bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The instability in the radially non-uniform electron beam-ion channel system
Authors: Yang S. P. , Zhou Q. , Gong Y. B. , Tang C. J.
Published: October 2015

The instability caused by the interaction among the electron beam, plasma, and electromagnetic (EM) waves in a radially non-uniform ion channel is studied. The dispersion relation of the interaction is derived in this paper. The study shows that the EM instability can be induced nearby the center of the beam through the coupling between the fast plasma wave and forward EM wave. On the other hand, the beam mode instability is found in the region relatively far from the center, which means the beam mode can couple with the slow plasma wave so that the electron beam can provide energy to the plasma wave. The distributions of the instability with radius and plasma density are given, respectively, by the numerical simulation, and the result shows that the instability frequency is increased exponentially with the increase of the plasma density. When the plasma density reaches 1×1024m−3, the scale of the frequency can be 10 THz, which provides a theoretical basis for developing the new kind of high-power terahertz radiation sources. Besides, the related physics mechanisms of the instability are also discussed.
Atomic layer deposition of absorbing thin films on nanostructured electrodes for short-wavelength infrared photosensing
Authors: Xu Jixian , Sutherland Brandon R. , Hoogland Sjoerd , Fan Fengjia , Kinge Sachin , Sargent Edward H.
Published: October 2015

Atomic layer deposition (ALD), prized for its high-quality thin-film formation in the absence of high temperature or high vacuum, has become an industry standard for the large-area deposition of a wide array of oxide materials. Recently, it has shown promise in the formation of nanocrystalline sulfide films. Here, we demonstrate the viability of ALD lead sulfide for photodetection. Leveraging the conformal capabilities of ALD, we enhance the absorption without compromising the extraction efficiency in the absorbing layer by utilizing a ZnO nanowire electrode. The nanowires are first coated with a thin shunt-preventing TiO2 layer, followed by an infrared-active ALD PbS layer for photosensing. The ALD PbS photodetector exhibits a peak responsivity of 10−2 A W−1 and a shot-derived specific detectivity of 3 × 109 Jones at 1530 nm wavelength.
Minhota breed cattle: carcass characterisation and meat quality affected by sex and slaughter age
Authors: Araujo J. P. , Lorenzo J. M. , Cerqueira J. , Vazquez J. A. , Pires P. , Cantalapiedra J. , Franco D.
Published: October 2015

This work focuses on the effect of slaughter age (6 and 9 months) and sex on carcass characteristics and meat quality of the Minhota cattle breed. In this study, data from 52 cattle (34 entire males and 18 females) were used for the carcass and meat characterisation. Regarding carcass characteristics, entire male carcasses (158 kg and 223 kg for animals of 6 and 9 months, respectively), were heavier than female carcasses (130 kg and 161 kg for animals of 6 and 9 months, respectively), with better dressing percentages, increased lengths, thicknesses and depths and compactness indexes. The quality of meat from carcasses of both entire males and females had strong luminosity (L*), a pale pink tone (lower a*-value) and high yellowness. Mean tenderness of Longissimus thoracis, expressed as shear force, was below 5.5 kg/cm2, without significant differences (P > 0.05) between either the slaughter age or sex.
Intercellular communication in
Arabidopsis thaliana
pollen discovered via
AHG3
transcript movement from the vegetative cell to sperm
Authors: Jiang Hua , Yi Jun , Boavida Leonor C. , Chen Yuan , Becker Jörg D. , Köhler Claudia , McCormick Sheila
Published: October 2015

Significance

In pollen grains, the known function of the vegetative cell is to extend a pollen tube to transport the two sperm cells to the embryo sac for fertilization. Because the vegetative cell is much larger and more metabolically active than sperm, it has been assumed that the vegetative cell also might supply various components to sperm, but there was no direct evidence to support this hypothesis. We used deletion and promoter exchange constructs to provide direct evidence that the vegetative cell provides protein-encoding transcripts to sperm cells, highlighting a previously unidentified role of the vegetative cell.
Bernstein-Szegő measures, Banach algebras, and scattering theory
Authors: Geronimo Jeffrey , Iliev Plamen
Published: October 2015

We give a simple and explicit description of the Bernstein-Szegő type measures associated with Jacobi matrices which differ from the Jacobi matrix of the Chebyshev measure in finitely many entries. We also introduce a class of measures

M

\mathcal {M}

which parametrizes the Jacobi matrices with exponential decay and for each element in

M

\mathcal {M}

we define a scattering function. Using Banach algebras associated with increasing Beurling weights, we prove that the exponential decay of the coefficients in a Jacobi matrix is completely determined by the decay of the negative Fourier coefficients of the scattering function. Combining this result with the Bernstein-Szegő type measures we provide different characterizations of the rate of decay of the entries of the Jacobi matrices for measures in

M

\mathcal {M}

.
Boundary density and Voronoi set estimation for irregular sets
Authors: Lachièze-Rey Raphaël , Vega Sergio
Published: October 2015

