bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expanding the coaching conversation: group and team coaching
Authors: Britton Jennifer Jane
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the expansion of the coaching context in organizations through team and group coaching. The paper provides definitions and several examples of what these engagements look like, along with key considerations when expanding the coaching conversation.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on research undertaken during the writing of two books on group and team coaching, including more than two dozen interviews with team and group coaches.

Findings

– Group and Team Coaching are two modalities for expanding the coaching conversation in organizations. They provide opportunities to scale coaching, build organizational capacity and reduce the silos.

Practical implications

– The paper provides examples of what team and group coaching can look like in action, informing coaches, leaders and other practitioners as they approach expanding the coaching conversation.

Originality/value

– Group and team coaching are emerging sub-disciplines of the coaching profession. This paper will stimulate dialogue regarding how these modalities can be leveraged within organizations, and differences with related fields.
Devil’s excrement or manna from heaven?
Authors: Mendoza Ronald U. , MacArthur Harold J. , Ong Lopez Anne Beline
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide an updated review of policy literature and evidence on the development implications of extractive industries.

Design/methodology/approach

– It synthesizes the main lessons drawn from an extensive review of policy and academic literature on this topic. It outlines the risks attached to the natural resource curse as well as the associated solutions, as demonstrated by empirical evidence and policy experience.

Findings

– Based on the authors’ review of case studies and multi-country empirical analyses, there is a mixed picture on the link between extractive industries and inclusive growth. The authors find that, on the one hand, significant risks are commonly associated with the natural resource curse faced by countries that wish to tap this wealth for development. On the other hand, the mixed results also suggest that the many challenges related to expanding extractive industries are not necessarily unavoidable.

Practical implications

– For policymakers, the main message is that some countries that have taken important steps to improve the governance of their wealth as well as channel these toward productive investments – notably human capital – appear to have transformed the natural resource curse into a boon for development.

Originality/value

– The main contribution of this paper is that it provides the most comprehensive review to date on this body of the policy and academic literature. It will serve as a guide for policymakers, civil society and other stakeholders working on issues linked to extractive industries.
Household food security through cooperative societies in northern Ethiopia
Authors: Zeweld Woldegebrial , Van Huylenbroeck Guido , Buysse Jeroen
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the effect of cooperative societies on household food security in six villages of Northern Ethiopia. Cooperative societies have significant contribution to the food security and poverty reduction. However, limited empirical studies exist in the study areas about the roles of cooperative societies on food security.

Design/methodology/approach

– Primary cross-sectional data were collected from randomly selected 400 households. The study also gathered secondary data from the cooperative associations and government offices for comparison purposes. The paper applied Heckman two-stage model to capture the effect of cooperative societies on household food security.

Findings

– The probability of the households to join cooperative societies and also ensure food security depends on various determining factors like institutional factors, demographic variables and rural functions. The paired sample t-test shows that the mean income and expenditure of the cooperative member households were 70 and 40 per cent higher in 2010 and 2011, respectively, than in the baseline. The two-sample independent t-test indicates that the mean income and expenditure of the member households were 47 and 32 per cent higher than the counterpart households. The Heckman model explains that cooperative societies have statistically significant, positive and robust effects on household food security at 1 per cent level.

Research limitations/implications

– A few variables might suffer from endogeneity problem, although theoretically insignificant and have no sound justification. The study also considers only two indicators of food security (income and expenditure), but the findings of the study would have been good and sound with several and composite food security index.

Practical implications

– Such impact studies on cooperative societies are limited in the study areas. Thus, this study helps decision-makers, cooperative analysts and other concerned bodies to give priority for cooperative societies so as to curtail the food insecurity problem. It can also make meaningful contributions to bridge the gap in the cooperative literature.

Social implications

– The present study can improve the understanding of cooperative societies in the country. The finding of this paper can serve as an input for university students, decision-makers and cooperative analysts. The result can also strengthen the economic justification for policy intervention on cooperative societies.

Originality/value

– Most studies in the areas address the financial performance, historical movement and opportunities and challenges of cooperative societies. This implies that more work is necessary to obtain a clear picture and broad spectrum about cooperative societies, and thus, this study addresses the effect of cooperative societies on household food security.
Aid for food security: does it work?
Authors: Petrikova Ivica
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to existing literature by examining whether development aid has any measurable impact on food security, whether the impact is conditioned on the quality of governance and whether it differs based on the type of aid provided.

Design/methodology/approach

– Panel-data analysis of 85 developing countries between 1994 and 2011, using generalized method of moments and two-stage least squares estimators.

Findings

– The paper finds that aid in general has a small positive impact on food security; that multilateral aid, grants and social and economic aid have a positive effect on food security in their own right, and that bilateral aid, loans and agricultural aid are more conditioned on the quality of governance that other aid.

