bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Actin Depolymerizing Factor (ADF)/Cofilin Signaling Pathway and DNA Damage Responses in Cancer
Authors: Chang Chun-Yuan , Leu Jyh-Der , Lee Yi-Jang
Published: February 2015

The actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin protein family is essential for actin dynamics, cell division, chemotaxis and tumor metastasis. Cofilin-1 (CFL-1) is a primary non-muscle isoform of the ADF/cofilin protein family accelerating the actin filamental turnover in vitro and in vivo. In response to environmental stimulation, CFL-1 enters the nucleus to regulate the actin dynamics. Although the purpose of this cytoplasm-nucleus transition remains unclear, it is speculated that the interaction between CFL-1 and DNA may influence various biological responses, including DNA damage repair. In this review, we will discuss the possible involvement of CFL-1 in DNA damage responses (DDR) induced by ionizing radiation (IR), and the implications for cancer radiotherapy.
Cell Membrane CD44v6 Levels in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Lung: Association with High Cellular Proliferation and High Concentrations of EGFR and CD44v5
Authors: Ruibal Álvaro , Aguiar Pablo , Del Río María , Nuñez Matilde , Pubul Virginia , Herranz Michel
Published: February 2015

Membranous CD44v6 levels in tumors and surrounding samples obtained from 94 patients with squamous cell lung carcinomas were studied and compared to clinical stage, cellular proliferation, membranous CD44v5 levels, epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR and cytoplasmatic concentrations of CYFRA 21.1. CD44v6 positive values were observed in 33/38 non-tumor samples and in 76/94 tumor samples, but there were not statistically significant differences between both subgroups. In CD44v6 positive tumor samples, CD44v6 was not associated with clinical stage, histological grade, ploidy and lymph node involvement, but significant association was found with high cellular proliferation. Likewise, CD44v6 positive tumors had significantly higher levels of EGFR and CD44v5. In patients with squamous cell lung carcinomas and clinical stage I, positive CD44v6 cases were associated with the same parameters. Furthermore, positive CD44v5 squamous tumors were associated significantly with histological grade III and lower levels of CYFRA21.1. Our findings support the value of CD44v6 as a possible indicator of poor outcome in patients with squamous lung carcinomas.
Neferine Attenuates the Protein Level and Toxicity of Mutant Huntingtin in PC-12 Cells via Induction of Autophagy
Authors: Wong Vincent , Wu An , Wang Jing , Liu Liang , Law Betty
Published: February 2015

Mutant huntingtin aggregation is highly associated with the pathogenesis of Huntington’s disease, an adult-onset autosomal dominant disorder, which leads to a loss of motor control and decline in cognitive function. Recent literature has revealed the protective role of autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases through degradation of mutant toxic proteins, including huntingtin or a-synuclein. Through the GFP-LC3 autophagy detection platform, we have identified neferine, isolated from the lotus seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera, which is able to induce autophagy through an AMPK-mTOR-dependent pathway. Furthermore, by overexpressing huntingtin with 74 CAG repeats (EGFP-HTT 74) in PC-12 cells, neferine reduces both the protein level and toxicity of mutant huntingtin through an autophagy-related gene 7 (Atg7)-dependent mechanism. With the variety of novel active compounds present in medicinal herbs, our current study suggests the possible protective mechanism of an autophagy inducer isolated from Chinese herbal medicine, which is crucial for its further development into a potential therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative disorders in the future.
Flame Retardancy of PA6 Using a Guanidine Sulfamate/Melamine Polyphosphate Mixture
Authors: Coquelle Mathieu , Duquesne Sophie , Casetta Mathilde , Sun Jun , Gu Xiaoyu , Zhang Sheng , Bourbigot Serge
Published: February 2015

Polyamide 6 (PA6) is a widely-used polymer that could find applications in various sectors, including home textiles, transportation or construction. However, due to its organic nature, PA6 is flammable, and flame-retardant formulations have to be developed to comply with fire safety standards. Recently, it was proposed to use ammonium sulfamate as an effective flame retardant for PA6, even at low loading content. However, processing issues could occur with this additive considering large-scale production. This paper thus studies the use of another sulfamate salt—guanidine sulfamate (GAS)—and evidences its high efficiency when combined with melamine polyphosphate (MPP) as a flame retardant for PA6. A decrease of the peak of the heat release rate by 30% compared to pure PA6 was obtained using only 5 wt% of a GAS/MPP mixture in a microscale calorimeter. Moreover, PA6 containing the mixture GAS/MPP exhibits a Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) of 37 vol% and is rated V0 for the UL 94 test (Vertical Burning Test; ASTM D 3801). The mechanisms of degradation were investigated analyzing the gas phase and solid phase when the material degrades. It was proposed that MPP and GAS modify the degradation pathway of PA6, leading to the formation of nitrile end-group-containing molecules. Moreover, the formation of a polyaromatic structure by the reaction of MPP and PA6 was also shown.
Target Detection Method for Water Mapping Using Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS Imagery
Authors: Ji Luyan , Geng Xiurui , Sun Kang , Zhao Yongchao , Gong Peng
Published: February 2015

