bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GAPIT: genome association and prediction integrated tool
Authors: Lipka Alexander E. , Tian Feng , Wang Qishan , Peiffer Jason , Li Meng , Bradbury Peter J. , Gore Michael A. , Buckler Edward S. , Zhang Zhiwu
Published: July 2012

Summary: Software programs that conduct genome-wide association studies and genomic prediction and selection need to use methodologies that maximize statistical power, provide high prediction accuracy and run in a computationally efficient manner. We developed an R package called Genome Association and Prediction Integrated Tool (GAPIT) that implements advanced statistical methods including the compressed mixed linear model (CMLM) and CMLM-based genomic prediction and selection. The GAPIT package can handle large datasets in excess of 10 000 individuals and 1 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms with minimal computational time, while providing user-friendly access and concise tables and graphs to interpret results.

Availability: http://www.maizegenetics.net/GAPIT.

Contact: zhiwu.zhang@cornell.edu

Supplementary Information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Measuring and comparing structural fluctuation patterns in large protein datasets
Authors: Fuglebakk Edvin , Echave Julián , Reuter Nathalie
Published: July 2012

Motivation: The function of a protein depends not only on its structure but also on its dynamics. This is at the basis of a large body of experimental and theoretical work on protein dynamics. Further insight into the dynamics–function relationship can be gained by studying the evolutionary divergence of protein motions. To investigate this, we need appropriate comparative dynamics methods. The most used dynamical similarity score is the correlation between the root mean square fluctuations (RMSF) of aligned residues. Despite its usefulness, RMSF is in general less evolutionarily conserved than the native structure. A fundamental issue is whether RMSF is not as conserved as structure because dynamics is less conserved or because RMSF is not the best property to use to study its conservation.

Results: We performed a systematic assessment of several scores that quantify the (dis)similarity between protein fluctuation patterns. We show that the best scores perform as well as or better than structural dissimilarity, as assessed by their consistency with the SCOP classification. We conclude that to uncover the full extent of the evolutionary conservation of protein fluctuation patterns, it is important to measure the directions of fluctuations and their correlations between sites.

Contact:  Nathalie.Reuter@mbi.uib.no

Supplementary Information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Online.
MALDIquant: a versatile R package for the analysis of mass spectrometry data
Authors: Gibb Sebastian , Strimmer Korbinian
Published: July 2012

Summary:  MALDIquant is an R package providing a complete and modular analysis pipeline for quantitative analysis of mass spectrometry data. MALDIquant is specifically designed with application in clinical diagnostics in mind and implements sophisticated routines for importing raw data, preprocessing, non-linear peak alignment and calibration. It also handles technical replicates as well as spectra with unequal resolution.

Availability:  MALDIquant and its associated R packages readBrukerFlexData and readMzXmlData are freely available from the R archive CRAN (http://cran.r-project.org). The software is distributed under the GNU General Public License (version 3 or later) and is accompanied by example files and data. Additional documentation is available from http://strimmerlab.org/software/maldiquant/.

Contact:  mail@sebastiangibb.de
Environmental and fisheries effects on Gracilechinus acutus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) distribution: is it a suitable bioindicator of trawling disturbance?
Authors: González-Irusta J. M. , Punzón A. , Serrano A.
Published: July 2012

González-Irusta, J. M., Punzón, A., and Serrano, A. 2012. Environmental and fisheries effects on Gracilechinus acutus (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) distribution: is it a suitable bioindicator of trawling disturbance? – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: . Habitat preferences of Gracilechinus acutus in the southern Bay of Biscay were studied using data from autumn bottom-trawl surveys. Wet weight and number of specimens of G. acutus were obtained and related to environmental variables (depth, sediment type, and organic matter percentage) at each haul and to trawl fishing effort. With this information and the otter trawl effort data, the environmental requirements and the impact of the trawl fishery on G. acutus populations were analysed. Although the species was present in all depth strata and all sediment types studied, it had clear habitat preferences, as greater abundances and mean weight values were found at depths ranging from 71 to 200 m and in bottom sediments dominated by coarse and medium sands. The effect of disturbance by trawling on this echinoid was significant and clearly negative. Seabeds exposed to higher trawling disturbance showed lower values of urchin abundance and smaller urchins than areas with lower disturbance. Results of the present study confirm the initial hypothesis of the suitability of using this urchin as a bioindicator of trawling impact but only in areas with appropriate environmental conditions, highlighting the importance of attaining a wider knowledge on the essential habitat of the species.
Conservation of coastal stingrays: seasonal abundance and population structure of the short-tailed stingray Dasyatis brevicaudata at a Marine Protected Area
Authors: Le Port A. , Lavery S. , Montgomery J. C.
Published: July 2012