Research limitations/implications

– The main limitations rest with the imperfect nature of cross-country data on food security and governance, which I have tried to overcome through a series of robustness tests.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest that aid, despite its many deficiencies, can play a positive role in strengthening food security. Furthermore, they indicate that concessional loans, bilateral aid and agricultural aid are likely to foster food security only in countries with better governance.

Originality/value

– The paper constitutes a novel contribution to existing literature because it is one of the first to use cross-country data to explore the impact of aid on food security and because it utilizes a relatively complex aid categorization, which allows its conclusions to be more nuanced.
Why brand drugs priced higher than generic equivalents
Authors: Iacocca Kathleen , Sawhill James , Zhao Yao
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate why brand-name drugs are priced higher than their generic equivalents in the US market. The authors hypothesize that some consumers have a preference for brand names, which outweighs the cost savings realized by switching to generics. Consumers may prefer a brand drug because the brand may have a higher perceived quality due to advertising and other promotional activities. Additionally, individuals are habitual in their consumption of prescription drugs, which leads to continued use of the brand in the face of generic competition.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors develop a structural demand model and proceed to estimate it using wholesale price and demand data from the years 2000 through 2004.

Findings

– The results of our analysis reveal that customers have a strong preference for brand drugs. In addition, consumers exhibit high switching costs for prescription drugs.

Originality/value

– Considering the price and quantity of prescriptions filled each day, determining why brand drugs do not lower their prices to compete with their generic equivalents is an important question. Unfortunately, the existing literature only acknowledges this counter-intuitive business practice, but does not mathematically explain it. The authors address this knowledge gap in literature and provide important insight for all players in this industry including consumers, pharmaceutical manufacturers and health insurance companies.
Waviness and straightness of cylinder and textured piston ring tribo pair
Authors: Zavos Anastasios , Nikolakopoulos Pantelis George
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review and to provide a dipper understanding of what happens to piston rings and cylinder surfaces when manufacturing errors depicted, such as waviness and straightness. The mechanism of friction and the piston ring structural integrity, due to the surface irregularities, are analyzed either for smooth ring surface or for artificial textured, while piston ring floats into the piston groove or not.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this work two tribological models of a piston ring- cylinder package are presented using CFD analysis. Initially, the piston ring is considered as a secured ring in the groove of piston (secured ring) while in second model, the piston ring floats into the piston groove (free ring).

Findings

– Increasing the number of waves across the piston ring thickness, the structural integrity of the ring is strongly influenced. Piston ring with surface texturing reduces the mean friction force, under the consideration of cylinder straightness. The gas leaks due to existence of the ring gap, affects significantly the maximum mechanical stresses.

Originality/value

– The novelty of this paper is the analysis of manufacturing errors, such as waviness and straightness either for smooth or for artificial textured piston ring. In particular, the piston ring structural integrity investigated while chamber gas pressure leaks through the ring gap or not. The number of the waves, their amplitude and the fluid velocity are also taken into consideration.
Study on the evolution mechanism of oxidation and copper diffusion and precipitation phenomena and their effect on the surface quality of steel plates
Authors: Papaefthymiou Spyros , Goulas Constantinos , Panteleakou Vasiliki
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Identification of the critical process conditions that enhance Cu diffusion in ferrite grain boundaries and promote precipitation of Cu-rich particles in the proximity of steel semi-finished products surface is crucial for every steel maker as it leads to the creation of hot shortness cracks in final products deteriorating surface condition. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the possible effect of Cu segregation in the metal/oxide interface, its role in surface crack initiation and, finally, to propose actions to prevent from hot shortness issues throughout the production chain of steel products.

Design/methodology/approach

– The here presented study was based on S355 steel plate production starting from re-melting of scrap in an EAF, followed by metallurgical treatment in a Ladle Furnace, continuous casting, re-heating (RH) and thermo-mechanical rolling in a reversing mill. For the purposes of this study, more than ten heats, 100 t of steel each, were analyzed. Here presented are depicted steels in the high and low end of the permitted Cu-wt-% spectrum, 0.4 wt-% Cu (0.15 wt-% C, 1.1 wt-% Mn, VTi micro-alloyed steel) and 0.25 wt-% Cu (0.09 wt-% C, 1.2 wt-% Mn, NbTi micro alloyed steel), respectively.

Findings

– Although Cu levels of 0.25-0.40 wt-% are well below the Cu solubility in austenite and ferrite (8 percent wt-% and 3 wt-% Cu, respectively) and within specifications, precipitation of Cu-rich particles is observed in industrial semi-finished and/or final products. Cu-rich precipitates and Cu segregation along grain boundaries near the steel surface lead to hot shortness cracks in industrial products.