Extracting surface water distribution with satellite imagery has been an important subject in remote sensing. Spectral indices of water only use information from a limited number of bands, thus they may have poor performance from pixels contaminated by ice/snow, clouds, etc. The detection algorithms using information from all spectral bands, such as constrained energy minimization (CEM), could avoid this problem to some extent. However, these are mostly designed for hyperspectral imagery, and may fail when applied to multispectral data. It has been proved that adding linearly irrelevant data to original data could improve the performance of CEM. In this study, two kinds of linearly irrelevant data are added for water extraction: the spectral indices and the spectral similarity metric data. CEM is designed for targets with low-probability distribution in an image, but water bodies do not always satisfy this condition. We thereby impose a sensible coefficient for each pixel to form the weighted autocorrelation matrix. In this study, the weight is based on the orthogonal subspace projection, so this new method is named Orthogonal subspace projection Weighted CEM (OWCEM). The newly launched Landsat 8 images over two lakes, the Hala Lake in China with ice/snow distributed in the north, and the Huron Lake in North America, a lake with a very large surface area, are selected to test the accuracy and robustness of our algorithm. The Kappa coefficient and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve are calculated as an accuracy evaluation standard. For both lakes, our method can greatly suppress the background (including ice/snow and clouds) and extract the complete water surface with a high accuracy (Kappa coefficient > 0.96).
Spatial Variability of Escherichia coli in Rivers of Northern Coastal Ecuador
Authors: Rao Gouthami , Eisenberg Joseph , Kleinbaum David , Cevallos William , Trueba Gabriel , Levy Karen
Published: February 2015

The use of contaminated surface water continues to be a pressing issue in areas of the world where people lack improved drinking water sources. In northern coastal Ecuador, many communities rely on untreated surface water as their primary source of drinking water. We undertook a study to explore how microscale river hydrodynamics affect microbial water quality at community water collection locations at three rivers with varying stream velocity and turbidity profiles. To examine how the distance from river shore and physiochemical water quality variables affect microbial contamination levels in the rivers; we collected a total of 355 water samples within six villages on three rivers; and tested for Escherichia coli concentrations using the IDEXX Quanti-tray method. We found that log10 E. coli concentrations decreased with increasing distance from shore (β = −0.017; p = 0.003). Water in the main channel had E. coli concentrations on average 0.12 log10 lower than within eddies along the river shore and 0.27 log10 lower between the sample closest to shore and any sample >6 m from the shore. Higher E. coli concentrations were also significantly associated with increased turbidity (β = 0.003; p < 0.0001) and decreased dissolved oxygen levels (β = −0.310; p < 0.0001). The results of this study can help inform community members about the safest locations to collect drinking water and also provide information on watershed scale transport of microbial contaminants between villages.
Les paysages fondamentaux dans le Sud du Massif Armoricain. Sylve, forêt et « savane boisée » (Fundamental landscapes in the southern Britany. Sylve, forest and «woodland savannah»)
Authors: Palierne Jean-Max
Published: February 2015

Abstract. - In this text, the author tries to define the significance of the present landscapes of the forest in the southern Brittany. According to the forest faces and the rural structures (openfield and woodland), the author shows that present forest proceeds both from the previous «virgin» forest and from another pattern of landscape : the temperate woodland « savannah » (or «moor»). He suggests that this twofold character can be explained by the different utilisation of natural sites, bearing in mind, chiefly, the favourable or unfavourable potentialities of the soils (above all hydromorphy).
Consommation de bois, consommation d'espace forestier, conséquences. L'exemple des grosses forges de la Basse Normandie armoricaine (Wood consumption, space consumption and results. The example of ironworks in Normandy)
Authors: Houzard Gérard
Published: February 2015

Abstract. - The 14 big ironworks near the royal forests of Andaines and Ecouves were great consumers of charcoal, which entailed the excessive exploitation of forests and caused the degradation of their vegetation. By 1860, the forests had degenerated into sparsely-treed heaths and poor copses. Nowadays the forests have been improved, but some soils have suffered from an irreversible degradation.
Mangrove et éthologie humaine au Brésil (Mangrove and human ethology in Brazil)
Authors: Pébayle Raymond
Published: February 2015

Résumé.- Les mangroves du Maranhão et du Nordeste du Brésil constituent un milieu écologique riche et inégalement exploité par l'homme. Celui-ci peut être un semi-nomade exerçant des prédations très ponctuelles comme dans les mangroves amazoniennes. Dans le Nordeste, les communautés traditionnelles peuvent vivre des mangroves et des terres voisines sans préjudice important pour ces milieux. Toutefois, les nouvelles industries et l'expansion urbaine tendent à ruiner cet écosystème et les groupes humains qui en vivaient.
Les séismes de l'Antiquité tardive d'après les sources. Problèmes méthodologiques (The earthquakes in the late antiquity after the sources. A methodological approch)
Authors: Jacques François
Published: February 2015

