bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced cooling in mono-crystalline ultra-thin silicon by embedded micro-air channels
Authors: Ghoneim Mohamed T. , Fahad Hossain M. , Hussain Aftab M. , Rojas Jhonathan P. , Torres Sevilla Galo A. , Alfaraj Nasir , Lizardo Ernesto B. , Hussain Muhammad M.
Published: December 2015

In today’s digital world, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology enabled scaling of bulk mono-crystalline silicon (100) based electronics has resulted in their higher performance but with increased dynamic and off-state power consumption. Such trade-off has caused excessive heat generation which eventually drains the charge of battery in portable devices. The traditional solution utilizing off-chip fans and heat sinks used for heat management make the whole system bulky and less mobile. Here we show, an enhanced cooling phenomenon in ultra-thin (>10 μm) mono-crystalline (100) silicon (detached from bulk substrate) by utilizing deterministic pattern of porous network of vertical “through silicon” micro-air channels that offer remarkable heat and weight management for ultra-mobile electronics, in a cost effective way with 20× reduction in substrate weight and a 12% lower maximum temperature at sustained loads. We also show the effectiveness of this event in functional MOS field effect transistors (MOSFETs) with high-κ/metal gate stacks.
Velar vocal folds are present in female and immature male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Authors: McCurry Matthew R. , Quayle Michelle R. , Cally Justin , Adams Justin W.
Published: December 2015

It was recently shown that adult male koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) possess a novel vocal organ, the velar vocal folds, that underlie their mating bellows. Here we demonstrate through dissection of the infrahyoid region that this novel structure is also present in female and immature male koalas.
Antifungal drug itraconazole targets VDAC1 to modulate the AMPK/mTOR signaling axis in endothelial cells
Authors: Head Sarah A. , Shi Wei , Zhao Liang , Gorshkov Kirill , Pasunooti Kalyan , Chen Yue , Deng Zhiyou , Li Ruo-jing , Shim Joong Sup , Tan Wenzhi , Hartung Thomas , Zhang Jin , Zhao Yingming , Colombini Marco , Liu Jun O.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Tumors promote angiogenesis to facilitate their growth and metastasis; thus, inhibition of angiogenesis is a promising strategy for treating cancer. During angiogenesis, endothelial cells (EC) are stimulated by proangiogenic factors to proliferate and migrate, leading to the formation of new blood vessels. Understanding the mechanisms regulating EC function therefore is essential for the development of new antiangiogenic interventions. Here, we identify a novel mechanism of EC regulation by the recently discovered angiogenesis inhibitor itraconazole, mediated by direct binding to the mitochondrial protein voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1). VDAC1 inhibition perturbs mitochondrial ATP production, leading to activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway and subsequent inhibition of mechanistic target of rapamycin, a regulator of EC proliferation. This study suggests VDAC1 may serve as a new therapeutic target for angiogenesis inhibition.
5-hydroxymethylation of the EBV genome regulates the latent to lytic switch
Authors: Wille Coral K. , Nawandar Dhananjay M. , Henning Amanda N. , Ma Shidong , Oetting Kayla M. , Lee Dennis , Lambert Paul , Johannsen Eric C. , Kenney Shannon C.
Published: December 2015

Significance

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) normally establishes a lytic infection in differentiated epithelial cells. However, in the abnormal context of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), EBV latently infects undifferentiated epithelial cells. Here we demonstrate that the EBV genome can become 5-hydroxymethylated and that this DNA modification affects EBV lytic reactivation. We find that 5-hydroxymethylcytosine accumulates during differentiation of normal epithelial cells but not in EBV+ NPCs. Furthermore, we show that ten–eleven translocation (TET) enzymes dysregulate lytic viral reactivation by altering the 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine state of lytic promoters. These data suggest that loss of TET activity may promote cellular hypermethylation and alter EBV gene regulation in NPC tumors.
APC binds the Miro/Milton motor complex to stimulate transport of mitochondria to the plasma membrane
Authors: Mills Kate M. , Brocardo Mariana G. , Henderson Beric R.
Published: December 2015

Mutations in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) disrupt regulation of Wnt signaling, mitosis, and the cytoskeleton. We describe a new role for APC in the transport of mitochondria. Silencing of wild-type APC by small interfering RNA caused mitochondria to redistribute from the cell periphery to the perinuclear region. We identified novel APC interactions with the mitochondrial kinesin-motor complex Miro/Milton that were mediated by the APC C-terminus. Truncating mutations in APC abolished its ability to bind Miro/Milton and reduced formation of the Miro/Milton complex, correlating with disrupted mitochondrial distribution in colorectal cancer cells that could be recovered by reconstitution of wild-type APC. Using proximity ligation assays, we identified endogenous APC-Miro/Milton complexes at mitochondria, and live-cell imaging showed that loss of APC slowed the frequency of anterograde mitochondrial transport to the membrane. We propose that APC helps drive mitochondria to the membrane to supply energy for cellular processes such as directed cell migration, a process disrupted by cancer mutations.
Modular Development of Cortical Gray Matter Across Childhood and Adolescence
Authors: Krongold Mark , Cooper Cassandra , Bray Signe
Published: December 2015