Le Port, A., Lavery, S., and Montgomery, J. C. 2012. Conservation of coastal stingrays: seasonal abundance and population structure of the short-tailed stingray Dasyatis brevicaudata at a Marine Protected Area. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: . Elasmobranch (shark, ray, and skate) populations around the world are in decline, and effective conservation measures are urgently needed. Marine Protected Areas (MPA) placed in locations important for key life-history stages may form part of an effective conservation strategy. In this context, we examined the seasonal abundance and population structure of the short-tailed stingray (Dasyatis brevicaudata) at an offshore MPA in northeastern New Zealand, and the reported use of this location as a mating ground. Diver surveys were conducted from 2004 to 2007 at the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve (PKIMR). During this time, we observed: (i) a substantial increase in adult and subadult numbers, particularly females during the suggested breeding season, and a corresponding increase in females bearing fresh mating scars; and (ii) large numbers of smaller (probably immature) D. brevicaudata individuals of both sexes from spring to autumn. These results suggest that the PKIMR acts as both a mating aggregation location and a nursery for this species. We suggest that for coastal stingrays such as D. brevicaudata, small MPAs may be effective at protecting key life-history stages, but that as movements outside of reserve boundaries also occur, additional management tools may also be necessary.
Size-related variation in fecundity of European eel (Anguilla anguilla)
Authors: MacNamara Ruairí , McCarthy T. Kieran
Published: July 2012

MacNamara, R., and McCarthy, T. K. 2012. Size-related variation in fecundity of European eel (Anguilla anguilla). – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69: . Declining European eel (Anguilla anguilla) recruitment has focused attention on conservation of potential spawners leaving continental waters. Fecundity of wild, seaward-migrating silver-phase eels was shown to be size-related and higher than previously reported from artificial maturation experiments. Reliable information on fecundity is essential for stock modelling and future development of eel management policies.
End-of-Life Care in Non-Cancer Illnesses
Authors: Cousins Hayley , Cassell Richard , Morey P.-J.
Published: July 2012

End-of-life care is that which is provided to patients experiencing a progressive final decline in their lives, usually with a prognosis of less than a year. End-of-life care in non-cancer illness may be challenging for GPs because of the uncertainty about disease trajectory. Patients with non-cancer illness often experience similar symptoms to patients with cancer but for longer hence with a greater impact on quality of life. Only a minority of such patients need specialist palliative care input so the generalist needs to be confident in assessing, treating and supporting patients and families. This article offers suggestions to overcome the challenges along with practical guidance on managing symptoms in the most common non-cancer illnesses.
Oral Magnesium Lozenge Reduces Postoperative Sore Throat
Authors: Borazan Hale , Kececioglu Ahmet , Okesli Selmin , Otelcioglu Seref
Published: July 2012

Background

Postoperative sore throat (POST) is an undesirable complaint after orotracheal intubation. Magnesium is a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist thought to be involved in the modulation of pain. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of preoperative administration of oral magnesium lozenge on POST.

Methods

Seventy patients undergoing orthopedic surgery were randomly allocated into two groups, to either receive placebo (control) or magnesium lozenges (magnesium) to be dissolved by sucking 30 min preoperatively. Patients were assessed for incidence and severity (four-point scale, 0-3) of POST at 0, 2, 4, and 24 h postoperatively. The primary outcome was sore throat at 4 h after surgery. The secondary outcome was the severity of POST at four evaluation time-points postoperatively.

Results

The incidence of POST at 4 h was higher in control group than in magnesium group (95% CI: 26%, 14-42%; P=0.032). The highest incidence of POST occurred at the second hour after surgery, with the rate of 23% in the magnesium group and 57% in the control group (95% CI: 34%, 20-51%; P=0.007). The severity of POST was significantly lower in the magnesium group at 0 (P=0.007) and 2 h (P=0.002). The incidences of POST at 0 and 24 h and severity scores at 4 and 24 h were not significantly different between the groups.

Conclusions

The administration of magnesium lozenge 30 min preoperatively is effective to reduce both incidence and severity of POST in the immediate postoperative period.
The Quest for a Unified Model of Anesthetic Action
Authors: Perouansky Misha
Published: July 2012

An accepted truism among clinicians and researchers attributes the persistence of the quest for a unitary mechanism of anesthetic action to the lasting influence of Hans Meyer and Ernest Overton. This article presents a different view: the experiments that led to the Meyer-Overton rule were the consequence-not the source-of a unitary paradigm that was formulated by Claude Bernard a quarter of a century earlier. Bernard firmly believed that the sensitivity to anesthesia was a fundamental criterion that separated 'true life' from 'mere chemistry.' Bernard's scientific authority in the context of 19 century natural philosophy is responsible for establishing a unified (i.e., unitary mechanism and universality across life forms) paradigm of anesthetic action. Meyer and Overton's work was targeted at systematizing and solidifying existing knowledge within this paradigm, not at discovering novelty, and its publication did not substantially affect contemporary research. Claude Bernard's paradigm, by contrast, still influences investigations of mechanisms of anesthetic action.
Incorporating RNA-seq data into the zebrafish Ensembl genebuild
Authors: Collins John E. , White Simon , Searle Stephen M.J. , Stemple Derek L.
Published: July 2012