Abstract. - This paper is a methodological approch about the reports between the earthquakes and the litterary sources, during the late Antiquity. It shows how the earthquakes could be used by the authors in different ways, because their aim was not an actual description of the events, but a moral one. It happens that different earthquakes have been melted, and, on the contrary, that the same earthquake has been presented as several hazards.
Les grandes phases de modification de l'environnement dans les Aurès (Algérie) au cours de la période historique (The main changes of the environment in the aures mountains (Algeria) during the historical times)
Authors: Ballais Jean-Louis
Published: February 2015

Abstract. - During historical times, changes of the environment are above all linked to the evolution of the societies. However, the end of the numidic age was a little humid. A generalized soil erosion tooke place at the end of the roman colonization. It was possibily due to stretching of clearings. Since this times, the wadis has been scouring their beds.
Improving Support for Parents of Children with Hearing Loss: Provider Training on Use of Targeted Communication Strategies
Authors: Muñoz Karen , Nelson Lauri , Blaiser Kristina , Price Tanner , Twohig Michael
Published: February 2015

Background:When proper protocols are followed, children who are identified with a permanent hearing loss early in life have opportunities to develop language on par with their typical hearing peers. Young children with hearing loss are dependent on their parents to manage intervention
during early years critical to their development, and parents’ ability to effectively integrate recommendations in daily life is foundational for intervention success. Audiologists and early intervention professionals not only need to provide current evidence-based services, but also
must address parents’ emotional and learning needs related to their child’s hearing loss.Purpose:This study explored practice patterns related to education and support provided to parents of children with hearing loss and the influence of an in-service training on provider
attitudes.Research Design:This study used a prepost design with a self-report questionnaire to identify practice patterns related to communication skills and support used by providers when working with parents of children with hearing loss.Study Sample:A total of 45 participants
(21 professionals and 24 graduate students) currently working with children completed the pretraining questionnaire, and 29 participants (13 professionals and 16 graduate students) completed the postquestionnaire.Data Collection and Analysis:Data were collected using an online questionnaire
before the training and 1 mo after training. Descriptive analyses were done to identify trends, and paired-samples t-tests were used to determine changes pretraining to posttraining.Results:Findings revealed that professionals most frequently teach skills to mothers (91%) and
infrequently teach skills to fathers (19%) and other caregivers (10%). Professionals reported frequently collaborating with other intervention providers (76%) and infrequently collaborating with primary care physicians (19%). One-third of the professionals reported addressing symptoms of depression
and anxiety as an interfering factor with the ability to implement management recommendations. For providers who completed both the prequestionnaires and postquestionnaires, an increase in confidence was reported for several areas of communication; however, as expected, practices remained
similar, and all of the practicing professionals and 94% of the graduate students indicated a desire for more training on how to be effective in supporting parents with implementing intervention recommendations.Conclusions:Providers do not necessarily use effective methods of communication,
needed to adequately help parents, requiring additional focused training to change how providers interact with parents and how support is provided.
Estimation of Signal-to-Noise Ratios in Realistic Sound Scenarios
Authors: Smeds Karolina , Wolters Florian , Rung Martin
Published: February 2015

Background:Both in the design of hearing-device features, such as noise reduction, and in the evaluation measurements of such features, there is a need for more information about the sound scenarios hearing-device users encounter. The limitations of adaptive speech tests as outcome
measures in the evaluation of hearing-device features have been discussed. The obvious alternative to adaptive speech testing is to test at a fixed signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). However, the question is which SNRs should be used if the test reflects real-life situations.Purpose:The purpose
of this study was to estimate SNRs in realistic sound environments encountered by hearing aid users.Research Design:Research design was a descriptive study where recorded sound files were statistically analyzed.Study Sample:A total of 20 experienced, bilaterally fitted hearing
aid users, all satisfied with their current hearing aids, made recordings for 3‐4 days. The informants were instructed to record different situations in daily life and were told that all situations were of equal importance. The informants ranged in age from 18‐81 yr old, and
they had various occupations and varying hearing-loss configurations.Data Collection and Analysis:The total duration of the recorded material for each informant was, on average, 84 min; the number of recordings was, on average, 17 per informant. The sound files were categorized based
on the type of background noise and were analyzed with use of a manual noise estimation procedure. Segments of speech with noise present were cut out from the original recordings. Corresponding noise-only segments were also extracted. On the basis of power calculations for these two types
of recorded segments, the SNR was estimated. Frequency-specific and overall SNRs, calculated both based on unweighted and A-weighted speech and noise levels, were derived. An estimation uncertainty measure was also developed.Results:The range of SNRs found in the material was large.
The most striking finding was that there were very few recorded situations where the SNR was negative or even close to 0 dB. For speech-in-babble noise, the average SNR was approximately 5 dB. The estimation uncertainty was generally low but became higher in highly fluctuating noises and at
very low SNRs.Conclusions:The estimated SNRs were higher than previously reported. The results can be used in the design and evaluation of hearing-device features.
Significance of Serum Cytokeratin-18 in Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chronic Hepatitis C Infected Egyptian Patients
Authors: El-Zefzafy Wafaa , Eltokhy Hanan , El-Ghaffar Mohamed Nagwa Abd , Abu-Zahab Zakia
Published: February 2015