Brain maturation across childhood and adolescence is characterized by cortical thickness (CT) and volume contraction, and early expansion of surface area (SA). These processes occur asynchronously across the cortical surface, with functional, topographic, and network-based organizing principles proposed to account for developmental patterns. Characterizing regions undergoing synchronized development can help determine whether “maturational networks” overlap with well-described functional networks, and whether they are targeted by neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. In the present study, we modeled changes with age in CT, SA, and volume from 335 typically developing subjects in the NIH MRI study of normal brain development, with 262 followed longitudinally for a total of 724 scans. Vertices showing similar maturation between 5 and 22 years were grouped together using data-driven clustering. Patterns of CT development distinguished sensory and motor regions from association regions, and were vastly different from SA patterns, which separated anterior from posterior regions. Developmental modules showed little similarity to networks derived from resting-state functional connectivity. Our findings present a novel perspective on maturational changes across the cortex, showing that several proposed organizing principles of cortical development co-exist, albeit in different structural parameters, and enable visualization of developmental trends occurring in parallel at remote cortical sites.
Long-term Outcomes of Military Service in Aging and the Life Course: A Positive Re-envisioning
Authors: Spiro Avron , Settersten Richard A. , Aldwin Carolyn M.
Published: December 2015

Most research on military service focuses on its short-term negative consequences, especially the mental and physical injuries of those deployed in warzones. However, studies of long-term outcomes reveal surprisingly positive effects of military service—both those early in adulthood that grow over time and others that can emerge later in life. These multidomain effects have been found in veterans of World War II and the Korean War and are now being seen in veterans of the Vietnam War. Although some are directly attributable to public policies such as the GI Bill, which facilitate educational and economic gains, there are personal developmental gains as well, including autonomy, emotional maturity and resilience, mastery, and leadership skills, that lead to better health and well-being in later life. These long-term effects vary across persons, change over time within persons, and often reflect processes of cumulative advantage and disadvantage. We propose a life-span model of the effects of military service that provides a perspective for probing both long-term positive and negative outcomes for aging veterans. We further explicate the model by focusing on both sociocultural dynamics and individual processes. We identify public-use data that can be examined to evaluate this model, and offer a set of questions that can be used to assess military service. Finally, we outline an agenda for dedicated inquiry into such effects and consider policy implications for the health and well-being of aging veterans in later life.
ICES meets marine historical ecology: placing the history of fish and fisheries in current policy context
Authors: Engelhard Georg H. , Thurstan Ruth H. , MacKenzie Brian R. , Alleway Heidi K. , Bannister R. Colin A. , Cardinale Massimiliano , Clarke Maurice W. , Currie Jock C. , Fortibuoni Tomaso , Holm Poul , Holt Sidney J. , Mazzoldi Carlotta , Pinnegar John K. , Raicevich Saša , Volckaert Filip A. M. , Klein Emily S. , Lescrauwaet Ann-Katrien ,   Handling editor: Emory Anderson
Published: December 2015

As a discipline, marine historical ecology (MHE) has contributed significantly to our understanding of the past state of the marine environment when levels of human impact were often very different from those today. What is less widely known is that insights from MHE have made headway into being applied within the context of present-day and long-term management and policy. This study draws attention to the applied value of MHE. We demonstrate that a broad knowledge base exists with potential for management application and advice, including the development of baselines and reference levels. Using a number of case studies from around the world, we showcase the value of historical ecology in understanding change and emphasize how it either has already informed management or has the potential to do so soon. We discuss these case studies in a context of the science–policy interface around six themes that are frequently targeted by current marine and maritime policies: climate change, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem structure, habitat integrity, food security, and human governance. We encourage science–policy bodies to actively engage with contributions from MHE, as well-informed policy decisions need to be framed within the context of historical reference points and past resource or ecosystem changes.
The Feasibility of Two Screws Anterior Fixation for Type II Odontoid Fracture Among Arabs
Authors: Marwan Yousef , Kombar Osama Rabie , Al-Saeed Osama , Aleidan Aljarrah , Samir Ahmed , Esmaeel Ali
Published: December 2015

Study Design.

Retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Objective.

To evaluate the feasibility of two screws anterior fixation of the odontoid process among Arab adults.

Summary of Background Data.

Anterior screw fixation is the treatment of choice for type II odontoid fractures. In order to perform the procedure safely, the diameter of the odontoid process should be wide enough to allow for the placement of one or two screws.

Methods.

A retrospective review of 156 computed tomography scans of the cervical spine was done. The included patients were Arabs, adults (at least 18 years old), and had no evidence of upper cervical spine trauma, deformity, infection, tumor, or surgery. The minimum external transverse diameter (METD), minimum internal transverse diameter (MITD), minimum external anteroposterior diameter (MEAD), and minimum internal anteroposterior diameter (MIAD) of the odontoid process were measured. A P value of ≤0.05 was considered as the cutoff level of statistical significance.