In this paper, we study the inner and outer boundary densities of some sets with self-similar boundary having Minkowski dimension

s
>
d
−
1

s>d-1

in

R

d

\mathbb {R}^{d}

. These quantities turn out to be crucial in some problems of set estimation, as we show here for the Voronoi approximation of the set with a random input constituted by

n
n

iid points in some larger bounded domain. We prove that some classes of such sets have positive inner and outer boundary density, and therefore satisfy Berry-Esseen bounds in

n

−
s

/

2
d

n^{-s/2d}

for Kolmogorov distance. The Von Koch flake serves as an example, and a set with Cantor boundary as a counterexample. We also give the almost sure rate of convergence of Hausdorff distance between the set and its approximation.
Protein interacting with C kinase 1 suppresses invasion and anchorage-independent growth of astrocytic tumor cells
Authors: Cockbill Louisa M. R. , Murk Kai , Love Seth , Hanley Jonathan G.
Published: October 2015

Astrocytic tumors are the most common form of primary brain tumor. Astrocytic tumor cells infiltrate the surrounding CNS tissue, allowing them to evade removal upon surgical resection of the primary tumor. Dynamic changes to the actin cytoskeleton are crucial to cancer cell invasion, but the specific mechanisms that underlie the particularly invasive phenotype of astrocytic tumor cells are unclear. Protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1) is a PDZ and BAR domain–containing protein that inhibits actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3)-dependent actin polymerization and is involved in regulating the trafficking of a number of cell-surface receptors. Here we report that, in contrast to other cancers, PICK1 expression is down-regulated in grade IV astrocytic tumor cell lines and also in clinical cases of the disease in which grade IV tumors have progressed from lower-grade tumors. Exogenous expression of PICK1 in the grade IV astrocytic cell line U251 reduces their capacity for anchorage-independent growth, two-dimensional migration, and invasion through a three-dimensional matrix, strongly suggesting that low PICK1 expression plays an important role in astrocytic tumorigenesis. We propose that PICK1 negatively regulates neoplastic infiltration of astrocytic tumors and that manipulation of PICK1 is an attractive possibility for therapeutic intervention.
Characterization of Field Isolates of Magnaporthe oryzae with Mating Type, DNA Fingerprinting, and Pathogenicity Assays
Authors: Li Jinbin , Lu Lin , Jia Yulin , Wang Qun , Fukuta Yoshimichi , Li Chengyun
Published: October 2015

Due to the harmful nature of the rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae, it is beneficial to characterize field isolates to help aid in the deployment of resistance (R) genes in rice. In the present study, 252 field isolates of M. oryzae, collected from rice fields of Yunnan Province in China, were assessed for mating type, DNA fingerprinting, and disease reactions to differential rice lines. In total, 94 isolates (37.3%) were MAT1-1 and 158 (62.7%) were MAT1-2 based on polymerase chain reaction assays, and some of them were verified with the tester isolates. All MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 isolates were virulent to some of the International Rice Research Institute–Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences monogenic lines harboring 22 major resistance genes as differential varieties. Three simple-sequence repeat markers were used to examine genetic diversity in all isolates. The existence of regional patterns of genetic diversity, sexual reproduction potential, and pathogenicity suggests that M. oryzae populations have been independently asexually adapted in rice fields during crop cultivation.
A Permutation-Randomization Approach to Test the Spatial Distribution of Plant Diseases
Authors: Lione G. , Gonthier P.
Published: October 2015

The analysis of the spatial distribution of plant diseases requires the availability of trustworthy geostatistical methods. The mean distance tests (MDT) are here proposed as a series of permutation and randomization tests to assess the spatial distribution of plant diseases when the variable of phytopathological interest is categorical. A user-friendly software to perform the tests is provided. Estimates of power and type I error, obtained with Monte Carlo simulations, showed the reliability of the MDT (power > 0.80; type I error < 0.05). A biological validation on the spatial distribution of spores of two fungal pathogens causing root rot on conifers was successfully performed by verifying the consistency between the MDT responses and previously published data. An application of the MDT was carried out to analyze the relation between the plantation density and the distribution of the infection of Gnomoniopsis castanea, an emerging fungal pathogen causing nut rot on sweet chestnut. Trees carrying nuts infected by the pathogen were randomly distributed in areas with different plantation densities, suggesting that the distribution of G. castanea was not related to the plantation density. The MDT could be used to analyze the spatial distribution of plant diseases both in agricultural and natural ecosystems.
Pediatric Lyme Arthritis of the Hip: The Great Imitator?
Authors: Cruz Aristides I. , Aversano Francis J. , Seeley Mark A. , Sankar Wudbhav N. , Baldwin Keith D.
Published: October 2015

Background:

Lyme arthritis (LA) of the hip can present similarly to septic arthritis (SA) and transient synovitis (TS). The primary purpose of this study was to determine clinical and laboratory parameters differentiating LA of the hip from SA or TS among children who had undergone hip aspiration during the evaluation of hip pain.