Ensembl gene annotation provides a comprehensive catalog of transcripts aligned to the reference sequence. It relies on publicly available species-specific and orthologous transcripts plus their inferred protein sequence. The accuracy of gene models is improved by increasing the species-specific component that can be cost-effectively achieved using RNA-seq. Two zebrafish gene annotations are presented in Ensembl version 62 built on the Zv9 reference sequence. Firstly, RNA-seq data from five tissues and seven developmental stages were assembled into 25,748 gene models. A 3′-end capture and sequencing protocol was developed to predict the 3′ ends of transcripts, and 46.1% of the original models were subsequently refined. Secondly, a standard Ensembl genebuild, incorporating carefully filtered elements from the RNA-seq-only build, followed by a merge with the manually curated VEGA database, produced a comprehensive annotation of 26,152 genes represented by 51,569 transcripts. The RNA-seq-only and the Ensembl/VEGA genebuilds contribute contrasting elements to the final genebuild. The RNA-seq genebuild was used to adjust intron/exon boundaries of orthologous defined models, confirm their expression, and improve 3′ untranslated regions. Importantly, the inferred protein alignments within the Ensembl genebuild conferred proof of model contiguity for the RNA-seq models. The zebrafish gene annotation has been enhanced by the incorporation of RNA-seq data and the pipeline will be used for other organisms. Organisms with little species-specific cDNA data will generally benefit the most.
Identification of an Arabidopsis Fatty Alcohol:Caffeoyl-Coenzyme A Acyltransferase Required for the Synthesis of Alkyl Hydroxycinnamates in Root Waxes1
Authors: Kosma Dylan K. , Molina Isabel , Ohlrogge John B. , Pollard Mike
Published: July 2012

While suberin is an insoluble heteropolymer, a number of soluble lipids can be extracted by rapid chloroform dipping of roots. These extracts include esters of saturated long-chain primary alcohols and hydroxycinnamic acids. Such fatty alcohols and hydroxycinnamic acids are also present in suberin. We demonstrate that alkyl coumarates and caffeates, which are the major components of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) root waxes, are present primarily in taproots. Previously we identified ALIPHATIC SUBERIN FERULOYL TRANSFERASE (At5g41040), a HXXXD-type acyltransferase (BAHD family), responsible for incorporation of ferulate into aliphatic suberin of Arabidopsis. However, aliphatic suberin feruloyl transferase mutants were unaffected in alkyl hydroxycinnamate ester root wax composition. Here we identify a closely related gene, At5g63560, responsible for the synthesis of a subset of alkyl hydroxycinnamate esters, the alkyl caffeates. Transgenic plants harboring PAt5g63560::YFP fusions showed transcriptional activity in suberized tissues. Knockout mutants of At5g63560 were severely reduced in their alkyl caffeate but not alkyl coumarate content. Recombinant At5g63560p had greater acyltransferase activity when presented with caffeoyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) substrate, thus we have named this acyltransferase FATTY ALCOHOL:CAFFEOYL-CoA CAFFEOYL TRANSFERASE. Stress experiments revealed elevated alkyl coumarate content in root waxes of NaCl-treated wild-type and fatty alcohol:caffeoyl-CoA caffeoyl transferase plants. We further demonstrate that FATTY ACYL-CoA REDUCTASEs (FARs) FAR5 (At3g44550), FAR4 (At3g44540), and FAR1 (At5g22500) are required for the synthesis of C18, C20, and C22 alkyl hydroxycinnamates, respectively. Collectively, these results suggest that multiple acyltransferases are utilized for the synthesis of alkyl hydroxycinnamate esters of Arabidopsis root waxes and that FAR1/4/5 provide the fatty alcohols required for alkyl hydroxycinnamate synthesis.
Application of the Gini Correlation Coefficient to Infer Regulatory Relationships in Transcriptome Analysis
Authors: Ma Chuang , Wang Xiangfeng
Published: July 2012