Results.

Our study included 94 (60.3%) males and 62 (39.7%) females. The mean age of the subjects was 37.8 ± 16.9 years (range 18–85). The mean values of the METD, MITD, MEAD, and MIAD were 8.7 ± 1.0 mm, 6.0 ± 1.1 mm, 10.3 ± 1.0 mm, and 7.4 ± 1.1 mm, respectively. Men had larger diameters compared to women. This was statistically significant for METD (P = 0.035) and MEAD (P < 0.001). The METD was <9.0 mm in 95 (60.9%) subjects, while the MITD was <8.0 mm in 153 (98.1%) subjects. These findings were not significantly different between males and females.

Conclusion.

Two screws anterior fixation of type II odontoid fracture is not feasible among the majority of Arabs.

Level of Evidence: 3
Defining Avoidable and Unavoidable Complications in Spine Surgery: A Survey-based Study of Spine Fellowship Directors
Authors: Khaleel Mohammed A. , Bono Christopher M. , White Andrew P. , Wood Kirkham B. , Harris Mitchel B. , Wagner Katiri , Zurakowski David , McGuire Kevin J.
Published: December 2015

Study Design.

A cross-sectional survey of orthopedic spine surgery fellowship directors in the United States.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether consensus exists with respect to spine-related adverse events and certain hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) or “never events.”

Summary of Background Data.

As part of a broad effort to improve health care outcomes, providers are no longer reimbursed for HACs, which are deemed avoidable. Although some HACs are unquestionably preventable with proper quality control measures, research suggests that even scrupulous adherence to evidence-based guidelines cannot eliminate others.

Methods.

Surveys were distributed via email and post. Participants rated 27 HACs and selected spine-specific events on an ordinal scale. Interobserver reliability was assessed among all 46 spine directors (respondents) using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), based on a two-way random effects model, assuming that the participants were a representative population sample of spine surgeons. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed on each of the 27 complications to identify potential demographic factors that could be associated with variation among respondents in their ratings of “avoidable” to “unavoidable.”

Results.

Forty-six fellowship directors responded, of whom 98% were orthopedic spine surgeons. The majority (80.4%) of respondents had greater than 10 years’ experience as a spine surgeon, and 66.7% had an annual surgical volume >201 cases. The multivariable linear regression analyses found that demographic factors were not predictive of the directors’ ratings. The complications thought to be completely avoidable (median scores 1) included “Incompatible blood,” “Retained foreign object,” and “Wrong level surgery.” The HAC considered least avoidable was “Site infection with risk factors” (median score 8). Among 17 spine-specific complications, “L4-L5 disc re-herniation within 3 months” (median score 9) was considered least avoidable.

Conclusion.

This survey suggests that orthopedic spine surgeons consider most “never events” neither avoidable nor unavoidable. There is strong consensus only about the HACs resulting from obvious medical error.

Level of Evidence: 4
The Use of CYFRA 21-1 for the Detection of Breast Cancer Axillary Lymph Node Metastases in Needle Washouts of Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsies
Authors: Liscia Daniel S. , Detoma Paolo , Zanchetta Mario , Anrò Patrizia , Molinar Daniela , Favettini Elisabetta , Paduos Adriana
Published: December 2015

Background:

In the preoperative setting of breast cancer, fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) guided by ultrasonography can be used to detect axillary lymph node metastases. The aim of the current study was to determine whether measurement in needle washouts of CYFRA 21-1, a soluble fragment of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), can improve the diagnosis of lymph node tumor deposits.

Materials and Methods:

Our prospective study included 329 breast cancer patients eligible for a sentinel node procedure. Eighty-two patients had a ultrasonography-guided FNAB of an abnormal or suspicious axillary node and were included in the current analysis. Samples were processed with smears and cell-block histology; afterwards, needles were washed with saline solution, and the CYFRA 21-1 content in the washouts was measured. The cutoff value for positive samples that expressed CK19, as shown by their immunohistochemistry, was determined by a receiver operating characteristic curve. On the basis of this value, the specificity and the sensitivity, as well as the positive and negative predictive values, were then calculated using cytology results as a reference standard.

Results:

Of the 82 axillary lymph nodes sampled, 61 were positive on cytology and were metastatic for breast cancer, as confirmed by surgery. The median CYFRA 21-1 concentration of positive samples was 88.94 ng/mL, whereas in the 21 negative nodes, its median concentration was 1.02 ng/mL (P<0.0001). A CYFRA 21-1 cutoff value of 1.98 ng/mL, obtained by the receiver operating characteristic curve, was able to clearly separate negative from positive samples and gave the test a sensitivity of 0.98 and a specificity of 1.00. Positive and negative predictive values were 1.00 and 0.95, respectively.