Methods:

This was a retrospective review of all patients who underwent hip aspiration for the evaluation of hip pain at a tertiary care children’s hospital in a Lyme endemic area. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed and comparative analyses were performed between those diagnosed with LA, SA, and TS. Independent samples t test, ANOVA, and χ2 test were used to compare clinical and laboratory variables as appropriate. Multivariable logistic regression was used to elucidate independent predictors of LA. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.

Results:

Ninety-three hip aspirations (93 patients) were included in the final analysis. Seventeen patients were diagnosed with LA, 40 with SA, and 36 with TS. Multivariable logistic regression revealed febrile history (OR=16.3; 95% CI, 2.35-113.0) and increased peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count (OR=1.26; 95% CI, 1.01-1.58) to be significantly associated with increased odds of being diagnosed with SA versus LA. Increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was significantly associated with increased odds of being diagnosed with LA versus TS (OR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.10), whereas febrile history (OR=0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.49) and increased peripheral WBC count (OR=0.8; 95% CI, 0.65-0.98) were associated with decreased odds of LA.

Conclusions:

Children presenting in a Lyme endemic area with an isolated hip effusion are more likely to have LA versus SA if they have no history of fever and a decreased peripheral WBC count. Compared with TS, patients with LA are more likely to have an elevated ESR. This study adds to existing knowledge because there are few investigations examining isolated LA of the hip.

Level of Evidence:

Level III—retrospective case-control study.
Utility of Peripherin Versus MAP-2 and Calretinin in the Evaluation of Hirschsprung Disease
Authors: Chisholm Karen M. , Longacre Teri A.
Published: October 2015

Hirschsprung disease (HD) is a congenital malformation resulting from the lack of migration of ganglion cells in the colon. The absence of ganglion cells in rectal suction biopsies aids in diagnosis, but evaluation of these small biopsies can be difficult. In this study, we compare the microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2), calretinin, and peripherin immunohistochemical stains in 237 selected biopsies performed to rule out HD. By H&E stain, a total of 78 biopsies had ganglion cells, whereas 83 biopsies had no ganglion cells, and an additional 76 biopsies were equivocal for ganglion cells. Of the 78 biopsies with ganglion cells, MAP-2 was positive in 73 (94%), calretinin in 76 (97%), and peripherin in 78 (100%). Of the 83 biopsies with no ganglion cells, calretinin and peripherin highlighted nerve fibrils and ganglion cells, respectively, in 3 biopsies, whereas MAP-2 was positive in only 1 biopsy. Of the 76 biopsies equivocal for ganglion cells, 16 cases were positive by all 3 stains, an additional case by both calretinin and peripherin, and 2 cases by peripherin only. All of the newly positive biopsies were from patients without HD. This study demonstrates that peripherin is superior in helping to rule out HD in these small biopsies, highlighting ganglion cells in virtually all cases with ganglion cells, whereas MAP-2 and calretinin are less sensitive for identification of ganglion cells and nerve fibrils, respectively. In patients with HD, a panel using calretinin and peripherin with or without MAP-2 may be most helpful in identifying transition zones.
Ezrin is Significantly Overexpressed in Luminal A, Luminal B, and HER2 Subtype Breast Cancer
Authors: Jais Murni H. , Md Zin Reena R. , Muhd Hanapi Nur A. , Md Ali Siti A.
Published: October 2015

Ezrin, a membrane-linking protein, has been shown to play an important role in the carcinogenesis of infiltrating breast ductal carcinoma and its strong expression has been used to predict poor prognosis in patients with breast carcinoma. In this study, we compared ezrin protein distribution pattern in benign breast disease and breast cancer molecular subtypes and evaluated their association with clinicopathologic variables. A total of 376 breast cases (142 benign and 234 malignant cases) were studied. Immunohistochemical analysis for ezrin was performed and its expression was observed in terms of its distribution, intensity, and proportion of cells reactive for ezrin. Ezrin was expressed in all benign cases and 91.7% of malignant cases. Apical staining was positively associated with benign breast disease, whereas membranous and cytoplasmic staining were more frequently observed in malignant cases, specifically of hormone receptor–positive subtypes (luminal A and luminal B). Ezrin was significantly overexpressed in luminal A, luminal B, and HER2 subtypes. Reduced ezrin expression was significantly associated with triple-negative breast cancer molecular subtype. No significant association was demonstrated between ezrin expression and Her2 gene amplification, tumor grading, or staging.
The utility of protein structure as a predictor of site-wise dN/dSvaries widely among HIV-1 proteins
Authors: Meyer Austin G. , Wilke Claus O.
Published: October 2015