Research limitations/implications

– Hot shortness surface defects related to Cu presence in steel having significantly lower Cu amounts than its maximum solubility in austenite and ferrite does not make sense in first place. Correctly, Cu is expected to remain in solid solution. Identification of Cu-rich particles is explained on the basis of the development of double diffusion actions: interstitial diffusion of carbon (decarburization) and substitution diffusion of copper. Root cause analysis and reliable countermeasures will save financial and material resources during steel production.

Originality/value

– Automobile scrap re-melting results in noticeable Cu amounts in EAF produced steel. Presence of Cu-rich particles in grain boundaries near the surface of intermediate or final products deteriorates surface quality through relevant surface defects. Identification of Cu-rich particles is explained on the basis of the development of double diffusion actions: interstitial diffusion of carbon and substitution diffusion of copper. Pre condition for metallic Cu precipitation in ferrite is the Cu amount to be above 3 wt-%, which is ten times higher than the usual permitted Cu amount in such steel grades. This pre-condition is met through austenite oxidation during RH.
Advanced leaf spring design and analysis with respect to vehicle kinematics and durability
Authors: Karditsas Stylianos , Savaidis Georgios , Malikoutsakis Michail
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide sound understanding of the mutual interactions of the major leaf spring design parameters and their effects on both the stress behavior of the designed leaf and the steering behavior of the vehicle.

Design/methodology/approach

– Finite elements analyses have been performed referring to the design of a high performance monoleaf spring used for the suspension of the front axle of a serial heavy truck. Design parameters like eye type, eye lever, spring rate and arm rate difference have been parametrically examined regarding the stress performance and their influence on the wheel joint kinematics. The effect of each design parameter is exhibited both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Findings

– Eye lever and eye type affect significantly the wheel joint kinematics and therewith the steering behavior of the vehicle. Spring rate and arm rate difference affect solely the stress performance of the leaf spring.

Practical implications

– Design engineers may use the outcomes of this research as a guide to achieve optimal leaf spring design ensuring its operational strength in conjunction with accurate steering performance of the vehicle.

Originality/value

– The international literature contains only few, mostly qualitative data regarding the effect of single design parameters on the leaf spring and the corresponding axle kinematics. The present work contains a comprehensive and systematic study of all major leaf spring design parameters, and reveals their effect on both the stress behavior and the steering behavior of the vehicle qualitatively and quantitatively.
Adoption of Web 2.0 in library associations in the presence of social media
Authors: Hussain Akhtar
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the adoption of Web 2.0 in library associations in the presence of social media. This paper attempts to measure the penetration of Web 2.0 tools in various library associations all over the world.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study was conducted through an assessment of the library associations’ web sites. A total of 188 library associations’ web sites were analysed, out of which 115 library associations have implemented Web 2.0 applications; this is 61.17 percent of the total.

Findings

– On the basis of the analysis it was found that the majority of Web 2.0 tools have been used by American continents library associations. This stands at, 89.86 percent, whereas only a small number of Web 2.0 tools have been used by Asian continent library associations, that is, 25.64 percent. The most of Web 2.0 tools used by library associations, is, Facebook, Twitter, RSS feeds, LinkedIn, Flickr and Blogs.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings of this study can be utilized to assess the status of assorted Web 2.0 tools used in libraries associations. It may enable future research to investigate other aspects, such as the adoption of Web 2.0 tools in library associations of a particular country as well as continent.

Originality/value

– The paper begins with an introduction to Web 2.0 technology and attempts has been made to analyse the usage of this new technology in library associations worldwide.
Negation detection and word sense disambiguation in digital archaeology reports for the purposes of semantic annotation
Authors: Vlachidis Andreas , Tudhope Douglas
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the role and contribution of natural language processing techniques, in particular negation detection and word sense disambiguation in the process of Semantic Annotation of Archaeological Grey Literature. Archaeological reports contain a great deal of information that conveys facts and findings in different ways. This kind of information is highly relevant to the research and analysis of archaeological evidence but at the same time can be a hindrance for the accurate indexing of documents with respect to positive assertions.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper presents a method for adapting the biomedicine oriented negation algorithm NegEx to the context of archaeology and discusses the evaluation results of the new modified negation detection module. A particular form of polysemy, which is inflicted by the definition of ontology classes and concerning the semantics of small finds in archaeology, is addressed by a domain specific word-sense disambiguation module.

Findings

– The performance of the negation dection module is compared against a “Gold Standard” that consists of 300 manually annotated pages of archaeological excavation and evaluation reports. The evaluation results are encouraging, delivering overall 89 per cent precision, 80 per cent recall and 83 per cent F-measure scores. The paper addresses limitations and future improvements of the current work and highlights the need for ontological modelling to accommodate negative assertions.