One of the computational challenges in plant systems biology is to accurately infer transcriptional regulation relationships based on correlation analyses of gene expression patterns. Despite several correlation methods that are applied in biology to analyze microarray data, concerns regarding the compatibility of these methods with the gene expression data profiled by high-throughput RNA transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology have been raised. These concerns are mainly due to the fact that the distribution of read counts in RNA-Seq experiments is different from that of fluorescence intensities in microarray experiments. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of the existing correlation methods and, if necessary, introduction of novel methods into biology is appropriate. In this study, we compared four existing correlation methods used in microarray analysis and one novel method called the Gini correlation coefficient on previously published microarray-based and sequencing-based gene expression data in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and maize (Zea mays). The comparisons were performed on more than 11,000 regulatory relationships in Arabidopsis, including 8,929 pairs of transcription factors and target genes. Our analyses pinpointed the strengths and weaknesses of each method and indicated that the Gini correlation can compensate for the shortcomings of the Pearson correlation, the Spearman correlation, the Kendall correlation, and the Tukey’s biweight correlation. The Gini correlation method, with the other four evaluated methods in this study, was implemented as an R package named rsgcc that can be utilized as an alternative option for biologists to perform clustering analyses of gene expression patterns or transcriptional network analyses.
Ligand-Induced Alterations in the Phosphorylation State of Ethylene Receptors in Tomato Fruit
Authors: Kamiyoshihara Yusuke , Tieman Denise M. , Huber Donald J. , Klee Harry J.
Published: July 2012

Perception of the plant hormone ethylene is essential to initiate and advance ripening of climacteric fruits. Since ethylene receptors negatively regulate signaling, the suppression is canceled upon ethylene binding, permitting responses including fruit ripening. Although receptors have autophosphorylation activity, the mechanism whereby signal transduction occurs has not been fully determined. Here we demonstrate that LeETR4, a critical receptor for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit ripening, is multiply phosphorylated in vivo and the phosphorylation level is dependent on ripening stage and ethylene action. Treatment of preclimacteric fruits with ethylene resulted in accumulation of LeETR4 with reduced phosphorylation whereas treatments of ripening fruits with ethylene antagonists, 1-methylcyclopropene and 2,5-norbornadiene, induced accumulation of the phosphorylated isotypes. A similar phosphorylation pattern was also observed for Never ripe, another ripening-related receptor. Alteration in the phosphorylation state of receptors is likely to be an initial response upon ethylene binding since treatments with ethylene and 1-methylcyclopropene rapidly influenced the LeETR4 phosphorylation state rather than protein abundance. The LeETR4 phosphorylation state closely paralleled ripening progress, suggesting that the phosphorylation state of receptors is implicated in ethylene signal output in tomato fruits. We provide insights into the nature of receptor on and off states.
Taking care of your own: ethnic and religious heterogeneity and income inequality
Authors: Dincer Oguzhan C. , Lambert Peter J.
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between measures of ethnic and religious heterogeneity on the one hand and measures of inequality and redistribution on the other, using state‐level US data.

Design/methodology/approach

The relationship between ethnic/religious heterogeneity and inequality/redistribution is estimated, first, with ordinary least squares (OLS) and then with generalized method of moments (GMM). The principal explanatory variables for inequality and redistribution in the study are ethnic and religious polarization and fractionalization measures.

Findings

It is found that inequality is positively associated with polarization and has an inverse‐U relationship with fractionalization. These findings are bolstered by findings of indirect effects of ethnic and religious heterogeneity on inequality through their influence on welfare programs.

Originality/value

This is the first paper investigating the magnitude of possible direct and indirect effects of ethnic and religious heterogeneity on income inequality using US data.
Managing trust in direct selling relationships
Authors: Poon Patrick , Albaum Gerald , Shiu‐Fai Chan Peter
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate trust in salespersons of direct selling companies. The major purpose of the study is to examine three alternative measures of trust and to assess the effects of consumer trust in the direct selling salesperson on intended purchase behavior in a non‐Western culture, Hong Kong.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was designed as a personal interview survey of purchasers and non‐purchasers of product from direct selling companies in Hong Kong. A street‐intercept method of personal interview was used in three major shopping areas. The major measurement was of three different measures of trust in buying behavior from direct selling companies.

Findings

Survey results show that the measures of trust are not equally significant in being related to intention to repurchase. Only one measure, “Affect Trust”, is statistically correlated to repurchase intention. This measure is based on emotions which are affective in nature.

