent measure: r  =  0.81; p < 0.001) and excellent internal consistency (Cronbachs α  =  0.98). The mean overall FAQLQ‐AF score was 3.7. Women, elderly individuals, and those with multiple relevant food allergies showed a greater impairment of HRQL.

Conclusions

The German FAQLQ‐AF questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for measuring HRQL in patients with birch pollen‐associated food allergy.
Surveillance colonoscopy after endoscopic treatment for colorectal neoplasia: From the standpoint of the Asia–Pacific region
Authors: Matsuda Takahisa , Chiu Han‐Mo , Sano Yasushi , Fujii Takahiro , Ono Akiko , Saito Yutaka
Published: February 2016

Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard to detect and remove colorectal neoplasia. The efficacy of colonoscopy with polypectomy to reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality has been demonstrated. Recently, post‐polypectomy surveillance colonoscopy has become a necessary intervention in daily practice not only in Western countries but also in the Asia–Pacific region. Therefore, it is crucial to establish new clinical practice guidelines to reduce the number of unnecessary surveillance colonoscopies in order to create space for screening colonoscopy. The Asia–Pacific Consensus group recommended that surveillance colonoscopy interval should be tailored according to risk level of index colonoscopy. However, precise guidelines on interval of surveillance cannot be given because of a lack of prospective data. According to Korean and Australian guidelines, surveillance intervals after index colonoscopy of 5 years for low‐risk subjects and 3 years for high‐risk subjects are recommended in Asia–Pacific regions at present. Prospective data including long‐term outcomes from the Japan Polyp Study, which is a multicenter randomized control trial, would be useful to establish the Asia–Pacific consensus in the near future.
Pathology of premalignant colorectal neoplasia
Authors: Gibson Joanna A. , Odze Robert D.
Published: February 2016

Colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous oncological disease that develops through several molecular pathways. Each pathway is associated with specific neoplastic precursor lesions. Classification of colorectal polyps and the molecular features of associated colorectal cancers have undergone significant changes. An understanding of colorectal carcinogenesis and the molecular features of colorectal carcinomas is now regarded as necessary for personalized treatment and management of patients with colon cancer, and even for patients undergoing screening colonoscopy for early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. In the present review, we describe the pathological and molecular features of epithelial precursor lesions involved in the early phases of colorectal carcinogenesis.
Phase Stability in Calcia‐Doped Zirconia Nanocrystals
Authors: Drazin John W. , Castro Ricardo H.R.
Published: February 2016

Calcia‐doped zirconia exhibits all of the polymorphism seen in the yttria‐doped zirconia ceramics, but can be produced at lowered costs and in greater abundance due to the accessibility of Calcium precursors in comparison to Yttrium. Although with great challenges, there exists an opportunity to replace yttria with calcia in applications such as ionic conductors where phase stability is critical. There is a dearth of surface characterization to enable design and prediction of the polymorphism in nanoparticulate calcia–zirconia. With recent advances in water adsorption microcalorimetry, one can accurately probe surface energies of the four zirconia polymorphs: monoclinic, tetragonal, cubic, and amorphous. The surface energies can then be coupled with bulk enthalpies extracted from oxide melt drop solution calorimetry to create a nanocrystalline phase stability diagram similar to its bulk counterpart. We report here the surface and bulk thermodynamic data on polymorphs of calcia–zirconia with composition ranging from 0 to 20 mol% calcia and use it to build a nanophase diagram for this system. The effect of the humidity in the phase stability diagram trends is also addressed and demonstrated to minimize the effect of the surface energies in the overall polymorphism trends.
Introducing Twitter as an assessed component of the undergraduate nursing curriculum: case study
Authors: Jones Ray , Kelsey Janet , Nelmes Pam , Chinn Nick , Chinn Teresa , Proctor‐Childs Tracey
Published: February 2016

Aims

To ask: (i) is it feasible to include Twitter as an assessed element of the first‐year nursing curriculum; (ii) how should it be introduced and assessed; and (iii) do students think it worthwhile and learn anything from its use?

Background

Nursing students need to use social media professionally, avoiding pitfalls but using learning opportunities.

Design

This case study (2014–2015) comprised: (i) pilot introduction of Digital Professionalism (including Twitter) with second‐ and third‐year students; (ii) introduction and assessment with a first cohort of 450 first‐year students. Based on feedback, methods were revised for; (iii) a second cohort of 97.

Methods

Students received a face‐to‐face lecture, two webinars, used chat rooms and were asked to create course Twitter accounts and were assessed on their use.

Results

Few second and third year students started optional Twitter use whereas nearly all first years used it. Most students (70·1% first, 88·0% second cohort) thought inclusion of Twitter was worthwhile. Changes from first to second cohort included better peer–peer support, more contextualization and more emphasis on nursing communities. More second cohort students learned from Twitter (44·4% vs. 70·8%) and used Twitter recently (43·3% vs. 81·6%). Students gained wider perspectives on nursing, better understanding of social media, ‘being student nurses’ and topics like health promotion. Students mostly followed not only online nursing communities but also patient organizations.