Protein structure acts as a general constraint on the evolution of viral proteins. One widely recognized structural constraint explaining evolutionary variation among sites is the relative solvent accessibility (RSA) of residues in the folded protein. In influenza virus, the distance from functional sites has been found to explain an additional portion of the evolutionary variation in the external antigenic proteins. However, to what extent RSA and distance from a reference site in the protein can be used more generally to explain protein adaptation in other viruses and in the different proteins of any given virus remains an open question. To address this question, we have carried out an analysis of the distribution and structural predictors of site-wise dN/dSin HIV-1. Our results indicate that the distribution of dN/dSin HIV follows a smooth gamma distribution, with no special enrichment or depletion of sites with dN/dSat or above one. The variation in dN/dScan be partially explained by RSA and distance from a reference site in the protein, but these structural constraints do not act uniformly among the different HIV-1 proteins. Structural constraints are highly predictive in just one of the three enzymes and one of three structural proteins in HIV-1. For these two proteins, the protease enzyme and thegp120structural protein, structure explains between 30 and 40% of the variation in dN/dS. Finally, for thegp120protein of the receptor-binding complex, we also find that glycosylation sites explain just 2% of the variation in dN/dSand do not explaingp120evolution independently of either RSA or distance from the apical surface.
Unravelling the geometry of data matrices: effects of water stress regimes on winemaking
Authors: Fushing Hsieh , Hsueh Chih-Hsin , Heitkamp Constantin , Matthews Mark A. , Koehl Patrice
Published: October 2015

A new method is proposed for unravelling the patterns between a set of experiments and the features that characterize those experiments. The aims are to extract these patterns in the form of a coupling between the rows and columns of the corresponding data matrix and to use this geometry as a support for model testing. These aims are reached through two key steps, namely application of an iterative geometric approach to couple the metric spaces associated with the rows and columns, and use of statistical physics to generate matrices that mimic the original data while maintaining their inherent structure, thereby providing the basis for hypothesis testing and statistical inference. The power of this new method is illustrated on the study of the impact of water stress conditions on the attributes of ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ Grapes, Juice, Wine and Bottled Wine from two vintages. The first step, named data mechanics, de-convolutes the intrinsic effects of grape berries and wine attributes due to the experimental irrigation conditions from the extrinsic effects of the environment. The second step provides an analysis of the associations of some attributes of the bottled wine with characteristics of either the matured grape berries or the resulting juice, thereby identifying statistically significant associations between the juice pH, yeast assimilable nitrogen, and sugar content and the bottled wine alcohol level.
Electrohydrodynamics of stationary cone-jet streaming
Authors: Subbotin Andrey V. , Semenov Alexander N.
Published: October 2015

We discover novel types of stationary cone-jet steams emitting from a nozzle of a syringe loaded with a conductive liquid. The predicted cone-jet-flow geometries are based on the analysis of the electrohydrodynamic equations including the surface current. The electric field and the flow velocity field inside the cone are calculated. It is shown that the electric current along the conical stream depends on the cone angle. The stable values of this angle are obtained based on the Onsager’s principle of maximum entropy production. The characteristics of the jet that emits from the conical tip are also studied. The obtained results are relevant both for the electrospraying and electrospinning processes.
A chemo-mechanics framework for elastic solids with surface stress
Authors: Gao Xiang , Fang Daining , Qu Jianmin
Published: October 2015

Elasticity problems involving solid-state diffusion and chemo-mechanical coupling have wide applications in energy conversion and storage devices such as fuel cells and batteries. Such problems are usually difficult to solve because of their strongly nonlinear characteristics. This study first derives the governing equations for three-dimensional chemo-elasticity problems accounting for surface stresses in terms of the Helmholtz potentials of the displacement field. Then, by assuming weak coupling between the chemical and mechanical fields, a perturbation method is used and the nonlinear governing equations are reduced to a system of linear differential equations. It is observed from these equations that the mechanical equilibrium equations of the first two orders are not dependent on the chemical fields. Finally, the above chemo-mechanics framework is applied to study the stress concentration problem of a circular nano-hole in an infinitely large thick plate with prescribed mechanical and chemical loads at infinity. Explicit expressions up to the third order are obtained for the stress and solute concentration fields. It is seen from these solutions that, different from the classical elasticity result, the stress concentration factor near the nano-hole depends on the surface stress, applied tensile load and prescribed solute concentration at infinity.
Impacts of regular and random noise on the behaviour, growth and development of larval Atlantic cod (
Gadus morhua
)
Authors: Nedelec Sophie L. , Simpson Stephen D. , Morley Erica L. , Nedelec Brendan , Radford Andrew N.
Published: October 2015

Anthropogenic noise impacts behaviour and physiology in many species, but responses could change with repeat exposures. As repeat exposures can vary in regularity, identifying regimes with less impact is important for regulation. We use a 16-day split-brood experiment to compare effects of regular and random acoustic noise (playbacks of recordings of ships), relative to ambient-noise controls, on behaviour, growth and development of larval Atlantic cod (
Gadus morhua
). Short-term noise caused startle responses in newly hatched fish, irrespective of rearing noise. Two days of both regular and random noise regimes reduced growth, while regular noise led to faster yolk sac use. After 16 days, growth in all three sound treatments converged, although fish exposed to regular noise had lower body width–length ratios. Larvae with lower body width–length ratios were easier to catch in a predator-avoidance experiment. Our results demonstrate that the timing of acoustic disturbances can impact survival-related measures during development. Much current work focuses on sound levels, but future studies should consider the role of noise regularity and its importance for noise management and mitigation measures.
Oxygenation of anoxic sediments triggers hatching of zooplankton eggs
Authors: Broman Elias , Brüsin Martin , Dopson Mark , Hylander Samuel
Published: October 2015