Originality/value

Gaining trust is crucial to all salespeople, industrial and consumer alike, as trust facilitates an exchange relationship while mistrust hinders it. Consequently, having valid measures of trust is essential to ensuring that exchange relations are positive. The research to date has been in the context of Western cultures and is dated (ten or more years ago). The paper examines trust in a non‐Western culture. In addition, the sales relationships studied in the past have been non‐direct selling. The paper expands this domain as it looks at direct selling to consumers in a non‐fixed business location.
Building brand value online: exploring relationships between company and city brands
Authors: Trueman Myfanwy , Cornelius Nelarine , Wallace James
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The aim of this research is to investigate how local company web sites can contribute towards the value and characteristics of city brands online, particularly where post‐industrial cities are concerned, and to establish a predictive model for this.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were conducted to gain an understanding of how post‐industrial city brands can be influenced by local companies, leading to the notion of a “constructed” city brand. An overarching brand model was developed based on the works of Christodoulideset al.and Merrilees and Fry and a survey of company web sites conducted. Structural equation modelling was then fitted to these data.

Findings

Trustworthiness, responsiveness, online experience and emotional connection were confirmed as dimensions of company online brand value. It was further shown that company brand and constructed city brand are influenced by customer perceptions of brand value. Company brand was not, however, related to constructed city brand for the case study of Bradford, UK, which has a pervading negative reputation.

Originality/value

A model incorporating company brand and city brand has been developed and validated for a typical post‐industrial city that is in decline. The influence that local companies can exert on these brands via their web sites and behaviours was established. It is further demonstrated that company brands become disassociated from a city if it has a negative brand image.
Strategic corporate brand alignment
Authors: Balmer John M.T.
Published: July 2012

Purpose

This article aims to advance comprehension of corporate brands via the adoption of identity‐based perspectives of corporate brands. It aims to outline a normative, diagnostic, model of corporate brand management – The AC4ID Test. The origins of the model date back to the late 1990s. The model is predicated on the need to understand the seven identity types forming a corporate brand constellation. The seven corporate brand identity facets are the actual, communicated, conceived, covenanted, cultural, ideal and desired corporate brand identities. As a general but not an absolute rule there should be meaningfully strategic alignment between the corporate brand and other identity modes in the corporate brand constellation. The notion of temporal misalignment is also articulated. Temporal misalignment is important since different identity types inhabit diverse time frames and, sometimes, temporal misalignment can be perilous (it is often a necessary dynamic too). The notion of the identity‐wheel of change is articulated: a change of one identity may trigger a chain reaction throughout the corporate brand identity constellation.

Design/methodology/approach

This article is enlightened by extant research and conceptualisations on corporate brands and corporate branding theories. It is also informed by recent, cross‐disciplinary reviews of the identity literatures. The AC4ID Test framework incorporates recent insights vis‐à‐vis the diagnostic framework in corporate branding contexts.

Findings

Adopting identity‐based perspectives of corporate brands provides an advance in terms of our comprehension of them. A corporate brand can be viewed as a distinct identity type. An identity mode that is capable of being separate and divisible from the corporate identity from which it is derived. Corporate brands have multiple/attendant identities, which may be characterised as a constellation of corporate brand identities: these identities inform the identity of the AC4ID Test of Corporate Brand Management.

Originality/value

The AC4ID Test corporate brand identity framework outlined in this article draws on recent advances in the field and adapts earlier versions of the framework so that it has a utility for the corporate branding domain.
From learning organization to learning community
Authors: Kearney Judith , Zuber‐Skerritt Ortrun
Published: July 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to: extend the concept of “The learning organization” to “The learning community”, especially disadvantaged communities; demonstrate how leaders in a migrant community can achieve positive change at the personal, professional, team and community learning levels through participatory action learning and action research (PALAR); and identify the key characteristics of a sustainable learning community.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper combines an innovative and creative methodology of PALAR and a new learning system designed by the Global University for Lifelong Learning (GULL).

Findings

A lack of cultural understanding on the part of government agencies contributes to a migrant community's socio‐economic disadvantage, e.g. high unemployment and crime rates, underachievement in education, exclusion from higher education. The Samoan community is a disadvantaged migrant group in Australia who were helped to help themselves to achieve positive change and quality learning in partnership with university researchers. The use of an enabling framework designed by GULL, mainly for developing countries, also proved to be an effective system for achieving personal and organizational learning in a disadvantaged community in Australia.

Practical implications

The findings represented in the conceptual models enhance understanding of the key principles and processes involved in an organizational learning project for sustainable development of a learning community.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers to evaluate and track the learning outcomes in a community applying the GULL system that is used successfully in about 40 developing countries, but has not yet been sufficiently researched and documented in a developed country.
Leadership sagacity and its relationship with individual creative performance and innovation
Authors: Simmons Aneika L. , Sower Victor E.
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The creativity literature has largely overlooked an important construct associated with progressing beyond individual creative performance (i.e. the generation of an idea) to innovation (i.e. the implementation of an idea). That missing construct is leadership sagacity. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the role that sagacity plays between individual creative and innovative work. The authors also aim to discuss the importance of obtaining empirical organizational evidence that creative performance mediates the relationship between leadership supportive behavior and innovation as leadership sagacity plays an integral role among these vital relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors provide theoretical reasoning for why sagacity is an important construct with regard to the relationships among leadership supportive behavior, individual creativity and innovation.