Conclusion

Including Twitter as an assessed element for first‐year nursing students was feasible, students think it worthwhile and other nursing schools should consider introducing it in the broader context of Digital Professionalism.
The first comprehensive description of the biodiversity and biogeography of Antarctic and Sub‐Antarctic intertidal communities
Authors: Griffiths Huw James , Waller Catherine Louise
Published: February 2016

Aim

To describe the distribution of biodiversity and biogeographical patterns of intertidal organisms in southern temperate and polar waters. We hypothesized that there would be differences in community structure between the Antarctic, which is most affected by ice, and the sub‐Antarctic and other neighbouring regions. We also hypothesized that rafting and West Wind Drift will be the significant drivers of biogeographical patterns. Additionally, the size, age, isolation, volcanic or glacial history of a region and the presence of large, beach dwelling, mammals and birds would all play a role in determining the level of biodiversity observed.

Location

South Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Southern Ocean.

Methods

We examined all available intertidal records from the Antarctic and sub‐Antarctic with additional data from neighbouring regions for comparison and context. We compiled 3902 occurrences of 1416 species of high southern latitude intertidal organisms from 229 locations and used PRIMER 6 to perform multivariate statistical analyses.

Results

The Antarctic and sub‐Antarctic are shown to be distinct biogeographical regions, with patterns driven by a small number of widely distributed species. These wide‐ranging molluscs and macroalgae dominate the biogeographical structure of the Southern Ocean intertidal, most likely as a result of rafting in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. East Antarctic intertidal habitats are potentially isolated by the Ross and Weddell Sea ice shelves but represent a great unknown in this biogeographical scheme.

Main Conclusions

The view that the Antarctic intertidal is a lifeless desert does not hold true, with Antarctic Peninsula intertidal communities being richer and more diverse than those in southern South America and the sub‐Antarctic islands. Changing conditions in the Antarctic and sub‐Antarctic intertidal mean that a representative baseline is needed (acquired through standardized and quantitative sampling) to assess future changes and to detect any invasive species.
The Effect of Performance Standards on Health Care Provider Behavior: Evidence from Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Stith Sarah S. , Hirth Richard A.
Published: February 2016

Performance standards are designed to ensure a basic level of quality, and through public reporting of firm performance, encourage firms to compete on quality thus allowing the market to determine the optimal level of quality. In markets with substantial excess demand, however, demand effects may be insufficient to induce any change in firm behavior and enforcement may be required to ensure high quality. Even with enforcement, quality still may not improve at underperforming firms if gaming the system is less costly than improving quality. We test whether information alone or with regulatory enforcement improves outcomes or elicits gaming behavior in our study of 266 kidney transplant centers between 2001 and 2012. In a context of excess demand induced by price controls, we show that information alone has no impact and enforcement may actually increase market inefficiencies; firms respond to costly quality requirements, not by improving quality, but by reducing supply, which exacerbates the disequilibrium between supply and demand, and by cream‐skimming, which reduces access to transplantation among sicker patients.
Annotated checklist of the living sharks, batoids and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes) of the world, with a focus on biogeographical diversity
Authors: Weigmann S.
Published: February 2016

An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyan fishes (sharks, batoids and chimaeras) of the world is presented. As of 7 November 2015, the number of species totals 1188, comprising 16 orders, 61 families and 199 genera. The checklist includes nine orders, 34 families, 105 genera and 509 species of sharks; six orders, 24 families, 88 genera and 630 species of batoids (skates and rays); one order, three families, six genera and 49 species of holocephalans (chimaeras). The most speciose shark orders are the Carcharhiniformes with 284 species, followed by the Squaliformes with 119. The most species‐rich batoid orders are the Rajiformes with 285 species and the Myliobatiformes with 210. This checklist represents the first global checklist of chondrichthyans to include information on maximum size, geographic and depth distributions, as well as comments on taxonomically problematic species and recent and regularly overlooked synonymizations. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the biogeographical diversity of the species across 10 major areas of occurrence is given, including updated figures for previously published hotspots of chondrichthyan biodiversity, providing the detailed numbers of chondrichthyan species per major area, and revealing centres of distribution for several taxa
Meta‐analysis: The diagnostic efficacy of chromoendoscopy for early gastric cancer and premalignant gastric lesions
Authors: Zhao Zhanwei , Yin Zifang , Wang Shiqi , Wang Juan , Bai Bing , Qiu Zhaoyan , Zhao Qingchuan
Published: February 2016

Background and Aim

Chromoendoscopy (CE) is widely used in the diagnosis of early gastric cancer (EGC) and premalignant gastric lesions (PGLs). We conducted a meta‐analysis to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of CE for EGC and PGLs.

Methods

We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library to identify all eligible studies according to inclusion and exclusion standards. Publication bias was tested using Funnel plots and Egger's test. The possible sources of the heterogeneity were explored by performing a meta‐regression analysis. Heterogeneity was assessed by the Q test and I2 statistic.

Results

Ten studies met the inclusion standards, including a total of 699 patients and 902 lesions. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of CE were 0.90 (95% confidence interval, 0.87–0.92), 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.79–0.86), and 0.9464, respectively. In subgroup analysis of diagnostic accuracy, CE showed higher accuracy versus standard white light endoscopy for EGC (P = 0.005) and PGLs (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Chromoendoscopy seems to have a high diagnostic efficacy and improve the detection of EGC and PGLs compared with standard white light endoscopy.