Originality/value

– The discussed NLP modules contribute to the aims of the OPTIMA pipeline delivering an innovative application of such methods in the context of archaeological reports for the semantic annotation of archaeological grey literature with respect to the CIDOC-CRM ontology.
UHF RFID proof of concept (POC) with open-source ILS at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Libraries
Authors: Khor JingHuey , Ismail Widad , Md Rashid Mohd Nasir , Wan Ismail A. Akla , Omar Muhammad Qayum , Mohd Zanal Farah Hazwani
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) uses different detection technologies and integrated library systems (ILS) at its four libraries located at different sites. Hence, ubiquitous data management system is required in the four libraries to enable real-time data sharing and tracking among the libraries. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– Proof of concept is used to verify the performance of integration between different detection technologies including barcode, high frequency (HF) and ultra high frequency (UHF) radio frequency identification (RFID) as well as Integrated Library Management Utility (ILMU) and Koha ILSs. Five pilot tests are performed to investigate the speed of the borrowing and returning transactions, the efficiency of security gate to detect non-borrowed items, and the reliability of the ubiquitous data management system.

Findings

– The HF RFID technology and the proprietary library system have been used in many libraries. The current study proves that the integration of the UHF RFID technology and the Koha open-source ILS, which is named as Total Open-Source Library Automation Solution, can be a novel solution and can serve as a guide for other libraries.

Originality/value

– In the current phase of library data management system, it is common to integrate various technologies in improving the efficiency of the library system. But, the combination of Koha with UHF RFID into a single ILS for intra-library automation system has not been proven. This shows the importance of the proposed proven proof of concept that proves such integration is suitable to be implemented at USM libraries and other libraries.
A strategic framework for good governance through e-governance optimization
Authors: Kalsi Nirmaljeet Singh , Kiran Ravi
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to attempt to find out whether the new information and communication technologies can make a significant contribution to the achievement of the objective of good governance. The study identifies the factors responsible for creating a conducive environment for effective and successful implementation of e-governance for achieving good governance and the possible barriers in the implementation of e governance applications. Based on the comprehensive analysis it proposes a strategic policy framework for good governance in Punjab in India. Punjab is a developed state ranked amongst some of the top states of India in terms of per capita income and infrastructure.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study designs a framework for good governance by getting the shared vision of all stakeholders about providing good quality administration and governance in the Indian context through “Participatory Stakeholder Assessment”. The study uses descriptive statistics, perception gap, ANOVA and factor analysis to identify the key factors for good governance, the priorities of public regarding e-services, the policy makers’ perspectives regarding good governance to be achieved through e-governance.

Findings

– The study captures the good governance factors mainly contributing to the shared vision. The study further highlights that most Indian citizens in Punjab today believe in the power of information and communication technology (ICT) and want to access e-governance services. Major factors causing pain and harassment to the citizens in getting the services from various government departments include: unreasonable delay, multiple visits even for small services; poor public infrastructure and its maintenance in government offices. In the understanding of citizens the most important factors for the success of e-governance services are: overall convenience and experience of the citizens; reduction in the corruption levels by improvement in the transparency of government functioning and awareness about the availability of service amongst general masses.

Originality/value

– The present study has evolved a shared vision of all stakeholders on good governance in the Indian context. It has opened up many new possibilities for the governments, not only to use ICTs and help them in prioritizing the governance areas for focused attention, but also help to understand the mindset of the modern citizenry, their priorities and what they consider as good governance. The study will help policy makers focus on these factors for enhancing speedy delivery of prioritized services and promote good governance in developing countries similar to India.
The quintessence of a therapeutic environment: the foundations for the Windsor conference 2014
Authors: Haigh Rex
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to introduce the “Quintessence” framework and its roots in TC phenomenology; to explain how each of the contributors to the conference is related to it; to pose questions about how the “TC movement” may use the underlying ideas in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

– Adaptation of theoretical ideas to a conference structure.

Findings

– As the necessary developmental experience for everybody, the quintessence principles are recreated in well-functioning therapeutic communities, and in the 2014 Windsor Conference.

Research limitations/implications

– As a theory that is becoming well used in the TC field, it needs more qualitative, quantitative, critical or philosophical underpinning.

Practical implications

– Widely accepted as useful in TCs.

Social implications

– Has wider applicability.

Originality/value

– Derived from condensation of numerous relevant psychological, sociological and systemic theories.
Containment: from cruelty to kindness
Authors: Campling Penelope
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper is about therapeutic containment. It makes links between what the author understands about containment in therapeutic communities and wider perspectives on containment in the context of organisational and social forces within which the author lives and works in modern society. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author explores relational dynamics, focusing particularly on the English NHS, using evidence from a cross-section of disciplines including ethology, anthropology and economic philosophy.