Findings

It is concluded that leadership sagacity is key to the production of innovative work.

Practical implications

It is vital for a leader who has approval authority for the allocation of resources and support to have a high level of sagacity, so that they have the level of discernment necessary to decide which creative ideas should be championed toward innovation.

Originality/value

Leadership sagacity is defined as the possession by an individual in an authority position of keen mental discernment, good judgment and wisdom necessary to recognize valuable work. This construct adds value to the creativity and innovation literature, yet it has been largely overlooked.
Experiencing financial problems among university students
Authors: Falahati Leila , Hj. Paim Laily
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between financial attitude, financial socialization, and secondary socialization agents on experiencing financial problems among university students.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample for the present paper comprises data collected from 11 universities across Malaysia using the stratified sampling method. A multi‐group analysis approach using Amos was applied to assess the moderating effect of gender.

Findings

The findings indicated that gender significantly moderates the effect of financial attitude, financial socialization and secondary socialization agents on financial problems among students.

Research limitations/implications

There are few empirical studies on the moderating effect of gender on financial matters, and this research is one of the first that contribute to a better understanding of the gender influence on financial matters, particularly for family economics and gender educators.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the scarce knowledge about gender and financial matters, by introducing readers to the importance of gender issues in financial practices. It represents a starting point to an important area of research.
Improving access to mental health care in Kenya
Authors: Ndetei David M. , Gatonga Patrick
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to review the history of mental health service improvement in Kenya, to discuss current provision of services, challenges to the provision of services and future needs for services.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper takes the form of a literature review.

Findings

Mental health care in Kenya has been a progressing field, though the momentum of progress has been less than desired. The reasons for this are complex including a lack of evidence of the size of the mental health burden which has undermined the political will to focus scarce resources in this area, lack of human resources, models of prevention, and robust mental health legislation. Traditional healers have a significant place in mental health care, these plus efforts to increase training on mental health, task shifting for other clinicians and also prevention may be important steps in improving access to care.

Research limitations/implications

The review highlights how much remains to be done to improve mental health services in Kenya. It demonstrates the need for good epidemiological and intervention data to support a multi‐level approach, involving government, non‐governmental organizations, communities, families, affected individuals and other stakeholders. Prevention and treatment strategies should be streamlined and emphasis put on stigma reduction as well as provision of accessible, acceptable, sustainable and affordable care.

Practical implications

A review of the literature is useful to highlight what is known but also what information is missing and is needed to go forward.

Originality/value

This is the first system level historical review of the development of mental health services in Kenya. It offers a model for investigation that may be useful for others.
Mental health interventions in Canada for migrants affected by state‐sanctioned violence: an effectiveness study
Authors: Madan Athena
Published: July 2012

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the effectiveness of mental health interventions for migrants affected by extreme political violence.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a literature review and synthesis of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) interventions for Canadian‐landed migrants who have been affected by state‐sanctioned violence.

Findings

Conceptualisations of trauma in current mental health systems may not be appropriate for this group. Psychosocial processes of migration, settlement, and belonging may compound original traumas. Effective interventions highlight community partnership, social support, with emphasis on citizenship and reciprocity.

Research limitations/implications

Much of the literature reported limited or unspecified treatment outcomes.

Social implications

Broader social support is needed when treating people affected by state‐sanctioned violence. Greater attention to social and political forces in mental health education and models of healthcare may be beneficial.

Originality/value

This is the first review in Canada of intervention effectiveness for survivors of extreme political violence. It highlights practises relevant to a population whose ideas and responses about trauma treatment are not yet completely known. This study contributes to greater understanding about the impact of state‐sanctioned violence on mental health, and identifies approaches by which traumatic stress for migrants may be treated.
Time period trends in ethnic inequalities in limiting long term illness in England and Wales
Authors: Smith Neil R. , Grundy Emily
Published: July 2012

Purpose

This paper's aim is to analyse ethnic group differences in self reported limiting long term illness (LLTI) among middle‐aged men and women in England and Wales and compare patterns of variation in 1991 and 2001.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology is a cross‐sectional analysis of two nationally representative cohorts aged 40‐59 in 1991 and 2001, respectively. Seven ethnic minority groups were selected from the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study of England and Wales (White Irish, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Black Caribbean, Black African and Chinese). Logistic regression estimated the odds ratio for having a LLTI in each ethnic minority group compared to White British. The odds of having a LLTI in 2001 compared to 1991, by sex, were adjusted stepwise for differences in age, social class, car ownership, household overcrowding and tenure and length of residence.