Conclusions:

The measurement of CYFRA 21-1 levels in needle washouts after axillary lymph node FNABs represents an accurate, sensitive, and highly predictive procedure in detecting metastatic deposits of breast cancer and is fit to complement cytology and CK19 immunohistochemistry as a diagnostic tool.
Comprehensive pathogen detection associated with four recurrent episodes of Kawasaki disease in a patient during a single year using next-generation sequencing
Authors: Hamada Hiromichi , Sekizuka Tsuyoshi , Oba Kunihiro , Katano Harutaka , Kinumaki Akiko , Terai Masaru , Mizutani Tetsuya , Kuroda Makoto
Published: December 2015

Introduction:

Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common multisystem vasculitis in childhood. Pathogens can be associated with the onset of KD. However, a lack of consistency prevails among reports about this disease.

Case presentation:

For this case of a 1-year-old boy with four recurrent episodes of KD within a year, we analysed profiles of pathogen reads in his serum and pharynx specimens using next-generation sequencing. Comparative analysis of the identified bacterial reads from serum samples found significant correlation of bacteria such as Streptococcus and Haemophilus spp. with the first and fourth episodes (R
2 = 0.9506) before treatment. In the first convalescent phase, the number of Streptococcus spp. was reduced remarkably (P < 0.0001). From sequencing of the pharynx specimen from the fourth episode, a similar correlation was found with serum from the fourth episode (R
2 = 0.6633).

Conclusion:

In this case, Streptococcus spp. may have been associated with onset of KD. Further studies must be undertaken to evaluate the putative association of micro-organism infection with KD pathogenesis.
Changes in the relative abundance of twoSaccharomycesspecies from oak forests to wine fermentations
Authors: Dashko Sofia , Liu Ping , Volk Helena , Butinar Lorena , Piškur Jure , Fay Justin C.
Published: December 2015

Saccharomyces cerevisiaeand its sibling speciesS. paradoxusare known to inhabit temperate arboreal habitats across the globe. Despite their sympatric distribution in the wild,S. cerevisiaeis predominantly associated with human fermentations. The apparent ecological differentiation of these species is particularly striking in Europe whereS. paradoxusis abundant in forests andS. cerevisiaeis abundant in vineyards. However, ecological differences may be confounded with geographic differences in species abundance. To compare the distribution and abundance of these two species we isolatedSaccharomycesstrains from over 1,200 samples taken from vineyard and forest habitats in Slovenia. We isolated numerous strains ofS. cerevisiaeandS. paradoxusas well as small number ofS. kudriavzeviistrains from both vineyard and forest environments. We findS. cerevisiaeless abundant thanS. paradoxuson oak trees within and outside the vineyard, but more abundant on grapevines and associated substrates. Analysis of the uncultured microbiome shows that bothS. cerevisiaeandS. paradoxusare rare species in soil and bark samples, but can be much more common in grape must. In contrast toS. paradoxus, European strains ofS. cerevisiaehave acquired multiple traits thought to be important for life in the vineyard and dominance of wine fermentations. We conclude thatS. cerevisiaeandS. paradoxuscurrently share both vineyard and non-vineyard habitats in Slovenia and we discuss factors relevant to their global distribution and relative abundance.
A-site order in rhombohedral perovskite-like oxides La2−xSrxCoTiO6(0.6 ≤x≤ 1.0)
Authors: Gómez-Pérez Alejandro , Ritter Clemens , Boulahya Khalid , Muñoz-Noval Alvaro , García-Alvarado Flaviano , Amador Ulises
Published: December 2015

The evolution of the room-temperature structure of the oxide series La2−xSrxCoTiO6(0.6 ≤x≤ 1.0) was studied as a function of the Sr content using different diffraction techniques and applying the symmetry-adapted modes formalism (AMPLIMODES). The title compounds adopt perovskite-like structures of rhombohedral symmetry with an octahedral tilting scheme (a−a−a−) with either space group R\overline 3c orR32. The latter symmetry is observed in those cases (forx≃ 0.6) where additional rock-salt-like ordering of La and Sr is produced in the perovskiteAsites. Two composition-driven phase transitions are observed in the whole series La2−xSrxCoTiO6(0.0 ≤x≤ 1.0). Using the concept of internal pressure, the effect of doping with Sr on the structure can be properly discussed. Both phase transitions seem to be of first order since they can be associated with discontinuities either in the entropy or in the structure. The first transition (P21/n→Pnma) occurs as theBcations become totally disordered. Along the whole compositional range the modes responsible for the out-of-phase tilting ofBO6octahedra remain active, but those associated with the in-phase octahedral tilting vanish forx≥ 0.6, this being associated with the second transition (Pnma→ R\overline 3c). Finally, forx= 1.0 the three pseudo-cubic cell parameters become very similar, pointing to a transition to a cubic structure which could be obtained by applying pressure or raising the temperature.
The effectiveness of power-dependence management in retailing
Authors: Takashima Katsuyoshi , Kim Changju
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate retailers’ power-dependence management through the lens of supply chain diversification, and explore how it is linked to their logistic arrangements in managing suppliers and their retail performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Hypotheses are tested using a structural equation modelling based on survey data from 186 merchandising division heads at Japanese retail companies.