Many coastal marine systems have extensive areas with anoxic sediments and it is not well known how these conditions affect the benthic–pelagic coupling. Zooplankton lay their eggs in the pelagic zone, and some sink and lie dormant in the sediment, before hatched zooplankton return to the water column. In this study, we investigated how oxygenation of long-term anoxic sediments affects the hatching frequency of dormant zooplankton eggs. Anoxic sediments from the brackish Baltic Sea were sampled and incubated for 26 days with constant aeration whereby, the sediment surface and the overlying water were turned oxic. Newly hatched rotifers and copepod nauplii (juveniles) were observed after 5 and 8 days, respectively. Approximately 1.5 × 105nauplii m−2emerged from sediment turned oxic compared with 0.02 × 105m−2from controls maintained anoxic. This study demonstrated that re-oxygenation of anoxic sediments activated a large pool of buried zooplankton eggs, strengthening the benthic–pelagic coupling of the system. Modelling of the studied anoxic zone suggested that a substantial part of the pelagic copepod population can derive from hatching of dormant eggs. We suggest that this process should be included in future studies to understand population dynamics and carbon flows in marine pelagic systems.
Estimating the respective contributions of human and viral genetic variation to HIV control
Authors: Bartha István , McLaren Paul J , Brumme Chanson , Harrigan Richard , Telenti Amalio , Fellay Jacques
Published: October 2015

We evaluated the fraction of variation in HIV-1 set point viral load attributable to viral or human genetic factors by using joint host/pathogen genetic data from 541 HIV infected individuals. We show that viral genetic diversity explains 29% of the variation in viral load while host factors explain 8.4%. Using a joint model including both host and viral effects, we estimate a total of 30% heritability, indicating that most of the host effects are reflected in viral sequence variation.
Robust Classification of Protein Variation Using Structural Modeling and Large-Scale Data Integration
Authors: Baugh Evan H. , Simmons-Edler Riley , Müller Christian L. , Alford Rebecca F. , Volfovsky Natalia , Lash Alex E. , Bonneau Richard
Published: October 2015

Existing methods for interpreting protein variation focus on annotating mutation pathogenicity rather than detailed interpretation of variant deleteriousness and frequently use only sequence-based or structure-based information. We present VIPUR, a computational framework that seamlessly integrates sequence analysis and structural modeling (using the Rosetta protein modeling suite) to identify and interpret deleterious protein variants. To train VIPUR, we collected 9,477 protein variants with known effects on protein function from multiple organisms and curated structural models for each variant from crystal structures and homology models. VIPUR can be applied to mutations in any organism’s proteome with improved generalized accuracy (AUROC .83) and interpretability (AUPR .87) compared to other methods. We demonstrate that VIPUR‘s predictions of deleteriousness match the biological phenotypes in ClinVar and provide a clear ranking of prediction confidence. We use VIPUR to interpret known mutations associated with inflammation and diabetes, demonstrating the structural diversity of disrupted functional sites and improved interpretation of mutations associated with human diseases. Lastly we demonstrate VIPUR‘s ability to highlight candidate genes associated with human diseases by applying VIPUR to de novo variants associated with autism spectrum disorders.
The development of a service supply chain model for a manufacturing SME
Authors: Hemilä Jukka , Vilko Jyri
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– Services are increasingly growing in importance in the global economy. However, in the context of manufacturing industry supply chains, services are still little discussed. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of service business development for manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises by further developing previous conceptual frameworks for service supply chain management, based on the current scientific literature and empirical cases.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is based mainly on qualitative interviews and expert group sessions set up to analyze the acquired data and test the developed model. The developed model is based on a multidisciplinary literature review, to provide a holistic perspective on the affecting factors in new business development in the service supply chain context.

Findings

– The implications of the study are beneficial from both the scientific and practical perspectives, which help to understand better the process and related factors in multi-actor service business development. The study contributes to the current scientific discussion of new business development in the supply chain context, proposing a new scientific framework based on the previous literature. The practical findings of the study give insights from manufacturing firms’ new service developments, and from the roles and resources required in the process.

Originality/value

– The paper provides new knowledge with regard to new service business development in the supply chain context, by illustrating the most essential factors and the new process framework based on those. The presented framework gives a holistic picture of the process, but also enables better consideration of the most essential points by using a more precisely structured model.
ASEAN’s initiatives for regional economic integration and the implications for maritime logistics reforms
Authors: Cheong Inkyo , Suthiwartnarueput Kamonchanok
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to estimate the economic impact of reducing logistics cost on the demand for port throughput in the context of Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) regional economic integration and to realize the potential economic gains of the maritime logistics reform in the region.