Findings

– The author suggests that the crisis in healthcare culture reflects a wider crisis of containment in the modern world; and that the theoretical legacy from, and lived experience in, therapeutic communities offers a rich perspective on the issues and points to ways forward.

Social implications

– The paper suggests ways that therapeutic community thinking can be applied more widely to topical problems such as the undermining of healthcare culture. The paper argues that an explicit focus on values is important in order to mitigate the forces that distract from co-operative and therapeutic relationships. To illustrate this, the author describes a simple model for nurturing the conditions for intelligent kindness.

Originality/value

– The paper draws important parallels between therapeutic community philosophy and practice, and the culture at large.
Prevent rough sleeping; create a psychologically informed environment
Authors: Ritchie Claire
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to inspire services to create Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs) to support people experiencing homelessness, complex trauma and multiple exclusion.

Design/methodology/approach

– It outlines key elements of PIEs and how these have been implemented at the Waterloo Project; a 19 bed hostel and integrated health and social care partnership in Lambeth. It considers the importance of meeting individuals emotional and psychological needs to support them out of homelessness.

Findings

– The service review found a reliable reduction in residents’ mental distress and improved health and wellbeing. Repeat homelessness, anti-social and self-harming behaviour decreased whilst engagement with services, self-care and esteem increased. There are early indications of cost benefits to health and social care services. Staff reported professional development and an increase in their sense of personal accomplishment.

Originality/value

– The paper aims to share learning, good practice and the outcomes of a psychologically informed approach to working with individuals who have not had their needs met by existing services. It illustrates the actual and potential social and economic impact and value on both individuals and public services.
Age‐associated skin changes in innate immunity markers reflect a complex interaction between aging mechanisms in the sebaceous gland
Authors: Elewa Rana M. , Abdallah Marwa A. , Zouboulis Christos C.
Published: March 2015

Skin aging is the most apparent form of senescence and could reflect the aging of inner organs. Molecular changes involved in innate immunity signaling, tumorigenesis, and inflammation were studied. Protein levels were evaluated based on the immunohistochemistry of the skin of 42 young and old individuals. The investigated molecules (peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors‐α and ‐γ, Toll‐like receptor 4, and interleukin‐6 and 8) were expressed in almost all skin compartments and exhibited significant aging‐associated downregulation in epithelial tissues, mostly in the sebaceous glands, the sweat glands, and the epidermis. With the exception of interleukin‐6 in the dermal tissue, no upregulation was detected in the aged group. The results obtained indicate an interesting interaction between different pathways of aging, namely defective stress responses, downregulated innate immunity responses, and activation of the tumorigenesis pathway, which was especially apparent in the sebaceous glands.
Multicenter randomized study of inosine pranobex versus acyclovir in the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis and recurrent herpes genitalis in Chinese patients
Authors: You Yi , Wang Li , Li Yafei , Wang Qianqiu , Cao Shuanglin , Tu Yating , Li Shenqiu , Bai Li , Lu Jianyun , Wei Zhiping , Chen Wenchieh , Hao Fei
Published: March 2015

The objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral inosine pranobex as compared with acyclovir in the treatment of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) and recurrent herpes genitalis (RHG). A multicenter double‐blind, double‐dummy, randomized, controlled, parallel group trial was conducted in 144 patients with RHL and 144 RHG. Patients were assigned to treatment in one of two groups: (i) inosine pranobex group (active inosine pranobex, 1 g four times daily, and acyclovir placebo); or (ii) acyclovir group (active acyclovir, 200 mg five times daily, and inosine pranobex placebo). The total symptom score (TSS) of patients with RHL did not differ in the inosine pranobex and acyclovir group on the 3rd or 7th day of treatment. There was also no difference in the efficacy rates between the two groups. No difference of TSS was observed between patients with RHG taking inosine pranobex and acyclovir on days 3 or 5 of the treatment, respectively. The short‐term clinical recurrence rate of RHG at 3‐month follow‐up was much lower in the inosine pranobex group than acyclovir group. The incidence of hyperuricemia was higher in the inosine pranobex group than acyclovir group. In conclusion, inosine pranobex was as effective as acyclovir in treating RHL and RHG with significantly greater reduction of the short‐term recurrence rate of herpes genitalis at 3‐month follow up. Long‐term recurrence rates at 6 months or longer remain to be determined. Hyperuricemia should be monitored during the treatment.
CCR4 is expressed on infiltrating cells in lesional skin of early mycosis fungoides and atopic dermatitis
Authors: Sugaya Makoto , Morimura Sohshi , Suga Hiraku , Kawaguchi Makiko , Miyagaki Tomomitsu , Ohmatsu Hanako , Fujita Hideki , Sato Shinichi
Published: March 2015