Findings

– The results reveal that quick-response inventory replenishment is positively related to retailers’ use of power-dependence management. This management practice leads to enhanced retail competitiveness and, thus, higher sales growth in supply chain relationships.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to understanding how retailers’ logistic arrangements work by modelling power relations within supply chains, drawing on power-dependence theory. The authors propose an alternative view of logistics systems to that of the widely adopted transaction cost theory. The authors find that supplier investments in quick-response inventory management may not be a relationship-specific asset.
Police interviews in Scotland – use of appropriate adults
Authors: Bowden Keith , Wilson Ian
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show the development of Appropriate Adult services in Scotland over the past nine years and considers how this differs from the rest of the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

– New analysis of existing statistical information is provided to show pattern of demand, type of interview, nature of mental disorder involved and regional differences.

Findings

– Growth in demand for services is identified for both suspect and witness interviews, with people with learning disabilities most frequently receiving support. There is significant variation in the pattern of referrals across Scotland.

Practical implications

– The results reflect heightened awareness amongst police officers of the need for Appropriate Adults, but there should be examination of the different types of provision to promote equity of service.

Originality/value

– This is the first time that these figures have been collated and subject to analysis. They provide comparative information within Scotland that is also of relevance to the rest of the UK.
Choice of Library and Information Science in a rapidly changing information landscape
Authors: Moniarou-Papaconstantinou Valentini , Vassilakaki Evgenia , Tsatsaroni Anna
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– Library and Information Science (LIS) has for a long time tried to gain legitimacy. In an ever changing environment due to technological and economic developments, the motivations behind choice of LIS are still of great interest. The purpose of this paper is to provide a systematic review of studies investigating the motivations that determine the choice of LIS.

Design/methodology/approach

– Different search terms were run on different but relevant databases. A number of inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied and in total 45 papers were judged as relevant to choice of LIS discipline. A thorough analysis of these papers’ content revealed three main themes: choice of LIS, choice of LIS specialty and career change to LIS.

Findings

– A variety of different motivations for choosing LIS were identified. The same motivations were reported in all groups (high school students, students, professionals). Specifically, love of books and reading, nature of library work, desire to help people were among the most reported motivations. LIS was also chosen as a second career by different professionals mainly due to changes in their first career work environment, the nature of library work, the desire to use knowledge and the transferable skills in their new career.

Research limitations/implications

– This study considered only peer-reviewed research published between 2000 and 2014 in English. Specifically, it focussed on the motivations that specific groups chose to study LIS both as first and second career.

Practical implications

– Library schools could raise awareness among high school students regarding the value, role and importance of LIS.

Originality/value

– This paper examines the factors influencing the choice of LIS in a changing information environment, and sheds light on the individuals’ decision-making process attracted to LIS.
The odyssey of Flemish public libraries facing opportunities and threats when becoming strategic partners in urban development
Authors: Vallet Nathalie
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the interaction between the local policy context and the strategic role of public libraries within urban networks or partnerships aiming for the future development and innovation of cities.

Design/methodology/approach

– An explorative case-study design in ten Flemish public libraries (i.e. Kortrijk, Sint-Niklaas, Turnhout, Geel, Maaseik, Dendermonde, Knokke-Heist, Hemiksem-Schelle, Balen and Boortmeerbeek-Haacht).

Findings

– The findings are twofold. On the one hand the research results identify three categories of emerging “threats” and “opportunities” being first, the strategic dilemmas between local policy priorities, second, the trends in policy frameworks and third, the bottlenecks in needed methods and competences of local policy actors. On the other hand the research results also uncover three public library strategies to cope with these challenges, being first, the professionalization of their own strategic management profile, second, the exploration and mapping of “the others” and third, the initiatives taken to actively craft and design the strategic partnership themselves.

Practical implications

– This paper provides unique and interesting insights on how the changing local policy context in Flanders prevents (“threats”) and stimulates (“opportunites”) the formation, development and acknowledgment of strategic partnerships of public libraries, and on how the public libraries involved encounter these challenges.

Originality/value

– It is the only study in Flanders providing empirical information on the interaction between the changing local policy context and the strategic partnerships of public libraries.
Hong Kong JULAC common library card
Authors: Mak Venia Y.M. , Chan Diana L. H. , Lam Ki-Tat , Li Y.O.
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe a collaborative project on issuing a library card for common access among all eight higher education libraries in Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

– The project was undertaken by two committees and a task force of cross-institutional membership. The new common library card adopts the “patron-record-on-demand model,” reducing the risks involved in patron data transfer across institutions. Historical narrative combined with usage analysis from the launch date of the project was outlined.

Findings

– The new common library cards were well received. About 63 percent of old cards were replaced by new ones. New applications jumped 43 percent while physical access to host libraries increased by 8 percent during the reporting period.