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus is one of the most common etiologic agents of chronic liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in which there is continuous inflammation and regeneration of hepatocytes.Cytokeratin-18 (CK18) has been suggested to play an important role in tumorigenesis of epithelial cancers.AIM: Estimation of CK18 serum levels in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (CHCV) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and find the relationship between their levels, the severity of the disease and the development of HCC.METHODS: We measured serum levels of CK18 in 60 Egyptian patients (30 with CHCV & 30 with HCC) and 30 healthy controls.RESULTS: Patients with HCC had highly significant increased CK18 levels compared with CHCV patients, healthy controls. Cytokeratin-18 among the three classes of Child-Pugh classification show highly significant gradual increase from child A to C. Furthermore, In HCC there were positive correlations between CK18 and with RBCs, ESR, and AFP.CONCLUSION: CK18 is a sensitive indicator of the severity of liver disease. Patients with CHCV infection can be followed up by measurement of its serum level which can predict the development of HCC. The combination of AFP and CK18 increased the sensitivity of detection for HCC.
Klippel â€“ Feil Syndrome Associated with Congential Heart Disease Presentaion of Cases and a Review of the Curent Literature
Authors: Bejiqi Ramush , Retkoceri Ragip , Bejiqi Hana , Zeka Naim
Published: February 2015

First time described in 1912, from Maurice Klippel and Andre Feil independently, Klippel-Feil syndrome (synonyms: cervical vertebra fusion syndrome, Klippel-Feil deformity, Klippel-Feil sequence disorder) is a bone disorder characterized by the abnormal joining (fusion) of two or more spinal bones in the neck (cervical vertebrae), which is present from birth. Three major features result from this abnormality: a short neck, a limited range of motion in the neck, and a low hairline at the back of the head. Most affected people have one or two of these characteristic features. Less than half of all individuals with Klippel-Feil syndrome have all three classic features of this condition.Since first classification from Feil in three categories (I â€“ III) other classification systems have been advocated to describe the anomalies, predict the potential problems, and guide treatment decisions. Patients with Klippel-Feil syndrome usually present with the disease during childhood, but may present later in life. The challenge to the clinician is to recognize the associated anomalies that can occur with Klippel-Feil syndrome and to perform the appropriate workup for diagnosis.
Correlation of the CT Compatible Stereotaxic Craniotomy with MRI Scans of the Patients for Removing Cranial Lesions Located Eloquent Areas and Deep Sites of Brain
Authors: Gulsen Salih
Published: February 2015

The first goal in neurosurgery is to protect neural function as long as it is possible. Moreover, while protecting the neural function, a neurosurgeon should extract the maximum amount of tumoral tissue from the tumour region of the brain. So neurosurgery and technological advancement go hand in hand to realize this goal.Using of CT compatible stereotaxy for removing a cranial tumour is to be commended as a cornerstone of these technological advancements. Following CT compatible stereotaxic system applications in neurosurgery, different techniques have taken place in neurosurgical practice. These techniques are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), MRI compatible stereotaxis, frameless stereotaxy, volumetric stereotaxy, functional MRI, diffusion tensor (DT) imaging techniques (tractography of the white matter), intraoperative MRI and neuronavigation systems.However, to use all of this equipment having these technologies would be impossible because of economic reasons. However, when we correlated this technique with MRI scans of the patients with CT compatible stereotaxy scans, it is possible to provide gross total resection and protect and improve patientsâ€™ neural functions.
Multilocus sequence typing of bifidobacterial strains from infant’s faeces and human milk: are bifidobacteria being sustainably shared during breastfeeding?
Authors: Makino H. , Martin R. , Ishikawa E. , Gawad A. , Kubota H. , Sakai T. , Oishi K. , Tanaka R. , Ben-Amor K. , Knol J. , Kushiro A.
Published: February 2015