CCR4 is expressed on tumor cells of mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS). In MF, most infiltrating cells in patches and plaques express CXCR3, while tumor cells express CCR4 in advanced stages. Poteligeo Test IHC (CCR4 staining kit) is a newly developed staining kit that can examine the presence of CCR4 expressed on tumor cells of adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma, peripheral T‐cell lymphoma and cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma before treatment of anti‐CCR4 antibody using paraffin‐embedded samples. In this study, we analyzed CCR4 expression in lesional skin of MF, SS, atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis with this new kit. CCR4 was expressed on infiltrating cells in lesional skin of patch, plaque, tumor MF and SS, and the number of positive cells increased as the disease progressed. Immunohistochemistry with frozen sections also showed some positive cells scattered in the dermis, although the quality was not high enough to quantify positive cells. There were significant positive correlations between CCR4+ cells and serum lactate dehydrogenase levels. Interestingly, CCR4+ cells were also detected in AD skin, whose number was larger than that in psoriatic skin. Previous studies showed only scattered CCR4+ cells in skin samples by standard immunohistochemical staining. The new, sensitive CCR4 staining kit has revealed that CCR4 is expressed on infiltrating cells in lesional skin of early MF and AD as well as advanced MF and SS. These cells can be therapeutic targets for patients who are resistant to standard treatments.
Trichoscopic findings of androgenetic alopecia and their association with disease severity
Authors: Hu Ruiming , Xu Feng , Han Yumei , Sheng Youyu , Qi Sisi , Miao Ying , Yang Qinping
Published: March 2015

Trichoscopy is a novel tool for the diagnosis of hair loss disorders such as androgenetic alopecia (AGA), but there are still few reports on the association between trichoscopic findings and disease severity, especially in the Chinese population. A case–control observational study was conducted to observe the trichoscopic findings of AGA and to evaluate their relationship with disease severity. Trichoscopic examination was performed with a handheld dermoscope on 750 Chinese male AGA (MAGA) and 200 female AGA (FAGA) patients, along with 100 male and 50 female normal controls. Trichoscopically, AGA was featured by hair shaft thickness heterogeneity (HSTH), brown peripilar sign (BPPS), white peripilar sign (WPPS), yellow dots, pinpoint white dots, focal atrichia and scalp pigmentation. No significant difference in the occipital area was found between AGA and controls (P > 0.05). HSTH of more than 20% was demonstrated in all MAGA patients, and HSTH of more than 10% was seen in all FAGA patients. WPPS, yellow dots, pinpoint white dots, focal atrichia and scalp pigmentation were positively related to severity of disease (P < 0.05), while BPPS was the contrary (P < 0.05). HSTH is an essential criterion for diagnosing AGA. BPPS was more common in early AGA. However, WPPS, yellow dots, pinpoint white dots, focal atrichia and scalp pigmentation are positively correlated with advanced AGA.
Subclinical systemic and vascular inflammation detected by 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in patients with mild psoriasis
Authors: Youn Sang Woong , Kang Seo Young , Kim Sung Ae , Park Gyeong Yul , Lee Won Woo
Published: March 2015

Severe psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease involving major arteries and internal organs. The association between psoriasis and arterial inflammation, however, has been noted mostly in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Therefore, it is still not clear whether mild psoriasis also increases the arterial inflammation and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate systemic inflammation using 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG‐PET/CT) in patients with mild psoriasis. In a nested case–control study, FDG‐PET/CT findings of 10 patients with mild chronic plaque psoriasis involving a body surface area of less than 5% were compared with those of 10 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. The degree of FDG uptake in the large arteries (ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta, suprarenal abdominal aorta and infrarenal abdominal aorta,) and liver were analyzed using the maximum target‐to‐background ratios (TBR). There were no significant demographic differences between the psoriasis patients and the control subjects (P > 0.05). Patients with psoriasis showed higher maximum TBR than healthy controls in all examined arterial segments, with statistical significance reached in the suprarenal abdominal aorta (P < 0.05), ascending thoracic aorta (P < 0.01) and infrarenal abdominal aorta (P < 0.05), and in the liver (P < 0.05). The “candy cane sign”, which represents typical arterial inflammation of the thoracic aorta, was noted upon PET in the majority of psoriasis cases. In conclusion, mild psoriasis is also associated with arterial and hepatic inflammation, which can be readily demonstrated by using FDG‐PET/CT.
Clinical features and course of generalized pustular psoriasis in Korea
Authors: Jin Hyunju , Cho Hyun‐Ho , Kim Won‐Jeong , Mun Je‐Ho , Song Margaret , Kim Hoon‐Soo , Ko Hyun‐Chang , Kim Moon‐Bum , Kim Hyojin , Kim Byung‐Soo
Published: March 2015