Originality/value

– This paper describes in detail the processes of developing a common barcode, an automated card registration system and the issuing of the common library cards. Libraries pursuing an efficient way of sharing library resources will be inspired by the level of collaboration involved in this project.
Decision-making experiences of public library CEOs
Authors: Stenstrom Cheryl
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore and describe the decision-making practices of public library managers in the context of interpersonal influence and evidence-based information sources, and to investigate the relationship between models of evidence-based practice and interpersonal influence in the decision-making process of public library managers.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected through short audio blog posts participants made about their everyday decisions and coded considering the facets of three existing evidence-based library and information practice (EBLIP) models as well as the facets of interpersonal influence.

Findings

– The findings show that public library CEOs decision-making behaviours reflect the use of a variety of practices from analytical to intuitive as is expected of managers in any sector; however, a stronger reliance on gathering objective information may be present than in other sectors. Seeking multiple sources of information and a tendency towards rationalism may indicate a more sophisticated approach to decision making, but be less indicative of the practices employed more broadly. A possible outcome of these tendencies may result in discordance with external partners and collaborators.

Practical implications

– The findings from this study may inform the work of associations, library and information science (LIS) educators, and library managers in developing strategic directions and instructional strategies within their organisations. It is also the first study to jointly examine models of interpersonal influence and evidence-based decision-making practices in any field.

Originality/value

– While the study of the decision-making practices of various groups is growing, little previous research has been conducted with public library managers, and none has been undertaken in Canada.
Evidence based organizational change: people surveys, strategies and structures
Authors: Town J. Stephen
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of the use of people surveys to enact change in human capital organization and practices in a University library.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study covers seven years of people surveys and the consequent interventions applied based on this and other data and evidence at the University of York, UK. The case describes measurement of staff’s lived experience, leading to innovation and intervention in management strategies, structures and policies. The research employs a mixed methodology; the paper draws on quantitative evidence from surveys, qualitative evidence from focus groups and desk research on human capital measurement and emotion in the workplace.

Findings

– The paper describes the findings of investigations across seven years, discusses the available methods for people assessment, and the different theoretical foundations of the engagement, climate and excellence surveys used across the period. Strategic and structural interventions are described and their effectiveness discussed.

Research limitations/implications

– The limitations of research in the field of human capital are discussed, including the participant observation of the library director, together with the potential confounding factors affecting data collected during the period of research.

Social implications

– The paper reflects on advances in the understanding and practice of people evaluation in libraries. The development of a people strategy based on evidence, and repetition of surveys to gauge the effectiveness of interventions, with consequent refinement of solutions, appear to have had a real effect on the lived experience, culture and service provided by the case library.

Originality/value

– The originality and value of the paper is that it provides a unique long-term case study of people surveys, strategy and structure in an academic research library.
Relationships between resprouting ability, species traits and resource allocation patterns in woody species in a temperate forest
Authors: Shibata Rei , Kurokawa Hiroko , Shibata Mitsue , Tanaka Hiroshi , Iida Shigeo , Masaki Takashi , Nakashizuka Tohru
Published: December 2015

Many woody plants resprout to restore above‐ground biomass after disturbances or to survive in stressful environments. Resprouting requires carbohydrate storage, but the general relationship between resource allocation patterns and resprouting ability remains unclear because it can be influenced by the disturbance regime to which species have adapted.

We studied deciduous broadleaved trees that coexist in a Japanese cool‐temperate forest to investigate the relationships among the biomass and total non‐structural carbohydrate (TNC) allocation patterns of saplings, resprouting ability and functional traits. The study species comprised 16 single‐stemmed species that only resprout when above‐ground biomass loss occurs and eight multi‐stemmed species that resprout regardless of whether above‐ground damage occurs or not.

Single‐stemmed species with better juvenile resprouting ability had larger roots, whereas multi‐stemmed species with better juvenile resprouting ability did not necessarily depend on below‐ground reserves.

Species that retain their ability to resprout until a larger size had a higher root TNC content as saplings, suggesting that they can survive major disturbances such as fire and coppicing by resprouting supported by TNC stored in their roots.

Species with shade‐tolerant traits (i.e. low foliar nitrogen indicating low photosynthetic capacity, high wood density indicating high defensive investment) had small below‐ground TNC reserves irrespective of resprouting types. On the other hand, multi‐stemmed species with high wood density and high LMA (indicating high photosynthetic capacity) had small above‐ground TNC reserves. Contrary to our hypothesis, a species’ maximum size did not relate to the size of its below‐ground reserves.