Bifidobacteria are considered to be one of the most important beneficial intestinal bacteria for infants, contributing to the priming of the mucosal immune system. These microbes can also be detected in mother’s milk, suggesting a potential role of human milk in the colonisation of infant’s gut. However, little is known about the timing of bacteria appearance in human milk, and whether human milk is the first source of inoculation. Here, we investigated whether specific strains are shared sustainably between maternal milk and infant’s gut. Faecal samples and human milk were collected from 102 healthy mother-infant pairs (infant’s faeces: meconium, 7, 30 days of age; mother’s milk: once before delivery, colostrum, 7, 30 days after delivery). Bifidobacterial strains were isolated from these samples, and were discriminated by means of multilocus sequencing typing. No bifidobacteria were detected from human milk collected before delivery, or colostrum. Strains were isolated only from human milk samples obtained 7 days after birth or later. On the other hand, bifidobacterial strains were obtained from infant’s faeces throughout the study period, sometimes as early as the first day of life (meconium). We have found that bifidobacterial species belonging to Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum could be identified as monophyletic between infant’s faeces and their mother’s milk. These strains were confirmed to be sustainably shared between maternal milk and infant’s gut. Moreover, monophyletic strains were isolated at the same time point or earlier from infant’s faeces than from human milk, and none were isolated earlier from human milk than from infant’s faeces. Although it remains unclear whether human milk is the first source of microbes for infants, our results confirm that human milk is a reservoir of bifidobacteria, and specific strains are shared between infant’s intestine and human milk during breastfeeding.
Quantification of Blautia wexlerae and Blautia luti in human faeces by real-time PCR using specific primers
Authors: Touyama M. , Jin J.S. , Kibe R. , Hayashi H. , Benno Y.
Published: February 2015

The Clostridium coccoides group, including the genus Blautia and other genera, is one of the predominant bacterial groups in the human intestine. We re-examined 266 human faecal clones and 58 isolates in the C. coccoides group isolated by Hayashi et al. (2002) in order to elucidate the detailed distribution of Blautia wexlerae and Blautia luti in human faeces. Subsequently, we designed a primer pair specific for B. wexlerae and B. luti based on the 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene sequence. The number of B. wexlerae and B. luti in faecal samples of 12 healthy Japanese subjects was examined by real-time PCR assay. The number of the C. coccoides group in the 12 faecal samples was also determined using C. coccoides group-specific primers. Re-examination of the human faecal clones and isolates revealed that B. wexlerae and B. luti accounted for 19.5% of the clones and 25.9% of the isolates. B. wexlerae and B. luti were detected in all faecal samples with 5.3±3.2×109 cells/g faeces (wet weight, average ± standard deviation) as assessed by real-time PCR. Furthermore, B. wexlerae and B. luti constituted 32.3±12.7% (average ± standard deviation) of the C. coccoides group (1.7±0.8×1010 cells/g faeces). This demonstrates that B. wexlerae and B. luti were presented in human faeces with a high frequency as the dominant bacteria.
In vitro binding assessment andin vivo efficacy of several adsorbents against aflatoxin B1
Authors: Vekiru E. , Fruhauf S. , Rodrigues I. , Ottner F. , Krska R. , Schatzmayr G. , Ledoux D.R. , Rottinghaus G.E. , Bermudez A.J.
Published: February 2015

Aflatoxins are a class of mycotoxins that impair poultry health and performance. Some clays have the ability to adsorb aflatoxins. In our study, mineralogical composition of the tested clays was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and simultaneous thermal analysis and their properties like pH, electrical conductivity, exchangeable cations, cation exchange capacity and clay content were determined. For theirin vitro assessment regarding aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) adsorption, adsorption tests under ‘intensified conditions’ (low adsorbent and high toxin concentration) were carried out in buffers at various pH values and in real gastric juice followed by isothermal analysis in phosphate buffer.In vivo we used a completely randomised design with 4 replicate pens of 5 chicks assigned to each dietary treatment from hatch to 21 days. Dietary treatments included a negative and a positive control diet (2 mg/kg AFB1), and treatment groups receiving 2 mg/kg AFB1 and 0.5% of one of 8 adsorbents. Results ofin vitro experiments ranked the adsorbents as ‘good’ (R, MB, B7, M32, M34, M5; 6 bentonites containing acis-vacant smectite), ‘average’ (bentonite C2 containing atrans-vacant smectite) or ‘poor’ (zeolite Z08, containing clinoptilolite). The addition of AFB1 significantly reduced feed intake and/or body weight gain of the chicks compared to the negative control and to the treatment groups, except for C2 and Z08. Except Z08, all adsorbents numerically decreased the liver weight compared to the AFB1-fed group. Kidney weights were significantly increased by the addition of AFB1 compared to the control and most adsorbents, except C2 and Z08. Similarly, ‘good’ adsorbents significantly prevented the decrease in serum albumin and serum total protein. The ability of adsorbents to ameliorate AFB1 toxicity in poultry basically correlated with thein vitro findings meaning that ‘poor’ and ‘average’ adsorbents did not (Z08) or only partially (C2) protect against AFB1
in vivo.
HRM Practices and Knowledge Sharing Behaviour
Authors: Iqbal Salman , Toulson Paul , Tweed David
Published: February 2015

This chapter examines the empirical effect of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices on employees' knowledge-sharing behaviour in Pakistan. A research model is developed for this chapter and hypotheses are formulated. The research sample is comprised of 390 respondents from 19 Knowledge Intensive Firms (KIFs) in Pakistan. The authors have employed Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) techniques to test the proposed hypotheses. The results suggest that collaborative HRM practices have a positive effect on employees' knowledge sharing behaviour. Surprisingly, they find that employees' knowledge-sharing behaviour is independent of reward systems and employee recognition. This chapter is entirely based on employees' perceptions; therefore, the results of this study are from an employee's perspective, rather than from a management perspective. Therefore, the chapter makes a valuable contribution, given the lack of empirical studies focusing on the South East Asian region. This study is beneficial for researchers, practitioners, and those interested in organisational structure and relationships across organisations in the knowledge context.
International Market Entry Modes
Authors: Zhao Jingyuan
Published: February 2015