Design/methodology/approach

– The main part of this paper is to formulate conversion coefficients for containerized cargo to estimate the impacts of logistics reform on the demand for port throughput. These conversion coefficients, then have been used into a dynamic computational general equilibrium model using Global Trade Analysis Project database to explore the impact of logistics cost.

Findings

– The study demonstrates that logistics efficiency is a challenge for ASEAN economic integration, providing significant implications for maritime logistics reforms.

Research limitations/implications

– This study assumes uniform improvements of 5 and 10 percent in the logistics sector for all countries due to lack of detailed data on the logistics sectors in ASEAN countries.

Practical implications

– The findings of this study could help ASEAN policymakers for deeper understanding of efficient maritime logistics in realizing the economic gains from its regional economic integration initiatives.

Originality/value

– Although there are many descriptive studies on the importance of logistics efficiency in improving international competitiveness in a country or a region, these are not supported by quantitative assessment in the case of ASEAN. This study addresses the dearth of empirical evidence based on real data on trade and maritime cargo flows. This study contributes to highlighting that ASEAN countries should reform their logistics policies and practices.
The impact of knowledge management processes on supply chain performance
Authors: Sangari Mohamad Sadegh , Hosnavi Reza , Zahedi Mohammad Reza
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between knowledge management (KM) processes and supply chain performance, with information technology/information system (IT/IS) support, supply chain integration, and supply chain strategy as moderators.

Design/methodology/approach

– Drawing on the knowledge-based view, a theoretical framework is developed consisting of six KM processes: knowledge creation, knowledge capture, knowledge organization, knowledge storage, knowledge dissemination, and knowledge application, and the performance of supply chain is evaluated in terms of four Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) process elements: Plan, Source, Make, and Delivery. Structural equation modeling is employed using a sample of 78 Iranian manufacturers in mechanical and engineering industry.

Findings

– Empirical results show that KM processes have a significant impact on supply chain performance which is positively moderated by IT/IS support and supply chain integration. While the moderating effect of IT/IS support is found to be considerably stronger, the relationship between KM processes and supply chain performance is not significantly different in lean and agile supply chains.

Research limitations/implications

– Since the sample for this study is small and drawn only from manufacturing companies in mechanical and engineering industry, it would be important to conduct further empirical studies with larger samples from a wider range of industries to improve and strengthen our analyses and provide more conclusive and generalizable results.

Originality/value

– Through empirical study, a better understanding of the impact of KM processes on supply chain performance and the moderating role of IT/IS support and supply chain integration can be gained.
Gender inequality in multidimensional welfare deprivation in West Africa
Authors: Agbodji Akoété Ega , Batana Yélé Maweki , Ouedraogo Dénis
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The importance of gender equality is reflected not only in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but also in the World Bank’s Gender Action Plan launched in 2007 as well as in other treaties and actions undertaken at regional and international levels. Unlike other gender poverty works, which are mostly based on monetary measurement, the purpose of this paper is to adopt a non-monetary approach.

Design/methodology/approach

– The present study makes use of a counting approach to examine gender issues in Burkina Faso and Togo using household surveys, namely Enquête Intégrale surles Conditions de Vie des Ménages (2009/2010) and Core Welfare Indicators Questionnaire (2011), respectively. It focusses on six dimensions (housing, basic utilities, assets, education, employment and access to credit) largely recognized as MDG targets.

Findings

– Main findings indicate that overall individuals are the most deprived in education in Burkina Faso, while the reverse situation is true in Togo. Gender inequality is observed in all dimensions since women always seem to be more deprived than men. The situation is also marked by regional disparities. Moreover, the assessment of dimensional contributions shows different patterns for each country. While employment proves to be the main contributor of gender inequality in Burkina Faso, three dimensions (assets, access to credit and employment) account together for most of the total contribution to gender inequality in Togo.

Originality/value

– The main contribution of the paper is to use a multidimensional method (counting approach) to assess gender deprivation, with countries comparison. It also proposes an interesting combination of the decomposition by dimension with the subgroup’s decomposition in order to determine the largest contributor to gender inequality.
Organizational cynicism and its impact on privatization (evidence from federal government agency of Pakistan)
Authors: Aslam Usman , Arfeen Muhammad , Mohti Wahbeeah , Rahman Ubaid ur
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The aim of this study is to explore the impact of cynicism on the relationship among personality traits, organizational contextual factors and job outcomes. This study set up and examined the overarching model on resistance to change. Moreover, there were two models theoretically presented and investigated, i.e. direct and indirect models. This study was an attempt to explore and capture the causes of organizational cynicism against the change initiative.

Design/methodology/approach

– A case study research design was used in this study, and data were collected from 335 employees by using purposive sampling technique and structured questionnaire. While linear regression and Baron and Kenny’s (1986) tests were used to evaluate the direct and indirect models.