By considering the differences in resprouting types, we suggest more complex control of resprouting than was formerly proposed. Variation in the resprouting ability of single‐stemmed species was based on a trade‐off between below‐ground reserves for resprouting and shade‐tolerant traits. However, multi‐stemmed species can vigorously resprout irrespective of the size of its below‐ground reserves. Their multi‐stemmed architecture, well‐defended wood, high photosynthetic capacity or large above‐ground carbohydrate reserves seem to respectively contribute to their persistence. Such variation in the resprouting strategy based on a trade‐off between shade tolerance and resource storage would promote species coexistence under a range of disturbance regimes and light environments.
Subseafloor microbial communities in hydrogen‐rich vent fluids from hydrothermal systems along the Mid‐Cayman Rise
Authors: Reveillaud Julie , Reddington Emily , McDermott Jill , Algar Christopher , Meyer Julie L. , Sylva Sean , Seewald Jeffrey , German Christopher R. , Huber Julie A.
Published: December 2015

Warm fluids emanating from hydrothermal vents can be used as windows into the rocky subseafloor habitat and its resident microbial community. Two new vent systems on the Mid‐Cayman Rise each exhibits novel geologic settings and distinctively hydrogen‐rich vent fluid compositions. We have determined and compared the chemistry, potential energy yielding reactions, abundance, community composition, diversity, and function of microbes in venting fluids from both sites: Piccard, the world's deepest vent site, hosted in mafic rocks; and Von Damm, an adjacent, ultramafic‐influenced system. Von Damm hosted a wider diversity of lineages and metabolisms in comparison to Piccard, consistent with thermodynamic models that predict more numerous energy sources at ultramafic systems. There was little overlap in the phylotypes found at each site, although similar and dominant hydrogen‐utilizing genera were present at both. Despite the differences in community structure, depth, geology, and fluid chemistry, energetic modelling and metagenomic analysis indicate near functional equivalence between Von Damm and Piccard, likely driven by the high hydrogen concentrations and elevated temperatures at both sites. Results are compared with hydrothermal sites worldwide to provide a global perspective on the distinctiveness of these newly discovered sites and the interplay among rocks, fluid composition and life in the subseafloor.
Two subpopulations of Crocosphaera watsonii have distinct distributions in the North and South Pacific
Authors: Bench Shellie R. , Frank Ildiko , Robidart Julie , Zehr Jonathan P.
Published: December 2015

Crocosphaera watsonii is a unicellular nitrogen (N2)‐fixing cyanobacterium with ecological importance in oligotrophic oceans. In cultivated strains there are two phenotypes of C. watsonii (large and small cells) with differences that could differentially impact biogeochemical processes. Recent work has shown the phenotypes diverged through loss or addition of type‐specific genes in a fraction of their genomes, whereas the rest of the genomes were maintained at 99–100% DNA identity. Previous molecular assays for C. watsonii abundances targeted the conserved regions and therefore could not differentiate between phenotypes, so their relative distributions in natural communities were unknown. To determine phenotype distributions, this study developed and applied type‐specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays to samples from the North and South Pacific. Abundances of both Crocosphaera types declined sharply with depth between 45 and 75 m in both sites. In surface water small cells were 10–100 times more abundant than large cells in the N. Pacific, whereas in the S. Pacific the two phenotypes were nearly equal. Evidence for large cell aggregation was only found in N. Pacific samples. The differences in C. watsonii sub‐populations in the North and South Pacific have direct implications for biogeochemistry and carbon export in oligotrophic gyres.
Can Economists Forecast Exchange Rates? The Debate Re‐Visited: The Case of the USD/GBP Market
Authors: Goss Barry A. , Avsar S. Gulay
Published: December 2015

In the debate on forecasting exchange rates, critics claimed that traditional macroeconomic models could not outperform a random walk in post‐sample forecasts. Perceived deficiencies include inadequate allowance for simultaneity, and expectations hypotheses inconsistent with the structure of models employed. This paper re‐visits the debate, first to address critics' major concerns, and second because in the view of the present authors, the debate closed on an unduly pessimistic note.

This paper develops a simultaneous, rational expectations model of the USD/GBP market, with functional relationships for hedgers, speculators and a spot rate equation. The model is estimated with data contemporaneous to the debate, including a period during which the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission did not collect data on traders' open positions. Using the results of post‐debate research on tests for stationarity with missing observations, the model, using only public information, outperforms a random walk in post‐sample forecasts of the spot rate. Recent microstructure models of the exchange rate based on order flow have re‐kindled the forecasting debate. The model developed here, however, is differentiated from these microstructure models, first because order flow utilises both public and private information, and second because the microstructure models do not directly address critics' concerns.
Anthropocene anthropology: reconceptualizing contemporary global change
Authors: Moore Amelia
Published: December 2015

The Anthropocene is the scientific label given by earth scientists to the current epoch of unprecedented anthropogenic planetary change. The Anthropocene is also a political label designed to call attention to this change and evolving notions of agency and responsibility in contemporary life. This article critically explores what I call ‘the Anthropocene idea’ and the condition of ‘Anthropocene spaces’ through selected anthropological writing about recent planetary change and through analysis of current events in a specific ‘vulnerable’ location. By considering recent events in The Bahamas, I arrive at an orientation that I call simply Anthropocene anthropology. Rather than advocating for the creation of a new subfield of research, this mode of engagement offers an open‐ended conceptual framework for the critical examination of the Anthropocene idea as it influences the symbolic and material realities of contemporary Anthropocene spaces.
Cost‐effectiveness of first trimester non‐invasive fetal RHD screening for targeted antenatal anti‐D prophylaxis in RhD‐negative pregnant women: a model‐based analysis
Authors: Neovius M , Tiblad E , Westgren M , Kublickas M , Neovius K , Wikman A
Published: December 2015

Objective

To estimate the cost‐effectiveness of first trimester non‐invasive fetal RHD screening for targeted antenatal versus no routine antenatal anti‐D prophylaxis (RAADP) or versus non‐targeted RAADP.