Findings

All ethnic groups reported a higher prevalence of LLTI in 2001 than in 1991. The rise in LLTI was largest in White Irish, Bangladeshi and Pakistani and smallest in Black African and Chinese groups. Controlling for socioeconomic factors had a weak influence on the risk of limiting long term illness in men and women. Controlling for length of residence attenuated the risk of LLTI in 2001 in White Irish and Pakistani men, and Indian men and women.

Practical implications

Emerging ethnic differences highlight a growing need for differential health services to manage the increase in LLTI and demands for illness management.

Originality/value

The paper illustrates that ethnic differences in LLTI changed during the 1990s with some groups becoming more disadvantaged relative to the White British population and others less so.
The evolution of entrepreneurial learning
Authors: Breslin Dermot , Jones Colin
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an evolutionary perspective on entrepreneurial learning, whilst also accounting for fundamental ecological processes, by focusing on the development of key recurring, knowledge components within nascent and growing small businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper relates key developments within the organizational evolution literature to research on entrepreneurial learning, with arguments presented in favor of adopting a multi‐level co‐evolutionary perspective that captures and explains hidden ecological process, such as niche‐construction.

Findings

It is argued in the paper that such a multi‐level focus on key recurring knowledge components can shed new light on the process of entrepreneurial learning and lead to the cross‐fertilization of ideas across different domains of study, by offering researchers the opportunity to use the framework of variation‐selection‐retention to develop a multi‐level representation of organizational and entrepreneurial learning.

Originality/value

Entrepreneurial learning viewed in this way, as a multi‐level struggle for survival amongst competing knowledge components, can provide entrepreneurs with a set of evolutionary heuristics as they re‐interpret their understanding of the evolution of their business.
Characterizing the evolution of commercial organizational spaces
Authors: Dobson Stephen
Published: July 2012

Purpose

The analogy of the city as an evolving system is an enduring one that is both universally acknowledged and greatly researched in equal measure. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the potential for urban characterization studies, emerging from the fields of cultural heritage and landscape, to provide a rich source of data for exploring the characteristics of spatial adaptation and innovation over time.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of commercial organizational space in the city of Sheffield, UK is provided here as the subject of study which employs English Heritage's Historic Landscape Characterization dataset to explore temporal characteristics of commercial space within a broader context of change, at the city‐wide scale.

Findings

It is proposed here that to achieve culturally sustainable development against a context of urban “deterritorialization” and homogenization the very character and distinctiveness of innovation and change needs to be explicitly acknowledged. An evolutionary approach to organizational space is suggested here as a means to locate such adaptation and spatial change in “place”.

Originality/value

It is hoped that the approach presented may provide an important stage in thinking about the spatial relationships between business and society over time and particularly their interdependence within a city ecology. The scope is therefore to explore multi‐level evolutionary characteristics of socio‐cultural space, appreciating multi‐scale temporal change through a broad lens of Darwinism.
Association between eIF3α polymorphism and severe toxicity caused by platinum‐based chemotherapy in non‐small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Xu Xiaojing , Han Lifang , Duan Li , Zhao Yingchun , Yang Huaping , Zhou Boting , Ma Rui , Yuan Ruixia , Zhou Honghao , Liu Zhaoqian
Published: July 2012

Aim

Platinum‐induced toxicity severely impedes successful chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. The nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway is considered as one of the major factors contributing to platinum effects. Furthermore, genetic variances of the NER pathway influence platinum toxicity. eIF3α, over expressed in many malignancies, is an up‐stream gene of NER and could regulate its activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether eIF3α polymorphism is associated with severe platinum toxicity in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Two hundred and eighty‐two incident NSCLC patients, from three different institutions, were enrolled and followed up. These patients were diagnosed and histologically confirmed with non‐small cell lung cancer. All patients accepted platinum based chemotherapy for at least two cycles. Twenty‐two SNPs of eIF3α were detected in these patients.

Results

eIF3α Arg803Lys C > T polymorphism was associated with cisplatin‐induced toxicity in NSCLC patients (P = 0.02, OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.32, 93). T‐carrier subjects presented better tolerance to platinum nephrotoxicity, but poorer tolerance to ototoxicity.