The clinical course of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is variable and unpredictable. Sufficient data on the clinical course of the disease has not been reported due to its rarity. To investigate the clinical features and course of GPP according to its subtypes, medical records of patients diagnosed with GPP from 2002 to 2012 at two tertiary hospitals were reviewed. The data included patient demographics, associated symptoms, aggravating factors, patterns of relapse and prognosis. Thirty‐three patients with GPP were included in our study, with a mean age of 45.6 years and a male : female ratio of 1:1.2. Patients were categorized based on the following subtypes: acute GPP, 21 (63.6%); GPP of pregnancy, two (6.1%); juvenile GPP, three (9.1%); and annular GPP, seven (21.2%). In the acute GPP population, skin lesions cleared within 2 months in 11 (73.3%) patients, and six (40.0%) of these had no relapse. Severe complications, abortion or death, were observed in two patients (100.0%) with GPP of pregnancy. Nineteen (76.0%) of the GPP patients experienced persistence or relapse of skin lesions. The patterns of skin lesions upon relapse included plaques in six patients (31.6%), pustules in eight patients (42.1%), and plaques and pustules in five patients (26.3%). Among acute GPP patients, 16.7% of patients with no relapse had a history of plaque psoriasis. However, 77.8% of patients with persistence and relapse in their clinical course had a history of plaque psoriasis. In conclusion, our study presents the detailed clinical course of GPP by subtype in Korean patients.
Red blood cell distribution width is increased in patients with psoriasis vulgaris: A retrospective study on 261 patients
Authors: Kim Das Suk , Shin Dongyun , Jee Hyunjoong , Kim Tae‐Gyun , Kim Sung Hee , Kim Do Young , Kim Soo Min , Lee Min‐Geol
Published: March 2015

Circulating inflammatory cytokines and markers are increased in patients with psoriasis. Recent studies have shown that a higher red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with disease activity in various disorders. Our objective was to investigate whether RDW is increased in psoriasis patients, and to evaluate its possible association with disease severity. We conducted a retrospective study of psoriasis patients seen in a university hospital in South Korea. Information about demographics, hematological parameters and disease severity were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t‐test, multivariable logistic regression, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis as appropriate. A total of 261 psoriasis patients and 102 healthy controls were included in our study. The mean RDW value was significantly increased in psoriasis patients compared with healthy control (P = 0.037). Compared with mild psoriasis patients (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI], <7), moderate to severe patients (PASI, ≥7) showed significantly higher RDW values (P = 0.044). However, RDW did not show significant correlation with PASI (P = 0.358). When patients were divided into two groups according to their RDW value (<14.6% and ≥14.6%), the mean value of PASI was not significantly different (P = 0.219). Patients with psoriasis showed increased RDW values compared with healthy controls. It was also higher in the moderate and severe disease group than the mild group. Though this is only a pilot study, it is possible that RDW value can reflect the inflammatory status of psoriasis patients.
Microbial and sponge loops modify fish production in phase‐shifting coral reefs
Authors: Silveira Cynthia B. , Silva‐Lima Arthur W. , Francini‐Filho Ronaldo B. , Marques Jomar S.M. , Almeida Marcelo G. , Thompson Cristiane C. , Rezende Carlos E. , Paranhos Rodolfo , Moura Rodrigo L. , Salomon Paulo S. , Thompson Fabiano L.
Published: March 2015

Shifts from coral to algae dominance of corals reefs have been correlated to fish biomass loss and increased microbial metabolism. Here we investigated reef benthic and planktonic primary production, benthic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) release and bacterial growth efficiency in the Abrolhos Bank, South Atlantic. Benthic DOC release rates are higher while water column bacterial growth efficiency is lower at impacted reefs. A trophic model based on the benthic and planktonic primary production was able to predict the observed relative fish biomass in healthy reefs. In contrast, in impacted reefs, the observed omnivorous fish biomass is higher, while that of the herbivorous/coralivorous fish is lower than predicted by the primary production‐based model. Incorporating recycling of benthic‐derived carbon in the model through microbial and sponge loops explains the difference and predicts the relative fish biomass in both reef types. Increased benthic carbon release rates and bacterial carbon metabolism, but decreased bacterial growth efficiency could lead to carbon losses through respiration and account for the uncoupling of benthic and fish production in phase‐shifting reefs. Carbon recycling by microbial and sponge loops seems to promote an increase of small‐bodied fish productivity in phase‐shifting coral reefs.
Development, diet and dynamism: longitudinal and cross‐sectional predictors of gut microbial communities in wild baboons
Authors: Ren Tiantian , Grieneisen Laura E. , Alberts Susan C. , Archie Elizabeth A. , Wu Martin
Published: March 2015