The Chinese pharmaceutical market has become the world's second largest market. The Chinese pharmaceutical industry is becoming a growing player in global pharmaceutical chain. This chapter aims to solve following issues: the market orientation and resource base of Chinese pharmaceutical industry, the role in the global pharmaceutical industrial chain, and the international market entry modes of Chinese pharmaceutical companies. The sample companies are selected and surveyed with a focus on the international market entry modes. Through an empirical research, this chapter summarizes the experience of Chinese pharmaceutical internationalization and finds the effective modes of international market entry are product upgrading along the industrial chain, international certification and cooperation, outsourcing and licensing, and other paths of overseas expansion. The implication for pharmaceutical companies of emerging markets is to choose the suitable entry modes based on advantages, learn from the experience of other emerging markets and domestic leading companies of internationalization, and gradually enter the standard market. This study not only provides international market entry modes for the latecomer of Chinese pharmaceutical companies but also enriches the internationalization theory of emerging markets.
Multigenre Medicine
Authors: Bird Jennifer Lynne , Wanner Eric T. , Urenda Ryan , Perry Robin
Published: February 2015

This chapter provides an introduction to the concept of multigenre writing and explains methods of multigenre writing used in the field of medicine to create the concept of multigenre medicine. The authors share their stories using a multigenre format, which includes multiple perspectives and multiple writing styles such as linking personal narratives with academic research. Therefore, the reader not only learns about multigenre writing but also experiences it.
Self-Directed Learning and Adult Education
Authors: Bryan Valerie , Brittain Kristin , Swann Elizabeth
Published: February 2015

Patients are increasingly being asked to take more responsibility for self-care in a complex healthcare system; this can be a challenge for even the most educated individual. Learning is central to health, health decisions, and self-care. Adult educators' insights regarding lifelong, self-directed learning are critical in helping adults learn about their disease and make informed decisions. This chapter presents documentation of self-directed learning in health education through a series of case studies with reflections. The authors draw attention to self-directed learning in the context of one's own personal health management and propose self-directed learning as a solution to the numerous barriers to personal health education. Ideas for increasing a self-directed approach when seeking health information are offered based on the case studies reviewed. Ideas regarding future research needs are included.
Cutting-Edge Technology Adoption for Building Holistic Patient Experience
Authors: Chauhan Roma
Published: February 2015

Internet acceptance has exponentially risen globally in the last decade with the advent of collaborative and interactive Web technologies. E-learning techniques are extensively used by medical educators to impart learning to their patients and caregivers. E-Learning 2.0 has appeared as amalgamation of traditional e-learning model and capabilities of Web 2.0. It is a supplement to treatment provided by doctors, used for educating patient and equipping them to handle preventive and disease-specific conditions resulting in affirmative patient experience. The contemporary medical practices emphasizes building patient experience and not restricting patient treatment. This chapter explains the need of shifting e-learning focus from the software product design to service design and drawing the comparative model between the two. It reviews existing E-Learning 2.0 practices being used in medical education and recent state-of-the-art technologies including webcasting, virtual learning environment, mobile technology, etc. The focal point of the chapter is how to use technology to promote patient-centered culture.
Truly Nourished
Authors: Bandy-Helderman Christine
Published: February 2015

A nutritionist presents case studies of patients who learned not only lessons about nutrition but also lessons about life. Details about the patients' stories are fictionalized, but the life lessons learned by the patients and the nutritionist lead to reflection on healthy choices. The nutritionist uses her faith and conversations with God to guide her as she helps patients.
Magnitude of Enterococcal Bacteremia in Trauma Patients Admitted for Intensive Trauma Care: A Tertiary Care Experience from South Asian Country
Authors: Rajkumari Nonika , Mathur Purva , Thanbuana Bariamtak , Sajan Swaminathan , Misra Mahesh C
Published: February 2015

Background: Bloodstream infection (BSI) and bacteremias due to Enterococcus spp. are increasing worldwide with the current need to understand its causes among hospitalized trauma patients. Hence, the study was conducted.

Methodology: A 3-year retrospective laboratory cum clinical based study was performed at a level I trauma center in India. Patients with health care associated enterococcal bacteremia were identified using the hospital database, their episodes of BSI/bacteremia calculated and their clinical records and treatment were noted.