Design

Model based on a population‐based cohort study.

Setting

The Swedish health service.

Population

Intervention subjects in the underlying cohort study were RhD‐negative pregnant women receiving first trimester fetal RHD screening followed by targeted anti‐D in 2010–2011 (n = 6723). Historical comparators were RhD‐negative women who delivered in 2008–2009 when standard care did not include RAADP (n = 7099).

Methods

Healthcare costs for the three strategies were included for the first and subsequent pregnancies. For the comparison with non‐targeted RAADP, the immunisation rate was based on the observed rate for targeted therapy and adjusted downwards by removing the influence of false negatives.

Main outcome measure

Additional cost per RhD immunisation averted.

Results

Compared with RAADP, targeted prophylaxis was associated with fewer immunisations (0.19 versus 0.46% per pregnancy) and lower costs (cost‐savings of €32 per RhD‐negative woman). The savings were from lower costs during pregnancy and delivery, and lower costs of future pregnancies through fewer immunisations. Non‐targeted anti‐D was estimated to result in 0.06% fewer immunisations and an additional €16 in cost‐savings per mother, compared with targeted anti‐D.

Conclusion

Based on effect data from a population‐based cohort study, targeted prophylaxis was associated with lower immunisation risk and costs versus no RAADP. Based on effect data from theoretical calculations, non‐targeted RAADP was predicted to result in lower costs and immunisation risk compared with targeted prophylaxis.

Tweetable abstract

Fetal RHD screening and targeted prophylaxis resulted in lower immunisation risk and costs compared with no RAADP.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A multicenter registry study in Guangdong, China
Authors: Yang Daizhi , Deng Hongrong , Luo Guochun , Wu Ge , Lin Shaoda , Yuan Lin , Xv Meilun , Li Shaoqing , Zhang Xiuwei , Wu Jianneng , Lang Jiangming , Liang Ganxiong , Lin Jiancai , Chen Dingyu , Li Lu , Fang Yishan , Wu Yongxin , Ou Wenxin , Li Jin , Weng Jianping , Yan Jinhua
Published: December 2015

Background

A lack of demographic and clinical data hinders efforts of health care providers in China to support patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Therefore, the aim of the present retrospective study was to provide an overview of the demographic and clinical characteristics of Chinese patients with T1D.

Methods

Hospital medical records of patients with T1D (diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2011) in 105 secondary and tertiary hospitals across Guangdong province were reviewed. Data were collected on patient age at diagnosis, presentations at onset, physical examination, and diabetes management.

Results

In all, 3173 patients diagnosed with T1D between January 2000 and December 2011 were included in the study (46.2% female). The median age at diagnosis was 27.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] 18.0–38.0) years and the median body mass index (BMI) at onset was 19.6 kg/m2 (IQR 17.4–21.8 kg/m2). Among adult patients, 0.9% were obese, 6.6% were overweight, 62.3% were normal weight, and 30.3 % were underweight. The prevalence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset was 50.1%. The proportion of patients with retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy was 8.1%, 20.7 %, and 11.1%, respectively.

Conclusion

The adult‐onset form of T1D is not rare in China. The registry participants were characterized by older age at onset, lower BMI, and a higher prevalence of DKA at onset compared with those in regions with a high incidence of T1D, such as northern Europe. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the heterogeneity of T1D in different populations and so will help healthcare providers to develop management models that are more suitable for these patients.
Endogenous Credible Commitment and Party Competition over Redistribution under Alternative Electoral Institutions
Authors: Becher Michael
Published: December 2015

Political parties competing in elections for the power to set public policy face the problem of making credible their policy promises to voters. I argue that this commitment problem crucially shapes party competition over redistribution. The model I develop shows that under majoritarian electoral rules, parties' efforts to achieve endogenous commitment to policies preferred by the middle class lead to different behavior and outcomes than suggested by existing theories, which either assume commitment or rule out endogenous commitment. Thus, left parties can have incentives to respond to rising income inequality by moving to the right in majoritarian systems but not under proportional representation. The model also generates new insights about the anti‐left electoral bias often attributed to majoritarian electoral rules, and the strategic use of parliamentary candidates as a commitment device. I find evidence for key implications of this logic using panel data on party positions in 16 parliamentary democracies.