Gut bacterial communities play essential roles in host biology, but to date we lack information on the forces that shape gut microbiota between hosts and over time in natural populations. Understanding these forces in wild primates provides a valuable comparative context that enriches scientific perspectives on human gut microbiota. To this end, we tested predictors of gut microbial composition in a well‐studied population of wild baboons. Using cross‐sectional and longitudinal samples collected over 13 years, we found that baboons harbour gut microbiota typical of other omnivorous primates, albeit with an especially high abundance ofBifidobacterium. Similar to previous work in humans and other primates, we found strong effects of both developmental transitions and diet on gut microbial composition. Strikingly, baboon gut microbiota appeared to be highly dynamic such that samples collected from the same individual only a few days apart were as different from each other as samples collected over 10 years apart. Despite the dynamic nature of baboon gut microbiota, we identified a set of core taxa that is common among primates, supporting the hypothesis that microbiota codiversify with their host species. Our analysis identified two tentative enterotypes in adult baboons that differ from those of humans and chimpanzees.
Archaeal enrichment in the hypoxic zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Gillies Lauren E. , Thrash J. Cameron , deRada Sergio , Rabalais Nancy N. , Mason Olivia U.
Published: March 2015

Areas of low oxygen have spread exponentially over the past 40 years, and are cited as a key stressor on coastal ecosystems. The world's second largest coastal hypoxic (≤2 mg of O2 l−1) zone occurs annually in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The net effect of hypoxia is the diversion of energy flow away from higher trophic levels to microorganisms. This energy shunt is consequential to the overall productivity of hypoxic water masses and the ecosystem as a whole. In this study, water column samples were collected at 39 sites in the nGOM, 21 of which were hypoxic. Analysis of the microbial community along a hypoxic to oxic dissolved oxygen gradient revealed that the relative abundance (iTag) of Thaumarchaeota species 16S rRNA genes (> 40% of the microbial community in some hypoxic samples), the absolute abundance (quantitative polymerase chain reaction; qPCR) of Thaumarchaeota 16S rRNA genes and archaeal ammonia‐monooxygenase gene copy number (qPCR) were significantly higher in hypoxic samples. Spatial interpolation of the microbial and chemical data revealed a continuous, shelfwide band of low dissolved oxygen waters that were dominated by Thaumarchaeota (and Euryarchaeota), amoA genes and high concentrations of phosphate in the nGOM, thus implicating physicochemical forcing on microbial abundance.
Interactions between genotype and environment drive the metabolic phenotype within Escherichia coli isolates
Authors: Sabarly Victor , Aubron Cécile , Glodt Jérémy , Balliau Thierry , Langella Olivier , Chevret Didier , Rigal Odile , Bourgais Aurélie , Picard Bertrand , de Vienne Dominique , Denamur Erick , Bouvet Odile , Dillmann Christine
Published: March 2015

To gain insights into the adaptation of the Escherichia coli species to different environments, we monitored protein abundances using quantitative proteomics and measurements of enzymatic activities of central metabolism in a set of five representative strains grown in four contrasted culture media including human urine. Two hundred and thirty seven proteins representative of the genome‐scale metabolic network were identified and classified into pathway categories. We found that nutrient resources shape the general orientation of metabolism through coordinated changes in the average abundances of proteins and in enzymatic activities that all belong to the same pathway category. For example, each culture medium induces a specific oxidative response whatever the strain. On the contrary, differences between strains concern isolated proteins and enzymes within pathway categories in single environments. Our study confirms the predominance of genotype by environment interactions at the proteomic and enzyme activity levels. The buffering of genetic variation when considering life‐history traits suggests a multiplicity of evolutionary strategies. For instance, the uropathogenic isolate CFT073 shows a deregulation of iron demand and increased oxidative stress response.
Binding Characteristics and Protective Capacity of Cyanidin‐3‐Glucoside and its Aglycon to Calf Thymus DNA
Authors: Zhang Chao , Guo Xiaofei , Cai Wenqian , Ma Yue , Zhao Xiaoyan
Published: March 2015

The binding characteristics and protective capacity of cyanidin (Cy) and cyanidin‐3‐glucoside (C3G) to calf thymus DNA were explored for the first time. The Cy and C3G gave a bathochromic shift to the ultraviolet‐visible spectra of the DNA, indicating the formation of the DNA‐Cy and DNA‐C3G complexes. The complexes were formed by an intercalative binding mode based on the results of the fluorescence spectra and competitive binding analysis. Meanwhile, the Cy and C3G protected the DNA from the damage induced by the hydroxyl radical. The binding capacity and protective capacity of the C3G were stronger than that of the Cy. Furthermore, the formation of the DNA‐anthocyanin complexes was spontaneous when the hydrogen bond and hydrophobic force played a key role. Hence, the Cy and C3G could protect the DNA automatically from the damage induced by the hydroxyl radical.