Results: A total of 104 nonrepetitive Enterococcus spp. was isolated of which Enterococcus faecium was the most common (52%). High-level resistance to gentamicin high-level aminoglycoside resistance was seen in all the Enterococcus spp. causing bacteremia, whereas a low resistance to vancomycin and teichoplanin was observed. Overall mortality was more in patients infected with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (5/11, 46%) compared to those with vancomycin sensitive Enterococcus (9/93, 10%); though no significant association of mortality with Enterococcus spp. bacteremia (P > 0.05) was seen. The rate of bacteremia due to Enterococcus spp. was 25.4 episodes/1,000 admissions (104/4,094) during the study period.

Conclusion: Enterococcal bacteremia is much prevalent in trauma care facilities. Here, a microbiologist can act as a sentinel and help in preventing such infections.
Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma diagnosed using endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration
Authors: Caraway Nancy P. , Salina Davide , Deavers Michael T. , Morice Rodolfo , Landon Gene
Published: February 2015

Intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery is a rare intraluminal malignant neoplasm that has an aggressive biological behavior, and early diagnosis may improve patient outcome. We describe a case of pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma diagnosed on cytologic material obtained by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) biopsy with rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE). The aspirate showed loosely cohesive clusters of pleomorphic malignant spindled and epithelioid cells. An immunostain panel did not demonstrate any definitive mesenchymal or epithelial differentiation. The tumor's intraluminal origin was supported by radiographic imaging studies. Subsequently, the patient received preoperative chemotherapy and underwent tumor resection with reconstruction. This report describes the cytomorphologic features of this rare intravascular tumor and demonstrates how EBUS-TBNA with ROSE was instrumental in obtaining optimal cytologic sampling for ancillary studies, thus expediting the management.
Chemometric perspectives on plankton community responses to natural iron fertilisation over and downstream of the Kerguelen Plateau in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Trull T. W. , Davies D. M. , Dehairs F. , Cavagna A.-J. , Lasbleiz M. , Laurenceau-Cornec E. C. , d'Ovidio F. , Planchon F. , Leblanc K. , Quéguiner B. , Blain S.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. We examined phytoplankton community responses to natural iron fertilisation at 32 sites over and downstream from the Kerguelen Plateau in the Southern Ocean during the austral spring bloom in October–November 2011. The community structure was estimated from chemical and isotopic measurements (particulate organic carbon – POC; 13C-POC; particulate nitrogen – PN; 15N-PN; and biogenic silica – BSi) on size-fractionated samples from surface waters (300, 210, 50, 20, 5, and 1 μm fractions). Higher values of 13C-POC (vs. co-located 13C values for dissolved inorganic carbon – DIC) were taken as indicative of faster growth rates and higher values of 15N-PN (vs. co-located 15N-NO3 source values) as indicative of greater nitrate use (rather than ammonium use, i.e. higher f ratios). Community responses varied in relation to both regional circulation and the advance of the bloom. Iron-fertilised waters over the plateau developed dominance by very large diatoms (50–210 μm) with high BSi / POC ratios, high growth rates, and significant ammonium recycling (lower f ratios) as biomass built up. In contrast, downstream polar frontal waters with a similar or higher iron supply were dominated by smaller diatoms (20–50 μm) and exhibited greater ammonium recycling. Stations in a deep-water bathymetrically trapped recirculation south of the polar front with lower iron levels showed the large-cell dominance observed on the plateau but much less biomass. Comparison of these communities to surface water nitrate (and silicate) depletions as a proxy for export shows that the low-biomass recirculation feature had exported similar amounts of nitrogen to the high-biomass blooms over the plateau and north of the polar front. This suggests that early spring trophodynamic and export responses differed between regions with persistent low levels vs. intermittent high levels of iron fertilisation.
Early warning of drought in Europe using the monthly ensemble system from ECMWF
Authors: Lavaysse C. , Vogt J. , Pappenberger F.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Timely forecasts of the onset or possible evolution of droughts are an important contribution to mitigate their manifold negative effects. In this paper we therefore analyse and compare the performance of the first month of the probabilistic extended range forecast and of the seasonal forecast from ECMWF in predicting droughts over the European continent. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is used to quantify the onset and severity of droughts. It can be shown that on average the extended range forecast has greater skill than the seasonal forecast whilst both outperform climatology. No significant spatial or temporal patterns can be observed but the scores are improved when focussing on large-scale droughts. In a second step we then analyse several different methods to convert the probabilistic forecasts of SPI into a Boolean drought warning. It can be demonstrated that methodologies which convert low percentiles of the forecasted SPI cumulative distribution function into warnings are superior in comparison with alternatives such as the mean or the median of the ensemble. The paper demonstrates that up to 40% of droughts are correctly forecasted one month in advance. Nevertheless, during false alarms or misses, we did not find significant differences in the distribution of the ensemble members that would allow for a quantitative assessment of the uncertainty.
Lab-on-Spoon – a 3-D integrated hand-held multi-sensor system for low-cost food quality, safety, and processing monitoring in assisted-living systems
Authors: König A. , Thongpull K.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Distributed integrated sensory systems enjoy increasing impact leveraged by the surging advance of sensor, communication, and integration technology in, e.g., the Internet of Things, cyber-physical systems, Industry 4.0, and ambient intelligence/assisted-living applications. Smart kitchens and "white goods" in general have become an active field of R&D. The goal of our research is to provide assistance for unskilled or challenged consumers by efficient sensory feedback or context on ingredient quality and cooking step results, which explicitly includes decay and contamination detection. As one front end of such a culinary-assistance system, an integrated, multi-sensor, low-cost, autonomous, smart spoon device, denoted as Lab-on-Spoon (LoS), has been conceived. The first realized instance presented here features temperature, color, and impedance spectroscopy sensing in a 3-D-printed spoon package. Acquired LoS data are subject to sensor fusion and decision making on the host system. LoS was successfully applied to liquid ingredient recognition and quality assessment, including contamination detection, in several applications, e.g., for glycerol detection in wine. In future work, improvement to sensors, electronics, and algorithms will be pursued to achieve an even more robust, dependable and self-sufficient LoS system.
From the Ground Up: What does the evidence tell us about local experiences of transitional justice?
Authors: Macdonald Anna
Published: February 2015