Conclusion

eIF3α Arg803Lys was associated with platinum toxicity in NSCLC patients and could be considered as a predictor for pretreatment evaluation in lung cancer patients.
Nonsurgical management of mild primary hyperparathyroidism – a reasonable option
Authors: Grey Andrew
Published: July 2012

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a relatively common disorder which is often diagnosed incidentally and characterized in the majority of those affected by mild stable biochemical abnormalities and lack of symptoms. Nephrolithiasis and bone loss leading to an increased risk of fracture are generally accepted complications of PHPT. Some epidemiological studies report associations between PHPT and a wide range of common diseases, but these relationships may be confounded by the increased body weight observed in PHPT. Because there is a dearth of controlled clinical trial evidence in PHPT, optimal management is controversial. For individuals with mild stable PHPT, low fracture risk and no renal stones, observation without intervention is reasonable. Surgical treatment is clearly indicated for patients at risk of severe hypercalcaemia or with nephrolithiasis. For individuals with increased risk of fracture, antiresorptive therapies improve bone mineral density to a similar degree to surgical treatment. Calcimimetic agents may have a role in managing patients with symptomatic PHPT who cannot undergo, or fail, surgical treatment. There is a need for additional randomized clinical trials to inform management of PHPT.
Massive serpentinite carbonation at Linnajavri, N–Norway
Authors: Beinlich Andreas , Plümper Oliver , Hövelmann Jörn , Austrheim Håkon , Jamtveit Bjørn
Published: July 2012

Terra Nova, 24, 446–455, 2012

Carbonation of ultramafic rocks is being considered as an in situ disposal strategy for anthropogenic CO2. We present observations from massively carbonated serpentinites at Linnajavri, N–Norway, where serpentinized fragments of the dismembered ophiolite are hydrothermally altered to soapstone and listvenite on a km‐scale. Several sharp reaction fronts between the soapstone and the serpentinite can be followed for hundreds of metres. Listvenite is present between the underlying carbonate–mica schist and the soapstone. The O‐isotopic compositions of vein minerals in the listvenite and adjacent soapstone indicate an isothermal formation at ∼275 °C. In agreement with C‐isotope signatures, field observations suggest that fluids were derived from overthrusted sediments. Porosimetry data, mass–balance calculations and the perpetuation of serpentinite structures imply an isovolumetric alteration. We conclude that the reactions stopped due to the cessation of the external CO2 supply. Soapstone formation is associated with sequestration of more than 13 Mt of CO2.
An unanticipated copy number variant of chromosome 15 disrupting SMAD3 reveals a three‐generation family at serious risk for aortic dissection
Authors: Hilhorst‐Hofstee Y , Scholte AJHA , Rijlaarsdam MEB , van Haeringen A , Kroft LJ , Reijnierse M , Ruivenkamp CAL , Versteegh MIM , Pals G , Breuning MH
Published: July 2012

Several genes involved in the familial appearance of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (FTAAD) have been characterized recently, one of which is SMAD3. Mutations of SMAD3 cause a new syndromic form of aortic aneurysms and dissections associated with skeletal abnormalities. We discovered a small interstitial deletion of chromosome 15, leading to disruption of SMAD3, in a boy with mild mental retardation, behavioral problems and revealed features of the aneurysms‐osteoarthritis syndrome (AOS). Several family members carried the same deletion and showed features including aortic aneurysms and a dissection. This finding demonstrates that haploinsufficiency of SMAD3 leads to development of both thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections, and the skeletal abnormalities that form part of the aneurysms‐osteoarthritis syndrome. Interestingly, the identification of this familial deletion is an example of an unanticipated result of a genomic microarray and led to the discovery of important but unrelated serious aortic disease in the proband and family members.
Identification of a new HLA‐DRB1 *16 variant, DRB1*16:19 by sequence‐based typing in a Chinese Han
Authors: Li Z. , Jin S.‐Z. , Zou H.‐Y. , Cheng L.‐H.
Published: July 2012

The sequence of the novel allele is identical to HLA‐DRB1*16:02:01 except for one nucleotide change at nt203 (G→A), resulting in a coding change, 39 R (CGC)→H (CAC).
A framework for estimating the fixation time of an advantageous allele in stepping‐stone models
Authors: Hartfield M.
Published: July 2012

Determining how population subdivision increases the fixation time of an advantageous allele is an important problem in evolutionary genetics as this influences many processes. Here, I lay out a framework for calculating the fixation time of a positively selected allele in a subdivided population, as a function of the number of demes present, the migration rate between them and the manner in which they are connected. Using this framework, it becomes clear that a beneficial allele's fixation time is significantly reduced through migration continuously introducing copies of the allele into a newly colonized subpopulation, increasing its frequency within these demes. The effect that migration has on allele frequency needs to be explicitly taken into account to produce a realistic estimate of fixation time. This behaviour is most prominent when demes are arranged on a two‐dimensional torus, in comparison with populations where demes are arranged in a circle. This is because each subpopulation is connected to several neighbours over a torus, so that there are multiple paths that an allele can take in order to fix. As a consequence, some demes experience a greater influx and efflux of migrants than others. Analytical results are found to be very accurate when compared to stochastic simulations, and are generally robust if there are a large number of demes, or if the allele is weakly selected for.