Findings

– Results highlighted the considerable positive relationship between dispositional resistance and employee’s turnover intention. Additionally, significant connection was also examined among organizational contextual factors and job outcomes, whereas interactive impact of behavioral resistance was found in the relation among dispositional resistance, organizational contextual factors and employee’s intent to quit. However, another dimension of organizational cynicism, i.e. cognitive resistance, could not influence the direct linear relationship between organizational context and continuance commitment.

Research limitations/implications

– Major limitations of this research were non-probability sampling technique, cross-sectional design, single organization and traditional data collection tool.

Practical implications

– Management can eradicate cynicism by providing social support and positive information, i.e. job security, wage award, medical benefits and promotion criteria, after implementing change. The management can clarify the objectives of that change by including employees in decision-making, reducing employee’s turnover intention. Organizational cynicism is a faith, which means that the change leaders have lack of integrity; when organizational cynicism mixes with negative cognitive process, it leads to a more destructive behavior against that change.

Originality/value

– This study contributed to the extensive knowledge of organizational cynicism. A conceptual model of resistance to change the model was unique in nature. There were rare studies conducted to check the impact of organizational cynicism on privatization, especially in the sub-continent. Therefore, it will add a good contribution in quality literature to understand the cynicism and its consequences for privatization.
Comparison Between 30:1 and 30:2 Compression‐to‐ventilation Ratios for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Are Two Ventilations Necessary?
Authors: Cha Kyoung‐Chul , Kim Yong Won , Kim Tae Hoon , Jung Woo Jin , Yook Hyun , Choi Eunhee , Cha Yong Sung , Kim Oh Hyun , Kim Hyun , Lee Kang Hyun , Hwang Sung Oh
Published: October 2015

Objectives

Controversy is continuing over the need for ventilation and the optimal compression–ventilation (CV) ratio during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The aim of this study was to comparatively elucidate the effect on hemodynamics and arterial oxygen saturation of a single ventilation relative to two consecutive ventilations during CPR in a dog model of cardiac arrest.

Methods

Twenty mongrel dogs were divided into two groups. After 3 minutes of ventricular fibrillation (VF), the single‐ventilation group received CPR with a 30:1 CV ratio, and the two‐ventilation group received CPR with a 30:2 CV ratio, all with room air for 7 minutes. Thereafter, continuous chest compressions and intermittent ventilation at rate of 10 per minute were followed for both groups for 10 minutes. Hemodynamic parameters, arterial blood gas profiles, and variables from CPR were compared at baseline and at 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes after induction of VF.

Results

Hemodynamic parameters including aortic systolic and diastolic pressures, right atrial systolic and diastolic pressures, coronary perfusion pressure, end‐tidal carbon dioxide tension, and arterial blood gas profiles including arterial oxygen tension, arterial oxygen saturation, and arterial carbon dioxide tension were not different between two groups during CPR. In the 30:1 group, the period of compression interruption was shorter and chest compression fraction was higher than that in the 30:2 group (6 sec/min vs. 10.9 sec/min, p < 0.001; 90.0% vs. 81.8%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

CPR with a 30:1 CV ratio, compared to CPR with a 30:2 CV ratio, results in comparable arterial oxygenation saturation and hemodynamics.
Risk of Bacterial Meningitis in Children 6 to 11 Months of Age With a First Simple Febrile Seizure: A Retrospective, Cross‐sectional, Observational Study
Authors: Guedj Romain , Chappuy Hélène , Titomanlio Luigi , Trieu Thanh‐Van , Biscardi Sandra , Nissack‐Obiketeki Gisèle , Pellegrino Béatrice , Charara Oussama , Angoulvant François , Villemeur Thierry Billette De , Levy Corinne , Cohen Robert , Armengaud Jean Baptiste , Carbajal Ricardo
Published: October 2015

Objectives

National and international guidelines are very heterogeneous about the necessity to perform a lumbar puncture (LP) in children under 12 months of age with a first simple febrile seizure. We estimated the risk of bacterial meningitis in children aged 6 to 11 months with a first simple febrile seizure.

Methods

This multicenter retrospective study was conducted in seven pediatric emergency departments (EDs) in the region of Paris, France. Visits of patients aged 6 to 11 months for a first simple febrile seizure from January 2007 to December 2011 were analyzed. Bacterial meningitis was sequentially sought for by 1) analyzing bacteriologic data at the time of the visit, 2) looking for data from a second visit to the hospital after the index visit, and 3) phone calling the child's parents to determine the symptom evolution after the index visit. Infants lost to this follow‐up were searched for in a national bacterial meningitis database.

Results

From a total of 1,183,487 visits in the seven pediatric EDs, 116,503 were for children 6 to 11 months of age. From these, 205 visits were for a first simple febrile seizure. An LP was performed in 61 patients (29.8%). The outcome bacterial meningitis was ascertainable for 168 (82%) visits. No bacterial meningitis was found among these patients (95% confidence interval = 0% to 2.2%). None of the 37 infants lost to our follow‐up were registered in the national database as having bacterial meningitis.