Since the early 1990s, transitional justice has established itself as a field of study and practice. Proponents make normative links between transitional justice processes—for example, criminal trials, truth commissions and reparations—and broader societal and systemic outcomes, such as healing, reconciliation, peace and democracy. There is, however, a paucity of evidence on the actual effects and experiences of transitional justice interventions in war affected and fragile places. This paper uses a bibliographic search methodology to pull together the extant evidence on local experiences of transitional justice interventions and finds that local perceptions and experiences of these processes are complex and do not conform with widely-held normative assertions about what transitional justice “ought” to accomplish. The implications for the transitional justice field are examined and recommendations for future research are proposed.
Overwegingen over een Wereldwijd Parlement van Burgemeesters
Authors: Corijn Eric
Published: February 2015

Reflecting on a global parliament of mayors

The central argument according to Eric Corijn in the book of Benjamin Barber is that a legitimate political authority should be created that can add some governance, some regulation to the world system. Within the world system a democratic deficit has emerged that is caused by the process of globalization, in which international political and economic decisions are taken without reference to a global constituency, civil society, citizenship or global public opinion. Eric Corijn sees four strong arguments for an increased political role of mayors through a Global Parliament of Mayors. He also discusses three structural global challenges that can better be dealt with by cities than by dysfunctional nations: a) our relationship with nature, b) the growing social inequality, c) superdiversity resulting from migration and socio-cultural diversification. In dealing with these issues (the political agenda) the Global Parliament of Mayors should act in a pragmatic way.
De officier van justitie als kampvechter
Authors: Elffers Henk
Published: February 2015

The prosecutor as tournament knight

The public prosecutor should act as the knight fighting in court for a victim. A much more communicative strategy instead of one aiming at a juridical discourse will reframe what is happening in court and make it understandable for victims and public in general, Examples are given of how to do so. A discussion on the effects of such a strategy is presented.
Recht doen aan alternatieve scenario’s
Authors: Lettinga Berber
Published: February 2015

The judge always looks twice; considering alternative scenario’s in court

This article presents how criminal court handle with stories alternative to the accusative story. By analysing verdicts it is showed that reasonable doubt is not merely caused by the simple possibility of an alternative scenario. Under condition of sufficient evidence for conviction criminal courts will reject alternative stories which are without likely indications as well as unusual stories presented in an tardy stadium of law. Therefor it is important for participants in law to focus on the (lack of) support and the (im)plausiblity of alternative stories, instead of (requesting) infinite search for discriminative evidence in merely suggested stories.
The Social Consequences of Demographic Change in India
Authors: Jeffery Patricia
Published: February 2015

Since the mid-1960s, India has experienced several notable shifts in its population dynamics that will have social implications for decades to come. This paper first sketches some of the central parameters of a complex picture that is characterised by regional and intra-regional contrasts. The main body of the paper considers the likely impact of these demographic processes by addressing the following themes: whether India is likely to benefit from the ‘demographic dividend’ derived from declining fertility; whether declining fertility combined with sex selective abortion might result in a ‘marriage squeeze’ that disadvantages young men and results in a decline in the significance of dowry payments; whether low fertility will impact positively on gender politics (including women’s access to employment and their position within their marital homes); and the implications of an increasingly ageing population for the intergenerational contract.
China: Energy, Environment, and Limits to Growth
Authors: Li Minqi
Published: February 2015

China has achieved rapid economic growth over the past three decades. However, the benefits of growth have not been shared evenly and the growth has been achieved with very high environmental costs. The underlying trends in term of air pollution, water usage and pollution, soil erosion and land degradation, as well as energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are unsustainable. The current trends could potentially lead to major collapses of China’s as well as the global ecological systems. It is unlikely that the current trends can be reversed within an economic system dominated by private ownership of the means of production and market competition. An alternative system based on democratic planning and social needs may be required for China to deliver ecological sustainability while meeting the population’s basic needs.