Conclusions

Among children between 6 and 11 months of age with a first simple febrile seizure, the risk of bacterial meningitis is extremely low. These results should encourage national and international societies to either develop or endorse guidelines limiting routine LP in these infants and contribute to widely homogenized management practices.
The Montrachet Study: study design, methodology and analysis of visual acuity and refractive errors in an elderly population
Authors: Creuzot‐Garcher Catherine , Binquet Christine , Daniel Sandrine , Bretillon Lionel , Acar Nyiazi , de Lazzer Aurélie , Arnould Laurent , Tzourio Christophe , Bron Alain M. , Delcourt Cécile
Published: October 2015

Purpose

To describe the design of the Montrachet Study (Maculopathy Optic Nerve nuTRition neurovAsCular and HEarT diseases) and to report visual acuity and refractive errors in this elderly population.

Methods

Participants were recruited in Dijon (France), from the ongoing population‐based 3C Study. In 2009–2011, 1153 participants from the 3 Cities Study, aged 75 years or more, had an initial eye examination and were scheduled for eye examinations. The eye examination comprised visual acuity, refraction, visual field, ocular surface assessment, photographs and OCT of the macula and the optic disc, measurement of intra‐ocular pressure, central corneal thickness and macular pigment assessment. Information on cardiovascular and neurologic diseases and a large comprehensive database (blood samples, genetic testing, cognitive tests, MRI) were available from the 3C Study.

Results

Presenting visual acuity <20/60 in the better eye was found in 2.3% (95% CI 1.5–3.2) of the participants with no gender differences. Visual impairment increased with age from 1.5% (95% CI 0.3–2.7) for those aged 75–79 years to 5.6% (95% CI 2.9–8.4) for patients 85 years and older (p = 0.0003). Spherical equivalent did not differ between men and women (p = 0.8) and decreased with age whatever the lens status.

Conclusion

Despite the high prevalence of self‐reported eye diseases in this elderly population, visual impairment was low and increased with age. The Montrachet Study may help to better estimate the prevalence of eye diseases in people over 75 years of age and to seek associations with cardiovascular and neurologic diseases and their potential risk factors.
Trends in the risk of second primary cancer among bladder cancer survivors: a population‐based cohort of 10 047 patients
Authors: Muller Joris , Grosclaude Pascale , Lapôtre‐Ledoux Bénédicte , Woronoff Anne‐Sophie , Guizard Anne‐Valérie , Bara Simona , Colonna Marc , Troussard Xavier , Bouvier Véronique , Trétarre Brigitte , Velten Michel , Jégu Jérémie
Published: October 2015

Objectives

To determine whether the risk of second primary cancer (SPC) among patients with bladder cancer (BCa) has changed over past years.

Materials and Methods

Data from 10 French population‐based cancer registries were used to establish a cohort of 10 047 patients diagnosed with a first invasive (≥T1) BCa between 1989 and 2004 and followed up until 2007. An SPC was defined as the first subsequent primary cancer occurring at least 2 months after a BCa diagnosis. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of metachronous SPC were calculated. Multivariate Poisson regression models were used to assess the direct effect of the year of BCa diagnosis on the risk of SPC.

Results

The risk of new malignancy among BCa survivors was 60% higher than in the general population (SIR 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51–1.68). Male patients presented a high risk of SPC of the lung (SIR 3.12), head and neck (SIR 2.19) and prostate (SIR 1.54). In multivariate analyses adjusted for gender, age at diagnosis and follow‐up, a significant increase in the risk of SPC of the lung was observed over the calendar year of BCa diagnosis (P for linear trend 0.010), with an SIR increasing by 3.7% for each year (95% CI 0.9–6.6%); however, no particular trend was observed regarding the risk of SPC of the head and neck (P = 0.596) or the prostate (P = 0.518).

Conclusions

As the risk of SPC of the lung increased between 1989 and 2004, this study contributes more evidence to support the promotion of tobacco smoking cessation interventions among patients with BCa.
Prognostic implications of imaging in atrophic macular degeneration and its use in clinical practice and clinical trial design
Authors: Lim Paul CC , Layton Christopher J
Published: October 2015

Clinical prognostic markers in atrophic age‐related macular degeneration include the extent of existing atrophy, fundus autofluorescence (FAF) patterns and optical coherence tomography changes in the outer retina/retinal pigment epithelium interface. The prognostic implications of these findings may be used to determine not just the rate of disease progression but also influence the likelihood, magnitude and clinical relevance of therapy responses. FAF phenotypes have been extensively investigated; however, the pathophysiological mechanisms behind their appearance have not been fully elucidated. Optical coherence tomography imaging is additive to FAF imaging in atrophic age‐related macular degeneration, allowing the visualization of detail not available through FAF imaging whilst also displaying subtle changes correlating with the FAF phenotypes themselves, thereby giving clues to their histological determinates. The developing understanding of these imaging modalities and consequent development of prognostically useful classification systems have widespread implication in clinical care and clinical trial design.